Vol 4 Issue 32 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 August 11 - 17, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Climate Change issue calls for unity: Usec Saño

Leyte rehab plan costs P24B

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Iloilo City Mayor cites private sector contributions

By: Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 14 (PIA6) - - Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick

Mabilog acknowledged the contributions of the private sector in

making Iloilo City what it is today – clean, highly desirable

destination, and one of the best performing and most competitive

cities in the country.

“The support extended by the private sector and other

well meaning individuals and groups who share our vision

helped us turn Iloilo City over the last four years into a clean and

highly desirable destination city, into the third best

performing highly urbanized city, into the sixth most competitive

city in the archipelago and number two in government

efficiency in the whole country,” said Mabilog during the opening of

the 5th Regional Development Council (RDC) – Private Sector

Representatives (PSR) National Convention here in this city, August

13.

Mabilog said the private sector is also an essential partner of

the city government in its fight against poverty.

“Some of our low cost housing projects for poor Ilonggos

and the mushrooming of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in

the city, even infrastructures, which are powerful engines of

economic growth and source of jobs become possible through the

partnerships we have with them,” said Mabilog.

Further, their collaboration with the private sector, said

Mabilog, has led to the realization of international flights between

Hongkong and Singapore and Iloilo at the Iloilo Airport and the

restoration of the heritage buildings in the old central business

district of the city known as Calle Real which was initiated by the

Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council.

Recently, the National Historical Commission of the

Philippines declared Calle Real as a heritage zone.

Mabilog said participants could also see other developments

in the city which took place with the help of the private sector such

as the Iloilo River Esplanade and the beautification of the new Ninoy

Aquino National Highway, a ten-lane highway complete with a bike

lane.

He said the involvement of the private sector in the

city is also seen in the city‟s best practices such as its annual

Dinagyang Festival, the only festival recognized by the Galing Pook

Award.

Mabilog said the Iloilo City government continues to be an

active partner of the private sector and committed to create a

sound policy and regulatory environment for private sector growth

and to explore ways to advance both development and business

outcome so that they are mutually reinforcing.

Together with Jessraf Palmares, Co-Chairperson of the RDC

6 Economic and Development Committee, Mabilog welcomed the

more than 170 private sector representatives from the different

regions in the country participating in the event until Friday, August

15. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR

CORDOVA, Aug. 13 (PIA) --- "Climate Change is a real issue

now that calls us to work together from the barangay to the

municipalities to the province and the national level. To survive

climate change, we have to build a better nation by taking care of

our environment and natural wealth."

This was the urgent call of Climate Change Commissioner

Undersecretary Naderev “Yeb” Saño in his keynote message during

the 1st Barangay Summit on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate

Change Mitigation and Adaptation held in Cordova town, Cebu on

August 8, an event initiated by the Philippine Information Agency

(PIA-7) in the region in cooperation with the local government unit

of Cordova.

Saño told the 100 summit attendees mostly barangay

officicials, students, heads of departments of the town that climate

change effects on people and communities include more typhoons,

more rains or no rains at all, increase in temperature and sea level

rise.

"Disaster Risk Reduction and Management means reducing

the root cause of poverty. Kapag may mahirap, may disaster,' Saño

said.

He added that "we are at war with the vicious enemy called

climate change and disasters. We should not buckle down, we will

win this war!"

Saño lauded PIA-7 for the initiative done in organizing such

activity on barangay summit on disaster risk reduction as he said

that “disaster risk reduction management is an important

discussion.”

He said that President Benigno Aquino III is also exerting

effort to implement programs and projects geared towards disaster

risk reduction and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Saño then urged the public including the youth to combine

efforts against climate change and put into action themselves the

disaster risk reduction management practice.

Climate Change Commission Undersecretary Naderev “Yeb”

Saño was joined by Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction

Management Officer (PDRRMO) Balatazar Tribunalo Jr.,

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7)

regional technical director for forestry Eduardo Inting, Office of the

Civil Defense (OCD 7) civil defense officer Allen Froilan Cabaron II

and Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration (PAGASA) Mactan, chief meteorologist Engr. Al

Quiblat as panelist presentors during the 1st Barangay Summit.

Part of the summit was the commitment signing to climate

change mitigation and disaster risk reduction and tree planting

activity in Datag, Cordova Cebu where the participants

planted about 50 fruit trees along the barangay roads. (mbcn/ays/

PIA7)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS By: Consuelo B. Alarcon

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 10 (PIA) – More

developments are expected to come in the next months for

recovery in the Province of Leyte.

This, after President Aquino announced during his State of

the Nation Address (SONA) regarding the approval of the

much-awaited P170.9 bil l ion “Comprehensive and

Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan” for areas devastated by typhoon

Yolanda to include Leyte, Western Samar, Eastern Samar and

Tacloban City.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla said, he

feels elated when the President already approved the rehabilitation

plan.

According to him, once the rehabilitation works begin, this

will mean more job opportunities for Leytenos as well.

The initial funding requirement for the rehabilitation,

recovery and development of the Province as reflected in the plan

is over P22.72 billion spread over three (3) years.

However, Petilla said, he has an addendum amounting to P2

billion.

The infrastructure sector has the biggest allocation at over

P9 billion followed by the resettlement sector amounting to

more than P6 billion while Agriculture and Fishery has the least

allocation.

Out of the 40 municipalities and 1 city under the jurisdiction

of the Province of Leyte, 36 municipalities were affected by the

typhoon, three of which were heavily damaged such as Palo,

Tanauan and Tolosa. (AJC/CBA/PIA-8)

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director

-General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac

receives the token of appreciation from

Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella

withnessed by the members of the city council

and Bacolod City Police Office Director

PSSupt. Pedrito Escarilla during an orientation

on the Barangay Drug Clearing Operation

attended by the barangay captains and school

heads in Bacolod City. *(EAD-PIA6 photo)

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)

MAYOR Jed Patrick Mabilog cites the collaboration efforts and

contribution of the Private Sectors to Iloilo City‟s sustainable

development as he welcomes the delegates of the three-day 5th

Regional Development Council (RDC) - Private Sector

Representatives (PSRs) National Convention during the opening

ceremonies, August 13 in Iloilo City. (LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

Guests from Office of Civil Defense, Provincial

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Council (CDRRMC) discuss the

disaster preventive measures set in place to

ensure community resiliency especially in view of

rainy periods and the heat wave El Niño which has

been forecasted to occur this year during the Kapihan sa PIA forum on July 16, 2014 at the

Provincial Information Office, Capitol, Cebu City.

The forum was aired-live at DYMR-Radyo ng

Bayan from 10:00am - 11:00 am. PIA -7 ARD

Fayette C. Riñen and Wen Celen of Radyo ng Bayan moderated the forum. (vvv/PIA Cebu).

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA6) —The Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) with local government units to speed

up land titling is seen as helping people uplift their lives.

MOPA to speed up land titling

I t is a project that the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources

banks on to help the poor landless avail

of their free service on land titling, said Land

Management Bureau Director Ralph Pablo.

Pablo said in a press release, that DENR

has been capacitating their local land

management bureaus to help the local

government units through their deputized

personnel to expedite land titling to rightful

beneficiaries.

Through the MOPA, the DENR here has

provided technical trainings and identified

deputized personnel to accept and process

land applications at the municipal level. As

of July 14, a total of 15 MOPAs have been

forged with the LGUs and more are being

processed, with the province of Antique

topping the list.

Land Management Division chief Hector

Garrido said that they are speeding up the

MOPA and the deputization of personnel

because most of their public land investigators

are retiring under the government

Rationalization Plan.

Maximo Soriano, regional technical

director of the Land Management Services, said

that the MOPA has been instrumental in

uplifting the socio-economic status of the

people in the countryside.

After being given the land titles, DENR

said, people in agricultural areas and the

uplands are now empowered to use the land

for their utmost benefit.

DENR said the people can now plant their

areas with crops ad trees.

“This is seen to contribute to climate

change mitigation and adaptation as various

species of crops and forest trees help in the

absorption of carbon dioxide and other toxic

gases in the atmosphere,” Soriano said. (JCM/

ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

P15.5 M PAMANA fund for 5 Capiz barangays up

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 13 (PIA6) – Five barangays in Capiz will avail of the water system project under the Department of

the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

C apiz DILG Director Clyne Deocampo

disclosed that barangays Guinbi-alan

and Bongbongan, all in Maayon town,

will each receive P1-million for the level 2

water system projects.

Likewise barangays Siya, Minan and

Senonod, all in Tapaz town, will each receive

P4.5-million for the water system project, she

said.

Deocampo, during the meeting of the

Capiz Provincial Peace and Order Council

presided over by Governor Victor Tanco,

revealed that the amount for said project will

come from the DILG Payapa at Masaganang

Pamayanan (DILG-PAMANA) Fund.

The management of the said PAMANA

fund for target areas is based on the joint

circular of the DILG and Office of the

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

(OPAPP).

During the said PPOC meeting, OPAPP

Peace Program Officer Lakambini Magdamo

orients members of the Council about the

PAMANA program, citing that it allows

communities to have an alternative and

non-violent channel for their pursuit to social

justice.

She also said that the program provides a

platform to engage the community in charting

their own development, adding that with or

without the formal peace talks, PAMANA will

be pursued by the government.

Magdamo likewise stressed that the

program is meant to reduce the levels of

violence on the ground and improve the quality

of life of the people.

PAMANA is a national government‟s

program that extends development

interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach, and

conflict-affected communities, ensuring that

they are not left behind.

The design and delivery of PAMANA is

conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting to

ensure peace is maintained in the community.

(JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

KALIBO, Aklan, Aug. 14(PIA6) -- The province of Aklan is aiming to have a blood center on or before end of 2015.

T his plan of the province here, under

the helm of Governor Florencio T.

Miraflores, was disclosed by

Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Cornelio

Cuachon at the recent general orientation

meeting and election of new set of officers of

the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council

(ABCC).

The meeting and election of officers was

held at the Conference Room of the Aklan

Police Provincial Office (APPO) attended by

national and provincial government health

officials and personnel, local medical

associations, heads and representatives from

the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Philippine

National Police (PNP), the Philippine Army

(PA) and the media.

According to Dr. Cuachon, the putting up

of a blood center in Aklan would entail a total

of P11 million per year, with P2 million as salaries of 9 medical technologists to be

employed and P9 million for equipment. The

center is being planned to be set up at the Dr.

Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital

(DRSTMH).

Once a blood center is in place in Aklan,

collection and screening will already be done in

the province unlike the present set-up when

blood samples are first sent to Capiz for

screening before transfusion to patients

confined at Aklan hospitals.

The need for a blood center is all the

more intensified, said Dr. Cuachon, with the

increasing number of dengue cases in Aklan,

which also prompted Governor Miraflores to

appeal to Aklan mayors to sustain their all-out

campaign against dengue.

In the same meeting, Dr. Cuachon

disclosed that an Aklanon has already

died from dengue – the first death this year,

said to be a college student, a midwife‟s son

who was first confined at the DRSTMH and

then brought to a Capiz hospital where he expired.

Meanwhile, in the same meeting, the

Philippine Red Cross, which is sustaining its

blood collection mandate in the province to

make blood available to sick Aklanons, revealed

that presently, there are at lease 1,000

individuals who need to replace bags of blood

taken from the PRC for transfusion to their

relatives or family members.

The requests for blood from the PRC

during emergency cases are backed up by

identification cards, letters and other

important documents together with promises

that the individuals would come back to

replace the blood “borrowed”, according to

PRC-Aklan Administrator Arcely Pelayo, but

nobody came back.

According to the PRC, the province needs

to collect at least 1% equivalent to the

province‟s total number of population.

In 2013, the PRC was able to collect 4,560

units of blood, which did not reach 1% of the

population. Based on the 2010 Census of Population,

Aklan has a population of 535,725. (VGV PIA6

Aklan)

Aklan aims to have blood center

By: Venus G. Villanueva

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Organic farming may help address climate

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA6) ---The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas urges farmers to practice organic

farming to help mitigate the impact of climate change.

“ Organic agriculture works in harmony

with nature rather than against it,” said

DA-6 Regional Technical Director Dr.

Joyce Wendam during the 2nd Regional

Organic Agriculture Summit Opening Program

held Monday at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

Wendam said that organic farming

involves using techniques to achieve good

cropping yields without harming the natural

environment or the people who live and work

in it.

She said that going organic brings a

number of advantages including the promotion

of the healthy use of soil, water, and air, as well

as minimizing all forms of pollution.

“Organic farming also helps in developing

and promoting the use of biotechnology in

agriculture,” she stressed.

She emphasized that agricultural products

are handled with emphasis in careful processing methods in order to maintain the organic

integrity and vital qualities of the products at all

stages.

She said that the rising concern about

antibiotics and pesticide residues and the

growing clamor for healthy and safe food are

just two of the major reasons why there is a

need to shift to organic farming. “There is also

a bright and vast market potential for organic

products that farmers here can take

advantage,” she said.

In Western Visayas, a total of 11,692

hectares of land have been utilized for organic

agriculture. The target for five years until 2016

is 33,345 hectares which is five percent of the

667,000 hectares total farming area in the

region.

The DA official said that there are 10,555

organic practitioners in Region 6 and these

farmers mostly come from the province of

Negros Occidental. Wendam also posed a challenge to the

provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and

Guimaras to increase the number of organic

agriculture practitioners. “We are asking for

your cooperation and assistance, most specially

the local government units and the farmers to

go organic because this promotes practices

that develop resiliency to vulnerabilities due to

climate change,” she said.

Republic Act 10068 or the “Organic

Agriculture Act of 2010 declares promotion,

propagation, further development, and

implementation of the practice of organic

agriculture in the Philippines.

This will cumulatively condition and enrich

the fertility of the soil, increase farm

productivity, reduce pollution and destruction

of the environment, prevent the depletion of

natural resources, further protect the health of

farmers, consumers, and the general public,

and save on imported farm inputs. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) – - In order to help consumers find ways to save money even in small amount and spend only

according to the needs of the family, the Department of Trade and Industry issues tips in managing the family budget.

E ngr. Lynna Joy Cardinal, Information

Officer of DTI Antique in a

meeting with a group of mother

members of Mother‟s Club organized by the

teachers of Sebaste Central School in

Sebaste, Antique emphasized the need to

prioritize the expenses of the family according

to its needs.

During the discussion, Cardinal stressed

the need to give priority to the basic needs

which is food, shelter and clothing then health

and education of children.

She said, in most cases mothers are the

ones who manage the family budget. Thus,

Cardinal said they must be aware of the prod-

ucts that are safe and have passed the quality

standards.

Some of the tips in managing the family

budget:

·Buy products in public markets rather

than in supermarkets. Goods are fresh and

much cheaper in public markets. Sellers often

give out discounts to regular consumers.

·Before shopping, make a list of goods you

need to purchase to avoid unnecessary or

impulse buying. By having a list you can avoid

buying things you don‟t need.

·Pay your loans. Someone will trust you

to borrow again if you know how to pay your

loans.

·Avoid buying things that you don‟t need.

Before you decide to buy ask yourself first if

the products are really needed. There are

things that we bought that only end up in the

stock room. Buying something not needed

means extra expenses, instead of spending it,

save the money for future use.

·Discuss with family members the status

of your finances. By doing so, they too will

understand and help you save.

In conclusion Cardinal said with our

limited income, we really have to decide to

save something for the future. We need to

become well-informed consumers. (JCM/PSM/

PIA6 Antique)

DTI issues tips on managing household budget

By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao

New modus emerging in drug trade

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Aug. 14 (PIA6) - - The illegal drugs trade in the country is shifting and new trends emerging,

according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

P D E A D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l

Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac said

the recent trend in illegal drug

shipment of Chinese drug syndicates is to send

their Chinese chemist in the country to work

on drug laboratories rather than send the

illegal drug.

Cacdac warned barangay captains,

kagawads and school heads who attended the

Orientation on Barangay Drug Clearing

Operation organized by the City Anti-Drug

Abuse Council to be vigilant because these

drug traders do not choose where to put up

drug laboratories, they even put up in the

remotest of areas.

“Big laboratories can be easily traced

because these kill the surrounding plants and

emits very foul odor, so now, they shift into

kitchen type producing at lower volumes only,”

Cacdac added.

Meanwhile, PDEA Regional Director Paul

Ledesma added that there is also a new trend

emerging in the drugs trade industry – the free

trade.

“Suppliers now do not coursed through

the illegal drugs through known personalities

but rather to virtually unknown individuals to

the drug enforcement agency,” Ledesma said.

According to Ledesma, they do not limit

the volume and who to send the drugs to and

these are personalities or couriers who are not

in the watch list are not trained drug dealers

which, often leads to apprehensions by the law

enforcers.

“There is also a significant increase in

utilizing minors in drug trafficking in the

region,” Ledesma said.

Cacdac and Ledesma were in the city to

conduct an orientation on the Barangay Drug

Clearing Operation and destroy the P4.4

million worth of drugs used as evidence in drug

-related cases here

“The drug problem needs unified solution

from home, workplaces especially in the

barangays. The campaign will only be

successful if we all take it by heart, starting

from our homes, to the barangay level and the

community. If this happens, then eventually,

we will win the war over the drug menace,”

Ledesma added. *(/JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

BACONG, Negros Oriental, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- Presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada and Department of Education

(DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro led the inauguration of two new classroom buildings in San Miguel Elementary School in

Bacong, Negros Oriental today.

Presidential sis, Luistro lead classroom

buildings inauguration

S ome 96 kindergarten students of San Miguel

Elementary School will be the first occupants of these two new classroom buildings inside

their campus courtesy of DepEd with the help of its

private institution partners, the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) Foundation, and Asian Development Bank-Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (ADB-JFPR).

This is part of DepEd‟s program to universalize kindergarten education to Filipino children through joined efforts of the public and private sectors.

Abellada, the chairperson of AGAPP Foundation thanked the ADB-JFPR for giving financial support for the construction of these “silid

pangaraps” in Negros Oriental. “Sana mag-enjoy kayo sa bago ninyong

classroom. Mag-aral kayong maigi at kapag

nag-graduate na kayo sana imbitahan niyo pa ako kasi kapag nakapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral niyo, kami sa AGAPP, naabot na naming ang aming pangarap,”

Abellada told the kindergarten students of San Miguel

Elementary School. These new classrooms are complete with new

school chairs and tables and learning books for the

kindergarten students. “We are very grateful that we are chosen. It is

a blessing that these classrooms are (fully) furnished. Aside from the building there is also a feeding

program for the children,” School Principal Maria Melba Real remarked.

San Miguel Elementary School has a student

population of 702 pupils. Meanwhile, DepEd Sec. Armin Luistro assured

teachers and students of the elementary school that

the department will also refurbish old school buildings as part of its program in maintaining old

classrooms.

Luistro disclosed this is a challenge for DepEd to keep up with the new facilities built by AGAPP Foundation.

“Ang mga facility na itinatayo ng AGAP ay

napakamaganda (kaya) kailangan ang mga lumang classroom ng DepEd, mag-step up para gumanda rin po,” Sec. Luistro said.

Still, the DepEd Secretary thanked Abellada and the AGAPP Foundation for partnering with them in the construction of new classrooms for the benefit of all schoolchildren throughout the country. The

DepEd and the AGAPP Foundation target to build 1,000 new classrooms/buildings across the nation until 2016.

Aside from “silid pangarap,” AGAPP Foundation also provides feeding program for students and trainings for teachers. The schools in

Negros Oriental that benefitted from the newly built “Silid Pangarap” buildings are Okiot Elementary

School, Bais Science Elementary School, Sto. Tomas

Elementary School, Sta. Catalina Elementary School, Candugay Elementary School and Maloh Elementary School. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN

CEBU CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA) --- A photo exhibit that aims to raise shark appreciation in the public was unveiled recently in Cebu

City.

Photo exhibit on Shark appreciation unveiled in Cebu

G reenpeace kicked off the observation of Shark

Week on August 10 by unveiling its “Spotlight on Sharks (S.O.S.)” photo exhibit which will

run until August 15 at Ayala Center Cebu Level 1

Expansion. The 12-piece photo exhibit highlights the

importance of sharks to global marine biodiversity w i t h t h e h o p e s o f b r e a k i n g t h e

stereotypes surrounding sharks and encouraging public and national support for the protection and conservation of sharks.

The photos are from world-renowned and award-winning photographers commissioned by

Greenpeace.

In a press statement, Greenpeace said tens of millions of sharks worldwide are killed every year.

“Many, if not most, are caught accidentally in

fishing gears, while others are killed directly for their fins, meat or oil. Shark habitats are also being destroyed by both man-made and natural causes and as a result, some species of sharks have plummeted

in numbers, or in some cases, have become locally extinct,” according to Greenpeace.

Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for

Greenpeace Philippines, is thankful that Cebu has banned the catching of sharks. “Thankfully, Cebu has

banned the catching of sharks. The local government

is not only leading conservation efforts, they are prepared to draft stronger regulation measures that will encompass fishery trade and tourism,” he said.

Cinches added that it‟s time for Filipinos to give sharks their due respect and appreciation and protect them from further extinction.

In line with the Shark Week celebration,

Greenpeace is also set to hold school forums at University of Cebu, University of Visayas, and University of San Jose Recoletos from August 12 to

13, and a Shark Summit on August 14 at the Cebu Capitol. (rmn/PIA Cebu)

BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA

CEBU, Aug. 12 (PIA) --- The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) strengthens its implementation of its com-

munity driven programs for inmates while inside the jail and when they are mainstreamed with the community.

BJMP 7 intensifies community driven programs for inmates BY: AMOR Y. SALUDAR

D uring the Association of Government

Information Officers (AGIO-7) forum, BJMP-7 regional chaplain and assistant

regional director for operations,Supt Bartolome

Sagadal said that 'Come-Pa-Release-Me-Po' Ministries answered the needs of inmates to gain self confidence and the feeling that they are still useful and still part of the community.

Sagadal said, 'Come-Pa-Release-Me-Po' is a community empowerment driven, a post release intervention with holistic approach for inmates.

The p rogram inc lude communi ty empowerment services; para-legal assistance service; religious and guidance counseling; education and

vocational skills training; advocacy, visitation, and networking on basic needs; sports, culture and arts development; ecological care and waste management;

medical, optical, dental and psychiatric and health service; post-release assistance and referral service and the temporal management commission.

Under these services for inmates in the prison cells in Central Visayas is therapeutic community modality (TCM) that organizes and associates inmates on sustainable assistance (AISA) and jail

pastoral and development council. Through “Bail Now, Work and Pay Later”

under the para-legal assistance service, the bureau

commits to assist the legal needs of inmates and

follow up cases especially those that have been scheduled for hearing, over-staying and other legal concerns by effecting applicable laws.

Building Faith Communities and Worships under then religious and guidance counseling service identify and monitor the religious affiliation of the inmates and encourage them to participate in the

activities of their own religion to avoid religious confusion.

Vocational skills training service then introduce

inmates to re-entry education agenda to the poor (REAP) alternative learning system (ALS), technical education, vocational and livelihood institute

(TEVOLI). The inmates are also introduced to sports

clinic, culture and arts training, music, dance, visual

arts therapy, theater arts and cultural festivals as part of the sports, culture and arts development services.

Inmates are also taught with proper waste

segregation, production of ecological handicrafts, vermin culture, organic fertilizer composting, and jail beautification and greening.

Total well being of the inmates is also ensured

by encouraging them to actively participate in health care management inside the jail.

BJMP-7 also advocates for the campaign to

ensure sustainability of inmates‟ renewal and

transformation towards its re-integration to the society.

On of the approaches geared toward these

services is the establishment of Pagkakaisa ng mga Layang Bilanggo (PAGLAYA) Cooperative.

'Tulong Mo, Alagaan Ko' under the temporal management commission is also established to chan-

nel all budget allocated and donation for the jail and the inmates are used in initiatives that would benefit the jail and the inmates.

Sagadal said that for the livelihood programs “Our inmates are engaged into making crafts for exports like basketry, fashion jewelries and

furniture making.” Lapulapu City Jail inmates are also linked with

Trigger Company in Mactan Economic Processing

Zone (MEPZ) maker of chainsaw/circular in Lapu lapu City. In this note production assembly area is formed inside the jail.

Talisay City Jail inmates are also into basket making. Sagadal said that inmates per pieces they have produce and according to sizes of some crafts.

“We have to make them busy and productive

and we have to tap their expertise and skills to pre-occupy their minds away from their present predicament," Sagadal concluded. (mbcn/ays/PIA-7)

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA)--The Municipality of Zamboanguita and Federation of Daruhan sa Matag Mag-uuma

Program got the P200,000 worth of project as first prize winner of the Timbayayong Award for Outstanding Local

Government Unit & Non-Government Organization/People‘s Organization (LGU-NGO/PO) Partnership.

M ore than 1,000 member-farmers of the

famer federation program owned

farming carabao each from its carabao

d i s p e r s a l p ro j e c t f o r f i v e y e a r s

now. Zamboanguita LGU has been recognized

with the most number of carabaos in Central

Visayas.

The second placer went to City of Bayawan

and Bayawan Dairy Farmers Cooperative

(BADAFCO) which received the P150,000 worth

of project also from the Provincial Government of

Negros Oriental and NEGORNET (Negros

Oriental Network of NGOs Inc.).

BADAFCO is engaged in milk production for

more than three years now which supplies the

nutrition program and other schools of Bayawan

City.

While the town of Bindoy and Kapunongan

sa mga Mag-uuma sa Barangay Danao (KAMADA),

placed third winner receiving P100,000.

Bindoy government provided relocation site

to family-victims of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake

in a hinterland barangay Danao and provided

livelihood for food production that include

vegetables and rice.

F o r t h e c i t y o f T a n j a y &

Lemon-Azagra-Tugas Famers Irrigators

Association (LATFIA) received a consolation prize

of P50,000.

The local government provided agricultural

assistance to LATFIA for its irrigation systems to

produce high value rice and vegetables.

NEGORNET‟s or Negros Oriental

Network of NGOs and PO‟s (non-government

organizations and people‟s organizations)

Timbayayong Awards creates a landmark

achievement established 12 years ago, cited

Negornet President Msgr. Merlin Logronio

The annual awards have built strong

partnership between NGO/PO and the local

government unit working together for local

development projects, Msgr. Logronio said.

For his part, Executive Director Greg

Fernandez, Jr. of YMCA said the passage of a

provincial ordinance declaring first week of

August of every year as NGO/PO Week is part of

the network‟s accomplishments.

This is to recognize the importance of

private sector or civil society working together

for effective local governance, Fernandez said.

With more than 30-member NGOs and

POs, NEGORNET involved in various

collaborations with the provincial government in

promoting good and effective governance and

development, said Fernandez. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7

-Negros Oriental)

LGU-NGO Timbayayong Award winners bared

BY: BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

CEBU CITY, Aug. 8 (PIA) --- Cultivate a culture of ―Walang Iwanan‖, this was the main message of Philippine Information

Agency (PIA) Director General Jose Mari Oquiñena to more than a hundred human resource (HR) practitioners in Cebu

recently.

O quinena was one of the speakers of the

14th Proactive People Management

Seminar organized by the Peoples

Management Association of the Philippines

(PMAP).

Oquiñena, who is also one of the pillars of

the non-government organization “Gawad

Kalinga”, said that an HR practitioner must create

and leave behind as legacy a culture of “walang

iwanan”.

“Don‟t leave anybody behind, develop a

culture of 'walang iwanan,' and expect a high level

of cooperation from the personnel, the men and

women of the company,” Oquiñena said.

The legacy that will be left behind by an HR

personnel will practice a sense of fairness that can

inspire everybody in the workforce, he said.

He added that the legacy will also include an

atmosphere of thriving for excellence.

“Pag inspired ang mga tao mo, you will be

able to raise them to a level of excellence wherein

hindi pwede ang pwede na,” Oquiñena said.

Most companies, he said, have visions and

missions that have terms such as “makatao"

or pro-person, “maka Dios” or pro

-God, “makakalikasan” or pro-environment,

however, oftentimes neglecting the humane push

for competence and excellence.

“Makatao, maka Dyos, maka kalikasan, eh

sinong maka deliver?” he asked.

But prior to this, Oquiñena said that an HR

practitioner must first resolve his or her own

issues to be effective.

“HR procreate persons while working in the

company and you can‟t do that if you do not heal

and see only yourself,” he said.

He said this is manifested when an HR

practitioner is afraid or threatened with a

suggestion that may be better than his own, and

when confronted with questions on rights of

employees vis-a-vis benefit of the company.

Oquiñena towards the end of his talk posed

a challenge to the participants. “Your people will

become great men and women in the future

because you are the HR manager that inspires

them,” he said.

Other topics were Techniques in Cost

Management for People, Programs that Pass

Scrutiny; the Power of Personal Branding in

Corporate Image; Getting People to be

Enthusiastic and to be Engaged in your Programs

and What it means to take communication to the

cloud.

The overall aim of the activity is to have a

strategic advantage for HR managers of being

ahead. Also in the government side, the Civil

Service Commission (CSC) is also bent on

equipping those in the government service as well

as in the private employment to be ready with the

Asean integration. (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)

DG Oquineña: Cultivate a culture of ‗Walang Iwanan‘

BY: FERLIZA C. CONTRATISTA

CEBU CITY, Aug. 12 (PIA)--- The call for more researches related to various health impacts in relation to the recent disas-

ter that hit the Philippines is emphasized in the celebration of the National Health Research System Week August 11-15 of

every year.

More research for better disaster management sought

C entral Visayas Consortium for Health

Research and Development (CVCHRD)

chairman, Enrico Gruet said there are still

a lot of areas that need to be covered with

research following the occurrence of disasters.

“We still need studies on mental, social,

physical health, on infection, diseases during and

after the disasters,” Gruet said.

That is why, it is the aim of this year‟s

PNHRS week celebration to gather planners,

academe, health practitioners and communicators

to gain insights and ignite interests on how to go

about the research.

Merlita Opena, chief research said it is the

key role of science to provide accurate statistics

necessary for proper planning and management.

“The Philippine National Health Research

System‟s role is to disseminate properly the

research results bringing them down through a

level of communication depending on the

audience,” Opena said. She said it is the first time

that the PNHRS week is hosted in Cebu since its

inception eight years ago.

PCHRD executive director, Jaime

Montoya in an advance message said, that

apart from the economic social and

environmental implications, the recent

catastrophes had a huge impact on the health and

well being of Filipinos. Participants will come from

all over the Philippines and speakers are of noted

expertise in fields necessary for disaster

management.

Opena said one of the highlights is the talk

on the use of social media for disaster

management and also health communication.

Topics of the two and half day event include

Risk Communication on Typhoon, Rainfall and

Storm Surges Warning system: a Post Assessment

on Typhoon Yolanda; Immediate Effects of the

Typhoon Among Socio Economical ly

Disadvantaged Families in Leyte; Tohuko

University and the Great East Japan Earthquake

and Response to Natural and Manmade disasters.

There will also be presentations of results of

health studies. Their keynote speaker is former

Senator Panfilo Lacson who heads the

rehabilitation efforts of the government. (mbcn/

FCC/PIA-Cebu)

BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Samarnons enjoy festive Samar Day

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 14 (PIA) - 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.

T he 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 heavens 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.

(AJC/Avha H. Ebade/PIA 8- Samar)

PA spearheads project ‗aid in a shoebox‘

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Aug. 14 (PIA) ---- Some 1,549 elementary pupils received shoeboxes through the Phil-

ippine Army (PA) recently in Hernani Central Elementary School, Hernani, Eastern Samar.

T he 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. (AJC/SDC/PIA8-E. Samar)

BFAR distributes motor engines to Samar mayors

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 11 (PIA) - Fishery officials led by Director Juan Albaladejo gave free motor engines to

members of the Calbayog, Almagro, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, Daram and Marapipi (CASTDM) Mayors‘ Alliance in simple

ceremonies on Aug 6 in Catbalogan.

The free motor engines were received by

the local chief executives namely, Calbayog

City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino-CASTSDM

Mayors‟ Alliance Chairman, Almagro Municipal

Mayor Kathleen S. Prudenciado, Mayor Lilia A.

Conejos of Sto. Nino, Mayor Vicente F. Limpi-

ado of Tagapul-an, Mayor Gemma P. Zosa of

Sta. Margarita, Mayor Lucia L. Astorga of

Daram, and new member-Mayor Eufemio Oliva

of Gandara got their share.

Albaladejo said that Samar Sea is now

considered in critical stage, but with

CASTSDM Mayors‟ Alliance now as their

partners in its management, Samar Sea will be

surely protected from today onwards. The

group was pushing for a fishing moratorium

for Samar Sea.

The BFAR official said that the P1-M

project grant of BFAR Central Office for each

of the six original members of the alliance has

already been downloaded to their office and

soon will be awarded to the same members of

the alliance after submission of project

proposals. These project proposals, he added,

should conform to the needs of the LGU

constituents especially on increasing the

resiliency of fishing communities.

Fisheries Provincial Director Engr.

Rolando Ay-ay stressed that as the alliance

expands from seven-member to 12 including

LGUs of Gandara, Tarangnan, Catbalogan,

Pagsanghan and Zumarraga, the need to

rename the group will be one of the agenda in

the next regular meeting. (AJC/NBQ/PIA

Samar with Aimee Catalan –Calbayog City

Media Bureau)

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

MMDA Chair cites Maasin progress a decade after

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 11 (PIA) -- He was here in 2003, at that time Francis Tolentino was Mayor of Ta-

gaytay City, and eleven years later, he was back in this city, this time as chair of the Metro Manila Development Authority

(MMDA), a cabinet-level post.

T he MMDA chair was in the city as

guest of honor and speaker during

the 14th charter day anniversary

program Sunday, August 10.

In his speech at the jam-packed city

gymnasium, Tolentino said the secret to

progress are the people and the local

leadership, as he noted the wide participation

of various sectors such as senior citizens and

past barangay officials, among others, during

the festivities.

“The people are out most valuable

resources,” Tolentino shared, adding that the

people-plus-leadership secret formula for

progress cannot be found in the local

government code but in the heart.

The well-coordinated and strong

leadership of the city and province was also a

great factor for smooth implementation of

programs and projects.

City officials led by Mayor Maloney

Samaco, as well as provincial officials headed

by Gov. Roger Mercado and his brother,

Cong. Damian Mercado, were around during

the charter day program, as well as some

Mayors led by Mayor Roberto Loquinte of

Anahawan, the President of the provincial

Mayor‟s league.

At the press conference held right after

the luncheon in the Vice-Mayor‟s office,

Tolentino reiterated his observation that much

has changed in the city since his first visit.

“You cannot readily see the changes when

you live here. But try going out and come back

eleven years later and you will notice the big

difference,” he told members of the local

media.

With the MMDA chair at the presscon

were Mayor Samaco and world boxing

champion Prince Albert Pagara.

Asked about the new round of traffic

lights in addition to the ones the MMDA

already had delivered, Tolentino said these

will be sent in due time, and will be set up

based on the study conducted by MMDA men

recently.

The MMDA will also install closed circuits

television cameras (CCTV) on key streets in

the city when requested to do so by the city

government, Tolentino also said.

Mayor Samaco readily picked it up, saying

the city local government unit really desires to

have some CCTVs in strategic sections of the

city. (AJC/MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Savemore in Tacloban hires new workers

I n a press release sent to the Philippine

Information Agency (PIA), a two-day

recruitment activity is being set today

August 12 until tomorrow August 13, 2014

from 9:00 o‟clock in the morning until 3:00

o‟clock in the afternoon at the Tacloban City

Hall.

Savemore Assistant Vice President for

Human Resource Ms. Gemma Castillo said in a

letter sent to the Office of the Regional

Director of DOLE that ninety (90) jobs

are available during the 2-day recruitment

activity.

Jobs available are for cashiers, baggers,

Stock Clerks, Sales Clerks, RDU Clerks,

Customer Assistant, Administrative, Ads and

Promo Assistant, Store Consignee Assistant,

Supply Assistant, Company Nurse, Accounting

Assistant, and Treasury Assistants.

All the successful applicants will be

assigned in Tacloban.

Relative to this, DOLE Region 8 Director

Exequiel Sarcauga has expressed thanks to

Savemore for conducting the recruitment

activity with a hope to generate more

applicants and ultimately new members of the

work force in the region. (CBA/PIA-8/DOLE8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 12 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Eastern Visayas is looking

for an increase number of hired applicants before this year ends with the recruitment activity being conducted by Savemore, a

mall which is set to open in this city in November this year.

Information as aid during disaster

NAVAL, Biliran, Aug. 14 (PIA) - Much has been said on the humanitarian assistance like food, shelter, clothing and other vari-

ous 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.

T hese tangible humanitarian help, though

very much important as an immediate

response to inject life- 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 lives may be 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 kind ever recorded

in recent history.

People living in the coastal communities,

without an iota of doubt, would pack 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 „right information‟

caused the deaths of thousands of lives and

destruction of billions 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 arrived at a decision most helpful in the

preservation of lives and properties.

People‟s lives would be most safe and

properties would not be wasted if they will not

build houses in identified geohazard zones like 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 living in these areas.

People who internalized disaster-related

information relayed by concerned government

offices especially from the local risk reduction and

management offices in the local government units

are most likely 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 lives, yet

we seem to never learn how important

information as an aid is to help save lives and

properties in times of disasters and calamities.

(AJC/RSV/PIA-8 Biliran)

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its

main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and

suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Contributors

All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

Production and Layout

Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado

Regional Offices:

PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com

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

PIA 8, Children‟s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com