31 isiquijor 9 22

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. 2 | NO. 31 September 16-22, 2014

Local officials speak of teamwork, unity on ‘Araw ng Siquijor’ opening

Congresswoman Pernes

SIQUIJOR, Sept 15 (PIA)—At least three local officials in Siquijor province all speak of teamwork and unity during the sports opening ceremony hosted by the local government unit of Lazi.

The province’s lone district representative Cong. Marie Ann Pernes stressed the role of sports in the development of the country’s economy.

In her message, she imparted lessons one can gain in sports that include discipline, value of success and failure, as well as determination, team work, and unity.

She said she will ensure enough budget for sports development in the province.

Gov. Villa

Mayor Fua

Siquijor governor Zaldy Villa in his message also vowed to support sports development as one of the priority programs of his administration and said that it will have a bigger slice of budget in the coming years.

Villa said sports competition helps maintain a healthy and sound body as well as relationship among Siquijodnons while giving a deeper meaning to the spirit of camaraderie.

He said the celebration commemorates

Siquijor Agri trade, food fair opens

SIQUIJOR, Sept 15 (PIA)—As Siquijor province celebrates the Araw ng Siquijor on September 17, the four-day Agro, Trade and Food Fair opened September 14 at the Capitol Square, Siquijor, Siquijor and runs up to September 17.

The event showcases the products of small and médium enterprises (SMEs) ranging from home furnishings, gift ítems, handicrafts, processed food, agricultural products and varied indigenous resources of the province.

Tourism sites and amenities are also featured with the participation of local resorts and restaurants.

With the theme “Panaghiusa ug Pagtinabangay Alang sa Kaugmaon ug Kalinaw,” the event is spearheaded by the provincial government in coordination with the Provincial Small and Medium Development (SMED) Council.

Culmination program and awarding of prizes will be held at the same venue on September 17,1:00 p.m. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor)

the Independence of Siquijor as a province from the mother province of Negros Oriental on September 17, 1971.

Lazi municipal mayor Orpheus Fua in his opening remarks also expounded the theme for this year which he said encapsulates the true essence of peace, a significant factor to attaining progress.

Fua called on the players , officials and the employees to unite and to “be humble in victory and be gracious in defeat.”

Within the ceremony is the mass renewal of the public servants’ promise led by RTC Judge Alendaro Bahonsua Jr.

This year’s theme is “Panaghiusa ug Pagtinabangay alang sa Kaugmaon ug Kalinaw.” (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from IAABatayo)

iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Feature: Smylen Dream: Smile, dream for Siquijor

I could now be sitting pretty all day and think of nothing but myself, says Merlie Cento now Fisher when she captured the heart of an American pilot, Benjamin Henry Fisher Jr. who brought her all the love and luck she longed for in her life.

by Rizalie Anding-Calibo

Merlie is a native of the island province of Siquijor, from a laid-back village of Tulapos in the town of Enrique Vilanueva.

For a woman who had gone through several hardships - raised from a poor family, having married an abusive man once in her early years and partnered with a couple of still “not-sogood” men, Merlie, now 43, had aimed of nothing but hitting a real good man who can give her a real good life.

Heaven, after all is still so good, it heard her prayer and with a bonus!, says Merlie with a huge smile.

Fisher came to her (or is it the other way around), but however it was, they just found each other some five years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where Merlie tried her luck as a domestic help. God give me a man with a heart, she relates.

For Fisher, loving Merlie is loving her roots, her family so that

He has been so lavished about helping them and her relatives improve their lives, even neighbors who come for help.

Acd. G. Trono Jr. also named Nat’l Scientist

Renowned for his outstanding contributions in the field of tropical marine phycology with focus on seaweed biodiversity, biology, ecology, and culture, Acd. Gavino C. Trono, Jr. was conferred the rank and title of National Scientist by virtue of Proclamation No. 737signed by President Benigno Aquino III on March 13, 2014.

He is credited for his extensive studies on the culture of Eucheuma denticulatum, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria spp., Caulerpa lentillifera, and Halymenia durvillaei, seaweed that benefited thousands amongthe coastal populations. He was the first to report the occurrence of “ice-ice” disease which has caused tremendous loss of biomass in seaweed farms. He published papers on the open water and pond cultures of Gracilaria, pond and lagoon culture of Caulerpa lentillifera and culture and management of stocks of Sargassum. He led a team in a field survey and assessment of coastal areas in Western Mindanao which identified sites in Sakol Island in Zamboanga and Tapaan Island in Siasi, Sulu where the commercial seaweed farms were established in 1972.

His dedication to science led to the successful implementation of 45 research projects, which resulted in the publication of 142 papers consisting of 20 ISI and 120 technical papers. He was also able to describe and publish 25 new species of marine benthic algae. His first major publications on the marine algae in the Northern Tropical and Western Pacific expanded and altered the knowledge on the geographical distribution of the benthic algae in Central and Western Pacific.

Trono was instrumental to the development of degree programs in the marine and biological sciences, mentoring graduate students, and in promoting seaweed research and sound coastal resources management. He established the largest phycological herbarium in the country — the G.T. Velasquez Herbarium in the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines, which houses more than 70,000 curated herbarium specimens of the seaweed flora.

His strong advocacy on the culture of seaweeds as the most environmentally friendly and productive livelihood for fisherfolks, has earned him many awards and citations, which include the “Likas Yaman Award” from the Ministry of Natural Resources (Philippines) in 1978, UP Alumni award In 1979, and Plaque of Recognition for his outstanding scientific contributions to the advancement of the science of phycology in the Philippines by the Asia Pacific Society of Applied Phycology in 2006.

Trono obtained his Bachelor of Science in Botany from the University of the Philippines Diliman (1954), Master of Science in Agricultural Botany from the Araneta University (1961), and Doctor of Philosophy in Botany (Marine) from the University of Hawaii (UH) through an East West Center Study Grant (1968). He was a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of Botany under the advisorship of the late professor Maxwell S. Doty during his five-year stint at UH.

In 2008, Acd. Trono was elected as Academician by the membership of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST PHL), the highest recognition and advisory body to the government and science community on matters related to science and technology.

In May 2012, the Academicians of NAST PHL endorsed Acd. Trono to President Benigno Aquino for the Rank and Title of National Scientist, the highest recognition given by the President of the Republic of the Philippine to a Filipino man or woman of science in the Philippines who has made significant contributions in one of the different fields of science and technology. This award was created under Presidential Decree No. 1003-A on December 16, 1976. Since 1978, the rank and title of National Scientists has been conferred on 37 Filipinos, 12 of whom are living.

Currently, Acd. Trono is affiliated with Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Aquaculture Seaweed Research and Development as technical consultant, where he is actively engaged in the development and generation of scientific knowledge and information in his field of expertise (NAST/ DOST).

Boutan kaayo siya Day. Dili pa gyud hakug. (He’s is so kind and is never greedy), said Merly to this writer when we came to visit her place where they build factory and a house for the workers in an almost 2.5-hectare land outskirt of Candaping B, nearly 9 kilometres off Maria town proper.

His purpose is to reach out to the needy by providing them livelihood and help make their dreams and wishes come true.

Dili na unta ko mohimo ani kay kon buot puede na kong magparelax-relax, suroy-suroy kay sobra-sobra man iyang ihatag nako nga kuarta. (I shouldn’t be doing this anymore because the money that he’s giving me is more than enough for me to just relax and travel anywhere I go).

But for Merly’s husband, life is not just about their own happiness, it is about extending the happiness…it is about serving… about giving smile to one’s lips.

Merly and her new husband have no children but their almost six years of partnership has already yielded lots of “children” to take care - starting with her immediate family and the hiring of 18 local workers for the factory they’re venturing on.

The couple can also be found working with them— pulling weeds, tilling and gardening so that crops and vegetables consumed daily are already coming from their own backyards.

Taking edge of coco processing as the town’s One Town One Product (OTOP), the Fishers, on May this year, invested on a coconut processing factory starting with Virgin Coconut Oil production that is now taking place and are now ready for market.

They call it Smylen Dream Virgin Coconut Oil from the original plan of Siquijor Dream VCO (which accordingly didn’t pass the DTI’s registration).

Claimed to be all organic, extra virgin, cold pressed and can be a dietary supplement. The Smylen Dream VCO is now sold at P200 per 350 ml.

Merly admitted they still need to enhance their production and hopefully expand and come up with a variety of products to make use of the coco “wastes.”

Maayo unta ug matabangan mi sa gobyerno. Kinahanglan gyud mi ug daghang training (I hope the government can help us. We need more training), she said as she thanks this writer for bringing one of her staff to the “Cleaner Production/ Waste Minimization Training offered recently by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and introducing her to a lot more of trainings and assistance the government agencies can offer.

To date they’re reaping not a single centavo yet but they’re spending almost P30,000 per week for their workers alone not to mention the millions of pesos spent for the building and the equipment for the factory, she related with a little hint of dismay.

But my husband can’t just afford to take them off to work and so he’s finding all means to make this business venture prosper, not for them but for the people of Siquijor, she said.

We want them to smile with us and we dream with them, she said with a grin. (mbcn/

iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS

FDA warns public against use of toxic mercury-laden skin whitening products

QUEZON CITY, 15 September (PIA) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public on the use of toxic mercury-laden skin whitening cosmetic products without their notification that the products were tested.

FDA chief Dr. Kenneth Y. HartiganGo recently issued an advisory after some products were tested with mercury (Hg), and confirmed to have mercury content beyond the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetic Directives (ACD) as the acceptable limit.

DOLE to intensify efforts to ease unemployment

MANILA, 15 Sept. (PIA)--The Department of Labor & Employment (DOLE) pledges intensified efforts to facilitate employment creation following the easing of unemployment rate to 6.7 percent.

Labor & Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz expressed optimism that the employment gains as shown by the 2014 July Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority will be sustained through the last quarter of the year and the rest of the term of the Aquino III administration, and pledged to work harder to facilitate employment creation.

“I am elated by the result of this official survey on employment by the Philippine Statistics Authority. I can now see signs of job-led growth in the horizon. The growth in employment of 1.061 million new employed persons in the 2014 July LFS follows the 1.654 million new employed persons in the 2014 April LFS and the 606,000 new employed persons in the 2014 January LFS,” said Baldoz in a statement.

The 2014 July LFS showed a 93.3 percent employment rate, which means 38.451 million Filipinos have jobs in July this year compared to 37.490 million, or a rate of 92.7 percent, in 2013 July.

“Correspondingly, the 6.7 unemployment rate shown by the 2014 July survey round, down from the 7.3 percent unemployment in 2013 July, almost approximates the country’s GDP growth for the second quarter of 2014,” said Baldoz.

The labor and employment chief said the result of the 2014 July LFS, the third survey round this year, indicates a continuing uptrend in the labor market which began in April this year. “There is an upward momentum in the performance of the labor market,” she observed.

Baldoz also noted the continuing decline in under-employment. “I am pleased about the decrease of number of underemployed Filipinos. From 19.2 percent in 2014 July, underemployment has gone down to 18.3 percent in 2014 July.

This meant a reduction of 119,000 in the number of unemployed persons from 7.169 million a year ago to 7.050 in July this year,” she said.

In the July 2014 LFS, the employment growth was exhibited mostly by the growth in private sector wage employment, with the number of wage and salary workers rising from 21.799 million in 2013 July to 22.444 million in 2014 July. “Of this 22.444 million, 17.222 million were wage and salary workers in the private sector.

Baldoz also observed that employment growth was broadbased, with all three major sectors showing increased number of employment. Employment in services and industry employment led the three sectors, growing by 3.9 percent (+772,000) and 3.9 percent (228,000), respectively. Employment in agriculture followed, with an increase of 0.5 percent (+61,000).

With the overall improvements in the employment situation, Baldoz pledged that the DOLE under her leadership will intensify some more its efforts to facilitate employment and enhance the employability of more Filipino workers and the productivity of productivity and competitiveness of business establishments, particularly the micro, small, and medium enterprises which account for 99 percent of all businesses and 61 percent of total employment in the country.

“In convergence with other government agencies, we will not rest in delivering up-to-date and relevant labor market information to our workers, in enhancing their skills to increase their employability, and in providing free technical assistance, programs, and services to SMEs to improve productivity,” she said.

“We shall also continue to promote awareness on labor standards and occupational safety and health to foster a culture of voluntary compliance with all labor laws, and to sustain industrial peace that will attract more job-generating investments,” she added.

(DOLE/RJB/SDL/PIA-NCR)

The following cosmetic products without FDA notification that were found to contain violative levels of mercury: Feique Herbal Extract Chinese Herbal Formula Whitening Anti-Freckle set AntiMelanin Anti-Freckle Whitening (2 in 1); JiaoliHuichusu Intensive Whitening Sunscreen and Spots Removing Set; Mifton; BG Ginseng & Ganoderma Lucidum Natural Essence; BG Sea Pearl & Papaya Natural Essence 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream; Jiaoli Herbs Essence Whitening AB Set; and Golden Pearl Beauty Cream.

All consumers are advised to buy cosmetic products that have FDA market authorization, and to buy the only from legitimate outlets.

Meanwhile, the FDA appeals to mall owners to require their tenants to sell, offer for sale or use cosmetic products that are sourced from distributors that have FDA License to Operate (LTO) and product Certification of Notice.

Likewise, FDA directed all its field officers to monitor, conduct inventory and seize all cosmetic products that have no FDA Certificate of Product Notification.

Consumers are also encouraged to visit the FDA website at www.fda.gov.ph to check if a particular cosmetic product has FDA notification. (FDA/RJB/JEG/PIA-NCR)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

iNFOBYTES

DSWD7 honors model Pantawid families in CV

CEBU CITY, September 16 (PIA)— Four model family beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pampapmilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Central Visayas were honored yesterday.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) Field Office awarded today one family beneficiary each from the four provinces, that were best examples of the 4Ps.

Awarded were Alaban family from Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental (3rd place); Ates family from Maria, Siquijor (2nd ); Albasin family of Dumanjug, Cebu (1st place); and the Ewican family of Alegria, Carmen Bohol won as the grand champion.

Ewican family will represent the region in the 2014 Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya competition natrionwide.

Shalaine Lucero, assistant Regional Director said they conducted meticulous evaluation among the nominee family beneficiaries.

The criteria include maintaining a strong and harmonious relationship and upholds Filipino values despite the challenge of poverty; the family practice of healthy living and care for the environment; involvement in the community activities

Cebuano News

and an inspiration to the community.

Most of the children of the awarded families are achievers in their school and the family also made wise use of the financial assistance.

4Ps is a human development pprogram of the national government that invests in health and education of poor households, particularly children below 18.

Just recently Lucero said that they already include the age range until 18 to make sure that the children will be able to finish high school.

The program include a conditional cash transfer to poor households with children 0-18 and pregnant mothers.

DSWD7 was porud to announced that the program already covered all barangays in the entire region. (mbcn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)

Lifestyle check sa mga polis, suportado sa Malakanyang

MANILA, Sept. 15 (PIA)-Suportado sa Malakanyang ang sugyot ni Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Kalihim Mar Roxas nga ipa-ubos sa lifestyle check ang mga miyembro sa Philippine National Police (PNP).

Makig-alayon si Roxas kang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Chief Kim Henares human malambigit ang pipila sa mga polis sa mga robbery ug kidnapping incidents.

Dugang pa sa kalihim, himuon ang maong lifestyle check aron mahibawan ug manubag sa balaod ang mga abusadong polis.

Matud pa ni Presidential spokesman Abigail Valte, makalaom ang publiko nga paspas molihok ang BIR niini aron matumbok ang mga nagpa-datu sa puwesto.

Gi-dugang usab ni Valte nga ang pagpahigayon sa maong lifestyle check himuong confidential ug ang resulta niini magamit lamang kun adunay kaso nga ipasaka sa mga polis.

Gusto sa gobyerno nga ipaubos ang mga polis sa lifestyle check human ang insidente sa hulidap sa EDSA, Mandaluyong nga gilambigitan sa pipila ka mga miyembro sa PNP. (ecb/PIA7Bohol)

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.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.

FOLLOW US online! /Pia Siquijor /PIA Siquijor @PiaSiquijor