Vol 4 Issue 38 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 September 22 - 28, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue DPWH implements nat’l road, health facilities projects

RDC 6 launches WV migration and dev’t project

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

5,000 4P's families to share stories on conquering poverty

By: Ferliza Calizar-Contratista

CEBU CITY, September 23 (PIA)--- It‟s the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program beneficiaries time to shine this Sunday, as 5,000 of them are expected to gather in Cebu

City to celebrate Family Week. Dep a r tmen t o f Soc i a l We l f a r e a n d

Development (DSWD-7) information officer Lea Quintana announced in today‟s Kapihan sa PIA that families

from all over the region will gather on September 28, Sunday at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City for a Convergence Caravan.

“They will be sharing success stories and how the Filipino families survived the various calamities,” Quintana said.

The gathering is done simultaneously in all regions nationwide celebrating Family Week with the theme, “Celebrating the Filipino Families: Resilient and Caring”.

“It will give recognition to Filipino families‟ indomitable spirit and compassion, to which the Philippines is globally known for,” Quintana said.

Included among the 5,000 are the 4Ps beneficiary

families who were victims of the typhoon and the earthquake last year.

On the same occasion the “Pantawid Pamilya

para sa Pagbabago” campaign will be launched with the “Kaya ko ang Pagbabago” dance to be

performed by the dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center

(CPDRC). Local government units are also encouraged to

celebrate the National Family Week with other similar

activities related to unifying the families. Meanwhile Region VII bet for the Model Pantawid

Pamilya Search, Ewican family of Carmen, Bohol, landed in

the top 5 of the annual contest. Final announcement of winners will also be done on

the same day in Manila.

4Ps is a poverty alleviation program of the Philippines which now covers all barangays in the entire country. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 21 (PIA) - New

projects on national roadwork and health facilities are being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The first project on roadwork will benefit the traveling public and motorists plying the national road from Northern Samar to Calbayog City will now experience comfort and convenient travel.

This is according to Information Officer Marianette Gomez of the DPWH-Samar First Engineering Office based in Calbayog City headed by District Engr Virgilio

Eduarte. Preventive Maintenance fund amounting to P24.2

Million has been released under the agency‟s Regular

Infrastructure Program.

The asphalt overlay project covers three road sections with a total length of 1.2 km in the coastal areas of

Barangays Bugtong, Malayog and Baay.

Another project implemented by the same

district is the construction of nine Barangay Health Stations (BHS) in selected localities identified by the Department of Health (DOH) with a total amount of P 9.6 Million

under the 2014 Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).

HFEP seeks to upgrade the infrastructure and equipment of government health facilities in the Samar

areas targeting rural health units, health stations, and district hospitals.

For 2014, barangays in need of the basic medical

services will be provided like those in the island towns of Almagro, Sto. Niño, Tagapul-an, Matuguinao and Sta. Margarita in Samar.

The health structures amount to P 1 M to P 1.2 M

according to the DPWH-Samar 1. (jrc/PIA 8-Samar with Marianette Gomez-DPWH Samar First District Eng‟g

Office)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA6) -- The Regional

Development Council, Region VI launched the Western Visayas-Migration and Development Initiative (WV-MDI) Project during its 3rd Quarter Regular Meeting for 2014

today. During the meeting at the RDC VI Conference Hall

at NEDA 6, Negros Occ. Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., also assumed his post as the new RDC VI

Chairperson. Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor administered his oath of office.

The WV-MDI project, supported by the Swiss

Development Cooperation, will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Regional Development Council

VI, through its Secretariat, the National Economic and Development Authority, Region VI.

The Western Visayas League of Local Planning

and Development Coordinators, Signpost Philippines, Inc. and the 6 provinces of Western Visayas are the project partners.

A total budget of US$230,000 (P10 million) is provided for the project from July 2014 to April 2016.

The project seeks to prepare a local migration situationer for Western Visayas, increase awareness

and strengthen the capacity of local government authorities in linking migration and development, and pool collective remittances and private support in

s t reng then ing the reg ion ‟s d i sa s ter r i sk response and reduction operations, especially for women

and children.

The project aims to strengthen the contribution of migration to development considering the fact that Western Visayas is the sixth top sending region of

Filipinos abroad with more than 200,000 migrants and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

It also aims to capacitate local chief executives and planners in consciously considering the contributions of

migrant workers to communities and local government units in Western Visayas.

Maranon was appointed by President Benigno S.

Aquino III to a two-year term from September 2014 to June 2016. (NEDA/cmp/PIA6)

PIA-6 Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet Mesa

prods the student participants of the

on-the-spot essay writing contest on climate

change mitigation and adaptation to do their

best during the competition's opening program

held Friday at the Mansion Garden here. (LTP/

PIA-Iloilo)

Barangay officials and residents, students,

government employees, the academe and

stakeholders join the International Coastal

Clean Up Day along Cancabato Bay in

Tacloban City, September 20. (Vino R.

Cuayzon)

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon, Jr. takes his oath as the

new Regional Development Council (RDC) VI Chairperson,

administered by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor during the

3rd Quarter Regular Meeting of the council held at NEDA VI Office,

Iloilo City, September 26, 2014. (LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

PIA-7 regional director Minerva Newman

citing the Climate Change Advocacy Promise

during the PIA-DENR climate change school

caravan at Junob National High School in

Negros Oriental last Sept. 25. It is a pledge

she made to encourage young people to

change their bad habits and become

responsible stewards of the environment.

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 22 (PIA6) — The Pinggang Pinoy is the healthy food plate for Filipino adults, which the Department of

Science and Technology has developed, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the National Nutrition Council.

DOST promotes Pinggang Pinoy

T his is an easy-to-understand food

guide that uses the familiar food

plate model to convey the right

food group proportions on a per meal

basis to meet the energy and nutrient

needs of the adult body.

“The plate is divided into imaginary

four sections to indicate proportions of

food following the Go, Grow and Glow

food groups,” said Nona Tad-y, NNC-6

Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator.

According to the DOST food plate,

a bigger fourth section of the plate should

be for rice and alternatives, a choice from

1 cup of rice, 4 pieces of pandesal, 17g

each, 4 slices of loaf bread, 17g each, 1

cup cooked macaroni or spaghetti

noodles, or a small piece of root crop like

kamoteng kahoy, gabi, or ubi.

Another bigger fourth portion is for

vegetables, which is from ¾ to 1 cup of

cooked or raw vegetables.

A smaller fourth portion consists of

fish and alternatives, which may consist of

two servings of any of 1 pc of small size

fish, 1 pc of small chicken leg or a

matchbox size of chicken breast, 1

matchbox size of meat (pork, beef) or 1

pc of small chicken egg.

Still another smaller fourth portion

consists of fruits, a choice from 1 medium

size fruit, like banana, dalanghita, or

kaymito, or 1 slice of big fruit like papaya

or water melon.

In addition, the DOST and its

partners, prescribe eight or more glasses

of water daily.

Tad-y said that there is also the

Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF)

which should be observed by the people

in choosing and preparing their daily

meals, as they consider the needs of each

member of the family.

She added that much more

that the NGF and the Pinggang

Pinoy be promoted and practiced in these

times when disasters and emergency

situations just come unexpectedly which

consequently may lower resistance

and create malnutrition. (JSC/ESS-PIA6

Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

Aklan bats for responsible pet ownership

KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 24 (PIA6) -- The celebration of the World Rabies Day here in Aklan on September 26 puts emphasis on

Responsible Pet Ownership

A ccording to the Office of the

Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET)

here headed by Dr. Cyrosa Leen

Mabel Sinel, this dog-friendly and

responsible pet ownership-encouraging

activities include Doggy Day Parade and

Pet Blessings, Oplan Kapon, PetCare Day,

I n f o r m a t i o n C a r a v a n , D o g

Deworming, Rabies Vaccination, and

Consultation and Basic Treatment.

OPLAN Kapon, according to OPVET,

involves providing free dog castration

which will be conducted at the Kalibo

Magsaysay Park, while the PetCare Day

will involve the provision of free

consultation, free treatment and dog

vaccination against rabies.

Besides promoting responsible pet

ownership, the activity also aims to create

public awareness on the danger caused by

rabies to humans and to other animals.

Recently during the meeting of the

Provincial Rabies Coordinating Committee

of the Rabies Prevention and Control

Program, Debbie Villaflor of the Provincial

Health Office (PHO) revealed that

early this year, an Aklanon has died from

rabies. Based on OPVET records, Aklan

has currently 47,787 dog population and

only 26.36% of these dogs are vaccinated.

The province has currently more than

2,500 anti-rabies dog vaccines provided by

the Department of Health (DOH) and the

provincial government of Aklan. It is seen

that with the dog vaccination activities in

the province in observance of World

Rabies Day, thousands of dogs will be

vaccinated, increasing the percentage of

rabies-free dogs here.

According to OPVET-Aklan, the

province aims to vaccinate 70% of the dog

population here. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

By: Venus G. Villanueva

Antique LGUs urged to update disaster plans

SAN JOSE, Antique Sept. 25 (PIA6) - - The Department of the Interior and Local Government here urged the various

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO) to update their respective strategic plans in order to

be prepared for stronger typhoons that induce flash floods and landslides.

By: Vicente W. Villavert

P rovincial Director Victorio S.

Pagapulan said that the local

government units in the province

are exerting best efforts to upgrade the

capability of their respective Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council. “It is important that the people

should know what kind of disaster and

risk their areas are prone to, so that they

could effectively respond and likewise

protect themselves from the effects of the

disaster,” Pagapulan said in a PIA

interview. Pagapulan said that the

RDRMCC together with Office of Civil

Defense recently conducted a planning

workshop in order to upgrade/revise the

strategic plans of the region in order for

us to be able to respond to the challenge

of climate change adaptation and disaster

risk management. Climate change

adaptation and mitigation is one of the

pillars of the Philippine Development Plan

2011-2016. Meanwhile, a Malacanang press

report said that President Aquino in his

recent Cabinet meeting noted the need

for a broad awareness on the use of

geo-hazard maps that indicate

landslide-and flood-prone areas in each

province, municipality or city so that the

local disaster risk reduction and

management councils can respond in a

timely and appropriate manner. (JCM/

VWV/PIA Antique)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

P-TRACE to ensure safe, quality products

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Sept. 25 (PIA6) - - Selected police officers from the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office are

undergoing a five-day Post-Blast Investigation Course at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

F orty seven pol ice off icers

trained under Daric Manser,

Special Agent Bomb Technician of

the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a

release from the provincial information

office.

Manser was used to be stationed at

Los Angeles, California and investigated

the Boston Marathon in 2013.

The said training was initiated by the

Philippine Bomb Data Center of the

Philippine National Police and sponsored

by the Provincial Government of Negros

Occidental.

I t i s a imed at prov id in g

Negrense-policemen with basic knowledge

and skills in post-blast investigation.

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. said that

the training is timely and relevant as it is a

big contribution to the safety of the

community, adding that the stable peace

and order situation in the province is

attracting more investors.*(EAD-PIA6

Negros Occidental)

Negrense police undergo post-blast course

By: Easter Anne. D. Doza

ILOILO CITY, Sept. 25 (PIA6) --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Iloilo provincial office conducted a

seminar on the Philippine Traceability for Revitalized Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement or P-TRACE to boost

competitiveness of food producers here.

R achel Nufable, DTI-Iloilo Business

D e v e l o p m e n t D i v i s i o n

officer-in-charge, said that the

seminar and workshop aimed at raising

awareness on the importance of

traceability system in the manufacture of

safe and quality products.

“The program intends to enhance the

competitiveness of our agro-industrial

products leading to an increase in the

country‟s export revenues due to

increased export volumes and market

entry in some untapped markets,” she

said.

Anchored on the Food Safety Act of

2013, traceability is a great risk

management tool that can help identify

outbreak and hazard sources, manage

safety alerts, and withdraw contaminated

or dangerous products efficiently.

“Food businesses will also have the

opportunity to further improve their

operations and generate more client

satisfaction through traceability,” she said.

The seminar modules include: The

P-TRACE project; Introduction to

Traceability; Why Implement Traceability;

Traceability Components; Implementing

Traceability; Challenges and Constraints;

and Benefits to the Philippine

Agro-Industrial Commodities.

Nufable said that the seminar

conducted September 25, 2014 at the DTI

Regional Office Conference Room here

was already the fourth leg with the first

three conducted in Guimaras, Capiz, and

Antique.

Over 60 participants composed of

micro, small and medium enterprises

(MSMEs), food manufacturers, producers

and other related sectors, national and

local government officers and business

counselors, non-government organizations

took part in the seminar in Iloilo.

She added that this P-TRACE seminar

will also be conducted in the provinces of

Aklan and Negros Occidental later this

year. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 24 (PIA6) - One hundred two establishments in Capiz have been chosen as respondents of the

ongoing survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

C apiz Provincial Statistics Officer

Engr. Frankie Dordas disclosed

that the 102 establishments were

part of the 5,855 establishments in Capiz

that are respondents to the on-going 2013

Annual Survey of Philippine Business and

Industry

He sa id that the sample

establishments here are among the 31,000

sample establishments for the survey

nationwide, and of said figure, 31 are also

samples for the 2013 Survey on

Information and Communication

Technology (SICT) which is a rider to the

said enumeration.

Dordas revealed that the on-going

2013 Annual Survey of Philippine Business

and Industry being conducted by the PSA

kicked off last September 15 and will last

for one month.

According to him, the 2013 ASPBI

aims to collect and generate information

on the levels, structure, performance and

trends of economic activities of the formal

sector in the entire country.

“Specifically, the survey will gather

information on employment, income,

expenses, capital expenditures and total

assets of the establishments and indicators

such as labor productivity, average

compensation and other data necessary to

evaluate the performance of industries at

the national and regional levels,” he said.

On the other hand, Dordas said that

the 2013 SICT will collect data on the

availability, distribution, access and

ut i l izat ion of in format ion and

communication technology among

establishments which are valuable in

measuring progress of ICT in the country.

He stressed that included in the data

to be generated are the proportion of

establishments and employees using

computers.

All information to be collected on

said surveys will refer to calendar year

2013, he said, adding that the collected

date will be used in the updating of the

2014 list of establishments.

Dordas said that personnel of their

office here will be the one who will be

conducting the enumeration, assuring the

public that all information given will be

held strictly confidential and will not be

used as evidence in any court litigation,

taxation, investigation or regulation. (JCM/

JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

PSA to survey 102 Capiz business establishments

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

Central Visayas, Sept. 19 (PIA) --- The 114th Philippine Civil Service (PCS) Anniversary paved way for government workers to

enjoy of the PCS Anniversary of SM Stores on September 15-17 and 19-21, 2014.

T his SM special sale or promos for government

workers include SM Department Stores, SM Supermarkets, and SM Hypermarkets.

For the promotion duration and scope nationwide SM Department Stores set its special sale for

government workers on September 15-17 while SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarkets started on

September 19 until September 21. SM Department Stores‟ granted promo and

discounts to government workers include 10% discount on regular price items for a minimum purchase of

P500.00 who presented proof of eligibility. Standard exclusion applied for this promo covered

purchases at Snack Exchange, Camera Shop, Customer Service Counters and items such as chemical, toiletries,

diapers, pharmacy, small, appliances, business machines and other promo items.

SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarket offer free mug of about (11 oz) with a minimum single receipt

purchase of P500 for civil servants upon presenting their

proof of eligibility. Excluded in this terms are items purchased from

food and shop tenants, service counters, such as bills payment and foreign exchange.

Other considerations set is that SM reserves the right to provide a list of exempted items from the

5%/100% discount during the Civil Service Anniversary Sale.

SM only requires eligible government workers to present their official government office ID /or GSIS ID

and SM Advantage Card (SMAC), SM Prestige Card, MOM Card or BDO Rewards Card.

Physical elements of government office ID should have plastic or laminated and should contained the name

of government office; government office address; name of civil service personnel; picture of civil service

personnel; government office emblem/logo; position in government office (optional) authorized signatory;

employee number (optional); validity (e.g expiry date) /

(optional). Name of government, office ID and on SMAC, SM

Prestige, BDO Rewards or MOM Card must be the same.

For queries, comments and concerns regarding the conduct of the 2014 PCSA Sale of SM, please call or

contact Mr. Sam V. Manglicmot, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Service Division (GSD) of the

Office for Financial and Assets Management (OFAM), Civil Service Commission- Central Office, Diliman,

Quezon City at telephone numbers 931-79-84 or 931-79-90.

For queries regarding the application for the SM Advantage Card and or other SM Department

Store, Supermarket and Hypermarket concerns, please contact any of the concerned SM Stores nationwide.

(mbcn/ays/ with reports from the Civil Service Commission)

Gov’t workers avail mall discounts on PCS anniv

BY: AMORGANDA Y. SALUDAR

DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 23 (PIA) – The 8-day School Caravan on Climate Change kicked off at the Hermenegilda F. Gloria

Memorial High School, Barangay Banilad in Dumaguete City.

PIA-DENR Climate Change School Caravan

kicks off

By: Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

T his is the first among eight identified public

schools in Dumaguete City to participate in

a series of climate change school caravan

initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)

– Negros Oriental and Department of Environment

and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office

with the Dumaguete City Environment and Natural

Resources Office (ENRO).

The eight-day public high school caravan

banners the theme “Nagbabago na ang panahon,

panahon na para magbago” which encourages young

people to be proactive in mitigating and adapting to

the negative effects of this climate crisis.

With this disastrous phenomenon happening,

PIA-7 regional director Minerva Newman stressed

that young people should now consider strong

typhoons like the recent Typhoon “Yolanda” a new

normal in this generation and therefore initiate

efforts that will protect the environment to avoid

such adverse impacts.

Newman challenged students of the said high

school to plant trees since they help absorb carbon

dioxide and other greenhouse gases and prevent

the earth from heating up.

According to DENR-Negros Oriental planning

officer Sabina Silva, “Deforestation reduces the

ability of ecosystems to absorb greenhouse gases.”

That is why the DENR is implementing the

National Greening Program (NGP) as a response to

climate change. NGP aims to reforest over 1.5

million of denuded/denuded land and targets 1.5

billion trees to be planted within six years, Silva

added.

The students also learned that In Negros

Oriental, the NGP has covered 27, 355 hectares of

land since 2011.

Aside from tree planting, students are also

encouraged to practice proper waste segregation

and recycling to lessen the garbage pollution in

Dumaguete City. A short documentary on waste

management produced by the PIA-Negros Oriental

will also be shown in the school caravans to inform

students on how garbage pollution and improper

waste management contribute to climate change.

Towards the end of the event, students

recited the “Nagbago na ako” promise to

renew their commitment to protect the

environment and pledge to change their "bad

environmental habits".

Hermenegilda F. Gloria High School was also

recognized as a „Maka-Kalikasan‟ School by PIA,

DENR and Dumaguete City ENRO for

implementing solid waste management programs

within the campus.

The next climate change school caravan will

be on Sept. 24 at Dumaguete City High School,

followed by Junob National High School on Sept.

25, Camanjac National High School on Sept. 26,

Taclobo High School on Sept. 29,

RTPM-Dumaguete City Science High School on

Sept. 30, Piapi High School on October 1 and Ne-

gros Oriental on October 2. (mbcn/ral/

PIA7-NegOr)

SIQUIJOR, Sept. 25 (PIA) — The Philippine National Police-Siquijor Provincial Pollice Office (PNP-SPPO) recently declared an

all-out war against illegal drugs in Siquijor province.

PNP-Siquijor heightens fight vs illegal drugs

“ Our campaign against illegal drugs is very

serious in nature,” Senior Police Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara said as he

spelled out his commitment to put Siquijor in the

lists of the handful few among the drug-free provinces in the country.

Tabujara said attaining a drug-free province entails a lot of effort, unity and cooperation among

the PNP, the local government and the community. With this, Tabujara appeals to the six local chief

executives to extend their 100% support to the

different programs and plans laid out to eradicate illegal drugs in the province.

He announced that PNP-Siquijor plans to

conduct series of orientations, seminars and trainings on the various laws pertaining illegal drugs and its preventive measures to the PNP personnel with the

different schools and stakeholders. Reactivation of the Anti-Drug Abuse Councils

(ADAC) of the municipalities and barangays is also

called for to plan and develop strategies for the

sustainability of all anti-drug campaigns in the

province. The provincial director stressed that campaigns

to the identified barangays where drugs are prevalent

and mobilization of barangay ADACs are prioritized. Tabujara also said that establishment of the

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in the island is underway.

Larena Municipal Mayor and president of the mayor‟s league Dean Villa has offered a space at the town‟s new Tourism Center at the pier area to

house the PDEA office. The PNP will also be working with the

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to strengthen the

monitoring of illegal drugs because the island, he said is open 360 degrees to all neighboring island provinces.

Augmentation of PNP personnel that will focus on drug campaign and drug-related operations are also planned, he added. Tabujara thanked provincial

governor Zaldy Villa for his support to all the PNP

initiatives.

He said the sincerity of the PNP, local officials and all the people to participate will surely lead to the success of the program.

SPPO Provincial intelligence branch (PIB) and provincial anti-illegal drug special operation task group (PAIDSOTG) chief Marve Bolay-og reported that from January to September this year, 13

individuals were arrested for drug-related cases in the province. PDEA‟s agent Mark Maranag encouraged everyone to help and participate in

making Siquijor a drug-free province. The fight against illegal drugs is not only a

problem of the law enforcement, nor the PNP, the

NBI or the PDEA, it is everybody‟s concern, Maranag said. Municipal mayors Villa of Larena, Mei Ling Quezon of Siquijor, Gerold Pal-ing of Enrique

Villanueva, and Wilfredo Capundag of San Juan all vowed strong support during the Crime Prevention week celebration in Siquijor. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7

-Siquijor)

By: Rizalie A. Calibo

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU CITY, Sept. 24 (PIA) --- Over 100 participants from tri-media and students combined gathered September 23 for a

forum on climate change as one of the series of activities in celebration of the Cebu Press Freedom Week that kicked off on

September 21.

T he forum tackled the alarming issue of

climate change and its impact on extreme

weather patterns and water supply and

balancing environment with development amid

the construction boom in Cebu.

Resource speakers were Engr. Oscar

Tabada, chief meteorologist of Pagasa-Visayas;

Engr. Lasaro Salvacion, department manager of

the Environment and Water Resources

of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD)

and Dr. Eddie Llamedo, chief of the

Regional Public Affairs Office of the Department

of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR-7).

Tabada said since 1950s, climate change

already exists but that a continuous increase

in temperature will lead to global warming

which in turn results to climate change.

Climate change, he added, will experience warm-

er and drier summer and wetter wet sea-

son.

“Because of extreme weather events due to

climate change, there will be more

disasters,” warned Tabada.

Tabada meanwhile said the current El Niño

is weak and that starting November, “we

will experience below normal average rainfall.”

Salvacion on the other hand, said that

even without climate change, the water

utility firm needs to augment its water production

to meet the rising population in Metro Cebu and

the water demand of a growing business

community.

“At present, we are only providing 43

percent of water needs to Metro Cebu as we

hope to increase this by over 60 percent in 2020,”

said Salvacion.

According to Salvacion, the population in

Metro Cebu in 1995 stands at 1.293 million

which figure is expected to double by this year.

With the El Niño, Salvacion said they are

expecting surface water sources to be affected.

MCWD now adopts measures in case of a dry

spell that would affect its water production

supply.

The MCWD produces 40,000 cubic meters

a day from surface water sources. Salvacion said

any loss of production is offsetted by the 18,000

cu.m. of water daily from Carmen; 11,000

cu.m./day from Abejo water and another 2,520

cu. m./day from other water project sources.

Llamedo meanwhile said one major factor

before an investor pours in money is to

determine the environment as he provided the list

of specific areas in Cebu that are prone to

landslides and flooding.

The DENR-7 public information chief also

said they are now completing the 1:10,000

geohazard map where he urged local government

units to maximize its use before planning

development structures in their areas.

A commitment signing to take care of the

environment followed after the open forum with

PIA-7, KBP officials and all the resource panelists

and other participants.

The forum was a joint undertaking of

the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7) and

the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas

– Cebu Chapter in cooperation with the

MCWD and the Regional Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC

-7). (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)

PIA partners with KBP for climate change forum

By: Fayette C. Riñen

CENTRAL VISAYAS, Sept. 25 (PIA) -- The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy-Manila announces the call for

applications for the Winter 2015 YSEALI Institute on Religious Pluralism.

U.S. Embassy calls for applicants for Winter 2015 YSEALI Institute on Religious

T he Institute will take place from January

10- February 14, 2015 at Temple University in Philadelphia, United States. Deadline for

nominations is October 10, 2014. All nominations must be electronic and addressed

to Ej Bautista, Cultural Affairs Assistant, at philippinesyseali@gmail.com

The purpose of this intensive academic program is to provide undergraduate student leaders with a deeper

understanding of the United States, while enhancing their leadership skills.

The Institute on Religious Pluralism in the United States will consist of seminar discussions, readings, group

presentations, and lectures. Educational travel, local site visits, and volunteer

opportunities will complement coursework and classroom activities.

The Institute will include an academic residency component of approximately four weeks and a domestic

travel component of approximately one week, to include a 2-3 day closing program in Washington, DC.

The Institute will explore U.S. history, society, and institutions within the context of religious pluralism and

interfaith dialogue. Participants will meet with U.S. community leaders

of different faiths that advocate for collaboration and

tolerance among religious groups. They will also examine the leadership role that

religious officials play in their own societies and develop ideas for positive social change.

During their four-day study tour, participants will travel to Florida where they will have the opportunity to

visit historical and cultural sites and discuss topics related to immigration and the Native-American

experience. The United States Embassy will cover all

participant costs, including: international airfare; insurance coverage; program administration;

domestic travel and ground transportation; incidental allowances; housing and subsistence; and per diem for

meals. Participants will be expected to share a room with

another student of the same gender. Care will be taken to ensure that any special

requirements regarding diet, daily worship, housing and medical care are respected.

Candidates for this program should: Have a strong interest in religious pluralism; represent diverse ethnic

and religious groups; be fluent in English; be between 18 and 25 years of age; be willing to share their U.S.

experience with peers, community groups and other

relevant organizations upon their return home, as local circumstances allow.

They must also be willing to join the broader YSEALI network; have at least one semester remaining

in their university studies and be committed to returning home to complete their degree; demonstrate strong

leadership qualities; indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States.

They must have a high level of academic achievement, as indicated by grades, awards, and teacher

recommendations; have demonstrated commitment to community and extracurricular university activities; have

had little or no prior study or travel experience in the United States or elsewhere.

Candidates must be mature, responsible, independent, confident, open-minded, tolerant,

thoughtful and inquisitive; be willing and able to fully participate in an intensive academic program, community

service and educational travel; and, be comfortable with campus life, prepared to share living accommodations,

and able to make adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home

communities. (mbcn/PIA7/with reports from the Public Affairs/U.S.Embassy)

CEBU, Sept. 25 (PIA) -- Following a declaration of state of calamity by the city council due to heavy flooding caused by

Typhoon Mario, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has implemented a price freeze on basic goods in Cebu City.

DTI issues price freeze on basic goods in Cebu

D TI Central Visayas (DTI-7) regional director

Asteria Caberte explained that with “the declaration of a state of calamity by a local

government unit (LGU) in a particular area the prices

on basic goods shall automatically be frozen at their prevailing prices.”

Caberte said a price control is in effect for the duration of the condition that brought it about but

not more than 60 days. Section 6 of RA 7581 otherwise known as the

Price Act, a price freeze is automatically

implemented as a preventive measure in order to

thwart overpricing of goods such as processed milk,

canned goods, coffee, laundry soap, detergent, candles, bread during times of calamities, Caberte added.

The Price Act lists the basic necessities assigned to DTI are canned fish and other marine

products, pro-cessed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergent and bread.

Assigned to the Department of Agriculture (DA) include: rice, corn, cooking oil, fresh eggs, fresh pork/ beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh

vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh/ dried and other

marine products.

Assigned to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are firewood and charcoal; and the Department of Health (DOH)

– drugs classified as essential by DOH.

The DTI, as chair of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) coordinates with

members from government and private sectors to cooperate with one another during natural disasters and emergencies. (mbcn/PIA7/with reports from DTI

7)

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Rural folks in Samar hinterlands say goodbye

to ‘Lampara’

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept 23 (PIA) - Some 267 families located in the hinterlands of Samar can now bid goodbye to

the ‘lampara’ they use at nighttime.

O n Monday, three Punong Barangays from

the Seven Hills area in Calbayog City

joined Mayor Ronald Aquino received

the solar panel, bulbs and solar charger from the

Department of Energy- Affiliation of Renewable

Energy Center (DOE-AREC) engineers based in

the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP),

Catarman, Northern Samar.

Engineers Lidany Cornilles and Simon Tan

demonstrated to the three Punong Barangays of

Mabini, San Antonio and Olera how the system

works.

“Lampara gud la an amon gamit

pagsuga,”(We use kerosene lamp as source of

light) PB Sixto Vicentino of San Antonio told PIA.

He added that the price of kerosene is too

heavy for his people.

His 600 households easily accepted that they

have to shell out some P 200.00 a month for the

project‟s sustainability.

“The money they shared is their stake, so

that, they can claim ownership of the program,”

said Simon Tan. The money is deposited in a rural

bank and will be used to purchase damaged gears

in the future.

The Household Electrification Project of the

energy department can provide each household

with four bulbs, one charger that can also be used

to charge cellphones, MP3 player and even a DVD

player.

While the punong barangays acknowledge

that they might need the new gadgets for

entertainment and information, the provision of

the light is giving them more excitement.

“Of course, we will not discard the „lampara‟

just in case, but we can give it some rest,”

Rodrigo Wahingon of Barangay Olera said in jest.

The project targets rural barangays that are

not yet in the list of the electric cooperative that

services other barangays in Calbayog.

Engr Rafaelito Serrano, assistant city

engineer who is in charge of overseeing the

project said that some ten more remote

barangays have yet to enjoy the same solar energy

project. (jrc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

By: Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

New project envisions zero out-of-school youth in the country

T he program will look for OSYs in the

whole province and they will be given

opportunities to be more productive

citizens.

"They will be asked whether they want

employment, education or entrepreneurship,"

Quitalig told the department heads of national

and provincial agencies.

The education department through the

existing Alternative Learning System (ALS)

vounteer teachers has conducted a survey and has

so far enlisted some 25,288 OSYs.

Other government agencies commit to offer

their existing programs parallel to the goal of

DepEd - to involve the OSYs inproductive

activities.

The Labor Department, offers job placement

assistance and group loans for small businesses.

DTI on the other hand offers entrepreneur

assistance-market linkages and product

development.

TESDA is assigned to provide skills training

chosen by the OSY. Agrarian Reform will also

give the OSYs skills training in agrarian reform

communities while the army will provide mobile

teachers in conflict affected areas.

Abot-Alam project is of nationwide in scope

that targets one million OSYs to be given the

choice of education, employment and skills

training.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan who was

present during the initial meeting vowed to

support the program for her constituents.

"I strongly support the program so that

Samar will be given a new image of productive

citizens," Tan promised.

The program will be officially launched in

Catbalogan come September 26, 2014. (jrc/nbq/

PIA 8-Samar)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 21 (PIA) -- Abot-Alam, a new government convergence program envisions zero

out-of-school youth (OSY) in the Philippines, according to DepEd Samar Division Superintendent Thelma Quitalig during the

initial meeting of the program in Catbalogan City.

By: Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

DA teaches rice technology thru radio

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Sept. 22 (PIA) - The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), an attached agency of the

Department of Agriculture has recently rolled out an information campaign dubbed as "School in the Air".

T he course of the said program is

PALAYAMANAN (Rice Based Farming

System).

In an interview with PIA, Teodoro Apura,

the Focal Person and Agriculturist II of OPAS,

said that the purpose of this program is to in-

crease awareness and adoption on the latest tech-

nologies on rice, other crops and livestocks and

increase the yeild and income of a greater mass

of farmers.

Apura further said that farmers who are

interested to know the modern technologies of

farming and want to increase their income are

invited to enroll in this program.

After listening to the program, there is an

examination, the Mid-term and the Finals "on

Air."

Two weeks after "on Air" examinations, the

results will be released "on Air".

After this examination, there is also a

Comprehensive Examination (Oral Exam.) to be

held at DA, OPAS, Provincial Office.

For this batch, their oral examination was

conducted last September 12. Those who got the

highest results will be awarded.

For this school year, from June 9 to

September 5, out of the 12 achievers, seven took

the oral exam and passed.

The following are the achievers:

Valedictorian-Roman Beros of Brgy. Canluterio,

Maydolong, E. Samar and Salutatorian-Maricel

Apura of Brgy. Cabong, Borongan City.

The runner-ups are: Maria Ethel Beros of

Brgy. Canluterio, Maydolong, Clarita Agda of

Brgy. San Pablo, Borongan, Jennifer Denos of

Brgy. San Jose, Borongan, Norma Dalina of Brgy.

Siha, Borongan and Noriel Ben Dalina of Brgy.

Siha, Borongan City.

The achievers will receive the non-cash

benefits: continuous food supply, higher farm

income and productivity, reduced production

risks such as pest damage and price fluctuation,

savings and healthy diet from eating home-grown

crops and savings from converting biomass wast-

ed into fertilizers and animal feed

supplement.

There are more or less 100 candidates

expected to graduate out of more than 200

enrolees this coming September 24 depending

then results of their final examination. The final

examination is on September 22.

This program is implemented by the Office

of the Provincial Agricultural Services (OPAS) and

anchored by Mrs. Amie Abella, the Office

Farmcaster.

The topics discussed and anchored for this

school year program "on Air" are: For Crops:

Rice by Teodoro Apura, Corn by Bernadette

Capada and Vegetables and Fruit trees by Lope

Caliba. For Livestock by Melanie Osita. For

Aqua-culture by Jaime Salazar and for Biomass

Waste Recycling by Danilo Anosa.

The "School in the Air" is aired every

Monday, Wednesday and Friday (MWF) at

5:00 - 5:30 am at DYES, Radyo ng Bayan. (jrc/

sdc//PI8A-E. Samar)

By: Samuel D. Candido

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

DENR, PIA hold Climate Change advocacy

drive in Maasin City

MAASIN CITY , Southern Leyte, Sept. 22 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-CENRO/

PENRO and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) conducted a Climate Change Advocacy Campaign in Barangay Asuncion,

Maasin City, September 18.

T he activity held in the evening of

Thursday is in coordination with the

city government of Maasin and the

provincial government of Southern Leyte.

It was participated by Asuncion Barangay

Officials, Purok Presidents, among other

concerned individuals led by Barangay

Chairman Narciso Montalbo, Jr, who

welcomed the participants during the opening

program.

Topics discussed include Adapting

with a Changing Climate by the Provincial

Environment and Natural Resources

Management Office head Dr.Eva Abad;

How to make Compost by Benjase Lumen

from Maasin City General Services Office; and

Effects of Chlorocarbon on the Ozone

Layer by Edilberto Alcarde from

DENR-CENRO Maasin.

Abad disclosed in her presentation

on how to protect our forests,

rivers, lakes, seas and underwater

gardens, and the environment as a

whole and how we can change to mitigate the

effects of climate change, saying “Nagbago na

ako.”

Abad urged the participants to

help mitigate the ill effects of these

actions such as planting of trees and

mangroves, adapt an organic farming

using organic fertilizer, reuse of products

from wastes, recycle papers, proper waste

disposal, to name a few.

The undertaking also launched

other support activities of the CCA such

as the Inter-Purok Zero Basura and

Creativity contest and the J ingle

Making Contest, criteria and the

contest mechanics presented by Bong Pedalino

of PIA.

Maa s i n C i t y mayor Ma loney

Samaco del ivered an inspirat ional

message during the program saying

the city government is always supportive of the

programs of the national government,

while PIA Infocen Manager Erna Gorne

delivered her closing remarks. (jrc/rgc/

PIA8-SoLeyte)

NGCP Visayas intensifies advocacy campaign on R.A. 7832

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 21 (PIA) – In its effort to protect the assets of the power transmission lines and its structures

from any misuse, abuse or theft, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Visayas has intensified its advocacy

campaign on the enforcement of Republic Act 7832 otherwise known as the ―Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/

Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

D uring the NGCP press briefing Friday at

San Juanico Golf and Country Club, this

city, Bernard Domingo of NGCP Visayas

said that mere possession of a transmission line

material is illegal per se as laid down by section 3

of Republic Act 7832.

Hence, whether the transmission line material is

stolen or not by the possessor, it constitutes a

violation of the law.

He further emphasized that even buying and

or selling of pilfered tower parts are also

punishable by law.

Relative to this, he admitted that after

typhoon Yolanda struck in November last year,

resulting in the total destruction of its

transmission lines particularly in areas

heavily damaged by the typhoon, cases for

violation of R.A. 7832 were filed against five

individuals including an owner of a junk shop in

the city who were caught in possession of such

material.

If proven by the court, the accused shall be

penalized under the said law which constitutes an

imprisonment of 12 to 20 years.

If it is committed in connivance with an

officer of the corporation, the term of

imprisonment shall be 20 to 40 years or a fine of

not less than P50,000 to P100,000 or both as

decided by the courts.

Thus, NGCP encouraged the public to

report any suspicious activities near the power

transmission lines or structures to their hotline

number 09369007382. (PIA-8)

Leyte TB patients assured of availability of medicines for

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 24 (PIA) – Persons with tuberculosis can now avail of free services and medicines from TB

DOTS facilities in the Province of Leyte.

P rovincial Health Officer Dr. Ma. Teresa

Caidic gave this assurance during a Forum

on Synergizing Efforts to Combat TB for

Leyte at Hotel Alejandro, this city.

Caidic said, although there is only one TB

DOTS providing hospital in Leyte which is Leyte

Provincial Hospital, all other hospitals are

considered TB referring hospitals which can also

serve TB patients.

Likewise, rural health units (RHUs) in the

province may also offer treatment and services to

TB patients.

In 2012, TB was not included in the top ten

mortality but included in the top ten causes of

morbidity. However, in 2013, it ranked number 9

of the causes of morbidity and number 6 as the

causes of death in Leyte.

Hence, health workers expressed fear for

the lives of many TB patients especially children

who belong to undetected cases which are not

even enrolled in TB DOTS facilities.

It was learned that 70 percent of untreated

TB patients will die in five years. Thus, Caidic is

urging the public to consult a doctor when

suffering a cough for two weeks or more.

In response to this, the Provincial

Government of Leyte through the Provincial

Health Office forged partnership with other

government agencies, non-government

organizations and the private sector through a

covenant signing during the forum.

The signatories came from various

government and private agencies which signify

their commitment of support to control

tuberculosis in Leyte.

In such activity, Dr. Caidic emphasized the

importance of effective collaboration between the

public and private sector in implementing various

TB control interventions as the success of the

program rests not only on the health sector but

everybody‟s concern.

Likewise, the National Tuberculosis Program

(NTP) will be strengthened in collaboration with

the Innovations and Multi-Sectoral Partnership to

achieve control of Tuberculosis (IMPACT) Project

of the Philippine Business and Social Progress

(PSP-USAID) that will provide a 5-year technical

assistance to the other 17 regions will be

implemented until September 2017.

Leyte aimed at attaining the Millenium

Development Goals (MDG) where TB is no

longer one of the top ten leading causes of

mortality and morbidity.

“90 percent of those with tuberculosis

should start treatment and 90 percent of those

who started their treatment should finish the

treatment and get cured, “Caidic added.

Today, TB is a second leading cause of

deaths from an infectious disease worldwide.

(PIA-8)

By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

By: Rebecca S. Cadavos

By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

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 piaamo6@yahoo.com.

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: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com

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: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com