September 29-30, 2013 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL I ISSUE 28 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 September 29-30, 2013

continued on page 7

Security preparations in place to ensure peaceful conduct of barangay elections in East Visayas

The Commission on Elections together with its partners the Philippine

National Police and the Philippine Army, gave the assurance that it will do all it could to ensure peaceful and orderly barangay elections in Eastern Visayas. Comelec Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros made the pronouncement during the command conference held recently right before the start of the election period on September 28. He said that that the security forces are not taking chances and will not regard the forthcoming elections as mere barangay elections because barangay elections are far more perilous. “What makes the barangay polls more precarious compare to other

elections is that candidates practically know each other and more often than not are even blood related,” Director Mendros said during the command conference where security measures were discussed by both the leaders of the police and the Army, Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, police regional director and Brigadier General Jet Velarmino, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, respectively. However, Mendros said that ensuring a peaceful conduct of elections in the barangay is not only the duty of the Comelec or of the police or Army but more so by the candidates and the voters as well.

Remember the Balangiga

Encounter as you sing

the Lupang Hinirang,

PCOO chief tells Eastern

Samarenos

Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Operations Office

called on the Eastern Samarenos to remember the Balangiga Encounter as they sing the Lupang Hinirang. Secretary Coloma who was guest of honor and speaker at the 112th Anniversary of the Balangiga Encounter Day at Balangiga, Eastern Samar, extolled the Balangiga Encounter as a manifestation of the bravery of Filipino who stood up and fought in order to defy foreign invasion. “Bayang magiliw, Perlas ng silanganan, Alab ng puso, Sa dibdib mo’y buhay. Lupang Hinirang, Duyan ka nang magiting, Sa manlulupig, Di ka pasisiil,” Secretary Coloma recited the first two stanzas of the National Anthem to underscore his statement. He said that the Balangiga Encounter on September 28, 1901, happened only three years after the proclamation of Philippine Independence in 1898 and yet the Balangigaons have already grasped and internalized what it was to defend the patrimony of the nation. This significant event, Secretary Coloma said, deserves not only one sentence but a whole chapter in the Philippine History books. Truly, because Filipinos have been commemorating nationwide continued on page 7

Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma of the Presidential Operations Office as the guest of honor during the 112th commemoration of the Balangiga Encounter in Balangiga, Eastern Samar on September 29. Coloma called on the Eastern Samarenos to remember the Balangiga Encounter as they sing the Lupang Hinirang. (PIA-8)

2 September 29-30, 2013

PENRO-Leyte appeals for environment-friendly campaignBY: AURORA J. CASIMPAN

An official of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources

Office (PENRO)-Leyte has reminded candidates for various positions in the barangay election this October 28 to stick to environment-friendly campaign for the environment to remain clean. Loreta Baldonaza, PENRO-Forrester said candidates should be mindful and observe waste avoidance and reduction in their strategy to win and stick to earth-friendly campaign practices to ensure a waste free election. She added that “the idea is to minimize garbage and to inflict as little damage on the environment and trees toward the end of the election.” Forrester Baldonaza appealed to candidates to practice the long-standing appeal to spare trees of campaign materials by refraining to nail campaign materials on trees. She also said that trees are also living things that get hurt or get sick from infection, or even die if left untreated for a long time. The official informed candidates to refer to Commission on Elections Resolution 6520 or the Implementing

Candle-Lighting Ceremony marks Tacloban LGU’s culmination of September as Peace Month

Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla receives a plaque of appreciation from Regional Development Council (RDC) vice-chair and NEDA-8 regional director Atty. Bonifacio Uy for sharing her invaluable insights and inspiring the Local Planners of Eastern Visayas during the Forum held at Leyte Park Hotel Tacloban City, September 26. Others in photo are (r-l) National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC) Usec. Maritona Labajo, President, EV-LLPDCPI Engr. Danilo Bonifacio and DTI regional director Cynthia Nierras. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA8)

Rules of the Fair Election Act which says that common poster areas shall be allowed by the election officer only in public places such as plazas, markets or barangay centers where posters are readily seen or read. Those found to violate the rules

constitute an election offense punishable under Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code and with penalties of imprisonment of one to 6 years, disqualification to hold office, and for political parties, a fine of not less than P10,000. (PIA-8)

A candle lighting ceremony will highlight the culmination activity of

September as Peace Month by the City Government of Tacloban. Mayor Alfred Romualdez, in a communication sent to the Philippine Information Agency, said the Candle Lighting Ceremony will be conducted at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of September 30 at the City Hall grounds. Mayor Romualdez added that the event will be participated by all officials

and employees of the City Government of Tacloban, national government agencies, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, religious and business sectors, barangay officials, youth academe, students, non-government organizations, socio-civic organizations, the media and all individuals and groups who are advocates of peace not only for the City but for the country and the world as a whole. The Mayor call on all those invited to participate in the simple but meaningful activity. He also call on all the participants to bring candles. The Philippines is celebrating the 10th National Peace Consciousness Month this September which aims to promote a culture of peace, and raise awareness and understanding among the public on the comprehensive peace process. Spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, this year’s Peace Month celebration centers on the theme, “Lahat ay peace-sible!” which is a play on the Filipino proverb, “Walang imposible sa taong naniniwala na lahat ay possible (Nothing is impossible to a person who believes that everything is possible).” The annual celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 675 series of 2004. (PIA 8)

September 29-30, 2013 3First Global Communications & Management Academy opens in Eastern Visayas

The first Global Communications & Management Academy, GCMA for

short, powered by ePerformax Contact Centers and BPO was inaugurated on September 25 at the Saint Paul School of Business and Law at Pawing, Palo, Leyte. The inauguration was attended by the key officials of the ePerformax and Saint Paul School of Business and Law together with students and the Philippine Information Agency, is a significant milestone in the Regions thrust to develop the ICT industry in this part of the country. The GCMA takes pride of a state of the art laboratory which is an improvement of the usual contact center modules, was off limits to cameramen and photographers for obvious reasons, Mr. Michael Tanner, ePerformax Vice President told PIA. Described as more friendly, the Laboratory has also a one-on -one room where the instructor can have one on one sessions with a student without disturbing the other trainees. Another feature of the GCMA are the session rooms which are also state of the art. Mr. Dennis Lindley, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, and Mr. Ricky Santiago, Vice President of ePerformax told PIA that the GCMA costs P11 million with the Laboratory costing P7 million. ePerformax, a contact center with locations in Manila and Cebu partnered with the Saint Paul School of Business and Law through its president Atty. Absalon Apostol, in order to provide students the opportunity to attend On-the-Job trainings right there at the campus. The skills and the experience that the students will acquire in the GCMA will be something that they will carry forward in real life scenarios, no matter what their field of study is, Mr. Santiago said. Mr. Santiago said that the most common reason why applicants are not accepted in contact centers and BPO is English proficiency. Mr. Santiago said that in early

2008, ePerformax opened the Global Communications & Management Academy (GCMA) to help Filipinos develop and master global communications to deliver superior customer services for global clients. In addition, the GCMA addressed the increasing demand for high quality talent even though the pool of “ready to hire” candidates continued to contract. “The concept of expanding our proprietary communications training started with the pool of “near hire” candidates. This pool of college graduates and undergraduates had the knowledge, abilities, and motivation to perform for our global clients, yet required communications skills training to ensure success. All we had to do was expand the global communications training. As our success and experience in training “near hire” candidates grew, we decided to develop training for the pool of “far hire” candidates, Mr. Santiago said. Today, the GCMA offers training to “ready to hire,” “near hire,” and “far hire” candidates. Placements into one of four (one, three, six, or nine weeks) Global Communications Training courses depends on the level of a candidate’s English skills. While every call center has some type of “communications” training, Mr. Santiago said, not all of them pay serious

attention to it or require their trainees to certify before proceeding to a client’s training. At ePerformax, all of global communications trainees are required to certify before being assigned to a client program, he said. The scope of Global Communications Training is more than just “accent neutralization.” It focuses on the entire communication process, with special attention to comprehension and fluency. The training curriculum not only includes communications modules; it also includes modules on customer service, culture and geography, and basic computer skills. Each module is further broken down into sections. For example communications is broken down into: thought clarity, organization, language, optimum voice and grammar. Although the training investment is significant; the returns ePerformax gets in terms of its ability to secure high-quality talent and meet its clients’ staffing needs, are substantial. Mr. Santiago said that most importantly, its investment in training builds loyalty to ePerformax among the trainees, because they value and appreciate the Company’s commitment to providing communications training necessary to succeed in the industry.Mr. Santiago further disclosed that a partnership between e Performax and the Leyte Normal University is in the opting. (PIA 8)

PIA - 8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu during the Grand launching of St. Paul’s School of Business and Law’s Global Communications & Management Academy powered by ePerformax Contact Centers and BPO. (PIA-8)

4 September 29-30, 2013

PIA-PIDS Forum showcases Leyte’s success stories in making health more inclusive in a growing economy

There are local success stories with proven business models that can serve

as good examples on making health more inclusive in a growing economy. Among these is the case of the province of Leyte. This was highlighted in the recently held Forum on Making Health More Inclusive in a Growing Economy organized under the partnership of the Philippine Institute for Research Studies and the Philippine Information Agency. Held at the Ocho Seafoods & Grill on September 27, the Forum featured the PIDS representative Director Sheila Siar, Leyte Governor Dominic L. Petilla, Department of Health new Regional Director Jose Llacuna, Jr., PhilHealth Regional Vice President Walter Bacareza and PhilHealth’s Mr. Renato Limsiaco. Governor Mic Petilla ably discussed the scheme of the Provincial Government of Leyte in ably financing its hospitals which was started during the term of his brother, former Leyte Governor and now Secretary of the Department of Energy Carlos Jericho Petilla. Through this scheme, the Provincial government was able to improve the province’s health care delivery by incentivizing doctors and health workers, maximizing collections from the state owned PhilHealth and raising revenues by charging fees to patients who are willing to pay. Today, the doctors at the Leyte Provincial Hospitals are among the highest paid government workers who are no longer attracted by the big fees abroad because they are now receiving salaries that motivate them to stay put and provide the best service to the patients from Leyte. Governor Mic said he will continue the scheme that was started by Gov Icot and assured that he will improve the other district hospitals under the province of Leyte. Through the PhilHealth Link

started by the province of Leyte, more PhilHealth members are able to avail of the benefits through verifications that are made as soon as they enter a PhilHealth accredited government hospital, RVP Bacareza said. Sometimes, poor people do not know whether or not they are still members, so through linkage with PhilHealth, the government hospital in Leyte is able to know this important information. RVP Bacareza disclosed that this PhilHealth Link which started in Leyte has been adapted by PhilHealth in what is known now as PhilHealth CARES program. Another important Health program started by the Province of Leyte is the setting up of birthing clinics by partnering with a private foundation. Today, Mother Bles birthing clinics are all over the municipalities and barangays of Leyte which are far from hospitals. There are now also Mother Bles Birthing Clinics in Samar and in Pampanga. (PIA 8)

National Statistics Month highlights “Statistics that Matter to Every Filipino”

This month of October, Eastern Visayas will celebrate once again the National

Statistics Month (NSM). National Statistical Coordination Board Regiona Head Evangeline M. Paran said that on its 24th year, the celebration focuses on the theme, “Statistics that Matter to Every Filipino”, highlighting the vital roles that data and statistics play in the everyday lives of Filipinos. Director Paran said that at the national level, the Opening of the National

Statistics Month will coincide with the 12th National Convention on Statistics, the biggest gathering of statisticians and various stakeholders of statistics all over the country, on October 1-2, 2013 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City. Distinguished luminaries from the statistical community were invited as speakers and paper presenters to discuss recent theoretical and practical developments in statistics. In Eastern Visayas, the the NSM celebration will officially start with two major activities on October 7, 2013 with the Opening of Statistical Exhibits at Robinsons Place Activity Area (Annex Building) at 1:00 P.M.; and Opening Ceremony cum Statistics Forum at BIR Multi-Purpose Building, Government Center, Palo Leyte at 2:00 in the afternoon. The activities will be hosted by the NSCB and co-sponsored by NSO, BIR, BFAR and NTC, Director Paran said. The Interagency Statistical Exhibits will be participated in by around 23 agencies and institutions and will be on display for three days from October 7-9 at Robinsons Mall. Meanwhile, the Opening Ceremony cum Statistics Forum, on the other hand, will highlight presentations on some statistics which are critical to every Filipino, to wit: Tax Collection Performance; Prices/Inflation; and Human Development Index. This will gather around 150 participants coming from regional line agencies, local government units, non-government organizations and academic institutions, including BS Statistics Students from Eastern Visayas State University. Other NSM activities lined up for the month include symposia, data dissemination seminars, trainings, workshops, statistics quiz, slogan and poster making contests, stat trivia, tree planting, information and education campaign activities such as press conferences, TV and radio guestings, and hanging of NSM streamers and tarpaulins. continued on page 7

September 29-30, 2013 5

Members of the Catbalogan City Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) sign their pledge of commitment not to commit, not to keep silent nor condone Violence Against Women and her Children. (Photo courtesy of Ador Hurtado-LGU Catbalogan)

Making Leyte Organic Fertilizer Producers Association, a group to reckon with in organic farming

Dr. Carlos S. dela Cruz, DA-8’s Organic Agriculture Program Focal Person,

representing Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio, recently commended the Leyte Organic Fertilizer Producers Association for venturing into the noble task of producing the most important input in organic agriculture, the organic fertilizer. The commendation was pronounced during the Strategic Planning Workshop for the Development of the Organic Fertilizer Production Project (OFPP) and the Leyte Organic Fertilizer Producers Association (LeOFProA) on September 17-19, 2013 at the Baybayon ni Agalon Resort, this municipality. Dr. dela Cruz challenged the group to become a model for organic crop and input producers in Eastern Visayas. Dr. de la Cruz shared that in acquiring certification as organic fertilizer producer, various aspects should be considered such as the raw materials used, composting activity, analysis, labeling, environmental and health impact. For his part, Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), said that Region 8 has been into organic by default. This is because many farmers especially in the three provinces of Samar have been doing things naturally. “We are fortunate to have a thriving, alive and committed organization that promotes Organic Agriculture and provides the fulcrum and nexus in these initiatives,” Executive Director Caneda said. Director Cañeda also underscored that Organic Agriculture does not only save cost in farming but also retains the productivity of the farmer. “It’s all about going back to the

basics and embracing what we have naturally,” he said as he gave an overview of the 2011-2013 accomplishments of the National Organic Agriculture Program. The strong support of some local chief executives to Organic Agriculture was manifested by their presence in the said activity, Mr. Francis Rosaroso, regional information officer of DA-8 observed. Honorable Mayor Ramon P. dela Cerna of Albuera, Leyte greeted the guests and participants with his welcome message stressing the importance of organic agriculture. On the other hand, Ormoc City’s Mayor, Honorable Eduard C. Codilla emphasized that organic farming is not just good for health but it also addresses climate change. The activity was organized by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) which has been supportive of the LeOFProA. In fact, Ms Mercedes Fernando, Head of the OFPP said, “we will continue to support Region 8 because it is the most cooperative of all the regions in the country.” The workshop became more interesting with the series of lectures presented which was kicked-off by the Department of Science and Technology

(DOST) through Leyte Provincial Director John Glenn D. Ocaña. He noted various points on the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises in the region. Dir. Ocaña also shared that horticulture, aquatic and marine-based enterprises are among the priority sectors of DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (Set-Up). From the members of the academe, Ms Catherine Corcino of the Visayas State University-Isabel Campus stressed that partnership among the SUCs and the industry stakeholders is the key to share resources and knowledge in order to achieve efficiency in the implementation of the program. To further supplement the knowledge of the participants on organic fertilizer production, they visited and witnessed hands-on demonstration at the Trophy Farm in Kananga, Leyte owned by Ret. Col. Troy D. Bumagat, the Chairperson of LeOFProA. The farm of the IAL Farmers-Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IALFEMCO) in Ormoc City which was founded by Mr. Jun Paredes, LeOFProA’s Vice-Chairperson, was also visited by the participants of the said workshop. (PIA 8)

6 September 29-30, 2013

Sa Abuyog, Leyte Visayas Christian Institute of Technology nga mga estudyante nag-establisar og E-konek ubos sa tabang nga P346-K gikan sa DOLE

CEBUANO NEWS

Sa Abuyog, ang Leyte Visayas Christian Institute of Technology students nag-

establisar sa E-Konek kauban sa tabang sa DOLE nga P346-K. “Usa ka manggialamon ang pagtabang sa mga batan-on nga mahimong mga negosyante. Sila ang paglaum nga mahimo nga umaabot nga mga tag-iya og mga negosyo.” Mao kini ang sentro sa

mensahe ni Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz sa iya unyang pagbisita sa Abuyog, Leyte atol sa pagpahigayon sa ika-13 nga National Peso Congress nga magasugod sa September 25, sa Palo, Leyte ngadto sa mga estudyante sa Visayas Christian Institute of Technology diin siya maghata og tabang og P346,459.20 alang sa ilang

pagsugod nga prohekto, ang E-Konek PC Health Services Group. “The youth is a priority sector of the DOLE and for years they have been the worthy recipients of our livelihood packages,” matud ni Baldoz, kinsa gi-ubanan sa iyang pagbisita didto sa Abuyog sa DOLE Regional Office No. 8 Director Exequiel Sarcauga. E-Konek PC Health Services Group ang gilantaw sa 15 ka mga estudyante sa Visayas Christian Institute of Technology, diin kasagaran mga kabos og ang uban mihunong sa pagtungha, aron sa paghatag og nagkadaiyang mga serbisyo ngadto sa mga kliyente, sama sa printing, scanning, encoding, copying, Risograph printing og lamination, bisan ang internet downloading og pag-research. “There is money to be had in providing these services to the people and the 15 youth members of E-Konek PC Health Services Group decided on this business,” matud ni Araceli Agpalasin, ang manager-designate sa Abuyog PESO, kinsa mitabang sa grupo. “The 15 young entrepreneurs have already established an office at the CMG Building on Real Street. All being holders of the TESDA’s National Competency Certificates, they feel they are ready,” matud ni Ma. Nimfa Acuna, ang administrator sa VCIT. Ang tabang nga P346,459.20 ngadto sa E-Konek PC Health Services Group, usa ka livelihood nga tabang ubos sa DOLE’s Youth Entreprenuership Support (YES) nga programa, magtabang sa pagsugod sa 15 ka mga batan-on diha sa dalan sa usa ka income -earning nga kahigayonan. Ingon nga usa ka akriditado nga co-partner sa DOLE, ang VCIT maghatag og tugbang nga pundo nga P86,614.80 aron sa pagdala sa galastohan sa prohekto ngadto sa P433,074. “The YES program envisions young college and technical-vocational padayon ha page 8

September 29-30, 2013 7Security preparations...from page 1Remember the...tikang ha page 1

“We also need the cooperation of all the candidates, their leaders and the voters,” Director Mendros said. If the voters perceive that the atmosphere is peaceful then they will not be afraid to go out and cast their votes, he added. The PNP has tagged 292 barangays across the region as potential areas of concerned for the forthcoming October 28 barangay elections due to intense political rivalries and because of history of election related occurrences. Moreover, 52 barangays in the region, 47 of them in Northern Samar, have been identified by security forces as under the “influence” of the rebel group, the New People’s Army which could affect the turn out of the results of the balloting. Election related violence during the 2007 barangay elections were placed at 11 while there were four recorded during the 2010 elections. Director Mendros said that with the start of election period on September 28, came the imposition of prohibited acts like the gun ban and the promotion or transfer of government employees. He also reminded that the filing of certificates of candidacy starts on October 15 up to 17 while the campaign period will begin on October 18 up to October 26. (PIA 8)

historic battles such as the Fall of Bataan, the Fall of Corregidor, the Fall of Besang Pass, among others, but there is one battle however, which Filipinos fought with the inferior arms against the superior arms of the American soldiers and decisively won the battle but unfortunately, has not been celebrated nationwide- this is the Balangiga Encounter. Secretary Coloma extolled the re-enactment which he said really gave him goose bumps. He said something must be done to polish and to record this to be promoted through the Peoples Television Network. He also called for a concerted effort to rehabilitate and promote the Balangiga Encounter Monument done by no less than national artist Napoleon Abueva. The DepEd should promote field trips among students in this historical town of Balangiga, he said. On September 28, 1901, Filipino patriots armed only with bolos (bladed weapons) made a surprise attack on the superior armed American soldiers of the Company C of the 9th Infantry Regiment of the US Army garrisoned in Balangiga which was then under the province of Samar, and almost wiped out the entire Company. The Americans called it a massacre and the bloodiest chapter in

the history of the American Army in the Philippines. The Filipinos, however, described it as a fair arm encounter employing guerilla tactics, with men wearing women’s attire which the Americans were not used to. General Vicente Lucban called it “Our Glorious Victory of Balangiga.” Forty eight of the 74 American soldiers died and 28 native combatants perished . In fact, it was known as the worst single defeat of the US military in the Philippines. Then there was a reprisal. The avenging American forces condemened Balangiga and practically all of Samar Island into a howling wilderness, razing houses and properties to the ground, killing and maiming people including women and children who were not fortunate to have fled from the Americans’ rampaging fury. The three bells of Balangiga, the same bells which signaled the attack against the American soldiers were taken as war booties. But soon, the Filipinos and Americans would embrace themselves as friends and allies. However, the return of the bells which could have been the most tangible manifestation of the goodwill of the American people to the Filipino people, remains a dream. (PIA 8)

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is hosting a Visayas-wide

environmental media conference on October 6-7, 2013. BFAR Region 8 Director Juan Albaladejo said that what makes this conference is unique is the fact that it will be conducted onboard the M/V DA-BFAR off the coast of Iloilo. The objective of this activity is to provide media practitioners from Regions 6, 7 and 8, with information on fisheries projects. Director Albaladejo added that the activity also aims to assist the Visayas Cluster media in critically analyzing environmental information. “This way, the media practitioners

The NSM is celebrated annually for the purpose of promoting, enhancing and instilling nationwide awareness and appreciation of the importance and value of statistics to the different sectors of society; and at the same time eliciting the cooperation and support of the public in improving and enhancing the quality and standards of statistics in the country. It was first observed in 1990 pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 647, Declaring the Month of October of Every Year as the National Statistics Month. The Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC), through the NSCB as its secretariat, spearheads the NSM celebration in the region. (PIA 8)

National Statistics...from page 4

will not merely be transmitters of information but become partners in the Bureau’s campaign for the protection of fisheries resources,” Director Albaladejo said. The participants are expected to board the DA-BFAR vessel from 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon of October 6, Sunday. The conference proper will be held on October 7 and will start with the Message of the USAID Representative and the rationale and opening remarks to be delivered by Atty. Maria Generosa T. Mislaaang of the Tanggol Kalikasan. Among the topics to be discussed is the role of media in environmental

DA-BFAR hosts Visayaswide environmental media conference

continued on page 8

8 September 29-30, 2013

September 28, 2013 - November 12, 2013Election Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9715

October 11 - 17, 2013(Except October 13)

Filing of COCsfor the 2013 Barangay Elections

as per COMELEC Resolution No. 9761

October 18 - 26, 2013Campaign Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9749

October 28, 2013

2013 Barangay Electionspursuant to Sec. 1 of Republic Act No. 9340

September 28 - October 28, 2013Period of Prohibition on issuance

of Appointment, creation of new positions,promotions or giving salary increasesAs per COMELEC Resolution No. 9769

BARANGAY ELECTIONS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

graduating students, college graduates, or would-be members of the labor force as productive, resourceful, and self-reliant entrepreneurs,” matud ni Baldoz. Si Director Sarcauga nagtahu ngadto kang Baldoz nga ang 15 ka mga batan-on mogamit niini alang sa pagpamalit og mga kahimanan og uban mga computer equipment og sa pagbansay kanila diha sa capacity building alang sa livelihood formation. Ang mga benepisyaryo, matud niya, nakatumbok ingon nga angayan nga mga resipiente tungod kay sila nasakop sa mga kabos og sa impormal nga sektor. Si Baldoz mihatag og komendasyon sa VCIT sa ilang pag-andam sa mga estudyante ngadto sa usa ka kinabuhi diha sa negosyo, sa pagpahayag nga ang tunghaan matinod-anon ngadto sa iyang katuyu-an ingon nga “usa ka dapit alang sa pagbansaybansay diha sa training technicak skills nga maghatag og makab-ot og flexible information technology (IT) nga mga programa og sa pagporma sa mga estudyante diha sa pagkahimo nga self-sustaining nga naka-amot sa ekonomiya ngadto sa social mobility og nasudnon nga kalambu-an.”(Gibinisaya ni esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)

Sa Abuyog...tikang ha page 6

For a senior citizen, walking through a newly concreted Kalahi-CIDSS road is a “Walk to Remember”

Maupay na paglakat. Diri na makuri, labina ha amon nga mga may edad

na. Kay diri na madalunot,” Teresita Cartalla, 73 years old senior citizen of Barangay Hiagsan, Barugo in Leyte, exclaimed after she experienced walking through the newly-concreted farm-to-market-road sub-project of the Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan- Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) which was implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Translated in English, Manang Teresita said, “It now feels good to walk at. It’s no longer difficult, especially for us elderly citizens because it’s not slippery anymore.” Manang Teresita participated in the inauguration and hand-over of the sub-project last September 19, 2013. At 73, she was observed to be one of the oldest individuals who attended the activity. What was not noticeable was Manang Teresita’s being one of the most active residents participating in community activities such as meetings and barangay assemblies. Her husband Arnulfo, who is also 73, was a member of the Monitoring and Inspection Team (MIT). According to Community Facilitator Paulete Palacio, the townsfolk have chosen Arnulfo to be part of the MIT because they acknowledge the couple’s drive and sense of responsibility as elders in the community. Palacio said that despite of their age, they exerted effort unconditionally for the welfare of the people and barangay improvement. Manang Teresita’s family is one of the 43 household beneficiaries of the said barangay for the Kalahi-CIDSS sub-project. She is also a mother grantee of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or PantawidPamilya. Miss Joan Baclay, information officer of Kalahi CIDSS related how Manang Teresita disclosed that without the Pantawid Pamilya, she and her husband will not be able to provide for

and sustain the needs of their 13-year-old granddaughter at school. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she recalled how her granddaughter became an orphan. According to her, the mother of her grandchild died after giving birth, while the father left without a word, Ms. Baclay said. Since then, she and her husband stood as parents to her. Her husband still struggles to meet their daily needs as a laborer. She related that at the start of the sub-project implementation, her husband already wanted to serve as one of the volunteers. As senior citizens, they both believe that they still play an important role in decision making and community involvement. Manang Teresita also expressed her ardent wish for her and her husband to be covered by the government’s Social Pension Program. (PIA 8)

policy making and law enforcement. BFAR experience in the role of media in BFAR’s Fishery Law enforcement campaign across the country will be discussed by BFAR National Director Atty. Asis G. Perez. The relevance of BFAR’s Fisherfolk Registration Program to Fisheries Management will be discussed by Ms. Melanie R. Guerra, National FishR Coordinator. Moreover, Ms. Paz Dimaangay, Commoners Society of Guiuan, Inc. will discuss voices from the grassroots: Mining, Protected Areas and Watersheds. (PIA 8)

DA-BFAR hosts... from page 7