One Visayas e-Newsletter Vol 2 Issue 41

Vol 2

Issue 41

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

DILG-6 Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta tells participants from different civil society organizations in Western Visayas the important the role that they will be playing as partners of government in development during a forum on Strengthening Private Sector Participation in Local Governance held at Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City on October 8. Also in the picture is DILG Iloilo Provincial Director Rosario Masa. (EJB/PIA6)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

October 8—14, 2012

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

P7.4-B infra to up eco-tourism in Bohol

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA) -- President Benigno Aquino in his visit to Bohol revealed three major infrastructure projects that will increase the province’s global competitiveness as one of the top tourism destinations in the world.

“Alam nating turismo ang isa sa mga pangunahin ninyong industriya. Sino ba naman ang hindi makakakilala sa Chocolate Hills at tarsiers ng Bohol? Kaya dagdagan pa natin ang magandang balita: inaprubahan na noong ika -4 ng Setyembre ng NEDA Board ang New Bohol Airport na itatayo sa Panglao,” (We all know that tourism is one of your main industries. Who does not know the Chocolate Hills and tarsiers of Bohol. Now, let us add more good news: On September 4, the NEDA Board has approved the New Bohol Airport that will be built in Panglao) Aquino said.

In a similar development, the President also revealed the construction of the P138 million Sagbayan-Danao National Road that leads to Bohol’s premier extreme adventure experience as a national priority.

The paving of the 20+ kilometer road stretch cuts travel time from Tagbilaran to Danao.

President Aquino also told the residents of Bohol of the ongoing road network of Antequera-San Isidro

to Libertad-Tubigon Road to ease travel of goods and services as well as ensure safety of people traveling these areas.

The road network effectively connects landlocked town San Isidro to Antequera and Tubigon, its nearest port to Cebu.

The President hopes that completing these infrastructure projects will increase the economic activities and tourism potentials of Bohol. (mbcn/rahcPIA7 Bohol)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Construction of P1.5-M hanging bridge in Carigara ongoing

Marites Angin (w/ mic) and Lenita Good (extreme left) share how their lives were improved after they have benefited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program in Cebu City during a Kapihan forum organized by PIA-Cebu. With them are Brigeda Tampus Turon and Aillen Lariba of DSWD-7. (VVV/AYS-PIA7 Cebu)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

CARIGARA, Leyte, Oct 9 (PIA) -- Currently ongoing is the P1.5-million hanging bridge in Barangay Uyawan, Carigara, Leyte, Department of Public Works and Highways Leyte II District Engineer Margaria Junia said.

This development is welcomed by hundreds of barangay residents exposed to danger and inconveniences during flood surges.

When the new hanging or suspension bridge project is completed before the end of December, residents can safely cross to the other side of the village.

The hanging bridge is expected to benefit the residents of villages of Uyawan, Canlampay, Libo, Upper Hiraan, and Caghalo, all in the municipality of Carigara.

“The absence of the hanging bridge in the area makes it difficult for residents in many barangays to move to safer grounds because of strong water current at the Carigara River,” said Junia.

Junia added that the construction of this bridge is timely because December until early part of next year is rainy season.

She also said the hanging bridge project is disaster risk reduction, mitigation and preparation project.

“Rescue efforts during flooding will be a lot easier because of this hanging bridge. We will no longer need to use heavy equipment in order to evacuate people crossing the Carigara River,” Junia added.

Hanging bridge is an early type of bridge supported entirely from anchors at either end, and has no towers or piers, Junia explained.

However, it may have saddles. In such bridges, the deck of the bridge follows the downward and upward arc of the load-bearing cables, with additional light ropes at a higher level used to form a handrail, Junia said. (PIA-8)

EASTERN VISAYAS

RDC-6 slates Visayas ICT Conference

The Eastern Visayas regional selection committee headed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development met to screen and discuss the qualifications of Civil Society Organizations that would become partners of DSWD in the implementation of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer and Family Development Seminars, at Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City, October 9. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

ILOILO, Oct 11 (PIA) -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Region 6 is finalizing plans for the Visayas Information and Communication Technology Organizational Conference (Victor) on November 29 in Iloilo City.

Among the participants to the Visayas ICT organization conference are representatives of the RDCs and of the ICT federations of Regions 6, 7 and 8.

The organizational conference will present the Visayas ICT councils to the RDCs and the regional line agencies and the different programs and projects of the different ICT councils.

With the organizational conference, it also hopes to create a working synergy for the ICT in all the Visayas regions and to be able to identify and access resources available for ICT development.

In the joint study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Business

Processing Association of the Philippines, two cities from Western Visayas, Bacolod and Iloilo City, were included in the top five next wave cities with business process outsourcing (BPO).

The study also showed that BPO in these cities bring in around P300 million into the local economy every month and employs 22,000 workers, earning an average monthly salary of P15,000.

In another study conducted by the DOST-Information Communications Technology Office (ICTO) showed that for every one BPO worker, five other indirect employment opportunities are created.

With the impact brought about by the BPOs on employment and the economy and the support of the RDC, it is expected that the holding of Victor will further boost ICT in the regions.

(JCM/PIA6)

2

WESTERN VISAYAS

10 WV towns implement Salintubig Program

Paseo de Iloilo—the most sophisticated courtship and

By Elsa S. Subong

flirtation dance of the Spanish Era

ILOILO CITY, Oct 9 (PIA6) -- Ten municipalities in Western Visayas are implementing the Salintubig Program as of September 11, a report from the Department of Health (DOH-6) said. alintubig is Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para Those with on-going construction for revision of the memorandum of sa Lahat, which is designed to provide activities are the towns of Cauayan in Negros agreement. water supply system for 455 waterless Occidental and of Libacao in Aklan, with 40 Villalobos said the Salintubig Program, municipalities, barangays, resettlement sites percent and 28 percent status of construction besides providing for construction or and health centers in the region. and fund release of P4 million each. rehabilitation of water systems, also gives In 2010, three agencies namely the DOH, Also in that phase are the towns of assistance to local government units and water the Department of the Interior and Local Mambusao and Jamindan in Capiz, with the service providers to enhance their capacity in Government (DILG), and the National former having 85 percent and the latter with planning, implementing and operating water Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) signed a 42 percent of the construction accomplished, supply facilities. memorandum of agreement for the with fund release of P200,000 each.

“Among the overall goals of the program implementation of the program.

On the other hand, the DOH report is to reduce incidence of water-borne and The towns of Dumalag and Pilar in Capiz showed that the towns of Janiuay and sanitation diseases,” Villalobos said. have already completed the construction of Tubungan in Iloilo are still in the bidding “Likewise, it is expected that by 2015, the water supply systems in their barangays costing process and for the water source testing for program can help achieve increased water P500,000 for each town, said Dr. Elvie microorganisms. service for waterless population by 50 Villalobos, head of the Environment and The additional towns of Dumangas and percent,” he added. (JCM/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo) Occupational Health of DOH-6.

Bingawan are yet to submit their documents

S

DOST scholarships available for top students

By Easter Anne D. Doza NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Oct 8 (PIA6) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is opening its scholarship grants for top students in 2013.

P

rovincial Science and Technology Director Allan Francis Dara-ug made the call in a press conference where he urged students who wish to pursue priority fields of study in science, mathematics, and engineering.

Republic Act 7687 or the Science and Technology Act of 1994 states that government, through DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), will offer scholarships to talented and deserving high school graduates who will be financially supported to pursue specific careers in industrial technology.

Another form of scholarship under DOST is the merit-based selection wherein scholarships are awarded to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics and willing to pursue fields of science and technology.

Generally, applicants to the scholarships must be poor, talented and deserving students who belong to a family whose socio-economic status does not exceed the set values of certain indicators as approved by the advisory committee on the S&T Scholarships; a member of the top five percent of the regular high school graduating class; or a member of the graduating class of a DOST-SEI identified or a Department of Education (DepEd)-recognized science high school; a natural-born Filipino citizen; a resident of the municipality for the last four years as attested by the barangay or school records; of good moral character and in good health; and a qualifier of the 2005 S&T Scholarship Examination.

This year, there are 204 DOST Scholars from 33 institutions nationwide and since 2007

there have been 520 scholars and 121 have graduated from their courses.

“Almost 90 percent of our DOST scholars get hired after graduation. They already have an edge compared to the others because of the standard they have to keep while being our scholar,” Dara-ug said.

Application forms and requirements are available at the Negros Occidental Provincial Science and Technology Center, DOST Building, Cottage Road, Bacolod City or interested applicants may inquire at telephone 707-0170. Forms may be downloaded from www.sei.dost.gov.ph and www.science-scholarships.ph.

Deadline of submission of application and requirements is on October 5.

(JCM/EAD-PIA6, Negros Occidental)

NFA assures adequate rice supply in Capiz

By Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct 9 (PIA6) -- Capiceños are assured of adequate supply of rice.

A

s of October 4, the rice stock in the province reached 760,690 bags which could last for the next 139 days, National Food Authority Information Officer Rose Andalecio said.

She said that of the total rice buffer, the household stocks accounted for the highest with 562,800 bags which could last for 103 days while the commercial stock reached 134,270 bags that could feed Capiceños in the next 24.59 days.

Andalecio said the government stock which is deposited in different warehouses in Capiz totaled 63,620 bags.

She also said that based on their agency’s distribution target of 89,400 bags

from January to September this year in the different accredited rice outlets, they were able to distribute 45,901 bags of rice in the 24 Institutionalized Bigasan sa Palengke and 124 Bigasan sa Barangay rice outlets.

On the other hand, Andalecio said that they are intensifying their procurement activities especially with the onset of the harvest season here in order that Capiceños will not worry about supply of rice.

She explained that they are also reaching the individual farmers and other farmer groups through its “Ugnayan” activity in the different towns in the province, particularly the rice producing areas to provide the public with awareness on the

recent requirements in the selling of palay to the NFA. The government support price is P17 per kilogram of clean and dry palay with lesser requirements especially from the individual farmers to lessen the burden in their selling transaction with the NFA, she emphasized.

Andalecio said that so far, the agency was able to buy 23,846 bags of palay from both the individual farmers and farmer groups, which is lower than its procurement target of 114,000 bags for the period of January to September this year.

(JCM/JBG-PIA6 Capiz)

WESTERN VISAYAS

Paseo de Iloilo—originated in Iloilo

3

West Visayas competitiveness on track

ILOILO CITY, Oct 8 (PIA6) -- The tracking of the competitiveness performance of Region 6 by the Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) will now be easier with the support of the Regional Statistical Coordination Committee (RSCC).

T

he RSCC was tasked by the Regional Development Council (RDC), in its latest meeting, to support the work of the RCC in generating competitiveness indicators to track the competitiveness performance of Western Visayas and for all other government agencies and local government units concerned to generate competitiveness indicators and to regularly submit these to the RCC. The RCC is the regional counterpart of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) chaired by President Aquino to oversee the region’s competitiveness vis-à-vis selected Asian cities and other regions in the Philippines. The RCC was created by RDC-6 Resolution No. VI-19, in

its June meeting, that will track or monitor six competitiveness indicators: dynamism to local economy, government responsiveness to business environment; infrastructure; cost of doing business and risk assessment; quality of life; and human resources.

The setting up of the RCC was based on the perceived need to regularly monitor the level of competitiveness of Western Visayas based on the parameters of the NCC and for a more concerted effort to promote Western Visayas as a better option in terms of investment.

The RCC has lined up several major agenda items to pursue in terms of setting-up institutional mechanisms, research, monitoring and data banking, strategies to enhance competitiveness, and

strengthening networks for and in Western Visayas.

Ma. Luisa Segovia, RDC co-chairperson, sits as chairperson of the council and co-chaired by Ro-Ann Bacal of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) with its membership coming from the regional line agencies, regional league of planners, private sector such as the Iloilo Business Club, Bacolod Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (Pasuc) and higher educational institutions (HEIs).

It is composed of 50 percent public and 50 percent private sector representatives.

(JCM-PIA6)

Army CMO officers lay down roadmap for peace

By Margie L. Gadian SAN JOSE,Antique, Oct. 10 (PIA6) — While every citizen of this country looks forward to lasting peace especially in the hinterlands, the uniformed men of the Philippine Army has taken two steps forward in achieving this.

T

he Civil-Military Operation planners came together recently for a one-day seminar to formulate plans and programs that would best address the emerging challenges in the implementation of the peace program especially in the area of responsibility of the 301st Infantry (Bayanihan) Brigade, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, Philippine Army.

Col. Arnold M. Quiapo, Commander of the 301st Brigade said that in order for peace to flourish, all sector of society should be involved. Nobody should be left out in this herculean task of building confidence and trust in government especially the uniformed men thus CMO officers should be trained to become good communicators and writers and to establish good working relationship with the media which publish and broadcast their various releases to the different publics.

The activity was conceptualized by the Chief, Division Public Affairs Office of the 3rd Infantry Division, Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto, who gave the participants a lecture on how to write news releases with good editorial quality and how to enhance their relationships with the media.

Ileto said that as CMO officers they should provide correct and timely information to the community, write about their programs and activities undertaken so the people may know what their unit is doing while uplifting the morale of their comrades, and at the same assure the people they promised to protect that they are just there making sure that their mandate is carried out without any mental reservation.

In the same vein, Ms. Margie L. Gadian, manager of the Philippine Information Agency in Antique shared some tips in good media relations/public relations, strategic

approaches in writing reports, and how to be good public speakers in order to promote the programs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines well.

Gadian also emphasized the importance of always making the people well-informed not only of the AFP's programs but of the other agencies as well as they are in the best position to bring the government closer to our brothers in the hinterlands through their various programs crafted with the stakeholders and called "Bayanihan".

A total of twenty-five CMO officers was in attendance at the 6th Forward Service Support Unit Conference room based at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City recently.

CPT. Vicente T. De Los Reyes, CMO Officer of the 301st Brigade was on hand to welcome the participants.

(JCM/MLG/PIA6-Antique)

Aklan farmers benefit from P4.88-M machineries

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Oct 8 (PIA6) -- The provincial government of Aklan is looking forward to an increased farm yield by Aklan farmers with the recent distribution of P4.88 million worth of farm machineries and equipment.

T

he machineries and equipment include 14 units hand tractors, eight units of rice threshers, a rice transplanter and a combine harvester.

These were given to 17 Aklan farmers and irrigators and cooperatives coming from various towns of Aklan as beneficiaries.

These were provided by the national government through the Department of Agriculture (DA) with 15 percent of the procurement expense to be shouldered by the recipient farmers associations and cooperatives.

To ease the farmers’ burden, however, the provincial government of

Aklan opted to pay the counterpart amounting to P732,000.

Besides increasing farmers’ rice harvest, Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez said the assistance from DA will also advance the province’s on-farm and post harvest mechanization programs.

(JCM/VGV-PIA6, Aklan)

4

CENTRAL VISAYAS

'Graduating' 4Ps recipients in CVisayas face better future

By Fayette C. Riñen

Mazurka Boholana-- a Spanish-inspired ballroom dance from the Bohol

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- A legacy of an improved quality of life is the fulfillment left by the government’s anti-poverty program dubbed Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), to over 20,000 graduating household-recipients in Central Visayas. arites Augis, who lives near the assistance broken down into P500 for the sessions, and 85 percent school Inayawan dumpsite in Cebu health needs of her family and P300 each attendance of children-recipients.

City, is just one of the first of for the educational needs of her two In Central Visayas, the number of Set the 2,541 identified poorest of the poor children.

1 household-beneficiaries or those who families in Cebu City enrolled in the Since its launching in 2008, the were the first recipients was 20,442 but program when it started in 2008. program has already covered 3.2 million these families were only based in Negros Augis said that with no work and a household-beneficiaries nationwide, Oriental and Cebu City. husband with no stable income, it was claimed Aileen Lariba, DSWD 7 4Ps “These over 20,000 families belonged very difficult for her to send her children information officer during the PIA forum. to the highest poverty incidence level of to school. And because her family was Lariba said the beneficiaries will 89 percent. This is why they were given included in the Set 1 beneficiaries five receive financial assistance from the highest priority by government,” said years ago, two of her children below 14 government for a total of five years as Lariba. years old were able to go to school. long as they also meet their The DSWD 7 is currently conducting As a recipient of government’s co-responsibilities which are to regularly registration for the Set 6 household poverty alleviation program, Augis visit the barangay health centers, regular beneficiaries in Region 7. (PIA 7, Cebu) received P1,100 monthly financial attendance to family development

M

More than 1,000 enrolled in PhilHealth’s Sponsored Program in Cebu and NegOr

By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Seven barangays in the provinces of Cebu and Negros Oriental enrolled 1,481 poor constituents in Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Sponsored Program.

T

he three sponsoring barangays are in Cebu City, one in Consolacion, Cebu, and three in Tayasan, Negros Oriental.

In Cebu City, Barangay Capitol Site enrolled 800 poor families, while barangays Apas and Lorega San Miguel each sponsored 165 members and Consolacion’s Barangay Pulpogan sponsored the premium of 200 constituents.

In Tayasan, barangays Linao, Lutay, and Magtuhao shouldered the premium of a total of 151 poor constituents.

Through the support of these barangays, poor families enrolled as

sponsored members can now avail of PhilHealth benefits within the validity period indicated in their PhilHealth ID and Member Data Record (MDR).

Like all other PhilHealth members, sponsored members can avail of PhilHealth benefits when confined for at least 24 hours in PhilHealth-accredited hospitals or admitted for outpatient treatment, such as dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and ambulatory or day surgeries, among others.

They are also entitled to free primary preventive and diagnostic services, as well as free drugs and medicines in accredited rural health units or health centers under

PhilHealth’s Primary Care Benefit 1 (PCB1) package.

PhilHealth’s No Balance Billing Policy (NBB) also applies to members sponsored by these barangays when admitted in accredited government hospitals for illnesses or surgical procedures covered under PhilHealth’s case rates.

PhilHealth benefits and the NBB extend to qualified dependents of the principal sponsored member, that is, the legal spouse, children below 21 years old and parents aged 60 years or older. (HFG/ PIA-7/Philhealth)

Violators of smoking ban urged to attend orientation

By Rachelle M. Nessia DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- The city government of Dumaguete has urged smokers apprehended under the city smoke-free ordinance to attend an orientation session at the City Health Office (CHO).

S

ome 200 individuals were caught violating the ordinance since it was implemented in the city from September 1 to October 4, a statement from the Dumaguete Information Office said.

Of the total, there are about some 100 individuals who failed to report to the

City Health Office for their orientation, said Joey Abella of the Smoke-Free Council.

The ordinance requires violators to undergo a free cessation clinic at the CHO. Violators are given 20 days to report to the CHO to attend the free orientation, Abella said.

The city government appeals to violators to attend the orientation so the city government would not be forced to file a case against them, the City Information Office said in a statement.

(RMN/PIA7 Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Mazurka Boholana-- a Spanish-inspired ballroom dance from the Bohol

5

NSO asks village officials to support agri sector survey

By Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) in Negros Oriental is appealing for the support of local officials in 557 barangays for the ongoing nationwide survey for Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA). rovincial Statistician Officer Ariel conduct of the survey, Fortuito asked the sectors in agriculture in the province from Fortuito of NSO said the survey households to leash their dogs and September 17 to November 7, said the for the basic sectors in cooperate with the enumerators when NSO head. Foruito said this year’s round agriculture like the farmers, farm workers they visit their homes. registration and survey uses or laborers and fishermen in the province Under the Local Government Code, high-technology gadget such as Global need to be enlisted for the economic the barangay secretary is mandated to Positioning System (GPS) to locate the development planners, policy makers and keep an updated record of all residents in agriculture-based localities.

With this, government planners and project implementors. the barangay, hence, Fortuito specifically Thus, Fortuito appeals to barangay asked the village secretary to supervise project implementers can spot specific officials to assist field interviewers by the field interviewers so that essential areas in the country where the group of agricultural sectors for potential agriculinforming household-residents to be information collected is accurate. available on the scheduled date of the Data generation for the creation of a tural development assistance are situated. survey. To facilitate also the efficient more thorough database on the basic (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)

P

DSWD-7 expands 4Ps scope to cover families in need of protection

By Amorganda A. Saludar CEBU CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare (DSWD-7) expanded the coverage of its poverty alleviation program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to include families in need of special protection such as street children, displaced families due to disasters, trafficked women and children, and child laborers. ileen Lariba, DSWD-7 4Ps public children. This conditional cash transfer is man-made or natural disasters and other information officer in a recent PIA good for five years. environmental factors and other families in Kapihan, said the expanded target Lariba said the expanded coverage need of special protection. beneficiaries is aimed at helping those also aims to provide safety and The program also focused on giving families in need otherwise not included in protection as well as to promote the health and nutrition services through the regular identified poorest of the poor development of children in difficult regular visits to the health center and to household-recipients. circumstances such as child laborers and enhance parenting roles through Under the 4Ps, identified poorest of trafficked children. attendance to FDS as well as mainstream the poor families are given monthly Under the expanded coverage, other families with children in need of special financial aid of P500 for their health needs target beneficiaries include the indigenous protection for normal psycho-social and P300 each per child under 14 years of people, families with children born with functioning. (FCR/AYS-PIA7 Cebu) age for a maximum of three school disabilities, displaced families due to

A

PRO-7 closely monitoring formation of possible private armies/goons

By Amorganda A. Saludar CEBU CITY (PIA) -- The Police Regional Office (PRO-7) is now strictly monitoring suspected groups of individuals that could possibly be hired as private goons or private army by politicos amid the May 2013 national and local polls.

I

n the recent "Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP)" Forum, PRO-7 Chief Directorial Staff S/Supt. Orlando Ualat said, “We are closely monitoring groups that are potentials of being hired as private armies for politicians.”

Ualat said that, they are also monitoring politicians with past records of using hired goons in previous elections and have dismantled private armed goons.

Ualat added that they are closely monitoring the possibility of armed goons in the northern part of Cebu based on reports. “This time we will be strictly

monitoring the northern part of Cebu for possible formation of private armed groups,” the official declared.

In the last 2010 national and local elections, a standoff incident occurred in Barangay Pulambato in Bogo City involving two contending politicians.

Both politicos had their respective armed goons with them when the incident happened which affected media and innocent people who were on coverage or just passing by but could not get through due to the standoff which occurred right in a major road access.

Ualat however, clarified that at present,

the police force in the region received no reports of armed group formation here since the start of the filing of the Certificate of Candidacy for the upcoming 2013 elections.

The police official further said that they are likewise monitoring the political conditions in the other provinces in the region.

“The provinces of Bohol and Siquijor had no record of past intense political rivalry while we are monitoring the province of Negros Oriental," Ualat said (FCR/AYS-PIA7, Cebu)

6

EASTERN VISAYAS

Fil-Am of Leyte descent bags media award for 2012 TOFA-NY

TINIKLING – a Filipino folk dance originated in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct 8 (PIA) -- Filipino-American reporter Ryan Songalia, 25, won the media award for the prestigious Outstanding Filipino-Americans in New York (TOFA-NY).

R

yan, boxing reporter for RingTV of Leyte descent, his father Jaime having come from Tanauan, Leyte, will receive his award on October 27 at the Weill Recital Hall of New York’s Carnegie Hall. He will share the spotlight with 11 other awardees in various fields of endeavor.

“I've won the media award for the 2012 Outstanding Filipino Americans of NY! Thank you everyone who took the time to vote, then asked their cousins and moms to vote also. Without all of you I couldn't have done it,” Ryan said acknowledging the Filipinos all over the world who rallied behind him.

“I greatly appreciate the help given me here and promise to make my father's hometown proud,” Songalia told the

Philippine Information Agency. The Philippine Information Agency made a feature story on Ryan on July 12, 2012, urging Filipinos all over the world to vote for him online.

Ryan is currently a feature writer for the boxing magazine Ring Magazine and has covered Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Brian Viloria fights from ringside.

He also worked as a reporter for New York Daily News, one of the highest circulated newspapers in the United States. He was the first Filipino admitted into the Boxing Writers Association of America in the organization's 90 years of existence and became the group's youngest full member at 21. He also works as a freelance journalist for GMA

News, covering a variety of topics. He studied journalism at Bergen Community College, but left because he was offered a job at the New York Daily News. He is finishing a course on Digital Marketing at New York University on Friday, then will be flying to Manila on Tuesday. He shuttles from Manila and New Jersey.

TOFA-NY is an awards event held annually in New York during Filipino American History Month celebration in October.

It was created to give recognition to individuals and organizations that have raised the profile of the Filipino-American community in a unique and positive way and to celebrate their achievements. (PIA-8)

NRPCC declares Biliran as a rabies-free zone

By Rodrigo S. Victoria NAVAL, Biliran, Oct 9 (PIA) -- The National Rabies Prevention and Control Committee (NRPCC) has formally declared Biliran province as a “rabies-free zone” in a ceremony held in Makati City Hall last September 28. he certificate, signed by areas based on the joint Administrative DOH-8 and Antonio G. Gerundio, Department of Health (DOH) Order No. 1 of the DOH and DA. The regional director of DA Regional Field Secretary Enrique T. Ona and ceremonial declaration of Biliran province Unit-8.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary will be held on October 11 at the Biliran The highlights during the ceremonial Proceso J. Alcala, was personally received Garden Resort in Sitio Lomboy, Barangay declaration include the unveiling of the

by Dr. Suzette V. Apura, provincial Calumpang, Naval, Biliran. Dr. Soe rabies-free zone marker and the release of veterinarian of Biliran.

Nyunt-U, World Health Organization balloons that will be held at the provincial Biliran province was declared as a (WHO) country representative, will be capitol grounds. rabies-free zone, together with the present during the ceremonial declaration Municipalities in Biliran province with provinces of Camiguin and Marinduque together with DOH Assistant Secretary remarkable accomplishments on rabies and the island town of Limasawa in Pauline Jean Ubial, Dr. Rubina O. prevention and control program will be Southern Leyte by the NRPCC for Cresencio, officer-in-charge and director given awards. Winners of the poster and completing and satisfying the requirements of the Bureau of Animal Institute, Dr. slogan making contests will also be stated in the guidelines for declaring such Jaime S. Bernadas, regional director of awarded on October 11. (PIA-Biliran)

T

DOLE-SoLeyte orders local optical establishment to refund underpayment

By Erna S. Gorne MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Southern Leyte ordered a local optical establishment to refund underpayment last October 1 in the total amount of P100,494.60 to its employees, who were found to be receiving salaries below the minimum wage rate.

T

hrough random labor inspection among the priority establishments in the province, the DOLE Labor Inspection group found an optical shop based in Sogod paying its four employees an underpayment of P200 per day minimum wage, DOLE Provincial Office staff disclosed.

Under the Labor Code, the minimum wage rate for establishment with below 10 workers is pegged at P220 per day, which

has also an implication to the computation of overtime pay at the time the labor inspection was conducted.

DOLE ordered the said establishment to pay back P22 per day since last year, it was further learned.

The settlement was immediately resolved with only one conference between the local establishment and the DOLE Provincial Office through the Single Entry Approach amicable settlement.

The employees who received the refund for underpayment were Rene Paloma, Catherine Prima, Jocelyn Minones, and Melcris Dublas, it was said.

Meanwhile, to raise the compliance of establishments with labor standards, through the leadership of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, DOLE is planning to hire 372 more labor inspectors this year. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

EASTERN VISAYAS

TINIKLING – a Filipino folk dance originated in Leyte

7

OWWA proclaims 2012 Model OFW Families of EVisayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct 10 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare - 8 (OWWA-8) honored this year’s Model OFW Family of Eastern Visayas in an awarding ceremony held at Hotel Alejandro in Tacloban City on October 5.

R

egion 8 Labor Director Exequiel Sarcauga said this year’s awardees are Engracio B. Custodio and family from Sulangan, Eastern Samar for the land-based category; and Captain Manuel D. Gabornes and family from Lawaan, Eastern Samar for the sea-based category.

The winner for the land-based category, Custodio, Jr. , 47, and resident of Barangay Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, worked in Saipan for 10 years as a warehouseman/operator.

He is married to Flora Custodio with whom he has two children Sheila Cheraine, a registered nurse and Lawrence, a 4th year college student taking up BS Geology at UP Diliman, and is part of the graphics team who made the official logo of Project Noah.

Custodio is founder of the Human Dignity Movement in Saipan; heads the Special Ministers of the Holy Eucharist; member of the parish pastoral Council; and head of the PPCRV in Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

He organized the Sulangan OFWs and

Dependents Association, president, of Sulangan Seaweed Farming Association, and owns a grocery store, souvenir items/ Pasalubong Center, agrivet supplies, seaweed farm, and copra production.

Meanwhile, the sea-based category winner, Gabornes, 57, and a resident of Lawaan, Eastern Samar, has been a seafarer for 37 years.

Married to Candida, who is the mayor of Lawaan, Eastern Samar, they have five children.

Eldest is Val Harris , a seaman, marine engineer; Cheryl Faith, a licensed chemical engineer who works as claims examiner/ policy administrator (Stolt Tankers) at UP Los Baños; Mance Harvey, graduate of Air Transportation course and currently the farm manager of Grandia El Gabor, the family business; Maris Cay (Political Science Graduate, cum laude and first year law student in San Beda; and Cheska Elaine, third year college, Medical Biology in De La Salle University, and currently the SK Federation president in Lawaan.

Gabornes is a consistent sponsor and

donor to different activities in their municipality and parish and has various business ventures in the municipality of Lawaan and Metro Manila.

Both winners received trophies, plaques of recognition, cash prizes through G-Cash, and corporate freebies such as trolley bags with bag tags, neck pillows.

The regional MOFYA winners will represent Eastern Visayas in the National Model OFW Family of the Year Awards which will be held in Manila on December 6 Director del Rosario said.

The search for Model OFW Families which is now on its eighth year, aims to give due recognition to the determination and hard work of OFWs and their dependents in preserving family values and strong ties regardless of the distance and time separating them.

The search emphasizes the persistent and admirable ways shown by OFWs who faced challenges together even when separated by sea from their families, and constantly serve as inspirations to other OFWs.(PIA-8)

San Jorge eyes another Sandugo Award

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Oct 10 (PIA) -- San Jorge, Samar is eyeing another Sandugo (One blood) Award, so a mobilization for blood donors to come forward and donate blood is now ongoing.

O

n October 9, a day before their 33rd founding anniversary, 75 volunteers came to donate blood in response to the call of the local government.

A personnel from the rural health unit said that in May, they also held a blood-letting event where they collected 53 bags. Mayor Nancy Grey of San Jorge in 2007 won the ninth National Sandugo

Award given on July 31, 2007 at Clamshell, Intramuros, Manila.

This award is given to local chief executives (LCEs) for their active involvement to attain, maintain an adequate safe blood supply in the country.

Aside from the LCE involvement, another criteria is that blood donors must comprise one percent of the total population.

The criteria also include attending to a mobile blood donation activity in barangays and advocacy meetings, and administrative support to the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) like issuance of memorandum circulars, Sangguniang Bayan resolutions, ordinances and memorandum of agreement within the last five years.

(PIA-8)

BIR urges candidates to register for remittances of campaign expenditures

By Alicia E. Nicart BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Oct 9 (PIA) -- A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district revenue officer urged all qualified candidates for the May 2013 elections to register with the office.

E

d Castillo, BIR district revenue officer, said candidates are all mandated to remit to BIR 5 percent of their campaign expenditures.

Castillo said that ideally, the registration should have been done immediately after filing their certificates of candidacy.

Tarpaulins nowadays have become the most famous campaign materials, thus he advised that the candidate should ask for a certificate of the 5 percent remittance for such production from the tarpaulin maker, as this is important in filing his statement of remittances and statement of expenditures.

Cases where candidates get donations from friends and supporters should also be stated. Castillo said that they have a monitoring task force which does the accounting for these. After the campaign period, this list is being compared with the candidate’s statement of expenditures and statement of remittances. (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