Vol 5 Issue 44 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 November 2 - 8, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue PNoy leads ESamar’s 50th foundation day celebration

USAID: LGUs should improve water management, conservation

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Issuance of land titles in CV 94% complete

Juju M. Empuerto

CEBU CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) issued a total of

11,222 land titles as of October 23 this year in Central Visayas, according to DENR 7 Planning Officer IV Dr. Eddie

Llamedo. Llamedo said that of the total number of land

titles issued, some 9,408 titles were mainly agricultural lands handed over to farmer-owners in four provinces in the

region while the other 1,814 titles were all residential free patents.

Cebu province received 1,583 agricultural patents and 358 residential patents; Bohol with 7,174 and 985; Negros

Oriental with 360 and 400; and Siquijor province obtained 291 agricultural land titles with 71 residential patents.

According to Llamedo, this accomplishment marks 94% and 70% accomplishment against the target of issuing 10,000

agricultural land titles and 2,580 residential titles for 2015, respectively.

DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo

Montejo said the patent issuance and distribution "is a priority

program that the DENR has been putting its energy and resources on aside from the other equally important one like

the national greening program (NGP).” As a strategy to fast track the issuance, Montejo has

directed the provincial and community environment and natural resources officers in the four provinces to observe the

required time frame in accepting, processing, and releasing of said documents.

“Applications should be acted very promptly in accordance with the existing policies and should not be kept in

a drawer and applications with incomplete requirements should be returned immediately with appropriate notifications for the

applicant to comply with,” Montejo added. Meanwhile, Montejo reiterated his call to the public to

transact only with authorized personnel and to report immediately any abuses or illegal transactions committed

by personnel particularly on land titling fixing like soliciting a certain amount outside of the required or legal fees. (rmn/jsme/

PIA7-Cebu/DENR-7)

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar (PIA) – Braving some

unpredictable conditions of visiting the far town of Arteche, Eastern Samar, President Benigno S. Aquino, III disembarked

from his chopper that landed at the Carapdapan Elementary School grounds to personally convey his greetings to the

Eastern Samareños at the start of the celebration of the 50th Foundation Day of the province.

Some 10-minutes later, the President and his convoy motored to the town‟s gym where he was met with loud

cheers from the more or less 3,000 member-crowd. In his message, Pres. Aquino said he was happy to visit

the tip-most town of the province where he could say his congratulatory message for the 50th Foundation Day.

In 1965, the people voted in a Plebiscite to support R.A. 4221 that divided the 3rd largest island of the country into

Northern, Eastern and Western Samar. On his second visit mission, Pres. Aquino turned over to

the local government of the province the circumferential road connecting Northern and Eastern Samar.

The road is significant to Manila-commuting people of Eastern Samar, as they need not pass through Catbalogan,

Western Samar anymore, because they would just be using the Borongan-Oras-San Poli-Arteche-Lapinig, Northern Samar

route. “This way,” he said, “shorter travel time and lesser

expense can be expected by the commuting public."

Pres. Aquino also turned over some 200 units of BP

apparatus, 100 Glucometers and 12 weighing scales for Eastern

Samar Provincial Hospital, Western and Northern Samars. He likewise listened to the testimonials of some

successful beneficiaries of conditional cash transfers, a CHED-Scholar who soon would become a teacher, a TESDA

Scholar who is now a lady-welder, and a transport operator who now avails of better national highway.

Pres. Aquino was joined by DOH Sec. Janette Garin, DILG Sec. Senen Sarmiento and DPWH chief Sec. Rogelio

Singson. (PIA-08)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 2 (PIA6) --- The local government units (LGUs) here have a crucial

role in implementing regulations and policies on water conservation.

Ramon Alikpala, USAID (United States Agency for International Development) Be Secure Project Senior Technical

Adviser for Water, said that while water conservation is everyone‟s responsibility, LGUs should ensure that big water

consumers also do their part. He said that one way to address the problem on water is

demand management. “Water demand management works by closing the gap

between available water supply and increasing demand by reducing water use rather than by just augmenting supply,” he

said. He said that LGUs would have to formulate local

ordinances that will require property developers to put up rainwater catching facility, water fixtures that are rated, water

efficient fixtures, among others. “It is easy to say „conserve water‟ but the problem is

how,” he said. He said that there is no need to invest in new source of

water if we can find simpler ways to reduce consumption of industries and freed up water available so that other areas in

Iloilo without water can have water now.

The Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project in the country is a four-year

activity that seeks to promote good governance and build capacity for long-term water security, improve access to water

and wastewater treatment services, and build more resilient communities.

The project is implemented in six focal areas: Basilan, Iloilo, Leyte, Maguindanao and Misamis Oriental Provinces and

Tuguegarao City. For local and regional activities, the project works with

LGUs and water service providers at the watershed scale to improve capacities for integrating climate change into local

planning and the provision of water supply and wastewater treatment services.

Alikpala said that the project is also helping the national government improve its policy and develop new laws to

improve water management, and push for better regulation of water use.

One of the project components is the Climate Projection undertaken by state weather bureau, PAG-ASA, and other

similar private institutions. He added that the climate projections can be used by

LGUs to improve their projections and plan their preparations. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo).

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Dr. Edith Gimotea, DOH-6 Regional STI

Medical Coordinator, discusses the importance

of reactivating the Local AIDS Council by local

government units during the Regional

Multisectoral Partnership on STI, HIV and

AIDS Prevention and Control (RMP-SHAPC)

held Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Sarabia Manor

Hotel, Iloilo City. (PIA Iloilo)

Efforts in environment activism with

volunteers picking trash and ridding the seas of

garbage is dwarfed by the magnitude of

reclamation along the shorelines of Tagbilaran

Channel. Groups have urged the DENR to act

on these foreshore violations and demanded

responsibility from establishments doing these

projects masked in the guise of development.

(PIA-7/Bohol)

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson bares the

status of major infrastructure projects in

Samar I sland, which include the

222.23-kilometer Wright-Taft-Borongan

-Guiuan road, Junction Taft-Oras-San

Policarpo-Arteche-Lapinig road, construction

and rehabilitation of 61 bridges, among others.

(PIA-8)

President Benigno S. Aquino III delivers his speech during the

presentation of development projects of Samar Island at the

Arteche E-Complex, Arteche, Eastern Samar, recently. (PIA 8)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

WV economy is pro-poor

Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 2 (PIA6) - - The economic growth of Western Visayas during the period 2009 to 2012 was described by an

official of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) here as pro-poor.

A s shown by the result of the 2012

Poverty Statistics, PSA 6 Interim

Director Norman Julag-ay said that

poverty incidence among population of

Western Visayas has reduced in a span of three

years.

The latest poverty statistics indicated that

in 2009 the region‟s poverty incidence was at

30.8 percent and went down to 29.1 percent in

2012. Around 22, 335 people were freed from

the chain of poverty during the period.

Julag-ay said the economic growth being

experienced by the region is benefiting the

poor. He cited that in 2014, the economy of

the region grew impressively by 4.9 percent

from 3.4 percent in 2013.

“Region 6 succeeded because the poorer

members of our society experienced relatively

higher increases in income compared to the

rich at an average of 16.9 percent.

So, yes, our economic growth during the

period 2009-2012 had been pro-poor,” said

Julag-ay who keynoted the recent closing and

awarding ceremonies of the 26th National

Statistics Month celebration in Western

Visayas.

He further said that the region has a high

probability of achieving the targets on Goal 1

of the Millennium Development Goals on the

eradication of extreme poverty where the

region is doing better than the entire country

as per latest official MDG statistics.

On the other hand, in his message,

Julag-ay stressed the need to generate,

disseminate, communicate and use high quality

statistical information that would support the

planning and decision-making activities of

the government, business leaders and

entrepreneurs in the private sector, civil

society and the general public in order to cope

with the challenges of the Third Millennium

and to be able to convert them into

opportunities.

“As we now officially close the

month-long NSM celebration, we need not be

reminded, that through statistics we know how

to measure our strengths as well as our

weaknesses and we know how to assess the

opportunities as well as challenges.

Through statistics, we know how to start

our progress and we could implement better

plans and programs for the betterment of the

lives of every Filipino,” said Julag-ay. (JCM/LAF/

PIA6-Iloilo)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Nov. 4 (PIA6) – Six water pumps were distributed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)

– Region VI to farmers of Barangay Agmalobo in Ivisan town last month as a measure to mitigate the effects of the El Niño

phenomenon which is expected to hit the country late this year until 2016.

Farmers get pumps to counter climate change

Alex A. Lumaque

N IA Regional Manager Engr. Gerardo

P. Corsiga emphasized that the

agency is now focusing efforts to

help farmers adapt with the threats of Climate

Change and the El Niño phenomenon.

“This is just the beginning of our

commitments to our farmers. You are

fortunate to be the recipients of these

pumps in the entire Western Visayas despite

the late release of our El Niño Funds,” said

Corsiga.

He also highlighted the role of

convergence initiatives between the Local

Government Units (LGU) and NIA in

addressing concerns of the farmers.

NIA – 6 also distributed water pumps to

Roxas City farmers last Oct. 19.

For his part, Capiz 2nd District

Congressman Fredenil Castro said that the

pumps given by NIA indicates that the

government gives priority to the needs of the

farmers.

“Our farmers are the real heroes of our

province, hence we cannot afford to disregard

them,” said Castro in Hiligaynon.

The Capiceño lawmaker has also

thanked Corsiga and his team in NIA for

the speedy action on his request for the

immediate distribution of the pumps to the

farmers.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

was undertaken by the farmer recipients,

Congressman Castro and NIA to effect the

turn-over of the pumps.

Under the agreement, the farmers will

take responsibility and shall provide fuel for the

equipment they received, which they shall

solely be used for irrigation.

The Agmalobo Farmers Organization

conveyed their appreciation to NIA for the

facilities that will be in time for the upcoming

long dry spell. (JCM/AAL/NIA/PIACapiz)

Tech-voc schools adapting K to 12curriculum

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 2 (PIA6) — Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) schools in the country are taking steps to adapt to the K to

12 program of the government.

T he Tech-Voc schools are facing

weakness in the core subjects under

the K to 12 four tracts for the Senior

High school, according to Marjorie Mendenilla,

director of Technical Vocational Schools and

Associations of the Philippines.

Mendenilla said that they are very strong

in Tech-voc subjects but they do not have

teachers in Math or Araling Panlipunan.

Under the Academic tract of the K to 12,

there are four strands, namely General

Academic; Accountancy, Business and

Management ; Sc ience , Technology ,

Mathematics; and, Humanities and Social

Sciences.

The Tech-Voc tract, on the other hand,

has four specializations: Information and

Communicat ion Technology , Home

Economics, Agri-Fishery and Industrial Arts,

with the addition of Arts and Design and

Sports.

The Tech-Voc schools may just lose

students unless they adapt, Mendenilla said, so

they are intensifying partnerships with public

schools to address the gap.

“We look for sound strategies in order to

survive,” Mendenilla said, adding that they will

die as a business if they don‟t.

She further said that in partnering with

public schools. Tech-Voc institutions will be

taking care of the TVET course, as government

data would show that about 30,000 more

teachers are needed for the Senior High

School.

Meanwhile, Dr. Teodoro Robles,

president of Central Philippine University, said

in a media interview, that the effects of the K

to 12 hinges on the quality of preparations

being made.

Robles said CPU has undertaken

measures to cushion the impact of K to 12,

especially on teachers.

“We asked them to pursue higher studies

or undertake relevant researches,” Robles said.

He said the K to 12 challenge has become

an opportunity for the university to keep their

teachers on regular load, as they have been

“overloaded” for the past years.

“Our teachers are our valuable resources,

and we see to it, nobody is retrenched,”

Robles said. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Elsa S. Subong

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

12 Aklan studes avail of OWWA scholarships

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA6) - - About 12 Aklanon students, whose parents are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) , officially

accepted the scholarship under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA’s) OFW Dependents Scholarship

Program (ODSP) with Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing and orientation recently at the Public Employment Service

Office here.

T he MOA signing was conducted

between OWWA Regional Welfare

Officer 6 represented by Rizza Joy

Mapa and Sherwin Madayag, and the Aklanon

student scholars with their parents or legal

guardians.

Mapa who conducted the orientation

stressed the importance of the presence of

scholars and their parents /guardians on

the briefing and MOA signing to familiarize

themselves with the requirements of the

scholarship grant.

“Scholars and parents/legal guardians

should fully understand the program because

both have the obligations in the scholarship,”

she added.

Under the ODSP, the new set of scholars

for school year 2015 to 2016, are entitled to

P20,000 per year, inclusive of enrollment

during the summer term.

The qualified students are entitled to

pursue an associate or baccalaureate degree in

any college or university.

On the same day, seven maintained ODSP

scholars in Aklan here were able to receive

their financial assistance.

According to PESO-Aklan who witnessed

and facilitated the releasing of checks of the

seven, two are under 2011 program, and four

under 2013 program, while three for 2014.

Furthermore, a financial literacy seminar

was also held to remind the scholars and

parents to manage their finances to help their

OFW parents who struggle in other nations

for their future.

Meanwhile, Mapa said the ODSP will

be suspended for two consecutive years,

from 2016 to 2017 due to the K to 12

implementation.

As of 2015, the OWWA RWO6 has 218

maintained scholars under the ODSP. (JCM/

SQP/PIA-Aklan)

Venus G. Villanueva

SAN JOSE, Antique, Nov. 2 (PIA6) - - Executive Order No 89 series of 2015 issued by Governor Rhodora Cadiao paved the

way for the reorganization of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and Children

(PIACAT VAW-C).

P rovincia l Socia l Welfare and

Development Officer Lazaro Petinglay

said the order is in compliance to

Republic Act 9208 or the Anti- Trafficking in

Persons Act of 2003 and Republic Act 9262 or

the Anti-Violence Against Women and their

Children Act of 2004.

With the creation of the Anti-Trafficking

Committee, Petinglay said, we need to revisit

the Unified Matrix of Protocol in Handling

Cases of Human trafficking, Illegal Recruitment

and Child Labor so that we would know our

roles be it in the detection, reporting , rescue

or rehab or recovery of the victims.

Governor Cadiao tasked the Committee

to create and establish a system of surveillance,

investigation and rescue of victims of

trafficking, and violence against women and

children and ensure effective coordination

among agencies.

During the meeting, SPO2 Cherryl

Sapinosa reported that for the period January

to Sept 2015 Antique PNP recorded a total of

200 cases for violation RA 9262 or VAW C

and 128 cases for violation of RA 7610 or the

Anti-Child Abuse Law and 32 of which are

rape cases.

There is only one case of trafficking

against person recorded for the same period,

said Sapinosa.

Other agencies member of the

committee reported their agency‟s

interventions in the implementation of RA

9262 and RA 9208.

Greta Solidarius of the Department of

Labor and Employment said, DOLE is strict in

the implementation of laws concerning

recruitment of sugar migrant workers in the

province.

“Contractors with no permit are

not allowed to transport workers,” Solidarius,

said.

Likewise, other agencies namely

Department of Health, TESDA, Provincial

Population Office, Pagsapupo Center of the

Province of Antique, Philippine Ports

Authority, Philippine Information Agency and

Let‟s Care Foundation for Girls reported

their accomplishments relative to the

implementation of the said laws.(JCM/PSM/

PIA6Antique)

Anti-Trafficking activities gets more teeth with EO 89

Pilar S. Mabaquiao

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Nov. 2 (PIA6) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Negros Occidental is urging

food manufacturers to sanitize their food contact surfaces and indicate the ingredients on their packaging.

T his is to avoid hazards when the

public consumes their products.

Allan Francis Dara-ug, DOST

Senior Science Research Specialist, said food

manufactures can clean food contact surfaces

such as bowls, sinks, knives and chopping

boards using concentrated substance that can

kill bacteria and viruses.

He said concentrated substances, used to

sanitize contact food surfaces as well as

equipment and machines, can be bought from

manufacturing suppliers.

“By cleaning them and by proper

sanitation, we can avoid food-poisoning

illnesses and prevent hazards,” Dara-ug told

the Philippine Information Agency during a

radio interview over Radyo Kumando.

Dara-ug is also encouraging food

manufacturers to check their packaging

and labels so that consumers are aware

of the ingredients that are found in their

products.

Some hazards occur when there is

mislabeling or failure in indicating ingredients

on the packaging.

The four food hazards according to

DOST are: chemical hazard, which usually

occurs when chemicals such as those found in

fert i l i zers are mixed with food;

microbiological hazard, which happens

when there is a presence of molds, bacteria or

fungi;

Physical hazard, which is present

when there are metal splinters that are

included inside of the products packaging

during the processing; and allergic hazards,

caused by allergens such as nuts, seafood,

milk and legumes. (JCM/CBA/PIA6-Negros

Occidental)

DOST urges proper sanitation in food prep

Carlson B. Alelis

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, Nov. 3 (PIA) -- Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-7) has announced the regional winners of

the 2015 Search for the Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

CV winners of Model OFW Family award out

H omer Balais, an overseas Filipino

worker (OFW) from Antequera,

Bohol, has emerged as the regional

winner of the land-based category.

OFW Charle Garcia of Mandaue City, Cebu

came out as the winner in the sea-based category

besting two other finalists, according to Overseas

Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA-7)

Regional Labor Communication Officer Luchel

Taniza.

Other finalists in the land-based category are

OFW Rufino Capacio of Daanbantayan, Cebu;

OFW Crispin Cayang of Bayawan City, Negros

Oriental and OFW Victoria Gom-os of Larena,

Siquijor.

In the sea-based category, the two other

finalists were OFW Paulino Narisma of

Dauis, Bohol and OFW Roberto Valiente of

Daanbantayan, Cebu.

OWWA Regional Director Wilfreda

Misterio said that coming up with seven regional

finalists for the search is "first time for the

region.”

Misterio said that OFWs Balais and

Garcia and their families will represent

Region 7 for the MOFYA Search at the national

level slated on the first week of December this

year.

“The distance, the absence, the loneliness,

and the challenges that each OFW and their

families have to bravely bear are so

immense that it takes courage, strength of

characters, and prayers to make things work out,”

said Department of Labor and Employment

( DOLE -7 ) OI C Re g i on a l D i r e c t o r

Exequiel Sarcauga.

Sarcauga congratulated the winners of

this year‟s search as well as the finalists who

have remained steadfast and firm in the face

of all trials and adversaries they‟ve met along the

way.

The MOFYA search aims to give due

recognition to OFWs and families who have

manifested best practices in achieving optimal

success in all aspects of life in the face

of overseas migrat ion of one or

more members of the household, said

Sarcauga.

The recognition also goes out to the OFW

families who maintained good standing in their

respective communities; exhibited financial

stability and success in business ventures; and

successfully kept their family together despite the

absence of a loved one.

Regional finalists were nominated by

registered NGOs, people‟s organizations,

religious organizations, community-based

socio-civic organizations/associations, and OFW

Family Circle Associations who have known

the capability and potentials of the OFW and his

family.

“They were properly screened, evaluated,

and validated by the members of the Selection

and Screening Committee headed by DOLE 7

OIC Regional Director Sarcauga,” Misterio said.

(rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DOLE)

Juju M. Empuerto

TAGBILARAN CITY, Nov. 2 (PIA) — Crimes in Bohol slid down by 29% or 157 cases less in October compared to the previous

month as law enforcement authorities continue to innovate and lessen crime opportunities here.

Crimes in Bohol down 29% in October

S eptember this year recorded 533

crimes all over Bohol, compared to

the 376 crimes reaching police

blotters all over Bohol, according to a report

from Bohol‟s Provincial Police Office, Camp

Dagohoy.

The same crime reports, presented during

the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC)

Meeting October 30, showed similar decreasing

trend in both index and non-index crimes in the

month.

October showed 219 index and 157

non-index crimes while September had 299 and

234, respectively.

This showed both 26% and 33% decreases

within the month.

In fact, according to police reports, about

40% or 108 of the 376 crime cases in Bohol in

October are traffic-related.

These include 80 cases of traffic-related

incidents causing physical injury cases, 27 cases of

damage to property, and one case of homicide,

statisticians at Camp Dagohoy bared. (rmn/rac/

PIA-7Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU, Nov. 5 (PIA) -- In commemoration of the second year anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy, the Cebu Provincial

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) kicked off the two-day caravan to typhoon-hit areas starting today

to showcase several government interventions and accomplishments that benefited the affected local communities.

W ith the theme “Convergence: The

Key to Shared Accountability and

Commitment,” the caravan hopes to

present the challenges, accomplishments and

what further assistance in specific areas will be

needed by the affected communities in

Yolanda-hit localities especially those with

ongoing projects, said Cebu PDRRMO Chief

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr.

Likewise, the activity is said to provide a

venue for strengthening convergence and

collaboration in the implementation of various

projects as the caravan is being participated by

representatives from the local government

units, national government agencies, local and

international non-government organizations,

academe, business, other partners and members

of the media.

Two buses are deployed for the caravan as

today‟s itinerary would have the Bus 1 team

visiting the three municipalities of Bantayan

Island in Madridejos, Bantayan and Sta. Fe while

Bus 2 is scheduled to visit Sogod, Borbon and

Tabugon.

Based on the schedule, the Bus 1 would

go to Tuburan, San Remigio and Daan

Bantayan tomorrow and the Bus 2 would head

towards Bogo City, Medellin and then Daan

Bantayan as the convergence point for all

participants.

The program for each stop in the identified

localities include courtesy call to the local chief

executive with short discussion, project visits

showcasing challenges and accomplishments and

the opportunity to interview at least three

beneficiaries per project.

In November 8 2013, typhoon Yolanda

dubbed as the strongest typhoon that ever hit

land ravaged Cebu especially the northern

part severely plummeting 16 local government

units.

Yolanda has displaced thousands of residents

in affected localities and paralyzed the agriculture

sector as survivors to this day, continue to rebuild

back their lives. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

Cebu kicks off 2-day caravan to Yolanda-hit areas Fayette C. Riñen

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CENTRAL VISAYAS, Nov. 4 (PIA) --- The Board of Investments (BOI) is strengthening efforts to further build sustainable

groundwork to boost investments in key areas of the country and meet the global business competition.

B OI, through its Domestic Investments

Promotion Service (DIPS) and the

Investment Assistance Service (IAS),

synchronized their respective programs to hold

the investment counseling and capability building

training on investments promotion with focus on

project plan preparation.

In a press release, Department of Trade

and Industry (DTI) said trainings are also meant

to refine the skills of the Local Economic

and Investment Promotion Officers (LEIPOs)

assigned in the Negosyo Centers in assisting small

and medium enterprises (SMEs) and providing

advanced advisory services on investments.

Apart from the DTI frontline staff and

LEIPOs, participants in trainings also include

economic stakeholders from the local chambers

of commerce and industry, industry associations,

SMEs, academe and representatives from the

other line agencies.

Since last year, DTI has been establishing

Negosyo Centers not just to assist businessmen

but also investors.

Towards the goal of facilitating business

and investment in the country, DTI has

worked closely with other government agencies

particularly local government units and private

sector to provide holistic services to MSMEs

wherever possible.

BOI is an attached agency of DTI that

works in collaboration with DTI‟s regional offices

in enhancing the capability of provincial frontline

staff to drive economic activities nationwide.

To know more about BOI, those interested

may visit the Investment Assistance Center (IAC)

at the GF, Industry and Investments Bldg, Sen. Gil

Puyat Ave., Makati City or call tel# (02) 895-3640

l o c a l 2 5 3 / 8 9 5 . 8 3 . 2 2 o r

email : bossac@boi.gov.ph (rmn/ays/PIA7/DTI7)

DTI, BOI boost provincial capability of investors

Amor Y. Saludar

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 4 (PIA) — Three Boholanos and two more were picked for this year’s annual Carlos

P. Garcia (CPG) Awards as Bohol pauses to remember Bohol’s most illustrious son during his 119th Birth Anniversary.

3 Boholanos get CPG awards

T he CPG Awards is an annual recognition

given to those who excelled in their

respective fields of endeavor, fields which

have reflected the ideals and philosophy of the

late Boholano President CPG, according to Gov.

Edgar Chatto.

For CPG‟s love of sports as he himself was

an chess player, CPG awarded Boholano boxer

Jessel Mark Magsayo for this year‟s sports citation.

Born in Tagbilaran in 1995, Magsayo has had

four wins in the 122 kilograms weight in 2013 and

another four wins in 2014.

Magsayo tucked more wins under his belt

fighting under the featherweight division with 12

fights 12 wins, ten of them under an impressive

knockout tally since his May 25, 2013 professional

debut.

Now the titleholder for the world Interim

Boxing Federation featherweight belt after he

defended his belt against Mexican Yardley Suarez

in Carson California USA, this October, Magsayo

brought pride and honor to Bohol, thus the CPG

award.

In the field of music, another CPG awardee

is former Bohol first lady Enriquieta Butalid.

A bachelor in Music, Piano major graduate of

the College of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Butalid

organized Bohol Cultural Society in 1984, Bohol

Youth Choir in 1980, a prime mover of the

arts awardee and woman achiever in the field of

music.

Herself the wife of former governor

Rolando Butalid, Enriquieta capped her

accomplishments with Excellence in Music award

by the City Government in 2015.

In the field of social development, 1025

CPG awardee is PROCESS Bohol Executive

Director and Bohol Alliance of Non Government

Organizations (Bangon) Director Emilia Roslinda.

A civil engineering graduate from the

University of Bohol, Rosalinda started her social

development work when she was elected Punong

Barangay of Buenos Aires, Tubigon.

Meanwhile, non-Boholanos as they are, two

more individuals receive the CGP awards in the

form of special citations for their consistent

service to Bohol and its people by way of their

service to their respective government offices.

Also cited was Philippine Ports Authority

Port Manager Annie Lee Manese, who has largely

been instrumental in the quick rehabilitation of

the tourist port of Tagbilaran and who has

consistently lobbied for the development of the

crucial public infrastructure that would be a

conduit of Bohol‟s over-all development.

For peace and order, CPG Awards issued a

special citation to PSSupt Dennis Agustin, Bohol‟s

top cop for his unquestionable dedication to bring

Bohol to its glorious perch as among the most

peaceful provinces in the country.

In the awarding ceremonies were local

officials and Congressman Leni Robredo, who was

the keynote speaker during the 119th CPG Birth

Anniversary celebrated on November 4.

Likewise, four barangay officials showed

their public service commitment as frontliners in

government when they were chosen out of the

thousands of potential candidates for this year's

The Outstanding Barangay Officials of the Year

(TOBOY) Awardees in commemoration of the

former President‟s 119th birth anniversary. (rmn/

rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 5 (PIA) – This city will host a three-day convention on inclusive education for student teachers in

the province starting December 3.

Dumaguete to host 3-day convention on inclusive education

T he convention, dubbed as “Spectrum:

Special and Inclusive Education Student

and Teachers‟ Convention" is organized

by the Movement of the Youth for Inclusive

Development through Education in ASEAN (MY

IDEA).

The event aims to gather 35 student

teachers from ten teacher education institutions

in Negros Oriental.

According to MY IDEA co-founder Rolando

Villamero Jr., the event aims to deepen the

understanding of student teachers on inclusive

education and make them advocates of this.

Inclusive education is a process based on the

philosophy that all children regardless of their

disability, gender, age, faith, ethnicity, and language

have the fundamental right to go to school and

learn with their peers, he explained.

Meanwhile, SPECTRUM convener Kathleen

Dawn Ricardo said the event is envisioned to

develop the skills of student teachers and provide

tools which will help them become effective

advocates of inclusive education.

One major output of the convention is the

call to action which will underscore the need to

include at least two special education subjects or

courses in all teacher education institutions in the

country.

This will ensure that student teachers have

the necessary skills in educating children with

disabilities in inclusive setting. “The reason why

we are investing in our student teachers because

we believe in the dynamism and commitment of

young people to make a difference in the lives of

children with disabilities,” says another MY IDEA

co-founder Eduard Joseph Narciso.

MY IDEA is a youth-led and youth run

initiative whose goal is to mobilize student

teachers in Negros Oriental to become advocates

of inclusive education.

This initiative is supported by the Young

Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and

U.S. Department of State.

On the other hand, the start of the

convention coincides with the observance of the

International Day of Persons with Disabilities,

Villamero added. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental/

with reports from Rolando Villamero Jr.)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

PNoy's visit to Arteche historical, says solon

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, Nov. 1 (PIA) - Eastern Samar Representative, Ben Evardone said on Friday that President

Benigno Aquino’s visit to Arteche town was historical.

H e said this in an apparent reply to

some wondering thinkers, why

Arteche and not Borongan city

proper when a lot of unpredictable

conditions could be said of such a far

place.

“It‟s historical,” the congressman

of the lone district of Eastern Samar

stressed in his short message before the

President‟s.

According to him, then Pres. Cory Aqui-

no opened the stretch from Oras town to

S a n P o l i c a r p o a n d t o w a r d s

Arteche. Unfortunately he said, it was

neglected by the next successive

administrations.

“In the 80s,” he continued, “it would

take one commuter five hours to reach Ar-

teche from Oras and the fare

was very much higher than in going to

Manila."

However today, he said, the Oras-San

Poli-Arteche-Lapinig-Mapanas national

highway can be taken at ease.

He also informed that while it took

eight hours by motorboat ride to Maslog

before, today one can directly go by land

because the road is concrete and not just

re-gravelled.

The Jipapad-Arteche road is also now

funded for concrete and just for an

all-weathered season road.

Recalling how Arteche people hungered

for better roads, he shared that,

the first time DPWH sent a vehicle

to the area in the 90‟s, children wondered

and got excited, they touched it all

over with their bare hands. A few hours

later, he said, the car transformed into a

clean one, as though it underwent a

car-wash session.

Pres. Aquino was the first President in

the later generations to have reached

Arteche. His visit was truly historical.

(PIA-08)

Biliran eng’g district implements quality control in school projects

NAVAL, Biliran, Nov. 3 (PIA) – In line with the mission of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to provide

and manage quality infrastructure, the Quality Assurance Section (QAS) of DPWH-Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO),

headed by Engr. David Adongay, Jr., District Engieer, implemented quality control activities in all 2015 school building projects

in Biliran province.

I n a report from DPWH-BDEO, the

agency commissioned E.B. Testing

Center of Tacloban City to conduct

series of sub-surface explorations at the

proposed project sites in various recipient

secondary school in the province.

A 10-meter deep bored hole was done

in three different locations per project site

which will serve as benchmark in the

exploration activity to determine soil

properties and the ability of the soil

foundation to resist against ground

settlement, the DPWH-BDEO report stated.

Engr. Reynaldo P. Penaflor, head of the

QAS of the DPWH-BDEO, said he send

some personnel of his office to witness the

conduct of the exploration in the proposed

project sites.

“In the design of school buildings,

soil preparation played an essential role in

the determination of the type of

foundation suitable to ensure structure

stability and safety”, Penaflor further said in

the report.

The report listed the 2015 school

building projects which will be implemented

in the different secondary schools in the

province of Biliran.

There are already two school

building projects that have been started at

present and these are the 2-storey,

6-classroom school building in Naval

National High School and the 2-storey,

4-classroom school building in Naval Night

High School both located in Naval,

Biliran.

Penaflor added that he has assigned

material engineers from his office to take

serious monitoring on the quality

control activities conducted on site

from the start until project completion.

(fj/PIA 8 Biliran)

By:Rodrigo S. Victoria

1,000 families in bunkhouses relocated before month’s end

H undreds of families who are living

in bunkhouses will soon be

transferred to their permanent

shelters located at the northern barangay.

This, after the National Housing

Authority conducted raffle draws Tuesday at

the resettlement areas in IPI, NHA and

Abucay bunkhouses.

Marilyn Lauzon, NHA regional manager

said, after the raffle of the lots and houses

the relocation activities will be done

immediately.

More than 600 families from IPI and

NHA bunkhouses are scheduled to be

transferred before this month ends to the

permanent housing units at Ridge View, Villa

Sofia and Villa Diana, all are located in the

northern barangay of Tacloban.

However, Lauzon informed that around

1,000 families are being targeted to be

relocated within this month.

Prior to this, more than 500 families

were already transferred to the permanent

housing units in the city. (ajc/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov.4 (PIA) --- Two years after Yolanda devastated the lives and properties in the city, the

government is gaining ground in bringing back the lives of the survivors of the super typhoon.

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Tacloban marks 2nd 'Yolanda' anniversary

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Nov.5 (PIA) – Two years after super typhoon Yolanda devastated the lives of the people of this city,

a simple yet meaningful commemoration will be conducted on November 7- 8, 2015.

T acloban City Mayor Alfred

Romualdez will lead the people

in its two-day second Yolanda

Anniversary Commemorative Rites in the

city.

He enjoins all Taclobanons to be

part of the yearly commemorative

observance.

“We ought to pass this practice

from generation to generation to remind

us to be prepared always whenever such a

disastrous calamity occurs again, “the Mayor

said.

Beginning Saturday, a holy mass will

be held at 6:00 o‟clock in the evening in

Anibong Marker, Barangay Anibong, this

city followed by Reading of Dedication and

Unveiling of Anibong Memorial Marker.

In the same venue, the Philippine

Madrigal Singers and Power Dance by

Douglas Nierras dubbed as “Concert of

Hope” will perform at the Anibong

Marker followed by a free premier showing

of documentary film titled “Fields of Hope”

at Robinson‟s Movieworld.

On November 8, the day Yolanda

wrought havoc to the people of the city, as

early as 6:00 o‟clock in the morning, a

commemorative walk of different

contingents will be held with the

participation of the officials of the city, the

local residents, various agencies and the

private sector.

The contingents will gather at

Astrodome grounds for the holy mass

followed by a commemorative program,

ringing of bells, siren blasts and a storm

sound.

At 8:45 in the morning, the local

chief executive will lead the unveiling of the

Astrodome Memorial Marker.

In the afternoon on the same day,

another free premier documentary of “Fields

of Hope” will be reshown at Robinsons

Movieworld followed by a holy mass at 3:00

o‟clock in the afternoon and the blessing of

graves of Yolanda victims at Holy Cross

Memorial in Barangay Basper.

At 4:00 o‟clock in the afternoon,

there will be an unveiling of commemorative

tablets at DZR airport followed

by the “Light a candle for Yolanda

Victims” by the survivors who will

line up along the highways and streets of the

city.

Said lighting of candles will be

done simultaneously along the highways

and streets of Palo, Tanauan and Tolosa,

Leyte.

The day will end through a

sundown memorial at Cancabato Bay

where a release of lanterns, candles at

flowers will be held at 9:00 o‟clock in the

DepEd holds division school press conference in Mondragon CATARMAN, Northern Samar, Oct. 31 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) of the Province of Northern Samar

conducted a 3-day division school press conference from October 27-29 in Mondragon, Northern Samar.

W ith the theme, “The role of the

21st Century Campus Journalists

in Upholding Good Governance,

Leadership and Transparency,” aims to

demonstrate understanding of the

importance of campus journalism by

expressing it through different journalistic

endeavors and approaches.

Schools Division Superintendent Dr.

Manuel Albano said that the contest

categories are editorial writing, news

writing, feature writing, sports writing,

editorial cartooning, photojournalism,

science and technology writing and copy

reading and headline writing for individual

writing contest, radio broadcasting &

scriptwriting and collaborative publishing for

group contests.

Albano informed that the individual

writing contest is designed to showcase the

competencies of campus journalist and

demonstrate holistic skills and proficiency

through media exposure, intermission and

press conferences, and promote free

responsible journalism.

He added that only students or pupil

writers from school with publication and

are duly recognized as member of the

editorial staff in school level are allowed to

compete in the various individual and team

contests.

Participants to this year‟s DSPC are

elementary and high school writers at one

(1) per individual contest category, and

seven (7) for radio broadcasting &

script writing and the collaborative

publishing and a coach for each individual

contest and each team both for English and

Filipino, he said.

Winners during the contests will

emerge as qualifiers to the regional level

and a must participation to the said level is

required otherwise winnable writers

who cannot make it to RSPC may not join

DSPC, he stressed. (PIA-NSamar)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

LGU-SoLeyte to bring more community-based livelihood training

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 31 (PIA) - Encouraged with the testimonies of a better economic condition now

attained by beneficiaries of community-based skills trainings, the provincial social welfare agency wants to line up more

livelihood trainings in 2016.

T he Southern Leyte provincial

government will be pouring more

funds in the livelihood program

specifically in capacitating the people, so that

more community-based livelihood skills

trainings down to the remotest barangay in the

province will be undertaken, according to

Alfonso Espina III, PSWDO Statistician Aide

reported during the Maasin City Action Center

Cable TV program last Tuesday.

Community-based trainings, which are

mostly conducted down at the barangay halls,

were requested by the barangay folks thru

their barangay officials, he added.

That sometime in June this year, one of

their skills trainings was conducted at

hinterland Barangay Hilaan, a remote barangay

of Bontoc municipality.

According to Espina, skills trainings on

accu-pressure and massage theraphy,

motorcycle small engine repair, foot spa,

manicure, pedicure, hair dressing, make-up,

shielded metal arc welding, among

others, are up for the people to pick their

choices.

He also shared a positive testimony of

one Sogod beneficiary who generated extra

income from the accu-pressure and massage

theraphy skills acquired in the livelihood

skills trainings provided by the provincial

government right at their barangay hall.

Espina disclosed that an audit system is

needed to be put in place in order to trace the

impact on the beneficiaries especially in their

employment brought by acquired skills

trainings. (ajc/PIA8 SoLeyte)

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

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com

PIA 8, Children‟s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com