January 31, 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 23 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 January 31, 2014

Philippine Coconut Authority provides coco seedlings in lieu of the ones destroyed by Yolanda

prepared in such a way that 100 coconut seedl ings at a d istance of 5 k i lometers f rom the shorel ines for in land areas or 192 seedl ings in areas near the sea or coastal areas. I n the plant ing of new coconut seedl ings, the coconut farmer must fo l low the technology recommended by the PCA. Among these are the choosing of areas to be planted with coconut ; land preparat ion; stak ing of f ie ld layout ; hole preparat ion; seedl ings selec t ion and plant ing; and the f ie ld and

T he Depar tment of Publ ic Works and H ighways Samar

Fi rst Engineer ing O ff ice based in Calbayog Cit y was a l lotted some P52,258,000 under the 2014 I nfrastruc ture Program based on Nat ional Expenditure Program for roads and br idges within i ts area of jur isdic t ion. There are for t y four names of projec ts, with corresponding a l locat ions, scopes of work , physical targets and major f inal outputs included in the l i s t , according to Mar ianette Gomez, P IO designate. The conduc t of pre -construc t ion ac t iv i t ies for these projec ts was under taken last year and bidding was done before the year ended. The Projec ts range f rom Rehabi l i tat ion/Reconstruc t ion of cr i t ica l sec t ions a long Nat ional Roads caused by t yphoon Yolanda and the cont inuous heav y ra ins exper ienced in the area causing road s l ips in ar ter ia l and secondar y roads total ing to P115.262 M i l l ion. To aver t f looding or water ponding, construc t ion/rehabi l i tat ion of dra inage system along Daang Mahar l ik a wi l l be under taken with total wor th of P48.496 M i l l ion. Some P97 mi l l ion was a l lotted to widen ident i t ied sec t ions in the Munic ipal i t y of

Samar-1 gets P752-M infra fund for 2014

T he Phi l ippine Coconut Author i t y in Eastern Visayas

is ready to provide coconut seedl ings to coconut farmers whose coconut t rees were destroyed by the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda. PCA Manager Edi lber to N ier va sa id the farms for the plant ing of new seedl ings of coconuts must be c leaned and prepared before the coconut farmers get seedl ings f rom the PCA Regional O ff ice at the Government Center, Palo, Leyte. One hec tare of land to be planted with coconut must be continued on page 5

continued on page 5 Teachers of the Pawing Elementary School received instructional kits from the officials of USAID during the hand-over ceremony, January 30. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

2 January 31, 2014

UNICEF Ambassador to the Philippines Gary Valenciano holds mini-concert at TaclobanThe United Nations Children’s

Fund or UNICEF staged on January 30, a successful mini- concert for its Back to Learning Campaign with UNICEF ambassador to the Philippines “Mr. Pure Energy” Gary Valenciano taking the center stage at Rizal Plaza just across the Rizal Elementary School. After his opening song ‘Di Bale Nalang,” he addressed the students of Rizal Central School saying that he was in Tacloban not as an artist but as an ambassador of UNICEF to encourage the children to go back to school, as well as the parents to push their children to go back to school. Valenciano said that he was glad that despite the fact that he is facing the people who were hit by one of the hardest tragedy in the world, the people in front of him

managed to smile and joined him in his show. Valenciano sang his signature songs like Natutulog ba ang Diyos, and Dati-Rati. Talking to his audience, he emphasized to the children and their parents that going to school is a good diversion and one kind of de-briefing. “It is good to see children going back to school instead of seeing them just walking and wandering at the streets,” said Valenciano. He also expressed his gladness that almost all school in Tacloban are now open. He promised the children who watched his mini-concern that UNICEF will be with the schools helping them to rebuild the schools and the children’s lives until they are back on their feet. During the show Valenciano

intimated to his audience how at the early age of 14 he was diagnosed with diabetes and had to endure being injected with insulin 2-3 times a day for almost 35 years since he was diagnosed with the condition. Valenciano rendered two religious songs, “I will be here” and “Warrior is a child” then followed with the upbeat songs of “ Hataw na and Shout for joy”. He capped his mini-concert with a dance contest among the children who watched his show and treated his adult fans by singing the tele-serye songs like “Sana Maulit Muli”, “Tayong Dalawa”,” Minsan lang kitang IIbigin” Sanay Wala ng Wakas and Hangang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan.(PIA 8)

Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, UNICEF Ambassador, performs song numbers for Tacloban pupils and students who were affected by super typhoon Yolanda as he encouraged them to go back to school during his mini-concert at the Rizal Plaza in Tacloban City, January 30. (Photo by Neil Lopido)

January 31, 2014 3Catbalogan City Mayor calls for a meeting among the price monitoring and inspection team to discuss crisis on prime commodities

With the alarming price increases and the unstable availability

of several goods in the Catbalogan, City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan called for a meeting among the Price Monitoring and Inspection Team on January 27, 2014 at SP Session Hall, Catbalogan City. For more than two months, after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in the region, the supply of prime commodities and basic necessities are still far from stable in the City. City Tourism & Investment Promotions Officer Raul Reyes facilitated the said meeting whose present were from the Offices of City Agriculture, City Veterinary and City Economic Enterprises & Public Utility. One of the problems raised during the said meeting was the difficulty of transporting goods from the Port of Matnog. The team is suggesting to open more cargo ships straight to Catbalogan Pier and to open the operations of Buri Airport. Reyes shared that the city is set to endorse a joint resolution with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Samar, SIPPAD to DTI Matnog to prioritize the shipment of prime commodities. The City also set another resolution to be endorsed to President Benigno Aquino III and to Rehabilitation Czar Panfilo Lacson thru NEDA R8 to declare Catbalogan City as the temporary center of Eastern Visayas. “What is observed in the

Repairs, classes both ongoing at Phil Science Highschool at Pawing, PaloRepairs and classes are both

ongoing at the Philippine Science High School, Dr. Reynaldo Garnace, the school director said. According to Garnace, the third floor roofings of all the three building are now being repaired as they were badly damaged by the typhoon. At the same time, classes are being conducted at the ground and second floors. Regular classes are conducted from 8:00 o’clock in the morning until 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon considering the scarcity of public transportation, Dir. Garnace said. Besides, it gets darker starting at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon without electricity, he added. “Students still do their experiments from whatever facilities we were able to salvage, “ said Garnace. The management has decided to extend classes up to April 25 to compensate the school days missed, Director Garnace said but he was quick to add that after the typhoon modular instructions were sent to students to make up for the classes missed. Meanwhile, the Philippine Science High School administration was able to solicit P2.3 million for the repair of the school. Garnace said that he is still waiting for additional assistance from well-meaning parents, friends, and alumni. Garnace said that the repair of the administration building will be shouldered by the school, sourcing the funds from the savings of 2013 budget. However, he said that all the other repairs of the school will depend on donations from benevolent individuals and entities, one of which is the pledged donation of P100 thousand worth of GI sheets from Villar Group of Companies through

its Chairman former Senator Manny Villar. Director Garnace is hoping that the senator will increase the company’s donation considering that Former Senator Villar went to Philippine Science for a personal inspection and visit where he toured the damaged buildings at the compound. It was learned that former Senator Villar intimated that it his personal desire to help the “iskolar ng bayan” of the Philippine Science High School knowing that every time it rains they are disturbed and cannot go on with their classes well. Villar added that he hopes to help more schools aside from Philippine Science High School. He said he is bothered that each time he visited Leyte, he passed by the PSHS with unrepaired roofing that is why he decided to donate GI sheets to the school. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann Abella)

continued on page 7

4 January 31, 2014

Biliran PESO sets special recruitment activityT h e B i l i r a n P r o v i n c i a l

E m p l o y m e n t S e r v i c e s O f f i c e ( P E S O ) s e t a s p e c i a l r e c r u i t m e n t a c t i v i t y ( S R A ) o n F e b r u a r y 2 4 - 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 , a t t h e B i l i r a n p r o v i n c i a l c a p i t o l c o m p o u n d . I n a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h L o r e n a G . D a y a g b i l , B i l i r a n P r o v i n c i a l P E S O M a n a g e r, i t w a s l e a r n e d t h a t M a a n y a g I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e r v i c e A g e n c y w i l l c o m e t o B i l i r a n o n s a i d d a t e s t o o f f e r j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d a b r o a d . D a y a g b i l s t r e s s e d t h a t j o b s e e k e r s a r e a s s u r e d o f t h e l e g i t i m a c y o f t h e a g e n c y a s i t i s a c t i v e l y r e g i s t e r e d w i t h t h e P h i l i p p i n e O v e r s e a s E m p l o y m e n t A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( P O E A ) . J o b s e e k e r s a r e a d v i s e d t o p r e p a r e t h e n e c e s s a r y

d o c u m e n t s s u c h a s N S O g e n e r a t e d c e r t i f i c a t e o f l i v e b i r t h a n d m a r r i a g e c o n t r a c t , N B I c l e a r a n c e , a n d p a s s p o r t . S i n c e t h e s y s t e m s o f t h e s e a g e n c i e s i n r e g i o n 8 a r e d o w n a f t e r t h e Ty p h o o n Yo l a n d a t h a t h i t E a s t e r n V i s a y a s l a s t N o v e m b e r 8 , 2 0 1 3 , D a y a g b i l a d v i s e d a p p l i c a n t s t o p r e p a r e s a i d d o c u m e n t a r y r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r i m m e d i a t e e m p l o y m e n t o n c e f o u n d t o b e q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e j o b . D a y a g b i l a l s o i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e p r o v i n c i a l P E S O i s c o n t i n u o u s l y a c c e p t i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n o f j o b a p p l i c a n t s r e a d y f o r d e p l o y m e n t o n c e j o b o p p o r t u n i t i e s b e c o m e a v a i l a b l e . ( P I A 8 B i l i r a n )

Mr. Lee Marshall, Deputy Director of the Office of Education, USAID Philippines take time to join the elementary pupils who received a back pack full of school supplies as he also received handmade welcome and thank you messages from the children after the hand-over ceremony of post-disaster education assistance package to Leyte and Ormoc Schools, January 30. (Photo by Neil D. Lopido/PIA-8)

www.pia.gov.ph

January 31, 2014 5Philippine Coconut Authority...from page 1

US Gov’t...from page 1

San Jorge and Gomez Ex tension in Calbayog Cit y considered as ar ter ia l and secondar y roads, respec t ively. These wi l l provide a smooth f low of t raf f ic due to volume of vehic les pass ing a long Nat ional Road. Fur thermore, some P50 mi l l ion was appor t ioned for the paving of shoulders in three road sec t ions namely : J . Luna St . and Calbayog Old Nat ional Route both in Calbayog Cit y and Sta . Margar i ta Old Route. P20 mi l l ion wi l l be for J . Luna St . , P20 M i l l ion for Calbayog Old Nat ional Route and P10 M i l l ion for Sta . Margar i ta Old Route. Cr i t ica l br idges ident i f ied for st rengthening have been a l located about P123 mi l l ion. These include Cabacungan Br idge with P16 M i l l ion; Cagmanipis Br idge with P20

M i l l ion; Malajog Br idge with P18 M i l l ion; Oquendo Br idge with P30 M i l l ion; S in idman Br idge with P15 M i l l ion; Tangao Br idge with P9 M i l l ion; and Tinambacan Br idge with P15 M i l l ion. New br idges due for construc t ion are Awang, Begaho, Cagpala le, Palanas- Cara , Pul id and R awis with a total amount of P40.5 M i l l ion. Some P250 mi l l ion have been appropr iated for f lood control and drainage projec ts in Barangays Bugtong, Malajog, Tinambacan Sur, Caglanipao Sur and San Pol icarpo whi le some P50 mi l l ion was a l lotted to under take the Construc t ion of G andara – Matuguinao Road. (P IA 8)

farm maintenance for the proper care of the young coconut plants. Manager N ier va sa id that when the proper s i te for coconut plantat ion establ ishment has been ident i f ied, the amount of work in land preparat ion wi l l depend on the nature of the land to be opened. Recommended land preparat ion prac t ices should be carr ied out to a l low opt imum plant ing and subsequent appl icat ion of t reatments in the f ie ld. L ike other crops, coconut cannot be establ ished in thick vegetat ion. C lear ing of debr is f rom thick vegetat ion is pr imar i ly necessar y to e l iminate poss ible breeding s i tes for the destruc t ive rhinoceros beet le. Hence, the area should be c leared of fe l led t rees/shrubs, s tumps, weeds and other obstruc t ion and then plowed and harrowed to improve soi l t i l t . Pr ior to digging, p lant ing guides are put in place by us ing 2 pegs placed at equal d istances f rom the stake. This indicates the center of the hole where the sprout of the seedl ing to be planted later on wi l l have to be a l igned. I t must be noted that by us ing a st ick marked at the center, and us ing the plant ing guides at p lant ing t ime, the re locat ion of the stake in the hole can eas i ly be done. Holes should be dug at 50 x 50 cm s ize. This operat ion commences as ear ly as 2 months before plant ing to a l low for weather ing of the soi l on the s ides and bottom of the holes. Weather ing is encouraged to promote ear ly root contac t . For more information, interested coconut farmers may v is i t the munic ipal PCA Agr icultur ist nearest them. (P IA 8)

Mr. Andrew Holland of USAID distributes bags to the pupils of Pawing Elementary School on January 30 as part of their Post –Disaster Education Assistance Package distribution to Leyte and Ormoc Schools. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

6 January 31, 2014

Liloan irrigation project brings hope of increased rice yield

An improvement of an existing irrigation system here has raised

high expectations the project, funded by the provincial government, can deliver on its promise of more farm bags of rice harvested per hectare. At a ceremonial turn-over held here on a rain-soaked Tuesday afternoon, Liloan Mayor Shirlita Chong acknowledged that the Caligangan Irrigation Improvement Project was a big help for the 19 farmers, the officers and members of the Caligangan-Pandan Irrigator’s Association (CPIA), who stood

as the direct beneficiaries of the project. “Let us help each other in caring and maintaining the project so everyone will enjoy,” Mayor Chong said, addressing the CPIA officers and members. Provincial Board Member Atty. Abelardo Almario, the OIC-Governor since Gov. Roger Mercado was in Manila on official business, echoed the same appeal, especially in guarding the project, which cost the provincial government P 1.8 Million, sourced from the province’s 20% Economic

Development Fund (EDF). Increasing food productivity has been a vital component in the governance agenda of Gov. Mercado, agricultural development being one of his three main thrusts, the two others dwelling on tourism and environment protection, Alamrio stressed. The project, which was handled by the Provincial Agricultural Services Office (PAgSO) through the contractor, J’ner Cepada Construction, consisted of improvement in the intake structure and construction of canal lining made of concrete hollow blocks. Work on the project began on September 16, 2013 and finished on December 13, 2013, covering 15 hectares of ricefields with much potential for expansion. A symbolic key was passed on from Board Member Almario to Provincial Agriculturist Marina Gador, to Mayor Chong, to barangay Caligangan represented by Kagawad Teresita Naol, and on to Jonathan Cabrales, President of the irrigator’s group. The turn-over indicated that maintenance and operation will henceforth be under the CPIA’s management, said Feliciano Malaki, Jr., In-Charge of PAgSO Engineering Group. He recalled that it was in 2011 when the association sent a request to rehabilitate the water system, and in 2013 it was approved by former Governor, now Congressman Damian Mercado, and carried over by Gov. Oging. Now that the project is done, Malaki insinuated that the yield per harvest should be more than the usual 50 bags per hectare but 60, 70, 80, or even over 100 bags like the experience in Hinunangan. Cabrales accepted the challenge, even as one of the association’s members said an area planted to camote will soon be planted with rice because of the improved irrigation facility. (esg/mmp, PIA-Southern Leyte)

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

January 31, 2014 7Rubber and freshwater prawn congress, business forum to highlight SLSU 10th year

The Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) will lead in the

international congress on rubber and freshwater prawn, business forum, among other activities, as the state university will celebrate its 10th year anniversary cpme March 7 this year. In a letter invitation to PIA, Dr. Prose Ivy Yepes, SLSU Vice President for Research Development noted that this year’s celebration will highlight an international research congress and business forum on rubber and freshwater prawn, one of the activities set to make this year’s anniversary celebrtion more meaningful and memorable. It will feature four activities such as the Rubber and Freshwater Prawn Research Congress (Paper and Poster presentation), rubber and freshwater prawn business forum, agri-fish fair and exhibit and agri-fish dance presentation, as well, she further said. Last year, the same state university strongly promoted its research achievements on the freshwater prawn feats alone, however, this time it is coupled with its exploits on rubber, it was further learned. A launching and press conference has been scheduled on February 5, 2014, in an effort to widely disseminate the said activities for more participation and attract invetors from the locality and abroad, said Yepes. Last year, the SLSU- Bontoc Campus led in the successful conduct of the first international research congress and business forum on freshwater prawn which drew the participations from Indonesia researchers and investors,local investors, among others, it was

further learned. Some 15 media practitioners from the province were expected to join the launching and press conference, SLSU staff Mrs. Esa Opina, who is in charge in the promotions of the said activity disclosed.(PIA SoLeyte)

city is deemed only as an artificial shortage and to address such would only by increase the supply of goods and to ease the transport through direct routes,” Uy-Tan said. Meanwhile, the Price Monitoring and Inspection Team created by Catbalogan City mayor will continue to monitor establishments to verify the availability of supplies. According to Reyes, this data will serve as support to several initiatives of the city. (PIA 8 with Avha H. Ebalde)

Catbalogan City Mayor...from page 3

Pupils of the Pawing Elementary School in Palo, Leyte are all smiles as they show their bags which contain school supplies from the USAID officials during the handover ceremony on January 30. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)

DepEd-8 director Luisa Bautista-Yu gives her message of thanks to the officials from the United States Agency International Development (USAID) for the education assistance package for Leyte and Ormoc

school teachers, pupils and students during the handover ceremony held at the Pawing Elementary School in Palo, Leyte, January 30. In photo are (l-r) Marcial Salvatierra, Basa Pilipinas Chief of Party; Mr. Andrew Holland, Director, ROAA, USAID; Mr. Reed Aeschliman, Deputy Mission Director, USAID Philippines; Mr. Lee Marshall, Deputy Director, Office of Education, USAID Philippines; Dr. Ronelo Al Firmo, SDS, DepEd Leyte Division; and Dr. Mariza Magan, SDS, DepEd Ormoc City Division. (Photo by Neil D. Lopido/PIA-8)

BY: ERNA GORNE

8 January 31, 2014

Filipino Doctors in America conducts Relief and Medical Mission in LeyteM o r e a i d w e r e e x t e n d e d b y

g o o d - h e a r t e d F i l i p i n o s i n A m e r i c a t o Yo l a n d a s u r v i v o r s i n t y p h o o n r a v a g e d a r e a s i n L e y t e . R e c e n t l y , a t e a m o f F i l i p i n o D o c t o r s a n d N u r s e s b a s e d i n C h i c a g o , U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a h a s c o n d u c t e d a f r e e m e d i c a l m i s s i o n i n t h e c i t y o f Ta c l o b a n a n d i n t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f P a l o L e y t e a s a w a y o f h e l p i n g t h e Yo l a n d a s u r v i v o r s i n s a i d a r e a s . D r a . N i d a B l a n k a s H e r n a e z o f P h i l i p p i n e M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n i n C h i c a g o ( P M A C ) s a i d , a s i d e f r o m

f r e e c o n s u l t a t i o n s a n d f r e e m e d i c i n e s a n d v i t a m i n s g i v e n t o Yo l a n d a s u r v i v o r s i n t h e C i t y o f Ta c l o b a n a n d t h e M u n i c i p a l i t y o f P a l o , L e y t e , t h e y a l s o d i s t r i b u t e d r e l i e f g o o d s a n d c a s h a s s i s t a n c e t o s o m e s u r v i v o r s . S i x h u n d r e d ( 6 0 0 ) h o u s e h o l d s w e r e g i v e n c a s h a s s i s t a n c e b y t h e g r o u p : 3 0 0 f a m i l i e s i n Ta c l o b a n a n d 3 0 0 f a m i l i e s i n P a l o a n d e a c h h o u s e h o l d h a s r e c e i v e d 5 0 0 p e s o s e a c h .B a r a n g a y C h a i r m a n R a m o n D a g a n d a n o f B r g y . 4 5 Ta c l o b a n C i t y , o n e o f t h e a r e a s v i s i t e d

b y t h e t e a n , w a s v e r y g r a t e f u l t o P M A C f o r i t i s a b i g h e l p t o h i s c o n s t i t u e n t s . E v e r y y e a r , t h e P h i l i p p i n e M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n i n C h i c a g o ( P M A C ) h a s b e e n c o n d u c t i n g i t s m e d i c a l a n d s u r g i c a l m i s s i o n i n d i f f e r e n t p l a c e s i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d f o r t h i s y e a r , Ta c l o b a n C i t y a n d P a l o L e y t e b e c a m e t h e i r p r i o r i t y a r e a s t o r e a c h o u t t o t h e v i c t i m s a n d s u r v i v o r s o f t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a , t h e s t r o n g e s t s t o r m e v e r r e c o r d e d i n W o r l d H i s t o r y . ( P I A - 8 )

Deputy mission director Reed Aeschliman, of USAID Philippines distributes bags to the pupils of Pawing Elementary School on January 30 as part of their Post –Disaster Education Assistance Package distribution to Leyte and Ormoc Schools. (Photo by Neil Lopido/PIA-8)