One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 32

Vol 4

Issue 32

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director -General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac receives the token of appreciation from Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella withnessed by the members of the city council and Bacolod City Police Office Director PSSupt. Pedrito Escarilla during an orientation on the Barangay Drug Clearing Operation attended by the barangay captains and school heads in Bacolod City. *(EAD-PIA6 photo)

August 11 - 17, 2014

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Climate Change issue calls for unity: Usec Saño BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR CORDOVA, Aug. 13 (PIA) --- "Climate Change is a real issue now that calls us to work together from the barangay to the municipalities to the province and the national level. To survive climate change, we have to build a better nation by taking care of our environment and natural wealth."

This was the urgent call of Climate Change Commissioner Undersecretary Naderev “Yeb” Saño in his keynote message during the 1st Barangay Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation held in Cordova town, Cebu on August 8, an event initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7) in the region in cooperation with the local government unit of Cordova.

Saño told the 100 summit attendees mostly barangay officicials, students, heads of departments of the town that climate change effects on people and communities include more typhoons, more rains or no rains at all, increase in temperature and sea level rise.

"Disaster Risk Reduction and Management means reducing the root cause of poverty. Kapag may mahirap, may disaster,' Saño said.

He added that "we are at war with the vicious enemy called climate change and disasters. We should not buckle down, we will win this war!"

Saño lauded PIA-7 for the initiative done in organizing such activity on barangay summit on disaster risk reduction as he said that “disaster risk reduction management is an important discussion.”

He said that President Benigno Aquino III is also exerting effort to implement programs and projects geared towards disaster risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Saño then urged the public including the youth to combine efforts against climate change and put into action themselves the disaster risk reduction management practice.

Climate Change Commission Undersecretary Naderev “Yeb” Saño was joined by Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer (PDRRMO) Balatazar Tribunalo Jr., Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7) regional technical director for forestry Eduardo Inting, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD 7) civil defense officer Allen Froilan Cabaron II and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Mactan, chief meteorologist Engr. Al Quiblat as panelist presentors during the 1st Barangay Summit.

Part of the summit was the commitment signing to climate change mitigation and disaster risk reduction and tree planting activity in Datag, Cordova Cebu where the participants planted about 50 fruit trees along the barangay roads. (mbcn/ays/ PIA7)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Leyte rehab plan costs P24B By: Consuelo B. Alarcon TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 10 (PIA) – More developments are expected to come in the next months for recovery in the Province of Leyte.

This, after President Aquino announced during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) regarding the approval of the much-awaited P170.9 billion “Comprehensive and Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan” for areas devastated by typhoon Yolanda to include Leyte, Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Tacloban City.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla said, he feels elated when the President already approved the rehabilitation plan.

According to him, once the rehabilitation works begin, this

Guests from Office of Civil Defense, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) discuss the disaster preventive measures set in place to ensure community resiliency especially in view of rainy periods and the heat wave El Niño which has been forecasted to occur this year during the Kapihan sa PIA forum on July 16, 2014 at the Provincial Information Office, Capitol, Cebu City.

The forum was aired-live at DYMR-Radyo ng Bayan from 10:00am - 11:00 am. PIA -7 ARD By: Lilibeth A. French Fayette C. Riñen and Wen Celen of Radyo ng ILOILO CITY, Aug. 14 (PIA6) - - Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Bayan moderated the forum. (vvv/PIA Cebu).

will mean more job opportunities for Leytenos as well.

The initial funding requirement for the rehabilitation, recovery and development of the Province as reflected in the plan is over P22.72 billion spread over three (3) years.

However, Petilla said, he has an addendum amounting to P2 billion.

The infrastructure sector has the biggest allocation at over P9 billion followed by the resettlement sector amounting to more than P6 billion while Agriculture and Fishery has the least allocation.

Out of the 40 municipalities and 1 city under the jurisdiction of the Province of Leyte, 36 municipalities were affected by the typhoon, three of which were heavily damaged such as Palo, Tanauan and Tolosa. (AJC/CBA/PIA-8)

Iloilo City Mayor cites private sector contributions

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

EASTERN VISAYAS

PIA 8 interim head and deputy director general Virgilio Galvez (right) talks on the role of PIA to the guests and participants of the seminar-workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Right to Information for government information officers and the media. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Mabilog acknowledged the contributions of the private sector in making Iloilo City what it is today – clean, highly desirable destination, and one of the best performing and most competitive cities in the country.

“The support extended by the private sector and other well meaning individuals and groups who share our vision helped us turn Iloilo City over the last four years into a clean and highly desirable destination city, into the third best performing highly urbanized city, into the sixth most competitive city in the archipelago and number two in government efficiency in the whole country,” said Mabilog during the opening of the 5th Regional Development Council (RDC) – Private Sector Representatives (PSR) National Convention here in this city, August 13.

Mabilog said the private sector is also an essential partner of the city government in its fight against poverty.

“Some of our low cost housing projects for poor Ilonggos and the mushrooming of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the city, even infrastructures, which are powerful engines of economic growth and source of jobs become possible through the partnerships we have with them,” said Mabilog.

Further, their collaboration with the private sector, said Mabilog, has led to the realization of international flights between Hongkong and Singapore and Iloilo at the Iloilo Airport and the restoration of the heritage buildings in the old central business district of the city known as Calle Real which was initiated by the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council.

Recently, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines declared Calle Real as a heritage zone.

Mabilog said participants could also see other developments in the city which took place with the help of the private sector such as the Iloilo River Esplanade and the beautification of the new Ninoy Aquino National Highway, a ten-lane highway complete with a bike

lane.

He said the involvement of the private sector in the city is also seen in the city‟s best practices such as its annual Dinagyang Festival, the only festival recognized by the Galing Pook Award.

Mabilog said the Iloilo City government continues to be an active partner of the private sector and committed to create a sound policy and regulatory environment for private sector growth and to explore ways to advance both development and business outcome so that they are mutually reinforcing.

Together with Jessraf Palmares, Co-Chairperson of the RDC 6 Economic and Development Committee, Mabilog welcomed the more than 170 private sector representatives from the different regions in the country participating in the event until Friday, August 15. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog cites the collaboration efforts and contribution of the Private Sectors to Iloilo City‟s sustainable development as he welcomes the delegates of the three-day 5th Regional Development Council (RDC) - Private Sector Representatives (PSRs) National Convention during the opening ceremonies, August 13 in Iloilo City. (LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

MOPA to speed up land titling By: Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA6) —The Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) with local government units to speed up land titling is seen as helping people uplift their lives.

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t is a project that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources banks on to help the poor landless avail of their free service on land titling, said Land Management Bureau Director Ralph Pablo.

Pablo said in a press release, that DENR has been capacitating their local land management bureaus to help the local government units through their deputized personnel to expedite land titling to rightful beneficiaries.

Through the MOPA, the DENR here has provided technical trainings and identified deputized personnel to accept and process

land applications at the municipal level. As of July 14, a total of 15 MOPAs have been forged with the LGUs and more are being processed, with the province of Antique topping the list.

Land Management Division chief Hector Garrido said that they are speeding up the MOPA and the deputization of personnel because most of their public land investigators are retiring under the government Rationalization Plan.

Maximo Soriano, regional technical director of the Land Management Services, said that the MOPA has been instrumental in

uplifting the socio-economic status of the people in the countryside.

After being given the land titles, DENR said, people in agricultural areas and the uplands are now empowered to use the land for their utmost benefit.

DENR said the people can now plant their areas with crops ad trees.

“This is seen to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation as various species of crops and forest trees help in the absorption of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases in the atmosphere,” Soriano said. (JCM/ ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

P15.5 M PAMANA fund for 5 Capiz barangays up By: Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 13 (PIA6) – Five barangays in Capiz will avail of the water system project under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

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apiz DILG Director Clyne Deocampo disclosed that barangays Guinbi-alan and Bongbongan, all in Maayon town, will each receive P1-million for the level 2 water system projects.

Likewise barangays Siya, Minan and Senonod, all in Tapaz town, will each receive P4.5-million for the water system project, she said.

Deocampo, during the meeting of the Capiz Provincial Peace and Order Council presided over by Governor Victor Tanco, revealed that the amount for said project will come from the DILG Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (DILG-PAMANA) Fund.

The management of the said PAMANA fund for target areas is based on the joint circular of the DILG and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

During the said PPOC meeting, OPAPP Peace Program Officer Lakambini Magdamo orients members of the Council about the PAMANA program, citing that it allows communities to have an alternative and non-violent channel for their pursuit to social justice.

She also said that the program provides a platform to engage the community in charting their own development, adding that with or

without the formal peace talks, PAMANA will be pursued by the government.

Magdamo likewise stressed that the program is meant to reduce the levels of violence on the ground and improve the quality of life of the people.

PAMANA is a national government‟s program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach, and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind.

The design and delivery of PAMANA is conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting to ensure peace is maintained in the community.

(JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Aklan aims to have blood center By: Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Aug. 14(PIA6) -- The province of Aklan is aiming to have a blood center on or before end of 2015.

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his plan of the province here, under the helm of Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, was disclosed by Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Cornelio Cuachon at the recent general orientation meeting and election of new set of officers of the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council (ABCC).

The meeting and election of officers was held at the Conference Room of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) attended by national and provincial government health officials and personnel, local medical associations, heads and representatives from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Army (PA) and the media.

According to Dr. Cuachon, the putting up of a blood center in Aklan would entail a total of P11 million per year, with P2 million as salaries of 9 medical technologists to be employed and P9 million for equipment. The center is being planned to be set up at the Dr.

Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH).

Once a blood center is in place in Aklan, collection and screening will already be done in the province unlike the present set-up when blood samples are first sent to Capiz for screening before transfusion to patients confined at Aklan hospitals.

The need for a blood center is all the more intensified, said Dr. Cuachon, with the increasing number of dengue cases in Aklan, which also prompted Governor Miraflores to appeal to Aklan mayors to sustain their all-out campaign against dengue.

In the same meeting, Dr. Cuachon disclosed that an Aklanon has already died from dengue – the first death this year, said to be a college student, a midwife‟s son who was first confined at the DRSTMH and then brought to a Capiz hospital where he expired.

Meanwhile, in the same meeting, the Philippine Red Cross, which is sustaining its

blood collection mandate in the province to make blood available to sick Aklanons, revealed that presently, there are at lease 1,000 individuals who need to replace bags of blood taken from the PRC for transfusion to their relatives or family members.

The requests for blood from the PRC during emergency cases are backed up by identification cards, letters and other important documents together with promises that the individuals would come back to replace the blood “borrowed”, according to PRC-Aklan Administrator Arcely Pelayo, but nobody came back.

According to the PRC, the province needs to collect at least 1% equivalent to the province‟s total number of population.

In 2013, the PRC was able to collect 4,560 units of blood, which did not reach 1% of the population.

Based on the 2010 Census of Population, Aklan has a population of 535,725. (VGV PIA6 Aklan)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Organic farming may help address climate By: Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA6) ---The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas urges farmers to practice organic farming to help mitigate the impact of climate change.

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Organic agriculture works in harmony with nature rather than against it,” said DA-6 Regional Technical Director Dr. Joyce Wendam during the 2nd Regional Organic Agriculture Summit Opening Program held Monday at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

Wendam said that organic farming involves using techniques to achieve good cropping yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it.

She said that going organic brings a number of advantages including the promotion of the healthy use of soil, water, and air, as well as minimizing all forms of pollution.

“Organic farming also helps in developing and promoting the use of biotechnology in agriculture,” she stressed.

She emphasized that agricultural products are handled with emphasis in careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic

integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages.

She said that the rising concern about antibiotics and pesticide residues and the growing clamor for healthy and safe food are just two of the major reasons why there is a need to shift to organic farming. “There is also a bright and vast market potential for organic products that farmers here can take advantage,” she said.

In Western Visayas, a total of 11,692 hectares of land have been utilized for organic agriculture. The target for five years until 2016 is 33,345 hectares which is five percent of the 667,000 hectares total farming area in the region.

The DA official said that there are 10,555 organic practitioners in Region 6 and these farmers mostly come from the province of Negros Occidental.

Wendam also posed a challenge to the

provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras to increase the number of organic agriculture practitioners. “We are asking for your cooperation and assistance, most specially the local government units and the farmers to go organic because this promotes practices that develop resiliency to vulnerabilities due to climate change,” she said.

Republic Act 10068 or the “Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 declares promotion, propagation, further development, and implementation of the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

This will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers, and the general public, and save on imported farm inputs. (JCM/LTP/ PIA-Iloilo)

DTI issues tips on managing household budget By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) – - In order to help consumers find ways to save money even in small amount and spend only according to the needs of the family, the Department of Trade and Industry issues tips in managing the family budget.

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ngr. Lynna Joy Cardinal, Information Officer of DTI Antique in a meeting with a group of mother members of Mother‟s Club organized by the teachers of Sebaste Central School in Sebaste, Antique emphasized the need to prioritize the expenses of the family according to its needs.

During the discussion, Cardinal stressed the need to give priority to the basic needs which is food, shelter and clothing then health and education of children.

She said, in most cases mothers are the ones who manage the family budget. Thus, Cardinal said they must be aware of the prod-

ucts that are safe and have passed the quality standards.

Some of the tips in managing the family budget: ·Buy products in public markets rather than in supermarkets. Goods are fresh and much cheaper in public markets. Sellers often give out discounts to regular consumers. ·Before shopping, make a list of goods you need to purchase to avoid unnecessary or impulse buying. By having a list you can avoid buying things you don‟t need. ·Pay your loans. Someone will trust you to borrow again if you know how to pay your loans.

·Avoid buying things that you don‟t need.

Before you decide to buy ask yourself first if the products are really needed. There are things that we bought that only end up in the stock room. Buying something not needed means extra expenses, instead of spending it, save the money for future use. ·Discuss with family members the status of your finances. By doing so, they too will understand and help you save.

In conclusion Cardinal said with our limited income, we really have to decide to save something for the future. We need to become well-informed consumers. (JCM/PSM/ PIA6 Antique)

New modus emerging in drug trade By: Easter Anne D. Doza NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Aug. 14 (PIA6) - - The illegal drugs trade in the country is shifting and new trends emerging, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

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DEA Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac said the recent trend in illegal drug shipment of Chinese drug syndicates is to send their Chinese chemist in the country to work on drug laboratories rather than send the illegal drug.

Cacdac warned barangay captains, kagawads and school heads who attended the Orientation on Barangay Drug Clearing Operation organized by the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council to be vigilant because these drug traders do not choose where to put up drug laboratories, they even put up in the remotest of areas.

“Big laboratories can be easily traced because these kill the surrounding plants and

emits very foul odor, so now, they shift into kitchen type producing at lower volumes only,” Cacdac added.

Meanwhile, PDEA Regional Director Paul Ledesma added that there is also a new trend emerging in the drugs trade industry – the free trade.

“Suppliers now do not coursed through the illegal drugs through known personalities but rather to virtually unknown individuals to the drug enforcement agency,” Ledesma said.

According to Ledesma, they do not limit the volume and who to send the drugs to and these are personalities or couriers who are not in the watch list are not trained drug dealers which, often leads to apprehensions by the law enforcers.

“There is also a significant increase in utilizing minors in drug trafficking in the region,” Ledesma said.

Cacdac and Ledesma were in the city to conduct an orientation on the Barangay Drug Clearing Operation and destroy the P4.4 million worth of drugs used as evidence in drug -related cases here “The drug problem needs unified solution from home, workplaces especially in the barangays. The campaign will only be successful if we all take it by heart, starting from our homes, to the barangay level and the community. If this happens, then eventually, we will win the war over the drug menace,” Ledesma added. *(/JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

Presidential sis, Luistro buildings inauguration

lead

classroom

BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN BACONG, Negros Oriental, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- Presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro led the inauguration of two new classroom buildings in San Miguel Elementary School in Bacong, Negros Oriental today.

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ome 96 kindergarten students of San Miguel Elementary School will be the first occupants of these two new classroom buildings inside their campus courtesy of DepEd with the help of its private institution partners, the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation, and Asian Development Bank-Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (ADB-JFPR).

This is part of DepEd‟s program to universalize kindergarten education to Filipino children through joined efforts of the public and private sectors.

Abellada, the chairperson of AGAPP Foundation thanked the ADB-JFPR for giving financial support for the construction of these “silid pangaraps” in Negros Oriental.

“Sana mag-enjoy kayo sa bago ninyong classroom. Mag-aral kayong maigi at kapag nag-graduate na kayo sana imbitahan niyo pa ako kasi kapag nakapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral niyo, kami sa AGAPP, naabot na naming ang aming pangarap,”

Abellada told the kindergarten students of San Miguel Elementary School.

These new classrooms are complete with new school chairs and tables and learning books for the kindergarten students.

“We are very grateful that we are chosen. It is a blessing that these classrooms are (fully) furnished.

Aside from the building there is also a feeding program for the children,” School Principal Maria Melba Real remarked.

San Miguel Elementary School has a student population of 702 pupils.

Meanwhile, DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro assured teachers and students of the elementary school that the department will also refurbish old school buildings as part of its program in maintaining old classrooms.

Luistro disclosed this is a challenge for DepEd to keep up with the new facilities built by AGAPP Foundation.

“Ang mga facility na itinatayo ng AGAP ay napakamaganda (kaya) kailangan ang mga lumang classroom ng DepEd, mag-step up para gumanda rin po,” Sec. Luistro said.

Still, the DepEd Secretary thanked Abellada and the AGAPP Foundation for partnering with them in the construction of new classrooms for the benefit of all schoolchildren throughout the country. The DepEd and the AGAPP Foundation target to build 1,000 new classrooms/buildings across the nation until 2016.

Aside from “silid pangarap,” AGAPP Foundation also provides feeding program for students and trainings for teachers. The schools in Negros Oriental that benefitted from the newly built “Silid Pangarap” buildings are Okiot Elementary School, Bais Science Elementary School, Sto. Tomas Elementary School, Sta. Catalina Elementary School, Candugay Elementary School and Maloh Elementary School. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

Photo exhibit on Shark appreciation unveiled in Cebu BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA CEBU CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA) --- A photo exhibit that aims to raise shark appreciation in the public was unveiled recently in Cebu City.

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reenpeace kicked off the observation of Shark Week on August 10 by unveiling its “Spotlight on Sharks (S.O.S.)” photo exhibit which will run until August 15 at Ayala Center Cebu Level 1 Expansion.

The 12-piece photo exhibit highlights the importance of sharks to global marine biodiversity with the hopes of breaking the stereotypes surrounding sharks and encouraging public and national support for the protection and conservation of sharks.

The photos are from world-renowned and award-winning photographers commissioned by

Greenpeace.

In a press statement, Greenpeace said tens of millions of sharks worldwide are killed every year.

“Many, if not most, are caught accidentally in fishing gears, while others are killed directly for their fins, meat or oil. Shark habitats are also being destroyed by both man-made and natural causes and as a result, some species of sharks have plummeted in numbers, or in some cases, have become locally extinct,” according to Greenpeace.

Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines, is thankful that Cebu has banned the catching of sharks. “Thankfully, Cebu has

banned the catching of sharks. The local government is not only leading conservation efforts, they are prepared to draft stronger regulation measures that will encompass fishery trade and tourism,” he said.

Cinches added that it‟s time for Filipinos to give sharks their due respect and appreciation and protect them from further extinction.

In line with the Shark Week celebration, Greenpeace is also set to hold school forums at University of Cebu, University of Visayas, and University of San Jose Recoletos from August 12 to 13, and a Shark Summit on August 14 at the Cebu Capitol. (rmn/PIA Cebu)

BJMP 7 intensifies community driven programs for inmates BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR CEBU, Aug. 12 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) strengthens its implementation of its munity driven programs for inmates while inside the jail and when they are mainstreamed with the community.

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uring the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) forum, BJMP-7 regional chaplain and assistant regional director for operations,Supt Bartolome Sagadal said that 'Come-Pa-Release-Me-Po' Ministries answered the needs of inmates to gain self confidence and the feeling that they are still useful and still part of the community.

Sagadal said, 'Come-Pa-Release-Me-Po' is a community empowerment driven, a post release intervention with holistic approach for inmates.

The program include community empowerment services; para-legal assistance service; religious and guidance counseling; education and vocational skills training; advocacy, visitation, and networking on basic needs; sports, culture and arts development; ecological care and waste management; medical, optical, dental and psychiatric and health service; post-release assistance and referral service and the temporal management commission.

Under these services for inmates in the prison cells in Central Visayas is therapeutic community modality (TCM) that organizes and associates inmates on sustainable assistance (AISA) and jail pastoral and development council.

Through “Bail Now, Work and Pay Later” under the para-legal assistance service, the bureau

commits to assist the legal needs of inmates and follow up cases especially those that have been scheduled for hearing, over-staying and other legal concerns by effecting applicable laws.

Building Faith Communities and Worships under then religious and guidance counseling service identify and monitor the religious affiliation of the inmates and encourage them to participate in the activities of their own religion to avoid religious confusion.

Vocational skills training service then introduce inmates to re-entry education agenda to the poor (REAP) alternative learning system (ALS), technical education, vocational and livelihood institute (TEVOLI).

The inmates are also introduced to sports clinic, culture and arts training, music, dance, visual arts therapy, theater arts and cultural festivals as part of the sports, culture and arts development services.

Inmates are also taught with proper waste segregation, production of ecological handicrafts, vermin culture, organic fertilizer composting, and jail beautification and greening.

Total well being of the inmates is also ensured by encouraging them to actively participate in health care management inside the jail.

BJMP-7 also advocates for the campaign to

com-

ensure sustainability of inmates‟ renewal and transformation towards its re-integration to the society.

On of the approaches geared toward these services is the establishment of Pagkakaisa ng mga Layang Bilanggo (PAGLAYA) Cooperative.

'Tulong Mo, Alagaan Ko' under the temporal management commission is also established to channel all budget allocated and donation for the jail and the inmates are used in initiatives that would benefit the jail and the inmates.

Sagadal said that for the livelihood programs “Our inmates are engaged into making crafts for exports like basketry, fashion jewelries and furniture making.”

Lapulapu City Jail inmates are also linked with Trigger Company in Mactan Economic Processing Zone (MEPZ) maker of chainsaw/circular in Lapu lapu City. In this note production assembly area is formed inside the jail.

Talisay City Jail inmates are also into basket making. Sagadal said that inmates per pieces they have produce and according to sizes of some crafts.

“We have to make them busy and productive and we have to tap their expertise and skills to pre-occupy their minds away from their present predicament," Sagadal concluded. (mbcn/ays/PIA-7)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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DG Oquineña: Cultivate a culture of ‗Walang Iwanan‘ BY: FERLIZA C. CONTRATISTA CEBU CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) --- Cultivate a culture of ―Walang Iwanan‖, this was the main message of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena to more than a hundred human resource (HR) practitioners in Cebu recently.

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quinena was one of the speakers of the 14th Proactive People Management Seminar organized by the Peoples Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP).

Oquiñena, who is also one of the pillars of the non-government organization “Gawad Kalinga”, said that an HR practitioner must create and leave behind as legacy a culture of “walang iwanan”.

“Don‟t leave anybody behind, develop a culture of 'walang iwanan,' and expect a high level of cooperation from the personnel, the men and women of the company,” Oquiñena said.

The legacy that will be left behind by an HR personnel will practice a sense of fairness that can inspire everybody in the workforce, he said.

He added that the legacy will also include an atmosphere of thriving for excellence.

“Pag inspired ang mga tao mo, you will be

able to raise them to a level of excellence wherein hindi pwede ang pwede na,” Oquiñena said.

Most companies, he said, have visions and missions that have terms such as “makatao" or pro-person, “maka Dios” or pro -God, “makakalikasan” or pro-environment, however, oftentimes neglecting the humane push for competence and excellence.

“Makatao, maka Dyos, maka kalikasan, eh sinong maka deliver?” he asked.

But prior to this, Oquiñena said that an HR practitioner must first resolve his or her own issues to be effective.

“HR procreate persons while working in the company and you can‟t do that if you do not heal and see only yourself,” he said.

He said this is manifested when an HR practitioner is afraid or threatened with a suggestion that may be better than his own, and when confronted with questions on rights of

employees vis-a-vis benefit of the company.

Oquiñena towards the end of his talk posed a challenge to the participants. “Your people will become great men and women in the future because you are the HR manager that inspires them,” he said.

Other topics were Techniques in Cost Management for People, Programs that Pass Scrutiny; the Power of Personal Branding in Corporate Image; Getting People to be Enthusiastic and to be Engaged in your Programs and What it means to take communication to the cloud.

The overall aim of the activity is to have a strategic advantage for HR managers of being ahead. Also in the government side, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is also bent on equipping those in the government service as well as in the private employment to be ready with the Asean integration. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)

LGU-NGO Timbayayong Award winners bared BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA)--The Municipality of Zamboanguita and Federation of Daruhan sa Matag Mag-uuma Program got the P200,000 worth of project as first prize winner of the Timbayayong Award for Outstanding Local Government Unit & Non-Government Organization/People‘s Organization (LGU-NGO/PO) Partnership.

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ore than 1,000 member-farmers of the famer federation program owned farming carabao each from its carabao dispersal project for five years now. Zamboanguita LGU has been recognized with the most number of carabaos in Central Visayas.

The second placer went to City of Bayawan and Bayawan Dairy Farmers Cooperative (BADAFCO) which received the P150,000 worth of project also from the Provincial Government of Negros Oriental and NEGORNET (Negros Oriental Network of NGOs Inc.).

BADAFCO is engaged in milk production for more than three years now which supplies the nutrition program and other schools of Bayawan City.

While the town of Bindoy and Kapunongan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Barangay Danao (KAMADA),

placed third winner receiving P100,000.

Bindoy government provided relocation site to family-victims of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in a hinterland barangay Danao and provided livelihood for food production that include vegetables and rice.

For the city of Tanjay & Lemon-Azagra-Tugas Famers Irrigators Association (LATFIA) received a consolation prize of P50,000.

The local government provided agricultural assistance to LATFIA for its irrigation systems to produce high value rice and vegetables.

NEGORNET‟s or Negros Oriental Network of NGOs and PO‟s (non-government organizations and people‟s organizations) Timbayayong Awards creates a landmark achievement established 12 years ago, cited

Negornet President Msgr. Merlin Logronio The annual awards have built strong partnership between NGO/PO and the local government unit working together for local development projects, Msgr. Logronio said.

For his part, Executive Director Greg Fernandez, Jr. of YMCA said the passage of a provincial ordinance declaring first week of August of every year as NGO/PO Week is part of the network‟s accomplishments.

This is to recognize the importance of private sector or civil society working together for effective local governance, Fernandez said.

With more than 30-member NGOs and POs, NEGORNET involved in various collaborations with the provincial government in promoting good and effective governance and development, said Fernandez. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7 -Negros Oriental)

More research for better disaster management sought BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA CEBU CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA)--- The call for more researches related to various health impacts in relation to the recent disaster that hit the Philippines is emphasized in the celebration of the National Health Research System Week August 11-15 of every year.

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entral Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD) chairman, Enrico Gruet said there are still a lot of areas that need to be covered with research following the occurrence of disasters.

“We still need studies on mental, social, physical health, on infection, diseases during and after the disasters,” Gruet said.

That is why, it is the aim of this year‟s PNHRS week celebration to gather planners, academe, health practitioners and communicators to gain insights and ignite interests on how to go about the research.

Merlita Opena, chief research said it is the key role of science to provide accurate statistics necessary for proper planning and management.

“The Philippine National Health Research System‟s role is to disseminate properly the research results bringing them down through a level of communication depending on the audience,” Opena said. She said it is the first time that the PNHRS week is hosted in Cebu since its inception eight years ago.

PCHRD executive director, Jaime Montoya in an advance message said, that apart from the economic social and environmental implications, the recent catastrophes had a huge impact on the health and well being of Filipinos. Participants will come from all over the Philippines and speakers are of noted expertise in fields necessary for disaster management.

Opena said one of the highlights is the talk on the use of social media for disaster management and also health communication.

Topics of the two and half day event include Risk Communication on Typhoon, Rainfall and Storm Surges Warning system: a Post Assessment on Typhoon Yolanda; Immediate Effects of the Typhoon Among Socio Economically Disadvantaged Families in Leyte; Tohuko University and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Response to Natural and Manmade disasters.

There will also be presentations of results of health studies. Their keynote speaker is former Senator Panfilo Lacson who heads the rehabilitation efforts of the government. (mbcn/ FCC/PIA-Cebu)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

PA spearheads project ‗aid in a shoebox‘ BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Aug. 14 (PIA) ---- Some 1,549 elementary pupils received shoeboxes through the ippine Army (PA) recently in Hernani Central Elementary School, Hernani, Eastern Samar.

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he project utilized a shoe box as a package, where basic school supplies and other personal care items were placed.

In an interview with PIA, Lt. Col. Peter B. Burgonio, the Commanding Officer of 14th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Brigade, PA based in Brgy. Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar said “this is an opportunity for us to help the school children and also a simple way of letting our elementary pupils that your Army in Eastern Samar and other stakeholders show our simple but genuine concern for their welfare.”

The shoeboxes were turned over to Mr. Leo D. Candido, District Supervisor, Hernani District by Lt. Col. Burgonio and was witnessed

by Hon. Mayor Edgar C. Boco, parents and teachers.

In his response message, Mr. Candido thanked the PA for spearheading this project and humbly accepted the shoeboxes.

“This shoeboxes are of great help not only to the pupils but especially to the parents. So, I

encourage the pupils to take good care of the items inside the shoeboxes for future use. I know that you have school supplies already given by different stakeholders and private organizations.

The supplies can be used in the next school year.”

Another message was given by Hon. Mayor Boco. He was also very thankful to the PA and stakeholders, and he encouraged “the pupils to study hard because I believe that education is the key to success, and if the whole community is educated, there will be peace and development in our community”, Mayor Boco said.

Inside the shoeboxes were hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushes, combs, lotion, shampoo conditioner, face soap, floss or body wash.

Another item were the school supplies which include pencils, crayons, calculator, water colors, colored pencils, glue stick, washable paint and markers.

Included in each shoebox were toys such as balls, yoyos, dolls, jump ropes, toy cars and

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stuffed animals.

Meanwhile, the PIA requested to open one of the many boxes. According to Ms. Ma. Thelma B. Abella, Principal of Hernani Central Elem.

School, “inside the shoebox are assorted school supplies and personal hygiene care items.”

For Eastern Samar, a total of 8,888 shoeboxes were already distributed to the eight different municipalities; Lawaan – 2,205, Balangiga – 1,111, Giporlos – 1,627, Quinapondan – 706, Llorente – 517, Hernani – 1,549, Salcedo – 841 and Guiuan – 332.

The theme of this Project Shoebox is “Shoebox ko, para sa pag-aaral mo” Project Shoebox is in cooperation with different stakeholders such as, PA, University of the Philippines (UP) – Sigma Alpha Sorority, National Book Store Foundation, 2 GO Express, Vibal Publishing House, Inc., McDonald‟s Fisher Mall, Syngenta, UP-Los Banos, Mariano Marcos State Univeristy, JCI Marikina Marikit, Universal Records. (AJC/SDC/PIA8-E. Samar)

Samarnons enjoy festive Samar Day CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 14 (PIA) - Thousands of Samarnons from the different part of the province relished the festive Samar Day as five municipalities joined the festivals of festivals on August 11, Monday.

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he Festival of Festivals was among the highlights of the weeklong celebration. Other activities include search for the Mutya han Samar, drum and bugle contest, streetdancing parade, live band concerts, agri trade fairs, and other medical events.

Mayaw-Mayaw festival of Pinabacdao, Samar took center stage at the grand showdown of festivals.

Pinabacdao is a fourth class municipality in the province. Mayaw mayaw is a celebration or offering to the heavens for a bountiful harvest which the divinities always grant. Pinabacdao is considered the rice granary of Samar, the municipality also boasts of root crops, banana and other agricultural products.

These goods spill to the highways sold in makeshift huts.

In her speech, Samar Guv Sharee Ann Tan

Delos Santos said that the fast, synchronized and energetic dancing has earned the admiration of the crowd and the nod of judges during the festival competition it portrays the culture, tradition and way of life in Samar.

The said event was graced by the Department of Tourism Regional Director Karen Tiopes.

The festivity started with a holy mass, flag raising and wreath laying ceremony led by Tan and 801st Commander BGen. Wilson Leyva.

Samar Day used to be celebrated every Nov. 10 to commemorate the first local election in the newly created provinces of Samar.

The island was divided into the provinces of Western Samar (later renamed Samar province by Congress), Eastern Samar and Northern Samar in 1965.

During the martial law years in the 70s, the celebration was moved to August 23, the eve of Catbalogan‟s fiesta, so that people could attend the feast day of Saint Bartholomew, the city‟s patron saint, on August 24.

The celebration of Samar Day was moved to Aug. 11 in the late 1970s upon the recommendation of a committee tasked in finding the appropriate date.

August 11 was chosen as date of celebration of Samar Day as this was the same date in 1841 that Queen Isabella III of Spain signed a royal decree establishing Samar as a military province separate from Leyte.

Catbalogan was the ancient capital of the island province of Samar. It is now the seat of Samar‟s provincial government. Samar is now 173 years old but its people still hold the same passion and pride it did a very long time ago.

(AJC/Avha H. Ebade/PIA 8- Samar)

BFAR distributes motor engines to Samar mayors CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 11 (PIA) - Fishery officials led by Director Juan Albaladejo gave free motor engines to members of the Calbayog, Almagro, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Daram and Marapipi (CASTDM) Mayors‘ Alliance in simple ceremonies on Aug 6 in Catbalogan.

The free motor engines were received by the local chief executives namely, Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino-CASTSDM Mayors‟ Alliance Chairman, Almagro Municipal Mayor Kathleen S. Prudenciado, Mayor Lilia A. Conejos of Sto. Nino, Mayor Vicente F. Limpiado of Tagapul-an, Mayor Gemma P. Zosa of Sta. Margarita, Mayor Lucia L. Astorga of Daram, and new member-Mayor Eufemio Oliva of Gandara got their share.

Albaladejo said that Samar Sea is now considered in critical stage, but with

CASTSDM Mayors‟ Alliance now as their partners in its management, Samar Sea will be surely protected from today onwards. The group was pushing for a fishing moratorium for Samar Sea. The BFAR official said that the P1-M project grant of BFAR Central Office for each of the six original members of the alliance has already been downloaded to their office and soon will be awarded to the same members of the alliance after submission of project proposals. These project proposals, he added,

should conform to the needs of the LGU constituents especially on increasing the resiliency of fishing communities.

Fisheries Provincial Director Engr.

Rolando Ay-ay stressed that as the alliance expands from seven-member to 12 including LGUs of Gandara, Tarangnan, Catbalogan, Pagsanghan and Zumarraga, the need to rename the group will be one of the agenda in the next regular meeting. (AJC/NBQ/PIA Samar with Aimee Catalan –Calbayog City Media Bureau)

EASTERN VISAYAS

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MMDA Chair cites Maasin progress a decade after MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 11 (PIA) -- He was here in 2003, at that time Francis Tolentino was Mayor of Tagaytay City, and eleven years later, he was back in this city, this time as chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a cabinet-level post.

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he MMDA chair was in the city as guest of honor and speaker during the 14th charter day anniversary program Sunday, August 10.

In his speech at the jam-packed city gymnasium, Tolentino said the secret to progress are the people and the local leadership, as he noted the wide participation of various sectors such as senior citizens and past barangay officials, among others, during the festivities.

“The people are out most valuable resources,” Tolentino shared, adding that the people-plus-leadership secret formula for progress cannot be found in the local government code but in the heart.

The well-coordinated and strong leadership of the city and province was also a

great factor for smooth implementation of programs and projects.

City officials led by Mayor Maloney Samaco, as well as provincial officials headed

by Gov. Roger Mercado and his brother, Cong. Damian Mercado, were around during the charter day program, as well as some Mayors led by Mayor Roberto Loquinte of Anahawan, the President of the provincial Mayor‟s league.

At the press conference held right after the luncheon in the Vice-Mayor‟s office, Tolentino reiterated his observation that much has changed in the city since his first visit.

“You cannot readily see the changes when you live here. But try going out and come back eleven years later and you will notice the big difference,” he told members of the local

media.

With the MMDA chair at the presscon were Mayor Samaco and world boxing champion Prince Albert Pagara.

Asked about the new round of traffic lights in addition to the ones the MMDA already had delivered, Tolentino said these will be sent in due time, and will be set up based on the study conducted by MMDA men recently.

The MMDA will also install closed circuits television cameras (CCTV) on key streets in the city when requested to do so by the city government, Tolentino also said.

Mayor Samaco readily picked it up, saying the city local government unit really desires to have some CCTVs in strategic sections of the city. (AJC/MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Savemore in Tacloban hires new workers TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 12 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas is looking for an increase number of hired applicants before this year ends with the recruitment activity being conducted by Savemore, a mall which is set to open in this city in November this year.

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n a press release sent to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), a two-day recruitment activity is being set today August 12 until tomorrow August 13, 2014 from 9:00 o‟clock in the morning until 3:00 o‟clock in the afternoon at the Tacloban City Hall.

Savemore Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Ms. Gemma Castillo said in a

letter sent to the Office of the Regional Director of DOLE that ninety (90) jobs are available during the 2-day recruitment activity.

Jobs available are for cashiers, baggers, Stock Clerks, Sales Clerks, RDU Clerks, Customer Assistant, Administrative, Ads and Promo Assistant, Store Consignee Assistant, Supply Assistant, Company Nurse, Accounting

Assistant, and Treasury Assistants.

All the successful applicants will be assigned in Tacloban.

Relative to this, DOLE Region 8 Director Exequiel Sarcauga has expressed thanks to Savemore for conducting the recruitment activity with a hope to generate more applicants and ultimately new members of the work force in the region. (CBA/PIA-8/DOLE8)

Information as aid during disaster NAVAL, Biliran, Aug. 14 (PIA) - Much has been said on the humanitarian assistance like food, shelter, clothing and other various form of assistance coming from the international humanitarian agencies including that of the national government, nongovernment organizations and private groups that help the victims of ‗Yolanda‘ get back slowly on their feet.

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hese tangible humanitarian help, though very much important as an immediate response to inject life- saving mechanisms to the affected communities, outclassed a more relevant and important tool which could offer a greater help to communities even before, on and after disaster of great magnitude strikes.

More lives may be saved from Yolanda if people really knew what a storm surge was as repeatedly announced in the different media platforms several days before the catastrophic event took place on November 8, 2013.

Even learned individuals don‟t really know exactly what a storm surge is in its entirety despite several warnings on the height of waves it may produce brought about by the very strong winds which is the first of its kind ever recorded in recent history.

People living in the coastal communities, without an iota of doubt, would pack their bags and went to a safe place, if it was announced as tidal wave or a tsunami (abnormal seawater movements), which were entirely different from

storm surge.

The absence of the „right information‟ caused the deaths of thousands of lives and destruction of billions worth of properties not counting the shattered hopes of some of the survivors.

There came the other form of a very useful intervention in times of pre, on and post disaster periods - to communicate with the communities through information dissemination of disaster-related information materials in various media platforms.

Information is also a very useful aid aside from the tangible humanitarian assistance because it helps people understand the situation at hand and arrived at a decision most helpful in the preservation of lives and properties.

People‟s lives would be most safe and properties would not be wasted if they will not build houses in identified geohazard zones like in flood, landslide, earthquake and in the no-safe dwelling zones (unsafe dwelling place within the 40 meters no-build zone)where government and non-government organizations have intensively

informed through several media platforms of the dangers living in these areas.

People who internalized disaster-related information relayed by concerned government offices especially from the local risk reduction and management offices in the local government units are most likely to be saved from calamities and disasters.

We are now living in an era where information is available in just a tick of a second and that these modes of information are even simplified and reinforced with the help of information officers of government agencies.

Out world today is no longer the same in biblical time where Noah just verbally through the word of mouth kept reminding the people of the great flood to come through the word of mouth, thus the building of an ark to save their lives, yet we seem to never learn how important information as an aid is to help save lives and properties in times of disasters and calamities.

(AJC/RSV/PIA-8 Biliran)

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 piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Regional Director, PIA 7

Editorial Consultants Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Regional Director, PIA6

Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. Contributors All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8 Production and Layout Edson J. BaĂąares 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: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com PIA 8, Childrenâ€&#x;s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com