Vol 6 Issue 20 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 May 16 - 22, 2016

In this Issue

Ocean Month celeb bats for ‘detoxifying’ oceans

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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El Niño’s impact on CV rice production minimal

C E B U ,

May 18 (PIA) – Despite the current drought experienced in Central Visayas, El Niño did not impact much on rice production although data shows a slight dip in a three-year

period. Francisco Sopsop, chief of the Planning Division of the

Department of Agriculture (DA-7), said rice production from 2013 to 2015 slightly dropped from 347,697 metric

tons in 2013 to 338,822 metric tons in 2014 which again fell to 336,194 metric tons last year, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-7).

―Rice production in Central Visayas dropped from 2013 to 2014 at -2.6 percent. But this slightly improved from 2014 to 2015 which still registered negative at -0.8

percent,‖ said Sopsop during the recent forum of the Association of Government Information Officers – Philippine Information Agency (AGIO-PIA7) that tackled

the topic ―El Niño and Its Impact to Rice Production in Central Visayas.‖

He attributed the minimal El Nino impact to the

fact that majority of rice lands in irrigated areas at 59,058 hectares are mostly found in Bohol, which has the largest size of rice lands in the region.

Though the provinces of Cebu and Bohol and some

localities in Negros Oriental declared a ―state of calamity,‖ Sopsop said the water level in surface water sources in Bohol did not yet reach a critical level although almost in a

dangerous state.

The DA-7 official, however, admitted that they still do not have the official data for the 1st quarter of 2016, which are still under verification.

The minimal impact of the El Niño to the region‘s rice production is also attributed to the agency‘s aggressive information campaign before the onset of the El Niño in the second quarter of last year, said Sopsop.

―We conducted an information caravan to all municipalities and cities throughout the region on the possible effects of El Niño and how farmers should prepare

for any eventuality,‖ said Sopsop. DA-7 also crafted a Mitigation Plan on El Niño and

requested their head office for a separate funding for its

intervention measures. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 19 (PIA)—

Security forces belonging to the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army were one in saying ―Samar election was peaceful.‖

Samar Police spokesperson PSupt Jennifer Sumpo when asked in a text message about the situation in the province replied,‖Okay la po it akon area.‖

In the army camp, at Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, the

8th Infantry division headquarters, no less than the army‘s second high ranking officer visited the camp on Saturday to congratulate them for ensuring a successful and peaceful

election. Maj. Gen. Rodolfo Demosthenes C Santillan AFP, said

that he commends the army for its integrity and dedication

to duty, that despite the many challenges, the army was able to overcome them.

In response, Maj Gen. Jet Velarmino, commanding

general of the division said that he is thankful for leadership

trust and confidence on them. ―While we are advancing and transforming we remain

to be committed on our mandate in serving the people and

securing the land for a just a lasting peace in Eastern Visayas.‖

Early on, Samar was identified as an area of concern due to intense political rivalry.

Election in Samar was briefly marred by the ambush of a mayoralty candidate in San Jorge town on election day, but the police prompt response led to the

arrest of the suspects. The ambush victim though survived and the suspects

in jail.

Other than that, the security forces proclaimed that the election was generally peaceful and orderly. (nbq/PIA8 -Samar with 8th ID DPAO)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

Also CLICK Here…

EASTERN VISAYAS

ILOILO CITY, May 16 (PIA6)—On the 17th

y e a r o f c e l e b r a t i n g O c e a n M o n t h this May, the focus is on the need to cure the oceans and the coastal areas of toxic

elements.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which spearheads the celebration, said that the event also focuses

on the importance of biodiversity in food security.

DENR-6 Director J im Sampulna sa id

protecting and conserving our marine and coastal resources equates to sustainable aquatic food production.

―Western Visayas has a lot of coastal resources needing protection and we need to act together to protect them,‖ Sampulna said.

Sampulna added that the DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau will initiate a dual activity

with mangrove planting and coral transplanting in Anilao,

Iloilo. DENR said mangroves are considered

as natural barriers to tsunamis, storm surges and tidal

waves.

―They also serve as spawning grounds for fishes and crustaceans,‖ Sampulna said.

A DENR-6 press release said that as part of the

total mangrove ecosystem, the corals and the seagrasses have important roles in maintaining a balance in the ecosystem.

―The coral transplantation activity will help regain a healthy coral population,‖ Sampulna said.

The Philippines has at least 16 species of

seagrass in an estimated 978 sq.kms. of seagrass beads, which serve as food for dugongs, manatees, sea turtles , hundreds of f i sh

species and several species of waterfowls. (JCM/ESS-PIA6 Iloilo)

WESTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

Dydm kapihan sa PIA: PCInsp. Elizar Gonzaga,

deputy chief of police, Maasin City, talks about

peace and order situation of the city. (mmp)

Ninfa Quirante

Department of Education – Division of Negros

Occidental officials led by Schools Division56

Superintendent Dr. Jose Freddie Mocon call

for a press conference on the department‘s

upcoming activities and updates on the Senior

High School implementation come June. *(EAD

-PIA6 photo)

A Kapihan sa PIA was held May 18 at the

Plenary Hall of RAFI Bldg., Lopez Jaena St.,

Cebu City with guests (l-r) Historian Dr.

Madrileña de la Cerna and Casa Gorordo

Museum Curator Florencio Moreno to talk on

‗Atong kultura, Atong Kabilin, Atong Kinabuhi:

Nasudnong Kasaulogan sa Heritage Month.‘

The forum was aired-live from 10:00 am

- 11:00 am at DYMR-Radyo ng Bayan 576 khz

and delayed telecast at Sky Cable-Cebu

Channel 61 at 5:00 pm. (vvv/PIA Cebu)

Samar election peaceful, according to PNP, Army

By Elsa S. Subong

By Fayette C. Riñen

(organic.da.gov.ph photo)

WESTERN VISAYAS 2

DRRM projects get P4M funding

NEGROS OCC. May 18 (PIA6)—The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is allocating about P4 million

to fund various activities and developmental projects related to disaster risk reduction

H e sa id the ac t i v i t y w i l l be

attended by 500 multi-sectoral

stakeholders to raise awareness

on the effects of El Nino. Every sector will be

given a chance to give concrete solutions to

the damages created by the weather

phenomenon.

The activity will be held sometime in the

month of June which is the Environment

Month.

Provincial Planning and Development

Office also submitted projects for disaster

prevention, mitigation initiatives.

PPDO Chief Ma. Lina Sanogal

proposed a funding of more than P1.4M

project for Coordinating Roads and

Infrastructure Investments for Development

(CRID).

She also asked to realign more than P1.5M

for the updating of the Provincial Road and

Network Development Plan (PRNDP) and

P407,000 for Training and Development on

Environmental Planning.

In a separate request to prepare

for the wet season where more dengue

mosquitoes thrive, Dr. Jessica Fama of the

Provincial Health Office requested for a P3.5M

from the PDRRM trust fund to buy chemicals,

fogging machines, larvicide and for the training

of medical staff. (JCM/Lljr-PIA6)

By Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, May 19 (PIA6) – Three Negosyo Centers (NC) have been established by the Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) Provincial Office to take charge in promoting ease of doing business within its jurisdiction.

3 Negosyo Centers now in Capiz

By Alex A. Lumaque

T hese include the newly launched

Negosyo Centers lodged at the

Business Permit and Licensing Office

(BPLO) of Mambusao and Pontevedra towns,

respectively.

The first Negosyo Center, launched in

December 2015, is at the ground floor of DTI

Provincial Office at the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Avenue in Pueblo de Panay here.

DTI – 6 OIC regional director Rebecca M.

Rascon thanked the local chief executives for

readily accepting the project as well as

providing office space for the centers during a

launching in Pontevedra town.

DTI provided each of the newly

established centers with a computer set with

accessories and printer, two office tables with

2 chairs, three visitor chairs, an office cabinet

and a technical staff who will provide the

basic services to existing and would-be

entrepreneurs in the area.

The establishment of the Centers is

pursuant to Republic Act No. 10644 or the

―Go Negosyo Act‖ which states that the Small

and Medium Enterprises Development Council

thru the DTI is the coordinating and

supervising body for all the agencies involved in

the establishment and operation of the Nego-

syo Centers.

The centers will also facilitate access to

services for Micro Small and Medium

Enterprises (MSMEs) such as business

registration assistance, business advisory

services, business information, advocacy

monitoring and evaluation.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority

said the province has enough rice stocks

despite the impact of El Niño.

Provincial Manager Benilda Fidel of Capiz

NFA has reassured Capiceños that there is

enough supply of rice at the levels of

households, millers, retailers and wholesalers.

―NFA Capiz alone has 143,720 bags

of rice in our warehouses in the province

as of May 19 which is enough for 25 days,‖

she said adding that NFA rice is also

available at all times in the agency‘s warehouse

in Iloilo.

Fidel said that aside from the effects of the

El Niño on the reduction on palay production,

they have also prepared their stocks for

the lean months which started this month until

August. (JCM/AAL/PIA6 Capiz with JBG

report)

ILOILO CITY, May 17 (PIA6)—The Philippines should support high value exports and herbal products to take advantage of

essentially free trade in agricultural goods within ASEAN.

“ They will find their way to the ASEAN

markets as they conform to standards

within the member countries,‖ said Dr.

Roehlano Briones of the Philippine Institute for

Developmental Studies (PIDS).

Briones was speaker in a forum on Asean

Economic Community updates 2016.

He encouraged the forum participants,

composed mainly of farmer leaders, to give

urgent attention to bringing the rest of the

agriculture sector back on track.

He said that in the study he conducted,

the issue of not being ―ready‖ to compete is

essentially a problem of rice but other

traditional staple continues to drive much of

the policy debate on trade and

competitiveness.

It was noted that growth has

continued over integration period on the value

of agricultural output of top ten agricultural

products in 1991 to 2013.

Based on the Food and Agricultural

Statistics there is an increasing trend on rice

paddy, maize and sugarcane while a decreasing

trend on meat, pig and chicken, eggs hen

bananas and coconuts on this period.

Meanwhile, Briones said that industry

roadmaps were important mechanism for

developing public-private sector alliances

essential for improving competitiveness and

the AEC is a motivation for reforms and

investments. (JCM/ESS-PIA6)

Agri products have vast potentials in ASEAN markets

By Elsa S. Subong

Flores De Mayo

WESTERN VISAYAS 3

SAN JOSE, Antique, May 19 (PIA6) - - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here said that the government’s

program dubbed Balik Eskwela in store diskwento will greatly help costumers especially parents ease their financial burdens

through discounts offered for school supplies and other products starting May 27-31, 2016.

D TI Information Officer Lynna Joy

Cardinal said during the PIA Radio

program that around 12 business

establishments are expected to join in this

5-day undertaking.

The Balik Eskwela Diskwento program is a

project of DTI in coordination with the

business sector.

―All our consumers have to do is to shop

in order to locate establishments with Balik

Eskwela Diskwento streamers and avail the

discounted offer particularly school supplies,‖

Cardinal said.

The DTI also regularly reports their price

monitoring activity and other programs over

the weekly radio program of the Philippine

Information Agency in order to help guide the

public. (JCM/VWV/PIA Antique)

Balik Eskwela diskwento a boon to parents

By Vicente W. Villavert

HIV/AIDS patients getting younger

ILOILO CITY, May 16 (PIA6) - - People diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno

deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are getting younger and increasing in number in the country.

D epartment of Health (DOH) 6

Director Dr. Marlyn Convocar said

statistics show that almost half of

patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the

country numbering to about 32, 647 belong to

the 25 to 34 years old age group.

Convocar said another important

statistics to consider is that 27 percent or

more than one-fourth of the total patients

diagnosed with HIV/AIDS belong to lower than

15 to 24 years old bracket which indicates

that patients are now getting younger and the

number of patients increased by about 260

percent.

―So you could just imagine their number

and their ages are becoming younger,‖

Convocar told members of the LGBT groups;

representatives of the local government of

Oton, national government agencies and

non-organizations; students; and service

providers who joined the 33rd International

AIDS Candlelight Memorial in Oton, Iloilo on

May 15.

The statistics further revealed that most

of the patients or about 91 percent are males

and 92 percent of the cases show no

symptoms or asymptomatic.

Convocar said this should be a cause of

concern especially for those who are engaged

in risky behavior as she encouraged them to

take an HIV test to find out if they are infected

and get the necessary medical care.

She cited a story of a 32 year-old male

who worked as a waiter and assistant cook in

the island of Boracay who died from HIV/AIDS

because he failed to get an HIV test and

receive the antiretroviral vaccine given by the

DOH.

The vaccine can prevent opportunitistic

infections and can help extend the life of

people infected with HIV and AIDS.

Convocar said the increasing number of

cases from the 15 to 24 age bracket is an

emerging problem that must be given prority

because this sector is in the prime of their lives

and it is a waste if they are infected.

Thus, together with the other vulnerable

groups, she said that they must be engaged,

educated and empowered which is the

message of this year‘s commemoration of the

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

DOH 6 data further showed that every 23

hours a person is diagnosed with HIV in

Western Visayas in February of this year.

HIV testing is available at the Western

Visayas Medical Center and in social hygiene

clinics. (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

By Lilibeth A. French

Coastal waters red tide-free By Venus G. Villanueva

KALIBO, Aklan, May 18 (PIA6) -- All coastal waters monitored by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

throughout the country continue to be free from red tide toxins.

T his finding is based on Shellfish

Bulletin No. 15 released by

BFAR dated 10 May 2016, Series of

2016.

The bulletin, disseminated by BFAR

- Aklan, stated that coastal waters of

Batan Bay and its tributaries in Aklan

like Altavas, Batan and New Washington, and

Sapian Bay in Capiz including Mambuquiao and

Camanci in Batan, and all coastal waters of the

Philippines are red-tide free, based on latest

laboratory result.

All types of shellfish and Acetes

sp. or alamang gathered, harvested,

and marketed from these areas are

safe for human consumption, according to

BFAR.

Bes i des Ba tan Bay and i t s

tributaries in Aklan and coastal

areas of Capiz, other areas monitored

by BFAR include I loi lo, Negros

Island, Bohol, Leyte, Eastern and

Western Samar and Biliran in the

V isayas ; Man i la Bay , Pangas inan ,

Zambales, Masbate, Sorsogon, and

Palawan in Luzon; and Zamboanga,

Misamis Occidental Surigao del

Sur, Davao Oriental and other parts

of Mindanao.

A l l t h e s e a r e a s , a c c o rd i n g

to BFAR, continue to be free from

red tide, but are still subjected

to sustained monitoring by the

agency. (JCM/VGV PIA6 Aklan)

CENTRAL VISAYAS 4

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 16 (PIA) -- An inter-agency multi-disciplinary task force spearheads the celebration of May as Ocean

Month and serves an array of menu to make food security in Bohol sustainable through keeping Bohol's biodiversity.

Inter-agency task force leads Ocean Month

events

F or May as Month of the Ocean, the

cooperation of inter-agencies in Bohol

Coastal Resource Management Task

Force (BCRMTF) fits individual agency and

collegial activity to Biodiversity for Food

SeaCUREity as the month's theme, according

to Coastal Resource Management Coordinator

at Bohol Environment Management Office

(BEMO) Adelfa Salutan.

BCRMTF thinks active and proactive

measures need to be done to keep Bohol's

marine biodiversity sustainable.

Salutan said that with trash posing

the most imminent danger to the coastal

resources and marine environment, BCRMTF

teams did a monitoring and evaluation of

solid waste management programs for the

towns of Ubay, Sevilla and Trinidad last May 3

to 5.

Provincial Environment and Natural

Resources Officer (PENRO) Nestor Canda

explained that improper solid waste

management and a failed program would

ultimately bring all the trash to the sea and

threaten marine biodiversity.

In the advent of local government honing

their coastal land use plans, BCRMTF sees the

necessity for an Integrated Coastal Resources

Management Planning which took place on May

12 to 15, Salutan continued.

Philippine Coast Guard, a member of the

task force, also coordinated a mangrove plant-

ing activity in Poblacion 2 earlier last week,

Salutan said.

The effort is in line with reclaiming much

of the damaged coastlines of Tagbilaran City as

well as to protect the coasts from surges and

increase biodiversity, said PCG Chief Benjie

Quinisio.

BCRMTF is composed of Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

(BFAR), Philippine National Police (PNP)

Maritime Police, Department of Interior

and Local Government (DILG), Philippine

Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports

Authority (PPA), Department of Education

(DepED), Philippine Information Agency and

the BEMO.

Also with the BCRMTF are United States

Agency for International Development project

called Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable

Fisheries (ECOFISH), First Consolidated

Bank of Bohol Foundation Inc., (FCBFI),

and other NGOs whose interests are with

coastal resource management and law

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

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

DUMAGUETE CITY, May 13 (PIA) – Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) – Dumaguete Branch is encouraging

government workers in the province to apply for their enhanced scholarship program.

G SIS-Dumaguete Branch Manager

Mercedes Enriquez said government

employees who are actively paying

their contributions for the past three years

and whose income belong to salary

grade 24 and below can apply for the

scholarship.

―We are encouraging our government

workers to log in at www.gsis.gov.ph.

The downloadable forms as well as the

checklist of requirements are available there or

they can come to our office,‖ Enriquez

disclosed.

Based on information posted at GSIS

website, the scholarship program is no longer

limited to incoming first year college students

but to students who are in higher levels in

college due to ongoing transition period

brought by the K -12 program.

Aside from providing the actual tuition as

well as miscellaneous fees not exceeding

P40,000 per academic year, the agency has also

increased the scholar‘s monthly allowance

from P2, 000 to P3,000.

Deadline of application is on June 10, but

Enriquez suggests that it would be better if

interested applicants can submit their

application and requirements by the end of this

month.

On the other hand, GSIS here yesterday

gathered heads of different national

government agencies and provincial offices for

an orientation on GSIS programs and services

for their members especially those who are

retiring soon.

She noted that for many times, it‘s always

the employees who get oriented first on their

programs and services and this time the agency

would like the heads of government agencies

to be informed on developments on their

programs.

The GSIS-Dumaguete Branch Manager

initiated towards the end of the meeting the

formulation of an organization of NGAs named

Government Agencies Association of Negros

Oriental (GAANO) to strengthen the link and

communication between NGAs.

GSIS-Dumaguete covers 21, 300 members

from 103 agencies that remit contributions to

them in Negros Oriental and Siquijor

provinces. (rmn/ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

GSIS scholarship program open to gov’t workers

By Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

Flores De Mayo

CEBU CITY, May 16 (PIA) – On his second term, Cebu re-elected Governor Hilario Davide III told Capitol employees to shape

up to give better service to the Cebuanos.

Guv tells Capitol workers to shape up

A ddressing the more than a hundred

employees at Cebu Provincial Capitol a

week after the elections, Davide said

they better improve or face consequences.

Davide was proclaimed re-elected

governor of Cebu after garnering 616,381

votes over his rival Winston Garcia‘s 593,725

votes.

―If you cannot change your bad habits, you

better change your habitat,‖ was the message

of Davide.

Davide also informed Capitol employees

to expect some changes and adjustments

especially in the executive department starting

July 1.

―I expect all the best from you.

So maningkamot gihapon kita (Let us still

try),‖ Davide said.

He said that the business of the

government is to provide service and the

constituents had to be served with sincerity

and credibility.

Re-elected Vice Governor Agnes

Magpale said their victory has inspired them

more to achieve the current administration‘s

goal.

Cebu is considered one of the most

vote-rich provinces in the Philippines with

2.7 million registered voters. (rmn/fcc/

PIA7-Cebu)

By Ferliza C. Contratsta

CENTRAL VISAYAS 5

TAGBILARAN CITY, May 13 (PIA) -- Efforts to keep the Bohol ecosystem sustainable for fisheries surged as communities

agree that overharvesting swimming blue crabs can deplete the supply, depriving them of their income.

Bohol communities make ‘lambay’ more sustainable

W ith the United States Agency for

International Development (USAID)

Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable

Fisheries (ECO-Fish), people are slowly seeing

the value of sustaining the supply, said Anecita

Gulayan, ECO Fish fisheries Coordinator at the

Kapihan sa PIA Thursday.

Among the primary livelihood of the

people residing in the islands within the

Danajon Double Barrier Reef (DDBR) is

netting swimming blue crabs (lambay) for

consumption of high-end hotels and

restaurants in nearby Cebu.

DDBR is among the world's few double

barrier reefs and supports a diverse marine

ecosystem that has been the primary source of

livelihood for the fishing communities in the

islands and mainland towns.

Among the primary resources harvested

at the Danajon seas is blue crab.

The method of harvesting, however, is

unsustainable as hundreds of fishers spread

a net every time and the daily haul would

always include as by catch the brooding blue

crabs.

As the communities begin to realize

the impending problem, Gulayan said they

have devised a system to assure that the

brooding crab hatches in a protected

environment.

With a public and private sector

partnership, the communities tapped

government and ECOFish, along with the

Philippine Association of Crab Processors

Incorporated (PACPI), to put up holding pens

for brooding crab by-catch.

PACPI helps the sustainability in as much

as they too would benefit from the sustainable

supply, she added.

In addition, Gulayan, who has been

with coastal resource management projects in

Bohol, said that the Bureau of Fisheries

and Aquatic Resources also put in enough

allocation to get the project through more

communities.

Elsewhere in Bohol, especially in

Cogtong Bay, communities have also

enforced a close and open season for siganid

fishing.

Other than blue crabs, siganid is also

among the most threatened table fish specie in

as much as it can be spawning in certain

seasons.

BCRMTF came to Kapihan to drumbeat

Bohol's efforts to make May as Month of the

Ocean Activities a memorable month for food

security.

The Month of the Ocean adopts

Biodiversity for Food SeaCUREity as theme.

(rmn/rac/PIA7-Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU CITY, May 16 (PIA) – At least 3,000 individuals were given medical assistance by the health teams deployed by the

Department of Health (DOH-7) in identified polling places in the region during the May 9 elections.

D OH-7 responded to various medical

conditions, topmost of which is

hypertension.

Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal of DOH-7

said their medical teams responded mostly

to voters who sought consultation for blood

pressure check, headache, and dizziness.

There were also voters who fainted due

to the heat and the crowd, said Cañal.

At least 3,000 individuals were given

medical assistance by the DOH teams.

The health officer said prior to the May 10

elections, DOH and the Commission on

Elections (Comelec) entered into a

memorandum of agreement for DOH to man

the critical areas where the voting

populace may experience unfavorable

conditions.

―These are the persons with disabilities

(PWDs), the elderly and the pregnant women

who we identified as the special groups in the

population,‖ said Cañal.

DOH-7 deployed 145 medical teams in

the provinces of Bohol, Cebu, and Siquijor, and

Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapulapu City in

Cebu province.

In Cebu province, there were 55 medical

teams dispatched, 50 in Bohol, 6 in Siquijor,

and 34 for the cities of Mandaue, Cebu, and

Lapulapu. (rmn/PIA7-Cebu)

Medical teams aid 3000 in May 9 polls

By Rachelle M. Nessia

CEBU CITY, May 16 (PIA) – Health authorities here are encouraging Cebuanos to avail of free tests as Cebu remains to be the

top province in Region 7 with high recorded cases of Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by Human Immu-

nodeficiency Virus (HIV),

DOH, hygiene centers provide free HIV tests

D r. Shelbay Blanco, Medical Officer IV

of Department of Health (DOH-7),

sa id the tests for HIV are

administered free to Cebuanos who would

want to avail of the service.

These are offered at Don Vicente Sotto

Memorial Medical Center (DVSMMC)

and DOH Regional Office as well as hygiene

centers in Cebu City, Mandaue City, and

Lapulapu City health offices.

Early detection, he said, may still bring

some remedy and will stop the contamination.

―AIDS is, however, incurable but it is

preventable, knowing that you have it may still

keep others from being contaminated,‖ Blanco

said.

In a recent report presented during the

weekly Kapihan sa PIA-Cebu, Blanco said that

for this year alone, there are already 11

full-blown cases of HIV and 89 asymptomatic

cases during these months.

Asymptomatic case means the patient is

an HIV carrier but without the symptoms.

Bohol has two asymptomatic cases but no

records of a full-blown case like in Siquior

province.

Region 7 ranks third among the top 5

provinces in the Philippines with HIV cases

recorded.

Majority of the age group afflicted with

the virus are those from ages 24

to 34 followed by those within 15 to 24.

There are recorded cases of below 15

years old and these are mostly thru perinatal

transmission, or from an infected mother to

her child during pregnancy.

The top cause of HIV transmission is

intravenous drug use followed by male to male

sex, heterosexual sex, bisexual sex, and then

perinatal with four cases.

In line with this, DOH is inviting the public

to join the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight

Memorial Day on May 22 at SM City

Consolacion town. Free HIV testing will done

during the activity.

Mass will be at 3:00 p.m. followed

by the memorial at 4:00 p.m. (rmn/fcc/PIA7

-Cebu)

By Ferliza C. Contratsta

EASTERN VISAYAS 6

Army leads Operation Baklas in Catbalogan

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, May 18 (PIA) —To ensure that the city is wiped clean of the residues of election campaign

materials, the Philippine Army spearheaded a Baklas Operation this week.

I n an information from the 8th infantry

Division (8th ID), PA, said that the army

will tap all volunteer organizations with

the local government officials for the baklas

activity.

The ‗cleaners‘ will assemble at the city

plaza at 5:30 in the morning when it is still

cooler.

After a brief orientation, four teams will

be dispatched to different areas for the

cleaning chore.

This operation will last for three hours in

the city streets.

Earlier, the DPWH Samar 2 had operation

baklas for election campaign materials in

unauthorized places.

While some candidates have been

mandated to remove their campaign materials

that it is ‗game over‘ now, others would still

add some more streamers for their ‗thank

you‘.

In Calbayog City, the Liberal Party has

started removing their campaign materials a

day after the election. (nbq/PIA8-Samar)

Flores De Mayo

Completion of Sta. Rita- Quinapondan transmission now December

A ccording to NGCP-Visayas Regional

Communications Officer Ms. Betty

Martinez, the delay is due to a lingering

problem on the road right of way in Marabut,

Samar.

Martinez further said that the owner of a

private lot does not want NGCP‘s transmission

line to pass through the property until it meets

the cost of the land that the owner demands.

This has resulted in an expropriation case so as

to solve the problem.

Despite this, the connection of other

transmission lines that do not encounter

any problems is ongoing — in fact the

accomplishment of the project is

already 90.38%.

The Sta. Rita- Quinapondan 69 kV

transmission line project — with a project cost

worth approximately ₱ 250 M and is funded

by NGCP — is composed of more than 90

kilometers single-circuit line, starting from the

old Sta. Rita substation up to Quinapondan

load station. This line passes through the towns of Sta. Rita, Basey, and Marabut in

Samar and in Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, and

Quinapondan in Eastern Samar.

The purpose of the project is to

minimize — or better yet, put a stop —to

brownouts in Eastern Samar in case there

is a problem with the Paranas, Samar 69 kV

transmission line.

Meanwhile, eight Persons with Disability

(PWDs) and Senior Citizens of this city were

given wheelchairs on May 13, 2016 . under the

Physical Restoration Service Program (PRSP) of

the Department of Social Welfare and

Development.

According to Borongan City Assistant

Social Welfare and Development Officer

and PWD and Senior Citizen Focal Person

Mrs. Elsie Ador, the beneficiaries were indigent

ones who are in need of such

mobility assistance.

The wheelchairs were delivered

to Borongan City by Department of Social

Welfare and Development- Regional Office

08‘s PWD Focal Person Mr. Ben Calzado on

the same date and were immediately given by

the Borongan City Social Welfare and

Development Office (BCSWDO) to the

beneficiaries. (SDC/PIA-E. Samar)

BORONGAN CITY, EASTERN SAMAR, May 19 (PIA) - From June this year, the completion of National Grid Corporation of

the Philippines’ Sta. Rita, Samar-Quinapondan, Eastern Samar 69 kilovolts transmission line project will be implemented in

December of this year.

Ninfa B Quirante

By: Samuel D. Candido

New revenue code yields 60% SAG collection hike

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 17 (PIA) -- The full implementation of a provincial revenue code that levied step up

rates on sand and gravel (SAG) quarrying in rivers located along the six towns and one city of the province resulted in a dra-

matic rise in collection.

A ccording to Eva Abad, head of the

provincial environment and natural

resources management of f ice

(PENRMO), the SAG collection in 2013 was P

7.9 Million using the old rate of P 15 per cubic

meter for commercial permittees and P 18 for

industrial permittees.

By December of 2013 the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan passed a legislative measure that

specified an increase in the price per cubic

meter of quarried materials to reflect current

market trends, in which the P15 was changed

to P 40, while P 18 was made P 50.

By 2014, using the new rates, the SAG

collection slightly increased to P 8.5 Million, a

7% rise compared with 2013, Abad disclosed

during the dydm Kapihan sa PIA live Friday.

For last year, 2015, with the new revenue

code fully enforced, the SAG collection was

P 13.7 Million, or a substantial 60% surge

from 2013, and this was duly distributed to the

various local government based on a sharing

scheme stipulated by law.

For the barangays where the quarry was

located they got P 5.5 Million or 40% share,

while the municipality/city and the provincial

government got P 3.4 Million representing a

30% share for each one, Abad said.

PENRMO, the local equivalent of the

DENR, is the main agency tasked to regulate

the extraction of aggregates so that the

demands of nature preservation cannot be

sacrificed with the need for tax collection,

Abad explained.

There are 21 SAG permittees now

operating in this city as well as in Macrohon,

Bontoc, Sogod, San Francisco, Saint Bernard,

and Hinunangan.

PENRMO field personnel has been closely

watching and monitoring their activities in

hauling materials from the river sources to

their respective plants, in order to ascertain

that the volume taken out will not exceed

what was stipulated in the permit, Abad also

said. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Marcelo Pedalino

EASTERN VISAYAS 7

SoLeyte marks ocean month with mangrove

planting, clean-up

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 19 (PIA) -- This province joins the observance of the month of May as month of the

ocean by planting mangroves and cleaning the mangrove forest with litters, mostly plastic, cellophane garbage.

T he planting activity will be held at

barangay Mahayahay, Sogod, anytime

within this month, while the clean-up

will be at barangay Combado, this city, on May

27, said Eva Abad, head of the Provincial

environment and natural resources

management office (PENRMO).

The designation of May as Month of

Ocean was made through Presidential

Proclamation number 97 issued in 1999, Abad

informed during the dydm kapihan sa PIA live

Friday.

This year‘s observance carries the theme

―Buhay dagat, buhay natin‖, a pointed reminder

that the sea, the ocean is linked directly to the

lives of people, Abad said.

Mangroves serve as buffer zones in

inclement weather, and a spawning habitat for

fishes, hence the need to further expand the

existing mangrove forests in the province, she

added.

At the same time, mangrove forests

should not be used as dumping sites of

non-biodegradable wastes for these garbage

may choke the emerging marine community in

the surrounding area, Abad further said.

She called on the community especially

the organized socio-civic groups to join the

cleaning and planting events scheduled for this

month. (mmp, PIA8-Southern Leyte)

30 days Sr. HS countdown marker unveiled

CATARMAN, Northern Samar, 16 May (PIA) – The Department of Education Division of Northern Samar starts

its 30 days Senior High School countdown with a parade and program, booths display and unveiling of SHS

countdown marker held at Catarman Sacred Heart Plaza, Catarman Northern Samar.

S chools Division Superintendent Manuel

Albaño informed that this is part of their

advocacy for those going into Senior

High School to be oriented and be aware of

what field are they going to enrol in. Booths

were put up and installed to show case various

fields of Senior High where enrolees can seek

advice to what field they are fitted into.

Albaño is very much optimistic saying

DepEd is 100% ready for the Senior High

School, there may be some concerns on the

part of the school buildings but they have

contingency plans so as not to hamper the

implementation of Senior High.

In a message of Governor Jun Ong read

by Vice Governor Gary Lavin, he said, ―while

the K-12 program of the national government

has drawn a lot of misconceptions, it is now

gaining momentum and in the next few

years we will see the product of this innovative

paradigm shift in our educational system,

hopeful that this would be our passport to be

at par with our counterparts in Asia and other

developed countries.‖

In response, SDS Albaño stressed

no one should be left behind, schools

are ready as enrolment is now

going on, everyone is welcome in the Senior

High School . (ADiaz/PIA -Northern

Samar)

SoLeyte cacao growers, enthusiasts form council

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 18 (PIA) -- Farmers who have started planting quality cacao seedlings and those who are

still planning to venture in cacao production formed themselves into a council whose main look-out is to sustain interest in this

undertaking.

T his developed as the Department of

Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial

office initiated a Cacao Industry

Business and Technology Forum April 29 at

Bal‘s Inn and Resort, municipality of Libagon,

attended by 180 active participants, mostly

farmers and entrepreneurs.

Before the day ended, the Southern

Leyte Cacao Industry Development Council

was born, chaired by a hands-on cacao farmer

from Sogod, Isidro Estrera, said Erwin Remojo,

a ranking DTI staff, during the Action Center

Kapihan sa PIA cable TV program taping

Tuesday.

The idea of forming a council was

suggested by Atty. Vic Barcelon, former

provincial board member, from Hinunangan,

who insisted that the DTI-sponsored forum

would be wasted if there will be no follow-up

activities, to ensure continuity of the heightened interest of the participants, Remojo

disclosed.

Co-Chair of the newly-organized cacao

development council was Provincial

Agriculturist Marina Gador for the government

side, and Edgar Felicilda from the private

sector, with the DTI provincial office serving as

the secretariat.

Members were the national line agencies

related with agriculture, the state university,

cooperatives, and farmers from every

municipality, including LGUs through their

respective agriculture officers.

Center of discussion during the forum

was the bright prospects and huge potential

lying ahead for the cocoa industry, both in the

local and international market as expounded by

expert speakers.

Among those invited to speak were Engr.

Edwin Banquerigo, assistant regional director

of DTI Region XI, on the topic National Cacao

Industry Roadmap: Profile, Plans, and

Investment Opportunities; Valente Turtur,

Executive Director, Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc.

(CIDAMI), Davao City, on topic Cacao

101: Basics of Cacao Production;

The topic, Loan Fund for Farm

D e v e l o p m e n t f o r P o c k e t

Farmer-Entrepreneurs, was discussed by Ma.

Linda Orsos, head of financing and capacity

building sector, Small Business Corporation,

Makati; Cacao Industry in Region 8 by Ma.

Delia Corsiga, Business Development Division,

DTI, Region 8;

KAANIB: Coconut-Cacao-Enterprise

Development Project, by Loreto Macabio, Jr.,

focal person of KAANIB Program, Philippine

Coconut Authority-Region 8; Kennemer

Cacao Growership Program, by Eric Albano,

Area Manager for Visayas, Kennemer Foods

International;

From the provincial government, Luz

Gaviola, In-Charge of high value crops

at the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist

(OPAg), shed light on the existing Cacao

Production Project of the province, while

Mitzelyn Macapaz of LAMAC Multipurpose Cooperative based in Maasin City talked about

the on-going cacao production financing

scheme initiated by the cooperative. (mmp,

PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Marcelo Pedalino

Marcelo Pedalino

Ailene N. Diaz

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

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Editorial Consultants

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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

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