One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 46
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Vol 4 Issue 46 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 November 17 - 23, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Israeli delegation meets with Cebu bizmen
Archdiocese of Palo announces itinerary of Pope‘s visit
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
Secretaries assess rehab efforts in Panay By Jemin B. Guillermo
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 17 (PIA) – Local chief executives in Panay Island expressed their thanks and
gratitude to the national government for helping them in the repair of their damaged infrastructures due to supertyphoon
Yolanda. During the consultative meeting with the Cabinet
Secretaries on Yolanda Rehabilitation Efforts, Nov. 12 here, the governors from Iloilo, Antique, Aklan and Capiz as well as
mayors from the said provinces expressed their gratitude to President Benigno S. Aquino .
They also thanked the Cabinet Secretaries led by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas for the immediate
release of the funds under the DILG-Recovery Assistance for Yolanda (RAY).
In April this year, Roxas personally turned over to the local chief executives the funds for the immediate repair
of damaged municipal, city or provincial halls, civic centers and public markets which were damaged by supertyphoon
Yolanda. For Capiz alone, the DILG was able to release more than
P66.053-million for all the local government units here based on their submitted damage on said government infrastructures
in their respective areas. In his statement, Roxas said that they are conducting
the consultative meeting with the Yolanda-affected local
chief executives to assess the progress, status and problems in the rehabilitation efforts in their respective areas based
on the released funds and to ensure that everything is put in place.
Roxas, who was with Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Pama, also assured that
the national government will continue and will always be there to help in building back better, and for the public to become
more resilient and happier.
Roxas likewise directed the immediate liquidation of the released funds so that the Batch 2 funds intended for the repair
of damaged government infrastructures in the barangays will be immediately released.
He stressed that the second batch of RAY funds for the repair of damaged public barangay infrastructures will
be downloaded to their respective municipal or city governments.
On the other hand, Roxas revealed that the DILG will be purchasing 2,000 patrol cars for use by the Philippine National
Police in the different police stations. In addition, the DILG is also on the post qualification
phase for the purchase of additional fire trucks for the Bureau of Fire Protection, he said. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)
By: Rachelle M. Nessia
CEBU CITY, Nov. 19 (PIA) --- Officials from leading Israeli companies involved in water and agro-technology
sectors met with Cebu businessmen yesterday to explore possible partnerships.
Representatives from seven Israeli companies pitched their technology, products, and services before local
businessmen during a one-day economic mission in Cebu City held by the Economic and Trade Mission of the Israeli Embassy
in Manila. The Israeli delegation was led by Israeli Ambassador Effie
Ben Matityau, who said that Israel itself is a successful business model.
“Israel is an enterprise of innovation and entrepreneurship. If you look at it from the business point of
view, Israel is one of the most successful businesses, born from scratch, from nothing... and it is now one of the leading
countries in the field of innovation and technology,” Ambassador Matityau said.
The companies included in the Israeli business delegation were chosen because they can give a “qualitative edge” to the
local water and agri-technology industry. Doron Hemo, head of Israel Economic and Trade Office
at the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, said that bringing Israel‟s innovations and technological know-how bodes well to the Philippine agriculture Medium Strategic Plan for 2020 which
stresses technological investments.
“This two-day business event is a concrete step towards
a fruitful collaboration between Israel and the Philippines in the area of agriculture,” said Hemo.
Another batch of agriculture and water delegation will be coming to the Philippines for another round of economic
mission next year, said Hemo. He added that the Israeli companies can provide
solutions that Filipino companies can implement and integrate so they can become more efficient.
Hemo cited in particular Israel‟s desalination technology which turns saltwater into potable water. “Seventy percent of
our potable water now comes from the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
Aside from this, 80% of Israel‟s used water is being treated and then recycled for agricultural use.
With 60% of Israel composed of arid desert, “we had to find solutions to all of our challenges,” Hemo stressed.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Ma. Teresa Chan, in her speech, said that the trade
event will give local businesses the opportunity to harness and acquire technology that will contribute much to the economic
growth in Cebu and the Visayas. The Israeli business delegation discussed irrigation
know-how, dairy production, turnkey projects for livestock, post-harvest treatment, crop protection, agronomy, greenhouse technology, water system control, and water
management. (rmn/PIA Cebu)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
Also CLICK Here…
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
Also CLICK Here…
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS By Consuelo B. Alarcon
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 17 (PIA) – The Archdiocese of Palo has announced the itinerary of Papal visit
in Leyte next year. In a press conference held Friday at the Palo
Chancery, Palo, Leyte, Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Social Communications Coordinator of the Archdiocese confirmed
the coming of the Pope‟s visit in Tacloban, City and Palo, Leyte on January 17.
Fr. Alvero said, Pope Francis will arrive Tacloban City at 9:30 in the morning where he is scheduled to hold Mass near
Tacloban airport at 10:00 in the morning,, share lunch with
some Yolanda survivors at the Archbishop's Residence in Palo Leyte at 12:45 noon on that same day.
Afterwards, the Pope will lead the blessing of Pope Francis Center for the Poor followed by a meeting with
the priests, religious men and women, seminarians and families of the survivors at Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, in
Palo, Leyte. Millions of faithful not only from the region but also from
other places are expected to attend the mass and excited to see the Pope in person. (ajc/cba/pia8)
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources- Environmental Management
Bureau (DENR-EMB)-6 Regional Director
Atty. Jonathan Bulos keynotes the seminar/
workshop on safe closure rehabilitation plan of
open/controlled dump facilities and ecological
so l id waste management (ESWM)
implementation in markets and malls held
Wednesday at the Centennial Resort Hotel
and Convention Center.
Pupils of the Sabang Central Elem School in
Borongan City pledged to do their share to
care Mother Earth led by PIA-OIC RD Alice
Nicart during the Climate Change Advocacy
Campaign dubbed Kabataan Para sa Kalikasan.
(PIA 8)
Tree Growing to Address Climate Change.
PIA-7 & VECO along with masscom students
from UPCC, USJR & CNU hold a 'tree
growing' activity within the grounds of the
AFP-Central Command after the forum on
climate change.
The Cabinet Secretaries on Yolanda Rehabilitation Efforts led by
DILG Secretary Mar Roxas recently held a consultative dialogue in
Roxas City to assess the progress, status and problems in the reha-
bilitation efforts under the Recovery Assistance for Yolanda (RAY)
in Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo. (PIA Capiz)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
Boracay's tourist arrivals generate nearly P23 B
By Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, Nov. 18 (PIA6) -- The 10-month tourist arrivals in Boracay Island in 2014 generated a total of
P22,994,085,403.80 in tourism receipts, based on the latest records of the Provincial Tourism Operations Office (PTOO) here.
T he touri sm rece ip ts were
generated by 579,329 foreign
tourists, 637,301 domestic tourists
and 36,177 overseas Filipinos who visited
the island from January to October of this
year.
The combined visitor arrivals reached
1,250,807, just more than 200,000 short of
attaining the 1.5 million target this year of
tourist visiting the island.
In several radio interviews here,
Caticlan Jetty Port Niven Maquirang said the
province is hopeful that this target will be
met as there are still two months before
yearend – November and December.
Last year, the December tourist arrivals
reached 111,949, the month after Typhoon
Yolanda ravaged the province, but
November tourists were clipped down with
only 77,027 visitors.
Of the monthly arrivals last year, only
one other month registered less than a
hundred thousand – September, which had
only 86,404.
For this year‟s monthly arrivals too,
September listed the lowest, with 81,633.
Based on records of the PTOO, tourist
arrivals from 2006 to 2013 registered
positive growth – with the highest listed in
2012 with 33%, followed by 2010 with 20%
and 2011 with 17%; while the lowest growth
rate was listed in 2009 with only 2%.
In 2013, growth rate was listed at 13%, while
it attained P25,067,622,623.40 in tourism
rece ipts with 1 ,206 ,252 tourist
arrivals. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Nov. 21 (PIA6) - - Thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, China and Australia pass by, feed and
even breed in the wetlands of the province particularly the Bago up to Ilog area.
D irector for Field Operations of
the Philippine Biodiversity
Conservat ion Foundat ion
Incorporated Lisa J. Paguntalan
approximates there are about 109,000 of
migratory shorebirds in the area for the
month of January alone, a count more
than that the whole of Manila Bay, the
highest concentration for these migratory
birds.
“Bago-Ilog coastal wetlands host the
most number of migratory shorebirds
passing through its flyway.
About 73 species of migratory
shorebirds passes this way every year and
these birds stay within these wetlands for
about six months before they back to
Siberia or China to breed,” Paguntalan
said.
According to Paguntalan, Olango
Island in Cebu is most popular when it
comes to migratory shorebirds where
they have 20,000-30,000 birds passing its
flyway every year although lesser in
number compared to that of the province.
Rare greenshank, an endangered
species and rarely sighted in the
Philippines was also recorded to be found
only in Tibsoc wetland in San Enrique and
Pontevedra towns since 2012.
Joy M. Navarro, Ecosystem
Management Specialist of the Biodiversity
Management Bureau of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources said
wetlands regulate ecosystem services like
filtration of pollution going to the sea
especially in Negros where you have a lot
of tidal or mud flats that not only serve
the migratory birds for food but it is also
the womb of the sea where fishes spawn.
“Wetlands are very import in terms
of ecosystem services because these
absorb water. So whenever there are
flooding, when you have wetlands that are
in a sense “protected” they absorb so
much water that it actually controls
flooding. Many of these wetlands are also
protection against storm surges like
mangroves, mud flats, coral reefs and sea
grass beds protection and safety against
climate change,” Paguntalan explained.
Although coastal wetlands are all
threatened due to development and urban
settlers, Negros, according to Paguntalan‟s
assessment have better wetlands in terms
of species on biodiversity because the
number of birds they are actually
supporting is an indicator of the richness
of these wetlands.*(JSC/EAD-PIA6 Negros
Occidental)
Negros Occidental wetlands host to thousands of migratory birds
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
ILOILO CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA6) --- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 Regional Director Evelyn
Macapobre urged tourism stakeholders to ensure barrier-free tourist destinations for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
I n the Regional Forum on Accessible
Tourism held Monday at Hotel Del
Rio here, Macapobre said that PWDs
should also get what‟s due them in tourism
areas and establishments.
“They deserve to also enjoy nature‟s
beauty. Things like access ramps or elevators
for those who are unable to walk and
booklets or reading materials that are in
Braille for the visually challenged should be
available,” she said.
She said that it would be interesting to
see tourist spot employees who are able to
use the sign language for the hearing and
speech impaired.
She also said that help desks for PWDs,
special seats in vehicles, restaurants and
other places of interest are things that can
make the lives of PWDs easier and more
enjoyable.
Likewise, the presence of people
who are trained to handle different kinds of
PWDs can ease the stress on their end.
The DSWD official called on local
government units and the private sector to
work together in the implementation of laws
for PWDs, which include Republic Act (RA)
7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled
Persons; RA 9442 which is an amendment of
RA 7277; and the Batas Pambansa (BP) 344
or the Accessibility Law.
As per data from DSWD-6, there
are 87,519 recorded PWDs in Western
Visayas, as of December 2010. Of the figure,
42,990 are males while 44,529 are females.
The Regional Forum on Accessible
Tourism was spearheaded by the
Department of Tourism (DOT) Office of
Tourism Standards and Regulations, DOT
Central Office, DOT-6 and in partnership
with the National Council on Disability
Affairs. (JSC/LTP-PIA Iloilo)
DSWD urges tourism industry to be PWD-friendly
By: Leonard T. Pineda I
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
NOGAS ISLAND, Anini-y, Antique, Nov. 18 (PIA6) - - Efforts to rehabilitate the coral reefs in Nogas Island in Anini-y are
gaining momentum according to an army officer.
Things go well for coral reefs restoration in Nogas Island
1 LT Conrad Franz M. Bauzon,
Commanding Officer of the Alpha
Company, 82IB, 3ID, Philippine Army
said that some 30,000 coral fragments have
already been transplanted in the area
surrounding the island.
Bauzon said that the restoration
activity was conducted last year under
the program dubbed Filipinnovation with the
s u p p o r t o f S e n a t o r L o r e n
Legarda, Department of Science and
Technology-Phil ippine Council for
Agricultural Resources Research and
Development (DOST-PCARRD), and the
Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division.
Coral reefs serve as shelter
and breeding ground of different species of
fish.
The Army soldiers were trained to do
the transplantation of coral fragments.
Bauzon lectured on Coral Reef
Restoration during the PIA-DENR Youth
Camp held in Nogas Island and participated
in by some 60 high school students, advisers,
local government of Tobias Fornier and
Aniniy, the Philippine Army, Philippine
National Police and Likas Tama of St. Antho-
ny‟s College.
The conduct of the youth camp is one
of the activities of the Philippine
Information Agency-Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
partnersh ip on Cl imate Change
Preparedness, Adaptation and Mitigation
advocacy, aimed to increase the level of
awareness of students so that at an early
age, environmental protection will become
part of their daily life.
Bauzon also urged the youth to get
involve on issues concerning environmental
protection.
He said that the good intentions
for the coral reefs‟ restoration have also
gained community support, and they are
now helping protect the environment from
any form of destruction.
The participants to the PIA-DENR
Youth Camp were shown a video
presentation as to how the coral reefs
restoration was conducted.
Nogas Island is a 24 hectare island off
the coast of the Municipality of Anini-y, and
its about 15 minute-ride from Barangay
Nato.(JSC/MLG/VWV-PIA Antique)
By Vicente W. Villavert
Right information is key to Ebola prevention - DOH
ILOILO CITY, November 17 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas said that correct and accurate
information about Ebola is a crucial weapon against the spread of the disease.
I n a press conference held Monday at
Sarabia Manor Hotel here, DOH-6
Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Jesse Glenn
Alonsabe said the health department has
provided sufficient information so the
stakeholders and the general populace have
a better understanding of the disease.
“The lack of information became the
problem in affected countries in West Africa
because people there do not know what
kind of disease was Ebola,” he said.
He said that when it comes to
information and preparedness, the general
public has been saturated with what they
need to know about the disease.
“In social media, there are a lot of
cynicisms regarding the preparation for
Ebola not only in the Philippines but even in
other countries such as the United States to
the point of over-acting or hysteria,” he
stressed.
He said that the health department
would like to avoid the public getting into
hysteria.
“In our system, it is very hard to
manage the hysteria epidemic rather than
the true epidemic itself,” he pointed out.
He said, however, that they do not
want to develop the culture of complacency
among the stakeholders and the general
public.
“The right information in the right
time given by the right people is key to
preventing the spread of this disease,” he
said.
Meanwhile, the DOH appealed to the
public not to spread unconfirmed and
baseless reports about Ebola for these will
be sowing panic and fear that will only put
lives in danger.
For correct information about Ebola,
please visit the DOH official Facebook page
– Department of Health (Philippines) and
website – www.doh.gov.ph. (JCM/LTP/
PIA-Iloilo)
Guimaras LGUs get P3.6M
ILOILO CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA6) - - Three municipalities in the province of Guimaras including the provincial government itself
received checks totaling P3,642,423.95 through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
L a b o r S e c r e t a r y R o s a l i n d a
Dimapilis-Baldoz awarded the
checks to the local chief executives
of the municipalities and to Governor
Samuel Gumarin and Vice Governor Vicente
de Asis during a program held in Jordan
town for the installation of the marker
declaring the province as labor law
compliant tourist destination, November 17.
The funds will help materialize the
various projects proposed by the LGUs
benefiting some 793 Guimarasnons.
Th is w i l l a l so ensu re the
implementation of DILEEP in the province.
Of the total amount of checks, Mayor
Luben Vilchez of Sibunag received
P800,000.00 for their Seaweed Processing
project; Mayor Jimmy Gajo of San Lorenzo
received P649,974.00 for the San Lorenzo
Livelihood Project for Fisherfolks
Association; and LGU Nueva Valencia got a
check of P613,500.00 for their Saba Banana
Production Processing.
The provincial government is a recipient
of two checks, one worth P736,278.95 for
the implementatation of TUPAD Emergency
Emeployment project (1st tranch) and
another one worth P842,671.00 to fund
their native bags production and marketing
project.
Baldoz also turned over during the
activity productivity toolbox tarps to
Gumarin under the Pier to Port (P2P), a
convergence program being implemented by
DOLE 6 together with the local government,
other national government agencies and
private sectors that have stakes in the
tourism supply chain.
P2P aims to boost employment
opportunities of local workers and key
players involved in the tourism industry such
as through the conduct of service quality and
productiv ity train ings and other
capacity-building programs. (JCM/LAF/
PIA-Iloilo)
By Venus G. Villanueva
By: Leonard T. Pineda I
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
SIQUIJOR, Nov. 15 (PIA) — Researchers, academicians and other stakeholders officially launched a research/documentation
entitled, ―Folk Healing Practices of Siquijor Island: Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices on
Health and Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Health at Cantabon Barangay Social Center.
Documentation of folk healing practices
launched in Siquijor Island
U niversity of the Philippines Manila
and project consultant Dr. Isidro
S ia , a l so a professor o f
pharmacology in his rationale of the
research said the endeavor will assist the
communities in documenting and upholding
their healing traditions.
Provincial science and technology
director Engr. Mario de la Peña also stressed
the need for the protection of the island‟s
traditional health practices against piracy
through the Intellectual Property Rights
(IPO) with the help of Atty. Gilbert Arbon
of DOST Negros Oriental.
He said that the program would
succeed with the support of all cooperating
institutions such as Siquijor State College
headed by its president, Dr. Ma. Imogen
Quilicot; Negros Oriental State University
(NORSU) with Dr. Virginia Lacuesta; the
DOST and the local government units that
committed to support the program.
Siquijor town mayor Mei Ling Quezon
and Siquijor provincial governor Zaldy Villa
were happy that such undertaking was
initiated. Both leaders gave their
commitment and full support to the project.
Barangay captains of San Antonio,
Ibabao, Cantabon and Cangmatnog also gave
their consent and support in the conduct of
the research. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor/
with reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing
& Engr. Mario E. de la Peña/DOST-Siquijor)
By: Rizalie A. Calibo
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA) --- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in Negros Oriental recognized
three of its pensioners aged 105 as the oldest in Negros Oriental.
GSIS honours 3 oldest pensioners in Negros Oriental
G SIS Dumaguete Branch Manager Atty.
Mercedes VPE Enriquez visited the
three oldest pensioners in their
respective residences who are still enjoying
their pension at 105 years old.
The pensioners were retiree Demetria
Aldecoa of Dumaguete City who turned 105
years old on June 21, 2014; Valencia
Socorro, aged 105 whose birthday was last
November 15; and Margarito Init, 104 from
Valencia.
Enriquez said Aldecoa retired in 1972
and started receiving her old age
pension in December 1977 in the amount of
P254.63.
She has been receiving pension for 37
years and her current pension is P5,054.42
by virtue of Board Resolution 110 dated July
2, 2012 which levelled the basic monthly
pension of pensioners receiving below
P5,000 to a minimum of P5,000 effective
January 2013, GSIS official said.
Pensioner Socorro retired in June 1973
with an initial pension of P256.10.
She is enjoying her pension for 38 years
in the amount of P5,054.42 similar to that of
Mrs. Aldecoa.
Init, on the other hand, who was born
on October 25, 1910 retired in June 1973
and currently receiving pension in the
amount of P5,058.77.
Engriquez said the families of said
pensioners were grateful to GSIS for the
special recognition and the Board of
Trustees, in particular, for coming up
with a policy which enables the
pensioners to receive higher pension for
their needs.
The retirees shared the same secret for
living a long life, and that is, to eat green
leafy vegetables and fruits everyday. (rmn/jct/
PIA7-Negros Oriental)
By: Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA) --- Close to 400 leaders of civil society organizations (CSOs) and different local
government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental and Siquijor joined the launching of ―Milyong Mga Pirma Alang sa Bottom-up
Budgeting‖ campaign last week to express support to the budget reform initiative of the Aquino Administration.
T he civil society group Kilos
Mamamayan (KM) led the launching
of the campaign during the Local
Poverty Reduction Action Teams (LPRAT)
orientation organized by the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) on
November 13.
The campaign aims to gather million
signatures from different CSOs and LGUs to
ensure the continuous implementation of
the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) process that
involves stakeholders from the grassroots
level.
KM national secretary Marco Polo Ferrer
explained these signature campaign documents
will be presented to DILG Sec. Mar Roxas and
to some members of the House of
Representatives who vowed to lobby for the
institutionalization of BUB.
“We want to convince our lawmakers that the people support the move to
institutionalize the BUB.
This way, the program will be
implemented by the country‟s next president
who we are looking forward to be
reform-oriented and has a solid track record
for good and honest service," Ferrer said.
The highlight of the campaign was the
symbolic signing on the wall of commitment by
the participants.
Copies of the “Milyong Lagda” signature
campaign documents will be spread by the
group through its network of CSOs based in
Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros
Oriental and Siquijor.
“We must take action to ensure that this
reform measure will be sustained beyond the
Aquino administration,” he adds.
The BUB was introduced in 2011 by the
late Sec. Jesse Robredo during his stint at
DILG.
The BUB process focuses on engaging
for 300 to 400 of the poorest municipalities
identified by the Cabinet‟s Human
Development and Poverty Reduction (HDPR)
cluster. Local-level engagement will be facilitated
via relevant government agencies, local
community leaders, LGUs, and partner civic
organizations.
As of now, Sec. Roxas is currently
pursuing implementing various anti-poverty
programs in coordination with different
national government agencies covering 1,226
LGUs across the country with a proposed
inter-agency budget amounting to P20.1 billion
for 2015.
During the LPRAT orientation, heads of
participating CSOs and LGUs discussed some
proposals that will help strengthen the
program.
Meanwhile, KM also did similar
activities in other provinces over the past two
months.
Last Nov. 10 and 11, the campaign was
also launched in Cebu.
Aside from Cebu, the campaign was
also launched in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija
for Region 3, Naga City, Camarines Sur for
Region 5, and Iloilo City in Iloilo for Region 6
to advocate for the institutionalization the
program through an act of Congress. Ferrer emphasized that they are
determined to gather a million signatures as
proof of a solid support of the people for
continuous implementation of the BUB
process. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr with reports
from KM)
CSOs join call for continuous implementation of Bottom-Up Budgeting
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 16 (PIA) – A nationwide association of insurance assessors and evaluators handed to Gawad
Kalinga (GK) Bohol a sum of P280,000 in check and pledges during their recent convention at the Bellevue in Panglao.
T he money goes to build houses and
communities in earthquake affected
and poverty haunted Bohol,
according to Cresanto Sabanpan, of the Gawad
Kalinga Project.
The Actuarial Society of the Philippines
(ASP) who just had their 55th convention at
the Pavillion of the Bellevue in tourism
resort Panglao readied the papers for the
donation through a board resolution which
the group‟s officers prepared for the Bohol
event, according to ASP president Maria
Sachiko Pang.
Pang shared this news in front of the
delegates gathered who had earlier viewed a
video presentation on the GK in the Philippines
and its mission.
GK is an organization that started in the
Philippine which targets to heave out 5 million
poor Filipinos out of poverty by 2024.
This it does by restoring the poor‟s dignity
and build a new nation empowered by people
believing and loving the natioh, each one caring
and sharing and is bent on working to beat
poverty and regaining human dignity, according
to Sabanpan, in the presentation attended also
by the famed Loboc Children‟s Choir.
While other groups help communities by
building houses, GK characterizes itself by
making an integrated and self-reliant
community of service and making impossible
things possible, leaving no one behind.
GK finds its fiscal support from donations
in its social justice projects, banking on charity,
being brother‟s keepers by heroic response to
voluntarism, according to Rey Balatayo,
another GK worker in Bohol.
GK communities become active for
testing earth friendly technologies, sustainable
livelihood and innovations which could be the
community‟s quick way out of poverty.
With this, QK organizers aspire to attain
social progress by working on the successes of
voluntarism, caring and serving communities as
well as sharing, because GK also believes it is
not the lack of resources but the apparent
tendency to hoard that makes the Philippines a
poor nation.
In Bohol, a GK community is now rising in
Bayacabac, Maribojoc, with 16 houses now
completed at Purok 4, according to Barangay
Chairman Jun Aniscal.
Aside from vermiculture, composting,
organic farming, the people of this purok have
started planting tree guarded fruit trees along
the barangay road leading to the municipal
demo farm. (rmn/RAC/PIABohol)
Actuarians donate P280K to Gawad Kalinga Bohol
CEBU, Nov. 19 (PIA) --- Cebu‘s longest shoreline ―Lapyahan‖ was recently tagged as the first ―LakasLikasan‖ area in the
province.
San Remegio's ‗Lapyahan‘
T he “LakasLikasan” tagging is part of
the climate change advocacy
campaign of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
in places cited for environmental relevance.
San Remigio‟s “Lapyahan” is known to be
the longest white beach shoreline in Cebu and
its seas, according to information officer Nino
Ybanez, gives fishermen an average of five to
ten kilos of good variety fish everyday.
“All residents here are cooperating in
the protection of the lapyahan and the seas, we
do coastal clean up once in awhile,” Ybanez
said.
More than 300 students from three
schools made a Pledge of Commitment to take
care of the environment which include their
seas during a recent Multi-Schools Campus
Caravan held by PIA Cebu and DENR-7.
The students from San Remigio National
High School, Hagnaya Elementary School, and
San Remigio Central School were all ears as
they listened to DENRO Provincial Officer
Jose Cleo Cary Colis who discussed
Environmental Stewardship.
Colis narrated several “small” things most
people do not know are causing harm to the
en v i ronmen t , i n c l u d i ng t h e f a c t
that plastic takes several years to decompose.
“Bottle used in mineral water will take
450 years to decompose; styrofoams
unfortunately will not decompose,” Colis said.
On the other hand, Philippine Information
Agency Central Visayas Regional Director
Minerva Newman engaged the students in an
interactive story telling session.
Newman, after narrating the creation of
the universe and its destruction by man made
activities, asked the students to cite ways to
mitigate climate change.
“Plant trees, don‟t use plastic, save
water,” were some of the answers of the
students.
San Remigio Vice Mayor Alfonso
Pestolante welcomed the participants in behalf
of Mayor Mariano Martinez who was out of the
country.
Pestolante urged the students to put the
lessons at heart since there is only one world
that humanity can live in. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)
By: Ferliza C. Contratista
By: Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 15 (PIA) – A group attempting to finally match the quality of Philippine higher education
graduates to the stringent requirements of the globally competitive tourism industry is now ready to turn over to Bohol its
finding and recommendations for a more effective industry here.
Bohol tourism human resource devt plan up
T he Philippine Business for Education
(PBEd), in partnership with the United
States Agency for International
Development (USAID) Philippines, has indulged
Boholanos and tourism industry stakeholders and
higher education key workers, technical and
vocational experts as well as local government
key movers and support industries in interviews,
surveys, focused group discussions to come up
with a win-win solution to the problem.
Tourism frontline operations demand the
most proper attitude, and its support industries
should at least be able to handle basic languages
confidently, accomplish demanding mental tasks,
for the industry to pick up the pace and really
become globally at par with other nations.
The school curriculum which is crafted could
still be enhanced into a more responsive mill if
industry stakeholders and school administrators
collaborate in shaping up a design which
approximates the needs, tourism industry
observers have shared.
On the other hand, if the Tourism Act
provides for a system of rating tourism
establishments, it must also be applicable to
frontline workers so that accredited tour guides
would be professionally paid on a performance
based system, and not on the length of service
which tends to make older guides stagnate in the
old stock of spiels, an unpublished research from
a leading tourism institute stated.
"PBEd has been implementing the
Higher Education and Productivity Project.
Our main goal i s to address
concerns over the mismatch between the quality
of the Philippines‟ higher education graduates and
the needs of its industries through greater
industry participation in curriculum design,
quality assurance and accreditation," according to
Justine Eleonor Raagas, PBEd Sr. Program
Manager.
"In line with this, we have crafted a Human
Resource Development Plan for the Tourism
Industry of Bohol through the technical
assistance of Asia Pacific Projects, Inc. (APPI),
with funding support from the United States
Agency for International Development
-Philippines," he added.
Just in time when Bohol picks up the tourism
pieces which shattered during the earthquake,
PBEd is now ready to present and officially turn
over the Human Resource Development Plan for
the Tourism Industry of Bohol to the provincial
government.
The event is set for Tuesday, November 18,
2014 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Governor‟s Mansion,
Tagbilaran City. (rm/rac/PIABohol)
By : Rey Anthony H. Chiu
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
Christmas comes in November for 1000 kids
in remote Samar town
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- Christmas came early for more than a thousand kids in this remote Matuginao
town as Anne Turla of the Soldiers‘ Wives and Girlfriends (SWAG) brought cheers and goodies.
A s the convoy of army officials and
elements travelled to the heart of
Samar where Matuginao town is
located, the convoy meet the children
and their parents from nearby Barangay
Barruz hiking towards the town to get their
„gift‟.
It was proverbially raining cats and dogs,
but the kids did not mind and used even
banana leaves to shield them from the heavy
downpour.
“This is a promise fulfilled, the kids are
so excited!” said the visibly happy Mayor
Melissa dela Cruz.
It was not much for an urban kid, the
little bag containing a pad paper, crayons,
pencil and one notebook, but to Jazel Jean
Ostano it was an early Christmas gift and it
was hers, she held on tightly to her new
possession as her mother joined the line for
mothers to get shampoo and
conditioners.
Leoberto, 5, did not budge from where
he stood ogling at the PAMANA driver
putting air to the balloons.
He whispered to his mom if he could
get the blue one-his favorite color.
Hearing him the Pamana driver obliged
and gave him what he wished. The act of
kindness brought an endearing toothless
smile.
Ronalisa Velarde, a teen-age girl did not
get the gift of school supplies anymore, yet
she proudly bared her „loot‟ of fashionable
earrings and a choker. She said she also lined
up for the shampoo.
It was almost a Christmas party, there
were food which they also got lining up,
drinks and parlor games-all these lining up
and hollering and running while the rains
were pouring.
“I am happy to see their smiles which
are pure, they seem very grateful,” Anne
Turla, guest and gift giver mused.
The SWAG founder also assured the
young mayor she will link the town to other
charitable NGOs for services and livelihood
packages.
Turla was accompanied by Col Erwin
Alea of the 8th Infantry Division, Lt Col
Siegfreid Tubalado of the 43rd Infantry
Battalion, LtCol Edgar Yerro of the 546th
Engineering Battalion who is credited for
opening the 1.5 kilometer road to the town
and Imelda Bonifacio Payapa at Masaganang
Pamayanan (PAMANA) manager and the
media. (ajc/PIA 8-Samar/nbq)
Some 293 new defenders of the Philippine Republic graduate
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov. 20 (PIA) -- Samar community welcomes in its fold some 293 new defenders of the
Philippine Republic.
T hese were some of the words
uttered by Rep Emil Ong, as guest
of honor and speaker in the
candidate soldiers‟ graduation on Tuesday,
November 18, 2014 at the 8th Infantry
Division headquarters of the Philippine
Army.
In his message, Ong honored the
graduates who stood under the heat of the
sun while their parents proudly clapped and
watched their children who hurdled the
rigorous physical and mental training for
seven weeks.
Of these graduates, 20 come from
Luzon, 64 from Mindanao and 209 of them
come from Eastern Visayas.
The youngest is 18 years old while the
oldest is 33 with special skills though.
The graduates are a combination of two
batches, the first batch 365-14 is led by top
one soldier Pvt Jury Lanquino who yielded
an average grade of 95.05; the second batch
366-14 is led by Pvt Rey Marino with 95.85
general average.
As to educational background, 118 are
high school graduates, 154 of them are
college undergraduates while 21 are college
graduates.
“These are the smartest soldiers,” said
8th ID Commanding Officer Jet Velarmino.
As Pvt Noel Palacio ate lunch with his
parents after the ceremony, he narrated that
he is duty bound to give his parents a better
life as his father is a farmer in Jaro, Leyte.
His mom was teary-eyed as she talked
of convincing her first born to forget being a
soldier as she feared for his life.
“My son was determined and I am just
glad he did not complain during the training.
I see him now as a soldier who can defend
his country,” Joselita Palacio said.
Pvt Jovy Caluya ate his lunch alone, his
parents from Antique could not make it. But
he talked to them on his cellphone the night
before which was enough encouragement.
Like Palacio, Caluya is also the eldest son
and he wants to assume the responsibility of
taking care of his four siblings as his father is
also a farmer.
The two young soldiers along with 291
classmates took their oath as dedicated and
disciplined defenders of the country and to
uphold human rights as they perform their
duties.
The soldiers were also given rosaries.
The rosaries are to help keep in memory
certain principal events or mysteries in the
history of salvation and for God‟s blessings.
As the last part of the program
unfolded, the 293 new defenders met their
families with the hindsight that challenges
await them in the real battlefield. (ajc/nbq/
PIA 8-Samar)
GSIS-Maasin Branch unveils building marker at new office
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 20 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Maasin Branch marked
the transfer of their new office at R. Kangleon St., Barangay Mantahan, Maasin City with a Holy Mass, ribbon cutting ceremony
and unveiling of the Building Marker, November 17, 2014.
T he Holy Mass was solemnized b
who also led in the blessing
ceremony assisted by City Mayor
Maloney Samaco, GSIS Maasin Branch
Manager Igmedio Ponay Jr., GSIS Vice
President for Operations Salvacion Mate,
Rosalyn Ramos and GSIS Pensioner
Estrella Castro, Department heads of
different agencies, GSIS Family were
among the visitors and guests.
The unveiling of building marker
signifies the transfer of GSIS Maasin
Branch to a bigger and better service area
and marks as a symbol of the Pension
Fund‟s commitment to provide responsive
service to the active and retired members
of the GSIS.
Manager Ponay in his welcome
message was grateful for the support of
each government agency.
He committed to serve better for the
welfare of the members of GSIS.
A consultative meeting with Public
Sector Union leaders and their
representatives was also included in the
day activity that was held after the blessing
and ribbon cutting ceremonies.
It was conducted at the Lourdes
Convention Center in Maasin City. (ajc/
rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
EMB-8 to conduct lectures in schools on
climate change
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov.20 (PIA) -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in the region will conduct a series
of lectures in some schools in Eastern Visayas in order to intensify awareness relative to the celebration of the Climate Change
Consciousness Week from November 19-26, 2014.
D u r i n g t h e r a d i o
program “Nagbabag-o na an
panahon, Panahon na para
magbag-o”aired over a local station,
Maribel Munsayac, Solid Waste
Management Program Coordinator of the
EMB-DENR in the region underscored the
importance of disseminating the
information to the students to be able to
understand what is climate change, what it
cause and its impact to the environment.
Munsayac further stated that aside
from lectures, artistic activities like poster/
painting contest will also be conducted to
help students appreciate the information
given to them through lectures.
It also helps instill in their young
minds their respective roles in minimizing
the disastrous effects of climate change.
Munsayac pointed some effects of
climate change such as increase in
temperature, sea-level rise, melting of
glaciers and extreme weather events like
super typhoons.
Through the conduct of Poster
Making Competition, artistic students are
encouraged to join.
The artistic competition will revolve
on the theme “Plan, Implement, Act and
Achieve”. (ajc/cba/pia-8)
RDC appoints new sectoral committee chairs, co-chairs
A ppointed as off icers of the
various Sectoral Committees
with a term of office up to 2016
are: Regional Director (RD) Cynthia R.
Nierras of the Department of Trade and
Industry, Regional Office No. VIII, as
Chairperson of the Economic Development
Committee, with Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel,
P S R - C C I / B u s i n e s s G r o u p a s
Co-Chairperson.
For the Socia l Development
Committee, appointed as Chairperson is RD
Edgardo M. Esperanci lla of the
Department of Science and Technology,
with Ms. Elnora C. Quebec, PSR-Health as
Co-Chairperson.
On the other hand, Department of
Budget and Management RD Imelda C.
Laceras Chairs the Development
Administrative Committee, with Dr.
Edmundo F. Gariando, PSR-Academe as
Co-Chair.
The last Committee which is the
Infrastructure and Utilities Development
Committee is chaired by RD Rolando M.
Asis of the Department of Public Works and
Highways with Mr. Tiburcio A.
Morales, Jr., PSR-Agribusiness/Cooperative
as Co-Chairperson.
Meanwhile, Section 7 of Executive
Order No. 325, as amended, partly provides
that “To assist the RDC in the performance
of its functions, the Council shall
create sectoral committees to handle
social, economic, infrastructure, and
development administration concerns,”
while Section J.2 of the Rules and
Regulations of the Reorganization of the
RDCs Implementing EO No. 325 states that
the Council shall create the above
mentioned Sectoral Committees which
shall be jointly headed by a Chairman and a
Co-Chairman who will be appointed
either by the RDC Chair or selected by the
members among themselves. (ajc/maa/PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA) -- To strengthen government and private sector partnership in understanding the mandates
of the Regional Development Council (RDC), and to promote regional development and inclusive growth, Leyte Governor
Leopoldo L. Petilla, RDC chairman, in coordination with the regular council members, reorganized its sectoral committee
chairpersons.
City pushes waste segregation to adapt, mitigate climate change
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 20 (PIA) -- The General Services Office of the city local government unit here intends
to revisit its waste segregation scheme that was started several years ago, this time with more focus on its implementation.
B enjase Lumen, a ranking staff of
the city‟s GSO, said in a recent
interview over Action Center
Kapihan sa PIA Cable TV program, that
the garbage disposal in the city will soon
be transferred to a distance of 15
kilometers from the city proper, in
barangay Bactol I.
And with this impending transfer,
only residual wastes will strictly be
collected by the garbage collectors, the
compostables retained in designated
composting centers in a barangay, or
cluster of barangays, while recyclables will
be left to households for their disposal to
willing buyers or for their re-use, Lumen
said.
“We will be enforcing waste
segregation by source, or by households,
so this early we should start practicing
segregation to make it a habit, so
eventually people‟s attitudes toward
garbage will change,” explained Lumen.
He said there is a need to change
perspectives on garbage as pure filth or
plain trash, because about 60 percent of
household garbage are good compost
materials, 30 percent can be re-used,
recycled, or even be sold to scrap buyers,
and only 10 percent are due for disposal,
such as plastics.
But even plastics and the so-called
“tsitsiriya” can be turned into creative
products that may command a good price
to willing buyers, instead of just throwing
them away, as what was done by some
individuals in barangay Asuncion, he
added.
The PIA and the DENR, with full
support from the City and Provincial
LGUs, is currently pilot-testing the waste
segregation at source in barangay
Asuncion since October and extended
until December to give way to their fiesta
on November 29.
The activity is part of a nationwide
advocacy campaign to mitigate and adapt
with changing climate conditions.
The Asuncion campaign also involves
a songwriting contest.
Lumen said the Asuncion initiative will
be replicated to other six barangays
around the city proper, to outskirt
barangays, and ultimately the whole 70
barangays of the city, at least on waste
segregation drive.
During the cable TV program, Lumen
demonstrated how household wastes can
be taken care of, like papers, tins of food
packages, sando bags, and other items that
are usually thrown away but still have uses
when kept. (ajc/mmp/PIA8-Southern
Leyte)
Marivic A. Alcober
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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