One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 10

Vol 5

Issue 10

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. (center), Police Regional Office-6 Regional Director PCSupt Josephus Angan (right), and Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division Commander MGen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero (left) sign the joint declaration for "peaceful and ready for further development" province of Iloilo during the 1st regular meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held Friday, March 13 at Amigo Terrace Hotel. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

WV LGUs bag Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PIA6) --- Ten local government units (LGUs) from Region 6 were cited in the recently-concluded Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014 for their exemplary work in helping achieve the vision of creating better health systems by the Department of Health (DOH).

The Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014 is one of the strategies of DOH to leverage LGU participation in achieving universal health care.

Three LGUs namely Anilao in Iloilo, Dumalag in Capiz, and Iloilo City were elevated in the DOH Red Orchid Award Hall of Fame for their outstanding anti-smoking innovations and programs.

The Red Orchid Award is the Search for 100% Tobacco-Free Provinces, Municipalities, Cities, Government Offices, Government Hospitals and DOH Centers for Health Development.

For the recognition on Disease-Free Zone, three LGUs were cited for the efforts of the health workers and the support of their LGUs in achieving disease-free status for their province/area.

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc Barrera (left) assisted by Leyte BM Bob Abellanosa, Palo mayor Remedios Petilla and DepEd 8 assistant regional director Rhoan Orebia turns-over teaching and learning materials to San Joaquin Central School principal Liberato Cobacha (2nd from right) during the school’s inauguration in Brgy. San Joaquin, Palo, Leyte, March 11. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Boracay in Malay, Aklan and Guimaras province were recognized for elimination of rabies while the province of Iloilo was hailed as filariasis-free.

Four LGUs were honored with the National Sandugo Award for the excellent performance of local chief executives in the implementation of National Voluntary Blood Services Program in their respective localities.

Bgy. Ma. Christina in Jaro, Iloilo City was cited in small barangay category; Poblacion IV, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental for medium barangay category; Aguisan, Himamaylan for large barangay category; and Negros Occidental for the province category.

The Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014 was the major award which recognized LGUs who have commendable performance in achieving the Millennium Development Goals as reflected in the DOH 2013 LGU Score Card Report.

There were 80 provinces, 35 highly-urbanized cities, five independent components cities (ICCs), 144 component cities (CCs) and 1,490 municipalities which vied for the awards. (JCM/LTP/ PIA-Iloilo)

SEC urges corporations to file Annual Financial Statements

Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, March 8 (PIA) --- The Securities Also CLICK Here… and Exchange Commission (SEC) urged all Stock or Non-Stock corporations to file their Annual Financial Statements (AFS) at any time prior to April 13, 2015 at the CENTRAL VISAYAS Commission’s office.

This was announced by SEC Information Officer Atty.

Alma Marie Dalena during the recent Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7 Forum held at the Department of Health (DOH) 7 Regional Office.

In order to maintain an organized and orderly filing of AFS, the Commission issued a Memorandum Circular for the schedule of filing the AFS of companies whose current fiscal year ends on December 31, 2014, said Dalena.

Starting April 13, 2015, filing dates shall depend on DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and ILO the last numerical digit of their SEC Registration or License Country Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson signed an agreement granting US$480,000 to Number, as follows: April 13 to 17 the last digit is ―1‖ or the DSWD to rebuild livelihood assets and support community enterprises in regions affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

March 9 - 15, 2015

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

―2‖, April 20 to 24 the last digit is ―3‖ or ―4‖ while on April 27 to 30 the last digit is ―5‖ or ―6‖.

On May 4 to 8, the last digit is ―7‖ or ―8‖ and on May 11 to 15, it is ―9‖ or ―0‖.

For the corporations whose fiscal year ends on a date other than December 31, 2014 shall file their AFS within 120 calendar days, explained Dalena.

Filers may also file online according to the above schedule at the SEC Website @ www.sec.gov.ph.

Dalena said, ―SEC requires the filing of audited financial statements in order to prevent the fear of loss from reliance on inaccurate information, thereby encouraging public investment in the Nation's industries.‖ That has important implications for investors making investment decisions, for banks and financial institutions that may extend credit or make loans to the company, and for other businesses and members of the public who deal with the company, said Dalena.(HFG/PIA-7/AIGO-7)

US Rebuild turns over projects to Leyte towns CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 11 (PIA)—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rebuild formally turned over Wednesday US funded projects in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte.

The projects include a climate-resilient 6-classroom building of San Joaquin Central School in Palo Leyte and 40 rehabilitated sari-sari stores at USAID-CRS transitional shelter site in Brgy.Utap, this city in support to the livelihood recovery of micro-entrepreneurs who are the beneficiaries of the project.

The ceremonial turn-over of the symbolic keys was led by USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc Barrera, DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, Deped officials, representatives of Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and some local officials.

It was learned that more than 200 typhoon and earthquake-resilient classrooms are being built in the city and province of Leyte by USAID Rebuild in partnership with the Department of Education and local government units.

Furthermore, of the 1, 000 sari-sari stores that are being reconstructed and restocked with inventory, 300 of which are to be built in the city.

Said projects are part of the US government’s $143-million typhoon Yolanda assistance.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria Steele who are supposed to lead the inauguration of US funded projects in Leyte

missed the activity.

This, after the plane that supposedly would carry the officials to Leyte has reportedly encountered mechanical problems prompting the delegation to cancel the trip.

Nevertheless, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rebuild pushed through with the formal turnover of the US-funded projects to the beneficiaries.

USAID has been providing technical support to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Reconstruction and Recovery (OPARR) . (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc Barrera and Palo mayor Remedios Petilla unveil the marker during the turn-over ceremony of San Joaquin Central School in Palo, Leyte on March 11. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

NGP reforests 11,650 hectares with 7,055,000 seedlings Easter Anne D. Doza NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 11 (PIA6) - - The National Greening Program (NGP), a flagship reforestation program of President Benigno S. Aquino III managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office, has covered 11,650 hectares in Negros Occ. since 2011.

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ithin the 11,650 hectares, 7,055,000 seedlings were planted involving 183 People’s Organizations with 5,220 household beneficiaries in four years.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal said NGP hopes to overtake the deforestation rate with this reforestation program until 2016 by planting more trees.

Meanwhile, Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. who graced the gathering of DENR officials and People’s Organizations for the signing of the Letter of Agreement for the implementation of NGP in 2015, urged those around to continue to protect the environment considering the adverse effects of climate change being felt now.

The Governor also challenged those in authority to make ways to curb continuous abuse of the environment through illegal

logging and kaingin, among others.

Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer-Cadiz Edgardo Rostata said these People’s Organizations or contractors have been helpful even outside of their contracted areas. ―At the onset of summer season, if we have forest fire incidents in the area, they help each other just like what happened in one of the NGP areas in Victorias.

POs as far as Cadiz helped put out the fire, because if it spread, all the NGP efforts will be useless,‖ Rostata explained.

CENRO Cadiz NGP target for 2015 is to reforest 1,116 hectares, one of the biggest targets in the province in terms of area for greening, according to Rostata.

In Cadiz and San Carlos cities, DENR already involved the former rebels RPA-ABB members who are hired as Bantay Bukid

members, also a part of the closure agreement of the national government with this rebel group.

Meanwhile, CENRO Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya disclosed that their NGP target for 2015 covers only 795 hectares but these have limited potential since most parts are within the Northern Negros Natural Park where only endemic trees are allowed to be planted.

Gerangaya said that the support and cooperation of the POs are vital since the program is ending in 2016. ―Our dream is to bring back the ―green‖ in Negros Occidental.

We have a very successful planting since 2011 and we never stopped recognizing our partners, otherwise our efforts will be put to waste,‖ Gerangaya added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

Antique PPO implements harmonized rehab program Pilar S. Mabaquiao SAN JOSE, Antique, March 9 (PIA6) - - The Antique Parole and Probation Office is upbeat over this year’s implementation of the Harmonized Rehabilitation Program.

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amoncito Canja, Chief Probation and Parole Officer, said they have about 110 probationers, parolees and pardonees under their care and supervision. ―We are optimistic of their responses to different treatment modalities so that they could go back to their communities and live a normal life once their sentence is served,‖ said Canja.

For the interventions to be successful, Canja said, support of the family and community are vital so that the offenders could back to their normal life.

Likewise, the restoration of relationship

among offenders, victims and community is essential, he said.

For the province of Antique, PPO banked on the assistance of other government agencies and private organizations to help the offenders learn more skills and knowledge of government program or other projects from the private sector beneficial to them. ―We are committed to help the probationers, parolees and pardonees to reform their behaviors that will prevent them from committing another offense,‖ he said.

Every month the offenders are expected to report to their designated venue. For those

from northern Antique, they have to report in Culasi, while those in central part have to go to Patnongon and San Jose for those in southern towns.

Different topics are discussed during meetings, Canja said. It could be an orientation of government programs, skills training, sports activity or family counselling, with the ultimate goal of preparing the offender ready to get back to the community where she/he belongs.

However, for the rehabilitation program to be successful there must be reconciliation and healing among the offenders, the victims and the community. (JCM/PSM-PIA6 Antique)

Health officials warn vs. summer ailments Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 13 (PIA6) – Health officials reiterated their call for the public to take precautions against common ailments during summer.

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nformation Officers Joeffry Espiritu and Ayr Altavas of the Department of Health and Provincial Health Office, respectively, called Capiceños anew to be vigilant against many diseases and ailments that are associated with the warm temperature.

Espiritu said that the warm temperature especially this summer which can already be felt now can trigger hypertension and other heart-related diseases.

Aside from the cardio-related diseases, the warm temperature also results in respiratory problems, skin diseases and other

infectious ailments, he said.

A study from the Department of Health shows that each year, 170,000 Filipinos die from cardiovascular diseases, up from 85,000 of more than 20 years ago.

On the other hand, Altavas said that sore eyes, sun burn, rabies infection, heat stroke and skin diseases are common during summer.

He also said that the public must be watchful about their food intake as diarrhea and food poisoning are also very common.

Altavas likewise stressed that other

common ailments during warm temperature are the usual colds, cough and fever.

They advised the public to take more fluids, do regular exercise and take enough rest. ―The increase in water and fruit intake will prevent us from restlessness and dehydration,‖ they emphasized.

They likewise warn them not to expose to sunlight from 10 o’clock in the morning until 3 in the afternoon as this is the period wherein warm temperature is very prevalent.

(JSC/JBG-PIA6)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Outstanding Ilonggo students get awards Lilibeth A. French ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PIA6) - - Ten students from public schools and ten from private schools comprised the twenty outstanding students of Iloilo in the elementary and secondary levels for academic year 2014-2015.

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he twenty pupils and students will join the ranks of 180 outstanding students who have been recognized by the Outstanding Student Circle of Iloilo and the Department of Education-Iloilo since 2006.

They will receive their medals during the awarding ceremony on Friday, March 13 at Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Inc., Gymnasium in Ledesco Village, La Paz. Pupils who successfully hurdled the Search for the Ten Outstanding Elementary School Pupils of Iloilo for AY 2014 – 2015 are: Braña, Arabella Shayne of Children's Integrated School of Alta Tierra, Inc.; Insigne, Ewemiz of SPED - Integrated School for Exceptional Children; Dequilla, Raphael Francis of St. Joseph School (Iloilo), Inc.; Peñaflorida, Ma. Abby Genevie of

Ateneo De Iloilo; Engallado, Frelean Faith of Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo; Tabares, Shannalie of Cabatuan Central Elementary School; Dolendo, Joelian Marie of Iloilo Scholastic Academy; Andresio, John Mark of Sta. Barbara Central Elementary School; Valderrama, Matthew of PAREF Westbridge School, Inc.; and Aguila, Raniella Louise of Cabatuan Parochial School.

The Ten Outstanding Secondary School Students of Iloilo are: Galvan, Ramon III of Hua Siong College of Iloilo; Sibug, Antonio of Iloilo City National High School; Recabar, James Matthew of St. Joseph School (Iloilo), Inc; Castañeda, Ramon David of SPED - Integrated School for Exceptional Children; Silvederio, Julienne Marie of Oton National High School;

Biso, Cedric Fritz of Central Philippine University; Lao, Nicole Casey of Iloilo Scholastic Academy; Gallaza, Andrea Louise of University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo; Labasan, Cherry Lane of Leonora S. Salapantan National High School, San Miguel, Iloilo; and Ruel, Philipp Centenni of Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School. Brana and Galvan who topped their categories and named as Most Outstanding Pupil and Student respectively were tasked to deliver messages during the awarding ceremony. A total of 56 students, 28 from each category qualified for the written examination and later trimmed down to 15 from each category for the panel interview which was held on February 11, 2015. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

Amendments to low electricity program benefit more homes Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, March 13 (PIA6)—The Low Electricity Load Program of Iloilo City is seen to cover more homes as the local government seeks amendments to its Memorandum of Agreement with the Panay Electric Company (PECO).

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ngr. Randy Pastolero, PECO’s vice president for operations, said that the company is amenable to the amendments as it is the city government that sets the standards for homes included in the coverage.

Pastolero said there are no problems as to houses to be covered as long as the beneficiary homes are safe and approved by the Bureau of Fire Protection. The low load program benefits mostly the informal settlers who were moved to relocation sites under the

city government’s relocation project.

The program exempts beneficiaries from certain requisites imposed by PECO on regular consumers.

The amendments to the MOA include accommodation of two-storey houses, each with floor area of no more than 60 square meters and are exclusively located in relocation sites, Gawad Kalinga sites and other projects identified by the mayor. Pastolero said that the maximum power assignment under the low load program is 1,000 watts.

―But we are actually installing a 30-ampere meter which can provide almost 6,000 watts,‖ Pastolero added.

He also said that the beneficiaries under the low load program have the privilege of not paying the meter deposit but they are required to pay a bill deposit of P1,639 to cover one or two months in advance.

They also need not pay the fire safety inspection of the BFP as this is already part of the installation and maintenance work of the PECO. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

DOH invites Aklan towns to mass blood donations

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, March 10 (PIA6) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 is inviting municipalities in Aklan to join the Blood Olympics, a competition among local government units (LGUs) in the region which calls for the conduct of Mass Blood Donation (MBD) activities participated in by constituents.

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OH 6 Regional Director Marilyn Convocar said this project has a time-table from February 1, 2015 to October 31, 2015. In her letter to Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores enjoining all municipal mayors to participate in the competition, Convocar said the blood program is now included in the LGU scorecard with an indicator of 1% of the total population blood collection for the year. ―The National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the DOH Regional Office VI aims to achieve its vision and mission by giving the highest priority to the health of voluntary non-remunerated blood donors, patients, laboratory personnel and the community; achieving voluntary blood donation‖, Convocar said in her letter to Governor Miraflores. She added the program also aims to ensure safe, reliable and

cost-effective processing of blood and reducing maternal mortality due to blood loss.

The Blood Olympics must adhere to the following mechanics: MBD must be initiated by the LGU; tie-up with a Non-Government Organization (NGO) is allowed; information as to the date, venue and time of MBD must be relayed to the Provincial Blood Program Coordinator; snacks must be provided to blood donors; and disqualified donors and unsuccessful collection are not included in the total collection.

The total collection after every MBD must also be endorsed to the Provincial Corrdinator and the top 3 LGUs per province will be awarded based on percentage collection as to total population. The DOH RO VI will then conduct a province-wide caravan and awarding ceremony in November 2015 at the Provincial Capitol, Convocar said.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting here of the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council (ABCC) at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Provincial Health Officer I revealed that that last year’s blood collection through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and other organizations only reached 0.8%, short of the 1% mandated to match the province’ total population, as blood collected only reached 4,450 units with the population listed at 574,846.

This year, the province aims to collect more blood, with blood donation activities set on April 15 by the Philippine Red Cross, April 27 by the DOH with venue at the ABL Sports Complex in Kalibo, and May 10 in Malay, Aklan.

Dr. Cuachon said government employees are being encouraged to donate blood because they will be able to enjoy a leave of three (3) days. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

First Multi-Sectoral Forum on West Philippine Sea held in Cebu Ferliza Calizar-Contratista CEBU CITY, March 10 (PIA)--- Cebu hosted the first ever multi-sectoral forum on the West Philippine Sea, which is the first in an information drive series to be held in regions nationwide.

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ore than a hundred representatives from various sectors attended the forum jointly conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the Central Command, Camp Lapulapu here.

The objective of the activity is to raise awareness among citizens on the issue on West Philippine Sea and to get the people's support o the policies and actions of the Philippine government to address the issues in South China Sea. Lt. Gen Nicanor Vivar, commanding general of Armed Forces of the Philippines-Centcom, said there is tension in the West Philippine Sea which the Filipinos need to be aware of. ―It is no longer a domestic problem but it has become a global problem. We have to know the historical facts and also our historical rights,‖ Vivar said in his welcome message.

The 3,500-square kilometer area west of the Philippines was then called South China Sea until the issuance of Administrative Order 29 in 2012 officially renaming it as West Philippine Sea. DFA Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, gave a presentation explaining the historical background of the tension at the West

Philippine Sea. ―We have to raise awareness and gain support of the people on the current moves of the government in addressing the problem,‖ Jose said.

Jose cited two underlying reasons on the need for public awareness, China’s claim over the territory and its aggressive behavior.

He said China and the rest of the claimants used to "co-exist quietly" until 2009 when China submitted a map showing a nine-dash line which had enclosed the territories in the entire South China Sea. ―China’s claim has been excessive, expansive and no basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),‖ Jose said.

They had recorded several instances of aggression which include establishment of Sensha City, a sign of administering powers over the entire region and the barring of logistics to soldiers guarding the Scarborough Shoal.

Jose said the Philippines is now waiting for the result of an arbitration filed at the United Nations.

Reportedly there are 5 million Filipinos making a living from the sea waters in the areas

and the Philippines has the richest biodiversity.

PIA Regional Director Minerva Newman challenged the participants to share the key message starting with their relatives and then the people in their community. ―The key message is that the Philippine Government and the Filipino people are determined to defend what is legally ours,‖ Newman said.

The knowledge gained from the activity should be shared in order to show support to what the government has been doing. ―We equip ourselves with knowledge, necessary information, the beauty, value of the West Philippine Sea and we can actually start from where we are sitting now,‖ Newman said.

After the presentation, some identified participants also underwent focused group discussions.

These include people from the academe particularly the communication group in University of San Jose Recoletos, University of San Carlos and University of the Philippines.

There were also representatives from local government units and national government agencies. (rmn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)

DOH-7 undertakes massive campaign against rabies Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, March 8 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH) 7 is on a massive campaign against rabies especially in line with the observation of "Rabies Awareness Month" this March.

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ssistant Regional Rabies Program Coordinator Jeffrey Doyongan of DOH said during the recent Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7 Forum, the celebration’s ultimate goal is to have a rabies-free Philippines by the year 2020.

The celebration aims to increase public awareness on the risks of rabies and the importance of having dogs and cats vaccinated regularly against this fatal disease, continued Doyongan.

He is also encouraging the public to let their

pet dogs registered and have it properly vaccinated annually at the veterinary centers to protect against rabies.

Based on the records of DOH-7, the number of animal bite victims is increasing every year since 2010 and the number of human deaths is decreasing.

It showed that in 2010 there were 26, 298 cases of animal bite victims; 28,964 in 2011; 34,678 cases in 2012; 50,755 cases in 2013; and 59, 816 cases in 2014.

With regards to rabies deaths since 2008, 14 were recorded; for 2009 is 12 ; 2010 is

13; 10 for 2011; 7 for 2012, 4 for 2013; and 3 for 2014.

Doyongan said that 85 percent of rabies came from dogs, 10 percent from cats and 5 percent from other animals.

Rabies is 100% case fatality rate both in animals and humans.

For those bitten by dogs, they are advised to go immediately to the animal bite centers (ABC) to be treated right away.

The theme for this year’s celebration is ―Bakun adon g Pu sa’t Aso sa Rabies Protektado.‖ (rmn/HFG/PIA-7/AGIO-7)

FIDA expands abaca farming for global competitiveness JENNIFER C. TILOS DUMAGUETE CITY, March 10 (PIA) --- The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA)-Negros Oriental is targeting to expand abaca farming to 100 hectares this year.

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ith the existing 2,800 hectares planted with abaca in the province, over P20 million have been sold to manufacturers or exporters last year, said Provincial Fiber Officer Nena Locsin of FIDA. Locsin said the province shipped out 4,000 metric tons of high grade and loose abaca fiber to various firms in Mindanao and Luzon.

She said some 3,500 meters of sinamay were sold for P125 per meter to Malolos, Bulacan suppliers and exporters on sinamay packagings, abaca bags, handcrafted among others.

With a huge demand of abaca after super

typhoon Yolanda damaged abaca plantations in Leyte-Samar, FIDA intends to increase three percent production this year in the province.

To facilitate fast production of abaca, the FIDA will provide 100 units of stripping device to identified abaca farmer-associations in the municipalities of Sibulan, Sta. Catalina, Ayungon, and Tayasan.

The spindle stripping machine is for the extraction of abaca fiber effectively and that farmers will no longer strips the abaca manually, said Locsin.

With this technology, FIDA official said the machine would help some 3,200 abaca farmers to boost production in the province.

She also encouraged famers to plant more abaca while the FIDA is stepping up its training program for the farmers to globally competitive.

Abaca is considered the strongest of natural fibers, three times stronger than cotton. It is also used as a major component for food packaging as in tea bags and meat casings, filter papers and cigarettes papers. (rmn/JCT/ PIA7-Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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TESDA’s ISO assures high quality training for its grads Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 6 (PIA)—If not for its excellent skills trainings, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) heavy equipment operation graduates would need five more years of on-the-job equipment hands-on before they can even get to operate heavy equipment.

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wing to an excellent track record in equipment operation technical skills however, graduates can use their national certifications plus bank on the International Standards Organization (ISO) certification to cruise through supposedly a very long on the job training.

This also means that with the ISO rating, all trainings and processes which the agency undertakes is so much so the same that they produce the same skilled graduate, be they in heavy equipment operation, or any national certification course that could get one into the working system.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva, who was in Bohol March 3 to 4 and who met local members of the press at the People’s Mansion, bared this development as TESDA was to present 1,468 technical vocational (techvoc)

graduates their certifications in fitting rites at the Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Bilar town.

Awarded ISO Certificate 9001, TESDA, as an organization implemented quality management system requirements for all areas of the business, including facilities, people, training, services and equipment, which provides improved quality and service, on time delivery, right first time attitude, fewer returned products and complaints as well as commitment to quality.

As the ISO applies to all TESDA processes, its skills certifications carry with it that same brand of excellence it is applying for trainees in urban centers or in rural areas, which is set to produce the same desired results, ISO certification experts explained.

The ISO certification is also important in as much as, while other techvoc training organizations would have to let their graduates

undergo on the job internships with lesser pay, TESDA graduates, at least of heavy equipment operations are readily accepted, bared Sec Villanueva during a press conference.

For this, a heavy equipment company, according to the secretary, has waived the mandatory five years of hands-on training because of TESDA graduate’s assured skill.

This edge, Villanueva pointed out, can be a big plus factor for salary increases, promotions and job perks assessment. The secretary, who has a long running friendship history with Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto said TESDA the second and is yet the only education and training government agency which has capped the international certification. He also noted that the Department of Health is the first government agency that has attained the international standards award. (rmn/RAC/PIABohol)

Dumaguete City sets up P1.5M Material Recovery Facility JENNIFER C. TILOS DUMAGUETE CITY, March 5 (PIA) --- Dumaguete City has established a P1.5 million central materials recovery facility (MRF) to eliminate tons of garbage from Dumaguete dumpsite which include the implementation of the Reuse, Recycle Reduce program.

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nvironment and Natural Resource Office Head Rey Awayan has encouraged barangays to build their own respective MRFs in order to help the city government address the perennial garbage problem.

Awayan said the barangays may avail of the P300,000 from the city government for the building of their own MRFs. Barangay Junob is the first barangay that has already established a Barangay Solid Waste Management to cater their constituent on the collection as well as segregation at source.

Awayan said Junob has gained income by selling the garbage from their MRF. With this, the barangays to follow which has

already requested funds from this year’s budget for the setting up of their own MRF include Bajumpandan, Daro, Bantayan, Piapi, Pulantubig, Mangnao , Batinguel, Calindagan, Cadawinonan, Bagacay and Cantil-e.

Furthermore, after spraying the biological enzymes at the Dumaguete City dumpsite to fast track the decomposition and eliminate the bad odor from the old garbage, Mayor Manuel Sabarbarria plans to develop a portion of the Dumaguete Dumpsite into an Ecological Park in six months time.

Awayan said, by developing a portion of the dumpsite into an Eco Park, he hopes to remove the perception of the public with regards to the

dumpsite which emits bad odor and is dirty. He added that they will be putting benches and lights so people can relax.

Mayor Sagarbarria has instructed the City Engineer’s office to push the garbage upwards to give space for the said Eco Park along the baseline of the dumpsite. The CEO will also construct an Organic Fertilizer Factory which will come from the organic material extracted from the dumpsite.

The mayor added that the fertilizer will be given to the farmers’ association of the city.

ENRO office also established partnership with DENR in helping the needs of the city to all environmental concern particularly Solid Waste Management. (rmn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

DSWD-7 releases shelter aid to Cebu LGUs Juju M. Empuerto CEBU CITY, March 9 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released recently over P211 million worth of shelter assistance to Medellin town through Municipal Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, according to DSWD-7 Regional Information Officer Leah Quintana.

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uintana said that DSWD-7 Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat handed over the check amounting to P211,580,000 to Mayor Ramirez in a simple turn over ceremony at DSWD Field Office VII. Said amount will benefit 5,333 families whose houses were partially damaged and 5,275 families whose houses were totally damaged by Typhoon Yolanda.

Director Jabagat clarified that the list of beneficiaries emanated from the local government units and signed by the respective mayors.

"Our office did not do the listing of ESA beneficiaries,‖ she said.

She added that the Disaster Assistance and Family Access Card (DAFAC) is not the assistance that the victims will receive.

Jabagat said DAFAC is a card issued by the LGU to victims of disaster indicating the general

information of the family head and its members and the assistance provided to/received by the family from various providers.

DSWD has been implementing Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for the past years and provided P10,000 for houses that were totally damaged and P5,000 for houses that were partially damaged and those who can avail are families with income of P10,000 and below.

DSWD came up with guidelines solely for the implementation of Yolanda ESA on November 21, 2014 because of the magnitude of the damage caused by typhoon Yolanda.

In the new guidelines, the amount of assistance is increased from P10,000 to P30,000 for totally damaged house and from P5,000 to P10,000 for partially damaged house.

Also, families with an income of 15,000 and

below will receive the assistance.

According to Jabagat, the Yolanda ESA guidelines ensure that only those who are most in need and have no immediate resources to rebuild their homes are given the assistance.

Jabagat said beneficiaries of the ESA under the guidelines are families who have no permanent source of income or whose income is below the poverty threshold of the region; those whose houses were either partially or totally damaged and who have not received a similar assi st an ce f rom ot her agen ci es or non-government institutions.

Moreover, regular employees of government and private corporations with salary below P15,000 are also eligible as long as they are included in the master list of DSWD-Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC). (rmn/ jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DSWD7)

EASTERN VISAYAS

6 PRC, ICRC assistance

provide

825

core

shelter

Jonnie H. Buenaventura TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 10 (PIA) - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) provided 825 units of core shelter assistance to Balangiga and Lawaan, both in Eastern Samar.

P

RC Chairman Richard J. Gordon personally went to Balangiga E. Samar to talk with the beneficiaries of the core shelter assistance to ensure that the right recipient who belong to the poorest of the poor should be the one given the assistance.

Chairman Gordon said that of the 825 core shelter assistance for Eastern Samar, Balangiga got 752 completed shelters ready for occupancy distributed in Brgy. 1 Poblacion which got 144; Brgy. II Poblacio, 14; Brgy. III Poblacion, 64; San Miguel, 204; Cansumangkay, 120; Sta. Rosa, 168 and Cag-olango, 38; while Lawaan town got 73 completed core shelters where Guinob-an got 65 and San Isidro got 8.

In his message, Chairman Gordon emphasized that the recipient should do something in their life. If they want to succeed, they should employ hard work and

perseverance to achieve the desired result.

Gordon paid respect to the typhoon ―Yolanda‖ survivors for not giving up despite challenges they are facing which is a sign that someday they will rise and be future leaders who will guide other people in raising the level of performance.

Chairman Gordon shared that he remembered many years ago when he was still practicing his profession as a lawyer when Procter and Gamble, maker of Safeguard, gave him P11 million pesos for his professional pay, the check wrote ―pay to the order of Richard J. Gordon‖.

He declined to receive such huge amount but instead instructed Procter and Gamble to change the check ―payable to the order of Philippine Red Cross‖, he said.

He said his passion for volunteerism was the reason why for 47 years he is still with the

Philippine Red Cross to go around the country to provide assistance to the most neglected and vulnerable sectors.

Meanwhile, Claire Ogario, 30 years of age, married from Brgy. 1 Poblacion, Balngiga E. Samar and one of the beneficiaries of the core shelter assistance, thanked the PRC, ICRC and other volunteers and donors for the core shelter assistance given to her.

Ogario said she was informed that she needed to own a lot to qualify to be given assistance. She was fortunate that Marietta Abong sold to her a lot of 100 square meters for a reasonable price of P55,000.00.

She never expected that someday she will own a lot and have a house of her own but God is good.

Ogario remarked that when "God closes one window, he will open another which is better from the former." (ajc/jhb/PIA-8)

Solar lights to brighten roads in Hernani SAMUEL CANDIDO BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, March 5 (PIA) - Four poblacion barangays in the municipality of Hernani, Eastern Samar will be setting up 22 Solar Street Lights that will brighten more or less one kilometer stretch of barangay road in Brgy.01, 02, 03 and 04.

T

he street-lighting project will benefit 487 households with 646 families in the said barangays which has a total population of 2,343.

The Solar Street Lights were turned over personally by Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso of the Department of Energy last February 23, 2015.

According to Vice-Mayor Wilmar S. Candido, the solar street lights project was

realized through the efforts of the Municipal Council where he is Presiding Officer through a written request and approved resolution that was passed and submitted to the Department of Energy.

Vice-Mayor Candido further said that the total amount of the solar street lights is P500,000.00. ―These solar street lights are a great help to our constituents to brighten our community

and aside from that we can save because we will not pay for the electric consumption‖, Candido said.

Meanwhile, after the turnover of the said solar street lights, the guest lectured on Energy Consumption and Conservation. After the lecture, the guest went to Bangon Falls, 3 kilometers away from the poblacion, to look into its feasibility for a mini-hydro electric power plant. (ajc/sdc/PIA8-ESamar)

Calbayog’s 1st batch of senior HS to graduate this school year Ninfa B. Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY , Samar, March 7 (PIA) – The first batch of the Department of Education Senior High School (SHS) program in Calbayog City will graduate from the senior high of the Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries (RLMSF) this March.

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n an interview over Radyo ng Bayan, Education Program Supervisor Arnold Jaraba, K-12 Focal Person of DepEd Calbayog City Division, said that 22 of the 52 students enrolled in the program in June 2013 will be able to graduate.

He added that four of the graduating students were absorbed by the establishment where they had on the job training.

With a Memorandum of Agreement between DepEd and the NorthWest Samar State University, the graduating students who want to pursue college degree courses will be enrolled as third year irregular students.

Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries is among the public secondary schools in Eastern Visayas identified by DepEd

to pilot test the Senior High School program and offered Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) Track with specialization on food processing, bread and pastry production, and food and beverage.

On the opening of the next school year in June, aside from RLMSF, another two national high schools in the city were identified as early implementers of the program and will offer an Academic Track.

The schools are Calbayog City National High School with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand and the San Policarpio National High School with Humanities, Social Sciences (HUMSS) Strand.

According to Jaraba, said schools will

accept students who do not intend to enrol for college in the next school year.

With the full program implementation, DepEd Calbayog City Division will need 122 more classrooms, seven laboratory rooms, and at least 183 teachers for the implementation of the senior high school program in June 2016, said the DepEd official.

During the regular meeting on the K-12 program at the DepEd central office, it was learned that construction of fifty percent of the needed classrooms will start this summer to be completed in May next year in time for the opening of classes.

Hiring of teachers for the program will also start early next year. (ajc.nbq/PIA 8-Samar with Jennifer Allegado)

EASTERN VISAYAS

7

CSC search for hero public servants on Rodrigo S. Victoria NAVAL, Biliran, March 9 (PIA) – Stop, look and listen around your workplace as to who among your officemates in government service worthy to be nominated to the prestigious search initiated this year by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) dubbed ―Hero ang Public Servant‖.

I

f you think your office’s seatmate, chatmate and friend is worthy of the much coveted award intended for government officials and employees, now is their time to shine and be rewarded for their outstanding work performance.

Under the individual and group categories of the search for Hero ang Public Servant, one can nominate for the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan and the Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award while the exemplary conduct and ethical behavior category is at stake for outstanding public officials and employees or Dangal ng Bayan Award.

Important data to be taken from the nominee would just include one’s significant accomplishments within the last three years;

impacts of accomplishments; and other information like major awards and citations received and membership in organization.

What is more revealing in the search is that a nominee must describe his or her adherence to one or more of the following norms; commitment to public interest, professionalism, justness and sincerity, political neutrality, responsiveness to the public, nationalism and patriotism, commitment to democracy and simple living.

Jason Thaddeus A. Tan, senior personnel specialist of CSC-Biliran field unit, informed that his field office located within the provincial capitol compound in Calumpang,Naval, Biliran, set the deadline here in Biliran province for the submission of the nomination form in his office

on any of the awards on or before March 20, 2015.

The awarding, which is one of the highlights of the Civil Service Commission anniversary, will be probably held in September or October this year,Tan added.

Interested government officials and employees here in Biliran province have still the luxury of time scribing all the previous activities undertaken which make a difference and impact on the lives of the people in the community, in the nomination form which can be obtained from the CSC website.

For more information regarding the CSC awards, interested individuals may call CSC-Biliran through land line number 500-9220. (fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

Women organizations get Borongan City livelihood aid MEDORA QUIRANTE BORONGAN CITY. Eastern Samar, March 9 (PIA)—Eight women organizations in Borongan City received livelihood assistance in the form of cash grants from the local government of the City of Borongan as the latter’s way of further empowering women.

M

ayor Maria Fe R. Abunda led the distribution during the city’s celebration of International Women’s Day which commenced with a unity walk a little after sunrise on March 9, 2015.

According to Abunda, the organizations were asked to submit project proposals to the local government along with other documentary requirements and as of this writing, only eight were able to satisfy the requirements set. ―These chosen beneficiaries complied with the requirements and were personally validated by Hon. Jennifer Anacio,‖ Abunda

said.

As per report from the office of Anacio, city councilor and head committee on family, women and children, out of the 61 barangays in the city, 52 have already established a women’s organization.

The women’s organization in Barangay A received P40,000 in cash grant to help put up a bakery while the organization in Brgy.

Hindang aim to generate livelihood off of a satellite ―talipapa‖ with their P40,000 cash grant.

In upland Brgy. San Jose, the women’s organization will use the P20,000 cash grant to

put up a ―Bigasan ng Bayan.‖ Brgy. Campesao and Brgy. Tamoso women’s organization plan to focus on food processing and produce tocino, longganisa and the like.

For the organization in Brgy. Alang-alang, the same barangay where the provincial capitol is located, they plan to put up an ―Snackan ng Bayan.‖ The lady mayor noted that for the women’s organizations Brgy. Taboc and B, who already produced peanut butter and piñato respectively, they may use the funds to expand their production. (PIA E Samar)

KALAHI gives jobs to 260 SoLeytenos Marcelo M. Pedalino KUTING BEACH, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, March 7 (PIA) -- Some 260 individuals were hired based on their qualifications when the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive, Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP) came over to this province starting in September 2014.

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n a mini-press conference held in this high-end resort last month, Eubolo Co, Regional Project Manager of the enhanced anti-poverty program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the hiring will continue to maintain a pool of qualified personnel to offset sudden vacancies.

The turn-over of old and new recruits usually happened when field coordinators, who are mostly college degree graduates waiting for results of their applications in their chosen careers like teachers or engineers, were called to assume the permanent posts, hence the need for a steady pool of ready applicants, Co explained.

As the presscon was in progress, hired teams of KALAHI -CIDSS-NCDDP

coordinators underwent training by batches in this posh location for two months, February to March.

Their areas of coverage included the whole of Southern Leyte province -- except Maasin City and Malitbog town for now -- and some municipalities in Leyte province, like Hilongos and Bato, Co said, noting that all around Region 8 a simultaneous training is ongoing in selected places.

KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP is basically a community empowermen t init iat ive undertaken in four cycles whose period of implementation will end in the year 2020, until then it is expected that all cycles shall have been completed, said Co. Trained coordinators will go out to the barangay level, talk to barangay officials and residents, discuss what

their priority needs are -- mostly water, multi -purpose buildings, access roads, etc. -- and help prepare project proposals for submission and funding considerations.

Once approved, financing will go directly to the beneficiary barangay concerned, the project implementation closely monitored by the coordinator in-charge, said Co, whose counterpart in the province is Ms Thema Montejo, with office at main SLEM building in Maasin City.

Asked if the scaled KALAHI program will not duplicate other community-based development initiatives such as the bottoms-up budgeting (BUB), Co assured there will be no duplication, instead they will complement each other to avoid overlapping. (ajc/esg/mmp/PIA8 -Southern Leyte)

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. 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. Baùares Lynnor C. Regalado Regional Offices: PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com PIA 8, Children’s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com