Vol 4 Issue 23 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 9 - 15, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Asia-Europe delegates assess disaster preparedness
GPB projects in WV get P48M
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
Sec. Coloma to PIOs: Be proactive, informative, organized
BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA
CEBU CITY, June 10 (PIA) ---- Public information officers (PIOs) in Central Visayas are urged to boost the government‟s campaign in making communities resilient to
disasters. In his message during the First Regional Summit of
Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) held yesterday in Cebu City, Sec. Herminio
Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) encouraged the PIOs to
bolster the government‟s disaster communications efforts
by being proactive, informative, and organized. “The role of PIOs in disaster communications is to be
proactive, to pro-act and not react, to know ahead of
time,” said Sec. Coloma.
He stressed that information officers should be literate on disaster risk reduction and management as
proper information is important. “For example, tsunami is different from storm surge.
For tsunami, it‟s „run for your lives‟ so it means immediate
evacuation, while storm surge, there is a 48-hour window so there is time to evacuate,” he said.
Sec. Coloma said the PIOs can minimize the ill-effects of the lack or absence of information that took place in the
wake of typhoon Pablo, by making sure that the right information is made available to the people at the right time.
With the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) now undertaking geohazard mapping, he also proposed for PIOs
to become competent resource persons on geo-hazard
profiles of their respective local communities. He also pushed for PIOs to strongly support disaster
risk reduction and management organizations from the
barangay to the national level. “There is already a devolution of responsibility…
communities must start taking responsibility for disaster risk reduction and management,” he said.
The PCOO chief challenged the information officers to help build an ethos of taking responsibility, “not one of avoidance nor not one of blaming and fingerpointing.”
Coloma was the keynote speaker during the kick-off of the 21st Regional Association of Development Information (RADIO-7) officers held June 9, attended by
more than 100 information officers around Central Visayas.
(rmn/PIA-Cebu)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 5 (PIA) - Around 75
foreign dignitaries from Asia and Europe visited the towns of Palo and Tanauan and Tacloban City, all in Leyte province. The places visited were the areas badly hit by
typhoon Yolanda. This visit was a side trip of the Asia-Europe Meeting
in Manila (ASEM) on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in June 5-6, 2014.
According to Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, when she was still
young, natural disasters were few and far between but now she is almost certain that one or more record breaking disasters will actually occur in every part of the world.
Commissioner Georgieva said that we cannot stop nature destruction but we can prevent people from dying.
It is important that we know how to live in areas
frequently devastated when disaster happen, said Commissioner Georgieva.
Comm. Gerogieva challenged the delegates of the
ASEM to continue to work very hard for the world of tomorrow and translate experiences into strength.
She also informed that the European Union had provided financial aid to the Philippines to help the
survivors of typhoon Yolanda to recover and rebuild their lost and destroyed properties.
The dignitaries converged at the Tanauan Leyte
Municipal Hall to listen and interact with the municipal mayors of Tacloban City, and two other towns of
Palo and Tanauan as well as the governor of the
Province of Leyte. The interaction included lessons learned before, during and after typhoon Yolanda. (AJC/JHB/PIA-8)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
Climate change advocacy campaign review
with PIA 8 regional and provincial employees
headed by Deputy Director General Virgilio
Galvez. (PIA8)
PIA and DENR launch the climate change
advocacy campaign in Central Visayas. (PIA-7)
PIA Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena and
San Remigio Mayor Glenn Cabigunda discuss
other developmental concerns for the GK
Arch Angel Village in Barangay Aningalan, San
Remigio, Antique during the turn-over
ceremony held June 9. Also in photo is PIA
Antique Infocen Manager Margie L. Gadian.
(T.Villavert/PIA)
By: Leonard T. Pineda I
ILOILO CITY, June 12 (PIA6) --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allocated P48 million worth of development projects in 55 local government units
(LGUs) here in Western Visayas under the grassroots participatory budgeting (GPB) scheme this year.
DTI-6 Public Information Officer Ruby Melliza said that GPB, formerly known as Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB)
approach, will be allocated to 110 projects in the 55 LGUs spread across five provinces in the region.
The GPB process is implemented in pursuit of
attaining the Philippine Development Plan‟s goal of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, and promoting good governance at the local level.
This is to ensure the implementation of priority poverty reduction projects as identified at the city/municipal level through a participatory planning and
budgeting process. “The 55 LGUs have submitted their project
proposals to the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and these have been approved by the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM)”, Melliza said.
“Of these 55 LGUs, nine are from Aklan with 14
projects, 12 from Antique with 28 projects, five from Capiz with five projects, 15 from Iloilo with 27 projects,
and 14 from Negros Occidental with 36 projects”, she also
said. The projects cover capability building, skills training,
provision of tools and equipment, training on product
development, among others. According to DTI-6, as of June 9, 2014, more than
P23 million have been released to the DTI provincial offices and the local government units that will work hand-in-hand
in implementing the projects. The DTI official said that one necessary requirement
for the release of funding is that the LGU must be a
recipient of the Seal of Good Housekeeping from DILG, along with the letter of confirmation/intent to the implement the project, public financial management plan,
annual investment plan, list of personnel assigned for the project, signed memorandum of agreement between DTI and the LGU, among others.
Melliza said that the projects under the GPB seeks to generate high outputs in terms of number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) assisted, jobs generated,
sales generated and incremental income for beneficiaries
particularly in super typhoon Yolanda affected areas in Western Visayas.
She added that the DTI-6, through its provincial
offices, will continuously monitor the LGUs in the implementation of these projects. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
PCOO Secretary Coloma keynotes RADIO-7‟s summit. (PIA-7)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
SAN REMIGIO, Antique, June 9 (PIA6) - - Twenty-one families in a far-flung mountain area of Barangay Aningalan, this
Municipality were recipients of colorful houses following the June 9 turn-over ceremony of the GK Arch Angel Village led by
Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena of the Philippine Information Agency.
PIA DG leads turn-over of San Remegio GK Village
D G Oquiñena appealed to the
beneficiaries to take care of what
have been established in the village,
and to stay united for the good of everyone,
and to strive to help build a strong community
so that others will be given hope.
“People will continue to give and be
generous especially if the project is successful,"
Oquiña said.
The PIA Director General cited 1Lt
Jerome P Hernandez, formerly CO of the
Alpha Company in San Remigio as one of the
key people in the local partnership between
GK and the Philippine Army which inspired the
donor Archie King to give a substantial amount
to build beautiful houses for the 21
beneficiaries including rebel returnees of what
is called now as the GK Arch Angel Village.
Aningalan is now connected with a
concrete road from the town proper, and it
also has electricity.
The Alpha Company detachment of the
82 Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army
contributes to the maintenance of the peace
and order situation in San Remigio.
The turn-over ceremony was attended by
San Remigio Mayor Glenn Cabigunda; LTC
Aldwine Almase, Commander 82nd IB; 1LT
Franz Conrad Bauzon, CO, Alpha Company,
82nd IB; Vice-Mayor Elizabeth C. Coloso,
President Wilfredo Bravo of Gawad
Kalinga-Antique; PIA Antique Infocen Manager
Margie L. Gadian, among others.
The Municipality of San Remigio is about
21 kilometers from the provincial capital - San
Jose, Antique. Barangay Aningalan, on the
other hand is some 28 kilometers from San
Remigio town proper. (JCM//VWV/PIA-
Antique)
By: Vicente W. Villavert
ILOILO CITY, June 13 (PIA6) --- Local government units particularly in northern Iloilo were thankful to have hosted the 2014
Bayani Challenge that contributed to their recovery from the damages brought upon by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.
I n the closing ceremonies of the Iloilo
Bayani Challenge held Thursday in
Concepcion town here, Liga ng mga
Barangay-Iloilo Chapter President Jeneda
Salcedo-Orendain said that the country‟s
biggest volunteer event made the people of
Sara and other towns in northern Iloilo feel
strong so that they could help each other after
the extreme disaster that was Yolanda.
She said that her town was grateful for
the opportunity of hosting the event and for
building outstanding teams in the municipality.
“In Sara, we have the attitude that
“sharing and caring” is not just an icing on the
cake but it is their cup of tea,” she stressed.
Concepcion municipal mayor Milliard
Villanueva said that he was quite hesitant to
accept the task of hosting Gawad Kalinga's
Bayani Challenge at first for he thought that
gathering 8,000 volunteers was quite difficult.
“However, my LGU family was inspired to
do the challenge and we were happy with the
outcome seeing people‟s heartfelt service to
help others,” he said.
Ajuy town mayor Juancho Alvarez,
echoing Villanueva‟s sentiment, said he was also
uncertain if they could gather that number of
volunteers in their town to take part in the
activities.
“Careful planning of activities enabled us
to gather 21,803 volunteers in the town that
showed how volunteerism was ever-present in
Ajuy,” he said.
On one hand, the municipality of
Dumangas filed a resolution thanking Gawad
Kalinga for holding the Bayani Challenge event
in the town.
“The event which was held in the town
from May 14-17 brought out the modern
heroes in the people and fired up their love for
God and country,” said Sangguniang Bayan
Member Rosemarie Doromal citing excerpts
from the resolution.
The Bayani Challenge was hosted by nine
municipalities in the province of Iloilo namely
Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Carles, Concepcion,
Dumanggas, Estancia, Pototan, and Sara and the
highly urbanized city of Iloilo.
The total number of volunteers for the
Iloilo Bayani Challenge 2014 reached 140,500.
(JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
LGUs thankful for GK's Bayani Challenge
By: Leonard T. Pineda I
'Car-less' Fridays proposed
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 9 (PIA6) - - Thank God It’s Friday. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office
(PENRO) urged Negrenses to go car less on Fridays as they launched the campaign #TGIF, It’s Car Less Day. Save Gas, Save
the Environment.
T he campaign aims to mitigate the
dreadful effects of climate change,
wherein one of the major causes is
the emission of harmful gases like Carbon
monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide from
all sorts of vehicles.
PENR Officer Andres Untal said that now,
there are fewer trees in our forests that could
absorb the emissions from vehicles therefore it
is imperative to lessen the use of vehicles so
that when there are less vehicles on the road,
there are lesser emissions.
“It is a matter of fact that we are headed
on an uphill battle against car makers and fuel
providers and those who have the means for
convenience, but, investing on car less Fridays
by walking, car pooling and biking not only save
the gas and the environment, it likewise
stimulates blood circulation and burns fat, as it
empowers the person to resist use of vehicle,”
Untal said.
Meanwhile, the PENRO also partnered
with SM City Bacolod for their launching event
whose corporate program on environment and
sustainability focuses on energy and resource
efficiency, air quality, solid waste management
and compliance with international and local
environmental laws.
SM City Bacolod Public Relations Manager
May Castro said SM City Bacolod stand by with
DENR‟s campaign calling for all citizens to go
car less even for just one day of the week and
take alternative methods like using bicycles.
“We do what we must in minimizing our
environmental impacts in each of our location
in all capacities.
Taking care of the environment is
important but it is also important take action
and in putting in all our efforts, our small acts
may make a big global impact,” Castro added
as she wished to see more and more bikes
parked in the mall‟s designated bike parking in
the future.
Untal also led bikers during the launch as
they ply the major thoroughfares of the city
for a Bike for life and the environment activity
to increase awareness of the car less Fridays
campaign.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
DENR to plant 100 hectares with trees on Arbor Day
KALIBO, Aklan, June 6 (PIA6) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here is set to plant some
100 hectares of land with trees of various species on June 25, Arbor Day, according to Provincial Environment and Natural
Resources Officer (PENRO) – Aklan Ivene Reyes.
T he tree planting activities in the
province, according to PENRO
Reyes, will be conducted with the
help of various People‟s Organizations and
stakeholders throughout the province.
The Arbor Day tree planting is one of the
major activities to be undertaken this month by
the DENR in celebration of Environment
Month. In celebration of the Environment
Month, several activities had been undertaken
already by the DENR for public awareness of
the celebration, like radio guestings and
participating as resource persons in the
Kapihan Sa Aklan, a three-hour forum covered
by the local media here held Saturdays, and a
technical forum on Recent Forestry Policy
Issuances for Municipal Environment and
Natural Resources Officers (MENROs),
Municipal Planning and Development
C o o r d i n a t o r s ( M P D C s ) a n d
Association of Barangay Captains (ABC)
Chairpersons/Sangguniang Bayan (SB) on
Environment.
On June 30, PENRO Reyes said the
DENR will be holding a culminating activity for
Environment Month, where stakeholders,
organizations and individuals will be awarded as
“Environmental Heroes” for helping the office
sustain its forest protection programs and for
helping in the implementation of the National
Greening Program (NGP). The NGP is a
government priority program of President
Benigno S. Aquino III which calls for the
growing of at least 1.5 billion trees on 1.5
million hectares of land from 2011 to 2016.
Meanwhile, the DENR, in coordination
with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is
set to launch an advocacy campaign on Climate
Change anytime soon to create public
awareness on the impact of climate change to
everyone as well as to mitigate measures to
protect the people and the environment with
the thematic slogan “Nagbabago Na ang
Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago. (JCM/
VGV PIA6 Aklan)
By: Venus G. Villanueva
PHO: Capiz dengue cases decline
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 11(PIA6) – There is a decline in the number of dengue
cases in Capiz, record from the Capiz provincial Health Office shows.
F rom January to May this year, the
PHO recorded 456 dengue cases 442
of which came from Capiz and the
other 14 were patients from the neighboring
provinces but were confined in the hospitals
here in the province, PHO Information Officer
Joeffry Espiritu said.
He also said that one death from Barangay
Sibaguan, Roxas City was so far recorded here.
Compared with the record during the
same period last year, there is a 33-percent
decrease in the number of dengue cases this
year. Espiritu, however, stressed that the
public should not be complacent about this
decline in the number of cases, as
dengue-carrying mosquitoes attack the whole
year round already. “Dengue cases will
continue if we will not destroy the potential
breeding places of dengue-carrying
mosquitoes,” he said. He also said that because
of climate change, where there is no fixed time
period for summer and rainy season, dengue is
also be noticeable to occur all the time.
Espiritu likewise said that because of the
onset of the rainy season and with the opening
of classes, extra caution against such dreaded
disease should be made, particularly observing
the clean-up activities and employing the 4S
strategy. 4S stands for Search and destroy,
Self-protection measure, Seek early
consultation, and Say no to indiscriminate
fogging. On the other hand, Espiritu disclosed
that from January to May this year, three
deaths due to notifiable diseases were noted in
Capiz that include acute viral hepatitis, dengue,
and typhoid and paratyphoid fever. He said that
that they are also on the watch for acute
flaccid paralysis , chikungunya, measles and
rabies cases. (JSC/JBG-PIA6)
By: Jemin B. Guillermo
ILOILO CITY, June 13 (PIA6) -- Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said jobs fairs are important because they offer work
opportunities to jobseekers.
M abilog said this as he congratulated
the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE) for holding
the Kalayaan Job Fair as their way of
commemorating the 116th anniversary of
Philippine Independence in this city and the
rest of Western Visayas.
In his speech at the opening program of
the Iloilo job fair held at Mary Mart Mall here
on Independence Day yesterday, June 12, the
chief city executive said jobs fairs like
are important because they provide
opportunities to those who are unemployed to
be employed.
“It is only through this avenue that
applicants could save a lot of time, money and
effort because all they have to do is just go to
one place and do their applications,” said
Mabilog.
He added: “If people have jobs they could live peaceful and better lives because they have
their own means of living and they could
support themselves.”
DOLE-6 Regional Director Ponciano M.
Ligutom read out the message of Labor
Secretary Rosalinda D. Baldoz for this year‟s
Philippine Independence Day celebration and
nationwide Kalayaan 2014 Job Fairs.
In her message, which was in Pilipino,
Baldoz said that this year, we are celebrating
Independence Day in the face of positive
developments especially the sustained growth
of the economy on the back of the wave of
reforms anchored on the “Daang Matuwid”
and good governance.
Baldoz enjoined the Filipinos to not to
lose this opportunity to further strengthen and
bolster the progress that we have gained.
The Iloilo job fair was held simultaneously
with the other mega job fair organized by
DOLE-6 for the region in Bacolod City.
DOLE-6 Information Officer Amy Judicpa said of the 4,041 jobseekers who registered for
the twin job fairs in the cities of Iloilo and
Bacolod, 382 of them were hired on the spot
from a total of 2,616 who qualified.
Judicpa added that 156 of those who were
hired on the spot landed in overseas jobs while
226 were taken in for local jobs.
Joemarie Agriam, Region 6 governor of
the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI), which is the major
partner-organization of DOLE, said this is the
fifth time that they collaborating with DOLE in
holding job fairs during Labor Day on May 1,
Independence Day, and the Dole anniversary
on December 8.
During the Labor Day last month, PCCI
and DOLE together with other partner
agencies and organizations in the public and
private sectors held simultaneous job fairs in
the region at SM City Bacolod and Iloilo and
the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Grounds.
“We at PCCI are happy to be of service to you,” Agriam told the job applicants.
(JSC-PIA6)
Importance of job fairs cited
By: Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
Central Visayas, June 12 (PIA) --- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called for unity for Cebu and the country to be free from
corruption on the occasion of the 116th Philippine Independence Day celebration.
Rama calls for unity to promote democracy,
fight against corruption
R ama, in his speech at the Plaza Sugbo
during the Flag Raising ceremony, said
the country is now facing the critical
issue of corruption, citing the pork barrel and
PDAF scandals.
“We should be awakened from arrogance
and corruption,” adding that this is now the time
to make a move against corruption and other
wrong doings of some people in authority.
Rama also threw a challenge to the
Cebuanos and the Filipinos to be united to
promote perseverance and patience in the fight
against corruption.
He then said that “Kung dili kita, kinsa man,
kung dili karon kanus-a man, (if we cannot who
will, if not today when will it be)
“Enough is enough to justify apathy, we can‟t
go back to Japan-American war at this time. No
more justification for it,” he said.
The mayor also called the Cebuanos to
promote and practice democracy as he expressed
gratitude to the war veterans who suffered and
shed blood just for Filipinos to have freedom and
democracy. “I will always remember how you
shed blood to make the country independent,”
Rama told the veterans.
Filipino must live with patriotism,
nationalism and practice democracy because
there is no substitute for democracy, Rama
concluded. (mbcn/AYS/PIA7)
BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR
CEBU, June 11 (PIA) --- The Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) recently elected Ms. Lydith
Tan, Larena information officer, and other set of officers for the 2014-2015 calendar year during the first day of the 21st RA-
DIO7 Consultative Conference and 1st Regional Information Summit, June 9-11 held at hotel Elizabeth, Cebu City.
RADIO-7 installs new set of leaders
R ADIO-7 is an umbrella organization of all
the associations of information officers
of the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, NegOr
and Siquijor; their cities and municipalities as well
information officers of national government
agencies based in entire Central Visayas.
Newly elected RADIO-7 President is Lydith
Tan from the Siquijor Association of Information
Disseminators (SAID) replaces Florito “Carlo”
Dugaduga of the Cebu Association of Cities and
Mun i c i p a l i t i e s I n f orm at i on Of f i ce r s
(CAOCAMPIO).
Lydi th Tan in her acceptance
speech promised to make all effort to make the
organization stronger and unified. “Every
moment in our life is a gift, everything we do we
should offer to God and with God we can make
RADIO-7 stronger,‟‟ Tan said.
Outgoing RADIO-7 president Carlo
Dugaduga on the other hand said he has high
hopes and determination for RADIO-7 to be
blessed with success, harmony and unity.
Dugaduga also thank all the members of the
organization for the cooperation given to him
during his term as leader. He thanked the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Central
Visayas for the support extended to the
organization. Completing the new set of RADIO
-7 officers inducted by Talisay City Mayor Johnny
de los Reyes are Eli Manlangit from the
Association of Negros Oriental Public Information
Officers (ANOPIO) as vice president; Pinky
Llorente from SAID as secretary; Gherelene Mae
Rafols of ANOPIO as Treasurer; Abel Garciano
of CAOCAMPIO as Auditor; Merly Bantugan of
AUDIO-Bohol as Public Relation Officers.
Members of the Board of Directors are:
Carlo Dugaduga, Fiel Angeli Gabin, Jojielyn
Buendia, Bernarda Villarojo, Roger Paller,
Jonathan Buscato, Gretchen Ybarrita, Mark
Garcia, Irvin Roy Rios, Marie Nillama, Gay
Visitacion and Noel Rafols. (mbcn/AYS/PIA7)
BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 12 (PIA) – The celebration of Philippine independence sends a spark to Filipinos to strive for lasting
change.
116th PHL Independence inspires people to desire for lasting change
BY: ROI LOMOTAN
T his is a reminder to Dumagueteños in
commemoration of the nation‟s 116th
independence anniversary from Spain
today.
Foreign Service Officers Exam topnotcher
Stacy Danika Alcantara, in her speech during a
ceremony in Quezon Park todayas the keynote
speaker said lasting change can be attained if
Filipinos can go beyond their duties as citizens of
the country and take great risks in order to live
that dream.
She remarked that lasting change continues
to be elusive and a challenge to Filipinos because
of the mindset to take safe and practical decisions
even if it is settling for what is mediocre and
accept the idea that they cannot change their
destiny.
“It is indeed ironic, that although centuries
have passed since our freedom as a nation has
been bought by the blood of many heroes, we are
not still truly free for the reason that lasting
change seems elusive to us because we still
became prisoners of our own stubborn
mindsets,” Alcantara told the hundreds of people
who attended the ceremony.
An alumna of Silliman University, Alcantara
believes this struggle can be overcome if Filipinos
are able to change their perception on the
matter.
“With this freedom we are given is the
expectation that all of us will pay this gift forward
and this begins by changing the way all of us think
on the bounds and limits of what we can do. We
cannot change a nation if its citizens are not ready
to change their hearts,” She added.
According to Alcantara, “The world‟s
greatest powers engineered their empire from
scratch but it is with grip, determination and
confidence that they could create something big
even at the most adverse conditions and that is
why they are today‟s titans.”
With these, she shares her hope of achieving
lasting change to institutions that could harness
people‟s potential and contribute to the
development of the nation.
She encourage leaders of government,
academic and other work institutions to create an
environment that could flourish the minds of
thinkers, innovators, creators and innovators who
can help redefine the country‟s future.
She also said they should also welcome ideas
even if it came from a different opinion, part or
religion if it is for the common good.
Moreover, academic institutions should
re-create their classrooms and make them
laboratories that could produce leaders who can
inspire the public.
Alcantara also invited businessmen to train
social entrepreneurs from the grass roots level,
provide stable and secured employment
opportunities and help their employees develop
their skills they need to work.
“Consider this an investment to a greater
future because when you give people a chance to
make their lives better, they ultimately earn
enough money to become next consumers and
tomorrow‟s businessmen.” She said.
On the other hand, Alcantara advised
students who will soon become tomorrow‟s
workforce to continue to be idealistic because
most people will opt to go for safe practical
choices. With the country celebrating its 116th
Independence Day, Alcantara hopes that the
people will realize that the freedom the country‟s
national heroes have fought long time ago is the
freedom that will inspire individuals to continue
to fish for change even when it seems the hardest.
“This freedom that we enjoy today is earned
with the expectation that the next generation,
(our generation) will give this country our best
shot even if the circumstances are bound to give
us the worst,” she said. Meanwhile, Dumaguete
City government celebrates country‟s 116th
Independence Day with the local theme
“Pagsunod sa Yapak ng mga Dakilang Pilipino tingo
s a M a l a w a k a n a t P e r m a n e n t e n g
Pagbabago.” (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 9 (PIA)-- Dumaguete City has concluded its National Heritage Month celebration with the theme
“Summer Beats of the Past”.
Dumaguete City marks 'National Heritage' month
C ity Tourism Officer, Woodrow
Maquiling, Jr. said the observance
presented a lot of activities that
would relate to the things that
Dumagueteños did in the past.
Traditional games have been played
for the “Balik-DulangPinoy” like
the palosebo, sack race, takyan, bato-lata,
kayukok among others.
At least 10 young participants from
each barangay in Dumaguete City
participated in the games.
A concert by the kids from the Jay
Cyrus Creative Studio was held as “we
are giving a public venue for them to be
able to express and relive their talents as
Dumagueteños,” Maquiling said.
To give honor and recognition to all
mothers in Dumaguete, Mrs. Dumaguete
pageant or the Ginang Ng Santacruzan
presented mothers who have the guts to
be part of the pageant, showing their
talents and skills, and their beauty, said
Maquiling.
Other activities include Birik-Birik
fishing festival, a night of folk dances and
songs, annual Santacruzan grand parade
among others.
Maquiling said this is to revisit and
relieve the traditional way of fishing in the
past, and make the night more festive
while a heritage concert and grand
parade which has been participated
in by different schools here in
Dumaguete City, particularly St. Paul
University, Silliman University, Foundation
University.
Proclamation No. 439, signed on Aug.
11, 2003, declares the month of May as
National Heritage Month (NHM) “in
recognition of the need to create among
the people a consciousness, respect, and
pride for the legacies of Filipino cultural
history, and love of country.”
In 2009, the government formally
made heritage conservation a legal
mandate, by ratifying and implementing
Republic Act 10066 or the National
Heritage Act of 2009, empowering NCCA
and its afiliated agencies in their
policy-making and implementation of
conservation programs. (mbcn/JCT/
PIA7-Negros Oriental with reports from
Ina Isabelle A. Taburaza, intern)
BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas and De-
partment of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Butch Abad turned over the earthquake recovery and rehabilitation
fund for the province.
B ohol Gov. Edgar Chatto and Vice Gov.
Conching Lim lead Provincial Officials and
local DILG in welcoming Roxas and
Abad.
Roxas and Abad proceeded to Dao Central
Market as they inspected and talked with the
vendors. They had breakfast of Bohol‟s local
sikwate, puto maya and ripe mangoes at one of
the stalls with Gov. Chatto and Tagbilaran Mayor
John Geesnell Yap II.
They then proceeded to the Peoples‟
Mansion where Roxas joined Gov. Chatto, Vice
Gov. Lim, Provincial Administrator Ae Damalerio
and Mayor Yap at this morning's "Kita ug ang
Gobernador" where he turned over in the
presence of Provincial Officials close to P2.4
billion for the rehabilitation of local public
infrastructure damaged during the earthquake.
Roxas said the fund is a product of the
post-disaster needs assessment of Engineers,
compiled into program of works.
The fund is for the rehabilitation of local
public infrastructure in earthquake affected areas
based on the damage report submitted in the
Bohol Rehab Plan.
The 2 secretaries also graced the
inauguration of the P17M 4.45km Bingag-Tinago
-Biking Road in Dauis and the kickoff of the P275
million 14-road Bohol Emergency Repair and
Rehabilitation Project, all funded by the Australian
Government through the Provincial Road
Management Facility (PRMF).
Roxas and Abad together with Chatto, DILG
Reg. Dir. Ananias Villacorta, and Prov. Dir.
Louisella Lucino conducted a dialogue with the
Bohol Civil Society Organizations.
During the dialogue, Roxas announced that
the national government has allocated P636
million for anti-poverty projects under the
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process.
He urged LGUs to conduct assemblies for
CSOs to present proposals for inclusion and
funding as well as to monitor project
implementation.
Roxas also keynoted today's Liga ng mga
Barangay Provincial Congress at the Bohol
Cultural Center where he turned over P26
million under the Performance Challenge Fund for
26 LGUs that were awarded the Seal of Good
Housekeeping by the DILG.
The Congress is themed "The Role of
Punong Barangays in Climate Change Adaptation
and Disaster Risk Reduction Management".
(mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA
Roxas, Abad turn over quake fund to Bohol
TAGBILARAN CITY, June 06 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) calls for the
cooperation of the public on the efforts for climate adaptation in time for the observance of the Environment Month.
D ENR Information Officer Maria
Corazon Colarines and Community
Environment Natural and Resources
Office (CENRO)-Talibon Elpidio Palaca shared
insights on climate change and global warming
during yesterday‟s Kapihan sa PIA held at the PIA
Bohol Information Center at K of C Drive this
city.
Elpidio Palaca of CENRO-Talibon called on
the people to take global warming and climate
change seriously. He added that it is not just a
DENR issue but an issue that involves everybody
on earth.
Palaca said sea levels in Bohol will most
probably continue to rise and development must
adapt to climate change wherein small islands and
areas vulnerable to sea level rise must build higher
infrastructure.
In similar developments, DENR also
discussed the importance of trees and said trees
are 70% carbon and that cutting trees release
carbons by burning. Mangroves absorb carbon
over 10% more than trees. Tropical rain forests
are the earth‟s best shield against changing
climate. DENR has a reforestration project for
the CENRO-Talibon and around 25% of the trees
planted are fruit trees putting up food need
supply. CENRO-Talibon covers 9,000 hectares of
idle lands.
Per Presidential Proclamation No. 237
signed in 1988 by then President Corazon C.
Aquino, the Philippines celebrates the whole
month of June as Environment Month to focus
public attention to the protection and
conservation of the country‟s natural resources.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7)
and the DENR-7 is set to launch the Climate
Change Advocacy Campaign in Central Visayas on
June 10 during the 1st Regional Information
Summit and 21st Consultative Conference of the
Regional Association of Development Information
Officers (RADIO-7) in the region at Hotel
Elizabeth in Cebu City on June 9-11. This is in line
with the priority thrust of the Aquino
Administration to build resilient communities in
the face of disasters under the overarching
message, "Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na
Para Magbago." (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
DENR calls for change in people’s attitude on climate change
BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
USAID Rebuild Program launched in Tacloban
D uring the formal launching
o f U S A I D R e b u i l d , a
multi-component effort funded
by the US government which focuses on
restoring access to education, health
services, livelihood assistance and
technical aid to the Office of the
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation
and Recovery , USAID Act ing
Administrator for Asia Denise Rollins
assured the people of Leyte that they will
continue working with their partners to
help the Province build back better.
As part of the education component
of USAID Rebuild Program, the US
government has allotted P21 million worth
of a school buildings with 8 classrooms to
be constructed in said school.
About 165 classrooms and 10 health
centers are to be built by USAID in the
next few years to address the educational
and medical needs of the affected
communities.
Rollins also led in the groundbreaking
of the Tacloban City Health Center at
Kanhuraw Hill and the inauguration of two
sari-sari stores in Brgy. 62-B Sagkahan
Tacloban City.
Said stores are just among the 1, 000
sari-sari stores to be rehabilitated by
USAID in partnership with Coca-Cola and
Procter & Gamble, to help restore
livelihood in the affected communities.
Rollins was accompanied by USAID/
Philippines Mission Director Gloria
Steele during the launching
activities. Other officials both from
the national and local level led by
OPARR Secretary Panfilo Lacson, Leyte
First District Representative Ferdinand
Martin Romualdez, Leyte Governor
Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and Deped
Region 8 Director Dr. Luisa Bautista- Yu
also witnessed the said event. (GTT/CBA/
PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 10 (PIA) – The United States government has reaffirmed its commitment to the people of
Leyte in order to help them recover from the devastation of typhoon Yolanda and get back into normal lives.
Start of classes in Yolanda stricken areas peaceful, orderly
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 5 (PIA) – The opening of classes in Yolanda-stricken areas in Eastern Visayas was generally
peaceful and orderly despite some inconveniences in schools.
I n an interview with Department of
Education Region 8 Director Luisa
Bautista-Yu, she said that she was
very happy to see children eager to go to
school even if there are problems that
were encountered such as lack of
classrooms, shortage of chairs, textbooks
and other instructional materials.
“The good news is that students have
attended classes on the opening day, they
have been excited to be in school, they
are motivated to learn.
In fact, I have seen for myself the
excitement of the children going to school
despite of limited resources.
I really value the motivation and the
excitement of our pupils to be in school,”
Yu said.
As to some schools which are still
used as evacuation centers like San
Fernando Elementary School in Tacloban
City, the principal or the teacher assigned
has designated the original classrooms as
the temporary shelter of the evacuees
while waiting to be relocated.
Meanwhile, the newly-constructed
classrooms are being used by the pupils
but the teacher has a shifting schedule to
avoid overcrowding in one class.
PIA learned that 5,037 classrooms
comprising 53% of the 9, 420 classrooms
destroyed by Yolanda were already
repaired while 35% of the 2,172
classrooms that totally collapsed have
been constructed.
The remaining 1,408 classrooms is be
constructed by the Department of
Education through its 2014 Basic
Education Fund. (PIA-8)
Korean soldiers given recognition for aid in Yolanda areas
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 10 (PIA) –- The Philippine government through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) has recognized the commitment of the Korean government for their invaluable support and
assistance to the rehabilitation program in Yolanda affected areas in Leyte.
M ore than 200 members of the
Republic of Korea Armed Forces
Joint Support Group (ARAW
troop) led by Col. Lee Chulwon were given
recognition last Tuesday during the Bakas
Parangal Awarding Ceremony held
at ROKAF headquarters, Government
Center, Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin,
who is also the Chairperson of the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Council (NDRRMC) presented the
Kadakilaan, Kabayanihan and Kagitingan
Awards to the Korean contingents for their
outstanding achievements, contributions in
the rehabilitation and restoration of the
communities devastated by super typhoon
Yolanda.
“We thank them for their noble service,
exemplary heroism, extraordinary acts of
bravery and kindness which are being
appreciated by our grateful countrymen who
are victims of super typhoon Yolanda,
“Gazmin said.
Bakas Parangal is a recognition of merit
and token of thanksgiving bestowed by the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) to
individuals or groups who exerted
exemplary and extraordinary acts of
selflessness in reaching out to those who are
in urgent need of assistance in times of
calamities and disasters.
It is also a reminder to the honorees
and to others that their efforts were not
done in vain, that the Filipino people
recognize what they have done and their
acts of altruism is an inspiration to the
people proving that heroes still exist
nowadays.
The awarding ceremony was witnessed
by Korean Ambassador to the Philippines
Hyuk Lee, Leyte Governor Leopoldo
Dominico L. Petilla, Officials of the
Department of National Defense led by
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin , Leyte Mayors,
PIA Deputy Director General Virgilio DC.
Galvez, 8th ID Commanding General Jet
Belarmino of the Philippine Army, Regional
Directors of some national government
agencies and the local media. (GTT/PIA-8)
By: Consuelo B. Alarcon
By: Consuelo B. Alarcon
By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
Pre-Cabinet meeting to study Yolanda master plan
SAN MIGUEL, Leyte, June 10 - - A pre-cabinet meeting was set on June 13, wherein provincial rehabilitation plans of Yolanda
affected areas are to be discussed, before these will be presented to President Benigno Aquino.
T his was revealed by the
Pres identia l Ass istant for
Rehabilitation and Recovery
PARR Secratary Panfilo Lacson who was in
Leyte recently.
All cabinet secretaries were expected
at the meeting.
According to Lacson, he is glad that
through Governor Dominic Petilla,
Leyte was one of the first to formulate
the master rehabilitation plan.
Once approved, infusion of massive
resources in the whole province of
Leyte is expected.
“When I say rehabilitation it means
full swing, where all line agencies will
implement the projects that were
submitted by the local officials, a
collaboration of ideas from officials down
to constituents to form a comprehensive
master plan” said Lacson.
Lacson also revealed that as of press
time, about 4 provinces were already able
to submit their master plans and one of
which is Leyte, others are Cebu, Western
Samar and Tacloban.
Other provinces also expected to
submit include Eastern Samar, Ilo-Ilo,
Negros Occidental, Biliran, Antique,
Aklan and Palawan.
Gov. Petilla for his part is certain that
by the time the fund will be downloaded
to the municipalities, the enthusiasm
shown by Lacson will be reciprocated with
the willingness and unity of Leytenos to
work hard.
In Leyte‟s master plan, 4 sectors are
given focus namely: resettlement,
education, livelihood and social services.
Recently, the government was
able to download funds for the
rehabilitation of infrastructure projects
such as the city hall, the municipal building,
public markets, multipurpose hall, roads
and bridges.
A total of 1.2 billion pesos were
downloaded to the government units in
Yolanda affected areas. (GTT/LAA/PIA8)
DOLE local jobs fair hires applicants on-the-spot
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 9 (PIA) –Some 24 job applicants were hired on the spot during the local jobs fair held
recently at the municipality of Saint Bernard, this province initiated by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
D O L E A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
Aide Evangeline Bencion
informed that the hired
applicants represent nearly half or 33% of
the 73 registered applicants coming from
nearby municipalities of San Juan,
Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan and
Silago from the Pacific Area and Liloan in
Panaon Island.
She said that the LGU-Saint Bernard,
through its Local Chief Executive Mayor
Napoleon L. Cuaton hosted the Jobs Fair.
DOLE Provincial Head Fe Norma
Valuis and the Philippine Overseas
Employment Agency (POEA) Regional
Coordinator Rosario P. Jervoso attended
the undertaking, with Vice Mayor Joy Lim
Bungcaras and some Sangguiang Bayan
members.
“The jobs fair is aimed at helping local
businesses find qualified job seekers in the
community and thereby create
opportunities for applicants to work close
to home in their local areas,” Bencion
quoted Valuis. Furthermore, the jobs fair
also supports the Philippine economy and
reduces the need for residents to
commute long distances and work
outside their community, DOLE said.
(GTT/RGC/PIA8-SoLeyte)
PIA 8 info officers to spread CCA to community levels
BURAY, PARANAS, SAMAR, June 7 (PIA) -- Information officers of the Philippine Information Agency in Region 8 virtually
locked themselves at an emerging posh resort here June 5 and 6 to brainstorm ways of disseminating climate change
adaptation (CCA) inputs in layman’s tongue to identified high-risk barangays all over the region,
T he activity, expected to be on the
go for the succeeding months until
December this year in close
coordination with the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), will be launched sooner in a month
or two.
Info Managers from Biliran and
Southern Leyte presented their initial
strategies even as they still have to exert
more efforts in working with DENR at their
levels, while the infocenters of Samar,
Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar, as well
as the Regional office, will still have to
discuss details with their respective DENR
counterparts.
Deputy Director General (DDG)
Virgilio Galvez, who serves as the Interim
Head of PIA 8 since last month vice Olive
Tiu, emphasized that the action plans must
target specific, vulnerable communities in a
language they can easily understand, so
people in these communities can best
prepare for natural disasters to prevent loss
of lives. Tiu is now assigned at the
Presidential Communications Operations
office (PCOO) in Manila.
Most places in the region, which bore
the brunt of the world‟s strongest typhoon
in recorded history exactly seven months
ago, can relate with the ill effects of climate
change as they had lived and survived it in
real time, Galvez remarked.
In such a mindset, the task of sharing
adaptation and mitigation measures through
the PIA-DENR advocacy campaign must be
results-oriented in terms of heightened
alertness and awareness of the people, he
added. The six-month campaign will also
involve other stakeholders, like the local
government units in cities, municipalities,
and barangays, and the private groups and
organizations, for storms know no sectoral
boundaries once they hit, Galvez also
emphasized.
Earlier, Aurora Casimpan, the PIA focal
person for the PIA-DENR project, showed a
powerpoint prepared by the DENR Regional
Office that should have been presented by
their information Officer, Purificacion
Daloos, who was unable to come for conflict
of schedule.
Meanwhile, the PIA Regional Office that
was washed out by Yolanda, will soon be
housed in a vacant space beside the
Robinson‟s Hotel as soon as possible, Galvez
informed. PIA is temporarily holding a
makeshift office behind the grandstand at the
Leyte Normal University (LNU). (GTT/
MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
By: Marcelo M. Pedalino
By: Raul S. Tiozon, Jr.
By: Rebecca S. Cadavos
One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its
main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.
One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and
suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378718/3377301 or e-mail [email protected].
Editorial Consultants
Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8
Managing Editor
Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Contributors
All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8
Production and Layout
Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado
Regional Offices:
PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected]
PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
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]
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