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iSIQUIJOR THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH VOL. 5| NO.37 November 15-22,2017
NIA now offers free irrigation service to farmers
SIQUIJOR, Nov. 22 (PIA)-- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) announced that it has stopped collecting amortization and service fees from farmers nationwide.
Regional Irrigator Division Service (IDS) Chief Elvira Alvarado said the implementation of the free irrigation service started in the first cropping season of this year as a result of President Rodrigo
We at PIA hold in the highest esteem the women in our workforce. We value their contribution to our agency. In recognition to their importance, we support to end the violence against women campaign.
Local infra projects lined up for Siquijor towns SIQUIJOR, Nov. 21 (PIA) –- the completion of a Function Hall of Local infrastructure projects have been lined up for the six municipalities in this province. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Information Officer Engr. Dennis Tumala said the approval of the projects have undergone thorough process under its planning, design, and bidding section. The said projects are, namely:
Barangay Poblacion and the multipurpose building of Barangay Caitican; construction of multi-purpose buildings of Barangays Cang-adieng, Pangi and Pulangyuta; concrete road for Cang-asa; and water supply system (Level II) for Barangays Cang-inte and Luyang. Larena town will have the construction and completion of multito page3
Duterte administration’s subsidy fund of P2 billion to NIA under the 2017 GAA or Republic Act 10924. Corporate farms, plantations, fishponds, and other non-agricultural crop users drawing water or using drainage facilities are not covered by the free irrigation service program. Alvarado said that under its resolution, NIA stops collecting amortization and equity payments from farmers and Irrigators Associations (IA) in the construction, rehabilitation, restoration and expansion of service areas of communal irrigation systems (CIS), small irrigation systems (SIS), pump irrigation systms (PIS), including shallow tube wells (STWs), and small reservoir irrigation systems (SRIS). Projects with local government units’ (LGUs) participation with the equity requirement from the concerned LGU is maintained, she said. All bank accounts or unpaid ISF amortization and equity payments before the effectivity of RA 10924 remain as liabilities of farmers and IAs, Alvarado explained. Collection of such liabilities shall be pursued by NIA in collaboration with the Office of the Solicitor General and Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, she added. IAs may also be tapped by NIA in the collection of back accounts subject to terms, agreements, and conditions. Alvarado also shared that due to the government subsidy, farmers who have maintained irrigation canals can now receive compensation and incentive for their respective irrigation canals. NIA, she said, will pay P1,750 per 7km for cemented irrigation canals and P1,750 per 3.5 km for not cemented. Qualified farmers will receive the to page 3
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Palace eyes complete rebuilding of Marawi during Duterte’s term
Marawi, Lanao Del Sur Malacañang on Wednesday, November 22, announced the government’s plan for the total rehabilitation of Marawi City’s “Ground Zero” in the aftermath of the clash between government troops and the Maute terror group. “The goal is to completely rebuild Marawi during the term of President Duterte…To the residents of Marawi, sagot po kayo ni Presidente. Babangon po ang Marawi,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing here. The Bangon Marawi press briefing was held in the city for the first time, as an early commitment made by Roque when he took office as a member of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Cabinet. “[I]’s important to set a message, especially to the youth who may be susceptible to being recruited [by terrorists], that Malacañang has moved to Marawi itself. I’m here today as the Spokesperson... to emphasize that the President is committed to the rebuilding of Marawi in the soonest time possible,” Roque said. He reported that Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) is currently conducting its Post-Conflict Needs Assessment (PCNA) in areas affected by the siege. He said it is set to provide an initial estimated cost for rehabilitation early next year. Roque also disclosed information
discussed during the government’s recent dialogue with Marawi stakeholders on the planned reconstruction of the war-torn city. He relayed TFBM head and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chair Eduardo Del Rosario’s plan to completely rebuild the 24 barangays mostly affected by the conflict. Roque said the government plans to flatten the entire area and build new infrastructure, complete with better facilities such as underground electric cables and a promenade that would serve as a prime tourist attraction. He also reiterated the TFBM’s commitment to residents that in the rebuilding of their city, the government would consider their religious and cultural convictions. He said places of worship would be rebuilt based on the residents’ preference. Roque further guaranteed regular consultations among stakeholders during the rehabilitation phase. Secretary Del Rosario, for his part, announced that the task force is set to redeploy its next batch of PCNA teams to remaining Marawi barangays that are yet to be assessed. In the meantime, he said all agencies involved in TFBM would continue to focus on the city’s early recovery
stage, which includes assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in returning to their homes. In line with this, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the second leg of “Kambalingan” commenced this week, with residents from eight barangays under Cluster 2 successfully returning to their homes. To date, residents from 17 barangays already returned to their respective places, he noted.
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is the Island of Siquijor’s first electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information AgencySiquijor Information Center and the DOST - Provincial Science and Technology Center. It contains snippets of information about Siquijor, Central Visayas and the Philippine Government. THERE IS GOOD NEWS EVERYDAY.
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Palace directs NEDA Board, member agencies to ease restrictions on foreign investment M a l a c a ñ a n g o n Tu e s d a y, November 21, directed the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board and its member agencies to “exert utmost efforts” in easing or lifting restrictions on the government’s investment activities that have limited foreign participation. In a bid to raise the Philippines’ level of competitiveness, the Palace issued Memorandum Circular No. 16, ordering the concerned agencies to take immediate steps to lift or ease existing restrictions on foreign participation in eight investment areas. These areas include private recruitment for local and overseas employments; practice of particular
professions, where allowing foreign participation will redound to the public benefit; contracts for the construction and repair of locally-funded public works; teaching at higher education levels; retail trade enterprises; and domestic market enterprises. The memorandum circular also covers public services, except activities and systems recognized as public utilities such as transmission and distribution of electricity, water, pipeline distribution system, and sewerage pipeline system. It likewise calls for the easing of government restriction for culture, production, milling, processing, and trading except retailing, of rice and corn and acquiring by barter, purchase
Local infra projects... purpose buildings for Barangays Cangbagsa, North Poblacion, Nonoc, Bagacay, Balolang, Basac, Bintangan, Cabiluan, Calunsan, Candigum, Cangallas, Canlasog, Catamboan, Helen, P o n o n g, S abang, S andugan, and Cabulihan, and water supply system Level II for Barangay Sandugan. Also slated for the the Municipality of Mari are the construction of multipurpose building for Barangay Olang, rehabilitation of the Barangay Hall of Minalulan, rehabilitation of multipurpose buildings (ope court structure) for Barangays Nabutay and Saguing, and construction of water supply system Level II for Barangay Bonga. The town of Lazi will have the construction and completion of
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multi-purpose building of Barangay Cangomantong and water supply system Level II for Barangays Capalasanan and Kinamandagan, Nagerong, and Tignao. The municipality of Enrique Villanueva will only have one project which is the construction and completion of multi-purpose building of Barangay Libo. Tumala explained that the town has been the recipient of a number of infra projects in the previous years. He said the project implementation will be closely monitored by the quality section of the DPWH. The construction section will likewise turn over all the completed projects to the maintenance section. (rac/ PIA7-Siquijor)
or otherwise, rice, corn, and other byproducts. Apart from promoting the country’s competitiveness, the order seeks to foster higher economic growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region and beyond through joint endeavors and partnerships with other countries. Members of the NEDA Board are called to support legislative efforts that may be necessary to eliminate the said restrictions, including a pending legislation seeking to clarify the definition of public utilities. The NEDA Board is likewise directed to immediately advise the President regarding restrictions on foreign participation, which may already be lifted or eased without the need of legislation. This move aims to amend the Tenth Regular Foreign Investment Negative List under Executive Order (EO) No. 184 issued in 2015, in accordance with the objectives of the order. The foreign investment negative list (FINL) was formulated by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 7042, also known as the “Foreign Investments Act of 1991,” which provides for the formulation of a Regular FINL covering investment areas/ activities open to foreign investors and/ or reserved to Filipino nationals. The list also indicates the extent of foreign equity participation in specific investment activities. (pcoo)
NIA offers free irrigation... fr. p. 2 payment six times a year. In addition, NIA will also pay P150 per hectare per cropping season of the irrigated and planted areas. Alvarado also reminded farmers that prior to the release of payment, validation and evaluation will be done. This is to encourage all farmers to plant every cropping season and maintain properly their irrigation system, she said. On top of the incentives, they will also become contributors for the attainment of the government’s thrust for food security and sufficiency for all. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from IAAbatayo)
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Cebuano News
Katawhan ug komunidad maglambigit aron mapanalipdan ang kabataan sa pangabuso (PIA)—Gi aghat ang mga katawhan ug ubang sektor sa komunidad nga magtinabangay aron mabantayan ug mapanalipdan ang kabataan gikan sa mga pangabuso. Atol sa gipahigayong Kapihan sa PIA forum agi ug pag saulog sa ika 25th
nga National Children’s Month celebration, namahayag si Dr. Jeazon Mark Consing, medical health officer lll sa Department of Education (DepEd) sa Negros Oriental division, nga ang pagkalambigit sa kabataan
sa illegal nga droga dili lamang obligasyon sa mga tinugyanan sa DepEd. Daku usab ug kaakohan ang mga ginikanan tungod kay sila ang una nga mo tudlo ug disiplina sa kabataan diha sa panimalay, matud ni Consing. Dugang ni Consing adunay programa ang DepEd nga National Drug Eradication Program (NDEP) nga gitudlo sa subject sa Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) kabahin sa dautang epekto sa droga. Ang programa nga NDEP magtudlo sa kabataan sa maau ug uyon nga pamatasan ug mupaambit unsaon pagpaugmad sa ilang mga talento ug abilidad. Gi lambigit usab ang mga ginikanan sa “community education and outreach program” aron masabtan nila ang ilang kaakohan ug katungod sa pag disiplina sa kabataan, matud ni Consing. Dugang niya nga daghan ug makatonan ang mga bata sa eskwelahan apan importante usab ang responsibilidad sa pamilya sa pag agak sa ilang anak nga dili matintal sa dautang bisyo sama sa illegal nga droga. (lpp/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
Students from different schools in Larena, Siquijor, listening to the information drive on Smoking during the town’s celebration of the first year Anniversary of its launching of a “Smoke-Free” town. (rac/PIA-7-Siquijor)
Members of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS) and the Franciscan Youth, Siquijor Region feeding the children and elderly of Barangay Manan-ao, Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor as a way of celebrating the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary whose great love for the poor and suffering made her become the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. (rac/PIA7-Siquijor)