Vol 6 Issue 15 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 April 11 - 17, 2016

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Balikatan focuses on better preparedness of humanitarian crises

Mega Cebu holds series of candidates' forums

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

PIA DG revisits 'Yolanda' stricken families of Hernani

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 11 (PIA) – In what he

refers to be called an advocacy and a personal mission, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Director Genera l (DG)

Jose Mari Oquiñena visited once again, the survivors of barangay Carmen, Hernani, Eastern Samar, one of the

worst-hit villages by killer typhoon “Yolanda." In 2013, DG Mari was one of the first responders

of “Yolanda” survivors in the province, who arrived with truckloads of relief goods, that he readily entrusted to Bishop

Crispin Varquez of Borongan Diocese. Two years later, on April 8, he showed up again, no

longer with relief goods but with concrete houses, just enough however for people with simple needs.

Juliet Doños, 37, and resident of the newly created Gawad Kalinga communities, shared in a brief interview, her

happiness, to be assured of one unit of the Row Houses, GK has built for the storm surge survivors.

Situated in a hilly 4-hectare lot, the 240 loftable housing units of Hernani GK Village, some 300 meters

from the highway, was facilitated by the local government unit. Each compartment of the Row Houses measures 22

sq.meter. “But there will be more construction here, should GK

management succeed in negotiating the adjacent land area of the village,” DG Mari said.

Mr. Oquiñena mentioned that the very thing why the GK

community was built in Hernani is because of the supportive municipal mayor and other local officials, who allows GK to

manage the programs and activities with their constituents, the

GK way and sans political colors.

The PIA head who leads in the GK’s humanitarian activities dubbed Bayani Challenge” was in town recently,

together with 300 other volunteers who came from all over the country.

Most of them were students, others were professionals, businessmen, OFWs, educators and foreigners. Each came on

their own travel fares, food provisions with foldable tents to shield them at night.

They have smaller groups to work with like, Kusina ng Kalinga, Bayan Anihan, Paraisong Pambata, Barangay Walang

Iwanan etc. “One important thing here, is the values formation that

GK instills in each individual in the village,” DG Mari said. “ We tell them that despite the past catastrophe, they can still

stand on their own, that they are not poor, that they are assured of the certificate of occupancy,” he added.

It was learned further, that each unit costs P150,000.00, ready to be given and occupied by families who have

completed the 1,500 hours of volunteer work. “Each unit measures so modestly because, GK is building

communities and not housing villages”, DG Mari explained. “In a GK community, people stay less inside houses and instead, go

out and talk each other as a community, sharing plans and solving problems together and planning things to improve each of their children’s future,” he added.`

With a mission to end poverty, GK has so far built about 2,800 Villages all over the country, continually seeing the

possibility in almost impossible to give,(PIA-08).

Vicente W. Villavert

SAN JOSE, Antique April 11 (PIA) – The US Exercises Director for the PH-US Balikatan Exercises 2016 said that it is

very important for the joint rapid reaction force to continue to refine their capabilities in handling humanitarian crises.

“A big portion of the exercise is really to help us refine some of our tactics, technologies and procedures to handle

human crises, and to be able to move equipment over to the islands using air, water, using the maritime environment,” said

Lt. Gen. John Toolan, Commander, Marine Forces Pacific and Exercises Director, during his briefing with the media in the the

shorelines of San Jose where the PH-US Balikatan Exercise is being conducted.

Toolan said that the joint rapid reaction force is showing that through this exercise “we can really build a coherent

plan,” to enhance techniques as part of the iteroperability as well as readiness and cooperation of both countries.

For his part, Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, Commander of Western Command, Exercise Director for the

Philippines, said that the Balikatan exercise will help develop Filipino soldiers to handle new technologies and new hardware

to prepare them for any eventualities like calamities, humanitarian assistance, and many others.

Lopez said that what was exhibited in the Balikatan exercise is a testament of the cooperation and camaraderie between the Philippines and the United States to maintain the

security in this part of world.

For the first time in the history of the province,

the Antiqueños witnessed the landing of three CH47 or Chinook at the Evelio B. Javier Airport demonstrating the

transport of personnel and logistics, and the amphibious landing at Sitio Madrangka, Barangay Funda-Dalipe shoreline where it

showed ship to shore movement illustrating capability in rapid response that will further increase the level of readiness and

effectiveness in providing relief and assistance to the local communities in the event of natural disasters and other crises.

The event in San Jose was covered by local, regional and national media. (JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CEBU CITY, April 13 – Mega Cebu will once again hold a

series of candidates’ fora for electoral candidates in Mega Cebu districts from April 13 to April 20.

The fora will feature congressional and mayoral candidates in Mega Cebu areas who will discuss how they plan

to ensure that the rapid economic progress in Cebu does not get derailed by unplanned growth.

The fora will kick off today with candidates from District 1 or Carcar City, Naga City, Talisay City, Minglanilla, and San

Fernando. As part of the kick-off ceremony, a Kapihan sa PIA will

be held within today’s forum from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with guests from the organizing team of the candidates fora.

The Kapihan is aired live over DYMR Radyo ng Bayan

and delayed telecast over Sky Cable Channel 61 in the

afternoon of the same day. The next candidates fora is on April 15 for District 6

(Mandaue City, Consolacion, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu), followed by Cebu City North and South Districts on April 18 in the

morning and Lapu-Lapu City lone district in the afternoon. Cebu province candidates for governor and

vice-governor will be on April 20. The Mega Cebu Candidates’ Fora is held at the

Plenary Hall of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) in Cebu City.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Cebu is part of the organizing committee for this year’s candidates’

forums. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

US V-22 Osprey lands at the Evelio B. Javier Airport in San Jose,

Antique during the PH-US Balikatan Exercises to demonstrate the

PH-US soldiers capability in rapid response, readiness and

effectiveness in providing relief assistance to the local communities

in the event of natural disasters and other crises.(PIA6/T.Villavert)

#‎pia6

A Kapihan sa PIA was held April 13 at the

Plenary Hall, 6 Floor,RAFI Bldg., 35 Lopez

Jaena St., Cebu City with guests from MCDCB

and RAFI (l-r) Dr. Leonor Caneja, Evelyn

Nacario and Carol Ballesteros to talk on the

Mega Cebu Candidates’ Fora 2016 which will

be held from April 13, 14, 15, 18 and 20 from

9:00 am - 1200 nn. The forum was aired-live

from 10:00 am - 11:00 am at DYMR-Radyo ng

Bayan 576 khz and delayed telecast at Sky

Cable-Cebu Channel 61 at 5:00 pm.

#‎MegaCebuCandidatesForum (vvv/PIA Cebu)

Comelec holds vote counting machine road

show presentation in Calbayog City.

European Union Ambassador to the Philippines

Franz Jessen shares that they are looking

forward to participating in "Sikaran" as a

pre-Earth Day advocacy initiative in the

island-province of Guimaras during a press

briefing held Friday, April 15, 2016 at the Iloilo

Grand Hotel. Also in the photo are Romanian

Charge d'Affaires Mihai Sion (right) and

German deputy ambassador Michael Hasper.

Hasper.

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Ilonggos’ access to ICT gets boost

ILOILO CITY, April 13 (PIA6) - - The opportunity for Ilonggos to access the benefits and use of Information and

Communications Technology has given further boost after an agreement was signed on Tuesday, April 12.

G overnor Arthur Defensor, Director

Frederick Amores of the Department of

Science and Technology - Information

and Communications Technology Office

(DOST-ICTO) Visayas Cluster I, and Mr.

Ruben Libutaque representing the Department

of Education – Iloilo Schools Division forged a

partnership for the implementation of

Technology for Economic Development

(Tech4ED) in five school-based multi-purpose

teen centers in the province.

Tech4ED is a project component of the

eFilipino program of the DOST-ICTO

that aims to harness the information and

communication technology to enable,

empower and transform society towards

creating an inclusive, integrated and equitable

countryside.

As provided for in the agreement, ICTO

will set up Tech4ED platforms in the five pilot

teen centers in the following schools: Igbaras

National High School, Pavia National High

School, Cabatuan National High School,

Duenas General Comprehensive High School

and Sara National High School.

These teen centers have already an

internet connection which is one of the

requirements in the implementation of the

Tech4ED with contents such as eEduSkills that

intends to deliver e-learning on demand

including Alternative Learning System, Learning

English Aplication for Pinoys, Skills Training and

Values and Character Formation; eAssist to

harness digital and financial literacy; and

eGovServ to provide direct government

services.

Amores said the implementation of

Tech4Ed is not only limited to schools but local

government units , non -government

organizations and other stakeholders are also

tapped with the aim to bring the program to

the grassroots.

He said three local government units in

Iloilo Province have already entered an

agreement with ICTO for the establishment of

their Tech4ED centers. These are Mina,

Lambunao and Oton.

ICTO data revealed that Mina Tech4Ed

Center is currently ranked number three

among the Tech4ED users nationwide.

The top two Tech4ED center users are in

Mindanao and next to Mina is the Bacolod

Tech4ED Center. (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

By Lilibeth A. French

Forum highlights township development in WV

ILOILO CITY, April 14 (PIA6) - - The focus of the two-day forum which opened here on Thursday, April 14 is to explore

township development as a potential solution to the increasing demand for housing and as an economic driver to boost

Western Visayas as a preferred investment area in the country.

T he “Forum on Opportunities and

Challenges in Establishing Integrated

Townships in Western Visayas”

initiated by the Regional Competitiveness

Committee of the Regional Development

Council VI, gathered property developers,

urban planners, representatives of regulatory

government agencies and local government

units and private stakeholders.

RDC 6 Acting Chairperson and NEDA 6

Director Ro-Ann Bacal said the tremendous

growth in the property development sector in

the major urban centers of the region is slowly

changing the landscape of the cities and

urbanizing municipalities.

“Since people go where employment and

job opportunities abound, we are also

witnessing increasing urban dwellers and a

growing demand for reasonably priced

homes, better public transformation systems,

realiability utility services, easy access to

practical amenities and a secure and orderly

living,” said Bacal.

She said one of the goals under the 2030

Agenda for Sustainable Development is to

make cities and human settlements inclusive,

safe, resilient and sustainable which highlights

the need for local government units to take a

second look at the transformation happening

around their jurisdiction.

“We hope that, through this activity,

we will have a better understanding of the

concepts of integrated township, the economic

opportunities and benefits that can be derived

from it as a strategy in urban development, said

Bacal in her welcome message during the

opening at the RDC Conference Room, NEDA

6 Building.

Competent resources persons were

invited to share latest developments and

changes related to their assigned topics.

For the first day, speakers include Housing

and Land Use Regulatory Board VI Regional

Officer Pilar Jamandre, Department of Agrarian

Reform Officer VI Legal Officer Atty. Jeony

Licera-Gregorio, Urban Planner Arturo

Corpuz, TEZ AMAD-TIEZA Department

Manager Hernando Enal, and Philippine

Reclamation Authority Reclamation and

Regulation Office PAED Department Manager

Engr. Eduardo Destura.

Resource persons on the second day are

Emmanuel Cortero, representatives of Ayala

Land Inc., and Megaworld Corporation.

Representatives from the two giant

property developers were tasked to discuss

their projects and development plans in the

region and how to enhance public-private

partnership with local government units. (JCM/

laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

By Lilibeth A. French

NEGROS OCC., April 15 (PIA6) -- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a Seminar on Swine

Nutrition, Genetics, Cold Chain and Slaughter House Management april 15 at Grand Ballroom, Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod

City.

U SDA is a known provider of

leadership on food, agriculture,

natural resources, rural development,

nutrition, and related issues based on public

policy, the best available science, and effective

management.

The activity is co-sponsored by the National

Swine Registry, USDA, Winrock International,

Global Cold Chain Alliance, and US Grains

Council, in collaboration with the National

Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. and Pork

Producers Federation of the Philippines, Inc.

Among the speakers were Ralph Bean, Adrian

Morales, Dr. Douglas Newcom, Dr. Stephen

Neel, and Jim Oprecio.

Negros Occ. Provincial Veterinarian, Dr.

Renante Decena gave the opening remarks

during the program. (JCM/Lljr-PIA6-Capitol)

USDA lectures on swine raising

Lorenzo Lambatin

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

KALIBO, Aklan, 13 April (PIA6) -- All is set for this year’s conduct of the Aklan Pina and Fiber Festival, a premier trade

promotion event and one of the major highlights of Aklan’s 60th anniversary celebration.

Preps for Aklan Piña fest all set By Venus G. Villanueva

D epartment of Trade and Industry

(DTI) – Aklan OIC Provincial

Director Ma. Carmen Iturralde

said this year’s trade fair, to be

mounted at the Provincial Trade Hall,

Provincial Capitol Grounds, will feature

naturally-dyed loom woven fabrics,

pina wearables, and high fashion apparels.

To be featured too are fashion

accessories, gift items, furnishings, decorative

crafts, agri-aqua products, bakery and

confectionery products.

The Aklan Pina and Fiber Festival is

now on its 17th year and is a model of

Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the

Provincial Government of Aklan, DTI,

Hugod-Aklanon Producers Association, Inc.,

and other partners like the Philippine Fiber

Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA)

and the Aklan Pina Indigenous Fiber Manufacturers and Traders Association, Inc. or

PINAMANTRA.

The opening program will be on April 21

at 3:00 o’clock p.m. which will be followed by a

“Buyer’s Show”.

The “Buyer’s Show”, according to

DTI-Aklan, will be in the form of a

fashion show where local models will

don pina wearables and accessories

before invited buyers coming from

Manila and other parts of the country.

Confirmed buyers include Habi

Foundation from Manila and Gillete Interna-

tional while other invited ones have yet to

confirm.

Other said they will be arriving within the

celebration but not in time for the “Buyer’s

Show”.

Also invited to grace the opening

program and to deliver messages, according

to the DTI, were Regional Executive

Director Engr. Roy Abayon of the Department of Agriculture 6 and DTI

6 OIC Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon.

The Aklan Pina and Fiber Festival

hatched 17 years ago during the stint

of Ms. Rascon, who was then DTI-Aklan’s

Prov inc ia l Director. I t was a lso

during Rascon’s stint in Aklan that

the Provincial Micro, Small and Medium

E n t e rp r i s e D eve l opm en t C ounc i l

(PMSMEDC) was organized, composed

of Aklan’s entrepreneurs and government

partners.

This year, the DTI said 75 exhibitors

will be joining the trade fair who

will display and sell to the public

loom-woven pina cloth and wearables,

g i f t items, housewares, processed

food and bakery products, health and

w e l l n e s s p r o d u c t s , a c c e s s o r i e s ,

agricultural and fish products and many

more.

The trade fair will run from April 21 to 26, 2016. (JCM/VGV PIA6

Aklan)

ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PIA) --- The Philippines and Germany have been strong partners in the fight against climate change.

I n a press briefing here, German Deputy

Ambassador to the Philippines Michael

Hasper said Germany has been

partnering with the Philippines in implementing

projects that ought to strengthen the country’s

climate risk governance.

“This is a partnership that has been going

on for years and if we count all the projects

that we have done bilaterally, these are

projects which are funded with about 100

million euros,” he said.

He stressed the fight against climate

change is important because the Philippines is

extremely vulnerable to its destructive impacts.

He said that they have partnered with

the Climate Change Commission (CCC) in

implementing programs that can help

municipalities in disaster risk reduction and

management.

“We have agreed to support the

construct ion of the Sou th -South

Center which will be in Clark City, Pampanga,”

he said.

South-South Center of Excellence

on Climate Information and Services

will be established in the next five years

as part of a grant from the German

government.

“This is a center where vulnerable

states can meet and exchange information

in order to prepare for the challenges of

climate change,” he added. (JCM/LTP/

PIA-Iloilo).

PHL, Germany strong partners against climate

change

Leonard T. Pineda I

2,400 teachers to serve in Capiz polls

Jemin Guillermo

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 13 (PIA) – Over 2,400 Capiz public school teachers will serve in the May 9 national and local

elections.

P rovincial Election Supervisor lawyer

Elizabeth Doronila disclosed that a total

of 2,463 public school teachers will be

serving this upcoming polls as members of the

Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

“The BEIs will be serving the 821

clustered precincts in the province of Capiz,”

she said.

Doronila said that of the total clustered

precincts, there are 419 in the first district

covering six towns including Roxas City and

402 in the 10 towns of the second district.

Each clustered precinct will have three

BEIs who will act as the chairperson, poll clerk

and third member.

Based on COMELEC record, Capiz has a

total of 457,382 registered voters who are

eligible to vote in the May 9 elections.

Each BEI will receive P4,500 fee to cover

the honorarium and transportation allowance

during the election and for the verification and

sealing o Book of Voters and final testing and

sealing of vote counting machines.

The simultaneous final testing and sealing

of vote counting machines here is scheduled on

May 6, Doronila said. Earlier, the chairpersons

and poll clerks of the BEIs have also been given

P2,000 each training allowance to cover their

transportation during the conduct of the

training of the COMELEC. (JCM/JBG/PIA6)

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CENTRAL VISAYAS, April 7 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)

issued Joint Circular No. 001 series of 2016 to remind public servants of their sworn duty to uphold this constitutional

provision.

I n a press release, CSC Chairperson Alicia

dela Rosa-Bala noted that “no officer or

employee in the civil service, as well as any

member of the military, shall engage, directly or

indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan politi-

cal activity, except to vote,” as quoted in the 1987

Philippine Constitution.

The circular also clarified that “social media

functions such as liking, commenting, sharing,

re-posting, or following a candidate’s or party’s

account,” unless meant to solicit support for or

against a candidate or party during the campaign

period is allowed.

The prohibition covers all members of the

civil service in all branches, subdivisions,

instrumentalities, and agencies of the Philippine

Government, including government-owned or

controlled corporations with original charters,

and state universities and colleges.

Uniform and active members of the Armed

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine

National Police (PNP) are also covered by the

prohibition.

An official or employee on leave of

absence is still covered by the prohibition on

electioneering or partisan political activity.

Meanwhile, officials or employees holding

political offices such as the president, vice

president, cabinet members, elective local officials

except barangay officials, the staff of the

abovementioned officials, and members of the

reserve corps of the AFP are excluded from the

prohibition.

Engaging in partisan political activity refers to

an act designed to promote the election or defeat

of a particular candidate or candidates to a public

office.

Existing laws and rules identified the

following as partisan political activities:

Forming organizations, associations, clubs,

committees, or other groups of persons for the

purpose of soliciting votes and/or undertaking any

campaign for or against a candidate;

Holding political caucuses, conferences,

meetings, rallies, parades or other similar

assemblies, for the purpose of soliciting votes

and/or undertaking any campaign or propaganda

for or against a candidate;

Making speeches, announcements or

commentaries, or holding interviews for or

against the election of any candidate for public

office;

Publishing or distributing campaign literature

or materials designed to support or oppose the

election of any candidate; or

Directly or indirectly soliciting votes, pledg-

es, or support for or against a candidate.

CSC Memorandum Circular No. 9, series of

1992 identifies the following as prohibited acts:

Wearing of t-shirts, pins, caps, or any other

similar election paraphernalia bearing the names

of candidates and/or political parties;

Being a watcher for a political party or

candidate during the election;

Consistent presence in political rallies,

caucuses of, and continuous companionship with

certain political candidates and/or political party,

making one closely identified with such candidates

or party;

Giving, soliciting, or receiving financial or

monetary contributions, supplies, equipment, and

materials for the benefit of a candidate and/or

political party; and

Utilizing government resources such as

personnel, including job order or contract of

service hires, time, and properties for political

purposes.

Those who will be found guilty of

engaging directly or indirectly in partisan political

activities will be meted with the penalty of one

month and one day suspension to six months

for the first offense; and dismissal from the ser-

vice for the second offense in accordance with

the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the

Civil Service (CSC Resolution No. 1101502 dated

November 18, 2011).(rmn/ays/PIA7/Myra C.

Fortuna, CSC7)

CSC, Comelec reminds civil servants on political neutrality

Amor Saludar

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 8 (PIA) – Silliman University’s Institute of Environmental and Marines Sciences (EIMS) deployed

fish recovery tools or fish habitats in Apo Marine Sanctuary recently.

SU-IEMS deploys fish habitats in Apo Marine

Sanctuary

T his is part of efforts to help coral reefs

in the sanctuary achieve full recovery.

According to Mark Garcia, director of

the university information and publications

office, the deployment of the fish habitats

in the ocean increases the habitat complexity

of fishes and enhances the fish recovery

process.

The fish habitats are dome-shaped and

made of limestone rocks gathered from the

island’s shore and made by dive rangers and

carpenters of Apo Island.

A significant portion of the coral

cover was damaged when typhoon Pablo hit

the province in 2012 which led to the decline

in fish abundance in the area.

“For this project of fish habitat

deployment, IEMS partnered with the

Foundation for the Philippine Environment,

Apo Island Protected Landscape and

Seascape-Department of Environment and

Natural Resources, Coastal Conservation and

Education Foundation, UNICO Conservation

Foundation, and the local community and

business sector," said Garcia. (ral/PIA7-Negros

Oriental/with reports from Mark Garcia,

Silliman University)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 7 (PIA) -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology- Department of Science

and Technology (Phivolcs-DOST) and the provincial government of Bohol are exploring and laying down the process for the

establishment of a fault museum in Inabanga town.

Fault museum eyed in Inabanga

T his after Gov . Edgar Chatto

met with PHIVOLCS Director Renato

Solidum and Philippine Atmospheric,

Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration-7 (PAGASA-7) Regional

Director Oscar Tabada recently.

The fault museum will serve both

scientific and tourism purposes.

Solidum turned over hazard maps to Gov.

Chatto, while Phivolcs will also be turning over

two seismic stations in Talibon and Garcia

Hernandez at P3.5 million each. PHIVOLCS is

currently conducting a three-day training on

Communicating Earthquake and Tsunami

Hazards for 40 teachers of the Department of

Education (DepEd) Tagbilaran City Division.

The training intends to capacitate teachers

to help school children learn how to prepare,

respond, and protect themselves during

earthquakes and tsunamis, Solidum said during

the press event announcing their activity.

The training delves on basic

information about the science of volcano,

earthquake, tsunami and other hazards as well

as how to re-echo these information to

communities so they can be prepared. (rmn/

ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

Elvira C. Bongosia

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CENTRAL VISAYAS, April 7 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC), through its Civil Service Institute (CSI), in

partnership with the Government of Australia through the Philippines-Australia Human Resource and Organizational

Development Facility (PAHRODF) will hold a Human Resource Symposium on May 23 to 25 at the Waterfront Hotel, Lahug,

Cebu City with the theme ―Managing Transitions through Human Resource and Organization Development.‖

CSC to hold HR symposium on managing transitions

T his year’s HR Symposium will showcase

how transitions may be led by

managers and human resource

practitioners at different levels.

The main objective of the symposium

is to inspire participants to be involved

by proactively managing transitions and

enable people and organizations not

only to cope with but to harness

change towards dramatic improvements

i n g o v e r n a n c e a n d s e r v i c e

delivery.

International and local experts in

human resource and organizational

development will share their best

practices in the plenary and breakout

sessions.

In a press release, CSC-7 said the

symposium aims to address the 2016

elections’ expectations to usher in a wave of

new leaders in the bureaucracy.

Interested participants may now

register online until May 5, 2016

at www.csc.gov.ph/hr

For more information, contact

Ms. Bobot Anatacio at telephone

n u m b e r s ( 0 2 ) 9 3 1 - 4 1 8 2 , ( 0 2 )

931-8095, or (02) 931-7935/39 local 301 to

305, or email 2016hrsymposium@gmail.com.

(rmn/ays/PIA-7/with reports from CSC-7)

Amor Y. Saludar

CEBU, April 6 (PIA) -- A budget allocation of P51 million has been set aside by the Department of Science and Technology

(DOST) this year for cloud seeding operations nationwide to respond to a hurting agricultural sector that continues to bore

the brunt of the El Niño phenomenon.

E ngr . Oscar Tabada , ch ie f of

t h e P h i l i p p i n e A t m o s p h e r i c

G e o p h y s i c a l a n d

Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA) - Visayas said the country will

continue to experience abnormal rainfall levels

with hotter and more humid climate as the El

Niño is expected to peak by May.

“Provinces across the country

especially in Mindanao are already affected by

the dry spell as next month, El Niño’s impact

will cover more provinces,” said Tabada. The

severe drought is largely affecting the farmers

as harvest of rice and crops yield negative, said

the PAGASA -Visayas chief.

In order to help the agricultural

sector, the government through the DOST has

earmarked a budget for cloud seeding

operations to induce rain for the irrigation

systems vital for the starving rice fields and

crops.

Tabada said their agency is helping in the

cloud seeding operations on when would be

the appropriate time based on weather

projections to conduct the cloud seeding

activity.

According to Tabada, cloud seeding

operations have been done in Mindanao and

that Western Visayas and Cebu have

scheduled cloud seeding activities sometime

this month.

Without clouds, it would be difficult to

seed the atmosphere with chemicals to induce

rain,” said Tabada adding that another problem

is Cebu’s geographical shape characterized with

narrow coastlines risking the induced rains to

fall into the sea.

The Department of Agriculture (DA-7)

meanwhile, is also conducting separate cloud

seeding operations in Bohol as water dams

have reached critical water levels.

Marina Hermoso, regional technical

director for operations of DA-7 said among

the dams that have benefited from the cloud

seeding activities are the Malinao Dam in Pilar

town and Bayongan Dam in the municipality of

San Miguel.

Malinao Dam is an irrigation project

covering 3,500 hectares of riceland areas

serving five towns while Bayongan Dam covers

2,858 hectares augmenting existing water

supply for farmlands of three municipalities,

said Hermoso.

Cloud seeding operations are costly

with one procedure alone estimated to cost up

to one million pesos due to the rental of a

helicopter, said Hermoso. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

DOST allocates P51M for cloud seeding

program

Fayette C. Riñen

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 7 (PIA) -- The congressional as well as the gubernatorial candidates in the May 9 polls will inform

Boholano electorates on their plans on the top issues prevailing in the province during a Candidates’ Forum here.

Candidates’ forum billed as ―Your Voice, My Choice,‖ set on Friday

B illed as “Your Voice, My Choice,” the

gubernatorial and congressional

candidates’ forum is set on Friday,

April 8 at Bohol Wisdom School gymnasium

here.

The gubernatorial and congressional

candidates will inform the people on their

stand on issues revolving in agriculture,

tourism, technology, Overseas Filipino

Workers (OFWs) as well as important

concerns on infrastructure development, peace

and order and environment.

Six congressional bets will be heard

starting 9:00 am on Friday.

Re-electionist Rep. Rene Relampagos,

Joahna Initay, and Crescencio Alturas will be

presented for the first congressional district

with re-electionist Rep. Aris Aumentado and

Board Memeber Gerry Garcia for the second

congressional district.

For the third congressional district is

re-electionist Rep. Art Yap while there are

reports that congressional bet, former Mayor

Cheche Toribio delos Reyes, declined to

attend the forum. Re-electionist Gov. Edgar

Chatto and gubernatorial bet, Loay Mayor May

Imboy, will be presented during the forum

starting at 1:30 Friday afternoon.

“This is a forum and not a debate,”

clarified Engr. Al Uy, president of the Bohol

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

(BCCI) producer and sponsor of the

candidates forum.

The gubernatorial candidates’ forum will

be moderated by Peter Dejaresco while Mayet

Gasatan will moderate the congressional bets’

forum.

The candidates’ forum will be covered live

over station dyRD-AM. (rmn/ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

Elvira C. Bongosia

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Women group find new life meaning after Yolanda

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, April 13 (PIA) — A women’s group from San Antonio, Basey, Samar swept by the fury of

Typhoon Yolanda found a new meaning in life as they survived its wrath.

Ninfa B. Quirante

Deped-8, partner agencies commit to senior high

implementation

Consuelo B. Alarcon

Registered voters in So. Leyte surpass 250k mark

R ecords obtained from the provincial office

of the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) also showed that there are

468 designated voting centers province-wide,

equivalent to 612 clustered precincts in all of the

500 barangays.

The total number of registered voters

divided by the number of grouped precincts

results to a little over 400 voters each precinct,

arguably a manageable size compared with

previous polls in which 1,000 voters crowded per

precinct.

There is no comparable data for 2013,

especially in the number of registered voters, as

the Comelec provincial office transferred in

January this year to its new location. It now holds

office on the second floor, left wing of the capitol

building.

The computers are newly-installed, and the

personnel are newly-assigned, for the mainstay

staff were promoted and re-assigned in other

areas so they have no past files, said a job order

employee when PIA asked for comparative

records.

Comelec personnel regularly undergo

re-shuffling of posts every election time, and in

February, Atty. Felicisimo Embalsado from the

regional office assumed as the provincial election

supervisor replacing Atty. Antonio Gulay who is

now in Northern Samar.

Maasin City topped the list on the highest

number of registered voters for this year’s

synchronized national and local elections, at

52,532, with 70 barangays, 68 voting centers, and

99 clustered precincts.

The town of Sogod came in a far second at

29,918 voters; 39 voting centers and 63 clustered

precincts in 45 barangays. Farther third is

Hinunangan at 18,535 voters; 48 voting centers,

51 clustered precincts, 40 barangays.

The island-town of Limasawa has the least

number of voters at 4,071 registered voters; 6

barangays, 8 clustered precincts, 6 voting centers.

Southern Leyte has 18 municipalities and one

city. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 14 (PIA) -- The number of qualified voters in this province who are expected to troop

to voting centers on May 9, 2016 to exercise their right of suffrage has reached 261,148 individuals.

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 9 (PIA) – The Department of Education (Deped) with its partner agencies and other

stakeholders have renewed their seal of commitment as the government move forward in achieving a goal towards reforms of

the Philippine educational system.

T he government agencies through its

regional directors and representatives

signed a pledge of commitment as

Deped Eastern Visayas unveiled Tuesday at

Robinsons activity area this city the 60-day

countdown before Senior High School level

officially opens on June 6, 2016.

Deped regional director Luisa

Bautista-Yu expressed optimism of the success

of the nationwide implementation of the

program due to the overwhelming support of

the national government agencies such as the

Department of Interior and Local Government,

Department of Budget and Management

Department of Labor and Employment,

Philippine Information Agency, Department of

Environment and Natural Resources,

Department of Trade Industry, Department of

Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare

and Development, Commission on Higher

Education, among others.

“The process of refining the program was

crucial but with your commitment and strong

partnership, we are now ready to welcome the

Eastern Visayas learners for senior high school

grade 11,” Yu said.

Before the national implementation of the

senior high school, Eastern Visayas has already

produced less than a thousand senior high

school graduates following of its pilot

implementation in selected schools in Leyte

and Samar.

In order to fu l ly implement

the program, the government through

the Department of Education has already

expanded its budget by providing financial

assistance through the voucher system

to private schools that will offer senior high

schools.

To date, a total of 68, 447 senior high

schools in the region have signified to enrol for

the school year 2016-2017 during the early

registration and this figure is expected to

increase before the classes start on June 6,

2016. (ajc/PIA-8)

R owena Cabunalda and Eufemia Culibar

are just two from those who have

survived the greatest storm of all time,

but this time, through well meaning government

agencies like BFAR, DTI and TESDA with the

great help too of JICA, they have become

entrepreneurs.

PIA chanced upon these women selling their

food products under the sweltering heat of the

sun.

But they don’t mind, “this is part of our new

lease on life, that we should help our husbands

earn income,” they replied.

Rowena is a fisherman’s wife who was then a

homebody, while Eufemia had a small store in

Barangay San Antonio, Basey, Samar.

After Yolanda, as help came through, JICA

built them a production site for the bangus that

the San Juanico strait nourish.

The duo belongs to the Tiklos Kabuhi-an han

Kababayin-an San Antonio Food Processors,

Basey, their president is one Jenet Jaway who is

leading this group to being very productive

women of their time.

They produce tocino, longganisa, pickled

ampalaya, embutido, softboned bangus, and

rellenong bangus which are all vacuum packed

fresh from the production site.

They deliver these products from Monterey

Catbalogan which orders volume weekly.

“The rest, we peddle in offices and other

business areas where most people are,” said

Rowena.

Rowena said she was so shy then, but

through frequent engagement with their trainers,

visitors and other people from other places, she

has significantly improved her communication

skills.

My new-found confidence helped me a lot in

this job, she shared.

They are looking forward to promoting their

products this coming May 1, 2016, Labor Day

through DOLE for a big food and trade fair.

“Maybe by then we can penetrate a bigger

market in Tacloban City,” said Eufemia.

In some way, Rowena did not dream that

from tending her young children and fisherman

husband, she could be her own woman through

the opportunity that JICA and other government

agencies offered.

She disclosed that she has acquired some

sort of financial independence through the

earnings she get.

With their new found empowerment, these

women, these enterprising “Juanas” may just get

farther than they have ever dreamed of. (NBQ/

PIA 8-Samar)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Social media functions not electioneering, partisan

political act

NAVAL, Biliran, April 13 (PIA) - The latest joint advisory issued by the two constitutional bodies which excluded the use of

social media functions as an act of electioneering and partisan political activity has clarified the limits for its use among civil

servants during campaign period.

T he Civil Service Commission (CSC)

and the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) issued Joint Circular No. 001,

Series of 2016 on March 29, 2016, an advisory on

electioneering and political activity.

The CSC-Comelec joint circular specifically

states in its purpose that it is issued to advise and

remind all officers and employees of the Philippine

Government, including any of its agencies,

subdivisions, and instrumentalities, of the

constitutional, statutory, and other regulatory

prohibitions against engaging in any electioneering

or partisan political activities.

It is also aimed at “ensuring that members of

the civil service and the armed forces shall remain

focus on the efficient discharge of their duties

and functions; to do away with the “spoils

system” which is anathema to the principles of

meritocracy at the heart of the Philippine civil

service system and military service; and to shield

officers and employees of the civil service and

the armed forces from the vagaries of politics”, it

said.

Pharida Q. Aurelia, Director II, Civil Service

Commission-Biliran Field Office, clarified to the

members and officers of the Provincial Council of

Personnel Officers (PCPO) in Biliran province

during its second regular quarterly meeting on

April 11, 2016, that social media functions like

liking, commenting, sharing, re-posting or

following a candidate’s or party’s account is one

of the six listed acts enumerated in the joint

circular that are deemed excluded from the

coverage of electioneering and partisan political

activity.

However, the lady chief of CSC-Biliran

categorically stated that liking, commenting,

sharing, re-posting or following a candidate’s or

party’s account are considered electioneering and

partisan political activity when “used as means to

solicit support for or against a candidate or party

during campaign period.”

“There is a thin line” Aurelia refers to the

provision in the joint circular that separates what

acts are considered electioneering or partisan

political activity regarding the use of social media

functions.

She emphasized to personnel officers of the

national government agencies, local government

units and public utilities stationed in the province

of Biliran to just follow the guidelines stipulated in

the joint CSC-Comelec circular on electioneering

and political activity to avoid facing election

offenses. # (fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

Rodrigo S. Victoria

2-storey school building to rise in Limasawa Island in support to SHS implementation

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Apr. 13 (PIA) – As part of the full implementation of Senior High School (SHS) Program

for School Year 2016-2017, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern Leyte District Engineering Office

(DPWH-SLDEO) constructed a two-storey school building in the municipality of Limasawa.

I n a press release, the provincial

engineering office stated that the PHP8.77

million project, which started in February

18, will be the first of its kind in this historic island

town. It is within the campus of Limasawa

National High School (LNHS) in Barangay Triana.

“We have to rush this project since this is

badly needed for the first batch of Grade 11

students this coming school year,” DPWH

District Engineer. Ma. Margarita C. Junia said.

The project though will be completed in

September instead of June since the first

bidding failed as no contractor was interested to

take the project due to non-inclusion of

transhipment cost to the original contract

amount.

“The DPWH-SLDEO had to ask for

additional funding from central office to carry out

the project,” Junia said further.

The report stated that LNHS Principal Amor

Abandol thanked the DPWH for the first

two-storey school building project in this town.

It will benefit about 107 Grade 11 students

starting June 6, 2016 and is expected to double in

the next academic year.

With the eight classroom, up to 320

students can be accomodated in eight classes.

LNHS has a population of 485 junior high school

students in the previous school year, the source

said.

The students will use existing laboratory

rooms for the first three months of SHS

program implementation while waiting for the

completion of new classrooms.

The DPWH fast tracks classroom

construction works ahead of the full

implementation of K to 12 (Kindergarten and 12

years of basic education) starting June 6,

2016. SHS covers the last two years of the K to

12 program.

The program covers eight learning areas as

part of its core curriculum, and adds specific

tracks (similar to college courses) based on four

disciplines.

The national government has earmarked

P213.15 million for the construction of 202

classrooms for public secondary schools

throughout Southern Leyte province to support

the SHS program. All these projects are being

implemented by DPWH-SLDEO, the source said.

(w/reports from DPWH/PIA8-SoLeyte)

NEDA-8, OCD-8 spearhead formulation of Typhoon Nona rehab for NSamar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, April 13, (PIA) – The province of Northern Samar pushes for the formulation of the

Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (RRP), a three-year program to restore the province from the effects of the devastation

brought by Typhoon Nona early December of 2015.

W ith the completion of the final

Comprehensive Damage Assessment

and Needs Analysis (CDANA), the

provincial government seeks the assistance of

the National Economic and Development

Authority (NEDA) Regional Office 8 and the

Office of Civil Defense Region8 to conduct a

rehabilitation and recovery planning workshop

involving all sectors aimed at having one (1)

comprehensive and inclusive plan for the

province outlining corresponding priority fund

allocations. Said RRP covers four identified

sectors: social, infrastructure, productive, and

cross-sectoral, encompassing all aspects of

recovery from physical structure to

institutionalization of local disaster

management system in the local government

units.

Based on the CDANA, damage across all

sectors was estimated at around P 5.4 Billion,

total losses in the economy was accounted to

reach P 1.8-Billion with an overall recovery

reconstruction needs of about P 14.4-Billion.

Governor Jose Ong, Jr. reiterated that the

province is so fortunate to have many

partners from external agencies and

organizations who are willing and ready to

work with the province in the formulation of

rehabilitation and recovery plan.

With the plan, he further expressed hope

to instil volunteerism among partners/

stakeholders and create a disaster-resilient

Northern Samar. By working hand-in-hand, he

is positive that strategies will be effectively

carried out in the months and years to come.

(ADiaz/PIA-Northern Samar)

Ailene N. Diaz

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Editorial Consultants

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Regional Offices:

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