DOE: Nationalistic Approach Needed in Dealing with Shell and Other Business Partners

Wazzup Pilipinas!

When asked to comment on the arbitration case filed by Pilipinas Shell against the Philippine Government, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi stated that “We welcome this as an opportunity for the national government to effect real change and to come up with definitive and clear-cut policies in dealing with our partners."

PNOC Exploration Corp., a government-owned and controlled corporation attached to the DOE, has a 10% interest in the Service Contract 38 consortium with Shell Philippines Exploration BV and Chevron Malampaya LLC.

Shell filed a case against the Philippine government, specifically challenging the interpretation of the Commission on Audit in the computation of the 60-40 sharing of the proceeds from the Malampaya Project.

In a separate case, the Supreme Court, through a ponencia of Justice Marvic F. Leonen, decided that all service contracts must be personally signed by the President otherwise, such contract is void. The case is under reconsideration before the Supreme Court.

“This issue is not the concern of the Department of Energy nor of the Executive branch alone. The Supreme Court, the Commission on Audit and even Congress have a stake here too.” Cusi clarified.

The newly appointed Energy Secretary pointed out that while there are benefits under a system of checks and balances such as ours in the Philippines, there are drawbacks too.

"In the end, a nationalistic approach is necessary to make a unified stand. This is in line with the Duterte administration’s vision of unity in our country."

Cusi added that “ultimately, whatever mandate each branch or agency has, our bottomline is one and the same: to serve the best interests of the Filipino people.”

The DOE will recommend to the President the necessity of aligning government institutions to work together and act consistently.

"The Philippine government must have a unified stand in all its decisions and actions just as we have shown in the West Philippine Sea issue."

"The DOE will exhaust all possibilities and avenues to study options and bring before the President recommendations that will have one objective: to protect and serve the best interests of our Country and the Filipino people," Cusi concluded.

Enrollment for DLSU Online Health Informatics Course September 2016 Batch is Now Open

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This coming September 2016, De La Salle University- Manila (DLSU-M) in partnership with HealthInformatics, Inc. (Hii) and MedX will again offer the course to interested applicants for a Certification in HEALTH INFORMATICS. This course has started since July 2013 and has been recognizing health professionals from all over the country and around the world.

What are the Benefits of taking the Course?

100% ONLINE.

Using MedX, you can access the course anytime, anywhere you are!

Through MedX, the Health Informatics Course is built in a media-rich environment to engage and motivate doctors, nurses and allied health professionals while learning.

It is SCORM-compliant (Shareable Content Object Reference Model). SCORM is a set of technical standards for online learning to facilitate interoperability among Learning Management Systems (LMS).


Increased Competency.

This course is for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals interested in learning Health Informatics and Health Information Technology (Health IT) for professional development.

Investing in continuing education for health informatics provides the foundation of knowledge in this area of specialty among healthcare providers including nurses, doctors, allied health professionals and other professionals part of the healthcare ecosystem.


Global Certification.

It utilizes both practice-based concepts and experience from experts with topics from the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) to promote techniques, tools and strategies for effective health IT implementations. HIMSS, is an international organization, a leader in maintaining health IT industry standards.
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More Flexible Payment Options

You can enroll for the entire course or you can also pay per module, whenever you are ready.


Integration of HIMSS Topics

Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) topics aim to promote techniques and strategies for effective health IT implementations.


The course is a 13-week program. Classes start on SEPTEMBER 28, 2016. For details on the Course Objectives, Course Outline, Class Schedules and Payment schemes, please refer to the attached COURSE GUIDE.

Hontiveros Hopes to Hear Health, Hague and Human Rights Solutions in Duterte's SONA

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I will listen to President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) with an open mind and insistence on hope. I am attending this event as a Filipino, health advocate and mother. Thus, I expect three important things from the President's SONA.

As a health advocate, I hope that the President will elaborate on his government's health policy framework.His decision to send our health officials to Cuba to study its health care system is a step in the right direction. Cuba's health care system is hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best. I have high hopes that this will enable the government to live up to its mandate to provide universal healthcare for the people. Universal health care is a great equalizer. Its fulfillment is a step towards eradicating inequality.

As a Filipino, I trust that President Duterte will be guided by the historic Hague Ruling to assert the country's sovereignty and marine jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and in advancing genuine peace and stability in the region. Our historic win before the Arbitral Tribunal must be strengthened by the new government. To deviate from the spirit of this ruling would render the victory hollow and our sovereignty compromised.

As a mother, I expect President Duterte to reaffirm his adherence to due process and rule of law, an oath that he made during his inauguration. Together with this, I hope the President will adopt a different tenor on women's dignity.

The spike in the numbers of extrajudicial killings and random murders on our streets is disquieting. A climate of fear and uncertainty has descended on many families and communities. Not a few women have been killed and not a few mothers have shed tears over the loss of a son or daughter unjustly killed in the fight against crime and illegal drugs. The killings on the streets must stop. The perpetrators, whether they be vigilantes, lawless elements or corrupt and overzealous law enforcers, must all be made accountable. President Duterte, through his first SONA, must send a strong message that it is not the policy of his government to sacrifice human rights and the rule of law in its anti-crime campaign. Human rights and rule of law are essential in any democratic society. The solution to disorder is not greater disorder. The solution to crime is not inexplicable murders. Lasting peace will only be possible with respect for the dignity of men and women and the government's adherence to human rights.

I hope these three issues will be covered by President Duterte's SONA. To make good on his campaign promises, he should know that these three issues are crucial in building a strong, healthy and peaceful country.