DoH leads talks on lessons learned from EU health programmes, inputs for Universal Healthcare Law implementation in PH

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The Department of Health (DoH), together with the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), recently held discussions on EU support to the Philippine health sector reform agenda, particularly key learnings from two budget support programmes implemented by the EU in the Philippines. The event took place last June 3 at the Manila Hotel in Manila City. 

(L-R) Dr. Albert Domingo, WHO Philippines Representative; Dr. Mar Wyn Bello, DOH Health Promotion and Communication Service Director; Dr. Gundo Weiler, WHO Representative to the Philippines; Dr. Mario Villaverde, DOH Undersecretary; Dr. Diana Van Daele, EU Delegation in the Philippines’ Programme Manager Health, and Dr. Giovanni Cascone, Team Leader of Experts evaluating the 2 Budget Support Programmes.

Aside from the budget support programmes, the event also focused on recommendations and action plans for the recently enacted Universal Healthcare (UHC) law, an act that aims to promote equal access to essential health services while protecting beneficiaries against financial risk that these services ma

Dr. Giovanni Cascone

EU consultant Dr. Giovanni Cascone led the presentation on the second phase of the Health Sector Policy Support Programme and the Philippine Health Sector Reform Contract (PHRSC) evaluation. Both budget support programmes by the EU that have enabled the local health department to deliver better healthcare services to people in many parts of the country.

Among the numerous key learnings from the implementation of these programs is the utilisation of a demand-driven approach, which enabled PHRSC proponents to provide healthcare tailored to the needs of the population. Both programmes also resulted in an increase in the number of Philippine National Health Insurance Programmebeneficiaries from 62% in 2010 to 92% in 2018, the establishment of drug recovery clinics offering evidenced-based drug abuse treatments, and improved sexual and reproductive health care services for numerous beneficiaries in the last ten years.

“The last ten years have been fruitful for health reforms based on the evaluation. The programmes enabled countless Filipinos to improve their overall health, especially women and children in far-flung areas of the country who need access to quality healthcare the most,” said Cascone. “It’s all thanks to the hard work of the DoH, and selfless individuals whocontributed to health reforms over the years.”

Dr. Gundo Weiler​​ ​

DoH Dr. Mario Villaverde and Dr. Mar Wyn Bello

DoH Undersecretary Dr. Mario Villaverde and WHO representative Dr. Gundo Weiler followed with discussions onrecommendations related to the implementation of the UHC law in the Philippines. These recommendations include increasing support for DoH and PhilHealth in terms of health financing, implementation of new policies, health management and governance, and prioritising the development of human resources for health, to name a few.

“The UHC act provides an actionable legal mandate for the integration of primary health care within the government health system and encourages sectoral reform cooperation and action on a wide range of health needs,” Weiler said.

Villaverde said that the three priorities of the UHC law should be the unification of the fragmented local healthcare system, financing and efficient use of resources, and crafting a regulatory framework that covers pricing, quality, and distribution of services. “By prioritising these, it will enable us and our partner organisations to lay the groundwork for a more comprehensive UHC later on.”

WHO representative Dr. Albert Domingo said that aside from these, another priority should be the definition of roles of each organisation involved in the UHC’s implementation. “The meat of the UHC Law, among many other things, should be getting the roles clearly delineated and ensuring that there is accountability.”

“If we are able to define the rules and responsibilities by concretely assigning them to particular actors such as the province- and city-level systems, then we might be able to move things forward much more efficiently,” Domingo added.

Both the EU and WHO then pledged that they will remain committed to helping DoH fulfil its mandate of creating amore democratised healthcare system in the Philippines. "We will always be ready to support and assist the Philippines in unity with other members of the UHC Partnership, because health for all must be health by all," said Weiler.

PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) supports ANGKAS pilot run starting this June

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The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) has announced its support for the government-sanctioned pilot run of app-based motorcycle taxi service Angkas, saying it is strongly aligned with their mandate of helping Filipinos safely traverse the streets. 

HPG chief superintendent Roberto Fajardo said In a press briefing held Monday morning,  that the HPG’s mandate is to ensure the safety of the metro’s highways for the benefit of commuters and motorists alike and part of that mandate is to help ensure the smooth and safe flow of traffic in our streets. 

“We support Angkas, as well as all the transport operators legally franchised by the LTFRB, because it is a service that helps the commuters in safely going to and from their destinations,” Fajardo declared.

 “The HPG and Angkas have the same objective and therefore we need to support each other,” he added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently gave the green light to implement the pilot run of Angkas in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu for six months starting this June. Prior to this, the DOTr organized a Technical Working Group (TWG) to discuss and conduct studies of Angkas’ operations, particularly, its safety training program for their motorcycle rider-pa

Fajardo also said that Angkas bikers have also been participating in the HPG’s own Motorcycle Riders Safety training program. “In their own little way, and in line with Angkas’ social responsibility, they send their own riders to join our safety training,” Fajardo noted.

He also commended Angkas’ own safety training program. 

“Maganda nga ang may training dahil magiging katuwang natin sila, magiging example of a disciplined motorcycle rider,” Fajardo stressed.

“HPG is out every day protecting our streets and since safety is also paramount to Angkas, we join them in their effort to make the street safer for the general public,” said Angkas founder and CEO Angeline Tham as about their partnership with HPG.

The press briefing coincided with the turnover of Angkas’ donation 50 brand-new, high-quality helmets to the HPG, which was held at the HPG office in Camp Crame, Quezon City. According to Angkas Regulatory and Public Affairs head George Royeca, the donation is part of their safety advocac

“We have always been vocal about our advocacy for the safety of both the bikers and the passengers. Our donation to the HPG is in line with that advocacy, and which we hope will, in some way, contribute to the safety of our friends from the HPG as they patrol our highways and make them safe,” Royeca said.

“This is just the start of a partnership with HPG which we hope will expand to cover other areas that promote and improve road safety,” he added.

Gen. Fajardo also described the HPG’s partnership with Angkas as a joint effort to work for the benefit of the commuters and the motorists. “We work hand in hand for the safety, security and discipline of the motorists,” Fajardo stressed.

Fajardo also said that the donated helmets will be part of the HPG riders’ new uniform and will be the perfect tandem for the new BMW motorcycles that the HPG riders will soon be driving.

Shell engages kids on energy future

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As it celebrates 105 years of operation in the Philippines, Pilipinas Shell (Shell) renews its commitment to deliver more and cleaner energy to help meet growing needs and find ways to use energy more efficiently.

At the heart af this commitment is the goal to #MakeTheFuture of energy one that is environmentally and socially responsible and thus, sustainable with the help of all

stakeholders, including kids.

Shell launched its #MakeTheFuture campaign with an event designed for kids at the Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City Taguig.

"Everything that we are doing today impacts on future generations, ond it is interesting to see what tomorrow's decision-makers and leaders know about energy, how they're affected and what they think must happen to ensure that Shell con help make the future sustainable for them," says Cesar Romero, country chairman of Shell companies in the Philippines.

By holding the Kids #MakeTheFuture event, Shell intends to create an opportunity to promote energy consciousness and education among youngsters, as well as to invite them to join the discussion on improving and making the future of energy.

The young atendees were among the first to see the #MakeTheFuture campaign video which highlights inspiring stories of kids who benefit from ongoing programs like Access to Energy, Shell's program to power off-grid communities using renewable energy.

Romero was joined by Managing Director of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) Don Paulino and Country Health Manager Dr. Rose Rivera in providing insights on the many ways that everyone, including kids, use and expend energy, and what She ll does to provide them the energy that they need.

Among those who attended the Kids #MaketheFuture event were children of celebrities like Nathan Linsangan, son of Camille Pratts; Micaela, daughter of Danica Sotto-Pingris; and Eio, daughter of Sherilyn Reyes-Tan. Together with other kids from the Trumpets Playshop, The School of Academics and Arts, Eton International School, and children of invited media, they responded to and asked questions during kid-friendly discussions held to jumpstart their energy education. 

"We really want to empower kids. They have so much potential to create things, and all we need to do is give them the right resources and opportunities," says Romero, 

"By showing them that we can put renewable energy to good use, like powering up communities, we hope to help them realize that they can make the future of energy clean, sustainable and possible for everyone," he adds.

Be the Life of the Party with LG’s New XBOOM Line

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From dancing the night away at a party, chilling in a pool with your friends, or simply listening to your favorite tunes while doing chores at home, sound brings enjoyment from all walks of life. LG, through its new XBOOM line of speakers, has tried to capture the essence of the love for music by engineering the sound for your passion. Music plays an important role in our life so whatever your lifestyle is, whether you’re always on-the-go, a homebody, or a party animal, LG promises to deliver superior sound, unique features, and exceptional convenience.

To bring their XBOOM speakers to the next level, LG has collaborated with Meridian, the British pioneers and one of the pillars of High-Resolution audio. They are trailblazers in digital audio and their technology is actually used in premium British car brands such as McLaren, Jaguar, and Land Rover. With Meridian’s unrivalled sound quality and pioneering approach to audio, and LG’s reputation for producing award-winning, innovative consumer electronics, this partnership promises to deliver premium products with quality sound for everyone.

One of its newest products that comes with Meridian technology is the LG XBOOM Go PK5. The PK5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with no compromises. It boasts of Dual Passive Radiators that act like mini bass drivers. This, coupled with its Enhanced Bass technology, ensure a larger and much more substantial sound. LG XBOOM Go PK5 also comes equipped with APTX ™ HD built-in, allowing you to stream 24-bit high fidelity audio without compromising sound quality. Bluetooth normally compresses large lossless files, but with the PK5, you experience all the nuances each song has to offer.

The LG XBOOM Go PK5 has a robust 18-hour battery life, an X-Grip handle for portability and structural protection, and is also IPX5 Water Resistant.

If you need to bring something big and bold to the party, the LG XBOOM RK7 has to be in the conversation. The RK7 has a whopping 550 watts of power, providing clear vocals coming from dual tweeters and deep bass from dual woofers. Even with its size, this speaker easily adapts to its environment. It can be used vertically or horizontally, and you can change its lighting to fit the mood.

One of the biggest problems with Bluetooth speakers is that only one device can be connected. Whatever they choose to play, you’re stuck with it. With the RK7 (and the RL4), two devices can be connected simultaneously. Like the PK5, the RK7 also has APT-X™ HD built-in, giving you crisp high-fidelity sound even when you’re streaming through Bluetooth.

With the RK7, you can make your DJ dreams a reality. Through the DJ App (available on Android devices), you can scratch, loop, and add all the effects you want through your fingertips. If you’re more of a singer than a DJ, you can use the Karaoke Star feature instead. With a push of a button, you can cancel out the vocals in a song, automatically giving you a karaoke track where you can sing to your heart’s content. The song still a bit too high for you? There’s a Key Changer button as well.

For something still powerful but a lot more compact, the LG XBOOM RL4 is the answer. With 5 inch dual woofers and 150 watts output, the RL4 gives a powerful commanding presence without taking too much space. Moreover, you can use it vertically or horizontally. It’ll still give you flawless sound no matter the orientation.

You can set the mood and create the right atmosphere for the party by changing the color lighting, while you can create your own Karaoke tracks by using the built-in voice canceller and key changer. Feeling adventurous? Experiment and sing with another voice! The RL4 has up to 18 voice effects, from Bass, Soprano, to even Duets. You can also try your luck becoming a DJ for the night with the easy-to-use DJ App (available on Android devices). 

To illustrate how they stack up with one another, here’s a handy guide:

LG’s new XBOOM line also comes with very reasonable and attractive prices, with the PK5 priced at P 7,490, the RL4 at P 11,990, and the RK7 at P 17,990. They are available at leading appliance stores nationwide.

Vivo brings premium features to Y17 to level up lifestyles

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Vivo continues to introduce top-notch features in its latest line of entry-level handsets, such as the Y17, to enable more Filipinos to level up their lifestyles and discover the premium smartphone experience.

The leading global technology company has equipped the Y17, available for just P12,990, with an AI triple rear camera setup—which includes a 13MP main camera, 8MP super wide-angle camera, and 2MP depth camera—so users can effortlessly capture Instagram-worthy portraits and sceneries.

To maximize the premium camera experience, the newest smartphone even allows for a 120-degree super-wide angle shot, courtesy of a 16mm ultrawide camera, to enable users to capture not just group photos but fascinating landscapes, in just one click.

More than showcasing a modern yet elegant design accentuated by its Mineral Blue and Mystic Purple colors; the smartphone brings the best viewing experience to its users, boasting of a bigger 6.35-inch screen with a 720x1544 pixels resolution, offering a Halo FullView™ Display that is ideal for watching videos and playing games.

The Y17 also has a big memory storage and bigger battery capacity that add to the users’ premium experience. With a 4GB RAM and 128GB memory powered by an industry-leading 5000mAh massive battery and bolstered by an 18W dual-engine fast charging technology, users can store more apps, photos, and videos, do more tasks, and play more games, for longer hours.

So, what are you waiting for? Level up your lifestyle and experience premium smartphone features by getting the Vivo Y17 today, available at all authorized Vivo dealers nationwide.