Information is our business.
INFOBYTES THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 11 June 21, 2013
TOPSTORIES
DSWD7 needs more staff for poverty reduction By Juju Manubag-Empuerto
CEBU CITY, June 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) needs 103 more staff on board by 1st week of October 2013 for its community-driven poverty reduction program known as the KapitBisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Integrated and Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS). Kalahi-CIDSS has recently been scaled up this year and made into a national program coined as the National Community DrivenDevelopment Program (NCDDP) that covers over 900 poor municipalities and cater roughly to 5.9 million households across the country. In Region VII alone, there will be 104 additional municipalities scattered in the island provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and the province of Cebu. “Kalahi-CIDSS has scaled up and is not just a project of DSWD anymore; we are now a national program implemented by different national government agencies covering over a 100 municipalities in the region starting this year 2013 to 2019 - which is why we need more manpower to implement this huge Camile Vi M. Calibo, owner of Sweet Sensation undergoes a training scale,” said Simeon Remata III, Regional on nutritious cookies production on June 6 conducted on site by the S o c i a l Department of Science and Technology (DOST) -7. This would enable her Marketing Officer for Kalahi-CIDSS. to develop a new product which is healthy, rich in fiber and nutritious food. Beginning this month until August this DOST will promote Camille's product in July during the National Science and year, DSWD-7 will be accepting applicants for the following positions under the National Technology Week to be held in Manila. Her new products will be showcased Community-Driven Development Program with other new products from other regions. (DOST-MEP/PIA/RAC) (NCDDP)’s contract of services: (1) Deputy Regional Project Manager, (1) Regional Community Development Specialist, (70) Area
PNoy signs Ph Standard Time law declares "Nat'l Time Consciousness Week"
Coordinators, (1) Regional Community Infrastructure President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into law a consolidated bill setting the Philippine Specialist, (3) Monitoring and Evaluation Standard Time (PST) and institutionalizing the first week of the year as the "National Time Officer III, (1) Monitoring and Evaluation Consciousness Week." Officer II, (1) Regional Financial Analyst, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte announced during the regular press briefing in and (2) Regional Infrastructure Officer. Malacanang on Thursday that the Chief Executive signed last May 15 Republic Act 10535 or "An Act More positions will open in the coming to set the Philippine Standard Time in All Official Sources throughout the country, to provide funds for days. the installation, operation and maintenance of synchronized time devices to be displayed in key public For interested applicants, please places and to declare the first week of every year as National Time Consciousness Week." bring the following: comprehensive The new law otherwise known as The Philippine Standard Time (PST) Act of 2013 is a consolidation resume, application letter addressed to of Senate Bill No. 3284 and House Bill No. 164 that was passed by the Senate and the House of the DSWD Regional Director, transcript Representatives on February 4, 2013. of records, certificates and other The Act mandates all national and local government offices to display Philippine Standard Time credentials. on their official time devices, including bundy clocks, in accordance with the official time provided by the Graduates of Social Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Development courses or have relevant using its network time protocol. experience working in community ll of these offices shall coordinate, at least once a month, with the PAGASA to synchronize their organizing and development work are official timepieces and devices. highly encouraged to apply. The PAGASA's Time Service Unit, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology For a complete list of (DOST), shall be tasked to monitor, maintain and disseminate the PST throughout the country. The vacancies and other inquiries, please PAGASA shall operate and maintain a timekeeping system to perform these functions and shall endeavor visit DSWD Field Office VII, Human to install and maintain sufficiently large and prominently displayed synchronized time devices in all their field Resource Development Section stations and in key public at Corner M.J. Cuenco and Gen. places. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City. You may The procurement of equipment necessary for the automatic dissemination of time with global also call (032) 232 9505 and look positioning system (GPS) shall be in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 (Government for Miss Daisy Lor, Regional Project Procurement Reform Act). The DOST shall be the procurement overseer of the said equipment. Coordinator. (mbcn/JSME/PIA7 The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will also require the participation of all Cebu/DSWD7) government and private television and radio stations to ensure synchronization of timekeeping devices even in the most remote parts of the country.
FOR MORE REGIONAL STORIES, LOG ON TO: http://pia7news.blogspot.com
INFOBYTESTOPSTORIES
BOHOL
Chatto: Eat rice reponsibly, help attain rice sufficiency
By Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) -- Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto rallied Boholanos to act on a national advocacy campaign to promote responsible rice consumption as the country celebrates the National Year of the Rice this year.
During a Convocation Activity sponsored by the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) sponsored at the Capitol on June 10, Chatto led Boholanos in a pledge to lessen rice wastage and for responsible rice consumption. It may be recalled that Pres. Benigno Aquino III signed Proclamation
Turbo-prop:Bohol assistant agriculturist Larry Pamugas speaks behind a visual prop of a cloud-seeding plane to highlight Bohol’s gains in average rice production despite a crippling drought that destroyed most of the region’s farms. Bohol still posted a production rate of 3.08 MT of palay per hectare after successful cloud seeding operations in July of 2012. (PIA7 Bohol)
Going green as a biz strategy to launch in Cebu By Rachelle M. Nessia
CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Business groups in Cebu are spearheading a campaign pushing for green initiatives as business strategy. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to launch “EKO Fest” on June 15 which advocates for the business sector to go green in their business dealings. While promoting environmental sustainability as a business blueprint, EKO Fest also aims to establish Cebu as a hub of sustainable lifestyle in the Philippines. CCCI, in a statement, said EKO Fest promotes going green as a strategy for businessmen “for taking care of people, protecting the environment and becoming more profitable or achieving what is called the triple bottom line of ‘people, planet,
profit’.” The festival will run from June 15 to 19 featuring successful cooperators of ECCP’s SMART Cebu project at SM Northwing. SMART stands for SMEs for Environmental Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency. The festival will be capped by an EKO conference showing green initiatives and success stories of various sustainability champions in the country on June 19 at Radisson Blue Hotel. With the theme “Promoting Green Economic Development,” the conference will be highlighted by talks from various environment and business experts such as Philippine Business for Environment Executive Director Bonar A. Laureto, GIZ ProGED Project Manager Dr. Volker Steigerwald, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Chief Operating Officer Dominica B. Chua, etc. (RMN/PIA Cebu)
494 declaring 2013 as National Year of the Rice and enjoining Filipinos to help attain the country’s rice sufficiency by 2013. The declaration of the National year of the Rice also spurred various campaign activities geared towards national rice sufficiency, which includes a nationwide “Panatang Makapalay” pledge. “Maglung-ag ako sa igo lamang mahurot, ug tinuon nga sakto ang pagkaluto niini (I will cook enough rice only to what I can consume, and ensure that it is cooked properly),” Chatto read from the translated oath, which Boholanos also recited. With this, local agriculture officials have high hopes of another golden harvest as Bohol has consistently increased its palay production volume since 2009. According to Assistant provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas, Bohol has breached the 3 metric tons per hectare of palay produce in 2012, a feat it attained despite a crippling drought that affected most farms in the region. Pamugas reported that since 2009, when Bohol pegged a 2.52 metric tons of palay in a hectare, the average yield has shown promising increases. “Agriculture authorities have relentlessly advocated for proper technologies, agricultural extension work and research for the eventual increase in productivity,” shared Engr. Eugene Cahiles of the Agricultural Promotion Center, in a separate interview. During the monthly activity at the Capitol, where agriculture officials bared OPA accomplishments, Pamugas showed that the average 2.52 metric tons of harvest in 2009 even increased to 2.55 in 2010. By 2011, the 2.52 metric tons per hectare average in 2009 has jumped to 2.97 metric tons two years later. Pamugas showed that in 2011, Bohol rice fields yielded an average of 2,970 kilos of palay, which translates to a 450 kilos more palay, enough for a hefty savings for the farmers family. Agriculture authorities, however, shared their worries by the middle of 2012, because a drought severely threatened large parts of the vast rice fields of central and northeastern Bohol. With the help of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management which funded the P2.5-M cloud seeding operations to induce rain, farms started to rejuvenate by August, enough to salvage what was left of the midyear cropping, Pamugas said. Other than an estimated impact of agriculture in P4,043,212 for the palay, excluding livestock, fisheries and high value commercial crops, Pamugas also noted that the operation was instrumental in the 3.08 metric tons of palay harvest per hectare average Bohol attained by the end of the year. (rmn/RAHC/PIA Bohol)
NEGROS ORIENTAL
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
Environment month focuses on diminishing food waste By Roi Lomotan
DUMAGUETE CITY(PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) addressed issues on food waste as one of the highlights in the celebration of Environment Month this June. Provincial Environment Officer (PENRO) Oscar Magallones explained the theme of this
year’s Environment Month, “Think.Eat.Save.” as an anti-food waste campaign. It emphasized that along with the large amount of wasted food, much of the natural resources go to waste also. According to Magallones, United Nation reports yield that about 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually and more than 20,000 children die of hunger.
The PENRO encouraged the public to consume only the right amount of food so that nothing will go to waste. “Saving our food, is a way of saving money and the environment,” Magallones noted. Asst. Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Edgardo Barredo on the other hand informed the public about making right food choices by promoting organically raised agricultural products. Barredo said that organic products offer more benefits to human health than conventionally raised foods. “Some studies (show) that organic fruits contain high amount of vitamin C and phytochemicals than conventionally raised fruits,” Barredo added. To further promote organic products, the Provincial Agriculture’s Office is developing organic fertilizers that can increase production of agricultural products. NegOrganic Agricultural Management Council information officer, Oliver Lemence said the council encourages farmers to divert from traditional farming to organic farming. He added that Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo is focused on strengthening organic agriculture. He bared that there are plans from the provincial government to set aside P10M for the promotion of organic farming/agriculture. “The call for the government is to empower farmers while protecting the environment,” Lemence said. Magallones, Barredo and Lemence were guest speakers in the recent Kapihan sa PIA forum here. (mbcn/RAL/PIA7-NEGOR)
(L-R) PIA Negros Oriental Infocen Manager Jennifer C. Tilos, NegOrganic Agricultural Management Council Information Officer Oliver Lemence and Dr. Edgardo Barredo, Assistant Provincial Health Officer in the recent Kapihan sa PIA forum in Dumaguete City. The three addressed food waste issues and emphasized that it has a direct effect on the environment. DENR celebrates June as Environment Month with the Kapihan sa PIA forum as one of its activities. (RL/PIANEGOR)
Education key to end child labor in NegOr By Roi Lomotan DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- Education is still the best way to combat child labor. This was emphasized during the celebration of 2013 World Day Against Child Labor, held June 12 at the Robinson’s Dumaguete. Education Specialist Nick Arcilla disclosed that most children don’t go to school because they chose to work to meet their families’ needs. “Our advocacy is to increase the enrollment and lessen the absences and dropping outs of children,” Arcilla said in Filipino. Arcilla was the keynote speaker of the event. In response, the Department of Education (DepEd) Negros Oriental said it has programs aimed to address the issue such as Alternative Learning System (ALS) that is common to all and the Alternative Delivery System (ADS) which sought to provide more inclusive approaches and wider strategies for better access to education. The International Labor Organization declared June 12 as the World Day Against Child Labor to give importance to the efforts of eradicating child labor. Chief Labor Officer of DOLE Negros Oriental, Rogen Cumba said “(Today) We celebrate our efforts against child labor. We are committed
in eradicating child labor in the province." Cumba also reported that in the province, most child laborers are involved in the sugarcane industry. The event was headed by the DOLE and was attended by other stakeholders including DepEd, Philippine National Police (PNP) Negros Oriental, various schools, Non-Government Organizations (NGO) and child delegates from Mabinay, Bayawan, Sta. Catalina, Tanjay, Manjuyod and Siaton towns in the province. Childfund Philippines, a NGO against child labor shared their programs that aimed at reducing working children in the sugarcane industry through education interventions and by engaging families into livelihood and skills training programs. The event also highlighted a ceremonial turnover of books from stakeholders to a child representative of Childfund Philippines. The turn-over marked the launching of “Libro mo, Edukasyon campaign” which aims to strengthen the access of educational materials for children to be more encouraged to go to school rather than go to work. Participating stakeholders of the campaign were the DepEd, PNP Negros Oriental and some schools in Dumaguete including Silliman University, Negros Oriental State University, Asian
College of Science and Technology, St. Paul’s University and the Colegio De Sta. Catalina De Alejandria. Each of them was given book drive boxes to encourage more people to donate books. Meanwhile, DepEd representative Carmelita Alcala challenged the beneficiaries of the campaign to take care of their books. “I would like to challenge the children to take of their books. That is their responsibility,” she added. (mbcn/ RAL/PIA7-NEGOR)
INFOBYTES
is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Region 7 with stories submitted by its Provincial Information Centers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
LET US KNOW! We welcome questions, clarifications and feedback: infobytes-editorial@gmail.com
INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS
SIQUIJOR
DOLE holds TAV Validation Activity and orientation on Batas Kasambahay, Wage Order No/ VII-17 SIQUIJOR, June 14 (PIA)--As an offshoot to the Technical Advisory Visit (TAV) orientation for small and micro enterprises (SMiEs) in the province of Siquijor conducted last year, the Department of Labor and Employment Siquijor Field Office (DOLESFO) held a TAV Validation recently at Larena Triad Coffee Shop, Larena, Siquijor. DOLE-SFO head Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco said the activity aims to monitor and document the status of improvements made by the enterprises as their commitment to voluntary compliance with General Labor Standards (GLS) including Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Tanquiamco added it will also conduct orientation on Wage Order No.17 and the salient features of R.A. 10361, “Act Instituting Policies for the Protection and Welfare of Domestic Workers otherwise known as 'Domestic Workers Act” or 'Batas Kasambahay'. The validation will thresh out issues and concerns encountered in the process of complying with the GLS and addressed them one by one. DOLE-7 regional director Chona Mantilla thanked business owners and managers who took time out of their busy day to participate in TAV validation activity, orientation on the salient features of the new minimum wage rate in Central Visayas and the Implementing Rules and Regulation of “Batas Kasambahay”. “Through awareness and dialogue with stakeholders, I am optimistic that voluntary compliance with General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health will eventually take place in all establishments in Siquijor,” Mantilla added. Salient feature on Implementing
Kasambahay Law Orientation in Siquijor: DOLE-7 Regional Director Chona M. Mantilla thanks business owners and managers who took the time to participate in a TAV validation activity, orientation on the salient features of the new minimum wage rate in Central Visayas and the Implementing Rules and Regulation of “Batas Kasambahay” at the Larena Triad Café, Larena, Siquijor. (PIA/DOLE-Siquijor) Rules and Regulations of R.A. 10361 was discussed by Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco and Wage Order No. VII-17 was expounded by Nole Torres. “Siquijor Chamber, whose goal is to further the interests of the businesses, advocates on coordinating and supporting National Agencies for training and seminars to MSMEs about government regulations and programs,” SMEDC Chairman and Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (SCCII) Vice President Engr. Deleto Cuevas said.
He said business sector plays a pivotal role in shaping the labor legislation in our country. “Therefore, it is imperative that we should always be in constant dialog with government agencies and other stakeholders to ensure growth and sustainability of our enterprises,” Cuevas urged. A total of 90 owners/managers of establishments attended the activity, which was done in coordination with the SCCII. (mbcn/RAC/PIA7-Siquijor & Nole Torres/ DOLE-Siquijor)
Kasambahay Law Orientation in Siquijor: DOLE-Siquijor Field Office Head Ma. Theresa D. Tanquiamco (standing, w/ mic) discussing the salient features on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 10361 or Kasambahay Law. Photo below shows the participants during the opening prayer. (PIA/DOLE-Siquijor)