One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 4

Vol 4

Issue 4

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

A member of Tribu Panayanaon performs the act of killing the gigantic wild boar during the performance of the tribe, which retained its champion’s title in the Ati-Ati contest of the 2014 Iloilo Dinagyang Festival. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Jan. 27 - Feb. 2, 2014

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Social media boon to SMEs, tourism BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN SIQUIJOR, Jan. 24 (PIA) – Owners of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in Siquijor as well as tourism in the island can now boost their industries through the effective use of social media.

This, after a team of Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-7 personnel led by its Regional Director Minerva Newman taught them the advantages of using social media in information dissemination and product selling during a seminar on Maximizing Social Networking for SMEs/Tourism Development in Siquijor province recently.

Participants of the seminar were SME owners, SMED-C members, information/tourism officers from different local government units and national government agencies who are interested in learning the good effects of social media.

The seminar aims to teach SME owners how to maximize networking through the use of social media to bring development in Siquijor.

Newman told participants that billions of people are now enrolled in different social networking sites specifically Facebook and Twitter. She encouraged all participants, especially those who are involved in business to do the same since it will give them a bigger market for their products and expand their network for potential clients.

Another social media site she introduced to them is www.twitter.com where information travels faster and posts are more direct and shorter than Facebook. With these two social networking sites more people will know about their products and offerings and will boost their opportunity for bigger busines and profits.

Newman said more and more people can have easy access to these social networking sites due to the smartphone technology.

Meanwhile, for local government units, social networking sites also give benefits to them since it is a free platform in sharing latest news stories happening in their towns. Government offices

utilize social media for information that will help improve people’s lives.

On the other hand, PIA Cebu Information Center Manager Rachelle Nessia, who was also one of the event speakers, taught them how to be familiar with, make and navigate Facebook and Twitter.

Nessia demonstrated how to make a Facebook page and a twitter account and reminded them to always update their accounts so that it will have continuous activity. Nessia also shared to them how to link Twitter to Facebook so that twitter posts can also appear in Facebook.

Aside from these, both speakers taught participants to be responsible in using social media accounts.

They reminded the participants to be careful about what they post on their accounts because "your social media account is the extension of your character," the speakers said. (mbcn/RAL/PIA7NEGOR)

Pia-7 RD Mine Newman giving the preliminaries in today's seminar on Maximizing Social Networking for SMEs/Tourism Development at Dapdap Sunset Grill,Siquijor.

Over 15,000 ‘Yolanda’ survivors avail DSWD’s cash-for-work in EVisayas

DSWD -7 representatives discuss the legal adoption process and why "simulation of birth" needs to stop during the Kapihan forum held at PIA-7 office in Cebu City on Jan. 29.

The forum is in line with this year's observation of Adoption Consciousness Week. The forum was moderated by Cebu Information Manager Rachelle M. Nessia and Wen Celen of Radyo ng Bayan. (vvv/PIA Cebu)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan. 27 (PIA) - Some 15,188 survivors of Typhoon Yolanda from Eastern Visayas benefited from the Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that started on November 24 and is still ongoing.

The CFW program is part of the government’s early recovery efforts to introduce normalcy to affected families in the region.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman in her recent visit to Tacloban said that more than the relief distribution, those who are able are being engaged in the important work of rebuilding the area.

Prior to the CFW, DSWD initially implemented Food-for -Work (FFW) from November 10 – 23 where beneficiaries were given food packs in exchange of helping in repacking and distributing relief goods.

Under the CFW, the beneficiaries are given work

according to their capacity such as loading and unloading of relief goods, repacking of goods, food preparation, cleaning of debris, coastal clean-up, canal dredging, and communal gardening, among others. Other ‘Yolanda’ victims assisted in the inventory of damaged properties.

Qualified beneficiaries are those 18 years old and above, able and willing to be assigned where they will be needed the most.

Areas of assignment are in the different relief and rehabilitation hubs of the Department in Tacloban City, Isabel, Ormoc City, Catbalogan and Guiuan, as well as at community projects in Basey in Western Samar and Burauen in Leyte.

Each worker is paid daily an average of P260 for eight hours of work.

To date, DSWD has released P22,055,766 for the implementation of the program and continues to distribute food packs to the displaced families. (PIA 8)

EASTERN VISAYAS

UN-OCHA official praises resilience of Region 6

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and party accompanied by local officials led by Leyte governor Dominico Petilla and Tacloban City mayor Alfred Romualdez attend the flag raising ceremony at the Boy Scout Junction, Fatima Village, Tacloban City, January 26. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA6) – The top official of the United Nations-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in Region 6 praised the people of the region for their resilience, which can bring forth quick recovery from destruction wrought by typhoon “Yolanda”.

Fernando Arroyo said that we can complete the recovery phase very quickly in the region because of one “very, very important factor”, which is the resilience of the people.

In fact, Arroyo said this characteristic has been praised by everyone and by every external actor (foreign humanitarian institution) around.

“At the end of the day, that is the most important thing to have,’ said Arroyo, who hails from Spain. Referring to ongoing international humanitarian initiatives and local actions, he added: “We can plan, discuss and design interventions and strategies, but if the people are not resilient themselves, nothing much will be achieved.”

In fact, areas hit by the super typhoon have started to get back on track due to this resilience coupled with the needed responses given by the government and various initiatives introduced by foreign humanitarian organizations in a coordinated manner with other sectors.

Arroyo led the workshop on the cluster approach and

coordination organized by UN-OCHA on Jan. 28 here to establish a clear understanding among partners of various coordination structures that exist and to make sure that the coordination structure of international organizations is working in harmony and synergy with the Philippine coordination structure.

This, he said, is important as UN-OCHA is gradually leaving the country along with other organizations that came here first and let other international organizations come in to work for the long or medium term recovery and rehabilitation of areas affected by the super typhoon.

International organizations are changing and are leaving little by little and those coming in are working for the long or medium term and it is particularly important that they line up with the coordination structures of the government, Arroyo said.

Nevertheless, he said these organizations will stay as long as needed although they will need to coordinate closely with authorities here.

In Region 6 and in the Philippines in general, he said the resilience of the people is very, very considerable, so every action which is undertaken ends up in a successful way.

“So I think that is a guarantee that things will keep on evolving in the right way,” said Arroyo. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

Mobile travel guide now in Iloilo

Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz

BY: LEONARD T. PINEDA I ILOILO CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA6) --- Travelling and exploring Iloilo is made easy with the release of the Iloilo Guide mobile phone application.

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loilo Guide, a mobile application for “It seeks to harness digital tools to phones and tablets, can serve as enhance tourism experience by providing portable reference of tourists visiting tourists with timely, accurate and relevant Iloilo. information on devices that they carry The guide is part of the nationwide around with them: phones and tablets,” he Digital Tourism program of Cebu-based new said. media start-up InnoPub Media and the Iloilo Guide provides tourists with country's telecommunications leader Smart information about Iloilo and tips on places to Communications, Inc. visit during their trip. It also contains a guide It is supported by the Department of on food visitors should try.

Tourism-Western Visayas, the Iloilo City The app also contains a directory of Government and the Philippines' leading low DOT-accredited tour guides and tour -cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air. operators. It also contains a listing of Max Limpag, Co-Founder of InnoPub important government offices, hospitals and Media, said the program uses technology to emergency units like the police and fire enhance tourism which are two things the departments.

Philippines is known for.

Limpag said that many places mentioned

and listed in the guide have a “check location” link that, when pressed, uses the gadget's GPS to check where the tourist is and show her where the tourism spot is located and provide a suggested route to get there.

On one hand, Atty. Maria Jane C. Paredes, Smart senior manager for Public Affairs Group - Visayas and Mindanao, said tourism and technology can help people connect closer to local communities and can help spur economies.

The Iloilo Guide will be actively updated in the coming months to include more information to help tourists make the most of their visit in Iloilo. (JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

Davao now easily accessible to NegOcc fliers BY: EASTER ANNE D. DOZA NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Jan. 27 (PIA6) - - Bacolod City and the rest of the province now have a direct link to southern Philippines via Cebu Pacific’s Davao route with its inaugural flight over the weekend.

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avao flights are available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on an Airbus A320, which, according to Sales chief Agnes Gupallor is a new milestone for the airline and so more tourists between two cities will be catered.

“A key city in Mindanao is now accessible from Bacolod,” said Gupalor who also added that the 1 hour and 10 minute flight to from the City of Smiles to the center of trade, commerce and industry of Mindanao is now made more affordable, fast and efficient.

According to the Bacolod City Information Office, during a special program to open the flight at the Bacolod-Silay

Airport pre-departure area, Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella thanked the Gokongwei’s for giving Bacolod and Negros the chance to have the Davao route.

“This is the start of something new and it goes to show that Negros and Bacolod are showing signs of prosperity and progress,” expressed Mayor Puentevella.

Puentevella also lauded Cebu Pacific for improving service relating that the direct flight will open new opportunities for both cities – Davao and Bacolod.

Meanwhile, former governor and now provincial consultant on investment and promotions Rafael Coscolluela said this new

flight route is the airline’s benchmark to more places for tourism development not just Davao.

“We are happy that Cebu Pacific has decided to take this step and a move towards the right direction,” Coscolluela said.

Puentevella expressed that this is the start of something new and it goes to show that Negros and Bacolod are showing signs of prosperity and progress.

The Mayor also hinted that the direct service to Davao will pave the way to a possible international direct flight from Bacolod to Hong Kong soon. *(JCM/ EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

Kalibo bags 2 Kalasag awards BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA KALIBO, Aklan, Jan. 28 (PIA6) -- The municipality of Kalibo received recently two Gawad Kalasag awards from the Office of Civil Defense 6.

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alibo mayor William Lachica, who, along with Kalibo Municipal Local Government Operations Officer (MLGOO) 6 Maricel Bechayda and Municipal Civil Defense II Terence June Toriano received the award in Iloilo City, revealed that Kalibo placed 1st in the Best Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) category for 1st to 3rd class municipalities and 2nd place in Government Emergency Response Management (GEM) category in Basic Search and Rescue for its Special Operations Unit (SOU). In the same awarding ceremonies,

the province of Aklan placed third in the Best Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) category while the municipality of Balete place second in the Best MDRRMC under the 4th to 6th class category.

Other major winners from Aklan included the 611 Philippine Coast Guard Auxilliary Squadron which placed 1st; and ABANTE Aklan, 1st place in the Civil Society Organizations Category.

Gawad KALASAG, short for KALAMIDAD AT SAKUNA LABANAN, SARILING GALING ang Kaligtasan, is a

nationwide search by the OCD started in 1998 yet, according to the OCD, amis to recognize individuals and groups that exerted efforts and initiative in strengthening the capabilities of communities in fighting calamities.

The awarding ceremonies also became an opportunity to thank and acknowledge various organizations that extended assistance to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in the region as well as for the ongoing and continuing assistance in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, according to Lachica. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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PhilHealth-6 payments reach P3.7 B Agbalo Bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz

BY: ELSA S. SUBONG

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) – The 2013 benefit claims of PhilHealth members and dependents in Western Visayas have reached almost P3.7 billion, covering 357,304 cases of confinements during the year.

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press release from its Public Affairs Unit said that this amount is 8.14 percent higher compared to 2012 benefit payment of more than P3.3 billion.

The benefit payment has surpassed the collection target of the agency of P1.8 billion which covers only about 51 percent of the total benefit payout of P3.7 billion.

PhilHealth Regional Vice-President Dr. Dennis Mas said the number of confinements for 2013 had increased to seven percent.

He added that payment in benefit claims in the region is double the amount collected in premium contributions of all members.

Records showed that 97.74 percent or P3.55 billion was payment for In-patient services to include availment of P100,000 benefit package of 13 patients treated for breast cancer while the remaining 2.26 percent of the benefit payment covers the other Special Benefit Packages of PhilHealth for Maternity Care, TB-DOTS and Animal Bite Treatment.

Early this year, PhilHealth has implemented the adjustment in premiums of paying members to P2,400 which is equal to the amount being subsidized by the national government for the premiums of marginalized members.

Dr. Mas said the premium contribution of other paying members should not be below the premiums of indigent members, based on Republic Act 10606 or the National Insurance Act of 2013.

Together with the adjustment, Philhealth implemented also the All Case Rates payment scheme for 4,600 identified procedures and medical conditions, in which 95 percent of these have package amount of over P2,400.

To date, membership coverage in the region is at 83.93 percent or 6.2 million of the estimated 7.39 million population. (JCM/ ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

UNDP helps to build Capiz back BY: JEMIN B. GUILLERMO ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Jan. 27 (PIA6) – More programs that would help in building back a better Capiz are up.

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nited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Area Coordinator Sonny Ongkiko disclosed that aside from the completed cash for work program implemented in six towns in Capiz, additional programs are being put in place to help Capiceños, especially the marginalized groups He said that starting January 27, the cash for lumber program that would help coconut farmers in the province will kick off.

He said that the program is given P15-million that would benefit 1,110 coconut farmers from the seven towns in Capiz, namely Ivisan with 330 target beneficiaries and 130 each from Cuartero, Pilar, Mambusao, President Roxas, Sapian and Jamindan.

Ongkiko, during the post Yolanda rehabilitation planning workshop, likewise revealed that they will be partnering with

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the Cash for Timber program.

He explained that they will be finalizing the mechanics for the Cash for Timber program so that the same will be implemented soon as many forest trees especially in the government-owned lands were dampened down by super Yolanda and remains in the area due to lack of manpower and budget for cutting and hauling.

He likewise said that the UNDP will be helping the poultry sector after almost all of the poultry grower’s poultry farms were totally downed by the said typhoon.

To immediately restore the power supply especially at the barangay level, Ongkiko pointed out that they will again be funding another cash for work program in collaboration with the Capiz Electric Cooperative. Earlier, he disclosed that their

cash for work program in the six towns here, namely Pontevedra, Dumarao, Dao, Panitan and Maayon had benefited 2,718 Capiceños.

Ongkiko said that in the program, debris clearing works were done in 100 schools, 147 days care centers,60 Rural Health Units, 38-kilometer drainage/canals, 166-kilometer barangay roads and 79 barangay halls, in addition to clearing and clean-up activities in the slaughter houses, churches, covered courts/gymnasium, waiting shades and electric posts.

He said that more than P11.02-million were paid to the hired residents where P4,227 tons of debris were collected in their 15-day work. Ongkiko pledged to continue to help Capiz in the rehabilitation effort in order to restore back and normalize the lives of Capiceños after strongly devastated by typhoon Yolanda. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

DOST to boost abaca fiber production in Antique BY: PILAR S. MABAQUIAO SAN JOSE, Antique, Jan. 28 (PIA6 ) - - The Department of Science and Technology is bent on upgrading the abaca fiber production in the town of Patnongon, Antique to meet the increasing market demand of abaca fiber at the same time boost the income of farmers.

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n partnership with Fiber Institute Development Authority or FIDA, DOST has released the total amount of P270,000 funding assistance for the purchase of a stripping device while LGU Patnongon provided the counterpart of P15,000.

Engr. Eleazar Moscoso of the Department of DOST-Antique said abaca farming is one of the major livelihood activities in six barangays of Patnongon

namely Gella 2, Aureliana, Villa Elio, Villa Salomon, Tigbalogo and Igburi.

More than 72 hectares of land are planted with abaca in the said areas and about 50 farmers are engaged in abaca processing.

These farmers are given one stripping machine/device each, a one of kind in the country designed by Rafael Cordero, a local fabricator/inventor, said Moscoso.

The device is equipped with features

that are user-friendly and gender sensitive, portable and can be brought on-site or any location where stripping may be conducted.

Abaca fiber, according to Moscoso serves varied purposes such as raw materials for ropes, handicrafts, furniture and other industrial purposes.

Upgrading of abaca production in Patnongon is expected to yield 28.8 tons per year, said Moscoso. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

DOH-7 urges parents to avail free gov’t measles vaccination Cansaga Bay Bridge in Cebu

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

CENTRAL VISAYAS, Jan. 22 (PIA) – Parents are urged to have their children immunized against measles in any government health center amid the drastic increase of suspected measles cases in Central Visayas from January 1 to 18 alone of this year.

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r. Maria Socorro Entera, chief of the Maternal and Child Health Section of the Department of Health (DOH-7) bared there are 61 suspected measles cases in Region 7 for the first 18 days of this year.

The number is 78.6 percent higher compared to the same period last year, said the health official.

“We are calling on parents to avail of the free measles vaccination at any barangay health center as measles is a highly contagious disease,” said Entera during the weekly forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7).

The first dose of vaccination is at nine months of age which should be followed by a booster dose at 12 to 15 months of age. According to Entera, the transmission rate of measles is very fast with one case infecting 15 to 20 other persons.

Of the 61 suspected cases, Loon, Bohol registered the highest number of cases at 12 followed by Cebu City with 10 cases.

Third is Lapulapu City with eight cases then fourth placer is Dumaguete City with five while completing the top five is Sibulan, Negros Orinetal with four cases.

Entera said the 61 cases which showed clinical manifestations of measles will still be subjected for confirmatory test in Manila.

Forty-seven percent of the 61 cases were above 21 years old followed by one to five years old then less than one-year old. “Usually, only around 20 percent of total cases submitted for confirmation yielded positive results,” said the DOH-7 official. Last year, the DOH-7 recorded a total of 147 measles cases in the region last year.

The health official however, said case mortality rate of measles is only at one percent nationwide.

Entera said around 193,570 children in the region aged nine months to one year have been immunized against measles which is equivalent to 82 percent.

“The national target is at 95 percent and we want to achieve this goal,” said Entera as the Philippines is aiming for a measles-free country by 2017 as set by the World Health Organization.

In order to attain the vision of a measles-free Philippines, Entera said the DOH will be undertaking a nationwide measles vaccination drive this coming September to already include adolescents. (mbcn/FCR/PIA-7)

AFP-CentCom provides security to Korean forces in Leyte BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN CEBU CITY, Jan. 28 (PIA) – Filipino soldiers under the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command (AFP-CentCom) continue to provide protection to over 500 Korean forces currently in typhoon-devastated Leyte to help in government’s reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of the Yolanda tragedy.

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FP-CentCom Chief Maj. Gen. John Bonafos said the Korean forces consist of 58 military officers and 471 enlisted personnel. Many of them are engineers and medics, added Bonafos.

The Korean forces of which 300 of them initially arrived on December 27, last year spent their New Year in Leyte where they immediately started reconstruction works mostly on some public schools, other public structures and the Leyte Provincial Hospital in Palo.

“Most of the reconstruction works done by the Korean forces are 75 percent complete,” said Bonafos. He cited some of the projects such as the Tanauan Central School, Opong Elementary School in Tolosa, the Provincial Leyte Hospital in Palo and a base camp.

Bonafos said Filipino soldiers assigned to

provide security are also working in tandem with the Korean military in rebuilding back the public edifices.

Korean Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Hyuk Lee in a visit to Cebu last December claimed the Korean forces would be in the country for six months as part of the Korean government’s commitment to help the Philippines in its rehabilitation efforts.

According to Lee, the Korean military forces would be deployed to the towns of Palo, Tolosa and Tanauan and other areas severely hit by Yolanda.

Apart from helping reconstruct public school buildings and other structures, Ambassador Lee said the Korean contingent would also be providing medical aid to Yolanda victims.

Meanwhile, the 53rd Engineering Brigade (EB)

of the AFP-CentCom also sent construction teams to help in rebuilding public schools in Yolanda-devastated areas in the Visayas.

53rd EB Chief Colonel Arnol Depakakibo said its office has units throughout the Visayas and construction teams have been deployed to typhoon-ravaged areas to help in the ongoing reconstruction works especially of public schools destroyed by Yolanda.

“We are working closely with the Dep Ed and the Department of Public Works and Highways in reconstructing public schools so that children can have normal classes,” said Depakakibo.

Depakakibo assured their availability in case of concrete plans by some groups to build and construct public school buildings. (mbcn/FCR/ PIA-7)

Province creates multi-sectoral forest protection committee BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO SIQUIJOR, Jan. 27 (PIA) — The province of Siquijor, through the local office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) created the Provincial Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee to help DENR in regulation and apprehension of illegal and undocumented forest products.

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his is in line with Executive Order (EO) No. 23 that President Benigno S. Aquino III issued to respond to the country’s problem of forest denudation and environmental degradation, says newly installed Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Moreno Tagra in the first committee meeting held earlier.

EO 23, he explained, is the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in the natural and residual forests nationwide and creating the anti-illegal logging task force in tandem with EO 26 which requires everyone to plant trees.

President Aquino’s intention in the creation of the Executive Order is to uphold our intergeneration responsibility to protect the environment and to prevent further destruction wrought by natural disasters, the DENR said.

Natural and residual forests refer to forests composed of indigenous trees that were not planted by man.

On the other hand, a plantation forest is a

man-made forest, where trees were planted pursuant to a management agreement with the DENR. “Everyone is taking charge of the environment as livable,” Tagra said as he enumerated the important roles of each agency in the implementation of the Executive Order.

He said that when the delineation in Siquijor is approved, the province will have 12,000 hectares of timberland areas, a wide coverage for monitoring of illegal cutting of trees.

At present, Siquijor province has only 1,116.424 hectares of timberland or four percent of the total 27,888 hectares unclassified A&D lands in the province.

The Siquijor Provincial Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee is chaired by DENR as chair, with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNBP) as Vice-Chair.

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Philippine Ports

Authority (PPA) serve as the PPO. Members are representatives from a non-government organization (NGO), people’s organization (PO), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), DILG-Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), DOTC-Coastguard, Siuqijor State College (SSC), Knights of Columbus and the Couples for Christ.

Other members are the DA-Bureau of Aquatic and Fishery Resources (BFAR), Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the {hilippines (DND-AFP), Provincial Planning and Devlopment Office (PPDO), Provincial, PENRO, Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

A training to barangay officials will be conducted on March this year to discuss basic laws on forestry as part of the Committee’s activity. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor with reports from R.Magpiong/DENR-Siquijor)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Cansaga Bay Bridge in Cebu

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DSWD-7 to help Yolanda evacuees from Leyte on housing, livelihood BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

CEBU CITY, Jan. 27 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) assured survivors of Typhoon Yolanda from Tacloban City and other parts of Leyte that they would help facilitate in addressing their concerns on permanent shelter and livelihood.

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SWD-7 Sheba Dabon said it would raise the concerns of the evacuees to the concerned government cluster on shelter and livelihood. Dabon representing the DSWD-7 is a member of the Shelter Cluster.

There are 54 family-evacuees or 218 individuals temporarily housed by the Cebu City Government at the Tent City along the South Road Properties.

The number does not include the home-based evacuees while they are presently being assisted by the city government and the Philippine Red Cross.

During a recent press briefing, Butch Ableza, one of the evacuees said the city government has given them only up to three months to stay at the Tent City which would end on March 23.

“This is our major problem because we do not know where to transfer next. We are requesting the city government for an extension as not all of us have been lucky to get a job,” said Ableza in the briefing on ‘Post-Yolanda Disaster: Rehabilitation Phase’ initiated by the Philippine Information Agency 7 in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command.

Ableza however, said “we are very grateful to the Cebu City Government for helping us” and in fact, they continue to provide us with water, food and transportation as most children of the evacuees are now attending school here.

But Ableza said only about 16 of the evacuees have gained employment so far. “Two were hired as

drivers, two as housemaids and another two as call center agents. Others got jobs as cashier, nurse, cellphone repair technician and office work,” added Ableza.

Ableza called on government to help them as they have no plans yet to return to Leyte with no homes and no jobs there.

“Maybe in two to three years time, maybe we will go back when things are okay there. But as of now, we plan to stay here in Cebu,” said the Yolanda survivor.

Dabon said the head of the livelihood cluster is the Department of Labor and Employment as she reassured the evacuees she would raise the matter on employment to the cluster. (mbcn/FCR/PIA-7)

NGCP meets goal to energize customers after Yolanda BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA CEBU CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) --- After two calamities struck central Philippines barely a month apart last year, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Visayas reported fulfilling their commitment to energize their customers by December last year.

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GCP Visayas Spokesperson Betty Martinez said that as far as transmission services are concerned “we have already connected all our customers in Yolanda-affected areas.”

Martinez said they were able to power up 100 percent of their customers in typhoon-hit areas in the Visayas as of December 23 last year.

However, on the capacity and supply side, Martinez admitted that they have yet to reach pre-disaster levels. “We have power plants that were badly affected especially in Leyte but we’re making do because we are able to get power from Luzon,” Martinez said in an interview with Philippine Information Agency earlier this month.

NGCP has fixed the link between Visayas and Luzon on Dec. 15.

“So if there’s available supply from Luzon, it’s being transported to Visayas,” she said.

The power sourced from Luzon to Visayas is pegged at 200 megawatts, but this varies day to day.

“The commitment is 200 megawatts but it’s not always that level… because the grid is dynamic, from time to time there will be changes in demand and supply so we just act accordingly,” explained Martinez.

Although NGCP has finished connecting all distribution utilities as far as transmission lines are concerned, Martinez said repairs are still underway

for looping purposes which serve as alternate routes or back-up lines.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the region on October 15, 2013 knocked down more than 200 transmission towers within the power grid.

Repairs on the damaged lines were hampered when typhoon Yolanda pounded the Visayas area in November 2013.

President Benigno S. Aquino III later assured that by December 2013, additional power will be sourced from the Luzon grid to pump the needed electricity for Visayas and eliminate the power outages that were plaguing Bohol province. (RMN/ PIA Cebu)

AFP plans to handover internal peace, security responsibility to LGUs in NegOr BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental, Jan. 27 (PIA) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command (AFP-CentCom) plans to handover to local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental the implementation of the military’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) this year.

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he handover will be a sharing of responsibility among the military, LGUs, local police and other concerned stakeholders for peace and development.

The CentCom clarified that the handover does not mean the military will totally abandon their duty in clearing Negros Oriental from insurgency problems.

CentCom commander, Maj. Gen. John Bonafos said in a press conference in Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City that the move aims to develop partnership among all the parties mentioned since maintaining peace, security and development programs is a shared responsibility among them.

This is in line with the military’s aim to prepare the local government in resolving insurgency problems and declaring Negros Oriental insurgency free within the year.

Once the handover is made, the army and the police will be under the authority of the governor who will lead the implementation of IPSP in the province. The military will come in as support agency in maintaining peace and order.

Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division commander, Major General Aurelio Baladad also believes the plan to handover the IPSP to LGUs is a good approach to resolve problems in insurgency.

“Insurgency is everybody’s responsibility because it is multi-faceted. There are social dimensions, economic dimension, political and other dimensions and we have to address all these to resolve the problem,” Gen. Baladad said.

Baladad said that the military will work hand in hand with other stakeholders in resolving other concerns linked with insurgency.

Gen. Banafos cited the province of Bohol as a model for the scheme. He said Bohol was cleared from insurgency because of active leadership of its provincial government in its internal security plan in partnership with the police, military and other stakeholders.

Philippine Army-302nd Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier Gen. Francisco Patrimonio disclosed that right now the military is slowly coordinating with LGUs in preparing them for the handover of internal peace and security

responsibility. Patrimonio added that LGUs are very responsive to their incoming role.

However, he dismissed the idea that the army will leave their area of responsibility once it is cleared from insurgents.

Patrimonio said that they learned their lesson that once they cleared the area and leave it, it becomes vulnerable again to insurgency activities.

Also, the Philippine Army promised to train law enforcers in maintaining peace and order in their areas.

The Philippine Army also set to conduct trainings with the police to enhance their capability to respond to insurgencies.

Banafos also said that there is Comprehensive Integrated Public Safety System (CIPSS), a program laid by the Department of Interior and Local Governance which will intensify the campaign against insurgency. Banafos hopes that through collective efforts from various agencies, the province will be totally free from insurgency and development can penetrate in areas with rebel presence. (mbcn/RAL/ PIA7-NEGOR)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Sweden’s King Carl XVI visits Leyte Agas Agas--Agas Bridge in Southern Leyte

By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan.27 (PIA) – Local officials in L:eyte welcomed Sunday at Tacloban DZR Airport His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the first-ever visit of a Swedish Monarch in the Province.

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is Majesty, together with Vice-President Jejomar Binay and the whole entourage was welcomed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla, Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez , City Councilor Cristina Romualdez and other officials via chartered plane at 9:15 in the morning.

His Majesty had a short interaction with the local media at the UN tent near DZR airport before he proceeds to the Boy Scouts Monument at Coca Cola Junction where a simple ceremony was held and some

devastated schools like San Fernando Central Elementary School, San Jose National High School, both are located in the city and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines building at Magsaysay Boulevard Tacloban City.

His Majesty who has been the Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation (WSF) since 1977 visited the city to look at the humanitarian assistance projects implemented by the Swedish government.

His Majesty came personally to see the destruction brought about by the strong typhoon and see what he can do more to help

not only the boy scouts but the people in the devastated areas.

“I am here as a capacity as a Scout and it is understandable under these circumstances to do what we can do to help the people”, His Majesty said.

Sweden is one of the countries in Europe who immediately respond to the needs of the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in the region particularly in Tacloban.

The latest data revealed that Eastern Visayas has 286, 027 boy scout members. (PIA8)

DOH gives new nurses employment opportunities

by Sammy D. Candido BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Jan. 29 (PIA) ---- The Department of Health (DOH), Provincial Health Team Office (PHTO) conducted a two-day orientation on nurses from January 27-28 at Eastern Samar Educational Cultural Center (ESSEC) this City.

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his two-day orientation is designed to familiarize the nurses with the concept and rationale of the Nurse Deployment Project of the Department of Health (DOH), before their new assignments to the barangays.

Some of the 119 nurses who participated the orientation were new passers of the recently held licensure examinations for Nurses.

The objective of this project is to augment the nursing workforce in the RHUs/Birthing Homes, Barangay Health Stations, and LGU Level I hospitals to provide access to health services for the marginalized population, and provide employment and work experience for nurses in rural areas and underserved communities.

According to Ms. Marissa L. Titular, DOH Representative the hired nurses will be under a

contract of services status with an item of Nurse I, with a monthly salary of P18,549.00. with a contract for six (6) months renewable based on a very satisfactory performance for a maximum of two (2) years.

Titular also said that nurses are then assigned in RHUs, Birthing Homes, Barangay Health Stations and Level I LGU hospitals giving preference to the identified areas of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) under the supervision of the Public Health Nurse/Chief Nurse.

After the satisfactory completion of the project, the nurses are awarded with a Certificate of Completion and Employment.

She further said for every municipality there are three to eight nurses to be deployed to the 22 municipalities and one City.

A Provincial Management Team (PMT) was created to supervise and this will be chaired by Dra. Jean Marie A. Egargo, Provincial Health Team Leader(PHTL), members are: DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Nurses Association (PNA)-Eastern Samar Chapter, PhilHealth and Civil Service Commission (CSC).

After the project, the LGU shall design mechanism to absorb the nurses with good salaries and benefits from the revenue of the expanded PhilHealth program.

The said Project is relative to the Aquino Health Agenda, in which the DOH has designed the Nurse Deployment Project (NDP) to improve local health systems that will support the country's attainment of the Universal Health Care or "Kalusugan Pangkalahatan". (PIA-E. Samar)

Community Tax Certificate a source of income for LGUs By: Marcelino Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 27 (PIA) especially in the last quarter.

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ut early on until halfway through, the year of the snake can also be reckoned as the year when the Community Tax Certificate (CTC) was threatened as a useless piece of paper.

Talks raging in various forums last year tend to cast doubts on the relevance of the CTC, a topic discussed not by the man on the street but by policy makers, lawmakers, and industry movers and shakers.

Not so fast. CTC is a requirement for new and existing businessmen in this city, or any other city and municipality for that matter, to have their clearances, permits, or licenses issued by the local government, according to Imelda Bandibas, head of the business permits

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The year 2013 was best remembered as a year of calamities,

and license section at the Maasin City Treasurer’s Office. What was widely talked about as no longer needed for the CTC’s use was in sworn statements, as these documents had to be accompanied by identification cards, Bandibas said.

City Treasurer Eliseo Costillas put in perspective the issue when he intimated that it was the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which started the ball rolling on the CTC’s value or the lack of it.

It was the BIR that printed the CTC booklets and yet they were not able to earn from it, at least not directly, Costillas revealed, hence the thought of scrapping it was floated.

“The CTC is a source of income for the

city and the barangays. If a person pays in the barangay level, the barangay gets a 50% share in the revenue, the other 50% to the city LGU. If a person takes it from the city, 100% revenue goes to the city,” Costillas explained.

LGUs would surely react if the CTC is gone, Costillas said, sounding prophetic.

Or, the other alternative, is to devolve this function from the BIR to the LGUs, which will be empowered to print booklets of CTCs at their own expense and for their own income -generating activities, Costillas suggested.

Now that would be a nice bargain, a win-win solution, so the CTC will not be washed out just like being hit by Yolanda. (esg/ mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

EASTERN VISAYAS

Agas Agas--Agas Bridge in Southern Leyte

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DAR 1st to respond to LGU’s restoration, rehab By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar, Jan. 28 (PIA) - Mayor Viscuso De Lira acknowledged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for being the first national government agency to respond to his town’s restoration and rehabilitation needs after super-typhoon “Yolanda” caused massive destruction in Samar and Leyte on November 8 last year.

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e Lira made this statement when Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes visited this town two months after the typhoon and met agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other farmer-leaders from the agrarian reform community (ARC) barangays here and adjacent Lawa-an town for a consultation dialogue to identify priority needs to be included in the restoration and rehabilitation plan for devastated ARCs. De los Reyes disclosed that there is an additional budget for the typhoon-ravaged areas and that according to him he wanted to verify the survey conducted earlier and hear from the affected ARBs themselves what their immediate needs are as well as see for himself the extent of damage and feel the urgency in order to effectively defend the speedy release of funds and likewise make proper coordination with the concerned local government units (LGUs).

Some needs however, will be sourced out from other government agencies and

organizations, he added.

Restoration and rehabilitation activities will come in when relief operations, which usually last for four months, are over.

DAR is now looking forward to the next 18 months as recovery period for the affected farmers.

Among the priority needs the farmers presented during the two-hour dialogue were: repair of their houses and post-harvest facilities, planting materials and other farm inputs, clearing of their lots, repair of irrigation system and livelihood opportunities.

Deputy National Project Director of the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP-2) Herman Ongkiko announced during the dialogue that initially the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has already committed coconut seedlings and camote cuttings for the intercropping.

On the same day, de los Reyes and party had also been to the town of Basey in Samar meeting

another group of farmer-leaders and ARBs from Marabut and this town for the same purpose.

Meanwhile, in Basey, Samar, Mayor Igmedio Ponferrada assisted the Secretary and thanked the latter for including his town among the priority areas.

The following day, though the Secretary left for Cebu, Ongkiko together with officials from the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development (BARBD) in DAR Central Office and local DAR officials proceeded to conduct the same activity in Julita and Palo towns in Leyte.

Meanwhile, Regional Director Eliasem Castillo explained that his office is prioritizing those hardest hit ARCs and also disclosed that DAR is currently negotiating with other international organizations to source out assistances for these areas.

He emphasized during the forum that DAR is helping them rise to be self-reliant and not to be dependent forever on relief. (PIA 8)

Some 1,832 job opportunities available at DSWD-8 By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan. 28 (PIA) – This is good news to jobseekers in Eastern Visayas. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is in need of workers for its National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP), the expansion of the KALAHI-CIDSS program in the Region.

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IC Director Nestor Ramos told the Philippine Information Agency currently needs qualified applicants to fill up the 1,832 positions need in the Agency.

The Office will hire 136 Area Coordinators; 208 Deputy Area Coordinators; 208 Municipal Financial Analysts; and 1,280 Community Facilitators.

The deadline for submission of applications is on February 28. Those who are interested may send their resumes and letters of application to OIC Regional Director Nestor Ramos at the DSWD Regional Field Office at Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City.

Those who applied before the Typhoon Yolanda are requested to resubmit their resume and letter of application addressed to OIC Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos at DSWD Regional Field Office at Magsaysay Boulevard, Tacloban City.

For more information, interested parties may contact Miss Lyneth Penalosa at 0929-6250-898.

NCDDP, or the National Community-Driven Development Program , is a poverty alleviation program of the Philippine Government implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It was approved on January 18, 2013 by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board, which was headed by President Benigno Aquino III. NCDDP is the expansion into a national scale of operations of the community-driven development (CDD) approach, which was tried and proven effective by Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services).

CDD is a globally recognized strategy for achieving service delivery, poverty reduction, and

good governance outcomes. It helps communities in poor municipalities identify challenges around reducing poverty and make informed decisions on a range of locally identified options for development, including how this is made and in what form.

CDD also gives control of resources to address local poverty to communities; and builds the capacity of both state (including local governments) and civil society stakeholders to provide assistance and respond to calls for support from poor communities as they implement development initiatives.

The development objective of NCDDP is to have barangay or communities of targeted municipalities become empowered to achieve improved access to services and to participate in more inclusive local planning, budgeting, and implementation. (PIA 8)

Over 3,000 EV fisherfolks avail BFAR’s ‘AHON’ Project By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan.27 (PIA) – In order to speed up the rehabilitation of the fisheries sector in typhoon-affected areas in Eastern Visayas, the Bureau of Fisheries and Acquatic Resources (BFAR) has introduced a program called “Ahon: 10,000 bangka para sa 20,000 pamilya". his is to ensure that fishermen could project is an initiative of the government to by way of providing materials for the repair of resume their fishing and start anew provide support to the source of the livelihood boats. After repairing the boats, distribution after their boats were destroyed by of the fisherfolks to get back on their feet of the fishing gears and engines to the the super typhoon. again. fishermen/beneficiaries will follow.

Nazario Briguera, Information Officer of To date, at least 3, 015 fishermen from “Of the 10, 000 targets, 5, 000 will go to BFAR Central Office said, during an interview Samar, Eastern Samar and Leyte have availed of the fishermen in the region”, Briguera said. with him over PIA’s Power Fm, that the the immediate assistance from the government (PIA-8)

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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) 3378718/3377301 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. 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: 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, Children’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