Vol 3 Issue 35 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 August 26 - Sept. 1, 2013

WESTERN VISAYAS  

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue

GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte, August 27 (PIA) – The members of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council, in its meeting held on August 23, nominated six names for chair and co-chair for the term 2013-2016.

Those nominated included three local chief executives and three private sector representatives, Ms. Meliza Yubial of RDC Region 8 said.

The local chief executives who were nominated were Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, Baybay City Leyte Mayor Carmen L. Cari and Northern Samar Governor Jose L. Ong, Jr.

From the private sector representatives, nominated were Kjell Darren Aboy, PSR for ICT sector; Luisita Quebec, PSR for Private Media sector; and Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel, PSR for Business sector.

The members opted not to have an election, instead they will submit all the names to the President.

This is pursuant to Executive Order No. 325 which provides that the RDC Chair and Co-Chair must be appointed by the President.

Section 11 of the same EO provides that the RDC shall submit at least two (2) names of Local Chief Executives who are ex-officio members and two (2) names of Private Sector Representatives from who the President will select and appoint the chairperson and co-chairperson.

It also provides that if the chairperson is from the government sector, the co-chair will be from the private sector, and vice versa.

Mayor Petilla was nominated by former Department of Agrarian Reform Director now Private Sector Representative Tiburcio Morales. Mayor Cari on the other hand, was nominated by Department of the Interior and Local Government Director Pedro Noval, Jr. Governor Ong was nominated by Dolores, Eastern Samar Mayor Emiliana Villacarillo.

It was learned that although Governor Ong declined the nomination saying that he is a neophyte governor, the nomination was not withdrawn by Mayor Villacarillo. (PIA-8)

Text2Teach Phase 4 targets 300 schools from Visayas

East Visayas nominates RDC chair, co-chair

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

More on Region 7, pages 4-5. Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3. Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS  

CENTRAL VISAYAS  

Regional Exemplary Children 2013 winner Christian Jay Asuero, son of 4Ps family beneficiaries from Dulag, Leyte, poses with DSWD 8 4Ps regional program coordinator Marichu Bustillos and PIA 8 Regional Director Olive Tiu, chairperson of the Search for Regional Exemplary Child 2013, the highlight of the Regional Children’s Congress held at the Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City, August 27. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA8)

Some 190 students from Negros Occ. and Iloilo City attend the last leg of the Philippine Information Agency’s Campus Journalism Seminar-Workshop on Convergence Journalism with PIA6 Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa setting the tone of the three-day workshop with her lecture on Development Communication at Business Inn in Bacolod City.*(EAD-PIA6) photo)

AGIO 7 members discussing in groups how to handle a press conference during the recent seminar and training-workshop on Effective News Writing and Strengthening Media Relations held August 22 to 23, 203 at Civil Service Commission (CSC) Conference Room in Cebu City. (AYS/PIA-7)

NegOr Union of Coops cited best coop in Central Visayas By Jennifer C. Tilos

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The Negros Oriental Union of Cooperatives (NEORUNCO) has received the Gawad Parangal award as the best cooperative in Central Visayas and will be competing for the national Gawad Parangal award along with other finalists across the country.

Chair of the board of administrators of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Dr. Emmanuel Santianguel personally handed over the award to NEORUNCO manager Diogenes Fabro during the recent awarding ceremony in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

The awarding ceremony was also witnessed by Felipe Deri, the Regional Director for CDA in Central Visayas and the different representatives, directors and managers from forty member cooperatives in Negros Oriental.

According to Dr. Santianguel, this is the first time the CDA recognized a union of cooperatives because in the

previous years all the finalists were either multi-purpose, credit or community cooperatives.

He said this year is unique because NEORUNCO is a training arm of the cooperatives in Negros Oriental and the Visayas area.

The CDA recognizes the exemplary performance of cooperatives with best practices, he added.

Dr. Santiangel explained that the purpose of the Gawad Parangal is to recognize the efforts of cooperatives across the country. The mandate of CDA is to oversee the operation and development of cooperatives. They are also mandated to eliminate bogus cooperatives.

He said NEORUNCO started as a baby project of the Perpetual Help Community Cooperative (PHCCI) which aims at providing training and education to the different cooperatives in the province. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Aug. 28 (PIA6) - - The Phase IV of the Text2Teach program, an alliance of various corporations and agencies, targets 300 schools in the Visayas out of 850 schools nationwide.

The alliance is spearheaded by the Ayala Foundation Incorporated (AFI) together with Globe Telecom, Nokia, Toshiba, Pearson Foundation and the Department of Education.

The program is a comprehensive mobile learning package that uses Nokia mobile phones and can download more than 300 educational video materials on grade 5 and 6 Math, Science, English and Values Education.

It comes with a Globe Telecom BridgeCom prepaid SIM card and a 32-inch LED Toshiba television.

It allows teachers even in remote areas to access educational materials to supplement their lessons.

AFI President Luli Heras-de Leon said that the Text2Teach program which falls under the Education Pillar of the AFI improves Science, Math, Reading and Values Education subjects, thus making it fun to learn.

Silay City hosted the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the Phase IV of the Text2Teach program and the Toshiba Turn Over Ceremony of some 300 LED Television sets.

The program is now on the second year of implementation in the city with 12 pilot schools in far-flung areas.

Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano said in his welcome message: “We do not want them to be left behind. “

“School location should never be a barrier to better facilities and advances in teaching methods,” he said.

“Quality education should be accessible to all,” Montelibano stressed.

Ayala Corporation Chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala revealed that the Text2Teach program will be on its 10th year anniversary next year and will be continually mainstreamed to eventually provide all public elementary schools access to Text2Teach.

Ayala added that it is now the Department of Education which runs the teachers training component under Phase IV of the program.

To date, the program has covered a total of 736 schools all over the country. *(EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

Department of Education Regional Director John Arnold Sienna explains the impact of Text2Teach program as an alternative and attractive way of teaching Math, Science, Reading and Values Education to Grades 4, 5 and 6 public school pupils together with partners Mei Ling Tan, Nokia Sustainability Manager and Bong Esguerra, Corporate Social Responsibility Chief of Globe Telecom during the press conference after the signing of the memorandum of agreement between parties and the Ayala Foundation Incorporated in Silay City.*(EAD-PIA6 photo)

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Buenavista town takes steps to boost tourism

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 29 (PIA6) - - The local government of Buenavista in the island province of Guimaras has taken steps to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitude of its front liners in tourism.

S ome 180 pump boat crew and owners, and porters in Buenavista attended the seminar organized by the local

government in collaboration with the regional office of the Department of Tourism in Western Visayas held at the municipal building’s Tumandok Hall from August 27 to 28.

Mayor Eugenio Reyes said the seminar complemented by a value formation aimed to provide participants with greater awareness on their roles and responsibilities as front liners as well as their important contributions in the town’s tourism industry.

“As first contact of visitors and tourists who come to our town, it is necessary that our

front liners must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills on how to receive and treat our visitors and to provide them quality service,” said Reyes.

According to Reyes the way they were serviced or treated at the Buenavista Wharf which is the town’s gateway will be a contributing factor on how tourists would develop their impressions or be satisfied during their stay in the town.

“The positive impressions that our visitors will carry when they return to their respective places and share to their friends will be a big help in attracting the interest of potential visitors to come to our place,” said Reyes.

Aside from its beautiful beaches,

Buenavista boasts of its historical destinations such as the Navalas Church and Roca Encantanda, a great structure preserved by the Lopezes where you could have a great view of the Siete Pecados or Seven Isles or the vast sea.

Roca Encantada was cited by the then National Historical Institute as a National Historical Landmark in August 2002.

Other destinations include the Punta Blanco Firing Range, Daliran Cave and McArthur’s Wharf. A P5 million worth public swimming pool is currently being constructed and once completed in December it is expected to attract more tourists. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)

By: Lilibeth A. French

SAN JOSE, Antique, Aug 29 (PIA 6) - - The youth. must be involved on issues concerning environmental protection.

B Gen. Aurelio B. Baladad, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division said that at an early age our

youths should also play active roles in activities that will help protect the environment from any form of destruction.

“One way that our youths could help is to report to the Bantay Dagat or the authority any observation on illegal activities that may have destructive effects to our marine resources,” BGen. Baladad said during the recent inauguration of the coral reefs restoration and dive center in Barangay Nato, Anini-y, Antique.

Baladad said that the youth could do several things and it is very important for them to be aware of the drastic effects of illegal fishing and the deterioration of the corals, and they should help “because they are our country’s hope.”

He urged the students of St. Therese High School and other neighboring schools, the local officials and the community attending the inauguration program to intensify the campaign on environmental protection because it will go a long way towards helping promote social and economic development in the province of Antique and improving the livelihood of local communities.

Baladad said the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agricultural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD) together with the 3rd Infantry Division of Philippine Army then led by Jose Z. Mabanta, Jr.jointly entered into a Memorandum of Understanding dubbed Peace Innovation Program to implement the Filipinnovation of coral restoration program and the national Tilapia

Science Technology program” last January this year.

According to Dr. Filipina Sotto, head of the marine biology section of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City and program leader of the coral reef restoration of Nogas Island, about 25 percent of the island’s coral reefs were damaged or have deteriorated.

Coral reefs serve as shelter and breeding ground of different species of fish.

Dr. Sotto said about 25,000 coral fragments will be transplanted to restore the vibrancy of the coral reefs in Nogas island.

The project is expected to be completed by December 2013. The army were trained to do the transplantation of coral fragments.

Nogas Island is a 24 hectare island off the coast of the Municipality of Anini-y, and its about 15 minute-ride from Barangay Nato.(JCM/VWV/PIA 6-Antique)

Youth urged to join environmental protection programs

KALIBO, Aklan, Aug. 29 (PIA6) -- Five Aklanon college students whose parents are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) recently received financial assistance of P10,000 each from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) under the OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFWDSP).

OWWA extends educational assistance to children of OFWs

O f the 5 students, two are the program’s 2011 scholars while 3 are for year 2012, according to Vivian

Ruiz-Solano, Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager who witnessed the distribution of the educational assistance held at the PESO office.

OWWA, under the OFWDSP, provides financial assistance per year to poor but deserving dependents of OFWs with monthly salaries of not more than $400.00 per month.

Qualifiers are entitled to a baccalaureate or associate degree in a state college or university.

One other beneficiary who received a financial assistance from OWWA on the same day was Jane Karla Banano, a 4th year high

school student from Numancia National School of Fisheries (NNSF).

Banano’s financial assistance, amounting to $100.00 is under OWWA’s Tuloy Aral Program. Her mother is also an OFW working in the Middle East.

On the same day, a briefing and signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for six Aklanon beneficiaries for 2013 under the OFWDSP was held at the Conference Room of the Provincial Guest House here.

The MOA-signing was done among OWWA Regional Welfare Office 6 represented by James Mendiola, Riza Joy Mapa and Connie Binarao, and the Aklanon Student Scholars with their parents/guardians and Governor Florencio T. Miraflores, who was

represented by Atty. Selwyn Ibarreta, Provincial Administrator.

Meanwhile, another OWWA program for children of OFWs to assure their college education which will allow them to enroll in private schools is the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP).

Under this program, 48 Aklanon students are set to take the qualifying examination on September 22, 2013 at the Aklan State University Kalibo Campus Cafeteria.

The qualifying examination will be given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Once qualified, the scholar will receive a financial assistance from OWWA amounting to P60,000.00 per year. (JCM/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

By Vicente W. Villavert

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3 Capiceño students make it to GSIS scholarship

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 29 (PIA6) – Three freshmen students at Capiz State University (CapSU) and Filamer Christian University (FCU) here are recipients of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Scholarship Program for Academic Year 2013 – 2014.

T he scholarship grantees include Wella Shy Detangco and Ergie Anne Salvador who are presently enrolled

at CapSU and Trexzyl Joy Felizardo at FCU. Based on GSIS – Capiz records, the

grantees are the children of GSIS members who were most qualified for the program based on the set of guidelines and criteria.

Previously, the mode of choosing scholars was done through an electronic raffle. Under the new guidelines, the nominee of a

parent-member who has the lowest annual basic salary will be given priority in the scholarship grant.

The Capiceño scholars are among the 16 beneficiaries of the program in Western Visayas.

The program provides an opportunity for state workers to send their children to colleges and universities that provide quality education.

The scholar will be entitled to the actual

cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees not exceeding Php20,000 and a monthly stipend of Php2,000.

To date, the pension fund has awarded a total of 1,692 scholarship grants since the inception of the program in 1998.

From this number, 585 active scholars are currently enrolled in various colleges and universities nationwide as of March this year. (AAL/PIA6 Capiz)

By Alex A. Lumaque

RCW: A center for healing wounds of spirit and body

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 28 (PIA6) -- What makes it different from any facility of government is that it houses broken souls and bodies, whose residents are women and children almost deprived of a future.

F or Haydee Canilla, head of the Regional Center for Women (RCW), run by the Department of Social

Welfare and Development in Iloilo Province, her work breaks her heart no end.

Haydee has worked in the center for the last two years, and for the first time now, she is handling four cases of women victims of incest.

“The first time they arrived at the center, they seemed to be lifeless, so withdrawn and passive,” Canilla said of her latest wards.

She added that it would take months before some kind of self-esteem is restored in these women.

The center houses 27 residents,17 of whom are children and 19 are women. Four of these are victims of incest, and the rest, of various forms of abuse.

Canilla have stories to tell of the women victims of incest she is helping to heal now.

There is fragile 18-year-old Ana (not her real name), who was abused by her father since age 13 and had recently gathered strength to seek for help, when the abuse resulted to pregnancy.

“Painstakingly, we were able to encourage her to go on with the pregnancy, until she gave

birth to a healthy baby boy,” Canilla said. “Now she is recovering well, and we

noticed that she has learned to develop positive attitudes, and able to happily accept her child,” she added.

Two others who are recovering well are 18-year-old Mirma and her 14-year-old sister Lena (not their real names), abused by their father.

Another is Myra (an alias) whose abuse in the hands of her grandfather led her to give birth to a child, now one year old.

“We deal with our women on a case-to-case basis as no experience is the same,” Canilla said.

On the other hand, Rosalina Lorque, head of the DSWD Home for Girls in Iloilo said that there are always cases of incest brought to their care every year.

For this year alone, of the 22 girls they are taking care of, eight or 36 percent are victims of incest.

Both Canilla and Lorque are calling for support from various sectors, especially the parents who should be the first to look after the well-being of their children.

Canilla said it is very important that the mother herself should personally look after her

daughters and be keen on their situation every day.

Meanwhile, as the tough process of healing and reintegration continues, the RCW employs cooking as a therapeutic technique.

Each resident has her turn to cook recipes and dishes taught to them by the center staff.

Every now and then they have cooking contests which showcase their skills in simple, low-cost recipes.

Aside from counseling and cooking as healing techniques, the center also introduces the women to livelihood skills like baking banana muffins, preparing malunggay-gulaman juice, slipper and pillow-case making.

“When a woman learns to earn for herself and her children, that would be a big help in her transformation,” Canilla said.

So far, Canilla said the healing might be a tedious and exhausting task, but many of the women have moved on.

“We have one who goes to college now, and another has become a Licensed Social Worker,” Haydee Canilla beamed. (DSWD-6/JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 28 (PIA6) -- Animation professionals and enthusiasts from all over the country will gather here for “Animahenasyon”, an annual animation festival and competition slated on Nov. 19 to 22, 2013.

D epartment of Tourism-6 (DOT-6 ) , one o f t h e institutional partners of the

annual animation festival and competition in the Philippines, said the event will give chance to Ilonggos to meet and be inspired by the finest names in the animation industry.

The “Animahenasyon”, or combined “ a n i m a s y o n ” ( a n i m a t i o n ) a n d

“imahenasyon” (imagination) started in 2007 and sponsored by the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc (ACPI).

The event will be hosted by West Visayas State University, in Lapaz, Iloilo City.

The anime festival will feature animated works through a competition of various animation professionals composed of animators, artists, students,

teachers, and venture capitalists, among others.

Classes, seminars, workshops, fora and exhibits related to animation will also be conducted.

The DOT said that the event can further boost the tourism in the region with the expected anime fanatics trooping to Iloilo City. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Animation professionals slate festival and competition in November By Leonard T. Pineda I

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CEBU CITY, Aug. 27 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) is looking into cases of cutting trees within the school compound.

DENR-7 investigates cutting of trees in school compound

D ENR-7 recently invited Nimfa Balili, a school principal of Don Sergio Osmena Memorial National High

School (DSOMNHS), Barangay Labangon in Cebu City for administrative proceedings for allegedly authorizing the cutting of trees within the school compound.

Cebu City Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) forest ranger Danilo Orbasido conducted the investigation on August 23 and found out that Ms. Balili gave the instructions to cut down a number of trees without DENR permit to improve the beautification of the school.

DENR-7 regional executive director Dr.

Isabelo Montejo said, “this is part of the process that we usually observe to listen to an explanation or justification on what prompted them or who authorized them to cut those trees as existing policy requires the approval or a clearance before tree cutting will be made.”

In an incident report that Orbasido addressed to CENR officer Anastacio Cabalejo, it stated that four mahogany, two narra and two indian trees were cut down.

“Narra trees or Pterocarpus indicus are considered as premium tree species and these trees should not be cut down unless permit or clearance from the DENR specifically at the Office of the Undersecretary for Field

Operations in Manila is obtained per February 5, 2013 DENR memorandum,” Montejo added.

The same assessment also indicated that based on the account of a teacher Jose Ray Abella who supervised the cutting of trees, Balili gave him instructions to cut down those trees for ground beautification without the approval of the Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent.

As a result of this, a notice of administrative proceedings was sent out to Balili to come for the conference Friday (August 30) at the CENRO Cebu City , Pier 3 Area, Cebu City to get her views or facts of the incident. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7 & DENR-7)

By Minerva BC. Newman

DUMAGUETE CITY, (PIA) – Five barangays in Negros Oriental were recently declared “insurgent-free and development-ready” by the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army.

By Jennifer C. Tilos

Army declares 5 barangays in NegOr insurgent-free

T he barangays of Siapo and Basak, in San Jose town; barangay Silab in Amlan; Enrique Villanueva in Sibulan; and

barangay Dobdob in Valencia, used to be regular targets of the extortion and liquidation activities of CPP/NPA, were declared as “insurgent-free and development-ready” barangays after an area clearing evaluation and validation (ACEV) reportd being endorsed by army brigade.

It is reported, these barangays had been previously infested by the New People’s Army (NPAs), hence, government’s development efforts were hampered.

According to Col Christopher Estella, deputy commander of 302nd Brigade said the active and untiring support of the local government units for the efforts of 79th IB peace and development workers deployed in the five barangays brought a positive impact to the

community. However, Col Estella said some residents

are apprehensive because of fear of retaliation from CPP/NPA.

“With peace paving the way to development, the people living in those communities will have a better chance to uplift their living condition,” Estella said. The declaration of the five barangays as insurgency-free was deliberated by ACEV board, with Estella as chair said the barangays will continue to be threatened by the NPAs if their issues and concerns are not being addressed accordingly.

Estella attributed the winning of peace in the areas to the convergence of government efforts and key role of the LGUs. Barangay DobDob Capt Guilberto Darias said that “my barangay will surely be insulated against the recovery efforts of the NPAs if the road

conditions in the barangay will be improved”. Darias added “A good road will facilitate the

smooth delivery of basic services towards my constituents.”

Farm to market roads are among the common issues raised by residents in barangays resonated by Darias to prevent rebel elements to establish a foothold again.

Col. Estella added that more barangays in Negros Oriental will be declared insurgent-free as the military continues its operations in the hinterlands of the province. “The ACEB is optimistic that the province would eventually be free from insurgency later this year.

This vision, if realized will equate to influx of more investors and businesses, hence, more job and development for the people of Negros Oriental,” the military official said. (JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

CANLAON CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – The Negros Oriental Electric Cooperative (NORECO-I) urges its consumers to report any incidents of pilferage or illegal electric activities in their area.

Coop urges consumers to report power pilferage By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

N ORECO-I General Manager Jose Juvileo Acabal pointed out that these acts contribute to an increased

systems loss experienced by the electric cooperative. Systems loss puts additional charges in the consumer’s electric bills, he said.

In a previous report, Acabal said their Anti-Pilferage and Anti-Theft Team always received reports on illegal electric activities. He added that 40 persons have been fined after being caught involved in these acts.

Acabal said that those report any incident of pilferage or illegal tapping can receive a P500 monetary reward and 20 percent discount on their electric bills.

The NORECO general manager stressed that systems loss charges can be lessened if the consumers continue to report any illegal electric activities.

Acabal made that appeal to their consumers after complaints on high systems loss charge.

Aside from pilferage and other illegal electric activities, NORECO officials also explained to

their consumers other causes of sytems loss. “Systems loss is power loss,” said Engr.

Ronald Visagas, Operations and Maintenance Supervisor of NORECO-I as he elaborated the key factors that contribute to increased systems loss. Visagas said that a certain percentage of electricity they bought from power suppliers are consumed even before they get to households. These are the actual losses of the electric cooperative.

Visagas added that losses can come from long electric lines and 24-hour electric transformers which also consume electricity and from stuck-up connection or meters that don’t record the actual electric consumption of a household.

He said that the power they bought from three energy suppliers are subtracted to the total consumer consumption. The difference is the actual systems loss of the electric cooperative.

The actual systems loss will then be divided to the total generation charge and the result will be the percentage of systems loss which is

converted to systems loss charge which the consumers pay. Visagas however clarified that they are only allowed by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to charge 13 percent or lower to their consumers. NORECO-I General Manager Acabal added that the electric cooperative only charge 12 to 12.60 percent systems losses to their consumers.

However, he assured that no one is exempted in paying systems loss charges. Even NORECO-I employees pay the said additional rate in their electric bills.

On the other hand, the electric cooperative announced that two sitios in Canlaon City will be energized within the year under the government’s Sitio Electrification Program. The NORECO-I, in coordination with the PIA-NegOr Infocen, conducted series of Kapihan Forums in four towns under its coverage areas to update its consumers on the developments of the government’s electrification program and to answer electrification issues. (mbcn/RAL/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

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CEBU CITY, August 27 (PIA) --- Nearly 3,000 Cebuanos joined the rally at Plaza Independencia, Aug. 26 calling for the abolition of the controversial “pork barrel” fund.

Cebu, Dumaguete join nationwide protest vs corruption CoconutCoconutCoconut

P rotesters clad in white shirts crowded the plaza a little after 10:00 AM as they filled the air with their anti-pork barrel chants.

The rally was preceded by a march from Fuente Osmena Boulevard which started with a crowd of around 400 and gradually thickened as more people wearing white shirts joined the walk. The police later pegged the number of people at about 1,000.

Over 100 cops have been fielded to secure the anti-corruption rally after the Philippine National Police (PNP) here were placed on full alert mode.

The marchers were a varied mix of people from various sectors – students, professionals, civil society representatives, academe, businessmen, and media.

Also sighted joining the march were Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Edgar Labella.

The protest in Cebu was one of the simultaneous gatherings across the country yesterday fueled by public outrage from the recent scam involving the alleged misuse of Congress’ PDAF.

A day before the simultaneous nationwide rally, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma after each of his Mass on Sunday, urged his parishioners to join the anti-corruption rally.

Meanwhile, citizens and civil society organizations in Dumaguete City also joined the nationwide protest against the pork barrel or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

Provincial Administrator Arnel Francisco said the rally in Rizal Boulevard is a good way to advocate and achieve the transparency in the release of public funds. “The governor is really bent on good governance. He wants to be transparent in what he does and what the provincial government does. He is happy that many people participated in the event since it is the only time the voices of the people in Negros are heard regarding the issue,” Francisco said.

On the other hand, Ms. Leonor Briones of the Social Watch Philippines suggested that the PDAFs should be transferred to the national government

agencies (NGAs) from the congressmen. She believes that it’s the NGAs like the

Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which are the most capable and accountable government agencies to implement government projects.

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares also said that Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the P10-billion pork barrel scam which detailed the misuse of PDAFs, was just the tip of the iceberg and there are many people using the scheme Napoles did to steal money from the government.

Word of the anti-pork barrel rally initially spread and went viral online through social media channels Facebook and Twitter.

Pres. Aquino has already called on all Filipinos to keep a close watch on government projects to ensure that people’s money is spent properly during his speech in observation of National Heroes Day. (MBCN/PIA Cebu/Dumaguete )

BY: RIZALIE A. CALIBO

DAR-Siquijor launches 1st CP-WASH project

C P-WASH is a low-cost water supply technology and sanitation systems for agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in

greatest need of potable water supply and sanitation systems, says the DAR office here.

For Siquijor province, the first community to get the project is barangay Tulapos. Stakeholders here determined their priority needs through the participatory water and sanitation resource inventory assessment via its proponent organization, the Kapunungan sa mga Anak sa Yuta ug Dagat (KAYUD).

Counterpart funding from the local government unit of Enrique Villanueva and the DAR formed the investments that the communities themselves manage and develop for the sustainable operation and maintenance of the facilities through the CP-WASH project.

DAR said, community workers will be trained to use low-cost technologies for installing potable

water and sanitation systems. The project further introduced waste

management and sanitation technologies such as the biogas digester and wastewater treatment to enhance the agrarian reform beneficiary ( ARB) households’ access to potable water and sanitation services.

Enrique Villanueva LGU committed P75,000 and the rest come from the DAR with little counterpart from KAYUD.

The launching was attended by former mayor Melojean Orquillas, representative from the DAR Beneficiaries and Coordinating Division, the Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee, Barangay Captain Dicky Atienza and members of KAYUD.

Meanwhile, in celebration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month this month, the Siquijor Provincial Police Office (SPPO) spearheaded a Solidarity Run for the province on August 30.

Solidarity Run is one of PNP’s activities to raise the people’s consciousness and promote greater awareness on the principles of the IHL as stated in the Executive Order No. 134, says provincial director Police Senior Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara Jr.

E.O. 134 declares the month of August as IHL Month. It principally provides that “The Philippines adheres to the principles of human rights and humanitarian laws enshrined in international human rights treaties and instruments to which it is a State Party,” Tabujara added.

This year’s “International Humanitarian Law Month” is themed “Pagsunod sa IHL, Susi sa Kaunlaran at Katahimikan” which aims to increase awareness on the basic principles of IHL and promote its observance in times of armed conflict.(mbcn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor with reports from JBVillamil/DAR-Siquijor)

SIQUIJOR, Aug. (PIA) - - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Siquijor province recently launched the Community-Managed Potable Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (CP-WASH) Project in barangay Tulapos in Enrique Villanueva, Siquijor.

TAGBILARAN CITY, Aug. 27 (PIA) - - Fourteen towns of Bohol’s three districts have failed in the over-all efforts to get at least 70% dog registration and vaccination accomplishment in a bid to sustain a five-year consistent program to attain dog herd immunity from rabies.

14 Bohol towns fail in dog-vaccine jobs in 2 years

T hese towns averaged below 70% to zero accomplishments in the last two years when the local rabies council implemented mandatory

registration and vaccination for all dogs in Bohol , to attain herd immunity after all towns should have accomplished over 70%.

Bohol Rabies Prevention and Elimination Council (BRPEC) authorities shared that the 70% total dog population vaccination accomplishment for five consecutive years is based on the minimum international standards to attain dog herd immunity, upon which a case of rabies would be totally eliminated.

Bohol used to be among the top ten watch areas for rabies in 2007, where rabies claimed 10 Boholano lives. By 2008, the Provincial Government implemented BRPE Program, which aggressively took on rabies at all angles: by integrating the expertise of health professionals, agriculture experts, education, public safety and legal minds to implement a community based program, Dr. Stella Marie Lapiz said.

Dr Lapiz, a veterinarian, heads the BRPEP for canine rabies said the program included: increasing local community involvement; implementing dog population control;

conducting mass dog vaccination; improving dog bite management; instituting veterinary quarantine; and improving diagnostic capability, surveillance and monitoring.

By 2009 and 2010, Bohol scored zero rabies cases for human and canine, despite an increase in bite cases.

Dr. Lapiz said the increase in bite cases could be associated with people getting more aware of the fatal effects of rabies, that a treatment was ascertained and monitoring increased.

Just as Bohol sourced out international funds from the program, the national government, provincial, municipal and village units, dog owners, NGOs, the regional office of the WHO, the UBS Optimus Foundation, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control helped bankroll the campaign that led to convincing results.

But, in 2011 and 2012, BRPEP members noted an increase in confirmed canine rabies cases in Bohol, prompting council members to review the program and plug the holes.

Many believe that local governments who faltered in their dog registration and accompanying vaccination could have largely contributed to the recurrence of the disease.

According to a list which Dr. Lapiz and Provincial

Health Officer Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot presented during a meeting with provincial officials last week, towns which failed miserably to implement and accomplish over 70% vaccination in the last two years include Balilihan, Catigbian, Cortes, Maribojoc, Tubigon for the first district.

For the second district, faltering in its accomplishments for two consecutive years are Bien Unido, Buenavista, Getafe , Sand Isidro and Talibon.

Bilar, Carmen, Guindulman, Pilar and Valencia also lagged in its anti-rabies accomplishments relative to doc herd immunization.

Topping the list of best performing LGUs for a high registration and vaccination accomplishments are Candijay and Loay for getting 100% vaccination, Inabanga for 99% and Baclayon at 94.35%

Still several other towns accomplished high in 2011 but stopped in 2012 or vice versa.

PRIORITIES, hints Board Member Abeleon Damalerio during the first meeting of the BRPE Council on the question why some towns couldn’t make it over 70%.

With 14 towns failing to accomplish the target, Bohol may have to find other cheap ways to wipe out the threat of rabies. (PIABohol)

By Rey Anthony Chiu

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

N. Samar peace and development forum to hold 27th assembly in Catarman

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- The Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum (NSPDF) will hold its 27th assembly at the University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman on September 10.

S r. Lydia Collado, RSCJ, head of NSPDF Secretariat said that in this occasion, some newly elected

officials in the province have been invited to share their programs in the next three years especially on the issues of child labor, growing number of street children, malnutrition, health and education of children.

In the afternoon, the task forces on good governance, peace and order and environment are scheduled to give u pda t e s on t he i r r e spec t i v e responsibilities, she said.

The Forum which is headed by Most Reverend Emmanuel Trance, Bishop of the Diocese of Catarman, composed of the military, police,

human rights advocates, parish priests, lawyers, government agencies and academe.

NSPDF provides a venue for partners to express issues and concerns and act upon the said concerns collectively.

The forum encourages debates and new ideas. (PIA -Northern Samar)

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By Teresita Cardenas

‘Bodyong’ use as disaster alarm tool mulled

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Aug. 29 (PIA) -- "Bodyong", a local wind instrument made from ani-mal’s horn is being considered as another tool in alerting local communities of an impending calamity.

T his suggestion surfaced during the workshop made by the Preparedness Group in the three

-day planning formulation workshop that is on-going at the Governor’s Conference Hall, aimed at creating disaster-resilient communities in the province.

"We cannot compromise the safety and well-being of our people, thus it is important that we make do with any available source if only to give our people with a very vital information that could save their lives," Dr. Gaudencio Aljibe of Department of Education said.

He suggested, that while it could be hard to procure and modernize the alarm systems of local disaster risk reduction and mitigation councils, barangay leaders can use a "Bodyong" in sounding up an looming calamity.

Aside from the "Bodyong", Aljibe

reminded the group that most barangays have chapels with bells, which can also be used in alerting people of a looming danger in the community.

It was also agreed by the local planners to consider "Bandillo" as a means of informing barangay folks of important happenings affective of their lives, particularly disasters.

Bandillo is simple, loud, oral reading, by an authorized person of the barangay local government unit, of a brief information about things and situations which can affect directly or indirectly the local community and people.

The information contained in the Bandillo is being read from one street to the other, around the barangay for the people to decide pronto, to evacuate from their houses and look for a safer ground if need be.

These suggestions were deemed important to be included in the Preparedness Plan of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

For his part, Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Rey Gozon informed the body that while the Council is preparing for an evacuation center, the provincial LGU he said has a pending request already for its construction cost and the design made by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should be adapted, he said.

It is also important, he added, that the Evacuation Center be constructed in a safe or not disaster prone area with the people who will man the center trained for certain specific tasks.(PIA-Eastern Samar)

Macrohon bags 3rd place in Marine Protected Area Search 2013 MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- The Sta. Cruz and Molopolo Fish & Bird Sanctuary of Barangays Sta. Cruz and Molopolo in Macrohon, this province bagged 3rd place in the nationwide Marine Protected Area Search for 2013, reported Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) Community Development Assistant Armando Gaviola.

H e said hat Macrohon MPA tied up with Bitaog MPA from Samar as third placers.

The 1st place went to Tambunan Marine Sanctuary from Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur which got the Para El Mar 2013 Champion, while Buluan MPA from Ipil, Zamboanga came in second place.

The awarding ceremony held at Manila Intercontinental Hotel recently was

represented by Macrohon Sangguniang Bayan Member Rofelia G. Edillo, Sta. Cruz Barangay Chairman Allan Mantilla and Nicanor Bendijo, who presented the Macrohon Municipal Sanctuary, Gaviola added.

The Macrohon MPA received P35,000 and a plaque being the finalist of the Outstanding Marine Protected Area throughout the country.

"This prestigious award on marine

conservation was sponsored by the Marine Protected Area Support Network," Gaviola disclosed.

Meanwhile, Edillo in a post on her facebook account said that there were over 1,500 sanctuaries identified by the search organizers and fortunately down to top 12 then to the final three, she noted.

“Though we’re still aiming to be the top,” she said. (PIA-SoLeyte)

By Alice Nicart

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Tourists arrivals in Calbayog increase

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- Some 23,781 tourists visited Calbayog City in 2012, the City Information Office here said.

C ity Tourism and Information Officer Ronaldo Ricafort in an interview said these figures

are based on hotel occupancy for that year and are 978% higher than in 2011 when they recorded some 2,206.

Of the total number of tourists, 19,864 were local tourists while 3,917 were foreigners.

Ricafort added that the number does not include the tourists who opted to stay in homes or homes of their friends and relatives.

“The data does not mean though that only this much toured Calbayog City, it is

just that we strengthened our data collection with the cooperation of hotel owners,” Ricafort said.

Ricafort said that if they will base their computation on the Department of Tourism as regards assumption for tourist r ece ip t , t h i s cou ld t r an s l a t e to P101,632,288.96 million spent while they were in the city.

He also said, his office will push for the mandatory accreditation of primary service providers of the tourism sector as mandated in Republic Act 9593 or Tourism Act of 2009.

Meanwhile, Department of Tourism

Regional Director 8 Karina Rosa Tiopes said that there is a possibility that Calbayog City will become the tourism gateway in Samar Island.

"This is because of the Calbayog City Airport,which makes the place accessible," Tiopes said.

She suggested though that Calbayog should offer the best accommodation facilities, duly accredited and conforming with standard facilities.

Calbayog City offers natural attractions such as waterfalls, beaches, historical attractions, and arts and culture. (PIA-Smar)

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East Visayans bat for reforms in SK, DILG

T his was the general sentiment of those who attended the Department of Interior and Local Government

(DILG)-initiated regional consultations held in August 23 at the DILG Region 8 Training Center.

It was also the general consensus of those in attendance that the SK elections slated on October 28, 2013 should push through, Mr. Myles Colasito, DILG Region 8 Information Officer said.

The participants in the consultation composed of representatives from the youth, local government leagues, oversight agencies and national agencies involved in youth development, civil society, media, Sanggunian

representatives and key political leaders had different views on what to do with the SK, Mr. Colasito added.

DILG Assistant Regional Director Arnel Agabe presided over the event which aimed to get the views of the various stakeholders and to come up with a position paper on the SK issue which shall be submitted to the DILG Central Office as part of a larger nationwide series of consultations for consideration in the Department’s eventual recommendation to Congress.

Dur ing the consu l tat ion , the participants were presented with the pros and cons of the proposed abolition or reform of the Sangguniang Kabataan. The participants

were then requested to present their views by writing on Metacards and posting the same at the white boards. If the recommendation is for SK reforms, such reforms should be identified.

If the opinion of the participant is for abolition of SK, then the reasons must also be identified. On the other hand, if the recommendation is for postponement of the SK elections, then an alternate schedule should be proposed.

Majority of the youth sector representatives present, both from the SK and from student leaders are open to reforms while several government officials, league representatives and private sector participants wanted it abolished, ARD Agabe said. (PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 25 (PIA) -- Reforms must be instituted instead of pushing for the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

Samar State U wins 6 of 9 entries in 2013 EV RICE

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 28 (PIA) -- The Department. of Science and Technology (DOST) in Eastern Visayas recently bared the regional winners of 2013 Regional Invention Contest and Exhibits (RICE) held at Robinsons Activity area.

D OST 8 Science and Research Specialist II Engr. Paul Quinones said of the six categories, only

four categories had qualified entries. There were no qualifiers in the Invention and Industrial Design categories.

Mr. Quinones added that all the declared first prize winners in the four categories will vie for the national invention contest in July of 2014 coinciding with the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week.

For Student Creative Research Category, high school (Sibol award) category, the students from Samar National School won as third place for their research- entry entitled Feasibility of ethanol from Saba Banana Stem Juice.

The second place was bagged by the

students from Dolores National High School with their entry entitled Turmeric Powder as flour. Furthermore, the first Place was awarded to the research entry Banana Peel extract and used oil as shoe polisher by the students of Dolores National High School.

Moreover, Samar State University bagged all the prizes for student creative research category (Sibol Award college level).

Their entries were log in log out monitoring system for classrooms using b i o m e t r i c s c a n n e r ; a u t o m a t e d mosquito-attractor and killing system; and development of CMOS-based and SMS-featured AC Power outage monitoring system.

For the Outstanding Creative Research Category, Samar State University also won

first prize through their entry entitled Design and Development of Electric Energy Consumption and Monitoring System. The second place was Palompon Institute of Technology with the entry Zener diode Tester while the third placer was Dr. Feliciano Senon of Visayas State University through his entry Twinning machine for 1-5mm twine production.

For Outstanding utility Model, the first place was the Standard Process of Fermenting Rock Oyster and the second place was Biodegradable plastic. Both are entries of the students of Samar State University (SSU). The contest was open to all researchers, inventors, students in Eastern Visayas. Of the 30 entries submitted, only 23 qualified after thorough screening, Mr. Quinones said. (PIA-8)

By Consuelo B. Alarcon

By Ninfa Iluminada B. Quirante

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