One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 6 Issue 5

Vol 6

Issue 5

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

USAID Be Secure Project Climate Resiliency Team Leader Ms. Elisea G Gozun tells participants on what can be done to reduce the impacts of El Niño during a forum held in Iloilo City, January 29, 2016. (PIA 6)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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February 1 - 7, 2016

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Five Siquijor homestays grab ASEAN awards Rizalie Anding Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb. 2 (PIA) – A great boost to this island‘s tourism, Siquijor is the only tourist destination in the Philippines awarded the ASEAN Standard Homestay Award during the 35th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2016) in Manila held January 22.

Five homestays from this island, namely Agan‘s Homestay, Ates Homestay, Estelita Homestay, Xylla‘s Homestay, and Daval / Omandam Homestay, received the coveted award during the ATF 2016 attended by Tourism ministers of Asian countries and their delegates. ―Siquijor is the only destination awarded with such reputable distinction for homestay Philippines,‖ said Siquijor Senior Tourism Officer Jossette Almirola as she thanked the Department of Tourism (DOT) for pushing Siquijor to qualify for the award.

She vowed to strive harder to improve the island‘s homestays and encourage more homeowners to join the program especially since Siquijor's tourist arrivals increased by 51.21% for 2014 to 2015.

Recognizing the provincial government‘s efforts, she hopes that it continues to support the tourism programs and activities.

The first ASEAN Homestay Award ceremony was convened to provide opportunity to promote ASEAN Homestay and understanding of the basic requirements of a quality visitor experience, and to establish a minimum standard

across all ASEAN member states, said the provincial tourism officer.

In this ceremony, the ministers awarded 31 ASEAN Hom estay Stan dard C ertificates to h om estay organizations and providers that will enhance local quality local quality of life to generate income, support local culture, arts and crafts business, encourage restoration of local and historic sites, and foster nature conservation efforts through community education.

Homestays are awarded in all ASEAN-member nations, but for the Philippines, only Siquijor homestays were conferred with the award, Almirola disclosed.

The other awardees come from Brunei (2), Cambodia (5), Indonesia (5), Lao PDR (1), Malaysia (5), Thailand (5), and Vietnam (3).

The proposed validity period for the ASEAN Homestay Standard is three years. Certified homestays will be reassessed every three years to renew their certificates.

With the theme, ―One Community for Sustainability,‖ ATF 2016 was attended by 457 buyers and 1,000 exhibitors with 467 booths as well as 83 international and 100 local media.

The ministers noted that ATF 2017 will be convened on January 16 to 20 in Singapore with the theme: ―Shaping Our Touism Journey Together‖. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from the Provincial Tourism Office)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

ADB lauds govt success in KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP

The first and so far the last Zika virus case recorded in Region 7 was a 15-year old boy back in 2012, according to DOH-7 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Sophia Mancao during the Kapihan sa PIA. World Health Organization has declared Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern, and Health Sec. Janette Garin said the government remains vigilant against the disease. Health officials assured that as of today, the country remains free from Zika virus.

(Rmn)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb. 3 (PIA) –The Asian Development Bank (ADB), a multi institution and a strong partner in the development of the country, has lauded the government and other stakeholders in the success of the implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region.

In his recent visit in the city, ADB Country Director Richard Bolt spoke positively of the efforts made by the government and the beneficiaries themselves while everyone worked hard to improve the lives of the communities with the support of the ADB. Director Bolt witnessed the ―Bayani Ka" Awarding Ceremony conducted by DSWD where 14 individuals and local government officials devoted their time, skills, talents and resources to the implementation of the program without being paid. ―Giving of awards such as this not only recognizes the achievement and outstanding commitment of the awardees but

also serves as a venue to share their success stories and be able to inspire others to join the community of advocates working for the benefit of society,‖ Bolt said.

Presently, aside from financing the KALAHI-CIDSS -NCDDP and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, ADB sup ports largely th e h ealth , education, livelihood, employment and infrastructure in the region like the Palo-Ormoc road project and the Palo-Tanauan -Tolosa road.

ADB‘s support to Kalahi-CIDSS-NCDDP in Yolanda hit areas amounted to 372 million dollars.

In 2013, KALAHI-CIDSS covered only 42 provinces representing the country‘s poorest provinces but with its expansion, it now covers 900 municipalities in 63 provinces.

He also acknowledged the sincerity of those who worked hard to make KALAHI-CIDSS it is today as it is continuously touching the lives of many people.

He particularly mentioned Secretary Corazon ―Dinky‖ Soliman, DSWD OIC regional director Restituto Macuto, the KALAHI management team and the awardees. (ajc/PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Major General Jet Velarmino, Commander, 8ID led the ceremonial entrustment of firearms REMINGTON CAL. 233-5.56MM (R4) to the 8ID Troops, especially to the 20IB command & personnel @ Camp Vicente Lukban, Brgy. Maulong, Catbalogan City February 3, 2016 (pics by JunArce)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Farmers meet the challenge of ASEAN Integration

By Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA6)—Farmers in Iloilo are keeping up with the challenges of the deluge of agricultural imports, once the ASEAN Integration impacts on the country.

The imports can compete with the local produce and farmers should also be competitive, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Edilberto de Luna said during a visit here. ―We should make our rice production competitive‖ de Luna told the farmers in one of the areas he visited.

It was learned that the quarantine restrictions on imported agricultural products ends by 2017, which means, according to the National food Authority, that products from other ASEAN coun tries can com e in unregu lated/ ―With high quality inbred and hybrid varieties, the farmers‘ production can improve a lot,‖ de Luna said.

He added that the use of high-yielding varieties, with proper cultural management practices, government‘s irrigation programs, mechanization, post harvest facilities, research and development advocacies, farmers can produce competitively well.

The country‘s palay production continued to increase with 19 million metric tons in 2014, the highest in the history of palay production in the country.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country produced about 18.2 million metric tons of rice last year, despite the onslaught of El Niño.

Iloilo is among the top rice producing provinces in the country, a rice self-sufficient province, supplying the needs of rice deficient provinces. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Mechanization is one of the strategies that farmers in Iloilo are adopting as part of government efforts to help them become competitive in an integrated ASEAN market. (PIA6)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

Gov’t. provides assistance to former rebels

By Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 1 (PIA6) – The government has released P1.3 million in livelihood assistance to 20 former rebels in Capiz last year. n d e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t ‘ s country. pursuing peace and development amid the Comprehensive Local Integration The assistance aims to aid the former stalled peace talks with the National Program (CLIP), the 20 former rebels rebels in their transition back to mainstream Democratic Front of the Philippines. here have already started their lives anew after society.

The Philippine Army vows to they ended their armed struggle and decided to Capiz Governor Victor Tanco with continue its effort to attain lasting peace. go back to the fold of the law and embrace a representatives from the Armed Forces of the Major Ray Tiongson, Public Affairs Office new life.

Philippines and DILG handed over the said head of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Of the 20 rebels of whom 14 are male check.

Army said that with the leadership of 3ID and six are female, 16 former rebels are from In April, eight former rebels also each Commander Brig. General Harold Cabreros, Tapaz, three from Jamindan and one from received the same assistance from the they are committed to work together to Maayon town. government. secure and advance the gains of peace and In December last year, 12 former rebels The CLIP implementation is in security in the countryside. each received a P65,000 livelihood assistance partnership with the local government units, This, he said, is possible through the under the government‘s Comprehensive Local AFP, Philippine National Police, Department concerted effort of the government Integration Program (CLIP) which is spearhead- of Social Welfare and Development and civil troops, including those from the Philippine ed by the DILG as part of the government's society organizations that demonstrates the National Police and other stakeholders. (JCM/ peace and development efforts across the Aquino administration's commitment to JBG/PIA6)

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LGUs urged to harvest and store rainwater

By Elsa Subong ILOILO CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA6) — Rain water harvesting and storing has a return on investments for local government units.

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peaking at a press conference lately, Elisea Gozun of the USAID Be Secure Project, and Jessica Salas, representing the Iloilo Province El Niño Task Force said rainwater harvesting is an important component of the Integrated Resource Management program of every LGU. ―There is a national law enacted in 1989 yet, requiring all barangays to adopt a rainwater catchment and harvesting facility.‖ Gozun said when asked about the critical role of LGUs on water management.

She added that this strategy can help mitigate the impact of dry spell.

On the other hand, Jessica Salas, who has served as president of an internation watershed coalition, said the Iloilo province has a program promoting rainwater harvesting and

it implementation in some parts of the province can already showcase best practices.

To date, Salas said, these catchments and harvesting facilities have already generated 17 million cubic millimetres rainwater harvesting capacity for farmers.

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater and for reuse onsite, rather than just allowing it as runoff.

Gozun said the practice of rainwater harvesting is not capital intensive, as rainwater can be collected from rivers or roofs, and may be redirected to a deep pit like borehole or well, or in a farm reservoir with percolation. ―LGUs take for granted the provisions of the law, and consider rainwater harvesting a

low priority,‖ Guzon said, adding that she wished some legislators would pick up the issue and revisit the law. ―Many times, we look at much rains as a problem, not as a resource that we should manage,‖ Gozun, a former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, said. ―That is why we need the media to help us reach out, spread the word about water resource management, and not just about the El Niño but also climate change,‖ she added.

Gozun and Salas were among the resource persons during the El Niño and Climate Change forum, organized by the Be Secure Project of the United States Agency for International Development, held here, January 29-30. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Guv's SOPA bats for more tourists' facilities

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Feb. 4 (PIA6) -- Aklan governor Florencio T. Miraflores spelled out plans to further enhance the province’s tourism industry and to provide convenience to tourists in his latest State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered recently before a packed audience at the Session Hall of the Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here.

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he governor bared the plans as well as the on-going development activities in citing the gains of the province‘ tourism programs in 2015 which realized the arrival of more than 1.5 million tourists and generated P43.9 billion in tourism receipts.

Some of the projects were started in 2015, like the added facilities in Caticlan Jettyport such as the fast CAT RORO steel ramp and full track scale for outbound RORO vehicles.

Necessary repairs and rehabilitation of facilities like the access roads and passageways,

canopies, comfort rooms and building were also made.

For Cagban, the governor said the improvement of the terminal building such as the installation of exterior ceilings, glass enclosures, CCTV, and steel ladder for pumpboats are being speeded up.

The construction of a holding area and reinforced concrete pier is also on-going.

The reclamation of the 2.64 hectares MARINA project in Caticlan is also ongoing. ―If our tourists can spend hard-earned money for that experience of a lifetime in our

province or for availing our facilities for personal or or business purposes, we should never cease in improving the provision of quality service,‖ the governor said.

In Aklan, Boracay remains to be a preferred choice of destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

It has also maintained its status as a cruise haven with 9 cruise ship visits last year, while this January 2016 alone, 3 cruise ships visited the island for three succeeding days, bringing in thousands of foreign tourists from Europe and other countries. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Bacolod RTC judges dispose more cases in 2015 Carlson B. Alelis BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 1 (PIA6) – A total of 2,338 cases was disposed of by the 13 Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges in Bacolod City in 2015, data from the RTC showed.

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he thirteen RTC Judges were assigned to 14 branches and they disposed of 291 more cases in 2015 compared to the previous year, a release from RTC-Bacolod said.

By the end of last year, RTC Bacolod had 5,961 pending cases, which is 471 more cases

than the year 2014.

Judge Raymond Joseph Javier had the highest cumulative number of cases disposed of at 516, while Judge Rosario Ester Caise topped the disposals for a court branch at 293 cases.

Javier presides over Branches 52 and 45, while Caise presides over Branch 48.

Of the pending cases in the RTC-Bacolod, 1,100 are family-court cases and more than 1,500 are dangerous drugs-related offenses.

There are 426 pending cases per branch, on the average. (JCM/CBA/PIA6/RTC6-Negros Occidental)

National Reintegration Program hires former OFWs

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao SAN JOSE, Antique, Feb. 3 (PIA6) - - Three (3) Antiquena Household Service Workers in Hongkong were hired as teachers in their local communities here under the National Reintegration Program (NRP) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

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anelyn A. Manzanilla of Barbaza National High School Barbaza, Antique , Belle M. Rubido of Sta. Justa National School and Rochelle Balena of Bandoja Primary School in Tibiao are former Household Service workers in Hongkong and hired as teachers by the Department of Education through the NRP for OFW of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Regional Reintegration Officer Bernard Sibay of the National Reintegration Center for OFWs during the turnover ceremony of the Teaching Kit to the teacher beneficiaries on Tuesday at the Youth and Migrant Center, New Capitol said the program hopes to provide OFWs who are skilled or household service workers to practice their profession in the Philippines as long as they are passers of Board Exams.

To help them in their daily classroom activities , the teaching kit worth P10,000 consist of a set of lapel microphone and speaker and tablet (computer) was given them.

Manzanilla who has been an OFW for 10 years, speaking in behalf of other beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government for giving them the opportunity to be back with their families plus the employment they have gained in returning home.

While Rubido and Balena have stayed in Hongkong for eight and two years respectively.

They likewise appreciated the way National Reintegration Center (NRC) facilitated their application. ―All we did was to submit our application on line with our credentials as passers of Licensure Examination for Teachers, it was the

NRC who processed our application and referred us to the Department of Education,‖ they said.

It was in the middle of 2015 when the three OFWs decided to return home while their appointment as teachers was approved on December 2015.

Sibay encouraged other OFWs to avail of the reintegration program of the government which started in 2014. They are advised to log on to the website www.dole.gov.ph then proceed to the portal of NRCO. The NRC will evaluate the qualification then it will be referred to appropriate government agency, DepEd in particular to teachers and will be forwarded to the Department of Budget and Management for creation of plantilla position. (JCM/PSM/ PIA6Antique)

Investment in local climate forecasting applications urged

By Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA6) — Climate and weather specialists say that investing in community-based climate forecasting and warning systems will go a long way in keeping their people and resources safe.

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anilo D. Flores, weather specialist of the Hydrology Division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said local government units should implement a community-based flood early warning system. ―The CBFEWS is a localized system to help protect the community from devastating floods, through the ‗bayanihan system‘,‖ Flores said.

The Pagasa will help the communities intending to put up one, through technical assistance in the design of the system, putting up of rain gauges, water level gauges, hydrographic surveys, installation of flood signages.

Community members who will man the system will also be trained.

The CBFEWS can be best sustained through and ordinance that provides funds for the operation.

On the other hand, Iloilo Provincial Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said that LGUs should also invest in putting up a climate forecast application (CFA) like an agromet- station to make farmers to be scientifically-trained to forecast for their own advantage. ―Through the CFA, farmers can learn the trend and amount of rainfall through some periods of time, that can help them in plotting their cropping patterns,‖ Toledo said.

He said that with local science and technology, farmers can become better managers of the farming environment, determine when and what to produce at certain periods and prevent losses.

Flores, on the other hand, said that with the CBFEWS, communities can better protect themselves as disasters know no boundaries.

To date, he said, LGUs in Western Visayas are yet to put up the flood early warning system.

Meanwhile, Toledo said, it is only the town of Dumangas which has an agromet station and it has been operational for the last 10 years. ―With this length of time by now, the station can already yield enough data for us to graph the weather patterns,‖ Toledo said who has trained in many climate forecasting.

Although the equipment is quite costly but it is worth investing by the LGUs. (JCM/ESS/ PIA-Iloilo)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

NegOr has first fully operational cold room facility Jennifer C. Tilos NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Philippines turned over on Feb. 3 a multimillion-peso cold room/vaccine storage facility to the provincial government here.

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he facility keeps supplies of vaccines which include BCG for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, pentavalent vaccine, oral polio vaccine, inactivated polio vaccines, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, measles, mumps, and rubella to help address preventable diseases among children in the province.

Gov. Roel Degamo led the ceremonial inauguration of the facility where he expressed his gratitude to UNICEF for allocating more than P6 million worth of cold room/vaccine storage facility to the province.

Degamo said this project enhances the capability and adequate immunization for the people of Negros Oriental.

According to UNICEF representative and cold chain specialist Bernardo Bersola, the project is the first fully-operational cold room facility in the Philippines. ―There have been 15 recipients of similar facilities in the country but this is the first turnover of its kind,‖ said Bersola.

He added that the cold room is equipped with a generator and special freezers with thick insulators and water lining that can withstand

power failure for about eight-hours ensuring the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

A specified range of temperature from point of manufacture to point of use is critical to the effectiveness of any vaccination program.

The brand new cold room facility can accommodate more vaccines from UNICEF‘s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) that targets Oral Polio, Measles-Rubella and Hepatitis B among others in the province. (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental/with reports from Churchill Guevarra and Nichole Sison)

Illegal adoption is tantamount to trafficking - DSWD Ferliza Calizar-Contratista CEBU CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development has issued a warning that illegal adoption is now tantamount to human trafficking.

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n a recent Kapihan sa PIA Cebu held at Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) Plenary Hall, DSWD-7 officials warned those who want to adopt children that they can be charged for human trafficking should they resort to illegal adoption.

Emma Patalinghug, Protective Unit Services Head of DSWD-7, said they can charge the parent when they give up the child to another, or one claims a child as her or his own without undergoing the legal adoption process. ―Simulation of birth can now be charged under Republic Act 9206 or the Anti Trafficking Act with DSWD or the PNP as the complainant,‖ Patalinghug said.

Simulation of birth is the tampering of the

civil registry making it appear in the birth records that a certain child was born to a person who is not his or her biological mother, causing the child to lose his or her true identity.

Concepcion Solera, Social Welfare Officer of DSWD-7, said for the past three years there were already 50 applicants who were successfully matched with his/her adoptee.

In order for a person to adopt, he/she must be of legal age, at least 16 years older than the adoptee, has the capacity to act and assume all the rights and duties incident to the exercise of parental authority, is of good moral character, is in position to support, educate and take care of the adoptee, and has undergone the pre-adoption services.

The month of February is Adoption

Consciousness Month with theme ―Legal na Ampon ako, Anak na Totoo (A Child finds worth in Legal Adoption)‖.

The advocacy aims to intensify information dissemination about the legal processes of adopting a child and to raise the number of applicants and couples who are willing to adopt.

DSWD-7 has prepared the following activities mark this month's observation: Motorcade on February 15 at 1:30 pm, Mural Painting Contest on February 19 at 9:00 am at the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC), Labangon, Cebu City, and setting up of adoption help desks at SM City Cebu and SM Consolacion from February 20 to 21. (rmn/fcc/ PIA7-Cebu)

NegOr launches tourism destination brand Jennifer C. Tilos NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 1 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental has launched recently its destination brand, ‖Negros Oriental: This is what you want to live‖ to step up its tourism marketing to attract more local and international tourists.

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he eco-tourism capital of Negros Island, where culture meets adventure, represents the tourism circuit of five local government units, namely: Dumaguete City as the gateway of Negros Oriental; Dauin as dive capital; Tanjay City as seat of culture and tradition; Bais City, dolphin watching; and Manjuyod town, known for its wide stretch of sand bar.

With its natural chain of rugged green mountains and a wide range of coastal beaches or ridge-to- reef attractions in the identified tourism areas, the brand logo is visually interpreted as a stylized leaf that represents province‘ environmental conservation and

organic agriculture.

Under the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development, the private and public sectors also formulated a tour package with common rates for travel and tours operators in the province.

The two separate travel and tour operator groups in the province successfully agreed to have common tour packages and create more opportunities in the local tourism industry.

In an industry forum, Palawan Tourism Council president Debbie Tan shared Palawan's best practices in tourism promotion as 'World's Best Island Tourism' including tour

packaging.

For her part, Andrea Trinidad-Echavez of USAID COMPETE presents how Bohol managed to scale up its tourism image after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

LGSP-LED is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and implemented in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

It aims to reduce poverty by strengthening local governance and supporting sustainable local economic development. (rmn/jct/PIA7 -Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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PHLPost invites students to join int’l letter writing contest Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) invites students 15 years old and below to join the 45th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People.

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n a press statement, PHLPost said it has organized a nationwide letter writing contest inviting young people to focus on the theme "Write a letter to your 45 year-old self‖ in order to select the country‘s official entry to the international competition.

The national winner will be sent by PHLPost as the Philippines‘ official entry in the worldwide letter writing contest organized by the UPU International Bureau.

The top winner will receive a gold medal and a certificate, as well as other prizes to commemorate their win.

The gold medalist will also be offered a trip to the UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland.

Entries for the national competition must be recent and original letters written in English according to the theme of the competition.

It must not exceed the limit of 1000 words in length. The composition must contain the elements of a letter, place and date, addressee‘s

address, opening and closing salutation and signature.

On a separate sheet of paper, the participant must indicate the following information: Number of words of the letter, complete name and address, Gender of Candidate, Age and /or Date of Birth, Colored 2×2 Photo, Name and Address of School/Grade or Year Level and Contact Numbers (Telephone/Cellphone Number).

The first prize winner will receive P20,000.00 cash; second prize - P15,000.00 and third prize - P10,000.00.

All winners will also be awarded medals, plaques and albums of Philippine stamps. The top three winning school will also received cash prizes and a plaque from PHLPost.

The criteria for judging are structure as a letter is 20%; adherence to the theme is 30%; creativity is 30%; and use of language is 20%.

All entries must be mailed at any post offices nationwide by Domestic Express (DEMS) or

Registered Mail only, not later than March 11, 2016 to: UPU 45TH International Letter Writing Competition for Young People (2016), Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division, Philippine Postal Corporation, 3/F, Central Post Office Building 1000 Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila.

Children around the world are encouraged to take a flight into their imagination, while writing a letter to themselves in the future. The competition also coincides with the 45th edition of the international contest.

For more information, please call Arlene Tiquia Labao, Project Officer of the Post Shop, Philately and Museum Division at tel. no. 527-01-08 or 527-01-32.

Please visit PHLPost website at: www.phlpost.gov.ph., Facebook account @PHLpost, Twitter account @Ppostofficial and Instagram account @phlpostofficial.(rmn/hfg/ PIA-7/PhilPost)

IEC: Politicians should treat people’s trust as a gift Fayette C. Riñen CEBU, January 29 (PIA) -- Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said politicians should not lose the trust given to them by their constituents and repay this through service during a recent press conference of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) at the IEC pavilion.

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When you (politician) are elected, you are given the trust and you must treat that as a gift. Do not throw away that gift,‖ said Cardinal Tagle who was one of the key speakers of the congress.

According to Cardinal Tagle, in the Eucharistic framework, politicians should not stop treating the people‘s trust as a gift and ―show it through service.‖ Cardinal Tagle said that just being in politics, one already earned the trust of the people.

The cardinal also called on restoring family meals directing this to the wider

community as sharing a common table develops trust, sharing and sensitivity.

But the challenge of reestablishing the family meals is also hindered by several factors such as traffic and technology, bared Cardinal Tagle. ―In Manila, traffic mainly prevents the family from eating together as the husband arrives home late from work,‖ said Cardinal Tagle adding that traffic congestion at the capital should be addressed.

The cardinal further said that with well-to-do families, children opt to watch television in their own room and have dinner alone or prefer to play with their gadget

instead of sharing the same table during meal times. ―We need to restore family meals even at least once a week because in common meals, we share common stories. It is not just about food but also love,‖ said Cardinal Tagle.

Another advice given by the cardinal is for elders to always listen to the young amid an emerging different youth culture today. ―Elders need to understand the youth‘s culture. We need to engage and consult them,‖ if we want to promote the Eucharist to them, he added. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

New road program opens for LGUS Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) — Because good things need to be sustained, a former foreign-funded project implemented in Bohol is now eyed to continue in 63 provinces via a new name: Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (KALSADA) Program.

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he mother program which gave birth to

KALSADA is Provincial Roads Management facility (PRMF), a project assisted by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), according to Rosalinda Paredes, former project coordinator. ―PRMF is part of AusAID‘s global economic development program,‖ Paredes, who was guest at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA, said.

AusAID saw that a good road governance plays a key role in the integral development of a place, promotes connectivity, access to basic services, opens up transportation, and ease of mobility and perking up sleepy economies. ―It was the first time that I saw a [foreign funded] project which funds infrastructure,‖ Paredes said.

But PRMF was not just about physical works, what it built were good secondary roads built in line with the national standards that approximate the Department of Public Works and Highway‘s (DPWH) blue book.

DPWH‘s blue book is a national standards manual for all national roads and their life spans before needing necessary maintenance activities.

At the end of the Bohol project, PRMF completed the rehabilitation of about 120 kilometers of secondary roads with funds reaching P200 million, the determination of 14 core roads which assure connectivity and access of communities to services, the formulation of the local roads manual, the recording of these roads as assets and not liabilities, while helping governments firm up its road sector map.

These road sections that were built by the PRMF, in fact, proved beneficial when the earthquake hit Bohol.

Much of the national roads then were impassable as bridges toppled, the crucial roads stayed on and provided alternate access, Paredes claimed.

With the good track record, she shared that it would be a great loss to the people if the project terminates.

With the launching of the KALSADA program in Bohol last week, some funds are already set for two crucial road sections. Another 35 provinces who would be availing of the KALSADA project have accordingly received their certificates of fund allocation, according to Paredes. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

SoLeyte gets P 100M for Kalsada program Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 3 (PIA) -- This province stands to receive P 100 million for the concreting of two provincial roads in the remote hinterland barangays that connect one municipality or city to another.

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he amount was sourced from the Special Local Road Fund (SLRP) that was taken from the Motor Vehicle Users Charge (MVUC), and was coursed through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), said Provincial Engr.

Nelson Tan. At the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA Cable TV program last week, Engr. Tan disclosed that all the required papers had been submitted and

that he expected the fund to be downloaded sooner so the two projects can start.

These are the provincial roads from barangay Sto. Nino to Nonok which will eventually connect this city to the municipality of Tomas Oppus for five kilometers, and the other is the Poblacion to Himakilo, linking Bontoc to Sogod, a three kilometer span.

Tan said that the province was among the 27 provinces nationwide that were the first

recipients of the Kalsada program, a project which was based on the Provincial Roads Network Development Plan (PRNDP) prepared and prioritized by 16 multi-sectoral stakeholders of the province.

The provincial government shouldered the 10% cost counterpart of the DILG-led Kalsada program fund, Tan also said. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Local ordinances help maintain peace and order – says top MPS official Ma. Lailani P. Tupaz NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 2 (PIA) – Being a chief of police in a less populated community of Almeria town and a shift to a more complex capital town of Naval, the center of economic activity in the province of Biliran, newly installed Chief of Police (COP) of Naval, Police Chief Inspector (PCI) Nonito Zuasula looks at sleeping municipal ordinances to help maintain peace and order in the community of mixed people from all walks of life.

PCI Zuasula believes local legislators created their municipal ordinances to meet the civil rights and protect every citizen, and ultimately to maintain peace and order in the area.

Hence, a peaceful and ordely community becomes free of criminality, which is in line with Zuasula‘s prime objective of crime prevention and crime solution.

Zuasula who assumed his new post in Naval on January 5, 2016, started looking into long sleeping municipal ordinanc-

es of Naval such as prohibiting drinking spree in the streets.

According to Zuasula, they have already apprehended a group which they issued penalty ticket to be paid at the municipal treasurer‘s office for said violation.

He is also looking at the anti-smoking ordinance of Naval which earned the Hall of Fame for Red Orchid Award, a national recognition for prohibiting smoking in public places for environmental protection.

Aside from implementing local ordinances in the municipality, PCI Zuasula remains focused on the Philippine National Police‘s (PNP) mandate of implementing special laws.

Zuasula reported three apprehensions for violations of the anti-drugs law from January 5 to January 20.

Random checkpoints, police patrol, and police visibility remain an effective strategy in preventing crimes, he added. # (fj/PIA8 Biliran)

Search for 2016 COPS open Rodrigo S. Victoria NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 2 (PIA) – The Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO) announced to interested police officers in Biliran province that the prestigious nationwide search for the 2016 Country’s Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) is now open to applicants.

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The nationwide search recognizes gallant police officers of the nation for their milestone achievements in community mobilization and organization for the attainment of peace and order,‖ Police Senior Inspector (PSI) Teodora Salarza, police community relations (PCR) chief of the BPPO said.

Salarza revealed the information when she was guest during the ―PIA Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan‖ hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Biliran together with PSI Martin Pardinas, administra-

tive officer of BPPO. The lady police officer said that the search for COPS, which is sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation-Rotary Club of New Manila East, gave the honor for more than a decade to members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for their professionalism, competence and integrity.

The 2016 search is open to all police commissioned officers with the rank of police inspector up to police senior superintendent and police non-commissioned officers with the rank of police officer 1 to

senior police officer 4 with minimum of seven years in service.

Interested applicants only need to submit a copy of the duly filled-up nomination form and submit the same on or before February 12, 2016 at any PNP offices or in any PS Bank or Metrobank branches nationwide, Salarza further said. ―Big prizes are at stake as each awardee will receive P400,000 cash prize, COPS trophy, Metrobank Foundation medallion and PNP plaque of merit‖, she informed. #(fj/rvictoria/ PIA 8 Biliran)

EASTERN VISAYAS

7

Samar fisherfolks to venture in $26K danggit farm Nimfa Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 2 (PIA)—Catbalogan fisherfolks will soon venture into sea farming instead of hunting.

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escribed by proponents as resilient and resilience-enhancing Danggit Farming, the project is funded by the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives- Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network ICLEI -ACCCRN Engagement Building-Small Grants Fund, Southeast Asia.

The Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs signed the memorandum of agreement on January 30, 2016, with city Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan and a Samar State University (SSU) official serving as witness.

Vincent Marin of ICLEI said that this project earned the approval of the funding agency because it will help poor fisherfolks and will help in climate change mitigation.

During the presscon, Don Mabulay, from the EV Network of NGOs said that the project intended for small fisherfolks will engage them in a demo farm where some 30 of them will go through an apprenticeship period with pay for four months , to experience and learn danggit farming.

When they complete the apprenticeship, capitals will be loaned payable on installments every harvest. Loaned fish cages are on usufruct terms first-the beneficiaries will own them only upon full payment.

Proponents claim that the industry of boneless danggit, though gaining a significant income has declining supply due to overfishing of the siganus canaliculatus which grows in the wild in the Maqueda Bay.

With the new scheme, the fish species will be grown in fish pens to propagate where conditions are controlled to ward off predators.

Seagrasses will be propagated around the fish farms, these with algae on the leaves absorb the inorganic pollutants from the farms and also become the habitat for the fries.

The project is different from growing bangus as there is no need to supply feeds, the siganid feed on planktons and algae that will be provided by the seagrass. Aside from the siganid, the specie Lambiyaw will be placed in the same fish cages to co-exist, another species hinok (sometime called goatfish) will also be grown as it thrives on the droppings of the siganid. (PIA8/nbquirante/ajc/Northern Samar)

DOH-8 leadsOplan Goodbye Bulate CONSUELO B. ALARCON TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan.29 (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas led the National Deworming Day as it launched Wednesday the ―Oplan Goodbye Bulate‖ program at Dita Elementary School, Brgy. Dita, Julita Leyte with simultaneous deworming conducted in various schools in the region.

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he region has placed its target at more or less 700, 000 school children in region 8 to take the anthelminthic (Albendazole/Mebendazole) 400 mg. tablet in one day.

Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa, DOH-8 regional media relations officer said the activity would reduce the incidence of soil transmitted helminths among school children.

In a statement, DOH Secretary Janette

Loreto-Garin said, soil transmitted helminthes (STH) can cause poor physical growth, poor intellectual and malnutrition among children.

To date, partial data showed that about 393, 372 school children took the anthelminthic tablet administered in different schools but health authorities hope to increase the figure in the coming days.

Last July 29, 2015, about 665, 455 or 95.05 percent of the targeted children were

dewormed placing the region to the top 2 position among the regions in the country.

The ―Oplan Goodbye Bulate‖ or the National School Deworming Day, is a strategy of the Department of Health in coordination with the Department of Education, to improve the delivery of mass drug administration for the prevention and control of lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis. (ajc/PIA-8)

Airport, seaport projects in SoLeyte underway Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- Work on some detailed facilities at the airport in barangay Panan-awan, this city is a continuing undertaking by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

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n addition, at least three seaport projects in three towns of the province can proceed as the bidding for these projects was already finished, said Cong. Damian Mercado in a radio broadcast last week.

At a conference with local media over the weekend at Kinamot sa Abgao, the legislator disclosed that a budget of P 70 Million was already released by the DOTC for further improvement of the city‘s airport infrastructure.

A separate, additional budget of P 160 Million was already forwarded to the DOTC for more structures needed at the airport, the lone lawmaker also said.

Hopes for the province‘s premier air traffic to fully operate ran high when a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific last year listed several areas of concern the airline company wanted addressed so by early 2017 their new fleet of airbus can have a debut landing.

As to the seaport projects, Mercado had mentioned in the radio program that these will be located at the municipalities of Padre Burgos, San Francisco, and Limasawa.

On Saturday, the new seaport located at barangay Guadalupe, this city, was formally opened with former DILG Secretary Mar Roxas in attendance.

In a related development, Rodolfo Mor a n o , P h i l i p p in e P or t s A u t h or i t y (PPA)-Maasin Port manager, said in a brief interview with local media that the Guadalupe seaport project cost P 59 Million.

Morano also revealed the cost of the three other upcoming port projects, such as Padre Burgos – P 50 Million; San Francisco – P 35 Million; and Limasawa – P 8 Million.

He confirmed that bidding for these three ports were already done, and that actual work will follow as soon as possible. (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.

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, 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