Vol 3 Issue 26 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 24 — 30, 2013

WESTERN VISAYAS  

By Rachelle M. Nessia CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Central Visayas showed strong

economic performance in 2012, spurred by the “impressive” performances from the region’s key industries, according to the National Economic and Development Authority-7 (NEDA).

In a report submitted to the Regional Development Council (RDC), NEDA-7 said the major growth drivers in 2012 in the region were industries of IT/Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), tourism, construction, real estate, and retail trade.

Construction sector was upbeat last year as data from the National Statistics Office showed a larger number of new projects especially in Negros Oriental and Cebu were issued building permits in 2012 compared to 2011.

NEDA attributes the high addition of new construction projects in Negros Oriental to various reconstruction works following the damage on infrastructure caused by two major natural disasters in the province.

Real estate saw a revenue growth triggered by an increase in residential properties.

In Cebu alone, the real estate revenue growth rate was pegged at 18.8% in the third quarter of 2012.

Data from the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board show that in 2012, some 14 residential

condominium projects were issued licenses to sell. These projects, all located in Cebu, involve 5,212

units valued at P5.17B. The market for residential condominium in the region

is seen to further increase in the next few years as an additional 100 condominium buildings are projected to be finished by 2015 with another 170 to 200 buildings seen to be completed by 2017.

Tourism, on the other hand, was on a high in 2012 as a 14.6% increase in visitor arrivals was recorded in Central Visayas.

Total domestic and foreign visitor arrivals in 2011 were at 2.5 million while in 2012 it jumped to 2.9 million.

As for the IT sector, the number of employees employed in this industry continues to rise with the entry of 17 new foreign BPO companies and the expansion of existing ones in the region.

NEDA projects the regional economy to grow faster in 2013 mostly due to the recent national elections in May when regional economic activity peaked due to massive election spending.

Positive reviews and good ratings received by the Philippines from various international organizations and rating agencies are also seen to further drive up the region’s economy this year, according to NEDA. (RMN/PIA Cebu)

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue

By Ailene N. Diaz CATARMAN, Northern Samar, June 26 (PIA) --

Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Undersecretary Ferdinand Cui, Jr. said development is everybody’s business.

Cui said this when he presented the Samar Island and the National Development Agenda to the 22nd SIPPAD Assembly held in Borongan, Eastern Samar on June 21.

The Office of the President-PMS official said: “It is quite heartening to know that there is such a wide range of sectors represented in the forum - national government, provincial government, civil society as well as officials in the regional and provincial offices. I think we are going to make a lot of difference.”

Priority programs for Samar Island include: major social programs, major infra projects, initiatives to support major industries (agriculture and fisheries projects and

Samar Island Tourism Master Development Plan) and National Greening program.

Specifically, Cui disclosed that under these priority programs, Samar provinces are recipient of a total amount of P11.785 Billion allocated for infrastructure and these consists of major roads and bridges, flood control and management, airport, ports and irrigation.

Under infra projects are Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project to plug the missing link between Northern Samar and Eastern Samar and to complete the Samar Island-wide Circumferential Road. The project construction is targeted to start May 2014 and to end on April 2016.

The Samar Road Rehabilitation Project involves construction, rehabilitation and improvement of about 224 km of existing national roads in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces. Target completion date is April 2016. (ADiaz/PIA8-Northern Samar)

ILOILO CITY, June 28 (PIA) -- The Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) conducted a series of advocacy campaigns in Iloilo and Negros Occidental to promote the Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program (PODTP) among stakeholders in Western Visayas.

The activity is one of the culminating highlights of the nationwide National Kidney Month celebration in June.

A team from PhilNOS-PODTP led by its Program Manager Dr. Antonio Paraiso presented the program and its importance to the government’s overall wellness efforts and its advocacy for support in the region.

Also discussed during the advocacies participated in by doctors, health professionals and other stakeholders were current issues and concerns on organ donation and renal disease control.

Also emphasized during the advocacies was the value of healthy kidneys, which authorities and experts can be enjoyed mainly through healthy lifestyle practices.

The importance of caring for one’s kidneys, a vital body organ, has also been conveyed by health authorities and medical experts in Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras as the region joined the nation in celebrating National Kidney Month.

The advocacy campaign was a joint activity of PhilNOS-PODTP, Department of Health, and Philippine Information Agency-6.

The June 28 activity in Iloilo was held at the Western

Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City while the Bacolod campaign, June 26-27 was held at Riverside Hospital in said city.

The activities were also part of the leg of the advocacy campaign in the Visayas which was earlier brought to Cebu City on June 24-25.

The organ donation program is anchored on the Organ Donation Act of 1991 which authorizes the legacy or donation of all or part of a human body after death for specified purposes.

Cornea, kidneys, liver and pancreas are among the parts of a person’s body that can be donated. (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

Organ donation program seeks support, bats for healthy kidneys

Dev't is everybody's business, says OP- PMS official

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…

CV economic performance on a high in 2012

EASTERN VISAYAS  

CENTRAL VISAYAS  

The procession of the images from the Balyuan Park to the Sto. Niño Church for the Holy Mass. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

Medical experts from DOH, NKTI and Bohol Provincial Health Office on a medical outreach program, June 20, that benefited about a thousand patients. The free medical check-up at Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital was simultaneous with the Lay Forum on Renal Disease and Kidney Prevention held at Cogon Barangay Gymnasium. (PIA-Bohol)

Dr. Requerdo Baclig, head of Cebu’s Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center-Organ Procurement Office, explains the procedure for kidney transplantation and organ retrieval during the Advocacy campaign on organ donation organized by the Philippine Network for Organ Sharing (PhilNOS) in Iloilo City, June 28 to promote the Philippine Organ Donation and Transplantation Program as part of the National Kidney Month celebration. (EJB/LTP-PIA6)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, June 26 (PIA6) -- An official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government is urging local government units to strictly implement standards set by the Business Permits Licensing System (BPLS).

LGUs to implement business permits standards Graciano LopezGraciano LopezGraciano Lopez---Jaena (1856Jaena (1856Jaena (1856---1896)1896)1896)

Better health research, service through RA 10532 seen

ILOILO CITY, June 27 (PIA6) -- Filipinos can look forward for better health research and quality health service with the implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 10532, also known as the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Act of 2013.

I n a public consultation for implementing rules and regulations of RA 10532 held here, Department of Health (DOH)

Undersecretary Madeleine Valera said that the PNHRS aims to improve the health status, productivity and the quality of life of Filipinos through health research and development initiatives.

Valera said that this law will promote good governance among health research organizations through efficient, effective, transparent and ethical health research management system.

The Act also mandates the government to engage in international partnerships and networks for health research development and ensure the sustainability of resources for health

research. Under this new law, the PNHRS will serve

as an integrated framework between health researchers and their stakeholders in order to promote, sustain and strengthen the research industry in the country.

The four core organizations namely the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Health (DOH), the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and UP Manila National Institutes of Health, are tasked in creating and implementing guidelines to ensure that all the health research registered within the system would meet technical quality standards and will follow ethical research guidelines.

The PNHRS will also provide financial,

technical, and resource support for promising studies that would generate potential benefits for Filipinos.

Valera said that with the passage of this new law, DOH has allotted a budget of P105 million intended for health research.

The DOH official also said that this law will ensure the active involvement and the commitment of the private sector and the universities and colleges, for research has become a way of life especially in the academe.

The public consultation held at Sarabia Manor Hotel here aimed to reach out to the health research stakeholders and other research communities to get their inputs in crafting the final draft of the IRR for RA 10532. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

By Leonard T. Pineda I

D ILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta said only 68 of the 133 LGUs in Western Visayas have

streamlined their licensing systems in the issuance of business permits using the standards agreed upon by DILG and the Department of Trade and Industry, three years after implementation began.

DILG said about one half of the total cities and municipalities in the region have to comply to meet the target of total compliance set by President Aquino by 2016.

DILG said that the BPLS prescribes a standard unified form, a maximum of five processing steps, processing time, and a maximum number of two signatories per

transaction for the issuance of business permits.

Local Government Operations Officer V Kahlil Sayno said in a press release, that the BPLS is an integral component of the S impl i f icat ion and Automat ion o f Transaction-Based Services under DILG’s thrust for business-friendly and competitive local governments.

Director Trompeta said LGUs can attain this when they implement programs and projects that boost their economic and business potentials such as reforming their current systems for processing business permits. “These are very vital for livelihood and employment opportunities to flourish, for

the benefit of their constituents, especially the poor,” Trompeta said.

Meanwhile, the DILG-6 recently conducted a BPLS Program Assessment for their coaches and focal persons, to strengthen their advocacy activities by assessing issues and concerns as well as the facilitating factors, support mechanisms and areas for improvement. For the implementing LGUs, Trompeta said, the standards would help eliminate opportunities for graft and corruption and speed up front line services. “Following the standards also necessitates revisiting and updating of the Citizen’s Charter of the local government unit,” Trompeta said. (DILG/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

By Elsa S. Subong

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 25 (PIA6) -- Farmers and members of the media were oriented on their role on environment protection during the 21st Provincial Environment Week celebration.

T h e P r o v i n c i a l E n v i r o n m e n t Management Office organized the two-part forum for media practitioners

and farmers with the participation of the academe, local government units , non-government organizations and national government agencies at Robinsons Place Bacolod.

PEM Officer lawyer Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa said the PEMO set up exhibits and held the fora in the mall to attract more people and make them aware of environmental protection and conservation.

“If people come and see that things can be done and are really happening, then there is a chance to effect change,” Peñalosa said.

He said the best way to reach out to more people to join the endeavor is through the media. Former PEMO chief and

environmental lawyer Alett Nuñez said that media coverage of environment initiatives and advocacies can lead to social acceptance and the media has the power to share the story.

Nuñez added that environment workers and advocates need also to tap and work with the new forms of media like social networking, blogging and other medium as institutions and partners in environment and natural resource management.

ABS-CBN Morning Show Host and Vice President of the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Jay Jalandoni shared that the Philippines particularly the Danjugan Island in the province is endowed with rich and flourishing marine species that need protection and conservation while he enjoined the forum participants to do their share. PEMO in a forum with the farmers set June 26, will push

for organic farming to lessen the use of pesticides and fertilizers as these go to the food and the same eventually go to the water system and pollute the environment. “Philippines is an agricultural country and agriculture is one major contributor in climate change through wrong practices,” Peñalosa added.

PEMO together with some local government units conducted training of 30-70 participants per day for three days on recycling like bag making, trophy making and other ornamentals made of recycled materials “This is not just to recycle but to raise awareness and show everybody that it is possible. If we have the chance to encourage more people to be aware, let us grab this chance,” Peñalosa said.*(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

Stakeholders’ role in environmental protection tackled in forum By Easter Anne D. Doza

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Founder and First Editor of Founder and First Editor of Founder and First Editor of La SolidaridadLa SolidaridadLa Solidaridad

Guns and war cannot win the peace, says MGen Mabanta

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 25 (PIA6) -- “We can always win peace through peaceful means.”

T his was the statement of Major General Jose Z. Mabanta Jr. said as he bowed out from the Armed Forces of

the Philippines after 36 years of dedicated service to the government.

He said achieving peace does not always mean using guns and waging war.

The former commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based at Camp Macario Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz was known for being humble and God-loving.

As Commander of 3ID from February 6,2012 until June 19,2013, he helped in the establishment of 30 quarters for the officers, new chapel, new vehicle and new hospital.

“We have shown to the people that the military is not only for war but cares about human beings like us and that we are loving,

pro-people and look after the welfare of the people,” Mabanta said. "We wanted to show to the people that the Army are not just combat-ants but also peacemakers."

Mabanta, who was a former spokesperson of the AFP and the Commanding General of the Civil Relations Service, was able to strengthen networks and established partnerships with various stakeholders such as the Local Government Units, National Government Agencies, non-government and civil society organizations in winning the peace in Panay and Negros Islands.

“I am satisfied with my career and I am delighted because I’ll be leaving the army in good hands,” he stressed.

During a testimonial parade and review in honor of Mabanta who retired from the

military service a day before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, he launched the planting of palm tree which he called “Tree for Peace and Prosperity.” Included in the 3ID’s accomplishments during his stay were the neutralization of 132 New People’s Army including the killing of 5 rebels and the surrender of 81 NPA rebels, recovery of 9 high powered firearms confiscation of 19 low powered firearms, discovery of 78 CPP-NPA temporary encampment, assorted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and voluminous subversive documents with high intelligence value, aside from the arrest of 35 lawless elements of which 14 are NPA rebels with standing warrants and the confiscation of 18,247 board feef of assorted illegally cut lumbers. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA6) -- After four years of implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or Conditional Cash Transfer Program in Antique's five pilot municipalities, family beneficiaries have shifted from survival to subsistence mode.

S urvival is a set of conditions where there is lack of inner and external resources which make households unable to

resolve problems and survive in a daily basis, Jeffrey Gabucay, 4Ps provincial program coordinator, said during a meeting of program partners in the province.

These families don’t have regular income or employment, not a member of any social security like SSS and PhilHealth.

As to their social adequacy, families under survival well-being have a hard time getting food to provide balance diet for their children thus resulting to malnutrition.

Housing condition is poor with houses made of light materials and lack access to proper sanitation and hygiene.

For families with Subsistence well-being are those that leveled up their living conditions and have found sources of income for their families, becoming member of social security, able to feed their families and have access to

decent living condition with good hygiene and sanitation facilities.

Likewise, self-sufficiency households have already other sources of income and can already stand without interventions from the government, explained Lemuel Tabaosares Provincial Grievance Officer Pantawid Pamilya.

This is a clear indication that the program has brought a positive change to these households, according to Gabucay that from 2011 to 2012, the Survival well-being decreased by 72.20% while Subsistence increased by 86.94%. This means that in 2011, about 5,266 families or 56.54 percent of 9,313 family beneficiaries are under the well-being of survival but in 2012 it decreases to only 1,464a or 17.63 percent of the beneficiaries in the municipalities of Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-an, San Remigio and Valderrama.

Consequently, family well-being of beneficiaries in 2012 shifted to subsistence from only 3,209 households in 2011 to 5,999

or 72 percent, explained Gabucay. This was the result of the assessment conducted by Department of Social Welfare and Development where social welfare indicators are assessed through a questionnaire to evaluate the well-being of a certain households, he disclosed.

We expect the said trend could be applicable to the rest of the municipalities with the continuation of the Pantawid Pamilya as the needs of family beneficiaries escalates and their social functioning levels up, Gabucay remarked.

Eventually, we wish to see all families becoming self-sufficient, Gabucay expressed that even with minimal support from government, they could manage to find ways and means to sustain their families giving priority to the health and education needs of their children. Antique has so far received P691,570,100 cash grant as of March 2013 pay out to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)

By Jemin B. Guillermo

CCT beneficiaries shift from survival to subsistence

Aklan's dengue cases decrease

KALIBO, Aklan, June 26 (PIA6) -- The province of Aklan recorded 166 dengue cases from January 1 to June 8 of this year, 11 percent lower compared to same period last year.

T here were 187 cases during the said period in 2012, according to Dr. Cornelio Cuachon Jr., acting chief of

hospital at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH).

Kalibo, the capital town, registered the highest number of cases with 60, followed by Malay with 23 and Numancia, the town adjacent to Kalibo and just across the Kalibo Bridge, with 14 cases.

The rest of Aklan municipalities had 8 cases and below,like the towns of Makato and New Washington, which had 8 cases each;

Banga, 7; Buruanga, 6; Batan and Lezo, 5 each; Altavas, Balete and Libacao with 4 each; Malinao, Tangalan and Nabas with 3 each and Ibajay and Madalag, 1 each.

Seven (7) other cases came from areas outside the province.

Unlike earlier years when some municipalities registered zero cases, all Aklan towns now have dengue cases.

The towns of Buruanga and Madalag before had zero cases, but this year for this period, Buruanga has 6 while Madalag has one.

Fortunately for this period, Dr.Cuachon said the province has no dengue deaths, unlike last year when 8 deaths were already recorded for the same period.

Based on records of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) here, majority of dengue cases belong to the 11-20 age group with 54 cases, followed by 1-10 years old with 51 cases and 21 to 30 years old with 35 cases. The rest of the age groups had 13 cases and lower.

Fifty-five percent of cases were males. (JCM/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- Siquijor Province held its Provincial Tourism Summit with tourism stakeholders at Cocogrove Resort in San Juan, Siquijor to review, appraise and call to action its tourism prospects for local economic growth.

P articipants numbering about 60 were members of the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprise Development

Council (PSMEDC), Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCII), Siquijor Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants and Travel Agencies Association (SHORRETAS), government agencies and other key contributors to the province’s tourism development and promotion.

The summit, according to the DTI-provincial director Nimfa Virtucio, is expected to be one of the landmark events of the council in support to the tourism industry of the province. It was initiated by the PSMEDC.

After a quick look at the Siquijor situation with Senior Provincial Tourism Operations Officer Jossette Armirola, the Siquijor Tourist Satisfaction Survey conducted by Siquijor State College (SSC) and the AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Cooperation, a German Foundation that supports tourism industry was presented as a matter of discussion.

A review of the Siquijor eco-tourism value chain analysis made some years ago was also done prior to another Tourism Value Chains on Siquijor destinations and attractions facilitated by Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Technical Advisor Nanda Ritsma.

It focused on the destination appraisal in the areas of Attractions, Ecological and Social Environment, Market Orientation, Transport and Infrastructure, and Business Environment.

The workshop, Ritsma said will help stakeholders enhance their planning processes and define the specific actions each sector can do for Siquijor.

Another planning workshop is scheduled soon to finalize output and commitments drawn from the Tourism Summit.

Meanwhile, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Siquijor Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) released P600,000 to one of the beneficiaries of its Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP) as its technology assistance and innovation support to upgrade production equipment.

Naning’s Furniture Shop owned by Feliciano Cabiara, Sr. of Tubod, San Juan, Siquijor received the check with his son Feliciano Jr. from DOST Provincial Director Mario de la Pena recently at the DOST Provincial Science and Technology Office in Siquijor, Siquijor.

Engr de la Pena said the amount is

intended for the upgrading of the furniture shop's production equipment specifically the upgrading of bigger lathe machine for the production of mix media furniture and fixtures.

Also, the Siquijor Parole and Probation Office (PPO) is urging private and public offices and other organizations in the province to support its project dubbed “Trash for Cash.”

Parole and Probation Officer Lucresia Mamigo said the project which will be launched on July 11 during its 37th annual anniversary is a call for donations of plastic trashes to the office.

Organizations or individuals who are willing to donate can call 035-377-2406 so its office will pick them up by standby Volunteer Probation Aides (VPAs) or clients province wide, she said.

She added the funds raised from the project will be used to improve PPO's utilities that include repainting, maintenance and procurement of its sound system.

Aside from raising funds, “trash for cash” will also heighten the awareness for environmental protection of the Siquijodnons, thus, hitting two important goals, Mamigo said. (mbcn/RACalibo/PIA7/DOST/MEP/IIAbatayo-Siquijor) 

Siquijor holds Prov’l Tourism Summit

LapuLapuLapu---Lapu (1491Lapu (1491Lapu (1491---1592)1592)1592)

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Twenty internal quality auditors of the Department of Labor and Employment-7 (DOLE) underwent a three-day Internal Quality Audit training in preparation for its regionwide internal quality audit in July.

DOLE-7 to start region wide internal quality audit in July

T he training mobilized auditors to craft a plan that will monitor, measure, analyze, and recommend

for DOLE-7’s process improvement based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

DOLE-7 Regional Director Chona Mantilla said the department’s internal quality auditors will field teams per field office or divisions during the regionwide

audit next month. Each team shall audit the 32

processes enrolled for ISO certification. “However, no team member shall

audit his own office to preclude any doubt of collusion and favoritism,” said Mantilla.

DOLE-7 Quality Management Representative Maria Grace V. Diaz is confident that the processes will be packaged to ensure ISO compliance.

The t ra in i ng covered the familiarization of the process manuals; inputs on applicable theories on internal quality audit; and actual supervised audit.

Lead trainer was DOLE-7 ISO Consultant Remedios Cagulada, an accredited Lead Auditor of Anglo Japanese American Registrars Inc. and International Register of Certificated Auditors. (PIA Cebu)

By Rachelle M. Nessia

By Rizalie A. Calibo

By Amorganda A. Saludar

Day care center workers experience RAFI's adventure program

T he program aimed to deepen the participants’ understanding of their responsibility and strengthen their

commitment in educating and developing responsible and productive citizens among children in their community.

Participants were asked to accomplish tasks that brought them to different individual and group realizations.

They also shared and discussed their learning and related them to their actual experience as day care center workers

The day care center workers compared the challenging activities with the difficulties they face on the job.

Some of the issues they raised were hard-to-reach location of day care centers, poor facilities, low honorarium, lack of support from the local government and the community, all of which they overcame in order for their pupils to learn and have an opportunity for a good life in the future.

The same activity was part of RAFI’s

Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund (DACF) capacity building program, which aims to improve the quality of public early childhood education by providing trainings and workshops to day care center teachers and parents.

For more information about DACF, please contact 418-7234 loc. 208 and look for Joem de Gracia, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. (rmn/AYS/PIA 7/RAFI)

CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Twenty-three day care center workers from Liloan, Cebu recently underwent a two-day adventure program for educators held by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s (RAFI) Kool Adventure Camp (KAC) in Balamban, Cebu.

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

By Jennifer C. Tilos

NEGROS ORIENTAL, Guihulngan City (PIA) --The army’s 11th Infantry Battalion has facilitated the release of certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to 4,780 farmers in Negros Island recently under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) “Handog Titulo” program.

Army assists farmers in Negros Island Led the first successful Filipino armed Led the first successful Filipino armed Led the first successful Filipino armed resistance against Spanish aggressionresistance against Spanish aggressionresistance against Spanish aggression

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) branch in Dumaguete City is taking steps to effectively provide services to the people.

GSIS Dumaguete takes steps to further serve Negrenses

A tty. Mercedes Enriquez, branch manager of GSIS Dumaguete, said GSIS is constantly coordinating with local

government agencies and other stakeholders for consultations and lectures about their policies and programs.

“The need is to give people proper information,” Enriquez said, referring to the pre-retirement counseling on their pensioner programs which they give to would-be retiring government employees. Enriquez cited the Department of Education (DepEd) in Negros Oriental as one of their partners for the pre-retirement counseling.

DepEd is the government agency with the most number of GSIS members.

In Negros Oriental, GSIS members from DepEd total to 9,502.

She said they already finished their pre-retirement counseling in DepEd Division of Dumaguete City and they are now coordinating with DepEd Division of Negros Oriental for their lecture.

GSIS also disseminated GSIS Corner stickers to different government agencies for posting at their bulletin board.

GSIS also maintains a transaction monitoring system that enables them to keep

track of member’s transaction records and billing balance.

The agency also has a local call center to respond to inquiries from members over the telephone.

Enriquez also noted that they have made changes in their office lobby to make transactions more convenient for members.

The GSIS manager said all these were part of the developments GSIS is taking to further serve the people.

As of now, GSIS have installed 30 kiosks all over Negros Oriental to service Negrenses. (rmn/RAL/PIANEGOR)

By Roi Lomotan

A ccording to civil military operations officer, 1LT Danilo Mutoc said troops from 11th Infantry (Lapu-lapu)

Battalion facilitated the release of CLOAs to 2,066 famers; giving of certificate of stewardship contract to 712 farmers; application of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title to 201 farmers; and release of emancipation patent to 288.

The army also assisted the conduct of resurvey/documentation to 1,201 farmers, the petition for inclusion and exclusion to 180 CLOA holders and legalized crop sharing to 132 farmers.

Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac, the 11th IB Commander stressed that his unit seriously tackled agrarian reform issues that foment insurgency in the countryside.

Isaac said “that if the root causes of insurgency such as land reform and poverty, will be addressed effectively and efficiently through the convergence of concerned stakeholders, peace and security can easily be

achieved.” More than 2,000 farmer beneficiaries in

central Negros Island received their CLOAs. Most of them have literally drenched the

fields with their own blood, sweat and tears, and dedicated their being to 'their land' yet remained unsure of their fate, added 1LT Mutoc.

Among the new CLOA holders, Valentino Paunal, 72 from Brgy Macagahay Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental surfaced as the longest waiting CLOA aspirant.

For 50 years, his family still lived on a

borrowed piece of land not knowing when the landowner would expel them from the plantation.

Mutoc said not until early this year that soldiers from the 11th Infantry Battalion came to the place of Paunal offering assistance to every household in resolving prevailing and long standing issues.

In a few months since Bayanihan Team

arrived in the barangay, the old couple among others, finally received their CLOAs from DAR.

The Bayanihan Team (BT) activities of the 11th IB started early in 2011 in Guihulngan City following the implementation of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan,” initially tagged as “Peace and Development Teams.”

The BTs are deployed to immerse in different barangays in the country in order to help in the identification and resolution of primary issues affecting the people, such as but not limited to agrarian reform.

Mutoc cited that through the convergence efforts of various stakeholders such as DAR, DENR and LBP, the “Bayanihan” aims to bridge the perceived gap between the farmers and the stakeholders and eventually facilitate the implementation of government programs and services especially in far-flung areas. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

DUMAGUETE CITY (PIA) -- Medical experts in Dumaguete City encouraged people to shift to healthy lifestyle to evade renal diseases.

Renal diseases can be avoided through healthy lifestyle By Roi Lomotan

D r. Roy Diamond Arco, nephrologist at Silliman University Medical Center d i sc losed that d iabetes and

hypertension are the main causes of kidney failure, something that can be attributed to a person’s lifestyle.

Dr. Arco also added that those who have diabetes have 30 to 40 percent risk of developing kidney failure.

To counter this, Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) focal person Judith Vailoces said that exercising regularly can regulate blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health.

She also encouraged the public to have healthy diet and reduce salt and fat intake to avoid renal diseases. She also added that

smoking is harmful to the kidneys. Dr. Arco urged the public to undergo

urinalysis once a year, have a blood pressure check or blood test for blood sugar levels to know the status of your kidneys.

He assured that these medical tests are affordable and essential in detecting renal diseases.

The nephrologist revealed that 2.6 percent of Filipino adults have kidney disease and 11,000 persons per year have advanced stage of kidney failure.

Meanwhile, according to the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, kidney diseases are the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos.

“The advocacy of the national government

and the Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) is awareness and prevention (of kidney diseases),” Dr. Arco added.

In response, Vailoces said that on their part, they are conducting lectures in rural areas to inform the public about renal health care and disease prevention. She also said that they regularly give updates to city health officers, rural health units, barangay health workers, doctors and nurses about the topic which is then disseminated to the grassroots level of the community.

The two spoke about renal health care and disease prevention over a Kapihan sa PIA forum here to mark the celebration of National Kidney Month. (FCR/RAL-PIA7 NEGOR)

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

DAR turns over P31-M to LGU for agri support projects

SILAGO, Southern Leyte, June 27 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform recently turned over more than P31-million worth of agricultural support projects to the local government unit (LGU) of this town.

T urned over for the recipient’s maintenance were the communal irrigation system (CIS) with a total

project cost of P24.8 million; the potable water supply (PWS) amounting to P4.3 million; and the common service facilities (CSFs) with a combined total amount of P2.2 million, all situated in Barangay Hingatungan, an agrarian reform community (ARC).

DAR Regional Director Eliasem Castillo said the irrigation system which is expected to supply water to about 153 hectares of rice fields in the area and potable water supply that will benefit more than 2,000 residents, were funded by the Japan International Cooperation

Agency (JICA) thru the third phase of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP-3) under the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Meanwhile, the farm machineries which include four hand tractors; four flatbed dryers; and two threshers were funded under the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) for the agri-enterprise activities of the Hingatungan Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, the Regional Director added.

Director Castillo underscored that with irrigation and the necessary farm implements now in place, agricultural production in this area particularly rice is expected to improve in the succeeding cropping season.

Eventually, household income of the farmers of whom about 500 are agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) will likewise increase, Director Castillo added.

These projects will greatly contribute to the National Rice Program of the Department of Agriculture in attaining rice sufficiency at least in this province, the DAR Regional Director said. (PIA 8)

Agustin Sumuroy ( Agustin Sumuroy ( Agustin Sumuroy ( --- 1650)1650)1650)

New receipts system takes effect Aug. 31 GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte, June 26 (PIA) – The validity of all unused/unissued receipts and invoices of business establishments or taxpayers which were printed prior to January 18, 2013 is extended to August 30, 2013.

B ureau of Internal Revenue Eastern Visayas Director Diosdado Mendoza said that this is contained in Revenue

Memorandum Circular No. 44-2013. Director Mendoza explained that this

means that the implementation of the new receipts system printed by duly accredited printers will take effect on August 31, not July 1 as previously announced.

However, Director Mendoza said the deadline for filing an application for the printing of new receipts to replace all unused/unissued principal and supplementary receipts or invoices printed prior to January 18, 2013 shall be April 30, 2013.

All applications received after said date shall be considered late applications and the corresponding penalties due to late filing shall be imposed, Director Mendoza added through

a statement sent to the Philippine Information Agency.

Furthermore, all unused/unissued receipts/invoices shall be surrendered to the Revenue District Office where the taxpayer is registered on or before the 10th day after the date of printing as stated in the new principal and supplementary receipts/invoices.

The date of the new receipts/invoices is the date of expiration of the validity period of the unused/unissued receipts/invoices, Director Mendoza said.

The Regional Director said that only BIR Accredited Printers shall have exclusive authority to print principal and supplementary receipts invoices.

The listing of accredited printers across all Regions can be viewed at www.bir.gov.ph, Director Mendoza said.

After August 30, 2013, all principal and supplementary receipts/invoices printed prior to January 18, 2013 shall no longer be valid.

Any issuance of said receipts/invoices shall be deemed an issuance of an invalid receipt or as if no receipt was issued.

Any act or omission violating RR No. 18-2012 shall be subject to a penalty pursuant to Sec. 264 of the NIRC as amended.

The penalty ranges from P1,000 to P50, 000 depending on how belated the establishment has adopted the new set of receipts.

Starting August 31, 2013, the BIR will strictly monitor the use of the new invoices/receipts and will be imposing the penalty to non-compliant business establishments/taxpayers, Director Mendoza said. (PIA 8)

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

MCC implements comprehensive social development programs

M CC, a United States foreign aid agency, is implementing the Secondary Road Rehabilitation Project here.

David Gange, MCC consultant, said this is the particular uniqueness of MCC because it considers the issues and concerns affecting the people within the perimeters of MCC.

He said MCC has given the affected households certain fees as pay-off for whatever part of their house was damaged, including fences, either those with concrete or with light materials.

He added that there is a demolition cost given to affected families for the demolition of the affected part of their house, which they expect to be done 30 days after they received the money, otherwise, the MCC contractors themselves will do the demolition job. If this happens, the affected household will have to

return the demolition fee money they received.

Gange said MCC has compensated the resettlement obligations to 85 of the 6,990 affected households, except for the remaining 110 who they referred to as “in difficult places,” or those structures with owners abroad, some are unknown or are still in the process with the Grievance Committee.

Package 3, covering the stretch from San Julian town to Balangkayan has now commenced construction by first putting in place the large culverts and concrete drainage systems.

MCC also takes into consideration some issues on trafficking in persons and gender integration in the workplace.

Gange said a number of women workers have been taken in as flag women, those who

assist in the smooth flow of traffic by signalling motorists with either green or red flaglets.

Some women are also assigned in middle managements of MCC.

He also stressed that they do not conform to Millennium Fiesta or the Saturday nights practice after laborers receive their weekly salary. They make sure none of the MCC employees go into the night spots, lest they be meted with an outright termination.

“Aside from the curfew hours they enforce on their workers, MCC compound is also surrounded now with barb wires to prevent the illegal entrance of “illegal-women,” he said. “Widows and widowers who were affected by the project were likewise paid 20 percent of their resettlement cost under the single-headed household fee,” Gange reported. (PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, June 24 (PIA) -- A Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) official said MCC is not only concerned with infrastructure activities but also with the comprehensive social development of people in affected areas.

By Alicia E. Nicart

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Led the very first organized armed resistance Led the very first organized armed resistance Led the very first organized armed resistance against the Spanish colonizersagainst the Spanish colonizersagainst the Spanish colonizers

Former rebel official exhorts comrades to join mainstream society

LOPE DE VEGA, Northern Samar, June 25 (PIA) -- A former leader in the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army under Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) in Northern Samarhas has advised his comrades to return to mainstream society.

L emuel Moreno, alyas Ka Kulas, made the call during the simple ceremony held on June 23 at

Barangay Trojillo, Bobon, Northern Samar for the giving of immediate assistance amounting to P50,000 as part of the incentive for turning over two caliber .45 pistols.

The said amount was given in consonance with the AFP’s Gun for Peace Program that provides corresponding amount to former rebels who turn in firearms as a manifestation of their

commitment to leave the revolutionary organization and to live decent and normal lives with their families.

Ka Kulas, together with his wife Nida Lugares Moreno, surrendered to the 20th Infantry (We Lead) Battalion last June 13.

Moreno said he decided to surrender after learning about the program from some of the residents in their former mass base barangays in the hinterlands of Bobon, Northern Samar.

Due to the continued presence of government troops conducting peace and

development activities in the barangays, Moreno and his group had to constantly hide and move from one place to another.

This, he said, made him realize the futility of the struggle since the movement no longer had the support of the masses.

“Makuri an sige tago kay diri na kami ginsusuportahan sa mga tawo nga gin lalauman namon nga mga masa sa mga barangay (It is hard to keep on hiding since the people that we believe to be our mass base would no longer help us in the barangays)," Ka Kulas said. (PIA 8)

Local official to students: Avoid unhealthy foods

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 24 (PIA)— Newly elected Motiong Vice Mayor Aldwin Langi reminded students not to eat unhealthy foods like junk foods, instant noodles, salty foods, packed juice and soft drinks to avoid kidney diseases and other illnesses.

L angi said this during the kidney awareness month celebration led by the Samar DepEd Division Medical

team at Motiong Central Elementary School, Samar, Friday.

He also asked the parents present to avoid serving unhealthy food at home.

Grade five student Sheena Mae Tabinar said, “Sisidngon ko hi nanay ngan tatay nga diri na kami magsura hin mga instant noodles ngan mga mag-asin, amo an akon nahibaruan kay nakakruba ini han aton bato.”

(I will tell my parents to avoid serving too salty dishes like instant noodles as this may harm our kidneys.

This is what I learned in school today.)

Langi said local government of Motiong fully supports the nutrition campaign of the government.

He added that they are already in the second year of “Busog Lusog Talino” (BLT) program.

The LGU together with the Jollibee Foundation embarked on the BLT School

Feeding Program with the goal of eradicating malnutrition among Grades 1 and 2 public school pupils.

BLT School Feeding Program has endeavored to work with communities towards addressing hunger in pupils to help them stay in school and learn better.

Langi added that according to the teacher reports, the significant result is the improvement in attendance and academic performance among BLT pupils. (PIA 8- Samar with Avha H. Ebalde)

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

DPWH-4th LED concentrates on its school construction projects

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, June 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – 4th Leyte Engineering District (4th LED) is currently concentrating on the repairs and construction of various school buildings in said district.

A ccording to the 4th LED, in Palompon, Leyte construction of Tinabilan National High School, Palompon

Annex is on-going with an allocation of Php1,771,000.00 under the contractor JA Achacoso Enterprises & General Services.

Another on-going school building project is the construction of Matlang National High School in Isabel, Leyte.

Said project, which took off last March 27, 2013, is under the contractor RJIR Enterprises. The project has a contract cost of P1,771,000.00, which was taken from the 2013 IBE Funds, 4th LED reported.

In Ormoc City, it was bared that a school building is also currently being constructed with a contract cost of Php1,259,128.19.

The on-going construction of the Julian Gantuanco National High School took off last

March 20, 2013 and has been targeted to be completed by 17 June 2013, which was not met.

Under the contractor J.A. Achacoso Enterprises & General Services, the funds used for said project was taken from the Department of Education.

To date, the school building is already 95% complete and almost ready for occupancy.

In Isabel, Leyte, the construction of the Isabel National Agricultural and Vocational School is likewise on-going with a contract cost of Php2,411,000.00.

Said project took off last March 27, 2013 and was targeted to be completed by May 25, 2013 under the contractor Rolando M. Villasencio Construction and General Services.

Regularly, District Engineer Lino Francisco C. Gonzalez conducts monitoring on the

on-going construction of the various school buildings to be assured of its completion by the end of June, 2013.

Aside from the repairs and construction of school buildings, 4th LED is also currently c o n d u c t i n g g r a v e l t o p a v e d Merida-Lundag-Putting Bato-Consolacion-Isabel Road.

The on-going project has a contract cost of Php34,620,000.00 and is targeted to be completed by July 20, 2013 under the contractor MAC Builders with funds taken from the DPWH 2013 Funds.

The road widening and concreting project, according to Gonzalez, is currently being completed to provide farmers easy access in the transportation of their farm products and for the safety of the travelling public. (PIA-8)

By Marivic A. Alcover

One Visayas e‐newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.  One Visayas e‐newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378718/3377301 or e‐mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.   

Editorial Consultants Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu 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: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com PIA 8, Children’s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com