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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 29 | SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

TOPSTORIES

CEBU

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) – 7 Regional Director Minda Morante (left) welcomes the participants from the various national government agencies (NGA’s) and local government units (LGU’s) during the opening ceremony of the 3-day Incident Command System (ICS) Training Course on September 11, 2012 held at the Montebello Hotel, Cebu City.(PIA-7/HFG)

'AlkanSSSya' program to benefit informal sector

By Amorganda A. Saludar

CEBU CITY, Sept 17 (PIA) -- The Social Security System (SSS) extended their services to cover the informal sector such as public drivers of jeepneys, trisikads (tricycle), and habal-habal (motorcycle) as well as market vendors in their microsavings program dubbed "AlkanSSSya."

Workers in the informal sector are

encouraged to register in the program and be active SSS members so they could enjoy the benefits provided by the SSS.

AlkanSSSya is a micro-savings program that offers convenient remittance of contributions and guarantees members access to affordable social protection.

At present, the program already catered to 34 participating organizations representing 18,600 workers in the National

DENR-7 spearheads coastal clean-up drive in Cebu

By Amorganda A. Saludar

CEBU CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- In commemoration of International Clean-up Day, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in cooperation with the Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance -7 spearheaded a coastal clean-up drive last September 15 in the coastal areas of the Municipality of Liloan in northern Cebu.

With this year’s theme “Bayanihan Para sa Karagatan,“ the coastal cleanup activity was conducted in five coastal barangays namely Cotcot, Jubay, Poblacion, and Catarman that covers 6.5 kilometer of coastline.

The coastal clean–up activity were able to gather together the DENR-7 employees, representatives from other

government agencies, local government units, private sector, academe and other stakeholders.

At least five to 10 representatives from the participating entities were asked to join in the campaign to have a sustainable safe and clean coastal areas and seas.

The purpose of the said activity was geared towards giving emphasis and importance as well as instilling awareness of the value and importance of having sustainable, clean and safe coastal areas and seas for future generations.

Presidential Proclamation No. issued on 2003 directed the need to promote the significance of International Cleanup day annually every thrid Saturday of September.(FCR/AYS/PIA-7, CEBU)

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Capital Region and Luzon.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros clarified that the responding organizations are comprised of tricycle drivers and operators association as these are the target sectors of the program along with transport operators, workers in the direct selling industry and market vendors.

The AlkanSSSya program of the SSS requires a 1.5 tall metal safety boxes with secure mini-compartments placed in accessible locations where savings of the members are stored. By the end of the month, this will be accounted and picked up by an SSS collecting personnel.

One AlkanSSSya unit is assigned to every member who can drop any amount they are capable of daily until they can completely acquire the required monthly contribution.

Members are mandated to save at least P312 every month for them to be able to meet the salary credit of P3,000 monthly.

“We specifically designed the AlkanSSSya program to fit their way of life and to make saving for monthly SSS premium as affordable as only as P10 a day,” de Quiros said.

“Providing social security protection to those in the informal sector is important to SSS. We have designated lanes in SSS branches for AlkanSSSya participants and coordinate with their officers to address their concerns regarding SSS coverage and benefits,” he concluded. (FCR/AYS-PIA7

NEGROS ORIENTAL

INFOBYTES TOPSTORIES

NegOr plants trees for Peace Month

By Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept 14 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Negros Oriental in cooperation with multisectoral groups are planting trees and holding other peace-oriented events to highlight the month-long National Peace Consciousness celebration this September.

Over 400 police, military personnel, schools, government agencies and nongovernment organizations will plant more than a thousand trees on September 15 at Barangay Cambaloctot in San Jose town.

On the same day, the Philippine National Police will lead the "Bike for Peace" with several groups of bikers in the province. The bikers will start in Canlaon City, the last southern part of the Negros Oriental, and end in the middle part of the province, Dumaguete City.

The Negros Oriental Sports Development Program is also set to hold a "Marathon for Peace" on September 22 with hundreds of runners and students in Dumaguete City participating.

Dumaguete-based artist Kitty Taniguchi has organized an "Arts for Peace" for nine schools participating on Sept. 22 at Robinsons’ Main Atrium.

A "Peace Forum" will also be conducted for students of four universities in Dumaguete City on Sept 26 at 9 a.m. at the Provincial Convention Center and in Guihulngan City. These universities are Foundation, Siliman, St. Paul and NegOr State University.

Preparations for a candlelighting ceremony for peace, to end the Peace Month celebration on Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. at the Freedom Park right after a city parade for peace, are underway.

Presidential Proclamation no. 675 declared September as "Month of Peace." This year’s observance theme is "Ako. Ikaw.

Tayo. Magkakaiba, Nagkakaisa Tungo sa Kapayapaan."

The activities lined up for the month are in cooperation with the Oriental Negros Children Advocacy Network, Bayanihan (L-R): Provincial Tourism Officer Myla Mae Bromo-Abellana, Buglasan 2012 Co-Director Dr. Nichol Para sa Kabataan, People Power Elman, and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo discuss the activities for this year's Buglasan Volunteers for Reform, NOSDEP, Festival of Festivals which will be held from Oct. 12-21. The provincial government is targeting PNP, Philippine Army, among around P7.1 M as the collective budget for this year's festival sourced from the province's annual others. (mbcn/JCT/PIA 7-Negros budget and income from sponsors. (LJD/PIA NegOr) Oriental)

Food company receives financial support from DOST

By Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-NegOr turned over a check worth P850,000 funding assistance to Sans Rival Food Corporation for the technology upgrading machineries to its sans rival and silvanas production.

Sans Rival, a prominent confectionery firm, is the leading and pioneering cake and pastry enterprise in Dumaguete City.

A silvana is a delectable sweet frozen delicacy made of a pair of round crusts with butter filling in between coated with cookie crumbs and is a favorite "pasalubong" among tourists that visit Dumaguete City.

DOST Assistant Provincial Director Roslyn Tambago said the Small Enterprise

Technology Upgrading Program (Setup) innovation system support fund provides Sans Rival the equipment on compact tabletop depositor, product cylinder, handheld nozzle and a handheld flocker to upgrade and enhance fast and efficient production of silvanas and sans rival, two of the company’s best and main product lines.

The DOST also provided a tabletop depositor with frame base, work table, foot pedal, six-gallon conical hopper and 1.75” product cylinder. All these machineries will be installed in the new Sans Rival commissary situated in Bagacay, Dumaguete City, said Tambago.

Tambago said this upgrading provided by Setup will generate more revenues with the newly increased production capacity and reciprocate better

overall product output as well.

The science and technology agency helps small and medium enterprises by funding machineries and equipment under a lease-to-own scheme to be fully paid in three years with no interest.

The financial support from DOST will play an integral role to the firm’s steadfast endeavor of establishing itself as the hub for excellence in producing quality cakes and pastries to be sold at a fair and reasonable price, Tambago added. (mbcn/ JCT/PIA 7-Negros Oriental)

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BOHOL

INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS

Experts cite role of policy research in dev't

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

TA G B I L A R A N C I T Y, B o h o l , September 11 (PIA) -- A research advocate wants to know whether the growing number of theft and robbery cases in Bohol are done by people forced to commit crimes because of poverty or by criminal groups.

At the recent Kapihan sa PIA commemorating Development Policy Research Month in September, Bohol Center for Development Studies (BCDS) Chief

Romeo Teruel cited the role of development policy research to dispel the notion that development policy research wastes local government time and resources.

BCDS is the research arm of the Provincial Government of Bohol and has largely played key role in backing with scientific data Bohol’s development plans in the past years.

A development policy research on the profile of criminals facing suits against

Police has gone proactive against crimes as Crime Prevention Month, which rolls in this week, is ushered in by broad daylight robberies in Bohol. Here SPO1 Jennifer Atanacio shows the police hotline numbers as PInspector Jeffrey Caballes (inset) enumerates ways on how police have attempted to cover its huge manpower deficit with tactical patrols. (PIA7 Bohol)

these crimes would be telling, Teruel said.

If indeed it is extreme poverty that pushed these criminals here to commit crimes, then we can recommend to the government the proper interventions, Teruel added.

Holy Name University Center for Local Governance’s (HNU-CLG) Josefina Tortor-Cimene has earlier congratulated Bohol for initiating the move to establish the BCDS and leading by manifesting the necessity of [policy] research.

Cimene also pointed out the recent springing up of consciousness on the need of worthy data gathering, participative processes and consultative activities as methods of getting information, thus researching.

HNU Research Center’s Maria Paz Espiritu, on the other hand rebutted common myths that research makes things costly.

She explained that by research instead of readily venturing out to start projects that end up not viable, a well founded research can save local governments the troubles.

I personally admire [these] people who go to research before venturing out into projects, which is indeed costly but in the end, saves them time and resources, Espiritu quipped.

On the other hand, Bohol island State University’s Dr. Anacleta Perez pointed out the local culture of superstition has made research somewhat unpopular among Boholanos.

“We are behind because of a cuture that we follow, which can be contrary to research,” Dr. Perez said. She however welcomed initiatives of research initiatives of schools. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)

Globetrotting journalist says niche tourism ideal for Bohol

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

TA G B I L A R A N C I T Y, B o h o l , September 11 (PIA) –For Bohol tourism to be truly sustainable, the government has to make a choice: dive into mass tourism and put everything at stake or go the path less traveled in niche tourism destination and bank on sure-fire lessened human impact to the environment.

These are the statements of a world renowned author, travel journalist and mining expert, globetrotter and professor of the Istanbul Technical University, Dr. Orhan Kural, upon seeing Bohol’s immense potential as a choice destination.

Kural said niche tourism would make Bohol cater only to few but more environment and culture conscious learning tourists than plain sightseeing visitors.

The professor has suggested ways to make Bohol an environmentally sustainable tourism destination in a meeting with Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto at the Mansion.

“Keep Bohol as it is, go slow on development that impacts on the environment and maintain the rustic feel that Bohol offers,” Kural said.

He added that the roads are adorable but niche tourists are not much interested in the roads that push cars to speeds and make tourists miss the sights they really want to see.

“Tourists come to sight-see, let them have that,” Kural, who is also a respected author of mining books, remarked.

Himself one of the world’s most traveled writer, with more than 400 travel articles printed in world’s newspapers, Dr. Kural is by no means stranger to world tourism trends.

Seeing the way tourists have known and flocked to Bohol, Dr. Kural and his 16 other Turkish companions agreed that with so much that Bohol offers, these too may not last long.

He said the more people come, the more they impact on the environment. Ironically tourists want to come to an environment that has been preserved with less negative impact.

Dr. Kural said Turkey learned this when its southern beaches facing the Mediterranean became the playground for Europeans.

Likening it to Bohol he said, the tourist areas are cheap so that many tourists come. When they leave, everything is dirty and garbage is everywhere, Dr. Kural shared.

Appointed as Turkish ambassador to Benin and a self-confessed admirer of the vast African continent, Dr. Kural said some African nations now know they can go niche tourism and earn the same.

The Istanbul-based professor and chairman for the Turkish Travel Club said it would also be good for Bohol, to rid of plastics and cellophanes, which tourists could bring in to protected areas.

Plastics take decades or even hundreds of years to decompose, leaving litter literally everywhere while marine animals mistake them for food and choke in the process. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)

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.

INFOBYTES COMMUNITYNEWS

SIQUIJOR

Trade, Agro, Food Fair opens Sept 13

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Sept 13 (PIA) -Siquijor province opens the five-day Trade, Agro and Food Fair today to highlight its 41st anniversary as a province.

The event showcases the province’s industries, resources and craftsmanship.

Products in focus are home

furnishings such as furniture, novelty items, gifts and housewares, woodcraft, quilted textile items and paintings; processed food such as peanut products, banana chips, processed meat, dairy products and bakery products; and ornamental plants, agricultural products, and food fiesta.

The activity runs from September 13 to 17 and is spearheaded by the

Provincial Government in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and the Siquijor Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants Association (Shorretas).

Opening ceremonies is held at 3 p.m. at the Provincial Capaitol Grounds, Pulangyuta, Siquijor, Siquijor. (RMN/RACPIA7 Siquijor)

Some of the local products of Siquijor displayed at the Siquijor Capitol grounds during the Agro-Trade Fair on September 13 to 17 in celebration of the 41st Araw ng Siquijor charter anniversary. (PIA-Siquijor with Exploring Siquijor’s photos)

Province celebrates 41st anniversary today

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Sept 19 (PIA) -- The province's celebration of "41st Araw ng Siquijor" anniversary today is opened with Concelebrated Mass at the Capitol Mini Park at 7:30 a.m. this morning, followed by a parade.

Thanksgiving, awards and recognition program folowed after the parade Rep. Lanie Mercado as the keynote speaker.

At 2 p.m., is a Comparza Competition and Solili Competition and at 4 p.m. is the

Festival of Festivals Showdown, all of which takes place at the Capitol Mini Park.

Sports opening activities was held on September 5 at Enrique Villanueva town.

On September 13, is the opening of Trade, Agro and Food Fair at the Capitol grounds at 3 p.m. and on September 14 is the Batid Siquijodnon, Talent Search at the Capitol Mini Park.

On September 15 at 8 a.m. is the pumpboat racing and beach volleyball competition will be held at Salagdoong beach

resort, swimming competition at San Juan swimming pool and the Bakbakan sa Siquijor Day (Boxing) at the Capitol Mini Park at 8 p.m.

Cycling competition is on September 16 at 7 a.m. with the starting Point at Capitol, Siquijor while Miss Siquijor Tourism Night will be held at Capitol Mini Park at 8 p.m.

Live band every night, from September 13 and 17 graced the whole occasion.

And a fireworks display caps the whole celebration on September 17. (RMN/ RAC-PIA7 Siquijor)