One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 19

Vol 2

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

BEST PRACTICE. Provincial Population Office (PPO) – Capiz Officer-In-Charge Yolanda E. Francisco (left) humbly shows a Best Practice Award received by PPO for its outstanding performance in the implementation of Adolescent Health Youth and Development Program (AHYDP) in the province while Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr. (center) and PopCom 6 director Vicente Molejona enjoy the moment. (PPO/PIA Capiz photo/A. Lumaque)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

May 7 - 13, 2012

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Issue 19

Organizers of Int'l River Summit assure safety of delegates

By Vicente W. Villavert ILOILO CITY, May 10 (PIA 6) -- Organizers of the forthcoming 1st Philippine International River Summit on May 30 to June 1, 2012 in this city assure both foreign and local delegates of a peaceful and secured venue.

Mr. Felix Tiu, the summit’s budget and finance committee chairman, gave this assurance in a press conference as he gave updates on the preparations for the summit.

Tiu said that in meetings with the Philippine National Police Regional Command, Iloilo City Police, Maritime Command, the Aviation and the Coast Guard, around 300 to 400 policemen will be deployed strategically starting May 30 to June 1 to provide security and maintain order for the event.

More than 1,000 invitation letters were sent out and 500 have already responded and more confirmations are expected.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said that “as of yesterday about 70 foreign delegates from Europe, America, Canada, Asia are coming to attend the event, and this is the first of its kind in the City.”

The summit, Mabilog said, aims to stimulate discussion, learning and action among experts, local governments, climate change and disaster risk reduction, water quality and water resources management, biodiversity management and ecotourism.

The line-up of speakers includes scientists from the Canadian Urban Institute , the Patuxent Wildlife Center in Maryland, USA, the University of Queensland in Australia, and local governmet executives and river basin managers from countries like Korea, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, among others. (JCM/VWV/PIA 6Iloilo)

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (center) gives updates on the forthcoming 1st Philippine International River Summit during a press conference where he said that several foreign delegates from various parts of the world will attend the event in Iloilo City on May 30 to June 1, 2012.The activity aims to stimulate discussion, learning and action among experts, local governments, climate change and disaster risk reduction, water quality and water resources management, biodiversity management and ecotourism. Shown with Mayor Mabilog are Mr. Felix Tiu (left), the summit’s budget and finance committee chairman, and City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Noel Hechanova who is also the Summit Director. (PIA 6/TVillavert)

Silliman IT grad is outstanding student in CV

By Jennifer C. Tilos Dumaguete Mayor Manuel Teves Sagarbarria (4th from left) and Bishop John Du (3rd from right) lead the groundbreaking ceremony in a relocation site in Bajumpandan village, Dumaguete City. The Social Action Center of the Diocese of Dumaguete together with the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines -National Secretariat for Social Action will build a low-cost housing project for victims of tropical storm Sendong in the area. (PIA/CPIO PHOTO)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla (2nd from right) poses with (l-r) OWWA-OOCS director Rosalia Susan Catapang, DOLE 8 regional director Exequiel Sarcauga and OWWA 8 OIC-director Evangeline Filamor after receiving an award of recognition in connection with the agency’s 30th anniversary celebration held at Hotel Alejandro, Tacloban City, May 8. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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DUMAGUETE CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- A fresh graduate in Information Technology of Silliman University was adjudged as one of the Ten Outstanding Students in Central Visayas.

Athena Gene Duran was selected with nine others on May 1 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, giving her the chance at being named one of Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP).

The TOSP had a total of 20 regional finalists. TOSP is a prestigious search for the country’s top young minds with proven academic merit and leadership skills.

The ten awardees will be honored at the Malacañang Palace (no date given as yet) and is usually graced by the President of the Philippines.

Duran is the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson of Dumaguete. She graduated cum laude in March 2011 and was the recipient of the University Leadership Award.

Her achievements and involvements on campus, along with her winning project, “F-ExSys: An Anura Morphometric Classification Expert System”, also earned her the Bank of the Philippine Islands-Department of Science and Technology Science Award in February 2012. (mbcn/JCT/PIANegros Oriental)

DOT’s Kontra-Gapi cultural caravan promotes Filipino, Asian traditions TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, May 5 (PIA) -- The Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino (also known as Kontra Gapi) is now in Region 8 to awaken Eastern Visayans’ appreciation for Filipino and Asian artistic tradition.

Led by U.P. Professor Edru Abraham, this music and dance ensemble uses indigenous Filipino instruments like the Maranao kulintang, Cordillera flat gongs called the gangsa, and a variety of wind instruments and xylophones made of bamboo to produce mesmerizing music.

Department of Tourism Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes informed that the group arrived in Tacloban City on May 3 and will go around the Region until May 23 in a cultural mission dubbed as Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino “Pag-angbit, Pakig-urusa Kontra Gapi” Eastern Visayas cultural caravan.

The group has already performed at UP

Tacloban, Alang-alang, Tolosa, .Barugo, Baybay City and Ormoc City, and Biliran, all in Leyte.

According to Prof. Pedro “Edru” Abraham, Jr., the Founder-Leader, Kontra-GaPi is not a “folk dance group” but they do dance and create music of folk and ethnic lore. Their genre is Contemporary Ethnic, World Music, Fusion, and they are the Resident Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble of the College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman. “Gamelan” is an Indonesian word and Prof. Abraham said that it means Southeast Asian Style Orchestra.

The group will go to Samar province on May 12 at Basey, May 13 at Calbiga, May 14 at Paranas, May 15 for Paranas Day tour, May 16 in Catbalogan City and May 17 in Calbayog City.

Kontra-Gapi will start its Northern Samar sojourn with the Allen Day tour on May 18, Capul on May 19, Catarman Day tour on May 20, Palapag on May 21 and May 22 in Catarman. (PIA-8)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

WVisayas 4th largest producer of fish in PHL

IT’S MORE FUN IN THE RUINS IN TALISAY, NEG. OCCIDENTAL

By Elsa S. Subong ILOILO CITY, May 9 (PIA6) -- Western Visayas remains as the 4th contributor to the country’s fishery production, with a 9.1 percent share of the total production for 2011.

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he recent data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said the region produced a total volume of 450,886.2 metric tons.

According to the BAS, this was 2.1 percent higher than the 2010 production of 441,557.9 metric tons in the region.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), said that for the past 32 years, data from the BAS s h o w e d W e s t e r n V i s a y a s wa s consistently among the top five regions in

terms of fishery production in the country.

NSCB said in 2011, the top fishery producer regions of the country were ARMM (909,319.9 MT), MIMAROPA (728,975.2 MT). Zamboanga Peninsula (619,557.0 MT), Western Visayas (450,886.2 MT), CALABARZON (402,848.9 MT), and Bicol Region (289,006.4 MT).

The data further showed that of the 17 regions, only six improved its fishery production from 2010-2011.

These regions are the provinces of Ilocos region which posted a growth of 9.3 percent, Cagayan Valley (4.1%), CAR (3.6%), Western Visayas (2.1), ARMM and MIMAROPA with a growth of less than one percent.

Meanwhile, BAS data showed that Western Visayas was consistently among the top five fish producers for the past 32 years, while ARMM has been the top contributor to the country’s total fish production for the last 17 years. (NSCB/ JSC/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo)

More males in Aklan died last year

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, May 8 (PIA6) -- More males died in Aklan than females in 2011, according to the records of the National Statistics Office (NSO).

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ased on NSO-Aklan records, 3,621 Aklanons died in 2011, and of this number, male deaths outnumbered females by 58.80 percent, equivalent to 2,129.

Female deaths, on the other hand, reached 1,492 or 41.20 percent, showing that male death occurrences last year were higher by 29.92 percent.

Kalibo listed the highest number of reported death incidence with 1,265. Of

this number, 762 were males and 503 were females.

The town of Ibajay in the western side of Aklan had the second biggest number in reported deaths with 285, followed by New Washington in the eastern side with 221 and Malay, with 217.

Buruanga and Lezo, both in the western side of the province, had 73 and 75 respectively.

Also, based on the NSO’s records, months with the highest number of deaths last year include October, with 338, November, 338; April, 335; January, 331; March, 306 and May, 305.

The rest of the months had more than 200 death occurrences with June listing the least with 277. (JCM/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Army advocates peace through youth leaders

By Easter Anne D. Doza BACOLOD CITY, May 10 (PIA6) -- The 11th Infantry Battalion, in partnership with the local government of Himamaylan City as well as other agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, different religious sectors, and other stakeholders, conducted the 6th Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) recently.

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LS, dubbed as “Bayanihan Para sa Kinabukasan ng mga Kabataan,” and held last May 2 to 4 at Barangay Talaban Elementary School in Himamaylan City, is a peace advocacy effort of the Philippine Army involving the youth.

The participants were composed of six out-of-school youth, 42 students, and six college graduates who recently graduated, registering a total of 54 youths from Barangay Talaban.

It is a collaborative activity for the youth sector that aims to develop a sense of nationalism and is designed to awaken and promote social and civic sensitivities among the youth and help them construct critical understanding of themselves and their responsibilities.

The summit included lectures, action planning, interactive discussions and team building activities focusing on the role of the youth in nation-building and emphasized on the “deceptive strategies

on recruitment of youth and students,” environmental protection, drug/substance abuse, spiritual and moral values, and human rights.

The seventh YLS in Himamaylan City is scheduled to open this month, as a kind of peace advocacy of the Philippine Army that will continue not only in Himamaylan City but in all parts of the country. (EAD/ JCM/-PIA6/11th IB Negros Occidental)

IT’S MORE FUN IN ROCA ENCANTADA, GUIMARAS

WESTERN VISAYAS

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OWWA celebrates 30th anniversary recognizing partners, scholars

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By Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- The regional office of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-6) here in Western Visayas recently hosted an awards ceremony to recognize partners and scholars to mark the agency’s 30th anniversary.

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WWA-6 director Samuel Madrid in his welcome message took the opportunity to thank partners saying “OWWA-6 recognizes the fact that without you, our able partners, we would not have made it this far.”

The awardees included three local government units, 14 government agencies, eight non-government organizations/private sector, and 10 media organizations.

The awardees from the LGUs include the Iloilo City government and Congressman Jerry Trenas and Governor Arthur Defensor.

The awardees from the government agencies are: Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and

Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Regional Tripartite Wages & Productivity Board, Department of Trade and Industry, National Labor Relations Commission, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Professional Regulatory Commission, Philippines News Agency, Home Development Mutual Fund, and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

For the non-government organizations/private sectors cited were Panay & Negros Service Exporters Association, Soroptimist International-Iloilo City Chapter,

International Organization for Migration, Saudi Arabia Hiligaynon Incorporated, Globe Telecoms, SM City Iloilo, EXACT, and HALIGI Foundation.

The awardees from the media are the following: ABS-CBN Networks, GMA Network Group, Panay News, The Daily Guardian, The News Today, Aksyon Radyo, Radio Mindanao Network, Super Radyo, Bombo Radyo, and Radyo ng Bayan.

Also, the anniversary celebration gave due recognition to the achievement of this year’s 8 OWWA graduates under its Education and Development Scholarship Program and .(JSC/LAF-PIA6 Iloilo)

P260-M irrigation projects in Antique underway

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao SAN JOSE, Antique, May 9 (PIA6) -- The construction of P260 million worth of irrigation projects in Antique is underway even if funds are yet to be released to the winning contractors. his is according to Engr. Randy “The rainy months of June and July, Alipis appealed to farmers/irrigators Alipis, Acting Division Manager, will certainly delay construction work and associations to participate in the National I r r i g a t i o n it will adversely affect the farmers who implementation of projects in their areas Administration, Antique Irrigation badly need the irrigation system for their and watch closely the quality of the work, Management Office. farmlands. Summer months are the best to ensure that structures confirm with the “While the documents for release of time to work double time” he explained. standard set. funds are still on process, contractors NIA disclosed that the P260-million The local government officials are also for the project took the initiative fund is intended for several communal encouraged to designate point persons in of starting to make use of the good irrigation systems (CIS) from the towns of the monitoring team, Alipis concluded. weather (sunny weather), so that Anini-y to Libertad, covering about 3,700 (JSC/MLG/PSM-PIA6 Antique) the projects will be done on time,” said hectares of farmlands involving at least Alipis.

7,000 small farmers.

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"Trabaho o Negosyo..Pili Ka" sessions on

By Alex A. Lumaque ROXAS CITY CITY, Capiz, May 7 (PIA6) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office - 6 is facilitating the conduct of a weekly career coaching sessions in Iloilo City as part of the Labor Month celebration this May according to DOLE – 6 director Ponciano M. Ligutom during his recent visit to Capiz for the organization of the Guidance Counselors Network (GC Net) in the province.

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he weekly sessions dubbed “Trabaho o Negosyo…Pili Ka!” are scheduled every Friday afternoon in May to help high school students and job seekers choose their career or become entrepreneurs.

Two business groups volunteered to lead the conduct of the activity.

“We will also have a weekly Diskwento for the workers,” Ligutom

added, noting that the selling event to be led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will give the labor sector an alternative market of basic commodity products at low prices.

The DOLE – 6 official emphasized that the month-long celebration will end with the “Gabi ng Parangal” that will be highlighted by the holding of food festival, Awarding of Certificates of Appreciation

as well as Outstanding Employees of some Employers.

“We’ll be involving some Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) beneficiaries to provide us entertainment,” Ligutom stated.

“This year's celebration has the theme “Pagtutulungan. Pagbabago. Desenteng Trabaho.” (JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

84 youths join Young Minds Academy

By Amorganda A. Saludar

IT’S MORE FUN IN TAOIST TEMPLE, CEBU

CEBU CITY May 7 (PIA) --- Eighty-four Cebuano youth scholars joined the 6th season of the Young Minds Academy (YMA) initiated by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI) through its Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center in Cebu.

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n a press release from RAFI, the YMA is a youth leadership and citizenship development program of RAFI-EADSC that aims to develop young leaders who are ready to serve the public and its interests.

RAFI-EADSC executive director Evelyn Nacario-Castro said that these 84 scholars representing 17 teams signed contracts to indicate their eagerness to fully participate in and finish the program.

According to Castro, the YMA is an eight-month program that includes leadership and character building, social awareness, creative and critical thinking activities, community visits and immersion, research and project development, project implementation and internship, and conference.

“The selection of these scholars was done in a thorough screening process,” Castro said.

It included intelligence quotient and personality tests, essay writing, team dynamics, and panel interviews before they were accepted in the program, Castro added.

RAFI President Roberto Aboitiz noted that this season's modules were anchored on the theme of urban development. “This is in line with the Mega Cebu vision and framework that RAFI is pursuing in collaboration with various stakeholders,” Aboitiz said.

The module was conducted by Selene Yu, a businesswoman and vassal in-charge of the Potter's Leadership Academy, who has been sharing the “S-Leadership” way of life to various groups and organizations in the Philippines and abroad over the past 11 years, this was learned.

EADSC director Evelyn Castro stated that formal training of the scholars started

on March 30 with the YMA S-Leadership Seminar.

The module introduced the Nine Pillars of Character and Leadership of the YMA that serve as the guiding principles of the scholars throughout the YMA program and beyond, Castro added.

RAFI officials led by its president, Roberto Aboitiz, Deputy Director for Operations Amaya Aboitiz, and representatives from the Union Bank of the Philippines (YMA's program sponsor) attended the covenant signing and orientation that signaled the start of Young Minds Academy, Season 6.

For more information about YMA 6, please contact 418-7234 loc. 110 and look for Mel Yan, or email mel.yan@rafi.org.ph, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/ rafi.org.ph. (mbcn/AS-PIA 7, Cebu)

Bikers ride the waves for ‘Ocean Month’ celebration in Bohol

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 9 (PIA) -- Over 200 bikers composed of cops, civilians and organized bike racing groups covered more than 60 kilometers of coastal highways in towns near Tagbilaran City, to drum up community awareness on marine conservation during the opening launch for the Month of the Ocean in May. oming from three jumped off points, was initiated to advocate for the proper sea sustains them, abusing the resource means the bikers simultaneously took off at management of Bohol’s coastal and marine killing the very source of food they have. around 3:00 PM from Loon, Lila resources.

The bike for the Ocean activity also and Panglao town halls after a brief program “Especially that Bohol largely profit from started with a dialog among mayors and coastal and send-off activities at the Tagbilaran City its marine eco-tourism activities,” Conarco law enforcement experts with police officers Port. added. to thresh out issues in implementing coastal The Bohol Coastal Resource Management Conarco said that it is the police that and marine laws.

Task Force (BCRMTF) also organized mobile enforce coastal resources laws. He added that Aside from the opening launch, the month public address systems that loop-broadcast most of the violators they apprehended were of May also brings province-wide Coastal Clean information education communication (IEC) unaware they have been using destructive ups, mangrove planting, marine protected areas awareness messages to complement the fishing gears and methods and or they were congress, Coastal Law Enforcement Council massive show of pedal power during that day already encroaching in municipal waters or in meetings, MOA signing for cooperation among day. protected areas. local governments, bike for the ocean, as well a PNP Community Relations branch in Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural dolphin festival on May 31 as the capping celeCamp Dagohoy led by PO3 Ronnie Conarco Resources officer Nestor Canda added that bration for the Ocean Month. (mbcn/rahc/PIAsaid that the ‘Bike for the Ocean’ dubbed as these people should be informed that while the Bohol) “Pulis, Katawhan, Sikad alang sa Kadagatan”

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Silliman continues relief operations for quake victims

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- Silliman University’s continuing relief operations recently benefited over 338 families badly affected by the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Negros Oriental in February 2012.

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group of over 30 students and employees of the university distributed relief goods and gave lectures on stress management, hygiene and sanitation, and food preparation to the victims in the municipality of Tayasan.

The group was composed of members of the Silliman University Volunteer Fire and Rescue Unit, students and teachers of the College of Nursing, Psychology Department, Nutrition and Dietetics Department, and a team from the University’s Counseling, Advocacy, and Research & Evaluation Education Services unit.

Coordinating the relief operations was the Institutional Advancement Office.

Mark Raygan Garcia, Silliman info director, said each family received a pack containing noodles, coffee, and rice while another pack contained clothing, shoes, blankets, towels, pillows, kitchen wares, and toys.

The items were donated by friends and alumni, from media outfit ABS-CBN, Children’s Hour Philippines, Inc., Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Kalihukang Bisaya and Panday Tinig Ensemble in Quebec, Canada, said Garcia.

Lectures were also given on different topics aimed at helping the earthquake victims maintain good health and a clean environment.

The Silliman volunteers talked on how to recover from trauma, prepare for a

disaster, and how to prevent sickness and diseases.

Silliman played an important role in generating public support during the two recent tragedies that hit the province: tropical storm Sendong in December 2011 and the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in February this year.

Garcia said thousands of relief goods and cash donations had already been coursed through Silliman by alumni and friends and big organizations.

On May 11, Silliman will culminate its relief operations in the same municipality, Tayasan, in order to focus on reconstruction. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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DOH-7 reminds Central Visayans on dengue IT’S MORE FUN IN CHOCOLATE HILLS, BOHOL

By Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Health-7 (DOH-7) here reminded the people of Central Visayas to clean up their communities in view of the reported increase in dengue cases during the first five months of this year vis-à-vis the number of cases reported during the same period in 2011.

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OH-7 Regional Director Dr. Asuncion Anden again advised the people to always check and clean those materials that may store water where mosquitoes can breed.

Anden said the government has a program against dengue called “Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue” or ABaKaDa, which involves the regular clean-up in the communities with the leaders and the people in the barangay.

“Yet, there are those who continuously

ignore the importance of being clean, that is why there are still victims of this epidemic disease,” Anden noted.

DOH-7 has noted a 6.1 percent increase in dengue cases in Central Visayas for the period from January 1 to May 5, 2012 compared with the same period in 2011 based on the findings of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU).

From January 1 to May 5, 2012, there were 2,049 dengue cases with 19 deaths

recorded compared to last year's 1,931 dengue cases with 14 deaths.

Highest cases of dengue this year were in Cebu City with 1,053 and 9 deaths. Lapu-Lapu City follows with 115 cases and 2 deaths while Minglanilla has 110 dengue cases with one death and Talisay City at 93 with no death and Liloan at 78 with one death. (mbcn/hfg/PIARO7 with Mayette A. Baring/CNU Intern)

Free cervical cancer screening available at VSMMC

By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), in partnership with Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center, conducted free cervical screening for women 30-55 years old for the whole of May for the Cervical Cancer Prevention program to lessen the number of deaths of women who are suffering from cervical cancer.

SMMC Medical Center Chief, Dr. The VSMMC offers free cervical screening Ybanez explained that some of the risk Gerardo M. Aquino said VSMMC is for women who are willing to be examined. A factors of cervical cancer are multiple sexual the only government hospital that Cryotherapy is conducted for women with intercourse; giving birth 5 times or more, conducts a “Scarlet May” activity or the free cervical cancer at the Cervical Cancer smoking, and early sexual contact for women cervical screening in the whole region.

Prevention Center (CECAP) at 8:00 A.M. to below 20 years old.

In the AGIO-7 forum on May 8, Aquino 5:00 P.M. However, they offer free VIA and She added that one great cause of added that the free cervical screening is an PAP SMEAR. Cervical Cancer is the Human papillomavirus annual activity but only for the whole May. "It takes 5-10 minutes to take a bath, an (HPV), acquired through sexual intercourse.

Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) hour to roam around the mall, but it only takes She also included smoking as a risk factor program manager Ronald de los Reyes one minute to save oneself," Dr. Ybanez said. because of the presence of nicotine that could disclosed, that in every 10 cervical cancer Ybanez added that aside from Pap Smear, actually melt the protector of the cervix. cases, 7 of those are late stages, subject for the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is Based on the 2003-2007 cancer registry death. another method of detecting cervical cancer. records, 310 patients were diagnosed to be He further explained that EJACC could This is an alternative to cytology in positive of cervical cancer. However, 70 provide treatment assistance for patients who screening for cervical cancer in poorly percent of the 310 cervical cancer patients are diagnosed with stage 1 and stage 2 cervical resourced location. died, and the remaining 30% also died in the cancer in the whole Metro Cebu.

This is determined through the pure white later date due to lack of resources. (mbcn/hfg/ According to Dr. Imee Ybanez, OB-Gyne reaction when a household vinegar is put in the PIA-RO7 & Nino Jesryl Maglasang/ CNU of VSMMC, cervical cancer can be prevented cervix. The VIA is only suitable to women ages Intern) through cervical screening. It is next to breast 21-45 years only. cancer as a cause of deaths of women.

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Stranded turtles remind us of keeping clean, safe oceans

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 7 (PIA) – A female hawksbill sea turtle struggling in the mud in Barangay Alejawan, Jagna town caught a fisherman’s attention, who immediately reported the incident to local officials.

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research assistant working for a non -government organization Physalus, Dominique Clarke reported the incident but did not know the fisherman and added that the local officials subsequently brought the turtle to Jagna town hall.

Jagna officials called Physalus whose technical men assessed the turtle’s condition and tended to it by wrapping it with wet blankets to make it comfortable.

Assessing that the hawksbill was healthy and active, the rescue group Physalus then quickly freed the hawksbill to the seas.

“The speed with which she then swam away from the immediate area was very encouraging and Physalus is hopeful that she we will make a full recovery from her ordeal,” said Clarke in his report.

The group also said it is possible that the turtle attempted to lay her eggs when she was

found. Hawksbill females often travel surprisingly far up the beach to dig their nests, this is learned.

Physalus explained that a hawksbill is a sea turtle distinctly named for its beaked head, much like that of a hawk and are the most common sea turtles found in the southern coasts of Bohol.

Physalus is a non-government organization and has been working with communities in Bohol in attempts to engage them to understand and help conserve and protect the marine and coastal environments in the area.

In a related development, a few months ago Physalus also freed another hawksbill they named JT. It was rescued after fishermen found it sick.

Physalus executive director Dr. Alessandro Ponzo said they released JT after a few days of flushing the poison out of its

system.

Ponzo said JT has ingested plastic cellophanes, probably mistaking them for jellyfish. According to Ponzo JT and the female hawksbill were lucky, unlike the rarer leatherback turtle that was found dead in Duero town within 48 hours after the hawksbill’s release.

Physalus is now in custody of the dead leatherback turtle, pending a necropsy to dig into the cause of the death of the turtle.

Both hawksbill and leatherback turtles are among the listed critically endangered turtles in the world, Clarke added.

Over this, Physalus said health and stability of the marine ecosystem in the Bohol seas and the animals that depend on it is the responsibility of all Boholanos who wish to continue enjoying and benefiting from its rich diversity. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Airport, port projects to spur EVisayas Boom

IT’S MORE FUN IN THE LEYTE LANDING MEMORIAL, LEYTE

By Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 6 (PIA) -- This province’s lone district lawmaker solicited the support of the local media organization here in a bid to put flesh on two development projects, the completion of which can spur economic boom in a place positioned as the “playground of Eastern Visayas”.

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We need your help for the airport project and the Can-iwan alternate RORO port to materialize,” said Cong. Roger Mercado to media in a press conference Thursday at Kinamot Restaurant this city.

He revealed that an initial funding of P 45 million for the extension of the Panan-awan airport runway was already earmarked since April last year but until now it was not yet implemented.

The alternate shipping port at Can-iwan, meanwhile, has already secured a P 40 million funding, yet it was not acted either, Mercado said.

The Can-iwan port was widely seen as a permanent solution during inclement weather in “habagat” seasons as ships cannot dock at the city’s main port, and it was also much closer to Cebu and Bohol, Mercado informed.

“These two projects strike at the heart of our development efforts, especially on tourism,” he pointed out, adding that many people from the cross-section of society stand to benefit out of the two projects.

He was referring to the concerted and aggressive efforts done by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce

and Industry (SLCCI) in close partnership with the provincial, city governments, as well as the 18 other municipalities, to establish man-made attractions that will serve as tourism hubs in five key areas around the province.

He said that with a functional airport and alternate port in Can-iwan in place, “making visits to Southern Leyte will be more fun,” alluding to the current slogan of the Department of Tourism “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” (PIA-Southern Leyte)

DOT re-assesses Ulot watershed torpedo boat ride

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 6 (PIA)—The Department of Tourism (DOT) 8 conducted a re-assessment of the Ulot Torpedo Boat ride in the Samar watershed, Barangay Tenani, Paranas, Samar recently.

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lot is a 520-kilometer river -- the longest in Samar Island. It is part of the 87,000-hectare Ulot Watershed rambling in 11 towns of the island where the bigger part of the area is situated in Paranas, Samar.

The boat ride took two hours and 10 minutes up and downstream.

DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes joined the ride and did the re-assessment of the tourist destination within the watershed.

Tiopes said that the re-assessment is done to check if the tourist destination is ideal and safe for tourists and how the LGU can further improve the area so it can draw more visitors.

She recommended putting up a hanging bridge or a path way at the end point so that the tourists will be safe in crossing the river especially on rainy days.

DOT and Paranas LGU have still to meet and talk regarding the re-assessment done in the Ulot watershed.(PIA-Samar with Avha H. Ebalde)

DOT, Leyte conduct training on tour guiding

By Aurora J. Casimpan TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 9 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT)-Office of Tourism Services and the Leyte provincial government has partnered to train government-accredited professional service providers in the region.

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epartment of Tourism regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that the 21-day training, which started on May 7, intends graduates to be accredited as regional tour guides.

She explained that the previous three-day training has only tackled basic guiding techniques and the trainees were not given accreditation.

The training which will be held at the Leyte Sports Development Center will give lectures in history, culture, folklore, social structure and politics, works ethics, basic first aid, good grooming, effective communications and guiding techniques.

Participants are also expected to deliver the tour guide component of tour packages in a competent and professional

manner after being taught to plan, conduct and manage sightseeing tours which includes the best practice of the tour guiding professional on a regional level and a particular destination respectively.

The tourism director also said that trainees will need to take qualifying exams in both written and oral form. (PIA-8)

EASTERN VISAYAS

IT’S MORE FUN IN MARABUT, SAMAR

7

New officers take over Naval tourism council

By Flordelis E. Jackson

NAVAL, Biliran, May 9 (PIA) -- Members of the Naval Municipal Tourism Council elected a new set of officers for 2012 during a meeting held at the Municipal Session Hall on Tuesday, May 8.

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he new officers are: President – SB Member Marilou Lucente; Vice-President Mario Opeña; Secretary – Dwight Kenneth Docallos; Treasurer – Sandra Limpiado; Public Information Officer (PIO) – Flor Jackson; Auditors – Victoria Delfin and Alex Salomon.

The board of directors is composed of officials from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Naval State University (NSU), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Labor and Employment

(DOLE), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) based in Naval, Biliran.

In her message, Marilou Lucente said that the commitment of each and every officer of the council is of primary importance as this will contribute to the development of the tourism industry not only in the municipality of Naval, the capital town of Biliran but also in the entire province.

The municipality of Naval has two attractive tourist destinations that continue to draw more tourists, and these are the Banderahan Beach in Barangay Caraycaray, Naval; and Higatangan Island

which is famous for its shifting sand bar and fine beach resorts.

The meeting of the Naval Municipal Tourism Council and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Tourism was attended by the officials, proprietors and operators of public transport, accommodation, restaurants, travel agencies, catering services, tour guide associations, travel agencies, motorist groups, mountaineers, bikers associations, and other non-government organizations (NGOs) operating in Naval town. (PIA-Biliran)

DPWH NSamar starts 2nd mangrove reforestation

By Ailene N. Diaz CATARMAN, Northern Samar, May 9 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar, First Engineering District recently conducted another venture in pursuit of environmental protection through coastal reforestation.

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t conducted its second re-planting line with mangrove development in the activity along the coastal area in province.

Brgy. Dao, San Jose, Northern Mangroves are nesting grounds for Samar juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, and other This is covered under the young marine life. inter-agency agreement signed by DPWH Apart from this, one of its major and Department of Environment and functions is stabilizing shorelines and Natural Resources, Northern Samar in preventing shore erosion.

DE Pua said they were able to plant more or less 200 mangrove seedlings, and are confident this will somehow restore and conserve mangrove forests.

He also hopes this will promote sustainable livelihood to those fishermen along coastal communities. (PIA-Northern Samar)

KALAHI-CIDSS comes anew to Eastern Samar

By Alice Nicart BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, May 9 (PIA) – Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Development of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) will once again be implemented in Eastern Samar through its implementing agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 08, Tacloban city.

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ccording to DSWD Assistant Regional Director Nestor Ramos, this is due to Kalahi-CIDSS’s main objective to eradicate poverty in the province which recently had been identified as still one of the poorest provinces of the region.

This time, three municipalities had been selected randomly that will have to implement poverty-eradication projects:

These are Dolores, Gen. McArthur and Llorente.

Mayors Ewit Villacarillo (Dolores), Jaime Ty(Gen. McArthur) and Tito Codoy (Llorente) likewise inked in the MOA. A total of P163,500,000.00 which comes from the World Bank Financing and Millennium Challenge Corporation Financing is set to be uploaded to the three mentioned municipalities where

P69,000,000.00 goes to Dolores, P49,500,000.00 to Llorente town and P45,000,000.00 to McArthur in three years.

KALAHI-CIDSS was originally implemented several years back, where it was piloted in the municipalities of Sulat and Can-avid. (PIA-Eastern Samar)

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) 3378718/3377301 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. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. Contributors All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8 Production and Layout Edson J. Bañares 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, Children’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