Vol 5 Issue 28 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 13 - 19, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue SSS WV collections breach P1.35 B

RDRRMC-7 readies for APEC Cebu

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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DENR-8 chief lauds Southern Leyte for supporting NGP

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 15 (PIA) – “I am grateful that this administration gave importance on the

national greening program,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-8 Regional Director Leonardo

Sibbaluca said in his recent visit in the province. In his message during the Agriculture Summit

held Monday at the Provincial Coliseum, Sibbaluca expressed that he is grateful that the provincial government is protecting

and conserving the environment and conducted mitigating measures to combat climate change through massive tree

planting. He said that the DENR Office can‟t do it alone in

protecting the environment. “A Forest Guard can only effectively patrol a 3,000

hectares forest – the ideal area for 1 forest guard. But for the lack of manpower, DENR is only able to assign 1 forest guard

to patrol a 25,000-50,000 hectares forest,” Director Sibbaluca further revealed.

"The national greening program is one of the mitigating

measures that will help address climate change," RD Sibbaluca said. “This is what Southern Leyte has done, plant, plant and

plant more trees,” he added. “The more trees planted, the more carbon dioxide it will

absorb which will process to oxygen,” Sibbaluca expounded the process of photosynthesis as symbiotic relationship of human

beings to the trees. The regional director added that 80 percent of climate

change is caused by human being while the remaining 20 percent is caused by nature.

Sibbaluca warned the participants composed of agri/fishery sectors, some non-government organization

representatives, among other guests and visitors of the summit not to believe in the saying that “it will take one

hundred years before another Yolanda, be reminded that climate change is just around and it will even come

stronger,” saying that this are effects of climate change. (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

By Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, July 13 (PIA) --- The Social Security System (SSS) collected a total of P1.35-billion in contributions

from Western Visayas since January 2015 which is 7.6 percent higher than the P1.25-billion collected from January to April

last year. In a media release, SSS Officer-in-Charge for Western

Visayas Division Raul A. Casiano said the improved collections was due to the increasing presence of SSS in the region.

He said that SSS offices in the region have extended their resources to remote communities to enable residents

in these areas to have easier access to social security services, including registering as members and updating their

membership. “SSS branches in Kalibo, Dumaguete, and Iloilo deployed

Mobile E-Centers, or temporary SSS desks usually put up in far-flung areas, to make SSS services such as SSS registration,

salary loan application, ID capture, member data change request, and status inquiry within reach of potential and

existing members,” he said. He said that they have set up Mobile E-Centers in the

islands of Siquijor and Guimaras, and the cities of Bayawan and

Passi from November last year to April of this year. He said SSS also participates in the monthly “Gobyerno

sa Baryo,” a joint program of the Aklan Provincial Government and Congressional District Office for the benefit of the

province‟s constituents in remote and rural communities. As of April 2015, SSS members in Western Visayas

inched up by 3.4-percent from 1.78 million in 2014 to 1.84 million, of which about 70 percent or 1.25 million are regular

and household employees. SSS recorded about 351,384 self-employed members and

241,812 voluntary members. “There is a modest increase in the number of self-employed and voluntary members which grew

by 6.7 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. The SSS official also noted that the thriving tourism,

specifically in the Municipality of Malay, has prompted the SSS to closely monitor employment activities in the province.

As of date, SSS has 14 branches and eight service offices strategically located in the provinces of Antique, Aklan, Iloilo,

Capiz, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Fayette C. Riñen CEBU, July 15 (PIA) -- Safety and security of delegates

will be the top priority in case of emergencies as the Regional

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC-7) is finalizing its Integrated Emergency

Preparedness and Response Plan with the nearing countdown of APEC meetings in Cebu.

RDRRMC-7 Chair and regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) Olivia Luces said the plan details the

resources available in case of long and sudden onset of incidents including typhoons, earthquakes and fire and the

succeeding actions to be taken. “There are 11 staging areas for emergency response

equipped with appropriate personnel to respond to health, fire and security concerns,” said Luces during the recent forum of

the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the preparations for the APEC event in

Cebu. Luces said they are continually doing training for

emergency responders mostly comprised of military, police and fire personnel to ensure zero gaps in emergency response.

“Our priority is to ensure that our visitors are safe and protected” when they come here during the APEC meetings,

said Luces adding that thousands of delegates from various countries will be in Cebu to participate in any of the five scheduled meetings.

The number does not include the spouses or other accompanying members of the delegates, she said.

According to Luces, government doctors will be on

standby round-the-clock and an ambulance set nearby in the

identified hotel venues in case of health emergencies. A joint operations center will be set up which will be

manned by both the RDRRMC-7 and its national counterpart. The RDRRMC-7 chair said among the resources she

lacks is a long ladder in case of blaze and an ambulance that fits the APEC criteria and not just solely for transport.

Luces said the Integrated Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan will be presented on July 17 and 18. (rmn/fcr/

PIA7)

One of the activities lined up by the Regional

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Council (RDRRMC) in Eastern Visayas in the

observance of the National Disaster

Consciousness Month celebration was the

river clean-up of the Mangonbangon River in

Tacloban City, July 10. The activity was

participated by LGU-Tacloban, barangay

officials, students, INGOs, NGOs, the PNP,

PA, BJMP, BFP and the different government

agencies. (Vino R. Cuayzon/PIA8)

Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo together

with DTI7 regional director Aster Caberte

lead the opening of the 1st Negros Island

Trade Fair today in celebration of micro, small,

medium enterprises (MSMEs) Week @

Robinsons Mal l , Dumaguete Ci ty.

(PIA7-NEGOR)

WESTERN VISAYAS

UBAS. Bishop Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo

(center), DILG 6 Regional Director Atty.

Anthony C. Nuyda (left) and Regional Liga ng

mga Barangay President Carlos C. Guarin sign

the Memorandum of Agreement on UBAS or

Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan program

during the recent launching held in San Jose,

Antique aimed to strengthen people‟s

participation in the implementation in the

implementation of projects and activities to

curb corruption at the local level. Photo also

shows (standing from left) Antique Provincial

Liga nga mga Barangay President Dindo John

Lignig, DILG Antique Provincial Director

Victorio S. Pagapulan, Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao,

Vice-Gov. Edgar Denosta, and UBAS Executive

Director Atty. Mariness Ledesma.(PIA6/

T.Villavert)

AGIO 7 Forum on National Disaster Consciousness Month & APEC

Emergency Preparedness Plan with guests from OCD-7, DOST-7,

PAG-ASA & DILG-7. Hosted by Fayette Rinen of PIA7 and Anabelle

Lagrosas of DYMR. (PIA7)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ILOILO CITY, July 13(PIA) — Smart Communications and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-PENRO

-Guimaras planted some 1,100 mangrove propagules along the shorelines of Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Nueva

Valencia, Guimaras.

Smart, DENR help protect Guimaras marine

reserve

By Elsa S. Subong

A press release from Smart said that the

activity has been done for the last two

years to boost the celebration of the

environment Month, together with two

people‟s organizations, the LAFARMA and

SARCEFA and some community volunteers.

The propagules were planted along a

one-hectare area of Taklong island‟s marine

reserve, bringing to two hectares the areas

planted by Smart and the community

volunteers.

The marine reserve has 46 islets, with a

total of 1,143 hectares, of which 172 are

mangrove areas and five hectares are adopted

by Smart.

“The propagule planting is part of the

community‟s efforts to help rehabilitate,

maintain, and protect the area as a national

marine reserve,” the press release said. Smart

Communications have been supporting various

activities to help sustain the planet, among

which are tree planting in critical watersheds,

integrating eco-friendly solutions in its

operations, and mounting events and

campaigns to amplify public awareness on the

need to embrace an environment-friendly

lifestyle. (Smart/JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 15 (PIA) – A series of disaster awareness and capacity enhancement activities have been lined up in

Capiz.

P rovincial Disaster Risk Reduction and

Management Officer Esperedion

Pelaez said that the focus of this

year‟s observance of the National Disaster

Consciousness Month in Capiz are mostly on

the intensive conduct of disaster preparedness

and awareness campaign.

Pelaez said that included in the upcoming

activities are the 2nd Rescue Olympics on July

18 which will be participated in by the disaster

responders from the various towns and city

here.

He said that the selected members of the

PDRRMO-Capiz Emergency Response Team

will be participating in the disaster

preparedness training and water search and

rescue training which will be conducted during

the United States and Philippines Pacific

Partnership 2015 which will be hosted in Capiz.

He likewise stressed that the US Coast Guard will likewise conduct a special water

search and rescue training for the CERT of the

province.

Earlier, a disaster awareness family run

held last July 11, was participated in by more

than 1,000 government employees, students,

private and civic groups and individuals,

volunteers and non-government organizations.

The event was likewise joined by the US

military men who are here for the Pacific

Partnership.

During the opening program for the

observance of the disaster consciousness

event, Capiz Governor Victor Tanco stressed

that because of Supertyphoon Yolanda,

Capiceños have transformed into better

persons who are prepared for disasters, united

and helping each other during emergencies.

Tanco likewise stressed that proper

planning plus intensive communication and

awareness campaign about calamities and

disasters are key factors for the community to

be prepared. He said that amidst urbanization,

population growth and climate change among

others, the need exists for a convergence

effort of the various sectors of the community,

including a public-private partnership and public

involvement to help reduce the risks and

surpass the challenges brought about by

disaster, urging the public to always prepare

for the unexpected.

Part of opening program, July 6 at Hercor

College, was the photo exhibit and

rescue equipment display which was joined by

12 participating agencies, schools and civic

groups.

A Holy mass was likewise offered where

the officiating priest reminded that the

occasion must be reflected as an obligation to

help one another especially in disaster

preparedness and response to save lives and

properties, adding that the kick off activity of

the province in kicking showed the Capiceños

faith in God on top of other activities.

Other activities in line with said month-long event are the conduct of disaster

preparedness orientation and drills in schools,

barangays and offices. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Disaster consciousness month highlights disaster preparedness

Jemin B. Guillermo

Church, LGUs ink pact as watchdog of projects Vicente W. Villavert

SAN JOSE, Antique July 13 (PIA) - - The Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Church and the Barangay

leaders signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently to strengthen people’s participation in the implementation in

the implementation of projects and activities to curb corruption at the local level.

T his activity is dubbed UBAS or

Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan

where during the MOA signing here,

has gathered the Parish Priests of 25 Parishes,

Parish Pastoral Council Presidents of 25

parishes, Civil Society organizations, the

Municipal Mayors, Municipal Local Government

Operations Officers, DILG personnel and

private sector representatives.

Director Leocadio T. Trovela,

OIC-Director of DILG-National Barangay

Operations Office said that UBAS focuses on

four basic elements: Transparency,

Responsiveness , Accountabi l ity , and

participation.

“We hope that with UBAS,

the monitoring of Bottom-Up Budgeting

projects will be more efficient and the practice

of good governance will be promoted at the

local level,” Trovela said.

For his part, Bishop Jose Romeo O. Lazo

said that that he supports the UBAS program.

“We can work together for the common

good. Our parishes as well as our

Barangay Pastoral Councils, especially our

Basic Ecclesial Communities can be of

assistance to our local government units

through the UBAS,” Bishop Lazo said.

Bishop Lazo also reminded everyone of

Pope Francis‟ message for human dignity

and care for the environment. UBAS also aims

to undertake other engagements or activities

as may be deemed necessary or appropriate or

as may be identified by communities, such as

but not limited to Community-based

Disaster Risk reduction and Management,

environmental protection, children‟s

protection and development, and peace and

order. (JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

DOH targets 1M WV kids for deworming

ILOILO CITY, July 15 (PIA6) --- The Department of Health (DOH)-6 said that the National School Deworming Day (NSDD)

set on July 29 this year will be launched in three sites in Western Visayas.

I n press conference held recently, Dr.

Marie Jocelyn Te, DOH-6 Medical

Officer III, said that the three launching

sites are Guihaman Buntatala Elementary School

in Leganes for Iloilo province, Atabay Elementary

School in San Jose for the province of Antique,

and Hinigaran I Central Elementary School in

Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.

“The NSDD aims to deworm

approximately 16 million school-aged children

enrolled in 38,659 public elementary schools in

one day throughout the country,” she said.

In Western Visayas, the DOH-6 said that a

total of 1,001,382 public elementary school

enrollees are targeted to undergo deworming.

“Deworming children in schools has been

found to be a good strategy to reduce the

burden of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH)

infections with a positive impact on children‟s

education and health,” she said.

She said that STH infections can cause poor

physical growth, poor intellectual development,

and impaired cognitive functions in children.

According to the University of the

Philippines- Center for Public Health (UP-CPH),

baseline data for STH in the Philippines showed

65 percent among the 6 to 14 years old.

The DOH said that the over-all goal

of the Integrated Helminth Control Program

(IHCP) through the NSDD is to scale-up

deworming effort to reduce the STH prevalence

rate to 20 percent by ensuring a high Mass

Deworming Activity coverage of at least 85

percent.

This is in line with and as part of the DOH

High Impact Five (HI-5) Plan, which focuses on

achieving Kalusugan Pangkalahatan goals within a

breakthrough period of 15 months. (JCM/LTP/

PIA-Iloilo)

By Leonard T. Pineda I

Dengue cases in Aklan down by 59%

KALIBO, Aklan, July 14 (PIA6) -- Aklan’s dengue cases for the first 6 months of 2015 reached 175 showing a decrease of

59.95% when compared to data for the same period last year, which had 437.

O f the cases, Kalibo registered the

highest, with 51, followed by

Numancia with 19, Malay with 17,

New Washington with 16, Banga with 13 and

Nabas with 10.

The other Aklan towns with their

corresponding dengue cases include Madalag

with 9, Tangalan with 7, Malinao and Ibajay

both with 6, Lezo, Altavas and Makato with 4

each and Buruanga, Balete, and Libacao with 2

each and Batan, with 1.

Two cases were also listed coming from

Aklan‟s adjacent provinces.

For the period, more male dengue victims

were listed with 55% while females the

reached 45%.

Meanwhile, the 11-20 years old age

bracket had the highest number of cases with

59 followed by 1-10 age bracket with 56, 21-30

years old with 29, 31 to 40 years old with 15;

51 and above with 7; less than a year-old with

5 and 41-50 years old with 4.

Based on the data from the Aklan

Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance and

Response Unit (APESRU), the unit regularly

monitoring diseases in the province under the

Provincial Health Office (PHO), other

towns with high dengue cases next to Kalibo,

except for Malay, are adjacent to the capital

town.

To prevent if not to eradicate more

dengue cases in Aklan, the PHO is sustaining

its appeal to Aklanons especially with the

onset of the rainy season to clean their

surroundings to rid dengue-carrying

mosquitoes of breeding places, saying no to

fogging and seeking early consultation if they

have fever for two or more days already.

(JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, July 14 (PIA6) - - About 1,500 public and private elementary and high school Physical Education

and sports representatives from the different Local Government Units in the province underwent a training and seminar on

Coaching of the Different Sports Events.

T he three-day training organized

by the Department of Education

- Division of Negros Occidental in

collaboration with the Philippine Sports

Commission and the Province of Negros

Occidental was held July 10-12 at tge Negros

Occidental Multi-Purpose Activities Center

(NOMPAC).

During the opening program at the

NOMPAC, Provincial Sports Coordinator

Angel Verdeflor delivered the keynote message

in behalf of Governor Alfredo G. Maranon Jr, a

release from Dep-Ed Division of Negros

Occidental said.

Verdeflor said that Negros Occidental‟s

good performance in the last Palarong

Pambansa held in Surigao del Norte is laudable,

and it is partly because of effective coaching

and training.

“The creation of the Negros Island Region

(NIR) gives Negrenses an opportunity to prove

that indeed they are a team to beat in national

sports events,” Verdeflor added.

Meanwhile, Romeo Sison, Education

Program Supervisor of the School Governance

and Operations Division and In-Charge of

Special Programs of DepEd – Negros

Occidental, said that through sports clinics, the

competencies and skills of the athletes,

teachers and other sports officials involved in

coaching and officiating sports events are

upgraded and enhanced.

“In order for Negros Occidental to

maintain its good standing in different sports

events, we need to have this kind of trainings

and seminars so that those involved in sports

will be updated with the current trends

especially on the latest rules and regulations of

the different games.” Sison said.

Twenty-one resource speakers who are

all members of their respective sports

organizations were sent by the Philippine

Sports Commission to impart their expertise

to the local coaches, officials and trainers for

nineteen different sports events namely:

archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball,

billiard, boxing, chess, football, futsal,

gymnastics, sepak takraw, softball, swimming,

table tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling,

and wushu.*(EAD-PIA6/DepEd Negros

Occidental)

Better coaching techniques expected with

DepEd training

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CENTRAL VISAYAS, July 15 (PIA) --- The Social Security System (SSS) paid out to members in Central Visayas P2.04 billion

in benefits for the first four months of 2015, posting a double-digit growth from the same period last year.

SSS benefit payments in Central Visayas shoot

up to P2.04B

S SS Assistant Vice President for Central

Visayas Division Helen Solito said

disbursements for Social Security and

Employees Compensation (EC) benefits

increased by 14 percent or P252 million higher

than 2014 record.

Lump sum benefits pertain to one-time

payouts for members who have not met the

minimum requirements to qualify for a pension,

while initial pension is for the accrued amount

resulting from delayed applications for due

benefits.

From January to April 2015, initial and

lump sum benefits paid to members in the

region were as follows: P4.69 million,

retirement; P48.65 million, death; P7.25 million,

disability; P50.02 million, maternity; P12.09

million, sickness; P85.54 million, funeral; and

P340,000, EC medical services and

rehabilitation.

SSS is the biggest pension fund in the

country in terms of membership with over 32

million members worldwide.

As of April 2015, SSS membership in

Central Visayas widened to 2.4 million

members, including some 24,000 new

registrants.

“Aside from SSS and EC benefits, a large

number of salary loan applications were

received by our SSS offices from January to

April 2015. For the period, we have granted

about P548 million in salary loans and

P15.41 million in educational loans,”

Solito said.

Solito who was with SSS President and

Chief Executive Officer Emilio S. de Quiros Jr.

and other SSS senior officials in Samar province

for a regional visit said the recent contribution

rate hike and new monthly salary credit that

was implemented last year also paved way for

higher benefits.

SSS operations in Central Visayas cover

the areas within the provinces of Cebu, Bohol,

Samar, and Leyte. (rmn/PIA7/SSS Media Affairs

Department)

Fayette C. Riñen

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 14 (PIA ) -- It may be a thoughtless act and it may come out automatically that when you set aside

money for your kid's allowances and staple it, you did not that you have committed an act of mutilation, one that is punishable

by law.

Stapling, crumpling, marking bills, illegal

O r in fact, when you crumple the bill to

supposedly test of if the note is genuine,

or mark a banknote whether it is

in legible writing or a mobile phone number in

the hope of getting a textmate, that is against

Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 247.

The said law prohibits and penalizes

defacement, mutilation, tearing, burning or

destruction of notes and coins.

Along this line, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

(BSP) informs people, who may have not been

told about the provisions of law to be on

the watch to evade from possible imprisonment

or fine, or whatever the courts deem as

necessary.

Any person who violates shall, upon

conviction, be punished by a fine of not more

than P20,000 and/or by imprisonment of not

more than five years.

In like manner, BSP said the application of

outside pressure, substance or chemicals that

may cause deformation, destruction or change in

the original state, shape and color of the coin is

also a violation of law.

With this, if the 5-centavo legal tender coin

which has a hole at the center is used plainly as

pendant of a necklace without any defacement

or destruction done or made on the coin, there

would be no technical violation.

However, its purpose as a means of

payment for any goods and services is

undermined, BSP said.

On the other hand, some people have been

noted to take out the nickel-brass core of the

P10 coin to be made into rings.

This, the BSP said, is a crime.

Over this, when you catch a person writing

or putting marks in banknotes, the Banko Sentral

suggests warning or informing the person of the

Anti-mutilation Law or P.D. 247 which prohibits

and penalizes the act of currency defacement

(writing, putting marks), mutilation, burning,

tearing or any manner showing act of intentional

mutilation.

Should the act becomes habitual to a

particular person, the matter should be reported

to the nearest police agency/law enforcer for

appropriate action or contact the Investigation

Division, Currency Issue and Integrity

Office, BSP for assistance at Tel. Nos.: 988-4833

and 926-5092, BSP through Atty Leonides

Sumbi.

And if you happen to get hold of a

mutilated currency, note that under BSP Circular

No. 829 dated 13 March 2014, it requires banks

to accept mutilated currency notes and coins for

referral and transmittal to the Currency Issue

and Integrity Office (CIIO), BSP-SPC, Diliman,

Quezon City or any of the BSP‟s regional offices

and branches for determination of redemption

value.

Banks however may charge reasonable

handling fees from clients and or the general

public relative to the handling and transporting

to BSP of mutilated notes and coins. (rmn/rac/

PIA-7/Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

SIQUIJOR, July 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here and the Information and

Communications Technology Office of DOST 7 conducted an initial survey on Poblacion, Siquijor as possible Tech4ED pilot

site in the province.

T he inspection was headed by Engr.

Aurelio Tinapay of DOST-ICTO 7

and Prov inc ia l Sc ience and

Technology Director Engr. Mario de la Peña of

DOST Siquijor.

The inspection was followed by a short

orientation and information dissemination on

Tech4ED to the members of the barangay

council.

As to date, Barangay Captain Dr. Peck

Cortes disclosed that a letter of intent to avail

Tech4ED has been submitted to ICTO.

A resolution from the Office of the

Sangguniang Barangay has also been made to

authorize him to enter into a Memorandum of

Agreement for and in behalf of Barangay

Poblacion, Siquijor, Siquijor with the

Information and Communications Technology

Office for the Technology for Economic

Development (Tech4ED) of DOST-ICTO.

According to ICTO, the Tech4ED project

provides access points for individuals and

communities to bridge the educational and

community divide.

It promotes grassroots development and

opportunities for inclusive growth and poverty

reduction. It will give communities access to

information, communication, technology,

government services, non-formal education,

skills training, telehealth, job markets and

business portals. Engr. de la Peña of DOST

Siquijor said he has high expectations on the

program to become a catalyst of change in the

province as far as science and technology is

concerned. (rac/PIA7-Siuqijor w/ reports from

Engr. Reinhod Jek Abing/DOST-Siquijor)

Poblacion, Siquijor eyed as possible Tech4ED site

Rizalie Anding Calibo

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU, July 14 (PIA) -- A ten-day weather forecast by PAGASA-Visayas showed that Central Visayas will experience warm

weather from July 14 to 24, this despite the onset of the rainy season and largely brought about by the El Niño.

P AGASA-Visayas Chief Engr. Oscar

Tabada said temperature during this

period will be between 25 to 32

degrees Celsius while no weather disturbance is

seen to affect the region within the next several

days.

Tabada said the last onslaught of rains

recorded was in July 10 adding that even slight

rains would be a low possibility during this

period.

“This is the first time in history that the

country is plagued by a long El Niño,” said

Tabada during the forum of the Association of

Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that

featured the observance of the National Disaster

Consciousness Month this July.

El Niño started in October 2014 and will

continue to persist until May 2016 as Cebu and

Negros Oriental will suffer from dry spell, said

Tabada adding that a dry spell refers to below

normal average rainfall for three consecutive

months.

Tabada said normal average rainfall for July

is 203 millimeters but as of today, recorded

rainfall falls extremely short at only 70

millimeters.

“This pose a problem on our water supply

as part of campaign now is also to urge people

to conserve water amid the dry spell,” said the

PAGASA-Visayas chief. Although Bohol would

have normal average rainfall, this would be 60

percent lesser than the annual average, bared

Tabada. The number of tropical cyclones on the

other hand, would be lesser due to the El Niño

based on historical data but the typhoon‟s

intensity when they come would be “more

destructive,” said Tabada.

The last quarter of the year or from

October to December, the typhoons' paths

would hit Central Visayas as Tabada said disaster

preparedness is imperative.

Tabada likewise announced that it would

give a five-to-seven-day extended weather

forecast five days before the start of the first

APEC meeting in Cebu in August. (fcr/PIA7)

PAGASA: CV to experience warm weather

July 14 to 24

Fayette C. Riñen

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 13 (PIA) --- In an effort to make good use of discarded polyethylene terepthalate (PET) and glass

rum bottles, an Estonian architect used about 7,100 of them to build a community center that would be a play hall for kids and

meeting venue for the adults of Talisay in Anda, Bohol.

Anda eco-crick house uses over 7K bottles

T he main idea behind the design is to take

the local, traditional building culture as

an inspiration and give it a fresh and

playful twist through contemporary architectural

design, said Estonian Hanna Lakk who

volunteered to create the 15 by 17.5 meter

AndaKidz Community Center.

The materials that are usually seen as the

building materials of the poor are presented in a

way that will emphasize the potential and raise

their status, Laak who meant bamboo, coconut

lumber and nipa fronds.

The form of the building is borrowed from

the traditional nipa hut, the large roof covering

the building is built from bamboo poles and

covered in thatched nipa, using the traditional

sloping gradient that assures good drainage to

keep the roof last longer.

The building, under the roof from where all

the function is located, is made out of concrete

framework filled with eco bricks.

By eco-bricks, architect designer means a

pet bottle filled with river sand. These are piled

and set by a good mortar filling, to which experts

claim is several times stronger than concrete

hollow blocks.

By using PET bottles over brick, they solve

costs problems, and PET plastic bottles are non

brittle thus absorbs shcok loads without failure,

Bio climatic, re-usable, thus green construction as

the bottles can survive for hundreds of years, he

explained.

Estonian non profit organization,

ANDAKIDZ built the community centre between

August 2014 and January 2015 for the belief that

Anda needs an indoor play and learning centre

that can be used by children of all ages when they

are not in school; a place to make crafts, paint

and draw, read books, play games, enjoy musical

instruments, watch educational programs,

practice singing/dancing, hold events, said Robin

Gurney, among the prime movers of the

organization in Anda.

When the kids are not using it the adults can

take advantage of the space for various

community projects and meetings.

"We used plastic bottles filled with sand as

"bricks", old tires for furniture, bottle caps for

decoration - wherever possible we reused and

recycled waste materials from the area and

combined them with local resources such as nipa

leaves, coconut wood and bamboo," he said.

For fillings, he said they got the sand from

various locations along Linawan and Badiang rivers

which, in some locations, there is a problem of

flooding at high tide.

By removing the sand we help reduce the

flooding issue and get free resource for the

building.

With pet bottle walls, the construction took

5632 Coke, Sprite and Fanta pet bottles and 2100

clear Tanduay and Emperador rhum bottles,

Gurney said. The result is a building with thick

bottle walls, clear glass bottles as windows and an

interspacing of bamboo holes for ventilation, the

interior so wide but contrasting with the light

materials in the roof, affording perfect ventilation.

The building, which has withstood Ruby and

Senyang storms, is also eyed now as a community

evacuation center, said Virgilio Mainit, whose

family donated the lot for the building. (rmn/rac/

PIA-7/Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 13 (PIA) -- Technical and vocational education graduates will again compete against each other as

the Provincial Skills Competitions (PSC) begins today until July 14 at the Bohol Island State University (BISU) Main Campus

and three other venues.

TESDA skills competitions for tech-voc graduates up

T he PSC opens today at the Cristal-e

College in Panglao where cooking

and restaurant services skills

competitions is held. Welding technologies

would be competed at the BISU Bingag

Campus while web design competitions would

be at the STI in Tagbilaran.

The PSC serves as a venue to recognize

the skills excellence of the young industry

skilled workers and graduates of technical and

vocational schools and training centers and

institutions compete against each other to be

called the best trained skilled workers.

The Association of Public and Private

TechVoc Institutions in Bohol (APTIB) that

organized the competition said its mission is to

develope the globally competitive Filipino

Workers who possess world class skills,

values and work ethics, put up the event this

year.

Supervised by the Technical Education and

Skills Development Authority (TESDA), APTIB

said the contest areas for competiton this year

would be in the fields of welding and its

technologies, web design, cooking and

restaurant service.

TESDA-7 regional director Rosanna

Urdaneta is expected to grace the events,

while organizers said they invited Governor

Edgar Chatto, Congressman Rene Relampagos,

Mayor Leonila Montero, Board Member

Dionisio Balite and City Mayor John Geesnell

Yap to join them. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Catbalogan assists TESDA-trained entreps in business planning

T his, after they attended a Business

Planning Workshop on July 9 to 10,

2015 at the Cocina de Cabral. The

event was organized by City Social Welfare

and Development Office and the City

Cooperatives Office.

The workshop was the last of a series of

seminars for the 75 TESDA scholars of the

city. These individuals have undergone trainings

in baking, food processing, and motorcycle

repair and servicing.

The city deemed it necessary to equip

them how to make a business plan, write a

business proposal and other aspects of running

their small business.

The City Cooperative Officer Vivencio C.

Eslopor II, John Ric M. Tan, and Merly Muñoz

of the City Economic Enterprise and Public

Utility Office took turns in the teaching and

learning process for the entrepreneurs.

All 75 participants passed their business

plans that were presented for enrichment,

validation and approval by the City Social

Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO).

Once approved, the CSWDO would then

release a loan in a rollback scheme at zero

percent interest.

This loan is to be used as their initial

capital for purchasing raw materials,

operational equipment, and other expenses.

Also, tool kits were distributed as part of

the scholars‟ graduation in the closing

ceremony of the event. No less than the City

Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan graced the event and

shared an inspirational message to the

graduates.

"Yana, makakatapod kamo nga diri

matatapos dinhi it pagbulig hit ciudad ha iyo nga

mga parapennegosyo. Ini kay usa la nga tikang

hit padayon nga paghubog namon ha iyo para

maging makarit nga negosyante. Kay hini nga

amon pagbulig, natuo kami nga ha iyo

pag-asenso mahidadara gihap niyo it pagasenso

hit Catbalogan," (You can rely on the city

government to help you start your own

business for if you are successful, you will also

bring success to the city), the mayor said.

This effort is part of the continued

support of the City Government Catbalogan to

the Micro, Small, & Medium Enterprises

(MSMEs) as the LGU believes that they serve

as vital instruments in the city‟s economic

growth. (PIA 8-Samar with reports from Kim

Mervin Labagala of the city mayor‟s office)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 15 (PIA) - Some 75 TESDA scholars of the city government of Catbalogan were given seed

capital to run their small businesses.

Naval holds first 'buntis' congress

NAVAL, Biliran, July 15 (PIA) – ―We already witnessed several congresses here in Biliran province like that of women, youth,

elderly and even that of men, but this time, it’s the turn of the pregnant women,‖ said Dr. Fernando B. Montejo, Municipal

Health Officer (MHO) of Naval town in an interview at his office, July 14.

M ontejo said that some 60 pregnant

women selected by the 12

midwives stationed in the 26

barangays in Naval will converge at the Naval

Gym on Thursday, July 16, 2015 for the first

ever Buntis Congress.

This Buntis Congress is aimed at giving the

participants the knowledge on good and

proper nutrition during pregnancy, said

Montejo.

“Teaching them good and proper

nutrition is important because this will help and

keep them healthy from the first month up to

ninth month of pregnancy and even after

delivery,” he emphasized.

The congress will also provide the

participants knowledge on the importance of

the regular four pre-natal visits or regular

health and medical check-ups in the nearest

rural health facilities located in the barangay,

rural health unit of the town or even in the

Biliran provincial hospital, he added.

According to Dr. Montejo, this regular

four pre-natal check-ups is a requirement of

the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

(PhilHealth) so that a pregnant woman can

avail of the benefits provided by PhilHealth

during delivery.

“We will also impart to them the

importance of delivering birth in a facility-based

delivery now located in the rural health unit of

Naval and that of the other rural health units

of other towns in Biliran province and in the

Biliran provincial hospital, to ensure safety,

proper care and handling of deliveries which

are attended to by trained health personnel”

he added.

He admitted that there are still pregnant

women in the community at present who

refuse to give birth in a facility-based delivery.

The referred women are pregnant women

with high-risk pregnancies that can cause

maternal mortality.

He confided that based on record, there

were already three maternal mortality cases in

Naval from January to June this year.

Participants to the congress will be given

hygiene kits containing towel, soap, tootbrush,

toothpaste, alcohol and other necessary

hygiene materials that will be used during

delivery, Montejo further said. (fj/PIA 8 Biliran)

RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

NFA-Southern Leyte inspects rice stores amidst

fake rice issue

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 10 (PIA) – The National Food Authority (NFA)-Southern Leyte Office conducted an

ocular inspection of rice retailers in Maasin City as the fake rice issue is circulating throughout the country.

N FA Senior Enforcement and

Inspection Officer Danilo Avila

during the ocular inspection along

the public market area forewarned the retailers

on the fake rice which is now reportedly

circulating in the country, particularly in

Mindanao, saying “to report immediately to

their office if there are suspected dealers of the

said rice.”

In a talk with the rice retailers, Avila said

that they should avoid transacting business

with these suspicious dealers, warning them,

“if you will be caught selling fake rice, you will

be as liable with the suppliers for violating the

law, you are included in the investigation,” he

said.

Avila, together with NFA Public

Information Officer-designate Elisa Almacin

gave some tips on the fake rice appearance and

distributed some leaflets for their referral on

the said issue.

The NFA team accompanied by local

media practitioners said that the form of the

fake rice is “perfect‟ compared to our rice,

saying that “it is shiny as it is mixed with resin,

a chemical used in making plastic and the

quality of its texture is finer than our first class

rice.”

He said that NFA team is also monitoring

port of entries such as in the municipalities

of Liloan , San Ricardo and Sogod, to name a

few. The news of fake rice that is reaching the

country has not affected locally, but the

retailers admitted that some consumers were

already asking of the fake ones before they

buy. (esg/rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

REBECCA G. CADAVOS

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Ordinance prohibits sale of junk foods, soft

drinks

NAVAL, Biliran, July 15 (PIA) – Junk foods and softdrinks will no longer be available soon in school canteens and stores with

the passage of an ordinance prohibiting its sale, promotion and distribution in elementary and secondary schools including in

nursery and day care centers, this town.

T he proposed ordinance authored by

Dr. Gabino S. Velasquez IV, Naval

Sangguniang Bayan (SB) chairman of

the Committee on Health and co-authored by

Councilor Nick Arthur V. Parilla, is entitled

“An Ordinance Prohibiting the Sale, Promotion

and Distr ibut ion of Junk Foods

and Carbonated Drinks in All Day Care

Centers, nursery, Elementary and High School

Canteens, Stores, Restaurants within the

School Premises of the Municipality of

Naval,Biliran."

The proposed ordinance strengthens

DepEd Order No. 8 series of 2007 which

mandates all public elementary and secondary

schools to sell only nutrient-rich foods and

fortified food products in school canteens and

that sale of carbonated drinks, sugar-based

synthetic or artificially flavored juices, junk

foods, and any other similar food products detrimental to the child‟s health

and do not bear the Sangkap Pinoy seal

and did not pass the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) and the Bureau of Food

and Drug (BFAD) is prohibited.

One of the reasons cited in the passage

of the ordinance is the rising count of obese

schoolchildren in the locality which is due to

eating junk foods which contributes greatly

to malnutrition and obesity and other

obesity-related illnesses.

The local ordinance further cited the

commitment and accountability of the local

government unit of the right of children to

good health, which is among other basic rights

accorded to schoolchildren.

The ordinance also spells out the best

interest of the children thereby protecting

their health shall be efficiently coordinated with

other sectors, agencies,and parents to make

them more effective and productive.

Councilor Velasquez, a medical doctor by

profession who served as municipal health officer of Maripipi, Biliran for several

years informed that though the proposed local

ordinance is still subject for public hearing, yet,

he is positive for its enactment.

“It is high time for a local ordinance that

would spell out what is good for the nutrition

of our schoolchildren to be passed especially at

present where our market is flooded with junk

foods which are not really good for them to

eat”, Velasquez said.

Doc Gabby, as he is fondly called by

friends, also served as chief of the technical

section of the Biliran Provincial Health Office

(BPHO) where one of his functions is to

oversee the nutritional status of schoolchildren

A committee hearing on the ordinance

prohibiting the sale of junk foods and soft

drinks was conducted recently at the Naval

SB Session hall with health officials and

personnel in attendance led by Dr. Edgar

Veloso, Biliran provincial health officer

together with heads of elementary and

secondary schools in Naval and some representatives of concerned national

government agencies in Biliran province. (ajc/

fj/PIA 8 Biliran)

BIR-8 to conduct financial literacy forum

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 15 (PIA) --- In order to strengthen its tax campaign program, the Bureau of Internal Revenue

(BIR), Revenue Region No.14 will conduct a financial literacy forum on July 23, 2015 at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon at the BIR

Multi-Purpose Building, Government Center, Palo, Leyte.

B IR regional director Diosdado R.

Mendoza said, resource speakers from

the Bureau of Internal Revenue and

the banking sector are invited to discuss the

latest topics on taxation and revenue-raising

initiatives of the bureau, money management

and how to develop spending plans and

selecting appropriate financial instruments to

main positive cash flow.

Other topics include value features and

planning processes associated with savings,

investing and asset building for long-term

financial security, credit card security/

protection and other similar financial literacy

concepts.

The event will be participated in by heads

of various national government agencies,

business taxpayers, local government units and

members of the academe in Eastern Visayas.

The forum will coincide with the 111th

anniversary of BIR. (cba/PIA-8)

RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

Samar conducts quake, fire drills in leading schools

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 14 (PIA) - Some 15 days earlier from the biggest quake drill in Metro Manila, school

children in Catbalogan participated in an earthquake and fire drill this morning.

T he emergency drill was organized by

the city disaster risk reduction officer

Eliot Lopez with some rescue

volunteer groups partly to test the school‟s

preparedness during earthquakes and the

rescuers readiness to respond.

Some 300 schoolchildren from Catbalogan

V participated the quake and fire drill.

Rescuer Jun Arceno of Access 5, a rescue

volunteer group said that fire usually erupts

after an earthquake as electric lines are

extremely strained.

As first timers, the children aged 8-12

were instructed to do a “duck cover and hold”

position.

Then the teachers conducted them to the

open space fronting the classrooms.

“It is very important to teach our children

what to do, so they can protect themselves if

disaster strikes,” said Principal Arvee Burgos.

The kids also watched a simulated rescue

of „ten victims‟ where rescuers use the splint,

spine-board and their very own arm-chairs to

carry the „victims‟. The rescue simulation was

explained to the curious school children.

Rescuers, specifically Access 5, also bore a

triangular hole on the wooden door where the

rescuers are supposed to pass through in case

the building is collapsed to the ground.

As to the occurrence of fire, Catbalogan

Fire volunteers performed fire fighting

operations while the two teachers

demonstrated the use of fire extinguishers.

Five schools in Catbalogan had a

simultaneous fire and earthquake drill today.

On Monday, students from the said

schools were given a chance to see and touch

rescue wares from the different rescue and

volunteer groups in the city. Students also had

the chance to ask the rescuers questions they

thought were necessary to help them in times

of disaster. (ajc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

NINFA B. 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.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

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

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