Media slam Philippine audit official

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 20, 2010) – Local journalists have decried the arrogance of a senior government official who was accused of berating a radio reporter while trying to get an interview.

Roberto Marquez, regional director of the Commission on Audit in Western Mindanao, berated Santos Cortez, of the Radio Mindanao Network, who phoned the official Wednesday and introduced himself politely.

The reporter told Marquez that he wanted to interview him on several issues, but the official, his voice slightly rose and said: “I don’t know if what you’re saying is true, I am in the blind, I do not know who the hell you are. You maybe a kidnapper or an extortionist, you better come to my office and show your face and I can talk to you.”

“On the phone, I do not know who the devil you are? You maybe using somebody else’s name, how could I verify this? I am not sure who I am talking to and if you want to discuss anything with me, but who the hell I am talking to? You come to my office and I will talk to you,” Marquez said.

The whole conversation was later aired by the Radio Mindanao Network and drew various reactions from the public. The radio station said it would file a complaint with the Commission on Audit central office in Manila and the Civil Service Commission.

Francisco Duque, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said he will have the matter investigated and also urged the radio network to file a complaint with the Commission on Audit under Chairman Rey Villar.

“We should bring this matter also Chairman Rey Villar, of the Commission on Audit, so he can order an investigation into this director. This director is shameless as if he is not a public servant,” Duque said.

“He should resign because his behavior is unethical and there is no room for arrogant people in public service. President (Benigno) Aquino should act on this,” said Joseph Zosobrado, a television cameraman.

“He is a bad example to civil servants. He should not be in the government service,” said Jung Francisco, manager of the regional newspaper, Mindanao Examiner.

It was the second time that a civil employee was criticized for their unethical behavior.

A senior employee of the Philippines’ National Statistics Office in Zamboanga City was also criticized after she shouted at a man trying to get legal documents.

The National Statistics Office is a recognized world-class provider of statistical and civil registration products and services.

The whole scene was recorded on a cell phone and uploaded in the Internet video sharing websiteyoutube.com and can be accessed on this URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qD7WPsh2hw.

The unidentified woman was so angry at the man that she started shouting at him and in front of many clients while her microphone is turned on.

Various comments and criticisms were posted on the YouTube channel of Johoranz, who was believed to have uploaded the video on June 11. The video was branded as “NSO Zamboanga Scandal.”

“You can see (in this video) the kind of civil servants we have at the NSO Zamboanga. It was so shameful and almost all people wanting to get legal documents at this government agency were berated and shouted by this woman,” he said on his YouTube channel which can also be access on this URL http://www.youtube.com/user/johonranz. (Mindanao Examiner)

RP reports first case of A-H1N1 virus

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / May 22, 2009) – Philippine authorities have confirmed the country’s first case of influenza A (H1N1) after a ten-year old girl was tested positive for the virus.

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the girl has recovered and would be discharged from the hospital soon. The unnamed girl arrived from the United States with her parents in the Philippines on May 18.

It was unknown how many people came in contact with the girl.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Arroyo has reiterated her directive to the Department of Health, the Bureau of Immigration and other concerned government agencies to “stay on top of this issue and keep her always updated.”

He said health authorities were already retracing the “girl’s tracks in order to identify and contain the possible path of infection” to stop the virus from spreading.

The Philippine News Agency also reported the government had undertaken a comprehensive range of immigration precautions and public health measures to protect the country against the spread of the virus.

“Unfortunately, the global village is getting smaller every day, and so it was just a matter of time before the virus caught up with us. Now that it is here, we must become even more vigilant and continue to observe common sense, precautions to avoid catching the disease or spreading it to others,” Remonde said.

The World Health Organization said at least 41 countries have reported more than 11,000 cases and 85 deaths since the breakout of the virus in La Gloria, Mexico early this year. (Mindanao Examiner)

DOH inks agreement with ARMM to implement health investment plan

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 23, 2009) - The Department of Health (DOH) has signed Thursday a memorandum of agreement with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for the implementation of the Investment Plan for Health (IPH) in an effort to further improve the health sector in the five provinces under the ARMM.

The MOA stipulates the relationship of the DOH and the autonomous regional government in the exchange of resources and investment for health in the ARMM. It also formalized the alliance for health sector reform implementation in the autonomous region.

The ARMM IPH is a strategic framework geared towards the improvement of health services in the region and the plan is based on the FOURmula One for Health program, a medium term roadmap for health sector reforms in the Philippines covering 2005-2010.

“We recognize the need for a comprehensive reform of the health sector. Our people, regardless of economic background, deserve appropriate and quality health service,” ARMM Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan said in a statement.

He also cited President Gloria Arroyo’s continuing support for the ARMM’s peace and development efforts.

The MOA essentially covers the release of funds or commodities and report of expenditures and the implementation of programs, projects and activities, including the utilization of resource transfers, and the working arrangements and procedures for its implementation, according to the ARMM Bureau of Public Information.

DOH-ARMM Secretary Tahir Sulaik said the high incidence of maternal and infant mortality, malnourishment and other health problems are their biggest problems.

Sulaik said with the ARMM IPH, the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi would be receiving proper and efficient health services because it provides for strategies for governance, service delivery, financing and regulation of the region’s health sector.

Sulaik said they hope the ARMM IPH would finally allow them to cater efficiently to the health needs of people in the region and even those in remote communities with the creation of more “Botika ng Barangay”, rural health units and construction and improvement of hospitals and other health facilities.

While DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said with the ARMM’s high poverty incidence and long history of armed conflict, they are now giving top priority to the region. He also announced during the signing ceremony held at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City, the transfer of P17-million to DOH-ARMM as initial funding for the implementation of the ARMM IPH.

Ampatuan expressed full commitment to the implementation of the ARMM IPH and the FOURmula One for Health program, adding that for the region to move forward and establish economic gains, crucial health sector reforms must first be achieved. (Mindanao Examiner)