Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Philhealth Targets 345,000 Indigent Families

in W. Visayas

Some 345,000 indigent families in Western Visayas are expected to enroll under the sponsored program of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) this year.

The projection covering the year 2011 is based on the result of the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to Department of Health-Center for Health Development 6 (DOH-CHD6) director, Dr. Ariel Valencia.

"That’s another set for this year based on the projection of the poor," he said adding that the figure will still have to undergo validation by the Philhealth.

Meanwhile, Valencia noted that last year’s target of 71,000 families was achieved following its launching through the PhilHealth Sabado program in October, 2010.

Almost all of the target families were actually enrolled by local government units (LGUs) and what was done was almost like a follow up, Valencia said.

Valencia added they looked forward for LGUs to assist in the enrollment of informal sectors and other segment of the society that are not included in the NHTS.

The Health Agenda of President Benigno Aquino III addresses three major thrusts where the Philhealth Universal Coverage is included.

The two others are the improvement of health facility and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals specifically to decrease maternal and infant mortality rate and increase cure rate for tuberculosis as the PNA reported.

Complaints vs Coal Plant

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has instructed city environment and natural resources officer Noel Hechanova to convene the multi-monitoring team (MMT) composed of different government agencies and non-government organizations to look into the complaints of residents in Barangay Ingore, La Paz regarding the noise and air pollution allegedly coming from the coal fired power plant there.

Mabilog said that he had received complaints on black particles emitted by the coal plant that may have caused diseases among nearby residents. The MMT will have to convene as soon as possible, Mabilog said.

The complaints need to be verified and evaluated and MMT members have the necessary tools and equipment for this kind of work, he added.

　 Negros Occidental Tops Regional Sports

Defending champion Negros Occidental stamped its class in both the elementary and secondary levels in different events of the annual Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) held in Iloilo City recently.

Negros Occidental is still number one followed by Iloilo, number 2. Aklan is far third, then Antique, Capiz and Guimaras in that order. The final tally of the games revealed.

CHEAP SOURCES OF ENERGY 　

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero cautioned the government against pursuing proposals to revive the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant. It should first focus on exploring other sources of energy that are safe and cheap," said Escudero. 　

According to Escudero, government officials must seriously consider tapping natural sources of energy such as geothermal, solar and wind, which are readily available in the country. 　

The senator made the statement in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan brought about by a 9.0-maginitude earthquake and tsunami that completely paralyzed the nuclear power plant in Fukushima on March 11. /MP