July 16 31, 2016

Volume IV

KALIBO, AKLAN, (PIA) – The province of Aklan is getting close to being Lymphatic Filariasis -free in two years’ time, a provincial health officer here said.

In the recently held press conference at Ninos Ihaw-ihaw, Kalibo, Aklan, Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Jr., provincial health officer I said that, the province has now a microfilarial rate of 1.6% as based on their findings in April 2016, closer to less than 1% mf, a prevalence rate needed to be declared LF free.

“The mf rate now is very much lower compared to 2009 – the first confirmed case in the province, particularly in Libacao and Madalag, wherein Aklan was declared moderately endemic for LF with a rate of 6.2%,” Cuachon said.

He added that the province must also increase its accomplishment in Mass Drug Administration, at least 85% among the target recipients’ ages 2 to 65 years old in the whole province to achieve the declaration.

“The Mass Drug Administration (MDA) of two-drug combination of Diethyl Carbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole once a year, is the best way and strategy the Department of Health identified to eliminate LF, the second leading cause of permanent disability,” Cuachon said.

Filariasis commonly known as “elephantiasis” is a disease caused by female-biting mosquito carrying a worm parasite called microfilariae, he said.

The province of Aklan has stepped up efforts to eliminate LF, conducting MDAs since 2010, except in 2015 that was administered in the earlier part of 2016.

A nocturnal blood survey is being conducted every two years by the PHO and DOH to further monitor the disease in the province. Last April the blood survey was done it Loctoga and Manica in

Issue 06

JULY 16 - 31, 2016

Filariasis in Aklan. Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr. (right with microphone), Aklan Provincial Health Officer I, answers queries from Allen Alcedo (left with microphone) of Energy FM-Kalibo on lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as “elephantiasis”, a disease caused by female-biting mosquito carrying worm parasite called microfilariae. Confirmed cases of LF in Aklan are identified in the towns of Madalag and Libacao. Joining Dr. Cuachon during the press conference on Advocacy Campaign on National School Deworming Day and National School Based Immunization at Ninos Ihaw-ihaw, Kalibo, Aklan are (L-R) Ethel Palmani of DepEd-Aklan, Dr. Anthony Redaniel of DOH-Aklan; and Bella Villaruel of PHO-Aklan. (SQP/PIA6 Aklan)

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- Three local government units (LGUs) in Aklan – Kalibo, Nabas and Libacao, were recently awarded a total of P1.7 million worth Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) funds from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

The BUB funds are intended to help promote and develop the food industry of Nabas, fiber and food industries of Kalibo, and Libacao’s handicraft industry.

The municipality of Nabas received P500,000.00 while Kalibo town got P700,000.00, and Libacao, P500,000.00.

Libacao.

On July 18 this year, a launching of lymphatic filariasis mass drug administration was conducted in Poblacion Libacao.

The DOH and the PHO call on the public to participate and support the MDA for Lymphatic Filariasis to ensure its elimination and make the province LF-free in 2018. (JCM/SQP/PIA6 Aklan) DOH vaccines are safe, effective and free. Development Management Officer V Dr. Anthony Redaniel of Department of Health appeals to parents and guardians to consent their children in grades 1 and 7 in all public elementary schools in Aklan to participate in the National School Based Immunization this August, as he ensures that the DOH’s vaccines are Safe, Effective, and most especially, Free. With Dr. Redaniel in the picture are (RL) Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Jr. of PHO-Aklan and Ethel Palmani of DepEd-Aklan. (SQP/PIA6 Aklan)

Mayor James Solanoy of Nabas together with some department heads, Mayor William Lachica of Kalibo and Mayor Charito Navarosa received the BUB funds respectively from DTI-Aklan through OIC Provincial Director Ma. Carmen Iturralde.

The fund for Nabas, according to DTI-Aklan, will be used to finance activities in support of Nabas’ food industry through skills training on fish, Meat and Banana Processing, training on packaging and labeling, and market development activities and exposure trip.

For Kalibo, the BUB fund will be used for the activities under the YAMAN PINOY project which includes benchmarking mission on fiberbased items and food products, product development and workshop with focus on updating designs and projects, skills training of siopao and siomai making, values formation and basic management training and food sanitation and hygiene training.

On the other hand, Libacao town will be using the fund to finance the training programs and marketing assistance on basic entrepreneurship, abaca slippers-making, abaca macramé making, Ban ban craft-making and woodcraft making to support the handicrafts and woodcrafts livelihood in Libacao.

DTI-Aklan said that through these projects, Aklan’s potential and existing entrepreneurs could gain integrated support to achieve sustained production capacity, employment generation and additional income, enhanced product quality and establish market for their business. (JCM/VGV DTI-PIA6 Aklan)

PIA AKLAN BALITA

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Vol. No. IV Issue No. 06

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- Seven districts of the Department of Education (DepEd) here from the eastern side of Aklan were recipients of 39 Classroom Buildings from the Habitat for Humanity and Globe in coordination with the provincial government of Aklan.

These classrooms were recently turned over in a ceremony held in Linayasan Elementary School, Altavas, Aklan and attended by representatives from the Habitat for Humanity, Globe, local officials of LGU-Altavas and DepEd District officials and teachers.

Recipient schools of brand-new two bluepainted classroom buildings all suffered damages from Typhoon Yolanda when it struck Aklan on November 8, 2016.

In the message he delivered to welcome officials and representatives from the Habitat, Globe, DepEd and members of the local media, Altavas mayor Denny D. Refol related the big damage typhoon Yolanda inflicted to Linayasan Elementary School with the roof of its schoolbuildings literally blown off by the strong wind, and dropped on the other side of the highway.

Seeing the transformation Linayasan Elementary School underwent with the construction of the two classroom building, Mayor Refol thanked the Habitat for Humanity and Globe for responding to the needs of the districts by constructing the new school buildings.

Oscar Cunanan, Chief Operating Officer of Habitat for Humanity and Bong Esguerra, Director, Citizenship Corporate Communications of Globe also delivered messages while Dr. Lucita P. Recidoro, Public Schools District Supervisor of DepEd District of Altavas gave the Acceptance Speech.

DepEd-Aklan’s recipient schools, whose school heads and teachers came all the way to Linayasan, Altavas to ceremonially receive their classrooms included Altavas Elementary School, Altavas National School and Linayasan Elementary School from the DepEd District of Altavas; Aranas Elementary School and Balete Integrated School, DepEd-Balete; Ipil Integrated School, DepEd Batan; Julita Elementary School and Ortega Elementary School, DepEd Libacao; Catabana Primary School and Madalag Elementary School, DepEd-Madalag; and New Washington

KALIBO, AKLAN, (PIA) – A total of 24 schools here were recently named by the Department of Education-Division of Aklan as the province’s Best Implementers of Brigada Eskwela, an annual pre-school opening maintenance activity.

The said recognition has three categories, both in the elementary and secondary levels, which include small school, big school and exceptional categories.

For the small school category or school with enrollment below 1,000, the Quirino T. Tabanera Elementary School in Calimbajan, Makatao topped the elementary level; Rosal Elementary School in Libacao in second place; in third place was Tinigaw Elementary School; and Regador Elementary School in Ibajay and Navitas Elementary School in Numancia for the fourth and fifth place respectively.

Dr. Ramon B. Legaspi, Sr. in Calimbajan, Makato led the secondary level for the same category; Fr. Julian C. Rago National High School in Feliciano Balete in second place; followed by Bakhaw Norte Integrated School in Kalibo (3rd place); Guadalupe National High School in Libacao (4th place); and National High School (5th place).

For the Big School Category with enrollment 1,000 up, the New Washington Elementary School topped the elementary level; followed for second and third place were: Balabag Elementary School in Boracay Island, Malay and Ibajay Central Elementary School.

In the secondary level, top on the list was the New Washington National Comprehensive High

School; while the Libacao National Forestry Vocational School in second place; and Altavas National High School in third spot.

Meanwhile, for the exceptional school or schools that have done innovations to further

Continued on page… 03

KALIBO, Aklan, (PIA6) -- Teenage girls these days are facing a lot of challenges. In cases of teenage pregnancies, they are always at the losing end in terms of education, health and employment, according to Paul Adrian Pelayo, Adolescent and Youth Development Program focal person of the Aklan Provincial Population and Gender Office (AkPPGO).

Pelayo aired this view as a recent radio program guest of the Philippine Information Agency aired over RMN-DYKR as part of the provincial office’ activities in celebration of the recent World Population Day. With this year’s celebration theme “Investing in Teenage Girls”, Pelayo said this year’s World Population Day observance gears for the empowerment of young women to take control of their life.

Pelayo said that currently in Southeast Asia, all countries have low number of teenage pregnancies except for the Philippines, and in Western Visayas, the province of Aklan had the highest number of teenage pregnancies.

In 2015, Pelayo said there were a total of 1,566 teenage pregnancies in the province, while in

Turnover Ceremony of 39 Classroom buildings for Schools in Aklan by Habitat for Humanity and Globe Cummnications. Recipients: DepEd Districts of Altavas, Batan, Balete, Libacao, Madalag and New Washington. Linayasan Elementary School, Altavas, Aklan.

(PIA)

Central Elementary School, Don Basilio Refundo Elementary School and Fatima Elementary School of DepEd New Washington.

A Ribbon-Cutting and Blessing of the new school building in Linayasan followed after the turn-over program.

Last year, Globe also turned over to Aklan schools 7 Noah’s Ark classrooms that can double as common evacuation centers during strong typhoons and other disasters, complete with toilets and kitchens.

According to Esguerra, funding for the schoolbuildings came from donated portions of salaries of Globe employees, Globe subscribers and other companies.

Meanwhile, besides providing schoolbuildings in Aklan, the Habitat for Humanity has also a shelter project for 50 families of Songcolan, Batan, Aklan whose houses were destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda, and 9 houses for Aeta families in Barangay Dinaut, Altavas, Aklan, according to Marivic Abello, Project Manager. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

2014, there were 1,514 recorded.

The age group with the highest cases, according to Pelayo, is from 10 to 19 years old, a very crucial age for young girls.

“Teenage pregnancies have many repercussions – if a teenager becomes pregnant, the tendency is that her education will be affected as she will stop going to school,” Pelayo said.

He also said both the health of the mother and baby will suffer. Because of shame or confusion, it may take time for the teenager to inform her parents, thus she will not be able to undergo prenatal check-ups in the early stage of her pregnancy.

To avoid this scenario, he said parents should be open to queries from their children, and avoid being confrontational so that their kids will not be afraid to confide to them their problems, fears or confusions.

Parents should also try to give their children quality time, be like a friend to their kids, and asked for their views and ideas on simple domestic matters to make them feel that their opinions are valued and considered important. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

PIA AKLAN BALITA

Vol. No. IV Issue No. 06

KALIBO, Aklan, July 16 (PIA6) -- A total of 14,117 Aklanons benefited from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the government provided through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) last year.

Beneficiaries included Pantawid Families and other identified poor, who availed of the two-track livelihood programs offered – Microenterprise Development (Track 1), and Employment Facilitation (Track 2), according to Rovi Christine Gonzales, Provincial Development Officer and SLP Coordinator of DSWD-Aklan Extension Office.

Gonzales, who gave updates on the program during the Media Forum on Social Pension held recently in Aklan by DSWD6 Regional Field Unit, said that in 2015, beneficiaries were assisted through provision of Seed Capital Fund (SCF) and Physical Assets under Microenterprise Development, and Cash For Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) and Employment Referral under Employment Facilitation.

Gonzales told members of the Aklan media who attended the forum that of the beneficiaries, 236 were provided with SCF, 2,304 were provided with physical assets, while 11,556 were given CBLA and 21, employment referral, or a total of 14,117.

For the same program this year, Gonzales shared that as of May 2016, a total of 1,509 beneficiaries were aided by the program, listing 100 for SCF; 119 for Skills Trainings with Starter Kits (SK) under Track 1; and 1,503 for CBLA and 6 for employment referral.

Some of the SLP projects in Aklan, as enumerated and presented by Gonzales through power point, included trainings on abaca stripping, classification and knotting (Madalag); Indigo Powdering/Natural Dye Production (Madalag); Hairdressing NC II for 20 Pantawid Beneficiaries (Libacao); Hog Production: “Babuyang Walang Amoy” in Buruanga and Ibajay; Carpentry NC II skills traininbg and provision of starter kits for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of Lezo; and sou-

Brigada eskwela…

From page 02 enhance the program, the Kalibo Pilot Elementary School got the first place in the elementary level; seconded by Kalibo Integrated SPED Center; and followed by Tayhawan Elementary School (Lezo) and Diosdado T. Tejada Elementary School (Makato).

In the secondary level, the Regional Science High School in Old Buswang Kalibo secured the first place; Makato Integrated School for the second spot; and followed by Aguinaldo T. Repiedad Sr. Integrated School in Linabuan Sur Banga and Numancia Integrated School.

The DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela 2016 was conducted nationwide on May 30 to June 4 with this year’s theme, “Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa Mula Kindergarten Hanggang Senior High School.” (JCM/SQP/PIA6 Aklan)

venir crafts skills training for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of Kalibo, Aklan.

Other skills training under the program were on Coco Coir Production for Pantawid beneficiaries of Malinao,Bariw Bag making in Buruanga, season long training on Good Agricultural Practices for Vegetable Production in Buruanga, Abaca and Pina Weaving with starter kit in Makato, and Concrete Hollow Block Production for Pantawid in Malina.

On the other hand, CBLA projects participated by beneficiaries included establishment of Access Trail in Libacao, Clearing, Brushing, Planting and Establishment of Fire line in National Greening Program areas in Tanbgalan, Aklan; Clearing and Excavation of Canal and Establishment of Water Impounding System in Buruanga, Aklan, and Clearing and Dredging of Canals and Farm Ditches in Lezo, Aklan.

The skills trainings of beneficiaries from various municipalities in the province were assisted or partnered by government and private organizations like the Fiber Development Authority (FIDA); Globe Telecom,Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); FeedPro,Kalibo Municipal Tourism Office;LGUBuruanga, Philippine Coconut Authority,Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), HARVEST, LGU-Buruanga, Hugod Aklanon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (HAMPCO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and LGUs Malinao and Lezo. (JSC/ VGV/PIA6 Aklan)

PAGE 03

MANILA, Hulyo 19 (PIA6) - - Si Pangueong Rodrigo Duterte hay nagpaabot it pagka dismaya sa pagka-pabaya it mga alkalde ag gobernador sa pag manehar ku mga basura sa andang lugar.

Ku Biyernes, si Pangueong Duterte hay nangako nga mag obra it espesyal nga grupo para tutukan ro intelligence ag discretionary fund ku mga lokal nga opisyales para magastos it eksakto.

“Abo nga mahigko nga mga munisipyo sa pungsod ag owa nahakat ro mga alkalde para sulbaron da,” hambae ni Duterte.

“Abo nga kalhit ag basura sa palibot ag kung hueaton pa ro mga plastic nga sumueod sa drainage kada mag-uean, syempre mabara gid,” dugang pa nana.

Gina pilit gid it Pangueo nga ro mga gobernador ag mga alkalde hay maka-manehar gid it mayad ku mga basura bangod may anda ra nga tagsa-tagsa nga discretionary fund.

“Maobra ako it espesyal nga grupo. Rebyuhon ko man pati ro intelligence fund ninyo. Ruyon abi ro pinaka madali nga isueod sa boesa eh. Ro mga alkalde nga owa ga-trabaho, obraha nyo nga malimpyo ag matawhay inyong mga lugar,” hambae nana.

Gin dugang pa ni PRRD nga ro mga lokal nga opisyales nga may manami nga opisina ag maeahaeon nga saeakyan hay dapat mahuya sa andang mga kaugalingon. (JSC/JERR/PIA6 Aklan)