Vol 5 Issue 32 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 August 10 - 16, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue PRO-7 Best PRO in drive vs organized groups

DOH-8 intensifies advocacy on Hospital Hi-5

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

PH-China economic ties remain strong

By Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 13 (PIA6) - - Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said on Wednesday that the economic cooperation between the

Philippines and China remains strong despite the West Philippine Sea issue.

“We are happy to note that despite of the West Philippine Sea issue, our other areas of cooperation with

China are still going on. In fact, they are going strong,” said Jose in a press conference here.

Jose cited that the country‟s bilateral trade with

China grew by 17 percent in 2014 as compared to 2013. He also pointed out that China remains a major

contributor in the country‟s tourism industry, a key driver

of the economy, as it supplied the fourth largest source of tourist arrival to the Philippines.

Further, he said there are many Philippine companies

still investing in China. In fact, there are more Philippine investments in China than Chinese investments in the Philippines.

Jose reiterated that the Philippine government has nothing against the Chinese people and its difference is on the official policy of China on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

“We are against the policy of the Chinese government but we have nothing against Chinese people and especially dito sa mga Chinese Filipinos. Hindi naman

natin intention to stir up things, gawing isyu ito and sila rin ang nagsasabi na Filipino na sila and many of them really

don‟t agree with what China is doing dahil nga in violation

of international law and total disregard of international public opinion,” said Jose.

Jose was in Iloilo City until August 14 for various

information dissemination activities such as university fora, multi-sectoral forum, focused group discussions and media interviews as part of a nationwide communication campaign that aims to level up the awareness and understanding of

Filipinos on the core issues on the South China Sea – West Philippine Sea dispute.

The Philippine government has already brought its

case against China on its illegal claims to the arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague Netherlands last month.

Jose hopes the international court would come up with its ruling before the year ends. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

Fayette C. Rinen

CEBU, Aug. 11 (PIA) – Pres. Benigno Aquino III awarded the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) here for its outstanding achievements especially in the campaign against

organized groups. The awarding was done during the 114th Police

Service Anniversary held at the Philippine National Police National Headquarters recently.

C/Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas, regional director of

PRO-7, personally received the award and streamer as the „Best PRO in the Campaign Against Organized Groups.‟

PRO-7 was the only regional office that was conferred with an award during the anniversary celebration.

Bañas dedicated the accomplishment to the men and women of the Central Visayas police force for their unified efforts in intensifying the campaign against all forms of

criminalities in the region.

He also cited some of the notable accomplishments that led to the recognition.

PRO-7 fearlessly launched an all-out campaign against

illegal drugs in the region and intensified its efforts to combat the problem through the 5-Point Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy.

The strategy involved the Supply Reduction Strategy,

Demand Reduction, Internal Cleansing Strategy, Legal

Offensive Strategy, and the Domestic and International Cooperation Strategy.

With the recognition, the police regional office here is optimistic that this will be the source of inspiration for every policeman to work harder in

addressing issues concerning peace and order and to be more efficient and more effective enforcement of law. (rmn/fcr/PIA-7/PRO-7)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 11 (PIA) – In its effort to attain the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, the Department of Health (DOH)

Regional Office 8 formally launched on Monday Hospital Hi-5 at the Schistosomiasis Hospital, Palo, Leyte.

The purpose of the activity was to intensify

advocacy of the four major initiatives of the Hospital Hi-5

namely branding, kapit-bisig para sa Kalusugan pangkalahatan, improving access to available drugs and strengthening the service delivery network.

DOH regional director Minerva Molon said branding is a strategy aimed at improving the experience and perceptions of patients in DOH hospitals where it puts

first the care for patients that would eventually increase the satisfaction of patients and their families.

Kapit-bisig Para sa Kalusugan Pangkalahatan is a

medical-surgical caravan that will be done simultaneously on October 23, 2015 by DOH Hospitals in collaboration with the LGU hospitals in the priority poverty areas in the

country.

As to improving patients‟ access to available drugs

means hospitals run by DOH must ensure the availability of drugs and medicines in support to the No Balance Billing Policy of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation

(PhilHealth). Meanwhile, more participation from DOH hospitals

is also expected with the strengthening of the Service

Delivery Network to ensure that patients are matched

within their SDN, or a network of health facilities and providers within a province or city that offers a core package of health care services in an integrated and

coordinated matter which includes services for maternal and infant care, HIV/AIDS and blood services.

The Hospital Hi5 is a strategy being

undertaken by all DOH hospitals to complement and support the efforts of the DOH regional office to achieve the Universal Health Care

focusing on maternal health, infant health, child health, prevention of the transmission of HIV/AIDS and improvement of the Service Delivery

Network. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

Department of Social Welfare and

Development assistant secretary JV Jimenez

clarifies an issue during the press conference

in Tacloban that the 4Ps funds being

distributed by the agency comes from the

national government and not from any local

political leader. The ASEC‟s clarification

emanated from reports received by their

central office. (PIA8)

AGIO 7 Forum on Pest Occurrences After

Long Drought with Mr. Bienvenido Acabal Jr.,

Agricultural Center Chief III of the Regional

Crop Protection Center of Department of

Agriculture -7. (PIA 7)

WESTERN VISAYAS

DFA Spokesperson Charles Jose answers

queries from a student of Iloilo Science and

Technology University (ISAT-U) regarding the

West Philippine Sea Issue during the university

forum held August 12 at the university's

Educational Technology Center. Also in photo

are PIA-6 Regional Director Atty. Ma. Janet

Mesa and ISAT-U President Dr. Raul Muyong.

(PIA 6 Iloilo)

DFA Asst. Secretary and Spokesperson Charles C. Jose (PIA 6/EJB)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

President Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon Park---Corregidor IslandCorregidor IslandCorregidor Island

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 11(PIA6) — The Iloilo Teen Centers based in public schools in the province of Iloilo have been found

effective in helping curb vices common among teens.

Iloilo Teen Centers help curb teen vice

By Elsa S. Subong

T he 2014 survey of the Iloilo

Provincial Population Office,

revealed a significant decrease in

teenage risky behaviours based on the

2012 benchmark data, said Population

Officer Ramon Yee.

Surveyed were the 2,938 users of

the pilot teen centers as to their risky

sexual and non-sexual behaviours.

The survey showed that cigarette

smoking decreased by 3.93 percent for

males and 4.98 percent for females, while

drinking alcoholic beverages decreased by

9.29 percent for females and 4.33 percent

for males.

On the other hand, use of prohibited

drugs decreased by 1.11 percent for males

and less than 1 percent for females.

The survey also showed a drop by

2.97 percent for males and 1.05 percent

for females, as far as pre-marital sex is

concerned.

The teen centers, as designed by the

provincial government, serve as venues

where skills and personality development

of youth can be developed through

various activities, and where they can find

a place for recreational activities.

“Likewise, trained peer counsellors

and facilitators help teeners deal with

their personal problems through

counselling services,” Yee said in media

interviews.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Sr.

said in the same media interviews that

the establishment of the teen centers is a

strategy to achieve the objectives of the

Adolescent Health and Development

Program of the government.

By end of the year, according to the

provincial government, about 50 teen

centers are expected be up in the 43

towns in the province. (JCM/ESS/

PIA-Iloilo)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 10 (PIA6) – Nearly 29,000 students in Capiz will be given free immunization this month.

R oxas City Department of

Education Superintendent Roel

Bermejo disclosed that a total of

4,812 students in his Division will be

covered by the free immunization

against communicable but preventable

diseases.

Of the total number, some 3,005 are

Grade 1 and 1,807 are in Grade 7,

Bermejo said.

The launching of the school-based

immunization program in the city is set at

President Manuel Roxas Memorial

School-South, August 11, while that at the

provincial level was done in Tapaz town

during the Kalusugang Pangkalahatan Road

Show led by the Department of Health

last month.

For the Capiz schools division, a total

of 23,935 students in said two grade levels

will be covered by said program, of which

11,962are in Grade I and 11,973 are in

Grade 7.

The Provincial Health Office in

partnership with the DOH, Department

of Education and Rural Health Units in the

17 local government units in Capiz will

conduct the said immunization activity in

the public schools here.

The target children will be given

booster dozes of measles, rubella,

diphtheria and tetanus vaccine which will

protect them from many diseases, said

PHO Expanded Program for Immunization

Coordinator Julius Vicson de la Cruz.

De la Cruz said that for the

target children to avail of said vaccines,

the parents should have a letter of

consent to be presented during their

immunization.

He also urged the parents to

submit their children to said program

for the protection of their kids against

preventable diseases. ( JCM/JBG/

PIA6-Capiz)

Free immunization for 29,000 school kids up

By Jemin B. Guillermo

DILG wants a strengthened DRRMO By Vicente W. Villavert

SAN JOSE, Antique, Aug. 11 (PIA6) --- The Department of the Interior and Local Government here plans to organize the 18

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (DRRMOs) into an association in order to institutionalize disaster

preparedness in the province.

D ILG Provincial Director Victorio

Pagapulan said that he will call

on the 18 DRRMOs for a

meeting this week to discuss plans and

programs to further strengthen their roles

in disaster preparedness, response

prevent ion and mit igat ion and

rehabilitation in coordination with the

DILG, and their respective local chief

executives.

Pagapulan said in a PIA interview that

once “our DRRMOs are organized into an

association then we can expect a better

coordination between the DILG, Municipal

Local Government Operations Officer and

Municipal Mayors.”

The DILG Antique head said that

they have successfully launched earlier this

year the Operation Listo program in the

province.

Operation Listo is a campaign for

local government units to formulate

disaster preparedness plans, and to

ensure that the LGUs are taking the

correct steps in responding to the

typhoon and its aftermath and to fill

in the gaps to meet the minimum levels of

readiness to disasters. (JCM/VWV/PIA

Antique)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Aug. 11 (PIA6) – The Barangay Nutrition Scholars of the various municipalities in the province were

urged by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) here to have gardens, where they can plant their own food such as

fruits and vegetables.

P rovincial Agriculturist Igmedio

Tabianan said part of the

nutrition scholars‟ pledge during

the culminating program of the Nutrition

Month held recently, was to have gardens

at home to promote production of their

own food.

He said that having a garden would

produce healthy plants that would serve

as healthy food, adding that the most

important thing to come out of this is that

the food produced are safe and nutritious.

He said this is one way to make sure

that the cases of malnutrition in the

province are reduced. He reiterated the

body‟s need to consume calories daily, of

which 2000 are needed by women and

2500 are needed by men.

As people who implement and

promote nutrition to the people of

Negros Occidental, nutrition scholars are

expected to share and spread information

that are useful to the public, especially to

women and children, he said.

I am not telling you this for your

benefit only, but for your constituents as

well, he said, adding they want this to

happen not only here, but to the entire

nation.

Meanwhile, outstanding nutrition

scholars and municipal nutrition action

officers were awarded and given

recognition for their contribution in

reducing malnutrition, during the

Nutrition Month culminating program.

(JCM/CBA-PIA Negros Occ.)

Nutri scholars urged to engage in fruit,

vegetable production

Boracay earns more than P26B

KALIBO, AKLAN, Aug. 14 (PIA6) – The island of Boracay generated P26,510,421,592.80 in tourism receipts from January to

July this year.

A ccording to the Aklan Provincial

Tourism Office (APTO), of the

total amount, P17,357,304,556.80

came from foreign and overseas

Filipinos tourists while P9,153,117,036.00

was earned from domestic or local

tourists.

Meanwhile, tourist arrivals as of July

reached 973,373 of which foreign tourists

listed were 431,008, while domestic

tourists reached 512, 840 and overseas

Filipinos were 29,525.

APTO record also shows that the

month of April registered 178,595

tourists, the highest number of tourist

arrivals so far.

However, the month of July is on

top of the list in terms of growth rate,

which recorded 121,266 tourist arrivals

showing a 14% increase compared to last

year of the same month with 106,665

visitors.

The Provincial Government and

the Tourism Office of Aklan are still

optimistic that the target of 1.5 million

tourist arrivals in Boracay will be achieved

this year.

As reported, docking of cruise ships,

Environment Summit and other national

and international activities will be held in

the island in the last six months of the

year.

MS Legend of the Seas, a Carribean

cruise ship will dock in Boracay on August

21, carrying 2,070 passengers. (JCM/

SQP-PIA6 Aklan)

By Sheila Q. Patoza

By Carlson B. Alelis

DepEd feeding program improves nutri status of kids

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 10 (PIA6) - - The Department of Education Division of Iloilo has noted an improvement in the nutritional

status of some 18,102 severely wasted school children in public schools in the province as a result of the feeding intervention

conducted last year.

M aria Liberty Mabunay, Nurse-in

-Charge of DepEd-Iloilo said

the program beneficiaries were

fed with nutritious lunch for 120 days

under the School-Based Feeding Program

of the department that aims to address

the undernutrition problem and

short-term hunger among public school

children.

“At the end of 120 days, the children

were weighed and showed an

improvement of about 80 percent in their

nutritional status,” said Mabunay.

Another significant component of the

program is the involvement of parents

who are provided with orientation about

the program and trainings on food

preparation. Parents prepare the food of

their children as their counterpart to the

program.

Mabunay said they are now preparing

the list of the number of actual

schoolchildren who are classified under

severely wasted based on the nutritional

status report of SY 2015-2016 to be

included in the program this school year.

“If funds are still available we will

include pupils who are classified under

wasted,” said Mabunay.

A child whose weight is low for his/

her height or thin for his/her height is

considered wasted.

The SBFP also got the support of

private organizations like the Busog,

Lusog, Talino (BLT) School Feeding

Program of the Jollibee Foundation that

intends to help eradicate hunger

among Grades 1 and 2 pupils in public

schools.

Here in Iloilo, the BLT School Feeding

Program is successfully implemented in

Agboy Elementary School in Leon, Iloilo.

In fact, the school won the BLT Excellence

Awards this year.

Mabunay is hoping that the budget

alloted for the implementation of the SBFP

this year will cover all schools in the

province so that more malnourished

children will be reached and benefit from

the program. (JCM/LAF/PIA/Iloilo)

By Lilibeth A. French

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug. 12 (PIA) — The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in Bohol has requested top

Philippine National Police leaders to grant an extension of the service of Bohol Provincial Commander who would be clocking

two years of highly effective tour of duty here this month.

T he resolution requesting for the

extension of service of Police Senior

Superintendent Dennis Agustin came

amidst rumors that the sitting top cop in Bohol is

due for a transfer following a mandatory two

years of duty call.

PSSupt. Agustin, who had a highly decorated

service as anti-organized crime buster in Metro

Manila, came to Bohol in August of 2013, to

replace PSSupt. Constantino Barot, who was

promoted to head the Regional Aviation Security

Group.

A few weeks after Col. Agustin assumed

office in Bohol‟s Camp Dagohoy, PNP Regional

Director Prudencio “Tom” Banas, who was on

official visit to Bohol, challenged Col. Agustin to

make Bohol as the first drug-free province.

Immediately after making command

conferences, Col. Agustin started making success-

es with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)

team leading the pack in sniffing out drug

personalities.

The constant news of police anti-drug

operations and the successes have netted high

profile drug personalities, recovered for the

government drugs and paraphernalia while the

operations become training ground for unit

commanders who shall be key in the organization

of the town units.

After two years of unblemished record in

Bohol, one highlighted by successful anti-drugs

operations, rumors of Col. Agustin‟s transfer

started leaking since last month.

Several quarters have assumed that the

rumors of Agustin‟s transfer are linked to the

anti-drugs operations and the closed

opportunities for people to raise funds for the

upcoming elections. For former provincial

commanders ahead of Agustin, the PPOC had also

issued requests for extension of service after the

police commanders have satisfactorily served

their terms. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

PPOC Bohol asks PNP to extend PD Agustin's

CEBU CITY, Aug. 10 (PIA) – Local government untis (LGUs) are among the major partners in the implementation of the

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program by providing the supply-side support, including monitoring and grievance resolution.

LGUs are major partners in Pantawid Pamilya

T his was stressed by Department of

Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD-7) Regional Information

Officer and Head Social Marketing Unit Leah

Quintana.

However, she said that DSWD's engagement

with LGUs does not include the identification of

beneficiaries in order to maintain impartiality

and to avoid the perception of possible political

influence.

This developed as Senator Ferdinand

„Bongbong‟ Marcos raised that the Pantawid

Pamilya would have been less prone to leakage if

the DSWD tapped LGUs as partners instead of

exclusively implementing it.

Quintana said the entry of the program

to an LGU starts with the conduct of the

Pre-Supply Side Activity where a Memorandum of

Agreement (MOA)is drawn between DSWD and

the LGU to formalize partnership regarding

program implementation.

Under the MOA, the LGU will commit to

provide infrastructure like health stations and

educational facilities to enable the beneficiaries

to comply with the health and education

requirements said Quintana.

Apart from this, advisory committees at the

provincial and municipal levels are organized

headed by the governor and the town mayor,

respectively to oversee the over-all

implementation of PantawidPamilya in the

Provincial and City/ Municipal.

DSWD emphasized that the beneficiaries

were taken from the National Household

Targeting System for Poverty Reduction or

Listahanan, a database of poor families

which explains further why LGUs are not involved

in the selection of beneficiaries of Pantawid

Pamilya,

Quintana said DSWD is now winding up the

second assessment of poor families which will

update the 2009 database, which will become the

basis for the identification of government social

protection programs and services including the

PantawidPamilya.

For the second assessment, DSWD

has enhanced the targeting system and is now

implementing quality control measures such as

random re-interviews and spot checks, to ensure

that the assessment will produce accurate and

reliable results.

The issue of the alleged leakage stemmed

from an article published by the Asian

Development Bank (ADB) using 2009 data which

has been used to incorrectly calculate that P19

billion of current program funds did not go to

intended beneficiaries.

The ADB has already clarified this and

expressed that it continues to support the

DSWD on the implementation of Pantawid

Pamilya.

DSWD maintains that it continues to

address leakages in the program through the

Beneficiary Updating System (BUS) and the

Grievance Redress System (GRS).

T h e G R S a l s o s an i t i z e s t h e

database of beneficiaries by removing

cases of double entry or duplication,

fraud, missing beneficiaries, waived membership,

to the program, and unregistered

beneficiaries, among others. (jsme/PIA7-Cebu/

DSWD-7)

Juju M. Empuerto

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

President Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon Park---Corregidor IslandCorregidor IslandCorregidor Island

CEBU, Aug. 12 (PIA) --- More than 50 exporters and representatives from concerned government agencies in Cebu

attended an information session on the exporting business held by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

Cebu exporters attend PECP info session

T he one-day session is in line with a

seminar series that intends to

address the current issues and

concerns identified by exporters and also

promote exporting business under the

Philippine Export Competitiveness Program

(PECP).

DTI Cebu brought in speakers from

Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), Bureau of

Customs (BoC) Bureau of International Trade

Relations (BITR), and Inter Commerce

Network Services.

The topics tackled were: Export Market-

ing Bureau (EMB) Services, how to do business

in free trade areas, introduction to the

Philippine ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement

(ATIGA), electronic certificate of Origin

Implementation Guidelines, overview of the

self-Certificate Scheme, and the Philippine

accreditation process for “Certified

Exporters.” (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

Rachelle M. Nessia

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- Keep yourself updated on the schedules and advisories related to Asia-Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC) 2015 meetings in Cebu.

T his is one tip given by the Land

Transportation Office (LTO) here to

lessen the inconvenience of the riding

public from traffic congestion as a result of the 80

APEC meetings set to be hosted in Cebu from

August to October this year.

Cebuanos can also stay at home or go out of

Metro Cebu during holidays and weekends,

according to LTO Director Arnel Tancinco.

LTO in Central Visayas is coordinating with

traffic enforcement agencies in the cities of Cebu,

Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu to come up with a

comprehensive traffic plan for the duration of the

meetings.

Tancinco said the traffic scheme will involve

rerouting vehicles, implementing one-way routes

on some streets, and closing roads at certain

periods of the day. “Keep up-to-date with traffic

announcements as we can mostly determine

ahead of time when to close the roads to clear

the way for APEC delegates,” he added.

There are five areas identified as meeting

venues for APEC 2015, including Radisson Blu,

Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Cebu

City Marriott Hotel, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, and

Shangri-La‟s Mactan Resort and Spa.

The Cebu Provincial Government releases

regular advisories on APEC developments at

www.cebu.gov.ph, its official FB page at

facebook.com/cebugovph, and on Twitter

@cebugovph.

Many of the 3,200 delegates expected to be

here in Cebu for the Third Senior Officials‟

Meeting (SOM 3) and related sessions from

August 20 to September 6, 2015 will be moving

between their hotels and meeting venues with VIP

guests expected to have vehicle escorts.

Ministerial meetings on finance, structural

reforms, transportation and energy are spread

out from September 7 to October 14 and will

have around 90 to 700 participants.

In cases when closures and other changes

cannot be announced beforehand, Tancinco said

the best thing commuters and motorists can do is

to be patient and follow traffic rules.

“This (APEC) is a good thing for Cebu. It

gives us a chance to showcase the province,” he

pointed out.

Former Cebu Chamber of Commerce and

Industry (CCCI) president and local organizing

committee consultant Lito Maderazo earlier said

the meetings give Cebu the “golden opportunity”

to showcase itself as an investment and tourism

destination. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu/Cebu PIO)

LTO to Cebu commuters: Keep up with traffic

advisories for APEC meetings

Rachelle M. Nessia

SIQUIJOR, Aug. 8 (PIA) — Pleased with the outcome of the recent Sandugo Trade Expo, Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) Regional Director Aster Caberte lauded Siquijor Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) participants and the local

DTI staff during the blessing and unveiling of the Negosyo Center here.

DTI regional chief lauds MSMEs in Siquijor

“ We are reaping what we have sown,”

Caberte said, citing the 16.7 million sale for

Central Visayas and the “big promise” the

trade expo brought to Siqujor after having sold

out all of their products and having finalized

negotiations with the Island City Mall (ICM) and

other establishments for Siquijor province.

Caberte stressed that it is not about cash

sales, but about negotiations that were finalized

amidst all the efforts. She disclosed that Bohol‟s

ICM will carry Siquijor‟s food products.

"Siquijor will have a permanent outlet in

Bohol province," she said. DTI is serious in its

endeavor to put a friendly and enabling

environment for business, she added.

In an earlier report, Caberte said the 10th

Sandugo trade expo is one of the largest trade

shows in the region where exporters from

different parts of the country converge to display

their world-class products, while the export

market has yet to hit the recovery state.

"We are zooming in now to attract the

tourists. This is a different tweak from the

traditional Sandugo Trade Show, because we are

closely working with the tourism sector to attract

tourists and institutional buyers to the fair," said

Caberte in the report. Meanwhile, Caberte in her

Negosyo Center Launch message said she was

inspired with the State of the Nation Address

(SONA) of the President.

“I can very well recall the president during

his first SONA, he was talking about inclusive

growth, 'whatever growth we will get should be

felt by everyone.' It was a difficult marching order,

but this year he gave an inspiring SONA to us

who really worked to make that inclusive growth

dream come true," she recalled.

All of these efforts towards MSME

development is a big step to decrease

the unemployment rate in the country while

inspiring small businesses to have contributed

much in the development, said Caberte.

She also cited DTI‟s Share Service Facilities

(SSF) project for Siquijor that is hoped to address

production gap of the MSMEs and encouraged

beneficiaries to take their share of the challenge.

She said it is inspiring to note that the

Philippines for a period of 15 years, among all

countries, has maintained a 5% GDP growth rate.

She added that in Region 7, despite the twin

calamities to hit the area, tourism traffic has

increased, a development strongly felt in Siquijor

province with its visible increase in tourist influx.

(rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

Rizalie Anding Calibo

CENTRAL VISAYAS, Aug. 8 (PIA) – Each of the three immediate family members of the Philippine National Police Special

Action Force (PNP-SAF) who died in a bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao recently received the cash donations of

P21,993.09 in Cebu City.

DSWD7 hands out cash aid to SAF families

P an t aw id P am i l y a i n form at i on

officer Phoebe Jen Indino said

Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD-7) regional director

handed over the cash aid to families of PO3 Junrel

Kibete, PO1 Windel Candano and PO1 Romeo

Cempron.

It can be recalled that DSWD has opened a

bank account to receive cash donations for the

families of the 44 policemen killed on January 25.

Communications Secretary Herminio

Coloma Jr. in an earlier press briefing pointed out

that part of DSWD's mandate is to look after the

welfare of families of military and police personnel

killed in action.

Indino said the three police officials are from

Cebu Province. Kibete‟s common law wife Irene

with their children Princess, Antoniette and

Althea received the financial aid while Christine

Cempron and Michelle Candano also received

their respective cash donations.

“I‟m happy to accept this donation because

this is for my children,” said Irene.

DSWD was able to generate P967, 695.96

worth of cash donations for the SAF 44

immediate kin. (mbcn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

Police steps up firearms registration renewal drive

NAVAL, Biliran, Aug. 13 (PIA) – With 83 percent of the registered firearms in Biliran already expired based on the report of

the Biliran Police Provincial Office (BPPO) from January to June 2015, an intensified campaign on firearms registration and

renewal are set this month.

“ There are 942 registered firearms in Biliran

province, of the number, 782 are already

expired”, Police Superintendent Mateo B.

Macale, BPPO deputy provincial director for

administration and operation reported

during the PIA Kapihan at Pulong-Pulong ng

Bayan over Radyo Natin-Naval recently.

Macale informed that BPPO has

already scheduled the conduct of a two-day

caravan for the license to own and possess

(LTOP) firearms this month of August, however,

the schedule is still subject for approval from the

regional office of the Philippine National Police

(PNP) in Palo, Leyte.

As of reporting time, Macale said, there are

already additional 160 firearms renewed, 366 gun

owners advised to renew their firearms and 54

registration renewal which is still on process

based on the BPPO record.

He also reported that based on record,

there were 49 firearms sold, 10 denied

ownership, 79 were lost, 93 gun owners no

longer residing in the province, 66 surrendered

and deposited, 66 gun owners already dead and

one exhibited in court.

“All the chiefs of police in the eight police

stations in the province are also ordered to

conduct “Oplan Katok” or the conduct of

personal visit to firearm holders in Biliran

province”, Macale further said to ensure the

renewal or registration of their firearms for

purposes of proper accounting.

He likewise urged firearms holders

in the province to register and renew their

firearms to avoid facing penal sanctions as

provided by law.

“Though the processing is a little bit

t e d i o u s b e c au s e o f t h e s e v e r a l

requirements needed for the renewal and

registration of firearms, yet it is the most

appropriate way to do as a law-abiding citizen”

Macale emphasized.

He also said that BPPO, lately, has

conducted a gun safety and responsible gun

ownership program seminar to some 40

firearm owners in Biliran province and this will

be a continuing program of the BPPO. (ajc/fj/rsv/

PIA 8 Biliran)

RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

PRDP to start in Southern Leyte soon

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 13 (PIA) – The Province of Southern Leyte will soon start the Rehabilitation/

Improvement of Mahayahay-Manalog Farm-to-Market Road under the Philippine Rural Development Project, Gov. Roger G.

Mercado informed in a procurement conference held August 12 at the Provincial Capitol here.

T he said project, coursed through the

Department of Agriculture (DA), is one

of the most priority projects of the

province, Gov. Mercado said in his opening

message to the participants composed of the Bids

and Awards committee members, the DA team

and the Philippine Information Agency.among,

other observers.

“The project will support the

province‟ vision, that is self-reliance and

empowerment of our people,” Mercado said

adding that the said project will fully support the

agriculture development of the province.

He further said that “as a coconut

province the said project where farm-to-market

road will support our coconut industry through

delivering the products, among other planting

materials to processing plants, will be

convenient and with better time management in

terms of travel using the new farm-to-market

roads.”

The PRDP farm-to-market road project

under the Government of the Philippines Loan

#PRDP-1B-R008-SOL-002 through World Bank

cost P188,390,000.00 or $501,250.000.00.

It is a partnership with the DA and the local

government of Southern Leyte as the

implementing partner.

The whole amount will be counter-parted by

the DA with 10% share and another 10% from the

provincial government unit and the 80% will be

funded by the World Bank.

For the province of Southern Leyte, the 10%

contribution or P18.390-M will be sourced from

the 20% Economic Development Fund (EDF),

Provincial Accountant Crispin Arong Jr., a BAC

member revealed.

The Provincial BAC is setting a pre-bid

conference on September 18, 2015 at the Jose

Rizal Hall, Provincial Capitol and as part of the

transparency measures being instituted by the

agriculture department.

The DA team led by Executive

Secretary to Regional Director Leo Caṅeda,

Onisimo Paduano informed that bidders for the

said project can visit their office or website at

www.daprdp.net for the requirements of BAC.

(rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

President Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon ParkPresident Manuel L. Quezon Park---Corregidor IslandCorregidor IslandCorregidor Island

Pinabacdao safari is Samar’s newest eco-tour destination

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 13 (PIA) - Spark Samar - Samar’s tourism package enlists its newest find, Pinabacdao

Mangrove Safari.

I n its recent launch in Pinabacdao

town, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan

announced that tourists are now enthralled

with unexplored places of natural wonders.

With the mangrove safari, tourists will

learn the significant contribution of a contiguous

mangrove to marine life.

Mangroves are spawning grounds of fish and

other marine life, Pinabacdao Mayor Mario

Quijano added.

“Pinabacdao mangrove boosts of 575

hectares of untouched mangroves that is home to

19 mangrove tree-species, where two of which

are endemic only to Pinabacdao.” Quijano

claimed.

The mangrove 700 or more hectares in

totality is also home to wild ducks, kingfisher,

orioles, saliksik and many others.

“These mangrove species are being

protected by Pinabacdao folks as they know these

give them sustainable livelihood.”

As a proof, the guests led by DOT

8-Regional Director Karen Tiopes and DENR RD

Leonardo Sibalucca were treated to marine

eatables like crabs, shrimps, fish and mussels

readily available in the rich coastal waters of

Pinabacdao.

The town of Pinabacdao lies at the

southwest central coast of Samar, it is

three-kilometers from the Maharlika Highway.

Spark Samar, meanwhile is the grand and

ambitious tourism package of the Samar provincial

government tied with DOT where guests are

entertained in the pristine beaches of Marabut,

lush forests that line the Golden River towards

the natural wonders of Sohoton Cave in Basey

and Olot River Torpedo ride in Paranas.

With the newest mangrove safari

destination, Tiopes is confident that more and

more tourists will be enticed to Samar, whom

officials call, the ultimate frontier in the country.

(ajc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

NINFA ILUMINADA B. QUIRANTE

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Eastern Samar solon discloses new projects

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Aug. 12 (PIA) - Congressman Ben Evardone disclosed the new projects slated for the

province due to the serious damage brought to several structures by ―Yolanda‖.

H e said this in a recent interview over

DYES Radyo Ng Bayan. The

Eastern Samar solon is determined to

rehabilitate and or reconstruct several

government infrastructures.

These include new covered courts, a new

gymnasium, sea wall constructions, resort

restoration, road concreting and renovations, and

bridge constructions.

Since Eastern Samar is prone to

typhoons and could have occurrences of

tsunamis and storm surges, Evardone said this

gives him much focus on the construction

of sea walls as protection from these natural

calamities.

For instance, there are ongoing sea wall

constructions in Hernani, Balangkayan, and

Borongan City. Tetra pads had already been

constructed in Hernani, while the construction of

its sea wall is still in progress.

In Barangay Cabay, Balangkayan, tetra pads

had already been constructed as well and the sea

wall construction is also in progress.

The sea wall construction in Barangay, Bato,

Borongan City is almost done and with the arrival

of the additional project fund of P50-M.

He said that the sea wall will be completed

and shall cover Baybay Boulevard to Can-obing

Bridge. Phase two of the seawall extension in

Baybay Boulevard is done as well.

“Yolanda” had greatly affected the tourism

industry of the province. In an effort to gradually

revive it, there is an ongoing renovation of

Minasangay Resort in Balangkayan.

M i n a s an g a y w a s a n u p c om i n g

tourist-destination before super typhoon Yolanda

struct in November 8, 2013.

Borongan City still has barangays with rough

roads. But now, the number of these barangays

with such roads will decrease as three interior

barangays of the city are undergoing road

concreting, namely: Banuyo, San Gregorio, and

Surok.

A P50-M contract had been awarded also for

the road concreting in Can-avid to Barangay

Hinolaso, Dolores. But Mayor Emiliana Villacarillo

of Dolores and Mayor Septemio Santiago of

Maslog requested Congressman Evardone to put

it on hold and instead, prioritize the concreting of

the road to Maslog in order to have a much

easier access to the municipality.

Aside from the ₱50-M contract for

the road concreting in Maslog, there is also an

additional project fund of P100-M which

shall cover the road concreting from

Barangay Carolina, Can-avid to Maslog.

And in line with these ongoing road

concreting, Congressman Evardone hopes that

four-wheel vehicles could now travel directly to

Maslog this year.

There is ongoing road concreting as well in

the municipalities of Arteche, General McArthur,

and Jipapad with project funds of ₱130-M, ₱20-M,

and ₱50 M, respectively.

There is also an ongoing construction of

Bigo Bridge in Barangay Hinolaso, Dolores and of

another bridge in Jipapad with respective project

funds of ₱ 30 M and ₱ 80 M.

With these new infra developments, Eastern

Samar, dubbed as the country‟s third poorest

province, can now assume that better days are

upcoming. (ajc/sdc/PIA-E. Samar)

BIR surpasses first semester tax collection goal

A ccording to BIR-RDO-86 Officer-in

-Charge (OIC) Ms. Jesusa B. Cabello, the

target for the period January to June is P

237,582,000.00 but the actual revenue collection

was P 262,871,142.07, surpassing by

P25,289,142.07.

Ms. Cabello disclosed, that of all six (6)

Revenue District Offices of Eastern Visayas, RDO

86 - Borongan City leads in the revenue collection

for the first semester.

“RDO-86 was able to meet the goal for

every month, that is why we are No. 1 in the

region in terms of percentage tax collection,"

Cabello said.

She further said, that majority of revenue

collections from Eastern Samar are coming from

government projects through remittances of

Withholding Tax.

“I hope that we can achieve or even surpass

this year‟s target goal considering that we have

already surpassed the first semester target," she

added.

The top five Local Government Units in

terms of revenue collection are: Borongan City,

followed by Guiuan, Dolores, Oras and

Llorente. (ajc/ldl/sdc//PIA-E. Samar)

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Aug. 12 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Revenue District Office (RDO-86),

Borongan City surpassed its collection target from January to June, 2015 by 10.64%.

SAMUEL D. CANDIDO

DOE sets massive inspection of LPG products

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 13 (PIA) – The Department of Energy-Visayas Field Office will spearhead a focused

inspection and monitoring of the downstream oil industry establishments in the province of Southern Leyte as well as in Leyte

province.

D OE Director Antonio E. Labios

informed that the main objective of the

activity is to conduct massive inspection

of liquid petroleum products (LPP) retail outlets

and LPG establishments to ensure compliance

with the existing rules and regulations governing

the business of petroleum products.

He said that a simultaneous information,

education and communication campaign will be

conducted in the said area to provide venue for

discussion to be participated by different

stakeholders, concerned local government units,

among other concerned government agencies on

issues relative to the business of retailing

petroleum products.

Labios further said that the energy

department will be tapping the expertise

of some partner agencies such as the

Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau

of Fire Protection and the Department of Science

and Technology to enhance public awareness

and to encourage LGU participation in the

implementation of the rules and regulations

of DOE pertaining to the downstream oil

industry.

Director Labios informed that a half-day

coordination meeting is set on the 18th of

August, 2015 at Maasin Country Lodge to be

participated by concerned agencies, He said that

details of the said activities will be discussed to

include the roles of each agency.

Inputs on the procedures and

mechanics surrounding the planned focused

inspection and monitoring from the participants

will also be solicited, Labios added. (ajc/rgc/PIA8

-SoLeyte)

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

SAMUEL D. CANDIDO

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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Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

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All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

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Regional Offices:

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