Vol 4 Issue 23 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 9 - 15, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Asia-Europe delegates assess disaster preparedness

GPB projects in WV get P48M

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Sec. Coloma to PIOs: Be proactive, informative, organized

BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA

CEBU CITY, June 10 (PIA) ---- Public information officers (PIOs) in Central Visayas are urged to boost the government‟s campaign in making communities resilient to

disasters. In his message during the First Regional Summit of

Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) held yesterday in Cebu City, Sec. Herminio

Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) encouraged the PIOs to

bolster the government‟s disaster communications efforts

by being proactive, informative, and organized. “The role of PIOs in disaster communications is to be

proactive, to pro-act and not react, to know ahead of

time,” said Sec. Coloma.

He stressed that information officers should be literate on disaster risk reduction and management as

proper information is important. “For example, tsunami is different from storm surge.

For tsunami, it‟s „run for your lives‟ so it means immediate

evacuation, while storm surge, there is a 48-hour window so there is time to evacuate,” he said.

Sec. Coloma said the PIOs can minimize the ill-effects of the lack or absence of information that took place in the

wake of typhoon Pablo, by making sure that the right information is made available to the people at the right time.

With the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) now undertaking geohazard mapping, he also proposed for PIOs

to become competent resource persons on geo-hazard

profiles of their respective local communities. He also pushed for PIOs to strongly support disaster

risk reduction and management organizations from the

barangay to the national level. “There is already a devolution of responsibility…

communities must start taking responsibility for disaster risk reduction and management,” he said.

The PCOO chief challenged the information officers to help build an ethos of taking responsibility, “not one of avoidance nor not one of blaming and fingerpointing.”

Coloma was the keynote speaker during the kick-off of the 21st Regional Association of Development Information (RADIO-7) officers held June 9, attended by

more than 100 information officers around Central Visayas.

(rmn/PIA-Cebu)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 5 (PIA) - Around 75

foreign dignitaries from Asia and Europe visited the towns of Palo and Tanauan and Tacloban City, all in Leyte province. The places visited were the areas badly hit by

typhoon Yolanda. This visit was a side trip of the Asia-Europe Meeting

in Manila (ASEM) on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in June 5-6, 2014.

According to Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, when she was still

young, natural disasters were few and far between but now she is almost certain that one or more record breaking disasters will actually occur in every part of the world.

Commissioner Georgieva said that we cannot stop nature destruction but we can prevent people from dying.

It is important that we know how to live in areas

frequently devastated when disaster happen, said Commissioner Georgieva.

Comm. Gerogieva challenged the delegates of the

ASEM to continue to work very hard for the world of tomorrow and translate experiences into strength.

She also informed that the European Union had provided financial aid to the Philippines to help the

survivors of typhoon Yolanda to recover and rebuild their lost and destroyed properties.

The dignitaries converged at the Tanauan Leyte

Municipal Hall to listen and interact with the municipal mayors of Tacloban City, and two other towns of

Palo and Tanauan as well as the governor of the

Province of Leyte. The interaction included lessons learned before, during and after typhoon Yolanda. (AJC/JHB/PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Climate change advocacy campaign review

with PIA 8 regional and provincial employees

headed by Deputy Director General Virgilio

Galvez. (PIA8)

PIA and DENR launch the climate change

advocacy campaign in Central Visayas. (PIA-7)

PIA Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena and

San Remigio Mayor Glenn Cabigunda discuss

other developmental concerns for the GK

Arch Angel Village in Barangay Aningalan, San

Remigio, Antique during the turn-over

ceremony held June 9. Also in photo is PIA

Antique Infocen Manager Margie L. Gadian.

(T.Villavert/PIA)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, June 12 (PIA6) --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allocated P48 million worth of development projects in 55 local government units

(LGUs) here in Western Visayas under the grassroots participatory budgeting (GPB) scheme this year.

DTI-6 Public Information Officer Ruby Melliza said that GPB, formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB)

approach, will be allocated to 110 projects in the 55 LGUs spread across five provinces in the region.

The GPB process is implemented in pursuit of

attaining the Philippine Development Plan‟s goal of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, and promoting good governance at the local level.

This is to ensure the implementation of priority poverty reduction projects as identified at the city/municipal level through a participatory planning and

budgeting process. “The 55 LGUs have submitted their project

proposals to the Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG) and these have been approved by the

Department of Budget and Management (DBM)”, Melliza said.

“Of these 55 LGUs, nine are from Aklan with 14

projects, 12 from Antique with 28 projects, five from Capiz with five projects, 15 from Iloilo with 27 projects,

and 14 from Negros Occidental with 36 projects”, she also

said. The projects cover capability building, skills training,

provision of tools and equipment, training on product

development, among others. According to DTI-6, as of June 9, 2014, more than

P23 million have been released to the DTI provincial offices and the local government units that will work hand-in-hand

in implementing the projects. The DTI official said that one necessary requirement

for the release of funding is that the LGU must be a

recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping from DILG, along with the letter of confirmation/intent to the implement the project, public financial management plan,

annual investment plan, list of personnel assigned for the project, signed memorandum of agreement between DTI and the LGU, among others.

Melliza said that the projects under the GPB seeks to generate high outputs in terms of number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) assisted, jobs generated,

sales generated and incremental income for beneficiaries

particularly in super typhoon Yolanda affected areas in Western Visayas.

She added that the DTI-6, through its provincial

offices, will continuously monitor the LGUs in the implementation of these projects. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

PCOO Secretary Coloma keynotes RADIO-7‟s summit. (PIA-7)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

SAN REMIGIO, Antique, June 9 (PIA6) - - Twenty-one families in a far-flung mountain area of Barangay Aningalan, this

Municipality were recipients of colorful houses following the June 9 turn-over ceremony of the GK Arch Angel Village led by

Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena of the Philippine Information Agency.

PIA DG leads turn-over of San Remegio GK Village

D G Oquiñena appealed to the

beneficiaries to take care of what

have been established in the village,

and to stay united for the good of everyone,

and to strive to help build a strong community

so that others will be given hope.

“People will continue to give and be

generous especially if the project is successful,"

Oquiña said.

The PIA Director General cited 1Lt

Jerome P Hernandez, formerly CO of the

Alpha Company in San Remigio as one of the

key people in the local partnership between

GK and the Philippine Army which inspired the

donor Archie King to give a substantial amount

to build beautiful houses for the 21

beneficiaries including rebel returnees of what

is called now as the GK Arch Angel Village.

Aningalan is now connected with a

concrete road from the town proper, and it

also has electricity.

The Alpha Company detachment of the

82 Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army

contributes to the maintenance of the peace

and order situation in San Remigio.

The turn-over ceremony was attended by

San Remigio Mayor Glenn Cabigunda; LTC

Aldwine Almase, Commander 82nd IB; 1LT

Franz Conrad Bauzon, CO, Alpha Company,

82nd IB; Vice-Mayor Elizabeth C. Coloso,

President Wilfredo Bravo of Gawad

Kalinga-Antique; PIA Antique Infocen Manager

Margie L. Gadian, among others.

The Municipality of San Remigio is about

21 kilometers from the provincial capital - San

Jose, Antique. Barangay Aningalan, on the

other hand is some 28 kilometers from San

Remigio town proper. (JCM//VWV/PIA-

Antique)

By: Vicente W. Villavert

ILOILO CITY, June 13 (PIA6) --- Local government units particularly in northern Iloilo were thankful to have hosted the 2014

Bayani Challenge that contributed to their recovery from the damages brought upon by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.

I n the closing ceremonies of the Iloilo

Bayani Challenge held Thursday in

Concepcion town here, Liga ng mga

Barangay-Iloilo Chapter President Jeneda

Salcedo-Orendain said that the country‟s

biggest volunteer event made the people of

Sara and other towns in northern Iloilo feel

strong so that they could help each other after

the extreme disaster that was Yolanda.

She said that her town was grateful for

the opportunity of hosting the event and for

building outstanding teams in the municipality.

“In Sara, we have the attitude that

“sharing and caring” is not just an icing on the

cake but it is their cup of tea,” she stressed.

Concepcion municipal mayor Milliard

Villanueva said that he was quite hesitant to

accept the task of hosting Gawad Kalinga's

Bayani Challenge at first for he thought that

gathering 8,000 volunteers was quite difficult.

“However, my LGU family was inspired to

do the challenge and we were happy with the

outcome seeing people‟s heartfelt service to

help others,” he said.

Ajuy town mayor Juancho Alvarez,

echoing Villanueva‟s sentiment, said he was also

uncertain if they could gather that number of

volunteers in their town to take part in the

activities.

“Careful planning of activities enabled us

to gather 21,803 volunteers in the town that

showed how volunteerism was ever-present in

Ajuy,” he said.

On one hand, the municipality of

Dumangas filed a resolution thanking Gawad

Kalinga for holding the Bayani Challenge event

in the town.

“The event which was held in the town

from May 14-17 brought out the modern

heroes in the people and fired up their love for

God and country,” said Sangguniang Bayan

Member Rosemarie Doromal citing excerpts

from the resolution.

The Bayani Challenge was hosted by nine

municipalities in the province of Iloilo namely

Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion,

Dumanggas, Estancia, Pototan, and Sara and the

highly urbanized city of Iloilo.

The total number of volunteers for the

Iloilo Bayani Challenge 2014 reached 140,500.

(JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

LGUs thankful for GK's Bayani Challenge

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

'Car-less' Fridays proposed

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 9 (PIA6) - - Thank God It’s Friday. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office

(PENRO) urged Negrenses to go car less on Fridays as they launched the campaign #TGIF, It’s Car Less Day. Save Gas, Save

the Environment.

T he campaign aims to mitigate the

dreadful effects of climate change,

wherein one of the major causes is

the emission of harmful gases like Carbon

monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide from

all sorts of vehicles.

PENR Officer Andres Untal said that now,

there are fewer trees in our forests that could

absorb the emissions from vehicles therefore it

is imperative to lessen the use of vehicles so

that when there are less vehicles on the road,

there are lesser emissions.

“It is a matter of fact that we are headed

on an uphill battle against car makers and fuel

providers and those who have the means for

convenience, but, investing on car less Fridays

by walking, car pooling and biking not only save

the gas and the environment, it likewise

stimulates blood circulation and burns fat, as it

empowers the person to resist use of vehicle,”

Untal said.

Meanwhile, the PENRO also partnered

with SM City Bacolod for their launching event

whose corporate program on environment and

sustainability focuses on energy and resource

efficiency, air quality, solid waste management

and compliance with international and local

environmental laws.

SM City Bacolod Public Relations Manager

May Castro said SM City Bacolod stand by with

DENR‟s campaign calling for all citizens to go

car less even for just one day of the week and

take alternative methods like using bicycles.

“We do what we must in minimizing our

environmental impacts in each of our location

in all capacities.

Taking care of the environment is

important but it is also important take action

and in putting in all our efforts, our small acts

may make a big global impact,” Castro added

as she wished to see more and more bikes

parked in the mall‟s designated bike parking in

the future.

Untal also led bikers during the launch as

they ply the major thoroughfares of the city

for a Bike for life and the environment activity

to increase awareness of the car less Fridays

campaign.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

DENR to plant 100 hectares with trees on Arbor Day

KALIBO, Aklan, June 6 (PIA6) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here is set to plant some

100 hectares of land with trees of various species on June 25, Arbor Day, according to Provincial Environment and Natural

Resources Officer (PENRO) – Aklan Ivene Reyes.

T he tree planting activities in the

province, according to PENRO

Reyes, will be conducted with the

help of various People‟s Organizations and

stakeholders throughout the province.

The Arbor Day tree planting is one of the

major activities to be undertaken this month by

the DENR in celebration of Environment

Month. In celebration of the Environment

Month, several activities had been undertaken

already by the DENR for public awareness of

the celebration, like radio guestings and

participating as resource persons in the

Kapihan Sa Aklan, a three-hour forum covered

by the local media here held Saturdays, and a

technical forum on Recent Forestry Policy

Issuances for Municipal Environment and

Natural Resources Officers (MENROs),

Municipal Planning and Development

C o o r d i n a t o r s ( M P D C s ) a n d

Association of Barangay Captains (ABC)

Chairpersons/Sangguniang Bayan (SB) on

Environment.

On June 30, PENRO Reyes said the

DENR will be holding a culminating activity for

Environment Month, where stakeholders,

organizations and individuals will be awarded as

“Environmental Heroes” for helping the office

sustain its forest protection programs and for

helping in the implementation of the National

Greening Program (NGP). The NGP is a

government priority program of President

Benigno S. Aquino III which calls for the

growing of at least 1.5 billion trees on 1.5

million hectares of land from 2011 to 2016.

Meanwhile, the DENR, in coordination

with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is

set to launch an advocacy campaign on Climate

Change anytime soon to create public

awareness on the impact of climate change to

everyone as well as to mitigate measures to

protect the people and the environment with

the thematic slogan “Nagbabago Na ang

Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago. (JCM/

VGV PIA6 Aklan)

By: Venus G. Villanueva

PHO: Capiz dengue cases decline

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 11(PIA6) – There is a decline in the number of dengue

cases in Capiz, record from the Capiz provincial Health Office shows.

F rom January to May this year, the

PHO recorded 456 dengue cases 442

of which came from Capiz and the

other 14 were patients from the neighboring

provinces but were confined in the hospitals

here in the province, PHO Information Officer

Joeffry Espiritu said.

He also said that one death from Barangay

Sibaguan, Roxas City was so far recorded here.

Compared with the record during the

same period last year, there is a 33-percent

decrease in the number of dengue cases this

year. Espiritu, however, stressed that the

public should not be complacent about this

decline in the number of cases, as

dengue-carrying mosquitoes attack the whole

year round already. “Dengue cases will

continue if we will not destroy the potential

breeding places of dengue-carrying

mosquitoes,” he said. He also said that because

of climate change, where there is no fixed time

period for summer and rainy season, dengue is

also be noticeable to occur all the time.

Espiritu likewise said that because of the

onset of the rainy season and with the opening

of classes, extra caution against such dreaded

disease should be made, particularly observing

the clean-up activities and employing the 4S

strategy. 4S stands for Search and destroy,

Self-protection measure, Seek early

consultation, and Say no to indiscriminate

fogging. On the other hand, Espiritu disclosed

that from January to May this year, three

deaths due to notifiable diseases were noted in

Capiz that include acute viral hepatitis, dengue,

and typhoid and paratyphoid fever. He said that

that they are also on the watch for acute

flaccid paralysis , chikungunya, measles and

rabies cases. (JSC/JBG-PIA6)

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

ILOILO CITY, June 13 (PIA6) -- Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said jobs fairs are important because they offer work

opportunities to jobseekers.

M abilog said this as he congratulated

the Department of Labor and

Employment (DOLE) for holding

the Kalayaan Job Fair as their way of

commemorating the 116th anniversary of

Philippine Independence in this city and the

rest of Western Visayas.

In his speech at the opening program of

the Iloilo job fair held at Mary Mart Mall here

on Independence Day yesterday, June 12, the

chief city executive said jobs fairs like

are important because they provide

opportunities to those who are unemployed to

be employed.

“It is only through this avenue that

applicants could save a lot of time, money and

effort because all they have to do is just go to

one place and do their applications,” said

Mabilog.

He added: “If people have jobs they could live peaceful and better lives because they have

their own means of living and they could

support themselves.”

DOLE-6 Regional Director Ponciano M.

Ligutom read out the message of Labor

Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz for this year‟s

Philippine Independence Day celebration and

nationwide Kalayaan 2014 Job Fairs.

In her message, which was in Pilipino,

Baldoz said that this year, we are celebrating

Independence Day in the face of positive

developments especially the sustained growth

of the economy on the back of the wave of

reforms anchored on the “Daang Matuwid”

and good governance.

Baldoz enjoined the Filipinos to not to

lose this opportunity to further strengthen and

bolster the progress that we have gained.

The Iloilo job fair was held simultaneously

with the other mega job fair organized by

DOLE-6 for the region in Bacolod City.

DOLE-6 Information Officer Amy Judicpa said of the 4,041 jobseekers who registered for

the twin job fairs in the cities of Iloilo and

Bacolod, 382 of them were hired on the spot

from a total of 2,616 who qualified.

Judicpa added that 156 of those who were

hired on the spot landed in overseas jobs while

226 were taken in for local jobs.

Joemarie Agriam, Region 6 governor of

the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (PCCI), which is the major

partner-organization of DOLE, said this is the

fifth time that they collaborating with DOLE in

holding job fairs during Labor Day on May 1,

Independence Day, and the Dole anniversary

on December 8.

During the Labor Day last month, PCCI

and DOLE together with other partner

agencies and organizations in the public and

private sectors held simultaneous job fairs in

the region at SM City Bacolod and Iloilo and

the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds.

“We at PCCI are happy to be of service to you,” Agriam told the job applicants.

(JSC-PIA6)

Importance of job fairs cited

By: Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

Central Visayas, June 12 (PIA) --- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called for unity for Cebu and the country to be free from

corruption on the occasion of the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebration.

Rama calls for unity to promote democracy,

fight against corruption

R ama, in his speech at the Plaza Sugbo

during the Flag Raising ceremony, said

the country is now facing the critical

issue of corruption, citing the pork barrel and

PDAF scandals.

“We should be awakened from arrogance

and corruption,” adding that this is now the time

to make a move against corruption and other

wrong doings of some people in authority.

Rama also threw a challenge to the

Cebuanos and the Filipinos to be united to

promote perseverance and patience in the fight

against corruption.

He then said that “Kung dili kita, kinsa man,

kung dili karon kanus-a man, (if we cannot who

will, if not today when will it be)

“Enough is enough to justify apathy, we can‟t

go back to Japan-American war at this time. No

more justification for it,” he said.

The mayor also called the Cebuanos to

promote and practice democracy as he expressed

gratitude to the war veterans who suffered and

shed blood just for Filipinos to have freedom and

democracy. “I will always remember how you

shed blood to make the country independent,”

Rama told the veterans.

Filipino must live with patriotism,

nationalism and practice democracy because

there is no substitute for democracy, Rama

concluded. (mbcn/AYS/PIA7)

BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR

CEBU, June 11 (PIA) --- The Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) recently elected Ms. Lydith

Tan, Larena information officer, and other set of officers for the 2014-2015 calendar year during the first day of the 21st RA-

DIO7 Consultative Conference and 1st Regional Information Summit, June 9-11 held at hotel Elizabeth, Cebu City.

RADIO-7 installs new set of leaders

R ADIO-7 is an umbrella organization of all

the associations of information officers

of the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, NegOr

and Siquijor; their cities and municipalities as well

information officers of national government

agencies based in entire Central Visayas.

Newly elected RADIO-7 President is Lydith

Tan from the Siquijor Association of Information

Disseminators (SAID) replaces Florito “Carlo”

Dugaduga of the Cebu Association of Cities and

Mun i c i p a l i t i e s I n f orm at i on Of f i ce r s

(CAOCAMPIO).

Lydi th Tan in her acceptance

speech promised to make all effort to make the

organization stronger and unified. “Every

moment in our life is a gift, everything we do we

should offer to God and with God we can make

RADIO-7 stronger,‟‟ Tan said.

Outgoing RADIO-7 president Carlo

Dugaduga on the other hand said he has high

hopes and determination for RADIO-7 to be

blessed with success, harmony and unity.

Dugaduga also thank all the members of the

organization for the cooperation given to him

during his term as leader. He thanked the

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Central

Visayas for the support extended to the

organization. Completing the new set of RADIO

-7 officers inducted by Talisay City Mayor Johnny

de los Reyes are Eli Manlangit from the

Association of Negros Oriental Public Information

Officers (ANOPIO) as vice president; Pinky

Llorente from SAID as secretary; Gherelene Mae

Rafols of ANOPIO as Treasurer; Abel Garciano

of CAOCAMPIO as Auditor; Merly Bantugan of

AUDIO-Bohol as Public Relation Officers.

Members of the Board of Directors are:

Carlo Dugaduga, Fiel Angeli Gabin, Jojielyn

Buendia, Bernarda Villarojo, Roger Paller,

Jonathan Buscato, Gretchen Ybarrita, Mark

Garcia, Irvin Roy Rios, Marie Nillama, Gay

Visitacion and Noel Rafols. (mbcn/AYS/PIA7)

BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 12 (PIA) – The celebration of Philippine independence sends a spark to Filipinos to strive for lasting

change.

116th PHL Independence inspires people to desire for lasting change

BY: ROI LOMOTAN

T his is a reminder to Dumagueteños in

commemoration of the nation‟s 116th

independence anniversary from Spain

today.

Foreign Service Officers Exam topnotcher

Stacy Danika Alcantara, in her speech during a

ceremony in Quezon Park todayas the keynote

speaker said lasting change can be attained if

Filipinos can go beyond their duties as citizens of

the country and take great risks in order to live

that dream.

She remarked that lasting change continues

to be elusive and a challenge to Filipinos because

of the mindset to take safe and practical decisions

even if it is settling for what is mediocre and

accept the idea that they cannot change their

destiny.

“It is indeed ironic, that although centuries

have passed since our freedom as a nation has

been bought by the blood of many heroes, we are

not still truly free for the reason that lasting

change seems elusive to us because we still

became prisoners of our own stubborn

mindsets,” Alcantara told the hundreds of people

who attended the ceremony.

An alumna of Silliman University, Alcantara

believes this struggle can be overcome if Filipinos

are able to change their perception on the

matter.

“With this freedom we are given is the

expectation that all of us will pay this gift forward

and this begins by changing the way all of us think

on the bounds and limits of what we can do. We

cannot change a nation if its citizens are not ready

to change their hearts,” She added.

According to Alcantara, “The world‟s

greatest powers engineered their empire from

scratch but it is with grip, determination and

confidence that they could create something big

even at the most adverse conditions and that is

why they are today‟s titans.”

With these, she shares her hope of achieving

lasting change to institutions that could harness

people‟s potential and contribute to the

development of the nation.

She encourage leaders of government,

academic and other work institutions to create an

environment that could flourish the minds of

thinkers, innovators, creators and innovators who

can help redefine the country‟s future.

She also said they should also welcome ideas

even if it came from a different opinion, part or

religion if it is for the common good.

Moreover, academic institutions should

re-create their classrooms and make them

laboratories that could produce leaders who can

inspire the public.

Alcantara also invited businessmen to train

social entrepreneurs from the grass roots level,

provide stable and secured employment

opportunities and help their employees develop

their skills they need to work.

“Consider this an investment to a greater

future because when you give people a chance to

make their lives better, they ultimately earn

enough money to become next consumers and

tomorrow‟s businessmen.” She said.

On the other hand, Alcantara advised

students who will soon become tomorrow‟s

workforce to continue to be idealistic because

most people will opt to go for safe practical

choices. With the country celebrating its 116th

Independence Day, Alcantara hopes that the

people will realize that the freedom the country‟s

national heroes have fought long time ago is the

freedom that will inspire individuals to continue

to fish for change even when it seems the hardest.

“This freedom that we enjoy today is earned

with the expectation that the next generation,

(our generation) will give this country our best

shot even if the circumstances are bound to give

us the worst,” she said. Meanwhile, Dumaguete

City government celebrates country‟s 116th

Independence Day with the local theme

“Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino tingo

s a M a l a w a k a n a t P e r m a n e n t e n g

Pagbabago.” (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 9 (PIA)-- Dumaguete City has concluded its National Heritage Month celebration with the theme

“Summer Beats of the Past”.

Dumaguete City marks 'National Heritage' month

C ity Tourism Officer, Woodrow

Maquiling, Jr. said the observance

presented a lot of activities that

would relate to the things that

Dumagueteños did in the past.

Traditional games have been played

for the “Balik-DulangPinoy” like

the palosebo, sack race, takyan, bato-lata,

kayukok among others.

At least 10 young participants from

each barangay in Dumaguete City

participated in the games.

A concert by the kids from the Jay

Cyrus Creative Studio was held as “we

are giving a public venue for them to be

able to express and relive their talents as

Dumagueteños,” Maquiling said.

To give honor and recognition to all

mothers in Dumaguete, Mrs. Dumaguete

pageant or the Ginang Ng Santacruzan

presented mothers who have the guts to

be part of the pageant, showing their

talents and skills, and their beauty, said

Maquiling.

Other activities include Birik-Birik

fishing festival, a night of folk dances and

songs, annual Santacruzan grand parade

among others.

Maquiling said this is to revisit and

relieve the traditional way of fishing in the

past, and make the night more festive

while a heritage concert and grand

parade which has been participated

in by different schools here in

Dumaguete City, particularly St. Paul

University, Silliman University, Foundation

University.

Proclamation No. 439, signed on Aug.

11, 2003, declares the month of May as

National Heritage Month (NHM) “in

recognition of the need to create among

the people a consciousness, respect, and

pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural

history, and love of country.”

In 2009, the government formally

made heritage conservation a legal

mandate, by ratifying and implementing

Republic Act 10066 or the National

Heritage Act of 2009, empowering NCCA

and its afiliated agencies in their

policy-making and implementation of

conservation programs. (mbcn/JCT/

PIA7-Negros Oriental with reports from

Ina Isabelle A. Taburaza, intern)

BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and De-

partment of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Butch Abad turned over the earthquake recovery and rehabilitation

fund for the province.

B ohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov.

Conching Lim lead Provincial Officials and

local DILG in welcoming Roxas and

Abad.

Roxas and Abad proceeded to Dao Central

Market as they inspected and talked with the

vendors. They had breakfast of Bohol‟s local

sikwate, puto maya and ripe mangoes at one of

the stalls with Gov. Chatto and Tagbilaran Mayor

John Geesnell Yap II.

They then proceeded to the Peoples‟

Mansion where Roxas joined Gov. Chatto, Vice

Gov. Lim, Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio

and Mayor Yap at this morning's "Kita ug ang

Gobernador" where he turned over in the

presence of Provincial Officials close to P2.4

billion for the rehabilitation of local public

infrastructure damaged during the earthquake.

Roxas said the fund is a product of the

post-disaster needs assessment of Engineers,

compiled into program of works.

The fund is for the rehabilitation of local

public infrastructure in earthquake affected areas

based on the damage report submitted in the

Bohol Rehab Plan.

The 2 secretaries also graced the

inauguration of the P17M 4.45km Bingag-Tinago

-Biking Road in Dauis and the kickoff of the P275

million 14-road Bohol Emergency Repair and

Rehabilitation Project, all funded by the Australian

Government through the Provincial Road

Management Facility (PRMF).

Roxas and Abad together with Chatto, DILG

Reg. Dir. Ananias Villacorta, and Prov. Dir.

Louisella Lucino conducted a dialogue with the

Bohol Civil Society Organizations.

During the dialogue, Roxas announced that

the national government has allocated P636

million for anti-poverty projects under the

Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process.

He urged LGUs to conduct assemblies for

CSOs to present proposals for inclusion and

funding as well as to monitor project

implementation.

Roxas also keynoted today's Liga ng mga

Barangay Provincial Congress at the Bohol

Cultural Center where he turned over P26

million under the Performance Challenge Fund for

26 LGUs that were awarded the Seal of Good

Housekeeping by the DILG.

The Congress is themed "The Role of

Punong Barangays in Climate Change Adaptation

and Disaster Risk Reduction Management".

(mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA

Roxas, Abad turn over quake fund to Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 06 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) calls for the

cooperation of the public on the efforts for climate adaptation in time for the observance of the Environment Month.

D ENR Information Officer Maria

Corazon Colarines and Community

Environment Natural and Resources

Office (CENRO)-Talibon Elpidio Palaca shared

insights on climate change and global warming

during yesterday‟s Kapihan sa PIA held at the PIA

Bohol Information Center at K of C Drive this

city.

Elpidio Palaca of CENRO-Talibon called on

the people to take global warming and climate

change seriously. He added that it is not just a

DENR issue but an issue that involves everybody

on earth.

Palaca said sea levels in Bohol will most

probably continue to rise and development must

adapt to climate change wherein small islands and

areas vulnerable to sea level rise must build higher

infrastructure.

In similar developments, DENR also

discussed the importance of trees and said trees

are 70% carbon and that cutting trees release

carbons by burning. Mangroves absorb carbon

over 10% more than trees. Tropical rain forests

are the earth‟s best shield against changing

climate. DENR has a reforestration project for

the CENRO-Talibon and around 25% of the trees

planted are fruit trees putting up food need

supply. CENRO-Talibon covers 9,000 hectares of

idle lands.

Per Presidential Proclamation No. 237

signed in 1988 by then President Corazon C.

Aquino, the Philippines celebrates the whole

month of June as Environment Month to focus

public attention to the protection and

conservation of the country‟s natural resources.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7)

and the DENR-7 is set to launch the Climate

Change Advocacy Campaign in Central Visayas on

June 10 during the 1st Regional Information

Summit and 21st Consultative Conference of the

Regional Association of Development Information

Officers (RADIO-7) in the region at Hotel

Elizabeth in Cebu City on June 9-11. This is in line

with the priority thrust of the Aquino

Administration to build resilient communities in

the face of disasters under the overarching

message, "Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na

Para Magbago." (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

DENR calls for change in people’s attitude on climate change

BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

USAID Rebuild Program launched in Tacloban

D uring the formal launching

o f U S A I D R e b u i l d , a

multi-component effort funded

by the US government which focuses on

restoring access to education, health

services, livelihood assistance and

technical aid to the Office of the

Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation

and Recovery , USAID Act ing

Administrator for Asia Denise Rollins

assured the people of Leyte that they will

continue working with their partners to

help the Province build back better.

As part of the education component

of USAID Rebuild Program, the US

government has allotted P21 million worth

of a school buildings with 8 classrooms to

be constructed in said school.

About 165 classrooms and 10 health

centers are to be built by USAID in the

next few years to address the educational

and medical needs of the affected

communities.

Rollins also led in the groundbreaking

of the Tacloban City Health Center at

Kanhuraw Hill and the inauguration of two

sari-sari stores in Brgy. 62-B Sagkahan

Tacloban City.

Said stores are just among the 1, 000

sari-sari stores to be rehabilitated by

USAID in partnership with Coca-Cola and

Procter & Gamble, to help restore

livelihood in the affected communities.

Rollins was accompanied by USAID/

Philippines Mission Director Gloria

Steele during the launching

activities. Other officials both from

the national and local level led by

OPARR Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Leyte

First District Representative Ferdinand

Martin Romualdez, Leyte Governor

Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and Deped

Region 8 Director Dr. Luisa Bautista- Yu

also witnessed the said event. (GTT/CBA/

PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 10 (PIA) – The United States government has reaffirmed its commitment to the people of

Leyte in order to help them recover from the devastation of typhoon Yolanda and get back into normal lives.

Start of classes in Yolanda stricken areas peaceful, orderly

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 5 (PIA) – The opening of classes in Yolanda-stricken areas in Eastern Visayas was generally

peaceful and orderly despite some inconveniences in schools.

I n an interview with Department of

Education Region 8 Director Luisa

Bautista-Yu, she said that she was

very happy to see children eager to go to

school even if there are problems that

were encountered such as lack of

classrooms, shortage of chairs, textbooks

and other instructional materials.

“The good news is that students have

attended classes on the opening day, they

have been excited to be in school, they

are motivated to learn.

In fact, I have seen for myself the

excitement of the children going to school

despite of limited resources.

I really value the motivation and the

excitement of our pupils to be in school,”

Yu said.

As to some schools which are still

used as evacuation centers like San

Fernando Elementary School in Tacloban

City, the principal or the teacher assigned

has designated the original classrooms as

the temporary shelter of the evacuees

while waiting to be relocated.

Meanwhile, the newly-constructed

classrooms are being used by the pupils

but the teacher has a shifting schedule to

avoid overcrowding in one class.

PIA learned that 5,037 classrooms

comprising 53% of the 9, 420 classrooms

destroyed by Yolanda were already

repaired while 35% of the 2,172

classrooms that totally collapsed have

been constructed.

The remaining 1,408 classrooms is be

constructed by the Department of

Education through its 2014 Basic

Education Fund. (PIA-8)

Korean soldiers given recognition for aid in Yolanda areas

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 10 (PIA) –- The Philippine government through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Council (NDRRMC) has recognized the commitment of the Korean government for their invaluable support and

assistance to the rehabilitation program in Yolanda affected areas in Leyte.

M ore than 200 members of the

Republic of Korea Armed Forces

Joint Support Group (ARAW

troop) led by Col. Lee Chulwon were given

recognition last Tuesday during the Bakas

Parangal Awarding Ceremony held

at ROKAF headquarters, Government

Center, Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,

who is also the Chairperson of the National

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council (NDRRMC) presented the

Kadakilaan, Kabayanihan and Kagitingan

Awards to the Korean contingents for their

outstanding achievements, contributions in

the rehabilitation and restoration of the

communities devastated by super typhoon

Yolanda.

“We thank them for their noble service,

exemplary heroism, extraordinary acts of

bravery and kindness which are being

appreciated by our grateful countrymen who

are victims of super typhoon Yolanda,

“Gazmin said.

Bakas Parangal is a recognition of merit

and token of thanksgiving bestowed by the

National Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Council (NDRRMC) to

individuals or groups who exerted

exemplary and extraordinary acts of

selflessness in reaching out to those who are

in urgent need of assistance in times of

calamities and disasters.

It is also a reminder to the honorees

and to others that their efforts were not

done in vain, that the Filipino people

recognize what they have done and their

acts of altruism is an inspiration to the

people proving that heroes still exist

nowadays.

The awarding ceremony was witnessed

by Korean Ambassador to the Philippines

Hyuk Lee, Leyte Governor Leopoldo

Dominico L. Petilla, Officials of the

Department of National Defense led by

Secretary Voltaire Gazmin , Leyte Mayors,

PIA Deputy Director General Virgilio DC.

Galvez, 8th ID Commanding General Jet

Belarmino of the Philippine Army, Regional

Directors of some national government

agencies and the local media. (GTT/PIA-8)

By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Pre-Cabinet meeting to study Yolanda master plan

SAN MIGUEL, Leyte, June 10 - - A pre-cabinet meeting was set on June 13, wherein provincial rehabilitation plans of Yolanda

affected areas are to be discussed, before these will be presented to President Benigno Aquino.

T his was revealed by the

Pres identia l Ass istant for

Rehabilitation and Recovery

PARR Secratary Panfilo Lacson who was in

Leyte recently.

All cabinet secretaries were expected

at the meeting.

According to Lacson, he is glad that

through Governor Dominic Petilla,

Leyte was one of the first to formulate

the master rehabilitation plan.

Once approved, infusion of massive

resources in the whole province of

Leyte is expected.

“When I say rehabilitation it means

full swing, where all line agencies will

implement the projects that were

submitted by the local officials, a

collaboration of ideas from officials down

to constituents to form a comprehensive

master plan” said Lacson.

Lacson also revealed that as of press

time, about 4 provinces were already able

to submit their master plans and one of

which is Leyte, others are Cebu, Western

Samar and Tacloban.

Other provinces also expected to

submit include Eastern Samar, Ilo-Ilo,

Negros Occidental, Biliran, Antique,

Aklan and Palawan.

Gov. Petilla for his part is certain that

by the time the fund will be downloaded

to the municipalities, the enthusiasm

shown by Lacson will be reciprocated with

the willingness and unity of Leytenos to

work hard.

In Leyte‟s master plan, 4 sectors are

given focus namely: resettlement,

education, livelihood and social services.

Recently, the government was

able to download funds for the

rehabilitation of infrastructure projects

such as the city hall, the municipal building,

public markets, multipurpose hall, roads

and bridges.

A total of 1.2 billion pesos were

downloaded to the government units in

Yolanda affected areas. (GTT/LAA/PIA8)

DOLE local jobs fair hires applicants on-the-spot

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 9 (PIA) –Some 24 job applicants were hired on the spot during the local jobs fair held

recently at the municipality of Saint Bernard, this province initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

D O L E A d m i n i s t r a t i v e

Aide Evangeline Bencion

informed that the hired

applicants represent nearly half or 33% of

the 73 registered applicants coming from

nearby municipalities of San Juan,

Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan and

Silago from the Pacific Area and Liloan in

Panaon Island.

She said that the LGU-Saint Bernard,

through its Local Chief Executive Mayor

Napoleon L. Cuaton hosted the Jobs Fair.

DOLE Provincial Head Fe Norma

Valuis and the Philippine Overseas

Employment Agency (POEA) Regional

Coordinator Rosario P. Jervoso attended

the undertaking, with Vice Mayor Joy Lim

Bungcaras and some Sangguiang Bayan

members.

“The jobs fair is aimed at helping local

businesses find qualified job seekers in the

community and thereby create

opportunities for applicants to work close

to home in their local areas,” Bencion

quoted Valuis. Furthermore, the jobs fair

also supports the Philippine economy and

reduces the need for residents to

commute long distances and work

outside their community, DOLE said.

(GTT/RGC/PIA8-SoLeyte)

PIA 8 info officers to spread CCA to community levels

BURAY, PARANAS, SAMAR, June 7 (PIA) -- Information officers of the Philippine Information Agency in Region 8 virtually

locked themselves at an emerging posh resort here June 5 and 6 to brainstorm ways of disseminating climate change

adaptation (CCA) inputs in layman’s tongue to identified high-risk barangays all over the region,

T he activity, expected to be on the

go for the succeeding months until

December this year in close

coordination with the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR), will be launched sooner in a month

or two.

Info Managers from Biliran and

Southern Leyte presented their initial

strategies even as they still have to exert

more efforts in working with DENR at their

levels, while the infocenters of Samar,

Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, as well

as the Regional office, will still have to

discuss details with their respective DENR

counterparts.

Deputy Director General (DDG)

Virgilio Galvez, who serves as the Interim

Head of PIA 8 since last month vice Olive

Tiu, emphasized that the action plans must

target specific, vulnerable communities in a

language they can easily understand, so

people in these communities can best

prepare for natural disasters to prevent loss

of lives. Tiu is now assigned at the

Presidential Communications Operations

office (PCOO) in Manila.

Most places in the region, which bore

the brunt of the world‟s strongest typhoon

in recorded history exactly seven months

ago, can relate with the ill effects of climate

change as they had lived and survived it in

real time, Galvez remarked.

In such a mindset, the task of sharing

adaptation and mitigation measures through

the PIA-DENR advocacy campaign must be

results-oriented in terms of heightened

alertness and awareness of the people, he

added. The six-month campaign will also

involve other stakeholders, like the local

government units in cities, municipalities,

and barangays, and the private groups and

organizations, for storms know no sectoral

boundaries once they hit, Galvez also

emphasized.

Earlier, Aurora Casimpan, the PIA focal

person for the PIA-DENR project, showed a

powerpoint prepared by the DENR Regional

Office that should have been presented by

their information Officer, Purificacion

Daloos, who was unable to come for conflict

of schedule.

Meanwhile, the PIA Regional Office that

was washed out by Yolanda, will soon be

housed in a vacant space beside the

Robinson‟s Hotel as soon as possible, Galvez

informed. PIA is temporarily holding a

makeshift office behind the grandstand at the

Leyte Normal University (LNU). (GTT/

MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)

By: Marcelo M. Pedalino

By: Raul S. Tiozon, Jr.

By: Rebecca S. Cadavos

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