Vol 5 Issue 15 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 April 13 - 19, 2015

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue More protected areas rise in SoLeyte

WV provinces step up NGP efforts

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Siquijor province bags national excellence award

Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, April 15 (PIA) -- The province of Siquijor has bagged the first prize for 2014 excellence in Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Award.

Known to be the highest award a local government unit (LGU) can get, Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Award is based on the achieved performance level out of the 2016 National Objectives for Health (2016 NOH) targets.

The recognition was judged through scorecard indicators set by the Harmonization of Awards Technical Working Group of the Department of Health (DOH).

Health Secretary Janette L. Garin and assistant regional director Dr. Laksmi Legaspi handed the award to provincial administrator Peter Samson and Provincial

Health Officer Redempta Cortes during the Gawad Kalusugan Convention at the SMX convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex.

Gawad Kalusugan is a harmonized awarding ceremony

to selected LGUs for various categories in recognition of their exemplary and good practices in health related activities, initiatives and projects.

Earlier, during the regional health summit at Dumaguete City, the province was awarded as Top Performing Province in facility-based delivery, access to safe water and primary care benefit package (PCB) based on the

2013 LGU-scorecard nationwide. All municipalities were likewise awarded as Top

Performing Municipality in various health programs.

The awards were received by provincial governor Zaldy S. Villa with the provincial health officer and the municipal mayors and municipal health officers.

Siquijor province has topped among the 80 provinces in the archipelago. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from IPHO)

MARCELO M. PEDALINO

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 14 (PIA) -- In less than two years, the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) all over this province has increased to more than

60 sites, up from 40 barely a year ago. Eva Abad, head of the Provincial Environment and

Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), disclosed in a cable TV program last week that seven (7)

more are expected to be added to the existing sites, and these new locations are all in the coastal barangays of this city.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) or city council was deep in the process of deliberating in its regular session the approval of the 7 new MPA sites, Abad

said.

Fishing is strictly prohibited in areas tagged as MPAs, with designated buoys as perimeter boundaries clearly

visible for fishermen to understand it is not allowed to get

in.

MPAs serve as breeding ground for many kinds of fishes, and when these fishes do populate the surroundings the mature ones go

out into the open, beyond the buoy-lined zones, and that’s the time local fishermen can catch them, Abad explained.

Most MPAs in the province covered large areas of

mangrove forests, which also served as natural barriers against storm surges during stormy weather, Abad also said.

PENRMO is the provincial counterpart of a national agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as mandated by the local government

code of 1991.

In Southern Leyte province, PENRMO began to exist as a separate office in 1998 with the passage of the

informed. (ajc/esg/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

By Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PIA6) --- The different provinces in Western Visayas have intensified their efforts in implementing programs and projects in support of the

National Greening Program (NGP). The Iloilo provincial government, through its

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), will develop 10 hectares of beach and 55

hectares of mangrove forests in four selected coastal towns, citing the importance of the ecosystem.

The beach forest will be situated in 11 barangays in

the municipality of Miagao while the mangrove forests will be located in the towns of Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, and Ajuy.

This P2.68-million project is part of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s Action for Re-Greening and Transformation

for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for CCA).

The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) of Negros Occidental reported that provincial capitol employees have been actively participating on

various LGU initiatives on NGP including tree planting activities since 2011.

A total of 9,220 propagules and 3,300 tree seedlings was planted both in coastal and upland areas in

the province for the year 2011 and 2012. The province is also strengthening its mangrove

reforestation program and urban greening participated in

by different local government units. Antique province allotted a funding of P8-million last

year for establishment and development of agro-forest

farms, seedling production, and establishment of bamboo

plantation, among others.

The provincial government of Aklan also allocated P1.4-million for its forest resource management and protection program.

This is to promote and value the benefits of biodiversity and empower people in the community in preserving the environment. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

New Infrastructure. Mayor Jacinto Naraga

(center) Vice Mayor Eudoxio Asoy and

Barangay Chairman Crispin Ompoy help lay

the capsule by shoveling dirt into the hole for

the +P70 M Cansague Sur Barangay Trading

post. (rac/PIA-7Bohol)

Regional Development Council. NEDA VI

Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, CESO III,

explains the gains that the country stands to

get once the ASEAN integration comes in full

circle during the RDC meeting at Business Inn,

Bacolod City. (Lljr-PIA6)

PIA-8 OIC Regional Director Alicia E. Nicart

orients Community Development Information

Officers (CDIO) on the basics of

newswriting during the CDIO Orientation and

Workshop held on April 14, 2015 at ESADEF

in Borongan City. (Photo by Raul Tiozon)

Aside from its beach forest project, the provincial government

of Iloilo also has embarked on regular upland tree planting

activities as part of the Action for Re-Greening and

Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for

CCA) of Gov. Arthur Defensor (shown in this PIA6 file photo

with Iloilo first lady Cossette Defensor). ART for CCA

supports the National Greening Program (NGP) of the national

government. (EJB/PIA6)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - The Province of Antique got a total of P1,275,304,800 from the national government through

the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program.

Antique gets P1.2B for 4Ps

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

J effrey Gabucay, Program Officer of

Pantawid Pamilya said the amount

represents the total release since the

program started in 2008.

Pantawid Pamilya started to cover five

towns in 2008 supporting only 7,477 poor

families.

As the government intensifies its

poverty alleviation program, the coverage

expanded to 590 barangays, 18 towns in the

province with 29,028 poor families as of

March 2015.

During the start of the program the

Department of Social Welfare and

Development has only released P24,415,000

but as the membership increases the

assistance also builds up every year.

In 2014, the government has released a

total of P331, 825,200.

Gabucay said the support now covers

the high school expansion program, children

0-18 years old and pregnant women are

given assistance to ensure that the children

of the household stay healthy, attend school

and receive basic services provided by the

government.

The cash assistance, Gabucay said

represents only the cash payments to family

beneficiaries released through their ATMs or

over the counter payment.

The government has also released

livelihood projects and other social

development projects through other

programs such as KALAHI-CIDSS,

Sustainable Livelihood, Bottoms Up

Budgeting among others, he said.

With the successful implementation

of the program, the country hopes to

fulfill its commitment to the Millennium

Development Goal (MDG) to eradicate

extreme poverty and hunger, achieve

universal primary education, promote

gender equality, reduce child mortality and

improve maternal health. (JCM/PSM/PIA6

Antique)

ILOILO CITY, April 14 (PIA6) — The province of Guimaras sees investments on infrastructures to boost its tourism industry.

G uimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin,

said in a media interview, that

tourism is among the major

economic drivers in the province,

hence, the local government has to

fill in the gaps in its infrastructure

development.

Gumarin said the local government

has allotted some P16 million for various

tourism-related infrastructures, like

observation areas, signages, coffee shops,

souvenir shops where tourists can get

their famous delicacies and handicrafts

through the Community-based Rural

Tourism Program. “There is also the need

to develop our road networks leading to

our tourist destinations,” Gumarin said.

“The influx of tourists must

go beyond our Manggahan Festival,” he

added.

He said that the towns of Buenavista

and Nueva Valencia have become tourism

centers in the province, while Sibunag and

San Lorenzo are the food baskets and Jordan

is the economic center.

He added that Jordan has to fill in the

gaps for connectivity to further develop the

economy of the whole province.

The concreting of the national

and provincial roads has a budget of

over P1 b i l l ion , and a l l the

projects will be completed before the

end of 2016.

Gumarin said the towns have also

been embarking on their own to improve

the barangays and national roads, to

complement the tourism sector.

“All this have the support of the

national government to provide

connectivity and accessibility to all parts of

the province,” Gumarin said. (JCM/ESS/

PIA-Iloilo)

Guimaras invests P16M in tourism infra projects

By Elsa S. Subong

The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross 16 WV LGUs eligible for 2014 PCF

ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PIA6) - - Some 16 local government units in Western Visayas were included in the list of the 248 LGUs

nationwide eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) 2014.

T he list is contained in the

Memorandum Circular No. 2015-37

issued by Interior and Local

Government Secretary Mar Roxas dated

April 7, 2015.

The incentive, according to Roxas, is for

the sustained performance of these LGUs

on good financial housekeeping.

DILG has conducted a revalidation of

the remaining 273 Seal of Good

Housekeeping 2012 passers which have not

received the PCF using the 2014 Good

Financial Housekeeping (GFH) results in

sustaining good financial management

standards at the local level. Based on the

revalidation exercise, a total of 248 LGUs

composed of 28 provinces, 27 cities

and 193 municipalities are consistent GFH

passers for two consecutive assesessment

years - 2012 and 2014.

In Western Visayas, the eligible

beneficiaries for the 2014 PCF are Capiz,

Iloilo and Negros Occidental for the

provinces and Iloilo, Bacolod and Kabankalan

for the cities.

For the municipalities, the beneficiaries

are San Jose de Buenavista in Antique

province; Miag-ao and Oton in Iloilo

province; and Hinigaran, Murcia, Binalbagan,

Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinobaan and La

Castellana in Negros Occidental.

The beneficiaries are qualified to access

the 2014 PCF in the amount of P7 million

per province, P3 million per city, and P1

million per municipality.

DILG started implementing the PCF

for LGUs in 2010 with the aim among

others to recognize the good performance

of LGUs in good housekeeping

particularly in the areas of transparency and

accountability, planning, budgeting, financial

management and resource mobilization. Last

year, DILG scaled-up its performance

metrics through the Seal of Good Local

Governance where GFH, known before as

Seal of Good Housekeeping, remains one of

the Core Assessment Areas of SGLG. (JCM/

LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

By Lilibeth A. French

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

1st Negosyo Center up in Aklan

KALIBO, Aklan, April 14 (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan will be launching its first Negosyo Center in Aklan on April 24 and

will be among the 100 Negosyo Centers to be set up nationwide this year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI).

D TI-Aklan Provincial Director Engr.

Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr. said the

Negosyo Center, which will be

located at the DTI-Aklan Office, is in

partnership with the Office of Senator Bam

Aquino, Provincial Government of Aklan,

Municipal Government of Kalibo, Aklan

Provincial Micro, Small and Medium

Enterprise Development (PMSMED) Council

and the Philippine Chamber of

Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Aklan

Chapter.

The establishment of the Negosyo

Center in Aklan is one of the major features

of the “Go Negosyo Act.”

The “Go Negosyo Act” or Republic

Act No. 10644, authored by Senator Paolo

Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, is an act

promoting job generation and inclusive

growth through the development of Micro,

Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In

Section 2 of the “Go Negosyo Act”, MSMEs

are being acknowledged in increasing income

for poor households and in building both

business equity and personal assets over a

period of time.

Under the Act, Negosyo Centers shall

promote ease of doing business and access

to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction;

coordinate and facilitate processes of

government related to the set-up and

management of MSMEs, accept and facilitate

all registration application of MSMEs, and

coordinate with the respective local

government units (LGUs) and liaise with

concerned government agencies to process

the duly accomplished forms submitted by

the MSMEs.

At the Go Negosyo launching here,

invited to give the Keynote Message is

Senator Bam Aquino while DTI Secretary

Gregory Domingo will be delivering a special

message.

Others invited to grace the event are

Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores,

Congressman Teodorico T. Haresco of the

Lone District of Aklan and Kalibo Mayor

William S. Lachica who will give their

expression of support.

John Guidon dela Cruz, President of the

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (PCCI) Aklan will also give his

expression of support. Asst. Director Jerry

T. Clavecillas, Officer-In-Charge of the

Bureau of SME Development, DTI will be

giving the opening remarks and overview of

the Negosyo Center while DTI-Aklan

Provincial Director Cadena will welcome

and acknowledge guests and participants.

(JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

NEDA to review study of Negros-Panay bridge

By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

BACOLOD CITY, April 17 (PIA6) -- The recent crafting of the Visayan Development Framework included the much awaited

desire of many Negrenses to connect the island of Negros to the island of Panay through a bridge.

A ccording to NEDA 6 Regional

Director Ro-ann Bacal, they will

soon be reviewing the feasibility

study of the project and efforts to build the

bridge are moving forward.

She said a thorough review is needed

because the documents they now have is a

proposal made several years ago.

After reviewing, the NEDA will figure

out how the project will be built through

official development assistance, foreign

assistance, General Appropriation Act or

Public-Private Partnership.

She said they will choose the mode that

will quickly realize the project. As to the

cost, the actual amount will be known

in the review that they will be doing, she

told PIA.

“I have already instructions from no less

than Economic Planning Sec. Arsenio

Balisacan to make sure the feasibility study is

updated.

Therefore, this is where we are going.

(Lljr-PIA6)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 14 (PIA6) – ―The P30,000 Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) has not only built back our home

but also our hope to start a new life.‖

T his was personally conveyed by a

beneficiary of ESA to Department

of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman during the

opening ceremonies of Capiztahan

Celebration 2015 last April 10.

Another ESA beneficiary, who also

received P30,000 for a destroyed house due

to super typhoon Yolanda, hugged Sec.

Soliman after conveying her gratefulness in

Hiligaynon to the celebration’s guest and

speaker. A Plaque of Appreciation was also

given by Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan

Celino to the DSWD top official in

recognition of and gratitude for her sincere

commitment and dedication to the welfare

of city residents in times of calamity and

disaster.

The national government thru the

DSWD has also provided affected families of

super typhoon in the province with

25-kilogram of rice as part of the last

tranche of rice assistance for Capicenos

early this year. Aside from ESA, rice and

food packs, the DSWD has also partnered

with UN Habitat for the construction of

core shelter units to identified beneficiaries

in Roxas City in some towns of the province

and employed typhoon victims in its

Cash-For-Work program, among others.

During the program, a copy of a

Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution

conveying the profoundest appreciation and

gratitude to Sec. Soliman for her invaluable

assistance to the province in the aftermath

of Yolanda was presented by Capiz

Vice-Governor Esteban Evan Contreras II to

the cabinet secretary. “These citations give

us strength and inspiration to continue with

our work,” Soliman responded, adding that

DSWD will be of help even to their critics

“who are also Filipinos that need their

service.” The country’s top social worker

stressed that she has directed its field

workers that no one must be left behind and

discriminated in the government’s sustained

assistance to uplift the quality of life of the

Filipinos. (JCM/AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

‗Yolanda‘ victims personally thank ‗Dinky‘ By Alex A. Lumaque

Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental, April 12 (PIA) -- Bais City government accepted the challenge to improve its nutritional status

having the highest prevalence of malnutrition rate of 11.46 percent in Central Visayas.

Bais City vows to improve malnutrition rate

B ais City Mayor Mercedes Goñi said

the administration should be more firm

now on the drive to improve the

implementation of the city’s nutrition program.

“I need to be more strict,” declared Goni

on the problem about Bais as the most

nutritionally-depressed city in Central Visayas

during the Media Caravan today in Bais City.

The malnutrition rate is based on last year’s

Operation Timbang Plus results with Bais having

the highest in undernourished and overweight

children in region 7 with the prevalence rate of

more than 11 percent and 3.21 percent,

respectively.

With this double burden of malnutrition, the

city government has showed commitment to

intensify its nutrition intervention programs in the

barangay level.

However, the mayor lamented on the

results saying that maybe because of the

acquisition of weighing scales that the

quality data ihas been collected and determined

properly.

Quality data captures the collection of data

through quality-standard weighing scales and

height boards from barangay level which will be

checked mechanically to minimize human error

that will be inputted in the computers for the

situation status.

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator,

Dr. Parolita Mission emphasized that all local

government units (LGUs) are true to their

data since the Nutrition Council’s Quality Data

Management was not just properly imposed to a

specific LGU but to all the LGUs in the region.

Mission stressed that the presence of the

National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) and Media

in Nutrition Development (MIND-7) intend to

support the local’s nutrition programs and analyze

the situation on what would be the action point

that the city needs to do in addressing the

malnutrition problem.

To help mitigate hunger and malnutrition,

Mission said the activities should be implemented

in the local level include exclusive breastfeeding

for more than six months, establish community,

school and home gardens to increase food

availability, micronutrient supplementation, food

fortification among others. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros

Oriental/with reports from Sheena Mae Diongco,

intern)

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- The Earth Hour campaign, or roughly 60 minutes plus of action to mitigate carbon

emissions and give the earth its much needed rest from unsustainable energy resources, caused a noted load drop all over the

Visayas.

P art of the Earth Hour campaign asked

people to voluntarily join the one-hour

switch off as the campaign states go dim

for the environment.

During the simultaneous switch-off activities

between 8:30-9:30 PM March 28, 2015 Engr. Jose

Rey Maleza, a Department of Energy official in the

Visayas noted 34.67 megawatts of load drop.

Maleza, citing National Grid Corporation of

the Philippines' Systems Operation said Earth

Hour 2015 tracked the 34.67MW load drop in

the Visayas.

Through his facebook post, Engr Maleza,

DOE Visayas Supervising Science Research

Specialist, who monitored NGCP systems on that

night put Samar Leyte topping Visayas load drop

at 11.61 mega watts, during the switch-off.

The same load drop was noted in

Negros where load dropped to 8.69 MW.

Cebu meanwhile has a maximum load

dropped to 6.68MW, he shared.

Panay Island on the other hand

experienced a maximum load drop of 6.39MW

while Bohol had 1.3MW load drop, the least in

the region.

The move to popularize Earth Hour came as

its main convenor World Wildlife Fund started

calling for action against the increasing global

average temperature caused by building

concentrations of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere.

Scientists have posited that the fast increase

in greenhouse gas accumulation is largely due to

burning of fossil fuels used in energy production.

The move to switch-off in an hour at

least allows communities to rethink about their

priorities for the environment, Bohol Earth Hour

participants said.

In Bohol, other than committing to

switch off their lights and go off grid, Bohol bikers

pedaled around Tagbilaran City and Dauis, using

their bikes' blinkers in an Earth Hour Ride.

In Tagbilaran however, only very few

joined the switch off, riders noted. (mbcn/rahc/

PIA7-Bohol)

Visayas Earth Hour load down 34.67 MW

CEBU CITY, April 15 (PIA) --- The sweltering Philippine summer, made even hotter by the reported heat wave caused by a

mild El Nino, has put forests at risk of succumbing to fires.

DENR-7: Help us prevent forest fires

S ince January this year, two incidents of

bush fires have already hit two plantations

covered by the government’s National

Greening Program (NGP), one in Oslob, Cebu

and another in Bohol island.

Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR-7) Regional Executive Director

Isabelo Montejo said it’s harder to control the

spread of fire during summer due to the extreme

heat.

Montejo appealed to the community

residents living near NGP sites to help the

department in protecting the woodlands by

avoiding practices that will cause bush fires.

“They should help us in the protection of

these areas. They shouldn’t just burn farm areas

without making the necessary protection

measures to protect the plantation sites,” said

Montejo in a recent press conference.

The DENR regional director is referring to

kaingin, a technique practiced by farmers in

clearing lands by cutting down and burning plant

growths.

He urged those living in the hinterland areas

to get involved in the measures implemented by

DENR-7 in protecting forest fires.

DENR-7 earlier kicked off its NGP

implementation in Central Visayas with a budget

of more than P404-M for this year.

Meanwhile, a group of former combatants

from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

in Maguindanao is among the final nominees for

the 6th Triennial Awards of the Ramon Aboitiz

Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) this year.

Kadtabanga for Peace and Development

executive director Mokaleden Kido was in Cebu

City recently to represent the organization which

is among the five finalists of the Institution

Category of the 6th Triennial Awards.

Kido said they were formed in 2000 when

hundreds of them turned over their arms after

the successful peace process involving ARMM

head Nur Misuari.

He said they were able to transform 28

conflict areas into zones of peace and

development communities (PDC’s) in

Maguindanao.

In the PDC’s the combatants turned to

farming, fishing and other livelihood

programs. He said their assets and performance

are documented.

“Kaya masaya kami at may nakakita sa amin,

we have the track record to show that there is

still a space for peace in Maguindanao,” Kido said.

They are also full force in advocating the

benefits of having the Bangsamoro government in

Mindanao. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu with FCC report)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

Rachelle M. Nessia

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 13 (PIA) – Seven towns in Bohol have signified to pick up the habit of building communities from

bottom up, to end poverty as the 2015 Bayani Challenge (BC) reopens from April 9 to June 12, 2015.

T he towns of Carmen, Loboc, Loon,

Sagbayan, Tagbilaran, Tubigon, and

Ubay signified their participation in the

annual event, according to the Gawad Kalinga

website.

Of the towns which have signified as early as

April 5, only Tagbilaran City is not significantly

damaged by the earthquake that rocked Bohol

October 15, 2013.

On the sites in Bohol, volunteers would

take on the job of homebuilding, play therapies

for kids, care kitchen, environment care, health

missions, sports programs and disaster

preparedness activities and mitigation.

Coordinated nationwide by Gawad Kalinga

(GK), BC picks up a tenet: walang iwanan,

which commits to leaving no one behind in

development, by challenging the impossible,

working in solidarity with others.

As our country experiences rapid economic

growth, there is a great need for us to reflect

on the realities that confront the least

amongst us―the poor landless, homeless and

hungry at the “base of the pyramid,” Gawad

Kalinga said.

For over a decade of volunteer work,

Gawad Kalinga professed they have uncovered

the secrets of ending poverty of at least five

million Filipinos by 2024.

Winning the fight however starts with the

poverty mindset, millions of Bayani Challenge

Volunteers said.

What is revolutionary in the GK approach is

that it means flipping the pyramid where the

rich and the moneyed "will have to do the heavy

lifting to stabilize the nation".

For the GK way, people can simply

volunteer, donate, be on call, be a mission partner

and actively lead community events.

"We can’t expect the poor to play catch up,

they will never be able to, GK said as they call for

more volunteers to help the poor catch up with

the development," states Jose Luis Oquinena, GK

executive Director.

Meanwhile, On May 23-24, Anda

Bohol hosts a Hope Conference, one of the

seven locations in the country to host such an

event.

Other places hosting Hope Conferences

are Central Mindanao University in Musuan,

Bukidnon, Jamboree Site at the UPLB in Laguna,

Tarlac State University in Tarlac, Cotabato City,

Roxas City in Capiz, Jesse Robredo Coliseum in

Camarines Sur. (mbcn/rac/PIABohol)

7 Bohol towns signify for Bayani Challenge 2015

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU, April 14 (PIA) -- The European Union (EU) announces the opening of the Peace Journalism Awards urging journalists

from print and broadcast media to join and submit their entries on the theme about ―Peace.‖

EU urges media to join Peace Journalism Awards

A mong the objectives of the Awards is to

raise awareness about the impact and

value of peace and the peace process in

general and to generate information and a deeper

understanding of the Bangsamoro peace process

in particular.

It also acknowledges the role of Filipino

journalists as agents of peaceful social

transformation through balanced, responsible,

culturally and conflict-sensitive reporting on peace

and conflicting stories.

Such Awards also aims to generate

awareness, interest and appreciation for

EU-supported activities in Mindanao in the

context of the peace process.

Entries should adhere to the theme of

“Peace” that could include reportage about the

peace process at the level of political negotiations,

about peace champions and how they were able

to advocate or initiate or develop actions that

build peace in their communities.

Entries could also be about peace linked to

development and other cross-cutting

socio-political issues or about peace in the

perspective of local communities, and their unique

ways of harnessing peace.

All entries must have been published or

uploaded in bona fide media outlets from August

1 2014 until May 31, 2015. Proof of publication

whether in print, broadcast or in online media

must be attached together with the entry form

which can be downloaded from the EU website.

Detailed guidelines are available in the EU

website europa.eu.

There are seven categories of the Awards

including Written Text Published in Print

Media; Online Media; Broadcast Media; Photo

Journalism; Campus Journalism (written text and

multi-media sub categories) and Special Citation

for Government Communicators.

For the Journalism Awards, only

Philippine-based media representatives are

qualified to join.

For Campus Journalism Awards, participants

must be bona fide Filipino students currently

enrolled in a duly-recognized Philippines’

University or College.

Selection of winners will be based on the

following criteria: relevance to the topic (30

percent), news value/impact (30 percent),

investigative depth (25 percent) and professional

quality and style (15 percent).

Entries must be submitted to DELEGATION

-PHILIPPINES-PPI@eeas.europa.eu on or before

May 31.

The first prize winner or finalist for each of

the category will receive special tokens, gadgets,

trophies and certificates.

The grand winner on the other hand,

will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Brussels,

Belgium to meet with peace-building institutions

and fellow journalists.

The EU Journalism Awards was launched in

October 2014 in Cotabato City for the first time

in the Philippines. (mbcn/fcr/PIA7/with reports

from Paulynne Joyce R. dela Cruz, intern)

Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU CITY, April 15 (PIA) --- To prevent unscheduled power interruptions, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines

(NGCP) is campaigning for the safety of power lines.

NGCP campaigns for safe transmission lines

R aul Galano, head of NGCP Visayas

Operations, said they are pushing for

line safety because power lines “can

harm people, animals, and properties due to high

voltage.

The following are safety tips issued by

NGCP for the public, especially for communities

situated around transmission lines and structures:

• Do not fly kites near transmission lines

or climb transmission structures.

• Do not build grass fires near or under

transmission structures. Fires may cause power

interruptions in your area.

• Do not plant trees near transmission

structures. Report any incident of tangled

branches to NGCP.

• Do not carry long sticks or any object

that might reach or come in contact with the

power transmission lines.

• Do not put up antennas near or under

transmission lines.

• Do not park your vehicles near or under

transmission lines.

• Do not build houses or any structures

under transmission lines.

Galano also stressed that farmers should

avoid kaingin or slash-and-burn farming as it can

cause bush fires and affect transmission lines

especially during summertime.

NGCP recently held a briefing on power

system operations for Cebu media as part of its

efforts to disseminate public safety information,

anti-pilferage and anti-electrocution initiatives.

(rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

Rachelle M. Nessia

Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

DENR-8 to conduct massive tree planting on

Earth Day

I n a statement, DENR-8 regional

director Leonardo Sibbaluca said

that a series of activities were lined

up to drumbeat this year's celebration

which includes information campaigns and

a month-long lecture series on the

different programs and projects of the

DENR.

“As we celebrate Earth Month this

April and Earth Day on April 22, we enjoin

the public to join us in our efforts towards

a safe and sound environment, participate

in our activities, be part of the

celebrations by sharing your own little

ways for Mother Earth,” Siballuca added.

Along this development, DENR will

also spearhead a massive tree planting

activity on said day to be participated in by

government agencies, non-government

organizations, academe and other sectors

of society.

According to Maita Reina Sucgang,

OIC, DENR-8 Regional Public Affairs

Office, such activities are part of the

highlights of the celebration to stir up

awareness on current environment

concerns particularly on climate change.

In the Philippines, Earth Day was

launched on April 22, 1990 to mark the

global commitment to build a safe, just and

sustainable environment after President

Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation

No.553 in April 1990 in support to Earth

Day. This year’s theme is “Earth Day

Everyday, Everywhere, for Everyone”. (jrc/

cba/DENR/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 13 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Eastern Visayas

enjoins the public to participate in their efforts towards a safe environment as the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22,

2015.

Biliran hosts national mountain bike race

NAVAL, Biliran,April 16 (PIA) – It‘s more fun in Biliran province this summer as the province will host the national Enduro

mountain bike competition on April 26 dubbed as the 1st Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. Bike Festival.

M ountain bike racing and

mountain bike trekking were

the emerging sports hubby of

Biliranons which started a few years back

but now a fad sporting event of mountain

bike racing and mountain bike trekking

enthusiasts in the province.

Sangguniang Bayan member Mario

Lydinno Opena of the municipality of

Naval, who is also the over-all event

coordinator of Mt. Panamao Team Biliran

Mountain Bike Club, revealed that the bike

festival, one of the activities line-up for the

provincehood anniversary celebration of

Biliran province this year is composed of

four major events.

Opena addded that the national bike

event in Biliran province is the first part of

the Great Visayan Trilogy which include

the City of Catbalogan in Samar province

and the town of Calubian in Leyte

province.

Enduro Pilipinas, organizer of the

national bike event that holds the opening

of the 1st season of the first leg of Enduro

Pilipinas Mountain Bike Race in February

of last year in Biliran province is very

willing to hold anew the national bike

event in the province of Biliran because of

its very ideal bike trail, friendliness of the

Biliranons, very supportive officials of the

local government units and the impressive

promotion of the biking culture of the

active group of mountain bikers in the

province.

Likewise, the national bike event is

expected to generate more income for

hotels, resorts and restaurants and will

augment the income of people in

transportation business especially the

habal-habal (single motorcycle for hire)

drivers, bike porters and trail workers, he

added.

“The culture of biking, camaraderie

and friendship will also be boosted in the

province of Biliran with the holding of the

national biking event”, Opena said. (aen/fj/

rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

Rodrigo S. Victoria

Turtle caught, tagged, released

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 16 (PIA) -- A local fisherman in barangay Combado here got the surprise of his life

when what he thought was a big catch for the day turned out be a turtle, a Green Sea Turtle, according to personnel of the

Office of the City Agricultural Services (OCAS) who examined it.

T he fisherman, whose name was

not immediately known, was

quoted as saying the hook in his

fishing line found its mark on the left side

of the turtle’s shell just below the head, so

the animal was not at all harmed or

injured when it was hauled to the shore

early morning Tuesday.

Crowd of curious onlookers

easily gathered and watched the

“catch” brought ashore, tended by OCAS

personnel who contacted the

DENR-CENRO for tagging and

subsequent release.

The shell’s length measured 30 inches

from the base of the head to the

base of the tail, the width 22 inches,

circumference, 90 inches, and its weight

was approximately 70 kilos.

Comments of facebook users from

Ormoc, Luzon, and Australia mostly

inquired about its condition when pictures

of the turtle was posted on PIA-Southern

Leyte’s facebook account.

A very brief video also got "likes" and

"shares".

In less than two hours since the turtle

was brought to shore, DENR personnel

released it back to the sea after proper

tagging procedures, according to those

who saw the “send-off” ceremony.

Turtles are known eaters of the

deadly crown of thorns, a kind of sea

urchin whose massive number can destroy

coral reefs, it was learned. (aen/esg/mmp/

PIA-Southern Leyte)

MARCELO M. PEDAALINO

The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

DOLE allots P2.3M for students‘ summer jobs

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, April 16 (PIA) - The Department of Labor and Employment in the province of Eastern

Samar has allotted P2.3 M Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) to benefit 1,253 students from 11 Local

Government Units (LGUs), one Province, one City.

A ccording to Ms. Mylene C.

Pagapos, Labor and Employment

Officer of Department of Labor

and Employment (DOLE), under the SPES,

any qualified student aging 15-24 years old

can apply in any government office or

agency in the province that offer job

opportunities this summer.

She added that to qualify, the

applicant needs to submit the following

requirements: birth certificate from the

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),

passing grade or any document as a proof

of enrolment; certification from the

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that

their family income is not more than

P105,000.00 and poor but deserving

students.

Pagapos revealed that most high

school students are deployed in

communities as street cleaners through

“Clean and Green Program” of the

government and some college students

are assigned in offices, provided that the

work assignment is not hazardous.

DOLE will shoulder 40 percent of the

total allowance to be received by the

student and the remaining 60 percent will

be shouldered by the employing

Local Government Units (LGus), Paganos

added.

The students will be working for 20

days at a minimum wage rate which is

P260.00 - 40% of P260 is P104.00 and the

60% comes from LGUs daily wage rate

which P150 and 60% of P150.00 is P90.00.

Pagapos further said that the payment

for the DOLE is in the form of Educational

Voucher.

For instance, if the student enrolled is

already in College and his/her total fees

for the whole semester is amounting to

P5,000, DOLE will pay the total allowance

of P2,080.00 and the remaining P 2,920

will be paid by the students. LGUs will pay

the amount of P1,800.00 through payroll.

Each student beneficiary then gets a

total allowance of P3,880.00.

Pagapos added that as of now, the

following LGUs in the province of Eastern

Samar have offered jobs under

SPES: Provincial Government – 150

slots, City Government of Borongan

- 150, Balangiga – 85, Salcedo – 100,

Maydolong – 50, Gen. MacArthur – 80,

Mercedes – 96, Quinapondan – 30,

Giporlos – 85, Llorente – 65, Lawaan

– 52, Jipapad – 50, Maslog – 50, San-Julian

– 110 and Eastern Samar State University

(ESSU) Main Campus – 100.

SPES is a special program of the

government under the labor department

to help continuing students pay their

school fees and for the Out of School

Youth (OSY) to continue school. (aen/

sdc/PIA8-E. Samar)

SAMUEL CANDIDO Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine

BIR-8 holds Grand Fiestax

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 16 (PIA) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 14 has conducted a

―Grand Fiestax‖ Wednesday to mark the last day of filing of Income Tax Returns (ITR).

N ot all taxpayers wore long faces

as they filed their income tax

returns despite the huge crowd

at the Mult i -Purpose Bui lding,

Government Center, Palo, Leyte as the

annual event turned into a feast called

“Fiestax”.

BIR-8 regional director Diosdado

Mendoza said aside from free foods and

giveaways, the taxpayers were also

entertained with a number of folk dances

and song numbers performed by some

personnel of the BIR and the SAMLEYAW

dancers. “We conceived this idea because

Filipinos especially in Region 8 are fond of

fiestas during summer at para hindi sila

ma-bore at mainip while waiting for their

turn to file,” Mendoza said. “This is also

one way of saying thank you to the

taxpayers,” Mendoza added.

Mendoza further said that for the first

quarter of 2015, BIR Eastern Visayas met

its target. In fact, an excess of about

P40-million was recorded due to hard

work , c l o se mon i t o r i n g an d

implementation of the agency’s rules and

regulations.

With this development, Mendoza is

optimistic that better tax collection will

continue towards the end of the year in

order to meet the target tax collection

goal for the region this year which is

pegged at P6.4 billion. (aen/cba/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

PIA trains CDIOs in E. Samar

BORONGAN CITY, Eatern Samar, April 16 (PIA) - In line with the Philippine Information Agency‘s (PIA) thrust of

revitalizing government communication, PIA Eastern Samar spearheaded the re-establishment of the network of community

development information officers (CDIOs).

P IA personnel went to the

municipalities in Eastern Samar to

ask local chief executives to

designate CDIOs in their towns.

The Provincial Information Center

(PIC) of PIA in Borongan City then

conducted an or ientat ion and

workshop at the Eastern Samar

Development Foundation (ESADEF) on

April 14, 2015.

PIA hopes to enable the CDIOs to

write news releases in their respective

municipality through print and broadcast

media through the workshop. PIA-OIC,

Regional Director Alicia E. Nicart served

as resource speaker for the said activity.

According to Director Nicart, “the

Presidential Communications Operations

Office (PCOO), through Secretary Sonny

Coloma, encourages PIA provincial offices

to reactivate the CDIOs of every

municipality for information enhancement

especially in times of disaster.”

Some 13 CDIOs attended the said

activity from 22 municipalities and one city

in the Province of Eastern Samar. (aen/

sdc//PIA8-E. Samar)

SAMUEL CANDIDO

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) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Alicia E. Nicart

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