Vol 4 Issue 11 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 Mar. 17 - Mar. 23, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Iloilo, one of PHL’s most competitive cities

Central Visayas top eco-tourism destination in PH

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Drones used to map Yolanda-hit areas in Leyte BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 17 (PIA) – Medair, an international NGO currently helping in the recovery and

rehabilitation of Haiyan-hit areas, is using drones to make new maps for Tacloban and other hard-hit areas in Leyte.

Mr. Joel Kaiser, emergency response officer of Medair told the Philippine Information Agency that Taloban City and

Leyte have maps which anyone could Google, but these were made before the Yolanda onslaught.

On Saturday, Medair sent off one small, lightweight drone in the presence of Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and

a few media representatives led by the Philippine Information Agency, at the City Hall grounds.

It was learned that only one drone was assembled because of the unpredictable weather last Saturday in the

City. More drones will fly when the weather is good, Mr. Kaiser said.

"You can just push a button or launch them by hand to see them fly, and you don't need a remote anymore—they are

guided by GPS and are inherently safe," Kaiser added. The drone looked like simple model airplane, to survey

landscapes and take photos with thousands of digital images that can be stitched together into 3-D maps. After the aerial

survey and photography, the new 3D maps will already be ready. The same will be very useful for the rehabilitation work that is ongoing in the Yolanda affected areas.

Mr. Kaiser said that the Swiss-based humanitarian aid

agency, together with Drone Adventures, a Swiss non-profit organization that promotes the humanitarian use of drones, will

also launch these devices in other parts of Leyte like Dulag. The ‗eBee drones‘ will take hundreds of aerial images of

the disaster-affected area, which will then be merged to create 2D maps and 3D terrain models. These will be used to help

Medair determine where the greatest need is and what the most appropriate assistance should be to affected families as

they continue to recover. Medair is currently assisting recovery efforts by providing

materials and expertise to build shelters in Dulag, which was hit by Super-Typhoon Haiyan last November. More than 80% of

the town‘s homes and cropland were destroyed. ―Recovery from a disaster of this magnitude can be

complex,‖ said Kaiser. ―The maps produced from the images taken by the drones will give everyone, including community

members themselves, an opportunity to better understand not only where the greatest needs are, but also their potential

solutions.‖ ―Having accurate images of affected areas will allow us to

address the needs of individual households and advocate on their behalf when necessary,‖ he added.

The images will be made public for free online, enabling community leaders and humanitarian organizations to use the information to coordinate reconstruction efforts. (PIA 8)

BY: LEONARD T. PINEDA I ILOILO CITY, March 17 (PIA6) --- Iloilo City is the

country‘s top 2 most competitive city in the National

Competitiveness Council‘s (NCC) Cities and Municipalities

Competitiveness Index.

In her presentation during the agency‘s roadshow held

Thursday in Hotel Del Rio here, NCC program officer

Marina Saldaña said that Iloilo City obtained a score of 68.23

ranking second among 122 cities evaluated nationwide.

Cagayan De Oro City topped the ―overall‖

Competitive Index under the city category with a score of

72.09.

The result was the first competitiveness index

developed by NCC together with the Regional

Competitiveness Committees and the United States Agency

for International Development (USAID). The rankings were

released last year.

NCC‘s Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index

operates within three frameworks that include economic

dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure.

Iloilo City ranked 8th for economic dynamism which is

measured by local inflation rate, growth of annual business

registrations, local productivity, and seven other indicators.

Under government efficiency, Iloilo City topped the

list. Government efficiency is measured by the presence of

an investment promotion unit, local Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Council (DRRMC) plan and eight other

indicators.

The city ranked 10th under the infrastructure category

which includes indicators such as number of hotel rooms,

health infrastructure, education infrastructure, among

others.

NCC is a public-private task force that aims to

promote a more competitive Philippines and instill a culture

of excellence, through public-private sector collaboration as

a means to reduce poverty through inclusive growth. (JCM/

LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

AECID, a Spanish organization, helps fisherfolk

in Samar and E. Samar provinces by providing

motor boats to replace the ones crushed by

Yolanda in November 2013. (PIA-Catbalogan)

Students of Abellana National High School in

Cebu City participating in the Nationwide

Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) on

March 19 at 9:00 am. The Office of Civil

Defense-Cebu, Military Officer from Cebu

Central Command, and Philippine National

Red Cross-Cebu Chapter conducted the

Earthquake Drill which lasted for 15 minutes

followed by an assessment. (VVV/PIA CEBU)

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (L) leads

the signing of the Pledge of Support to the

2014 Tax Campaign of BIR Revenue Region

No. 11 which kicked off with a caravan and

program in Iloilo City, March 17 during which

taxpayers were encouraged to file their

Income Tax Returns for CY 2013 on or before

April 15, 2014. (PIA 6/EJB)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

CEBU, March 18 (PIA) – Central Visayas is the top eco-tourism destination in the country as the Regional

Eco-Tourism Committee chaired by the Department of Tourism (DOT-7) is fast-tracking the identification of

eco-tourism sites in the region for tourism development. Regional technical director for Protected Area, Wildlife

Conservation Zone and Management Services of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR-7) Dr. Al Orolfo, disclosed about the number one status of Region 7 as an eco-tourism haven nationwide.

―Bohol is the top choice as an eco-tourism destination in Central Visayas followed by Cebu,‖ said Ornolfo during the

recent meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Steering Committee on Environmental Education.

―Eco-tourism has a very lucrative potential in Central Visayas,‖ said Orolfo which the government hopes to tap and

further market in the domestic shores and abroad. DENR-7 used to chair the regional committee which this

year is now led by the DOT-7. Apart from government stakeholders, also members of the committee are the local

government units and other concerned sectors, said Orolfo. Orolfo said the vast potentials of eco-tourism have yet

to be optimized as government is now gearing towards such

direction; of which Bohol he added is already very advanced in

effectively promoting and marketing the province as an ideal eco-tourism destination.

―This year will be the identification of eco-tourism sites which is why we need the LGUs to help us identify these

areas,‖ bared Orolfo adding the committee will then determine how huge the potentials are as a tourist crowd-drawer.

He added, after the identification of eco-tourism sites in the region this year, by 2015 or next year, development of

these eco-tourism sites will begin. This will be in partnership with the concerned LGUs and

tour operators. Orolfo said that in 2016, aggressive marketing strategies

will be applied to ensure the promotion of such eco-tourism sites.

In Cebu, the DENR-7 official cited Bantayan Island, which has already gained a reputation as a popular tourist haven as

one classic example of an eco-tourism destination. Late last month, the National Eco-Tourism Strategy Plan

was launched which would guide government and other stakeholders on approaches and policies to be adopted for the

development of eco-tourism destinations in the country. The Plan is good for the next 20 years, said Orolfo. (mbcn/FCR/

PIA-7)

National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Program Officer Marina

Saldaña explains the importance of boosting regional competitiveness

through public-private partnership during the agency's roadshow held

Thursday at Hotel Del Rio here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 20 (PIA6) – A forum on ―Walang Iwanan: The Bayani Challenge 2014‖ was attended by hundreds

of Capiceños and Aklanons last March 18 at Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center here to encourage more volunteers for the various

Bayani Challenge activities this summer.

B ayani Challenge 2014 event head

Jose Mari Oquiñena said that

volunteers will go to the areas

affected by recent calamities to help in

house building, school refurbishing,

mangrove tree planting and in other

activities like supplemental feeding as well

as storytelling and coastal clean up.

The Bayani Challenge, with its

battlecry ―Walang Iwanan‖ (no ones left

behind), aims to register one million

volunteers that will work together in

nation-building.

―I hope this summer you chose five

day s t o vo l un t eer . You go

to www.bayanichallenge.com and chose

where you want to go, when you want to

go and what you want to do,‖ noted

Oquiñena who is also the Director

General of the Philippine Information

Agency.

It will be staged in among 300 sites of

the 12 provinces nationwide that include

Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Cebu,

Eastern Samar, Leyte, Negros Occidental,

Palawan and Samar which were hit by

supertyphoon Yolanda last year.

Bohol and Zamboanga which were

affected by the killer quake and war last

year are also in the list.

―I know there are houses that will be

built here that will come from National

Housing Authority and private donors,‖

the PIA official disclosed during an

interaction with local mediamen, adding

that Bayani Challenge is a venue for

volunteers from various sectors and age

groups to join together toward the goal of

expressing love for country and caring for

the poor.

Bayani Challenge, which has grown

exponentially after eight years, is a

yearly campaign to inspire every Filipino to

make volunteerism a lifestyle. (AAL/PIA 6

Capiz)

Bayani Challenge organizers call for Panay volunteers

Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz

PIA-6 cites exemplary student writers

ILOILO CITY, March 17 (PIA6) --The Philippine Information Agency in Western Visayas has given recognition to 38

student writers who have performed well in the field of development communication.

These campus writers, members of

their publications, received the IWAG

Award, the highest form of citation given by

the PIA to graduating editors who have

been participating in its series of basic

journalism workshops and student press

conferences.

PIA-6 Director Atty. Janet Mesa said the

IWAG Award has been there for the last 37

years, recognizing not only the performance

of student writers, but their role in making

the campus press ever dynamic and bringing

it to the realm of community service.

―The campus publication is not just for

the academic community but for the

localities the papers reach,‖ Mesa said.

For 2014, the awardees are broken

down as follows: Aklan, 4; Antique, 4; Capiz,

5; Iloilo, 10; and, Negros Occidental, 15. The

awardees for Iloilo include (not in particular

ranking) Daniele Liza G. Molina and Berl

Stephen Dutosme of Ateneo; Ray Adrian

Macalalag and Jerson Elmido of the

University of San Agustin Publications; Keft

Sobredo of John B. Lacson Maritime

University-Arevalo; Marian Lea Moquite,

WVSU-College of Education; Angelica

Belarmino, Lapaz National High School; An-

gebvi Sepino, WVSU-College of Arts and

Sciences; Stephen Dave Mosqueda,

WVSU-College of Nursing; and, Jeline

Bornales, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State

College-Ajuy.

The 38 recipients were given a citation

and a medal from the Presidential

Communications Operations Office

(PCOO) which their schools can award

during their Recognition Day or Graduation

Ceremonies.

T h e c r i t e r i a i n c l u d e d

Development-oriented articles published

(35%); Communication Work, Experiences

and Training (20%); Involvement in

Communication-related activities in the

campus and the community (20%);

Academic/scholastic achievements (15%);

and, Other Awards/Recognitions (10%).

(JCM/ESS-PIA6)

BY: ELSA S. SUBONG

BY: ALEX A. LUMAQUE

SAN JOSE, Antique, March 20 (PIA6) - - The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC)

conducted an earthquake drill on March 19 as part of efforts to strengthen awareness and to afford first responders rehearse

emergency response plans.

P DRRM Officer Broderick Train said

that the activity will ―help us assess

the capacity of people and rescue

teams in the event of disasters and other

emergencies.‖

The Department of Education Division of

Antique was the ceremonial site of the

earthquake, where at 9:00 A.M. an earthquake

scenario of stronger magnitude was simulated

to test how the officers and employees would

react and evacuate to a safer ground.

Next, the Bureau of Fire Protection with

their equipment, responded to put out the fire

and rescuers bringing out wounded people to

the area where they will be attended to by the

paramedics, then transported by the ambulance

to the hospital. Traffic management was also in

place to avoid further accidents.

At the hospital, the incident commander

Dr. Samuel Tonogan after experiencing also

the magnitude of the earthquake supervised

evacuation of patients to safer grounds, and

after the assessment that the facility is stable

and safe the hospital‘s personnel went back to

their respective station.

Ambulances coming from DepEd now

start arriving at the hospital, and the incident

commander shifts attention with his staff

assessing the medical needs of the incoming

patients. ―So far the activity is very helpful to

assess our preparedness during disaster and

other emergencies,‖ Dr. Tonogan said.

Earlier, Governor Exequiel B. Javier issued

Memorandum Order 024, urging all provincial

department heads, head of national agencies,

municipal disaster risk reduction and

management councils and educational

institutions both private and public to

participate in the conduct of the first quarter

national simultaneous earthquake drill to

enhance preparedness and response

mechanisms to earthquakes and its associated

hazards like collapsed structures, landslide,

fires and others.(JCM/MLG/VWV-PIA6

Antique)

Antiqueños test earthquake emergency response plans BY: VICENTE W. VILLAVERT

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Kalahi-CIDSS docu wins Best Public Sector Award

ILOILO CITY, March 19 (PIA6) – The documentary ―Ang Banas Padulong sa Kauswagan‖ (Trail to Progress), entry of the

Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Community Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) bagged the top prize as Best

Public Sector Project for 2014.

K alahi-CIDSS is a community-driven

project of the Department of Social

Welfare and Development which

highlights people empowerment in

poverty-alleviation program.

The documentary bested other

contenders which included the ―OPLA

Sagip-Hanap Eskwela of the DepEd-Guimaras;

Excellence in Local Governance of the DILG;

Promotion of Complementary Food

Technology of the DOST; and, the Barangay

Peace Keeping Operations of the Police

Regional Office.

Kalahi-CIDSS focal person Maricar

Calubiran said the documentary tells of a

barangay trail with foot bridge project in the

island barangay of Macatunao, in the northern

town of Concepcion, Iloilo.

The project, which serves 200 households

and some 149 indirect beneficiaries from

neighboring barangays and sitios, was

constructed by the collaborative efforts of the

people and the DSWD-6 Project Management

Office.

The special feature was of Vivian Dolor‘s

story, who pawned her wedding ring just to

buy the initial materials for the presentation of

their concept for validation and approval.

Dolor was the Barangay Sub-Project

Management Committee Chairperson, leading

the community in the identification and

conceptualization of the project.

In the Kalahi-CIDSS, according to

Calubiran, the community itself has to identify

the project and present its concept for funding.

The documentary also showed how

Dolor‘s team sacrificed and worked to realize

the trail and the foot bridge to make their

community accessible.

These experiences have been featured in

the Philippine Daily Inquirer and the TV

program Rated-K.

The Best Sector Project Award was

initiated by the Regional Development Council

(RDC-6) with three categories, namely:

national government agencies, local

government units, and state universities and

colleges.

The Kalahi-CIDSS documentary will

receive a trophy and a cash prize of P50,000,

during the awarding ceremony on April 1 in

Iloilo City, with Budget Secretary Florencio

Abad as guest of honor. (DSWD/JCM/ESS/

PIA-Iloilo)

by Elsa S. Subong Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 18 (PIA6) - - More than P4-million worth of infrastructure projects were turned over by the

Department of Agrarian Reform to the local government of Hinobaan town.

DAR turns over farm-to-market road, health center

T he infrastructures include a 1.2

kilometer farm to market road and

a health center that are expected to

benefit 1,648 households of Barangay Asia of

the town.

This is under the Agrarian Reform

Communities Project II (ARCP2), a rural

development project of the Department of

Agrarian Reform (DAR) the executing

agency under Foreign-Assisted Projects

Office.

DAR-ARCPII projects aim to alleviate

poverty in Agrarian Reform Communities

(ARC).

The Farm to Market Road extends from

National Highway to Purok 5 with the

project cost of ?3,238,995.21 started

rehabilitation on May 7, 2013 and completed

on November 29, 2013.

Meanwhile, the 50.40 square meter

Health Station cost P877,674.18 and was

completed in August 6, 2013.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program

Officer II (PARPO II) Lucrecia S.Taberna,

DAR Regional Office Representative Engr.

Daniel Pongan and Rural Infrastructure

Engineer (RIE), Provincial Project Office

(PPO) Engr. Lodivico Guimapang officially

turned over the infrastructures to Mayor

Ernesto A. Estrao and Barangay Chairman

Elias P. Manlangit, the DAR press release

said.

Taberna challenged the community to

commit in operation and maintenance of the

said projects while members of the Asia

Organic Farmer‘s Association (AOFA)

represented by Naneelito Prado Pagbana-ag

ARC thanked DAR for the projects.

In 2013, a two-classroom building was

also turned over to Barangay Alim of the

same town.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

Aklan pet owners urged to be responsible

KALIBO, Aklan, March 17 (PIA6) -- As the country celebrates Rabies Awareness Month this March, the Office of the Provincial

Veterinarian (OPVET) here once again reiterated the call to Aklanons to be responsible pet owners.

T he OPVET, through Dr. Ronald

Lorenzo, Provincial Rabies Control

Coordinator issued this call when he

guested recently in the radio program hosted

by the Philippine Information Agency aired

over RMN-DYKR Kalibo as one of the

activities of the province in observance of

Rabies Awareness Month.

The OPVET‘s renewed call for Aklanons

to be responsible pet owners is one of the

strategies seen by the office to help Aklan

attain rabies-free status by 2020.

As responsible pet owners, Dr. Lorenzo

said people should have their pets vaccinated

and registered, cleaned, and provided with

food and shelter. This way, dogs will be least

likely to be infected with rabies and other

diseases, according to Dr. Lorenzo.

―Rabies is a deadly disease but it is also

100% preventable‖, Dr. Lorenzo said.

For this year, OPVET is intensifying its

campaign to vaccinate more dogs in the

province to prevent if not eliminate rabies.

In February of this year, 2 Aklanons were

reported by the Provincial Health Office

(PHO) here to have died due to rabies.

A report from the Provincial Health

Office (PHO) revealed that in 2013, animal bite

victims in Aklan reached 3,608 which showed a

continuous upward trend since 2010.

Based on PHO records, in 2010, there

were 2,719 Aklanons bitten by dogs and other

animals; while in 2011, there were 3,033 and in

2013, 3,541.

Not all animal bite victims, however, had

consultations at the Animal Bite Center at the

Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital

(DRSTMH) and at the Altavas District Hospital

(ADH), according to Dr. Cornelio Cuachon,

PHO I.

Seeking consultations and having the

animal bite victims injected with Post-Exposure

Prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible are some

of the life-saving measures the PHO and other

health workers strongly advise Aklanons once

they get bitten.

The PHO report showed that in 2013,

Kalibo had the highest report of animal bite

victims with 8l1, followed by Banga with 342

and New Washington with 307.

The rest of the municipalities had 276 and

lower, with the farthest town, Buruanga, having

the lowest with 32 animal bite cases. (JCM/

VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

BY: EASTER ANNE D. DOZA

BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, March 18 (PIA) – All 34 jail facilities in Central Visayas under the management of the Bureau of Jail Management

and Penology (BJMP-7) face the perennial problem of over-congestion as local government units are urged to donate a

one-hectare lot for the construction of new jail buildings.

BJMP7 urges LGUs to donate lot for new jails

A ssistant regional director for operations of

the BJMP-7, Supt. Bartolome Sagadal made

this call as every year, inmate population

per jail climbs between 10 to 20 percent which

again underscores the dilemma of too much

congestion.

―In Mandaue City Jail alone, the ideal

capacity is only 54 yet the total inmate population

is 1,002. There is a congestion rate of 1,741

percent.

In the Cebu City Jail, ideal number is 864 yet

the total number of inmates reached 2,216 so

there is a congestion rate of 156 percent,‖ bared

Sagadal adding the list goes on with the rest of the

jails where overcrowding is a common major

problem.

Out of the 34 jail facilities in the region, 16

are located in Cebu; 11 in Negros Oriental while

Bohol has five jails and only one in Siquijor.

Other two provincial jails in Cebu and Ne-

gros Oriental are not within the jurisdiction of

the BJMP7 but are rather manned by the

respective provincial governments of Cebu and

NegOr.

According to the BJMP-7 official, only the

local governments of Ubay in Bohol and Argao in

Cebu have heeded their plea for a donated lot.

Sagadal said four jails are also working on an

expansion this year to accommodate more

inmates.

Three of these jails are located in Cebu

namely in the cities of Carcar and Danao and

in Medellin town while the other one is in Tanjay

Negros Oriental.

Because of overcapacity, Sagadal said health

problems such as respiratory diseases would

likely surface with tuberculosis or TB as the

top health issue.

Skin problems would also likely occur with

the imminent summer period just like in the

previous years, said Sagadal.

Sagadal said they are very grateful to the

assistance of the Department of Health (DOH-7)

which has constructed 14 separate isolated

TB cells within 14 jails since 2010, on

top of providing free medications to inmates with

TB.

Sagadal along with the Cebu Provincial

Detention and Rehabilitation Center and the

DOH-7 were the guests of the weekly forum of

the Association of Government Information

Officers (AGIO-7) this morning that tackled the

topic ‗State of Our Jail Facilities and Addressing

the Welfare of Inmates.‘ (mbcn/FCR/PIA-7)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN Cansaga Bay Bridge in CebuCansaga Bay Bridge in CebuCansaga Bay Bridge in Cebu

DENR-7 celebrates Int’l Day of the Forests

CEBU CITY, March 18 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) will celebrate the

International Day of the Forests on March 21.

I n an AGIO7 forum at the Philippine

Information Agency (PIA-7) today, DENR-7

Chief, Forest Resources and Conservation

Division Clea Arceño said that this day is

celebrated to raise awareness of the importance

of all types of forests.

Countries are encouraged to undertake

local, national and international efforts to organize

awareness raising activities involving forests and

trees, Arceño added.

She also said, DENR urged the public to help

in protecting the forests as they are important in

soil and water conservation and climate change

mitigation and adaptation.

Forests are essential in maintaining the

balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in

the air.

With the observance of the event, DENR-7

initiated the mangrove planting and growing in a

coastal barangay in Argao, Cebu with more than

3,000 mangrove propagules to be planted on

March 21.

DENR-7 Information Officer Dr. Eddie

Llamedo said that mangroves will act as natural

barriers in the coastlines to shield the

communities from highly devastating storm surges

and other tsunami-like waves.

Other lined up activities are the social

media campaign as preparing and sharing

banners, leaflets, brochures, posters, infographics,

videos, news and messages; debates and

drawing contests on forest and forestry

issues; radio/TV talk shows; tree planting

campaign; photo exhibits that portray the

importance forests and tress; workshops and

seminars and online media postings on blog,

facebook and twitter.

Meanwhile, Arceño said the illegal logging in

Central Visayas is not that serious. DENR-7

encouraged the communities, to report illegal

cutting of trees, ‗kaingin‘ or slash and burn

practices; to participate in the tree planting or

growing act iv i t ies ; and organ ize a

community-based forest protection group. (mbcn/

HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)

BY: HAZEL F. GLORIA

SIQUIJOR, March 14 (PIA) -- Mysiquijor.com administrator Gary Harrison or ‗Siquijor Gary‘ as the islanders fondly call him

has been in and out Siquijor, the small island in the Philippines he proudly calls his ‗home‘, for nearly two and a half decades

now.

Mysiquijor.com brings home a positive change

“ I felt something here..pardon me…but

something magical. There was something

here on the island that kept calling me back

each and every year,‖ says Gary as he presents

the cash donation of Pph51,000 for the

renovation of Solangon Chapel in San Juan,

Siquijor, the amount he solicited from generous

donors from different walks of life through

my.siquijor.com.

But the solicitation or the donation is just

one of the many ways of showing his respect and

gratitude to the people for allowing him to enjoy

life on the island for 24 years.

Over and above it was his vision to bring

positive change on the lives of the islanders that

he pursued with his creation of a website

named ―mysiquijor.com‖ in 2002.

Mysiquijor.com, he is convinced, would help

him realize his aspiration as it portrays his

affection and appreciation for the island and his

long commitment to show Siquijor‘s natural beau-

ty to the world.

But when asked about promoting the island,

Siquijor Gary responded by saying: ―I don‘t have

to sell it..only to show it. The island sells itself.‖

While recognizing the island‘s many natural

treasures such as the waterfalls, the beaches, the

convent, etc. Gary also realized that the island‘s

most important resource is its people.

With it, he included in his vision for the

website his desire to have a positive impact on

Siquijor‘s medical capabilities, educational system,

employment rate and in the preservation of its

culture.

And over the past 12 years Mysiquijor.com,

indeed, has made several donations of medical

equipment to the Provincial Hospital, the

restoration of St Francis of Assisi Church and

school supplies to the selected elementary

schools, among others.

Along with them are the promotion of local

businesses and foreign investments, and the

provision of assistance to thousands of tourists,

apart from the ―gifts‖ he personally bring and

present every time he comes home to the island.

Gary thanked all the generous donors: Linda

Rumple Tieben, Scott Kim, Tom Ashton, Mike

Eudy, Craig Norburry, Steve &Eileen Lyon, Coral

Cay Resort, Samantha White, Craig & Ellen Lego,

Tim & Rhea Larsen, D' Barkads,

The Bruce & himself . ―A couple of them are

my old classmates and have never been to the

Philippines and probably never will,‖ he said while

giving a brief background of the donors and

the amount they gave for Siquijor.

In closing, he challenged everyone, domestic

or foreign, to reach into their pockets and give

with their hearts to finish the chapel and move on

to another project. This he said as he is aware

that the donation given will not be enough to

complete the project.

Above all, he thanked the people of Siquijor

and assure them that even though his eyes are old

and tired, his vision for mysiquijor.com and the

island remains very strong and clear. (mbcn/rac/

PIA7-Siquijor)

BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, March 15 (PIA)— Bohol pitches in for the seemingly impossible in an attempt to engage the most

number of volunteers for the country‘s Bayani Challenge (BC) in 2014.

B ohol, which is poised to do a massive

rehabilitation for its public and private infrastructure which the earthquake toppled

and the super typhoon Yolanda flattened, had the BC

coming in time, according to volunteers during the recent coordination meeting held at the Governor‘s Mansion recently.

A call to mainstream the small bits and patches

of Filipino spirit of helping each other, BC also aims to build relationships among different sectors, groups and nationalities, creating peaceful and more caring

communities that are ready for any eventuality, according to BC Bohol coordinator Christopher Rivera.

BC is also the platform to gather and inspire volunteers who are key players in innovating and

implementing plans that address poverty and other

social challenges, making it also the opportunity to raise extraordinary resources that complement funded or unfunded programs of the local

government, this was learned. Initially targeted for volunteer work are nine

badly damaged towns, in the spirit of bayanihan, a Capitol functionary wants it in 47 towns and

Tagbilaran City.

According to Rivera in previous meetings with

Bohol officials, SEEM Cluster head Liza Quirog said she wants BC in all towns of Bohol. Excited by the development, Rivera said he has reasons to believe

Bohol can put up the numbers as there really is a lot of things that can be done.

Simultaneous in two months time in Alkan, Antique, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Ilo-ilo, Leyte,

Palawan, Negros Occidental, Samar and Zamboanga, the BC 2014 attempts to come up with a million volunteers from April 9-June 12.

Also coming at a time when Bohol will have its fiesta months in May, Josephine Cabarrus, Bohol Tourism Officer believes it adds up to the taste of

the patriotism. In 2013, one after another disasters hit us

almost like a plague: the wars in Zamboanga, the

killer quake in Bohol and the last straw was Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan), unleashing a fury like the world had never seen before with an

intensity and magnitude that quite literally blew away almost the whole of the Visayas islands.

For this year's challenge, we will go to the areas affected by recent disasters and show our brothers

and sisters that we will not leave them behind! In

response to the call for education as that which

helps Bohol attain its progress, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) brought in student skills trainings to Candabong National High School

(CNHS) in time for the HEAT-IT Caravan in Anda recently.

Meanwhile, aspiring young writers, about 18 of them from Grades 7 to fourth year, gathered at the

school‘s Computer Room, to learn about the basics of News-writing, do it and be critiqued of their work.

The same group, now joined by school paper advisers then delved into the basics of photography and photojournalism, the basics of the digital camera

and tips on taking good media-presentable shots as well as the basics of photo captioning. The short

course also included a practicum on picture and

photo coverage, photo captioning, minor desktop editing, cropping photographs, and preparing photo releases.

School principal Zita Amora said she appreciated the government for offering the free training to their students who have gone to several annual press conferences with barely enough

training. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

Cansaga Bay Bridge in CebuCansaga Bay Bridge in CebuCansaga Bay Bridge in Cebu

Bohol wants most hands in Bayani Challenge ‘14

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 14 (PIA) -- "Improper use of electrical gadgets and appliances are among the common causes of

fire".

Improper use of electrical gadgets among causes of fire

P rovincial Fire Marshal of Negros

Oriental, CINSP William Tacaldo Jr,

bared this during a Kapihan sa PIA held

recently in observance of Fire Prevention Month

at Bethel Guesthouse, Dumaguete City.

Improper use of electrical gadgets such as

battery charger, voltage regulator including

appliances are among the causes of fire.

"We should not leave these electrical

gadgets/appliances plugged in outlets when not in

use because this will overheat and trigger fire"

according to Tacaldo.

Tacaldo underscores proper housekeeping

to prevent the occurence of fire. He also

emphasized that installing grills on windows is a

violation of the fire safety code because this will

obstruct passage in case fire originates

from inside the house.

Tacaldo urged especially the parents not to

leave their children alone at home.

Open burning is also discouraged because

the flying embers can glow very hot and precede a

fire in other places.

One of the business establishments in

Dumaguete City, Bethel Guesthouse/Hotel and

Cang's Incorporated owner, Roy Cang cited that

most of the fires usually happen in the residential

areas and rarely in the business districts because

of their compliance to the annual fire safety

inspection done by the city engineer's office and

the Bureau of Fire Protection.

On the part of the City Engineer's Office,

Engr. Erasto Crispo urged owners of residential

houses to initiate in checking for deficiencies in

their electrical wirings and not to use substandard

electrical materials for their safety.

Meanwhile, Dumaguete City Fire Marshal

Arnulfo Sayson reported that for this year the

BFP responded to 10 fire alarms with only one big

fire that has an estimated cost damaged of P800,

000.

These fire brigades are then trained by BFP

personnel in firefighting techniques so that they

can immediately respond to fire incidents in their

establishments and at the same time augment the

presently undermanned fire personnel of

Dumaguete City, said Fire Marshal Sayson.

Sayson also commended the people in

Dumaguete City and the community for their

active involvement in fire prevention. (Mbcn/

LPagunsan/PIA7- Negros Oriental)

BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN

CEBU CITY, March 14 (PIA)--- Health authorities sees the need for local government support in the implementation of the

Responsible Pet Ownership Law.

Local gov’t support to responsible pet ownership sought BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA

BY: REY ANTHONY H. CHIU

D epartment of Health (DOH-7) regional

director, Dr. Jaime Bernadas said there is a need to strengthen advocacy campaigns on

the Responsible Pet Ownership Law at the municipal

level. ―I admit we lack advocacy which is very

important in our campaign against rabies, that is why despite our lack of manpower, we aim to visit these

LGU‘s, attend their assemblies and be visible to them,‖ Bernadas said.

Rabies and TB Control Program

Coordinator, Dr. Jocelyn Tabotabo said the number of reported cases in 2013 had increased to 50,755 from 34,678 cases in 2012.

There is an increasing trend as observed from the figures made available in 2008- 17,387 cases;

2009-20,338 cases; 2010-26,298 cases and

2011-28,964 cases. However Tabotabo said that despite the

rise of reported cases, there is an

observed downward trend among deaths caused by rabies.

In 2009 there were 12 deaths by rabies, increased by one in 2010 then there were 10 deaths

in 2011; seven deaths in 2012 and eventually only four deaths last year.

Tabotabo said on the 4th year of implementing

the ―Rabies Free Visayas Project‖ they have not reached 70 percent immunization coverage in the region.

However, Tabotabo said that the increasing number of reported bite cases may also mean that

the people are already going to the Animal Bite

Centers which are increasing in the region. At the Animal Bite Centers, the government

shoulders two of the needed four doses of

anti-rabies vaccine. The health authorities also advised the public

not to resort to the popular quack treatment ―tandok‖ as according to Dr. Bernadas, ―it does not

have no scientific basis to cure rabies‖. Rabies incubation period they said is between

three to 57 days. ―And for the record, there is no

official survivor of rabies,‖ Bernadas said. Local government units are therefore enjoined

to adopt a local legislation implementing the

Responsible Pet Ownership Law. (mbcn/FCC/ PIA7-Cebu)

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

DSWD-8 to scale up anti-poverty program thru NCDDP

E ubolo Co, Deputy Regional

Program Manager of the National

C o m m u n i t y D r i v e n

Development Program (NCDDP) of

DSWD Regional Office 8 said, the

program is targeting 136 municipalities of

the six (6) provinces across the region.

Like the Kalahi-CIDSS, the National

Community Driven Development

P r o g r a m ( N C D D P ) u s e s

community-driven development strategy

to empower the people in order to

capacitate them in solving community

problems that may affect their poverty

situation.

Under the NCDDP, projects in the

local level will be implemented in four

cycles and in every cycle there is a

municipal allocation.

Previously, Kalahi-CIDSS was

implemented only in bottom poor

municipalities comprising 25% of the

muniopalities in the region.

However, under NCDDP which is set

to be implemented in the month of May, it

shall cover all municipalities whether

Yolanda affected areas or not.(PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 17 (PIA)—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas

is set to scale up its operation and coverage of its poverty alleviation program with the implementation of the National

Community Driven Development Program in the region within this year.

New Zealand sets coco farmers’ hope aflame

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 18 (PIA) - Hope burned bright in the hearts of farmers in the small coconut farming

community in Brgy. Gacao in Palo, Leyte. Hope was the farmer‘s only hope that life would become better after their

properties and coconut dependent livelihood were leveled by typhoon Yolanda on that fateful day in November 8.

T he farmers hope was set on

fire when the government of

New Zealand responded to

the mute plea for help.

In March 16, 2014, New Zealand‘s

Minister of Defense, the Honorable Nikki

Kaye and Ambassador Reuben Levermore

in coordination with the Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the

United Nations made a field visit to the

potential coconut project site for

development.

Through the FAO, which is working

closely with the Philippines‘ Department

of Agriculture and other government

agencies at all levels, the government of

New Zealand committed a $2.5 million

grant to the coconut farming-community

in Brgy. Gacao to be used in the recovery

efforts for agricultural development.

Initially, the Philippine government

received $5 million from New Zealand as

first response when the typhoon struck.

In her short message, the Honorable

Kaye told of her country‘s commitment to

support agricultural development. She said

that the $2.5million is focused on

a g r i c u l t u r e f o r s u s t a i n a b l e

development.

She also informed the coconut

farmers that since the productivity time of

c o c o n u t s t a k e s 6 - 8 y e a r s ,

community-based intercropping will be

undertaken as alternative livelihood.

Other interventions to restore

income include the provision of ruminant

livestock, cash-for-work (land clearing) as

well as the provision for post harvest

equipment.

As representative of her country,

Minister Kaye underscored that the field

visit was to stock at the situation and

make sure that the help given would reach

the beneficiaries of her country‘s

committed grant.

Meanwhile, FAO representative

Rajendra Aryal clarified that New Zealand

has committed $4 million annually to the

country as assistance relative to

development program of the government.

(PIA-8)

AgasAgasAgas---Agas Bridge in Southern LeyteAgas Bridge in Southern LeyteAgas Bridge in Southern Leyte

Two women PWDs enjoy economic independence

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 18 (PIA) - Two women afflicted with different disabilities proved that they too can

function like those endowed with complete senses.

T h e s e w o m en a r e bo t h

entrepreneurs, Rica Dacles is a

polio victim and walks supporting

her left leg. Vivian Montejo another

woman Person with Disabilities (PWD) is

deaf-mute.

But their physically challenging

situation did not a bit deter them from

pursuing a life of economic independence.

Dacles, a single mother and a PWD is

now a comparatively successful pastillas

producer, she has hired two assistants,

one mother and one student to help her

in her Jezreel‘s food products.

She produces pastillas, pacombo (also

known as bukayo) and peanut brittle balls.

―I have to persevere so that my

daughter can enjoy the best life I can of-

fer,‖ she shared.

She added that her disability has

never stopped her to pursue college and

now her business.

Meawnhile, Montejo in her early years

was a manicurist, as she is deaf-mute, it

was her sister Viola who shared how

Vivian graduated from being a hired

manicurist to having her own mini-store

and acquiring foot spa paraphernalia for a

few chosen customers.

As she has the fund now, she can

choose to serve but a few loyal

customers.

―She is very frugal but generous to

her nephews, nieces and god children, she

does not know how to read and write but

nobody can fool her when it comes to

money matters,‖ she said.

As a proof of her skills in money and

numbers, she alone tends to her store and

does mental computation when serving

her customers.

She sells food and beverage and other

household goods. She also personally

shops for stocks.

Vivian, her sister said, buys and wears

branded clothing, she mused. She goes to

Tacloban and Cebu to shop and has god

taste in choosing clothes.

Both women enjoy life as

entrepreneur and both are economically

independent. As it is women‘s month, the

world hails these two for surviving the

challenge and overcoming life‘s challenges

with flying colors. (NBQ/PIA 8-Samar)

BY: NINFA ILUMINDA B. QUIRANTE

BY: AURORA J. CASIMPAN

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

GSIS-Maasin introduces electronic billing, collection system

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, March 19 (PIA) – The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) - Maasin

Branch introduced the Electronic Billing and Collection System (eBCS) in a training held March 19 at the Casa

Ampil Function Hall here.

G SIS eBilling and Collection System is a

web-based application that facilitates

the dissemination of billing files to

remitting agencies and supports submission

and payment of remittances, GSIS Chief for

Billing, Collection and Reconciliation

Division Ma. Crisel Inocando disclosed in

her rationale of the new system.

―This will be a preparation for the

Department of Budget and Management‘s

(DBM) circular on on-line remittances or

payment through banks,‖ she said.

She said that the application is publicly

accessible to remitting agency users. ―A

username and password pair will be

provided to system users to access the

system,‖ she elaborated.

A user manual were distributed to the

participants which serves as a guide for

eBCS users to the different functionalities of

the system.

The day activity was participated by

different Agency Authorized Officers,

Remitting Agency Officers and Finance

Officers in Southern Leyte and some Leyte

offices covered by GSIS-Maasin.

The eBCS‘ objective is to let the

agencies correct their own data before

uploading to SAP.

It is expected that there will be no

more missing Electronic Remittance Files

and clarificatory issues; can minimize if not

eliminate undistributed collection; the

operations group will have an exact view of

what the customers are doing; and a

standard reporting of collection per group,

per account.

Among other activities during the day

training was a pre-assessment exam for the

Remitting Agency Officers and Finance

Officers before the start of the eBCS

rationale and a post assessment came after

the training.

An open forum was also conducted

before the training session ended.

O th e r s p e a k e r s i n c l u d e d

Chief-Frontline Services Division Rodrigo

Cajipe, BCRD Team Leader Allan Ang, Ms.

Glenda Dator, Geno Molar and Cesar

Zapata, all from GSIS-Maasin Branch.

(PIA8-SoLeyte)

AgasAgasAgas---Agas Bridge in Southern LeyteAgas Bridge in Southern LeyteAgas Bridge in Southern Leyte

DILG trains newly elected barangay officials

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, March 18 (PIA) -- Around 5,OOO newly elected barangay officials in Southern Leyte for the

term 2013-2016 underwent the Barangay Newly Elected Officials (BNEO) Program to be conducted by the Department of the

Interior and Local Government (DILG), in coordination with the local chapters of the Liga Ng Mga Barangay (LnB).

D I LG Loca l Government

Operations Officer II Rafunzel

Bero in a press release said that

the activity kicked off since the last week

of February 2014 with 60 barangay

officials trained in the municipality of

Limasawa.

‖The "Laying the Foundation"

component of the BNEO program is a

three-day orientation-seminar on the

basics in barangay governance and

administration in all 500 barangays in the

province,‖ he reported.

He added that an-going training of

other barangay officials from the different

municipalities in Southern Leyte is yet

conducted. ―It is expected to end in the

month of April this year,‖ acting DILG

Information Officer Bero informed

further.

―DILG Provincial Director Juan M.

Badocdoc conveyed that the 2013

Barangay Elections ushered in the new set

of barangay officials, thus the need to

equip them with the necessary knowledge

and skills to collectively govern their

respective communities,‖ he quoted.

This term‘s BNEO focuses on the

improved participation for the community

i n l o ca l gove rn an ce t h rou gh

citizenship building by strengthening

the barangay-based institutions, greater

transparency through the implementation

of the Full Disclosure Policy

of the Department, and performance

management through the use of

Barangay Governance Performance

Management S ys tem (BGPMS) .

(PIA8-SoLeyte)

BY: REBECCA CADAVOS

400 Samar fisherfolk to get boats from Spanish donor

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 21 (PIA) - - Some 400 new fishing boats with engine and fishing gears will be awarded to

fisherfolk in Llorente, Hernani and Gen MacArthur in Eastern Samar and in Marabut, Basey, Sta Rita and Villareal.

A ccording to Emy Bonifacio of the

Office of the Presidential Adviser

on the Peace Process (OPAPP),

the giving out of the boats, now branded

as peace boats is a form of convergence

within the government and among

governments.

These are donated by Agencie

Espanolade Cooperacion International

para el Desarollo (AECID) to the Yolanda

victims through Mainstreaming Peaceand

Development Program in partnership with

OPAPP, DILG, BFAR and other LGUs.

To recall, on November 8, 2013,

Eastern Visayas was ravaged by typhoon

Yolanda, the extent of damage required a

convergent response not only from the

government, but also from other

development partners.

While the Philippine Government is

doing rehabilitation and reconstruction

plan for Yolanda affected areas, it

continues to welcome parallel initiatives

to rebuild the lives of the survivors, thus

the provision of boats for the

fisherfolks.

As fishing remains one of the

livelihood for most Eastern Visayan, the

replacement of their boats is a welcome

gesture.

On March 25, fisherfolks identified

from the towns of Samar and E

Samar provinces will troop to the Balyuan

Tower in Tacloban City not only to meet

the generous donor AECID but also to

meet the Spanish Minister of Foreign

Affairs and Cooperation, His Excellency

Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo y Marfil and a

host of other officials from the donor

country.

Other than providing livelihood,

the provision of boats is also aimed

towards social cohesiveness in the

community, says OPAPP. (NBQ/PIA

8-Samar with Emy Bonifacio-OPAPP)

BY: NINFA ILUMINDA B. QUIRANTE

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378718/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Contributors

All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

Production and Layout

Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado

Regional Offices:

PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com

PIA 8, Children‘s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com