25-M Pinoys now enrolled in PhilHealth

MALOLOS CITY—About 25-Million poorest Filipinos are now enrolled under the Universal Health Care Program (UHCP) of the government, Health Secretary Enrique Ona disclosed yesterday.

Ona’s disclosure came as he led the inauguration of new facilities of the Bulacan Medical Center (BMC) here which he described as the best health facility in the country operated by a provincial government.

“This year, almost all poorest Filipino families are enrolled in PhilHealth,: he said noting that said number is easily equivalent  23-M to 25-M individuals.

Ona said that the national government is paying P12-Billion a year for the premium of health insurance of poorest families.

“It only shows na hindi lang slogan yung Universal Health Care program ni Pangulong Aquino,’ he said and added that the President is really sincere in improving health care system in the country.

Ona said the key in the UHCP is the increasing enrollment of Filipinos to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), which is he said is one of the examples of public private partnership.

SLIDESHOW: Albay in my Mind

Albay in my Mind Slideshow Slideshow: TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Albay in my Mind Slideshow Slideshow ★ to Bacacay (near Sorsogon) and Legaspi City (near Donsol). Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor

Crime-prone places in Bulacan

This is based on the latest date released by Bulacan PNP on March 5.

Bulakenyo car crash victim to be repatriated next week?

MALOLOS CITY—Jeamelle Mangonon and her children were ready to go to Canada to join her husband Joey.

That dream was wiped away when Joey along with three other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) died in a road mishap on late Sunday night.

The news was devastating for Jeamelle that the only words she was able to utter in an interview on Wednesday was “please help us.”

Those words were directed to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as a request to hasten the repatriation of the bodies of the victims.

In another interview yesterday, Jeamelle repeated the same to Radyo Bulacan, but noted that Joey’s remains might be repatriated by next week.

“It might be next week, we don’t know yet, please help us,” she said in vernacular during a phone patch interview.

A resident of Barangay Bambang in Bocaue town, Jeamelle said she still do not know what to do.  She had four children with Joey.

Joey is a member of the housekeeping staff of the Coast Edmonton Plaza Hotel in Edmonton City, Alberta, Canada.

On Sunday, Joey along with fellow hotel workers Anthony Castillon, Josefina Velarde, and another unidentified Filipina died in a mishap along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway in Innisfail, some 120 kilometers north of Calgary.

Another Filipina identified as Josephine Tamondong suffered serious injuries and was rushed to Alberta Hospital.

The CBC News website said that Tyler James Stevens, the driver of the Range Rover that slammed to the victim’s Dogde Journey van is now facing multiple charges including impaired driving causing death.

It was also reported that some motorists along the Queen Elizabeth III Highway were almost hit by Steven’s vehicle who was driving northbound on a the southbound lane. 

London hosting 'greenest' Olympics says envoy

UK Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie.

MALOLOS CITY— It will be the greenest Olympics!

This was how British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie described the 2012 London Olympics that will be held in July to August this year.

Lillies remarks came when asked by this writer in an ambush interview during his recent visit here.

He said that in construction of the Olympic Park in London, the British government demanded the utilization of environment friendly technology.

This include the use of less concrete in the construction of structures and other facilities.

“We were able to reduce amount of energy in constructing the facilities through the utilization of advanced technology that reduce use of concrete,” he said.

Lillie also cited the over-all planning of the London Olympic Park which took into consideration accessibility to public transport.

He said that it was well-planned with the end goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission from private vehicles.

“Olympics is a great opportunity to bring people together around the world and we will show to them the greenest Olympics,” he said.

With regards to threats of terrorism like in the Montreal Olympics, Lillie made assurance that all participants and visitors will be safe.

He said, “terror is a fact of life, but we are fully prepared for it.”

The ambassador added that they have implemented comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a fair and enjoyable games.

With regards to Filipino Olympians, he said that he wish that they  win first Olympic gold medal in London.

Lillie also noted that while the Olympics is more than four months away and no Filipino Olympian won the old medal yet; a Filipino graphic artist won design for the Olympic commemorative coin.

This is in person of Roderick Enriquez who came from Zambaonga, City.

UK envoys eyes more trade with Bulacan

British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie holds a token from the provicial government of Bulacan led by Gov. Willy Alvarado (second from left). They were joined by officers of the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (right).

MALOLOS CITY—British Ambassador to the Philippine Stephen Lillie is looking forward for increase trade and economic relations with Bulacan.

This came as global businessmen predicted that economic opportunity and potentials of the 21^st century is in South East Asia, particularly in the Philippines.

“We look forward to strengthen our relations in with South East Asian countries, particularly the Philippines, and increase trade and economic relations in Bulacan,” Lillie said in a recent visit here.

The ambassador said that one of the areas that they are looking into is in the development of renewable energy.

He said, the country is a global leader in geothermal energy and has potentials for wind and biomas energy developments;  while Bulacan is one of the leading provinces in the country as far as hydropower generation is concern.

This is due to 246 megawatt Angat River Hydro Electric Power Plant (Arhepp) located in Norzagaray town.

“Bulacan has so much potentials and opportunities in renewable energy development. With more opportunities, I believe more British companies will come here,” he said.

Lillie said that British businessmen are looking for more opportunity renewable energy development.

“Its part of our plant to be less reliant on oil and gas and to have energy security,” the ambassador said.

He added that renewable energy is not only environment friendly, but a step towards combating impacts of climate change.

He cited the aftermath of typhoons Pedring and Quiel in the province last year nnotinf that climate change is increasing probability of similar severe weather conditions in the world.

Meanwhile, Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado welcomed Lillie’s move to foster stronger relations with Bulacan

He said that British businessmen are welcome in the province noting that there are few that has already established business in Bulacan.

Alvarado also said that closer relations with Britain will give opportunity for Bulakenyos to join cultural exchange program in the future.

At present, at least nine British students has been undergoing community immersion in Hagonoy town facilitated through the Global Exchange program.

More British students are expected to arrive in April in the City of San Jose del Monte under the British Global citizen program.  

Trip to island village of Pugad

It was a cloudy Sunday morning, the sun is hardly up, but i was already at the old Hagonoy Public market where the passenger boat for the coastal village of Pugad is anchored.

  

The boat can fit 60 persons and supposed to leave by 7AM, but 30 minutes before, it was almost full.  The pilot and his two men were busy loading cargoes of their passengers on the boat.

I asked the guy on the steps, and he confirmed that its the first trip for Pugad, which at least one hour boat ride from the Hagonoy town proper.

I stepped on the boat and found an empty seat in front, just behind the cargoes.  I thought it was a good seat. I can shoot a lot of photos along the way and see a different perspective of how people on riverside and coastal communities lives.

But my excitement was coupled with some concerns as more people and cargoes came. The pilot said they will fit, but some older passengers expressed concern that we may capsize along the way.  Some even cited their sad experience.

I didnt say anything.  I just listened to them.  One even teased a gay passenger saying "ikaw lang ang bumigay sa Pugad." I secretly smiled knowing that an island village is a close knit community, each one knows another, eve in the boat, and Im the odd man.

I was born and raised in the coastal town of Hagonoy, and as journalist I have travel almost all places in my home province of Bulacan, but this trip was my first to Pugad, one of the two coastal villages of Hagonoy.

As the engine of the boat roared away from the river bank, I mind wondered what will I see in the next three hours.