Vol 6 Issue 5 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 February 1 - 7, 2016

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Five Siquijor homestays grab ASEAN awards

ADB lauds govt success in KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP

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Farmers meet the challenge of ASEAN Integration

By Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA6)Farmers in Iloilo are keeping up with the challenges of the deluge of agricultural

imports, once the ASEAN Integration impacts on the country. The imports can compete with the local produce and

farmers should also be competitive, Agriculture Assistant Secretary for Operations Edilberto de Luna said during a visit

here. We should make our rice production competitive de

Luna told the farmers in one of the areas he visited. It was learned that the quarantine restrictions on import-

ed agricultural products ends by 2017, which means, according to the National food Authority, that products from other

ASEAN countr ies can come in unregulated/ With high quality inbred and hybrid varieties, the farmers production can improve a lot, de Luna said.

He added that the use of high-yielding varieties, with

proper cultural management practices, governments irrigation programs, mechanization, post harvest facilities, research and

development advocacies, farmers can produce competitively well.

The countrys palay production continued to increase with 19 million metric tons in 2014, the highest in the history

of palay production in the country.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the

country produced about 18.2 million metric tons of rice last year, despite the onslaught of El Nio.

Iloilo is among the top rice producing provinces in the country, a rice self-sufficient province, supplying the needs of

rice deficient provinces. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Rizalie Anding Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Feb. 2 (PIA) A great boost to this islands tourism, Siquijor is the only tourist destination in the

Philippines awarded the ASEAN Standard Homestay Award during the 35th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2016) in Manila

held January 22. Five homestays from this island, namely Agans

Homestay, Ates Homestay, Estelita Homestay, Xyllas Homestay, and Daval / Omandam Homestay, received the

coveted award during the ATF 2016 attended by Tourism ministers of Asian countries and their delegates.

Siquijor is the only destination awarded with such reputable distinction for homestay Philippines, said Siquijor Senior Tourism Officer Jossette Almirola as she thanked the Department of Tourism (DOT) for pushing Siquijor to qualify

for the award. She vowed to strive harder to improve the islands

homestays and encourage more homeowners to join the program especially since Siquijor's tourist arrivals increased by

51.21% for 2014 to 2015. Recognizing the provincial governments efforts, she

hopes that it continues to support the tourism programs and activities.

The first ASEAN Homestay Award ceremony was convened to provide opportunity to promote ASEAN Homestay and understanding of the basic requirements of a

quality visitor experience, and to establish a minimum standard

across all ASEAN member states, said the provincial tourism

officer. In this ceremony, the ministers awarded 31 ASEAN

Homestay Standard Cert i f icates to homestay organizations and providers that will enhance

local quality local quality of life to generate income, support local culture, arts and crafts business,

encourage restoration of local and historic sites, and foster nature conservation efforts through community

education. Homestays are awarded in all ASEAN-member nations,

but for the Philippines, only Siquijor homestays were conferred with the award, Almirola disclosed.

The other awardees come from Brunei (2), Cambodia (5), Indonesia (5), Lao PDR (1), Malaysia (5), Thailand (5), and

Vietnam (3). The proposed validity period for the ASEAN Homestay

Standard is three years. Certified homestays will be reassessed every three years to renew their certificates.

With the theme, One Community for Sustainability, ATF 2016 was attended by 457 buyers and 1,000 exhibitors

with 467 booths as well as 83 international and 100 local media.

The ministers noted that ATF 2017 will be convened on January 16 to 20 in Singapore with the theme: Shaping Our Touism Journey Together. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from the Provincial Tourism Office)

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Feb. 3 (PIA) The Asian Development Bank (ADB), a multi institution and a strong

partner in the development of the country, has lauded the government and other stakeholders in the success of the

implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

in the region. In his recent visit in the city, ADB Country Director

Richard Bolt spoke positively of the efforts made by the government and the beneficiaries themselves while everyone

worked hard to improve the lives of the communities with the support of the ADB.

Director Bolt witnessed the Bayani Ka" Awarding Ceremony conducted by DSWD where 14 individuals and local

government officials devoted their time, skills, talents and resources to the implementation of the program without being

paid. Giving of awards such as this not only recognizes the

achievement and outstanding commitment of the awardees but

also serves as a venue to share their success stories and be

able to inspire others to join the community of advocates working for the benefit of society, Bolt said.

Presently, aside from financing the KALAHI-CIDSS -NCDDP and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program, ADB supports largely the health , education, livelihood, employment and infrastructure in the

region like the Palo-Ormoc road project and the Palo-Tanauan-Tolosa road.

ADBs support to Kalahi-CIDSS-NCDDP in Yolanda hit areas amounted to 372 million dollars.

In 2013, KALAHI-CIDSS covered only 42 provinces representing the countrys poorest provinces but with its expansion, it now covers 900 municipalities in 63 provinces.

He also acknowledged the sincerity of those who

worked hard to make KALAHI-CIDSS it is today as it is continuously touching the lives of many people.

He particularly mentioned Secretary Corazon Dinky Soliman, DSWD OIC regional director Restituto Macuto, the

KALAHI management team and the awardees. (ajc/PIA-8)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

The first and so far the last Zika virus case

recorded in Region 7 was a 15-year old boy

back in 2012, according to DOH-7 Assistant

Regional Director Dr. Sophia Mancao during

the Kapihan sa PIA. World Health Organiza-

tion has declared Zika virus a public health

emergency of international concern, and

Health Sec. Janette Garin said the

government remains vigilant against the dis-

ease. Health officials assured that as of today,

the country remains free from Zika virus.

(Rmn)

Major General Jet Velarmino, Commander,

8ID led the ceremonial entrustment of

firearms REMINGTON CAL. 233-5.56MM

(R4) to the 8ID Troops, especially to the 20IB

command & personnel @ Camp Vicente

Lukban, Brgy. Maulong, Catbalogan City

February 3, 2016 (pics by JunArce)

USAID Be Secure Project Climate Resiliency

Team Leader Ms. Elisea G Gozun tells

participants on what can be done to reduce

the impacts of El Nio during a forum held in

Iloilo City, January 29, 2016. (PIA 6)

Mechanization is one of the strategies that farmers in Iloilo are

adopting as part of government efforts to help them become

competitive in an integrated ASEAN market. (PIA6)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

KALIBO, Aklan, Feb. 4 (PIA6) -- Aklan governor Florencio T. Miraflores spelled out plans to further enhance the provinces tourism industry and to provide convenience to tourists in his latest State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered recently

before a packed audience at the Session Hall of the Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) here.

Guv's SOPA bats for more tourists' facilities By Venus G. Villanueva

T he governor bared the plans as well as

the on-going development activities in

citing the gains of the province tourism programs in 2015 which realized

the arrival of more than 1.5 million tourists

and generated P43.9 billion in tourism

receipts.

Some of the projects were started in

2015, like the added facilities in Caticlan

Jettyport such as the fast CAT RORO steel

ramp and full track scale for outbound RORO

vehicles.

Necessary repairs and rehabilitation of

facilities like the access roads and passageways,

canopies, comfort rooms and building were

also made.

For Cagban, the governor said the

improvement of the terminal building such as

the installation of exterior ceilings, glass

enclosures, CCTV, and steel ladder for pump-

boats are being speeded up.

The construction of a holding area and

reinforced concrete pier is also on-going.

The reclamation of the 2.64

hectares MARINA project in Caticlan is also

ongoing.

If our tourists can spend hard-earned money for that experience of a lifetime in our

province or for availing our facilities for

personal or or business purposes, we should

never cease in improving the provision of

quality service, the governor said. In Aklan, Boracay remains to be a

preferred choice of destination for domestic

and foreign tourists.

It has also maintained its status as a

cruise haven with 9 cruise ship visits last year,

while this January 2016 alone, 3 cruise ships

visited the island for three succeeding days,

bringing in thousands of foreign tourists from

Europe and other countries. (JCM/VGV PIA6

Aklan)

Govt. provides assistance to former rebels

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Feb. 1 (PIA6) The government has released P1.3 million in livelihood assistance to 20 former rebels in Capiz last year.

U n d e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t s Comprehensive Local Integration

Program (CLIP), the 20 former rebels

here have already started their lives anew after

they ended their armed struggle and decided to

go back to the fold of the law and embrace a

new life.

Of the 20 rebels of whom 14 are male

and six are female, 16 former rebels are from

Tapaz, three from Jamindan and one from

Maayon town.

In December last year, 12 former rebels

each received a P65,000 livelihood assistance

under the governments Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) which is spearhead-

ed by the DILG as part of the government's

peace and development efforts across the

country.

The assistance aims to aid the former

rebels in their transition back to mainstream

society.

Capiz Governor Victor Tanco with

representatives from the Armed Forces of the

Philippines and DILG handed over the said

check.

In April, eight former rebels also each

received the same assistance from the

government.

The CLIP implementation is in

partnership with the local government units,

AFP, Philippine National Police, Department

of Social Welfare and Development and civil

society organizations that demonstrates the

Aquino administration's commitment to

pursuing peace and development amid the

stalled peace talks with the National

Democratic Front of the Philippines.

The Philippine Army vows to

continue its effort to attain lasting peace.

Major Ray Tiongson, Public Affairs Office

head of the 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine

Army said that with the leadership of 3ID

Commander Brig. General Harold Cabreros,

they are committed to work together to

secure and advance the gains of peace and

security in the countryside.

This, he said, is possible through the

concerted effort of the government

troops, including those from the Philippine

National Police and other stakeholders. (JCM/

JBG/PIA6)

By Jemin B. Guillermo

LGUs urged to harvest and store rainwater

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA6) Rain water harvesting and storing has a return on investments for local government units.

S peaking at a press conference lately,

Elisea Gozun of the USAID Be Secure

Project, and Jessica Salas, representing

the Iloilo Province El Nio Task Force said

rainwater harvesting is an important

component of the Integrated Resource

Management program of every LGU.

There is a national law enacted in 1989 yet, requiring all barangays to adopt a

rainwater catchment and harvesting facility. Gozun said when asked about the critical role

of LGUs on water management.

She added that this strategy can help

mitigate the impact of dry spell.

On the other hand, Jessica Salas, who has

served as president of an internation

watershed coalition, said the Iloilo province has

a program promoting rainwater harvesting and

it implementation in some parts of

the province can already showcase best

practices.

To date, Salas said, these catchments and

harvesting facilities have already generated 17

million cubic millimetres rainwater harvesting

capacity for farmers.

Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation

and deposition of rainwater and for reuse

onsite, rather than just allowing it as runoff.

Gozun said the practice of rainwater

harvesting is not capital intensive, as rainwater

can be collected from rivers or roofs, and

may be redirected to a deep pit like borehole

or well, or in a farm reservoir with

percolation.

LGUs take for granted the provisions of the law, and consider rainwater harvesting a

low priority, Guzon said, adding that she wished some legislators would pick up the

issue and revisit the law.

Many times, we look at much rains as a problem, not as a resource that we should

manage, Gozun, a former Environment and Natural Resources Secretary, said.

That is why we need the media to help us reach out, spread the word about water

resource management, and not just about

the El Nio but also climate change, she add-ed.

Gozun and Salas were among the

resource persons during the El Nio and

Climate Change forum, organized by the Be

Secure Project of the United States Agency for

International Development, held here, January

29-30. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By Elsa Subong

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

BACOLOD CITY, Feb. 1 (PIA6) A total of 2,338 cases was disposed of by the 13 Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges in Bacolod City in 2015, data from the RTC showed.

T he thirteen RTC Judges were assigned

to 14 branches and they disposed of

291 more cases in 2015 compared to

the previous year, a release from RTC-Bacolod

said.

By the end of last year, RTC Bacolod had

5,961 pending cases, which is 471 more cases

than the year 2014.

Judge Raymond Joseph Javier had the

highest cumulative number of cases disposed of

at 516, while Judge Rosario Ester Caise topped

the disposals for a court branch at 293 cases.

Javier presides over Branches 52 and 45,

while Caise presides over Branch 48.

Of the pending cases in the RTC-Bacolod,

1,100 are family-court cases and more

than 1,500 are dangerous drugs-related

offenses.

There are 426 pending cases per branch,

on the average. (JCM/CBA/PIA6/RTC6-Negros

Occidental)

Bacolod RTC judges dispose more cases in

2015

Carlson B. Alelis

SAN JOSE, Antique, Feb. 3 (PIA6) - - Three (3) Antiquena Household Service Workers in Hongkong were hired as teachers in

their local communities here under the National Reintegration Program (NRP) for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

J anelyn A. Manzanilla of Barbaza National

High School Barbaza, Antique , Belle M.

Rubido of Sta. Justa National School and

Rochelle Balena of Bandoja Primary School in

Tibiao are former Household Service workers

in Hongkong and hired as teachers by the

Department of Education through the NRP for

OFW of the Department of Labor and

Employment.

Regional Reintegration Officer Bernard

Sibay of the National Reintegration Center for

OFWs during the turnover ceremony of the

Teaching Kit to the teacher beneficiaries on

Tuesday at the Youth and Migrant Center,

New Capitol said the program hopes to

provide OFWs who are skilled or household

service workers to practice their profession in

the Philippines as long as they are passers of

Board Exams.

To help them in their daily classroom

activities , the teaching kit worth P10,000

consist of a set of lapel microphone

and speaker and tablet (computer) was given

them.

Manzanilla who has been an OFW for 10

years, speaking in behalf of other beneficiaries

expressed gratitude to the government for

giving them the opportunity to be back with

their families plus the employment they have

gained in returning home.

While Rubido and Balena have stayed in

Hongkong for eight and two years respectively.

They likewise appreciated the way National

Reintegration Center (NRC) facilitated their

application.

All we did was to submit our application on line with our credentials as passers of

Licensure Examination for Teachers, it was the

NRC who processed our application and

referred us to the Department of Education, they said.

It was in the middle of 2015 when the

three OFWs decided to return home while

their appointment as teachers was approved

on December 2015.

Sibay encouraged other OFWs to avail of

the reintegration program of the government

which started in 2014. They are advised to log

on to the website www.dole.gov.ph then

proceed to the portal of NRCO.

The NRC will evaluate the qualification

then it will be referred to appropriate

government agency, DepEd in particular to

teachers and will be forwarded to the

Department of Budget and Management for

creation of plantilla position. (JCM/PSM/

PIA6Antique)

National Reintegration Program hires former OFWs

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

Investment in local climate forecasting applications urged

By Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA6) Climate and weather specialists say that investing in community-based climate forecasting and warning systems will go a long way in keeping their people and resources safe.

D anilo D. Flores, weather

specialist of the Hydrology

Division of the Philippine

Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical

Services Administration (Pagasa) said local

government units should implement a

community-based flood early warning system.

The CBFEWS is a localized system to help protect the community from devastating

floods, through the bayanihan system, Flores said.

The Pagasa will help the communities

intending to put up one, through technical

assistance in the design of the system, putting

up of rain gauges, water level gauges,

hydrographic surveys, installation of flood

signages.

Community members who will man the

system will also be trained.

The CBFEWS can be best sustained

through and ordinance that provides funds for

the operation.

On the other hand, Iloilo Provincial

Agriculturist Ildefonso Toledo said that LGUs

should also invest in putting up a climate

forecast application (CFA) like an

agromet- station to make farmers to be

scientifically-trained to forecast for their own

advantage.

Through the CFA, farmers can learn the trend and amount of rainfall through some

periods of time, that can help them in plotting

their cropping patterns, Toledo said. He said that with local science and

technology, farmers can become better

managers of the farming environment,

determine when and what to produce at

certain periods and prevent losses.

Flores, on the other hand, said that with

the CBFEWS, communities can better

protect themselves as disasters know no

boundaries.

To date, he said, LGUs in Western Visa-

yas are yet to put up the flood early

warning system.

Meanwhile, Toledo said, it is only the

town of Dumangas which has an agromet

station and it has been operational for the last

10 years.

With this length of time by now, the station can already yield enough data for us

to graph the weather patterns, Toledo said who has trained in many climate

forecasting.

Although the equipment is quite costly but

it is worth investing by the LGUs. (JCM/ESS/

PIA-Iloilo)

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Philippines turned over on Feb. 3 a

multimillion-peso cold room/vaccine storage facility to the provincial government here.

NegOr has first fully operational cold room

facility

T he facility keeps supplies of vaccines

which include BCG for tuberculosis,

hepatitis B, pentavalent vaccine, oral

polio vaccine, inactivated polio vaccines,

pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, measles,

mumps, and rubella to help address

preventable diseases among children in the

province.

Gov. Roel Degamo led the ceremonial

inauguration of the facility where he expressed

his gratitude to UNICEF for allocating more

than P6 million worth of cold room/vaccine

storage facility to the province.

Degamo said this project enhances the

capability and adequate immunization for the

people of Negros Oriental.

According to UNICEF representative and

cold chain specialist Bernardo Bersola, the

project is the first fully-operational cold room

facility in the Philippines.

There have been 15 recipients of similar facilities in the country but this is the first

turnover of its kind, said Bersola. He added that the cold room is equipped

with a generator and special freezers with thick

insulators and water lining that can withstand

power failure for about eight-hours ensuring

the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

A specified range of temperature from

point of manufacture to point of use is critical

to the effectiveness of any vaccination

program.

The brand new cold room facility can

accommodate more vaccines from UNICEFs Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

that targets Oral Polio, Measles-Rubella and

Hepatitis B among others in the province.

(rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental/with reports

from Churchill Guevarra and Nichole Sison)

Jennifer C. Tilos

CEBU CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development has issued a warning that illegal adoption is

now tantamount to human trafficking.

Illegal adoption is tantamount to trafficking - DSWD

I n a recent Kapihan sa PIA Cebu held at

Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc (RAFI)

P l e n a r y H a l l , D S W D - 7

officials warned those who want to adopt

children that they can be charged for human

trafficking should they resort to illegal

adoption.

Emma Patalinghug, Protective Unit

Services Head of DSWD-7, said they can

charge the parent when they give up the child

to another, or one claims a child as her or his

own without undergoing the legal adoption

process.

Simulation of birth can now be charged under Republic Act 9206 or the Anti

Trafficking Act with DSWD or the PNP as the

complainant, Patalinghug said. Simulation of birth is the tampering of the

civil registry making it appear in the birth

records that a certain child was born to a

person who is not his or her biological mother,

causing the child to lose his or her true

identity.

Concepcion Solera, Social Welfare Officer

of DSWD-7, said for the past three years there

were already 50 applicants who were

successfully matched with his/her adoptee.

In order for a person to adopt, he/she

must be of legal age, at least 16 years older

than the adoptee, has the capacity to act and

assume all the rights and duties incident to the

exercise of parental authority, is of good moral

character, is in position to support, educate

and take care of the adoptee, and has

undergone the pre-adoption services.

The month of February is Adoption

Consciousness Month with theme Legal na Ampon ako, Anak na Totoo (A Child finds

worth in Legal Adoption). The advocacy aims to intensify

information dissemination about the legal pro-

cesses of adopting a child and to raise the num-

ber of applicants and couples who are willing

to adopt.

DSWD-7 has prepared the following

a c t i v i t i e s m a r k t h i s m o n t h ' s

observation: Motorcade on February 15 at

1:30 pm, Mural Painting Contest on

February 19 at 9:00 am at the Area

Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC),

Labangon, Cebu City, and setting up of

adoption help desks at SM City Cebu and SM

Consolacion from February 20 to 21. (rmn/fcc/

PIA7-Cebu)

Ferliza Calizar-Contratista

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Feb. 1 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental has launched recently its destination brand, Negros Oriental: This is what you want to live to step up its tourism marketing to attract more local and international tourists.

NegOr launches tourism destination brand

T he eco-tourism capital of Negros

Island, where culture meets adventure,

represents the tourism circuit of five

local government units, namely: Dumaguete

City as the gateway of Negros Oriental; Dauin

as dive capital; Tanjay City as seat of culture

and tradition; Bais City, dolphin watching; and

Manjuyod town, known for its wide stretch of

sand bar.

With its natural chain of rugged green

mountains and a wide range of coastal beaches

or ridge-to- reef attractions in the identified

tourism areas, the brand logo is visually

interpreted as a stylized leaf that represents

province environmental conservation and

organic agriculture.

Under the Local Governance Support

Program for Local Economic Development, the

private and public sectors also formulated a

tour package with common rates for travel and

tours operators in the province.

The two separate travel and tour

operator groups in the province successfully

agreed to have common tour packages and

create more opportunities in the local tourism

industry.

In an industry forum, Palawan Tourism

Council president Debbie Tan shared

Palawan's best practices in tourism promotion

as 'World's Best Island Tourism' including tour

packaging.

For her part, Andrea Trinidad-Echavez of

USAID COMPETE presents how Bohol

managed to scale up its tourism image after the

7.2 magnitude earthquake.

LGSP-LED is funded by the Canadian

International Development Agency and

implemented in partnership with the

Department of the Interior and Local

Government.

It aims to reduce poverty by

strengthening local governance and supporting

s u s t a i n a b l e l o c a l e c o n o m i c

deve lopment . ( rmn / j c t /P IA7 -Negros

Oriental)

Jennifer C. Tilos

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) invites students 15 years old and below to join the

45th Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People.

I n a press statement, PHLPost said it has

organized a nationwide letter writing

contest inviting young people to focus on

the theme "Write a letter to your 45 year-old

self in order to select the countrys official entry to the international competition.

The national winner will be sent by PHLPost

as the Philippines official entry in the worldwide letter writing contest organized by the UPU

International Bureau.

The top winner will receive a gold medal and

a certificate, as well as other prizes to

commemorate their win.

The gold medalist will also be offered a trip

to the UPU headquarters in Berne, Switzerland.

Entries for the national competition must be

recent and original letters written in English

according to the theme of the competition.

It must not exceed the limit of 1000 words

in length. The composition must contain the

elements of a letter, place and date, addressees

address, opening and closing salutation and

signature.

On a separate sheet of paper, the participant

must indicate the following information: Number

of words of the letter, complete name and

address, Gender of Candidate, Age and /or Date

of Birth, Colored 22 Photo, Name and Address

of School/Grade or Year Level and Contact

Numbers (Telephone/Cellphone Number).

The first prize winner will receive

P20,000.00 cash; second prize - P15,000.00

and third prize - P10,000.00.

All winners will also be awarded medals,

plaques and albums of Philippine stamps. The top

three winning school will also received cash prizes

and a plaque from PHLPost.

The criteria for judging are structure as a

letter is 20%; adherence to the theme is 30%;

creativity is 30%; and use of language is 20%.

All entries must be mailed at any post offices

nationwide by Domestic Express (DEMS) or

Registered Mail only, not later than March 11,

2016 to: UPU 45TH International Letter

Writing Competition for Young People

(2016), Post Shop, Philately and Museum

Division, Philippine Postal Corporation, 3/F,

Central Post Office Building 1000 Liwasang

Bonifacio, Manila.

Children around the world are encouraged

to take a flight into their imagination, while

writing a letter to themselves in the future. The

competition also coincides with the 45th edition

of the international contest.

For more information, please call Arlene Tiquia

Labao, Project Officer of the Post Shop, Philately

and Museum Division at tel. no. 527-01-08 or

527-01-32.

P l e a se v i s i t PHLPos t webs i te at :

www.phlpost.gov.ph., Facebook account

@PHLpost, Twitter account @Ppostofficial and

Instagram account @phlpostofficial.(rmn/hfg/

PIA-7/PhilPost)

PHLPost invites students to join intl letter writing contest

Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU, January 29 (PIA) -- Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said politicians should not lose the trust given to

them by their constituents and repay this through service during a recent press conference of the 51st International

Eucharistic Congress (IEC) at the IEC pavilion.

IEC: Politicians should treat peoples trust as a gift

When you (politician) are elected, you are

given the trust and you must treat that as a

gift. Do not throw away that gift, said Cardinal Tagle who was one of the key speakers

of the congress.

According to Cardinal Tagle, in the

Eucharistic framework, politicians should not stop

treating the peoples trust as a gift and show it through service.

Cardinal Tagle said that just being in

politics, one already earned the trust of the

people.

The cardinal also called on restoring

family meals directing this to the wider

community as sharing a common table

develops trust, sharing and sensitivity.

But the challenge of reestablishing the family

meals is also hindered by several factors such as

traffic and technology, bared Cardinal Tagle.

In Manila, traffic mainly prevents the family from eating together as the husband arrives home

late from work, said Cardinal Tagle adding that traffic congestion at the capital should be

addressed.

The cardinal further said that with

well-to-do families, children opt to watch

television in their own room and have dinner

alone or prefer to play with their gadget

instead of sharing the same table during meal

times.

We need to restore family meals even at least once a week because in common meals, we

share common stories. It is not just about food

but also love, said Cardinal Tagle. Another advice given by the cardinal

is for elders to always listen to the young

amid an emerging different youth culture

today.

Elders need to understand the youths culture. We need to engage and consult them, if we want to promote the Eucharist to them, he

added. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

Fayette C. Rien

TAGBILARAN CITY, Jan. 29 (PIA) Because good things need to be sustained, a former foreign-funded project implemented in Bohol is now eyed to continue in 63 provinces via a new name: Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa

Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (KALSADA) Program.

T he mother program which gave birth to KALSADA is Provincial Roads

Management facility (PRMF), a project

assisted by the Australian Agency for International

Development (AusAID), according to Rosalinda

Paredes, former project coordinator.

PRMF is part of AusAIDs global economic development program, Paredes, who was guest at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA, said.

AusAID saw that a good road governance

plays a key role in the integral development of a

place, promotes connectivity, access to basic

services, opens up transportation, and ease of

mobility and perking up sleepy economies.

It was the first time that I saw a [foreign funded] project which funds infrastructure, Paredes said.

But PRMF was not just about physical works,

what it built were good secondary roads built in

line with the national standards that approximate

the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) blue book.

DPWHs blue book is a national standards manual for all national roads and their life spans

before needing necessary maintenance activities.

At the end of the Bohol project, PRMF

completed the rehabilitation of about 120

kilometers of secondary roads with funds reaching

P200 million, the determination of 14 core roads

which assure connectivity and access of

communities to services, the formulation of the

local roads manual, the recording of these roads as

assets and not liabilities, while helping

governments firm up its road sector map.

These road sections that were built by the

PRMF, in fact, proved beneficial when the

earthquake hit Bohol.

Much of the national roads then were

impassable as bridges toppled, the crucial roads

stayed on and provided alternate access, Paredes

claimed.

With the good track record, she shared that

it would be a great loss to the people if the

project terminates.

With the launching of the KALSADA

program in Bohol last week, some funds are

already set for two crucial road sections. Another

35 provinces who would be availing of the

KALSADA project have accordingly received their

certificates of fund allocation, according to

Paredes. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

New road program opens for LGUS

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Local ordinances help maintain peace and order says top MPS official

NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 2 (PIA) Being a chief of police in a less populated community of Almeria town and a shift to a more complex capital town of Naval, the center of economic activity in the province of Biliran, newly installed Chief of Police (COP)

of Naval, Police Chief Inspector (PCI) Nonito Zuasula looks at sleeping municipal ordinances to help maintain peace and

order in the community of mixed people from all walks of life.

PCI Zuasula believes local legislators created

their municipal ordinances to meet the civil

rights and protect every citizen, and ultimately

to maintain peace and order in the area.

Hence, a peaceful and ordely community

becomes free of criminality, which is in line

with Zuasulas prime objective of crime prevention and crime solution.

Zuasula who assumed his new post

in Naval on January 5, 2016, started

looking into long sleeping municipal ordinanc-

es of Naval such as prohibiting drinking spree

in the streets.

According to Zuasula, they have already

apprehended a group which they issued penalty

ticket to be paid at the municipal treasurers office for said violation.

He is also looking at the anti-smoking

ordinance of Naval which earned the Hall of

Fame for Red Orchid Award, a national

recognition for prohibiting smoking in public

places for environmental protection.

Aside from implementing local

ordinances in the municipality, PCI Zuasula

remains focused on the Philippine National

Polices (PNP) mandate of implementing special laws.

Zuasula reported three apprehensions for

violations of the anti-drugs law from January 5

to January 20.

Random checkpoints, police patrol, and

police visibility remain an effective strategy in

preventing crimes, he added. # (fj/PIA8 Biliran)

Ma. Lailani P. Tupaz

SoLeyte gets P 100M for Kalsada program

T he amount was sourced from the

Special Local Road Fund (SLRP) that

was taken from the Motor Vehicle

Users Charge (MVUC), and was coursed

through the Department of Interior and Local

Government (DILG), said Provincial Engr.

Nelson Tan.

At the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA Cable TV

program last week, Engr. Tan disclosed that all

the required papers had been submitted and

that he expected the fund to be downloaded

sooner so the two projects can start.

These are the provincial roads from barangay

Sto. Nino to Nonok which will eventually

connect this city to the municipality of Tomas

Oppus for five kilometers, and the other is the

Poblacion to Himakilo, linking Bontoc to

Sogod, a three kilometer span.

Tan said that the province was among the 27

provinces nationwide that were the first

recipients of the Kalsada program, a

project which was based on the

Provincial Roads Network Development Plan

(PRNDP) prepared and prioritized

by 16 multi-sectoral stakeholders of the

province.

The provincial government shouldered the 10%

cost counterpart of the DILG-led Kalsada

program fund, Tan also said. (mmp,

PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

Search for 2016 COPS open

The nationwide search recognizes gallant

police officers of the nation for their

milestone achievements in community

mobilization and organization for the

attainment of peace and order, Police Senior Inspector (PSI) Teodora Salarza, police

community relations (PCR) chief of the BPPO

said.

Salarza revealed the information when she

was guest during the PIA Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Biliran

together with PSI Martin Pardinas, administra-

tive officer of BPPO.

The lady police officer said that the search

for COPS, which is sponsored by the

Metrobank Foundation-Rotary Club of New

Manila East, gave the honor for more than a

decade to members of the Philippine National

Police (PNP) for their professionalism,

competence and integrity.

The 2016 search is open to all police

commissioned officers with the rank of

police inspector up to police senior

superintendent and police non-commissioned

officers with the rank of police officer 1 to

senior police officer 4 with minimum of seven

years in service.

Interested applicants only need to submit

a copy of the duly filled-up nomination form

and submit the same on or before February 12,

2016 at any PNP offices or in any PS Bank or

Metrobank branches nationwide, Salarza

further said.

Big prizes are at stake as each awardee will receive P400,000 cash prize, COPS trophy,

Metrobank Foundation medallion and PNP

plaque of merit, she informed. #(fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

NAVAL, Biliran, Feb. 2 (PIA) The Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO) announced to interested police officers in Biliran province that the prestigious nationwide search for the 2016 Countrys Outstanding Police Officers in Service (COPS) is now open to applicants.

Rodrigo S. Victoria

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 3 (PIA) -- This province stands to receive P 100 million for the concreting of two

provincial roads in the remote hinterland barangays that connect one municipality or city to another.

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Samar fisherfolks to venture in $26K danggit

farm

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 2 (PIA)Catbalogan fisherfolks will soon venture into sea farming instead of hunting.

D escribed by proponents as resilient

and resilience-enhancing Danggit

Farming, the project is funded by the

International Council for Local Environment

Initiatives- Asian Cities Climate Change

Resilience Network ICLEI -ACCCRN

Engagement Building-Small Grants Fund,

Southeast Asia.

The Eastern Visayas Network of NGOs

signed the memorandum of agreement on

January 30, 2016, with city Mayor Stephany

Uy-Tan and a Samar State University (SSU)

official serving as witness.

Vincent Marin of ICLEI said that this

project earned the approval of the funding

agency because it will help poor fisherfolks

and will help in climate change mitigation.

During the presscon, Don Mabulay, from

the EV Network of NGOs said that the project

intended for small fisherfolks will engage them

in a demo farm where some 30 of them will go

through an apprenticeship period with pay for

four months , to experience and learn danggit

farming.

When they complete the apprenticeship,

capitals will be loaned payable on installments

every harvest. Loaned fish cages are on

usufruct terms first-the beneficiaries will own

them only upon full payment.

Proponents claim that the industry of

boneless danggit, though gaining a significant

income has declining supply due to overfishing

of the siganus canaliculatus which grows in the

wild in the Maqueda Bay.

With the new scheme, the fish species will

be grown in fish pens to propagate where

conditions are controlled to ward off

predators.

Seagrasses will be propagated around the

fish farms, these with algae on the leaves

absorb the inorganic pollutants from the farms

and also become the habitat for the fries.

The project is different from growing

bangus as there is no need to supply feeds, the

siganid feed on planktons and algae that will be

provided by the seagrass. Aside from the

siganid, the specie Lambiyaw will be placed in

the same fish cages to co-exist, another species

hinok (sometime called goatfish) will also be

grown as it thrives on the droppings of the

siganid. (PIA8/nbquirante/ajc/Northern Samar)

Airport, seaport projects in SoLeyte underway

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 29 (PIA) -- Work on some detailed facilities at the airport in barangay Panan-awan, this

city is a continuing undertaking by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

I n addition, at least three seaport

projects in three towns of the province

can proceed as the bidding for these

projects was already finished, said Cong. Dami-

an Mercado in a radio broadcast last week.

At a conference with local media over the

weekend at Kinamot sa Abgao, the legislator

disclosed that a budget of P 70 Million was

already released by the DOTC for further

improvement of the citys airport infrastructure.

A separate, additional budget of P 160

Million was already forwarded to the DOTC

for more structures needed at the airport, the

lone lawmaker also said.

Hopes for the provinces premier air traffic to fully operate ran high when a

subsidiary of Cebu Pacific last year

listed several areas of concern the airline

company wanted addressed so by early 2017

their new fleet of airbus can have a debut

landing.

As to the seaport projects, Mercado had

mentioned in the radio program that these will

be located at the municipalities of Padre

Burgos, San Francisco, and Limasawa.

On Saturday, the new seaport located at

barangay Guadalupe, this city, was formally

opened with former DILG Secretary Mar Rox-

as in attendance.

In a related development, Rodolfo Mo-

rano , Ph i l i pp ine Por ts Au thor i t y

(PPA)-Maasin Port manager, said in a brief

interview with local media that the Guadalupe

seaport project cost P 59 Million.

Morano also revealed the cost of the

three other upcoming port projects, such as

Padre Burgos P 50 Million; San Francisco P 35 Million; and Limasawa P 8 Million.

He confirmed that bidding for these three

ports were already done, and that actual work

will follow as soon as possible. (mmp,

PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

Nimfa Quirante

DOH-8 leadsOplan Goodbye Bulate

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan.29 (PIA) The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas led the National Deworming Day as it launched Wednesday the Oplan Goodbye Bulate program at Dita Elementary School, Brgy. Dita, Julita Leyte with simultaneous deworming conducted in various schools in the region.

T he region has placed its target at more

or less 700, 000 school children in

region 8 to take the anthelminthic

(Albendazole/Mebendazole) 400 mg. tablet in

one day.

Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa, DOH-8 regional

media relations officer said the activity would

reduce the incidence of soil transmitted hel-

minths among school children.

In a statement, DOH Secretary Janette

Loreto-Garin said, soil transmitted helminthes

(STH) can cause poor physical growth, poor

intellectual and malnutrition among children.

To date, partial data showed that about

393, 372 school children took the

anthelminthic tablet administered in different

schools but health authorities hope to increase

the figure in the coming days.

Last July 29, 2015, about 665, 455 or

95.05 percent of the targeted children were

dewormed placing the region to the top 2

position among the regions in the country.

The Oplan Goodbye Bulate or the National School Deworming Day, is a strategy

of the Department of Health in coordination

with the Department of Education, to improve

the delivery of mass drug administration for

the prevention and control of lymphatic

filariasis, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted

helminthiasis. (ajc/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Alicia E. Nicart

Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Contributors

All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

Production and Layout

Edson J. Baares Lynnor C. Regalado

Regional Offices:

PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com

PIA 8, Childrens Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com