By Jayson de Lemon-CamSur-PIO   LEGAZPI CITY — Limang parangal ang naiuwi ng Camarines Norte Provincial Tourism Operations Office sa BICOL TOURISM STARS: RECOGNITION & CELEBRATION NIGHT 2024, na ginanap sa La Venezia Hotel, Legazpi City, noong Disyembre 13. Ang okasyon ay bahagi ng Year-Ender Recognition Activity ng Department of Tourism (DOT) – V, ngayong taon. Kinatawanan ni Tourism Operations Officer II si Ms. Genelyn David ang tanggapan ng turismo ng Camarines Norte sa nasabing gabi ng pagkilala. Ang mga parangal ay ibinigay bilang pagkilala sa kanilang natatanging pagganap at malaking ambag sa industriya ng turismo sa buong rehiyon ng Bicol. Narito ang mga parangal na natanggap ng Camarines Norte: Leading Province in Local Tourism Development Planning 2024 Statistical Progress Achievement 2024 (Provincial Level) Most Active Province Participating in Travel and Trade Fairs for CY 2024 Bukod dito, ang mga munisipyo ng Daet at Basud, na kinatawanan ng kanilang mga Municipal Tourism Officers na sina Jocelyn Cruz-Sarical (Daet) at Ariane Rodrigueza (Basud), ay tumanggap ng Certificate of Recognition, dahil sa kanilang naaprubahang Local Tourism Development Plan o LTDP. Ang LTDP ay mahalaga para sa patuloy na paglago ng turismo at ang positibong epekto nito sa ekonomiya sa susunod na mga taon. Nakakuha rin ng indibidwal na pagkilala ang dating Provincial Tourism Operations Officer na siMariano “Bong” Palma kung saan iginawad sa kanya ang Dedication and Service Excellence Award. Ipinahayag ng Camarines Norte Provincial Tourism Office ang kanilang taos-pusong pasasalamat sa DOT Region V, sa pangunguna ni RD Herbie Aguas at ARD Maria Salee Mora, sa lahat ng mga parangal. Nagpasalamat din sila sa 12 Municipal LGUs & Municipal Tourism Officers, Provincial Government of Camarines Norte sa pangunguna ni Gov. Dong Padilla, Vice Governor Engr. Joseph Villaverde Ascutia, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members, at higit sa lahat, sa mga Tourism Stakeholders para sa kanilang patuloy na suporta. Patuloy na magsisikap ang tanggapan ng turismo ng Camarines Norte para sa ikabubuti ng kanilang minamahal na probinsya. Photo Courtesy: Cam Norte Provincial Tourism Office

LEGAZPI CITY — The Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) is set to receive the Gawad Kalasag (GK) Seal for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian Assistance for Calendar Year 2024, from the Office of the Civil Defense Regional Office 5 (OCD 5) in recognition of its exemplary disaster risk reduction and management efforts. The award will be conferred to Albay along with seven other local government units (LGUs) during a ceremony on December 12, 2024. Albay has been recognized under the “Fully Compliant LGUs” category, along with Tabaco City and the municipalities of Polangui, Daraga, and Sto. Domingo. Meanwhile, Camalig and the cities of Legazpi and Ligao are included in the “Beyond Compliant LGUs” category. The Gawad Kalasag is one of the most prestigious awards given to LGUs nationwide, acknowledging their outstanding achievements in disaster risk reduction and management, effective calamity response, and the successful implementation of disaster mitigation efforts within their jurisdictions. Albay holds a historic distinction as the first province in the country to receive this prestigious honor since the establishment of the Gawad Kalasag in 1998. In 2012, it was declared a Hall of Famer after winning three consecutive awards.          

By LJLorejo, Albay- PIO   LEGAZPI CITY – Mahigit 130 kaso na ng pertussis ang naitala ng Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development Bicol (DOH CHD) sa lalawigan ng Albay. Sa record mula sa Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Database Morbidity Week 47, mayroon ng 132 kaso ng pertussis ang naitala sa lalawigan simula nitong Enero taong kasalukuyan. Dumagdag ito ng 30 na kaso ngayong Nobyembre mula sa 102 cases na nairehistro noong buwan ng Oktubre. Paglilinaw naman ng PHO, na nasa 18 lamang sa mga ito ang laboratory-confirmed para sa mga buwan mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre. Dahil sa patuloy na naitatalang kaso ng nasabing sakit, mahigpit na iminumungkahi ng DOH-CHD na agarang magpa konsulta sa pinaka malapit na health center sakaling sabay-sabay na maramdaman ang mga sintomas gaya ng sipon, lagnat at ubo na lumala na sa loob ng isa hanggang dalawang linggo. Ang pertussis o “whooping cough” ay isang nakakahawang sakit na nakamamatay at karaniwang tumatama sa mga bata partikular na sa mga sanggol na mas bata pa sa anim na buwang gulang.    

By CMDacoro, Albay PIO LEGASPI CITY, Albay — Mahigit 600 na residente ng bayan ng Bagamanoc, Catanduanes ang naging benepisyaryo ng medical mission na hatid ng Albay Provincial Health Office (APHO) sa unang araw ng nagpapatuloy na medical mission nito,noong Nobyembre 23. Kabilang sa mga serbisyong dala ng APHO ang libreng check-up, blood pressure testing, at ECG. Patuloy rin ang pamamahagi ng opisina ng aabot sa 1,500 na sachet ng nutrition commodities kabilang ang ready-to-use therapeutic food, at ready-to-use supplementary food para sa mga batang severely, at moderately malnourished. Mayroon ding ipinamahaging higit 100 na hygiene, breastfeeding, at prenatal kits sa mga residenteng nakatira lalo na sa mga coastal areas. Bukod pa rito, nagpapatuloy rin ang pamamahagi ng daang-daang mga gamot kabilang ang mga antibiotics, analgesics, gamot sa high blood pressure, asthma, allergies, at mga bitamina. Kasama ang higit 30 katao na binubuo ng 6 na mga doctor, at mga nurses, dala rin ng Albay ang Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) team para maghatid naman ng Mental Health Support sa mga batang edad 3 hanggang 12 taon gulang na lubhang nasalanta ng nagdaang Super Typhoon (STy) Pepito.      

The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional Php196 million ($3.5 million) to support the Philippine government’s response to Tropical Storm Kristine, known internationally as Tropical Storm Trami. Through this assistance, USAID will support logistics and provide clean water, sanitation, shelter, and cash assistance to help residents in the most affected areas of Bicol and Batangas meet their basic needs.  This assistance is also supporting communities that have been affected by subsequent disasters. This new funding is in addition to the Php84 million ($1.5 million) announced in October to provide emergency shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene assistance, and critical logistics support, raising the total value of U.S. support for the Philippines’ disaster response to Php280 million ($5 million). “As your friend, partner, and ally, the United States is committed to working with the Philippine government and people as they rebuild and recover,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said. Since October 25, the United States has been working with humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving assistance to communities affected by tropical storms, typhoons, and subsequent flooding.  The Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) distributed 1,500 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,500 kitchen sets funded by USAID to disaster-affected families in Albay and Camarines Sur.  These relief items were prepositioned in the OCD humanitarian relief depot at Fort Magsaysay, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Nueva Ecija. USAID and IOM are working together to assist more than 4,000 families in the Bicol region, Ilocos region, and Batangas by providing shelter grade tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, and WASH kits.  Through USAID funding, the United Nations World Food Programme also mobilized 92 trucks that supported Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development in delivering more than 150,000 family food packs and other relief items to Albay, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union. This new assistance builds on the United States’ previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, including during catastrophic flooding in Mindanao in February, Super Typhoon Carina in July, and Super Typhoon Julian in October. Since 2010, the United States government has provided more than Php22 billion ($393.6 million) in disaster relief, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines. USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.  

By KJAbad- Albay PIO   LEGASPI CITY – Naipaabot na ng Pamahalaang Lokal ng Albay sa pamamagitan ng Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) ang tulong-pinansyal sa mga kaanak ng mga nasawi sa pananalasa ni Bagyong Kristine sa lalawigan ng Albay. Ayon kay Acting Governor Baby Glenda Ong-Bongao, personal na naibigay ni PSWDO Head Ma. Vivien A. Cea ang tig-P10, 000.00 na tulong sa mga kaanak nito. Ang nasabing halaga ay mula ibinigay na pamahalaang pambansa na pangunguna ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. Matatandaan na pito  ang naitalang nasawi sa hagupit ni bagyong Kristine sa Albay.    

By LJLorejo – Albay PIO LEGAZPI CITY, Albay — Mahigpit na binabantayan ngayon ng Provincial Health Office (PHO) ang posibleng paglabas ng mga kaso ng water-borne at respiratory diseases matapos ang matinding pag-ulan at pagbahang dulot ng nagdaang bagyong ‘Kristine’. Ayon sa initial findings ng Rapid Health Assessment (RHA) Teams ng PHO, bagaman walang kumpirmadong kaso ng leptospirosis, subalit marami ang nakitaan ng sintomas ng mga upper respiratory infections. Matatandaang idineploy ang nasabing mga RHA Teams sa mga lugar na higit na apektado ng naturang sama ng panahon, kung saan layunin nitong magsagawa ng mga health assessments upang ma-aydentipika ang mga pangunahing pangangailangang pangkalusugan at mapigilan ang potensyal na paglaganap ng mga sakit. Kaugnay nito, nagsagawa rin ng Health Teaching and Information Dissemination ang PHO, katuwang ang mga local health units tungkol sa Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), leptospirosis prevention, prevention and management ng diarrhea at prevention of upper respiratory infections. Pinangunahan rin ng PHO ang pinamimigay ng mga gamot na antibiotic gaya ng Doxycycline, mga jerry cans at hygiene kits sa mga apektadong munisipalidad at siyudad na matinding tinamaan ng bagyo sa lalawigan.

By CMDacoro, Albay PIO Legazpi City, Albay– Kabilang sa namataang rumagasa sa ilang kabahayan sa bayan ng Guinobatan ang volcanic debris matapos umapaw ang Masarawag-Maninila Channel sa kasagsagan ng pananalasa ni Tropical Storm (TS) Kristine sa lalawigan. Ito ang kinumpirma ni Engr. Dante Baclao, Provincial Engineer, at concurrent Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) Officer-In-Charge (OIC) kasunod ng isinagawang ocular inspection ng kanilang mga tauhan sa barangay Masarawag. Agad naman itong senegundahan ni Dr. Paul Karson B. Alanis, PHIVOLCS Resident Volcanologist, kasunod ng kanilang nagpapatuloy na balidasyon sa posibleng lahar flow sa mga barangay na nasa palibot ng Bulkang Mayon. Matatandaang nakapagtala ng 49 million cubic meters ng volcanic materials ang PHIVOLCS sa nagdaang pag-alburuto ng Bulkan Mayon. CMDacoro, Albay PIO

By CMDacoro-Albay PIO Legazpi City–  The Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Philippines Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Macau (PHCHAM) recently signed a Sister Chamber Agreement to strengthen economic development, trade, and industrial cooperation between Albay, Hong Kong, and Macau,on October 21. In an interview, ACCI President Rosemarie Quinto-Rey highlighted the significance of the partnership in promoting trade and facilitating joint ventures, particularly in energy and industrial development. “This partnership is very important, the last time we have 50 investors, all are willing to make investments here in Legazpi, Albay, for the first batch they intend to invest in solar farms, subdivision for OFWs, yung electronic vehicles, and they also have yung solar bike,” Quinto-Rey said. She added that these investment pledges are just part of the initial proposals for Albay, with ongoing discussions to explore potential projects in water system development. CMDacoro, Albay PI