One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 38

Vol 5

Issue 38

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Undersecretary Alexander Pama, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, provided the media with updates on the disaster risk reduction framework presented in the 9th Senior Disaster Management Officials' Forum during a press briefing held Wednesday, Sept.

23 at the International Media Center at Amigo Hotel here. Also in the photo is Usec.

Ferdinand Cui, Jr., SOM Vice Chair. (LTP/ PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

CENTRAL VISAYAS

PCOO Sec. Sonny Coloma delivers his keynote message during the Launching of the Search for Outstanding Barangay Treasurer in Cebu City initiated by FINEX-Cebu held at Gallery, Ayala Center Cebu.

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

Sept. 21 - 27, 2015

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

DILG urges CSOs to help BuB project implementation

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has encouraged the civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in the implementation of the Bottoms-Up Budgeting (BuB) projects.

DILG provincial director Dennis Quiñones cited this in a training on Citizen‟s Monitoring and Evaluation to fast track the implementation of the BuB projects in Negros Oriental. DILG‟s continuing training activity for its field officers, CSOs monitoring teams and local planning and development coordinators in different cities and municipalities was held this week.

This is to achieve BuB program implementations which started in 2013 to help the country in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. Quiñones said, “DILG will continue to partner with the CSOs for capacity-building interventions relative to the BUB Program.”

Quiñones also emphasized his message on the role of CSOs in the local governance. He encouraged the participants to actively participate in the monitoring and evaluation of the BuB projects as this is very important to

achieve genuine transparency in respective local government units (LGUs).

To date, according to DILG director only 42 percent of the 2013 BuB projects were implemented or are being implemented. For 2014 and 2015 approved projects, only 34.1 percent and 1.8 percent of the BuB projects respectively have been implemented.

Local government operations officer VI Aquilina Eltanal said, “As of now, we are trying to inculcate the elements of good governance, transparency on the part of the CSOs and government, to attain our goals and to maximize the use of fund resources to different projects as identified, to make a reality.”

Interacting with the local poverty reduction action team (LPRAT) and implementing agencies, Eltanal said after all projects been monitored, the group has to discuss the findings and make recommendations to formulate a catch up plans for those projects.

LPRAT Co-chair of LGU Dauin Victorina Elumir said, “We are very grateful that we are involved in this program of the government and to know more on how we can help DILG and LGU in the implementation of BuB in the municipality of Dauin.” (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental/ with reports from Ronelyn Faith Vailoces, SU intern)

COMELEC urges qualified voters to validate, bares ‘no bio, no vote’ policy Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sep. 24 (PIA) – In a joint Regional Development Council-Development Administration Committee (RDC-DAC) and the Southern Leyte Provincial Development Council meeting held Friday here, Commission on Elections Provincial Supervisor Atty.

Antonio Gulay, Jr. informed that there are still 6.2% remaining registered voters in Eastern Visayas having incomplete or without biometrics data.

He stressed that in the coming 2016 National Elections, Comelec will impose the “no vote, no biometrics” policy, hence urging those who have not yet validated their data to visit nearest Comelec office since the deadline will be on October 31, 2015.

Gulay said that the validation process started last year yet, saying that the registered voters without biometrics will be automatically deactivated from their records.

In Southern Leyte, out of the total registered voters recorded at 248,148, whle 9,190 of whom have not yet validated or without biometrics data or 3.7% without validation, Atty Gulay reported.

For Samar, out of 407,722 voters registered, 42,514 remains to have incomplete biometrics data; Northern

Samar with 323,727 and 25,477 without biometrics; Eastern Samar, 271,482 total voters with 17,270 without biometrics; Leyte province at 1,086,297 total registered voters and 54,673 with no biometrics data yet; and for the province of Biliran that has 102,107 total registered voters, 2,048 not yet validated.

“Validation is the process of taking the biometrics of voters whose biometrics such as picture, signature and thumb mark have not yet been captured,” Gulay revealed.

In his presentation during the joint meeting, Gulay tackled activities regarding the upcoming 2016 National Elections like the filing of Certificates of Candidacy for all elective positions which will be on October 12-16, 2015, the use of security personnel on election period, inclusive dates of campaign period, among other activities and prohibited activities on election matters.

The RDC-DAC joint meeting with the PDC of Southern Leyte presided by its Chairman, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Director Imelda C. Laceras, was attended by municipal mayors, some Provincial Board members, local department heads, among other members of the RDC -DAC. (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

DRR needs sustainable APEC-wide interventions - Gazmin

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 22 (PIA6) – Disaster risk reduction is not just a concern of a single or small group of economies but it requires a robust and sustainable inter-economy cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region, according to Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

In his keynote message at the opening of the two-day 9th Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum of APEC 2015 here, September 22, Gazmin said the prevalence of disasters in the “new normal” manifestation has serious Climate Change Youth Forum with Elpidio implications to our inter-economic relations as it cuts Simon PENRO @ Wright National High across several APEC concerns and priorities.

School, Paranas, Samar Sept. 23, 2015 (pics by The “new normal” manifestation referred to by the JunArc) Philippine government official is the present nature of disasters wherein they are becoming unpredictable with increases in frequencies, magnitude and scope.

This new normal phenomenon causes major disruptions to trade relations, businesses and investments across the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

The official cited the actions already made by APEC More on Region 8, pages 6-7. member-economies on the issue for the past years with Also CLICK Here... present initiatives focused on introducing innovations,

developing policies, and organizing working groups to address disaster impacts.

With the emerging concept of the new normal, Gazmin said what is needed is a more holistic, proactive, multi-stakeholder, and longer term interventions, specifically to make APEC member economies resilient.

(JCM/JSC-PIA6)

Defense Secretary and NDRRMC chair Voltaire Gazmin delivers the keynote message during the opening, September 22 of the 9th Senior Disaster Management Officials‟ Forum of the ongoing Asia-Pacifi Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Iloilo City. (LTPI/PIA6)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

MSMEs are engines of growth in Iloilo City Lilibeth A. French ILOILO CITY, Sept. 21 (PIA6) - - Local micro, small and medium enterprises play a crucial role in realizing the goal of making Iloilo City the top destination and the best liveable city in the Philippines.

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n his welcome remarks during the opening of the 2015 National MSME Summit at the Iloilo Convention Center, September 21, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the city government under his administration is now focused on maintaining the growth of the MSME sector here as they believe it is not only an important sector of the economy but also plays a crucial role in realizing their goal to make the city as the top destination and best liveable city in the country.

Mabilog said MSMEs are also engines of growth in any development oriented economy in the world and because they have inherent labor intensive production processes, they provide a viable platform for inclusive growth and job creation.

“Iloilo City today has more than a fair share of MSMEs in operation. They have bolstered the metro economy, helped the local government unit reduced poverty and are helping shape the business environment while developing entrepreneurial potential and stipulating competition,” said Mabilog.

He bared some of the initiatives undertaken by the city government for the development and growth of the MSME sub-sector here.

These include the trimming of the processing time of business permits and creating business -friendly framework conditions and market development fir services relevant to MSMEs, including meeting with the banking sector to improve access of MSMEs to short, middle and long-term financial credit, among others.

Securing business permits in this city now only takes 30 minutes.

Appropriate free hands-on livelihood, vocational and technological training to unemployed youths and adults through the Iloilo City Technical Institute were also provided as part of the efforts of the city government to create and nurture a steady stream of Ilonggo entrepreneurs.

The city government continues to take the initiative and to partner with both public and private sectors to assist MSMEs compete

in the global market, according to Mabilog.

He said the national summit will unite everyone in the national MSME community.

United in purpose and intent, MSMEs could easily fuel the nation‟s nonstop drive for a better future.

Around 600 participants composed of members of the various provincial SME Councils in the country and development partners are attending the two-day summit here which coincide the holding of the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Friday, September 25.

Some of the summit participants will also join other APEC events which will be held to support the Ministers‟ meeting.

Other APEC events which also began today are the APEC Workshop on Facilitating SME Trade through Better Understanding of Non-Tariff Measures in the Asia Pacific Region for Agriculture, Food Processing and Handicrafts Sectors and APEC Accelerator Network (AAN) Forum II: From Start Up to Scale Up. (JCM/LAF/PIA6-Iloilo)

PCA measures readied for El Nino Alex A. Lumaque ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 23 (PIA6) – The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has established coconut nurseries in shaded areas in order to protect coconut seedlings from direct sunlight in anticipation of the El Niño phenomenon.

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CA – Capiz manager Jeffrey Delos Reyes said that there are about 50,000 seedlings in the nurseries up for planting in view of the Yolanda Replanting and Rehabilitation Program (YRRP) which targets 328,000 seedlings in 3,280 hectares provincewide this year.

Some of the seedlings for the program are sourced out by PCA from local

suppliers.

De los Reyes added that PCA targets to plant 46,000 coconut seedlings on top of the Yolanda replanting initiative.

Based on PCA records, there are about 1.1 – million fruit bearing trees left by supertyphoon Yolanda provincewide.

However, the damages on the local coconut industry will be restored with the

massive planting and replanting activities since 2014.

By end of this year, at least 85 percent of the damaged coconut trees have been restor Coconut farmers are also urged to intercrop coconuts with banana, corn, coffee, vegetables and sweet potato or camote as additional source of income during the drought. (JCM/AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

DOLE congress focuses on labor meeting market demands

By Easter Anne D. Doza NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Sept. 22 (PIA6) - - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 is holding its 4th Regional Career Advocacy and Employment Congress on September 23-25 at Planta Hotel and Residences, in Bacolod City.

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release from DOLE 6 said, more than 300 delegates from the Regional Networks of Guidance Counselors (GC) and Career Advocates, Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Managers and Human Resource (HR) Officers as well as representatives of the national government agencies and intermediaries are expected to join the congress.

The congress with the theme “Building Human Capital: Backbone of a Full and Decent Employment” aims to provide the avenue for participants and stakeholders to have more

technical learning and to be seriously involved in molding the minds of the youths by giving them (youth) the needed support as they prepare for the real world.

According to the release, the Philippines is home to globally competitive workers but an increasing gap between the competency levels of graduates here with that of other countries is noted.

Topics include Labor Market in the Local and International Arena; Career Coaching: The 21stFilipino Youth; K to 12 Career Development Program and Career

Decision-Making; and, Human Capital: The Essence of Organizational Success which will be discussed by experts from all over the country.

Those interested to join, may confirm their attendance to Ms. Lucy U. Muralla, Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 6, Iloilo City at contact numbers 033 3206905/09173276818/ 09173276515 or to DOLE Field Office in Negros Occidental at the following contact numbers (034) 7091690 or 09173275919. * (JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Antique products need more exposure to lure investors

By Vicente W. Villavert SAN JOSE, Antique, Sept.23 (PIA6) - - The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Trade and Industry Chair said that Antique’s local products need exposure in order to attract both domestic and foreign investors.

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P Member Dante Beriong said that the Iloilo City‟s hosting of APEC Meeting is expected to also promote other locations in the region, and Antique should consider this as an opportunity to showcase its resources to attract new investments in the province.

“This is an opportunity for our products to reach international markets and heights,” Beriong said in a PIA interview.

Just recently, three Pasalubong Centers were established at the Iloilo International Airport, SM City, and in Boracay where some

60 micro and small enterprises are showcasing Antique‟s products in the pursuit of local tourism promotion that shall certainly redound to socio-economic multiplier in the local economy.

Governor Rhodora Cadiao in her aim to promote Antique as a tourist and investment destination also said that a booth that will showcase the best of Antique was put up at the Iloilo Convention Center in time for the opening of the APEC Summit in Iloilo City. The Department of Trade and Industry also said that ten

entrepreneurs also joined the National SME Summit in Iloilo City.

In a Malacanang news report, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo said that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are vital to achieving the Asia-Pacific Economic goal of inclusive growth.

MSMEs cover 97 percent of all businesses; create 50 percent to 80 percent of jobs in APEC economies; contribute 13 percent to 60 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP); and comprise 35 percent of exports.(JCM/ VWV/PIA Antique)

Financial inclusion, connectivity to markets, keys to MSMEs growth Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, Sept. 22 (PIA6) -- - To increase the participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in boosting economic development in the Asia Pacific Region, these businesses must be financially included and are well connected to markets.

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oris Magsaysay Ho, Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), said that financial inclusion is key for MSMEs to access opportunities in the regional and global trade.

“Unfortunately, many MSMEs are unable to access financing, thus, stifling their ability to grow their business, pursue innovation, or comply with minimum standards to enable their participation in local supply chains, much less global value chains,” she said.

She said that financial inclusion requires access to financial services and improving bank lending efficiency as well as broadening the

range of financing instruments available to SMEs. “ABAC also calls for innovation. We need financing instruments that will provide financing start-ups as well as financial innovation that responds to the changing business models,” she stressed.

She also encouraged initiatives promoting an enabling environment for trade and supply chain finance and alternative financing mechanisms and to identify best practices for strengthening MSMEs resilience against disasters and financial crises.

“As Asia-Pacific is the world‟s most natural disaster-prone region, we have to equip

MSMEs with responsive financial instruments that will allow them to mitigate disaster risks and to recover quickly,” she said.

She said there is also a need to look at digital financing solutions that potentially allow deeper penetration than financial services providers in many economies.

“The economic evolution brought about by the digital revolution affords us options that we have never had before,” she said.

She added that it is necessary to address digital finance issues that impact financial access and their alignment with global and regional efforts. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Kalibo conducts Public-Private Partnership orientation Sheila Q. Patoza KALIBO, Aklan (PIA6) – The Municipality of Kalibo conducted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) orientation in its desire to fully understand the PPP Code of the Provincial Government of Aklan before its adaptation.

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ttorney Alberto C. Agra, a Certified PPP Specialist and the only one in Southeast Asia having such distinction, which he obtained from the Institute for Public –Private Partnership (IP3) in Arlington, Virginia, USA, was the resource speaker of the orientation.

Atty. Agra defines PPP as a contract between two consenting bodies wherein there is trust, own contribution to the arrangement and have the desire to last the partnership up to the end of time.

“The only challenge of PPP is when the formal leadership changes because the project may be dissolved depending

on the new leader, but can be answered with the stakeholders‟ role in the partnership - that is maintaining stability of the project,” Agra said.

Agra stressed that before implementing a PPP project, LGUs must have a framework to be consistent, to be followed by everybody and to be transparent.

The LGU can create its own framework, refer to templates, or adopt the provincial ordinance for the PPP project.

The Provincial Government of Aklan is currently adopting Atty. Agra‟s framework in the implementation of the PPP projects of the province.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo, proposed resolution to adopt the PPP Code of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Aklan.

Atty. Agra recommended LGU Kalibo to conduct an intensive study regarding PPP to fully understand and appreciate the importance of the PPP. The orientation was participated in by the officials and department heads of the municipality of Kalibo, National Government Agencies, media, and other stakeholders of PPP. (JSC/SQP-PIA6 Aklan).

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

Mandaue City, nominated for APEC2015 funding for environment strategies Ferliza Calizar-Contratista CEBU, Sept. 21 (PIA) -- The local government unit of Mandaue City, Cebu is among the three LGUs considered for funding for environmental sustainability efforts this October from among the 21 member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) n a press release, the nominees target for reducing its CO2 emissions and has innovative system of electric motorbikes and are Krasnoyarsk City, Russia; Mandaue long been crafting measures to establish a charging facilities.

City, Philippines and Subang Jaya, sustainable city to address air pollution and Samui Island in Thailand also got support Malaysia. The funding in particular are the traffic congestion. for its feasibility study to utilize solar, wind and strategies leading to the reduction of carbon Its proposed project consists of small hydro power; reliance on electric use. developing green growth areas and vehicles and reforestation and protection of According to the Department of interconnecting these areas within Metro existing forests.

Energy (DOE) undersecretary Loreta C e b u .

An ordinance is also They also adapted Green technologies for Ayson who is also the Philippines Senior proposed promoting disaster-resilient buildings resort and hotel developments such as solar Official on Energy, the Low Carbon Model in the city. water heaters, solar panels on rooftops, Town (LCMT) Project of the APEC Energy The LCMT Project of the APEC EWG has biomass power generation of kitchen waste Working Group (EWG) will choose in next been greatly instrumental in encouraging and increased ventilation for natural cooling. month's gathering in Cebu, who will receive communities in the region to embark on city Mandaue is located on the central-eastern the technical assistance. planning initiatives promoting low carbon coastal region of Cebu, and is one of the three "We are constantly looking for potential technologies to manage the rapidly increasing highly urbanized cities on the island and forms LCMT candidates and it impresses me to find energy consumption and consequently, mitigate part of the Cebu Metropolitan area.

Mandaue City with such a comprehensive plan the adverse effects of greenhouse gas It is connected by two bridges to the involving land use, green building and emissions on the environment. island of Mactan. Mandaue is also known as transportation,” Ayson said.

Previous winners include the city of Da t h e “furniture capital of the Mandaue City accordingly has a clear Nang in Vietnam which implemented an Philippines.” (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

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Dumaguete City invites families to Family Week Fun Run Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 15 (PIA) – The Dumaguete City Social Welfare Office (CSWDO), in cooperation with the Family Steering Committee, is inviting families to join the Family Week Fun Run on September 27, Sunday.

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he event is part of the activities in observance of the National Filipino Family Week from September 20 to 27 with the theme “Gender Equality and Children‟s Rights in Contemporary Families."

According to City Information Officer Syril Repe, there are two categories in the fun run: 5K run for families with children aged 12 years old and above; and 3K run for families with children aged 12 years old and below.

Starting point of the fun run will be at the Kiwanis Bldg. at Sta. Catalina Street to start at 5:45 a.m. while the start of the 3K run is at

6:00 a.m.

Registration period begun last Sept. 5 and will end on Sept . 25. The event is free of registration.

Contestants should fill up registration forms and submit it to the Family Week Steering Committee at the City Social Welfare and Development Office, Flores Ave., Brgy. 1, this city.

Contestants can claim their race sash during the check-in time on Sept.

27. Contestants should wear their race sash in the duration of the race.

One important rule in the fun run is that

families should finish the race together.

On the other hand, contestants will be provided with drinking water at designated water stations while medical aid will be available at certain points along the way and at the finish line.

For more inquiries, interested participants may contact Ike Villaflores, head of the City Sports and Youth Development Office through 422-8109 or the Family Week Steering Committee through the CSWDO at 225-0637 or 422-8117. (rmn/ral/ PIA7-Negros Oriental/with reports from Syril Repe, City PIO)

Bohol dairy group eyes 20T liters caramilk production in 2020 Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- From 120,000 liters produced in 2015, Bohol Dairy Processing and Marketing Enterprise (BDPME) taps a P9,227,528.64 loan and equity from local sources to hit close to a production of 200,000 liters of carabao milk in 2020.

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his will mean between 5% to 7% annual increase of family income from this year onwards.

With a loan from World Bank at P4.470 million, another P1.490 million from Philippine government and the Provincial Government, and P1.777 million equity, the Bohol Dairy Processing and Marketing Enterprise enhances the present enterprise in Bohol already set up in the National Dairy Farm Complex in Lomangog, Ubay, Bohol.

Still picking up what can be salvaged from the fire that razed its assets and freak accidents that caused substantial losses in capital and manpower, the new pitch relies on the Bohol Dairy Producers Association (Bohol Dairy), according to a project brief provided by the

World Bank Implementation Support Mission now gathered in Bohol until Wednesday.

The marketing enterprise will do this ambitious plan by procuring raw milk products for the 23 identified clusters to 27 after 4 years, involving some 504 farmer dairy carabao growers to a projected 2424 farmers in 2020.

The plan also intends to expand to other farmers and increase farm animal holding capacity for maximized dairy production.

Now helping farmers set up milk production in 35 barangays in Ubay, Mabini, ALicia, Dagohoy and San Miguel, BDPME aspires from the stock infusion from the nearby Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).

Resting inside the PCC, the dairy processing plant also proposed to ask the PCC

to upgrade local carabao breeds via genetic development or cross breeding to increase milk production.

The project then entails milk collection, consolidation of milk collected from farmer members to the association of Bohol Dairy, tolling and processing at the PCC and national Dairy Authority Plant to storage as well as marketing in identified retail outlets, which the NDA plans to be located in tourism areas in Bohol, according to PCC sources.

BDPME is now set for funding by the World Bank-Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project (WB-DA PRDP) for Investments in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and fisheries Activity Program (I-REAP). (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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DSWD lists 56,628 4Ps beneficiaries in Bohol Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) listed about 56,628 Boholano families as active beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) as of September 2015 and are found in Bohol's 47 towns and in Tagbilaran City with Ubay town as having the biggest number of beneficiaries.

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Ps Program and evaluation officer Karen Ferrolino said those families with an annual per capita income of below P18,847.00 are aided with the cash grants called conditional cash transfers.

Family beneficiaries get cash grants with conditions: P300 each for a maximum of three kids aged 0-18 and P500 for health assistance, allowing a family a two months pay-out of P2,800.

The cash are given to screened family beneficiaries with kids from 0-18, with incomes below the poverty threshold, whose kids regularly attend classes and get to the rural health centers for de-worming and nutritional

weigh ins and who regularly attend the Family Development Sessions.

The Family Development sessions are venues where families get tips on health, nutrition, livelihood, personality development, disaster reduction and management, counseling and several other self-help topics. These FDSs happen once every two months, Ferolino said.

DSWD 4Ps provincial Grievance officer Joan Florable Felicio bared that the DSWD had cleaned up the lists from complaints that the local grievance teams deliberated and found that some family beneficiries do not deserve the grants anymore.

Felicio said there are cases of of missing beneficiaries now in Bohol. They mean those who, after the calamities that hit Bohol, decided to leave town and could not be traced anymore.

4Ps information officer Phoebe Jen Indino called on these missing beneficiaries on the list to just simply inform their municipal links and do some paperwork, and DSWD can just transfer the cash grants to their new residences.

Indino added that if the absence of the beneficiaries is noted for three periods,-6 months, it will be another cause of delisting. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Bohol)

SU MassCom students hold symposium on water bottles

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept.18 (PIA) -- A group of six mass communication students of Silliman University (SU) has organized the ‘Bottles Out Campaign’ symposium recently to raise awareness of the negative impacts of plastic bottles in the environment at Silliman Hall, Dumaguete City.

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he group students of Environmental Journalism 53 called themselves Training from Roots to Enrich the Environment (TREE), held the symposium in an NSTP-CWTS session to reach out to the freshmen.

Invited speakers include Integrated Solid Waste Management Program of Environmental and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) coordinator Armand Adanza; Edwin Romano Jr., chair of the Negros Oriental State University chemistry department; and Ra‟z Salvarita, founder of the Gugma Gaia.

Adanza talked about existing programs in the city on solid waste management.

He believes that managing plastic bottles, like plastic bags, is one of the main problems of Dumaguete City.

“The problem with Dumagueteños is that they don‟t segregate their wastes, making it hard for the city government to manage solid

waste,” he said.

Some of the local initiatives of ENRO include reducing the volume of garbage waste in Dumaguete from 60 tons to 30 tons, strictly implementing the Integrated Solid Waste Management of Dumaguete City or City Ordinance No. 115, among others.

The ordinance requires the segregation of solid waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and toxic and hazardous wastes.

Adanza, also an SU alumnus, added that he knows Sillimanians are environment lovers.

The TREE members are Kateleen Ogabang, Alana Gayle McCulloch, Richelle Osumo, Santia Onnycha Ursabia, and Lovelein Catubay.

TREE also aims to reduce the use of plastic bottles in Silliman University (SU).

Meanwhile, Romano spoke on the effects of water bottles in the human body. Plastic

bottles usually belongs to the polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) family of plastics, said Romano.

“PETE is also used in soda cans. It is an endocrine disruptor, affecting the hormones in your body like estrogen and other reproductive hormones,” Romano said.

Salvarita, the 3rd speaker, shared in his lecture titled “Junk to Funk” that there are 2.6 trillion garbage in the world, and reducing it is in the matter of attitude of people towards it.

“I think that if we have the desire to change our attitude of throwing everything after using these, then to make a difference is possible,” Salvarita said.

He added that society has to transform the materials they use to something creative and useful than throw them away. (mbcn/jct/ PIA7-Negros Oriental/with reports from Andrea D. Lim, SU intern)

TWG to hold validity study of NegOr as conflict-manageable Leandria P. Pagunsan NEGROS ORIENTAL, Sept. 16 (PIA) --- A technical working group (TWG) composed of religious, academe, labor, and the business sectors will conduct a validity study on the claim that Negros Oriental is indeed Conflict-Manageable and Development Ready (CMDR). n a recent Provincial Peace and Order development readiness of the province and an (CHED) and from the Disaster Risk Council (PPOC) meeting, Father Thadeu assessment of the circumstances surrounding Reduction & Management Councils of the Enrique Balongag, vice-president for the province's development readiness. city and province. Furthermore, Balongag Academic Affairs of Colegio Sta. Catalina de Relative to this, a field study will be said that respondents to be interviewed Alejandria (COSCA), presented the outline conducted to gather local indicators as in verifying the truthfulness of its of the study that will look into the respondents coming from National Economic conflict-manageability will come from the conflict situation in Negros Oriental and an Development Authority (NEDA), Department conflict-areas in the hinterlands of Negros analysis of the circumstances that will of Trade and Industry (DTI), Negros Oriental Oriental. support whether or not the province is conflict Electric Cooperative (NORECO) ll, The study, according to Father Balongag, -manageable.

Department of Environment and Natural will start in October and will be completed Balongag added that the TWG will also Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police by December 2015. (rmn/lpp/PIA7-Negros take into consideration the indicators of the (PNP), Commission on Higher Education Oriental)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Team work, unity spells SGLG conferment NINFA B. QUIRANTE CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 22 (PIA) - Team work, unity, one direction are the top three strategies done by the local government of Gandara to achieve the Seal of Good Local Governance.

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he SGLG is awarded by the DILG to local government units who comply with the best local governance parameters and spells millions worth of projects as incentive, for Gandara it is Php 3 M. In his state of the municipality address delivered on Sunday, Mayor Eufemio Oliva shared the honor to all the LGU department heads and elected officials by regularly mentioning their efforts as he raved on with his accomplishments.

The chief executive said that it is only in Gandara where despite the elected officials belonging to different political parties, they still find their common goal to achieve development.

His seven-fold accomplishment he said focused on health, social services, peace and

order, agriculture, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction and general services.

The chief executive also greatly acknowledged the role of the national government in his „moving upward‟ to new heights, especially in relief operations after typhoon Ruby.

He also recognized the assistance of non-government organizations and some people‟s organizations.

Municipal and barangay officials donning their best Filipiniana wardrobe listened to the speech that lasted for more than an hour.

The mayor delivered his speech in Tagalog and received more than a dozen applause.

The mayor particularly prided himself in constructing a 4 storey-green building, beside the town hall, which could serve as an evacuation center in the upper floors and

offices in the ground floor.

DILG personnel who rated the LGU said that all department heads are hardworking and befit their designation.

Regional Director Pedro Noval of the DILG commented that Gandara scored on disaster preparedness, social protection, and good financial housekeeping; and one essential Indicator which was peace and order. The director challenged them to continue the good governance practices and comply with the full disclosure policy.

Reports said that it was only Gandara town out of the 26 LGUs in Samar province that was an SGLG awardee, along with the provinces of Biliran and Northern Samar, and the municipalities of Barugo, Carigara and Jaro in Leyte; and Limasawa in Southern Leyte. (ajc/ nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

DOH holds Hi5 Kalusugang Pangkalahatan roadshow in Maasin City Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sep. 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Health in close coordination with the Provincial Health Services Office of Southern Leyte and the Maasin City Health Unit conducted the Hi5 Kalusugang Pangkalahatan (Universal Health Care) Roadshow, September 22, 2015.

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he Kalusugang Pangkalahatan focuses on the Hi5 health services of the health department such as the Maternal Care, Child Care, Infant Care, HIV/ AIDS /STDs prevention and the Service Delivery Network.

DOH Development Management Officer V Dr. Verna Fernandez said that the activity dubbed as “Kalusugang Tuloy-Tuloy Para sa Pamilyang Pinoy,”is responding to clients such as mothers, pregnant women and women in their productive age, children and infants, senior citizens/elderly, the youth, including the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), and teens, among the few. Fernandez said that high impact

breakthrough is targeted to reach the goal of the Philippine Universal Health Care Agenda under the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on May 2016.

The Hi5 roadshow which started with a motorcade around the city proper, conducted a short program thereafter at the city gymnasium, and service delivery network was conducted afterwards at the same venue.

The services delivery network activity catered clients for family planning, dental services, blood typing, immunization and those defaulters, blood pressure, Penumococcal injection, nutrition education, u4u teen trail, healthy lifestyle tips, men‟s nutrition, usapang maginoo, HIV/AIDS testing, including oral

health and ultra sound for pregnant women, among other health services.

Dr. Fernandez said that the health team will be holding the same activity in Barangay Ichon Multipurpose Hall in Macrohon and Padre Burgos Multipurpose Hall, Padre Burgos, both in Southern Leyte on September 23 and 24, 2015, respectively.

She added that the Universal Health Care High Impact Five Plan focuses on the critical Universal Health Care interventions with high impact on health prioritizing the poor, providing tangible outputs which are “felt” within a breakthrough period and with synchronized nationwide implementation of activities. (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

PCA aims to plant 2,900 hectares more to coconut in Southern Leyte ERNA S. GORNE MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 17 (PIA) - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) aims to plant 2,900 hectares more to coconut in the province by next year.

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ccording to PCA Senior Staff Carmelita Maturan, after enlising those coconut farmers who are willing to join the growing and planting of coconut seedlings this year, the coconut agency of the government will start rolling its Participatory Coconut Planting Project, a new planting program with incentives by next year.

Maturan said coco farmers who are participating in the said project will grow their own coconut seedlings of their choice of variety and will be paid by the PCA at P18.00

per good coconut seedling.

Then after five months when the good seedling has already grown as high as two feet, the coconut agency will again pay the amount of P 22.00 per plant, she added.

“The project was conceptualized when farmers complained of worn coconut seedlings brought about by the transportation pressures when these are being brought by PCA down to their communities, “ Maturan explained.

She said a farmer is entitled to at least

one hectare to be planted with coconut under the project, wherein each hectare will be planted with 120 nuts., according to the project design.

However, a maximum of five hectares per beneficiary can be availed if there is less participation among the coconut farmers in an area, she said.

A maximum of 2,900 farmers were expected to benefit the full-of incentives coconut growing and planting project, she added. (ajc/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)

EASTERN VISAYAS

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Limasawa island-town mulls solar power for energy needs Marcelo M. Pedalino LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte, Sept. 24 (PIA) -- If plans do not miscarry, this historic place will stake another claim in the country’s history as the first local government unit to go solar for electricity needs of its residents.

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ell, not exactly a pure, full-speed reliance from the sun‟s boundless energy, for they will still use the existing generator, like what they are using now for evening light only, said Mayor Melchor Petracorta, but just the same the use of hybrid power system is a history-in -the-making event.

“The National Power Corporation will provide the materials to generate electricity using the sun, our counterpart is the site, and as of now we are waiting for the deed of donation from the lot owner,” Petracorta told PIA in an interview during a break on the occasion of the DILG conferment of Seal of Good Local Governance early this

month.

That translates to a P 50 million to P 60 million investment for the state power-generating firm and no equity on the part of the LGU except for the provision of enough land space for the solar power plant, which is more or less half a hectare.

The prospect on using solar energy for the island came about when PIA inquired on updates of a submarine cable line proposed two years ago by former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

On July 1, 2013, Petilla, the guest speaker during the 53rd Southern Leyte founding anniversary, spoke about the island‟s inclusion for submarine cable projects.

Petracorta said the plan was eventually shelved due to prohibitive costs, and solar power was seen as a more viable alternative.

With stable, 24-hour power supply, other tourism-related projects may follow, like the long-held idea to put up a huge, tall cross in the island, in which visitors can climb by elevator, and the horizontal side of the cross utilized as internet café and other business uses, the Mayor mused.

He exuded confidence the solar project can start the soonest possible time once the deed of donation for the lot from the private owners to the name of the LGU can be perfected. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

OCD-8 conducts 4-day regional contingency plan workshop CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 23 (PIA) – Around 50 participants from different areas in Eastern Visayas are converging for a 4-day regional contingency plan formulation workshop at Hotel Alejandro this city which begins Monday until Thursday.

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he activity is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the local government units towards disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery capabilities to reduce risks to human life and properties as well as build resilient communities.

Office of Civil Defense 8 acting regional director Edgar L. Posadas emphasized the importance of a contingency plan to address whatever challenges that may come along the way in case a similar catastrophic incident like Yolanda happens again in the future.

“Planning plays a crucial role. We have to carefully map out the response to effectively

and more efficiently address the threats that hazards pose in our communities and in the immediate environment,” Posadas said.

“We have to customize plans that we could effectively activate as needed to reduce the impact of devastating events as well as allocate meager resources in times of disasters,” he further said.

At the beginning of the workshop, OCD-8 acting assistant regional director Rey M. Gozon discussed in detail the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction (PDRR) Profile including the major disasters that hit the country and the paradigm shift in the PDRRM‟s.

With the geographical location of the

region, it is but timely to draw out plans that would be responsive to the needs of the people that will ultimately save lives and properties.

After the workshop, it is expected that the participants could come up with a draft integrated plan based on the prioritized hazards in the region.

The final draft plan will be submitted to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) for approval and this will be endorsed to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and will serve as a regional plan to be crafted down to the LGUs. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Samarnons scour coastal areas for marine debris NINFA B. QUIRANTE CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 22 (PIA) - More than a thousand Catbaloganons joined the International Coastal Clean-up Day Saturday, September 19.

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ons of marine debris were collected as the Samarnons from office girls to beauty queens and hunks scoured the beaches of Catbalogan.

Edgar Guya, Catbalogan City Environment and Natural Resources Officer said that aside from those deployed at Pier Uno, the residents of some 28 coastal barangays were also mobilized for the same purpose. “ Our program continuously advocate for taking responsibility in cleaning up our marine debris to save the environment,” he said.

The department is pushing this program

through constant education, habit formation, discipline and providing good examples for a sustainable environment, he added.

As this reporter noticed that fish vendors are the first offenders of the clean Catbalogan, he added that his office will never tire reminding them and even reprimanding them about disposing their waste properly.

Rummaged garbage include several plastic containers, styrofoams. mineral water containers, damaged fish nets, umbrellas, plastic cups and plastic spoon and forks.

The whole Samar Sea has virtually

turned into a big waste basin, one „cleaner‟ commented.

CENR Officer of the DENR Mar Torres in an earlier interview said that it takes many years for plastic to melt.

International Coastal Cleanup provides an opportunity to clean up the beaches, coastal regions and surroundings.

It is considered the largest volunteer event in the world.

Last year, in the Philippines, some 107 thousand volunteers scoured the coastal areas.

September 19 is the 30th International Coastal Clean-up Day. (ajc/nbq/ PIA 8-Samar)

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Regional Director, PIA 7

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

Ms. Alicia E. Nicart 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