Vol 2 Issue 8 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 Feb. 20—26, 2012
WESTERN VISAYAS
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Feb. 20 (PIA) --- The Department
of Health (DOH) is sending teams of professionals to
help survivors of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the
northern part of Negros Oriental.
In a forum with information officers, DOH-7
regional director Susana Madarieta explained that two
types of teams will be sent to affected
communities: 1) the Water and Sanitation Team,
which will assist the victims on sanitary measures to
prevent diseases; and 2) the Psychosocial Team,
which will help in debriefing family victims for them to
recover from the traumatic experience they had.
The Water and Sanitation team is composed of
doctors and nurses from DOH-7 and Vicente Sotto
Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), Madarieta added.
To date, the medical team is still stationed in the
areas to conduct consultations and provide medicines
to those who are still in need.
The common illnesses that affect the patients in
the area are coughs and colds, fever, hypertension and
headaches.
Madarieta also advised the people to boil or
purify the water before drinking. They also distribute
hydrosol solution to help purify drinking water in the
evacuation centers and in the quake-hit areas.
On the other hand, the Cebu provincial health
team will leave for NegOr anytime this week to give
support to the earthquake victims. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7)
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue
By Vicente W. Villavert
ILOILO CITY, Feb 22 (PIA 6) -- Director
Romulo L. Aguila, Jr. of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue Region No. 11 is optimistic that the agency’s
target revenue collection target of P6.2 billion this
year will be met following the successful launching in
Western Visayas of the tax campaign, “I love
Philippines, I Pay Taxes”.
Director Aguila disclosed in a PIA interview that
he expected to meet the target “because that is only
around 18.89 percent higher than the tax
generatedlast year”.
In the launching ceremony of the 2012 Tax
Campaign held at the SM City Iloilo, Aguila appealed
to all the local government units, business,
entrepreneurs, professionals and the all the tax payers
in the region to work closely with the BIR.
He emphasized that that collected taxes will
trickle down to our LGUs and taxpayers in the
countryside in the form of internal revenue
allotments, congressional development funds and
other allocations and projects initiated by the national
government.
Aguila said that “our business and professionals
will be assured of their business opportunities, once
all the infrastructure services are in place, there will
be more business activities which make better life and
security for the people”.
He issued a stern warning that the BIR really
means business in its tax campaign. The launching of
2012 tax campaign in Western Visayas was highlighted
with the recognition of top individual and corporate
taxpayers in the region.
The event was graced by BIR Deputy
Commisioner Nelson M. Aspe, Deputy Commissioner
Celia C. King, Assistant Commissioner Lucita G.
Rodriguez, and ACIR Margaret Mary C. Lauron.(JCM/
VWV/PIA6-Iloilo)
By Flordelis E. Jackson
NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- Biliran is one of
the top 10 outstanding provinces in the entire country
that earned recognition and received an award in the
2011 Search for the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers.
It was learned by the Philippine Information
Agency that Biliran province was endorsed by the
Department of Agriculture regional office No. 8
through Regional Executive Director Antonio
Gerundio for its exemplary performance in rice
production.
Also part of the factors considered that enabled
the province to earn the prestigious award were the
funding and technical support extended by the
provincial government through the Office of the
Provincial Agricultural Services (OPAS) to the rice
farmers in the area.
To validate the results of the evaluation done by
the DA officials in region 8, the DA national
committee for the 2011 Search for Agri-Pinoy Rice
Achievers Awards visited the province of Biliran on
January 27 this year to conduct field inspection of the
rice farms and other aspects of the search.
The 2011 Search for Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers
Awards aimed to identify and recognize top
performing provincial, city and municipal LGUs,
irrigation administrators, and agricultural extension
workers in the field of rice production as well as
sustain and step up awareness and commitment of the
LGUs to the rice self-sufficiency program of DA that
will contribute to the country’s self-sufficiency in food
program by the year 2013.
The awarding ceremony was held Feb. 10 at the
Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in
Manila. (PIA-Biliran with reports from DA-8)
Biliran one of top 10 provincial Agri-Pinoy rice achiever awardees
P6.2-B tax collection target ‘doable’, says BIR-6
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
Also CLICK Here…
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
Also CLICK Here…
DOH-7 sends psychosocial, sanitation teams to assist quake victims in NegOr
DIRECTOR. Bureau of Internal Revenue
Regional Director lawyer Romulo
Aguila, Jr. asks the help of Capiz media
in their tax campaign which is the
bloodlife of the nation. He stresses that
the taxes being paid to the government
will in turn result in development and
progress through different programs
and services to the people. (PIA/
JBGuillermo)
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
Completed school building at the Leyte
National High School through the
Department of Public Works and
Highways – Tacloban City District
Engineering Office led by its project
Engineer Eduardo B. Pelias with the
JELM Construction. The said school
building, with funding sourced from the
Upper House Project, has an area of 126
square meters and is now functional for
the secondary students. (DPWH-
TCDEO/PIA-8)
Regional Director PCSupt. Marcelo P.
Garbo, Jr. and bikers upon arrival at the
Siquijor Police Provincial Office in
Caipilan, Siquijor. (PNP/PIA-Siquijor) Director Romulo L. Aguila, Jr. of the Bureau of Internal
Revenue Region No. 11, Iloilo City appeals to the various
sectors of taxpayers in Western Visayas to work closely
with the BIR, as he emphasized that collected taxes will
trickle down to our LGUs and taxpayers in the countryside
in the form of internal revenue allotments, congressional
development funds and other allocations and projects
initiated by the national government. The 2012 tax
campaign in Western Visayas was launched at SM City
Iloilo recently. (TVillavert/PIA 6)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
A ccording to DOLE Provincial
Director Laura Villarico, a total of
145 sugar migrant workers or
popularly known as ‘sakadas’ in the towns
of Laua-an, Bugasong and Culasi will
receive livelihood starter kits under the
Integrated Services for Sugar Migrant
Workers (I-serve sakada) project of
DOLE.
The town of Culasi DOLE reported
has already received its livelihood starter
kit in total amount of P268,000 while the
town of Laua-an is set to get their kit in
the amount of P175,148 and an additional
P226, 160 also for sakadas under the
Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating
Disadvantage workers or TUPAD also of
DOLE.
DOLE reported that Culasi town
received livelihood starter kits, amounting
to P268,000. The town of Laua-an is set to
get their P175,148 worth of kits, together
with an additional P226,160 for sakadas
under the ‘Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa
Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD)’
from DOLE.
Sugar migrant workers from the town
of Bugasong also has P286,700 livelihood
starter kits from the I-serve sakada
project.
Villarico emphasized that with this
assistance, the sugar migrant workers will
have the option to stay in their barangays
to start a livelihood activity to earn
income instead of going to the sugar fields
of Negros.
“It is a way of empowering sakadas
and providing opportunities to earn,”
Villarico said.
Eventually, the project, I-serve sakada
hopes to make sugar migrant workers
self-reliant and going to the sugar fields of
Negros will then only be an option for
them, she added.
It can be recalled that DOLE Antique
has employed intervention with these
sakadas towards their empowerment.
One of which is the pre-departure order
or PDOS conducted to all sakadas as a
matter of requirement for a contractor to
be allowed to ship them to Negros.
PDOS has helped sugar migrant
workers be aware of their rights and their
responsibilities including the content of
the contract they have signed in.
“Antique has sent numerous sakadas
in the past years but with the continuing
support to them especially in terms of
livelihood projects we hope to reduce the
number of sakadas going out of the
province,” Villarico concluded. (JCM/PSM/
PIA6 Antique)
DOLE hands out livelihood starter kits to migrant sugar workers
SAN JOSE, Antique, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will distribute
livelihood starter kits to migrant sugar workers in the three towns of Antique.
T hese towns are Banga and
Numancia – the former located
in the eastern side of Aklan and
the latter, just across the Kalibo
Bridge, both meandering along the Aklan
River.
The awarding, held at the Philippine
International Convention Center (PICC)
February 10, was led by DA Secretary
Proceso Alcala, other DA officials and
guests, according to Frank Iturriaga of the
Office of the Municipal Mayor of
Numancia.
As awardees, both towns will each be
given P1,000,000 worth of projects related
to agricultural activities.
For Banga, the award was received by
Gelly Maypa, Municipal Agricultural
Officer, Nineveh Ron (who was also an
Agricultural Extension Awardee) and Hon.
Joselito Fernandez, Banga SB Member,
while for Numancia, the award was
received by Brenda G. Marte, Municipal
Agriculturist, and Jaimma V. Maribojo,
Municipal Budget Officer in representation
of Mayor Adolfo Maypa.
Numancia’s Agri-Pinoy trophy is now
proudly displayed at the office of Mayor
Adolfo M. Iligan. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)
Two Aklan towns are Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers awardees
KALIBO, Aklan, Feb. 20 (PIA6) -- Two municipalities in Aklan had recently been adjudged winners in the
Top 50 Municipalities/Cities category of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
By Pilar S. Mabaquiao
More than 13,000 indigent Capiceños benefit from 4Ps
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 20 (PIA6) – The government’s poverty reduction program has already benefitted
more than 13,000 indigent Capiceños.
I nformation 0fficer Eliseo Abucay of
the Department of Social Welfare
and Development-Capiz Field
Office disclosed that as of February 17 this
year, a total of 13,049 beneficiaries of the
Conditional Cash Transfer known as
Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
were already given their cash assistance
for the months of November to
December last year.
The beneficiaries come from eight
towns, namely, Dumalag, Cuartero,
Panitan, Dao, Dumarao, Ivisan, Mambusao
and Jamindan, he said, adding that the
distribution for the remaining towns have
already been scheduled this week until
March 7.
He added that Roxas City’s 4,901
program beneficiaries will receive the
government’s assistance today, February
20.
“The assistance for the months of
January and February will be distributed by
March,” he said.
Abucay revealed that after the
pre-validation and delisting of disqualified
program beneficiaries, Capiz has now a
total of 37,487 extremely poor
households who will benefit from the 4Ps
program.
The 4Ps is a poverty reduction and
social development strategy of the
national government through the DSWD
that provides cash grants to extremely
poor households to improve their health,
nutrition and education particularly of
children aged 0-14.
It provides conditional cash grants to
beneficiaries P6, 000 a year or P500 per
month per household for health and
nutrition expenses and P3,000 for one
school year or 10months or P300 per
month per child for educational expenses.
A maximum of three children per
household is allowed.
A household with three qualified
children receives a subsidy of P1,400 per
month during the school year or P15,000
annually as long as they comply with the
conditions. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)
By Jemin B. Guillermo
By Venus G. Villanueva
ILOILO AIRPORT
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Sight-saving surgeries start in Iloilo By Vicente W. Villavert
ILOILO CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA 6) -- Residents of Western Visayas who are visually impaired will directly
benefit from sight-saving surgeries conducted by the FedEx and ORBIS International at the Flying Eye Hospital at the Iloilo Airport as part of a global initiative to combat preventable and treatable blindness.
A t the opening program held
February 21 at the Iloilo Airport,
Governor Arthur Defensor
welcomed the medical program as “this
will give the poor the opportunity to avail
of the generosity to save and restore their
sight, and your work will be long
remembered and treasured in the hearts
of the grateful people.”
Dr. Jose Mari C. Fermin, Medical
Center Chief of the Western Visayas
Medical Center said that about 10 persons
are undergoing eye operation at their
hospital every day but lamented that “we
cannot sustain it alone with our minimal
budget.”
Fermin said that about 3 to 5
persons for every 50 people in Western
Visayas are bilaterally blind.
“The coming of the Orbis is a very big
help to us because of your state of the art
facilities and the trainings that will be
conducted with our local eye care
providers,”Fermin said.
Flying Eye Hospital Medical Director
Dr. Carlos Solarte said that the eye care
program has been carried out in 89
countries and provided treatment to more
than 15 million blind and visually impaired
persons, through the Flying Eye
Hospital- a converted DC-10 aircraft and
the world’s only ophthalmic surgical and
training hospital with wings.
“Orbis is an organization that
promote the improve and sutainable eye
care in the place where we go by training
and teaching all those involve in the eye
care community like the ophthalmologists,
nursies, anaesthesiologists, biomedical
engineers and every single position that
play proper eye care and the promotion
of eye health,” Solarte said.
Dr. Josefina Salazar-Yap, President of
the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology
-Western Visayas Chapter noted that the
“technical expertise that we will imbibe
out of this rare opportunity will directly
benefit the eye patients of Western
Visayas”.
For two weeks in Iloilo, in partnership
with the Western Visayas Medical Center,
the ORBIS medical team will conduct an
intensive skills exchange program for eye
care professionals and deliver sight-saving
surgeries to pre-screened patients
suffering from visual impairment.(JCM/
VWV/PIA 6-Iloilo)
NEW BACOLOD-SILAY AIRPORT
BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 22 (PIA6) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in
Negros Occidental. in collaboration with Brgy. Villamonte, launched the Samahang Spesyalista for beauty and wellness services. The group is composed of massage therapists, hairdressers and nail art technicians
who are holders of TESDA National Competency (NC) II, a press release from TESDA said.
A launching ceremony and turnover
of tools and materials to
TESDA Spesyalista was attended
by TESDA staff, ABI-eTech school
administrators, Victory Business College
faculty and staff, which are partner schools
of TESDA, and a barangay official and
employees of Brgy.Villamonte, the largest
barangay in the city of Bacolod.
A memorandum of agreement was
also signed between TESDA and Brgy.
Villamonte represented by TESDA
Director Lorena Yunge and Friday Solinap
who is the program coordinator for
TESDA Spesyalista Technoprenuership
Program in Brgy. Villamonte.
The TESDA Spesyalista will render
their services in Brgy. Villamonte for six
months until the trainees become more
independent and competitive in
entrepreneurial skills and competencies.
Rolan Anthony Halili, blind massage
theraphists, and one of the members of
spesyalista said that he is so much blessed
for the opportunity given to him by
TESDA and Brgy. Villamonte because he
can use his skills through the materials and
consumnables provided by TESDA.*
(TESDA/CD/JCM/PIA6)
TESDA launches Samahang Spesyalista in Bacolod City
ILOILO CITY, Feb. 22 (PIA6) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has put up more
G-W@PS kiosks in Western Visayas--61 as of date from only 30 kiosks in 2010, to make its services accessible and convenient to as many members and pensioners as possible.
T he establishment of additional
G-W@PS kiosks is one of the
measures and innovations made
by GSIS to enhance its programs and
services, said GSIS branch manager
Eleanor D. Gregorio during the
1st quarter meeting.
They have installed kiosks aside from
those located within their branch office in
the Division offices of the Department of
Education, city halls, and selected
municipalities and government agencies
throughout the region, said Gregorio.
The GSIS has also implemented the
cancellation of the Annual Renewal of
Active Status (ARAS) for pensioners
except for those who are on suspended
status and those living abroad.
Also, GSIS has expedited the release
of retirement benefits provided
requirements are submitted at least 90
days prior to date of retirement. It has
also a housing loan program implemented
jointly with the Home Development
Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG, scholarship
program for qualified dependents, relatives
or any other scholar of choice of the
members, and discounts on selected
medicine purchases under a public-private
partnership scheme.
The Development Administration
Committee, which is chaired by DILG 6
Regional Director Evelyn A. Trompeta and
one of the sectoral committees of RDC,
convened for its first quarterly meeting
for the year to tackle various sectoral
concerns including the proposal to revert
to a 3-year budgeting process, disaster
risk management initiatives in the region,
inter-local government unit cooperation
on disaster response protocol, and the
accomplishments of members-agencies for
calendar year 2011 on the Philippine
Development Plan and Regional
Development Plan. (JCM/JSC/PIA6)
By Carolina A. Dionela
GSIS puts up more G-W@PS kiosks in WV By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
Angel Enriquez, regional technical
director of the Department of Agriculture
(DA) 7 said the quality seeds are more
flood-tolerant so farmers need not worry
much about extreme bad weather
conditions brought about by climate
change. More so now that frequent rains
are being experienced due to La Niña, she
added.
“The use of quality seeds really
makes a difference in terms of high
production output. This is why we are
now promoting the use of these certified
seeds in order to help our farmers
increase their rice harvest and at the same
time increase their income,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez led the pack of DA 7
officials as main panelists during the PIA
Kapihan this morning that tackled on the
agency’s Agricultural Roadmap in
Response to Increasing Demand and
Climate Change.
Under the DA’s blueprint or
agricultural roadmap from 2011-2016,
four major components are given due
priority namely rice, corn, livestock and
high value crops.
The rice program of the roadmap
aims to increase the rice production in
Central Visayas from 270,499 metric tons
in 2011 to 392,806 metric tons by 2016
through the use of certified seeds.
In order to achieve its increased rice
target production, the DA 7 is
implementing the community-based-seed-
banking scheme. The scheme sees the
distribution of quality or certified seeds to
farmers’ associations and irrigators
associations, this is said.
Since the scheme was implemented
last year, the DA7 was able to distribute
around 861 bags in Central Visayas of
which 234 bags were given to Cebu. (PIA-
Cebu)
CEBU AIRPORT
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, Feb. 22 (PIA) -- Agriculture officials in the region are now promoting the use of certified
seeds to farmers in order to yield quality harvest amid the threats of La Niña and climate change.
DA 7 pushes use of certified seeds to hike rice production amid La Niña threat
Bohol formulates core messages to boost tourism
B ohol governor Edgar Chatto
unrolled the new tourism banner
marketing for Bohol.
“These are the core messages that
we are sending out to the world through a
strong, sustained tourism promotion and
marketing program,” Chatto said during
his State of the Province Address
delivered before the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan (SP) on February 17.
When he was vice governor, Chatto
orchestrated the crafting of a
province-wide vision and mission and
identified eco-cultural tourism as among
economic engines for Bohol’s holistic
development.
Chatto then cited that Bohol’s rich
natural resources, high biodiversity and
gentle friendly people make it an ideal
magnet for tourists.
Hailed as the place where the
friendliness is so eloquently shown by the
Sandugo: first recorded international
treaty of friendship and consequently the
place where the seed of the United
Nations was sowed, Bohol’s hospitable
people makes the island a destination
because of its people.
“We want tourists and visitors to
realize that Bohol is “Authentically
Philippines,” and with our pristine
environment and emphasis on local arts
and culture, through our Center for
Culture and Arts Development, they will
see what is “authentically Filipino,” Chatto
said.
Chatto added, Bohol Tourism thrust
is all about recognizing what Bohol truly is
– the heart of the Philippine Islands – both
geographically and culturally.
The governor wants the world to
understand that much more than the
‘trifecta’ of Loboc, Chocolate Hills and the
Tarsier, we have the five pillars of tourism
and we want Bohol to be discovered and
rediscovered annually by tourists,
eventually becoming a perennial
destination.
Chatto explained the marketing
program is an outcome of the Tourism
Summits conducted through the Bohol
Tourism Office (BTO) that aimed to
ensure sustainable growth in the tourism
industry and unify the tourism marketing
of [our] municipalities with one voice.
(mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Feb. 18 (PIA) --- “Bohol: Heart of the Islands,” and “Bohol has it all, and it’s all
in Bohol.”
By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
SIQUIJOR, Feb. 20 (PIA) — An automated weather station (AWS) is now in place in Siquijor, Siquijor and
has been part of a major television network's weather report since December 2011.
Automatic weather station now in Siquijor By Rizalie A. Calibo
D epartment of Science and
Technology (DOST)-Siquijor
Provincial Director Mario de la
Pena said that the AWS provides reliable
information on weather or climate
occurrences by measuring wind velocity,
wind direction, atmospheric pressure,
atmospheric temperature, and amount of
rainfall with gadget attached to measure
solar radiation.
De la Pena said that Kuya Kim of TV
network ABS-CBN has used the AWS in
his primetime weather forecast since
December last year.
The installation of AWS in the
province is based on the request of the
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (PDRRMC) that was
approved by the DOST-Philippine
Atmospherical Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) sometime in September 2011,
said de la Pena.
He added that PAGASA has allocated
some P1 million for the foundation of the
10-meter tower, raingauge, solar panel
and three anchorages for the guy wires,
with other accessories such as Sensor
(Temperature, Pressure, and Humidity),
Solar Radiation Sensor, Wind Instrument
and Lighting Arrester.
The Provincial Government has also
allocated some P300 thousand for the
perimeter fence to secure the site.
Started on November 5 and was
completed on November 11, 2011, the
AWS now stands at the Department of
Education Athletics Compound in
Pulangyuta, Siquijor will be maintained by
the provincial government.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA)
w a s e x e c u t e d b e t w e e n t h e
DOST-PAGASA and the province of
Siquijor for the province to serve as the
caretaker with its assigned provincial
engineers to ensure, among others,
maintenance and protection of the
equipment. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
CEBU CITY, Feb. 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp (PHIC) 7 has called on PhilHealth
non-members to avail of the low premium contribution payment before the implementation of the new increased rate on July this year.
P hilHealth 7 Information Officer
Atty. Karina Agraviador said that
starting July 1, all PhilHealth
premium contributions will increase by
100 percent. The increase is based
under PhilHealth Circular No. 22
signed by Philhealth President Eduardo
Banzon.
Instead of paying P1,200 per year, the
premium contributions will now be raised
to P2,400 per year beginning July,
Agraviador said.
Agraviador advised all who want to
become PhilHealth members and who are
under the categories of Individual Paying
Members and Self-Employed to advance
their premium contribution payment
before July so they can still avail of the
P1,200 per annum rate.
“Members under said categories are
given until June 30 to pay the annual
contributions to avail of the incentives,”
Agraviador said.
Annual premium contribution for
overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on the
other hand, will likewise be increased
from P900/annum to P2,400 per year
beginning July 1, this year.
Agraviador also bared that Philhealth
is working for the inclusion of the
out-patient and regular maintenance
medicines for hypertension and diabetes
to be included in the health insurance
coverage.
This is in line with President Benigno
S. Aquino III’s health agenda of Universal
Health Care that primarily aims to provide
access to quality health care services to all
Filipino families.
As of December 31 last year,
Agraviador stated that Central Visayas
already has 1.98 million members. Cebu
Province has the largest volume of
membership at 1.3 million or about 66
percent, Agraviador added.
Agraviador stressed their agency’s
ultimate objective is for 100 percent
coverage among Filipinos to become
m e m b e r s o f P h i l h e a l t h .
(FCR/JSME/PIA-Cebu)
PHIC 7 urges public to avail low premium rate until June By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
TAGBILARAN AIRPORT
D epartment of the Interior and
L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t
(DILG)-Siquijor officer-in-charge
Kenneth Kilat said a DILG memorandum
advised LGUs that the LGPMS online data
capture form (DCF) for 2011 is now
available, so that LGPMS LGU-data
encoders can now enter data or
information into the system.
The LGPMS is an online tool that
assesses LGU performance in the areas of
administrative, social, economic and
environmental governance. It also included
assessment on the fundamentals of
governance which include transparency,
participation and financial accountability,
Kilat said.
LGUs that fail to enter data to the
said database will not be able to generate
an LGPMS electronic report, the Memo
also said.
Kilat said that the LGPMS can help in
preparation of annual reports by
automatically generating data such as state
of local governance performance, state of
local development, and financial
performance.
To ensure the completion and
validation of data entries within the
prescribed timeline, the DILG has advised
the local government operation officers or
LGPMS focal persons to provide
assistance to the LGUs within their
jurisdiction. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)
SIQUIJOR, Feb. 20 (PIA) -- Local government units only have until March 23, 2012 to enter and update
data in the local governance performance management system (LGPMS) web database.
LGUs given until March 23 for LGPMS data entries, updates By Rizalie A. Calibo
BFAR-7 conducts experimental test blast fishing By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY Feb. 24 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7) is set to conduct an
experimental test blast fishing, February 24 at BFAR-7 Regional Fisheries and Development Center in Calape, Bohol.
B FAR-7 assistant regional director
Allan Poquita revealed that the
main objective of this experiment
is to determine the impact of blast fishing
at the different development stages of
fishes as well as the various damages
caused by blast fishing.
Poquita further disclosed that BFAR-7
that the blast fishing experimentation aims
to achieve stricter measures and policies
on the prohibition of fishing with the use
of explosives.
“Kay sa pagka karon gud ang Republic
Act 8530 ‘Fishing with the use of
Explosives’ kay medyo gamay ra ang
penalty so we are hoping to come up with
policies and measures and more
administrative memorandum that will
define the illegality of blast fishing,”
Poquita said.
Experimental test blast fishing is set to
be conducted in a controlled area-a 2
hectare fishpond inside Fisheries and
Development Center in Calape with fishes
of various stages form eggs to larvae, fry,
and fingerlings, juvenile and adult up to
marketable sizes, Poquita explained.
“Fishes will be placed in” hapa” nets
inside the pond and lined up at various
distances from the blast site,” he added.
This is an undertaking with the
presence of BFAR National Director Atty.
Asis Perez and representatives
from StateUniversities and Colleges, LGU,
PNP and fisher folk leaders.
Since this a BFAR national project in
which BFAR-7 is the chosen host, all
regional directors from the various region
in the country were expected to witness
the experimentation.
BFAR 7, ARD Poquita that the
experimentation only takes a short time
but they will have to analyze the fishes
used in the experimentation.
Poquita said that these fishes will be
dissected for internal and external
manifestation in order to determine the
extent of damages brought by blast fishing.
Safe and security is also observed in
the test blasting since this is properly
coordinated with the Firearms and
Explosives Division of the Regional PNP as
w e l l a s L G U i n B o h o l .
(mbcn/AS/PIA-CEBU)
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
‘Kalanggaman’, Leyte’s emerging destination, beacons
With the lingering need to get away from it all, there is a place in the province of Leyte where Juan and
his family can commune with nature.
Padre Burgos LGU leads drive vs. crown-of-thorns starfish
T he crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS),
a coral-eating underwater creature,
has been blamed for destroying a
partial stretch of coral reef in this dive
destination. If the destruction is left unchecked,
the number of divers who frequent the site is
likely to diminish, affecting local tourism, he
said.
Fishermen living along the coasts who
depended on fishing as their main livelihood
have already complained that fishes have
migrated to other places as a result of the loss
of coral material in the area, Crisostomo said.
The campaign has resulted in more than
3,000 COTS averaging 12 inches in diameter
being collected before noon Wednesday and
later buried across the street. Called “Dap-ag
Lanay” locally, COTS are differentiated from
normal starfishes, which are star-shaped, in
that the former have thorny projections
resembling a crown.
Their proliferation is reported to have
resulted from the absence of natural predators
such as oysters and some species of fish that
feed on them. Overfishing and climate change
have played in part in the imbalance, by
reducing the population of the COTS natural
enemies.
Divers from private dive businesses, fisher
folk from the neighboring barangays, and
several personnel from the Coral Cay
Conservation (CCC), a non-government
organization from Britain stationed at Barangay
Napantao, San Francisco, helped in collecting
the COTS from the sea floor, Crisostomo
said.
Over the past month, seven out of 10
coastal barangays of Padre Burgos have already
collected more than 50,000 pieces of COTS.
Three other barangays have separate schedules
of COTS collection in March, he added. (PIA-
Southern Leyte)
PADRE BURGOS, Southern Leyte, Feb. 23 (PIA) -- The local government is leading a campaign to rid the
coastal areas here of a deadly specie of starfish that poses a threat to the town’s tourism industry and also to the livelihood of marginal fisher folk, Agriculturist Juliet Crisostomo said.
ORMOC AIRPORT
DOST eyes the operationalization of muscovado plant in Ormoc
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb. 23 (PIA) -- The "poor man's sugar" may soon become the "rich man's sweet
pot." The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Eastern Visayas is eyeing muscovado production in Ormoc City, noting that consumer interest in healthy and organic foods has revived the
interest in muscovado sugar.
S uch place is “Kalanggaman,” an island
jeweled with ivory white sands, crystal
clear waters with mixed aqua marine
and blue colors that blend well with the palm
trees in the place.
Kalanggaman is approximately 12
kilometers from the town proper of Palompon,
Leyte and located close to the province of
Cebu.
With an estimated less than 10 hectares in
size, this strip of land is traditionally a fishing
ground and favorite site for recreation and
social gatherings of the residents of Palompon.
Kalanggaman’s root word, “langgam” is
Tagalog for ant. Before Juan could think that
this is an ants' world, it means actually means
bird in the Visayan dialect, thus it is oftentimes
called Birds Island.
For what it is, Kalanggaman Island is
emerging as a beach holiday getaway in Leyte. Foreign tourists hop on the Island from nearby
Malapascua Island of Cebu.
On weekends, it is full of local tourists -
families, employees, yuppies, marine sports
buffs, and nature lovers. Always, on various
occasions, Kalanggaman offers varied
experiences and lasting impressions.
Kalanggaman is striking an equipose as it
strikes a sensitive balance between tourism and
preservation of its natural charm.
As Juan enjoys swimming in its clear
aquamarine waters and frolicking in its white
sandy beaches, one would always hope that its
picturesque shorelines, mangrove, and marine
life would remain intact for succeeding
generations.
The romanticism of pristine nature would
seem to be the trade-offs for the little physical
discomfort of guests. In lieu of the big hotels
that could be found in any place of the world,
Kalanggaman is equipped only with the basic
tourist facilities, accommodations with basic
facilities like restrooms, kiosks, canteen and
battery - powered electricity. It may or may not need appropriate and minimal development
interventions.
Kalanggaman is friendly to children and
non-swimmers. The waves are not intimidating.
Its special attraction is a white sand bar that
appears and disappears along the western part
of the islet depending on the direction of the
waves.
A briefing is given on activities and areas
suited to scuba diving, swimming, bird
watching, snorkeling, boating, etc.
What is a day and night like in
Kalanggaman? Camping is fun. Juan is safe and
can get a sound sleep on the beach. Have a
mosquito repellant, just in case. More travel
tips: sun block to protect your skin, sunglass,
hat, flashlight, sleeping gear, mineral water, ice
cubes and foodstuffs.
Different strokes for different folks,
however. Local picnic treats are typically
Filipino - food galore from crispy lechon,
adobo to rootcrops.
Travel ways: Take the two-hour ride to
Palompon from Tacloban Bus Terminal; Kalanggaman is 45-minutes approximately from
the town wharf. (PIA-8)
R ecently, the DOST Region 8 led by
Director Edgardo Esperancilla
conduc ted a t ra in ing needs
assessment in Ormoc City at the sugarcane
farm of 4th District of Leyte Congresswoman
Lucy Torres-Gomez.
Paul Quinones, information officer of
DOST-8 said that the Torres-Gomez
requested the DOST to help in the
operationalization of the family’s old
muscovado plant in order to convert it into a
livelihood opportunity for her constituents.
Ormoc is a known sugarcane growing
area in the province with an industry dating
b a c k t o t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y .
“Muscovado,” locally known as “panocha”,
“calamay,” or “sangkaka” is a type of unrefined,
pure, and non-centrifugal cane sugar in a
semi-spherical block wrapped in dried banana
leaves. Other product lines include muscovado
syrup and sugar.
Having realized this great value and
potential of muscovado, Congresswoman
Torres-Gomez thought that venturing in the
production of quality muscovado and other
related food items would give livelihood
opportunities to her constituents.
Aside from this product advantage, there
are other quality and affordable muscovado
products. A pair of muscovado block is sold at
P 30/kg. The muscovado sugar and syrup are
sold at P 35/kg and P90/gallon, respectively.
The DOST is currently completing the
assessment after which, help will be given
through the DOST-Small Enterprise
Technology Upgrading Program's (SETUP)
assistance for the project “Muscovado Plant in
Ormoc.” (PIA-8)
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
S adiri’s appeal was made during the
orientation program for the
“National Green Project” (NGP) of
the Aquino government, where he spoke
before an audience of high school students
and college seminarians.
He even cited Section 16 of the 1986
Constitution which provides that “the
country shall protect and advance the
right of the people to a balance and
healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature”.
According to him however, this can
only be done with the participation and
cooperation of all government agencies,
local government units, academe, people’s
organization and civil society who are
likewise mandated to protect the
environment.
He stressed to the students, the
concept of sustainable development, that,
while the present generation enjoy the
forest resources and all other treasures of
Mother Earth, they should also ensure
that the future generation will not be
deprived to enjoy the same. Hence, while
they live in the present, utilization of all of
the earth’s resources, the trees
included should be done with utmost
care, protection and considerations for
the next generation.
“We should protect our forest
ecosystem because of the benefits that
follow,” he said. “Trees produce oxygen
for daily lives, they serve as the habitat of
our wild life, they serve as the wilderness
area, where we can best unwind our
stresses and be reinvigorated again, trees
are sources of foods and medicines, they
provide construction materials, they give
water to our dams, they serve as
windbreaks against strong winds and surf,”
Sadiri enumerated.”
An increase in the occurrence of
erosion and landslides could also happen
and wood materials for construction and
hence would be inadequate and
worse , Global Warming is possible.
That is why, it was in this premise
that the Aquino administration issued the
E x e c u t i v e O r d e r f o r t h e
country’s sectors to plant trees.
It is believed that Global Warming
could not be prevented anymore, but its
effect to mankind can be slowed down by
planting more trees in order to save and
reinvigorate the forests which is one of
the major protection of man against
natural calamities. (PIA-Eastern Samar)
B alik na Sangkay is a locally initiated
program reintegrating former
rebels and former militias to the
mainstream of society. The program
covers monetary incentives to facilitators
of voluntary surrender of any member of
the communist rebel group operating in
the Province of Northern Samar.
The program seeks to achieve a just,
comprehensive and enduring peace in
Northern Samar particularly shaping up
environment conducive for healing and
reconciliation and development in conflict
affected areas, reconcile former rebels
with their respective families and
communities and create opportunities for
change as productive citizens, among
others.
Tasked to ensure that this peace
initiative is effectively communicated to
target audience, the CAANC recently
held information caravan to the
municipalities of Catarman, Catubig, Las
Navas and Pambujan. Local Government
Units Liga ng mga Barangay were the first
target audience tapped as strategic
partners in generating community
awareness and acceptance in the
grassroots level.
The LIGA signify support to the
program believing this is one positive
approach for the rebels to find
opportunities to change and be a
productive citizen and to achieve lasting
peace and development as a whole.
CAANC membership include,
Provincial Information Office (PIO) as
chairman, Philippine Information Agency
(PIA) as Vice-Chair, 803rd Brigade, DILG,
PNP, Diocesan Pastoral Director, DSWD,
IBP, ABC Federation President, PCL
and Department of Agriculture as
members. (PIA-Northern Samar)
Community awareness and acceptance and networking committee initiates LSIP info caravan
CENRO tells studes to help protect ecosystem
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Feb. 23 (PIA) – Forester Sadiri Pastores, Forester of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO) here, sought students support in the Department’s effort to lead in the protection of the
balance of ecosystem.
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 20 (PIA) - School cadets and reservists have started a massive
tree-planting and beach clean-up in response to President Benigno S. Aquino’s National Greening Program (NGP), a student cadet officer said Monday.
A ssistant Commandant Malik Rafon
of the Samar State University’s
Reserved Officers Training Corps
(ROTC) said his school would begin a
massive start tree-planting program in
March this year.
In Catbalogan, some 1400 Naval
ROTC reservists and Naval ROTC cadets
from the 535th ROTC Command at the
Samar State University (SSU) have signed
up to plant two or three seedlings to
support the program, with a pledge to
plant 10 trees each yearly until 2016,
Rafon added.
The cadets and reservists have also
started a coastal clean-up, collecting more
than 50 sacks of non-biodegradable
garbage from the island’s littered beaches,
he said.
President Aquino’s NGP targets the
planting of 1.5 billion trees all over the
country in the next four years. (PIA-
Samar)
NGP gains support from ROTC cadets, reservists
CATARMAN, Northern Samar - The Northern Samar Community Awareness and Acceptance and
Networking Committee (CAANC) sets off information caravan to targeted municipalities on Local Social Integration Program tagged as “Balik na Sangkay.”
DANIEL Z. ROMUALDEZ AIRPORT
By Ailene N. Diaz
By Alice Nicart
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) 3378718/3377301 or e-mail [email protected].
Editorial Consultants
Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
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]
Recommended