One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 6 Issue 8 by piaamo6 Western Visayas

Vol 6

Issue 8

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Press Conference with DOST Secretary Mario Montejo in line with the ongoing Science Nation Tour Western Visayas leg here in Iloilo City. Also in the photos are PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr., DOST 6 Director Engr. Rowen Gelonga, NEDA 6 Director Ro-Ann Bacal and PIA 6 Director Janet Mesa.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3. Also CLICK Here…

February 22-28, 2016

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Ureka forum pushes e-commerce for SMEs By Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA6) --- Over 500 entrepreneurs and businessmen in Western Visayas converged in Iloilo City recently for the country‟s biggest e-commerce mass conversion program for businesses. Union Bank President Edwin Bautista said the forum facilitated the advancement of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through e-commerce and other relevant technologies. “We created the Ureka Forum to give Filipino SMEs the opportunity to grow their businesses beyond their potential through e-commerce,” he said. According to Union Bank, about 100 SMEs were assisted to in the utilization of e-commerce and were equipped with their own business website. “Much like how we engaged SMEs back in Northern Luzon last October, we want to bring the same opportunity to entrepreneurs here in Visayas by helping them grow their respective businesses beyond borders,” said Bautista. The Ureka Forum kicked off in the country last October in Baguio City. For the second leg of the forum held Feb. 20 at the Iloilo Convention Center, participating SMEs had the opportunity to listen to valuable insights from renowned experts and thought leaders including Silicon Valley billionaire Diosdado Banatao, social entrepreneur Iliac Diaz, Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) founder Aisa Mijeno, e-commerce specialist Eireen Bernardo, and Baguio-based artist and entrepreneur Maui Fernando, among others. In recent years, Visayas has proven its promise as a hotspot for different industries – from tourism to business

process outsourcing (BPOs) and multinational companies. The rise of investments and improvement of the regional economy has encouraged more people to start their businesses. Based on the latest data from the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, SMEs provide a major boosts to the economic growth of APEC countries by comprising about 97 percent of all registered businesses and taking up more than 70 percent of all jobs in the region. In the Philippines, there are currently 50,000 local businesses and 50 million Filipinos engaged in the e-commerce cycle making the sector a thriving environment. Through the Ureka Forum, Union Bank and its consortium partners continue fulfilling their goal of empowering local businesses to improve their capability and create a bigger impact socially and economically through strategic partnerships. (JCM/LTP-PIA6 Iloilo)

Engr. Aisa Mijeno shares her inspiring story when she made the Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp during the Ureka e-commerce forum held Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Iloilo Convention Center here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

DBM announces BUB coverage to expand next year CENTRAL VISAYAS

In ANOPIO (Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers) monthly briefing held today, provincial statistics head Engr. Ariel Fortuito of Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) presents the importance of civil registration and vital statistics which underscores the facts of birth and causes of death. (PIA7-NEGOR)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5. Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

By Rizalie Anding Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb. 24 (PIA) – Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary for Special Concerns Karen Villanueva recently announced in Siquijor province that the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) will be expanded to cover 42,036 barangays next year. This was announced during the orientation with the barangay captains of Siquijor at the GAD Building in Siquijor. BuB is the government‟s reform program that institutionalizes the people‟s participation in the budget process. Each barangay will receive a subsidy of P1 million for the implementation of projects that they have identified, Villanueva said. She said the program is expected to aid barangays in better formulating poverty reduction action plans and monitoring the delivery of basic services in the communities. During the orientation, Villanueva revealed that some 12,000 barangays will receive funding from the national government in 2017 for the various programs, of which implementation will be in batches. In Siquijor province, nine barangays of Larena town will be piloted for the program. During the orientation, the barangay captains were provided with inputs on how to implement the projects on their own. They were also briefed on procurement law, budget law

and regulations, and improving their governance at the barangay level. This is part of the efforts to make good governance directly seen, felt, and benefitted by all Filipinos, she said. Villanueva said DBM has started national consultations with barangay captains to engage them in the discussion on barangay BuB. This will be followed capacity building sessions and project preparation for the first batch of barangays to pioneer BuB. Before BuB, decisions were made at the top. Now, local communities with their local government units (LGUs) are given the power to decide on what priority projects should be implemented in their areas. Over the years, Villanueva said BuB has been recognized as one of the five best practices in Fiscal Transparency from around the world during the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit held in Mexico City last November. BuB is also being credited as one of the reforms that have helped to improve country‟s standing in global benchmarks of budget transparency. Likewise, the International Budget Partnership Open Budget Survey (OBS) for 2015 ranked the Philippines as Number One in Budget Transparency in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) because of programs such as the BuB. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo.)

PRDP finances biggest FMR project in Region 8

Comelec/ PNP checkpoint today near the Police barracks in Catbalogan City.

More on Region 8, pages 6-7. Also CLICK Here...

By Marcelo Pedalino SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte, Feb. 24 (PIA) -Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director (RED) Leo Caneda disclosed that the concreting of a hinterland road here under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) was the biggest in Region 8 -- and second in the entire Philippines. Caneda made the disclosure in a short talk during the groundbreaking ceremony of the farm-to-market (FMR) road project, a 14-kilometer stretch passing along nine barangays of Saint Bernard and Hinunangan municipalities. “PRDP invested in Southern Leyte for about P 500 Million . . . and this goes a long way,” the DA regional head and PRDP Project Director declared, hinting that such an investment will have its fair return in due time, in terms of increased agricultural productivity and improved farmers‟ income because of transport connectivity. The Mahayahay, Saint Bernard to Manalog, Hinunangan road improvement and rehabilitation costs P 182 Million, in which the national government through a World Bank financing shouldered 80%, DA 10%, and the provincial government counterpart, 10%.

The agricultural profile of the whole landscape revealed a dominant coconut plantation area with 3,226 hectares, followed by rice at 1,071 hectares, and other crops like banana vegetable, rootcrops and abaca accounting for more than 300 hectares. “NEDA data showed that Southern Leyte is the second province in Region 8 that is consistent in rice production,” Caneda said. Another upcoming PRDP project in Liloan amounting to P 230 Million is expected to be given the green light sooner, said Roy Abaya, another Project Director, in his brief message. Beside the infra works, PRDP also has a livelihood component, on swine, chicken, and duck dispersal for 14 People‟s Organizations in the province all worth about P 20 Million just awaiting implementation sooner, the Provincial Veterinary Services Office (PVSO) recently reported. Caneda and other top PRDP officials were met by Gov. Roger Mercado, Cong. Damian Mercado, and Saint Bernard Mayor Nap Cuaton upon arrival in this interior location shortly before noon on Friday, Feb. 19, as guests for the laying of time capsule and groundbreaking program. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte/an)

WESTERN VISAYAS

Carles barangay to have light from SALt By Leonard T. Pineda I ILOILO CITY, Feb. 22 (PIA6) --- Over 590 households in Barangay Gabi, Carles, Iloilo will benefit from the lighting project of the Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt), a company that created a lamp that is powered by a saline solution or saltwater. ilipino engineer Aisa Mijeno, one of the “We are focused in communities with no main source of lighting. inventors of the SALt lamp, said that electricity,” she said. The website said the product will provide they will provide these salt-powered Aside from Carles, they also have similar a more efficient light source for people who lamps to households in one of barangays in the projects of providing salt lamps to the use kerosene lamps and candles as an Gigantes who do not have access yet to Hanunuo Mangyan tribe of Bulalacao, Oriental alternative source of lighting. electricity. Mindoro and the Buscalan tribe of Kalinga. A SALt lamp can be used up to eight “We met with the Barangay Kagawad in According to the website www.salt.ph, hours per day for six months and can be Bgy. Gabi in Carles, Iloilo last year while we Engr. Aisa Mijeno and his brother powered fully by saltwater. were on tour promoting entrepreneurship R a l p h M i j e n o a n d E n g r . O s c a r After the six-month mark you among students”, she said. Magtibay invented the SALt lamp just need to replace the metal She said that the beneficiaries are excited with the goal of eliminating the electrodes and the lamp can be to receive the donations that are targeted to sustaining cost in areas that rely on kerosene/ used for another half a year. (JCM/LTP/ be distributed this 2016. battery powered lamps and candles as their PIA-Iloilo)

Aklan candidates join unity walk, covenant signing By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Feb. 25 (PIA6) -- Candidates vying for major provincial positions in the May 9, 2016 national and local elections as well as those in the municipalities running for local posts will be coming together on February 26 in Kalibo for a Unity Walk and Peace Covenant Signing.

he Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Provincial Office said assembly for the Unity Walk will be at the Kalibo Magsaysay Park where there will be Ecumenical Prayer at 6:30 a.m. The Unity Walk will then start at 7:00 a.m. from the Kalibo Magsaysay Park to the St. John the Baptist Cathedral, composed of the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) Security, Northwestern Visayan Colleges Band and Lyre Corps, All Witnesses/Signatories, Provincial Candidates, Municipal Candidates, COMELEC Election Officers, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine Army, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Philippine Information Agency, Diocese of Kalibo, Department of Justice, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas Aklan Chapter, and Aklan Press Club. Newly-assigned COMELEC –Aklan Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Roberto

Salazar said municipal candidates joining the Unity Walk and Peace Covenant Signing in Kalibo on February 26 will be from Balete, Banga, Ibajay, Kalibo, Lezo, Makato, Malinao, New Washington, Altavas, Nabas and Numancia. Other towns – like Batan and Malay will have their own Peace Covenant signing on February 27 and 28 respectively while the rest must have theirs before February 29, said Atty. Salazar, as by March, there are seminars election officers must attend to prepare for this year‟s elections. “While the other towns will have separate covenant signing, all municipal election officers will be attending the activity in Kalibo,” Atty. Salazar assured. A Holy Mass celebrated by Most Rev. Jose Corazon Talaoc, Bishop of Kalibo will be first held at the cathedral, followed by a short program and then the covenant signing first by provincial candidates for Representative,

Governor, Vice Governor and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and for candidates of respective municipalities. Some of the acts that the Aklan candidates will be swearing before God and the people to observe and to adhere to as contained in the covenant include focusing on their respective platform of government and to refrain from attacking the personal lives of fellow candidates during the campaign period; to avoid vote-buying and all forms of election fraud and use of threats; and to refrain from spending beyond what is lawfully permitted during the campaign. Accoridng to the COMELEC, besides signing their names on prepared documents, the candidates will also sign their names on the Peace Covenant on printed tarpaulins inside the church, which will then be brought to their respective municipalities for the public to see. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

PHO targets 66K kids for OPV immunization By Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 24 (PIA6) – More than 66,000 Capiceño children will be reached for oral polio immunization.

ulius Viczon de la Cruz of the Provincial Health Office disclosed that 66,870 under-five years old children in the province are targeted for the OPV Catch-Up Immunization by the Department of Health. “This is also in preparation for the Nationwide Oral Polio Vaccine Switch in April 27,2016,” he said. De la Cruz said that the week-long catch-up immunization, conducted by the local

health units in province, started last February 22 and will end on February 26. Capiz is one of the four priority provinces in Western Visayas for the said activity because of the low OPV coverage coupled by inadequate surveillance. The other priority areas are Antique, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. “For a number of years now, we have zero polio case in the province,” de la Cruz

said. The DOH explained that the Catch-Up immunization aims to protect the population from the consequences of importation of wild poliovirus and circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus immergence. It also seeks to guarantee high population immunity among under-five years old children in priority provinces and cities. (JCM/JBG/PIA6)

WESTERN VISAYAS

New mechanisms in place for Kanlaon contingency plan By Carlson B. Alelis NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Feb. 24 (PIA6) – The Office of the Civil Defense – Negros Island region (OCD-NIR) recently held a three-day workshop to review and update the contingency plan of Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano found in Negros Island. OCD-NIR Regional Director Blanche Gobenciong said the contingency plan of Mt. Kanlaon was prepared back in 2007, hence, the need to revisit the plan to incorporate the new mechanisms in terms of responding to the possible disaster. “Considering that very important siya, nag focus ang meeting muna sa mga provinces at yung areas na likely to be affected,” she said in the dialect. (Considering that it is very important, the focus of the meeting was on the provinces and areas that are likely to be affected.) In the scenario that Mt. Kanlaon erupts, the areas that will likely be affected are Canla-

on City in Negros Oriental, the municipalities of La Castellana, Moises Padilla and La Carlota and the cities of San Carlos and Murcia in Negros Occidental. OCD-NIR invited resource speakers and experts that are from other areas of the national government agencies, led by director Leni Alegre, chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, to provide the participants with new protocols guidelines with international standard that can be adopted and applied with the existing contingency plan. According to Alegre, the protocols that were discussed included Pre-disaster Risk

Assessment, Disaster-response Cluster Approach, Incident Command System, Rapid Damage Assessment and Need Analysis Tools and Post-damage and Needs Assessment. Mt. Kanlaon is at Alert Level 1 as of writing and is categorized as “silent,” but the public must take caution, according to Alegre. “Kailangan kahit tahimik, ito „yung pagkakataon na kailangan nating maghanda kasi hindi na tayo makapaghanda kung nandiyan na eh,” she said. (Despite being “silent,” this is the time that we need to prepare because we cannot prepare if it erupts). (JCM/CBA/PIA6-Negros Occidental)

Antique towns to have more mongo production By Vicente W. Villavert SAN JOSE, Antique, Feb.22 (PIA6) - - Farmer-beneficiaries from the six municipalities of Antique received some 4,500 kilos of mongo seeds distributed by the Department of Agriculture through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

rovincial Agriculturist Nicolasito Calawag said that the distribution of mongo seeds is under the government‟s high value crops development program aimed to increase production, income and livelihood of vegetable growers in the country. The seeds were distributed by Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao and Mr. Calawag during a program held at the Evelio B. Javier Freedom Park in San Jose. The recipient-municipalities are Hamtic, San Jose, Sibalom, Bugasong, Valderrama and

Laua-an. Each received 750 kilos of mongo beans plus packs of soil inoculant. Calawag said that for one kilo of mongo seeds planted, it will produce 20 to 30 kilos. The provincial agriculturist expects a yield of 70 to 90 tons from the 4,500 kilos of mongo seeds distributed to the farmer beneficiaries. Some 42 plastic mango crates were also distributed to identified mango under the post harvest facilities support program of the government. The recipients are the municipalities of

Anini-y- 5 palstic crates; Patnongon 12; San Jose- 5; San Remigio- 5; Sibalom- 5 and Tobias Fornier- 5. The High Value Crops Development Program is a banner program of the Department of Agriculture established to help address food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable growth. The program also helps to increase farmers income, create livelihood opportunity and contribute to national agricultural development. (JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)

DOST cites partners promoting S & T By Lilibeth A. French ILOILO CITY, Feb. 25 (PIA6) -- The Department of Science and Technology 6 (DOST 6) further strengthened its collaboration and partnership with various stakeholders in Western Visayas by recognizing their valuable contributions to the development of science and technology.

cience and Technology Secretary Mario G. Montejo assisted by DOST 6 Regional Director Rowen Gelonga awarded the Plaques of Recognition to 21 recipients of the Dungog S&T awards coming from the various sectors in the region during the recent Sci-Night: S&T Stakeholders Night. Montejo congratulated the awardees whom he described as their long time dedicated partners in the realm of S&T and have proven that time and again there is more to science. “My warmest congratulations to you for choosing to be involved in various worthwhile S&T endeavors in Western Visayas,” said Montejo. He assured awardees that their labor will not be in vain and DOST will be with them in every step of the way in pursuit of building a strengthened science nation.

Gelonga said the event is an opportunity not only to review their collaboration and partnership with their stakeholders but an opportunity to establish new ones. The Dungog S&T awardees were the following: for LGU - Province of Iloilo, Province of Aklan and Province of Negros Occidental; for SET-UP Beneficiaries - Filbake Corporation, Herbanext Laboratories, Inc. and Trappist Monastic Food Products; for NGOs - Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundations, Inc. Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative, Association of Negros Producers, Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges; and for Private Sectors and National Government Agencies – SMART Communications, Pfizer Philippines, Department of Health 6 and Department of Agriculture 6.

Also, conferred were Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus Scholars who garnered prestigious international awards namely: Joachium Regalado, Felecia Alodia Marie Rentoy, Dyan Reizl Valencia, Mickel Lyle Angelo Pe, Dominic S. Yap, and Czarina Apdon. DOST scholars who did not only excel in their academic performance but garnered top places in the licensure exams were also recognized. They are Remington Salaya, Jr., Engr. Abraham Porcal, Raxzien Shaye Sesbreno and Engr. Joe Val Alipin. The Sci-Night: S&T Stakeholders Night was part of the activities organized for the three-day Western Visayas Science Nation Tour conducted here until February 24. It was also attended by Dr. Angel Alcala and Dr. Ramon Barba, two of the country‟s 17 scientists. (JCM/LAF/PIA6-Iloilo)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

EDC’s ‘10M in 10’ plots out for a greener Negros master plan By Jennifer C. Tilos NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 16 (PIA) – Close to 400,000 trees were planted in 470 hectares in Negros Island last year as Energy Development Corporation (EDC) embarked on massive forest restoration with its ‘10 million trees in10 years for a Greener Negros’ movement.

DC recently led the finalization of commitments to achieve the vision of growing back the forests of the island in the next ten years with local partner-agencies in Negros Oriental. Former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Prof. Marlo Mendoza presented a proposed roadmap and strategies to realize the planting, growing and protecting the 10M native trees in the next ten years as the remaining 403,444 hectares of lands needed to be restored. It is noted that out of 478,402 hectares of forestlands on Negros Island, only 16% or 74,958 hectares remain covered with forest in 2010. Prof. Mendoza presented how the island suffered from deforestation due to commercial logging, land conversion or sugar cane plantations, Kaingin or slash and burn, and upland migration.

With the movement, EDC‟s various partners have committed to protect the environment and restore the forest. “To ensure the success of this greening program, a roadmap and strategies need to be employed with the various partners in a Bayanihan plantation, adopt-a-plantation, and EDC‟s BINHI greening legacy,” said Mendoza. However, he said stable watersheds have to be established, protect the island‟s unique biodiversity, and develop resilient communities and ecosystems that are able to adapt to climate change impacts. For the past four months after the „10M in 10‟ launched in 2015, EDC has established 470 hectares planted with 375,556 seedlings, 5,000 mangrove propagules planted in Tanjay City led by Negros Oriental Association of Corps Commanders, established website and Facebook page to help disseminate faster and valuable information about the

movement, among other activities. The movement is conceptualized to go beyond tree planting and includes maintenance and management of forests which is also vital in EDC‟s operation to provide clean geothermal power for decades to come. When the company first set foot in Negros Island in the 80‟s, forest cover was at a critical 4%, prodding EDC to embark on a massive environment program that by 2008, a total of 2,300 hectares all over Negros has been reforested to help reverse forest loss. That same year, BINHI greening legacy was launched with a more purposeful science-based approach to reforest 10,000 hectares in ten years and since then has been recognized as having revolutionized corporate greening programs and has converted kaingeros into forest stewards. (rmn/jct/ PIA7-Negros Oriental)

British Council invites English master teachers to join residential school By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA) – The British Council and the A.S. Horby Trust are inviting English master teachers in the Philippines to join their five-day residential school on April 11 to 15, 2016. his is in line with their initiative to teachers in their areas. Superintendent. enhance the teaching and learning of The Hornby Trust was set up by A.S. Applications will be screened based on English in the Philippines. Hornby in 1961 to support English language the following criteria: a) experience in delivery Hornby School will be hosted by the teaching worldwide. of training to teachers, b) knowledge in MLE Ateneo Center for English Language Teaching A.S. Hornby had a distinguished career in and ELT, and c) previous trainings received in (ACELT) at the Ateneo de Manila University in English language teaching and developed the MLE. Quezon City. Oxford Advanced Learners‟ Dictionary, which The application form and more In the region, the Department of is still published in its 8th edition by Oxford i n f o r m a t i o n are available on Education (DepEd) encouraged their English University Press. www.britishcouncil.ph/teach. master teachers to apply for the Hornby The Trust is a registered charity in the Teaching English in a Multilingual Setting School especially in areas that most need UK. will be the theme of the residential school support for English Language Teaching (ELT). Application forms must be submitted by programme and aims to train 30 trainers from Participants will then be expected to 12.00 nn on Friday, 26 February along with an the Philippines and other countries. (rmn/hfg/ cascade the materials and resources to fellow endorsement letter from the Schools Division PIA-7/British Council)

NOTC approves tourism destination brand for Negros Oriental By Jennifer C. Tilos NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 19 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Tourism Council (NOTC) has passed a resolution for the approval and adoption of the tourism circuit brand for the whole province.

he destination brand, ”Negros Oriental: This is how you want to live,” closely describe the province's natural environmental attractions as well as its people, according to the tourism council. The formulation of the tagline represents three tourism circuits in clustered local government unit-tourism areas in Dauin, Dumaguete City, and Tanjay City to Manjuyod. Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (NOCCI) President Ed Du said that to protect the brand name, this should be

patented or registered first with Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Once all the stakeholders support and use the brand in all its official tourism activities in the province, this will be promoted officially in all media outlets, said Du. Under the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), local government units are provided with technical advice and training on how to improve their business environment to be more competitive, attractive to investments, and conducive to job creation.

The Canadian government has extended funding assistance of P7 million to projects focusing on tourism development in the province in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Du said that Dumaguete City is now growing in all aspects as the top tourism destination for Chinese tourists or independent travelers from China as rated by Agoda.com, 93rd among the business process outsourcing (BPOs) all over the country, and 5th best retirement place in the world. (rmn/ jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Siquijor ARBOs receive DAR’s village-level processing centers By Rizalie Anding Calibo SIQUIJOR, Feb. 24 (PIA) -- At least four argrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the province recently received village-level processing centers from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here.

rovincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Louie Naranjo said DAR has allotted P1.2 million for the four projects with four local government units where these ARBOs belong. These centers were awarded to the following: Basac Women‟s Association (BWA) of Larena town which manufactures squash noodles; Siquijor Women‟s Association for a

Better Environment (SWABE) of Siquijor town which produces herbal tea and oil; Kapunungan sa Pagkambo sa Nasudnong Industriya sa Gatas (Kapanig) of San Juan producing dairy milk; and Triple M Farmers Association (TMFA) of Lazi that works with peanuts. Naranjo said that the project aims to develop market competitiveness of the ARBO

products. It also seeks to enhance enterprise and livelihood activities of the community in selected agrarian reform areas through assistance in product value -adding, improvement of facilities, and assistance in documentation and license application. (rmn/ rac/PIA7 -Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)

PRO-7 chief: 'No such thing as permit to campaign' By Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Feb. 23 (PIA)— There is no such thing as "permit to campaign," according to police regional director Manuel Gaerlan during an informal press encounter at the Governor's mansion on February 22. ommenting on the possible entry of free from insurgency since 2010. to report to them any person into the illegal rebel groups to seek funds as campaign Also, PPOC sources added that the drug trade. access fees in communist rebel groups rebel's white area committee members have Military intelligence sources, however, affected areas, Dir. Gaerlan said that been in a flurry of organizing activities and claimed that the letter was an attempt to fool "politicians are not paying permits to propping up their mass base to be able to politicians into thinking that the insurgents campaign, but are merely paying for plain and present a threat which would also stir have returned, when in fact, there is nothing to simple extortion." contractors and disaster rehabilitation project support such claims. Military intelligence sources have warned implementers into submitting what the former C/Supt. Gaerlan asked politicians to the Provincial Peace and Order Council rebels claim as revolutionary taxes from their reports to anybody they feel comfortable with (PPOC) in Bohol over the reported reconstruction project spending. when they receive any extortion letter re-entry of communist rebels in time for the Recently, the New People's Army through demanding for said fees. elections. its legal front the National Democratic Front "Go and report to the chiefs of police, The same military reports bared that the (NDF) issued a statement urging people to Camp Dagohoy, the Civilian Armed Forces for return of the insurgents would be to raise report to them drug lords, criminals, Geographical Units (CAFGU) detachment funds from politicians they can threaten into and politicians who are involved in the drug heads, Regional Public Safety Battalion heads or paying "permit to campaign and access fees to trade. the Army's Special Forces when you get any of rebel-controlled areas," despite the fact that The press material, signed by Bohol Island these demand letters," Gaerlan said. (rmn/rac/ the Philippine Army has declared Bohol NDF liaison officer Jose Ignacio, asked citizens PIA-7/Bohol)

Health continues to be Cebu's priority By Ferliza Calizar-Contratista CEBU CITY, Feb. 19 (PIA) – Four provincial hospitals in Cebu will have upgrades this year as the provincial government continues to prioritise health programs.

ebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera, in her report to members of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO), said that health still tops the priorities of the provincial government. In her presentation dubbed as “Kalamboan sa matag Sugboanon”, Natera said the four hospitals that are in the cities of Bogo, Carcar, Danao and Balamban town can already accept surgeries as they already have surgeons and anesthesiologists. “They can already cater to orthopedic, caesarian, and other surgical procedures, “ Natera said. In this manner, Don Vicente Sotto

Memorial Medical Center (DVSMMC) in Cebu City will be decongested and patients and families will not have to spend more. Natera said that for this year, there will additional equipment for the hospitals such as dialysis, Xray, and ultrasound machines. “We will also contract services of Radio Technologists from the private sector so that results will be available immediately,” Natera said. The provincial government also distributed 48 ambulances in different municipalities. Meanwhile, the province created two commissions that will look into the concerns of the senior citizens and sports development.

In terms of Agriculture, there are already 8,900 graduates of the Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP), a pioneer program of Cebu initiated by Governor Hilario Davide‟s uncle Romulo Davide. There were 13 farm-to-market roads constructed amounting to P1.182 billion, while water programs were funded at P140.193 million. “Kalambuan sa matag Sugboanon” means development for all Cebuanos or inclusive growth among Cebuanos. The provincial government hosted this month‟s meeting of CAOCAMPIO, a network of public information officers in Cebu local government units (LGUs). (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

EASTERN VISAYAS

PNOY boosts AFP TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, February 25(PIA) - The Aquino Administration has surpassed efforts of the past three administrations since the enactment of the AFP Moderzation Act in Feb. 1995, Philippine Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año informed.

e said that with the acquisition of P53B worth of equipment in the first three years, the AFP had been on track with its modernization program, with the Philippine Army receiving R4 assault

rifles, armored personnel carriers, had-held radios and night fighting equipment and still expected to arrive are trucks, weapons and mortars. He added that they are also improving

facilities to meet the world class standard as part of transforming PA into territorial defense modes The modernization program is intended to last for 15 years with an initial funding of P50B in the first five years. (LSDE/PIA)

Kalahi-CIDSS MCC increases women participation in local governance By PIA-08 TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Feb. 25 (PIA) – They run day care centers, participated in decision making, manage small construction projects others became welders.

his what became of hundreds of women in Region 08, as a result of the community driven projects of Kabit-bisig-Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) MCC project of the Department of Social Worker and Development(DSWD). Narra Jean Pacoma of San Sebastian Samar, Crisanda Pepino, Cal-igan Northern Sasmar and Jessible Hayahay, Matag-ob, Leyte were only among the thousands of Kalahi volunteers in the region who shared their Kahalhi experience, how they were involved, how they were helped and how they were empowered as an ordinary citizen of their community. Delivering her testimony in between sobs, the emotional Crisanda Pepino narrated how the DSWD project lifted her and her

family from hunger. With her participation in trainings and community assemblies, she said she learned how to decide for her and her children as she now strive to earn a living of her own. Narra Jean Pacoma, despite her arm infirmity, learned how to become a welder, a skill used to be dominated by men. She could even hardly tie her hair at the back, but neither does it hamper her goal to help her children gain better future. Kalahi-CIDSS is poverty alleviation of program of the national government that uses the Community Driven Development (CDD) strategy which gives the power back to the people. In the last four years, Millennium Challenge Corporation in the Philippine (MCAP) of the U.S. government came into the picture and poured out financial assistance to

the country‟s pro-poor programs and projects. To date, a total of 40 municipalities and 1, 232 barangays were covered in Eastern Visayas by Kalahi-CIDSS MCC since its inception in 2011 where 420, 484 households were already served. As of January 31 this year, 1,160 sub-projects were already identified for funding with a total Community Grant Investment of Php 1,013,972,053.00 released to different barangays. These sub-projects served as a reminder to the communities of the hardship and cooperative effort to achieve a transformative grassroots leadership. Said sub-projects have also benefited a total of 82,253 Pantawid Pamilya households. The KALAHI-CIDSS MCAP will soon fold-up after its five years of implementation and assistance to the poor.(PIA-08 with reports of DSWD08)

Farming strategies keep hostile elements away By Ninfa B Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 24 (PIA)—Modern farming techniques have been slowly winning locals and farmers to stray away from the clutches of insurgency.

ot only have they been busy tending to their high and rich yielding farms but they have unknowingly led their families to food sufficiency with a little help from the state soldiers. In the 52nd Infantry Brigade, located in Sta Rita, Samar, Commanding Officer Nedy Espulgar started off with his men inside the camp, then as he moved outside the camp to befriend the locals, he slowly influenced them to emulate what his soldiers do.

The project drew the attention of PAMANA Project Manager Imelda Bonifacio who saw the promise of the project. “We are transforming military camps to peace camps with demonstration farms in organic farming, poultry and hog raising,” said Bonifacio. She added that the project has some P 9 Million funds. “If we can influence our farmers to sustain their farms as they will be earning and at the same time provide food for the family, then

we believe we can draw them away from insurgency,” the lady official of PAMANA said. Bonifacio said that aside from the fund, he also needs the passion of the commanding officer who has never dwindled from his passion to reach more locals as what he did in Leyte. “Very soon, we will bring our farmers to more successful peace camps to show them that it can be done, while winning peace.” (nbq/PIA –Samar)

EASTERN VISAYAS

PhilHealth-Southern Leyte enrollees up by 161% By Ma. Rebecca Cadavos MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb 24 (PIA) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)- Southern Leyte has increased its number of enrollees based on the membership enrolment from 2013-2014, PhilHealth Provincial Head Henry Madula informed.

rom 14,503,500 in year 2013 it increased to 37,828,500 in 2014 with an increased percentage of 161, he said. Though, by 2015 they had recorded yet up to the third quarter with 25,677,500 enrollees, he added. Madula said that the increase of enrollees was due to the tax revenues collected from liquors and cigarettes, known as “sin tax” – a move of the government three years ago that raised taxes on liquor and cigarettes. It can be

recalled that the act mainly aimed to pour the collected money into public health care, it was learned. The source further said that the national government took over the payment on the annual premiums of indigent PhilHealth enrollees which was previously handled by the Local Government Units, because of the increased taxes collected from both liquor and cigars. On the other hand, the provincial

government of Southern Leyte also put in place the Point of Care Enrolment for non-Philhealth members that will be hospitalized in government hospitals throughout the province. Madula also assured the public that if Yolanda privilege program will be pulled out, PhilHealth with an agreement with Gov. Roger G. Mercado will immediately enroll the patient to PhilHealth through its indigency fund. (rgc/ PIA8-SoLeyte/an)

BFAR Eastern Samar to construct 14 CFLCs By: Samuel D. Candido BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Feb. 23 (PIA) ----- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), reported that they will construct 14 Community Fish Landing Centers (CFLCs) in the province to improve the living condition in poor fishing villages.

ccording to Ms. Arlene Orollo, Provincial Target Coordinator, the 14 CFLCs are located in Arteche, Can-avid, Borongan City, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Hernani, Gen. Mac-Arthur, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan, Quinapondan and Giporlos.

Each CFLCs, would cost P2.85-M which will house post harvest equipment and tools enabling fisherfolks to preserve the quality of their fish and fishery products, which they could sell on a higher price. “Local consumers will also benefit from the fish landing centers as they will have

better access to safe and quality fishery commodities,” The facilities will be used also as venues for skills trainings on disaster-resilient fisheries- based livelihood and resource management such as monitoring fish catch and stock assessment. (SDC/PIA-E. Samar)

DPWH Southern Leyte jumpstarts infra plans for 2017 By Erna Gorne MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 24 (PIA) - Still within the first quarter of 2016, the construction arm of the government, DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineering Office starts to map out plans for infrastructure programs for next year.

ccording to Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (SLDEO) District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia, 83 out of 84 projects lined up for this year were all bidded out and has started simultaneously its constructions across the province while she instructed the planning division to start mapping out infra plans for the next year. She further disclosed that among the priority infra projects that will be highly considered is the construction of 4 to 6 lanes along the national roads in preparation for the influx of more motor vehicles that certainly will cause heavy traffic in the near future in the

province. It has been noted that congestion of traffic is being felt in Maasin City recently even as the city government moved to install the only traffic light, so far. However,in three more street corners at the heart of the city, these are now manned by traffic enforcers to help decongest the heavy flow of traffic. DE Junia said acquisition of the road-right-of-way along the national roads in close coordination with the affected residents were underway and ably handled with her staff since last year. Parking area structures, sari-sari stores, gates, among others, that were encroaching within the 20-meters from the

centerline of the national roads were slowly been demolished with the consent of the owners, she added. The 2017 program of projects will also include the continued strengthening of some bridges built forty years ago. In 2015, some 35 bridges have completed repairs and another 47 bridges are up for repair this year. The province has 151 bridges. Junia also expects a busy year in 2017 as more constructions to be funded by other national line agencies like the DA, DOT, DepEd and DOH shall be undertaken on top of their regular infrastructure projects. (esg/PIA8 SoLeyte/an)

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City. One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Regional Director, PIA 7

Editorial Consultants Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Regional Director, PIA6

Ms. Alicia E. Nicart Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. Contributors All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8 Production and Layout Edson J. BaĂąares Lynnor C. Regalado Regional Offices: PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com PIA 8, Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com