January 24, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 16 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 January 24, 2014

Philippine Arts Month 2014 to focus on arts for healing; Visual Arts Festival to be held in Tacloban City

Ha PIA on Thursday afternoon. Focus of PAF which has for its theme “Arts on the Edge,” will be art for healing activities, as a result of natural calamities that have hit the regions in the past months, Mr. Nemi Miranda said in his opening statement. NCCA was in Tacloban for two major programs on Arts for Healing. First is the Dayaw, in connection of the Indigenous Peoples Month which was not pushed through because of Typhoon Yolanda. It has been

No less than Labor and Employment Secretary

Rosalinda Baldoz distributed checks amounting to P11,121,000 intended as livelihood assistance to four groups of workers in Tacloban City on January 22. DOLE Region 8 Director Exequiel Sarcauga told the Philippine Information Agency

DOLE secretary releases more than P11-M for livelihood assistance to displaced workers in Taclocban City The 2014 Philippine Arts Festival

(PAF) will have as theme “Art on the Edge.” It will be held during the National Arts Month (NAM) in February. This was learned from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts officials NCCA Commissioner for Sub Commission on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts Joyce Dorado; Mr. Nemi Miranda who is the head of the National Committee on Visual Arts; and Mr. Joey Tanedo who is the incoming head of NCVA, during the press conference held at the Harampang continued on page 5continued on page 7

PIA-8 director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu (with mic) introduces the guests of the first Harampang (Kapihan) ha PIA, January 23, after Yolanda from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as they disseminate the programs and activities of the Commission in line with the celebration of the National Arts Month 2014 particularly in Eastern Visayas. In photo are (l-r) Mr. Nemesio Miranda, Head of the Philippine Visual Arts Extreme; Ms. Joycie Dorado Alegre, Commissioner of the Subcommittee on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts; and Mr. Joey Tanedo, incoming Head of the Philippine Visual Arts Extreme. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU

BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU

2 January 24, 2014

DOT Secretary visits Leyte to promote Cruise Tourism to accelerate recovery in Typhoon hit Leyte

T ourism Secretary Ramon B. Jimenez Jr. is currently in the

province of Leyte in l ine with the promotion of Cruise Tourism in order to accelerate tourism and recovery in this part of the country. DOT Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes told the Philippine Information Agency said that the Secretary arrived in Tacloban City on January 23 and traveled to Palompon, Leyte after a brief stopover at Oriental de Leyte Hotel in Baras, Palo, Leyte. After arrival reception by Palompon Local Government Officials led by Mayor Ramon Onate, the Secretary and party composed DOT Manila Officials; TIEZA officials led by COO Mark Lapid; DOTC Undersecretary Catherine Gonzales and DOTC Staff ; MARINA Region officials and about 7 ground handlers, left the

BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU

mainland of Palompon by boat and headed to Kalanggaman Island. The Secretary made an ocular inspection of the Island,

after which, he went back to the mainland to inspect the jetty port and Tourism Center/Ecolodge.From Palompon, the Secretary and Party travelled by land to inspect the Leyte Industrial Development Estate at Isabel, Leyte then to Ormoc City where he inspected the Ormoc Sea Port. On January 24, Secretary Jimenez will have a running tour of the Anibong District where several boats accidentally docked at the height of Typhoon Yolanda destroying houses and people’s l ives. While in Tacloban, the Secretary will visit the devastated DOT Regional Office for inspection before proceeding to Hotel Lorenza¸ the newest addition to the hotels in Tacloban City. At Hotel Lorenza, Secretary Jimenez will interact with the media before flying back to Manila. (PIA 8)

TWO RAMONS MET. Palompon, Leyte mayor Ramon Onate and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez exchanged pleasantries when the Secretary together with tourism entrepreneurs and other government officials visited the town on the possibility of reviving Kalangaman Island and other tourist destinations which were badly damaged by Supertyphoon Yolanda. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez (left) and TRCRG Undersecretary Victoria Jasmin (right) look at the Filipino Heritage books that were damaged when Supertyphoon Yolanda destroyed the DOT regional office in Tacloban City. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

January 24, 2014 3DepEd sets early registration day

The Department of Education (DepEd) has set tomorrow,

Saturday, January 25, 2014 as the nationwide Early Registration Day. This was revealed by Charita Bernardes, District Supervisor of the Naval North District of DepEd-Biliran province during the regular Kapihan at Pulong-pulong ng Bayan hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Biliran Provincial Information Center live over Radyo Natin on Thursday, January 23, 2014. She informed that the early registration of pupils and students is part of the goals of DepEd Memorandum Order No. 2, series of 2014 to gather data and information in connection with the preparations for school opening of the school officials and teachers before classes open in the next school year 2014-2015. Likewise, she said, the activity ensures that all five-year olds are enrolled in Kindergarten and all six-year old children are enrolled in Grade I come June, 2014. “All public elementary and

BY: FLORDELIS JACKSON

high schools aim a smooth school opening in June, 2014, hence, we are preparing as early as January”, she said. Part of the Early Registration Day is the enrollment of the out-of-school children (OSC) and the out-of-school youth (OSY). The OSYs will be given preferential education delivery system through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) or the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM). All Public elementary and secondary schools are open on January 25, 2014 from 8:00 o’clock in the morning until 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, she added. Teachers will report to the schools where they are assigned to attend to the needs of parents who will bring along their children to school for the early school registration. “I am encouraging parents to enroll their children early as this will be the basis of the school for the allocation of school budget, books and other instructional materials, classrooms, chairs and other needs of the students in the next school year”, Ms. Bernardes said. “I urge the parents to participate in the Early Registration Day. Don’t wait for the deadline to register your children to avoid minor problems”, she added. In order to ensure wide participation in the Early Registration Day, Ms. Bernardes said, school officials and teachers will coordinate and will be working closely with the local government units (LGUs), barangay officials, Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) and other groups in the community. The nationwide Early Registration Day on January 25, 2014 is anchored on the theme “Makapag-aral ay Karapatan Mo, Magpalista Ngayong Enero”. (PIA 8 Biliran)

Over 3,000 fisherfolks in EV typhoon affected areas avail of BFAR’s AHON project

I n order to speed up the rehabi l i tat ion of the f isher ies

sec tor in t yphoon-af fec ted areas in Eastern Visayas, the Bureau of Fisher ies and Acquat ic Resources (BFAR) has introduced a program cal led “Ahon: 10 ,000 bangk a para sa 20,000 pamilya”. This i s to ensure that f i shermen could resume their f i shing and star t anew af ter their boats were destroyed by the super t yphoon. Nazar io Br iguera , I nformation O ff icer of BFAR Centra l O ff ice sa id, dur ing an inter v iew with him over P IA’s Power Fm, that the projec t i s an in i t iat ive of the government to provide suppor t to the source of the l ivel ihood of the f isher folks to get back on their feet again . To date, at least 3 , 015

Mr. Nazario Briguera (left), information officer of BFAR Central Office, informed the listeners of the PIA Power FM Thursday that their office is extending assistance to fisherfolks in Eastern Visayas who were affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. Also in photo are the program hosts (l-r) Sol Alarcon and Lizbeth Ann Abella. (Photo by Raul S. Tiozon, Jr. /PIA-8)

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

continued on page 7

4 January 24, 2014

National roads of the province of Northern Samar, passable – DPWH

N a t i o n a l r o a d s o f t h e p r o v i n c e o f N o r t h e r n

S a m a r a r e a l l p a s s a b l e , s a i d D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c W o r k s a n d H i g h w a y s 1 s t a n d 2 n d D i s t r i c t s E n g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e . T h i s i s a c c o r d i n g t o R e y O r s u a , D P W H - N S S D E O P I O U n i t . A m i d s t c o n t i n u e s h e a v y r a i n s b r o u g h t b y L PA A g a t o n , E n g i n e e r F r a n c i s c o Y. Ta n a l a

o f t h e D P W H 1 s t D i s t r i c t E n g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e a n d a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e 2 n d D i s t r i c t E n g i n e e r i n g o f f i c e , d e c l a r e d t h a t a l l n a t i o n a l r o a d s s p e c i f i c a l l y P a l a p a g -M a p a n a s - G a m a y - L a p i n i g , S a n R o q u e - C a t u b i g - L a s N a v a s a n d L a o a n g a r e i n g o o d c o n d i t i o n . L i k e w i s e , t h e n a t i o n a l r o a d s g o i n g t o Ta c l o b a n a l o n g

C a t a r m a n - L o p e d e V e g a . T h i s w a s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r e d d u r i n g t h e r e c e n t e m e r g e n c y m e e t i n g c a l l e d b y t h e P r o v i n c i a l D i s a s t e r R i s k R e d u c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t C e n t e r a t t h e G o v e r n o r ’s O f f i c e i n c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e b a d w e a t h e r a s e x p e r i e n c e d b y t h e p r o v i n c e . ( P I A 8 - N o r t h e r n S a m a r )

PDEA-8 intensifies its anti-illegal drug operations after Yolanda

BY: AILENE N. DIAZ

T he Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the region

has warned all drug personalities as it intensifies its anti-i l legal drug operation following Yolanda‘s enormous devastation in many

areas in Eastern Visayas. Liza Baoy, Information Officer of PDEA region 8 said during an interview with her over PIA’s Power Fm, that the agency is now slowly going back to normal

as they set their targets for the year 2014 after the operations had stopped after Yolanda destroyed its facil it ies. As expected at the height of the calamity the i l legal drug activities in the region has weakened, however, reports indicated that it has resumed immediately as early as November. In this regard, all barangay anti-drug association councils have been mobilized again particularly in the City of Tacloban, one of the areas hardly hit by super typhoon Yolanda. Prior to yolanda’s onslaught in the region, 90 out of 138 barangays in Tacloban have been identified to have drug presence. “Comes February anti-i l legal drug operations will be full blast”, Baoy said. (PIA-8)

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

Mayor Ramon Onate (standing) of Palompon, Leyte presented the town’s tourism plan to DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez (4th from left) and party during his visit to the municipality on January 23. The Secretary also brought with him tourism entrepreneurs and officials from DOT, DOTC, TIEZA among others. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

www.pia.gov.ph

January 24, 2014 5reprogrammed into Dayaw-Taboan, one of the activities of which is the Dayaw Arts Therapy for several communities severely affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. This was discussed by Commissioner Joycie Alegre. The second major program and second reason why the NCAA officials were in the Region is the conduct of the Philippine Visual Arts Extreme (PVAX) which is part of the Philippine Arts Festival in line with the National Arts Month in February. This is led by Mr.Nemi Miranda as the Program Director. The Philippine Visual Arts Extreme will be held in Tacloban on Feb. 20-24, 2014 which will gather visual artists from Leyte and Samar for a line-up activities including conferences, exhibitions¸ competitions, workshops , painting sessions, tours and many others. It will also be held in Manila Hotel on February 15 to 19, Mr. Miranda said. Aside from the two programs, the Philippine Arts Festival will also feature a rich repertoire of activities and events prepared by the other 5 committees of the NCCA’s subcommissions on the arts.The National Committee on Architecture and Allied Arts led by Architect Gerald Lico, will hold several exhibitions, conferences¸lectures and competitions on Philippine Architecture and allied arts collectively called “Archi[types/texts] 2014.” Another is the “Cinema Region 6”by the National Committee on Cinema; the “Sayaw Pinoy” by the National Committee on Dance; the Taboan 2014: Philippine Literary Arts Festival by the National Committee on Literary Arts; the Taal Tunugan by the National Committee on Music; and the Tanghal 2014 by the National Committee on Dramatic Arts. (PIA 8)

Philippine Arts Month...from page 1 Gobyerno ni Aquino nag alokar P1.4 trilyones para mapauswag an kinabuhi san mga Pinoy - Coloma

An gobyerno ni Aquino in aktibo nga nagbubuhat sin mga pitad

para mapauswag an kinabuhi san mga Pinoy sin pagtindog sin damo nga mga oportunidad nga pagkikitaan pinaagi sin pag alokar sin masobra 1.4 trilyones ka pesos para san social ngan economic nga serbisyo para sa yana nga tuig nga nasyonal budget, ini an sugad ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma, Jr. Ini an pahayag ni Coloma durante san regular nga press briefing sa Malakanyang, nga an gobyerno nagtitikang paghimo sin mga pitad para mabaton an ginpagawas nga mga problema dida san diri pala maiha nga survey sa Pulse Asia Research. Dida san 2014 nasyonal budget, nag alokar sin pondo para san social ngan economic nga mga serbisyo sa paningkamot nga mapa uswag an kabug-osan nga kualidad san kinabuhi san tagsa nga

Filipino, sugad san Communications Secretary. An alokasyon nagrepresentar 63.4 porsyento san total nga 2.265 trilyones ka pesos nga budget, kon diin kaupod an 62.6 bilyones ka pesos para san Conditional Cash Transfer nga programa, an 35.3 bilyones ka pesos para san National health Insurance program ngan 10.7 bilyones ka pesos para san teknikal nga suporta serbisyo para san mga parag-uma, sugad ni Coloma Dugang niya, kaapi san budget yana nga tuig an 100 bilyones ka pesos alokasyon para san rehabilitasyon ngan rekonstruksyon san mga komunidad nga apektado san linog sa Bohol ngan bagyo Yolanda sa rehiyon sa Visayas, kon diin naheristro an pinakadako nga pagbabag-o san panhunahuna san mga Pinoy nga na interview san Pulse Asia san kualidad san kinabuhi durante san naglabay nga quarter sa tuig 2013. ( Translated by: ADiaz/PIA8-Northern Samar)

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez (center) answers questions from the media during the press conference held at Hotel Lorenza, Tacloban City, January 24. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

6 January 24, 2014

January 24, 2014 7

DOLE secretary...from page 1

that among the beneficiaries who received their livelihood grants was the Leyte II Electric Cooperative Employees union whose President Efren Gabriola received the amount of P352,500 for the restoration of water refilling station. This will benefit the 116 Union members, Director Sarcauga said. The Barangay 50 displaced workers and small entrepreneurs received P250,000 for their project, Starter Kit with Smart e-loading. This will benefit the 25 displaced workers in the said barangay in Tacloban City. Moreover, twenty-six displaced workers at Barangay 69 also received P260,000 for their project, Starter Kit with Smart e-loading. Finally, the 25 displaced workers from Barangay 72 also received 250,000 for their livelihood project. This program is part of the Government’s thrust to help restore and rehabilitate the livelihood of people severely affected by the super typhoon Yolanda¸ Director Sarcauga said.

Paghimo sin mga pantrabahuan nagpapabilin nga pangunahon nga prayoridad san gobyerno - Palasyo

P agpakusog san ekonomiya para san kaupayan san katawhan

in naka angkla san paghimo sin damo mga panbtrabuan, labot san iba nga aspeto, ini an sugad san Malakanyang. Dida san press briefing, si Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny ” Coloma Jr nasugad nga an pakaghimo damo nga pantrabahuan in nagpapabilin nga hitaas nga prayoridad san administrasyon ni Aquino. An Department of Labor and Employment in naghimo sin mga programa para masangko an

paghimo sin mga pantrabahuan pero an ayat nagpapabilin, sugad ni Coloma. Iya nakit-an nga yaun kinahanglan bag-ohon dida san estraktura sugad san panginginahanglan sin pag match san ada nga skil ls dida san ginkik inahanglan sa merkado dida san industriya, sugad ni Coloma. Sugad niya, yaun liwat kakulangan san 15 nga occupational nga kategoriya sa nasud nga yaun dito la o wara kualipikado nga aplikante mao nga an gobyerno nagkukuha sin trabahador tikang sa iba nga nasud. Ini an sayo san mga ayat nga ginbabaton san DOLE, dugang niya. An pagdeklarar san gobyerno san kakulangan san kualipikado nga aplikante para sin sayo nga kategoriya sin trabaho naghahatag senyales san mga trabahador nga Pinoy nga adto sa langyaw nga bumalik sa Pil ipinas, sugad san opisyal san Palasyo.( Translated by : ADiaz/PIA8-Northern Samar)

f ishermen f rom Samar, Eastern Samar and Leyte have avai led of the immediate ass istance f rom the government by way of providing mater ia ls for the repair of boats. Af ter repair ing the boats, d istr ibut ion of the f ishing gears and engines to the f ishermen/benef ic iar ies wi l l fo l low. “O f the 10, 000 targets, 5 , 000 wi l l go to the f ishermen in the region,” Br iguera sa id. (P IA-8)

Over 3,000 fisherfolks...from page 3

8 January 24, 2014

80,693 an magkukuha eksaminasyon sa Enero 26, 2014 para san Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET)

WARAY NEWS

Y aun total nga 80,693 an magkukuha s in eksaminasyon

para san Board L icensure Examinat ion for Profess ional Teachers (BLEPT ) sa Domingo, Enero 26, 2014 sa 15 nga test ing centers sa bug- os nga nasud. An Profess ional Regulat ion Commiss ion nag anunsyo nga an k adak-an san magkukuha LE T t ik ang sa Nat ional Capita l Region nga ginbabana bana nga maabot s in 18,055, ginsusundan san Davao nga yaun 8 ,202 ngan Cagayan de Oro nga yaun 8 ,152. An Catarman, Nor thern Samar ngan Baybay Cit y, Leyte in k aapi san gindugang nga test ing centers para sa Enero 26 nga

BLEPT tungod san makur i ngan dir i matataporan nga mga kondisyon san mga estraktura ngan pasi l idad sa Tacloban ngan para magin masayon ngan kompor tabl i an mga magkukuha eksaminasyon t ik ang san nasabi nga rehiyon. Samtang, an teachers l icensure examinat ions sa Zamboanga Cit y, Jolo Sulu ngan Tawi-tawi Test ing Centers nga sa di r i pala maiha gin esdog tungod san samok ngan segur idad nga isyu sa rehiyon yaun 3 ,881; 1 ,938 ngan 1 ,830 nga mga examinees. An PRC nagsasagdon san mga examinees nga kumadto san gindesignar nga mga centers antes a las syete sa aga ngan dad

on an not ice of admiss ion, duha o sobra pa nga lapis (No. 2) , bal lpens nga pi l i an ink , s ak a bug-os nga metered-stamp window envelope, sayo nga long brown envelope ngan sayo nga halaba nga masi lhag o t ransparent (non-colored) plast ic envelope durante san adlaw san eksaminasyon. An mga test ing centers mao an masunod: Mani la , Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, I lo i lo, Legazpi , Lucena, Pagadian, Catarman Nor ther Samar, Baybay Cit y Leyte, Tuguegarao, Zamboanga, Jolo Sulu ngan Tawi-tawi . ( Translated by : ADiaz/PIA8-Nor thern Samar)

Survivor local artists and private media practitioners in Eastern Visayas pose with the guests after the Harampang (Kapihan) ha PIA at the Leyte Sports Academy conference room, January 23 in line with the 2014 Philippine Arts Festival in celebration of the National Arts Month which will focus on art for healing activities. (Seated l-r) are Mr. Nemesio Miranda, Head of the Philippine Visual Arts Extreme; Director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency; Ms. Joycie Dorado Alegre, Commissioner of the Subcommittee on Cultural Communities and Traditional Arts; and Mr. Joey Tanedo, incoming Head of the Philippine Visual Arts Extreme. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)