One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 46

Vol 5 Issue 46 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 November 16 - 22, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue NFA urges LCEs to campaign against rice wastage

DTI-8 launches Bahandi Center at Tacloban airport

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Iloilo NGP areas ‘El Niño ready’

Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 17 (PIA6)—Areas covered by the National Greening Program (NGP) in Iloilo are prepared for the adverse effects of El Niño.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-6 (DENR) said that trained Bantay Gubat Teams have been created in seven towns covered by the Community Environment and Natural Resources

Office. The Bantay Gubat is a composite team of Forest

Extension Officers, Forest Technicians, selected members

of Peoples‘ Organizations, and barangay officials. The DENR Regional Public Affairs Office said

that the composite group is divided into several

teams to be deployed to the NGP sites identified from 2011-2015.

The teams will then be doing foot patrol around the

sites, to watch out for forest fires and monitor activities. There are also fire lines constructed, look-out towers

erected and fire-fighting tools acquired, as well as small

water impounding systems established, according to the

DENR-6 Director Jim Sampulna. ―Actually our NGP field coordinators all over the

region were instructed to prepare contingency plans to

protect the NGP areas,‖ Sampulna said. He also said that losing NGP areas to drought or

fires, would also mean loss of livelihood to thousands of families who are dependent on the project for economic

support. Meanwhile, NGP Regional Coordinator Bernabe

Garnace said they have prepared their contingency plans

ahead of time to protect the NGP sites as these are pre-cious to them.

Part of the preparation, Garnace said, included the

conduct of information drive to forewarn stakeholders of possible effects of El Niño, which is described as the strongest by far to hit the Philippines.

―Climate change and related environmental laws are also part of our information dissemination campaigns,‖ Garnace said. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By Ferliza Calizar-Contratista

CEBU CITY, Nov. 20 (PIA) – The National Food Authority (NFA-7) in the region called on local chief executives to step up campaign to minimize rice wastage.

In a Kapihan sa PIA recently, NFA-7 information officer Agnes Militante said Filipinos as a whole wastes around P10B worth of rice every year. Every individual she added wastes an average of two tablespoons of rice daily

and it could add up to 3.3 kilogram a year. ―If we compute it with the 100 million population, it

is P27M daily and rice wastage could go up to 330,000

metric tons every year,‖ Militante said. In terms of production, Cheryl de la Victoria,

information officer of the Department of Agriculture

(DA-7) said Central Visayas is 32 percent rice sufficient,

except for Bohol Province which is 102 percent rice sufficient, the rest of the Provinces Cebu, Negros

Oriental and Siquijor are more than 50 percent short, she added.

For this month both DA and NFA officials are

encouraging the City and Municipal Mayors to come up with their own initiatives in becoming a "Food Guardian" which is a program of the agriculture sector launched three years ago with the tagline "Be Riceponsible Campaign".

―We cannot do anything if we don‘t have the support of the Local Chief Executives, or they can also come up with their own legislation,‖ Militante said.

Cebu City accordingly came up with a Resolution

mandating food outlets to serve half cup of rice. Other activities in the National Rice Campaign

include Zumba and Run for Rice and bringing the campaign

to the educators and schools. An average Filipino eats around 4 ½ cups of rice daily.

(mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 16 (PIA) — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Eastern Visayas formally launched recently the Bahandi Pasalubong &

Product Display Center at DZR Airport, this city. The launching of the project was spearheaded by DTI

regional director Cynthia Nierras with support from Ma. Teresa Robielos, Development Assistance Specialist of the

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines which is a partner agency of the project.

In a brief interview with Director Nierras, she said the establishment of the center will serve as a good venue for marketing of the products sold by the small and

medium entrepreneurs in the region particularly the members of the Bahandi Producers Association (BPA).

―Having an outlet at the Pasalubong Center would

mean a lot of opportunities to the bahandi producers for

they would surely create a regular market in the city thereby generating income for the small and medium enterprises,‖ Nierras said.

On the part of the USAID, Robielos said this is a realization of the dream of their livelihood team to help

the small and medium enterprises of eastern visayas particularly Leyte and Samar.

The Bahandi Pasalubong Center showcases native foods and other homemade products in region 8 particularly moron, binagol, queseo, pastillas, cassava cake,

bags, mat or ―banig‖ among others. Bahandi producers in the region stopped its

operation at the airport when its business outlet

was swept by the storm surge due to super typhoon Yolanda that hit Tacloban and others areas two years ago.(ajc/PIA-8)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

BFAR-6 Assistant Regional Director Carlito

Delfin presents the Visayan Sea operational

plan for the closed season for the conservation

of sardines, herrings, and mackerels as

mandated by Fisheries Administrative Order

167-3 during its kick-off held Tuesday, Nov.

17, 2015 at Estancia, Iloilo.

The National Grid Corporation of the

Philippines (NGCP) recently held a ―Power

102‖ briefing in Dumaguete city to inform

local media men and public information

officers in the province on the developments

of NGCP‘s expansion projects in Negros

Island. (L-r) Engr. Jede James Cataylo, head for

Negros Area Controlled Center, Engr. Hannel

Tamayo, head of Visayas Systems Planning

Division, Engr. Zosimo Briones, head of Ne-

gros Operations and Maintenance Division and

A t t y . C yn th i a A l a b a n z a , N GCP

spokesperson and head of NGCP-CCPAD

(PIA7-NegOr)

Launching Program of Model Pedicab Drivers

with Rolando Juanillo, Prov'l Director TESDA

@ Provincial Covered Court, Catbalogan City

November 16, 2015 (pics by JunArc)

A Kapihan sa PIA was held November 18 at the PIA -7, 3rd Floor,

Machay Building, Gorordo Ave., Cebu City with (l-r) NFA -7

Regional Information Officer Mary Agnes Militante and DA -7

Information Officer II Cherryl de la Victoria to talk on the National

Rice Awareness Month. The forum was aired live thru

DYMR-Radyo ng Bayan-Cebu 576 Khz from 10:00 am to 11:00 am

and delayed telecast at Sky Cable Ch. 61at 5:00 pm. (vvv/PIA Cebu)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Closed fishing season till February 2016

By Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 18 (PIA6) - - The closed fishing season for herrings, sardines and mackerels in some portions of the Visayas

Sea and adjoining waters started on Monday, November 15 of this year.

T he closed season will run until

February 15, 2016 as mandated by the

Fisheries Administrative Order 167-3.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources 6 (BFAR 6) Director Remia Aparri

said it is during this period that the spawning

activity of the three species in the Visayas Sea

peaks.

―We want to manage that these three

fish species will be allowed to spawn and

reproduce young ones to replenish the stock

and increase their population during the

three-month closed season for sustainability

and better and bigger catch for our fisherfolk,‖

said Aparri.

A study, according to Aparri, shows

herrings, sardines and mackerels constitute

one-third of the fish production in the Visayas

Sea. She said teams from BFAR offices in

Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be deployed in full

force to strictly monitor and enforce the

fishing ban.

―Region 8 was involved because there are

observations that commercial fishing boats

who evade apprehensions here go to Region

8,‖ said Aparri.

The closed season covers the following

areas: from the mouth of Danao River in

Escalante, Negros Occidental on the

northeastern tip of the Bantayan Island to

Madridejos, thru the lighthouse on Gigantes

Island, to Olutaya Island, to Culasi Point in

Capiz province, southward along the eastern

coast of Iloilo to the mouth of Talisay River,

westward across the Guimaras Starit to

Tomonton Point in Negros Occidental,

eastward along the northern coast of the

Negros Island and back to the mouth of Danao

River.

As provided for by FAO 167-3, violators

will be subject to imprisonment of six months

and one day to six years and/or fine of P6,000

and forfeiture of the catch and cancellation of

fishing permit or license.

Aparri together with Directors Andy

Bojos and John Albadejo of BFAR Regional

Offices 7 and 8 made the announcement on

the start of the implementation of FAO-167-3

during a kick-off activity held in Estancia, Iloilo,

November 17.

Municipal Fishery Officers, fishing boat

operators and representatives of fisherfolk

associations and concerned local government

units and national government agencies who

also attended the event expressed their

support to the closed fishing season by

affixing their signatures in the commitment

tarpaulin bearing the words ―Ako nagaPanaad

nga Amligan kag Tipigan ang Dunang Manggad

sang Visayan Sea.‖ (JCM/Laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

Antique Irrigators' Associations unite

SAN JOSE, Antique, Nov. 16 (PIA6) - - The National Irrigation Administration organized the Irrigators’ Association

Coordinating Council (IACC) in various municipalities in the province to consolidate the initiatives and programs of all

irrigators association existing in one municipality.

T he installation of the IACC is

necessary, said Engr. Lalaine Selerio

Information Officer of NIA because in

most cases, there are two or more

Irrigator‘s Association (IAs) organized in one

municipality. In the context of NIA-IA-LGU

framework in the operation and maintenance

of the system there‘s a need to consolidate the

initiatives and programs of these IAs.

Engr. Randy C. Alipis, Acting Division

Manager, NIA – Antique IMO said this council

will be of great help to farmers seeking

assistance to other agencies and local

government units.

The IACC will act as a planning,

monitoring and evaluating body on matters

pertaining to issues and concerns related to

the Operation and Maintenance of the IAs.

It will also act as a coordinating body

during implementation of programs, projects

and activities that involves farmer-members of

IAs, other government agencies, the local

government units, the people‘s organizations

and non-governmental organizations.

Likewise, the IACC will also provide

support to complement, synchronize and

harmonize activities that are of cultural and

social significance to all stakeholders within the

municipality. It will act as an avenue or

conduit to facilitate the availment of IA as an

organization of government support programs

related to agricultural production and

technology transfer.

The IACC is composed of NIA, IA, LGU,

the People‘s Organizations and Government

Organizations and Agencies who provide

credits, loan and marketing assistance, good

quality seeds and those who provide

technology and assistance on the aspects of

livelihood and enterprise development.

On November 11, 2015, the IACC was

organized in the Municipality of Culasi,

Antique. This activity was participated by NIA,

the Local Government Unit (LGU) and

Irrigators‘ Associations (IAs). Early in October

the IACC was also organized in the town of

Tobias Fornier.

―The rest of the municipalities will follow,

since we are targeting the installation of all

IACC provincewide,‖ said Alipis. (JCM/NIA/

PSM/PIA6Antique)

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

Sagay City hosts story-book writing workshop

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Nov. 16 (PIA6) – Those who are fond of writing stories and are planning to make their own

books in the future can come to the story book writing workshop presented by Museo sang sa Bata sa Negros Foundation, set

November 24 in Sagay City.

T he event will be from 8:30 AM until

4:30 PM and it will be held at the Balay

Kauswagan, a release from the Sagay

City Information Office said.

The topics that will be presented are as

follows: Writing for Children, Element in

Stories, Book Design and Copyright, among

others.

The workshop will be facilitated by a

husband and wife team, Ronald Verso and

Beverly Wico-Sy. Those who are interested or

have queries regarding the event, can contact

Ms. Remar Gallego at 09177987420.

Participants are urged to register early

because there are limited slots available for the

event. There will be workshop to be held in

Bacolod City, November 25 at the University

of St. La Salle (USLS).

Beverly Wico-Sy was associated with the

Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society Inc. or

FILCOLS, a group to Writers and Publishers

who banded together to protect the copyrights

of Filipino writers.

Her advocacy made her National Book

Development Board‘s Book Champion and IP

Ambassador this year.

Meanwhile, Ronald Verso is the editor of

Cavite Young Writers Association‘s

LITA: Poems on Women, which won The

Filipino Readers‘ Choice Awards in 2013.

He is also the publisher of several

anthologies from local writers, including

Mesandel Arguelles‘ PESOA, which is National

Book Award Finalist and FRCA Finalist this

year. (JCM/CBA/PIA6/Sagay City-Negros

Occidental)

Carlson B. Alelis

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 18 (PIA6) – About 30 exhibitors will participate in the Capiz Product Expo of the Department

of Trade and Industry (DTI) at Robinsons’ Place in Pueblo de Panay from Dec. 5 to 8 in view of the Sinadya sa Halaran 2015

celebration.

T he five-day selling event will feature

Capiz – made products by the Micro

Small and Medium Entrepreneurs of

the food and craft sectors.

―Some of the products of the craft sector

that will be displayed are the result of the

DTI‘s Product Development and Consultancy

sessions,‖ said a DTI – Capiz Industry

Development Division chief Mercy Young.

Top-notch international lifestyle designer

PJ Arañador has been tapped to provide the

needed consulting services for the craft sector.

Products like home furnishings, fashion

accessories and personal items aside from local

delicacies and processed food products will be

available at the expo.

The DTI initiative for the SSH celebration

highlights the province‘s rich and diverse local

resources as well as its creative, skillful and

resourceful entrepreneurs. (JCM/AAL/PIA6

Capiz)

Capiz MSMEs join Product Expo

Alex A. Lumaque

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 19 (PIA) — The 2015 College Press Conference (COPRE) and Awards, an annual project of the Philippine

Information Agency-6, is all set, with 96 school publications vying for major awards.

T he COPRE 2015 will unfurl at the

Kapis Mansions in Banica, Roxas City,

on November 26.

PIA-6 Director Atty. Janet C. Mesa said

the event is expected to gather about 400

college paper editors and writers in fellowship

and writing competitions.

―The number of publications contesting

for major awards is increasing every year and

we are pleased to note that,‖ Mesa said.

The major awards at stake for the

publications include those for Best Newspaper,

Best Magazine, Best Departmental Publication,

Best Literary Folio, Best Multi-lingual Paper,

and Best College Newsletter.

The Gawad Graciano Lopez Jaena Award,

a Hall of Fame award is given to publications

who garner a major award for three

consecutive years.

Winners for Special Group Contests are

also cited for categories such as, Best News

Page, Best Editorial Page, Best Feature Page,

Best Newspaper Layout, Best Magazine Cover

Design, Best Multi-lingual Paper.

Highlights of the COPRE also include

on-the-spot writing contests, and a Mr. and Ms.

COPRE 2015 Pageant, which is a showcase of

talent, intelligence and beauty.

The day-long activity will be capped by the

awarding ceremonies, to include recognition of

Best Performing School Paper Advisers.

Through the years, Mesa said, COPRE has

been yielding crops of student journalists, who

now are in various fields, always attributing

their feats to their experiences in PIA campus

journalism program.(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

96 publications vie for major COPRE awards

Elsa S. Subong

KALIBO, Aklan, Nov. 17 (PIA6) – For two consecutive days last October 29-30, 2015, Rosalinda Aguirre, a grandmother from

Lezo, Aklan cheerfully stood behind her assigned table laden with her simple farm produce – bunches of saba bananas, violet

camote tops and banana blossoms – with packs of ampaw or rice crispies (Lezo’s leading and original food delicacy) and several

packs of rice puto as added attractions.

Market encounters profitable for farmers, fisherfolks

By Venus G. Villanueva

A fter two days, her total earnings reached

P3,460.00 – not bad for someone like her who earlier was discouraged by her family

from joining the activity fearing she would just get

tired. At her right was Bingbing Bullo of Calizo,

Balete, Aklan, who displayed her saba and kalatunday bananas and papayas as well as ready-to-plant fruit

seedlings like pomelo and green ―tambis‖ on her table, at the same time eyeing her young children she brought along with her.

For her two-day selling venture, Bullo was able to earn P2,020.00.

Aguirre and Bullo were just two of the

many Aklanon farmers, fisherfolks and food producers who flocked to the Provincial Trade Hall late last month to earn and at the same time take

part in the 1st year anniversary of the Farmers and Fisherfolks Market Day marked by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the organizer of the

market encounter, as a milestone of an original

venture. It was again an opportunity for the first

group – and the direct buyers (second group)

composed of Provincial Capitol employees and some national government employees and other people in the vicinity having offices in the Capitol compound,

to come together to benefit from each other: for the sellers - to sell directly to buyers their produce at prices they deem reasonable enough, and for buyers

to buy fresh and nutritious food items – and due to the absence of middlemen, - paying for these at reasonably low prices.

Called the Farmers and Fisherfolks Market Day,

the market-matching was first held on October 16, 2014 in front of the OPA.

The activity was conceived to recognize the

importance of the farmers in the province and to showcase their agricultural and fishery products and by-products.

The first market encounter, joined by 11

farmers/fisherfolk was able to earn P23,407.00. Sold were fish, fresh vegetables and fruits and processed products.

Encouraged by the positive response of both the farmers/sellers and the buyers, the Provincial Government allotted a budget of P500,000.00 to the

OPA to be able to mount the activity regularly and to gather more participants.

The monthly market encounter – sometimes

held twice monthly – is held a day after paydays of Capitol employees to ensure that there would be ready buyers of the farmers/fisherfolks.

Based on records from the OPA, the one-year

provincial marketing activity generated total sales of P878,202.55.

These sales directly went to the farmers and

fisherfolks. Earnings were high during the month of April

this year as the farmers were able to sell their

produce for a week during the Aklan Day anniversary celebration, with P451,552.00 while the 2-day market day on October 29-30 earned a total

of P133,471.75. Farmers/sellers usually come from Aklan‘s 17

towns selling products they are famous for, like

Numancia, which sold lechon along with vegetables

and fruits; Tangalan, with its dried dilis and high-value vegetables and fruits; and Batan – with its fresh seafoods and food products like the famous

puto-buko cake, recipe of which is said to be closely guarded and never shared by the producer.

The market day is also an opportunity for sellers to display and promote health and wellness

items and concoctions like luya salabat, lemon grass juice, dried dragon fruits, healthy ice cream, talong patties, Malunggay/kalabasa canton, squash canton,

organically-planted vegetables and many others. Asked if Nanay Rosalinda would again join the

next market day at the Provincial Trade Hall, she

answered in the positive. According to her, selling her backyard banana

blossoms and violet camote tops makes her strong,

and she earns from these, too, unlike when she stays at home just idling and her vegetables just asked for by her neighbors.

On the part of OPA-Aklan Assistant Provincial

Agriculturist Salome David, she said she is glad everytime some farmer/sellers air positive comments regarding the marketing event.

―One farmer/producer told me he is much happier receiving his sales from his bananas and fruits than in receiving his honorarium as a college

instructor‖, David said. This shows, according to David, that the said

marketing activity in the province is causing a good

impact on Aklan‘s marginal farmers and fisherfolks, making them satisfied, happy and empowered. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Nov. 17 (PIA) – The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has come up with a

contingency plan to prevent power interruptions during the synchronized national and local elections in May 2016.

NGCP readies for 2016 national elections

I n preparations for the national elections,

NGCP has been doing clearing operations

to trees that may create obstructions to its

power transmission and cable lines during the

election period.

However, in a ―Power 101-102‖ media

briefing held recently in Dumaguete City, NGCP

spokesperson lawyer Cynthia Alabanza asked

members of the media and the Association of

Negros Oriental Public Information Officers

(ANOPIO) to help them cautioned the

residents not to plant trees under its transmission

lines.

Atty. Alabanza said trees and vegetation that

grow or are planted near NGCP‘s existing

transmission lines are known to cause tripping or

power outages.

According to Engr. Briones so far the only

problem of power failure and interruptions in

Negros Island is due to trees and vegetation when

it breach prescribed safety clearances for

high-voltage power lines.

Engr. Briones said clearing of trees and

vegetation under transmission lines has become

difficult because of uncooperative landowners.

The NGCP also warned the public of the

safety hazards for right of way (ROW) violators

that may add up to operation problems.

―Uncooperative landowners prevent the

company from conducting the much needed

vegetation clearing activities, thus transmission

services where areas affected are likely

hampered,‖ said Alabanza.

As part of preventive measure, NGCP holds

series of safety information campaigns to media

and information officers and even in barangays to

remind the public to take extra precautions when

near the transmission lines.

Responsible trimming of trees and

vegetation within the transmission line ROW is

part of regular operation and maintenance

procedures done by NGCP linemen.

Alabanza said the NGCP‘s regular

maintenance activities and expansion projects aim

to enhance the reliability and quality of electricity

delivered to customers.

The NGCP does not own the towers and

lands on which the towers are standing on.

Its franchise only covers the operations and

management of the transmission facilities.

The assets, including lines, substations, land

and structure, will remain with the Philippine

government through the National Transmission

Corporation. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Nov. 17 (PIA) – Visayan Forum (VF) president and multi-awarded Filipina anti-trafficking advocate

Cecilia Oebanda was named one of this year’s Child 10 (C10) Awardees by the Sophie Stenbeck Family Foundation and Reach

for Change.

VF head wins award for championing children’s rights

V F Negros coordinator Dondee Señeris

announced this recently as he said

Oebanda once again brought honor

to the Philippines as one of the awardees for

C10 global leaders who fight against child

trafficking.

―Once a child laborer herself, Oebanda

served underprivileged and marginalized

farmers, sugar plantation workers (Sacada) and

urban poor as a catechist. She was imprisoned

during the Marcos regime and raised two of her

four children behind bars.

Upon her release at the end of the

dictatorship, Cecil ia started bui lding

Visayan Forum (VF) as an anti-slavery and

anti-trafficking organization,‖ related Señeris.

VF is a Philippine-based internationally

recognized nonprofit innovating solution to end

modern slavery.

Established in 1991, VF seeks to build a

society where people are free, protected, and

empowered to explore opportunities without the

risk of exploitation and slavery.

VF represents the women‘s sector in both

national and local‘s Inter-Agency Council Against

Trafficking (IACAT), said Señeris.

He added the VF works alongside law

enforcers, government agencies, and transport

groups to intercept potential human trafficking

attempts.

The VF also operates shelters and a safe

house to protect and heal survivors.

Señeris said its institution engages in

trafficking prevention efforts such as raising

awareness, providing economic vulnerable groups

empowerment opportunities, and creating

community watch mechanisms.

Further, VF conducts research, mainstreams

best practices among key stakeholders, and

advocates for policy reform.

VF played a crucial role in lobbying for the

passage of landmark laws such as the Domestic

Workers‘ Act of 2012.

Cecilia Oebanda is the first Filipino to

receive the award. Past Child10 Awardees include

James Kofi Annan of Challenging Heights in

G h a n a , a n d O b y E z e k w e s i l i o f

#BringBackOurGirls Campaign.

―There are many challenges when

you‘re fighting on the ground, and certainly

these can take their toll on us. But VF‘s work

for almost 25 years can speak for itself:

no matter what struggles we faced, we chose to

fight.

We share this success with our partners in

the government, civil society, private sector,

faith-based groups, schools, and communities,

without whom VF would not have been able to

save countless lives.

The world is noticing how we

have intensified our work and our collective gains

in the fight. This award is for us all,‖ Oebanda

said.

Oebanda received the award from with

David Bussau, Chairman of the Board of Visayan

Forum, on November 9, 2015 during the Child10

(C10) Summit and Awarding Ceremony at the

Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. (mbcn/jct/

PIA7-Negros Oriental)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

CEBU, Nov. 18 (PIA) --- The Visayan Electric Company (VECO) and telecommunication providers recently held the

ceremonial signing on the Emergency Response Guidelines following incidents of dangling wires and breaking poles that

oftentimes create worst effects to the public.

R epresentatives from VECO and

telecommunication providers such as

PLDT, Globe Telecom, TelecPhil,

Eastern Telecom, Skycable, CCTN/NGO signed

the Manifesto guidelines.

The objective of the guidelines presented

by Ian Fabian, Manager of Streetlight and

Pole Utilities Department of VECO is to ensure

that all pole attachment maintenance and repair,

especially for emergency related works, are

attended accordingly.

VECO then noted that through

this set of guidel ines VECO now

h a s t h e r i g h t t o i m m e d i a t e l y

response to emergency regardless of whose

wire is affected, as can be recalled that there

is a contract provisions that prohibit VECO

from tampering or interfering with pole

attachments.

The guidelines then covered from

reporting of emergency related pole attachment

maintenance up to billing.

Chief Operating Officer of VECO Anton

Mari Perdices, in his welcome remarks during the

event said that they are all very cautious in terms

of safety.

Valentin Saludes III of VECO added that

they are in close coordination with TelCos on

safety and hazards of the public. (mbcn/ays/PIA7/

with reports from VECO)

VECO, TelCos ink Emergency Response Guidelines

By Amor Y. Saludar

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Nov. 19 (PIA) – Officials from the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and the Philippine Crop

Insurance Corporation (PCIC) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed to provide free crop insurance to

the poorest farmers and fisherfolks in the province.

T he provincial government was

represented by Governor Roel Degamo,

atty. Richard Enojo, Provincial

Administrator, Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio

Paltingca and Provincial Veneterinarian Nestor

Villaflores.

PCIC on the other hand was represented by

its president Atty. Jovy Bernabe, Norman

Cajucom, Senior Vice President for Regional

Management Group, Cresencio deligero, Regional

Manager for Central Visayas, Antonio Uy II, Vice

President for Corporate Business Affairs and

Epifanio Maniebo, member of PCIC board of

directors.

Atty. Bernabe disclosed that through

this partnership with the provincial government,

PCIC targets to cover 30,000 to 50,000 poor

farmers in Negros Oriental for their free

insurance.

―The Department of Agriculture and the

PCIC will give them free crop insurance in case

they are hit by calamities or pestilence,‖ Bernabe

said.

The insurance covers farmers of rice,

corn, sugarcane and high value crops as

well as livestock including aquaculture

farms. The amount of crop insurance is pegged at

P20, 000.

―This is a big help to our farmers.

Around 30, 000 to 50,000 farmers in Negros

Oriental will be covered by this program so I

really thank PCIC for the big help they gave our

province,‖ Degamo expressing his gratitude to

PCIC.

Meanwhile, PCIC Senior Vice President for

Regional Management Group Norman Cajucom

elaborated that the corporation has already begun

coordinating with its local counterparts the

Provincial Agriculturist Office as well as the

Municipal Agriculturist Office in verification of

farmers that will be covered by the crop

insurance program.

However, in the case of Negros

Oriental where sugarcane is one of the primary

agricultural products in the province, Cajucom

noted that the PCIC will only give insurance

to those farmers whose crops are damaged by

accidental fire aside from the usual calamities and

pestilence.

Cajucom also added that the provincial

government signified its intention to provide an

office space for its office as part of the local

government's support to PCIC. (mbcn/ral/

PIA7-Negros Oriental)

NegOr, PCIC ink MOA on crop insurance for

poor farmers

By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Nov. 18 (PIA) -- Energy Development Corporation (EDC) continues to spread positive energy in Negros

Oriental by helping Foundation University (FU) establish its comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation programs,

starting off with an energy audit seminar on November 12 and 13.

EDC guides universities, LGUs on energy efficiency and conservation

T he two-day workshop that took place in

FU was conducted with First Philippine

Holdings and the Department of Energy

(DOE) to help the university foster awareness on

sustainable energy use, to create a culture of

conservation and a less consumptive lifestyle

among its faculty and students.

Accord ing to EDC‘s corporate

communication officer Frances Ariola even with

the abundance of clean, renewable geothermal

power in Negros Island, EDC believes that

conserving energy should still be a way of life for

Negrenses to take better care of the

environment.

The training was also extended to local

government units (LGUs) and other organizations

in Negros Oriental to promote efficient and

cost-effective utilization of energy resources to

minimize environmental impact.

The DOE's Senior Science Research

Specialists, Engr. Maximino Marquez and Engr.

Marlon Romulo Domingo led the workshop on

day 1, which was an orientation on the role

of the academe and local government in energy

conservation and an introduction to energy

conservation and efficiency and energy audit.

FU's Dean Marlon Tanilon also shared with

the participants the university's current energy

efficiency and conservation initiatives.

Day 2 of the workshop was for hands-on

application of the energy audit.

Participants from the local government of

Dumaguete, Sibulan and Valencia, the Department

of Environment and Natural Resources,

Department of Science and Technology,

Department of Trade and Industry,

Silliman University, Saint Paul University

Dumaguete and FU were divided into

groups to do an energy analysis of target

sites and develop programs to achieve their

corresponding energy efficiency and conservation

programs.

Ariola said EDC is the world's largest

vertically integrated geothermal company and

the only purely renewable energy firm in the

country.

It supplies 70% of Negros Oriental's power

supply and it has been empowering communities

and preserving the forests in areas where it

operates for almost 40 years, said Ariola. (mbcn/

jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

SIQUIJOR, Nov. 11 (PIA) — Nearly P500 million worth of road development projects in Siquijor province are eligible and

approved for funding under the national government’s Human Development and Poverty Reduction-Accelerated and

Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (HDPR-ASAP).

P500M up for Siquijor road dev’t projects

T his was bared during the Validation

Workshops on Tourism and Agriculture

as the province‘s priority sector

identified through the Coordinating Roads and

Infrastructure Investments for Development

(CR+ID) project of the Asia Foundation and the

Australian Embassy in the Philippines.

The province has proposed for a total of

P643,083,342.49 worth for eight road

projects province wide as a result of the Provin-

cial Consensus Building and Value Chain Analysis

workshops conducted by CR+ID earlier this

year where multi-stakeholders arrived at an

agreement on tourism and agriculture, particularly

banana and coconut as the priority sectors and

subsectors of the province.

The projects are validated based on the

following criteria: increased efficiency - 20%;

spur economic activity - 20%; reduced cost of

doing business - 20%; Volume of production

- 15%; connectivity - 15%; and volume of traffic

- 10%.

Approved for HDPR-ASAP funding are

Concreting of Canggomantong (Sit io

Can g ga y a ) - B and i l a an -Can t abon Road ,

P53,827,969.04; Concreting of Poblacion-Tulapos

Marine Sanctuary Road (via CVRP Mangrove

forest), P12,153,020.59; Concreting of Banban-Pili

- C a n g h u n o g h u n o g - C a n t a b o n R o a d ,

P52,831,563.34; Concreting of Canlambo-Ponong

-Manan-ao-Balolong-Balolang-Canlasug-Bintangan

Road, P85,894,861.93; Concreting of Tigbawan

-Cangclaran-Kinamandagan-Kimba-Cang-atuyom

-Cang-asa-Campalanas Road‘ P129,194,850.90;

Concret ing of Nagerong -Tagmanocan

-Capalasanan-Poo Road, P82,940,494.40; and

Concreting of San Antonio-Cantabon-Bandilaan

-Cang-apa (Cabilao) Road, P83,053,048.55.

The projects are seen to speed up tourism

and economic development, as well as poverty

reduction efforts of the province.

CR+ID is a successor to the CRID

project or Coordinating Road Investments for

Development, implemented over the last two

years in five provinces: Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras,

Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.

NEDA Region VII highlights the importance

of investment in infrastructure, especially on

transportation in the updated Central Visayas

Regional Development Plan for 2014-2016.(mbcn/

rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Construction of Magellan’s Cross in Limasawa mulled

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 18 (PIA) – In an apparent view to create a concrete historical mark where the first Christian

Mass in the Philippines and Asia was celebrated, a 15-meter-high cross structure is expected constructed in Limasawa island,

Southern Leyte.

T his was discussed today, in the

Regional Development Council

Meet ing , In frastructure and

Uti l it ies Development Committee

(RDC-IUDC) being chaired by DPWH

Director Rolando Asis.

The discussion emanated from

Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No.

720, endorsing to RDC 08, request for

funding assistance for the construction of

the said National Shrine in barangay

Magallanes, Limasawa town.

Records show that Limasawa island has

been declared a tourism zone on November

18, 1994 by virtue of R.A.7822, declaring

further that the island shall be ―accorded

priority development by the Department of

Tourism (DOT).‖

Upon evaluation, the RDC-8 Secretariat

henceforth, said among others, that the

proposed tourism infra project, with an

estimated cost of P10 million is consistent

with the LGUs National Tourism

Development Plan and since ―it will be

constructed on a government property, it is

eligible for funding assistance by the Tourism

Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone

Authority (TIEZA).‖

The evaluation added, however, that

the proponent LGU will have to submit

DENR‘s Environmental Compliance

Certificate (ECC) issued by the Environment

Management Bureau as they shall likewise

has to share a counterpart contribution of

some 10% of the estimated project cost or

in a form of labor or materials.

Once, completed, the Historical

Monument is expected to draw in more

tourists to the region, with a better Ro-Ro

port and other facilities that are up for

construction.

To add more uniqueness to the

monument, modern restrooms are

expected built inside the big Cross

Monument. History tells that on March 16,

1521, Magellan discovered Philippines, by

anchoring first in Homonhon island of

Guiuan, Eastern Samar, but previous claims

for the first mass to be celebrated in the

same shores, remained unfounded to date.

(PIA-08).

SIPPAD considers possible creation of Samar region

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 18 (PIA) -- The three provinces of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Samar

together with each province’s representatives from the church, government, academe, and civil society convened Friday at the

31st Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) Assembly.

T he assembly theme was ―Samar, One

Island, One Eco-system, One

Common Mission towards Total

Human Development‖ at the Provincial

Multi-purpose Gymnasium, Capitol Grounds,

this City.

Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG) Secretary Mel Senen

Sarmiento was the guest of honor during

this assembly. In his message, he urged the

Samarnons not to stop from dreaming for

the island of Samar. ―A shared vision has a

big effect for the development of the whole

Samar Island ,‖ Sarmiento said.

The Interior Secretary added that

because of the ―Tuwid na Daan‖ principle of

Pres. Aquino, many projects are already

funded— especially the road projects in

Samar Island which are to interlink the three

provinces.

Sarmiento urged the Local Government

Units (LGUs) and government agencies as

well to submit their project plans early so

that these can be promptly funded

―Failing to plan is planning to fail,‖ the

Secretary quipped.

Meanwhile, Calbayog Bishop Isabelo

Abarquez, Borongan Bishop Crispin

Varquez, and Catarman Bishop Emmanuel

Trance led the convenors of the assembly

and chorused that it is high time for the

three provinces of Samar Island to make a

move and be united to create an

administrative region so as to push for a

faster economic development.

The Samar Island is constituted of the

three provinces of Eastern Samar, Northern

Samar, and (Western) Samar and is part of

the Samar-Leyte Region officially called as

Region VIII ( Eastern Visayas ).

In her power point presentation,

Meylene Rosales, NEDA Supervising EDS/

OIC Chief of Policy Formulation and

Planning Division and resource person of

the assembly, said that she will neither

accept nor reject the proposal of the

SIPPAD.

―You will decide on your own whether

to push for a separate region or not,‖ she

said. ―You know your place better and you

know what‘s best for you,‖ she further

added. In her presentation, she also

presented the needed parameters in creating

a region and showed the economic status

and potentials of the island.

At the end of the assembly, a resolution

was passed by the SIPPAD urging President

Aquino to create Samar Island as a separate

region through an Executive Order. (SDC/

PIA-E. Samar)

Samuel D. Candido

Pre-Spanish pottery with Baybayin markings

found in Limasawa

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 17 (PIA) -- A rare piece of pottery was discovered in the historic island-town of

Limasawa while the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA) was having a cultural mapping of the area.

I n a text message forwarded to

PIA Monday, November 16,

Nedgar Garvez, Provincial Tourism

Officer, said the pottery artifact was

inscribed with ―baybayin‖ writings, a form of

alphabet said to be the oldest in the country.

Baybayin is an ancient Filipino writing

system in pre-Spanish times. According to

Wikipedia, the system originated from the

Javanese script and part of the Brahmic

family of Burmese, Abigoda, Tamil, and

Malayalam.

In a related development, Limasawa

Mayor Melchor Petracorta confirmed the

find, saying someone was digging in barangay

San Agustin, the upper portion of the island,

and found a skeletal remain with the pot

nearby.

In a radio interview over DYDM this

morning, Petracorta said the excavated

pottery was only the second of its kind, with

its baybayin writings, the first one housed at

the NCCA museum.

The NCCA is still continuing its work

on cultural mapping during which the item

was discovered, with high hopes other

ancient artifacts may still be dug, Petracorta

said.

The discovery was proof that long

before the arrival of Magellan and his fleet in

the year 1521, a flourishing civilization was

already existing in the island, Petracorta also

said. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Pedicab drivers to give renewed spark to Samar tourism

T his was the clamor of the sponsoring

agencies to the first batch of 150 pedi-

cab model drivers to be trained by

TESDA in the next seven days. Pedicab is a

small pedal-operated vehicle, serving as taxi in

downtown Catbalogan.

TESDA Rolando Juanillo urged the

assembled pedicab drivers to help spur tourism development in the capital city and

the province by being presentable, respectful

and knowledgeable of tourist destinations,

shops, hotels and diners that tourists would

seek.

With the boom in eco-tourism, pedicab

drivers will also benefit, as more people means

more passengers in the city, as such, they will

be part of the ‗inclusive growth‘ Juanillo said

during his message. ―Pedicab drivers play in

the value chain in the tourism program,‖

Juanillo said.

He added that training them on

desirable attitudes, values and repair and

maintenance of their units will help the

pedicab driver.

Erning Moreno, 37 from Brgy Mahayag

says he responded to the call because he likes the idea of serving tourists. He said he wants

to practice his English while talking to

foreigners, yes, he knows the best

restaurants and the ‗classy‘ beauty parlors in

town. He also knows where to drive them to

get ‗marasa‘ (delicious) coming home

presents.

The pedicab drivers will attend the

training in seven half-days for them still to be

able to do their jobs, but their lost income will

be replenished with five kilos of rice/ day, as

announced by Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan. The

drivers will also be given a tool kit, five camiso

-china as their uniforms, and rechargeable

lamps that they can use at nighttime.

Governor Sharee Ann Tan also vowed to

provide two more uniforms for the

drivers, she just asked them to follow traffic rules, observe road courtesy to avoid

accidents and to be respectful to their

clients.

The young governor also promised to

bring them to tourist spots to get first-hand

experiences so that they can suggest to their

passengers the natural tourist sites

drumbeated in Spark Samar-the grand

tourism program of the province. (nbq/PIA

8-Samar)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov. 17 (PIA) — More than 5 thousand pedicab drivers are seen to give renewed spark to

Samar tourism.

Road rehab to impact on ESamar’s economy

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 18 (PIA) -- Economic and business activities in the 7 municipalities of the southern

part of Eastern Samar are expected to have more vigor once the rehabilitation of the road section of the Quinapondan-Lawaan

National Highway is completed.

T he project aims to re-block the

d a ma g e d p o r t i o n s o f t h e

Quinapondan-Lawaan National

Highway without asphalt overlay.

This project shall also be an

answer to the complaints of commuters

and motorists who regularly pass by the

damaged portions of the said national

highway.

He explained that some road sections

of the said highway can be observed to have

deteriorated throughout the years and need

immediate repair.

In an interview with PIA, Engr.

Manolo Roxas, district engineer of the

Department of Public Works and

Highways (DPWH)-Eastern Samar, said

that more investments and businesses

will be put up in these southern

municipalities upon completion of the

rehabilitation of this southern coastal road‘s

critical section.

He also emphasized that if the said

rehabilitation will be done, more vehicles —

especially cargo trucks— will be able to

pass. It will also encourage businessmen to

put up additional businesses in the

municipalities of Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos,

Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and

Guiuan.

Roxas further said, that this

road rehabilitation project is expected

to be finished by next year at a cost of

₱35M preventive maintenance project

based on the Pavement Management

System (PMS).

Cons t ruc ted i n 1990s , the

Quinapondan-Lawaan national highway

was designed for light traffic and had a

thickness of 8 inches only.

As it is being rehabilitated now,

road re-blocking and repair thickness will

increase to 11 inches so as to keep up with

road standards and to accommodate heavy

traffic. (SDC/PIA-E. Samar)

Samuel D. Candido

Ninfa B Quirante

Biliran PNP Chief expects better

performance with new patrol jeeps

NAVAL, Biliran, Nov. 18 (PIA) – With the deployment of the new police patrol jeeps to the eight municipalities of Biliran

province , Police Senior Superintendent Lito Bigoy, OIC Provincial Director of the Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO)

expects better performance from the Municipal Police Stations.

P SSupt Bigoy said during the

turnover ceremony of the eight

police patrol jeeps on Novemb 5,

2015 which was graced by no less than

Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento of the

Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG), the delivery of the

patrol jeeps is very timely with the

implementation of the Oplan Lambat-Sibat in

the province.

Oplan Lambat-Sibat is a brainchild of

former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas aimed at

combating crimes through ―deliberate,

programmatic and systematic‖ approach in

dealing with lawless elements.

Sustained police operations under

Oplan Lambat Sibat includes checkpoint

and mobile patrol where the new police

patrol jeeps are of great help for the police

officers on duty.

The eight police patrol jeeps

deployed to the different Municipal

Police Stations (MPS) of the province

of Biliran is part of the 1,490 patrol

jeeps deployed to the different MPS

nationwide.

The distribution of the patrol jeeps

started in May 15, 2015, according to

Secretary Sarmiento.

The police patrol jeeps deployed in the

province of Biliran are numbered and

labelled by municipality as follows: 25 for

Almeria, 26 for Biliran, 27 for Cabucgayan,

28 for Caibiran, 29 for Culaba, 30 for

Kawayan, 31 for Maripipi, and 32 for

Naval. # (fj/PIA 8 Biliran)

Mary Lailani P. Tupaz

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. Alicia E. Nicart

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]