Vol 5 Issue 18 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 May 4 - 10, 2015
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Eastern Visayas is Filariasis-free - DOH 8
DOH to start school immunization in August
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
PNoy commits to achieve rapid economic growth
By Amor Y. Saludar
Cebu, May 4 (PIA) --- Government eyes initiatives that involves industry, livelihood for Filipinos and infrastructure as
these are part of the strategies towards development. President Benigno Aquino III in his Labor Day visit to
Cebu shared these thoughts during the inauguration of an expansion project of CEMEX-Philippines, a cement company in
Naga City, Cebu. CEMEX was established in 1999 through the investments
of CEMEX in Mexico and the APO Cement the largest cement plant in the Philippines.
“Nabigyan po tayo ng kakayahang itaguyod ang mga ganitong mga inisyatiba dahil sa paglago ng ekonomiya,” Aquino
said. The President cited the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA) figures that the country has recorded a 6.3 percent average GDP growth every year since the start of the
Aquino administration in 2010. “Ang pinakamabilis na paglago ng ating ekonomiya sa loob
ng nakaraang 40 taon. Ayon sa ating economic managers, kapag naabot natin ito, ang resultang 6-year average ang magiging
pinakamabilis na paglago ng ating ekonomiya simula po noong 1955, o sa loob ng nakalipas na animnapung taon,” the
president added. Aquino then pleged to continue this economic
development of the country by targeting 6 to 7 percent
economic growth increase this year and he said
because of this economic development, investors will
then have confidence to invest in our country. “Sa pag-usbong ng mga bagong negosyo, dadami ang
malilikhang trabaho; lalawak ang oportunidad sa pag-asenso ng mas maraming pinaghandang Pilipino,” Aquino concluded.
President Aquino also toured the facilities of the newly-constructed University of Cebu Medical Center (UC
Med) here. UCMED is first in Southeast Asia to have 3D Mammography with Tomosynthesis, first fully integrated 3D
Endoalpha Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) Operating Room and the most Endoalphas than any other hospitals in the
country. (mbcn/ays/PIA7)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) - After six years
of hard work to combat Filariasis, the Department of Health (DOH), Regional Office 08 received recently, the
congratulatory letter from DOH Central Office acknowledging Region 08 as Filariasis-free.
In a telephone interview with Ms. Annaliza Balila, Chief DOH-08 Filariasis Control Program Unit, it was mentioned
that the letter was actually dated September 2013 yet, but due to the disaster that hit the region in the month that followed,
the delivery of the congratulatory document was hampered. Asked why the region was declared Filariasis-free, Ms.
Balila said it passed the criteria set forth, on top of the 95% population which did not manifest any symptom of the
mosquito infection. The same recognition, she stressed, is credited to the
health workers around the region who painstakingly held the Mass Drug Administration.
However, people here should not be sitting-in-their laurels with the good news, instead, they should take it as a
challenge as health workers like her, take it so. “Sustainability is the word,” she said. “That is why, all
provincial local government units had been awarded with P1M check, so they could maintain the advocacy program campaigns
to continue the program against Filariasis,” Ms. Balila said. “LGUs should help us in the sustainability campaign,
because we have already gained the grounds, all we need now
is sustain the victory,” she added. With the mass “drug administration”, a person has to go
to his nearest Rural Health Unit(RHU) and submit himself for
the immunization.
“It only takes one day for a person above 21 years old, to be free of Filariasis after taking 5-tablets of
Diephylcarbamivine and one Albendazole except when he already has started showing signs of the disease, if so, he needs
a 12-day medication,” she informed further. Anybody above 21 years old should visit their RHU and
accept the preventive drug against Filariasis. The health educator added that the medicine has to be
taken with full stomach lest, the taker gets dizzy, or his stomach gets irritated or experience body malaise
(weaknesses). Unlike Dengue, Filariasis could show-up in 5 to 15 years
after a person had been bitten by the infectious mosquito and the end point could be disability due to swelling body parts, e.g
legs like that of an elephant‟s and disfigured scrotum. “And we could just imagine the repercussion it could
bring to the family and loved ones of the patient,” she sighed again. “It is economically, morally and emotionally heavy to
them, hence the public should be informed so they could avail of the government program,” she stressed.
Filaria-carrying mosquitoes thrive in Abaca and other Banana trees, while Dengue-mosquitoes dwell in stagnant
waters in long-standing water containers, flower bases even gutters etc. it was learned.
In the region, Southern Leyte was first declared
Filariasis-free in 2008, then Biliran in 2010, Eastern Samar in 2012, Western Samar and Northern Leyte in 2013 and
Northern Samar in 2014. (PIA-8)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
Also CLICK Here…
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
Also CLICK Here…
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
By Leonard T. Pineda I
ILOILO CITY, May 5 (PIA6) --- There is no let-up in the country‟s campaign against communicable but
vaccine-preventable diseases as the Department of Health (DOH) will start the school-based immunization program
August this year. This was announced by Health Secretary Janette L. Garin
during the recent Kalusugang Pampamilya on Wheels program in Calinog town here.
“By August this year, we will be starting the school-based immunization as expansion of the standard program of
immunization,” she said. She said that booster doses of tetanus, diphtheria,
measles and rubella will be provided to all grade one pupils and all first year high school students or grade seven students.
“These vaccines will actually protect them from many of
the diseases for life,” she said. She said that these expanded public health programs
such as immunization were a result of the revenues collected from the sin taxes.
The DOH official emphasized that immunization is a concerted effort that needs the collaboration of all sectors in
society. “Vaccine alone cannot prevent threats but vaccination
does. We must not be contented that it is only our child who gets vaccinated but everyone in the barangay,” she
stressed. She said that we should help in the campaign in our
respective communities that every child goes to the health center and be vaccinated. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
8 ID Commander Jet Velarmino, AFP, Gov.
Sharee Ann Tan Province of Samar, and DBM
Regional Director Dr. Imelda C. Laceras
signing the DRR Commitment at 8 ID
Philippine Army Gymnasium, Camp. Lukban,
Maulong, Catbalogan City last May 5, 2015.
(PIA 8)
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Swiss Embassy
Counselor Raoul Imbach turn over the
symbolic key of duplex housing units to
beneficiaries during the Balay Kawayan
Housing Initiative Inauguration and Turn-Over
Ceremony at the Uswag Subdivision, San
Isidro Relocation Site, Jaro, May 4. Also in the
picture is Regan Schegg of the Hilti Foundation
that funded the housing initiative that
promotes the use of bamboo as a major
structural material for housing construction.
(PIA Iloilo)
WESTERN VISAYAS
AUDIO-Bohol „Bisita Opisina‟. Pag-IBIG Fund
Tagbilaran Branch Head, Felix Garan (left)
giving his welcome message to the members of
the Association of United Development
Information Officers in Bohol during its „Bisita
Opisina‟ (right) recently at their new office
now located at the 2/F of Galleria Luisa this
city. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
President Benigno Aquino III. (PIA Cebu photo)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
Poverty alleviation success stories need to be replicated
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - The Antique Federation of Non-Government Organizations (AFON) in Antique facilitated
the Local Economic Development (LED) Stakeholders Forum recently which featured the success stories of families and
communities getting involve in poverty alleviation.
T h e f o r u m s u m m a r i z e d t h e
achievements, the challenges and
sustainability mechanism gained during
the implementation of LED program in
Antique supported by Trias Southeast Asia, an
in ternat iona l NGO that supports
entrepreneurial people.
Dr. Dixon Yasay, LED Expert, Consultant
and Director of Xavier University Government
and Leadership Institute said the PO‟s success
stories are concrete solutions to the problems
of poverty that needs to be replicated in many
communities.
“The stories presented by tricycle drivers,
farmers, fisherfolks, patadyong weavers, and
local entrepreneurs offered concrete
solutions but we need the powers of the
local government units, government
agencies and other sectors to sustain this
program and replicate these in other areas,”
said Yasay.
“What is more promising in this endeavor
of AFON, and the rest of the NGOs namely
Antique Development Foundation, Insol Devt
Foundation, Ahon sa Hirap (ASHI) and
PROCESS Foundation give us hope that
development could happen with NGOs and
POs,” he said.
Yasal also commended the people‟s
organization empowering their communities
and making the development happen.
“Let us continue working, engaging more
local government units, building partnership
with other sectors. Your stories are real
models of development that needs to be
sustained, Yasay said.
The success stories are presented in a
book – Antique LED success stories.
Gudrun Cartuyvels, Country Director,
Trias Southeast Asia likewise lauded the active
participation of the NGOs and POs to the
program. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)
By Pilar S. Mabaquiao
OrchidsOrchids
DILG launches manual to simplify business
processes
ILOILO CITY, May 4 (PIA6) --- In an effort to creating more business-friendly and competitive local government units,
the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-6 recently launched the regulatory simplification manual in the
municipality of Oton here.
D ILG-6 Regional Director Anthony
Nuyda said that the municipality
of Oton was chosen as pilot
LGU for the implementation of the
Regulatory Simplification Project for LGUs
(RS4LGUs).
“A manual was created to assist the LGU
to be business-friendly and competitive while
adopting strategies and mechanisms applicable
to its clients,” he said.
He said that this is one of the follow
through initiatives after complying with the
Business Permit Licensing System (BPLS).
The DILG official said the regulatory
simplification involves the rationalization
and further enhancement of existing BPLS
standards to give ease to the registration
service and spur a more business-friendly
environment.
“It improves a process operationally
while reviewing and revising legal basis for
requirements,” he said.
The regulatory simplification targets to
infuse reforms in the regulatory framework for
LGUs in business permit and licensing to
increase efficiency while decreasing the
complexity of the entire process.
He added that the project aims to make
LGUs business-friendly while increasing their
capacities in terms of realizing development
goals.
Meanwhile, Oton municipal mayor
Vicente Flores, Jr. said that Oton, being the
first municipality to pilot the regulatory
simplification, pledged their utmost
cooperation in implementing the program.
“I urged the municipal employees to do
their best in implementing the program
because as pilot LGU, we are looked upon by
other municipalities,” he said.
He said that they are optimistic this
program will strengthen the partnership of the
LGU and the business establishments which
are considered the lifeblood of the
municipality. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
By Leonard T. Pineda I
IT-BPO ‗Road Map‘ gets NegOcc's nod
By Carlson B. Alelis
NEGROS OCC., May 4 (PIA6) -- Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the province is supporting the Information
Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) Philippine Roadmap 2016.
T he Road Map will pave the way in
giving 1.3 Million jobs to Filipinos
and $ 25 billion in revenues by
2016, Marañon said in his speech during
the inauguration of the Negros First Cyber
Centre.
Through the Road Map, Bacolod City and
Negros Occidental will be able to contribute
30, 000 jobs by the end of 2016.
“The Negros First Cyber Centre is
more than just a structure – it is a central
point of convergence of ideas, creativity and
technology – that will generate jobs,
opportunities and investments for the
country,” he said.
In order for them to achieve their targets,
he said the province should continue to heavily
invest in talent development programs with the
help of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).
TESDA‟s programs for stepping up the
value chain should be enhanced – in the area of
finance and accounting outsourcing, animation
and game development, software development
and health care information outsourcing, he
said.
With the help of DTI, they will continue
to enhance Business Ecosystem and ease of
doing business as they are urging the National
Government to continue initiatives to help
local government units (LGU) shift from paper
to paperless.
Marañon said that through the
Commission on Higher Education, he and his
fellow LGU officials will continue to equip
trainers and teachers in the province as a long
term measure to lessen the adverse effects of
labor mismatch.
The Information and Communications
Technology Office-Department of Science
and Technology should continue to provide
support for Filipino startups – harnessing
ingenuity and talent to see Negrense brands
side by side their multi-national counterparts,
he said. (JCM/CBA-PIA Negros Occ.)
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, May 4 (PIA6) – Thirty – five digital library kiosks which is a one-stop repositories for science and
technology and livelihood information will be established by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Capiz
State University (CapSU) campuses and 17 selected public secondary schools in the province.
‗STARBOOKS‘ now in Capiz
By Alex A. Lumaque
T he initiative dubbed STARBOOKS -
Science and Technology Academic
a n d R e s e a r ch - B a s e d Op e n l y
Operated Kiosk Stations – is geared towards
the needs of students, researchers, and
entrepreneurs, especially those from the coun-
tryside.
“We are happy because with this synergy
among the different stakeholders, we will be
able to disseminate effectively and efficiently
the different knowledge that we have
generated out of our research and
development activities,” said DOST – 6
director Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga.
CapSU president Dr. Editha L. Magallanes
and Department of Education – Capiz Schools
Division Superintendent Dr. Miguel Mac D.
Aposin conveyed their appreciation to DOST
for the project that provides free access to
information and is highly appropriate for public
libraries.
Aside from the kiosks, 10 hard disk drives
containing 2 terabytes of STARBOOKS
database will be given to other national high
schools in the province.
A Memorandum of Understanding was
signed between DOST and CapSU as well as
DepEd for the terms of reference in the
implementation of STARBOOKS in identified
sites.
A DOST – STII team also conducted an
orientation among the participants, mostly
CAPSU librarians and employees, on how to
use the stand-alone information kiosk which
holds more than half a million titles of digitized
journals, serial publications, reference
materials, annual reports, theses and
dissertations, technical and project reports,
and directories of DOST-STII‟s library
materials.
STARBOOKS was developed by the Sci-
ence and Technology Information Institute of
DOST and has been rolled out in over 400
sites nationwide since 2011. (JCM/AAL/PIA6
Capiz)
KALIBO, Aklan, May 4 (PIA6) – On its 59th anniversary as an independent province from Capiz, Aklan gifted its
17 towns with a total of P363,000 in cash prizes for winning in the Float Parade contest and Booth Exhibit.
T he Booth Exhibit, which was participated
in by the province‟ 17 towns, ran from
April 22-26, while the Float Parade
contest was featured during the Civic and Military
Parade on April 25 from the Kalibo Pastrana Park
to the Provincial Capitol Grounds right after a
Thanksgiving Mass held at the St. John the Baptist
Cathedral.
Adjudged winners in the Booth Exhibit
included the municipality of Numancia which won
first place and a cash prize of P50,000.00; Altavas,
second, with a cash prize of P35,000.00 and
Nabas, third, with P25,000.00 cash prize.
The other 14 participating towns – Balete,
Banga, Batan, Buruanga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo,
Libacao, Madalag, Makato, Malay, Malinao, New
Washington and Tangalan got consolations prizes
of P10,000.00 each or a total of P140,000.00.
On the other hand, the municipality of Nabas
dominated the Float Parade Contest by winning
first place with a corresponding cash prize of
P45,000.00; Malinao, second, P35,000.00; and Lezo,
third, with P25,000.00.
The municipality of Banga received a
consolation prize of P8,000.00.
The booths respectively exhibited the
prime products of their municipality under the
One Town , One Product (OTOP)
scheme, like Altavas, which exhibited Livestock
and Seafoods, Balete, Pina-based products;
Banga, fruits and vegetables; Batan,
seafoods ; Buruanga, f isher ies; Iba jay ,
coco-based products; Kalibo, Pina cloth and
Pina-based products; Lezo, potteries; Libacao and
Madalag, abaca-based products; Makato,
organic rice; Malay, eco-tourism; Malinao,
abaca slipper and abaca-based products;
Nabas, bariw craft; New Washington,
s e a foo d /deb oned b an gu s ; Numan c i a ,
vermicast organic fertilizer and Tangalan,
Eco-tourism and were judged based
on the relevance of the theme, composition
of exhibits, utilization and showcase of
local resources, product quality and physical
arrangement.
On the other hand, the floats were judged on
theme relevancy, visual impact, utilization and
showcase of local resources, and creativity.
Based on records of the Office of the
Provincial the booths generated a total of
P451,552.00.
Meanwhile, exhibitors who joined the
first-ever “Agri-Kultura Sa Aklan” a five-day
exhibit and selling of farm equipment,
agricultural products and livestock and free
seminars for Aklan farmers on gamefowl
health care management, urban gardening,
art of bonsai, Babuyan na Walang Amoy, and
organic vegetable production netted a total sales of
P276,071.
Aklan became a separate province from Capiz
on April 25, 1956 through Republic Act 1414
signed by then President Ramon Magsaysay.
Theme of this year‟s celebration was “Building
Capabilities towards Greater Challenges for
Aklan”. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)
Best booths, floats get P363,000 in cash prizes
By Venus G. Villanueva
ILOILO CITY, May 6 (PIA6)—The local producers should not be left out from the benefits of emerging businesses in Iloilo City.
T he Iloilo Business Club (IBC) has
initiated a project that will link local
agricultural producers to businesses
that are going up in Iloilo, like hotels and
restaurants.
According to IBC Executive Director Lea
Lara, they are aiming for inclusive growth for
farmers amidst the burgeoning businesses here.
Lara added that IBC is doing a survey as
to the needs for prime agricultural
commodities of restaurants and hotels here,
which the local farmers can provide.
“It is lamentable that despite the fact that
Iloilo province is an agricultural economy, the
hotels and restaurants still get their basic
ingredients from Baguio or Tagaytay,” Lara
said.
She added that they aim that 30 to 40
percent of the daily demand of businesses will
be sourced from the local farmers to help
them market their produce.
“We also see to it that it is not only
enough supply that is available, but also the
quality,” Lara said, adding that IBC will provide
technical assistance for this purpose.
Meanwhile, the provincial government will be
setting up a Municipal Agriculture
Information System which will collate data of
production from farmers.
This mechanism includes provision of
phones to farmers so that the hotels and
restaurants can get data direct from them.
IBC itself is also investing on Geographic
Information System so that they can pinpoint
key production areas and the needed access
roads to markets.
“This will lessen transportation costs for
businesses in the city,” Lara said. (JCM/ESS/PIA
-Iloilo)
IBC initiates link-up of local producers with businesses By Elsa S. Subong
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
CEBU CITY, May 5 (PIA) – Three local government units (LGUs) in Cebu province have been identified as pilot areas for the
Accelerated and Sustainable Anti-Poverty Program (ASAPP), a poverty reduction program spearheaded by National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster (HDPRC).
Three Cebu LGUs chosen as pilot areas for
ASAPP
T hese are the municipalities of Dalaguete,
Santa Fe, and Tuburan.
During the program‟s launching held
Thursday at Capitol, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene
Almendras explained that ASAPP is an
inter-agency effort seeking to reduce poverty
by creating sustainable employment and
income-generating opportunities.
He said the program aims to seek out
initiatives, solve problems, and roll out solutions
addressing poverty-related issues that will be
implemented as soon as possible.
Through ASAPP, participating LGUs
w i l l come up with an economic
program that will address the poverty issues in
their locality.
"Mag-abot ta para magkasinabot ta kung unsa
ang angayan natong buhatun (Let‟s come up with a
unified plan on what we need to do)," urged
Almendras.
He stressed that ASAPP is not a “one size
fits all” measure, as each LGU will come up with
their own development plans.
According to NEDA, Cebu is identified as
one of the ten provinces under C1 category,
which has the highest number of poor households
despite its booming industry.
Other identified pilot areas are in the
provinces of Pangasinan, Quezon, Camarines Sur,
Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte,
Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur, and Sulu.
(rmn/Caren Gabisay, PIA7-Cebu intern/CTU
DevCom student)
By Rachelle M. Nessia
SIQUIJOR, May 7 (PIA) -- Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Siquijor and the Local Government Unit of Lazi
inked a Memorandum of Agreement recently on disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) Grant-in-Aid project.
DOST Siquijor, Lazi ink MOA on disaster grant project
T his sealed the assistance on the GIA
Project of DOST to Lazi entitled
Enhancing the Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation Capability of LGU-Lazi Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Officew.
The project aims to enable the MDRRM
Office to more effectively perform its functions,
especially those relating to disaster prevention
and mitigation.
Specifically, the project will provide
technology support for the establishment of an
information system for the MDRRM office.
It seeks to develop a computerized database
on local hazards, vulnerabilities, risks, and other
DRRM-related matters, and organize and
facilitate the gathering of data needed for the
proper identification, assessment, reduction,
and management of disaster risks in the
municipality.
It also supports the orientation/training of
local DRRM officers and personnel on
appropriate disaster prevention and mitigation
strategies, tools and techniques, and to
develop the institutional linkages and
mechanisms needed to reinforce the MDRRM
Office‟s role in designing, programming, and
coordination.
Lazi Mayor Orpheus Fua and Municipal
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer
(MDRRMO) designate Earl Aljas MDRRMO
signed the MOA in behalf of Lazi while Provincial
Science and Technology Director Engr. Mario de
la Peña represented DOST Siquijor Provincial
Science and Technology Center. (rmn/rac/
PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek
Y. Abing)
By Rizalie Anding Calibo
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 6 (PIA) – Dumaguete City Agriculture Office advises local farmers here to shift to organic farming
methods as a way of adapting to the adverse effects of the current El Niño phenomenon.
Organic farming pushed as El Niño adaptation measure
C ity Agriculture Office official Fely Barba
said organic agriculture can help farmers
produce good quality of crops despite the
ongoing dry spell in the city.
Organic agriculture retains the fertility of
soil by keeping in the essential nutrients needed
by plants to grow.
Moreover, organic fertilizers are also
cheaper than the commercial fertilizers which
entail lesser production cost for farmers.
Barba mentioned that commercial
fertilizer have elements that can affect the quality
of crops.
This, along with the unfavorable prolonged
dry season, can bring negative effects on food
production.
The City Agriculture Office continues to
raise the consciousness of farmers on organic
farming measures as thisis also the advocacy of
the provincial government.
Part of their interventions is the production
of vermicasts or worm manure which is the end
product of vercomposting.
Barba encouraged farmers in the city to avail
of the organic fertilizer at the City Agriculture
Office.
“They can avail of these from the city
government. We will help our constituents,”
Barba disclosed.
She identified barangays Candau-ay,
Camanjac, Cadawinonan, Cantil-e, Balugo and
Bajumpandan as agricultural barangays in
Dumaguete City.
So far the current El Niño phenomenon
has brought a minimal effect to livestock
but no damaged report on crops in the city, she
added.
Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric
G eoph y s i c a l A s t ron om i ca l S e rv i c e s
Administration (PAGASA)-Negros Oriental chief
meteorological officer Neptune Catarata said the
province is included in the list of provinces that
are affected by dry spell.
Based on the drought or dry spell
assessment issued by the country‟s weather
bureau on April 23, other provinces that are
experiencing dry spell are Agusan Del Sur, Albay,
Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Bukidnon,
Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao Del
Norte, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras,
Lanao Del Sur, Leyte, Masbate, Misamis Oriental,
Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija,
Rizal, Samar, Siquijor, Sorsogon, Southern Leyte,
Sultan Kudarat, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del
Sur and Tarlac.
Dry spell happens when a province
experiences below normal rainfall condition for
three consecutive months or 21-60% reduction
from average normal rainfall amount.
On the other hand, drought occurs
when a province experiences way below
normal rainfall condition for three consecutive
months.
PAGASA data cites 23 provinces currently
experiencing drought and these are Abra, Agusan
Del Norte, Apayao, Basilan, Benguet, Bohol,
Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, La Union,
Lanao Del Norte, Maguindanao, Misamis
Occidental, Mountain Province, Pampanga,
Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sulu, Tawi-tawi,
Zamboanga Del Norte, Zamboanga Del Sur and
Zamboanga Sibugay.
However, based on the drought or dry spell
outlook for May there are 42 provinces including
Negros Oriental where drought or dry spell
situation is likely to improve.
On the other hand, PAGASA also
announced that drought or dry spell situation in
12 provinces across the country is likely to
continue and intensify.
With this, the City Agriculture Office also
advises farmers to conserve water since the El
Niño phenomenon is expected to last until middle
of the year. (rmn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)
By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
OrchidsOrchids
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol May 4 (PIA) -- An annual survey by the Holy Name University (HNU) recently showed Bohol's
unemployment rate at 10%, but about 25% of those unemployed told enumerators that they are currently looking for suitable
work.
B y t h e t e r m u n e m p l o ym e n t ,
however, HNU Bohol Poll means
these people desire to find work
in the near future. At the annual survey
to gather social temperature in Bohol, it
shows that the province has not
considerably wrestled itself free from
unemployment problem since it had
the figures playing from 8% to 12% in the last five
years.
Despite this, more Boholanos do not
think leaving Bohol to seek work
elsewhere is a good idea, the survey
revealed. For those 25% who are seeking
jobs, the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) directs them to three jobs search
kiosks (JSK) the government has installed
in the towns of Maribojoc, Calape and
Jagna, according to Bohol DOLE officer-in-charge
German Guidaben.
A Job Search Kiosk is an information
portal housed in an ATM-type, stand-alone
equipment, which provides information
on local and overseas job opportunities
a n d o t h e r e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d
information. It helps job seekers to fast-track
access to relevant information on job openings,
hiring requirements of employers or upgrade,
their skills through the TESDA programs and BLE
career guides, DOLE, in its website stated.
Housed in said town's Public Employment Service
Offices, the JSKs can be accessed by anyone
seeking for jobs which match his qualifications,
Guidaben explained, speaking at the Kapihan sa
PIA Thursday.
DOLE through Guidaben said these JSKs are
installed as the towns enrolled for the DOLE
facility while preparing for the technical support
to have the kiosk operational. These towns keep
employment databank, skills inventory and similar
data which could be helpful in facilitating jobs
matching. The survey, which run from March 26
to April 17, used 400 respondents: about 100 for
each district in Bohol and another 100 from
Tagbilaran City, according to Maria Paz Espiritu,
Bohol Poll Project Director.
The same survey revealed that the biggest
unemployment rate, which is practically
employable and capable, belongs to the male
group of 18 to 24 years old age bracket from class
C. And Bohol Poll in fact validates the data on the
urge to find work: about 25% of those
unemployed said they are looking for suitable
work. Of those looking for work, 41% of the
respondents are male, while 45% of them are
from the age brackets 18-24.
The survey also showed the provincial
government sliding lowest in its five year support
to the promotion of agriculture, Bohol's biggest
employment niche.
Bohol Polls this year showed the Provincial
Government scoring +11 in supporting for the
promotion of agriculture, from a high +43 in 2013
and +36 in 2011. In providing for livelihood
opportunities and employment, Capitol scored
+15, but this is also the lowest in the last five
years, Bohol Poll showed.
The provincial government also obtains the
same sagging score in tourism promotions,
another job seeker's refuge: at +44% from a high
+68 in 2014, according to poll director Espiritu.
(rmn/rac/PIA-7Bohol)
DOLE sets up job search kiosks in 3 Bohol
towns
By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
CEBU, May 6 (PIA) -- Cebu was the venue of the third and final leg of the public consultation on the proposed implementing
rules and regulations (IRR) on RA 10650 otherwise known as the Open Distance Learning Act.
O ver 150 participants throughout the
Visayas region with a few coming
from Mindanao attended the public
consultation this morning.
The attendees were representatives of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), private colleges and
universities, private sector, and other government
agencies.
RA 10650, signed into law by
President Benigno S. Aquino III on
December 9, 2014 seeks to institutionalize Open
Distance Learning (ODL) in public and
private higher education institutions,
post-secondary learning and vocational
institutions.
Dr. Amelia Biglete, director IV of the
Office of Programs and Standards Development
of CHED, discussed the salient points of the law
which include qualified ODL students
can access scholarship, grants-in-aid and
l o a n s f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t o r
government-administered funding sources
as well as can take licensure examination
a dm i n i s t e r e d b y t h e P ro f e s s i on a l
Regulations Commission in the practice of
profession.
“The University of the Philippines Open
University or UPOU has a significant role to
play particularly in sharing its expertise to
CHED and TESDA in matters related to the
ODL especially in the design of prototype
programs,” said Biglete.
Under the law, CHED and TESDA must
formulate, promulgate, disseminate standard
policies and guidelines in the effective
implementation of the ODL in the country. Both
agencies are also responsible in implementing a
system of quality control of the ODL programs.
The law also grants tax exemptions to
individuals and organizations that donate,
contribute, bequest and grant, in cash,
materials and services for the promotion of
ODL in partnership with higher education
institutions.
All inputs form the participants during the
open forum will be consolidated with the other
recommendations in the previous two public
consultations in Luzon and Mindanao for
finalization of the IRR.
The finalization of the IRR will have to be
approved by the heads of the three agencies of
CHED, TESDA and the UPOU.
UPOU Chancellor Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso
said “the ODL system will definitely enhance our
education system,” adding that capacity and
capability building programs will be done for the
teachers and others involved in the ODL
programs. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7)
IRR consultation of Open Distance Learning Act held
By Fayette C. Riñen
SIQUIJOR, May 5 (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here in coordination with Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) empowered the women beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya Program through a family development
session.
PIA, DSWD empower Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries
A series of advocacy campaigns on
issues concerning climate change,
environmental care, agriculture, disaster
management Gender and Development,
Community Participation, and other government
programs and services were discussed.
PIA Infocen Manager Rizalie Calibo stressed
the big role of mothers in combating climate
change and poverty. She said it is the parents‟
duty to teach their children and to work for the
protection of the environment and natural
resources. “The smallest act we do and teach to
our children can go a long way in saving the
earth,” she said while calling on the mothers to
get involved in government programs and take
care of the benefits it has given them.
DSWD Municipal Link Officer Eryl Grenia,
also advised the beneficiaries to promptly
exercise their responsibilities as beneficiaries of
Pantawid Pamilya Program. Siquijor Today
Editor Inacher Abatayo talked on the topic which
encapsulates RA 9262 or the Violence Against
Women and Children (VAWC) Act.
Each event ended with an open forum
participated by the beneficiaries. (rmn/rac/
PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Inacher
Acabo-Abatayo)
By Rizalie Anding Calibo
Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
Samar targets households on disaster
preparedness
I n the recent summit on disaster
risk reduction, Governor Sharee Ann
Tan emphasized that every family
and household should be ready for any
eventuality.
“We want to institutionalize disaster
preparedness,” the lady governor said.
“As DILG takes charge in the local
governments through Oplan Listo, we will
try to equip households with the needed
information and directions to be ready,” she
said.
Oplan Listo is DILG‟s program in
assisting local governments in making
disaster preparedness plans and through its
process learn their readiness to respond to
typhoons.
This can also assists them in planning
and responses to typhoons and clarify what
they need so that they can ask DILG to
reinforce their capacity long before any
typhoon arrives, according to the listo
manual.
The chief executive said soon they will
distribute a manual for every household
which can serve as guide of the households
and families on what to prepare, what to do
and whom to contact should typhoons reach
them.
As many as 16 mayors out of the 26
local chief executives in the province
attended the summit together with their
disaster risk reduction officer, social
welfare officer, agriculturist, accountant,
budget officer and local government officer.
The local officers also had speakers
from DBM, COA and DILG regional
director Pedro Naval who taught them
the creation of DRRMO‟s, qualifications
and entitlements with allocation and
utilization.
As closing activity, all the mayors in
attendance signed the commitment to
disaster preparedness and support the
inclusive community based disaster risk
reduction initiatives for resilient
communities as embodied in Republic Act
10121. (nbq/PIA 8-Samar).
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 6 (PIA) - - - Samar Province does not only target communities but households on disaster
preparedness.
Phalaenopsis x intermedia Orchid variety also Phalaenopsis x intermedia Orchid variety also
known as Star of Leyte known as Star of Leyte
'Governance Seal' is LGUs‘ gateway to NGAs‘ financial aid
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 5 (PIA) – It only takes a ―Seal of Good Governance‖ for local government units (LGUs),
provincial and municipal to get fund assistance of national government agencies (NGAs).
T his was disclosed by Ms. Pia Lovete,
Chief Local Government Monitoring
Unit, Department of Interior and
Local Government Unit(DILG-08), in a radio
interview today over DYVL Aksyon Radyo.
She said that the Payapa at Masaganang
Pamayanan (PAMANA) is only one of the
poverty alleviation projects of the
government which can be availed of by
LGUs with certain requirements, the DILG
“Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping” for
one. The project mostly provides assistance
for construction of farm-to-market-roads
(FMR), irrigations and bridges.
Lovete said that for the region, after an
assessment made by DILG central office,
hundred percent of the provincial LGUs
here have actually passed the initial test for
“good financial housekeeping” (GFH). This
means that all the six provinces of Samar and
Leyte have been declared compliant to the
GFH adding that the GFH is dependent on
the report of the Commission on Audit
(COA) being the agency mandated to look
into the financial transactions of LGUs.
“Unless we receive the COA report,
we cannot include the LGU in our list for
further assessment that will lead them
ultimately to the “Seal of Good
Governance” award to be accorded further
of government fund assistance.
GFH compliance includes the full
disclosure policy of an LGU when they
make public all financial transactions
with its corresponding projects and
expenditures. LGUs usually present this
report in a bulletin board or in the internet
portal or in their respective and maintained
websites.
There are six indicators or thematic
areas that LGUs have to comply with, among
them are: peace and order, environmental
protection, social protection, disaster
preparedness and financial housekeeping.
In a separate interview, DILG-08
Information Officer, Myles Colasito reported
that an LGU is considered “passing the
test” if at least it has passed the 3-core
indicators: disaster preparedness, financial
and social services plus one more from
either of the other three.
Other fund assistance for compliant
LGUs is the Bottoms-Up Budgeting (BUB)
which likewise empowers local leaders and
their constituents. The program, Ms Lovete
concluded, was initiated by then Secretary
Jessie Robredo and it has brought
big significance in the improvement
and performance of locally elected leaders.
(PIA-8)
DPWH-North Samar urges contractors to speed-up work while the weather is good
CATARMAN, Northern Samar, April 30 (PIA) - The Department of Public Works and Highways, Northern Samar Second
District Engineering Office (NSSDEO), District Engineer Ferdinand Briones urged contractors in a meeting held recently to
speed-up work while the weather permits and still an ideal time to work in the project sites.
D PWH-NSSDEO PIO Unit Rey
Orsua informed that for the
Calendar Year 2015, the NSSDEO
is implementing 37 Infrastructure projects
which covers and comprises asset
preservation of national and secondary
roads, construction and maintenance of
bridges, road upgrading, construction and
maintenance of flood mitigation structures
and drainage systems, off-carriageway
improvements and var ious local
infrastructure projects, among others.
Latest project status report from
NSSDEO monitoring unit indicates a plus
24% actual overall accomplishment, four (4)
of which are already completed while
construction of the rest are still on going.
Engineer Briones however, stressed that the
quality of the projects should not be
compromised vis-a-vis speeding up of its
implementation. He only expects that all
projects for CY 2015 under the coverage
area of the Second District be completed
early as most of which are basically on road
shouldering or re-blocking activities along
the national roads of which according to him
are the easiest to implement. (ADiaz)
NINFA B. QUIRANTE
AILENE N. DIAZ
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
SoLeyte LGU appropriates P3M to grow
rambutan fruit trees provincewide
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 4 (PIA) - The provincial government of Southern Leyte launched the ―One Man, One
Tree in every Household‖ restore greening movement campaign by growing rambutan fruit trees across the province.
A ccording to Agricultural Technician
Ma. Luz Gaviola , provincia l
coordinator for High Valued Crops
Development Program (HVCDP) of the
Provincial Agricultural Services Office
(PAgSO)during the Cable TV Provincial
Report , Tuesday, April 28, “ no less than
Provincial Governor Roger Mercado led in
the distribution of rambutan grafted
seedlings in the municipality of Padre Burgos
launching of the restore greening movement,
symbolic of the provincewide planting of
rambutan fruit trees in the next four years.”
There were 700 grafted seedling of
rambutan fruit tree distributed in Padre
Burgos last Monday, April 27, she reported.
She further disclosed the following
distributions schedules with their
corresponding grafted seedlings to be
planted: April 30 – Limasawa, 400; May 8
– Maasin City, 5,200; and May 11
– Macrohon, 1,700.
The movement targets to enjoin 89,000
households, as per PSA Household survey in
2010, in the province of Southern Leyte to
plant one rambutan tree in either at the
front, sides or backyards near their homes,
for the first batch choosen households to
plant this year, Gaviola explained.
She disclosed that every year 25,000
grafted rambutan seedlings are targetted to
be planted within four years throughout the
province.
“The provincial government has
appropriated the amount of P3Million for
this tree planting activity to include the
procurement of grafted seedlings,” Gaviola
said.
Gaviola noted that the rambutan tree is
expected to bear fruits in two to three
years. Off season, the price of rambutan fruit
is pegged at P 80.00 per kilo but, during
harvesting season, the price is lower
at p20.00 to P40.00 per kilo in the market.”
The local government units are the
partners of this greening movement as they
will be responsible to choose the
households who can join in the planting
depending on their availability of lots to be
planted with one rambutan fruit tree. (esg/
PIA8 SoLeyte)
ERNA S. GORNE
Eastern Visayas remains strike-free
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 4(PIA) – Eastern Visayas has remained strike-free since 2003, the National Conciliation and
Mediation Board (NCMB) in the region said Wednesday.
I n a press conference held at the
D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r a n d
Employment (DOLE) training center,
Rico S. Babalcon of NCMB-8 announced that
for twelve (12) years no strike among local
laborers here was recorded in the whole
region.
“When we talk about industrial peace
ang barometer natin dito is strike. When
we say strike it means a concerted effort
conducted by the employees due to labor
dispute but the last strike happened in
2003,” Babalcon said.
Said strike was conducted by several
employees of Eastern Samar Electric
Cooperative (ESAMELCO) over a collective
bargaining agreement (CBA) deadlock.
On the same occasion, the National
Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)
reported its accomplishment for the first
quarter in 2015.
Labor arbiter Amelia Docena said she
issued a judgment award of P1, 236, 656.41
to parties who were not amicably settled
during the mandatory conference and a total
amount of P411,510.93 was awarded for
amicable settlement. (aen/cba/PIA-8)
CONSUELO B. ALARCON
CARD MRI conducts free health services to women in Samar TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 30 (PIA) – More than a thousand pregnant, lactating mothers and childbearing-age women in
the Municipality of Basey, Samar availed of the 3rd Community Health Fair at Basey Municipal Gym recently.
T he project dubbed as “The Healthy
Mothers, Healthy Babies: Kalinga
Kay Inay Project” was conducted by
the Center for Agriculture and Rural
Deve lopment-Mutua l ly Rein forc ing
Institutions in partnership with the rural
health unit of Basey.
OB-GYNs from the Philippine
Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
(POGS) in the region, doctors, pediatricians
and vo lunteer nurses prov ided
maternal health education, medical
consultation, medicines , mother's
kits,urinalysis and ultrasound services to
women in said area.
The Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (Philhealth) also participated in
the said event.
M a r i l y n M a n i l a , Co m mu n i t y
Development Group Coordinator said, by
the end of 2015, the program is targeting 8,
000 women to benefit from the health
fairs and 600,000 individuals from the
maternal health education.
Region 8 is the first area to receive the
maternal health education.
“CARD MRI has the outreach to
implement such project.
We hope that we will be able to create
an impact to the lives of our target
beneficiaries and help the country in
lowering maternal mortality and reach the
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by
the end of 2015, “Manila added.
The Center for Agriculture and
Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing
Institutions (CARD MRI), one of the largest
group of social development institutions in
the Philippines and U.S.-based international
development organization Freedom from
Hunger and the Microcredit Summit
Campaign first launched the Kalinga Kay Inay
Project in 2014 in Laguna.
In the next 3-5 years, it is
expected that there will be an
improvement and sustainability of delivery
of health education and related
services through strengthening the
foundation and capacity of member finance
institutions of the Philippine Microfinance
and Health Consortium to reach millions
of women and children with health
education and other health services. (ajc/cba/
PIA-8)
Flores de MayoFlores de Mayo–– SantacruzanSantacruzan
One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.
One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail [email protected].
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: [email protected]/ [email protected]
PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
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: [email protected]/[email protected]
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