Subic bay news vol 12 no 09 15.00Php Pacific Partnership 2019 Concludes Mission Stop in Philippines From Pacific Partnership 2019 Public Affairs TACLOBAN, Philippines (NNS) -- Senior mission leadership, host nation and partner nation personnel attended the closing ceremony of the second Pacific Partnership 2019 (PP19) mission stop in Tacloban, Philippines, March 22. “Each Pacific Partnership line of effort – engineering, medical, host na- tion outreach, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief – has been instru- mental in working alongside their Phil- ippine counterparts for a greater good,” said Capt. Randy Van Rossum, commo- dore, Destroyer Squadron 1, the mis- sion commander for Pacific Partnership 2019. “They’ve worked collaboratively to enhance host nation capability, build regional relationships and exercise a collective ability to respond to disaster emergencies.” During the two-week mission stop in the Philippines, U.S., partner na- tion military members and non-govern- mental organization volunteers conduct- ed more than 40 subject matter expert exchanges, worked more than 1,500 hours on two evacuation center con- struction projects, hosted 15 U.S. Pacific Fleet and host nation band performanc- es, engaged with more than 7,000 Taclo- ban students and residents, and includ- ed more than 300 personnel in the final collaborative disaster relief exercise. “Alone we can do so little,” said Jerry Yaokasin, vice mayor of the city of TACLOBAN, Philippines “ Senior U.S and Philippine leaders at the Pacific Partnership 2019 closing ceremony pose for a photo. Pacific Tacloban. “But we’ve proven here that Partnership, now in its 14th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mis- together, all of us, we can do so much. sion conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friend- see PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2019, page 02 ships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Burgains) Biggest int’l pyromusical show in Clark RJG to hospitals: “Don’t follow Baypointe’s footstep” Senator Richard J. Gordon warned areas for humanitarian consideration. both public and private hospitals against Gordon wrote a letter to the DOH committing unjust practices or they could after getting a complaint that the hospital also be sanctioned like the ACE Medical billed an ICU patient almost P200,000 for Center – Baypointe in the Subic Freeport blood and blood services alone. Not only which he lodged a complaint against be- did it charge exorbitant fees for blood, it fore the Department of Health. also required blood coming from the Phil- Gordon said the DOH has revoked ippine Red Cross to be re-tested. its permit to operate blood service facilities The Blood Manual of Baypointe and ordered the downgrading of the said states that all blood products from anoth- hospital from being a second level medi- er facility shall be tested. In their letter of cal facility to mere infirmary since second explanation, they admitted that they have level hospitals are required to maintain a been conducting retesting of blood prod- blood service facility to maintain its cur- ucts coming from another blood service rent level. facility. The DOH said this is a clear viola- “Baypointe was found to be liable tion of the department’s existing rules and for violating various administrative orders regulations on prohibition on re-testing of pertaining to the dispensation of blood, blood products obtained from a licensed hence it’s license to operate a blood ser- blood center. vice facility was revoked prompting its “This should serve as a warning downgrading. As a consequence, the hos- to all hospitals – both public and private. pital could not accept new admissions to it Stop committing unjust practices, such as intensive care unit, neonatal intensive area charging exorbitant fees for blood, requir- unit and its high-risk pregnancy unit once ing re-testing of blood coming from the PYROMUSICAL SHOW. Canada paints the night sky with bursting colors, with its very the downgrading is implemented. PRC, among others. Don’t add any more own “Fireworks Spectaculars” during the ongoing 10th Philippine International Py- Current patients at the ICU, NICU, burden to your patients. Adhere to your romusical Competition (PIPC) at the SM Clark in Pampanga. (Photo by Marna Dagum- HRPU of the hospital will be continuously Hippocratic Oath or you could be severely boy del Rosario) managed and treated at their respective sanctioned,” Gordon warned. CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga –- The 10th The contenders are Germany’s, Philippine International Pyromusical Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerke; Belgium’s CBF Competition (PIPC) has wowed thou- Pyrotechnics; Portugal’s Pirotecnia Min- RDC OKs Proposed 2020 budget sands of spectators since its first week- hota; France’s Brezac Artifices; Finland’s end show last February 23. Oy Pyroma; Viviano S.R.L. of Italy; Unit- of Central Luzon SUCs Touted to be the grandest and ed Kingdom’s Pyrotex Fireworx; Canada’s IBA, Zambales -- Regional Development gional Director and RDC Vice Chairperson biggest international pyromusical com- Fireworks Spectaculars; China’s Polar- Council (RDC) endorsed the proposed Leon M. Dacanay Jr. said. petition, the annual event - which was is Fireworks and Poland’s Surex Firma 2020 budget of the 11 state universities 2TBA is an approach that sepa- moved from the SM Mall of Asia to SM Rodzinna. and colleges based in Central Luzon. rates evaluation of agency proposals for City Clark - will be held until March 30. Last weekend, it was Canada’s “The Budget Call for FY 2020 pro- ongoing programs and projects (Tier 1) and SM Supermalls' decision to move turn to paint the night sky with burst- vides in the Expenditure Management new spending proposals and expansion of Framework the continued adoption of the ongoing programs and projects (Tier 2). the competition to SM Clark is in full ing colors, with its very own “Fireworks following administrative reforms for great- “The focus of RDC’s review is on support of the ongoing Manila Bay Re- Spectaculars”. The contender from China er budget transparency and reliability: agency Tier 2 proposals in terms of con- habilitation Program of the Department likewise stunned the huge crowd. a) Annual Cash-based Budgeting System, sistency with and responsiveness to the of Environment and Natural Resources During the opening day last b) Two-Tier Budgeting Approach (2TBA), desired development outcomes and strat- (DENR). month, the Philippines’ very own Plat- c) Program-based budgeting structure egies as enunciated in the Regional Devel- SM City Clark Mall manager inum Fireworks Inc. took the sky and through the Program Expenditure Classi- opment Plan 2017-2022,” Dacanay added. Andrea Francesca Madlangbayan said opened the festival with an amazing fication Approach, and institutionalization Among those who got the RDC the PIPC has entries from 10 countries, drone exhibition show. Belgium’s CBF Py- of the Program Convergence Budgeting nod include Aurora State College of Tech- strategy in the budget process to link, nology- P229.05 million, Bataan Peninsula which take on a battle of breathtaking rotechnics then presented its entry that harmonize and synchronize the timing of State University- P651.07 million, Bulacan fireworks performances amid a sympho- left the spectators in awe. critical program interventions,” National ny of sounds. see PYROMUSICAL SHOW, page 02 Economic and Development Authority Re- see 2020 BUDGET, page 02 Subic Bay News www.subicbaynews.com 02 U.S., Tagbilaran City AboitizPower utility sees bright prospects in franchise area Partner to Expand Access AboitizPower-led distribution utility Cotabato Light and Power to Safe Drinking Water Co. (CLPC) sees rosy prospects in its franchise area in the medium term as robust economic growth continues to spread across the country. CLPC projects to grow its demand by 8.47 percent this year in anticipation of several big loads soon to be covered by its franchise area. Demand within the Cotabato-based utili- ty grew by 14 percent to 32 MW in 2018 from 28 MW in 2017. Its customer base grew by a mod- est 1.3 percent from 41,110 in 2017 to 41,645 in 2018. “We are very pleased with our growth in 2018 and maintain this trajectory moving forward. We’ve seen impressive economic growth in Cotabato City, driven by the government’s Tagbilaran City officials at Tagbilaran City’s World Water Day efforts to bring in investors over celebration, led by Mayor John Geesnell Yap (fifth from left) the past few years,” said Cotaba- KEEPING UP WITH PROGRESS. Cotabato Light continues to upgrade its systems and joined by USAID representatives Marian Cruz-Navata to Light vice president and chief so it can support the growing power demand in its franchise area (fourth from left) and Bernadette Cariaga (second from left). With USAID assistance, the city government has improved operating officer Ben Caro C. Arkoncel. respective franchise areas of its utilities, AboitizPower water services, including upgrading water pipes and the me- These include the facilities and offices of the has set aside P3.1 billion to modernize its existing distri- tering system. Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Bangko Sentral bution assets across the country. Tagbilaran City— The U.S. government, through the U.S. ng Pilipinas, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, “We want to take advantage of the robust eco- Agency for International Development (USAID), joined as well as a factory, mall, and hotel, among others. nomic growth in our franchise areas by making sure Tagbilaran City and Maynilad Water Services Inc. to cel- Cotabato Light showed improvement in reliabil- power is delivered to our customers reliably, sustain- ebrate World Water Day.