VOL. 2 l NO.11 l March 16, 2012
P140-M allocated to CV LGUs for coastal management project
By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, March 15 (PIA) --- More than P140-M funds were allocated to nine local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas under the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project (ICRMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This after the ICRMP Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC) approved the distribution of said funds
to identified LGUs for their social, environmental infrastructure, and facilities development. LGUs in Cebu province will receive the biggest share with P88,339,682.50 or 63.04 percent. Six municipalities will benefit from the project, namely: Aloguinsan for the construction of riverbank protection facility with a project cost of P7,036,815.50; Ronda for the expansion and rehabilitation of Ronda
wharf with a budget of P19,840,397.00; Alcoy for the improvement and expansion of Level III water system with P19,813,920.00 Other municipalities in Cebu to benefit from the project are: Carmen for the construction of Cantumog-Luyang river flood control system with an allotment of 30 million pesos; Dalaguete for the construction of Dalaguete wastewater treatment facility with 6.5 million pesos; and Samboan for the construction of ecotourism Dumaguete City park and visitor center with a budget of P5,148,550.00. Administrator William DENR-7 Regional Ablong seeking the Executive Director Maximo support of women for the Dichoso said the protection, successful enforcement rehabilitation, conservation of City Ordinance No. 231 and governance of the that regulates the use of country’s coastal resources plastic. The ordinance is depend on the partnership and collaboration among the local set to be implemented in government units and other August this year. Ablong stakeholders. was one of the speakers DENR Secretary Ramon during the March 14, JP Paje has instructed the 2012 Kapihan forum held regional office to provide to mark the Women's the needed technical or Month celebration this administrative assistance to said LGUs so the funds would March. (RMN/PIA) be released the soonest after all mandatory requirements are complied with. Siquijor province will also get a total P51.8-M or 36.96 percent covering three municipalities, namely: By Fayette C. Riñen Enrique Villanueva for the CEBU CITY, March 12 (PIA) -- Filipino women are prone to prostitution and human trafficking construction of ecotourism syndicates of poverty, thus there is a need for education campaigns and passing of legislation such complex and facilities with as the local ordinance on cyber pornography. P5.9-M; Larena for upland and This was the assessment of University of the Philippines-Cebu College associate professor Dr. coastal ecotourism with 15.9 Rhodora Bucoy who said that there is a definite link between poverty and these social ills. Thus, she information and education campaigns are needed to help address such social issues. million pesos, and San Juan “Though much have been achieved by Filipino women today compared to before, there is still a with 30 million pesos for the lot to be done to attain total women empowerment,” Bucoy stressed during a recent PIA forum that establishment of Level III water tackled the celebration of March as Women’s Month. She expressed hope that the ordinance on cyber system. pornography will be finalized this month. DENR leads the Bucoy is also the coordinator of Sidlak–Gender Resource Center 7, a non-government organization implementation of ICRMP that fights for the magna carta for women particularly on gender and development and women with funding from the Asian empowerment. Development Bank (ADB) The pro-women advocate also hailed the active involvement of the Cebu City Government on and the Global Environment passing measures and initiating programs that promote the overall welfare of women. Facility (GEF) supported Among the pro-women legislative ordinances passed in the Cebu City Council included on antitrafficking, kasambahay and the Gender and Development (GAD) Code of Cebu City. by other national agencies According to Camila Santina of the Cebu City Women’s and Family Affairs Commission, “Cebu like Bureau of Fisheries City Councilor Leah Japson is working hard to ensure that the rights of women are always recognized and Aquatic Resources, which is why she made sure that local legislations for women are instituted.” Department of Interior and “There will also be a public hearing on the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance on March 14,” Local Government, National Santina said. Economic Development Among the activities that were organized for the observance of Women’s Month in Cebu City Authority, Department of included a forum and information sharing on the ‘Rights of Migrant Workers’ last March 9 and another Agriculture and Department forum on March 21 on Climate Change as the theme this year centers on ‘Women Weathering Climate of Budget and Management Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.’ (PIA-Cebu) in partnership with LGUs.(rmn/ FOR MORE REGIONAL STORIES, LOG ON TO: http://pia7news.blogspot.com PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)
Poverty and women's social issues linked, says Cebu prof
NEGROS ORIENTAL
DAR Sec joins review for land acquisition, distribution in NegOr
PIA, in cooperation with the City Social Welfare and Development Office, held a Kapihan forum to mark the Women's Month celebration this March 2012. The forum was attended by representatives of women's groups coming from the barangays.
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has conducted recently a three-day claim folder review to fast tract the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) in Negros Oriental. DAR Information Officer Aileen Villaseca said the review aims to update and improve the LAD database, determine critical information about each landholding, classify landholdings into workable and problematic and determine the type of interventions needed to move them. During its assessment, DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes urged all DAR employees to do what needs to be done to improve and speed up the processes in the acquisition and distribution of land for the farmers and what is due under the law. DAR Secretary further said that what he is trying to do in the next two years is to process Claim Folders really fast and more accurate so that landowners affected by the program can receive their compensation promptly. The claim folder review also meant to analyze individual landholdings targeted for acquisition in order to track its progress and address problems. With this, the DAR enables to institute national solutions to problems of delayed land acquisition and distribution process, DAR official explained. Villaseca said the assessment activity was participated in by the DAR Municipal Offices staff, provincial processors and encoders of the provincial office. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
Mobile passport services in Dumaguete set in May By Jennifer C. Tilos
Applicants urged to visit City Tourism Office to be listed DUMAGUETE CITY, March 15 (PIA) -- A two-day mobile passport service will be done in Dumaguete City on May 5 and 6, 2012. Personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Bacolod Consular Office will be at the Robinson’s Place to entertain applications for new and renewal of expired passports from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 5, and 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. on May 6. Jessica Layumas of the City Tourism Office here is urging applicants to visit the city tourism office immediately to be listed for the mobile services.
“Our staff will also preevaluate documents to determine which papers are lacking, if there are any, to avoid delays and confusion during the processing day,” she said in a statement released by the City Information Office. T h e t o u r i s m o ff i c e h a s requested the DFA to once again bring what is now their fourth mobile passport services in Dumaguete City following the high volume of requests from the public. Since it was first held in the city in 2009, more than 2,000 passports have been processed by DFA during the mobile services held in the city in coordination with the tourism office. This equates to an average of 700 passports per activity, a figure which DFA says is unprecedented in the department’s experience during
their mobile passport services in Negros island. The statement from the City Information Office quoted DFA Bacolod Chief Executive Officer Joselito Blas as saying that the lowest turnout they’ve had was 28 applicants in a local government unit in Negros Occidental. Layumas said the city tourism office will continue to facilitate more mobile passport services in Dumaguete in the future. The two-day passport service also kicks off the month-long celebration of Santacruzan Festival in the city in May. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)
BOHOL
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Bohol leads in nationwide search for outstanding PHL organic agriculturist award By Elvira C. Bongosia TAGBILARAN CITY, March 14 (PIA) --Bohol leads in the 2011 nationwide Search for Outstanding Philippines Organic Agriculturist Award under the Local government units category. Bohol governor Edgar Chatto revealed this recently during the 10th HEAT-Bohol Caravan held at San Miguel town on March 8. The award aims to assist the government on policies in the use of organic farming/agriculture through networking with the private sector, Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and the Agri-Aqua
Network International, Inc. The project is seen to be as good model for public-private partnership and other forms of linkages and cooperation. Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas of the provincial agriculture o ff i c e a n d s o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d environment management cluster head Liza Quirog received the award at the Commission Officer's Clubhouse at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in behalf of governor Chatto, who was presiding the PPOC meeting at San Miguel when the award was given. (mbcn/Elvira Bongosia/PIA-Bohol)
FOR UNIFICATION. Physalus head, Dr. Alessandro Ponzo DVM said a provincial ordinance should guide local laws on the upcoming probem of regulating marine mammals interaction in Bohol seas. (PIABohol/RAC)
RICE TRADITIONS. While Bohol may seek ways to improve its yields, it must also consider its stand on possible use of chemical fertilizers and other artificial farm input so as to keep better farmer profits over huge harvests but profits barely covering up for expensive and environmentally pressing inputs. (PIABOhol/RAC)
Black corals found in Jagna, potential for tourists' attraction By Rey Anthony Chiu BOHOL, Marso 12 (PIA) -Large volume of black corals and in very good condition is found in the seas of Jagna town in Bohol and is being closely guarded by the Jagna Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) has tremendous tourism potentials. Jagna mayor Fortunato Abrenilla believed that the findings of the black corals in the area will limit fishing in Jagna as the local government presented its tourism program that revolved mostly around coastal resource management. CRMC consultant for Jagna, Jeremy Horowits said that the introduction of the black corals as part of the tourists' "must see" attraction in the town may be the defining opportunity to end 'Pamilak' fishing and pressure illegal fishers to stop their illegal activities in the area. Because of the tourism potentials of the black corals in Jagna, the town folks living at the coastal barangays have also expanded their marine protected areas to ensure complete protection of the black corals in their coastal areas. The 'black corals' are one of the most sought after corals among professional divers around the world. These corals are found at the deepest part of the ocean where sun rays could no longer reach, this is learned. They are called black corals due to their black pitch dark roots where rainbow colored gel-like branches grew. The black corals command very high prices at the black-market because of their quality for high-end fashion accessories that are specifically sought by the rich and famous. According to Horowitz the Jagna black corals can be found at the shallow part of the ocean, about five minutes from the shore. Horowitz and the Dagatdivers of Jagna believed that the unusual current that brought the corals' food to the shallow parts of the ocean also drag the black corals to stay where they are now. It can be recalled that the PHL is one of the places where illegal gathering of black corals are rampant, specifically those expensive types of black corals, said Horowitz. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)
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SIQUIJOR
Siquijor healers, herbalists attend hearing on entrepreneurship By Rizalie Anding Calibo
GUV FUA ON HILOTS: Siquijor Provincial Governor Orlando A. Fua calling on traditional healers and herbalists to help promote Siquijor as the island of healing. (RCalibo/PIA-Siquijor & PTO) SIQUIJOR , March 15 (PIA) -- In preparation for the Healing Festival come Holy Week in April the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council (PSMEDC) recently conducted a Tourism and Entrepreneurship Awareness Seminar for Siquijor traditional healers and herbalists at the SP Session Hall, Capitol, Siquijor. Siquijor provincial tourism officer Jossette Almirola in her tourism overview said healers and herbalists should be aware that they can make significant contributions in selling Siquijor as the island of healing thus enhance tourism.
In the same manner she said, tourism has a big contribution to the locality – as a good source of income and employment for local residents. When properly planned and managed, tourism can be an instrument to enhance national pride and local customs; preserve and rebuild physical environment; and enhance value of agriculture and forest reserves, she said. It can also be an alternative to destructive activities in fishing and agriculture and other activities, she added. “Siquijor is known for its traditional healers all over the country and it is one of the assets that differentiates
our island from the other islands in the country,” Almirola said. She said that aside from the island's mystical beauty 'Healing Festival' is one of its main attractions based on the assessment from the various tourism stakeholders in the province. Healing Festival is the time when healers and herbalists all over Visayas and Mindanao come together and participate in the preparation of concoctions made from a variety of tree barks, roots, herbs, insects and other ingredients. These are gathered during Fridays of the Lent season from the forests, sea caves and cemeteries. The resulting brews are known to have healing powers. The tourism entrepreneurial seminar included topics such as 'Role of Healers in the Value chain' by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio and 'Product Development' by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) representative Roland Padayhag. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) representative Jerome Alam discussed 'Organizational Development' and Supervising Cooperative and Development Specialist Filomena Lomocso shared the 'Principles of Cooperative'. As can be recalled the island of Siquijor was declared a marine reserve and tourist destination in 1978 by virtue of Proclamation No 1810. As such, the island province is intended as a major tourist destination under the supervision of the Philippine Tourism Authority. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)
BJMP names new warden By Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, (March 13) -- The Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP)-Siquijor district installed Inspector Angelito Almodiel Jr. as its new jail warden recently. Almodiel, a Siquijodnon and a native of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor replaced Inspector Rolly Bandeling effective February 2012. He said he is happy with his current post and assignment. “I would work hard to give good service to the prisoners here,” he said. Almodiel, who has been in the service for 19 years said his administration aims to develop the inmates of Siquijor District Jail through livelihood and moral recovery programs. He said that enlightening the lives of the prisoners is the best way of giving them hope after having walked astray from the right path of life. The new warden is also a Eucharistic Minister (Lay Minister), the reason he wanted prisoners to improve their spiritual lives. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)