One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 29
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Vol 4 Issue 29 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 21 - 27, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue NNC-7 urges veggie gardening for urban households
World Bank pledges $62M fund package for Yolanda rehab
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
WV unemployment rate dips BY: LILIBETH A. FRENCH
ILOILO CITY, July 25 (PIA6) - - Unemployment rate in
Western Visayas fell by almost one percentage point this April,
according to the Department of Labor and Employment 6 (DOLE
6).
Ponciano Ligutom, Regional Director of DOLE 6, said that
unemployment rate in the region went down to 7.1 percent in April
this year from 8 percent in April of last year.
Ligutom said the data showed that there are 238,000 people
unemployed as of April 2014 as compared to 256,000 in April 2013.
He attributed the positive movement in the unemployment
rate of the region to the ongoing construction projects noticeably
in Iloilo City. Likewise he cited the presence of the Business
Processing Outsourcing and the famous Boracay Island in the region
that continue to generate employment.
“We have also big private and government projects ongoing.
The government has poured a lot of money in the region, for DOLE
6 alone, we have an available budget of P400 million this year,” said
Ligutom.
Of the P400 million, Ligutom said some P78 million have
already been released to fund various livelihood assistance projects
under its regular programs including those approved proposals
under the Yolanda Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program
(YRRP) amounting to more than P49-million during the first half of
the year.
DOLE‟s regular programs under the DOLE Integrated
Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) include
Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB), previously called Bottom
up Budgeting (BuB) and Tulong Pangkabuhayan Sa Ating Displaced/
Disadvantaged workers (TUPAD).
For the first half of this year, the number of funded projects
under the DOLE‟s regular programs almost doubled as compared
to the same period in 2013. Ligutom said that as of June this year,
DOLE 6 has approved and funded 65 proposals with total cost of
P28,863,332.36 as compared to only 37 projects amounting to
P17,550,896.00 last year.
A total of 5,251 workers in the informal economy, the
unemployed and displaced workers, parents of child laborers, sugar
workers, rebel returnees and vulnerable sector workers will benefit
from the 65 approved proposals.
Ligutom again encouraged local government units to submit
viable project proposals so that the remaining funds will be utilized
before the year ends and to further boost employment generation
in their respective areas. (JCM/LAF-PIA6)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA) -- Urban households are urged to
plant their own vegetables in the backyard to complement food
security for the family especially during emergency situations at the
same time contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change.
Susan Orpilla, nutrition officer III of the National Nutrition
Council (NNC-7), bared that household food security is the
ultimate objective under the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition
in order to improve nutritional status among Filipinos.
Orpilla said families with own access to vegetables can deal
better in times of disasters as the National Nutrition Month
celebration this July carries the theme “Kalamidad Paghandaan:
Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan!”
Orpilla however, said the two major disasters that struck
Central Visayas late last year namely the 7.2 magnitude earthquake
and the super typhoon Yolanda might impact on the slight nutrition
improvement among pre-school children in Region 7.
“Malnutrition prevalence rate among pre-school children in
Central Visayas registered a decline from 5.92 percent in 2011 to
5.54 percent in 2013” said Orpilla during therecent forum of the
Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that
tackled the topic “Urban Greening for Better Nutrition, Nutrition
in Emergency and Better Environment.”
Strong awareness and support to nutrition programs by local
government units contributed to the slight improvement on the
nutritional status among pre-school children in Central Visayas, said
Orpilla.
But the nutrition officer said there is a need to aggressively
campaign to eat more vegetables and fruits as a recent survey
conducted by the Food Nutrition Research Institute showed there
is a consumption decline of vegetables and fruits in the Filipino diet.
Anie Saavedra, urban agriculture coordinator of the Cebu
City Agriculture Department (CCAD) said families without any
adequate land to cultivate their own vegetable garden can make use
of any container, sacks or even water bottles where they could
plant certain veggies like green onions and tomatoes.
Urban households in the city who wants to have their own
veggie garden can seek help from the CCAD on how to start, said
Saavedra.
Ronnie Jamola, focal person on reconstruction assistance for
Yolanda of the Department of Agriculture-7 meanwhile, said
planting veggies can also help mitigate impact of climate change as
plants through their leaves absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas
that enhances global warming ultimately leading to climate change.
“Let‟s do our share in reducing carbon dioxide emissions” so
we can have a safer and healthier environment, said Jamola. (fcr/PIA
-7)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 21 (PIA) – The World Bank
(WB) has pledged a funding package of $62 million for varied
projects that would help in the rehabilitation and recovery of
typhoon Yolanda affected areas in Leyte.
The pledge was conveyed by World Bank President Dr. Jim
Yong Kim who together with Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for
Foreign Trade and Development Corporation of the Netherlands
and DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman was here recently for an
official visit..
He said that the $62 million funding Is expected to help
typhoon survivors in terms of jobs and such projects as road and
bridges.
Kim believed that the Philippines can be the next miracle in
Asia. He promised to do everything he can to work with the
government and the private sector to help make this happen and
expressed the belief that this can happen with the cooperation of
the Filipino people.
The three officials visited the “Bahay-Kubo-Kimchi
Demonstration Farm”. The 5-hectare plot of land is joint a project
of Korean Churches Consortium for Disaster Relief in the
Philippines, the Philipine Bahay Kubo Movement and the local
government unit of Palo. Kim and Ploumen conversed with locals
who shared with them their stories during Yolanda while Sec.
Soliman acted as the interpreter for the beneficiaries of the
project.
The party also visited the shelter program in barangay Pago
in Tanauan. The shelter resettlement project aims to provide safe
and sound shelters to typhoon victims, mostly from coastal
barangays who lost their houses in the no build zone.
When Kim conversed with the people from Pago they said
that they are more secure and safe to be living in the shelter,
however they are also worried because they do not have a source
of income. DSWD Sec. Soliman told the group that she will have a
meeting with mayor Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan to focus on the
livelihood projects for those living in the shelter.
The visit concluded at the school project site in Brgy Bislig in
Tanauan. The project that involves construction of classrooms is
part of the government recovery and rehabilitation of public
infrastructures in partnership with Asian Development Bank
through DSWD and Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
Kim after his visit to the three sites said that he learned of
the many non-government organizationS and civil society
organizations who are working for the rehabilitation and the deep
commitment of the government of the Philippines in the recovery
of the typhoon affected areas and the provision of help of many
private sector companies. (AJC/Lizbeth Ann Abella/PIA-8)
NGCP Visayas Systems Operations Head Raul
Galano tells Cebu information officers that
Clear Information is very important because
unclear info creates speculation during the
CAOCAMPIO Power Briefing with NGCP
held in Cebu City, July 25. (PIA Cebu)
A visit of PIA7 regional office staff and the AGIO7 members to the
Mandaue City Vegetable Farm as part of an educational tour on
urban greening focused on vegetable gardening for household food
security and mitigating climate change impact. (PIA7)
Chairman Francisco Duque calls on all civil
servants in region 6 to ensure and give
excellent service all the time to all
stakeholders during the blessing and
inauguration of its newly constructed annex
building called „Gusali ng Mga Lingkod Bayani‟
at the CSC 6 Compound in Iloilo City, July 24.
(LAF/PIA6)
Conveners from the different sectors signed
the Memorandum of Agreement for Adopt a
Mangrove and Beach Forest during the
launching of Climate Change Mitigation and
Adaptation Advocacy campaign held at DENR
CENRO Palo, Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte, July
18. (Vino R. Cuayzon)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
ILOILO CITY, July 24 (PIA6) - - Civil Service Commission Chairman Francisco Duque led on Thursday the inauguration of the
‘Gusali ng mga Lingkod Bayani’ at the newly constructed annex building of the CSC regional office here.
CSC opens ‘Gusali ng mga Lingkod Bayani’
D uque said the new structure which
was built in 2013 at the cost of P9.9
million is part of the journey of
transformation being undertaken by the
commission in pursuit of excellence
especially in the area of learning and
development which is one of its most
important Human Resource and Organization
Development initiatives.
Gratified by the physical transformation,
Duque did not forget to remind CSC 6
employees that “it is never enough you are
housed inside a very beautiful building because
what is more important is what is being offered
inside this very beautiful building.
And of course, you have to make sure
that all the learning opportunities, all the
HROD knowledge that can emanate from the
CSC benefit all our civil servants,” said Duque.
Located on the groundfloor of the three
storey building is the Learning and
Development Center which will serve as
training hall and venue of other Human
Resource activities of the agency.
On the second floor, are housed the
Office of the Assistant Regional Director,
Management Services Division and Human
Resource Division while on the third floor are
the Policies and System Evaluation Division and
Anti-Red Tape (ARTA) unit.
As stated in the marker, CSC 6 Director
Rodolfo Encajonado said the building was
named “Gusali ng mga Lingkod Bayani” in
dedication to men and women who have
shown unconditional commitment to
government service and have driven the CSC
towards its vision of being Asia‟s Center of
Excellence for Strategic Human Resource and
Organization Development.
Lingkod Bayani refers not only to
awardees of the agency‟s Honor Awards
Program and Program on Awards and
Incentives for Service Excellence but also to
those state workers (Lingkod Bayan) who have
performed their jobs well, providing
efficient and effective service to their clients
and stakeholders, said Encajonado. (JCM/LAF/
PIA6)
BY: LILIBETH A. FRENCH
NEGROS OCC. July 25 (PIA6) -- Flooding in the city would worsen if residents do not practice garbage segregation.
B acolod City Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office-OIC Rufino
Alcala said water ways in the city
have become constricted causing flood in
some streets even due to a moderate rain.
Given the situation, further flooding
could result if people continue to throw
garbage wherever they please.
Alcala appealed to the public not to
consider creeks and canals as dumpsites
because the resulting consequence will go
back to the city in the form of a big calamity
that will disrupt normal life and eventually
hurt the economy.
Recent canal and „estero‟ cleaning
activity showed plastics are among the items
that clog canals preventing continuous flow
of water.
Canals have become shallow having
small absorption capacity that cause
overflow during heavy rains, he pointed out.
He also appealed to barangay leaders
not to allow illegal structures as it also
impede water flow.
Alcala clarified he has no intension of
scaring the public on the resulting flooding
from indiscriminate throwing of garbage but
it is an objective assessment based on actual
observation of the city‟s drainage system.
Efforts are now pushed to unclog and
clear canals in the 61 barangays of Bacolod
as other solutions are studied. Education on
the Solid Waste Management is high on the
list.
“If we start to practice correct garbage
management, others will just follow. It is
time to change,” he said. Alcala was recently
guest at the PIA radio program over Radyo
Kumando 103.1 FM (JCM/Lljr.-PIA6)
Segregate garbage or face flooding-DRRMO
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) - - The local officials of the province assured their support to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
during their provincial gathering recently held in San Jose in observance of the National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week.
G overnor Exequiel B. Javier and his son
Congressman Paolo Javier of the Lone
D i s t r i c t o f An t i q u e l i k e w i s e
committed their support to PWDs.
“We are trying our best to capacitate you
so that you can live a normal life, so don‟t lose
hope,” Governor Javier said.
This year the Provincial Government
has appropriated P2 million for the
operations of Provincial Disability Affairs Office
(PDAO).
Under the leadership of Amy Dava as
PDA Officer, this office takes care of the needs
and concerns of PWDs, he said.
Antique is the first province in the
country to create a PDAO Office as mandated
under Republic Act 10070 otherwise known as
an Act Establishing an Institutional Mechanism
to Ensure the Implementation of Programs and
Services of PWDs in every province, city or
municipality.
Governor Javier also said they have
provided funds for the PWD's livelihood
activities and scholarship programs.
"Take the case of the San Jose Association
of PWDs", he said, "the Provincial Government
has constructed a building intended for the
fabrication of prosthesis.
This project is in partnership with
Philippine General Hospital (PGH), however,
we need a technician to be based in the
province to be trained by PGH, so
that artificial arms and legs will be fabricated
here".
In terms of sustainability the elder Javier
assured that next year more funds will be given
to this sector.
Congressman Javier on his part
emphasized that PWDs should be given access
to education, livelihood opportunities,
health, employment and other services of
government.
Congressman Javier likewise said, he will
find ways so that government could allocate
more funds for your livelihood, employment,
education and other concerns.
This year‟s celebration of NDPR
week carries the theme “ Talino at
Panindigan nga Taong may Kapansanan:
Pasaporte sa Kaunlaran”. (JCM/PSM/
PIA6-Antique)
Antique assures support to PWDs
BY: PILAR S. MABAQUIAO
BY: LORENZO O. LAMBATIN JR.
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Iloilo gets P133.6M for farm-to-market roads
ILOILO CITY, July 22 (PIA6) --- The Iloilo province received the most number of completed farm-to-market road (FMR)
projects in Western Visayas with a total budget allocation of P133.6 million, according to the Department Agriculture (DA)-6.
I n a media release, the DA-6 reported
that the P133.6 million was utilized in
the implementation of 38 FMR projects
in the province.
The DA said another P38 million was used
to fund eight other projects in Iloilo City.
The project in the municipality of Igbaras
received the biggest allocation involving the
concreting/improvement of Barangays
Barasan-Igtalongon-Pinaopawan-Bagcay-Passi
FMR that has a length of 1.8 kilometers.
The FMR project was implemented by the
local government unit of Igbaras.
According to DA-6, a total of P352.6
million worth of FMR projects have been
completed as of June 30, 2014.
The projects were implemented in Region
6 from 2012-2013.
The province of Negros Occidental
received P46 million for its 14 FMR projects;
Capiz got P52 million for 24 implemented FMR
projects; Aklan with P46 million for 15 FMR
projects; Guimaras with P 23.5 million for 13
FMR projects; and Antique which received
P3.5 million for 2 FMR projects.
The highly urbanized city of Bacolod in
Negros Occidental also received P10 million
for the concreting of Barangay Cabug FMR that
has a length of 1.29 kilometers.
Farm-to-market roads are priority
projects of the DA Regional Office 6 under
Regional Director Larry Nacionales to
provide access to farmers in bringing their
products to the markets and thereby address
poverty in landlocked areas of Western
Visayas.
Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known
as the "Agricultural and Fishery Modernization
Act of 1997 AFMA" mandated the construction
and upgrading of FMRs.
This is one of the priority infrastructure
interventions with significant impact in
increasing agricultural productivity and
reducing losses by Filipino farmers. (JSC/LTP
-PIA6 Iloilo)
BY: LEONARD T. PINEDA I
Aklan PWDs told to register
KALIBO, Aklan, July 24 (PIA6) -- Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Aklan who have not yet registered in their respective
municipalities should do so now in order to avail of benefits and privileges.
T his reminder was issued by the
Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office (PSWDO) as
the nation observes this month of July the
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week, through the
sector‟s focal person, social worker Libny
Inocencio.
Inocencio said the importance of the
PWDs‟ registration was emphasized more
during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda
when the PSWDO required a list of PWDs per
municipality for the distribution of aid to this
sector.
The call was answered by long lists of
PWDs per municipalities submitted to the
office, with new names never seen before in
records of the PSWDO. In order to be
counted and be able to enjoy privileges and
benefits, PWDs should have themselves
registered at their Municipal Social Welfare and
Development Offices (MSWDOs) to be issued
IDs.
Before they register however, they
should consult first with their Municipal Health
Officers (MHOs) to assess their physical
condition if they are indeed suffering from
disabilities. Once armed with IDs, PWDs can
enjoy 20% discounts in transportation fares,
medicines and groceries.
In Aklan, PWDs also enjoy 20% discount
in their hospital bills at the Dr. Rafael S.
Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH)
when they get confined.
An Aklanon PWD, once he or she dies,
will also be provided P2,000.00 burial benefit
by the provincial government.
Inocencio said the province has
currently more or less 4,000 PWDs, but this
number is expected to swell once if others
who are not counted register themselves in
their areas.
Meanwhile to accommodate the
concerns of Aklan PWDs and to have
somewhere specific to go if they have
concerns in Kalibo, the provincial government
of Aklan, headed by Governor Florencio T.
Miraflores, early this year inaugurated
the Provincial PWDs Affairs Office
structure right in front of the Provincial
Capitol Building. The structure, Inocencio said,
has an accessible conference room, an office,
a comfort room and a receiving area for the
province‟ PWDs. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)
Capiceños gear for disaster preparedness
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 24 (PIA6) – Capiceños are becoming more alert, prepared and cautious to mitigate the impact of
disaster.
C apiz Philippine Institute of Volcanology
and Seismology (PhiVolcs) head Ramil
Atando said that the people here have
become more proactive against disaster such
as fire, flood and earthquake.
Atando said that the request for disaster
orientation and conduct of drills by barangays,
schools, offices both public and private,
including hospitals, is an evidence that the
public is vigilant about the realities brought
about by calamities both natural and
man-made.
He said that while government frontline
offices in disaster preparedness such as
PhiVolcs, Bureau of Fire Protection, PAGASA,
among others, were the ones that used to
coordinate and offer their advocacy expertise
to the stakeholders, the scenario has
already reversed as more requests are being
received by said agencies through the
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office of Capiz and the Capiz
Association of Government Public Information
Officers.
Atando and the rest of the members of
the PDRRMO-organized speakers‟s bureau are
members of the Philippine Information
Agency-led CAGPIO.
The PDRRMO, PIA and CAGPIO are
teaming up for the climate change advocacy
and disaster preparedness orientation and drill
being conducted in schools, barangays and
municipalities as well as government and
private entities in the province.
On the other hand, PDRRMO head
Esperedion Pelaez, who is also the CAGPIO
president, said that disaster preparedness
should take a big percentage in reducing the
risks brought about by disasters such as flood,
fire, earthquake, landslide, which could be
summed up because of the experienced climate
change.
He said that the supertyphoon Yolanda
experience has really contributed much to the
appreciation of Capiceños of the importance of
disaster preparedness through continuous
information and education campaign. (JSC/JBG
-PIA6)
BY: JEMIN B. GUILLERMO
BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 23 (PIA) -- The Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Negros Oriental Chapter convened
at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex yesterday for the provincial convention of PWDs in observance of the
36th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week from July 17-23, 2014.
Prov’l convention of PWDs caps NDPR week
celebration
T he activity is a culmination of the
weeklong celebration where PWDs from
the different cities and municipalities in
the province gathered and presented their talents
in a singing competition and intermission
numbers.
Singing competition winners were Roland
Ferolino from Sta. Catalina who won 1st place,
while second placer was Edward Velardo from
San Jose and third placer Dory Yunting from
Dauin.
Board of Judges were Ramon Benedicto of
t he Prov i n c i a l Pub l i c Emp loymen t
Services Office (PESO) as chairman and
members Alberta Abrio of the Provincial
Social Welfare and Development Office
(PSWDO) and Adoree Trasmonte of the
Provincial Treasurer‟s Office.
To cap the whole day activity, PWDs Bobby
Bacud and Chary Songcayaon sang a duet after
which awarding of prizes were given to winners
of the singing competition.
Ryan Joseph Fontelo, Negros Oriental PWD
Federation president, gave the closing remarks
thanking all his fellow PWDs for their
cooperation and participation in the one-day
convention.
Fontelo also encouraged other PWDs
who have not yet registered to come out
and be part of the organization and
re-integrate themselves back in the mainstream of
society.
He also thanked the sponsors of the event
and other stakeholders for the opportunity and
recognition given to PWDs. (lpp/PIA-7/Negros
Oriental)
BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
TAGBILARAN CITY (PIA) -- A meaningful commemorative program marked the province’s celebration, July 22 of the 160th
anniversary of Bohol’s founding as a province attended by provincial officials and representatives from the various sectors of
the community at the Bohol Cultural Center wherein Boholano heroes who fought for the freedom not only of the province,
but also of the country were honoured.
F ramed paintings of Sikatuna, Tamblot,
Salazar, Dagohoy and Garcia were
ceremonially installed in their places of
honor near the stage.
Bohol‟s 1st Congressional District
Representative Rene Relampagos delivered
a message highlighting the achievements of the
Boholano heroes.
President and CEO of PLDT Napoleon
Nazareno with provincial and city officials as well
as PLDT and SMART executives formally
launched Bohol‟s Fiber Optic Network connecting
the province to PLDT‟s domestic fiber optic
network.
Nazareno, a Boholano by blood, launched
the P700-million fiber optic network in Bohol, a
300 km fiber optic system running from Cebu to
Misamis Oriental.
This connects Bohol to the PLDT
nationwide digital fiber optic network
that will provide more reliable and
resilient high speed internet through fiber
as a backbone of high speed internet, which
literally allows information to travel at a speed of
light.
Through this project, Bohol makes a bigger
leap in opening its doors to the information and
communications technology industry, bringing
more progress and development.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto in his message
highlighted the Boholano‟s resilience amid
calamities, emphasizing how the Boholanos
positively worked together to recover from
the October 15, 2013 magnitude 7.2 earthquake
that rocked Bohol and damaged major
infrastructure.
The governor said the takeoff of projects
such as the New Bohol Airport, New Provincial
Capitol, New Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial
Hospital, the Albur Sanitary landfill, and the Bang-
ko Sentral ng Pilipinas proved the resiliency of the
Boholonos.
Chat to a l so repor t ed NEDA‟ s
announcement of Bohol as best performing
province in poverty reduction.
The 2012 NSCB revealed 30.6% poverty
incidence, 6% lower since 2009, thus removing
Bohol from the list of poorest provinces.
Part of the event is the giving of
the Governor‟s Award to the oldest living public
official Pedro Samuya.
Similarly, the “Father of Bohol‟s Tourism
Development” was awarded to Atty. Anos
Fonacier, while the award for Business/Enterprise
was given to Richard Uy, Chairman of the First
Consolidated Bank (FCB).
Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II
was also present and introduced the guest
speaker, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the People‟s Republic of China
to the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency
Zhao Jianhua.
The ambassador mentioned during his
speech that the Chocolate Hills and the Loboc
River and of course the province itself, is popular
among Chines people.
He also extended his condolence to those
who lost friends and relatives during the
earthquake last year and congratulated the
Boholanos for their resilience after the disaster
and the progress so far.
The ambassador is optimistic that more
Chinese tourists will visit Bohol in the near
future. He also expects that more projects in
agriculture will be implemented by China and
Bohol.
His Excellency Zhao Jianhua also mentioned
that the Chinese government will continue to
support the sisterhood relationship between
Bohol and a province in China. (mbcn/ecb/PIA7
-Bohol)
Meaningful commemorative program marks Bohol’s 160th Foundation Day
Central Visayas, July 23 (PIA) ---- The Department of Health (DOH-7) pledged to be on top of any measure to mitigate health
crisis in times of disaster.
DOH-7 commits to contribute efforts to disaster preparedness, mitigation
BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR
D uring the Association of Government
Information Officers (AGIO-7) forum,
head of the health emergency
management, Dr. Expedito Medalla said that the
agency exert efforts on giving trainings, basic
first aid, basic life support and other basic
medical attention needed to mitigate health risk
during disasters to health workers, barangay
tanods, local barangay officials, local chief
executives.
Medalla added that DOH has just done
conducting trainings in the municipality of
Tuburan, Cebu and Ubay, Bohol.
“All LGUs must learn on the preparations in
terms of health during disasters,” he said.
Medalla added that part of the training is the
giving of information on what to do during
disaster and measures to intensi fy
preparations not to experience health crisis
during disaster.
He also stressed that aside from preparing
the public and the LGUs on what to do to
prevent worst health situation during disaster, the
DOH-7 also prepares measures to prevent
disease outbreak in times of disaster.
Medalla said that in case of big disasters
DOH will focus on health, water and sanitation,
psychosocial and nutrition.
“DOH 7 is prepared for the implementation
of preventing disease outbreak during disaster.
It is equipped with free medicines
to be distrobuted to the affected areas," Medalla
said.
He also advised health centers to
prepositioned medicines in any case disaster hit
their areas. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)
BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
CEBU CITY, July 19 (PIA) – The Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP), the national organization of tourism enterprises
created by virtue of the Tourism Act of 2009, embarked on a series of consultative workshops on the ASEAN integration, July
19-20 at the Marco Polo hotel in Lahug, Cebu City.
T his is the first of a series of
nationwide consultative meetings
dubbed as “Tourism Integration
Briefing and Consultative Meeting.”
TCP President Rosanna Tuason-Fores said
the ASEAN Tourism Integration „Briefing and
Consultative Meeting‟ aims to contribute to
the preparation of the Philippine Tourism
Roadmap for AEC 2015 and Beyond, in
support to the ASEAN initiative.
The key objectives of the consultative
meetings are to increase the awareness
level of the implications of the economic
integration to tourism enterprises particularly
the small and medium enterprises; to
identify market access opportunities for
business in the Philippines and other ASEAN
economies.
Fores added that the series of consultative
meetings seek to come up with important inputs to the roadmap of the Philippine
Tourism in AEC 2015 and Beyond that is being
jointly prepared by the Department of Tourism
(DOT) and the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI).
The USAID Advancing Philippine
Competitiveness or COMPETE Project
supports the activity.
Fores said, the ASEAN integration will
have more impact to smaller and
medium enterprises not only in terms of
competitiveness but also in terms of
manpower.
“With the opening up of the market, will
we be able to compete with our more
advantaged neighbors?” she asked.
According to Fores, this is just some of
the issues that will be looked into in these
series of consultative meetings.
There is a need to mitigate any adverse
effects brought about by the integration,”
Tuason-Fores stated.
DOT assistant secretary Rolando Canizal
discussed the regional and Philippine initiatives in relation to the ASEAN Strategic Tourism
Action Plan 2011-2015.
Asec Canizal emphasized on the need to
enhance connectivity to and from and within
the Visayas region.
The other speakers include B/gen Rodante
Joya of CAAP, former NEDA Secretary
Cielito Habito and currently Chief of Party of
the USAID TRADE project, and Dr. Mario
Lamberte, former President of the Philippine
Institute of Development Studies and of the
ADB Institute in Tokyo and now Team
Leader on SME Access to Financing of the
USAID-COMPETE Project.
ASEAN groups the Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia,
Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and
Brunei.
The ten member countries will establish a
single market economy by 2015 to attract
more investments and facilitate intra-ASEAN
trade and investments.
The next consultative meetings will be
held on July 23-24 at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City; August 12-13 in Clark, Pampanga
and will end in Manila also sometime in
September. (mbcn/PIA7/with reports
from AHTE/USAID-COMPETE)
PHL tourism stakeholders prepare for ASEAN integration
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 19 (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority-National Statistics Office (PSA-NSO) will sponsor the
7th National Workshop on Civil Registration (7NWCR) on August 5-7, 2014 at Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, Cebu City with the
theme "Ikaw at Ako Tungo sa Wastong Pagrerehistro".
PSA-NSO to hold 7th National Workshop on Civil Registration
T he workshop aims to provide a
venue for exchange of ideas and
sharing of experiences for the
city/municipal civil registrars, mayors, members
of the judiciary and other stakeholders.
Relevant topics that will be discussed to
include civil registration to our development
partners, role of civil registration on health,
implementation of RA 9048 and RA 10172 and
the value added service being offered by the
PSA-NSO.
A registration fee of P 3,000.00 will be
collected from the participants to defray cost
of venue, food and convention kits.
For further inquiries, please contact Ms.
Editha R. Orcilla, Chairman, Program and
Invitation Committee at telephone number 926
-1075 or through email address at
E.Orcilla@census.gov.ph.
You may also inquire from Negros
Oriental Provincial Statistics Office,at
telephone number 422-4372 or through email
address nsonegrosoriental@yahoo.com.(mbcn/
lpp/PIA-7/NegOr/NSO NegOr)
BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
CEBU CITY, July 22 (PIA) -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) as chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (RDRRMC-7) will create a technical working group to form the Humanitarian Assistance Coordinating
Center (HACC) mainly responsible for the immediate emergency response in times of disasters.
OCD-7 to form HACC on disaster response
T he HACC, once member-agencies
are determined, will meet to discuss
the policies, guidelines and SOPs in
disaster response during times of emergencies.
This surfaced in the conclusion of the
three-day Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Response (HADR) Simulation
Exercise recently undertaken by the
OCD-7 and the Armed Forces of the
Philippines - Central Command participated by
over 50 representatives from different regional
line agencies, local government units and
non-government organizations.
Such activity was undertaken aimed at
strengthening coordination, networking and
partnerships among regional line agencies,
emergency responders to include the military
forces and non-government organizations in
synchronizing steps in delivering humanitarian
assistance and disaster response immediately
following a crisis.
OCD Deputy Administrator Director
Romeo F. Fajardo in a brief visit told
participants that after the Yolanda tragedy, the
national government has formed 13 clusters
that will focus on specific areas like response,
evacuation, health and search and rescue and
retrieval operations.
“The United Nations has created 11
clusters in disaster response. We added two
more making the total clusters at 13 in order
to make delivery services more specific,” said
Fajardo.
Fajardo said the 13 clusters are still
being finalized of which one of them is the
search and rescue and retrieval operations or
SARR which will be headed by the Department
of National Defense – Armed Forces of the
Philippines.
“We have seen the huge efforts of the
military even before Yolanda struck” and
how they were indispensable in the relief
operations with their military resources like
sea and air assets and even up to this day, the
AFP is still helping in the rehabilitation phase,
said Fajardo.
Fajardo said government agencies in the
national level will hold the National Disaster
Response Plan with a similar simulation exer-
cise on July 31 and August 1 as he expressed
appreciation that Central Visayas did it first.
AFP-Central Command Commanding
General Lt. John John Bonafos on the other
hand, said “the participating of agencies is very
critical for synchronization so we can prepare
better in case of emergency situations.”
The activity was just one of the series of
activities that highlighted the annual observance
of July as National Disaster Consciousness
Month. (mbcn/FCR/PIA-7)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
DENR, PIA in EV launch climate change
advocacy campaign
T he activity aims to intensify
public awareness on climate
change, the most pressing
environmental challenge that is facing the
world today.
DENR Regional Executive Director
Leonardo R. Sibbaluca together with
PIA Deputy Director General Virgilio DC.
Galvez as represented by Ms. Aurora J.
Casimpan, led the launching of the
advocacy campaign.
Along with the launching was the
signing of the memorandum of agreement
(MOA) between the DENR and the PIA
Offices in the region, to signify their
strengthened advocacy efforts and other
interventions on climate change
adaptation and mitigation.
A pledge of Commitment was
likewise manifested by the participants
who were representatives of the national
government agencies, academe, students,
media, local and internat ional
non-government organizations, private/
business sector and the cooperatives and
other sectoral representatives showing
their support and commitment to the
campaign.
With the significant activity, it is
expected that people‟s perception
would improve particularly on their roles
in environmental protection. (GTT/CBA/
PIA-8)
PALO, Leyte, July 20 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) in Eastern Visayas officially launched the climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy campaign recently
at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Brgy. Candahug, Palo Leyte.
By: Consuelo B. Alarcon
LTO reminds PUV drivers to accommodate PWDs
BORONGAN CITY, EASTERN SAMAR, July 22 (PIA) – Public utility drivers were reminded of their compliance with Batas
Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law, providing among others, mobility of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
T his was said Tuesday by Land
Transportation Office (LTO)
Provincial Head, Ms. Narcisa M.
Tabarnero over Radyo ng Bayan DYES.
According to her, it is highly unlawful
for drivers not to take PWDs as
passengers as stated in Section 2 of BP
344.
She added that the law provides
further that failure to transport PWDs,
would mean penalty of P50thousand for
the first offense, P75thousand for the
second offense and P100thousand for
the third offense plus revocation of
permits.
Moreover, under the LTO Program,
buses must provide PWDs five seats near
the entrance and exit of the bus while
other utility vehicles should reserve two
to three seats for PWDs.
However, if there is no sitting PWD
in the seats provided for them, it can be
occupied by a physically normal passenger,
but again, should there be an incoming
PWD, the same seat should be vacated in
his favor.
Ms. Tabarnero also mentioned that
these spaces for PWDs in public utility
transports should be marked with
stickers, which must be prominent inside
the vehicle for PWDs to immediately
identify their specified seats.
As of now, she said, LTO awaits for
DSWD to issue the stickers and once
they are supplied with those, they will
immediately mark the still unmarked seats
of PUVs.
July 17-23 is devoted to the
observance of PWD week, when all
institutions are encouraged to hold
programs to raise the public‟s awareness
level and too, support the cause of PWDs
who should have equal rights and
opportunities.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)
300 new permanent homes eyed for Yolanda survivors in Tanauan, Leyte
TANAUAN, Leyte, July 24 (PIA) – More permanent homes are to be built for 300 families made homeless by super typhoon
Yolanda in the Municipality of Tanauan, Leyte.
T his was learned recently from
Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson
following the ground breaking
ceremony of the SOS Primetown
Housing Project in Brgy. Pago, this
municipality.
The ground breaking ceremony
signifies the immediate start of the
construction of the housing project.
Mayor Tecson said the project is the
fourth relocation site in said municipality
which will be sponsored by SOS Villages
International.
He pointed out the need to relocate
the survivors to a safer ground so homes
can more effectively withstand the
country‟s all-too-frequent typhoons in the
future.
A total of 1,500 permanent homes
are targeted to be constructed for
Yolanda survivors in Tanauan, Leyte.
Out of this number, 1, 200 are being
constructed by the national government
through the National Housing Authority
(NHA) in partnership with the Gawad
Kalinga, 50 of which have already been
turned over to the beneficiaries.
Along with the ground breaking
ceremony was the signing of the
memorandum of agreement between the
local government unit of Tanauan led by
the mayor and SOS Children‟s Villages
President Siddhartha Kaul.
Tecson also emphasized that this
move is in line with the thrust of the
national government to build back better
in Yolanda affected areas.
The Municipality of Tanauan is seen as
one of the hardest hit municipalities
where more than 1,000 persons died
when Yolanda struck last November
8. (GTT/CBA/PIA-8)
BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
By Alice Nicart
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
A passion for reviving forests
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 24 (PIA) -- Long before talks of climate change or global warming hugged the headlines,
a man with passion for creating jungles out of barren hills and mountains had started the fight of his lifetime, which is planting
trees.
M eet Southern Leyte Governor Rog-
er Mercado. He was governor for
the first time since last year,
2013. But before this gubernatorial post, he
was Congressman representing the lone
district of Southern Leyte over the last two
decades, with brief interruptions.
His passion for planting trees, however,
had no interruptions.
And so over the last two decades, he has
been preaching the gospel of tree planting,
living what he preached, and preaching what he
lived for.
Every year on his natal day without fail,
the celebration will not be complete without a
trek to the mountains in this city, and all
well-wishers would do well, and would be
greatly appreciated, to greet him with dirty
hands, literally, meaning they had planted their
share of seedlings.
Aside from his birthday, any significant
event for an office in the city, province, and
national levels, caught on with fire in the action
-driven advocacy that he started which was,
and is, well, tree-planting.
Over time, many of those who joined the
regular tree planting activities wore T-shirts
depicting the man in action of planting a tree,
emblazoned with the message that proclaimed
“One Man, One Tree, Can Make a Forest.”
The wearing of T-shirt itself carries a
subliminal message: count me in as an avid
supporter of this man-tree-forest thing.
So from one man, it goes for two men,
then three, four, five, tens, hundreds,
thousands . . .
The once brown, cogon-infested heights
along the barangay Bogo mountain ranges in
this city, the area often made the annual site
for the tree planting activities joined by
students, employees, and other concerned
individuals and groups with similar foresights, is
now teeming with greeneries.
Acasia mangium species of trees, among
other tree species, their heights reaching more
than an average person‟s tall, dominated the
landscape as far as the eyes can see, a tangible
testament to the consistent efforts of one man
that infected others as well like a welcome
virus or a raging wildfire.
“Only God can make a tree,” author Joyce
Kilmer wrote in a poem aptly titled
“Trees.” No doubt about it.
But one man planting one God-made
tree can certainly produce a man-made forest
in the long run, nay, in the near future -- and
within his or her lifetime at that, for added
bonus.
Certainly, the Almighty will not envy such
initiative. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)
ES submits P10.6B budget for rehab, recovery to OPARR
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, July 22 (PIA) - After a series of long and tedious compliance with required documents,
Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. has finally submitted the final copy of the Provincial Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan to the
Office of the Presidential Assistance on Recovery and Rehabilitation (OPARR).
I t is costing a total of P10.6 billion,
so said Provincial Agriculturist, Mr.
Regalado Opena, who informed
media recently through DYES.
According to Opena, OPARR
Secretary Ping Lacson assured them that
the funds will be downloaded to the
province before the month ends, as they
await only for the signature of His
Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The P10.6B Rehab and Recovery Fund
which will be implemented until 2016 will
be budgeted as follows: P3.2B for
infrastructure projects, P2.8B for
resettlement, P1.3B for Social Services,
and P3.3B for Agriculture, Livelihood and
Industry.
Mr. Opena informed further that
Eastern Samar is also fortunate to be one
of six provinces in the country that will
benefit the $57 million fund for Food
Sufficiency Program of Philippine Rural
Development Program.
Its share will be implemented in the
nine most ravaged communities by
“Yolanda”; these are Guiuan, Mercedes,
Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Lawaan
and Balangiga.
A reliable source likewise disclosed
that OPARR approved in principle the
proposed construction of a P25M
Evacuation Center which will be
constructed on top of a mountain near
the capitol building.
The newly bui l t Provincia l
Gym served as one of the four
Evacuation Centers in the city before
and after "Yolanda". (PIA-Eastern Samar/
aen)
BY: ALICIA E. NICART
By: Marcelo M. Pedalino
NNC ends Nutrition Month with Summit
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 21 (PIA) – The Philippines is known to be prone to calamities and this usually results to hunger
and malnutrition among the areas hit by the disaster.
R elative to this, to be able to give
adequate focus on nutrition in
t imes of calamit ies , the
National Nutrition Council (NNC), ACF
International with the support from
the UNICEF will be holding a Nutrition
Summit on July 31, 2014 at the Leyte Park
Hotel, Tacloban City.
Expected participants to the whole
day activity are the Municipal Mayors and
the Municipal Nutrition Action Officers in
the whole province of Leyte.
NNC reported that the conduct of
the Nutrition Summit is for the
culmination of the celebration of the
Nutrition Month this July.
Centered on the theme “Kalamidad
Paghandaan, Gutom at Malnutrisyon
Agapan,” the Summit aims to uphold
interventions in addressing the nutrition
needs of the Filipino people.
Topics to be covered during the
discussions will center on nutrition in
times of emergencies, nutrition in
the first 1,000 days of a child‟s life, and
nutrition as an economic and development
issue, among others.
Likewise, several nutrition campaigns
will be presented to aid the participants in
their advocacy in the dissemination of
nutrition security.
The organizers of the Nutrition
Summit believe that the local government
leaders will be effective and instrumental
in the success in meeting the nutrition
needs of their constituents. (PIA-8)
By: Marivic A. Alcover
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. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8
Managing Editor
Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Contributors
All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8
Production and Layout
Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado
Regional Offices:
PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com
PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com
PIA 8, Children‟s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com
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