Vol 5 Issue 40 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 October 5 - 11, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue PHL investment plan to focus on 3 priority sectors

Old peso bills until December 2015 only

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Iloilo Plan of Action targets farmers, fisher folks

By Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, Oct. 6 (PIA6) --- The Iloilo Plan of Action on Food Security and the Blue Economy will help push the interest of small-scale farmers and fisher folks in

the Asia Pacific economies. Food security and fishery leaders and policy-makers

from Asia Pacific economies have formally adopted the Iloilo Plan of Action after the two-day Asia Pacific

Economic Cooperation (APEC) High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and the Blue Economy (HLPDFSBE) held October 4 to 5 at the Iloilo Convention Center here.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Co-Chair of the HLPDFSBE, said that instructions from the Philippine President mandated to push not just the

interests of small and medium enterprises but also the more numerous micro-enterprises.

“These include the small farmers, fishers and

agribusiness entrepreneurs, reflecting the objective of fostering all-inclusive growth,” he said.

The Iloilo Plan of Action consists of three pillars: 1)

blue economy towards sustainable food supply chains for food security, 2) fish loss reduction for increased fish production, and 3) agribusiness development for food security and inclusive growth.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources National Director Asis Perez said that the Plan of Action will be significant to the productivity of coastal

communities particularly the indigenous communities. “One important element in the recommendations is

to have a resilient ocean, coastal resources and ecosystems

and sustainable aquaculture. Sustainable ocean is a prerequisite to sustainable production,” he said.

He said that the discussion on fish loss reduction will

also help advance the interest of small stakeholders. He said about 35 percent of what fisher folks produce

are wasted and if this element is pushed forward, there will be a fish loss reduction by 35 percent.

He also stressed the importance of connectivity or enabling fishers to directly deal with the market as an important element in the plan of action

He added that access on the part of the small fishers to the upper level of the value chain can immensely benefit this sector. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Three priority sectors will be given focus by the government in the three-year Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) 2014-2016 identified as the

sectors that can best sustain and catalyze further the country’s positive economic growth.

Domingo Bagaporo, director of the Investment Assistance Service of the Board of Investments

(BOI), enumerated the priority sectors which are manufacturing, agribusiness, and the services during yesterday’s BOI Investment Roadshow on the IPP

2014-2016 with the theme “Industry Development for Inclusive Growth”.

Bagaporo said the IPP serves as a guide to investors

on what directions to take as well as an investment and industry development tool as well as supports domestic

industries by way of incentives.

IPP’s objectives are to create more jobs in strategic activities; improve access to social services; and to improve competitiveness of the nation, said

Bagaporo.

IPP was developed in consultation with the private sector and government agencies coupled with research and peer review.

Bagaporo said there is also a need to encourage investments that improve our country’s competitiveness especially in the areas of energy, infrastructure, and research and development.

Among the incentives of the BOI for companies that are registered with the agency are income tax holiday and duty exemption on imported capital equipment, spare parts

and accessories. Cebuano businessman Enrison Benedicto, chief

executive officer of the Mabuhay Filcement Corp., also gave

a testimony on how his company reaped the benefits of being a BOI-registered firm.

He urged investors to take advantage of the BOI

incentives and register with the agency as “incentives are probably the lifeline of our existence as investors.” (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct. 7 (PIA) – The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tacloban Branch has reminded the public of the continuing demonetization process of old

banknotes which started January 1, 2015 until December 31, this year.

This means that within this period the old bank notes known as the New Design Series (NDS) can still be used

alongside with the New Generation Currency (NGC) banknotes for day to day transactions to pay for goods and services while the process is still ongoing, BSP Tacloban

branch head Ludivina M. Realina said during the Panginsayod ha PIA held Tuesday.

Demonetization, as defined by BSP, is the process of

removing the monetary value of a legal tender currency by the issuing authority.

In an answer to the query why do we need to

demonetize, Realino clarified that this is to safeguard the integrity of the Philippine banknotes especially that the new

peso bills known as the new generation currency has

updated security features. Thus, BSP is encouraging the public to use the old

banknotes in their possession within this period or

exchange them at the BSP cash department office because old banknotes will fully lose its monetary value.

Realina further said that from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2016, old banknotes can no longer be

used in day to day transactions but can be exchanged at face value, free of charge, at the Cash Department of the BSP’s regional office or at any BSP authorized agent

bank. Instead of the old peso bills, the NGC banknotes will be the banknote series that will be used starting January 2017.

The move is to align with the practice of other central banks around the world which change the design of

their currency that has been in circulation for over 10

years. In our country, the old banknotes have been in circulation since 1985 or over 29 years. (ajc/PIA-8)

Regional Statistics Committee vice-chair and

PSA interim regional director Raul Dones (left,

on stage) delivered his opening remarks during

the 26th National Statistics Month (NSM) at

Robinsons Place, Tacloban City, October 1.

(Vino R. Cuayzon/PIA8)

Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ethel

Natera discussing Ten Things To Know About

#‎APEC2015 during the first of the two

briefings on APEC today at the Apec Activity

Center at Cebu Capitol.

WESTERN VISAYAS

PIA Dir. Gen. Mari Oquinena interacts with

students of the College of Education, West

Visayas State University on the importance and

relevance of APEC 2015. #APECIloilo

Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Co-Chair of

the APEC High-Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Blue

Economy (HLPDFSBE) discusses to members of the media the

benefits of the Iloilo Action Plan to the agriculture sector during a

press conference held Monday, October 5, 2015 at the Iloilo

Convention Center. Also in the photo is DENR Secretary Ramon

Paje. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, Oct. 5 (PIA6) - For the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency-6 (PDEA) symposia on the dangers of illegal drugs

in schools can be taxing and irregular and not enough.

PDEA seeks inclusion of drug education in

school curriculum

By Elsa S. Subong

P DEA-6 Director Paul Ledesma said

that the best way to educate the

youth about illegal drugs is to include

it in the school curriculum.

“This is a suggestion which we hope the

Commission on Higher Education and the

Department of Education can consider this,”

Ledesma said.

Ledesma added that the Comprehensive

Dangerous Act of 2002 mandates that

instruction on drug abuse prevention and

control shall be integrated in the elementary,

secondary and tertiary curricula of all public

and private schools, whether general, technical,

vocational or agro-industrial as well as in

non-formal, informal and indigenous learning

systems.

The curriculum, as provided, shall

include among others, adverse effects of the

abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs on the

person, the family, the school and the

community, and preventive measures against

drug abuse. Further, the curriculum shoud

also include health, socio-cultural, psychological

and economic dimensions and implications of

the drug problem.

Interventions for the drug dependent,

as well as social services available

for treatment shall likewise be included.

Important also, according to PDEA,

is the provision of misconceptions about

the use of dangerous drugs, including

medical and therapeutic use, as well

as the difference between medical

patients and drug dependents. (JSC/ESS-PIA6

Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, Oct. 6 (PIA6) - - The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has included in its 2016 development

plan the construction of 252 additional community fish landing centers (CFLCs) in identified coastal communities in the

country.

T his was revealed by BFAR National

Director Asis Perez during a

press conference held after the

closing of the Asia Pacific Economic

Conference (APEC) High Level Policy Dialogue

on Food Security and Blue Economy here on

October 5.

Perez said aside from the construction

of the 252 CFLCs that were already

included in the 2015 budget the

additional 252 CFLCs were reflected in the

2016 budget.

“We are hoping that this will be

approved,” said Perez.

In identifying the sites where the fish

landing centers will be located, Perez said they

have used certain criteria that include among

others, length of coastline, fish production and

incidence of poverty since the intervention is

an anti-poverty measure.

“We believe using these criteria, we are

able to prioritize which of the municipalities

should have this particular intervention from

the government,” Perez said.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said

the fish landing centers that have post-harvest

facilities like freezers are part of the

intervention of the government to ensure that

the fish catch of small fisherfolks will have a

better price and quality.

A BFAR report posted on its website said

that each CFLC costs P2.85 million and houses

post-harvest equipment and tools that will

enable fisherfolks to preserve the good quality

of their fish and fishery products. (JCM/LAF/

PIA6-Iloilo)

BFAR plans 252 more fish landing centers

By Lilibeth A. French

Bamboo industry gets boost with fabricated node equipment

SAN JOSE, Antique, Oct. 7 (PIA6) - - The bamboo craft industry in the province is expected to provide livelihood support in

the rural community following the turn-over of fabricated bamboo node equipment to identified seven People‘s Organizations.

G overnor Rhodora Cadiao, SP Member

Dante Beriog, Chair, Committee on

Trade and Industry, the members of the

Provincial Bamboo Development Council and

the University of Antique led the turn-over

ceremony for the said equipment composed of

poll cutter and twin ripsaw.

The Provincial Development Council

facilitated the identification of qualified bamboo

node operators, where as one of the criteria

they were asked to identify the uses of pole

cutter and the splitting machine in their

respective operations; new products that

they will develop; and also identification of

problems that may encounter in using the

equipment.

The beneficiaries are Tigbobolo Bamboo

Craft Association of Tigbobolo, Culasi;

Igbalangao-Bugasong irrigators Association,

Igbalangao, Bugasong; Maasin Farmers

Association, Maasin, Sibalom; Bulalacao-Calooy

-Tulatula Sikap Organization, Calooy, Sibalom;

Lambayaga Farmers Association, Lambayagan,

Sibalom; Magdalena-Vilvar- Baladjay Farmers

Association; and Ingwan-Batangan Farmers

Association, Inc., Ingwan, Hamtic, Antique

SP Member Dante Beriong, Chair, Committee

on Trade and Industry said that the equipment

will help provide employment and facilitate the

development of small and medium enterprises

in the rural community.

Beriong said that bamboo products are

gaining ground at the local market. However

this needs more exposure to also reach

national and international heights.

Bamboo is one of the most economically

important non-timber forest products in the

Philippines. It is an ideal substitute to wood for

furniture, handicrafts, and construction

material.

The government’s support to bamboo

production and utilization has been increasing

recently. In 2010 an Executive Order 879

created the Philippine Bamboo Industry

Development Council to provide policy and

program directions for the stakeholders of the

fast developing bamboo industry.

E.O. 879 also directs the use of

indigenous materials for at least 25 percent of

desk and other furniture requirements of

public elementary and secondary schools, and

to prioritize its use in furniture, fixtures and

other construction requirements of

government facilities. (JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)

By Vicente W. Villavert

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Oct. 6 (PIA6) – Police director general Ricardo Marquez has urged policemen in the province to perform

better and work harder amidst upgrading of the Philippine National Police capability to effectively carry out its mandate of

protecting lives and properties.

“ We can do no less but perform better,

recommit to the ideals of public service

and be loyal to the badge we wear,” he

said during the turnover of 16 patrol jeeps to

local municipal police stations at Camp

Teodorico C. Apil here last week.

Department of the Interior and Local

Government Sec. Sarmiento also graced the

turnover of the units to town mayors and

Municipal Police Station chiefs.

The Department of Budget and

Management has also earmarked about P1.4

billion for the purchase of short firearms and

assault rifles next year.

“Nowadays every police officer has a

short firearm and our new recruits will be also

provided with a service gun,” Marquez noted,

adding that another P820 – million has been

allocated for more mobile car units on top of

the 1,490 patrol jeeps to various MPS.

New communication facilities worth P890

-million will be also rolled out nationwide.

The PNP top official has reiterated his call

before Capiz policemen that law enforcers

must be visible on the streets and communities

to prevent more crimes from happening.

“Our police investigators must be

reaching out to complainants and witnesses to

solve more crimes,” Marquez stressed.

An intensified barangay – based anti-drug

operation in the province has been directed by

Marquez in view of Capiz Gov. Victor A.

Tanco’s call to combat illegal drug trade and

abuse. The PNP chief has also called on local

officials and the various sectors to help and

collaborate with local police authorities

towards the aim to build peaceful communities

and strong neighborhoods. (JSC/AAL-PIA6

Capiz)

PNP chief urges Capiz cops to perform better

Rabies-Free Philippines in 2020 possible

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA6) – Eliminating rabies in the Philippines by the year 2020 is still possible, according to the Department of

Health.

“ Rabies free status is possible and really

can happen because of the existence of

rabies-free countries like Western

Europe, Canada, USA, Japan, Australia and

Pacific Island Region, but this task is very

crucial and very challenging,” DOH

Undersecretary Vicente Belizario, Jr. said

during the Rabies-Free Dissemination Forum

recently at Casa Pilar, Boracay.

The challenges of eliminating rabies points

to issue that this situation is not a purely

human condition but a zoonotic disease, and

adopting the so-called One Health Framework/

Approach is needed and must be employed to

address this issue, Belizario added.

He further said that this “one health

framework” means collaboration both by the

human and animal health sectors, not limited

to the medical and veterinary services, but all

individuals, groups and organizations involved in the control of rabies and other zoonotic

diseases.

Currently, DOH is working closely with

the Department of Agriculture, Department of

Education, Department of the Interior and

Local Government and different local

government units, in partnership with the

World Health Organization and Bill and

Melinda Gates Foundation, and some private

animal bite clinics.

However, Belizario stresses that the

involvement of other private ABCs is needed

and should adopt the Post-Exposure

Prophylaxis guidelines using DOH’s regimes

prescribed following the WHO recommended

categorization of rabies exposure.

The DOH urges medical practitioners to

be more responsible in diagnosing rabies cases

clinically and should confirm suspected rabies

cases.

“The need for identifying more partners, bigger than the partnership the DOH has

today, must be done, everyone must inspire

and persuade others in everyone’s respective

locality to join in this vision,” Belizario

appealed.

He also commended the Visayas islands

for the collaborative efforts and good practices

in the control and elimination of rabies in the

span of four to five years now and the

initiatives in attacking the source through

massive dog vaccinations, suggesting to the

health department to pick up the good

practices and put into manual of operations to

guide other LGUs over the Philippines

accordingly.

Belizario appealed to DA and LGUs to

not just continue this fight but to press it on

even more vigorously to achieve this vision

because there is the timeline.

“Let us all work together closely and learn

from each other, onwards to a Rabies Free Philippines by the year 2020. It can be done!,”

By Sheila Q. Patoza

By Alex A. Lumaque

It‘s now SDG instead of MDG By Easter Anne D. Doza

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Oct. 8 (PIA6) - - In time for the celebration of the 26th National Statistics Months, the international

community transitions from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals.

I nterim Provincial Statistics Officer Engr.

Fred Sollesta said in his keynote speech

during the launching of the month-long

celebration that 193 countries agreed last

September 25 to the ambitious agenda of the

SDG.

From eight goals in the MDG which

include – - Eradicate extreme hunger and

poverty; Achieve universal primary education;

Promote gender equality and empower

women; Reduce child mortality; Improve

maternal health; Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria

and other diseases; Ensure environmental

sustainability; Develop a global partnership

for development to ensure 17 goals in the

SDG.

Also, there are 169 SDG targets from 21

MDG targets, from 60 MDG indicators to

more than 300 SDG indicators.

According to Sollesta, the final MDG

Report found that the 15-year effort has

produced the most successful anti-poverty

movement in history.

The MDG report showed that since

1990, the number of people living in extreme

poverty and the under-five mortality rate

has declined by more than half while

the proportion of undernourished people

in the developing regions has fallen by almost

half.

World Statistics Day on October 20

are to put emphasis that it is very hard to

execute programs of the government

without evidence-based policy design and

planning support implementation.*(JCM/

EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- Department of Education (DepEd) - 9 Regional Director Dr. Malcom Garma said that to uplift education

and achieve educational justice, there is a need to improve resources that include educators, schools, and other learning

institutions.

School, teacher empowerment vital for better education - DepEd

G arma said that educational justice is putting all

the resources to improve necessity and accessibility to education to cater to the needs

of all who desire to be educated.

“We should clearly examine schools as the

focal place towards educational justice. If this is where problems exist, we should

intensify school-based management,” Garma

stressed. “If we want to do justice to education let's go

back to school as the focal place for

education,” Garma added.

He further said there is a need to improve instructional decision making as one of the critical measures for education.

“Empower teachers to desire for relevant

instruction. There should be a culture for efficiency and effectiveness ,” Garma said.

He added that good teacher, conducive learning

institutions, quality learning facilities are among the factors essential to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in the education process.

Garma said that teachers should also be

enhanced further. “Let us re-dignify our teachers, kailangang masaya ang guro para masaya ang estudyante,” he noted.

“If we want to achieve justice for education, we

have to improve learning institutions,” Garma concluded.

Dr. Garma is in Cebu as the keynote speaker

during the opening of the three-day National Literacy Conference that started on September 30. (rmn/ays/PIA7)

Amor Saludar

SIQUIJOR, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Council (PDRRMC) here conducted a seminar on Rapid Communication Using ICT for Emergency to

prevent, mitigate, and respond during disasters.

Seminar on ICT-based rapid communication

for emergency held in Siquijor

T he seminar aims to inform the participants

on the latest trends in the information and communications technology and how these

can be used during disaster.

Movable and Deployable ICT Resource Unit or MDRU was highlighted during the seminar, which according to Jeffrey Lllanto of Central Visayas Information Sharing Network (CVISNET), was

proposed and launched by Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in Japan in 2011.

Early this year, the municipality of San Remegio

in Cebu became a recipient of MDRU Project through the partnership of NTT, CVISNET, and DOST 7.

Lllanto talked how the MDRU had been of

great help during the disaster response and operation after Typhoon Yolanda hit San Remegio.

He said the MDRU can provide ICT services like phone services in disaster-hit areas at a low cost with guaranteed sustainability.

It can be used even during ordinary days like an

intercom, he added.

In his message, Gov. Zaldy Villa thanked DOST and PDRRMC for organizing the seminar as he urged the participants to have a proactive role in disaster

risk reduction and management of the province. PDRRMO Blezela Mae Omictin also urged the

participants to listen and think on how the topic of the seminar can strengthen the DRRM policies and

actions of each LGU. It highlighted the role of ICT during disaster,

either on relief operation, search and rescue and

simple communication to families. During the same event, provincial science and

technology director Engr. Mario de la Peña

encouraged the local chief executives and local

DRRMOs to adopt the technology and think of the benefits of the MDRU to their DRRM arsenal.

The seminar was attended by representatives from the different LGUs spearheaded by respective local chief executives, representatives from the

academe, MDRRMOs, NGAs and NGOs.

The CVISNET Team demonstrated to the

participants how the MDRU works. According to a paper published by Japan-based

NTT entitled Overview of Movable and Deployable

ICT Resource Unit Architecture, “an MDRU is a transportable unit accommodating the various resources necessary to deliver ICT services. Once a disaster occurs, one or more MDRUs are promptly

transported to the disaster-affected area and set up there."

Each unit rapidly forms a Wi-Fi-based local area

network (LAN) in its surrounding area and starts delivering at least basic ICT services to the people in the area.

The MDRU is connected to the existing wide

area network (WAN) via remaining optical fibers and/or satellite links.

Once the MDRU is connected to the WAN, it acts as a local information hub. (rmn/rac/ PIA7-Siquijor w/ reports from Engr. Reinhold Jek

Abing/DOST-Siquijor)

Rizalie Anding Calibo

CEBU, Oct. 9 (PIA) --- The second round of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Cebu kicked off

October 8 with a discussion on women‘s role in the transportation sector.

Women‘s role in transpo kicks off 2nd leg of APEC Cebu meetings

T he Second APEC Women in Transportation

Forum convened yesterday at Radisson Blu Hotel where a framework to increase

women’s inclusion in the transportation sector was

introduced. The framework is organized around five pillars

that outlines the guidance for the transportation

sector to promote education; remove barriers to

hiring and entrepreneurship; enhance conditions for the retention of women’s talent; advocate for the development of women leaders; and encourage safe

use and access to transportation systems. In her opening remarks, Susan Kirkland, US

Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary

for Aviation and International Affairs, said that research shows “women are not adequately represented in the transportation workforce, nor do

they have adequate access to safe and affordable transportation.”

“Indeed, women are a critical source of

economic growth and prosperity, but they must have the opportunity to contribute. And all too often that opportunity is not available,” said Kirkland.

She said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Labor Organization (ILO) estimate that women’s limited access to employment causes a

loss in economic growth to the Asia-Pacific region of

as much as US$47-B each year. Women’s participation in other APEC

economies is similarly low, ranging from about 6% to

34% in the best case. Kirkland added that the transportation sector

offers two avenues for economic empowerment of

women: for women to work as transportation professionals and as users of transportation systems, whether they are traveling to work or running

errands to support families and communities. Transportation and Communications Sec.

Joseph Emilio Abaya, in his welcome

r emarks , s t ressed the need for a transportation sector that acknowledges the critical role women play in this

sector. He said the Philippines has started initiatives

to support women in this sector, with

the mainstreaming of Gender and Development

(GAD) in the transportation sector and the strengthening of GAD focal points in all offices under the Department of Transportation and

Communications (DOTC). These initiatives, said Abaya, paved the way for

the 1st Gender and Development Transportation

Summit held November 2012. Results of the Second APEC Women in

Transportation Forum will be reported during the

APEC Transportation Ministers today. (rmn/ PIA7-Cebu)

Rachelle M. Nessia

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) —The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) inaugurated the Tagbilaran City Tourist Port

Terminal Building (PTB), the first of three major vertical infrastructures that PPA will erect at the sea gateway to the

tourist island destination of Bohol.

P ort Manager Annie Lee Manese revealed

that the new PTB which can accommodate about 400 passengers would

soon be complemented by a nearby PPA

Administrative Building and an extension PTB which would be connected to the new building by a walkway, the second PTB designed to sit around 300 more passengers.

The new PTB which was inaugurated feature waiting lounges with stainless seats, separate rooms for arms and ballistics security inspection,

breastfeeding and diaper changing rooms, separate rest rooms for male and female passengers, electrical

control rooms, share a common central

air-conditioning system, boat and shipping schedules, boarding status, and other comfort fixtures that allow passengers and tourists the needed comfort in

a passenger terminal which alone is already a destination.

The new terminal building is a replacement of

the Welcome Center, which the earthquake of 2013 destroyed, Manase said.

Along the construction process, the PPA was forced to put up a temporary modular PTB, which it

used until October 2, or a year and 11 months until

the inauguration of the new building and its formal

opening on October 3. That same day, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto,

who attended the inauguration along with

Congressman Rene Relampagos and representatives of Bohol two more congressional districts, called the day as big day for Bohol.

The governor, who admitted he was unsure of

Bohol’s recovery after the earthquake, said the earthquake might have been God’s way of closing a door, but it still opened a lot of windows.

Chatto, who has lobbied for a tourism port terminal building that jibes with the new tourism

port facility gateway, confessed they had to

convince and justify the tourism PTB that complements Bohol.

The building of the tourism PTB would also

mean additional PPA corporate funding compared to ordinary PTBs.

The governor, however, described the new

PTB as better than the welcome center which the PPC had to destroy to give way to the new structure.

On this, Chatto, who is among Bohol’s

staunchest tourism advocates, commended PTA for

the impressive structure, which he hopes becomes a

home and not just a house for PPA. But even as the PPA appears to be convinced of

the necessity of the tourism-themed structure,

Chatto leaked the PPA’s plan to add up more passenger lounging space with a connecting new terminal building that would be a port showcase.

"The building we are opening today is not as

elegant, we have to rush this because we need it operational the soonest," Architect Epelito Arao-arao explained.

The next building would be an even better tourist showcase with VIP lounges, souvenir shops,

massage nooks, stores, and pasalubong centers over

the usual provisions of a tourism port, Arao-arao added.

He also said that the second PTB would have

access ramps for persons with disabilities and a connecting walkway from the terminal building to the new one.

Other than the upcoming PTB, PPA is also completing, through Dakay Construction, its new port administration building, one that replaces the earthquake damaged old structure, Manase disclosed.

(rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

PPA inaugurates new tourist passenger sea-port terminal

TAGBILARAN CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) --- In the onset of Asian products possibly flooding Philippine markets, the Department of

Trade and Industry (DTI) assured consumers that labeling rules are among those agreed on to be followed by importers

selling their products.

T he concept of Asian integration brought

about by free trade agreements between the Philippines and Association of Southeast

Asian Nations (ASEAN) would allow foreign

products to enter the Philippine markets with less stringent measures.

With several Asian economies using distinct syllabary and writings in character form, products

with labels as such upon entering the Philippine markets must have labels translated in English or Filipino, according to Jose Hibaya, Consumer

Services Division chief of DTI. Speaking at the Kapihan sa PIA in

commemoration of the Consumer Welfare Month in

October, Hibaya said the monthly celebration

focuses on the theme “Consumer Protection in the ASEAN Economic Community” in a bid to prepare consumers for ASEAN integration.

DTI, along with the National Consumers Affairs Council (NCAC, have set up monitoring systems to make sure that foreign products entering the Philippine markets have complied with the minimum

labeling requirement. On this, importers and distributors would be

forced to include translations on their labels before

their products can be allowed in the markets. With the minimum labeling requirement,

Hibaya said at least the ingredients and the nutritive

value have to be translated to help consumers come

up with intelligent decisions in picking up products. Products found to be non-compliant, would be

shipped back to the country of origins, according to

DTI. DTI urged consumers to inform them about any violation so their office can advise the distributors and importers so they could comply or promptly pull out the products from the market.

DTI also said that while consumer complaints are brought to them, their role as secretariat to the consumer network pushes them to take note of the

complaints and refer them to the concerned agencies which needs to cater to the complaint. (rmn/rac/ PIA-7/Bohol)

‗ASEAN integration‘ assures consumers of

standard labels Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

TAGBILARAN CITY, Oct. 2 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) handed to Balilihan a P77-M coconut

processing facility as the government's gift to the town that marked its 187th Sumad Founding anniversary on September 28.

PCA launches P77M cocohub industry at Balilihan's Sumad

T he facility, which will rise in Del Carmen Sur,

situates Balilihan as the center of the coconut industry in the province and the

Visayas, bared Roel Rosales, PCA deputy of admin

operations chief. Rosales said the facility will have virgin coconut

oil, skimmed milk, coconut flour, coconut water, and vinegar as its main products.

The facility will also work on the coconut processing discards: coir from the husk, novelty items from the coconut shell and other useful

by-products. Rosales personally relayed the agency's elation

at being part of Balilihan's rise through a developed

coconut industry which will cater to processing

everything that can be extracted from coconuts.

The facility, while identified as hub for Visayas and Mindanao, will cater to coconut farmers from Catigbian, Antequera, Loon, Sikatuna, Corella, San

Isidro, Alburquerque, Baclayon, Sevilla, and Batuan coconut farmers, their associations and small cooperative organizations.

Implemented from 2015 to 2019, the coconut

hub is funded largely by PCA at P52.67-M, the Provincial Government of Bohol at P12 million, while MLGU Balilihan and coops and Bohol small coconut

farmers pitched in P2 million each, according to the project brief furnished by Provincial Agriculture Office OIC Larry Pamugas.

On the same event, Rosales urged the youth to

go back and plant coconuts, replace the older

coconuts to increase productivity as well as introduce intercropping it with cacao.

"We want to make Bohol the model for cacao

growing in the country," Rosales said while affirming inter-cropping as best for additional income from coconuts.

He added that coconut farmers need not be

poor as the industry has many allied possible incomes that can be generated.

Towns should follow Balilihan, Rosales

urged, as he appealed for coconut farmers to unite and raise the industry standards and make children understand the value of relying on nature's bounty.

(rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Samar DepED uses social media for senior high queries

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Oct. 7(PIA) – In keeping up with the digital era, the Department of Education Samar Division

uses its social media for questions on Senior High implementation.

T hrough its facebook account,

DepED Samar Planning office

features facts about Senior

High, interactive maps where these

schools are located, the different tracks

and strands being offered, and the

status of the construction of

classrooms.

“Our students are into high tech

gadgets, so that they can access to the fb

account for information they would be shy

to ask in the office.” Said the Deped

official.

Parents can also use the page account

to help their children.

Aside from the helpful internet site,

the officials also go to advocacy

campaign. One of which was guesting at

PIA’s Huruhimangraw radio program aired

over MBC’s Aksyon Radyo DYMS.

The Deped officials shared that in the

Samar Division, out of the 24

municipalities, some 59 Senior High

Schools will operate, Planning Officer

Romulo Gabunpa said.

Baldwin Babon, the Information

officer said, more than 10 thousand slots

are available for the school opening for

Samar students with additional slots for

out of school who may wish to return to

school.

The duo also underscored the

merits of the new school curriculum,

citing that the two additional years of

senior high will equip learners with skills

that will better prepare them for

employment, entrepreneurship, further

tech voc training or college.

Babon also cited that completers of

the senior high are Filipinos that are

“holistically developed with 21st century

skills.”

“They will be taught information,

media and technology skills, learning and

innovation, communication skills, life and

career skills, the information officer

assured. “It’s an all systems go for Samar

Division,” said Babon.

On October 19-21 Samar Division

will join the whole nation for the Early

Registration schedule as Deped turns full

implementation of the Senior High School

curriculum for school year 2016-2017.

(nbq/PIA-8 Samar)

No professional fees for gov‘t doctors, says South Leyte hospitals chief

ANAHAWAN, Southern Leyte, Oct. 5 (PIA) -- The head of public hospitals in the province has made it clear that physicians

working in hospitals managed by the provincial government should not ask for professional fees unlike their private sector

counterparts.

D r. Edmund Villa, Provincial

Hospitals Chief, announced this

in a speech during a ceremonial

program for the 46th anniversary

celebration of Anahawan District Hospital

(ADH) September 30, where he was the

guest, along with Dr. Carmen Garado,

from the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical

Center (EVRMC)–Local Health Support

Division (LHSD).

Villa, a former Mayor of Sogod town,

said that as salaried government doctors

they should not demand more than what

is allowed in the Philhealth list of claims

for their services.

Villa also announced that government

health facilities in the province -- the main

hospital at Dongon, Maasin, at

Sogod, Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Pintuyan,

Hinunangan, and this municipality -- have

been complying with the current

Philhealth policy on No Balance Billing.

Any payments due beyond the

maximum allowed listed for Philhealth,

especially for poor patients, the provincial

government will shoulder through the

P 170 Million Indigent Fund set aside for

this purpose, Villa said.

He encouraged those who may have

experienced being asked for professional

fees in any of the seven public hospitals in

the province to go forward, file complaint,

so this can be duly investigated.

Meanwhile, ADH Chief Ionne

Castillones told PIA that the highlight of

their 46th celebration was a massive,

voluntary bloodletting in coordination

with the provincial Red Cross and

EVRMC.

A total of 176 bags of blood were

collected and these were taken from

volunteer donors who were mostly

teachers, cops, and employees and staff of

ADH who donated blood as models,

Castillones said.

Last week the Medical Mission

Matters conducted a free cleft and

palate operation, in which 150 patients

were treated for their facia l

deformities, Castillones also said. (mmp,

PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Voters ‗run for their votes‘ in Samar

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Oct. 8 (PIA) — Some 800 Samarnon voters heeded the call of the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) as they joined the ―Run for your Vote 2‖ held recently in Catbalogan City.

T his is one of their information

cum fun run efforts to hit the

biometrics validation target,

according to Comelec Supervisor Atty.

Maria Corazon Montallana. The lady said

that they were not expecting the deluge of

runners; the number of runners even

exceeded the target.

Most runners were first time voters

from the Samar State University who are

under the NSTP, some uniformed

men and organized runners in

Catbalogan.

Comelec Regional Nick Mendros with

other Comelec officials were in town to

give support.

Presently, the number of Samarnon

voters who have “no bio” has gone

down to 7.8%, Comelec told PIA in an

interview. “But we wish to hit our target

which is 95% of the total number of

voters” said Montallana.

Based on Comelec reports, the total

number of registered voters in Samar is

474,481. Some 37, 054 have yet to report

to Comelec for the needed biometrics

validation. Montallana said that biometrics

validation will continue until October 31,

2015 in comelec offices. (nbq/

PIA-8-Samar)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Better figures mean better lives says statistics director

I n his message during the 26th

National Statistics Month (NSM)

kick-off program in Eastern Visayas,

PSA-8 interim regional director Raul

Dones believes in this year’s World

Statistics Day (Oct 20) theme, “Better

Data, Better Lives.”

Director Dones s a id that

crafting good policies can improve

our lives by measuring the right

thing through “presentation of

accurate, timely, reliable and quality

statistics.”

“If you can’t measure it, you can’t

manage it,” Dones said as he cited

Florence Nightingale, a nurse and the

first woman to be elected fellow

of the statistical society in Great Britain in

1860 who used the power of statistics to

support her campaign in reforming the

hospital system.

Meanwhile, Dones stressed that aside

from the statistics produced by PSA, they

also gather data from other sectors and

partners who are also providers of

statistics.

“Statistics is information and

information is power.

The essence of our existence as data

producers is to influence our

policy-makers to continuously use

statistics that matters most for better

public service,” Dones said.

October is declared as National

Statistics Month pursuant to Proclamation

No. 647 signed by former President

Corazon Aquino in 1990.

This year’s NSM celebration is

focused on health statistics with the

theme, “Pagyamanin at gamitin ang

estadistika, kalusugan para sa lahat ay

abot-kamay na.” (PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct. 5 (PIA) – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) here underscored on Thursday the value of

statistics in policy formulation and decision-making towards an improved and better quality of life for all.

NEIL D. LOPIDO

DILG enjoins LGUs to support ADHD week

celebration

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Oct. 6(PIA) — In order to increase advocacy on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD),

the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eastern Visayas encourages all local government units (LGUs)

to support the observance of ADHD Awareness Week on the third week of October by virtue of Presidential Proclamation

No.472.

I n a press release, DILG-8 regional

information officer Myles Joseph

Colasito informed that Secretary

Mel Senen Sarmiento has issued a

directive to all local chief executives

encouraging them to conduct various

activities related to this year’s celebration

which is anchored on the theme “"ADHD:

A Hidden Disability; Alamin, Unawain,

Tanggapin at Mahalin".

The official also enjoined them to

hang streamers and place the calendar of

events in conspicuous places to generate

public awareness of the activities.

“Let us use this opportunity to

educate the public about ADHD and its

treatments, thereby slowly eradicating

the stigma associated with it," Sarmiento

said.

A patient suffering from ADHD is

caused by neglect and may lead to the

incidence of out-of-school youths (OSYs)

and even child abuse.

A child/teenager suffering from

ADHD has poor time management skills,

frequently comes to school late, has

difficulty in keeping his things in order, he

talks excessively while classes are on-going

and frequently interrupts his other

classmates during recitations, often loses

his things and has difficulty staying for long

hours.

Studies have shown that seventy

percent (70%) of juvenile offenders and

forty percent (40%) of adults in

correctional facilities were found to have

ADHD.

DILG has intensified its advocacy

campaign on this disorder because

the public is not fully informed that

there is a treatment available.

Misconceptions and social stigma

hinders patients' access to effective

medication and increases other

complications, such as conduct disorder,

oppositional defiant disorder and

anti-social disorder.

It was learned that 1,046,314 people

in the Philippines were diagnosed with

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

(ADHD) , a common , ch ron ic

neuro-biological disorder, affecting 3-4%

of the country's population.(DILG-8/ajc/

cba/PIA-8)

Samar voters without biometrics down to 7.81 percent

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Oct. 7(PIA) – Finally, the information to validate voter‘s registration or the so called biometrics

validation campaign of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has paid off.

S a m a r P r o v i n c i a l E l e c t i o n

Superv i sor Mar i a Corazon

Montallana said that out of the 474,

481 registered voters in the whole

province of Samar, a remaining number of

37, 054 are left without biometrics

data.

The number is equivalent to 7.81%

relative to the total number of Samar

voters.

The lady said that the “No bio, no

boto” campaign with posters distributed in

every nook and cranny of the province has

helped fuel the campaign.

“But we still need the 7.8% voters to

see the Comelec Offices,” Montallana

appealed.

“It is their constitutional right to

vote,” she added.

As to the different municipalities, it

is Matuguinao town with 17.71% of

voters that still need validation while

equally remote San Jose de Buan town

has only 2.94% voters left without

validation.

Montallana said that biometrics

validation is still until October 31, 2015

but unlike before where schedule extends

to 12 midnight, it will only be until 5:00

PM, this time.

She also said that filing of candidacy is

scheduled from October 12-16 and also

until 5:00 PM only.(nbq/PIA-8-Samar)

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Editorial Consultants

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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

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