Upload
piaamo6-western-visayas
View
219
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The official e-Newsletter of PIA Visayas
Citation preview
Vol 4 Issue 13 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 Mar. 31 - April 6, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Pag-IBIG offers insurance to members in Yolanda stricken areas
LGUS support to nutritional guidelines sought
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
P275M Aussie funded Bohol roads project breaks ground
BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA
ANTEQUERA, Bohol, April 2 (PIA) -- A
P275-million rehabilitation project aided by the
Australian government and involving 14 vital Bohol road
sections broke ground here, April 1.
The Australian Assistance for International
Development (AusAID)-supported project will not only
reconstruct a total of 124.62 kilometers of roads but
will also present livelihood opportunities for some
115,000 Boholanos in the beneficiary areas.
The ceremonial groundbreaking was done at the
middle of the road fronting the quake-damaged barangay
hall of Bungahan in Antequera, which is along the first
of the 14 road sections to be worked, the
Antequera-Balilihan road via Dorol.
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill
Tweddell headed the Parliamentary delegation that
arrived here to see the progress of
Australian-supported development efforts in the
province and met with local officials led by Bohol Gov.
Edgar Chatto to reiterate Australia‟s support for Bohol‟s
development priorities and continued engagement.
Five months after the devastating 7.2 magnitude
earthquake that rocked Bohol, the Australian
Government has provided P366 million (A$9 million) for
immediate relief needs and also to support ongoing
recovery and reconstruction activities in the province.
Prior to the ceremonial groundbreaking, Chatto
led the Australian officials to a quake victim shelter site
visit in barangay Tagubaas also in Antequera.
The transitional core house has been built with the
aid of the Australian government and Catholic Relief
Services (Caritas Australia and Caritas Manila) under
Project BAROG.
Gov. Chatto thanked the visiting officials that
included Australian House of Representatives Deputy
Speaker Bruce Scott, Senator for South Australia Don
Farrell, Senator for Victoria Helen Kroger, Member of
the Parliament for Bruce, Victoria Alan Griffin, Member
for Hasluck, Western Australia Ken Wyatt, Adviser to
the Deputy Speaker Elysia Ruttley, Peter Banson, who is
the delegation secretary, and Scott‟s wife Joan.
The foreign officials distributed school bags and
supplies to Tagubaas Day Care children and Bungahan
elementary pupils, who waived Philippine and Australian
flags in greeting the foreign visitors.
Australian House of Representatives Deputy
Speaker Scott said Bohol was the only Philippine
province they visited outside Metro Manila as they “feel
part of the Boholano community.”
"Australia is pleased to be able to assist the
Provincial Government of Bohol and communities
recover from the earthquake,” said Ambassador
Tweddell. (mbcn/PIA7-Bohol/ECB)
By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 2 (PIA) – Pag-IBIG
Fund members in Yolanda stricken areas in Eastern
Visayas whose houses were damaged by the typhoon in
November last year may apply for insurance claims on
or before May 8, 2014.
Ms. Jackie O. Constantino, Head, Business
Development Department of Home Development
Mutual Fund Office (Pag-ibig Fund) in the region said, all
members with existing housing loans may avail of the
insurance claims but only up to the extent of the damage
to their homes.
The amount of the insurance claims would depend
on the result of the assessment of the appraisers or
inspectors from Pag-Ibig Fund office who will visit and
inspect the damaged houses.
“Kasi ang mangyayari niyan pupuntahan siya ng
aming mga appraisers and then we will assess how much
is the extent of the damage and then based on our
assessment we will recommend the assessment na
ibinigay ng mga appraisers sa head office and then it will
be forwarded to the insurance company”, Constantino
said.
Once the insurance company receives the claim, an
adjuster will be sent to validate everything.
As of this writing, at least 2, 000 applications have
been filed at Pag-IBIG Office Tacloban. Out of this
figure, almost 300 insurance claims were approved and
48 of which got their checks already with varied
amounts.
However, Constantino reminds the claimants to
use the money for what it is intended.
Members with updated payments are more
preferred than delinquent borrowers. (PIA-8)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Valerie Amos answers questions from the
media during her visit in Tacloban City
Wednesday to assess the UN humanitarian
response in Leyte particularly in Tacloban
City.
Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, Australian
Ambassador to the PH Bill Tweddell and
Deputy Speaker Bruce Scott (L-R) lead the
ceremonial ground-breaking of the
Antequera-Balilihan via Dorol Road in Brgy.
Bungahan, Antequera, Bohol on April 1, 2014.
The support, thru the Australian Assistance
for International Development (AusAID), does
not only reconstruct a total of 124.62
kilometers of roads but also present livelihood
opportunities for some 115,000 Boholanos in
the beneficiary areas. (mbcn/ECB/PIA-Bohol)
NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza
(right) stresses the importance of raising
public awareness especially among children to
avoid playing kites near power transmission
lines this summer. Alabanza said that the
community must be involved in the public
awareness effort to help save lives and prevent
injuries and damage to property. With
Alabanza are Engr. Rey H. Jaleco (center)
NGCP Head of District 4 Visayas Operations
and Maintenance and Engr. Richard Pobe of
the Culasi San Jose 69 KV Transmission Line
Project, during the National Grid Corporation
of the Philippines (NGCP) press briefing
recently. (PIA 6/T.Villavert)
By: Elsa S. Subong
ILOILO CITY, April 3 (PIA6) – Local government units all over the country are encouraged to promote the
Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) among their constituents for better nutrition.
The memorandum circular number 2014-25 signed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, cited
Resolution No. 6, series of 2012 by the National Nutrition Governing Board that adopted the Revised 2012 NGF.
The resolution was issued considering that malnutrition and diet-related non-communicable diseases remain to
be a problem in the Philippines and that poor nutrition can be caused by poor nutrition practices resulting from inadequate
information on proper diet and proper nutrition behavior. The memo circular said all governors, city and municipal
mayors, and punong barangays are encouraged to issue executive orders or local resolutions adopting the 2012 NGF.
They are also enjoined to incorporate the promotion of
the NGF in their local nutrition action plans, including budget for sustained dissemination, in cooperation withe other
sectors. The LGUs can also conduct orientation or general
assemblies, production of information materials, preferably in the local dialects, and advocate for availability of safe and
nutritious foods in the community. Nona Tad -y , NNC Reg iona l Nu t r i t ion
Program Coordinator, said the DILG Memo Circular is a big step towards popularizing NGF and seeing to it that
more people in the barangays are aware and practicing the guidelines.
She added that NNC is ready to cooperate and support the activities of the LGUs pertaining
to the widest possible promotion of the NGF.(JCM/ESS/PIA -Iloilo)
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell arrives at
the quake victim shelter site in barangay Tagubaas in Antequera,
Bohol on April 1. Tweddell headed the Parliamentary delegation‟s
visit in Bohol to see the progress of Australian-supported
development efforts in the province and meet with local officials to
reiterate Australia‟s support for Bohol‟s development priorities and
continued engagement. (mbcn/ECB/PIA7-Bohol)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 31 (PIA6) - - A total of 12.3 megawatts was the power saving noted by three electric
cooperatives in the province namely the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative and
the VMC Rural Electric Cooperative during the one-hour switch off of lights and appliances for Earth Hour 2014 held March 29.
A crowd of students, representatives
from professional organizations and
academe, business groups and
government officials gathered with their
candles at the grounds of SM City Bacolod for
the countdown program leading to the
ceremonial switch off.
Bacolod City Vice Mayor Greg
Gasataya called for the cooperation of both the
government and the public for the sustainability
of conserving energy not just for an hour but
for the whole year.
Lawyer and PEMO head Wilfred Ramon
Peñalosa said Earth Hour gives a chance for a
concrete step to do something for Mother
Earth.
“Celebrating the earth is a lot of things
not just switching off for an hour, it‟s a
conviction to conserve energy every day. It is
a decision to support programs for the earth,”
Peñalosa said.
Peñalosa added that protecting the
environment is not just a job of the
government or NGOs, students or officials in
the government but each can contribute even
through small steps because in the end, we all
benefit from it.
Among the pledges expressed during the
c e r e mon y w ere imp r ov ed so l i d
waste management, planting more trees,
enhance consciousness of being environment
friendly, do more Information and
Education Campaign on environment, conduct
seminars on pollution control for local
government units, promote the use of LED
lighting system, promote sustainable and
renewable energy as part of thesis and
projects, and collaborate with different
institutions to sustain different programs and
projects directed to ensure the integrity of life,
among others.
Dr. Felicidad Altalaguire, Dean of the
College of Engineering of Colegio San
Agustin-Bacolod and lead convenor of Earth
Hour 2014 in the province said that everyday
should be earth hour day.
“As a chemical engineer, if I were
to assess the situation, if we do
not use super powers the condition of our
mother earth is irreversible. We need to use
super powers to minimize the impact of
climate change,” Altalaguire said as she thanked
the support and participation of the different
sectors.
We find time to celebrate and care for
mother earth. We do not want another
Yolanda, another Bohol earthquake because
we know those were the effects of climate
change, Altalaguire added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6
Negros Occidental)
NegOcc Earth Hour saves 12 megawatts Typhoon Yolanda damages in the Typhoon Yolanda damages in the Typhoon Yolanda damages in the province of Capizprovince of Capizprovince of Capiz
ECC WV opens extension office
ILOILO CITY, April 3 (PIA6) - - The Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) has opened its newest Regional Extension
Unit in Western Visayas to reach out to workers in the region who need their services and programs.
E CC is a government corporation
attached to the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) for policy
coordination and guidance. It is tasked to
implement the Employees‟ Compensation
Program (ECP) that provides a package of
benefits for public and private sector
employees and their dependents in the event
of work-connected contingencies such as
sickness, injury, disability or death.
Atty . Jonathan Vi l lasoto, ECC
OIC-Deputy Executive Director said the REU,
an auxiliary office of the ECC, is based at the
DOLE 6 Regional Office in Jaro, Iloilo City.
“It is manned by two newly-hired
employees who are ready to assist workers
especially those with problems in the filing of
their Employment Compensation claims,” said
Villasoto.
He said the staff is also ready to share any
information on the EC program and to conduct
in-house seminar if invited by agencies and
offices in the region for their employees to be
more informed of the benefits and privileges
under the EC program. The seminar will be for
free.
With the establishment of the REU in
Western Visayas, there are now only 2 regions
in the country that have no ECC REUs yet.
These are Regions IV – A and ARMM.
Villasoto was here in Iloilo City on April 2
and 3. He joined DOLE 6 Director Ponciano
Ligutom on April 2 for a press conference held
in line with the launch of the new REU and the
conduct of the ECP Regional Advocacy
Seminar the next day. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)
By: Lilibeth A. French
KALIBO, Aklan, April 2 (PIA6) -- Kalibo’s little ones will also be taking center stage this graduation season as they troop to
barangay pavements and other open areas with their parents as graduating Day Care pupils.
1,474 day care kids graduate in Kalibo
A ccording to Lolly Espino, LGU-Kalibo‟s
Municipal Social and Development
Officer (MSWDO), a total of 1,474
Day Care pupils in this capital town are
graduating this year coming from the
municipality‟s 30 Day Care Centers (DCCs).
Kalibo has 16 barangays but some with
bigger population have two or more DCCs.
Espino said Day Care Workers in
charge o f these DCCs rece ive
honorariums from their respective barangays
with counterpart given by the municipal
government.
Besides receiving their Certificates of
Recognition as graduates, pupils who excelled
during the school year also get to receive
awards like Outstanding Day Care
Pupils in the senior and junior
level, awards in leadership, folk dance,
singing, draw and tell and special awards like
Best in Letters, Best in Match, Best in Poem
and Singing, Best in Drawing, Best in Number,
Best in Science and Discovery, and Best in
Arts.
Graduates will also get to be pinned
with ribbons by their parents describing their
most remarkable behavior from the likes of
“Most Thoughtful to Most Polite” and other
positive adjectives or descriptions suited to the
pupil.
Those who have diligently attended
DCCs from Junior to Senior levels
will also receive Loyalty awards,
while those who are going to school
regularly will be given the “Highest
Attendance” award.
For being supportive of their children,
bringing them to and from DCCs, some
parents will also be awarded as Outstanding
Parents, Espino said.
According to Espino, DCCs had been
proven to train and teach pupils well, excelling
also when they get to Kinder and Elementary,
qualifying in the Special Education Section or
SPED.
Graduation ceremonies for Kalibo‟s
DCCs will be held up to April 11 of this year,
Espino said. (VGV/PIA6 Aklan)
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
By: Venus G. Villanueva
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Sustained advocacy on climate change mitigation needed
SAN JOSE, Antique, April 3 (PIA6) - - The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - 6 Regional Director, Atty. Janet C. Mesa
emphasized the need to sustain public awareness on climate change in order to minimize its effects to all sectors in the
community.
“ Starting this second quarter of the year,
the PIA and the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources will
work together to undertake an advocacy and
social mobilization campaign on climate change
mitigation and preparation,” Director Mesa
said during the PIA Antique Infocen radio
program recently.
Under the agreement, the DENR and PIA
will undertake an advocacy campaign which
include the conduct of public fora, production
and dissemination of information materials
using multi-media and social media.
Mesa said that it is urgent to discuss
climate change now because it is important
that “we should be prepared at all times”.
According to her, people are best
prepared if they have adequate information.
She said that the DENR-PIA partnership
will provide the people with substantial
information on climate change in order to help
avoid loss of lives in times of disasters.
The PIA-6 Director also urged Local
Government Executives to appoint information
officers in their respective Municipality to help
in the dissemination of information up to the
barangay level.
The PIA Radio program is aired over
DYKA and hosted by Infocen Manager Margie
L. Gadian. (VWV/PIA6-Antique)
By: Vicente W. Villavert
Typhoon Yolanda damages in Canas Island, Typhoon Yolanda damages in Canas Island, Typhoon Yolanda damages in Canas Island, Northern IloiloNorthern IloiloNorthern Iloilo
P2.9M agricultural tramline set up in Iloilo ILOILO CITY, April 1 (via PIA6) -- Another Agricultural Tramline System (ATS) project worth P2.9 million has been set up in
the Province of Iloilo by the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Center for Postharvest and Mechanization (DA-PHilMech).
I n a report to Agriculture Secretary
Proceso J. Alcala, DA Regional Director
Larry P. Nacionales said the tramline
project in Brgy. San Antonio, Barotac Viejo
completed last January 24 aims to reduce
drudgery, hauling cost and intensive labor,
speed up hauling time in order for the
products to reach market promptly, and
increase farmers‟ income.
The San Antonio ATS is a bi-cable system
with a hauling capacity of 350 kilograms per
trip at the recommended speed of 100 to 150
meters per minute. This tramline with cable
length of 1, 241 meters covers 47 hectares of
corn, cassava, upland rice, banana and
vegetables being grown by 50 farmers.
Recently, Engr. Bartolome S. Tesorero, Jr.,
Science Research Specialist of DA-PHilMech
conducted training on how to operate and
maintain the ATS among farmer operators and beneficiaries of the project.
DA-PHilMech is implementing this project
in elevated agricultural zones with a minimum
plantation area of 25 to 30 hectares to make
the tramline economically feasible.
ATS is an alternative transport system
used by farmers in hauling their agricultural
inputs and products in areas far from road
networks because of ravines, rivers and dense
vegetation.
Presently, Western Visayas has 14 units
out of 129 tramline projects implemented all
over the country.
There are 8 units in Negros Occidental
and 6 units in Panay Island. In Iloilo, another
tramline project is already operational in Brgy.
Alimono, Passi City.
Based on the study of DA-PHilMech,
farmers are paying an average hauling cost of
P1.50 per kilogram of the agricultural products
using the traditional method.
By means of ATS, farmers will only have
to pay P0.50 per kilogram.
The said tariff will be used for the purchase of fuel, oil and other maintenance
costs, honorarium of the operators and as
additional income of the farmers‟ association.
“Hinikayat po kami ni Agriculture
Secretary Proceso Alcala na lagyan ng upuan
ang tramline upang magamit ng mga tao but for
emergency purposes only.
Kung may tinuklaw po ng ahas o
manganganak, maaaring gamitin ang tramline.
Mahigpit po naming ipinagbabawal na
gamitin ito ng mga turista,” explained Engr.
Tesorero.
Engr. Tesorero reiterated to farmers to
avoid overloading in using the tramline
and this facility is not designed for human
transport.
He further told farmers to follow the
proper maintenance and operating
procedures of the tramline project to
keep the facility running for more than 15 to
20 years.
The San Antonio ATS has a safe carrier
design, automatic engine stop, upgraded cable
and meter and double track cables. The said project is to be turned over by
Sec. Alcala and DA-PHilMech Director Rex
Bingabing to farmers of Brgy. San Antonio this
coming April. (SMHT/DA-6 Information)
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 2 (PIA6) – Each of the 902 Indigenous People (IP) households in seven barangays in Jamindan
town received a sack of rice from the World Food Programme (WFP) last March 20 as part of the international organization’s
rice distribution to supertyphoon Yolanda victims in the province.
T he recipients are IP households not
enrolled in the national government‟s
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
(4Ps) because WFP has also provided
financial assistance to all 4Ps enrollees in the
municipality, said Jamindan Public Information
Officer Norma Chavez.
The town has about 1,500 IP households
spread out in the barangays of Jaena Norte,
Jaena Sur, Agloloway, Agbun-od, San Juan,
Pasol-o and Ganzon.
Chavez explained that the rice assistance
will mitigate scarcity of food especially
among IP communities in the upcoming lean
months.
In behalf of the Jamindan Bukidnon Tribes
Association (JABTA), Jamindan mayor Ethel R.
Jinon has conveyed her appreciation to Fiona
Lithgow of WFP for the truckloads of rice for
the IPs whose livelihoods were severely
battered by the supertyphoon.
It was learned that the idea to request
help from WFP was suggested by Samaritan
House Foundation (SHF) head Guia
Gulden during the during the finalization of the
municipal government‟s identified programs
and projects for year 2015.
SHF is a town-based civil society
organization.
Aside from the WFP, the Department
of Social Welfare and Development,
University of Cebu and Red Cross have
also provided food packs for the IP
members wh i le the In ternat iona l
Organization for Migration and Community
and Family Service Iinternational have also
distributed shelter kits to identified
beneficiaries in the IP communities. (JCM/AAL/
PIA6 Capiz)
902 IP households receive WFP’s rice
By: Alex A. Lumaque
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
CEBU CITY, April 2 (PIA) -- With the two major disasters that struck Central Visayas late last year, local government units
(LGUs) urgently need to get their acts together by implementing proactive measures to reduce the impact of disasters by
focusing on four thematic areas.
OCD-7: LGUs need to focus on 4 areas for disaster risk reduction
F lor Gaviola, assistant regional director
of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7)
told local chief executives, provincial,
city and municipal disaster risk reduction officers
and other stakeholders within Central Visayas
attending the two-day seminar roadshow on „Iba
na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities‟
that prevention and mitigation is always the first
step in disaster risk reduction planning.
“The four thematic areas are prevention
and mitigation, preparedness, response and
rehabilitation and recovery,” said Gaviola.
“The development of alarms and early
warning signal is always the first step under
prevention and mitigation,” further said Gaviola.
She added that LGUs also need to focus on
the use of nationwide flood forecasting and
monitoring and the geo-hazard mapping,
comprehensive land use plan, engineering
interventions and flood control structures.
In terms of preparedness, Gaviola said
LGUs must have the following --- contingency
planning, prepositioning the equipment and
supplies, enhancement of operation and
coordination centers, organizing training of
responders, organizing and mobilizing community
volunteers, conduct of disaster trainings and
drills.
For response, LGUs should already know
what to do in the aftermath of a disaster
particularly on search, rescue and retrieval
operations, bared Gaviola.
Under recovery and rehabilitation, LGUS
should incorporate in their disaster risk
reduction plan on how to achieve early recovery
and rehabilitation of ravaged communities
including the reconstruction of damaged houses
and buildings, resettlement of displaced families
and provision of livelihood to affected individuals,
disclosed the OCD-7 official.
The activity which ended today was
organized by the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST-7) in partnership with the
Department of Interior and Local Government 7
and the Office of Civil Defense 7.
Meanwhile, Marianito Doydora, officer of
the Department of Agriculture assigned to the
Ubay Stock Farm in Bohol, advised farmers to go
for climate change resilient animals and feeds.
Guesting at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA of
PIA-Cebu, Doydora said farmers need to adopt
surviving mechanisms in order to cope with
climate change.
He said in times of El Nino or where rain is
rare, it is expected that the supply of natural
feeds and forages will decrease..
He said that DA is going all over the region
to educate the farmers on how to adopt to the
changing weather conditions. (mbcn/FCR/
PIA7-Cebu with FCC report)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
DUMAGUETE CITY, April 2 (PIA) The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has
facilitated a five-day Special Counter-Insurgency Operations Unit Training or (SCOUT) for the 129 policemen of the Philippine
National Police in the province.
NegOr PDRRMC facilitates SAR training for PNP SCOUT
T he participants were subjected to a
short course on Search and Rescue
(SAR) Training at the Senator Lorenzo
Teves Aqua Center, Dumaguete City.
PDRRMC executive officer Adrian Sedillo
said the province assisted in the short course
SAR training by providing the venue and for
tapping the expertise of the Bureau of Fire
Protection (BFP) as the facilitators of the said
training.
The SAR training is now introduced by the
PNP hierarchy as part of the 45-day SCOUT
Training to provide the PNP personnel with the
basic knowledge and skills necessary for SAR
operations.
This would be the first batch of the SCOUT
trainees that have been required to undergo the
SAR training particularly on Basic Life Support
(BLS), swift water and open water rescue, among
others.
Sedillo said the conduct of the SAR training
is the realization of the agreement between
Governor Roel Degamo and PNP Regional
Director Danilo Constantino for the provincial
government through the PDRRMC to provide
SAR skills to the PNP undergoing the SCOUT
training.
Gov. Degamo for his part immediately
responded to the request as it is within the ambit
of the serious efforts of the provincial
government in cooperation with various agencies
and private organizations to lay down
mitigation measures and preparedness for various
types of disasters. Sedillo said PNP personnel are
among the first responders during an emergency
and oftentimes put their lives at risk due to lack
of proper knowledge on how to handle the
situation.
“In fact, one PNP personnel died
w h e n a t e a m u n d e r g o i n g t h e
SCOUT training responded to the
flash flood incident in Bayawan City in October
of last year, that kind of incident that the PNP
leadership would not like to happen again,”
Sedillo cited. “This is part of our strong
commitment to support the programs
and activities of the PNP because they
are our partners in all aspects of
governance especially on disaster management,”
Governor Degamo said. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros
Oriental)
BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
CENTRAL VISAYAS, Apr. 1 (PIA) – Thirteen (13) students qualified as finalists for the Ten Outstanding Students of the
Philippines (TOSP) search in Region 7.
T he 13 student finalists are Marmie Dyan
Deniega, University of San Jose
Recoletos (USJR); Gwendelyn Ayuban,
University of Bohol; Warren Ronnell D. Flores,
Cebu Institute of Technology; Rona Marie S.
Namocatcat, Silliman University; Ray Anne G.
Labra, Cebu Normal University; Beatrice
Claudine A. Evardone, St. Theresa‟s
College; Mark Anthony A. Abellana, USJR; Daryl
Wishka C. Watin and Jun Marr M. Denila,
Un iver s i ty o f t he Ph i l i pp i ne -Cebu
College; Dardamie M. Caminos, St. Paul
University Dumaguete; Paul Emerson S.
Almontero, University of Bohol; Areshdel L.
Artes, USJR and Jenny Rose S. Sumagaysay,
Foundation University.
TOSP region 7 screening committee headed
by Woodrow Maquiling Jr., Dumaguete City
Tourism Officer, announced the names of the
passers during the preliminary screening on
March 29 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
These students will represent their
respective schools in the TOSP Region 7
formation week on April 17-23, 2014 in
Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
They will also vie for a place in this year‟s
TOSP awardees for Central Visayas, according to
Rolando Villamero, Chairperson of the TOSP
Alumni Community in Region 7.
The TOSP is an annual search for the
brightest students in Central Visayas that
possessed excellent qualities in academics,
leadership and social responsibility.
TOSP also aims to establish role models
that can motivate youths to help bring human and
economic development for the country.
This year‟s search is organized by the RFM
Foundation, RFM Corporation, Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Long
Distance Company (PLDT) and The Outstanding
Students of the Philippines-Alumni Community
(TOSPAC). (mbcn/RAL/PIA7-NEGOR)
13 students qualify for TOSP search finals in Region 7 BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in Bantayan Island, CebuBantayan Island, CebuBantayan Island, Cebu
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
CEBU CITY, March 31 (PIA) --- Phivolcs Director Dr. Renato Solidum told over 350 participants of the two-day disaster
preparedness information campaign road show here that immediate actions must be taken in order to be prepared for
disasters as Central Visayas is not safe from disasters including earthquakes.
Phivolcs says CV not safe from quakes, tells LGUs to prepare
I n his presentation at the two-day activity
dubbed 'Iba Na Ang Panahon Ngayon:
Science for Safer Communities" here, Soli-
dum showed there are faults in Cebu, Negros
Oriental, Bohol and in the Negros Trench.
“In 2012, Negros Oriental was hit by a 6.9
magnitude quake that left 58 casualties and 62
missing.
"Then in 2013, Bohol followed suit with a7.2
intensity quake with 222 deaths and eight
missing,” said Solidum, adding: “Which is next?
Cebu? We really do not know. We just have to
prepare.”
Solidum said all provinces in Central Visayas
have minor events occurring as epicenters.
“Walang ligtas sa earthquake (Nobody is safe
from earthquakes)," said the Phivolcs director.
Historical events outlined in Solidum‟s
presentation revealed minor earthquake events
already occurred in Cebu, Bohol and Negros
Oriental even back in the late 1800s.
But an incident he cited that terribly
shook Cebu was in January 28, 1922
where an intensity of 7.0-8.0 magnitude quake
damaged old structures while the old
Recoletos Church and Convent slid
down and the roof of the Bishop‟s Palace partially
caved in.
“From time to time, there will be strong
earthquakes due to our geologic setting.
We cannot avoid it, we just have to
prepare,” stressed Solidum.
Solidum identified four elements in preparing
and minimizing the effects of an earthquake. The-
se are hazards identification, hazards
assessment, risk assessment and impact/damage
scenario.
“We need to have an appreciation of a
disaster imagination. The things we need to do by
doing step-by-step action and get the results,”
further said Solidum.
Under the hazards identification, local
governments should know where are the
potentially affected areas, who and what will be
affected in case of tremor incidents.
Second, simulate the hazards for hazards
assessment, said Solidum.
Local government units should also
do some risk assessments in terms of losses
from casualties, social, physical and
damage to the economy while the fourth
element is the overall impact or the
damage scenario, both internal and external, said
Solidum.
Solidum also recommended for the
communities to have their house or building
technically assessed and inspected as to its safety
and based on findings, make plans to have it
repaired to make it safe and fit to live in. (rmn/
FCR/PIA-7)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
DTI-7 holds workshop in preparation for ASEAN Integration
CEBU CITY, March 31 (PIA) --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas was set to conduct, April 4
an ASEAN Economic Integration Workshop for the Manufacturing, Trade/Retail, and Creative Industries on at the Marco Polo
Plaza Hotel, this city.
T he workshop is in cooperation with the
Export Marketing Bureau, Regional
Development Authority (NEDA-7)
and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(CCCI).
The activity seeks to identify action plans
and strategies that would prepare and capacitate
industry sectors for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) integration.
The Manila resource speakers will discuss on
the overall direction of industry development, the
impact of AEC integration and its advantages
to the manufacturing, retail/trade and creative
industries.
The resource speakers from Cebu will share
their knowledge, experiences and expectations to
the upcoming ASEAN Economic Community
integration.
Outputs of the workshop will be utilized as
main inputs to the Central Visayas Roadmap to
AEC integration and will serve as guiding
document for the stakeholders in their
preparation for the AEC integration.
Year 2015 will mark the birth of the ASEAN
Economic Community and the start of free trade
between the 10 member-countries where
products and services, among other things, will
have a single market and production base and
where labor, investments and capital will have a
freer flow. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/DTI7)
LAPULAPU CITY, Cebu (PIA) --- Key personnel from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) underwent a three-day
disaster preparedness training starting March 31 in a bid to make the airport better prepared to respond to natural disaster
situations.
Cebu airport personnel train on disaster preparedness BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA
BY: JUJU MANUBAG-EMPUERTO
T he training dubbed “Get Airports Ready
for Disasters (GARD)” is conducted by
Uni ted Nat i ons Deve lopment
Programme (UNDP) and Deutsche Post DHL.
The training was attended by 55 key
employees not only from MCIA but also from
government line agencies and non-government
organizations who were closely involved during
the relief operations at Cebu airport in the
heels of typhoon Yolanda
MCIA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete
said that before Yolanda struck, preparations
were done to ensure that Cebu airport will
immediately function a day after the storm, and
for 12 days after, without water and electricity
from the outside world.
However, when the national government
decided to turn MCIA as the hub for international
relief aid, Villarete said they were unprepared for
the massive cargo that came their way.
At its peak days, the Cebu airport normally
handles about 130 tons of cargo per day.
But on November 16, 2013 or eight days
after the super typhoon, Villarete said the airport
received nearly 1,000 tons of cargo with
the airport handlers struggling to unload massive
volumes of relief cargo being flown in via 747
aircrafts.
Villarete recounted in his message during the
GARD launching program that their capability to
unload cargo for one 747 is around four hours
and yet that day, there were three 747s arriving
within two hours of each other.
When the relief aid from Israeli government
arrived - the third 747 aircraft to land at the
airport that day - Villarete said their handlers
could not unload the relief cargo until ten hours
after.
After the GARD training, Villarete said they
aim to produce a manual of operations for
disaster relief operations at the airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) has earlier granted MCIA with
an aerodrome certificate, the only airport in the
Philippines given the distinction as the safest
airport in the country.
This is the second GARD training held by
UNDP and DHL in the Philippines, with the first
held in May last year at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA).
According to UNDP Philippines Country
Director Maurice DeWulf, contingency planning
and the GARD training are part of UNDP‟s
efforts to enhance preparedness.
DeWulf is also hopeful that after the
training, airport officials and personnel here
together with the staff from ancillary agencies can
craft a comprehensive action plan “that will keep
the airport running smoothly should another
crisis occur.” (RMN/PIA Cebu)
Earthquake damages in BoholEarthquake damages in BoholEarthquake damages in Bohol
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
BIR EV encourages taxpayers to pay right taxes
T his year‟s tax campaign is carrying the
theme “I love the Philippines, I pay
my taxes right. It‟s as easy as RFP
(Register, File and Pay)”.
Atty. Diosdado R. Mendoza, Regional
Director of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
(BIR) in Eastern Visayas said, the purpose of
the tax campaign is to educate the people
about the taxpaying process and raise their tax
compliance awareness.
He also underscored the significance of
registration, filing and payment of correct taxes
as a civic duty of every Filipino citizen to spur
economic growth and development of the
country.
Although a 20% shortfall has shown in the
month of January and February 2014 against
the goal as taxpayers in the region were also
affected by the strong typhoon that struck in
November.
However, BIR in the region is optimistic
to meet the target collection for this year with
the strict enforcement of the law.
Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner
Nelson M. Aspe who was the keynote
speaker during the launching was
overwhelmed of the overflowing support
coming from heads and representatives
of various national government agencies,
industry, trade and business sector,
ordinary taxpayers, schools, students and the
media.
“I would say that with so many
participants here because I don‟t expect that
this place would be fill with more than 50
percent this morning with the event that
happened last year, but with the overflowing
crowd and with the supportive crowd, I think I
should say that Eastern Visayas, at least to this
event has risen”, Aspe added.
This is only an indication, according to
Aspe, that Revenue Region No. 14 does not
have to wait for three years in order to
recover.
Relative to this, BIR is also reminding
taxpayers to file the tax returns early to avoid
penalties and the inconveniences for late filing.
(PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 31 (PIA) – As part of its advocacy to encourage taxpayers the right payment of taxes, the
Bureau of Internal Revenue, Revenue Region No.14 in Eastern Visayas has formally launched its 2014 tax campaign recently.
DENR, two So. Leyte LGUs sign MOPA for free residential land titling
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
through Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca and the local government units of Malitbog and Libagon signed a Memorandum
of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) Wednesday at the DENR provincial office for the implementation of a law that provides
free titles to residential lands.
M alitbog LGU was represented by
Camilo Aroy, the Municipal
Planning Development Coordinator
(MPDC), while Mayor Oliver Ranque of
Libagon town was present for the MOPA
signing.
The MOPA document, the first formal
signing ceremony so far held around Region 8
and a pilot activity for the province, spelled out
specific roles and responsibilities of the DENR
and the concerned LGUs for the residents in
the community, mostly in poblacion areas, to
avail free services so their residential lands can
be titled.
Residential free patent titling has been
covered by Republic Act 10023, a law passed
on March 9, 2010, in which DENR was tasked
to closely work hand-in-hand with LGUs for its
smooth implementation with MOPA as basic
link
As stipulated in the MOPA, DENR will
extend to the LGU all the technical assistance
desired to carry out the objectives, while the
LGU was obliged to pass an ordinance to
integrate titling in its governance agenda and
create a local land titling office.
The LGU will also provide a Land
Information Office where people can seek
information and guidance, establish a Cadastral
Council, and assign a permanent employee as a
DENR-deputized personnel to handle
transactions on residential land titles.
In his message, Director Sibbaluca said
this will be an added opportunity for those
who had been clamouring for a long time to
have their residential lands titled, to fast-track
the process through the LGUs instead of the
Courts.
“Let us give our people a chance to have
their residential lands titled for free,” Sibbaluca
told DENR field men, rallying them to exert
best efforts so the MOPA can spread to the
rest of the 16 municipalities and one city of the
province.
Libagon Mayor Oliver Ranque said he
accepted the challenge even as he emphasized
he was honored his town was selected as a
pilot site for the program.
Malitbog MPDC Camilo Aroy said
he will relay everything to Mayor Allan Go,
adding that the Mayor was already very
eager to support the program when he
learned about it last year. (mmp,
PIA8-Southern Leyte)
NGO leads social media campaign for April 22 Earth Day
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 3 (PIA) - The Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. is spearheading a social media campaign
for this year’s Earth Day celebration on April 22.
D ubbed as HUGaTREE, the idea is
simple. Supporters of the cause will
just post online a picture of
themselves hugging a tree. They could post it
on Facebook, on their own blog, on Twitter,
or wherever so long as it can be seen by the
public online.
To generate bandwagon effect and to
monitor the success of the campaign,
supporters are advised to use the hashtag
#HUGaTree.
It is optional for the poster to explain
why he/she is participating in the campaign,
why he/she chose a particular location or tree,
or anything that could add hype to the
campaign.
It is highly encouraged that the members
of the network explicitly connect their
explanation to mining, sustainable agriculture
or climate change.
The Social Media campaign for Earth Day
2014 aims to reinforce the importance of trees
in the mind of the general public especially
those online.
It also aims to connect the issue of mining
and climate change to the recent controversies
involving the cutting of trees; and to
consolidate the online ranks of PMPI during
Earth Day 2014.
The PMPI believes it is about time that the
issue of mining, still unheard by many people,
be connected to the very popular cause of
saving trees. One of the ways to do it without
much costs is via social media.
Aside from mining, we can also connect
this campaign to our advocacy on
climate change. Experts say that the
presence of thick natural forests is
one of the earth‟s natural carbon
sinks. Carbon sinks help in curbing global
warming by absorbing greenhouse gases in the
air. (PIA 8)
By: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU
By: Marcelino Pedalino
By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in
Tacloban, LeyteTacloban, LeyteTacloban, Leyte
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
US Haiyan disaster aid totals over US$90-M
MANILA, March 31 (PIA) – The United States of America’s Haiyan disaster assistance totals to more than US$90 million.
T his was disclosed by US Ambassador
to the Philippines His Excellency
Philipp S. Goldberg during a recently
held press conference at the US Embassy
attended by Regional and National media
representatives.
Teamwork among U.S. government
agencies and the private sector was responsible
for the speed and effectiveness of America's
response to the devastation of Super-Typhoon
Haiyan in the Philippines, Ambassador
Goldberg said.
The devastation was so great, Secretary of
State Kerry came to see first-hand how relief
operations were going on in Tacloban, the
Ambassador said.
Ambassador Goldberg turned over the
microphone to the US Aid chief in the
Philippines saying that the USAid is the lead
U.S. government agency that works to end
extreme global poverty and enable resilient,
democratic societies to realize their full
potential.
US Aid helps societies to recover from
conflicts; and provide humanitarian
assistance in the wake of natural and
man-made disasters.
When Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most
powerful storms on record, made landfall in
the Philippines, USAID helped restore the
municipal water system in the hardest hit city,
distributed locally and region wide.
U.S. sourced food commodities to 3
million people, provided 20,000 families with
emergency shelter materials, and made sure
that 45,800 received hygiene kits. (PIA 8)
AusAid allocates $40M for education aid to Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 30 (PIA) – Australia through the Australian Aid (AusAid) window is allocating AUS$40
million of the AUS$150-million grant to the Philippine Government for the education assistance in Eastern Visayas.
T he financial grant is for the Basic
Education Sector Transformation in
support to the “K to 12” education
program of the government.
Australian Aid Acting Minister Counselor
Geoff King, who recently, met with heads of
tertiary academic institutions in Tacloban and
Leyte, said that although the AusAid is
providing assistance to college schools, the
main focus is the primary education in
partnership with the Department of
Education.
King said Australia is helping the Philippine
Government in modernizing education through
conduct of teachers‟ trainings for improvement
of teaching skills, building better and resilient
classrooms, and strengthening the education
system using the funds from the grant.
The grant will help train teachers, provide
support for students, and build 1,000 new
classrooms.
Half of the schools beneficiaries are
located in communities affected by Typhoon
Yolanda, King said adding that the Eastern
Visayas Region has been prioritized because it
was affected by the Super Typhoon.
Aside from education, AusAid is also
focusing on the disaster risk reduction, in
partnership with the United Nations in
Tacloban City and Leyte province.
Next year, the Australian government
will also provide millions to support the
livelihood and infrastructure development, it
was learned.
Meanwhile, another head of state
visited Yolanda devastated Eastern Visayas
Region.
President Anote Tong of Kiribati, officially
known as the Independent and Sovereign
Republic of Kiribati, an island nation in the
central tropical Pacific Ocean, is the latest in
the list of heads of state and high ranking
foreign dignitary who have visited Leyte and
Samar islands.
President Tong was in Babatngon, Leyte in
the morning of Saturday, March 29, 2014,
Babatngon Mayor Chary Chan told the
Philippine Information Agency.
It was also learned that in the afternoon
of Saturday, the Kiribati President and his party
will visit Mapanas, Samar. (PIA 8)
By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Spain's Foreign Minister leads turnover of fishing boats
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 28 (PIA) - The Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo of Spain, and the Ambassador
of Spain to the Philippines His Excellency Jorge Domecq were recently in Eastern Visayas to personally witness the ceremonial
turn-over of at least 25 fishing boats to the Yolanda-affected fisher folks of Sta. Rita Samar.
T he Municipality of Sta. Rita was one
o f the 7 se lec ted coas ta l
municipalities that will receive 400
wooden boats with engine and fishing gears.
The others are Basey, Villareal and Marabut in
Samar and Hernani, Llorente and Gen. Mac
Arthur in Eastern Samar.
The turn-over was part of the Agencia
Espanola de Cooperacion International para el
Desarollo (AECID) through the Mainstreaming
Peace and Development in Local Governance
project ( MPDLGP) that amounts to P12.4
million livelihood assistance grant to the seven
municipalities.
The Mainstreaming Peace and
Development in Local Governance Project is
an initiative that focuses on strengthening and
promoting conflict sensitive and peace
promoting governance.
It is a collaborative project of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process OPPAP, and the Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG),
through the Local Government Academy
(LGA), Bureau of Local Government
Development (BLGD) and the National
Barangays Operations Office (NBOO)
The Agencia Española Cooperacion
International para el Desarollo (AECID)
of the Spanish Government provides
technical and financial support: one
million five hundred thousand Euros or
roughly P80 million to the project while P12.4
million was allotted for the 400 fishing boats
with engine and other fishing gears for 7
municipalities.
Vicente Zaragozi AECID Director
General was also present in the ceremonial
turn over.
A l s o i n a t t e n d a n c e w e r e
Undersecretary Gettie Sandoval and Assistant
Secretary Jennifer Ureta of OPAPP, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan de los Santos of
Samar, Mayors Edgar Boco of Hernani, Jaime
Ty of Gen. Mc Arthur, Eastern Samar and
Joven Tiu of Sta. Rita and Marilou Latorre of
Villareal of Samar.
Heads of government agencies such as
BFAR, DA, DENR, TESDA, DOLE, AFP, PNP,
and the members of media were also present
in the event.
In an interview the Foreign Minister of
Spain Jose Manuel Garcia- Margallo admitted
that his country is also experiencing very
deep economic crisis, the reason why they
have budgetary restriction in terms of sending
help.
However, Spain did its best to help the
fishermen in the identified places and it
will continue helping the people of the
Philippines.
The best message the Minister can
give to the fishermen aside from the
fact that he loves fishing, is “Best of Luck” to the fishermen. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann A.
Abella)
By: Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in Typhoon Yolanda damages in Tacloban, LeyteTacloban, LeyteTacloban, 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) 3378718/3377301 or e-mail [email protected].
Editorial Consultants
Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8
Managing Editor
Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Contributors
All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8
Production and Layout
Edson J. Bañares 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: [email protected]/ [email protected]
PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
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: [email protected]/[email protected]