Vol I
Issue 17
In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS
Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8
DSWD to provide core shelter assistance for flood victims in NegOr by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 22 (PIA) --The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to give shelter assistance to families whose houses were damaged by the floods brought by Typhoon Sendong that hit Negros Oriental on Dec. 17, 2011. DSWD is set to provide P70,000 for each of the displaced families whose homes were totally damaged by the typhoon. Features of the Jalaur River Families whose homes were partially damaged will Multi-Purpose Project Stage II, the first large scale reservoir dam outside receive an average of P5,000 as emergency shelter Luzon. assistance. This was revealed by DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman More on Region 6, pages 2-3. during an impromptu press briefing held Dec. 20, 2011 . Also CLICK Here… Soliman said there are a total of 4,218 houses affected by the typhoon, of which 950 are totally damaged and 3,268 are partially damaged. CENTRAL VISAYAS DSWD has already given over P2.2 million worth of relief goods to Negros Oriental as of Dec. 22, 2011, five days after the floods ravaged several parts of the province. The assistance, which came in the form of food and used clothing, benefited a total of 6,322 families in the ten flood-affected local government units (LGUs) in the province..identified as as the towns of Siaton, Bacong, Valencia, Sibulan, San Jose, Amlan, Pamplona, Mabinay, and the cities of Dumaguete and Tanjay. Mourners of the two dead children who were swept away by Typhoon Sendong's floods in Brgy. Apolong, Valencia town, Negros Oriental province, make their way to the town church and lay to rest the bodies of Bengeline Cadalin, 14, and her brother, Rey, 12, on Dec. 21, 2011, four days after Sendong dumped a month's worth of rains in the province. As the Okoy River swelled in the morning of Dec. 17, Bengeline and Rey were left behind in their house as their parents brought four of their younger brothers and sisters to safety. When their father came back for them, the water already washed away their home and the two siblings. Their bodies were found the following day. (Photo by Rachelle Nessia/PIA)
More on Region 7, pages 4-5. Also CLICK Here…
EASTERN VISAYAS
DOLE 8 regional director Forter Puguon gives his Christmas message to the participants, organizers, parent/ guardians and the media during the Christmas Card-Making contest sponsored by the Eastern Visayas Association of Recruitment Agencies (EVARA) held at DOLE Training Center, Tacloban City, December 17. (Vino R. Cuayzon)
More on Region 8, pages 6-7. Also CLICK Here...
December 19 — 25, 2011
During his briefing with the mayors, the President Benigno S. Aquino assured them of “sufficient funds” to cover their concerns for disaster relief operations and other urgent needs resulting from the loss of lives and damage in infrastructure that the typhoon left in its wake. “There is still P1.17 billion in the national calamity fund that will be utilized,” Pres. Aquino told the mayors. Foreign and local funding sources are also available for the affected areas. “Before I left Manila this morning, about seven countries have already offered to give assistance to
us,” he said. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
Philippine Army soldiers assist in the packing of relief goods at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental for distribution to affected local government units across the province. (RMN/PIA NEGOR)
JRMP II: first large scale reservoir dam outside Luzon ILOILO CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA6) --The approval of the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project (JRMP) Stage II, considered as the first large scale reservoir dam outside Luzon, is set to engage Ilonggos in a challenge for tremendous growth. President Benigno S. Aquino III has already approved the project. The Korea Eximbank will provide P8.95 billion in soft loan with a 50-year maturity and 10-year grace period at an interest rate of 0.15 percent per annum, while the Philippine government will allocate P2.2 billion. The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Project Brief, provided by NIA showed that the project includes as its main features three dams, the Jalaur Reservoir, the Afterbay and the Alibunan Catch Dam. The project will have a 6.6 MW, or two units of a 3.3 MW per hour turbine, installed at the Jalaur dam site with. NIA-6 Director Engr. Gerardo Corsiga said when the
project is established, it will provide a year-round irrigation for increased agricultural production to about 22,340 hectares of the five existing irrigation systems and about 9,500 hectares of rainfed areas. During the five-year construction period, it will generate employment for an estimated 17,000 workers, which is equivalent to some P1.3 billion in basic wages per year, at the same time provide livelihood opportunities for fishery and tourism. Other benefits and opportunities that the project will bring, as articulated in its design, include conversion or enhancement of the 2,500 hectares sugarcane area already provided with irrigation facilities at the Jalaur Extension Area, diversified cropping and third cropping in selected areas, and a long-run benefit will be the improved quality of living standard of project-affected-families and project stakeholders. (JCM/ESS./PIA6)
DA earmarks P474-M for enhancement of agriculture in N Samar TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 18 (PIA) –- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allotting some P474 million to ensure the enhancement of agricultural productivity in Northern Samar. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala made the commitment during his recent visit in Las Navas, Northern Samar where he also forged an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development to undertake an initiative called “Agrikulturang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” DA-8 RED Antonio Gerundio informed. Of the P474 million, Secretary Alcala said P209 million is earmarked as an additional fund to complete the irrigation component of the Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP). HCAAP is expected to irrigate 4,550 hectares, and benefit more than 1,600 farm families in the towns of Catubig and Las Navas, Northern Samar. Alcala said the irrigation project will double the province’s irrigated area to more than 9,000 hectares, from the current 4,500 hectares, and subsequently increase its
annual palay production pegged at 98,300 metric tons (MT) in 2010. Secretary Alcala also allotted P230 million for the rehabilitation and construction of other irrigation projects, and P35 million for farm-to-market roads in the second district of Northern Samar. The Agrikulturang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, is meant to “uplift” Eastern Visayas farmers, fishers and rural folk from poverty. During the launching at Las Navas, DA and DSWD awarded several farm equipment, tools and inputs to hundreds of family-beneficiaries. From the DA, they also received three units of hand tractors, 100 pieces of hand tools, and 100 bags of certified rice seeds; and from the DSWD, two units of hand tractors, and livelihood project funds. In addition, the DA through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) will construct a diversion dam in Barangay Guba, Catarman town, and implement an expanded modified rapid composting project in the province, as part of the DA’s organic agriculture program. (PIA 8)