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CENTRAL VISAYAS
DENR-7 allocates P370-M for 2013 greening program
Cebu City Hall
By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) allocated nearly P370 million for the National Greening Program (NGP) in 2013. ENR 7 regional executive million or 36.80 percent for its 9,689 into vibrant new plantations of forest director Dr. Isabelo Montejo has. target while Bohol will receive trees or agroforestry (mix of fruit and said this amount is intended for P76.199 million or 20.60 percent to cover forest trees), Montejo added. the region to reforest around 24,461 5,058 has. and Siquijor, P4.532 million or Based on the 2001-2003 satellite hectares of identified forest land up by 1.23 percent for 185 has. of forest land. images, the total forest cover of the 230 percent of this year’s 10,623-hectare NGP is on its third year of Philippines was estimated at 7.168 million target. implementation consistent with the hectares or 24.27 percent of the country’s As indicated in the physical and Aquino administration's Philippine total land area of about 30 million financial plan (PFP) for 2013 released by Development Plan (PDP). has. the Planning Management Division (PMD), This way, the government hopes that It can be recalled that DENR-7 has Cebu province will get the biggest share of by the end of six years, the program distributed and planted 7,985,542 P152.196 million or 41.15 percent should have achieved its target of seedlings which covered 10,896.10 has. covering 9,429 has. “re-greening” or transforming some 1.5 surpassing 2012’s target by three percent. Negros Oriental will get P136.103 million has. of the country’s denuded areas (mbcn/HFG-PIA 7/DENR-7)
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PhilHealth sets EPRS orientations By Juju Manubag-Empuerto CEBU CITY, Dec. 30 (PIA) -- The Collection Section of PhilHealth Regional Office-7 enjoins employers who have not yet adopted the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS) in submitting their monthly remittance reports (RF-1) to attend the orientations set in 2013.
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n a telephone interview with the Philippine Information Agency-Cebu, PhilHealth Collection Section staff Ronillie Vidad said the orientations on EPRS are set on January 11, 18, 25, 30; February 1, 8, 22, 28; March 8,15, and 22 at the PhilHealth Training Room, 7th floor of Golden Peak Hotel & Suites, Cebu City. Vidad said this was emphasized in PhilHealth Circular Nos. 25-2012 and 45-2012, requiring all employers to submit monthly remittance reports (RF-1) using the Electronic Premium Reporting System (EPRS).
EPRS is a web-based application designed for a more convenient preparation and submission of the RF-1, which has been recently enhanced into EPRS Version 2.1 effective October this year. In line with this, government agencies and business entities that have been enrolled in the EPRS from September to December 31, 2012, and have properly submitted their remittance reports on December 28 through EPRS during the promotion period are qualified to join the "Adopt EPRS and Win-a-Prize promo" event, Vidad said.
In a separate interview, Dina Cinchez, PhilHealth’s Public Relations Officer said that the “Adopt EPRS & Win-A Prize” promo is covered by Circular No. 52-2012. It is an additional incentive given by PhilHealth to employers who actively implement the EPRS as the primary tool in reporting premium contributions, Cinchez stated. Cinchez added the winners of this promo will get cash prizes of P50T for first prize, P30T for second and 20T for the third prize, subject to applicable tax regulations. (mbcn/JSME/PIA-Cebu & PhilHealth)
DTI warns sellers of sub-standard MC helmets anew By Juju Manubag-Empuerto CEBU CITY, Dec. 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) strictly enforces Republic Act 10054 or the Motorcyle Helmet Act and reiterates its warning to sellers of substandard motorcycle helmets.
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he DTI enjoins all sellers of motorcycle helmets to get their stocks or supply from manufacturers and importers that have been given the Philippine Standard (PS) license and/or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Certificate. Effective January 2, 2013, motorcycle drivers caught driving without a protective helmet bearing the ICC seal will be issued citation tickets and penalized as stated in the Helmet Act of 2009. Under Republic Act 10054 or Motorcycle Helmet Act, a new
motorcycle helmet which bears the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set by the BPS shall be made available by every seller and/or dealer every time a new motorcycle unit is purchased and which the purchaser may buy at his option. Any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard motorcycle helmets or those which do not bear the PS mark or the ICC certificate shall be punished with a fine of not less than
P3,000 for the first offense and P5,000 for the second offense, without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.” Tampering, alteration, forgery and imitation of the PS marks and the ICC certificates on the helmets shall be punished with a fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P20,000, also without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394. (mbcn/JSME/PIA-Cebu & DTI-7)