August 18, 2014 1

VOL 1 ISSUE 4 Weekly E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 August 18, 2014

INSIDE

NGO, DENR-8 and other partner agencies to rehabilitate forests in LeyteA multi-sectoral partnership

between the communities, the government, the academe, and the non-government organizations was launched in Palo, Leyte Thursday in a bid to rehabilitate the denuded forests in Eastern Visayas due to the havoc brought by typhoon Yolanda. The launching was spearheaded by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PTFCF), a non government organization in coordination with Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Provincial Government of

Leyte, Municipality of Palo, OPARR, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas Campus and other partner agencies. PTFCF Executive Director Lawyer Jose Andres Canivel said, the move is part of the intervention of the foundation to help restore the forests destroyed by the typhoon. “Naniniwala kami na hindi lang infrastructure ang kailangan e-rehabilitate but also yong natural infrastructure na mayaman ang Leyte,” Canivel added.

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

PA spearheads project ‘aid in a shoebox’

PNoy leads ceremonial turnover of assault rifles

FEATURE: Information as an aid to disaster

OWWA grants scholarship to indigents

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DOH secretary graces RHU groundbreaking

E xac tly n ine months f rom when “ Typhoon Yolanda” devastated

Eastern Samar, the Depar tment of Health (DOH) Secretar y Ona v is i ted the province on August 8 , 2014 when he personal ly graced the groundbreak ing of the New Rural Health Unit in Brgy. Canci l ides, Hernani , Eastern Samar. I n an inter v iew with PIA, Hon. Edgar C . Boco, Munic ipal Mayor of Hernani sa id that the projec t costs P9.5-M i l l ion where P4-M i l l ion comes f rom the Rehabi l i tat ion Fund of the Government and the P5.5-M i l l ion is coming f rom HUMIDICA, an internat ional non- government organizat ions ( INGO) . The Mayor a lso said that the projec t i s the latest and modern

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BY: SAMUEL CANDIDO

Leyte governor Dominico Petilla and Philippine Science High School-EV (PSHS-EV) campus director Reynaldo Garnace cut the ribbon during the opening of the beach forest nursery hub inside the PSHS-EV compound in Pawing, Palo, Leyte. Among those who graced the affair were sports envoys and former NBA and WNBA players Derrick Alston and Allison Feaster. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

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Thousands of Samarnons from the different part of the province

relished the festive Samar Day as five municipalities joined the festivals of festivals on August 11, Monday. The Festival of Festivals was among the highlights of the weeklong celebration. Other activities include search for the Mutya han Samar, drum

and bugle contest, streetdancing parade, live band concerts, agri trade fairs, and other medical events. Mayaw-Mayaw festival of Pinabacdao, Samar took center stage at the grand showdown of festivals. Pinabacdao is a fourth class municipality in the province. Mayaw mayaw is a celebration or offering to the

Samarnons enjoy festive Samar Dayheavens for a bountiful harvest which the divinities always grant. Pinabacdao is considered the rice granary of Samar, the municipality also boasts of root crops, banana and other agricultural products. These goods spill to the highways sold in makeshift huts. In her speech, Samar Guv Sharee Ann Tan Delos Santos said that the fast, synchronized and energetic dancing has earned the admiration of the crowd and the nod of judges during the festival competition it portrays the culture, tradition and way of life in Samar. The said event was graced by the Department of Tourism Regional Director Karen Tiopes. The festivity started with a holy mass, flag raising and wreath laying ceremony led by Tan and 801st Commander BGen. Wilson Leyva. Samar Day used to be celebrated every Nov. 10 to commemorate the first local election in the newly created provinces of Samar. The island was divided into the provinces of Western Samar (later renamed Samar province by Congress), Eastern Samar and Northern Samar in 1965. During the martial law years in the 70s, the celebration was moved to August 23, the eve of Catbalogan’s fiesta, so that people could attend the feast day of Saint Bartholomew, the city’s patron saint, on August 24. The celebration of Samar Day was moved to Aug. 11 in the late 1970s upon the recommendation of a committee tasked in finding the appropriate date. August 11 was chosen as date of celebration of Samar Day as this was the same date in 1841 that Queen Isabella III of Spain signed a royal decree establishing Samar as a military province separate from Leyte. Catbalogan was the ancient capital of the island province of Samar. It is now the seat of Samar’s provincial government. Samar is now 173 years old but its people still hold the same passion and pride it did a very long time ago. (Avha H. Ebade/PIA 8- Samar)

Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan City (PHOTO BY: ROMMEL RUTOR)

Mayaw Mayaw Festival of Pinabacdao (PHOTO BY: ROMMEL RUTOR)

August 18, 2014 3PA spearheads project ‘aid in a shoebox’BY: SAMUEL CANDIDO

Some 1,549 elementary pupils received shoeboxes through the Philippine

Army (PA) recently in Hernani Central Elementary School, Hernani. Eastern Samar. The project utilized a shoe box as a package, where basic school supplies and other personal care items were placed. In an interview with PIA, Lt. Col. Peter B. Burgonio, the Commanding Officer of 14th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Brigade, PA based in Brgy. Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar said “this is an opportunity for us to help the school children and also a simple way of letting our elementary pupils that your Army in Eastern Samar and other stakeholders show our simple but genuine concern for their welfare.” The shoeboxes were turned over to Mr. Leo D. Candido, District Supervisor, Hernani District by Lt. Col. Burgonio and was witnessed by Hon. Mayor Edgar C. Boco, parents and teachers. In his response message, Mr. Candido thanked the PA for spearheading this project and humbly accepted the shoeboxes. “This shoeboxes are of great help not only to the pupils but especially to the parents. So, I encourage the pupils to take good care of the items inside the shoeboxes for future use. I know that you have school supplies already given by different stakeholders and private organizations. The supplies can be used in the next school year.” Another message was given by Hon. Mayor Boco. He was also very thankful to the PA and stakeholders, and he encouraged “the pupils to study hard because I believe that education is the key to success, and if the whole community is educated, there will be peace and development in our community”, Mayor Boco said. Inside the shoeboxes were hygiene items including toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushes, combs, lotion, shampoo conditioner, face soap, floss or body wash.

Another item were the school supplies which include pencils, crayons, calculator, water colors, colored pencils, glue stick, washable paint and markers. Included in each shoebox were toys such as balls, yoyos, dolls, jump ropes, toy cars and stuffed animals. Meanwhile, the PIA requested to open one of the many boxes. According to Ms. Ma. Thelma B. Abella, Principal of Hernani Central Elem. School, “inside the shoebox are assorted school supplies and personal hygiene care items.” For Eastern Samar, a total of 8,888 shoeboxes were already distributed to the eight different municipalities; Lawaan – 2,205, Balangiga – 1,111, Giporlos – 1,627, Quinapondan – 706, Llorente – 517, Hernani – 1,549, Salcedo – 841 and Guiuan – 332. The theme of this Project Shoebox is “Shoebox ko, para sa pag-aaral mo.” Project Shoebox is in cooperation with different stakeholders

such as, PA, University of the Philippines (UP) – Sigma Alpha Sorority, National Book Store Foundation, 2 GO Express, Vibal Publishing House, Inc., McDonald’s Fisher Mall, Syngenta, UP-Los Banos, Mariano Marcos State Univeristy, JCI Marikina Marikit, Universal Records. (PIA8-E. Samar)

“YES for PEACE” focal person Dalmacio Sabio (left) of DepEd 8 being interviewed by PIA-OIC regional director Alice Nicart (right), anchor persons Soc Aberia and Dindo Alaras of DYCT Radyo ng Bayan in Tacloban City about the program. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

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SSS Alkansssya program in So. Leyte nets fisherfolks, drivers

The traditional way of saving money the Filipino way through the alkansiya gets a

boost from the Social Security System (SSS) with the innovative Alkansssiya program. Alkansiya and Alkansssya were basically the same, except for the three SSS letters which literally emphasized the initials for the state pension firm, which serves private sector employees and self-employed individuals. But SSS’ Alkansssya offered something more: with a regular monthly premium of P 330.00 a fisherman or motorcab driver is entitled to benefits and services enjoyed by their employed counterparts, said Gregorio Baroza, Branch Manager of SSS-Southern Leyte office. “The privileges and benefits are all the same, as long as they are active SSS members,” Baroza said during the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA cable TV program Wednesday, suggesting no differences in approach across various social classes. As of now, five groups or

associations have linked with the provincial SSS office, whose coverage includes several towns in Leyte, from Matalom to Inopacan, for the Alkansssiya program. Baroza, who assumed as branch manager of the local branch in January this year, identified these groups as the Bato, Leyte, drivers group, and Ichon fishermen’s association, which were already active since last year, 2013 being the year Alkansssya was launched. This year under Baroza’s watch, three more groups were added, two fishermen’s groups in barangay Asuncion, this city, and another at Sogod, Southern Leyte, each group comprising 120 members. Baroza called on other similar organized groups not yet covered by SSS to avail of the Alkansssya scheme. PIA inspected the one at Asuncion which was established only last May this year, and took pictures (posted and can be accessed at pia-southernleyte facebook

45 students benefit SSS educational loan in Southern Leyte

The Social Security System (SSS) Maasin City Branch Office were able

to send hundreds of students to college and vocational-technical (voc-tech) thru its educational loan program. According to Branch Head Gregorio S. Baroza during the interview at Action Center Kapihan sa PIA, Wednesday said, “there are some 145 students from the province of Southern Leyte, who are benefiting the educational loan program of the Social Security System (SSS).” Baroza noted that majority of

those who availed of the educational loan portfolio are pursuing college degrees while 10 of them are enrolled in the vocational and technical courses education. He said the acceptance of new applicants for the educational loan are now suspended since December 2013, however, those who were able to avail earlier of said program will continue to be assisted by SSS until such time they will complete their 4-5 years college education and a maximum of 3 years in vocational -technical courses, as well.

Educational loan program is funded by the national government and SSS on a 50:50 basis and that there are 59,600 students benefiting the said program across the country, he said. Meanwhile, Baroza also reported that there are already five associations mostly from the informal sectors coming from Maasin City, Macrohon, Sogod and Bato,Leyte like fisherfolks, motorcab drivers, who have availed of their ALKANSSSYA program starting last May 2014. (AJC/ESG/PIA8 SoLeyte)

BY: ERNA GORNE

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

timeline). As it is, the Alkansssya looked like steel vaults secured with keys, each vault marked with name of an individual. At month’s end, random deposits are collected by authorized SSS personnel, witnessed by barangay officials. Aside from the manual Alkansssya, SSS also promotes the electronic or e-Alkansssya, and this pertains to coverage for job order and contractual workers in government not qualified to be listed by GSIS. Baroza said the city local government unit of Maasin and the provincial government expressed willingness on the idea, especially that a memorandum of agreement with the DILG and SSS on this matter was already signed. The island-municipality of Limasawa was already into it, enrolling their job order employees and contractual workers with the SSS, Baroza also said. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

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President Benigno S. Aquino III, along with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Jr., leads the singing of the Philippine National Anthem during the ceremonial distribution of assault rifles to the Philippine Army and Philippine Navy Marine troops at the Armed Forces of the Philippines General Headquarters canopy at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Thursday (August 14). One of the major programs of the AFP Modernization is to upgrade the mission-essential capability requirements of the AFP in terms of firepower for the ground troops. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

President Aquino leads ceremonial turnover of assault rifles to Armed Forces

President Benigno S. Aquino lII led the ceremonial distribution

of newly acquired assault rifles to selected military personnel at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday.

The acquisition of the rifles is part of the government’s efforts to modernize the Armed Forces by enhancing the firearms capability of its soldiers, especially those on the front line. In his speech, President

Aquino said the military could now depend on their guns -- and not just their guts – in serving and protecting the state. Illustrating the military’s poor defense capability, he recalled a story shared to him by Marines guarding the Kalayaan Island Group. He said there was an instance when the soldiers were forced to paint a coconut trunk black to deceive their enemies, who were pointing real cannons at them. “Sa pagtitipon natin ngayon, pinapatunayan nating tapos na ang panahon kung saan dinadaan na lang sa tibay ng loob at diskarte ang pagtutupad sa tungkulin—tunay ngang kinakalinga ng estado ang mga kawal ng bayan,” he said. The government has acquired a total of 50,629 assault rifles for the AFP. The President said the first batch of 27,300 rifles was delivered last July, while the remaining 23,329 units will be delivered in December this year. The acquisition of new firearms is part of the Joint Philippine Army–Philippine Marine Corps Assault Rifle Acquisition Project under the AFP Modernization Program. Under the project, the AFP will receive a total of 50,629 units of M4 rifles, 44,186 of which will go to the Army and 6,443 to the Navy. Due to a transparent bidding process, President Aquino said the government was able to generate an estimated P1.2 billion savings from the project. The approved budget for the contract was about P3.19 billion but the government acquired the rifles for only P1.94 billion. The President said the savings will be used to procure another 12,657 assault rifles for the Philippine Army, to be delivered also in December. The budget for the acquisition of rifles was sourced

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FEATUREInformation

as an Aid to Disaster

BY: RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

M uch has been said on the humanitarian assistance

l ike food, shelter, clothing and other various form of assistance coming from the international humanitarian agencies including that of the national government, non-government organizations and private groups that help the victims of ‘Yolanda’ get back slowly on their feet. These tangible humanitarian help, though very much important as an immediate response to inject l ife - saving mechanisms to the affected communities, outclassed a more relevant and important tool which could offer a greater help to communities even before, on and after disaster of great magnitude strikes. More l ives might have been saved from Yolanda if people really knew what a storm surge was as repeatedly announced in the different media platforms several days before the catastrophic event took place on November 8, 2013. Even learned individuals don’t really know exactly what a storm surge is in its entirety despite several warnings on the height of waves it may produce brought about by the very strong winds which is the first of its k ind ever recorded in recent history. People l iving in the coastal communities, without an iota of doubt, would have packed their

bags and went to a safe place, if it was announced as tidal wave or a tsunami (abnormal seawater movements), which were entirely different from storm surge. The absence of the ‘r ight information’ caused the deaths of thousands of l ives and destruction of bil l ions worth of properties not counting the shattered hopes of some of the survivors. There came the other form of a very useful intervention in times of pre, on and post disaster periods - to communicate with the communities through information dissemination of disaster-related information materials in various media platforms. Information is also a very useful aid aside from the tangible humanitarian assistance because it helps people understand the situation at hand and arrive at a decision most helpful in the preservation of l ives and properties. People’s l ives would be most safe and properties would not be wasted if they will not build houses in identified geohazard zones l ike in flood, landslide, earthquake and in the no-safe dwelling zones (unsafe dwelling place within the

40 meters no-build zone)where government and non-government organizations have intensively informed through several media platforms of the dangers l iving in these areas. People who internalized disaster-related information relayed by concerned government offices especially from the local r isk reduction and management offices in the local government units are most l ikely to be saved from calamities and disasters. We are now living in an era where information is available in just a tick of a second and that these modes of information are even simplified and reinforced with the help of information officers of government agencies. Out world today is no longer the same in biblical time where Noah just verbally through the word of mouth kept reminding the people of the great flood to come through the word of mouth, thus the building of an ark to save their l ives, yet we seem to never learn how important information as an aid is to help save l ives and properties in times of disasters and calamities. (AJC/RSV/PIA-8 Bil iran)

PIA 8 interim head and deputy director general Virgilio Galvez (right) talks on the role of PIA to the guests and participants of the seminar-workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Right to Information for government information officers and the media. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

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BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

Region 8 has eight nominees for 2014 Search for Outstanding Volunteers

The Regional Steering Committee converged recently at the

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office 8 relative to the 2014 Search for Outstanding Volunteers in Eastern Visayas. The annual search is being spearheaded by the Philippine National Volunteer Service and Cooperating Agency (PNVSCA) through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), in coordination with the representatives of various government agencies such as Civil Service Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency and the private sector who are all mandated members of the committee.

During the 2nd Regional Steering Committee Meeting, the members discussed and reviewed the nominees to the 2014 Search for Outstanding Volunteers and validate their supporting documents. Interviews with some of the nominees or candidates were likewise conducted. In the region, there are eight (8) regional nominees for this year’s search. The types and categories open to qualified volunteer individual/organizations are: National Outstanding Volunteer Award (NOVA) which has five (5) nominees for Individual Category and one (1) for organization/group category while the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award ( VLAA) Organization/group category has one (1) nominee.

Likewise, there is also one (1) nominee for the Special Citation Award. Whatever is the result of the validation and review of the members of the Regional Steering Committee, all nominations will be submitted to the Search for Outstanding Volunteer National Selection Committee (SOV-NSC) on or before September 15, 2014. The SOV-NSC will finally evaluate and select the awardees. The Search for Outstanding Volunteers (SOV ) is conducted every year to highlight the exemplary performance and dedication to service of Filipino volunteers in helping people and communities and recognize the role of volunteerism in development and nation-building. (PIA-8)

Leyte’s inflation rate declines to 5.5 percent in June 2014

Inflation rate in the province of Leyte slightly decreased to 5.5 percent

for the month-in-review from 5.9 percent in May 2014, representing a minimal decline of 0.4 percentage point. The 5.5 percent year-on-year rate of price change in June 2014 denotes that the general price levels of goods and services in Leyte were higher by 5.5 percent in June 2014 compared to the price levels during the same period last year. All of the eleven major

commodity groups contributed to the 5.5 percent overall inflation rate, however, the major commodity groups that significantly contributed to the provincial inflation rate were food and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco by 6.9 percent and 22.7 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, three major commodity groups posted decline on its inflation rate from May to June 2014. The biggest drop was on the year-on-year rate of price change

of education by 10.7 percentage points, followed by food items with 0.4 percentage point decline due to the considerable decrease on the inflation rates of fruits and vegetables by 4.9 percentage points and 2.8 percentage points, respectively; and recreation and culture with 0.3 percentage point.From April to June 2014, Leyte’s purchasing power of the peso was sustained at 67 centavos. (PSA-NSO Leyte/PIA-8)

August 18, 2014 August 18, 20148Close to 300 Samarnons enjoy benefits of the government internship program

Some 294 young people aged 18-25 have been given temporary

employment in government through the Government Internship Program (GIP) in Samar. According to Conrado Obregon, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-Samar, the department pays P 195.00/ daily to the worker while he renders work in other government offices and in LGUs. They will stay as GIP members

for six months in several batches that started in April and ends in December 2014. Some 70 GIP members have been deployed in Calbayog City LGU while 27 are in Catbalogan City LGU, the rest have been assigned in smaller LGUs and in other national government agencies. Obregon disclosed that the department pays P 195.00/ daily to the worker but he may render work in other government offices and in

BY: NINFA QUIRANTE

TESDA conducts free assessment and certification for tech-voc workers, trainers and returning OFWs

T he Technical Education and Skil ls Development Authority

( TESDA) is conducting a free competency and certif ication through the National T VET Competency Assessment and Certif ication (NATCAC) program in identified key qualif ications at the regional and provincial levels nationwide. The free assessment aims to expand the access of TESDA’s clients to assessment and competency program; enhance the competitiveness, employability and productivity of workers; and upgrade the qualif ication of existing workers, trainers and assessors to a higher level of qualif ication. “Industry practitioners, graduates and even returning OFWs

should avail of this free service because it will affirm their sk il ls competency,” Sec. Joel Vil lanueva. TESDA Director General said. The free assessment, which started last May 2014, will be conducted again on August 11-22, 2014 for the following sectors: Tourism, Electronics and Information and Communications Technology; and on October 13-24, 2014 for the following sectors: Agri-Fishery/Food Processing and Health, Social and other Community Development Services. The target to be assessed are the trainers of private and public T VIs, including TESDA Technology Institutions. Local Government Units and other government agencies providing T VET programs and private enterprises with

registered T VET programs, DepEd Trainers, workers/industry prac t i t ioners/profess ionals/career shifters who want to undergo competency assessment, returning Overseas Fil ipino Workers, Fil ipino expatriates with relevant experience who want to undergo competency assessment; and industry practitioners who are prospective competency assessors. For more information (including the l ist of requirements for the assessment), interested applicants may call or visit the nearest TESDA Provincial offices or download the application forms for the identified qualif ication at www.tesda.gov.ph. ( TESDA-8/PIA-8)

LGUs government program that aims to provide opportunities for tech-voc or college graduates and out-of-school youths to experience to work in government agencies. Their assignment in government offices is expected to give them the chance to demonstrate their talents and skills and let them contribute in public service and in the programs of government. (PIA 8-Samar)

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Pilmico, a subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, distributes the initial 25 egg machine kits to select recipients from Palo, Leyte as part of its campaign to provide a sustainable livelihood and employment for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. One hundred (100) egg machine kits have been allocated by Pimico for the entire province of Leyte which includes pen with 48 ready-to-lay hens. Photo shows (standing l-r) Pilmico Marketing Manager John Paul Pangilinan (5th from left), Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Terra Firma Director Amor Maclang, other Pimlico officials and the farmer-recipients after the presscon held at the Palo Municipal Hall, August 2. (ldl/PIA-8)

OWWA-8 grants certificates of scholarship to indigents

T he regional office of the Overseas Workers Welfare

Administration (OWWA) in partnership with the Kuwait Fil ipino Mother ’s Organization is giving certif icates of scholarship to indigent beneficiaries of former Overseas Fil ipino Workers (OFWs). According to regional director Norma del Rosario, three slots are available for this scholarship program who will be enrolled at DATAMEX Institute of Computer Technology – Tacloban Campus for a two-year course and all ied courses of their choice for

the second semester of School Year 2014-2015. The scholarship is open to qualif ied beneficiaries (either a sister or brother of an unmarried or child of a married OFW ) of former OFW member who are high school graduate and who wish to pursue their tertiary education. Applicants are required to submit accomplished form with 2 pieces 2x2 identical photos, proof of OWWA membership (such as official receipt, OWWA I.D., or O.E.C.) , proof of relationship to OFW (NSO-issued bir th certif icate if the

OFW is married, NSO-issued bir th certif icate of the applicant and OFW if OFW is unmarried, and an NSO-issued certif icate of no marriage of the OFW ), and Secondary School Record (Form 137). Interested applicants are requested to visit OWWA regional office at DOLE Compound, Trece Martires St. , Tacloban City or call/text 0916-594-5715 and look for Mr. Ric Tabarnero. (LDL/PIA-8 with reports from OWWA-8)

August 18, 2014 August 18, 201410PIA spearheads press conference on climate changeIn line with the government efforts

to raise the level of awareness of people on climate change, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded the press conference with private media and government information officers at CENRO Catarman office in UEP on August 11. DENR Planning Officer Myla Uy said that climate change is directly attributable to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. She said climate change is attributed by scientists to increase in global temperature, commonly called global warming. Global warming is due to the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and as a result we see an abnormal warming of the

temperatures or overheating of the earth, she added. The greenhouse effect, or increase in global temperatures brought about by waste gases like natural greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap much of the energy that the earth radiant out towards space. More gases emitted equals to warmer temperature, she explained. The Philippine archipelago occupies part of the western segment of the ring of fire and faces a wide-open sea to the east that serves as a spawning ground for tropical typhoons thus, renders it vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons; and the adverse impacts. She further explained that the melting of glaciers in the North Pole, Antartica and other frozen areas will lead to increase in sea level and the consequences are

inundation of low lying areas and small islands may even disappear. As a response the government signed and ratified both the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto protocol as implementing measures intended to reduce and prevent greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change, progressively implement bio-fuels program, national greening program to mention some, she said. In Northern Samar, DENR started to plant trees in the 8,176 hectares for the establishment of the province sovereign forest that would become the province carbon sink. The planning officer asked the help of the private media and the information officers to continue communicating to the people and help them understand that climate change is everyone business. (PIA8 Northern Samar)

Sports Envoys former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player Allison Feaster (2nd from left) and former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Derrick Alston (3rd from left) pose with Palo OIC mayor Junie Agner, Leyte governor DominicoPetilla, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) executive director Jose Andres Canivel, Philippine Science High School-EV (PSHS-EV) campus director Reynaldo Garnace, PTFCF chairperson Pacing Milan, a PSHS student leader after the turnover of books and sports gear held at the PSHS compound in Pawing, Palo, Leyte. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

August 18, 2014 11

The program dubbed as “Forest and Community Rehabilitation Program” has a theme “It takes a Community: Forest and Community Rehabilitation in Leyte”. Along with the launching was the MOA signing between PTFCF and Philippine Science High School on the support for beach forest nursery hub establishment in said school. Other activities include beach forest tree planting at the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park

RHU with complete fac i l i t ies and equipment not only in Region-8 but the whole countr y. This was designed by DOH and United Nat ions I nternat ional Chi ldren’s Emergenc y Fund (UNICEF) . “Modest y as ide, i f not for these di f ferent Government Agencies (GAs) , Pr ivate Organizat ions (POs) and I nternat ional Non- Government Organizat ions ( INGOs) , I th ink , we would not be able to bui ld this infrastruc ture projec t i f we just re ly and depend on our I nternal Revenue Al lotment ( IRA)” Boco added. The repor t a lso added, that the v is i t of Secretar y Ona, boosted the morale of the DOH provincia l employees. Ona’s v is i t to E . Samar was a lso a chance for h im to monitor the funds being downloaded to the Local Government Units (LGUs) and the on- going health projec ts and

DOH secretary...from page 1 President Aquino...from page 5

NGO, DENR-8..from page 1

from the AFP Capability Upgrade Program, which was organized in 2012. President Aquino was joined by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and AFP Chief Gregorio Pio Catapang during the event. In his opening remarks, Catapang thanked the President for the acquisition of the rifles, saying that soldiers are still using early models of M16 and M16A1 rifles, which were used during the Vietnam war. PND ( jb)

July 15, nagsalita po mismo ang tagapangulo ng Makati Business Club, si Ginoong Ramon del Rosario, na mataas ang kumpyansa nila sa ating Pangulo. Mataas ang pagturing nila sa ginagawa ng ating administrasyon hinggil sa matuwid na daan,” dugang niya. Gindumara an survey han ika 1-25 han bulan ha Hulyo kaupod an 65 senior business executives isip respondents. Haros ini 8.8 percent han kanan MBC 736 nga miembros. ( Translated by NBQ/PIA 8-Samar/PCOO/PND/ag)

Palasyon kuntento...tikang ha page 10

programs in Eastern Samar. As ide f rom RHU, the Secretar y a lso gave new Barangay Health Stat ion in Brgy. Batang with the total projec t cost of P1.5-mi l l ion, repair of Barangay Health Stat ion in Brgy. Canci l ides amounting to P1-mi l l ion and the repair a lso of Barangay Health Stat ion in Brgy. San M iguel at a cost of P400-thousand. HUMIDICA is wi l l ing to give an addit ional P2-M i l l ion for equipment and fac i l i t ies through their Countr y Projec t Manager Alexandra Velantos who is based in Hernani . The sa id projec t i s in the bidding process and the construc t ion of this projec t wi l l tentat ively s tar t on September, 2014 and wi l l be f in ished on Februar y 2015. (A JC/SDC/PIA8-Eastern Samar)

Grounds and Barangay Candahug, Palo Leyte where former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Derrick Alston and former Women’s National Basketball Association ( WNBA) player Allison Feaster participated in the outreach activities. Reports have indicated that almost 40 percent of forested areas in Leyte were affected by the wrath of the typhoon.(PIA-8)

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Palasyo kuntento han resulta han Makati Business Club SurveyI ginpahayag han Malacañang an

kakuntento hine han gumawas nga resulta han kanan Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Outlook Survey, kun diin an mga senior business executives in gin-survey han club in naghatag hin positibo nga per formance ratings ha 43 han 62 nga government agencies. “Sa kabuuan ay ik inagagalak namin ang resulta nitong survey na ito,” sumat ni Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. ha mga reporters hin usa nga press briefing han Martes. An MBC Executive Outlook

Survey in nagbutang ha Bangko Sentral ng Pil ipinas (BSP) ha number one spot nga may grado nga 95.4 percent. Nagpapakita daw ini sumat ni Coloma han kumpiyansa han business sector han kanan administrasyon economic policies. “Kung number one po sa kanila ang BSP, ibig sabihin mataas ang kumpiyansa nila sa kakayahan ng Bangko Sentral sa pagmamaneho ng macro-economic fundamentals ng ating bansa lalung-lalo na iyong sa monetary stabil ity,” segun ha iya. An siyam pa nga government agencies nga aada ha top 10

amo an Department of Tourism (81.6%), Phil ippine Economic Zone Authority (80%), Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (88%), Securities and Exchange Commission (64.6%), Department of Foreign Affairs (63%), Department of Health (61.6%), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (61.6%), Department of Finance (60%), ngan Philippine Statistics Authority (58.4%). “Kung maaalala natin ang Daylight Dialogue noong

USWAG, which means to move forward or towards progress, is the weekly E-Newsletter of the Philippine Information Agency in Eastern Visayas. It aims to document current efforts to build-back-better communities devastated by super typhoon Yolanda as well as deliver timely, useful and relevant information as we move forward together in realizing inclusive growth not only in the region but also the rest of the country.

WARAY NEWS

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