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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 2 | NO. 3| April 10, 2013

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CEBU CITY (PIA) -- Over 100 persons have been arrested in Central Visayas since the Comelec gun ban took effect on January 13 until April 8, according to the statistics presented by the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 during the Police-Cebu Media Dialogue on Elections 2013 recently. “Around 139 persons in the whole region have already been apprehended in violation of the gun ban,” said S/Supt. Erson Digal, chief of the Regional Operations Plans Division of PRO-7. Of the total figure, the most number of arrested persons came from Cebu Province at 56, Digal said, adding that the PRO 7 continues to strengthen the implementation of the gun ban with the approaching mid-term elections. Digal said the police have also confiscated 131 high-powered firearms and 115 low-powered firearms as well as 48 various items such as bladed weapons, air gun, explosives and grenade. The police official said they received an order from higher headquarters to go strict on the monitoring of compliance of the gun ban among the PNP, AFP and other government officials and employees. “So far, in the region we have only apprehended one police intel officer from Boljoon who violated the Comelec gun ban,” said Digal. The PRO 7 presentation also showed that the police have conducted a total of 12, 647 checkpoint operations region-wide. Based on the checkpoint operations, the police was able to confiscate 14 firearms and six other items and arrested 18 persons. Digal said the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-lapu have adopted the standardized

CONVERSATION BETWEEN MEDIA AND PRO-7: PRO-7 Regional Operations and Plans Division Chief Senior Supt. Erson Digal (at the rostrum) gives election security updates during the forum between the Cebu media and the PRO-7 police officers at the Police Regional Office - 7 (PRO-7) on April 11, 2013. Top Police officers of Region-7 are the guest speakers headed by Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Supt. Marcelo P. Garbo Jr (seated 3rd from left). The forum was moderated by Cebu Media Legal Aid Member Atty Eddie Barrita (seated 1st from left). (VVV-PIA7 Cebu)

Comelec checkpoint signages while other components cities and municipalities would soon follow suit. In order to achieve secure and fair elections (SAFE), the PRO 7 has likewise conducted an Election Security Workshop in the four provinces in Region 7. The first was in Cebu last April 2 followed by Negros Oriental and Siquijor on April 4 and April 5 in Bohol where security preparations are mapped out. Digal said after the workshop, all police stations would undergo simulation

exercises to check on their readiness with regards to their election security preparations. The PNP-Cebu Media Dialogue was attended by all top police officials lead by PRO-7 Chief Gen. Marcelo Garbo Jr. and his deputy commanders as well as the police chiefs of Cebu province and the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapulapu. More than 30 members of the Cebu tri-media participated in the dialogue which was an undertaking of the Cebu Citizens Press Council. (PIA 7)

Over 100 persons arrested in CV on gun ban violations, says PNP7

By Fayette C. RINEN

DUMAGUETE CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has announced that its memorial planholders may convert their plans into cash until August this year. In its press statement, GSIS said, the planholder will get the same amount in the contract price when he/she decides to withdraw. Dubbed 'GSIS Enhanced Optional Exit Mechanism' (EOEM), the program allows planholders to refund their cash payments depending on the type of their memorial

plan. The GSIS said EOEM is being implemented to protect the planholders from memorial servicing problems that may arise in the future, adding that the cash refund will enable the planholders to pay for their other expenses. Negros Oriental branch manager, Atty. Mercedes VPE Enriquez said holders of the GSIS Genesis Flexi Plan may refund 150 percent of the plan’s contract price; those of Genesis Plus Plan may refund 125 percent; and Genesis Plan and Genesis Special Plan, 100 percent.

GSIS grants memorial planholder refundBy JennIFeR C. tIlos Atty. Enriquez said interested

planholders in Negros Oriental and Siquijor must bring the fully accomplished application form; original and photocopy of the memorial plan agreement or affidavit of loss; original and photocopy of the planholder’s two valid government-issued IDs; and certificate of full payment, if any, to GSIS Dumaguete branch office, Daro, Dumaguete City. It is said, once planholders avail of EOEM, their memorial plans will be automatically terminated. Application forms are available at any GSIS branch office or may be downloaded at the GSIS website: www.gsis.gov.ph. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

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Feature: Building stories to inspire others to build lives

The description "long and winding road" took on a new meaning for me when I covered the Bayani Challenge event in Brgy. San Miguel in the town of San Remigio, Cebu. Several things will actually take on a new meaning for me later on that day. But let's start with the road to San Miguel. San Miguel is a small, upland village spread out in the mountains of San Remigio. To get there, we had to navigate roads that looked more like forgotten trails. Our vehicle kicked up dry, hot dust as it delicately and bumpily navigated the narrow, rocky, and serpentine road. At one point, there was nothing on both sides of the road but steep ravine. I closed my eyes, held on tight, and prayed for the best. The road, if it can qualify as one, is an experience in patience, faith, and knowing how many bumps your backside can take before you reach your tolerance level. My nearly sore behind was forgotten, though, when we reached San Miguel. The village, according to San Remigio Municipal Information Officer Venicio "Dodong" Dajuya, San Miguel is dubbed the "Little Baguio." The village is dotted with charming houses. Colored roofs crept up the green slopes. Set against a backdrop of clear, deep blue skies, the scene took my breath away.

By RaChelle M. nessIa

Up ahead, we were met by a beehive of activity at the build site of Bayani Challenge as people were in various stages of construction. Before I go on, let me make one thing clear - the summer heat was punishing that day. The world felt like one big oven and we were all baking in it. But the volunteers didn't seem to mind the torrid heat. I saw Gawad Kalinga (GK) Executive Director Jose Luis Oquinena punching holes on the ground using an iron bar. Behind him was a group of men mixing cement on the ground. Two adolescent boys hobbled past me, hauling buckets of splashing water. I saw women, young and old, shoveling dirt as kids scurried about carrying "ice water" for thirsty volunteers. Up ahead, I saw a woman seeking shade under a tree, carrying a boy on one arm. Beside her stood another little boy, a bigger replica of the one she was holding. I walked over, pen and notebook ready, hoping

UNITY DANCE: Cebu's San Remigio Mayor Jay Olivar (front row in red shirt) grooving to the Unity Dance during the opening ceremony of Bayani Challenge, Saturday, March 23. A total of 1,260 volunteers signed up for the first day of the 5-day event, who will build houses and refurbish schools. (VVV/PIA7 CEBU)

CEBU

to get a story out of her. She was hesitant at first, and embarrassed to have been singled out for this interview. She instinctively placed a hand on her head, smoothing out her tangled hair that was put up in a careless bun. "Oh no, this is not for a video. No cameras, see?" I assured her, showing her my pen and notebook. I had to coax out her story from her. She spoke in a small hushed voice, like she was afraid that others would overhear. Her name is Judith de la Pena and she is among those chosen by Gawad Kalinga to benefit from the free houses that were being built. Judith is a 44-year old single mother who was caring for her four children, the youngest of whom was the 5-year old in her arms. She became a widow last year when her husband died of a lingering ailment. "Where do you live right now?" I asked her, and she pointed to a tiny hut in the distance made of dried coconut palm leaves. She said she's been living there way back when she still only had two children and she doesn't know who owns the lot. Judith doesn't make much. Since her husband died, she's become the sole provider for her family, tending to their corn farm and raising other people's livestock. But for all her toils, what she earns in a day is still a pittance. "Most of the time, it's less than P200 a day. With that, I can barely send my three kids to school and feed us all at the same time," Judith said. At this point, I stopped writing. Sweat trickled down my back. At the construction site, laughter erupted from a group of young volunteers. "How do you feel about all this, then?" I asked, sweeping my hand to indicate the construction work unfolding around us. She was silent for a while. Judith looked down at the sleepy little boy on her arm. When she looked up, I saw two liquid pools staring back at me. "I'm so happy because this will solve half of my problems," she said in a quivering voice. "Look at my house," she said, and raised her free arm to point to the lopsided hut in the distance. "The roof is almost falling out. It used to be my husband who handled the repairs but I can't do that. I can't climb up to fix the roof," she said. "So what they're doing here now..." her voice trailed off as her gaze took in the volunteers sweating under the mid-day sun. "I’m very grateful," Judith said and clutched her youngest boy tighter in her arms. As I looked back at the volunteers, I remembered a line by Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This is what they’re doing, these volunteers, I realized. They all literally took the extra mile so they can make other people’s dreams come true, even if that extra mile turned out to be one lengthy, rockbound road. At that moment, I wanted to pick up a shovel or a hammer and join the volunteers. I felt a stab of guilt for not having either in my hands. But the pen and notebook I was holding reminded me that I was already doing just that. I was losing myself in the stories and lives of other people. I was wading through their thoughts and emotions so I can build from it stories that will inspire others to build lives. When we later left San Miguel, I was tired, hot, and hungry. But I also walked away from that experience with a warm heart, knowing that I was part of something greater than myself. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to realize that my backside does have a high tolerance level when it comes to long, rocky roads. (RMN/PIA Cebu)

finance team, and other needs. “We have to increase our number volunteers as some of the Parish Pastoral Councils and priests are not supporting the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) for they believe that PCOS machines can be manipulated by Comele,” the Monsignor said. The DEB targeted to recruit 5,000 volunteers for election related activities in the coverage area of Diocese of Dumaguete from the municipality of Jimalalud to Basay and Mabinay including the province of Siquijor. Msgr. Heruela said if it cannot come up with the number of volunteers needed, a roving teams of six teams should be formed to go around town and retrieve the fourth copy of election returns at the precinct level with the results. “The issue on the hacking of PCOS, is far from the truth, if the machine is not online yet and they do not have the combination, no hacking will happen, thus the fourth copy is very important to be retrieved at 10pm in the election day,” Heruela reiterated to the participants. He also asked the volunteers

Cebu City (PIA) -- The National Grid Power Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) issued a notice of a tentative scheduled shutdown of some transmission facilities in Cebu, Bohol and a little portion

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of Leyte on April 19 from 6 a.m. -6 p.m. This covers along the 138kV Ormoc-Maasin-Ubay transmission lines that will affect the areas of BLCI, BOHECO I and BOHECO II. The maintenance activities along

BOHOL

INFOBYTES is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by the Philippine Information Agency-Region 7 with stories submitted by its Provincial Information Centers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

By aMoRganda a. saludaRthe 69kV Ubay-Alicia transmission line on April 21, 2013, 8a.m. - 5 p.m. will then affect the portions of BOHECO II franchise areas in Bohol. Portions of the VECO franchise areas and CEBECO II franchise area will also be affected on the maintenance activity

NGCP issues sked for maintenace of Cebu, Bohol facilities

Diocesan Electoral Board volunteers trained to safeguard May 13 polls

DUMAGUTE CITY (PIA) -- Over 50 volunteers from different parishes in Negros Oriental and Siquijor have undergone trainors training recently on monitoring and safeguarding the May 13 polls. Diocesan Electoral Board (DEB)-led training discussed with volunteers the process of voting, contingency planning which include the testing and sealing of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, recruitment of different kinds of volunteers among others. DEB convenor, Rev. Msgr. Julius Heruela said the testing and sealing of the machines will be conducted at the municipal level three days before the elections, thus volunteers assigned have to be present to observe the accuracy of the machines including the configuration of flash cards. While each parish needs more election volunteers, Msgr. Heruela urged parish leader-volunteers to recruit at least seven kinds of volunteers as part of the poll watchers, voters assistance desk, Accountable Materials Verifiable Audit Trail Team (AMVATT), roving team, food brigade, prayer group, monitoring and

By JennIFeR C. tIlos

NEGROS ORIENTAL

to check the Computerized Voters List (CVL) in their respective precinct as early as now by double checking in their CD which the DEB distributed to them or using the Comelec's online precinct finder at comelec.gov.ph. For roving team 1 covers the municipalities of Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, and Manjuyod; team 2 includes the voting areas of Mabinay, Paniabonan, Manganay, and Bais City; team 3 for Tanjay City, Pamplona, Amlan, and San Jose. Under team 4 covers Sibulan, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Bacong; team 5 to go to Dauin, Zamboanguita , and Siaton; and with team 6, it covers Sta. Catalina, Bayawan, and Basay. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

along the 69kV Compostela-Consolacion transmission line on April 28 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The May 5 maintenance activity along the 69kV Tagbilaran-Tubigon transmission line will affect portions of BOHECO I franchise area and portions of BLCI franchise area. The NGCP clar i f ied that the stated schedules are all tentative and assures public for a separate notice in case of any sudden changes. The agency further noted that the specific cities and municipalities to be affected by the power interruption are determined by the abovementioned Distribution Utility (DU), unless the activity affects the entire franchise area. The DU a l l o t s t he available power within its franchise area and implements the power interruption schedule among the end-users. (mbcn/AYS/PIA7 with reports from NGCP)

BAYANI CHALLENGE: Villager beneficiaries prepare lunch for the volunteers of the Bayani Challenge 2013 in Barangay Magsaysay in Talibon, Bohol during the Day 1 of the 5-day event. (mbcn/RAHC/PIA7-Bohol)

SIQUIJOR

MGA KATANGIAN N G M G A K A R A PAT-

DAPAT NA LINGKOD BAYAN

Mga katangiang dapat makita sa isang karapat-dapat na Lingkod Bayan ay ang mga sumusunod: • Dapat ay may hangaring tapat at mahusay sa kanyang paglilingkod sa publiko. • Dapat ay may pantay at makatarungang pakikitungo sa sinumang lumalapit sa kanyang tanggapan. • Dapat ay may integridad at walang hangaring gamitin ang kanyang tungkul in sa kanyang pansari l ing kapakanan. • Dapat ay may integridad at paninindigan na hindi tatanggap ng anumang uri ng suhol o lagay. • Dapat maka-Diyos at may damdaming pagserserbisyo lalo na sa mga mahihirap. —

News feature: Siquijodnon say, 'Our rice is corn'

SIQUIJOR (PIA) -- “Responsible rice consumption.” This is the call of the year as the country launches the National Year of Rice, a campaign that aims to help achieve rice self sufficiency, promote better health and improve the income of farmers. President Benigno S. Aquino III in his declaration of 2013 as the National Year of Rice hopes to attain a hundred percent rice self-sufficiency before the year ends as it underlines the government’s intensified focus on strengthening food security by increasing agricultural productivity. In support to the campaign, Siquijor province unveiled last week the NYR advocacy tarpaulin that bears the signature of heads and representatives from various agencies signifying commitment of support. Recitation of the “Panatang Makapalay” (Rice Pledge) ensued and is even encouraged to be recited daily in private and public schools province-wide to raise public awareness on responsible rice consumption. “Whether as a producer, a policy-maker or as part of the general public, everyone has a role to play,” says the agriculture office in its campaign . Producers can adopt technologies to help increase productivity, policy makers can help institutionalize the serving of half-cup rice in the foodservice industry, and the public, in general, can reduce rice wastage, try brown rice and other sources of carbohydrates, and eat just the right amount of rice, the campaign said. Research shows that in 2010, a typical Filipino wastes about two tablespoons of rice each day which is equivalent to 13% of the total rice import of the same year or the consumption of nearly 2.6 million Filipinos a year. But, for a non-rice producer province like Siquijor, the advocacy is to “shift back” to be corn eaters. “Our advocacy is for Siquijodnons to eat corn and other food staple like what our old folks do,” agricultural program coordinating officer Bernadith Bunado said. She said Siquijodnons originally are corn eaters but younger generations have shifted to rice so that Siquijor has to import from other provinces. Previous study of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics cited corn, with other root crops, as a significant agricultural commodity in the island. Siquijor, the study said, is self-sufficient in corn while needing more to become self-sufficient in rice. This is because aside from the increase in consumption due to

By RIzalIe a. CalIBo

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the young folks’ love for rice, rice farm areas in Siquijor remain small. Recent report from the local agriculture office says that in 2012, Siquijor has a rice area of 639.67 hectares, approximately only 3.46% of its entire agricultural area. The province, the report said is only 14.88% sufficient in rice. The difference is satisfied with rice coming from other provinces and the consumption of other food staple like corn, it said.

SIQUIJOR CHILDREN: To while away their waiting hours, Pantawid Pamilya Program children beneficiaries in Cang-apa, Larena, Siquijor find time dancing and singing as they waited for their parents attending the Family Development Session. (RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)

So while the country advocates f o r r e s p o n s i b l e consumption of rice, we Siquijodnons do otherwise. We need to cling to our line: “Our rice is corn!” said SP committee chair on agriculture, Arturo Pacatang. P a c a t a n g added, "if possible, let’s not eat rice. Eat corn instead or other crops we locally call 'salag-on.' They’re e v e n h e a l t h i e r , cheaper and can make you slimmer (take note girls!)." And without you knowing, by promoting and eating corn, you are already contributing much to the government’s rice self sufficiency program. (mbcn/RAC-PIA 7, Siquijor)