Vol 5 Issue 2 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 January 12 – 18, 2015

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Doing business with EU using GSP+ slated

Storm fails to stop Pope‘s coming to Leyte

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

DOLE-6 cites major gains in 2014

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 14 (PIA)—The Department of

Labor and Employment cited its major gains

a n d m i l e s t on e f o r 2 0 1 4 , wh i ch we r e accomplished because of its skilled workers and

cooperative partners. According to Director Ponciano Ligutom, DOLE-6

was recognized among the three top performing regional offices nationwide, together with the National Capital

Region and Region 3. LIgutom pointed to the successful declaration of

Guimaras and Boracay islands as Labor Laws Compliant

Tourist Destinations, as a miltestone, earning for Region 6 a citation as the first to ever make such a declaration in the country.

DOLE-6, Ligutom said, was also cited for putting up local initiatives like the Iwas Aksidente Patrol or IWAP,

which enlists support of workers and the public to avoid

accidents and illnesses.

Further, the strengthening of Human Resource Network aimed at empowering HR practitioners in

performing their roles and responsibilities that will redound to better employment situation.

Included among the initiatives are the establishing of DOLE-6 Testing and Career Coaching Center, and the

Sugar Workers Development Training Center. ―With all these, we intend to intensify the

implementation of the Labor Laws Compliance System,‖

Ligutom said, adding that this is focused on declaring sugarcane as a Labor Laws Compliant Industry.

DOLE-6 said that for 2015, it keeps the mantra

―More victories, more meaningful and felt services.‖ (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

CEBU, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) through the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) and DTI Cebu Provincial Office invite exporters, custom brokers, freight forwarders, and relevant

business support organizations to an information session entitled, “Doing Business with EU using GSP+” on January 20 at 8:30am – 4:00pm at Cebu Parklane International, Hotel, cor. Archbishop Reyes Ave., Escario

St., Cebu City. This is an info campaign of DTI for Phl exporters to

enjoy zero duty for certain products exported to the EU.

The European Parliament has officially granted the Philippines’ request for inclusion in the European Union’s (EU) General Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+). The EU's

"Generalised Scheme of Preferences" (GSP) allows

developing country exporters to pay less or no duties on their exports to the EU.

This gives them vital access to EU markets and contributes to their economic growth. The Philippines is the first ASEAN country granted the EU GSP+ status.

Under this preferential scheme, Philippine exporters will enjoy zero duty for 6,274 covered products, which

hopes to translate to increased exports to the EU. In light

of this recent development, the DTI has launched a nationwide information campaign on the opportunity and benefits of EU-GSP+ for Philippine exporters and other

businesses. The info session will have resource speakers from the

Philippine Trade & Investment Center (Brussels, Belgium), DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), DTI-Bureau of

International Trade Relations (BITR), and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) that will discuss pertinent topics that include the following-- Important Updates on the

EU-GSP+, Export Opportunities for GSP+ covered products in the EU, Navigating the EU Export Help Desk Website and Availment of EU GSP+ / Rules of Origin

(ROO).

The session is free-of-charge; however, seats are limited on a first come, first served basis, so interested

participants are requiredto contact the DTI-Cebu Provincial Office and look for Ms. Tessie Emphasis or Ms. Airene Edaño at telephone nos. (032) 253-3631 and

255-7082 (loc. 109). (mbcn/ays/PIA-7/with reports from DTI)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS TACLOBAN, Leyte, Jan. 18 (PIA) – Strong winds and

driving rain did not stop Pope Francis’ long-awaited journey to Leyte.

Only days after ―Yolanda‖ struck Eastern Visayas in

November 2013, His Holiness had already intended to come to Tacloban, wanting to personally see the massive damage wrought by the super typhoon.. He had to defer his trip in consideration of the on-going relief and

rehabilitation. On January 17 however, the Pope’s long-standing

desire came to a reality, despite the Signal Number 2 of

Typhoon ―Amang‖. Seeing the Pope’s plane as it hovered on top of the

airport area, the more than 100,000 gathered pilgrims

shouted chants with gladness and excitement: ―Viva el Papa!‖. Unmindful of their soaked feet, the pilgrims, await-ed the Pope as they saw him emerging from the plane and

being with them. His homily added more strength to the pilgrims. The

Holy Father specifically told the ―Yolanda‖ victims to

move on because ―the Lord will not let you down‖, he said.

Immediately after the Mass, the Pope was brought by motorcade through the 12-kilometer to the Bishop’s

Palace in Palo to also visit the place, have lunch with 30 calamity victims and bless the Pope’s Center for the Poor on his way back to Tacloban.

His lunch with the victims was brief but he made

most of it by looking at each of them intently, compassionately.

At the Palo Cathedral where he met briefly with

priests and laities, he apologized to them saying that he was truly saddened to cut short his trip because of the bad weather. But he asked that they pray for him and to be quiet as the crowd loudly welcomed him.

Due to the inclement weather, the Holy Father’s visit was cut short but it was filled with so much love, compassion and hope. Authorities have asked that the

Pope leave at 1:00 pm because of a PAGASA forecast that typhoon ―Amang‖ would make a landfall by 2:00 pm in Dolores, Eastern Samar. (PIA-8). Images #‎Cebu #‎Sinulog2015 of participants

showing their moves and costumes during the

Grand Parade as part of the month-long

celebration of Sinulog Festival 2015 this

January, with a total of137 participants in the

followig categories: Sinulog-Based (21

participants) ; Free Interpretation (23

participants); Float (41 participants); Higante

(33 participants); and Puppeteering (19

participants) categories. (vvv/PIA Cebu)

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer

Emilio S. de Quiros Jr. (center), SSS Vice

President for Member Services Division Mario

R. Sibucao (left) and G-Xchange officials Inc.

President Paolo Eugenio J. Baltao (right) sign

the memorandum of agreement that allows

SSS members to settle their contributions and

loan amortizations through the G-XChange's

mobile remittance facility, witnessed by

officials from both parties. *(CBA-PIA6/SSS

photo)

His Holiness, Pope Francis waves to the Leytenons and pilgrims

upon his arrival in Tacloban City to visit them and see for himself

the damage wrought by 2013 super typhoon ―Yolanda‖ in Eastern

Visayas. (PIA8)

An estimated 100,000 people from all ages and

walks of life crowded the Tacloan DZR

Airport apron during the mass officiated by

Pope Francis held at the said venue Jan 17.

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

More youth-dev sessions up in 2015

By Pilar Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) -- The youth members of Pantawid Pamilya will have their share of capability building

activities through the Youth Development Sessions this 2015.

This used to be a regular activity of

their parents dubbed as Family Development

Sessions (FDS) during the early

implementation of the program.

However, this year the youth will be

given importance to help them cope with

the issues affecting them, said Jeffrey

Gabucay Provincial Operations Officer,

Pantawid Pamilya.

YDS will be a regular activity among the

youth to tackle various topics to arm them

with right information amidst issues on

violence against women and children,

teenage pregnancy, school dropout,

improper use of social media and internet

and a lot more confronting the youth sector,

said Gabucay.

Topics and group dynamics of the YDS

hopes to guide the youth to have good

attitude and values, learn skills in decision

making that will eventually help them attain

better personality and achieve their

aspirations in life.

It will be noted that provision of

support has leveled up from pregnant wom-

en and children 0-14 years old to the youth

15 to 18 years. This is to ensure that chil-

dren could finish their studies up to

senior years in high school.

Another important program for the

youth is the continuing provision for college

education under Students’ Grants-In-Aid

Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA).

Antique has 41 scholars for the first

batch of the program.

They are on third year college this

school year while for the second batch there

are 301 scholars which commenced last

year. (JCM/PSM/Antique)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Jan. 14 (PIA) – Nine towns in Capiz were recently assessed by the regional team for the Rapid

Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) in view of Tropical Storm ―Seniang‖ that affected the province.

T he inter-agency regional team

was led by Administrative Officer

Ana Irma Villanueva of the Office

of the Civil Defense with members from

the Department of Health, Department of

Science and Technology, Department of

Education, Department of Public Works

and Highways, Department of Agriculture

and Philippine Information Agency.

The two-day RDANA, set last January

8 and 9, aimed to determine further the

impact and needs of various clusters in the

heavily affected areas, particularly in Capiz

due to TS Seniang.

Included in the towns assessed due to

said tropical storm that resulted in

flooding in many areas in the province are

Panay, Pontevedra, Maayon, Panitan,

Mambusao, Sigma, Dao, Cuartero and

Dumarao.

Villanueva explained that the areas

that were subject to RDANA were based

on the report of the Provincial Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Office

which damaged particularly rice crops,

were noted to be significant due to

flooding.

She said that the validated results by

the Regional Team will be submitted to

their higher office for assessment and

could be the subject of planning for

possible assistance. Capiz Governor

Victor Tanco, said that although Typhoon

Ruby was forecast to be a supertyphoon

yet it did not bring too much damage in

Capiz, unlike in TS Seniang.

Tanco added that the continuous rain

due to ―Seniang‖ plus the tail-end of the

cold front put many low-lying areas of the

province underwater, thus heavily

damaging many rice crops especially those

that were about to be harvested. The said

flood also made some vital national roads

unpassable to all vehicles for some couple

of days.

Latest record from the PDRRMO

showed that Seniang claimed three lives

due to drowning and has affected 11,705

families or 47,574 individuals from the 43

barangays in the 14 towns including Roxas

City. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Nine Capiz towns undergo damage assessment

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Jan. 12 (PIA6) - - Good things finally come to those agrarian reform beneficiaries who waited for a

decade to get hold of their Certificates of Land Ownership and be installed as new land owners.

78 new ARBs up in Victorias City

S eventy eight ARBs from barangays

XV, XV-A, XVIII-A all of Victorias

City received their CLOAs from

the Department of Agrarian Reform

(DAR) and are now ready to cultivate

their 119.24 hectares of land acquired by

DAR through Compulsory Arbitration.

The Notice of Coverage (NOC)

under the Comprehensive Agrarian

Reform Program was issued to former

land owner Victorias Milling Company in

August of 2006 then, in March 2002 was

also issued to the Bank of the Philippine

Islands and in June 2012, the Victorias

Agricultural Land Corporation was issued

the same NOC.

Until in September 2005, the workers

of Hacienda Florencia were organized into

Florencia Workers Association with its

President Ramon Lavides Sr. An emotional

Lavides thanked the DAR and the

Damayan ng mga Manggagawa,

Mangingisda at Magsasaka or DAMMMBA,

a Non-Government Organization who

helped them acquire their land.

―In the span of 10 years, now you

receive your CLOAs, let us thank God for

allowing a peaceful awarding of our CLOA

and installation of the land to us,‖ Lavides

said telling his members to thank DAR for

the help. Meanwhile, Provincial Agrarian

Reform Program Officer II Teresita

Mabunay reminded the ARBs of their

obligations one year after the installation.

ARBs or ARB organizations are

obliged to pay their amortization to the

Land Bank of the Philippines, land taxes to

their respective local government units

where, failure to comply are grounds for

disqualification and cancellation of their

CLOAs. ―You are more blessed than the

other farmers in the country because

now, you have your own land to

till. Take care of it, treat it like a

responsible father of the family. Do not

abandon, pawn, or lease it, instead

cultivate it,‖ Mabunay told the ARBs. *

(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

PIA-6 launches search for best devcom

student writers

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA6)—The Philippine Information Agency in Western Visayas is set to award best performing student

paper writers in the field of development communication for 2015.

D ubbed as the IWAG Award, this

incentive scheme, seeks to

recognize the efforts given by

school paper writers in supporting and

advocating for the development thrusts of

the government through their articles.

PIA-6 Director Atty. Janet Mesa said

that campus paper writers, through the

years, have been indispensable partners of

the agency in promoting development.

―They have done it well in their

campuses, among the readers of their

papers, and even among themselves to be

informed about and involved in

development activities,‖ Mesa said.

The IWAG Award is given to a

graduating editor or senior writer of a

publication duly nominated by the school

head, and have passed the criteria.

These criteria include 1) number and

quality of devcom articles published in the

school paper (50%); 2)academic and

scholastic achievements, grades, honors,

distinction (20%); 3) communication work

experience and training (20%); 4)

involvement in school and community

activities (10%).

The articles should be certified by the

school paper adviser and should include

the date of publication.

The communication and training

engagements, as well as community and

school activities they have undertaken,

should be certified by organizers.

The PIA has set the deadline for

submission of nominations and

requirements is February 10, 2015. (JCM/

ESS/PIA6)

By: Elsa S. Subong

KALIBO, Aklan, Jan. 13 (PIA6) -- Eleven municipalities in Aklan will be showcasing their respective festivals at the slated Aklan

Festivals Parade and Higante Contest 2015 on January 15 around the main streets of Kalibo.

T he conduct of the Aklan Festivals

Parade and Higante Contest is

the provincial government’s way

of complementing the famed Kalibo Sto.

Nino Ati-atihan Festival with the theme

―Ati in the Locality‖.

The Aklan Festivals will have a

street-dancing competition and ground

presentations with corresponding cash

prizes.

According to Roselle Q. Ruiz, Aklan

Provincial Tourism Officer, the event this

year will feature the Aklanons’ artistic and

creative ingenuity in promoting their

respective local cultural festivals.

In the Higante Contest, the respective

municipal festivals will create their giant

figures or ―higante‖ as a replica of their

own local Ati tribe. There will be 11

municipalities participating in the Aklan

Festivals Parade and 8 municipalities with

―Higante‖ contest entries. For the Aklan

Fes t i v a l s P ar ade , p a r t i c ip a t in g

municipalities are Kalibo, with its Kalibo

Sto. Nino Ati-atihan Festival; Balete,

―Enchanting Balete‖ (Pangabuhian Sa

Among Banwa‖; Banga, with its Saguibin

Festival through Tribu Magdadaet;

Buruanga, Panagat Festival; Ibajay, Ati-ati

Festival (Ninos Inocentes Celebration);

Lezo, Bayangan Festival; Madalag, Tinuom

ni Aewag; Malay, Fiesta de Obreros;

Tangalan, Bugna it Tangalan and Numancia

with yet an unnamed festival.

Towns with Higante contest entries

are Balete, with ―Manughaboe‖; Ibajay,

Kalibo, Madalag, with ―Maniwangtiwang‖;

Malinao, Nabas, with ―Bariw Ati‖;

Numancia and Tangalan.

For winners in the Higante Contest,

first prize will get P40,000.00; 2nd,

P35,000.00; 3rd prize, P30,000.00; 4th

prize, P25,000.00; and 5th Prize,

P20,000.00.

There will be consolation prizes of

P10,000.00 each while each municipality

will have P20,000.00 subsidy.

For the Aklan Festivals winners, first

prize will get P10,000.00; 2nd, P7,000.00

and 3rd, P5,000.00.

There will be a consolation prize of

P2,500.00 while each municipality will get

P15,000.00 subsidy. Winners in the Aklan

Festivals will also get P15,000.00 for first

prize; P10,000.00 for 2nd prize and

P7,000.00 for 3rd prize.

Meanwhile, as an annual tribute to

―balikbayans‖ from all over the world, the

provincial government, headed by

Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, will also

host a Balikbayan Night 2015 at the ABL

Sports Complex on January 16. (JSC/VGV

-PIA6 Aklan)

Aklan Festivals Parade, Higante contest entries out

By: Venus G. Villanueva

More tourists visit Iloilo in 2014

ILOILO CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA6) --- More tourists visited Iloilo province in 2014 registering a 15 percent increase as compared in

the previous year.

I n a media interview, Provincial

Tourism Officer Gilbert Marin

said that the province recorded

112,500 tourist arrivals as of

December 2014 and the figure is

expected to increase when all data from

local government units will be

consolidated.

―Deadline for submission of the 2014

tourist arrivals is still on February but

given the figure now, it is expected to

reach total arrivals of 122,000 or 125,000

or about 15 percent higher compared to

2013,‖ he said.

In 2013, Iloilo recorded 117,800 or 45

percent higher against 2012.

Marin said that about 80 percent of

the tourists are locals and 20 percent are

foreigners with Koreans as the top foreign

visitors.

He urged municipalities to come up

with promotional events to encourage

more visitors from abroad and

neighboring provinces to visit the tourist

spots here.

He also said that northern Iloilo has

already recovered from the impact of

typhoon Yolanda with a number of resorts

destroyed during the onslaught in

November 2013. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Leonard T. Pineda, I

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA)—Almost 4,000 hectares of land in Oslob town are now planted with trees completing Cebu‘s share of

the National Greening Program (NGP).

Oslob town plants more than 1M trees

C ommunity Environment and Natural

Resources Officer covering Cebu

south Flordeliza Geyrozaga said they

had so far planted more than a million

seedlings of Pangatuon, Molave, Maribuhok,

and other indigenous trees since the program

started in 2011.

By end of 2014, they already

covered 3,400 hectares in Oslob

town which was just over 400 hectares four

years ago.

Geyrozaga said the public, private groups

and non government organizations planted the

seedlings both contributing and are maintaining

the areas.

Contibuting NGO’s Geyrozaga said are

those that participated in scheduled tree

planting activities while the maintaining NGO’s

are groups of farmers and fishers who are

residents of Oslob.

One of these is the Tumalog,

Daanglungsod, Canyang Upland Farmers

Association (TADACUPA) which according to

its president Timoteo Meyras was already

awarded almost P15 million to plant, grow and

maintain the planted seedlings.

Miras said the NGP is a big help to

constituents as an additional income as

most of them are merely relying on fishing and

farming.

The organization also grows seedlings in

case the ones already planted suddenly die

because of grass fire or due to abnormal

weather conditions.

Each member of TUDACUP receives

P5,000 per month from this project.

Geyrozaga said apart from the funding

the farmers involved will also be awarded the

tenural instrument, which allows them to

manage the forest.

NGP is not only meant to reduce the

effects of climate change, it is also aimed at

reducing poverty. She explained that once the

trees are ready for harvest, the farmers can

then start earning from it.

Some members of Cebu media visited the

Oslob NGP project as part of the Eco Tour

initiated by the Philippine Information Agency

(PIA) - Cebu and Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR). (mbcn/FCC/

PIA-Cebu)

CEBU CITY (PIA) --- The contingency aspect of the Sinulog Mardi Gras on Jan. 18 was put in place by the Regional Disaster

Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-7) with the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office

and the province.

Sinulog‘s contingency plan in place

O ver a million people dotted the streets

of the 6.1 kilometer-route of the

grand parade as the contingency plan

took into consideration the high density

population of the highlighted event of the Sinu-

log Festival.

RDRRMC-7 Chairperson and regional

director of the Office of Civil Defense

(OCD-7) Olivia Luces said there was a need to

develop an incident command system (ICS) as

part of the contingency plan to anticipate and

immediately address any crisis that might

erupt.

―The development of the ICS is based on

national standards where its use was

proven effective during the Black Nazarene

Translacion event some years back when

contraband from the pier was intercepted,‖

said Luces adding the prompt interception was

due to good intelligence.

ICS is not mainly established during

times of disaster such as typhoons,

earthquakes, sea mishaps but events

which are attended by a mammoth crowd

like fiestas and festivals must also have a

contingency plan set in place, said (Ret.)

Col. Mario Verner Monsanto who

briefed the participants on the significance of

the ICS.

Monsanto said events like festivals with

crowded areas are attractive targets for

terrorists or lawless elements placing several

lives at risk.

An ICS was formulated wherein most of

the key positions like the incident

commander and its command staff as well as

the four sections such as operations,

planning, logistics and finance and

administrative were headed by local officials of

the Cebu City Government as the Sinulog

Festival is mainly organized by the latter. The

organization was complemented by regional

line agencies from the RDRRMC-7 and other

stakeholders.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of

the Sinulog Foundation on the other hand, said

25 medical stations were established with the

help of the Cebu Medical Society (CMS) while

water stations were also set in strategic places

by the Metro Cebu Water District. (mbcn/

PIA-7)

SIQUIJOR, Jan 8 (PIA)—A grenade explosion incident transpired January 7 at about 1:35 a.m in Poblacion, San Juan, Siquijor,

in front of the house of Hon. Alejandro S. Bahonsua Jr., the presiding Judge or the Regional Trial Court Branch 46, 7th Judicial

Region in Larena, Siquijor.

PNP probes deeper into grenade explosion at RTC judge‘s house

T he explosion incident has damaged

the left rear tire of the Judge’s

T o y o t a P r a d o ― L a n d

Cruiser‖ according to the report endorsed by

Police Senior Superintendent Primitivo

Tabujara of the Siquijor Police Provincial

Office.

This, the PNP said, was found out

following a report from one Horace Manginsay,

a resident of the place, informing the police

that left rear tire of the vehicle of Judge

Bahonsua that was parked in front of his house

was discovered deflated and believed to have

been intentionally damaged.

Responding police officers discovered

during the post-blast investigation at the scene,

a crater measuring about 2 inches in depth

with a diameter from north to south direction

measuring about 16 inches wide while from

west to east direction, 15 inches.

Several pieces of metal believed to be

fragments from a suspected hand grenade were

found beneath the flat tire of the vehicle, while

some of them were recovered outside of the

crater, and inside of the damaged tire, the

report said.

Nobody was reported injured during the

explosion.

Further investigation is underway to

determine the motives and to identify possible

suspect/s of the crime, while the recovered

pieces of evidence were properly documented

and photographed, and are now at the custody

of San Juan Police Station for safekeeping.

These will be forwarded to Negros

Oriental Crime Laboratory, Dumaguete City

for forensic examination to determine the kind

of the explosive. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor/ w/

reports from PO3 VBadilla, Intel PNCO)

By Rizalie A. Calibo

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan. 09 (PIA)--The Visit Bohol 215 drive featuring an ever all-Bohol travel fair to kick off Bohol‘s

year-round tourism campaign was launched recently at Glorieta Activity Center in Makati City.

T his is in line with the Department of

Tourism’s (DOT) ―Visit Philippines

2015‖ campaign.

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto led the launch

with House Tourism Committee Chair, Rep.

Rene Relamapagos and Atty. Lucas Nunag,

chairman of the Provincial Tourism Council

(PTC) to welcome the guests.

The event started with a video

presentations of the DOT’s ―It’s More Fun in

the Philippines 2015,‖ ―Bohol: The

Destination,‖ while LGUs Anda, Danao and

Tagbilaran will have their respective

audio-visual presentations.

This 3-day event sold discounted rates of

resorts, hotels and tour packages of up to

70%.

AirAsia, the leading budget airline

partner for the campaign, offered seat sale.

The launch event was supposed to be held

last December 8-10, 2014 but was rescheduled

because of super typhoon Ruby.

After the devastating storm that hit parts

of the country, Bohol’s tourism campaign is

going full blast which once again demonstrates

the Filipinos’ innate resilience and tireless

spirit.

In promoting the province as the newest

must-go tourist destination, the travel fair also

featured popular Boholano products, as well as

showcase free musical numbers from popular

performances such as the world-renowned and

Bohol’s pride, the Loboc Children’s Choir.

This is part of the Bohol Tourism Action

Plan developed through the collaboration of

the United States Agency for International

Development through its Advancing Philippine

Competitiveness Project (USAID-COMPETE),

the Department of Tourism (DOT), the United

Nations World Tourism Organization

(UN-WTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel

Association (PATA) and the full support of the

local tourism stakeholders led by the Provincial

Tourism Council.

The 3-day event signalled the first time

ever that tourism sector in Bohol came

together in a massive campaign to entice

tourists to visit. (mbcn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

Visit Bohol 215 drive launched

SIQUIJOR, January 9 (PIA)—Enrique Villanueva in Siquijor province is the first to be declared as drug-free municipality in Si-

quijor province following Municipal and Barangay Anti Drug Councils (MADAC/BADACs) resolutions declaring the town as

Enrique Villanueva, first drug-free town in Siquijor province

“ We are very proud that this is the first

time the provincial government declares

Enrique Villanueva as drug free

municipality,‖ says municipal Mayor Gerold

Pal-ing as he noted that it will not happen

without the support of the PNP, the town’s

legislative body, the MADAC, and the

BADACs.

He said his goal and program is to support

and promote sports development as a way of

eliminating drug activities citing the ongoing

sports clinic for young school children and high

schools to divert them from resorting to drugs

and other illegal activities.

Chief of Police Felicisimo Aranas Jr. in his

opening statement also takes pride in the

declaration saying the town is truly deserving

to be called a drug-free town.

He said that in the past years, drug related

cases in the town is a bit rampant but upon his

assumption as chief of police, he was able to

closely monitor and neutralize drug

personalities.

―It is assumed that drug personalities

accepted that they no longer exist,‖ he said

while warning that the PNP is serious in going

after them and possibly put them into jail and

will never allow illegal elements to regroup

once again.

―We hope that this effort will not be

taken for granted as we continue work harder

in our battle against illegal drug trade,‖ Aranas

said.

Earlier, Siquior Superintedent Primitivo

Tabujara Jr. of the Siquijor Police Provincial

Office declared all-out war against illegal drugs

and challenged the chief of police in all six

municipalities to do their job in attaining a drug

-free province.

"Our campaign against illegal drugs is very

serious in nature," he said as he warned to

remove them from their post if they cannot

perform what is directed of them.

"I also accept challenge and dared my

officials to also remove me immediately if a am

remiss of my job, he said.

He said the additional non-uniformed

personnel (NUP) in the province is a big help in

police operatives to strengthen anti-illegal drug

operation and tracking of unsolved

cases. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)

DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 15 (PIA) --- In serving underprivileged children, youths and families for 25 years, the Little Children

of the Philippines (LCP) will mark its silver anniversary with a benefit dinner, fun run, among other events this March.

U S Peace Corps Victoria Carberry said

LCP’s 25 years of service for the

poor families live up to its motto

―Making a difference- one child at a

time‖, sponsoring scholarship program for

children to go to school until college.

―Together with, health and nutritional

care, spiritual guidance and livelihood support,

LCP strives to provide holistic care for the

child and family. Where a child cannot live at

home through neglect or abuse, LCP offers full

residential care through it shelter program,‖

said Carberry.

The Benefit Dinner will be held on March

21, chaired by Dumaguete City mayor

Manuel Sagarbarria, bringing together key

members of the government, business and

academic communities to recognize LCP’s 25

years of contribution to the education and well

being of the poorest children in Dumaguete.

Carberry said funds raised from the bene-

fit dinner will be used to support the running

of LCP’s Wee Women’s shelter for at-risk

girls.

E x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f L C P ,

Carmenia Benosa said ―In my 19 years

working at LCP, I personally followed and

witnessed numerous lives that have changed

and seen many disadvantaged children become

valuable contributors to their communities and

society."

For tickets for the 25th Anniversary

B e n e f i t D i n n e r , p l e a s e c o n t a c t

lcpanniversary@gmail.com or SMS:

0905-919-4871/ or phone (035) 225-0766.

LCP was founded in 1989 in Dumaguete

City, Philippines. Having served as

Presbyterian Missionaries at Silliman University

for over thirty years and nearing retirement,

Dr. Douglas and Dr. Bettie Elwood saw the

plight of the children living on the streets and

felt God's call to reach out to them.

They shared with Bettie's family, Luther

Carroll and Dean and Peggy Houk, their

desire to bring HELP and HOPE to the little

children who had no one to love them or help

them.

Together they pooled their resources

purchased land and built the Mission House

that is still in use today as two residential

shelters. (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

LCP to celebrate 25th Silver Anniversary

By Rizalie A. Calibo

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Leyte, Tacloban declare ‗holidays‘

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte (PIA) -- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla declared a 3-day special non-working holiday

in the Province of Leyte in preparation for the apostolic visit of Pope Francis in Tacloban and Palo Leyte on January 17.

T his after Governor Petilla signed SP

Resolution No. 2015-16 which the

Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte

passed during its regular session last January 6.

Resolution No. 2015-16 declareed January

15, l6 and 17 as special non-working holidays in

the Province of Leyte.

It covered all schools, provincial

government departments and offices and local

government units within its jurisdiction, except

those involved in the security of the provincial

jails, maintenance of peace and order, disaster

and risk management, health and sanitation.

However, suspension of work in all

national government and private entities

depended upon the discretion of the heads of

offices or management.

The resolution emphasized that the pri-

vate sector was not included in the declaration

as businesses and food chains are necessary or

should be open to ensure availability of foods

and products.

Meanwhile, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred

Romualdez issued Executive Order no.

15-01-001 series of 2015 declaring suspension

of classes from January 14 to 16 at all levels in

public and private schools in the city relative to

the Apostolic Visit of His Holiness Pope

Francis in Tacloban on January 17.

This after the city local school board

passed Board Resolution no.01-2015

recommending that classes in the kindergarten,

elementary, secondary and tertiary levels in the

city be suspended ensure public order, safety

and convenience.

Likewise, work in all government

institutions within the city was also suspended

from January 15 to 16 except those offices

which were involved in the maintenance of

peace and order, disaster risk management,

health and sanitation and traffic management

while the suspension of work in private institu-

tions and entities was under the discretion of

the employers or heads of private entities.

Considering the arrival of thousands of

pilgrims and visitors this week, the City

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council (CDRRMC) was also ordered to

be on full alert in order to respond and

address any eventuality that may occur. (jrc/

cba/PIA-8)

PSA-Biliran calls for respondents‘ cooperation in 2015 LFS

NAVAL, Biliran, Jan. 14 (PIA) – The new provincial caretaker of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Biliran Provincial

Statistics Office formerly known as the National Statistics Office (NSO) called on the respondents in the 2015 Labor Force

Survey (LFS) to extend cooperation to the PSA personnel conducting the survey from January 8-31,2015 in the province.

F rancisco D. Rostata, who officially

assumed off ice as provincia l

caretaker of PSA-Biliran effective

January 1, 2015 vice Rosemarie Lumbre former

PSA provincial director and is now assigned

at the PSA regional office in Tacloban

City appealed that assistance and cooperation

be extended by the respondents in the conduct

of the LFS in a press release given to

PIA-Biliran.

The report revealed that some 160

households in Biliran province to be surveyed

by regular PSA-Biliran personnel were

systematically and randomly selected at

PSA-Manila for the 2015 LFS,

The LFS is a nationwide quarterly survey

of households conducted by PSA to gather on

the demographic and socio-economic

characteristics of the population, it said.

The report added that the 2015 LFS is

aimed at measuring the distribution of

household population 15 years old and above

by employment status like the employed,

unemployed or underemployed.

It will also determine various employment

characteristics such as industry, class of

worker, nature of employment and basis of

payment.

Question on hunger experienced by

any member of the household and the

frequency of experiencing are also included in

the questionnaire, it added.

The PSA press release also informed

that the conduct of PSA surveys is mandated

by Commonwealth Act 591 and Executive

Order No 121.Data gathered during the

survey are strictly confidential; statistical

tables will be generated and published in

summary forms; and these cannot be used for

taxation, investigation or enforcement

purposes.

It also urged stakeholders to please call

the PSA-Biliran with telephone number at

500-9723 or visit its office located at the

2nd Floor, EMK Building, Vicentillo Extension,

Naval, Biliran if there are some clarifications

and inquiries regarding the LFS survey. (jrc/fj/

RSV/PIA8-Biliran)

Serving Pope, kissing his ring twice are lifetime gifts - volunteer

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan. 18 (PIA) – "I will never forget, my whole life, the unexpected physical encounter with His

Holiness, Pope Francis," said Leo Angelo Encinas, 32, a volunteer worker from Borongan City, Eastern Samar, who happened

to join other volunteers who worked right in the very room where the Pope lunched with the 30 ―Yolanda‖ and Bohol

earthquake survivors.

Two days after the visit, ―Sheng‖ as he is

fondly called, still feels ―afloat‖.

He said, his encounter with the Church

Vicar who was sent by Jesus to Region 08, is a

testimony that ―we are all God’s children, we

are all the same,‖ that with God, there is no

rich, no poor, no learned, no idiot.

Sheng is a college drop-out due to

poverty, but today he feels he is more than a

Ph.D. graduate.

Not a few wished what he experienced

with the Pope last January 17 in Palo, Leyte.

Coming from a poor farmers’ village in

barangay Bugas, ―Sheng‖ did not even know

that he could have money for his fare, least did

he expect that he will be summoned to give

the Pope’s Carbonara with shrimps toppings,

he said.

―I joined the other volunteers in preparing

the Bishop’s souvenirs‖, Sheng narrated. He

accompanied Ms. Grace Anacta an aunt of Fr.

Ric Marpa of the Archdiocese of Palo.

According to him before the Pope arrived

at the dining hall, they were kept to the sides,

but he noticed the aides and everybody else

around were in haste. As always, he would

look at his handler for any errand, and to his

surprise, he was signalled upon by the caterer

to get hold of a plate with white Pasta for the

Pope,‖ the poor guy continued.

―In that instant, I tried not to show both

my inner joy and nervousness as I politely gave

the Pope his Carbonara,‖, he said.

―Whent he Pope stood up, after the meal

which he barely took, I joined the others who

rushed to him to kiss his ring and I

succeeded. It was the first heaven!,‖ he

shared.

―When the Pope’s aides hurried to take

him to the steps down for the

airport, lucky few volunteers took

the opposite stairs to meet him and yes, right

in front of us was the Pope again and our

chance to kiss his ring the second time

around.

This time the Pope grasped tightly my

right hand with three Rosary Beads…my

second chance of heaven,‖ he proudly said.

In all his unexpected experiences with

Pope Francis, Sheng thinks even more deeply

about it, the message, the meaning. (PIA-8)

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

DTI-Biliran distributes livelihood starter kits

NAVAL, Biliran, Jan. 13 (PIA) – The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the province of Biliran

distributed on Monday, January 12, various livelihood starter kits to some 100 Biliranons.

T he distribution of the livelihood

starter kits held at the

Naval State University (NSU)

Gymnasium this town, is part of the

DTI-Livelihood Seeding Program (LSP) , a

program intended to help augment the

income of small businesses in the

communities affected by super typhoon

Yolanda.

The recipients of the livelihood

starter kits coming from Naval,

Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran

and Culaba which were identified by the

Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) as

badly-hit towns in Biliran province by

Yolanda, were beneficiaries of the

agency’s programs and services

specifically the Rural Micro-Enterprise

Promotion Program (RuMEPP) and

Micro-Enterprises.

The livelihood starter kits amounting

to P439,099.16 are composed of 3 pieces

heavy duty stoves (single burner) with

LPG tank (11kg) each; 3 pieces stove

burners ( two burner) with LPG tank

(11kg) each and 1 piece stove burner (one

burner) with LPG tank (11kg); 2 units

Monobloc tables and 8 eight units plastic

chairs; 2 units digital weighing scale and 1

unit weighing scale (10kgs); 4 units

desktop calculators; 12 pieces plastic

pails; 3 pieces scissors; 1 piece pruning

shear; 1 piece knife; 1 unit electric sealer;

2 boxes floral foams;3 pieces steamers

(three layers); 4 pieces kawali; 1 piece

caldero; 3 pieces corn mills; 3 pieces fish

boxes; 7 pieces canastro; and 7 meters

trapal.

The livelihood starter kits will be used

in the processing of foods, retail and

trading and other agriculture-based

enterprise in the following towns, namely:

Naval - suman, moron and puto

cheese, barbeque and fruit vendors and

for cutflower; Almeria - pop rice, moron,

cassava-based delicacies; Biliran - moron

and banana chips, suman and moron and

fruit vending; Cabucgayan - dried fish and

atchara/moron; Caibiran - nata de

coco, moron and suman; and Culaba

- papaya atchara or pickles.

The launching and distribution of

livelihood starter kits in Biliran province

was graced by DTI-8 Regional Director

Cynthia R. Nierras, Biliran, Congressman

Rogelio J. Espina of the lone district of

Biliran, Naval Mayor Susan V. Parilla,

Culaba Mayor Lorenzo Reveldez,Jr. Naval

Vice-Mayor Redentor Villordon and some

representatives from other local

government units and national

government agencies in Biliran province.

(rsv/PIA 8 Biliran)

City of Maasin readies for proper use of sanitary landfill

" As the city government of Maasin will soon

operate its sanitary landfill before the end

of this year, there should be a proper way

of utilizing the 6-hectare landfill, otherwise it

will be short-lived if there is no segregation, no

collection policy," said General Services Officer

Benjase Lumen in one of their consultative

dialogues.

Though he noted that waste segregation is

one among the environmental issues like waste

water (septage), indiscriminate throwing of

garbage , impacts of climate change, health

issues for having no toilet that shall be

considered.

However, problems on garbage

collections were raised by the participating

barangay officials particularly those barangays

within the city, who are serve by the city

garbage collectors everyday.

The Provincial Environment and Natural

Resources Office (PENRO) representative

Wena Montederamos, who was one of the

resource speakers, clearly defined the role of

the local government units (LGUs) in the solid

waste management specified in RA 7160

known as the Local Government Code.

"The LGUs are responsible for the segre-

gation and collection of solid wastes at the

barangay level especially for biodegradable,

compostable and reusable wastes,"she said.

The municipal or city government shall

take care of the collection of non-recyclable

materials and special wastes,: Montederamos

added.

She further reported on the status

of the Solid Waste Management (SWM)

implementation throughout the province of

Southern Leyte that most of the LGUs are

having open dumpsites while only Maasin City

is constructing a sanitary landfill..

She emphasized that 70% sources of ―

basura‖ (solid wastes) are coming from the

households, hence the need to segregate at

source.

On the other hand, Lumen wanted to

review the barangay action plans with

consideration of the environmental

management issues in their respective areas in

the next suceeding series of the said

environmental management consultative

dialogue. (esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)‎

MAASIN, Southern Leyte, Jan. 15 (PIA) - The Office of the General Services (OGS) of the city government of Maasin is now

conducting series of environmental management consultative dialogues in several sectors of the community on the proper use

of sanitary landfill come September 2015.

Claims board seeks extension of HR repara-

tion claims

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 14 (PIA) – In its effort to ensure that the mandate of RA 10368, otherwise known as Human

Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, be duly carried out completely, the Human Rights Victims Claims

Board (HRVCB) has established regional desks in selected provinces to be able to serve more victims and claimants seeking

reparation for the human rights violations during the Martial Law.

C onsequently, a regional desk

was se t up in Tac loban

City last September 17 to

November 10, 2014 to accept

eligible applicants under RA 10368 for

Region 8.

Relative to this, in order to

accommodate more claimants HRVCB

deemed it necessary to pass a resolution

extending the application period for

another six months and to ensure that

when the claims board resumes its

operations, the public is well informed

through the assistance of the members of

the tri-media. (jrc/maa/PIA8)

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