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iSIQUIJOR Information is our business.

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. 3 | NO. 22 June 19-25, 2015

“Prepare for the worst, pray for the best”,

calls DILG during disaster preparedness dialogue

SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) calls on local stakeholders to prepare for the worst and pray for the best as its theme to respond to and manage any forms of disasters.

The DILG-Siquijor held a “Disaster Preparedness Dialogue” at the Siquijor State College in Larena, Siquijor as part of its flagship program on Operation Listo that was launched in the region earlier this year.

Following its launching was the conduct of the provincial orientation and convergence action planning that emphasized the roles of local chief executives particularly on the importance and use of the Operation Listo Disaster Preparedness Manual.

The dialogue aims to strengthen the commitment, network and partnership among the stakeholders to further the resilience of communities from the impacts of typhoons and other forms of calamities.

It also hopes to bridge the gap identified during the Provincial Convergence Action planning through the available resources and expertise from the various stakeholders.

DILG-Siquijor cluster head Judy Armirola in his introduction and overview of the activities underscored the significance of the disaster preparedness dialogue in all local government units (LGUs).

Discussing the rationale of the LGU disaster preparedness manual Armirola said that Operation Listo, through its manual, sets the protocol for local chief executives on what to do before, during and after typhoons.

Fire Senior Inspector Domagsa Benito Sotto III, also during the dialogue gave a brief discussion on different alert levels, namely Alpha, Bravo and Charlie while representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and DILG took turns giving checklists on their respective preparations.

Preparedness Dialogue Action Planning and presentation of Disaster Preparedness Action Plans by the LGUS followed.

Local chief executives, representatives from civil society organizations, local resource institutions, academe, disaster risk reduction and management offices, non-government organizations, and government agencies attended the dialog. (mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

Disaster Dialogue participants from the Local Government Units (LGUs), National Government Agencies (NGAs) and the academe giving their pledge of commitment to Operation Listo as a means of building disaster-resilient communities. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

GSIS on consultation mode to over 20T members, 7T pensioners in NegOr/Siquijor

NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 24 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)- Dumaguete Branch Office held recently series of consultations to update its Negros Oriental and Siquijor members of some of its services.

G S I S - D u m a g u e t e B r a n c h m a n a g e r A t t y. M e r c e d e s V P E E n r i q u e z said the branch here has a total membership coverage of more or less 20,068 active members and 7, 498 pensioners of old age or retirees and survivorship.

It is the thrust of the System under the stewardship of PGM Robert Vergara and members of the Board of Trustees to promote service responsiveness and efficiency, said Enriquez.

She added it envisioned GSIS to be more consultative, more transparent and member-focused.

In Siquijor there are 201 GSIS active members coming from national and local agencies ages 45 to 65 years old that convened at Siquijor State College for a pre-retirement counselling.

Enriquez advised the participants to make a request for updating of service records with their respective Agency Authorized Officers (AAOs), prior to the actual filing of an application for retirements/separation benefits and Cash Surrender Value (CSV).

During the forum, the GSIS official also explained the different modes of retirement and the choices under each mode for those who planned to retire or those who are separated from the service.

W i t h 7 5 u n i o n o ff i c e r s a n d m e m b e r s i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t s e c t o r in a consultative meeting, GSIS Senior Vice President for VISMIN Atty. Dionisio Ebdane Jr., discussed the latest programs and reforms of GSIS.

On a Pensioners Day, in celebration of the GSIS 78th anniversary nationwide, the GSIS conducted a pensioners’ forum to give updates to 101 pensioners in the province on basic health care information. Dumaguete City health medical officer Dra. Maria Sarah Talla presented some basic health care tips.

The city health office also offered free medical check-up and distributed medicines for treatment of diabetes, hypertension and other common old age sickness.

Pensioners were grateful to GSIS for the updates and basic health tips, reminding them that “prevention is always better than cure,” to have regular exercise and proper diet to stay healthy and live longer. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

8th National Medical Writing Workshop & 1st Writeshop for Young Researchers

their articles for a brief presentation.

Requirements for participants The workshop is designed for a maximum of forty (40) researchers in health sciences and health social sciences from the Asia Pacific Region, aged 30 years old and below, who have completed a research project and have drafted a manuscript for submission to a scholarly journal.

The draft manuscripts will be reviewed and revised during the workshop, based on the lectures and exercises, under the guidance of the faculty and mentor – facilitators. All participants are expected to present a 7-minute power point summary of their revised manuscripts on the second day of the workshop, and submit the article to an appropriate scholarly peer-reviewed journal within three (3) months after the workshop.

I n s t r u c t i o n s Applicants should e-mail the following

Q U E Z O N C I T Y, J u n e 2 3 — T h e Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) announced in a press briefing on Tuesday that the country’s rainy season has officially started.

PAGASA said the rainy season starts this June and will last until August.

“Inaasahan natin ang pag-ulan hanggang August. Bababa ang rainfall amount during September, lalo na may El Niño (We expect this rainy season until August. Rainfall amount may diminish during September, especially with the present El Niño),” says PAGASA Acting Director Vicente Manalo.

PAGASA also said that 11 to 16 tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility from June to December.

About two tropical cyclones are expected to landfall this month while three to five tropical cyclones are anticipated to hit in July with 2 to 4 typhoons on August.

Normal rainfall for June is likely to ensue over most parts of Visayas and Mindanao while some areas of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA and Metro Manila are likely to receive below normal rainfall.

Meanwhile PAGASA’s analyses suggest that the El Niño may continue and intensify from moderate to strong during October 2015 and may last until the 1st Quarter of 2016.

“Ang epekto ng El Niño ay sa lakas at direksyon ng bagyo (El Niño’s effect will be felt through the intensity and direction of the tropical cyclone),” Manalo said.

Moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over the most parts of Western Luzon and Western Visayas for the next days due to the Low Pressure Area (LPA) and the southwest monsoon.

However, PAGASA says monsoon breaks or period of no rain for a few weeks are also expected during the rainy season.

The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in cooperation with Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) and Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME) is organizing the 8th National Medical Writing Workshop and 1st Writeshop for Young Researchers on 27-28 August 2015 in Manila.

The workshop aims to help young investigators in health and health social sciences from the Asia Pacific region acquire practical knowledge and skills in preparing a scientific article for publication in a scholarly peer-reviewed journal.

Successful applicants will be granted free workshop registration, accommodation for participants who live outside Manila and meals during the workshop, and assigned to a mentorfacilitator who will guide them in preparing

requirements to ahitulid@pchrd.dost. gov.ph on or before 10 July 2015: 1. Application forms (incomplete forms will not be considered). Download here 2 .

A b s t r a c t s 3.

Draft Manuscripts The results of the selection of participants for the Workshop will be communicated on 31 July 2015.

Ideally, participants should plan to attend APAME2015 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel from August 25-26, 2015 http://apame2015.healthresearch. ph and/or FORUM2015 at the Philippine International Convention Center from August 24-26, 2015 http://www. forum2015.org Registration for these events is separate from the workshop.

If there are any questions about the Workshop, please contact Ms. Ana Ciaren Itulid at ahitulid@pchrd. dost.gov.ph or call (02) 837-7534.

PAGASA declares official start of rainy season According to PAGASA, 38 provinces are expected to receive adequate amount of rainfall that may improve the provinces’ existing drought or dry spell conditions, while 9 may still face dry conditions.

Philippines’ prevailing weather condition is warm and humid characterized by frequent occurrence of rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening, according to PAG-ASA press release.

The weather systems that recently affected the country were high and low pressure areas and the tropical cyclone “Dodong” which hit Cagayan area on May. PAGASA reported that analysis of rainfall during May showed that 80 percent of the country has received below to way below normal rainfall.

Near normal rainfall conditions were observed in Benguet, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela and Tarlac in Luzon; Aklan and Antique in the Visayas and Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Davao and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao.

However, Davao del Sur and Cotabato have received above normal rainfall.

Meanwhile, rainfall assessment from October 2014 to May 2015 showed that 60 percent of the country was affected by either drought or dry spell.

By definition, El Niño is a quasiperiodic climate pattern characterized by variations in the temperature of the surface of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean and air surface pressure in the tropical western Pacific.

PAGASA says it will continue to closely monitor the on-going weak El Niño condition and will issue regular updates.

(MACV/PRC/Janina Bauitista-Intern/PIA)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS

DENR introduces innovative planting design for mangroves, beach forest plantation in CV

CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas introduces innovative planting design for mangroves and beach plantations in the region.

DENR-7 regional edirector executive Dr. Isabelo Montejo said there is a need to innovate our planting designs as there is a need to densify our planting of trees especially in mangrove and beach forest which are largely established for protection and ecological services to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change.

The new suggested planting design released by the DENR-7 shall be introduced in the implementation of its one billion mangrove and beach forest project that aims to reforest and establish around 3,454 mangrove and beach forest plantations in the region to provinces affected by typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.

“We opted to use the cluster planting design to ensure higher success in mangrove and beach forest development, number of seedlings per cluster may vary according to species but our goal is to plant 2,500 propagules per hectare,” Montejo explained.

As specified in the mangrove and beach forest planting design, implementers or the people’s organizations with the technical assistance of the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices, should ensure even spacing between clusters. The cluster sizes for mangroves may vary from 2x2 meters to 5x5 meters or larger to suit conditions of the planting site.

On the beach forest plantation on the other hand, requires even space planting of 2x5 meters between seedlings at 1,000 seedlings per hectare.

According to Montejo, beach forest planting should be done a few meters above the high tide waterline to avoid conflict with traditional use of beach by the community, usually it is established along the easement zone designated under the Water Code of the Philippines.

“It should be emphasized here that mangrove planting will not happen over seagreasses areas,” Montejo added.

One billion mangrove and beach forest is another project of the administration to rehabilitate coastal forests in line with the commitment of providing better and safer coastal communities against storm surges, coastal flooding and other adverse impacts of climate change. (mbcn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/with reports from Dr Eddie Llamedo/DENR7)

BUNTIS WELLNESS: At least 224 pregnant women attended the launching of Buntis Welnness program recently at the Queengate Center, Larena, Siquijor. The program is best supported by the local government unit of Larena that puts quality prenatal care on top of its priority

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

NNC -7 says obesity a growing health problem in CV

CEBU (PIA) -- Obesity is currently a growing health issue among children and adults in Central Visayas based on the 8th National Nutrition Survey

which showed an increasing trend.

Based on the survey, three out of 100 children aged zero to five years or 3.6 percent were classified as

Enrique Villanueva and Maria Muncipal LInk Officer Erin Grengia-Dales introduces a learning aide to the 4Ps partners to help simplify health and sanitation lectures during the Family Development Sessions (FDS) with the 4Ps beneficiaries. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

Cebuano News

Karaan nga kwarta’ng papel di na madawat sugod 2016

(PIA)--Dili na ma-dawat kon ipalit ang karaang kwartang papel nga gipagawas niadtong 1985 sugod sa Enero 1, 2016, kini maoy pahibaw nga giluwatan sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Kini tungod kay, matud pa sa BSP, miagi na og 30 ka tuig ang edad sa mga kwartang papel nga karaan ug kinahanglan na nga usahon sa bag-ong gipagawas nga kwartang papel sugod sa miaging tuig.

Gawas pa, gipasabot usab ni Atty Leonides Sumbi, Acting Director sa BSP 7 nga ang pagtangtang sa balor sa kwarta isip pangbayad sa produkto og serbisyo usa ka paagi sa pagseguro nga mapugngan ang peke nga paghimog mga kwarta.

Segun sa Section 57 sa Republic Act 7653 o ang New Central Bank Act, ang BSP mahimong magpuli sa mga papel de bangko kon kini may lima na ka tuig ang edad.

Hinuon, dili na man madawat ang karaang kwartang papel kon ibayad sa

tindahan ug mga utang sugod sa Enero 1, 2016, mahimo na lang kining pabaylo-an sa mga bangko, kinsa gimanduan na sa BSP sa pagpuli sa gitahan nga karaang kwarta hangud sa Disyembre 31, 2016, pasabut ni Hazel Arante sa BSP.

Si Arante, kinsa information Officer midugang sa pagpasabut nga ang karaang kwartang papel sayon ra ilhon kon itandi sa bag-o.

Tan-awon lang ang serial number nga gilangkoban sa duha ka letra ug 7-8 ka numero, tug-an niya.

Kon ang tanang letra ug numero sa serial number sa kwarta, parehas ra ang gidakon o uniporme and pagkapatik, kini timailhan sa kwarta nga dili na dawaton sugod Enero 1 sa sunod tuig.

Apan kon ang letra ug ang mga numero, nag-anam og kadako ang pagkapatik, mao kini timailhan sa bag-ong kwarta ug dili na angayan pang itahan sa bangko aron pabayloan. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

DOH, nipasidaan batok sa WILD diseases karong ting-ulan

MANILA (PIA) -- Nipasidaan sa publiko ang Department of Health (DOH) batok sa W.I.L.D. diseases karong panahon na sa ting-ulan sa nasud.

Ang W.I.L.D. nagtumbok sa mga sakit nga Waterborne diseases, Influenza, Leptospirosis ug Dengue.

Matud pa sa tigpamaba sa DOH nga si Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, malikayan ang maong mga sakit pinaagi sa pagbaton og limpyo nga panglawas ug palibot karong panahon sa tingulan.

Dugang pa niini, gipaabot nga mosaka ang kaso sa WILD karong panahon sa tingulan tungod sa mga pagbaha.

Kinahanglan usab nga siguradohong luwas sa bisan unsang kontaminasyon ang mga ilimnong tubig ug likayan ang paghumol sa baha. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)

overweight in 2013 compared to 2.6 percent in 2011 while eight out of 100 children with age range of five to 10 years or 7.9 percent were overweight in 2013 compared to 4.3 percent in 2011.

The same survey showed an upward trend of obesity among teenagers from 10 to 19 years old with 6.9 percent or six out of 100 in 2013 as against with only 4.8 percent in 2011.

For adults 20 years old and above, 30.1 percent or three out of 10 adults were overweight from 28 percent in 2011.

During the annual Operation Timbang Plus of the Department of Health (DOH-7), it showed the increase in the overweight prevalence among children in the region from 1.00 percent in 2013 to 1.04 percent in 2014.

Cebu Province topped among the four provinces in Central Visayas with 1.48 percent equivalent to one out of 100 children overweight followed by Siquijor Province with 1.29 percent or still one out of 100 overweight children.

Negros Oriental Province came third with 0.95 percent (still equivalent to one overweight child out of 100) and lastly, Bohol Province with 0.7 percent.

Among the cities in Central Visayas, Bais City ranked first with three overweight out of 100 children or 3.21 percent followed by Tagbilaran City with 1.53 percent or two classified as overweight out of 100 children.

Third place went to Naga City with 1.40 percent or one overweight out of 100 children and Tanjay City came fourth with the least overweight prevalence with 0.06 percent.

Factors attributed behind overweight and obesity in the Philippines is physical inactivity, changing dietary patterns, undernutrition among children, and poor breastfeeding practices.

The month of July is celebrated as National Nutrition Month which this year carries the theme “Bite Into A Healthy Lifestyle.” (mbcn/fcr/PIA7/with reports from Jay-Ileen Engalla, Intern/PIT)

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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