April 24

April 24, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 89 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 April 24, 2014

T he Philippines has achieved 96 percent r ice sufficiency despite

the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas. This was revealed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala who was in Leyte on April 23 to distribute some P459 mill ion worth of farm implement to various municipalities in the province. The Secretary called for the understanding of those present in the activity for his failure to deliver his promise to reach 100 percent r ice sufficiency in the year 2013. The Philippines has achieved 96% rice sufficiency a

4% short of his promise. However, he is happy with the achievement because three years ago the Philippines only achieved 86% rice sufficiency. The Secretary said he does not blame anyone for the non-achievement of the 100 percent r ice sufficiency. He said the main culprit is the effects of typhoon Yolanda. Moreover, the Secretary revealed that last year, the Philippines posted the highest percentage of r ice harvest in the history of farming, having reached 18.44 mill ion metric tons of r ice.

PIA FILE PHOTO

Ph has achieved 96% rice sufficiency despite Yolanda Alcala, however, called on the stakeholders not to rest on these laurels. He said that the continuous help of the department is also a commitment of the President to better the l ives of the farmers especially in the Yolanda stricken areas. Alcala exhorted the farmers and the LGU leaders present to continue the interventions they have done to revive farming in their respective places and to expand their farming and not focus on rice alone. (PIA 8)

RICE SUFFICIENCY

2 April 24, 2014

DA secretary distributes P459 million worth of farm implements to Leyte townsS ecretary Proceso J. Alcala of the

Department of Agriculture led in the turn-over of farm implement worth P459 mill ion to various municipalities in the province Leyte, on April 23, 2014. The activity was held at the newly renovated municipal hall of Palo, with the presence of the host municipality mayor Remedios Petil la, Gov. Jericho Petil la of Leyte, congressman Jose Carlos Cari of the fifth district of Leyte and the different mayors coming from the 5 district of Leyte. Sec. Alcala called for the understanding of the people present in the turn- over of farm implements for his failure to achieve his promise to reach 100% percent of r ice sufficiency. As of press time, Alcala informed that the Philippines has achieved 96% rice sufficiency a 4% short to his promise. However, with the percentage, he is happy

because three years ago the Philippines only achieved 86% r ice sufficiency. Though he did not want to blame anyone for this he explained that it was also because of the effects of typhoon Yolanda. However Alcala said “that we should not focus to the things we did not achieved but on the positive things”. He revealed that last year the Philippines posted the highest percentage of r ice harvest in the history of farming, as it reached 18.44 mill ion metric tons. Alcala emphasized that the continuous help of the department is also a commitment of the president to better the l ives of the farmers especially in the Yolanda stricken areas. Alcala exhorted the farmers and the LGU leaders present to continue the interventions they have done to revive farming in their

respective places and to expand their farming and not focus on rice alone. He also requested that LGU leaders present and who was to receive tractors to make use of it and not display it in their municipal halls. The host municipality mayor Remedios Petil la thanked secretary Alcala for the visit and the farm implements distributed to several towns in Leyte, she revealed that just after typhoon Yolanda the department of agriculture immediately heed to their call for assistance in their agriculture sector. The mayor said that with the support coming from the national government “the bottomline is at the end of the it ’s sti l l the government that will work very hard for the local government”. ( PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann A. Abella)

Agriculture secretary Proceso J. Alcala. PIA FILE PHOTO

April 24, 2014 3

LMP Leyte thanks PNoy for his efforts to help Yolanda-stricken areas

T he League of the Municipalities of the Philippines Leyte Chapter

, in its recent meeting, passed and approved a resolution thanking the president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino II I , for his efforts to help Leyte especially all the municipalities stricken by typhoon

Yolanda. The resolution was suggested by LMP national president and LMP Leyte Chapter President Leonardo Javier of Javier, Leyte and seconded by more than twenty mayors present in the recently concluded LMP Leyte

OCD 8 has new chief

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas has a new regional

director in the person of Dr. Blanche Gobenciong who replaced Director Rey M. Gozon following the formal turnover ceremony conducted Wednesday at Ritz tower de Leyte, this city. Pursuant to the office order dated April 14, 2014 and signed by Office of Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Eduardo T. Del Rosario, the transfer and reassignment of Gobenciong has been approved. Hence, effective April 23, 2014 she has assumed her new designation as the Regional Director of Office of Civil Defense and Chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) in the region. Dr. Gobenciong who is from Eastern Visayas is a native of Tanauan Leyte. She was assigned in Central Office before her transfer to the region. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Gobenciong humbly accepted her new responsibilities, obligations and authority as Regional Director for OCD in the region. Likewise, Director Gozon who has been serving the office for three years, three months and six days in acting capacity as regional director relinquished his post and now designated as new Assistant Regional Director. In his speech, Gozon expressed his heartfelt thanks to his superiors for

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON www.pia.gov.phthe chance and confidence given to him to lead a team who has given so much more than themselves. “It has been an honor in my life to be appointed as officer in charge of the OCD region 8 because I was given the chance to lead a team that is not only able and capable but a team who has given so much more than themselves.” Gozon said. Gozon was also very appreciative of the support and cooperation of his staff, local government units through the DRRM officers, various non-government organizations and people’s organizations, members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the region and other stakeholders. He was also very appreciative of the strength shown by the stakeholders when Yolanda tested not only his capacity as a leader but also the relationships of the stakeholders to its maximum level. Gozon promised support and cooperation to the new chief in their quest of building back better of the region. The turnover of command was made in the presence of OCD Deputy Administrator Director Romeo F. Fajardo, PNP and AFP officials in the region, local government executives and other members and representatives of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in region 8. (PIA-8)

meeting held Tuesday. “ We will present it through Governor Dominic Petil la when the president comes,” said Javier. Javier said that the President ’s visit is in conjunction with his plans related to jobs, rehabilitation and reconstruction. I t was also revealed by Mayor Remedios Petil la that one of the reason that the President is tentatively coming is the Mega Jobs Fair to be held in St. Paul School of Business and law gym in Palo. The resolution of appreciation said Javier is f itting because the government has always been there to support Leyte. Almost all government agencies l ike DSWD, DA, DENR, DPWH and others came to help, the LMP president said.Javier also shared the frustration of the majority of the mayors present in the meeting that some organizations come to their municipalities to ask for needs assessment but few came back to really give the much needed assistance. I t was revealed that out of 10 organizations who came to ask for needs assessment only one or two organizations actually came back to give help. However, Javier lauded the many other organizations that came and really helped Leyte, he made mention of the Korean Government, Tzu Chi Foundation, UNCHR and other humanitarian organizations. Javier said that with the calamity in that struck Leyte and with all the help coming from the government, is a manifestation that in times of disaster you can count with your own government. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann A. Abella)

4 April 24, 2014

Authorities capture five Calbayog Jail escapees, eleven still at large

With the joint manhunt operations conducted by Bureau of Jail and

Penology, Philippine National Police based at Calbayog City, Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 8, five escapees in Calbayog City Jail were captured in separate places and dates in Calbayog City, Samar recently. In a telephone interview with Calbayog City Police Chief Elmer Cinco, he said that manhunt operation still continues until all escapees will be back into the custody of the authorities. Cinco revealed that out of 16 inmates of the Calbayog City Jail who are at large since March, four were recaptured

while one was found dead. He added that one concerned citizen reported to the city jail the dead body of escapee Romeo Carpio, near a river at Sitio Minlawaan, Barangay Gadgaran, Calbayog City, 500 meters distance from the City Jail. On April 7, one escapee Romeo Pinote facing a rape case was chased by operatives and arrested and now in the custody of BJMP. On April 14, in a separate operation, BJMP led by Ji Henry Ballon and Calbayog Police Chief Cinco captured Rogelio Cuanico who is charged for robbery and Nelwin Juanero, charged for

murder, Juanero instead tried to grab the firearm of the police element, the scuffle resulted to the escapee being wounded, he was brought to the hospital but was pronounced dead. On April 18, in a progress report on the jail break, another escapee Roberto Pintuan with the crime of rape was arrested by the same operatives. To further disseminate the information, profiles of the eleven escapees are already distributed to the RIU8, military Intelligence group of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Coastguard. (PIA 8- Samar with Avha H. Ebalde)

Earth Day celebration in So. Leyte coincides with first environment summit

The very first environment summit held at Lourdes Convention Center

at barangay Mantahan here April 22 drew together experts on matters relating to nature’s biodiversity, marine and forest management, and each one shared inputs in their respective fields. The gathering, which coincided with a global observance of Earth Day, also served as a forum for non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and local government units to partake with their best practices on how they were able to maintain the ecosystem, while coping with the practical demands on daily life among their members. “Environment protection is the name of the game. All sectors of society must realize the importance of the environment, this is the rationale of this summit,” declared Gov. Roger Mercado in his welcome message before an audience of more than 400 individuals composed of provincial officials, Mayors, LGU officials, police officers, religious groups, the academe, and some private sector organizations.

Dr. Eva Abad, head of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), the office which spearheaded the event, said in her overview that the summit was the brainchild of the Governor, a known environment advocate. Timing for the holding of the activity was meaningful not just because it was Earth Day, a timely act in itself, but also because this month and year marked the 6th anniversary for the passage of the province’s Environment Code, Abad said, adding that the Code was the “roadmap for a clean and green Southern Leyte.” The speakers of the day-long activity included Dr. Paciencia Milan, Professor Emeritus, Visayas State University (VSU),who was introduced by Board Member Daisy Gamale as the Keynote Speaker; Elmo De la Cruz, GTZ Advisor; Director Eduardo Mangaoang of the Regional Climate Change Center, VSU; Dolores Nuevas, GTZ Regional Coordinator, and Edwina Montederamos of PENRMO.

The sharers included Nicanor Bendijo for the marine park experience of Molopolo and Sta. Cruz, Macrohon; Leo Vanzuela of the Young Innovators for Social and Environment Development Association (YISEDA), an upland people’s organization in Maasin City; Jesus Gloria and Evaresto Carigara for the Macrohon waste management; and Leodillin Ansale, for the Silago experience on ridge-to-reef approach. Among the highlights was the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the four new marine park sanctuaries in Maasin City located at barangays Mahayahay, Badiang, Lib-og, and Pasay. A covenant signing for the Southern Leyte Sustainable Development Council was also held, in which all summit participants affixed their signatures to express their desire to help nurture the environment. The first provincial summit has for its theme “Protecting and Sustaining Southern Leyte’s web of life.” (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

SOUTHERN LEYTE

SAMAR

BY: MARCELO M. PEDALINO

April 24, 2014 5GK Build replaces Friday Hataws in Maasin City

As Bayani Challenge in this city continues, Mayor Maloney Samaco,

a staunch Gawad Kalinga (GK) supporter and advocate, announced during the closing rites of the 5-day Bayani Challenge Tuesday last week that the house build at Josefina II GK village in barangay Combado shall continue every Friday afternoon. Samaco said that instead of the regular Hataw exercises of the city employees every Friday, this will be devoted for the continuation of unfinished ten houses at the said GK village. During the Bayani Challenge from April 11 last week, city heads of

offices, city employees and other national line agencies with offices in the city comprised the bulk of the more than 8,000 volunteers that showed up to build houses, repair chapels, beautify schools, paint bike lanes, plant mangroves, and conduct medical missions. An early morning fun run around the city would have capped the 5-day event, but this was waived because of the rains and substituted by light calisthenics at the central school gym, followed by a boodle meal among the volunteers in the beach behind the city hall, Samaco reported in the city-paid radio program. Also at the radio program, Samaco disclosed that the city

government had donated P 1 Million for the construction of ten housing units at the Combado GK site, the beneficiaries of which will be screened by the city social welfare office. Even with a surplus of manpower, the ten units were not completed in five days because of lacking materials, hence the decision to continue the work on Fridays during Hataw time until all the houses shall be finished, Samaco explained. Friday last week fell on a Good Friday, a holiday and holy day, so the count on the first of several Friday afternoons for use at GK henceforth starts this Friday April 25. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

BY: MARCELO M. PEDALINO

6 April 24, 2014

Mga CSOs sa siyudad sa Maasin naglihok aron sa pagtabang sa pag-papha sa problema sa malnutrisyon

Gipasalamatan ni Mayor maloney Samaco ang nagkadaiyang

mga civil society organizations nga naglihok aron sa pagtabang sa pagpapha sa problema sa malnutrisyon sa siyudad sa Maasin atol sa panagtigum sa City Nutrition Committee, dili pa lang dugay.

Diin ubay-ubay nang mga grupo ang misunod sa iyang kampanya sa Adopt a Malnourished Child nga prohekto nga una niyang gipatuman kauban sa pagtambayayong sa mga membro sa Sangguniang Panglungsod, mga department heads sa

pangagamhanan sa Maasin City og mismo kaniya kinsa mi-angkon og usa ka severely malnourished nga bata nga gipaka-on sulod sa 120 ka adlaw sukad pa sa milabay nga tuig. Samtang ang Edmund Rice Services nagtigum og pundo alang sa pagpaka-on og 12 ka severely malnourished nga mga kabataan diha sa ilang barangay, maingon usab ang Senior Citizens sa Brgy. Laboon; Samtang ang mga grupo sa Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) misagop usab og laing 12 ka mga severely malnourished nga mga katabaan; ang pribado nga Saint Joseph College -mipasiugda usab sa ilang Adopt a Brother nga kalihokan. Ang Bel Amis Fraternity sa ilang “Barya Mo, Kinabukasan Mo” nga pagkolekta og kuwarta diha sa mga tindahan alang sa pagtabang sa pagkabaton og maayong nutrisyon ang mga kabataan, lakip usab ang mga personnel diha sa Maasin City Fire Department nga misagop og mga severely malnourished nga mga kabataan sa siyudad sa Maasin. Sa laing bahin, ang sa grupo sa Regional Nutrition Council kinsa mipahigayon sa pre-evaluation alang sa pag-apil sa siyudad sa Maasin sa pagsunggkit sa pinakataas nga nutrition award sa nasud kon 2014 Nutrition Honor Award makakita sa leadership ni Maasin City mayor Maloney Samaco sa suporta og paggahin og pundo alang sa programa sa nutrisyon nga gipatuman sa tanan nga mga 70 ka barangay sa Maasin City, matud ni Dr. Catalino Dotollo, ang Regional Coordinator sa National Nutrition Council (NNC). Nahibalo-an nga ang siyudad

CEBUANO NEWS

PADAYON SA PAGE 7

April 24, 2014 7Palisiya nga ‘visa-free’ para han mga Pilipino ha US, waray kamatuoran

P i n a n h i m u w a h a n e m b a h a d a h a n P i l i p i n a s h a Wa s h i n g t o n

h a n M i y e r k u l e s a n m g a s u m a t n g a k i n a l a t h a i n t e r n e t m a h i u n o n g h i n “n o - v i s a” n g a p a l i s i y a p a r a h a n m g a P i l i p i n o n g a i g i n p a s a m w a k d a w h a n E s t a d o s U n i d o s . D i d a h i n u s a n g a p a h a y a g, n a g s e r i n g a n e m b a h a d a h a n P i l i p i n a s n g a g i n k a k a b a l i t a a n n i r a a n U S D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e , n g a n p i n a n h i m u w a d a w h i n i a n p a g h i m o h a n m a o n g a p a s a m w a k . I g i n p a p a s a n t o p h a n

e m b a h a d a h a p u b l i k o n g a a n m a o n g a a r t i k u l o n g a i g i n p a p a k a l a t h a s o c i a l m e d i a h a n i n t e r n e t e n u s a n g a s a t i r i k o n g a s i n u r a t n g a d i r i a n g a y p a g s e r y o s o h o n . S e g u n h a n m a o n g a a r t i k u l o, a n n o - v i s a n g a p a l i s i y a e n i g p a p a t u m a n d a w h a g i l a y o n . I n u l p o t a n b a g - o n g a p a l i s i y a , s u b a y p a h a n m a o n g a a r t i k u l o, k a t a l i w a n l a h i n u s a n g a s u r b e y k o n d i i n i g i n p a p a k i t a n g a k a u r o g h a n m g a P i l i p i n o e n p a b o r a b l e i t o n p a g k i t a n g a d a h i t o n E s t a d o s U n i d o s . N a n n g u n a a n P i l i p i n a s

d i d a h a n m a o n g a s u r b e y b a h i n h i t o n i m a h e n h a n E s t a d o s U n i d o s h a b u g - o s n g a k a l i b o t a n , k o n d i i n n a l u p i g a n p a n g a n i a n E s t a d o s U n i d o s m i s m o h a b a h i n h i t o n p a b o r a b l e n g a p a g k i t a n g a d a h i t o n m g a A m e r i k a n o, s u m a l a p a h a n n a s a b i n g a a r t i k u l o. N a g d e s i s y o n d a w a n U. S . p a g t a g a n a h a n m a o n g a n o -v i s a n g a p a l i s i y a k o m o p r e m y o h a m g a P i l i p i n o t u n g o d n g a g i n p a g w a p o d a w h i n i a n U. S . d i d a h a n s u r b e y. ( G i n b i n i s a y a n i D U M - P I A 8 , E a s t e r n S a m a r )

sa Maasin naggahin og P1.8 Milyones nga pundo alang sa tuig 2014 ngadto sa Maasin City Nutrition Committee. Sa ilang paghatag sa pasiuna nga obserbasyon sa ilang pre-evaluation nga gipahigayon kaniadtong Abril 14-16, 2014 diin random nga gipili ang mga barangay sa Mahayahay, Lunas, Pinaskuhan, Tawid og Abgao, makita usab nila ang nagkadaiyang mga pamaagi nga gi-implementar sa tagsatagsa ka mga barangay aron sa pagsiguro sa iksakto nga timbang sa mga kabataan kon pagkabaton sa maayong nutrisyon sa ilang mga panglawas. Lakip niini, Ilang nakita

Ang Malacanang sa Martes giabiabi ang ang pagbuut sa

Supreme Court pagpalugway sa temporary restraining order ( TRO) nga nagpugong sa Manila Electirc Cooperative (MERALCO) gikan sa pagpahamtanag ug presyo sa elektrisidad. Kini sa pagkatinuud usa ka butang nga among giabiabi, sa pagpalandong nga bakasyon

Palasyo giabiabi ang pagpalugway sa Supreme Court sa temporary restraining order sa pagpataas sa presyo sa elektrisidad

karon, ug dunay dugang nga kinahanglan nga elektrisidad, ingon ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. Ang Meralco nagplano pagdugang sa presyo sa elektrisidad ngadto sa P4,15 matag kilowatt-hour. Ang High Tribunal una nga nagpagula ug 60 ka adlaw nga TRO sa Disyembre 2013, ug nagpagula ug laing pagpalugway sa Pebrereo 18,

nga matapos na sa Martes Abril 22. Ang pagpalugway sa TRO sa walay duhaduha abiabihon sa katawhan, dugang ni Lacierda. ( Translated by Teresita B. Cardenas/PIA8-Northern Samar)

MGA CSOS...GIKAN SA PAGE 6ang pinasahi kon kinaugalingon nga inisyatibo sa Barangay Abgao sa ilang pagpatuman sa Breast Feeding designated areas sa mga pribado nga mga patigayon, ang Barangay Mahayahay nakita usab nga nagpasiugda og mga kalihokan ang mga opisyales sa barangay aron makatagamtam og tabang pinansyal ang ilang mga katawhan sa panahon nga ma-ospital kon hospitalization benefits. Kini nga kalihokan naglantaw alang sa kaayohan sa panglawas sa komunidad diin makabenepisyo usab ang mga kabataan, matud Dr. Dotollo. (esg/Pia8 SoLeyte)

8 April 24, 2014

aspalto

2ft.

2ft.1ft.

Mga Pama agi sa Pagtindog sa Malig-on nga Balay

30 cmmax.

2

1

30°

V2

PAG-ATOP (Roo�ng)

PAG TUKOD (Bracing)

BINTANA UG (Doors and Windows)

PAG-PALIG-ON (Bracing)

PAGSUMPAY (Connections)