October 16-31, 2015 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 8

DRUG awareness campaign held

CPOC-RPOC Meeting tackles disposed of accumulated drugs

GSIS offers new benefit enhancements for members, pensioners

Brgys. trained for emergency, disaster response

By Rebecca CadavosBy Erna Sy Gorne

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BSP demonitizes old bank notes

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) needs to demonetize the old banknotes/old currencies to safe-guard the integrity of the Philippine banknotes, Maria Teresa N. Labrador from BSP Tacloban Branch said.

In a joint meeting held recently with the Regional Development Council-De-velopment Administration Committee (RDC-DAC) and the Southern Leyte Pro-vincial Development Council (PDC), Lab-rador expressed why there’s a need for our banknotes to be demonetized, say-ing that “the New Design Series (NDS) Banknotes have been in use since 1985, or for over 29 years.”

What happened to the confiscat-ed drugs held by authorities?

The Regional Peace and Or-der Council (RPOC) wants to know, and in a meeting held at the city hall here Monday, September 28, jointly with the City Peace and Order Coun-cil (CPOC), no less than the RPOC Chairman, Calbayog City Mayor Ron-aldo Aquino, posed the question.

Mayor Aquino’s interesting, at-tention-grabbing query came about after the presentation of the peace and order situation in the region by Police Sr. Supt. Ramil Ramirez, but well before the topic on the regional drug situation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 8 office.

Apparently, it was addressed to PDEA, and Mayor Aquino premised

The Department of Public Works and Highways – Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) is determined on helping employees find the way out of illegal drugs abuse by ini-tiating the first step of the long road to recovery through the conduct of a drug awareness campaign, Monday, at DPWH Function Room.

More than 200 workers from the engi-neering department participated in the sym-posium with speakers from the Department of Health – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Dulag, Leyte who discussed the effects of illegal drug abuse, among other ill effects.

In its effort to reduce casualties in times of emergencies particularly during calamities, the provincial government hastened to equip barangay folks with emergency response skills being the first responders in their ba-rangays.

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Danilo Atienza, the provincial gov-ernment through the leadership of Provincial Governor Roger Mercado has slated for all the barangays across the province to undergo the Barangay Disaster Response Training until early next year.

To date, there are already 29 ba-rangays based in Maasin City that have undertaken the emergency re-sponse trainings and have even or-ganised well- trained respective ba-rangay disaster response teams, it was learned.

Each barangay participants were composed of barangay punong chair-man, barangay nurition scholars, ba-rangay tanod, purok chairmen and barangay kagawads.

At the start of each training activ-ities, PDRRMO Atienza presented the hydrological and meteorologicl haz-ards, climate change adaptation and proper waste disposal management. Unsegregated waste disposal is one of the sources of methane gas,one of the greenhouse gases responsible for the global warmth.

The three-days training includes the lecture and demonstrations of ba-sic life support such as first aid, guide-lines in giving emergency care,patient casualty handling, methods of trans-fer, drressing and bandaging tech-niques, fracture and splinting ech-niques, medical emergencies, heart attack and cardiac arrests, cardiopul-monary resuscitation, among others, Atienza said.

At the end of each training, the formation of Barangay Disaster Re-sponse Team (BDR) are already in place for each of the 29 barangays so far, he added.

By Rebecca Cadavos

By Bong Pedalino

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#2016SL #2016SL1 Representative

1 Governor

1 Vice Governor

8 SP Members

4 District 1,Maasin - Bontoc

4 District 2,Sogod-Pacific/Panaon

1 City Mayor

1 City Vice Mayor

10 City Councilors

18 Mayors

18 Vice Mayors

144 SB Members

248,148 registered voters as of July 20, 2015

DPWH-SLDEO

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced that its mem-bers and pensioners will be receiving additional benefits starting September 2015.

First, the funeral benefit of GSIS members and pensioners will be increased from P 20,000.00 to P 30,000.00.

The funeral benefit was last increased in 2001 when it was raised from P 18,000 to P 20,000.00, General Manager Robert Vergara said.

In addition more than 272,000 regular old-age and disability pensioners as of 31 December 2014 will receive a one-time benefit equivalent to one-month pension, or P 10,000.00 whichever is lower.

GSIS will also be introducing a “milestone” benefit scheme for nearly 6,000 pension-ers who, as of 1 September 2015 are 90 to 94 years old, will receive P 20,000.00. Over 1,000 pensioners who are 95 to 99 years old will receive P 50,000.00, while 181 pension-ers who are 100 years old and above will receive P 100,000.00.

Moreover, starting September 2 and thereafter, regular pensioners will be paid the following milestone benefit on their birthday: P 20,000.00 to pensioners who will turn 90 years old; P 30,000.00 to pensioners who will turn 95 years old; and P 50,000.00 to pensioners who will turn 100 years old.

Vergara added that the GSIS is now in a position to enhance these benefits due to its record financial performance in 2014 when its total assets reached P 908 billion while its income rose P 140 billion and its revenues to P 231 billion. (GSIS/SLT)

RE-ELECTIONISTS ALL: Among the early bird filers of the Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) for the week-long filing period Oct. 12-16 are all incum-bents. Cong. Damian Mercado (sitting, left) in a huddle with Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Antonio Gulay, along with Board Members Atty. Abelardo Almario, Atty. Teopisto Rojas and Atty. Feorillo Demeterio (back of Cong. Mer-cado). At right, Gov. Roger Mercado and Vice-Gov. Sheffered Tan display their respective COCs.

Vol. III, No.8

Page 2 October 16-31, 2015

TEXTBLAST NEWS

The said move is to align with the practice of other central banks around the world which change the design of their currency that has been in circulation for over 10 years, Labrador bared.

She said that the NDS demonetiza-tion process started January 1, 2015 yet under Monetary Board Resolution No. 1939. Said NDS banknotes can still be used for day-to-day transactions to pay for goods and services.

Labrador added that the BSP en-courages the public to use the NDS banknotes in their possession within the period from January 1, 2015-Decem-ber 31, 2015, while starting January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016, the NDS banknotes can no longer be used in day-

to-day transactions, she said. “The said NDS banknotes can only

be exchanged at face value, free of charge at the Cash Department of the BSP, its three (3) Regional Offices and 19 branches or at BSP authorized agent bank,” Labrador informed.

On January 1, 2017, the NDS banknotes can no longer be used in day-to-day transactions and can’t be ex-changed at any Bangko Sentral ng Pili-pinas offices/branches /agents, Labrador added.

The New Generation Curren-cy (NGC) banknotes will be the only banknote series that will be in use in the country starting January 2017, Labrador revealed further.

BSP demonitizes.. (from page 1)

DPWH-SLDEO holds... (from page 1)After the half-day awareness drive, em-

ployees who tested positive of illegal drugs use, permanent and job order in status, re-mained for a one-on-one assessment with the concerned officials.

The report said that the assessment is aimed at finding out the extent of drug use and dependency and find out suitable reha-bilitation process.

Earlier in a surprise drug test conducted with the DPWH employees in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), 23 employees were found positive of illegal drugs use – 17 are job order workers and six permanent personnel.

The source said that all the six regular workers showed up while 12 laid off workers submitted themselves to the assessment procedure. Five declined the invitation, it was learned.

The DPWH-SLDEO required those per-

manent employees tested positive of illegal drugs to undergo a mandatory rehabilitation program, while dismissed job order workers were given the option to recover and regain their jobs after securing a drug-free certifi-cate from DOH-TRC.

“If you still want to work in DPWH, I en-courage you to help yourselves completely abandon illegal drugs use because this is your only and last chance,” Information Offi-cer-designate Rouella May Altar quoted DP-WH-SLDEO District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia during the drug awareness campaign .

The SLDEO will provide a space at the Area Equipment Service compound in Ba-rangay Ibarra for the conduct of weekly ses-sion for drug users. The session will run for 10 months, it was learned further.

To sustain the drug-free workplace pro-gram, DPWH-SLDEO will draft a policy, out-lining regulations and sanctions for violators.

The Department of Education (DepEd) calls on interested teachers, professionals, practitioners, and experts to apply for full-time and part-time teaching positions for Grades 11 and 12 for the School Year (SY) 2016-2017.

Applicants must be interested in teaching the core curriculum and/or applied and specialized subjects under the four Senior High School (SHS) tracks.

Interested applicants should be a Filipino citizen. Mandatory re-quirements for all applicants include letter of intent which shall indicate the statement of purpose or expression of interest, track(s)/stand(s)/subject(s) applying for, and preferred school(s), if any; CSC Form 212, revised 2005 (Personal Data Sheet) in two copies with the latest 2x2 ID picture; certified photocopy of certificates of relevant trainings, if any; certified copy of voter’s ID and/or any proof of residency; National Bu-reau of Investigation (NBI) clearance; and omnibus certification of au-thenticity and veracity of all documents submitted and signed by the applicant.

Expression of intent should be submitted on or before October 30 to their local DepEd Schools Division Office (SDO) with all the mandatory requirements for all applicants and/or additional requirements for per-manent full-time positions, for TVL, Arts and Design and Sports Tracks teacher-applicants, and additional requirements for HEI/TVI faculty.

Expected salaries will range from P19,940 to P39,493. Candidates will be ranked according to the DepEd’s criteria for eval-

uation and selection process. DepEd will also follow general guidelines for the hiring and placement of successful applicants.

DepEd opens application for Senior High School teachers Case management

NORFIL, a non-profit organization accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held a Rights-based Case Management for social workers of child caring agencies in Cebu City recently. Director Ma. Teresa Nuque said that the one-week activity participated by Maasin City rep-resentatives is focused on understanding the rights and corresponding case management concepts, processes, and procedures in handling abandoned, neglected, orphaned children in child caring facility. (rgc)

Rabies-free LGUs

Dr. Francisco Cabbarubias, Provincial Veterinarian, clarified that the award given to Southern Leyte as the rabies-free province is on human rabies cases only, meaning no fatality on humans, while the Municipality of Limasawa was both in humans and dogs that are free from rabies. Meanwhile, Dr. Cabbaru-bias informed during the dySL Kapihan sa PIA forum October 16 that the prov-ince established production centers where planting materials can be sourced. Demonstrations on how to plant properly is also available. (rgc)

MHCAP launched

The provincial government through Gov. Roger Mercado and the Philippine Red Cross-Southern Leyte Chapter launched the Medical Health Care Assis-tance Program (MHCAP) which was formally approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently. The MHCAP can be availed by indigent patients as many bags of blood needed for free as long as it is endorsed by a public phy-sician and chief of hospital, where each bag of blood will be later replaced. (esg)

RCY in NYC

Eight (8) Red Cross Youth Volunteers will participate in the 19th National Youth Congress, Oct. 24-27, 2015 in Mandaluyong City, Red Cross-South-ern Leyte Administrator Jonas Maco informed. The RCYY volunteers will be accompanied by one staff in charge, he said. The National Youth Congress is carrying the theme, “Re-living Our History, Creating Our Legacy, Yielding Holistic Advocates for Humanity.” (rgc)

Tech-Voc courses

TESDA-So. Leyte offers the following vocational-technical courses for the second semester in November 2015, all requiring National Certificate 2 (NC2). These included Shielded Metal Arc Weilding, Plumbing, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning, Housekeepping, and Bartending for applicants 18 and above years old; Health Care Services, Household Keeping, and Bartending for applicants 15-18 years old, either High School Graduate, College Gradu-ate, and AS Graduate. (esg)

BFP training

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Maasin City conducted training on eight (8) new recruits, mostly nurses by profession, an on-the-job training like rap-pelling, rescue firefighting, orientation on the use of rescue ambulance and other operational procedures, Fire Officer II Raul Inocando Jr. said. Another three (3) regular personnel went schooling for Fire Arson Investigation and Inspection Course, and Fire Protection Supervisory Course. (rgc)

CPOC-RPOC Meeting tackles... (from page 1)

it on widely-read reports, though unconfirmed and unsubstantiated, alleging that deposited banned drugs found its way sooner into the user-pusher under-ground community in a recycled manner.

PDEA Regional Director Morfel Navales declared that the Courts order his agency to destroy these prohibited drugs, adding that the law invests in them the mandate to carry out such type of destruction.

“The process of destruction is the same as that of apprehension, wherein there will be witnesses, such as the media and barangay officials,” among other stakeholders, Navales explained, implying the impossibility of such talks as market re-sale or re-use.

Navales said he hoped to carry out such act of destruction one day follow-ing a Court order, and he will invite all RPOC members to attend.

Ormoc City Mayor Edward Codilla opened the joint CPOC-RPOC meeting with words full of gratitude for the privilege of hosting the event.

He urged all the members and visitors present to continue striving for peace and never lose hope for peace to be achieved.

Vol. III, No.8

Page 3October 16-31, 2015

COC FILERS

BOILING POLITICAL POT: Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Antonio Gulay plays host to filers at the provincial level. Clockwise from top, left: Gov. Mercado and Vice-Gjov. Tan, re-electionists; incumbent Board Member Daisy Gamale Llanes files for Vice-Governor under the Nationalista Party; Liberal Party bets for Provincial Board Members, District I, pose with Cong. Mercado, Gov. Mercado, and Mayor Agustin Escano of Tomas Oppus; Daryl Resus back in the political scene, this time running for Board Member under UNA.

CITY CANDIDATES ALL: The LP bets for the city, above left, with Cong. Mercado flash the Laban sign, while City Election Officer Lawrence Gelsano signs the papers. Above, right, their counterpart from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) that included incumbent Board Member Albert Esclamado (first from right, sitting) for Governor, and former Saint Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza (third from left, sitting) for Congressman. Former Mayor Atty. Gerry Dator (third from right, sitting) takes another crack at the Mayoral post of Maasin City, with former Councilor Ruel Sibi (second from right) as his running mate for Vice-Mayor. Below, incumbent City Mayor Maloney Samaco (left) will run as Vice-Mayor, and ABC Provincial Federation President Nacional “Nikko” Mercado for the Mayoral post under the LP ticket.

POSITION LIBERAL PARTY

Congressman: MERCADO, DAMIAN GAVIOLA Governor: MERCADO, ROGER GAVIOLAVice Governor: TAN, SHEFFERED LINO SIONGCOSP Members:

First District: BANTUG, MARGARITA AUSA IDJAO, ADRIANO AMOR PANO, JESSICA MARIE ESCAÑO SALUDO, MARTA SERDAN Second District: ALMARIO, ABELARDO COLINA ASPERIN, ADELAIDA AMARGA ESTRERA, AILEEN LUZON UY, LEONCIO III TEMPLA

UNITED NATIONALIST ALLIANCEPARTY

RENTUZA, RICO CABUG-OSESCLAMADO, ALBERT GALVEZOLANDRIA, JOJIE SENOC

ASTORGA, SANTIAGO INOCANDODUMANCAS, RUEL VILLACERAN RESOS, DARYLL BUNGCARAS ASTILLO, VIRGILIO SARVIDACOQUILLA, CRISANTO BINTULANMAAMO, MIGUEL II CAGASANRENTUZA, MYRA CALONIA

NATIONALISTA PARTY

LLANES, DAISY GAMALE

INDEPENDENTSCAMUS, OSCAR AZARCON

CATURAN, MIGUELINO LANICESPINA, FLORO FLORENTINO SILONG LARIBA, FELIXBERTO LICONGSUWAIB, MOHAMAD MAMBUAYALABOC, RUBEN LLEGUE

LIST OF PROVINCIAL CANDIDATES

Vol. III, No.8

Page 4 October 16-31, 2015

Director-General Jose Mari Oquinena of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) urged members of a radio communications group here to continue what they have been doing, especially in providing a voice during disasters when all power lines bug down.

“Let your actions speak louder than your words, stay passionate as you continue with your passion . . . in times of disaster when all communications are off, yours is the voice that says kalma lang, help will come,” Oquinena said before an audience of more than 200 ham radio enthusiasts and members of Modulator Action Group of Maasin (MAGMA) at the city gym.

Also in the audience were City Mayor Maloney Samaco and Danilo Atienza, head of Provincial Disaster Management Office (PDMO), who spoke in behalf of Gov. Roger Mercado.

It was MAGMA’s ninth anniversary celebration October 3, and Oquinena was invited as the guest speaker.

A highlight of the occasion was the launching of Ham Emergency Action Re-sponse Team (HEART), the direction MAGMA intends to take in the near or far future in coordination with various local government units, private individuals, and other radio groups for quick response in any emergencies not just calamities, said Dr. Jerome Paler, one of the organizers.

Oquinena praised MAGMA for having reached nine years of volunteer service, adding that he hoped the group will flourish even more in the years ahead with their brand of volunteerism that puts others first before their own welfare.

“What is important is you have conviction, you believe what you are here for . . . you guys give it a good fight, you have a different level of commitment,” he added.

Stay passionate in your passion, DG Oquinena tells radio group

By Bong Pedalino

PHIL. COCONUT AUTHORITY MIBAYAD NA SA MGA COCO-FARMERS

Tagnipa, Maasin City - Gikalipay sa mga magtatanum ug mga lubi nga bayaran og salapi ang mga nagbinhi og natanom og mga lubi. Butang nga gikalipay kaayo sa mga mag-uuma. Sa atong probensya ang Philippine Coconut Authority gidumala ni Agriculturist Eniverto Acasio, VSu graduate. Ang binayaray gihimo sa lu-ag og hamuga-way nga Brgy. Evacuation Center sa Brgy. Tagnipa. Miabot og 277 ka mga coco-farmers nga taga Maasin, ang nakadawat og bayad. Ang kantidad nga ila nga madawat nagdependi sa gidaghanun sa binhi. Matud ni Ms. Estela Mulig, Emcee sa maong okasyon, miabot og P696,600 ang ilang nai-bayad sa mga farmers. Sa pagkakaron padayon ang PCA, pagdasig ngadto sa mga yuta-an nga mga tawo, nga tanuman nila og lubi ang ila mga yuta, og polihan na kadtong mga karaan na kaayo kay dili na kini muhatag og daghang bunga. Gitag-an usab ni Cong. Damian "Mian" Mercado, nga sa dili madugay aduna nay Planta nga tukoron para moproseso og Virgin Coconut Oil. Mga negosyanting "In-tsik" ang mamuhonan niini. Si Congressman Mian og si Cong. Mark Villar nagpanun pag-adto sa China aron moimbitar pa og mga negosyanteng Instsik alang sa VCO processing, butang nga gikalipay pag-ayo sa mga mag-uuma.

STOCKADE ALANG SA MGA IRO, GIPADAK-AN

PIA Office, Government Center, Reclamation Area, Brgy. Combado, Maasin City - Sa usa ka hinanaling press conference nga gipangunahan sa PIA pinaagi ni PIA Info Manager Ms. Erna Sy Gorne gitug-an ni City Veterinarian Dr. Rey Alinsub nga ang dakbayan sa Maasin nagpadako karon sa ilang "impounding area" aron adto ibutang ang mga iro nga ilang madakpan. Sa umaabot nga mga adlaw sugdan na sa CORE ang ilang pagpangdakop sa mga latagaw nga mga iro. Giawhag sa maong betirenaryo ang mga tag-iya og mga iro nga pabakunahan nila kini aron maluwas sa rabis, ilabina kon makapaak og tawo. Matag adlaw nga Lunes himoon sa City Veterinary ang pagpang-injection ug iro, libre kini o walay bayad . Nasayran nga ang Provincial Veterinary gihatagan og award sa DOH NCR isip pagrecognize sa ilang maayong gibuhat, ilabina sa sa paghimo og Vaccination sa mga iro entero probensya, hinungdan nga walay tawo nga napaakan og iro, nga nakaangkon og rabis. Rabis Free ang So. Leyte, butang nga gikalipay ni Governor Roger G. Mercado. Congratulations sa taga PVSO personnel nga gidumala ni Dok Dudo Cabarubias DVM, VSU.

P441.51 MILYON NAHATAG SA PSWDO SA MGA

TAGA SO. LEYTE

Provincial Gym, Capitol Compound, Pacu, Maasin City - Atol sa gihimong 3rd Provincial Inter Agency Committee meeting sa Probensya nga gipangunahan ni Gobernor Roger G. Mercado ug sa iyang mga department heads, nitug-an si Mdm. Mercy Patcha, nga maoy mihulip kang PSWDO Mdm. Minda Rosete (on leave) atubangan sa kadag-koan sa probensya ug sa mga mitambong, nga ang lalawigan, nakapanghatag ug salapi gikan sa gobernong Aquino nga mokabat og P441.57 milyon, Gisugdan sa pag-pangha-tag kaniadtong tuig 2014, og miabot pa hangtod, sa ikatulong buwan sa 2015.

Mao kini ang sumada: a) Assistance to individual in Crisi Situation (AICS) - P15.25 M b) Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) - P216.72 M c) Pantawid o 4Ps - P46.34 M d) Socials - P5.5 M Ang gidaghan sa mga tawo nga nakadawat sa naasoy nga FA o Financial Assistance miabot og 30,509, apil na ang mga nagtungha sa High School og Kolehiyo, mga burial assistance og daghan pa. Gitug-an usab ni Mrs. Patcha nga nakuha sa PSWDO ang naasoy nga salapi, gumikan sa pagpaningkamot ni Congressman Damian Mercado, inabagan usab ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado. Miabot usab si Assistant Regional Deirector Resty Macuto, nga nagbasa sa mensahi ni DSWD Secretary Dinky Suliman, nga wala naka-abot.

In a video presenta-tion of the past nine years, Dr. Paler showed images of MAGMA in the thick of action in every man-made and natural calam-ities, starting in the Pana-on landslides of 2003, the displacement of peoples in Mindanao, the earthquake in Bohol, and Yolanda in Tacloban, where MAGMA did not just relay commu-nication inputs but dis-tributed relief goods and helped in rescue operations as well.

Because of these ef-forts, President Benigno Aquino recognized the group in one of the award-ing occasions in Mala-canang last year.

Oquinena said such in-spiring story should not re-main in Southern Leyte but should be shared so others can be equally inspired.