October 14, 2013 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL I ISSUE 42 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 October 14, 2013

NMIS spearheads celebration of Meat Safety Consciousness Week

The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) will spearhead the

celebration in Eastern Visayas, of the Meat Safety Consciousness Week on October 14 to 18, 2013 with the theme “Meat Safety for AEC” Gearing Toward ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Dr. Marian S. Zartiga, NMIS-8 Senior Meat Control Officer and Meat Science and Technology Division Head, said that various activities pertaining to meat safety will be conducted during the five-day event. Among the planned activities is the region wide launching which will kick off with a motorcade. The launching may take place in Maasin City, Catbalogan City or Calbayog City, depending on the availability of the LGU that will host the said event, Dr. Zartiga said. A three-day exhibit is also continued on page 7

East Visayas gears up for ICT developmentEVFIT calls for nominations for board of trusteesThe Eastern Visayas Federation

for Information Technology, an organization in Eastern Visayas that focuses in uniting all IT enthusiasts in Eastern Visayas, is calling for nominations for the Board of Trustees. Mr. Jett Montablan, EVFIT Executive Director said this activity is in line with the Regional Development Plan which identifies Information Communications Technology as one of the three areas that will trigger development in the Region. In order to fully achieve that goal of making Eastern Visayas as an ICT hub, there is a need for strengthening of the EVFIT as an organization. Mr. Montablan said that there are eight seats available for the Board of Trustees position. All Regional Information Communications Technology Committee members and EVFIT Members are considered as EVFIT Founding Members and as such they are qualified to nominate and to be nominated for the

Board of Trustees. The EVFIT Board of Trustees, Mr. Montablan added, will be comprised of executive-level officers who have experience in managing organizational growth, defining policies and dedicated to Eastern Visayas ICT-BPM enhancement and readiness. It will be composed of 1 appointed trustee as President (DOST 8) and 8 elected trustees. In this year’s election which will be held on October 16, eight seats are available for election. This is broken down into four (4) sectors: Private Sector with two (2) seats; Public or Government Sector with two (2) seats, one of which is appointed to DOST 8 as President; NGO Sector with one (1) seat; and Academe Sector with three (3) seats. Individuals should be nominated for their personal qualifications and commitment, not solely for their company or organizational affiliation, Mr. Montablan said.continued on page 5

Brgy. 68 officials in Tacloban City reports to its constituents its accomplishments during the synchronized barangay assembly, October 13, 2013. (PIA-8)

2 October 14, 2013

BARANGAY E L E C T I O N S

2 0 1 3

September 28, 2013 - November 12, 2013Election Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9715

October 11 - 17, 2013(Except October 13)

Filing of COCsfor the 2013 Barangay Elections

as per COMELEC Resolution No. 9761

October 18 - 26, 2013Campaign Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9749

October 28, 2013

2013 Barangay Electionspursuant to Sec. 1 of Republic Act No. 9340

September 28 - October 28, 2013Period of Prohibition on issuance

of Appointment, creation of new positions,promotions or giving salary increasesAs per COMELEC Resolution No. 9769

PNP identifies 32 barangays in 14 Leyte LGUs as potential flash points in upcoming polls

The Philippine National Police in the province of Leyte led by Provincial

Director Brigido Unay, has identified 32 barangays in 14 municipalities as possible areas where violence may occur during the barangay elections. PNP Leyte Director Unay, in a recent meeting of the Comelec designated agencies, gave the assurance that barangays classified under watch list will be given enough security to ensure that the conduct of elections would be peaceful and orderly. The areas were identified under watch list based on the data given by the different police units across the province, Director Unay said. Meanwhile, Senior Inspector Teofilo Lucelo, deputy police community relation officer of the Leyte Police Provincial Office, said that out of the 42 LGUs in Leyte, 14 (13 towns and 1 City) of them have been identified to have

barangays identified as areas of concern or immediate concern relative to the forthcoming barangay elections. Classified as Immediate Areas of Concern are Barangay Veteranos in Alangalang town; Barangays Anahawan and Dawahon in Bato; Tinago in Capoocan; Montebello and San Isidro in Kananga; San Vicente in Matag-ob; Capilihan in San Miguel and Gibacungan in Tabango. Moreover, the 23 villages considered as areas of concern by the Leyte PNP are Barangay Sherwood in Javier; Upper Antipolo, Antipolo, Balugo, Kawilan and Tinag-an, in Albuera; Bunga in Baybay City; Cagbana, Kansiboy and Villa Aurora in Burauen; Paglaum, Jubas, Macalpi, Hiluctugan, Palale, Camansi and Caghalo in Carigara; Rubas, Villa Consuelo and San Pedro, in Jaro; and Oguisan and San Vicente, in MacArthur. (PIA 8)

Organizers call for Subiran Regatta participants

The 69th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary Subiran Regatta

Organizers is inviting participants to the Subiran Regatta race this coming October 20, 2013 at the Red Beach, Baras, Palo, Leyte. The said Subiran Regatta is one of the highlights of the activities relative to the observance of the 69th anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings. Interested parties who want to join the Subiran are enjoined to register

as soon as possible at the Leyte Caravan Office located at the Grandstand, Sta. Cruz St., Tacloban City and look for Mr. Gilbert C. Eco. A final briefing regarding the Subiran Regatta will be given on October 14, at 2:00 p.m. at the Grandstand.Subiran Regatta is one of the highlights for this year’s celebration of the 69th Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings. (PIA 8)

BY: MARIVIC ALCOBER

October 14, 2013 3

t

Catbalogan mayor reports to the people her first 100 days in officeI consider my first 100 Days as powerful first steps to make this

City progressive. This would be a measure of our leadership’s dynamism, efficiency and effectiveness. That within this time frame I have sealed my mode of leadership; and established rapport among our partners.” Thus said Catbalogan City’s first lady Mayor Stephany Uy during her report on her first 100 days in office. Thousands of Catbaloganon witnessed her first State of the City Address (SOCA) held at the Samar State University Gymnasium, Catbalogan City on October 10, Thursday. Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said that only the City of Catbalogan among 24 municipalities and two cities in Samar received from the Commission on Audit (COA) zero disallowance in 2012. In her SOCA, Tan said that the LGU received grants from national offices like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) some Php 150 Million for Antiao Bridge, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) some Php 25 Million for a new fishery port in Catbalogan, and another Php 8 Million from the National Meat and Inspection Services (NMIS) for a slaughter house, all these are for implementation. Aside from these major projects, Tan also gave her lists of accomplishments with she said have big impact to the community. Tan stressed that her administration has allocated and prioritized

Catbalogan City’s first lady mayor during her oath-taking in Jult 2013. Photo courtesy of Michael Balan.

Regional Director Pedro Noval lauded the top performance of the city in Good Housekeeping and Disaster Risk Reduction Management (SGH). The director challenged the lady mayor to perform well in the Clean and Green program to attract more investors to the city. Mayor Tan for her part, accepted the challenge and said that her leadership is already working to address the sanitation issues of the city. (PIA 8- Samar with Avha H. Ebalde)

fund for health, sanitation, and peace and security. Tan said that she asked the City health office to operate a 24- hour lying in clinic and a daily consultation to answer the immediate needs of the Catbaloganons. During her first 100 days as mayor, she said that her administration gave 25 units of sanitary toilets to 11barangays, provided a series of people’s medical and dental caravan and Step Up Tekwa Cares Emergency Response team. The young lady mayor also personally distributed livelihood and educational assistance to some scholars and the parents. “I consider my first 100 Days as powerful first steps to make this City progressive. This would be a measure of our leadership’s dynamism, efficiency and effectiveness. That within this time frame I have sealed my mode of leadership; and established rapport among our partners.” She added that she is meeting the challenge head on, and that she has defined her vision for the city as inscribed in her social contract with the Catbaloganon. In the same event, Department of Interior and local Government (DILG) 8

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

4 October 14, 2013

DSWD continues to address trafficking of person in Eastern Visayas

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here in Eastern

Visayas continues to address trafficking of persons in Eastern Visayas. DSWD Region 8 Director Remia Tapispisan said victims of human trafficking are being given assistance by the DSWD through its recovery and reintegration program of trafficked persons (RRPTP). The goal of the program is to address the problem with regards to the acceleration of cases which concerns human trafficking and whose victims happen to be minors who are used as

prostitutes, made to indulge to forced labor and worst of all, sexual exploitation. The said program was the pilot project of DSWD in the year 2010-2011 but it was converted into a regular program of the DSWD, Director Tapispisan said. Meanwhile, Ms. Vina Aquino, DSWD Information Officer, said that based on the DSWD records, the number of cases of human trafficking is 28 for the entire region. The number of cases covers January up to July of this year. Of the total number of human trafficking cases, Tacloban has the highest number with 13, Ms. Aquino said.

BY: MARIVIC ALCOBER

RIACEH member-agencies to present updates on environmental health projects

The Department of Health – Eastern Visayas (DOH-EV is set to spearhead

a meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health (RIACEH) on 29 October 2013. In a communication, Director Jose Llacuna, Jr., said that during the whole day activity , each RIACEH member-agency is expected to present the updates on the projects relative to environmental health. At the start of the meeting, DOH will give the status on VECTOR borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and filarial.

Ms. Aquino said that of the 13 victims of human trafficking from Tacloban, 11 of them were male whose ages are between16 to 21 while two of them were minor. The DSWD information officer added that of the human trafficking victims from the city, seven of them are now under the custody of the City Social Welfare Office while three of them are now back with their respective families. However, one of the victims appeared not interested to be assisted by the DSWD, Aquino said. (PIA 8)

This will be followed by the presentation of the 2013 National Search for Barangay with Best Sanitation Practices with two regional winners, Brgy. Tuno, San Francisco, Southern Leyte; and Brgy. Bobon of Mercedes, Eastern Samar.The Department of Agriculture will give updates relative to climate change, while the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources on Red Tide and Capillariasis to include results of laboratory examinations. The National Irrigation and Administration will present the status

of their information drive to farmers in Schistosomiasis endemic areas, to be followed by discussions on geohazard earthquake areas by the Mines & Geo-Sciences Bureau. The status on DOH accreditation of water analysis laboratory will be handled by the Department of Science & Technology, while the Department of Social Welfare & Development discuss matters relative to augmentation support in terms of restorative/rehabilitative activities to the LGUs affected by environmental health related problems. The CY 2012 SALINTUBIG status will be presented by the Department of Interior & Local Government; Land Acquisition Plan and Rapit Assessment Plan on all Infra Projects by the Department of Public Works & Highways, while formulation and implementation of an integrated communication program on environmental health by the Philippine Information Agency. Updates from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will include LTO Drivers Education Program concerning environmental health related issues and diseases which will include posting of posters and stickers, provision of vehicle trash cans and anti-smoke belching campaign, while updates on Free medical services were also provided in some areas in Tacloban City during the synchronized barangay

assembly, October 13, 2013. (Raul S. Tiozon/PIA-8) continued on page 7

October 14, 2013 5East Visayas gears... from page 1

Nominations must be sent to montablan@live.com and jg_0815@yahoo.com and be received during the nomination period. The email subject must be “NOMINATION FOR EVFIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES”. Each EVFIT member may nominate the Head of his or her agency/institution or any EVFIT Members. The Deadline for Acceptance of Nominations is on October 14, 2013, not later than 9:00 o’clock in the evening. Nominees must email formal acceptance to montablan@live.com and jg_0815@yahoo.com during the nomination period. Nominations not formally accepted by the nominee by the end of the nomination period will be considered withdrawn. Nominees can accept nomination to EVFIT Board of Trustees. Each BoT nominee’s Acceptance Letter should include a short biography and an optional statement describing the nominee’s interest in and qualifications for serving on the EVFIT Board; Platform information, identifying opinions on priorities and issues facing EVFIT, ideas for future activities, and suggestions for ICT-BPM business development initiatives or strategic partnerships. This information will serve as the primary means for members to understand a candidate’s vision for the future of the Federation. Another important information that is required and must be included in the Nominee’s Acceptance Letter is a statement that the nominee is prepared to commit and has support from his or her management to devote approximately 10-20% of his or her time to EVFIT Board activities and is able to travel to attend face-to-face meetings approximately quarterly (Calendar Year 2014) at his or her employer’s expense. The first such meeting will be held within the vicinity of Eastern Visayas where the newly elected Board members will be formally seated. These acceptance documents are published on the BoT candidate profile page in the Members-Only section of the EVFIT web site, Mr. Montablan said. (PIA 8)

To access back issues of 1EASTERN VISAYAS

6 October 14, 2013

“Old school”- bred Info Officers spend some time to learn social media

Some fifty information officers of the Philippine Information Agency from

the three Visayas regions gathered in this city October 10-11, to familiarize themselves with the new tools of the trade, courtesy of a private partner, Smart Communications, the co- sponsor of the two-day event. Many of the info officers, however, especially the young ones, were already familiar with the new battle field

on using the internet, the social media, in transmitting and communicating news, but the “young once” have to catch up as well. This writer belonged to the young once, a group that needed a mindset transition from the old to the new media, said Mr. Max Limpag, a staff at Sun Star Cebu, who lectured on the topic, well, “Print Versus Online Media.” “From using the typewriter,

which has no ‘delete’ key, we now face computers, laptops, even our mobile phones as our medium in sending news,” Limpag said, confessing that he can relate with the confused side of the audience, a minority, for he, too, had the same feeling back in 2006. Limpag emphasized that as “digital immigrants” the old school journalists -- me, for one -- had to adapt to the new digital environment, being not born in a digital world. At the opposite end of the technology divide are the “digital natives”, or today’s generation of children who grew up with computers, the internet; who received information real fast, did multi-tasking, and preferred graphics before text, Limpag said -- truly a new frontier to conquer. “Be open to change – use tweets, links, facebook, etc. -- and take time to learn, or else we will be left behind. Also, be willing to experiment – at no cost using the new media,” Limpag advised. With that advise, this writer is trying . . . starting with this thing called “blogging.” Be a guest, and you are very much welcome, to my blog, www.pia-pedalino.journ.ph., or to the blog sites of other PIA writers. This writer will be excited, the other PIA writers too, to read your comments there. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

For the latest stories

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BY MARCELO M. PEDALINO

October 14, 2013 7

As of September of 2013, the Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas has removed a total of 8,118 household beneficiaries from the roster of beneficiaries for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). DSWD-8 Director Remia Tapispisan said that 120 of the delisted household were found ineligible due to inclusion error. Some 2,003 households have regular income; about 10 households were delisted due to fraud while 4,900 were delisted due to duplications. Meanwhile, 1,045 beneficiaries decided to waive their claims. Director Tapispisan said that Leyte has the highest number of delisted households with 2,801, followed by Samar with 2,746 household delisted. Northern Samar has 1,302; Eastern Samar 878; Southern Leyte on the other hand has 312 and Biliran with the least, with 79 households delisted. It was learned that currently, Eastern Visayas has 251, 178 registered

DSWD delists more than 8,000 East Visayas families from 4Ps

NMIS spearheads...from page 1

set to be conducted at the Robinsons Place Tacloban Activity Area, wherein NMIS-8 and other attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture, will showcase their different programs related to the celebration. The last two days of the week-long celebration are scheduled for the Meat Inspector’s Conference to be participated in by local meat inspectors from all over the region. The celebration is pursuant to Proclamation No. 276 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos, proclaiming the third week of October every year as Meat Safety Consciousness Week.The proclamation clearly stated in its objective that the public can only be protected from the danger brought by consuming uninspected meat if they are aware of the quality and safety standard of the product. Meanwhile, Dr. Zartiga said that the NMIS in the Region continues to conduct Food Handling and Meat Quality and Safety Orientation programs targeting homemakers, meat consumers, retailers and concerned organizations. The purpose of the said program is to orient and at the same time, educate people regarding food handling and meat safety specifically on the proper handling of meat, meat processing, storage, food presentation and even the proper handling and storage of frozen and unfrozen meat and food, Dr. Zartiga said. (PIA 8)

information dissemination campaign in industrial and commercial establishments will be reported by the Department of Labor & Employment. The Department of Education will share the health services extended to school children especially in areas affected by environmental health related diseases, while on their part the National

RIACEH member-agencies...from page 4

Economic & Development Authority’s update will be on the integration of environmental health concerns in the Regional Development Council and climate change status. The last to present is the Office of Civil Defense, which will give updates on calamities, disasters, and epidemics. (PIA-8)

household beneficiaries. Of this number, Leyte has 99,115; Eastern Samar, 28,147; Northern Samar, 42,837; Samar, 56,569; Southern Leyte, 17,912 and Biliran with 6,598 households. During a recent Harampang Ha PIA, the delisting of 4Ps beneficiaries became one of the hottest issues in the light of the forthcoming barangay elections. Some members of the media brought to the attention of the DSWD that some incumbent barangay officials who are running for the October 28 elections have been threatening beneficiaries of the program if they will not vote for them.However, DSWD Regional Director Remia Tapispisan stressed that only the DSWD can enlist and delist beneficiaries from the Pantawid program. The non-compliance on the part of the beneficiaries on any of the conditionalities of the Program will qualify them for the delisting, Director Tapispisan said. (PIA 8)