Iloilo Metropolitan Times Volume 1 • Issue no 43

ILOILO

the first business newspaper in metro iloilo

METROPOLITAN VOL. I ISSUE NO. 43

TIMES

developmental news | critical views www.iloilometropolitantimes.com

November 24 -30, 2013 Php 12.00

Revelation 1:18

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

HISTORICAL EXCHANGE RATE Weekly MIDPOINT Rates - Nov 15 - 21, 2013

USD/PHP

43.6100

43.6013

43.6000 43.5900 43.5898

43.5836

43.5800 43.5694

43.5700 43.5600

43.5585 43.5530

43.5500 43.5400 Nov 15, 2013

43.5451 Nov 17, 2013

Nov 19, 2013

Nov 21, 2013

DTI PRICE MONITORING Prime Commodities (25 Oct 2013) Prime Commodities (25 Oct 2013)

CANNED SARDINES Current Price INSTANT NOODLES Current Price

Paradiso (155g) Young’s Town Bonus (155g) Lucky 7 (155g)

12.15 Lucky Me! (55g) 13.00 Payless (50g) 13.25

PROCESSED MILK Current Price

7.10 6.30 Current Price

BREAD

Alaska Sweetened Filled 49.50 Milk - Condensed 300 mL Pinoy Tasty (400g) Alaska Filled Milk 34.50 Pinoy Pandesal Evaporated 370 mL Angel Filled Milk Evaporated 410 mL

35.75

37.00

(pack of 10 pieces) 22.50

DA PRICE MONITORING Processed and Manufactured Commodities (25 Oct 2013) Processed and Manufactured Commodities (25 Oct 2013)

Commercial Rice Regular Milled Well Milled Premium Special (Fancy) Sugar Refined Washed Brown Sugar Cooking Oil Lapad (bottle)

Current Price 35.00/kg 38.00/kg 42.00/kg 45.00/kg 45.00/kg 42.00/kg 38.00/kg

Meat & Poultry Pork Liempo Pigue (Ham) Beef Rump Brisket Chicken Fully Dressed Egg (Medium) Fish Bangus

Current Price

190.00/kg 180.00/kg

260.00/kg 200.00/kg 120.00/kg 4.50/pc

ILOILO NEEDS P10B 20.00

Current Price 120.00/kg

SMILE OF HOPE. A heartwarming smile of a little girl amidst ill situation sparks hope to all the victims of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’. This picture was taken in the town of Concepcion, Iloilo during the relief operation organized by a local radio station. (Photo by April Anne Balasbas, Masscom student,CPU Text by Rlatoza/IMT)

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN

The Iloilo provincial government through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) has approved the proposed P10 billion rehabilitation plan for the various sectors affected by typhoon Yolanda.

PDRRMC executive director Jerry Bionat said the figure is still subject for increase as some sectors have not yet submitted their reports and proposals.

Among the priorities, Bionat said cash assistance for casualties; livelihood and damaged houses including government facility have been given priority fund amounting to P7.3 billion.

In social services, the proposed budget of P 797.9 million for the rehabilitation of hospitals, rural health units, purchase of additional medicines, equipment, repairs and

other health-related concerns.

On the economic sector, agriculture will have almost P411.4 million rehabilitation fund for the purchase of fishing paraphernalia, fishing bancas, provision of farm tools, quality seeds for rice, vegetables, root crops and livestock.

On the infrastructure sector, the rehabilitation plans cover construction and repairs of school facility which reach to P567.4 million and P 4.8 million for the repairs and clearing operations for the provincial roads and bridges.

The province also proposed P11million livelihood assistance for fisherfolks, farmers and other incomegenerating trainings.

Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. admitted that the province has only P 50 million available fund for the rehabilitation while fund for other

plans are still wishlist to be taken from the national and regional offices.

Defensor added he and Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon are now scouting help from other government agencies and even to private sectors.

The governor said any help they could gather will be allocated for the livelihood program of the affected fishermen in 5th District of Iloilo wherein almost 90 percent of the motorized boats were damaged.

Defensor stressed he wanted to replace with new boats those totally damaged motorized boats which are owned by small-scale fishermen.

“We will focus first to the livelihood of these affected fishermen rather than their houses because fishing is their main source of income”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Social P10B rehab /p9

the department.

DOH-6 director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said common diseases recorded by their medical personnel are acute gastroenteritis (AG), upper respiratory tract infection (UPTI) and leptospirosis. She said all the reported cases are associated with dirty or contaminated water due to floods.

Convocar also said that lack of potable water leading to poor hygiene

is the main factor that usually contributed to the spreading of diseases within the centers.

“That’s why we are encouraging evacuees to maintain proper sanitation and cleanliness”, she said.

The director added they need around P 35.6 million for the purchase of additional medicines to cater 683, 000 affected families in the DOH warns /p9

DOH warns of spreading diseases

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN The Department of Health 6 (DOH-6) noted the increasing cases of water-borne diseases at the evacuation centers following the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda that hit Western Visayas two weeks ago.

Currently, there are 1, 952 evacuation centers all over the region which are under the supervision of

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Mabilog no to Dakasi reopening unless…

Dakasi branch at Smallville Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo

BY REYMAR LATOZA Dakasi could only reopen and operate if the laboratory tests proved that their foods and drinks are safe to consume and not harmful to human health, said Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Mabilog told the management of Dakasi at Smallville Complex, Barangay San Rafael, Manduarriao, Iloilo City not to open and operate again until the final and official result coming from authorities showed that all their products served are free from any contamination.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2011, the Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) ordered Dakasi to submit

a sample of egg pudding for a microbiological test.

Sample was brought to Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) in the town of Tigbuan, Iloilo to know if it is contaminated with Salmonella or other microorganisms.

Salmonella is alleged to have caused the food poisoning, which recorded one fatality, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In the previous reports of Iloilo Metropolitan times, DOH Region 6 epidemiologist Dr. Glen Alonsabe said that the patients’ condition was called enteritis salmonellosis or Mabilog no /p9

METRO NEWS

2

METRO

on the road

BFAR BFAR-6 donates relief goods to Estancia fisherfolks The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 6 extended humanitarian aid to typhoon-affected fisherfolks in Estancia town here.

Hector T. Magtiza, Municipal Agricultural Officer (MAO) of Estancia, said BFAR personnel delivered 10 sacks of relief goods for distribution to the registered fisherfolks in Estancia.

He also said that BFAR-6 turned over two generator sets for Isla de Gigantes and Sicogon Island for use by the fisherfolk associations there.

As of November 14, 2013, the MAO of Estancia has listed 320 damaged municipal motorized bancas and has yet to finalize the number of damaged commercial vessels in the area.

Magtiza said that the local government unit of Estancia is already planning programs for the rehabilitation of livelihood of affected fisherfolks. (JSC/LTPI -PIA6 Iloilo)

DSWD

DSWD6 aid to typhoonstricken families reaches P44-M THE Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI (DSWD6) has already released P44 million worth of relief goods for typhoon Yolanda victims in Western Visayas.

As of 6p.m. of November 17, 2013, the agency has prioritized hardest hit Iloilo Province, particularly the Northern part, with 60,491 family packs amounting to P15.8 million; followed by Capiz with P10.9 million equivalent to 41,971 packs; Antique with P5.2 million with 2,002 packs; Aklan with P4.8 million or 18,650 packs; Negros Occidental, P7.7 million or 29,706 packs; and Guimaras, P68,085 or 85 packs.

The DSWD has monitored 78,909 families still inside 1,952 evacuation centers in Region 6.

Most of them are in Iloilo and Capiz with 51,844 and 23,206 families respectively. (DSWD6/May RagoCastillo)

PSWDO

Iloilo PSWDO thanks donors, volunteers Iloilo Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Dr. Neneth Pador has expressed gratitude for the continued inpouring of assistance and help from donors and volunteers nine days after super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ unleashed gusty winds and caused devastation in the province especially in its northern part.

As of 3 PM November 16, the Iloilo provincial government through the PSWDO has already distributed a total of 95, 041 family packs to affected local government units in the province.

The PSWDO has further released 1,465 sacks of rice, 277 boxes of sardines, 245 boxes of noodles, 5,772 bottles of mineral water and 172 packs of biscuits to the different affected towns.

As indicated in the damage report of the Iloilo Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Council, around 178,824 families or 772, 996 persons in 1,107 barangays in the province were already affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda as of Saturday, November 16.(JSC/LAF-PIA6)

November 24 -30, 2013

.5M families to undergo stress debriefing

BY MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN

The Department of Health 6 (DOH-6) will place 543, 235 families under psycho-social processing aftermath of typhoon Yolanda.

DOH-6 director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said their target beneficiaries are both typhoon victims who are temporarily staying in 580 identified evacuation centers in Western Visayas and those who sought temporary shelter from their relatives and neighbors which are under the masterlist of the Department of Social

Welfare and Development 6 (DSWD6).

DSWD-6’s record shows as of November 19 that there are about 37, 256 families or 188, 770 individuals temporarily staying at the different evacuation centers while 505, 979 families or 2, 365, 588 individuals are outside the evacuation centers.

Convocar said to be more effective, the DOH-6 will be tapping the help of public teachers in the conduct of stress management or debriefing.

She said they have done the same

3, 000 cops for WV clearing and rehab

BY MONTESA GRINO-CAOYONAN A total of 3, 000 police personnel from the Regional Police Office 6 (PRO-6) here have been utilized to augment local force for the relief, clearing and rehabilitation programs in Region 6.

PRO-6 director Chief Supt.

Agrimero Cruz said a total of 614 trucks from both private and government were also utilized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) especially in the clearing of roads and bridges to fast track the operations.

Cruz added that they already established contact with all the chiefs of police including those hardly-hit towns in the affected provinces in Panay Island after the Department of Interior and Local Government-6 (DILG-6) has provided them 50 units of generators.

As of Monday, the director said

there was no report of looting, rape and other lawlessness related to typhoon.

Also, the PRO-6 reported a total of 265 deaths, 1, 182 injured persons, seven rescued and 47 missing.

Meanwhile, 70 additional police personnel from different municipal police stations under the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) were sent to northern Iloilo on Monday morning.

IPPO director Senior Supt.

Cornelio Salinas said these augmentation force will help northern towns on their clearing and rehabilitation programs.

Last week, 145 personnel were also deployed at the said area after typhoon Yolanda hit Panay Island.

“The deployment of additional police personnel to northern Iloilo will continue as long as the province needs us,” Salinas said. IMT

RDRRMC fastracks relief operations

BY LILIBETH A. FRENCH Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 6 (DRRMC) is fastracking efforts to provide relief assistance to the more than two million people affected by typhoon Yolanda.

RDRRMC Chair and Office of Civil Defense 6 RDRRMC assures public that relif operations Director Rosario Cabrera will be monited and fastracked said the number of persons typhoon stricken areas in the region, as affected in the region rose to 2,525,403 of Sunday. persons or a total of 539,110 families She noted an increase in the with 246, 089 totally damaged houses number of packed relief goods because and 213, 288 partially damaged, as of of the establishments of two additional 7 PM, November 17. repacking sites aside from the DSWD Of these affected persons/families, 6 Relief Operation Center in Molo, Iloilo province has posted the highest Iloilo City. These repacking sites are number with 810, 892 affected persons located at the Iloilo Sports Complex or 171, 731 families followed by Capiz and Barotac Viejo, Iloilo gymnasium. with 557,522 affected persons or 118, Macapobre also attributed the 361 affected families, and Aklan with increase of repacked goods to the influx 425,015 affected persons or 94,659 of volunteers that come to the sites, families. from students, members of the Regional On the other hand, in Negros Association of National Government Occidental province the affected Agencies and private citizens. persons are now at 374, 326 or about The biggest chunk of the relief 79, 083 affected families and in goods, about 60, 491 family packs at Antique, the affected persons reached a cost of P15.8 million, went to the 279, 792 or 60, 619. The province province of Iloilo with all its towns of Guimaras has reported the least in the north affected by the Super affected persons with 10, 583 or 2,488 Typhoon. families.

As part of the early rehabilitation Cabrera said the number of efforts, Macapobre said some P5.2 casualties in the region is now million has been approved by their recorded at 158 dead, 255 injured Central Office for the implementation and 20 missing persons during the of the Cash for Work program in press conference organized by the severely affected municipalities RDRRMC 6. identified by the RDRRMC 6 during In her report, DSWD 6 Director its previous meeting. Pantawid Pamilya Evelyn Macapobre said a total of beneficiaries who were affected by the 180, 975 food packs worth P47 super typhoon will be the priority million were already distributed to the under the program.(JCM/LAF/pia6)

process in Bohol during the recent earthquake and she is sure that this practice is also applicable here in the region particularly in four hardly-hit provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique.

In fact, Convocar said they have already trained several teachers in Capiz last week and was scheduled to train teachers in Iloilo this week.

The director said the stress debriefing will be under the closed supervision of the department which will be conducted either in schools or in evacuation centers.

Stress debriefing is a process that prevents or limits the development of post-traumatic stress in people exposed

to critical incidents.

Through this process, Convocar said typhoon victims could express their grievances and open up their emotional stress without limitations.

Based on the record of the Office of Civil Defense 6 (OCD-6) as of November 17, a total of 246,089 houses were totally damaged while 213,288 were partially damaged.

An estimated cost of damaged in infrastructure and agriculture amounted to P 2, 233, 614, 531.42 and P 674, 507, 034.50, respectively.

The numbers of casualties are also increasing which consist of 158 dead, 255 injured and 20 missing persons as of press time. IMT

Donations for ‘Yolanda’victims, tax-free

Volunteers render their time in sorting and repacking of goods and donations from local, national and international benefactors

BY REYMAR LATOZA about VAT because they have a Donations both from abroad and mechanism to address that. Donation within the country for the victims of to NDRRMC is also duty exempt and super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ are tax-free, if there is going to be VAT, it is going according to the Bureau of Internal to be supported by GAA (General Revenue (BIR).

Appropriations Act),” she said in a Citing the Republic Act 10121 of report of Philippine Daily Inquirer. the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Heneras also added that they and Management Act of 2010, BIR are closely monitoring all the Commissioner Kim Henares said that donations coming in to be properly the government will shoulder the 12 documented. percent value-added tax (VAT).

“We keep track of it and make Henares clarified that donors will sure it is legitimate donation. be exempted from tax as long it is Unfortunately, there are some people… coordinated with the Department of .I mean, as far as we are concerned, Social Welfare and Development, the everyone is in the mode of helping National Disaster Risk Reduction and people but unfortunately, as you can Management Council, foundations see from experience in Tacloban, there or non-government organizations are people who take advantage of the (NGOs) accredited by the government. misery of other people,” Henares said “Pleas coordinate with DSWD in a report of InterAksyon.com. IMT

P73-M needed for medicines and hospitals’ rehab

BY LILIBETH A. FRENCH

The Department of Health-Center for Health Development 6 needs some P72.8 million for the rehabilitation of health facilities and to cater to the medical needs of the families affected by typhoon Yolanda.

DOH 6 Director Marlyn Convocar reported that of the total 142 health facilities in Western Visayas, 34 percent or 49 health facilities were partially damaged and about 1.5 percent or two facilities were totally damaged.

Despite all these damages, the over-all health facilities in the region are 98 percent functional said Convocar.

Based on the initial assessment, she said the department needs at least P37.2 million to repair and rebuild these health facilities.

Convocar also said an estimate of P35.6 million is needed for the additional purchase of medicines and medical supplies for victims in typhoon affected areas in the region.

As of November 17, she said they have already served around 2,657 injured.

Upper respiratory tract infection, acute gastro-entiritis, prophylaxis for

leptospirosis, wounds, and injuries are among the common causes of medical consultation in evacuation centers, said Convocar.

Medical teams will also be deployed to conduct stress debriefing in the different evacuation centers in the four provinces of the region which were hit hardest by the typhoon.

Last week, a training on stress management involving teachers was conducted in the province of Capiz as part of the stress debriefing activities for children. The same training will be conducted here in Iloilo this week.

The DSWD 6 press report on Tuesday said that there are still around 78,909 families inside evacuation centers in the region. Most of them are in Iloilo and Capiz with 51,844 and 23, 206.

So far, the typhoon has affected 558, 701 families or 2, 639, 355 persons according to the damage report of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as of November 19.

Death toll now climbed at 191, injured, 411 and missing, 19. (JCM/ LAF/PIA6)

November 24 -30, 2013

METRO BUSINESS

3

Yolanda greatly affects production and service sector - IBC

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA

The Iloilo Business Club (IBC) anticipates great loss on the supply of agricultural products as the production of the agriculture sector was severely affected by the typhoon. IBC executive director Maria Lea Victoria Lara said that production and services are the two sectors that are totally distressed.

Lara said that they are yet to assess the total damage of the typhoon in the business sector

but admits that livelihood is the primary concern at present.

“I hope the government will project monetary requirements accurately”, she said.

Lara also added that the tourism is somehow paralyzed as the tourist arrival is surely to suffer. She added that the demand for the construction materials will possibly increase, so she suggest that

temporarily, those who have lost their livelihood can momentarily join the construction industry.

On the other hand, Lara dismisses the idea that the catastrophe would greatly affect the Dinagyang Festival and holding of the APEC Summit next year.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 6 (BFAR-6) allocated P 142 million rehabilitation plan for the immediate livelihood assistance of the fisheries industry.

BFAR-6 has recorded damages in fisheries industry amounting to 1.3-billion based on November 17 reports in the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) at the office of Lone District Cong. Jerry Trenas.

BFAR-6 director Drusila Bayate said there is no fish shortage in Western Visayas despite of the devastation brought by typhoon Yolanda two weeks ago.

Bayate admitted that prices of fish had slightly increased after the typhoon but it has been normalized already after a week.

Apart from BFAR, the province of Iloilo also proposed P11million

she explained.

Despite the tragedy, Lara is positive that the economy will recover faster than during typhoon Frank.

“Although it may take awhile to rebuild, we will absolutely recover faster this time. The main part of the city was not greatly affected so the help will easily be distributed”, Lara disclosed. IMT

Power outage to last 4 months

Fishing industry gets P142M rehab plan

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN

“The city, which is the main area of the festival, has not been devastated so I think there will be a problem in Dinagyang Festival.

Although on the national level, the preparation for the summit may have a little alterations for the national government will prioritize the recovery of the typhoon-hit areas”,

BY REYMAR LATOZA

livelihood assistance for fisherfolks, farmers and other income-generating trainings particularly in typhoon-hit municipalities in 5th District of the province.

Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. Ty p h o o n said they are now Yolanda damaged a large scouting fund from different government agencies and number of motor bancas leaving even private sectors to help them fishermen empty-handed rehabilitate the livelihood of those affected small-scale fishermen.

Defensor admitted the almost BY REYMAR LATOZA 90 percent of the motorized boats were damaged in northern Iloilo The Government of Canada will and he wanted to replace with be extending an additional $15 million new bancas those fishermen whose as financial support to the victims of motorized boats were totally super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (International damaged. IMT name: Haiyan) in the Philippines.

In a visit of Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper to Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish in Toronto, he said to the members of Filipino-Canadian community that their Government committed percent of its coverage was reinstate. the said additional amount towards As of November 20, Globe emergency relief activities that should and Smart Communications has bring further comfort to the victims of provided service to 57 percent typhoon. and 87 percent municipalities, “We are standing shoulder-torespectively. shoulder with the Filipino-Canadian Globe Telecommunications families who have loved ones that have already supplied 32 municipalities been affected by the tragic natural in Iloilo, 3 in Capiz, 10 in disaster,” said Harper.

Antique and Aklan, 31 in Negros He added that their government Occidental, 25 in Negros Oriental has taken decisive action to address and 4 in Guimaras. On the other the ravages of the typhoon by working hand, Smart Communications closely with the Filipino-Canadian serviced 40 municipalities in Iloilo, community, relief agencies and the 11 in Capiz, 17 in Antique,25 in Government of the Philippines to Aklan, 30 min Negros Occidental, provide ongoing support to those who 26 in Negros Oriental and 5 in need it most.

Guimaras.IMT The additional $15 million commitment of Canada was based on the appeals from the Canada’s humanitarian partners who have the expertise and capacity to deliver

Power in the northern part of Iloilo will be completely restored after three or four months, according to Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO 3).

Engr. Antonio Lazaraga of ILECO III said 95 percent of transmission lines and other facilities were toppled by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’.

A total of 600 electric poles were damaged by strong wind brought by

super typhoon ‘Yolanda.

“We will do the best that we can to bring back the supply of electricity in the fifth district of Iloilo in the soonest time,” he said.

The 12 municipalities in northern Iloilo were badly hit by the typhoon ‘Yolanda.

Monday last week, Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. met the officials of power providers and distributors in Iloilo to talk about the immediate restoration of power supply.

The National Grid Corporation in the Philippines, ILECO I, ILECO II, ILECO III assured to do all they can to reenergize the towns affected by typhoon.IMT

Canada commits $15M for Yolanda victims

Communications on typhoon-hit areas restored

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA Communications have been one of the main problems after the typhoon. Several people have lost contact with their loved ones especially on the greatly devastated places. On this time of crisis, two major telecommunications in the country have double their efforts in restoring and putting up communications sites to be used by the victims of the typhoon.

One week after the super typhoon hit the Visayas area, around 84 percent of Smart Communications and affiliate Sun Cellular network coverage was restored while Globe said that 70

Land Bank to fund P300M hospitals’ enhancement

BY LEONARD T. PINEDA I A ceremonial signing between the Iloilo provincial government and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for the P300-million omnibus term loan facility for hospital rehabilitation/ enhancement was held recently at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

The Iloilo provincial government has secured the P300-million loan from LBP for the upgrading of four catchment hospitals in the province.

LBP president and chief executive officer Gilda E. Pico said that LBP is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the goal of promoting and enhancing hospital care and delivery to the constituents in Iloilo.

Pico assured that Land Bank will be a partner in the rebuilding

and rehabilitation efforts of the provincial government citing the recent onslaught of typhoon Yolanda which damaged hospital facilities here.

The loan acquired by the provincial government The executives of Land Bank of the Philippines is allocated for the Iloilo (LBP) during the MOA signing with the Provincial Hospital in Pototan, provincial government for the rehabilitation which will get the biggest share of the damaged hospitals during the typhoon. of about P100 million.

The rest of the fund will be utilized Sr., said that the P300-million loan will for the rehabilitation and enhancement be a big boost in improving the facilities of facilities in Ramon Tabiana Memorial and the rehabilitation of the hospitals.

District Hospital in Cabatuan, Rep. He also said that with the fund, the Pedro Trono Memorial District Hospital hospitals could be able to truly serve the in Guimbal, and Sara District Hospital poor residents of the province who no in Sara town that has been damaged by longer have to be brought to Iloilo City typhoon Yolanda with its roof blown off. for their medical needs. (JCM/LTP/ Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor PIA-Iloilo)

Canadian medics check on the conditions of the victims especially the children in an evacuation center outside of Roxas City, Capiz. assistance on the ground.

This additional commitment made up the more than $20 million total worth of assistance committed by Canada.

“Canada is responding to this disaster in coordination with the Government of the Philippines and Canada’s humanitarian partners, such as United Nations agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that humanitarian support meets the needs of the people affected by typhoon,” the Prime Minister said.

In a report of Philippine Information Agency (PIA), C a n a d a’s response to the crisis that the country is facing now includes the following measures:

provide an initial $30.000 to the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, $5 million to the humanitarian organization, create a matching fund between Canada and Philippines, assist the deployment of a Canadian Red Cross 12 –person medical team and field hospital, send the Interdepartmental Strategic Support Team to Manila, and deploy elements of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). DART will address the pressing needs in the provinces of Iloilo and Capiz. IMT

METRO TOURISM

November 24 -30, 2013

Regional ecotourism pushed

Guimaras Gov. Samuel T. Gumarin (middle, right photo) with DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Adeluisa G. Siapno (extreme left) and Regional Director Leo Van V. Juguan (extreme right) of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) after the Ecotourism meeting (left photo) held at the DENR Activity Center last November 11, 2013. Photo by DENR 6.

BY KHARIZA JOY SOFIA in accordance to Executive Order physically attend the said meeting. held the recent Regional Ecotourism organizations.

The Department of Environment Committee (REC) meeting along As of the moment, the Department RED Siapno was ecstatic after the 111 or Establishing the Guidelines and Natural Resources (DENR) 6 with its 12 members from other LGUs give support to their ecotourism for Ecotourism Development in the of Tourism (DOT) has already spearheaded by Regional Executive national government agencies, local plans and are prepared to partner with Philippines where the government identified Tourism Development Areas Director (RED) Adeluisa G. Siapno government units and non-governemnt DENR to enhance the implementation of the Philippines shall develop (TDAs) all over the region; however, an and promote the protection of the integrated system for the government’s environment while it contributes to effort needs to be established first the growth of the economy. in order to maintain the viability of

BY PILAR S. MABAQUIAO “We hope to see other head of ecotourism development. bananas and root crops planted in sustainability, PCA will give priority to the office attend the REC meeting so that Being the present chairman of Coconut farms in Antique were between the coconuts. re-planting program. The participatory we can give technical assistance to them the REC, Siapno encourage all LGUS not spared from the destructive For coco lumber, damaged coco planting program for coconut is ongoing in developing their tourism potential”, to join in and push their ecotourism intensity of Typhoon Yolanda leaving trees can be used as coco lumber to with 708 hectares for completion this RED Siapno said.

Guimaras Governor potentials as this will not only bring P3,829,374 damages in coconuts and build houses and structures. This does year and for 2014, PCA has the target Samuel T. Gumarin is the only head development in the economy but will P606,795 for intercrops along coconut not need any permit from the PCA of 625 hectares or a total of 62,500 coco of the office among LGU-members to also protect the environment.IMT plantation. when used in the locality, said the trees. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique) “With this, farmers need to work source but when it will be on the recovery of coconut farms transported to other places, to cope with the high demands for a permit to transport copra, coco oil and other coco-based should be secured. products,” said Senior Agriculturist Gelera said, PCA Reynaldo H. Gelera of Philippine will work with farmers for Coconut Authority here. the recovery of coco trees The recent typhoon caused the particularly those that are destruction of 54,911 coconut trees slightly and moderately while 92,948 coco trees and 67,347 affected hoping for are slightly and moderately affected favorable climate to hasten respectively. A total of 34,659 are their growth. heavily damaged with 50 percent For long term chance of survival. These are mostly located in northern Antique, the report stated.

The Philippine Coconut Authority reported a total loss of 967,625 coco nuts equivalent to 241,906 kilos of copra.

The figures can increase, Gelera said, since these are just initial assessment of PCA field officers from various municipalities.

As to damages in intercrops, this includes corn, legumes, peanuts, vegetables,

Recovery of coco farms rushed

METRO ENTREPRENEUR

November 24 -30, 2013

5

Unleashing bamboo’s economic opportunity through SETUP

In Western Visayas, all roads lead to the upland town of Maasin as far as bamboo industry is concerned.

Rooted from the evergreen grass family, this bamboo has practical uses unfolding from simple home ornaments, fabrics and clothing to cooking, agriculture, and even musical instruments.

The Iloilo Kawayan Marketing (IKMAR), owned by Atty. Ma. Theresa “Sweet” Malones-Sanchez, is one testament of Maasin‘s abounding bamboo industry. Brazenly standing in the Malones’ humble abode, the business kicked off its bamboo production in 2006. Its once peasized production area served a variety of bamboo products then came to grew out in a notch of time.

The company currently takes pride in producing top feature bamboo products used as dining utensils.

Barbecue sticks, chopsticks and tooth picks garnered tremendous gains from Pinoy favorite fast food chains such as Jollibee Foods Corporation and other business chains. Demand to these products mount during peak season, resulting to an increased income.

To be named as one of the top quality producers of bamboo products in the Philippines is the vision of the thriving company. Thus, to guarantee utmost quality, products undergo rigid assessment prior to packing.

In 2008, IKMAR availed the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST VI) Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) with the help of Iloilo Provincial S&T Director Engr. Sheila Oberio. The assistance, which sought to enhance and upgrade the company’s production process, allowed them to participate in various technology trainings and consultancy services.

In 2012, the company has once again tapped DOST‘s expertise in upgrading a facility that will turn its 60 tons of generated waste per month into an income-profiting product.

Such product known as bamboo charcoal briquette is considered to be a “first” in the region.

“We started manufacturing chopsticks, barbecue sticks, and tooth picks. As time passed by, we have noticed how these saw dusts generated from the factory piled up and eventually being thrown away.

We asked the assistance of DOST on how to manufacture bamboo charcoal briquette out from these wastes”, said

Production Equipment Blade Crusher and Hammer Mill Photo Courtesy: Iloilo PSTC

Carbonized Charcoal Briquettes displayed during the 2013 Visayas Cluster S&T Fair.

Photo Courtesy: KCBPalabrica

Operation:

Drying

Biomass/Charcoal Briquette Screw Press Machine (Extruder) Photo Courtesy: Iloilo PSTC

Carbonized charcoal briquettes Carbonization Furnace Photo Courtesy: Iloilo PSTC

Dried and pulverized sawdust

Charcoal Briquettes

Atty. Sweet Malones-Sanchez during a live interview on Bombo Radyo’s Unlad Pinoy Program.

SETUP answered the company’s request as it provided a dryer and briquette machine which aim to reduce waste by converting the bamboo shavings into bamboo charcoal briquettes. The bamboo charcoal briquettes proved to be an effective substitute cooking fuel with a higher heating rate compare to other woods. Moreover, it is used in poultry farms to provide warmth to newly-hatched chicks.

“What’s good about the bamboo briquette is that we adhere to the advocacy of pro-trees. We don’t intend to cut trees to make a bamboo charcoal briquette, instead, we use, saw dust, the waste material generated out from bamboo sticks”, she explained.

Powered with S&T-based interventions, the IKMAR is more stabilized as there are cutting-edge technologies that respond to the company’s growing market.

“We are optimistic that the bamboo charcoal briquette has a big potential in the market”, she jubilantly expressed.

IKMAR’s impressive feat has attested how the lowly bamboos spawn vast market opportunities. Worthwhile chances that continue to build up the potential of the locals. (DOSTVI-LMLamasan)

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METRO OPINION

6 EDITORIAL

There are More To Do Than Blame Game

O

f the ten fingers we have in our hands, the most prevalently used in times of crisis are no less than our pointing fingers. We always enjoy the blame game.

Psychology defines Blame as an act of censuring, holding responsible, making negative statements about an individual or group that their action or actions are socially or morally irresponsible, the opposite of praise. When someone is morally responsible for doing something wrong their action is blameworthy.

By contrast, when someone is morally responsible for doing something right, we may say that his or her action is praiseworthy.

Just after Super typhoon Yolanda left the central Philippines wrecked and broken, socio-political issues on the relief and rehabilitation efforts have arisen. All medium of communications especially the social media were flooded by comments about the government, government officials, private individuals who have been involved in the rebuilding efforts in the Visayas region. Most of them are negative- blaming the government of the lack of support to the victims; a disorganized distribution system; and personal or political conflicts among politicians.

In a democratic society where everyone is freely entitled to give his opinion, one tends to neglect the idea of assessing his own views along the process. The boundary between one’s freedom to speak his mind and the other’s freedom to express his thoughts are becoming narrower.

International aides are pouring in the country. Foreign countries unite to sympathize with us sending their trusted men in troops to help recover and restore lives in every way they can. We are praised all over the world for our resiliency. But why can’t we see this with our very own eyes? Why instead of finding ways to help, we look for faults; we held others responsible for this?

We are a part of humanity. If someone dies, a part of us also dies. And we just can’t afford to look at the situation and point fingers for we have the capability to move and take action. You may have a decisive mind to criticize what’s wrong but you should use more of your power to effect change and your ability to help.

Before pointing your fingers to others, ask yourself what have you done to change the system? Be sure your hands are also clean.

November 24 -30, 2013

Be A Filipino

I

t’s sad how a first-world journalist would expect too much on what a third-world country can do. But we don’t blame him for it because he is a stranger to such a strange happening too. We wish to thank him though for bringing the harsh realities in the international scene.

The Philippines as an archipelagic country has difficulty connecting one island to another island on ordinary days. How much more when all linkages --- from transporation to communication are down?

Poor Korina Sanchez. She may be a journalist but she is undeniably trying to be a Filipino. She just love her country and feels slighted everytime a non-Filipino fail to see the whole picture first before the photoshop. At the time when Mr. Anderson Cooper was “fairly” reporting a third-world country’s capacity to handle things in such a large-scale crisis, emotions were high. If a conflict of interest may have arose from her radio commentary, blame her not for defending her turf.

Like Cooper who may have covered numerous calamity response endeavors, Korina too has covered scores of them and almost all were Philippine-

based calamities; but to bash our own gem in the Philippine media because of her realistic and fair assesment of the government’s shortcomings is unfair. Besides, if your husband is under attack, who would not defend him if you have the means to tame the flaring sentiments that might waylay the admitted snail-paced relief momentum from taking off? Having a spouse in a public office does not relegate a person’s natural human instinct. We look at our public officials as superheroes in terms of capacity but not in terms of limitations. If superheroes of fiction like Spiderman whose waterloo is Mary Jane, and Superman’s is a kryptonite, our public officials too have their own. If people in distress demand understanding, everyone coming to their rescue in whatever form have the right to the same degree of understanding. Our government officials may have the inner demon in them but they too have the inner goodness in them just like us. An American soldier who married a Filipina friend from Capiz once told me, “ my wife always speaks ill about your country. She forgot that I married her and she’s one of the best things your country has done for me.”

If we compare our

country’s calamity response capacity to Japan and the United States of America, then we should not be asking why 9/11 happened unnoticed and reduced the world’s superpower in terms of arms, ammunitions, intelligencegathering, psychological warfare and sophisticated weaponry to Ground Zero!

Did Americans blame each other for it? No, they did not. They worked hard for the incident not to happen again! If there is one thing that we should compare the United States and Japan to the Philippines is not the capacity to keep the job done but the character of our people in handling difficult situations.

The government is no almsgiver. It has limitations in the same way that we limit ourselves to distinguishing the demarcation line between our rights and our obligations.

Our tendency to pass on the blame to others for our misfortune speaks well of our maturity as a nation. This one calls for a unified nation just the way we were in the Philippine colonial days.

Armed with inferior weapons but backed up with superior Filipino unity and fighting spirits, we were able to regain our independence and raised our flags of freedom.

Online bashing may be protected under the “freedom

of expression” clause but it is at the same time bordering to insensitivity to reality.

Freedom is not about doing things we want to do or say but rather doing things what we ought to do or say. Never forget that our “right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously” AT ALL TIMES. From the book of an Ilonggo, Alexander Lacson : “ Every Filipino is an ambassador of our country. Each one of us wherever we may be, is a salesman of our country.

Whenever we speak positively of our people, we show our love for our neighbors. ” We are very grateful for other nations who sent aids in terms of manpower, equipment, and rehabilitation funds. They too realize how corruption exists in this country, but they did not ask a thing before coming to the rescue. In emergency cases, you don’t ask who wounded who.

Both victims are immediately rushed to the hospital as the universal law recognizes every person’s universal right to medication.

Poor Noynoy. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.

(The writer has three families in Northern Iloilo who survived the devastation of “ Yolanda “ in Pantalan Navarro, Ajuy and Malangabang, Concepcion)

Yolanda’s demons and angels

I

t is somehow inconceivable that some victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda would as well further the trouble of some other victims by inflicting on the latter some crimes.

Reported lawlessness in Tacloban City by looting the properties in certain business establishments and destroyed houses was troubling enough that even some persons would suggest to the President the idea of declaring martial law.

No. There was no justification for the declaration of martial law. Lawless violence is not one of the grounds for the declaration of martial law.

The President may place the country or any part thereof under martial law only in cases of invasion or rebellion, when public safety requires it, but not in cases of lawless violence, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution on the matter. Moreover, with P-Noy as our President, it would be unthinkable for us to entertain the idea that he will declare martial law, or for us to suggest to him that he declare martial law without offending him. What trauma martial law did to P-Noy and to his family, he will not do it to others, even just for him to think of the idea. However, law enforcement agencies can augment their forces in the area, and the President may call out the armed forces, requiring their presence in the area where lawless violence pervades.

Criminals took the opportunity to rob others of their properties when law enforcers were not around to apprehend them, because

the law enforcers themselves were victims of calamity themselves and many of them have lost members of their families due to Yolanda. There were some other reports of rape cases in eastern Visayas immediately after Yolanda left.

Those criminals behaved like demons. They pursued their criminal activities at the time when the community was in its worst form, at the time when the community needs the help of angels.

How come that Yolanda did not take the lives of those criminals? How come that these demons in society survive, while many angels perish?

Whatever answers we give to these perplexing questions, we will always have angels and demons, or criminals and patriots in our society.

Fortunately, in Iloilo, there was no reported criminal activity immediately after Yolanda had taken off. People here are not inclined to commit crimes. Probably, we can say that we are reliable people in this part of the country, especially in times of calamities.

The angels in us prevail over our demons, self-sacrifice over greed or selfishness.

Just take a look around us.

Never mind those who want to make some scene. Never mind those who carp. Many of us are still busy trying to find some ways and means to help those victims of Yolanda in the devastated Northern Iloilo. We give some of what we have, even what we have is not that much, for it is said, “No need to have much in order to share.”

On the part of the Association of Disabled

Persons in Iloilo, Inc. (ADPI), it has its own project “I-HELP” that stands for “I - Helping Easing Lives of Persons” with disabilities and their families who were victims of calamities. This was launched in 2008 after typhoon Frank hit Iloilo.

Now, it is helping the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in Iloilo province, especially in the Municipality of Concepcion.

ADPI has not much, but it uses its initiative to help those in need, to seek some assistance of their partners in the local community or abroad, to help ease the lives of persons affected by Yolanda, especially those belonging to its sector.

It is heart-warming that we know of many people becoming generous in times of calamities like this. While we appreciate those who share their millions of pesos as well as their only pesos left in their pockets for the thousands of victims of calamities, we can never forget those who give some of their time to help pack some relief goods.

The basic necessities for a good life, like food, shelter, clothing, and medical care, must be given, or at least, made available for the surviving victims, whose houses were totally destroyed and whose means of livelihood were crumpled or taken into the ocean by Yolanda.

While government and non-government organizations around the world are pooling their resources to augment the relief operations and rehabilitation of the devastated areas and victims of Yolanda, celebrities and non-celebrities alike have also given, and

still have to give, their share to ease the burden caused by Yolanda. Angel Locsin and Kris Aquino were reported to have visited the Municipality of Concepcion, Iloilo to help ease the burden of the victims of the super typhoon in the area. Some other celebrities manifest their intention to raise funds for this purpose.

The devastated areas in the Visayas, including Northern Iloilo, caused by Yolanda, after a strong earthquake had struck Bohol and Cebu, require rehabilitation following the relief operations which even to this day are being carried out. If the relief operations cost us a lot, with hundreds of millions of pesos already spent, there is no doubt that the rehabilitation of these areas as well as of the surviving victims will cost us even more.

Now that the Honorable Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) – the pork barrel , our lawmakers can now totally focus on making, amending, or revising the laws of the land, especially on matters relating to calamities. And it would be wise and noble for them to convene themselves in a special session and allot the unused 2013 PDAF worth P4-billion for the victims of Yolanda. In this way, instead of getting the ire of the people, their misdeeds will be forgotten – at least in the meantime – and their concern for the Filipino people will be highly praised.

And praises be for all those whose angels prevail over their demons to help ease the lives of persons affected by Yolanda.#

November

24

-30,

2013

METRO OPINION

Damn if you do, damn if you don’t T

he recent devastation of super storm Yolanda brought not only destruction but also flak to the government which showed its disaster preparedness and response inadequacy to light. The storm of Yolanda’s magnitude and world-altering strength pushed government response to its limit – and its knees, literally, the moment she impacted at Guian, Samar.

A lot of us flocked to social networks to vent our anger and disbelief on the snail pace response and the lack of it among the stricken areas of Yolanda. It bared the ugly face of red tape, bureaucracy and corruption as has been connected with disaster

I

s your m o v i e “Gugma sa Panahon s a n g B a k u n a w a” part of the CineKas1manwa Film Festival?

Surely, the film was invited, and as a sign of goodwill, I agreed to be part of Cinema Rehiyon’s Cinema in the Regions: The Panay Islands Film Festival.

It’s always a pleasure to be featured in a festival. Who cares if I don’t get a single centavo out of it? Haha! But I don’t have the exact schedule yet as to where and when the film is going to be screened.

You made you “…

Bakunawa” movie in a phenomenal speed of six days. How did you do it?

Phenomenal it was, indeed! I don’t really know how we did it, but I know I could never again make a movie of this magnitude in the same way of six consecutive days. I really thank God for how everything just fell into place. It was a miracle! Just weeks before my week of

7

preparations, mitigation and response.

In the name of fairness, government workers and responders were on the ground before, during and after Yolanda’s strike among the islands in the Visayas. Local and national governments prepared, placed assets and prepositioned goods, and braced for Yolanda.

Yet, despite all these, what happened is beyond everyone’s expectations.

The once-in-a-century tempest brought havoc into the islands with winds faster than a speeding Formula One racing car and 3.5 times stronger than Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5. Yolanda overwhelmed government response grounding it to a

halt and broke down local governments.

Responders scrambled to attend to their families first, command/ operations centers flooded and destroyed, food and fuel storages either underwater or destroyed rendering preparations useless.

The overwhelming chaos and ensuing breakdown of government led to darkness and despair for the victims. With roads blocked, responders and relief operators from other places faced great odds in reaching them. We only have a handful of helicopters and C-130s serving all kinds of airlifting on such a wide area and wide scale operation.

So, the government is to be damned for its slow and inadequate response?

Or is it commendable for showing grit despite insurmountable odds and scarcity of resources? As what happened, the people want the heads of the politicians in a platter for the government’s ineptness. Damned for its ill-preparedness and slow response and damned just for damning’s sake, without examining the real issues embedded in the madness of the aftermath.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper highlighted the clamours of the netizens and criticisms flared with gusto after his damning video report.

It fuelled unrelenting criticisms against the government and creative individuals produced memes worthy of any graphic awards to connect corruption and

the ill-preparedness of the government. Despite all these, the government crept slowly but continuously to fulfil its mission of reaching the ravaged areas, handicapped by the scarcity of resources, allegations of corruptions, stinging criticisms and accusations, and reports of politicking amid the relief operations.

The pledges and arrivals of foreign aid, equipment and deluge of volunteers were like a breath of fresh air to the struggling relief operations.

Despite the untiring efforts criticisms still lash the endeavour of the government like there is no way out of it.

Damn if the government does its job, damn if they don’t. Oh, well.

shooting, it was raining like hell, and the hot summer sun was most vital in the movie’s story. During our week of shooting, thank heaven, there was only one day when it rained, and fortunately, it was a day for mostly interior shots. As for the cast and crew, I know that I pushed them so hard making them work from 7 a.m. to maybe 1 a.m. of the next day, but they saw that I never asked them for sacrifices that I was not willing to make myself. Everyone on the set knew, and saw, that I was the first man up, and the last man down. I woke up two hours before call time to prepare the scenes for the day, and I stayed up at least an hour later than everyone to review the day’s proceedings, and to make sure that adjustments were made in shooting schedules if we missed anything at all.

I really congratulate myself for the strategic planning of the shooting schedule so that no actors or locations where lying around paid and wasted.

Our shooting schedule was grueling but, in fairness to me as schedule manager, most of the actors were given enough time for catnaps during the day. It was the technical crew and I that didn’t have the

luxury of rest periods.

magnitude in my hometown.

So yes, I am very grateful for the support of the local government, and the good people of my hometown for making my dream come true.

and local celebrity, a genuine “living Ilonggo icon,” and an unwitting inspiration for many Ilonggo young artists. How can you inspire the young filmmakers specifically, and generally convince Ilonggos to support regional films?

Did you really plan to shoot in your hometown of Dumangas?

Surely, Dumangas was in the plan. Not only because it would be cheaper to do it there, but especially because I wanted to honor my hometown with a historical undertaking of making a movie there. For sure, I am not the first Dumangasanon filmmaker. I can name at least three others right now, but it’s pretty clear that I am the most “homegrown,” having lived in Dumangas for well over 35 years, or, at least, I am the one name that puts Dumangas prominently on the filmmaking map.

[Two nationally recognized filmmakers are actually called “Ilonggo” filmmakers, not Dumangasanon; and the other one is neither nationally recognized, nor truly Dumangasanon as he only had claimed “roots” from Dumangas.] I have always insisted to be identified as an author, filmmaker, and artist… from Dumangas! To be sure, I wanted to be the first homegrown filmmaker to make a movie of this scale and

How do you want this film to be remembered

by Ilonggos and movie enthusiasts?

You have always been a trailblazer as a personality

I can think of no better way to inspire young filmmakers and to rally Ilonggos to support regional films than by giving them an excellent example of what you insistently call regional cinema. In all seriousness, my movie, “Gugma sa Panahon sang Bakunawa,” is, I can’t say it with false modesty, an excellent movie to begin. It has a simple, easy, but foul-proof story that greatly entertains.

Despite the limitations of Iloilo, which has no moviemaking industry [Where do you get an experienced grip, or sound recordist, or a boom man? Where do you rent additional camera, or lighting equipment? Is there even a casting/talent agency in Iloilo?], it was produced with superior quality and technical brilliance. Should my example not suffice, I pronounce there is no hope for young filmmakers, nor for regional cinema!

week to help in the relief and rehabilitation operations for the victims of Yolanda are definitely the very acts of courage.

It is an act of courage to wake up early in the morning, and pack all needed goods to be given to the victims. It is an act of courage to carry all these heavy goods, others heavier than our weight, to school.

It is an act of courage to save an amount for our snacks so that we could give to our Blue Spoon program.

It is an act of courage to spend a minute or two each day in silent prayer for the suffering victims of typhoon Yolanda. It is courage when we juggle our time studying our lessons and working on our assignments while helping in the packing of goods.

And most importantly, it is courage to forget about our pride and step lowly and beg to people just so we could gather an amount needed for the rehabilitation operations.

Courage is what makes humans special in this world.

Where other animals will run away in the face of danger, humans can have the courage to stand, even in the face of death. Even the Greeks say that courage makes humans greater than the gods, for the gods do not need courage, since they were immortal. Only humans, who face death every day, can be courageous. So, I challenge you, my fellow Ateneans: Let’s muster our courage to do what we must always do.

Let’s have courage to be what we must always be.#

I just want them to remember that this is “a film

by Peter Solis Nery,” that this is my first full-length feature film. I think that that should say a lot; say, for example, that it is truly representative of my romantic and lyrical vision of the world, and that I gave my all on this major opus because I wanted to make sure that I get noticed as writer and director. I wanted this movie as an outstanding highlight in my resume, as my reference material, my demo tape, my diploma film to get future projects. I think, by now, Ilonggos should have learned that the name Peter Solis Nery is synonymous to quality, artistic integrity, and, at least, smartness, if not down right intelligence.

Courage amid Yolanda Havoc (This article was written by Mr. Rodolfo Manuel Tamayo (HS Soc. Sci. Subject Area Coordinator), edited by Ms. Sharon Bibliotica (HS English Teacher), and delivered by Samantha Co (7-Courage) at the Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS High School Flag Ceremony, November 18, 2013.)

A

mbrose Redmoon once said, “Courage is not the absence of fear; but rather, the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

Fellow Ateneans, Super typhoon Yolanda had surely set most of us, if not all, scurrying from fear. But we overcame such fear because we remember. We remember that over the years we have fought different trials and threats to

our vey living. We remember that in a year, not only 1 or 2 typhoons strike our country, but 20 or more. We remember that natural calamities like typhoons and earthquakes as well as other glitches like war and corruption threatened us not once but a number of times. We remember that none of these threats had taken away our will to survive and hope for a better tomorrow. And we remember that what matters most is we have the courage to face these threats so that in the end we still and will always stand tall and strong.

Undeniably, there are people in our country, especially here in the Visayas, whose hopes are already flickering. Not only are their properties lost, but the very

sources of living, the homes which have been witnesses to many laughter and triumph over trials of each family, and most especially, loved ones were lost.

And with hope and strength slowly fading, we ask ourselves: To whom do these victims cling on? To the government? Yes! To their families in other places? Yes! But most importantly, these victims draw their strength not only to God but also to us, people who were kept safe from such devastation, because they know that we are offering our prayers to them and exerting all our efforts to help them restore their strength and pick up their lives once more.

My fellow Ateneans, what we have been doing since the past

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November 24 -30, 2013

METRO AGRICULTURE

9

DA-6 to start P154-M rehabilitation plan to restore damaged agriculture, fisheries

BY MONTESA GRIÑO-CAOYONAN

The rehabilitation works for damaged agriculture, fisheries and livestock in Western Visayas will start next week as the Department of Agriculture 6 (DA-6) has set aside P 154- million rehabilitation fund to help restore the devastation brought by typhoon “Yolanda” two weeks ago.

DA-6 record shows that production losses reached to P 3.

16-billion in agriculture, fisheries and livestock from six provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental.

DA-6 director Larry Nacionales said the rehabilitation works will start next week that will focus more in two provinces of Iloilo and Capiz.

As part of the rehabilitation plan, Nacionales said the fund will use to purchase bancas, fishing paraphernalia, farm tools and various seeds such as high variety rice, vegetables and other root crops.

Nacionales also said all these items will be given to farmers and fishermen for free through their cooperatives so that they could cope up immediately with their losses.

Based on the department’s latest data, the fisheries got the highest damages with P 1.3- billion followed by sugarcane with an estimated losses amounting to P1.21- billion and rice with P 258- million damages.

So far, the director said there is no problem on rice production since only 17, 000 metric tons or equivalent to two percent was damaged in the remaining two months before year ends.

Other damages include P130million for high value crops; P108million for livestock and poultry;

Initial stages of FMP in Jalaur River Basin nearing completion

DENR personnel establish the primary monuments (blue pipe, left photo) within the boundary of community based forest management areas while secondary monuments (orange pipe, right photo) is installed in areas earmarked for site development. (DENR VI PENRO Photo) The organization of information needed towards a collaborative and comprehensive community-based forest management approaches for the improvement and conservation of the Jalaur River Basin is nearing completion, according to the DENR VI Forest Management Service (FMS).

The Jalaur River Basin is a beneficiary of the DENR-Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Project under the Forest Management Project (FMP), a 10year initiative that aims to strengthen forestland management in three critical river basins in the country, from 2012 to 2022.

The project area falls within the Municipalities of Calinog, Lambunao and Janiuay in the Province of Iloilo covering 25 barangays. Thus, if realized will be considered to be the biggest water reservoir outside Luzon, said DENR VI Regional Executive Director Adeluisa G. Siapno.

She added that the FMP is the

Mabilog no...from page 1 poisoning caused by consumption of food contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

He further declared that salmonella bacteria likely contaminated the egg pudding, one of the add-on ingredients in the milk tea served by the concerned tea shop.

Last November 11, 2013, Dakasi reopened despite of pending investigation but after two days they decided for a voluntary closure.

At least 66 were hospitalized due to the alleged food poisoning after eating at Dakasi.

Up to now, the laboratory tests have not yet been completed. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still waiting for other results from the central office in Manila.

Meanwhile, four out of six samples taken from Dakasi were found contaminated after the microbiological and chemical tests was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

only ongoing JICA-funded project in Western Visayas.

The two other beneficiaries of the FMP are the Upper Magat and Cagayan River Basin that traverses the Provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in the Cordillera Autonomous Region and the Pampanga River Basin in Nueva Ecija in Region 2.

“The agency set sights on providing long-term forestland allocation and management planning in these three river basins through watershed characterization and vulnerability assessment, among others,” said Siapno.

DENR VI Regional Technical Director for FMS Livino B. Duran said that the surveying, mapping and planning, which one of the components of FMP, is expected to be completed before the year ends.

He said that the activity is expected to make available thematic maps on soil, geohazard, vegetative cover, land classification, slope, elevation, demographics, and existing

infrastructures, among others.

Aside from this, Duran said that the office also undertakes watershed profiling to validate population in the area, water discharge and biodiversity, among others; and, community organizing including coordination with people’s organization in barangays covered of FMP. The FMP also subjected 11,500 hectares for rehabilitation which is distributed in reforestation, agroforestry and soil and water conservation such as the planting of napier grass, establishment of contour levees, and contour planting, among others.

Other components of the project include infrastructure support in coordination with local government units such as the establishment of access roads; institutional arrangements such as planning with local government units and the passage of ordinances for sustainability of the project; and, study on biodiversity enhancement, among others.

Black tea, sugar, and taro powder were contaminated of microorganisms, while milk tea, egg pudding, and tapioca were free of microbial contamination, However, milk tea was proven contaminated of melamine after a chemical test.

According to FDA, melamine is a nitrogen based compound that was utilized to bolster the apparent protein content in foods or ingredients used in processed food products intended to contain protein.

FDA further explained that when melamine and cyanuric acid are absorbed into the bloodstream, they concentrate and interact in the urine-filled renal tubules, then crystallize and form large numbers of round, yellow crystals, which in turn block and damage the renal cells that line the tubes, causing the kidneys to malfunction.

Dakasi management temporarily

closed their establishment a day after the incident (September 27, 2013) and cooperated with the local health authorities.

It was found out that Dakasi under the Tee Star Corporation and being managed by John John Uy has no sanitary permit – one of the requirements in getting a business permit before operating.

Reportedly, the establishment has started operating illegally since February this year. Baronda, however, refused to have an idea in the operation nor knowing he manager personally.

This reported milk tea poisoning affected other milk tea serving establishments in the city. Three milk tea shops admitted that they felt the negative impact of this incident involving milk tea product, especially to their sales.

Sharetea, Moonleaf, and Bon Appetea said that they were greatly affected as the number of their costumers suddenly dropped.IMT

P93-million for coconut and intercrop; and P8.83-million for corn.

Nacionales added some of their facilities were damaged, too. Among

these are National Food Authority (NFA) buildings and warehouses amounting to P9.41 million and DA-6’s regional outreach stations amounting to P2.73 million.IMT

WV NGP target right on track – DENR VI DENR VI ranks third in terms of accomplishment in the National Greening Program (NGP) from among the 16 DENR Regional Offices in the country, with a 98 percent accomplishment, said Livino B. Duran, Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Forest Management Service.

The regional office already able to cover 10,761.5 hectares of the 10,960 hectares target in Western Visayas, as of October 31, 2013, he added. “We could have succeeded reaching our target early, but the typhoons delayed us,” he said.

Last year, the regional office has accomplished 101 percent as it was able to cover 9,482 hectares of public lands, both upland and mangroves, with various forest and fruit tree species out of its 9,356 hectares target.

But, compared to last year, this year’s implementation is speedy.

This year, Duran said, seedlings for all sites have been prepared earlier; forest extension officers were assigned to NGP sites for monitoring and implementation; and, from social mobilization, the office shifted tapping people’s organization in communities where the project is undertaken.

DENR VI Regional Executive Director (RED) Adeluisa G. Siapno earlier formed validation teams

supervised by RTDs and technical personnel to inject initiatives and provide strategies on how address to the deficiencies encountered in planting sites.

With one validation team assigned in every province, deficiencies in the implementation were immediately corrected and actions were taken on areas with high mortality of planted seedlings, Duran said.

RED Siapno’s innovativeness was highly appreciated by the PENROs, site coordinators and partner people’s organizations, he said, adding that if deficiencies are identified in the early stage of implementation, on time accomplishment will be expected.

In 2014, Duran said the regional office may already start the project implementation as early as January since the agency “already identified the sites to be planted, potential people’s organizations partners, machineries are already in place and guidelines are already in position.”

According to him, “the only commitment of the Government of the Philippines in the United Nations Environment Program is NGP, a massive forest rehabilitation program under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III seeking to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide from 2011 to 2015.

WV has sufficient rice supply – NFA

BY REYMAR LATOZA The rice supply in Western Visayas (WV) is sufficient, according to the National Food Authority (NFA-6).

Regional Director Alan B. Borja said people should not worry about rice supply in the region despite the increase in demand due to relief operations.

“We are prepared. We are one-step ahead for our activities and another rice harvest is coming up,” he explained.

He added that based on their monitoring in the region after the typhoon surge, rice harvest is still continues and palays are already being dried along the road.

They also requested from NFA Manila and other regions for augmentation of supply.

The only worry of NFA is the continuance of power interruptions that may affect the milling operation.

DOH warns...from page 1 region.

Convocar stressed they have already catered around 255 injured victims despite 49 out of their 142 health facility were partially damaged while two were totally damaged by the typhoon.

Meanwhile, NFA-6 had already released 26, 341 sacks of rice or equivalent to P32,926,230.00 to the different local government units (LGU’s).

Borja said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) requested an additional 5,000 bags of rice for each province.

PNA/IMT She said they need around P 37 million for the rehabilitation of their damaged facility or a total of P 72.8 million for the entire rehabilitation program including the purchase of additional medicines. IMT

P10B Rehab...from page 1 Welfare and Development (PSWD) will also start its intervention program for the affected families in most- hit municipalities in the province.

PSWD head Dr. Neneth Pador said they will conduct a short-term intervention to mitigate the distressed condition of their target beneficiaries by providing cash- for- work and stress

debriefing to distressed individuals and families at the evacuation centers.

She also said as long-term intervention, they conduct trainings for different livelihoods to improve the living condition of its beneficiaries like small business enterprise, sari-sari store, pedicab, food processing, and candle making, among others. IMT

10

IBL

Iloilo Basketball Leauge

METRO SPORTS

November 24 -30, 2013

ICNHS, RANHS battle in IBL finals series

BY REYMAR LATOZA It’s a head to head homestretch battle.

Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS) and Ramon Avanceña National High School (RANHS) dive into their games in the best of three finals series of the Iloilo Basketball League (IBL) Developmental Basketball Tournament.

The said teams covered all of one’s bases as they bat a thousand inside the court and win the championship crown.

ICNHS was off and running in the said tournament. They were

able to maintain their no-loss record after winning all their games up to the semifinals. Their 3-0 victory Iloilo National High School (INHS) brought them to the finals.

ICNHS maintained their total effort, keeping their eye on the ball during their games.

On the other hand, RANHS was on the ropes but they were able to recover and win the game by nose against Barrio Obrero National High School (BONHS).

RANHS had a tight battle against Barrio Obrero National High School (BONHS). The team’s 3-2

DOH to focus AIDS awareness among HS students

The Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6 is set to focus its AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) awareness campaign towards high school students in Western Visayas.

Charity Perea, Regional Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Coordinator of DOH-6, said that more than 50 percent of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus infection) and AIDS cases in the Philippines come from the 20-29 year-old age group, based on the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry.

Perea said that the persons infected with HIV and AIDS are getting younger and younger, that means the teenagers are already prone to risky behaviors leading to the infection.

She said that even with the growing population of persons living with HIV (PLHIV), those who are

free from infection are not being left behind in the AIDS awareness advocacy.

She said that she hopes to strengthen their partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate AIDS education in the high school curriculum for both public and private schools.

“It is also my hope that school teachers be given the awareness on this concern so they could also help the students in their own ways,” said Perea.

The DOH official also said that anyone in the education sector can be a counselor to their peers, the school children, and those who need their help.

Perea added that as of October 2013, there are 89 recorded PLHIVs in Western Visayas with 4 cases of deaths this year. (JSC/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

victory in the semifinals gave them a ticket to the finals.

The IBL Developmental Basketball Tournament ‘17-under’ category was participated by six teams representing the following schools: Bario Obrero National High School (BONHS), Iloilo City National High School (ICNHS), Ramon Avanceńa National High School (RANHS), Lapaz National High School (LNHS), Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), and Iloilo National High School (INHS).

The said tournament aims to discover and develop potential Ilonggo basketball players.IMT

Women’s Basbetball Tournament semifinals begin

BY REYMAR LATOZA

West Visayas State University (WVSU) and University of San Agustine (USA) will battle against Philippine Electronics Institute (PEI) and Textus respectively in the semifinal best of three series of the Iloilo Basketball League (IBL) Women’s Basketball Tournament.

WVSU and PEI both occupied the top spot followed by Textus (3rd) and University of San Agustine (USA).

The said tournament was participated by the following teams:

West Visayas State University (WVSU), PEI, University of Agustine (USA), Iloilo National High School, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) as well as two others teams namely, Avengers, and Textus.

The said tournament was organized by Iloilo Basketball (IBL) League, headed by Alfie Lagman as President of the said league.

It aims to promote and flourish the field of sports in Iloilo by developing and discovering potential Ilonggo basketball players. IMT

TINDOG CAPIZ! A VOLUNTOURISM Campaign of the Provincial Government through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office

Rationale: Indeed it is still the Captivating Capiz!

Tourism Sites: • • • • •

Community-Based Rural Tourism Indigenous People’s Communities Heritage Sites Pilgrim Sites Eco Sites

Since the launch of the Provincial Government’s vision of Captivating Capiz, progress has become inevitable. If there is one clear indicator of this progress, it is the tourism industry. The Province never felt the economic impact that the tourism industry had to the local economy than when the Provincial Government included it as one of the Strategic Directions, making the Province as an Eco-Cultural Tourism Voluntourism Activities: Hub, to bring about economic progress to the Province. What has become of the Tourism Industry, in particular, and the whole Province of Capiz, in general, since • Tree Planting 2008 is history.

• Arts Therapy/Arts for Healing • Coastal Clean-up

However, Super Typhoon Yolanda has threatened that history. To date, the • Building Houses destruction that it has on infrastructure is estimated at Php 3.7B, on agriculture at • Building Schools Php 697M, and on fisheries at Php 329M. We can only imagine Yolanda’s impact on • Livelihood training for women, OSY and other disadvantaged sectors the economy of the Province. These figures though will have to remain but figures as • Clearing Operations everyone now takes on the not so easy task of rehabilitation. Hence, the Provincial • Cultural caregiving Government through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office launches this campaign which aims to hasten the rehabilitation of the entire Province by inviting Mechanism: tourists who are willing to make sense of their vacation, to serve and help others . . . tourists who would like to put new meaning to what they do, have a better picture To ensure that the campaign will serve its purpose, the following mechanics will be of the place that they visit and gain new and better perspective about life and their observed: humanity . . . tourists who would like to acquire a truly meaningful lifetime memories . . . tourists who will be more than willing to experience Capiz first.

• Voluntourists will have to register at and be accredited by PTCAO;

• PTCAO will refer the VOLUNTOURISTS to specific sites depending on their

TINDOG CAPIZ! is the Provincial Government’s pro-active response to the preferred/chosen activity immediate need to rebuild the lives of its people. However, it will not be able to get the job done alone. It needs all the help that it can get especially from all those who Who May Participate: are willing to become a VOLUNTOURIST in Capiz.

Concept: • International and domestic tourists TINDOG CAPIZ! is simply a vacation option for all tourists who would like to come to Capiz and be one with the Capiznons in their effort to rehabilitate their home – Capiz. By being a voluntourist, one will be able to help in rebuilding communities and their livelihood, making their vacation both fun and meaningful.

• • • • •

Private companies for their team building activities and corporate social responsibility International socio-civic organizations for their immersions Religious organizations for their pilgimage Government agencies for their outreach programs Academic Institutions for their Lakbay Aral educational tours

In order to realize the purpose of their visit, the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Partners: Affairs Office (PTCAO) has identified both the tourism sites and their possible activities. Hence, the VOLUNTOURISTS will have the opportunity to visit these The Provincial Government through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office unique sites while helping those dependent on them regain their source of livelihood, will partner with the DOT and other government agencies, NGO’s and tourism related in particular, and the entire Province, in general. organizations in the Province and the various tourism stakeholders in realizing this campaign Capiz will open its doors to all those who will be willing to take part in what Contact Us: is known to be the biggest and most significant tourism activity in its history – TINDOG CAPIZ! For details, interested VOLUNTOURISTS may contact us at (036) 621-0042 loc 133/ Experience Capiz First! Your VOLUNTOURISM destination!

(036)621-2935 or you may email us at capiz.tourism@yahoo.com or through www.facebook. com/CapizTourismAndCulturalAffairs.