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iSIQUIJOR THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 2 | NO. 12 March 24-31, 2014
DOST releases P980T to meat processor in Siquijor
(R-L) DOST-7’ PIC-ARD for Technical Services Engr. Jesus F. Zamora, DOSTSiquijor Provincial Director Engr. Mario E. de la Pena and NR Food Shop owner Imelda Rubio during the release of P980-worth check for the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP).
CV rice producers awarded SIQUIJOR, March 21 (PIA)--Central Visayas top rice-producing city and agricultural extension workers were honored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the third Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards held recently at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City, says a report from Renan Ansing, Information Officer of the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) here. Out of 48 municipalities and cities in the country, Canlaon City of Negros Oriental bagged the outstanding city in Central Visayas while nine out of 496 agricultural extension workers (AEWs) were conferred and have the share of the P110 million prizes given by the National Rice Program of DA, the report said. City of Canlaon Mayor Jimmy Clerigo and Marites Clerigo received P1-million worth of project grants. The outstanding AEWs took home a cash incentive of P20,000 each are OIC-PA Larry Pamugas of Bohol, Sergio Cuaco-OPA Bohol, MA Carmen Cubrado, Aida Salingay and Romeo Tariao - Pilar, Bohol; City Agriculturist - Norma Calijan and Andrea Canoy of Canlaon City; Val Alcordo of Carcar City and Nida Abada, OPA Siquijor.
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SIQUIJOR (PIA) ---- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)- Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) has released P980,000 to one of the beneficiaries of its Small Enterprises Technology U p g r a d i n g P r o g r a m ( S E T- U P ) . NR Food Shop owned by Imelda Rubio of Poblacion, Siquijor received the check from DOST OICARD for Technical Services Engr. Jesus F. Zamora, Jr. and Provincial Director Mario de la Pena on March 14 at Larena Triad in Nonoc, Larena, Siquijor. The turnover was witnessed by DOST 7 Inventory Team who conducted the inventory of equipment at Larena Triad. The fincial aid is intended for the upgrading of its production specifically the upgrading of meat processing equipment, said Provincial Director Mario de la Pena of DOST here. He said that upgrading of NR meat processing equipment will enhance efficient processed meat products, increase production, product diversification and maintain quality processed meat products. Rubio said that she was happy with the DOST SETUP assistance because it helps Siquijor SME’s in their quest to further improve their production, increase productivity, and enhance product quality. De la Peña said that this is the second round of assistance t h e y a v a i l e d f r o m D O S T- S E T U P. The first was on m e t a l s a n d e n g i n e e r i n g s e c t o r. DOST will allow more than one assistance as long as the firm is a good payor, never requested for realignment, and submit reports on time. Under the SETUP program, the agency gives technology assistance and innovation support to Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to upgrade their production equipment, said de la Pena. It is a nationwide strategy to encourage and assist MSME’s to adopt technological innovations to improve their operations and thus boost their productivity and competitiveness, he said. (RAC/PIASiquijor w/reports from MEP/DOST-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DOST inks MOA with T&J Lumber
S I Q U I J O R ( P I A ) - - - T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y ( D O S T ) - P r o v i n c i a l S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y C e n t e r ( P S T C ) r e c e n t l y s i g n e d a m e m o r a n d u m o f a g r e e m e n t w i t h T&J lumber of Cangbagsa, Larena, Siquijor for the upgrading of the latter ’s furniture processing equipment. T&J will be a new SETUP beneficiary for this year under the furniture sector, said Provincial Science and Technology (PSTC) Director Engr. Mario de la Pena in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here. De la Pena said the move MOA signing between T&J, another SETUP is DOST’s continuing support to the beneficiary (seated left) with his wife at the MSMEs through the DOST-SETUP to center and the DOST represented by Siquijor ensure thatDOST priority sectors are Provincial director Mario de la Pena (seated assisted in line with the government’s right) with his staff (standing) as the witness. efforts to strengthen the country’s entrepreneurs as the engine for job creation and wealth distribution. DOST has been running the SETUP program in which SMEs are financially assisted or provided with relevant technologies to improve their current production, marketing method, and even packaging. He said the DOST SETUP enables firms to address their technical problems through technology transfer and technological interventions to improve productivity through better product quality, human resources development, cost minimization, waste management, energy conservation, cleaner production and other operation related activities. (rmn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor w/reports from MEP/DOST-Siquijor)
DOST challenges Siquijor State College to produce ‘smart’ graduates
SIQUIJOR (PIA) --The government works hard in increasing domestic investments to create jobs that include investment on education and skills development to produce highly equipped and “smart” individuals to match with the jobs available in the employment market. With the Philippines as the top global provider of Information Technology – Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) services in Asia, opportunities also await new graduates especially in the areas of information technology, says Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director Mario de la Pena to the Siquijor State College staff and students during the celebration College of Technology (COT) month. But a report from the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) indicates a 95 percent mortality rate among call centers and BPO applicants. This means that out of 100 candidates, only five get hired. Related reports reveal that the reason for the high mortality rate is because BPO companies just cannot find the right people with the right skills for the number of jobs offered. Quoting DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, d e l a P e n a s a i d “ We n e e d t o d e v e l o p ‘ s m a r t e r people’ to keep abreast with the developments. Developing smarter people means building up knowledge workers with 21st century skills,” he said. He said it is one of the components of DOST’s latest umbrella program called “Smarter Philippines” which aims to facilitate and deliver more effective and efficient services in several sectors. Other components of the program include Smarter Government, Smarter Economy, Smarter Mobility, Smarter Environment, Smarter Living and Smarter Cities.
“’Smarter people’ are in a nutshell information technology-oriented,” he said Smarter people, in short, are what our country needs. And these are the skills they are looking for critical thinking, effective written oral, multimedia and multilingual communication skills, collaboration across networks, creativity and innovation’ accessing and analyzing information, initiative and entrepreneurialism; and agility and adaptability. Critical thinking, De la Pena said is what makes a person able to discern new challenges and opportunities out of all the information available in order to make high-impact decisions, think strategically, manage change, solve problems, and embrace risk and rejection as needed in entrepreneurial thinking. Effective communication means to be able to express himself or herself whether face-to-face, via media, or via Internet such as e-mail exchange or online forums. BPOs and call centers communicate and coordinate with people of all nationalities, such that workers need to be flexible in dealing with people of various age groups, ethnicities, socioeconomic conditions, and profession. F u r t h e r, e f f e c t i v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n a l s o m e a n s being able to listen to others, he said. Today’s workers, he said, need collaboration across networks. They should get familiar with learning other people’s methods, cultural references, and work habits to ensure effective collaboration. Learning to trust others in the midst of a virtual environment is also essential, as communication is only done via e-mails, net meetings, and conference calls with little or
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iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
Special story
MySiquijor.com brings home a positive change BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO Mysiquijor.com administrator Gary Harrison or ‘Siquijor Gary’ as the islanders fondly call him has been in and out Siquijor, the small island in the Philippines he proudly calls his ‘home’, for nearly two and a half decades now. “I felt something here..pardon me…but something magical. There was something here on the island that kept calling me back each and every year,” says Gary as he presents the cash donation of Pph51,000 for the renovation of Solangon Chapel in San Juan, Siquijor, the amount he solicited from generous donors from different walks of life through my.siquijor.com. But the solicitation or the donation is just one of the many ways of showing his respect and gratitude to the people for allowing him to enjoy life on the island for 24 years. Over and above it was his vision to bring positive change on the lives of the islanders that he pursued with his creation of a website named “mysiquijor.com” in 2002. Mysiquijor.com, he is convinced, would help him realize his aspiration as it portrays his affection and appreciation for the island and his long commitment to show Siquijor’s natural beauty to the world. But when asked about promoting the island, Siquijor Gary responded by saying: “I don’t have to sell it..only to show it. The island sells itself.” “It is my vision that through the use of appropriate promotion there will be an increase in responsible tourism (Ecotourism), environmental awareness, and investment,” he said. While recognizing the island’s many natural treasures such as the waterfalls, the beaches, the convent, etc. Gary also realized that the island’s most important resource is its people. “It is my belief that the real magic of Siquijor lives within the inhabitants of the island. The kind and gentle hands, warm smiles, along with the welcoming hearts have always made this a truly magical paradise,” he quipped.
With it, he included in his vision for the website his desire to have a positive impact on Siquijor’s medical capabilities, educational system, employment rate and in the preservation of its culture. And over the past 12 years Mysiquijor.com, indeed, has made several donations of medical equipment to the Provincial Hospital, the restoration of St Francis of Assisi Church and school supplies to the selected elementary schools, among others. Along with them are the promotion of local businesses and foreign investments, and the provision of assistance to thousands of tourists, apart from the “gifts” he personally bring and present every time he comes home to the island. Gary thanked all the generous donors: Linda Rumple Tieben, Scott Kim, Tom Ashton, Mike Eudy, Craig Norburry, Steve &Eileen Lyon, Coral Cay Resort, Samantha White, Craig & Ellen Lego, Tim & Rhea Larsen, D’ Barkads, The Bruce & himself . “A couple of them are my old classmates and have never been to the Philippines and probably never will,” he said while giving a brief background of the donors and the a m o u n t t h e y g a v e f o r S i q u i j o r. “Let me say that it is not the size of the donation that matters…no donation is too small. I am sure that the smallest donation was given with the same amount of heart as the largest,” he said. In closing, he challenged everyone, domestic or foreign, to reach into their pockets and give with their hearts to finish the chapel and move on to another project. This he said as he is aware that the donation given will not be enough to complete the project. Above all, he thanked the people of Siquijor and assure them that even though his eyes are old and tired, his vision for mysiquijor.com and the island remains very strong and clear. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
OCD-7: LGUs need to focus on 4 areas for disaster risk reduction
CEBU CITY (PIA) -- With the two major disasters that struck Central Visayas late last year, local government units (LGUs) urgently need to get their acts together by implementing proactive measures to reduce the impact of disasters by focusing on four thematic areas. Flor Gaviola, assistant regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) told local chief executives, provincial, city and municipal disaster risk reduction officers and other stakeholders within Central Visayas attending the two-day seminar roadshow on ‘Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities’ that prevention and mitigation is always the first step in disaster risk reduction planning. Gaviola cited the four thematic areas as outlined under the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Management System to guide LGUs on the stepby-step measure in strengthening their disaster risk reduction action plan. “The four thematic areas are prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and rehabilitation and recovery,” said Gaviola. When LGUs can enumerate what actions will be taken under each thematic area, this can eventually lead to safer, adaptive and resilient communities, said Gaviola. “The development of alarms and early warning signal is always the first step under prevention and mitigation,” further said Gaviola. She added that LGUs also need to focus on the use of nationwide flood forecasting and monitoring and the geo-hazard mapping, comprehensive land use plan, engineering interventions and flood control structures. In terms of preparedness, Gaviola said LGUs must have the following --contingency planning, prepositioning the equipment and supplies, enhancement of operation and coordination centers, organizing training of responders, organizing and mobilizing community volunteers, conduct of disaster trainings and drills. For response, LGUs should already know what to do in the aftermath of a disaster particularly on search, rescue and retrieval operations, bared Gaviola. Local governments should also take note of humanitarian aid, relief and health services as well as provision for temporary shelter, she said. Under recovery and rehabilitation, LGUS should incorporate in their disaster risk reduction plan on how to achieve early recovery and rehabilitation of ravaged communities including the reconstruction of damaged houses and buildings, resettlement of displaced families and provision of livelihood to affected individuals, disclosed the OCD-7 official. Gaviola however said that among the challenges faced by the LGUs include the rationalization of multi-hazard map scales, appreciation of risk factors in the local level and strict adherence to the building code. Governance, accountability and resources are also essential factors to be taken into account, said Gaviola. “But a major challenge lies in the whole of society participation including volunteerism,” ended Gaviola. The activity which ended today was organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-7) in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government 7 and the Office of Civil Defense 7. (mbcn/PIA-7)
Rice producers...from page 1 The awards and prizes were handed out by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala together with NRP coordinator and acting undersecretary for Field Operations Dante Delima. According to Dr. Fabio Enriquez, Regional Rice Program Focal Person and Operations Chief of DA 7, Central Visayas has been awarded of different categories in Rice Program for three consecutive years. He said as part of the g o v e r n m e n t ’s e ff o r t t o w a r d f o o d security and self-sufficiency, CV is very responsive in responding the call of times to increase yield per hectare thereby increasing production of rice. On palay yield per hectare, notable increased of 23.4 percent from 2.65 mt of 2010 and 3.27 of 2013. This year’s target is expected to reach the 4.77mt per hectare. C V ’s p r o d u c t i o n i n m e t r i c tons this year is expected to have an increase of 44 percent based on target
of 501,748mt from last year’s 347,697mt. Based on Bureau of Agricultural Statistics data of 2013, Central Visayas is only 33.76 percent sufficient on rice. Bohol is 104.11 percent, Cebu is 3.01 percent, Negros Oriental is 37.75 percent while Siquijor is 16.43 percent. Sufficiency figure shows that Central Visayas has a deficit of 66.24 percent last year. Deficit was completed through local importation of rice from the neighbouring regions. Enriquez said the awards are a way of empowering and thanking r i c e f a r m e r s , l o c a l o ff i c i a l s a n d AEWs for the efforts and contribution to increase more in rice production. DA 7 Regional Executive Director Angel Enriquez expresses her gratitude to all awardees and encourages them to become active partners in all DA programs and projects in order to attain rice sufficiency. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siuqijor
DOST challenge... from page 2
no personal interaction, he said. Then, there is creativity and innovation which refers to the ability to think out-of-the-box and attack problems from a new angle. Accessing and analyzing information is also important to know where to find the right information at the fastest possible time, distinguish between fact and opinion, evaluate the relevance and importance of other people’s arguments, and know what to do with information that are conflicting, inadequate, and ambiguous. There is also Initiative and entrepreneurialism or the ability to to do things without being told, including offering creative solutions to the company’s unique problems. L a s t l y, f l e x i b i l i t y a n d adaptability as mark of a person’s good managerial and leadership skills. Agility and adaptability makes employers confident of their workers, trusting them to be stable even during turbulent times and able to cope with new and challenging responsibilities, he said. The Smarter People component of “Smarter Philippines” , de la Pena said, will have the government through DOST work closely with the industry and the academe in coming up with ICT-enabled tools to help today’s workers develop these skills. And in order for Siquijor State College (SSC) to produce smart graduates, de la Pena urged them to continue with their accreditation and aim for more Science & Technologyinclined courses in order to produce quality and smart graduates. “Naturally, we all have specific goals to achieve, the SSC as academic institution, the DOST as government agency. But it is the “after” that matters most. This would mean that such efforts should lead to something beneficial to both the graduates, the faculty and staff, the Siquijodnons and the Philippines as well,” de la Pena finally said. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJOR
is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Siquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government.
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