One Visayas Issue 16

Vol I

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Issue 16

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Commitment Signing. Lt. Gen. Ralph A. Villanueva, Commander, CENTCOM, signs the Commitment of Support to Preserve the Peace and Security of the Province of Aklan right after the joint signing of the declaration of Aklan as an insurgency-free province

by Aklan officials led by Governor Carlito Marquez and MGen. Emmanuel T. Bautista, Commanding General, Philippine Army. The signing was held recently at the Governor Corazon L. Cabagnot Tourism and Training Center.

(PIA/VGV)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

December 12 — 18, 2011

Leyte hybrid rice farmer leads 2011 Gawad Saka national winners TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- Alfredo Q. Roble, a 63-year old farmer-turned-barangay official from Ormoc City, Leyte leads this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka, the annual search for outstanding achievers in agriculture and fisheries.

Winners were honored Tuesday, December 13 at Rizal Hall in Malacanang by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Barangay chairman Roble of Valencia, Ormoc City, has managed to harvest up to 12 tons of palay per hectare from his two-hectare farm, enabling him to clinch the outstanding hybrid rice farmer award.

A jubilant DA-8 Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio and DA-8 Rice Focal Person, Dr. Rufino Ayaso III, informed that Roble shares the limelight with Anna Cagulada, a lady-farmer from Dujali, Davao del Norte, who was adjudged as the country’s best integrated rice farmer.

Roble and Cagulada, along with other individual winners will each receive a cash award of P100,000.

The 2011 Gawad Saka national winners, composed of 14 individuals and nine groups, each received a Presidential citation and trophy, and corresponding cash incentives for individual winners and project grants for group winners, totaling P4.25 million.

Alfredo Q. Roble (right), a 63-year old farmer turned barangay official from Ormoc City, Leyte leads this year’s national winners of the Gawad Saka. With him is DA-8 Technical Director Arsenio Fortin. (Photo courtesy of DA8)

Another Leyteño is this year’s agricultural scientist, Dr. Carlos dela Cruz of Balinsasayao, Abuyog, Leyte. He conducted breakthrough researches on jackfruit production and pest management. He will receive a project grant of P1 million from the DA’s Bureau of Agriculture Research (BAR).

The group awardees are led by the Calumpit Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. It will receive a project grant worth P150,000 from the DA-National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). (PIA-8)

PQA promotes organizational performance excellence

Assessment. Pantawid Pamilya Beneficiaries present comparative analysis on the status of program implementation relative to the compliance with the conditions of the program. (Upper right) Regional Director, Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre encourages beneficiaries to continue being an example. (PIA-7)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The government has adopted the Philippine Quality Award to encourage private and public companies and organizations in the country to improve their quality and productivity especially in serving their clients or customers.

A flagship program of the National Action Agenda for Productivity, PQA also seeks to promote standards on organizational performance comparable to those of leading businesses or organizations abroad, establish a national system for assessing quality and productivity performance, and recognize organizations which have achieved the highest level of quality and excellence, providing benchmarks for others.

At a recent PQA Assessors Preparatory Course held in Metro Manila, Executive Director of the Center for Industrial Competitiveness of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Virgilio Fulgencio said PQA is an integrated approach to

organizational performance management that results in delivery of ever-improving value to customers and stakeholders, contributing to organizational sustainability, improvement of overall organizational effectiveness and capabilities, and organizational and personal learning.

So far, 37 private and public organizations have received recognitions and benefited from the award since it started in 1997 with United Laboratories, Inc. as the first recipient of the PQA for Performance Excellence in 2008.

Among the benefits that can be derived by participating organizations in the program are: achieving greater success and outside perspective of organization’s strengths and opportunities for improvement; increasing employee involvement and team capability; and becoming benchmarks and models for other organizations in performance excellence. (JCM/JSC/PIA6)

Cebu City LGU, Ombudsman-Visayas sign MOA to fight corruption

by Amor Saludar Food and Nutrition Research InstituteDOST science and research specialist Salvador Serrano (standing) talks on the different food technologies and food safety during the NUTRICOMNET meeting and forum held at the PIA regional office , Tacloban City, December 13 as FNRI SRS Susan Encarnacion, DOST-Leyte provincial director Glenn Ocaña, PIA 8 regional director Olive Tiu and DOST 8 regional director Edgardo Esperancilla listen. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

CEBU CITY Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas and the Cebu City government recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to battle graft and corruption.

Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama signed the MOA, which was aimed at taking actions and instituting measures to fight corruption within their respective jurisdictions.

The two leaders urged government officials and the public to support the campaign against corruption, as well as in the enforcement of laws geared towards curbing corruption.

Apostol cited unity as the most important element in winning the battle against corruption and added that the “surest way to victory is to have a united front against corruption”.

“We failed in our (previous) campaign against corruption because we were not united in our efforts. Some (were) not sincere in the implementation of the rules against anti-corruption,” Apostol said.

In response, Rama pledged his commitment to lead Cebu City in the combat against corruption as part of his calling as a public leader.

“This is a calling and let us honor our commitments,” Rama concluded. (FCR/AS/PIA-CEBU)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

Ilonggos learn to farm through SOA

by Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- Teacher Leydee Sedino of Buenavista, Guimaras said she is very thankful to the Department of Agriculture for initiating the School-on-the-Air (SOA), which is beneficial not only to farmers but also to educators like her.

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edino is one of the 383 graduates of the Agri-Pinoy SOA on Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture of the Department of Agriculture who were confirmed and given certificates of completion during a program, which had the semblance of a traditional graduation recently in Iloilo City.

SOA on Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture was aired three-times a week over DYRI from 4:00 – 4:30 a.m., which started July to November this year and has attracted more than 600 enrollees from the provinces of Iloilo and Guimaras.

In her testimony as one of the outstanding graduates, Sedino said although the SOA requires her to multi-task, preparing food for her children and herself for school while listening to the radio, she decided to enroll because she found the course timely and relevant.

She said whatever lessons on organic farming and sustainable agriculture she gets from SOA teachers, she transfers the same to her pupils and even shares them during the Parents-Teachers Association meetings.

Joining Sedina in the list of outstanding graduates were Elna Soldevilla of Pototan, Iloilo; Wilfredo Galicia of Calinog; Anita Detore of Dingle; Zenon Molanda of Maasin; Romeo Cordero of Pototan; Ricky Olimpo of San Enrique; Iris Villanueva of Mina; Leila Rosbero and Ma. Jelly Ayalin of Passi City; Rubelyn Malutao of Btac. Viejo; and Magdalena Tacay of Leon.

Special citation was given to Arla Arenga, a DA employee who religiously followed the program, had a perfect score during the final assessment examination given to find out the level of knowledge acquired by the enrollees on the topics covered in the course.

He may not be included in the outstanding graduates, but 52 year old Nonito Biyo of Abangay, Janiuay, Iloilo is also proud to be a recipient of the certificate of completion. Biyo even bought a rechargeable transistor radio, so he would not to miss the lessons on the air. A former OFW, he he wanted to increase his knowledge on agriculture especially on organic farming.

DA 6 Regional Technical Director for Operations Engr. Remelyn Recoter congratulated the graduates and recognized their continued support to the SOA as some of them have also completed the other SOAs conducted by the regional office.

She also stressed the importance of the topics of the almost five-month course on sustainable and organic agriculture in the country’s efforts to achieve food sufficiency and address climate change.

(JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

New building to ease congestion at ARC

by Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, Dec. 13 (PIA6) -- Congestion at the Aklan Rehabilitation Center (ARC) will soon be eased with the construction of an additional building within the compound in Barangay Nalook, Kalibo, Aklan.

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RC Provincial Warden Gelacio Guarino said the building, worth P1 million, is already 85 percent finished and will contain 3 cells for inmates.

When it is already operational, the building will help decongest the

current cells housing 263 inmates, Guarino said.

Presently, the ARC has 9 cells housing various numbers of inmates, the highest of which is 51, held by Cell No. 51.

Guarino said the ideal number that a

cell could hold is 20.

Aside from the P1 million building, the provincial government will also construct a P500,000 worth of perimeter fence.

“This is to prevent our inmates from escaping,” Guarino said. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Biz owners urged to renew business certificates

by Pilar S. Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry is urging business owners to renew their Business Name Certificates starting January 2012.

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rovincial Director Jose Divinagracia of DTI Antique said that existing business owners are set to renew their permit come 2012, while owners of new businesses which will operate this coming year are encouraged to register their business name this December 2011.

Registering a business with DTI only requires a simple procedure, said Engr. Lynna Joy Cardinal, Trade and Industry Development specialist of DTI An-

tique.

The applicant can fill up the form available online or at the DTI provincial office together with any copy of a valid identification card and payment of a registration fee that corresponds to the territorial scope of the business.

For a business operating province-wide, an applicant will pay P1000 plus P15 documentary stamp.

Those based in the municipalities, on the other hand, need to pay P500 and P15

documentary stamp. Lastly, for barangay level operation, they will be charged P200 and P15documentary stamp.

The law states that it is generally unlawful for a business to use a business name without registering it with the Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection.

DTI said this is one of their services aimed at regulating and monitoring business transaction practices. (JCM//PSM/ PIA6 Antique)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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CSC issues Christmas reminders

by Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Dec. 14 (PIA6) -- The Civil Service Commission has reminded all government agencies this Christmas to ensure that their services to the public are not interrupted by their conduct of Christmas parties or year-end conferences.

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press release from the CSC-6 said that agencies may celebrate the holidays but their front-line areas should provide continuous services.

CSC Chair Francisco Duque III said it is the responsibility of the heads of offices to implement appropriate strategies, such as shifting schedules and skeletal work force, to ensure that the public is served within the prescribed office hours.

Duque added that communication lines should also be kept open and there must always be someone to answer

calls.

He also reminded civil servants not to accept gifts in exchange for performing their duties, especially from clients, suppliers and contractors with whom they are facilitating business.

“Serving the public is our duty and we must give the best possible service without expecting anything in return,” Duque said.

He cited the provisions of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials

and employees, which prohibit civil servants from soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, loans or anything of monetary value in the course of some official duties.

CSC-6 Director Atty. Rodolfo Encajonado said in a previous PIA interview, that public servants must at all times show the best behavior towards their client and uphold self-respect by not indulging in bribery.

(CSC/ESS/JCM/PIA-Iloilo).

NegOcc best health workers honored

by Carolina A. Dionela

BACOLOD CITY, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- The 2011 Best Performing Barangay Health Workers (BHW) of Negros Occidental were named during the annual general assembly and Christmas party of the BHW Federation at the Negros Occidental Multi-purpose and Activity Center (NOMPAC) recently, a press release from Capitol said.

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warded as the Best Performing BHW was Cornelia Artesano of Himamaylan City (South Central Inter-Local Health Zone), followed by Ma. Teresa Estampa of Valladolid (Midland ILHZ) and Evelyn Gerongani of Kabankalan City (South Negros ILHZ).

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., in his message, said that all

BHWs will be enrolled in the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program (NOCHP) starting next year.

Out of 6,500 registered BHWs, only 546 are currently enrolled.

He said this is one of the incentives that BHWs will get for their hard work and for being the front liners of basic health services in the province.

Vice Gov. Genaro M. Alvarez, Jr. also expressed gratitude to the health workers for their services to the people of Negros.

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Health Officer II also thanked the health workers for their continued support to the programs of the provincial government and for their sacrifices and hardwork.CAD/ PIA6/CAPITOL NEWS)

Diskwento Caravan in Capiz held Dec. 15

by Alex A. Lumaque

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- As part of the government’s Christmas present to Capiceños, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Capiz Provincial Office conducted the “Diskwento Caravan” on Dec. 15 at the public plaza here.

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Ten distributors and manufacturers participated in the event,” according to DTI – Capiz director Ermelinda P. Pollentes.

Consumer products available at the caravan, included among others, cheese, ham, sausages and other food products, flavoring and spices, pasta, bath and laundry soaps, toilet bowel cleaner, dishwashing detergents, noodles and softdrinks.

The day-long selling event aimed to improve consumers’ access to prime commodities as well as noche buena products at low prices by involving the private sector.

“Capicenos came and bought products at manufacturers or distributors prices,” Pollentes noted An in-house Diskwento Caravan was also conducted by by DTI – Capiz last May in coordination with the local retailers

association.

The Diskwento Caravan is a nationwide project by DTI to ease the financial burden of the consumers brought by high fuel prices and provide additional or alternative market for manufacturers and producers, especially MSMEs. (JCM/AAL/ PIA 6 Capiz)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

RN Heals program deploys nurses to poor C. Visayas towns

by Fayette C. Riñen CEBU CITY, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- Almost 1,500 nurses were deployed to poor municipalities in Central Visayas this year, to provide healthcare services to unserved or underserved communities. Deployment of nurses under the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service (RN Heals) program will last for a year.

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r. Lakshmi Legaspi, assistant regional director of the Department of Health (DOH) 7 said the nurses were deployed in two batches.

“In February, we deployed 688 nurses all over the region and another 788 nurses were deployed last month. A total of 1,476 nurses were deployed for this year alone,” Legaspi said.

Cebu got more than 300 nurses in the first batch due to its large population which needed more manpower

augmentation in providing basic health care services in rural communities, Legaspi said.

For the second batch, 520 out of the 788 nurses were assigned to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), a government-manned tertiary hospital under the DOH based in Cebu City, Legaspi disclosed.

The VSMMC accommodates indigent patients from various provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The RN Heals is a program designed to provide jobs to nurses and deploys them to poor communities to make essential health services accessible to poor communities.

RN Heals also provides a venue for nurses to practice their profession and hone their skills. It also augments the number health workers in public hospitals and rural health units. (PIA-Cebu)

P5-M mini-pier in Dauin town completed

by Rachelle M. Nessia DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) -- Tourist traffic in Dauin town is seen to go up next year following the recent completion of the construction of a mini-pier in Brgy. Maayong Tubig in Dauin, Negros Oriental. he port was formally turned over construct, with Gov. Degamo pouring in The port is expected to start by the provincial government led P2 million to accelerate its completion, operating next year.

by Gov. Roel Degamo to the said Capitol Information Officer Adrian Sedillo said the port was built to local government unit of Dauin Sedillo. facilitate trips between Dauin town and represented by Mayor Neil Credo in a Construction of the mini-port was Apo Island. ceremony recently. started during the time of then Gov. and Apo Island is a 72-hectare island off The turnover ceremony was now Congressman George Arnaiz in 2003 the coast of Dauin town and is considered witnessed by Dauin’s Sangguniang Bayan under the auspices of then Dauin Mayor one of the best diving spots in the world. members and barangay officials. and now Provincial Board Member (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental) The port cost around P5 million to Rodrigo Alanano, said Sedillo.

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NOPPO says NegOr will be drug-free in time

by Jennifer Catan-Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office [NOPPO) recently declared that it is "just a matter of time" before a drug-free society can be achieved.

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OPPO provincial director P/ SSupt. Edward Carranza also said that the drug menace in the province is under control, and with vigorous drug-law enforcement and multi-sector cooperation, the availability of illicit drugs can be reduced.

During the year-end conference of the Negros Oriental Drug Abuse Prevention Council [NORDAPC) recently, Carranza gave a report on the drug situation in the province.

He said that the operations of various drug enforcement agencies resulted in the arrest of 144 persons that included 107

drug pushers, 36 drug users and one marijuana cultivator from January to November this year.

According to Carranza the Police had filed 170 cases this year compared to 81 cases filed in 2010. Most cases filed at the Regional Trial Courts in the province are in violations of RA-9165 or the Anti-Drug Law. Shabu is still the number one popular drug choice among users in the province, according to the report. In 2011, 122.604 grams of shabu were confiscated, four times greater than the 26.30 grams confiscated the previous year.

The NOPPO also reported that in 2010, it had confiscated nearly 60 grams of marijuana leaves. Even before the end of 2011, however, the agency has already seized over 7,531 grams of dried marijuana leaves.

Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo is pushing for a 100 percent drug -free Negros Oriental as he encouraged the NORDAPC to intensify its campaign to reduce supply and demand of illegal drugs in the province. (mbcn/jct/PIANegOr)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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Pilar, Camotes makes it to the top 10 finalists in Global Solution Search

by Minerva BC Newman CEBU, Dec. 9 (PIA) -- The Pilar Municipal Marine Park (PMMP) in Camotes Island, Cebu made it to the top 10 finalists in the Rare and National Geographic's search for community-based solutions for global environmental issues specifically innovations for near-shore fisheries based on proven successes. ccording to a release from the 10 finalists, and starting November 16 the world to vote for the Pilar Municipal www.solutionsearch.org, more to December 24, 2011, the public can Marine Park or PMMP the same way we than 100 entries from 48 countries vote for the solution that is most likely to did for the Puerto Princesa Underground worldwide were submitted for the contest turn the tide for coastal fisheries at River that made it to the New 7 Wonders that included implementation of no-take www.solutionsearch.org. of the World.

The entry that receives the most zones; introduction of innovative fishing To vote, Maratas encourages the gear and the development of alternative votes will be declared the grand-prize public to log at www.rareplanet.org; go to winner and be awarded a U.S.$20,000 the ‘Solution Search’ tab near the top of livelihoods.

Rare president and CEO Brett Jenks project grant and a video on National the page and visit Pilar’s entry at http://www.rareplanet.org/en/solutionin a release said, “For too long the Geographic’s Ocean website.

Two runners-up will each receive a search-entry/multi-stakeholder-coconservation community has focused on problems, but there are a lot of U.S.$5,000 project grant and the winners management-scheme-pilar-municipalmarine-park.(PIA-7/mbcn) working solutions in remote parts of the will be announced on Jan. 6, 2012.

Pilar, Camotes vice mayor, Eufracio planet.”

A panel of seven judges has selected Maratas, Jr. is calling on Filipinos all over

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DA-PATCO holds planning workshop to develop organic agri in Siquijor

by Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, Dec. 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture-Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (DA-PATCO), in Siquijor held last week a two-day workshop to formulate a plan to develop organic agriculture for the province of Siquijor.

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rogram Coordinator Bernadith Bunado said the workshop was aimed at gathering first hand each agency’s activities to develop organic agriculture as basis for formulating a provincial roadmap for organic agriculture.

Prior to the workshop, a series of

trainers’ training was conducted in November on the implementation of Republic Act 10068, otherwise known as Organic Agriculture Act 2010.

Bunado said that apart from providing farmers with fertile soil, organic agriculture reduces pollution and

destruction of the environment, prevents depletion of natural resources, and further protects the health of farmers, consumers and the general public, Bunado added. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)

Barangays need ordinances to discourage child trafficking—PACT

by Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec. 9 (PIA) -- The Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) called on barangays to enact ordinances mandating all recruiters to register first before they are allowed to recruit in the localities.

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he call from PACT came as the world commemorated the International Day against Trafficking on December 12.

PACT said communities must exhaust all possibilities to pursue creative programs that track recruiters so as to make them accountable for their recruitments.

According to the group, the registration of recruiters allows local officials to trace the recruits’ destinations and the agencies that hire them.

PACT also said there has to be more community efforts to convince parents that there are still other means of earning a living other than sending their minors to work..

“The prospect of milking out income from minors, their high value for the different forms of abuse from human slavery to prostitution, and them as warm bodies for the country’s continuing armed conflict, pile up for the lucrative income a trafficker gets from this illegal business,” says police officer Tomasita Carino of the children and women’s desk at Camp Dagohoy.

These kids however do not always end up with the jobs promised, Carino noted.

Most of the stories recounted by victims detail gory experiences of abuse so inhumane they find ways to get rescued, Carino shared, while wanting to keep these details confidential.

This year’s theme for the International Day against Child Trafficking is “Komunidad Palakasin, Child Trafficking Sugpuin”, in a call for communities to get involve.

PACT still keeps the hope that the problem of child trafficking can be addressed through proper action and accurate information.

Over this, PACT calls on everyone to continue learning about trafficking, to seek creative ways to equip workers with the right skills for work and to establish community based livelihood programs to stop people from leaving their communities to work. (PIA-Bohol/mbcn/ rahc)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

PhilHealth accredits all SO Leyte LGUs as collection partners

by ES Gorne MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 14 (PIA) -- All of the local government units in the province which had been newly accredited by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) now serve as collection partners to provide convenience to its insurance members in the remittance of monthly premiums.

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he move to accredit local government units would make it easier for PhilHealth members to pay promptly, PhilHealth senior staff Henry Magdula, who is also the designated Information Officer disclosed during its weekly radio program.

The members, who used to pay at

designated banks, can now pay at their respective municipal treasurer’s offices, Magdula said.

He advised members to keep the white–colored receipts, while the yellow-colored copies will be submitted to the municipal treasurer’s office.

Premium payments must be updated

to ensure continuous coverage, Magdula added.

Meanwhile, Magdula also disclosed that most of the rural health units (RHUs) accredited with PhilHealth can now accommodate all PhilHealth members.

(ESG-PIA SoLeyte)

Brgy Captains, volunteers identify projects for Naval, Biliran

by Rodrigo S. Victoria

NAVAL, Biliran, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- Teams composed of barangay captains and volunteers from LGU-Naval were formed to help in the identification of priority projects for implementation under the Makamasang Tugon Round (MTR) 1 projects.

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onathan G. Adriatico, municipal monitor of MTR1 said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)- Biliran that the barangay representation teams (BRTs) will visit the 26 barangays in Naval town on December 15 to validate the project sites where these MTR1 projects will be implemented.

Adriatico said that the purpose of the project site validation is to know whether or not the project proposal addresses the top priority needs of the constituents.

Adriatico further said that some members of the BRT who are also members of the Project Representation Team (PPT) will also help identify in the prioritization of MTR1 projects for implementation in June next year.

He added that the assessment and findings of the BRT will serve as bases in their prioritization of projects through the Municipal Inter-Barangay Forum (MIBF) for participatory resource allocation that is scheduled to be held on January 6, 2012.

The MIBF is a forum where the PRT will vote on a project proposal of a certain barangay based on their assessment in their project site validation conducted, Adriatico said.

He revealed that there might be 13 projects prioritized for implementation in Naval next year.

Adriatico assured that their office or the officials of the local government unit (LGU) of Naval will intervene as to the prioritization of projects. (PIA 8 Biliran)

Eastern Samar to conduct RSBSA survey

by Samuel D. Candido

Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Dec. 14 (PIA) -- In line with his social contract with every poor family that they rise above poverty, President Benigno C. Aquino III, has instructed some line agencies to conduct a study dubbed as Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) in order to obtain a baseline data for the farmer sector.

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imilar to other provinces in the country, the survey as initiated by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), will be spearheaded by the National Statistics Office, with the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The survey is expected to gather important data and/or profile of farm laborers/workers and fisherfolks to aid policy makers and program framers at the national level in crafting programs and projects for the farmers.

According to Ronnie A. Bajado, provincial statistics officer of the National Statistics Office (NSO) before the registration activity starts, there shall be

several level-training to be conducted: First level training to be conducted in Manila; the second level is called Trainors Training to be attended by Local Gov’t.

Operations Officer of (DILG), Municipal Agriculturists Oficer of (DA), Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer of (DAR) and Municipal Planning and Dev’t. Officer ( MPDC) of 22 municipalities; and one city of E. Samar conducted on Dec. 7-9, in Borongan, Eastern Samar.

The third level training will be undertaken in the barangays and the schedule are as follows: Dec. 14-16 – Hernani, Giporlos, Arteche and SanPolicarpo; Dec. 19-21 – San-Julian, Taft, Can-avid, Oras, Llorente, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan and Lawaan; Dec. 20-22 – Balangkayan, Dolores, Maslog and

Jipapad; Dec. 21-23 – Borongan and Maydolong and Dec. 27-29 – Sulat, Borongan, Gen.Mac-Arthur, Quinapondan and Balangiga. Expected to attend these training are Brgy. Captains, Brgy.

Secretaries and one hired interviewer or enumerator.

The registration activity by house-to-house visit and face-to-face interviews will be held on January 2 to 24, 2012.

The RSBSA shall cover all barangays nationwide, but the initial stage shall only cover the barangays of 20 provinces in nine regions in the country which are identified as disaster-prone local government units and one of these provinces is Eastern Samar. (PIA-E. Samar)

EASTERN VISAYAS

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Daram, Samar mothers commit to uphold health-seeking behavior

by Ninfa B. Quirante

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- Some 122 pregnant mothers from the barangays of Bakhaw and Poblacion 1 pledged to submit to pre-natal check up, give birth in a health facility, and avail of the services of a skilled birth attendant.

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he pledge of commitment took place recently in the island municipality of Daram as health officials from the provincial health office, the rural health unit, in cooperation with USAID, sponsored “Buntis Congress”.

The Sangguniang Bayan chairman on Health Jimmy Barantes, said that Daram has the highest child mortality rate in Samar, so he urged the mothers to go to a facility-based health center to deliver their

babies.

The Buntis Congress also included a presentation of DOH Maternal and Child Health Program and high–risk pregnancy as presented by the town’s heal officer Dr Khrystina Cielo Mabutin.

Mabutin said that despite the support of the LGUs to the RHU, only a few mothers avail of health services.

“Mothers still have to achieve a health -seeking behavior,” Mabutin said.

After the series of lectures, pregnant mothers lined up to avail of blood pressure taking, health classes, and counseling.

Organizers hoped that the theme, “Pagbubuntis alagaaan, malusog na baby at maginhawaang pagbubuntis ay makakamtan" will be absorbed by mothers as they committed to do just that. (PIA Samar)

DPWH-8 gets P1.93-B additional budget for EV infra projects TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- An additional P1.93 billion budget for East Visayas infrastructure projects was released in the last quarter of 2011, the Department of Public Works and Highways in the region said.

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his is more than the P1.8 billion budget for the entire year, thus making DPWH Region 8 the only region in the country with additional budget higher than the regular budget, DPWH-8 Director Rolando Asis said.

Asis explained that the additional fund is part of the stimulus package of the Aquino government that is aimed at boosting the infrastructure spending in the

Region.

With the additional releases, the DPWH in the Region has to fast track works for ongoing projects in order to achieve at least 80 percent accomplishment by the end of December, the DPWH director added.

Asis said that among the projects covered in the additional budget are the road opening connecting Babatngon and

Barugo towns in Leyte; diversion road construction in Calbayog City, San Isidro-Lope de Vega road opening in Northern Samar; Arteche–Lapinig Road improvement linking the provinces of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar; and the rehabilitation of the Carigara Bridge in Leyte. (PIA-8)

Las Navas town welcomes DSWD-DA convergence program

by Ailene N. Diaz

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Dec. 13 (PIA) -- The convergence and partnership initiatives which harmonize efforts of government agencies as a strategy in helping poor communities sparked the hope of marginalized farmers in Navas town, this province. his was disclosed by Mayor Minda gifts they have received.

Nortehanon.

Tan who said the presence of the The Agrikulturang Pantawid Pamilyang In his message, Governor Paul Daza two secretaries, Social Welfare Pilipino, is envisioned to implement thanked the two secretaries who Secretary Dinky Soliman and Agriculture agricultural productivity projects that personally provided support and Secretary Proceso Alcala during the would provide sustainable livelihood and assistance not only to the town of Las launching of the “Agrikulturang Pantawid emergency or short-term jobs that would Navas in particular but to the whole Pamilyang Pilipino,” a DSWD-DA develop the skills and guarantee em- province of Northern Samar.

Partnership for Sustainable Livelihood and ployment opportunities of the Pantawid Daza said the national government Guaranteed Employment in Las Navas, Pamilya beneficiaries in communities and the provincial government are giving Northern Samar Monday ignited the and areas under agricultural zones in the priority to identified towns belonging to aspirations of marginalized farmers whose countryside. the poorest. He added that as per reports, main economic activity depends solely on Tan added that the constituents are almost 300 hectares of the land with agriculture. deeply appreciative of this cooperation paddy dike have been irrigated and this is She added that the commitment made program and poses a challenge for the just the initial activity of the food-for-work by the secretaries to provide the town local government to continuously will and program of the government. (PIAwith farm implements and other advance the cause of agricultural Northern Samar) agricultural inputs are the best Christmas productivity for every Las Navasnon and

T

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