February 28, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 49 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 February 28, 2014

T he shorel ines f ront ing the Balyuan Amphitheater was

a panorama to behold y in the morning of Februar y 27 with some 500 boats painted with blue and yel low with the word Ahon pr inted in the hul ls , neat ly l ined up. More than 500 f ishermen, some c lad in yel low uni form, were seen jok ing and te l l ing stor ies. Ever yone appeared happy despite the scorching heat of the morning sun. R ight ly so, because that ver y morning, they received of f ic ia l ly the f ishing boats which they themselves repaired and more so, they a lso received brand new motor engines to replace the ones destroyed by t yphoon Yolanda. They a lso received f ishing gears and P1,500 each as cash for work pay in repair ing their own boats which they can use to buy fuel for their motor ized banca. BFAR Nat ional Direc tor As is Perez introduced Agr iculture Secretar y Proceso

DA-BFAR, donors distribute 500 fishingboats, 119 motor engines, cash for work to Yolanda-hit fishermen in Leyte-Samar

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination

with the local government unit of Tacloban City is set to launch the Leyte Gulf Rehabilitation Project (Mangrove/Beach Forest Planting) on February 28, 2014 at barangay 69, Anibong, Tacloban City. DENR Regional Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said the coastal-mangrove stands along Leyte Gulf were among the badly damaged structures by Super Typhoon Yolanda. RED Sibbaluca underscored the importance of bringing back the mangrove stands, and the crucial role continued on page 5

continued on page 7

these mangrove play in protecting the coastline, preventing coastal erosion and serving as buffer for tidal currents and storm driven waves. Participating in the Launching Program and the subsequent mangrove planting activity are employees of the Eastern Visayas DENR Regional Office, its field offices in PENRO Leyte, CENRO Palo and CENRO Sta. Rita, together with the City of Tacloban and the barangay local government unit and residents of Barangay 69, Anibong. The fast recovery of the damage on coastal-mangrove stands of Leyte

Planting of 5,000 trees jumpstarts DENR-LGU Tacloban’s Leyte Gulf Rehabilitation Project

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez talks with UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos inside the Catholic Relief Service model house on the ongoing rehabilitation and recovery efforts of the city during the UN Humanitarian chief visit at the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban on Wednesday who also had a conversation with the evacuees at the Baby Friendly Tent Area. (Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

2 February 28, 2014

PhilHealth reiterates that it allows availment of benefits even of non member in Yolanda-hit areas

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently

reiterated that it allows the availment of PhilHealth benefits of Eastern Visayas residents including inactive PhilHealth members and non-members. PhilHealth 8 Regional Vice President Walter Bacareza said this privilege also extends to their qualified dependents. This policy took effect retroactively from the declaration of the state of calamity. “PhilHealth has always been responsive to the people’s needs, thus, we really pursued for this policy to help the people of Eastern Visayas who have been reeling from the damage wrought by Yolanda,” Bacareza said. “We want to make sure that everybody is informed of this policy so that those who need medical attention will not hesitate in going to the health facilities,” Bacareza added. In retrospect, it has been more than a hundred days since Yolanda wreaked havoc to the islands of Leyte and Samar. More than 6,000 people

died and almost two thousand were missing. Damages to properties and agriculture amounted to billions of pesos. Thousands were left homeless and without sources of income. Many are in need of health care. Currently, there are 600,000 indigents whose PhilHealth membership were not yet renewed by their sponsors, around 129,000 inactive self-employed and OFW members and 400,000 non-members who will benefit from this policy. To avail of the benefits, all the patient has to do is fill out a PhilHealth Member Registration Form (PMRF) and submit it to the hospital before discharge. Confinements in hospitals located outside Eastern Visayas, or those institutions not affected by Typhoon Yolanda are also covered as long as there is a certification from either of the following: PhilHealth Cares assigned in the hospital, PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office or the authorized representative of the

PhilHealth Regional Office. Deliveries beyond the 4th normal delivery can also be paid if done in a maternity care facility or in a hospital. “This is a good move on the part of PhilHealth, as we are assured of continued PhilHealth benefits even if our membership has not been renewed by our sponsor. Even if I opted to become a self-employed member, as of the moment, I don’t know where to get the money for the PhilHealth premiums as everything is allocated for food and repairs of our damaged house,” said Eduardo Lledo, a PWD whose PhilHealth membership under the sponsored program expired last December 31, 2013. “This is a big help to the people of Eastern Visayas, especially now that infectious and mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya are on the rise!” Jimmy Angayangay, a practicing media personality in Tacloban City added. (PIA8)

PIA-8 employees led by Dir. Erlinda Olivia Tiu (center) together with the Tacloban media practitioners pose with the Republic of Korea-Araw Contingent led by Commander Chulwon Lee at the base camp, Government Center in Candahug, Palo, Leyte, February 27 before the presentation of the Korean team's accomplishments and activities in Leyte and a media interaction. (Raul Tiozon, Jr./PIA-8)

February 28, 2014 3Chilean Embassy and EDC lift Leyteños spiritsC hilean Ambassador to the

Philippines Roberto R. Mayorga recently visited the Leyte Schools for Excellence (SFE) in Tongonan, Ormoc City and Kananga Municipality to donate 4000 books to be distributed to the 18 partner schools of Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in the province. The Chilean delegation also included dentists who conducted a 3-day dental mission for the SFE pupils, and the Ambassador ’s son, Roberto Mayorga, Jr. , who came to form youth soccer teams in the area. Mrs. Paulina Mayorga, wife of Amb. Mayorga, also helped in distributing the books. The SFE is one of the corporate social responsibil ity (CSR) projects of EDC in Leyte. I t was established to improve the access of children to basic educational facil it ies and supplies; to increase the number of students finishing elementary education with improved educational standards; to enhance the capability of public school teachers to effectively deliver educational programs; and to strengthen parents/community involvement. Aside from the SFE, EDC is supporting 18 other schools in Tongonan, Ormoc City and Kananga. In his message, Amb. Mayorga spoke of how grateful he was to have an opportunity to give back to the Philippines by reaching out to the youth in EDC’s host communities in Leyte after Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines last year. EDC and the Chilean government, through its Embassy in Manila, have previously worked together to promote Chilean culture and art in the Philippines. EDC has also been granted geothermal exploration concessions in Chile. Amb. Mayorga said the government of Chile chose programs that would benefit the

youth because based on their experience with disasters in their home country, the needs of children tend to be neglected as people focus on infrastructure reconstruction and providing basic needs such as food and water. While those were important, he said that we must not neglect the need of a child to feel secure – which can be achieved in part by strengthening their school environment, meeting their physical needs, and by allowing them to play and have healthy interactions with their peers. By partnering with EDC, Chile is able to reach out to communities in Leyte that have received less attention from international aid agencies than Tacloban City and its surrounding areas, which suffered the greatest casualties. Information provided by EDC’s Community Partnerships Department in Leyte enabled them to identify the needs of their target beneficiaries and match them with the Embassy ’s capabilities. The 4000 donated schoolbooks cover a variety of subjects for elementary school students and follow global education standards. They will be distributed to 18 EDC partner schools in Kananga and Ormoc. Meanwhile, the two dentists, Dr. Ignacio Rippes Silva and Dr. Natalia Vodopic, conducted a 3-day dental mission, treating cavities of 150 students and educating them on dental health care. Teachers at the two Schools for Excellence expressed their gratitude to the dentists, explaining that most of the students would not have had access to a dentist without the dental mission. Moreover, Roberto Mayorga, Jr. met with school principals in the area to discuss the formation of youth soccer teams. He also met with members of the Ormoc soccer

club to recruit volunteers who could train the children. Mayorga hopes that they can find children who can be developed into future soccer stars of the country. Amb. Mayorga said, “Sports bring intangible benefits to children. I t teaches them discipline and teamwork, promotes healthy competition, and being able to play allows them to just enjoy and be happy.” EDC assisted the Chilean mission to Leyte by providing logistical and networking support. Manny Paete, Vice President of EDC’s Leyte Geothermal Production Field, said, “ When typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines and devastated much of Leyte, including our EDC host communities, many countries jumped to our aid, among them Chile, led by His Excellency, Ambassador Roberto L. Mayorga.” In the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda onslaught in Eastern Visayas, including EDC’s host communities in Leyte, the company has been engaged in extensive relief and reconstruction efforts for both employees and community residents. (PIA 8)

4 February 28, 2014

In fulfillment of the announcement made by US Secretary of State

John Kerry during his visit in Tacloban City last December, the US government formally turned over on February 27, some 1,500 metric tons of rice. The assistance is part of the 5,000 metric tons of rice enough to feed 500,000 people for one month that was announced by the US Secretary of State in Tacloban City This is also part of the US government’s continuing commitment to support the Philippine government’s post Yolanda relief and reconstruction. In a press statement sent to the Philippine Information Agency, it was learned that during the turnover, U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg said, “I am pleased to handover this rice assistance to our partners from the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the World Food Programme ( WFP) with whom we have collaborated closely on Super Typhoon Yolanda relief and recovery efforts since day one. This assistance signifies once again the commitment of the American people to partner with Filipinos in rebuilding the lives of so many affected by Typhoon Yolanda.” Joining Ambassador for the handover were U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria D. Steele, DSWD Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat and WFP Deputy Country Director Asaka Nyangara. Director Steele said, “With the delivery of 5,000 metric tons of rice, the U.S. government will have donated a total of 8,400 metric tons of rice to Typhoon Yolanda

survivors. We are hopeful that this contribution will help put food on the table, and help prevent acute malnutrition, especially among children.” To date, the U.S. government has provided a total of P3.9 Billion ($87.7 Million) in immediate humanitarian assistance for Typhoon Yolanda survivors. Of this assistance, food aid accounts to over P890 million ($20 million), helping millions of people most affected by the typhoon. The U.S. government’s humanitarian assistance also includes the provision of emergency/transitional shelter, clean water, hygiene, education supplies, and livelihood programs, as well as protection for vulnerable populations such as women and children. In addition to immediate relief and recovery assistance, the U.S. government will also support the Government of the Philippines in its medium and long-term recovery efforts. The United States was one of the first donors to respond to WFP’s funding appeal, and the U.S. contribution alone covered more than a quarter of our overall operation reaching out to people affected by Yolanda,” said WFP Deputy Country Director Nyangara. “The U.S. donation allowed WFP to meet the diverse and changing needs of typhoon survivors from the first days of the response, when we needed to get nutritious food out quickly, until now as we support rebuilding and recovery efforts,” the WFP Deputy Country Director added. (PIA 8)

US rice assistance boosts relief efforts for Yolanda survivors

DPWH presents updates on the construction of Yolanda-destroyed govt offices in Eastern Visayas

D epartment of Public Works and Highways Region 8

Director Rolando Asis said that the agency has started the repair and rehabilitation works of government offices a couple of weeks after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda. “ Though we are targeting to finish the works as early as possible, we could not do so due to some constraints l ike the lack/unavailabil ity of construction materials in the local market and manpower supply,” Director Asis told the Philippine Information Agency. However, as of this date, the repair of DPWH Regional Office Buildings, Regional Equipment Offices’ Buildings and First Leyte Engineering District Office Buildings are 30%, 20% and 70% accomplished, respectively, the DPWH Regional Director said. With regards to other government offices’ assessments, the same are being finalized under the joint Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), the DPWH Central Office personnel and representatives from the Regional and District Offices, Director Asis added. To recall, the government offices in the Region especially those based in Tacloban and Palo, suffered great damage in the aftermath of Yolanda onslaught on November 8, 2013. (PIA 8)

February 28, 2014 5

Planting...from page 1

Gulf is among the priority tasks of the DENR, even as national government, has allocated funds for the purpose. RED Sibbaluca disclosed that “For the year, around 38 million pesos has been earmarked for the Leyte Gulf Mangrove and Forest Plantation. Activities under this Project include delineation and monumenting of easement areas (no-build zones), survey and assessment of proposed mangrove/beach forest plantation, nursery establishment, seedling production, project monitoring and supervision. These activities shall be carried

UN Humanitarian chief visits Typhoon Yolanda hardly hit barangay in Tacloban for the third timeUnited Nation Humanitarian Chief

Valerie Amos visited typhoon Yolanda hardly hit barangay in Tacloban City, Leyte on February 26, Wednesday. The UN humanitarian chief visited the Philippines for the third time to assess the humanitarian response and to see how much the support of the UN to the affected areas 108 days after the typhoon haiyan or known here as “Yolanda”

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos answers questions from the media during her visit in Tacloban City Wednesday to assess the UN humanitarian response in Leyte particularly in Tacloban City. (Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

out in the three provinces which were hardly hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda: Eastern Samar, Samar and Leyte. RED Sibbaluca called on all the stakeholders to participate in this noble activity of helping rehabilitate the Leyte Gulf. “We are optimistic that with the active participation of the communities along the identified mangrove/coastal areas, we can bring back our mangrove/beach forest stands, which will ultimately be our protection against typhoons such as the recent Super Typhoon Yolanda,” RED Sibbaluca said. (PIA 8)

struck the country, affecting millions of people in Eastern Visayas Region. In an interview with UN chief, she revealed that as of the present time, the appeal for funding for the whole year is about forty two percent (40%), covering the areas of food, shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation facilities, reconstruction and provision of livelihood, among others. During her visit, Amos

inspected several sites of the affected communities and the ongoing relief operation efforts. She visited the communities at Barangay 89, the recipients of Holy Spirit Sisters (HSpS) who received forty fishing boats recently. Amos also checked the coastal area of Old road in Sagkahan, Tacloban City. Amos’ next stop after she have assessed the coastal site, was at the Redemptorist Church where she visited the children at child friendly tent. Meanwhile, the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) showed the two model houses (temporary homes) to Amos during her visit at the Redemptorist Church. These temporary homes were made of light materials but can last for years, and this will be built for displaced families living in the coastal barangays. According to Shelter Engineer Roel Bansali, they are targeting to build 3,000 units for the first phase to cater seventeen barangays, and will benefit about 15,000 people. While the government led relief operation has made marked progress, thousands of people still needs urgent assistance to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Amos said that the reason why she keeps on coming back to the Philippines is that thousands of people were displaced and need of support and she is looking for lasting housing solutions. The UN humanitarian chief previously visited the country twice in November last year, two weeks following the typhoon to see for her the impact of the disaster and to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance. (PIA 8 with Avha H. Ebalde)

6 February 28, 2014

DA to help in immediate repair, operationalization of Tacloban Fishport

S e c r e t a r y o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e P r o c e s o J .

A l c a l a v o w e d t o c o o r d i n a t e w i t h s e c r e t a r y R o g e l i o S i n g z o n o f t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f P u b l i c W o r k s a n d H i g h w a y s t o p r i o r i t i z e t h e e v a c u e e s w h o a r e l i v i n g i n t h e Ta c l o b a n f i s h p o r t t o b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o b u n k h o u s e s .I n a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e h e l d o n F e b r u a r y 2 7 i n Ta c l o b a n C i t y , i t w a s r e v e a l e d t h a t

d e s p i t e t h e p r o j e c t c o m p l e t i o n a n d a d a m a g e t h a t c a n b e r e p a i r e d t h e s o o n e s t , , t h e c o n c e r n e d a g e n c i e s c a n n o t m a k e a n y r e p a i r s w i t h t h e b u i l d i n g b e c a u s e i t b e c a m e a n e v a c u a t i o n c e n t e r s f o r s o m e Yo l a n d a d i s p l a c e d f a m i l i e s . T h e P 4 4 . 3 m i l l i o n f i s h p o r t c o m p l e x o f Ta c l o b a n h a s b e e n r e p o r t e d a s a f i n i s h e d p r o j e c t i n N o v e m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 3 ,

f o u r d a y s b e f o r e Yo l a n d a s t r u c k t h e r e g i o n w i t h Ta c l o b a n b e i n g t h e h a r d e s t h i t . T h e f i s h p o r t a c c o r d i n g B FA R D i r e c t o r G e n e r a l A s i s G . P e r e z h a s b e e n c o m p l e t e d a n d t h e o n l y l a c k i n g a c t i v i t y f o r i t t o b e t u r n e d o v e r t o t h e c i t y g o v e r n m e n t b y t h e P h i l i p p i n e F i s h e r y D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y w a s d r e d g i n g a n d s c o u r i n g w o r k s , t o a l l o w v e s s e l s a n d b i g f i s h i n g b o a t s t o d o c k . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e w r a t h o f t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a w a s h e d t h e d r e d g i n g m a c h i n e o f t h e D P W H t o S a n J o s e A r e a , s o u t h o f Ta c l o b a n . “ H o p e f u l l y , w e c a n r e s e t t l e t h e f a m i l i e s a f f e c t e d b y Yo l a n d a s o t h a t i n t h e n e x t t h r e e t o f o u r m o n t h s w e c a n d o t h e n e c e s s a r y r e p a i r s a n d u s e t h e f i s h p o r t e v e n t u a l l y ,” s a i d P e r e z . A s o f p r e s s t i m e t h e o l d f i s h p o r t i n o l d r o a d - m a g a l l a n e s a r e a i s b e i n g u t i l i z e d b u t t h i s i s j u s t t e m p o r a r y f o r t h e l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t r e a l l y w a n t e d t o t r a n s f e r t h e a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e n e w f i s h p o r t . A r o u n d 8 0 f a m i l i e s a r e n o w l i v i n g i n t h e Ta c l o b a n f i s h p o r t . S e c r e t a r y A l c a l a s a i d t h a t r e a l l y h e w i l l d i s c u s s t h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h t h e D P W H s e c r e t a r y t o p r i o r i t i z e t h e s e f a m i l i e s f o r t h e y s t i l l h a v e a d d i t i o n a l p r o j e c t f o r t h e s i t e . S e c . A l c a l a a l s o p r o m i s e d t h a t h e w i l l s e n d h i s p e o p l e t o c h e c k w i t h P h i l i p p i n e F i s h e r y D e v e l o p m e n t A u t h o r i t y i f t h e p r o j e c t i s i n s u r e d a n d i f i t w a s p a i d b y t h e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y t o e x p e d i t e t h e r e p a i r a n d e v e n t u a l l y f o r t h e f a c i l i t y t o b e o p e r a t i o n a l . ( P I A 8 w i t h L i z b e t h A n n A b e l l a )

February 28, 2014 7

DA-BFAR...from page 1

Alcala who was there to dia logue with the f isher folks who when they a i red their concerns were immediately attended to by the Secretar y. Direc tor As is sa id the 500 boats are just par t of the 8 ,000 boats that have been repaired in Eastern Visayas. Under the Ahon projec t of BFAR, 10 ,000 boats were targeted to be repaired, 5 ,000 of which is in Eastern Visayas. BFAR did not only reach the target but exceeded i t ,

Comelec Chair pushes for salary adjustment of Comelec employees

C o m e l e c C h a i r m a n S i x t o S . B r i l l a n t e s o n We d n e s d a y i s

p u s h i n g f o r a s a l a r y a d j u s t m e n t o f a l l e m p l o y e e s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n . I n a s h o r t p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e h e l d a t R i t z To w e r d e Le y t e , i n t h e c i t y, B r i l l a n t e s h a s p r o m i s e d t o l o b b y i n c o n g r e s s f o r a s a l a r y a d j u s t m e n t o f a l l t h e e m p l o y e e s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n b e f o r e h e o p t s t o r e t i r e f r o m s e r v i c e . H e l i k e w i s e s a i d t h a t

i n s t e a d o f c o n c e n t r a t i n g o n t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t m a y o c c u r t h i s c o m i n g 2 0 1 6 n a t i o n a l e l e c t i o n s , h e w o u l d r a t h e r d e v o t e h i s r e m a i n i n g m o n t h s o f s e r v i c e t o t h e g i v i n g o f a l l t h e b e n e f i t s o u g h t t o t h e e m p l o y e e s . “ M a h a l n a m a h a l k o p o a n g C o m m i s s i o n o n E l e c t i o n s . B a t a p a p o a k o C o m e l e c n a p o, k a s i t a t a y k o p o n a s a c o m m i s s i o n o n e l e c t i o n s n a h i g h s c h o o l p a l a n g a k o”, B r i l l a n t e s s a i d .

B r i l l a n t e s w a s h e r e i n t h e C i t y We d n e s d a y w h e r e h e c o n d u c t e d a c o n s u l t a t i v e m e e t i n g w i t h t h e o f f i c i a l s a n d e m p l o y e e s o f t h e C o m e l e c i n r e g i o n 8 . M a t t e r s c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e e m p l o y e e s , t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e o f f i c e s a f t e r b e i n g d e v a s t a t e d b y t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a a n d t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e 2 0 1 6 e l e c t i o n s w e r e b e i n g h e a r d b y t h e C o m e l e c c h a i r. ( P I A - 8 )

www.pia.gov.ph

Direc tor As is sa id who happi ly introduced the donors coming f rom I nternat ional and local NGOs that inc luded the NGOs f rom Taal , Batangas. Also present dur ing the happy occas ion were the Regional Direc tors f rom other BFAR regions, of f ic ia ls f rom BFAR Centra l O ff ice and members of the local media . (P IA 8)

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

8 February 28, 2014

aspalto

2ft.

2ft.1ft.

Mga Pama agi sa Pagtindog sa Malig-on nga Balay

30 cmmax.

2

1

30°

V2

PAG-ATOP (Roo�ng)

PAG TUKOD (Bracing)

BINTANA UG (Doors and Windows)

PAG-PALIG-ON (Bracing)

PAGSUMPAY (Connections)