Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido declares Ozamiz as near Zero Drug Activity City in the South!

New Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido declares that Ozamiz City is a near – 0 – drug free activity in the whole of Misamis Occidental.  Out of the 10 drug test buy activity conducted, only 2 of it held illegal drugs and it is not clear whether the source is from the city itself or from another location.

Transferred from Albuera, Leyte last 2016, Police Chief Inspector Espenido is glad to find the local government open to discussions on drug bust activities in the city.  After being tagged as the new drug-buster of Leyte, Espenido is now faced with clearing the name of Ozamiz City as an active drug activity place in Mindanao.  From the latest  regular session meet last January 16, 2017 held at the city hall of Ozamiz, he was invited to present his assessment on the latest drug activity in the city.  For him, this open door policy exhibited by the local government is a positive sign for him to create a good relationship with the local government and the police force.

Based on his assessment report presented to the local government, the drug activity of the place is quite minimal compared to the perception of those non-residents of the said city.  His is quite positive that this present trend will lead from minimal to 0-drug related activity in a couple of years since the local government is in full support in eradicating all illegal drug activity in their city.

From the side of the local government, they are quite pleased with the assessment report presented by the new police chief inspector and shall continue to maintain an open door discussion with the police force to help eliminate the false assumption held by those who has initially believed in the high drug activity in the city.

This latest development between the police force and the local government is a clear sign of a hand-in-hand cooperation and relationship in fighting all illegal drug activity in the area of Misamis Occidental starting with Ozamiz City.

Alsa Ozami: Ozamiznons rise against "Everything Illegal" with all-out backing from the City Government

From the ashes of its dirt-laden image, Ozamiz City is rising loud and proud with its latest crusade to crush bad elements in its territory.

On Wednesday (January 18), an estimated 30,000 Ozamiznons marched to a public venue beside the town’ historic structure famously known as Cotta. There was a public outcry to cleanse the city and eliminate once and for all the filthy stigma that has been since associated to Ozamiz City.

On that evening, the city government has declared the what it’s called Alsa Ozamiz, a local movement to rally all Ozamiznons to shrug off all bad elements that has been corrupting and ravaging the once stellar status of the city.

As described by the incumbent Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog, Sr., Alsa Ozamiz bears the same ideals just like his grandfather’s first and original Alsa Ozamiz movement back in the 50s to fight government insurgencies… except that this time, the fight is not against rebels, but to a more profound cause — that is to fight all negative elements in the Ozamiznon society.

You name it, it’s on the list — from illegal gambling down to illegal fishing and the like, with illegal drugs on top of the list… the city government led by Mayor Aldong are all down to tap it off their city.

OZAMIZ CITY HALL CRIES FOUL AGAINST ALL THE DRUGS ALLEGATIONS

In a press conference held prior to the evening’s Alza Ozamiz event, the city’s father-daughter tandem composed of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. and Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog vented out their sentiments about the latest accusations to them.

Vice Mayor Parojinog cries foul on their critics’ claim that the city’s drugs situation is “rampant”. 

Vice Mayor Nova Princess said all these allegations are really unfair for all the drugs initiatives that they have implemented in the city long before DU30 came in to power.

“Dito sa Ozamiz City nuon pa man matagal na kaming nakipag-gyera sa ilegal na droga,” said Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr.

Mayor Parojinog, Sr. noted that they’ve been having this extensive fight against drugs however sadly, all these initiatives all went down the drain for nothing because apparently, their accomplishments just went under the radar of the then police chiefs for some unknown reasons.

On the press meeting, the Parojinogs presented a really thick book of the anti-drugs operations report that has been taking place since 2013, long before President Duterte’s massive national anti-drug campaign. 

Vice Mayor Parojinog noted that the book contains all the reports on the drug raids, drugs suspects arrests and illegal drugs confiscations undertaken by the city hall with the PNP since 2013.

“Nuong kasagsagan ng campaign ko against drugs, madaming nagalit sa akin… kahit mga kamag anak ko,” added Mayor Aldong.

At one point the Mayor was teary-eyed as he said, “Taga-rito kami sa Ozamiz tapos sisirain namin ang lugar namin?”.

 Just recently, Mayor Parojinog, Sr. had a meeting with President Duterte who also met other city and town mayors in Malacanang Palace last January 11.

Parojinog, Sr. described his meeting with Duterte in Manila as cordial, with the Chief Executive saying that the earlier pronouncement of Parojinog’s involvement in drugs was based on report from regional intelligence units.

“Mas lalo kaming maninindigan sa aming laban sa droga bilang suporta sa Pangulong Duterte na handang itaya ang buhay para sa bayan,” stated Mayor Aldong in front of the media team.

ON ALSA OZAMIZ BASHERS

Of course, being included on DU30’s narco-politician list (from which Mayor Aldong’s case is currently under revalidation) and having this aggressive campaign called “Alsa Ozamiz”, Mayor Aldong Parojinog’s detractors would definitely raise their eyebrows with the coincidence.

Additionally, there were social media buzz that Alsa Ozamiz is the Parojinog’s strategy to sack the newly-assigned city police chief Espinido.

However, the courageous mayor gleefully revealed that Alsa Ozamiz is actually a joint effort of the PNP and the city hall. In fact, during the Alsa Ozamiz gathering that night at the Cotta, although not present, the new city police chief had a long VTR message for all Ozamiznons that affirms his support on this anti-drugs initiatives by Mayor Aldong and VM Nova Princess (and the rest of the 

Ozamiz City Hall).

ALSA OZAMIZ

Later that Wednesday evening Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Sr. led the formal launch of the ‘Alsa Ozamiz’ anti-crime program. ICMY, the Alsa Ozamiz program is an extensive program of the Ozamiz city hall that pushes civilian-barangay partnerships with government and non-government agencies to prevent “all that is illegal” in the city i.e. illegal drugs, gambling, fishing, logging, etc…

With illegal drugs on top of their list, the leading city officials stated that they have standby programs to support this city anti-drugs campaign. This includes the proposed private partnership with rehabs as part of the follow-up initiatives for “tokhang responders” and also the potent “reward system” when it comes to intelligence gathering, among others.

VIDEOKARERA MACHINES DESTROYED…

On the eve of the Alsa Ozamiz declaration and right after the press briefing, some 560 videokarera machines that were voluntarily surrendered to brgy captains were crushed altogether by a payloader right in front of the city hall grounds. These videokarera and fruitgame machines are allegedly being used habitually by drug addicts as a fond pastime most notably when they are high on drugs.

Aster Clinic is first outpatient clinic in the Philippines awarded with an ISO 9001:2015 by TUV Rheinland

Aster Clinic marks a milestone as the first outpatient clinic in the country to receive an ISO 9001:2015 certification from the reputable German company TUV Rheinland. 

Coincidentally awarded at the turn of 30th global anniversary of its parent company, Aster DM Healthcare LLC based in UAE, Joyce Alumno, Country Manager of Aster DM Healthcare Philippines, identified the company’s unwavering core values, world-class standards, excellent patient experience, and technological advances in patient care as the advantages that awarded them the newest quality management system certification.

The ISO 9001:2015 is the most difficult certification process so far and TUV Rheinland is one of the most reputable certification firms that awards such. 

The newest certification requires a holistic, rigid procedure as it looks into how a company manages potential risks, aside from conforming to international standards and other crucial criteria for assessment. 

“It was not easy to pass the 9001:2015 commendations. We had to go through a tough process, which required us to document everything. However, with our existing international standards, we were given the TUV Rheinland approval after six months. Usually, assessments can go up to two years,” Alumno said. 

World-class standards as guiding principles for superiority

Alumno said that Aster Clinic is guided by standards that have been around for 30 years. “Aster DM Healthcare established a certain level of quality as benchmarks for about 300 Aster units located around the globe. We are guided by six core values, including integrity, passion, respect, compassion, excellence and unity that we have ingrained in our system and culture since we started operating.”

Although Aster Clinic is just one year old in the country, its foundation is based on the standards set by their international counterparts in different parts in the world. 

Excellence and as a core value of the trusted brand

Among Aster Clinic’s core values, excellence is given emphasis as it highlights the quality and superiority of the company in patient care. 

“Excellence is our most important norm. As we aim to give the best service to our customers, we continue to improve our standards. We set the benchmarks and we further raise it. Our goal is to continuously develop as a global company and that Quality is a culture in Aster and the company puts a premium on service as this is what Aster DM Healthcare is known for.  

Technological advances in patient care

“We’ll treat you well.” This is the proposition of Aster Clinic in the Philippines. But, more than just a marketing tagline, Aster Clinic has added more value to its goal of treating its patients well by introducing best practices that uses technology.

The Clinic Information System (CIS) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are technological breakthroughs in the company that have been recognized for its efficiency to patient care. 

The CIS and EMR are systems for recording and keeping patients’ health information like laboratory results, medical check-up appointments, and even x-ray images. The information can be tracked by patients through the internet or their smartphones, which saves time, effort and costs on the part of the patients. The doctors can quickly refer to the patients’ records.

“We have top-of-the-line machines and equipment to back this modern system. The technology is created by the Aster group and is unique to the company. These technologies help eliminate errors and the switching of results. It is proven and tested to be efficient and effective,” Alumno said.

Aster Philippines looks into more opportunities

“The ISO 9001:2015 certification is not just a marketing strategy for Aster Clinic. The company wants to make sure that they are setting the bar for international standards for outpatient clinics, thus we deemed it necessary to be certified by none less than TUV Rheinland. 

Our greatest goal is to gain customer satisfaction through our excellent services. 

Through the ISO certification, we are confident that we will deliver the best satisfaction that our patients would like to experience,” Alumno emphasized.

Meanwhile, the company is planning to expand in the country and will open three more branches in February next year.

“We want to become a chain of outpatient clinics while we look for opportunities of building hospitals and pharmacies because that’s what we have within our network. If the market is good, we are planning to do this in Metro Manila and in some key cities in the country” Alumno said.

Alumno added that the company will continue to promote its services, especially among the young adults as they recognize the increase of chronic or lifestyle diseases among this age group. 

With an ISO 9001:2015 certification on its company wall, Aster Clinic in the Philippines is hopeful that these plans will be part of the future.

Bad mood or depression? Here’s what you need to know

Do you often feel sluggish and tired? Do you always feel hopeless that it takes control over your life and you lose interest in activities you used to enjoy? You might dismiss those episodes as mood swings, but in fact, you might be depressed. Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects the way you think, feel, or act, and should be addressed immediately. 

“Depression is more than just a bad mood and can happen to anyone. It’s important for people to be educated on the symptoms as well as the ways of overcoming depression so they can seek help for themselves or their loved ones who might also be going through it,” said MediCard president Dr. Nicky Montoya.

How can you tell if you’re suffering from depression? Here are some warning signs: 

Fatigue and loss of interest. Feeling lethargic all the time is a common sign of depression. Depression also hinders you from doing and enjoying the things you used to do like hobbies, going outdoors or even hanging out with friends.  

Irregular sleep. Depression and sleep are closely linked to each other. A change in your sleeping habits – the inability to sleep (insomnia) or oversleeping – could be a sign that you are depressed. 

Appetite or weight changes. Another warning sign of depression is a significant change in your appetite or weight. A distinctive factor to find out if the weight changes are related to depression is whether it is intentional or not. If the change is unintentional, it’s possible that depression is the cause. 

Suicidal thoughts. Depression is often connected to suicide, according to studies. If you are thinking of harming or killing yourself, it is a strong indication that you are depressed. 

As Dr. Montoya said, depression is preventable and treatable. Here are some ways to overcome depression. 

• Stay connected. Reaching out to people is an essential part of your recovery. Isolation fuels depression, which is why it’s a big help to stay connected to your family or peers even if you always want to be alone. Attending social activities, even if you don’t feel like it in the moment, may also prove helpful. 
• Exercise. Working out is another good way to combat depression. While exercising, your body releases feel-good brain chemicals that may boost your mood. Start with a routine you can follow every day, such as continuous and rhythmic exercises like walking, swimming and dancing. 
• Seek professional help. If you already made changes to your life to overcome depression, but it seems like your situation hasn’t changed, it’s time to see your doctor for a thorough check-up. 

Depression should not be taken lightly. If you are experiencing these warning signs, it’s best to get professional help. 

MediCard has 14 free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer consultations.

Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out www.medicardphils.com for more information. 

Local Government of Ozamiz City held a Peace and Order Meeting

Last December 28, 2016, The Local Government of Ozamiz City held a Peace and Order Meeting to foster improved coordination among various institutions, agencies and other stakeholders to bring about a more peaceful Ozamiz City.

During the event, Mayor Reynaldo “Aldong” Parojinog was overwhelmed over the presence of the City Peace and Order Council members who wholeheartedly supported his administration. “Operation Tokhang led by the City PNP has given us and the Ozamiznon a sound sleep.

This is the result of our renewed trust and full cooperation with the PNP.” Parojinog said. “Regaining trust and strengthening our unity will truly make our goals and objectives possible,” Parojinog added. He also said that the City government of Ozamiz is very serious in eliminating the illegal drugs and helping the victims to surrender to law enforcers. “I would be very happy seeing illegal drug dealers, pushers, users, victims and patients who willfully surrender before the government.

This and more could have not been possible without the full support of all Ozamiznon.” Parojinog said. Police Chief Inspector Jovie Espinido, Lt. Col. Hadjial Talib, Prosecutor Gines Beduya, Vice Mayor Nova Princess Parojinog, DILG Provincial Director Pablio Benitez Jr., CLGOO DILG Ozamiz Jenny Villagonzalo, Gilron Sumalpong of NBI among others were in attendance during the Meeting.