One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 45

Vol 4

Issue 45

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Climate Change Youth Camp: PIA Manager Margie L. Gadian explains the rules and procedures to the student-participants attending the Youth Camp at Nogas Island, Anini-y. The activity is participated in by 60 young people from different schools organized

by Philippine Information Agency with support of Likas Tama of St. Anthony's College in partnership with the Local Government of Anini-y and Tobias Fornier and Dept of Environment and Natural Resources. (PSM/ PIA6 Antique)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

CENTRAL VISAYAS

REGION‟S BEST. Bohol District Jail warden Jose Rusylvi Abueva (center) gets a recognition as the region‟s best warden, after topping a regional search. He also took for Bohol District Jail the best in the region‟s district jails award. Abueva is flanked by DILG undersecretary Atty. Peter Irving Corvera and BJMP regional Director Serafin Barreto Jr. (Contributed photo/PIABohol)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CALL FOR UNI TY: Clim ate Change Commissioner Naderev Sano (center) expressed support to PIA-DENR climate change advocacy campaign, "Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago." “Nakikiisa po kami dyan sa panawagan na 'yan dahil kailangan po natin, bahagi po ng pagbabago na yan ay ang pagtayo sa pagkakaisa.”

Climate Walk, a walk for ‪Climate Justice, reached Tacloban City on November 8 after 38 days of walking in time for the ‪First Year Anniversary of ‪Yolanda.

(Photo by Vino Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

November 10 - 16, 2014

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

APEC hosting pushes global Iloilo City By: Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, Nov.13 (PIA6) --- The hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) ministerial meetings in 2015 is a good starting point in making Iloilo City as a global city.

In the 3rd Western Visayas Business Forum held Thursday at Hotel Del Rio here, National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Private Sector Co-Chairman Guillermo Luz said that hosting the APEC meetings provides opportunities for infrastructure and investments.

Iloilo City has been assigned to host two meetings by the APEC National Organizing Committee (NOC).

This city will host the Small Medium Enterprises (SME) on September 21-25, 2015 and the Food Security Week (High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy) on September 28 to October 6, 2015.

However, Luz stressed that it is important that preparations to go global should go beyond APEC. “This early, we should be thinking of what can we do to make Iloilo City prosper beyond APEC”, he said.

Meanwhile, Luz said that in terms of competitiveness, Iloilo ranked sixth among the 122 cities in the country in the latest round of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) conducted by the NCC. According to the NCC, cities and municipalities are

ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score which is the sum of scores on three main pillars: economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.

“Iloilo City is competing with other cities for investments, trade, services, tourists, image and brand,” he said.

He said that the city must continue tracking local competitiveness indicators, formulate programs to improve competitiveness, and engage in investment promotion activities to attract investors and create new jobs. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Private Sector Co-Chairman Guillermo Luz discusses the challenges that Iloilo City may have to face towards becoming a global city during the 3rd Western Visayas Business Forum held Thursday at Hotel Del Rio here. (LTP/PIA6)

Israeli companies to explore business opportunities in PHL By: Rachelle M. Nessia CEBU CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) --- The Economic and Trade Mission of the Embassy of Israel in Manila, in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), will host business-to -business activities on Nov. 17 in Manila and Nov. 18 in Cebu City.

In Cebu City, the event will be opened by Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau and CCCI president Tess Chan.

Doron Hemo, head of Israel Economic and Trade Office to the Philippines, said Israeli companies look forward to doing business in the country.

“Israel has developed agricultural technologies to address the growing demand for food and water, while optimizing limited resources. As we bring Israel‟s innovations and technological know-how through this two-day event, we look forward to stronger economic ties between Israel and the Philippines,” Hemo said.

He noted that Israel-Philippine investment cooperation

comes at a right time as the Philippine government advocates technological investments in line with the Philippine Agriculture Medium Strategic Plan for 2020.

“We encourage Philippine-based companies to explore opportunities with Israeli companies. We hope that the two-day event will mark the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Israel and the Philippines in the area of agriculture,” Hemo said.

Israel is known for having “made the desert bloom” by turning much of its arid land into fertile agricultural soil.

Israel is also self-sufficient in the production of fruits, vegetables, and poultry.

Gilad Peled, Director of the Water, Environment and Agro-Technology Department of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute will discuss Israel‟s water and agro-technology sectors. For more information about the two-day business event, please e-mail Manila@israeltrade.gov.il or Jo-nie.Raagas@israeltrade.gov.il. (rmn/Israeli Embassy/PIA -Cebu)

GK, Aussie gov‘t turn over housing units to homeowners

by Flordelis E. Jackson PALO, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – The Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation, Incorporated and the Australian government turned over 12 housing units to the homeowners of GK Village in Barangay San Agustin, Palo, Leyte.

The simple ceremonial turn-over was one of the highlights of the first year commemoration of the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas that claimed lives and wrought heavy damage to property and was attended by the beneficiaries of the GK housing project together with their families, barangay leaders, staff of GK Foundation and the Australian embassy and other guests.

The GK foundation was represented by Jose Luis Oquinena, National Executive Director and the Australian government by Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell.

Ambassador Tweddell expressed his appreciation to the resiliency of the homeowners and the entire community as they were able to bounce back to normal life several months after Yolanda.

He informed that construction of the 250 housing units at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is progressing for the 250 families that were affected by typhoon Yolanda.

For his part, Executive Director Oquinena in his message, told the homeowners of the GK village, “you are not only beneficiaries of the project but homeowners because you helped in building the houses. Make sure to take care of your houses and take care of the community”.

“Take pride because these houses are yours and take

pride because this community is built with solidarity and cooperation. When you grow old you will pass this on to your children”, he said.

He thanked the Australian government through Ambassador Tweddell for entrusting their resources to the GK Foundation for the construction of the housing units at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte “The GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is the first subdivision in the municipality of Palo with streets named after the streets in Australia. The houses are painted with bright colors of different kinds because bright colors symbolize hope”, he added.

The homeowners are not really dislocated because they are just near the areas where their farms and other livelihood were located before Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas in November 8 last year, he said.

“The construction of the GK houses is made possible through the spirit of volunteerism and bayanihan. Volunteers from other parts of the country not affected by typhoon Yolanda and who are members of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA) and the homeowners helped one another in the construction work”, he informed.

The 250 housing units intended for the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin in Palo, Leyte is targeted to be finished in June next year.

The homeowners in said barangay were one in thanking the Australian government and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Incorporated (GK) for providing them with decent houses. (fjackson/PIA 8 Biliran)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

Wage hike consultations ongoing

By Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, Nov. 14 (PIA6) — The series of public consultations on wage hike increase in the region is ongoing, with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) as the lead agency.

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TPWB Secretary Nesa Nolido said in a press release that the petition for wage hike was filed by the New Independent Workers Organization last September 22.

The petition asked for increase in the minimum wage based on the recent wage order No. 21.

Nolido said the latest P10 wage increase was approved on November 29, 2013 and the current petition is asking for an increase of P85, P75, and P72 for all

workers in the private sector in the region.

For businesses with more than 10 workers, the proposed minimum wage is P287, for agriculture or plantation, P265, an for industrial or commercial with less than 10 workers, P245.

The economic indicators are the main considerations in the proposed increase, according to John Millan, management representative to the board.

Millan said they get the data from those yielded by the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Meanwhile Nolido said that the series of consultations is meant for information dissemination and to get the pulse of the public, from various areas in the region, to the petition.

The RTWPB is composed of the DOLE, the NEDA, the DTI and labor representatives. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

DENR, Army join hands in refo effort By: Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 13 (PIA) – More reforestation activities are being undertaken in Capiz to increase the forest cover here.

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nformation Officer Ma. Judy Bernas of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Capiz disclosed that a two-day tree planting activity was recently conducted by their employees and the members of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Bernas said that some 2,000 seedlings of various species of forest trees were planted at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz last November 8 and 9.

On the other hand, DENR Capiz head Valentin Talabero said that the recent activity with the Philippine Army is part of the rehabilitation effort of the various government and non-government agencies and groups of the supertyphoon-Yolanda devastated

forest.

Aside from upland reforestation, Talabero said that they are also partnering with the various civil society organizations and local government units in the mangrove rehabilitation project which is being implemented in the province in the aftermath of the typhoon last year.

Talabero said that the reforestation activity in the upland and lowland areas is being intensified to save Mother Earth and to mitigate the impact of the experienced global climate change resulting in many problems such as flooding, intense and longer drought, landslide, sea level rise and the like.

He also urged the various sectors here to join hands especially in the implementation of the National Greening

Program which targets to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide in 2016.

The worldwide deforestation has been identified as one of the causes of climate change and global warming, hence more efforts must be done in to further increase the forest cover, he said.

The NGP, Talabero said, is seen as a climate change mitigation strategy since it seeks to enhance the country‟s forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.

“We must do our share to protect and conserve our environment and our natural resources because we have only one Earth to live in and we want to prepare this for the next generation,” he said. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Traffic-prone Bacolod streets to have CCTVs

By Easter Anne D. Doza BACOLOD CITY, Nov. 13 (PIA6) - - Fifteen Closed Circuit Television cameras amounting to P18-million are set to be installed in major streets in the city by next month.

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his was disclosed by Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella during the regular meeting of the City Development Council, a release from the City Information Office said.

Puentevella said that the installation of these CCTVs will enable a team to monitor the traffic situation in Bacolod for 24 hours and keep track of road accidents for proper deployment of both public and

private rescue teams in the city.

“The city has already acquired CCTV to be installed at our major streets that are prone to traffic especially in Downtown Bacolod,” Puentevella added.

The Command Center will be placed at the Old City Hall in Luzuriaga Street for easy access to the public while a widescreen LED display monitor will be installed for proper monitoring.

According to Puentevella, the Police and the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) personnel can right away look at the traffic situation everywhere through this hi -tech gadget.

Additional traffic lights will also be purchased to decongest traffic in other intersections in the city, Puentevella added.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Aklan dengue cases rising

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Nov. 12 (PIA6) -- The number of people getting sick with dengue in Aklan continues to rise, with the latest count from January to November 7, 2014 reaching 1,456 cases.

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ased on records of the Provincial Health Office‟ Aklan Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance & Response Unit (APESRU), last year‟s number of cases for the same period reached 829, which shows an increase of 43.06%.

Kalibo, the capital town and the most populated, remains to have the highest number of cases with 360, followed by Malay, another highly populated town with 188, and Banga, just adjacent to Kalibo in the eastern side, with 135. Numancia, the town nearest to Kalibo just across the Aklan River had 121 cases. The rest of the

Aklan municipalities had cases not higher than 69.

For the period, the months which listed high cases of dengue included August with 302; July with 296 and September with 278.

The month of October listed 144 cases.

PHO records showed that age brackets in Aklan most vulnerable to dengue were in the 11-20 years old with 557 cases.

This is followed by those in the 21-30 age brackets with 333; 1-10 years old with 286 and 31-40 years old with 103.

Those 51 and above had 46 cases; 41 to 50 with 46 and less than 1 year old – with 12 cases.

With the continuous rise in cases of dengue in Aklan, PHO officials are sustaining their campaign to Aklanons to clean their surroundings to rid dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding and to seek early consultation to prevent complications.

The PHO is also currently monitoring clustering of cases, which means three or more cases were identified in the past four consecutive weeks. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Guimarasnons to benefit from Diskwento caravan JORDAN, Guimaras, Nov. 10 (PIA6) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) -Guimaras Provincial Office will conduct a Pamasko Diskwento Caravan in December to cater to the needs of the consumers especially during the Christmas season.

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TI T r a de a n d In du s t ry Development Specialist II Melecia Pait said in a press report that commodities including medicines, grocery items and electrical supplies will be made available to the public.

The Pamasko caravan follows the

Roving Diskwento Caravan conducted by DTI-Guimaras in October in the municipalities of Jordan, Buenavista, San Lorenzo, Sibunag, and Nueva Valencia.

Pait said the diskwento caravan aims to make available to the consumers basic necessities and

prime commodities at discounted prices.

The public is invited to avail of this opportunity to buy their needed items during the Caravan to save time, money and effort in buying their groceries, medicines and electrical supplies. (DTI Guimaras/PIA6)

Antique meets NGP tree planting target By: Vicente W. Villavert HAMTIC, Antique, Nov. 12 (PIA6) - - The province of Antique has accomplished its tree planting target under the National Greening program (NGP) for 2014.

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nformation Officer Beverly Salvan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Antique Provincial Environment Office said during the PIA-DENR Campus Tour Climate Change Advocacy in General Leandro Fullon National School in Hamtic, that the 2014 target is to plant trees in 4,368 hectares.

“Our Regional Executive Director Jim O. Sampulna congratulated us the other day for accomplishing our NGP target,” Salvan said as she encouraged the 300 high school students to participate in tree planting activity to help conserve the environment.

Salvan said that the NGP implementation started in 2011 and for Antique that target was 454 hectares;

2012-2,103 hectares; 2013-1,243 hectares; 2014- 4,368 hectares.

The overall total areas planted to trees is now 8,578 hectares.

The NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of the government established by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III on February 24, 2011 to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares throughout the country from 2011 to 2016.

The program is also a means to address climate change, reduce poverty, and provide livelihood activities for marginalized upland and lowland households relating to seedling production and care, and maintenance of newly-planted trees.

Meanwhile, the planting of trees is strongly emphasized during the Campus Tour which is one of the activities under the partnership of the Philippine Information Agency and Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

Ths seeks to raise the level of students‟ awareness of the different mitigation and adaptation measures thus making them prepared for the impact of climate change. PIA Antique Infocen Manager Margie L. Gadian said that the activity is an important program of the government which must involve all sectors of the community in order to help address the adverse effects of climate change.

(JCM/TWV/PIA Antique)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

4 Foster children dependents

now

qualified

PhilHealth

By: Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) announced that foster children are now qualified as dependents and are entitled to avail of the medical benefits under PhilHealth. uring the recent Association of Foster children will continue to qualify as The foster parent and children must be Government Information Officers dependents of the foster parent until the duly licensed by the Department of Social (AGIO) 7 Forum, Atty. Karisma last day of the validity of the parent‟s Foster Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Agraviador, public relations officer of Family Care License, the expiration of the All PhilHealth members who become Philhealth, said dependent foster children may Foster Placement Authority (FPA) for the child, licensed foster parents shall be required to avail of PhilHealth benefits through the active the child‟s return to his or her biological submit or present the Foster Family Care membership of the foster parent without parents, or when the child has been placed for License and FPA as acceptable supporting having to pay additional premium. adoption, said Agraviador. documents when declaring a foster child as In a recent development, PhilHealth also The Foster Care Act of 2012 (RA 10165) dependent, explained Agraviador. came out with the new Circular No. 19-2014 defines foster child as a child placed under In Central Visayas, PhilHealth has no that covers the entitlement to benefits of any foster care, or the provision of a planned record yet for foster children since this is a foster child as qualified dependent of foster temporary substitute parental care to a child new law and it might take effect this year or parent which is below 21 years old. by a foster parent. next year. (rmn/hfg/PIA-7)

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Bohol jail, warden get BJMP awards By : Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 7 (PIA) – Bohol‘s Provincial jail and its current warden was awarded by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) on its 23rd Anniversary today during rites held at the Casino de Espanol in Cebu City.

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ohol District Jail (BDJ) topped Central Visayas detention and rehabilitation centers, clinching the District Jail of the Year Award for 2014 while the Bohol warden, Jail Chief Inspector Jose Rusylvi Abueva, was chosen as the District Jail Warden of the Year.

Also earning unit awards are the following: Jail Provincial Administration (JPA) Office (Negros Oriental), City Jail of the Year (Mandaue City Jail Male Dormitory), Female Dormitory of the Year (Lapu-lapu City Jail Female Dormitory) and Municipal Jail (Minglanilla Municipal Jail).

For individual awardees, along with Bohol‟s warden Abueva are the following: Jail provincial Administrator (J/CInsp Rosalina Malahay), City Warden (J/CInsp Gil Inopia Jr.), Female Warden (JSinsp. Elsie Eireen Alcomendras), Municipal Warden (JInsp.

Emilianito Enriquez), BJMP Senior Officer (J/ Supt Bartolome Sagadal), BJMP Junior Officer (JSInsp Eric Relucio) , BJMP Staff Officer (J/Insp Mark Anthony Omega), BJMP Male JNCO (JO1 Allain Sajonia), BJMP Male JNCO (JO1 Warren Ramo) and BJMP NUP (NUP Mary Carmil Nemeño).

The awarding was in line with the 23rd BJMP Anniversary commemoration which also happens to be an annual venue for recognizing outstanding performance of the administration and management of the 12 district jails, 16 city jails, four municipal jails and eigh district jails with male and female dormitories as well as one jail with minor dormitory, according to the BJMP 7 website.

BJMP RO VII is manning a total of 34 jails regionwide with a monthly average of over 7,000 inmates guarded and managed by 757 jail personnel.

Of the total jail personnel, 50 are Jail Commissioned Officers (JCO), 705 are Jail Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCO) and Non Uniformed Personnel (NUP).

BJMP Regional office VII is presently manned by 34 BJMP personnel, nine of whom are officers, 23 are non-commissioned officers, and two NUPs. In Central Visayas, the BJMP also gave out special awards to Cental Visayas governors including Gov. Edgar Chatto for the partnerships with the national government jailers.

Other Boholano officials given special awards are City Mayor John Geesnell Yap, Talibon Mayor Restituto Auxtero, Ubay Mayor Galicano Atup, and Carmen Mayor Ricardo Francisco Toribio in recognition for their cooperation with the BJMP. (rmn/rac/ PIABohol)

Classes ongoing despite gap in classroom repair in storm-hit areas By: Fayette C. Riñen CEBU CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) --- Not all classrooms that were severely damaged in Yolanda-hit localities in northern Cebu were totally repaired and reconstructed after a year of the tragedy but the gap has not prevented classes from continuing in temporary learning spaces.

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r. Victor Yntig, focal person on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) of the Department of Education (DepEd-7), admitted that a lot still needs to be done one year of commemorating the Yolanda disaster that badly hit northern Cebu, especially in the repairs of classroom buildings as well as construction of new ones.

“The biggest gap incurred belongs to the schools under the Cebu Province Division where 1,251 classrooms needed repairs.

But as of November 7, only 133 classrooms were repaired so far with a remaining gap of 1,118 classrooms that still needed to be fixed,” bared Yntig during the recent post-Yolanda press briefing that commemorated the 1st year anniversary of the tragedy.

The DepEd-7 official, however, said the gap did not disrupt schedule of classes and that public school children were able to attend school albeit in temporary learning spaces.

“What is important is that affected students attend classes on normal schedule,” added Yntig.

Yntig said two schools divisions in Cebu affected by Yolanda were the Cebu Province Division (CPD) and the Bogo City Division (BCD).

Under the CPD, around 188 new classrooms have already been constructed with 86 still undergoing works for a total of 274 classrooms.

But the number of classrooms that need to be replaced total 367 incurring a gap of 83 classrooms, said Yntig.

In Bogo City, there are 160 classrooms that are for replacement while as of October 27, 44 new classrooms have already been built while there are 81 classrooms with ongoing construction for a total of 125.

“We have a gap of 35 classrooms that still need to be constructed,” disclosed Yntig.

He said there are 346 classrooms up for repair in Bogo City but only 251 were repaired as of late October with a gap of 95 classrooms still needing repair.

Pagcor is also funding the construction of 28 new classrooms in Bogo City under its „Silid Aralan‟ Project while on Wednesday, November 12, British Foundation, Inc. is set to turn-over some newly-built classrooms and the repair of damaged ones in the city and in the town of San Remigio, said Yntig. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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BFAR exceeds target on new banca distribution to Yolanda affected fisherfolk By: Amor Y. Saludar Central Visayas, Nov. 8 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR 7) exceeded its target of providing motorized fishing bancas to 2,000 fisherfolks affected by super typhoon Yolanda in north Cebu. n the recent press briefing on Post Of these new built fishing boats 1,511 epoxy, marine plywood, copper nails and other Yolanda Disaster: Rehab operations were already distributed to fisherfolk materials. initiated by the Philippine Information beneficiaries in north Cebu affected by super Affected fishermen also benefited from Agency (PIA-7) BFAR 7 assistant regional typhoon Yolanda. the Cash for Work Program of BFAR as they director Dr. Allan Poquita said as present they The remaining 489 units then set to be are paid P1,500 upon completion of the repair have already built 2,007 new fishing boats distributed before the end of November this of their own damaged fishing boats during the worth P15,000 each. year. devastation of super typhoon Yolanda in their Poquita said that most of the “We also listed 2,000 partially damaged respective areas. beneficiaries are from Bantayan Island and fishing boats for repair of which 2,346 were Poquita revealed that BFAR allots P244 Medellin as they have the most number of already repaired,” Poquita said. million for its Cash for Work Program while fisherfolks with totally and partially damaged Fishermen with partially damaged fishing DSWD also has a P3.2 million budget under fishing boats. boats were given materials for repair such as the same program. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)

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DOH-7 steps up info drive on Ebola By: Ferliza C. Contratista CEBU CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) --- The Philippines as yet may be ‗Ebola-free‘ but the Philippine Government through the Department of Health (DOH) is already instituting the necessary measures to prepare in case of its entry to Philippine soil as the regional health department is stepping up its public education drive on the killer virus.

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OH7 chief of Health Emergency and Management, Dr. Expedito Medalla presented the agency‟s updates on the dreaded Ebola virus to members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-7) during a recent meeting.

“Central Visayas is on Code White alert status. This means we are preparing for the possible onset of a health emergency,” like Ebola getting into the country and into the region, said Medalla.

Medalla said the Ebola virus is very infectious and can kill in such a short time.

“Fatality rate is 90 percent,” he added.

The Ebola virus belongs to the family of the RNA viruses with five identified subtypes of the Ebola virus and has an incubation period of two to 21 days, said Medalla.

The DOH-7 official said the virus is not spread airborne but rather, through direct

contact with the blood or body fluid of an infected person who has developed the symptoms of the disease. Body fluids could either be saliva, tears, urine, semen, breast milk, mucus, feces, vomit and tears.

Symptoms of a person infected with the deadly virus can exhibit sudden onset of fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pain and sore throat followed by rash, hiccups, red eyes and bleeding from body openings.

Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, impaired kidney and liver function also developed in a later stage. “Ebola may be fatal but it can be prevented. It is very important to avoid panic,” said Medalla as he urged the public to regularly practice proper hand washing, the single and most effective way to prevent the spread of infections.

For Cebu, the primary referral hospital for suspected cases of Ebola is the government -manned Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical

Center where a medical core group has already been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila for proper training in handling suspected and confirmed Ebola cases, said Medalla.

Medalla said referral hospitals have also been identified for Bohol and Negros Oriental in the region.

A regional summit is scheduled this month by the DOH on how to handle Ebola cases to be participated by private hospitals.

The DOH-7 is closely coordinating with private hospitals to ensure their facility is capable in handling suspected or confirmed Ebola cases including training of health personnel, said Medalla.

Medalla said a budget has been set aside for the purchase of personal protective equipment for use of medical personnel who will be handling Ebola patients. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-7)

Public urged to secure copy of IRF in reporting crimes By: Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, Nov. 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police advises the public to always secure a copy of the Incident Record Form (IRF) after reporting crime incidents to all police stations.

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ccording to the PNP here, the IRF are accountable forms to be filled out by a complainant that contains data provided by the Desk Officer pertaining to the complainant, victim or suspect, and including the narrative details of the incident.

The IRF becomes an official document once signed by the investigators and the reporting person whose information will be immediately recorded in the police blotter, uploaded to the Crime Incident Reporting System (CIRS) database, and becomes the first document included in the case folder.

In the same press release, Police Director

General Alan La Madrid Purisima, Chief PNP said the use of IRF is implemented in all police stations and offices with investigative functions.

"The implementation of Crime Incident Reporting System will ensure the gathering and inclusion of all crime data that are reported in the police station into the database,” said Purisima.

CIRS is an electronic database system that facilitates crime documentation and systematic data storage and retrieval.

The system is the quick, fast and reliable transmission of crime information from lower police units and offices of the PNP to the National Headquarters.

All police stations and units with

investigative functions are equipped with CIRS-installed computers which will be the source of a nationwide database of crime incidents.

It is part of our efforts to further provide our people with „true crime reporting' this is why IRF is very important to be kept by both complainant and our investigators, Purisima added.

In the case of crime incidents that were reported to the police but referred to the barangay, the report must clearly indicate whether the case is amicably settled, under investigation or referred back to the police with a certification to file action. (mbcnRAC/ PIA7-Siquijor/PNP-Siquijor)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Climate Walk taught Commissioner Saño

lot

of

lessons:

By Neil D. Lopido TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – The Climate Walk was an ―extraordinary experience‖, according to Commissioner Naderev Saño of the Climate Change Commission who led the more than 1,000-km walk from Manila to Tacloban City which is Yolanda‘s ground zero.

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It was an amazing and meaningful journey for all of us that taught us a lot of lessons especially the human spirit and about Filipino hospitality,” Saño said.

Videographer Charley Sta Maria of Dakila, a woman who completed the walk, said that her perspective in life changed because her awareness on the effects of climate change was broadened.

The “Walk for Climate Justice” reached Tacloban City in November 8 after 38 days in time for the first year commemoration of super typhoon Yolanda.

The walkers crossed the San Juanico Bridge at 7 a.m. and proceeded to the Holy Cross Memorial Gardens and paid homage to the more than 2-thousand bodies buried in a mass grave in Brgy.

Basper.

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez

welcomed the group who joined in the solemn Memorial Service attended by local, national and international community together with the survivors in a Holy Mass, blessing of the mass grave, offering of flowers and candle lighting.

Saño said that they launched the Climate Walk to remember “our brothers and sisters who lost lives to Yolanda.”

“We will always remember and we will keep reminding the whole world that once in our lives the strongest typhoon hit the city and that we will forever commemorate their memories so that future generations would benefit from it and build a county that is resilient to disasters and climate change,” he said.

Likewise, Mayor Romualdez said in his message that this historic day should never be forgotten and never be erased.

“May all who come, this way remember,

that on this piece of earth, the whole world converged to make Tacloban the template of the people‟s firm resolve to rise above their sorrow and create a new landscape for their future,” Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, Saño called for unity and expressed support also to the nationwide climate change advocacy campaign of the Philippine Information Agency and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources tagged, “Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago.”

“Nakikiisa po kami diyan sa panawagan na „yan dahil bahagi ng pagbabago na „yan ay ang pagtayo sa pagkakaisa,” Sano said.

The 1000-km journey started in Manila on October 2 passing through more than 100 towns and cities before reaching Tacloban on November 8. (ajc/ldl/PIA-8)

DILG turns over P137M rehab fund to ESamar BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 8 (PIA) - Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas personally led the ceremonial turnover of DILG‘s P137M financial assistance to the province of Eastern Samar.

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ccording to Roxas, the funds will be used to implement municipal-wide infrastructure projects such as the building and repair of civic centers and municipal buildings in towns ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda which hit Eastern Visayas exactly a year ago.

Several government structures and roads, mostly in the southern part of the province of Eastern Samar were damaged by the typhoon, noted as one of the strongest typhoons in history.

Hospitals, health centers, schools and

town halls have to be repaired and in the case of the town of Hernani, relocated some three kilometers from its original location.

In his message to the people of the province, Roxas promised that DILG will also download funding for projects to be implemented in the barangay level.

The turnover ceremony, one of the activities during the Provincial Development Summit, took place on November 7, 2014 at the Eastern Samar provincial gymnasium in Borongan City.

Governor Conrado B. Nicart Jr., Vice

-Governor Marcelo Picardal, Lone District Representative Ben P. Evardone as well as members of the provincial board were also present during the activity.

Aside from Roxas, two other cabinet secretaries attended the summit: Department of Science and Technology secretary Mario Montejo and Department of Transportation and Communication secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Also in attendance were town mayors, vice-mayors, councilors and barangay officials. (ajc/Medora Quirante/ PIA-8 E Samar)

EV LGUs converge for feedback forum on RAY implementation

By Consuelo B. Alarcon TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – Around 100 participants composed of local government executives and municipal planning and development officers in 18 municipalities in the region converged Wednesday at LNU House, this city for the Feedback Forum on RAY-Rehabilitation Plan Implementation.

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he forum, which was sponsored

by GIZ-Environment Rural Development Program, is an opportunity for the various national partners to listen to feedbacks from the different local government units and functionaries and for the relevant agencies to seriously consider the next month‟s rehabilitation after Yolanda hit the region last year. Matthias Niggel, Chief Adviser of

the GIZ-EnRD Program assured to aforesaid LGU‟s of their commitment to help in whatever way they can through the programs being implemented in the region.

In said forum, local government officials from 18 municipalities presented the recovery efforts undertaken by the respective LGUs relative on RAY implementation one year after Yolanda hit

the region.

The18 municipalities include Abuyog, Javier, MacArthur, Burauen, La Paz, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tabon-Tabon, Alang-Alang, Barugo, all in Leyte and Basey, Marabut, both are in Western Samar.

Said areas are considered worst-hit municipalities when Yolanda hit the region last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

EASTERN VISAYAS

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Gov‘t to construct road dike from Tacloban -Palo-Tanauan TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 10 (PIA) – President Benigno S. Aquino III announced Friday that the national government is set to construct a 27 square kilometer road dike project in some areas Leyte to protect the residents from risks during flooding, storm surges and other calamities.

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n his visit in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the President said this will be implemented on the first quarter of 2015 by the government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The road dike which is elevated for at least four meters above sea level is a long term solution to the challenges of times.

The project will be constructed in the coastal areas of Tacloban City and the

municipalities of Palo and Tanauan, Leyte.

However, this initiative shall be enhanced by mangrove plantation in the aforesaid areas.

“Sakaling dumating muli ang matinding sakuna, hindi na dapat maulit ang pagdurusang dinanas ng ating mga kababayan”, the President said. “”Hindi natin hahayaan na makulong tayo sa Siglo na tinatawag na destruction tapos reconstruction tapos destruction

ulit tapos reconstruction ulit”, the President further said.

The project is in line with the government‟s agenda “in building back better”.

As observed, most of the victims or those who died during typhoon Yolanda were residing near coastal areas.

Some 1.47 million families in 44 provinces in six (6) regions including region VIII were devastated by typhoon Yolanda last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

EDC partners with LGU-Southern Leyte in native tree species production

By Erna S. Gorne MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) - The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) partnership with the local government of Southern Leyt geared towards production of native tree species will be the first of its kind in the region.

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ccording to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) Dr. Eva Abad, ”the project aims to preserve and propagate these types of seedlings to eventually become the mother trees of the native tree species in the province.”

Abad said, “the native tree species are endangered nowadays as exotic tree species like germilina, mahogany and acasia mangguim which are very prolific and now grow dominantly around in our province.”

She added that EDC together with Provincial Governor Roger Mercado and the provincial heads of offices, among

others, will plant the first 100 native tree species at the back of the Provincial Capitol building on November 8, 2014, one year after the super typhon.

Under the BINHI program of EDC, the provincial government of Southern Leyte will take care of the growth until it reaches maturity in the next ten years and become the source of good quality of native trees in the province, she said.

The mentioned exotic trees though fast growing were noted to have its not-so good impact to the environment as they were found to be to use up much water endangering our water tables nor friendly to the natural

organisms since they do not come from our place, she added.

The tree planting highlighted the Provincial Arbor Day celebration which also coincided with the first commemoration of the victims during the onset of super typhoon Yolanda, Abad said.

There will be a synchronized tree planting across the province to be participated in by the 500 barangays of the 18 towns of the province to include the City of Maasin.

At least 50 tree seedlings or an estimate of 25,000 seedlings will be planted on the same day, she said.(ajc/esg/ PIA8 SoLeyte)

Livelihood Seeding Program launched in Tacloban TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 5 (PIA) – In partnership with the United States Philippines Society and the Philippine Disaster Relief Foundation (PDRF), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Eastern Visayas has launched the Livelihood Seeding Program Monday at Liceo Del Verbo Divino, this city.

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eventy Four (74) beneficiaries of the program in the City of Tacloban have received the livelihood packages distributed to them.

The beneficiaries include dressmakers, food makers, food vendors and small eatery operators.

DTI 8 Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, said that a big number of micro enterprises have been affected by super typhoon Yolanda in 64 municipalities and cities in Region 8.

Hence, the beneficiaries need to restore back their livelihood which they were used to for many long years.

Nierras likewise said, around 12, 300 micro enterprises were registered at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) before Yolanda hit the region last year.

Initially, four to five hundred beneficiaries in eight (8) places in the region are being targeted by the program.

These include the worst-hit areas such as Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dulag, Tabon-Tabon, Mayorga, all are in Leyte and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The launching was spearheaded by DTI through Regional Director Cynthia

Nierras, Leyte Provincial Director Desiderio Belas, Hank Hendrickson, Executive Director, U.S. Philippine Society and his wife Anne; Veronica Gabaldon, Program Manager, PDRF, Rene S. Meily, President, PDRF and Tacloban City Assistant Administrator Brando Bernadas.

The Livelihood Seeding Program is DTI‟s response to a particular need that was identified during the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)) conducted immediately after Yolanda struck the region last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

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.

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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