Vol 4 Issue 22 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 2 - 8, 2014

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue DENR calls on public to protect riparian zones, foreshore areas

Leyte rehab master plan to be implemented soon

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

Major infra projects worth P12.8B up in WV

By: Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, June 3 (PIA6) – Department of

Public Works and Highways-6 Director Edilberto

Tayao said some P12.8 billion budget has been

allotted for major infrastructure development in

Western Visayas.

Tayao, said in a radio interview that about 20

percent increase can be expected based on the

absorptive capacity of the agency in implementing

and maximizing the allocation.

He said that funds allocated should be used up

at the end of the year, as excess funds means that

allocations have not been maximized.

He further said that the numerous big

projects implemented by the agency have

caused a shortage in contractors even as Western

Visayas has about 45-50 contractors for small and

big projects.

He also said that this shortage in contractors

has prompted the national government to consider

inviting foreign contractors to help with the

implementation of the projects.

―By maximizing use of funds through fast and

good implementation of infrastructures, we can be

assured of bigger funds, the next time around,‖

Tayao said. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

BY: ROI LOMOTAN

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 5 (PIA) – The

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR) in Negros Oriental advises the public to

plant crops along riparian areas instead of building

structures to prevent soil erosion and help preserve

these areas.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources

Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre said aside from

bamboo, people can also plant other crops that can

hold the soil on riparian areas.

This not only helps in mitigating bad effects of

climate change but it can also provide livelihood to

the community.

Riparian zones are strips of land located near

water sources like rivers, streams and creeks.

The DENR here continues to make a call to the

public to preserve and manage riparian zones and

foreshore areas.

This is in line with the celebration of Environment Month this June with the theme ―Raise

your voice, not the sea level‖.

Speaking in a Kapihan Forum here yesterday on

the topic ―Protection and management of riparian

zones and foreshore areas,‖ PENRO Fabre said one

of the pressing issues on the environment nowadays

is the continuous building of structures along the

said places without permission from the Local

Government Units (LGUs).

Fabre appeals to LGUs to exercise its political

will in implementing laws and guidelines on

protecting riparian zone and foreshore areas.

Fabre said loss of lives and damages to

properties during floods can be evaded if the local

government can prevent the construction of illegal

structures on these areas.

According to DENR-7 Land Management

Sector Division Chief Bonifacio Rivera, at least 3

meters easement from the shoreline is required in

building structures in urban areas based from Art. 51

of Presidential Decree 1067.

The provincial DENR hopes the local

government will help in protecting riparian zones

and foreshore areas in Negros Oriental. (mbcn/ral/

PIA7-NegOr)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Education secretary Bro. Armin Luistro (3rd

from left) distributes diploma to one of the

first batch graduates of the K to 12 Senior

High School from Palo National High School

and Merida Vocational School during the

graduation rites at the Palo Municipal Hall,

Palo, Leyte, May 30. Assisting the Secretary

are (l-r) DepEd 8 regional director Luisa

Bautista-Yu and Leyte vice-governor Carlo

Loreto. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

Office of the Presidential Assistance on

Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) Chief

Sec. Panfilo Lacson (4th from left, seated)

leads the signing of the respective provincial

and city rehabilitation and recovery plans of

Cebu, Tacloban City, Western Samar, and

Leyte at on May 30, 2014 at Waterfront, Cebu

City. With Sec. Lacson are DSWD Sec. Dinky

Soliman, DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson, Budget

Sec. Florencio Abad, and the cluster heads.

(vvv/PIA-Cebu)

DENR-6 Regional Executive Director Jim

Sampulna (first photo, upper row) and PIA-6

Regional Director lawyer Ma. Janet C. Mesa

(first photo, lower row) lead the heads and

representatives of other national government

agencies and local government units in signing

the pledge of commitment to the National

Greening Program (NGP) during opening

program of the tree planting activity held June

5 at Anilao town here. The tree planting

activity was part of the activities spearheaded

by DENR in celebration of the Environment

Month this June. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 4 (PIA)—The

rehabilitation plan of the Province of Leyte will soon

be implemented as soon as President Benigno

Aquino III approves the plan.

This after Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico

L. Petilla presented the Rehabilitation Master Plan

for Leyte during the cabinet clusters meeting in

Cebu City recently.

The master plan will be the basis of the national

government for the funding release.

More than P22 billion are being allocated for

the rehabilitation program of the Province of Leyte

which was hard hit by typhoon Yolanda in

November 8 last year.

The governor said P9 billion have been allotted

for the infra sector.

This includes the repair of roads, bridges,

school buildings and other infrastructures that were

damaged by the super typhoon.

Livelihood, job creation, business opportunities

and shelter projects for displaced families were also

included in the plan.

The governor asked his constituents to be

patient in waiting as the government is trying

its best to ensure that the rehabilitation plan

w i l l be imp lemented in accordance

with the laws, rules and regulations of concerned

agencies.

The master plan will be the basis of the national

government for the funding release. (PIA-8)

PIA 7 with DENR 7 and the Cebu media combine efforts in

a beach clean -up activity in Alegria, Cordova Cebu last May 30 as part of efforts on environmental protection. (PIA-7)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, June 3 (PIA6) --- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Western Visayas will launch the Business

Resource and Innovation Center for small and medium enterprises (BRICS) in July 2014.

Innovation Center for SMEs up soon

D TI-6 Public Information Officer Ruby

Melliza said BRICS, as one of the

priority projects of the department

this year, will provide technical assistance to

small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in order

to increase employment opportunities and

sales generated.

―The BRICS in Iloilo will be located in a

mall in this city and will be accessible to SMEs,‖

she said.

She said that BRICS will be providing the

following services: consultancy services,

trainings and seminars, financing facilitation,

market linkage and facilitation, trade mark and

patent application assistance, and Geographic

Indication (GI) mark application assistance.

―Iloilo is one the cities in the country

where the four model BRICS will be launched

in July 2014. The others will be located in the

cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, and

Quezon City,‖ she said.

The DTI official said that the four models

will use different venues for the BRICS.

Batangas BRICS will be housed in the local

government unit (LGU); Iloilo will be located

in a mall; Cagayan de Oro will be within the

DTI office while Quezon City will also be in a

mall.

―After six months of operation, an

evaluation will be done to determine the most

effective venue for the BRICS and may be used

as a model for the upscaling of the project

nationwide,‖ she explained.

The BRICS will also complement the

other centers established by DTI including

Small and Medium Enterprise Development

(SMED) Center, National Economic Research

and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC),

among others.

She also said the BRICS in Iloilo will be

headed by a Center Manager and assisted by

Business Development Staff from the DTI Iloilo

Provincial Office.

The establishment of BRICS is in

partnership with the Iloilo City LGU,

Intellectual Property Office Philippines, and the

Design Center of the Philippines. (JCM/LTP/PIA

-Iloilo)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 5 (PIA6) – A clean-up drive dubbed ―Ciudad Ko, Tinlo-an Ko‖ was officially launched by the Roxas

City government June 2 at the public plaza here to further beautify the city through multi-sectoral support and cooperation.

A cting Roxas City mayor Ronnie T.

Davidas led the kick-off of the clean up

drive along the public plaza premises

by sweeping the street and painting the gutter

section after a program that launched the

cleanliness campaign.

―There is a need to clean our

surroundings to avoid diseases and give a fresh-

er as well as newer look to the city,‖ Dadivas

said in an interview with Straight to the Point

aired over local RMN station.

The campaign also intends to bring back

the city‘s glory as Western Visayas‘ cleanest

and greenest component city earned about a

decade ago.

―We can regain it with the community‘s

participation,‖ he stressed, adding that

developments on the beautification and

cleanliness of the city will be noticeable in the

next 15 to 20 days.

The program was also graced by Capiz

Gov. Victor A. Tanco, Provincial Environment

and Natural Resources Officer Valentin

Talabero and Department of Public Works and

Highways – Capiz 1st District Engineer Sonny

Boy Oropel, among others, who extended

their support to the campaign.

Also present were city hall employees and

officials, some barangay officials, different

national government agencies representatives,

firemen, army soldiers, policemen, Capiz

Network for Enterprise Development

workers, Metro Roxas Water District

employees, United Architect of the Philippines

as well as Philippine Institute of Civil

Engineers – Capiz chapter members and army

reservists.

Aside from the public plaza and adjacent

surroundings, the campaign will also initially

cover areas of Roxas Avenue, San Roque,

Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center (TATC) and

the stretch of Arnaldo Boulevard leading to the

city‘s Baybay Beach.

The campaign also includes restoration

and repair of streetlights along the major

thoroughfares which were damaged by

supertyphoon Yolanda last year. (JCM/AAL/PIA

6 Capiz)

Roxas City launches clean-up campaign

By: Alex A. Lumaque

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, May 29 (PIA6) - - Thirty public elementary school science teachers undergo marine bio-diversity

conservation and climate change adaptation workshop conducted by the Museo sang Bata sa Negros (MSBN) in Sagay City.

T he science teachers who participated in

the two-day workshop were from the

cities of Sagay, Cadiz, Sipalay and the

municipality of Manapla.

The activity is a partnership of the Second

Congressional District of Negros Occidental,

Department of Education and and the

respective local government units.

MSBN Executive Director Lilibeth La O

said they have been conducting similar

workshops and marine camps for many years

and they do this so that will have a ripple

effect.

―More teachers and students will learn

about our marine environment more intimately

and that they will spread the awareness and

consciousness for our environment in our

province,‖ La O said.

Second District Congressman Leo Rafael

Cueva also told the participants to inspire their

students and their community to love the

environment and help realize our collective

dream to have more established marine

protected areas in our district.

Marine Biodiversity Conservation and

Web of life, Climate Change, Coral Reefs,

Mangroves, Seagrass, Fish and Seahorse, Marine

Mammals, Marine Mammals stranding, Turtles,

Shells, Marine Debris and the importance of

Marine Protected Area were discussed during

lectures.

Lecturers were marine biologists Myrtle

Arias and Mario Marababol while facilitator is

Remar Gallego of Museo sang Bata sa Negros

Foundation.

Aside from the lectures, participants

also planted mangroves in Brgy. Taba-ao,

visited the Suyac Island Mangrove Eco

Park and snorkeled through the

protected seascape of Carbin Reef marine

sanctuary.

Henry Monares, one of the participants

said after his encounter with the underwater

paradise, his appreciation of the environment is

more profound than ever.

―After this experience, I am all the

more convinced of the need to protect

the environment and I will do my part

to help advocate for marine conservation,‖

Monares said. *(EAD-PIA6/Sagay Negros

Occidental)

Teachers tapped for bio-diversity conservation, environmental protection

By: Easter Anne D. Doza

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

10 more nurses for Kalibo under Nurse Deployment Program

KALIBO, Aklan, June 5 (PIA6) -- The risk of women dying while giving birth in Kalibo is seen to be avoided or lowered with the

deployment this year of 10 nurses here under the Nurse Deployment Project (NDP).

T his, as members of the NDP recently

met with Kalibo mayor William S.

Lachica, Chairman of Community

Health Team (CHT) Management Council in

the municipal level to talk about this program

and the group‘s role in assisting the

implementation of health programs in this

capital town of Aklan.

Under the project, 10 nurses will be

deployed in Kalibo whose salaries will be paid

by the national government through the

Department of Health (DOH).

The nurses were accompanied by Kalibo

Municipal Health Officer Makarius Tel Aviv

dela Cruz and Robbie Bastareche CHT-Aklan

Point Person, who briefed Mayor Lachica on

the various duties of the CHT, as well as the

duties and responsibilities of the deployed

nurses in the municipality.

The NDP in Kalibo targets to lower if not

eliminate the number of maternal deaths in the

barangays.

The nurses will also be keeping track if

pregnant women are availing pre-natal services,

or if all new-born babies are being given all

types of immunizations.

The nurses will also implement New Born

Screening and Exclusive Breast Feeding along

with 120 CHT Partners composed of Barangay

Nutrition Scholars (BNS), Barangay Health

Workers (BHW) and Barangay Population

Officers (BPO).

They will also conduct house-to-house

visits and will monitor beneficiaries of the

National Household Targeting System (NHTS)

Poverty Reduction composed of 2,499

members.

The NDP is a DOH project that aims to

improve local health systems and support the

Philippines‘ attainment of Universal Health

Care or ―Kalusugang Pangkalahatan‖.

It also aims to give employment

opportunities to the growing number of

unemployed nurses in the country. (JCM/VGV

PIA6 Aklan)

By: Venus G. Villanueva

2,000 seedlings planted in Anilao as part of NGP

ILOILO CITY, June 5 (PIA6) --- Some 2,000 tree seedlings were planted in Brgy. Cag-an, Anilao town here during a tree

planting activity spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-6 held Thursday as part of

the celebration of the Environment Month this June.

D ENR-6 Regional Executive Director

Jim Sampulna said that one purpose of

this environmental activity is to create

awareness about climate change.

―Climate change is already considered the

new normal so there is a need to cope with it,‖

he said.

―Before when there was an approaching

storm with the strength of 20 kph, we were

already afraid but now we were able to

experience typhoon with strength of 450 kph.

This is climate change,‖ he explained.

He said that this month as we are

celebrating the Environment Month with the

theme, ―Raise your voice, not the sea level‖, it

is necessary to implement mitigation measures

to avoid global meltdown or the melting of the

ice caps especially that the Philippines is one of

the most vulnerable countries in the world.

As for Anilao municipal mayor Ma.

Theresa Debuque, climate change has already

taken its place in our midst and for many times

we have experienced its wrath and terrible

effects.

―We should look for solutions and we

should be ready on what climate change would

continue to bring upon us,‖ she said.

She said that as a local chief executive and

as an environment advocate, she is campaigning

for the restoration of the once glorious state

of Mother Nature. ―Perhaps not on its original

state but on its reliable condition,‖ she said.

She said that the municipality has been

implementing programs and projects such as

tree-planting activities, with the goal of seeing

the community safe from hazards and natural

or man-made calamities.

The tree planting activity is part of the

National Greening Program (NGP) which aims

to plant 1.5 billion trees covering at least 1.5

million hectares all throughout the country

from 2011-2016.

The NGP was launched by virtue of

Executive Order 26 approved by President

Benigno S. Aquino III. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

10 Antique towns eyed as beach forests

SAN JOSE, Antique, June 5 (PIA) - - The establishment of a coastal forest in the identified 10 municipalities of Antique is seen

to make the coastlines less vulnerable to extreme weather events.

A ccording to OIC Provincial Environment

and Natural Resources Officer Ruel L. de

l o s Reyes the pro j ec t was

conceptualized by the DENR following the

devastations wrought by typhoon Yolanda in the

country last year.

The identified municipalities are Libertad,

Sebaste, Pandan, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Lauaan,

Bugasong, Patnongon and Belison, said Reyes as

he explained that the beach forest program is an

effort also to help people who were affected by

‗Yolanda‘.

―This is a cash for work program to help

these Yolanda affected people, and at the same

we are working something to protect our coastal

areas,‖ Reyes said in a PIA interview.

This year around 350 hectares of coastlines

in said municipalities are targeted by DENR for

the establishment of the beach forest which will

serve as protection or natural barriers to storm

surges or strong currents from the sea.

Reyes said that mangrove will be planted in

identified coastlines of Libertad, while mountain

or beach agoho trees will be planted for the nine

other municipalities.

Several Memorandum of Agreements, and

contracts have already been signed with the

program‘s stakeholders, Reyes said.

It will be recalled that President Aquino has

issued directives to appropriate government

agencies to prevent a repeat of the loss of lives

and property caused by natural disasters like

super typhoon ―Yolanda‖ (Haiyan).

The DENR was directed to devise a

comprehensive environment protection program

to minimize the impact of storm surges, flooding

and calamities following Yolanda‘s devastation.

According to Reyes the beach forest

program here has a budget of P12 million.

Meanwhile, hundreds of elementary pupils of

Igbonglo and Lugutan elementary schools in this

municipality expressed gratitude to the National

Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) after

receiving sets of school supplies in time with the

opening of classes this year.

According to Michelle T. Visera of the

NGCP Communications and Public Affairs Office

in Western Visayas, the activity is part of their

corporate social responsibility program where

they give assistance to communities where NGCP

facilities are constructed.

―For Panay island and Negros Occidental,

around 32 schools are beneficiaries of the

program,‖ Visera said in a PIA interview as she

noted that the tota l number o f

student-beneficiaries in the entire region is not

yet available considering that the activity is still

being conducted in some parts of the region.

Each beneficiary received a bag containing

ten notebooks and pencils.

The notebooks‘ covers are printed with

the NGCP messages on line safety. (JCM/MLG/

VWV/PIA-Antique)

By: Vicente W. Villavert

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, June 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources marks the observance of June as

environment month with various activities lined up to promote environmental protection and preservation.

DENR-7 marks June as environment month

D ENR employees, its partners and the media

planted mangrove propagules and had a coastal clean-up drive in barangay Inoburan

in Naga City, Cebu in celebration of World

Environment Day (WED), June 5 with this year‘s theme ―Raise your voice, not the sea level‖.

It was followed by a short briefing on the importance of mangroves especially in mitigating the

impact of storm surge. Similar activities were also done in 14 coastal areas within the four provinces of the region initiated by DENR's provincial offices.

DENR-7 regional director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said almost every day of this month, there will be activities aimed at raising the consciousness of the

public to the importance of the environment not

only for food security but also to prevent or ease the impact of natural calamities.

―We need to remind the people the essence of preserving the environment for the next generations to come,‖ said Montejo.

On June 9, Montejo said the country will also celebrate the Coral Triangle Day which calls for ocean and marine life preservation highlighting the significance of coral reefs for the survival and healthy

proliferation of marine species. A five-day site visit in northern Cebu is also

slated to showcase the best practices on the

implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) starting June 9 to 13.

On June 10, the DENR will celebrate its 27th

year anniversary which will kick off with a Holy Mass followed by an awarding of retirees, games and bingo socials to foster camaderie and teamwork among employees at the DENR-7 grounds.

Environmental Stewardship Fora are scheduled on June 17 at the Negros Oriental State University in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental while on June 18

at the Bohol Island State University-Main Campus and the following day at the Cebu Technological University in Argao, Cebu.

Balancing development and environment will

also be further strengthened by crafting eco-tourism plans and programs in a two-day strategic planning

workshop this month with the members of the Department of Tourism - Regional Eco-Tourism Council. Members of the council come from the

local government units, regional line agencies and other stakeholders.

On June 22, the 2nd Cebu Run for the Rivers is set that calls for the rehabilitation of rivers, creeks

and other water bodies in Cebu. From June 23 to 30, an Arts and Environment

Exhibit will be conducted at Ayala Center Cebu

while a Mine Plant Tour and symposium on June 26 is set at Solid Earth Development Corporation -Taiheyo Cement Philippines Inc. in San Fernando,

Cebu. Discussion during the symposium will center on the current policies and trends in responsible mining.

The whole month of June however, will witness

the advocacy on the ‗Green Schools‘ campaign in public elementary and secondary schools in the whole region.

Objective of the campaign is to involve the schools to practice proper solid waste management, tree growing and other environment-friendly

activities.

For the culmination of the Environment Month celebration, the DENR-7 will give recognition and

award to companies, groups and individuals in advocating environmental protection, conservation and maintenance. The awarding ceremony will be

done at The Terraces of Ayala Center, Cebu. Montejo further said that they are also

intensifying their pro-environment campaign through media briefings, interviews and guesting. (mbcn/FCR/

PIA7 with reports from Mary Jane G. Conciliado, intern)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 03 (PIA) -- The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) assured Boholanos of

stable power service in the province amid the increasing power consumption accelerated by Bohol‘s development.

NGCP assures stable power in Bohol

T his as the P1.1-billion expansion project of

the NGCP in barangay Sambog, Corella town will improve the power distribution in the

province.

Contrary to earlier speculations, the project has nothing to do with the rumored construction of SM shopping mall, but it is a project that is expected to cater to the increasing power demand in the

province. Winifred Paguia, head of the NGCP Visayas

Project Division said that NGCP is set to complete

its Ubay-Corella 138-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line and Corella substation project.

After the reconfiguration last June 1, NGCP

proceeds with the finishing touches to be able to

energized the Bohol Backbone Transmission Project (BBTP) by June 30.

The BBTP will bring more reliable power

transmission services to 60 barangays in the towns of Balilihan, Carmen, Catigbian, Corella, Cortes, Dagohoy, Sagbayan, San Miguel and Ubay.

The Corella substation serves as a new power

delivery point to reduce the load of Ubay. This project will ensure stable and reliable

power supply in Bohol to serve the growing demand

as the development framework of the provincial government has been expanded to cover ICT industry and the BPO sector, in addition to

agriculture and tourism as economic drivers.

NGCP believes that aside from addressing Bohol‘s load forecast, the project will also benefit the whole Visayas in the future as it will ―reinforce the

high-voltage transmission backbone and ensure that the power grid remains secure and reliable‖.

NGCP recommended for Bohol to acquire power sources that are sustainable and renewable

such as solar and hydro. Bohol is being served mainly by the Tongonan

geothermal as well as hydro power plants in Balilihan,

Loboc and Sevilla towns and the 16-MW Bohol Diesel Power Plant in this city. (mbcn/ecb/ PIA7-Bohol)

BY: ELVIRA C. BONGOSIA

CEBU CITY, June 3 (PIA) --- Cebu gets a congratulatory letter from one of the world‘s successful advocates of green mass

transport system.

Cebu's BRT Project

BY: FERLIZA CALIZAR-CONTRATISTA

T his after learning that the National Economic

and Development Authority (NEDA) board already approved the P10.6-billion Bus Rapid

Transit (BRT), a mass transport system proposal

eight years ago, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority

head Nigel Paul Villarete, who was then the City Engineer of Cebu City said he received an electronic

mail from Enrique Penalosa, the former Mayor of Bogota, Columbia.

Penalosa has been flying in and out of Cebu in

the proposal years of BRT telling his own success story in Bogota.

Penalosa, a green advocate, had successfully

transformed the face of Bogota, into a new and environment-people friendly city by implementing a BRT, which had successfully decreased number of

private vehicles and traffic. He also eventually made

spaces for parks and bike lanes. ―Please give my congratulations to all Cebuanos

for the BRT they have decided to build! I

congratulate most particularly all who have had to to with the efforts leading to the final decision to go ahead with the project,‖ according to Penalosa in his email to Villarete.

He said the Cebu BRT will do many things by helping in terms of mobility and save transportation time to tens of thousands of Cebuanos which are

better spent with family and friends. He said it will also help Cebu´s urban structure. ―It will be a symbol of democracy, as public

public transport users move faster than those in private cars; it will strengthen Cebuanos´ confidence in their capacity to create their destiny,‖ Penalosa

said.

Last week the BRT was among the P62.4 billion projects approved by President Benigno Aquino III in a marathon meeting two years after it was poposed

to the NEDA Board. The other approved projects were the

P18.7-billion Kaliwa Dam project and the P5.8-billion Angat Dam water transmission project for Metro

Manila‘s water needs; the P4.1-billion improvement of Busuanga airport in Palawan; and the P1.2-billion Laoag airport road link project.

The BRT will cover 16 kilometers and will be built in two phases. The first phase will be from Bulacao to the Cebu Business District, with links to

the malls Ayala Center and SM City Cebu, while the second phase will be from Ayala Center to Talamban. (mbcn/FCC/PIA7-Cebu)

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, June 2 (PIA) – Negros media men are now empowered to face crisis and disaster situations

arising in their area.

Negros media now empowered to face crisis, disaster situations

T his after a group of 28 print and broadcast

journalists from Negros Oriental and Ne-

gros Occidental graduated from a recent

Energy Camp for Negros Media organized by the

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) on May

29-31 at the Southern Negros Geothermal Project

site in Valencia town.

The camp was focused on providing

experiential learning on disaster response, survival

and environmental conservation to its participants.

For two-days, campers were engaged on

various physical activities that equipped them with

practical knowledge in facing disasters or

emergencies.

Dr. Ted Esguerra, EDC‘s Disaster and Crisis

Team Head, demonstrated to the campers some

tips on emergency response and survival. He also

gave them tips on how to prevent disasters or

accidents or how to deal with them in case they

happen.

Dr. Esguerra‘s main advice to media men was

to avoid being victims of disasters and always be

prepared. He said being prepared means knowing

the possible hazards in the areas,having a plan for

safety or emergency in case disasters happen and

piling up food and equipment for evacuation.

Negros journalists were then divided into

groups and were put in a situation where a member

must play as a victim while others play as rescuers

to test what they have learned during their

exercise.

Esguerra also shared some basic defense skills

to help journalists protect themselves.

Meanwhile, the highlight of the whole camp

was the mini-―Amazing Race‖ which had five main

challenges namely the ―Bakya‖ walk, wall rappelling,

mind puzzles, wall climbing and the zipline ―Slide for

life‖ challenges.

There were also ―pit stops‖ or parts of the

race where facilitators asked campers some

questions about EDC.

Also part of the camp were the lectures on

geothermal energy and EDC‘s programs focused on

community development.

An EDC representative discussed the Health,

Education, Livelihood and Environment (HELEn)

program that addresses the concerns of the host

community and the environment.

Moreover, campers also learned about EDC‘s

BINHI program which is centered on environmental

conservation through tree planting activities.

Campers were then brought to a tree planting

site where they planted Mabolo trees. The activity

aimed to illicit Negros media‘s commitment in

conserving the environment.

For 11 years, EDC has been conducting

energy camps for its scholars and employee‘s

children every summer. This is the first time that

the company organized a camp for media

practitioners.

―Our aim is to provide the same experiential

learning environment to the Negros media who

have been covering EDC and the energy camp all

these years,‖ said John Arnaldo, EDC‘s Vice

President for Corporate Affairs. (mbcn/ral/

PIA7-NegOr)

BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN

CEBU CITY, June 3 (PIA) -- Preparations are in place for Cebu‘s hosting of the three-day information summit of the Regional

Association of Development Information Officers (RADIO-7) in Central Visayas starting June 9-13 that will tackle the agenda

on climate change, disaster preparedness and tourism.

O ver 70 public information officers from

various local government units and regional line agencies in the region as well as city

and municipal tourism officers in Cebu, Bohol,

Negros Oriental and Siquijor are invited to participate in the 1st Regional Summit.

The Summit carries the theme ―Relevant Information: Tool for Sustainable Development in

Tourism, Environment and Disaster Preparedness.‖ ―We are all set and ready to host the 1st

Regional Information Summit and the 21st

Consultative Conference of RADIO-7,‖ said Carlo Dugaduga, president of RADIO-7 and likewise the president of the Cebu Association of City and

Mun ic ipa l Pub l ic In format ion Of f i cers (CAOCAMPIO).

Given the two major disasters that struck the

region late last year, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that left Bohol severely devastated with over 200 casualties and hundreds injured and super Typhoon

Yolanda which killed over 70 people in north Cebu and thousands of families displaced have made it even more imperative to discuss the specified agenda.

Secretary Sonny Coloma of the Presidential

Communications Operations Office will keynote the opening day with a talk on ―The Role of PIOs in Disaster Communication.‖

Gov. Hilario Davide III will deliver the Inspirational Message while Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will welcome the participants.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jiminez Jr. will keynote the event on the second day with a talk on

―Strengthening Tourism Information through Public

Info and Provincial Tourism Officers.‖ Other resource speakers include Lapulapu City

Mayor Paz Radaza to showcase the ‗Lapulapu

Experience‘ as a tourism best practice and businessman Jay Aldeguer on ‗Tourism 2014 and Beyond: Business Challenges and Opportunities.‖

Participants will also be briefed on maximizing

digital media for tourism promotion which will be handled by Max Limpag, business editor of Sun Star Daily on the last day.

Also invited to speak are Sun Star Editor-in-Chief Isolde Amante and Bobby Nalzaro, manager of RGMA-DYSS on ―Building Synergies with

Print Media‖ and ―The PIOs and the Broadcast Industry: Forging Relationships‖. (mbcn/fcr/PIA-7)

BY: FAYETTE C. RIÑEN

Cebu to host 3-day reg'l info summit on June 9-11

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 1 (PIA) — Danajon Double Barrier Reef conservationists found a new ally in a mobile children‘s

theater capable of bringing out key conservation issues on stage.

O ne of the world‘s only six double barrier

reefs, the Danajon has been the

common fishing grounds of people from

Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Southern Leyte and is

now suffering from severe fishing pressure to feed

majority of the Visayas.

Dwindling fish catch and destructive fishing

methods in trawl, blast fishing and encroachment

of commercial fishers in the municipal waters

have contributed to the rapid degradation of the

area and threatening communities already

wallowing in poverty.

Mayor Restituto Auxtero has aired

his concern over keeping Talibon waters

free from these opportunistic fisher but the

campaign has largely been cat-mouse, the

numerous islands and islets in the Danajon

reefs affording unlimited cover for illegal fishers,

most of them living within the numerous

islands comprising the string of islands in the

Danajon.

Seeing that the problem can only be solved

with the communities involvement, a group of

missionaries in the diocese of Talibon took up the

dare to help in the campaign.

Visayas Missionaries Confraternity

Incorporated (VMCI), a group of religious

missionaries led by Rev. Fr. Bienvenido Disu, CM

has always been looking for ways in protecting

Danajon.

VMCI, a missionary NGO was established in

response to the spiritual, human development

needs of several under-served rural areas, and its

mobile theater has been one of its implementing

arms to effect the desired socio-cultural

transformation.

With the help of key Bohol community

theater workers, artists and arts consultants,

VMCI, went into staging a creative production of

the folk tales of the people of Danajon with

playwright Jerrey Aguilar and a host of artistic

talents integrating a musical play called Sirena sa

Jao.

With funds from the National Commission

for Culture and the Arts, Local Governments of

Bohol and Talibon, Kasing Sining and Teatro

Bol-anon, Sirena sa Jao recalls the story of the

famed mermaid guardians of Danajon and its

counterparts in the islands; the monitor lizards or

hawo (Jao).

The musical tells of the tragedy of Dana,

princess of the mermaids to Jao, prince of the

reptiles, who had to die to keep their love.

The play also aggressively moves the

community to pledge for the preservation of

Danajon, Jao and its islets and its spectacular

underwater environs. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

Danajon conservation finds ally in VMCI mobile theater musical

BY: REY ANTHONY H. CHIU

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Group pushes for fishing moratorium in Samar

and Biliran Seas

I n a meeting presided by Calbayog

City Mayor Ronald Aquino, the

group identified measures to

protect Samar and Biliran Seas from

overfishing by commercial fishing boats.

This means that only small-scale

fishermen with 3-tonner boats and below

will be allowed to fish. ―Our seas are given

the chance to halt for rest, and our marine

resources, to thrive and multiply,‖ said

Aquino. The group of mayors are alarmed

of the reports that rampant illegal

activities, like ―pangulong‖ have been

observed recently where even tons of

juvenile fish and crablets are not freed

from their catch.

They also agreed to deputize fish

wardens‘ authority to overlap jurisdictions

when running after illegal fishers. A

common comprehensive ordinance as

regards fishery protection was also agreed

upon, which will be passed by the alliance

and their respective councils.

Members of CASTSDM include

Calbayog City Mayor Aquino, Almagro

Municipal Mayor Kathleen S. Prudenciado,

Sto. Nino Mayor Lilia A. Conejos, Tagapul

-an Mayor Vicente F. Limpiado, Sta.

Margarita Mayor Gemma P. Zosa, Daram

Mayor Lucia L. Astorga and Maripipi

Mayor Uldarico P. Macorol. (PIA 8-Samar

with Aimee Catalan Calbayog City

Mayor‘s Office)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 29 (PIA) — Seven Local Chief Executives (LCEs) from Calbayog City, the island towns

of Almagro, Sto Nino, Daram, Tagapul-an and Maripipi (Biliran) and Sta Margarita through their group called CATSDM are

proposing a moratorium in commercial fishing from April to July yearly.

GSIS offers 200 scholarship slots to gov‘t employee‘s‘ dependents

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 3 (PIA) - The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has offered 200 scholarship

slots nationwide to government employee‘s dependents for school year 2014-2015.

O f the 200 slots, 100 will be

allotted for lowest salaried

member grantees whose

dependents are accepted in Commission

on Higher Education (CHED) identified

priority courses, while the remaining 100

slots will be allotted for those accepted in

other four or five year courses.

GSIS Catbalogan City Branch Manager

Rene Cinco said that those qualified to

apply are active and regular GSIS members

who at the time of application have

premium payments for the last six months.

It was stressed that only permanent

employees in the government with at least

three years of service and with salary

grade of 24 or below or its equivalent job

level are eligible to apply.

Cinco added that the member

applicants should have incoming college

freshmen dependents who are accepted in

any four or five year course or in priority

courses identified by the CHED in a

higher education institution with its own

charter or a school qualified by the CHED

as levels IV and III, autonomous or

deregulated.

Cinco also cleared that eligible GSIS

members will be selected based on annual

basic salary, length of service, and status of

appointment.

For the four to five year course,

scholars shall be entitled to benefit from

actual cost of tuition and miscellaneous

fees not exceeding P20, 000.00 every term

excluding summer classes but may include

trimesters, provided that the course is

finished within the regular duration

prescribed by the school for that course.

Scholars will also receive a monthly

stipend of P2,000.00.

The branch manager also stressed

that the scholarship grant is

non-transferable. Only those who

complied with the said requirements and

whose dependents will enroll as freshmen

for SY 2014-2015 in any four to five year

course or in CHED identified accredited

school are qualified to apply.

In Samar Island, only three selected

schools or state college/universities were

identified by GSIS scholarship program

and these are Samar State University

(SSU) in Catbalogan City and Paranas,

Samar Campus, North West State

University (NWSU), Calbayog City and

the University of Easter Philippines (UEP),

Northern Samar.

GSIS informed that the deadline for

submission of applications for the GSP AY

2014-2015 has been extended until June

30, 2014. (AJC/Samar Avha H. Ebalde/PIA8

-Samar)

DPWH-4th LED extends assistance in the observance of ‗Brigada Eskwela‘

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, June 3 (PIA) – As per Department of Education Memorandum Circular No. 32, s. 2014, dated 14 March

2014, the ‗Brigada Eskwela‘ otherwise known as National School Maintenance Week, has been conducted last May 19-24, 2014.

R elative to this, the Department f

Public Works and Highways

(DPWH) – Leyte Fourth

Engineering District (4th LED)

extended ass istance to school

officials in the various schools in their area

of coverage through general cleaning

and clearing of all garbage in the school

premises.

District Engineer Lino Francisco C.

Gonzalez informed that the DPWH - 4th

LED employees joined hands in the

cleaning of the school premises at the San

Pablo Elementary School.

According to him, the activities

conducted were the cutting of trees,

clearing of boulders and debris, among

others.

Grass cutters were also deployed by

DPWH – 4th LED at the Balugo,

Seguinon, and Concepcion Elementary

Schools.

Likewise, maintenance crew also

repainted the pedestrian lanes along the

Elementary Schools of Balugo, Damula-an

South Central, Mahayag, Tinag-an, San

Pablo, Kananga, Lonoy, Natubgan, Lilo-an,

Concepcion, and Seguinon in preparation

for the opening of classes.

On the other hand, vegetation

control has also been conducted at the

Balugo Elementary School along the

Ormoc-Baybay-Southern Leyte Boundary

Road; and Concepcion Elementary School

along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road.

(AJC/PIA-8)

By: Marivic A. Alcober

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Korean Araw Forces to commemorate war

anniversary

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 4 (PIA) - The Korean Araw forces is set to commemorate Korean war anniversary in Leyte a

day earlier of June 25 the Korean war anniversary.

T his was revealed by Chulwun Lee,

the commanding general of the

Korean Araw forces based in

Government Center, Palo, Leyte.

The Korean forces has always

emphasized that their presence here in

Leyte is a way of repaying the blood shed

by Filipino Korean war veterans and their

sacrifices.

The Korean War was between the

Republic of Korea (South Korea),

supported by the United Nations, and the

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

(North Korea), at one time supported by

China and the Soviet Union.

It was primarily the result of the

political division of Korea by an agreement

of the victorious Allies at the conclusion

of the Pacific War at the end of World

War II.

The war lasted for 3 years, 1 month

and 2 days from June 25 1950 and ended

July 27, 1953.

On the 24th, all living Filipino Korean

war veterans and their family will be

invited for a ceremony to commemorate

their services , the family of the deceased

filipino Korean war veteran will be invited

as well.

The Korean Forces is also planning

to give scholarships for younger

family member of the Korean war

veterans.

The event will be at the Korean base

camp.

Meanwhile the repair of the house of

the 4th F i l ip ino Korean war

veteran whose house is to be repaired

will start on the second week of June. The

houses of three more veterans were

already repaired by the Araw Forces. The

reapaied houses are in Carigara, Dagami

and Tacloban.

It was learned that the incoming

echelon to replace the current military

forces will be added of a group composed

of 25 military engineers.

According to Lee, their functions will

be dedicated to repairing the war

veterans residence and government

agencies. (AJC/Lizbeth Ann Abella/PIA-8)

PDEA-8 to continue serving people Tacloban City, Leyte, May 30 (PIA) - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Office No. 8 is glad to announce that

they now have a permanent office located at Brgy. 77, Marasbaras, Tacloban City near the Office of the Ombudsman in

Eastern Visayas.

T hus says Liza Bauy Information

Officer of PDEA-8, who admitted

that for a while their office‘s

performance/operations went down

because they were severely affected by

typhoon Yolanda. She informed that all of

their equipment and records were

damaged as their old office was near the

sea in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

As of press time, the agency is slowly

recovering with the help of the national

office, to restore damaged equipment.

Bauy called on the public to visit their

office especially those who want to

transact business, assistance for an advice

for rehabilitation, conduct of drug

symposia, renew of S-2 license, submission

of compliance record, and to have

coordination for anti-drug operations.

Bauy is also happy that with the

restoration of the files with their new

computers, they are bent on fulfilling their

mandate.

Presently, the drug enforcement

agency is now conducting different

coordination activities especially with

the Sanguniang Bayan members to help

their agency enact ordinances and

resolutions that will strengthen their

anti-drug programs in the different local

government units in the region.

PDEA-8 is also planning activities with

the different schools in the region

especially that school classes will be

opening soon.

PDEA regional office temporarily held

office at Brgy. Sampaguita after their office

was damaged by the typhoon. (AJC/

Lizbeth Ann Abella/PIA-8)

DepEd bares early implementers for K to 12 in So. Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, June 2 (PIA) -- Four public national high schools from this province‘s schools division, and

two from this city‘s schools division, have been primed to roll into motion the new K to 12 curriculum one year ahead of

schedule.

O fficer-in-Charge Arturo Isip,

Southern Leyte Schools Division

Superintendent, identified the

four pioneer schools as the Villa Jacinta

National Vocational School, Sogod

National High School, Pintuyan National

Vocational School, and the Hinunangan

National High School.

This school year 2014-2015, the

Department of Education (DepEd) will

implement the K to 12 curriculum for

Grade 3 and Grade 9 (third year high

school).

But for the early implementers, those

who will graduate in high school in March

2015 can voluntarily choose either to

proceed to college or to enrol in the two

years of senior high school.

―About 75% of the students in

the pilot high schools confirmed they

will proceed to senior high school, and

the parents were aware of this for

we have been informing them of this

development‖ Isip said during the recent

Acton Center Kapihan sa PIA cable TV

program.

The two additional years of Senior

high school, or Grades 11 and 12, are

mandatory starting the school year

2016-2017.

All the faculties and facilities in the

four early implementer schools have been

prepared and readied to cater to the

different tracks the students are expected

to take in the two senior years, Isip

revealed.

At the city division, the two early

implementers are the Maasin City

National High School, and the Maasin

Vocational and Technical School, the two

schools located in barangay Combado,

Maasin City. PIA8-Southern Leyte)

By: Marcelo M. Pedalino

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