Vol 5 Issue 18 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 May 4 - 10, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Eastern Visayas is Filariasis-free - DOH 8

DOH to start school immunization in August

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

PNoy commits to achieve rapid economic growth

By Amor Y. Saludar

Cebu, May 4 (PIA) --- Government eyes initiatives that involves industry, livelihood for Filipinos and infrastructure as

these are part of the strategies towards development. President Benigno Aquino III in his Labor Day visit to

Cebu shared these thoughts during the inauguration of an expansion project of CEMEX-Philippines, a cement company in

Naga City, Cebu. CEMEX was established in 1999 through the investments

of CEMEX in Mexico and the APO Cement the largest cement plant in the Philippines.

“Nabigyan po tayo ng kakayahang itaguyod ang mga ganitong mga inisyatiba dahil sa paglago ng ekonomiya,” Aquino

said. The President cited the National Economic Development

Authority (NEDA) figures that the country has recorded a 6.3 percent average GDP growth every year since the start of the

Aquino administration in 2010. “Ang pinakamabilis na paglago ng ating ekonomiya sa loob

ng nakaraang 40 taon. Ayon sa ating economic managers, kapag naabot natin ito, ang resultang 6-year average ang magiging

pinakamabilis na paglago ng ating ekonomiya simula po noong 1955, o sa loob ng nakalipas na animnapung taon,” the

president added. Aquino then pleged to continue this economic

development of the country by targeting 6 to 7 percent

economic growth increase this year and he said

because of this economic development, investors will

then have confidence to invest in our country. “Sa pag-usbong ng mga bagong negosyo, dadami ang

malilikhang trabaho; lalawak ang oportunidad sa pag-asenso ng mas maraming pinaghandang Pilipino,” Aquino concluded.

President Aquino also toured the facilities of the newly-constructed University of Cebu Medical Center (UC

Med) here. UCMED is first in Southeast Asia to have 3D Mammography with Tomosynthesis, first fully integrated 3D

Endoalpha Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Operating Room and the most Endoalphas than any other hospitals in the

country. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) - After six years

of hard work to combat Filariasis, the Department of Health (DOH), Regional Office 08 received recently, the

congratulatory letter from DOH Central Office acknowledging Region 08 as Filariasis-free.

In a telephone interview with Ms. Annaliza Balila, Chief DOH-08 Filariasis Control Program Unit, it was mentioned

that the letter was actually dated September 2013 yet, but due to the disaster that hit the region in the month that followed,

the delivery of the congratulatory document was hampered. Asked why the region was declared Filariasis-free, Ms.

Balila said it passed the criteria set forth, on top of the 95% population which did not manifest any symptom of the

mosquito infection. The same recognition, she stressed, is credited to the

health workers around the region who painstakingly held the Mass Drug Administration.

However, people here should not be sitting-in-their laurels with the good news, instead, they should take it as a

challenge as health workers like her, take it so. “Sustainability is the word,” she said. “That is why, all

provincial local government units had been awarded with P1M check, so they could maintain the advocacy program campaigns

to continue the program against Filariasis,” Ms. Balila said. “LGUs should help us in the sustainability campaign,

because we have already gained the grounds, all we need now

is sustain the victory,” she added. With the mass “drug administration”, a person has to go

to his nearest Rural Health Unit(RHU) and submit himself for

the immunization.

“It only takes one day for a person above 21 years old, to be free of Filariasis after taking 5-tablets of

Diephylcarbamivine and one Albendazole except when he already has started showing signs of the disease, if so, he needs

a 12-day medication,” she informed further. Anybody above 21 years old should visit their RHU and

accept the preventive drug against Filariasis. The health educator added that the medicine has to be

taken with full stomach lest, the taker gets dizzy, or his stomach gets irritated or experience body malaise

(weaknesses). Unlike Dengue, Filariasis could show-up in 5 to 15 years

after a person had been bitten by the infectious mosquito and the end point could be disability due to swelling body parts, e.g

legs like that of an elephant‟s and disfigured scrotum. “And we could just imagine the repercussion it could

bring to the family and loved ones of the patient,” she sighed again. “It is economically, morally and emotionally heavy to

them, hence the public should be informed so they could avail of the government program,” she stressed.

Filaria-carrying mosquitoes thrive in Abaca and other Banana trees, while Dengue-mosquitoes dwell in stagnant

waters in long-standing water containers, flower bases even gutters etc. it was learned.

In the region, Southern Leyte was first declared

Filariasis-free in 2008, then Biliran in 2010, Eastern Samar in 2012, Western Samar and Northern Leyte in 2013 and

Northern Samar in 2014. (PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

By Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, May 5 (PIA6) --- There is no let-up in the country‟s campaign against communicable but

vaccine-preventable diseases as the Department of Health (DOH) will start the school-based immunization program

August this year. This was announced by Health Secretary Janette L. Garin

during the recent Kalusugang Pampamilya on Wheels program in Calinog town here.

“By August this year, we will be starting the school-based immunization as expansion of the standard program of

immunization,” she said. She said that booster doses of tetanus, diphtheria,

measles and rubella will be provided to all grade one pupils and all first year high school students or grade seven students.

“These vaccines will actually protect them from many of

the diseases for life,” she said. She said that these expanded public health programs

such as immunization were a result of the revenues collected from the sin taxes.

The DOH official emphasized that immunization is a concerted effort that needs the collaboration of all sectors in

society. “Vaccine alone cannot prevent threats but vaccination

does. We must not be contented that it is only our child who gets vaccinated but everyone in the barangay,” she

stressed. She said that we should help in the campaign in our

respective communities that every child goes to the health center and be vaccinated. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

8 ID Commander Jet Velarmino, AFP, Gov.

Sharee Ann Tan Province of Samar, and DBM

Regional Director Dr. Imelda C. Laceras

signing the DRR Commitment at 8 ID

Philippine Army Gymnasium, Camp. Lukban,

Maulong, Catbalogan City last May 5, 2015.

(PIA 8)

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Swiss Embassy

Counselor Raoul Imbach turn over the

symbolic key of duplex housing units to

beneficiaries during the Balay Kawayan

Housing Initiative Inauguration and Turn-Over

Ceremony at the Uswag Subdivision, San

Isidro Relocation Site, Jaro, May 4. Also in the

picture is Regan Schegg of the Hilti Foundation

that funded the housing initiative that

promotes the use of bamboo as a major

structural material for housing construction.

(PIA Iloilo)

WESTERN VISAYAS

AUDIO-Bohol „Bisita Opisina‟. Pag-IBIG Fund

Tagbilaran Branch Head, Felix Garan (left)

giving his welcome message to the members of

the Association of United Development

Information Officers in Bohol during its „Bisita

Opisina‟ (right) recently at their new office

now located at the 2/F of Galleria Luisa this

city. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

President Benigno Aquino III. (PIA Cebu photo)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Poverty alleviation success stories need to be replicated

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - The Antique Federation of Non-Government Organizations (AFON) in Antique facilitated

the Local Economic Development (LED) Stakeholders Forum recently which featured the success stories of families and

communities getting involve in poverty alleviation.

T h e f o r u m s u m m a r i z e d t h e

achievements, the challenges and

sustainability mechanism gained during

the implementation of LED program in

Antique supported by Trias Southeast Asia, an

in ternat iona l NGO that supports

entrepreneurial people.

Dr. Dixon Yasay, LED Expert, Consultant

and Director of Xavier University Government

and Leadership Institute said the PO‟s success

stories are concrete solutions to the problems

of poverty that needs to be replicated in many

communities.

“The stories presented by tricycle drivers,

farmers, fisherfolks, patadyong weavers, and

local entrepreneurs offered concrete

solutions but we need the powers of the

local government units, government

agencies and other sectors to sustain this

program and replicate these in other areas,”

said Yasay.

“What is more promising in this endeavor

of AFON, and the rest of the NGOs namely

Antique Development Foundation, Insol Devt

Foundation, Ahon sa Hirap (ASHI) and

PROCESS Foundation give us hope that

development could happen with NGOs and

POs,” he said.

Yasal also commended the people‟s

organization empowering their communities

and making the development happen.

“Let us continue working, engaging more

local government units, building partnership

with other sectors. Your stories are real

models of development that needs to be

sustained, Yasay said.

The success stories are presented in a

book – Antique LED success stories.

Gudrun Cartuyvels, Country Director,

Trias Southeast Asia likewise lauded the active

participation of the NGOs and POs to the

program. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

OrchidsOrchids

DILG launches manual to simplify business

processes

ILOILO CITY, May 4 (PIA6) --- In an effort to creating more business-friendly and competitive local government units,

the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-6 recently launched the regulatory simplification manual in the

municipality of Oton here.

D ILG-6 Regional Director Anthony

Nuyda said that the municipality

of Oton was chosen as pilot

LGU for the implementation of the

Regulatory Simplification Project for LGUs

(RS4LGUs).

“A manual was created to assist the LGU

to be business-friendly and competitive while

adopting strategies and mechanisms applicable

to its clients,” he said.

He said that this is one of the follow

through initiatives after complying with the

Business Permit Licensing System (BPLS).

The DILG official said the regulatory

simplification involves the rationalization

and further enhancement of existing BPLS

standards to give ease to the registration

service and spur a more business-friendly

environment.

“It improves a process operationally

while reviewing and revising legal basis for

requirements,” he said.

The regulatory simplification targets to

infuse reforms in the regulatory framework for

LGUs in business permit and licensing to

increase efficiency while decreasing the

complexity of the entire process.

He added that the project aims to make

LGUs business-friendly while increasing their

capacities in terms of realizing development

goals.

Meanwhile, Oton municipal mayor

Vicente Flores, Jr. said that Oton, being the

first municipality to pilot the regulatory

simplification, pledged their utmost

cooperation in implementing the program.

“I urged the municipal employees to do

their best in implementing the program

because as pilot LGU, we are looked upon by

other municipalities,” he said.

He said that they are optimistic this

program will strengthen the partnership of the

LGU and the business establishments which

are considered the lifeblood of the

municipality. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

By Leonard T. Pineda I

IT-BPO ‗Road Map‘ gets NegOcc's nod

By Carlson B. Alelis

NEGROS OCC., May 4 (PIA6) -- Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the province is supporting the Information

Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) Philippine Roadmap 2016.

T he Road Map will pave the way in

giving 1.3 Million jobs to Filipinos

and $ 25 billion in revenues by

2016, Marañon said in his speech during

the inauguration of the Negros First Cyber

Centre.

Through the Road Map, Bacolod City and

Negros Occidental will be able to contribute

30, 000 jobs by the end of 2016.

“The Negros First Cyber Centre is

more than just a structure – it is a central

point of convergence of ideas, creativity and

technology – that will generate jobs,

opportunities and investments for the

country,” he said.

In order for them to achieve their targets,

he said the province should continue to heavily

invest in talent development programs with the

help of the Technical Education and Skills

Development Authority (TESDA).

TESDA‟s programs for stepping up the

value chain should be enhanced – in the area of

finance and accounting outsourcing, animation

and game development, software development

and health care information outsourcing, he

said.

With the help of DTI, they will continue

to enhance Business Ecosystem and ease of

doing business as they are urging the National

Government to continue initiatives to help

local government units (LGU) shift from paper

to paperless.

Marañon said that through the

Commission on Higher Education, he and his

fellow LGU officials will continue to equip

trainers and teachers in the province as a long

term measure to lessen the adverse effects of

labor mismatch.

The Information and Communications

Technology Office-Department of Science

and Technology should continue to provide

support for Filipino startups – harnessing

ingenuity and talent to see Negrense brands

side by side their multi-national counterparts,

he said. (JCM/CBA-PIA Negros Occ.)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, May 4 (PIA6) – Thirty – five digital library kiosks which is a one-stop repositories for science and

technology and livelihood information will be established by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Capiz

State University (CapSU) campuses and 17 selected public secondary schools in the province.

‗STARBOOKS‘ now in Capiz

By Alex A. Lumaque

T he initiative dubbed STARBOOKS -

Science and Technology Academic

a n d R e s e a r ch - B a s e d Op e n l y

Operated Kiosk Stations – is geared towards

the needs of students, researchers, and

entrepreneurs, especially those from the coun-

tryside.

“We are happy because with this synergy

among the different stakeholders, we will be

able to disseminate effectively and efficiently

the different knowledge that we have

generated out of our research and

development activities,” said DOST – 6

director Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga.

CapSU president Dr. Editha L. Magallanes

and Department of Education – Capiz Schools

Division Superintendent Dr. Miguel Mac D.

Aposin conveyed their appreciation to DOST

for the project that provides free access to

information and is highly appropriate for public

libraries.

Aside from the kiosks, 10 hard disk drives

containing 2 terabytes of STARBOOKS

database will be given to other national high

schools in the province.

A Memorandum of Understanding was

signed between DOST and CapSU as well as

DepEd for the terms of reference in the

implementation of STARBOOKS in identified

sites.

A DOST – STII team also conducted an

orientation among the participants, mostly

CAPSU librarians and employees, on how to

use the stand-alone information kiosk which

holds more than half a million titles of digitized

journals, serial publications, reference

materials, annual reports, theses and

dissertations, technical and project reports,

and directories of DOST-STII‟s library

materials.

STARBOOKS was developed by the Sci-

ence and Technology Information Institute of

DOST and has been rolled out in over 400

sites nationwide since 2011. (JCM/AAL/PIA6

Capiz)

KALIBO, Aklan, May 4 (PIA6) – On its 59th anniversary as an independent province from Capiz, Aklan gifted its

17 towns with a total of P363,000 in cash prizes for winning in the Float Parade contest and Booth Exhibit.

T he Booth Exhibit, which was participated

in by the province‟ 17 towns, ran from

April 22-26, while the Float Parade

contest was featured during the Civic and Military

Parade on April 25 from the Kalibo Pastrana Park

to the Provincial Capitol Grounds right after a

Thanksgiving Mass held at the St. John the Baptist

Cathedral.

Adjudged winners in the Booth Exhibit

included the municipality of Numancia which won

first place and a cash prize of P50,000.00; Altavas,

second, with a cash prize of P35,000.00 and

Nabas, third, with P25,000.00 cash prize.

The other 14 participating towns – Balete,

Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo,

Libacao, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, New

Washington and Tangalan got consolations prizes

of P10,000.00 each or a total of P140,000.00.

On the other hand, the municipality of Nabas

dominated the Float Parade Contest by winning

first place with a corresponding cash prize of

P45,000.00; Malinao, second, P35,000.00; and Lezo,

third, with P25,000.00.

The municipality of Banga received a

consolation prize of P8,000.00.

The booths respectively exhibited the

prime products of their municipality under the

One Town , One Product (OTOP)

scheme, like Altavas, which exhibited Livestock

and Seafoods, Balete, Pina-based products;

Banga, fruits and vegetables; Batan,

seafoods ; Buruanga, f isher ies; Iba jay ,

coco-based products; Kalibo, Pina cloth and

Pina-based products; Lezo, potteries; Libacao and

Madalag, abaca-based products; Makato,

organic rice; Malay, eco-tourism; Malinao,

abaca slipper and abaca-based products;

Nabas, bariw craft; New Washington,

s e a foo d /deb oned b an gu s ; Numan c i a ,

vermicast organic fertilizer and Tangalan,

Eco-tourism and were judged based

on the relevance of the theme, composition

of exhibits, utilization and showcase of

local resources, product quality and physical

arrangement.

On the other hand, the floats were judged on

theme relevancy, visual impact, utilization and

showcase of local resources, and creativity.

Based on records of the Office of the

Provincial the booths generated a total of

P451,552.00.

Meanwhile, exhibitors who joined the

first-ever “Agri-Kultura Sa Aklan” a five-day

exhibit and selling of farm equipment,

agricultural products and livestock and free

seminars for Aklan farmers on gamefowl

health care management, urban gardening,

art of bonsai, Babuyan na Walang Amoy, and

organic vegetable production netted a total sales of

P276,071.

Aklan became a separate province from Capiz

on April 25, 1956 through Republic Act 1414

signed by then President Ramon Magsaysay.

Theme of this year‟s celebration was “Building

Capabilities towards Greater Challenges for

Aklan”. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Best booths, floats get P363,000 in cash prizes

By Venus G. Villanueva

ILOILO CITY, May 6 (PIA6)—The local producers should not be left out from the benefits of emerging businesses in Iloilo City.

T he Iloilo Business Club (IBC) has

initiated a project that will link local

agricultural producers to businesses

that are going up in Iloilo, like hotels and

restaurants.

According to IBC Executive Director Lea

Lara, they are aiming for inclusive growth for

farmers amidst the burgeoning businesses here.

Lara added that IBC is doing a survey as

to the needs for prime agricultural

commodities of restaurants and hotels here,

which the local farmers can provide.

“It is lamentable that despite the fact that

Iloilo province is an agricultural economy, the

hotels and restaurants still get their basic

ingredients from Baguio or Tagaytay,” Lara

said.

She added that they aim that 30 to 40

percent of the daily demand of businesses will

be sourced from the local farmers to help

them market their produce.

“We also see to it that it is not only

enough supply that is available, but also the

quality,” Lara said, adding that IBC will provide

technical assistance for this purpose.

Meanwhile, the provincial government will be

setting up a Municipal Agriculture

Information System which will collate data of

production from farmers.

This mechanism includes provision of

phones to farmers so that the hotels and

restaurants can get data direct from them.

IBC itself is also investing on Geographic

Information System so that they can pinpoint

key production areas and the needed access

roads to markets.

“This will lessen transportation costs for

businesses in the city,” Lara said. (JCM/ESS/PIA

-Iloilo)

IBC initiates link-up of local producers with businesses By Elsa S. Subong

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, May 5 (PIA) – Three local government units (LGUs) in Cebu province have been identified as pilot areas for the

Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP), a poverty reduction program spearheaded by National

Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRC).

Three Cebu LGUs chosen as pilot areas for

ASAPP

T hese are the municipalities of Dalaguete,

Santa Fe, and Tuburan.

During the program‟s launching held

Thursday at Capitol, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene

Almendras explained that ASAPP is an

inter-agency effort seeking to reduce poverty

by creating sustainable employment and

income-generating opportunities.

He said the program aims to seek out

initiatives, solve problems, and roll out solutions

addressing poverty-related issues that will be

implemented as soon as possible.

Through ASAPP, participating LGUs

w i l l come up with an economic

program that will address the poverty issues in

their locality.

"Mag-abot ta para magkasinabot ta kung unsa

ang angayan natong buhatun (Let‟s come up with a

unified plan on what we need to do)," urged

Almendras.

He stressed that ASAPP is not a “one size

fits all” measure, as each LGU will come up with

their own development plans.

According to NEDA, Cebu is identified as

one of the ten provinces under C1 category,

which has the highest number of poor households

despite its booming industry.

Other identified pilot areas are in the

provinces of Pangasinan, Quezon, Camarines Sur,

Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte,

Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, and Sulu.

(rmn/Caren Gabisay, PIA7-Cebu intern/CTU

DevCom student)

By Rachelle M. Nessia

SIQUIJOR, May 7 (PIA) -- Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Siquijor and the Local Government Unit of Lazi

inked a Memorandum of Agreement recently on disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) Grant-in-Aid project.

DOST Siquijor, Lazi ink MOA on disaster grant project

T his sealed the assistance on the GIA

Project of DOST to Lazi entitled

Enhancing the Disaster Prevention and

Mitigation Capability of LGU-Lazi Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Officew.

The project aims to enable the MDRRM

Office to more effectively perform its functions,

especially those relating to disaster prevention

and mitigation.

Specifically, the project will provide

technology support for the establishment of an

information system for the MDRRM office.

It seeks to develop a computerized database

on local hazards, vulnerabilities, risks, and other

DRRM-related matters, and organize and

facilitate the gathering of data needed for the

proper identification, assessment, reduction,

and management of disaster risks in the

municipality.

It also supports the orientation/training of

local DRRM officers and personnel on

appropriate disaster prevention and mitigation

strategies, tools and techniques, and to

develop the institutional linkages and

mechanisms needed to reinforce the MDRRM

Office‟s role in designing, programming, and

coordination.

Lazi Mayor Orpheus Fua and Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer

(MDRRMO) designate Earl Aljas MDRRMO

signed the MOA in behalf of Lazi while Provincial

Science and Technology Director Engr. Mario de

la Peña represented DOST Siquijor Provincial

Science and Technology Center. (rmn/rac/

PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek

Y. Abing)

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Dumaguete City Agriculture Office advises local farmers here to shift to organic farming

methods as a way of adapting to the adverse effects of the current El Niño phenomenon.

Organic farming pushed as El Niño adaptation measure

C ity Agriculture Office official Fely Barba

said organic agriculture can help farmers

produce good quality of crops despite the

ongoing dry spell in the city.

Organic agriculture retains the fertility of

soil by keeping in the essential nutrients needed

by plants to grow.

Moreover, organic fertilizers are also

cheaper than the commercial fertilizers which

entail lesser production cost for farmers.

Barba mentioned that commercial

fertilizer have elements that can affect the quality

of crops.

This, along with the unfavorable prolonged

dry season, can bring negative effects on food

production.

The City Agriculture Office continues to

raise the consciousness of farmers on organic

farming measures as thisis also the advocacy of

the provincial government.

Part of their interventions is the production

of vermicasts or worm manure which is the end

product of vercomposting.

Barba encouraged farmers in the city to avail

of the organic fertilizer at the City Agriculture

Office.

“They can avail of these from the city

government. We will help our constituents,”

Barba disclosed.

She identified barangays Candau-ay,

Camanjac, Cadawinonan, Cantil-e, Balugo and

Bajumpandan as agricultural barangays in

Dumaguete City.

So far the current El Niño phenomenon

has brought a minimal effect to livestock

but no damaged report on crops in the city, she

added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric

G eoph y s i c a l A s t ron om i ca l S e rv i c e s

Administration (PAGASA)-Negros Oriental chief

meteorological officer Neptune Catarata said the

province is included in the list of provinces that

are affected by dry spell.

Based on the drought or dry spell

assessment issued by the country‟s weather

bureau on April 23, other provinces that are

experiencing dry spell are Agusan Del Sur, Albay,

Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Bukidnon,

Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao Del

Norte, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras,

Lanao Del Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental,

Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija,

Rizal, Samar, Siquijor, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte,

Sultan Kudarat, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del

Sur and Tarlac.

Dry spell happens when a province

experiences below normal rainfall condition for

three consecutive months or 21-60% reduction

from average normal rainfall amount.

On the other hand, drought occurs

when a province experiences way below

normal rainfall condition for three consecutive

months.

PAGASA data cites 23 provinces currently

experiencing drought and these are Abra, Agusan

Del Norte, Apayao, Basilan, Benguet, Bohol,

Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union,

Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao, Misamis

Occidental, Mountain Province, Pampanga,

Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sulu, Tawi-tawi,

Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur and

Zamboanga Sibugay.

However, based on the drought or dry spell

outlook for May there are 42 provinces including

Negros Oriental where drought or dry spell

situation is likely to improve.

On the other hand, PAGASA also

announced that drought or dry spell situation in

12 provinces across the country is likely to

continue and intensify.

With this, the City Agriculture Office also

advises farmers to conserve water since the El

Niño phenomenon is expected to last until middle

of the year. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

OrchidsOrchids

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol May 4 (PIA) -- An annual survey by the Holy Name University (HNU) recently showed Bohol's

unemployment rate at 10%, but about 25% of those unemployed told enumerators that they are currently looking for suitable

work.

B y t h e t e r m u n e m p l o ym e n t ,

however, HNU Bohol Poll means

these people desire to find work

in the near future. At the annual survey

to gather social temperature in Bohol, it

shows that the province has not

considerably wrestled itself free from

unemployment problem since it had

the figures playing from 8% to 12% in the last five

years.

Despite this, more Boholanos do not

think leaving Bohol to seek work

elsewhere is a good idea, the survey

revealed. For those 25% who are seeking

jobs, the Department of Labor and Employment

(DOLE) directs them to three jobs search

kiosks (JSK) the government has installed

in the towns of Maribojoc, Calape and

Jagna, according to Bohol DOLE officer-in-charge

German Guidaben.

A Job Search Kiosk is an information

portal housed in an ATM-type, stand-alone

equipment, which provides information

on local and overseas job opportunities

a n d o t h e r e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d

information. It helps job seekers to fast-track

access to relevant information on job openings,

hiring requirements of employers or upgrade,

their skills through the TESDA programs and BLE

career guides, DOLE, in its website stated.

Housed in said town's Public Employment Service

Offices, the JSKs can be accessed by anyone

seeking for jobs which match his qualifications,

Guidaben explained, speaking at the Kapihan sa

PIA Thursday.

DOLE through Guidaben said these JSKs are

installed as the towns enrolled for the DOLE

facility while preparing for the technical support

to have the kiosk operational. These towns keep

employment databank, skills inventory and similar

data which could be helpful in facilitating jobs

matching. The survey, which run from March 26

to April 17, used 400 respondents: about 100 for

each district in Bohol and another 100 from

Tagbilaran City, according to Maria Paz Espiritu,

Bohol Poll Project Director.

The same survey revealed that the biggest

unemployment rate, which is practically

employable and capable, belongs to the male

group of 18 to 24 years old age bracket from class

C. And Bohol Poll in fact validates the data on the

urge to find work: about 25% of those

unemployed said they are looking for suitable

work. Of those looking for work, 41% of the

respondents are male, while 45% of them are

from the age brackets 18-24.

The survey also showed the provincial

government sliding lowest in its five year support

to the promotion of agriculture, Bohol's biggest

employment niche.

Bohol Polls this year showed the Provincial

Government scoring +11 in supporting for the

promotion of agriculture, from a high +43 in 2013

and +36 in 2011. In providing for livelihood

opportunities and employment, Capitol scored

+15, but this is also the lowest in the last five

years, Bohol Poll showed.

The provincial government also obtains the

same sagging score in tourism promotions,

another job seeker's refuge: at +44% from a high

+68 in 2014, according to poll director Espiritu.

(rmn/rac/PIA-7Bohol)

DOLE sets up job search kiosks in 3 Bohol

towns

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU, May 6 (PIA) -- Cebu was the venue of the third and final leg of the public consultation on the proposed implementing

rules and regulations (IRR) on RA 10650 otherwise known as the Open Distance Learning Act.

O ver 150 participants throughout the

Visayas region with a few coming

from Mindanao attended the public

consultation this morning.

The attendees were representatives of the

Commission on Higher Education (CHED),

Technical Education and Skills Development

Authority (TESDA), private colleges and

universities, private sector, and other government

agencies.

RA 10650, signed into law by

President Benigno S. Aquino III on

December 9, 2014 seeks to institutionalize Open

Distance Learning (ODL) in public and

private higher education institutions,

post-secondary learning and vocational

institutions.

Dr. Amelia Biglete, director IV of the

Office of Programs and Standards Development

of CHED, discussed the salient points of the law

which include qualified ODL students

can access scholarship, grants-in-aid and

l o a n s f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t o r

government-administered funding sources

as well as can take licensure examination

a dm i n i s t e r e d b y t h e P ro f e s s i on a l

Regulations Commission in the practice of

profession.

“The University of the Philippines Open

University or UPOU has a significant role to

play particularly in sharing its expertise to

CHED and TESDA in matters related to the

ODL especially in the design of prototype

programs,” said Biglete.

Under the law, CHED and TESDA must

formulate, promulgate, disseminate standard

policies and guidelines in the effective

implementation of the ODL in the country. Both

agencies are also responsible in implementing a

system of quality control of the ODL programs.

The law also grants tax exemptions to

individuals and organizations that donate,

contribute, bequest and grant, in cash,

materials and services for the promotion of

ODL in partnership with higher education

institutions.

All inputs form the participants during the

open forum will be consolidated with the other

recommendations in the previous two public

consultations in Luzon and Mindanao for

finalization of the IRR.

The finalization of the IRR will have to be

approved by the heads of the three agencies of

CHED, TESDA and the UPOU.

UPOU Chancellor Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso

said “the ODL system will definitely enhance our

education system,” adding that capacity and

capability building programs will be done for the

teachers and others involved in the ODL

programs. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)

IRR consultation of Open Distance Learning Act held

By Fayette C. Riñen

SIQUIJOR, May 5 (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here in coordination with Department of Social Welfare

and Development (DSWD) empowered the women beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya Program through a family development

session.

PIA, DSWD empower Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries

A series of advocacy campaigns on

issues concerning climate change,

environmental care, agriculture, disaster

management Gender and Development,

Community Participation, and other government

programs and services were discussed.

PIA Infocen Manager Rizalie Calibo stressed

the big role of mothers in combating climate

change and poverty. She said it is the parents‟

duty to teach their children and to work for the

protection of the environment and natural

resources. “The smallest act we do and teach to

our children can go a long way in saving the

earth,” she said while calling on the mothers to

get involved in government programs and take

care of the benefits it has given them.

DSWD Municipal Link Officer Eryl Grenia,

also advised the beneficiaries to promptly

exercise their responsibilities as beneficiaries of

Pantawid Pamilya Program. Siquijor Today

Editor Inacher Abatayo talked on the topic which

encapsulates RA 9262 or the Violence Against

Women and Children (VAWC) Act.

Each event ended with an open forum

participated by the beneficiaries. (rmn/rac/

PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Inacher

Acabo-Abatayo)

By Rizalie Anding Calibo

Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Samar targets households on disaster

preparedness

I n the recent summit on disaster

risk reduction, Governor Sharee Ann

Tan emphasized that every family

and household should be ready for any

eventuality.

“We want to institutionalize disaster

preparedness,” the lady governor said.

“As DILG takes charge in the local

governments through Oplan Listo, we will

try to equip households with the needed

information and directions to be ready,” she

said.

Oplan Listo is DILG‟s program in

assisting local governments in making

disaster preparedness plans and through its

process learn their readiness to respond to

typhoons.

This can also assists them in planning

and responses to typhoons and clarify what

they need so that they can ask DILG to

reinforce their capacity long before any

typhoon arrives, according to the listo

manual.

The chief executive said soon they will

distribute a manual for every household

which can serve as guide of the households

and families on what to prepare, what to do

and whom to contact should typhoons reach

them.

As many as 16 mayors out of the 26

local chief executives in the province

attended the summit together with their

disaster risk reduction officer, social

welfare officer, agriculturist, accountant,

budget officer and local government officer.

The local officers also had speakers

from DBM, COA and DILG regional

director Pedro Naval who taught them

the creation of DRRMO‟s, qualifications

and entitlements with allocation and

utilization.

As closing activity, all the mayors in

attendance signed the commitment to

disaster preparedness and support the

inclusive community based disaster risk

reduction initiatives for resilient

communities as embodied in Republic Act

10121. (nbq/PIA 8-Samar).

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 6 (PIA) - - - Samar Province does not only target communities but households on disaster

preparedness.

Phalaenopsis x intermedia Orchid variety also Phalaenopsis x intermedia Orchid variety also

known as Star of Leyte known as Star of Leyte

'Governance Seal' is LGUs‘ gateway to NGAs‘ financial aid

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 5 (PIA) – It only takes a ―Seal of Good Governance‖ for local government units (LGUs),

provincial and municipal to get fund assistance of national government agencies (NGAs).

T his was disclosed by Ms. Pia Lovete,

Chief Local Government Monitoring

Unit, Department of Interior and

Local Government Unit(DILG-08), in a radio

interview today over DYVL Aksyon Radyo.

She said that the Payapa at Masaganang

Pamayanan (PAMANA) is only one of the

poverty alleviation projects of the

government which can be availed of by

LGUs with certain requirements, the DILG

“Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping” for

one. The project mostly provides assistance

for construction of farm-to-market-roads

(FMR), irrigations and bridges.

Lovete said that for the region, after an

assessment made by DILG central office,

hundred percent of the provincial LGUs

here have actually passed the initial test for

“good financial housekeeping” (GFH). This

means that all the six provinces of Samar and

Leyte have been declared compliant to the

GFH adding that the GFH is dependent on

the report of the Commission on Audit

(COA) being the agency mandated to look

into the financial transactions of LGUs.

“Unless we receive the COA report,

we cannot include the LGU in our list for

further assessment that will lead them

ultimately to the “Seal of Good

Governance” award to be accorded further

of government fund assistance.

GFH compliance includes the full

disclosure policy of an LGU when they

make public all financial transactions

with its corresponding projects and

expenditures. LGUs usually present this

report in a bulletin board or in the internet

portal or in their respective and maintained

websites.

There are six indicators or thematic

areas that LGUs have to comply with, among

them are: peace and order, environmental

protection, social protection, disaster

preparedness and financial housekeeping.

In a separate interview, DILG-08

Information Officer, Myles Colasito reported

that an LGU is considered “passing the

test” if at least it has passed the 3-core

indicators: disaster preparedness, financial

and social services plus one more from

either of the other three.

Other fund assistance for compliant

LGUs is the Bottoms-Up Budgeting (BUB)

which likewise empowers local leaders and

their constituents. The program, Ms Lovete

concluded, was initiated by then Secretary

Jessie Robredo and it has brought

big significance in the improvement

and performance of locally elected leaders.

(PIA-8)

DPWH-North Samar urges contractors to speed-up work while the weather is good

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, April 30 (PIA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways, Northern Samar Second

District Engineering Office (NSSDEO), District Engineer Ferdinand Briones urged contractors in a meeting held recently to

speed-up work while the weather permits and still an ideal time to work in the project sites.

D PWH-NSSDEO PIO Unit Rey

Orsua informed that for the

Calendar Year 2015, the NSSDEO

is implementing 37 Infrastructure projects

which covers and comprises asset

preservation of national and secondary

roads, construction and maintenance of

bridges, road upgrading, construction and

maintenance of flood mitigation structures

and drainage systems, off-carriageway

improvements and var ious local

infrastructure projects, among others.

Latest project status report from

NSSDEO monitoring unit indicates a plus

24% actual overall accomplishment, four (4)

of which are already completed while

construction of the rest are still on going.

Engineer Briones however, stressed that the

quality of the projects should not be

compromised vis-a-vis speeding up of its

implementation. He only expects that all

projects for CY 2015 under the coverage

area of the Second District be completed

early as most of which are basically on road

shouldering or re-blocking activities along

the national roads of which according to him

are the easiest to implement. (ADiaz)

NINFA B. QUIRANTE

AILENE N. DIAZ

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

SoLeyte LGU appropriates P3M to grow

rambutan fruit trees provincewide

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 4 (PIA) - The provincial government of Southern Leyte launched the ―One Man, One

Tree in every Household‖ restore greening movement campaign by growing rambutan fruit trees across the province.

A ccording to Agricultural Technician

Ma. Luz Gaviola , provincia l

coordinator for High Valued Crops

Development Program (HVCDP) of the

Provincial Agricultural Services Office

(PAgSO)during the Cable TV Provincial

Report , Tuesday, April 28, “ no less than

Provincial Governor Roger Mercado led in

the distribution of rambutan grafted

seedlings in the municipality of Padre Burgos

launching of the restore greening movement,

symbolic of the provincewide planting of

rambutan fruit trees in the next four years.”

There were 700 grafted seedling of

rambutan fruit tree distributed in Padre

Burgos last Monday, April 27, she reported.

She further disclosed the following

distributions schedules with their

corresponding grafted seedlings to be

planted: April 30 – Limasawa, 400; May 8

– Maasin City, 5,200; and May 11

– Macrohon, 1,700.

The movement targets to enjoin 89,000

households, as per PSA Household survey in

2010, in the province of Southern Leyte to

plant one rambutan tree in either at the

front, sides or backyards near their homes,

for the first batch choosen households to

plant this year, Gaviola explained.

She disclosed that every year 25,000

grafted rambutan seedlings are targetted to

be planted within four years throughout the

province.

“The provincial government has

appropriated the amount of P3Million for

this tree planting activity to include the

procurement of grafted seedlings,” Gaviola

said.

Gaviola noted that the rambutan tree is

expected to bear fruits in two to three

years. Off season, the price of rambutan fruit

is pegged at P 80.00 per kilo but, during

harvesting season, the price is lower

at p20.00 to P40.00 per kilo in the market.”

The local government units are the

partners of this greening movement as they

will be responsible to choose the

households who can join in the planting

depending on their availability of lots to be

planted with one rambutan fruit tree. (esg/

PIA8 SoLeyte)

ERNA S. GORNE

Eastern Visayas remains strike-free

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 4(PIA) – Eastern Visayas has remained strike-free since 2003, the National Conciliation and

Mediation Board (NCMB) in the region said Wednesday.

I n a press conference held at the

D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r a n d

Employment (DOLE) training center,

Rico S. Babalcon of NCMB-8 announced that

for twelve (12) years no strike among local

laborers here was recorded in the whole

region.

“When we talk about industrial peace

ang barometer natin dito is strike. When

we say strike it means a concerted effort

conducted by the employees due to labor

dispute but the last strike happened in

2003,” Babalcon said.

Said strike was conducted by several

employees of Eastern Samar Electric

Cooperative (ESAMELCO) over a collective

bargaining agreement (CBA) deadlock.

On the same occasion, the National

Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)

reported its accomplishment for the first

quarter in 2015.

Labor arbiter Amelia Docena said she

issued a judgment award of P1, 236, 656.41

to parties who were not amicably settled

during the mandatory conference and a total

amount of P411,510.93 was awarded for

amicable settlement. (aen/cba/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

CARD MRI conducts free health services to women in Samar TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 30 (PIA) – More than a thousand pregnant, lactating mothers and childbearing-age women in

the Municipality of Basey, Samar availed of the 3rd Community Health Fair at Basey Municipal Gym recently.

T he project dubbed as “The Healthy

Mothers, Healthy Babies: Kalinga

Kay Inay Project” was conducted by

the Center for Agriculture and Rural

Deve lopment-Mutua l ly Rein forc ing

Institutions in partnership with the rural

health unit of Basey.

OB-GYNs from the Philippine

Obstetrical and Gynecological Society

(POGS) in the region, doctors, pediatricians

and vo lunteer nurses prov ided

maternal health education, medical

consultation, medicines , mother's

kits,urinalysis and ultrasound services to

women in said area.

The Philippine Health Insurance

Corporation (Philhealth) also participated in

the said event.

M a r i l y n M a n i l a , Co m mu n i t y

Development Group Coordinator said, by

the end of 2015, the program is targeting 8,

000 women to benefit from the health

fairs and 600,000 individuals from the

maternal health education.

Region 8 is the first area to receive the

maternal health education.

“CARD MRI has the outreach to

implement such project.

We hope that we will be able to create

an impact to the lives of our target

beneficiaries and help the country in

lowering maternal mortality and reach the

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by

the end of 2015, “Manila added.

The Center for Agriculture and

Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing

Institutions (CARD MRI), one of the largest

group of social development institutions in

the Philippines and U.S.-based international

development organization Freedom from

Hunger and the Microcredit Summit

Campaign first launched the Kalinga Kay Inay

Project in 2014 in Laguna.

In the next 3-5 years, it is

expected that there will be an

improvement and sustainability of delivery

of health education and related

services through strengthening the

foundation and capacity of member finance

institutions of the Philippine Microfinance

and Health Consortium to reach millions

of women and children with health

education and other health services. (ajc/cba/

PIA-8)

Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan

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. Alicia E. Nicart

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