one visayas e-newsletter vol 4 issue 35
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The official e-Newsletter of PIA VisayasTRANSCRIPT
Vol 4 Issue 35 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 September 1 - 7, 2014
WESTERN VISAYAS
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Samar-wide Nutrition Summit due
HAP winners „man and women of courage‟, says Commisioner Osorio
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
BOC-Cebu says foreign used clothing donations banned BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
CEBU CITY, Sept . 3 (PIA) -- Around 150 balikbayan boxes of foreign donations that included used
clothing for Yolanda survivors are stockpiled at the Cebu International Port as the Bureau of Customs (BOC-Cebu)
awaits an order from their head office to dispose of said items. BOC-Cebu chief of staff, Atty. Kenneth Kern Sesante said
under RA 4653, foreign donations or importations of used clothing are prohibited entry into Philippine shores to
safeguard the health of the people. RA 4653 enacted in June 17, 1966 is an Act to safeguard the health of the people and
maintain the dignity of the nation by declaring it a national policy to prohibit the commercial importation of textile articles
commonly known as used clothing and rags. Sesante said that by the end of the year, the used clothing
will be condemned either by burying or burning them, although there is a guideline that exempts the condemnation of the
foreign donations of used clothing if given to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“But there is a standing order from DSWD Sec. Dinky
Soliman not to accept donations of used clothing abroad,” said Sesante adding that they have no choice but to dispose of said
items. The BOC-Cebu chief of staff said detailed guidelines that
have recently been released covering foreign donations, customs duties and claims on international donations among
other related matters can now be accessed at their website customs.gov.ph.
Meanwhile, Sesante clarified that it is not their agency that caused the delayed release of foreign donations to Yolanda
survivors resulting to the expiration of some perishable goods leaving them unfit to be given.
According to Sesante, the release of foreign shipments is delayed due to demurrage and storage fees which are just
waived for five days. Oftentimes, shipments are not released due to incomplete documents so the consignee cannot get the
foreign donated goods unless necessary documents are in order. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)
BY: SAMUEL D. CANDIDO
BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Sept. 4 (PIA) --- The Provincial Health Office of Eastern Samar in partnership with
the Health Organization Mindanao (HOM) with the support of United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
(UNICEF) and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) International will be conducting a Samar-wide Nutrition Summit this coming
October at Serenada, Baybay Boulevard this city. Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Ms. Sallie Jabinal
added that this summit is also anchored on the belief that preventing malnutrition must include various multi-sectoral
initiatives, such as poverty reduction, improvements in basic health care, infrastructure, and sanitation, food insecurity
reduction, better response during and after emergencies, and many others.
She further said that the campaign on the "Zero Malnutrition Now" is up which sends a strong statement that
we need to speak out together for a more just and fair society, highlighting on the power of coming together and making the
case public for strong action of leaders.
"If malnutrition will not be addressed within the first two
years of life, it affects in long term on the over-all human productivity and economic development", Jabinal said.
The participants of this summit are Provincial Governors of the three provinces, City/Municipal
Mayors and pol icy makers/p lanners are the primary target of this Summit.
The advocacy should bring them to support the nutrition initiative by creating ordinances and allocating adequate budget
for the program to be implemented. Also invited are Nutrition Champions who will be
speaking out about the campaign's aim and the need to tackle malnutrition such as young advocate, an expert or activist on
the issue, religious leaders, academe, local celebrity or performers and media.
About 100 participants are expected to attend the said summit. This summit is also in partnership with Plan
international, Bukidnon Resource Management Foundation Incorporated (BRMFI), Save the Children and Teres de
Hommes. (PIA8-ESamar)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
EASTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA6) – Civil Service Commission
(CSC) Commissioner Nieves L. Osorio called the regional winners of CSC‟s 2014 Honor Awards Program from Western
Visayas as “man and women of courage” for doing a not-so-easy-task, for being stronger persons, and getting
power equal to their tasks. The CSC official said that doing their work was no
miracle, but the honorees themselves, for having the qualities she mentioned, have become the miracles.
Osorio was the guest of honor during the Recognition Rites of the Honor Awards Program for the regional winners
held Sept. 4 at the SM City Iloilo Activity Center here. This year‟s regional winners are: Maricel M. Bechayda,
Local Government Operations Officer VI-Cluster Head, DILG Aklan Provincial Office and Copncepcion T. Tababa, Master
Teacher II, Tubungan Central Elementary School, Department of Education-Division of Iloilo – CSC PAGASA Category; Atty.
Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Regional Director, Philippine Information Agency, Region VI ; Alicia B. Rebuelta, Agricultural
Technologist, Municipal Government of Kalibo; and, SPO3 Rhia B. Sotomil, Deputy OIC/WCPO PNCO, Pavia Police Municipal
Station, PNP Regional Office6 – Dangal Ng Bayan Category; and, J/CInsp. Gilbert D. Peremne, Regional Chief of Staff,
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology RO6 – Presidential Lingkod Bayan Category.
She also told the honorees that after receiving their
recognition as HAP regional winners, there is more for them to do and the best is yet to come for them.
In her message, the lady Commissioner also challenged other government workers to “outdo your own selves,
compete with your own self, not with anyone” as they exhorted them to perform their tasks well.
And just like the honorees, the best is yet to come also for the others, said Osorio.
The accomplishments of the HAP regional winners were
also presented during the recognition program.
Osorio handed in the awards to the honorees together with CSC6 Regional Director lawyer Rodolfo Encajonado and
Assistant Regional Director lawyer Raymundo F. Gonzales and the heads and other officers of offices represented by the
honorees, and members of their families. The Honor Awards program is an annual undertaking of
the Civil Service Commission that recognizes government officials and employees who have displayed outstanding work
performance. The conferment of honor awards aims to motivate or
inspire government employees to improve the quality of their performance and instill deeper involvement in public service.
The search culminates with the recognition and conferment of awards to deserving public servants during the
celebration of the anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service in September. (JSC-PIA6)
CHANGE OF COMMAND. The incoming 3ID
Commander, MGEN REY LEONARDO B
GUERRERO AFP (center) receives the unit
colors from Army Chief, LTGEN
HERNANDO DCA IRIBERRI AFP the
presiding General Officer during the change of
command ceremony last September 4, 2014 at
Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz. Also in photo
is outgoing 3ID commander MGEN AURELIO
B BALADAD AFP (right).(3ID-DPAO photo)
SM Investments Corp. vice-chair Teresita
Sy-Coson, Presidential Assistant for
Rehabilitation & Recovery Secretary Panfilo
Lacson assisted by Tacloban City mayor Alfred
Romualdez unveil the marker during the
inauguration and turnover ceremony of the
Tacloban City Hospital in Brgy. Marasbaras on
August 27. Also in photo are Tacloban City
chief of hospital Dr. Joedina Gumagay (left)
and OPARR undersecretary Danny Antonio.
(Vino R. Cuayzon)
Bohol Student writers joining the PIA-DENR
Student Writers Congress showed their
personal commitment for Insuring
Climate-change Adaptive and Resilient
Environment (I-CARE) in Bohol by planting
trees as their part of the task of insulating
communities from the effects of climate
change. Meanwhile, pupils from Ubay Central
Elem School Drum Corps played and sustained
the beat for 30 minutes to urge student
volunteers to keep up the spirit of tree
planting and dent on the problem. (PIA7)
The 2014 HAP regional winners with CSC Commissioner Nieves
Osorio and Regional Director Rodolfo Encajonado (2nd and ex-
treme left ) during the recognition rites of the Honor Awards
Program held September 4 at SM City Iloilo Activity Center. At
extreme right is CSC Iloilo Field Office HEAD Evelyn Ejar. Osorio
called the honorees as “man and women of courage”. (LAF-PIA6)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
KALIBO, Aklan, Sept. 3 (PIA6) – Tourist arrivals in Boracay Island for this year‟s first eight (8) months has breached the 1
million mark already.
Boracay's tourist arrivals breach 1M mark
B ased on the latest records
furnished by the Provincial
Tourism Operations Office here,
a total of 1,065,748 foreign and domestic
tourists visited the island from January to
August of this year, which generated a
total of P19,592,071,783.20.
Foreign tourists who visited the island
for the period reached 487,453 while the
domestic group reached 545,913.
On the other hand, there were 32,482
Overseas Filipinos who visited the
island during the same period.
The month of April remains to have
the highest number of visitor arrivals with
184,078 followed by May with 167,506
and March with 142,751. All the monthly
arrivals from January 2014 breached the
100,000 mark, with the lowest counted
during the month of July, which had
106,665 arrivals.
This year, the province of Aklan
targets to attain 1.5 million tourist arrivals.
Last year, arrivals reached 1,363,601
wh ich generated a to t a l o f
P25,067,622,623.40 in tourism receipts.
(JCM/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)
By: Venus G. Villanueva
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 3 (PIA6) – Health officials call on the public and other stakeholders to join hands together for all
children to be fully immunized against common childhood illnesses and diseases.
D r. Sofia Pulmones of the
Department of Health Regional
Office 6, during the grand
launching of the vaccine mass
immunization campaign in Capiz, stressed
that common childhood illnesses such as
measles, rubella and polio can be
prevented through immunization.
She said that vaccines for such
immunization are available and free in all
health stations and health centers for the
target children.
Pulmones said that like measles,
children infected of the measles virus are
at risk of complications which could put
their lives in danger.
“The under five-year old children are
the most vulnerable age group for said
childhood illnesses, the reason why they
are the target for mass immunization by
the DOH,” she said.
While immunization is free
and available, Dr. Leah Del Rosario
of the Provincial Health Office here
cited the lack of appreciation by
parents and other caregivers on the
importance of immunization, lack
of time or prioritization to bring
their children to the health facility
as well as some cultural or
religious belief are only among
the reasons why there are still “missed
children.”
Del Rosario explained that
missed children are those who have not
received the immunization either
through a routine or special immunization
activity.
To ensure that the target children are
given immunization in this campaign, the
PHO is doing a rapid coverage assessment
every after an immunization activity is
done in a purok or barangay and is done
every day, she added.
On the other hand, PHO Information
Officer Antonio Ynigo Rafael Altavas
disclosed that as of September 2, a total of
9,230 or 10.7% of the target children
were given measles and rubella vaccine,
while 10,291 children or 10.2% of the
target population were given oral polio
vaccine.
Altavas revealed that the population
target for measles and rubella
immunization in Capiz reached 86,037
nine month old to below five years old
children while the 101,000 children age
zero to five years old are the target
population for the oral polio vaccine.
(JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)
Immunization can prevent childhood diseases
By: Jemin B. Guillermo
GSIS Antique bags CSC Seal of Excellence
SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) - - The Civil Service Commission (CSC) awarded the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) Antique Field Office the Seal of Excellence in public service as provided for under Republic Act 9485 or Anti-Red Tape
Act (ARTA) of 2007.
I n a ceremony held on Friday at
GSIS Office in San Jose, Vizur
Gaitano, Provincial Director, CSC
– Antique said that GSIS-Antique is the
first government agency in the province to
receive the Seal of Excellence .
He also commended the Municipality
of San Jose for also garnering the award,
the first among the local government units
in Antique last year.
“I commend GSIS Antique for the job
well done.
They went through difficult times
before, and their first rating was low but
they continue to give their best.
Now they reap what they have
sown,” said Gaitano.
If all government agencies Gaitano
said are doing their best and be rated
excellent, there‟s no reason that we could
not give a good, fast and reliable public
service to the people wherein President
Benigno Aquino III always referred to as
our „boss."
He emphasized that mediocrity has
no place in public service.
Government workers are bound to
perform as required under Republic
Act 9485 to achieve a better quality public
service.
Likewise, Regional Director Eleanor
Gregorio of GSIS 6 also lauded the
working force behind GSIS Antique under
the leadership of Leo Frigillano for doing
their best in serving the Antiquenos.
However, Gregorio challenged them
to do more and maintain the excellent
rating not just for the sake of the award
but for giving the best to their client.
She also expressed gratitude to
Mayor Rony Molina of San Jose and other
local officials and supporters of GSIS
Antique in helping them achieve the
excellent performance. (JCM/PSM/PIA6
Antique)
By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
ITOA to launch „Pretty Plaza Contest‟
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 4 (PIA6) - - The Iloilo Tourism Officers Association, Inc. (ITOA)
is gearing up for the launch of the “Pretty Plaza Contest” in the province.
S usan Jovero, Tourism Officer of
Pavia town and ITOA past
President said they are now
finalizing the criteria for the contest which
will be launched on September 21,
2014 as part of the offerings for the
National Tourism Month this September.
The contest has two categories -
Small Plaza and Big Plaza. Local
government units with plazas with an area
of less than half a hectare can join the
Small Plaza category while those LGUs
with plazas more than half a hectare in
size can participate in the Big Plaza
category.
Jovero said the contest aims to revive
the plazas in the different municipalities of
the province as the center of public realm.
It will also re-emphasize the
significance of plaza in the community.
“There are plazas that help townfolks
remember the history and important
people in their community,” said Jovero.
Official communication and entry
forms will be sent to the local chief
executives, however, interested LGUs
may also download the entry form at the
I T O A F a c e b o o k a c c o u n t a t
[email protected]. Jovero said
the judging process will involve three
evaluations which will start this
December. On the other hand, ITOA
President Jerry Anas said they have also
lined up for this year‟s Tourism Month
celebration the following activities: Lagaw
ta sa Iloilo Exhibit at Robinsons Place Iloilo
on September 12-20; Tumandok Fair of
the Iloilo Provincial Tourism Office at
Robinson‟s Place Iloilo on September
18-20; Tourism Expo at Robinson‟s Place
Roxas City on September 19-21; Miss
Iloilo Tourism Festival Costume Contest
at Robinson‟s Place Iloilo on September
20; Lagaw ta sa Iloilo Exhibit at SM City
Iloilo on September 24-28; Ms. Iloilo
Tourism Beauty Pageant at SM City Iloilo
on September 28; and Fam Tour . (JSC/
LAF-PIA6 Iloilo)
BY: LILIBETH A. FRENCH
NegOcc has 252 more agrarian reform beneficiaries
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Sept. 3 (PIA6) - - About 252 farmers took oath as new agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the Department of Agrarian Reform.
T hese beneficiaries took their oath
before Municipal Circuit Trial
Court (MCTC) Judge Phoebe
Gargantiel-Balbin at the Barangay Hall of
Barangay Dancalan in Ilog town.
Out of the 252 ARBs, 64 came from
Cauayan A, 64 are from Cauayan B, 48
were from Candoni and 78 of which were
from the Municipality of Ilog.
The ARBs divided a total land area of
388.6152 hectares.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program
Officer Marilou Tubesa told the ARBs of
the 3 A‟s in agrarian reform – Acceptance,
Accessibility and Accountability to remind
them of their responsibilities that comes
with their newly awarded lands.
Dancalan village chief Benigno
Gequillana said Gequillana said in his
message that he was grateful to the
government for implementing the
CARP in Ilog town, particularly in his
barangay.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6/DAR Negros
Occidental)
ILOILO CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA6) -- Members of the Iloilo Biodiversity Partnerships Project Local Project Site Committee recently
met to discuss solutions to the worsening condition of the natural resources and biodiversity in Central Panay Mountain
Ranges (CPMR).
A DENR-6 press release said
t h a t CPMR wh ich s pans
t he p rov inces o f Ak l an ,
Antique, Capiz and Iloilo, has globally
significant biodiversity and the remaining
lush forest of the CPMR is a haven of
threatened endemic species called the
“BIG Five”.
These species are Walden‟s Hornbill
(Dulungan), Visayan Warty Pig (Baboy
Talunon), Spotted Deer (Usa), Mabitang
and Rafflesia.
Conrado B. Marquez, regional
technical director for protected
areas, said these five species are
considered indicator species for the local
government unit to declare an area
within their municipality as a Critical
habitat.
“The Biodiversity Partnership
Project also uses other threatened
species both flora and fauna for
declaring their conservation status,”
Marquez said.
Marquez, who presided the
committee meeting, determined the
composition, which later identified
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr., as
chair.
The group created committees to
work with the academe, the LGUs of
Janiuay, Lambunao and Calinog,
government agencies, andleaders of
tribal and Indigenous Peoples in
Central Panay Mountains. Marquez
said that these committees have to be
supported and strengthened by the
declaration of the CPMR as protected
area, establishment of Crit ical
habitats by all 16 local government
un its covered by the CPMR
and the setting of directions and action
plans for September until December
2014.
DENR Regional Director Jim
O. Sampulna said that the members need
to put their acts together to succeed in
the conservation efforts for the CPMR,
which is host to diverse flora and fauna
with interesting endemic species. (DENR/
JCS/JSC/ESS-PIA Iloilo)
Group addresses biodiversity situation in Central Panay
By: Elsa S. Subong
By: Easter Anne D. Doza
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
CEBU CITY, Aug. 30 (PIA) – Over 300,000 Yolanda-affected families in the 16 hardest-hit localities in north Cebu benefitted
from the distribution of food packs given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) since last year in
the aftermath of the typhoon.
Over 300T Yolanda-hit north Cebu families benefit from food packs
D SWD-7 Disaster Focal Person Artemia
Degamo said under its Food Assistance
Program, they distributed the food
packs in three rounds.
The food packs consist of rice, canned
goods, noodles among others, said Degamo
during the Post-Yolanda Press Briefing:
Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Phase held at the
Public Information Office of the AFP-Central
Command yesterday.
The first round, just immediately after the
typhoon, benefitted 117,975 families with a total
cost of P39.493 million. The second round of
food packs was distributed this year to 136,604
recipients with total worth of P45.625 million,
bared Degamo.
“The third round is ongoing but so far, we
have distributed the food packs to 69,147 families
worth P82.976 million,” said Degamo.
Degamo said the remaining areas that are
still for distribution are the City of Bogo and the
towns of Pilar and Madridejos. “Bogo City has
11,000 beneficiaries and 2,340 for Pilar and
around 2,000 in Madridejos,” claimed the
DSWD-7 disaster point person.
According to Degamo, DSWD-7 will
continue to provide food packs for affected
families who have not fully recovered yet based
on the request of the local government unit
concerned.
Meanwhile, Rosario Bacong, coordinator of
the DSWD-7 Food and Non-Food Cluster said
the last foreign relief donation that arrived in the
port of Cebu just this month came from Japan‟s
Triumph International which consisted of
underwear.
“Another shipment from Thailand consisting
of food and non-food items has arrived but is still
under process,” said Bacong.
Cebu on the other hand, remains to be the
relief operations hub of foreign donations for
Region 8, said Bacong. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)
BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) -- Dumaguete City has enjoined state workers to actively participate in this year‟s 114th
Philippine Civil Service Anniversary month-long activities celebration in September with the theme, “Tapat na Serbisyo Alay
Ko, Dahil Lingkod Bayani Ako.”
Dumaguete City celebrates Philippine Civil Service Month
T he city kicked off the celebration
yesterday with the first Monday
flag-raising ceremony at City Hall led by
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, with guest
speaker CSC Provincial Director Merlinda
Quillano.
In a short program, City Administrator
William Ablong, in his welcome message to city
employees said "Being in government is a call to
service; it's a vocation, a special calling to serve
God's people".
For her part, Civil Service Commission
(CSC) Dir. Quillano called on government
employees to live their lives as public servant
heroes.
Quillano said that one way of being a public
servant hero is prioritizing work and working
beyond office hours to meet deadlines without
any expectation of a higher salary or promotion.
She said “It is high time that we should
celebrate the ordinary things that we do for our
agency or the office that we serve.”
The CSC anniversary celebration aims to
promote, showcase, and celebrate heroism in
public service.
The program ended up with the "Panunumpa
ng Kawani ng Gobyerno" led by City Sports
Officer Ike Villaflores, while the City Treasurers
Office choir rendered the praising song during
opening program.
Activities that highlighted the anniversary
include sports competition, city hall got talent,
quiz bee and among others.
Dumaguete City through the City Health
Office is now starting the massive
immunization against measles and oral polio in 30
barangays in the city to children ages zero to five
years old.
City health officer, Dr. Sarah Talla said the
target for the vaccination campaign for measles/
rubella is set at 14,586 children, while for the oral
polio is at 17,123 children.
The Measles vaccines are given to children
aged nine months to 59 months old, while polio
vaccines to children aged zero to 59 months old
or 5 years old below.
Dr. Talla urged parents in their
respective barangay to visit the barangay
health center to avail of the free immunization in
line with the National Immunization Program of
the Department of Health (DOH).
Talla assigned nurses with the help of
barangay health workers in different barangays for
the vaccination campaign.
This year‟s immunization campaign carries
the theme: Ligtas sa Tigdas, Magkaisa,
Magpabakuna.” (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) – Teachers should tell more about Filipino solidarity to their students.
Teach Filipino solidarity to youths BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
P hilippine Information Agency Director
General Jose Mari Oquiñena conveyed
this message to hundreds of elementary
and high school teachers at the Pintig Pinoy
lecture here recently organized by the
Department of Education (DepEd) – Negros
Oriental.
The activity aims to empower teachers in
their role in shaping youth‟s social participation
today.
Oquiñena said that the issues of climate
change, the dispute with China over the West
Philippine Sea, poverty and corruption are
problems that challenge Filipino solidarity and can
be overcome if people would unite to face these
“bullies.”
Oquiñena emphasized that the school
teachers play a big part in molding every youth‟s
well being as they grow up and they should take
advantage of this by imparting the value of unity
and solidarity to their students.
“You have been given a task, a responsibility
and an opportunity to co-create a person
especially now that the challenges are very tough,
(we have) climate change, poverty, the threat of
war, the lack of food, etc.
This is the time we teach a very important
lesson, the ability to be a unifying person,”
Oquiñena said.
“We can only face climate change and other
challenges if we learn how to be one. We cannot
address social concerns kapag watak-watak tayo,”
he added.
This is part of what he calls the „Filipino‟
brand which young people should learn today.
Oquiñena explained that the Filipino brand
connotes excellence, right attitude towards
others and the ability to set aside insecurities,
biases and self pity in order to work for the good
of the nation.
Aside from these, „Filipino‟ brands also
exhibits confidence in facing challenges and
compassion to fellow countrymen.
He noted that the country experienced
colonization thrice and this led to the
perception that Filipinos are treated as second
class citizens.
But Oquiñena believes this can still
be changed if teachers can inspire students to
have the sense of purpose and passion in their
lives. “We should make sure that we will
raise children that will have an intelligent heart
before an intelligent mind, because an intelligent
heart is a sure foundation for development,” he
remarked.
Meanwhile, the Pintig Pinoy lecture was
attended by SSG Advisers (Secondary Schools),
main high school principals, Araling Panlipunan
department heads, district HEKASI coordinator,
central school principals, DepEd, Sillimanians and
elementary and high school teachers. (mbcn/ral/
PIA7-NegOr)
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the 16 hospitals in the province
signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently to intensify its implementation of Tuberculosis Directly Observed
Treatment Short-course (TB-DOTS) by increasing this year‟s 1,492 TB case detection.
W ith this, the hospitals will be involved in
the TB DOTS implementation to prevent and control the increasing TB cases
especially to identified 12 local government units
which have low TB detection rate. According to assistant provincial health officer
Dr. Edgardo Barredo TB is the sixth leading cause of
death in the country, thus, he appealed to the 43
percent TB patients and suspects to seek consultation in the hospitals.
The TB patients will be provided free TB
medicines to increase treatment compliance, said Dr. Barredo.
Thru hospital involvement now in TB-DOTS,
TB patients are provided with quality services and properly referred to DOTS facilities.
Barredo said to prevent further development of
multiple drug resistant TB cases, the patients should complete their medicines or continuous treatment and the public should be aware of the importance of
early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
The program is in line with the global plan and the goal of the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of sustainably reducing the TB prevalence and death
rates by 50 percent in 2015 and hopefully eliminating it by 2050.
Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo called
on health practitioners and institutions to work
together in eradicating this killer disease. The governor is pleased to note the
involvement of the Negros Oriental Provincial
Hospital along with Inapoy Community Primary Hospital and Mabinay Rural Health Unit as partners of Department of Health‟s TB-DOTS to control TB
cases in the province. He emphasized that health is one of his
administration‟s priority concerns under its flagship
program HELP – Health, Education, and Livelihood Programs and projects for peace and development.
In support of the TB control program,
provincial board member Dr. Liland Estacion said the
province has allocated P600,000 for this year aside from the free x-ray using the mobile X-ray van.
Dr. Estacion said the challenge now is the
emergence of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is difficult and expensive to treat as the bacteria has developed resistance to first-line
drugs.
The TB strain results from patients not adhering to their drug regimen, meaning they do not take their medicines religiously for six months.
TB is a curable disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis that affects the lungs, and is transmitted through airborne or person-to
-person spread of droplets from the throat and lungs of people with the respiratory disease.
TB prevalence is high among high-risk groups
such as the elderly, the urban poor, smokers, and those with weak immune systems. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7 -Negros Oriental)
NegOr PHO, hospitals ink MOU for TB-DOTS BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS
SIQUIJOR, Aug 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with Siquijor
provincial government conducted a workshop on Sustainable Development: Convergence Initiative and Local Governance
recently at the Infinity Heights Resort, Pili, Siquijor.
A ttendees were included department heads
and representatives from government line
agencies from the Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI), Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department
of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) the Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and local chief
executives.
Municipal mayors Dean Villa of LGU
Larena and Mei Ling Quezon of LGU Siquijor
were also part of the convergence.
DENR-Siquijor Provincial Environment and
Natural Resources Officer Moreno Tagra said
the workshop aims to protect, conserve and
rehabilitate the province‟s natural resources.
The convergence will also assess and eval-
uate the different project implementations in all
areas of concern in all municipalities of the prov-
ince.
Tagra highlights DENR‟s accomplishments
in providing sustainable livelihood projects to
various qualified People‟s Organization (PO).
He said Integrated Coastal Resource
Management Program (ICRMP) and Sustainable
Coral Reef Ecosystems Management Program
(SCREMP) are some of DENR‟s organized
program to increase awareness and information
towards being sensitive to our marine and
coastal resources.
To realize its mission, he said, one of the
livelihood programs is supporting qualified
POs sustain its objective to become
macro-enterprises in the future.
Issues concerning the province‟s natural
resources were discussed and some of these are
re-conceptualizing recipients of the livelihood
project and finding solutions for the extracted
sands along port of Siquijor.
PENRO Tagra gets support from Governor
Villa in visualizing and realizing the
department‟s mission as he vows to push
economic enterprise and promote job and
employment.
“It is just proper for us to keep and take
good care of our natural resources”, said Gov.
Villa during the event.
“It is not too late to start anew. We
cannot wait for some other time and we cannot
wait for anybody else to work for us. Protection
and rehabilitation is everybody‟s concern”, he
added.
With the DENR‟s effort and the
support of the provincial government and
stakeholders, “we must protect, conserve and
retain the beauty of our natural and marine
resources.”
Let our next generation see how
wonderful our island was, is and will be, Tagra
concluded. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor/with reports
from Kay Abo/DENR - Siquijor)
DENR-Siquijor moves for sustainable dev‟t
BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO
VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, Sept. 2 (PIA) – The municipal government of Valencia promotes its top culinary products and
delicacies through a „Food Trip sa Chada Valencia‟ event on September 28 which is part of the activities in observance of the
annual town fiesta.
„Food Trip sa Valencia‟ up
V alencia Sanguniang Bayan member and
tourism officer designate Elsie Dagoy
said the event will not just be a display of
the town‟s famous dishes but will also exhibit
Valencianon culinary expertise.
Dagoy said the best version of kalderetang
k a m b i n g , p a k l a y n a k a m b i n g ,
bibingka and torta are found in Valencia. Apart
from these, other food products like buko pie,
bodbod and balanghoy will also be featured during
the event.
The venue of the food festival is at the
municipal gymnasium and plaza where there will
be areas designated for those selling
barbeques, kaldereta and other local dishes.
The „Food trip‟ is made in partnership with
Foundation University.
“We are inviting our provincial tourism
officer and the president of the tourism officers
(association) in the region so that they can
personally document how we promote our food
tourism,” Dagoy said.
Meanwhile on October 4-5, Valencia LGU
w i l l h o s t ' T a b o s a B a n a y '
wherein torta and bibingka makers will
demonstrate to the public how they cook these
two town favorites and its inviting the public to
join the town fiesta's merriment and festivity
The activities begun Aug. 13 with the
launching of „Chada Valencia, Protects the
Environment and Tree Planting‟ which stepped up
the municipal government‟s campaign on
environmental protection.
Other highlight activities include the
opening salvo with Halad Sayaw and presentation
of Miss Valencia Candidates on October 3, A
night with celebrity Maui Taylor on Oct. 9 and the
Mutya ng Valencia pageant on Oct. 10.(mbcn/ral/
PIA7-NegOr)
BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
Private entrepreneurs eye SoLeyte as
potential food basket hub
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 1 (PIA) – The Southern Leyte Business Club, Inc (SLBCI) eyeing the abundance of
natural resources in the province strongly believe that Southern Leyte could be a potential food basket hub.
T he Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI) Provincial Office
in partnership with the SLBCI, a
group of private-sector entrepreneurs
are set to advance small-medium
entrepreneurship (SME) advocacy as the
key to propel economic development in
the province.
According to Lito Calooy, president
of the Southern Leyte Business Club, Inc
(SLBCI), “one of the best program of the
Department of Trade and Industry is the
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)
Roving Academy which provides
“workshop-training sessions” in the
improvement of the business operations
of those aspiring to be entrepreneurs.”
That their businessmen-organization
is willing to mentor would be
entrepreneurs the ins and outs of business
operations, he said.
Their initial findings include of
Southern Leyte as having a potential in
agricultural resources and very much
viable in the dispersal of poultry, hogs,
among others. He shared that SLBCI runs
12- franchises of organic lechon manok
based in Leyte and Cebu provinces.
An SLBCI-mentor, Rey Calooy based
in Libagon, now produces an organic
noodles enriched with malunggay,
squash, among others, and supplies
supermarkets like Gaisano, and other
businesslines.
Another businessman, Lito Arabia,
who specializes in dealership encourages
those producing local peanut butter to
keep on producing and continue to
develop an attractive packaging of their
product as their line of business is to sell
food and non-food products to the
different stores in Visayas.
Other business lines of SLBCI include
money lending, water refilling, car rentals,
Sir Organico (organic Lechon Manok)
franchising, poultry dispersal, buying
lemon grass bulk and native chicken, he
added.
SLBCI has more than 180
business-partners, Calooy concluded.
(PIA8 Southern Leyte)
BY: ERNA S. GORNE
DOST to make formal study on EVisayas ICT situation
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 31 (PIA) – With the wide destruction brought by super typhoon Yolanda in November last
year, the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure particularly in Leyte were not spared and has
been totally damaged, said provincial director John Glenn Ocana of the Department of Science and Technology during the
Harampang (Kapihan) ha PIA recently.
“ Everything has been back to zero.
That is why we will be conducting a
formal study on the state of the ICT
sector in the region after Yolanda,”
director Ocana said.
Ocana said that their office proposed
an average of P4.5 million budget per
year starting this year until 2016 to
rehabilitate and help the ICT sector in the
region.
This was included as part of the rehab
plan of the province of Leyte.
“The bulk of this will be allocated to
support the industry study that is going to
be conducted to do a benchmarking again
on what was left on the ICT sector in the
region so that we can come up with a
more comprehensive ICT rehab plan
within the year,” Ocana further said.
DOST proposed a l so the
establishment of an ICT Training Center
that would help sustain and boost the IT
manpower pool in the region.
Ocana recalled that before Yolanda,
we already have an ICT Park in Palo, a
call center and several non-voice Business
Process Management (BPM) industries
employing about 4,000 individuals already.
“Our ICT-BPM industry is one of
the industries that keep our economy
afloat.
It is almost or more than the
contribution of the Overseas Filipino
Workers right now and one of the biggest
earning industry at the same time one of
the biggest generator of employment in
the country,” Ocana added.
“We know that it can be a big boost
to the economy of the region so we‟d like
this to be rehabilitated because this
industry has been affected also by
Yolanda,” he said.
Recently, the Eastern Visayas
Federation for Information Technology
(EVFIT) gathered ICT stakeholders in the
region during the two-day ICT Expo in
Leyte with the theme, “Rebuilding a Better
Eastern Visayas Through ICT.” (PIA-8)
BY: LEONILO D. LOPIDO
DSWD awards 2014 Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya
TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office No. 8 head-
ed by Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos thru its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will be conducting the Awarding Cere-
mony for the 2014 Regional Search for the Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya.
A ccording to DSWD the conduct of
the awarding ceremony will take
place during the conduct of
the “Harampang ha PIA” hosted by the
Philippine Information Agency 8 on
September 16, 2014.
It was bared that during the Awarding
Ceremony, the winners will be officially
presented to the members of the
private media present during the
Harampang and family beneficiaries
w h o m a i n t a i n s t r o n g f am i l y
ties, demonstrate positive Filipino
values, and have a positive impact
to the community will be given due
recognition.
On said occasion, the members of the
media will be given a chance to have an
interaction with the awardees.
DSWD will present the criteria used
as basis during the search and each of the
nominees will also be given a chance to
give their
L ikew ise , updates on the
implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program will be presented to the
members of the media. (PIA-8)
BY: MARIVIC A. ALCOBER
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
Guv leads mass immunization campaign in Samar
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 1 (PIA) - No less than Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan led the mass immunization
campaign today at the provincial capitol with health authorities.
T oday, the first day of September,
Tan urged the capitol employees
to help disseminate information
to their neighbors and relatives
about the Measles Rubella-Oral Polio
Vaccine mass immunization (MR-OPV)
campaign.
Health authorities in Samar target
some 90 thousand kids aged nine months
to 59 months old for the MR (measles
rubella) vaccine while some 105 thousand
kids aged 0 months to 59 months for OPV
(Oral Polio Vaccine).
Dr. Antonio Tirazona of the Health
department said that three out of ten
Samarnons have yet to know what the
campaign is all about.
“It is a challenge for us to reach the
three Samarnon out there ,” Tirazona said
seeking the help of PIA and capitol
employees to inform the „uninformed‟.
Dr. Dulce Cernal, provincial health
officer said that measles per se is not
deadly, but the complications can be.
Measles is highly infectious but it is
preventable if only parents will submit
their kids to immunization.
“We need to interrupt the
transmission of measles and rubella,” she
said told the capitol employees that
gathered after the flag ceremony this
September morning.
Gov Tan also said that Samarnons
need to sustain being a polio-free
province.
Should there be kids unable to get the
free immunization and vaccination, the
province is willing to reach out to them if
only information will be relayed properly,
she added.
To the parents reluctant to submit
their kids to immunization as they may
have fever after the vaccination had this to
say.
“I would rather sacrifice my child
having fever for a few days than being
inflicted with measles and be sick with
some complications,” she said.
Those who do not get immunization
may suffer complications that can result
to death. (nbq/PIA 8-Samar)
BY: NINFA ILUMINDA B. QUIRANTE
DSWD 8 urges vigilance against human
traffickers
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 5 (PIA) - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas
has urged the public to be vigilant in their own localities against human traffickers.
I n a a Press conference held
Tuesday at the UNOCHA
Headquarters, Liceo del Verbo, this
city, Charis Rosal of DSWD stressed the
importance of increasing the level of
awareness of the people especially in poor
communities who are vulnerable to such
kind of activity to prevent them from
being victimized.
In the region, 44 incidents were
reported to the DSWD Regional Office 8
within this year.
Some of the perpetrators were
collared in Tacloban City.
The recent incident happened at the
Tacloban Airport where a foreigner and a
Filipina attempted to force a minor to
board a plane.
Prior to this, a case of child trafficking
was also filed by the Tacloban PNP
against five adults who were charged for
violation of Section 4 of Republic Act
10364 or the Human Trafficking Law for
victimizing five minors aged 12 to 15 years
old in the municipality of Marabut
Western Samar.
The five suspected traffickers who
are members of an international
non-government organization and a school
principal in Marabut Western Samar were
collared by authorities at the Tacloban
Abucay New Bus Terminal sometime in
the month of April this year.
The group were even detained at the
Tacloban City lock up cell for three
months but released two weeks ago after
the case was dismissed due to lack of
evidence.
Rosal further said that the incidents
reported in 2014 is more than 50%
higher of the 38 cases reported from
2011-2013.
As of this writing, there was no
conviction yet based on court records in
the region. (PIA-8)
BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
IACAT, IJM and PECOJON hold seminar on Reporting Human Trafficking
T he activity is aimed at capacitating
the local media of their roles in
reporting cases of human
trafficking.
Topics discussed during the seminar
include "Understanding the media
landscape, the values and challenges in the
field of journalism," Conflict analysis tools
in writing/reporting" and "tidbits of
Republic Act 9208 and 10364 including the
expanded penalties and identification of
respondents under R.A. 10264 as
discussed by lawyer Darlene Pajarito.
Prosecutor Jed Ng of Inter-Agency
Council against Trafficking stressed the
importance of the roles of media in
disseminating correct information to the
public in order to increase the level of
awareness of the communities especially
in Yolanda-hit areas where people become
vulnerable to this crime.
“Media plays a big role in preventing
trafficking persons by giving correct
information to the public of the modus
operandi of traffickers,” Ng said.
Although the vague situation in
Eastern Visayas particularly in this
city has already improved, the
Inter-Agency Council against Trafficking
(IACAT) and IJM continue to remind the
public to be vigilant of this kind of
activities.
In the whole Eastern Visayas, 44 cases
of human trafficking were reported after
Yolanda struck last November 2013.
(PIA-8)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 3 (PIA) – In its effort to intensify advocacy campaign against human trafficking in the region,
the National Inter Agency Council against Trafficking in partnership with International Justice Mission and PECOJON
conducted a 3-day Seminar on Reporting Human Trafficking at Luxury Suites Hotel, this city.
BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON
One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its
main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.
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suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail [email protected].
Editorial Consultants
Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu
Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8
Managing Editor
Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.
Contributors
All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8
Production and Layout
Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado
Regional Offices:
PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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