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The official e-Newsletter of PIA Visayas
Citation preview
Vol 6 Issue 11 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 March 14-20, 2016
Yu meanwhile said the Philippines
will officially host the 2017 ASEAN Leaders Summit of which Cebu is also being eyed
as one of the venues. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)
In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue ASEAN senior information officials in Cebu for confab
NHA to complete Yolanda housing units before Aquino‘s term ends
More on Region 8, pages 6-7.
Also CLICK Here...
UK grants zero-tariff for PHL products Leonard T. Pineda I
ILOILO CITY, March 14 (PIA6) --- There is good news for all Ilonggo traders and businessmen who want to export
their products to the United Kingdom (UK). British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said
that businesses and enterprises here can avail of the tariff-free access of their products to the UK market.
“The biggest opportunity for any business in the Philippines particularly over here is to take advantage of the
special offer the United Kingdom and the European Union have made,” he said.
He said the zero-tariff for Philippine products is in advance of the free trade agreement which was signed between
the European Union and the Philippines.
“It means that your mangoes, your vegetables, your garments, and whatever you think will sell in Europe can be
sold without a tariff,” he said. He said that businessmen now have many options on
how to ship their goods from here to direct flights in Manila to UK.
“This is something that business people should consider more seriously,” he said.
He added that their advocacy is more on investments in infrastructure for airports, ports, and other
facilities which will make trade and tourism conducive. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)
Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU (PIA) – The 14th Senior Officials Responsible for Information (SOMRI) Meeting Lapulapu City leading to the
13th Conference on ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI) chaired by Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. of
the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) is going on as of presstime here.
PCOO Usec. Jess Anthony YU, chairman of the pre-AMRI Conference of the 14th SOMRI Meeting, said the
event from March 14 to March 18 is attended by information senior officials or undersecretary level for the SOMRI and
information ministers or secretary level for the AMRI conference from the 10 ASEAN-member nations and three
dialogue-partners which are Japan, Korea and China. “Holding the event in Cebu is good for the local
tourism here as the delegates are information ministers and officials that can promote Cebu and spread and disseminate
information about Cebu and Lapulapu City, in particular,” said Yu.
The event is being held in Shangrila Mactan Resort in Lapulapu City and part of the itinerary is a tour around the
island provided by the Lapulapu City Government. Holding the event in Lapulapu City also cements the city
as an international events destination, said Lapulapu City Mayor Paz Radaza in the same press conference.
“Lapulapu City is known as an international events
destination and this is already proven as we have hosted a number of international events like the APEC, IEC and sports
(Ironman),” said Radaza. Usec. Yu on the other hand, said Cebu was not the
original venue as the meeting was supposed to take place in the capital. “But the delegates requested that it be held outside
Manila and preferably, near the beach area. Since Cebu is second to Manila with access to an
international airport, the venue was decided to take place here,” bared Yu.
The SOMRI chair said part of the agenda is the discussion on digital television and media information and communication
exchanges among ASEAN-member countries. “Official sessions are closed for media coverage while
only open are the opening ceremonies of both the SOMRI and the AMRI,” said Yu adding that the substantives that would
transpire would be disclosed only after the conclusion of the one-day AMRI Conference on Thursday in a press conference
by the AMRI Chair Sec. Coloma late afternoon.
More on Region 7, pages 4-5.
Also CLICK Here…
More on Region 6, pages 2-3.
Also CLICK Here…
EASTERN VISAYAS
Consuelo B. Alarcon
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 15 (PIA) – The National Housing Authority (NHA) in Eastern Visayas has
doubled efforts to complete the construction of Yolanda housing units in the city prior to the end of the term of
the Aquino administration. During the Panginsayod ha PIA recently, Ms. Marilyn
Lauzon, NHA project manager said that they are trying their best in order to meet the target date of completion which is
June 2016. But, Lauzon admitted that due to various challenges such
as weather condition and other unavoidable circumstances, the possibility of delay cannot be avoided.
She pointed out the processes required in land acquisition which took time considering that not all properties
in many areas are titled. In Eastern Visayas, 56, 140 housing units are
needed. Out of the said figure, 14, 433 housing units are for Tacloban alone.
To date, 8, 862 housing units were completed-4, 215 of which were physically completed and 4, 647 were partially
completed in the city. Lauzon informed that a total of 747 permanent houses
were already occupied by the beneficiaries-347 houses are located at Kawayanville 1 and 2; 47 permanent houses in
Kawayanville 3; 212 houses in Ridgeview Park and 103 in Villa Diana.
Meanwhile, four areas were already energized namely Ridgeview Park 1 located in Brgy. Cabalawan this city, Villa
Diana in brgy. Tagpuro and Tacloban North Villages located in Kawayanvilles 1, 2 and 3 and Villa Sofia.
Other beneficiaries would follow once the permit of occupancy will be issued by the city government of Tacloban
to more than one thousand occupants. It is estimated that each housing unit cost 290 thousand
pesos. (ajc/PIA-8)
WESTERN VISAYAS
CENTRAL VISAYAS
A formal turn-over of chairmanship of 14th
Senior Officials Meeting (SOMRI) from
Myanmar to Philippines was held March 15 at
the Shangri-La Mactan, Lapulapu City. The
formal turn-over is in line with the 14th
SOMRI Meeting and Related Meetings to be
held from March 14 - 18, 2016. (vvv/PIA Cebu)
Fire Prevention Month for Action Center
Kapihan sa PIA in Maasin City, March 15, 2016
with City Fire Marshall Kenith Casas, Fire
Officer II & IO-designate Raul Inocando Jr. and
Fire Officer I Earnswell Tan, hosted by ICM
Erna Gorne & Bong Pedalino. (PIA-8)
British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif
Ahmad provides updates on programs and
projects undertaken by the British government
in the country during a press conference held
held at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention,
Mar. 11, 2016. Also in the photo is PIA-6
Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet Mesa who
served as moderator for the interaction. (LTP/
PIA-Iloilo)
"Welcome To Cebu" dance and song number greet the
ministers and senior officials at the opening of the 13th ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information at Shangrila Mactan.
Lapulapu City (right) Mayor Paz Radaza delivered the welcome message for the delegates from the 10-ASEAN member nations
(left). (PIA7)
WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222
Women urged to fight for their rights, interest
KALIBO, Aklan, March 16 (PIA6) -- It is high time for women to put themselves at the forefront and participate in decision
making and be leaders in their own right.
T his, in essence, was the main message
of Aklan Vice Governor Gabrielle
Calizo-Quimpo in her talk during Aklan‟s
Opening Salvo of the Women‟s Month
celebration here on March 8 held at the lobby of
the Provincial Capitol Building.
Calizo-Quimpo emphasized in her talk that it
is important for women to be at the forefront of
decision-making to push the interests of women
in the agenda.
The lady vice governor said Aklanon women
can do this by starting at the smallest political unit
– the barangay, and eventually, if qualified, at the
municipal and provincial level, and be advocates of
the rights of women.
She cited as examples the various aspects
and situations where a woman‟s role as a decision
maker is vital – in Disaster Risks Reduction (DRR)
programs and in the Peace Process, where
there is a need to promote gender equality and to
ensure gender-responsive recovery through
lectures and seminars and the sharing of
knowledge down to the grassroots.
“The only way to achieve fulfillment of
programs of women at the lowest level is when
they become liberated, empowered and
respected in the community,” the vice governor
said, who, years earlier, also served as a
Sangguniang Panlalawigan member and the
first-ever female representative of the province of
Aklan.
Other provincial officials who gave messages
in the program were Aklan governor Florencio T.
Miraflores who was represented by SP Member
Soviet Russia de la Cruz, and Hon. Lillian Q,
Tirol, Committee Chair on Women, Children and
Family.
Meanwhile, apart from the messages
exhorting the important roles of women in the
society and citing achievements of the province in
championing Aklanon women‟s welfare and
protection, the opening salvo was also also an
opportunity for the province to make the women
pampered and loved by providing them free
health services, Make Over, and information from
other government agencies.
These came in the form of Blood Pressure
check up, pneumonia vaccines, blood typing and
dental examination through the Provincial Health
Office, Department of Health, Social Hygiene
Clinic, Philippine Association of Medical
Technologists and Philippine Red Cross; while the
Makeover for Women came in the form
hair-cutting, manicure/pedicure and massage
through the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).
Information Desks where also provided
where representatives from Philhealth, GSIS,
Public Attornye‟s Office, Public Employment
Service Office, Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office, and PNP Women‟s Desk
were on hand to provide answers to queries from
the public, especially women.
The Women‟s Month opening salvo was
spearheaded by the provincial government
through the Provincial Planning and Development
Office (PPDO) whose head, Engr. Roger M. Esto,
is the Co-Chair of the Aklan Gender and
Development Commission (AGADC).
By Venus G. Villanueva
DOH turns over TSeKaP equipment to Capiz LGUs
Alex Lumaque
ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 16 (PIA6) – Three hundred twenty – eight Tamang Serbisyo Para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya
(TSeKaP) packages were turned over by Sec. Janette L. Garin of the Department of Health (DOH) to local government units
(LGU) in the province last March 10 at the Capiz Gym here.
E ach of the health equipment package is
composed of thermometer, stethoscope,
blood pressure apparatus, dressing kits
glucometer and nebulizers.
“These packages endorsed to the LGUs will
be turned over by the Rural Health Units to
identified Barangay Health Stations (BHS) in
their locality,” said Capiz DOH head Dr. Elmer
Bucayan.
During the program, Sec. Garin has
thanked the LGUs and health workers in the
province for the voluntary help, commitment
and compassion in the health service delivery
activities.
“Those are the perfect ingredients that
allowed the DOH to achieve our strategies,
objectives and goals,” she stressed, adding that
the TSeKaP package is the effect of Daang
Matuwid governance by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino
III administration.
The DOH program makes primary health
care like preventive and promotive services
accessible to the population to keep them
healthy as well as well-informed on their health
condition.
The activity was graced by local officials led
by Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Sr., congressmen
Antonio Del Rosario and Fredenil Castro,
PhilHealth Board of Director Ronnie Dadivas,
DOH 6 director Marlyn Convocar and provincial
health officials, among others. (JCM/AAL/PIA6
Capiz)
DTI brings services to Caluya Island
SAN JOSE, Antique, March 15 (PIA6) - - The Department of Trade and Industry recently went to the Island town of Caluya
bringing with them their services and programs.
P rovincial Director Mercedes Young, on
March 11, 2016 visited the island
Municipality of Caluya to conduct various
activities to reach out to the community
residents.
Young went to see the BS Entrepreneurship
Students of University of Antique- Caluya Campus
where she was the Resource Speaker on
Entrepreneurship Seminar.
Young encouraged the students to open
their entrepreneurial mindset while learning new
strategies. She discussed the topics on risks and
rewards of entrepreneurship and some tips on
how to be successful in business.
Wilson Alian, Trade and Industry
Development Specialist of DTI checked on the
products of Imba Fisherfolks and Seaweeds
Farmers Association. The association produces
variety of seaweed-based products such as chips,
canton, kropeck and pickles.
DTI will extend further assistance to them
through consultancy on packaging and labeling to
improve the products marketability.
Caluya is also one of the beneficiaries of
Timbangan ng Bayan project of DTI. During the
visit Municipal Treasurer Efren Decena also
showed DTI the way this heavy duty weighing
scales served the consumers of Caluya Public
market. The other unit was brought to the Public
Market of Semirara.
As to regulations of business establishments,
DTI Information Officer Engr. Lynna Joy Cardinal
likewise conducted market monitoring and check
on the compliance of stores to fair trade laws.
She conducted an inspection of their
compliance to Business Name Registration, Price
Tag Law and Product Standards Law.
Cardinal also conducted registration of
business name. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)
Pilar S. Mabaquiao
WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 14 (PIA6) – A total of 30 Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) from Negros
Occidental were recognized for being ―good‖ borrowers of the Department of Agrarian Reform‘s Agrarian Production Credit
Program (APCP).
T he ARBOs from the province were
recognized during the 2nd Agri-Fisheries
Credit Program Assessment and
Planning Workshop for Visayas-Mindanao on
March 10 at the Mallberry Business Suite in
Cagayan de Oro.
They were awarded for paying on time,
since the inception in 2013 of the APCP,
a five-year credit and capacity development
program designed to respond to the credit needs
of ARBs on various economic projects such as
agricultural crop production, agri-enterprise and
livelihood projects.
These borrowers also followed the rules,
regulations and criteria set by DAR in order to
avail of the APCP.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala gave
the award, a plaque of recognition, to 19 ARBOs
from southern Negros and 11 ARBOs from the
north.
The 19 ARBOs from southern Negros
are Hacienda Pangulayan ARBF Association
of Bago City; Dama Farmworkers ARB
Association of La Castellana; Candumarao Cluster
Association of Hinigaran; Estela Agrarian Reform
Cooperative of La Carlota City; Hacienderos
Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Bago City; Haci-
enda Agueda ARB Association of La Castellana;
Hacienda Cahilamunan ARB Association of La
Castellana;
Hacienda Esperanza ARB Association of La
Carlota City; Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca ARC of La
Castellana; Hacienda Siga-siga ARB MPC of La
Castellana; Hacienda Trinidad MPC of La
Castellana; Minoro-Isabel ARB Association of La
Castellana; Occidental Negros ARB Planters‟
Association (ONARBPA) of Kabankalan City;
Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative
of Pontevedra; Viscaya Agrarian Reform
Cooperative of Pontevedra; San Enrique
Multi-Purpose Cooperative of San Enrique;
Kasuco Workers Agricultural Cooperative of
Kabankalan City; Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform
Cooperative of Cauayan and Mataba Women‟s
Association of Kabankalan City.
Meanwhile, the ARBOs from the northern
portion of the province that were also recognized
were Dalayapan ARB Association; Don Esteban
ARB Association; Hacienda Anita Farmworkers
Association; PFFC Workers and ARB MPC;
Hacienda Bernadita ARB MPC; Bulilis MPC;
Cambaol FMPC; Libertad MPC; CALIDAFA;
CARP UBMPC and San Jose ARB MPC. (JCM/
CBA/PIA6-Negros Occidental)
DAR awards ‗good‘ APCP borrowers
Carlson B. Alelis
ILOILO CITY, March 16 (PIA6) — This year‘s World Water Day Celebration on March 22 revolves on the theme ―Water and
Jobs‖, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-6.
T he Environmental Management Bureau of
the DENR is leading the activities for the
celebration.
Atty. Jonathan Bulos, EMB regional
director, said the theme underscores the
importance of water and jobs in transforming
people‟s lives.
“Businesses use water in their daily
operations, and the water industry and
water –related services are instrumental in
improving people‟s lives by giving them jobs,”
Bulos said.
The UN World Water Development
Report of 2015 stated that there are about 1.5
billion people who work in water-related
sectors and millions of them are unrecognized
and unprotected. The EMB will spearhead the
clean-up of identified esteros in Iloilo City,
together with the city government and the “adopt
-an-estero” partners, on March 19.
“Cleaning the estero may be a small thing,
including picking up garbage, but this collective
effort help our communities have clean esteros
for water to flow,” Ninfa Adolfo, chief of Special
Projects Section of the EMB.
Meanwhile, DENR-6 Regional Director Jim
Sampulna said that managing water resource is
important as it impacts on the economy and the
environment.
“There are still so many things to learn
about water-related issues,” Sampulna said, adding
that these issues transcends the other issues the
society faces today. On the other hand,
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the local
government units has an important role in
ensuring that the water bodies in their
respective areas are safe for its intended use.
“LGUs must take an active role in
rehabilitating the dying rivers, lakes and
other water bodies to benefit the people,” Paje
added.
The celebration of World Water Day
started in 1992 when the UN Conference on
Environment and Development recommended for
an observance on water.
T h e U n i t e d N a t i on s G e n e r a l
Assembly responded by designat ing
March 22, 1993 as the first World
Water Day, and has since then been celebrated
annually. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)
World Water Day focuses on ‗Water and Jobs‘
Elsa Subong
ILOILO CITY, March 15 (PIA6) --- The Department of Health (DOH)-6 called on the local government units in (LGUs) Region
6 for the strict implementation of Republic Act No. 9482 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.
LGUs urged to follow Anti-Rabies Act
Leonard T. Pineda I
D r. Elvie Villalobos, DOH-6 Head for
Infectious Disease and Environmental
and Occupational Health Cluster, said
that LGUs play a huge role in rabies control.
“The implementation of the Anti-Rabies Act
depends on the LGUs so there should be strict
enforcement on their part,” he said.
According to the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007,
the LGUs in their respective localities are tasked
to ensure that all dogs are properly immunized,
registered and issued a corresponding dog tag for
every immunized and registered dog.
The LGUs should also strictly enforce dog
impounding activities and field control to
eliminate stray dogs and ensure that dogs are
leashed or confined within the premises of the
owner‟s house or owner‟s fenced surroundings.
Likewise, the LGUs should also allocate
funds to augment the implementation of the
National Rabies Prevention and Control
Program, particularly on the financing of supplies
and human and dog vaccines needed for
immunization.
The DOH also cited the responsibility
of the pet owners, as per the Anti-Rabies Act of
2007.
The main responsibility of pet owners is to
vaccinate and register their dogs.
Pet owners who refuse to have their dog
vaccinated against rabies shall be liable to pay for
the vaccination of both the dog and the individuals
bitten by their dog.
There are penalties for pet owners who
violate the law.
These sanctions include a P2,000 fine for
owners who refuse to immunize or register their
dogs, and a P25,000 fine for owners who refuse
to pay for the medical expense of a victim bitten
by their dog. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo).
CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444
VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, Mar. 14 (PIA) – Renewable energy firm Energy Development Corporation (EDC) seeks to
expand its geothermal output in Negros Oriental.
Renewable energy to expand geothermal
output in NegOr
T he company seeks to expand its output from
222.5 megawatts (MW) to 282.5MW in which additional 20MW will be allocated for
its Nasuji Power Plant and the remaining 40MW will
be reserved for its future developments. The company is applying for an Environment
Compliance Certificate (ECCC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) in line with its proposed expansion.
As a requirement in securing an ECC, a public was held to solicit opinions from different sectors on
the proposed EDC expansion. EDC representatives were present in a public
hearing held recently at Yeva Gymnasium in Valencia
town along with hundreds of representatives coming from the religious sector, business, grassroots, and environmental groups.
Engr. Vicente Omandam, EDC project manage-
ment senior manager of its Negros Island Geothermal Business Unit (NIGBU), clarified that the expansion will cover 30 hectares inside EDC‟s 5,000
hectares development area. Aside from this, he also noted that the
company is taking necessary steps and considering all possible measures including engineering designs to
minimize the number of trees that will be affected by
the expansion. He also stated the company‟s commitment in
planting 100 trees to replace those that were cut down.
He also clarified that no new power plants will
be built in the expansion but will install equipment that will harness the steam beneath the earth.
As part of the requirements in securing an
ECC, EDC tapped consultancy firm GHD to make an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of its existing geothermal facility in this town.
Dr. Felixberto Roquia was among the experts
who conducted the EIA presented some notable findings of the EIA during the public hearing.
Meanwhile, Robert Dy, a representative of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (NOCCI), considers the expansion as a
welcome development since it can create employment for Valencianons and produce additional
income in the municipality. He acknowledges that there is a tradeoff when
development projects like this happens, but noted
that geothermal energy is cheaper than solar energy. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
TAGBILARAN CITY, Mar. 16 (PIA) -- Coinciding with the 451st anniversary of the Blood Compact, the City Government of
Tagbilaran commemorated it with a triple celebration which showcases Tagbilaran, as the City of Friendship.
451st Blood Compact anniversary marked with triple celebration
E arly today, Mayor John Geesnell „Baba‟ Yap II
led the time capsule laying for the P54-million Bohol Friendship Park in Baran-
gay Bool.
Today‟s occasion also witnessed the grand launching of the Saulog Tagbilaran 2016 festivities and Mutya sa Tagbilaran 2016 where the 15 lovely candidates graced the event to represent their
respective barangays. The Vanguardians Dance Company portrayed
the much-celebrated first International Treaty of
Friendship between Boholano chieftain Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi during the commemorative program this
morning held at the soon-to-be Bohol Friendship
Park in Bool.
Gov. Edgar Chatto, Cong. Rene Relampagos, Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim, Bohol Friendship Park Committee Head Peter Dejaresco, Bohol First
Lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto, Tagbilaran City First Lady Jane Cajes-Yap, City Sangguniang Bayan members led by Vice Mayor Toto Veloso graced the triple celebration.
Chatto congratulated the City Government on the triple celebration which he said showcases Tagbilaran as the City of Friendship and its tourism,
culture, and history as a microcosm of Bohol as a province and the life of its people.
The governor turned over today to Mayor Yap
and Vice Mayor Veloso the last tranche of funding for
the Bohol Earthquake Assistance sub projects in
Tagbilaran City, including the City Hall. Also turned over today was emergency shelter
assistance fund and cash for work fund for some
1,200 earthquake affected families in the city. Mayor Yap, for his part, said the activities
are a contribution to the promotion of unique heritage and the presentation of its history as a living
experience. He said the activities depict the universal
message of friendship and unity and also showcases
Tagbilaran City as a tourism destination itself and not just a gateway to the paradise that is Bohol. (ecb/PIA7-Bohol)
Elvira C. Bongosia
CEBU CITY, March 17 (PIA) -- Cases of violence against women (VAW) are on the rise in Cebu City and Cebu province.
I n 2014, there were 568 physical injuries and
47 psychological abuse cases recorded in the city, according to records from the Women
and Children Protection Center (WCPC) at Cebu
City Police Office. However, at the end of 2015, the number of
cases rose to 846 for physical injuries and 125 for psychological abuse.
Although the official count has yet to be collated for the first two months this year, WCPC officials already noted an increase.
“Our reports are done quarterly, but for January and February this year, we already see an increase in the cases,” said PO3 Geneve Undalok of
Cebu City WCPC during the Kapihan sa PIA held at the plenary hall of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) yesterday.
In Cebu province, VAW cases have also increased according to P/Sr. Insp. Marginette Yosores who heads the WCPC at Cebu Provincial
Police Office.
Yosores said majority of the VAW cases recorded in her office are from Talisay City followed by Bogo City.
Both WCPC officers attribute the increase to higher awareness among women victims of domestic abuse on where to go and what they need to do to avail of the assistance from WCPC.
“The cases are strictly confidential. In fact, we have what we call as the pink blotter to log VAW cases. They are not recorded in the regular police
blotter,” explained Yosores. However, authorities note that VAW victims
need to be more empowered as only a small
percentage of abused women who seek the help of WCPC actually end up filing cases against their abusive partners.
Of the total cases handled by Cebu City‟s WCPC, only around 16% of them file cases, said Undalok.
One reason for this is due to the women‟s lack
of financial independence, said Atty. Virginia Palanca-Santiago, president of the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW), Inc.
“Most of them are economically dependent on their husbands, and this forces them to stay in the abusive relationship for years. We have had clients who endure the abuse for as long as 40 years,” said
Santiago. She urged women who are victims of abuse to
be empowered and stand up for their rights.
LAW Inc. is a non-government organization that offers free legal aid to women victims of abuse and violence.
The forum held by Philippine Information Agen-cy-Cebu is in line with this year‟s Women‟s Month celebration in March with the theme: “Kapakanan ni
Juana, Isama sa Agenda.” (rmn/PIA7 -Cebu)
Violence against women cases up in Cebu City
Rachelle M. Nessia
CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555
TAGBILARAN CITY, March 14, (PIA) — A key officer of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bohol lauded the
government's move to decentralize the agency‘s recruitment to afford the sourcing for more personnel who are familiar with
their areas of responsibility.
F ire Chief Inspector Antonio Ortiz, Bohol
acting provincial fire marshal, called the proposed BFP plan to bring recruitment
to the towns a positive step that allows them to
position the right men for the task at hand. Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA tackling Fire
Prevention, Ortiz said that the bureau practice of a
centralized hiring of firemen allows displacement of
men and separation from their families for periods of time on duty.
Moreover, with firemen‟s assignments, the
need to familiarize with the territory can bear the difference between a quicker fire response and
rescue.
Many believe that a decentralized hiring of firemen can motivate local government units to donate lots as an investment.
Towns without fire stations can have their own fire stations funded by the BFP with a fire truck and manpower complement.
This, however, is possible if the town positively
responds to the necessary land donation for the fire station to sit on.
The move to decentralize the hiring is an added
bet for the towns to respond, considering that the fire bureau puts up a P2.3 million building, another
P2 million fire truck and manpower complement,
which can be from their town. For towns without fire stations now,
responding to fire alarms can take a considerably
longer time as the response would have to come from the neighboring towns where they are clustered.
In fire alarms, after a fire break-out, crucial
minutes of response is necessary to put the fire in control, one which can hardly be attained with a fire station many minutes away. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/
Bohol)
Decentralized hiring of local firemen lauded
Rey Anthony H. Chiu
DUMAGUETE CITY, Mar. 14 (PIA) – Broadcast journalist and 2015 Marshall McLuhan awardee Joseph Morong encourages
young people to see the issue of the Mindanao peace process in a wider perspective.
Youths urged to look at peace process in wider perspective
M orong, who is a senior reporter of GMA-7,
was in Silliman University recently to give a talk on “Communicating the Message of the
Bangsamoro” as part of the Marshall McLuhan Forum
Series on Responsible Media which was sponsored by the Canadian Embassy.
Students from Silliman University and Negros Oriental State University, most of them enrolled in
mass communication, attended the forum. In his talk, Morong told students to view the
issue of the peace process and the Bangsamoro not
only through the lens of the Mamasapano debacle
but also through its historical context and other related issues.
He pointed out that there is a tendency to get emotional and become biased on the issue if they will only see it from the aspect of the Mamasapano
tragedy without having prior knowledge on the peace process and the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
He showed his audience the result of a survey
conducted by the Social Weather Station (SWS) in June 2015 which reveal that 44% of the respondents have little knowledge on the BBL while 37% say they
have no knowledge on the BBL, 16% have partial but sufficient knowledge on the topic, and only 3% have extensive knowledge on the issue.
The problem goes back to the colonial
period when the Treaty of Paris was signed and the Philippines was turned over by Spain to America.
Prior to this, early Muslims in Mindanao had
already established a political and military system in
island which became the reason why Spanish colonizers failed to conquer the island, therefore
Mindanao at that time was not subjugated to Spanish political existence and was not added to the Spanish colonies in the country.
However, with the signing of the Treaty in 1898, Mindanao became part of the Philippine
territory that was sold by the Spaniards to the
Americans. The broadcast journalist acknowledged that
there was a lack of focus in the media in presenting
the historical context of the Bangsamoro in the news and there was overemphasis given on the Mamasapano tragedy.
This was also reflected in the study conducted
by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) on the Coverage of the BBL, which he also presented in the forum.
Morong believes the way to solve Mindanao‟s
problems is to set aside prejudices on Muslims. He emphasized to his audience that they should
always remember that they are the same with the young people in the Bangsamoro states – they have dreams and they are also Filipinos. (rmn/ral/
PIA7-Negros Oriental)
Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan
TAGBILARAN CITY, March 15 (PIA) — Shell fish ban in the waters off Dauis town remains in place after ten months, along
with five more bays and coastal waters across the Visayas which have been tested positive for paralytic shellfish poison beyond
the regulatory limits, said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Director Atty. Asis Perez.
Bohol red tide alert on shellfish ban continues
B FAR has warned people against harvesting,
selling, buying and eating shellfish and other bottom feeders from these areas.
Other than Dauis in Bohol, also with
continuing threat of paralytic shellfish poison commonly associated with red tide are the coastal waters of Daram Island in Daram, Western Samar, Cambatutay Bay also in Western Samar,
coastal waters of Pilar in Capiz, Coastal waters of Naval, in Biliran Island province as well as in the coastal bays of Leyte town in Leyte.
Atty. Perez said that through Shellfish Bulletin No. 8, series of 2016 dated March 8, 2016, based on the latest laboratory results done by BFAR and the
Local Government Units, all shellfish and acetes sp
or alamang gathered from the areas listed above are
not safe for human consumption. On the other hand, fish, squids, shrimps
and crabs form there may be safe for human
consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly with the internal organs such as gills and intestines removed before cooking, BFAR advised.
It may be recalled that in June of last year,
around 12 people in Tagbilaran and Dauis areas were rushed to local hospitals after eating shellfish gathered from specific locations mentioned.
This also prompted BFAR to conduct a study and eventual issuance of an advisory for algal bloom, which is commonly known as red tide.
Any shellfish or shrimps, bottom feeders that
happen to feed on the algal bloom would tend to
ingest the poison, which when eaten by man, causes paralysis, upset stomach, vomiting, nausea and disorientation, according to health authorities.
Local fishery authorities continue to urge people to keep off from said areas, and especially refraining from transporting what they could gather to other areas to sell.
Dauis authorities as well as BFAR Bohol Leo Bongalos, who incidentally comes from the town, have been reportedly monitoring the
implementation of the BFAR shellfish ban, even as the one-month red tide scare has rendered many shell fish gathering and trading families helpless. (rac/
PIA-7/Bohol)
Rey Anthony H. Chiu
EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666
CSC-8 still accepts nominations for HAP search
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 15 (PIA) --- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office 8 announced that
nominations for 2016 Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees will be accepted until March 31, 2016.
T his is part of the Commission‟s
advocacy of promoting excellence
and recognizing as well as rewarding
civil servants for outstanding performance,
contribution and achievements and or
consistent manifestation of exemplary ethical
behavior.
In pursuance to Republic Act 6713
otherwise known as the “Administrative Code
of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees”, the CSC established the Honor
Awards Program (HAP) consisting of the
Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award, the
Outstanding Public Officials and Employees
Award or Dangal ng Bayan Award and the Civil
Service Commission Pagasa Award.
Heads of agencies and government
workers are encouraged to submit
nominations to this prestigious search.
Nomination forms and guidelines maybe
secured from CSC regional and field offices in
the region or maybe downloaded at the CSC
website www.csc.gov.ph.
For more inquiries, the HAP
secretar iat may also be reached
through telephone numbers (02) 931-7993 and
9 3 2 0 3 8 2 o r e m a i l a d d r e s s
es: [email protected] and hapsecretariat
@yahoo.com. (ajc/PIA-8)
Consuelo B. Alarcon
Biliran candidates ink covenant for 2016 polls
Rodrigo S. Victoria
OSCA seeks payout for 860 senior citizens‘ social pension
A ccording to Felisa Diola, OSCA
president in Maasin City, some 860
indigent senior citizens need to catch
up in the preparations of the required
documents to be completed before the onset
of the local campaign period otherwise payout
of their social pension shall be postponed after
the election period.
Diola said some 800 indigent senior
citizens will be receiving P1,500.00 each for the
period April-June, 2015 for its social pension
receivables while other 60 newly registered
beneficiaries are set to receive at P6,000.00
each for the period from January- December
2016.
The social pension vouchers for the newly
registered beneficiaries in the city are prepared
separately hence the difference in the amount
to be received from the first batch of indigent
senior citizens, she said.
She is urging the beneficiaries of the social
pension on the completion of the requirements
or seek the assistance from their younger
relatives to fast track in the preparations of
documents needed.
Meanwhile, the city government
initiated- social pension for selected senior
citizens at P500 per month is definitely
suspended making way for the bulky
preparations of social pensions paid by the
national government thru the DSWD, Diola
added.
The city-initiated social pension shall be
paid out after the election period, she said.
(esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, March 14 (PIA) - The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in Maasin City seeks to
complete the requirements for the hundreds of indigent senior citizens needed to payout for their social pension in the city
soonest.
Erna S. Gorne
NAVAL, Biliran, March 16 (PIA) - Candidates in Biliran province for the synchronized local and national elections on May 9,
2016 recently signed a covenant for the conduct of an honest, authentic, peaceful, clean and credible elections.
“ A covenant is a sacred vow that
each candidate must obey and follow,”
Cajipo said in her message to the local
candidates present during the covenant signing
of elective position of member of the House of
Representatives, Governor, Vice-Governor
and Sangguniang Panlalawigan members held
recently at the Naval Gymnasium.
In the covenant, candidates are refrain
from using force, violence or organized
armed groups to threaten, terrorize and
intimidate the voters to disrupt the holding of
free, honest, orderly, peaceful and credible
elections.
PSSupt.Lito T. Bigoy, provincial director,
Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO), who
was present in the covenant signing advised the
candidates not to engage in any violent act in
order to preserve the peaceful situation of the
entire province. He shared his experience when he was
still a city director in a city in Western Samar
where some politicians engaged private armed
groups to terrorize voters and ensure their
victory during elections.
He expressed hopes for the same
not to happen in Biliran this time under his
watch.
Earlier, the provincial office of the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) here,
headed by Atty. Karen C. Cajipo, provincial
election supervisor, in coordination with the
municipal election officers of the eight towns in
the province, conducted a series of lectures on
the Fair Elections Act and initiated the signing
of a covenant among the local candidates in the
province.
Vote buying, giving and offering or
promise of money, gifts or anything of
value were the things also emphasized among
the candidates which they must renounce and
refrain from doing.
Candidates and their supporters are prohibited from posting all propaganda
materials in areas not designated by COMELEC
as common poster and they are also obliged
to remove all campaign materials posted
outside the CPA at their own expense within
three days from notice.
Comelec assigned CPAs in every town in
the province of Biliran where candidates can
post their campaign materials.
It also reminded the candidates
during the covenant to follow the rules and
regulations promulgated by Comelec in
bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms
or other deadly weapons and not engage
themselves in any illegal activity and or
employ security personnel or bodyguards for
violent purposes.
Candidates were also warned not to
tamper the election returns and certificate of
canvass to avoid penalty for criminal acts.
They were also told to abide and follow
all election laws, rules and regulations promul-
gated for the conduct of elections and promote respect and professionalism to fellow
candidates. (FJ/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)
EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777
Biliran local execs support women‘s welfare
NAVAL, Biliran, March 14 (PIA) – Top male local executives in Biliran province strongly support women‘s welfare as shown
in their presence during the 21st Women‘s Congress held at the Naval State University (NSU) gymnasium on March 8, also
celebrated as International Women‘s Day.
M aripipi Mayor Uldarico Macorol
sympathized with h is women
constituents as he joined in the
parade around the town proper of Naval
where some 2,655 women from the 132
barangays and 45 organized sitios joined in the
daylong activity.
The Women‟s Congress was graced
by Congressman Rogelio Espina of the
lone district of Biliran, Governor Gerardo
Espina, Jr., Vice-Governor Eriberto Tubis,
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Gerard
Espina, Caibiran Mayor Eulalio Maderazo,
and Mayor Dominador Agajan of the
municipality of Almeria.
In its effort to empower Biliran
women, the Provincial Council for
Women‟s Welfare, Inc. (PCWWI) headed by
PCWWI President, Dr. Cecil Espina, set a
plenary session where topics on gender
sensitivity, Magna Carta of Women or Repulic
act 9710, parents‟ role in drug prevention,
breast cancer awareness and prevention,
and women‟s role during disasters were
discussed.
To enrich Biliran women‟s personality in
the lighter side of the congress, they
competed in folk dancing, slogan making with
deliberation, and aerobics contest.
The municipality of Almeria championed
in the folk dance competiton, followed by
Naval and Caibiran.
For the slogan contest, Culaba won
the 1st place, Maripipi – 2nd place, and
Kawayan – 3rd place.
The best in hataw and aerobics contest
was grabbed by Caibiran, 2nd place went
to Naval, and 3rd place - Almeria.
The best in parade was awarded to the
municipality of Almeria, 2nd place to Naval,
and 3rd place to Maripipi.
At the end of the day-long activity, the
women participants expressed contentment of
the activities prepared for them and requested
the organizers to sustain the programs for
women in the coming years.
PCWWI, Women‟s Organization for
Rural Development-Kalipunan ng Lahing
Pilipina (WORD-KALIPI), and women
employees from both government and private
offices in coordination with the provincial
government of Biliran opened the Women‟s
Month Celebration on March 1 with a
motorcade around the province of Biliran
carrying the theme “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama
sa Agenda!” (FJ/mlt/PIA8 Biliran)
Gov‘t allocates P1.28B for North Samar 2nd District infras
CATARMAN, Northern Samar, 14 March (PIA) – The national government through the Department of Public Works and
Highways allocates around P1.28 billion for infrastructure projects to be implemented in the second district of the province of
Northern Samar, this was learned from DPWH, NSSDEO PIO Unit.
F unded based on General Appropriation
Act (GAA) of the Department‟s 2016
Infrastructure Program, the project
specifically includes Asset Preservation of
National Roads covering preventive
maintenance/highway development and
management, rehabilitation reconstruction and
upgrading of damaged paved national roads
and rehab, reconstruction of national roads
with slips, slope collapse and landslides, among
others.
Another major projects funded for 2016
is Network Development, under this
category is the construction of missing
gaps connecting national roads and
off-carriageway improvement including
drainage. Part of the budget is also allocated to
the construction and maintenance of bridges
along national roads, speicifically retrofitting
and strengthening of permanent bridges.
In a meeting with technical personnel and
contractors early this year which was called by
DPWH-Northern Samar Second District
Engineering Office (NSSDEO), District
Engineer Ferdinand Briones advised
contractors to strictly adhere to the project
schedules and avoid incurring negative slippages
in the implementation of the project.
Dependent on the budget apportionment
of each project, the implementation will be
undertaken by either DPWH Central Office,
Regional Office or DPWH Northern Samar
2nd District Engineering Office. (ADiaz)
Mary Lailani Pitao-Tupaz
SoLeyte hospitals include elderly, PWDs in health care
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, March 14 (PIA) -- The provincial government here takes care of hospitalization costs in case
resident Senior Citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) would be admitted in any of the public hospitals managed by the
province.
T his was made possible through an
ordinance passed by the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan in its regular session
on October 12, 2015, and approved for
implementation by Gov. Roger Mercado on
October 29, 2015.
Ordinance Number 2015-77 provides a
unified hospital rates in all the provincial
hospitals and classified patients according to
their paying capacity, in which those unable to
pay will be absorbed using the indigency fund
set aside for this purpose from the provincial
coffers.
Another source of the indigency fund that
can be utilized was from the Department of
Health (DOH) under the name Medical Health
Care Assistance Program (MHCAP).
The ordinance specified that admission
costs of senior citizens and PWDs, in excess of
Philhealth claims, is charged 100% to either or
both the DOH-granted MHCAP and the
indigency fund initiative of the provincial
government.
Aside from old people and the
differently-abled ones, admitted patients who
are employees of the provincial government
are also covered by this privilege, according to
Section 3, No. 2 of the said Ordinance, a copy
of which was obtained by PIA.
The public hospitals in other places of the
province under the provincial government, in
addition to the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez
Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) in
barangay Dongon, this city, are Padre Burgos
Community Hospital, Sogod District
Hospital, Pintuyan District Hospital, Anahawan
District Hospital, and Hinunangan District
Hospital. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)
Marcelo Pedalino
Ailene Diaz
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.
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Editorial Consultants
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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. Bañares 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: [email protected]/ [email protected]
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