Vol 4 Issue 45 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 November 10 - 16, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue APEC hosting pushes global Iloilo City

Israeli companies to explore business opportunities in PHL

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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GK, Aussie gov‘t turn over housing units to homeowners

by Flordelis E. Jackson

PALO, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – The Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation, Incorporated and the

Australian government turned over 12 housing units to the homeowners of GK Village in Barangay San Agustin, Palo,

Leyte. The simple ceremonial turn-over was one of the

highlights of the first year commemoration of the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas that claimed lives and

wrought heavy damage to property and was attended by the beneficiaries of the GK housing project together with their

families, barangay leaders, staff of GK Foundation and the Australian embassy and other guests.

The GK foundation was represented by Jose Luis Oquinena, National Executive Director and the Australian

government by Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell. Ambassador Tweddell expressed his appreciation to the

resiliency of the homeowners and the entire community as they were able to bounce back to normal life several months

after Yolanda. He informed that construction of the 250 housing units

at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is progressing for the 250 families that were affected by typhoon Yolanda.

For his part, Executive Director Oquinena in his message, told the homeowners of the GK village, “you are not only beneficiaries of the project but homeowners because you

helped in building the houses. Make sure to take care of your houses and take care of the community”.

“Take pride because these houses are yours and take

pride because this community is built with solidarity and

cooperation. When you grow old you will pass this on to your children”, he said.

He thanked the Australian government through Ambassador Tweddell for entrusting their resources to the

GK Foundation for the construction of the housing units at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte

“The GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is the first subdivision in the municipality of Palo with streets named after

the streets in Australia. The houses are painted with bright colors of different kinds because bright colors symbolize hope”,

he added. The homeowners are not really dislocated because they

are just near the areas where their farms and other livelihood were located before Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas in

November 8 last year, he said. “The construction of the GK houses is made possible

through the spirit of volunteerism and bayanihan. Volunteers from other parts of the country not affected by typhoon

Yolanda and who are members of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA) and the homeowners helped one another

in the construction work”, he informed. The 250 housing units intended for the GK Village in

Brgy. San Agustin in Palo, Leyte is targeted to be finished in June next year.

The homeowners in said barangay were one in thanking

the Australian government and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Incorporated (GK) for providing

them with decent houses. (fjackson/PIA 8 Biliran)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, Nov.13 (PIA6) --- The hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) ministerial meetings in

2015 is a good starting point in making Iloilo City as a global city.

In the 3rd Western Visayas Business Forum held Thursday at Hotel Del Rio here, National Competitiveness

Council (NCC) Private Sector Co-Chairman Guillermo Luz said that hosting the APEC meetings provides opportunities for

infrastructure and investments. Iloilo City has been assigned to host two meetings by the

APEC National Organizing Committee (NOC). This city will host the Small Medium Enterprises (SME) on

September 21-25, 2015 and the Food Security Week (High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy)

on September 28 to October 6, 2015. However, Luz stressed that it is important that

preparations to go global should go beyond APEC. “This early, we should be thinking of what can we do to

make Iloilo City prosper beyond APEC”, he said. Meanwhile, Luz said that in terms of competitiveness,

Iloilo ranked sixth among the 122 cities in the country in the latest round of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness

Index (CMCI) conducted by the NCC. According to the NCC, cities and municipalities are

ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall

competitiveness score which is the sum of scores on three main pillars: economic dynamism, government efficiency and

infrastructure. “Iloilo City is competing with other cities for

investments, trade, services, tourists, image and brand,” he said. He said that the city must continue tracking local

competitiveness indicators, formulate programs to improve competitiveness, and engage in investment promotion activities

to attract investors and create new jobs. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

By: Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA) --- The Economic and Trade Mission of the Embassy of Israel in Manila, in partnership with

the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), will host

business-to -business activities on Nov. 17 in Manila and Nov. 18 in Cebu City.

In Cebu City, the event will be opened by Israeli Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau and CCCI president Tess Chan.

Doron Hemo, head of Israel Economic and Trade Office to the Philippines, said Israeli companies look forward to doing

business in the country. “Israel has developed agricultural technologies to address

the growing demand for food and water, while optimizing limited resources. As we bring Israel‟s innovations and

technological know-how through this two-day event, we look forward to stronger economic ties between Israel and the

Philippines,” Hemo said. He noted that Israel-Philippine investment cooperation

comes at a right time as the Philippine government advocates

technological investments in line with the Philippine Agriculture Medium Strategic Plan for 2020.

“We encourage Philippine-based companies to explore opportunities with Israeli companies. We hope that the

two-day event will mark the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Israel and the Philippines in the area of

agriculture,” Hemo said. Israel is known for having “made the desert bloom” by

turning much of its arid land into fertile agricultural soil. Israel is also self-sufficient in the production of fruits,

vegetables, and poultry. Gilad Peled, Director of the Water, Environment and

Agro-Technology Department of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute will discuss Israel‟s water

and agro-technology sectors. For more information about the two-day business event, please e-mail Manila@israeltrade.gov.il

or Jo-nie.Raagas@israeltrade.gov.il. (rmn/Israeli Embassy/PIA -Cebu)

Climate Change Youth Camp: PIA Manager

Margie L. Gadian explains the rules and

procedures to the student-participants

attending the Youth Camp at Nogas Island,

Anini-y. The activity is participated in by 60

young people from different schools organized

by Philippine Information Agency with support

of Likas Tama of St. Anthony's College in

partnership with the Local Government of

Anini-y and Tobias Fornier and Dept of

Environment and Natural Resources. (PSM/

PIA6 Antique)

CALL FOR UNI TY: Cl im ate Chan ge

Commissioner Naderev Sano (center) expressed

support to PIA-DENR climate change advocacy

campaign, "Nagbabago na ang Panahon, Panahon na

Para Magbago." “Nakikiisa po kami dyan sa panawagan

na 'yan dahil kailangan po natin, bahagi po ng

pagbabago na yan ay ang pagtayo sa pagkakaisa.”

Climate Walk, a walk for Climate Justice, reached

Tacloban City on November 8 after 38 days of walking

in time for the First Year Anniversary of Yolanda.

(Photo by Vino Cuayzon)

REGION‟S BEST. Bohol District Jail warden Jose

Rusylvi Abueva (center) gets a recognition as the region‟s best warden, after topping a regional

search. He also took for Bohol District Jail the

best in the region‟s district jails award. Abueva is

flanked by DILG undersecretary Atty. Peter Irving

Corvera and BJMP regional Director Serafin

Barreto Jr. (Contributed photo/PIABohol)

National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Private Sector

Co-Chairman Guillermo Luz discusses the challenges that Iloilo City

may have to face towards becoming a global city during the 3rd

Western Visayas Business Forum held Thursday at Hotel Del Rio

here. (LTP/PIA6)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Wage hike consultations ongoing

By Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 14 (PIA6) — The series of public consultations on wage hike increase in the region is ongoing, with the

Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) as the lead agency.

R TPWB Secretary Nesa Nolido

said in a press release that the

petition for wage hike was filed

by the New Independent Workers

Organization last September 22.

The petition asked for increase in the

minimum wage based on the recent wage

order No. 21.

Nolido said the latest P10 wage

increase was approved on November 29,

2013 and the current petition is asking for

an increase of P85, P75, and P72 for all

workers in the private sector in the

region.

For businesses with more than 10

workers, the proposed minimum wage is

P287, for agriculture or plantation, P265,

an for industrial or commercial with less

than 10 workers, P245.

The economic indicators are

the main considerations in the

proposed increase, according to John

Millan, management representative to the

board.

Millan said they get the data from

those yielded by the National Economic

and Development Authority and the

Department of Trade and Industry.

Meanwhile Nolido said that the

series of consultations is meant for

information dissemination and to get the

pulse of the public, from various areas in

the region, to the petition.

The RTWPB is composed of the

DOLE, the NEDA, the DTI and labor

representatives. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 13 (PIA) – More reforestation activities are being undertaken in Capiz to increase the forest cover

here.

I nformation Officer Ma. Judy Bernas

of the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources in Capiz

disclosed that a two-day tree planting

activity was recently conducted by

their employees and the members of the

3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine

Army.

Bernas said that some 2,000

seedlings of various species of forest

trees were planted at Camp Macario

Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz last November

8 and 9.

On the other hand, DENR Capiz

head Valentin Talabero said that the

recent activity with the Philippine

Army is part of the rehabilitation

effort of the various government and

non-government agencies and groups of

the supertyphoon-Yolanda devastated

forest.

Aside from upland reforestation,

Talabero said that they are also

partnering with the various civil society

organizations and local government units

in the mangrove rehabilitation project

which is being implemented in the

province in the aftermath of the typhoon

last year.

Talabero said that the reforestation

activity in the upland and lowland areas is

being intensified to save Mother Earth and

to mitigate the impact of the experienced

global climate change resulting in many

problems such as flooding, intense and

longer drought, landslide, sea level rise

and the like.

He also urged the various sectors

here to join hands especially in the

implementation of the National Greening

Program which targets to plant 1.5 billion

trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide in

2016.

The worldwide deforestation has

been identified as one of the causes of

climate change and global warming, hence

more efforts must be done in to further

increase the forest cover, he said.

The NGP, Talabero said, is seen

as a climate change mitigation strategy

since it seeks to enhance the country‟s

forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide,

which is largely blamed for global

warming.

“We must do our share to protect

and conserve our environment and our

natural resources because we have only

one Earth to live in and we want to

prepare this for the next generation,” he

said. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

DENR, Army join hands in refo effort

BACOLOD CITY, Nov. 13 (PIA6) - - Fifteen Closed Circuit Television cameras amounting to P18-million are set to be installed

in major streets in the city by next month.

Traffic-prone Bacolod streets to have CCTVs

T his was disclosed by Bacolod City

Mayor Monico Puentevella during

the regular meeting of the City

Development Council, a release from the

City Information Office said.

Puentevella said that the installation of

these CCTVs will enable a team to

monitor the traffic situation in Bacolod for

24 hours and keep track of road accidents

for proper deployment of both public and

private rescue teams in the city.

“The city has already acquired CCTV

to be installed at our major streets that

are prone to traffic especially in

Downtown Bacolod,” Puentevella added.

The Command Center will be placed

at the Old City Hall in Luzuriaga Street for

easy access to the public while a

widescreen LED display monitor will be

installed for proper monitoring.

According to Puentevella, the Police

and the Traffic Management Unit (TMU)

personnel can right away look at the

traffic situation everywhere through this hi

-tech gadget.

Additional traffic lights will also be

purchased to decongest traffic in

other intersections in the city, Puentevella

a d de d . * ( J CM /E AD - P I A6 Ne gr o s

Occidental)

By Easter Anne D. Doza

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

HAMTIC, Antique, Nov. 12 (PIA6) - - The province of Antique has accomplished its tree planting target under the National

Greening program (NGP) for 2014.

I nformation Officer Beverly Salvan

of the Department of Environment

and Natural Resources-Antique

Provincial Environment Office said during

the PIA-DENR Campus Tour Climate

Change Advocacy in General Leandro

Fullon National School in Hamtic, that the

2014 target is to plant trees in 4,368

hectares.

“Our Regional Executive Director Jim

O. Sampulna congratulated us the other

day for accomplishing our NGP target,”

Salvan said as she encouraged the 300 high

school students to participate in tree

planting activity to help conserve the

environment.

Salvan said that the NGP

implementation started in 2011 and for

Antique that target was 454 hectares;

2012-2,103 hectares; 2013-1,243 hectares;

2014- 4,368 hectares.

The overall total areas planted to

trees is now 8,578 hectares.

The NGP is a massive forest

rehabilitation program of the government

established by virtue of Executive Order

No. 26 issued by President Benigno S.

Aquino III on February 24, 2011 to plant

1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares

throughout the country from 2011 to

2016.

The program is also a means to

address climate change, reduce poverty,

and provide livelihood activities for

marginalized upland and lowland

households relating to seedling production

and care, and maintenance of

newly-planted trees.

Meanwhile, the planting of trees is

strongly emphasized during the Campus

Tour which is one of the activities under

the partnership of the Philippine

Information Agency and Department of

Environment and Natural Resources to

conduct Climate Change Mitigation and

Adaptation.

Ths seeks to raise the level of

students‟ awareness of the different

mitigation and adaptation measures thus

making them prepared for the impact of

climate change. PIA Antique Infocen

Manager Margie L. Gadian said that the

activity is an important program of the

government which must involve all sectors

of the community in order to help address

the adverse effects of climate change.

(JCM/TWV/PIA Antique)

Antique meets NGP tree planting target

By: Vicente W. Villavert

Guimarasnons to benefit from Diskwento caravan JORDAN, Guimaras, Nov. 10 (PIA6) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) -Guimaras Provincial Office will conduct a

Pamasko Diskwento Caravan in December to cater to the needs of the consumers especially during the Christmas season.

D TI Trade and Industry

Development Specialist II

Melecia Pait said in a press

report that commodities including

medicines, grocery items and electrical

supplies will be made available to the

public.

The Pamasko caravan follows the

R o v i n g D i s k w e n t o C a r a v a n

conducted by DTI-Guimaras in October in

the municipalities of Jordan, Buenavista,

San Lorenzo, Sibunag, and Nueva

Valencia.

Pait said the diskwento caravan

aims to make available to the

consumers basic necessities and

prime commodities at discounted

prices.

The public is invited to avail of this

opportunity to buy their needed items

during the Caravan to save time, money

and effort in buying their groceries,

medicines and electrical supplies. (DTI

Guimaras/PIA6)

Aklan dengue cases rising

KALIBO, Aklan, Nov. 12 (PIA6) -- The number of people getting sick with dengue in Aklan continues to rise, with the latest

count from January to November 7, 2014 reaching 1,456 cases.

B ased on records of the Provincial

Health Office‟ Aklan Provincial

Epidemiology Surveillance &

Response Unit (APESRU), last year‟s

number of cases for the same period

reached 829, which shows an increase of

43.06%.

Kalibo, the capital town and the most

populated, remains to have the highest

number of cases with 360, followed by

Malay, another highly populated town with

188, and Banga, just adjacent to Kalibo in

the eastern side, with 135. Numancia, the

town nearest to Kalibo just across the

Aklan River had 121 cases. The rest of the

Aklan municipalities had cases not higher

than 69.

For the period, the months which

listed high cases of dengue included

August with 302; July with 296 and

September with 278. The month of

October listed 144 cases.

PHO records showed that age

brackets in Aklan most vulnerable to

dengue were in the 11-20 years old with

557 cases.

This is followed by those in the

21-30 age brackets with 333; 1-10 years

old with 286 and 31-40 years old with

103.

Those 51 and above had 46 cases; 41

to 50 with 46 and less than 1 year

old – with 12 cases.

With the continuous rise in cases of

dengue in Aklan, PHO officials are

sustaining their campaign to Aklanons to

clean their surroundings to rid

dengue-carrying mosquitoes from

breeding and to seek early consultation to

prevent complications.

The PHO is also currently monitoring

clustering of cases, which means three or

more cases were identified in the past

four consecutive weeks. (JCM/VGV PIA6

Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) announced that foster children are now

qualified as dependents and are entitled to avail of the medical benefits under PhilHealth.

Foster children now qualified PhilHealth

dependents

D uring the recent Association of

Government Information Officers

(AGIO) 7 Forum, Atty. Karisma

Agraviador, public relations officer of

Philhealth, said dependent foster children may

avail of PhilHealth benefits through the active

membership of the foster parent without

having to pay additional premium.

In a recent development, PhilHealth also

came out with the new Circular No. 19-2014

that covers the entitlement to benefits of any

foster child as qualified dependent of foster

parent which is below 21 years old.

Foster children will continue to qualify as

dependents of the foster parent until the

last day of the validity of the parent‟s Foster

Family Care License, the expiration of the

Foster Placement Authority (FPA) for the child,

the child‟s return to his or her biological

parents, or when the child has been placed for

adoption, said Agraviador.

The Foster Care Act of 2012 (RA 10165)

defines foster child as a child placed under

foster care, or the provision of a planned

temporary substitute parental care to a child

by a foster parent.

The foster parent and children must be

duly licensed by the Department of Social

Welfare and Development (DSWD).

All PhilHealth members who become

licensed foster parents shall be required to

submit or present the Foster Family Care

License and FPA as acceptable supporting

documents when declaring a foster child as

dependent, explained Agraviador.

In Central Visayas, PhilHealth has no

record yet for foster children since this is a

new law and it might take effect this year or

next year. (rmn/hfg/PIA-7)

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 7 (PIA) – Bohol‘s Provincial jail and its current warden was awarded by the Bureau of Jail

Management and Penology (BJMP) on its 23rd Anniversary today during rites held at the Casino de Espanol in Cebu City.

Bohol jail, warden get BJMP awards

B ohol District Jail (BDJ) topped

Central Visayas detention and

rehabilitation centers, clinching the

District Jail of the Year Award for 2014 while

the Bohol warden, Jail Chief Inspector Jose

Rusylvi Abueva, was chosen as the District Jail

Warden of the Year.

Also earning unit awards are the

following: Jail Provincial Administration (JPA)

Office (Negros Oriental), City Jail of the Year

(Mandaue City Jail Male Dormitory), Female

Dormitory of the Year (Lapu-lapu City Jail

Female Dormitory) and Municipal Jail

(Minglanilla Municipal Jail).

For individual awardees, along with

Bohol‟s warden Abueva are the following:

Jail provincial Administrator (J/CInsp Rosalina

Malahay), City Warden (J/CInsp Gil Inopia Jr.),

Female Warden (JSinsp. Elsie Eireen

Alcomendras), Municipal Warden (JInsp.

Emilianito Enriquez), BJMP Senior Officer (J/

Supt Bartolome Sagadal), BJMP Junior Officer

(JSInsp Eric Relucio) , BJMP Staff Officer (J/Insp

Mark Anthony Omega), BJMP Male JNCO

(JO1 Allain Sajonia), BJMP Male JNCO (JO1

Warren Ramo) and BJMP NUP (NUP Mary

Carmil Nemeño).

The awarding was in line with the 23rd

BJMP Anniversary commemoration which also

happens to be an annual venue for recognizing

outstanding performance of the administration

and management of the 12 district jails, 16 city

jails, four municipal jails and eigh district jails

with male and female dormitories as well as

one jail with minor dormitory, according to the

BJMP 7 website.

BJMP RO VII is manning a total of 34 jails

regionwide with a monthly average of

over 7,000 inmates guarded and managed by

757 jail personnel.

Of the total jail personnel, 50 are Jail

Commissioned Officers (JCO), 705 are Jail

Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCO)

and Non Uniformed Personnel (NUP).

BJMP Regional office VII is presently

manned by 34 BJMP personnel, nine of whom

are officers, 23 are non-commissioned officers,

and two NUPs.

In Central Visayas, the BJMP also

gave out special awards to Cental Visayas

governors including Gov. Edgar Chatto for the

partnerships with the national government

jailers.

Other Boholano officials given special

awards are City Mayor John Geesnell Yap,

Talibon Mayor Restituto Auxtero, Ubay Mayor

Galicano Atup, and Carmen Mayor Ricardo

Francisco Toribio in recognition for their

cooperation with the BJMP. (rmn/rac/

PIABohol)

By : Rey Anthony H. Chiu

By: Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) --- Not all classrooms that were severely damaged in Yolanda-hit localities in northern Cebu were

totally repaired and reconstructed after a year of the tragedy but the gap has not prevented classes from continuing in

temporary learning spaces.

Classes ongoing despite gap in classroom repair in storm-hit areas

D r. Victor Yntig, focal person on

Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management (DRRM) of the

Department of Education (DepEd-7), admitted

that a lot still needs to be done one year of

commemorating the Yolanda disaster

that badly hit northern Cebu, especially in the

repairs of classroom buildings as well as

construction of new ones.

“The biggest gap incurred belongs to the

schools under the Cebu Province Division

where 1,251 classrooms needed repairs.

But as of November 7, only 133

classrooms were repaired so far with a

remaining gap of 1,118 classrooms that still

needed to be fixed,” bared Yntig during the

recent post-Yolanda press briefing that

commemorated the 1st year anniversary of the

tragedy.

The DepEd-7 official, however, said the

gap did not disrupt schedule of classes and that

public school children were able to attend

school albeit in temporary learning spaces.

“What is important is that affected

students attend classes on normal schedule,”

added Yntig.

Yntig said two schools divisions in Cebu

affected by Yolanda were the Cebu Province

Division (CPD) and the Bogo City Division

(BCD).

Under the CPD, around 188 new

classrooms have already been constructed with

86 still undergoing works for a total of 274

classrooms.

But the number of classrooms that need

to be replaced total 367 incurring a gap of 83

classrooms, said Yntig.

In Bogo City, there are 160 classrooms

that are for replacement while as of October

27, 44 new classrooms have already been built

while there are 81 classrooms with ongoing

construction for a total of 125.

“We have a gap of 35 classrooms that still

need to be constructed,” disclosed Yntig.

He said there are 346 classrooms up for

repair in Bogo City but only 251 were repaired

as of late October with a gap of 95 classrooms

still needing repair.

Pagcor is also funding the construction of

28 new classrooms in Bogo City under its „Silid

Aralan‟ Project while on Wednesday,

November 12, British Foundation, Inc. is set

to turn-over some newly-built classrooms

and the repair of damaged ones in the city

and in the town of San Remigio, said Yntig.

(rmn/fcr/PIA-7)

By: Fayette C. Riñen

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

Central Visayas, Nov. 8 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR 7) exceeded its target of

providing motorized fishing bancas to 2,000 fisherfolks affected by super typhoon Yolanda in north Cebu.

I n the recent press briefing on Post

Yolanda Disaster: Rehab operations

initiated by the Philippine Information

Agency (PIA-7) BFAR 7 assistant regional

director Dr. Allan Poquita said as present they

have already built 2,007 new fishing boats

worth P15,000 each.

Poquita said that most of the

beneficiaries are from Bantayan Island and

Medellin as they have the most number of

fisherfolks with totally and partially damaged

fishing boats.

Of these new built fishing boats 1,511

were already distributed to fisherfolk

beneficiaries in north Cebu affected by super

typhoon Yolanda.

The remaining 489 units then set to be

distributed before the end of November this

year.

“We also listed 2,000 partially damaged

fishing boats for repair of which 2,346 were

already repaired,” Poquita said.

Fishermen with partially damaged fishing

boats were given materials for repair such as

epoxy, marine plywood, copper nails and other

materials.

Affected fishermen also benefited from

the Cash for Work Program of BFAR as they

are paid P1,500 upon completion of the repair

of their own damaged fishing boats during the

devastation of super typhoon Yolanda in their

respective areas.

Poquita revealed that BFAR allots P244

million for its Cash for Work Program while

DSWD also has a P3.2 million budget under

the same program. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)

BFAR exceeds target on new banca distribution to

Yolanda affected fisherfolk

CEBU CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) --- The Philippines as yet may be ‗Ebola-free‘ but the Philippine Government through the

Department of Health (DOH) is already instituting the necessary measures to prepare in case of its entry to Philippine soil as

the regional health department is stepping up its public education drive on the killer virus.

DOH-7 steps up info drive on Ebola

D OH7 chief of Health Emergency

and Management, Dr. Expedito

Medalla presented the agency‟s

updates on the dreaded Ebola virus to

members of the Regional Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Council

(RDRRMC-7) during a recent meeting.

“Central Visayas is on Code White alert

status. This means we are preparing for the

possible onset of a health emergency,” like

Ebola getting into the country and into the

region, said Medalla.

Medalla said the Ebola virus is very

infectious and can kill in such a short time.

“Fatality rate is 90 percent,” he added.

The Ebola virus belongs to the family of

the RNA viruses with five identified subtypes

of the Ebola virus and has an incubation period

of two to 21 days, said Medalla.

The DOH-7 official said the virus is not spread airborne but rather, through direct

contact with the blood or body fluid of an

infected person who has developed the

symptoms of the disease. Body fluids could

either be saliva, tears, urine, semen, breast

milk, mucus, feces, vomit and tears.

Symptoms of a person infected with the

deadly virus can exhibit sudden onset of fever,

headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle

pain and sore throat followed by rash, hiccups,

red eyes and bleeding from body openings.

Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, impaired

kidney and liver function also developed in a

later stage. “Ebola may be fatal but it can be

prevented. It is very important to avoid panic,”

said Medalla as he urged the public to regularly

practice proper hand washing, the single and

most effective way to prevent the spread of

infections.

For Cebu, the primary referral hospital

for suspected cases of Ebola is the government-manned Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical

Center where a medical core group has

already been sent to the Research Institute for

Tropical Medicine in Manila for proper training

in handling suspected and confirmed Ebola

cases, said Medalla.

Medalla said referral hospitals have also

been identified for Bohol and Negros Oriental

in the region.

A regional summit is scheduled this month

by the DOH on how to handle Ebola cases to

be participated by private hospitals.

The DOH-7 is closely coordinating with

private hospitals to ensure their facility is

capable in handling suspected or confirmed

Ebola cases including training of health

personnel, said Medalla.

Medalla said a budget has been set aside

for the purchase of personal protective

equipment for use of medical personnel

who will be handling Ebola patients. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-7)

By: Ferliza C. Contratista

By: Amor Y. Saludar

SIQUIJOR, Nov. 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police advises the public to always secure a copy of the Incident Record

Form (IRF) after reporting crime incidents to all police stations.

A ccording to the PNP here, the IRF

are accountable forms to be filled

out by a complainant that contains

data provided by the Desk Officer

pertaining to the complainant, victim or

suspect, and including the narrative details of

the incident.

The IRF becomes an official document

once signed by the investigators and the

reporting person whose information will be

immediately recorded in the police

blotter, uploaded to the Crime Incident

Reporting System (CIRS) database, and

becomes the first document included in the

case folder.

In the same press release, Police Director

General Alan La Madrid Purisima, Chief PNP

said the use of IRF is implemented in all police

stations and offices with investigative functions.

"The implementation of Crime Incident

Reporting System will ensure the gathering and

inclusion of all crime data that are reported in

the police station into the database,” said

Purisima.

CIRS is an electronic database system that

facilitates crime documentation and systematic

data storage and retrieval.

The system is the quick, fast and reliable

transmission of crime information from lower

police units and offices of the PNP to the

National Headquarters.

All police stations and units with

investigative functions are equipped with

CIRS-installed computers which will be the

source of a nationwide database of crime

incidents.

It is part of our efforts to further provide

our people with „true crime reporting' this is

why IRF is very important to be kept by both

complainant and our investigators, Purisima

added.

In the case of crime incidents that were

reported to the police but referred to the

barangay, the report must clearly indicate

whether the case is amicably settled, under

investigation or referred back to the police

with a certification to file action. (mbcnRAC/

PIA7-Siquijor/PNP-Siquijor)

Public urged to secure copy of IRF in reporting crimes

By: Rizalie A. Calibo

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Climate Walk taught lot of lessons:

Commissioner Saño

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – The Climate Walk was an ―extraordinary experience‖, according to Commissioner

Naderev Saño of the Climate Change Commission who led the more than 1,000-km walk from Manila to Tacloban City which

is Yolanda‘s ground zero.

“ It was an amazing and meaningful

journey for all of us that taught us a

lot of lessons especially the human

spirit and about Filipino hospitality,” Saño

said.

Videographer Charley Sta Maria of

Dakila, a woman who completed the walk,

said that her perspective in life changed

because her awareness on the effects of

climate change was broadened.

The “Walk for Climate Justice” reached

Tacloban City in November 8 after 38 days

in time for the first year commemoration of

super typhoon Yolanda.

The walkers crossed the San

Juanico Bridge at 7 a.m. and proceeded

to the Holy Cross Memorial Gardens and

paid homage to the more than 2-thousand

bodies buried in a mass grave in Brgy.

Basper.

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez

welcomed the group who joined in the

solemn Memorial Service attended by local,

national and international community

together with the survivors in a Holy Mass,

blessing of the mass grave, offering of

flowers and candle lighting.

Saño said that they launched the

Climate Walk to remember “our brothers

and sisters who lost lives to Yolanda.”

“We will always remember and we will

keep reminding the whole world that once

in our lives the strongest typhoon hit the

city and that we will forever commemorate

their memories so that future generations

would benefit from it and build a county that

is resilient to disasters and climate change,”

he said.

Likewise, Mayor Romualdez said in his

message that this historic day should never

be forgotten and never be erased.

“May all who come, this way remember,

that on this piece of earth, the whole world

converged to make Tacloban the template of

the people‟s firm resolve to rise above their

sorrow and create a new landscape for their

future,” Romualdez said.

Meanwhile, Saño called for unity and

expressed support also to the nationwide

climate change advocacy campaign of the

Philippine Information Agency and the

Department of Environment and Natural

Resources tagged, “Nagbabago na ang

Panahon, Panahon na Para Magbago.”

“Nakikiisa po kami diyan sa

panawagan na „yan dahil bahagi ng

pagbabago na „yan ay ang pagtayo sa

pagkakaisa,” Sano said.

The 1000-km journey started in

Manila on October 2 passing through

more than 100 towns and cities before

reaching Tacloban on November 8.

(ajc/ldl/PIA-8)

DILG turns over P137M rehab fund to ESamar

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 8 (PIA) - Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas

personally led the ceremonial turnover of DILG‘s P137M financial assistance to the province of Eastern Samar.

A ccording to Roxas, the funds will

b e u s e d t o i m p l e m e n t

municipal-wide infrastructure

projects such as the building and repair of

civic centers and municipal buildings in

towns ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda

which hit Eastern Visayas exactly a year

ago.

Several government structures and

roads, mostly in the southern part of the

province of Eastern Samar were damaged

by the typhoon, noted as one of the

strongest typhoons in history.

Hospitals, health centers, schools and

town halls have to be repaired and in the

case of the town of Hernani, relocated

some three kilometers from its original

location.

In his message to the people of the

province, Roxas promised that DILG will

also download funding for projects to be

implemented in the barangay level.

The turnover ceremony, one of the

activit ies during the Provincial

Development Summit, took place on

November 7, 2014 at the Eastern Samar

provincial gymnasium in Borongan City.

Governor Conrado B. Nicart Jr., Vice

-Governor Marcelo Picardal, Lone District

Representative Ben P. Evardone as well as

members of the provincial board were

also present during the activity.

Aside from Roxas, two other cabinet

secretaries attended the summit:

Department of Science and Technology

secretary Mario Montejo and Department

of Transportation and Communication

secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Also in attendance were town

mayors, vice-mayors, councilors and

barangay officials. (ajc/Medora Quirante/

PIA-8 E Samar)

EV LGUs converge for feedback forum on RAY implementation

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) – Around 100 participants composed of local government executives and municipal

planning and development officers in 18 municipalities in the region converged Wednesday at LNU House, this city for the

Feedback Forum on RAY-Rehabilitation Plan Implementation.

T he forum, which was sponsored

by GIZ-Environment Rural

Development Program, is an

opportunity for the various national

partners to listen to feedbacks from the

different local government units and

functionaries and for the relevant agencies

to seriously consider the next month‟s

rehabilitation after Yolanda hit the region

last year. Matthias Niggel, Chief Adviser of

the GIZ-EnRD Program assured to

aforesaid LGU‟s of their commitment to

help in whatever way they can through the

programs being implemented in the

region.

In said forum, local government

officials from 18 municipalities presented

the recovery efforts undertaken by the

respective LGUs relative on RAY

implementation one year after Yolanda hit

the region.

The18 municipalities include Abuyog,

Javier, MacArthur, Burauen, La Paz, Julita,

Dulag, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Dagami,

Pastrana, Tabon-Tabon, Alang-Alang,

Barugo, all in Leyte and Basey, Marabut,

both are in Western Samar.

Said areas are considered worst-hit

municipalities when Yolanda hit the region

last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

By Neil D. Lopido

By Consuelo B. Alarcon

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Gov‘t to construct road dike from Tacloban

-Palo-Tanauan

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 10 (PIA) – President Benigno S. Aquino III announced Friday that the national government is

set to construct a 27 square kilometer road dike project in some areas Leyte to protect the residents from risks during

flooding, storm surges and other calamities.

O n h i s v i s i t i n Gu iuan ,

Eastern Samar, the President

said this will be implemented

on the first quarter of 2015 by the

g o v e r n m e n t t h r o u g h t h e

Department of Public Works and

Highways (DPWH).

The road dike which is elevated for at

least four meters above sea level is a

long term solution to the challenges of

times.

The project will be constructed in the

coastal areas of Tacloban City and the

municipalities of Palo and Tanauan,

Leyte.

However, this initiative shall be

enhanced by mangrove plantation in the

aforesaid areas.

“Sakaling dumating muli ang

matinding sakuna, hindi na dapat

maulit ang pagdurusang dinanas

ng ating mga kababayan”, the President

said.

“”Hindi natin hahayaan na makulong

tayo sa Siglo na tinatawag na destruction

tapos reconstruction tapos destruction

ulit tapos reconstruction ulit”, the

President further said.

The project is in line with the

government‟s agenda “in building back

better”.

As observed, most of the

victims or those who died during

typhoon Yolanda were residing near

coastal areas.

Some 1.47 million families in 44

provinces in six (6) regions including

region VIII were devastated by typhoon

Yolanda last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Livelihood Seeding Program launched in Tacloban

S eventy Four (74) beneficiaries of

the program in the City of Tacloban

have received the livelihood

packages distributed to them.

T h e b e n e f i c i a r i e s i n c l u d e

dressmakers, food makers, food vendors

and small eatery operators.

DTI 8 Regional Director Cynthia

Nierras, said that a big number of micro

enterprises have been affected by super

typhoon Yolanda in 64 municipalities and

cities in Region 8.

Hence, the beneficiaries need to

restore back their livelihood which they

were used to for many long years.

Nierras likewise said, around

12, 300 micro enterprises were registered

at the Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) before Yolanda hit the region last

year.

Initially, four to five hundred

beneficiaries in eight (8) places in the

region are being targeted by the

program.

These include the worst-hit areas

such as Tacloban, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa,

Dulag, Tabon-Tabon, Mayorga, all are in

Leyte and Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The launching was spearheaded by

DTI through Regional Director Cynthia

Nierras, Leyte Provincial Director

Desiderio Belas, Hank Hendrickson,

Executive Director, U.S. Philippine

Society and his wife Anne; Veronica

Gabaldon, Program Manager, PDRF, Rene

S. Meily, President, PDRF and Tacloban

City Assistant Administrator Brando

Bernadas.

The Livelihood Seeding Program is

DTI‟s response to a particular

need that was identified during the

Post Disaster Needs Assessment

(PDNA)) conducted immediately after

Yolanda struck the region last year.

(ajc/cba/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov. 5 (PIA) – In partnership with the United States Philippines Society and the Philippine Disaster

Relief Foundation (PDRF), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Eastern Visayas has launched the Livelihood

Seeding Program Monday at Liceo Del Verbo Divino, this city.

EDC partners with LGU-Southern Leyte in native tree species production

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 13 (PIA) - The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) partnership with the local

government of Southern Leyt geared towards production of native tree species will be the first of its kind in the region.

A c c o r d i n g t o P r o v i n c i a l

Env i ronment and Natura l

Resources Management Office

(PENRMO) Dr. Eva Abad, ”the project

aims to preserve and propagate these

types of seedlings to eventually become

the mother trees of the native tree

species in the province.”

Abad said, “the native tree species are

endangered nowadays as exotic tree

species like germilina, mahogany and

acasia mangguim which are very prolific

and now grow dominantly around in our

province.”

She added that EDC together with

Provincial Governor Roger Mercado and

the provincial heads of offices, among

others, will plant the first 100 native tree

species at the back of the Provincial

Capitol building on November 8, 2014,

one year after the super typhon.

Under the BINHI program of EDC,

the provincial government of Southern

Leyte will take care of the growth

until it reaches maturity in the next ten

years and become the source of good

quality of native trees in the province, she

said.

The mentioned exotic trees

though fast growing were noted to

have its not-so good impact to the

environment as they were found to be to

use up much water endangering our water

tables nor friendly to the natural

organisms since they do not come from

our place, she added.

The tree planting highlighted the

Provincial Arbor Day celebration which

also coincided with the f irst

commemoration of the victims during the

onset of super typhoon Yolanda, Abad

said.

There will be a synchronized tree

planting across the province to be

participated in by the 500 barangays

of the 18 towns of the province to include

the City of Maasin.

At least 50 tree seedlings or an

estimate of 25,000 seedlings will be

planted on the same day, she said.(ajc/esg/

PIA8 SoLeyte)

By Erna S. Gorne

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