Author: DAVAO TODAY

This author has written 3251 articles

Workforce Crisis Endangering Public Health: WHO

At least 1.3 billion people worldwide lack access to the most basic healthcare, often because there is no health worker. The shortage is global, but the burden is greatest in countries overwhelmed by poverty and disease where these health workers are needed most.

MANILA ? A serious shortage of health workers in many countries is impairing the provision of essential life-savings interventions such as childhood immunization, safe pregnancy, and access to treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.? This shortage, combined with a lack of training and knowledge, is also a major obstacle for health systems as they attempt to respond effectively to chronic diseases, avian influenza and other health challenges, according to The World Health Report 2006 – Working Together for Health, published today, April 7, by the World Health Organization (WHO).

(more…)

Continue ReadingWorkforce Crisis Endangering Public Health: WHO

Talaingod Lumads Complete Kalahi Projects

TALAINGOD, Davao Del Norte — The communities of Sto. Ni?o, Tibi-tibi, Salawao, Misolong, Cabadiangan, Palma Gil, Butay, Dagohoy and Tibucag of Talaingod town, Davao Del Norte, recently completed nine projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), the flagship program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

(more…)

Continue ReadingTalaingod Lumads Complete Kalahi Projects

Undaunted by Declining Job Prospects, Hundreds Troop to the Mall

Related Stories
One in Four College Grads This Year Will Be Jobless
GMA’s Birthday Wish: More Jobs for Filipinos
Cha-cha may worsen unemployment, says Ibon

Story by Germelina A. Lacorte
Photos by Barry Ohaylan
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY — Lured by the promise of exciting jobs in travel and tourism, thousands of jobseekers trooped this week to a tourism jobs fair in a shopping mall here. Tourism secretary Ace Durano said the fair would create 33,000 jobs for the travel and tourism-related industries nationwide.

Among those who lined up was Peter Premallon, a 21-year-old BS Mathematics graduate from Sultan Kudarat, who has just ended his teaching contract with the Mati Polytechnic College in Davao Oriental in March. ?Private schools are no longer hiring regular teachers now, so, I’m trying my luck,? he said.

He could no longer afford to be choosy, Premallon said. He will look for a job here or abroad. He will even work as clerk for an oil company, if no other option comes his way.

(more…)

Continue ReadingUndaunted by Declining Job Prospects, Hundreds Troop to the Mall

In Valencia, Mayor Gags Critical Commentator

Joash Dignos, a commentator critical of the mayor, said he continued broadcasting because he thought that was the only way to prevent the official from harming him. ?I had to continue it, to inform the people about every step he was doing,? he said. ?It was my refuge.?

Story and pictures by Grace Cantal-Albasin
davaotoday.com

Dignos steps out of his station under the watchful eye of Galario's men. VALENCIA CITY ? A radio station was ordered closed by the mayor of this city on Wednesday, who claimed that the station had been operating without a business permit.

But witnesses said the target of the mayor?s ire was a commentator of the station who had been very critical of him.

Mayor Jose Galario Jr. and his men stormed DXVR, a station of Radio Mindanao Network, at past 9 o?clock in the morning on Wednesday after Joash Dignos, the anchorman of the Kuskos Batikos program, refused to stop broadcasting his program despite an earlier closure order by Galario.

Dignos said he continued broadcasting because he thought that was the only way to prevent Galario from harming him. ?I had to continue it, to inform the people about every step he was doing,? Dignos said. ?It was my refuge.?

(more…)

Continue ReadingIn Valencia, Mayor Gags Critical Commentator

People?s Initiative Under False Pretenses

Based on reports citing the unscrupulous ways that the signatures were gathered, it seems not everyone is boarding the Cha-cha ?train? voluntarily.

By Michael Goyagoy
Ibon Features

MANILA ? Although Malaca?ang denies having anything to do with it, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo recently declared her support for charter change through the people?s initiative. In typical fashion, Arroyo likened the people?s initiative to a train that has already left the station, and warned those who oppose it to get out of the way or be run over. But based on reports citing the less-than-scrupulous ways the signatures were gathered, it seems that not everyone is on the Cha-cha ?train? voluntarily.

Charter change through a people?s initiative requires gathering some 12% of registered voters or 4.8 million signatures, with no less than 3% in any congressional district throughout the Philippines. When the necessary number of signatures is gathered and verified, a plebiscite can be held on changing provisions in the 1987 Constitution shifting the form of government from presidential to parliamentary.

(more…)

Continue ReadingPeople?s Initiative Under False Pretenses