Vol 5 Issue 31 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 August 3 - 9, 2015

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Private sector major growth driver in WV

Better days ahead for EV despite economic slowdown

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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UK Embassy seeks project proposals to boost rice production

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

NEGROS ORIENTAL, August 7 (PIA) -- British Embassy has urged local researchers in the province to submit project proposals to boost rice production to

make it more resilient and sustainable in the country. According to Communications Manager at the British

Embassy Manila, Lynn Ayers Plata, the proposals for collaborative research should have long-term sustainable

production of rice. Food security is one of the greatest global challenges

the United Kingdom government would like to help

address, as Britons are as fond of rice as Filipinos, said Plata.

This initiative is supported by the UK Government‘s

Newton Fund which helps build science and innovation partnerships with key emerging economies.

The Newton Fund is a research and innovation

fund of £375 million to support science and innovation

partnerships with emerging knowledge economies. Programs in the Philippines are being allocated around

P711 million until 2019. This project also funds other Asian countries which

include China, Thailand and Vietnam that will help farmer productivity and enhance trading in rice.

―In a country where rice is a main part of almost every meal, enhancing rice production is a major priority.

The headlines report that El Niño may be the most

intense the country has experienced in recent years.

Studies have shown that climate change will have a devastating effect of food security if it is not addressed now. Unli rice may no longer be a promo offer," British

Ambassador Asif Ahmad said. Ahmad also encouraged all researchers who are

working towards the adequate supply of this staple food to submit their applications to the Newton Fund.

Proposed projects should be up to a maximum duration of three years and will require a UK principal investigator as well as a Philippine principal investigator.

Deadline for submission of applications is on August 13, 2015.

For more information on this opportunity, please visit

the UK BBSRC website: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/opportunities/2015/newton-fund-joint-call- in-rice-research/ (rmn/jct/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Lilibeth A. French

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA6) - - The economic activities of the private sector will remain vibrant and will be one of the drivers of economic growth in Western

Visayas for this year. Teresa Guadalupe, Chief Economic Development

Specialist of the National Economic Development Authority 6 (NEDA 6) said this is evident in the ongoing

construction in the different areas in the region led by the

private sector. She cited the construction projects that are underway

in Iloilo City particularly in the Iloilo Business Park, Ayala Technohub, Iloilo Convention Center, expansion of malls and the various hotels.

In Capiz province, there is the opening of Pueblo de Panay, a 400-hectare township.

Guadalupe said the region is also slowly becoming

attractive for the construction of condominiums due to

rapid urbanization and the accompanying rise of the residential sector.

In the 2014 Report on the Regional Economy of

Western Visayas released by the Philippine Statistics Authority on Thursday, construction grew faster from 13.3 percent in 2013 to 17.3 percent in 2014.

Construction is also seen to help and provide jobs as

these establishments will generate employment

opportunities. Guadalupe said while employment will continue

to show positive and encouraging figures, from 93 percent in 2013 to 94 percent last year, however, underemployment posting 21.8 percent in 2014 will remain

constant/steady or may increase slightly because a good number of the new jobs are on a part time basis. (JCM/LAF/PIA-Iloilo)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 31 (PIA) – Despite the economic shakedown, we still have good reasons to see better days ahead for Eastern Visayas, according to

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 8 assistant regional director Alan O. Olavides.

Olavides said this at a press conference Thursday

noting the economic slowdown in the region as reported

by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Office 8.

The PSA reported that the Gross Regional Domestic

Product (GRDP) of the region contracted from 4.5 percent in 2013 to negative 2.3 percent in 2014 which can be attributed to the lingering effects of typhoon Yolanda

which hit the region in November 2013 causing enormous damages in Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) sectors.

Another contributory factor to the economic slowdown was the reported under-spending of public funds for it stymied the implementation of socioeconomic

programs and projects of the government which dragged the economic growth.

Olavides pointed out the report of the Commission

on Audit (COA) which stated that only 66 percent of the region‘s total budget for 2014 was utilized.

However, with the approval of the Yolanda

Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (YCRRP), more reconstruction projects will be completed, Olavides added.

To date, 66 percent were completed of the 122

reconstruction and recovery projects undertaken in Yolanda-affected areas in the region.

Some of these projects are to be completed soon and

some are still ongoing including the Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP), Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) and Road Infrastracture to Support

Tourism. Said projects and those which have been recently

endorsed by the Regional Development Council (RDC)

include the Road Heightening and Tide Embankment for Tacloban-Palo-Tanauan, the proposed Tacloban Water Supply Distribution System, the Hilongos-Mahaplag and

Jaro-Ormoc road projects, among others, are expected to boost the economy in the region. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

The Philippine Red Cross-Southern Leyte

Chapter and the Southern Leyte Voluntary

Blood Services Council conducts mass blood

donation dubbed as "Dugo Mo Kinabuhing

Ko," to formally launch its services held at the

Provincial Coliseum, August 1, 2015. (rgc/

PIA8-SL)

Bayawan City Mayor Ismael Martinez leads the

ceremonial distribution of #‎solarhomesystems

to barangay officials of identified un-energized

villages of the city. The distribution of solar

home systems is part of DOE's

Household Electrification Program in

cooperation with the City Government of

Bayawan, NORECO-2 and Silliman University.

The beneficiaries of this program in Bayawan

City reached almost 3,000 households. (More

photos soon). (PIA7-Negros Oriental)

WESTERN VISAYAS

PLAYFUL. Pacific Partnership 2015 mission

commander Capt. Christopher Engdahl takes

time to play soccer with school children of

Basiao Elementary School in Ivisan town

following the ceremonial turnover and blessing

of newly repaired classroom buildings which

capped the mission‘s engineering engagement

at the school site, Aug. 1. (PIA Capiz photo/A.

Lumaque)

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

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

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Aug. 4 (PIA6) – The humanitarian engagements of the Pacific Partnership 2015 in Capiz capped with a

ceremony onboard United States Naval Hospital Ship.

Pacific Partnership 2015 ends, earns gratitude

of Capiceños

Jemin B. Guillermo

T he ceremony was graced by about

100 invited guests led by Capiz

Governor Victor Tanco, August 1,

with Pacific Partnership 2015 Mission

Commander Capt. Christopher Engdahl as

host.

In his message, Gov. Tanco thanked the

team composed of service personnel from

the different countries led by the United

States of America for selflessly sharing their

blessings to the Filipinos, particularly the

people of Capiz.

He said that the Pacific Partnership

serves as the true example of excellence and

an attestation of the concern for others.

―To be in service to others, you need

not be in office as what is needed is the

compassion and commitment to serve,‖

Tanco said.

He also stressed that the various

engagements in Capiz are full of life changing

endeavors to help the less fortunate

Capiceños, especially those who were

affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.

The international humanitarian

engagements in Capiz included the

medical, dental, optal, veterinary and

surgical civic action programs as well as

engineering, disaster relief and rescue

capacity training and cultural exchange

programs.

During the ceremony, Tanco

presented a plaque to Capt. Engdahl

containing the province‘s sincerest

gratitude for all the services extended to the

people of Capiz.

He also said that more than the

humanitarian services is the bond formed

that will forever be treasured by the

Capiceños.

The governor likewise gave a Capiz

shell – based lampshade as token of

Capiceños' gratefulness to the various

mission collaborators who conducted joined

the team here. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA6) — The first-ever Negosyo Center was launched recently by the Iloilo provincial government.

“ This will make doing business in Iloilo

province and the city, besides providing

access to services needed by

entrepreneurs here,‖ Iloilo Governor

Arthur Defensor, Sr. Said during the

launching program.

Citing the micro, small and medium

enterprises as backbone of the country‘s

economy, Defensor lauded the center as

promoting ease of doing business, catering

to these small businesses.

Various stakeholders, including the

Department of Trade and Industries, the

LGUs, and the Iloilo Business Club, joined in

launching the center, which is temporarily

housed at the provincial capitol.

The project is in partnership with the DTI,

DILG, and the government of Canada

through the Local Governance Support

Program for Economic Development

(LGSP-LED).

Iloilo is among the provinces with the

highest number of SMEs and the Negosyo

Center can help the entrepreneurs make

their enterprises sustainable and earn well,

according to Defensor.

The Negosyo Center‘s services include

business registration assistance, business

advisory services, and business information

and advocacy. Trade and Industry Regional

Director Wilhelm Malones said that aside

from the above, the Negosyo Center can

also provide business recovery assistance

during calamities.

The center will be managed by the

Local Development Economic Enterprise

and Investment Promotion Unit at the 3rd

floor of the New provincial capitol.

Meanwhile, LGSP-LED Local Economic

and Investment Promotion Officer Velma

Jane Lao said that through the enabling

policies and programs implemented, Metro

Iloilo-Guimaras has recorder more than P4

billion new tourism investments in

2013. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

First-ever Negosyo Center opens in Iloilo

Elsa S. Subong

Quad immunization good for kids Pilar S. Mabaquiao

SAN JOSE, Antique, Aug. 5 (PIA6) - - School-based routine immunization kicked-off on Monday in all public schools

nationwide with the banner ‗Bakunang Tuloy Tuloy – Para sa Malusog na Batang Pinoy.

V eronica Abella, Supervising Midwife

at the same time Expanded

P rog ram on Immun iz a t ion

Coordinator, Antique Provincial Health

Office said this will be a routine

immunization starting this year to cover

children enrolled in Grade 1 and Grade 7.

―A total of 12,640 Grade 1 pupils and

11,424 Grade 7 students are expected to be

immunized in 479 elementary and 55

secondary public schools provincewide,‖,

she said.

In San Jose, Dr. Melba Billones during

the launching program at San Fernando Elem

School underscored the importance of this

routine immunization for Tetanus,

Diphtheria, Measles and Rubella to prevent

complications and boost immunity of

children.

Complications of Measles she said

include pneumonia and blindness while

Diphtheria could also lead to meningitis. In

severe these cases complications could

cause death, she said.

Billones said the routine immunization

will serve as a booster to children since they

have been given the same immunization

when they were infants at the Barangay

Health Center or Rural Health Clinic.

However the efficacy of the

immunization tends to decline as they grow

up thus, the need to give them the booster

immunization, she emphasized.

She also gave credits to the nurses led

by Richel Joseco and midwives who are

grouped into teams to undertake the month

-long immunization in all public schools with

the support of teachers, local officials,

barangay health workers, nutrition scholars

and service point officers of the population

office.

―The community of Muslims and

Cebuanos residing at Barangay San

Fernando, San Jose Billones likewise said are

supportive to this school based

immunization.

They in fact accompany their children

to avail of the vaccination.

The town of San Jose has a target of

1,168 Grade 1 pupils and 1,441 Grade 7

students. (JCM/PSM-PIA6 Antique)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

Negros Occ., Aug. 6 (PIA6) - - A total of 1,017 houses are now under construction in different LGUs of the province for

typhoon Yolanda victims as of July this year, according to NHA Negros Occ. Provincial chief Engr. Alejandro Ongsuco.

T he house construction is part of the

government‘s commitment to

provide shelter to Yolanda victims

here.

In Sagay City 168 units are being built,

646 in Cadiz City, 175 in Victorias City and

28 in EB Magalona town.

Ongsuco also revealed 11, 655 houses

and lot packages are undergoing land

development in the province, with NHA

having received a notice to proceed with the

project.

The projects are now in different stages

of completion: Cadiz City has an

accomplishment rate of 50.59 percent,

Escalante City 38.27 percent, Sagay 33.30

percent, Manapla Town 25.3, Victorias City

31.36 percent and EB Magalona Town 35.36

percent.

Breakdown of house and lot projects

for LGU is as follows: Escalante 559, Sagay

City 3, 000, Cadiz 3, 556, Manapla 2, 000,

Victorias City 1, 372 and EB Magalona town

1,168. All LGUs are located in northern

Negros Occ., the area badly by the super

typhoon.

The government is targeting to build 27,

055 house package that it hopes to finish

before President Aquino term ends.

He said the project in Silay is currently

stalled because of change of area for

development.

According to Ongsuco one project

consists of 1, 000 unit house and lot

package at the most and takes one year to

complete.

Lot area is 40 square meters while

house area varies from 22 square meters, 26

square meters and 28.4 square meters.

The house construction and lot package

costs a total of P 290, 000 per unit. (JCM/Lljr

– PIA6)

NHA building 1T houses for Yolanda victims

Campus writers urged to spread info on geohazards

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA6) --- Campus publications can be effective channels in disseminating vital information on geological

hazards in Western Visayas, said the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-6.

I n t h e c a m p u s j o u r n a l i s m

seminar-workshop organized by the

Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-6

held July 29-31 at Sarabia Manor Hotel here,

MGB-6 Senior Science Research Specialist

Leilanie Suerte said that campus writers can

help raise the awareness of their fellow

students on geologic hazards.

―Student writers can help develop the

culture of disaster preparedness among their

peers through their articles and write-ups,‖

she said to 134 participants of the seminar

workshop.

She emphasized that climate change

which involves unpredictable and extreme

weather events is the new normal and this

includes numerous occurrences of landslide,

flooding and other geologic hazards.

―Geological hazards such as landslides,

floods, sinkholes, earthquakes are capable of

causing negative impact on man‘s life and

well-being,‖ she said.

She said that the negative impact has

economic consequences such as damage to

property, infrastructure, agriculture,

breakdown and interruption of services,

displacement of the population, among

others,‖ she stressed.

―Geological hazards also have other

environmental impacts including drastic

changes and destruction of animal and plant

habitat,‖ she said.

She also said that they are

strengthening their information education

campaigns through risk sharing/risk

transfer, risk retention or acceptance,

knowledge development, and capacity

building.

She said that addressing vulnerabilities,

building resilience or adaptive capacity are

means to reducing the adverse impacts of

disaster. (JCM/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Leonard T. Pineda I

Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

KBP-Aklan sets ‗Broadcastreeing‘ 2015

KALIBO, Aklan, Aug. 5 (PIA6) -- Aklan‘s broadcasters will take time-out from competing with each other on the airwaves

August 15 as they embark together on a very worthy and timely activity – tree planting at Barangay Jawili, Tangalan, Aklan to

make the province a greener, healthier place to live in.

T his activity here, spearheaded

by the Kap isanan ng Mga

Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Aklan

C h a p t e r , i s d u b b e d ― O p l a n

Broadcastreeing‖, and is a nationwide

tree-planting project.

KBP-Aklan Chapter Chairman Alan C.

Palma of YES FM-Boracay said the

holding of ―Broadcastreeing‖ in Aklan will

serve as the Aklanon broadcasters‘

contribution and participation to the

National Greening Program (NGP) of the

government under Executive Order No. 26

of President Benigno S. Aquino III,

which seeks to plant 1.5 billion seedlings on

1.5 million hectares of land from 2011 to

2016.

Palma said the tree-planting

activity in Jawili, Tangalan will be conducted

with the support of the Department

o f E n v i r o n m e n t a n d N a t u r a l

Resources (DENR) and the Department of

Interior and Local Government (DILG).

―Some 30 to 40 KBP members

from 8-member stations in Aklan

with dif ferent organizations and

volunteers will be joining the activity‖, Palma

said.

Meanwhile, Ivene Reyes, DENR-Aklan

Provincial Environment and Natural

Resources Officer said instructions had

been made to concerned DENR personnel

who will be assisting the group in the

activity.

Reyes said the area identified for

tree-planting is within the project site of the

barangay.

H e a l s o e x p r e s s e d h i s

appreciation on the KBP‘s concern

and cooperation for the development

and conservation of natural resources

a n d c o mp l i a n c e to E .O . 2 6 .

DENR w i l l a l so be prov id ing

the seedlings to be planted. (VGV PIA6

Aklan)

By Venus G. Villanueva

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

SIQUIJOR, Aug. 4 (PIA) --- The Model A ―Negosyo Center‖, the first in the province, is now open at the Department of Trade

(DTI) building in Siquijor, Siquijor.

Model A Negosyo Center now in Siquijor province

T he blessing and launching was done last

week with DTI 7 Regional Director Aster Caberte, local officials heads of national

government agencies, Micro Small and Mediul

Enterprises (MSMEs), financial institutions, members of the provincial micro small and Medium enterprises development council (MSMEDC) and Senator ‗Bam‘

Aquino‘s representative, Mona Yap, gracing the affair.

Caberte, in a message, said Region 7 is committed to mount Model A Negosyo Centers and urged provincial DTI offices and the local

government units (LGUs) to work on it. She said the Go Negosyo Act is empowering

partners—SMEDCs, LGUs and other private sector

partners—to come up with a purposive MSME development that ―for the longest time was never felt.‖

She said this as she cited the World Bank report that says Philippines will be a survivor next

year because of strong macro-economic factors that

this administration has placed. Negosyo Centers establishment is an offshoot

of RA 10644 or ―An act Promoting Job Generation

and Inclusive Growth through the Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)," authored by Senator Aquino.

It was signed into law by President Benigno S.

Aquino III on July 15 2014 and took effect on January 13, 2015.

It aims to bring government services closer to

small businesses, further boost assistance for MSMES to grow and flourish, and to intensify the promotion of entrepreneurship in the country.

―Naniniwala po si Senator Bam na ang hinahanap ng ating malilit na negosyante ay mga taong puede nilang kausapin, puedeng hingan ng tulong at

advise sa kanilang araw-araw ng pakikipagsapalaran,‖ Yap said.

She said that Siquijor province is part of the top

100 Negosyo Center targeted this year which plays an important role in making their vision a reality and that proves that the province can help small

businesses grow. ―There‘s a really big potential for Siquijor to

grow as an economy and to contribute to the whole

economy of the Philippines,‖ said Yap.

She hoped that as the economy of Siquijor continues to grow micro-enterprises grow with it.

Negosyo Center, she explained, is a one-stop

shop that brings together the existing and more services of the DTI and LGUs that provide three main services: business registration, business advisory

council including mentoring and coaching, and business information advocacy.

In simpler terms, it‘s about providing money,

marketing and mentoring for business to grow, she said. (rmn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)

Rizalie Anding Calibo

CEBU CITY, Aug. 3 (PIA) — Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III will go on a seven-day trip to Japan to boost the Private

Public Partnership (PPP) thrusts of the province.

Davide off to Japan to strengthen Cebu‘s PPP thrusts

D avide will lead the delegation composed of

government and private sectors to attend the 10th International Forum on PPP beginning

August 4 in Tokyo, Japan. This international forum is organized annually by

the Toyo University thru its Asia PPP Institute, which was tapped by Gov. Davide to study possible PPP

projects in Cebu last February. ―Governor Davide III will speak on Cebu's

investments potentials thru PPP during the forum, which will also be attended by

former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad,‖ according to Ethel Natera, Cebu Provincial

Information Officer. Keynote speakers of the forum also include Dr.

Geoffrey Hamilton, Chief for the Cooperation and Partnerships Section of the United Nations Economic

Commission for Europe‘s International PPP Center of Excellence

Natera said that in the forum, Takashi Tokue will present the Case Study on "PPP Possibility Study in the

Province of Cebu." Gov. Davide will deliver a speech in the forum

focusing on the identified key areas and how the PPP

could help achieve his governmental functions without

depending much on the province‘s resources. The Governor‘s six key development agenda

includes private sector cooperation especially in infrastructure projects, health services, and disaster

preparedness. Members of the Cebu delegation include: senior

Provincial Board (PB) Member Peter John Calderon, chair of the committee chair on

health and co-author of Cebu‘s investment code; PB Member Christopher Baricuatro,

author of Cebu‘s investment code and PPP ordinance; and PB Member Jude Thaddeus

Durano-Sybico, vice chair of the committee on planning and development.

Also joining the delegation are mayors Raymond Joseph Calderon of Samboan, Lisa Marie

Durano-Estreegan of Sogod, and Vice Mayors Wilson Wenceslao of Santander and Richard Estreegan of

Sogod. Second District Rep. Wilfredo Caminero was also invited and will attend the forum.

From the private sector are Slovakia‘s honorary Consul Antonio Chiu, who is also a member

of Cebu Investment Promotions Board (CIPC),

University of San Jose-Recoletos- College of

Law Dean Jonathan Capanas who is a Capitol consultant, CIPC Chief Benjamin Yap and

Capitol sen ior consultant on Resource Development and International Cooperation Rodrigo

Lachica Jr. This year, Toyo University will be inaugurating a

Specialist Center of Excellence for PPP in Local Governments under the UNECE‘s International PPP

Center of Excellence. Currently, Toyo University took under its wing 40

municipalities in Japan and Asia in developing and implementing PPP policies and projects.

In the Philippines, the pioneering initiative is the agricultural project case study in Butuan City, which is

already in the implementation stage. Aside from forum, the Cebu delegation will also

pay a courtesy visit to the officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Saitama Prefecture, and

Yokohama City. The delegation will also visit private companies and

public institutions in Yokohama City and Saitama Prefecture. (rmn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu with reports from

Xerxes Alkuino, Capitol PIO)

Ferliza C. Contratista

CEBU, Aug. 1 (PIA) --- Delegates who will be visiting Cebu for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings will

have the chance to enjoy a glimpse of Cebu's rich historic past via a special tour prepared for them by the Department of

Tourism (DOT) here.

Special tours await APEC delegates in Cebu

T he tour will not only bring visitors down

memory lane but also offer present-day attractions and upcoming developments in

Cebu. The short trip will cover old structures dating

back to Spanish times, American period buildings, commercial districts, and the upcoming seaside

developments in the South Road Properties, said DOT-7 Senior Tourism Operations Officer Judilyn Quiachon.

Quiachon said participants of APEC 2015 meetings in Cebu will be treated to cultural performances at some

of Cebu City‘s historic structures. According to Quiachon, guests will be shown a

reenactment of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan‘s arrival and planting of a cross on Cebu soil in

152, and the subsequent baptism into the Roman

Catholic faith of Sugbo‘s Rajah Humabon and Queen

Juana and a few hundred of their followers at Magellan‘s Cross.

―Candle vendors at the Basilica will perform the traditional Sinulog dance for our visitors. APEC

delegates will also get the chance to ride on a tartanilla to Fort San Pedro where they will be welcomed by

volunteers in Spanish outfits and served Spanish food and wine,‖ she said.

At the old Chinese district of Parian, tour participants will get to explore the centuries-old

Yap-Sandiego ancestral house and the Jesuit House of 1730 that is now known as the Museo Parian.

The complimentary tour will take three hours and will bring APEC delegates past Colon Street, the oldest

in the country, with its Chinese lantern decorations on

its way to the Provincial Capitol building, passing by such

significant American period structures as the Cebu Normal University, Fuente Osmena Circle, CAP

Building, and Rizal Library. There will also be side trips to the University of

the Philippines (UP)-Cebu Campus, Cebu IT Park, Ayala Center Cebu, and South Road Properties (SRP) up to

the new SM Seaside City. APEC delegates may also pick from eight paid

tours crafted exclusively for them, said Quiachon. These include the: Cebu Island Arts and Crafts

Industry Tour, Island Hopping Safari, Cebu Highlands Tour, South Countryside Tour and Village Experience,

Dive Cebu!, Cebu Food Trip, Spa and Wellness Package, and the Bohol In A Day Adventure. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu/

Cebu Capitol PIO)

Rachelle M. Nessia

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

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

BAYAWAN CITY, Negros Oriental, Aug. 6 (PIA) – Units of Solar Home System (SHS) were handed over to 17 barangays here

that do not have power yet through their Solar Power Association (SOPA) officers.

T he units were given by Department of

Energy (DOE) in cooperation with City Government of Bayawan and Silliman

University during the ceremonial switch-on and

distribution of SHS event held at the Integrated Business Center yesterday.

This is part of DOE‘s Household Electrification Program (HEP) project in Visayas.

SHS units are composed of solar panels and a 10-kilowatt peak capacity and a 30-kilowatt peak capacity batteries.

Beneficiaries can use this to turn on lights and transistor radios as well as to charge cellphones.

The barangays that received these SHS are

Cansumalig, San Roque, Kalumboyan, San Isidro, Manduao, Ali-is, Maninihon, Villasol, Tabuan, Manduao Proper, Nangka, Tayawan, Dawis, Minaba,

San Jose, Bugay and Narra. According to DOE-Visayas field office director

Antonio Labios, this is the second time the

department had this kind of activity in the Visayas. The first was in September 2013 in Northern

Iloilo.

Dir. Labios said Bayawan City has the biggest number of household beneficiaries of HEP with 2,

989 beneficiaries.

―This number is very hard to attain especially if we are talking of very remote sitios which are generally located beyond five kilometers from the last tapping pole of Negros

Oriental Electric Cooperative (NORECO 2). Most of the sitios are only accessible by foot or during good weather condition – by habal-habal,‖ he

disclosed. The first batch of SHS composed of around

924 units arrived last week, and distribution and

installation of SHS in individual households will start soon after the deliveries have been completed within this week.

Another batch of SHS consisted of 2,000 units is set to be delivered within the coming months.

Bayawan City Mayor Ismael Martinez expressed

his gratitude to DOE for choosing Bayawan City as a site for its HEP.

He cited that children can now study better

and people will become more productive. Another benefit, he said, is that it can deter

crimes in hinterland areas.

Dir. Labios said DOE will now conduct tra in ings for SOPA off i cers on the proper management and maintenance of the SHS units.

He noted that taking care of theses SHS units is the responsibility of the recipients of these solar units.

On the other hand, Silliman University which is DOE‘s Affiliated Renewable Energy Center partner expressed their support to the

program. Silliman University vice president for

development Jane Anette Belermino relayed to the

SOPA officers the message of their university President Ben Malayang III.

The ceremonial turnover was also witnessed by

representatives from the provincial government and NORECO-2. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Solar Home System units to power 17 barangays in Bayawan

CEBU, July 31 (PIA) -- ―We are 95 percent ready."

T his is the assurance given by the top police

chief in Central Visayas as the upcoming APEC event in Cebu is less than a month

away.

C/Supt. Prudencio Bañas, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO7), said that by next week, the security plan for APEC Cebu will be presented to the National Joint Task

Force as security for the delegates will be personalized.

Over 3,200 delegates from 21 economies are

expected to gather in Cebu starting August 22 until September 6 to participate in different APEC-related meetings as police personnel will be deployed in the

identified meeting venues and the billet hotels, said

Bañas during the monthly 'Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis'

or TSIP Forum this morning at the PRO7 media conference room.

―Part of the security requirement is the

deployment of one policeman in every 100 meters in ceremonial routes with the name of the assigned personnel specified,‖ said Bañas.

The PRO-7 chief said red alert will be

raised four days before the start of the first meeting and four days after the completion of the meetings.

On the threat of terrorism, Bañas said ―so far, we have not received any report‖ on any groups that are out to wreck havoc to the event adding that the

greatest challenge is the traffic.

A series of dry runs will be implemented

including checking on the traffic flow to ensure that everything would be smooth during the actual activities especially the Senior Officials Meeting or

SOM 3, bared Bañas. In case of street rallies, Bañas said their policy

has always been ‗maximum tolerance‘ as long as protesters do not get violent as their right to air

their grievances must also be respected albeit in a peaceful manner.

Policemen will also be deployed in eight

identified tourist destinations in Cebu including Moalboal, Badian and Osmeña Peak in Toledo City where delegates have the option to do some

sightseeing tours. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

PRO7: Security preps in place for APEC Cebu

Fayette C. Riñen

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

CEBU CITY, July 31 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 welcomed the issuance of a

Regional Development Council (RDC) 7 resolution creating a technical working group (TWG) under the Economic

Development Committee (EDC) to serve as a technical arm of the Cebu Leyte Bohol Southern Leyte (CeLeBoSoLe) for the

management of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef.

RDC7 endorses TWG for Danajon Double Barrier Reef

D ENR 7 Regional Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo

said in a press release: ―This is a pos i t i v e deve lopmen t com ing

from the RDC 7 on its endorsement for the Danajon Double Barrier Reef as the only double barrier

reef in the Philippines formed over the last 6,000 years and one of only three such sites in the Indo-Pacific

region.‖ Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto as RDC

chairperson approved RDC Resolution No. 29, series of 2015 last June 26 and attested by

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 7 Regional Director Efren Carreon being the RDC vice

chairperson, DENR-7 spokesperson Dr. Eddie Llamedo said.

Danajon Bank covers a total area of 272 square kilometers or 27,200 hectares with a total coastline of

699 kilometers including 40 islands located off Northern

Bohol. In a letter dated July 22 addressed to Montejo

signed by Carreon, it said ―the CELEBOSOLE Project has been adopted as a special project of the Visayas

Regional Development Committee chaired by Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla of Leyte Province, and the

RDC Chairs and Co-Chairs of the Visayas regions as members‖.

Further, destructive fishing and sedimentation have been pinpointed as the cause of the

degradation in rich coral reef and sea-grass habitats in areas such as the Danajon

Double Barrier Reef in northern Bohol; portions of western Palawan island; Lingayen

Gulf in northern Luzon; and parts of other major islands like Marinduque and Mindoro.

The project will reduce and reverse

degradation of Danajon Bank as there will be a TWG that will coordinate and manage

c e r t a i n p r o g r a m s a n d a c t i v i t i e s l i k e e n f o r c e m e n t , l i v e l i h o o d a n d f o o d

security options, and other socio-economic development initiatives as envisioned by President

Aquino‘s Philippine Development Plan (PDP), said Montejo.

In the EDC-TWG, the DENR 7 serves as co-chair with Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources 7 as

chair. The members are the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Tourism,

National Economic and Development Authority, relevant private sector and civil society organizations,

and the academe. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu/with DENR7 report)

Juju M. Empuerto

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

SoLeyte officials, employees, students join voluntary blood donation drive

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 5 (PIA) - Young blood donors fearlessly came and joined the voluntary blood donation to

highlight the launching of the Provincial Voluntary Blood Services Council (PVBSC) in the province of Southern Leyte last Sat-

urday, August 1, 2015 at Southern Leyte Coliseum.

P rovincial Governor Roger G.

Mercado,who is also the chairman

of the newly created PVBSC, led in

the mass blood donation with the extraction

of his (1) bag of 450 cc blood together with

some provincial employees and students of

the NSTP from the College of Maasin (CM),

Saint Joseph College (SJC) and the Maasin

City College (MCC).

The mass blood donation was facilitated

with the technical assistance of the PRC

Southern Leyte staff and volunteers and

medical doctors from the Southern Leyte

Provincial Hospital.

According to Philippine Red Cross

(PRC) Southern Leyte Administrator Jonas

Maco, the PRC has been designated as the

collection unit of the mentioned provincial

blood council, the Philippine Red Cross

and the Provincial Government of Southern

Leyte will actively embark the 100%

Voluntary and Non-Renumerated Blood

Donation program.

Maco further said, ― that thru the

dynamic partnership with all the members of

PVBSC in the province, PRC is committted

to get the 10% of the targeted population

which is estimated at 40,000 probable blood

donors .‖ He further said that if the figures

will start to count down from the first

month of January 2015, then the target is

possibly attainable.

It is based with the nearly 400,000 total

population of the province, he added.

Maco also disclosed that the provincial

blood council is planning to campaign for

more blood donors across the province by

municipality to include the City of Maasin.

Governor Roger Mercado was

delighted to be a blood donor as a

manifestation of his desire to serve humanity

and fellow countrymen thru this notable

cause.

Mercado also reported that the

provincial government will continue to

subsidize financial assistance to the indigents'

need for the processing of screened blood

with the appropriated funds from the

provincial coffers in the amount of

P600,000.00. He said that after the indigents

will get a barangay certificate of indingency,

they can readily avail the said financial

subsidy from the provincial government, he

said. (esg/PIA8SoLeyte)

ERNA S. GORNE

P67M Agas-Agas bridge project 60% complete

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 6 (PIA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Southern Leyte

Engineering District has embarked on a P67 million project to protect abutments and pier of Agas-Agas Bridge in the

municipality of Sogod.

D PWH District Engineer Margarita

C. Junia informed that the first

phase worth P9 million was

already completed last January, this year

while the 2nd phase that cost P47 million is

now 60% complete.

She added that another P11 million was

allocated for Phase III to be implemented

within this quarter.

The whole project includes the

installation of gabions and stone masonry

near the bridge foundation which will serve

as scour protection during rainy days.

―We have to define waterways to

control flow of water from the mountains

that cause erosions,‖ DE Junia said.

The protection of the foundations is

important to prevent the bridge to collapse,

she added, saying that when DPWH

completed the project in 2014, scouring

near the bridge pier was unexpected and the

timber poaching contributed to the

abnormal flow of water under the 311 feet

high bridge, Junia added.

The 350-meter long bridge which was

inaugurated in 2009 was seen as the

permanent solution to landslide and

rockslides in the said area. It was funded

through a loan worth P1.024 billion under

the Japan International Cooperation Agency

– Official Development Assistance.

The amount also include the more than

a kilometer road concreting approaching the

bridge, road slips and drainage system.

In the past years, the bridge had a

P350,000 budget for its maintenance, but for

2015, DPWH-SLED secured a P4-M special

funds for its maintenance works. (rgc/PIA8

-SoLeyte)

MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

Free operation to hydrocoele patients due to filariasis up

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 3 (PIA) --- The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office 8 encourages hydrocoele

patients due to filariasis to undergo free operation at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

A ccord ing to Ana l i za Ba l i l a ,

F i l a r i a s i s Con tro l P ro g ram

Coordinator said the urogenital

operation or hydrocoelectomy is given free

to all hydroecele patients who would like to

avail of the service.

Since year 2009, the Department of

Health has allotted Php300 thousand budget

for free operation of hydrocoele patients in

Eastern Visayas.

―Even if the region has been declared

filariasis-free in March 2014, it does not

mean that the program has ended,‖ said

Balila.

Lymphatic filariasis is a chronic

parasitic infection transmitted through bites

of mosquitos.

Health authorities said filarial worms

live in the body for five to fifteen years and

affects the lymphatics, kidneys and other

organs of the body.

It can also affect children, men and

women, young and adults.

Some of the physical manifestations are

elephantiasis of the breast, leg, arm and

hydroecele for men. Infected person

suffers from acute attacks causing swelling

of legs, fever, sorenesss in glands and

headache.

In Region 8, Southern Leyte and Biliran

are some of the provinces that successfully

eliminated Lymphatic Filariasis. (ajc/cba/

PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

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

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

DOH-8 deworming campaign a success

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 5 (PIA) – The simultaneous deworming of school children in Eastern Visayas was a complete

success.

B ased on the final data gathered by

the Philippine Information Agency

(PIA), of the 700, 097 school

children enrollees, 71, 286 children were

exempted from taking the deworming

medicine last July 29 as they had taken the

drug before that day.

Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa, Information

Officer of the Department of Health

(DOH-8) said, 469, 279 pupils were

dewormed in the region during the

simultaneous National Deworming Day in

the whole country.

This figure represents 89.59% of the

number of school age children who were

dewormed and above the national target of

85%.

So far, no reported case of

adverse reaction had occurred during

that day and even days after the deworming

day.

Deworming children in schools

has been found by health authorities

to be a good strategy to reduce the

burden of Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis

(STH) infection and creates a positive

impact on the children‘s education

and health as well as reduce

illnesses and deaths due to parasitism. (ajc/

cba/PIA-8)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

Over 1,000 families avail Aussie shelter recovery program

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug. 4 (PIA) – Some 1,533 families or 8000 individuals are benefiting from the housing units

formally handed over by the Australian Government as part of its broad assistance to communities affected by typhoon

Yolanda.

T he housing units were handed over

in a simple ceremony recently at

Palo Municipal Hall, Palo, Leyte

followed by visits to the shelter sites in

Barangay Libertad in Palo and in Barangay

Bagacay in Tacloban, City.

The housing project was implemented

by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS),

Gawad Kalinga, the Philippine Red Cross and

the local government units of Palo and

Tacloban, City.

It was personally attended by Australian

Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell,

Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, Philippine

Red Cross Secretary General Gwendolyn

Pang, Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis

Oquinena and CRS Philippine Response

Coordinator Joshua Kyller.

―Australia and the Philippines have a

deep and warm relationship covering broad

areas including development, trade and

defense cooperation.

Australia will always stand ready to

support the Philippines and the Filipino

people in times of disasters,‖ Ambassador

Tweddell said.

Mrs. Magdalena Dotado, resident of

Barangay Libertad, Palo, Leyte was very

thankful for being one of the recipients of

the shelter assistance.

―My family and all the beneficiaries are

very thankful and will forever remember

Australia‘s kindness, especially during

the time of our greatest need. Rest assured

we will take care of the houses that have

been generously provided to us,‖ Dotado

said.

The shelter recovery program is part of

Australia‘s Php2.6 billion immediate

humanitarian assistance and recovery

support for Yolanda-affected communities.

(With reports from CRSajc//cba/PIA-8)

DTI-Leyte reviews 2015 BUB projects

T he purpose of the gathering,

spearheaded by DTI Leyte

Provincial Director Desiderio P.

Belas, was to review, finalize its 2015 BUB

projects and assess the initial project

proposals prepared by contracted Business

Development Services (BDS) Providers as

well as identify issues and concerns to refine

it and ensure the fast and efficient

implementation of the projects.

In a press statement, BDD Chief

Faustino C. Gayas said all of the 11

B U B p r o j e c t s a m o u n t i n g t o

Php11,735,340.00 were reviewed during the

whole day activity.

The nine recipient local government

units (LGUs) were Tacloban City, Baybay

City and the Municipalities of Abuyog,

Capoocan, Albuera, Calubian, Tunga, Javier

and San Isidro, all in Leyte.

Among the projects are Streamlining

Business Permits and Licensing in Abuyog,

Processed Food Industry Clustering Project

in Albuera, Food Livelihood Projects

in Calubian, Alternative Livelihood

Program for CSOs and Bayong Weavers in

Capoocan, LRED Planning and BPLS

Enhancement in Javier, Yaman Pinoy in San

Isidro, Formulation of Municipal Economic

Development & investment Plan in Tunga,

Yaman Pinoy-Integrated Development

Program for Pandan-based handicrafts in

Baybay, City and the the three projects for

Tacloban namely Yaman Pinoy, Skills

Training and Product Enhancement and

Livelihood Program for the PWDs and other

vulnerable sectors.

Fatima Claire Bartolome, DTI Leyte

GPB Focal Person promised to release

immediately the allocated funds to said

LGUs once the project proposals were

polished and approved by DTI Regional

Office following the completion of all

necessary documents.

This is in addition to the 2014 GPB

Program amounting to Php5,920,000.00

that was previously released to eight local

government units.

The Bottoms-Up Budgeting Program

is a program of the government

aiming at reducing poverty and

promote inclusive growth through the

development of innovative, globally

competitive and capacitated MSMEs

that would result to employment

generation in the countryside.(DTI Leyte/ajc/

cba/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Aug 6 (PIA) - A one-day Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) Provincial Review and Consultative Assembly

was conducted recently by the Department of Trade and Industry Leyte Provincial Office held at Cawaksi Training Center,

Brgy. San Jose, Tacloban, City.

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

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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:

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