Vol 4 Issue 24 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 16 - 22, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue PAMANA set to start peace road

NFA-7: Rice supply, prices in CV remain stable

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Pacific Partnership 2014 starts in Tacloban and Palo By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 18 (PIA) - The Pacific Partnership 2014 Civic Action Programs designed to enhance

cooperation and goodwill between allied countries has begun in Palo town and this city in Leyte.

Some of the activities of the Joint Task Force Pacific Partnership 2014 include the groundbreaking of four

engineering projects. Major Amado C. Gutierrez, Chief, Public Affairs Office, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, said the

projects involve the construction of a 4-classroom building and Science building in San Fernando Elementary School,

reconstruction of the Outpatient Building in Tacloban City Hospital and reconstruction of the Science Building of Castilla

Elementary School, Palo Leyte. Furthermore, Trainings on Key Leader‟s Engagement and

Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response (HADR) where experts in HADR coming from the government, NGO‟s and

the participating Armed Forces will share their experiences and views to enhance capabilities of HADR teams in the event of

future disasters.

Major General Jet B. Velarmino, Commander, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army said, the Joint Civic Action

Programs in Palo, Leyte and Tacloban, City by the Armed Forces of US, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines

will enhance inter-operability of the participating soldiers in addressing HADR concerns in the future.

“This humanitarian gesture of the participating Armed Forces from other nations is heartwarming as it exemplifies the

“Bayanihan Spirit” that carried the country over the challenges posed by super typhoon Yolanda Haiyan,” Velarmino added.

A series of medical, dental and veterinary civic action programs in different areas of Tacloban will also be conducted

in July this year. Initially, Pacific Partnership 2014 (PP14) was slated in

Luzon, however, due to the damage caused by typhoon Yolanda, it was transferred to Leyte. The latest Pacific

Partnership was held in Eastern Visayas in 2012.(CBA/PIA-8/DPAO-8)

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 16 (PIA6) - - Former members of the armed group Revolutionary Proletarian Army/

Alex Bongcayao Brigade who have long returned to the folds of the government will now have better road access to their

settlement area. The local government of San Carlos and the PAMANA

program or the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process is set to start

the road project as a commitment of the national government to continue peace programs against insurgency.

The city government represented by City Mayor Gerardo P. Valmayor, Jr. entered into a work contract for the

improvement of a 3-kilometer Pagbatangan-Nangka-Crossing Magasin Road (Boundary) at Brgy. Bagonbon with OPELL

Construction and Development Corporation as contractor last for the amount of P8.8M after a public bidding conducted

earlier. According to Mariel Avenir, Project Development Officer

III of the City Planning and Development Coordinator‟s Office, the entire project is funded under the PAMANA in the amount

of P9,750,000 and counter-parted by the city government at P975,000.

Avenir cited that the project is an improvement of an

existing gravel road where a portion of 500 meters will be

concreted particularly at upper Sitio Nangka where the 117 registered former armed group and their families reside.

Avenir added that after said project‟s completion next year OPAPP PAMANA will grant the amount of P16.5M to the

city to continue the rest of the road project. According to the contract, road construction will be

within 264 working days with expected completion on July 8, 2015.

The beneficiaries of said project who are former armed group members identified the site in 2012 during the consulta-

tion with the local technical working group represented by various local agencies and representatives of the OPAPP who

helped with the closure program with said rebel returnees. These returnees have grouped themselves into a

People‟s Organization, the Kapatiran Para sa Progresibong Panlipunan to which livelihood projects and other basic facilities

will also be provided by the OPAPP PAMANA thru the city government.

PAMANA is the national government program and framework for peace and development for conflict affected

areas aimed at reducing poverty, improving governance and empowering communities. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6/San Carlos Negros

Occidental)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

USAID acting assistant administrator for Asia

Denise Rollins (4th from left) together with

Mary Mai Flor (l-r) of Waterlinks, Abundio

Nunez of Albay Public Safety and Management

Office and Leyte governor Dominico Petilla

show the signed twinning agreement on

disaster risk reduction and management as

Gloria Steele (right) of USAID Philippines

witnesses the activity which was held at the

Governor‟s Hall, Leyte Provincial Capitol,

Tacloban City, June 4. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

HEROES EVERYONE. The 14 Tzu Chi

classroom buildings rose on the school

grounds in Catigbian Bohol on a feat that

could probably go down in history as

the fastest school build effort in less than 4

hours. Consequently, Mayor Virgilio Lurot has

urged his people to do volunteer work, with

or without Bayani Challenge. (contributed

photo/RAC)

Mrs. Elsa S. Subong, Philippine Information

Agency (PIA)-6 Iloilo Information Center

Manager, briefs the information officers of

national government agencies in Western

Visayas and local government units on the

climate change advocacy campaign of PIA and

the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR)-6 during the general

assembly of the Association of Government

Information Officers (AGIO) here. (PIA 6)

BY: REY ANTHONY H. CHIU

CEBU CITY, June 18 (PIA) – Prices of commercial rice and its supply remain stable in Central Visayas assured the chief

of the National Food Authority (NFA-7) amid reports that costs of commercial rice in Manila have risen to as much as P2/

kilo. NFA-7 Regional Director Atty. Danilo Bonabon

admitted that during the lean months from June to August, the prices of „palay‟ usually goes up which is quite normal.

“If the palay is bought at P23 per kilo, then the mar-ket price will increase almost double or over P40/kilo,” said

Bonabon during the weekly forum of the Association of Gov-ernment Information Officers (AGIO-7) this morning that

tackled the topic “Rising Costs of Commercial Rice and Stability of Supply in Central Visayas.”

Bonabon said factors like post harvest losses must be taken into consideration from handling to milling until it gets to

the table which approximately will not fall below 10 percent and not to mention the transport costs.

The NFA-7 chief said Central Visayas has always been deficit in rice production with the exception of Bohol

which is self-sufficient. “Our sufficiency level is only at 33 percent while the remaining 67 percent gap is filled by other

regions,” said Bonabon adding that Manila is the region‟s biggest supplier.

But even if prices of commercial rice are still within

„normal‟ range, Bonabon said he has instructed NFA employees to check rice prices in the different public markets prior to

reporting to office and before going home. Bonabon also said he is coordinating with market officials

and local government units for them to report any alarming

rise of rice prices.

According to Bonabon, the modal cost of commercial rice is at P42/kilo while the most expensive premium rice is

„Ganador‟ which costs P54/kilo. Bonabon said when the harvest season begins by

September, prices of rice varieties are expected to go down. The NFA-7 on the other hand, also assured there is

sufficient supply of rice for Central Visayas with over one million bags while the regional consumption level for one

month is only estimated at 32,000 bags. The buffer stocks will even be augmented with the arrival

of more than one million bags with 700,00 for Region 7 and 840,000 bags for Region 8, said Bonabon.

The Philippines will be importing 800,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, part of which will arrive in the country this

week. (mbcn/FCR/ PIA7 with reports from Kristal Eduyan, PIT intern)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

DOH: Clean air is for all

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 19 (PIA6) – Health officials urge smokers to respect the rights of others.

W estern Visayas Department of

Health Medical Specialist Julia

Villanueva stressed that they are

not forcing anyone to stop smoking rather

they are campaigning for people to smoke in

designated places so as not to pose danger

to non-smokers

Villanueva said that smoking should not

be done in enclosed places such as offices,

restaurants and the like as it poses danger to

the public such as the second and third hand

smokers.

“We are not saying that smokers

should quit smoking but we are only calling

on them to do the same in proper places as

a matter of respect for the rights of others

to a clean air environment,” she said.

She also challenged other towns in

Capiz to implement their no smoking

ordinance and join the search.

She cited Roxas City which was a

recipient of the Hall of Fame Red Orchid

award for a 100% Smoke Free Environment

for three consecutive years from 2011 to

2013.

Villanueva said that Dumalag town will

also be this year‟s Red Orchid Hall of Fame

Awardee, with the awarding scheduled in

November in Pampanga.

For Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan

Celino, the implementation of the city‟s No

Smoking Ordinance is a personal

commitment as he himself had to quit

smoking after he was elected city mayor in

2010.

“We are sincere and committed to have

a smoke-free city for the future of the next

generation because we care for our

environment and our people,” Celino said,

stressing that he had to quit because he

cares.

On the other hand, Capiz Governor

Victor Tanco said that smoking is not only

bad for health but it is also a bad influence to

others especially for the children.

Tanco said that smoking destroys life

because it is a health hazard and many died

because of it.

He also urges everyone to value life,

instill the value of life and become agents of

life as well as responsible leaders of the

children in their homes and communities.

The DOH in partnership with the

Provincial Health Office and other health

units in 16 towns and city in Capiz

conducted, June 17, a 100% smoke free

environment province-wide caravan in Capiz

as part of the No Smoking Month activities

this June, which was participated in by all the

health personnel from the hospitals and

Rural Health Units, including other national

government agencies and stakeholders.

(JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

ILOILO CITY, June 19 (PIA6) – The Guimaras Mango Growers and Producers Development Cooperative recently received the

shared service facility (SSF) for mango processing.

Mango processing facility now in Guimaras

T he facility for mango hot water

treatment and processing was

turned over to the coop by the

Department of Trade and Industry in the

province.

Coop head Felipe Gamarcha said the

facility will greatly help them produce

quality mangoes since fruits that undergo

hot water treatment will suffer less

damage when processed.

For Rebecca Tubongbanua, a

Magsasakang Siyentista, the facility will

provide them quality processing grade

mangoes for their mango-based products.

The facility costs over P400,000

under DTI‟s SSF program intended to

help micro, small and medium enterprises,

to increase their productivity and

accelerate competitiveness.

DTI said SSF also aims to eliminate

the gaps and difficulties in the processes

involved in priority industry clusters by

giving producers machineries and facilities

for their common use.(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

KALIBO, Aklan, June 16 (PIA6) – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ivene Reyes of DENR-Aklan

called on Aklanons here to refrain from burning and throwing away plastics anywhere which could ruin the environment.

P ENRO Reyes issued this call

recently at the short program at

the Kal ibo Pastrana Park

after the “Lakbay Para Sa Kalikasan”, one

of the activities spearheaded by the

DENR in the province in celebration of

Environment Month this June, supported

by the Philippine Information Agency.

The “Lakbay Para Sa Kalikasan”, held

June 10, started from the Provincial

Capitol early in the morning and ended at

the Kalibo Pastrana Park participated in by

LGU-Kalibo led by Mayor William S.

Lachica, students from various colleges in

the province, the Philippine Army,

Philippine Coast Guards, Global Business

Power Corporation (GBPC), Aklan

Environment and Natural Resources

Office (AKENRO) and DENR-Aklan

officials and employees. PENRO Reyes

also talked to the participants about

Climate Change and its impact to the

environment, bringing floods and storms

not only during the late months of the

year but now throughout the year. “All

governments and countries are now

finding ways to adapt to Climate

Change. The DENR is doing something to

upgrade people‟s awareness about the

effects of Climate Change, but the DENR

cannot do this alone,” Reyes said.

To make the participants understand

the unusual effect of climate change, he

cited the situation in Afghanistan, which

experienced no rains before but now gets

flooded. For his part, Mayor Lachica, who

also delivered a message, called on every-

one to plant trees, including the fruit-

bearing ones to protect Kalibo from

floods. “Let us help and support each

other so things that happened in the past,

like floods, won‟t happen again”, Lachica

said. After the talks, the group held a

“Hataw” and a ceremonial tree planting

around Pastrana Park. The planted narra

tree seedlings around the Kalibo Pastrana

Park will be cared for by LGU-Kalibo, ac-

cording to Community Environment and

Natural Resources Officer (CENRO)

Kalibo Merlene Aborka. Theme of this

year‟s Environment Month

is “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level”.

(JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Burning plastics a No-No, says DENR

By: Venus G. Villanueva

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Antique needs P4.8B for rehab, recovery

SAN JOSE, Antique, June 18 (PIA6) - - The province of Antique will be needing some P4,799,351,277.50 for its rehabilitation

and recovery program to help typhoon affected persons in the 12 municipalities return to their normal life.

T h e a m o u n t c o v e r s t h e

con so l i d a t e d bu d ge t f o r

infrastructure, social services,

resettlement, livelihood, and environment

for the provincial rehabilitation and

recovery, programs, projects (PRR) and

activities.

The infrastructure cluster gets the

b i gges t chunks amount in g to

P 2 , 2 7 9 , 0 5 6 , 6 9 2 . 3 9 ; S o c i a l

services- P849,072,302.50; Resettlement

- P470 ,689 , 000 .00 ; L i ve l i hood

- P164,256,729.00; and for environment

- P75,700,000.00.

The PRR plan was approved during

the June 16 special meeting of the

Provincial Development Council, subject

to further data required from some local

government units to submit until

Tuesday, and will be endorsed through a

resolution for the approval of the

Sangguninag Panlalawigan.

The rehab and recovery plan is

intended for the municipalities of Barbaza,

Bugasong, Caluya, Culasi, Laua-an,

Libertad, Pandan, Patnongon, San Remigio,

Sebaste, Tibiao, Valderrama.

Provincial Planning and Development

Coordinator Juliana O. Cepe said that

some local government units have not yet

identified their respective relocation sites,

and the concerned local chief executives

through their respective Municipal

Planning and Development Coordinators

were urged to submit the needed data.

Cepe said that the SP approved provincial

rehabilitation and recovery plan will be

submitted to the OPARR by June 20.

Gov. Exequiel B. Javier thanked the

municipal mayors for preparing the

needed plans of their respective

municipalities, and likewise the Provincial

and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Councils, and the Provincial

Planning and Development Office for

consolidating the report, and the OPARR

for helping the province. (JCM/VWV/PIA6

-Antique)

By: Vicente W. Villavert

ILOILO CITY, June 17 (PIA6) - - The search begins for outstanding overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families who will represent

Western Visayas in the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA) 2014, Parangal sa Matatag na Pamilyang OFW.

T he Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration Region 6 is now

accepting nominations for the

award which intends to honor the

sacrifices and contributions of Filipino

migrants abroad to the Philippine

economy, among others.

Groups such as Non Governmental

Organizations (NGOs), People‟s

Organ iz a t ions (POs) , re l i g ious

o rgan i z a t ions , commun i t y -based

socio-civic associations, and Local

Government Units (LGU) can nominate

an OFW in the award‟s two categories -

landbased category and sea based

category.

Winners in each category will be the

region‟s bet for the national level of the

search.

The nomination criterion includes the

following qualifications: a) The family

should be headed by an Overseas Filipino

Worker (OFW), land based, formerly or

presently working abroad with a formal or

informal contract of employment or work

permit and with proof of OWWA

membership; b) The OFW, either married

or single, should be the head of the family

and has at least four (4) years work

experience as an OFW; c) The OFW

family is known as solid/stable family in the

locality; d) Financially stable.

The selection process is anchored on

the following criteria: 50 % focuses on

Wholesome OFW Family which exudes

constancy of positive communication

leading to emotional connection, support

and ma i n t en an ce , sh a r in g o f

responsibilities among OFW family

members and psycho-social maturity of

ch i ldren; 20% Civic/Community

Involvement of OFW and Family; 20%

success in OFW and/or Family member/s

education or profession; and 10% success

in Managing Family Finances.

For further details about the award,

those interested can visit OWWA

Regional Office 6 at Robinsons Place, De

Leon Street, Iloilo City with contact

n u m b e r s ( 0 3 3 ) 3 3 7 4 4 8 4 o r

5091075. (JCM/LAF/PIA6-Iloilo)

Search for WV outstanding OFW families begins

By: Lilibeth A. French

WV hospitals all set for rainy season

ILOILO CITY, June 19 (PIA6) --- With the rainy season already here, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas

said that DOH-retained hospitals are all set to respond to people‘s health needs and to various emergency situations that may

occur.

F lor Lynn Gallardo, DOH-6 Health

Emergency Management Staff

(HEMS) Coordinator said that

personnel, logistics, medical supplies,

facilities, and adequate measures are in

place to manage emergency situations

during the rainy season.

“Medical supplies for dengue,

leptospirosis and other rainy season

diseases are available in hospitals and rural

health units. The hospitals are also

equipped with adequate IV fluids and

oresols,” she said. She said that the

hospital personnel have been adequately

trained on Basic Life Support (BLS) and

Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support

(ACLS) for the urgent treatment of

cardiac arrest, stroke and other

life-threatening medical emergencies.

In terms of disaster preparedness, the

DOH off ic ia l sa id that whi le

DOH-retained hospitals are prepared to

respond to these situations, there is still a

need to update and upgrade the facilities

and equipment.

“We also need to constantly update

our personnel on how to answer to

different scenarios and a re-training on

how to respond to emergency cases

during disasters,” she explained.

She also said that they are planning to

create response teams in the region and

to further strengthen and update the

already active response teams in hospitals

both the DOH-retained and private.

She added that DOH-6 is also slated

to conduct activities for the National

Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

(JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) --- Government agencies are now on their toes preparing for the onset of the El Nino

phenomenon.

Government agencies prepare for El Nino

I n today‟s media briefing on Climate

Change, government agencies that are

some of those at the forefront in dealing

with the El Nino phenomenon laid out their

respective mitigating plans.

Joel Elumba, Department of Agriculture (DA

-7) Research and Regulations chief said his agency

is now in the process of consolidating the plans

and coming up with a supplemental budget that

will deal solely with the weather phenomenon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and

Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)

foresees the El Nino phenomenon to occur in the

last few months of this year.

According to Elumba they are already

advising all DA units and the farmers to apply

buffer stocking on drought resistance seeds.

These include high value crops like corn,

cassava and sweet potato (camote).

They also encourage farmers to implement

alternate plants and crops like vegetables mongo

and squash after a rice harvest.

But most importantly, Elumba said they are

strengthening the feedback mechanism from the

field to their agency.

In terms of livestock, Elumba stressed the

practice of good animal husbandry,

supplementation of minerals in feeds that has

anti-stress capabilities and forage preservation.

The National Irrigation Authority on the

other hand partnered with DA in advising farmers

what to plant depending on the availability of

water supply.

“We also encourage downstream farmers

not to plant rice yet but go for melons, mongo

and other vegetables,” according to Norma

Monisit of NIA7.

There will also be cementing and cleaning up

of irrigation canals. Monisit however assured that

water levels in all 11 major dams in the region has

not reached an alarming state as of this time.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources 7 revealed they were the first to have

submitted an El Nino mitigation supplemental

budget amounting to P7.5 million.

Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD),

assured they also have a mitigating plan in case

drought will come and will not pass on additional

costs to the consumers.

Charmaine Kara, MCWD IO said, for now

they have no problem with groundwater

supply which covers 80 percent of MCWD‟s

consumers.

Only affected are the 20 percent surface

water which for now is filled up with savings from

the groundwater production.

Today was the first media briefing of the

Climate Change advocacy campaign partnered by

PIA and the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR).

Other key government agencies will be given

a chance to air their respective actions in dealing

with climate change. (mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA

LARENA, Siquijor, June 20 (PIA)--Who says environmental effort isn‘t cool? In fact, it‘s the ―in‖ thing today.

Work, have fun to launch 'Green Line Siquijor' project on June 24

“ It‟s work and fun,” enthuses Provincial

Environment and Natural Resources

Officer Moreno Tagra as he invites all

Siquijodnons to join in the launching of Green

Line Siquijor Project on June 24 at Dumanjug,

Siquijor, Siquijor.

Picnics, swimming and revelries will take

place following the tree planting to also

celebrate the feast St. John the Baptist.

Some 1,000 saplings of different varieties

will be planted in the whole stretch of barangay

Dumanjug which include “Bitaug” and “Langin”

along shorelines, “Talisay” in the beach areas

and fruit trees landwards.

We make it on June 24 so that after

planting, participants will have fun swimming

and enjoying the barangay‟s beautiful beach

front, says Tagra. The project, he said is piloted

in Dumanjug because aside from its “really

good” beach front, its women‟s association is

strong that is seen to be capable of managing

and sustaining the project.

He said 'Green Line Siquijor' will not only

enhance beauty but will also establish

shoreline, protect the place and its locals from

storm surge, promote historical significance of

the island and brings micro climate

improvement as a whole.

We hope to involve students, schools,

companies, government and non-government

organisations so that eventually the whole

province of Siquijor will be lined up with trees,

he said.(mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)

BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO

BOHOL, June 17 (PIA) – The Department of Tourism (DOT) dares tourism stakeholders to make a guest‘s fun experience as

unforgettable through seamless organization and networking as well as hassle-free vacation.

DOT dares tourism stakeholders to make PHL vacation more fun

BY: REY ANTHONY H. CHIU

“ Ensure that your visitor will have an

unforgettable fun experience,” urges

Department of Tourism Assistant

Secretary Benito Bengzon at the Regional

Association of Development Information

Officers-7 (RADIO-7) and tourism officers

First Information Summit at Hotel Elizabeth in

Cebu June 9-11, 2014.

Bengzon, who sits at the DOT market

development group, revealed that the country

has made a significant head way in tourism in

the past months, because of the newly

incorporated fun component in the Philippine

tourism campaigns.

He cited visitor arrivals reaching 4.7

million this year, at a noble 10% increase

despite the calamities, making revenues of

about $5 M to the Philippine economy.

This he claimed, is even when the figures

do not include domestic travelers, who had a lesser coverage.

Domestic travel still reached 45

million which represents the movement of

Filipinos over the country, and this

collected a figure larger than 8-9 times over

foreign revenues, the young tourism official

retorted.

Tourism has also become one of Central

Visayas and Bohol‟s key economic engines, one

which has the capacity to better local

economic conditions.

“The great year for tourism,” according to

Bengzon, “is attributed largely to „It‟s More

Fun‟ campaign which has captured the world

imagination.”

The incorporation of the fun component

in a Philippine vacation has captured the

imagination of the world, created a buzz

and led to the country‟s citations and

recognitions as among the best destinations in

the world. It has to be fun, he stressed. But,

somewhere reality tells that there‟s going to be

one sucker who would pull out a fast one, for a

quick and easy money, leaving tourists

shortchanged and feeling badly about the

deals.

To them, Bengzon said, “The industry

spends billions of pesos for promotions, only

to be ruined by a driver pulling a fast one, or

when the air-conditioning unit conks out, this

leaves a bland experience,” the tourism official

added.

“What we want is for tourists to

experience how warm the Philippine

experience is,” he urged. Bengzon challenged

information and tourism officers to help spread

the word about the Philippines in their

news and blogs, handle crisis information

properly by keeping positive but balanced news

and getting the word out quickly, to continue

the tourism industry‟s edge in the country. 1(mbcn/RAHC/PIA7-Bohol)

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU CITY, June 17 (PIA) --- The government‘s massive forest rehabilitation program has not only helped grow more trees in

the country but also alleviated poverty among members of the people‘s organizations (POs) in upland communities.

NGP helps alleviate poverty – DENR

In a recent Kapihan sa PIA held to mark

June as Environment Month, Eduardo Inting

of the Forest Management Services of

Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR-7) said that the National

Greening Program (NGP) has helped

parents in POs send their children to

school.

“When we monitor the project, some

of them told us that they‟ve sent their

children to college because of it (NGP),”

cited Inting.

Through planting trees, members of

people‟s organizations can earn monthly at

around P150 to P200 per day.

DENR has assigned POs to safeguard

tree plantation sites under the NGP.

Inting also said there are already

126,000 jobs organized for members of POs

in the entire region.

Their income will depend on the kind of

work they do, he said.

Claimants must be a member of a

registered PO and should participate in the

program such as monitoring the planting of

trees.

NGP was first rolled out in February

2011 under Executive Order No. 26 of Pres.

Benigno C. Aquino III with the aim of 1.5

million hectares of tree plantation

nationwide for six years. (rmn/Visame

Arellano, PIT intern/PIA-Cebu)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 18 (PIA) -- If US President Barack Obama funds almost $1billion in the campaign

to win the combat on climate change, an officer of the communications group of the Aquino administration believes that

extreme weather condition is best cope through the Bayanihan spirit, a Filipino tradition displaying the spirit of unity and

cooperation.

U sec Jose Mari Oquiñena of the

P r e s i den t i a l C o mm un i c a t i o n

O p e r a t i o n s O f f i c e

(PCOO) concurrently Director General of the

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and also

serves as executive director of the Gawad

Kalinga Community Development Foundation

believed winning the campaign on climate

change calls for a collective effort saying “ a

collective wrong can only be corrected by

doing a collective right”.

Oquiñena said the campaign does not all

depend on money but by sharing of resources

and being united in the movement against

climate change.

“We must make this movement our life‟s

mission,” Oquiñena said to information and

tourism officers who attended the 21st RADIO

-7(Regional Association Development

In format ion Of f i cers ) consu lt at i ve

conference in Cebu, as he called on them to

share information that will lead to inspire the

public.

The RADIO-7 convention banners the

theme “Relevant Information: A Tool for

Sustainable Development in Tourism,

E n v i r o n m e n t a n d D i s a s t e r

Preparedness,” where more than 100 public

information officers and tourism officers in

Central Visayas attended in Cebu City

recently.

Oquiñena has seen how the Bayanihan

spirit successfully worked for the Gawad

Kalinga movement, where he is fully involved

in alleviating poverty and providing of homes to

thousands of homeless families in the

Philippines and abroad through the power of

unity and cooperation. Philippines is considered

to be one of the countries is that

vulnerable of the effects of climate change of

which Negros Oriental suffered much during

typhoon Sendong landed on December 17,

2011.

It may be recalled, the strength of

typhoon Sendong affected more than 3,000

families and left over 30 reportedly dead.

The tropical storm then also caused

damaged to properties, infrastructures,

irrigation canals, farms and agricultural crops

which cost over P730 million.

With the series of advocacy campaigns, it

is said it may convince communities to adapt

and mitigate the effects of climate change and

insulate communities from the impacts of

weather changes and patterns. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7

-Negros Oriental with reports from Des A.

Tilos/PIO-Valencia)

BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS

DG Oquiñena: Climate change best cope thru

Bayanihan spirit

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) – The Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) launches the

nationwide Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV) 2014 in recognition of the selfless dedication and contributions of Filipino

individuals and organizations in helping local communities contribute to nation-building through acts of ―volunteerism.‖

M ain objective of the SOV is to highlight

the exemplary performance and

dedication to service of Filipino

volunteers in helping people and communities

and recognize the role of volunteerism in

development and nation-building.

There are two types and categories of the

search namely the Volunteer Lifetime

Achievement Award (VLAA) and the National

Outstanding Volunteer Award (NOVA).

Under the VLAA, this is conferred to an

individual or organization for consistent and

outstanding volunteer service and whose

achievement is regarded as an inspiration and

role model in the field of volunteerism.

The NOVA on the other hand, is given to

any individual or organization for outstanding

volunteer service that has made a significant

contribution to uplifting the lives of people and

communities served.

According to the PNVSCA, a Special

Citation in Volunteerism will also be conferred

to recognize volunteering efforts and/or

support to volunteerism by an individual, group

or organization that do not qualify under the

regular SOV categories but which are deemed

equally meritorious in accomplishment.

Qualified to be nominated for the SOV

are individuals of Filipino citizenship and

organizations currently providing assistance in

the Philippines such as Filipino or local chapters

of international non-profit organizations and

foreign or international corporate

organizations.

The Regional Search Committees (RSCs)

are constituted to proactively search and

nominate qualified candidates to the award and

may accept nominations from other individuals

and organizations.

Nomination forms may be downloaded at

www. pnvsca.gov.ph or may be obtained

from the PNVSCA, Regional Offices of the

National Economic and Development

Authority (NEDA), Regional Planning and

Development Offices in Autonomous Region in

Mindanao.

The completed nomination forms must be

submitted to the respective RSC that covers

the area where the volunteer or volunteer

organization is based.

Deadline for submission of completed

nomination forms to the RSC must be on or

before July 15, 2014. (mbcn/FCR/PIA7 with

reports from Kristal Eduyan, PIT-intern)

Search on for Outstanding Filipino Volunteers 2014

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

DBP SMEs loans window now open in Eastern

Visayas

O n June 11, Erwinlyn Velasco of

DBP Tacloban and DBP-Samar

Manager Herbert Achay talked

to more than 50 SMEs operating in the

City of Calbayog.

We are ready to extend loans to

those who have collateral and those who

do not have assets, says Velasco.

“If you really don‟t have any asset,

then let us talk about it, come to us, we

will see what we can do,” said Velasco.

“We are committed to helping SMEs,”

he said.

However, Achay said that the

bank does a very thorough

processing and reasonable time before

the fund release to ensure that everything

is clear and transparent.

“We urge you to tell us everything, so

we can help you,” the young manager told

the SMEs operators.

The DBP team said that it can grant

loans from Php150,000.00 to Php200 M

for those in need.

The SME center is open in Zamora

Street, Tacloban City but other branches

like those in Catbalogan, Catarman and

Borongan have been asked to accept

applications.

One of those who attended, Baby

Luciano who operates an upholstery shop

and a barber shop said she did not regret

coming to attend the SME Roving

Academy as she learned how to get fresh

funding for her business.

The entrepreneurs also learned a

great deal about registration with the

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) , issuing

receipts and invoices.

Also present was Food and Drug

(FDA) in charge Eugenia Castillote who

talked about licenses to operate for SMEs

in the food business.

DTI Meilo Macabare said that the

SME roving academy is one of the

go ve rnmen t ‟ s s t r a t e g i e s t o

realize “inclusive growth, which means

that economic gains should be felt by

everyone.

With the infusion of fresh capital

for the SMEs who in turn employ

people, DTI hopes that the SMEs can

truly usher inclusive growth. (NBQ/PIA

8-Samar)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 17 (PIA)—Small and Medium Enterprises in Eastern Visayas needing additional capital or

funds can now rely on an SMEs Loans Window at the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

‗Operation‘ puts smiles on 52 indigents

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, June 12 (PIA) – More or less 50 indigent individuals from this city will now smile their life

through, after the 50-member team of Operation Smile Medical Mission (OSI) granted them free surgical operations.

L ed by Mr. James Reid, International

OSI Coordinator, the patients were

granted free nose, palate and lip

repairs at the Provincial Hospital.

In the Send-Off Party tendered to

them today by Governor Conrado Nicart,

Jr., Mr. Reid said they are happy to extend

help to “Yolanda” affected communities

and happier still when they saw people

crowd near them to get enlisted for the

operations.

He mentioned that they are happy to

perform free services particularly to poor

provinces like Eastern Samar.

Dr. Jessica informed also that the

Medical Mission, most of them Americans,

came on their own expense including their

accommodation at the Do?a Vicente

Hotel where they stayed for a week.

In his message, the very young OSI

Coordinator, Mr. Reid, candidly

mentioned the many challenges they

faced in their mission, including the air

conditioning units that they had to buy on

their own.

But, they were able to overcome

those difficulties through their sheered

cooperation. Mr. Levi Nicart, who

resented Governor Conrado Nicart

thanked the visiting doctors. According to

the former Nicart, the mission‟s output

will surely leave an unforgettable print in

the lives of some indigent patients, as he

wished them for a safe travel back home

and good luck in their future medical

missions.

“We hope this will not be the first

and last mission that you will conduct in

our province as we project an improved

hospital facilities in your next Operation

Smile Medical Mission in our place”, the

Disaster Risk Reduction Management

Officer said. The project was made

possible by the Borongan Diocese through

focal person Ms. Marly Cenera, in

coordination of the provincial local

government unit(PGO).(GTT/AEN/

PIA-Eastern Samar)

Northern Samar marks 49th Founding Anniversary

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, June 16 (PIA) – A four-day series of events will mark this year‘s 49th anniversary celebration of

the foundation of the province of Northern Samar.

T he celebration highlights its theme

“One province, One People:

Reshaping the Future through

CHANGE.” This almost-weeklong

-celebration will kick off with the opening

of Agri-Eco-Tourism Exhibit at Sacred

Heart Plaza, Solidarity Lunch at Ibabao

Hall and Founding Anniversary Flag Raising

at Capitol Lobby.

Vice Governor Gary M. Lavin,

chairman of the Executive Committee for

the 49thFounding Anniversary said that

the celebration is designed to highlight

Norte Samareños culture and arts aimed

at promoting Northern Samar as the next

socio-cultural and eco-tourism hub in the

region.

Activities include the 1st Northern

Samar Festivals Parade and competition,

4-day Agri-Eco-Tourism exhibit and

competitions, drum and bugle corps

competition, Miss Northern Samar

2014 pageant and coronation and cultural

night.

On the big day, as it coincides with

the birthdate of the provincial governor

Jose L. Ong, there will be a motorcade to

start the day, followed by a thanksgiving

Mass at the Ibabao Hall. A brunch with

lingap kids at PSWD Lingap Center will be

shared with after the mass.

The evening is slated for a cultural

night at Catarman Freedom Park and the

launching of the 50th year come 2015.

Northern Samar was part of the

Samar province until it became an

autonomous province by virtue of

Republic Act No. 4221, approved on June

19, 1965. (PIA8-Northern Samar)

By: Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

By: Alicia E. Nicart

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

ABU , CCJD hold consultation meeting on

DRR in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 16 (PIA) – A two-day Consultation Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction was conducted at Ritz

Tower de Leyte Hotel, this city.

T he activity entitled “Continuing

Conversations on Emergency

C o m m u n i c a t i o n s . . Wo r k i n g

Together for Disaster Risk Reduction”

brought together representatives from

various national government agencies,

local disaster management agencies,

Philippine Red Cross, Non Government

Organizations working with local

communities and the local media.

Held last June 16 and 17, the

consultation was aimed at finding out the

missing links, lapses and gaps in

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s b e tw e e n t h e

stakeholders in emergency warning

dissemination.

Various topics were discussed during

the two-day interactions. On Day 1,

participants shared lessons learned from

emergency warnings, from the media and

community groups, thereby bridging the

gaps in communications.

Rusell Isaac, an independent

consultant who has been in the Broadcast

Industry for 35 years, shared international

good practices on emergency warnings

and discussed some aspects of effective

communication in emergency situations

and disaster risk reduction on the second

day.

Meanwhile, Natalie Lieva of Asia

Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)

discussed some pointers on working with

the communities to deliver timely,

accurate and understandable messages.

One of the recommendations

gathered from the participants was the

conduct of trainings and workshops for

communicators in efforts to enhance

knowledge in communication particularly

on disaster risk reduction and

management (DRRM). This will be further

discussed at the national level.

The event was co-organized by

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and

Center for Community Journalism and

Development (CCJD), the lead

convenor of the Disaster Risk

Reduct ion Network Ph i l ipp ines

(DRRNetPhils.) and sponsored by ESCAP.

(GTT/CBA/PIA-8)

South Leyte NGO leads planting of rootcrops for animal feeds

BRGY. MAHAYAHAY, BONTOC, Southern Leyte, June 17 (PIA) -- A locally-organized non-government organization (NGO)

initiated a massive planting of rootcrops, like cassava, camote, and corn, which will be used later on as raw materials for the

production of feeds for a piggery project across the province.

L ast Sunday, officials of the Southern

Leyte Socio-Economic Development,

I n c . ( SOL SE D) w a t c he d a s

farmer-partners planted camote and cassava

in a one-hectare lot owned by the Gawad

Kalinga village located by the roadside in a

rolling hill in this interior barangay.

Also watching the initial planting were

Amy Aleco, Punong Barangay of Mahayahay

and ABC Municipal Federation of Bontoc

town, and Cong. Damian Mercado, one of

the main founders of SOLSED.

In December 2013, SOLSED began a

province-wide swine-raising project in

Hinundayan with 100 piglets distributed to

twenty beneficiaries.

In April this year, the pioneering hog

raisers of Hinundayan successfully sold their

grown pigs to SOLSED in a “first harvest”

ceremony, in which Cong. Mercado foresaw

the planting of rootcrop materials soon to

be processed into feeds, so that costs on

commercial feeds can be reduced.

That vision was realized Sunday, June

15, 2014. During the program launching the

feed stuff production, Cong. Mercado

assured that the farmers‟ fruit of their labor

will be bought by SOLSED at a higher price

than what is prevailing in the market.

The raw products of corn, cassava, and

camote will then be brought to the feedmill

plant in barangay Rizal, Maasin City, to be

processed into various finished products of

animal feeds, for chicken and pigs, among

others, and will be sold to farmers at a

lower price than those sold by commercial

outlets, Mercado said.

He challenged the crop partners to take

good care of the plants as their own, and

insure a bountiful harvest in three to four

months‟ time, so they can have extra income

for their families.

Dudu Cobarub ias , Prov inc ia l

Veterinarian who is closely coordinating

with SOLSED, said that Bontoc was chosen

as the pilot site planting inputs for feedstuffs

due to its wide space, the rolling hills in its

countryide.

In barangay Mahayahay, Cobarubias said

some 12 hectare of open, idle lands were

already assessed for use in the feed stuff

production, and about half of these assessed

lands were already plowed using a tractor

lent by the municipal government, which

budgeted P 150,000.00 to support the

SOLSED initiative.

The launching program was also

attended by municipal official led by Mayor

King Ruales and an expert Consultant on

Agriculture from UP Los Banos, Laguna, in

the person of Pons Batugal, who is the

adviser in the new office of former Senator

Kiko Pangilinan. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

By: Marcelo M. Pedalino

By: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

Hundreds flock to DOLE‘s jobs fair

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 16 (PIA) – Hundreds of applicants from different parts of Eastern Visayas flocked to the office

of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Tacloban, City for the jobs fair during the Independence Day

celebration.

DOLE Region 8 Director Exequiel

Sarcauga said that out of 746 total

number of registered applicants,

327 were considered quali f ied

but only 14 were hired on the spot,

the rest were scheduled for further

interview.

Sarcauga also said that the purpose

of the activity was to give jobseekers

the opportunities to find jobs as they wish

for.

More than 5, 000 job opportunities

local and abroad were made available

during the one day activity.

The jobs fair on Independence Day

was the 6th jobs fair in the region

conducted by DOLE after typhoon

Yolanda. (GTT/CBA/PIA-8)

By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

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 piaamo6@yahoo.com.

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: 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