LUCENA CITY — Sa pamamagitan ng Department of Agriculture (DA)-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), pormal nang naipagkaloob sa 14 Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCA) sa lalawigan ng Quezon ang mga libreng makabagong makinarya sa ginanap na programa sa Quezon Convention Center, Lucena City, Oktubre 21. Naipamigay ang pang-agrikulturang kagamitan na Four-wheel Tractor at Rice Combine Harvester sa ilalim ng Mechanization Program ng Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) na nabuo dahil sa Republic Act No. 11203 o Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) na isinulong ni Senator Cynthia Aguilar Villar. Labis naman ang pasasalamat ni Governor Doktora Helen Tan, dahil malaki ang maitutulong ng mga makinarya para sa mas magaan at maunlad na pamumuhay ng ating mga kalalawigan na magsasaka. Samantala, nakasama sa nasabing seremonya sina PhilMech FMFOD Chief – Engr. May Ville Castro bilang kinatawan ni PhilMech Director IV – Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, APCO Quezon – John Oliver Sarmiento bilang kinatawan ni DA IV-A Regional Director Fidel Libao, at Provincial Agriculturist – Dr. Liza Mariano.

By Danny Estacio  TAYABAS CITY, Quezon -The one hundred fifty-eight new members of the Ang Gandang Walang Kupas Menopause Wellness Club underwent the Orientation and Open Forum at Casa Communidad this Friday, October 11, 2024. The Office of the City Mayor- Lovely Reynoso- Pontioso Mobile Health and Response Team under the leadership of Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Maria Graciela Derada-De Leon organized the orientation where there were check-up, free bone screening, anemia testing, eye screening, minor lump check-up, physical rehabilitation, consultation and distribution of free medicines. As of this time there are now 1,543 Tayabasin women who are members of Beauty Walang Kupas Wellness Club. During the event Pontioso was represented by councilors Elsa Rubio and Luz Cuadra who gave a message to the new members of the GWK Menopause Wellness Club. The Beauty Never Fades Menopause Wellness Club is a program of the Local Government through OCM-Mobile Health and Medical Response Team, in cooperation with Bio Femme The Women’s Health, UNILAB, Taptakos and Nature Med they conducted bone screening. The ‘Ang Gandang Walang Kupas Wellness Club” officers and coordinators became the partners of OCM-MHMERT for the program organizing.            

LUCENA CITY — Police Colonel Ruben Lacuesta formally assumed his post as the new Provincial Director of Quezon Police Provincial Office during the Turnover of Command Ceremony held in Camp Guillermo Nakar, Lucena City on October 14. Lacuesta replaced Col.Ledon Monte, who served as the Provincial Director for more than two years. In his assumption speech, Lacuesta reiterated to the more than 2000 strong police officers of Quezon PPO to deliver the kind of service that the people expect from the police. “We must undertake intensified stakeholder engagement and genuine development initiatives in the locality,” Lacuesta said. Further, the new Provincial Director reminded the Quezon police force to adhere to the high standard of discipline the PNP is implementing. “I also believe that one single misdemeanor or breach of discipline by our personnel will discredit our credibility or erase all our significant operational accomplishments and development initiatives on the ground,” Lacuesta added. The ceremony was graced by Col. Christopher Abecia, Deputy Regional Director for Administration, as the Presiding Officer; Hon. Gov. Angelina “Doktora Helen” DL Tan, as the Guest of Honor; and ranking officers from the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.        

Iniulat ng Quezon Police Provincial Office, sa pamumuno ni Col.Ledon Monte ang mapayanag paghahain ng Cerificate of Candidate at Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) ng mga kandidato at ipinabot din niya ang kanyang pasasalamat sa ipinakitang kahandaan ng kapulisan sa naganap na filing, noong October 1 to 8, 2024. Batay sa datus ng Provincial Operations Management Office (POMU), walang naitalang insidente na nakaapekto sa mapayapang pagpafile ng nasa 1,037 aspiring candidates sa buong lalawigan ng Quezon. “Sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang ating pagbabantay para sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kandidato. Nakahanda rin tayo kung kailangan nila ng police assistance.”pahayag ni Monte. Base sa datos ng POMU, apat ang nagfile para sa pagka Governor, lima para sa Vice-Governor, lima para sa Congressman, 18 Board Members, 105 Mayors, 87 Vice-Mayors, at 813 Councilors.( Quezon PNP PIO)    

By Danny Estacio SAMPALOC, Quezon – About 400 female elementary students from 14 public and private schools were vaccinated for human papilloma virus (HPV) during the resumption of school-based immunization (SBI) program simultaneously launched in Sampaloc Elementary School, on September 24. It is a joint effort of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 4A Director Ariel Valencia represented by Dr. Mark Santos, Department of Education (DepEd), local government unit of Sampaloc headed by Mayor Gelo Devanadera and in partnership with Mersk Sharp and Dohme (MSD). Ceremonial vaccination to students ages from 9 to 14 from 14 different public and private  schools in this town. The vaccination marks the return of the province-wide initiative to protect schoolchildren from vaccine-preventable diseases, like cervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). It also supports the upcoming national launch of the school-based immunization (SBI) program. The SBI was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting to a community-based approach due to mobility restrictions. With in-person classes now fully resumed, health officials have prioritized bringing the program back to schools to protect children against diseases such as measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and HPV. The restart and continue its mission to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases, especially HPV, which is directly linked to cervical cancer, said Dr. Santos. Accordingly, cervical cancer, largely caused by high-risk HPV infection, is the second most common cancer among Filipino women and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the country, Santos added. Based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer, nearly 40 million Filipinos remain at risk, with 12 deaths occurring daily due to the disease. Cervical cancer is one of only two cancers that can be prevented, making early detection and prevention crucial. Nearly all cases can be avoided through HPV vaccination, regular cervical screenings, and timely follow-up care when necessary. If caught early, cervical cancer is also highly curable. The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer until 2030, aiming for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women to undergo screenings by age 35 and again by age 45, and 90% of those with cervical disease to receive treatment. The SBI program aligns with this global effort, emphasizing the need for early HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. “We believe that ensuring the health of our learners is essential to their overall success in education,” Devanadera said. “Through the resumption of the school-based immunization program, we are not only protecting students from preventable diseases but also helping create an environment where they can thrive academically without the threat of illness.”Santos said. The return of the SBI program is critical in the wake of recent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis. Health officials emphasized that all immunizations, including HPV, measles-rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria, will resume under the guidance of the DOH and DepEd, following proper dosages and schedules. “Collaboration between the DOH, DepEd, local governments, and community partners is key to ensuring that public health is achieved at the grassroots level, DOH said.  “By working together, we can make sure that programs like school-based immunization reach every child, protecting them from disease and benefiting the health of all Filipinos.” For parents, caregivers, and health workers, the program’s restart represents a step toward ensuring that the next generation is protected from serious diseases, including those that can lead to cancer later in life. In Quezon , Sampaloc town being a small town took the challenge as the kick-off site, Devanadera said. Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination for female students ages 9 to 14  vaccination kick-off on September 24 at Sampaloc Elementary School as the site for simultaneously school-based immunization provincewide in Sampaloc, Quezon. (Danny Estacio)

Inilunsad na ang “Paleng-QR PH Plus at PalengQue Digitalization Program”, isang paraan ng cashless and online payment, na isinusulong ngayon sa lalawiigan ng Quezon sa pakikipagbalikatan ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bangko Sentral ng Pilpinas, at Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), na ginanap sa Quezon Convention Center, Lucena City, noong Setyembre 20. Ang Paleng-QR PH Plus ay isang paraan ng cashless and online payment na magagamit ng mga konsyumer sa pamamagitan at pakikipagbalikatan ng iba’t-ibang Telecommunications and Financial Service Providers gaya ng Maya Philippines, SMART, TNT, PLDT, GCash, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Quezon Capital Rural Bank (QCRB), at Cooperative Bank of Quezon Province (CBQP). Samantala, sa tulong ng DICT, ang PalengQue Digitalization Program ang magsisilbing daan upang maging posible ang Paleng-QR PH Plus para sa libreng internet wifi access sa publiko. Layon ng proyektong ito na mas mapabilis, at mapadali ang pagbabayad ng mga konsyumer sa mga public markets, community shops, at local transportation gaya ng jeepneys at tricycles na isasakatuparan muna sa sampung bayan sa lalawigan at kalaunan ay sa buong Quezon. Malugod namang inihayag ni Governor Doktora Helen Tan na isang milestone ang paglulunsad ng nasabing proyekto, sapagkat ang lalawigan ng Quezon ang pinakaunang implementer nito sa Southern Luzon. Nakasama sa ginanap na paglulunsad sina DILG Provincial Director Abigail Andres, OIC-Provincial Officer of DICT Quezon Edd Fernan Gozales, South Luzon Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Regional Director Atty. Tomas J. Cariño Jr., BSP Lucena Branch Area Director Atty. Dennis A. Gamaya, at PLGU Quezon Provincial Development Officer III Lawrence Joseph Velasco. Nagpaabot din ng Video Message bilang suporta si BSP Chairman, Monetary Board, and Governor Dr. Eli M. Remolona Jr.