Health Comm to discuss proposed newborn screening ordinance

THE City Council Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Health Insurance, chaired by Councilor Maria Lourdes S. Gaane, is set to take up the proposed ordinance institutionalizing newborn screening in Cagayan de Oro City.

Introduced by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, the ordinance seeks to complement and reinforce the provisions of RA No. 9288 by institutionalizing newborn screening in the city.

It also aims to ensure the dissemination of accurate and comprehensive information regarding the nature and benefits of newborn screening, promote awareness among healthcare practitioners in the city and to delineate their responsibilities in facilitating and advocating for newborn screening services promoting a culture of early intervention for heritable conditions among the newborn population.

Republic Act No. 9288, also known as Newborn Screening Act No. 2004, underscores the importance of instituting a comprehensive national newborn screening system to safeguard infants from heritable conditions that can lead to severe health complications or even death if undetected and untreated.

Vice Mayor Rodriguez believes that by enacting this ordinance, the city reaffirms its commitment to upholding the right to health and well-being of its youngest residents, thereby contributing to the overall welfare and development of the community.

Oro dads interpose no objection to Petro de Oro’s new development

THE construction of the proposed marine facility at a portion of foreshore land in Barangay Tablon will be developed soon.

This, after the 20th City Council during its regular session presided over by City Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez interposed no objection to the application of Petro de Oro Corporation for the miscellaneous lease agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-10) covering a portion of foreshore land fronting its property for the said proposed development.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the Committees on Subdivision and Landed Estate and on Laws and Rules both chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas.

It may be recalled that the City Council adopted Resolution No. 14581-2023 requesting the DENR to suspend the processing of foreshore lease applications covering any areas from Barangay Lapasan to Barangay Bugo effective June 1, 2023 in view of the proposed Land Reclamation Project.

However, the Committee on Subdivision and Landed Estate endorsed the application for approval, citing that the company has been operating for many years and needs to utilize the foreshore area to continue its operation.

PLIGHT OF FISHERFOLKS

During the regular session, Councilor Christian Rustico M. Achas, Chair of the Committee on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, manifested his objection to the proposal, citing that the proposed project might affect the livelihood of fishermen.

Councilor Cabanlas explained that this proposed project will not affect the livelihood of fishermen since the company will only install a pipeline on a viaduct constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Ang mga fishermen maka-agi sila tanan, wala’y makadisturbo sa ila”, said Cabanlas.

SP backs CDO GovNet project of DICT 10

The 20th City Council, presided over by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, adopted the resolution allowing the traversal of a fiber optic cable along JR Borja Bridge to implement the Cagayan de Oro Government Network (CDO GovNet) project of the Department of Information and Communications Technology – Regional Office 10 (DICT-10).

The CDO GovNet aims to connect to the internet 98 national government agencies and local government unit offices in the city using fiber optic technologies. It is aligned with the Marcos administration’s efforts in enhancing the digital landscape of the Philippine government.

During the meeting of the Committee on Public Works, chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas, DICT-10 Representative Michael Andrew E. Buot mentioned that while efforts are currently underway to meet the project’s timeline, a right of way issue along JR Borja poses a major challenge.

In their joint meeting last March 26, DPWH-10, LGU-CDO, and DICT-10 agreed to institutionalize the ownership of the bridge to LGU-CDO, so that the project may be materialized urgently.

The fiber optic cable, having negligible weight, will bring no harm to the structural integrity of the bridge, The Gavel learned.

The legislation was sponsored by the Committees on Public Works and on Laws and Rules, both chaired by Councilor Cabanlas.