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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. 20 June 17-23
DA lays out plans to counter climate change effects to agri sector ` SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Department of Agriculture (DA) laid out its plans to counter possible damages that the climate change may bring to the agriculture sector in the Siquijor province. In a recent Kapihan sa PIA forum here, Provincial Agriculture and Technology Coordinating Officer (PATCO) Bernadith Bunado said the office has proposed nearly P10 million to fund Climate change preparation activities and measures. She said this would focus on vulnerable sectors such as, rice, corn, high value crop, vegetable growers and livestock raisers as the DA vowed to sustain food sufficiency in the province. Regional Technical Director for research and regulatory said preparations for climate change were already started since the last quarter of 2013 which include information, education and communication campaign, buffer stockings of seedlings, strengthening
and monitoring of evaluation facilities, fund allocations for vaccines for livestocks as well as campaign for good and responsible husbandry practices. He said funds for cloud seeding are already in place as he discussed El Nino onslaught that is feared to greatly affect agriculture. He advised farmers to seek technical support from their local offices and encouraged every household to join and participate in the DA’s move for food sufficiency through integration of food commodities in farming. He, however, advised farmers to seek technical assistance from their local counterparts prior to planting so that the seeds and their efforts will not be wasted. Supporting the call for intercropping technique and backyard gardening, Provincial Agriculturist Ramon Taroc said intercropping enables farmers to have sure yields while backyard gardening will boost food security
and sufficiency in the province. He told farmers to plant drought tolerant crops like cassava and other crops. (mbcn/RAC/ PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)
Barangay folks conduct coastal clean up SIQUIJOR, June 24 (PIA)— Barangay folks of Poblacion, Siquijor headed by its barangay captain Dr. Peck Cortes conducted coastal cleanup along seaside area in barangay Poblacion, Siquijor, Siquijor.
The effort is in line with the celebration of Environment Month in June and the province’ s thrust for tourism promotion, says Dr. Cortes. In an interview with PIA, Cortes said the area must be clean all through the year
because it is the gateway of both local and foreign tourists visiting the province. It is one way of preserving the ocean water ecosystem by removing the trash and debris that imparts water quality, wildlife, people, tourism and the local economy, he said. A total of 10 tons debris was collected and disposed to dumpsite by the local government unit (LGU) garbage facilities. Barangay Poblacion has initiated clean up drive every Saturday not only to the seaside area but also to the households within the barangay. The endeavor is supported by a Barangay Resolution devoting two hours every Saturday for the clean up drive within the Poblacion area. The clean up drive was participated by the Knights of Columbus Council 6129 of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, The Siquijor Tennis Club and Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) members and personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the municipality. (mbcn/ RAC/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from MEP/ DOST-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Launching of PIA-DENR Climate Change Advocacy Campaign: DOST-PAGASA Visayas Field Office Chief Meteorologist Engr. Oscar Tabada accepts plaque of appreciation from PIA-7 Regional Director Minerva BC Newman, Outgoing RADIO -7 President Carlo Dugaduga and Incoming president Lydith Tan after his talk on the extreme weather patterns in the Visayas at the launching of PIA-DENR Climate Change Advocacy Campaign at Elizabeth Hotel, Cebu City on June 10, 2014. (mbcn/ vvv/PIA7- Cebu)
DSWD, DOH, PhilHealth converge social protection programs To improve the quality of life of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will enter into a partnership that will expand the coverage of the Social Protection Support Initiatives (SPSI) Convergence project in Oriental Mindoro. The Secretary of DSWD Corazon Juliano-Soliman stressed that “the partnership is ultimately for the benefit of poor families in the area. The harmonization of the the basic social protection programs and services of DSWD, DOH and PhilHealth will hasten the delivery of assistance them.” SPSI is an umbrella project of the inter-agency collaboration between and among the DSWD, DOH, and PhilHealth. It converges the three agencies’ programs: Sustaining Interventions in Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) of the DSWD, Watching Over Mothers and Babies (WOMB) of the DOH, and the Sigurado at Garantisadong Insurance
Pangkalusugan (SAGIP) of PhilHealth. The three agencies and the local government of Oriental Mindoro will be signing the partnershipagreement today, June 20, to cover the province’s remaining eight municipalities and one city. Hence, the SPSI will now be piloted in the entire province. SPSI is currently piloted in the municipalities of Pola, Bansud, Mansalay, Bulalacao, Bongabong and Naujan in Oriental Mindoro. DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Health Secretary Enrique Ona and PhilHealth President/Chief Executive Officer Alexander Padilla will ink the agreement. Under the new agreement, Calapan City and the municipalities of Baco, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Puerto Galera, Roxas, San Teodoro, Socor-
ro and Victoria, will now be covered. As the lead agency in social protection, DSWD oversees the implementation of SPSI. Program components The SIPAG project seeks to make capable local social welfare and development offices to manage cases through enhanced social management system that integrates the use of information and communication technology in accurately accessing the overall level of well-being of the target beneficiaries. SIPAG’s Electronic Social Case Management System (e-SCMS) features data analysis capabilities and a built-in referral system to facilitate improved delivery of coordinated social services at the local level.
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
NFA assures Siquijodnons of enough rice supply SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The National Food Authority (NFA) here has assured locals of enough rice supply and ready buffer stocking in case El Nino persists. During the Kapihan sa PIA recently, provincial operations officer Abraham Noot said NFA has at present some 18,863 bags of rice stored in its 30,000 bag-maximum capacity warehouse at
Nonoc, Larena, Siquijor which is more than enough to supply the province’s monthly requirement of 14,400 bags. An incoming stocks of 20,000 bags from Vietnam from the country’s 800,000 MT rice import will also boost NFA-Siquijor buffer stock, Noot said while noting the NFA’s target of 55,000 bags for this year.
SIQUIJOR (PIA)—With ‘extreme heat’ and El Nino occurring, Department of Science and Technology provincial director Mario de la Pena advises locals especially the farmers not to over expose to heat to avoid heat-related death and illnesses. In a series of information caravan on El Nino, de la Pena said farmers are normally exposed to the sun but warned them that excessive sun exposure will cause skin cancer and other illnesses.
He advised them to start working very early in the morning and stop at about 10:00 a.m and restart later in the afternoon. The Department of Health (DOH) has recently released health advisory on heat stroke. It said the risk of getting heat stroke increases during hot and humid weather, especially if you are engaged in physical activities, are dehydrated, or have been directly exposed to the sun for too long. Also during the information
Noot said NFA has new rice stocks of two varieties sold at P27 and P32 per kilo, respectively. As much as they secure food supply, they also stabilize the prices of rice and ensure their availability in times of disaster or any emergency situations, he said. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)
Siquijor folks warned against heat exposure
Training on Humane Handling of Dog was one of the activities conducted by the Provincial Veterniary Office led by Provincial Vet Bernardita Tabada (Center) with her staff to intensify its advocacy and maintain Siquijor as one of the rabies-free islands in the country.
caravan, Information Officer Pamela Dominguez of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reminded the public to watch out for the following signs of heat exhaustion: intense thirst, dehydration, weakness or discomfort, dizziness or fainting, anxiety and headaches. To prevent heat stroke, she said, one should limit the amount of time spent outdoors, drink plenty of water; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol; wear a widebrimmed hat and long-sleeved clothing outdoors; and schedule strenuous activities in the beginning or end of the day when it’s cooler. Dominguez said one should not wait to be thirsty to drink because. “If you feel thirsty, that means, you are partly dehydrated, she said. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)
One of the series of information caraan on Climate Change conducted by the Siquijor Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Consortium.l In photos are (clockwise) San Juan Mayor Wilfredo Capundag thanking the infocar team for inititiating the activity, participants composed of the municipal and barangay LGU officials, farmer leaders and people’s organizations representatives, PIA’s Rizalie A. Calibo, DOST’s Reinhold Jek Abing and BFAR head Nathaniel Lucero (PIA-Siquijor)
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
Cebuano News
Operasyon batok droga gipakusgan sa kapolisan
iNFOBYTES
Gov’t plans to put up P10-B fund to mitigate effects of K-12
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) will ask Congress to put up a P10-billion “stabilization fund” to assist teachers who will be displaced by the full implementation of the K to 12 program. The concerned agencies said the fund aims to augment the requirements of affected teachers, both public and private. For her part, CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan said the possible displacement of higher education teachers as a result of the new curriculum is indeed a serious concern. H o w e v e r, s h e s a i d t h e r e a r e r e m e d i e s b e i n g d i s c u s s e d and that the public consultations on the new proposal would start in August.
PH widens tourism campaign with P554.4-M fund In line with the Aquino administration’s efforts at elevating the Philippines as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P554.4 million to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) for the implementation of its marketing and promotional activities. The funding will support the efforts of the TPB to highlight the country’s products, landmark destinations, and services, with the end goal of increasing tourism arrivals and investments to 10 million tourists by 2016. “We’re already seeing more foreign tourists flocking to the country, and the local
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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tourism industry is now at its most vibrant. This latest release supports our efforts to bring more visitors into the country. While broadening the government’s tourism campaign will certainly be a major component in our marketing efforts, the fact that the country has so many to offer to both our domestic and foreign tourists is a definite advantage,” Secretary of Budget and Management Florencio “Butch” Abad said. “Further improving our growing tourism industry will help create more business opportunities and generate more jobs in tourism-oriented communities . This will in turn complement our other efforts in pursuing our bigger goals of economic expansion and inclusive growth,” he added. (dbm.gov.ph)
CEBU CITY, June 26 (PIA)---Mga kapulisan mipasalig nga ang nagkagrabe ang problema sa ginadiling droga. Hinoon, misaka ang ilang kakugi sa kampanya batok niini. Sa Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) forum karong buwana, nagkanayon ang mga kadagkoan sa Police Regional Office 7 nga wala silay mga datos nga nagpamatuod nga migrabe ag suliran sa ginadiling droga dinhi sa rehiyon. Ang dayag nga Makita hinuon ang ilang mga paningkamot sa pagsumpo niini. Sumala s a mga datos nga nakuha sa Police Regional Operations Division, misaka ngadto sa 1,143 ka mga dinakpan nga mga users og pushers sa ginadiling droga gikan sa Enero ngadto sa buwan sa Mayo. Sa susamang mga buwan sa imaging tuig, aduna lang silay nadakop nga 710 ka ga tawo. Sa matang sa pagpasaka og kaso, misaka og 93 porsyento ang gidaghanon gikan sa 636 lamang ka kaso sa imaging tuig ngadto sa 1,229 karong tuiga. Gani didto sa Mandaue City, gitaho sa hepe sa kapolisan, si PSsupt Armando Radoc nga sa unang lima ka buwan niining tuiga, mikabat na og labaw sa P2 ka million nga shabu ang ilang nasakmit. Sa tuig 2013 kapin sa P99,000 lamang ang kantidad sa ginadiling droga ang ilang nasakmit. “We must not mistake the conduct of more buy bust operations or more arrests to be an indicator of an alarming drug problem, but intensified counter operations by your police,” matod ni Radoc. Si PSSupt Noel Gillamac, hepe sa Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) nagkanayon nga tapad sa ilag gihimo sa pag raid og pagpanakop mao ang pag pamenos sa panginahanglan o demand sa ginadiling droga. “Mao nga duol kami nga nakigtambayayong sa mga eskwelahan og mga ginikanan sa pag monitor permi sa ilang mga anak. Mamatay ang negosyo kun wala nay mupalit,” matod ni Gillamac. Padayon ang hangyo sa kapolisan sa publiko nga makig alayon permi sa ilang buhatan og andam silang muhatag og dugang impormason kabahin sa maong salaod. (fcc/PIA-Cebu)