One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 15
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Transcript of One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 5 Issue 15
Vol 5 Issue 15 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 April 13 - 19, 2015
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue More protected areas rise in SoLeyte
WV provinces step up NGP efforts
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
Siquijor province bags national excellence award
Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR, April 15 (PIA) -- The province of Siquijor has bagged the first prize for 2014 excellence in Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Award.
Known to be the highest award a local government unit (LGU) can get, Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Award is based on the achieved performance level out of the 2016 National Objectives for Health (2016 NOH) targets.
The recognition was judged through scorecard indicators set by the Harmonization of Awards Technical Working Group of the Department of Health (DOH).
Health Secretary Janette L. Garin and assistant regional director Dr. Laksmi Legaspi handed the award to provincial administrator Peter Samson and Provincial
Health Officer Redempta Cortes during the Gawad Kalusugan Convention at the SMX convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex.
Gawad Kalusugan is a harmonized awarding ceremony
to selected LGUs for various categories in recognition of their exemplary and good practices in health related activities, initiatives and projects.
Earlier, during the regional health summit at Dumaguete City, the province was awarded as Top Performing Province in facility-based delivery, access to safe water and primary care benefit package (PCB) based on the
2013 LGU-scorecard nationwide. All municipalities were likewise awarded as Top
Performing Municipality in various health programs.
The awards were received by provincial governor Zaldy S. Villa with the provincial health officer and the municipal mayors and municipal health officers.
Siquijor province has topped among the 80 provinces in the archipelago. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from IPHO)
MARCELO M. PEDALINO
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 14 (PIA) -- In less than two years, the number of marine protected areas (MPAs) all over this province has increased to more than
60 sites, up from 40 barely a year ago. Eva Abad, head of the Provincial Environment and
Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), disclosed in a cable TV program last week that seven (7)
more are expected to be added to the existing sites, and these new locations are all in the coastal barangays of this city.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) or city council was deep in the process of deliberating in its regular session the approval of the 7 new MPA sites, Abad
said.
Fishing is strictly prohibited in areas tagged as MPAs, with designated buoys as perimeter boundaries clearly
visible for fishermen to understand it is not allowed to get
in.
MPAs serve as breeding ground for many kinds of fishes, and when these fishes do populate the surroundings the mature ones go
out into the open, beyond the buoy-lined zones, and that’s the time local fishermen can catch them, Abad explained.
Most MPAs in the province covered large areas of
mangrove forests, which also served as natural barriers against storm surges during stormy weather, Abad also said.
PENRMO is the provincial counterpart of a national agency, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as mandated by the local government
code of 1991.
In Southern Leyte province, PENRMO began to exist as a separate office in 1998 with the passage of the
informed. (ajc/esg/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
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, April 15 (PIA6) --- The different provinces in Western Visayas have intensified their efforts in implementing programs and projects in support of the
National Greening Program (NGP). The Iloilo provincial government, through its
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), will develop 10 hectares of beach and 55
hectares of mangrove forests in four selected coastal towns, citing the importance of the ecosystem.
The beach forest will be situated in 11 barangays in
the municipality of Miagao while the mangrove forests will be located in the towns of Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, and Ajuy.
This P2.68-million project is part of Governor Arthur Defensor Sr.’s Action for Re-Greening and Transformation
for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for CCA).
The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) of Negros Occidental reported that provincial capitol employees have been actively participating on
various LGU initiatives on NGP including tree planting activities since 2011.
A total of 9,220 propagules and 3,300 tree seedlings was planted both in coastal and upland areas in
the province for the year 2011 and 2012. The province is also strengthening its mangrove
reforestation program and urban greening participated in
by different local government units. Antique province allotted a funding of P8-million last
year for establishment and development of agro-forest
farms, seedling production, and establishment of bamboo
plantation, among others.
The provincial government of Aklan also allocated P1.4-million for its forest resource management and protection program.
This is to promote and value the benefits of biodiversity and empower people in the community in preserving the environment. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
New Infrastructure. Mayor Jacinto Naraga
(center) Vice Mayor Eudoxio Asoy and
Barangay Chairman Crispin Ompoy help lay
the capsule by shoveling dirt into the hole for
the +P70 M Cansague Sur Barangay Trading
post. (rac/PIA-7Bohol)
Regional Development Council. NEDA VI
Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal, CESO III,
explains the gains that the country stands to
get once the ASEAN integration comes in full
circle during the RDC meeting at Business Inn,
Bacolod City. (Lljr-PIA6)
PIA-8 OIC Regional Director Alicia E. Nicart
orients Community Development Information
Officers (CDIO) on the basics of
newswriting during the CDIO Orientation and
Workshop held on April 14, 2015 at ESADEF
in Borongan City. (Photo by Raul Tiozon)
Aside from its beach forest project, the provincial government
of Iloilo also has embarked on regular upland tree planting
activities as part of the Action for Re-Greening and
Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for
CCA) of Gov. Arthur Defensor (shown in this PIA6 file photo
with Iloilo first lady Cossette Defensor). ART for CCA
supports the National Greening Program (NGP) of the national
government. (EJB/PIA6)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - The Province of Antique got a total of P1,275,304,800 from the national government through
the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program.
Antique gets P1.2B for 4Ps
By Pilar S. Mabaquiao
J effrey Gabucay, Program Officer of
Pantawid Pamilya said the amount
represents the total release since the
program started in 2008.
Pantawid Pamilya started to cover five
towns in 2008 supporting only 7,477 poor
families.
As the government intensifies its
poverty alleviation program, the coverage
expanded to 590 barangays, 18 towns in the
province with 29,028 poor families as of
March 2015.
During the start of the program the
Department of Social Welfare and
Development has only released P24,415,000
but as the membership increases the
assistance also builds up every year.
In 2014, the government has released a
total of P331, 825,200.
Gabucay said the support now covers
the high school expansion program, children
0-18 years old and pregnant women are
given assistance to ensure that the children
of the household stay healthy, attend school
and receive basic services provided by the
government.
The cash assistance, Gabucay said
represents only the cash payments to family
beneficiaries released through their ATMs or
over the counter payment.
The government has also released
livelihood projects and other social
development projects through other
programs such as KALAHI-CIDSS,
Sustainable Livelihood, Bottoms Up
Budgeting among others, he said.
With the successful implementation
of the program, the country hopes to
fulfill its commitment to the Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) to eradicate
extreme poverty and hunger, achieve
universal primary education, promote
gender equality, reduce child mortality and
improve maternal health. (JCM/PSM/PIA6
Antique)
ILOILO CITY, April 14 (PIA6) — The province of Guimaras sees investments on infrastructures to boost its tourism industry.
G uimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin,
said in a media interview, that
tourism is among the major
economic drivers in the province,
hence, the local government has to
fill in the gaps in its infrastructure
development.
Gumarin said the local government
has allotted some P16 million for various
tourism-related infrastructures, like
observation areas, signages, coffee shops,
souvenir shops where tourists can get
their famous delicacies and handicrafts
through the Community-based Rural
Tourism Program. “There is also the need
to develop our road networks leading to
our tourist destinations,” Gumarin said.
“The influx of tourists must
go beyond our Manggahan Festival,” he
added.
He said that the towns of Buenavista
and Nueva Valencia have become tourism
centers in the province, while Sibunag and
San Lorenzo are the food baskets and Jordan
is the economic center.
He added that Jordan has to fill in the
gaps for connectivity to further develop the
economy of the whole province.
The concreting of the national
and provincial roads has a budget of
over P1 b i l l ion , and a l l the
projects will be completed before the
end of 2016.
Gumarin said the towns have also
been embarking on their own to improve
the barangays and national roads, to
complement the tourism sector.
“All this have the support of the
national government to provide
connectivity and accessibility to all parts of
the province,” Gumarin said. (JCM/ESS/
PIA-Iloilo)
Guimaras invests P16M in tourism infra projects
By Elsa S. Subong
The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross 16 WV LGUs eligible for 2014 PCF
ILOILO CITY, April 15 (PIA6) - - Some 16 local government units in Western Visayas were included in the list of the 248 LGUs
nationwide eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) 2014.
T he list is contained in the
Memorandum Circular No. 2015-37
issued by Interior and Local
Government Secretary Mar Roxas dated
April 7, 2015.
The incentive, according to Roxas, is for
the sustained performance of these LGUs
on good financial housekeeping.
DILG has conducted a revalidation of
the remaining 273 Seal of Good
Housekeeping 2012 passers which have not
received the PCF using the 2014 Good
Financial Housekeeping (GFH) results in
sustaining good financial management
standards at the local level. Based on the
revalidation exercise, a total of 248 LGUs
composed of 28 provinces, 27 cities
and 193 municipalities are consistent GFH
passers for two consecutive assesessment
years - 2012 and 2014.
In Western Visayas, the eligible
beneficiaries for the 2014 PCF are Capiz,
Iloilo and Negros Occidental for the
provinces and Iloilo, Bacolod and Kabankalan
for the cities.
For the municipalities, the beneficiaries
are San Jose de Buenavista in Antique
province; Miag-ao and Oton in Iloilo
province; and Hinigaran, Murcia, Binalbagan,
Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinobaan and La
Castellana in Negros Occidental.
The beneficiaries are qualified to access
the 2014 PCF in the amount of P7 million
per province, P3 million per city, and P1
million per municipality.
DILG started implementing the PCF
for LGUs in 2010 with the aim among
others to recognize the good performance
of LGUs in good housekeeping
particularly in the areas of transparency and
accountability, planning, budgeting, financial
management and resource mobilization. Last
year, DILG scaled-up its performance
metrics through the Seal of Good Local
Governance where GFH, known before as
Seal of Good Housekeeping, remains one of
the Core Assessment Areas of SGLG. (JCM/
LAF/PIA-Iloilo)
By Lilibeth A. French
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
1st Negosyo Center up in Aklan
KALIBO, Aklan, April 14 (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan will be launching its first Negosyo Center in Aklan on April 24 and
will be among the 100 Negosyo Centers to be set up nationwide this year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry
(DTI).
D TI-Aklan Provincial Director Engr.
Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr. said the
Negosyo Center, which will be
located at the DTI-Aklan Office, is in
partnership with the Office of Senator Bam
Aquino, Provincial Government of Aklan,
Municipal Government of Kalibo, Aklan
Provincial Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprise Development (PMSMED) Council
and the Philippine Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Aklan
Chapter.
The establishment of the Negosyo
Center in Aklan is one of the major features
of the “Go Negosyo Act.”
The “Go Negosyo Act” or Republic
Act No. 10644, authored by Senator Paolo
Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, is an act
promoting job generation and inclusive
growth through the development of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). In
Section 2 of the “Go Negosyo Act”, MSMEs
are being acknowledged in increasing income
for poor households and in building both
business equity and personal assets over a
period of time.
Under the Act, Negosyo Centers shall
promote ease of doing business and access
to services for MSMEs within its jurisdiction;
coordinate and facilitate processes of
government related to the set-up and
management of MSMEs, accept and facilitate
all registration application of MSMEs, and
coordinate with the respective local
government units (LGUs) and liaise with
concerned government agencies to process
the duly accomplished forms submitted by
the MSMEs.
At the Go Negosyo launching here,
invited to give the Keynote Message is
Senator Bam Aquino while DTI Secretary
Gregory Domingo will be delivering a special
message.
Others invited to grace the event are
Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores,
Congressman Teodorico T. Haresco of the
Lone District of Aklan and Kalibo Mayor
William S. Lachica who will give their
expression of support.
John Guidon dela Cruz, President of the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (PCCI) Aklan will also give his
expression of support. Asst. Director Jerry
T. Clavecillas, Officer-In-Charge of the
Bureau of SME Development, DTI will be
giving the opening remarks and overview of
the Negosyo Center while DTI-Aklan
Provincial Director Cadena will welcome
and acknowledge guests and participants.
(JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)
By Venus G. Villanueva
NEDA to review study of Negros-Panay bridge
By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.
BACOLOD CITY, April 17 (PIA6) -- The recent crafting of the Visayan Development Framework included the much awaited
desire of many Negrenses to connect the island of Negros to the island of Panay through a bridge.
A ccording to NEDA 6 Regional
Director Ro-ann Bacal, they will
soon be reviewing the feasibility
study of the project and efforts to build the
bridge are moving forward.
She said a thorough review is needed
because the documents they now have is a
proposal made several years ago.
After reviewing, the NEDA will figure
out how the project will be built through
official development assistance, foreign
assistance, General Appropriation Act or
Public-Private Partnership.
She said they will choose the mode that
will quickly realize the project. As to the
cost, the actual amount will be known
in the review that they will be doing, she
told PIA.
“I have already instructions from no less
than Economic Planning Sec. Arsenio
Balisacan to make sure the feasibility study is
updated.
Therefore, this is where we are going.
(Lljr-PIA6)
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, April 14 (PIA6) – ―The P30,000 Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) has not only built back our home
but also our hope to start a new life.‖
T his was personally conveyed by a
beneficiary of ESA to Department
of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman during the
opening ceremonies of Capiztahan
Celebration 2015 last April 10.
Another ESA beneficiary, who also
received P30,000 for a destroyed house due
to super typhoon Yolanda, hugged Sec.
Soliman after conveying her gratefulness in
Hiligaynon to the celebration’s guest and
speaker. A Plaque of Appreciation was also
given by Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan
Celino to the DSWD top official in
recognition of and gratitude for her sincere
commitment and dedication to the welfare
of city residents in times of calamity and
disaster.
The national government thru the
DSWD has also provided affected families of
super typhoon in the province with
25-kilogram of rice as part of the last
tranche of rice assistance for Capicenos
early this year. Aside from ESA, rice and
food packs, the DSWD has also partnered
with UN Habitat for the construction of
core shelter units to identified beneficiaries
in Roxas City in some towns of the province
and employed typhoon victims in its
Cash-For-Work program, among others.
During the program, a copy of a
Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution
conveying the profoundest appreciation and
gratitude to Sec. Soliman for her invaluable
assistance to the province in the aftermath
of Yolanda was presented by Capiz
Vice-Governor Esteban Evan Contreras II to
the cabinet secretary. “These citations give
us strength and inspiration to continue with
our work,” Soliman responded, adding that
DSWD will be of help even to their critics
“who are also Filipinos that need their
service.” The country’s top social worker
stressed that she has directed its field
workers that no one must be left behind and
discriminated in the government’s sustained
assistance to uplift the quality of life of the
Filipinos. (JCM/AAL/PIA6 Capiz)
‗Yolanda‘ victims personally thank ‗Dinky‘ By Alex A. Lumaque
Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
BAIS CITY, Negros Oriental, April 12 (PIA) -- Bais City government accepted the challenge to improve its nutritional status
having the highest prevalence of malnutrition rate of 11.46 percent in Central Visayas.
Bais City vows to improve malnutrition rate
B ais City Mayor Mercedes Goñi said
the administration should be more firm
now on the drive to improve the
implementation of the city’s nutrition program.
“I need to be more strict,” declared Goni
on the problem about Bais as the most
nutritionally-depressed city in Central Visayas
during the Media Caravan today in Bais City.
The malnutrition rate is based on last year’s
Operation Timbang Plus results with Bais having
the highest in undernourished and overweight
children in region 7 with the prevalence rate of
more than 11 percent and 3.21 percent,
respectively.
With this double burden of malnutrition, the
city government has showed commitment to
intensify its nutrition intervention programs in the
barangay level.
However, the mayor lamented on the
results saying that maybe because of the
acquisition of weighing scales that the
quality data ihas been collected and determined
properly.
Quality data captures the collection of data
through quality-standard weighing scales and
height boards from barangay level which will be
checked mechanically to minimize human error
that will be inputted in the computers for the
situation status.
Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator,
Dr. Parolita Mission emphasized that all local
government units (LGUs) are true to their
data since the Nutrition Council’s Quality Data
Management was not just properly imposed to a
specific LGU but to all the LGUs in the region.
Mission stressed that the presence of the
National Nutrition Council (NNC-7) and Media
in Nutrition Development (MIND-7) intend to
support the local’s nutrition programs and analyze
the situation on what would be the action point
that the city needs to do in addressing the
malnutrition problem.
To help mitigate hunger and malnutrition,
Mission said the activities should be implemented
in the local level include exclusive breastfeeding
for more than six months, establish community,
school and home gardens to increase food
availability, micronutrient supplementation, food
fortification among others. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros
Oriental/with reports from Sheena Mae Diongco,
intern)
TAGBILARAN CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- The Earth Hour campaign, or roughly 60 minutes plus of action to mitigate carbon
emissions and give the earth its much needed rest from unsustainable energy resources, caused a noted load drop all over the
Visayas.
P art of the Earth Hour campaign asked
people to voluntarily join the one-hour
switch off as the campaign states go dim
for the environment.
During the simultaneous switch-off activities
between 8:30-9:30 PM March 28, 2015 Engr. Jose
Rey Maleza, a Department of Energy official in the
Visayas noted 34.67 megawatts of load drop.
Maleza, citing National Grid Corporation of
the Philippines' Systems Operation said Earth
Hour 2015 tracked the 34.67MW load drop in
the Visayas.
Through his facebook post, Engr Maleza,
DOE Visayas Supervising Science Research
Specialist, who monitored NGCP systems on that
night put Samar Leyte topping Visayas load drop
at 11.61 mega watts, during the switch-off.
The same load drop was noted in
Negros where load dropped to 8.69 MW.
Cebu meanwhile has a maximum load
dropped to 6.68MW, he shared.
Panay Island on the other hand
experienced a maximum load drop of 6.39MW
while Bohol had 1.3MW load drop, the least in
the region.
The move to popularize Earth Hour came as
its main convenor World Wildlife Fund started
calling for action against the increasing global
average temperature caused by building
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
Scientists have posited that the fast increase
in greenhouse gas accumulation is largely due to
burning of fossil fuels used in energy production.
The move to switch-off in an hour at
least allows communities to rethink about their
priorities for the environment, Bohol Earth Hour
participants said.
In Bohol, other than committing to
switch off their lights and go off grid, Bohol bikers
pedaled around Tagbilaran City and Dauis, using
their bikes' blinkers in an Earth Hour Ride.
In Tagbilaran however, only very few
joined the switch off, riders noted. (mbcn/rahc/
PIA7-Bohol)
Visayas Earth Hour load down 34.67 MW
CEBU CITY, April 15 (PIA) --- The sweltering Philippine summer, made even hotter by the reported heat wave caused by a
mild El Nino, has put forests at risk of succumbing to fires.
DENR-7: Help us prevent forest fires
S ince January this year, two incidents of
bush fires have already hit two plantations
covered by the government’s National
Greening Program (NGP), one in Oslob, Cebu
and another in Bohol island.
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR-7) Regional Executive Director
Isabelo Montejo said it’s harder to control the
spread of fire during summer due to the extreme
heat.
Montejo appealed to the community
residents living near NGP sites to help the
department in protecting the woodlands by
avoiding practices that will cause bush fires.
“They should help us in the protection of
these areas. They shouldn’t just burn farm areas
without making the necessary protection
measures to protect the plantation sites,” said
Montejo in a recent press conference.
The DENR regional director is referring to
kaingin, a technique practiced by farmers in
clearing lands by cutting down and burning plant
growths.
He urged those living in the hinterland areas
to get involved in the measures implemented by
DENR-7 in protecting forest fires.
DENR-7 earlier kicked off its NGP
implementation in Central Visayas with a budget
of more than P404-M for this year.
Meanwhile, a group of former combatants
from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)
in Maguindanao is among the final nominees for
the 6th Triennial Awards of the Ramon Aboitiz
Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) this year.
Kadtabanga for Peace and Development
executive director Mokaleden Kido was in Cebu
City recently to represent the organization which
is among the five finalists of the Institution
Category of the 6th Triennial Awards.
Kido said they were formed in 2000 when
hundreds of them turned over their arms after
the successful peace process involving ARMM
head Nur Misuari.
He said they were able to transform 28
conflict areas into zones of peace and
development communities (PDC’s) in
Maguindanao.
In the PDC’s the combatants turned to
farming, fishing and other livelihood
programs. He said their assets and performance
are documented.
“Kaya masaya kami at may nakakita sa amin,
we have the track record to show that there is
still a space for peace in Maguindanao,” Kido said.
They are also full force in advocating the
benefits of having the Bangsamoro government in
Mindanao. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu with FCC report)
BY JENNIFER C. TILOS
Rachelle M. Nessia
Rey Anthony H. Chiu
The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
TAGBILARAN CITY, April 13 (PIA) – Seven towns in Bohol have signified to pick up the habit of building communities from
bottom up, to end poverty as the 2015 Bayani Challenge (BC) reopens from April 9 to June 12, 2015.
T he towns of Carmen, Loboc, Loon,
Sagbayan, Tagbilaran, Tubigon, and
Ubay signified their participation in the
annual event, according to the Gawad Kalinga
website.
Of the towns which have signified as early as
April 5, only Tagbilaran City is not significantly
damaged by the earthquake that rocked Bohol
October 15, 2013.
On the sites in Bohol, volunteers would
take on the job of homebuilding, play therapies
for kids, care kitchen, environment care, health
missions, sports programs and disaster
preparedness activities and mitigation.
Coordinated nationwide by Gawad Kalinga
(GK), BC picks up a tenet: walang iwanan,
which commits to leaving no one behind in
development, by challenging the impossible,
working in solidarity with others.
As our country experiences rapid economic
growth, there is a great need for us to reflect
on the realities that confront the least
amongst us―the poor landless, homeless and
hungry at the “base of the pyramid,” Gawad
Kalinga said.
For over a decade of volunteer work,
Gawad Kalinga professed they have uncovered
the secrets of ending poverty of at least five
million Filipinos by 2024.
Winning the fight however starts with the
poverty mindset, millions of Bayani Challenge
Volunteers said.
What is revolutionary in the GK approach is
that it means flipping the pyramid where the
rich and the moneyed "will have to do the heavy
lifting to stabilize the nation".
For the GK way, people can simply
volunteer, donate, be on call, be a mission partner
and actively lead community events.
"We can’t expect the poor to play catch up,
they will never be able to, GK said as they call for
more volunteers to help the poor catch up with
the development," states Jose Luis Oquinena, GK
executive Director.
Meanwhile, On May 23-24, Anda
Bohol hosts a Hope Conference, one of the
seven locations in the country to host such an
event.
Other places hosting Hope Conferences
are Central Mindanao University in Musuan,
Bukidnon, Jamboree Site at the UPLB in Laguna,
Tarlac State University in Tarlac, Cotabato City,
Roxas City in Capiz, Jesse Robredo Coliseum in
Camarines Sur. (mbcn/rac/PIABohol)
7 Bohol towns signify for Bayani Challenge 2015
Rey Anthony H. Chiu
CEBU, April 14 (PIA) -- The European Union (EU) announces the opening of the Peace Journalism Awards urging journalists
from print and broadcast media to join and submit their entries on the theme about ―Peace.‖
EU urges media to join Peace Journalism Awards
A mong the objectives of the Awards is to
raise awareness about the impact and
value of peace and the peace process in
general and to generate information and a deeper
understanding of the Bangsamoro peace process
in particular.
It also acknowledges the role of Filipino
journalists as agents of peaceful social
transformation through balanced, responsible,
culturally and conflict-sensitive reporting on peace
and conflicting stories.
Such Awards also aims to generate
awareness, interest and appreciation for
EU-supported activities in Mindanao in the
context of the peace process.
Entries should adhere to the theme of
“Peace” that could include reportage about the
peace process at the level of political negotiations,
about peace champions and how they were able
to advocate or initiate or develop actions that
build peace in their communities.
Entries could also be about peace linked to
development and other cross-cutting
socio-political issues or about peace in the
perspective of local communities, and their unique
ways of harnessing peace.
All entries must have been published or
uploaded in bona fide media outlets from August
1 2014 until May 31, 2015. Proof of publication
whether in print, broadcast or in online media
must be attached together with the entry form
which can be downloaded from the EU website.
Detailed guidelines are available in the EU
website europa.eu.
There are seven categories of the Awards
including Written Text Published in Print
Media; Online Media; Broadcast Media; Photo
Journalism; Campus Journalism (written text and
multi-media sub categories) and Special Citation
for Government Communicators.
For the Journalism Awards, only
Philippine-based media representatives are
qualified to join.
For Campus Journalism Awards, participants
must be bona fide Filipino students currently
enrolled in a duly-recognized Philippines’
University or College.
Selection of winners will be based on the
following criteria: relevance to the topic (30
percent), news value/impact (30 percent),
investigative depth (25 percent) and professional
quality and style (15 percent).
Entries must be submitted to DELEGATION
[email protected] on or before
May 31.
The first prize winner or finalist for each of
the category will receive special tokens, gadgets,
trophies and certificates.
The grand winner on the other hand,
will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Brussels,
Belgium to meet with peace-building institutions
and fellow journalists.
The EU Journalism Awards was launched in
October 2014 in Cotabato City for the first time
in the Philippines. (mbcn/fcr/PIA7/with reports
from Paulynne Joyce R. dela Cruz, intern)
Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, April 15 (PIA) --- To prevent unscheduled power interruptions, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
(NGCP) is campaigning for the safety of power lines.
NGCP campaigns for safe transmission lines
R aul Galano, head of NGCP Visayas
Operations, said they are pushing for
line safety because power lines “can
harm people, animals, and properties due to high
voltage.
The following are safety tips issued by
NGCP for the public, especially for communities
situated around transmission lines and structures:
• Do not fly kites near transmission lines
or climb transmission structures.
• Do not build grass fires near or under
transmission structures. Fires may cause power
interruptions in your area.
• Do not plant trees near transmission
structures. Report any incident of tangled
branches to NGCP.
• Do not carry long sticks or any object
that might reach or come in contact with the
power transmission lines.
• Do not put up antennas near or under
transmission lines.
• Do not park your vehicles near or under
transmission lines.
• Do not build houses or any structures
under transmission lines.
Galano also stressed that farmers should
avoid kaingin or slash-and-burn farming as it can
cause bush fires and affect transmission lines
especially during summertime.
NGCP recently held a briefing on power
system operations for Cebu media as part of its
efforts to disseminate public safety information,
anti-pilferage and anti-electrocution initiatives.
(rmn/PIA7-Cebu)
Rachelle M. Nessia
Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
DENR-8 to conduct massive tree planting on
Earth Day
I n a statement, DENR-8 regional
director Leonardo Sibbaluca said
that a series of activities were lined
up to drumbeat this year's celebration
which includes information campaigns and
a month-long lecture series on the
different programs and projects of the
DENR.
“As we celebrate Earth Month this
April and Earth Day on April 22, we enjoin
the public to join us in our efforts towards
a safe and sound environment, participate
in our activities, be part of the
celebrations by sharing your own little
ways for Mother Earth,” Siballuca added.
Along this development, DENR will
also spearhead a massive tree planting
activity on said day to be participated in by
government agencies, non-government
organizations, academe and other sectors
of society.
According to Maita Reina Sucgang,
OIC, DENR-8 Regional Public Affairs
Office, such activities are part of the
highlights of the celebration to stir up
awareness on current environment
concerns particularly on climate change.
In the Philippines, Earth Day was
launched on April 22, 1990 to mark the
global commitment to build a safe, just and
sustainable environment after President
Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation
No.553 in April 1990 in support to Earth
Day. This year’s theme is “Earth Day
Everyday, Everywhere, for Everyone”. (jrc/
cba/DENR/PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 13 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Eastern Visayas
enjoins the public to participate in their efforts towards a safe environment as the world celebrates Earth Day on April 22,
2015.
Biliran hosts national mountain bike race
NAVAL, Biliran,April 16 (PIA) – It‘s more fun in Biliran province this summer as the province will host the national Enduro
mountain bike competition on April 26 dubbed as the 1st Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. Bike Festival.
M ountain bike racing and
mountain bike trekking were
the emerging sports hubby of
Biliranons which started a few years back
but now a fad sporting event of mountain
bike racing and mountain bike trekking
enthusiasts in the province.
Sangguniang Bayan member Mario
Lydinno Opena of the municipality of
Naval, who is also the over-all event
coordinator of Mt. Panamao Team Biliran
Mountain Bike Club, revealed that the bike
festival, one of the activities line-up for the
provincehood anniversary celebration of
Biliran province this year is composed of
four major events.
Opena addded that the national bike
event in Biliran province is the first part of
the Great Visayan Trilogy which include
the City of Catbalogan in Samar province
and the town of Calubian in Leyte
province.
Enduro Pilipinas, organizer of the
national bike event that holds the opening
of the 1st season of the first leg of Enduro
Pilipinas Mountain Bike Race in February
of last year in Biliran province is very
willing to hold anew the national bike
event in the province of Biliran because of
its very ideal bike trail, friendliness of the
Biliranons, very supportive officials of the
local government units and the impressive
promotion of the biking culture of the
active group of mountain bikers in the
province.
Likewise, the national bike event is
expected to generate more income for
hotels, resorts and restaurants and will
augment the income of people in
transportation business especially the
habal-habal (single motorcycle for hire)
drivers, bike porters and trail workers, he
added.
“The culture of biking, camaraderie
and friendship will also be boosted in the
province of Biliran with the holding of the
national biking event”, Opena said. (aen/fj/
rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)
Rodrigo S. Victoria
Turtle caught, tagged, released
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 16 (PIA) -- A local fisherman in barangay Combado here got the surprise of his life
when what he thought was a big catch for the day turned out be a turtle, a Green Sea Turtle, according to personnel of the
Office of the City Agricultural Services (OCAS) who examined it.
T he fisherman, whose name was
not immediately known, was
quoted as saying the hook in his
fishing line found its mark on the left side
of the turtle’s shell just below the head, so
the animal was not at all harmed or
injured when it was hauled to the shore
early morning Tuesday.
Crowd of curious onlookers
easily gathered and watched the
“catch” brought ashore, tended by OCAS
personnel who contacted the
DENR-CENRO for tagging and
subsequent release.
The shell’s length measured 30 inches
from the base of the head to the
base of the tail, the width 22 inches,
circumference, 90 inches, and its weight
was approximately 70 kilos.
Comments of facebook users from
Ormoc, Luzon, and Australia mostly
inquired about its condition when pictures
of the turtle was posted on PIA-Southern
Leyte’s facebook account.
A very brief video also got "likes" and
"shares".
In less than two hours since the turtle
was brought to shore, DENR personnel
released it back to the sea after proper
tagging procedures, according to those
who saw the “send-off” ceremony.
Turtles are known eaters of the
deadly crown of thorns, a kind of sea
urchin whose massive number can destroy
coral reefs, it was learned. (aen/esg/mmp/
PIA-Southern Leyte)
MARCELO M. PEDAALINO
The Bataan Memorial Cross The Bataan Memorial Cross
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
DOLE allots P2.3M for students‘ summer jobs
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, April 16 (PIA) - The Department of Labor and Employment in the province of Eastern
Samar has allotted P2.3 M Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) to benefit 1,253 students from 11 Local
Government Units (LGUs), one Province, one City.
A ccording to Ms. Mylene C.
Pagapos, Labor and Employment
Officer of Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE), under the SPES,
any qualified student aging 15-24 years old
can apply in any government office or
agency in the province that offer job
opportunities this summer.
She added that to qualify, the
applicant needs to submit the following
requirements: birth certificate from the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA),
passing grade or any document as a proof
of enrolment; certification from the
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) that
their family income is not more than
P105,000.00 and poor but deserving
students.
Pagapos revealed that most high
school students are deployed in
communities as street cleaners through
“Clean and Green Program” of the
government and some college students
are assigned in offices, provided that the
work assignment is not hazardous.
DOLE will shoulder 40 percent of the
total allowance to be received by the
student and the remaining 60 percent will
be shouldered by the employing
Local Government Units (LGus), Paganos
added.
The students will be working for 20
days at a minimum wage rate which is
P260.00 - 40% of P260 is P104.00 and the
60% comes from LGUs daily wage rate
which P150 and 60% of P150.00 is P90.00.
Pagapos further said that the payment
for the DOLE is in the form of Educational
Voucher.
For instance, if the student enrolled is
already in College and his/her total fees
for the whole semester is amounting to
P5,000, DOLE will pay the total allowance
of P2,080.00 and the remaining P 2,920
will be paid by the students. LGUs will pay
the amount of P1,800.00 through payroll.
Each student beneficiary then gets a
total allowance of P3,880.00.
Pagapos added that as of now, the
following LGUs in the province of Eastern
Samar have offered jobs under
SPES: Provincial Government – 150
slots, City Government of Borongan
- 150, Balangiga – 85, Salcedo – 100,
Maydolong – 50, Gen. MacArthur – 80,
Mercedes – 96, Quinapondan – 30,
Giporlos – 85, Llorente – 65, Lawaan
– 52, Jipapad – 50, Maslog – 50, San-Julian
– 110 and Eastern Samar State University
(ESSU) Main Campus – 100.
SPES is a special program of the
government under the labor department
to help continuing students pay their
school fees and for the Out of School
Youth (OSY) to continue school. (aen/
sdc/PIA8-E. Samar)
SAMUEL CANDIDO Mt. Samat National Shrine Mt. Samat National Shrine
BIR-8 holds Grand Fiestax
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 16 (PIA) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region No. 14 has conducted a
―Grand Fiestax‖ Wednesday to mark the last day of filing of Income Tax Returns (ITR).
N ot all taxpayers wore long faces
as they filed their income tax
returns despite the huge crowd
at the Mult i -Purpose Bui lding,
Government Center, Palo, Leyte as the
annual event turned into a feast called
“Fiestax”.
BIR-8 regional director Diosdado
Mendoza said aside from free foods and
giveaways, the taxpayers were also
entertained with a number of folk dances
and song numbers performed by some
personnel of the BIR and the SAMLEYAW
dancers. “We conceived this idea because
Filipinos especially in Region 8 are fond of
fiestas during summer at para hindi sila
ma-bore at mainip while waiting for their
turn to file,” Mendoza said. “This is also
one way of saying thank you to the
taxpayers,” Mendoza added.
Mendoza further said that for the first
quarter of 2015, BIR Eastern Visayas met
its target. In fact, an excess of about
P40-million was recorded due to hard
work , c l o se mon i t o r i n g an d
implementation of the agency’s rules and
regulations.
With this development, Mendoza is
optimistic that better tax collection will
continue towards the end of the year in
order to meet the target tax collection
goal for the region this year which is
pegged at P6.4 billion. (aen/cba/PIA-8)
CONSUELO B. ALARCON
PIA trains CDIOs in E. Samar
BORONGAN CITY, Eatern Samar, April 16 (PIA) - In line with the Philippine Information Agency‘s (PIA) thrust of
revitalizing government communication, PIA Eastern Samar spearheaded the re-establishment of the network of community
development information officers (CDIOs).
P IA personnel went to the
municipalities in Eastern Samar to
ask local chief executives to
designate CDIOs in their towns.
The Provincial Information Center
(PIC) of PIA in Borongan City then
conducted an or ientat ion and
workshop at the Eastern Samar
Development Foundation (ESADEF) on
April 14, 2015.
PIA hopes to enable the CDIOs to
write news releases in their respective
municipality through print and broadcast
media through the workshop. PIA-OIC,
Regional Director Alicia E. Nicart served
as resource speaker for the said activity.
According to Director Nicart, “the
Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO), through Secretary Sonny
Coloma, encourages PIA provincial offices
to reactivate the CDIOs of every
municipality for information enhancement
especially in times of disaster.”
Some 13 CDIOs attended the said
activity from 22 municipalities and one city
in the Province of Eastern Samar. (aen/
sdc//PIA8-E. Samar)
SAMUEL CANDIDO
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]