|
A national conference on decentralization and federalism
on the theme "Empowering Cities through Decentralization" will be
conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority in
Western Visayas, Jan. 23-24, at Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City.
The conference, sponsored by the Decentralization
Program of the German Development Cooperation, will be attended
by about 110 city mayors throughout the Philippines and is part
of the series of activities held in line with the proposal to amend
the 1987 Constitution, a NEDA press release said yesterday. Discussions
will focus on three parts: Decentralization in the Philippines,
Parliamentary and Federal Systems, and Empowered Cities and Metropolitan
Areas.
Inputs on countries with a history of federalism
such as Australia, Germany and Switzerland will also be provided
by guest speakers, German Ambassador Axel Weishaupt, Swiss Ambassador
Lisa Favre, First Secretary Angus Barnes of Australia, Dr. Klaus
Presley of Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Dr. Herwig Mayer of GTZ.
Dr. Rosario Manasan of the Philippine Institute
for Development Studies and Prof. Ernesto Serote of the University
of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning will present
the trends and prospects of metropolitan arrangements in the Philippines,
the press release said.
Representatives of the Metro Naga Development Council
and the Metro Iloilo Development Council will also share their views
on the future of the country under the federal system, the press
release added.*
back to top 
Surgical
mission held at Singcang
A free surgical mission was conducted by the Canlaon
Medical Society of Negros Occidental at the Brgy. Singcang-Airport
Health Center, in Bacolod City recently, a press release from the
group said yesterday.
About 54 minor surgeries, including 23 circumcisions
and 31 excision operations were performed on indigent patients who
were also given antibiotics and pain medications.
The medical team led by Dr. Erlinda de los Reyes
included Drs. Benjamin Souribio, Fritzie Juanillo, Romney Sentinar,
Sidney Iledan and John Vic Caagbay.
Surgeons from Iloilo were Gregorio Sancho Sr., Raul
Sancho and Pacifico Dalisay. Volunteer nurses were Renlo Janos and
Edgar Abonales while also helping were the barangay health workers
and student nurses from West Negros College in Bacolod supervised
by George de la Peņa, the press release added.*
back to top
Sister
Families celebrate
anniversary of projects
Officials of the Sister Families Society from Vancouver,
Canada, met with the Rotary Club of Bacolod West to celebrate the
first anniversary of the society's projects in Bacolod City recently.
Margaret MacKenzie, society president, her husband
and fellow board member, Ron, were accompanied by its treasurer
Robert Rickey and wife, Pamela, also the president-elect of the
Vancouver-Quadra Rotary Club, during the visit, a Sister Families
Society press release said yesterday.
Sister Families is an international joint project
of the Rotary International, Rotary Clubs of Bacolod West and Vancouver-Quadra,
Canada and the Sister Families Society.
It is aimed at facilitating the placement of
abandoned families into loving families in Bacolod City. The Rotary
Club of Vancouver-Quadra, Canada is the fund raiser for the project,
while the Rotary Club of Bacolod West administers it locally, the
press release said.
Nela Yu-Ybanez is the senior work consultant
for the project.
At their meeting, Mrs. MacKenzie announced that
in the first year of the project, 21 babies have been placed with
foster families in Bacolod, two-thirds of whom are being processed
for being permanently adopted by their foster parents.
The MacKenzies and the Rickeys are in Bacolod for
two weeks and are also set to meet with the Bacolod West Rotarians,
and people at the Holy Infant Nursery and those connected with the
project. Those who want to inquire about the group and its project
may call Nela Yu-Ybanez at (034) 444-1905 or log on to www.sisterfamilies.ca,
the press release added.*
back to top
|
Surgical
mission held at Singcang