Download - One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 28
Vol 4 Issue 28 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 14 - 20, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue More beach forests to be revived in WV
Best performing coops in CV get recognition
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
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Resettlement beneficiaries assured of livelihood opportunities
TANAUAN, Leyte, July 16 (PIA) - The residents
of the Pago Resettlement Project in Tanuan, Leyte were
given assurance for livelihood opportunities by
Secretary Corazon Soliman of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD).
This, after some 48 families who lost their houses
due to typhoon Yolanda, were given the chance to have
an audience with the President of World Bank, Dr. Jim
Yong Kim who visited the area together with Secretary
Soliman.
Kim and Soliman were informed by the residents
of their present condition, whom they said are already
safe and far from dangers of living near the sea.
However, problem on livelihood was also brought
out by said residents.
Sec. Soliman promised the residents that she will
meet with Mayor Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan and the
Regional Director of DSWD Nestor Ramos to discuss
the possibilities of putting up livelihood projects.
”This is the next step after the shelter and we will
help you with the livelihood opportunities.” said
Soliman.
President Kim for his part said that world bank
mourned for the people of Tanuan, and that they all felt
sad after what happened during the typhoon.
With his visit, Kim also said that he was inspired
by the people who keep on fighting and trying to build
new homes and new source of living.
He then assured them that the World Bank group
will be with the people of Leyte. (GTT/LAA/PIA8)
By: Leonard T. Pineda I
ILOILO CITY, July 17 (PIA6) --- The Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-6 said
that more beach forests will be revived in Western
Visayas as part of the intervention in addressing the
impact of climate change.
In an edition of the radio program on climate
change "Panahon, Hibaluon, Handaan, Aksyunan",
DENR-6 Forest Resources Development Division
(FRDD) Chief Danilo Lorilla said the department has
allotted funding for the revival of beach forests in the
region even in just small areas.
The beach forest is a mixed association of
creepers, shrubs, and trees above the high tide level.
These species form an impenetrable thicket in
pristine forests and referred to as “beach jungle” by
early explorers.
Lorilla said that beach forests have served as
protection from storm surges which hit parts of
northern Iloilo and Capiz during the onslaught of super
typhoon Yolanda late last year.
It can be recalled that the Iloilo provincial
government established a beach forest in Tigbauan
town here to restore mangrove areas April this year.
The P197-million project covers 10 hectares of
shoreline spanning Barangays 9, Poblacion, Atabayan,
Barroc and Baguingin and is slated for one year of
implementation.
The provincial government said that the beach
forest has a bioshield function which serves as
protection against storm surges, prevents coastal
erosion, provides medicines and has a great potential
for industrial applications.
The establishment of the Tigbauan beach forest is
part of the Action for Regreening and Transformation
for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for CCA)
program of the provincial government. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
World Bank president Jim Yong Kim (right),
Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and
Development Corporation Lilianne Ploumen
(left) and Social Welfare and Development
Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman (center)
look at some of the vegetables planted at the
“Bahay Kubo-Kimchi Demonstration Farm” in
Brgy. Anahaway, Palo, Leyte, July 14. (Vino R.
Cuayzon)
Governor Arthur Defensor awards the
certificate of recognition and cash prize of
P5,000 to Marivic Franco of Brgy. Poblacion
New Lucena, Iloilo who was chosen as Most
Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar during
the 40th Nutrition Month celebration of the
province of Iloilo, July 14. (PIA6-Iloilo)
BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA
CEBU CITY, July 10 (PIA)--- Well performing
cooperatives in Central Visayas get recognition by the
Cooperative Development Authority (CDA-7) this
year.
In a recent ceremony held at the Cebu Provincial
Capitol, 11 cooperatives from all over Central Visayas
were given recognitions or “Gawad Parangal”, for their
performance as a social enterprise.
CDA7 regional director Felipe Deri, said he is
appy to announce that there are already more
than 2 million residents in region 7 who are members
of cooperatives.
About a million are from Cebu province.
“Cooperatives bring about equity, social economic
development and social justice,” Deri said.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who was the
occasion’s keynote speaker said giving due recognition
to exemplary performance is an effective way to inspire
any endeavor.
The two Most Outstanding Cooperatives in the
large category or those with the biggest assets include
the consistent Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative in
Pinamungahan Cebu and the CFI Community
Multipurpose Cooperative as first runner up.
For medium category, Mactan Island MPC came
out as winner followed by University of San Jose
Recoletos MPC as first runner up.
For small scale category, Subaspa MPC from
Lapulapu City came out as winner.
In the union category, sole winner from Negros
Oriental, the NegOr Union Cooperative in Dumaguete
City was awarded and Mandaue City Cooperative
Development Office came out winner in the
development office category.
Special recognitions were also given to the
cooperatives of Department of Agriculture
(DA-7), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7)
and the Land Bank of the Philippines. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7
-Cebu)
PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Renato U. Solidum,
Jr. presents the topic, Disaster Imagination
that offers strategies and new technologies in
hazard, risk, and impact assessments as basis
for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and
response during the forum at RAFI-EADSC
Plenary Hall. (vvv/PIA Cebu)
DENR-6 Forest Resources Development Division (FRDD) Chief
Danilo Lorilla (left) underscores the value of beach forests as
protection against storm surges during the radio program on
climate change "Panahon, Hibaluon, Handaan, Aksyunan" anchored
by PIA6’s Information Officer I Leonard I. Pineda I. (PIA6)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, July 15 (PIA6) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gave out loans, certificates of land
ownership award (CLOA) and citations to program beneficiaries as part of their continuing support services during the 26th
anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program here.
DAR support services continue
M ore than P35 million worth of
loans as part of the Agrarian
Production Credit Program
(APCP) were turned over to 10 agrarian
reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs)
while seven ARBOs are awaiting release of
another P30-million worth of loans.
Meanwhile, 13 ARBOs fully paid their
APCP loans for Crop Year 2013-2014 worth
P29,607,387.
APCP is a joint DA-DAR-LBP five year
credit and capacity development program
designed to respond to the credit needs of
ARB organizations.
During the celebration, DAR also
distributed CLOAs to 319 farmer
beneficiaries sharing a total 302 hectares of
land acquired by DAR either through
Voluntary Offer to Sell, Compulsory
Acquisition or Operational Lease Transfer
from 25 landholdings.
DAR also recognized 10 of its scholars
who graduated Magna Cum Laude and Cum
Laude’s this year through its Programang
Agraryong Iskolar (PAI).
Magna Cum Laude graduates were
Joan Granda, Gerald Bello and Daisy
Dalguntas while Cum Laude graduates were
Jeannie Dimasuay, Gemma Valenzuela, June
Rey Manaog, Glennamhae Tambora, Jyrene
Marie Alipio, Chrismie Ching and Jason
Jungco.
These scholars took up bachelor
courses at the different campuses of the
Central Philippine State University and
graduated in April this year.
Since 2005 to date, the PAI
was able to produce a total of 133
graduates.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agrarian
Reform Negros South reached its all time
high of land distribution target at 1,509
hectares since the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program with Extension and Reform
or CARPer in July 2009.
For the first semester of the year, DAR
South was able to distribute 1,509 hectares
of compensable agricultural land.
Assistant Regional Director for
Operations Florentino Siladan explained that
although it fell short of its target for the
period, but these are all compensable
agricultural land, which means these are
private agricultural lands that were acquired
and distributed to agrarian reform
beneficiaries unlike in other regions
which were distributing government owned
lands. Siladan posed a challenge to DAR
personnel during their anniversary
celebration to reach their target for land
distribution, double their efforts and not to
retreat or surrender. *(JSC/EAD-PIA6
Negros Occidental)
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
ILOILO CITY, July 17 (PIA6) -- The Regional Development Council VI (RDC VI) is hosting the 5th RDC Private Sector
Representatives‘ (PSRs) National Convention, scheduled on August 13-15 in Diversion21 Hotel, Benigno Aquino Drive, Iloilo
City.
T his year’s theme is “PSRs: RDCs’
Crucial Partners in the Pursuit of
Inc lus ive Growth and Job
Creation”.
A report prepared by the National
Economic and Development Authority
(NEDA) Region VI said delegates will share
ideas with a roster of subject matter experts
that includes the following notable names:
NEDA Deputy Director General Margarita
R. Songco, DTI Assistant Secretary Rafaelita
M. Aldaba, DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo
Pecision Boncato, Jr., Jones Lang LaSalle’s
Country Director David Leechiu, and
NATTCO Chief Executive Officer Sylvia
Okinlay-Paraguya.
The Convention is intended to
strengthen the role of the PSRs in the RDC
particularly in getting their full support and
cooperation in the implementation of the
Updated Philippine Development Plan, and
the Updated Regional Development Plan,
2011-2016.
Pursuant to Executive Order 325, the
private sector representatives (PSRs)
comprise one-fourth of the membership of
the fully constituted Regional Development
Council (RDC).
Given the important role of the private
sector in regional development, EO 325
specifically promotes their active
participation in regional planning, investment
programming, budgeting, monitoring and
evaluation.
More than a hundred delegates
h a v e a l r e a dy c o n f i r me d t h e i r
attendance to the 5th PSR National
Convention.
NEDA-6 said the national convention
will surely boost the economic activity of
Western Visayas as well as showcase the
Ilonggo cuisines and attractions including
the recent pub l ic and pr ivate
infrastructure developments in Iloilo City.
(JSC/CMP/NEDA 6)
RDC6 to host 5th PSRs national convention
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 12 (PIA6 ) – About 40,000 bags of Mabuhay brand cement were initially shipped to Capiz by a new
Mindanao – based supplier to address shortage of the construction commodity in the province.
D epartment of Trade and Industry –
Capiz Business Regulation and
Consumer Welfare Division head
Angelita Colmo said that the new supplier
was finalized in a recent meeting of cement
suppliers and retailers.
Mabuhay cement will be in addition to
existing brands like Excel, Premium, Portland
and Republic.
“These cement brands are supplied to
four big cement retailers here.
Small retailers get their supply from the
big four,” Colmo noted.
The province’ average cement
requirement is estimated at 325,000 bags
every month due to the various
supertyphoon Yolanda rehabilitation
projects.
The figure is about 50 percent
higher than the regular cement need
provincewide.
Each bag of cement ranges from
P240.00 – P245.00 from the big four
retailers. (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)
Capiz gets 40,000 bags of cement to address shortage
By: Alex A. Lumaque
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
Aklan campaigns for more blood
KALIBO, Aklan, July 14 (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan will be joining the nationwide celebration of Blood Donors Month this
July by holding a motorcade around Kalibo and a Grand Blood-letting at the ABL Sports Complex, Kalibo from 8:00 a.m. to 5
p.m. on July 15.
T he motorcade and blood-letting will
be simultaneously held in all six
provinces in Western Visayas and
two highly urbanized cities in the region, to
be spearheaded by the National Voluntary
Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the
Department of Health (DOH) Regional
Office VI.
In Aklan, some 200 blood donors are
targeted to donate blood on the set date,
according to Dr. Cornelio Cuachon,
Provincial Health Officer I of the Provincial
Health Office (PHO), coming from schools,
government offices and local government
units. The motorcade and Blood-letting
activity on July 15 in Aklan aim to enhance
pub l ic awareness on vo luntary ,
non-remunerated blood donation and
increase blood collection in the region.
To drum up an extensive participation
and commitment for the event in Aklan, the
PHO here also conducted an orientation on
Rational Use of Blood and Blood Donor
Recruitment attended by municipal mayors,
Municipal Health Officers, Public Health
Nurses, Sangguniang Bayan members on
Health, Liga Presidents and heads/
representatives from other government
agencies. Meanwhile, the province of Aklan,
under the helm of Governor Florencio T.
Miraflores, is targeting to establish a blood
bank at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon
Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH).
This blood bank, according to
Governor Miraflores in a radio interview,
will have a budget of P15 million.
The project intends to provide available
life-saving blood for Aklanons at all times.
(VGV-PIA6 Aklan)
BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA
2 Iloilo projects funded by DAP
ILOILO CITY, July 15 (PIA6) – Two projects in Iloilo have fund allocations from the Disbursement Acceleration Program
(DAP), records of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.
T hese are the National Housing
Authority (NHA) Relocation Sites
for Informal Settlers along Iloilo
River and its Tributaries in Iloilo City
with P100 million from the 2011 DAP and
the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project
Stage II (JRMP II) in the province with P450
million.
Based on the DBM List of
DAP-Identified Projects as of July 14, 2014,
the fund allocation for JRMP II will cover the
first-year requirement for the Philippine
government counterpart to finance the
investment requirement including the
engineering design and other initial works
for the project.
It will be recalled that President
Benigno S. Aquino inspected and led the
unveiling of the relocation project marker,
also known as the Iloilo River Plains
Subdivision Phase 1, during his visit to
Iloilo, June 27. The project is located at
Barangays Camalig and Lanit in Jaro district
here.
The 1,000-housing unit project will
benefit informal settler families who have
been affected by the Iloilo River Plains
Development.
On the other hand, JRMP II is an
irrigation facility implemented by the
Department of Agriculture-National
Irrigation Administration (DA-NIA).
The P11.2-billion project will support
the call for self sufficiency in rice and other
agricultural commodities in the Philippine
Development Plan (PDP) and DA’s Food
Stap les Se l f - Su f f ic iency Roadmap
(2011-2016).
The project will develop an irrigation
facility which is designed with provisions for
a hydro-electric power plant and bulk water
supply.
It is the first large-scale reservoir dam
outside Luzon. Its service area will cover 23
municipalities and the cities of Passi and
Iloilo.
It is funded by the Korean
Export-Import Bank to the tune of P8.9
billion with a P2.2 billion counterpart from
the Philippine government.
President Aquino also led the
ceremonial groundbreaking of the project at
the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on February 21,
2013. (JSC-PIA6)
BY: JAIME S. CABAG JR.
Antique's Lupons are WV bets
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - Two barangays in the province were declared winners in the search for Lupong Tagapamayapa
Incentive Award (LTIA) Regional Level recently facilitated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government .
B arangay Igbonglo San Jose for 1st
to 3rd Class Municipalities while
Poblacion, Belison was declared
winner for the 4th to 6th Class
towns. Raymund Palanog, Cluster Head,
DILG-Antique said these barangays will be
the entry of the region to the national
search.
Palanong explained that based on
records and onsite validation, these
Barangays are deserving of the award as
they complied with the criteria on
efficiency of operations, effectiveness in
securing the objectives of Katarungang
Pambarangay and creativity and
resourcefulness of the Lupong
Tagapamayapa.
As to their incentive, Punong
Barangay Farley M. dela Cruz of
Igbonglo, San Jose and Gerry M.
Chavez of Poblacion, Belison are given
P50,000 worth of projects for the
strengthening of their respective Lupong
Tagapamayapa.
Palanog said it can be in the form of
capability building activities or supplies and
equipment needed to sustain their
effective and efficient performance of their
duties.
DILG encouraged other barangays to
strengthen their Katarungang Pambarangay
as an indigenous conflict resolution
structure at the grassroots level.
With the effective performance of
Lupong Tagapamayapa, conflict can be
resolved at the barangay level so as cases
reaching the formal courts will be
lessened, said Palanong (JCM/PSM/PIA6
Antique)
BY: PILAR S. MABAQUIAO
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 14 (PIA) – Climate change affects the earth‘s energy balance that leads to either warming or cooling
effect in the atmosphere.
Climate change causes extreme weather
patterns
T his was bared by Engr. Oscar Tabada,
Chief Meteorologist of DOST
-PAGASA Visayas Field Office during
the training on “Disaster Preparedness vis-à-vis
Climate Change Using Social Media” for the
Association of Negros Oriental Public
Information Officers (ANOPIO), local media,
members of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Council (PDRRMC) and
some environmental communication students
from Silliman University held recently at the
Negros Oriental Convention Hotel.
Dubbed as the "Weatherman" Tabada
made a blow by blow presentation of extreme
weather condition patterns in the Visayas
showing the destructive impacts of climate
change.
Extreme weather condition patterns pose
many dangers such as more hot days felt, more
intense downpour of rain and uncertain changes in storms to come, Tabada explained.
He showed in his presentation the
depleted forest cover, decline in agricultural
production by 29-60%, more intense and
longer droughts and heat waves have become
more frequent now as directly observed of the
recent climate change phenomenon.
He added that increased wet season can
cause more flooding, risk to urban drainage
and more landslides.
Tabada urged everyone to take part in
mitigating the destructive effects of climate
change through information dissemination and
continuing advocacy campaign by simply
reducing all forms of burning so that emission
of greenhouse gases will be reduced thereby
slowing down the rise in the earth's
temperature.
More importantly, Tabada campaigned
for caring the environment by giving
more space to agriculture, parks, backyard gardens and proper waste disposal.
Stop all forms of logging and obeying rules
to protect our environment are the best
responses we can contribute to save the earth
and the future generations to come, ended
Tabada.
He also advised local government units
(LGUs) in Negros Oriental to intensify their
preparations to mitigate the adverse effects of
extreme weather conditions in the Visayas.
Tabada emphasized that ear ly
preparations can lessen the number of
casualties or extent of damage in times of
calamities.
He cited the damage and casualties
brought by typhoon Pablo and Yolanda in 2012
and 2013, respectively.
Tabada then assured LGUs that the
country’s weather bureau is doing its best to
compliment LGUs in early warning measures
when strong typhoons enter the PAR. (mbcn/lpp/PIA-7/Negros Oriental with RABL report)
BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 14 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Negros Oriental in coordination with the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will sponsor a Provincial Convention of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on July 23
at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex in observance of the 36th National Disability Prevention and Rehabilita-
tion (NDPR) Week on July 17-23.
T he activity will be a culmination
of the weeklong celebration
that will gather members
of the federation of PWDs in Negros
Oriental.
This year's celebration theme: "Talino
at Paninindigan ng Taong May Kapansanan:
Pasaporte sa Kaunlaran will showcase
talents in singing competition and
intermission numbers of PWDs.
Civil Service Commission (CSC)
Negros Oriental director Merlinda
Flores-Quillano will give updates on the
educational and economic development
assistance from CSC and how PWDs can
benefit from this program.
Negros Oriental provincial governor
Roel Degamo will deliver his inspirational
message and the provincial government’s
program to uplift the status of PWDs in
Negros Oriental.
There will be give-aways and
awarding of prizes to winners of
singing contest according to Benemerita
Badon of the Provincial Social
Welfare Office. (mbcn/lpp/PIA-7/Negros
Oriental)
NegOr PWDs celebrate NDPR week
CEBU CITY, July 10 (PIA) --- A Cebu-based non-government organization is set to hold a series of ―Mindshare‖ sessions in
Cebu City from July to August this year.
Cebu educational org to hold ‗Mindshare‘ sessions BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA
T he Coalition for Better Education
(CBE) is holding the sessions to give
participants a view of how education
should be positioned that will lead schools to
practice, and for students to acquire, 21st
Century Learning Skills.
Dubbed the “LEAP Series,” the one-hour
pep talks are anchored on the theme of CBE’s
13th year founding anniversary: “Leading,
Enabling, Advancing and Promoting Education
for 21st Century Learning,” according to a
press statement from CBE.
The schedule for the sessions are:
“L-EADING” Sessions (for education
leaders, decision-makers) Date: July 11, 2 –
5pm, CBE Center for Teacher Excellence,
CNU Campus.
“E-NABLING” Sessions (for pre-service &
in-service teachers) Date: July 18, 2-5 pm,
University of the Visayas.
“A-DVANCING” Sessions (for all) Date:
July 25, 10am – 5pm, University of San
Jose-Recoletos, Basak Campus.
“P-ROMOTING” Exhibit of BEST
PRACTICES in 21st Century Learning, Date:
August 1, 3-8p.m., Harolds Hotel, Gorordo
Avenue.
The 21st Century Learning is focused on
three major themes: Learning and
Collaboration Skills (Critical thinking,
collaboration, communication and creativity),
Life and Career Skills, ICT and Media Fluency
Skills.
The sessions will discuss topics such as:
Building Schools of the Future, How does my
school rate under the 21st Century Score
card, Mind mapping, Using ipads and tablets in
Teaching, Advancing Education through ICT
and Media Fluency, Teaching Life and Career
Skills in the Classroom and other relevant
topics on education.
A blended approach will be used as
medium of communication where virtual and
F2Fsessions will be conducted in collaboration
with international and Philippine education
experts. Subsidized Fees are set at P250 for
all L-E-A Sessions (CBE Members) and Php 300
(non-CBE members).
For those opting to attend the “L” or “E”
sessions only, P100 for CBE members and
P120 for non-CBE members will be assessed.
“A” sessions cost P 120 for CBE members
and Php 150 for non-CBE members.
For more information, please contact CBE
at 4164624 to 25 or email their office
at [email protected]. (rmn/PIA-Cebu/with
reports from CBE)
BY: LEANDRIA P. PAGUNSAN
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
DUMAGUETE CITY, July 15 (PIA) -- With the growing intensity of typhoons visiting the country and in the province of Negros
Oriental and the imminent prolonged dry spell brought by El Niño phenomenon, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR)- Negros Oriental has called on the public to intensify planting more trees.
I n a recent training on "Disaster
Preparedness vis-a-vis Climate Change
Using Social Media" forester Raul Russel
of DENR told local media and information
officers to help them convince locals to
plant more trees to preserve and make
t he en v i ronment more r es i l i en t
against calamities.
Russel reported that Negros Oriental’s
five percent remaining natural forest cover
needs protection and urged the public to
“move fast” in the rehabilitation efforts.
Russel said in pursuit of protecting the
remaining trees and increasing forest cover,
the government has launched the National
Greening Program (NGP) that aims to plant
1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares in six
years which started in 2010.
It is noted that causes of forest
destruction include pressure from an increasing
population in need of land and wood,
overexploitation of forest resources, lack of
political will to curb illegal logging, low priority
given to forest conservation and environmental
protection among others.
In the same event, state weather bureau
chief Engr. Oscar Tabada of PAGASA
-Visayas also urged the public to prepare and
save water for the occurrence of El Niño
phenomenon which will hit the country in the
last quarter of 2014 and may last up to the first
quarter of 2015.
Engr. Tabada said saving water means to
help mitigate the effect of El Niño and advised
the public to stop cutting trees because this
greatly cause ecological imbalance.
El Niño is characterized as unusually
warm ocean surface temperatures in the
central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP).
More than just disaster preparedness,
information officers, local media & PDRRMC
got to learn the power of social media in the
entire disaster cycle.
Noel de Guia and Max Salazar of Get
Ready PINAS (Prepare, Inform & Act Smart)
highlighted the importance of delivering timely
and accurate information before, during, and
after disasters during the training organized by
PIA-Negros Oriental, SMART Communications
and the Dumaguete Press Club. (mbcn/JCT/
PIA7-Negros Oriental)
DENR-NegOr cites importance of planting trees in CC mitigation
BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS
SIQUIJOR, July 15 (PIA) — The province of Siquijor recently created the Provincial Program Management and Implementing
Unit (PPMIU) to serve as the local implementing body for the implementation of the Philippine Rural Development Program
(PRDP).
Siquijor creates PRDP-PPMIU for rural dev‘t
S iquijor governor Zaldy Villa signed an
Executive Order creating the PPMIU as
the principal mechanism through which
the provincial government shall seek
multi-sectoral inputs, advise, and assist on
matters related to climate-smart agriculture,
infrastructure facilities and sustainable
development in the island.
Siquijor is selected as one to the six
provinces in the country under the
PRDP-Global Environment Facility that will
strengthen the conservation of the coastal and
marine resources base through biodiversity
conservation and fisheries resources
management, says Department of Agriculture
(DA) provincial agriculture technology
coordinating officer Bernadith Bunado in a
PRDP briefing earlier.
It also hopes to enhance LGU institution,
technical management and financial capabilities
and environment government system, she said.
The PPMIU is composed of the Provincial
Planning and Development Coordinator as its
head, under which are the coordinating
agencies, PPMIU Secretariat, the i-plan unit
headed by the PPDO, i-build unit by the
provincial engineer’s office, i-reap unit by the
provincial veterinary’s office, and co-headed by
the office of the provincial and municipal
agriculturists and the i-support unit headed by
the provincial budget officer.
Under the i-support unit are the
monitoring and evaluation, procurement, social
and environmental safeguard and information,
education, advocacy and communication
sub-units.
PRDP is a six-year national government
platform for an inclusive, value-chain oriented,
and climate resilient agriculture and fishery
sector. It is the upscale version of the
Mindanao Rural Development Program
(MRDP) where new innovations are
introduced to address the present demand of
times especially climate changes to make rural
development more effective.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI)-Siquijor province started
mounting the Small and Medium Enterprise
(SME) Roving Academy (SMERA) program to
micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
in all six towns in the province.
The activity will bring to provincial MSMEs
learning programs designed to promote
entrepreneurship, improve access to credit and
markets, and increase productivity and
efficiency, says DTI-Siquijor provincial director
Nimfa Virtucio. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)
BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
Cebu, July 10 (PIA) --- The Archdiocese of Cebu also stands as one unit exerting effort in the relief and rehabilitation
operations for the Yolanda hit areas specifically in North Cebu.
Cebu Archdiocese takes part in Yolanda relief,
rehab operations
I n a recent Post Yolanda Rehab
Operation press brief ing, Cebu
Archdiocese disaster focal person Fr.
Charles Jayme said that immediately after
typhoon Yolanda hit, Cebu Archbishop Jose
Palma then formed a Relief and Rehab
Operation Unit.
First Phase of which is Adopt a Parish
Program one church from the South Cebu has
to adopt and partner with one typhoon
affected parish from North Cebu.
“Parishes from the South assisted the
needs of these affected parishes in North
Cebu,” Fr. Jayme said.
He added that part of the assistance
delivered is to cater to the needs of the
people in the community where the parish
belongs.
The Cebu Archdiocese also partners with
Cebu Caritas in the relief and rehabilitation
efforts extended to the Yolanda devastated
communities in North Cebu.
March this year the created relief and
rehabilitation efforts of the Cebu Archdiocese
was already in close coordination with the
Caritas International with about 160 Caritas all
over the world.
Fr. Jayme said that the coordination
started with the assistance in North Cebu. This
assistance include Shelter, Livelihood, Water,
Sanitation, Hygiene and Education among
others.
"The Shelter Project of the Cebu
Archdiocese and the Caritas now adopted
a Yolanda Village in Lapaz Bogo City with 27
houses serving as relocation and resettlement
for the typhoon affected families in the area
with houses that are totally devastated by
typhoon.
Caritas Village in Tacup, San Remegio also
stood with 27 houses and Hagnaya, San
Remegio Cebu with 39 houses catering to the
families losing their houses as Yolanda hit the
areas. Soon to be built are 74 houses in
Bungtod Bogo City. (mbcn/ays/PIA 7)
BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
DENR-8 to plant 1B fruit trees in coastal
highways
T his was revealed by Provincial
E n v i ro n me n t a n d N a t u r a l
Resources Off icer (PENRO)
Ricardo Tomol, head of the DENR office in
Southern Leyte, during the Action Center
Kapihan sa PIA Cable TV program
Wednesday.
The Cable TV Kapihan taping at the
Senior Citizens building will be aired
Friday, July 18, as a special edition in
addition to its weekend regular showing, to
coincide with a simultaneous nationwide
launching of a joint PIA-DENR advocacy
project on Climate Change Adaptation
(CCA).
Planting trees, be it forest or fruit trees,
has long been proven as a way to mitigate
the effects of erratic climatic conditions,
because they absorb carbon dioxide in the
air and give off oxygen for people and
animals to breathe, aside providing shade
and acting as buffer against winds and waves
during bad weather.
Asked for updates on the nationwide
NGP for Southern Leyte province, Tomol
said that since the year 2011, they have
covered more than 4,000 hectares of
timberlands planted with varied species of
trees in coordination with various People’s
Organizations (POs).
This translates to over 2,000,000 trees
grown now at three years old at a
conservative estimate of 500 trees planted
per hectare at 85% survival rate.
As to the billion fruit trees campaign
specifically for Region 8 and implemented
through former Senator Panfilo Lacson, the
Presidential Adviser on Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction for post-Yolanda, Tomol
said they had finished the survey and other
necessary paperworks and submitted those
already to their central office.
The idea is to coordinate with private
landowners in open spaces and lots
in-between barangays and municipalities
along the coastal roads, so these areas, even
under coconut trees along the 40-meter
limit from shorelines, can be planted with
fruit trees provided by DENR but
“demand-driven” by landowners on what
kind of fruit trees they would like to plant,
Tomol explained.
Tomol said he is just waiting
for the final approval of their submitted
plans so they can start to implement,
if possible within the year, the
Yolanda-themed fruit tree planting in the
province as part of the Lacson-led initiative
for the entire Region 8. (mmp, PIA8
-Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 17 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern
Visayas has an added mission on top of the regular National Greening Program (NGP) that began four years ago until
2016: plant a billion fruit trees more within the 40-meter no build zone limits along shorelines.
TESDA grants skills training to typhoon survivors
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, July 12 (PIA) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA) is
now engaged in conducting skills training to some ―Yolanda‖ survivors here as part of their ―Post Yolanda Activities‖,.
T his was learned from Engineer
Enrico Banario, TESDA Provincial
Director over station DYES.
Banario said that close to a thousand
now have already completed the skills
training, and in Balangiga town alone, more
or less 50 Out-of-School Youths aging 18
years old and above have undergone
recently, with the 15-day training in Basic
Carpentry, Electrical Installation and
Maintenance.
He added that after the training, the
graduates were given Tool Kits which they
can make use of, as they venture further,
using their acquired knowledge and skills.
For instance, they will soon be tapped
to repair the damaged school buildings of
Balangiga including the poultry house.
It was also reported that in February
this year, 50-trainees from Salcedo town
have likewise graduated from the same skills
training. T
his was assisted by the United Nations
Development Program(UNDP) and the
Eastern Samar State University(ESSU).
The Catholic Relief Service(CRC)
likewise extends a similar assistance to
typhoon stricken communities, the report
added. TESDA is working on a P4M budget
for “Yolanda” Rehabilitation and Recovery in
the southern municipalities of the province.
Engr. Banario also disclosed that these
graduates from their short-term skills
trainings, in Carpentry and Electrical
Installations are qualified to take TESDA’s
Competency Examination, which could
qualify them for permanent employment in
government or overseas. (PIA-Eastern
Samar/aen)
BY: ALICIA E. NICART
SoLeyte solon downloads P14M to CHED
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 14 (PIA) -- The office of Congressman Damian Mercado was able to tap
financial assistance from the national government for the tertiary education needs of his constituents in the lone district
of this province.
O n Friday, July 11, Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) Region 8
Director Maura Consolacion
Cristobal visited this province particularly in
Sogod and this city and personally
distributed notices of awards and
scholarship contracts to almost 2,000
student grantees.
In an interview with local media at the
Saint Joseph College (SJC) HRM room
shortly after the brief distribution ceremony,
Cristobal said the Congressman’s initiative
was on top of their regular program of
scholarship extended to qualified students
who are determined to pursue and finish
college schooling.
The basic difference is that under the
CHED program the student-scholar must
maintain an average grade of 2.5 or 85%,
while that of the Congressman’s, which is
under CHED’s Tulong-Dulong, a simple
passing rate is all that is required, Cristobal
said.
In both instances, though, the student
grantee/scholar is given the chance to finish
college, be it a four-year or a five-year
course, she added.
“That is why my advice to the
students is to make full use of this
opportunity,” Cristobal, who assumed as
CHED Region 8 head only in April this year,
stressed.
She also said that CHED directly
coordinated with the private or public
schools for the payment of tuition fees of
the scholars and grantees, and the excess
money, if there is any, will in turn be given
by the school to the students
concerned. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)
BY: MARCELO M. PEDALINO
BY: MARCELO M. PEDALINO
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
Calbayog cites contribution of rescue
volunteers
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 14 (PIA) – Calbayog City through Mayor Ronald Aquino gave recognition to rescue
volunteers as the city marked National Disaster Consciousness Month.
I n a news release penned by Aimee
Catalan, it said that the city
highlighted the recognition of
individuals and groups who, without
reservation, volunteered themselves in the
city’s quick response after Yolanda’s
devastation in Tacloban on November 8,
2013 and lately, in Binaliw, Calbayog on June
26, 2014.
In a simple ceremony held Tuesday,
Aquino distributed certificates of recognition
to the barangay rescue volunteers called
SALVAR (Saving lives by volunteers and
active rescuers) for their valuable and
untiring support to the City Government of
Calbayog through City Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Office
(CDRRMO).
SALVAR is known to be ever ready to
respond in the rescue, search and relief
operations of the city during calamities and
disasters.
CDRRM head Mr. Estanislao D.
Cortado, in his message, stressed that it is
everyone’s responsibility to lessen the
impact of a hazard or any disaster, and
minimize the loss of lives.
On the early morning of June 26 a
tornado hit Binaliw (a village located 20
kilometers from the city), and destroyed 92
houses, and left eight injured and 501
residents homeless.
The funnel-shaped whirling wind also
wrecked eight motorized and three
non-motorized “bancas”. (PIA 8-Samar with
Aimee Catalan- Calbayog City)
Southern Leyte PDRRMC braces for El Nino phenomenon
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 10 (PIA) - As the council members of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council (PDRRMC) met on its quarterly meeting, preparations were tackled to counter the adverse effects of the El Nino
phenomenon from June 2014 until the first quarter of 2015, to include emergencies and calamities situations as well.
A mong the preparations agreed upon
by the council were the preposition-
ing of food, fuel, listing of equipments
needed in rescue operations, among others
which should be made ready this early,
PDRRMC Chair Governor Roger Mercado
noted.
PDRRMC Chair Mercado also ordered
the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office (PDRRMO) to draft and
facilitate for the memorandum of
agreements with local groceries and
pharmacy stores and gasoline stations where
these prime commodities can be readily be
withdrawn to be able to respond
immediately to the victim-people.
“All primary commodities and fuels
must be readily available and can be
immediately withdrawn and served to the
people stricken in times of emergencies and
calamities,” Governor Mercado noted.
PAG-ASA OIC Administrator Aldrin
Kaindoy in his presentation of the El Nino
phenomenon said that Southern Leyte must
prepare for possible infectious diseases
brought about by the air quality building up
along the region, according to an ENSO
experiment.
Provincial Health Officer (Technical)
Dr. John Matibag asked for the
prepositioning of medicines to immediately
respond to diseases such as dengue fever
cases, among other diseases expected to
mount during El Nino phenomeon in the
province.
During the regular meeting, PDRRMC
also moved for a resolution for the purchase
of handheld radio communication
equipments that could connect the
PDRRMC to practically all the municipalities,
barangays, police stations across the
province in the event of loss of electric
power due to calamities.
This followed after the brief
presentation of Scan Company.
PDRRMO Provincial Head Danilo
Atienza also wanted to put every plans,
preparations in place during peacetime, that
is before any occurrence of an emergency or
calamity in the province, he added. (esg/PIA8
SoLeyte)
BY: ERNA S. GORNE
TB free Philippines draws Samar guv‘s support
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 11 (PIA) - TB free Philippines has drawn the support of Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan.
D uring the organization of the Multi
-Sectoral Partnership to Achieve
Control of TB (IMPACT), Tan
signed a commitment for the total support
to eradicate TB in the province including
budget support.
She also pledged to strengthen TB
treatment delivery mechanism and ensure
access to TB treatment of disadvantaged
groups.
In addition, as the local chief
executive, the governor promised
to improve the compliance of provincial
district hospitals to Philippine Plan
of Action for TB (PhilPact) standards
and TB Directly Observed Treatment
Short Course(DOTS) and treatment
protocol.
TB DOTS embarks on partnership
where the patient is supervised by a partner
as he takes the drugs; this process ensures
that the patient continuously takes the drugs
until completion.
Governor Tan also vowed to
provide supportive policies and financing
support.
As to innovations, Tan plans to give
incentives to health workers who tracked
down tab cases and successfully effected
treatment.
To ensure that school children
are also TB free, Tan vowed to sponsor the
TB test known as purified protein
derivative (PPD) test for some 10 thousand
school children who are reportedly
malnourished.
Just this summer, Tan also
sponsored the X-ray tests of teachers in the
division.
While the provincial health office
reported that only some 315 TB
cases were reported in 2013, it does not
mean that they are the only cases, tracking
them also proves challenging, said health
authorities.
Other challenges plaguing the TB
control program in Samar include inadequate
number of trained treatment partners, poor
logistics management for TB control, health
facilities without proper sputum collection
area and many more.(PIA 8-Samar/ nbq)
BY: NINFA ILUMINDA B. QUIRANTE
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