Vol 4 Issue 30 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 27 - Aug. 3, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue ESamar hails PNoy’s SONA

DRRM's focus is on preparedness

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

1:10k geo-hazard maps for over 200 Cebu brgys. completed BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

CEBU CITY, July 27 (PIA) – The Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR-7) concluded its detailed geo-hazard

mapping of 1:10,000 scale for 208 priority barangays in northern

Cebu severely hit by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.

DENR-7 information officer, Dr. Ed Llamedo bared the

barangays are situated in eight municipalities and the city of Bogo.

The identified municipalities are Madridejos, Sta. Fe and Bantayan

Proper in Bantayan Island, Daan Bantayan, Tabogon, Borbon,

Tuburan and Tabuelan.

“The 1:10,000 scale geo-hazard maps are more detailed down

to the sitio level where the degree of vulnerability to floods and

landslides can be seen,” said Llamedo adding that such

comprehensive data can be used by local chief executives to

effectively work on their proactive measures on disaster

preparedness.

Llamedo, one of the panelists of the Post-Yolanda Press

Briefing: Rehabilitation Phase said the local government units

(LGUs) concerned have been furnished with the detailed

geo-hazard maps complete with recommendations.

Part of the recommendations of the DENR-7 to concerned

LGUs is the establishment of a community-based warning system

and the establishment of the disaster risk reduction and

management committee down to the sitio levels.

Llamedo said accomplishing 1:10,000 scale hazard maps is a

priority program under President Aquino’s Philippine Development

Plan on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The DENR has until the end of the year to complete the

1:10,000 geo-hazard maps of all barangays down to the sitio level

nationwide.

“Cebu is highly to susceptibility to landslides due to its soil

type which is 70 percent limestone and high number of

mountainous areas,” Llamedo added.

Llamedo called on LGUs to revisit the geo-hazard maps as

basis to make their comprehensive disaster risk reduction and

management plans.

The press briefing undertaken by the Philippine Information

Agency-7 in partnership with the Armed Forces of the

Philippines-Central Command done twice-a-month aims to highlight

continuing government interventions and contributions of

government partners in the ongoing rehabilitation and rebuilding

phase in post-Yolanda. (mbcn/fcr/PIA7)

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, July 29 (PIA) –

Whenever the highest official of the land mentions one particular

person or place in his said State of the Nation Address

(SONA), there is no other reaction of the concerned party but to

be proud of the unexpected recognition.

This was the common reaction of the people here, when His

Excellency President Benigno Aquino III included in his 2014 SONA,

Eastern Samar as one of the provinces whose Rehabilitation

Programs he has recently approved.

Engineer Enrico Banario, Provincial TESDA head was one of

those who gave the President a thumbs-up. Said over the state

owned radio station DYES, Banario expressed elation at the Presi-

dent’s statement, that is, to continue the fund support to TESDA’s

Training for Work Program.

According to Banario, he is proud of their trainees, because

60% of them have landed in highly skilled jobs here. He

referred to a number of out-of-school youths and previously jobless

and unproductive individuals in “Yolanda” hard-hit areas.

In earlier interviews, the TESDA head said they have given

trainings in carpentry and electrical installations among others and

these have given the beneficiaries substantial livelihood activities not

to mention the Carpentry Kits given them.

Banario looks forward to continue the same training for

work programs as publicly announced by the highest official of the

land.

Moreover, Dr. Andrecita Cuna, owner-manager of

Domsowir Hotel and Restaurant, gave 80% score to PNOY’s

SONA, saying, the President cannot please everybody, as she

referred to the President’s endless critics.

According to her, it is good that the President has effected

reforms in the Cabinet, even accepting the resignation of former

Customs head, Ruffy Biazon who was his friend and ally.

On the DAP and Butz Abad, Dr. Cuna said that it is better

that the President has this budget to finance emergency projects

and services, because, knowing bureaucracy with the voluminous

required documents and procedures, responding promptly to

emergency conditions is close to impossible.

Similarly, Crisencio “Jun” Ricafort, a retired policeman said

that: Dapat pabayaan na lang ang Presidente sa mga ginagawa niyang

mga proyekto. Noong panahon namin, mahirap ang supplies namin,

hindi kagaya ngayon, ang gaganda ng mga gamit ng mga pulis, tig-isa

pa ng baril, may modernong gamit pa na pang-gyera.

However, an electronic mechanic expressed slight musings on

the President. He said that: Okay naman ang SONA ng Presidente,

kaya lang, sana binanggit niya ng klaro ang gagawin niya kay Napoles

pati yong mga proyektong kalsada na hindi naman natatapos, ang iba

pa nga naubos na daw ang pondo pero hindi pa tapos ang kalsada.

(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, July 31 (PIA6) -- Preparedness, something

that should be done before a calamity strikes, is the emphasis of

present government disaster risk reduction and management

efforts, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator

Alexander P. Pama.

Pama, who is also the Executive Director of the National

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said during a

press conference here that while before the focus of authorities is

on response, this has shifted to preparedness and prevention and

mitigation.

This shift in focus is embodied in Republic Act No. 10121 or

the law strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and

management system, which also provides for its framework and

institutionalizes a national DRRM plan.

He cited the case of Iloilo which Pama said could have been

suffered worse from the effects of typhoon “Yolanda” if not for its

improved level of preparedness courtesy not only of local

government units but also of communities as a whole.

What is being implemented right now at national level is the

so-called pre-disaster risk assessment, a system wherein an

impending typhoon is studied and monitored before it could enter

the Philippine area of responsibility.

The pre-assessment is done by a core group led by the

Department of Science and Technology and PAGASA, which are

also at the helm of the sector on disaster prevention and mitigation.

We treat calamities or hazards not across-the-board but as

hazard-specific, area-focused and time-bound., wherein every every

hazard is treated as unique in itself, said Pama.

Once it is detected and studied, data are cascaded to the

Department of the Interior and Local Government and passed on

to LGUs along with advisories on possible effects, vulnerable areas

and preparations needed.

In case a calamity strikes, response and eventually recovery

and rehabilitation will follow, he said.

The press conference was held on the sideline of the Iloilo

Provincial DRRM Summit for Local Chief Executives held

July 31-Aug. 1 here as part of the National Disaster Consciousness

Month observance.

Pama was joined at the media interaction by OCD-6 Regional

Director and RDRRMC chair Rosario Cabrera, NEDA-6 Director

Ro-Ann Bacal and PIA-6 Director lawyer Ma. Janet C. Mesa.

In a related development, the municipality of Dumangas, Iloilo

hosted the first municipal level local climate forum of the Philippine

Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration (PAGASA) on July 30.

The Local Climate Forum , a joint project with the Regional

Integrated Multi Hazarad Early Warning System (RIMES), seeks to

provide a venue to discuss climate-related issues or concerns and

forecast different time scales and how this information will be

useful to various sectors such as agriculture, water resources,

health and academe, among others. (JCM/JSC-PIA6 with LAF

report)

BETTER THAN ONE. With two lines now

capable of transmitting power in Bohol, the

time when preventive maintenance of NGCP

transmission lines and substations would mean

total blackout is past. Engr James Rodriguez

said the new 138 KV line can now be used as

alternative to the 69 KV line which Bohol used

to rely for supply in Tagbilaran. (PIABohol/

RAC)

Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR)-6 Regional Technical

Director Alicia Lustica stresses the importance

of reducing our carbon footprint to campus

paper advisers to mitigate the impact of

climate change during the Basic Journalism and

School Paper Management Seminar for

Advisers held July 23-25 at the Grand Tower

Suites here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Department of Social Welfare and

Development 8 regional director Nestor

Ramos welcome guests and participants to the

orientation of DSWD and UNICEF

partnership program on unconditional cash

benefits to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in

Eastern Visayas held at the Hotel Alejandro,

Tacloban City, July 29. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8)

USEC Alexander Pama, Exec. Director of the National Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Council answers questions from

members of media. Joining him at the head table are (R to L)

Directors Rosario Cabrera of OCD, Ro-Ann Bacal of NEDA, and

Atty. Ma. Janet Mesa of PIA6.

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, July 30 (PIA6) — The Police Regional Office-6 will be the venue of a caravan for gun holders, slated

August 11-15, to accommodate those who are applying for License to Own and Possess Firearms(LTOPF).

PRO-6 slates caravan for gun holders

P olice Inspector Sheila Sangrines, public

information officer, said that the

LTOPF can only be secured at Camp

Crame in Quezon City, but the PRO-6 is

making it convenient for gun holders in the

region with the caravan, where biometrics and

photo capturing system will be done.

Sangrines said that while waiting for the

scheduled caravan, PRO-6 will process the

requirements for securing the LTOPF, which

actually started July 21-25, July 28-August 1 and

will be held again August 4 – 8, at the

Multipurpose Hall of Camp Delgado in Iloilo

City. The requirements are Neuro-Psychiatric

result, drug test result, gun safety and

responsible seminar certificate and R2

clearance.

The processing for the LTOPF is a

provision of Republic Act 10591 or the

Comprehensive Firearms and ammunitions

Regulation Act, and in preparation for the final

gun amnesty to be launched in the region by

PRO-6

The law provides that the LTOPF, which

is valid for two years, is a mandatory

requirement in the procurement, transfer and

registration of firearms. The final gun amnesty

will allow individuals with unlicensed firearms

to have their guns documented and registered

with the Firearms and Explosives Office.

Police Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, PRO-6

director said the gun amnesty is designed to

account all loose firearms in the region, which

authorities believe, are used for criminal

activities.

Angan said if the number of unregistered

or fictitious is high, then there is a cause for

alarm.

“The Firearm Law is not meant to make

things difficult for our responsible gun holders,

but to put gun ownership in the right

perspective,” Angan said. (JSC/ESS-PIA Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

OSY's programs and projects get multi-sectoral support

SAN JOSE, Antique July 31 (PIA) - - The stakeholders of the Out-of-School-Youth (OSY) in Antique have committed to

converge their programs and services to support the endeavors of 12,049 OSY.

A sst. Schools Division Superintendent

Roselyn Palcat in her message during

the meeting of multi-sectoral groups

under the Abot-Alam Program in the Division

of Antique said that the OSY needs to become

productive and participate in the development

of their community and country in general.

“What will happen to our province in the

coming years? If the OSYs are not given due

attention, they can be vulnerable to trafficking

and abuse,” she said.

“Take the case of sugar migrant workers,

some of them are OSYs that spent months of

hard work in sugarcane plantation, but had not

earned much for the family instead went home

with meager amount”, Palcat said.

She further said, if they are convinced to

get back to school and given proper guidance,

they will have a bigger chance of becoming

productive and gainfully employed.

Perla Loriega, Abot-Alam Program

Coordinator disclosed the results of mapping/

survey of DepEd-Alternative Learning System

(ALS) in different districts, some 35 percent of

the OSYs manifested their desire to get back

to school, 35 percent wanted to have liveli-

hood activity, some 30 percent opted to have

skills training.

Loriega banked on the support of other

agencies, local government units and ALS

Coordinator to organize the OSY and

interventions be made based on their identified

options.

In response, various government agencies

like the Technical Education and Skills

Deve lopment Au thor i t y (TESDA) ,

Departments of Labor and Employment, Trade

and Industry (DTI) and Social Welfare and

Development presented their programs and

services that could match the needed support

of the OSY.

Likewise, the Departments of Agrarian

Reform and Environment and Natural

Resources laid out their existing programs that

could cater to OSYs. DAR specifically

mentioned their support to agrarian reform

communities while DENR mentioned about the

potential employment of OSY in forest

protection program.

The meeting ended with the agreement

that the mentioned agencies meet with

OSYs in different towns so that schedules of

skills training will be set as well as meeting with

ALS teachers and preparation of project

proposal for livelihood activities will be

scheduled.

In conclusion, Palcat urged everyone to

become part of the support group of the OSY

and help them achieve their dreams. (JCM/

PSM/PIA6Antique)

BY: Pilar S. Mabaquaio

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 28 (PIA6) – The government and private sectors here have pooled and spent resources together to

come up with an Investment Promotion Center (IPC) and Business Resource Center that was formally opened last July 17 at

the Capiz Government and Business Center here.

T his was disclosed by Philippine

Chamber of Commerce and Industry

– Capiz chapter president and IPC

managing director Dale F. Bernas during a

simple program and fellowship inside the

Center.

The provincia l government in

concurrence with the Provincial Micro Small

and Medium Enterprises (PMSMED) Council

and the Capiz Joint Chambers has designated

Bernas to direct the IPC services and

operations.

PMSMED Council is chaired by

businessman Danny So Chan.

“We really hope that we can entice more

investors to come in and make Capiz

investor-friendly,” said Department of

Trade and Industry director Ermelinda P.

Pollentes, noting that P1-million worth of

fixtures and Information and Technology

(IT) devices will be shared by DTI to the

Center.

She also hoped that the Center may be

provided with a Global Positioning System

(GPS) so that any investor that will come in

will be shown on the computer where he may

want to invest given a GPS look of the entire

province.

The Capiz provincial government offered

the CGBC space available and manpower for

free for the investment promotion arm of the

province.

The opening ceremonies were also graced

by Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, provincial

administrator lawyer Jose O. Villanueva and

PMSMED Council officers and members,

among others.

For his part, Chan stressed that the

establishment of IPC as embodied in the

Provincial Investment Code showed that public

private partnership in the province is active and

strong.

The IPC inauguration was part

of the Micro Small and Medium

Enterprises (MSME) Week celebration that was

also supported by PMSMED Council, Capiz

Joint Chambers and provincial government

(AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

Investment Promotion Center now open

By: Alex A. Lumaque

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Gov’t agencies encouraged to embrace ICT

ILOILO CITY, July 28 (PIA6) – Government agencies were encouraged by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson

Francisco T. Duque III to embrace information and communication technology (ICT) in providing services to the public.

O win g to t h e p rog r e s s and

a dv an cemen t in t e chno logy ,

particularly ICT, we have really to

embrace and incorporate it in the way we

operate our services and offices in providing

much-needed services and interacting with

clientele, said Duque.

The CSC chairperson led the recent

conferment here of the Citizen’s Satisfaction

Center Seal of Excellence award to six

government agencies in Western Visayas doing

frontline services which garnered a rating of

Excellent during the conduct of the Anti-Red

Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card Survey in 2013.

This (ICT) is something we cannot escape

from, he said. In the end, the best form of

public service is one wherein there’s no need

for service or face-to-face service.

Through the ease of just a click of the

computer keyboard, you will be providing

services, added Duque.

In the future, transactions will be done

electronically, said Duque as he advised

government agencies to reflect new ways of

doing things.

In fact, he said that in the future the

ARTA Report Card Survey will include an

assessment of how well agencies are doing

electronic transactions with their clients.

The six awardees were the Government

Service Insurance System (GSIS)-Antique

Satellite Office, Public Attorney’s Office

-Bacolod City District Office, PAO-Roxas City

Office, PAO-Aklan District Office, Land Bank

of the Philippines-Miag-ao Branch, and LBP

-Aklan Branch. The awarding was held at the

CSC-6 “Gusali ng mga Lingkod Bayani”.

CSC-6 Regional Director lawyer Rodolfo

Encajonado commended the awardees and

stressed that the award epitomizes the

achievement of their frontline service

providers’ readiness to render responsive,

accessible, courteous and effective services to

clientele, besides even going an extra mile in

doing the same. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

By: Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Aklan bizmen get pointers on product development

KALIBO, Aklan, July 30 (PIA6) -- A big number of entrepreneurs from the municipality of Lezo recently received inputs and

advice from the Aklan Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PMSMEDC) when they came

face to face with each other during the conduct of an Information and Advisory Sessions on Enterprise Development.

T he Information and Advisory Sessions

in Lezo was one of the major

act iv i t ies of the Prov inc ia l

Government of Aklan and the PMSMEDC in

observance of the 2014 Small and Medium

Enterprise Development (SMED) Week

observed on the 3rd week of July, according to

Engr. Diosdado P. Cadena, Provincial Director

of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in

Aklan.

Aklan PSMED Council is chaired by

Governor Florencio T. Miraflores with PD

Cadena of DTI-Aklan as Co-Chairperson.

On hand to welcome the participants

and members of Aklan PMSMED Council was

Lezo mayor Victor Fernandez, who thanked

the DTI and the council for initiating the

“face-to-face” sessions with entrepreneurs of

his municipality.

“DTI is trying its best to enhance business in Lezo”, Fernandez told the participants who

gathered at the Lezo Multi-Purpose Pavement

for the activity, mostly composed of “Ampaw”,

pottery, abaca by-products and metalcraft

producers.

The town is also famous for its pottery

products and clay bricks, and essential material

here for building houses, churches and other

structures.

Other attendees included chicken broiler

producers, grocery owners and direct sellers

of various products who wanted advices on

capitalization, effective marketing techniques

and strategies in collecting payments for items

and products taken on credit.

DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Cadena, for

his part, said the people of Lezo were

very lucky to have the town as the venue of

the Info and Advisory Sessions.

He also said that of the 9 towns which are

recipients of the Grassroots Participatory

Budgeting Program (GPBP), Lezo will be

getting the biggest amount – P1.6 million for training in various skills in pina weaving, fiber

dyeing, footwear-making, abaca macramé,

clay-based product production, food product

enhancement/improvement, furniture-making

and ironworks.

Presently, Cadena a resolution from the

local government of Lezo endorsing the

program is the only thing being awaited to

complete documents for the partnership to

take off in the town. Cadena said the total

budget for the GPBP in Aklan is P5.8 million,

shared by the towns of Libacao, Nabas, Banga,

Lezo, Numancia, Tangalan, Ibajay, Malay and

Kalibo.

At the information session proper,

entrepreneurs were given inputs by the

PSMEDC on proper packaging and labeling of

products, production of good quality

abaca-based products, furnitures, metalcrafts

and potteries, sourcing of capitalization from

cooperatives and rural banks as advised by the

representative from Landbank-Aklan.

“Strengthening Competitiveness and Sustainability of MSMEs” is the theme of this

year’s SMED Week/Month celebration. (JCM/

VGV PIA6 Aklan)

BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, July 31 (PIA6) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform North Negros gave out Certificates of

Land Ownership Award (CLOA) and loan support from the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) to agrarian reform

beneficiaries.

A bout 359 ARBs from 10 municipalities

received their CLOAs dividing the

397.964 hectares of land holdings.

The 10 municipalities and cities in North

Negros Occidental include Escalante City,

Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City, Cadiz City,

Manapla, Victorias City, E. B. Magalona, Silay

City and Salvador Benedicto.

Ceremonial check amounting to a total of

P17,057,184 as APCP credit support were

turned over to five Agrarian Reform

Beneficiaries Organizations with a total of 193

ARB-members from Cadiz, Victorias and Silay

cities.

Meanwhile seven ARBOs from Escalante

City, Cadiz City, E.B. Magalona, and Silay City

received certificates of recognition for their

initial successes in utilizing the APCP credit

assistance in maintaining collective farm

operations, sustaining farm employment and

generating substantial dividends to

ARB-members and their households.

The distribution of CLOAs and awarding

of APCP loans as well as recognition of ARBOs

are part of the department’s anniversary

celebration. Provincial Agrarian Reform

Program Officer II Teresita Mabunay said that

the celebration showcased the realization of

CARP’s mission of securing the new ARBs’

tenure on the CARP-awarded lands, and

eventual rural poverty alleviation in the

agrarian reform areas.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

359 ARBs receive CLOAs

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

NEGROS ORIENTAL, July 30 (PIA) – The province of Negros Oriental will remain food sufficient for the rest of the year.

NegOr food sufficient for the rest of 2014

P rovincial Agriculturist Gregorio

Paltingca disclosed that as of now,

there are no problems in food

security in the province and agricultural

crops are enough to feed Negrenses.

Paltingca reported that based on the

2013 data, the province has reached 40%

food sufficiency in rice and 70% sufficiency in

corn.

Paltingca explained why the province

only attained 40% sufficiency in rice.

He said the province could have already

reached 60% sufficiency but because of

recent calamities that affected irrigation

systems in rice fields in Bayawan City and in

the municipality in Zamboanguita it was

reduced to 40%.

Still, there is nothing to worry about

this because the production of rice is more

than enough as well as that of corn, Paltingca

said.

Aside from these, there is also sufficient

supply of other agricultural products like

kamote, cassava and banana which are

alternatives to rice and corn.

The province, on the other hand, has a

surplus of vegetables and fruits and even

exports a number of them to the provinces

of Siquijor, Cebu, Zamboanga Del Norte,

Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Mindoro.

The Provincial Agriculturist Office

(PAO) maintains its thrust to produce safe

sufficient and nutritious food through

organic farming.

The provincial government has allotted

P10 million in support to PAO’s programs

for organic agriculture.

Paltingca said that they are conducting

two levels of training for farmers on creating

bio-organic fertilizers.

On the national level, the country has

achieved 3.28% rice expansion during the

four months of 2014, equivalent to 4.3

million metric tons (MMT).

Food security and agriculture was one

of the issues highlighted in the recent State

of the Nation Address of President Aquino.

(mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Negros Oriental

makes some steps for the immediate rehabilitation of damaged coral reefs in Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental.

DENR pushes for rehab of damaged marine sanctuary in Apo Island

BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN

P rovincial Environment and Natural

Resources Off icer , Charl ie

Fabre said that the Protection and

Management Board (PAMB) in partnership

with Silliman University and local

government unit of Dauin are now working

on the restoration of Apo Island's marine

sanctuary which was badly damaged by

typhoons Sendong in 2011 and Pablo in

2012.

Silliman University that conducted a

related study on the preservation of

marine sanctuary in Siquijor Island

and other places revealed that fish

sanctuary structure can be reconstructed

again by mixing the corals with cement to

get back to its original form and let it

stabilize for some time before rehabilitating

them.

DENR regional Director Isabelo

Montejo said he will make a proposal to

DENR Manila for additional funding to fast

track the recovery of the damaged marine

reserve.

PENRO Fabre on the other hand cited

that cooperation and support of the people

living in the Island is very important for the

success of this undertaking.

If Apo Island gets over populated there

is a possibility that people's wastes and

garbage will destroy the marine sanctuary

which will later on lose its popular

destination as one of the tourist attractions

in Negros Oriental, revealed Fabre.

Along this line, Fabre recommended

that there is a need to regulate the

operation of businesses and monitor the

actual population in the area to preserve the

cleanliness and orderliness of the

environment around the sanctuary.

In response to this, Montejo ordered

PAMB to make a study on the ideal

population ratio as basis for barangay

officials of Apo Island and local government

unit of Dauin in formulating laws to

regulate the issuance of business and building

permits in the island. (mbcn/lpp/PIA-7/

Negros Oriental)

CEBU CITY, July 27 (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-7) formerly the National Statistics Office will undertake a

pilot census next month on six localities in northern Cebu severely battered by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.

PSA-7 to hold pilot census in Yolanda-hit areas in Cebu

P SA-Cebu provincial statistics

officer, Fermo Diputado said the

pilot census will involve 45

barangays in five municipalities and one city.

These towns are Madridejos, Sta. Fe and

Bantayan Proper in Bantayan Island, Daan

Bantayan and San Remigio and the City of

Bogo.

Diputado said the request for a pilot

census came from the Office of the

Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation and

Recovery (OPARR) headed by Sec. Panfilo

Lacson.

Data to be gathered include

livelihood and housing site of typhoon

survivors before and after Yolanda,

characteristics of housing unit, garbage

disposal and sources of water supply among

other important basic information, said

Diputado.

“We will be hiring 158 data encoders to

do the pilot census starting August 4 until

August 30,” bared Diputado.

The provincial statistics officer

also said priority for data encoder

hiring are those coming from affected

localities.

A data encoder will be paid P286 per

day good for one month,” said Diputado

during the post-Yolanda Press Briefing:

Rehabilitation Phase at the Public

Information Office of the Armed Forces of

the Philippines-Central Command recently.

Diputado said the PSA has allotted P2

million budget for the conduct of the pilot

census in Cebu.

After the survey, all data will be collated

and will be submitted to the OPARR by

yearend, he added.

Diputado urged household respondents

tasked to f i l l out the survey

form to cooperate with the data

encoders as a new law that has

just been passed stipulates penalties for

those who refuse to fill put census survey

forms.

“A fine of P10,000 will be meted to

household respondents who refused to fill

out the census survey form,” said the

PSA-Cebu statistics officer. Diputado said

the regular census survey will be conducted

in August next year or every five years as

the last population census survey was done

in 2010. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) – Environmental groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Negros Oriental revived

the call to harness solar energy as another renewable energy source for the province.

T his was raised in a Kapihan sa

PIA on renewable energy recently

a n d w a s a t t e n d e d b y

representatives from Silliman University,

Negros Oriental State University, FENOR,

350.Org, Social Action Center of the

Diocese of Dumaguete, local government

units of Dauin, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City,

Siaton and San Jose and the media.

Leo Mamicpic from the Friends of the

Environment in Negros Oriental (FENOR)

believes the province can use solar energy as

another source which is a “greener”

alternative than the geothermal energy

which the province has.

Mamicpic thinks this is possible since

San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has

inaugurated a 25MW solar energy power

plant in May this year.

He added that the government can

replicate this solar energy farm in the

municipalities of Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay

which are the sun belt areas in Negros

Oriental.

Mamicpic, is the co-founder of FENOR,

an environmental advocacy group on climate

change, bio-diversity conservation,

reforestation and other environment-related

issues which concerns are being

carried out through education and policy

campaign.

FENOR is one of the environment

groups that is against the alleged massive

cutting century-old trees in Mount Talinis

area in Valencia town in line with

Energy Development Corporation (EDC)’s

geothermal and expansion projects.

EDC is a Lopez-run energy firm

operating a geothermal power plant in

Valencia.

Environment groups in the forum

pushed for the use of solar energy since it

counters deforestation and is of the

cheapest mode of renewable energy.

Eric Hanquinet of Environmental

Advocacy on Solutions and Technologies

(E.A.S.T.) mentioned there is no problem

with renewable energy with regard to

legislation.

“I think what we need basically is

education on what is happening here.

W h a t a r e o u r o p t i o n s ?

How much (is) the cost of solar energy?”

Hanquet said.

He added that solar energy is easy to

implement and everyone can have access to

it provided they have the equipment needed

to harness solar power and it takes about

four years to get a return of investment to

your equipment.

Meanwhile, Zephanie Danieles of

350.Org underscored the need for the

government to push for not just renewable

energy but also clean, accessible and

community-based energy source.

She added that government should also

consult the public on what source of energy

they think is relevant to them.

“For Negros Oriental, we are capable

of solar energy,” Danieles stated.

Environmental groups and CSOs

hope that through the Kapihan, government

agencies in the province will consider the

possibility of using solar energy to power

Negros Oriental. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

Time to use solar energy, say NegOr groups

CEBU, July 26 (PIA) --- The local government of Sta. Fe town evacuated 30 families in Sitio Dapdap, Brgy. Langub in

Kinatarkan Island, Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island after a sinkhole appeared in the area.

30 families in island town in Cebu evacuated due to sinkhole

A ccording to Sta. Fe Mayor Jose

Esgana, the sinkhole measures

40x40 feet and was discovered this

morning.

Kinatarkan Island is an hour

away by boat from the mainland town of

Sta. Fe.

The 30 affected families have been

evacuated to a safe area 300 to 500

meters away from the sinkhole within

Brgy. Langub.

In an official statement, the Cebu

Capitol Public Information Office said the

discovery of the sinkhole has been

reported to the Mines and Geosciences

Bureau and Office of Civil Defense-7 for

proper action.

The Provincial Disaster and Risk

Reduction Management Office, headed by

Baltz Tribunalo, has also sent a team

to said town to help the affected

families in coordination with the municipal

officials.

Paul Esgana, Sta. Fe Administrator,

told Philippine Information Agency that

they have erected a 200-meter perimeter

fence around the sinkhole. (PIA-Cebu)

BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA

BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) - - Dumaguete City Government joins the country’s observance of the National Disaster

Consciousness Month (NDCM) with a citywide motorcade on July 28 at 9:00 am around the city streets with the City and

barangay officials, students, and representatives from various national and local agencies expected to participate in the event.

D umaguete City mayor Manuel

Sagarbarria who also chairs the

City Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Office (CDRRMO) urged

the residents to be watchful in times of

disaster as the low pressure area today

was estimated 1,020 kilometer east of

Northern Mindanao.

The month of July is declared as the

National Disaster Consciousness Month

with this year’s theme: “Kahandaan at

Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan,Pundasyon ng

Kaunlaran”.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management head Engr. Jose Chu said,

as far as disaster preparedness is

concerned the city government has a

24-hour standby or on-call emergency

rescue team.

He urged every sector here to

act ively participate in disaster

preparedness and remain vigilant amid the

onset of the rainy season.

The route of the parade will start

from Colon street turn left to Perdices

street and proceed to Calindagan road,

then turn right along Real Street and

proceed to north, turn right crossing Saint

Paul Rovira Road (Bantayan) turn right to

Hibbard Avenue and proceed to south

along Perdices street, then turn left to

Colon Street, Engr. Chu said. (mbcn/JCT/

PIA7-NegOr)

Dumaguete City observes 'National Disaster

Consciousness Month'

BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Officials, people of Region 8 await Pope’s visit

PALO, Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – Officials and the people of Eastern Visayas particularly in Palo, Leyte eagerly await for the

coming of Pope Francis next year.

T his after the Vatican has announced

the Papal Visit on January 15-19,

2015.

In a press conference held recently

at the Municipal Hall of Palo, Leyte

reportedly to be visited by His Holiness,

Mayor Remedios L. Petilla said the people from

all walks of life are very eager to see the Pope

in person.

Around 1 to 2 million people not only

from region 8 but from other parts of

the country are expected to attend the High

Mass.

Reports have indicated that the Pope will

be visiting areas devastated by typhoon

Yolanda like Palo, Leyte.

Mayor Petilla also informed that initial

meetings have been conducted between the

church and the local officials of the town

where several sites are being considered to be

the venue for the High Mass.

The Pope is expected to lead the High

Mass during his visit.

Although the Vatican has yet to

approve the venue for the High Mass, sites

proposed are the government center in Palo,

the Tacloban airport and the Tacloban port

area.

The Pope is expected to visit the

Archbishop’s residence where he may also

inaugurate the Center for the Poor and the

Center for Orphanage.

He is likewise expected to visit the Palo

Metropolitan Cathedral which is now under

renovation after it was heavily damaged by

Yolanda last year.

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications

Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny

Coloma said the government joins the Filipino

people in welcoming the Vatican’s

announcement confirming the Pope’s visit to

the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015.

“President Aquino is calling on all

concerned government offices and the

citizenry to work closely with the papal visit

committee to ensure the success of Pope

Francis Apostolic Visit,” Coloma added.

“Pope Francis’ visit marks the

20th anniversary of the celebration of World

Youth Day in Manila which was presided over

by now St. John Paul II.

Filipinos will most certainly accord to

Pope Francis the warmth of their

hospitality and manifest the fervor of their

faith as they welcome the first Pontiff from

South America,” Coloma stressed. (AJC/CBA/

PIA-8)

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

100 student leaders join DRRM forum

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – Some 100 student leaders coming from different colleges and universities

of the province join the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) forum to highlight the 2014 National Disaster

Consciousness Month.

T he Prov inc ia l Disaster Risk

Reduction Management Office

(PDRRMO) in close coordination

with the Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction

Management Office and the Philippine

Information Agency led in the conduct of

forum together with 11-resource speakers

coming from the different national line agencies

and LGUs.

“The student leaders should know the

important facets in disaster risk reduction and

management as they in turn will inform others

in their respective schools,” Provincial Disaster

Risk Reduction Management Officer Danilo

Atienza noted.

The forum aimed to increase the

knowledge and level of awareness of the forum

participants on the four thematic areas of

disaster risk reduction and management such

as Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Prevention

and Mitigation, Disaster Response,

Rehabilitation and Recovery, PDRRMO Officer

Danilo Atienza noted.

Resource speakers were representatives

from the provincial offices of the following:

PAG-ASA, Office of Civil Defense, Provincial

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Office, Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Office.

Philippine National Police,Philippine Red

Cross, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee

Chair on DRRM, Dept. of Science and

Technology, Bureau of Fire Protection and

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources

an Management Office. (AJC/ESG/PIA8

Southern Leyte)

BY: ERNA S. GORNE

Maasin City has inactive volcano

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 31 (PIA) -- This city is home to an inactive volcano situated in the mountain barangays of

Nonok area, and its name is Mount Kijabot.

C ity Mayor Maloney Samaco revealed this

piece of information in front of students

during a forum on disaster risk

reduction held recently at Maasin City College

function hall, the event initiated by the

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction

Management Council (PDRRMC).

“Did you know that we have an inactive

volcano in the city?,” Samaco asked the

students from various public and private

schools in the city.

“We have, and its name is Mount Kijabot,

located along the barangays in Nonok.”

Samaco said this volcano is dormant, but

just like Mount Pinatubo which was dormant

for over 600 years, there may come a time that

Mount Kijabot may erupt.

“Hopefully not in our lifetime,” he

hastened to add.

In his opening message, Samaco said the

city and the province have always been under

threat to various kinds of natural disasters,

except blizzard or snowstorm, saying that the

city even had storm surges but only at the

height of one to two meters, like the ones

caused by habagat winds during typhoon

Glenda.

He said the conduct of the disaster risk

reduction forum led by Danilo Atienza,

Provincial Disaster Action Officer, was very

timely so the students can be always aware and

conscious on what to do should a calamity

happen.

During the forum, other frontline national,

provincial, and city offices involved in

operations before, during, and after a

disaster shared inputs and their

respective roles and functions in an emergency

situation.

These included PAG-ASA, Office of Civil

Defense, Philippine Red Cross, Department of

Science and Technology, Department of

Education, the Philippine National Police, Fire

Department, and the City Disaster Risk

Reduction body, among others.

The provincial government was

represented, aside from Ateinza, by Dr. Eva

Abad, Provincial Environment Natural

Resources Management Officer, and Provincial

Board Member Ailleen Estrera. (mmp, PIA8

-Southern Leyte)

By Marcelo M. Pedalino

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Cigarette-buster for healthy Maasin City

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, August 1 (PIA) - Getting the highest recognition in the country for successful implementation

in anti-smoking campaign is no fun.

“ Just like in a family, the father will muster

all efforts to raise a healthy family.

Hence, my passion to avert my

constituents to suffer unnecessarily the hazards

brought about by more than 400 deadly

chemicals components in a cigarette hurting

ones health,” Mayor Samaco said.

Smoking ban is also implemented at the city

jail.

Maasin City jail boarders had mixed

reactions on the smoke ban but the good mayor

was bent to cleanse the congested reformatory

institution from the cigarette-smokes from

among the jail boarders.

From then on, Mayor Samaco intensified

the smoking ban as it spreads like wild fire,

getting into the premises of Maasin City Hall and

all the public places in the city.

He reported that about 88 out of

600 city employees were found smoking

heavily at the first monitoring.

It was later reduced to 40 smoking

employees, who were all ushered to clinical

cessation assistance at the City Health Units.

Currently, there are only 5 of them who

could not stop smoking, however, they no

longer smoke at the premises of city halls but at

their homes only, he noted.

Public and private schools also ban smoking

in the area.

Much to the relief of the parents, students

both from the public and private

schools also ban students from smoking

within the school premises, though, it

cannot be denied that there are still

students who are still but outside the school

premises.

The Maasin City College pledged to ban

smoking within the school premises, wherein

students found bringing cigarette lighters and

matches were not allowed to get into the school

campus.

No less than Mayor Samaco visited the

public elementary schools to orient the

schoolchildren of the health hazards of smoking

especially at homes.

He even coached the children not to

buy cigarettes for their parents when told to.

That this is embodied in RA 9211 and City

Ordinance 2009-042. This is his way to

reach the smokers at home which are private

places!

Several times he himself got down

f r o m h i s v eh i c l e j u s t t o s t o p

students, who are caught red handed while

smoking along the streets and personally

b r o u g h t t h e m t o t h e i r s c h o o l

principals and made to pledge not to smoke

again. Superstores, sari-sari stores are banned to

sell cigarettes.

T h e M e t r o G a i s a n o H i p e r

Market , P r i nce Mar ket i ng , among

the superstores in the locality closed

down their cigarette stands when

Mayor Samaco himself requested to

ban all the stores in the city from

selling cigarettes especially if their

locations is within the 100-radius of schools'

perimeters.

After cutting the source of cigarettes in the

city, sari-sari stores owners got their supplies

from the next town.

Recently, three sari-sari stores were

padlocked until they were able to pay P5,000

fines for selling cigarettes after several requests

from the City Health Initiative Task Force to

stop from selling cigarettes in their barangays.

Some of the store owners were said to be

avid supporters of the mayor, but the law

excuses no one in his anti-smoking campaign.

(PIA8 Southern Leyte)

by: Erna Gorne

Pag-IBIG provides special housing program to members

TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- Pag-IBIG, in its efforts to reach out to as many members affected by super typhoon

Yolanda, will set up a Yolanda Housing Rehabilitation Desk at Robinsons Mall to be officially opened on 2 August 2014, at 11

o’clock in the morning.

A s part of Pag-IBIG's efforts to assist

members recover from the devastation

and trauma wrought by typhoon

Yolanda, it has created a special socialized

housing program to provide financial assistance

for them to be able to rehabilitate, construct,

and reconstruct their respective homes

destroyed by the super typhoon.

This is Pag-IBIG's way of helping rebuild

communities totally devastated by typhoon

Yolanda and in consonance with the rebuilding

efforts of the government.

The grant of Pag-IBIG's financial assistance

is through the authority given by its Board of

Trustees.

According to Pag-IBIG, under this special

housing rehabilitation program, the members

may avail up to a maximum of Php450,000 at a

subsidized interest rate of only 4% per

annum.

The rehab housing loan will be interest

free for the first six months of the loan.

It was bared that the subsidized interest

rate of 4% per annum will only commence on

the 7th up to the 24th month of the housing

loan.

Thereafter, the prescribed interest

under the regular End-User Financing or

Affordable Housing Programs, whichever is

applicable, shall apply for the rest of the loan

term.

However, Pag-IBIG revealed that being a

special program, the individual housing financial

assistance will only be available for a period of

one year, from July 15, 2014 to July 15, 2015.

(PIA-8)

By: Marivic A. Alcober

NCCA calls for proposals for 2015 Competitive Grants

I n a press conference held Wednesday

at Asia Stars Hotel, this city,

Corinnah Anne Olazo, Project

Development Officer III of the

Subcommission on Cultural Communities and

Traditional Arts said the project is one way of

helping individuals or groups in order to

advance their creativity and diversity relating to

arts and culture.

“The NCCA is willing to provide

technical assistance whatever is lacking in the

project proposal,” Olazo added.

Olazo further stressed that the projects

must likewise establish culture as pillar of

sustainable development and promote a strong

sense of nationhood and pride in being Filipino

through culture and Arts.

Interested individuals or groups can avail

of NCCA assistance by submitting a project

proposal under the NCCA Competitive Grants

not later than august 31, 2014.

Accomplished project proposals must

be submitted to Marichu G. Tellano, chief of

Policy, Plan Formulation and Programming

Division, 5th floor, National Commission

for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)

with following address 633 General Luna St.

I n t r a m u r o s , M a n i l a o r e m a i l

at info@ncca.gov.ph and pmd@ncca.gov.ph (AJ

C/CBA/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the country’s

leading government agency for arts and culture is inviting artists, cultural workers, art councils, local government units,

non-government organizations involved in culture and arts, schools and individuals in the region to apply for the NCCA

competitive grants 2015.

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) 3378719/3377301 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