One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 6

Vol 5 Issue 6 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 February 9 - 15, 2015

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue ESSU to hold 2nd int‘l confab on integrative DRRM

100 Negosyo Centers up in 2015

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Dumaguete sets up P840T urban greening project

DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- Urban greening all

over Dumaguete City is set to be implemented under the Urban Forestry Management and Development (UFMD)

program with P840,000 budget this year. The UFMD has expanded its components through the

city-wide urban greening project to focus more on green economy which will be assisted by the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The project cost has been apportioned between the

Dumaguete City at 40 percent or P240,000.00 and DENR at 60 percent or P600,000.00.

With this development, project development officer Arestio Encabo of Environment and Natural Resources Office

(ENRO) said the city can ably attain its physical target to raise the forest cover of the entire city by 56 percent as well as the

green economic and social stability in the future. Encabo said the city through the ENRO has

institutionalized its ongoing program on UFMD pursuant to an Ordinance No. 20 and 81 series of 2002.

It has annual budget allocation to ably carry out its different program component activities focused on addressing

the alarming problem of global warming and sustainable supply of potable underground water (acquifers) for the City‟s

domestic consumption, said Encabo.

As part of city‟s contribution in mitigating the alarming

worldwide problem on global warming or climate change, the local government targeted to produce seedlings, plant and

grow 2,500 trees yearly. “To address these environmentally catastrophic events,

City ENRO adheres that one of the immediate mitigating measures is to strengthen and intensify the Greening Program

activities by the all local government units in the country,” stressed Encabo.

In 2013, more than 8,000 forest trees species have been planted in different areas of the city with an area of more 32

has. and increased its forest cover by 2 percent from 28 percent in a span of three years time despite the threat of

typhoon Pablo which had destroyed more than 300 trees. For the following year, Encabo reported that the

program dispersed more than 1,000 assorted forest tree seedlings to different groups and individuals for their own

greening project. To intensify its seedlings dispersal, the UFMD program

has convinced academic institutions, school campus organizations and different groups to establish tree growing

project and were able to plant more or less 2,000 assorted forest trees in different barangays of the city. (mbcn/

JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

TACLOBAN, CITY Feb.12 (PIA) – The Eastern Samar

State University (ESSU), Borongan, City will hold the 2nd International Conference on Integrative Disaster Risk

Reduction Management (ICIDRRM) on September 3-5, this year at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Borongan City in response to

the emerging safety and security concerns brought about by increasing frequency and intensity of typhoons and other

natural disasters. The activity is aimed at showcasing research-driven

programs and projects in resolving pressing issues of the day, reducing the adverse effects of disasters to the environment,

health, livelihood and other socio-economic aspects. Several topics will be discussed during the plenary and

parallel research paper presentations that will primarily focus on some thematic areas such as flood, storm, weather tracking

and mapping of risk system, socio-economic models related to natural disasters, use of information technology for climate

change adaptation, psycho-social issues and interventions,

settlement and shelter reconstruction including community rehabilitation programs.

The 3-day conference slated on September 3-5, 2015 was favorably endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education

(CHED) to educators and researchers from both public and private educational institutions where distinguished speakers

have been invited to deliver lectures on topics related to disaster management.

During the last day of the conference, the best papers will be recognized during the awarding ceremony.

Relative to this, interested parties are advised to call or text Dr. Letecia Ladera, Director of the Extension Services

and/or Dr. Felix Afable, Dean, Graduate School of ESSU at cell phone numbers 09077770674 and 09278924114 or log on to

[email protected]. (ajc/cbaVincent Agda,ESSU/PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY (PIA6) - - Some 100 Negosyo Centers are

expected to be established nationwide before the year ends. In his message during the recent grand launching of the

second Negosyo Center in the country here in Iloilo City, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino said that he is working

together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the establishment of 100 Negosyo Centers this year.

“We are hoping by December of 2015, kami po ni Secretary Gregory Domingo would have inaugurated about a

hundred, hopefully, „yon po yung goal for the year,” said Aquino.

Aquino is the author of Republic Act 10644 or the “Go Negosyo Act” that mandates the establishment of Negosyo

Center in all provinces, cities and municipalities in the country. DTI has been given the task or responsibility for the

establishment of these centers which primarily facilitate business development services for entrepreneurs such as

Business Registration, Business Advisory Services, Business Information and Advocacy, and Monitoring and Evaluation.

“Nasa puso po ng bawat Negosyo Center ang kagustuhan na tumulong sa ating malilit na negosyante,” said Aquino.

He said Iloilo City was chosen as one of the pilot areas for Negosyo Center because of the higher chance of success in

line with its implementation. The growth of Iloilo City is about 7.7 percent which is

faster than the national average, according to Aquino.

Meanwhile, Domingo is also hoping that many of the entrepreneurs will avail of the benefits of the “Go Negosyo

Act” through the Negosyo Center. He said the putting up of the centers is part of the efforts

of the Aquino administration to spur inclusive growth in the

Philippines wherein nobody is left behind including the poor as the economy grows.

The poor should also benefit from the economic growth and that there should be jobs generated in the countryside

which is part of the mandate of the Negosyo Center to be able to help generate those jobs, said Domingo.

The Iloilo Negosyo Center is located at the DTI Iloilo Provincial Office at JM Basa-Peralta Sts., Iloilo City. (JSC/LAF

-PIA6 Iloilo)

Fifteen sitios in Bais City are approved for

electrification this year. This was the

announcement made by NORECO-I officials in

a Kapihan forum on Feb 4 at the Mercado de

Bais. The said figure is part of the 234 target

sitios in northern Negros Oriental to be

energized this year.

PhilHealth-6 Regional Vice President Lourdes

Diocson presents the accomplishment report

of PhilHealth-6 to the members of the local

media during a press conference held Tuesday,

Feb. 10, at Westown Hotel here. (PIA6)

PDIC President Cristina Orbeta leads the

groundbreaking ceremony of the Gawad

Kalinga Village in Brgy 8, Lawaan, Eastern

Samar for the 20 family-beneficiaries who

were affected by the 2013 super typhoon

Yolanda. (Samuel Candido / PIA 8-ESamar)

Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino leads the unveiling of the

Negosyo Center signage during its grand launching held Friday, Feb.

6, at the DTI Iloilo Provincial Office here. Also present during the

launch was DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo (inset) and Vice Mayor

Joe Espinosa III.

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

More assistance for Yolanda victims underway

By Jemin B. Guillermo

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 11 (PIA6) – A complete package of assistance is now lined up for residents who were affected by

super typhoon Yolanda.

M elody Nicolas, Disaster Risk

Reduction HEKS-Task Force

Mapalad Component Manager,

disclosed that after they have provided

shelter assistance to their identified

program beneficiaries in Capiz, they are

also giving emphasis to other program

components such as livelihood and

capacity building.

She added that in Capiz, they were

able to provide full shelter to 1,580

families and 151 families were given

shelter materials worth P10,000.

Said beneficiaries are from the four

towns, namely Pilar, Dao, Panay and

Pontevedra.

“We wanted that our target

beneficiaries will not only have houses but

will be able to stand anew by giving them

livelihood assistance such as in agriculture

and fishery, depending on their identified

needs and projects,” she said.

Nicolas also said that they

want their program beneficiaries to

become disaster resilient by providing

them knowledge and capability on disaster

preparedness and responding during

emergencies.

“This is the reason why we are

partnering with the Provincial Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Office

through its Speaker‟s Bureau and Capiz

Emergency Response Team for

community-based DRRM training,” she

stressed.

The said 3-day training for barangay

officials, tanods and health workers from

Rosario, Binaobawan and Dayhagan in

Pilar town is the first DRRM training

facilitated by said NGO.

According to her, they will also be

conducting the same for their other

beneficiary barangays. During the opening

day for the training, February 10, HEKS

Delegate Stephan Titze, who is also the

Panay project head, lauded the

participation and willingness of the

participants to undergo said training

which will be of great help to prepare for

disasters such as typhoon, flood,

earthquake and the like. (JCM/JBG-PIA6)

BSP starts demonetization process

BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA6) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) urges the public to exchange their old banknotes, the

New Design Series (NDS), with the New Generation Currency banknotes, a press release from BSP said.

T he demonetization process will

make way for the circulation of a

single currency series, the New

Generation Currency banknotes or NGC.

It is in line with the provisions of

Section 57 of Republic Act No. 7653,

otherwise known as the New Central

Bank Act, which authorizes the BSP to

replace banknotes that are more than 5

years old.

The process started on January 1 of

this year as part of BSP‟s objective to

preserve the integrity of Philippine

currency.

The NDS banknotes can still be used

until December 31 of this year to pay and

buy for goods and other transactions that

require the use of money.

Starting January 1, 2016, the public

may still be able to replace their NDS

banknotes with the NGC banknotes, but

they can no longer use them for payment

transactions.

The public may opt to exchange

their NDS banknotes with the NGC

banknotes at any bank or at the BSP

branch in Bacolod or any of its regional

offices and branches around the country

for free.

After December 31, 2016, the NDS

banknotes will have no value in financial

transactions, nor will the public be

allowed to exchange them at banks or at

BSP branches nationwide. The NDS

banknotes wi l l be cons idered

demonetized.

The NGC banknotes which were

issued on December 16, 2010 use new

and enhanced security features to protect

the safety of the public against

counterfeiters, the press release also said.

(JSC/CBA-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

By: Carlson B. Alelis

KALIBO, Aklan, Feb. 11 (PIA6) -- Aklanons will be celebrating Valentine‘s Day February 14 by rising against Violence Against

Women and Children (VAWC) through the conduct of ―One Billion Rising‖.

A t one of the meetings to plan out

activities for this event, Jesebel

Vidal, GAD-Aklan Focal Person

said that “One Billion Rising” is the biggest

mass action to end violence against

women in human history.

The campaign, Vidal said, was

launched on Valentine‟s Day in 2012 and

began as a call to action based on the

stunning statistic that 1 in every women in

the planet will be beaten or raped during

her lifetime. “With the world population

at 7 billion, this adds up to more than one

billion women and girls”, Vidal said.

In Aklan, police records showed that

in 2014, crimes committed against women

with ages 18 and up reached 841, which

was higher than in 2013 with 582 cases.

On the other hand, crimes against

children in 2014 reached 573. Most of

these cases involved rape, acts of

lasciviousness, kidnapping, murder,

seduction, etc. For the “One Billion

Rising” event in Aklan, the provincial

government of Aklan through the Aklan

Gender and Development Commission

(AGADC) composed of members from

national, government and municipal

offices, non-government organizations and

women‟s and men‟s groups, the academe

through school officials and students will

hold flash mobs in key areas in Kalibo like

the Gaisano Capital, Kalibo International

Airport and the bus terminal near Kalibo

Bridge while the streetdance or “sadsad”

to the Ati-atihan drumbeats will start from

the Aklan Comprehensive Center for

Women (ACCW) or “Daeangpan passing

DepEd-Aklan, the Kalibo Police Station

and converge in Pastrana Park where a

short program will be held. (JCM/VGV

PIA6 Aklan)

Aklanons up vs. VAWC through 'One Billion Rising'

By: Venus G. Villanueva

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

DENR-6 tops in school site patent applications

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 10 (PIA6) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported that it is now processing

118 school site patent applications, the highest number so far in all the regions.

“ We have set the 2014 school site

patent applications at 115 only,” Jim

Sampulna, DENR-6 Director said,

adding that this posted a 102.61 percent

accomplishment for the regional office.

The patent or title for a school site is

a document required for an educational

institution in seeking funding assistance to

improve its buildings or facilities.

Hector Garrido, OIC chief of the

Licensing Division of the DENR Technical

division said that the Commission on

Audit now requires schools to present the

titles of the sites they occupy.

Garrido said that schools which

occupy lot areas that are not titled find it

difficult to implement structural

development and upgrading of schools

facilities because they lack proprietary

rights.

“We are glad that the Department of

Education had encouraged the schools to

process their land titles,” Garrido said, as

they have actually signed a memorandum

of agreement with the department.

On the other hand, Engr. Mamerto

Caballero, OIC Chief of the Surveys and

Mapping Division, said that through

DepEd‟s initiative, the schools in the

region are preparing for their

security of tenure, a legacy for the future

of the children and the generations to

come. Caballero said they are fast tracking

the region‟s target for all land surveys to

be completed before end of 2015.

Per records, the Licenses, Deeds

and Patents Division is now validating

1,650 school sites in the region, whether

it is owned by DepEd, or it has other

licences or located in alienable

and disposable lands. (DENR/JCM/ESS/PIA

-Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

SAN JOSE, Antique, Feb 12 (PIA6) - - The newly rehabilitated and improved Municipal Hall of Sebaste was recently

inaugurated, with Regional Director Atty. Anthony C. Nuyda and Provincial Director Victorio Pagapulan of the Department of

Interior and Local Government (DILG) gracing the significant occasion which also marked the opening of Patuyaw Festival, the

town‘s community fair.

Sebaste inaugurates P6.5M Municipal Hall

T he Php 6.5M DILG-RAY funding

assistance for the rehabilitation of

the Municipal Hall is taken from

the DILG- Recovery Assistance for

Yolanda (RAY) program which the first

tranche in the amount of P5.2 million was

turned over by Secretary Mar Roxas in

Capiz in April 2014, said Judy Mae

Magdato, Information Officer, DILG

-Antique.

The second tranche of the funds

amounting to P1.3M was successfully

released to the LGU of Sebaste on January

6, 2015 after completing 80% of physical

accomplishment. The rehabilitation started

on May 21, 2014 and ended on January 26,

this year ahead of the schedule date of

completion as stated in the contract, said

Osorio.

Mayor Christopher Varona expressed

gratitude to the national government

particularly the DILG for granting this

project after the Municipal Hall of Sebaste

was damaged by the wrath typhoon

Yolanda in November 2013.

Sebaste is a fourth class municipality

in northern Antique with over 17,000

constituents. The town‟s 10 barangays

belong to the rural areas. The Municipal

Building is just off the national highway

with the church and plaza likewise, well off

the highway forming a clean, unspoiled and

peaceful center to the town.

The newly rehabilitated Municipal Hall

of Sebaste is the 2nd project under

RAY-DILG that was inaugurated in the

province following the town of San

Remigio‟s construction of civic center

which was inaugurated last December 10,

2014. The construction was built with

Build Back Better (BBB) design making it a

disaster-resilient structure.

In addition, about Php 25M was

allocated for the Province of Antique on

the first tranche of funds released for the

reconstruction and rehabilitation of LGU

managed and operated facilities damaged

by Typhoon Yolanda last 2013. The

facilities included under this program are

public markets, municipal halls and civic

centers. (DILG/PSM/PIA6Antique)

By: Alex A. Lumaque

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 10 (PIA6) --- The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas is in need of licensed dentists to be

deployed in various localities in Region 6.

I n a DOH press br ie f ing ,

DOH-6 Ass i s t ant Reg iona l

Director Ma. Paz Corrales said that

16 of the 44 slots for their Dentistry

Deployment Program this year have yet to

be filled.

“These dentists will be deployed in

various inter-local zones comprised of

4-5 municipalities to advance the

agency‟s preventive oral health program,”

she said.

The project is part of DOH thrust to

send public health workers to poor and

vulnerable communities identified by

National Anti-Poverty Commission.

For 2015, a total of 480 dentists are

expected to be hired in this project

nationwide.

The DOH said that application is

open to dentists with official and validated

license from the Professional Regulatory

Commission (PRC).

Dentists must be physically and

mentally fit.

A medical certificate from a

government health facility is required

before the start of employment.

Priority shall be given to dentists

residing in localities where the recipient

provinces are located.

Applications shall be submitted

directly to the DOH Regional Office-6

with the duly accomplished application

form that can be accessed thru

www.doh.gov.ph.

Meanwhile, according to DOH-6, the

ideal ratio of dentists to population is

1:50,000 population based on Republic

Act 7305 or the Magna Carta for public

health workers.

Western Visayas has a ratio of

1:60,000 population. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WVisayas needs more dentists

By: Leonard T. Pineda

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 7 (PIA) – Filipina veteran journalist Che-che Lazaro cites some major ethical issues on the practice

of journalism in the social media platform in a forum with mass communication students and members of Dumaguete media in

Silliman University recently.

2014 Mcluhan Fellow Che-che Lazaro meets

masscom studes

L azaro was in Silliman University (SU) last

Feb. 2 to give a lecture on ethics and accountability in the changing media

landscape in the Philippines as part of the Marshall

McLuhan forum series on responsible media. Her talked is focused on social media as the

new medium of information as well as the ethical challenges that affect the practice of responsible of

journalism in the said platform. Lazaro mentioned that while social media paved

the way for the emergence of citizen journalism, the

issue of accountability has become a big challenge in the said field.

She said social media has allowed people to

express their comments, opinions and thoughts

without using their real name or identity. “Kung mayroon kang sasabihin sa tweets or

comments mo at mali or inaccurate o kaya gawa-gawa mo lang. Ang tanong diyan, sino ang responsable sa para doon sinabi mo kung ikaw ay

nakasakit ng tao?,” Lazaro points out in an interview with the press after the forum.

“Sa traditional media, kung ikay ay nasa radio o peryodista, mayroon kang byline o signature out

pero sa Facebook wala, pwede kang mag-post ng picture ng ibang tao. Paano ka dadalhin sa korte para

kasuhan para sa mga sinabi mong libelous o hindi

tama. Iyon ang isang major disadvantage,” She adds. Another disadvantage is the identity theft

wherein a person can steal identity of a prominent

person online by administering an online fake account in social media sites where his posts can influence or mislead the thoughts of other people who are following or reading posts of that account.

“Maaaring paniwalaan siya kahit hindi niya iyon totoong identity,” Lazaro said.

Other concerns such as inaccuracy in reporting

and scoop mentality are some of the issues that surround the ethical practice of journalism in the social media platform.

As the ethical practice of journalism continues

to be challenged in the online universe, Lazaro reminds mass communication students and even

media practitioners to always exercise the basic principles in journalism as this makes them accountable and credible information disseminators.

“Ang responsibilidad sa traditional media ay nakalapat na. Mayroon tayong KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) na nagsasabi na mali iyang ginagawa niyo o tama ang ginagawa niyo.

Walang pulis sa social media kaya madaling mang-abuso sa social media,” Lazaro relayed.

She also underscores the importance of

keeping journalist‟s integrity even online. “Integrity and responsibility are the badges we

want to carry as journalists because that will

distinguish us from animals,” she concludes. The Philippines, however, has the Cybercrime

Law that punishes crimes committed online such as accountability, cyber bullying and child pornography.

But Lazaro said she is of two minds on the role of Cybercrime Law since she firmly believes on the freedom of speech. On the other hand, Lazaro cited

that social media can help create public pressure that can influence different sectors of the society.

Lazaro was recently received the Marshall

Mcluhan Fellowship Award. Part of her prize is being

a resource speaker for the Marshall Mcluhan forum series on responsible journalism. The forum will be

hald in four provinces in the Philippines including Dumaguete.

Participants of the forum came from SU,

Foundation University and Negros Oriental State University with some representatives from the Department of Education here.

Aside from Dumaguete, the forum will be also

held in Baguio, Cebu and Davao. (mbcn/ral/PIA7 -NegOr)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 10 (PIA) – The city‘s Sandurot Festival got an exposure to Western Visayas tourism market as it got

featured in the recently held 1st Philippine Festival Costume Expo and 3rd Iloilo Travel Mart in Iloilo City.

Sandurot Festival featured in 1st Philippine Costume Expo

T he 1st Philippine Festival Costume Expo

is one of the highlight events during the

Dinagyang Festival on January 23-25. It

aims to present various costumes of the different

festivals around the country and exhibit local

heritage, culture and design.

Some 17 festivals all over the country were

featured in the expo including Dumaguete‟s

Sandurot Festival. Sandurot Festival is an annual

celebration in honor of the city‟s patron saint, St.

Catherine of Alexandria.

Aside from this, the festival also depicts a

part of Dumaguete‟s early history where local

maidens were being snatched by Moro pirates.

This is the popular “Daguit” narrative. “Daguit” is

a local word that means “to snatch.” It is also the

term where the city got its name.

The Dumaguete City Tourism office also

took the opportunity to introduce and promote

the city‟s top tourist destinations, attractions,

products, activities and services to foreign and

local visitors who were at the expo.

“Dumaguete city continues to be aggressive

on travel mart participation and any forms of

positive publicity the city may acquire as this

increases exposure to domestic and foreign

tourist market contributing to the marketability

and desirability of the city as we work along with

our Mayor‟s vision in making Dumaguete the

most livable city for everyone,” City Tourism

Officer Woodrow Maquiling Jr. said.

The 1st Philippine Festival Costume Expo

was organized by Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation. Inc.

(IDFI) and the City Tourism & Development

Office (CTDO) in cooperation with the

Department of Tourism Region VI (DOT 6) and

the Iloilo Tourism Officers Association (ITOA).

(mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr/with reports from

KTAguilar of Dumaguete City Tourism Office)

TAGBILARAN City, Bohol, Feb 9 (PIA) – To mold a human resource development approach especially for tourism support

services, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto signed an executive order forming a council that will look at the tourism and industry

skills mismatch and address it.

U .S Ambassador to the Philippines Philip

Goldberg and Mission Chief Gloria Steele witnessed the signing along with key

industry and academe movers in Bohol at the Bohol

Tropics, February 5.

Bohol situation shows that training institutions here may have intended to prop up the tourism industry with trained workers, but only few

graduates land in desired jobs. The signing of the executive order hopes to

plug this gap by creating the Bohol Government

Industry Academe (GIA) Council composed of representatives from the local industries, academe and pertinent government agencies..

It will be a venue for collaborative efforts and dialogue among industries, as recommended in the Bohol Tourism Human Resource

Development Plan assures Capitol, a point also seen by Tourism Council Chairman Atty Lucas Nunag..

An earlier survey conducted by the Philippine Business for Education, a United States Agency for

International Development (USAID) funded initiative,

showed that while Bohol training institutions look at helping tourism industry by training needed skills, those courses they offered are not the ones Bohol

tourism establishments need.

The survey aftermath also presented to Bohol a Tourism HRD Plan, which hopes to address skills gap and mismatch between new tourism sector

graduates and the work slots opened. Chatto reiterated Bohol policy to initiate its

own promotions program, encouraging and linking

industry-academe partnerships to increasing dialogs between industry needs and higher education outputs.

As such the GIA will act as the implementing arm of the Provincial Government in these development programs, promotion and supervision

of industry-academe partnerships with agencies concerned with local industries and post-secondary education institutions.

Chatto added the council shall create programs centered on increasing industry involvement in

academia mainly in curriculum design, setting of

faculty standards, and quality assurance, as well as improve the availability and access to local market information on skills demand

forecasts and school performance through the

voluntary sharing of relevant information between stakeholders.

The GIA council shall formulate 3-5 year

agenda, aligned with its intentions without usurping Commission on Higher Education authority.

The council shall coordinate with local

industries, post-secondary education institutions, Bohol Provincial Planning and Development Office, and other agencies.

It shall also draft its initial by–laws outlining provisions, recommend to the governor to engage services of professional technical assistants from the

private or government sector. It shall undertake fund raising campaigns,

accept donations from reputable sources for GIA

undertakings and do all acts necessary, to carry out the council's purposes.(mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Bohol)

Chatto signs EO forming tourism-HRD-plan group

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN City, Bohol, Feb. 9 (PIA) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) signs a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tagbilaran City in a bid to create a new growth hub in this part of the Visayas.

T he USAID, through Mission Director

Gloria Steele and Tagbilaran City,

through Mayor John Geesnell Yap agree

to support the development of the city as a

growth hub in the Philippines.

While it does not bind both parties, the

MOU on Cities Development initiative (CDI)

collectively allowed the parties to cooperate to

execute sustainable, transparent and equitable

economic reforms to spur rapid, broad-based, and

inclusive economic growth in Tagbilaran City.

USAID will assist Tagbilaran City in the

infrastructure, small and medium enterprise,

education, energy, environment, health, and

disaster preparedness and mitigation sectors, and

give in-kind or technical assistance in the form of

training and commodities to further the

development objectives of Tagbilaran City.

Tagbilaran City on the other hand, will

provide counterpart support including logistics,

such as office space, equipment or clerical support

for USAID-supported consultants.

It shall also establish and fill certain

government positions, designate project

counterparts; support training missions and

activities; enact and issue complementary city

ordinances and relevant memoranda, receive and

accept commodities, assist in installing or training

staff and deploy other resources needed.

USAID Mission Director Gloria Steele

explained that by signing the MOU on the CDI,

USAID is willingly putting to test a hypothesis:

that working with second wave cities to become

new growth centers can equally bring up

neighboring areas to the development.

This, she said is spreading development and

allowing the other areas in the country to

experience inclusive growth.

In her summary to the signing activity,

Steele, who also happens to be a Filipino born in

Luzon, pointed out that with 6.1% to 7.2%

economic growth rates noted in the past years, it

is a wonder why poverty has remained virtually

the same.

She cited only Metro Manila, Calabarzon and

Central Luzon enjoying the growth.

With the US assistance into five decades of

helping the country improve on its poverty issues,

USAID now sees the need to increase the

effective demand for secondary cities, thus

Tagbilaran.

Consultations between USAID and

Tagbilaran City‟s public and private sectors show

development challenges with respect to

investment growth, improving competitiveness,

revenue administrat ion, infrastructure

development and finance, energy supply, access to

capital, university-business sector-LGU links,

health services delivery and health concerns of

the youth, and vulnerability to disasters, according

to the MOU preamble. These consultations also

highlighted certain opportunities for facilitating

inclusive growth in Tagbilaran City through

proper planning and targeted interventions, the

CDI memorandum states.

Meanwhile, USAID Chief of Party Dr. Henry

Basilio also said Tagbilaran City would be the

latest cities that the United States is assisting

technically, in a bid to make second wave cities

become primary hubs.

He named Batangas in Luzon, Ilo-ilo in the

Visayas and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao as last

year‟s CDI picks. More recently are Zamboanga

City in Mindanao and Tagbilaran in the Visayas.

(mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Bohol)

USAID, Tagbilaran sign MOU for new growth

hub

TAGBILARAN City, Bohol, Feb. 7 (PIA) – Once you are a member, you will always be a member.

‗Once an SSS member, always a member‘

T he Social Security System (SSS) assures

this with SSS President and Chief

Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros

saying that any member who has stopped his

contributions can pick up the pace and reactivate

his dormant account anytime.

There is no such thing as lapse in period

when a dormant account can become stale, also

hinted Marino Talictic, Bohol SSS head.

Workers in the private sector who had

started contributing but have transferred to the

government, may have stopped, an issue that

cropped up during the interaction with the SSS

President and the local media. Government

employment carries a mandatory social

protection coverage by the Government Service

Insurance System. That means, except for

previous members in the private sector who are

now in government, government employees who

wish to be new members, can not be qualified, de

Quiros clarified. For former SSS members who

are now in government, they can continue their

contributions, based on the SSS contribution

schedule or as voluntary paying members.

You can always continue what you have

started as member, meaning interrupted

contributions, until you have come up with the

120 contributions when the policy matures,

explains de Quiros, during his recent visit to

Tagbilaran.

This too as the SSS said they are to serve

through social protection from sickness,

maternity, disability, retirement, death or funeral

benefits for workers in the private sector. For

contribution payments of at least three months

within the 12-month period immediately before

the semester of sickness, an SSS member who has

used up his sick leave claims with pay in the

current year, can claim sickness benefit.

The benefit is a daily cash allowance for the

number of days he is unable to work. The claim is

90% of his daily salary credit, good for a maximum

period of 120 days, according to the SSS.

A maternity benefit for female members is

also available as long as a member satisfies the

minimum requirement: member has paid last

three months of contribution within the 12

month period immediately before the semester of

childbirth, or miscarriage. At the Kapihan sa SSS

held at the Bohol Tropics Resort, de Quiros and

his SSS family also revealed that the company has

paid P110 billion in benefits, and for a sluggish SSS,

it now has grown into a P42.4 billion net revenues

in 2014. (mbcn/RAC/PIABohol)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 10 (PIA) – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) finalizes the details on three

major eco-tourism circuits it supported through its Sustainable Environment Protection Project (SEPP) in Bohol.

JICA finalizes eco-tour packages for ‗Visit Bohol 2015‘

C alling it EcoTourism Bohol Program in

support of the United States Agency for

International Development‟s Visit Bohol

2015, JICA SEPP not just promises site visits but

also a website and page support to allow tourists

relevant site information at the snap of a QR

Card Scanning cell phone.

It also puts up distinct guide plates and

banners to provide instant capsulized information

about the sites and its relevance to the

environment.

Tour packages in the pipelines are Bohol

east-coast Eco-tour, a ten-hour day trip

package; Bohol Culture and Nature Tour, a

6-hour day trip package and Bohol West Coast

eco-tour 8 hour tour package.

Bohol East Coast Eco Tour includes

Lamanoc Mystic Island Trekking, Anda Beaches

and Lunch, Bohol Cocojam Processing (Calamay

(Jagna) and Clarin Ancestral House in Loay.

For Bohol Culture and Nature Tour,

included in the package are Alburquerque

Calamay, Loay Ironsmith Experience, Organic

Rice and Agricultural learning technologies at

Balay sa Humay in Batuan, Tree Planting

Experience at the Bohol Biodiversity

Conservation Foundation and Clarin Ancestral

House in Loay.

Bohol West Coast Tour in the other hand

has Pinayagan Loomweaving Experience in

Tubigon, Coral Stair and Heritage Walk at

Inang-angan in Loon Town Complex, 2013

Earthquake Experience Tour at Punta Cruz

Watchtower, Organic Farm and Lunch

experience in Maribojoc and SAVIMA Mangrove

Adventure tour in Maribojoc.

The tour packages are part of the

Sustainable Environment Protection Project for

Panglao, explains Go Kimura, during an interview.

The general idea is to help 150 eco-tour

destinations in Bohol, he shared. These would be

on the one town, more than one eco-tour, he

added.

For starters, JICA is putting up the 15

eco-tour sites in Bohol.

Other than the digital information support,

JICA is also improving road signs, improving

restroom facilities, kitchen facilities, site signages,

access road improvements, tourist collaterals like

straw hats and rubber boots, provision of

souvenir tents, benches, dry bags, canopy walks

improvement, tree name plates and other

information related collaterals. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7

-Bohol)

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

SoLeyte guv declares Ruperto K. Kangleon

Heritage Day

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 12 (PIA) – Southern Leyte Governor Roger G. Mercado issued and signed Executive

Order No 005, series of 2015 proclaiming February 27 of every year as Ruperto K. Kangleon Heritage Day in the whole

province of Southern Leyte.

T he proclamation stated that the

“life of Ruperto K. Kangleon is

worth emu la t in g by a l l

generations especially the youth and

should always be inculcated in the minds

and hearts of Southern Leyteṅos”.

Previously, the province of Southern

Leyte has already declared Ruperto K.

Kangleon Memorial Day by virtue of LGU

Executive Proclamation dated January 11,

2011 to honor the late Kangleon as a war

hero and exemplary public servant, being

a /world War II Guerilla Commander, /

Secretary of National Defense and a

Philippine Senator, signed by then Gov.

Damian G. Mercado.

As a fitting tribute of Honorable

Kangleon, an original biographical drama

with cultural songs and dances titled “For

Love of Country, the Ruperto K.

Kangleon Story” written by a young

student will be performed by the

Performing Arts Ensemble of the Tomas

Oppus Normal College Campus of

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in

the evening of February 27, 2015 at

Maasin City gymnasium.

“Such cultural events would

significantly bring the province of Southern

Leyte to a h igher leve l o f

h i s t o r i c a l - cu l t u r a l r ev i v a l and

development,” the proclamation stated.

The RKK Heritage Day will honor an

icon of national and international

prominence and reflect the gratitude of all

Southern Leyteños for his exemplary

achievements as a soldier and public

servant including guerilla leaders of the

province.

It also urged all public and private

schools in Southern Leyte to initiate and

promote cultural programs and projects

relevant to the historical-cultural heritage

of outstanding Southern Leyteṅos. (ajc/

rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

Army assures public of vigilance vs. terrorism

S peaking live in a phone interview

over DYVL today, Gutierez

informed that their intelligence

operatives in the region never went

complacent particularly during this time

when reports about the 300

Marwan-trained bombers could possibly

wreck havoc elsewhere.

“We are not complacent, instead, we

continue with our intelligence gathering,

our men in the field are always alert”,

Gutierez said.

The officer also mentioned that the

Philppine Army(PA) is in lateral

coordination with the Philippine National

Police(PNP) that, every time either of

them needs support, it is always granted.

“We recognize the importance

of our coordination, so with our

communication frequencies that must

be the same whenever we have tactical

operation”, he added.

On February 3, 2015, a group of

Army soldiers encountered a group

of New Peoples Army(NPA) in barangay

Imelda, Las Navas, Northern Samar while

they were rendering a relief/medical

mission.

The incident captured two NPAs but

cost the life of the army officer and team

leader.

Asked why there still exist some

NPAs when the province had already been

declared in the recent past as a

development-ready area, Gutierez

said these are but remnants of the past

insurgent force.

They are but few lawless elements

who are being hunted down.

“That is why, we continue with our

campaign to win the hearts and minds

of these few rebels, our campaign is for

them to join the mainstream society and

live peacefully with their families”

Gutierez concluded.(PIA-08)

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Feb. 10 (PIA) – Major Amado Gutierez, Information Officer, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine

Army, Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar assured, that their operatives have always kept a closer and heightened alert against

any terror act.

NGCP launches Sta. Rita-Quinapondan 69kV refo project CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 12 (PIA) - The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) chose two people‘s

organizations (POs) to do their Reforestation Program in two Samar provinces affected by the Sta Rita-Quinapondan 69 kV

Reforestation Project.

T hese POs have proven their track

record in earlier contracts with

the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR).

San Antonio-Tinaogan-Cambayan

Farmers Association (SANTIFAMCA)

based in Barangay San Antonio, Basey,

Samar and the SamarSur Upland Farmers

Association in Giporlos, Eastern Samar

were entrusted by NGCP with the

project.

While NGCP is aware that this

project can have effects in the

environment, specifically cutting trees, it

said that the project is necessary to bring

better power lines and improve system‟s

reliability to Eastern Samar to spur

economic development.

In compl iance with DENR

Memorandum 2012-02 requiring them to

replace cut trees, NGCP entered into

MOA with DENR and the people‟s

organizations mentioned.

Rolando Robin, President of the PO

in Basey thanked the NGCP and DENR

for the project.

The farmer said that their coconuts

were heavily damaged by typhoon

Yolanda, the NGCP reforestation project

can help them while they are waiting for

their coconuts to bear fruit.

Jonathan Fiel who talked in behalf of

SamarSur farmers promised to ensure

the 80% survival rate of the seedlings

they will plant in the hills and

mountains of Giporlos and Balangiga in E.

Samar.

Fiel added that with the contracts on

the greening project their lives have been

better.

Julia Echavez, head of the

Environmental Management Bureau of the

NGCP, added that their involvement in

tree planting goes beyond compliance.

(ajc/nbq/PIA –Samar)

By Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

DENR-8, CENRO Palo, monitor 2 migratory bird sites

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb. 9 (PIA) – A joint team of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Regional office 8 and Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) Palo, Leyte monitored two (2) sites for the

presence of migratory birds.

T he migratory birds were

observed in Barangay Baruguhay

Norte and Brgy. Canomantang,

Carigara, Leyte and Barangay San Juan and

Barangay Naungan, Ormoc City, both in

Leyte.

In a press statement released by the

DENR, Regional Director Leonardo

Sibbaluca confirmed that Carigara Bay and

Ormoc Bay wetlands are permanent

migratory bird monitoring sites in the

region. Said sites were ideal sites for

migratory birds because of their rich food

supply for birds. With the vigilance of the

residents in nearby barangays in protecting

their mangroves, the migratory bird areas

were preserved.

It was learned from Maita Reina G.

Sucgang, OIC of the DENR-8 Regional

Public Affairs Office that a total of 723

heads of migratory birds were counted by

the team. Topping the list is the Philippine

Duck which totaled 286 heads

counted. Second on the list are the Egrets

with a headcount of 127 followed by the

Plovers with 92 heads. There were also

other species such as Grey Heron, Little

Cur lew , Wh imbre l , Redsh ank ,

Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Great

Knot and Curlew Sandpiper

Sibbaluca encourages the continued

protection of migratory birds and the host

wetlands as this will open opportunities

for livelihood and potential ecotourism

area particularly for bird enthusiasts. (ajc/

cba/DENR/PIA-8)

Biliran to hold rabies awareness month event in baranagy

NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 7 (PIA) – Tradition is broken this year with the change in venue of the rabies awareness month

celebration in March.

T he members of the Biliran

provincial rabies prevention and

control committee in a meeting

on Friday, February 6, picked a barangay,

namely Barangay Lico in Naval, Biliran as

the venue for the rabies awareness month

celebration on March 10.

This is in stead of holding the event in

the municipal center or poblacion, which

has been the tradition of the PRPCC.

Barangay Lico was chosen in

recognition of its outstanding achievement

in rabies prevention.

Headed by Engr. Camilo Castro, Lico

was regional awardee of the Department

of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas in

the best sanitation practices category in

2013.

It was learned from Salita Montejo,

Biliran provincial DOH representative,

that Barangay Lico got the award because

of i ts e f fect ive and ef f ic ient

implementation of its rabies prevention

and control program, one of the criteria

of the award.

Dr. Salvacion G. Salas, representative

of the Biliran Medical Society, opined that

it is worthwhile holding the rabies

awareness month celebration in a

barangay where rabies prevention and

control program is successful so that

other barangays in Biliran province will be

encouraged to emulate what Barangay

Lico has done.

The 26 top village officials in

Naval town plus the seven presidents of

the association of barangay captains in

seven other towns in Biliran province

were invited to see for themselves

how Barangay Lico successfully

implemented its rabies prevention and

control program.

The day-long rabies awareness month

celebration will commence with a

motorcade which will start in Barangay

Sabang and will traverse barangays

Agpangi, Atipolo, Smo. Rosario, then to

Sito Lupa in Barangay Calumpang and to

Barangay Lico.

Other activities include the holding of

a program where part is for Lico

Barangay Captain to share to barangays

captains present during the celebration

the best practices on rabies prevention

and control program.

Free dog vaccination, spaying and

neuter, presentation on updates of the

province‟ rabies prevention and control

program and knowledge sharing on

responsible pet ownership will also be

conducted in Barangay Lico to highlight

the celebration of the Rabies Awareness

Month.

The province of Biliran has

been consistent in its successful

implementation of the rabies prevention

and control program with still zero

recorded incidence of rabies until now

since it was declared as a rabies-free

province on October 11, 2012 by DOH

and the Department of Agriculture. (fj/

rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

Manguino-o Port upgrade to usher better

trade, tourism

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 9 (PIA) - Officials of this developing city share the same observation that the upgrading of

Manguino-o Port will usher better trade, commerce and tourism in Calbayog.

T oday, Representative of Samar

First District, Mel Senen

Sarmiento said that the Manguino

-o Port Development project is being

upgraded to cost Php40 million which

will help improve the city‟s port and

accommodate another roro vessel.

The project which covers the

construction of a back-up area and

a roro ramp was awarded to MAC

Builders and to be constructed for 300

days.

Sarmiento added that he will

coordinate with PPA for a fence and

installation of water service so that the

port terminal will be ready.

City Administrator Rosario Gonzaga,

who represented Calbayog City Mayor

Ronaldo Aquino, in her message said that

the project is one of the manifestations of

Rep. Sarmiento‟s effort to develop

Calbayog City and the first district of

Samar.

The Manguino-o Port, some 22

kilometers from the city proper serves as

port to sea-vessels plying the

Cebu-Calbayog route and other vessels

carrying products like flour, feeds and

copra.

The port also serves other

municipalities of Samar and Northern

Samar. (ajc/nbq/PIA8-Samar with Jen

Allegado)

By Rodrigo S. Victoria

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]