November 3, 2014 1

INSIDE

As a solid supporter of the Climate Change Commission (CCC)-led

“Climate Walk,” the National Youth Commission (NYC) did its share as they launched on Monday its advocacy dubbed as “50 ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions” before more than 2 thousand more supporters who were mostly students as they converged with the climate warriors at the Samar State University. As a sign of support, NYC Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III (Dingdong Dantes) came over from

Manila to join the youth supporters of CCC in Catbalogan, Samar. In a media interaction at the Tacloban airport held shortly before he left for Catbalogan, the NYC Commissioner said that they are seriously supporting the activities of the Climate Change Commission all throughout as he underscored the importance of youth participation in the said advocacy campaign. Commissioner Dantes said that the youth is one of the most vulnerable sectors as far as calamities

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

NYC supports Climate Walk, advocates 50 ways to curb greenhouse gas emissions

are concerned. “Ayaw naman natin na maging biktima lang parati ang mga kabataan (We don’t want that the youths have to be victims always), we also want them to be part of the solution,” he said. Dantes emphasized that at this early stages, the youths should be involved specially in the prevention, mitigation and climate change awareness. “Naniniwala ako na you don’t have to be an environmentalist to care, everyone should care right now,” he

ABOT ALAM program reaches Maasin City, convergence meeting set

East Samar celebrates 49th founding anniversary

South Korean ARAW Contingents to host K-Pop Dance Contest

2 4 9

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National Youth Commission Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III (Dingdong Dantes), Catbalogan Mayor Step Uy-Tan and Climate Change Commission Commissioner Naderev Sano led some 2,000 participants during the Climate Change Congress held at the Samar State University on November 3, 2014. (Photo by Michael Balan & Paulus Aragon)

VOL 1 ISSUE 15 November 3, 2014

November 3, 20142

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla took his oath Monday as

the new Chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas. Judge Altone M. Miralles, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court 8 Branch 3 administered the oath taking of Governor Petilla witnessed by Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, Northern Samar Governor Emil Ong and the council members and its representatives. Right after his oath taking, the governor presided for the first time the regular meeting of the Regional Development Council. As a new chair of the RDC 8, Governor Petilla is expected to set a direction for the formulation, implementation and monitoring of development plans and programs for the

whole region. In his message, Petilla emphasized the importance of setting a right direction for the council in order to achieve a common goal particularly to defeat poverty. He believes that a concerted effort of all committees is necessary to revitalize the economy of the region which, will in turn, uplift the living condition of the people who suffered a lot when Yolanda struck the region last year. Petilla who is serving Leyte as a first-termer Governor was appointed as RDC chair by President Aquino last August 27, 2014. The Regional Development Council (RDC) is the highest policy-making body that sets the direction of the economic and social development efforts in Eastern Visayas.(ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Leyte Gov takes oath as new RDC chair for EV

Samarnons to hold ‘Day of Remembrance’

The provincial government of Samar will hold a ‘Day of Remembrance’ on

November 8, for those who perished when typhoon Yolanda struck a year ago. The event to be held at the Samar side foot of San Juanico Bridge also aims to tell the world that Samarnons celebrate their resiliency. In a meeting over the weekend, Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the province will honor the different donors international and local ones who had a significant role in ‘lifting up’ Samarnons from being down. “We can not thank them enough, for their support during those challenging times,” she addressed those who attended the meeting. Presently, Tan is still awaiting for the confirmation of the presence of some top officials of the national government she invited to grace the event. Samar producers who have somehow learned to ‘move on’ will showcase their products in the area to exhibit how they have recovered from the calamity. International NGOs and local ones will also have photo exhibits on their humanitarian missions for the Yolanda victims. Highlight of the event is the unveiling of a monument in the triangle which depicts the resiliency of the Samarnons, details of the monument are still under wraps as it is still a masterpiece in progress and is expected to be a constant reminder of the trying times and how Samarnons moved on, and moved forward. His Excellency Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of the Diocese of Calbayog will be the main presider in a holy mass before all other events. (PIA 8-Samar/nbq)

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

BY: REBECCA S. CADAVOS

ABOT ALAM program reaches Maasin City, convergence meeting set

The Maasin City Government through the Department of Education-Maasin

City Division will conduct a convergence meeting with different heads of government agencies involved in the ABOT ALAM Program implementation on October 31, 2014. The convergence meeting set is an initial step in supporting DepEd’s Abot-Alam Program through better partnership with converging agencies, City Mayor Maloney Samaco disclosed in a letter inviting the Philippine Information Agency as one of the participants. “This will also serve as a venue to discuss the schedule of Abot Alam Summit and how each agency can help and contribute in the implementation of the program,” the city mayor said. He said that the meeting aims

to converge various government and non-government agencies to support the said program with the vision of helping the Out-of-School Youths (OSYs) aged 15 to 30 years old through opportunities for education, entrepreneurship and employment. It was learned that Abot Alam program envisions a Zero OSY Philippines come 2016. It is an inter-agency convergence effort that seeks to locate out-of-school youths and enroll them in program interventions while providing all Filipinos access to quality education and ensure that no learner is left behind. Other participating agencies for the convergence, among others, are Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology,

continued on page 11

BY: NINFA QUIRANTE

November 3, 2014 3

November 3, 20144

The Provincial Government of Eastern Samar is celebrating its 49th

Founding Anniversary on November 3-9, 2014 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, this city. Anniversary activities include sports, a mini jobs fair, medical mission, tree planting, cultural presentation and trade and tourism exhibits. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Marig-on nga Pagkaurusa, Mainuswagon nga Probinsya.” The official opening of Eastern Samar Government Employees Sports Association (ESGESA), the switching on of “Adopt a Tree” for Christmas and the blessing of the New Provincial

East Samar celebrates 49th founding anniversary

Gymnasium will be undertaken during the anniversary. It will also be during this affair that the International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) and local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) who showed support to the victims and survivors during and after the “Super Typhoon Yolanda” will be recognized. According to community development officer Crescentia B. Quitorio, the highlight of the affair is the Provincial Development Summit which will be held on November 7, 2014. Quitorio added that during the summit, expected to grace the affair is the Honorable Mar Roxas, Secretary of

BY: SAMUEL CANDIDO

the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). The theme of this Summit is “Harmony in Progress: The Harmonized Development Priorities of Eastern Samar”. In an interview with PIA, Samson C. Nervez, Provincial Planning and Development Officer said the anniversary is a showcase of a unified political leadership in the province. Nervez also said that the Summit will be a symbolic harmonization of all the development initiatives of the Provincial Government, the Congressional Office of the Lone District of Eastern Samar, and the

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November 3, 2014 5

President Aquino approves P167.9-billion rehabilitation plan for Eastern Visayas

Typhoon Yolanda last year. “Upon the recommendation of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery and the favorable endorsement of the National Economic Development Authority, the President approved yesterday 29 October 2014 the 8,000-page Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan, which outlines the National Government’s commitment to implement over 25,000 rehabilitation and recovery specific plans and programs and activities,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Secretary Coloma said the recovery plan and activities are envisioned to bring forth the recovery of the 171 affected cities and municipalities in 14 provinces and six regions, known as the “Yolanda corridor”, based on the “build-back-better” principle. The recovery plan focuses on long-term and sustainable efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen the capacities of communities to cope with future hazard events, he added. The rebuilding efforts require a total amount of P167.9 billion aimed at restoring infrastructure, settlements and basic community facilities, livelihood, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, Coloma said. The P167.9 billion is broken down into P35.1 billion for infrastructure; P26.4 billion for social services; P75.7 billion for resettlement; and P30.6 billion for livelihood. PND (as)

President Benigno S. Aquino III meets the crowd in the cemetery after visiting the tombs of his parents Ninoy and Cory at the Manila Memorial Park in Sucat, Paranaque Sunday (November 2), on All Souls’ Day. (Photo by Gil Nartea/Malacanang Photo Bureau)

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday approved the P167.9-billion Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP), which shows the

government’s commitment to rebuild areas in Eastern Visayas devastated by

November 3, 20146

Local media undergo climate change advocacy, adaptation orientation

The messengers got a chance to be acquainted with the new message.

Members of the local press on Friday were virtually empowered on the ins and outs of the huge subject on the world’s erratic climate condition now prevailing, along with some mitigation and adaptation measures, at Rack’s café fronting the scenic Espina boulevard here. Erna Gorne, Infocen Manager of PIA, in her opening remarks, said the interaction with local media was a deliberate part of the climate change advocacy (CCA) project jointly undertaken with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the provincial government, and the city government.

The purpose was to arm members of the Associated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL) with deeper knowledge and understanding of the changing trend in weather patterns, a phenomenon invariably described as the new normal, and in effect help spread awareness to their publics, their readers and listeners, Gorne said. Among those who listened were broadcasters and news reporters of radio station dydm, the Southern Leyte Times, the Southern Leyte Balita (two major weeklies in the city), and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Servando Acedo, a staff from the DENR-PENRO, shared the importance of forests in arresting carbon dioxide, the unseen element

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

being a greenhouse gas that can trap heat exuded from the Earth in the atmosphere; thus such heat, unable to pass into outer space, goes back to Earth causing higher temperatures which, in turn, can drive strong typhoons. He explained that even trees in far-away places and woods like Mount Nacolod in the pacific area of the province contributed a lot in clearing the immediate air surrounding the sky above the city of the heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Another speaker, Benjase Lumen of the City General Services Office, discussed intensively on the need to segregate wastes and garbage to minimize if not stop altogether the emission of methane to the atmosphere which is harmful to the ozone layer. While carbon dioxide can be arrested by a dense vegetation -- hence trees are mitigating factors to slow down the ill-effect of climate change -- methane appeared unstoppable in damaging the ozone layer, a thin sheet of covering that deflects the sun’s ultraviolet rays from reaching Earth, Lumen explained. He said the new sanitary landfill of the city government at barangay Bactul I, located about 20 kilometers to the interior of the city, with an area of 6,000 square meters, is expected to fully operate next year, in which only segregated residual wastes will then be collected by the garbage collectors. (ajc/mmp/PIA-Southern Leyte)

November 3, 2014 7Climate change walkers stirred thousands of CatbaloganonsClimate Change walkers reached

their 802nd kilometer walk as they trudged the City of Catbalogan on Sunday night. The climate change walkers numbering 40 (sometimes the number would swell depending on the communities they happen to pass through, and sometimes would shrink to the original 40) entered the city despite being soaked in the rains. According to Charlie Sta Maria, the climate change walker/photographer, their task is to invite attention from people that climate change is here and that communities should act. She also narrated some poignant stories of the people she met along the way. Walking since October 2, where they started off at the Luneta, the climate change walkers which Catbalogan City Mayor Steph Uy-Tan also called warriors have been almost sunburned, but their determination

to reach the last 89 or so kilometers to reach Tacloban has not slowed down the team-they intent to move forward-‘usad-usad’ (move-move) as the song rendered by Nityalila says. On Monday, the walkers and their commissioners Naderev Sano, Dingdong Dantes and Jo Jan Paul Penol converged at the Samar State University Gym where they were met by more than two thousand supporters most of whom were students from all over Catbalogan City. “Catbalogan City has broken the climate change walk record with the more than 2 thousand supporters,” said Sano. It has been their 33rd day walking since October 2, 2014, the walkers target to reach Tacloban City on November 8, 2014, anniversary of the strongest typhoon Yolanda onslaught in the region. “Climate Change is a war we can not afford to lose,” he said.

Despite the long and tiring walk, the climate change walkers/warriors have encountered inspiring support from the communities they pass through. Their present to Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan was a Climate Change resiliency tool kit. In return, the mayor and Vice Mayor Art Gabon presented to the National Youth Commission an ordinance that will include the participation and representation of the youth in the disaster risk reduction-climate change plans for the city. The city, said Dantes is the first city to recognize the participation of the youth in the DRR/Climate Change issues. “I hope that what the leaders in Catbalogan did will be replicated in other LGUs,” Dantes said. The city also launched 50 ways to cut greenhouse gases. (PIA-Samar/NBQ)

Some 2,000 participants pledged to wage war against Climate Change led by (l-r) Catbalogan Mayor Step Uy-Tan , NYC Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III (Dingdong Dantes) and Climate Change Commission Commissioner Naderev Sano during the Climate Change Congress held at the Samar State University, November 3. (Photo by Michael Balan & Paulus Aragon)

YC Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III (Dingdong Dantes)

November 3, 20148

November 3, 2014 9South Korean ARAW Contingents to host K-Pop Dance Contest

The Republic of Korea Joint Support Group Philippines (ARAW

Contingents) will host a K-Pop Dance Competition next month which is open to all Filipino talents. Interested participants must sign up as a team and the team categories include high school, college and adult teams and there is no limit on the number of teams participating from a certain school. Each team is required to prepare the songs used for the dance contest and is limited only to K-Pop Songs and the participants shall

submit the songs on the day of the audition. Audition is set on November 5 until November 7 at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, ARAW Base Camp, Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte. The final round will be on November 9 from 1 o’clock in the afternoon until 4 o’clock in the afternoon at Leyte Normal University. Application period is from October 22 until November 1 at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Requirements needed for application are: copies of valid ID’s for all team members, the category of the

team, their leader’s name and contact number. For students who cannot present their ID’s, they must present a written letter confirming his/her identity with teacher’s signature. Prizes at stake are cash prizes. First prize is P30, 000, 2nd prize is P20, 000 and 3rd prize is P10, 000. Participating teams interested to join the competition may contact Major Junghyuk Park at cell phone number 09064220620 or Major Yongmin Lee at cell phone number 09165698384. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Nagsering hi Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman nga maabot hin P1.2 bilyon nga kantidad hin mga paninda, serbisyo, ngan nagpapadayon nga mga proyekto en padayon nga ginpapahamtang ngadto hin mga biktima han bagyo Yolanda ha siyudad han Tacloban. Naglalakip ini hadton mga iginpahamtang tikang han Nobiembre 9, 2013 ngada han Oktubre 17, 2014 sugad hin non-food items; temporaryo nga mga urokyan ngan ayuda pamakabuhi; supplemental feeding; ngan, an konstruksyon hin evacuation center. Basar han datos, naabot na hin sobra P575 milyon an nagastos han DSWD para hin ayuda ha pagkaon hin 58,823 nga mga pamilya. Lakip dida han mao nga ayuda en food packs nga mayda 3 kilos ngan 6 kilos nga pinakete nga bugas, 15 kilos ngan 25 kilos nga pinakete nga bugas, binotelya nga tubig, mga delata, mga biskwit, noodles, ngan kape, labot hin iba pa. Ginpandistribwer gihapon en mga tolda, tarpolina, moskitero, taklap,

hygiene kits, banig, segunda mano nga mga panapton, plastik nga mga baso, collapsible nga mga sudlanan, plastik nga mga balde, tsinelas, karaha, kaldero, canvass, mga tuwalya, flashlights, ngan mga pitsel. Maabot naman hin P35.8 milyon an ginbukalas para han implementasyon han Cash for Building Livelihood Assets para hin 9,395 nga mga pamilya. Igbubukalas gihapon en maabot P3 milyon agud pondohan en mga proyekto ha pamakabuhi hin 17 nga Self-Employment Association-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) nga mga grupo. Mayda pa P103,212 nga gin-alutaga para hin pankamaihaan nga pamakabuhi hin iba pa nga mga nagpakatalwas han bagyo Yolanda. Nakalinya na gihapon en P23.86 milyon para hin livelihood skills training hin mga nagpakatalwas kon diin upod dida hini en 600 nga mga benepisyaryo han Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Naabot na hin P188 milyon an nagasto para han nagpapadayon nga regular nga supplementary feeding program para hin mga kabataan nga

aadto ha bunkhouses. Sugad nga ginsaad han DSWD, P10 milyon en gin-alutaga para han konstruksyon hin evacuation center nga magseserbe gihapon komo rehiyonal nga pasilidad, kon diin kaparte pa ini hiton preparasyon para hin tidaraon pa nga mga kalamidad nga mahimo maka-igo han lugar. Nag-alutaga gihapon an DSWD hin pondo para han pagtukod hin 113 nga bunkhouses nga nakantidad hin P68.9 milyon. “Sinisiguro namin na walang maiiwan sa pagbangon na biktima ng bagyong ‘Yolanda’. Lahat ng bayan na nasalanta ay meron tayong kaukulang programa na binibigay para sa kanilang pagbangon,” pahayag ni Soliman. Ha pagkayana, padayon nga naghahatag hin hinabang an DSWD ngadto hin 48 nga mga pamilya ha San Fernando Elemlentary School, an nag-uusaan na la nga evacuation center kon diin mayda pa temporaryo nga nakikisirong nga mga biktima han bagyo Yolanda. (Ginbinisaya ni DUM-PIA8, Eastern Samar)

DSWD nagpapahamtang hin balor P1.2B nga hinabang pan-‘Yolanda’ ha Tacloban City

BY: CONSUELO ALARCON

November 3, 201410

November 3, 2014 11

said. Dantes shared his best three of the 50 simple ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions: reduce, reuse and recycle plus tree planting at the right place. “Simple lang siya (50 ways), pero ‘pag marami po ang gumagawa, there’s a possibility na maa-attain natin ang goal ng UN na by 2100 zero na ang emission ng greenhouse gas,” he said. NYC will be releasing an

infomercial which will serve as an educational tool in schools to disseminate these simple messages to the youths as wide as possible with the help of social media. Likewise, Dantes stressed that these messages be relayed in such a manner that it will be understandable, doable, attainable and inclusive, including the out-of-school youths. It was learned that thousands

NYC supports...from page 1

Abot alam...from page 2

East Samar celebrates...from page 4

Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Interior and Local Government, Technical Education and

Skills Development Authority, City Social Welfare and Development Office and City Agriculture and 2 non-government

22 municipalities with the goal of eliminating duplication and waste in project implementation as well as maximizing the utilization of our limited development resources for greater

impact. On November 8, 2014 is the end of TRIDUUM of the Diocese of Borongan in Guiuan, in memorial of the brothers who died during the Yolanda disaster

Gobyerno magpagawas ug dugang P8B alang sa Yolanda housingAng Department of Budget and

Management kon DBM magpagawas ug dugang P8 Bilyones ngadto sa National Housing Authority o NHA alang sa paghimo ug permanenteng balay sa mga nabiktima sa bagyong Yolanda. Kini human ang Budget department ngpagawas ug P11 bilyones alang sa maong hinungadan sa Oktubre 20 nga gipahibalo ni Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson sa milabayng semana. Ang P8-billion nga pundo kuhaon gikan sa 2014 Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (RRP), diin magdala sa kinatibuk-ang kantidad alang sa Yolanda housing nga P19

bilyones. Si DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad nagkanayon nga, “Sa kataposan, ang atong tumong mao ang pagpabalik sa normal niining mga komunidad ug pagpalambo sa ilang resiliency sa kalamidad. Kini nga pundong gipagawas dili lamang magtugot sa NHA sa paghatag ug balay sa mga Yolanda survivors. Magsiguro usab kini nga ang mga apektadong pamilya adunay maayo, permanenteng balay nga magsuporta nila alang sa luwas nga kalamidad ugma damlag.” Ang NHA naghangyo sa maong pundo human sa pagtuon sa mga housing requirements sa nakadaiyang lugar nga apektado sa Yolanda. Ang

total nga gihangyong kantidad mikabat sa P19 bilyones, gibahinbahin sa mga rehiyon, gamiton sa paghimo ug total nga 64,982 ka balay, sama sa mosunod: Region IV-B (areas in Palawan)- 708 ka balaynga may kantidad nga P207M; Region V (areas in Masbate) - 102 / P29.9M; Region VI (areas in Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Negros Occidental) - 24,481/ P7.14B; Region VII (areas in Cebu) - 6,292 / P1.84B; Region VIII (areas in Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte) – 33,399 / P9.78B, diin mototal ug 64,982 ka balay sa kantidad nga P19B. Matud pa niya nga ang gobyerno mag-implementar sa “build

of advocates and climate change warriors pledged to wage war against climate change led by Commissioner Dantes, Commissioner Naderev Sano of the Climate Change Commission and Catbalogan Mayor Step Uy-Tan during the Climate Change Congress held at the Samar State University. (PIA-8 with reports from PIA-Samar)

agencies such as Edmund Rise Services and the Rotary Club of Maasin, (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

and to continue giving hope to the survivors. And on the last day, Nov. 9, a thanksgiving mass rwill be offered to be followed by family day. (ajc/sdc//PIA8-E. Samar)

WARAY NEWS

padayon ha page 12

November 3, 201412

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

Gobyerno...tikang ha page 11

www.pia.gov.ph

Back Better” nga stratehiya aron sa pag-usab sa mga komunidad diha sa mas luwas nga lugar ikumpara sa peligrong lugar diin sila uang gibutang. Ang ‘Build Back Better’ nga tumong nagpasabot usab nga ang gobyerno nagtarget sa mas lig-on nga inprastraktura ug mas maayong oportunidad alang sa pagpauswag sa ekonomiya diha sa bag-ong gitukod o rebuilt communities, gikan sa maayong gi-ayo nga kalsada nga makadala sa mga butang gikan sa uma ngadto sa merkado, ngadto na sa paghimo ug lawak tun-anan, dugang pa niya. (gibinisaya ni rgc/PIA8-SL)

National Youth Commission Commissioner Jose Sixto Dantes III (Dingdong Dantes), Catbalogan Mayor Step Uy-Tan and Climate Change Commission Commissioner Naderev Sano led some 2,000 participants during the Climate Change Congress held at the Samar State University on November 3, 2014. (Photo by Michael Balan & Paulus Aragon)