Vol 5 Issue 25 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 22 – 28, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue BuB projects priority in National Greening Program

DENR introduces innovative design for tree plantation

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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PCSO distributes 39 ambulances to LGUs in EV

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Director

Florencio Noel led on Friday the turn-over of the

symbolic key for 39 ambulances distributed to some

local government units in Eastern Visayas under the

PCSO ambulance donation program.

The 39 brand new ambulances were distributed to

20 municipalities in Leyte, eight in Eastern Samar, four

in Samar, two in Northern Samar, three in Southern

Leyte and one in Biliran.

Municipalities in the region which were hit by

typhoon Yolanda and those under the 3rd, 4th and 5th

class municipalities were given priority.

In the region, Leyte got the most number of

ambulances including Tanauan, Tolosa, San Miguel,

Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Alang-Alang, Babatngon, Palo,

Dulag, Palompon, Barugo, Isabel, Tunga,

MacArthur, Mahaplag, Inopacan, Leyte, Tabon-Tabon

and Hilongos.

One ambulance was also donated to Tacloban

Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade Association

Incorporated.

Balangkayan, Jipapad, Taft, Guiuan, Giporlos,

Hernani, Borongan and Can-Avid are among

the lucky LGUs in Eastern Samar and Talolora,

Calbiga, Marabut, Basey in Western Samar; Rosario and

Pambujan in Northern Samar; San Juan, San Francisco

and Pintuyan all of Southern Leyte and Naval in Biliran

province.

In a brief interview, Noel disclosed that each

ambulance costs over P800 thousand pesos and this is

the first batch.

For his part, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico

L. Petilla thanked President Benigno S. Aquino and

PCSO Director Noel for their unwavering help and

assistance to the people in the region particularly those

in emergency cases. (PIA-8)

Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, June 23 (PIA6)—The Department

of Environment and Natural Resources here said it is

giving top attention to projects identified by the people

in Yolanda-affected communities.

These projects are under the national Greening

Program (NGP) using the Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB)

approach.

DENR-6 director Jim Sampulna said the budgeting

mechanism is not just about proper allocation of

resources and funds for the NGP, but also to properly

address environment concerns of identified

communities.

―These communities are affected by Typhoon

Yolanda and we are directly involving the people,‖

Sampulna said.

The coordinators from regional and field offices of

the DENR-NGP recently gathered to tackle the status

of these BuB projects and the related Yolanda

rehabilitation and recovery work they are

implementing.

Sampulna said the meeting was important for them

to level off and put their acts together.

―We have to succeed and attain our targets in

NGP and their Yolanda rehab efforts,‖ he added.

In 2014, the BuB in NGP has implemented 33

projects out of 46 in the region, at the cost of

Php20,374,000.00. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS Juju M. Empuerto

CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) – The Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in

Central Visayas introduces innovative planting design

for mangroves and beach plantations in the region.

The new suggested planting design released by the

DENR-7 shall be introduced in the implementation of

its one billion mangrove and beach forest project

that aims to reforest and establish around 3,454

mangrove and beach forest plantations in the region to

provinces affected by typhoon ‗Yolanda‘ in 2013.

DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo

Montejo said: ―We opted to use the cluster planting

design to ensure higher success in mangrove and beach

forest development, number of seedlings per cluster

may vary according to species but our goal is to plant

2,500 propagules per hectare,‖ Montejo explained.

As specified in the mangrove and beach forest

planting design, implementers or the people‘s

organizations with the technical assistance of the

Provincial and Community Environment and Natural

Resources Offices, should ensure even spacing between

clusters.

The cluster sizes for mangroves may vary from

2x2 meters to 5x5 meters or larger to suit conditions

of the planting site.

The beach forest plantation, on the other

hand, requires even space planting of 2x5 meters

between seedlings at 1,000 seedlings per hectare.

According to Montejo, beach forest planting

should be done a few meters above the high tide

waterline to avoid conflict with traditional use of beach

by the community, usually it is established along the

easement zone designated under the Water Code of

the Philippines.

One billion mangrove and beach forest is another

project of the administration to rehabilitate coastal

forests in line with the commitment of providing better

and safer coastal communities against storm surges,

coastal flooding and other adverse impacts of climate

change. (mbcn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/with reports from Dr

Eddie Llamedo/DENR7)

National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) OIC

executive director Manuel Roldan (w/

microphone) announces the reopening of

three MARINA accredited courses during the

―Panginsayod‖, a kapihan with PIA and friends

at the PIA regional office, Tacloban City, June

22. (Vino R. Cuayzon/PIA8)

Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro

challenged the business sector to help the

education sector by engaging the senior high

schools in Visayas so that the curriculum will

have inputs from the business sector with

relevant subjects and skills that the industry

needs during the recent Visayas Membership

Meeting of the Philippine Business for Social

Progress at Casino Espanol, Cebu City. (Rmn)

DENR 6 Regional Director Jim O. Sampulna encourages participants

to plant more trees during the Philippine Arbor Day celebration

held at DENR 6 office, Iloilo City, June 25, 2015 followed by a tree

planting activity along Iloilo Radial By-Pass Road 4. (PIA 6/EJB)

DOH-6 Regional Director Dr. Marlyn

Convocar informs the local media about the

services and programs that can be availed of in

the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan Roadshow held

Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Pototan Pilot

Elementary School, Pototan, Iloilo. Also in the

photo are Iloilo Provincial Health Office chief

Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado (left) and

Pototan municipal mayor Tomas Penaflorida.

(LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERN VISAYAS

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Media important in maintaining peace and order

ILOILO CITY, June 22 (PIA) --- The new chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 cited the vital role of the members of the

media in helping maintain peace and order in the community.

I n the PRO-6 turn-over ceremony

held recently, Chief Superintendent

Bernardo Diaz said that the media

have been in the forefront of providing precise

and sensible news about peace and order

situation.

―We live in an environment where the

press and other social media have unlimited

influences,‖ he said.

He also encouraged the media to keep

connected with the police force in order to

establish an environment where the rule of law

is firmly uphold, where crimes are deterred,

and where people are safe.

Diaz formally assumed as the new PRO-6

director during the ceremonial turn-over of

command held Friday, June 19, 2015, at

Camp Martin Delgado, replacing retired Chief

Superintendent Josephus Angan.

―There is a change of command in

the regional office but our goals and

aspirations to meet the requirements of the

PNP PATROL Plan 2030 will never change,‖ he

said.

The Peace and Order Agenda

for Transformation and Upholding of the

Rule-of-Law or PNP Patrol Plan 2030 is the

PNP‘s roadmap in attaining a highly capable,

effective and credible police service by year

2030.

He said that PRO-6 will continue its

mission of delivering genuine public safety

service to the people and to provide safe and

secure communities for them.

Prior to his new assignment, Diaz used

to serve as officer-in-charge of the PRO-2 in

northern Luzon and was a member of the

Philippine Military Academy Class 1984. (JCM/

LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Leonard T. Pineda I

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 23 (PIA6) - - Four startups were officially admitted to the Technology Business Incubation

Center (TBIC) of the Negros First CyberCentre in Bacolod City.

4 Start-ups join Negros First CyberCenter

By Easter Anne D. Doza

F ounders of SWAPROSE, Simplex

Gamelabs, Audacity Studio, and

Aardvark formally signed an application

agreement to be part of the TBIC program and

avail of the facility, equipment and mentorship

support provided under the program.

Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr.

witnessed the signing of these start-ups engage

in developing business models that utilize and

incorporate information and communications

technology (ICT).

The start-ups are companies in their initial

stage of organization and are composed of

students, young entrepreneurs and mentors.

The TBIC start-up program was a

concept of the Bacolod-Negros Occidental

F ede r a t ion f o r I n f o rma t ion and

Communications Technology (BNEFIT), the

recognized ICT Council of the National ICT

Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) led by

Bacolod Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue.

BNEFIT also partnered with the

Department Of science and Technology

(DOST) Region VI for the development of

start-ups under the program ―ICT Startups

Equipment Support (ISES) program to unite

under the vision of scaling up the province‘s

potential for ICT to encourage the

development of start-up companies and

entrepreneurs by assisting in programs,

projects and activities such as but not limited

to start-up fora, ICT entrepreneurship

trainings and development of technology

incubation programs.

The start-ups will receive mentoring from

successful business owners and managers, and

will be required to participate in seminars,

information meetings and other such activities

sponsored by organizations related to

improving their business marketing and

management skills.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6/Capitol

News Negros Occidental)

COMELEC warns: No biometrics, no vote Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, June 24 (PIA6) - - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Tuesday reminded voters of the consequences

awaiting those who fail to have their biometrics taken in time for the May 2016 elections.

E lection Officer G.Bert Arbis of

COMELEC Oton sa i d u nde r

Republic Act 10367 or the Mandatory

Biometrics Voter Registration Act of 2013,

voters who fail to submit for validation on

or before the last day of filing of applications

for registration purposes of the May 2016

elections shall be deactivated from the voter‘s

list.

The last day for the voter‘s registration is

on October 31, 2015.

Arbis noted that there are still many

voters who have not validated their

registration or submitted themselves to

the Commission‘s biometrics system and stand

to be removed from the voter‘s list and will

not be allowed to vote in the May 2016

elections.

In Oton, he said, out of the more

than 41,000 registered voters, around 1,500

have yet to register their biometrics

data which include their automated

identification such as photograph, fingerprint,

and signature.

Arbis said efforts were undertaken to

inform these voters to register their

biometrics at the COMELEC office such as

sending them individual‘s notices.

―We sent them notices not only once,

but this is the third time that we will notify

them again,‖ said Arbis.

Aside from registration of new voters,

validation is also one of the reasons why

COMELEC conducts satellite registrations in

the different barangays of the municipalities on

Saturdays and in highly urbanized cities on

Sundays.

The problem, according to Arbis,

sometimes the voter concerned is

not also around during the satellite

registration.

Other reasons cited why voters failed to

register their biometrics are transfer of

residency, old age and some are already

bedridden.

Arbis said they are now accepting

registration for seventeen years old who will

turn eighteen on or election-day which is on

May 9, 2016. All they have to do is visit the

COMELEC office and bring their birth

certificate and school ID. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

SAN JOSE, Antique, June 23 (PIA6) - - While the the farmers are on planting season, the National Food Authority is

readying its warehouses and dryers for aggressive palay procurement come harvest time.

P rovincial Manager Marianito Benjemino

said NFA Antique will double its

efforts in palay procurement to ensure

that the rice buffer stock of the province

will remain sufficient especially during lean

months.

He said NFA will establish palay

buying stations in rice producing

municipalities and continue with mobile

procurement to reach out to more farmers

aside from the regular procurement at NFA

warehouses in the towns of San Jose and

Culasi.

He also assured the farmers that

requirements to avail of the farmer‘s passbook

has been simplified and payment of their palay

will be on cash basis either during the

mobile procurement or at designated buying

stations.

Antique, Bejemino said has two big

warehouses in San Jose and Culasi that

could accommodate 100,000 bags of rice once

procurement will go on full swing.

―We are also ready to rent

warehouse of any Irrigators / Farmers

Association or private individual once the

supply exceeds the capacity of our warehouse.

We have done this is the previous years,‖ he

said.

Bejemino also mentioned the mechanical

dryers with bigger capacity stationed at the

warehouses to dry the palay during rainy

months while drying pavements are ready

when sunlight is available.

He encouraged farmers to sell their

palay to NFA because during the lean months

farmers have the option to buy back and mill

for their consumption or sell to other markets

for a much higher price.

This is contained in the NFA‘s FOBB or

Farmers Option to Buy Back program.

Meanwhile, Bejemino assured the

Antiquenos that NFA rice is sufficient and

available in 56 accredited outlets provincewide.

(JCM/PSM/PIA6 Antique)

NFA to carry out aggressive palay procurement

Pilar Mabaquiao

ILOILO CITY, June 23 (PIA6)—The Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memo circular directing

all local government units from the provincial down to the barangay levels to participate in the celebration of nutrition month.

D r. Marlyn Convocar, Department of

Health-6 Director, said this is a

relevant call as the local communities

are enjoined to be vigilant about health

concerns like good nutrition.

Convocar, who is also the chair of the

Regional Nutrition Committee (RNC), said the

circular should be taken seriously by local

officials.

Memo Circular 2015-58, signed by DILG

Secretary Mar Roxas, says the 41st

Nutrition Month Celebration this July carries

the theme ―Timbang Iwasto, sa Tamang

Nutrisyon at Ehersisyo.‖

This theme, according to Nona Tad-y,

regional nutrition program coordinator, said in

the recent RNC meeting, that the theme

aims to increase awareness on the role and

importance of proper nutrition in the

prevention of overweight and obesity among

the people.

Further, she said, the theme seeks to

encourage Filipinos to make positive decisions

on consumption of healthy foods and practicing

healthy lifestyle.

―In this, we expect the local officials,

the academe and the private sector to put in

place an enabling environment that promotes

proper nutrition and physical activity,‖ Tad-y

said.

The DILG circular has suggested some

activities and campaigns which the LGUs and

those concerned can undertake.

These are promotion of the 10

Kumainments, the simplified messages of the

Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos; conduct of

seminars, fora; dissemination of advocacy

materials through all forms of media,

including social media; and, promotion of

Pinggang Pinoy, developed by the NNC, FNRI

and DOH.

Further, the circular also suggested the

conduct of ―Belly Gud for Health‖ of the

DOH, where a contest where personnel are

encouraged to reduce their waist by holding a

contest.

Likewise, the circular encourages that

healthy food options in office canteens should

be ensured also.

RNC Chair Convocar said all

member-agencies of the committee should

be in the front line of initiating activities to

promote the celebration of Nutrition Month

and its theme. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

LGUs to focus on Nutrition Month celebration

Elsa S. Subong

DTI steps up accreditation of service, repair shops

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 24 (PIA6) – An intensified drive will be conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Provincial Office to require business establishments engaged in service and repair in the province to apply for accreditation

T he campaign targets service and

repair shops for motor vehicles,

heavy equ ipment , eng ine and

engineering, electronics and electrical

appliances, air conditioning and refrigeration

units, office machines, data processing

equipment and medical as well as dental

equipment gears.

―A reminder to all concerned

establishments will be out this month for them

to comply the regulation,‖ said part of a DTI

news release.

―DTI-Capiz strongly warns all service

and repair shops in the city and province

to renew and or apply for accreditation permit

to avoid untoward penalties,‖ it added.

Based on records, DTI has accredited

12 service and repair shops but only

seven have renewed accreditation because

others are still on the renewal process for this

year.

―One newly accredited shop was

registered by DTI for year 2015 so far,‖ the

news added.

The accreditation will give access to

the concerned establishments to cater

government transactions needing their services

and expertise.

DTI welcomes new appl icants

for accreditation during office hour

from Monday to Friday at its Provincial

Office along McKinley Street here. (AAL/PIA6

Capiz)

Alex A. Lumaque

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 23 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo met with members of local press and reported

some important points of discussion at the first NIR Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting held at the main office of the

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Metro Manila recently.

NegOr Guv reports on NIR developments

D egamo disclosed that group agreed

to let Negros Oriental host 16 regional

offices of major government offices

under the human development, industry and labor

and infrastructure.

The government agencies under the

human development cluster include DSWD,

Department of Education, Civil Service

Commission, Philippine Statistics Authority,

Professional Regulations Commission, Technical

Education and Skills Development Authority and

Department of Health.

On the other hand, the government

agencies under the industry and labor sector

include Department of Labor and Employment,

Department of Trade and Industry, Department

of Science and Technology, Department of

Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the

Securities and Exchange Commission.

For the infrastructure sector, those

government agencies with regional offices

assigned in the province are Department of Public

Works and Highways, Department of

Transportation and Communication and its

attached agencies namely, Maritime Industry

Authority, National Telecommunications

Commission, Land Transportation Authority

and the Land Transportation Franchising and

Regulatory Board.

He also said that the existing offices

mentioned government offices in the province will

be used as regional offices.

The first TWG was presided by DILG Sec.

Mar Roxas and was attended by local officials

from Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental,

Degamo said. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

BOHOL, June 22 (PIA) -- Despite the daily stream of arrests, drug busts and the occasional summary execution of known drug

personalities, narcotics agents classify Bohol as moderately affected by drugs.

PDEA: Bohol moderately affected by illegal drugs

P hilippine Drug Enforcement Agency

(PDEA) intelligence officer Jigger

Juniler issued the assessment, citing

Dangerous Drugs Board Resolution number 12,

series of 2004 during the recent out-of-town

Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC)

meeting in time for the HEAT-IT Bohol

Caravan in Inabanga town.

Juniler told PPOC members that Bohol is

moderately affected unlike any other Provinces

in the Region with big cities like the provinces

of Cebu and Negros Oriental where there is

more demand of [sic] the illegal drugs.

He added that Bohol's vast shorelines

make it apparently easier for illegal drug

traffickers to bring dangerous drugs supply into

the island, and the operations ongoing against

illegal drugs caused the supply to falter.

The collective efforts of other law

enforcement and the provincial office of PDEA

in Bohol making a dent in the the anti-illegal

drug campaign in the province, Juniler said.

Based on the DDB Resolution No. 12, the

three (3) basic categories of drug-affectation

are slightly affected, moderately affected, and

seriously affected.

The PDEA, through Juniller reports

that in May 2015, it had accounted some

8.06 grams of illegal "methamphetamine

hydrochloride" or popularly known as sha-

bu through buy eight bust operations

and 38.1 grams though the implementation of

search warrant. PDEA also accounted for

some 0.03 grams of shabu in flagrante delicto

cases.

All in all, PDEA accounted for 46.19 grams

of shabu, one that could have been sold at

P545, 042.00, if left out in the streets.

The figure is a little more than the

P400K plus of shabu valued at the present

which authorities stopped from reaching the

streets in April.

In May too, anti-drug authorities

filed 60 cases in the city and provincial

prosecutors office, 12 of these cases are for

resolution, 8 for preliminary investigation,

according to Juniler.

At the Regional Trial courts, narcotic

agents filed 52 cases, majority of them (26) for

drug possession, a violation against section 11

of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Other notable violations cited in the

cases filed in the RTC are for 11 cases

for selling shabu (violation against section

5) and 9 for possession of illegal drugs

paraphernalia (against section 12). (mbcn/rahc/

PIA7-Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 22 (PIA) – An official from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7)

welcomes the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) and considers this as a good opportunity for DSWD to better address

the needs of Oriental Negrenses.

DSWD welcomes creation of NIR

A ccording to DSWD-7 deputy regional

director Shalaine Marie Lucero, the

merging of the two Negros provinces

will enable the department to provide a more

direct, effective and efficient delivery of programs

and services to the poor residents of Negros

Oriental.

―I think this will benefit people because

regional offices are near and services will be

closer (to them),‖ Lucero said.

DSWD-Negros Oriental remains to

be a part of DSWD-7 since there is still

no order from the DSWD central office in Manila

separating the provincial office from its regional

office.

However, Lucero assured the public that the

conduct of DSWD programs in the province will

not be hampered with the on-going transition to

NIR.

She noted that the budgets for DSWD‘s

programs are in place as well as their field

officers who are the implementers the agency‘s

programs.

―While waiting for that (transition) we will

continue to do our job as long as our services are

needed by the people,‖ she adds.

Just recently, DSWD-7 conducted its ―Kaya

Ko ang Pagbabago‖ Awareness Walk in

Dumaguete City where 200 individuals composed

of DSWD program beneficiaries, field officers and

regional staff, delegates from local schools and the

city government paraded the Rizal Boulevard and

the downtown area of the city.

The event aims to raise the public‘s

awareness on DSWD core programs and

services particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program (4Ps), Kapit Bisig Laban sa

Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated

Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS),

Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and national

household targeting system for poverty reduction

or Listahanan.

Apart from these, DSWD also has

the financial Aid for Individuals in Crisis

Situation Program, Social Pension Program for

indigent, frail and disabled senior citizens and

supplemental feeding for children in day care

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

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

BOHOL, June 23 (PIA) --With animal welfare groups barking at its heels, Bohol blinks in its aggressive campaign against rabies.

B ut program authorities are sniffing for other

ways to get the campaign snarling again, authorities at the Bohol Rabies Prevention

and Elimination Council (BRPEC) shared. "There is no turning back," declared Dr Stella

Marie Lapiz, program executive officer and Bohol provincial veterinarian.

Dr. Lapiz has earlier aired her concern over reports that program implementers in the barangays

are threatened by potential cases from animal rights activists unleashed to stop the elimination of dogs.

BRPEC leaders look into the ongoing massive

animal registration and vaccination as immediate alternative, while pressing for responsible pet ownership and empowering barangay rabies teams to seriously consider the paralegal measures to

force owners to be responsible for their pets. "The immediate goal is to get a high

vaccination turn-out," confesses Romulo Garcia,

rabies program admin officer and key motivator at the office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

World Health Organization, the global

governing body on the conduct of global anti-rabies programs said a place should attain over 80% vaccination of its dog population for 3 consecutive years before the place is declared rabies-free.

Garcia however said the current vaccination rate has surpassed the WHO standards of over 80 percent.

Off to a good start with zero rabies cases after

ranking high in national and regional tallies years back, Bohol saunters to a less than average performance in its rabies program when local

officials' attention shifted to disaster relief and rehabilitation following the triple whammy of disasters and a major earthquake.

The after effect proved unlucky for Bohol,

which had at least three unconfirmed human rabies cases, according to Bohol human rabies coordinator at the provincial Health Office, Polizena Rances.

The Bantay Rabies sa Barangay, an institutionalized barangay rabies watch team faltered

in the campaign for fear of facing administrative and

potentially criminal cases for eliminating stray dogs unredeemed by owners after three days of impound.

A provincial ordinance on the Provincial Rabies Prevention has been passed in Bohol

as a guide for municipal and barangay rabies team on the implementation of the rabies program.

Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto aired his alarm

over the potential failure of the program after reaping a Gawad Galing Pook award, ordered to set aside funds for another batch of province-wide dog

vaccination, during his latest state of the province address.

Leashed now and left baying without the threat of a bite, rabies council eyes its annual Barangay

Livestock Aides (BALA) Congress June 23-25, at the Jjs Seafoods Village, as a venue to regroup and encourage each other into another send-off to attain

the WHO standard and make Bohol rabies-free. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

Bohol rabies program attains high vaccine rate

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) installed 2,300 home-based solar power facilities in

15 remote barangays in Bayawan City, Negros Oriental.

DOE-Visayas provides solar power to IPs in NegOr

D OE-Visayas coordinator of the Household

Electrification Program (HEP) Lou Arciaga disclosed that the recipient-households of

the Solar Home Systems (SHS) are the Indigenous

Peoples (IPs). The off-grid hinterland barangays in Bayawan

City under the coverage of the Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative II is scheduled to be

energized through solar power by end of June this year.

Arciaga said this activity is considered a

highlight in the implementation of the HEP as most of the beneficiaries include the indigenous people

groups and rebel returnees in the area.

NORECO2 Engineer Ruel Badon said that they are now installing more SHS around the province including the towns of Siaton, Sta. Catalina and

Bayawan City. ―Although the installation of the solar system

units is free and there are no power bills to pay,

consumers still pay a monthly flat rate fee depending on the wattage they availed, this is to cover the

maintenance costs of the solar energy units,‖ Badon

said. Arciaga noted that few of f -gr id

households covered by NORECO I in

the northern part of the province are already enjoying electricity through solar home system technology.

The DOE official said under the HEP more

than 10,000 households in the country are targeted for SHS installation with the budge of P156 million.

In a Kapihan sa PIA, Arciaga told participants to go ―green‖ technology using solar energy not only to

reduce the cost of electric bill but also protect the

environment. She also urged local government units (LGUs)

to tap renewable energy or support solar

power developers to achieve energy and self sustainability.

Meanwhile, the Government Service

Insurance System (GSIS)- Dumaguete Branch Office held recently a series of consultations to

update its Negros Orientl and Siquijor members of

some of its services. G S I S - Dumagu e te B r an ch man ag e r

Atty. Mercedes VPE Enriquez said it is the

thrust of the System under the stewardship of PGM Robert Vergara and members of the Board of Trustees to promote service responsiveness and efficiency, said

Enriquez. Enriquez advised the participants to

make a request for updating of service records with

their respective Agency Authorized Officers (AAOs), prior to the actual filing of an application for

retirements/separation benefits and Cash Surrender

Value (CSV). During the forum, the GSIS official

also explained the different modes of

retirement and the choices under each mode for those who planned to retire or those who a r e s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e s e r v i c e .

( m b c n / j c t / P I A 7 - N e g r o s O r i e n t a l / w i t h reports from Lovelein Catubay, intern)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 24 (PIA) – Four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who recently surrendered to the

Philippine Army (PA) will receive livelihood assistance from the government.

N egros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo

recently met with the former rebels

in his office at the provincial Capitol. They

were escorted by the officers of the Philippine

Army.

Gov. Degamo said these former rebels,

whose identities are witheld for their

security will undergo the procedures of the

Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP)

so they can avail of the government‘s livelihood

assistance.

The four former rebels include a male, a

female and a married couple.

According to Col. Allan Martin, Brigade

Commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade

(IB) of the Philippine Army in Negros

Oriental, the former rebels will temporarily

stay at the 79th IB Headquarters in

Siaton town while their reintegration to the

mainstream society are being processed.

Gov. Degamo considers this a welcome

development to the government‘s peace

initiatives.

One reason that former rebels abandon

armed struggle is that they see government

programs carried out in the hinterlands that

benefit residents of these areas, Gov. Degamo

explained.

―Using guns is not the way to address

the call for peace but through the bringing

of exact programs in the hinterlands,‖ he

stressed.

Col. Martin added that the former

rebels surrendered because they saw

how the government is sincere in the

conduct of the programs and in

bringing basic services to far flung areas of the

province.

With these, the two official hopes that more

rebels will be convinced to abandon armed

struggle and return to the mainstream society.

(mbcn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Gov't to give livelihood aid to former rebels in NegOr Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

SoLeyte to sustain filaria-free status

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 23 (PIA) -- More than 2,000 individuals were examined for Filariasis or known as

Wuchereria Bancrofti to be able to sustain the Filariasis-Free status of the province, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Noel Lumen

informed.

T he random sampling of individuals

aged two years and above was

conducted last week, June 15-19, in

Pana-on Area such as the municipalities of

Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo

and in Libagon and Limasawa towns, Lumen

said.

―The surveillance activity aims to sustain

the Filariasis-Free status of the province which

was declared since 2008,‖ Lumen bared

adding that continuous monitoring and

surveillance should be done to achieve the

same target.

Medical Technologists from the Provincial

Health Services Office-Technical Department

and Med Techs from the different Rural

Health Units in the province conducted the

surveillance activity.

Lumen revealed that the random sampling

in the province gained negative results.

He further reported that an upcoming

border operation is scheduled to be carried

out within this year, though no definite date

was set yet. (mmp/rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

EMB-8 conducts retooling seminar for SWM focal persons

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 19 (PIA) - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental

Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) conducted a three-day retooling seminar from June 16 to 18, 2015 for all Solid Waste

Management focal persons in Region 8.

A ccording to Letecia R. Maceda, EMB

Regional Director, the seminar aimed

to equip all focal persons of the salient

provisions of all environmental laws for them

to properly enforce the same.

Director Maceda said that all Provincial

Environment and Natural Resources Officer

(PENRO), Community Environment and

Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) and

member-agenies of the Regional Ecology

Center (REC) are mandated to know all

environmental laws specifically Republic Act

9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid

Waste Management Act of 2000.

Under the law, local government units

(LGUs) are mandated to close or rehabilitate

open dumpsite, establish a sanitary landfill

and provide a 10-year solid waste management

plan that describes the process of collection,

segregation, storing, disposal of wastes and

budgetary requirements.

In Region 8, there are three established

sanitary landfills which are located in Tacloban

City and Palo in Leyte and Guiuan in Eastern

Samar.

Maceda urged LGUs to submit their

10-year solid waste management plan on or

before June 30, 2015 to avoid penalties.

She further said that after the deadline

of the non-extendible period of submission,

their office will forward the list of

non-compliant LGUs to the Office of the

Ombudsman (OMB) and the Commission on

Audit (COA) for appropriate action.

Although under the law, all regional

directors of the EMB have the power to file

complaint but the same was assumed by the

Ombudsman and COA to ensure that the laws

are properly complied with. (aen/ajc/jhb/PIA-8)

JONNIE H. BUENAVENTURA

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

Newsfeature: Senior high school ensures work, livelihood of graduates

NAVAL, Biliran, June 23 (PIA) - Senior high school, the additional two years in high school under the new curriculum, the K-12

Program, aims to hone the appropriate skills of students preparing them for work and livelihood as they graduate senior high

school, as well as help them decide to choose their field of study as they enter college education.

D r. Ronico Y. Amistoso, PSDS Division

Coordinator for Senior High School

in the Division of Biliran, explained

the benefits and advantages of adding two years

senior high school in the new curriculum in his

two consecutive guestings at the Kapihan at

Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan hosted by PIA-Biliran

over Radyo Natin Naval in June 11 and 18.

The advantages of finishing senior high

school were evident in the four model schools

in the entire division of Biliran where majority

of the 50 graduates landed in jobs and became

entrepreneurs and into on call services in their

chosen track of specialization since they

already have reached the maturity age of 18 on

their graduation in senior high, Dr. Amistoso

informed.

He added that, out of the 13 senior high

school graduates in Manlabang National High

School, five went to college, five got jobs, and three others are now employed in Tacloban

and Manila.

Further, he informed that out of the 10

graduates at the Naval National High School,

five landed a job and five are in Manila.

One is in college, 10 have jobs already,

and three are waiting for employment from

the 14 graduates at the Naval School of

Fisheries, he said.

From the Maripipi National Vocational

School where 13 finished senior high school,

seven landed a job within the province, two

into on call services and four remained

undecided, he added. With the current

statistics in the employment opportunities of

senior high school graduates, Dr. Amistoso is

encouraging students, parents, and other

stakeholders to support the program and visit

their office for further information.

Currently, four out of the 20

secondary schools in the entire division are

implementing this school year, the senior high school leading to technical-vocational

education.

Naval School of Fisheries, Cabucgayan

National School of Arts and Trade, Manlabang

National High School, and Maripipi National

Vocational School chose the tech-voc

education track because they are better pre-

pared in this field.

The Division Senior High School

Coordinator said, once the new curriculum is

fully implemented, DepEd will see to it that all

the academic, technical-vocational, arts and

design, and sports track will be offered in every

municipality to cater to every student‘s

inclination.

Moreover, students who finish Grade 10

are given their certificate of completion while

those who will graduate in Grade 12 are given

their high school diploma. DepEd will ensure

that students who finish Grade 12 pass the

competency assessment and get their NC-II

certificate that proves their capability for employment, Amistoso added. (ajc/fj/mlt/PIA8

Biliran)

MARY LAILANI P. TUPAZ

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

NRCO-DOLE offers livelihood grants to OFWs

returnees in EV

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 23 (PIA) – The National Reintegration Center for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) of the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is offering livelihood grants to OFWs from the region.

O FWS who are qualified for the grants

are those who exper ienced

distressful work experience such as

those displaced by hostilities, wars or

political conflicts in the host country or

policy reforms, controls or changes by host

government, victims of illegal recruitment or

human trafficking and distressed wards

at the Migrant Workers and Overseas

Filipinos Resource Center who are due for

repatriation.

DOLE 8 regional director Elias A.

Cayanong is encouraging all qualified OFW

returnees to avail of the livelihood assistance

and other opportunities as these are intended

to augment their income that will eventually

contribute to the economic development of

the region.

Undocumented workers can also avail of

the livelihood grants particularly those with

expired visas or no permits to stay in the host

country, no travel documents, inappropriate

visas, invalid passports, and whose employment

contracts which were not processed by the

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency

(POEA).

Members of OFW circles, associations,

federations and cooperatives may also avail of

the livelihood assistance.

However, OFWs who wish to avail are

required to stay in the Philippines for a year in

order to monitor their proposed business or

means of livelihood.

In addition, the qualified OFWs will

undergo a screening process where he will be

interviewed to assess their qualifications and

lifestyle followed by the assessment of the

experiences of the OFWs abroad.

In Eastern Visayas, there are 50 slots

being offered ranging from P10, 000 to

P100,000.00 worth of livelihood grants. (ajc/

cba/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

Philanthropist, rescuer cited as outstanding Southern Leyteños

A Revenue Collection Clerk I from the

city government of Maasin, Rolito J.

Royeras Jr, one of the OSLA winners,

was nominated by a Barangay Tanod of

Asuncion, this city.

He noted that Royeras has achieved

several outstanding accomplishments such as

securing the safety of the Pope during the

Papal‘s visit in Tacloban City; retrieval

operations during calamities like typhoon

Yolanda in Tacloban City; the Guinsaugon

landslide tragedy; Punta, San Francisco landslide

and San Ricardo Fluvial Parade tragedy;

all in Southern Leyte; to include being a

scoutmaster, Lupon Tagapamayapa, Lay

Minister, to name a few.

Among other Royeras‘ awards and

citations cited by the nominator include

Presidential Citation during President Gloria

Macapagal-Arroyo‘s term; BSP National Court of Honor Gold, Silver, Bronze and

Calamity Award; Semi-finalist of Dangal ng

Bayan Award (2009-2011); and Outstanding

Maasinhon Award. In his nomination form

submitted to the OSLA Search Committee,

Royeras is a Licensed Secondary Teacher with

six children, saying, ―he performs outstanding

and exemplary functions with his own initiative,

dedication to help others despite multifarious

tasks given to him,‖ the nominator quoted.

Meanwhile, another OSLA winner,

Sandra Peroso Haghedooren who hails from

Buscayan, Macrohon is married to a Belgium

national, Patrick Haghedooren. She and her

husband are benefactors of medical equipment

donated to the Southern Leyte Provincial

Hospital such as hospital beds, mattresses, bed

sheets, wheel chairs, walkers, crutches, bed

covers and operation clothes.

The nominator, Associated Media of

Southern Leyte said that Ms. Haghedooren

showed extra -ord inary care and compassion upon seeing hospital patients

lining the corridors of the old provincial

hospital. The couple also distributed various

other items in the municipalities and some

Rural Health Units (RHUs) throughout the

province. The OSLA Search Committee will

also recognize young achievers during the

awarding ceremony to be held on June 28,

2015 at the Capitol Gym, Provincial Capitol

here. The young achievers award will be given

to Professional Boxer Albert Pagara, in the

field of Sports and Velvet Escario-Roxas, in the

field of Maternal, Infant and Young Children

Nutrition.

Pagara was a champion in International

Boxing Federation, Intercontinental Super

Bantamweight Division while Roxas‘

accomplishments were cited as follows:

authored books, like Let‘s Eat Eat, Learn and

Play, published Internationally and Gabay sa

Nanay sa Tamang Pagpapasuso published by

World Health Organization, among other various accomplishments and citations earned.

(ajc/rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 24 (PIA) -- Out of the five nominees chosen, a philanthropist and a rescuer will

receive the Outstanding Southern Leyte Award (OSLA), Search Committee Chair Ida Sy-Monzon informed.

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

Tacloban’s new lechon park opens

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 19 (PIA) - Lechon vendors in the city can be assured of economic resilience after the

devastation of super typhoon Yolanda.

T his, after the opening of Tacloban

Lechon Park located at Real Street,

Sagkahan, made possible through the

efforts of the Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) in the region supported by the

United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) and European Union in partnership

with the City Government of Tacloban, Coca

Cola Bottlers Philippines and the Tacloban City

Lechon Industry Association

The project started when the government

was looking for livelihood and industries

which existed before Yolanda struck but were

destroyed and need rehabilitation

Sixteen stalls provided by UNDP were

formally turned over Thursday during the

grand opening of the Tacloban Lechon Park.

In said event, DTI regional director

Cynthia Nierras emphasized the importance of

the revival of the business of micro

entrepreneurs in the city in an improved way.

―This started as part of our efforts looking

for the livelihood and industries existing

before Yolanda that were destroyed during

Yolanda. So, ibig sabihin nangangailangan ng

tulong para maibalik or maka-recover o

ma-rehabilitate to build back better,‖ Nierras

said.

The UNDP, on the other hand, has

expressed hope for the sustainability of the

project for it has a multiplier effect not only

economically but also the tourism industry of

the city. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. 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