Vol 5 Issue 47 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 November 23 - 29, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Samar lad wins National Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child

DENR-6 exceeds mangrove, beach forest target

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Special drug court judge pushes for distribution of Cebuano info materials

By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

DUMAGUETE CITY, November 23 (PIA) – A special drug

court judge here suggested that government agencies concerned

with drug prevention to produce information materials related to

drug abuse and translate them into Cebuano language for better

public understanding.

Special drug court branch 36 Judge Joseph Elmaco made the

suggestion during a recent Kapihan Sa PIA in observance of the

Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week.

―I think it is high time to review our approaches whether it is

effective,‖ he said.

Judge Elmaco underscored that people in the barangays

would be more informed on the ill-effects of drug abuse as well as

the laws related to it if these are relayed in the local language.

He shared that he made a Cebuano translation of R.A. 9165

and its rules two years ago and presented it to the city government

for reproduction but he did not get a response from them.

But now, he is open to collaborating with government

agencies concerned with drug control and prevention for

reproduction of his translation of the said law as well as in

formulating other information materials in Cebuano language.

Aside from this, Judge Elmaco also encouraged government

agencies to install billboards in barangay halls that state the general

provisions of R.A. 9165 which is also translated into Cebuano.

―The point there is the massive education campaign so that

the people who will be apprehended in the future cannot tell us

they are not informed,‖ he added.

In response to this, Negros Oriental Drug Abuse and

Prevention Council (NORDAPC) Action Officer Fernando Martinez

said the council welcomes the suggestion of Judge Elmaco.

Martinez said the council has funds for the production

of information materials and they could probably first distribute

information materials in Dumaguete City.

For the part of the law enforcement, Sr. Supt. Dionardo

Carlos, OIC and provincial director of the Negros Oriental

Provincial Police Office also welcomes the suggestion of Judge

Elmaco.

He made a commitment to assign police personnel that will

help distribute these materials but he also underscored the role of

community stakeholders in strengthening this advocacy campaign.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies here gave an update on

the drug situation in Negros Oriental as well as in its capital,

Dumaguete City.

According to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)

intelligence and investigation officer Francisfil Tangeres, there are

about 111 drug-affected barangays in the province and majority of

them are classified as moderately affected barangays.

The top two illegal drugs commonly circulating in the

province is Methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‗shabu‘,

followed by cannabis sativa or ‗marijuana.‘

However, he reported that there are no verified reports of

drug manufacturing in the province and the supply of drugs comes

from Manila, Muntinlupa City, Cebu and Mindanao.

In Dumaguete City, Police Inspector Luis Lacandula of

Dumaguete City police office said they were able to arrest 19 drug

pushers and 13 drug users in the city from July to October this

year.

Lacandula added that the total amount of confiscated shabu in

the city for the said period is 330.80 grams with the monetary value

of P3, 903, 444. On the other hand, the total amount of confiscated

marijuana in the city is 58.84 grams.

He added that the city police was able to conduct 28 police

operations and 10 buy bust operations in the said period this year.

(mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

NINFA B. QUIRANTE

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, November 24 (PIA) - Jake

Lere Boyles, a Grade 8 student from Barangay Tigdaranao, T

arangnan, Samar is the grand winner in the national search for

exemplary children.

This was relayed by Catbalogan City Link Richard Peru in a

text message.

A week earlier, Peru and Boyles‘ mother Armida were guests

at PIA-Samar Huruhimangraw (Conversation) radio program

which featured them and other model families from the Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Boyles‘ mother, who cooks and sells food for a living shared

then that her son was soon leaving for Manila to represent Eastern

Visayas in the contest.

The young Boyles is a Grade 8 student of Tarangnan National

High School, whose principal Teotimo Gososo has hailed the child

as a model student.

Armida said she has seven children who are all ‗good in

school,‘ with the young Boyles on top of his elementary grades and

now belongs to the Top Ten students in the high school.

―He brought home a trophy, pictures and many stories about

his adventure in the big city,‖ Armida shared through the telephone.

Though she does not know yet the details like prizes and

other tokens, her son bringing home the recognition is enough for

this mother who labored with her fisherman-husband to send all

seven kids to school.

As a member of the Pantawid Pamilya, the family has always

complied with the conditions set by the program and expressed

hopes that the clamor to institutionalize the program gains merit

―It is not just for ourselves, as we will soon graduate from

the program, but for young people like my son Jake Lere, so that

they will be given an opportunity to rise above poverty.‖ she added.

(nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

By Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 23 (PIA6) --- The Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-6 has exceeded by 2.6

percent its mangrove and beach forests plantation target in

Western Visayas.

DENR-6 said it has achieved a total of 102.66 percent

accomplishment in terms of plantation establishment or a total of

2,820 hectares from its target of 2,747 hectares under the

Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project (MBFDP).

The MBFDP is a component program under the National

Greening Program (NGP) aimed at strengthening the coastal areas

in the country.

The project is both a rehabilitation and reconstruction

project for disaster launched in mid-2014 after super

typhoon ―Yolanda‖ hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013.

No less than President Benigno Aquino III has commissioned

the project, who looks forward to a more Climate Change resilient

Philippines in the future.

In Region 6, coastal areas in Northern Iloilo, Capiz, Antique,

Aklan, portion of Guimaras and Negros Occidental were badly hit

by Yolanda. DENR buildings and structures in the these provinces

were also damaged by the typhoon.

The event highlighted the need to reforest thousands of

hectares of denuded coastal and beach forests in the country.

―The guardians of the coasts – the mangroves and beach

forests – have the strength to protect our coastal communities

from the devastating effects of extreme weather events,‖ said

DENR-6 Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna.

He added that after Yolanda, DENR-6 had acted first

by assessing and validating the damages and afterwards, started

identifying coastal sites to be rehabilitated by each province.

The following were the target areas for mangrove and beach

forest development: Aklan – 319 hectares; Antique – 200 hectares,

Capiz – 488 hectares; Guimaras – 350 hectares, Iloilo – 1,080

hectares; and Negros Occidental – 1,030 hectares.

DENR 6 is actively implementing both the NGP and MBFDP

which help to reforest the upland, coastal, urban and mangrove

areas in the region. (JCM/DENR/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Ma. Francesca Santiago of the University of St. La Salle

Integrated School, Bacolod City shows the certificate

and medal she received as a special recognition from

PIA-6 for having been cited by President Benigno S.

Aquino III, for her article ―The Blame Game‖ published

in the Young Blood Section of The Philippine Daily

Inquirer, August 21 2015 issue, during the College

Press Conference held recently at the Kapis Mansions,

Roxas City, Capiz. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Rupert Ambil of Rappler discussing disaster

communication, the value of information

gathering thru social media in times of

disasters. "First step to rescuing people is

giving information," he said. Mr. Ambil is one

of the resource persons during the first day of

2015 PIA Infocen Managers Conference at

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas central office in

Manila.

Sir Eugenio delos Reyes and Melyn Godin

enriched today's edition of Tingog han

Kagurangan. The duo said that out of the 1.5

M hectares to be planted, some 25 thousand

ha is alloted to Samar or only 2% of the whole

project. The target this year has been

achieved.

Jake Lere Boyles, from Tarangnan, Western Samar, was declared

grand winner of the 2015 National Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary

Child. (DSWD Photo)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Coffee production in Capiz given push

By Alex A. Lumaque

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 24 (PIA6) – A planning workshop to develop the local coffee industry will be conducted by the

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Provincial Office on Nov. 27 at the MVW Restaurant and Tourist Inn here.

T he activity will be participated in

by the top coffee producing

munic ipa l i t ies o f Dumarao,

Dumalag, Tapaz, Jamindan and Mambusao.

The town of Panit-an will also join the

group because of the 90-hectare coconut-

intercropped-with-coffee project implement-

ed by the Philippine Coconut Authority

(PCA) in the municipality.

The workshop seeks to identify the

issues, concerns and problems besetting the

industry and the strategies and interventions

needed to address them.

DTI has announced it will tandem with

the Office of the Provincial Agriculture to re

-establish coffee as one of the important

economic crops of the province.

DTI provincial director Ermelinda

Pollentes said a survey of existing growers

and plantations will be conducted to

determine who and where the location of

industry players are.

―A Provincial Cluster Group will also be

organized to serve as a catalytic link

between the technology service providers

and industry stakeholders,‖ Pollentes

stressed.

Other significant partners include

Department of Agriculture, Department of

Environment and Natural Resources, PCA

and Nestle Philippines.

Coffee and coffee processing are

being considered as a potential agricultural

commodity and agribusiness venture in the

province, respectively.

It is among the province‘s major crops

along with palay, corn, coconut, sugarcane,

cassava, banana and peanut, among others.

(JCM/AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

Organic Congress gets 12M funding from DA-NIR

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Nov. 25 (PIA6) – The Department of Agriculture – Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has released P 12

million as counterpart budget for the 12th National Organic Agricultural Congress which will be held at the SMX Convention

Center, Bacolod City, November 25-27.

J oyce Wendam, Technical Director for

Research and Regulation for DA-NIR,

said some 1, 500 participants of the

congress from all over the country will be

subsidized.

A total of 150 slots will be for free for

participants in the Negros Island Region, 100

from Negros Occidental and 50 from Ne-

gros Oriental.

―This is a case of Public-Private

Partnership because they are involving the

organic sector, private sectors in the

province, the academe, implementing

partners, national government agencies, the

provincial government and the local

government units,‖ Wendam added.

More or less 1, 500 participants who

are being subsidized by DA-NIR will

join small farmers to attend the

congress because there will be new learnings

and additional knowledge, she added.

The participants of the congress are

divided into three groups: beginners –those

who are interested in venturing into organic

agriculture, will be oriented of the organic

farming system; researchers – involves the

academe wherein the research results will

be disseminated to stakeholders; and

participants for the marketing side of the

congress.

Meanwhile, DA-NIR has a counterpart

budget of 500,000 for the Organic

Festival Week slated November 25-29

at the Provincial Capitol Grounds,

Bacolod City. (JCM/CBA/PIA6-Negros

Occidental)

By Carlson B. Alelis

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA6) - - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 6 (BFAR 6) is stepping up efforts on

information, education and communication campaign on Republic Act No.10654, a new law which amended the Philippine

Fisheries Code.

BFAR steps up campaign on amended fisheries code

Lilibeth A. French

R A 10654, an act to prevent,

deter, and eliminate Illegal,

Unreported and Unregulated

Fishing (IUUF), amending RA No. 8550,

otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries

Code of 1998, became a law in February this

year.

―With the passage of RA 10654,

we will be having our IEC campaign so

that we will be able to inform and

disseminate information of what the law

is about‖, said Director Remia Aparri of

BFAR 6.

The IEC campaign is part of an action

plan created and implemented by the bureau

which includes activities such as distribution

of materials and the conduct of fora to

orient the stakeholders especially in the

fishery sector on the salient features and

provisions of the amended Fisheries Code.

The law focuses on making people

aware of the various types of IUUF and what

disadvantages it could bring. It also addresses

high seas fishing and imposes higher fines and

a wide array of accompanying administrative

penalties. Furthermore, the law empowers

BFAR to ensure enforcement of regulatory

measures.

The imp lementa t ion o f the

Implementing Rules and Regulations of the

Amended Fisheries Code covers specific

procedures on how to impose the penalties

to fisher folk who committed unlawful

fishing activities.

Fifty percent of the fines, penalties and

proceeds shall be allocated to the area

where the violation was committed.

Aparri said with the continuous act of

IUUF, the bureau will also continue to

develop ways to prevent illicit acts through

capacitating its monitoring and control and

surveillance group.

―Here in Western Visayas we are still

facing many challenges, continuous illegal

fishing, intrusion of commercial fishing

operations in the municipal waters and

increasing population in the coastal

community who are dependent on fishing,‖

said Aparri.

She said BFAR is counting on the

partnership between its stakeholders that

include the private sector, the academe,

government agencies, the fisheries sector

and the general public to work hand in

hand to protect the marine and aquatic

resources.

―BFAR cannot do this alone, we need

cooperation from other concerned agencies

to help us manage and conserve our fishery

resources,‖ said Aparri. (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 23(PIA)—The Department of Education said construction of additional classrooms for K to 12 in Iloilo

province is ongoing and will be completed by June next year.

E ducation Supervisor for School

Governance and Operations

Gi lbert So l idum sa id the

construction is being implemented by the

four engineering districts under the

Department of Public Works and Highways.

Funding for the classrooms came from

the DepEd central office and downloaded to

the DPWH.

Solidum said that there is an estimated

599 additional classrooms needed to

accommodate more or less 34,000 senior

high school students in the province.

―We expect these classrooms to be

completed and ready to accommodate

incoming senior high students, by June next

year,‖ Solidum said.

One hundred of the 176 public schools

in the province applied to accommodate

SHS.

On the other hand, 40 private high

schools have submitted their applications to

accommodate senior high schools and they

are being evaluated by the DepEd now.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Governor Arthur

Defensor, Sr. Said the province is not getting

any loan for the construction of the

additional classrooms as there is no threat

of classroom shortage. ―But should DepEd

not being able to shoulder the construction,

we are ready to secure a loan to fund the

construction,‖ Defensor said in a press

conference.(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

K to 12 classrooms finished by June 2016

Elsa Subong

KALIBO, Aklan, November 20 (PIA6) -- This year’s observance of the 18-Day Campaign to end Violence Against Women

(VAW) in Aklan from November 18 to December 12 is full of various significant activities laid out in a Calendar of Activities

identified by the Aklan Gender and Development Commission (AGADC) during a recent meeting here.

T he observance of the 18-Day

Campaign to End VAW is pursuant

to Republic Act 10398 and

Proclamation No. 1172, series of 2006,

spearheaded by the Philippine Commission

on Women (PCW) in coordination with

other government member-agencies of the

Inter-Agency Council on VAW and Their

Children (IACVAWC).

Some of the activities to be held in the

duration of the campaign in Aklan had been

tried already while some are new ones.

Some of those which had been held

before include the conduct of the Men

Opposed to Violence Against Women and

their Children Everywhere (MOVE)

Congress, now on its 6th year; PESO Forum

Among Punong Barangays Part II, Search for

Best Barangay VAW Desk, Photo Contest,

and Kapihan Sa Aklan.

The new activities, on the other hand,

include the Launching of the Orange Icon on

November 25 at the Provincial Capitol

Lobby, Capability-Building Training for Social

Workers, Women and Children Protection

Desks (WCPD) and other Law Enforcement

Agencies in Handling Cases on Children

and PNP-WCPD Training on RA 10364, and

Gift-Giving in partnership with the

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to 30

Victim-Survivors of VAW at the Aklan

Comprehensive Center for Women

(ACCW) – Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU)

on November 28.

The launching of the Orange Icon,

according to the PCW, involves having

landmarks in a given locality – which could

include historical places, statues, monuments

and buildings adorned with orange-colored

decorations. The PCW said the ―Orange

Your Icon‖ activity is in solidarity with the

United Nations‘ UNITE to End VAW

Campaign, and everyone is encouraged to be

creative as they decorate their icons with

orange flags, streamers, or banners, or even

use paints and orange spotlights especially at

night. Meanwhile, big cash prizes await Aklan

barangays which will be adjudged as having

Best Barangay VAW Desks. According to

AGADC, the first placer with get P30,000

while the second placer will get P20,000 and

the third, P10,000. Seven (7) barangays

located in different municipalities are vying

for this year‘s contest – which include

Barangays Ambolong (Batan), Linabuan Sur

(Banga), Pook (Kalibo), Laguinbanua East

(Numancia), Tagas (Tangalan), Banay-Banay

(Malinao) and Sta. Cruz (Lezo).

The contest is sponsored by the

Provincial Government of Aklan and the

Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG). Winners will be

awarded on December 11 at the GCLC

Tourism and Training Center in Old

Buswang, Kalibo, along with winners of the

photo contest.

This year‘s 18-Day Campaign Theme is

―End VAW Now! It‘s Our Duty! Gains and

Ways Forward‖. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

'Orange Icon' marks VAW campaign

By Venus G. Villanueva

3rd ID head thanks media support

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA6) – Major General Rey Leonardo Guerrero has moved from the Visayas to assume his new post as

Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) effective November 21, 2015.

T his was confirmed by Major Ray C.

Tiongson, Chief of the Division

Public Affairs Office of the 3rd

Infantry ―Spearhead‖ Division of the

Philippine Army based at Camp Peralta in

Jamindan, Capiz. Before assuming the post,

however, Gen. Guerrero took time

to express his gratitude to the members

of the private and government media

organizations in Western Visayas and

Negros Island Region during a recent

fellowship night here.

He handed in Certificates of

Appreciation to media practitioners

who attended the event ―in grateful

recognition of the unwavering support

extended during my stint as the

Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead)

Division, Philippine Army‖.

This support, according to Gen.

Guerrero, has contributed significantly

to the attainment of the Division‘s

peace, security and development thrusts,

programs and operations in Western and

Central Visayas.

―Our joint commitment to serve the

people and their communities have indeed

contributed in the attainment of the

objectives of the Internal Peace and

Security Plan ―Bayanihan‖ and the Army

Transformation Roadmap,‖ said Gen.

Guerrero, who served here from September

of last year. The assumption of Gen.

Guerrero during a turnover of command

held November 21 was led by Armed Forces

of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen.

Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri.

EastMinCom is based at Camp Panacan in

Davao City. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

NEGROS ORIENTAL, November 23 (PIA) -- Out of the 557 barangays in Negros Oriental, 111 are identified as moderately

drug affected according to Intelligence and Investigation Officer Francisfil Tangeres of the Philippine Drug Enforcement

Agency (PDEA), Negros Oriental based on its latest intelligence workshop with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

11 1 b a r a n g ay s i n N e g Or a re

moderately drug affected — PDEA

T angeres said that Dumaguete and Ne-

gros Oriental are considered as

crucial drop off of illegal drugs from

Manila, Cebu and Mindanao and transported

through land, sea and air.

Barely two months ago, a joint operation of

the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PDEA

and PNP confiscated shabu concealed in goods via

courier from Manila, Tangeres said.

Tangeres also confirmed that drug

personalities are now careful in operating in the

city streets and in other areas with the combined

efforts of PDEA, PNP and NBI in sustaining and

strengthening their operation.

Based on the latest apprehension

records in Negros Oriental, PDEA and PNP

confiscated 1,319.82 grams of shabu totaling P1.3

million, according to Tangeres.

PI Luis Lacandula of the City PNP reported

that they are into massive information campaign

in schools and barangays conducting lectures and

symposia against the use of illegal drugs.

Lacandula said the PNP continues its

operation in patrolling the streets, however, he

also believes that the best tool to minimize the

proliferation of illegal drugs is through education

with holistic family approach where parents plays

a vital role in ensuring that all members of the

family are not in any way, involved in illegal drugs.

On the other hand, PSSUPT. Dionard

Bernardo Carlos, OIC-Provincial Director of the

Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office

confirmed that the biggest challenge for PDEA

and PNP is to make the community in Dumaguete

City and Negros Oriental drug free.

Carlos further said that prevention is a

better option than conducting police operation

which is expensive and entails a lot of police

personnel.

The support of the community in

partnership with the family is the best solution in

preventing the proliferation of illegal drugs,

after all, the problem is not only the concern and

job of the police but the whole community as

well.

Attesting to the statement of PSSUPT Carlos

is Judge Joseph Elmaco of the Special Drug Court

Branch 30, when he confirmed that 80% of

persons jailed are drug related cases due to

poverty.

Elmaco explained that reproduction of

Cebuano version of the rules of law, RA 9165,

should be considered for distribution in barangays

and schools for them to understand the laws

governing illegal drugs and the consequences they

will be facing once they are caught.

To be more effective in the campaign,

Elmaco urged the local government units to tie up

with TESDA in making intervention through

livelihood skills training as an alternative source of

living especially for poor residents in the

barangays. (mbcn/lpp/PIA7/NegOr)

Leandria P. Pagunsan

MANILA, November 20 (PIA) -- Some 500 young leaders from all ten ASEAN nations, including 65 Filipino youth delegates

met U.S. President Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

T his was part of the U.S. Department of

State‘s three-day 2015 Young

Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative

(YSEALI) Summit.

According to US Embassy Kurt Hoyer at the

town hall, youth delegates discussed with

President Obama the challenges facing

Southeast Asia and how young people can

work together across national borders to develop

solutions.

"While one voice can have a meaningful

impact on the world, the combination of 400

million youth voices across the ASEAN region can

have a transformative impact on the pressing

challenges of the day,‖ said Andy Rabens, Special

Adviser for Global Youth Issues for the U.S.

Department of State.

Rabens said ―Connecting youth voices across

the ASEAN region is part of the reason why

President Obama launched YSEALI in 2013 and

why the U.S government is hosting the YSEALI

Summit this week in Kuala Lumpur.

More than 50,000 people have signed up

online to be part of our YSEALI network,

demonstrating that there is huge interest among

young people in Southeast Asia in working

cooperatively to solve regional challenges."

The town hall was broadcasted live via

satellite beginning at 4 PM from Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia.

The 2015 Young Southeast Asian Leaders

Initiative (YSEALI) Summit, held November

19 – 22, is dubbed the largest gathering of the

State Department‘s YSEALI network to date.

At the summit, more than 40 experts from

the United States and ASEAN countries led the

training sessions, including private-sector leaders

from Accenture, AirAsia, Foundation, Coca-Cola,

Dell, IBM, Intel, LinkedIn, Malaysia Global Innova-

tion & Creativity Center (MaGIC), Microsoft,

Startup Malaysia, Techstars, Uber Malaysia, and

more, said Hoyer.

Launched by President Obama in 2013,

YSEALI creates opportunities for young ASEAN

leaders to engage with peers from around the

region to develop innovative, local solutions for

their generation‘s greatest regional challenges:

economic development, environmental

protection, civic engagement, and education.

YSEALI provides professional and academic

skills-building and opportunities to put those skills

into action through exchanges to the United

States, professional development workshops in

the region, online networking, and project seed

money.

Any ASEAN youth between the ages of 18

and 35 can join YSEALI for free at http://

yseali.state.gov.

Today, the YSEALI network engages nearly

50,000 ASEAN youth, including more than 7,000

Filipino young leaders.

Filipino delegates to the Summit were

comprised of bright young leaders, 18–35 years

old, who are winners of the YSEALI Seeds for the

Future grant competition, alumni of YSEALI

Academic and Professional Fellows exchanges to

the United States, or participants in regional

YSEALI Generation workshops. (mbcn/jct/

PIA7-Negros Oriental/with reports from the US

US Pres. Obama meets Filipino youth leaders in Malaysia

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

CEBU, November 19 (PIA) --- Cebu Province now has 2,689,717 registered voters as of October 31, 2015, says Atty. Marco

Lionel Castillano, COMELEC-Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor during the Association of Government Information Officers

(AGIO-7) forum recently.

Cebu has over 2.6M registered voters

C astillano, however, said that out of 2.6M

registered voters 74,110 are without

biometrics data. There are 2,607,668

registered voters with complete biometrics data

and 7,939 with incomplete biometrics data,

added Castillano.

The bulk of voters who have no biometrics

come from Mandaue City with 12,431, followed

by Toledo City with 8,639 and Cebu City 1st

District with 8,513.

He also explained that all these given data

are subject to change since there is still an

on-going verification of the registered voters by

the Election Registration Board in order to come

up with a final voter‘s list.

This year‘s registration increased from 4 to

6 percent compared to the period 2010 and 2013,

added Castillano. As of now, there is no advice

from COMELEC- Manila for the extension of

registration.

CO ME L E C - 7 a s s i s t a n t r e g i on a l

director Atty. Veronico Petalcorin encouraged

the public to be ―responsible citizens.‖

He said It is our responsibility to vote for

the right candidate for any position they are

running.

―Voters should be discerning in choosing

their leaders; they should vote not on the basis of

popularity or money but on the basis of

substance,‖ Petalcorin said. (mbcn/hfg/PIA7)

Hazel F. Gloria

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

NEGROS ORIENTAL, November 20 (PIA) – Twenty-two (22) barangays in Negros Oriental received an award and a cash

prize of about P200,000 recently as Outstanding Barangay Peace and Order Committees (BPOCs) and Outstanding Barangay

Tanod Teams (BTTs) this year in Dumaguete City.

T he lead agency, in cooperation with the

provincial government held this first-ever

search for outstanding BPOCs and

BTTs as part of its mission to strengthen

community-based mechanism in promoting public

safety and maintaining peace and order in the

province.

Provincial DILG director Dennis Quiñones

said this endeavor was designed to enhance the

capacities of barangays as partner peacekeepers at

the grassroots level.

Quiñones added this was also to recognize

their exemplary performance in ensuring peace

and order and public safety in their respective

barangays.

NegOr governor Roel Ragay Degamo

stressed the importance of BPOCs and Tanod

teams as they were instrumental in making

Negros Oriental ‗conflict-manageable and

development-ready province‘ as per the joint

declaration of the military and provincial

government officials last May 7, 2014.

The outstanding BPOC and outstanding

Tanod team winners received P11,000 cash with

plaque, while the 1st runner-ups were given

P9,000, the 2nd runner-ups P7,000 and

consolation prizes of P2,000.

Barangay Looc of Dumaguete City got the

outstanding BPOC award in Category A or

component cities category with 84.81% rating.

Chosen as the first runner up was Barangay

Tayawan of Bayawan City, followed by the BPOC

of Poblacion in Guihulngan City, while Barangay

Motong received the consolation prize.

For category B or 1st to 3rd class

municipalities, the big winner was the BPOC of

Barangay Campuyo in Manjuyod (85%), followed

by Barangay Bagawines in Vallehermoso and Calag

-calag in Ayungon. Poblacion, Pamplona took

home the consolation prize.

In category C or 4th to 6th class

municipalities, the winners were Poblacion, Amlan

(88%), Barangay Tapon Norte of San Jose,

Mayabon, Zamboangita and Boloc-boloc, Dauin.

Barangay Tayawan in Bayawan City bested

10 other barangays in category A to win the top

prize for Outstanding Barangay Tanod Teams by

garnering an award-high of 92.62%.

Barangay Calindagan in Dumaguete City

took the 1st-runner up honors while the

Poblacion of Guihulngan City got the 2nd runner

up award.

For category B, the winners were

Barangay Bagawines of Vallehermoso town

(87.12%), followed by Campuyo of Manjuyod and

Puhagan of Valencia.

Poblacion Amlan took home the top

honors for category C with 87.75%, followed by

Mayabon, Zamboangita and Boloc-boloc, Dauin.

Present in the event was Negros Oriental

Provincial Police Office OIC director, Senior

Superintendent Dionardo Carlos that presided

over the award ceremony. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros

Oriental/ with reports from Churchill P.

Guevarra, NORSU intern)

DILG awards 22 brgys. in NegOr for

outstanding BPOCs, BTTs

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

CEBU CITY, November 19 (PIA) --- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC-7) said the implementation of gun ban for the

2016 elections will start on January 10 (Sunday).

Election gun ban starts January 10, 2016

C OMELEC-Cebu Provincial Election

Supervisor Atty. Marco Lionel

Castillano explained that under Philippine

laws, ―election period" means 120 days before the

actual date of the elections and 30 days after it.

Since the election period will start on

January 10 then it will end on June 9, continued

Castillano, during the recent AGIO7 Forum at the

Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Gorordo

Ave., this city.

This 120-day election period contains the

actual campaign period from Feb. 9 to May 8 for

national candidates, and from March 26 to May 8

for local candidates, Castillano said.

As per COMELEC Resolution 1814, the gun

ban applies to everyone except government

security forces such as the Philippine

National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the

Philippines (AFP), and other law enforcement

agencies.

Aside from the regular firearms and deadly

weapons, also covered by the ban are air guns and

replications, as well as bladed instruments, hand

grenades, and other explosives except for

fireworks.

Castillano also said, the poll body will allow

candidates or individuals with security threats to

have escorts during the election period upon

application and assessment.

The escorts can come from the PNP, AFP,

or the National Bureau of Investigation and

limited only to two (2) personnel.

The Comelec officials said any person that

will be found guilty of violating the provisions of

the gun ban will be imprisoned of not less than

one year but not more than six years aside

from disqualification to hold public office and

deprivation of the right to suffrage. (mbcn/hfg/

PIA7)

Hazel F. Gloria

NEGROS ORIENTAL, November 23 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) warned

individuals who are taking advantage of the program by asking membership fees to become beneficiaries of Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Philippine government's version of conditional cash transfer.

DSWD7 warns swindlers collecting membership fees from 4Ps recipients

“ We do not collect membership fees to

become Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries,‖

stressed (DSWD) Field Office VII regional

director Mercedita Jabagat after receiving

fraudulent reports.

―Beneficiaries are selected through the

National Household Targeting System for Poverty

Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan, which

identifies who and where the poor are in the

country,‖ said Jabagat.

The DSWD is the lead government agency

implementing the program with over four million

household beneficiaries nationwide.

Of the total household-beneficiaries, about

250,000 are from Central Visayas.

She pointed out that there are criteria to

become beneficiaries of the program and these

include the following: residents of the poorest

municipalities, based on 2003 Small Area

Estimates (SAE) of the National Statistical

Coordination Board (NSCB), households whose

economic condition is equal to or below the

provincial poverty threshold, households that

have children 0-18 years old and/or have a

pregnant woman at the time of assessment and

households that agree to meet conditions

specified in the program.

―We encourage the public to be vigilant and

not to fall prey to these hustlers,‖ she said.

DSWD also urged the public to immediately

report to their nearest office if they know of

irregularities regarding the implementation of the

program.

―You can also reach our Municipal/City Links

for inquiries regarding Pantawid Pamilya,‖ Jabagat

added.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a

human development measure of the national

government that provides conditional cash grants

to the poorest of the poor, to improve the

health, nutrition, and the education of children

aged 0-18.

It is patterned after the conditional cash

transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and

African countries, which have lifted millions of

people around the world from poverty.

It covers three children-beneficiaries per

household and provides a monthly education

grant of P500 per household for high school

student and P300 for elementary.

The household-beneficiary will also

receive P500 as monthly health grant or a total of

P6,000 every year. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros

Oriental)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Agri experts lead cacao planting in 9 South Leyte towns

A c cord in g to P rov in c i a l H i gh

Valued Crops Coordinator Ma. Luz

G a v i o l a d u r i n g t h e w e e k l y

Action Center Kapihan sa PIA recently,

the provincial government is assisting

the local farmers to engage in

intercropping of cacao plants under the

90 hectares of coconut plantation

province-wide.

She said the following beneficiary

- municipalit ies engaged in cacao

production were Maasin City, Macrohon,

Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Hinundayan,

Lilo-an, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San

Ricardo, all of Southern Leyte.

The said intercropping program

included the participation of 20 farmers from

every municipality.

Each municipality will dedicate 10

hectares of coconut plantations for the

mentioned intercropping program, Gaviola

added.

Gaviola further urged the farmers to take

advantage of the rainfall and to plant within this

month.

She also disclosed that to ensure

proper management of the sa id

intercropping, the provincial agriculture

arm will conduct cacao production

to the mentioned farmer-beneficiaries.

It was learned that one of the

potential market for their cacao products is

the Kennemer Foods, Inc, one of the

manufacturers of chocolate products. (esg/

PIA8 SoLeyte)

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte November 25 (PIA) - The provincial agriculture experts has identified nine (9) municipalities

to join in the intercropping of cacao plants under the coconut plantations program.

Spanish envoy turns-over 'BangKapayapaan' nets, fishing boats project

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 19 (PIA) — It has been two years since the small town of Hernani—located in the

coastal area of Eastern Samar facing the Pacific Ocean—was ravaged by ―Supertyphoon Yolanda‖.

G overnment and non-government

organizations came to Hernani‘s aid

during the said disaster and until today,

the municipality remains to be a beneficiary

of livelihood projects granted by these

gove rnmen t and non - gove rnmen t

organizations.

A new livelihood project is added to the

roster of livelihood projects granted to

Hernani. In November 11, 2015, Ambassador

Luis Antonio Calvo, Spanish ambassador to the

Philippines and Office of the Presidential

Advisor on Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary

Teresita Quintos-Deles were in Hernani to

lead the turn-over ceremony of 63 fishing

boats and nets livelihood project for the

three municipalities of Llorente, Gen. Mac-

Arthur, and Hernani.

In his message, Ambassador Calvo said

that ―First and foremost, I pay tribute to your Waray spirit that all of you to get over

the catastrophe that hit this part of the

country two years ago and allow you to bring

back better lives, better folks, and better

homes.‖

―Be assured that we, the Spanish people

and authorities will continue to be alongside

with you in your efforts to reconstruct‖, he

said.

On the other hand, Sec. Deles—who was

celebrating her birthday on the event—

disclosed that the livelihood project must be

sustained so that progress, development, and

peace can be fully achieved.

―Sa aming pagdating ngayon, ang ating

paniniwala at ang ating intensyon sa patuloy na

pagtutulungan sa pagtahak ng landas tungo sa

kapayapaan at kaulanran na tunay na

mararamdaman at pangmatagalan,‖ Sec. Deles

said.

In partnership with the Agencia

Española Cooperacion International para el

Desarrollo (AECID), the OPAPP came up with

the "BangKapayapaan" project as a Typhoon Yolanda response for the communities situated

in the coastal areas. Beneficiaries of the said

livelihood project were fishermen whose main

source of income is fishing.

The "BangKapayapaan" project, with a

total project cost of P3.1-M, provided 18 en-

gine-powered fishing boats to Gen.

Mac-Arthur, seven to Llorente, and 38 to

Hernani. A set of nets were also given that

would help in the upliftment of the livelihoof of

the fishermen beneficiaries.

In an interview with Mr. Ben Baful, Jr., one

of the project‘s beneficiaries, he said that the

boat and a set of nets are big help to his liveli-

hood considering the fact that he is but a fish-

erman and a father of five with his wife work-

ing as a housekeeper.

―If I only depend on my income as a

fisherman, I really can‘t buy a fishing boat.

Now that I have my own boat, this will

greatly help in uplifting my livelihood and my

son can go to college already,‖ he further

said.

AECID suppor t s the OPAPP in mainstreaming peace and development in

local governance in the country through the

Mainstreaming Peace and Development in

Local Governance Project (MPDLGP). (SDC/

ERNA S. GORNE

Samuel D. Candido

Sweden King revisits Leyte; sees progress

after 'Yolanda'

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 23 (PIA) – His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden returned to Leyte Saturday to see how

the people have recovered from the wrath of the super typhoon particularly this city two years ago.

T he King arrived 9:26 in the morning

at the Tacloban DZR airport and was

welcomed by the local officials

headed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo

Dominico L. Petilla and some local scout

officials.

Upon arrival, he immediately proceeded

to the VIP lounge where he met with the local

media for a short press conference.

During the press conference, the King said

there was tremendous development of the

place even seen from the plane before it landed

at the airport.

After the presscon, he visited the BSP

building where the BSP marker was presented

to him and walked around the building

followed by a meeting with the BSP local

council executive board members Leyte

chapter headed by Gov. Petilla.

He also met with motorboat and some

scouts livelihood beneficiaries at Leyte Park

hotel whom he extended assistance after the

typhoon.

As he toured the city of Tacloban, His

Majesty was very happy to see the progress as

compared in January 2014 when he first visited

the area, a few months after typhoon Yolanda

wrought havoc to the lives of the people.

The King who is a Scout himself

has donated millions of funds for the

rehabilitation of the whole Boy Scout of the

Philippines (BSP) building after it was severely

destroyed by typhoon Yolanda in November

2013.

The BSP building which is under

construction is expected to be completed by

the middle part of February 2016, in time for

the King‘s return to the city for the unveiling of

the project. (ajc/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Samar town declared as insurgency-free

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, November 24 (PIA) - San Sebastian town – home to more than 7,000 inhabitants (based on the

2010 PSA survey) – is now insurgency-free.

T oday, security forces like the army

and the police affirmed this

declaration.

Col. George Domingo of the 87th Infantry

Battalion in reading the insurgency-free

document said that periodic intelligence

assessment has found out that the communists

in the area do not function anymore. The pop-

ulace has somehow achieved a peaceful and

o r d e r l y c o m m u n i t y w h e r e

economic activity has been in the upswing and

that the people have renounced communism.

―What is left of us are law abiding citizens

who renounce armed struggle to effect

change,‖ said Vice Mayor Imelda Abalos.

An insurgency-free municipality is a notch

higher than manageable conflict affected and

ready for development area, said an army

official.

―With the army‘s Bayanihan, its

Internal Peace and Security Plan, we will now

be ready to accept development and be

tourism ready,‖ said 801st Brigade

Commander Perfecto Rimando in his

message.

Mayor Antero Gaviola said that his

town has rich marine resources, expansive

mangroves, vast agricultural lands that are just

waiting to be developed.

―We have all nature‘s bounty in this

coastal town,‖ citing the all year availability of

prawns, mudcrabs, blue swimming crabs,

mussles and organic vegetables grown by San

Sebastian folks.

He then urged cooperation from

all the officials of the 14 barangays to

support the security forces in their quest for

peace.

As a final gesture , all present, army,

police and local officials signed the manifesto

to ensure that they are all for peace. ( nbq/PIA

8-Samar)

NINFA B. QUIRANTE

Pursuit of transformation road map results

to the New Army

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, November 19 (PIA) – The army’s pursuit of the transformation road map (ATR) has given you,

the new army, said Col. Jose H. Narciso, Chief, Governance Strategy Management Office.

“ There is a process of how to transform

from being reactive, inefficient, barely

capable, with bad image and poorly

equipped to a strategy-driven, word class,

full-mission capable, ethical, competent and a

professional army for following the ATR/

Philippine Army Strategy Map,‖ he added.

These were passionately delivered by

Narciso and the Assistant Division

Commander of the 8th Infantry division, Brig.

Gen. Demy Tejares as they met the press in an

orientation on the ATR on November 13-14,

2015 where some 48 media practitioners

attended.

Tejares said that AFP is aiming of a 2028

world-class army that is a source of national

pride.

―The army is now on its process to

develop, organize, train, equip, support and

sustain army forces for the conduct of prompt

and sustained ground operations to accomplish

the AFP mission as a core purpose to serve the

people by securing the land and uphold the

core values of honor, patriotism, and being

responsible on duty.‖

There is a certain scorecard being

maintained by each army element or official

towards this grand aim of serving as new

model army.

While some media men doubted the

feasibility of the process, some officials have

testimonies to this effect. Captain Isagani

Viernes, the 8th ID public affairs chief, said that

their soldiers have received high ratings in local

and foreign peace keeping operations.

He said that some 12 soldiers from the

division had a brief stint in the Golan Heights

peacekeeping operations.

In communities, the army elements are

also received warmly as they pursue their

Bayanihan activities.

Another official said that the surrender of

some armed elements or insurgents are also

results of the public‘s renewed trust to the

state soldiers.

It may be a difficult task and an uphill

climb especially in the region where some

insurgents have yet to be uncovered or

persuaded to surrender.

Yet, the army believes that the ATR

coupled with positive outlook on the projects

of the government will complement forces to

bring out the model army. (PIA 8-Samar with

reports from Ron Roma)

Photo tilt to reveal snapshots of Tacloban women in resettlements

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, November 19 (PIA) – Oxfam, an international non-government organization, is spearheading a

photo contest aimed at raising people’s awareness on the issues of women after super typhoon Yolanda by highlighting their

real situation in resettlement areas.

D ubbed as ―Snapshots at Women in

Resettlements: An Epitome of

Women‘s Issues, Empowerment

and Rights,‖ the competition is also in support

of the 18-day Campaign to End Violence

Against Women (VAWC) (Nov. 25-Dec.12)

and International Day Against Trafficking.

Israel Infante, Oxfam Philippines-OIC

Program Manager, said that the competition

will highlight the real situation of women living

in coastal barangays, in temporary and perma-

nent relocations sites and in bunkhouses.

Leah Payud, Oxfam Tacloban Program

Manager informed that the competition is open

to all students from universities and colleges in

Tacloban City, both professional and amateur

photographers.

Snapshots will portray women challenges

living in resettlement areas in a positive and

inspiring way, Payud said.

Entries will be judged based on the

following criteria: Content (20%) or the

persuasiveness in telling the story based on the

theme; Composition (20%) or the technical

excellence and quality; Creativity and

Originality (40%); and Artistic Merit or the

wow factor (20%).

First, second and third prize winners

will received P3,000, P2,500, and P2,000,

respectively, while a consolation prize of

P1,000 and certificate will also be given. Major

prizes will also receive medals and certificates.

Each participant is entitled to only

one original entry with high resolution

(jpeg format), not more than 10MB and

with a short description of not more than 50

words.

Entries must be submitted on December

1 while the winners will be announced during

the culmination activity of the 18-day campaign

to end VAW on December 12.

The activity is in partnership with the City

Government of Tacloban, Internally Displaced

Persons Leaders and Universities and Colleges

in Tacloban City. (PIA-8)

NEIL D. LOPIDO

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