Vol 4 Issue 30 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 27 - Aug. 3, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue ESamar hails PNoy’s SONA
DRRM's focus is on preparedness
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
1:10k geo-hazard maps for over 200 Cebu brgys. completed BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, July 27 (PIA) – The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR-7) concluded its detailed geo-hazard
mapping of 1:10,000 scale for 208 priority barangays in northern
Cebu severely hit by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.
DENR-7 information officer, Dr. Ed Llamedo bared the
barangays are situated in eight municipalities and the city of Bogo.
The identified municipalities are Madridejos, Sta. Fe and Bantayan
Proper in Bantayan Island, Daan Bantayan, Tabogon, Borbon,
Tuburan and Tabuelan.
“The 1:10,000 scale geo-hazard maps are more detailed down
to the sitio level where the degree of vulnerability to floods and
landslides can be seen,” said Llamedo adding that such
comprehensive data can be used by local chief executives to
effectively work on their proactive measures on disaster
preparedness.
Llamedo, one of the panelists of the Post-Yolanda Press
Briefing: Rehabilitation Phase said the local government units
(LGUs) concerned have been furnished with the detailed
geo-hazard maps complete with recommendations.
Part of the recommendations of the DENR-7 to concerned
LGUs is the establishment of a community-based warning system
and the establishment of the disaster risk reduction and
management committee down to the sitio levels.
Llamedo said accomplishing 1:10,000 scale hazard maps is a
priority program under President Aquino’s Philippine Development
Plan on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The DENR has until the end of the year to complete the
1:10,000 geo-hazard maps of all barangays down to the sitio level
nationwide.
“Cebu is highly to susceptibility to landslides due to its soil
type which is 70 percent limestone and high number of
mountainous areas,” Llamedo added.
Llamedo called on LGUs to revisit the geo-hazard maps as
basis to make their comprehensive disaster risk reduction and
management plans.
The press briefing undertaken by the Philippine Information
Agency-7 in partnership with the Armed Forces of the
Philippines-Central Command done twice-a-month aims to highlight
continuing government interventions and contributions of
government partners in the ongoing rehabilitation and rebuilding
phase in post-Yolanda. (mbcn/fcr/PIA7)
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, July 29 (PIA) –
Whenever the highest official of the land mentions one particular
person or place in his said State of the Nation Address
(SONA), there is no other reaction of the concerned party but to
be proud of the unexpected recognition.
This was the common reaction of the people here, when His
Excellency President Benigno Aquino III included in his 2014 SONA,
Eastern Samar as one of the provinces whose Rehabilitation
Programs he has recently approved.
Engineer Enrico Banario, Provincial TESDA head was one of
those who gave the President a thumbs-up. Said over the state
owned radio station DYES, Banario expressed elation at the Presi-
dent’s statement, that is, to continue the fund support to TESDA’s
Training for Work Program.
According to Banario, he is proud of their trainees, because
60% of them have landed in highly skilled jobs here. He
referred to a number of out-of-school youths and previously jobless
and unproductive individuals in “Yolanda” hard-hit areas.
In earlier interviews, the TESDA head said they have given
trainings in carpentry and electrical installations among others and
these have given the beneficiaries substantial livelihood activities not
to mention the Carpentry Kits given them.
Banario looks forward to continue the same training for
work programs as publicly announced by the highest official of the
land.
Moreover, Dr. Andrecita Cuna, owner-manager of
Domsowir Hotel and Restaurant, gave 80% score to PNOY’s
SONA, saying, the President cannot please everybody, as she
referred to the President’s endless critics.
According to her, it is good that the President has effected
reforms in the Cabinet, even accepting the resignation of former
Customs head, Ruffy Biazon who was his friend and ally.
On the DAP and Butz Abad, Dr. Cuna said that it is better
that the President has this budget to finance emergency projects
and services, because, knowing bureaucracy with the voluminous
required documents and procedures, responding promptly to
emergency conditions is close to impossible.
Similarly, Crisencio “Jun” Ricafort, a retired policeman said
that: Dapat pabayaan na lang ang Presidente sa mga ginagawa niyang
mga proyekto. Noong panahon namin, mahirap ang supplies namin,
hindi kagaya ngayon, ang gaganda ng mga gamit ng mga pulis, tig-isa
pa ng baril, may modernong gamit pa na pang-gyera.
However, an electronic mechanic expressed slight musings on
the President. He said that: Okay naman ang SONA ng Presidente,
kaya lang, sana binanggit niya ng klaro ang gagawin niya kay Napoles
pati yong mga proyektong kalsada na hindi naman natatapos, ang iba
pa nga naubos na daw ang pondo pero hindi pa tapos ang kalsada.
(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
ILOILO CITY, July 31 (PIA6) -- Preparedness, something
that should be done before a calamity strikes, is the emphasis of
present government disaster risk reduction and management
efforts, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator
Alexander P. Pama.
Pama, who is also the Executive Director of the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said during a
press conference here that while before the focus of authorities is
on response, this has shifted to preparedness and prevention and
mitigation.
This shift in focus is embodied in Republic Act No. 10121 or
the law strengthening the Philippine disaster risk reduction and
management system, which also provides for its framework and
institutionalizes a national DRRM plan.
He cited the case of Iloilo which Pama said could have been
suffered worse from the effects of typhoon “Yolanda” if not for its
improved level of preparedness courtesy not only of local
government units but also of communities as a whole.
What is being implemented right now at national level is the
so-called pre-disaster risk assessment, a system wherein an
impending typhoon is studied and monitored before it could enter
the Philippine area of responsibility.
The pre-assessment is done by a core group led by the
Department of Science and Technology and PAGASA, which are
also at the helm of the sector on disaster prevention and mitigation.
We treat calamities or hazards not across-the-board but as
hazard-specific, area-focused and time-bound., wherein every every
hazard is treated as unique in itself, said Pama.
Once it is detected and studied, data are cascaded to the
Department of the Interior and Local Government and passed on
to LGUs along with advisories on possible effects, vulnerable areas
and preparations needed.
In case a calamity strikes, response and eventually recovery
and rehabilitation will follow, he said.
The press conference was held on the sideline of the Iloilo
Provincial DRRM Summit for Local Chief Executives held
July 31-Aug. 1 here as part of the National Disaster Consciousness
Month observance.
Pama was joined at the media interaction by OCD-6 Regional
Director and RDRRMC chair Rosario Cabrera, NEDA-6 Director
Ro-Ann Bacal and PIA-6 Director lawyer Ma. Janet C. Mesa.
In a related development, the municipality of Dumangas, Iloilo
hosted the first municipal level local climate forum of the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) on July 30.
The Local Climate Forum , a joint project with the Regional
Integrated Multi Hazarad Early Warning System (RIMES), seeks to
provide a venue to discuss climate-related issues or concerns and
forecast different time scales and how this information will be
useful to various sectors such as agriculture, water resources,
health and academe, among others. (JCM/JSC-PIA6 with LAF
report)
BETTER THAN ONE. With two lines now
capable of transmitting power in Bohol, the
time when preventive maintenance of NGCP
transmission lines and substations would mean
total blackout is past. Engr James Rodriguez
said the new 138 KV line can now be used as
alternative to the 69 KV line which Bohol used
to rely for supply in Tagbilaran. (PIABohol/
RAC)
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR)-6 Regional Technical
Director Alicia Lustica stresses the importance
of reducing our carbon footprint to campus
paper advisers to mitigate the impact of
climate change during the Basic Journalism and
School Paper Management Seminar for
Advisers held July 23-25 at the Grand Tower
Suites here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
Department of Social Welfare and
Development 8 regional director Nestor
Ramos welcome guests and participants to the
orientation of DSWD and UNICEF
partnership program on unconditional cash
benefits to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in
Eastern Visayas held at the Hotel Alejandro,
Tacloban City, July 29. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8)
USEC Alexander Pama, Exec. Director of the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council answers questions from
members of media. Joining him at the head table are (R to L)
Directors Rosario Cabrera of OCD, Ro-Ann Bacal of NEDA, and
Atty. Ma. Janet Mesa of PIA6.
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
ILOILO CITY, July 30 (PIA6) — The Police Regional Office-6 will be the venue of a caravan for gun holders, slated
August 11-15, to accommodate those who are applying for License to Own and Possess Firearms(LTOPF).
PRO-6 slates caravan for gun holders
P olice Inspector Sheila Sangrines, public
information officer, said that the
LTOPF can only be secured at Camp
Crame in Quezon City, but the PRO-6 is
making it convenient for gun holders in the
region with the caravan, where biometrics and
photo capturing system will be done.
Sangrines said that while waiting for the
scheduled caravan, PRO-6 will process the
requirements for securing the LTOPF, which
actually started July 21-25, July 28-August 1 and
will be held again August 4 – 8, at the
Multipurpose Hall of Camp Delgado in Iloilo
City. The requirements are Neuro-Psychiatric
result, drug test result, gun safety and
responsible seminar certificate and R2
clearance.
The processing for the LTOPF is a
provision of Republic Act 10591 or the
Comprehensive Firearms and ammunitions
Regulation Act, and in preparation for the final
gun amnesty to be launched in the region by
PRO-6
The law provides that the LTOPF, which
is valid for two years, is a mandatory
requirement in the procurement, transfer and
registration of firearms. The final gun amnesty
will allow individuals with unlicensed firearms
to have their guns documented and registered
with the Firearms and Explosives Office.
Police Chief Supt. Josephus Angan, PRO-6
director said the gun amnesty is designed to
account all loose firearms in the region, which
authorities believe, are used for criminal
activities.
Angan said if the number of unregistered
or fictitious is high, then there is a cause for
alarm.
“The Firearm Law is not meant to make
things difficult for our responsible gun holders,
but to put gun ownership in the right
perspective,” Angan said. (JSC/ESS-PIA Iloilo)
By: Elsa S. Subong
OSY's programs and projects get multi-sectoral support
SAN JOSE, Antique July 31 (PIA) - - The stakeholders of the Out-of-School-Youth (OSY) in Antique have committed to
converge their programs and services to support the endeavors of 12,049 OSY.
A sst. Schools Division Superintendent
Roselyn Palcat in her message during
the meeting of multi-sectoral groups
under the Abot-Alam Program in the Division
of Antique said that the OSY needs to become
productive and participate in the development
of their community and country in general.
“What will happen to our province in the
coming years? If the OSYs are not given due
attention, they can be vulnerable to trafficking
and abuse,” she said.
“Take the case of sugar migrant workers,
some of them are OSYs that spent months of
hard work in sugarcane plantation, but had not
earned much for the family instead went home
with meager amount”, Palcat said.
She further said, if they are convinced to
get back to school and given proper guidance,
they will have a bigger chance of becoming
productive and gainfully employed.
Perla Loriega, Abot-Alam Program
Coordinator disclosed the results of mapping/
survey of DepEd-Alternative Learning System
(ALS) in different districts, some 35 percent of
the OSYs manifested their desire to get back
to school, 35 percent wanted to have liveli-
hood activity, some 30 percent opted to have
skills training.
Loriega banked on the support of other
agencies, local government units and ALS
Coordinator to organize the OSY and
interventions be made based on their identified
options.
In response, various government agencies
like the Technical Education and Skills
Deve lopment Au thor i t y (TESDA) ,
Departments of Labor and Employment, Trade
and Industry (DTI) and Social Welfare and
Development presented their programs and
services that could match the needed support
of the OSY.
Likewise, the Departments of Agrarian
Reform and Environment and Natural
Resources laid out their existing programs that
could cater to OSYs. DAR specifically
mentioned their support to agrarian reform
communities while DENR mentioned about the
potential employment of OSY in forest
protection program.
The meeting ended with the agreement
that the mentioned agencies meet with
OSYs in different towns so that schedules of
skills training will be set as well as meeting with
ALS teachers and preparation of project
proposal for livelihood activities will be
scheduled.
In conclusion, Palcat urged everyone to
become part of the support group of the OSY
and help them achieve their dreams. (JCM/
PSM/PIA6Antique)
BY: Pilar S. Mabaquaio
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 28 (PIA6) – The government and private sectors here have pooled and spent resources together to
come up with an Investment Promotion Center (IPC) and Business Resource Center that was formally opened last July 17 at
the Capiz Government and Business Center here.
T his was disclosed by Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
– Capiz chapter president and IPC
managing director Dale F. Bernas during a
simple program and fellowship inside the
Center.
The provincia l government in
concurrence with the Provincial Micro Small
and Medium Enterprises (PMSMED) Council
and the Capiz Joint Chambers has designated
Bernas to direct the IPC services and
operations.
PMSMED Council is chaired by
businessman Danny So Chan.
“We really hope that we can entice more
investors to come in and make Capiz
investor-friendly,” said Department of
Trade and Industry director Ermelinda P.
Pollentes, noting that P1-million worth of
fixtures and Information and Technology
(IT) devices will be shared by DTI to the
Center.
She also hoped that the Center may be
provided with a Global Positioning System
(GPS) so that any investor that will come in
will be shown on the computer where he may
want to invest given a GPS look of the entire
province.
The Capiz provincial government offered
the CGBC space available and manpower for
free for the investment promotion arm of the
province.
The opening ceremonies were also graced
by Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, provincial
administrator lawyer Jose O. Villanueva and
PMSMED Council officers and members,
among others.
For his part, Chan stressed that the
establishment of IPC as embodied in the
Provincial Investment Code showed that public
private partnership in the province is active and
strong.
The IPC inauguration was part
of the Micro Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME) Week celebration that was
also supported by PMSMED Council, Capiz
Joint Chambers and provincial government
(AAL/PIA6 Capiz)
Investment Promotion Center now open
By: Alex A. Lumaque
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Gov’t agencies encouraged to embrace ICT
ILOILO CITY, July 28 (PIA6) – Government agencies were encouraged by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson
Francisco T. Duque III to embrace information and communication technology (ICT) in providing services to the public.
O win g to t h e p rog r e s s and
a dv an cemen t in t e chno logy ,
particularly ICT, we have really to
embrace and incorporate it in the way we
operate our services and offices in providing
much-needed services and interacting with
clientele, said Duque.
The CSC chairperson led the recent
conferment here of the Citizen’s Satisfaction
Center Seal of Excellence award to six
government agencies in Western Visayas doing
frontline services which garnered a rating of
Excellent during the conduct of the Anti-Red
Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card Survey in 2013.
This (ICT) is something we cannot escape
from, he said. In the end, the best form of
public service is one wherein there’s no need
for service or face-to-face service.
Through the ease of just a click of the
computer keyboard, you will be providing
services, added Duque.
In the future, transactions will be done
electronically, said Duque as he advised
government agencies to reflect new ways of
doing things.
In fact, he said that in the future the
ARTA Report Card Survey will include an
assessment of how well agencies are doing
electronic transactions with their clients.
The six awardees were the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS)-Antique
Satellite Office, Public Attorney’s Office
-Bacolod City District Office, PAO-Roxas City
Office, PAO-Aklan District Office, Land Bank
of the Philippines-Miag-ao Branch, and LBP
-Aklan Branch. The awarding was held at the
CSC-6 “Gusali ng mga Lingkod Bayani”.
CSC-6 Regional Director lawyer Rodolfo
Encajonado commended the awardees and
stressed that the award epitomizes the
achievement of their frontline service
providers’ readiness to render responsive,
accessible, courteous and effective services to
clientele, besides even going an extra mile in
doing the same. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)
By: Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Aklan bizmen get pointers on product development
KALIBO, Aklan, July 30 (PIA6) -- A big number of entrepreneurs from the municipality of Lezo recently received inputs and
advice from the Aklan Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council (PMSMEDC) when they came
face to face with each other during the conduct of an Information and Advisory Sessions on Enterprise Development.
T he Information and Advisory Sessions
in Lezo was one of the major
act iv i t ies of the Prov inc ia l
Government of Aklan and the PMSMEDC in
observance of the 2014 Small and Medium
Enterprise Development (SMED) Week
observed on the 3rd week of July, according to
Engr. Diosdado P. Cadena, Provincial Director
of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in
Aklan.
Aklan PSMED Council is chaired by
Governor Florencio T. Miraflores with PD
Cadena of DTI-Aklan as Co-Chairperson.
On hand to welcome the participants
and members of Aklan PMSMED Council was
Lezo mayor Victor Fernandez, who thanked
the DTI and the council for initiating the
“face-to-face” sessions with entrepreneurs of
his municipality.
“DTI is trying its best to enhance business in Lezo”, Fernandez told the participants who
gathered at the Lezo Multi-Purpose Pavement
for the activity, mostly composed of “Ampaw”,
pottery, abaca by-products and metalcraft
producers.
The town is also famous for its pottery
products and clay bricks, and essential material
here for building houses, churches and other
structures.
Other attendees included chicken broiler
producers, grocery owners and direct sellers
of various products who wanted advices on
capitalization, effective marketing techniques
and strategies in collecting payments for items
and products taken on credit.
DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Cadena, for
his part, said the people of Lezo were
very lucky to have the town as the venue of
the Info and Advisory Sessions.
He also said that of the 9 towns which are
recipients of the Grassroots Participatory
Budgeting Program (GPBP), Lezo will be
getting the biggest amount – P1.6 million for training in various skills in pina weaving, fiber
dyeing, footwear-making, abaca macramé,
clay-based product production, food product
enhancement/improvement, furniture-making
and ironworks.
Presently, Cadena a resolution from the
local government of Lezo endorsing the
program is the only thing being awaited to
complete documents for the partnership to
take off in the town. Cadena said the total
budget for the GPBP in Aklan is P5.8 million,
shared by the towns of Libacao, Nabas, Banga,
Lezo, Numancia, Tangalan, Ibajay, Malay and
Kalibo.
At the information session proper,
entrepreneurs were given inputs by the
PSMEDC on proper packaging and labeling of
products, production of good quality
abaca-based products, furnitures, metalcrafts
and potteries, sourcing of capitalization from
cooperatives and rural banks as advised by the
representative from Landbank-Aklan.
“Strengthening Competitiveness and Sustainability of MSMEs” is the theme of this
year’s SMED Week/Month celebration. (JCM/
VGV PIA6 Aklan)
BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, July 31 (PIA6) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform North Negros gave out Certificates of
Land Ownership Award (CLOA) and loan support from the Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) to agrarian reform
beneficiaries.
A bout 359 ARBs from 10 municipalities
received their CLOAs dividing the
397.964 hectares of land holdings.
The 10 municipalities and cities in North
Negros Occidental include Escalante City,
Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City, Cadiz City,
Manapla, Victorias City, E. B. Magalona, Silay
City and Salvador Benedicto.
Ceremonial check amounting to a total of
P17,057,184 as APCP credit support were
turned over to five Agrarian Reform
Beneficiaries Organizations with a total of 193
ARB-members from Cadiz, Victorias and Silay
cities.
Meanwhile seven ARBOs from Escalante
City, Cadiz City, E.B. Magalona, and Silay City
received certificates of recognition for their
initial successes in utilizing the APCP credit
assistance in maintaining collective farm
operations, sustaining farm employment and
generating substantial dividends to
ARB-members and their households.
The distribution of CLOAs and awarding
of APCP loans as well as recognition of ARBOs
are part of the department’s anniversary
celebration. Provincial Agrarian Reform
Program Officer II Teresita Mabunay said that
the celebration showcased the realization of
CARP’s mission of securing the new ARBs’
tenure on the CARP-awarded lands, and
eventual rural poverty alleviation in the
agrarian reform areas.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros
Occidental)
359 ARBs receive CLOAs
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
NEGROS ORIENTAL, July 30 (PIA) – The province of Negros Oriental will remain food sufficient for the rest of the year.
NegOr food sufficient for the rest of 2014
P rovincial Agriculturist Gregorio
Paltingca disclosed that as of now,
there are no problems in food
security in the province and agricultural
crops are enough to feed Negrenses.
Paltingca reported that based on the
2013 data, the province has reached 40%
food sufficiency in rice and 70% sufficiency in
corn.
Paltingca explained why the province
only attained 40% sufficiency in rice.
He said the province could have already
reached 60% sufficiency but because of
recent calamities that affected irrigation
systems in rice fields in Bayawan City and in
the municipality in Zamboanguita it was
reduced to 40%.
Still, there is nothing to worry about
this because the production of rice is more
than enough as well as that of corn, Paltingca
said.
Aside from these, there is also sufficient
supply of other agricultural products like
kamote, cassava and banana which are
alternatives to rice and corn.
The province, on the other hand, has a
surplus of vegetables and fruits and even
exports a number of them to the provinces
of Siquijor, Cebu, Zamboanga Del Norte,
Negros Occidental, Iloilo and Mindoro.
The Provincial Agriculturist Office
(PAO) maintains its thrust to produce safe
sufficient and nutritious food through
organic farming.
The provincial government has allotted
P10 million in support to PAO’s programs
for organic agriculture.
Paltingca said that they are conducting
two levels of training for farmers on creating
bio-organic fertilizers.
On the national level, the country has
achieved 3.28% rice expansion during the
four months of 2014, equivalent to 4.3
million metric tons (MMT).
Food security and agriculture was one
of the issues highlighted in the recent State
of the Nation Address of President Aquino.
(mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)
BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Negros Oriental
makes some steps for the immediate rehabilitation of damaged coral reefs in Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental.
DENR pushes for rehab of damaged marine sanctuary in Apo Island
BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
P rovincial Environment and Natural
Resources Off icer , Charl ie
Fabre said that the Protection and
Management Board (PAMB) in partnership
with Silliman University and local
government unit of Dauin are now working
on the restoration of Apo Island's marine
sanctuary which was badly damaged by
typhoons Sendong in 2011 and Pablo in
2012.
Silliman University that conducted a
related study on the preservation of
marine sanctuary in Siquijor Island
and other places revealed that fish
sanctuary structure can be reconstructed
again by mixing the corals with cement to
get back to its original form and let it
stabilize for some time before rehabilitating
them.
DENR regional Director Isabelo
Montejo said he will make a proposal to
DENR Manila for additional funding to fast
track the recovery of the damaged marine
reserve.
PENRO Fabre on the other hand cited
that cooperation and support of the people
living in the Island is very important for the
success of this undertaking.
If Apo Island gets over populated there
is a possibility that people's wastes and
garbage will destroy the marine sanctuary
which will later on lose its popular
destination as one of the tourist attractions
in Negros Oriental, revealed Fabre.
Along this line, Fabre recommended
that there is a need to regulate the
operation of businesses and monitor the
actual population in the area to preserve the
cleanliness and orderliness of the
environment around the sanctuary.
In response to this, Montejo ordered
PAMB to make a study on the ideal
population ratio as basis for barangay
officials of Apo Island and local government
unit of Dauin in formulating laws to
regulate the issuance of business and building
permits in the island. (mbcn/lpp/PIA-7/
Negros Oriental)
CEBU CITY, July 27 (PIA) -- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-7) formerly the National Statistics Office will undertake a
pilot census next month on six localities in northern Cebu severely battered by super typhoon Yolanda late last year.
PSA-7 to hold pilot census in Yolanda-hit areas in Cebu
P SA-Cebu provincial statistics
officer, Fermo Diputado said the
pilot census will involve 45
barangays in five municipalities and one city.
These towns are Madridejos, Sta. Fe and
Bantayan Proper in Bantayan Island, Daan
Bantayan and San Remigio and the City of
Bogo.
Diputado said the request for a pilot
census came from the Office of the
Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation and
Recovery (OPARR) headed by Sec. Panfilo
Lacson.
Data to be gathered include
livelihood and housing site of typhoon
survivors before and after Yolanda,
characteristics of housing unit, garbage
disposal and sources of water supply among
other important basic information, said
Diputado.
“We will be hiring 158 data encoders to
do the pilot census starting August 4 until
August 30,” bared Diputado.
The provincial statistics officer
also said priority for data encoder
hiring are those coming from affected
localities.
A data encoder will be paid P286 per
day good for one month,” said Diputado
during the post-Yolanda Press Briefing:
Rehabilitation Phase at the Public
Information Office of the Armed Forces of
the Philippines-Central Command recently.
Diputado said the PSA has allotted P2
million budget for the conduct of the pilot
census in Cebu.
After the survey, all data will be collated
and will be submitted to the OPARR by
yearend, he added.
Diputado urged household respondents
tasked to f i l l out the survey
form to cooperate with the data
encoders as a new law that has
just been passed stipulates penalties for
those who refuse to fill put census survey
forms.
“A fine of P10,000 will be meted to
household respondents who refused to fill
out the census survey form,” said the
PSA-Cebu statistics officer. Diputado said
the regular census survey will be conducted
in August next year or every five years as
the last population census survey was done
in 2010. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) – Environmental groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Negros Oriental revived
the call to harness solar energy as another renewable energy source for the province.
T his was raised in a Kapihan sa
PIA on renewable energy recently
a n d w a s a t t e n d e d b y
representatives from Silliman University,
Negros Oriental State University, FENOR,
350.Org, Social Action Center of the
Diocese of Dumaguete, local government
units of Dauin, Sta. Catalina, Bayawan City,
Siaton and San Jose and the media.
Leo Mamicpic from the Friends of the
Environment in Negros Oriental (FENOR)
believes the province can use solar energy as
another source which is a “greener”
alternative than the geothermal energy
which the province has.
Mamicpic thinks this is possible since
San Carlos City in Negros Occidental has
inaugurated a 25MW solar energy power
plant in May this year.
He added that the government can
replicate this solar energy farm in the
municipalities of Zamboanguita, Dauin, Basay
which are the sun belt areas in Negros
Oriental.
Mamicpic, is the co-founder of FENOR,
an environmental advocacy group on climate
change, bio-diversity conservation,
reforestation and other environment-related
issues which concerns are being
carried out through education and policy
campaign.
FENOR is one of the environment
groups that is against the alleged massive
cutting century-old trees in Mount Talinis
area in Valencia town in line with
Energy Development Corporation (EDC)’s
geothermal and expansion projects.
EDC is a Lopez-run energy firm
operating a geothermal power plant in
Valencia.
Environment groups in the forum
pushed for the use of solar energy since it
counters deforestation and is of the
cheapest mode of renewable energy.
Eric Hanquinet of Environmental
Advocacy on Solutions and Technologies
(E.A.S.T.) mentioned there is no problem
with renewable energy with regard to
legislation.
“I think what we need basically is
education on what is happening here.
W h a t a r e o u r o p t i o n s ?
How much (is) the cost of solar energy?”
Hanquet said.
He added that solar energy is easy to
implement and everyone can have access to
it provided they have the equipment needed
to harness solar power and it takes about
four years to get a return of investment to
your equipment.
Meanwhile, Zephanie Danieles of
350.Org underscored the need for the
government to push for not just renewable
energy but also clean, accessible and
community-based energy source.
She added that government should also
consult the public on what source of energy
they think is relevant to them.
“For Negros Oriental, we are capable
of solar energy,” Danieles stated.
Environmental groups and CSOs
hope that through the Kapihan, government
agencies in the province will consider the
possibility of using solar energy to power
Negros Oriental. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)
Time to use solar energy, say NegOr groups
CEBU, July 26 (PIA) --- The local government of Sta. Fe town evacuated 30 families in Sitio Dapdap, Brgy. Langub in
Kinatarkan Island, Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island after a sinkhole appeared in the area.
30 families in island town in Cebu evacuated due to sinkhole
A ccording to Sta. Fe Mayor Jose
Esgana, the sinkhole measures
40x40 feet and was discovered this
morning.
Kinatarkan Island is an hour
away by boat from the mainland town of
Sta. Fe.
The 30 affected families have been
evacuated to a safe area 300 to 500
meters away from the sinkhole within
Brgy. Langub.
In an official statement, the Cebu
Capitol Public Information Office said the
discovery of the sinkhole has been
reported to the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau and Office of Civil Defense-7 for
proper action.
The Provincial Disaster and Risk
Reduction Management Office, headed by
Baltz Tribunalo, has also sent a team
to said town to help the affected
families in coordination with the municipal
officials.
Paul Esgana, Sta. Fe Administrator,
told Philippine Information Agency that
they have erected a 200-meter perimeter
fence around the sinkhole. (PIA-Cebu)
BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA
BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 25 (PIA) - - Dumaguete City Government joins the country’s observance of the National Disaster
Consciousness Month (NDCM) with a citywide motorcade on July 28 at 9:00 am around the city streets with the City and
barangay officials, students, and representatives from various national and local agencies expected to participate in the event.
D umaguete City mayor Manuel
Sagarbarria who also chairs the
City Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office (CDRRMO) urged
the residents to be watchful in times of
disaster as the low pressure area today
was estimated 1,020 kilometer east of
Northern Mindanao.
The month of July is declared as the
National Disaster Consciousness Month
with this year’s theme: “Kahandaan at
Kaligtasan ng Pamayanan,Pundasyon ng
Kaunlaran”.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management head Engr. Jose Chu said,
as far as disaster preparedness is
concerned the city government has a
24-hour standby or on-call emergency
rescue team.
He urged every sector here to
act ively participate in disaster
preparedness and remain vigilant amid the
onset of the rainy season.
The route of the parade will start
from Colon street turn left to Perdices
street and proceed to Calindagan road,
then turn right along Real Street and
proceed to north, turn right crossing Saint
Paul Rovira Road (Bantayan) turn right to
Hibbard Avenue and proceed to south
along Perdices street, then turn left to
Colon Street, Engr. Chu said. (mbcn/JCT/
PIA7-NegOr)
Dumaguete City observes 'National Disaster
Consciousness Month'
BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
Officials, people of Region 8 await Pope’s visit
PALO, Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – Officials and the people of Eastern Visayas particularly in Palo, Leyte eagerly await for the
coming of Pope Francis next year.
T his after the Vatican has announced
the Papal Visit on January 15-19,
2015.
In a press conference held recently
at the Municipal Hall of Palo, Leyte
reportedly to be visited by His Holiness,
Mayor Remedios L. Petilla said the people from
all walks of life are very eager to see the Pope
in person.
Around 1 to 2 million people not only
from region 8 but from other parts of
the country are expected to attend the High
Mass.
Reports have indicated that the Pope will
be visiting areas devastated by typhoon
Yolanda like Palo, Leyte.
Mayor Petilla also informed that initial
meetings have been conducted between the
church and the local officials of the town
where several sites are being considered to be
the venue for the High Mass.
The Pope is expected to lead the High
Mass during his visit.
Although the Vatican has yet to
approve the venue for the High Mass, sites
proposed are the government center in Palo,
the Tacloban airport and the Tacloban port
area.
The Pope is expected to visit the
Archbishop’s residence where he may also
inaugurate the Center for the Poor and the
Center for Orphanage.
He is likewise expected to visit the Palo
Metropolitan Cathedral which is now under
renovation after it was heavily damaged by
Yolanda last year.
Meanwhile, Presidential Communications
Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny
Coloma said the government joins the Filipino
people in welcoming the Vatican’s
announcement confirming the Pope’s visit to
the Philippines on January 15-19, 2015.
“President Aquino is calling on all
concerned government offices and the
citizenry to work closely with the papal visit
committee to ensure the success of Pope
Francis Apostolic Visit,” Coloma added.
“Pope Francis’ visit marks the
20th anniversary of the celebration of World
Youth Day in Manila which was presided over
by now St. John Paul II.
Filipinos will most certainly accord to
Pope Francis the warmth of their
hospitality and manifest the fervor of their
faith as they welcome the first Pontiff from
South America,” Coloma stressed. (AJC/CBA/
PIA-8)
BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
100 student leaders join DRRM forum
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – Some 100 student leaders coming from different colleges and universities
of the province join the Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) forum to highlight the 2014 National Disaster
Consciousness Month.
T he Prov inc ia l Disaster Risk
Reduction Management Office
(PDRRMO) in close coordination
with the Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office and the Philippine
Information Agency led in the conduct of
forum together with 11-resource speakers
coming from the different national line agencies
and LGUs.
“The student leaders should know the
important facets in disaster risk reduction and
management as they in turn will inform others
in their respective schools,” Provincial Disaster
Risk Reduction Management Officer Danilo
Atienza noted.
The forum aimed to increase the
knowledge and level of awareness of the forum
participants on the four thematic areas of
disaster risk reduction and management such
as Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation, Disaster Response,
Rehabilitation and Recovery, PDRRMO Officer
Danilo Atienza noted.
Resource speakers were representatives
from the provincial offices of the following:
PAG-ASA, Office of Civil Defense, Provincial
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Office, Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office.
Philippine National Police,Philippine Red
Cross, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee
Chair on DRRM, Dept. of Science and
Technology, Bureau of Fire Protection and
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources
an Management Office. (AJC/ESG/PIA8
Southern Leyte)
BY: ERNA S. GORNE
Maasin City has inactive volcano
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 31 (PIA) -- This city is home to an inactive volcano situated in the mountain barangays of
Nonok area, and its name is Mount Kijabot.
C ity Mayor Maloney Samaco revealed this
piece of information in front of students
during a forum on disaster risk
reduction held recently at Maasin City College
function hall, the event initiated by the
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Council (PDRRMC).
“Did you know that we have an inactive
volcano in the city?,” Samaco asked the
students from various public and private
schools in the city.
“We have, and its name is Mount Kijabot,
located along the barangays in Nonok.”
Samaco said this volcano is dormant, but
just like Mount Pinatubo which was dormant
for over 600 years, there may come a time that
Mount Kijabot may erupt.
“Hopefully not in our lifetime,” he
hastened to add.
In his opening message, Samaco said the
city and the province have always been under
threat to various kinds of natural disasters,
except blizzard or snowstorm, saying that the
city even had storm surges but only at the
height of one to two meters, like the ones
caused by habagat winds during typhoon
Glenda.
He said the conduct of the disaster risk
reduction forum led by Danilo Atienza,
Provincial Disaster Action Officer, was very
timely so the students can be always aware and
conscious on what to do should a calamity
happen.
During the forum, other frontline national,
provincial, and city offices involved in
operations before, during, and after a
disaster shared inputs and their
respective roles and functions in an emergency
situation.
These included PAG-ASA, Office of Civil
Defense, Philippine Red Cross, Department of
Science and Technology, Department of
Education, the Philippine National Police, Fire
Department, and the City Disaster Risk
Reduction body, among others.
The provincial government was
represented, aside from Ateinza, by Dr. Eva
Abad, Provincial Environment Natural
Resources Management Officer, and Provincial
Board Member Ailleen Estrera. (mmp, PIA8
-Southern Leyte)
By Marcelo M. Pedalino
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
Cigarette-buster for healthy Maasin City
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, August 1 (PIA) - Getting the highest recognition in the country for successful implementation
in anti-smoking campaign is no fun.
“ Just like in a family, the father will muster
all efforts to raise a healthy family.
Hence, my passion to avert my
constituents to suffer unnecessarily the hazards
brought about by more than 400 deadly
chemicals components in a cigarette hurting
ones health,” Mayor Samaco said.
Smoking ban is also implemented at the city
jail.
Maasin City jail boarders had mixed
reactions on the smoke ban but the good mayor
was bent to cleanse the congested reformatory
institution from the cigarette-smokes from
among the jail boarders.
From then on, Mayor Samaco intensified
the smoking ban as it spreads like wild fire,
getting into the premises of Maasin City Hall and
all the public places in the city.
He reported that about 88 out of
600 city employees were found smoking
heavily at the first monitoring.
It was later reduced to 40 smoking
employees, who were all ushered to clinical
cessation assistance at the City Health Units.
Currently, there are only 5 of them who
could not stop smoking, however, they no
longer smoke at the premises of city halls but at
their homes only, he noted.
Public and private schools also ban smoking
in the area.
Much to the relief of the parents, students
both from the public and private
schools also ban students from smoking
within the school premises, though, it
cannot be denied that there are still
students who are still but outside the school
premises.
The Maasin City College pledged to ban
smoking within the school premises, wherein
students found bringing cigarette lighters and
matches were not allowed to get into the school
campus.
No less than Mayor Samaco visited the
public elementary schools to orient the
schoolchildren of the health hazards of smoking
especially at homes.
He even coached the children not to
buy cigarettes for their parents when told to.
That this is embodied in RA 9211 and City
Ordinance 2009-042. This is his way to
reach the smokers at home which are private
places!
Several times he himself got down
f r o m h i s v eh i c l e j u s t t o s t o p
students, who are caught red handed while
smoking along the streets and personally
b r o u g h t t h e m t o t h e i r s c h o o l
principals and made to pledge not to smoke
again. Superstores, sari-sari stores are banned to
sell cigarettes.
T h e M e t r o G a i s a n o H i p e r
Market , P r i nce Mar ket i ng , among
the superstores in the locality closed
down their cigarette stands when
Mayor Samaco himself requested to
ban all the stores in the city from
selling cigarettes especially if their
locations is within the 100-radius of schools'
perimeters.
After cutting the source of cigarettes in the
city, sari-sari stores owners got their supplies
from the next town.
Recently, three sari-sari stores were
padlocked until they were able to pay P5,000
fines for selling cigarettes after several requests
from the City Health Initiative Task Force to
stop from selling cigarettes in their barangays.
Some of the store owners were said to be
avid supporters of the mayor, but the law
excuses no one in his anti-smoking campaign.
(PIA8 Southern Leyte)
by: Erna Gorne
Pag-IBIG provides special housing program to members
TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- Pag-IBIG, in its efforts to reach out to as many members affected by super typhoon
Yolanda, will set up a Yolanda Housing Rehabilitation Desk at Robinsons Mall to be officially opened on 2 August 2014, at 11
o’clock in the morning.
A s part of Pag-IBIG's efforts to assist
members recover from the devastation
and trauma wrought by typhoon
Yolanda, it has created a special socialized
housing program to provide financial assistance
for them to be able to rehabilitate, construct,
and reconstruct their respective homes
destroyed by the super typhoon.
This is Pag-IBIG's way of helping rebuild
communities totally devastated by typhoon
Yolanda and in consonance with the rebuilding
efforts of the government.
The grant of Pag-IBIG's financial assistance
is through the authority given by its Board of
Trustees.
According to Pag-IBIG, under this special
housing rehabilitation program, the members
may avail up to a maximum of Php450,000 at a
subsidized interest rate of only 4% per
annum.
The rehab housing loan will be interest
free for the first six months of the loan.
It was bared that the subsidized interest
rate of 4% per annum will only commence on
the 7th up to the 24th month of the housing
loan.
Thereafter, the prescribed interest
under the regular End-User Financing or
Affordable Housing Programs, whichever is
applicable, shall apply for the rest of the loan
term.
However, Pag-IBIG revealed that being a
special program, the individual housing financial
assistance will only be available for a period of
one year, from July 15, 2014 to July 15, 2015.
(PIA-8)
By: Marivic A. Alcober
NCCA calls for proposals for 2015 Competitive Grants
I n a press conference held Wednesday
at Asia Stars Hotel, this city,
Corinnah Anne Olazo, Project
Development Officer III of the
Subcommission on Cultural Communities and
Traditional Arts said the project is one way of
helping individuals or groups in order to
advance their creativity and diversity relating to
arts and culture.
“The NCCA is willing to provide
technical assistance whatever is lacking in the
project proposal,” Olazo added.
Olazo further stressed that the projects
must likewise establish culture as pillar of
sustainable development and promote a strong
sense of nationhood and pride in being Filipino
through culture and Arts.
Interested individuals or groups can avail
of NCCA assistance by submitting a project
proposal under the NCCA Competitive Grants
not later than august 31, 2014.
Accomplished project proposals must
be submitted to Marichu G. Tellano, chief of
Policy, Plan Formulation and Programming
Division, 5th floor, National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
with following address 633 General Luna St.
I n t r a m u r o s , M a n i l a o r e m a i l
at [email protected] and [email protected] (AJ
C/CBA/PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the country’s
leading government agency for arts and culture is inviting artists, cultural workers, art councils, local government units,
non-government organizations involved in culture and arts, schools and individuals in the region to apply for the NCCA
competitive grants 2015.
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 [email protected].
Editorial Consultants
Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8
Managing Editor
Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Contributors
All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8
Production and Layout
Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado
Regional Offices:
PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected]
PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
PIA 8, Children’s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: [email protected]/[email protected]
Recommended