One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 29

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.

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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

[email protected].

You may also inquire from Negros

Oriental Provincial Statistics Office,at

telephone number 422-4372 or through email

address [email protected].(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 [email protected].

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Contributors

All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

Production and Layout

Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado

Regional Offices:

PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected]

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]

PIA 8, Children‟s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]