One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 37
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Transcript of One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 37
Vol 5 Issue 37 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 Sept. 14 - 20, 2015
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue ICC is fruit of ‗tuwid na daan‘
APEC intensifies moves to reduce aggregate energy
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
UN official lauds recovery efforts in Leyte
CONSUELO B. ALARCON
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 16 (PIA) – A high ranking official of the United Nations visited Leyte recently to assess
the progress of the rehabilitation efforts in Yolanda affected areas.
Special Representative of the Secretary General on Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) Ms. Margaretha Wahlstrom did her field visits to the city of Tacloban and in the
municipalities of Tanauan, Palo and Javier, Leyte and she noted a big change in the rebuilding efforts particularly on the aspect
of economy, infrastructure and the spirits of the people. In her visit to Tanauan, Leyte, she made a remark that
two years is a long time in a person‘s life but a short time to recover after a big devastation. ―You know it takes courage to
make so much progress. After two years, as a visitor I noticed a big change in the economy, in housing and the people‘s
spirit," the UN official said. She likewise credited the local chief executives for their
efforts to rebuild their respective communities. Despite some challenges and issues on potable water and
electricity in some resettlement sites, the UN executive was elated at the progress that are evident in most of the affected
areas particularly Tacloban, which she said had the most of the "Yolanda" impact.
According to her, two years is a long time in individual
life but a short time to recover after a big devastation.
―Though housing still has to be done, the economy is rebuilding and the community is moving and I trust that in a
few months many more houses will be full of people,‖ she said. She credited the local chief executives for their efforts to
rebuild their communities. She said, she well understood some challenges on potable
water and electricity in some resettlement sites. According to her, these life lines including children in school must be
indicated as measures to quality life of the residents in resettlement areas.
Ms. Wahsltrom arrived Sunday afternoon at Tacloban airport. She was warmly welcomed by Leyte Governor
Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla, Office of Civil Defense 8 Acting Regional Director Edgar L. Posadas and other regional
directors of key DRRM member agencies in the region. She was accompanied by Mr. Ola Almgren, UN resident
and humanitarian coordinator; Ambassador Alex Lamadrid, Assistant Secretary, Office of Civilian Security and Consular
Concerns of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); OCD Defense Deputy Coordinator Director Romeo Fajardo,
Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), among others.
The Leyte visit of the UN official was part of her three-day mission to the Philippines from September 13-15, 2015. (aen/cba/PIA-8)
Leonard T. Pineda I
ILOILO CITY, September 14 (PIA) --- President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the Iloilo Convention Center is a fruit of
―matuwid na daan‖, his administration‘s good governance policy.
During the inauguration of the ICC held Monday, September 14, Aquino said that the new world-class structure
in Iloilo City is a great example of the appropriate utilization of government funds.
―Kongkretong halimbawa po itong Iloilo Convention Center na sa Daang Matuwid, ang pera ng bayan, napupunta sa
taumbayan lamang. Ang halaga ng proyektong ito: P713.31 million,‖ he said.
The President said that the ICC aims to draw local and international guests for large-scale conferences and meetings
not only in the city and province of Iloilo and in Western Visayas but also in nearby regions.
―Tunay po itong maipagmamalaki ng mga Ilonggo. Bukod sa disenyo nitong hango sa inyong Dinagyang at Paraw Festival,
kahanga-hanga din ang world-class nitong kalidad,‖ he said. He said that the good news is that the ICC will be the
venue for upcoming meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Iloilo City this month and in
October. ―Balita ko po, may mga confirmed bookings at inquiries
na rin dito sa mga susunod na buwan hanggang sa susunod na
taon,‖ he shared. He also said that building world-class structures and
establishing better road networks are ways to attract more tourists to visit the provinces in the country like Iloilo.
―Ito namang pag-unlad ng turismo, direktang nakakalikha ng trabaho. At sa pagkakaroon ng higit na kakayahang paunlarin
ang sarili, nakikiambag din ang mga mamamayan sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya at ng lipunan,‖ he added. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo).
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
Also CLICK Here…
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
Also CLICK Here…
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS Ferliza Calizar-Contratista
CEBU CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA)—Members of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) agreed to renew
their commitment to intensify efforts reducing aggregate ener-gy intensity by 45 percent by 2035.
The APEC Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEEC), in its 46th meeting held at Marco
Polo recently, reaffirmed its commitment to intensify efforts to reduce the aggregate energy intensity by 45% based on the
2005 level by 2035. Energy intensity is a comparative measure to determine
the energy efficiency of each economy calculated as units of energy per unit of gross domestic product (GDP).
Ways to have low energy intensities include application of energy efficient technologies in its buildings and industries;
utilization of efficient mass transport system and vehicles; adoption of energy conservation measures.
Highly productive economies also use high energy efficient appliances and equipment. In the meetings the APEC
EGEEC actively pursues its Energy Smart Communities Initiatives (ESCI).
There will be Knowledge Sharing Platforms (KSP) as a tool to consolidate ideas and best practices among the 21
APEC member economies.
The main pillars of the meetings are in pursuing Smart
Transport, Smart Buildings, Smart Girds and Smart Jobs and Consumers. APEC Senior Officials, Finance Ministers and
Other Related meetings concluded last week here in Cebu province.
Cebu hosted over 80 meetings and 3,000 delegates and entourage.
Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Cebu Action Plan was formally launched with the
unveiling of the commemorative marker yesterday. The unveiling marked the conclusion of the
Finance Ministers' Meeting of the 21 APEC member-economies, finalizing a milestone plan crafted and
named after the Province of Cebu. Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima along with next APEC host
Peru head of delegation Enzo Defillipi and China finance minister Lou Jiwei unveiled the marker at Shangri-la Mactan
during a press conference. It was China that hosted APEC prior to the Philippines,
while the next host country is Peru. The commemorative marker included significant features
representing APEC‘s cooperation and major thrusts in the building of more inclusive and resilient economies. (fcc/
PIA7-Cebu)
Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) secretary Dinky
Soliman (center) Margaretha Wahlstrom
(right), UN special representative of the
Secretary General and UN Resident and
Humanitarian Coordinator Ola Almgren
(right), DSWD and OCD officials during a
breakfast meeting in Tacloban City, September
14. (Vino R. Cuayzon/PIA8)
WESTERN VISAYAS
DA undersecretary Emerson Palad explains
the WB-DA PRDP and its project
components, which include intensified building
of infrastructure and logistics for development
to carry out the goal of increasing farm family
incomes in the six-year project term. With
him are Carolina Geron, World Bank Senior
Rural Development Specialist and Engr Arnel
de Mesa, National Deputy Project Director.
(rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
President Benigno S. Aquino III unveils the
marker of the Iloilo Convention Center during
its inauguration held Monday, September 14,
2015. The ICC (inset) is a state-of-the-art
convention center in the Iloilo Business Park in
Mandurriao, Iloilo City. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the Iloilo Convention
Center (ICC) is a concrete example of ‗Daang Matuwid‘ during its
inauguration, September 14, at the Iloilo Business Park, Mandurriao,
Iloilo City. (PIA 6)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA6) — President Benigno S. Aquino III‘s story of accomplishments is embodied in a song,
―Impossible Dream‖, according to Senate President Franklin Drilon.
Drilon: PNoy makes Iloilo‘s impossible
dreams possible
By Elsa S. Subong
D rilon, who was with President Aquino
in his visit to Iloilo today, was profuse
in his thanks to the President for
transforming Iloilo into a an attractive tourism
and investment destination, which before he
thought was an impossible dream.
The Senate president said that five years
ago cleaning up the dying Iloilo River was an
impossible dream, but now the river is
rehabilitated, with an esplanade that has
become a premier tourist destination.
Further, five years ago also, Drilon said,
relocating the informal settlers living on the
banks of Iloilo River was an impossible
dream, but to day they are resettled in 1,000
units of low-cost housing in a model
resettlement site.
―Who would have thought that the
four-lane Senator Benigno Aquino Avenue
would be a 10-lane highway, with a red-tiled
bicycle lane,‖ Drilon said, adding that the lane
is the only one of its kind in the country.
These and many more ―impossible dream‖
projects came to being, according to Drilon,
narrowing down on the state-of-the-art and
world class Iloilo Convention Center which
Ilonggos never dreamed of, and the President
was inaugurating, September 14.
―We built the ICC because we recognize
the convention sector‘s immense potential to
contribute to tourism growth and to the
economic expansion of the province and the
region as well,‖ Drilon said.
The convention center will be the venue
of three APEC Ministerial Meetings from
September 21 to October 6, which is expected
to bring economic benefits to the province and
promote personal and cultural exchanges.
With this, Drilon added, the ICC will not
only boost Iloilo‘s reputation as an impeccable
location for convention, but will raise the
profile of Western Visayas as APEC meetings‘
host.
He further said that the realization of the
ICC proves that nothing is impossible with
strong political will and solidarity of sectors.
―Under your leadership, the Ilonggos
dared to dream the impossible. And we
succeeded,‖ he told President Aquino.
The ICC is one of the two world class
government-owned convention centers in the
country, the other one being the Philippine
International convention Center. (JCM/ESS/
PIA-Iloilo)
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Sept. 18 (PIA6) - - Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Director for Financial Consumer Protection
Department lawyer Prudence Angelita A. Kasala said financial awareness, like the concept and value of money, should be
instilled during the formative years as this becomes the basis of lifelong habits.
T his interactive exhibit which will run
until September 25 at the Grand
Ballroom of Circle Inn Hotel and
Suites in Bacolod City will teach children the
concept and value of money, determine fake
from authentic money and the different
currencies in the world, this aside from the
concept of a bank and an Automated Teller
Machine by having a mock bank and ATM.
They will also role play as bank manager,
teller, security and client where they will try to
use the mock ATM and learn how important a
Personal Identification Number is, what a
deposit account is and the services that could
be rendered by an ATM.
Kids will be given a budget and they will
be asked to shop in the ―pretend‖ grocery to
learn the difference between needs and wants.
Bacolod City Mayor Monico O.
Puentevella in his message during the opening
of the exhibit said that Bacolod needs this
program because aside from being the City of
Smiles, Bacolod is also a ―City of Spenders‖.
The Bacolod exhibit is the 7th run of the
BSP and the second in the Visayas next to
Cebu.
―We believe that the conduct of MMK in
Bacolod City is very timely considering that
based on the last census in 2010, children
below 14 years old comprised 29.1 percent of
Bacolod‘s household population which shows
quite a young population and signals a
burgeoning economy in the future,‖ Kasala
said.
To date, the exhibit was able to reach a
total of 21,600 students from 17 schools
excluding the 7,000 targeted students for
Bacolod City.
―We must remind ourselves that
childhood money memories will be
their foundation as to how they
will relate with money in their adult
life. We also urge parents and teachers
as well to be our advocates by
acquiring a better understanding of financial
concepts and by putting them into practice‖
Kasala added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros
Occidental)
Kids should be taught value of money
By Easter Anne D. Doza
Antiqueños help in clean-up activities
By Vicente W. Villavert
San Jose, Antique, Sept. 18 (PIA6) - - The organizers of ―Let‘s Do It Philippines‖ will engage the Antiqueños to remove trash
and debris from beaches and other areas during the conduct of coastal cleanup, and National Cleanup drive on September 19,
and 20, 2015, respectively.
“ Some five (5) percent of Antique‘s
population or 25,000 Antiqueños are
expected to participate to this noble
undertaking,‖ said Marizka G. Juliano, Let‘s Do
It Philippines Provincial Coordinator for
Antique during the PIA Radio program.
Juliano said that the activity of the Let‘s
Do it Philippines movement is aimed at
gathering five million Filipinos to work for the
safety of the environment and to send a
message to the rest of the countries of the
world that the Philippines is not their garbage
dumping ground. Juliano referred her
statement to the recent incident of garbage
shipment to the Philippines from other
countries.
Juliano was joined by Ian B. Coronongan,
Focal Person of Municipal Solid Waste
Management Board, Culasi, Antique during the
PIA Radio program, who also pointed out that
the cleanup drive is a coordinated campaign
involving the communities.
According to Caronongan, the activity will
also serve as an eye opener for everyone as
people do not bother throw their garbage into
bins properly.
―This is an ambitious program but we
believe that we will achieve our goal to
increase the level of awareness of the public
and hopefully bring forth changes in behavior,‖
Caronongan said.
Juliano on the other hand urged
participants to the cleanup drive to upload
their pictures using #Let‘s Do It Philippines; # I
am 5 Million; and #Let‘s Do It Antique.
She said that September 20 per
Memorandum of Agreement signed between
the Environment Management Bureau and Let‘s
Do It Philippines will now be observed as a
National Cleanup Day every year to strengthen
the program on environmental protection.
(JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 15 (PIA6) --- President Benigno S. Aquino III assured the public that necessary measures are in place to
deal with the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
I n a press conference after the
inauguration of the Iloilo Business Park
and the Iloilo Convention Center held
September 14, Aquino said that steps are being
taken to ensure adequate food production
including cloud-seeding operations and
distribution of drought-resistant seedlings.
―Isa sa mga ginagawa nating programa
ngayon yung continuous na cloud seeding.
Habang tag-ulan pinararami natin ‗yung ulan na
bumabagsak sa atin, sana pumunta doon sa
ating mga dams, mga dikes, sana makapasok rin
doon sa tinatawag na aquifer na para may
pagkukunan tayo pagdating ‗nung kasagsagan ng
El Niño,‖ he said.
He said that the Department of
Agriculture under Secretary Proceso Alcala will
implement necessary interventions to help
farmers and ensure that the country will have
sufficient rice and food supply during the
drought.
―Nakikipag-negotiations na rin ang NFA
para mag-angkat tayo ng dagdag na bigas para
nga masiguradong maski tamaan ‗yung ating
sariling ani, meron tayong bigas pagdating ng
kasagsagan nitong El Niño,‖ he said.
Meanwhile, DA Secretary Alcala said that
they have started distributing drought-tolerant
varieties of rice such as the Green Super Rice
which is primarily being tested in the country.
He said that aside from the continuous
cloud-seeding operations, the agency is also
distributing shallow tube wells in areas with
low-water level.
He also advised farmers to plant
drought-resistant crops as temporary
alternative for rice to cushion the effects of the
looming prolonged dry spell. (JCM/LTP/
PIA-Iloilo)
PNoy: Gov‘t measures in place for El Niño
By Leonard T. Pineda I
Roxas City HIV/AIDS treatment hub up soon
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 17 (PIA6) – A satellite treatment hub for Persons Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) will soon be
established here to provide services for a growing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in the province.
T he hub will be at the Roxas City Health
Office (CHO) which has already a
Department of Health (DOH)
– accredited HIV/AIDS counselor and a
proficient medical technologist who has been
trained on how to do the HIV screening
process.
It will be in addition to the two
existing treatment hubs in the region which
are at the Western Visayas Medical Center in
Iloilo City and the Corazon Locsin
Montelibano Memorial Hospital in Bacolod
City.
The proposal was among the priority
agenda of the Roxas City AIDS Council
(ROCAC) meeting last Sept. 17 to discuss the
preparations, requirements and accreditation,
among others, for the hub.
HIV/AIDS counselor and Roxas City
Health Education and Promotion Officer Fe
Salgado said that the hub will be timely as
there is an increasing trend of HIV/AIDS cases
in the province with already 68 reported cases
that include three casualties as of July 31 this
year.
The three AIDS casualties, all young male
professionals, were among those remembered
during the AIDS Candlelight Memorial last May
at the Capiz Provincial Park here. (JCM/AAL/
PIA6 Capiz)
By Alex A. Lumaque
LGUs move to stop human trafficking, illegal recruitment
KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 14 (PIA6) – There are many ways to stop human trafficking, illegal recruitment and child labor, and
these were discussed during the hosting here of the municipality of Kalibo of the Executive Committee Meeting cum Advocacy
and Action Planning of the Inter-Agency Task Force-Child Labor, Illegal Recruitment and Trafficking in Person recently.
I nspiring the officials of the municipality of
Kalibo and the province of Aklan in general
to stop if not fully eradicate the problems
which had besieged the province for quite
sometime was Mayor Rolando B. Distura of the
municipality of Dumangas in Iloilo who shared the
success story of his municipality in fighting human
traffickers and illegal recruiters who use the ports
of the LGU to do their criminal acts.
Mayor Distura came together with heads
and representatives of various national
government agencies with mandates to protect
the people like the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Philippine
National Police (PNP), Prosecutor‘s Office, the
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP), the Bureau of Immigration (BID),
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration
(OWWA) and many others.
The activity was aimed to expand the
Dumangas Protocol in Kalibo and to plan
strategies and action which will strengthen the
implementation of the agreed Protocol.
The activity was well-received by Kalibo
mayor William S. Lachica who said Kalibo needs
to have a network like that of Dumangas, as it has
the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) which is
being used by illegal recruiters and human
traffickers as entry or exit points.
Atty. Cedric Jaranilla, who represented
DILG 6, said human trafficking, illegal recruitment
and child labor is everybody‘s concern, and the
meeting is essential to avoid finger-pointing and
for the involved protocol members to be able to
know what to do when illegal activities arise.
Mayor Distura shared that his town has four
main routes and this made the town prone to
illegal activities.
Because of this, Task Force Puerto was
organized in Dumangas.
Mayor Distura shared that in Dumangas,
they have an ordinance giving P10,000.00 to
whoever could inform the LGU about any illegal
activities in the town.
He said the names of informers are not
revealed and the giving of information is built on
trust and respect for the local police.
He also cited one tip during his testimony to
catch a possible human trafficker – be curious.
―Kon nakita mo ang isa ka bata nga hala hibi
nga upod sang isa ka tawo, pwede ka man
magpamangkot kon ano niya ang bata. Kay kon
kilala siya sang bata, indi ini tani maghinibi,‖ (If you
see a crying child accompanied by a person, you
can also asked what his or her relationship is to
the child, because if the child knows him or her,
the child should not be crying), Mayor Distura
said.
He also said that one should get curious if a
building has a very high fence with the barb wires
bending inside than outside, with close, tinted or
boarded up windows, and with security camers
aimed inside rather than outside.
Sharings were then solicited from
participants particularly from Aklan through the
Prosecutor‘s Office, the PNP and the
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office
on the ways these offices were able to
curtail the activities of human traffickers
here specifically at the Kalibo International
Airport and in Boracay Island. The
Dumangas Protocol has already a unified matrix
of steps, responsible agencies, focal
persons and contact numbers in the regional level,
and these the local participants in Aklan
committed to follow through the provision of
local personalities from responsible agencies, so
that when need arises, the appropriate person or
office can readily respond or assist. (JSC/
By Venus G. Villanueva
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
SIQUIJOR, Sept. 11 (PIA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Lazi Technical Institute
(LTI) will soon implement the Dualized Training Program (DTP) after having acquired accreditation for two qualifications
namely, Housekeeping NC II and Food and Beverage Services NC II.
D TP is derived from the Dual Training
System (DTS) which is also known as
DTS Act of 1994.
DTS and DTP are implemented pursuant to
the provisions of the Section 4 of Rule VI of RA
No. 7796, otherwise known as the Technical
Education and Skills Development Act of 1994,
which states that ―TESDA shall implement RA
No. 7686, otherwise known as Dual Training
system (DTS) Act of 1994."
In its pursuit of enhancing the employability
and productivity of TVET graduates by equipping
them with cognitive, psychomotor, and affective
skills in demand of the workplace, the LTI
encouraged partner industries to become
accredited establishments to implement the
program.
DTP in general is a TVET program that
combines in-plant and in-school training based
on a training plan collaboratively designed and
implemented by a TVI and its partner
establishment that have DTS Accreditation.
It has two schemes: the Block Release
Scheme and the Day Release Scheme.
The first one refers to the schedule
wherein the student/trainee spends full time in
the TVI to finish the 40% percent of the
training and then deployed full time in the
establishment to complete the 60% percent
in-plant training.
The second, on the other hand, refers to the
schedule where the student/trainee spends two
days weekly in the school and the remaining
working days of the week in the establishment.
Meanwhile, LTI found it convenient to adopt
the Block Release Scheme.
With the two Qualifications accredited,
there are already four establishments which are
now also accredited, namely The Sylvia, One
Sunset View Resort and Restaurant, The Bruce,
and Dagsa Resto Bar.
All four establishments are located at
Solangon, San Juan Siquijor.
Last batch of the regular training schedule
for Housekeeping NC II and Food and Beverage
Services NC II of CY 2015 will start in the month
of October before the DTP. (rmn/rac/
PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Elsa B. Apiag-LTI)
TESDA-LTI to implement dualized
training program
CEBU, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- Sari-sari stores are not allowed to sell medicines even just basic drugs for flu or colds, an official of the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA-7) stressed.
FDA-7 warns public not to buy meds in sari-sari stores
F DA-7 has cautioned the public against
purchasing medicines in convenience
outlets.
Sariah Oriol, head of the Food and Drug
Section said under RA 6675 or the Generics Act,
said certified quality drugs can only be accessed in
legitimate drug stores or pharmacies that have
the legal license to operate.
―Without the license, this is a clear violation
of the law which can be subject to a filing of a
legal case against the establishment,‖ said Oriol
during yesterday‘s forum of the Association of
Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that
tackled the annual observance of September as
Generics Month.
Oriol advised the public especially those
living in far-flung barangays to access basic
medicines in barangay health centers or in the
‗Botika ng Barangay‘ outlets instead of sari-sari
stores.
From January to August this year, Oriol said
112 out of around 800 establishments in Central
Visayas have been served with notice of violation
of the Generics Act with some having been
padlocked due to gross violation.
Majority of these cases are from Cebu, said
Oriol.
He said common violations are the absence
of a license from the FDA to operate and make
available in the commercial market drug products
and that some food and drug products are not
registered while other products alleged to contain
certain ingredients but actually do not based on
test.
The cases are elevated to the FDA legal
office in Manila that will decide and issue the
appropriate penalty, whether it be suspension
or closure depending on the gravity, disclosed
Oriol.
Penalties are defined according to three
categories, namely criminal, civil, and
administrative of which the latter can be decided
by the Secretary of Health to either revoke the
license of the drug store or ask the Professional
Regulations Commission to revoke the license of
the medical practitioner.
Oriol said penalties stipulated under RA
6675 are amended in RA 9502 or the Universally
Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of
2008 with more severe penalties sepcified. (rmn/
fcr/PIA7)
Fayette C. Riñen
Rizalie Anding Calibo
NEGROS ORIENTAL, Sept. 11 (PIA) – The province has created a Joint Task Force to beef up peace and security to maintain
the well-being of Negrenses and ensure economic development.
NegOr forms joint task force to intensify peace, security
T he task force is expected to strengthen
coordination and collaboration of efforts
among the more than 20 national and
local government agency-members in the conduct
of joint security operations.
In a workshop, Governor Roel Degamo
urged the participants to intensify peace and
order efforts to minimize if not eliminate all forms
of criminalities and illegal activities in the
province.
Gov. Degamo, however, recognized the
contributions made by government agencies in
strengthening the province‘ disaster risk
reduction and management programs.
He noted that with the concerted efforts
among stakeholders, the province has been
declared as ―conflict manageable and development
ready‖ last year by Defense Ssecretary Voltaire
Gazmin.
Nevertheless, both Army commander Col.
Allan Martin of 302nd IB and P/SSupt Dionardo
Carlos of the Philippine National Police said the
joint task force needs the participation and
support of the communities and local government
units to make the duties and responsibilities
well-organized.
The task force's scope of operations include
maritime safety and security, criminality, illegal
drugs, insurgency, smuggling, tourism,
environmental protection, disaster response, and
land transportation and traffic.
This initiative came to realize when some
reports of kidnapping by ASG is coming to
Dumaguete City from Dapitan and a ship loaded
with smuggled rice was intercepted in
Zamboanguita town, increasing apprehensions of
illegal drugs, human trafficking, and fishing.
With this, JTF intends to prevent the illegal
activities and lawless elements have been
apprehended and prosecuted.
However, the governor cited that the
province has recorded a low crime rate in
Central Visayas, as he also asked the participants
to maintain and sustain peace and order in the
province. (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Jennifer C. Tilos
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here has strengthened the
occupational and health programs for the labor force in partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Network
(OSHNet) to minimize if not eliminate accidents in the workplaces.
DOLE boosts safety, health of workers
O S H Ne t i s a n on - g ove rn m e n t
organization (NGO) training arm of
DOLE that has already conducted 12
trainings for more than 500 trainees who are now
qualified to become safety officers in their
workplace.
To ensure workers‘ safety and health,
OSHNet provides two possible trainings, the
construction safety and health (COSH) and Basic
Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) trainings.
―Once companies have safety program and
safety officer, accidents can be minimized,"
said OSHNet president Engr. Renato Infante.
Under the labor standard law, the trainings
are mandatory for safety officers which DOLE
pushes hard to assure zero work-related
accidents in the workplace.
Infante said the COSH training is given to
employees whose work focuses on construction
and BOSH to employees from any businesses.
The two trainings are conducted for 40
hours or four days with a registration fee of only
P6,000, said Infante.
However, the safety orientation for one day
is conducted for free, he added.
―We encourage all companies to let their
employees undergo such orientation."
Senior Labor and Employment Officer Engr.
Diego Amado Nochefranca of DOLE said
employers must ensure that workers "are safe
and healthy as their rights should not be
compromised.‖
Part of the corporate and social
responsibility of the companies is to provide
trainings for their workers as this is according to
the International Standard Organization (ISO),
said Nochefranca. (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros
Oriental with reports from Ronelyn
Faith Vailoces, intern)
Jennifer C. Tilos
TAGBILARAN CITY, Sept 14 (PIA) -- Crucial roads that could spur agricultural development in otherwise impenetrable idle
areas, reduce hauling costs, cut travel time for basic services and local commute, as well as expand employment opportunities
- these are but some of the benefits of the partnership between the government and the World Bank (WB) as they aim to set
up in Bohol a total of 17.81 kilometers of key farm-to-market roads.
WB partnership to pave farm roads,
spur agri-development in Bohol
T he total farm access roads development is
from four areas which the World Bank
partnership with the government of the
Philippines and the local government units agreed
to fund under the Department of Agriculture's
(DA) Philippine Rural Development Project
(PRDP).
Benefitting from the DA PRDP Intensified
Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for
Development (I-BUILD) are the rehabilitation of
the 5.9838 kilometers of San Agustin-Canmaya
Diot Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Sagbayan, 5.5
kilometers of Alegria-Bugho FMR in Loboc, the
3.54 kilometers Ba-ang-Mahayag Norte FMR in
Catigbian and the 2.84 kilometers Del Carmen
Weste-Tugbas FMR in Balilihan town.
All the rehabilitated FMRs now sport the
all-weather Portland Concrete Cement Pavement,
road shoulders, box culverts, cross drains, and
lined canals.
The FMR rehab projects cut an average of
51% of travel time in those mentioned areas, cuts
47% of hauling costs for inputs and farm produce,
allows the entry of 70% more transport players,
develops over 300 more hectares of cogonal
lands, increases land valuation and spurs
employment opportunities as well as allows easier
access of government basic services, according to
project proponents.
Developing, upgrading and rehabilitating
these named areas cost P 152,368, 179.00 with
the WB partnering with the Government of the
Philippines, Provincial and Local Governments the
governments putting up equity funds, according to
project briefers distributed during a press
conference September 14.
The Press conference happened a few hours
after the First World Bank Implementation
Support Mission opened at the Pavilion of the
Bellevue Hotel in Panglao. The PRDP is a six-year
program national project under the DA designed
to establish an inclusive climate resilient and
market-oriented agri-forestry sector through
strategic investments in priority commodity value
chains, the press conference showed.
It aims to increase by 50% annual real farm
income of beneficiaries, 30% increase in
enterprise development from same beneficiaries
and some 20% increase in number of farmers and
fishers with improved access to agri-services.
PRDP components include investments
planning (I-PLAN), I-BUILD, Investments in Rural
Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries
Productivity (I-REAP) and Implementation
Support to PRDP (I-SUPPORT).
Along the spread of time, PRDP follows a
value chain analysis, which allows stakeholders
and communities to get inputs for their
commodity investments, explained Engr. Arnel de
Mesa during the press conference.
DA Regional Director Angel Enriquez also
said the baseline study which the project has
started could be a useful tool to fit all other
future plans for agricultural development.
The projects also use applied geo-tagging to
make sure it does not overlap with other similar
projects resulting in lost government resources,
adopts a document tracking system and puts up a
grievance redress mechanism in a flexed effort to
make sustainability and empowerment enable
communities and expand their opportunities.
(rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)
Rey Anthony H. Chiu
CEBU City, Sept. 11 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region has closed second
round of Listahanan household assessment.
D SWD Regional Director Mercedita
Jabagat said that the department's
enumerators are done gathering
information from the field.
―Our enumerators were able to assess
985,730 households or 97% out of the 1,016,269
target households of the region," she said in a
press statement.
"We achieved only 97 percent against the
given target because the target is big compared to
the actual number of households,‖ Jabagat
underscored.
The social and welfare officer attributed this
to the absence of respondent when
the enumerators conducted the house visit
because either they were out or they had to
attend to their livelihood.
―Enumerators would revisit the household at
least three times if there is no qualified and
available respondent at the time of their visit,"
said Listahanan Information Officer Kerwin
Macopia.
Jabagat said that families who were
not yet interviewee still has a chance to be
assessed.
"There will be validation and finalization
phase for families who were not visited during the
regular enumeration.
These families will be given the chance to
appeal and to be assessed," she said.
―We will ensure that there will be
announcements of the validation phase in all
barangays, so that everyone will be able to
participate in this,‖ Jabagat added.
The final list of Listahanan's identified poor
families will be established after the validation.
DSWD through the Listahanan or the
National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR) has undertaken a
nationwide assessment to identify the families
who will become potential beneficiaries from
social protection programs and services of the
national government such as the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-
Cebu/with DSWD7 report)
DSWD-7 closes Listahanan household assessment
Juju M. Empuerto
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
Better health services seen with new
EVRMC OPD
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept.14 (PIA) – The out-patient department building of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical
Center (EVRMC) to be completed by February 2017 promises to improve the delivery of health services to the people of
Region 8.
H ealth Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin
emphasized this during the project
launching of the OPD building held
recently at brgy. Cabalawan, this city.
Garin said the presence of the OPD
building is not just a symbol of the continuous
assistance of Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) in order for the region to build
back better after the havoc of typhoon Yolanda
but also a symbol of how we should be moving
forward.
In the said occasion, she likewise urged all
health workers to be committed in serving the
people particularly those who are sick to prove
that the region is worth helping for.
Meanwhile, Takahiro Morita, senior JICA
representative said through the EVRMC OPD,
we hope to continue what JICA had been
doing in the past to include the Philippines‘
health care services and contribute to nation
building.
The Outpatient Department Building of
EVRMC is a 3-story concrete structure
designed to follow the ―Build Back Better‖
principle of the typhoon Yolanda Rehabilitation
and Recovery Program of the National
Government.
Approximately, it has a 5, 270 sq. meters
space requirement which includes public spaces
such as waiting areas and lobbies, OPD Clinics
for Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, OB
Gyne, Family Medicine, Orthopedic,
Dermatology, EENT, Opthalmology, Psychiatry,
Dental, Physical Rehabilitation, Oncology,
Dialysis, Public Health and Wellness and TB
DOTS. It also includes OPD Administrative
and Ancillary Spaces and the Attendant Building
Utility System.
The design calls set for OPD includes
disaster-resilient features, windows that can
withstand strong winds up to 287 kph and 1.5
times earthquake resistant or degree 12
earthquake with comfortable waiting spaces
and individualized clinics for better privacy.
To name a few, some of the grant aid
projects of JICA that have become integral in
helping improve the Philippine Health System
are Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
(RITM), Davao Medical Center, Vicente Sotto
Medical Center, Benguet General Hospital
and the National Tuberculosis Laboratory at
RITM.
The OPD building has 22 months
construction period. It commenced September
1, 2015 and will be completed for handover to
the hospital by the end of February 2017. (ajc/
cba/PIA-8)
By CONSUELO B. ALARCON
Leyte ‗Bahandi‘ trade fair generates P9.5M sales
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 16 (PIA) – The exhibitors from the province of Leyte generated more than P9.5 million (or 42
percent) of the total sales of the recently concluded Bahandi Eastern Visayas Regional Trade Fair held at the Megatrade Hall,
SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
A ccording to Leyte Provincial Director
Desiderio P. Belas Jr. of the
Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI), Leyte exhibitors from fashion
accessories contributed half of the income
amounting to (Php4,793,218.00 while the
processed food sector and the good, decors
and housewares sector both placed second in
sales.
The processed food sector has a total sale
of Php1,799,989.00 while the goods, decors
and housewares sector got a total sale of
Php1,792,873.00.
On the other hand, the Support to
Tourism contributed eight percent amounting
to Php818, 755.00 while the furniture sector
got four percent of the sales amounting to
Php350,100.00.
Meanwhile, DTI Leyte Public Information
Officer Diana M. Quiza informed that two
exhibitors from Leyte bagged major awards
during the mega trade fair namely the Taps
handmade products of Tanauan, Leyte and
Lechon ni Timo Romano of Tacloban, City.
Taps handmade products was declared as
the ―top seller‖ in both Regional Awards and
Leyte Special Award categories with a total
sales of Php4,041,500.00. Lechon ni Timo
Romano, on the other hand, was hailed as
―Best Product of the Processed Food Sector‖
with a total sales of Php86, 200.00.
Furthermore, the Rainbow Ticog Industry
of Tacloban City and the Burauen-Arado Sweet
Delicacies Producers Association of Burauen
were both cited as the among the ―Best
Dressed Booth in said event.
The Bahandi 2015 generated total sales of
more than P22 million surpassing its P13
million target.
The Department of Trade Industry (DTI)
through regional director Cynthia R. Nierras
initiated the Bahandi Regional Trade Fair 2015
with the special support of USAID aimed at
showcasing the region‘s SMEs build back their
businesses after super typhoon Yolanda and
increase the household income of SME,
their employees and their providers of raw
materials. (ldl/ajc/cba/PIA-8/DTI-Leyte)
DTI SoLeyte eyes virgin coco oil plant by 2016
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 17 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Southern Leyte Provincial
Office is hopeful that Virgin Coco Oil manufacturing plants will be established in the province by the first quarter of 2016.
D TI Provincial Directtor Michael Nunez
said, ―there are more local
businessmen who signify interest
investing in the production of Virgin Coco Oil
right in the province as demand for the said
healthy agricultural product abroad like Japan,
China, and Germany in Europe keeps rising.‖
However, the United States remains as the
major market, Nunez said.
He noted during the interview at Action
Center Cable TV program at the Senior
Citizen Center yesterday that aside from virgin
coconut oil, other products can be derived
from coconut, like coco sugar, coco syrup,
coco vinegar and even coco drinks, etc.
He said that VCO according to studies
bears low glycemic index, reduces bad
cholesterol, help reduction of virus in AIDS
HIV victims according to testimonies,
strengthens immune systtem, easily burns belly
fats, among others. Nunez further reported
that Congressman Damian Mercado is also
supporting for the VCO industry establishment
as he linked with German consultants to help
in the construction of plants to ensure that
VCO production quality shall be at par with
those sold at international market.
However, there is the need to campaign
for organic coconut farming in order to satisfy
the international accreditation agencies'
requirement for organic coconutts for VCO
production.
Early this month, Cong. Mercado
atttended to the personal visit of Chinese
traders, who are buying VCOs from the
province and willing to partner with local
businessmen in setting up VCO plants in the
province. One VCO plant establishment is
estimated to cost a maximum of P15M, it was
learned.
Meanwhile, PD Nunez looks forward to
the day when marginal farmers will soon
benefit with stable copra prices of coconuts as
soon as VCO industry shall be operational in
the province. Unlike today , when coconu
farrmers selling the traditional copra are
suffering from the very low and unstable prices
set by most traders. (ajc/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)
CONSUELO B. ALARCON
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
NCSAA to construct centennial schoolbuilding
NAVAL, Biliran, Sept. 14 (PIA) – ―We want to leave a legacy to the institution that made us what we are now‖, Prosecutor
Edna Pitao-Honor, an alumna of the Naval Central School (NCS) and officer of the Naval Central School Alumni Association
(NCSAA), emphasized during her guesting at the Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan of the Philippine Information Agency
(PIA)-Biliran Provincial Information Center, live over Radyo Natin-Naval on Thursday, September 10.
H onor, together with Marilou Bernardes
-Lucente, secretary of the Sangguniang
Bayan of Naval and the president of
NCSAA said the proposal to construct a
classroom building, which she said can be called
as ‗centennial building‘ is one activity which will
mark the 100 years of existence of the
elementary school where she graduated.
An engraved marking of year 1915 in one
of the concrete posts of the Gabaldon building
of the NCS serves as the basis for reckoning
the centennial alumni homecoming celebration
which is this year, 2015.
―The names of the first 100 alumni of the
NCS who can contribute P2,000 will be
engraved in a book-like concrete marker‖,
Honor added, to recognize their financial
contribution including those who are no longer
part of the first 100 in a separate marker that
contributed to the realization of the proposed construction of a one-storey, one-room
classroom building.
―Anybody who is wiling to shell-out more
than the P2,000 minimum contribution is most
welcome‖, Honor added.
For her part, Lucente, who invited all the
graduates of the elementary school to join and
participate the NCS centennial alumni
homecoming set on October 1, 2015,
presented during the radio program the bank
account number where all the interested NCS
alumni can send in their P2,000 contribution
for the construction of the centennial
schoolbuilding.
A Metrobank account registered in the
name of Marilou Bernardes-Lucente and Edna
Pitao-Honor with account number
493-3-49327439-3 was opened on Thursday,
September 10, 2015 for the purpose of
receiving the P2,000 intended for the
construction of the proposed school building.
Bernardes encouraged all the NCS alumni here in Biliran province, in other parts of the
Philippines and abroad to contribute for the
realization of the proposed centennial building
which she said is one of the highlights to mark
the centennial alumni homecoming of the
elementary school.
The NCSAA president further explained
that this year‘s NCS centennial alumni
homecoming has a different twist as gathering
is not by batches of graduates but identification
of groups including the color representing the
group is based on the streets where they were
residing when they were still schooling at the
NCS.
Bernardes said the proposed activities of
the NCS centennial alumni homecoming starts
with a groundbreaking ceremony of the
proposed centennial school building at around
3:00 to 4:00 o‘clock in the afternoon on
October 1, 2015 to be followed by a
thanksgiving mass at the Naval Cathedral, then
followed by a torch parade around Naval poblacion and a fellowship at the Naval
Gymnasium. (ajc/fj/PIA8-Biliran)
RODRIGO S. VICTORIA
PNP North Samar expands force multiplier
T he undertaking was initiated by
Northern Samar Police Provincial
Office (NSPPO) through Police Senior
Superintendent Daniel Mayoni, acting Provincial
Director.
NSPPO started to conduct a seminar for
the TODA organization, where on its first
stride, they were able to train 78 participants
in the municipality of Lope de Vega and 140 in
the town of San Isidro. Jean Lao Amoyen, NUP
-PNP Public Relation Assistant informed that
the PNP-NSPPO through PD Mayoni who
religiously attends and supervises said activity,
will cover the whole province with its 24
towns for the said program.
Accordingly, the PNP-NSPPO believes
that with proper training and crime prevention
education of TODA officers and members, it
will surely help the PNP in its battle to
minimize if not eradicate crimes in this part of
the region.
Some topics shared and discussed during
the training, Amoyen relayed, were more on
duties and responsibilities of TODA officers
and members, first responders role, basic first
aid, among others. Discussions focused on how
to enhance their capabilities in the delivery of
basic services.
Mayoni said, organized TODA and
PNP will work hand in hand towards the
attainment of one common objective which is
peace in Northern Samar. (ajc/and/
PIA8-Northern Samar)
CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Sept. 14 (PIA) – The organization of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) was
launched as force multiplier that will serve and support the Philippine National Police (PNP) maintain peace and order and be
a partner in its crime prevention program in the province.
AILENE N. DIAZ
PCA to plant more coco in SoLeyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 17 (PIA) - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) aims to plant 2,900 hectares more
to coconut in the province by next year.
A ccording to PCA Senior Staff Carmelita
Maturan, after enlisting those coconut
farmers who are willing to join the
growing and planting of coconut seedlings this
year, the coconut agency of the government
will start rolling its Participatory Coconut
Planting Project, a new planting program with
incentives by next year.
Maturan said coco farmers who are
participating in the said project will grow their
own coconut seedlings of their choice of
variety and will be paid by the PCA at P18.00
per good coconut seedling.
Then after five months when the good
seedling has already grown as high as two feet,
the coconut agency will again pay the amount
of P 22.00 per plant, she added.
―The project was conceptualized when
farmers complained of worn coconut
seedlings brought about by the transportation
pressures when these are being brought by
PCA down to their communities, ― Maturan
explained.
She said a farmer is entitled to at least
one hectare to be planted with coconut under
the project, wherein each hectare will be
planted with 120 nuts., according to the
project design.
However, a maximum of five hectares per
beneficiary can be availed if there is less
participation among the coconut farmers in an
area, she said.
A maximum of 2,900 farmers were
expected to benefit the full-of incentives
coconut growing and planting project, she
added. (ajc/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)
Erna S. Gorne
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 [email protected].
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: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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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: [email protected]/[email protected]