Vol 4 Issue 10 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 March 10 - 16, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue DSWD spends P3-B worth of aid in Yolanda affected communities

WV projects gear up for ASEAN 2015

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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PhilHealth adopts reclassification of hospitals, health facilities

BY: HAZEL F. GLORIA CEBU CITY, March 12 (PIA) --- The Philippine Health

Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) adopts the new classification of hospitals and other health facilities of the Department of Health (DOH).

Due to the reassessment of these facilities' capabilities, PhilHealth can pay only those services within its licensed functional capacity to provide such as those members may still avail of the Maternity Care Package provided that the pregnant woman has had at least four pre-natal visits in the facility, and the Newborn Care Package for the medically necessary care of healthy newborns.

PhilHealth, as a general rule, does not pay for conditions or procedures treated or performed beyond the licensed functional capacity of a facility.

With the reclassification and downgrading brought about by the new DOH policy, some conditions and procedures are no longer within certain facility's licensed functional capacity.

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2012-0012 on the New Classification of Hospitals and Other Health Facilities in the Philippines, DOH now classifies health facilities as hospitals (Levels 1 to 3), specialty hospitals and other facilities, such as primary care, custodial care, diagnostic/therapeutic, and specialized out-patient.

With these changes, some hospitals previously classified as Level 1 or Level 2 are no longer considered hospital facilities

based on their functional capacity. Hence, these are now classified as primary care facilities.

As stated in Rule V .B. 2. a. of DOH AO 2012-0012, a primary care facility offers basic services including emergency service and provision for normal deliveries.

It can have in-patient beds where patients can be admitted for a short period of one to three days (e.g. infirmary, birthing home), or without bed where medical treatment and minor surgical procedures are rendered without confining the patient (e.g. medical out-patient clinic).

Members may also avail of select medical case rates in primary care facilities, such as Dengue I (P5,600), Pneumonia I (P10,500), Essential Hypertension (P6,300), Acute Gastroenteritis with moderate/sever dehydration (P4,200), Asthma (P6,300), and Typhoid fever (P9,300). The new rates started on January 1, 2014.

Cases that need further management must be referred by the primary care facility to hospitals, except in emergency cases when immediate management is needed or transfer to another facility is not possible due to the unstable condition of the patient.

In Cebu province, there are 26 hospitals that are no longer classified as hospitals but primary care facilities.

In Bohol province, at least 13 hospitals were also affected, eight in Negros Oriental and one in Siquijor. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/PHIC)

By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 7 (PIA) – Close to P3

billion worth of humanitarian aid has been released by the Philippine Government for Yolanda affected communities in Eastern Visayas.

In a press conference held recently during her visit to this city, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said, the amount was used in the implementation of the cash for work program, shelter kits and relief/food packs distribution from the time the operation began in November days after Yolanda ravaged most areas of the region until today.

Meanwhile, the Secretary has clarified some issues relative to the international aid being poured in the country

particularly in Yolanda affected areas.. According to her, foreign aids coming from other

countries go directly to various International Non-Government Organizations who are extending help in areas devastated by the typhoon.

“A foreign aid is not being coursed through their agency as what others had claimed”, Soliman said.

She even pointed out the financial aid of USAID worth US$ 87, 735, 775 that went directly to different International NGOS such as Action Aid, Action Against Hunger, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, Catholic Relief Services, Handicap International, International Organization for Migration, OCHA, OXFAM, Plan International, UNICEF, UN and NGO’s World Food Programme. (PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

PNP-6 Regional Director PCSupt. Josephus Angan tells members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) that through the 2-day Regional Assessment and Lessons Learning Workshop held in Iloilo City, March 13 they could discuss and improve operations to be more effective in terms of rescue, relief and rehabilitation to mitigate the effects of disasters and climate change. (PIA 6/EJB)

More than 500 rural folks from Matuginao came for the medical-dental services offered by the army-police-Samar LGU team-up thru Dr Maribel Pedrigal-Chief of Samar Provl Hospital as part of the peace and development caravan to Matuguinao, Samar held recently.

PIA Bohol and International Organization for Migration facilitates or allows a civil society-government connect to address the information gap between governments and quake victims. The FGD also allows government to gather first hand information and issues from the evacuation centers. Present were International Federation of the Red Cross, International Organizations for Migration (IOM), Inabanga MDRRMC Officer, Ma. Rosario Barangay Chairman Nestor Tagbi-laran, PIA and community sector representatives. (PIA Bohol)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, March 12 (PIA6) --- Numerous

government projects being implemented in Western Visayas will help ensure sustained progress here and attain full benefits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic community by 2015.

The ASEAN envisions an economic community (EC) in 2015 characterized by a single market and production base, competitive economic region, equitable economic development, and integrated into the global economy.

In his keynote address during the Western Visayas Forum on AEC 2015 held Tuesday, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Arsenio Balisacan said the government continues to improve business climate, promote an environment that increases productivity and innovative capacity, enforce regulations on consumer welfare and further enhance market access.

Balisacan said that Western Visayas has ample share of government projects that can help sectors and stakeholders here respond to the challenge of AEC 2015.

He said that Region 6 being a major player in the tourism industry can benefit from the development of strategic tourism products in tourism cluster destinations which expand visitor’s expenditure and length of stay.

He said with AEC, we can expect to reach out to a wider tourism market to further boost several major destinations in the region including the world famous Boracay Island, Guimaras Island, and the southern Negros island attractions.

He also said that Iloilo Airport will also be expanded to cater to more domestic and international passengers and cargo.

“Construction of roads leading to tourism destinations are being undertaken through the Department of Tourism

(DOT)- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence Project that includes the expansion of the Iloilo-Capiz-Kalibo highway,” he said.

The APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) ministerial meetings that may take place in 2015 in Iloilo City, Bacolod City, and Boracay Island could boost tourism receipts.

The NEDA official also shared that the ports of Caticlan in Aklan, Dumangas in Iloilo, and Banago in Negros Occidental will be expanded and modernized to accommodate more traffic of cargo trucks, vans, and passenger bus as part of the country’s roll-on, roll-off (RORO) highway.

"The government will also nurture the Filipino talent pool by promoting and accelerating the development of high-value information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) services and the “next-wave” cities", he said.

According to the Department of Science and Technology and the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Iloilo City is part of the ten "next wave cities" considered rising investment areas for business process outsourcing (BPO) firms.

Bacolod City was also named a Center of Excellence, joining Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Clark. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

National Economic Development Authority Director-General Arsenio Balisacan delivers the keynote address during the Western Visayas Forum on ASEAN Economic Community 2015 held Tuesday at Smallville 21 Hotel here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)