One Visayas e-Newsletter Issue 45

Vol 2

Issue 45

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Sixty-seven year old Nonito Lutero, the only male weaver in Brgy. Cabayogan, Badiangan, Iloilo shows how he uses the tidal or loom at the production center of the Cabayogan Women Loomweaving Association. The production center located at the barangay was one of places visited by the Association of Government Information Officers in Iloilo when they conducted a People’ Day in the municipality of Badiangan on November 6.

(LAF/PIA6)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

November 5 — 11, 2012

DOLE extends P5-M assistance to pedicab drivers, operators KANANGA, Leyte, Nov 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Region 8, in coordination with the Office of the 4th Congressional District of Leyte, extended assistance to the members of the Kananga Pot-pot Drivers and Operators Association (Kapoda) in terms of bicycle spares and other materials needed as a starting point in setting up a business.

For them to become owners of bicycle spare parts store and vulcanizing shop in Kananga, Leyte, DOLE Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga together with 4th District Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez turned over various supplies and materials to 25 pedicab drivers and operators who are members of the Kapoda for them to be able to start up a business in said municipality.

In a statement, the DOLE said Kapoda received bicycle spare parts, vulcanizing air compressor, about half a million pesos worth of tires, plus some other equipment.

Cesario Barba, president of Kapoda, expressed gratitude for the assistance extended to the pedicab drivers and operators by DOLE and the Office of Congresswoman Gomez.

These he said will enable them to become successful entrepreneurs.

The DOLE assistance was taken from the agency's livelihood augmentation program intended for the informal sector workers.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman Gomez extended her gratitude to DOLE for the assistance extended to her constituents, specifically the Kapoda, for helping them expand their livelihood. (PIA-8)

DOLE-8 Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga (left) and Congw. Lucy Torres-Gomez hand over the tools, supplies and equipments to KAPODA President Cesario Barba, with other members witnessing the event. (PIA-8/Photo courtesy of DOLE-8)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

NCC to conduct road show

END to end Early Warning Communications Systems, a new challenge for information officers to provide quick accurate information to insulate communities against disasters, says Minerva BC Newman, during the on-going RADIO 7 Convention at the Bohol Tropics Resort.

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

ILOILO, Nov 8, 2012 (PIA6) -- The National Competitiveness Council (NCC), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry will conduct the NCC road Show on November 19 at the Iloilo Grand Hotel.

This road show is part of NCC’s advocacy campaign in the countryside to initiate a meaningful dialogue with the private and public sector stakeholders and mobilize the commitment and action of all stakeholders and partners to address the challenge of progressing towards improved national competitiveness.

Director Dominic Abad of the Department of Trade and Industry said the first half of the forum will be the presentation-discussion of NCCs vision, programs and state of Philippine competitiveness to be given by Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, Co-Chair of the NCC.

The second half will be the presentation of the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) 2012 Annual Enterprise Survey on Corruption which will be handled by Mr. Mahar Mangahas, President of SWS. Local chief executives, business chamber heads, members of the academe, NGOs, SMEs and selected National Government agencies have been invited to attend the road show.

The NCC was established in October 2008 as a Public Sector Task Force on Philippine Competitiveness per E.O. 571, which was subsequently amended under E.O. 44 by President Benigno Aquino to purse and promote competitiveness of Philippine enterprises by implementing the priority action agenda for improved governance and competitiveness. (jcm/ pia6)

DOE sets Downstream Oil Industry drive for NegOr, Siquijor

DOE assistant director for Energy Policy and Planning bureau Carmencita Bariso (standing) discusses the Philippine Energy Plan to the guests and participants of its information, education and communication (IEC) campaign at the Oriental Hotel, Palo, Leyte, November 7. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE)-Visayas has set two separate advocacy campaigns on the Downstream Oil Industry (DOI) for local governments and dealers of liquid petroleum products (LPP) on November 7 and 8 in Dumaguete City.

Officers and representatives from the Treasurer’s and Business Licensing Offices of all LGUs in Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces including concerned national government officials are expected to attend the briefing on the role of local governments in the DOI on the first day at Plaza Maria Suites Inn, this city.

On the second day, invited to participate in the forum on the rules and regulations in the DOI, are all the dealers of LPP. DOE Visayas director Antonio Labios said the main purpose of these activities is to brief all LGUs and LPP dealers in the two provinces on the existing rules and regulations in the business of retailing petroleum products and on the role of the LGUs in the implementation and enforcement of these rules.

Labios said the campaign intend to forge partnership with the LGUs to effectively protect the interest and welfare of the constituents, promote safety and ensure fair trade practices. (mbcn/JCTPIA7, Negros Oriental)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

People’s Day enables info officers to deliver information effectively

By Elsa S. Subong

Sec. Mar Roxas of Region VI

ILOILO CITY, Nov 7 (PIA6) -- While online and electronic communication are instantaneous, there is no substitute for face-to-face interactions with residents, especially in far flung areas.

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a. Xenia Serio, information officer of Commission on Population in Region 6 (Popcom-6), said couples learn better when they interact with each other and share their particular experiences.

Popcom engages the parents and couples on effective parenting and responsible parenthood issues, Ms. Delia Bagolcol, Social Welfare Specialist of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-6, who discussed the evils of human trafficking with high school students, said such dangers can be best communicated with vulnerable sector through face-to-face approach.

Serio and Bagolcol were among the information officers who participated in the People’s Day conducted by the Association of Government Information

Officers (AGIO)-Iloilo, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency, in the town of Badiangan, Iloilo, last November 6, 2012.

Instead of mass information dissemination activity, with mixed audiences, the AGIO divided the 150 participants into three groups, where specific topics were discussed.

A team of information officers led by May Castillo of the DSWD, tackled story-telling and games with pre-school and grade school children where lessons on supplementary feeding and good nutrition were integrated.

Meanwhile, the regional directors present led by Dir. Janet Mesa of the Philippine information Agency and Yolanda Porschwitz of the TESDA-6, with the DOLE, DA and NFA representatives sat in a dialogue with the local officials led by

Badiangan Mayor Suzette Mamon, where programs for development of the municipality were discussed. The People’s Day was ushered in by a mini caravan from Iloilo City and a tree planting at the back of the municipal covered gym.

The tree planting was done by a child, together with a parent and an information officer.

The information officers, some 20 of them, had an exchange learning experience as they visited the One-Town-One Product sites in Badiangan, like the hablon weaving center, the dragon fruit plantation, and where the “binangon” was being made.

The AGIO is composed of information officers from the national government agencies and local government units in Iloilo. (JCM/ESS/PIAIloilo)

PhilHealth opens express office at Bacolod mall

By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr. BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Nov 6 (PIA6) -- Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members in Negros Occidental can now enjoy extended hours of service inside the comfort of a mall as the agency recently opened a PhilHealth Express office at the 3rd Level of the Robinson’s Place Bacolod.

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egros Occ. PhilHealth Chief Vicel Bracamonte said the move will provide immediate service to members, ease clogging of clients at the main office and give longer hours of service as the mall opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m. At the moment, the extension office services are limited to

providing Member Data Record Card, accepting membership applications and receiving of payments.

Services on receiving and filing of claims are not yet available.

The state owned health insurance can now be accessed at its main office in Bacolod City, Kabankalan and Sagay

Cities. Furthermore, PhilHealth is studying a Tuesday to Saturday schedule so it can serve clients even on weekends.

The state health insurance agency has about 800,000 members in the province excluding family dependents, Bracamonte said. (JSC/LOL-PIA6 Negros Occ.)

DTI warns public of fake Christmas lights anew

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao SAN JOSE, Antique, Nov 7 (PIA) -- With the advent of Christmas season, lights and other Christmas electronic ornaments are starting to flood the local market again be it in department stores, ‘tiangge’ or kiosks.

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ith this, the Department of Trade and Industry reiterated the campaign to be on guard for fake Christmas lights and other electronic ornaments and be wary of the hazards it could bring into our homes, places of work and communities.

Jocelyn Perez, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist at the same time Officer In Charge of DTIAntique, echoed the call of the Bureau of

Product Standards to buy Christmas lights and other electronic ornaments that bear only the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for imported goods and PS mark for locally manufactured products.

These marks ensure product quality performance and safety of Christmas lights and other electronic ornaments.

DTI assured that goods with ICC and PS marks have passed the agency’s mandatory tests, thus, this products are

safe, and reliable to use. Likewise, DTI Antique is also undertaking spot check and inspection of stores selling these goods to ensure that only certified products are being offered for sale.

Any establishment found possessing and or selling substandard Christmas lights are liable under Republic Act 4109 or the standards law and shall be sanctioned accordingly. (JCM/PSM/PIA6 Antique)

WESTERN VISAYAS

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CSC reminds public offices, schools to observe flag-raising ceremony Sec. Mar Roxas of Region VI

By Jemin B. Guillermo

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov 7 (PIA6) -- The Civil Service Commission called anew on government offices and educational institutions to conduct the flag-raising ceremony every Monday.

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ublic offices and schools should strictly hold flag-raising ceremony as mandated under Section 18 of Republic Act No. 8491, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, lawyer Maria Lina Gonzaga, Capiz CSC Director, said. She added that the ceremony shall be simple and dignified and shall include the singing of the

Philippine National Anthem. The call came after the CSC observed that most government offices do not conduct the flag raising ceremonies whenever a holiday falls on a Monday, she said.

Gonzaga likewise clarified that when a holiday falls on a Monday, the flag-raising ceremony shall be done on the first working day following the said holiday.

Section 2 of said law emphasizes that reverence and respect shall at all times be accorded the flag, the anthem, and other national symbols which embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity. (JCM/JBG/PIA6Capiz)

LGUs urged to strengthen campaign on anti-human trafficking

By Lilibeth A. French ILOILO CITY, Nov 8 (PIA6) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development-6 urged local government units in the region to create an inter-agency body to address problems and further strengthen their campaign against trafficking of persons and violence against women and children.

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SWD 6 Specialist for the Protection of Women and Children Delia Bagolcol said the Regional Inter-Agency Council on Anti-Trafficking (RIACAT) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in Western Visayas is very much functional and this should be replicated in the municipalities or cities that have not yet put up their own.

Bagolcol said they have already brought the RIACAT-VAWC meetings to Aklan and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental with the aim to strengthen such councils in the provinces and cities as well as advocate the establishment of this in the municipalities in the region.

The meetings also provided a venue for the inter-agency council to discuss with the provincial and city councils their problems especially in the implementation of Republic Act 9208 or Anti Trafficking Act of 2003, said Bagolcol.

RA 9208 criminalizes the act of trafficking in persons especially of women and children for sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery, debt bondage among others in consonance with the state’s obligation to protect the dignity of the individual.

Bagolcol said based on the monitoring of DILG, there are only 52 LGUs in the region that have established their IACAT-VAWC to date.

Bagolcol said since 2006, more than 170 victims of trafficking were reported in the region and more or less 40 were rescued.

To date, there ahave been two convicted cases for trafficking against persons in the region involving victims from Bacolod City. The hearings of these cases were conducted in Bacolod City and Real, Quezon.

To help victims recover and integrate back in the community, the DSWD has a financial assistance of P10,000 for those interested to start a livelihood project.

What the victims has to do is go to the MSWDO and apply for it. (JCM/LAFPIA6)

17 Aklan towns to benefit from DA projects worth P16.3M

By Venus G. Villanueva KALIBO, Aklan, Nov 6 (PIA6) -- Farm yields of Aklan farmers in the 17 towns of the province are expected to increase with the intervention extended recently by the Department of Agriculture (DA) worth P16,280,000.

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he intervention comes in the form of small water impounding projects, construction of dams and rehabilitation of diversion dams.

These will benefit 7 towns, namely, Makato, Madalag, Buruanga, Libacao, Balete, Malay and Ibajay.

The small water impounding project, which will be constructed in Calimbajan, Makato, is worth P5 million, while the same project in Arcangel, Balete will be worth P2 million. On the other hand,

contruction of diversion dams in Balactasan, Madalag and Nazareth, Buruanga will cost P2 million each while rehabilitation of Pinonoy Dam in Libacao will cost P1 million.

Rehabilitation of Dumlog Diversion Dam in Malay and in Regador, Ibajay will have a budget of P500,000 each.

Provincewide, the DA will also be constructing 25 small farm reservoirs with P1 million fund; spring development, P1 million and 16 pump and engine for

shallow tube well with P1,280,000. Recently in his “Governor’s Report” aired over a local radio station here, Aklan Governor Carlito Marquez said that as of October 30, a total of 6,359 hectares of ricefields in the province had been harvested already yielding 22,717.55 metric tons.

Marquez said the average yield this harvest season reached 3.57 metric tons per hectare. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

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CENTRAL VISAYAS

Negros Oriental may allocate over P10-M for 2013 Palarong Pambansa Sec. Jose Rene Almendras of Region VII

By Jennifer Catan-Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov 7 (PIA) -- As host for the February 2013 Palarong Pambansa, Negros Oriental government may shell out more than P10 million for the improvement of the facilities in the game venues and billeting quarters.

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rovincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez said that in preparation for the national games, the province is estimated to spend between P10 million to P15 million for the repair of infrastructure, billeting areas for the athletes, provision of water supply and improvement of sanitary toilets, among others.

Negros Oriental won against Negros Occidental in the bidding to host next year’s Palaro.

Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Salustiano Jimenez of the Department of Education (DepEd) said the event is expected to bring in more than 15,000 athlete-delegates and guests including some parents of the players from the 17 regions in the country.

More than 10 events will be held in about a hundred games with divisions for boys and girls in the elementary and high schools levels, said Jimenez.

The school superintendent said the province offered its playing venues within 12 kilometer radius or will be contained in Metro Dumaguete areas.

The provincial government officials together with the DepEd convened immediately to identify the needs, plan out different committees and tackle expected difficulties attendant to the hosting of the said sports event. (rmn/JCT-PIA Negros Oriental)

Calungsod’s canonization brings immense faith, miracles CEBU (PIA) -- Devotees in Cebu believe the canonization of the second Filipino saint Pedro Calungsod will encourage the youth to renew their faith to the Catholic church as exemplified in the saint’s life.

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aint Pedro Calungsod de Cebu was a sacristan and missionary catechist who suffered religious persecution and martyrdom in Guam in a missionary work in 1672. He was killed at 17.

Parish pastoral council member and devotee Mario Joel Baylosis said the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod awakened and encouraged thousands of devotees to come into their parish.

The growing number of devotees coming from different places is one of the miracles that he showed to us. It is a miracle to see people who have strong faith in him, Baylosis declared.

In the Oct. 27 episode of “Pagtuki”, the official radio program of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Divina Cantalejo, a Calungsod devotee also shared the miracles she experienced through the intercession of Saint Pedro Calungsod even when he was still a beato.

Cantalejo revealed that she started to be a devotee of Saint Pedro Calungsod when he was still a beato. She believed that her faith in him cured her illness. She also beleived that Pedro Calungsod cured her brother who had a nervous breakdown.

Cantalejo added that the canonization of the new Filipino Saint brought a mass-based support in her barangay.

Oct. 21, was a very special day to all Filipinos especially to young Pinoys, who welcomed the new Filipino saint. A Visayan Saint Pedro Calungsod that was canonized in Rome along with six other saints.

Prior to Saint Pedro Calungsod another Filipino Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila was also declared saint by the Roman Catholic Church.(mbcn/AYS/PIACEBU & reports from RAFI)

PMHA to hold 1st mental health bipartrite summit

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA), Negros Oriental and Cebu Chapters will jointly hold the first Bipartite Summit on Mental Health on November 10 at Negros Oriental Convention Center.

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he summit with the theme “Depression: A global crises” will start at 7:30 a.m.

Flores said family doctors, nurses, guidance counselors, government workers, social workers, teachers, students, parents, corporate human resource, priests, pastors, laymen and the community are invited to be a part of this rare gathering with a minimal registration of only P1,000 to cover the lunch, two snacks, a kit and a certificate of attendance.

Invited guests as speakers during the whole-day activity include Dr. Cornelio Banaag, author of numerous publications, consultant of the World Health Organization on substance abuse and largely known as the Father of Child Psychiatry in the country, among others.

Dr. Pureza Oñate, psychiatrist and Medical Director of Perpetual Succor from Cebu will also be one of the resource persons.

The speakers will discuss different types of depression, its causes and

management, as well as topics on bullying, depression and suicide and related issues.

An open forum will follow with a panel of reactors from the local stakeholders.

Interested participants are asked to join and be part of the activity. To confirm attendance, call PMHA Dumaguete Office at telephone number 422-5359 or text 09163306493. (mbcn/JCT-PIA7 Negros Oriental)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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GM Barbosa wins 10th Buglasan chess cup Sec. Jose Rene Almendras of Region VII

By Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov 1 (PIA) -- Filipino Grand Master (GM) Oliver Barbosa dominated the recent 10th Buglasan Festival chess cup competition at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Dumaguete City.

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egros Club 64, Inc. Secretary Nayk Segismar said Barbosa performed with 7.5 points out of the possible 8, in the 126 man-field in a three-day grueling, mental-skirmish.

Barbosa’s lone 4th round draw was delivered by former board one skipper of Rizal Technological University, Bacolod City’s Edsel Montoya (2097), said Segismar.

Twenty-six year old Barbosa, who hails from Taytay, Rizal, took home the Opsima’s Grand Champion Trophy and the P15,000 cash from the Buglasan directorate.

Segismar said sharing the second and third places with 7.0 points apiece are

former National Junior Champion FIDE Master (FM) Mari Joseph Turqueza (2255) and Mindanao’s pride National Master (NM) Ernesto Fernandez (2395).

During the awarding ceremony, Segismar said the Brilliancy Game Award was won by Carl Lyle Sameon of Bayawan City; Trainor of the Year was awarded to Flor Zamora; Negros Club 64 Inc, won two special awards, namely: Top Chess Club & Most Represented Club/Unit Award.

The Top Tournament Executive award went to Junaico Segismar for winning the 4th King Alfonzo Active Chess Championship last April, for defeating Asia’s First Grand Master

Eugene Torre, in the Philippine National Games, and for actively competing as a qualifier in the semi-finals of the National Team Selection at the PSC Canteen in Manila last summer; Silliman University’s Hannah Faye Anqui captured the Top Woman Award with 5.0 points; top senior was Domingo Cordero of Iloilo City; youngest participant went to 11 year old Kent Amahit of Bindoy; and top junior went to Far Eastern University’s Vincent Baleña (5.0 points), who is also from Tanjay City. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Dumaguete City’s 3rd Sandurot table tennis tournament set

By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov 1 (PIA) -- The Dumaguete City Sandurot Festival Committee on Sports and Recreation, in cooperation with the Dumaguete Table Tennis Association (Dutta), is set to schedule the third Sandurot Table Tennis Tournament on November 10-11 at the Silliman University gymnasium.

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utta Pres. Peter Credo said the tournament will be divided into four categories: boys and girls ages 14 years old and below; boys and girls ages 17 years old and below both categories should be residents or studying in Dumaguete City.

For the Executive Division, both for men and women, employees/professionals must be residents of Dumaguete; and the

Men’s Open must be a student and ex-varsity players that are working in Dumaguete City.

Credo said the registration fee for the Executive and Men’s Open categories will be P100 and P50 for non-working or students.

The tournament committee will conduct eligibility screening of all participants prior to the start of the

tournament and reserves the right to refuse or disallow non-eligible players.

For registration, look for Rowena Ozoa, Dutta treasurer with telephone number (035)422-2021.

The registration will be at the Perdices Colliseum “rubberized oval” from 5 to 8 p.m. and deadline is on November 8. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

DAR inks MOA with Bayawan to boost tax collection

By Rachelle M. Nessia DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) signed an agreement with the Bayawan City government in Negros Oriental for a project to boost tax collection in this local government.

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grarian Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes arrived in Dumaguete City recently to sign a memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) with the officials from Bayawan City government headed by Mayor Rene Gaudiel.

Under said agreement, both DAR and Bayawan local government unit (LGU) will conduct a subdivision survey in government-owned lands to help improve the collection of taxes in the city, said Gherelene Mae Rafols, DAR information officer. Bayawan LGU will be responsible

for the survey while DAR will facilitate the endorsement of subdivision plans for the approval by the Department of Environment of Natural Resources and the issuance of individual Certificate of Land Ownership to farmer-beneficiaries, said Rafols.

Moreover, Secretary de los Reyes also led the awarding of Certificates of Recognition to non-commissioned personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Bethel guesthouse as DAR’s way of

showing gratitude and appreciation for the support they extended during the peaceful installation of farmer-beneficiaries at Polo Coconut Plantation, Inc. in Tanjay City.

The DAR chief’s visit was also highlighted by the inauguration of the village-level processing center of Rama Rodriguez (Ramrod) Multipurpose Cooperative in Canlaon City. (RMN-PIA7 Negros Oriental)

EASTERN VISAYAS

6 Naval town operations

crafts

local

law

on

internet

By Rodrigo S. Victoria

Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla of Region VIII

NAVAL, Biliran, Nov 8 (PIA) -- The pressing concern on truancy among students who cut classes and pass time in internet cafe will now be put to end as a local legislation was crafted prescribing the rules and regulations in the establishment and operation of internet café in this town.

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aval Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Gabino S. Velasquez IV, the principal sponsor of the draft ordinance entitled “The New Internet Ordinance of Naval 2012” says this local law will help solve the problem on truancy especially among the elementary and high school students hooked on computer games.

The first public hearing on the draft ordinance was held at the SB Session Hall on Wednesday with the presidents of the Parents Teachers Association, (PTA) of the elementary and secondary schools in Naval and the district supervisors of the

Naval north and south districts, parents, SB members including the chief of police in attendance.

One of the provisions of the ordinance is to prohibit all elementary and high school students including out-of-school youths to enter internet cafés from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. except on weekends and holidays.

One of the salient features of the draft ordinance includes the creation of the internet café regulatory board composed of the municipal treasurer as chairman and the municipal social welfare

officer, PNP women’s desk personnel as members with the addition of the president of the Association of Barangay Captains and the PTA federation president of the north and south districts as suggested to monitor the strict compliance of the ordinance.

Meanwhile, Velasquez said another public hearing on the draft ordinance will be conducted in December this year with internet café owners and proprietors as invited participants to give their ideas before the ordinance is finalized.

(PIA-Biliran)

Tesda announces scholarship program for Biliran women

By Flordelis E. Jackson NAVAL, Biliran, Nov 7 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in the province of Biliran announces the scholarship program for Biliran women, 23 to 43 years old, interested in a short course on Household Services NC II in Tacloban City, said Loreta Banario, provincial director of Tesda here.

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he said the scholarship program offered to qualified women in Biliran is in partnership with Colegio de La Salle Foundation, a private learning institution located in Tacloban City.

She added that Tesda-Biliran, through its Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) will shoulder the training fee of students who will avail themselves of the scholarship program while Colegio de La Salle Foundation will shoulder the board and lodging for the

three-week training period.

Said school, she said, will likewise assist students find jobs locally and abroad after completing the scholarship program.

Interested women in Biliran who are qualified and would want to avail of the scholarship program are advised to visit the office of Tesda-Biliran located in the municipality of Naval.

Banario is encouraging the youth in Biliran, 18-years-old and above to take advantage of their scholarship program for technical vocational courses offered at the

Cabucgayan National School of Arts andTrades (CNSAT) in Cabucgayan, Biliran.

She said, as of now, the scholarship program for technical vocational courses offered at CNSAT has available funds amounting to P2 million. Of the total amount, P1 million comes from the PDAF of Congressman Rogelio Espina of Biliran while P1 million comes from the special commitment fund of Tesda for Biliran.

(PIA-Biliran)

2 OFW families represent EVisayas in Nat'l Search for 2012 Model OFW Family

By Gemma T. Tabao TACLOBAN CITY, Nov 8 -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) of Region 8 has already submitted all the requirements to include the portfolio documentation and audio-visual presentation of the two families who will represent Eastern Visayas in the 2012 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA), National Awarding which will be held in Manila on December 6.

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ccording to OWWA director Norma del Rosario, said documents contain the consolidated information of the nominees resulting from the interviews, surveys, testimonies and other data to substantiate their achievements as based in the selection criteria.

The two OFW families to vie for the national awards are those of Captain

Manuel D. Gabornes from Lawaan Eastern Samar and Engracio Custodio from Guiuan, Eastern Samar. They are also the Eastern Visayas regional MOFYA winners as unanimously chosen by the Regional Selection and Screening Committee composed of different sectoral representatives .

Del Rosario added that each national awardee (land-based and sea-based) of the

2012 MOFYA will receive P600,000 prize, trophy, and plaque of recognition.

The Model OFW Family of the Year Awards is an annual event recognizing the achievements of OFWs and their families in managing the impact of overseas employment in family life. It highlights the best practices of OFW families who tackled and succeeded in conquering the difficulties of migration.(PIA-8)

Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla of Region VIII

EASTERN VISAYAS

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Search for 2nd Red Cross Award Humanitarian Reporting now ongoing

for

By Marivic A. Alcover

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov 7 (PIA) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) invites professional or freelance journalists or photojournalists for print/online, TV and radio whose news reports, features, documentaries, or photographs published or aired from May 1, 2012 to May 1, 2013 to participate in the second Red Cross Award for Humanitarian Reporting.

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CRC requires that the entries for the competition must highlight the humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts or other large-scale situations of violence for affected populations and/or the importance of international humanitarian law.

The entries should focus on displacement, food, water and sanitation, livelihood, and other related effects on civilians or on how these are dealt with, thereby imbuing the whole scenario with respect for humanitarian law.

Further, entries may be in English, Filipino or in local dialects.

For non-English entries, it is required that these must be accompanied by

translations/subtitles or they will be disqualified.

ICRC said there will be no limit as to the number of entries sent by an individual or the length of entries, as long as it satisfies the required focus.

As to submission, one may e-mail their entries to redcrossawardph@gmail.com along with a nomination letter from the organization and the required details for the entry that was sent.

The nomination letter, which may be downloaded from the websites of partner organizations, must be endorsed by an authorized signatory, either by the publisher or editor, and be in PDF format.

The deadline for the submission of entries will be on 31 May 31, 2013, while the selection of finalists will be on July 15, 2013 and the announcement of winners will be on August 12, 2013.

For further details, one may visit www.icrc.org or one may call ICRC Communication Officer Allison Lopez at telephone number (02) 892-8901 -04.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross is an independent and neutral organization working to protect and assist victims of armed conflicts and other situations of violence worldwide. (PIA-8)

Catbalogan lad tops customs broker board exams

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Nov 7 (PIA) -- Prayers and serious preparations worked wonders for this Catbalogan lad, Kenneth Barnard Navales Bacurio, in his Customs Broker Examination in October.

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enneth topped 493 examinees scoring 92.50 and bringing honor not only to his Alma Mater Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila, but also to his family and city mates.

“I was silently expecting to land in the top 10 but topping them all seemed unbelievable,” Bacurio said during an interview with PIA. “Yes, we wished he would give us honor, but this is too much answer to our

prayers. God is really good!” beamed mother Lita when asked how she felt.

A former elementary teacher at Catbalogan 1 Central School, she said the young Bacurio is a good writer. Although he was good in class he was not the valedictorian.

“Even in high school, I was just in the top 10 but never the top one,” Bacurio said. Although Bacurio admitted he wanted to take up mass communications, his being shy pulled him back so he took

up Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration instead and ended up being a dean’s lister.

Bacurio is joined by fellow topnotchers from Lyceum Nino Joseph Pilapil Napa and Nerizza Ramos Pantaleon in number three; Frances Jade Dulinayan Abad in number four, and Stephanie Lovely Domingo in number 9. (PIA-Samar)

Local elementary and high schools top contest in journalism

By Alicia E. Nicart BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov 8 (PIA) -- The Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School (ESNCHS) and Eugenio S. Daza Pilot Elementary School (ESDPES) both of the Borongan City Division, grabbed the grand championship for secondary and elementary levels respectively, in the recently held “Joint Elementary and Secondary Press Conference.”

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SNCHS romped away with total of 195 points while ESDPES had 176.5 points. The points were gathered from the different contest categories: Photo Journalism, Editorial Writing, Feature Writing and Copy Reading and Headline Writing.

The students learned about the basics of news writing, radio script writing, and

broadcasting techniques from the local Philippine Information Agency in the area.

Twelve elementary and eight secondary schools joined the write shop with the students’ teacher-advisers and coaches.

Winners in the recently held City PressCon will proceed to the regional competition, however, English Supervisor

Lorie Arago hopes to hold one more session with both the school-paper advisers and their students to hone further their journalistic skills.

The City Division PressCon was the first to be conducted since Borongan had been proclaimed a city. (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.

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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