One Visayas Vol 3 Issue 49

Vol 3

Issue 49

In this Issue WESTERN VISAYAS

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma, Jr. urges student writers to use the power of the pen to write stories of kindness that will inspire many more to help our brethren in need, in his video message that was presented during the Western Visayas College Press Conference and Awards, a project of the Philippine Information Agency-6, held Nov. 28 in Iloilo City. (PIA-6)

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto (standing) opens the Public Forum on Disasters, Climate Change and Marine Biodiversity held on Dec. 4, 2013 at JJ's Seafood Village in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The said forum answered many questions and clarified the observed phenomenon that have occurred in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook Bohol on Oct. 15. (mbcn/ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

Taclobanons start to rebuild their homes destroyed by the super typhoon. (Media ng Bayan)

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Dec. 2 - 8, 2013

Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8

Award winning 'Iloilo' movie premieres in Iloilo City BY: LILIBETH A. FRENCH ILOILO CITY, Dec. 3 (PIA6) - - Ilonggos got the opportunity to fully watch the award-winning Singaporean movie ‘ILOILO’ on Sunday, December 1 before it hits cinemas nationwide on Wednesday, December 4.

“It is so wonderful actually to bring this film back to the Philippines and before we have our premiere in Manila tomorrow (Monday) it’s great that we stop here first in Iloilo.

This is a very pleasant journey for me and I would like to share with all of you.” said Mr. Anthony Chen, the director of the movie who together with some of the cast attended the premiere held at SM City Iloilo Cinema 6.

Also written by Chen, ‘ILOILO’ was inspired by his family’s relationship with their former Ilongga nanny Teresita Sajonia or Aunt Terry of San Miguel, Iloilo.

In his short message during the premiere, Chen said the movie continues to reap awards after its major win in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May. Latest of these recognitions is the Audience Award given in Tokyo Filmex Film Festival in Japan on Saturday.

Chen said the movie has also put Iloilo on the international map as in all his travels to different countries the first question he gets from every audience is what is Iloilo.

“So I can simply tell you that in all of my travels the past 6 months, I was in Taiwan, Hongkong, Toronto, Mongolia, Hungary, and all kinds of interesting places even in India, and now everyone knows what’s Iloilo and where is Iloilo,” said Chen.

Chen further said that he is very happy that “we can use this occasion to remind ourselves how much more we can do to help those other people out there who still have no electricity in their homes, still no access to proper drinking water, who are still

having hard time to find food to feed themselves after they lost their homes”.

The proceeds raised from the movie premiere will go to the disaster relief efforts of the One Meal program for survivors of typhoon Yolanda in northern Iloilo.

He also hoped that by bringing back the film to the Philippines this will give hope and inspiration to typhoon victims as they rebuild their homes and lives.

Auntie Terry who was in the audience said she could not contain her happiness and this is one event in her life that she would not forget while she lives.

The premiere was attended by Department of Tourism 6 Director Atty. Helen Catalbas and One Meal program President Chona Layson-Bondoc. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

Director Anthony Chen answers questions during a press conference with cast members and Auntie Terry before the gala premiere of the movie “ILOILO” in SM City Iloilo, December 1, 2013.

New, better infrastructures await Boholanos BY: RACHELLE M. NESSIA CEBU, Dec. 1 (PIA) --- The road to recovery is not far off for residents of earthquake-hit Bohol island.

More than a month after a powerful earthquake rocked parts of Bohol island, President Benigno S. Aquino III returned in what was his third visit following the deadly tremor to bring good news for the quake-hit Boholanos: better bridges, new hospital, shelter assistance, stable power supply, and a new airport.

Upon his arrival in Tagbilaran City on Nov. 28, Pres.

Aquino met with Cabinet secretaries to discuss the rehabilitation program of quake-embattled areas in Bohol province.

Following that meeting, the President announced to the media that plans are now in place for a better future in Bohol, chief of which is the creation of an airport in Panglao, a top tourist-magnet in the province.

Reports from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) indicate that the deadly quake has not affected the feasibility of building a new airport in Panglao, said Aquino.

The new airport is touted to open more employment opportunities for locals, with one tourist arrival seen to generate one new job for each Boholano, according to the president.

For the quake-ravaged homes, Boholanos can expect help from the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Department

of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Better bridges in safer locations will also soon replace the two major road arteries that collapsed from the strong quake, namely, Abatan and Tagbuane bridges.

The president assured that by December, additional power will be sourced from the Luzon grid to pump the needed electricity for Visayas and eliminate the power outages in Bohol.

Pres. Aquino also announced the construction of a new hospital in Loon town, whose old hospital was completely ravaged by the quake.

Boholanos themselves are also slowly starting to pick up the pieces and regaining normalcy in their daily lives. Handmade and printed signs have been put alongside roads thanking donors and volunteers who helped deliver aid after the quake.

More stores are now open as traders pick up where they left off before the quake, with some selling their wares in the periphery of the destroyed commercial buildings.

Pres. Aquino himself lauded the Boholanos’ will to rise above the devastation left by the earthquake, saying that their Bayanihan spirit can help become an example for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. “Salamat sa pagkaka-Bayanihan ninyo, mas mabilis ang pagbangon ng Bohol (Thank you for our Bayanihan spirit, Bohol is recovering faster because of it),” he said. (RMN/ PIA Cebu)

Gov’t builds bunk houses for families left homeless by ’Yolanda’ in EVisayas BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 2 (PIA) - The government is now in the process of building more than 100 bunkhouses to serve as temporary abode for the families in Eastern Visayas who were rendered homeless due to Super Typhoon “Yolanda”.

Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 Director Rolando Asis said that the bunker houses are now being built in Tacloban with 10 units and Palo with another 10units for the province of Leyte; Basey with 11 units and Marabut with 18 units at Samar province, and Guiuan with 26, Hernani with 30 and Giporlos with 3 in Eastern Samar.

Director Asis gave the information during the meeting of Task Force Yolanda at the Leyte Sports Development Complex Conference Hall. Dir. De Asis said each bunkhouse, made of galvanized iron sheets, plywood and cement for the floor, is estimated to cost P959,360.

Each bunkhouse would have 24 rooms, with a dimension of 7 x 28 meters and a window for ventilation. The bunkhouse would also have a common cooking and comfort area.

Each room could accommodate between five to eight

persons, he said. Dir. Asis explained that the roads and drainage canals would be built during the site development to ensure sanitation among the families that would occupy the bunkhouses.

It was learned that the bunkhouses are similar to the facilities constructed in Cagayan de Oro City for the survivors of Typhoon “Sendong”.

The local government units, in coordination with their respective social welfare and development offices, would identify the families that would occupy these bunkhouses, it was learned.

Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said that priority will be given to families with pregnant mothers, senior citizens and physically disabled member.

These families would be staying at the bunkhouses until their houses have been built at the permanent relocation sites.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) records showed that 273,782 families across the region were displaced due to Yolanda. Of this, 55,927 are from Tacloban.

As of December 1, a total of 521,047 houses was reported damaged in Region VIII. (PIA 8)

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WESTERN VISAYAS

DENR-6 validation teams keep NGP on track

Oil Spill in Estanci, Iloilo (Photo by Leo Solinap)

BY: ELSA S. SUBONG ILOILO CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA6) -- An innovation that places validation teams in every province of Western Visayas has kept the implementation of the National Greening program on track.

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he validation teams are assigned

by DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Adeluisa Siapno to monitor the NGP status in each province and inject strategies to address the deficiencies in planting sites.

DENR-6 Director for Forest Management Service Livino Duran said with the validation team on site, the problems are immediately acted upon.

Duran said this approach is appreciated by DENR’s partners site coordinators and people’s organizations

because it prevents high mortality of planted seedlings.

As of date, the agency here has already covered 10,761.5 hectares of the 10,960 target for the year and could have reached it had it not for typhoon Yolanda.

Duran said that the DENR-6 ranks third among the 16 regional offices in the country as far as accomplishments in the NGP is concerned.

He added that this year’s implementation of the NGP has been faster compared to last year’s

as the planting sites and the seedlings were prepared early, with the extension workers fully mobilized, coupled with the help of community-based organizations in the project sites.

For 2014, Duran said the implementation can start as early as January as DENR has already identified the planting sites, potential people’s organization as partners, machineries in place and guidelines firmed up. (JCM/ESS/ PIA-Iloilo)

Canada's DART serves even remote barangays BY: ALEX A. LUMAQUE ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Dec. 4 (PIA6) -- About 100 residents of Barangay Jagnaya and its adjacent villages in Jamindan town availed of the free medical consultation and medicines given by the Canadian Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) last Dec. 2 at Jagnaya’s Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish Church.

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It was emotion-filled activity because the DART’s head Maj. Jay Manimtim was teary-eyed upon looking at the queue of patients hoping to avail of the free medical services,” said Jagnaya National High School school paper adviser Mary Gretchel Montorio.

Manimtim, a 34-year old Filipino – Canadian who is from Rosario Cavite, was during his childhood years a beneficiary of a medical

mission that gave typhoid fever immunizations to impoverished residents.

The day-long free medical services was also graced by Jamindan t o w n o f f i ci a l s l e d b y Ma y o r Ethel Jinon, Municipal Health Officer Dr. Merriel L. Kapunan and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Milagros S. Robles, among others.

Montorio added that the consultation only covered ordinary ailments like cough,

fever and body pains.

DART has also set up a Reverse Osmosis Water Purifying Unit (ROWPU) in the barangay that provided potable water among the residents.

The team is among the various international humanitarian groups and United Nations organizations that arrived in the province for the relief and rehabilitation efforts after typhoon Yolanda’s devastation last Nov. 8. (JCM/ AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

Coastal areas now no-build zones BY: VENUS G. VILLANUEVA KALIBO, Aklan, Dec. 5 (PIA6) -- From now on, coastal dwellers will no longer be allowed to build houses within 40 meters from the high tide mark of beaches.

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his is to save the people’s lives in times of strong typhoons that could bring strong storm surges, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who arrived in Aklan December 3 together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin.

Secretary Roxas’ group first met with provincial and municipal officials of the province of Antique led by Governor Exequiel Javier, and then with Aklan provincial and municipal officials led by Governor Florencio T. Miraflores.

The two sets of meetings with the Cabinet Secretaries were held at the Conference Room of the Provincial Guest House, Provincial Capitol Compound.

At the start of both sets of meetings, Secretary Roxas assured the provincial officials that even as most of the media dateline reports involved Tacloban and Samar, the government did not forget the plight of the people of Western Visayas in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, and they were sent by President Aquino to assess the damage in the areas to know the priorities of the

officials in the rehabilitation and recovery phase.

During his talk, Roxas emphasized the need for local government officials to prevent their constituents from coming back to build their houses along the coastal areas, saying that such areas, especially within 40 meters, are now considered “no-build-zones".

Roxas said local government officials will be held accountable should this regulation be violated. For her part, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman assured municipal mayors that the DSWD will be providing assistance to typhoon victims through Cash For Work and Cash for Training Programs.

She also said that as a form of assistance, the Pantawid Pamilya cash payout this December will be given in full and doing away with conditions as some school children cannot go to school anyway due to destroyed school houses.

She also urged local officials to submit their list of validated houses totally or partially destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) or at the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Team by Thursday, December 5, so that these data will be e-mailed to the DSWD Regional Office by Friday,

December 6 and during the weekend, would be validated by the DSWD Central Office.

The list will then be forwarded to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which is the lead agency for shelter assistance, according to Soliman.

Within the week, Soliman said the local government units would know if there will be delivery of housing materials, as she disclosed that the government is more into providing materials than cash to those who lost their houses.

She said the government will be providing P30,000.00 to those whose houses were totally destroyed, and P10,000.00 for partially destroyed.

In the two meetings, however, the province of Antique pegged the amount for totally destroyed houses at P15,000.00 each, while Aklan placed the amount to construct a house at P10,000.00.

To both these proposals, Secretary Mar Roxas said the national policy in providing aid for shelter will be applied to all.

“We are all Filipinos, it would be unfair if a province gets a bigger amount, while the other one gets less. What is important here is for victims to be included first in the validated list,” Roxas said. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

WESTERN VISAYAS

Roxas City, Capiz (Photo by PIA Capiz)

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Army goes green BY: EASTER ANNE D. DOZA

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Dec. 4 (PIA6) - - Army goes green and, organic.

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pioneering and first of its kind in the province, a 2.5 hectare land within the compound of an army camp in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia town here has been converted into an organic vegetable farm by the army themselves together with the Balik Sibilyans, now serving as farm assistants.

Balik Sibilyans are former rebels who embraced the folds of the government and were re-introduced to the mainstream of society through the various livelihood programs of the military.

This farm is dubbed as the Negros 1st - Army Wellness Farm under Col. Jon Aying, Brigade Commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, and, is also consistent with the Negros First Agenda

of Governor Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. Aying started the project with the development-led peace and security approach towards sustainable peace building, seeing the potential of organic farming as a solution to the socio-economic problem related to armed conflict.

“With my thorough experience and studies, there are notable reasons why insurgency still exists; these are hunger and poverty, health problem, education and criminal justice. If we will address poverty and hunger, it will change the community, security issues will be resolved and everyone will progress that no one shall be left behind,” Aying said.

The Wellness farm has two plots of

ampalaya, five plots of hot pepper, five plots of bell pepper, six plots of squash, five plots of eggplant, two plots of upo, three plots of cucumber and four plots of tomatoes, 240 layers for 40 Kabir chicken and six Peking ducks as livestock.

Governor Alfredo G. Maranon Jr. was impressed when he visited the Wellness farm during its first harvest festival dubbed as the “Agri-lakad sa Gulayan” and he pledged to give additional support for crop production, livestock and poultry.

Aying meanwhile expressed that the Wellness Farm will be replicated to satellite and sub-sattelite farms in northern Negros as well as in the 5th and 6th Districts of the province.*(JCM/ EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

DOH pushes for zero to new HIV infection BY: LEONARD T. PINEDA I ILOILO CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA6) -- The Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6 said that the target for “getting to zero new HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) infection by 2015” can be realized if the public make a collective effort to impart awareness and spearhead campaigns for HIV prevention.

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n a message during the World AIDS Day celebration Sunday at Robinson’s Mall here, DOH-6 Assistant Regional Director Ma. Paz Corrales said that the joint partnership of the government agencies, the people living with HIV (PLHIVs), the civil society, the communities, and other organizations has reversed the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) epidemic.

Corrales said that the collective action of various sectors has minimized HIV infections by more than 25 percent in the past ten years.

In Western Visayas, majority of

people living with AIDS are now living a normal life and are going back as part of their respective families and their work.

The DOH official said that with the availability of the retroviral drugs along with accelerated treatment, care and support provided free-of-charge by the government, the increasing cases of HIV/ AIDS infection may come to a halt.

In the Philippines, while national prevalence remains on the average under 0.1 percent, it is still one of nine countries in the world where HIV incidence grew by more than 25 percent in the past ten years.

Corrales said that there is still a need for strategic response that should be establishing actions based on the nature of the local epidemic.

She said it is also important to recognize the role that local government units and local communities play to curb the increasing cases of HIV/AIDS incidence.

This year’s celebration anchors on the theme "Getting to Zero” as DOH aims to get zero AIDS related death, zero new HIV infection and zero stigma and discrimination by 2015. (JCM/LTP/ PIA-Iloilo)

Rehab of typhoon affected animals in Antique pushed BY: PILAR S. MABAQUIAO SAN JOSE, Antique Dec. 4 (PIA6) - - The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) recently visited the province and extended help to farmers raising poultry, livestock and other animals after a devastating impact brought about by the recent typhoon.

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rovincial Veterinarian Romeo Magdato said a team from Costa Rica, South America member of WSPA visited some towns in northern Antique and extended services to farmers.

The team is composed of Gerardo Huertas, Dr. Juan Carlos Murillo, Cinthya Diaz, Scott Cantin, Willam Tronc and Peter Labayen conducted documentation and veterinary services such as treatment and supplementation in some Barangays in northern Antique.

Barangays visited are Bagacay, Culasi, Casit-an, Laua-an and Cubay North Bugasong and the province’ livestock production center in Pangpang, Sibalom.

Magdato also said they have submitted a three-month rehabilitation plan to WSPA in the amount of P4, 095,790 for livestock and poultry farmers.

The proposal was in fact suggested by WSPA team to help animals cope with the impact of disaster at the same time for farmers to get back their sources of liveli-

hood, he said.

The rehab plan includes supplementation and treatment, deworming and vaccination of animals against diseases not only for northern Antique but as well as other towns affected by the typhoon.

Magdato said in times of disaster, animals also need to be rescued, be given immediate care and rehabilitation for they are vital in food security of the country.

(JCM//PSM/PIA6Antique)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

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PNoy assures housing assistance to quake-hit families in Bohol

Bantayan Island, Cebu (Image credit: Bibi delos Reyes/www.rappler.com)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN BOHOL (PIA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III assured affected families in severely quake-hit towns of Bohol that they will be given the assistance they need to rebuild back their homes by December during a re-visit here recently.

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uring a speech at the inauguration of the temporary Abatan Bridge that connects the towns of Cortes and Maribojoc, Pres.

Aquino said families in identified priority areas whose houses collapsed or rendered unfit to live in after the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake on October 15 would be given housing aid under the Housing Materials Assistance Program (HMAP) of the National Housing Authority (NHA).

In fact, Aquino disclosed the NHA has given over P65 million in housing assistance to quake-affected families in two towns of Bohol under its HMAP ranging from P5,000 to P10,000 per family.

“Sa kasalukuyan, naibigay na po natin ang mahigit 65 million pesos na ayuda para sa pagkukumpuni ng tahanan ng mga apektadong pamilya sa Maribojoc at Antequera,” quoted Aquino.

Aquino then promised that by next month other families in identified priority areas would benefit from the government’s housing assistance program.

The housing assistance aims to help quake-hit families to purchase housing materials and slowly rebuild back their damaged houses.

Meanwhile, Pres. Aquino said government is studying on the rehabilitation of various decade-old

churches in Bohol that crumbled to ruins, and which have been considered as our national cultural treasure.

“Pinag-aaralan na rin ng National Museum, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, at National Historical Commission of the Philippines, ang rehabilitasyon ng mga gumuhong simbahan na ating National Cultural Treasure,” said Aquino.

The President said in partnership with the private sector, Boholanos can be assured that the time would come when these devastated historical churches would rise again to showcase the province’s rich culture. (mbcn/PIA7)

Int’l biz firms partner with DSWD for relief operations CEBU (PIA) -- The devastation and multiple deaths brought by Super Typhoon Yolanda left hundreds of thousands of people in Northern Cebu homeless, mourning, hungry and cold.

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ifteen municipalities and the City of Bogo had an estimated 539,719 people or some 82% of town’s population displaced

these persons.

These figure did not escape the attention of the international business partners in Central Visayas.

Various business sectors such as Hardwares Consolidated Inc. headed by its President Anthony Lim waived their company’s Christmas Party in favour of Yolanda victims.

It donated 50 sacks of rice and 30 boxes of assorted canned goods which can already feed a thousand people for the day.

Fifty years in partnership with the

business sector, this non-stock, non-profit association consisting of 60 bona fide members representing various business establishments in Cebu have been true to their mission of educational, social and economic advancement.

Another donor, Yamashin Cebu Manufacturing Corp. in MEPZA II, Lapulapu City headed through its chairman Atsuhiko Yamazaki did its share in saving a life for the day with 50 sacks of rice donation for Northern Cebu affected families.

Its donation can suffice a day’s meal for another thousand.

Yamashin Inc. is into hydraulic filter business which promotes programs and improves lives.

The company lives up to its purpose as they help improve the lives of the victims.

Companies such as Yamashin and Hardwares Consolidated Inc. are just a few of the international business that makes Cebu progressive.

The people in the Province are the recipients of its economic b e n e f it s b u t Y o l a n d a b r o u g h t these tycoons closer as they stepped down from their air-conditioned offices to be one with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in bringing relief even for a day to a thousand and more. (mbcn/PIA7 with reports from Alariba/ DSWD7)

PCIEERD calls for R&D Proposals BY: RIZALIE ANDING CALIBO SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is now ready to accept Research and Development (R&D) proposals for C.Y. 2015, says an announcement from DOST local office here.

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&D Priority Thrust must be 1) Appropriate Technologies for Industry Competitiveness 2) Sustainable Energy 3) Sustainable Mass Transport 4) Environment, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.

The R&D proposals should be directed towards harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, expand technology development and innovation for the industry and energy sectors, and develop S&T interventions and solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk

reduction.

The PCIEERD shall accept proposals from State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), government Research and Development Institutes (RIDs), R&D Consortia, non-profit laboratories, industry associations, Chamber of Commerce, LGUs and non-profit S&T organizations involved in the science and technology research and development in the province.

Deadline for Submission of Proposals will be on January 31, 2014.

Applicants are required to submit their proposals through the http://

apps.pcieerd.dost.gov.ph/eProposals/.

The complete package of the Call of Proposal Forms can be downloaded at http://www.pcieerd.dost.gov.ph.

For more inquiries can be directed through postal mail to Engr.

Albert G. Marino, Chief Science Research Specialist Policy Coordination and Monitoring Division (PCMD), 5th Level Science Heritage Building, DOST Complex, Gen. Santos Ave. Bicutan, Taguig City or e-mail at agmarino@dost.gov.ph . (mbcn/rac/ PIA7-Siquijor with reports from DOST-MDP, PCL)

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Malapascua Island, Cebu (Image credit: www.facebook.com/helpmalapascua)

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Siquijor - DOST SETUP clients training to help boost tourism

undergo

SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- In line with the government’s thrust to promote tourism in Siquijor, the Department of Science and Technology - Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center (DOST-PSTC) conducted a training on product packaging and labeling to its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) clients and would-be beneficiaries recently at the DOST Provincial Office in here.

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rovincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Director Engr.

Mario de la Peña said the office is helping promote tourism as one the provincial government's thrust so that packaging and labeling of the local processed food in the province should be developed in order to be more attractive as local pasalubong (gift) items of the province.

De la Peña said that Siquijor has a lot to offer to the visitors but there is a need to further develop its quality, packaging and labelling into a more descent but affordable pasalubong items.

The training focuses on label designing, packaging and label color combination, packaging material, nutrition facts and shelf life determination.

In other countries, they gave importance on packaging and labelling of their products because it demands a good price.

We must invest in order to further improve our products if we aim to be competitive in the global market, de la Pena finally said. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor/ DOST-MEP)

Tanjay City joins no smoking drive, notes health threats BY: JENNIFER C. TILOS TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 2 (PIA) -- Tanjay City has joined other local government units in prohibiting smoking in public places in compliance with the local ordinance, noting health risks.

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uring a formal launching on anti-smoking campaign, Mayor Lawrence Teves called on residents here to cooperate with government’s drive against smoking.

This was backed by Department of Health (DOH) National Director Dr. Asuncion Anden in a press conference, saying that smoke-related diseases such as cancer top the leading causes of deaths in the country.

Anden said tobacco use causes more deaths annually associated with cardiovascular diseases (including heart diseases and stroke), diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma.

She noted that 47.7% of adult males

aged 15 and above are currently smokers despite the continuous warnings of DOH. She stressed that LGUs have to take the lead and make bold steps to curb smoking among their constituents.

Mayor Teves appealed to the public to work together in the implementation of the ordinance to regulate smoking in the city.

The mayor said the anti-smoking ordinance is offered as a Christmas gift for a healthy citizenry in celebration of “Pasko sa Tanjay Festival” towards a healthy city.

While there are at least two national laws that mandate the banning of smoking in public places, it was noted that the local ordinance or the local government unit has the political will to strictly implement

the regulation.

Dr. Anden cited some measures to sustain the campaign which include raising the local tax to tobacco and alcohol vendors, imposing the rule of no selling of cigarettes to minors, not allowing the selling of cigarettes by sticks but by packs, providing alternative livelihood to farmers planting tobacco, and placing a graphic warning on the cigarette box, among others.

However, enforcement of the no smoking ordinance will be implemented after six months of massive information drive. The health official noted that even local officials who smoke can become anti-smoking advocates as long as they themselves comply with the smoking ban. (rmn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Public cooperation needed in disaster management BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA LAPULAPU CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA) -- The public's immediate cooperation is very important and crucial in dealing with disasters.

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his was the most important lesson shared by Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza in a recent media briefing at the MIP Lounge, Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Radaza was the guest in the regular press briefing initiated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) of all agencies involved in the operations and relief in relation to typhoon Yolanda.

According to Radaza, the very moment Lapulapu officials were briefed on the intensity of typhoon Yolanda, pre emptive evacuation was done in all the coastal barangays including the islets of the local government unit.

“We had evacuated 12,000 from the

islets and 24,000 from our coastal barangays," Radaza said.

Lapulapu, she said, has 28 out of the 30 barangays that are coastal, with only two considered as inland.

She said that had the people ignored the call of evacuation, there would have been many casualties. The City only had one fatality during the typhoon.

Radaza however said that even without typhoon signals, but the weather is bad, the barangay captains are already taking the initiative to secure their respective constituents.

She assured that the City has an allocation for the food for those who are

in the evacuation centers.

Affected families were given a displacement assistance of P2,500-P3,000 and her staff are still assessing the amount to be extended further for the repair and rehabilitation of families whose houses were totally damaged.

The Mayor also shared that close to a thousand families from Leyte took temporary shelter in the five evacuation centers of Lapulapu.

The Leyte evacuees' meals were taken cared of by the Province and some private individuals.

As of today, she said there are no more Leyte transients in Lapulapu City. (mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Frontline services in Tacloban reopen Dec.9

Guiuan, Eastern Samar (Image Credit; www.facebook.com/ GuiuanEasternSamar)

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 4 (PIA) – All employees of the City Government of Tacloban are mandated to report for work starting Monday, December 9.

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uring the RDRRMC Meeting Wednesday at the Command Center, Tacloban City Administrator Lawyer Tecson Lim said the Mayor has already issued a directive through his office ordering all employees to report immediately a month after the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda.

It was learned that 85 percent of the regular work force of the city are back and now performing their specific jobs/ assignments.

Lim informed residents of Tacloban and those who need their services that their offices will officially open for whatever government transactions starting Monday

December 9.

This includes the City Licensing Office, Registrars Office, among others.

It can be observed that Task Force Normalization of Tacloban City has doubled its efforts in line with the goal to effect normalcy within the city which was badly hit by super typhoon Yolanda. (PIA-8)

GK Southern Leyte head receives Exemplary Award for Volunteerism BY: REBECCA CADAVOS MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 5 (PIA) – A doctor by profession, Dr. Jerome Paler currently working at the Social Security System (SSS) as a Medical Officer, received an award Tuesday, November 3, for quick typhoon Yolanda response and leading the emergency and rehabilitation works in Eastern Visayas.

T

he awarding ceremony was conducted during the 27th Annual Bulong Pulungan at Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasig City, where Paler’s daughter, Gawad Kalinga Partnership Coordinator Jerzzene Gail Paler said.

She said that the award giving body is composed of women journalists, saying that the elder Paler, GK Head in Southern Leyte was cited for “Exemplary Award for Volunteerism – The Face of the Ordinary Volunteer” being the leader of GK volunteers who went to Ormoc City on November 9, the day after Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas on November 8.

It was also learned that before

Yolanda struck, Paler together with volunteers in Southern Leyte chapter had been going to Bohol to help residents that were displaced by the recent earthquake.

The plaque awarded to Dr. Paler quoted as, “A native in Southern Leyte, Jerome is the one-man medical staff of SSS in the capital town of Southern Leyte. He is a giant of a hero, leading rescue and relief works in all landslides in Southern Leyte in the last 10 years, involved in relief work in many other calamities affecting Visayas and Mindanao provinces.”

Moreover, the citation said that Dr. Paler is “Always a leader of a contingent of other heroes serving others in need – at their own expense. Jerome and

the GK Team form Maasin were the 1st to reach Ormoc from the outside, the 1st to share food packs and still big brother to the GK Ormoc who were victims themselves. A Brother’s Keeper with the courage to care, a Braveheart, a Gawad Kalinga Worker, Nation-builder Filipino.”

Paler said that he was currently arranging for the shipment of a container van of rice from a donor in Vietnam.

“If you want to help, without expectation of payment, volunteer with GK, There’s no application form, just drop by our sites and we assure you there will be lots of things for you to do,” he added.

(PIA8-SoLeyte)

PHSO refreshes Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives BY: REBECCA CADAVOS MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 4 (PIA) -- The Provincial Health Services Office through the Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) conducted a series of Lactation Management Training for nurses, among other nursing care service providers of the Salvacion Oppus Y?iguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH), Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Provincial Coordinator Alma R. Malazarte informed.

M

alazarte said that the 3rd batch of participants started December 2 and closed Dec. 4, while the first and second batches were conducted last November 4-6 and November 18-20, 2013, respectively, all held at Supercha I here.

“Around 36 health personnel were targeted each training who are involved in taking care of mothers and their newborn child,” she disclosed. Each 3-day training aims to revitalize the Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives, health facilities and newborn care services, she added.

Malazarte, one of the speakers during the trainings bared that SOYMPH has been accredited as Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives hospital, “but it is sad

to say that there is a constant and fast turn-over of personnel in the hospital and these staff have no enough orientation and training on lactation management which was no longer conducted since 2009,” Malazarte quoted the training’s objective.

The Lactation Management training discussed topics such as: 10 steps to successful breastfeeding; Breastfeeding practices of SOYMPH; Common breastfeeding difficulties; Milk Code of the Philippines or Executive Order No. 51; RA7600 or the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act; Counseling skills on breastfeeding, among other topics related to breastfeeding practices and taking care of the newborn.

Other speakers of the said trainings

include Provincial Health Officer-I Dr. Noel Lumen; OB Department Head Dr. Iris Monsanto; Nurse Supervisor Alma Tan; Delivery Room Nurse Noralyn Caberte; SOYMPH Chief Nurse Lyndo Calva; Supervising Midwife Vicky Generan; and Provincial Nutritionist Nilda Rich.

After the training, the facilitators expected that every staff member will support mothers to succeed with early and exclusive breastfeeding and that the facility moves towards Mother-Baby Friendly designation. It was further learned that breastfeeding is the healthiest way for a woman to feed her baby since short and long term health benefits are now known to exist for both the mother and her child.

(PIA8-SoLeyte)

EASTERN VISAYAS

Tacloban City, Eastern Visayas

7

Management of missing persons placed under The Phil. National Police

(Photo by PIA 8)

BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- The management of missing persons due to super typhoon Yolanda has been placed under the jurisdiction of the Philippine National Police.

R

egional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Eastern Visayas chairperson Rey Gozon informed the Philippine Information Agency that the police record will serve as the official document for the missing persons.

He therefore called on the families with missing members to report the same to the local police stations for proper documentation.

He also requested the Philippine Information Agency to widely disseminate the information so that the concerned families will be properly informed.

He reiterated that families with missing members must go to the police stations nearest them and have the names of the missing members recorded at the police blotter.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as per the recommendation of the LGU shall Issue Certificates of Missing Person Believed to be Dead during Disaster.

It may be recalled that Typhoon Yolanda Regional Task Force reported that as of 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of November 30, about 5,328 individuals were reported dead, while 1,729 have been reported to be still missing. (PIA 8)

UNDP Cash for Work laborer digs foxhole to save 7 families from Yolanda BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 3 (PIA) -- Many stories have been told regarding typhoon Yolanda and how people managed to survive. Here is the story of Rogelio Quintana of Barangay Santo Nino, Tacloban City.

R

ogelio was one of the two UNDP cash for work laborers who together with their coordinator Randy Jaca were guests of PIA Power FM in Tacloban City on December 3.

Mano Rogelio told PIA that when he and his neighbors heard about the super typhoon Yolanda, they decided to dig a foxhole good for seven families.

The foxhole was elongated, and covered with galvanized irons safely tacked by big boulders and with openings with covers tied with sturdy ropes for air passage.

The families brought with them their important belongings and food inside the foxhole before the strong rains and winds

came.

Mano Rogelio said he believes that God helps those who help themselves.

He and his neighbors have done the best they could so they were very sure that God will do the rest.

The waters did not enter their foxhole, and the winds didn’t destroy their cover. When the storm ceased, the families went out, all safe.

Their homes’ roofing was destroyed but with the job offered by the United Nation Development Program, right after the typhoon, they were able to immediately fix their abodes.

Being prepared and being well informed are the things that can save

people from disasters.

This was what Mano Rogelio and his friend did.

He expressed thanks to the UNDP for the cash for work program it implemented here in the Region.

He said three teams composed of 5 persons each are now going around the various hospitals in the City to collect the garbage piled there.

After the hospitals garbage are collected in the city, then the teams will also go to th e v a ri ous t own s th at al s o need garbage collection as they are also devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

(PIA 8)

DOH calls for water sterilization, water chlorination in Yolanda-ravaged areas BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA P. TIU TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 4 (PIA) – The Department of Health called on the families in the Yolanda-ravaged areas of Eastern Visayas to sterilize or chlorinate water before drinking.

D

r. Paulyn Jean Rosel, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health, said that the call came after the DOH WASH team conducted water tests at the pipeline and found the presence of coliform.

“Water samplings were gathered in 45 sites (water pipes), and 29 sites were found to be positive of coliform,” ASEC Ubial said.

The DOH official said this result shows that the water system has

contamination.

The recommendation of the Health Department is for the families not to drink water from the tap without first disinfecting through boiling the water for at least 20 minutes, and cooling it before drinking.

Another way is putting aqua drops, aqua chlorine tabs or waterine solution.

Five ml of Waterine solution can disinfect 20 liters of water.

Already, 60,000 families in Easterm Visayas have been given water cans with

waterine solution.

Teams are now going around Eastern Visayas to disinfect water, ASEC Ubial said.

The DOH also recommended the flashing of chlorine in the water pipes.

This is already known by LMWD, she added.

Meanwhile, the DOH said that it will monitor the bottled water manufacturing companies in the area to see to it that proper hygiene and sanitation is observed in the bottling of mineral waters. (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