Vol 6 Issue 24 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 June 13 - 19, 2016

In this Issue

PhilHealth portal installed in accredited CV hospitals

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

5,000 jobs up for jobseekers at Catbalogan’s jobs fair

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 15(PIA) -- More

than five thousand job vacancies both local and overseas employment were made available for jobseekers in the Kalayaan jobs fair at Catbalogan Plaza, Catbalogan

City. According to a press release of the Department

of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office 8, regional director Elias D. Cayanong said, at least

1, 300 local jobs from 20 local employers and 4, 000 job orders from eight overseas recruitment agencies are being offered to all jobless and those seeking

for jobs. ―We are grateful to the city government of

Catbalogan through the leadership of Mayor Stephanie

Uy for partnering with us as we are very optimistic that this will give the unemployed, displaced workers and the newly graduates the opportunity to find a job,‖

Cayanong said.

Local employers participating in the jobs fair were

Catbalogan Water District, Samar Multi-Purpose Cooperative Mart, SAMICO Kabuhayan Program, Rose Pharmacy, Jolibee Catbalogan branch, Generika Pharmacy,

Leyte Communications Training Center, Inc., Dranix Distributorship Inc., Super Metro Calbayog, Paramount Human Resources Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Radiowealth Finance, MSS Cycle Trading, LBC express Inc., Gaisano

Central Store, Mang Inasal Sutheresteve Foods Inc., Sinai Manpower Agency, Once Central Mall, Eperformax Contract Centers and BPO.

Two national government agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Technical Educational Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also

participated in the jobs fair. The Kalayaan jobs fair was one of the highlights of the

118th Philippine Independence Day celebration. (ajc/cba/

DOLE-8/PIA-8)

ILOILO CITY, June 15 (PIA6)—The United States

Agency for International Development (USAID) said that while there are negative effects of La Nina, there are also positive impacts which the public should take advantage of.

In a recent forum on Rainwater Harvesting and Storage, Engr. Demosthenes Reboble, USAID Be Secure Project Water Technical Specialist, said it can impact on water resources and infrastructures.

Reboble said for water utilities with water supply, there is abundance of water from rivers to draw from. He said that waters from heavy rains will flow in abundance

in the rivers. ―For those with ground water supply, the aquifer

recharge will increase ground water level,‖ he added.

The recharge will give relief to aquifers that were heavily drawn from during the El Niño, the water specialist further said.

USAID Be Secure Project Climate Resiliency Team Leader Elizea Gozun said on top of the positive impacts, are huge savings from water bills if water harvesting

facilities are in place. Gozun and her team has been doing information

campaign, especially among local government units, to make water harvesting part of its development plan.

―They can make this part of their initiatives to make their communities flood-resilient,‖ she said.

In that same forum, experts from the Department of

Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources presented various technologies for rainwater harvesting and storage, which

water utilities and LGUs can adopt. Meanwhile, in the event of La Niña water resources

can also be affected, like contamination and loss of water quality due to flooding.

USAID water experts has advised that the public should heed health advisories on how to keep water safe for human consumption, like boiling and water treatment.

(JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CEBU CITY, June 13 (PIA) – Philippine

Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) installed the Health Care Institution (HCI) portal in accredited hospitals and facilities in Central Visayas.

As of April this year, 93 percent of accredited hospitals already have access to the HCI portal to provide members with an easy, fast, and hassle-free way of having their health insurance applied to their

hospital bill. The portal allows facilities to quickly verify

upon admission if a patient is entitled to PhilHealth

coverage. Th e p o r t a l g en e r a te s a Ph i lHea l t h

Benefit Eligibility Form (PBEF) which provides

information as to whether a patient is covered

based on the Corporation‘s pol icies on m emb e r sh i p a n d de p e n de n c y , q u a l i f y i n g

contribution, and compliance to the 45-day coverage limit per year.

With this, members don‘t need to bring a copy of

their Member Data Record (MDR) and/or proof of contribution.

Upon portal verification, the facility will automatically

deduct from the member‘s hospital bill his/her health insurance coverage.

A case rate predetermined per medical condition or procedure.

Only when the member‘s records are not updated or when there are discrepancies in the information provided that supporting document(s) will be

required in order for the health insurance coverage to be applied.

PhilHealth enjoins all accredited hospitals

and other health care facilities to make use of the

portal. Members are also encouraged to avail themselves

of the ease afforded by this system. (rmn/hfg/PIA-7/Philhealth-7)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Maj. Gen. Jet B Velarmino, Commander 8ID,

Philippine Army, Hon. Sharee Ann Tan Delos

Santos, Governor, Samar Province together

with other local government units join the Flag

Raising Ceremony during the celebration of

118th Philippine Independence Day held at

Samar Provincial Capitol ground on June 12,

2016.

By Elsa S. Subong

Incoming Department of Education Secretary

Leonor Briones talks about education reforms

and its importance in attaining social and

economic independence during the

Independence Day celebration in Quezon

Park, Dumaguete City. On the other hand,

Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria led

other city officials in offering flowers at the

foot of the Rizal Monument in Quezon Park.

(PIA7-NegOr)

USAID cites positive impact of La Niña

Hazel F. Gloria

ICPO OIC Director PSSUPT Remus Zacharias

Canieso encourages everyone to do his or her

part to help end the illegal drug problem in the

city at the Anti-Drug Summit organized by the

Iloilo City government at Jaro Gym, June 15.

USAID Be Secure Project‘s Elizea Gozun bats for water harvesting

as a way to take advantage of the ―positive impact‖ of the La Niña

phenomenon. (PI6 file photo)

WESTERN VISAYAS 2

Kalayaan jobs fair has 95 HOTS

ILOILO CITY, June 15 (PIA6) - - A total of 95 job seekers found local employment on Sunday, June 12, after they were hired on

the spot (HOTS) at the Kalayaan 2016 Job Fair.

H eld in commemoration of the

country‘s 118th Independence Day,

the Kalayaan Job Fair is one of the

three job fairs being initiated by the

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)

every year. The other two are the Labor Day

Job Fair on May 1 and the DOLE Anniversary

Job Fair on December 8.

Based on the data from DOLE 6, as of 5

PM on June 12, some 3,405 applicants

registered for the Kalayaan 2016 job fair, 411

qualified for further interview and 95 hired on

the spot, all for local employment.

The figure is higher as compared to last

year where 81 jobseekers who registered in

the Kalayaan 2015 job fair conducted here in

this city got hired on the spot.

This year, 12,356 job openings were

available at the job fair, mostly or about 8,768

for overseas employment. The rest are local

employment.

DOLE 6 OIC Assistant Regional Director

Salome Siaton in her message lauded the

efforts and support given by partners, DOLE

family of agencies and participating employers

to the job fair whose primary intention is to

generate employment not only in the region

but in the country as this was conducted

simultaneously nationwide on Sunday.

―This activity will never be realized if not

for the support of our partners. We can never

be successful in facilitating employment to

jobseekers and employers who are looking for

skills without the cooperation of our partners,‖

said Siaton.

The job fair was participated in by

thirty-three local companies, ten BPO

entities and eleven overseas recruitment

agencies.

Siaton appealed to employers to

immediately hire on the spot qualified

applicants ―so that at the end of the day,

we can say that the efforts we all put

together have value because we were able

to transform the life of an unemployed

individual‖.

She noted a recent news report that

there is a decrease in the unemployment

situation in Region 6 in April this year and

credited this to the cooperation shown by

everyone in the region particularly the local

government units such as the city and

provincial governments of Iloilo which push for

the increasing number of employed persons in

the region.

Last June 3, the Iloilo provincial

government Public Employment Service Office

also conducted a job fair with 392 HOTS and

on June 10, the Iloilo City PESO with 21

HOTS. (JCM/laf/PIA6)

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

By Lilibeth A. French

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, June 13 (PIA6) – Gov. Victor A. Tanco called on the present generation of Filipinos to protect and

preserve the hard-fought independence during a simple program to mark the 118th Independence Day celebration last June 12

at the Provincial Capitol Grounds here.

Protect, preserve hard-fought independence – Gov

By Alex A. Lumaque

“ There is a hero within us waiting to be

awakened. A hero that does not need a

baptism of death to be recognized as

such,‖ Tanco stressed, adding that collective

actions from every member of the community

can bring change for development.

The provincial chief executive was joined

during the celebration by 3rd Infantry Division

(3ID) commander Brig. Gen. Harold Cabreros,

Capiz 1st District Cong. and governor – elect

Antonio Del Rosario‘s senior staff officer

Melanie Arancillo, among others.

The hour-long celebration, that also

included cultural performances by the

Silak Dance Company of Filamer Christian

Univers ity , Capiz State Univers ity

– Roxas City main campus chorale and

a private dance academy, capped with

the release of 118 doves which symbolizes

liberation and freedom from influence and

captivity.

A flag-raising and wreathlaying at Dr. Jose

Rizal Monument kicked off the celebration that

has the theme ―Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan,

Pagsulong.‖

The celebration serves as a reminder to

every Filipino of the heroes‘ gallantry that lead

to the dec larat ion of Phi l ipp ine

Independence 118 years ago, Tanco noted.

(JCM/AAL/PIA 6 Capiz)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, June 15 (PIA6) - - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Negros Island Region is

developing the Payment of Ecosystems Services (PES) for the Northern Negros Natural Park.

W ith less than P5-million DENR

allocation for the protection and

conservation of the NNNP, the

DENR-NIR intends to collect fees within from

owners of structures within the government

protected area under the National Integrated

Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

DENR-NIR regional director Al Orolfo

said these owners or entities with entrance

fees, use of other facilities for eco-tourism

where they earn have to pay the PES system

but the amount is still subject for deliberation

and approval of a committee. ―Whatever is

earned in the PES, 75 percent will be retained

for the NNNP development and protection

while only 25 percent goes back to the

National Treasury. Examples are the

telecommunication towers at Mt. Kalandog

and with those, the NNNP will already earn

millions,‖ Orolfo explained.

Orolfo hopes they will finish the blue

print or the general management for the

NNNP before the year ends for its

conservation and development to make the

activities in NNNP more sustainable through

eco-tourism planning, eco-tourism investment

and eco-tourism enterprise development.

This month, DENR deployed enumerators

at NNNP to survey protected areas occupants

and tag if structures are within the restricted

zone or multiple use zone and if the claimants

are tenured or non-tenured.

―Even those in the multi-use zone,

economic activities will be allowed in a

sustainable manner, the board will deliberate if

their structures will be retained or not,‖

Orolfo adding that those in the restricted

areas will be a no build zone and owners have

to demolish their own structures in the area.

DENR-NIR will meet with the more than

90 structure owners issued a Cease-and-Desist

Order (CDO) this June to present to them

their violations inorder for them to craft their

rehabilitation efforts.*(jcm/EAD-PIA6 Negros

Occidental)

DENR to collect fees for NNNP

By Easter Anne D. Doza

WESTERN VISAYAS 3

ILOILO CITY, June 15 (PIA6) --- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-6 has found over 88 sinkholes in the municipality

of Buenavista, Guimaras.

I n a press briefing held Wednesday at the

MGB-6 office here, MGB Regional

Director Leo Van Juguan said the

preliminary report of the detailed Karst

subsidence assessment that was conducted

from September 2 to October 7, 2015, found

88 sinkholes and 85 caves in 17 barangays in

the town of Buenavista.

Sinkholes are ground depressions or

openings formed when the underlying soluble

rocks are dissolved, resulting in voids

underground which can weaken the support

for the overlying surface.

According to MGB-6, the karst

subsistence assessment found the presence of

sinkholes in the following barangays:

Agsanayan, Dagsaan, Daragan, Getulio, Mabini,

Montpiller, Navalas, New Poblacion, Salvacion,

San Isidro, San Miguel, San Pedro, San Roque,

Tacay, Taminla, Tastasan, and Zaldivar.

Subsidence due to sinkhole collapse is one

of the most dangerous geohazard because of

its extreme unpredictability.

This information can be used by local

government planners and individual landowners

to make decisions on where to build dwellings

and other structures.

In the Philippines, subsidence hazard in

karst terrain have not been given much

attention in the past until the strong

earthquakes in Negros Oriental in 2012 and

Bohol in 2013 exposed the numerous sinkholes

in these areas.

These phenomena were proven

destructive and have affected built-up

communities, roads, schools, administrative

buildings, and agricultural farmlands.

The recognition of the devastating damage

that can result from this hazard and the

presence of extensive karst areas in the

country prompted MGB of the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources to include

karst subsidence assessment in the National

Geohazards Mapping and Assessment Program.

(JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

MGB discovers 88 sinkholes in Guimaras

Leonard T. Pineda I

4Ps supports 3,629 scholars

By Pilar S. Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique, June 16 (PIA6) - - Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is

supporting 3,629 college students through the Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA) in Region 6 and Negros

Occidental.

O f the total number 207 have graduated

this year coming from the first batch of

scholars while the 3,422 are still

studying and enrolled in different schools in the

Region said Corina Rene A. Magbanua,

Institutional Partnership and Development

Officer in-charge of SGPPA and Civil Society

organizations.

For Antique, 53 have graduated and the 349

are still enrolled in different schools. Aside, from

University of Antique, others are enrolled at

Capiz State University, Aklan State University,

Guimaras State College, Iloilo Science and

Technology University and West Visayas State

College University.

Jomalyn Lucena from the island

municipality of Caluya, Antique is one

among the graduates who finished BS Agriculture

at West Visayas State University as Magna Cum

Laude.

Magbanua said, this is one of a kind

opportunity for students from poor families to

finish their college education with support from

government in the amount of P30,000 per

semester to cover their tuition fees, cost of

living allowance, books uniforms and other

school needs.

Apart from education, they are also

covered with PhilHealth in case of health

emergencies. The university where they are

enrolled has designated focal persons or

counselors who are monitoring the students.

Parents of these scholars need not worry

of the sustainability of the program since

the budget for the completion of their

courses is assured under Republic Act No.

10687 or the ―Unified Student Financial

Assistance System for Tertiary Education

(UniFAST) Act‖.

On part of the students, they are

encouraged to do well in their studies, making

the most of their scholarship and serve as model

to others who strive to rise above the challenges

of poverty, said Magbanua. (JCM/PSM/

PIA6Antique)

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

Aklan is prepared for disaster - PDRRMC

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA6) – The province of Aklan is prepared and ready to disaster management and operations this rainy

season, the Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) said.

A ccording to PDRRMC Officer Galo

Ibardolaza their office has 24-hour on

duty personnel monitoring the weather

situation, and ready to respond to any kind of

emergency or disaster.

―It is a Standard Operating Procedure of

the PDRRMC and all of the Municipal DRRMC

here in the province to monitor everyday the

weather especially during this rainy season or

the southwest monsoon wherein occurrence

of typhoons are probable,‖ Ibardolaza said.

Water level sensor in bridges of Madalag

and Mobo is also monitored 24/7 to supervise

the critical level of water in Aklan River.

The monitoring enables the DRRMOs give

early warnings to their respective areas of

responsibilities, which allow the community to

prepare, he added. ―The province is investing

more on giving early warnings to the people

because if the typhoon or the disaster strikes,

you could not stop it anymore, what is needed

is to lessen the impact of the disaster for being

prepared, like loss of lives,‖ the PDRRMC chief

said. Response capability of each municipality is

also strengthened; the responders are

equipped with necessary skills and equipment

for efficient and effective rescue operations.

The coordination of every MDRRMC,

according to Ibardolaza contributes to the

preparedness of the province.

On May 30, the first coordination meeting

of all MDRRMC in Aklan was conducted

wherein the housing of Aklan Disaster

Managers Association (ADMA) was established

together with its constitution and by-laws.

―The meeting was also a venue of

exchanging good practices, ideas, suggestions

and offering hands to municipalities that need

help; and with the established association in the

province, disasters management is also

strengthened,‖ Ibardolaza added.

The conducted Rescuelympics in Aklan

according to PDRRMC Chief revealed the

readiness of the province for disaster and

calamity rescue operations in terms of

equipment and responders‘ capabilities and

abilities. Meanwhile, the PDRRMC reminds the

public not to take for granted the onset of

rainy season as based on the weather forecast

of authorized agencies here or even of other

countries; the impact, strength and duration of

El Nino will also be the same to that of La Nina

phenomena, which is expected to hit the

Philippines. (JSC/SQP-PIA6 Aklan)

By Sheila Q. Patoza

CENTRAL VISAYAS 4

DUMAGUETE CITY, June 14 (PIA) – Incoming Department of Education Secretary Leonor Briones has underscored the

importance of having reforms in the country’s education system to achieve social and economic independence in her speech

during the 118th Independence Day celebration in the city yesterday.

Incoming DepEd chief keynotes

Dgte Independence Day celeb

B riones was the keynote speaker of the

Independence Day celebration held at Quezon Park,

In her speech, she asked the audience

composed of city officials and representatives of various sectors if they experience social and economic independence.

Briones pointed out that Negros Oriental

belongs to the list 16 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

―If you look at Dumaguete City, you cannot see

a strong indicator that there are many poor people but if you go to the hinterlands and coastal towns, you will see the poor,‖ she said.

Briones stressed there is a big connection between employment and poverty and this is where the role of education comes in.

She cited that reforms in the country‘s education system are necessary because it can lead to employment of more people.

Briones acknowledged there is an ongoing debate on the implementation of Senior High School (SHS).

―Whether you have SHS or not, every year, on

an average of 1. 2 million kids who graduate from high school, only 50 percent proceed to college. There is a big fall out,‖ she said.

She said some of the reasons why some school children do not proceed to college is because they could no longer afford the tuition or because

some parents require their children to work in their

fields. The incoming education secretary

noted that with the SHS, young people have

many options on what educational track to take, namely: academic track, technical-vocational -livelihood track which include agriculture, and

sports track. Briones emphasized that SHS is a precursor to

college and the teaching methods applied in this

program are similar to college level. Moreover, she also noted that the

reform in the country‘s education system

will also bring benefit to young people seeking employment.

Briones explained that the number of years

spent in basic education is a one of the factors

employers consider in hiring an applicant. ―Whether you are nurse, a doctor, or a

physicist, they will still count the number of years in

basic education,‖ she pointed out. With the ASEAN integration happening,

Briones also said foreigners who are from other

ASEAN countries get more chance of getting hired in

multi-national companies because they have more years in basic education.

With this, Briones declared that reforms in the

country‘s educational system are long overdue. ―These reforms are long overdue because we

really need to catch up,‖ she said.

Meanwhile, Briones also added the government must intensify its efforts to push for ―Education for All‖ or giving quality education opportunities to

many especially indigenous people through alternative learning systems.

She concluded her speech by pointing out that

education is one of the powerful tools in raising public‘s consciousness on all aspects independence. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

CEBU CITY, June 16 (PIA) – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to release the new Listahanan

database on June 27.

Updated Listahanan to be released June 27

R uben Boybanting of DSWD-7, in the

recent Kapihan sa PIA Cebu, said that on June 27 at the Cebu Parklane Hotel, the

results of the updated database of the country‘s

poorest of the poor known as Listahanan will be launched.

Listahanan is the new term coined for the National Household Targeting System for Poverty

Reduction (NSTPR). He said Listahanan is a survey that is done

every four years. It made use of indicators that will

identify and locate the country‘s poor. ―One of the bases is the family income which is

about 18,000 for the entire year or lesser, there are

also other indicators like size of the house, materials used, etc,‖ Boybanting said.

He said this will also show how many of those

identified as poor in the first survey are no longer within the category due to the interventions done by the government.

Listahanan is a good tool for government

agencies and non-government organizations for the targeting of social assistance programs.

―This will identify who and where are

these poor located so it is easy for them to locate,‖ Boybanting said.

The survey ran for a year beginning

second quarter last year with four phases, namely: Preparatory Phase, Data Collection and Analysis Phase, Validation and Finalization phase, and

the Report Generation Phase. Other than the targeting of Social Assistance

Programs, results of Listahanan are vital tools for planning and research.

Listahanan is pursuant to Executive Order 867 which adopts the system as the mechanism identifying the poor households who shall be

recipients f social protection programs nationwide. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

By Ferliza C. Contratista

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

CEBU, June 16 (PIA) – PAGASA-Visayas Director Oscar Tabada urged the public to prepare for the onslaught of La Niña

which is expected to occur starting October this year and will extend until February of 2017.

“ There is 75 percent chance of La Niña to

happen and that most often, it happens after a strong El Niño,‖ said Tabada during a

presentation on ‗El Niño/La Niña Watch and

Weather Outlook‘ to some officials and representatives of regional line agencies.

La Niña is characterized by unusually cold

surface temperatures of the ocean and is associated

with abnormal heavy rainfall, temperature and tropical cyclones.

Tabada said La Niña‘s strength can be visibly

felt by November, December and January as the country expects 14 to15 tropical cyclones before the year ends.

With La Niña, there will be more cyclones,

stronger typhoons and severe flooding, said the PAGASA-Visayas chief adding that its effects are more disastrous than El Niño.

―Visayas and Mindanao will be more affected by La Niña compared to Luzon,‖ bared Tabada due to the prevalence of ‗habagat‘ or south west monsoon

which brings frequent heavy rainfall.

Tabada specifically warned Cebuanos to be vigilant as Cebu is the target of typhoons during the last quarter of the year based on past

trend. In his presentation, the prediction is that the

Philippines will continue to experience El Niño and

La Niña even up to 2080 while Central Visayas is at

high risk. Currently, there are 13 Doppler radars

including the one in Mactan, Cebu to help provide

accurate weather forecast while the radars are also capable of measuring rainfall including the possibility of flooding, said Tabada.

Tabada said two radars are now being set up

and additional four new ones have been purchased of which Bohol is one recipient.

The public is advised to check the daily weather

forecast at pagasa.dost.gov.ph and click regional forecast and again click Visayas to find out the details of the current weather situation. (fcr/PIA7)

La Niña to hit Oct 2016 till Feb 2017

Fayette C. Riñen

CENTRAL VISAYAS 5

CEBU, June 13 (PIA) – A fund drive for a cause opened yesterday to seek the public’s generosity to help send children of fallen

soldiers to school during the ―Bayan, Bayani‖ activity in commemoration of 118 years of freedom.

Fund drive for children of fallen soldiers up

B rig. Gen. Roberto Domines Jr., deputy

commander of the Central Command (Centcom)-Armed Forces of the Philippines

in his speech said ―soldiers are modern-day heroes

too as they leave their families behind and prepare to sacrifice their lives to defend our country.‖

Domines said it is the supreme duty of the soldiers to protect the Filipino people and defend

the sovereignty of the State which is why people can sleep well at night.

One of the featured activities of the ―Bayan,

Bayani‖ undertaking is the fund drive where well-meaning citizens are urged to donate any

amount to fund the education of children of soldiers

who died in the line of duty. The fund drive dubbed ‗Be a Hero to our

Heroes‘ children‘ is done in cooperation with the

Hero Foundation, a group that supports families of fallen soldiers and Ayala Center Cebu.

Donation boxes are located at the mall entrances for the whole month of June.

On June 25, a love concert for a cause at 6:00 p.m. is set at the Ayala Terraces, also for the benefit of soldiers.

Part of the Independence Day celebration is a five-day exhibit of military interactive gears and

equipment and a miniature military camp called

‗Kampo Sugbo‘ at the same mall. The exhibit which opened yesterday will

run until Friday to give civilians a glimpse of military

life including camp operations and military hardware.

During yesterday‘s program, the Centcom band wowed shoppers, spectators and guests to a series

of standard music clapping their hands from various floor levels to show their appreciation.

Some civilians took time out to check the

exhibit while some cannot resist having their photos taken beside military gears. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU, 13 June (PIA) --- Acting Cebu City Mayor Margarita ―Margot‖ Osmeña reminded Cebuanos of their responsibility as

caretakers of the heroism of the country’s forefathers while at same time promoting equality for the good of everyone.

O smeña said this during the Cebu City

government‘s flag raising ceremony at the Cebu Hall‘s Plaza Sugbo in commemoration

of the 118th Philippine Independence Day.

In her message, Osmeña reminded Cebuanos that as members of the sovereign nation, everyone has the responsibility as caretakers of the country‘s liberty, justice, peace and pursuit of

happiness. ―We must do our share they have done theirs,

we must continue to honor and respect what they

already have done for us, we must challenge ourselves to work towards equality among all sectors of society,‖ she added.

Osmeña stressed that each one has a role

to play in the society and that each one deserves

assurance of good treatment as Filipinos. ―We must recognize that every single member

of our community has a role to play and assured

them of their humanity,‖ she noted. Osmeña added that the quest for security

and the fight against fear, ignorance, and poverty requires combined efforts in order to achieve true

freedom. ―We work together, so that our people are

protected not only from external enemies but from

fear, ignorance and poverty, until then we can never call ourselves truly free,‖ the acting mayor stressed.

―No one will be left behind, and with your

support and always with God‘s grace we will be able

to be called a truly free people,‖ Osmeña said. Cebu City held the celebration of the 118th

Philippine Independence themed with ―Kalayaan

2016 Pagkakaisa, Pag-aambagan, Pagsulong‖ at Plaza Sugbo and was attended by officials and representatives from Philippine Regional Office (PRO-7), Armed Forces of the Philippine-Central

Command (AFP-CentCom), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-7), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG-Central Visayas), Boy Scout of the Philippine

and Girl Scout of the Philippines, national government agencies, civil societies, veterans of war, and from the Consul of Japan and United States of

America. (rmn/ays/PIA7)

Acting mayor tells Cebuanos: Be caretakers

of freedom

Amor Y. Saludar

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 13 (PIA) – It is almost like hitting two birds with one stone, but more appropriately it is netting as

much in a single haul.

Bohol project among region’s sustainable business models

A business venture fed by communities picking

up discarded fishing nets from the seas and coastlines of Talibon and Bien Unido in Bohol

attained as many in a haul: cleaner seas, healthier

ecosystems, and communities earning extra income and technology.

One of the region‘s sustainable business models showcased at the Negosyo, Konsumer At Iba Pa

(NKATBP) at the Hotel Marco Polo in Cebu is Net Works Philippines which shared the limelight with the region‘s most sustainable business models

during the three-day One Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Services.

Net Works Philippines Project Manager Amado

Blanco explained that the company envisioned a business that would help conserve and maintain a healthy marine and freshwater ecosystem in the

country‘s most environmentally critical area: the Danajon Double Barrie Reef areas.

Often referred by conservationists as the

center of the center of biodiversity, Danajon also

feeds fishing communities who still need to internalize resource conservation and environment protection.

Populated by large fishing communities who

mostly use fishing nets in their fish gathering activities, Net Works also saw how discarded or abandoned torn nylon nets continue to damage reefs,

even killing fish that still get entangled in them, Blanco shared.

We have allocated a day for coastal clean up in September but we discard plastics to the seas 364

days, he noted. ―Plastic debris in our oceans are damaging the

ecosystem and nylon fishing nets represent a large

portions of plastics in our oceans,‖ he said. Seeking out a new and better way of doing

sustainable business and pitching in the goal of

eliminating or cutting dependence on fossil fuel by switching to bio-based materials, Blanco said they put up their inclusive multi-sectoral social

entrepreneurship in Net Works. The idea is simple as it is novel: create a

family-traded supply chain for nylon fishing nets

which uses an inclusive business model to benefit the

poor communities and the environment. The system is simple: ask the community to

gather discarded fishing nets, bring them to buying

centers in their villages, and in turn they get paid.

To sustain the buying operations, together with ZSL Philippines, Net Works set up community banks and credit associations to respond to the biggest

challenge: incentivize the collection and generate buy-ins.

The collected nets are then baled, sent to a regional buying station which then ships it to Slovenia

where a recycling happens making the nets into yarns.

The yarns are then used as raw material for

carpet tiles. To Blanco, among the biggest gains of the

project are the benefits it accrues to the community:

cleaner coastlines, better ecosystems, alternative livelihood and setting up of a social infrastructure that is inclusive and enriching as they can get

no-nonsense business advice from partners. With Net Works, DTI believes the business

model can be used for other partners, where a

crucial industry partner must bankroll some funds,

strengthen memberships and social infrastructures, while designing more and more socially inclusive business systems. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

EASTERN VISAYAS 6

DTI helps local business groups, buyers

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, June 13 (PIA) – The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry here is in the thick of

activities aimed to support local Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

T he 3-day program on June 21-23,

is referred as a breakthrough

initiative to drive at full speed

the growth and development in the

countryside.

It was learned that a series of focused

and integrated menu of seminars,

consultations, action planning and

documentation of business and consumer

concerns and solutions will be given to

the MSMEs.

Some experts and enablers from

other regions are expected to come to

Tacloban for the big event.

DTI director Cynthia Nierras

informed that they are pushing for the

competitiveness of region 8‖s SMEs.

Foremost, DTI is focussed to provide

the leading major industries in the region

with assistance. These industries are

dominated by processed food products:

Coco-based products, Banana based

products, marine products, natural health

care products, e.g. Tulmeric powders and

virgin coconut oil.

Nierras also said, that region 8 is rich

with coco choir products which is of great

demand abroad, e.g. doormats.

Copper products are found in Leyte

which is an upcoming Copper Hub in the

region.

She shared that in Leyte, there is a

booming Cacao plantation which can

boost the supply of the raw product in the

region instead of importing it from

Mindanao.

DTI likewise reported of an ―SSF

Food Retort Packaging Project of Eastern

Visayas State University which was

granted of a P5M worth equipment which

can process favourite foods delicacies. It

is said that the machine can extend the

shelf-life of a delicacy, like the famous

chocolate Moron of Tacloban.

― A six-day shelf-life of the Moron can

last up to six month with the Retort

machine‖, Dir. Nierras shared, ―and, other

food products can also be subjected to

the equipment‖, she added.

The grand opening program of DTI‘s

Negosyo Konsumer at iba pa program will

witness the presence of DTI Secretary,

Adrian S. Cristobal at the Alejandro Hotel

come June 21.(PIA-8)

School year opens smoothly in EVisayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 13 (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd-8) in Eastern Visayas opened the school year

expecting no major hitches for the more than a million students trooping to the different schools in the region.

T he said number of students

which includes those attending

the senior high school will start

the expected 200 days in school, Monday,

June 13.

Jasmin Calzita, DepEd-8 information

officer said the number of students is

expected to rise because of the full

implementation of the K to 12 program of

the government.

Per DepEd‘s record, as of November

29, 2015, about 68,447 students have

enrolled for the senior high though the

department informed that the number will

probably increase pending information

from the different schools divisions across

the region.

Calzita also said that classes this

school year will start formally this Monday

as the classrooms are ready for the

students.

―Brigada Eskwela‖ conducted

before the formal start of classes usually

in May, made sure to repair or fix

damaged school facilities and clean the

school surroundings so students need not

spend the first day of classes cleaning their

classrooms.

The education official further said

that there is enough classrooms for

every school in the region because

of the contingency plan made by the

department to use classrooms of adjacent

schools which still have unused

classrooms.

The regional DepEd is strictly

enforcing the no collection policy while

also informing that one teacher can now

handle 40 to 45 students. (AJC/PIA8

Aurora J. Casimpan

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

Leyte province marks 118th PH Independence Day

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 12 (PIA) — The Provincial Government of Leyte joins the nation in the commemoration of the

118th Philippine Independence Day today June 12, 2016 through a simple ceremony at the capitol grounds.

B efore the program, a mass was

held followed by the flag raising

ceremony, wreath laying and

releasing of ballons attended by the

Philippine National Police led by Leyte

Provincial Sr. Supt. Franco Simborio,

Leyte‘s board member Ma. Mimietta

Bagulaya, jail officers, some department

heads and employees of the provincial

government of Leyte.

In his short message read by Leyte‘s

board member Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya,

Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla

emphasized the importance of

remembering the sacrifices of our heroes

and their exceptional traits that are worth

imitating in present days.

―Today, we have the opportunity of

remembering their scarifices, we can also

learn from their enthusiasm and

self-confidence-a number of traits which

will be useful in facing today‘s challenges as

well,‖the governor said.

The governor believes that to fulfill

what was fought for 118 years ago it is but

necessary for the government to take

important decisions that will contribute to

the nation‘s progress. Inspired by the

bravery and commitment of the Filipino

soldiers who fought for our freedom and

with the consistent high economic growth

rate in the past years, Petilla is confident

that is possible to fight and eradicate

poverty, ignorance, hunger and disease

not only in Leyte but in the whole country

as well. (PIA-8)

Consuelo B. Alarcon

EASTERN VISAYAS 7

DOH forms Incident Command for diarrhea cases

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, June 14 (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) –Samar formed an Incident Command (IC)

housed at DOH-Samar for diarrhea cases.

D r Antonio Tirazona, DOH

provincial representative said

that the IC collects statistical

data, sorts out the data and relays

to the regional office; it also serves

as the logistical hub of supplies and

medicines.

In the ‗command‘ there are four

teams assigned to target municipalities

where cases have been reported.

They deliver supplies, test the

quality of water and advocate support

from the local government units.

While the national media reported

about the ‗diarrhea outbreak‘, DOH

disproved this, saying the two towns of

Calbiga and Sta Rita and the city of

Catbalogan are the only ones declared

with the diarrhea outbreak and not

necessarily the whole province of Samar

as earlier reported.

On Thursday, Undersecretary

Vincent Belizario, Jr and DOH Regional

Director Minerva Molon were in Samar to

check on the situation.

In the meeting with some local and

health officials, Molon said they were still

validating the facts before declaring any

outbreak.

Presently though, the cases have

increased from 1, 189 and 23 deaths on

Thursday, it is now 1, 824 cases and 32

deaths.

The health issue has raised the

concern of international non-government

organizations that pledged to help.

Oxfam, said DOH will help Calbiga by

donating jerrycons (water containers) and

Chlorines; Plan International offered to

help Sta Rita while the Philippine Red

Cross will establish a water treatment

facility in Hinabangan which can benefit

nearby municipalities including Catbalogan

City.

The DOH official added that the

provincial disaster risk reduction

management office has also helped provide

drivers, vehicles and fuel for the teams

delivering meds and supplies to affected

areas.

He also shared that Gov. Tan

has hired a consultant, a sanitary

engineer to study the water facilities in

Samar.

The Incident Command formed last

week will be operational until the cases

wane. (nbq/PIA8-Samar)

Ninfa B Quirante

June 12—Philippine Independence Day

Weak sea turtle rescued in Calbayog waters

A copy of a press release

disclosed that the team was

conducting seaborne patrol

when they saw a weak turtle floating in

the sea waters of Barangay Mato-bato,

Calbayog City, Samar and immediately

rescued it.

In order to assess the physical and

health condition of the sea turtle

measuring 87 centimers long, 62

centimeters width and weighing 25 kilos,

the team immediately coordinated with

the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR) who, in turn,

sent their personnel from CENRO based

in the city of Calbayog.

After assessing that the sea turtle was

in good physical condition, it was released

back to Samar sea.

The presence of the sea turtle

in Samar sea only shows that sea

waters in the city is protected and

maintained by maritime authorities.

(PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 14 (PIA) – A sea turtle was rescued Thursday in Calbayog waters by maritime authorities led

by Police Sr. Inspector Glenn Michael B. Amoyen of the 802nd Maritime Police Station based in Calbayog City.

Consuelo B. Alarcon

Lab results of Samar diarrhea outbreak out

soon

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, June 15 (PIA) — The results of the laboratory test conducted by health experts on the bacteria or

virus that caused the diarrhea outbreak in three Samar areas was set to be released to the public.

I t is expected that it will be

announced by Dr. Minerva

Molon, regional director of the

Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern

Visayas during a one hour press

conference to be held at DOH regional

office 8.

During the Water & Hygiene

(WASH) Cluster Meeting last Friday at

DOH regional office, the inadequate

amount of water in identified

water sources during El Nino, the

limitations of local water system

distribution, lack of manpower to

monitor water quality and households‘

failure to clean their water storage

containers were some issues that were

discussed.

T h e s e w e r e t h e o n e s

suspected to have caused earlier,

the deaths of more than 20 and

thousands of affected persons due

to Diarrhea.

Hence, long term and short

term solutions were tackled by

the ―Oplan Talwas Diarrhea‖ which

i n v o l v e s s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e

implementation of SALINTUBIG program

of the government, the support from

Ph i lhealth p lus the immediate

response like the provision of water

t r e a t m e n t t a b l e t s , p a t i e n t ‘ s

hospital ization, household water

distribution and plastic water containers

as well as massive IEC campaign in

schools.

To date, a total of 3, 496 cases with

44 deaths were reported.

The municipality of Sta. Rita has 327

afflicted persons, the most number of

cases followed by Calbiga with 260 cases

and 2 deaths and the City of Catbalogan

with 215 cases and 8 deaths. Tacloban

City has 38 cases with one fatality. (cba/

PIA-8)

Consuelo B. Alarcon

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