P140-M allocated to CV LGUs for coastal management project

CEBU CITY, March 15 (PIA) --- More than P140-M funds were allocated to nine local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas under the Integrated Coastal Resources Management Project (ICRMP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This after the ICRMP Regional Project Steering Committee (RPSC) approved the distribution of said funds

By Hazel F. Gloria

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VOL. 2 l NO.11 l March 16, 2012

Poverty and women's social issues linked, says Cebu prof

CEBUCITY,March12(PIA)--Filipinowomenarepronetoprostitutionandhumantraffickingsyndicates of poverty, thus there is a need for education campaigns and passing of legislation such as the local ordinance on cyber pornography. This was the assessment of University of the Philippines-Cebu College associate professor Dr. RhodoraBucoywhosaidthatthereisadefinitelinkbetweenpovertyandthesesocialills.Thus,sheinformation and education campaigns are needed to help address such social issues. “Though much have been achieved by Filipino women today compared to before, there is still a lot to be done to attain total women empowerment,” Bucoy stressed during a recent PIA forum that tackledthecelebrationofMarchasWomen’sMonth.Sheexpressedhopethattheordinanceoncyberpornographywillbefinalizedthismonth. BucoyisalsothecoordinatorofSidlak–GenderResourceCenter7,anon-governmentorganizationthat fights for themagna carta forwomenparticularly on gender anddevelopment andwomenempowerment. The pro-women advocate also hailed the active involvement of the Cebu City Government on passing measures and initiating programs that promote the overall welfare of women. Among the pro-women legislative ordinances passed in the Cebu City Council included on anti-trafficking,kasambahayandtheGenderandDevelopment(GAD)CodeofCebuCity. AccordingtoCamilaSantinaoftheCebuCityWomen’sandFamilyAffairsCommission,“CebuCityCouncilorLeahJapsonisworkinghardtoensurethattherightsofwomenarealwaysrecognizedwhich is why she made sure that local legislations for women are instituted.” “Therewillalsobeapublichearingonthecity’santi-discriminationordinanceonMarch14,”Santina said. AmongtheactivitiesthatwereorganizedfortheobservanceofWomen’sMonthinCebuCityincludedaforumandinformationsharingonthe‘RightsofMigrantWorkers’lastMarch9andanotherforumonMarch21onClimateChangeasthethemethisyearcenterson‘WomenWeatheringClimateChange:GovernanceandAccountability,Everyone’sResponsibility.’(PIA-Cebu)

to identified LGUs for their social, environmental infrastructure, and facilities development. LGUs in Cebu province will receive thebiggestsharewithP88,339,682.50or 63.04 percent. Sixmunicipalitieswill benefit from the project, namely:Aloguinsan for the construction of riverbankprotectionfacilitywithaprojectcost ofP7,036,815.50;Ronda for theexpansionandrehabilitationofRonda

wharfwithabudgetofP19,840,397.00;Alcoy for the improvement and expansion of Level III water systemwithP19,813,920.00 Other municipalities in Cebu to benefitfromtheprojectare:Carmenforthe construction of Cantumog-Luyang river flood control system with an allotmentof30millionpesos;Dalaguetefor the construction of Dalaguete wastewater treatment facilitywith 6.5

By Fayette C. riñen

millionpesos;andSamboanforthe construction of ecotourism parkandvisitorcenterwithabudget of P5,148,550.00. D E N R - 7 R e g i o n a lExecutive Director MaximoDichoso said the protection, rehabilitation, conservation and governance o f the country’s coastal resourcesdepend on the partnership and collaboration among the local government units and other stakeholders. DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje has instructed the regional office to provide the needed technical or administrative assistance to said LGUs so the funds would be released the soonest after all mandatory requirements are complied with. Siqui jor province wi l l also get a total P51.8-M or 36.96 percent coveringthree municipalities, namely: Enrique Villanueva for the construction of ecotourism complex and facilities withP5.9-M;Larenaforuplandandcoastal ecotourismwith 15.9million pesos, and San Juan with 30 million pesos for the establishment of Level III water system. D E N R l e a d s t h e implementation of ICRMP with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)and the Global Environment Facil i ty (GEF) supported by other national agencies l ike Bureau of Fisheriesand Aquat ic Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic Deve lopment Authority, Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Management in partnership with LGUs.(rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)

D u m a g u e t e C i t y Administrator WilliamAblong seek ing thesupport of women for the successful enforcement of City Ordinance No. 231 that regulates the use of plastic. The ordinance is set to be implemented in August this year. Ablong wasoneofthespeakersduring the March 14, 2012 Kapihan forum held to mark theWomen'sMonth celebration this March. (RMN/PIA)

NEGROS ORIENTAL

Applicants urged to visit City Tourism Office

to be listed DUMAGUETE CITY, March 15 (PIA) -- A two-day mobile passport service will be done in Dumaguete City onMay5and6,2012. Personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Bacolod ConsularOfficewillbeattheRobinson’sPlace to entertain applications for new andrenewalofexpiredpassportsfrom8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 5, and 8:00a.mto3:00p.m.onMay6. Jessica Layumas of the City Tourism Office here is urging applicantstovisitthecitytourismofficeimmediately to be listed for the mobile services.

DAR Sec joins review for land

acquisition, distribution

in NegOr

By JenniFer C. tilos

Mobile passport services in Dumaguete set in May

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 13 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has conducted recently a three-day claim folder review to fast tract the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) in Negros Oriental. DARInformationOfficerAileenVillaseca said the review aims to update and improve the LAD database, determine critical information about each landholding, classify landholdings into workable and problematic anddetermine the type of interventions needed to move them. During its assessment, DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes urged all DAR employees to do what needs to be done to improve and speed up the processes in the acquisition and distribution of land for the farmers and what is due under the law. DAR Secretary further said thatwhatheistryingtodointhenexttwo years is to process Claim Folders really fast and more accurate so that landowners affected by the program can receive their compensation promptly. The claim folder review also meanttoanalyzeindividuallandholdingstargetedforacquisitioninordertotrackits progress and address problems. Withthis,theDARenablestoinstitute national solutions to problems of delayed land acquisition and distribution process,DARofficialexplained. Villaseca said the assessment activity was participated in by the DARMunicipalOfficesstaff,provincialprocessors and encoders of the provincialoffice.(mbcn/JCT/PIA-NegrosOriental)

By JenniFer C. tilos

“Our staff wi l l also pre-evaluate documents to determine whichpapersarelacking,ifthereareany, to avoid delays and confusion during the processing day,” she said in a statement released by the City InformationOffice. The tour ism o ff i ce has requested the DFA to once again bring what is now their fourth mobile passport services in Dumaguete City following the high volume of requests from the public.Sinceitwasfirstheldinthecityin2009,more than 2,000 passports have been processed by DFA during the mobile services held in the city in coordination withthetourismoffice. This equates to an average of700passportsperactivity,afigurewhich DFA says is unprecedented in the department’s experience during

their mobile passport services in Negros island. The statement from the City InformationOfficequotedDFABacolodChiefExecutiveOfficer JoselitoBlasas saying that the lowest turnout they’ve had was 28 applicants ina local government unit in Negros Occidental. Layumas said the city tourism officewill continue to facilitatemoremobile passport services in Dumaguete in the future. The two-day passport service alsokicksoffthemonth-longcelebrationofSantacruzanFestival in thecity inMay. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)

PIA,incooperationwiththeCitySocialWelfareandDevelopmentOffice,heldaKapihanforumtomarktheWomen'sMonthcelebrationthisMarch2012.Theforumwasattendedby representativesofwomen'sgroupscoming from thebarangays.

Bohol leads in nationwide search for outstanding PHL organic agriculturist award

COMMUNITYNEWSINFOBYTES

TAGBILARAN CITY, March 14 (PIA) --Bohol leads in the 2011 nationwide Search for Outstanding Philippines Organic Agriculturist Award under the Local government units category. Bohol governor Edgar Chatto revealed this recently during the 10th HEAT-Bohol Caravan held at SanMiguel town on March 8. The award aims to assist the government on policies in the use of organic farming/agriculture through networking with the private sector,Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies and the Agri-Aqua

NetworkInternational,Inc. The project is seen to be as good model for public-private partnership and other forms of l inkages andcooperation. Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas of the provincial agriculture off ice and socio-economic and environment management cluster head LizaQuirogreceivedtheawardattheCommissionOfficer's Clubhouse atCampAguinaldo,QuezonCityinbehalfof governor Chatto, who was presiding the PPOC meeting at San Miguel when the award was given. (mbcn/Elvira Bongosia/PIA-Bohol)

By elvira C. BonGosia Black corals found in Jagna,

potential for tourists' attraction

BOHOL

BOHOL, Marso 12 (PIA) --Large volume of black corals and invery good condition is found in the seas of Jagna town in Bohol and is being closely guarded by the Jagna Coastal Resource Management Council (CRMC) has tremendous tourism potentials. Jagna mayor Fo r tuna to Abrenilla believed that the findings ofthe black corals in the areawill limitfishinginJagnaasthelocalgovernmentpresented its tourism program that revolved mostly around coastal resource management. CRMC consultant for Jagna, JeremyHorowitssaidthattheintroductionoftheblackcoralsaspartofthetourists'"must see" attraction in the town may be thedefiningopportunitytoend'Pamilak'fishing and pressure illegal fishers tostop their illegal activities in the area. Because o f the tour ism potentialsoftheblackcoralsinJagna,the town folks living at the coastalbarangays have also expanded theirmarine protected areas to ensure completeprotectionoftheblackcoralsin their coastal areas. The 'black corals' are one ofthe most sought after corals among professional divers around the world. These corals are found at the deepest part of the ocean where sun rays could no longer reach, this is learned. They are called black coralsduetotheirblackpitchdarkrootswhererainbow colored gel-like branchesgrew. Theblackcoralscommandveryhighpricesattheblack-marketbecauseof their quality for high-end fashion accessoriesthatarespecificallysoughtby the rich and famous. According to Horowitz theJagnablackcoralscanbefoundattheshallow part of the ocean, about fiveminutes from the shore. Horowitzand theDagatdiversof Jagna believed that the unusual currentthatbroughtthecorals'foodtothe shallow parts of the ocean also drag theblackcoralstostaywheretheyarenow. ItcanberecalledthatthePHLisone of the places where illegal gathering ofblackcoralsarerampant,specificallythoseexpensivetypesofblackcorals,saidHorowitz.(mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)

By rey antHony CHiu

RICETRADITIONS.While Boholmay seekways to improve its yields, itmustalsoconsideritsstandonpossibleuseofchemicalfertilizersandotherartificialfarminputsoastokeepbetterfarmerprofitsoverhugeharvestsbutprofitsbarelycoveringupforexpensiveandenvironmentallypressinginputs.(PIABOhol/RAC)

FORUNIFICATION.Physalushead,Dr.AlessandroPonzoDVMsaidaprovincialordinance should guide local laws on the upcoming probem of regulating marine mammals interaction in Bohol seas. (PIABohol/RAC)

COMMUNITYNEWSINFOBYTES

BJMP names new warden

Siquijor healers, herbalists attend hearing on entrepreneurship

SIQUIJOR ,March15 (PIA) -- Inpreparation for theHealing FestivalcomeHolyWeekinApriltheProvincialSmal l and Medium Enterpr ises Development Council (PSMEDC) recently conducted a Tourism and Entrepreneurship Awareness Seminar for Siquijor traditional healers and herbalists at the SP Session Hall,Capitol, Siquijor. Siquijor provincial tourism officerJossette Almirola in her tourism overview said healers and herbalists should be aware that they canmake significantcontributions in selling Siquijor as the island of healing thus enhance tourism.

our island from the other islands in the country,” Almirola said. Shesaidthatasidefromtheisland'smystical beauty 'Healing Festival' isone of its main attractions based on the assessment from the various tourism stakeholdersintheprovince. Heal ing Fest ival is the t imewhen healers and herbalists all over Visayas and Mindanao come together and participate in the preparation of concoctions made from a variety of tree barks, roots,herbs, insectsandotheringredients. These are gathered during Fridays of the Lent season from the forests, sea caves and cemeteries. The resulting brews are known to have healingpowers. The tourism entrepreneurial seminar includedtopicssuchas'RoleofHealersin theValue chain' byDepartment ofTrade and Industry (DTI) Provincial DirectorNimfaVirtucio and 'ProductDevelopment'byDepartmentofScienceand Technology (DOST) representative Roland Padayhag. D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r a n d Employment (DOLE) representative JeromeAlamdiscussed'OrganizationalDevelopment ' and Superv is ingCoopera t ive and Deve lopment Specialist Filomena Lomocso shared the'PrinciplesofCooperative'. As can be recalled the island of Siquijor was declared a marine reserve andtouristdestinationin1978byvirtueof Proclamation No 1810. As such, the island province is intended as a major tourist destination under the supervision of the Philippine Tourism Authority. (mbcn/rac/PIA-Siquijor)

By rizalie andinG CaliBo

In the same manner she said, tourism has a big contribution to the locality–asagoodsourceof incomeand employment for local residents. When proper ly p lanned andmanaged, tourism can be an instrument to enhance national pride and local customs;preserveandrebuildphysicalenvironment; and enhance value ofagriculture and forest reserves, she said. It can also be an alternative to destructive activities in fishing and agriculture and other activities, she added. “Siquijorisknownforitstraditionalhealers all over the country and it is one of the assets that differentiates

SIQUIJOR,(March13)--TheBureauofJailandManagementPenology(BJMP)-SiquijordistrictinstalledInspectorAngelito Almodiel Jr. as its new jail warden recently. Almodiel, a Siquijodnon and a native of Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor replaced Inspector Rolly Bandeling effective February 2012. Hesaidheishappywithhiscurrentpostandassignment.“Iwouldworkhardtogivegoodservicetotheprisonershere,” he said. Almodiel,whohasbeenintheservicefor19yearssaidhisadministrationaimstodeveloptheinmatesofSiquijorDistrict Jail through livelihood and moral recovery programs.Hesaidthatenlighteningthelivesoftheprisonersisthebestwayofgivingthemhopeafterhavingwalkedastrayfromtheright path of life. The new warden is also a Eucharistic Minister (Lay Minister), the reason he wanted prisoners to improve their spiritual lives. (mbcn/RAC/PIA-Siquijor)

By rizalie a. CaliBo

SIQUIJOR

GUVFUAONHILOTS:SiquijorProvincialGovernorOrlandoA.Fuacallingon traditional healers and herbalists to help promote Siquijor as the island of healing. (RCalibo/PIA-Siquijor & PTO)