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INFOBYTES THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 16 August 2, 2013
TOPSTORIES
DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS program to receive US Award By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
Workshop proper. Each province doing the Disaster Risk reduction Management (DRRM) workshop and photo ops during the DRRM Summit at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) recently .
DENR-7 issues stern warning vs corrupt personnel
CEBU CITY, (PIA) -- The core anti-poverty program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was chosen as an awardee of United States Treasury’s second annual Development Impact Honors Awards. According to DSWD-7 Regional Social Marketing Officer Simeon Arbas Remata III, DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), was awarded over 40 other program contenders in different parts of the globe. US Secretary of Treasury Jacob J. Lew said the Kalahi-CIDSS project of DSWD was awarded because it has an “especially high-impact and noteworthy development intervention.” Development Impact Honors Awards recognizes the different projects supported by multilateral development banks all over the world. They are meant to distinguish development-oriented programs, such as those that fight poverty, hunger and disease. The entries were judged based on criteria such as quality of results, focus on priority sectors, innovations used and the risk mitigations strategies utilized. Kalahi-CIDSS’s community empowerment process was able to put up 5,876 small-scale community projects to over 1.34 million households in the 42 poorest provinces nationwide. The project has also improved community participation rates in project activities which in turn make service delivery of various local government units more participatory, inclusive and transparent. Kalahi-CIDSS has also improved household income per capita consumption of beneficiary communities by 5% based on studies done by World Bank in its Impact Evaluation Report in 2012. “We are glad that Kalahi-CIDSS has been recognized by an international awarding body since this will garner additional leverage and general patronage for the program which is needed in scaling up," said DSWD-7 Regional Director Mercedita P. Jabagat. (rmn/JSME/PIACebu/DSWD-7)
CEBU CITY (PIA) --- Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 (DENR) Regional Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo issued a stern warning against the department's officials and personnel who may be engaged in "irregular" activities particularly in the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP). The warning came in the heels of reports that some of DENR-7's employees are allegedly involved in corrupt activities relative to NGP's seedling production. DENR-7 Information Officer Dr. Eddie Llamedo said these employees make money reportedly by selling the seedlings to a people's organization or to private partners who have existing contracts with the department. Last July 17, Montejo issued a memorandum addressed to four provincial environment and natural resources officers (PENROs) and six community environment and natural resources officers (CENROs) citing certain provisions of Republic Act No. 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.” Similarly, Dr. Montejo stressed the prohibited acts, transactions and penalties in particular under Section 7A of said law that states “public officials and employees shall not directly or indirectly have any financial or material interest in any transaction requiring the approval of their office.” “I am duty-bound to exercise the full extent of the law and to impose administrative sanctions against erring employees without prejudice to the filing of criminal charges against the offenders if found guilty,” Montejo said. “There is now an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Legal Division on this matter,” he added. In a related development, Montejo ordered the creation of a five-member team to conduct a continuous monitoring on the status of implementation of NGP on the plantations establishment. “We are exerting our efforts not just to double but even triple to really meet our balance of 19,610.43 hectares as we have already accomplished 20 percent of our target of 24,361 hectares as of July 19,” Montejo said. (rmn/JSME/PIA-Cebu/DENR-7)
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NEGROS ORIENTAL
Tourist arrivals in Dgte City up during first half of 2013
By Roi Lomotan DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- Tourist arrivals in Dumaguete City increased for the first half of this year. This after the city government recorded 214,045 tourist arrivals from January to June this year, higher by 87.3% from the same period last year. A statement from the City Tourism Office reported that of the total number, foreign tourist arrivals peaked at 28,531 or 107.6 % during the first six months of the year. On the other hand, local tourist arrivals reached 172,929 in the first half of 2013. The month of March had the highest foreigner visits at 5,612. Foreign tourists in Dumaguete City include Americans, Germans, Canadians, British, Australians, French, Chinese, Koreans, and Swiss. Meanwhile, the month of April saw the highest number of local tourist visits due to the Palarong Pambansa which was hosted here. City Tourism Officer Woodrow Maquiling Jr. said the increase in the tourist arrivals in Dumaguete City can be attributed to different factors especially the recent recognitions earned by the city from various organizations. Dumaguete City has been a recipient of the Galing Pook Award for its effective implementation of city-wide septage management program. It was also cited as one of the Top 10 New Wave Cities Award for the booming Business Processing Outsource (BPO) Industry here. Aside from these, Maquiling also pointed to the efforts made by the city government to boost the tourism potential of Dumaguete to attract more foreign and local tourists. “Not only the Negros tourism destination is more than likely to exceed the number of tourists visiting from abroad and meet the goal revenues, but the prospects for the A press conference with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Negros next months are already pointing to Oriental officials is held in celebration of this year’s 4th anniversary of the further growth,” Maquiling said. (rmn/ Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) RAL/PIANEGOR)
NegOr 4Ps recipients earn bonus under NGP
DUMAGUETE CITY(PIA)-About 200 family-beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) in barangay Banban, Ayungon town,Negros Oriental have now earned its livelihood project under the National Greening Program worth P17 million. According to DSWD7 information officer Aileen Lariba in an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a project on “Sustainable Livelihood and Environment for DSWD Clients” has grown in the town of Ayungonl specifically in one of its farthest yet greenest barangay, Banban. Lariba said “families in Banban earn P80-120 per day planting alternative vegetables, sell their produce and even
bring home some of it for a nutritious alternative meal for their children.” Under the NGP, forest areas and timberland shall be identified by DENR for clearing, trellising and planting of forest and fruit bearing trees by the beneficiaries of DSWD. Almost five years ago, the families with children below 14 years old were identified by DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang as survival, needing immediate intervention in terms of health, education and values formation to severe the ties of intergenerational poverty. Lariba said as the family learned the importance of education, improved on their health seeking behavior, they also came to understand that they would like to continue their journey in crossing poverty even after
they graduate from the Pantawid Pamilya program. This is a task fully supported by the national government’s convergence strategy, one of which is the DSWDDENR NGP program partnership. The program is designed to provide a sustainable livelihood for the beneficiaries because they can sell their harvests to DENR which can augment their family income enabling them to respond better to their health and education needs. At the same time, the program answers the adversities brought forth by climate change, poverty and natural disasters like landslides and flash floods because there will be trees to hold the soil together.
BOHOL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
DTI 7 launches MSML Roving Academy in Bohol By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
BOHOL (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) launched in Bohol recently an intervention that promises a series of follow-through assistance in continuous learning program modules for the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises in efforts to make inclusive growth happen. During the opening ceremonies of the annual Sandugo Regional Products Expo which showcases products from micro, small and medium enterprises in the entire region, Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (BMSMED) chief at the DTI, Jerry Clavisellas said the program aims to promote continuity of interventions which the government through various partners give, to ultimately get the country’s MSMEs into becoming exporters themselves. Clavisellas was among the honored guests during the opening ceremonies of the annual Sandugo crafts and trade fair which runs from July 24- 28 at the Island City Mall here in Tagbilaran City. The MSMED Roving Academy uses integration strategy, and unifies all the help which sectors give to small entrepreneurs and then helps them keep track of their business development progress so they can continue the growth momentum, Clavisillas explained. Implemented in partnership with local government units, chambers of commerce and industries, academe, financial institutions and trade and industry groups, nongovernment and people’s organizations, the MSMED Roving Academy according to DTI hoped to inspire more entrepreneurs to sustain their business growths with the assurance that somebody is helping them nurture their investments. Innovative DTI's Roving Academy, which was launched in Bohol is The SMED Roving Academy unifies various promised to track progress reports of small investors and mentor business development services which these partner groups them to achieve even more as the country attempts to perk up assist MSMES, Clavisellas said. local economies by looking into small engines of development. It operates in a process framework with start(PIABohol) up and capability building, market awareness, market readiness, export readiness, export market entry, export sustainability and export expansion, Clavisellas added. Earlier, during the same ceremony, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto cited the country’s economic performance in the first quarter of the year, which has not been short of being stellar. But he said for this growth to be truly experienced by Boholanos, it has to be felt by all, and the government's By Rachelle M. Nessia focus on helping SMED is a step in the right direction. The challenge however, the governor pointed out, Malacañang vowed a thorough probe into the alleged P10- is how to make these MSME produce products that are billion 'pork barrel' scam over the past decade even if administration globally competitive, attain good design and quality, apart allies are involved in the anomaly. from going for environment friendly or green products. "This travesty will be investigated and we'll investigate it no The Sandugo Products Showcase adopted Go matter where the evidence will lead us," Presidential Spokesperson Green, Buy Local as its 2013 theme. Edwin Lacierda told reporters in a press briefing. The MSME Roving Academy packs all the help "We'll investigate it from top to bottom. There's not going to which a small entrepreneur would need to respond to the be a stone unturned," he added. need, assured Clavisellas in his address to regional trade exhibitors gathered at the ICM activity Center. (mbcn/rahc/ Janet Lim-Napoles is being implicated in a P10-billion scam using mainly pork barrel funds of lawmakers for ghost projects. Napoles denied the allegations saying her company, JLN INFOBYTES is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the Corporation, had never transacted business with the government or any of its Philippine Information Agency-Region 7 agencies. with stories submitted by its Provincial It was earlier revealed that at least 15 lawmakers allied with the Aquino Information Centers in Cebu, Bohol, administration may be involved in the scam. Negros Oriental and Siquijor. In 2001, Napoles and her husband, retired Army Maj. Jaime Napoles, were among 18 personnel of the Navy Marine Corps and civilians, charged by the Office of Ombudsman in connection with the acquisition of substandard Kevlar helmets worth P3.8 million. Napoles was also summoned by the Senate blue ribbon committee during We welcome its investigation on the P728-million fertilizer scam involving then Agriculture questions, clarifications Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante. and feedback: Earlier, the Palace said it is letting the Department of Justice, through the National Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate the case. (Janice M. Caveinfobytes-editorial@gmail.com PNA)
Palace: Probe into P10-B 'pork barrel' scam won't spare Admin allies
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SIQUIJOR
DOST, DepEd alert public on mosquito surge
OL traps covered 682 schools provincewide SIQUIJOR (PIA)—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have issued a warning against possible surge of dengue cases amid rainy season, especially in areas with stagnant water. As part of the extended DOSTDepEd Dengue Ovicidal-Larvicidal ( O L ) Tr a p P r o g r a m , a D e n g u e Ve c t o r S u r v e i l l a n c e R e f r e s h e r ’s Training and Website Aprreciation Seminar was held on July 17. This is in preparation for another
OL trap kits to be distributed right after the training which will already cover all public and private schools in the Siquijor. The DOST has distributed mid last year 1,364 ovicidal-larvicidal trap (OL trap) kits to 534 elementary schools and 148 secondary schools or 682 schools province-wide to help fight dengue upsurge in the province. Additional OL trap kits, DOSTProvincial Director Mario de la Pena said, will be deployed to all schools via a courier for installation right after the training. The seminar, he said is intended
to disseminate information to the school coordinators and train them in the use of the website for monitoring. Participants also include district Supervisors, division Heads and health personnel. O L Tr a p S y s t e m prevent the next generation of the mosquitoes carrying dengue virus. This simple technology, de la Pena said has only three components: a black container, a small strip of lawanit and OL Pellet Solution which is made of organic materials that dissolved in clean water. The scent of the solution attracts the female Aedes Aegypti to the lawanit and lays their eggs on the stick. When they get exposed to the solution, the eggs and larvae dies before transforming into adults. The process is simple, very safe and non-toxic, he said. DOST’s OL Trap also serves as a surveillance whether that area is now free from dengue transmission. Presence of eggs in the stick means the use of OL Trap should be continued, he said. Meanwhile, the DOST director is calling school coordinators to be serious in giving updates and reports of the OL trap system in their areas. Data gathered weekly should be reported to the DOST and DepEd office and will be posted at the website, he said. (mbcn/rac/ PIA7-Siquijor & PCL/MDP-DOST )
DENGUE VECTOR SURVEILLANCE: Dengue Vector Surveillance Refresher’s Training and Website Appreciation at the Department of Education-Siquijor Conference Hall. Photo shows (clockwise) Dengue Coordinator Ronya Mae L. Bayan of DOST 7 in her Website Navigation Tutorials, Ms. Elsa Rodriguez of DepEd-Siquijor giving her reaction to the OL trap project, Provincial Health Officer Redempta Cortes on Dengue Situationer in the province, and DOST7 Dengue Project staff Krissette Grace F. Campilan on the program update and refresher on vector surveillance. (RACalibo/ PIA-Siquijor)
PNoy orders DOST to host gov't websites President Benigno Aquino III has tasked the Department of Science and Technology Information and Communications Office (DoST-ICTO) to operate and maintain all the government web-hosting service. “The government recognizes the need for greater security and robustness in the internet technologies it uses to deliver reliable information and provide state of the art online services, which are free from impairment and disruption,” Aquino said in Administrative Order No. 39. Aquino said this will “ensure the government’s internet presence 24-hours a day, 7-days a week under all foreseeable conditions.”