VOL. 2 l NO.10 l March 8, 2012
PIA-SMART launches infoboard program in CV By Rey Anthony Chiu CEBU CITY, Marso 2 (PIA) -- Cell phones with SMART as service provider will soon receive disaster alerts and weather bulletin including important advisories and information after SMART and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-7) in Central Visayas launched the Smart Infoboard program at the PIA-7 conference room,
Machay building at Gorordo Ave., in Cebu City yesterday (March 1). Some 30 information officers from Cebu, Bohol and NegOr that are members of the Regional Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) including those of the national and local government agencies attended the Smart-PIA Infoboard launching. PIA-7 regional director Minerva Newman
RADIO-7 Board meeting prior to the launching of the Smart Infoboard at the PIA-7 conference room in Cebu City.
said the Infoboard is a tool where cell phone subscribers that are registered for the services can receive free information from government daily. In a way, the messages that government used to send through personal cell phones can now be sent via a central number assigned by SMART and only those subscribers that allow the text messages on their cellphones can receive these information. T h e P I A links with SMART Communications for sending/texting important information on the weather, disaster risk reduction managment and prevention and all other vital information that the public needs to know immediately. According to the briefing by SMART officials, a cell phone user that allows the SMS/Text information are subscribed to the program through the PIA. With this, text scams and text scares are prevented because the SMS and messages that are sent thru the Infoboard have specific assigned numbers. (Rey Anthony Chiu/PIABohol)
PDEA-7 campaign vs illegal drugs in CV improves in 2011 By Fayette C. Riñen CEBU CITY, March 6 (PIA) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement AgencyCentral Visayas (PDEA) 7 arrested 1,075 suspects in 2011, higher than the previous year. PDEA 7 Legal Officer Atty. Mauro Licen said they have filed a total of 1,195 cases in court last year against violators of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. “The PDEA 7 in combined operations with the police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a total of 848 anti-illegal drug operations in 2011 that resulted to the arrest of 1,075 drug personalities,” Licen said. Licen said the total operations led to the confiscation of illegal drugs including
shabu amounting to P59.77M. The significant increase in accomplishments was highlighted by the PDEA 7 official compared to its accomplishments in 2010 which only recorded 574 combined operations on illegal drugs. “In 2010, only 713 persons were arrested and 741 cases elevated in court,” Licen bared. Licen further said the confiscation of illegal drugs in 2010 only amounted to P40.77 million. “Comparing the data between 2010 and 2011, we can say that there is a significant increase in accomplishments in the continuing fight against illegal drugs,” Licen declared. Licen said the problem of illegal
drugs is not an overnight case and that “we need to work hand in hand in the fight against illegal drugs.” Most of the anti-illegal drug operations were conducted in Cebu as Licen admitted that being a metropolitan area, the province has the highest number of illegal drug cases compared to the three provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Central Visayas. “Where the economy is good, the problem of illegal drugs is also seen because of the market demand,” Licen claimed. The PDEA 7 official however, assured the problem of illegal drugs in Central Visayas is “manageable” and “under control.” (PIA-Cebu)
FOR MORE REGIONAL STORIES, LOG ON TO: http://pia-7newsservice.blogspot.com
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Gov allays fears of another natural disaster By Rachelle M. Nessia
Employees of the Negros Oriental provincial government participating in the March 1, 2012 earthquake drill held at the Aqua Center Building in Dumaguete City. The drill was in line with the simultaneous earthquake drill held across the country spearheaded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. (LJD/RMN/PIA) - Adrian Sedillo
An officer from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental showing the emergency evacuation plan of the Aqua Center Building, one of the provincial government buildings around Capitol Area, during the March 1 earthquake drill held simultaneously across the country. (LJD/RMN/ PIA) - Adrian Sedillo
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 6 (PIA) -- Gov. Roel Degamo urged the public anew not to believe nor spread rumors about another earthquake hitting Negros Oriental province. “Based on expert studies from Phivolcs, we have nothing to fear because there is no threat of another earthquake here,” said Gov. Degamo. Capitol has expressed concern over rumors that the province is under the threat of an impending earthquake or tsunami. “Phivolcs told us that based on expert studies, an earthquake’s main shock doesn’t hit the same area again,” said Adrian Sedillo, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) here. Last February 6, the province was rocked by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that caused bridges and buildings to collapse, and roads to crack. The latest death toll is pegged at 58. “There may be aftershocks, but not the main shock,” Sedillo told the Philippine Information Agency. The PDRRMC officer also shrugged off talks of a tsunami scare, particularly in areas jolted by the earthquake last month. “There is no threat of a tsunami, local or international, in Negros Oriental. Phivolcs has assured us of this,” said Sedillo. The earthquake and tsunami scares are all hoax messages being spread by unscrupulous people, he added. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
Dumaguete City bans use of plastics By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 5 (PIA) -- Following the passage of City Ordinance 231 with its implementing rules and regulations (IRR), Dumaguete City urges business establishments to reduce the use of plastic bags and styrofoam materials. According to City Administrator William Ablong, by August 28 this year the ordinance will be carried out strictly through its lead agency the City Environment and Natural Resources Office. City Ordinance 231-2011 enacted by councilors and approved by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria is a significant local legislation that aims to lessen pollution and boost
environmental protection. Mayor Sagarbarria also signed the IRR for the implementation of the ordinance to implement the prohibition of use of non-biodegradable materials. Under the ordinance, business establishments are prohibited from providing plastic bags to consumers as packing materials for dry and wet goods wherein primary and secondary packaging materials have been categorically identified. Establishments are also barred from using styrofoam and other similar materials as containers of food, produce, and other products. With Ordinance 231 plastic waste materials will be cleaned and dried
prior to surrender to their respective barangays for proper disposal. Ablong said the city government will conduct a massive information campaign to educate residents and business establishments on the use of alternative and biodegradable packaging materials. These include the promotion of alternative packaging materials such as “bayong” or “baluyot,” “katsa,” and other reusable and/or biodegradable packaging materials. (MBCN/JCT-PIA Negros Oriental)
BOHOL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
BFP: 19% less fires in 2011 But damages soared 200%
By Rey Anthony Chiu TAGBILARAN CITY, March 2, (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) noted a 19.54 percent reduction in fire incidents in 2011 compared to 2010, but for authorities much can still be desired. In 2011 when there were fewer fire incidents damages to property was at P41 million compared to only P13 million in 2010 fires, according to Bohol Provincial Fire Marshal Pepe Rebusa. Still struggling to salvage a seared ego after earning criticisms over a fire that gutted two houses and damaged some estimated P8 million in properties, fire authorities in Bohol said this year’s Fire Prevention Month theme couldn’t be more fitting --“Maki-isa at Makipagtutulongan Upang Sunog ay Maiwasan.” Rebusa noted that part of the reason the fire in Loay raged for a long time was the communication network just did not turn well as expected. Rebusa hinted that communicating the alarm should have been far more efficient because this is crucial in mobilizing assets and reiterating the role of unity and cooperation in fire prevention. This did not happen as desired, said a fire fighter who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak. “Just how many among cell phone users have Fire Station numbers stored in their contacts?” Rebusa asked. Fire Prevention Month coming in quite ironically with the two houses in Loay and at least three classroom buildings in Talibon razed not a week apart before March 1. It may be recalled that firemen were informed of the Loay fire only after the initial five minutes when the blaze started, and the Provincial Fire Operations Center which should have been second to know about the incident was informed at least 11 minutes after the first alarm was received. In these times when cell phones are everywhere, nobody remembered calling the right responders, Rebusa bemoaned. In a report submitted to the Department of Interior and Local Government, BFP said there were 87 fire incidents in 2010. This was cut to 70 in 2011 or some 19.54 percent. Among those types of structures
Cost of damage of dynamite fishing. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Chief of Monitoring, Control & Surveillance Andy Mingueto inspected the fishes after the test blast conducted by BFAR last Feb. 24 at BFAR-Central Visayas Regional Fisheries and Development Center in Calape, Bohol. BFAR estimated that the cost of the damage for fish alone in one blast area could reach up to P24,000 but the erring fisherman gains only a measly P800 from harvesting up to 10 kilos of fish at a landing price of P80.00 per kilo.. (PIA-Bohol/ecb) burned in 2010, 57 were residential and only 48 were recorded in 2011, registering a 15.79 percent decrease, BFP-Bohol reported. In most cases, fires were accidentally caused while region-wide statistics showed that there were 13 intentional fires noted within the period, Rebusa added. The report also showed that most of the causes of fires are faulty electrical connection with 41 incidents in the last two years; open flames due to torch -27; electrical appliances- 16; open flames
due to unattended lighted candles -15 and lighted cigarette butts- 9 that were thrown anywhere. In the beginning months of 2012, BFP responded to 15 fire alarms, 8 of them in January and 3 in February. Of these, 11 were residential houses, two commercial buildings and one educational structure were involved in fire incidents racking an estimated damage cost of around P10 million. BFP base its damage figures on submitted affidavits of loss by victims. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
SIQUIJOR
Feature: Siquijor, more than an island paradise By Rizalie Anding Calibo "A safe and quiet place for healing and wellness, aside from the usual sand, sun, sea, and surf attractions." This is how tourists should see Siquijor, not as the island of sorcerers and witches as folk stories wanted it to appear, but as the island of divine beauty with spectacular views and friendly people. One article written by an island visitor on mysiquijor.com reads, "Some that have visited the island say that Siquijor is more than an island paradise. It is a state of mind, it’s an attitude, a perspective, a lesson in stress management, and a watering hole for the mind and spirit." Exactly it is! One needs to be there to see and experience it. "Siquijor is just perfect for relaxing and recuperating. Sorcery and black magic do not exist in the island," said Siquijor Governor Orlando A. Fua Jr. And while trying to capitalize on these advantages to erase the negative image painted on the island, Fua said he is putting tourism at the top of his priority by focusing efforts to improve the island's tourist spots for visitors to
SIQUIJOR is more than an island paradise. It is a state of mind, it's an attitude, a perspective, a lesson in stress management, and a watering hole for the mind and spirit. (caption from my.siquijor.com and foto by Rizalie A. Calibo/PIA-Siquijor) see Siquijor's real beauty and richness. Among his priority projects are the improvement of roads and other infrastructure around the province, including the P4-million road concreting project leading to the airport in Cang-alwang, Siquijor, and the rehabilitation of the airport terminal. "The airport is already functional at present," he said. Another improvement would be additional amenities at the Mt. Bandilaan MiniResort in Brgy. Cantabon, Siquijor, he added. Additional cottages and picnic tables are already being built in preparation for the tourist influx during the Folk Healing Festival come Holy Week. But on top of that, folk healers and herbalists have also been given trainings. Another tourism-geared priority project is the reclamation of a 400 square-meter area at Salagdoong Beach Resort in Maria town where additional cottages will also be put up to accommodate the increasing number of visitors, he said. With the provincial government doing its best to promote Siquijor as the country's healing and wellness destination, tourist traffic is expected to spike in the following months, especially during the upcoming Holy Week. (rmn/RAC/ PIA-Siquijor)