One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 25

Vol 2

Issue 25

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Runners wait for the gun start of the 1st Provincial Fun Walk, Run and Bike organized by the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) and the Bantay Bata Foundation of the ABS-CBN to kick off the celebration of the 20th Provincial Environment Week.*(EAD-PIA6 photo)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

CENTRAL VISAYAS

June 18 - 24, 2012

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

RDC bats for more stringent measures on delayed, cancelled flights ILOILO CITY, June 18 (PIA6) -- The Economic Development Committee (EDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) has submitted two resolutions addressing flight cancellations or delayed flights due to “force majeure” or unavoidable circumstances.

The first resolution, resolution no. 2 has requested the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to impose more stringent measures and enforce strict compliance of policies and regulations regarding abrupt cancellation of domestic flight schedules at the Iloilo and Silay Airports.

Airlines have cited profitability as reasons, usually because of insufficient passengers to justify the sudden or abrupt cancellation of scheduled flights from the Iloilo and Silay airports.

However, as the resolution pointed out, that this move diminishes the reputation of the region’s airport facilities and can adversely affect the current efforts of government agencies and the private sector to promote Region 6 as a premier tourist destination and favorable investment location.

Related to this, the EDC also presented resolution no.

3 which also requested the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) board of directors to utilize the CAAP emergency fund to assist passengers affected by cancelled or delayed flight due to force majeure.

The reason for this as cited in the resolution was that on occasions when delays and cancellations brought about by bad weather conditions, airline companies do not provide meals, refreshments, hotel or transport assistance

to passengers because this falls under CAAP’s responsibility.

The resolution resolves that CAAP board of directors allow the use of its emergency fund to assist passengers affected by cancelled and delayed flights due to force majeure.

Likewise it also asks that CAAP use the emergency funds to provide affected passengers with free transport service from the airport to the city and offer other assistance necessary under life-threatening circumstances of stranded passengers.

DTI director Dominic Abad, chair of the Economic Development Committee presented both resolutions, which were unanimously approved by the Regional Development Council during its last meeting in Silay City.

(JCM-PIA 6)

PHL franchise sector provides over 1M jobs Dr. Alvin G. Roxas (center), transplant surgeon announces during the Kapihan sa PIA that a program will be launched soon by renal doctors to perform transplants to the poorest of the poor for free. Roxas also bares that the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) has the most number of kidney transplants done in Cebu City which speaks highly of the hospital and of the program. At left is DOH-7 Regional Director Asuncion Arden and at right is Ms. Fayette Rinen of PIACebu, host of the forum. (PIA-Cebu/JSME)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

By Fayette C. Riñen CEBU CITY, June 19 (PIA) -- Over one million Filipinos have gained employment from the franchising sector, as the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) aggressively pushed for the expansion of the industry to generate more jobs.

PFA President Elizabeth Pardo-Orbeta bared that as of last year, 1.1 million Filipinos have been employed nationwide by the franchise sector largely composed of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). She led PFA officials in their visit to Cebu recently to announce the opening of their Cebu Office as part of their aggressive campaign to promote the business of franchising here and abroad.

“In a span of 11 years, the franchise sector has given 825,518 additional jobs to Filipinos,” disclosed Orbeta. In 2000, the number of employed in the franchise sector was recorded at 274,482, she said.

The volume of franchises in 2000 was at 30,498, which

grew to 125,000 in 2011 while the number of franchisors 12 years ago was only at 598, which slightly doubled last year at 1,300.

“The turnover of sales in US dollars rose by more than 200 percent from $3 billion in 2000 to $11 billion last year,” revealed Orbeta, adding that this shows how lucrative a business franchising has become.

Orbeta said the franchising sector is a partner in jobs creation contributing much to the Philippine economy.

Orbeta also said that the volume of jobs created by the franchise sector does not include the number of indirect employment given such as indirect suppliers to the franchise-companies.

The business of franchising has a very positive growth, as PFA officials stressed that with the growth of the Philippine economy, this is the time to take advantage and invest in the franchise business to provide more jobs to Filipinos. (PIA-Cebu)

‘Matuwid na DAAN’, DA’s response to call for transparency in gov’t

TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture is slated to launch on July 5, 2012, the ‘Matuwid na DAAN’ project in response to the call for transparency in government transactions and as a manifestation of its desire to win back the trust and confidence of the Filipino people.

DA Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio “BEYOND HONESTY: Integrity Reflections said that officials from the DA Central Office recently for Public Officials” was the topic discussed by visited Eastern Visayas in order to introduce the new Rev. Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ during the Region project to the DA Regional Field Unit 8 staff. The Matuwid Eight Administrators League (REAL) 2nd na DAAN is a web portal which provides readily-accessible Quarterly General Assembly & Continuing information on DA’s performance and accomplishments.

Leadership Seminar with the theme: “P-Noy’s “Dir. Gary Glenn B. Fantastico of the Department of Priority KRA 1: Anti-corruption and Agriculture (DA)-Information Technology Center for Transparent, Accountable and Participatory Agriculture and Fisheries (ITCAF), together with ITCAF Governance held at the Ormoc City Consultant Mr. Carlo Cachuela, introduced to the DA-8 multi-purpose hall, June 15. (Vino R. Cuayzon/ management the Matuwid na DAAN Project which stands for the Department of Agriculture Accountability Network R8) which will be launched on July 5, this year,” RED Gerundio said.

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

It will give a face to DA’s advocacy on adhering to Also CLICK Here... accountability and transparency in pursuing food security

while promoting public awareness of its community-focused projects and activities nationwide, Director Fantastico said.

Matuwid na DAAN, Director Fantastico said, will monitor DA projects including their fund allocation and cumulative disbursements, completion period, percentage of accomplishment and other relevant data, including regularly updated photos, so as to enable the public to track down and evaluate the proper use of agency resources.

Dir. Wilson A. Cerbito, DA-8’s Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations commended the DA -ITCAF for coming up with such a project for it has opened an opportunity for DA-8 to show its outputs on the Inventory System on Agriculture and Fishery Investments (ISAFI) Project which was already implemented in the four provinces in the region, namely, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran and Eastern Samar.

RTD Cerbito further revealed that ISAFI Project will be rolled out to the two remaining provinces, Samar and Northern Samar, by July of this year, as ordered by the DA Central Office. (PIA-8)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

NSO to produce accurate, digitized maps

By Venus G. Villanueva

MANGO (Mangifera indica), GUIMARAS

KALIBO, Aklan, June 19 (PIA6) -- Aklan will soon have accurate, digitized, and reliable maps of its barangays, with the recent launching of the National Statistics Office (NSO) here of the 2012 census mapping operations in the province.

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he census mapping operation, according to Blas Solidum, Provincial Statistics Officer of NSO-Aklan, will be using the Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.

Solidum said maps are very important in NSO surveys and censuses to ensure complete coverage of an area, easily locate buildings and housing units, and identify boundaries in the area of assignment.

“Maps should be precise and complete, conforming to the standard set by the office,” Solidum added.

In the past, Solidum related that during censuses/surveys, teachers were

provided manually prepared or drawn maps, subject for updating and reflecting important landmarks as well as boundaries, which, he said, were most often defective.

Solidum expressed optimism that with the new technology, defective maps will be “a thing of the past”.

For the mapping operation, NSO-Aklan has hired 10 map data collectors and processors equipped with sufficient knowledge and skills in using digital mapping technology to map the 327 barangays in the province.

Based on the GIS, Aklan has 120 barangays with high resolution Google Earth images.

Boundaries, roads, and prominent landmarks of these barangays will be verified by map data collectors, who will update, at the same time, the digitized maps.

Those areas without high-resolution Google Earth images will be mapped using the Global Positioning System Receiver, according to NSO-Aklan. (JCM/VGV NSO/PIA6 Aklan)

DAR Chief assures agrarian reform beneficiaries of more projects

By Lilibeth A. French ILOILO CITY, June 21 (PIA6) -- Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes assured farmer-beneficiaries of TIMIPAL Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) in Balasan, Iloilo, of more projects if they can ensure the maintenance, preservation, and protection of the infrastructure projects that were recently provided to them by the government.

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ec. de los Reyes made the assurance when he personally led the turnover of four vital infrastructure projects to the local government unit of Balasan and the agrarian reform beneficiaries in TIMIPAL ARC on June 19.

Launched in 1996, the TIMIPAL ARC has a total land area of 964.8772 has. and comprises of five barangays, namely, Tingui -an, Maya, Ipil, Pani-an, and Lawis, from which the acronym TIMIPAL was derived.

To date, a total of 7,979 beneficiaries are living in the community.

The four projects turned over by de los Reyes worth P43.5 million are

implemented under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) of DAR which is in consonance with the Aquino administration’s effort towards economic progress and development in rural areas.

One of these four projects is the newly constructed Potable Water System Level II that will directly benefit around 178 households in Barangay Lawis. The PWS project costs around P3,294,419 with P1,723,229 equity from the LGU and P1,571,190 from the ARISP fund.

Other projects are the road improvement projects involving the Maya-Tinguian-Sta. Ana Road at a total

cost of P31,777, 233 covering 4.025 kilometers; Pani-an-Lawis Road 1st phase at a cost of P5 million covering 0.650 kilometers; and Pani-an Lawis Road 2nd phase at a cost of P3.5 million covering 0.486 kilometers.

Balasan Mayor Filomeno Ganzon said these important projects will certainly boost farmer-beneficiaries' productivity and income.

Governor Arthur Defensor, Batad Mayor Pedro Alarcon, DAR 6 Director Alexis Arsenal, and other provincial and municipal officials also attended the event.

(JCM/LAF/PIA 6)

Expansion, extension of Bacolod-Silay Airport seen

By JC Mesa ILOILO CITY, June 20 (PIA6) -- A P194.4 million passenger terminal building expansion and a P25 million runway extension of the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City is being proposed for funding by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

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he proposal was made by the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) of the Regional Development Committee (RDC). The Bacolod-Silay Airport, which started commercial operations in January 19, 2008, is now the sixth busiest airport in terms of passenger and cargo movement per statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Records show that passenger movement exceeded actual projection by 9.64 percent, from 1.2 million to 1.4

million. Cargo movement, meanwhile, grew by 18.82 percent from 11,500 to 13,664 tons and aircraft movement by 40.22 percent from 10,970 to 15,382.

The passenger terminal area of 6,180 square meters needs to be increased to 6,480 square meters to accommodate the number of passengers for check-in, arrival and pre-departure and installation of additional baggage handling system and boarding bridges.

The extension of 500 meters from the runway’s present length of 2,000

meters would also allow larger aircrafts to land and address the rapidly increasing aircraft traffic.

To be able to fund all these, Mr. Roberto Montelibano, Co-chair of the Infrastructure Development Committee, who presented resolution No. 11, during the last Regional Development Council Meeting, said that the amount of P219.4 million from the DOTC was being sought for the expansion and extension of the Bacolod –Silay Airport.

(JCM/PIA6)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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Negros Occidental launches 1 Million Trees, 1 Province KAMUNSIL (Pithecellobium dulce), ILOILO

By Easter Anne D. Doza

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., June 21 (PIA6) - - In support to President Benigno S. Aquino’s Executive Orders 23 and 26 creating the National Greening Program, the provincial government of Negros Occidental launches the 1 Million Trees, 1 Province program as part of the 20th Provincial Environment Week.

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egros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon is set to sign too an Executive Order urging all local government units to help plant as the province’s commitment to the greening program 1 million trees each year provincewide.

The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), the local government of Talisay City together with officials of Barangay Cabatangan led the tree growing activity participated in by Talisay City employees, members of the Philippine National Police, and the Bantay Bukid Brigades and the locals in the community.

3,500 were planted in Sitio Campuestohan in Brgy. Cabatangan and will be maintained by the local government of Talisay.

Lawyer and environmentalist Jesus Villardo III of PEMO said that this is the start of planting and growing 500,000 seedlings while the next 500,000 will be planted by September.

Meanwhile, Task Force Ilahas action officer Supt. Armando Tobongbanua said that the policemen who were there at the launch will not only provide security but will also plant and grow trees where the PNP national office has created the green police

unit to protect and enforce environmental laws to prevent illegal activities involving smuggling of logs and other forest products.

Villardo also revealed that as of the latest data of the satellite the forest cover within the Northern Negros Natural Park has increased.

The Negros First Agenda of the province gives premium to life-sustaining ecological systems through sustainable resource programs as viable ways toward a healthy and happy life for everyone.*(JCM/ EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

Antique observes World Day Against Child Labor

By Margie L. Gadian SAN JOSE,Antique, June 21 (PIA) -- The Province of Antique joined the rest of the country and the whole world in observing June 12 as World Day Against Child Labor.

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OLE Provincial Director Mary Agnes Capigon, said that since the launching of the first World Day Against Child Labor in 2002 by the International Labor Organization, the Philippines has joined its yearly observance to raise awareness on the plight of child laborers and to demonstrate solidarity in the worldwide campaign.

This campaign, Capigon said, is a way to highlight the difficulties of the hundreds of millions of girls and boys throughout the world who are engaged in work that deprives them of adequate education, health, leisure and basic freedoms.

The global theme for this year is "Human rights and social justice...let's end

child labor," which stresses that child labor is an impediment to children's rights and a barrier to development.

The World Day 2012 will also highlight the work that needs to be done to make the roadmap for achieving the elimination of the worst forms of child labor by 2016 a reality.

For the 2012 celebration, the National Child Labor Committee chaired by the DOLE, will launch a nationwide "Batang Malaya: Child Labor Free Philippines” campaign on June 26.

As part of the event, the National Statistics Office will release the preliminary results of the 2011 Survey on Children, with official child labor data.

The preliminary results will provide an over-all picture of whether child labor incidence has increased after a decade. In response, the campaign will be launched to intensify and sustain efforts to end the worst forms of child labor.

DOLE in Antique through Capigon calls on all partners, LGUs and national government agencies, schools, sectoral groups, the youth, as well as members of media to support the 2012 World Day Against Child Labor and the campaign against child labor. (DOLE/MLG/JCM/PIA6Antique)

GSIS scholarships available to children of low-income members

By Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 21 (PIA) -- More low-income government workers are given the chance to have their children finish college education through a scholarship grant.

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ranch head Glorietta Dublas of the Government Service Insurance System in Capiz said they are now looking for three scholarship grantees for the GSIS enhanced College Scholarship Program.

Dublas said the program is part of the agency’s 75th anniversary celebration this year that is aimed to ensure that GSIS low-income members would be given the opportunity to send their children to college.

She pointed out that unlike the previous selection process of the winner done through an electronic raffle, the selection of scholars is now done by accepting the scholarship nominees from members who

are holding a salary grade of 24 or below or its equivalent.

“The nominee of parents with the lowest salary grades will be given priority in the scholarship grant,” Dublas said, adding that the nominee must be a child of the member and an incoming freshman who is accepted in the GSIS-identified schools.

According to her, Western Visayas is given 14 scholarship slots, three of which is intended for the province of Capiz.

Dublas revealed that since 1998, the agency was able to award 1,371 scholarship grants, of whom 404 are active scholars and are currently enrolled in various colleges and universities nationwide as of April this year.

Since 2009 until 2011, GSIS has awarded four scholarship slots to Capiceño children, she said.

“Under the scholarship grant, the program scholar will be entitled to the actual cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees not exceeding P20,000 and a monthly stipend of P2,000,” Dublas said, pointing out that the scholar may also opt to take a four or five-year course , but however must meet the scholastic requirements set by the school.

She stressed that application forms are now available in their office while the deadline for submission of application and other requirements is set on June 30. (JCM/ JBG-PIA6, Capiz)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

DOH-7 chief bats for annual urine test for public schools

By Fayette C. Rinen

MANGO (Mangifera indica), CEBU

CEBU CITY, June 20 (PIA) -- With the rising incidence of kidney diseases, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 wants to partner with the Department of Education in requiring public schoolchildren to undergo annual urinalysis examination to address the prevalence of kidney diseases in the region.

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rinalysis is the simplest tool to detect early kidney dysfunction, DOH 7 Regional Director Asuncion Anden bared.

According to the DOH 7, kidney failure is the 10th leading cause of mortality rate in Central Visayas. In the national level, it is the 9th leading cause of deaths among Filipinos, according to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

“Diabetes is the top factor that causes kidney disease followed by hypertension and then glumerulonephritis,” said Anden during a recent Philippine Information Agency Kapihan.

In order to prevent chronic kidney

dysfunction, one must prevent diabetes, Anden stressed.

Anden also said that 50 percent of the 9,769 patients diagnosed with primary renal disease in 2010 were diabetic and that only 514 patients underwent regular dialysis treatment due to expensive costs.

The DOH-7 chief said one causative factor of diabetes is obesity and that most children today prefer eating fast foods, which are quite unhealthy.

“We want to educate and promote kidney care starting with the young," she said. Urinalysis test can help in early detection of the disease, and costs only P100, Anden added.

But with over 300,000 public schoolchildren in Central Visayas, this would involve bigger funding allocation for the free urine test.

“This is just my proposal which I (want to elevate) to our Central Office,” said Anden.

“If the Sin Tax Bill becomes a law, big revenues could be generated from it through taxes. In fact, for the first year alone, it is said that government stands to earn P40 billion which could then be spent for more worthy programs and projects,” stressed Anden, adding that with more revenues, funding allocation for her proposal would no longer be a problem. (FCR/PIA 7-Cebu)

Aussie savant fears decline in world’s coral reefs

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, June 15 (PIA) -- An Australian scientist and environmentalist reported that there has been a great amount of degradation of coral reefs, especially in the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

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he loss is primarily attributed to acute mortality events from crown-of-thorns starfish, coral bleaching and strong catastrophes, said the Director of the Australian Research Council Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies of James Cook University in Australia, Dr. Terry Hughes, as he briefed a group of researchers, teachers, graduate students and representatives of local government units and government agencies in Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Cebu in the orientation-briefing on “Scale, Stock-recruitment Dynamics and the Global Decline of Coral Reefs” held recently at Silliman University in Dumaguete City.

In 2008, 19 percent of coral reefs in the world were categorized as “lost” or are unlikely to recover from deterioration, said Dr. Hughes, citing the Global Coral Reef

Monitoring Network report.

Hughes said that 15 percent were “critical” or were found to have 50 percent of coral loss, 20 percent were “under threat” or with 25 to 50 percent coral loss and 46 percent were “low risk.”

Along with this presentation, he highlighted the value of “no-take marine reserves,” particularly those managed by local communities, in biodiversity conservation and fisheries management.

"No-take marine zones" are areas in the ocean that are permanently cordoned off to allow for marine resources, especially fishes, to grow and reproduce. This method keeps fishing activities away from specific areas of the sea.

These no-take marine zones, he added, have been proven not only to protect coral

reefs but also to increase the egg production of fishes.

In the Philippines, there are about 1,000 marine protected areas, some of them already declared as no-take areas, four of which are areas surrounding Apo Island, Sumilon Island, Mantigue Island and Selinog Island.

The lecture of Dr. Hughes, who was brought to Dumaguete by the Australian Embassy, was sponsored by the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project of the Philippine government to which Silliman University serves as assisting institution or consultant.

Professor Emeritus and Trustee of Silliman University and former DENR secretary Dr. Angel C. Alcala introduced Dr. Hughes as an internationally renowned scientist. (MBCN/ JCT-PIA7,Negros Oriental)

PhilRice to hold marathon to launch National Rice Year 2013

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) partners with Foundation University to launch the National Rice Year (NRY) 2013 during the "Rice is Life" Dumaguete Adventure Marathon (DAM) on November 18 this year.

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RY project leader Hazel Antonio said the Dumaguete Adventure Marathon (DAM) is an ideal event to launch the National Rice Year because of its advocacy for rice conservation.

The DAM, which is now on its fourth year, is the only marathon in Negros Oriental that celebrates rice--the golden grain of life. Before the run, runners recite a pledge to help conserve rice.

A cookfest also follows the marathon, participated by various schools in Negros Oriental, which prepares various rice-based dishes.

The DAM is also the only marathon

that gives away rice as prizes.

The PhilRice has been a regular partner of Foundation University in its advocacy for national rice sufficiency.

Antonio said the NRY 2013 campaign will focus on two problems in the Philippines.

“We are eating way too much rice and we are wasting too much rice,” she said.

She cited a survey which revealed that on average, Filipinos eat almost five cups of rice when one cup a meal is enough.

The study also said that Filipinos are eating more rice than any other food groups. Rice, she said, should only

constitute 1/4 of a meal--not 1/2.

Antonio said that Filipinos are devoting too much energy to rice when there are other equally or more nutritious energy from potatoes, cassava, sweet potato and corn.

Another finding in the study revealed that in 2010, Filipinos wasted 13 percent of the total rice imports, costing P 17 million a day.

“By partnering with Foundation University, PhilRice hopes to encourage the public to be better rice consumers for less wastage and better health,” said Antonio. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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Tagbilaran airport resumes operation end-July LANKA (Artocarpus heterophyllus), DUMAGUETE CITY

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

TAGBILARAN CITY,June 17 (PIA) -- Civil works at the Tagbilaran City Airport are expected to be completed by the end of July or the first week of August.

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ohol governor Edgar Chatto said works at the rehabilitated Tagbilaran City Airport include the additional second floor pre-departure area, the transfer of airline ticketing offices to free more space on the second floor, widening of the ground floor passenger lounge and other related development.

Chatto told Boholanos during his weekly radio program that the rehabilitation puts up a combined 570 seats in the departure areas on the first and second floors.

Tagbilaran City Airport has 9 daily flights to Manila, most of them served by Airbus 319 jets, piling up passengers in the waiting lounge at certain times of the day.

The P37M project is the government’s

response through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to provide necessary measure to serve the tourist island province while the new Panglao Bohol Airport is still on the drawing board.

From the inconvenience of the civil works in the construction however sprout complaints from tourists and riding public about the stifling heat while awaiting out-bound flights.

The local government then urged the CAAP through Aerodrome Development and Management Service (ADMS) for the installation of additional air-conditioning units and the necessary support infrastructure to get them working.

Chatto admitted he has to step into the

problem to know the real score of the work just as Bohol ended a month-long fiesta with homecoming Boholanos and tourists going through the hot lounge ordeal.

He said CAAP has already purchased the air-conditioning unit but due to its size and capacity, a separate power transformer is needed to keep the cooling equipment running.

Unluckily, Chatto said the there is no local supplier for such a transformer and it has to be sourced out from Manila.

Chatto added that as per government procurement and bidding procedures, a process has to be followed before the installation could be done. (mbcn/rahc/PIABohol)

DENR 7: Protect pre-war reforested area in Siquijor

By Hazel F. Gloria SIQUIJOR, June 20(PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas is calling for the protection of the 202.15-hectare pre-war reforestation project in Barangay Salagdoong in Maria, Siquijor.

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ENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said the agency needs the support of the communities to help in the protection of this environmental treasure.

Established in 1937, the reforestation site is one of the oldest in the country. Sixty 60 percent or 121.29 hectares of its total land area are planted to molave tree species or Vitex parviflora. The rest are covered by other types of species-- Lumbang or Aleurites moluccana, Talisay or Terminalia catappa, and Bogo or Garuga floribunda Decne.

Meanwhile, more than 100 seedlings of various rare medicinal tree species were

planted during the tree planting held recently within the 244-hectare Mt. Bandilaan Nature Park. The activity was participated in by DENR Siquijor personnel and members of the Kantabon Herbalist Association.

Among the medicinal plants that they planted are five species of “pahauling kahoy,” “tabong-hangin” and “tagnipas”.

Straddling the towns of Lazi and Siquijor, the protected area shelters endemic fauna and flora.

A total of 30 hectares was planted by mangroves in Barangay Lomangcapan in Enrique Villanueva with a project cost of P700,000 through the Integrated Coastal

Resources Management of DENR. The said project is awarded to Lomangcapan United Fisherfolks Association to undertake the mangrove plantation.

In the face of the deleterious effects of climate change, Montejo noted the importance of trees to capture carbon dioxide emissions.

“We want to draw partnership with all national government agencies, local government units, government owned and controlled corporations, including state colleges and universities to harness maximum participation through their personnel complement in pursuing the green program,” he concluded. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)

Soil-less gardening up in Siquijor

By Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, June 20 (PIA) -- People in Siquijor find hydroponics--growing plants without soil--strange and not applicable. Why, indeed, does one need this kind of technology in a place with land aplenty?

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We are so rural that we still have plenty of land available for planting,” an agricultural worker in Siquijor said.

Unlike in some urban areas where hydroponics is highly called for, Siquijor is an agricultural province with areas not so densely populated; it might be foolhardy to advise settlers to use this method.

But this did not prevent Cyrus Garzo, a 33 year-old Silliman University graduate of BS Agriculture in Agronomy, from trying out hyrdoponics for himself.

Already intrigued by the method as a student, Garzo decided to give it a try after attending a seminar on hydroponics conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) last year. This was sponsored by the Provincial Farmers Information and Techonology Services (FITS) Consortium.

Reinforced with new learning from the seminar, Cyrus immediately started his project in September last year in a very small space fronting his house in Caipilan, Siquijor where he and his wife Rona grow vegetables and fruits like lettuce, pechay, tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant, and papaya, to name a few.

“I was happy with the result,” Cyrus said showing the healthy vegetables, the flowering eggplants and sweet pepper and the fast growing papaya he grew using spare tires, recycled empty containers, or pots with inert growing media such as coconut husks, rice hulls, and water.

In his almost a year of applying what he learned and from these healthy vegetables he grows, Cyrus said he was able to establish a local “suki” (regular buyer) from resort owners in the island.

“Aside from the income, it’s self-fulfilling,” he said beaming with pride as he discussed the project of growing a vegetable garden without having to use the soil.

It did work in Siquijor. I sampled this to prove that even in this island, soil-less technology can be a very good source of income, he added.

In general, hydroponic gardens require only about 20 percent of the overall space required for soil gardens for the same vegetable production.

If you haven't seen it for yourself, you will be amazed at how the vegetables grow in Cyrus’ place. They are but proofs of his initiative and industry going together. (MBCN/ RAC-PIA7, Siquijor)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

DBM to PNP: release payments via ATM to weed out ghost pensioners

PILI NUT (Canarium ovatum), SORSOGON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to release retiree benefit payments via Automated Teller Machines (ATM) to strike out all ghost pensioners from the current database.

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We call on the Retired PNP Officers Association to begin securing ATM accounts so they can receive their pension payments much faster and more efficiently. We ask for their support on this measure, not just because of the conveniences they will enjoy from it, but also because it is critical in establishing transparent and accountable budgeting within the PNP,” Secretary Florencio B. Abad said.

This was learned from DBM Region 8 Director Imelda Laceras who said that the DBM Secretary believes that the switch to electronic banking will allow government to strike out all ghost pensioners from the PNP database.

The DBM suggestion is not without basis. The Armed Forces of the Philippines

and the Philippine Veterans Office have already made the complete transition to electronic banking for their pension payments.

The DBM called on the PNP to follow suit and make ATM payments mandatory for all their pensioners, Director Laceras said.

Apart from speeding up the claims process for the beneficiaries, this will also help the PNP purge their database of ghost retirees.

The DBM said that the check payment system is already a very time-consuming process for the pensioners. They have to go to their banks twice a month and stand in line just to encash their checks.

More importantly, this system has been heavily abused by unscrupulous groups who have made a sizeable profit at the expense of

the Filipino people, with PNP ghost retirees defrauding government of around P250 million a year.

“This is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately,” Secretary Abad underscored, Director Laceras said.

Secretary Abad, Director Laceras said, made the statement in response to a nationwide rally organized by the Retired PNP Officers Association, which protested the Aquino administration’s move to switch to an ATM-based payment system. The rally was supposed to be held on Monday, June 18, across all DBM regional offices.

Secretary Abad noted, however, that just over 2,000 of the roughly 60,000 PNP pensioners have so far enrolled in ATM accounts, Laceras said. (PIA-8)

Road and bridge bring relief to residents, farmers in Samar

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)’s road and bridge projects are bringing relief to the people of Samar, especially farmers when they transport their goods.

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he volume of traffic passing along the roads and bridges and the number of years the infrastructure has served the public contribute to its damage.

These are then identified through the technical inspectors and recommendations for repair and rehabilitation.

Brigildo dela Cruz, a farmer from a remote town in Barangay Hampton, Matuginao, Samar, has every now and then helped build a wooden bridge to reach the poblacion, but when heavy rains pour, dela

Cruz and his group have to re-construct the bridge anew.

With the completion of a concrete Barruz Bridge, dela Cruz does not need to build a bridge anymore.

The schoolchildren do not have to risk their lives to reach the schools.

Dela Cruz and other farmers can now deliver their goods to the poblacion anytime.

Maria Yulo, an entrepreneur, fears the traffic congestion in downtown Gandara.

Like her, other pedestrians fear for their lives when crossing the cramped streets with all sorts of vehicles.

Now, there is no more traffic. The new Gandara Bridge along the Gandara Diversion highway serves as an alternate route where buses, trucks, and heavy equipment pass, freeing Gandara poblacion of heavy traffic.

Demetria Enguito, another farmer, laments that the cost of transportation increases when roads are bad.

It also encourages land owners to develop their idle lands otherwise left unattended for many years. (NIBQ-PIA-8 Samar with Ma. Nenita Gomez-DPWH Samar 1st Engineering District)

DENR to rural folks: Report any sighting of Philippine Eagle

By Alicia F. Nicart BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, June 15 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here, through Forester Federico Briton is appealing to barangay folks to report to them any sighting of the prized Philippine Eagle.

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riton said this recently as the Philippine Eagle Week was being observed.

According to him, the majestic eagle is one the country’s most prized possessions but they now come in few.

“There are less than 300 Philippine Eagles today, including the captives that are now in Davao,” Forester Briton said to media.

He added that the Eagle which has a height of one meter and weighs from three to eight kilos can only be seen in four areas of the country: Sierra Madre

(Luzon), Mt. Apo(Mindanao), Taft (Eastern Samar), and Leyte.

The eagle in Taft hovers above Hinabangan and Taft mountain ranges; it is is being monitored and taken care of by four casual employees. He said that Philippine eagles are considered barometers of environment. Simply put, when a place has some sightings of the big bird, be assured that the forest is fit and still is conducive as wildlife habitat.

Briton further stated that the Philippine eagle is territorial, which means, it settles in just one place such that, the

eagle that could be seen in Taft could be different from the one seen, still undocumented though, in Balangiga, as reported.

“The biggest Eagle is also the strongest bird,” he said and is most beautiful, but carnivorous. “Shooting the Philippine Eagle is prohibited; a penalty of P100,000 to P1 million with one day imprisonment to 12 years will be meted on any perpetrator.

June 4 to 8 was Philippine Eagle Week and the whole month is Environment Month. (PIA-Eastern Samar)

EASTERN VISAYAS

PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus ), LEYTE

Disaster response management

7 to

include

nutrition

By Rebecca S. Cadavos

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -- The Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) will be adopting nutrition management during emergency and disaster response.

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he Technical Working Group (TWG) of the PNC is ready to adopt the National Policy on Nutrition Management in Emergencies and Disasters as mandated in National Nutrition Council Board Resolution 2, series of 2009.

Under the policy, the nutrition council requires the delivery of quality nutrition and other health-related services that could be facilitated in times of emergencies and disasters, said Dr. Noel Lumen, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, in a meeting held recently with the PNC-TWG members at Supercha Restaurant.

Lumen explained that disasters disrupt the lives of people and may affect their health and nutritional status.

Activities for the nutrition disaster team during emergencies and disasters include supplemental feeding, weighing, vitamin A supplementation, among other health care services that can be served in times of emergencies and disasters, said Lumen.

He said that most affected during emergencies and disasters are the vulnerable groups like the infants, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, people with disabilities and those people living with weakening conditions.

Meanwhile, Provincial Nutritionist Nilda Rich said, “Those affected by these calamities if not acted upon, are at risk of a deterioration in the nutritional status and likewise threatens the gains achieved in improving the nutritional situation of the country which could prevent in reaching the nutrition-related targets of Goal 1 of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” quoting the policy under the National Nutrition Council Board Resolution No. 2.

It will formulate the appropriate guidelines, manual of operations and other user-friendly materials in order to implement the said policy. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

DOTC bids out improvement of Panan-awan airport and 6 others

By Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) included the Panan-awan airport here to be bidded out in a national daily broadsheet together with six other airports all over the country, with a combined worth of P303 million.

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n the June 14, 2012 issue of the Manila Bulletin, the DOTC stated that it is,“improving and expanding the passenger and airport traffic handling capacity of seven provincial airports in order to support growth in tourism and business activity in the country.”

It added that “these projects further ensure convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe transport.”

“The DOTC is inviting prospective bidders to be part of this initiative by joining the open and transparent bidding process for the construction, rehabilitation, and/or expansion of seven airports in the Philippines,” the DOTC ad placement said.

“The Maasin Airport in Southern Leyte province is being expanded to accommodate commercial flights. This P 43.4-million project entails construction of a 32,000-square meter runway strip and runway subgrade extension, which measures 320 meters long and 30 meters wide,” the ads said, giving a glimpse on the scope of the work.

The six other airport projects also up for bidding are those at Butuan, Cotabato, Dipolog, Pagadian, Sanga-Sanga airport in Tawi-tawi, and San Vicente airport at Palawan.

All the seven airport projects have June 22 as the date for pre-bid conference and

July 5 as the deadline for submission and opening of bids.

Mercado stressed that the airport project would be a big boost to the tourism initiatives of the province as it offers accessibility and mobility to a place that was primed to be the playground of Eastern Visayas by 2013.

The local media sent last week a resolution requesting DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas for the release of the funds.

Another project included in the resolution was the alternate port in barangay Can-iwan which was also allotted P40 million funding since last year yet as reported by Cong.

Mercado. (PIA-8)

Consumers in EVisayas raise issue on unimplemented oil price cuts

By Rodrigo S. Victoria NAVAL, Biliran, June 19 (PIA) -- Majority of the consumers who attended the regional consumer congress held in Eastern Visayas raised the issue on the unimplemented oil price cuts by local gas stations.

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onsumer associations representing the six provinces in Eastern Visayas converged at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel last June 14 for a one-day Regional Consumer Congress with Regional Director Cynthia R. Nierras and other key regional officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in attendance.

One of the objectives of the regional forum was to bring issues and concerns affecting the local consumers in each of the six provinces in the region. The issues and concerns raised during the regional consumer congress will be presented to the

national consumer congress that will be held in October this year in Metro Manila.

“It would be unfair for consumers in the region especially to the public who gas up daily since local gas stations do not implement the rollback prices of oil,” lamented a consumer from Biliran province who presented the issue in the congress.

Consumers from other provinces in Region 8 have also raised during the regional consumer congress the common observation that local gas stations automatically adjust prices of oil products

when schedule of oil price increases is announced on television.

“This situation which is a big disadvantage to consumers is a perennial problem in the rural areas,” said a consumer from Northern Samar, who wanted the concerned government agencies to address and find solutions to the pressing issue.

Other consumer-related issues and concerns such as piracy, non-issuance of official receipt, strengthening of consumer association in the region, among others, were also presented and discussed in the said congress. (PIA-8)

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