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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. 3 | NO. 34 October 1-8, 2015

Siquijor gets P3.5M farm equipment

by Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Oct. 10 (PIA) - - The Department of Agriculture in Region 7 (DA-7) turned over some P3.5-M worth of postharvest and agricultural equipment and facilities to provincial and municipal

government units during the opening of the Agri-Food Fair that highlighted the 44th Araw ng Siquijor celebration recently.

Consisting of 4WD tractor, cacao grinder, cacao maker, pedal-operated thresher, mechanical thresher, and a

greenhouse with drip irrigation system, the equipment and facilities were turned over to the identified recipients in the province.

The turnover was led by DA-7 Regional Technical Director Joel Elumba and Agricultural Program coordinating officer Bernadith Bunado.

Elumba said the equipment grant have been part of the continuing efforts of the government for food security and self-sufficiency.

He urged the recipients to maximize the use of the facilities for agricultural advantage and productivity.

Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa thanked DA for the support that would benefit the provincial agricultural sector.

Siquijor town Mayor Mei Ling Quezon, who personally received the 4WD tractor for her LGU under the DA’s Bottoms-up Budgeting program, also thanked the agency for the quipment. (rmn/ rac/PIA7-Siquijor with DA-PATCO reports)

4WD tractor that was turned to the local government unit of Siquijor on Siquijor Day by the Department of Agriculture under its Bottom’s-up Budgeting Program.

Siquijor awards outstanding farmers, LGUs

SIQUIJOR, Oct. 10 (PIA) -The province of Siquijor has awarded outstanding local folks and local government units during the opening of the Agri-Food Fair that highlighted its 44th Charter Day celebration recently.

Awards were given to Estelito Larena of Capalasanan, Lazi as Outstanding Rice Farmer; Rene Bucol of Catamboan, Larena as Outstanding Corn Farmer; and Mariles Jutba of Capalasanan, Lazi for her organic corn farming.

Also awarded for being outstanding were: vegetable farmer Raul Salibay of Tubod, San Juan; cassava grower Maria Jimenez; Teresita Veradio of Candanay Norte as outstanding Rural Improvement Club (RIC)

member; and fisherfolks Sherlita Ogdol and Cesar Pacarat, both of Minalulan, Maria for aquaculture and marine capture, respectively.

Billy Joe Paragamac of Nabutay, Maria was named outstanding young farmer while Cesar Baroro of Gabayan , Lazi was the outstanding integrated farmer.

The same awards were also given to livestock and poultry raisers.

For the “Pinaka” contest, AI offispring category, first prize went to Erico Balingit of Binoongan, Enrique Villanueva; second, Hermie Maglinao of Bogo, Maria; and third Remo Taroc of Gabayan, Lazi.

For the goat-open category, first prize winner was Alejandra Lomosad of Enrique Villanueva; second, Bebiana Calimpon of

Maria; and third, Nerio Calibo of Larena.

Eddie Suan of Tinago, Siquijor, Jerry Sumalpong of Nabutay, Maria, and Francisco Malinao of Timbaon, San Juan were first, second, and third awardees in the cattle-open category.

They were awarded for their valuable contribution which generates income that uplift the quality of life of t h e i r f a m i l i e s a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y.

Siquijor LGU and the barangay LGU of Olang in Maria town were also this year’s Outstanding municipality and barangay in the implementation of Rabies Prevention and Control Program in the province. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

Efforts to combat effects of El Niño strengthened

As early as April 2014, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has started preparing for the impacts of El Niño on the country’s agriculture sector.

Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations, Joel Elumba talking on DA progrms and projects during the El Nino Mitigation Information Campaign and Farmer’s Forum at the Siquijor State Cllege recently.

“We will seed all [of the] seedable clouds; we will waste no opportunity,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said.

Cloud seeding is a weather modification method where chemical “nuclei” such as silver iodide or calcium chloride are introduced in the atmosphere to induce condensation, and eventually, precipitation. Moisture collects around these “nuclei” and, upon reaching a

certain saturation level, falls as rain.

According to Bureau of S o i l s a n d Wa t e r M a n a g e m e n t (BSWM) Director Silvino Tejada, the Department has conducted cloud seeding operations in strategic locations nationwide since last year.

In addition, “[the department] has set up water management and conservation measures through its BSWM and

regional field offices to ensure that scarce irrigation water supply will be efficiently used and maximized,” Tejada said.

The DA has also released drought-tolerant rice varieties in threatened rice-producing areas.

For long-term adaptation measures, the department has improved the country’s small-scale irrigation systems to make these more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and other calamities.

It has also promoted climate- and disastersmart farming and fishery technologies to cushion the agro-fishery sector against the negative effects of calamities.

While the DA and other government agencies have put in place programs to address the challenges of El Niño, the Agriculture Secretary stressed that adapting to the effects of this extreme climatic condition, considered to be the worst in 65 years, is a shared responsibility among Filipinos.

The Secretary dispelled fears that crops cannot be grown during the El Niño, and cited the Mung bean as an alternative crop, among others, which requires warm climate during its growing period.

Cloud seeding is only one of the many interventions used by the DA to combat the effects of El Niño.

Though this technology is beneficial to many agricultural lands, this may not be required or suitable in some areas.

– From the Department of Agriculture

COMELEC extends time for voters’ registration

The Commission on Election (COMELEC) is extending its working hours to accommodate more voters who want to register for the 2016 elections.

Beginning October 17-31, the COMELEC local offices will operate from 9AM-9PM, as part of its “Huling Hirit” campaign.

Meanwhile, the poll body is also reminding the public that voters’ registration from October 12-16 is suspended to give way for the filing of certificates of candidacy of national and local candidates.

Dengue cases in first 9 months of 2015 reached over 90,000

The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed that dengue cases in the country for the first nine months of 2015 have reached to over 90,000.

A total of 92,807 dengue cases nati onwide were recorded by the Epidemiology Bureau (EB) from January 1 to September 19 this year, which is a 23.5-percent increase during the same period in 2014.

The provinces with high cases of dengue were recorded in Cavite, Apayao, Tarlac, and Metro Manila, particularly in Quezon City.

The DOH advised the public to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and to properly store their water to prevent mosquitoes from creating breeding spots.

Palace: DOH closely monitoring incidence of dengue

Malacanang assured the Department of Health (DOH) is closely monitoring the increasing cases of dengue in the country.

Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. said the DOH is also focused on providing medical services in the provinces, cities and other areas where there are reports of dengue cases.

Meanwhile, DOH Spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said dengue vaccines are likely to be available this year.

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS iSIQUIJOR GOVERNMENTNEWS

Young Filipinos urged to be interested in national budget

(PIA) -- Young people should be interested in the national budget.

Former national treasurer Leonor Briones underscored this in her lecture on the national budget for students of Silliman University at the Luce Auditorium recently.

Briones said students should be concerned on issues revolving the national budget since they are also taxpayers.

She explained that even though they do not hold jobs at the moment,

they still pay tax whenever they watch movies in malls or buy grocery items, electronic gadgets and school supplies in the form of Value Added Tax (VAT).

Briones said the tax they pay goes back to the national government and becomes a primary source of the national budget.

“You should be interested on how the money you contributed was spent,” she emphasized.

Briones pointed out that the national budget is an important instrument of the government to respond to the problems of the country.

“The solutions have to be funded and the funding comes from all of you,” she stressed.

“The resources that come from you are converted into goods and services, meaning hospitals, schools, scholarships, protection against national disaster.

That is why budget is important,” Briones added.

The former national treasurer gave a lecture on the analysis of the 2016 national budget, its macroeconomic context and relation to social development situation.

Briones presented to her audience the breakdown of the P3.002 trillion national budget which the Congress is set to approve this week or next week.

The top three agencies that received the highest allocation were Deparment of Education with P411,440 billion, Department of Public Works and Highways with P378, 345 billion, Deputy for Operations P/Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino assisted in the posting of of road Department of the Interior traffic safety tarps provincewide as part of the crime prevention and campaign and and Local Government with security measures spearheaded by the Siquijor Police Provincial Office (SPPO) P124, 153 billion. (rmn/ral/ and the Provincial Advisory Council (PAC). (rac/PIA7-Siquijor) PIA7-Negros Oriental)

iNFOBYTES

Cliff Jumping in Cambugahay Falls: L o c a t e d 2 km north of the town of Lazi, Cambugahay Falls is one of the attractions in Siquijor Island.

It consists of cascading multitiered waterfalls, with fresh and clean warm water run-off, coming from natural springs, watersheds and small rain forests of the higher mountains.

On the bottom, there is a large rope tied to a huge tree where you can jump to the water to about 10-15 feet just like Tarzan. (Rave Garcia)

iSIQUIJORGOVERNMENTNEWS

‘Government is committed to education for all’

CEBU, October 8 (PIA) -The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) assured the public that the government is doing its best to give every Filipino access to education.

In the recent National Literacy Conference held here, DILG-7 Assistant Regional Dir. Elias Fernandez said the Philippine government is committed

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to the advocacy of education for all.

“The Department of Education is embarking on different literacy programs in the country,” Fernandez stressed.

He also encouraged the youth and parents to stand strong amid challenges and obstacles in their pursuit for literacy and education.

“We should never give up on

Good Morning Siquijor | Siquijor Island

the issues and concerns, we should be in the winning situation for we need to be competitive,” Fernandez said.

He said poverty is one of the challenges Filipinos must strive to fight in the quest for education and literacy. “Education is strongly linked to poverty,” he added.

Fernandez, on the other hand, believes that despite the issue on poverty, Filipinos still has the passion for education. “Filipinos consider education as important, we give high premium to education,” he said. (rmn/ays/PIA7)

For most Filipinos, the Island of Siquijor is a mysterious otherworld of witchcraft and the unknown. But these days Siquijor’s most popular healing practice involves spelunking, hiking and exploring wonderfully affordable beach resorts. Attractions include great diving, waterfalls, caves and forest walks in the hilly interior.

Plus, the people in Siquijor are very warm and friendly! # ‪ N ‎ everStopExploring‬ (Rave Garcia)

Cebuano News

Partisipasyon sa kababyen-an sa transportasyon gituki sa APEC dinhi sa Sugbo

(PIA) – Partisipasyon sa mga kababayen-an sa transportasyon gituki sa Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC).

Sa Ikaduhang hugna sa tigum sa APEC dinhi sa Sugbo, gituki dayon ang partisipasyon sa mga kababayen-an sa matang sa transportasyon.

Gitunguha niini ang pag usbaw sa kalabotan sa mga kababayen-an sa maong sektor.

Namugna ang usa ka tamdanan nga adunay lima ka mga haligi aron mmapadaghan ang mga kababayen-an nga anaa sa transportasyon.

Kini naglangkob sa mga giya gamit ang edukasyon; pagwagtang sa mga babag sa panarbaho og pagnegosyo; pagmungtar og tukmang kondisyon sa pgapalambo sa talent; adbokasiya alang sa paglambo usab sa mga babayeng lider u gang pag awhag sa luwas nga pagamit og pagsakay sa mga sistema sa transportasyon.

Matod ni Susan Kirkland, United States Department of Transportation

for Aviation and International Affairs, ang mga kababayen-an kritikal nga tinubdan sa ekonomikanhong pagtubo og pagkamabungahon, apan gikinahanglan nga anaa silay mga oportunidad.

“And too often than not, these opportunities are not available,” matod ni Kirkland.

Gani siya mitataw nga labaw sa $47 billion ang nawagtang matag tuig sa Asia Pacific Region tungod sa limitadong pag kab-ot sa panarbaho sa mga kababayen-an.

Sa Estados Unidos, 47 porsyento sa workforce ang kababayen an og 13 porsyento lamang niini ang anaa sa transportasyon.

Sa kinatibuk-an, sa mga member economies sa APEC, ang mga babaye naglangkob lang gikan sa sais porsyento ngadto sa 34 porsyento.

Dinhi sa Pilipinas, gisugdan na ang paglambo og suporta sa mga kababyen-an pinaagi sa paglangkob sa Gender and Development (GAD) sa transportation sector ubos sa Department

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 of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Kini misresulta sa pagka mugna sa 1st Gender and Development Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n S u m m i t n i a d t o n g Nobyembre 2012. (fcc/PIA7-Cebu)