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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. 23 July 8-14, 2014
Go Negosyo Act to boost development of MSMEs
MANILA, (PIA) -- The approval of Republic Act 10644: An Act Promoting Job Generation and Inclusive Growth through the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or the “Go Negosyo Act” authored by Senator Bam Aquino is seen to bring government services closer to small businesses through the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all provinces, cities, and municipalities. With the Go Negosyo Act, the DTI, with the support of LGUs and other government agencies, expects to further boost its assistance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and flourish, and intensify the promotion of entrepreneurship in the country. The Negosyo Centers shall be responsible for promoting ease of doing business and facilitating access to services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Aside from facilitating business registration through the Philippine Business Registry System, the Centers shall provide assistance to MSMEs in the availment of technology transfer, production and management training programs, and marketing assistance of the DTI, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), University of the Philippines – Institute for Small-Scale Industries
CLIMATE CHANGE/DISASTER AWARENESS: Prov’l Disaster Risk Reduction & Management coordinator Blezel Omictin talks about Diaster and some safety tips during the PIA’s climate change/disaster awareness campaign recently at Lotloton, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor.
(UPISSI), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Technical Education and Skill Development Authority (TESDA) and other agencies concerned. The MSMEs account for more than 99 percent of all establishments in the country, which comprise 66 percent of the total employment in the private
sector. (DTI)
Province creates PRDP-PPMIU for rural dev’t SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The province of Siquijor recently created the Provincial Program Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) to serve as the local implementing body for the implementation of the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP). Siquijor governor Zaldy Villa signed an Executive Order creating the PPMIU as the principal mechanism through which the provincial government shall seek multi-sectoral inputs, advise, and assist on matters related to climate-smart agriculture, infrastructure facilities and sustainable development in the island. Siquijor is selected as one to the six provinces in the country under the PRDP-Global Environment Facility that will strengthen the conservation of the
coastal and marine resources base through biodiversity conservation and fisheries resources management, says Department of Agriculture (DA) provincial agriculture technology coordinating officer Bernadith Bunado in a PRDP briefing earlier. It also hopes to enhance LGU institution, technical management and financial capabilities and environment government system, she said. The PPMIU is composed of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator as its head, under which are the coordinating agencies, PPMIU Secretariat, the i-plan unit headed by the PPDO, i-build unit by the provincial engineer’s office, i-reap unit by the provincial veterinary’s office, and co-headed by the office of the provincial and
municipal agriculturists and the i-support unit headed by the provincial budget officer. Under the i-support unit are the monitoring and evaluation, procurement, social and environmental safeguard and information, education, advocacy and communication subunits. PRDP is a six-year national government platform for an inclusive, valuechain oriented, and climate resilient agriculture and fishery sector. It is the upscale version of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) where new innovations are introduced to address the present demand of times especially climate changes to make rural development more effective. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7Siquijor)
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DOST releases funds to Siquijor entrep by Engr. Reinhold Jek Abing SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST-7) handed a check worth Php 277,623.00 to Ramir Quijada of MRG Furniture in Siquijor province as its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) beneficiary. D O S T- 7 O I C - a s s i s t a n t regional director, Engr. Jesus Zamora, Jr. did some orientation briefing to the proprietor on the terms and conditions in the memorandum of agreement (MOA). Zamora and Quijada signed the agreement recently at the conference room of the Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) of the DOST-Siquijor. Zamora further said the proposal was approved as early as April 30 but the turnover of funds was delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances. “These funds are given to your firm without interest and collateral. However, this money should be used to purchase only the intended equipment for technology upgrade in Signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the DOST-7 and MRG Furniture the your approved proposal,” Zamora told DOST-SETUP project in Siquijor. the businessman. Should MRG plan to buy other of that amount as interest. equipment. An inventory team will visit the firm on Should the beneficiaries opt to own the a regular basis, Zamora added. equipment not stated in the proposal, it should rented equipment, a certificate of ownership will coordinate with DOST-Siquijor, Zamora said. DOST helps MSMEs thru SETUP The equipment will remain government be awarded to them after it has been fully paid. to generate employment and to enhance property until the beneficiary is able to pay the During the implementation of the project, productivity and competitiveness. (mbcn/RAC/ total amount in full plus one half of one percent inventory tags will be placed in the corresponding PIA7-Siquijor/Engr. Reinhold JekAbing/DOSTSiquijor)
NNC-7 urges veggie gardening for households
CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Households are urged to plant their own vegetables in the backyard to complement food security for the family especially during emergency situations at the same time contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change. Susan Orpilla, nutrition officer III of the National Nutrition Council (NNC-7), bared that household food security is the ultimate objective under the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition in order to improve nutritional status among Filipinos. Orpilla said families with own access to vegetables can deal better in times of disasters as the National Nutrition Month celebration this July carries the theme “Kalamidad Paghandaan: Gutom at Malnutrisyon Agapan!” Orpilla however, said the two major disasters that struck Central Visayas late last year namely the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and the super typhoon Yolanda might impact on the slight nutrition improvement among pre-school children in Region 7. “Malnutrition prevalence rate among pre-school children in Central Visayas registered a decline from 5.92 percent in
2011 to 5.54 percent in 2013” said Orpilla during therecent forum of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the topic “Urban Greening for Better Nutrition, Nutrition in Emergency and Better Environment.” Orpilla said it needs to further check to determine whether the two major disasters last year had any effect on the nutritional status especially among pre-school children in the region. “We yet have to conduct another Operation Timbang for this year,” to find out, Orpilla said. Strong awareness and support to nutrition programs by local government units contributed to the slight improvement on the nutritional status among pre-school children in Central Visayas, said Orpilla. But the nutrition officer said there is a need to aggressively campaign to eat more vegetables and fruits as a recent survey conducted by the Food Nutrition Research Institute showed there is a consumption decline of vegetables and fruits in the Filipino diet. “That is why we are promoting urban vegetable gardening in our own backyard so
we can have full access to nutritional foods that are organic or free from chemicals,” said Orpilla. Anie Saavedra, urban agriculture coordinator of the Cebu City Agriculture Department (CCAD) said families without any adequate land to cultivate their own vegetable garden can make use of any container, sacks or even water bottles where they could plant certain veggies like green onions and tomatoes. Urban households in the city who wants to have their own veggie garden can seek help from the CCAD on how to start, said Saavedra. Ronnie Jamola, focal person on reconstruction assistance for Yolanda of the Department of Agriculture-7 meanwhile, said planting veggies can also help mitigate impact of climate change as plants through their leaves absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that enhances global warming ultimately leading to climate change. “Let’s do our share in reducing carbon dioxide emissions” so we can have a safer and healthier environment, said Jamola. (fcr/PIA-7)
JULY is Nutrition Month
iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS
TOP 10 HEALTHIEST PINOY DISHES
A balanced and healthy diet is essential in maintaining good health and lowering the risk for various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The common Filipino diet is disproportionate and is heavy with fatty meat and sweets which lacks essential vitamins and minerals that our body needs to properly function. People have a misconception that eating healthy is equivalent to eating tasteless and unappetizing dishes. To help you eat healthier, here are 10 healthy and delicious common Filipino dishes that you can include in your diet to provide your body with the nutrients that it needs. 1. Laing – Originating from the province of Bicol, this spicy dish is made from taro (gabi) leaves, which is rich in Vitamins A, C, and iron. The creamy spicy taste of the leaves and coconut milk makes laing a perfect match to a proper portion of hot rice. 2. Pinakbet/Pakbet – Usually prepared with fermented shrimp paste (bagoong), pinakbet offers several types of vegetables in a single delicious dish. Depending on the vegetables used, pinakbet can contain eggplant (talong), bitter melon (ampalaya), squash (kalabasa), okra, and string beans (sitaw). The dish is generally high i n f i b e r a n d Vi t a m i n A . 3. Tinolang Manok – The chayote (sayote) used in the dish is high in folate which cannot be synthesized by the human body and must therefore be supplied through our diets. Folate is essential in the production of red blood cells and can be found in green leafy vegetables. Chicken is a rich source of protein and contributes considerably less fat than the other meats. 4. Malunggay Dish– Dubbed the “miracle vegetable” and recently declared as the Philippines’ national vegetable, the leaves of the malunggay (moringa) tree can be prepared in a variety of ways and can be used as a substitute for spinach in soups and in various vegetable dishes. Malunggay leaves are rich in B vitamins, Vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. 5. Lumpiang Ubod – Fresh coconut shoot (ubod), carrot (kerot), spring onions, jicama (singkamas), and lettuce enclosed in egg wrapper with minimal cooking makes this one of the freshest Filipino vegetable dishes available. The accompanying
thick sauce and peanuts make the lumpiang ubod a tasty meal in itself. The dish is high in Vitamin A, which strengthens the immune system and improves vision. 6. Ginisang Munggo – Prepared using bitter melon (ampalaya) leaves and mung beans (munggo), this tasty dish is packed with folate, thiamine, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus – all of which are needed for the human body to properly function. The bitter melon leaves can be substituted with malunggay leaves to give the dish a healthier kick. 7. Sinigang na Isda – A variety of fish such as milkfish (bangus), red snapper (mayamaya), salmon, and grouper (lapu-lapu) can be used to create this savory sour dish perfect for cold and rainy days. The fish is a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids while the water spinach (kangkong) provides decent amounts of Vitamins A and C. 8. Ginisang Sitaw – String beans (sitaw) and squash (kalabasa) are the primary ingredients of this dish which provide good amounts of fiber and Vitamin C. The dish usually incorporates small pieces of meat and can also be prepared adobo style. 9. Gising Gising – This dish will surely wake you up with its chili content. More importantly, the green beans used in the dish is an excellent source of Vitamins B6, C, K, manganese, zinc, and fiber. The coconut milk makes the dish creamy and complete and is rich in iron.
10. Ensaladang Talong – A great sidekick to any grilled meat dish, the ensaladang talong only requires minimal cooking with the eggplant while the rest is mixed in raw. Eggplant (talong) provides our body with B vitamins and manganese while the fresh tomato is rich in Vitamin C and lycopene.
iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS
Cebuano News
iNFOBYTES
DBM proposes P2.6 trillion budget for 2015 MANILA (PIA) -- The budget department proposed a P2.606 trillion budget for 2015 during Friday’s Cabinet meeting, 15 percent higher than the 2014 national budget, Presidential Communications O p e r a t i o n s O ff i c e S e c r e t a r y H e r m i n i o C o l o m a s a i d i n a s t a t e m e n t . President Benigno S. Aquino III directed the Cabinet to fine-tune the budget assumptions and planning parameters for next year’s budget, he said. The President convened the Cabinet on Friday for a first-pass review and discussion of the 2015 national budget. “After the meeting that lasted for more than six hours, the President directed the Cabinet to further fine-tune the budget assumptions and planning parameters so that these may be fully explained and justified at the hearings to be conducted by the Congress,” Coloma said. Another meeting may be convened before the National Expenditure Program Budget Proposal is approved and finalized, he added. The expenditure program will be submitted to Congress after the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) late this month. Among the key expenditures of the 2015 national budget includes Social Protection and Social Services, Job Generation and Economic Expansion, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Enabling Environment for Inclusive Development. Under social protection, the administration is increasing the budget for the conditional cash transfer program from P62.6 billion to P78 billion due to increase in coverage from 4.3 million households to 5 million households based on the National Household Targeting System. The government is also boosting the allocation for the National Health Insurance Program from P35.3 billion to P37.2 billion. The insurance coverage increases from 14.7 million to 15.4 million, Coloma said.
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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Pagtudlo ug disaster manager sa kalungsoran giawhag
CEBU CITY, July 23 (PIA )--Gikinahanglan nga adunay “disaster officer” ang matag lungsod o dakbayan, matod sa kauluhan sa probinsya sa Sugbo. Ang pagtudlo og usa ka disaster risk reduction and management officer gilatid na sa usa ka balod, ang Repuiblic Act 10121. Ang hepe sa Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office sa lalawigan sa Sugbo, si Baltazar Tribunalo nag awhag sa mga mayor og mga opisyales nga mitunga sa pagtuman sa maong kamanduan. Kini tungod kay kasagaran sa mga DRRMO tinudlo lamang kini og adunay mga responsibilidad nga lain sama sa usa ka konsehal, local planning o information officer. Apan mireklamo ang mga Mayor nga mitambong tungod kay ang pagtudlo og usa ka DRRM officer og pagmungtar og opisina nagkinahanglan og dugang nga pundo. Kini mao ang yangongo sa mga mayor sama ni Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia nga nabalaka nga dili maka apas sa gasto ang mga ubos nga lungsod kun mag tudlo og full time DRRM officer og magtukod gyud og opisina. Apan matod ni Jose Salvador, opisyal sa Department of Budget and Management, adunay paagi nga makakuha og pundo para sa maong opisina. “Gikinahanglan lamang nila balikan og tan-awn pag ayo basin og adunay mga posisyon nga bakante
The 2015 budget also gives additional allocation for basic educational facilities such as classrooms, water and sanitation, from P44.6 billion to P52.7 billion. To create more jobs, the Aquino government is allotting more money for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build roads and bridges, an increase from P130.4 billion to P186.6 billion. The budget for tourism infrastructure development was also increased from P14.7 billion to P20 billion, as international tourists increase from 6.8 million to 8.2 million and domestic tourists from 47.7 million to 51.7 million. The government is also focused on addressing the impact of climate change, as it allotted more budget for DPWH’s flood control and drainage projects, from P34.8 billion to P38.6 billion, according to Coloma. (www.pcoo.gov.ph/PND
og adunay pundo,” m a t o d n i S a l v a d o r. Ang maong panagtigom labing una nga nahitabo dinhi sa Sugbo. Ubang mga mamumulong mao ang Philippine Atmospheric Astronomical and Geophysical Services Administration (PAGASA), Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau (MGB), Civil Service Commission (CSC) og lakip na ang Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (rmn/fcc/PIA-Cebu)