Vol 5 Issue 10 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 March 9 - 15, 2015

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue WV LGUs bag Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards

SEC urges corporations to file Annual Financial Statements

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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US Rebuild turns over projects to Leyte towns

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 11 (PIA)—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rebuild formally turned over Wednesday US

funded projects in Tacloban and Palo, Leyte. The projects include a climate-resilient 6-classroom

building of San Joaquin Central School in Palo Leyte and 40 rehabilitated sari-sari stores at USAID-CRS transitional

shelter site in Brgy.Utap, this city in support to the livelihood recovery of micro-entrepreneurs who are the beneficiaries of the project.

The ceremonial turn-over of the symbolic keys was led by USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc Barrera, DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, Deped officials,

representatives of Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and some local officials.

It was learned that more than 200 typhoon and

earthquake-resilient classrooms are being built in the city and province of Leyte by USAID Rebuild in partnership with the Department of Education and local government

units. Furthermore, of the 1, 000 sari-sari stores that are

being reconstructed and restocked with inventory, 300 of which are to be built in the city.

Said projects are part of the US government’s $143-million typhoon Yolanda assistance.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg and

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Gloria Steele who are supposed to lead the inauguration of US funded projects in Leyte

missed the activity.

This, after the plane that supposedly would carry the officials to Leyte has reportedly encountered mechanical problems prompting the delegation to cancel the trip.

Nevertheless, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Rebuild pushed through with the formal turnover of the US-funded projects to the beneficiaries.

USAID has been providing technical support to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Reconstruction and Recovery (OPARR) . (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PIA6) --- Ten local government units (LGUs) from Region 6 were cited in the recently-concluded Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014

for their exemplary work in helping achieve the vision of creating better health systems by the Department of Health (DOH).

The Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014 is one of

the strategies of DOH to leverage LGU participation in achieving universal health care.

Three LGUs namely Anilao in Iloilo, Dumalag in

Capiz, and Iloilo City were elevated in the DOH Red Orchid Award Hall of Fame for their outstanding anti-smoking innovations and programs.

The Red Orchid Award is the Search for 100%

Tobacco-Free Provinces, Municipalities, Cities, Government Offices, Government Hospitals and DOH

Centers for Health Development. For the recognition on Disease-Free Zone, three

LGUs were cited for the efforts of the health workers and

the support of their LGUs in achieving disease-free status for their province/area.

Boracay in Malay, Aklan and Guimaras province were

recognized for elimination of rabies while the province of Iloilo was hailed as filariasis-free.

Four LGUs were honored with the National Sandugo

Award for the excellent performance of local chief executives in the implementation of National Voluntary Blood Services Program in their respective localities.

Bgy. Ma. Christina in Jaro, Iloilo City was cited in

small barangay category; Poblacion IV, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental for medium barangay category; Aguisan, Himamaylan for large barangay category; and Negros

Occidental for the province category. The Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Awards 2014 was the

major award which recognized LGUs who have

commendable performance in achieving the Millennium

Development Goals as reflected in the DOH 2013 LGU Score Card Report.

There were 80 provinces, 35 highly-urbanized cit ies , f ive independent components cit ies ( ICCs), 144 component cit ies (CCs) and

1,490 municipalities which vied for the awards. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

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

Hazel F. Gloria

CEBU CITY, March 8 (PIA) --- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urged all Stock or Non-Stock corporations to file their Annual Financial

Statements (AFS) at any time prior to April 13, 2015 at the Commission’s office.

This was announced by SEC Information Officer Atty. Alma Marie Dalena during the recent Association

of Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7 Forum held at the Department of Health (DOH) 7 Regional Office.

In order to maintain an organized and orderly

filing of AFS, the Commission issued a Memorandum Circular for the schedule of filing the AFS of companies whose current fiscal year ends on December 31, 2014, said

Dalena. Starting April 13, 2015, filing dates shall depend on

the last numerical digit of their SEC Registration or License

Number, as follows: April 13 to 17 the last digit is ―1‖ or

―2‖, April 20 to 24 the last digit is ―3‖ or ―4‖ while on

April 27 to 30 the last digit is ―5‖ or ―6‖. On May 4 to 8, the last digit is ―7‖ or ―8‖ and on May

11 to 15, it is ―9‖ or ―0‖.

For the corporations whose fiscal year ends on a date other than December 31, 2014 shall file their AFS within 120 calendar days, explained Dalena.

Filers may also file online according to the above

schedule at the SEC Website @ www.sec.gov.ph. Dalena said, ―SEC requires the filing of audited

financial statements in order to prevent the fear of loss

from reliance on inaccurate information, thereby encouraging public investment in the Nation's industries.‖

That has important implications for investors making

investment decisions, for banks and financial institutions that may extend credit or make loans to the company, and for other businesses and members of the public who deal

with the company, said Dalena.(HFG/PIA-7/AIGO-7)

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman and ILO

Country Director Lawrence Jeff Johnson

signed an agreement granting US$480,000 to

the DSWD to rebuild livelihood assets and

support community enterprises in regions

affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr. (center),

Police Regional Office-6 Regional Director

PCSupt Josephus Angan (right), and Philippine

Army 3rd Infantry Division Commander

MGen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero (left) sign the

joint declaration for "peaceful and ready for

further development" province of Iloilo during

the 1st regular meeting of the Regional Peace

and Order Council held Friday, March 13 at

Amigo Terrace Hotel. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc

Barrera (left) assisted by Leyte BM Bob

Abellanosa, Palo mayor Remedios Petilla and

DepEd 8 assistant regional director Rhoan

Orebia turns-over teaching and learning

materials to San Joaquin Central School

principal Liberato Cobacha (2nd from right)

during the school’s inauguration in Brgy. San

Joaquin, Palo, Leyte, March 11. (Vino R.

Cuayzon)

USAID Rebuild Project chief of party Marc Barrera and Palo mayor

Remedios Petilla unveil the marker during the turn-over ceremony

of San Joaquin Central School in Palo, Leyte on March 11. (Vino R.

Cuayzon)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

NGP reforests 11,650 hectares with 7,055,000

seedlings

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 11 (PIA6) - - The National Greening Program (NGP), a flagship reforestation program of

President Benigno S. Aquino III managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office, has covered

11,650 hectares in Negros Occ. since 2011.

W ithin the 11,650 hectares, 7,055,000

seedlings were planted involving

183 People’s Organizations with

5,220 household beneficiaries in four years.

Provincial Environment and Natural

Resources Officer Andres Untal said NGP

hopes to overtake the deforestation rate with

this reforestation program until 2016 by

planting more trees.

Meanwhile, Governor Alfredo G.

Marañon Jr. who graced the gathering of DENR

officials and People’s Organizations for the

signing of the Letter of Agreement for the

implementation of NGP in 2015, urged those

around to continue to protect the

environment considering the adverse effects of

climate change being felt now.

The Governor also challenged those in

authority to make ways to curb continuous

abuse of the environment through illegal

logging and kaingin, among others.

Community Environment and Natural

Resources Officer-Cadiz Edgardo Rostata said

these People’s Organizations or contractors

have been helpful even outside of their

contracted areas.

―At the onset of summer season, if we

have forest fire incidents in the area, they help

each other just like what happened in one of

the NGP areas in Victorias.

POs as far as Cadiz helped put out the

fire, because if it spread, all the NGP efforts

will be useless,‖ Rostata explained.

CENRO Cadiz NGP target for 2015 is to

reforest 1,116 hectares, one of the biggest

targets in the province in terms of area for

greening, according to Rostata.

In Cadiz and San Carlos cities, DENR

already involved the former rebels RPA-ABB

members who are hired as Bantay Bukid

members, also a part of the closure agreement

of the national government with this rebel

group.

Meanwhile, CENRO Joan Nathaniel

Gerangaya disclosed that their NGP target for

2015 covers only 795 hectares but these

have limited potential since most parts are

within the Northern Negros Natural Park

where only endemic trees are allowed to be

planted.

Gerangaya said that the support and

cooperation of the POs are vital since the

program is ending in 2016.

―Our dream is to bring back the ―green‖

in Negros Occidental. We have a very

successful planting since 2011 and we

never stopped recognizing our partners,

otherwise our efforts will be put to waste,‖

Gerangaya added. *(JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

Easter Anne D. Doza

SAN JOSE, Antique, March 9 (PIA6) - - The Antique Parole and Probation Office is upbeat over this year’s implementation of

the Harmonized Rehabilitation Program.

R amoncito Canja, Chief Probation

and Parole Officer, said they have

about 110 probationers, parolees and

pardonees under their care and supervision.

―We are optimistic of their responses to

different treatment modalities so that they

could go back to their communities and live a

normal life once their sentence is served,‖ said

Canja.

For the interventions to be successful,

Canja said, support of the family and

community are vital so that the offenders could

back to their normal life.

Likewise, the restoration of relationship

among offenders, victims and community is

essential, he said.

For the province of Antique, PPO banked

on the assistance of other government agencies

and private organizations to help the offenders

learn more skills and knowledge of government

program or other projects from the private

sector beneficial to them.

―We are committed to help the

probationers, parolees and pardonees to

reform their behaviors that will prevent them

from committing another offense,‖ he said.

Every month the offenders are expected

to report to their designated venue. For those

from northern Antique, they have to report in

Culasi, while those in central part have to go

to Patnongon and San Jose for those in

southern towns.

Different topics are discussed during

meetings, Canja said. It could be an orientation

of government programs, skills training, sports

activity or family counselling, with the ultimate

goal of preparing the offender ready to get

back to the community where she/he belongs.

However, for the rehabilitation program

to be successful there must be reconciliation

and healing among the offenders, the victims

and the community. (JCM/PSM-PIA6 Antique)

Antique PPO implements harmonized rehab program Pilar S. Mabaquiao

Health officials warn vs. summer ailments

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 13 (PIA6) – Health officials reiterated their call for the public to take precautions against

common ailments during summer.

I nformation Officers Joeffry Espiritu and

Ayr Altavas of the Department of

Health and Provincial Health Office,

respectively, called Capiceños anew to be

vigilant against many diseases and ailments that

are associated with the warm temperature.

Espiritu said that the warm temperature

especially this summer which can already be

felt now can trigger hypertension and other

heart-related diseases.

Aside from the cardio-related diseases,

the warm temperature also results in

respiratory problems, skin diseases and other

infectious ailments, he said.

A study from the Department of Health

shows that each year, 170,000 Filipinos die

from cardiovascular diseases, up from 85,000

of more than 20 years ago.

On the other hand, Altavas said that sore

eyes, sun burn, rabies infection, heat

stroke and skin diseases are common during

summer.

He also said that the public must be

watchful about their food intake as diarrhea

and food poisoning are also very common.

Altavas likewise stressed that other

common ailments during warm temperature

are the usual colds, cough and fever.

They advised the public to take more

fluids, do regular exercise and take enough

rest.

―The increase in water and fruit intake

will prevent us from restlessness and

dehydration,‖ they emphasized.

They likewise warn them not to expose

to sunlight from 10 o’clock in the morning

until 3 in the afternoon as this is the period

wherein warm temperature is very prevalent.

(JSC/JBG-PIA6)

Jemin B. Guillermo

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

KALIBO, Aklan, March 10 (PIA6) -- The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 is inviting municipalities in Aklan to join the

Blood Olympics, a competition among local government units (LGUs) in the region which calls for the conduct of Mass Blood

Donation (MBD) activities participated in by constituents.

DOH invites Aklan towns to mass blood donations

By Venus G. Villanueva

D OH 6 Regional Director Marilyn

Convocar said this project has a

time-table from February 1, 2015 to

October 31, 2015. In her letter to Aklan

Governor Florencio T. Miraflores enjoining all

municipal mayors to participate in the

competition, Convocar said the blood program

is now included in the LGU scorecard with an

indicator of 1% of the total population blood

collection for the year.

―The National Voluntary Blood Services

Program (NVBSP) of the DOH Regional Office

VI aims to achieve its vision and mission by

giving the highest priority to the health of

voluntary non-remunerated blood donors,

patients, laboratory personnel and the

community; achieving voluntary blood

donation‖, Convocar said in her letter to

Governor Miraflores. She added the program

also aims to ensure safe, reliable and

cost-effective processing of blood and reducing

maternal mortality due to blood loss.

The Blood Olympics must adhere to the

following mechanics: MBD must be initiated by

the LGU; tie-up with a Non-Government

Organization (NGO) is allowed; information as

to the date, venue and time of MBD must be

relayed to the Provincial Blood Program

Coordinator; snacks must be provided to

blood donors; and disqualified donors and

unsuccessful collection are not included in the

total collection.

The total collection after every MBD must

also be endorsed to the Provincial Corrdinator

and the top 3 LGUs per province will be

awarded based on percentage collection as to

total population. The DOH RO VI will then

conduct a province-wide caravan and awarding

ceremony in November 2015 at the Provincial

Capitol, Convocar said.

Meanwhile, in a recent meeting here of

the Aklan Blood Coordinating Council (ABCC)

at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall,

Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Provincial Health

Officer I revealed that that last year’s blood

collection through the Philippine Red Cross

(PRC) and other organizations only reached

0.8%, short of the 1% mandated to match the

province’ total population, as blood collected

only reached 4,450 units with the population

listed at 574,846.

This year, the province aims to collect

more blood, with blood donation activities set

on April 15 by the Philippine Red Cross, April

27 by the DOH with venue at the ABL Sports

Complex in Kalibo, and May 10 in Malay, Aklan.

Dr. Cuachon said government employees

are being encouraged to donate blood because

they will be able to enjoy a leave of three (3)

days. (JSC/VGV-PIA6 Aklan)

Outstanding Ilonggo students get awards

Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, March 11 (PIA6) - - Ten students from public schools and ten from private schools comprised the twenty

outstanding students of Iloilo in the elementary and secondary levels for academic year 2014-2015.

T he twenty pupils and students will

join the ranks of 180 outstanding

students who have been recognized

by the Outstanding Student Circle of Iloilo and

the Department of Education-Iloilo since 2006.

They will receive their medals during the

awarding ceremony on Friday, March 13 at

Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Inc., Gymnasium in

Ledesco Village, La Paz.

Pupils who successfully hurdled the Search

for the Ten Outstanding Elementary School

Pupils of Iloilo for AY 2014 – 2015 are: Braña,

Arabella Shayne of Children's Integrated School

of Alta Tierra, Inc.; Insigne, Ewemiz of SPED

- Integrated School for Exceptional Children;

Dequilla, Raphael Francis of St. Joseph School

(Iloilo), Inc.; Peñaflorida, Ma. Abby Genevie of

Ateneo De Iloilo; Engallado, Frelean Faith of

Solomon Integrated School de Iloilo; Tabares,

Shannalie of Cabatuan Central Elementary

School; Dolendo, Joelian Marie of Iloilo

Scholastic Academy; Andresio, John Mark of

Sta. Barbara Central Elementary School;

Valderrama, Matthew of PAREF Westbridge

School, Inc.; and Aguila, Raniella Louise of

Cabatuan Parochial School.

The Ten Outstanding Secondary School

Students of Iloilo are: Galvan, Ramon III of Hua

Siong College of Iloilo; Sibug, Antonio of Iloilo

City National High School; Recabar, James

Matthew of St. Joseph School (Iloilo), Inc;

Castañeda, Ramon David of SPED - Integrated

School for Exceptional Children; Silvederio,

Julienne Marie of Oton National High School;

Biso, Cedric Fritz of Central Philippine

University; Lao, Nicole Casey of Iloilo

Scholastic Academy; Gallaza, Andrea Louise of

University of the Philippines High School in

Iloilo; Labasan, Cherry Lane of Leonora S.

Salapantan National High School, San Miguel,

Iloilo; and Ruel, Philipp Centenni of Cabatuan

National Comprehensive High School. Brana

and Galvan who topped their categories and

named as Most Outstanding Pupil and Student

respectively were tasked to deliver messages

during the awarding ceremony. A total of 56

students, 28 from each category qualified for

the written examination and later trimmed

down to 15 from each category for the panel

interview which was held on February 11,

2015. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY, March 13 (PIA6)—The Low Electricity Load Program of Iloilo City is seen to cover more homes as the local

government seeks amendments to its Memorandum of Agreement with the Panay Electric Company (PECO).

E ngr. Randy Pastolero, PECO’s vice

president for operations, said that the

company is amenable to the

amendments as it is the city government that

sets the standards for homes included in the

coverage.

Pastolero said there are no problems as

to houses to be covered as long as the

beneficiary homes are safe and approved by

the Bureau of Fire Protection. The low load

program benefits mostly the informal settlers

who were moved to relocation sites under the

city government’s relocation project.

The program exempts beneficiaries from

certain requisites imposed by PECO on regular

consumers.

The amendments to the MOA include

accommodation of two-storey houses, each

with floor area of no more than 60 square

meters and are exclusively located in

relocation sites, Gawad Kalinga sites and other

projects identified by the mayor. Pastolero said

that the maximum power assignment under

the low load program is 1,000 watts.

―But we are actually installing a 30-ampere

meter which can provide almost 6,000 watts,‖

Pastolero added.

He also said that the beneficiaries under

the low load program have the privilege of not

paying the meter deposit but they are required

to pay a bill deposit of P1,639 to cover one or

two months in advance.

They also need not pay the fire safety

inspection of the BFP as this is already part of

the installation and maintenance work of the

PECO. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Amendments to low electricity program benefit more homes Elsa S. Subong

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, March 10 (PIA)--- Cebu hosted the first ever multi-sectoral forum on the West Philippine Sea, which is the first in

an information drive series to be held in regions nationwide.

First Multi-Sectoral Forum on West Philippine

Sea held in Cebu

M ore than a hundred representatives

from various sectors attended the

forum jointly conducted by the

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at the

Central Command, Camp Lapulapu here.

The objective of the activity is to raise

awareness among citizens on the issue on West

Philippine Sea and to get the people's support o

the policies and actions of the Philippine

government to address the issues in South China

Sea.

Lt. Gen Nicanor Vivar, commanding general

of Armed Forces of the Philippines-Centcom, said

there is tension in the West Philippine Sea which

the Filipinos need to be aware of.

―It is no longer a domestic problem but it

has become a global problem. We have to know

the historical facts and also our historical rights,‖

Vivar said in his welcome message.

The 3,500-square kilometer area west of the

Philippines was then called South China Sea until

the issuance of Administrative Order 29 in 2012

officially renaming it as West Philippine Sea.

DFA Spokesperson, Assistant Secretary

Charles Jose, gave a presentation explaining the

historical background of the tension at the West

Philippine Sea.

―We have to raise awareness and gain

support of the people on the current moves of

the government in addressing the problem,‖ Jose

said.

Jose cited two underlying reasons on the

need for public awareness, China’s claim over the

territory and its aggressive behavior.

He said China and the rest of the claimants

used to "co-exist quietly" until 2009 when China

submitted a map showing a nine-dash line which

had enclosed the territories in the entire South

China Sea.

―China’s claim has been excessive, expansive

and no basis under the United Nations

Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),‖

Jose said.

They had recorded several instances of

aggression which include establishment of Sensha

City, a sign of administering powers over the

entire region and the barring of logistics to

soldiers guarding the Scarborough Shoal.

Jose said the Philippines is now waiting for

the result of an arbitration filed at the United

Nations.

Reportedly there are 5 million Filipinos

making a living from the sea waters in the areas

and the Philippines has the richest biodiversity.

PIA Regional Director Minerva Newman

challenged the participants to share the key

message starting with their relatives and then the

people in their community.

―The key message is that the Philippine

Government and the Filipino people

are determined to defend what is legally ours,‖

Newman said.

The knowledge gained from the activity

should be shared in order to show support to

what the government has been doing.

―We equip ourselves with knowledge,

necessary information, the beauty, value of the

West Philippine Sea and we can actually

start from where we are sitting now,‖ Newman

said.

A f t e r t he p r e s en t a t i on , s om e

identified participants also underwent focused

group discussions.

These include people from the academe

particularly the communication group in

University of San Jose Recoletos, University of

San Carlos and University of the Philippines.

There were also representatives from local

government units and national government

agencies. (rmn/FCC/PIA-Cebu)

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 10 (PIA) --- The Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA)-Negros Oriental is targeting to

expand abaca farming to 100 hectares this year.

W ith the existing 2,800 hectares planted

with abaca in the province, over P20

million have been sold to manufactur-

ers or exporters last year, said Provincial Fiber

Officer Nena Locsin of FIDA.

Locsin said the province shipped out 4,000

metric tons of high grade and loose abaca fiber to

various firms in Mindanao and Luzon.

She said some 3,500 meters of sinamay were

sold for P125 per meter to Malolos, Bulacan

suppliers and exporters on sinamay packagings,

abaca bags, handcrafted among others.

With a huge demand of abaca after super

typhoon Yolanda damaged abaca plantations in

Leyte-Samar, FIDA intends to increase three

percent production this year in the

province.

To facilitate fast production of abaca, the

FIDA will provide 100 units of stripping device to

identified abaca farmer-associations in the

municipalities of Sibulan, Sta. Catalina, Ayungon,

and Tayasan.

The spindle stripping machine is for the

extraction of abaca fiber effectively and that

farmers will no longer strips the abaca manually,

said Locsin.

With this technology, FIDA official said the

machine would help some 3,200 abaca farmers to

boost production in the province.

She also encouraged famers to plant

more abaca while the FIDA is stepping up its

training program for the farmers to globally

competitive.

Abaca is considered the strongest of natural

fibers, three times stronger than cotton. It is also

used as a major component for food

packaging as in tea bags and meat casings,

filter papers and cigarettes papers. (rmn/JCT/

PIA7-Negros Oriental)

FIDA expands abaca farming for global competitiveness

CEBU CITY, March 8 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH) 7 is on a massive campaign against rabies especially in line

with the observation of "Rabies Awareness Month" this March.

DOH-7 undertakes massive campaign against rabies

A ssistant Regional Rabies Program

Coordinator Jeffrey Doyongan of DOH

said during the recent Association of

Government Information Officers (AGIO) 7

Forum, the celebration’s ultimate goal

is to have a rabies-free Philippines by the year

2020.

The celebration aims to increase public

awareness on the risks of rabies and the

importance of having dogs and cats vaccinated

regularly against this fatal disease, continued

Doyongan.

He is also encouraging the public to let their

pet dogs registered and have it properly

vaccinated annually at the veterinary centers to

protect against rabies.

Based on the records of DOH-7, the

number of animal bite victims is increasing every

year since 2010 and the number of human deaths

is decreasing.

It showed that in 2010 there were 26, 298

cases of animal bite victims; 28,964 in 2011;

34,678 cases in 2012; 50,755 cases in 2013; and

59, 816 cases in 2014.

With regards to rabies deaths since

2008, 14 were recorded; for 2009 is 12 ; 2010 is

13; 10 for 2011; 7 for 2012, 4 for 2013; and 3 for

2014.

Doyongan said that 85 percent of rabies

came from dogs, 10 percent from cats and 5

percent from other animals.

Rabies is 100% case fatality rate both in

animals and humans.

For those bitten by dogs, they are advised to

go immediately to the animal bite centers (ABC)

to be treated right away.

The theme for this year’s celebration is

―Bakunadong Pusa’t Aso sa Rabies

Protektado.‖ (rmn/HFG/PIA-7/AGIO-7)

Ferliza Calizar-Contratista

Hazel F. Gloria

JENNIFER C. TILOS

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 6 (PIA)—If not for its excellent skills trainings, Technical Education and Skills Development

Authority (TESDA) heavy equipment operation graduates would need five more years of on-the-job equipment

hands-on before they can even get to operate heavy equipment.

O wing to an excellent track record in

equipment operation technical skills

however, graduates can use their national

certifications plus bank on the International

Standards Organization (ISO) certification to

cruise through supposedly a very long on the job

training.

This also means that with the ISO rating, all

trainings and processes which the agency

undertakes is so much so the same that they

produce the same skilled graduate, be they in

heavy equipment operation, or any national

certification course that could get one into the

working system.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva,

who was in Bohol March 3 to 4 and who met

local members of the press at the People’s

Mansion, bared this development as TESDA was

to present 1,468 technical vocational (techvoc)

graduates their certifications in fitting rites at the

Bohol Island State University (BISU) in Bilar town.

Awarded ISO Certificate 9001, TESDA, as an

organization implemented quality management

system requirements for all areas of the business,

including facilities, people, training, services and

equipment, which provides improved quality and

service, on time delivery, right first time attitude,

fewer returned products and complaints as well

as commitment to quality.

As the ISO applies to all TESDA processes,

its skills certifications carry with it that same

brand of excellence it is applying for trainees in

urban centers or in rural areas, which is set to

produce the same desired results, ISO

certification experts explained.

The ISO certification is also important in as

much as, while other techvoc training

organizations would have to let their graduates

undergo on the job internships with lesser pay,

TESDA graduates, at least of heavy equipment

operations are readily accepted, bared Sec

Villanueva during a press conference.

For this, a heavy equipment company,

according to the secretary, has waived the

mandatory five years of hands-on training because

of TESDA graduate’s assured skill.

This edge, Villanueva pointed out, can be a

big plus factor for salary increases, promotions

and job perks assessment. The secretary, who has

a long running friendship history with Bohol

Governor Edgar Chatto said TESDA the second

and is yet the only education and training

government agency which has capped the

international certification. He also noted that the

Department of Health is the first government

agency that has attained the international

standards award. (rmn/RAC/PIABohol)

TESDA’s ISO assures high quality training for

its grads

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 5 (PIA) --- Dumaguete City has established a P1.5 million central materials recovery

facility (MRF) to eliminate tons of garbage from Dumaguete dumpsite which include the implementation of the Reuse, Recycle

Reduce program.

Dumaguete City sets up P1.5M Material Recovery Facility

E nvironment and Natural Resource Office

Head Rey Awayan has encouraged

barangays to build their own respective

MRFs in order to help the city government

address the perennial garbage problem.

Awayan said the barangays may avail of the

P300,000 from the city government for the

building of their own MRFs.

Barangay Junob is the first barangay that has

already established a Barangay Solid Waste

Management to cater their constituent on the

collection as well as segregation at source.

Awayan said Junob has gained income by

selling the garbage from their MRF.

With this, the barangays to follow which has

already requested funds from this year’s budget

for the setting up of their own MRF include

Bajumpandan, Daro, Bantayan, Piapi, Pulantubig,

Mangnao , Batinguel, Calindagan, Cadawinonan,

Bagacay and Cantil-e.

Furthermore, after spraying the biological

enzymes at the Dumaguete City dumpsite to fast

track the decomposition and eliminate the bad

odor from the old garbage, Mayor Manuel

Sabarbarria plans to develop a portion of the

Dumaguete Dumpsite into an Ecological Park in

six months time.

Awayan said, by developing a portion of the

dumpsite into an Eco Park, he hopes to remove

the perception of the public with regards to the

dumpsite which emits bad odor and is dirty. He

added that they will be putting benches and lights

so people can relax.

Mayor Sagarbarria has instructed the City

Engineer’s office to push the garbage upwards to

give space for the said Eco Park along the baseline

of the dumpsite. The CEO will also construct an

Organic Fertilizer Factory which will come from

the organic material extracted from the dumpsite.

The mayor added that the fertilizer will be

given to the farmers’ association of the city.

ENRO office also established partnership

with DENR in helping the needs of the city to all

environmental concern particularly Solid Waste

Management. (rmn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

JENNIFER C. TILOS

CEBU CITY, March 9 (PIA) --- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released recently over

P211 million worth of shelter assistance to Medellin town through Municipal Mayor Ricardo Ramirez, according to DSWD-7

Regional Information Officer Leah Quintana.

DSWD-7 releases shelter aid to Cebu LGUs

Q uintana said that DSWD-7 Regional

Director Mercedita Jabagat handed over

the check amounting to P211,580,000 to

Mayor Ramirez in a simple turn over ceremony

at DSWD Field Office VII.

Said amount will benefit 5,333 families

whose houses were partially damaged and 5,275

families whose houses were totally damaged by

Typhoon Yolanda.

Director Jabagat clarified that the list of

beneficiaries emanated from the local government

units and signed by the respective mayors.

"Our office did not do the listing of ESA

beneficiaries,‖ she said.

She added that the Disaster Assistance and

Family Access Card (DAFAC) is not the

assistance that the victims will receive.

Jabagat said DAFAC is a card issued by the

LGU to victims of disaster indicating the general

information of the family head and its members

and the assistance provided to/received by the

family from various providers.

DSWD has been imp lement ing

Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) for

the past years and provided P10,000 for houses

that were totally damaged and P5,000 for houses

that were partially damaged and those who can

avail are families with income of P10,000 and

below.

DSWD came up with guidelines solely for

the implementation of Yolanda ESA on November

21, 2014 because of the magnitude of the damage

caused by typhoon Yolanda.

In the new guidelines, the amount of

assistance is increased from P10,000 to P30,000

for totally damaged house and from P5,000 to

P10,000 for partially damaged house.

Also, families with an income of 15,000 and

below will receive the assistance.

According to Jabagat, the Yolanda ESA

guidelines ensure that only those who are most in

need and have no immediate resources to rebuild

their homes are given the assistance.

Jabagat said beneficiaries of the ESA under

the guidelines are families who have no

permanent source of income or whose income is

below the poverty threshold of the region; those

whose houses were either partially or totally

damaged and who have not received a similar

ass i stance from other agencies or

non-government institutions.

Moreover, regular employees of government

and private corporations with salary below

P15,000 are also eligible as long as they are

included in the master list of DSWD-Disaster

Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC). (rmn/

jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DSWD7)

Juju M. Empuerto

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

PRC, ICRC provide 825 core shelter

assistance

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 10 (PIA) - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee on the Red

Cross (ICRC) provided 825 units of core shelter assistance to Balangiga and Lawaan, both in Eastern Samar.

P RC Chairman Richard J. Gordon

personally went to Balangiga E. Samar

to talk with the beneficiaries of the

core shelter assistance to ensure that the right

recipient who belong to the poorest of the

poor should be the one given the assistance.

Chairman Gordon said that of the 825

core shelter assistance for Eastern Samar,

Balangiga got 752 completed shelters ready for

occupancy distributed in Brgy. 1 Poblacion

which got 144; Brgy. II Poblacio, 14; Brgy. III

Poblacion, 64; San Miguel, 204; Cansumangkay,

120; Sta. Rosa, 168 and Cag-olango, 38; while

Lawaan town got 73 completed core

shelters where Guinob-an got 65 and San

Isidro got 8.

In his message, Chairman Gordon

emphasized that the recipient should do

something in their life. If they want to succeed,

they should employ hard work and

perseverance to achieve the desired result.

Gordon paid respect to the typhoon

―Yolanda‖ survivors for not giving up despite

challenges they are facing which is a sign that

someday they will rise and be future leaders

who will guide other people in raising the level

of performance.

Chairman Gordon shared that he

remembered many years ago when he was still

practicing his profession as a lawyer when

Procter and Gamble, maker of Safeguard, gave

him P11 million pesos for his professional pay,

the check wrote ―pay to the order of Richard

J. Gordon‖.

He declined to receive such huge amount

but instead instructed Procter and Gamble to

change the check ―payable to the order of

Philippine Red Cross‖, he said.

He said his passion for volunteerism was

the reason why for 47 years he is still with the

Philippine Red Cross to go around the

country to provide assistance to the most

neglected and vulnerable sectors.

Meanwhile, Claire Ogario, 30 years of age,

married from Brgy. 1 Poblacion, Balngiga E.

Samar and one of the beneficiaries of the core

shelter assistance, thanked the PRC, ICRC and

other volunteers and donors for the core

shelter assistance given to her.

Ogario said she was informed that she

needed to own a lot to qualify to be given

assistance. She was fortunate that Marietta

Abong sold to her a lot of 100 square meters

for a reasonable price of P55,000.00.

She never expected that someday she will

own a lot and have a house of her own but

God is good.

Ogario remarked that when "God closes

one window, he will open another which is

better from the former." (ajc/jhb/PIA-8)

Solar lights to brighten roads in Hernani

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, March 5 (PIA) - Four poblacion barangays in the municipality of Hernani, Eastern Samar

will be setting up 22 Solar Street Lights that will brighten more or less one kilometer stretch of barangay road in Brgy.01, 02,

03 and 04.

T he street-lighting project will benefit

487 households with 646 families in

the said barangays which has a total

population of 2,343.

The Solar Street Lights were turned over

personally by Assistant Secretary Daniel Ariaso

of the Department of Energy last February 23,

2015.

According to Vice-Mayor Wilmar S.

Candido, the solar street lights project was

realized through the efforts of the Municipal

Council where he is Presiding Officer through

a written request and approved resolution that

was passed and submitted to the Department

of Energy.

Vice-Mayor Candido further said that the

total amount of the solar street lights is

P500,000.00.

―These solar street lights are a great help

to our constituents to brighten our community

and aside from that we can save because we

will not pay for the electric consumption‖,

Candido said.

Meanwhile, after the turnover of the said

solar street lights, the guest lectured on Energy

Consumption and Conservation. After the

lecture, the guest went to Bangon Falls, 3

kilometers away from the poblacion, to look

into its feasibility for a mini-hydro electric pow-

er plant. (ajc/sdc/PIA8-ESamar)

SAMUEL CANDIDO

Calbayog’s 1st batch of senior HS to graduate this school year

I n an interview over Radyo ng Bayan,

Education Program Supervisor Arnold

Jaraba, K-12 Focal Person of DepEd

Calbayog City Division, said that 22 of the 52

students enrolled in the program in June 2013

will be able to graduate.

He added that four of the graduating

students were absorbed by the establishment

where they had on the job training.

With a Memorandum of Agreement

between DepEd and the NorthWest Samar

State University, the graduating students who

want to pursue college degree courses will be

enrolled as third year irregular students.

Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of

Fisheries is among the public secondary

schools in Eastern Visayas identified by DepEd

to pilot test the Senior High School program

and offered Technical Vocational Livelihood

(TVL) Track with specialization on food

processing, bread and pastry production, and

food and beverage.

On the opening of the next school year in

June, aside from RLMSF, another two national

high schools in the city were identified as early

implementers of the program and will offer an

Academic Track.

The schools are Calbayog City National

High School with Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand

and the San Policarpio National High School

with Humanities, Social Sciences (HUMSS)

Strand.

According to Jaraba, said schools will

accept students who do not intend to enrol for

college in the next school year.

With the full program implementation,

DepEd Calbayog City Division will need 122

more classrooms, seven laboratory rooms, and

at least 183 teachers for the implementation of

the senior high school program in June 2016,

said the DepEd official.

During the regular meeting on the K-12

program at the DepEd central office, it was

learned that construction of fifty percent of the

needed classrooms will start this summer to be

completed in May next year in time for the

opening of classes.

Hiring of teachers for the program will

also start early next year. (ajc.nbq/PIA 8-Samar

with Jennifer Allegado)

CATBALOGAN CITY , Samar, March 7 (PIA) – The first batch of the Department of Education Senior High School (SHS)

program in Calbayog City will graduate from the senior high of the Rafael Lentejas Memorial School of Fisheries (RLMSF) this

March.

Jonnie H. Buenaventura

Ninfa B. Quirante

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

KALAHI gives jobs to 260 SoLeytenos

KUTING BEACH, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, March 7 (PIA) -- Some 260 individuals were hired based on their qualifications

when the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive, Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven

Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP) came over to this province starting in September 2014.

I n a mini-press conference held in this

high-end resort last month, Eubolo Co,

Regional Project Manager of the

enhanced anti-poverty program of the

Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD), said the hiring will

continue to maintain a pool of qualified

personnel to offset sudden vacancies.

The turn-over of old and new recruits

usually happened when field coordinators, who

are mostly college degree graduates waiting for

results of their applications in their chosen

careers like teachers or engineers, were called

to assume the permanent posts, hence the

need for a steady pool of ready applicants, Co

explained.

As the presscon was in progress, hired

t e ams o f KALAHI -C IDSS -NCDDP

coordinators underwent training by batches in

this posh location for two months, February to

March.

Their areas of coverage included the

whole of Southern Leyte province -- except

Maasin City and Malitbog town for now -- and

some municipalities in Leyte province, like

Hilongos and Bato, Co said, noting that all

around Region 8 a simultaneous training is

ongoing in selected places.

KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP is basically a

community empowerment in it iat ive

undertaken in four cycles whose period of

implementation will end in the year 2020, until

then it is expected that all cycles shall have

been completed, said Co. Trained coordinators

will go out to the barangay level, talk to

barangay officials and residents, discuss what

their priority needs are -- mostly water, multi

-purpose buildings, access roads, etc. -- and

help prepare project proposals for submission

and funding considerations.

Once approved, financing will go directly

to the beneficiary barangay concerned, the

project implementation closely monitored by

the coordinator in-charge, said Co, whose

counterpart in the province is Ms Thema

Montejo, with office at main SLEM building in

Maasin City.

Asked if the scaled KALAHI program will

not duplicate other community-based

development initiatives such as the bottoms-up

budgeting (BUB), Co assured there will be no

duplication, instead they will complement each

other to avoid overlapping. (ajc/esg/mmp/PIA8

-Southern Leyte)

CSC search for hero public servants on

NAVAL, Biliran, March 9 (PIA) – Stop, look and listen around your workplace as to who among your officemates in

government service worthy to be nominated to the prestigious search initiated this year by the Civil Service Commission

(CSC) dubbed ―Hero ang Public Servant‖.

I f you think your office’s seatmate,

chatmate and friend is worthy of the

much coveted award intended for

government officials and employees, now is

their time to shine and be rewarded for their

outstanding work performance.

Under the individual and group categories

of the search for Hero ang Public Servant, one

can nominate for the Presidential Lingkod ng

Bayan and the Civil Service Commission Pagasa

Award while the exemplary conduct and

ethical behavior category is at stake for

outstanding public officials and employees or

Dangal ng Bayan Award.

Important data to be taken from the

nominee would just include one’s significant

accomplishments within the last three years;

impacts of accomplishments; and other

information like major awards and citations

received and membership in organization.

What is more revealing in the search is

that a nominee must describe his or her

adherence to one or more of the following

norms; commitment to public interest,

professionalism, justness and sincerity, political

neutrality, responsiveness to the public,

nationalism and patriotism, commitment to

democracy and simple living.

Jason Thaddeus A. Tan, senior personnel

specialist of CSC-Biliran field unit, informed

that his field office located within the provincial

capitol compound in Calumpang,Naval, Biliran,

set the deadline here in Biliran province for the

submission of the nomination form in his office

on any of the awards on or before March 20,

2015.

The awarding, which is one of the

highlights of the Civil Service Commission

anniversary, will be probably held in September

or October this year,Tan added.

Interested government officials and

employees here in Biliran province have still

the luxury of time scribing all the previous

activities undertaken which make a difference

and impact on the lives of the people in the

community, in the nomination form which can

be obtained from the CSC website.

For more information regarding the CSC

awards, interested individuals may call

CSC-Biliran through land line number

500-9220. (fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)

Women organizations get Borongan City livelihood aid

BORONGAN CITY. Eastern Samar, March 9 (PIA)—Eight women organizations in Borongan City received livelihood

assistance in the form of cash grants from the local government of the City of Borongan as the latter’s way of further

empowering women.

M ayor Maria Fe R. Abunda led the

distribution during the city’s

celebrat ion of Internat ional

Women’s Day which commenced with a unity

walk a little after sunrise on March 9, 2015.

According to Abunda, the organizations

were asked to submit project proposals to the

local government along with other

documentary requirements and as of this

writing, only eight were able to satisfy the

requirements set.

―These chosen beneficiaries complied with

the requirements and were personally

validated by Hon. Jennifer Anacio,‖ Abunda

said.

As per report from the office of Anacio,

city councilor and head committee on family,

women and children, out of the 61 barangays in

the city, 52 have already established a women’s

organization.

The women’s organization in Barangay

A received P40,000 in cash grant to help

put up a bakery while the organization in Brgy.

Hindang aim to generate livelihood off of a

satellite ―talipapa‖ with their P40,000 cash

grant.

In upland Brgy. San Jose, the women’s

organization will use the P20,000 cash grant to

put up a ―Bigasan ng Bayan.‖

Brgy. Campesao and Brgy. Tamoso

women’s organization plan to focus on food

processing and produce tocino, longganisa and

the like.

For the organization in Brgy. Alang-alang,

the same barangay where the provincial capitol

is located, they plan to put up an ―Snackan ng

Bayan.‖

The lady mayor noted that for the

women’s organizations Brgy. Taboc and B, who

already produced peanut butter and piñato

respectively, they may use the funds to expand

their production. (PIA E Samar)

Marcelo M. Pedalino

Rodrigo S. Victoria

MEDORA QUIRANTE

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.

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Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Alicia E. Nicart

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