Category: General

SEOUL: Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday that the government will deploy additional military surgeons and public health doctors to help cope with the prolonged walkout by junior doctors.

Over 90 percent of the country’s 13,000 junior doctors have been on mass resignations for more than a month, protesting against the government’s decision to increase the medical school quota, leading to the cancellation of crucial surgeries and crippling the medical system.

“(The government) will provide support by deploying 247 additional public health officials and military medical officers next Monday to address the health care gap triggered by the collective action of medical professionals,” Han said during a meeting with relevant officials at the government complex in Seoul.

A total of 413 military and public health doctors will be deployed across hospitals.

Han also outlined plans for the government to establish a center at the National Medical Center in Seoul to assist clinics employing retired doctors.

Desp
ite threats of a general strike from the largest doctors’ group, the government announced on Wednesday that 82 percent of the additional 2,000 medical school seats will be allocated to 27 universities outside the broader capital region.

The remaining 18 percent will be distributed to five medical schools located in Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul and the western port city of Incheon, with no allocation for schools within Seoul.

“(The government) will ensure that measures are meticulously prepared to support the smooth progress of medical education without compromising its quality due to the increase in seats,” Han said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ILOILO CITY: Emergency employment provided under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) has helped Iloilo City sustain its cleanup campaign.

Gabriel Felix Umadhay, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) manager for Iloilo City, said they target to provide emergency employment to about 6,000 displaced workers this year.

“They are the ones that usually augment the cleanliness efforts of the city throughout the year,” he said in an interview on Friday.

He noted that every time there are disasters and calamities, those employed under TUPAD are the ones helping in the cleanup activities, fast-tracking the clearing operations.

For this year, the first batch of beneficiaries consisted of 900 displaced workers who rendered service during weekdays from Feb. 21 until March 7.

They received their payment of PHP4,800 each during the payout on Monday.

The payout was attended by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who facilitated the release of funding for the project in Iloilo City throug
h the Department of Labor and Employment and Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

“They were deployed in their respective barangays. We deployed them in their respective barangays to clean their surroundings and public places near them like esplanade, plazas, and sidewalks,” Umadhay said, adding that the emergency employment helped beneficiaries provide for their family’s daily needs.

Other beneficiaries are those who temporarily stopped schooling so they could earn and save up money for their school fees.

“Through this program, we help our beneficiaries to jumpstart and go back to their economic activities through Bayanihan. They help the city government and the city also helps them,” he said, expressing hope that they would be able to secure more support from legislators to sustain the program in the city.

Last year, more than 17,317 displaced and disadvantaged Ilonggos availed of the program.

Umadhay said the PESO is focused on providing short- and long-term employment.

Those availing of short-term employment can
secure long-term opportunities through the monthly job fair of PESO so they need not rely on government assistance, he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos are both ‘in a comfortable state’ even though they are still exhibiting flu-like symptoms, Malacañang announced Friday.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the First Couple is showing notable improvements, maintaining ‘stable’ vital signs.

‘They remain in a comfortable state. Both have received advice to continue their prescribed medications, ensure adequate fluid intake, and prioritize rest,’ the PCO said.

The PCO said Marcos and the First Lady’s medical team will closely monitor their progress until they fully recover.

‘We appreciate the public’s concern and well wishes. Further updates will be provided as necessary,’ it said.

The PCO announced Wednesday that the First Couple, who went to Germany and Czech Republic last week, has been advised to take medication and some rest after developing flu-like symptoms.

Marcos had to call off his public engagements following the announcement on his health
condition.

Prior to the announcement, Marcos had a full schedule on Monday and Wednesday, including his attendance to the World Economic Forum and meeting with United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

The PCO on Thursday said Marcos continues to work in his residence at Malacañan despite his condition and might resume his full public engagements soon.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LAOAG CITY: Some Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households have been assured to get solar lights after more than 2,000 runners from this city joined the fund-raising fun run held from Laoag City Hall to Buttong road here Friday.

Lervie Jane Balalio, 4Ps city link of the DSWD, told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that the activity is in line with the continuing Women’s Month celebration, which promotes gender equality and empowering women to help themselves.

“Our goal is to empower these individuals and families by providing them with solar panels and ensuring that they have sustainable and reliable energy sources,’she said.

Balalio said most of the participants are 4Ps beneficiaries themselves, who gamely joined the Zumba workout in front of the city hall before they completed the three-kilometer race.

Each participant registered for a fee of PHP250 which covers an advocacy shirt and snack.

‘It’s just a small amount but I hope my participation made an impact to the beneficiaries,’ said Ve
ronica Julian, a young runner from Laoag City.

Last year, another fun run was organized and the proceeds were used to provide 4Ps beneficiaries with climate-resilient toilets.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Quang Tri: The central province of Quang Tri is mobilising resources and focusing on implementing solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through natural forest protection and afforestation.

Quang Tri is one of six provinces in the north central region piloting the trading of carbon credits, and the financial management of payment agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with Decree No. 107/2022/ND-CP 2022 of the Government.

The province currently has five natural forests managed by local communities that are certified for sustainable forest development and management by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), as well as for ecosystem services in terms of carbon absorption and storage with a total area of 2,145 hectares, providing carbon absorption of 7,000 tonnes a year and storage of about 350,000 tonnes.

In the 2023 – 2025 period, the province is paid 51 billion VND (2 million USD) from forest carbon absorption and storage services, thanks to its engagement in reducing emissions th
rough forest protection. The money is used to pay for forest management and protection, and afforestation. The province has allocated about 20,000 hectares out of over 126,000 hectares of natural forests to more than 100 communities and nearly 1,000 households to manage and protect.

On March 19, the provincial People’s Committee approved a project on conserving, restoring and improving ecosystem services of carbon absorption and storage of community-managed natural forests, sponsored by Etifor S.r.l.Benefit Company of Italy’s Padua University with a total capital of 6.5 billion VND. The project will be implemented in the mountainous area in the north of Huong Hoa district until February 2028./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ninh Binh: Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh on March 21 held a consultation conference to collect opinions on its plan for developing ecotourism in the 2023-2030 period and to introduce a set of mascots for the run Jungle Paths 2024.

Under the plan proposed by the national park, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation are considered the most important tasks of the park and the central point to develop tourism services and environmental education on the park’s biodiversity, wildlife, and endemic species.

The proposed plan also includes measures to promote cultural and historical values to diversify tourism products and experiences.

Speaking at the conference, Director Nguyen Van Chinh said that the park, established in 1962, is the first national park in Vietnam that has successfully provided tourism services with programmes and products promoting forest values.

However, new social contexts and trends require concerted access to ecotourism products, nature-exper
iencing activities, indigenous community culture, and environmental protection messages.

Director of the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Chinh Nghia said that Cuc Phuong National Park has been well coordinated with the local community, particularly those living in the buffer zone in forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and tourism development.

He emphasised that it is necessary to minimise the impacts of tourism activities on the ecosystem and the wildlife in the park and ensure balance and harmony between tourism development and environmental conservation.

Also at the conference, the park launched the set of mascots used in the Jungle Paths 2024 Run, which are stylised images of wildlife animals including keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla), Cuc Phuong red-bellied squirrel, white-rumped langur, and clouded leopard./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency