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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 35| November 14, 2012
TOPSTORIES
DOE asks LGUs to help curb illegal acts in petrol industry By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov 11 (PIA) --The Department of Energy (DOE) in the Visayas urged local government units (LGUs) of Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces to regularly calibrate and seal the pumps of gasoline stations to protect consumers from illegal fuel price hikes. DOE-Visayas Senior Science Research Specialist, Engr. Octavio Belarmino said the LGUs are the primary agency mandated to calibrate every dispensing pumps in 60 days. Belarmino shared this during the campaign- briefing on the Downstream Oil Industry (DOI) on November 7 in Dumaguete City. Belarmino explained that for technical reasons, the LGUs are reluctant and incapable to calibrate, but they can ask an authorized calibrator or the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to do the calibration. The calibration process, according to Belarmino requires an LGU to have a calibration bucket which can be obtained from a duly licensed company recognized by DOE and a leaded seal normally being placed on weight and measures that can be placed in the pumps after calibration. The DOE also calls on the LGUs to help implement government’s rules and regulations in the retailing of liquid petroleum products (LPP) to ensure the safety and promote fair trade practices in the fuel industry. Belarmino said the common practices that are punishable under the LPP retail regulations are illegal trading, hoarding, and use of pumps with broken seal, or uncalibrated and unsealed pumps. It is required for the LPP dealers to secure certificates on fire safety from Bureau of Fire, DENR’s environmental compliance, and DOE’s compliance certificate, Belarmino informed the participants of the briefing. DOE may recommend to local government the suspension and revocation of business permits of retailers found violating the LPP regulations. Energy Industry Management Division supervisor Jose Rey Maleza told the local treasurers and business licensing officers of various LGUs to encourage the legislative and executive bodies to pass a local ordinance as part of its revenue code requiring the collection of calibration fees. Maleza said calibration fees could be a source of revenue for LGUs as several gasoline stations are sprouting. To stop the proliferation of unsafe practices, Maleza also called on the LGUs to monitor and inspect illegal operation of roadside stores selling gasoline and diesel in bottles. (mbcn/JCT-PIA 7, Negros Oriental)
Department of Energy (DOE) Visayas, Energy Industry Management Division Chief Saul Gonzales briefed the local government units of Negros Oriental and Siquijor on the role of LGUs in the Downstream Oil Industry on November 7, 2012 in Dumaguete City. (PIA-NegOr)
Report any land title fixing - DENR 7 By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU, Nov 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) urged the public to report immediately any abuses or illegal transactions committed by its personnel particularly on land titling fixing. Under Republic Act 10023, or the New Free Patent Act, DENR-7 will process a patent title application to any Filipino citizen who is an actual applicant of a residential land. We do not close our eyes when we receive reports that our personnel are soliciting a certain amount outside of the required or legal fees in favor to facilitate the processing and issuance of land titles, clarified DENR 7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo. Montejo said land applicants need only pay a minimal amount of P50 for each application for free patent, residential patent and all other land applications after all mandatory requirements have been complied with. “They can call the office of the Regional Executive Director at 346 0661 or the regional public affairs office at 345 3959 or file a letter complaint to us if they want to report something so that we can initiate the investigation,” Montejo said. “I have been instructing our provincial and community environment and natural
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resources officers in region 7 to keep a close watch and be very vigilant and sensitive on this issue,” he added. When asked how serious the DENR is looking into this, Montejo replied, “Our legal division is tasked to take on the job and we don’t hesitate to crack the whip and file the necessary administrative charges on erring employees.” Residential lands are lands that have been identified and zoned as residential through the appropriate ordinance by a local government unit (LGU) having jurisdiction over the area. A free patent on residential land covers untitled residential lands in public alienable and disposable lands that are zoned by local government units as residential areas, including townsites, public schools, municipal halls, public plazas or parks, delisted and abandoned military camps or reservations. Any Filipino citizen who is an actual occupant of a residential land for at least 10 years may apply for a free patent title. “This law directs our Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (Cenro) to process the application within 120 days to include compliance with the required notices and other legal requirements,” Montejo said. He added that within 125 days, the free patent will be issued or returned as the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (Penro) has five days to approve or disapprove the patent.(mbcn/HFGPIA 7/DENR-7)
CEBU
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Cebu to adopt tourism economy on mango, high value crops By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -- The Philippine Mango Industry Foundation Inc. (PMIFI) proposes infrastructure innovation to help the mango growers in the province and to boost the mango
industry and other crop production in Cebu. The plan is to put up tramline in areas where mango and high value crops production are abundant, PMIFI President Virgie de la Fuente said during
Hundreds of unregistered voters in Dumaguete City still catching up the last minute deadline for election registration on October 31, 2012 at Quezon Park. (PIA Neg. Or.)
NEGROS ORIENTAL
Negros Oriental may allocate more than P10M for 2013 Palarong Pambansa By Jennifer C. Tilos DUMAGUETE CITY, (PIA) -- As host for the February 2013 Palarong Pambansa, Negros Oriental government may shell out more than P10 million for the improvement of the facilities in the game venues and billeting quarters. Provincial Treasurer Danilo Mendez said that in preparation for the national games, the province is estimated to spend between P10 million to P15 million for the repair of infrastructure, billeting areas for the athletes, provision of water supply and improvement of sanitary toilets, among others. Negros Oriental won against Negros Occidental in the bidding to host next year’s Palaro. Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Salustiano Jimenez of the Department of Education (DepEd) said the event is expected to bring in more
than 15,000 athlete-delegates and guests including some parents of the players from the 17 regions in the country. Dr. Jimenez said the influx of participants, national and local tourists will pump-prime the local economy and tourism industry. More than 10 events will be held in about a hundred games with divisions for boys and girls in the elementary and high schools levels, said Jimenez. The school superintendent said the province offered its playing venues within 12 kilometer radius or will be contained in Metro Dumaguete areas. The provincial government officials together with the DepEd convened immediately to identify the needs, plan out different committees and tackle expected difficulties attendant to the hosting of the said sports event. (rmn/JCT-PIA Negros Oriental)
the Kapihan sa PIA. De la Fuente said a tramline will cross areas where the plantation of mango and other crops are located and it is also intended for loading people and products. This will boost the tourism economy in the mountain areas where tramlines are established. Through the tramlines, "We will bring buyers, specifically tourist buyers to the plantation areas of mango and other crops that are mostly seen in the market and malls,” de la Fuente added. By this the tourist will experience the beauty of the farms and plantation here in Cebu, they will also have an opportunity to see how mangoes and other native crops are produced, maintained, and harvested, she said. De la Fuente then said that the main goal of using this tramline in the farms and other crop plantation areas is to attract tourists because they are usually delighted to visit farms and ride in a tramline. This will also serve as an adventure for the tourist-friends because they are given the chance to tour farms and plantations. We will let them experience harvesting crops on their own if they want, De la Fuente further added. She pledged to implement this measure as soon as the PMFI acquires the budget and personnel to handle the facility since they already spotted the upland barangays of Cebu City where these tramlines are to be established. These will include Barangay Busay and other neighboring barangays, De la Fuente said. Department of Agriculture (DA-7), Regional High Value Crops Development Program Coordinator Nenita Seno also committed to support fully any measures to boost the status of mango and other high value crops not only in the province of Cebu but also in the entire region. “As of now we are making roadmaps and program interventions target to benefit the small beneficiaries,” Seno concluded. (mbcn/AYS-PIA7 Cebu)
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Central Visayas exceeds its 2012 NGP target by 7% By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -- Central Visayas exceeded its mark in seedling production under the national greening program (NGP) by seven percent or equivalent to 6,087,255 seedlings produced against its target of 5,693,770 this year. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) Executive Director Isabelo Montejo revealed that they were able to meet their objective ahead of schedule and even surpassing
it. Montejo also said that almost 111 nurseries are operating and functional in the region. The province of Cebu has produced a total of 1,720,226 seedlings or 89 percent of its target of 2,009,100 while Bohol with 1,053,785 seedlings or 102 percent of its aim of 1,034,721. Negros Oriental also exceeded its seedling production to 3,115,931 seedlings or 128 percent of its target at 2,440,359 and Siquijor with 197,313
Cebu veteran broadcast journalist Leo Lastimosa talks on Building Effective Relationship between Public and Private Media on the 2nd day of the 20th RADIO-7 Convention in Bohol.
seedlings or 94 percent of its target at 209,600. Based on the consolidated report as of October 30 this year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) grew 504,655 seedlings or 81 percent of its goal of 624,500 and the DENR produced 6,087,255 available seedlings now. Targeted at greening some 1.5 million hectares of degraded forest lands, NGP will focus essentially at developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign. It is expected to also rejuvenate rural economies in parts of the nation’s most chronically poor areas in the uplands, ultimately providing livelihood opportunities for six million families in the upland areas across the country within six years, from 2011 to 2016. “NGP also seeks to improve water quality in rivers and irrigation for farm lands, reduce the potential for flooding, soak up carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and lay the foundation for an expanded wood-products economy,” Montejo said. President Aquino issued EO 26 on February 24, 2011 establishing the NGP not only to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land but also to promote a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the deleterious effects of climate change. One of the commitments of the DENR, DA and Department of Agrarian Reform in implementing the NGP is the establishment of nurseries and seedling production nationwide. “We have been very happy that more well-meaning organizations or institutions are partnering with us in terms of seedling production to allow adequate supply of several tree species to be planted in the coming months,” Montejo said. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/DNR-7)
Gov't, SUC to reforest denuded areas By Hazel F. Gloria CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Cebu Normal University – Main Campus (CNU-MC) and the local government unit of Barangay Gaas, Balamban Cebu for the establishment of a five-hectare forest plantations within the identified planting sites in these barangays in support to the national greening program (NGP). DENR supports the noble endeavor of CNU and Barangay Gaas to reforest some of the denuded areas for the conservation, development, and sustainable use of the country’s environment and natural resources, DENR-7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said. Under the MOA, the DENR agrees
to initially provide 2,500 forest and fruit tree seedlings to be planted in Barangay Gaas and provide technical assistance on tree planting and maintenance activities; periodic monitoring and evaluation in coordination with the partner agencies. The CNU on the other hand, will provide manpower and other material inputs in the establishment of a nursery and to produce the seedlings required in its tree planting and maintenance activities to ascertain their survival. This five-hectare forest plantations will be completed within two years establishing 2.5 hectares annually with the intention of growing more than 8,000 seedlings, Montejo said. “This project again marks the strong partnership and collaboration of the DENR with the academe and local
government units in pursuing sustainable environmental programs not only in the province but in the whole Central Visayas,” he added. The MOA signing was held on November 9 at the CNU with RED Montejo, CNU President Marcelo Lopez and Gaas Barangay Captain Willian Genel. Witnessing the event were Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer - Cebu Richard Abella and CNU’s College of Arts and Sciences Dean Floriza Laplap. (mbcn/HFGPIA7/DENR7)
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.
SIQUIJOR
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Coconut authority distributes salt fertilizers to Siquijor coco farmers By Rizalie A. Calibo
SIQUIJOR, Nov 11 (PIA) --The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)Siquijor distributed 6,207 bags of salt fertilizers to 2,909 coconut farmers which would increase their production and
income, and therefore, encourage them to plant more. PCA encourages coconut farmers to raise quality coconut seedlings and get paid P14/seedling; and another P16/ seedling when these are planted and grown said Ma. Glemma Gallardo, PCA-
CSC holds Anti-Red Tape Act seminar By Rizalie A. Calibo SIQUIJOR, Nov 11 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC)-Siquijor Field Office will conduct a two-day seminar/workshop on frontline services management on November 14-15 at the CSC-Siquijor Conference Hall to enhance the quality of customer service in all government agencies. Included in the training package are Operational Procedures and Requirements on managing frontline services and a public assistance counter; the “mamamayan muna (people first)” program and its reportorial requirements; and the frontline service requirements under the anti-red tape act of 2007. It also includes workshop on effective speaking and listening skills; the key to prompt, adequate, and courteous government service; entertaining visitors; telephone manners; building positive self-image; the different personality styles and type of clients to better understand the costumers, and handling problem clients and common complaints. Some of the best practices in enduring customer relations will also be presented during the training. Nomination form is now available at the Siquijor Field Office at the second floor, Old Capitol Building at North Poblacion, Larena, Siquijor. For further inquiries and details, CSC is available from Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (mbcn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor/CSC-Siquijor)
Siquijor information officer in a press statement. Gallardo added this is under the agency's ongoing participatory coconut planting programs (PCPP). At present, PCA-Siquijor is implementing the Kasaganaan sa Niyugan ay Kaunlaran ng Bayan (Kaanib) p r o j e c t a t Camplamanas, Lazi, Siquijor. Under the project, a group of coco farmers are gathered to establish and maintain a nursery and to take care of the coconut seedlings that the PCA offers to pay at P14/seedling to augment the farmers’ income. Positive responses are so far seen, she said and hopes that Kaanib will be fully implemented before the year ends. Records from the PCA say that Siquijor has The candidates of Miss Dumaguete 6,808 hectares 2012 meets the members of the of coconut farms, Dumaguete press for a Q&A on 6,401.2 hectares Nov. 10, 2012 at Robinson's Place, of which are owner Dumaguete City. During the presscon, operated and 406.8 the contestants were quizzed on their are tenanted. respective advocacies on various (mbcn/RACissues such as environment, child PIA 7, Siquijor/ labor, education, and malnutrition.
Local college supports organic farming in Siquijor By Rizalie A. Calibo
SIQUIJOR, Nov 12 (PIA) -- The Siquijor State College (SSC) expressed its support to the province’s advocacy on organic farming. The school, with its 400 students in an information caravan held at the SSC, declared their proactive response to organic farming in the island, said SSC Vice President for Extension and Research Steven Sumaylo. As an institution of higher learning, SSC is mandated and expected to be actively involved in extension programs that embraces the concept of people empowerment and human resource development, said Sumaylo. This mandate hopefully can boost the mobilization of knowledge and technology towards productivity enhancement, employment alleviation, and poverty reduction, Sumaylo said in his opening remarks. He said the SSC continuously conducts research and extension programs that emphasize science and technology interventions and its contribution to the country’s development agenda. Sumaylo assures that the SSC administration and its students will give its support to the undertaking of the provincial organic agriculture board and its technical working committee in toiling the minds through instruction and information dissemination. He said that SSC has revised its vision and mission towards becoming an effective agent of change in making Siquijor province and its nearby areas progressive and prosperous. He believed that through this, SSC and its students, as well as their parents will become organic farming advocates if not, organic farmers themselves. (mbcn/RAC-PIA7, Siquijor)