Vol 5 Issue 29 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 July 20 - 26, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue CBE to hold series of pep talks on Philippine education system

Rescuers are heroes - Gov. Mercado

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

Also CLICK Here...

More big PPP projects for Iloilo eyed

Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, July 24 (PIA)—Ms. Cosette Canilao, executive director of the Public Private Partnership (PPP)

Center said Iloilo is the recipient of three big projects. Canilao is co-chair of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

(APEC) PPP Experts‘ Advisory Panel joining the APEC meet in Iloilo, July 23-24.

In a press conference conducted, Canilao said soon to start, among the three, is the expansion of the Iloilo Airport in

Cabatuan, which has already approved by the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Other projects include the proposed government center in Passi City and the railway system from Iloilo City out to

other towns, aimed at de-congesting the metro traffic. Canilao said there are 13 ongoing infrastructure projects,

out of the 15, which have to be completed before the term of President Aquino ends in 2016. Since PPP started as a

development intervention, Canilao said there were already 221 projects completed.

―We are looking at sustainability of PPP beyond the 2016 Elections,‖ Canilao told the media.

She added that they are continuously working on capacity building of project implementers and on the passage of

amendments in the Board of Investments Act, as well as pursuing pipeline projects in irrigation and other social infrastructures.

―PPP is a work in progress, evolving in a way that at the

end of the Aquino administration, it will be passed on and sustained,‖ Canilao said.

Meanwhile, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder, also co-chair of the PPP Experts‘ Advisory

Council, said the APEC in Iloilo is a ―terrific‖ opportunity for the city to position itself as a destination for investments and

tourism. The APEC in Iloilo now focuses on ―Fostering APEC‘s

Infrastructure through Long-term Investment and Capital Market Development.‖ (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, July 22 (PIA) --- A series of pep talks on the Philippine education system will be held here as the Coalition

for Better Education (CBE) launched its I3 Series or the Imagine, Innovate, Inspire mini-seminars.

CBE Executive Director Luchi Flores said the I3 Series is designed to give the audience a view on what the Philippine

education system is imagined to be in light of 21st Century Learning.

It also aims to spotlight innovative teaching practices that are changing the classroom and school scenes, said

Flores. The mini-seminars are held every Friday on the entire

month of July starting on the 24th. A special session on K to 12 for Dummies will be held

for anyone who would like to be enlightened more about the

opening of the senior high school. The series will culminate with a talk show that will

feature individuals who have made giant leaps in their education journey and are now successful contributes to the Philippine

society. I3 Series will start on July 24 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at

Southwestern University, followed by a session on July 31 at the University of San Jose Recoletos on the same time and end

on July 7 at the University of San Carlos-South. CBE is a national non-government organization based in

Cebu which focuses on education development in the Philippines.

Founded in 2001, they will be celebrating their 14th year as a coalition on August 8. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

Also CLICK Here…

More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

MARCELO M. PEDALINO

CACAO MOUNTAIN RESORT, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, July 22 (PIA) -- As emergency responders from all over

the Eastern Visayas region gathered here Monday for the opening rites of the week-long Regional Rescue Jamboree,

Gov. Roger Mercado inspired them all, exhorting them as heroes.

But the exhortation came with a corresponding challenge: that the jamboree will result in evolving a crack

team from Region 8 that will be sent to other countries in times of calamities, a team that is accredited by the United

Nations to handle risky search and rescue operations. ―You are our heroes,‖ Gov. Mercado declared in front of

more than 300 participants coming from 17 rescue units region-wide who had registered by noon to join the activity by noon.

The Governor premised his talks on an information shared earlier by Philippine Army Officer Henry Bellen,

Commander of the 546th Army Engineering Battalion who said that in order to get involved in tragedies that may happen in

other countries, rescue units must conform to Internal Safe Advisory Group (ISAG) standard set by the United Nations.

The Army, which has sent a team to join the rescue jamboree, is now coordinating with the Emergency Rescue

Unite Foundation (ERUF) to conduct trainings for ISAG status, Bellen said.

In his inspirational message, Gov. Mercado encouraged

the participants to make full use of their time learning and sharing rescue skills during the jamboree, adding that this will

be a stepping stone for the UN accreditation status.

He looked forward to the day when rescuers from the

region will see action in other countries, citing as example the huge tremor that hit Nepal, in which a massive search and

rescue was carried out . An urn was lit to symbolize the start of the rigorous

activities ahead that included a simultaneous nationwide earthquake drill at the Capitol grounds by Wednesday, water

safety and rescue, mountain rescue, air-to-ground operations, motor collision incident, and crossing a river.

Rey Gozon, Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense, declared the jamboree open, while City Mayor

Maloney Samaco welcomed the participants to the no-smoking city. Cong. Damian Mercado was represented by his staff Jason

Calva. Provincial Board Members Aillen Estrera and Daisy Gamale Llanes attended the opening ceremony.

The participating rescue units included the Leyte Provincial Disaster Management Team, Merida Emergency

Rescue Team, Isabel Rescue Unit, Alang-alang Rescue Unit, Calbayog City Rescue Team, Las Navas (Northern Samar)

Emergency Rescue Unit, Palapag (Northern Samar) Response Team, Tacloban City Rescue Unit, Philippine Army, Pamo

Response Team, Jaro Response Team, and a contingent from the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

Those who joined from the host province were the emergency response teams of Saint Bernard, Anahawan District Hospital, San Juan Response Team, Macrohon

Emergency Response Team, and from the host city, Maasin City Emergency Response Team. (ajc/mmp/PIA8-Southern

Leyte)

Earthquake and fire drill simultaneously

conducted at the provincial Capitol in

Southern Leyte, Jul232015. It was was

participated by around 325 responders of the

11 rescue teams throughout Eastern Visayas,

among other local employees and spectators.

(rgc)

DFA Asec. Charles Jose explaining to

participants the maritime entitlements as

applied by states in the South China Sea during

the Multi-Sectoral Forum on West Philippine

Sea held in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental,

July 23, 2015. (PIA 7)

WESTERN VISAYAS

Canadian Ambassador and APEC-PPP Expert‘s

Advisory Panel Co-Chair Neil Reed (R) tells

media that the whole APEC event in the

country is a terrific opportunity for the

Philippines to position itself as a destination for

foreign investments during a press conference

for APEC 2015 on Infrastructure Development

and Financing/Strengthening Capital Markets

held in Iloilo City, July 23. With him is

Executive Dir. Cossette Canilao, APEC-PPP

Expert‘s Advisory Panel Co-Chair. (PIA 6/EJB)

Executive Director Cosette Canilao of the Public-Private

Partnership (PPP) Center enumerates various proposed PPP projects in city and the province of Iloilo during a press conference for the Asia

Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held Thursday, July 23,

2015, at Amigo Terrace Hotel here. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 24(PIA) – Selected personnel from the different local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Offices and other agencies in Western Visayas participated in the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief training.

WV responders train on rescue, management

of disasters

Jemin B. Guillermo

T he four-day event, which started July

21, is part of the activity engagements

in view of the Pacific Partnership 2015

hosted by the government of the Philippines

and held in Capiz.

Aside from the local DRRMO personnel

are representatives from the Bureau of Fire

Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine

National Police, Department of the Interior

and Local Government, Philippine Army, Office

of the Civil Defense, volunteers from Capiz

State University and Capiz Emergency

Response Team.

In particular, the DRRM personnel from

the towns of Oton, Miag-ao and New Lucena,

all in Iloilo, and the provinces of Guimaras,

Antique, Aklan, Negros Occidental and Capiz

are in said training.

According to Western Visayas OCD

Regional Director Rosario Cabrera, the

disaster rescue, response and management

training for DRRMOs and other partner

agencies in the region aims to enhance and

strengthen their capabilities in preparation for

eventualities like calamities and disaster.

She said that aside from the logical

support, there must be trained human

resource that will be at the frontline in times of

calamities. Cabrera likewise stressed that the

capabilities of both the military and civilian

must be enhanced so that they can work

together as one for disaster response.

Aside from the HADR, an advance water

search and rescue (WASAR) training is also

scheduled from July 27 to 31 for DRRM

personnel in Western Visayas.

The Pacific Partnership mission in the

Philippines is led by Mission Commander

Captain Christopher M. Engdahl.

Part of the Pacific engagements in the

Visayas leg of the mission are the medical,

surgical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic

action program as well as disaster

preparedness, rescue and response training.

(JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

DA urges farmers to plant hybrid rice

Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

NEGROS OCC., July 23 (PIA6)-- DA Sec. Proceso Alcala is encouraging farmers nationwide to venture into hybrid rice.

I n a recent press conference here, he

said hybrid rice will give farmers no less

than 30 percent more income which is a

great help.

Furthermore, the weather is favorable to

hybrid rice planting because PAGASA projects,

rains will not be as heavy as the previous years.

Too much water, he said, make hybrid

rice susceptible to diseases but since rainfall

will be limited, it is advisable that they ponder

on this project.

The Philippines has come up with various

types of rice which is good. But it has its

downside – the rice mill will constantly adjust

to the characteristics of the palay, he said.

He clarified though that hybrid rice carries

the good qualities of parent rice but it is not

GMO or Genetically Modified Organism. The

Negros Occ. province bans GMO products,

being an organic product crusader.

The Philippine Rice Research Institute and

International Research are among the

institutions that support the scientific aspect of

the grains industry and programs like the

Philippine Rice Information System and the

Rice Crop that give technical knowledge and

other assistance to farmers. (JCM/Lljr – PIA6)

APEC in Iloilo City opens

ILOILO CITY, July 23 (PIA6) - - Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral

today opened the workshop of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) titled ―Fostering APEC‘s Infrastructure through

Long-Term Investment and Capital Market Development‖ here.

I n her message, Cabral urged participants

―to put our heads together, learn from

each others‘ best practices, and also the

not so good practices –learn from the experts

and come up with concrete and doable

solutions‖.

According to the International Monetary

Fund, the Philippines‘ potential growth has

risen to about 6-6.25% in 2014 aided by the

success of ongoing structural reforms. This

surpasses the country‘s growth trend prior to

the global financial crisis and is in contrast to

the declining trend in potential growth across

many emerging markets.

―With increasing investment rate, there is

sufficient scope for potential growth to rise

further, aided by greater capital information‖,

said Cabral.

In the country, according to Cabral, the

DPWH is doing double time to address this very important concern and is committed to

stay on track with its targets to assure efficient

service delivery. ―But we cannot do this alone.

We have to engage our partners in the private

sector to come in and put in the much needed

resources to finance the needs of the urban as

well as rural development‖, said Cabral.

She cited some completed and ongoing

road projects where the government has

partnered with the private sector and lending

institutions. These projects include the 43.21

kilometre high standard highway network in

Metro Manila and surrounding areas. Also in

the works are 3 more road projects with total

length of 112 kilometers approved by the

NEDA Board.

According to Cabral they will not veer

away from their aim to decongest Metro

Manila while putting the necessary

infrastructure support in other progressing

cities like, Iloilo City, where there is a

smoother flow of traffic from its first class

airport to the city. Among the priority of the department, is the upgrading of the 30,000

kilometer national road network fully by 2016

to achieve high standard highway that con-

forms with quality and internationally accepted

safety standards. With DPWH receiving the

second largest allocation and the largest capital

outlay this year, Cabral said this shows how

serious the government is to increase

infrastructure spending to reach 5% of the

GDP by 2016 which poses a big challenge not

only to DPWH but also to the construction

industry. ―These tasks of improving our land

transport systems coupled with installing major

flood control systems and other basic social

infrastructure all over the country has made

the country to grow by leaps and bounds as

shown with our latest GDP and serves as

driver to have sustained high economic growth

and be more globally competitive,‖ said Cabral.

The two-day workshop is attended by

delegates across APEC member-economies

and representatives from international

development institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the

Asian Development Bank, among others. (JCM/

LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

Lilibeth A. French

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

ILOILO CITY, July 22 (PIA) --- The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting slated in Iloilo City on July 23 -24 will

focus on fostering APEC‘s infrastructure through long-term investment and capital market development.

A sia Pacific economies have achieved

significant progress in raising their

population‘s living standards but the

development of infrastructure has not kept

pace with this growth.

Increasing congestion of roads, power

shortages, and inadequate public services now

imperil hard-won economic gains for many

economies in the region.

Insufficient progress in expanding

infrastructure to less-developed areas has

resulted in uneven growth, contributing to

regional and social inequalities and threatening

to mire them in the middle-income trap.

Discussions held under the auspices of the

APEC Finance Ministers‘ Process (FMP) in

previous years have identified two major

obstacles.

The first is the lack of a pipeline of

bankable infrastructure projects in developing

economies that can attract capital from

institutional investors.

The second concern is the lack of

appropriate financial instruments and enabling

policy frameworks for pension funds and

insurance firms to expand their investment in

emerging market infrastructure.

By addressing these two issues, the FMP

can remove major obstacles to the

advancement of APEC‘s vision of sustained,

balanced, and inclusive growth.

The APEC meeting in Iloilo city will seek

to identify concrete and practical initiatives to

address these issues that can be progressed by

the FMP in coming years as part of the Cebu

Action Plan. The meeting‘s agenda include

building capacity to expand the pipeline of

infrastructure projects, development of capital

markets, and initiatives to mobilize long-term

investments.

The first APEC meeting in Iloilo City,

which will be held at the Royal Garden Hall

Convention Center here, is organized by the

Department of Finance, in collaboration with

the APEC Business Advisory Council, Asia

Pacific Financial Forum, and the Asia-Pacific

Infrastructure Partnership. (JCM/LTP/

PIA-Iloilo)

APEC tackles infra financing and capital

market dev‘t

Leonard T. Pineda I

SAN JOSE, Antique(PIA) -- The Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office (PCSO) 47th branch is now open to serve the

Antiquenos with its inauguration on Tuesday.

B ishop Romeo Lazo of the Diocese of

San Jose de Antique officiated the holy

mass and blessing of the new office

while General Manager Jose Ferdinand M.

Rojas II and Francisco G. Joaquin,III, PCSO

Board of Director cut the ribbon to signal the

opening of the newest branch in the country.

―With the opening of PCSO in Antique,

Rojas said, we are making the services of the

agency closer to the Antiquenos,‖

Rojas also thanked the Antiquenos for the

warm welcome and to the local government of

San Jose under the leadership of Mayor Rony

Molina for sponsoring the office building at

Tradetown, Dalipe, San Jose.

On the other hand, Board of Director

Joaquin said this endeavor was made possible

because of the government‘s commitment to

good governance.

However, he encouraged the Antiquenos

to patronize the products of PCSO such as

lottery, lotto, sweeptakes, among others so as

to continue to help others.

In 2010, Joaquin said, everyday PCSO has

allocated P4 million for Individual Medical

Assistance Program which include,

hospitalization, chemotherapy, dialysis and

other medical needs with only 20 branches

nationwide, now it has a budget of P18.4

million daily with already 47 branches.

The province of Antique also availed of

eight ambulances for seven municipalities and

for Delegate Angel Salazar Memorial Hospital.

Ma. Elma A. Gutierrez is the Branch Head

– Financial Management Officer for PCSO

Antique. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)

Antique PCSO now open

Pilar S. Mabaquiao

Pacific Partnership kicks off with various activities, engagements

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, July 22 (PIA) - The different humanitarian and civic engagements in Capiz in view of the Pacific

Partnership 2015 in the Philippines has officially started.

T he opening ceremonies here, July 20,

came after the arrival of the Unites

States Naval Hospital Ship Mercy in

Roxas City last July 18.

The Pacific Partnership 2015 mission in

the Philippines as host country covers the

humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,

engineering civic action program, cooperative

health engagements, civil military operations

and cooperative surgical engagement on board

USNS Mercy.

Particularly, the medical, surgical, dental as

well as veterinary services, engineering works

and disaster preparedness training are the

focus of this engagement.

According to Mission Commander Capt.

Christopher Engdahl, the 4-week mission in

Capiz so far is their longest humanitarian and

civic action stay.

Engdahl said that almost 1,000 personnel

from the United States, Australia, South Korea,

Malaysia, Japan and New Zealand including

volunteers from the different non-government

organizations are joining the US Naval Hospital

Ship Mercy for the Visayas-leg humanitarian

and civic activities of the Pacific Partnership

2015 in the Philippines.

The annual US Pacific Fleet humanitarian

and civic assistance mission aims to strengthen

cooperation, sharing of expertise, exchange of

knowledge and expertise and prepare people

in the Pacific region to be responsive, resilient

and a coordinated response effort in times of

natural disaster.

On the other hand, Capiz Governor

Victor Tanco conveyed his appreciation to the

men and women of the 2015 Pacific

Partnership for the valuable contribution it will

bring to the Capiceños through the various

socio-civic activities which will last until Aug. 1.

Tanco said that this event in the country

which is hosted by the province of Capiz will

provide a spark to unity, oneness and solidarity

in the path top progress.

Like the Pacific Partnership that is guided

by the principle of service and social

responsibility, the same is also in line with his

battle cry ―Labi sa Tanan ang Tawo,‖ (Above all

is People) that champions the best service for

the Capiceños.

Also in attendance during the opening

ceremonies here were Task Force 73

Commander Rear Admiral Charlie Williams,

Armed Forces of the Philippines Central

Commander Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vivar, Office of

the Civil Defense Regional Director Rosario

Cabrera, Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division

Commander Rey Leonardo Guerrero and

Guimaras Governor Samuel Gumarin, among

others. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Jemin B. Guillermo

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

CEBU CITY, July 22 (PIA) --- In the name of consumer protection, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) launched its

"Timbangan ng Bayan" project at the Carbon Market on July 15, 2015.

DTI Cebu launches Timbangan ng Bayan

Project

T he installation of timbangan (weighing

scales) with corresponding housing (cage)

in public markets is in accordance to R.A.

7394 or the ―Consumer Act of the Philippines‖,

which protects the interests of the consumer,

promote general welfare, and to establish

standards of conduct for business and industry.

―The goal of the Timbangan ng Bayan Project

is to ensure that consumers are protected from

deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts

and practices and that they can readily check the

accuracy of the weight and quantity of goods they

bought in public markets," said DTI Cebu

Provincial Director Nelia Navarro.

Cebu Province was allotted 193 units of

calibrated weighing scales and steel cage housing

which are distributed to the public markets of its

9 cities and 44 municipalities.

Of the 193 units, 19 scales are distributed to

Cebu City, while six are already installed at

the Carbon Market and others at the different

satellite markets namely: Lahug Satellite Public

Market (3), T. Padilla Market (2), Labangon Public

Market (2), Pardo Public Market (2), Taboan

Public Market (2) and Ramos Public Market (2).

A signing of a Memorandum of Agreement

(MOA) between DTI Cebu and local government

units will be done after the distribution.

The recipient-market is advised to provide

measures to protect the Timbangan ng Bayan

facility from theft, misuse or abuse.

These should also be used exclusively by

consumers and should be regularly calibrated and

maintained to ensure the accuracy of the

timbangan. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu/DTI Press Release)

Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU, July 21 (PIA) -- Another sanitation milestone yet again for the island of Bantayan after Barangay Sillion was declared

Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) on July 12, 2015.

B aranggay Sillon in Bantayan has 996

households, 472 of which do not have their own toilets.

According to Sandra Borgueta, Islamic Relief

Worldwide - Philippines Communications and Advocacy Officer, ZOD declaration means that despite this previous lack of sanitation facilities,

the community has excreta-free open spaces, drains

and water bodies and that there is use of hygienic toilets as well as the safe disposal of diapers.

Borgueta in a press statement said the process

of verification usually involves a panel of sanitation and health experts among whom include the Municipal Health Officer, Rural Sanitary Inspectors,

and a third party representative from INGOs in the area working with WASH.

"The team visited the community unannounced

and randomly sampled 10% of the total households to check if they met the ZOD criteria," she said.

According to standards set by the Department

of Health (DOH), under the flagship Philippine Approach to Total Sanitation (PhATS) program of the government, a barangay is declared ZOD if no one defecates in the public spaces anymore.

Either they build their toilets or share toilets with their relatives, said Borgueta.

"They should also practice hand washing with soap and water after toilet use, and properly dispose diaper of infants and adults," she added.

Islamic Relief Worldwide Philippines (IRW) has

been working in partnership with UNICEF and local

health workers to implement PhATS, an approach which was jointly developed by DoH, several non-governmental and governmental partners and

UNICEF moving on from humanitarian response after one of the most devastating Typhoons - Yolanda hit the Philippines in November 2013.

As one of 12 implementing partners of UNICEF

and the only partner in Cebu Province, IRW is presently carrying out the PhATS program at scale in 15 vulnerable communities including learning

institutions in Bantayan and Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu.

Islamic Relief‘s Head of Mission for the

Philippines, Syed Shahnawaz Ali said: ―More than just toilet constructions, the PhATS approach involves changing the way people think about

sanitation. Previously, people thought that open defecation

was not a problem. But after a series of dialogues,

they realized the serious health risks these practices carry. So a ZOD declaration is a big achievement because it is proof of the collective willingness of the community to improve the quality of their lives

through proper sanitation practices.‖ In a 2014 survey conducted by UNICEF on

behalf of the WASH Cluster immediately after

Typhoon Yolanda, an estimated 17.3% of households in PhATS areas (includes Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Capiz and Iloilo) were found to be

practising Open Defecation with Cebu being the

highest with 42.3%.

According to the same survey, the most common reason for Open Defecation emphasizes infrastructure with almost 94% of the respondent

households identifying ―not having a toilet‖ as a reason many people still practice open defecation.

DOH and several Philippine WASH Cluster

partners have developed a sanitation strategy for

early recovery for Yolanda (Haiyan) affected areas based on the rural sanitation strategy which was designed prior to Yolanda.

PhATS was developed to help the national government achieve the goals set forth in the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap and the

National Sustainable Sanitation Plan. It foresees an Open Defecation free

environment for all people in the country by 2016.

It builds on these national instruments envisioning the creation of an Open Defecation free environment with safe disposal of liquid and solid

wastes; the promotion of health and hygiene practices; and the strengthening of the enabling environment for sanitation and hygiene through a phased and holistic approach.

IRW and UNICEF aim to empower and encourage all households to build and use their own

toilet so that their communities are safe from

preventable sanitation and water-related diseases while subsidies are provided to those households most in need. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu/Sandra Borgueta,

IRW Philippines)

Brgy. Sillon in Bantayan declared Zero–Open Defecation

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 21 (PIA) – The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) – Negros Oriental, in cooperation with the

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will hold two separate fora on West Philippine Sea in the city on July 23.

PIA NegOr, DFA to hold West PH Sea fora in Dumaguete City

T he first event is a Multi-Sectoral Forum

on West Philippine Sea which will take

place at 8:00 in the morning at Bethel

Guest House.

Participants are representatives from the

local government, national government agencies,

business, religious, law enforcement and security,

civil society, education and fisher folk and sectors

in the province.

On the other hand, selected students from

different schools Dumaguete City will gather at

Silliman Hall inside Silliman University for a

campus forum on the abovementioned topic.

This is part of the national government‘s

campaign to raise the public‘s awareness on issues

relating to West Philippine Sea, particularly on

why the Philippine government seeks arbitration

from an international tribunal, our entitlement on

the disputed territory and other historical,

economic and legal concerns.

DFA Spokesperson and Assistant Sec.

Charles Jose will grace these fora to discuss core

issues, the overarching principles that guide

Philippines‘ response to the issue and the steps

being undertaken by the government to address

this concern.

These fora on West Philippine Sea issue are

part of a series of briefings conducted by the DFA

in different provinces and regions throughout the

country.

Similar forums were also held in Cebu City,

Palawan, Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City, Subic,

Olongapo, Laoag City, and Vigan City.

Asec. Jose will arrive in Dumaguete

City on July 22 and is also scheduled to

guest in different media programs as

part strengthening government‘s information

drive on the issue. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros

Oriental)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU, July 21 (PIA) -- Floating assets and personnel will be deployed five days prior to the start of the first APEC meeting in

Cebu as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG-7) bared the maritime security preparations are all in place for the international

meetings.

P CG-7 Chief of Staff Commander Weniel

Azcuna said there are two strategic areas

where the floating assets will be stationed

which will be in Mactan Channel near the Cebu

City venue and another fronting the Shangri-la

Resort in Lapulapu City.

―Five days before the start of the first

meeting, we will already be deploying our sea

assets and personnel to ensure strict security

within the areas where the delegates will be,‖ said

Azcuna during the forum of the Association of

Government Information Officers (AGIO-7).

PCG-7 leads the Maritime Security Task Unit

(MSTU) for the APEC Cebu 2015 with member

agencies from the Navforcen, Cebu Port

Authority, MARINA-7, Philippine Port Authority

and the Regional Maritime Unit-7.

Azcuna said the MSTU member agencies

have already committed its floating assets and

some personnel for augmentation to strengthen

maritime security including along the coastlines.

―We will also be providing security to the

delegates when they go out on a tour to Bohol,‖

said Azcuna adding that a tour to Panglao is being

proposed by the Department of Tourism-

The first APEC meeting in Cebu is set on

August 22 as five days prior, a heightened alert

will already be issued, said Azcuna.

The PCG-7 official also said 600 yards from

the coastline in Shangri-la going out 500 yards

more will be declared a ―No Sail Zone‖ starting

August 17 and will end two days after the last

APEC meeting.

Maximum tolerance will also be adopted in

case of sea rallies but Azcuna said the most

challenging will be the weather in case of any

disturbance as this will affect their floating assets

in the area.

P/Supt. Marvin De Paz, station chief 701st,

Maritime Police Station of the Regional Maritime

Unit-7 in the same forum said they are

strengthening intelligence monitoring against

sectoral groups that might launch sea rallies. ―But

as of now, we have not yet receive any reports of

possible rallies at sea,‖ said De Paz.

―As of now, we are 95 percent ready and

prepared to secure the delegates when they come

to Cebu,‖ said Azcuna. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

PCG-7: Maritime security preps in place for

APEC in Cebu

Fayette C. Riñen

TAGBILARAN CITY, July 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) picked a time-tested

and easy forest regeneration method which is using as a strategy to implement the Integrated Natural Resources and

Environment Management Project (INREMP) for the Wahig-Inabanga watershed catch-basin.

Assisted Natural Regeneration among the INREMP Wahig strategies - DENR

E NR, in its meeting with INREMP

beneficiaries, last week bared that among

the interventions that they are adopting

to implement is the P412 million funds from the

international Food and Agriculture Development,

Asian Development Bank, Global Environment

Fund, and Climate Change Fund is through the

adoption of more Assisted Natural Regeneration

(ANR) sites in Wahig watershed.

"INREMP aims to address unsustainable

watershed management at the Wahig Pamacsalan

areas and hopes to reduce and reverse watershed

degradation," PENRO Nestor Canda explained.

Authorities have been tracking the

degradation of forests due to over exploitation,

slash and burn and other unsustainable farming

practices, so that interventions need to be

implemented to arrest its effects, DENR said.

At this, INREMP picked 17 Bohol towns

feeding the Wahig Inabanga basin as beneficiaries

for community-based interventions in the Upper

River Basin of the Inabanga River where the

DENR National Greening Program, Upland

Development Program and Community Based

Forest Management Agreement are implemented.

Within these interventions, the common

strategy for reforestation and afforestation is the

ANR. Reforestation refers to the establishment of

forest on land that had recent tree cover, while

afforestation is planting trees to a land that has

been without forest for much longer period of

time.

Pilot tested in San Miguel Danao, Bohol in

the early 1990's, ANR is an old method but is

considered a systematic means of restoring

biodiversity in a forest and keeps its rehabilitation

apace for it helps speed up the growth of young

tree seedlings pressed down by pesky cogon

grasses which compete with them in the soil

nutrition and sunlight.

INREMP is implemented in 17 towns in

Bohol: Talibon, Getafe, Buenavista, Inabanga,

Danao, Sagbayan, Dagohoy, San Miguel, Trinidad,

Ubay, Alicia, Pilar, Sierra Bullones, Carmen, Jagna,

Duero and Garcia Hernandez. The project

indicative budget as allocated is about P142.5

million for Bohol INREMP, according to PENRO

Canda. (rmn/rac/PIA-7/Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU CITY, July 21 (PIA)—Local delicacies and products of Cebu will be again be made available for city residents as the

province mounts the Agro Trade Fair next month.

Cebu mounts Agro Trade Fair showcasing products, delicacies

E thel Natera, Cebu provincial information

officer, said the local government units will showcase their products and delicacies that

they are famous for beginning August 3 to 7.

The activity is in line with the celebration of the 446th Founding Anniversary of Cebu. One of the featured towns is the Muncipality of Ronda known as home of Cebu‘s finest humba.

Other than the humba, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena

said there will also be new camote chips coming

from said town. The product is not yet out in the

market except in the neighboring towns.

―What makes it special is that these chips are roasted infusing the technique and formula of its partner Silliman University (SU),‖ said Dr. Saragena.

Ronda municipal Agriculturist Lilibeth Montaño said SU‘s intervention came through the initiative of

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Aside from training the farmers how to make the chips, the program also involved the packaging and the marketing of Ronda‘s Best.

The beneficiaries of the program are graduates of Farmer-Scientist Training Program (FSTP) in Barangays Malalay, Langin and Vive.

Aside from camote chips, they were also trained to make banana chips and sayote vegetable

salad.

Montaño said some of the products were already introduced in Moalboal and some were given away for promotional purposes.

The town was able to showcase these products to FSTP National Program Leader Dr. Romulo Davide, FSTP-Cebu Province Team, and Cebu

Technological University officials in an FSTP graduation rite last June.

The farmers are still in the training stage. She

said once they have perfected the craft, these will be approved by SU.

In the meantime, Montaño said SU allowed the

farmers to sell the products but they have to use different packaging.

―We could not use the packaging prescribed by SU as they have yet to check quality of the products

first,‖ she added. Ronda became famous for its unique version

of humba pork serving. The town‘s original humba is

now being served as a signature dish in a restaurant of major hotel in Cebu City. Dr. Saragena appealed to the participating local government units to offer

the lowest price for their farm products in the fair. Other delicacies include Chicharon of Carcar,

Argao's torta, Asturias' bingka dawa, Mandaue City's

bingka and tagaktak. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu with reports from Cebu PIO)

Ferliza C. Contratista

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

INGOs turn-over permanent housing units to Yolanda survivors

A total of 22 housing units at

Kawayanville I was turned over

recently to the beneficiaries who

were living in temporary shelters at Brgy. 88

San Jose, this city, one of the most

devastated barangays when super typhoon

Yolanda struck more than a year ago.

The P294,000 worth of housing unit

each was donated by the Habitat for

Humanity Philippines represented by its

Managing Director and Chief Executive

Officer Charlie Ayco in partnership with

Standard Chartered Bank Philippines led by

its Chief Executive Officer Anirvan Ghosh

Dastidar and the City Government of

Tacloban represented by Councilor Cristina

Gonzales-Romualdez.

During the House Dedication

Ceremony, Ayco expressed his commitment

to continue serving the affected families of

typhoon Yolanda with a vision that no family

in Tacloban live in danger zones.

On the other hand, Dastidar who was

extremely delighted of the smiling faces of

the people despite the vast devastation

promised to come back in the future to see

again the houses they have built.

Meanwhile, Councilor Cristina Gonzales

-Romualdez, who is a Habitat for Humanity

Ambassador, advised residents to put the

past behind and move forward.

According to her, when a new house is

turned over, she considers this a symbol of

new hope for Tacloban.

Arturo Golong, a Yolanda survivor, was

very emotional and teary-eyed when he

expressed his gratitude for their new house

with a promise to take care of it.

According to him, words cannot

expressed how happy he was upon knowing

that he was one of the beneficiaries of a

permanent shelter which is comfortable to

live. The housing units donated were

typhoon-resilient and could withstand winds

of up to 250 kilometer per hour. (cba/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 21 (PIA) – More permanent housing units were built in the city for Yolanda victims.

LGUs win RMSPDA

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 21 (PIA) - Some local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas merited awards for

excellence in addressing population and development issues and concerns.

T his, as the World Population Day

2015, celebrated July 11, the

Commission on Population in the

region declared the LGUs of Tacloban City

and Dulag, L eyte, as winners of the Rafael

M. Salas Population and Development

Awards (RMSPDA) in ceremonies in July

10,2015, Convention Center A of the Leyte

Park Resort Hotel, this city. Categories of

the award were city and municipality.

Runners-up to the same award were

Ormoc City and Calbayog City for the cities;

and Paranas, Samar and Almeria, Biliran for

the municipalities.

It was learned that the RMSPDA

recognize and honor LGUs (cities,

municipalities) that have clear policies,

programs, services and interventions and

implementing and monitoring mechanisms to

address population and development issues

and concerns.

POPCOM-8 regional director Elnora

Pulma informed that the celebration of

World Population Day 2015 every July 11 is

based on a United Nations Population

Fund (UNFA) report on women, children

and young people comprising over

3 quarters of the over 50 million people

forcibly displaced from their homes by

conflict and disasters in most parts of the

world.

The celebration of World Population

Day started in 1989 aimed at focusing

attention on the urgency and importance of

population issues, particularly in the context

of overall development.

The theme of this year‘s celebration is

―Dignity and Protection of Vulnerable

Populations in Emergencies.‖ (PIA-8)

AURORA J. CASIMPAN

EV's KALAHI-CIDSS receives Gawad Kalahi

Award

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, July 21 (PIA) -- The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery

of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in Region VIII once again received the Gawad Kalahi Award, a national recognition from

the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Central Office .

J ennifer Caspe Paa, KALAHI-CIDSS

Regional Social Marketing Officer

reported that the highest community

grants disbursed from the National

Community-Driven Development Program

(NCDDP) Award under the Extra Large

Coverage Category and the 1st region to

deliver the P1-billion in Community Grants

Award was given to Eastern Visayas Program

Management Team besting 16 other regions

all over the country.

The awarding ceremony was held

Tuesday at the Asian Institute of

Management in Makati city during the

Mid-Year Project Review and Evaluation

Workshop where KALAHI-CIDSS regional

and national performances were assessed,

Paa further reported.

Earlier, KALAHI-CIDSS Field Office 8

hit the P1-Billion disbursement target making

it the 1st region to deliver the said grant to

communit ies where a tota l o f

P1,008,526,165.63 has been released to

1,865 barangays across Eastern Visayas.

Paa informed that a total of 3,885

community-managed sub-projects were

already funded under the NCDDP fund

source in the region, 37 of which were

already completed.

―The award bestowed to DSWD-8

deserve a celebration. Again, the merit

should go to every KALAHI-CIDSS worker

who is the dedicated one who knows his

responsibility as a public servant whose value

is worth emanating,‖ Paa quoted DSWD-8

Regional Director Nestor Ramos in his

message.

KALAHI-CIDSS is the poverty

alleviation program of the national

government that seeks to empower

commun i ty members us ing the

community-driven development strategy.

In Eastern Visayas alone, 617,131

households across 134 municipalities

will benefit from the program, 239,328

families of whom are Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program beneficiaries. (ajc/rgc/

PIA8-SoLeyte)

REBECCA G. CADAVOS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

Samar‘s senior citizens now richer by P6K

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 23 (PIA) – Some 800 senior citizens of Gandara town had their ‗payday‘ Wednesday of P6

thousand at the Gandara Gym.

T he social pension is P500/month

but the pay-out was good for the

whole year of 2014.

The pay-out received a resounding

welcome for the seniors aged 77 and

above.

Mayor Eufemio Oliva reminded the

seniors that both the national and local

governments have given them support.

―From the LGU, we allot 1% of our

IRA to the senior citizens and the persons

with disabilities (PWDs),‖ Oliva told this

reporter.

However, he also urged them to be

responsible, like they need to have some

documents photocopied before they can

receive the social pension.

Some senior citizens did not also

register, so they were not included in the

list of beneficiaries.

Long time live in partners Pedy

Nacube and Sofronia Modesto both 77

years old lost their home to typhoon

Ruby, they said that with the combined

P12 thousand, they would be able to build

a nipa hut, buy rice, vitamins and

‗sura‘ (meat or fish).

After receiving the amount, the

elderly trooped to the different stores in

Gandara to shop for milk, rice, medicines

and coffee.

Elizabeth Romo who owns a store

observed that the elderly did not buy

canned goods.

A DSWD 8 report indicated that

there are some 65, 559 indigent senior

citizens in Eastern Visayas region.

It added that the target pensioners

has increased owing to the approval

by the Senate and House of

Representatives of the DSWD‘s proposal

to lower the age requirement from 77

years old and above to 65 years old and

beyond.

Beneficiaries of the Social Pension

Program are senior citizens, aged 65 years

and above who are without pension from

GSIS/SSS or any government or private

entity, sick or frail, or who have no

regular support from family or relatives.

(nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

NINFA ILUMINADA B. QUIRANTE

DPWH undergoes iRAP training workshop

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, July 20 (PIA) --- Aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and accidents, a three-day live-in

International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) was conducted recently, for local road-safety stakeholders at the Marian

Hotel, St. Mary‘s College, Borongan City.

i RAP Asia Pacific Regional Director

Greg Smith presented an overview

and orientation of iRAP.

According to him, ―iRAP is a

registered charity dedicated to prevent

more than 3, 500 road deaths that occur

everyday worldwide.‖

It likewise provides tools and trainings

to help automobile associations,

governments, funding agencies, research

institutes, and other non-government

organizations in more than 70 countries

to make roads safe by inspecting high-risk

roads, develop star ratings, safer roads

investment planning, risk mapping among

others.

They also provide technology and

support that will ―build and sustain

national, regional and local capability.

Initiated by Millennium Challenge

Corporation (MCC) of the United States

of America (USA) and Millennium

Challenge Account-Philippines (MCA-P) in

collaboration with the Department of

Public Works and Highways (DPWH)

- Eastern Samar District Engineering

Office Assessment Programme, the

w o r k s h o p w a s a t t e n d e d b y

participants from the Bureau of Quality

and Standards, Millennium Challenge

Corporation-Unified Project Management

Office, Stakeholders Relations Services,

MCA-P, MCC and representatives from

the 16 regional offices of DPWH

including the Eastern Samar District

Engineering Office and Samar 2nd District

Engineering Office.

Resource Speakers of the said

workshop were: Mr. Greg Smith and his

staff Luke Rogers; Burak Inanc, iRAP

Deputy Resident Country Director,

Ph i l ipp ine Mi l lennium Chal lenge

Corporation; and Director Medmier Malig

of the Bureau of Quality and Standards.

(SDC-E. Samar)

SAMUEL D. CANDIDO

DPWH ensures typhoon resilient school buildings for senior high

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Jul 23 (PIA) - The Samar First District Engineering Office makes sure that soon to be

constructed school buildings for Senior High Schools will be typhoon resilient.

I n a statement by Nette Gomez of the

DPWH Samar 1, she said that this was

brought out during their regular

meeting.

Project Engineers of school buildings

recommended that the school sites

need embankment, and soil exploration first

for a better foundation to produce high

quality school buildings which are typhoon

resilient.

District Engineer Virgilio Eduarte said

that he gives priority to school

building programs for senior high school this

2015.

He instructed all assigned programming

engineers to conduct site inspection on the

different school sites. There will be some 23

school buildings in Region VIII where 14

senior high school buildings will come from

the Division of Calbayog, and an addition of

nine senior high school buildings for the

Division of Samar.

The total appropriation is P

121,405,895.06 M for Calbayog and

some P79, 565,979.59 M for Samar Division.

(ajc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar with Donna

Debuton-DPWH/Samar 1)

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