KAKAMMPI News

"If a family member falls ill, getting immediate medical attention is a privilege given only to those who can afford." This is one of the most common notions among the less-privileged in society and Lisa is among the many who believes so. In an interview, she shared her personal views on access to health care and how a recent experience proved her otherwise. Flordeliza “Lisa” Tabuyog, 35, hails from Brgy. Central, Mati City, in the province of Davao Oriental. As a mother of four, Lisa admits to the struggle of raising her children and sending them to school while making ends meet altogether. Her husband, Leonerio, works ‘round the clock as a tricycle driver just to make sure he puts enough food on the table. Lisa helps by occasionally rendering laundry services to her neighbor. Just recently, Leonerio started to complain about an unusual pain at his back. He dismissed the idea of seeking medical attention, certain that this could just hamper his daily routine...

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently featured the Z Benefit Packages for selected Orthopedic Implants and Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) during its third Kapihan with the PCEO at The Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City. The event was led by Alexander A. Padilla, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) and attended by media practitioners from various national print, radio and TV stations. Also present were Dr. Israel Francis A. Pargas, PhilHealth OIC-Vice President for Corporate Affairs Group and Dr. Arlene Lamban, Head of Peritoneal Dialysis Unit of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute or NKTI. The NKTI has been PhilHealth's key partner in the government sector in making the benefit for PD possible. Padilla thanked PhilHealth’s media and medical partners saying that  “the latest Z packages for selected orthopedic implants and peritoneal dialysis were developed in collaboration with expert groups and patient-members themse...

SSS to tap local fund managers The Social Security System (SSS) will contract three local fund managers to help diversify its portfolio and benchmark on comparative investment classes.  The fund managers will each handle a P1-billion investible fund allocated in a mix of equity and fixed income securities. To bid for the fund management contract, the companies must be duly licensed and have at least five years in fund management experience, with investment performance published in national broadsheets. It must also have Assets Under Management  (AUM) of at least P10 billion in equities and at least P25 billion in fixed income securities as of December 31, 2013. Deadline of submission of eligibility documents to the SSS Head Office in Quezon City is on November 18, 2014. Appointing external fund managers by the SSS is allowed as per Section 26-A of Republic Act No. 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997. SSS Media Affairs Department 7th floor, SSS Building, East Ave., Dilima...

OFW groups and advocates on Wednesday threw their support behind Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III's plan to initiate a Senate investigation into the government’s plan to integrate airport terminal fee in airline tickets for international passengers. In a statement, Kenji Solis, founder of the Pinoy Expat/OFW Blog Awards, Inc. (PEBA) said the Senate inquiry will enable all stakeholders to present their side in an impartial and fair manner. “A Senate inquiry presents an impartial and fair venue for all stakeholders to be heard,” said Solis, who is also a Filipino community leader in Saudi Arabia Solis' group has joined several others in urging the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer the November 1 implementation of its Memorandum Circular No. 08.   Under the circular, terminal fees known as international passenger service charge (IPSC) amounting to P550 per passenger will be integrated in all air tickets, subject to remittance to MIAA by international airlines...

The Filipino peacekeepers who will be home from Ebola-hit Liberia next month will be quarantined at a military camp in Tarlac province, Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Wednesday. The Armed Forces of the Philippines maintains a Peacekeeping Operations Center (PKOC) in Camp O’Donnel in Capas town, and this is where the 112 peacekeepers will spend their 21-day mandatory quarantine period, Catapang said. “The PKOC is being prepared,” he said. “The PKOC personnel will be moving out and the peacekeepers from Liberia will be the ones occupying that area so that they will be isolated.” PKOC chief Col. Roberto Ancan said a small number of PKOC personnel will be left at the PKOC headquarters. “Some of my men will be left behind. We will be at my liaison office in Camp Aguinaldo,” he said. AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said military medical teams will be supervising the quarantine procedures. The peacekeepers, whose arrival is expected on November ...

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging returning overseas Filipino workers, especially those coming from Ebola-stricken countries, to monitor themselves for 21 days upon arrival in the country. A report on GMA News TV's “News TV Live” on Wednesday quoted WHO country representative Julie Hall as saying this is strongly recommended for OFWs coming from West African countries. According to Hall, there is no need for mandatory quarantine since Ebola is not considered contagious unless symptoms surface. She said if an OFW from an Ebola-hit country who developed a fever must be immediately isolated from the others. The Department of Health (DOH), meanwhile, is urging OFWs to call them or the nearest hospital so they could send in a medical team to fetch the patient. It also cautioned OFWs who fall ill to avoid going out and instead contact authorities. The DOH on Tuesday started training health workers in handling Ebola cases in preparation for the possible entry of the dreaded vi...

A United Arab Emirates court sentenced a sailor to one year in jail for trying to enter the cockpit of an Emirates plane in flight, and trying to molest a Filipina flight attendant and her colleagues last February. The Dubai Court of First Instance ordered the Ukranian sailor, 28, for risking the plane’s safety, air rage and molestation,  Gulf News reported Wednesday . Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal also fined the sailor Dh1,000 for drinking, and ordered his deportation once he completes his sentence. The primary ruling is subject to appeal within 15 days, the report said. Court records showed the sailor got drunk and tried to enter the cockpit during the Dubai-bound flight. He became aggressive towards the flight’s security officer and the two air attendants who tried to calm him down. Investigation showed the sailor ran up and down the aisle and tried to enter the cockpit, then groped a Romanian hostess and hugged and tried to kiss her Filipina colleague. Prosecutors charged the ...