February 3, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 25 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 February 3, 2014

OPAPP sponsors strategic communications planning workshop for RPOC members

efforts with the post-Yolanda rehabilitation work. During both meetings, OPAPP was requested to sponsor said capacity building activity to strengthen and enhance the communications component of the rehabilitation work especially in conflict-vulnerable areas of the Region. Invited for the workshop are the information officers of the RPOC member agencies namely, 8th Infantry Battalion, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, NEDA, Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Information Agency,

International experts on stress and trauma relief are currently in Tacloban

City, more than two months after Super Typhoon Yolanda ravaged Eastern Visayas. Dr. Chris Balsley of the United States, Siow Huei Foo from Malaysia and Singapore, together with Human Capital Development (HDC)’s Glenn Llamador, arrived in Tacloban on February 1 and for the next days would work with “Yolanda” survivors, and aid workers to release the stress and tension experienced after the onslaught. Balsley, who has worked with war veterans from Afghanistan and victims of the Indonesian tsunami and Chinese earthquake, would introduce aid workers, responders and volunteers to Trauma Release Exercise a physical activity to beat stress. He said that the exercise is suited for everyone and can be administered individually without the help of psychiatrists or other health practitioners. On February 2 in the afternoon, the TRE team conducted TRE sessions at the Leyte Sports Development Center with staff from the Philippine Information Agency and the Office of Civil Defense. Both government agencies have been responding since the Yolanda onslaught and have not been given post- traumatic stress therapy.

Trauma Release Exercise experts help Yolanda responders, survivors in Eastern VisayasThe Office of the Presidential Adviser

on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is set to sponsor a strategic communications planning workshop on February 5, 2014 at the Function Room of Milka Hotel at New Tacloban Terminal, Barangay Abucay, Tacloban City. Director Maria Aileen Jose of the PAMANA & CLIP Coordinating Unit of OPAPP said this is in line with the efforts to advance the peace agenda in the Region by enhancing the capacity of the Government Information Officers. This was the recommendation during the meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council on January 21 and 28 regarding converging peacebuilding continued on page 5

continued on page 5

Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Dinky Soliman (with mic) preside the meeting with National Government Agencies and foreign humanitarian organization headed by the United Nation for the updates of typhoon Yolanda relief and rehabilitation works held at the Governors Hall Leyte Capitol Building, Tacloban City, February 1. (Photo by Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8)

2 February 3, 2014

Contractor donates 2 bunkhouses for LeyteA Department of Public Works and

Highways contractor waived payment for Leyte bunkhouses and instead donated its two completed bunkhouses with toilet and facilities at Barangay Tacuranga, Palo, Leyte. DPWH identified the construction firm as R.D. Interior Junior Construction. The firm volunteered to work on the emergency construction of temporary shelters for “Yolanda” victims.’ It decided not to accept any payment for the completed project and instead took it as a social responsibility of the Tuguegarao City-based builder. Mr. Ricardo D. Interior, Jr. said that it is a moral obligation to help the calamity victims in Eastern Visayas and as such, the firm heeded to the call of DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson to help the national government in the

rehabilitation efforts particularly for the benefit of those rendered homeless. The donated shelter project has a value of P1.59 Million. It was learned that although none of the contractors of bunkhouses have been paid by the government pending final acceptance, DPWH Region 2 OIC-Director Melvin B. Navarro has already requested the cancellation of the corresponding Sub Allotment Release Order No. SR2013-12-010791 intended for the payment of contracted two (2) units of temporary shelters following the receipt of waiver for payment from the owner/general manager of R.D. Interior Junior Construction. In heeding the call of DPWH Secretary for volunteerism, contractors were able to remove overhead and profit margins of about 13 percent that further

Tacloban’s permanent relocation site safe, City gov’t assures

The City Government of Tacloban recently gave the assurance that

the proposed Yolanda-displaced families’ relocation site at Barangay Santo Nino is safe. The assurance came from Atty. Irene Chiu of the City Mayor’s Office who during the regular press briefing said that the proposed relocation site is safe and will not have any ill effects to the public despite the fact that the temporary dumpsite is also located in the same barangay. According to Chiu, based on her talk with the City Environment Natural Resources Officer Jonathan Hijada “ He said that it is okay and it will not have any health effects.” Chiu intimated that the city government is still on the process of studying where to put the permanent dumpsite. “It will entail technical studies. The City ENRO is now on the process of studying where to transfer to permanent site from to where it is

reduced construction cost. Bunkhouses as temporary shelters are intended to be good for not more than two (2) years while permanent shelters are being constructed. The DPWH is hoping that people will not stay longer than this period and the government will be able to complete the permanent shelters for families left homeless and those relocated from “No Build Zones” of 40 meters easement from the shoreline. Any identified sites for relocation should now be used for permanent shelter project of the government with the DPWH ready to do the site development and National Housing Authority (NHA) and private companies to undertake planning and actual construction of the permanent houses. (PIA 8)

now,” added Chiu. Earlier, the City government announced that the permanent relocation site which is now being developed by the National Housing Authority will be able to accommodate at least 7,000 houses for 7,000 displaced families in Tacloban. 1,252 permanent houses, 400 of which are from GMA Kapuso Foundation and 852 of which from the UN Habitat Philippines, will be constructed at the EVRGC site in Barangay Santo Nino where the National Housing Authority is already conducting initial site development. May Ann Tejano, OIC of the City Legal Department added that 5,080 permanent houses were also pledged by the Red Cross, 20 units from ICAD Turkey, 20 units from ZONTA , and 10 units from Lions Club. It was learned that there are at least 20,000 displaced families in Tacloban City. (PIA 8)

February 3, 2014 3DA, industry players drafts rehabilitation and recovery plan for poultry industry in East Visayas

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office No. 8,

together with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Eastern Visayas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EVCCI) jointly conducted the Regional Rehabilitation and Recovery Planning Workshop of the Poultry Industry Players in Region 8 on January 15, 2014 at the Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc City. The planning workshop which sought to encourage the participation of the private sector, brought together more than fifty contract growers and integrators from all over the region. The participation of the poultry industry players proved useful in generating inputs relative to the local industry for the inclusion in the Eastern Visayas – Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (EV-YRRP). The participants reported the quantities and cost of the damages and losses incurred in their poultry production. Since some poultry growers were not able to attend the whole day workshop, the integrators themselves committed to gather the needed data from those who were absent and submit the consolidated report to DA. Moreover, a roundtable discussion was facilitated to map out the problems faced by the poultry raisers and identify interventions that will help revive the local industry. Dr. Anthea L. Naputo and Dr. Renato P. Distrajo of the Livestock

Tacloban fast tracks transfer of garbage from Abucay to Santo NinoT h e C i t y G o v e r n m e n t o f

Ta c l o b a n g a v e t h e a s s u r a n c e t h a t i t i s f a s t t r a c k i n g t h e t r a n s f e r o f a l l t h e g a r b a g e a t A b u c a y n e a r t h e Ta c l o b a n N e w B u s Te r m i n a l t o B a r a n g a y S a n t o N i n o w h e r e t e m p o r a r y d u m p s i t e i s l o c a t e d . A t t y . I r e n e C h i u o f t h e C i t y M a y o r ’s O f f i c e s a i d , “ W e c a n n o t g i v e t h e t i m e t a b l e a s t o w h e n i t w o u l d b e f i n i s h e d b u t w h a t w e c a n p r o m i s e i s t h a t i t i s o n e o f t h e p r i o r i t i e s o f t h e C i t y g o v e r n m e n t .” T h e A b u c a y s i t e w h e r e t h e a l l g a r b a g e a n d d e b r i s f r o m t h e r u b b l e s o f t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a

w e r e t e m p o r a r y p i l e d n e a r t h e t e r m i n a l , i t w a s l e a r n e d , i s t h e s i t e o f t h e R o b i n s o n s N o r t h . C h i u s a i d t h a t t h e C i t y r e a l l y h a s t o w o r k d o u b l e t i m e t o c l e a r t h e a r e a b e c a u s e t h a t R o b i n s o n s m a n a g e m e n t h a s a l r e a d y i n f o r m e d t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e i n t e n t i o n t o s t a r t c o n s t r u c t i o n s o o n . To r e c a l l , t h e g a r b a g e p i l e d a t A b u c a y n e a r t h e N e w B u s Te r m i n a l w a s t h e s u b j e c t o f c o m p l a i n t s a s i t i s n o t o n l y a n e y e s o r e t o t h e v i s i t o r s a r r i v i n g a t t h e b u s t e r m i n a l b u t a l s o a c k n o w l e d g e d a s a h e a l t h h a z a r d t o t h e p u b l i c . ( P I A 8 )

continued on page 7

P20M flood control structure now being undertaken in CalbayogT he Depar tment of Publ ic Works

and H ighways Samar Fi rst Distr ic t Engineer ing O ff ice under the leadership of Distr ic t Engineer Vi rgi l io Eduar te is now c losely monitor ing the progress of the ongoing construc t ion of Flood Control Struc ture in Barangay Begaho, Oquendo Distr ic t in Calbayog Cit y, Samar. Just recent ly, Engr. Alber t Lazana, Chief of the Maintenance Sec t ion, and the Maintenance Point Persons (MPPs) conduc ted an ocular inspec t ion of the sa id projec t . He sa id that the projec t was a l located with P20 mi l l ion budget under the FY 2013 Regular I nfrastruc ture Fund and is under contrac t with CDU Construc t ion. The projec t , he sa id, covers the removal of t rees, s t ruc tures and obstruc t ions, s t ruc ture

excavat ion, embank ment f rom borrow, hand- la id embank ment, insta l lat ion of re inforc ing steel bar and pipe culver ts , aggregate base course, s t ruc tural concrete and 230 mm. thick Por t land cement concrete pavement. As of Januar y 30, 2014 projec t monitor ing repor t , CDU Construc t ion has accompl ished 45% of the contrac t s ince November 28, 2013. The target of complet ion for this projec t i s on M arch 28 this year. Per information of Ms. Leviresa Barnizo, Samar I P IO staf f, the Samar Fi rst Distr ic t Engineer ing O ff ice wi l l implement a total appropr iat ion of P220 mi l l ion for the Construc t ion /Rehabi l i tat ion/ I mprovement of Flood Control Struc ture Projec ts this year 2014. (P IA 8)

4 February 3, 2014

DPWH-SLED clears eight “Basyang”-driven landslides

A day after tropical storm “Basyang” unleashed heavy

rains, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Engineering District in this province started picking up the mess, clearing landslides the storm left behind in at least eight locations. Most of the landslides blocked the main highway rendering the roads impassable to vehicular traffic, said Assistant District Engineer (ADE) Allan Eway. In its situational report, a copy of which was texted by Eway to PIA this morning, locations of

the landslides were identified as follows: Sudmon road section, San Francisco; Amaga road section, Liloan; Punta, Libagon; Magkasag, Libagon; Mayuga, Libagon; Pancho Vil la road section, Sogod; Lungsod daan, Padre Burgos; and at Sua road section, San Juan. Out of the eight blocked road sections mentioned, only the one at Lungsod daan, Padre Burgos, was partially passable. “Equipment and personnel are already deployed for clearing operations,” Eway said in his text message. Meanwhile, Provincial

Disaster Action Manager Danilo Atienza is going around the province up to the pacific area to check on the extent of the damage, said Provincial Planning Officer Ida Sy who talked with Atienza on his mobile phone. Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Aileen Estrera, head of the SP Disaster Committee, was also roving to the direction of Panaon Island for a similar ocular survey, Atienza was overheard saying to Sy on the cellular phone. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

Residential house totally damaged at Sitio Basak, Rizal due to floodwater overflowing fr nearby creek.

www.pia.gov.ph

February 3, 2014 5

OPPAPP sponsors...from page 1

Trauma release...from page 1

On February 4-6, Train the trainer workshop will be conducted at the RTR Hospital. On February 7, 8, 9, sessions will run all day long in the hospital for anyone who wants to learn the process for their own use. Each session is about 1.5 hours long, it was learned. Human Capital Development is responsible for bringing Dr. Chris Balsley, a certified trainer in Trauma Release Exercise (TRE) to the Philippines in January 2014. The aim of this program is to equip first responders and other frontline aid workers with the necessary skills and tools to release the distress and tensions experienced and accumulated during Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and its aftermath, Mr. Manuel Tan told the Philippine Information Agency when

he visited the PIA Command Center last week. He said these revolutionary exercises are based on the work of David Berceli, Ph.D., and have been taught to over a million people all over the world. They have effectively helped victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, the earthquake in Sichuan province, China, and victims of violence in Lebanon, Somalia, and Afghanistan. TRE Tension Releasing Exercise is a revolutionary method for dealing with stress, anxiety, tension, physical pain and trauma. It helps with insomnia and digestive issues and it is a very powerful way to bring oneself to a state of peace and calm, a state where we can begin to heal. PIA first learned about TRE in the

Department of Trade and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources¸ TESDA, and the Philippine National Police among others. ASEC Jennifer Oreta of OPAPP is set to welcome the participants to the strategic communications planning workshop. (PIA 8)

Philippines from a friend, Trell Songalia, a Yolanda survivor and responder who together with her daughter, became part of the first TRE session in Manila. Trell who works with the Department of Health in the Region is now helping promote TRE for relief workers, responders, Haiyan victims, military and PNP personnel. With Trell’s assistance, PIA and the HCD met and scheduled sessions at the Leyte Sports and Development Center. PIA in turn introduced the HCD to OCD. It is hoped that DOH, OCD and PIA will be able to have some of their staff certified so that they can also help promote TRE in this disaster-prone Region. (PIA)

Senior Citizen is lone “Basyang” fatality in So. Leyte

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

A 6 0 - y e a r o l d m a n r e s i d i n g i n b a r a n g a y T i g b a w a n ,

a m o u n t a i n b a r a n g a y i n t h i s c i t y , w a s f o u n d d e a d y e s t e r d a y m o r n i n g b y t h e s i d e o f a r i v e r i n S i t i o K a m a l i g , b a r a n g a y M a b i n i , M a c r o h o n . T h e v i c t i m w a s a p p a r e n t l y s w e p t b y t h e s t r o n g r i v e r c u r r e n t g e n e r a t e d b y t r o p i c a l s t o r m “ B a s y a n g . ” T h i s w a s c o n f i r m e d b y D a n i l o A t i e n z a , h e a d o f t h e P r o v i n c i a l D i s a s t e r R i s k R e d u c t i o n M a n a g e m e n t C o u n c i l { P D R R M C ) . I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h

P I A , A t i e n z a i d e n t i f i e d t h e d e a d p e r s o n a s D i o n i s i o P a l e r . N o o t h e r d e t a i l s o r c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f h i s d r o w n i n g w a s a v a i l a b l e . S o f a r , i t w a s t h e o n l y r e p o r t o f a f a t a l i t y r e l a t e d t o t h e t r o p i c a l s t o r m , A t i e n z a s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t h e p e r s o n a l l y v e r i f i e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m M a c r o h o n a u t h o r i t i e s . H e , h o w e v e r , c o u l d n o t d i s c o u n t a n y o t h e r c a s u a l t y a s r e p o r t s f r o m t h e f i e l d s h a v e y e t t o f i l t e r i n . A t i e n z a v e n t u r e d t o m o v e a r o u n d t h e p r o v i n c e t o a s s e s s t h e d a m a g e , b u t

h e w a s s t u c k a t b a r a n g a y M a g k a s a g , L i b a g o n , a l o n g w i t h m o r e t h a n t w o d o z e n o t h e r v e h i c l e s a n d p a s s e n g e r s , d u e t o a l a n d s l i d e t h a t b l o c k e d t h e h i g h w a y . P e r s o n n e l f r o m t h e D P W H - S o . L e y t e , w i t h h e a v y e q u i p m e n t , h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g t o c l e a r t h e h i g h w a y , A t i e n z a r e p o r t e d . ( P I A 8 - S o u t h e r n L e y t e )

6 February 3, 2014

Deped releases P5M for Yolanda affected teachers

More than five million pesos worth of financial assistance

was released by the Department of Education (Deped) for the fourteen

thousand (14, 000) teaching and non-teaching personnel in Eastern Visayas who were affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

This was announced by Region 8 Director Dra. Luisa Bautista-Yu of the Department of Education during a Special meeting held

recently at the Capitol Building Tacloban City. Of the 14, 000 affected teachers and non-teaching personnel, some 3,600 became homeless after their homes were swept away by the storm surges and each had received P4,000 from Deped while other houses were partially damaged. M e a n w h i l e , Relief distribution is still on going for the affected personnel of Deped in the region while the agency is working on the benefits for the surviving families of the teachers/employees of Deped who died at the height of the typhoon. Deped has reported that two hundred ninety two (292) pupils and twenty eight (28) teaching and non-teaching personnel in region 8 have died during the typhoon including a supervisor and a principal. As to school buildings, 790 schools in the region were partially damaged and nearly 3, 000 classrooms have collapsed.(PIA-8)

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

February 3, 2014 7Operations Division of DA-RFO 8 served as facilitators. Among the issues and concerns that cropped up included among others, the possibility of providing moratorium or consideration in the collection of fees as they have suffered much loss due to the calamity; access to a convenient loan window or program considering that most of the growers have to start from scratch; access to basic resources such as electricity and other logistics needed for the operation of the facilities, as well as various impediments encountered in availing of the government’s programs and services. The NEDA-8, through its Plan and Policy Formulation Division Chief Meylene C. Rosales assured

DA industry players...from page 3

the participants that her office will submit and endorse the final output of the planning workshop to the higher authority or agencies, at the same time, will keep the participants abreast with the development or status of the said report. Meanwhile, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) invited the participants to avail of the various insurance products and services of the agency to protect their production investments against agricultural risks, such as typhoons, floods, as well as pests and diseases, both in crops and animals. With the involvement of key movers of the poultry industry in the region, DA-8 OIC-Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Jenny Lyn R.

Almeria expressed hope that the event will provide a sound basis for the formulation of plans and interventions of the government. In her message, RTD Almeria said that in order to set clearer directions for the said industry and rebuild better, we must first embark on enabling the grassroots level to be heard - articulate their needs and determine who would do what so that projects that will be undertaken are highly responsive to their own needs. Also present during the activity were NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio S. Uy and EVCCI Regional Governor Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel whom NEDA people have acknowledged as the brainchild of the said activity. (PIA 8)

8 February 3, 2014

More than one thousand school children who are all Yolanda survivors in Tanauan, Leyte have received school bags with school supplies donated by some private individuals, organizations and celebrities through the efforts of Krizette Chu held at the Tanauan Municipal ground, January 31. (Photo by Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8)