Vol 6 Issue 9 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 Feb. 29 - Mar. 4, 2016

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue PNoy inaugurates school building, inspects restored heritage sites in Cebu

SIPPAD asks PNoy to create 'One Samar Island, One Region'

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Iloilo towns get P77M for RAY projects

By Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, March 1 (PIA6) - - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) continues to see to it that local government units in this province fully

recover from the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda

which hit the country on November 8 , 2013. DILG-Iloilo Provincial Director Teodora Sumagaysay

recently awarded checks worth P77,888,328.57 to six

LGUs from the fifth district of Iloilo under the Recovery Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) projects, a priority program of the Aquino administration, implemented by the agency.

RAY projects seek to rehabilitate and provide

immediate assistance to LGUs whose infrastructure

facilities were either totally or partly destroyed by the super typhoon.

Local chief executives and other officials of the

recipient municipalities – Carles, San Dionisio, Lemery,

Ajuy, Concepcion and Barotac Viejo - received their respective checks during the orientation of the new guidelines for RAY projects held in this city.

Through the orientation, local officials were also briefed on some critical issues to help fast track the implementation of projects, according to a DILG 6 report.

(JCM/LAF/PIA6-Iloilo)

CEBU (PIA) – President Benigno Aquino III

inaugurated a school building and inspected restored herit-age sites and other infrastructure projects in Cebu, March 3.

Aquino started his day with the inauguration of a 4-storey, 20-classroom school building at the Guadalupe Elementary School at V.Rama Ave., Cebu City.

The President said P12B has been poured for

education from PAGCOR funds, of which P9B was allocated for DPWH and P3B for DepEd projects.

The President cited the important role played by the

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in addressing education in the Philippines.

Cebu governor Hilario Davide III in his welcome

message at the school building inauguration said, the new building will help improve the quality of education in our schools here in Cebu.

Meanwhile, DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson in his briefing for the President reported that for 2016 budget, the allocation for infrastructure projects in Cebu reached

P9.6B. This covers repairs, rehabilitation and widening projects, Singson added.

Singson further said, “we also have identified the priority components for Cebu Master Plan with an

allocation of P700M to address Cebu‟s flooding problems. From the inauguration event, President Aquino

proceeded to Fort San Pedro to inspect the P12-million

restoration works being implemented on the 227-year old heritage site that was damaged during the 2013 earthquake

in Bohol and Cebu.

From the run-through inspection of the Fort San Pedro, the President proceeded to his third event at the

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño where church officials

ushered him to the newly restored Magellan‟s Cross Pavilion to witness its blessing rites that was officiated by Archbishop Jose Palma.

President Aquino lauded the convergence of agencies in the restoration of the heritage sites in Cebu.

Rev. Fr. Jonas Mejares, Rector of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño church said it is his honor to receive and

accept the complete restoration of the Magellan‟s Cross and the Bellfry of the Sto. Niño church.

The day before, President Aquino was in Bohol to

inspect the progress of the construction of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project or the Panglao Airport. (mbcn/PIA7 &

its coverage teams/RAHC-Bohol)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, March 3 (PIA) –

Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) filed a resolution requesting His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino to issue an Executive Order

creating a separate region comprising the three provinces in Samar Island (Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar).

The idea of One Samar Island, One Region was

deliberated and approved by various sectors and stakeholders, anchored on a contention that the three provinces lag behind their Leyte counterpart in terms of

opportunities and development. The package that wins arguments to pursue the

matter with determination is moored on the facts as stated

that the Samar Island comprising the three provinces is the largest island in the country, endowed with rich natural resource and hundreds of thousand hectares of forest

declared as protected area, vast mineral resources and 25 major river systems that generate28 billion cubic meter of water, among others.

A report reveals, that Samar Island has been designated as a “strategic destination area for tourism” in the Philippine Development Plan of the Aquino administration because of its more than 50 beautiful

beaches, marine parks, rock formations, pristine diving

sites, cave systems, waterfalls, rivers, forest canopies and historical attractions.

It added that the island is rich in natural resources,

yet the three provinces of Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar remain the poorest of the provinces in the Philippines. Forty-three years under the administrative region of Region 8 based in Leyte, the Samar provinces

have not prospered compared to the three provinces in Leyte.

Thus, conveners of the SIPPAD, the three Bishops

of Samar Island Most Rev. Crispin B. Varquez, DD of Borongan, Most Rev. Emmanuel C. Trance, DD of

Catarman and Most Rev. Isabelo C. Abarquez, DD of

Calbayog facilitated to wrap the idea, "One Samar Island, One Region" with the support of the local government across Samar Island, church, civil society, academic

institutions, business, private and government sector and other stakeholders component of the SIPPAD.

The strong support and endorsement of the three

provincial governments, city government of Calbayog and Catbalogan, Mayors and Councilors‟ league and other NGOs speculates positive response from the highest leadership of the country. (ADiaz/N. Samar)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

President Aquino leads the laying of the Time Capsule for the New Bohol Airport in Panglao during his March 2 visit to the province. (PIA-7)

President Benigno S. Aquino III witness the turnover of the

documents for restored Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu by

National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairperson

Maria Serena I. Diokno to Rev. Fr. Jonas M. Mejares on March 3 in

Cebu City. (vvv/PIA Cebu)

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala listens to farmers and representatives of associations as they air their concerns

during the Farmers, Fisherfolk and AEWs Forum at the Rose Memorial Hall, CPU, March 2. (PIA6-Iloilo)

The Catbalogan City Fire Department

signaled Fire Prevention Month through

blaring of the sirens while firetrucks and other

rescue cars rounded up the city streets. The

Bureau of Fire reminds the public to observe

ways to avoid fire with the theme: "Kaalaman

at Pagtutulungan ng Sambayanan. Kaligtasan sa

sunog ay Makakamtan." (PIA-8)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Gov: NegOcc now biggest solar energy producer

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 3 (PIA6) - - The inauguration of the 132.5-megawatt solar power plant in Barangay

Tinampaan, Cadiz City makes the province one of the biggest solar energy producers in the country.

G overnor Alfredo G. Marañon in an

interview said that total solar

energy produced by all the solar

farms in the province – including those in

San Carlos City, Silay City, Manapla and

recently Cadiz City – brings to a total of 280

-megawatts.

“This is the pride of Negros and

eventually, electricity charges will go down.

We have the „sun‟ to light us up,” Marañon

said referring to the energy generated from

the sun.

The P1-billion solar power plant in

Cadiz City sits on a 176-hectare land of the

400-hectare property which is said to be the

biggest solar power plant in Southeast Asia

and the 7thlargest in the world.

According to Second District Board

Member and former mayor of Cadiz City

Salvador Escalante, the owners of the

property are contemplating on converting

the rest of the more than 200-hectare area

into an Economic Zone.

“This only shows that the officials of the

province don‟t sleep on their jobs. We used

to be „beggars of power‟ from neighboring

Cebu City and Panay Island but now our

mornings are powered from the energy

generated from the solar farms,” Escalante

said.

The Cadiz City solar power plant was

built by Soleq hiring more than 2,000

workers during its construction owned

by Helios Solar Energy Corp. has started

selling to the grid two weeks ago.

“Now investors can say, we have excess

power, we have efficient power and the best

part is, it‟s a green, renewable power,”

Marañon said.

The Governor welcomes other solar

plant investors but it should not be in prime

agricultural land.

“We have to weigh between food

security and energy and now, since we have

sufficient energy, we have to take care of

our primary concern which is food security,”

Marañon added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

By Easter Anne D. Doza

BFP to organize Kiddie, Junior Fire Marshals

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique, March 3 (PIA6) - - Kids are vulnerable during fire emergencies. The Bureau of Fire Protection hopes to

organize Kiddie and Junior Fire Marshals as way of empowering children to actively get involve in fire safety and prevention.

F CInsp Grossbee Gumowang,

Provincial Fire Marshal said while

we intensify our campaign for fire

prevention among adults, government

agencies and communities there is also the

need to educate and encourage kids to take

part in fire prevention campaign.

The Kiddie and Junior Fire Marshals is

one of the advocacy programs of the Bureau

of Fire Protection for Elementary and

Secondary students respectively with series

of modules conducted in partnership with

the Department of Education.

SFO3 Alex L. Ortiaga Municipal Fire

Marshal of San Jose acknowledged the

importance of Kiddie and Junior Fire Marshal

in schools to inculcate the value of fire safety

and prevention among children.

This program is also a proactive

approach to build consciousness

among kids on fire safety as well as

generate multiplier effect in schools and

their families, Ortiaga said. communities in

the campaign towards fire safety. When

these kids become adults, even in personal

capacities

This is also one way of teaching children

at an early age the capacity to help they

could be fire brigades, rescue volunteers,

disaster responders, first aid volunteers

among others, he said.

However, this program could only be

materialized with the help of the local

government units who will provide

support for the training of children as well as

for the procurement of their firefighting

gears.

"With optimism, we hope that the local

officials could also take this program as their

priority so we could achieve our vision of a

fire-free and fire safe nation in the near

future", Ortiaga said.

BFP Antique joins that rest of the

nation in observance of Fire Prevention

Month with a with the theme “Kaalaman at

Pagtutulungan nga Sambayanan, Kaligtasan sa

Sunog ay Makakamtan.” (JCM/psm/

PIA6Antique)

KALIBO, AKLAN, Feb. 28 (PIA6) – Five students from Aklan are set to receive this year‘s best performing college and high

school editors award in the field of development communication, dubbed as ―IWAG Award‖.

T he IWAG Award is a yearly

incentive scheme designed by the

Philippine Information Agency in

Region 6 to give recognition to campus

paper writers who have published articles

focusing on the development trusts of

government.

This year‟s awardee for college in Aklan

is John Albert T. Rapista of Garcia College

of Technology for the publication, The

Garcian.

For high school, the awardees are Mary

Ann Thea M. Bustamante for Pahayagang

Iskolar and Maria Francesca S. Ortega for

The Scholars‟ Gazette; both from the

Regional Science High School for Region VI.

Also awardees for high school are from

Linabuan National High School, Diane

Daphne V. Revesencio and Pia Jemimah C.

Selorio, for the publications, The Viewfinder

and Pasip-eak, respectively.

IWAG awardees will each receive a

gold medal and citation to be given

preferably during the school‟s graduation day

or recognition day. Out of 50 nominations

all over Western Visayas, 42 campus papers

writers qualified for this year‟s IWAG

Award; of which, three from Antique, 10

from Capiz, 11 Iloilo, and 13 from Negros

Occidental. (JSC/SQP-PIA6 Aklan)

Five Aklan students to receive PIA6 IWAG Award

By Sheila Q. Patoza

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 3 (PIA6) – The inter-agency task force against selling of petroleum products through

‗unprescribed‘ containers is intensifying its drive in Capiz.

T his after the selling of “tingi-tingi”

or bottled petroleum products has

once again been apparent in the

barangays.

Roxas City Fire Marshall Rowel

Limjuco, who is also the caretaker of the

Bureau of Fire Protection provincial office,

said that they are intensifying their campaign

as part of the fire safety measures

“We are conducting barangay-based

inspection and monitoring of compliance

to this local ordinance as part of the

observance of the fire prevention month this

March,” he said.

Limjuco also appealed to the barangay

officials to help them in the enforcement of

this City Ordinance No. 23-20015 in their

respective areas of jurisdiction for the safety

of everybody.

The city ordinance prohibits the selling

of petroleum products in soda bottles,

plastic containers, jugs and other portable

containers not intended or suited for

storing, handling and dispensing liquid

petroleum products.

The inter-agency task force is led by

the BFP, Philippine National Police and

concerned barangay officials.

From January to March 2 this year, a

total of 320 liters of petroleum products

were already confiscated by the team,

Limjuco said. (JCM/JBG/PIA6)

City intensifies drive vs. ‗bottled‘ petroleum

products

By Jemin Guillermo

ILOILO CITY, March 2 (PIA6) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-6 said that it exceeded its

target for reforesting denuded areas in Western Visayas for a fifth year in 2015.

WV exceeds NGP target for 5th straight year

By Leonard T. Pineda I

B ing H. Garnace, National Greening

P r o g r a m ( N G P ) R e g i o n a l

Coordinator, said that in 2015

alone, the target for area planted was

exceeded by two percent with 14,248.57

hectares actual area planted as compared to

the target of 13,916 hectares.

In 2014, the actual area planted was

12,108 hectares which was higher than the

target of 12,105. A total of 11,143 hectares

of land were planted in 2013 which was

above the target of 10,960 hectares.

In 2012, a total area of 9,482 hectares

were planted as compared to the target of

9,356 hectares while in 2011, 4,042 hectares

of land were planted which was higher than

the 4,033 hectares.

From 2011-2015, the total area planted

reached 36,775 hectares which is one

percent higher than the target of 36,454

hectares.

Garnace said that in 2015, a total of

11,835,280 seedlings were planted which

was 16 percent higher than the target of

10,164,378 seedlings.

Launched in 2011, the NGP operates

under the provisions of Executive Order

(EO) No. 26 which seeks to achieve

forest coverage of 1.5 million hectares by

this year.

In November last year, under EO 193

the program coverage was expanded

with the aim to cover “all remaining,

unproductive, denuded and degraded

forestlands” between 2016 and 2028. (JCM/

LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Town coop goes e-commerce

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 29 (PIA6)—The Pavia Entrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative (PEMPC)has created a website to invite

more members and promote its programs.

J oy Palmada, chair of the PEMPC Board

of Directors said that they were able

to do it upon attending the Ureka

forum of the Union Bank held in Iloilo last

week.

“It is time for us to go e-commerce

because we need others through it,”

Palmada said.

The Ureka Forum aimed at

introducing e-commerce to small and

medium enterprises (SMEs).

Established in 1999, the coop has now

700 members composed of market vendors,

jeepney drivers, small entrepreneurs and

municipal employees.

“Ours is the only cooperative in the

region, entrusted by the local government

unit to manage the public market,”

Palmada told a panel during an interview

for her bid to be chosen as outstanding

Ilongga community leader.

Palmada said that the website can help

much in keeping the coop transparent as

members and other stakeholders can look at

how the coop is being run.

“Much more, we can encourage more

membership because more people from our

town would know what our programs are,”

Palmada said.

Genaro Lapez, Union Bank executive

vice president and forum proponent,

said SMEs should use e-commerce to reach

bigger markets.

“E-commerce is borderless, as it does

not limit you to just wehre you are,” Lapez

said, adding that it can bring enterprises to

global markets.

The participants were made to go

through a circuit where they were able to

sign up to a website, and access to a web

needs internet connection.

Meanwhile, Iloilo Business Club

executive director Lea Lara said that

majority of Ilonggo SMEs are too

conservative for e-commerce.

“But many are also opening up,

especially those with advertising needs,” Lara

said.

She called on the telecommunications

companies to come up with products and

soft wares that can make it easy for the

SMEs to handle e-commerce.(JCM/ESS/PIA-

Iloilo)

By Elsa S. Subong

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU (PIA) – The Civil Service Commission (CSC-7) launched the 2016 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and

Employees on Wednesday, March 2, at the Multi-Purpose Hall A of the CSC7 building here.

CSC-7 launches 2016 Search for Outstanding

Public Officials, Employees

D one every year, the CSC Honor

Awards Program aims to give

recognition and reward to public

officials and state workers for their outstanding

work performance and consistent ethical

behavior.

Awards to be given are the Presidential

Lingkod Bayan Award, Dangal ng Bayan Award,

and the CSC Pagasa Award.

The Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award is

given to an individual or group of individuals for

exceptional contributions from an idea or

performance which had a nationwide impact on

public interest.

For the Dangal ng Bayan Award, this is

given to an individual for performance of

extraordinary act or public service and consistent

demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior as

provided under RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct

and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and

Employees.

The CSC Pagasa Award, on the other hand,

is conferred to an individual or group of

individuals for outstanding contributions resulting

from an idea or performance which directly

benefited more than one department of the

government.

Giving honor to deserving public officials and

government employees is hoped to motivate and

inspire other workers in the bureaucracy to

improve their performance and commitment in

giving public service.

Meanwhile, the CSC also turned over the

financial assistance to the families of the 44 PNP

Special Action Force members who died during

an encounter with armed groups in Mamasapano,

Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.

The Commission is granting the financial

assistance of P100,000 to the families through its

Pamanang Lingkod Bayani Program. (rmn/fcr/

PIA-7/CSC-7)

Fayette C. Riñen

NEGROS ORIENTAL, March 2 (PIA) -- The Oriental Negros Children‘s Advocacy Network (ONCAN) together with the

Philippine Army has served 70 elementary schools in the hinterland barangays of the province under its ―Bayanihan Para sa

Kabataan‖ (BPK) project.

Hinterland schools benefit from ONCAN, Army partnership

N ow on its seventh year of serving

school children, ONCAN

President Marrieta “Baby” Jambora

said it started in 2009 from medical mission for

children at risk into monthly „Lakbay Aral‟ for

Grades 5 and 6 pupils, then lately school visits for

Children‟s Environmental Campaign.

Jambora said the group recently conducted

the campaign in Salingkubong Elementary School,

Tayak, Siaton with a series of lectures on

environmental concerns, anti-child labor,

anti-human trafficking, crime prevention, and

peace symposium with Christian values.

Some 17 member non-government

organizations (NGOs) of ONCAN offer food as

well as school supplies to school children after

every environmental campaign, said Jambora.

In its early years of BPK, Jambora said they

conducted a series of „Bayanihan Para sa Kabataan

Lakbay-Aral,‟ an education tour program to show

the children from mountain barangays how life is

in the urban city of Dumaguete.

The Lakbay-Aral aimed to widen the horizon

of school children from the hinterlands and create

a positive outlook in life by exposing them to

places and events outside their communities.

The activity also promotes education to the

community as a key to a brighter future and

strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines

(AFP) partnership with the various stakeholders

in the province.

The grades 5 and 6 pupils are accompanied

by their teachers and school principal on board

the military service vehicles to the city‟s different

landmarks.

Visiting Army General Manuel Ochotorena

said these kind of activities need the concerted

efforts and convergence of all stakeholders to

finally put an end to insurgency through peaceful

means under the military‟s implementation of

its Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP)

Bayanihan.

Lately, the AFP awarded ONCAN for its

contribution to the success of counterinsurgency

project “Bayanihan”.

Jambora received the plaque of recognition.

On March 10, ONCAN in cooperation

with the Army and Philippine National Police will

award six elementary schools from mountain

barangays for supporting Chi ldren‟s

Environmental Campaign activities at 10 a.m. at

the Session Hall of Capitol Building, this city.

(rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 1 (PIA) – Around 30 local and student journalists from Silliman University (SU) completed the

one-day training-seminar on biodiversity reporting held Feb. 29 at SU's American Studies Resource Center.

D‘guete journalists complete training on biodiversity reporting

T he event was organized by the ASEAN

Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), U.S.

Embassy, Young Southeast Asian Leaders

Initiative (YSEALI), Philippine Eagle Foundation,

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations),

and SU.

The training-seminar aims to increase media

interest in environmental reporting, specifically on

biological diversity.

It also aims to provide journalists with

relevant information, key messages, and inputs

related to biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN

region.

Biodiversity 101 coordinator and YSEALI

grantee Karen Lapitan pointed out that there is a

gap in the knowledge in biodiversity and most

journalists write environmental stories only when

calamities occur and most of the time do not

pursue in-depth reporting on the environment.

Lapitan disclosed she used to write for a

national broadsheet before and shared that her

knowledge on environmental journalism was

limited only to climate change and disasters.

“The main goal is to connect you journalists

with communication officers, scientists, and

biodiversity experts and to brainstorm possible

stories that you can write about after this

workshop,” she added.

The seminar featured lectures from National

Scientist Dr. Angel Alcala who discussed the

nature of biodiversity studies; Celia Acedo,

Project Coordinator of SU-Research and

Environmental News Service (SU Renews) who

talked about environmental journalism; Dr.

Hilconida Calumpong, a member of the United

Nationas Group of Experts – First World Ocenas

Report who shared updates on biodiversity and

the first world oceans report; and Christian

Elloran, database specialist of ACB who

delivered a lecture on ASEAN-Clearing House

Mechanism.

In his talk, Dr. Alcala said that bio-diversity is

an attractive area for scientific studies and

reporting since “Philippines is an archipelago in

tropics with complex geological history resulting

in rich biodiversity.”

Acedo, on the other hand, also emphasized

that “environmental reporting cuts across many

of the traditional media specialties or beats such

as politics, science, agriculture, business and

economics.”

She noted that despite the serious

threats like global warming and loss of

biodiversity, the environment is not covered by

the press regularly.

With this, Acedo challenged local journalists

to develop their interest in writing about the

environment and biodiversity.

The event was the second training-seminar

conducted by ACB for local journalists.

The first one was held on December 4, 2015

in Manila and the second will be on April 23, 2016

in Davao City. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- The 10th year of Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards kicks off its search for the

best agriculture stories for 2016.

T he Bright Leaf Bohol caravan recently

conducted here aims to encourage

Boholano journalists to participate in the

search by reporting on the country‟s agriculture

sector.

Rep. Rene Relampagos (1st District), Rep.

Arthur Yap (3rd District) and Department of

Agriculture-7 Regional Technical Director Joel

Elumba encouraged the local media here during

the caravan held at the Metro Center Hotel to

feature stories in agriculture and submit them to

Bright Leaf.

The competition is seeking published or

aired stories and photos that best depict the

state of Philippine agriculture today whether it be

about best practices, latest innovations,

environmental care, safety, crop sustainability, and

other relevant issues.

Didet Danguilan, Project Director of the

Bright Leaf Awards, said that the company came

up with the Bright Leaf Awards as a way of

bringing to the public the various issues about the

agriculture sector.

Launched in 2007, Bright Leaf invites

journalists from all over the Philippines to submit

their stories and photos for the following

categories: Agriculture Story of the Year,

Agriculture Photo of the Year, Tobacco Story of

the Year, Tobacco Photo of the Year, Best

Television Program or Segment, Best Radio

Program or Segment, Best Agriculture News

Story National, Best Agriculture News Story

Regional, Best Agriculture Feature Story National,

Best Agriculture Feature Story Regional, and The

Oriental Leaf Award.

The Oriental Leaf Award is a special award

given to those who have won five Bright Leaf

Awards in any category.

The Oriental Leaf Awardees become part of

the Bright Leaf Hall of Fame, an elite group of

journalists.

There is no entry fee required to enter.

Journalists and photographers may submit several

entries for consideration. However, an entry may

not be entered in more than one category.

Entries should be published, aired, or

broadcast between September 1, 2015 and

August 31, 2016. Deadline for submission of

entries is on September 1, 2016.

Entries may be in English or any of the

Philippine dialects.

For entries that are not in English,

participants will need to submit an English

translation. Winners will be receiving cash prizes,

premium items, and an all-expense-paid trip in an

Asian country.

For entry forms and more information,

contact or visit Bright Leaf Secretariat at (0915)

550-8301 or (0918) 413-0797, (02)5456425

emailsecretariat@thebrightleafawards.com or visit

t h e B r i g h t L e a f w e b s i t e

at www.thebrightleafawards.com. (rmn/ecb/

PIA7-Bohol)

10th Bright Leaf award for journalists kicks off

Elvira C. Bongosia

SIQUIJOR, March 1 (PIA) -- The construction of more infrastructure and implementation of more projects are seen to boost

the town‘s economic growth.

More projects to boost economic growth in Larena

L arena Mayor Dean Villa, in a gathering of

fisherfolks recently at Taculing, Larena,

said that several projects are being

undertaken to promote economic activities here.

Among the projects that will soon rise in

Larena are the construction of Fish Port and

Cold Storage at Barangay Taculing funded

by the National Anti Poverty Commission

(NAPC).

Villa said these two projects will boost the

fisherfolks‟ income.

Another establishment is the new

Hypermart Mall at the pier area, which will

make available cheaper goods and commodities

so that Siquijodnons need not go to Dumaguete

or other neightboring island provinces.

He also cited the P157 million worth of

Larena pier extension project and the road

projects within the town aimed at attracting more

shipping companies to invest and bring more

convenience to the increasing number of tourists

in the island.

To complete the package, the mayor

said he is pushing for the promotion of vegetable

gardening as part of the government‟s effort for

food sufficiency and stability as he envisions

Larena to be the vegetable basket in the province.

(rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from

IAAbatayo)

Rizalie Anding Calibo

TAGBILARAN CITY, February 29 (PIA) -- Boholanos in the United States can now be closer to home once the historic

long haul flight finally opens from Mactan, Cebu to Los Angeles (LA) International Airport (LAX) and back three times a week,

according to a key Philippine Airlines (PAL) official.

" As your local government officers

continue to beckon tourists, your national

carrier is relentlessly pushing for tourism

and its access to people," PAL Senior Assistant

Vice President for Passenger Sales Harry Inoferio

said.

During the PAL Visayas Roadshow held at

the Metrocenter Hotel, Inoferio said PAL has

finally acceded to the popular demand for the

service, which they also see as very crucial to the

continuing Bohol tourism campaign.

Inoferio said the new route which would

take its inaugural flight on March 15, would mean

more tourists access to the Visayas region,

opening up an unprecedented tourist access to

Bohol from Cebu as well as.

Industry-wise, the opening would trickle the

benefits of access to Bohol.

As this brings more flights to the US,

Inoferio added that the flight that departs Cebu

every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday leaves at

6:25 PM and arrives in LA at 5:55 PM.

For the LA, that same route puts up an LA

to Cebu on the same days at 8:40 PM and arrives

in Cebu at 4:40 AM.

The flight incidentally also marks a milestone

for PAL which would be celebrating its Diamond

(75 years) jubilee, Inoferio pointed out.

PAL boasts of being the oldest commercial

airline in Asia, but currently maintains the newest

fleet as their aircraft services are between 1 to

3.5 years old, Inoferio said.

The flight for Mactan Airport becomes the

34th international flight from the Cebu Island

airport.

Currently, PAL has 11 flights non-stop from

Manila to LA, 11 flights nonstop from Manila to

San Francisco, and four flights from Manila to

New York via Vancouver in Canada.

With the development, PAL now has 42

international destinations as they continue to

expand their domestic destinations, said

Christopher Libumfacil, PAL Area Head of the

Visayas.

For the flights, PAL is deploying its

new Boeing 777 300 ER, Airbus 340,

Airbus 321, Airbus 323 and Airbus 330, Libumfacil

said.

Governor Edgar Chatto called the opening

of the route a milestone in Bohol as it assures

connectivity, which he incidentally lobbied for in

his State of the Province Address (SOPA) he

delivered that same day.

At the SOPA, Chatto bared the ongoing

negotiations between Bohol, Civil Aviation

Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs,

Bureau of Immigration and Korean government

for the proposed charter flights which would

bring in more tourists directly to Bohol from

Korea. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

PAL inaugurates thrice weekly Mactan-LAX flights

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

DPWH‘s SoLeyte projects for 2016 ongoing

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 29 (PIA) – At least 53 of the 84 regular projects programmed for 2016 are now ongoing

in Southern Leyte, ahead of rainy season and public works ban in connection with this year‘s election period.

I n a press release, Department of Public

Works and Highways Southern Leyte

D i s t r i c t E n g i n e e r i n g O f f i c e

(DPWH-SLDEO) Chief Engr. Ma Margarita C.

Junia said the early kick off of construction

works can be attributed to timely completion

of bidding process for the 84 infrastructure

projects intended for 2016.

Junia added that the authority given by

Secretary Rogelio Singson for the district to

approve projects with allocations of P50

million and below, has paved the way for more

effective and expeditious preparation activities,

hence allowing the DPWH field office to

proceed with the construction of majority of

projects within the first two months of the

year.

“This is a milestone in the history of

DPWH Southern Leyte as we worked hard to

ensure that construction works are up and running early in the year,” Junia quoted.

Of the 53 ongoing projects, 47 are

bridges, which is up for major rehabilitation

this year.

These are the bridges of Lilloan,

Magaupas, Magkasag, Mayuga, Nahaong,

Agogong, Awayon, Biliran, Bonbon, Caaga,

Calayugan, Calian, Candatag, Canluwis,

Canlupao, Cantamuac, Canumay, Casao,

Concepcion, Dinahugan, Higusoan, Hilogtogan,

Hipgasan, Iniguihan.

It was learned that also up for

rehabilitation are bridges of Looc, Mag-ata,

Mahalo, Mapait, Maslog 1, Maslog 2, Padre

Burgos, Pintuyan 1, Pintuyan 2, Sagbok, San

Joaquin, San Jose, San Ricardo, San Roque, San

Vicente, Sangaahon, Son-ok, Sta Cruz 1, Sta.

Cruz 2, Sudmon, Timba, and Villa Jacinta.

“Some of these bridges have been

existing since 1970s.

There‟s really a need for these bridges to

undergo major rehabilitation,” the source

added. Other ongoing projects are off

carriageway improvements along the boundary

of Maasin-Macrohon-Sogod and Liloan-San

Ricardo Road sections; rehabilitation of

drainage in some portions of highway from

Maasin to Sogod; repair of collapsed portion

of Bato-Bontoc Road; rehabilitation of road

with slips in Maasin City; and construction of

alternative road along the saddle area along

Liloan-San Ricardo Road.

The DPWH field office rushed the bidding

of these projects to ensure early start and

completion.

This also allowed the government to

award the project to contractor prior to the

March 25 to May 8, 2016 public works ban.

Under the Omnibus Election Code,

among the prohibited acts is the construction

of public works, delivery of materials for public

works, and issuance of treasury warrant or

similar devices for a future undertaking

chargeable against public funds.

The DPWH-SLDEO has been preparing to apply for exemption of public works ban for

ongoing projects. (with reports from DPWH/

PIA-SoLeyte))

Taxpayers urged : Pay correct taxes

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 1 (PIA) — The Bureau of Internal Revenue District Office 87 in Catbalogan launched its

tax campaign on February 29.

T he campaign called Register, File and

Pay (RFP) aims to urge taxpayers

not only to pay the right taxes but

also to pay even before the due date.

Rosalinda Cabidog, Revenue District

Officer in an exclusive PIA interview said

that the public should be made aware that

paying taxes is the basic responsibility of

each citizen.

Taxes are used to support programs

and projects that benefits all Filipinos, said

Cabidog.

“If people do not pay the correct taxes,

the public is deprived of certain services that

they should have had with taxpayers paying

the correct taxes,” the lady BIR official said.

She also told PIA that they are very

passionate in the tax campaign because in

the past; BIR Catbalogan fell short of its

target by P 17 M.

The Catbalogan Revenue District Office

87 now has a target of P 1.14 B for the year

2016.

Cabidog also added that those whose

income are fixed must have their taxes

withheld, if the agency or company refuses

to, the company officials concerned will be

penalized.

Finally, she thanked the religious

taxpayers and all others who have shown

support to the tax campaign by joining

them in the tax campaign launch. (nbq/ PIA

8-Samar)

Ninfa B Quirante

NSamar completes Basic Incident Command System training

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, March 2 (PIA) – Some 52 Municipal Disaster Risk Reductions Management

Officers (MDRRMOs), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) members, army and PNP officials

completed the recently conducted basic incident command system training by the Office of Civil Defense Region 8 held at the

Farmer‘s Training Center, University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman.

M r. Andy Fuego, former regional

director of OCD 8, said that the

purpose of ICS is to help ensure

the safety of responders and the general

public, and the achievement of tactical

objectives as well as the efficient use of

resources.

Fuego encourages all disaster managers

and responders to establish ICS in their

respective areas hence in place system

meets the needs of incidents of any kind or

size and allows personnel from a variety of

agencies to meld rapidly into a common

management structure.

He also said that it provides

accountability and a planning process,

logistical and administrative support to

operational staff and is cost effective by

avoiding duplication efforts.

Given that the province is highly

vulnerable to disasters and climate

change, there is a need to set up a Provincial

plan for disaster preparedness and establish

protocols to be followed for the regions to

efficiently and systematically respond to

major disaster, he stressed. (Teresita B.

Cardinas/PIA-Catarman)

Teresita B. Cardinas

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Biliran women start Women‘s Month Celebration

NAVAL, Biliran, March 1 (PIA) – Biliran members of the Women‘s Organization for Rural Development-Kalipunan ng Lahing

Pilipina (WORD-KALIPI), the Provincial Council for Women‘s Welfare, Inc. (PCWWI), and women employees of the different

national government agencies, private establishments, and non-government organizations (NGOS) based in Naval joined the

round-the-province motorcade on Tuesday, March 1, as an opening activity for the Women‘s Month Celebration.

W omen-participants who came all

the way from the municipalities

of Naval, Almeria, Kawayan, and

Maripipi joined the motorcade which started

at the Biliran Provincial Capitol Compound

at 7:00 o‟clock in the morning.

More women participants joined en

route to the municipalities of Biliran,

Cabucgayan, Caibiran, and Culaba.

Over 60 four-wheel private and

government vehicles and a number of

motorcycle riding participants joined the five

-hour motorcade following the Naval-Biliran

-Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan

-Almeria route.

A raffle draw awaited participants upon

return to the Biliran Provincial Capitol

Compound where some 40 cans of 900

grams powedered milk were awarded to

the lucky winners who stayed during the

raffle.

Women-members of WORD-KALIPI

and PCWWI are set to hold a one day

Women‟s Congress on March 8, marked as

International Women‟s Day, at the

Naval gymnasium where some 2,655

women-members from the 132 barangays

and 45 organized sitio from the eight

munisipalities of the province of Biliran are

expected to attend.

The theme for this year‟s Women‟s

Month celebration is, “Kapakanan ni Juana,

Isama sa Agenda!" so that no woman in the

community would be left out. (mlt/PIA8

Biliran)

Mary Lailani Pitao-Tupaz

Kindergarten kids learn fire safety with

Berong bumbero

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 2 (PIA) — Though very young, kindergarten children will now have the experience to

touch firefighting equipments in their friendly fire station on March 7-11, 2016.

T he Bureau of Fire Protection in

Catbalogan said the experiential

event is one of the highlights of Fire

Prevention month to instil in the minds of

the young how to avoid fire and stay safe all

the time.

In the national scene firefighters

are tasked to visit the schools for a

fire safety lecture featuring Berong

Bumbero.

In Catbalogan, the City Fire Station

launched the 50th Fire Prevention

Month on the first day of March by a

five-minute blowing of sirens and a

motorcade of some 10 firefighting

vehicles which included those from

the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and

other rescue vehicles from volunteer

groups.

The usual fire safety awareness

campaign will take most time as the teams

will visit barangays for lectures on fire

prevention and fire safety.

They will also do the rounds of different

establishments to check if these are

compliant to fire safety standards.

The city fire marshall Rodrigo Almaden

will also meet with different volunteer

organizations to formulate a standard

operating procedure in responding to fire.

This year BFP drumbeats: Kaalaman at

Pagtutulungan ng Sambayanan , Kaligtasan sa

Sunog ay Makakamtan! (nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

Ninfa B Quirante

DOT, NCDA conduct seminar on handling PWDs in tourism industry

T he activity is aimed at providing

knowledge to front l iners

in the tourism industry such

as hotel and restaurant managers, front

desk officers, tourist transport operators,

tour guides and other service providers on

the proper way of dealing persons with

mobility, hearing and visual impairments.

The Seminar on “Accessible Tourism

for Persons with Disabilities” is part of the

effort of the government dubbed

“Tourism for All”, a national campaign

which provides the policy guidelines for

stakeholders on accessible tourism as

provided in the government‟s National

Tourism Development Plan of the Aquino

administration targeting arrivals of 10 million

tourists from foreign countries and 35.5

million domestic tourists by 2016.

Distinguished resource persons who

discussed disability-related topics included

NCDA acting executive director Carmen R.

Zubiaga, Rizalino R. Sanchez, Chief of the

Information, Education and Communication

of NCDA and DOT regional director Karina

Tiopes.

Participants of the seminar included

officials of the national government agencies

with tourism related concerns and

partners in the implementation of the

tourism programs, local executives in the

region and persons with disabilities.

The concept of “Tourism for All”

ensures tourist destinations, products

and services accessible to all regardless of

physical limitations, disabilities or age as long

as they are able to travel and function

independently in the soio-economic

activities in places where they want to visit.

(ajc/cba/NCDA/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 3 (PIA) – A Seminar on How to Handle Persons with Disabilities in Tourism Industry was

held March 3 by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) at Patio Victoria,

this city.

Consuelo B. Alarcon

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

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Alicia E. Nicart

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

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