Newsbriefs

US firm donates water filtration units for typhoon victims

A US-based water filtration company will donate 60 water filtration machines worth more than P3 million to typhoon-hit areas in northern Cebu and eastern Visayas.

Mark Hogg, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of WaterStep, said his company coordinated with non-government organizations (NGOs) and churches to deliver the equipment to the country.

The M-100 water filtration units costs US $1,000 each. A training on how to use the machines will be held at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Sacred Heart School for Boys in General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City today until Monday next week.

Hogg said the portable water filtration units can produce 250 liters in a minute or about 10,000 gallons per day and it comes with its own generator.

It can also be powered with a truck battery, Hogg said. /Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Bigger budget for Ambulances

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has asked the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) to increase its allocation for the operation of ambulances in Cebu’s provincial and district hospitals.

PB member Jude Durano-Sybico said he received complaints from his constituents in Cebu’s 5th district that they were charged with P200 to P300 to pay for the use of an ambulance.

IPHO head Cynthia Genesolango confirmed that district hospitals ask for fuel charges due to its limited funds.

“Each hospital has to stretch their P20,000 budget for the fuel of the ambulance and that’s for the whole year,” she told PB members.

PB Member and budget committee chairperson Grecilda Sanchez said they will retain Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III’s P2.4 billion proposal to include a bigger budget for the province’s hospitals. /Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos

Bogo City families receive cash aid

ABOUT 13 families in Bogo City who lost a loved one due to supertyphoon Yolanda were given cash assistance by the national government last Tuesday afternoon.

Each family received P10,000 from the national government that was coursed through the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) and Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr.

The ceremonial distribution took place at the Paaralang Sentral ng Bogo 1.

Bogo City is one of the towns hit by supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), losing homes, property and several lives.

Only Candelaria Arpon, a 44-year old mother whose 24-year old son died at the height of Yolanda’s wrath made it during the ceremony.

Arpon, a resident of barangay Libertad, now lives with her daughter-in-law and her two grandchildren.

Mayor Martinez also gave a certificate of appreciation to the Israeli contingent for helping Bogo City. /Correspondent Bjorn Abraham Tabanera