MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 30 (PIA) -- Police elements here made sure their guns will be silent as they welcome the New Year.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 12 (PIA) -- The Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) schedules series of information drives throughout the province as their commitment to the provincial government to increase the level of awareness of the stakeholders on the power situation of the province.
P/Supt. Hector Enage, City Police Chief on Tuesday, December 27 led the muzzle taping of the firearms of all the cops under his command including the two Police Community Precincts (PCP) stationed at barangay Tawid and at barangay San Rafael in a simple ceremony held here.
“We are doing this in compliance with a directive from our higher-ups and, besides that, to make sure no Police officer would indulge in indiscriminate firing at the height of the New Year celebration” at midnight of December 31-January 1, Enage said in a phone interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) today.
Enage said it will be on January 2 when the tape on barrels will be removed, exactly a week after they were tightly secured.
In spite of the usual imposition, Enage was hopeful no one among his men would violate the order, just like in previous years.
Meanwhile, unlike last year, there was no incident of budol-budol fraud in the run-up to the holidays and Enage attributed this to the strong visibility of Police Officers, where every bank was watched, as well as in areas where many people were crowding, such as in shopping stores.
With only two days remaining in 2011, Enage said he will not let his guard down to ensure no one will be fooled at the close of this year. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
Professor Wally del Mundo of the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center and SOLECO officer-in-charge Arce B. Salazar will assist the information drive entitled “Power 101.”
Earlier the SOLECO management has committed to the provincial government to disseminate information to the general consumers and the local government sector on the developments that affect the operations and directions of electric Distribution Utilities (DUs) particularly among the electric cooperatives, Salazar said.
The local electric cooperative aims to increase the awareness of the electricity stakeholders especially business and government heads, barangay officials and community leaders on the power situation of the province, he said.
The first information campaign shall be conducted at SOLECO Multi-purpose Building in Maasin City then it will be followed at Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)- Sogod Campus in Sogod, Southern Leyte on the second day, he added.
He further said the speaker for the subject has the layman’s grasp on its intricacies that can be understood even by those who are new to the subject.
==City Fire department appeals for a fire-free New Year revelry==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=70119
*Thursday, December 29, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 29 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this city has joined the campaign of reminding the people to be careful in celebrating the New Year to avoid unwanted blaze and firecracker injuries.
Last week before Christmas, the fire bureau has been using its fire truck in going around the city-proper barangays, stopping at major points and intersections where people converge, its public address system blaring as it warned people to ensure safety amidst the merry spirit of the season.
This week, the agency has carried on the same rounds, this time the message more intense, as a heightened personal appeal for everyone not to become victims of firecrackers while at the same time avoid incidence of houses being on fire.
Yesterday, SInsp. Ferdinand Pecorro, City Fire Marshall, appeared during the weekly Media Forum live at dyDM to personally deliver the warning announcement, so the station can broadcast the message repeatedly on air.
The city BFP appealed to the people to remember five specific reminders for a safe New Year’s celebration. First, BFP convince people to avoid igniting firecrackers. Instead, according to them, people can use “torotot” or horns and other safe sound-producing materials. If fireworks are to be used, BFP reminds people to use these appropriately in designated areas, not where there are many people. They remind people not to throw firecrackers anywhere especially lighted firecrackers to roofs of houses. BFP also asks people not to burn car tires. Not only it causes pollution, but it can also start a fire. After the celebration, BFP recommends people to wet all unused firecrackers.
“We should not sacrifice our safety and our loved ones’ for indiscriminate use of pyrotechnic materials, the city BFP warned. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Flooding due to LPA affects 3,642 families in Leyte Island==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=69962
*Wednesday, December 28, 2011
:by PIA Press Release
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Dec. 28 (PIA) –- The intermittent rains brought about by the low pressure area and tail end of a cold front has affected 3,642 families in 108 barangays in the provinces of Leyte and Southern Leyte, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Operations Center informed.
RDRRMC chairman and OCD Director Rey Gozon said that the municipality of Javier, Leyte accounted for a total of 1,081 families who were rescued from 9 barangays namely, Batog, Kalsada, Inayopan, Picas, Kasulongan, Bantay, Karanhug, Abuyugay and Malitbogay.
Dagami in Leyte accounted for 820 families, which were evacuated from its 65 barangays due to the overflowing of the San Benito Bridge. Jassen Bacate, 5 years old male from Barangay Los Martires died of drowning.
Around 697 families were evacuated from the 14 barangays of Abuyog, Leyte, namely, Poblacion 1 to 9, Pagsangan, Can-apurong, Udyungan, Burubudan and Canmarating.
Meanwhile, in the municipality of Palo, 600 families were evacuated from 5 barangays due to flooding. Relief operation is still ongoing as of press time.
Other municipalities in Leyte that has reported flooding were Mayorga, Santa Fe, Baybay, MacArthur, Tolosa and Julita.
In Southern Leyte, 74 families from four barangays at Saint Bernard were evacuated on Dec. 26 due to flooding and possible landslides.
Director Gozon cited the cooperation and support of the national government agencies, the local disaster risk reduction and management councils and the 8th Infantry Division. (PIA 8)
==PCA- SoLeyte distributes 4,300 bags of salt fertilizers to coco farmers==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=69853
*Tuesday, December 27, 2011
:by ES Gorne
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 27 (PIA) - The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) – Southern Leyte Provincial Office has distributed the 4,300 bags of salt fertilizers among the eighteen municipalities and the City of Maasin in the province.
==Green Southern Leyte==
According to PCA Provincial Head Manuel Sembrado, the salt fertilizers coming from the national government were distributed free of charge among the coconut farmers at a minimum of 226 sacks of fertilizers for each f the eighteen municipalities and 232 for the city of Maasin.
Each coconut farmers will receive a minimum of two sacks of fertilizers, he said.
*Friday, May 11, 2012
Sembrano added that those coconut trees located in the interior barangays, where at least it is found two kilometers away from the coastlines radius, were given priority in the distribution.
:by Vicky Arnaiz
He said the salt fertilizers were found effective and resulted to more production after one year of application according to PCA scientists.
Sembrado reported that the salt fertilizers were delivered to the province last December 14, 2011. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==OCD-So Leyte urges pre-emptive evacuations to St. Bernard flood-prone barangays amidst rising water level==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=69742
*Monday, December 26, 2011
:by ES Gorne
MACROHON, Southern Leyte – “”We were surprised to find a patch of pristine forests in Mt. Nacolod, Southern Leyte. We found an amazingly impressive flora and faura. The rich forests we saw did not match the map of a denuded forest, shown to us before we explored Southern Leyte,” said Ronald Altamarino, leader of the Biodiversity Assessment Team from the Flora and Fauna, International (FFI).
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec 26 (PIA) -- The Office of the Civil Defense – Provincial Office urges for pre-emptive evacuation in flood prone barangays in St. Bernard as the water level along the Lawigan River has risen three meters beyond the critical level, as of 1:00 p.m. today.
Altamarino said during the presentation of the Biodiversity Assessment and REDD Plus/Mt. Nacolod, Southern Leyte, Pilot NewCAPP at this town last May 2 and 3. FFI along with partners the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), NewCAPP among others.
OCD provincial coordinator Marichu Tan reported that pre-emptive evacuation of residents along the Lawigan River to start now before it gets dark particularly in Barangay Mahayahay in St. Bernard.
She reported that more than 14 individuals and an infant in Barangay Carnaga have already been evacuated due to waters reaching critical level as heavy rains continue to pour in the said area. Barangay Tambis had been alerted for possible evacuation anytime.
Four families in Barangay Hindag-an had also been evacuated to safer grounds.
Meanwhile, for two days now, the municipalities of Silago, St. Bernard, San Juan, and San Ricardo have been experiencing heavy rains and were advised by the OCD for pre-emptive evacuation especially residents near the river banks. (ESG-PIA SoLeyte)
==Maasin City employees donate to “Sendong” victims==
Turn -over of mini biodiversity exhibit (L-R) Dalton Durban of GIZ, Engr. Aileen Basilan, DENR Regional Executive Director Rogelio Trinidad, So. Leyte Vice Governor Miguel Maamo, Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=69511
*Sunday, December 25, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
The comprehensive ground assessment has found 2 new frog species under the genus Playmantis group. The new discovery brings so much pride to the province and the country.
Southern Leyte lone district Representative Roger Mercado, who squeezed in to attend this activity in his very hectic
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 25 (PIA) -- Rank and file employees of the city government here dipped into their pockets to chip in for the victims of tropical storm Sendong in Cagayan De Oro City and Iligan City.
schedule, said that efforts of the local officials and its people have not gone to waste.
City mayor Maloney Samaco said he will convene the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) to pass a resolution for setting aside funds for the Sendong survivors.
In 2006, the Guinsaugon landslide happened, and it can be recalled that the cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan were among the first to send in their rescue teams and relief assistance.(BP/PIA-Southern Leyte)
==Red Cross–SoLeyte willing to assist blood transfusion needs to Typhoon Sendong victims==
Dr. Eugenia Bautista, chief technology transfer division ecosystems research and development service-DENR asks questions during the presentation of biodiversity assessment.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=69289
*Friday, December 23, 2011
:by ES Gorne
“We have been planting trees since 1987 and encouraged our people to do the same. Our People’s Organization (PO) YESIDA is said to be the best PO in the region under the Community Forest Management Program. Not to brag, I have my own tree farm and bird sanctuary in Maasin City which you are free to visit. Southern Leyte is one of the two provinces in the country that supports the total log ban. Every weekend when I am back in the province after session in Congress,
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, December 23 (PIA) -- The Philippine Red Cross – Southern Leyte is ready to donate bags of blood should there be a need for blood transfusions among the victims of Typhoon Sendong.
I see to it that tree planting is part of my activity. We want our people to be sufficient in food through the richness of our forests and our marine resources. Indeed the hard work, solidarity, discipline displayed by Southern Leytenos is worth emulating,” said Mercado.
According to Noli Casas, chapter administrator of the local Red Cross, they are ready for at least two batches of blood bags should there be a need among the Typhoon Sendong victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. Each batch of blood bags contains from 60- 70 bags of blood, he added.
Earlier, the local Red Cross counterparts in said calamity-stricken areas together with the Red Cross based in Davao City were able to cover the needs of the typhoon victims, so far, Casas was informed.
However, he made it clear to the mentioned local Red Cross chapters that the blood bags are ready to be transported anytime these are needed to further attend the medical needs of the calamity victims.
He also reported that their chapter has initiated to facilitate donations from the community and further encouraged for cash donations, which will be acknowledged with receipts to be issued by the SoLeyte Red Cross.
That all the cash donations, which he finds it easier and economical to facilitate due to distance, gathered will be sent to the local Red Cross counterparts in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City and the later are required to liquidate the cash donations with receipts and pictures of goods bought, Casas said.
Casas further disclosed that on going negotiations with the provincial government of Southern Leyte were being undertaken to prepare the donated items such as canned goods, used clothings, among others. ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
PENRO So. Leyte Ricardo Tomol
A very excited Mercado continued, “I will author the passage in Congress for the declaration of the Mt. Nacolod and its mountain range that spans 14,000 hectares as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas or NIPAS. For now I will lobby that
President Aquino will issue an executive order declaring Mt. Nacolod as a protected area.”
Southern Leyte Vice Governor Miguel Maamo, who represented Governor Damian Mercado, said that they will pass a resolution in the sangguniang bayan for the protection of Mt. Nacolod. Indeed last May 7, in its regular session, the board members of Southern Leyte made an unprecedented mass move to declare Mt. Nacolod as a protected area.
DENR regional information chief Purificacion Daloos; Mary Jane Honor Du, PENRO staff, So. Leyte; Rep. Roger Mercado; Marita Cesneros, NewCAPP and Marissa Solite, DENR-PAWC ZMS
A multi-sectoral group submitted management plans for the
protection and sustainability of its forests. As one scientist said, “who knows there might still be interesting finds in Mt. Nacolod especially flora that can be used in the medical field?
Indeed, Southern Leyte is doubly-blessed- they have the rich forests and rich marine resources. Padayon Southern Leyte!
Love, Laugh and Live!
Om Shanti!
'''OWWA honors OFWs, holds OFW Family Day'''
==DOLE-So. Leyte disburses P 2.6M for projects of self-employed individuals==
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Dec. 21 (PIA) –- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office 8 gathered at least 739 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)throughout Eastern Visayas Region to participate in the annual OFW Family Day, December 17.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 10 (PIA) -- The provincial field office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here has set aside over P 2.6 million worth of livelihood projects intended for individual small-scale businesses in the so-called informal sector.
OWWA RWO 8 officer-in-charge director Ma. Evangelina V.Filamor in her report, Tuesday said that the gathering was attended by OFWs from as far as the uppermost part of Northern Samar to the municipality of Pintuyan in Southern Leyte.
“The joy and value of togetherness of the said celebration and a chance to take home major and consolation prizes were enough reasons for them to push through despite the distance and the bad weather,“ Fillamor said.
“We were expecting as many as 1,500 OFWs and their beneficiaries as evidenced by the number of pre-registrants who confirmed their attendance to the said activity. But the bad weather prevented them to do that. Nevertheless, we are confident to say that even if Sendong swept Eastern Visayas, the 2011 OFW Family Day was a success,” Filamor said.
The occasion was a salutation to the achievements of the OFWs to the country’s economy, she said. This year’s OFW Family Day highlighted fun, games, and raffle.
Prizes were given to lucky winners such as one Samsung Netbook computer; one Sanyo refrigerator; one Panasonic washing machine; three rice cookers; two oven toasters; six Cherry Mobile cellular phones; two Nokia cellular phones; 10 USB flash drives; 15 Globe call cards; 15 Globe tipid cards; 125 t-shirts; and eight bags of Noche Buena packs. (RGC/PIA-SoLeyte)
==SoLeyte’s Brgy Hingatunggan wins as 1st runner-up in LTIA nat'l award==
The amount was already moving in various stages of implementation as coursed through DOLE’s accredited co-partner (ACP) consisting of five municipalities and one city, involving 251 individual beneficiaries, said Fe Norma Valuis, DOLE provincial field officer.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=68844
*Tuesday, December 20, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
During the cable TV program “Action Center” yesterday morning, Valuis identified DOLE’s LGU partners as the City of Maasin which garnered almost half of the total fund assistance, barangay Sta. Crus of Macrohon, and the towns of Saint Bernard, Pintuyan, Silago, and Libagon.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 20 (PIA) –- Barangay Hingatunggan in Silago town is this year’s Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Award (LTIA) 2011 search first runner up at the national level.
Valuis said she had recently talked with Mayor Roberto Loquinte of Anahawan who also wanted to avail of DOLE’s support to fund a tourism-related project in the municipality - the Mainit Spring.
The search, spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines conducted its awarding ceremony December 7 at Malacañang Palace with President Benigno S. Aquino III handing out the awards to the winners. as the guest of honor, DILG information officer Loren Abrau-Aniciete reported to PIA-Maasin this morning.
Barangay Hingatunggan received P50,000 cash and a plaque, Loren Abrau-Aniciete of the DILG disclosed in a phone interview.
Aniciete revealed that, “within a decade of the Lupon Tagapamayapa Incentive Award (LTIA) search, Barangay Hingatunggan won four times as a national finalist and twice as national nominee,” from year 2001-2010.
The national LTIA winner went to Barangay Quezon, Mainit of Surigao del Norte; and Barangay Ambassador, Tublay from Benguet province as second ruppner up, Aniciete added.
It was learned that the LTIA program aims to give recognition to Lupons who have showed exemplary performace in exercising the time-honored tradition of amicably settling disputes among barangay constituents and it also strengthens the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) as an indigenous comflict resolution structure at the grassroots and can generate greater awareness amng, and support from various sectors in society. (RGC/PIA-SoLeyte)
All the rest of the 18 municipal local government units will eventually be reached by DOLE’s livelihood assistance where there are individual workers who are self-employed, Valuis added.
For the city of Maasin, the amount of P 642,729 will be for the livelihood formation of 63 informal sector workers, while another P612,049.00 was also due for release to 48 small scale fishing project of marginal fisherfolks, Valuis said.
These assistance, scheduled to be turned over yesterday, were not yet given since Mayor Maloney Samaco was still in Lingayen, Pangasinan, attending the Palarong Pambansa, she added.
DOLE and the barangay LGU signed yesterday a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at Supercha Foodhauz, this city another assistance for 15 ambulant vendors of barangay Sta. Cruz, Macrohon, for their fish and food vending worth P 224,996.
Meanwhile, some 39 displaced workers from Saint Bernard will soon become beneficiaries of entrepreneurial funds worth P334,016, and another amount of P 413,432 is now in the pipeline for 46 unemployed or underemployed sectoral workers in the town of Pintuyan.
Among the funds already given to LGU partners were those at Silago for the high-value vegetable production project of 26 individuals who are members of the Puntana Women Nature’s Club Association worth P 261,340 and another P 179,600 for 14 women from Libagon for their Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) project.
Accredited co-partner LGUs shared 20 percent of the funds as equity not necessarily in cash but other non-cash equivalent like training, capacity-building, or equipment, while DOLE provided the needed materials and in some cases cash as capital, Valuis said.
==Don’t smoke while lighting firecrackers -- PNP==
The assistance has always been in the nature of a grant, and the beneficiaries' sole obligation is to see to it that their businesses flourish and develop further, Valuis added. (PIA8, Southern Leyte)
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=68717
*Monday, December 19, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
==Maasin City delegates off to Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 19 (PIA) -- While advising people not to use deadly firecrackers as part of the ”Iwas Paputok” campaign of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the provincial director of the PNP here also cautioned smokers not to light a firecracker for many had been seriously hurt in putting to their lips the firecracker instead of the cigarette.
For non-smokers, Police Senior Superintendent Allan Cuevillas advised them to use safe, reliable firecrackers.
“Paala-ala lamang po. Mag-ingat po tayo sa ating pagpapa-putok at gumamit lang yung siguradong safe,” Cuevillas said in a recent radio interview with members of the local media.
Better still, the best way to greet the coming New Year will be a firecracker-free revelry, he added.
Asked if all policemen in the province will have the muzzles of their service firearms taped as standard practice during this time of the year, Cuevillas appeared lukewarm to the idea, saying he has complete trust regarding the discipline of the PNP personnel in the province.
In the past years, cops taped their guns to show that they will not use it during the New Year revelry.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has also appealed to the people to refrain from using deadly firecrackers to avoid serious injuries or be admitted at the hospital at the onset of the new year. (BP/PIA-Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 9 (PIA) -- At least 30 sports delegates from Maasin City was sent off Thursday to participate in the Palarong Pambansa 2012 held at Lingayen, Pangasinan, as part of the Eastern Visayas regional delegation.
“Maasin City in Action” program host Zaldy Olita reported via phone patch this morning from Pangasinan that Maasin City delegates include the athletes, coaches and trainers from different sports such as badminton, swimming, arnis, boxing, softball, among other games that gave Maasin City athletes medals during the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) competition held early this year hosted by Maasin City.
Olita, Maasin City Sports Council staff, who went with the delegates said that the games begun Sunday, May 6, “but the opening of the competition formally opened Monday, May 7 when President Benigno S. Aquino delivered his address to the athletes, coaches and officials including the game spectators at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center as the main venue of the Palaro, in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
He said that the opening ceremonies was preceded by the parade of athletes from the Pangasinan provincial capitol grounds to Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) that was completed in time for the opening program at 10:00 a.m.
Olita disclosed that Maasin City delegation was supported by City Mayor Maloney Samaco, who went with the delegation, some Sangguniang Panglungsod members, Department of Education Maasin City Division, among others.
With the week-long game competition, the city government is hopeful the Maasin City athletes will bring home medals. Maasin City allocated cash incentives to the medalists, it was learned. (LDL/RGC-PIA8 Southern Leyte)
==DOLE holds orientation for livelihood program recipients in Southern Leyte==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Southern Leyte is holding a two-day values orientation to the recipients of the Starter Kit livelihood program for the small economic entrepreneurs in the locality on May 7 and 8.
“Before the release of the financial assistance to the 63 informal workers for the second batch of the Starter Kit livelihood program, they all need to undergo a Social Preparation Training and Entrepreneurship Appreciation (SPTEA) course with the employment agency provincial staff,” DOLE Provincial Office senior staff Mario Tictic disclosed.
He also stated the program’s objective of providing a sustainable source of income for the family is to see a fully operational entrepreneurial undertaking that would make a change in the lives of the beneficiaries.
Tictic said the livelihood assistance will be received by the recipients in form of materials needed for each of the project proposals submitted such as carpentry tools, sewing machines, food, among others, to ensure that the proceeds of the financial assistance will really be bought readily as their startup capital.
“The financial assistance varies from P10,000 to P14,000 depending on the need of each recipient in their project proposals ,” he said.
Among the project proposals include peanut butter-making, ice cream production, barbecue vending, carpentry works, manicure and pedicure, tailoring and sewing, he said.
==SoLeyte conducts officers’ day for community volunteer health workers==
The DOLE Provincial Office partnered with the city government of Maasin in the mentioned program to increase productivity among the small economic entrepreneurs in the locality, he added. (PIA8 SoLeyte)
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=68464
*Friday, December 16, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
==Forest exhibit, roadshow open in Southern Leyte==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 16 (PIA) –- The Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) – Technical Department gathered the officers of the Community Volunteer Health Workers (CVHW) throughout the province,December 15, at the city’s gumnasium here.
The officer’s day was participated by more or less 200 participants throughout the province, Alma Malazarte, Barangay Health Workers’ coordinator of SOYMPH-Technical Office disclosed. “At least 10 participants were invited in each municipality,” Malazarte said.
The CVHWs had a raffle draw with at least 25-packed grocery items as its prizes. They were also handed P1,000 each.
“An accidental insurance from the Philippine National Red Cross-Southern Leyte Chapter worth P100 each was committed by Gov. Mercado to be distributed to the BHWs of the province and Maasin City,” Malazarte quoted Gov. Mercado during his inspirational message.
Malazarte said that the officers day also tackled updates on the Community Health Teams, treasurer’s report , among other presentations from the different municipalities. Mayor Samaco also delivered his message, while Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Jose Lito Trumata from SOYMPH welcomed the participants. (RGC-PIA SoLeyte)
==LGU-So. Leyte to buy lot as relocation site==
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) -- An exhibit and roadshow about the Philippine forests are set to open in Southern Leyte.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=68231
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Forest Management Bureau, German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, CoDe REDD Philippines and the provincial government of Southern Leyte will be opening the Color it REDD-Plus Roadshow and “The Philippine Forests: Before and What Now?” exhibits on May 8 to 9 at Maasin City Gymnasium, Southern Leyte.
*Thursday, December 15, 2011
Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ said that REDD-Plus or Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation with conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks is a measure being under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that contributes in the stabilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.
:by Bong Pedalino
In the Philippines, from April 2009 to July 2010, multi-sectoral and multi-level workshops were carried out to know more about REDD and REDD-Plus in aid of drafting the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy (PNRPS) for 2010 to 2020.
In April of 2010, the PNRPS Components were considered in the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) under section 8.5 of the Key Result Areas on Mitigation. On the same month, DENR has been designated as the operational arm of REDD-Plus implementation through Executive Order 881 of the President. Given these, the PNRPS was presented to the DENR Executive Committee that approved the Strategy on August 9, 2010 and transmitted the same to the Climate Change Commission on August 27, 2010.
Liss said REDD-Plus is at its early stage in the Philippines and the exhibit offers a visual presentation of this approach. The Philippines has elaborated a National REDD-plus Strategy that was endorsed by DENR and is now a key element of the National Climate Change Action Plan approved by the Climate Change Commission chaired by the President in November 2011.
The Climate-relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD Project implemented by DENR and GIZ at national level, with pilot activities in Southern Leyte is the featured REDD-Plus Project in the exhibit.
It focuses on avoiding further deterioration of forests and emissions of greenhouse gases while generating benefits such as biodiversity conservation, improvement of local livelihoods and enhancement of ecosystem services through the development of improved forest policies and specific incentives for forest protection and rehabilitation.
The newly discovered frog species in Mt. Nacolod is supported by GIZ and is part of the Biodiversity Resource Assessment done for five municipalities of the GIZ-REDD Plus sites in Southern Leyte covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog.
The information generated, now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path.
For the national Government, it will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPP), and the National Greening Program.
On the other hand, the Forest Exhibit captures current actions of local communities in forest conservation and protection in Leyte Island, done through a competition among journalists last year. Media representatives from Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News Online and Business Mirror were among those who participated in the competition. The exhibit depicts how the country is beginning to adjust national forest policies to the necessities of climate protection and to test approaches for REDD-Plus.
The exhibit, Liss said, is an opportune time to bring together the medium of film, graphics and photography to communicate historic images of the nation’s massive forest loss and depict current initiatives to achieve sustainable forest management. This means working towards improving the environment and people’s conditions by protecting, replanting and sustainably managing the forests.
Fishbowl Discussion, Debate, and REDD-Plus Hour will be carried out to discuss forestry, highlight the role of community forestry as a central ingredient to the implementation of REDD-Plus, emphasize that tenure over the land is a must for REDD-Plus implementation, and orient participants on basic concepts in relation to REDD-Plus as well as on the PNRPS.
A cultural night will also be held on May 8 evening at Maasin City Gymnasium featuring local artists, and prominent national artists Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon at 8pm.
The event is a compelling visual presentation and interactive dialogue to discuss REDD-Plus and its on-going implementation in the Philippines.
REDD-Plus is an approach that embodies actions of empowered forest managers and support groups to manage forestlands in a sustainable and equitable manner while working towards improved forest policies with regard to climate change, forest protection and rehabilitation.
The DENR-GIZ REDD Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Government. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. (PIA8 with GIZ)
==Bureau seeks to establish Mt. Nacolod as a conservation area==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 15 (PIA) -- The provincial government here will acquire a piece of land to be used as a relocation site for families who will be displaced by an upcoming widening project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the city.
There is an ongoing negotiation with the provincial assessor and the owners of the lot, located in barangay Lib-og, this city, for the purpose.
Teopisto Rojas, lawyer and chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP)Committee on Education and Social Welfare, said each relocated family can be assigned at least a 300-square meter lot.
More than 60 poor families whose houses lie along the edge of the national road in barangays Mantahan and Mambajao this city will be affected as soon as the DPWH starts implementing its drainage canal project next month which was also a way of widening the city’s streets.
Bidding for this project which cost about P 4.5 million, is expected to be held today, according to District Engineer Carlos Veloso in previous interviews with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Rojas said the informal settlers in the city will not be the only ones to benefit from the planned acquisition of lot by the provincial government, saying that those living in a mangrove area in barangay Ichon, Macrohon, will also be considered to be relocated.
Last year, the provincial government also relocated some 15 families living along the fishpond area in barangay San Roque, Macrohon, to a site bought by the province in barangay Upper Villa Jacinta, also in Macrohon town. (BP/PIA-Southern Leyte)
==DA - SoLeyte LGU culminates farmers’ classes==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 5 (PIA) -- The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau/New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (PAWB/New CAPP) seeks to establish an inter-local government unit alliance to establish Mt. Nacolod as a conservation area.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=68037
*Wednesday, December 14, 2011
:by ES Gorne
"A study has been undertaken jointly by the PAWB/New CAPP and Forest Management Bureau/German Development Cooperation-Duetsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit, through the Fauna and Flora International in coordination with DENR Region 8 and PENRO So Leyte for one-month-long ground survey for a biodiversity assessment in key biodiversity area in Southern Leyte,” said DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Rogelio Trinidad, during the Presentation of the Results of the Biodiversity Assessment of REDD+ Pilot Area/Mt Nacolod in Southern Leyte and Management Planning Workshop, last May 2 and 3 at Kuting Reef, Macrohon, Southern Leyte.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec 14 (PIA8) -- About 194 farmers graduated today at the Bontoc multi hall from the farmer’s classes initiated by the Provincial Agricultural Services Office of the Southern Leyte provincial government as their counterpart in the multi-million Rice Production Enhancement Project funded from Germany.
He said that the identified key biodiversity area in Southern Leyte covers six municipalities, namely Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin City, Tomas Oppus, and Malitbog.
All of the 194 farmers beneficiaries came from the five participating municipalities of Bontoc, St. Bernard, Sogod, Libagon, and Malitbog, according to provincial agriculturist Marina Gador in an interview with PIA Southern Leyte.
Gador reported that farmers who completed their classes conducted in different municipalities will culminate in a simple graduation ceremony today.
The project involves the application of organic fertilizer that will improve the soil fertility thereby increase rice production, she added.
Gador reported that an increase of rice production during the last cropping was noted even with the partial application of the technology by some farmers, who had already undertaken the farmer’s classes.
She, however, hopes the realization of the 15 percent increase of rice production with the project in the second cropping by next year.
Through the generosity of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – Enhancement of Food Security (EFOS) in the Visayas with the funding from the European Union, a grant, amounting to P 8.567 million in support to the Southern Leyte Rice Production Enhancement Project is underway, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Marina Gador explained .
While the provincial government counterparted with P 931,000, municipal local government units with P95,000, and farmer households gave P385,000 for the rice enhancement project, she said. (ESG-PIA8)
==SoLeyte Day Care Workers campaign support to Magna Carta==
The study that spanned slightly over one month, from November to December 15, 2011, recorded a total of 229 flora species in 65 families, with 31 Philippine endemics, 10 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-critically endangered species, which are mostly Dipterocarp species, and 20 IUCN-vulnerable species. It was also learned that terrestrial vertebrates accounted in the survey totaled to 212 species (birds: 112 species, mammals: 36 species, herpetofauna: 64 species).
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=67665
*Monday, December 12, 2011
:by ES Gorne
Likewise, there are a total of 69 species of terrestrial amphibian and reptiles recorded across the four localities, and of these 69 species, 25 species are frogs belonging to the seven families; 23 species lizards belonging to five families; 20 species of snakes and one specie of terrestrial turtle.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, December 12 (PIA8) -- Some 500 day care workers based in Southern Leyte will join the signature campaign in support of the passing of the Magna Carta for Day Care Workers.
"The PAWB/New CAPP, with funding support from Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme, aims to expand and strengthen the terrestrial PA system in the Philippines by developing new conservation models," Trinidad disclosed.
During the quarterly meeting held at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) today, the federation of day care workers’ presidents in 18 municipalities and the city of Maasin have affixed their signatures in support of the campaign for the said magna carta, Southern Leyte Federation President Marivic Amparo revealed.
According to Amparo, among the benefits they expect from the magna carta are the incentives from the national social welfare and development office particularly for those day care workers who have served at least 5 years and those who are conducting two sessions everyday.
While most of the day care workers are paid by their respective barangays for their services at P1,000 per month only, Amparo reported that the day care workers in their municipality in Libagon, Southern Leyte were all absorbed as regular workers in the municipal government.
She hoped to bring the completed signature campaign support documents in time for the last reading by the House committee scheduled at Davao City on May 2012.
Meanwhile, the federation also is coming up with a resolution seeking the intervention of Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado to discontinue the practice of changing day care workers whenever there is a change of leadership in the barangays. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==LGU-Bontoc declares town as organic municipality==
The group aimed to capacitate their partners for effective management of the system supported by improved systemic and institutional capacities.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=67366
*Friday, December 09, 2011
:by ES Gorne
The study also identified threats to biodiversity, which include widespread illegal collection of wildlife, conflicting land tenurial issues improper wildlife collection (e.g. bat collection in caves in Maasin City).
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec 9 (PIA) -- As the local government of Bontoc passed a resolution declaring the municipality an organic municipality, all of the other 40 barangays of the municipality are following suit.
"However, these threats can be addressed by having proper land use classification with strict implementation of policy and reforms that strengthens sustainable conservation initiatives through increased capacitation of stakeholders," he added. (PIA8 SoLeyte)
After the study visit in Bacolod City, the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) of Bontoc finally decided to go organic as a municipality. Thus paving the way for local officials to set aside a budget for organic-related projects and activities, SP member Benjie Goda, who is the chairperson on SP Committees on Appropriations and Solid Waste Management revealed.
The municipality will produce organic products down to the barangay level according to SP Goda. Each of the barangays were provided with machines such as shredders and digesters to help them come up with organic products.
One of the major organic products they have started to produce were organic fertilizers and feeds particularly with the introduction of the technologies like vermiculture, he said.
Goda further disclosed that the local government also plans to establish an organic market, where all of the produce from the barangays will be accommodated.
It was learned that with the utilization of the wastes through inaerobic technology, which was introduced by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) resulted to the reduction of the cost of feeds in the locality by 8 to 20 per cent, DOST provincial director Engr. Dominador Clavejo reported.
Bontoc Credit Cooperative, Inc. ( BCCI), the biggest producer of feeds in the province, is now one of the advocates of producing organic feeds, Goda added. ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==DOST 8 assists a barangay with accelerated vinegar technology==
==Southern Leyte solon cites impt programs as economic boosters==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec 8 (PIA8)-- Barangay Himakilo residents in Bontoc are now engaged in a livelihood that uses water from copra. What they thought of as waste water from copra is now the promising source of additional income for residents here. A new technology turns "waste" water to vinegar.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 4 (PIA) -- Important programs of the national government such as Tourism, Environment and Agriculture (TEA), are important components to help boost economy not only here in the province but throughout the country said Southern Leyte Lone District Congressman Roger G. Mercado.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provincial office recently provided technology and funding in the amount of P 95,000 for the production of accelerated vinegar in one of their community–based project implemented in the province, averred Dominador Clavejo, engineer and director of DOST, in an interview with PIA Southern Leyte.
Clavejo said their office assisted the said residents to maximize the use the copra water that they just threw out in the process of drying up the coconut meat or copra.
He said the water wastes were processed further into an accelerated vinegar, the technology their office has introduced with the corresponding funding for the local farmers to start the project.Vinegar is a popular condiment in most Pinoy households.
That the newly introduced project becomes another livelihood opportunity for the barangay folks to generate more income, he added.
Clavejo further said the Stella Marie Marine Products in Macrohon, Southern Leyte got P160,000 grant-in-aid for further processing of squids for calamares, wherein the said local entrepreneur is scheduled for Training for Food Safety Standards. ### (ESG-PIA SoLeyte)
==DOLE-POEA, PESO set local, overseas jobsfair in Maasin City==
In Southern Leyte, Mercado cited the Panan-awan airport, in Barangay Panan-awan, the Roro Port of Barangay Guadalupe and the on-going port rehabilitation, all in Maasin City as the sites that can help tourism industry in the province.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=67040
*Wednesday, December 07, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
“If the airport in Panan-awan will be completed, this will hasten the incoming and outgoing of tourists and visitors coming from other places that will visit not only in Maasin City but the province as well, which can automatically improve economic activities,” the solon disclosed in a press conference held at Kinamot Sa Abgao, May 3.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 8 in close coordination with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Southern Leyte set a Local and Overseas Jobsfair on December 22 at the Maasin City gymnasium.
The length of the runway of the Maasin airport is still lacking with only 1.2 kilometers, supposedly the needed runway is 2.0 km, the Congressman said. “An initial funding of P4.5 million had already been released for the extension of the runway, but it was not implemented yet," he added.
DOLE regional director Forter G. Puguon said that, “interested applicants who are looking for work should bring along with them basic documents that are required in applying a job.” The labor and employment director said that the basic documentary requirements are the following: Resume, Employment Certificate, if there is any, Training Certificate if available, Diploma if the applicant is a graduate, and any other documents.
Although the said jobsfair was first scheduled on Thursday, December 8, it had been reset on the 22nd of December due to other commitments or non availability of the personnel concerned.
PESO reported that there are at least 17 participating agencies that will be present on the job hiring day, such as Naptron Placement Agency, Ozem International Placement Services, Verde International Manpower Services, Unijobs International Manpower Services Corp., Non-Stop Overseas Employment Corp., New Era Placement Agency Company, to name a few.
On the other hand, the work to be offered are domestic helpers, household services, electronics, fabricator, painter, mason, laborer, plumber, accountant, baby sitter, chefs, drivers, carpenters, butcher, cashier, nurses, among others, the PESO staff added.
Applicants may be hired either locally or internationally; at the local level, Gasiano Hi-per in Maasin City will participate in the event while those who may want to work abroad may be hired in countries like Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, among others.(RGC-PIA SoLeyte)
==Maasin City to receive 5 special awards in Tacloban City today==
Meanwhile, the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) port in Barangay Guadalupe, if pushed through, can also promote economic activities and the P20 million rehabilitation of Maasin City Port which is now on-going through the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The other two economic boosters he mentioned were the environment and agriculture programs of the government. “We need to encourage the people to obey local ordinances and laws of the government,” Hon. Mercado said referring to the anti-smoking campaign, traffic rules, illegal activities, to include illegal logging, illegal drugs, illegal fishing, among others that can affect not only one’s health but the environment as well.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- Maasin City officials led by City Mayor Maloney Samaco is set to receive five special awards in the implementation of health and nutrition programs today, December 6 in Tacloban City.
The solon also urged everyone with the help of the media to disseminate the problems concerning the bunchy top virus that affect the abaca industry, brontispa for the coconut industry, and the crown-of-thorns starfish that is now affecting the coral reefs around the province. Through information dissemination, everyone will be aware of the situation, the congressman noted.
In an interview over radio station DyDM, Samaco disclosed that the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office 8 will give five different awards to Maasin City: the Red Orchid Award, the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN), the best implementers of Anti-Tuberculosis Campaign, and the Health Lifestyle, while the Most Outstanding in the implementation of smoke-free college is accorded to Maasin City College.
Hataw exercises, fun run, zumba classes, to name a few, also contribute to the healthy lifestyle of the residents in Maasin City, not to mention the strict implementation of the no smoking campaign. “The health and nutrition program benefits 85,000 populace in Maasin City, the city mayor said."
Mayor Samaco is grateful for the support of the health implementers in Maasin City, saying that “CHU personnel led by the health physicians to include nurses, barangay health workers, and barangay nutrition scholars contribute to the success in the implementation of the health and nutrition programs of the city government.”
“In order to achieve the targets and goals at our end, using our own resources, we need the support of everyone and the media people as one of the forefronts,” Cong. Mercado revealed at the press conference attended by the local reporters, to include Leyte Samar Daily Express correspondent Vicky Arnaiz, Maasin City Senior Citizens Federation President Willy Justimbaste, among others. (EOPT/RSC-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Dec. 5 (PIA) -- More than a thousand enthusiastic runners actively participated in the nationwide “One Million Volunteer Run” yesterday organized by the Philippine Red Cross, according to a staff of the local Red Cross chapter.
The runners were mostly teachers from the city schools division, police personnel, city and provincial government employees, and some private individuals.
City Mayor Maloney Samaco, a running advocate, together with his family, also joined the race, which started in front of the city hall and back, at past three in the afternoon yesterday.
The day started with a heavy rain starting early Sunday morning, and organizers worried if the race would push through if the rains went on, said Noli Casas, Chapter administrator of the local Red Cross, during the brief program shortly before the start of the run.
Luckily, the rains stopped minutes before three o’clock, the skies were clear even with overcast clouds, and the fun run event can continue, Casas said, adding that the Red Cross, as a disaster agency, also uses the activity to raise awareness on climate change adaptation.
For his part, Samaco said the nationwide run was scheduled to be held by five in the morning as what other places did, but if that time was followed for the Maasin City run everyone would have bathed in the rain.
Also attending the program were Genis Murallos, City Schools Division Superintendent, P/Supt. Allan Cuevillas, Provincial PNP Director, Gloria Reyes, President of Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), and Nikko Mercado, President of the provincial federation of village leaders.
Samaco later pulled the trigger of the improvised pistol to start the three- kilometer run around the city proper.
A raffle draw was held immediately after the run.
Participants paid P 125.00 as registration fee to join the run in exchange for the singlet or uniform, while a P 200.00 registration included a ticket for the raffle draw.
A staff from the Red Cross said the proceeds generated, which are intended to fund their programs and projects, were still being accounted.
The million volunteer run was also simultaneous held in seven other towns of the province yesterday participated by elements of the local police force. These municipalities were Liloan, Libagon, Sogod, Padre Burgos, Macrohon, Tomas Oppus, and Bontoc, the Red Cross source told PIA. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Tourism, Trade and German agencies to make tourism website==
AUTHORITIES have launched a manhunt for a 27-year-old man tagged in the rape and killing of a 9-year-old girl whose body was found inside a sack dumped at the back of the victims house in Pastrana, Southern, Leyte.
Town police commander Insp. Romeo Abano identified the suspect as Allan Pulga, 27, neighbor of the victim Mary Joy Paboyo, of Barangay Cabauhan.
TACLOBAN CITY - Eastern Visayas will create a website for tourists and tourism enterprises available in Google earth in partnership with the Tourism and Trade departments and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Abano said autopsy result showed the victim, who was reported missing on April 29, was positively molested and her head was bashed with a hard object that caused her death.
Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the initiative is a boost to the local tourism industry since this will be the first official website of the region for tourism promotion.
Police said Pulga had no records of mental illness or drug addiction. His family said he may be under the influence of liquor when he committed the crime.
“The tourists can easily get information online. They will get basic information like category of the hotel, room rates, and how to get there. For us to attract more tourists, we should have a tourist-friendly webpage. We want to make this as one of the attractive website for tourists,” Tiopes said.
==DSWD-8 to hire 800 young workers in Southern Leyte==
She said they will focus on basic information. “If tourists are interested, they will search more on the web.”
Raquel Capio, GIZ Private Sector Promotion Program senior coordinator for Eastern Visayas, said they are still data gathering and uploading information and pictures on the web.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 2 (PIA) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 is set to screen today the applicants for the 832 summer job young workers coming from Southern Leyte to join the nationwide Expanded Government Internship (EGIP).
“By the end of this year, we will complete the data gathering for northwest Leyte and Southern Leyte areas,” Capio said.
According to Edna Dator of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) EGIP team will meticulously select 112 qualified youths out of 700 young applicants in Maasin City alone; the rest of the EGIP slots will be filled by 40 selected youths from each of the 18 municipalities in the province.
The official added that the same activity was also done in Bohol, which turned a very effective tool in drawing more tourists in the area.
Right now, the said team is still screening the final list of summer job youth workers, who will participate in the internship program of government, she added.
The project will be fully completed in 2012 covering all provinces in Eastern Visayas.
The hired applicants will work for 52 days in the community where they come from in 4Ps, Social Pension for the Indigent Elderly, Supplemental Feeding, Cash for Work and Day Care Services earning P252 per day, she said.
The initiative is expected not just to benefit interested tourist but tourism enterprises as well.
Most of the applicants are aged 18 to 30 years old, many are in school, a number are out-of-school youths, several have degrees and technical-vocational courses, Dator added. (PIA 8, SoLeyte)
The Tourism department will also come up with database on tourism-related businesses out of this project.
==CENRO-Maasin partners with 11 POs to protect 5,410 ha. upland areas==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 30 (PIA) -- The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Maasin of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Southern Leyte Provincial Office is now undertaking the development of 5,410 hectares of upland areas under the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) in close coordination with the local peoples’ organizations.
CENRO-Maasin, which covers eight municipalities out of the 18 municipalities and one city of Maasin in the province, reported that the CBFMP is a regular program of the environment department to carry out the reforestation in timberland areas in the mountains and mangrove areas, CENRO-Maasin Senior Staff Edil Alcarde disclosed.
He said, “Thru the social forestry program, the upland dwellers have become partners in the protection of the remaining forest.”
The following upland areas and respective people’s organizations and their area coverages includes: 1) Maasin Farmers Marketing and Credit Org. (MAFAMCO) in Ibarra, Maasin City with 181 has; 2) Young Innovator for Social & Environmental Development Association, Inc. (YISEDA) in Maasin City with 549 has; 3) Kapunongan Mag-uuma sa Sto. Nino (KAMAS) in Macrohon with 182 has; 4) Malico Farmers Resources Management and Conservation Organization (MAFARMCO) in Macrohon with 102 has; 5) Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) in Malitbog with 563 has; 6) Tomas Oppus-Malitbog Farmers Association, Inc. (TOMFA) in Tomas Oppus with 71 has; 7) Tomas Oppus Forest Developers Association, Inc. (TOFDA) in Tomas Oppus with 325 has; 8) Anahao Movement for Productive Community organization (AMPCO) in Bontoc with 451 has; 9) Kahupi-an Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (KUFA) in Sogod with 2,169 has; 10) Aktibong Grupo sa Mag-uuma Alang sa Libagunong Abot (AGILA) in Libagon with 675 has; 11) Barangay Danao Farmers Association (BADAFA) in Macrohon with 244 has; 12) Bogo Women’s Association (BWA) in Maasin City with 50 has thru the Congressional Fund of Rep. Roger G. Mercado.
The overall CBFMP workers availing of the said social forestry program totaled to at least 410 beneficiaries, he added.
==DSWD-8 conducts supply side assessment orientation on 4Ps in Maasin City==
He further disclosed that before the implementation of the social forestry program, reforestation was very limited in terms of survival since laborers burned the forest so that they will be hired again.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=66142
*Tuesday, November 29, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
With this program, the beneficiaries will be able to harvest the trees as if they were their own and harvest mature trees, he added. (EPT/ESG-PIA8, SoLeyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Nov. 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 conducted a Supply Side Assessment for stakeholders who will manage the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Maasin City.
==CENRO-Maasin partners with 11 POs to protect 5,410 ha. upland areas==
DSWD-8 composed of Provincial Link Paula B. Punay, Social Welfare Officer III Arole May Niza and Project Development Officer Nestor Lentejas, discussed the strategies of the 4Ps, November 28, 2011 at the Sangguniang Panglungsod Session Hall here, City Social Welfare and Development Office staff Fe Nida Sy reported.
The Supply Side Assessment orientation was held in two sessions, Sy bared.
*Monday, April 30, 2012
“In the morning of November 28, the activity was participated by school Principals and Head Teachers of the Department of Education (DepEd) - Maasin City Division, while the participants for the afternoon session were the Barangay Captains throughout the 70 barangays of Maasin City,” she said.
:by Erna S. Gorne
The orientation also presented how the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program were identified and the requirements from the potential beneficiaries in order for the program to work.
“Potential beneficiaries in Maasin City were based in the 2009 enumerators’ survey from the national level,” she added.
It was learned that supply side assessment of the 4Ps is packaged on education and health and nutrition focusing to 0-14 year’s old children and pregnant women.
There were at least 2,725 target beneficiaries identified for the 4Ps in Maasin City.
These beneficiaries are required to comply the requirements for the said program such as 85 percent attendance per month of the children-beneficiaries in school where they are studying; attendance in development sessions once a month for the parent-beneficiary at the city social welfare office, backyard gardening which will be monitored by the city agriculture office, the report said.
The gathering also presented the schedule of general assembly for the potential beneficiaries set on different dates this December, 2011 by districts throughout Maasin City. During the scheduled assembly, the beneficiaries will register, before the orientation proper, then the signing of social commitment will follow before the validation, enrolment at the Land Bank of the Philippines and the issuance of 4Ps identification cards will be issued to the potential target.
The supply side assessment will ensure that education and health services required by the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are available for the identified beneficiaries.
It is conducted upon the identification of the target areas using the supply side assessment tool on health and education. It is also aimed to determine the readiness of the local government units in ensuring delivery of priority education and health services for the target poor households. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==Maasin City identifies key intervention areas for disaster risk management projects==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 30 (PIA) -- The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Maasin of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Southern Leyte Provincial Office is now undertaking the development of 5,410 hectares of upland areas under the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) in close coordination with the local peoples’ organizations.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Nov. 28 (PIA) –- The Urban Disaster Risk Management (UDRM) Project received additional budget that needs to be spent by the end of March 2012, of which Maasin City is one of the target areas.
CENRO-Maasin, which covers eight municipalities out of the 18 municipalities and one city of Maasin in the province, reported that the CBFMP is a regular program of the environment department to carry out the reforestation in timberland areas in the mountains and mangrove areas, CENRO-Maasin Senior Staff Edil Alcarde disclosed.
In a two-day budget planning workshop held November 24-25, 2011 at Leyte Park Hotel in Tacloban City, the GIZ, a German government organization initiated the two-day activity which aim in identifying key intervention areas and outline activities that can be implemented until the end of March 2011, Ritche Sumalinog one of the representatives from Maasin City reported.
He said that the disaster risk management projects for Maasin City include mitigation and prevention projects that focus on infrastructure such as slope stabilization and rehabilitation, drainage system, safe and sanitary facilities, improvement of evacuation site, post-harvest facilities, to name a few.
Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office capacity building to include search and rescuetraining,enhancement of rescue equipments and the like; Enhancement of Risk Information/database like equipment augmentation; and public awareness were also indicated as some of the activities for URDM project in Maasin City.
Sumalinog informed that other participating areas were Ormoc City, Tacloban City and Calbayog City. “At least four participants from each participating areas were expected to attend the GIZ-initiated activity,” he said.
For Maasin City, City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Othelo Rich, City Engineer Anecito Narit, the DRRM Officer , Engr. Marcelo Samaco and Engr. Rex Boyboy were expected to grace the undertaking, Sumalinog, the CDRRM Team Leader disclosed.
It was learned that UDRM’s progam goal is to reduce the disaster vulnerability of urban populations, infrastructure, critical facilities and shelter not only here in the Philippines but also in targeted countries in Asia. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==Ordinance prohibits defacing signage in Maasin City==
He said, “Thru the social forestry program, the upland dwellers have become partners in the protection of the remaining forest.”
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=65837
*Sunday, November 27, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
The following upland areas and respective people’s organizations and their area coverages includes: 1) Maasin Farmers Marketing and Credit Org. (MAFAMCO) in Ibarra, Maasin City with 181 has; 2) Young Innovator for Social & Environmental Development Association, Inc. (YISEDA) in Maasin City with 549 has; 3) Kapunongan Mag-uuma sa Sto. Nino (KAMAS) in Macrohon with 182 has; 4) Malico Farmers Resources Management and Conservation Organization (MAFARMCO) in Macrohon with 102 has; 5) Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) in Malitbog with 563 has; 6) Tomas Oppus-Malitbog Farmers Association, Inc. (TOMFA) in Tomas Oppus with 71 has; 7) Tomas Oppus Forest Developers Association, Inc. (TOFDA) in Tomas Oppus with 325 has; 8) Anahao Movement for Productive Community organization (AMPCO) in Bontoc with 451 has; 9) Kahupi-an Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (KUFA) in Sogod with 2,169 has; 10) Aktibong Grupo sa Mag-uuma Alang sa Libagunong Abot (AGILA) in Libagon with 675 has; 11) Barangay Danao Farmers Association (BADAFA) in Macrohon with 244 has; 12) Bogo Women’s Association (BWA) in Maasin City with 50 has thru the Congressional Fund of Rep. Roger G. Mercado.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 27 (PIA) -- The local legislative body here has passed an ordinance urging the people to help protect and preserve signage placed in various public parts of the city limits, and stipulating fines for violators.
The overall CBFMP workers availing of the said social forestry program totaled to at least 410 beneficiaries, he added.
City Ordinance number 2011-056, also known as “Maasin City Public signage Protection Ordinance of 201,” was enacted “to make all constituents and concerned barangay officials realize the importance of signage, recognize the efforts made by those government entities or individuals in procuring/supplying those signage,” according to Section 2 provision.
Another purpose outlined in section 2 was to give value to the signage “by protecting or preserving them specially from undisciplined persons who would intentionally vandalize the same.”
The local legislation defined signage as designs or display of signs supplied by government agencies, private individuals or other entities installed/placed in a particular place as reference, guidance and for other public purposes/benefits.
The ordinance also defined vandalism as the act of defacing, destroying or otherwise damaging private or public property/signage maliciously and deliberately, while youthful offenders were those children below 18 years of age.
Section 5 imposed a duty for barangay officials as the ones responsible for protection or preservation of the signage in their respective barangays.
For violators, the penalties are as follows: for first offense, a fine of not less than P 200.00 but not more than P 500.00 plus the cost of the destroyed signage; for second offense, a fine ranging from not less than P 501.00 to P 1,000.00 plus the cost of the damaged signage; and third and succeeding offenses, a fine of P 1,001.00 to P 1,500.00 plus cost of signage.
Young offenders, or children below 18 years old, shall be dealt with pursuant to Republic Act 9344, but their parents or guardians will be ones to pay for the stipulated fines.
The ordinance was one of the outputs of the September 18, 2011 session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, headed by Vice-Mayor Maria Effie Abiera-Sabandal with all the councilors attending. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==National government absorbs payments for 2012 indigents sponsored program -- So. Leyte Philhealth==
He further disclosed that before the implementation of the social forestry program, reforestation was very limited in terms of survival since laborers burned the forest so that they will be hired again.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=65746
*Saturday, November 26, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
With this program, the beneficiaries will be able to harvest the trees as if they were their own and harvest mature trees, he added. (EPT/ESG-PIA8, SoLeyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 26 (PIA) -- All poor families can expect to be covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) next year as the national government will be the one to pay for the P 1,200.00 annual premium, said Misael Paigan, head of the provincial Philhealth Service Office.
==Affordable health services for 700,000 Filipinos==
The selection of the qualified families will be based on the National Household Targeting System (NHTS), a country-wide database, for Philhealth’s nationwide sponsorship program next year, Paigan revealed during the Action Center cable TV program Wednesday.
He said those enrolled through the initiatives of the local government units (LGUs), the municipalities, cities, provinces, or by the Office of the Congressman, these will have to continue, provided the concerned LGUs or entities will be the ones to pay the full P 1,200.00 premium per recipient.
*Sunday, April 29, 2012
In the past, the LGUs shared 10% of the premiums while the national government paid the other 90%, he added.
:by RANDOM JOTTINGS
The intention of the national government to take care of the Philhealth premiums by next year shall insure the widest coverage of medical care for all Filipinos, also known as universal coverage, and this will also be in line with the country’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations, said Henry Madula, Philhealth Information Officer.
Madula said that among the objectives of the MDG will be to greatly reduce the maternal and child mortalities before, during, and shortly after giving birth.
Philhealth has included normal delivery in accredited birthing facilities, along with new born screening, as among the listed benefits that active members can claim.
Aside from reaching out to as many potential members to be enrolled as possible, Paigan said Philhealth has been working closely with hospitals so common drugs and medicines needed by member-patients while being admitted can be available with support from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Philhealth is also monitoring public and private health care providers so these wellness outlets can be accredited as soon as they can comply with the requirements, so that members can have much wider access in availing Philhealth’s benefit payments, Paigan also said. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
LOW income families living in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar in the Eastern Visayas region will soon have increased access to affordable maternal health services, thanks to the World Bank which – acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) – has approved a grant of US$3.6 million towards the project.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, November 25 (PIA) -- Norvim A. Hombre, a freshman B.S. Information Technology student from Southern Leyte State University – Bontoc Campus grabbed the 20th Philippine Statistics Quiz (PSQ) regional championship held at the New Ormoc City Hall last November 17, 2011.
The project will be implemented over a 4-year period by Population Services Pilipinas Incorporated (PSPI) supported by Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA), established providers of maternal and child health care in the Philippines since 1990. About 145,000 poor families (an estimated 700,000 individuals) are expected to benefit through subsidized access to services including birth delivery and pre- and post-natal care.
Hombre bested 21 other constestants in region 8.
He was closely tailed by a student from the College of Maasin, said National Statistics Office – Southern Leyte Assistant Statistician Faith Genovana.
Genovana said Hombre attributed his victory with their advance reading and computation practice as the key in garnering championship.
She said Hombre’s victory puts a mark in the history of the PSQ in Region 8 since this is the first time the regional champion came from outside at Tacloban City and Leyte areas.
The PSQ is an annual contest designed to test the knowledge of statistics of and the Philippine Statistical Association. The PSQ is held nationwide and involves freshman students enrolled in colleges and universities in the 17 regions, Genovana said. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==PhilHealth Link project now implemented in Southern Leyte==
The National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) has a mandate to provide universal health insurance coverage to all Filipinos and a solution is needed for the large numbers of indigent and informal sector workers that remain excluded from social health insurance coverage. A 2010 Philippine Health Sector Review found that reforms in the past decades have improved overall health outcomes; however, disparities in access to quality health services and health insurance coverage remain an issue for the poor.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=65512
*Thursday, November 24, 2011
:by ES Gorne
The GPOBA-funded scheme explicitly targets the poor to help address some of the barriers to their access to quality health services, with a 3-part approach: accreditation of 45 service providers in the project area to ensure improved quality of care and the capacity to meet increased demand; enrolment of about 145,000 families, identified and determined as poor by the National Household Targeting System, to ensure that the project reaches those who need it most; and a subsidized voucher scheme to bridge the gap between co-payments charged by health service providers and the amount that target project beneficiaries can afford to pay for approved services.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 24 (PIA8) -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) members and beneficiaries can now have easier, faster way to facilitate membership verification through the PhilHealth LINK project.
“This output-based aid scheme supports the new government’s reform agenda to achieve universal access to health care,” said Motoo Konishi, World Bank Country Director for the Philippines. “The project also makes access to quality health services affordable through the subsidized voucher component and more inclusive by explicitly targeting the poor.”
PhilHealth Service Office Head Misael Paigan said their office, through PhilHealth Link Communication Center (PLCC), can now respond to queries on membership and collection status of the patients.
The facilities of the PhiHealth Link including the systems developed will be made available to all government hospitals and soon to include the RHUs.
Paigan said the operation of the PhilHealth Link is an improvement from the manual member verification method through mobile or landline phones.
PhilHealth Southern Leyte Information Officer Henry Madula said it would be easier for any hospital patients to verify if they could avail the PhilHealth services as a member or as a beneficiary of a family relative working in other places.
Magdula said some patients prefer to be charged to the charity ward instead of verifying at their office.
Magdula further said with the introduction of said facilities, PhilHealth hopes to increase Bed Occupancy Rate of the HCP and improve the Benefit Delivery Rate in the region. (PIA Southern Leyte/esg)
==Philhealth sets focus on delivering benefits to members==
The project will address barriers to health service access by expanding insurance coverage of the poor and by supporting the upgrade of additional service providers in order to meet the national Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) accreditation requirements.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=65304
*Wednesday, November 23, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Consistent with the OBA approach, GPOBA will retain an independent verification agent to verify output delivery, including service provider upgrading, and that pre-agreed targets have been met by the project partners before subsidy payments are made. Independent verification makes aid more transparent by linking payment to the delivery of specific services or “outputs.”
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 23 (PIA) -- Having attained its goal of providing universal coverage to as many Filipinos as possible, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) has been doing all it can to ensure that members do get the desired benefit payments due them.
“We are enthusiastic about using an innovative approach, as part of a joint effort with PhilHealth, to meet the needs of a population that cannot afford to pay for access to basic health services and to support the government’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality,” said Virgilio Pernito, Chief Executive Officer of PSPI.
And to make that happen, Philhealth’s current thrust revolved around Benefit Delivery Rate (BDR), an extensive program that listed at least four factors serving as roadmap to see how far their services have reached to the people that matter most, the hospitalized members, said Misael Paigan, head of Philhealth provincial service office.
During the Action Center cable TV this morning where he was the guest, along with Information Officer Henry Madula, Paigan discussed the four key components of BDR.
These included the continuing pursuit of membership coverage, expanding members’ access to Philhealth-accredited medical or health facilities, letting members know specific illness cases and the corresponding payments that can be availed, and seeing to that members get the value out of their Philhealth cards, such as no out of pocket expenses and completeness of needed medicines.
To drive home his point, Paigan disclosed that the total admission at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) for the year 2010 was 12,856, but out of this number only 3,380 patients were able to use their Philhealth benefits, or 26% of the total.
Many of those patients, especially the sponsored indigents or senior citizens, were not aware that they have Philhealth cards, or beneficiaries of one member in the family, and so were unable to get refund of their hospitalization expenses, Paigan explained.
In an effort to address this gap, Paigan said Philhealth has established a link in accredited hospitals or clinics whose basic task was to refer a patient’s name in the database of the agency.
In most cases it will be found out that he or she was listed as one of the beneficiaries of an immediate family or relative who is an active Philhealth member, and so can be accorded due benefits.
For the BDR component on access, Information Officer Madula said virtually all rural health units around the province, including several Leyte towns under their coverage, were already accredited, and as such Philhealth’s services can be delivered to these facilities for members, like pregnant women who are members themselves or beneficiaries of active members.
Philhealth’s updated list of benefit payments included normal delivery in birthing facilities at accredited health outlets, where a member can avail a packaged rate of P 8,000.00 up to the fourth child, plus a mandated screening for newborn babies, P 1,750.00. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Maasin City - CSWDO sets orientation with stakeholders for 4Ps implementation==
Globally, more than 350,000 women die each year due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. For the Philippines, this initiative is an important step towards the goal of reducing maternal mortality rates to 52 deaths per 100,000 live births, although past experience suggests that goal may be difficult to attain.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=65173
*Tuesday, November 22, 2011
:by ES Gorne
This program is in direct response to the Philippine government’s commitment to pilot interventions that improve the health outcomes, particularly the maternal and reproductive health status, of poor populations.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) in Maasin City has scheduled an orientation with the stakeholders of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) which will be implemented in the city by next year.
==Slow growth alarms Eastern Visayas bizmen==
According to City Social Welfare and Development Officer Febe Sta.Cruz the city of Maasin is a recipient of the 4Ps which will benefit 2,227 indigent families to the national anti-poverty program of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Sta. Cruz said that, however, the said orientation has been indefinitely postponed since the first schedule set within the week has been cancelled due to conflict with the activities of the teachers, one of the stakeholders.
*Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office based in Tacloban City will lead in the orientation among the stakeholders to include the local schools principals, head teachers, doctors in Maasin City, Sangguniang Panglungsod Committee chairmen on the committees of health, education and children, Sta. Cruz said.
:by (Sunnex/(Leyte Samar Daily Express))
She said the orientation is aimed for the smooth flow in the implementation of the national anti-poverty program in the following year.
The six additional municipalities to avail the 4Ps are Libagon, Lilo-an, Limasawa, Malitbog, San Francisco and San Ricardo, all of Southern Leyte.
This is on top of the four LGUs, Tomas Oppus, Lilo-an, Pintuyan and St. Bernard, which were earlier the recipients of the priority anti-poverty program of President Benigno S. Aquino III. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==FOBI Maasin City presents best practices to bag DSWD Panata Ko sa Bayan award==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=64867
*Monday, November 21, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
MACROHON, Southern Leyte -- Local business chambers are concerned over the slow growth of Eastern Visayas’ gross regional development product (GRDP) and its per capita income, which is lower than its neighboring regions.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 21 (PIA) –- The Federation of Omega Beneficiaries (FOBI) of Maasin City was nominated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as one of the awardees for this year’s search for Panata Ko sa Bayan for the non-government organization category.
Robert Castañares, president of the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), said they wonder why there has been a consistent decline of GRDP growth momentum between 2004 and 2009.
FOBI Program Coordinator Sofia Pono in a phone interview this morning with Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Maasin disclosed that DSWD-8 required them to submit the requirements for the said quest, saying that “we are submitting all the accomplihsments the organization had, such as the audited financial statement, a certification being a registered, licensed and accredited member of the local social welfare and development office, among others,” Pono informed.
She added that the accomplishment report also stated the best practices as one of the strengths of the organization. “FOBI has ensured the sustainability of the organization through the cooperative component, in addition to the funds from the World Vision,” Pono said referring to the FOBI Multi Purpose Cooperative in Maasin City.
FOBI also established a 127 hectares reforestation project in the municipalities of Matalom and Bato, all from Leyte provine in coordination with the municipal government and an Agro-Forestry project with Barangay Lunas, Maasin City as their partner. “These projects partnered with people’s organizations, with labor and maintenance services as their counterpart,” Pono revealed.
FOBI had at least 1,500 registered families as beneficiaries serving the municipalities of Macrohon, Padre Burgos and Maasin City from Southern Leyte and Matalom and Bato of Leyte province. While the children of these family-beneficiaries are also sent to school, assisting them at least for their school supplies, among other school requiorements,” she added.
It was learned that Eastern Visayas has six nominees in this years’ search for the Panata Ko sa Bayan awards which consist of four local government units and two non-government organizations.
The awardee for each category will receive cash and a plaque, and is invited to join the anniversary celebration in Manila and other special events to advocate the principles of the award and the department’s vision as well, it was learned further. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte))
==GSIS-Maasin to meet with government pensioners on Pensioners’ Day Nov. 24==
“The National Government is actively involved in social services and infrastructure programs but not that much in economic development. That partly explained why in 2004 to 2009 our economy has not improved and poverty incidence has gone up,” Castañares told participants of the 2nd Eastern Visayas Regional Business Conference held in Kuting Reef here this week.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=64779
*Saturday, November 19, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Citing latest available data from the National Government agencies, the business group disclosed that from 5.2 percent GRDP growth in 2004, it went down to 1.8 percent in 2009. The growth rate recorded in 2009 is way below than the 6.3 percent target.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 19 (PIA) -- The local branch of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has scheduled to meet with its pensioners purposely to thresh out their concerns related to their pensions.
The region’s per capita income is only P7,400 just half of Western Visayas’ P14,500 and Central Visayas’ P15,300. The National Capital Region’s per capita is P38,600.
The meeting was set in the morning of November 24 at the DPWH function hall this city, from 9:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon.
In order to reach out to as many pensioners as possible to attend the said gathering, GSIS has aired a public service announcement, calling the attention of all those concerned through radio station dydm-AM and Viper-FM 106.1 at Ichon, Macrohon, and also at Maasin Cable Television (MCTV).
Particularly addressed to be present during the Pensioners’ Day on Nov. 24 were government pensioners who were not yet able to get their Landbank-Maasin-issued Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) cards, said Junjee Punay of the GSIS-Maasin branch.
Punay appealed to pensioners to bring their eCards or eCards Plus with them and its Xerox copy, back-to-back, when they go to the Pensioners’ Day meeting.
He expected about over a hundred public pensioners from the Maasin-Macrohon area to be around.
Those wanting to make some inquiries or asking other information, Punay said they can call GSIS-Maasin through landline telephone numbers 570-8011 or 381-3786.
Some give-away items may be received by the pensioners on that day, but these will go only to the lucky ones as these freebies will have to be raffled, he added. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Accidental firing kills Sulu cop==
*Source: http://thephilsouthangle.com/?p=9079
*Friday, November 18, 2011
:by thephilsouthangle.com
JOLO, Sulu, Philippines/18 November 2011—A police-issued firearm that accidentally went off eventually killed a policeman from Patikul town in Sulu province.
Jolo Municipal Police Station authorities said the gun, belonging to Police Officer 1 Saipal Dammang Haradji who is assigned in Bangkal, Patikul, went off by accident, hitting the lower quadrant in the left thigh of PO1 Al-Khalil Bada Alawi, 32 years old, and married. The incident happened at about 4:45 in the afternoon of 16 November 2011, when the two were about to board a moped, or motorcycle. Alawi was immediately brought to the Sulu Provincial Hospital by responding colleagues, under the direction of the Jolo Chief of Police. However, Alawi did not survive even as attempts were being made to save his life by the medical team that attended to him upon arrival at the hospital’s emergency room.
Haradji, who is a relative by affinity of the victim being the husband of the latter’s wife, voluntarily surrender to the Jolo Chief of Police, which facilitated coordination with the Alawi family.
Both policemen were stationed at the RPSB BaSulTa Sub Regional Office. (CLT)
==Supply Side Assessment orientation in Maasin City set==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=64634
*Friday, November 18, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 18 (PIA) -– In order to ensure that education and health services required by the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are available for the identified beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office-8 will initiate a Supply Side Assessment orientation on November 25, 2011 in Maasin City.
DSWD-8 Director III Jaime Eclavea disclosed that the supply side assessment orientation cum write-shop “provides a framework for prioritizing, gathering, analyzing supply-side information which is intended to identify the likely impact that the 4Ps has on the provision of health and education services.”
The activity to be held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) Session Hall here will gather Department of Education supervisors and identified teachers, Maasin City Health Unit Physicians, SP Committee Chairman on Health and Education, among other concerned. At least 80 participants are expected to participate in the undertaking, the report added.
It was learned that Maasin City is now identified as additional pilot area for Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino program of the Aquino Administration which aims to reduce extreme poverty.
Supply side assessment is conducted upon the identification of the target areas using the supply side assessment tool on health and education. It is also aimed to determine the readiness of the local government units in ensuring delivery of priority education and health services for the target poor households.
It is packaged on education and health and nutrition focusing to 0-14 year’s old children and pregnant women, the report added. (rgc/PIA-SoLey
==Geographic information system promotion pushed==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Philippines – In its efforts to promoting awareness on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS), this city’s local government together with the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College-Regional Environmental Information System (UPVTC-REIS) last November 17 celebrated the international GIS Day.
The celebration was also joined by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH – Environment and Rural Development (EnRD) and Decentralization (DP) Programs.
GIS Day is an annual global event held every November showcasing technology’s real time applications which can create positive impacts in society.
==1st zoo in Eastern Visayas opens in Maasin City==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 27 (PIA) -- Organized by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI) in coordination with the city government of Maasin, the Maasin City Nature and Wildlife Park or simply known as Maasin Zoo had its soft opening, April 26, Thursday, situated at Danao Forest Park, Sitio Danao, Malapoc Norte, this city.
The soft opening was conducted hours after the 2nd Eastern Visayas Business Conference was held at the Kuting Reef, in the municipality of Macrohon. Twelve (12) chambers of commerce and industry that attended the business meeting trouped to Maasin Zoo for the soft opening, the first throughout Eastern Visayas region.
The soft opening held at past three in the afternoon started with a short program, attended by different stakeholders, media practitioners, local and regional officials and visitors composed of the 12 chambers throughout Eastern Visayas coming from Palompon, Baybay, Isabel, Ormoc, Leyte, Calbayog, Samar, Catarman, Northern Samar, Guian, Burauen, and the Southern Leyte CCI headed by its President Robert Castañares. The program was hosted by Zaldy Olita from the city government.
A tour around Maasin zoo was made after the program, led by Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco with the Sangguniang Panglungsod members, Regional Directors from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Karina Rosa Santiago, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)Cynthia Nierras and Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Edgar Esperancilla and investors of the zoo.
Animals that can be seen at Maasin Zoo are two camels, two miniature horses, three tigers, one small Celebes Black Ape, two red-necked ostrich, crocodiles, snakes, and different species of birds such as the silver pheasant, victoria crown, umbrella and black palm cockatoos, Philippine eagle, among other classes of birds.
A grand opening of Maasin Zoo is set next month, May, while summer break is on the wane, it was learned.
SLCCI President Castañares was grateful for the realization of one of the tourism hubs in Southern Leyte, saying that, “the local economy can benefit through building this major tourism hub in the province.” He was pleased with the visitors who came from other parts of region 8 for them to observe while the zoo is still under construction.
The 30-hectare park is located in the 500-hectare Danao Forest Reserve in the upland barangay of Malapoc Norte, 14-kilometer away from the city proper and situated 335 meters above sea level. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
==DENR-8 finalizes Biodiversity Assessment of REDD+ Pilot Area and Mt. Nacolod in SoLeyte==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has completed the Biodiversity Assessment of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) pilot area and at Mt. Nacolod in the province of Southern Leyte.
DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Rogelio T. Trinidad in a letter to PIA-Maasin said, a presentation of the assessment and a Management Planning will be conducted on May 2-3, 2012 at Kuting Reef in Macrohon, this province.
The activity, he said, is aimed to present the results of the biodiversity assessment and draft the management plan for Mt. Nacolod based on the practical knowledge and strategic species-habitat information gathered during the study.
The study was jointly undertaken by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau/New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (PAWB/NewCAPP) and Forest Management Bureau//German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft fluer Internationale Zusammenarbeit –Climate relevant modernization of forest policy and the REDD in the Philippines Project (FMB/GIZ REDD+ Project) through the Fauna and Flora International (FFI).
The project study coordinated by DENR 8 and PENRO Southern Leyte was also participated by the local universities and representatives from the local government units.
“It was a long-month ground survey that started November 2011 yet,” Director Trinidad said.
The two-day activity is expected to be attended by key stakeholders of the province including the mayors of municipalities within the Mt. Nacolod and chairperson of Sanggunian for Environment at the provincial and municipal levels, representatives from the academe, natural environment protectors and managers, provincial and municipal planning office, among others concerned. (ldl/rgc/PIA 8-Southern Leyte)
==East Visayas business leaders gather for trade conference==
KUTING BEACH, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, April 25 (PIA) -- Leading personalities in the business sector from six provinces and eight cities in Region 8 will converge for two days - today and tomorrow - in this resort to discuss issues and concerns about tourism and trade opportunities.
The gathering, officially called Second Eastern Visayas Business Conference, is hosted by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), and some 200 participants all over the region are expected to attend, said Sandra Alcober, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office.
Aside from known business figures, mostly heads and members of various chambers of commerce in the region, political leaders and regional directors of government agencies involved in promoting tourism and investments are also expected to come, Alcober added.
Governor Damian Mercado will be the keynote speaker, said Alcober.
She said the two-day affair will also highlight a trade fair and exhibit and actual visits to the province’s prime tourist destination at the Agas-Agas zipline at Sogod.
The group will also witness the soft opening of the “ZooLeyte” or the Maasin Nature and Wildlife Park at Danao Forest Park in Maasin City scheduled tomorrow afternoon, April 26.
The conference carries the theme, “One Region. One Team: Economic Development thru Public-Private Sector Initiative.” The first-ever Eastern Visayas business meeting was held in March last year, hosted by Leyte province, Alcober further said.
Engr. Robert Castanares, SLCCI President, in his letter of invitation to fellow members to display their products and services, said the objective of the conference is to promote regional trade and investment cooperation in the region.
“Among the highlights of the conference is the presentation by each chamber of its respective province or city development strategy, dominant industry or products, and trade and investment opportunities,” Castanares said.
He also said that the individual output of the different chambers will be consolidated into a Regional Development Framework which will be presented to the Regional Development Council. (LDL/MMP-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
==DSWD-8 announces schedule of orientation and interview of its internship program==
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 8 through its regional director Leticia T. Diokno issued last Monday the schedule of provincial orientation and deliberation for its applicants of the Expanded Government Internship Program (EGIP).
For Leyte, the schedule of interview and orientation will be on April 24 and 25 in Tacloban City while in Ormoc City, it will be conducted at the Pantawid Pamilya Operations Office on April 30.
For Southern Leyte, interview and orientation will be on April 25 at the provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in Maasin.
For Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 26 at the Pantawid Pamilya Provincial Operations Office in Catbalogan City.
For Eastern Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 27 at the Operations Office of the Pantawid Pamilya located near the Metrobank building in Borongan City.
The system elevates plain, generic maps since it is a computer-based mapping technology that can contribute in improving local planning providing as it does visuals, details and accuracy.
For Biliran, interview and orientation will be done also on April 27 at the Provincial Capitol building in Naval, and for Northern Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 30 at the Cluster Office of the Pantawid Pamilya in Catarman.
GIS is also considered a very potent tool in enabling correct decisions in conducting plans as it determines the location of infrastructure and patterns of settlements/growth of population, and helps in identifying the safest areas to put proposed evacuation sites in the event of certain hazards such as floods or earthquakes.
DSWD-8 is hiring 7,634 workers regionwide, specifically in-school youth/students, out-of-school youth, college graduates/vocational course graduates who are unemployed, aged 18 to 30 years old.
UPVTC-REIS representatives say Southern Leyte is positive in using GIS as it compliments their goal of intensifying environmental awareness by promoting disaster prevention and preparedness.
Those who will qualify will have a hands-on experience in working with the DSWD, either in centers, institutions, field offices, or at the communities where they come from to assist in the implementation of the agency’s programs and projects such as Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Supplemental Feeding, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Cash For Work, and Day Care Service.
==371 OSYs, undergrads take ALS A&E exam in Maasin City==
Application forms are now available at the DSWD-8 office website, at the regional office at Tacloban City, and at the Pantawid Pamilya provincial/city/municipal operations office. (ldl/PIA-8/DSWD-8)
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=64251
*Wednesday, November 16, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
==Brontispa infestation gradually decreasing in SoLeyte==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Nov. 16 (PIA) –- There were at least 371 Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency Test takers from Maasin City, conducted Sunday, November 13.
The total exminees include out-of-school youths and adults, including government employees, who are undergraduates, and walk-in exam takers, Department of Education (DepEd)-ALS mobile teacher Liezl Jurban disclosed this morning, November 16 to PIA-Maasin. “There were 36 takers for the elementary level, while 335 for secondary level,” she added.
There were 5 parts of the exam called Bahagi 1 to 5. These are Kasanayan Pangkomunikasyon, English Communication, Maharlika at Agham, Kabuhayan at Likas na Yaman and Pagpalawak ng Pananaw, as Bahagi 1,2 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
It was learned that the exam usually consists of questions based on the new definition of functional literacy. It measures communication skills, problem solving and critical thinking, resourcefulness, development of self and sense of community, and expanding the world vision of a student.
Jurban reported that Maasin City has 4 mobile teachers and 4 ALS coordinators, with 4 districts divided from the 70 barangays of Maasin City. “There is an assigned 1 mobile teacher and coordinator in each district,” she said.
The A & E Test is an examination that is equivalent to an elementary and secondary diploma, making out-of-school students eligible for pursuing college degrees. “But even though for the remarkable increase in the number of registrants and takers, the passing rate is still low, since most of them had long been out of school for years,” Jurban revealed.
But though students who failed the exam may retake until they pass, she clarified and said that the said program is opening doors and gives hope to those who were unable to finsish studies. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==So. Leyte grants livelihood assistance to 18 People’s Organizations==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 23 (PIA) -– Coconut farmers from municipalities affected by the brontispa have reported positive results in the treatment of this infestation.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=64071
*Tuesday, November 15, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
According to Carmelita Maturan, coconut development officer of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Office, the remedy they have employed may have proven to be effective since latest accounts of farmers suggest that the dessicated coconut leaves affected by the insect are progressively being replaced by regular green and healthy leaves.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 15 (PIA) -- The provincial government has granted nearly 1 million pesos in livelihood assistance to 18 People’s Organizations (POs), a move designed to help every group’s members while they acted as accredited stewards to protect and preserve the environment in their respective localities.
However, treatment is not a hundred percent.
The POs, spread province-wide at an average of one per local government unit, were comprised mostly of marginal upland dwellers and have existing community-based forest management agreements with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), it was learned.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) disclosed that out of the 18 POs, only about four or five have yet to receive their assistance.
The provincial government’s intervention was intended to augment the PO members’ income as they will be expected to be productive in a profitable venture, while at the same time seeing to it that the natural habitat in their surrounding can be maintained.
Last week, Emely Labata, a forester at PENRMO, spoke on the topic Climate Change Adaptation in Forestry during a three-day training for personnel of local disaster bodies in various municipalities and this city.
Among the salient point she discussed centered on diversification of local economies and livelihoods through non-wood products, among others.
She said the local government has tapped the 18 POs for the management of forest resources, including proper utilization of products derived from the forests.
She reported that the provincial government has already released the P 50,000.00 cash assistance to almost all the POs to finance their livelihood project proposals in agri-business.(PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Poor households in So. Leyte to avail of DA’s AKBay Pinoy program==
“The fight against Brontispa will always be existent. Hence, continued upkeep and maintenance of the coconuts should be exercised,” Maturan said.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=63842
*Monday, November 14, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Some of the control measures that PCA recommends are the mechanical control which involves cutting and burning, spraying insecticides, and utilizing biologically controlled parasitoids.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 14 (PIA) -- An initial list of 209 poor families of fishermen from 16 municipalities of Southern Leyte province will receive a livelihood assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Currently, there are nine municipalities in Southern Leyte that are threatened by Brontispa: Maasin, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Sogod, Liloan, and Hinunangan.
The said assistance will be under the “Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy” (AKBay Pinoy) Program, an undertaking done in partnership with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Marina Gador, head of the Provincial Agricultural Services Office (PAGSO), told Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in a phone interview this morning that the project was one of the priorities of President Benigno Aquino III under the Accelerated Hunger Mitigation program.
The P4 million intended for Southern Leyte was set aside from the national DA coursed through the regional office. An initial of P2.09 million was set for the first batch which will be released to the 209 beneficiary families, Gador said.
She said the recipients who coordinated with the municipal agriculture offices (MAOs) were asked to submit agriculture-related project proposals. Most of the proposals were hog-fattening and vegetable crop production with a P 10,000 budget, set to be repaid interest-free for three years.
Destitute households with many children were selected from 4th to 6th class local government units, and so for this program the 3rd class municipality of Hinunangan, Sogod, and this city were not included, Gador said.
Gador was hopeful that initial batch of AKBay Pinoy program will be released as soon as possible so the next batch will follow. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==5 Southern Leyte NGP sites complete tree planting requirements==
The Department of Agriculture is leading the Brontispa fight and is constantly supplying chemicals and fertilizers to local farmers. The PCA are also closely monitoring the condition of our province’s coconut farms to ensure substantial recovery from the insect attacks. (ldl/esg/Yevgeny Duarte, Student Intern/PIA8 SoLeyte)
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=63736
*Sunday, November 13, 2011
:by ES Gorne
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, November 13 (PIA8) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) based in Maasin City reported that five out of eleven enrolled National Greening Program (NGP) sites have already completed respective tree planting requirements.
According to CENRO-Maasin City NGP Focal Person Rene Soria reported that two enrolled sites in Sitio Calugok, Brgy. Lunas, Barangay Magtuasi, Ibarra, all of Maasin City, Barangay Danao in Macrohon and Sogod were planted with the required number of trees.
Soria said the following enrolled sites who have completed the tree planting within the area coverages are: Sitio Canlugok with 80 hectares (50 hectares – NGP and 30 hectares ENR and Barangay Magtuasi – 25 hectares with reforestation).
Another enrolled site still in Sitio Canlugok was also completed, Soria added. The tree planting includes fruit trees, which could become a livelihood program of Young Innovators for Sustainable Environment Association, a people’s organization based in the mentioned community.
Danao in Macrohon also completed their required 35 hectares, Soria added.
Other NGP enrolled sites with on going tree planting includes the following: Barangay Sto. Nino in Macrohon have already planted 20 out of 25 hectares, Brgy. Kara-atan, Malitbog - 15 out of 40 hectares, Tomas Oppus – 20 out of 30, Libagon – 20 out of 60 hectares, Barangay Salvador, Macrohon – 25 out of 35 hectares.
Soria also said the NGP tree planting commitments for this year should be completed by December 15. By the end of this year, Southern Leyte should have already planted 700,000 trees under the said program. ### (PIA Soleyte/esg)
==Prov’l gov’t launches Southern Leyte Champion of the Seas 2012==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=63437
*Friday, November 11, 2011
:by ES Gorne
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 11 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Southern Leyte recently launched the search for the Southern Leyte Champion of Seas in 2012 to boost its food security in the province.
That the Champion of the Seas 2012 competition will be competed among the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMCs) and MPAs in the different municipalities of the province and the City of Maasin according to Agricultural Technologist Rein Lagumbay of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office – Coastal and Forest Resource Management (PENRMO-CFRM).
The provincial government recently awarded 22 out of 48 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) at P10,000.00 cash incentive for those who were able to submit management plans respectively, she said.
Lagumbay said the provincial government has already integrated in the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) for this year the annual incentives for all the MPAs established in the province to come up with management plans.
Last June, the first batch of 26 MPAs with management plans were already awarded with P10,000.00 each for this year, Lagumbay added.
During the celebration of the Fish Conservation Week last October 2011, the provincial government initiated separate fora with the Southern Leyte Greenbelt Mangroove recipients and MPAs stakeholders on October 18 and 19, respectively, Lagumbay added.(PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==7 more Southern Leyte LGUs to benefit from 4Ps==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=63319
*Thursday, November 10, 2011
:by ES Gorne
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, November 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 will include seven more local government units in Southern Leyte in the list of those who will benefit from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a major anti-poverty program of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
Four local government units, namely Pintuyan, St. Bernard, Bontoc and Tomas Oppus, all of Southern Leyte earlier this year availed of 4Ps, DSWD staff Daisy Polistico said in an interview with PIA Southern Leyte.
Polistico said the seven local government units includes the following areas with their corresponding potential indigent families: Maasin City – 2,725; Libagon – 898; Lilo-an – 1,236; Limasawa – 416; Malitbog – 1,127; San Francisco – 700 and San Ricardo – 629.
DSWD -8 is also considering to increase the number of beneficiaries in the municipalities of Bontoc and Pintuyan.
The government’s 4Ps program provides up to a maximum of P1,400 per family beneficiary per month and this includes P500 for the health/nutritional need of the family and a P300 educational assistance for every (14 years old and below) school children of the family for a maximum of three children.
Meanwhile, the Cash for Work and Cash for Training, another anti-poverty intervention program of the Aquino administration is about to be completed in Maasin City for the 844 indigent families. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==Business name registration for single proprietorship over in 15 minutes -- DTI- So Leyte==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=63041
*Wednesday, November 09, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
==S. Leyte urged to conserve forests and biodiversity==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 9 (PIA) -- Having one’s business name registered in this city and elsewhere in the province with the provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), at least for single proprietorship type of ventures, can be processed and done with in just fifteen minutes.
“And we are still working to have it in ten minutes, granting the internet or online highway is okay,” said Michael Nunez, DTI provincial Director during a forum with prime movers of the tourism industry here Friday at Candy’s function hall spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Nunez was sharing on what his office can contribute for the development of businesses like hotels, restaurants, and resorts and the expected influx of tourists the moment the five tourism hubs in the province will be fully operational in a couple of years from now.
The trade agency had worked closely with the German government organization GIZ to streamline business permits and licensing system (BPLS) of the various local government units (LGUs) so investors would shorten their transactions by simplifying the number of steps and signatories of mandated fees, Nunez reported.
In the past several years that this change was being successfully implemented by the LGUs, he had heard some marked improvement in the procedures.
“If the improvement was not felt, tell the DTI, for we are friendly to business, and we are also friendly to customers,” Nunez told a gathering of hotels, restaurants, and resort operators.
Nunez offered as example his very own office, which used to register the business name for single proprietorship in more than a month’s time, later shortened to three weeks, two weeks, then one day, until the present when the owner will just have to wait for fifteen minutes only.
Soon, prospective registrants would no longer need to go personally to the DRI office to have their business names registered, for they will simply apply online and have their payment transmitted through electronic means, Nunez informed. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==So. Leyte Chamber of Commerce adds Limasawa as the fifth tourism hub==
SOUTHERN LEYTE, April 20 (PIA) -- With the discovery of the new species of frogs in Southern Leyte, Gordon Ignacio, senior adviser of the biodiversity assessment project, urges Governor Damian Mercado and local government units to conserve the forest and the biodiversity of the province.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=62816
*Tuesday, November 08, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
According to Ignacio, the rich and unique bio-diversity wildlife is “Southern Leyte’s pride,” for this reason, it must be well-preserved and protected.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 8 (PIA) -- The Limasawa historical landmark has been added to the man-made tourist attractions in the “tourism dream” crafted by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), a visionary framework that was integrated in the development agenda of the various local government units.
The joint project of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German government organization, Southern Leyte provincial government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yielded numerous significant results.
SLCCI President Engr. Robert Castanares announced the inclusion of the cultural and heritage icon in a gathering of hotels, resorts, and restaurant owners organized by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Friday and Candy’s function hall, where he spoke about the development directions of the tourism industry in the province.
In his detailed presentation, Castanares discussed a comprehensive analysis of the economic situation in the province, in which the best way to circulate money was to lure tourists through the identified five tourism hubs that would position the province as the “playground of Eastern Visayas” by the year 2013.
The first hub will be a theme park at Danao Forest Park in this city, wherein some 30 hectares was already approved by the city government to be developed into a zoo, to be called “ZooLeyte”, the target date for opening will be in April, 2012, Castanares revealed.
The second hub, which was already operational since April 15 this year, was the popular Agas-Agas Zipline destination in Sogod, and Castanares said in a month or two, other features will be added like the off-road adventures, bungee jump, and cable car.
The third hub will be the Silago canopy walk, or a stroll through high trees, the walk ending in a scenic waterfalls, and development of this project was still in progress.
The fourth was the Napantao Dive Site in San Francisco, said to be among the top five dive destinations in Asia, and this will be enhanced further to cater to the expected surge of diving enthusiasts.
The fifth hub was the Limasawa historical landmark, an ambitious project that would put up a 100-meter high cross in the island, equipped with elevator to reach the top portion where businesses like coffee shop and others can be enjoyed.
Last year, when the tourism framework was presented to the local media, only the four hubs were highlighted.
Castanares said the prime concern for the Limasawa project was the ground texture of the island if it can support such a huge infrastructure.
The provincial “tourism dream” attempts to capture some 200,000 visitors starting this year until the end of 2013, Castanares also said. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==DOLE 8 forms So. Leyte tourism industrial peace council==
Aside from the new amphibians, the Mount Nacolod assessment also recorded 229 flora species, 31 of which are found only in the Philippines. The survey team recorded 212 vertebrates. These included 112 birds, 36 mammals, and 64 amphibians and reptiles. Flora and Fauna International, a British-based group, said most of these animals are endangered.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62733
*November 07, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss, principal advisor for GIZ's forest policy, said the revelation of new species in Southern Leyte underscored the need to protect the forests of the Philippines, a key biodiversity center in the global map. At present, about 80% of the country's forests are degraded.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday held a forum with owners of resorts, hotels, and restaurants here and elsewhere in the province held at Candy’s Function hall this city.
“By destroying forests, we are also destroying habitats. Who knows what's out there?” he said.
The day-long activity discussed issues involving the key players of the tourism industry, leading to the formation of a tripartite industrial peace council on this particular sector.
DOLE provincial field Officer Fe Norma Valuis said that throughout the entire region, the labor agency succeeded in forming tripartite industrial peace councils on three major groups, such as the power sector, the manufacturing sector, and the third in the series to be organized were the operators of hotels, restaurants and resorts, and tourism-related ventures (HRT).
In his inspirational message, DOLE Regional Director Atty. Forter Puguon, emphasized that among the thrusts of his office was to strengthen labor relations between management of private business, the workers, and the government, or the development of a tripartite dialogue to resolve conflicts and promote peace.
The DOLE “helps businesses by caring for workers,” Puguon said, adding that it would be costly for management to keep on hiring and training new personnel every now and then.
Attending the event, aside from owners or representatives of known hotels, restaurants, and resorts, were Engr. Robert Castanares of Kuting Reef Resort, who was also the President of the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI); and Nacional Mercado, President of the Southern Leyte Association of Hotels, Restaurants, Resorts, and Bars (SLAHRRB).
Also present from the DOLE family were Bernardita Velarde, Planning Officer, DOLE RO8, Marites Vinas, provincial head of the Northern Leyte field office, and Florencio Aguilos, Board Secretary of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).
Other offices comprising the government sector included the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Provincial Tourism Office. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==New crime lab in So Leyte opens amid high expectations==
Liss also noted that new species could benefit the community greatly. To start, these species may help in developing new substances, medicines, and materials.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=62385
*Friday, November 04, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
As stated by GIZ’s press release, “support from the government and greater involvement of LGUs are expected to ensure the success of protection and rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity.”
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 4 (PIA) -- Leading forensic experts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local officials, on Thursday graced the opening and blessing rites of the Provincial Crime Laboratory Office (PCLO), located at the back of the capitol compound, this city.
The said institution, together with DENR, plan to continue its field sampling in Mt. Nacolod, a mountain peak near Silago, as well as other areas of the province including the municipalities Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus, and Malitbog.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Gov. Damian Mercado and City Mayor Maloney Samaco, and they were assisted by PCSupt. Lorlie Nilo Arroyo, Director of the Crime Laboratory, and PSupt. Rea Villavicencio, Chief of the Regional Crime Laboratory, Region 8 Office.
Also attending the event were PSupt. Allan Cuevillas, the new PNP Provincial Director, and PSupt. Pepito Pacada, formerly the PNP Provincial Director now serving as the Regional Chief of Staff. Pacada was representing PCSupt. Arnold Revilla, the Regional PNP Director.
Other guests were officials from the municipality of Sogod, and some heads of national and provincial offices.
Incidentally, PCLO, the new crime lab, which is also called the Scene of Crime Operatives (SOCO) operations center, was blessed by a Priest with surname Soco, in the person of Rev. Margarito Soco.
PSInsp. Randie Dagatan, a native of Dulag, Leyte, who will head the SLPCLO as its Provincial Chief, stressed in his welcome remarks that forensic investigation is indispensable in attaining justice and having a speedy solution using science to crimes committed.
He said the provincial crime lab was the second facility established under the leadership of her regional boss, PSupt. Villavicencio, who assumed the post for just one year and six months. The first one was put up in Northern Samar, it was learned.
Mayor Samaco, in his message, cited the crime lab as a long cherished dream that was finally realized, adding that it will be a great help in maintaining the city’s image as the most peaceful place.
Gov. Mercado, likewise, hailed the new outfit as a step forward for the solution of drug-related cases, which he said were dismissed on a mere technicality as the evidence brought to the regional lab for examination oftentimes will not be confirmed.
“With this crime lab, babawi tayo. This is a big breakthrough in our campaign against criminality,” Gov. Mercado pointed out, expressing in a nutshell the overall sentiment of the community matched with the generally high expectations of the newly opened lab that must be results-driven.
He pledged to provide support for the lab’s maintenance, sharing the burden with the city government, even as he emphasized his commitment that “those less in law are always my priority.”
For her response, PCSupt. Arroyo said the SOCO unit will surely deliver the expected services through the lab.
“I assure this will help investigators solve crimes,” said Arroyo. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==SoLeyte PhilCAT sets to assess anti-TB campaign progress in the province==
==Frog species, size of a thumb, found in Southern Leyte forest==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, November 3 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) in close coordination with the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC), who jointly implemented the Public – Private Mix DOTS (PPMD) in the province, calls on the stakeholders to a consultative meeting to assess anti - TB campaign progress in the province.
SOUTHERN LEYTE, April 19 (PIA) -- This province has carved a new impression as a haven for a rich bio-diversity wildlife in the wake of reports broadcast on nationwide television and online news outlets that two new species of frogs were discovered in the forests off the pacific area.
“Tuberculosis remains a major problem in the province,” Provincial Health Officer II Jose Lito Trumata, who is also the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) Chairman disclosed in a letter to PIA SoLeyte.
This year, PhilCAT and Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) earlier launched together with the PCC the implementation of the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) down in the province, Trumata said.
He said the strategy calls for the private and public sector campaign for a joint effort in the combat against TB.
PCC has set a consultative meeting with the stakeholders on November 8, 2011 at Kuting Reef Resort and Spa in Macrohon to assess how far the PhilCAT- Province Coordinating Committee have gone in the implementation of Public-Private Mix DOTS in the province and to formulate plans/strategies for its sustainability.
The following stakeholders signed up a memorandum of agreement with PhilCAT- PCC: Philippine Dental Association- Southern Leyte, Southern Leyte Pharmacist Association, Department of Education, FOBI, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Population Office, which will also include the Southern Leyte Medical Society, Department of Health representatives of Southern Leyte, Municipal Health Officers of Southern Leyte, Southern Leyte League of Mayors, Southern Leyte League of Councilors, and the Philippine Nurses Association-Southern Leyte Chapter.
According to Trumata the scheduled consultative meeting is an important step in the public-private partnership towards the fight against TB to reach our national vision: “TB Free Philippines.”(PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==November bidding set for DPWH-SLED projects in Southern Leyte==
According to reports, the newly-found frogs species were a mottled brown frog with red eyes and a broad yellow stripe running down its back, and a yellow green frog the size not much bigger than a man’s thumb.
The finds were announced by personnel of the British-based Fauna and Flora International in a forum held at the National Museum, it was learned.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Philippines (PIA) — Several infrastructure projects in various locations in this province are due for bidding this month, according to District Engr. Carlos Veloso of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern Leyte Engineering District (DPWH-SLED).
Reports said the new species, which have been labeled as endangered and on the brink of extinction and were yet to be named, were found at the Nacolod mountain range in the pacific area of Southern Leyte province.
In a recent meeting with local media at the DPWH function hall here last week, Veloso said P10.5 million of flood control projects in various parts of Southern Leyte are set to be bid out. This, along with some P25.7 million worth of road slippage repair projects in national highways to be bid out on November 15.
This area has been part of a conservation-oriented undertaking initiated by the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in addition to an initiative of a German government organization GIZ, the Reducing Emission on Degradation and Deforestation Plus (REDD Plus) project.
On November 10, repair or improvement of public markets in 18 towns and one city in the province will be up for bid, with funds for these projects coming from the pork barrel of Senator Francis Escudero.
The brown frog specimens measured 1.7 -- 2.2 inches, while the yellow-green ones were 0.8 -- 1.1 inches, an online report said.
Meanwhile, three out of 19 local government units (LGUs) in this province will sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the DPWH regional office soonest, with the DPWH as the implementing government agency, said Veloso.
The Philippines has been listed by US-based Conservation International as one among 17 countries that hold most of Earth’s plant and animals, but at the same time a bio-diversity hotspot due to massive kaingin and illegal logging operations on what was once heavily-forested areas.
Veloso identified two of the towns indicating preference for assistance from Escudero as Saint Bernard and Bontoc.
The DENR, through its wildlife protection department, reported that aside from the frogs, 36 new plants and animal species were discovered in the country over the past ten years. (ldl/mmp-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
The DPWH-SLED official said, meanwhile, that he will pursue efforts to secure P50 million from the national government so that the cross-country road concreting linking Maasin and Bontoc will be continued, so as to cut travel time from the Pacific and Sogod Bay area in reaching Maasin City.
Mundita Lim, head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB), said the frogs belong to the genus Platymantis.
SOUTHERN LEYTE, October 31 (PIA 8)-- Continued police operations resulted to the apprehension of wanted persons in the province as Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office (SLPPO) Officer In Charge PSSupt Allan Tribiana Cuevillas directed all chiefs of police to strictly implement the service of all warrants of arrest received by their respective office.
“These species inhabit the montane and mossy forests of the Nacolod Mountain Range in Southern Leyte province,” she said. “Both species differ markedly from other known species of Philippine Platymantis frogs by their body size, coloration patterns, and advertisement calls. The two species are allied to two different species groups, the Platymantis guentheri group and Platymantis hazelae group.”
This he said is “in order to enhance the quality of justice dispensed by the courts and to give speedy trials of all cases filed,” Police Chief Inspector Abdulmajid Jaji, the PCR Chief said in their report to PIA Southern Leyte.
On October 28, the Bontoc Police Station personnel arrested Eduardo Navarro Tan, 58 years old, a resident of Barangay Divisioria, Bontoc by virtue of warrant of arrest by Judge Bethany G. Kapili dated November 26, 2007 for a crime of murder docketed under Criminal Case No. 1170, Jaji said.
Jaji further reported that the arrested person was brought to Bontoc Police Station for proper disposition.
Meanwhile, Jaji said the provincial police continues to implement the “One Strike Policy” in the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling in the area of responsibility,as directed by PSSupt Cuevillas.
He said in Hinunagan, Southern Leyte on October 28, the PNP personnel of Hinunangan Police Station conducted operations against illegal activities at Barangay Calag-itan which resulted to the apprehension of Arnel Jay-R Espanol. Confiscated from his possession and control were swertres control sheets, ballpen and bet money. While in Macrohon, Southern Leyte, Franko Lolo Degios, 33 years old, married, laborer and of Brgy. Maria Clara was caught in the act of collecting illegal gambling paraphernalia such as tally sheets and bet money.
And in Maasin City on October 29, police arrested Rico Miras Damole, 27 years old, single, jobless and a resident of said place, as police operations against illegal gambling activity at Brgy. Tagnipa was conducted. Confiscated from his actual possession, control and custody were one piece summary sheet, ten pieces control sheet and cash money amounting to ninety five pesos (P 95.00) in different denominations, he said.
All persons apprehended were brought to respective police stations for documentation and filing of appropriate criminal charges in court, he added. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==Maasin OSCA honors utilities, firms that care for the elderly==
Lim said this is the first time that a Platymantis species belonging to the hazelae group has been discovered in Mindanao faunal region, to which the island of Leyte belongs.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=61697
*Saturday, October 29, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
“Herpetologists from the Philippines and the United States are now working on the formal taxonomic description of the species,” she said.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 29 (PIA) -- The Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA) in this city gave recognition to two utility service offices and three business establishments in gratitude for granting discounts, as what the law provided, to the elderly.
Lim said the month-long ground surveys in Southern Leyte – covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog – also recorded a total of 229 floral species (31 of which are unique to the Philippines) and 212 terrestrial vertebrates species comprising 112 species of birds (41 species are unique to Philippines; 11 of which are threatened to extinction), 36 species of mammals (17 species are unique to the Philippines) and 64 species of amphibians and reptiles (more than half of which are found only in the Philippines).
Willy Justimbaste, president of the City Federation of Senior Citizens, led the giving of the plaques of recognition to the Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) and Maasin Water District (MWD), Rose Pharmacy, Mercury Drug and Gaisano Hi-Per Metro.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Senior Citizens’ Building at Brgy. Tagnipa yesterday.
The five establishments were honored for giving the required discounts to qualified senior citizens in buying drugs, medicines, selected groceries or paying for services like water and electricity.
In the brief “Action Center” kapihan that preceded the handing of awards, SOLECO Section Head Raul Fabroa explained that in order to avail of the five percent power discounts, a senior citizen must file an application at their office.
He said the 5 percent off can only be enjoyed for those consuming 100 kilowatt-hours of electric consumption or less than per month, but he still encouraged those who consumed more than 100 KWH to register, so they can avail of the discount once they consumed less.
The name of the senior citizen should be the member, Fabroa stressed, and in a family where there is an elderly the change of name for a member can be allowed but it will take one year after the change before the discount can be enjoyed.
SOLECO was the first electric cooperative in Region 8 to have followed the law on the expanded benefits for senior citizens, it was learned.
As to purchases of medicines and groceries in pharmacies, Rose Pharmacy’s Annabelle Cardoza said the requirement was for the elderly buyer to present a purchase slip -- which can be asked from the OSCA office -- an ID, an authorization if the senior had someone buy it, and the doctor’s prescription for the drugs needed.
Pharmacies are mandated to grant 20 percent discount on purchases from the elderly, although ther
==CSWO distributes cooking materials, eating utensils for Day Care Centers in Maasin City==
“It is anticipated that a significant number of species will be recorded from Southern Leyte with continued field sampling, especially if the surveys are conducted during the drier months of the year and if a wide range of habitat and elevation zones, from lowland Dipterocarp to mossy forests, are sampled in detail,” she said.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=61540
*Friday, October 28, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
Lim said the assessment indicated the general preference of Southern Leyte’s fauna to forest and riverine environments.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 28 (PIA) -– At least 72 Day Care Centers throughout Maasin City received various eating utensils and cooking materials coming from the government’s Supplemental Feeding Program through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 based in Tacloban City.
“The information generated now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and
The coking materials include 72 pieces “Kaha” (big frying pans), 72 big cooking pots, 72 pieces ladles, while eating utensils consist of plates, spoon, and fork, tumblers, each for 1,503 pieces that indicate the DSWD logo each at the bottom, Fe Nida Sy City Social Welfare Aide reported Thursday in a short talk with PIA-Maasin.
“The distribution of the eating utensils depend of how many day care children from 3-4 years old are enrolled in each day care center, while the cooking materials will be distributed one each for DCC” Sy, the Focal Person for Children bared.
She disclosed that “an amount of twelve pesos and seventy cents (P12.70) inclusive of rice per child per day for 120 days hot meal feeding shall be allocated and ten pesos (P10.00) is allocated each child for the viand,” Sy disclosed. An average of 10 children is covered in every kilo of rice at the price of P27.00 per kilo, Sy further said.
Though, the 120 bags of iron-fortified rice, re still coming, she said. It will be purchased from the respective National Food Authority regional offices, while the local government units will be the one to withdraw the NFA rice at NFA warehouses, she added.
The Supplemental Feeding Program is the provision of food in addition to the regular meals, to currently day care children as part of the DSWD's contribution to the Early Childhood Care adn Development (ECCD) program of the government, the source added.
As of this writing, Day Care Workers from different Day Care Centers in Maasin City are withdrawing their share of the cooking materials and eating utensils from the City Social Welfare Office here. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==SLEM awaits NHA approval for second phase of housing project==
biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path,” she said.
*Source:http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=61433
*Thursday, October 27, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Lim said the assessment will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan, and the National Greening Program.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 27 (PIA) -- The Southern Leyte Employees Multi-Purpose (SLEM) Cooperative is awaiting the approved subdivision plan from the National Housing Authority (NHA) in order to start the implementation on the second phase of its housing project.
Lim said the discovery of the new species on the fragmented forests of Mt. Nacolod intensifies the potential of REDD-Plus for effective protection and rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity, while benefiting local communities.
Mario Eugene Abenio, SLEM Manager, told Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in an interview Tuesday that phase two of the shelter project in barangay Ibarra covered 2.8 hectares, consisting of 160 housing units with an average area of 100 square meter per unit.
About ninety-one (91) slots were already filled with interested takers, Abenio added.
Jesse Quilantang, Chairman of the SLEM’s Board of Directors, who was also present during the interview along with other officers, said that management is still considering whether to offer the project as a house and lot package to individual buyers.
Once a prospective buyer can buy a lot mostly on an installment basis, the next problem for him or her will be to look for money for the construction of the house, an opportunity that might as well be grabbed by SLEM, granting that not so many would borrow in one given setting so as not to deplete the coop’s finances, Quilantang said.
But what was certain was that they have hired an architect to design structures for bungalow types, row houses, or two-storey buildings, as these will serve as a model to interested takers, he added, even as they have also set aside a space for a buyer’s customized preference of home style.
As of September 30, 2011, SLEM members reached 5,541, up from 1,305 members in 2006, and it has put up satellite branches in San Juan and Ormoc City, and a branch at Maasin City proper with its own operations separate from the main office at barangay Asuncion, this city, said Manager Abenio in a powerpoint presentation.
Management has planned to expand satellite offices to Sogod and Libagon where a membership seminar was already done for at least fifty members, said Vilma Kangleon, another Board Member. Other Board members present during the interaction with PIA were Celia Verano, Fred Maco, and Edna Dator.
SLEM began as a closed-type cooperative with purely government employees as members hence its name, but over the years it has accepted as members non-government employees as long as they are employed, including wives of overseas workers.
As to a suggestion of changing its name to reflect the inclusion of non-public sector individuals as members, Quilantang said he saw no need for such a move, saying SLEM has been an institution by itself, much like a brand name. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==GIZ proud to be part of YISEDA’s success==
Greater involvement of LGUs in conserving the biodiversity of Nacolod is expected, she added.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=61071
*Wednesday, October 26, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
The study was aimed at generating species inventories and practical information on key species-habitat associations as sound bases for forest and biodiversity management planning, Lim said.
BARANGAY LUNAS, Maasin City, Southern Leyte, Oct. 26 (PIA) -- A ranking official of a German government organization GIZ, traveled all the way to this highland village yesterday to see the phenomenal accomplishment of a People’s Organization (PO) which GIZ fully supported in terms of technical and financial assistance.
Joining the PAWB in conducting the biodiversity assessments last November 2011 were the Fauna & Flora International, the National Museum of the Philippines, and DENR Eastern Visayas.
“You have a wonderful nature all around here. GIZ is proud to be part of your development,” Dr. Sebastian Paust, GIZ Managing Director, told officers and members of the Young Innovators for Sustainable Environmental Development Association (YISEDA), in a short interaction held at the PO’s small bunkhouse.
GIZ has poured more than P 5 Million in development funds to YISEDA for its efforts on reforesting and regenerating the natural forests of the mountain ranges surrounding barangay Lunas that stretches over 400 hectares said a YISEDA leader.
Leo Vanzuela, YISEDA Vice President, said the GIZ funding was coursed through the Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) and the Reducing Emission on Degradation and Deforestation (REDD) programs, as well as in Assisting Natural Regeneration (ANR), a result-specific project that seeks to replenish 120 hectares forest cover in the area starting in 2010 up to 2012.
Vanzuela, who spoke in behalf of the president who was in Manila in preparation of a national summit of POs in which YISEDA will be an active participant this November, recapped the PO’s humble beginnings twelve (12) years ago and the progress attained thus far.
He said the PO was primarily established as a forest steward that modeled the way in sustainably managing and protecting natural resources, propagating and planting nearly a million endemic and exotic trees as well as fruit trees.
YISEDA was composed of 34 men, women, and 420 beneficiaries, Vanzuela said, adding that they deliberately use the word “Young” in their name as their children, and the children of their children’s children, are expected to carry on what was presently began.
The visiting guests, along with personnel from the provincial government and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the province and region, later proceeded to the actual site where mahogany and other tree species were recently planted, negotiating a steep mountain trail slanted almost 45 degrees in a 30-minute slow walk-climb.
At one spot at the mountain’s top, estimated at 800 feet from the dirt road below, the town of Sogod, Libagon, and part of Sogod Bay can be seen in the eastern side, while in the western portion the towns of Bato, Hilongos, and Hindang in Leyte province, as well as Bohol and Camotes Island, can also be seen by the naked eye in a panoramic view. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==GIZ mulls giving direct financial aid for fisherfolk, farmers==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=60808
*Tuesday, October 25, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
KUTING REEF, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, Oct. 25 (PIA) -- A German government organization has laid out a plan to extend cash assistance directly to farmers and fishermen whose livelihood will be affected by programs or projects that would preserve the environment.
Andreas Lange, Regional Coordinator of GIZ, a government organization of Germany actively working on undertakings that conserve natural resources, said the Environment Conditional Cash Transfer (ECCT) is now being seriously considered for upland and coastal dwellers in a manner similar to the existing cash transfer program of the government.
In an interview in this high-end resort last night on the occasion of a dinner tendered for the visiting GIZ Managing Director, Dr. Sebastian Paust, Lange said the idea was to provide an alternate livelihood to augment the income of farmers and fishermen in four municipalities and one city where GIZ initiated conservation programs like reforestation and marine protection were ongoing.
These included the towns of Silago, Sogod, Bontoc, Tomas Oppus and Maasin City, where an initial 200 poor families belonging to the fisheries and agriculture sector will be selected as the prime beneficiaries
About two weeks ago, Lange said the plan was presented in Southern Leyte province as a pilot implementation site owing to the many GIZ-led projects established, in close coordination with government agencies like the social welfare, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others.
As of now, the question on how much payout will be extended is still under study, Lange stressed, adding that the basis for the cash grant was the rice requirement for a family of five, which was calculated at around P 1,000.00 per month at the very least, subject to pre-determined conditions.
Once the project will be rolled out, it will be implemented in two to six years’ time, starting most probably in the first quarter of 2012, with the recipients withdrawing cash through a “blue card” much like an ATM, Lange added.
He said the overall goal was to use the ECCT as an innovative scheme in poverty alleviation. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==So Leyte solon leads planting mangroves at Silago==
BARANGAY HINGATUNGAN, Silago, Southern Leyte, Oct. 24 (PIA) -- Southern Leyte Lone District Representative Roger Mercado waded into ankle deep waters here Saturday to plant mangroves along the rocky shores in this pacific barangay.
He was joined by some 300 young people coming from seven parishes comprising the pacific vicariate, an ecclesiastical subdivision of the Diocese of Maasin, in a show of force led by Cong. Mercado that was aimed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The Parish-based youths earlier had a value-formation lecture at the Hingatungan Chapel with Rev. Fr. Hope Lambonao, and when the solon arrived direct from Manila he was given the floor for a short pep talk shortly before the actual planting of mangrove petioles.
Ever a walking environment crusader, Cong. Mercado riveted his remarks on the need for conscious efforts, particularly initiated by the young people, to alter the erratic weather patterns brought about by global warming, and one of the ways to do this is to continue planting trees in the mountains, or mangroves along the sea coasts.
He said upon learning about the activity in an invitation extended by Fr. Lambonao, he did not hesitate to come directly to the venue after alighting from the plane at the Tacloban airport, saying he valued every opportunity that he can personally participate in a tree-planting event.
Mercado also mentioned the recent weather disturbance, tropical depression “Ramon” which was forecast to hit land at Silago on October 12 but veered in its direction instead, “jumping” to Northern Cebu area.
“This showed that, aside from our prayers that we be spared from the calamity, our consistent efforts on planting trees paid off, as typhoons are known to slow down in areas with thick vegetation,” Cong. Mercado told local media in a short interaction following the mangrove planting.
Rosalinda Lumaas, Punong Barangay of Hingatungan, said in an interview that a total of 18,000 mangrove seedlings were already planted since the project began in May this year, and they are still intent on planting some more as the site is still wide open. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Seawaters off Panaon landslide site to be recast as “underwater graveyard” for marine protection==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=60575
*Sunday, October 23, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
BARANGAY PUNTA, San Francisco, Southern Leyte, Oct. 23 (PIA) -- The shallow waters along the coast of this barangay will be turned into a memorial in memory of those who perished in a natural disaster eight years ago and at the same time a conservation ground for fish species, coral reefs, and other marine life.
The site, which has been established as a marine protected area (MPA) by virtue of a municipal ordinance on June 10, 2009, was littered with rampaging debris, as dead bodies and destroyed houses were washed out during the December 19, 2003 mudslide.
Two other places in Panaon also suffered killer landslides, somewhat simultaneously on that very same fateful day following days of torrential rains that hit one barangay in Liloan and another one in San Ricardo towns.
Dag Navarette, a technical staff of Coral Cay, a British non-government organization (NGO) concerned with preserving and protecting the treasures of the seas, revealed in an interview here yesterday that he planned to bring the local leaders to Camiguin Island next month so they can have an idea of what an underwater cemetery looks like.
Navarette, who claimed he was “on loan” to another resources conservation NGO called RARE, said he may not be able to copy the Camiguin seawaters cemetery because it was a real one but he may opt for an underwater marker instead in time for the eight anniversary of the disaster in December this year.
An awareness drive was launched at this site yesterday complete with a motorcade, in an activity called “Punta Pride,” purposely to focus on the heightened consciousness of the place as an MPA.
Beny Deloso, Punta Punong Barangay, said some visible benefits now can be seen and felt in two years’ time since the declaration of the place as a protected zone covering an area of ten hectares.
The other night fishermen were able to catch 60 kilos of assorted fishes, the first time that it happened as most catch averaged only ten kilos, Deloso said.
Fishing inside the five kilometer exclusive area marked by floating bouys has been strictly prohibited, but beyond this perimeter zone fisherfolks are already allowed to fish, Deloso also said. Illegal fishers were no longer doing their unlawful acts since the MPA was instituted, he added.
Residents of barangay Punta, now numbering 455 people in 101 households or 114 families, had been relocated in a resettlement site near the town proper about three kilometers away, but barangay tanods kept a 24/7 watch in the MPA, Deloso told local media in a mini-press conference. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==DPWH – Southern Leyte receives P25.7M for roadslips repairs in 5 areas==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED) is a recipient of a P25.7 million program funds intended for the repair and stabilization of road slips in five road network areas in the province damaged by the heavy rainfalls early this year.
DPWH-SLED Assistant District Engineer Manolo Rojas reported to PIA Southern Leyte that the engineering district will be working on the programming and planning of the five projects identified to undergo the repair and road slips stabilizations which are expected to be completed by October 26, this year.
Then the engineering district will bid out the 5 projects competitively through on line bidding, which is in line with PNoy's "matuwid na daan" policy, in the next 20 days, he said.
Rojas said that the following roadslip repair project areas identified are in Katipunan, Silago – P3.5 Millions; Tubod, Silago – P4 Millions, Saub, Saint Bernard – P 1.5 Millions; Hindag-an, St. Bernard – P 10 Million and Lepanto, St. Bernard – P7 Million, all of Southern Leyte.
He said those roadslips were damaged during the heavy rains experienced last January 2, 2011 in the province that resulted to the death of three children aged one to five, were killed in a landslide that hit Barangay Bolod-bolod in St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==DepEd-Southern Leyte gives tribute to stakeholders supportive to education sector==
PALO, Leyte – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) will push through a one-year pilot technology demonstration on coral reef restoration in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=60111
*Thursday, October 20, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
The coastal area situated within the Sogod Bay will get a P5-million budget out of the recently approved P35.35 million funding for nine coral reef rehabilitation projects nationwide.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 20 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd)–Southern Leyte Division has acknowledged the assistance given by the different stakeholders throughout the province to the education sector, thus a “Pasidungog” (tribute) to these stakeholders was done this morning, October 19 at the DepEd grounds, Barangay Mantahan here.
DOST Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla said they signed an agreement with SLSU based in Sogod town, which will be their partner in undertaking pilot technology demonstration.
DepEd Education Program Supervisor Jaime Leon Cardona disclosed in a phone interview that the education department of the province awarded the different stakeholders categorized in four areas, such as the Education Stakeholders that gave awards to all municipal mayors throughout the (18) municipalities of the province.
The next category was the Organization/Foundation which identified four different institutions, namely; Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) from the municipality of Hinunangan, Samaritan Purse from the municipality of Limasawa, Lyoness Foundation from Macrohon town, and Let’s Share TV, a non-government organization that gave support to the town of Limasawa.
Other categories include, (7) private individuals identified that are supportive to the education sector such as distribution of instructional materials, scholarship grant, financial assistance in the construction of school buildings, among others,; and the (2) local government units category that awarded the Barangay Council of Ichon, Macrohon and Katipunan, Silago, the source added.
Cardona disclosed that a Plaque of Appreciation was given to the awardees led by DepEd Division Superintendent Dr. Violeta Alocilja assisted by Asst. Division Superintendents Dr. Arturo Isip and Dr. Jocelyn Solana.
The source further said that the “Pasidungog” activity acknowledged the benevolent support of the awardees to the different projects of the education department and was presented by songs and other presentations from the academic and non-teaching staff of the division.
Gov. Damian G. Mercado delivered an inspirational message in behalf of the provincial government, while ABC Provincial Federation President Nikko Mercado who represented Cong. Roger G. Mercado also gave his message, Cardona bared.
Meanwhile, an oath taking ceremony for the elected officials of the Parents-Teachers Association was also one of the activities during the “Pasidungog” day. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==Protecting the forest is Leyte boxer's toughest fight==
“We prioritize the one hectare in Padre Burgos because it is where depleted coral reefs can be found. There are also nearby resort owners who are willing to sustain the project. The undertaking is to show how the private sector can implement coral reef reforestation,” Esperancilla said.
The project aims to promote science-based coral reef management practices through public-private sector partnership, establish technology pilot demonstration sites for coral nurseries to produce 30,000 coral nubbins, and establish one hectare of reef in Padre Burgos.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte - Against the advice of his parents, Mark Cadabos gave up farming and left his hometown in Southern Leyte at the tender age of 12 to pursue a boxing career in Manila in 2001.
The science department is eyeing to complete the project on March 14, 2013.
Fortunately for the young boy, he landed a spot and came under the tutelage of professional boxers at the Tiger City Boxing Stable in Mandaluyong City. For almost a decade, everything went as Cadabos had planned, until news of his father's death forced him to return here, to their small farming village of Lunas in the provincial capital of Maasin City.
“To make sure that corals will grow, we need the help of the private sector to maintain this, especially that damaging starfish are infesting the area,” he said.
With their breadwinner gone, Cadabos - now 22 years old - was left with the responsibility of attending to the needs of their family. He still occasionally fights in local matches in the province, but he never expected he would end up turning to the very practice he abandoned a decade ago for income: forest farming.
Population outbreak of damaging crown-of-thorns starfish was spotted in 74 hectares of coral reefs in Southern Leyte with a population density of up to 420 pieces per square meter, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Cadabos is one of the more than 100 forest farmers belonging to a local people's organization, the Youth Innovators for Social and Environmental Development Association (YISEDA), which is protecting the Nacolod Mountain Range, locally called the "San Francisco Nature's Park."
Of the 74 hectares infested, 60 hectares are in the municipality of Padre Burgos, nine hectares in Maasin City and five hectares in Macrohon town.
No different from his exhausting boxing schedule in Manila, Cadabos starts each day by trekking to the foot of the 1,900-foot high mountain as early as 7 a.m. Six days a week, he brandishes a machete and lugs a hand-woven basket containing seedlings on his back as he makes a calculated ascent. He negotiates the slippery slopes, leaps over treacherous ravines, avoids sharp rocks, and endures bee stings in order to cultivate sections of arable land and plant seedlings in denuded areas.
Crown-of-thorns starfish climbs over the corals, releases digestive enzymes to break down its food, and then absorbs the coral polyp, leaving only coral skeleton.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has awarded their group some 400 hectares of forest land to protect for 25 years, with technical assistance from the government and funding from local governments and the German development agency Deutsche Gesellshaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Other than the toxic starfish, the DOST believed that coral reefs in Southern Leyte are damaged by a variety of human activities such as household sewage, industrial wastage and agricultural chemicals from land that are washed off to the sea.
The project aims to institute effective sustainable forest management in the mountain range, warding off illegal loggers and kaingin farmers while restoring the forest land with a variety of trees like Lauan, Acacia, and Sagimsiman.
Dangerous fishing methods such as blast and dynamite fishing also contributed to coral reef destruction.
In a 2006 report, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said the Philippines lost around 157,000 hectares of forest annually from 2000 to 2005. Until last year, the country was still losing forests at the rate of 150,000 hectares per year, according to Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss of the GIZ.
Coral reef reforestation will also be implemented in provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Zambales, Batangas, Masbate, Aklan, Bohol, and Tawi-Tawi.
In exchange for protecting the forest, the farmers gain the right to harvest trees while planting new seedlings in their place, in specially designated plantation areas on the slopes of the mountain range. At the same time, YISEDA members are taught proper agro-forestry, planting fruit-bearing trees, vegetables, and root crops that provide them with a steady source of income.
Also, Cadabos' community contributes in a huge way to easing the greenhouse effect that warms the planet through a global strategy known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation-plus (REDD+).
Boxing takes a backseat
Cadabos was planting seedlings near a mountain peak when our group of journalists from Manila visited the project site one rainy Thursday morning. He volunteered to assist us as we made the steep descent from the mountain.
He candidly told GMA News Online that he still intends to return to Manila to revive his abandoned boxing dream in the future. "Labing-pitong panalo [17 wins]," he says when asked about his career, "at apat na talo [And four losses]."
Referring to the famous boxing venue of most of his idol Manny Pacquiao's matches, he confesses, “Sana dumating din ang araw na ako naman ang lalaban sa Las Vegas." [I hope someday I can also fight in Las Vegas]
But that dream is still far away, Cadabos admits. For now, he is focusing his attention to the needs of the mountains surrounding their small village.
On this particular day, he is potting prepared seedlings to meet his group's daily quota of 10,000 seedlings. Their target is to pot a total of 120,000 plants in two weeks' time, all for the meager allowance of P120 a day or a total of only P1,440 for the entire endeavor.
"Okay lang kahit mahirap, kami din naman makikinabang niyan kapag tumagal [It doesn't matter if this job requires hard labor because villagers here like me are the ones who will benefit from this anyway when the time comes]," he says.
After ensuring that all the visitors have safely made their way down, the young boxer-farmer politely asks if we didn't mind him going back up the mountain to return to his farming duties. Cadabos gives a small nod to the journalists, turns around, and disappears behind the trees.
==Environmental office bares municipalities with highest collection of deadly starfish==
Back in the mountain, he will face another of his life’s battles which, despite being the toughest for him, he also finds the most rewarding. In this battle, unlike in his boxing stints, there are no tallies for wins and losses. There is only victory.
==Col Ruperto Kangleon's daughter recounts family ordeal during WW II==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Apr 16 (PIA) -- The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) has been continuously extracting the crown-of-thorns starfish throughout Southern Leyte since it reportedly increased in number, particularly in the waters of Sogod Bay and in Maasin City.
In a mitigation report by Coastal Fisheries Resources and Management Office Provincial Head Eva Abad the municipality with the highest COTS extracted was Padre Burgos with 80,145, followed by Maasin City that extracted around 34,000 and in Limasawa with 25,461 by the end of March 2012.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 18 (PIA) -- Being a member of the family of highest guerilla leader in Leyte, the 81-year old daugther of then WW II Col. Ruperto Kangleon recounts how their family suffered the ordeal of escaping from the grips of Japanese army wanting to hostage the immediate family of Kangleon during the second world war.
Abad added that other municipalities which conducted COTS extraction include Macrohon with 3,000 deadly starfish collected; Tomas Oppus – 2,192; Malitbog – 23,565; Lilioan – 1,056; San Francisco – 1,143; Pintuyan – 1,054; Hinundayan – 356; Hinunangan – 863; Bontoc – 18; Libagon – 10; and Sogod with only one reported.
The fifth child of the ten siblings of then Col Kangleon, Sister Lourdes Tagle Kangleon disclosed that for at least seven narrow escape sometimes in barefoot to different places like Barili and Carcar both in Cebu City, Jetafe in Bohol, Malitbog, Hinundayan, Libagon, Sogod and St. Bernard for almost four years in hiding away from their father, who fought against the enemy of the state during the weekly kapihan segment of the “Action Center” cable tv program at the Senior Citizen’s Building in Maasin City this morning.
Sister Kangleon, a medical doctor by profession who graduated at UST Medical School and took her post graduate studies in U.S. in 1956, is connected to the Medical Mission Sisters – International Religious Congregation of Women.
She recounted in one of their escape route to a three – hour walk to the deep jungle of Libagon, wherein she, her mother and youngest daughter Cecilia were not able to join her other three brothers and older sister, Corazon escape , because she was very sick.
And to their fear, her brothers and sister Corazon were caught by the Japanese soldiers, however, failed to use them as a leverage for their father to surrender, Kangleon recounted.
She recalled their father replied to the Japanese soldiers that he would not surrender and leave the fate of his four children at the hands of God. The four of children were brought to Tacloban City to join with the rest of people who were in prisoned by the Japanese soldiers.
The younger Kangleon remembered how their survived without food most of the time as they are enroute of their escapes, some times they scratch for rootcrops different places, pressed their throats to appease hunger, among other sufferings because they were the target of the Japanese soldiers being the family of the leader of the guerillas.
After the war, she was grateful that all of the members of the family were all reunited.
She noted that the driving force of her father to be strong and dedicated to defend the nation is his love for the country.
The late Col. Ruperto Kangleon later became the Secretary of the National Defense during the administration of then President Carlos Garcia and a senator of the third congress of the Republic of the Philippines.### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
Crown-of-thorns starfish are locally known of dap-marine invertebrates that feed on corals which are marine sanctuaries and kills corals.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=59647
*Monday, October 17, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
In the mitigation report, Abad informed that there were municipalities in the province not included in the COTS outbreak such as San Ricardo, St. Bernard, San Juan, and Anahawan.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 17 (PIA) -– The Province of Southern Leyte through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) will observe the annual Fisheries Conservation Week celebration on October 18-20, 2011.
The total crown-of-thorns starfish extracted as of April 2012 numbered 170,165 pieces, initiated by the provincial government with the assistance of volunteers throughout the province, Abad disclosed. “This does not include the different Dive Shop Divers collection,” she said.
The whole celebration will highlight activities such as the Mangrove Forum and Greenbelt Appreciation Trip, the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Forum and Awarding of Financial Assistance to 22 MPAs and the Launching of 2012 Search for the Champions of the Seas and MPA Appreciation Trip.
Coastal Fisheries Resources Management Unit Officer Eva Abad reported in a phone interview this afternoon, Monday, that the Mangroove foum whill be held in the morning of Oct 18 at Casa Ampil here to be participated by MPA beneficiaries,among other participants and project visits will proceed in the afternoon of the same day at Barangay Manhilo, Maasin City and Molopolo of Macrohon, this province, two of the marine protected areas here.
While, the awarding of financial assiatance for the MPAs will be conducted on the second day, October 19 at Casa Ampil, Maasin City,”this is the second batch of MPAs -beneficiaries that will be given financial assistance, the first batch was awarded last July, 2011 yet,” Abad bared.
“For the second batch, a total of 22 Marine Protected Areas were identified throughout the province, with P10,000 as cash assistance to be given per site, a total of P220,000 was allotted for the said purpose,” Abad reported.
On the third day, the delegates will visit San Pablo Island, at the municipality of Hinunangan and will conduct an MPA Pride Campaign, the source added.
This year’s theme is dubbed as ”Fishery resource conservation in the context of global needs for food, security and safety.” (rgc/PIA-Soleyte)
==DOLE 8 conducts orientation on security agencies, hiring companies==
The local government units concerned has been coordinating with different agencies including non-government organizations to assist in the COTS outbreak and how to mitigate its existence, such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), the GIZ, Provincial and Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, among other concerned agencies.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=59428
*Sunday, October 16, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
“We are proposing the production of IEC materials such as pamphlets and posters for public awareness which is now designed by PENRMO staff,” Abad said while other activities are properly coordinated with the other agencies. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 16 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its provincial office here held an orientation on the basic rights and benefits of security guards.
==11 Eastern Visayas LGUs yet to comply with policy on disclosure==
The orientation was held at Casa Ampil on Saturday attended by security agencies in the city and province together with the business entities which hired such agencies, said Fe Norma Valuis, provincial Field Officer of DOLE.
It was learned that when conflicts arise as to who will pay the benefits of the the security guards, the common situation was that both the agencies and the ones who hired them, were poiting at each other.
*10:08 pm | Sunday, April 15th, 2012
But the law on sub-contracting provided that when a security agency fail to pay their obligations to their personnel, the principals are obliged to pay for whatever is due, said Valuis in a press conference at the DOLE provincial office with Regional Director Forter Poguon.
:by Joey Gabieta
Valuis said many security guards came to her office seeking assistance on matters that should have been settled either by the agency concerned or both the agency and the principal.
Inquirer Visayas
Based on the principle that ignorance of the law excuses no one, these principals should have been hailed to judicial processes sooner than later for whatever shortcomings committed or omitted on the agency-principal relationship.
But Valuis quoted Director Poguon as saying it would be better to educate them first on an orientation proceeding before applying the law so they will no longer have any alibi.
For his part, Poguon cited a very specific case that happened in the province several years ago involving some 25 security guards under a security agency who failed to pay the right amount of salaries.
Upon investigation, it was found out that the security personnel’s claim was right, and it was also determined that the principal failed to pay a sizeable fraction of the unpaid amount to the agency.
In the end, close to P 1 million pesos was duly paid both by the principal and the agency after a due process deliberation undertaken by DOLE 8, Pugoun said. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==DTI intensifies bamboo production in Southern Leyte==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=59224
*Friday, October 14, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
TACLOBAN CITY—Only 11 of the over 140 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have yet to comply with the national government’s policy on full disclosure of financial transactions, according to a Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) official.
Pedro Noval Jr., DILG Eastern Visayas director, said the 11 LGUs were only missing one or two documents mandated to be posted under the full disclosure policy being implemented by the department.
These LGUs were Pintuyan in Southern Leyte; Lapinig in Northern Samar; and the towns of Almagro, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Matuginao, Motiong, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan and Zumarraga, all in Samar province.
Eastern Visayas has about 149 LGUs constituting provinces, cities and municipalities. This means that 138 LGUs across the region have fully complied with the policy.
The full disclosure policy program requires LGUs to post several documents, including their budgets and finances, and bids and public offerings in government websites, newspapers of general circulation and in other conspicuous and appropriate places.
Full disclosure
Based on the provisions of Republic Act No. 10147, or the General Appropriations Act of 2011, adherence to the full disclosure policy is now compulsory.
Local governments without a website should also post the required information on the website of the DILG regional office concerned on www.dilg.gov.ph, the website of the DILG central office.
Noval cited the document on items to bid as the most common instrument that the 11 LGUs have not yet posted so they could not be considered as having complied with the full disclosure policy.
He said that based on their explanations, the LGUs said they lacked the time to prepare the said document.
“But I expect within this month that all the 11 LGUs will be able to fully comply with the full disclosure policy,” said Noval who has been monitoring the LGUs’ compliance.
He added that the failure of the LGUs to observe the full disclosure policy could mean the filing of administrative charges.
“(Officials) should be held accountable and responsible with their actions to the people they serve,” Noval said.
Earlier this year, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered the DILG field offices to send “show cause” orders to the executives of the LGUs concerned to explain or face sanctions for noncompliance with the provisions of the 2011 General Appropriations Act.
The full disclosure of financial transactions aims to minimize, if not totally, eradicate corruption and misuse of public funds.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Oct 14 (PIA) -– In order to support and develop the bamboo production in the province of Southern Leyte, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently conducted basic skills training on Processed Bamboo Products under the project Sustainable Development of Southern Leyte Employees Multi –Purpose Cooperative- Bamboo (SLEMBOO).
==Military vows to keep Visayas insurgent-free==
Trade and Industry Development Specialist Sandra Alcober said Friday the SLEMBOO project of the Southern Leyte Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. now focused on increasing the volume of production, improved quality of bamboo products, capacity development of human resources and increased, well-organized nodes.
“After the project’s implementation, for the last quarter of 2010, an increased awareness of bamboo products which resulted to its growing demand,” Alcober said, adding that there’s a need for an additional source of bamboo raw materials and workers in order to cope up with the said demands and will also serve as a buffer for future demands.
*April 13, 2012 07:25:50 PM
Alcober said the skills training conducted to the participants was aimed to open another outlet that will supply the bamboo raw materials and labor needs of SLEMBOO through imparting the skills on how to harvest bamboo products, cutting, cleaning, flattening and bamboo chips making.
:by Sarwell Q. Meniano
DTI-Southern Leyte headed by DTI Provincial Dir. Micahel Nuñez encouraged the prospect-producers to “sharpen their skills they learned from the training through continuous production.”
The idea of barangay entrepreneurship is also a gesture of the local government of supporting the project through serving as a middleman such as in the allocation of funds for labor payment and the purchase of equipment and in turn selling the output of its people to SLEMBOO, the source said.
The skills training targeted Barangay Libhu, this city in addition to the treatment plant in Barangay Sto. Niño in the municipality of Macrohon and the display center at Barangay Ibarra here, where different bamboo products can be seen such as luber, sheets furniture and designed chips, among other bamboo finished products. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==DepEd-SoLeyte joins Global Handwashing Day this October==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=58968
*Thursday, October 13, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE -- A military official vowed to block rebels’ efforts to retake insurgent-free Visayas provinces as they shift their thrust to implementation of development projects from counter-insurgency efforts.
Col. John S. Bonafos, commander of 802nd brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Downes, Ormoc City, said they are stepping up efforts to coordinate with local government units and other government agencies in undertaking development projects. "We will continue our support operations particularly in the development aspects needed by people. After we have attained peace, we will move to development phase like construction of classrooms, road repair and road widening," Mr. Bonafos told BusinessWorld.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 13 (PIA) -– “Handwashing with soap is the most effective and cheapest way to prevent diseases,” Department of Education (DepEd) Supervising Nurse Teresita Marquez disclosed in an interview with PIA-Maasin, Tuesday.
The brigade covers the insurgent-free provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran. It is the only Philippine Army headquarters in the entire country with all covered areas officially declared as rebel-cleared.
Marquez said that October 15 is set as the Global Handwashing Day, but since it falls on Sunday, “DepEd Southern Leyte Division will conduct the Global Handwashing Day on Monday, Oct 17 at Bolod-Bolod Elemntary School, Barangay Bolod-Bolod, Saint Bernard, this province.”
The said activity which is relative to Essential Health Care Package program of the education department will be participated by different stakeholders such as the local government units, the Parents-Teachers Association officials, school principals, head teachers, among other division teachers and DepEd health personnel throughout Southern Leyte Division.
“While the other school districts throughout the (18) municipalities of the province will have a synchronized activity at their own level,” Marquez bared. This will be led by the school’s principal, she added.
Proper handwashing has been echoing and reinforcing the call for improved hygiene practices not only here in the country but worldwide. Global Handwashing Day will be the centerpiece of activities that will mobilize millions of people across five continents to wash their hands with soap.
As of school year 2011-2012, Southern Leyte Schools Division has a total enrolment of 53,933 for the elementary and Kindergaten departments, Marquez disclosed during the Provincial Nutrition Planning with the Technical Working Group held at Supercha Restaurant in Maasin City. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==Maasin City distributes relief goods to 300 evacuees==
Among the five provinces, Biliran was the first to gain the insurgent-free status as jointly declared by the army and local government unit in December 2008. Cebu and Bohol were declared free of rebel activities in March 2010 while Southern Leyte and Leyte attained the same status in September 2011 and December 2011, respectively.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=58853
*Wednesday, October 12, 2011
:by ES Gorne
"The situation of these Visayas provinces exemplifies that we can attain the insurgent-free status through multi-stakeholders participation," Mr. Bonafos said.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 12 (PIA) -- Despite the weakening of Typhoon “Ramon” to a tropical depression early this morning, Maasin City Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) distributed relief goods since last night until this morning to 300 evacuees who fled to different barangays at the height of typhoon “Ramon”.
For insurgent-free areas, the military turned over the lead role in maintaining the internal security to its local executives and police.
According to MSWDO Febe Maria Sta.Cruz, the hundreds of evacuees coming from Barangays Combado, Manhilo, Canturing, Mambajao, Asuncion and Tagnipa, all of Maasin City, voluntarily evacuated to respective barangay halls, DOTC office in Barangay Combado last night at the height of the typhoon.
It was further reported that one house owned by one of the evacuees due to the rising creek in Barangay Combado was also hit by a fallen tree that almost cut the house totally.
Most of the evacuees were threatened with the rising waters along the river banks of Canturing River and spelling over to Barangay Mambajao also, more swelling creeks in Barangays Tagnipa, Manhilo and Combado and fear of storm surge in Barangay Asuncion, Sta. Cruz added.
The each relief good distributed to the evacuees found at the evacuation centers consists of rice, noodles, canned goods, among others, she said.
Earlier today, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco cancelled its earlier instruction to suspend the government officers operations, however, due to the development of the weakening to tropical depression Ramon, government works resumed this afternoon.
Meanwhile, DPWH– Southern Leyte reported that the earlier reported landslide in Daang Maharlika – Sogod road network particularly in Pancho Villa section is now passable to heavy traffic after the removal of the landslide materials due to typhoon Ramon. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==PPMT to launch 11 support projects for Silago –Agrarian Reform Communities==
A province is categorized as insurgency-free when the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem.
SILAGO, Southern Leyte, Oct 11 (PIA) -- The Provincial Project Management Team (PPMT) held a meeting together with the Municipal Mayor Manuel Labrador to finalize plans on the launching of projects for the Silago-Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) under the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III (ARISP III).
The Silago-ARC is composed of two (2) barangays, namely: Katipunan and Hingatungan. The projects scheduled to be launched for the Silago-ARC, Department of Agrarian Reform – Southern Leyte Public Information Officer Marilyn l. Capilitan disclosed to PIA Southern Leyte.
Capilitan said the following support projects includes for physical infrastructure such as Hingatungan -Communal Irrigation System (CIS) with Extension; Gumamela – Infres Farm to Market Road (FMR); Lawaan – Infres FMR; Kaabon – Intake FMR; Hingatungan Potable Water Supply (PWS) System; Post-Harvest Facility.
She further said that other support projects for the institutional development consist of cooperative development; irrigation development; potable water supply development while for agriculture and agribusiness development also contains rice enhancement, vegetable production and marketing and swine fattening.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 12 (PIA) -- The Office of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)-8 through its Regional Director German Palayab signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Southern Leyte Governor Damian G. Mercado to bring their services closer to Southern Leyteños.
The total cost of the aforementioned projects is Php 50,545,138.03 wherein most of this will go to the Infrastructure Sub-Projects, she added.
The launching which is set on October 12, 2011 at Brgy. Hingatungan here, will not only be attended by the officials and coop members of Silago-ARC, it will also be graced by no less than Congressman Roger C. Mercado, the Provincial Governor of Southern Leyte Damian G. Mercado, and other Provincial Board Members, Capilitan said.
She said the DAR-Provincial Project Management Office (DAR-PPMO) headed by PARO Venerio A. Yap as the Project Manager together with the other members of the PPMT which are the NIA, DPWH and LGU-Silago will witness the launching of the said projects. It is also expected that the DAR Regional Director Engr. Eliasem Castillo, who is at the same time the Project Manager of the DAR-Regional Project Management Office (DAR-RPMO), will be present during the launching to represent the DAR-Central Project Management Office (DAR-CPMO).
She added that on the same day and place, a Harvest Festival will also be held wherein vegetable products of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and other People’s Organizations (POs) will be displayed.
The Local Government Unit (LGU) here who hosted the PPMT meeting, will also host the said launching, Capilitan said. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==DILG- Maasin campaigns for PPUR in barangay assemblies==
The MOA signing was held at the governor’s office here this morning, April 11.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=58365
*Monday, October 10, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
“Both parties need to gain strength and joint benefits from its creative cooperation and collaboration towards extending frontline services such as 'one-stop shop' to be set up by the local government unit in order to serve the public more efficiently," the MOA stated.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 10 (PIA) -- The nationwide, synchronized barangay assembly held in most of the 70 barangays here on Sunday served as an opportune occasion for the city office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to strongly push for a text or online vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) to be included in the list of new 7 wonders of nature.
Director Palayab disclosed that the office will open as soon as the assigned staff from the local government will be trained. “An office staff will be trained for two days,” the director said, referring to one of the counterparts of the provincial government, an office staff in addition to the office space, among other supports to PRC.
“If we vote for Maasinhon Trio, which is up to this day only, for the honor and pride of our city and Southern Leyte, I might as well appeal on all of you here to vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the new seven wonders of the world, for this will be the pride and honor for our country,” said Elsa Tingcoy, City DILG Officer, at the Tagnipa gym barangay assembly attended by Tagnipanians led by Punong Barangay Felix Verano.
She was referring to the three local singers -- Andrew Sanchez, Lecenio Lolo, and Bonnie Salubre -- who were semi-finalists in a talent search of a popular television network, and they did make it to the finals, courtesy of a strong text vote after last night’s final vote tally, where they gained 52% of the total votes cast.
Early on, shortly before her pitch on the PPUR, Tingcoy explained the rationale behind the holding of a barangay assembly, a yearly activity every October to mark the passage of the Local Government Code which was passed on October 10, 1991, so today is the 20th anniversary of this law that grants autonomy to the many local villages across the country.
The week in which the date October 10 will fall will also be the Local Government week, in which LGUs were advised to hold social-sports activities -- for Maasin City this coincided with the celebration of Employees’ Week -- and the whole month of October is Local Government Month, Tingcoy said.
This year’s commemoration of the local autonomy became more significant as the nation was challenged to bond together so the famous underground river in Palawan can be known as among the new 7 wonders of nature, Tingcoy stressed, adding that this was also in consonance with the directive from DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and President Benigno Aquino III himself, who signed Proclamation No. 182 for this purpose.
The Philippines is known as the texting capital of the world, and it would be a big opportunity loss if the country cannot harness this texting power for the PPUR, Tingcoy said as a challenge to the barangay folks.
In a brief chat with PIA after her talk, Tingcoy said she had already rounded several barangays along the highway, especially those with full cell signals, speaking the same message, and she expected to collect and collate the votes sent until the end of the month.
Voting will be until November 11, 2011, it was learned. According to the 7 wonders website each SMS sent counts as one vote, and it can be easily done by sending PPUR to 2861 for all Globe and Smart subscribers.
Located 50 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, the underground river features a limestone karst mountain with an 8.2 km navigable water that winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea or the Philippine Sea, the website reported. (PIA-Southern Leyte/Bong)
==Maasin willing to donate lot for new city jail, says BJMP==
PRC’s service commitment to the said agreement would bring services closer to the constituents of Southern Leyte by extending its window services at the provincial capitol, and conducting “PRC on wheels” whenever requested in order to renew PRC professional IDs, issuance of certifications, authentications, and accept applications for PRC licensure examinations.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=58170
*Saturday, October 08, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
The source added that PRC will also conduct briefings on PRC services and Licensure Examinations upon request from the provincial government, manage the day-to-day operations of the PRC Service Kiosk at the local level, among other service commitments.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 8 (PIA) -- The city local government unit is willing to give a portion of a reclaimed lot within city to be used as the site for a new city jail.
On the other hand, the provincial government likewise will extend assistance to PRC, such as to cooperate with the PRC desk officer to ensure that only qualified and licensed professionals are employed at positions in the municipalities that require such qualifications, cooperate with the PRC for the protection of the public by raising awareness among professionals in government service.
This was learned from Eleuterio Ortiz, Provincial Head and concurrent City Warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) at the weekly “Media Forum” Wednesday at dyDM. Ortiz quoted City Mayor Maloney Samaco as saying the new prison facility can be located at the reclamation area in barangay Combado, this city.
The new structure will be a two-storey building, but details on specific area or how much would be the cost-sharing between the BJMP and the city government for the project are still to be discussed.
Ortiz earlier disclosed a resolution passed by the city council that called for the relocation of the city jail in barangay Bactul, a far-flung, interior barangay more than 15 kilometers from the city proper.
He said he lobbied for reconsideration of the planned Bactul site, citing as reason its location which could pose as an invitation for enemies of state to rescue one of their own, if ever.
The present city jail at the old municipal building in the heart of the city has been cramped and crowded, with its present population of 58 inmates, including one lady, in a jail capacity of only 30 prisoners, Ortiz said, adding that the edifice itself was already dilapidated and needed major repairs.
This building will be re-invented and be transformed into a museum once the jail occupants can be transferred to the new location, Ortiz added. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==OWWA-8 announces winners of 2011 Model OFW Family of the Year awards==
The MOA signing was witnessed by Vice Governor Mike Maamo, Sangguniang Panlalwigan Member Romeo Gomez, Provincial Administrator Crispin Arong, Jr., College of Maasin President Miguel Udtohan, and media personnel from Southern Leyte Balita and PIA-Maasin. (LDL/RGC-PIA 8 Southern Leyte)
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Oct 7 (PIA) -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) based in Tacloban City named the two winners for the search of 2011 Model OFW Family of the Year after a two-week regional screening and validating the eigth nominees throughout Eastern Visayas Region.
OWWA Labor Communications Officer Florence D. Panao reported that the search was categorized into two, the sea-based category which was won by Capt. Teddy V. Abrea from Almeria, Biliran and the land-based category that was awarded to Engr. Cesario G. de Dios, Jr. from Ormoc City.
The winners garnered the highest scores, topping the pre-screening and screening periods, Panao disclosed. They were ranked according to the following criteria: 50% wholesome OFW family image with indicators that include constancy of positive communication, sharing of responsibilities among family members and psychosocial maturity of children.
While, another 20% for civic and community involvement of OFW and family members which may take the form of involvement in advocacies and successful community projects, membership in civic organizations, and special commendation to family members; 20% success of family members’ education that indicates family members’ completed education and special citations received; and10% success in managing family finances that ranges from business to savings and investment.
Both winners are now successful in their own fields, the source added. They received plaques of recognition during the awarding ceremony held at Patio Victoria, Baluarte in San Jose , Tacloban City, October 5, 2011 and was awarded a G-cash amounting to P20,000 and a BDO Savings Account with initial deposit of P5,000.
Panao further said that a plaque of recognition was also given to the other nominees – Panfilo Abanilla, Nilo Cabantac, Jose Genson, Romeo Navidad, Jaime Orzales, and Jaime Sapeda for their contribution to the upliftment of the OFW Family image.
She added that the 2011 MOFYA on its 7th year was aimed at “giving proper recognition to the outstanding achievements of OFWs and their families; promoting success stories about the OFW families’ endurance over the challenges of overseas employment and highlighting the role of the OFW family in the attainment of socio-civic, educational, professional and material success.” (rgc/PIa-SoLeyte)
==Limasawa garners Nutrition Honor Award, a first in Region 8==
LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte – Mothers in this island town are not left alone in ensuring that children are well-nourished with fathers equipped with knowledge on good nutrition and proper breastfeeding.
The “Tatay Ko, Kaagapay sa Kalusogan Ko” campaign was launched three years ago by the local government, which regularly gathers all fathers in the island and orients them on their role to improve or maintain the nutritional status of children.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 6 (PIA) -- For consistently getting recognized in its nutrition program for the past six consecutive years, the historic island-municipality of Limasawa, this province, shines once again for the Nutrition Honor Award (NHA), the first local government unit (LGU) in Region 8 to reap such distinction, according to Nilda Rich, the Assistant Provincial Nutrition Action Officer.
Jesrel Tiongco, a community health team member, said while men in other places usually make jokes on breastfeeding-related topics, fathers here are taking the support role seriously.
In a phone interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Tuesday, Rich said Limasawa was a Green Banner Awardee for nutrition in the years 2005, 2006, and 2007, while for the next three years, from 2008, 2009, and 2010, the LGU garnered the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner in Nutrition (CROWN) award.
This year’s nutrition performance evaluation, which was based in the 2010 assessment, Limasawa made history again for landing in the top spot, this time the NHA, and for this outstanding effort it stands to receive P 500,000.00 from the National Nutrition Council (NNC), an agency under the Department of Health (DOH), Rich informed.
Awarding ceremony was slated to be held on October 25, 2011, in Manila, it was learned.
Rich cited a decreasing trend of malnourished population in Limasawa, attributing this to the many nutrition-oriented activities initiated or supported by Mayor Melchor Petracorta.
Among the many nutrition-based activities, she noted a constant monitoring of children in great dangers to be malnourished, and before getting into the borderline, these target children will be the focus of Limasawa’s concentrated feeding program.
Meanwhile, Maasin City will also be a CROWN awardee for its nutrition program during the October 25 awarding rites, with P 250,000.00 cash incentive, said Dr. Francilisa Tan, Head of City Health Unit I.
The members of the City Nutrition Committee, along with Mayor Maloney Samaco, will be the ones to receive the citation and the financial reward, said Dr. Tan. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==BSP Southern Leyte Council marks 50th council anniversary==
“We gather in barangay health center every quarter and discuss how fathers can support lactating women. We ensure exclusive breastfeeding during first six months of life. We also learn the proper position of breastfeeding so that we can help our wives,” said Tiongco, a father of a three-year-old child.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=57696
*Wednesday, October 05, 2011
:by ES Gorne
Remegilda Salomon, municipal nutrition action officer, said during a gathering with fathers, local nutrition workers gave updates on good nutrition and responsible parenthood aside from breastfeeding promotion.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 5 (PIA) -- The Boy Scout Philippines (BSP) – Southern Leyte Council is in the height of preparations as they will host the Golden Jubilee Jamborette at Camp Danao in Maasin City on October 24-30, 2011 to mark the 50th council anniversary celebration.
“As practiced in Limasawa, the mother and the father jointly monitor the nutritional status of their children,” Salomon said.
In time with the golden anniversary celebration of the BSP - Southern Leyte Council, the provincial council will initiate for the conduct of a jamborette in the province, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, who is also the BSP – Southern Leyte Council Chairman, reported during the “Maasin City In Action” radio program, Tuesday at the DyDM radio station.
Samaco reported that at least 1,000 senior boy scouts, cub scouts delegates coming from the different municipalities in the province and other councils, who were also invited, were expected to join the provincial jamborette.
He also disclosed that another scouting activity which is the holding of a National Rovermoot in Davao City this year shall be conducted at the same period. He intends to send a lean delegation to the said scouting activity due to its conflict.
Last year, the provincial council hosted for the conduct of 7th National Rovermoot and the First One Visayas Regional Jamboree in Camp Danao, Maasin City.
Meanwhile, the first provincial Kawan holiday, another three- day scouting activity intended for the cubs scout with ages ranging from 6 – 10 years old was successfully conducted at Malapoc Norte Elementary School, Council Clerk Carl Carrayo reported to PIA Maasin.
Carroyo also disclosed that last Monday, October 5, selected boy scouts has started to hold one-day offices at the provincial and city offices from the office of the City Mayor and the different department heads as one of the activities of the boy scout in the province.### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==Tree planting activities in Maasin City enlists 600 planters==
In 2010, almost all the men in the municipality together with all municipal and barangay officials had undergone the training on Infant and Young Child Feeding and the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=57502
*Tuesday, October 04, 2011
:by ES Gorne
In most areas in the region, these advocacies are centered on health and nutrition workers and mothers.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 4 (PIA) -- At least, two more National Greening Program (NGP) sites identified in Maasin City were planted with seedlings jointly by selected national high school students, barangay officials and some members of the Knights of Columbus last Saturday, October 1. Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Community Environment and Natural Resourses Office (CENRO), two different planting activities were held. Rene Soria, CENR focal person, said an ongoing tree planting in one of the NGP site identified in Sitio Magtuasi, Ibarra which covers eight hectares was started by at least 400 fourth year high school students coming from the following schools in the city: Maasin Vocational High School, Libhu National High School, Guadalupe National High School and Ibarra National High School While in the Barangay Laboon planting site, at least 200 students coming from Nonok National High School and Dongon National High School, barangay officials and members of the Knights of Columbus joined the event, Soria added. Earlier, Soria said that the NGP sites in Sitio Canlugok, Lunas with 80 hectares and Barangay Kahupi-an, Sogod with 85 hectares were planted completely with 500 seedlings per hectare.. He also expressed appreciation to the transportation assistance of the Department of Public Works and Highways in bringing the students to the designated NGP sites on Saturdays. He also disclosed that their office only allowed the fourth year high school students in the tree planting since the NGP sites were located at high mountains which posed danger to younger students. Those younger ones were tapped to plant trees in the school premises, barangay plazas, safe river banks with the direct supervision of their respective teachers, he said.### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
In this town, stores don’t sell infant formula since all mothers are exclusively feeding their babies with breast milk from birth to six months and provide nutritious complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years.
==SoLeyte propagates parasitoid to combat brontispa infestation in 6 towns - PCA==
Limasawa’s performance in terms of breastfeeding is remarkable compared to the national figure, Salomon said.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=57229
*Monday, October 03, 2011
:by ES Gorne
The 7th National Nutrition Survey revealed that among infants 0-5 months old, only 36 out of every 100 were exclusively breastfed; only 37 of every 100 were breastfed at the same time given a complementary food and as many as 27 out of every 100 infants were given other milk and other foods.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 3 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Southern Leyte Provincial Office now undertakes the propagation of parasitoids to combat the infestation of brontispa in the six municipalities of the province.
Breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life is deemed crucial since it cuts the risk of chronic diseases and leads to overall better development.
The provincial office has started to gather the pupa of brontispa from the municipality of Bontoc that they can use for the parasitoids to lay their eggs, PCA Provincial Officer Manuel Sembrano disclosed.
Sembrano said their office no longer promote spraying insecticides since it has no effect to curb brontispa infestation but rather affected more municipalities instead.
He earlier reported that brontispa infestation has covered only four municipalities, namely Bontoc, Tomas Oppus, Malitbog and Lilo-an and the city of Maasin, however recently, their office has monitored that the municipality of Sogod is the newest municipality to have been affected by the said coconut disease.
He is optimistic that brontispa could be minimized with the introduction of parasitoids eating the eggs of brontispa that in a cycle of 18 days, one mummified pupa of brontispa could produce 7 to 40 parasitoid adults. That only five mummified pupa of brontispa is needed to clear out brontispa infestation in one hectare of coconut trees.
Sembrano said that parasitoid propagation has been successfully implemented in Vietnam in its struggle against brontispa dilemma among coconut plantations.
He further disclosed that they expect that from six to twelve months after the parasitoids shall be introduced in brontispa infected coconut trees, affected trees will be revived.
Sembrano said that they intend to pilot in Barangay Pamahawan of Bontoc to its three-year old affected brontispa coconut trees since it would be easier for them to monitor of the progress of the parasitoid. ### (PIA Southern Leyte/esg)
==DENR completes planting of 82,500 seedlings in two Southern Leyte NGP sites==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, September 30 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Provincial Office reported to have completed the planting of seedlings in two enrolled National Greening Program (NGP) sites in Southern Leyte.
According to Rene Soria, the NGP Focal Person, said that Southern Leyte has enrolled 13 NGP sites so far.
Soria added that the national high school students and people’s organizations filled the two NGP sites to total number of 82,500 seedlings planted and completed the same by the middle of September, this year.
Soria said the people’s organization, Young Innovators for Sustainable Environment Association, which is based in Sitio Canlugok, Barangay Lunas together with the fourth year national high school students coming from the Bantid National High School (NHS), Baugo NHS and Dongon NHS, were all able to plant the whole of the eighty (80) hectares to a total of least 40,000 seedlings being planted in at least two Saturdays.
He also reported that another enrolled NGP site in Barangay Kahupi-an, Sogod which covers 85 hectares has been planted with at least 42,500 seedlings already.
Since the enrolled site is very far, the DENR has decided to forego with the participation of the children instead the tree planting were spearheaded by the barangay officials, the people’s organization which is the Kahupi-an Upland Farmer’s Association and the DepEd staff of the concerned national high schools. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==PNP – South Leyte commends police break through vs illegal drugs, wanted persons==
The government will be conducting the Leyte-Mindanao interconnection project study that would establish an integrated grid and allow reserve electricity generation capacity to be shared by the three regional grids — Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=56574
*Thursday, September 29, 2011
:by ES Gorne
The study, which is estimated to cost P90 million, will be undertaken by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for a period of one year and another year for assessment.
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Sept. 29 (PIA) -- The Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office gave letters of commendation to the PNP personnel of Maasin City and Macrohon Police Officers for their accomplishments in enforcing the law against illegal drugs and arrest of wanted persons in their areas of responsibility.
Energy Undersecretary Josephine Patricia Asirit said for the first time, the Aquino administration will implement the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao interconnection grid to assure power stability in the country.
According to Police Chief Inspector Abdulmajid B Jaji, PCR Chief , PSupt. Jacinto Arazo Cesar, Officer In Charge of the Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office and PSupt. Jonathan Penida, Deputy Provincial Director for Operation led in the awarding of their accomplishements last September 26, 2011 at the Camp Gov. Alfredo K. Bantug in Maasin City.
Jaji said commendations were given to PSupt Hector F Enage, Maasin City Chief Of Police and to his personnel SP04 Nicasio F Sunit, P02 Oscar D Dullasin Jr, P02 Dominico G Petere and P02 Aldous Dexter M Roa, for the success of their operation against illegal drugs last 15 September 2011 at Barangay Maria Clara, Maasin City.
That the operation resulted to the apprehension of Andrew Maceda Caberte, a known drug pusher in the area and the confiscation of four (4) pcs small sachets containing Methamphetamine Hydrochloride locally known as “shabu,” one (1) pc rolled stick of suspected dried marijuana leaves, cash money amounting to six hundred twenty pesos (P 620.00) and one piece of five hundred peso bill “buy bust” money, Jaji said.
While in Macrohon Police Station, Jaji further disclosed that commendations were also given to PInsp Aljohn Teddy R Llanes, Chief Of Police and to his personnel SP04 Loido D Achacoso, SP04 Raymundo A Almacin III, SPO2 Restituto E Ligtas, SP02 Virgilio M Paloma, PO2 Robert P Villa, P02 Jimmy T Ganosa, for the success of their operation against wanted persons last 09 September 2011 at Barangay Lower Villa Jacinta, Macrohon.
It resulted to the arrest of Alfredo Lolo Mindajao, a long time wanted person for the crime of Homicide docketed under Criminal Case number 1481 issued by the RTC Judge of 8th Judicial Region, Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Branch 24, Maasin City, Jaji added.
He said such accomplishments have proven their strong determination to enforce the law without fear nor favour and compliance with existing orders to arrest law violators in the province of Southern Leyte.(PIA So. Leyte/esg)
==Silago Women’s Group ventures into vegetable production==
At present, Asirit said only the Luzon and Visayas — through the Leyte grid — have interconnectivity. It will only be in this administration that the entire Philippine grid would be interconnected.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=56509
*Wednesday, September 28, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
She cited the current power situation in some parts of Mindanao where it experienced regular brownouts.
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Sep 28 (PIA) – The Katipunan Women’s Association (KWA) from Barangay Katipunan of Silago here ventured into vegetable production as their first project and started planting last August, 2011. They had their first harvest after about three weeks, newly designated Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Information Officer Marilyn L. Capilitan reported to PIA-Maasin.
With the Leyte-Mindanao interconnection in place, Asirit said, the Luzon grid which has 200 MW excess and the Visayas which can also export another 200 MW, power shortage in Mindanao can easily be resolved.
“KWA was formally organized last June, this year with the assistance of DAR through Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer Deonilo H. Malaki and Senior Agrarian Reform Program Technoligst- Development Facilitator Magdalino Tagnipez, both of DAR-Silago,” Capilitan related.
She said that KWA, formerly a women’s group composed of all ages with sixty five (65) members, is now down to forty two (42) as the senior members decided to transfer to the Senior Citizens association. “Mostly women-members are wives of Agrarian Reform Benificiaries of same barangay,” Capilitan added.
The group ageed and voluntarily prepare the area for their vegetable production and planting materials. In twentry five days, the KWA had their first harvest of 19 kilos of cucumber (pipino) last Septemer 23 from the 15-20 cucumber hills out of 1,080 cucumber hills planted on August 29.
Capilitan disclosed that the women’s group are looking forward to make a huge harvest of the planted cucumber by the end of this week and the rest of their planted veggies such as pechay, ampalaya, string beans, tomatoes, okra, pepper and eggplants.
The project, according to Capilitan will not only improve the camaraderie of the women and uplift their livelihood but will also make the association active and productive under the energetic leadership of the group’s President Clarinda Casicas. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==Southern Leyte formally declared insurgent free on September 29==
The Leyte-Mindanao interconnection project was aimed at addressing the power shortage not only in Mindanao but the entire country as well.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=56350
*Tuesday, September 27, 2011
:by PIA Press Release
It includes the installation of about 455-kilometer overhead line and 23-km submarine cable with a maximum depth of around 1,000 meters below sea level.
TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, September 27 (PIA) -- The Province of Southern Leyte will be formally declared as “Insurgent-Free” in simple rites that will be conducted at Ruperto Kangleon Function House in Maasin City on September 29.
The interconnection project was originally designed for 250-kilovolt high-voltage density cable bipolar link with a total transfer capacity of 500 MW to 800 MW.
Captain Dranreb Canto of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade based in Ormoc City, informed that the pronouncement will be formalized with the signing of the joint declaration by the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippines Army commander Major General Mario Chan and Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado.
The 802nd Brigade CRS explained that a province is categorized as insurgency free when the threat posed by the CPP/NPA is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem.
This is what happened to Southern Leyte and the other previously declared insurgency-free areas.
After a thorough security situation assessment, when it is found that the local government can handle the situation, the AFP then hands over the lead-role to the LGU and assumes a support role to the PNP.
On September 29, the guests will be welcomed officially by Vice Governor Miguel Maamo who is also the Vice Chairman of the Southern Leyte Provincial Peace and Order Council.
This will be followed by the narrative on declaring Southern Leyte as insurgent free and the signing of the joint declaration.
Among the special guests in this historical occasion are Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho L. Petillla who is the Chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council, and Lt. General Ralph Villanueva, commander, Central Command of the AFP who aside from Major General Mario Chan, commander of the 8th Infantry Division and Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado, will also deliver their respective messages.
Being declared as insurgent free will boost Southern Leyte’s of becoming a tourism and investment destination as it will enhance confidence among investors and business companies to come to the province. (PIA 8)
==DSWD conducts training for counselling services for rehab of domestic violence perpetrators==
It will start from the existing Ormoc Converter Station in Leyte and terminates at Kirahon Converter station in Northcentral Mindanao via Southern Leyte and Northeastern Mindanao.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=56177
*Monday, September 26, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
The Leyte-Mindanao interconnection is part of the long-term solution to resolve power shortage in the region.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Sep 26 (PIA)-- At least 28 participants throughout Eastern Visayas attended the Training on the Counseling Services for Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (CSRPDV) initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) Field Office 8 at Orcmoc City, September 19-22, 2011.
==DA-EU Program Benefits 40,000 Households==
Fe Nida Sy who was the representative from the City Social Welfare and Development Office here disclosed that the week-long training emphasized the responsibilities of both the victim/survivors and the perpetrators of domestic violence, which is considered as one of the serious problems in the society.
Topics of the said training include Gender Sensitivity, Gender Responsive Case Management, Bayanihan ng Awa at Gawa ni Apo (BAGA), Types of Counseling for the Perpetrators of Domestic Violence, among others, while Lessons from the Masters were also presented by the facilitators from the DSWD, Sy reported.
*April 9, 2012, 4:39pm
“Violence can be stopped and abusive behaviors among perpetrators can be reduced only by providing appropriated interventions to the offenders,” Sy quoted Yvonne Abonales, who was one of the speakers, saying that the importance of community involvement and initiative is responding and reducing the incidence of domestic violence are recognized.
:by PHOEBE JEN INDINO
There were five phases on case management that were discussed such as: initial supportive response, gender-based assessment process, intervention planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and finally, the closure and follow-up which is an integral part of a continuing process to complete the rehabilitation, Sy said.
Other discussants during the training were Lolta B. Dadap, John Caliguid, Thelma F. Banal, Myrna U. Tan, Leilani Jocano, Anabelle Agner, all Municipal Social Welfare Officers who underwent the Trainors’ Training on CSRPDV in Baguio City.
“Success begins in the mind, nurtured in the heart and expressed by the hands,” Sy quoted BAGA resource speaker Thelma Banal. Southern Leyte sent Virgie Caimo to represent the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.(rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==TESDA -8 aims for ISO certification==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=56055
*Sunday, September 25, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 25 (PIA) -- Out of the 16 regions across the country, the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region 8 office, along with Region 3 and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) offices, has been busy these days to comply with the procedures and requirements to attain the ISO 2009-9001 certification.
SILAGO, Southern Leyte– A food security program sponsored by the European Union, Germany-based Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) has benefited over 40,000 poor households in Eastern Visayas.
Rolando Juanillo, TESDA Director of Southern Leyte province, disclosed during the “Action Center” cable TV program Thursday that once their office would become ISO-certified, their services and programs can be delivered more efficiently, such as the processing of registration for technical-vocational skills training providers or for qualified private institutions.
Quality of trainings, quality graduates produced, and institutions strengthened, were just some of the expected impact of having an ISO certification, Juanillo said.
He added that his office right now was undergoing an internal audit as one of the requirements for attaining the ISO goal.
Another positive effect was that those being assessed for specific skills competencies would no longer be delayed in the processing of their applications and in taking the assessment for a national TESDA certificate in an ISO-tagged agency, Juanillo added.
With the TESDA chief as guest during this week’s edition of “Action Center” were two heads of private schools which were providers of TESDA-accredited vocational-technical courses. They were Armado Daque, Vice-President of Hinunangan Skills and Technological Center which opened just last year, and Emelyn Corollo, Executive Training Director at Saint Joseph College (SJC) Vocational Training Center (Voctrac), now on its 8th year of operation since 2003.
Other private learning institutions in the province with TESDA-accredited programs included the College of Maasin, Systems Technology Institute (STI), Southern Leyte Business College (SLBC), St. James College in Padre Burgos, and St. Thomas Aquinas in Sogod.
Meanwhile, Juanillo informed that his office is having an ongoing program, the National Synchronized competency assessment for specific technical-vocational courses, a program that began in August and will last until November this year.
He said in Southern Leyte province, 170 slots were slated for free assessment on a first-come, first-served basis, and at present only 73 slots remained open.
Those interested are advised to coordinate with the TESDA office to file their application before proceeding to the private provider for the competency assessment which, when one shall have passed it, would entitle him or her to have a National Certificate II (NC II), a document employers would usually ask. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==DSWD conducts training for counselling services for rehab of domestic violence perpetrators==
The program, named Enhancement of Food Security in the Visayas (EFOS), which was implemented by the Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zummenarbeit (GIZ), and which ended early this year, was designed to sustainably increase food security, and agricultural, fisheries and forestry productivity in the region, with special focus on Eastern Visayas.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=56177
*Monday, September 26, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
GIZ operates in more than 130 countries worldwide with most of its work commissioned by the BMZ
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Sep 26 (PIA)-- At least 28 participants throughout Eastern Visayas attended the Training on the Counseling Services for Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence (CSRPDV) initiated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) Field Office 8 at Orcmoc City, September 19-22, 2011.
EFOS was comprised of four project components, namely, natural resources governance, infrastructure through cash-for-work, productivity and production enhancement, and crop insurance.
Fe Nida Sy who was the representative from the City Social Welfare and Development Office here disclosed that the week-long training emphasized the responsibilities of both the victim/survivors and the perpetrators of domestic violence, which is considered as one of the serious problems in the society.
Topics of the said training include Gender Sensitivity, Gender Responsive Case Management, Bayanihan ng Awa at Gawa ni Apo (BAGA), Types of Counseling for the Perpetrators of Domestic Violence, among others, while Lessons from the Masters were also presented by the facilitators from the DSWD, Sy reported.
“Violence can be stopped and abusive behaviors among perpetrators can be reduced only by providing appropriated interventions to the offenders,” Sy quoted Yvonne Abonales, who was one of the speakers, saying that the importance of community involvement and initiative is responding and reducing the incidence of domestic violence are recognized.
There were five phases on case management that were discussed such as: initial supportive response, gender-based assessment process, intervention planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and finally, the closure and follow-up which is an integral part of a continuing process to complete the rehabilitation, Sy said.
Other discussants during the training were Lolta B. Dadap, John Caliguid, Thelma F. Banal, Myrna U. Tan, Leilani Jocano, Anabelle Agner, all Municipal Social Welfare Officers who underwent the Trainors’ Training on CSRPDV in Baguio City.
“Success begins in the mind, nurtured in the heart and expressed by the hands,” Sy quoted BAGA resource speaker Thelma Banal. Southern Leyte sent Virgie Caimo to represent the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.(rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
EFOS Senior Adviser Alex Tabada said the program’s cash-for-work covered over 12,000 households in 24 towns, earning some P35 million in wages.
That particular program component paved way for the creation of 62-kilometers of farm-to-market roads and 40 kilometers of upland foot trails including 11.4 kilometers of communal irrigation canals supporting some 933 hectares of ricelands.
==Communities extract 170,000 Crown Of Thorns Starfish in Limasawa, Padre Burgos and Maasin City==
==Senator shares P 9.5 M PDAF for market, abbatoir development in 19 So. Leyte LGUs==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 6 (PIA) -- The bane of corals are finally being decimated. At least 170,000 Crown Of Thorns Starfish (COTS), locally known of dap-marine invertebrates that feed on corals which are marine sanctuaries, and also kill corals, were extracted particularly in Limasawa, Padre Burgos, and Maasin City, all of Southern Leyte in less than 10 days.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=55793
*Friday, September 23, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
“We have found extreme population of COTS particularly in the municipalities of Limasawa and Padre Burgos and the city of Maasin where we estimated the presence of over a thousand COTS in one hectare compared to 12 COTS in normal condition, “ according to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) – Coastal Fisheries Resource Management Office (CFRMO) Chief Eva Abad.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 23 (PIA) -- This city an 18 municipalities of Southern Leyte province received an equal share of financial aid given by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, taken from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
She said that in less than 10 days of synchronized extraction of COTS in the mentioned three different areas, an estimated 170,000 of COTS were partially gathered by the communities including the owners of foreign-operated dive shops in the locality particularly in Padre Burgos.
Each recipients got P 500,000.00 assistance for the development of their respective public markets and abbatoirs, said District Engineer Carlos Veloso of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern Leyte Engineering District (DPWH-SLED), the implementing agency tasked to handle these projects.
The Senator’s total financial assistance on this matter totaled P 9.5 Million, and the money was already available at the DPWH Regional Office, Veloso remarked during the weekly “Media Forum” live Wednesday at dyDM where he was the guest.
With Veloso in the radio program were three division chiefs, namely, Engr. Allan Eway for maintenance, Engr. Vincent Sy for Planning, and Engr. Letty Olarte, the Office-In-Charge for Construction.
These projects were scheduled for bidding and for proceeding to actual work within the last quarter of this year, according to Engr. Sy in a follow-up interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday.
Sy said that six towns out of the 18 were slated to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Regional Office very soon for them to undertake the project by administration.
As for Maasin City, the assistance was included in the relocation sites for market stalls at the Combado reclamation area, where construction was in progress, said Sy. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==BIR clarifies action vs So Leyte's tax evading professionals==
Abad said the initial estimates of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Provincial Office reported last March 22 that in one 500 square-meter area of corals alone, there were an estimated of over a thousand COTS.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=55704
*Thursday, September 22, 2011
:by ES Gorne
However, BFAR Provincial Office is now undertaking an actual underwater assessment of the presence of COTS to 500 square meters of corals and to determine the extent of the damaged coral areas had done in the province, she said.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 22(PIA) -- Mr. Carlos Tambal, Assistant District Revenue District Officer in Southern Leyte clarified that the legal team of the BIR Regional Office in Eastern Visayas was the entity in charge of filing the case against the tax evader-professional from Southern Leyte.
She added that there will be more joint lined up activities by the local government units and by the GIZ, a German organization in order to prevent this impending coastal disaster in the province.
The action made by the BIR in Southern Leyte was to refer the findings to the legal team at the BIR Regional Office, Mr. Tambal said in a phone patch with Philippine Information Agency.
Mr. Tambal said his agency’s action was not the direct filing of a tax evasion charge but was a referral to their legal team at the BIR Regional Office recommending the filing of such a charge.
Mr. Tambal was referring to the reported case of tax evasion filed by BIR against a lawyer based in Sogod, Southern Leyte. Said tax evader has not been paying the annual income tax, no monthly filing of income tax, no issuance of receipts and is not even registered with the BIR.
It may be recalled that taking a cue from the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino, the Bureau of Internal Revenue has vowed to go after doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals who are not paying the right income taxes.
The BIR is now collecting pertinent data from various agencies such as the Professional Regulation Commission which exercises supervision over all professionals such as accountants, nurses, teachers, engineers, among others.
Aside from running after big time tax evaders, the agency will also go after professionals who under declare their income. (PIA 8 Southern Leyte)
==Anti-smoking drive in Maasin City boosts tourism, says Mayor==
In Maasin City alone, the local government unit–initiated extraction got a total of 23,000 COTS collected March 27, 2012, she added.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=55309
*Wednesday, September 21, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
She noted that extraction of COTS most of the times were stalled due to the lack of funds in order to mobilize the community to join in the extraction along their barangays. (ldl/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 21 (PIA) -- Prohibiting smokers in public places began as a program to keep the people healthy but it turned out to be a magnet for visitors to come into this city, to learn and study on how it was done.
==Over a thousand slots await “summer jobbers” in So. Leyte==
“It has become one of our tourism come-on, a tourist’s attraction,” said City Mayor Maloney Samaco in the bi-weekly radio program “Maasin City In Action” today.
Samaco reported that right after the dyDM program he will be meeting a group of visitors coming from Butuan City, the Caraga Region composed of Doctors, Department of Health (DOH) personnel, and from the local government unit (LGU) who are scheduled to pay a courtesy call to him this morning at his office.
*Wednesday 4th of April 2012
He said last week, students from Dumaguete City doing theses on anti-smoking were also here for a deeper study on the subject, adding that their leader was a confessed chain smoker who wanted to quit smoking at least for the time being that they were in the city.
:by Marcelo M. Pedalino
The smoke-free advocacy has become a cause worth pursuing, not just for compliance so that the city can garner awards, Samaco said, stressing that his fulfillment has always been to see a smoker, either a visitor or a Maasinhon, change such an unhealthy lifestyle by quitting the habit, with the city anti-smoking program serving as the friendly inspiration.
Samaco claimed the city has been known by other local government units across the country for its strict implementation of smoking ban as many LGUs had come already, and many are still wanting to come in the near or far future, a scenario that undoubtedly helped the tourism-related sectors in the city.
Asked by host Zaldy Olita that the Butuan visitors will soon become Maasin’s rival in the coveted Red Orchid award of the DOH, Samaco said he would not mind if the visitors, upon learning in the city, would eventually be part of the competitors in a stiff competition for the DOH recognition.
“The more important thing is that we can share with them, teach them just the same” the ways and strategies on how to implement a successful anti-smoking campaign, Samaco replied. (PIA-Southern Leyte/Bong)
==PDC to tackle 2012 AIP with focus on food security==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 20 (PIA) -- The Provincial Planning and Development Office will present the 2012 Annual Investment Program (AIP) and the 6-year Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP) for its discussion and approval by the Provincial Development Council (PDC).
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Apr. 4 (PIA) -- The Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial office here just got even more special this summer time, as more qualified youths will be gainfully employed.
According to Provincial Planning and Development Officer Virginia Lim-Cruz, who is also the Provincial Development Council (PDC) Secretariat Head, the final annual investment plan shall be deliberated during the meeting of the PDC on September 29, 2011.
Cruz said, so far, the biggest share that the AIP will appropriate every year usually is biased for the agricultural development wherein the food security of the province is at stake. She expects that the PDC will give consideration for the food security of the province for this year, as well.
She said that the presence of foreign organizations who are spearheading for agricultural development pouring down interventions in the province of Southern Leyte , however, the need for the counterpart of the province has to be considered in the AIP.
Cruz further disclosed that the 6-year PDIP shall be anchored on the major thrusts on Tourism, Environment and Agriculture (T-E-A) development of the province, in addition to the basic social services of the provincial government.
Another factor that has to be well thought of in the plans is the looming reduction of Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) of the province , Cruz added.
Cruz added that PDC is composed of the Office of the Reprsentative, local government units, all SP chair on finance and non-government organizations to include local media, all based in the province.### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==SoLeyte LGU releases P2.7 M for irrigation repair in Barangay Nava==
In a list of 2012 SPES pledged by DOLE, some 1,031 posts are up for grabs, mainly through the labor agency’s partner institutions that include local government units (LGUs), a public school, and one national government office - the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=54960
*Monday, September 19, 2011
:by Erna S. Gorne
Mario Tictic of DOLE-So. Leyte said that for this year, their office was given an allocation of 1,500 students for SPES placement, also popularly known as summer job, so there are still some 400 more slots to be filled, this time in cooperation with private schools which already signified their intention to join.
SOUTHERN LEYTE, Sept. 19 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Southern Leyte led by Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado turned-over P2.75 Million - worth irrigation repair project, Nava Communal Irrigation Improvement Project to Obong Farmer’s Association thru its President Ricardo T. Burlaza to boost the palay production in the province.
DOLE and their respective listed partners are presently finalizing the papers of students who had applied for this summer’s SPES, which will start on May 7 for a 20-day employment period, while educational institutions in the private sector like Saint Joseph College (SJC) and the College of Maasin (CM) will start in June, Tictic said.
Governor Damian G. Mercado turned-over in a simple ceremony last Sept 13, 2011at Tuburan, Hinunangan, So. Leyte the P2.75 M Nava Communal Irrigation Improvement Project undertaken by the Provincial Agricultural Services Office (PAgSO) to benefit at least 79 direct local rice farmers, PAgSO staff Feliciano Malaki, Jr reported to PIA Southern Leyte.
The 79 members – beneficiary of the mentioned irrigation repair will cover 80 hectares rice fields which will soon betprovide better irrigation water distribution needed to boost palay production, Malaki said.
Malaki added that Ricardo “Titing” Burlaza and fellow 79 members were very thankful for the concerted approach of all the concerned government officials who have collaborated towards the realization of their dream to improve the decade old facilities to alleviate their plight.
Also present with Gov. Mercado were Mayor Romeo M. Gomez of Hinunangan LGU, the four (4) Sanguniang Panlalawigan members from the 2nd District (Hon. Junby Fernandez, Hon. Berting Lagumbay, Hon. Daisy Gamale and Hon. Almario), the barangay Captains of Nava and Tuburan, Hinunangan, he said.
Gov. Mercado stressed to demonstrate under the “Aksyon, Solusyon, Inisyatibo” we are serious in improving the efficiency of support services to the farmers who are our partners in the thrust of “food security,” that is why “we included these in our Annual Investment Plan.” Malaki added.
On the other hand, Hon. Junby Fernandez, the SP Committee Chairman on Agriculture expressed hope that after the turn-over, these will be managed and maintained by the recipient Obong Farmer-Members and could be passed thru their respective successors. In this way, we will be able to address similar needs or purposes in the future, Malaki said.
While, OIC Provincial Agriculturist Marina E. Gador also said, “ with the cooperation of the farmers here, you have your Palayamanan Project here and we should also be able to contribute to the goal of increasing the present level of palay production per hectare. We should likewise work on producing vegetables and corn for local demand.” ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==DTI presents major investment projects to promote So Leyte tourism==
The provincial government tops the list with 338 students up for hiring, followed by the city government at 150, and Malitbog LGU with 110, then Sogod LGU at 100. Malitbog has the distinction of hiring similar students for years in a row, even as it accepts new SPES applicants, 80 students for this summer.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=54507
*Friday, September 16, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
The public school which participated in this program is the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)-Bontoc Campus.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 16 (PIA) -– There were at least five (5) major tourism investment projects that were presented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during the Provincial Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Action Planning held at the Ampil Pensione here, September 15-16, 2011.
Other LGUs with SPES placements this year are Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Tomas Oppus, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Silago, and Liloan.
Ma. Delia M. Corsiga, Division Chief from DTI-Regional Office 8 said that the major investment in tourism industry in Southern Leyte were identified as follows: Danao Forest Park where an investor is proposing to establish a zoo, the Agas-Agas Adventure complex which includes not only the zipline but also bungee jumping ang probably the installation of cable cars, different dive sites throughout the province, the Limasawa destination package and Silago Forest canopy walk.
“Statistics show that Southern Leyte business sector mostly operates in small business enterprises, while Eastern Visayas rank 4th in terms of having number of SME operators,” Corsiga pointed out in her presentation. By investing in these projects, employment will increase and the gross domestic product contributions will also rise, she added.
The government sector will just support what business to be installed while the private sector will be the one to put up the business, she added.
Corsiga while presenting the SME Development Plan for 2011-2016 nationwide is grateful for the support and eagerness of the business sector led by Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI) President Robert Castañares, who was also one of the participants, to include the different stakeholders throughout the province.
Probable challenges that maybe encountered in investing a project/business were also discussed by Corsiga such as the business environment, access to finance, access to markets, productivity and efficiency, and the like, while how to address these challenges at the local level will be validated during the workplan.
The MSME Development Plan for 2011-2016 aims to create a business environment that will center on a culture of government that will foster the establishment, development, sustainability and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises not only in Southern Leyte but throughout the country.
It also seeks to improve productivity and the delivery of competitive, standard, compliant and equipment-friendly products and services.
The two-day planning workshop is in close coordination with the German International Cooperation (GIZ).
==Barangay Kagawads urged to enrol their children in SUCs to avail of scholarships==
Most summer jobbers have a daily rate of P 150 per day, except for SLSU-Bontoc at P 133 per day, Maasin City at P 180 per day, and DPWH at P 250 per day. Salaries, however, will be shared between DOLE and the sponsoring LGU/agency, with DOLE paying 40 percent of the rate, and the LGUs, 60 percent.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=54216
*Thursday, September 15, 2011
: bby Bong Pedalino
Based on the list, DOLE had set aside a budget of P 1,338,662.40 for 1,031 SPES, while the combined counterpart of all the LGUs was P 2,007,993.60.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 15 (PIA) -- Barangay officials here were challenged during the recent gathering Monday to make use of scholarship opportunities at state colleges and universities by virtue of their position as village leaders, in which up to four children were allowed to avail of this privilege.
Last year, there were only a little over 400 SPES slots reserved by DOLE for Southern Leyte.
The moment their children can pass the college admission test as required by the state schools, they will be qualified to become scholars and exempted from paying the regular school fees like tuition, according to Jani Arnaiz, a Kagawad of barangay Mantahan here who is also a Correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) and President of the Associated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL).
In the weekly Media Forum program live over dyDM yesterday, Arnaiz called on his colleagues, especially those who have children due for tertiary education, to maximize the chance afforded by their being village leaders as duly discussed by National Vice President Crisanto Ramos during their Monday conference.
In Southern Leyte province, the government-funded institution of learning is the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) which has four campuses in different locations.
Monching Buyer, another local journalist who is also a Kagawad of barangay Mambajao, affirmed that many of their fellow village officials did take heed on this opportunity, adding that this was also the policy implemented by Mayor Maloney Samaco for Maasin City College (MCC), a city organized school.
In prodding his co-councilors at the barangay to ponder on the scholarship, Arnaiz put emphasis on the courses on agriculture, agricultural entrepreneurship, or short-term vocational-technical studies that are in-demand these days, especially with a certificate from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The forum tackled the growing economic boom now experienced by the city of Maasin, a situation others feared would not be sustained in the long run. The discussion, however, took into consideration the risk these investors underwent, and that they will not be doing so without accurate conduct of a feasibility study.
Among the suggestions aired for the sustainability of the “Maasin boom” was the development in the field of agriculture, in which it was noted that many wealthy Maasinhons would rather kept their money in a bank rather than invest in agri-business, a circumstance the media practitioners dreamed of reversing.
They called on the moneyed individuals to consider putting their money in agri-business ventures like cash crops, livestock, fisheries so rural folks can be employed and have income, and also to arrest the declining trend of farmers, whose children go to other places seeking jobs rather than tilling their farms. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==AFP conducts battery of tests for Soldier Course in Maasin City, Sogod==
The Special Program for Employment of Students is mandated under Republic Act No. 9547 which aims to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing income or augment their income through encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations. The SPES is open to all qualified high school, college or vocational students or drop-outs and interested employers. (GTT/MMP-PIA8, Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- Over a hundred applicants mostly criminology students and ROTC cadets from Maasin City and Sogod, Southern Leyte took the first battery of tests for Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) and Officer Candidate Course (OCC) held in the province.
“ The said battery of tests were usually conducted in Manila and Cebu City. This is the first time ever held in the provinces, ” TSG Marcos Maquelabit, Operations Non-Commissioned Officer of 805 CDC, Reserve Command (ARESCOM) based in Maasin City said in an interview with PIA Southern Leyte.
That the Army Recruitment Center (ARC) is located in Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Maquelabit said.
Once the examinees passed the exams, it would qualify them to the CSC and OCC and eventually as an army officer, he added.
Mostly of the criminology fourth year students and ROTC cadets from the Saint Joseph College (SJC) in Maasin City took the exams in the morning and the fourth year students of Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) in Sogod, Southern Leyte later in the afternoon of the same day, he added.
While the said army reserve command were able to enlist 460 Enlisted Personnel (EP) with 16 reserve officers, with the highest rank of Major being given to Governor Damian Mercado and another Major rank to Vice Governor Miguel Maamo. Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco’s rank as Major is now on the process and the Municipal Mayors rank will be Captains, he added.
The enlisted personnel also includes barangay officials where barangay captains and councilors were ranked as I Lt. and II Lt., respectively, Maquelabit added.
He said these people are the military reserves based in the province that could be immediately pulled out in times of emergencies to include natural threats to the national security. ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==PNRC So Leyte has 200 blood bags deposited at SOYMPH Blood Bank==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=53854
*Tuesday, September 13, 2011
: by ES Gorne
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 3 (PIA) -- Together with 44 other honor students, two Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) scholars graduated Cum Laude during the Commencement Exercises of the Leyte Normal University on March 26 in Tacloban City.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 13 (PIA) - The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) has now in position 200 blood bags of 450 cubic centimetres which are deposited at the Salvacion Yniquez Oppus Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) blood bank for all the needed blood purposes in the province.
“We take pride in the achievements of our scholars. This makes evident that the financial assistance extended to them as qualified beneficiaries of our OFW (overseas Filipino workers) clients is not put to waste,” says OWWA- RWO8 OIC-Director II Ma. Evangelina V. Filamor in a press release.
“For the first time in the history of PNRC Southern Leyte, this is the biggest collection of blood, so far.” PRNC Officer in Charge Noli Casas disclosed to PIA SoLeyte interview over the phone today.
Casas said he intend to distribute the blood collected to other public hospitals within the province, namely the Sogod District Hospital and Anahawan District Hospital, so that the people need not to travel to Maasin City just to get blood.
However, in Sogod Distrist Hospital the blood refrigerator is still undergoing repair while he need to know if the Anahawan District Hospital is licensed to stock blood in their hospital and if they have a medical technician trained for the blood banking processing yet, Casas added.
He reported that last Saturday the religious group, Dating Daan, conducted (4) blood donation activities simultaneously in Hinundayan, Sogod, Maasin City and Hilongos that resulted to the collection of 55 blood bags of 450 cc.
Casas further said that aggressive blood collection is not only intended for dengue patients needing blood but in preparation also for any disaster that might strike the province.
He said, “It should be remembered that Southern Leyte is prone to disaster and one of the best way to be prepared is to increase the level of awareness of the community in donating blood especially in times of emergencies, disasters.”
He remembered during the Guisaugon landslide disaster that there were those rescued from the disaster that were not given the needed blood due to the absence of blood donors despite the presence thousands of people in the area who refused to be taken blood inorder to save the lives of the survivors.
Casas also disclosed that another of blood donation has been scheduled by the Liga nga Barangay this coming Sep-
tember 17, 2011., however due to the present ample supply of blood, they only requires one blood donation from each of the seventy barangays in Maasin City.(PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==So Leyte solon to DOST: Demonstrate anti-dengue traps==
Filamor said after four years of struggle for academic excellence was worth the long wait for Ritzee Operio and Mark Geraldo when they graduated Cum Laude among 1,059 graduates.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 12 (PIA) -- Representative Roger Mercado on Saturday requested the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provincial office through its staff, Daphne Santiago, to hold video showing and actual demonstration on how the DOST’s ovicidal trap will be used in households as a preventive measure against dengue. Mercado made the request during a block-time radio program “Serbisyo Publiko” live at dyDM with host Digo Credo and Santiago as guest. He said that during the anti-dengue clean-up drive last Friday at barangay Asuncion, the second in a series which the lone Southern Leyteno lawmaker initiated, DOST was ready to show and teach people about the mosquito trap in the brief ceremonies, but since it was still past 1 pm and the Asuncion gym was open, the showing was cancelled as it cannot be clearly seen in broad daylight. This week, the DOST was urged to catch up by doing a film showing in the evening in the two barangays where the cleanliness campaign was already undertaken, at barangays Combado and Asuncion, and be with the cleaning warriors in the next rounds of the activity so by the evening of that day the video showing and actual demonstration can be made immediately, Cong. Mercado appealed. Santiago said her office is very much willing to support the advocacy of Cong. Mercado in his efforts to spare the city and province from the dengue outbreak by holding a weekly volunteer clean-up drive in the city’s central barangays for a start, spreading later on to other barangays and other towns of the province. Last Friday’s clean-up activity at barangay Asuncion saw Cong. Mercado leading the pack of provincial and city hall employees numbering over a thousand let open a stagnant water choked by blocking sands with the help of a payloader, picking thrash and debris in the beach, and sweeping the highways and every nook and corner around the barangay. This coming Friday’s next stop will be barangay Abgao, the home barangay of the Mercado’s, it was learned. Santiago, who brought a sample of the DOST-invented mosquito trap, explained that any housewife can easily operate the ovitrap, which looks like a middle-sized black glass with a cardboard stick look-alike dipped in halfway water. The water will be diluted with a packaged pellet, stirred, then placed in specific points inside or just outside the house where mosquitoes are known to converge. After one week, the eggs of the mosquitoes will be trapped in the rugged cardboard surface, unable to propagate. The water will be replaced, another pellet added, and the contraption will be used again for another one week. Asked if the concoction would not be dangerous for babies or house pets to play around, Santiago said the trap was loaded with chemical that’s why it should be placed in inaccessible areas around the house to spare it from sight of small children and animals to avoid unexpected complications. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
The graduates are OWWA scholars under the OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW-DSP) whereby an eligible dependent of an active OFW with a basic monthly salary of $400 and below receives financial assistance of P10,000 per semester, she said.
==St. Bernard MDRRMC vies for regional Gawad Kalasag award==
She further said Geraldo, with a grade of 1.55, and Operio, with 1.65, outstandingly earned a double degree in Bachelor of Science in Secondary and Elementary Education major in English. While in search for a private school to practice their profession, they plan to review for the September Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
“OWWA is part of our success and we are very much thankful for the assistance they have extended to us,” says Geraldo in an interview, Filamor quoted.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 8 (PIA) -- The St. Bernard Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) will undergo validation being one of the nominees in the Gawad Kalasag award for its best practices particularly in forewarning the local communities in times of disaster through the maximize use of Early Warning System (EWS).
Another OWWA scholar grabbed first honor award in the Commencement Exercises of the Sto. Nino SPED Center, Tacloban City on March 31 - Danna Mheliza Mae D. Budano garnered 93.8 percent, topping the entire second grade level of the said school, Filamor further reported.
According to Cherelyn Lubang, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) representative during the Southern Leyte PDRRMC meeting held recently, announced that a team representing the national offices of OCD, DSWD and DILG will validate the St. Bernard MDRRMC this week.
Lubang further said that St. Bernard MDRRMC has adopted effectively the early warning system with the recent heavy rains experienced in the municipality that induced flashfloods and floodings and saved the lives of the communities and eventually arrived with zero casualty.
St. Bernard MDRRMC also has been identified by some foreign assisted non-government organizations (NGOs) such as CARE –ACCORD, among others for its effective use of early warning system which has saved lives and some properties of the victims since they were already evacuated before the any calamity strikes.
CARE ACCORD Project, a pilot project on disaster preparedness and mitigation, covers only 5 out of the 30 barangays, to address concerns at disaster hazard areas in St. Bernard, it was learned.
Gawad Kalasag promotes the Filipino inherent spirit of bayanihan, volunteerism and spontaneous cooperation in times of major problems like responding to disasters and emergencies.
Meanwhile, PDRRMC wanted to include the purchase of rubber boats in the Disaster Annual Investment Plan for next year. The local disaster council also would like to purchase and install VHF radio repeaters for Limasawa Island and Pacific Towns areas in the said disaster investment plan.### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)
==Cebuano news: So. Leyte DENR works double time to attain 2011 NGP target==
The achiever is an OWWA scholar under the education component of Education and Livelihood Assistance Program whereby an eligible dependent of deceased OFW who was an active OWWA member at the time of death receives financial scholarship grant until completion of a tertiary degree, Filamor said. (LDL/ESG-PIA 8, SoLeyte)
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=52875
*Wednesday, September 07, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
==NSO to Visayans: Pls cooperate in the Consumer Expectations Survey in Region 8==
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 7 (PIA) -- The provincial office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is working double time to reach its target of reforesting 1,800 hectares of timberland areas in the province this year, according to Ricardo Tomol, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO).
In a casual chat with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on the sidelines of a meeting held at Rep. Roger Mercado’s office Monday, PENRO Tomol said his office will be doing a double time in coordination with various government agencies as they are expected to cover all bases for the remaining months of the year.
In July, Cong. Mercado led the launching of the National Greening Program (NGP) in the province, during which the sites to be planted, also called NGP sites, were duly identified, with the challenge that these areas should be planted based on the timeline specified under the nationwide reforestation program.
Last month, the DENR coverage under CENRO-Maasin were able to plant 20 hectares of the NGP site at barangay Lonoy with the help of high school students, while at CENRO-San Juan, some 4o hectares were already accomplished.
CENRO refers to Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, a subdivision of the provincial DENR, with CENRO-Maasin comprising the areas from Maasin to Sogod, while CENRO-San Juan comprising the rest of the towns in the pacific and Panaon island, including Libagon.
For the NGP, CENRO-Maasin was assigned 800 hectares, and CENRO-San Juan, 1,000 hectares, Tomol said.
He told the heads of offices present during the meeting at Congressman’s office that he will soon provide them with their respective schedules for the NGP-led tree-planting activity, as it was already understood that under NGP every employee was committed to plant ten trees per year until 2016.
For the two CENROs, the strategy now would be to plant more than 300 hundred hectares per month until December to accomplish the goal of 1,800 hectares, Tomol said.
Aside from closely coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd), Tomol said he will also go around to the various local government units in the province and the different People’s Organizations to step up the pace.
The NGP will go on until 2016, with an expected increase in hectare coverage every year, it was learned. The national target was to plant 1.5 billion tree and fruit-tree seedlings in 1.5 million hectares.
Whereas the reforestation programs in the past 25 years covered only some 200 hectares, the NGP, in a matter of six years raised it almost a thousand times, Tomol intimated.
The other difference is that while past reforestation programs relied only on human monitoring, the NGP uses satellite technology in tracking planted sites, so everything has to be feed into the computer, the internet, Tomol added. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==“Takbo Laban sa Krimen” highlights Crime Prevention Week in Maasin City==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=52786
*Tuesday, September 06, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 2 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office in Eastern Visayas under the leadership of Director Raul Dones called on the public to cooperate in the conduct of the April 2012 Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) in selected provinces in Eastern Visayas namely, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Sep 6 (PIA) -- As the nation celebrates National Crime Prevention Week, September 1-7, 2011, a fun run dubbed as “Takbo Laban sa Krimen” is one of the highlights of the week-long activity.
Director Dones enjoined all sample household to actively support and cooperate in the said activity which will start on April 2 to 16. Likewise, the support and assistance of the local government units are solicited in order to ensure the success of this undertaking, the NSO Director said.
In a report sent by PSupt. Hector F. Enage to Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Maasin, the fun run to be conducted this afternoon at 3:00 will be participated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) family such as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and oither uniformed personnel and identified non-government organizations.
The “Takbo Laban saKrimen” is closely coordinated by the city government led by Mayor Maloney Samaco, the source informed.
Earlier, the city ploice force participated in the blood letting activity organized by the PIA-Maasin staff last Friday, Sept. 2, which was also one of their activities lined-up for the nationwide celebration of crime prevention.
Other activities prepared were the Crime Prevention Symposium held last 3rd of September that tackled topics like Rules of the Community in Criminal Justice System with CInsp. Euterio Ortiz of BJMP as the speaker and Crime Prevention discussed by PSupt. Enage.
On September 4, the police authorities conducted a barangay visitation at Barangays Tawid and San Agustin, while September 5 was the destruction of handmade gas guns conducted in front of the city hall grounds and was followed by a motorcade around the city.
The city PNP and the Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office will be also guesting at the” Action Center” Kapihan aired at Maasin Cable TV at Senior Citizens building here hosted by PIA Infocen Manager Erna Sy Gorne and Bong Pedalino.
And to culminate the week-long celebration, a program will be held at the Maasin Police Station in the morning of September 7 with DILG City Local Government Operations Officer Elsa Tingcoy as the guest speaker. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==8 barangays in Saint Bernard conduct simultaneous disaster drills==
Dones said that just like any other surveys undertaken by NSO, the data that will be gathered shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be divulged to any person except to authorize NSO personnel. The data will not be used for taxation, investigation, or enforcement purposes.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r08&id=52444
*Monday, September 05, 2011
:by Bong Pedalino
Dones said that the Consumer Expectations Survey is actually conducted in selected provinces nationwide except except in Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
SAINT BERNARD, Southern Leyte, Sept. 5 (PIA) -- Residents in eight (8) calamity-prone villages in this municipality on Saturday held simultaneous community drills on various disaster scenarios to test the capacity of the people for quick response during bad weather, and to practice efficient coordination among disaster bodies in the barangays concerned, the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) along with their town counterpart, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC).
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) contracted the NSO to conduct CES in order to collect comprehensive information on the business conditions of the country in the household sector, Director Dones informed.
Barangays Nueva Esperanza, Ayahag, and Sug-angon, which are located along the foot of Mount Kan-abag like the ill-fated Guinsaugon (in fact, next to Sug-angon is the buried Guinsaugon) were given a landslide scenario with selected victims on fatalities and injuries, while the five other barangays -- Tambis 1, Tambis 2, Himbangan, Panian, and San Isidro -- were given flooding situations being high-risk flood areas, along with injured and dead victims as well.
The activity, the third in a row since 2008, was organized and fully backed-up by a non-government organization that focused its advocacies on empowering localities that are vulnerable to disasters, in cooperation with the municipal and barangay local government units.
The first two drills were held under ACCORD, or “Strengthening Assets and Capacities of Communities and Local Governments for Resilience to Disasters”, while the one on Saturday was under ASCEND, for “Advancing Safer Communities and Environments against Disasters.”
According to its literature, ASCEND is a community-based disaster preparedness and mitigation project with activities in eleven (11) municipalities implemented in Jomalig (Quezon), Marinduque, Rapu-rapu (Albay), Calabanga (Camarines Sur), Maragusan (Compostela Valley), and in Saint Bernard.
ASCEND was funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) for 2010-2011.
A hand-held radio communication between the MDRRMC base and the eight Punong Barangays set the mood of the drill that began past eight in the morning until past lunch time.
As soon as the “message” of bad weather following three days of incessant rains was heard on the two-way radio, the Punong Barangays called all the committees of the BDRRMC to mobilize their respective committees and prepare for a pre-empted evacuation to avert a tragedy, which was already “ongoing”.
The “batingaw” was pounded, first in slow pounding, to alert people for a possible evacuation and another, much faster pounding was made later to signal that people go to designated pick-up points immediately.
An exchange of calls between the village leaders and the MDRRMC base made possible the arrival of dump trucks to ferry people to the evacuation sites, Police personnel for crowd control, ambulances and rescue personnel from the Saint Bernard Emergency Rescue Unite (SBERO) to carry the “wounded” and the “dead” victims.
At the relocation site, several scenarios had to be attended, like a complaining evacuee who wanted to transfer to another room, trouble inside the evacuation center, and another set of “wounded” and “dead” at the relocation site.
Overall, the conduct of the drills was successful, even as during the assessment after lunch, there were some deficiencies noted, such as cranking communication system for lack of charged batteries, duplication of orders among the BDRRMC committee heads, and a lot of laughing participants as the activity itself was no laughing matter.
The second community drill held last October 3, 2009 was more real as it was raining the whole day due to a low pressure area, while last Saturday it was sunny.
Among the observers were residents of neighboring barangays and from Silago, including Marichu Tan of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and the local media.
==First blood-letting at PIA-So. Leyte nets 12 bags==
The NSO’s responsibility is to undertake the data collection and encoding of the questionnaires while BSP’s responsibility is the generation of tables and analysis of the results, the NSO Director added.
The CES is a household-based survey on the consumers’ assessment of their financial situation, the economic condition of the country and the overall performance of the government. This is a complementary survey to BSP’s Business Expectations Survey (BES).
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 4 (PIA) -- At the end of the day, the provincial chapter of the Red Cross here went home with 12 bags of fresh blood donated by donors in a blood-letting activity held at the provincial office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Friday, this city.
The survey is administered on a sample basis at the household level drawn through a stratified multi-stage random sampling. The survey has a total sample of about 5,000 households nationwide. The total sample in Region VIII is 308 households.
The activity represented a 50% increase from the expected donors of eight individuals.
Among those who gave blood were three employees from the neighboring office of City Agriculture, five Policemen from the City Police Station, a walk-in student from Maasin City College (MCC), an employee from the city local government unit, Angie Book, correspondent of the local weekly Southern Leyte Times (SLT) and this writer.
The city’s Police elements were informed on the spot, yet P/Supt. Hector Enage, the city’s police chief, responded immediately, sending his men and documenting the process as part of their celebration of Crime Prevention Week, it was learned.
The blood-letting began 9 in the morning and ended at 3 in the afternoon.
Actually, more than ten other prospective donors who were willing to donate blood were also denied for various reasons by the attending medical officers of the Red Cross. Some had high blood, asthma, and recent tooth extractions.
The successful conduct of the activity was attended and supervised by Dr. Nadine Sy of the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital, along with her two nurses.
Infocen Manager Gorne said the next round of the same event Friday next week will be held at the spacious function hall of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), although this has yet to be coordinated with District Engineer Carlos Veloso. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
The conduct of CES aims to provide a quick and regular assessment of the financial condition of consumers and economic condition of the country at present and in the near future, from the consumers’ own viewpoints; to generate forecasts in the direction of the country’s economic activity based on consumers’ outlook in the next 12 months; and to provide quick and regular assessment of consumers’ outlook in terms of their income and expenditures. (EOPT - PIA 8)
The Southern Leyte office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) was transformed into a channel for blood donors to shed a fraction of the life-giving liquid so that others may live.
On short notice, what was normally a routine office appearance was altered to become an eerie sight of three lined cots for the blood-letting process, the tables and chairs neatly arranged to resemble a functional albeit improvised medical facility.
In a little while, as doctors and nurses from the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH), along with volunteers from the local Red Cross arrive, the smell of alcohol together with the presence of other paraphernalia such as the one for measuring blood pressure, the office has transformed into PIA Clinic, at least for today.
The activity was in line with the instruction from PIA Director-General Jose Fabia for the field offices to coordinate in their respective localities with the media, private groups, non-government organizations, health personnel, and local government units to conduct a simultaneous blood-letting every Friday until the need persists, so the collected blood be given to areas in other parts of the country that are still lingering from the dengue outbreak.
On deck at the “PIA-So. Leyte Clinic” today to lay down in the prepared cots are at least eight volunteer blood donors whom Infocen Manager Erna Gorne approached to share their precious blood, including employees from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the Office of the City Agriculture Services (OCAS), PIA’s neighbor offices.
Jani Arnaiz, President of the local media group Associated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL) who is also a correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, had indicated also to give blood -- his very first attempt if ever this try would materialize.
Marichu Tan, the lone personnel of the Office of Civil Defense here, also listed her name in the donors’ list.(PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
==Southern Leyte media to join PIA in blood letting activities==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=51852
*Thursday, September 01, 2011
:by R.G. Cadavos
MAASIN City, Southern Leyte, Apr. 1 (PIA) -- A total of 2,550 household beneficiaries here received their conditional cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Sep 1 (PIA) – The Associated Media of Southern Leyte will join the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in the blood letting activities to help dengue-stricken areas throughout the country to prevent the spread of virus.
Together with the two bank tellers from the Land Bank of the Philippines – Maasin Branch and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office, the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries on Friday started to claim their conditional cash grants for the months of November 2011 – February 2012 at the maximum of P 1,400 per month for every beneficiary.
In a media forum aired regularly at radio station DyDM every Wednesday, media practitioners who faciliated the radio program such as the PIA, DyDM reporters, among other private correspondents here committed to join the blood donation activities as directed by PIA Director General Atty. Jose Fabia through Region 8 Director Olive P. Tiu .
The AMSL has been regularly supporting in every program the PIA initiated.
During the forum, Southern Leyte Provincial Information Center Manager Erna Gorne disclosed in a phone patch interview that “ PIA is asking your support and hopeful that the media will also be one of the donors of the voluntary blood donation.”
The PIA is now coordinating with the Philippine National Red Cross- Southern Leyte Chapter to facilitate the blood letting activity, “we are suggesting to the PNRC that it will be held at the PIA Office at Barangay Combado here,” she added.
On the other hand, one of the hosts, Ramon Buyser of DyDM, a Kagawad of Barangay Mambajao disclosed that “Barangay officials here initiated already the blood donation every 4 months, held at the barangay hall and conducted by the Red Cross,” adding that “the activity started last year yet, he added.
The blood letting activity was in response to a memorandum from Atty. Fabia “to conduct a voluntary blood donation day as dengue cases in many parts of the country is increasing.”
The bloodletting activity in Eastern Visayas started last August 26, Friday at the PIA 8 Regional Office in coordination with the AGIO-8, KBP Eastern Visayas, REAL and the Philippine National Red Cross Leyte Chapter to mobilize people in the blood letting activity. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)
==700 Maasin seniors get medical, dental services thru LIDEF mission==
Instead of only two months, Maasin City beneficiaries are entitled to receive four – months worth of cash grant as decided by the DSWD Central Office, to fully utilize the previous year's Pantawid Pamilya funds throughout the region.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=51547
*Tuesday, August 30, 2011
:by ES Gorne
DSWD Region 8 Director Letecia T. Diokno admonished the beneficiaries to handle the financial assistance properly and reminded them that the money is not for the parents but for the education and health care of the children and the expectant mothers.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug. 30 (PIA) -- About 700 senior citizens in Maasin City got medical and dental services as the Office of the Senior Citizens Association (OSCA) thru the initiatives of Senior Citizens Federation President Willie J. Justimbaste in close coordination with the Limasawa Development Foundation (LIDEF) and Congressman Roger Mercado conducted a medical and dental mission today.
She cautioned them to comply with the conditions set by the program since if they lack in fulfilling the requirements they will be cut off in receiving the said monthly cash grant.
The aging citizens needing medical and dental services swelled into 700 warm bodies as the organizers prepared for only 500 indigent senior citizens, Engr. Esperanza Samaco, LIDEF President disclosed to PIA Southern Leyte in an interview this morning.
City Social Wefare and Development Officer Fe Sta Cruz noted that only 500 indigent senior citizens were listed for their preparations but it was found out that there are those barangays who were not able to submit their lists to CSWDO earlier.
Most of those who went to the mission were suffering from cough, hyper tension, needing vitamins, problems with eye sight, diabetes, among others, while a number of the senior citizens were have their decaying teeth extracted, Engr. Samaco said.
Samaco further said the foundation were preparing for the medicines both for medical and dental needs to include the honoraria of the medical doctors, dentists, nurses and dental aides who assisted during the conduct of the mission, preparations for the snacks and meals to include the senior citizens availing the services.
Meanwhile, Congressman Mercado who turned to 60 years old today received his senior citizen’s card and purchase slips from the OSCA officers and witnessed by the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations in Maasin City and the CSWDO Fe Sta. Cruz.
Later in the afternoon, Congressman Mercado also gave a birthday offering for the indigent children aging from four to seven years old exclusively from Barangay Abgao, his resident barangay, it was learned.### (PIA Southern Leyte/ esg)
=='Sunken' roads in So. Leyte are the effects of 12 daily tremors - DPWH==
She further urged the parents to work hard instead of waiting for the monthly conditional cash grant as this serves only to supplement their needs for their children to pursue education and health of the children and pregnant mothers.
Diokno challenged the beneficiaries that as a 4Ps family, they should become model of a peaceful family with children going to school, healthy children and mothers, among other being socially developed family with the additional income of P15,000 every year for five years from now. (EOPT/ESG, PIA8 SoLeyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Aug 29 (PIA) -- Citing a study done by a geologist, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineer Carlos Veloso disclosed that certain sections of the national highway in this province are always damaged due to a dozen daily movements of the ground.
==[[Southern Leyte Archived News]]==
In an interaction with local media Tuesday, Veloso, head of the Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED), identified these perennially destructed sections as the one along Bato, Leyte, to Bontoc road and the other at barangay Hindag-an, Saint Bernard.
The older news reports are kept [[Southern Leyte Archived News|here]]
A technical explanation of these seemingly “sunk” sections was the presence of underground water that over time eventually loosened the soil coupled with the everyday dose of the natural earth-shaking move which is not strong enough to be noticed.
The damaged road sections also fell along the fault line that traverses the province, Veloso said.
Assistant District Engineer Manolo Rojas said they had installed gabions in these areas, saying this kind of structure was permeable, or allows the passage of water through piles of stones hitched with tie wires.
Meanwhile, another problematic road portion which is the steep saddle road in Pintuyan, will be re-engineered to cut across a mountainside to lower its elevation.
Veloso said his office has already complied with the program of works for an initial budget of P 50 Million asked by the DPWH Central office for a 700-meter alternate road to divert the saddle, adding that the instruction was the result of a resolution submitted by the provincial government to Malacanang.
Several motorists suffered accidents in the past while negotiating this uphill, winding road, and its imminent change in design is timely considering that a new Ferry terminal in Benit, San Ricardo, was already in operation.
Both Veloso and Rojas were optimistic the development of the much lower saddle road will be made part of the regular budget of the agency, saying that DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson’s timetable was that all primary roads would be paved by 2013. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)
Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.
Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.
Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.
But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .
Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.
Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?
WHY??
There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 12 (PIA) -- The Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) schedules series of information drives throughout the province as their commitment to the provincial government to increase the level of awareness of the stakeholders on the power situation of the province.
Professor Wally del Mundo of the University of the Philippines National Engineering Center and SOLECO officer-in-charge Arce B. Salazar will assist the information drive entitled “Power 101.”
Earlier the SOLECO management has committed to the provincial government to disseminate information to the general consumers and the local government sector on the developments that affect the operations and directions of electric Distribution Utilities (DUs) particularly among the electric cooperatives, Salazar said.
The local electric cooperative aims to increase the awareness of the electricity stakeholders especially business and government heads, barangay officials and community leaders on the power situation of the province, he said.
The first information campaign shall be conducted at SOLECO Multi-purpose Building in Maasin City then it will be followed at Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)- Sogod Campus in Sogod, Southern Leyte on the second day, he added.
He further said the speaker for the subject has the layman’s grasp on its intricacies that can be understood even by those who are new to the subject.
MACROHON, Southern Leyte – “”We were surprised to find a patch of pristine forests in Mt. Nacolod, Southern Leyte. We found an amazingly impressive flora and faura. The rich forests we saw did not match the map of a denuded forest, shown to us before we explored Southern Leyte,” said Ronald Altamarino, leader of the Biodiversity Assessment Team from the Flora and Fauna, International (FFI).
Altamarino said during the presentation of the Biodiversity Assessment and REDD Plus/Mt. Nacolod, Southern Leyte, Pilot NewCAPP at this town last May 2 and 3. FFI along with partners the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), NewCAPP among others.
Turn -over of mini biodiversity exhibit (L-R) Dalton Durban of GIZ, Engr. Aileen Basilan, DENR Regional Executive Director Rogelio Trinidad, So. Leyte Vice Governor Miguel Maamo, Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ.
The comprehensive ground assessment has found 2 new frog species under the genus Playmantis group. The new discovery brings so much pride to the province and the country.
Southern Leyte lone district Representative Roger Mercado, who squeezed in to attend this activity in his very hectic
schedule, said that efforts of the local officials and its people have not gone to waste.
Dr. Eugenia Bautista, chief technology transfer division ecosystems research and development service-DENR asks questions during the presentation of biodiversity assessment.
“We have been planting trees since 1987 and encouraged our people to do the same. Our People’s Organization (PO) YESIDA is said to be the best PO in the region under the Community Forest Management Program. Not to brag, I have my own tree farm and bird sanctuary in Maasin City which you are free to visit. Southern Leyte is one of the two provinces in the country that supports the total log ban. Every weekend when I am back in the province after session in Congress,
I see to it that tree planting is part of my activity. We want our people to be sufficient in food through the richness of our forests and our marine resources. Indeed the hard work, solidarity, discipline displayed by Southern Leytenos is worth emulating,” said Mercado.
PENRO So. Leyte Ricardo Tomol
A very excited Mercado continued, “I will author the passage in Congress for the declaration of the Mt. Nacolod and its mountain range that spans 14,000 hectares as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas or NIPAS. For now I will lobby that
President Aquino will issue an executive order declaring Mt. Nacolod as a protected area.”
Southern Leyte Vice Governor Miguel Maamo, who represented Governor Damian Mercado, said that they will pass a resolution in the sangguniang bayan for the protection of Mt. Nacolod. Indeed last May 7, in its regular session, the board members of Southern Leyte made an unprecedented mass move to declare Mt. Nacolod as a protected area.
DENR regional information chief Purificacion Daloos; Mary Jane Honor Du, PENRO staff, So. Leyte; Rep. Roger Mercado; Marita Cesneros, NewCAPP and Marissa Solite, DENR-PAWC ZMS
A multi-sectoral group submitted management plans for the
protection and sustainability of its forests. As one scientist said, “who knows there might still be interesting finds in Mt. Nacolod especially flora that can be used in the medical field?
Indeed, Southern Leyte is doubly-blessed- they have the rich forests and rich marine resources. Padayon Southern Leyte!
Love, Laugh and Live!
Om Shanti!
DOLE-So. Leyte disburses P 2.6M for projects of self-employed individuals
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 10 (PIA) -- The provincial field office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here has set aside over P 2.6 million worth of livelihood projects intended for individual small-scale businesses in the so-called informal sector.
The amount was already moving in various stages of implementation as coursed through DOLE’s accredited co-partner (ACP) consisting of five municipalities and one city, involving 251 individual beneficiaries, said Fe Norma Valuis, DOLE provincial field officer.
During the cable TV program “Action Center” yesterday morning, Valuis identified DOLE’s LGU partners as the City of Maasin which garnered almost half of the total fund assistance, barangay Sta. Crus of Macrohon, and the towns of Saint Bernard, Pintuyan, Silago, and Libagon.
Valuis said she had recently talked with Mayor Roberto Loquinte of Anahawan who also wanted to avail of DOLE’s support to fund a tourism-related project in the municipality - the Mainit Spring.
All the rest of the 18 municipal local government units will eventually be reached by DOLE’s livelihood assistance where there are individual workers who are self-employed, Valuis added.
For the city of Maasin, the amount of P 642,729 will be for the livelihood formation of 63 informal sector workers, while another P612,049.00 was also due for release to 48 small scale fishing project of marginal fisherfolks, Valuis said.
These assistance, scheduled to be turned over yesterday, were not yet given since Mayor Maloney Samaco was still in Lingayen, Pangasinan, attending the Palarong Pambansa, she added.
DOLE and the barangay LGU signed yesterday a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at Supercha Foodhauz, this city another assistance for 15 ambulant vendors of barangay Sta. Cruz, Macrohon, for their fish and food vending worth P 224,996.
Meanwhile, some 39 displaced workers from Saint Bernard will soon become beneficiaries of entrepreneurial funds worth P334,016, and another amount of P 413,432 is now in the pipeline for 46 unemployed or underemployed sectoral workers in the town of Pintuyan.
Among the funds already given to LGU partners were those at Silago for the high-value vegetable production project of 26 individuals who are members of the Puntana Women Nature’s Club Association worth P 261,340 and another P 179,600 for 14 women from Libagon for their Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) project.
Accredited co-partner LGUs shared 20 percent of the funds as equity not necessarily in cash but other non-cash equivalent like training, capacity-building, or equipment, while DOLE provided the needed materials and in some cases cash as capital, Valuis said.
The assistance has always been in the nature of a grant, and the beneficiaries' sole obligation is to see to it that their businesses flourish and develop further, Valuis added. (PIA8, Southern Leyte)
Maasin City delegates off to Palarong Pambansa in Pangasinan
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 9 (PIA) -- At least 30 sports delegates from Maasin City was sent off Thursday to participate in the Palarong Pambansa 2012 held at Lingayen, Pangasinan, as part of the Eastern Visayas regional delegation.
“Maasin City in Action” program host Zaldy Olita reported via phone patch this morning from Pangasinan that Maasin City delegates include the athletes, coaches and trainers from different sports such as badminton, swimming, arnis, boxing, softball, among other games that gave Maasin City athletes medals during the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) competition held early this year hosted by Maasin City.
Olita, Maasin City Sports Council staff, who went with the delegates said that the games begun Sunday, May 6, “but the opening of the competition formally opened Monday, May 7 when President Benigno S. Aquino delivered his address to the athletes, coaches and officials including the game spectators at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center as the main venue of the Palaro, in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
He said that the opening ceremonies was preceded by the parade of athletes from the Pangasinan provincial capitol grounds to Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) that was completed in time for the opening program at 10:00 a.m.
Olita disclosed that Maasin City delegation was supported by City Mayor Maloney Samaco, who went with the delegation, some Sangguniang Panglungsod members, Department of Education Maasin City Division, among others.
With the week-long game competition, the city government is hopeful the Maasin City athletes will bring home medals. Maasin City allocated cash incentives to the medalists, it was learned. (LDL/RGC-PIA8 Southern Leyte)
DOLE holds orientation for livelihood program recipients in Southern Leyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 8 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Southern Leyte is holding a two-day values orientation to the recipients of the Starter Kit livelihood program for the small economic entrepreneurs in the locality on May 7 and 8.
“Before the release of the financial assistance to the 63 informal workers for the second batch of the Starter Kit livelihood program, they all need to undergo a Social Preparation Training and Entrepreneurship Appreciation (SPTEA) course with the employment agency provincial staff,” DOLE Provincial Office senior staff Mario Tictic disclosed.
He also stated the program’s objective of providing a sustainable source of income for the family is to see a fully operational entrepreneurial undertaking that would make a change in the lives of the beneficiaries.
Tictic said the livelihood assistance will be received by the recipients in form of materials needed for each of the project proposals submitted such as carpentry tools, sewing machines, food, among others, to ensure that the proceeds of the financial assistance will really be bought readily as their startup capital.
“The financial assistance varies from P10,000 to P14,000 depending on the need of each recipient in their project proposals ,” he said.
Among the project proposals include peanut butter-making, ice cream production, barbecue vending, carpentry works, manicure and pedicure, tailoring and sewing, he said.
The DOLE Provincial Office partnered with the city government of Maasin in the mentioned program to increase productivity among the small economic entrepreneurs in the locality, he added. (PIA8 SoLeyte)
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, May 7 (PIA) -- An exhibit and roadshow about the Philippine forests are set to open in Southern Leyte.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Forest Management Bureau, German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, CoDe REDD Philippines and the provincial government of Southern Leyte will be opening the Color it REDD-Plus Roadshow and “The Philippine Forests: Before and What Now?” exhibits on May 8 to 9 at Maasin City Gymnasium, Southern Leyte.
Dr. Bernd Markus Liss of GIZ said that REDD-Plus or Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation with conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks is a measure being under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that contributes in the stabilization of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.
In the Philippines, from April 2009 to July 2010, multi-sectoral and multi-level workshops were carried out to know more about REDD and REDD-Plus in aid of drafting the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy (PNRPS) for 2010 to 2020.
In April of 2010, the PNRPS Components were considered in the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) under section 8.5 of the Key Result Areas on Mitigation. On the same month, DENR has been designated as the operational arm of REDD-Plus implementation through Executive Order 881 of the President. Given these, the PNRPS was presented to the DENR Executive Committee that approved the Strategy on August 9, 2010 and transmitted the same to the Climate Change Commission on August 27, 2010.
Liss said REDD-Plus is at its early stage in the Philippines and the exhibit offers a visual presentation of this approach. The Philippines has elaborated a National REDD-plus Strategy that was endorsed by DENR and is now a key element of the National Climate Change Action Plan approved by the Climate Change Commission chaired by the President in November 2011.
The Climate-relevant Modernization of Forest Policy and Piloting of REDD Project implemented by DENR and GIZ at national level, with pilot activities in Southern Leyte is the featured REDD-Plus Project in the exhibit.
It focuses on avoiding further deterioration of forests and emissions of greenhouse gases while generating benefits such as biodiversity conservation, improvement of local livelihoods and enhancement of ecosystem services through the development of improved forest policies and specific incentives for forest protection and rehabilitation.
The newly discovered frog species in Mt. Nacolod is supported by GIZ and is part of the Biodiversity Resource Assessment done for five municipalities of the GIZ-REDD Plus sites in Southern Leyte covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog.
The information generated, now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path.
For the national Government, it will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National REDD-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAPP), and the National Greening Program.
On the other hand, the Forest Exhibit captures current actions of local communities in forest conservation and protection in Leyte Island, done through a competition among journalists last year. Media representatives from Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News Online and Business Mirror were among those who participated in the competition. The exhibit depicts how the country is beginning to adjust national forest policies to the necessities of climate protection and to test approaches for REDD-Plus.
The exhibit, Liss said, is an opportune time to bring together the medium of film, graphics and photography to communicate historic images of the nation’s massive forest loss and depict current initiatives to achieve sustainable forest management. This means working towards improving the environment and people’s conditions by protecting, replanting and sustainably managing the forests.
Fishbowl Discussion, Debate, and REDD-Plus Hour will be carried out to discuss forestry, highlight the role of community forestry as a central ingredient to the implementation of REDD-Plus, emphasize that tenure over the land is a must for REDD-Plus implementation, and orient participants on basic concepts in relation to REDD-Plus as well as on the PNRPS.
A cultural night will also be held on May 8 evening at Maasin City Gymnasium featuring local artists, and prominent national artists Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios and Lolita Carbon at 8pm.
The event is a compelling visual presentation and interactive dialogue to discuss REDD-Plus and its on-going implementation in the Philippines.
REDD-Plus is an approach that embodies actions of empowered forest managers and support groups to manage forestlands in a sustainable and equitable manner while working towards improved forest policies with regard to climate change, forest protection and rehabilitation.
The DENR-GIZ REDD Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Government. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. (PIA8 with GIZ)
Bureau seeks to establish Mt. Nacolod as a conservation area
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 5 (PIA) -- The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau/New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (PAWB/New CAPP) seeks to establish an inter-local government unit alliance to establish Mt. Nacolod as a conservation area.
"A study has been undertaken jointly by the PAWB/New CAPP and Forest Management Bureau/German Development Cooperation-Duetsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit, through the Fauna and Flora International in coordination with DENR Region 8 and PENRO So Leyte for one-month-long ground survey for a biodiversity assessment in key biodiversity area in Southern Leyte,” said DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Rogelio Trinidad, during the Presentation of the Results of the Biodiversity Assessment of REDD+ Pilot Area/Mt Nacolod in Southern Leyte and Management Planning Workshop, last May 2 and 3 at Kuting Reef, Macrohon, Southern Leyte.
He said that the identified key biodiversity area in Southern Leyte covers six municipalities, namely Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin City, Tomas Oppus, and Malitbog.
The study that spanned slightly over one month, from November to December 15, 2011, recorded a total of 229 flora species in 65 families, with 31 Philippine endemics, 10 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)-critically endangered species, which are mostly Dipterocarp species, and 20 IUCN-vulnerable species. It was also learned that terrestrial vertebrates accounted in the survey totaled to 212 species (birds: 112 species, mammals: 36 species, herpetofauna: 64 species).
Likewise, there are a total of 69 species of terrestrial amphibian and reptiles recorded across the four localities, and of these 69 species, 25 species are frogs belonging to the seven families; 23 species lizards belonging to five families; 20 species of snakes and one specie of terrestrial turtle.
"The PAWB/New CAPP, with funding support from Global Environment Facility, the United Nations Development Programme, aims to expand and strengthen the terrestrial PA system in the Philippines by developing new conservation models," Trinidad disclosed.
The group aimed to capacitate their partners for effective management of the system supported by improved systemic and institutional capacities.
The study also identified threats to biodiversity, which include widespread illegal collection of wildlife, conflicting land tenurial issues improper wildlife collection (e.g. bat collection in caves in Maasin City).
"However, these threats can be addressed by having proper land use classification with strict implementation of policy and reforms that strengthens sustainable conservation initiatives through increased capacitation of stakeholders," he added. (PIA8 SoLeyte)
Southern Leyte solon cites impt programs as economic boosters
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 4 (PIA) -- Important programs of the national government such as Tourism, Environment and Agriculture (TEA), are important components to help boost economy not only here in the province but throughout the country said Southern Leyte Lone District Congressman Roger G. Mercado.
In Southern Leyte, Mercado cited the Panan-awan airport, in Barangay Panan-awan, the Roro Port of Barangay Guadalupe and the on-going port rehabilitation, all in Maasin City as the sites that can help tourism industry in the province.
“If the airport in Panan-awan will be completed, this will hasten the incoming and outgoing of tourists and visitors coming from other places that will visit not only in Maasin City but the province as well, which can automatically improve economic activities,” the solon disclosed in a press conference held at Kinamot Sa Abgao, May 3.
The length of the runway of the Maasin airport is still lacking with only 1.2 kilometers, supposedly the needed runway is 2.0 km, the Congressman said. “An initial funding of P4.5 million had already been released for the extension of the runway, but it was not implemented yet," he added.
Meanwhile, the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) port in Barangay Guadalupe, if pushed through, can also promote economic activities and the P20 million rehabilitation of Maasin City Port which is now on-going through the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The other two economic boosters he mentioned were the environment and agriculture programs of the government. “We need to encourage the people to obey local ordinances and laws of the government,” Hon. Mercado said referring to the anti-smoking campaign, traffic rules, illegal activities, to include illegal logging, illegal drugs, illegal fishing, among others that can affect not only one’s health but the environment as well.
The solon also urged everyone with the help of the media to disseminate the problems concerning the bunchy top virus that affect the abaca industry, brontispa for the coconut industry, and the crown-of-thorns starfish that is now affecting the coral reefs around the province. Through information dissemination, everyone will be aware of the situation, the congressman noted.
“In order to achieve the targets and goals at our end, using our own resources, we need the support of everyone and the media people as one of the forefronts,” Cong. Mercado revealed at the press conference attended by the local reporters, to include Leyte Samar Daily Express correspondent Vicky Arnaiz, Maasin City Senior Citizens Federation President Willy Justimbaste, among others. (EOPT/RSC-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
AUTHORITIES have launched a manhunt for a 27-year-old man tagged in the rape and killing of a 9-year-old girl whose body was found inside a sack dumped at the back of the victims house in Pastrana, Southern, Leyte.
Town police commander Insp. Romeo Abano identified the suspect as Allan Pulga, 27, neighbor of the victim Mary Joy Paboyo, of Barangay Cabauhan.
Abano said autopsy result showed the victim, who was reported missing on April 29, was positively molested and her head was bashed with a hard object that caused her death.
Police said Pulga had no records of mental illness or drug addiction. His family said he may be under the influence of liquor when he committed the crime.
DSWD-8 to hire 800 young workers in Southern Leyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 2 (PIA) - - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 is set to screen today the applicants for the 832 summer job young workers coming from Southern Leyte to join the nationwide Expanded Government Internship (EGIP).
According to Edna Dator of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) EGIP team will meticulously select 112 qualified youths out of 700 young applicants in Maasin City alone; the rest of the EGIP slots will be filled by 40 selected youths from each of the 18 municipalities in the province.
Right now, the said team is still screening the final list of summer job youth workers, who will participate in the internship program of government, she added.
The hired applicants will work for 52 days in the community where they come from in 4Ps, Social Pension for the Indigent Elderly, Supplemental Feeding, Cash for Work and Day Care Services earning P252 per day, she said.
Most of the applicants are aged 18 to 30 years old, many are in school, a number are out-of-school youths, several have degrees and technical-vocational courses, Dator added. (PIA 8, SoLeyte)
CENRO-Maasin partners with 11 POs to protect 5,410 ha. upland areas
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 30 (PIA) -- The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Maasin of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Southern Leyte Provincial Office is now undertaking the development of 5,410 hectares of upland areas under the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) in close coordination with the local peoples’ organizations.
CENRO-Maasin, which covers eight municipalities out of the 18 municipalities and one city of Maasin in the province, reported that the CBFMP is a regular program of the environment department to carry out the reforestation in timberland areas in the mountains and mangrove areas, CENRO-Maasin Senior Staff Edil Alcarde disclosed.
He said, “Thru the social forestry program, the upland dwellers have become partners in the protection of the remaining forest.”
The following upland areas and respective people’s organizations and their area coverages includes: 1) Maasin Farmers Marketing and Credit Org. (MAFAMCO) in Ibarra, Maasin City with 181 has; 2) Young Innovator for Social & Environmental Development Association, Inc. (YISEDA) in Maasin City with 549 has; 3) Kapunongan Mag-uuma sa Sto. Nino (KAMAS) in Macrohon with 182 has; 4) Malico Farmers Resources Management and Conservation Organization (MAFARMCO) in Macrohon with 102 has; 5) Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) in Malitbog with 563 has; 6) Tomas Oppus-Malitbog Farmers Association, Inc. (TOMFA) in Tomas Oppus with 71 has; 7) Tomas Oppus Forest Developers Association, Inc. (TOFDA) in Tomas Oppus with 325 has; 8) Anahao Movement for Productive Community organization (AMPCO) in Bontoc with 451 has; 9) Kahupi-an Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (KUFA) in Sogod with 2,169 has; 10) Aktibong Grupo sa Mag-uuma Alang sa Libagunong Abot (AGILA) in Libagon with 675 has; 11) Barangay Danao Farmers Association (BADAFA) in Macrohon with 244 has; 12) Bogo Women’s Association (BWA) in Maasin City with 50 has thru the Congressional Fund of Rep. Roger G. Mercado.
The overall CBFMP workers availing of the said social forestry program totaled to at least 410 beneficiaries, he added.
He further disclosed that before the implementation of the social forestry program, reforestation was very limited in terms of survival since laborers burned the forest so that they will be hired again.
With this program, the beneficiaries will be able to harvest the trees as if they were their own and harvest mature trees, he added. (EPT/ESG-PIA8, SoLeyte)
CENRO-Maasin partners with 11 POs to protect 5,410 ha. upland areas
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 30 (PIA) -- The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Maasin of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Southern Leyte Provincial Office is now undertaking the development of 5,410 hectares of upland areas under the Community-Based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) in close coordination with the local peoples’ organizations.
CENRO-Maasin, which covers eight municipalities out of the 18 municipalities and one city of Maasin in the province, reported that the CBFMP is a regular program of the environment department to carry out the reforestation in timberland areas in the mountains and mangrove areas, CENRO-Maasin Senior Staff Edil Alcarde disclosed.
He said, “Thru the social forestry program, the upland dwellers have become partners in the protection of the remaining forest.”
The following upland areas and respective people’s organizations and their area coverages includes: 1) Maasin Farmers Marketing and Credit Org. (MAFAMCO) in Ibarra, Maasin City with 181 has; 2) Young Innovator for Social & Environmental Development Association, Inc. (YISEDA) in Maasin City with 549 has; 3) Kapunongan Mag-uuma sa Sto. Nino (KAMAS) in Macrohon with 182 has; 4) Malico Farmers Resources Management and Conservation Organization (MAFARMCO) in Macrohon with 102 has; 5) Malitbog Upland Developers for Sustainable Association (MUDSA) in Malitbog with 563 has; 6) Tomas Oppus-Malitbog Farmers Association, Inc. (TOMFA) in Tomas Oppus with 71 has; 7) Tomas Oppus Forest Developers Association, Inc. (TOFDA) in Tomas Oppus with 325 has; 8) Anahao Movement for Productive Community organization (AMPCO) in Bontoc with 451 has; 9) Kahupi-an Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (KUFA) in Sogod with 2,169 has; 10) Aktibong Grupo sa Mag-uuma Alang sa Libagunong Abot (AGILA) in Libagon with 675 has; 11) Barangay Danao Farmers Association (BADAFA) in Macrohon with 244 has; 12) Bogo Women’s Association (BWA) in Maasin City with 50 has thru the Congressional Fund of Rep. Roger G. Mercado.
The overall CBFMP workers availing of the said social forestry program totaled to at least 410 beneficiaries, he added.
He further disclosed that before the implementation of the social forestry program, reforestation was very limited in terms of survival since laborers burned the forest so that they will be hired again.
With this program, the beneficiaries will be able to harvest the trees as if they were their own and harvest mature trees, he added. (EPT/ESG-PIA8, SoLeyte)
LOW income families living in the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar in the Eastern Visayas region will soon have increased access to affordable maternal health services, thanks to the World Bank which – acting as administrator for the Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid (GPOBA) – has approved a grant of US$3.6 million towards the project.
The project will be implemented over a 4-year period by Population Services Pilipinas Incorporated (PSPI) supported by Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA), established providers of maternal and child health care in the Philippines since 1990. About 145,000 poor families (an estimated 700,000 individuals) are expected to benefit through subsidized access to services including birth delivery and pre- and post-natal care.
The National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) has a mandate to provide universal health insurance coverage to all Filipinos and a solution is needed for the large numbers of indigent and informal sector workers that remain excluded from social health insurance coverage. A 2010 Philippine Health Sector Review found that reforms in the past decades have improved overall health outcomes; however, disparities in access to quality health services and health insurance coverage remain an issue for the poor.
The GPOBA-funded scheme explicitly targets the poor to help address some of the barriers to their access to quality health services, with a 3-part approach: accreditation of 45 service providers in the project area to ensure improved quality of care and the capacity to meet increased demand; enrolment of about 145,000 families, identified and determined as poor by the National Household Targeting System, to ensure that the project reaches those who need it most; and a subsidized voucher scheme to bridge the gap between co-payments charged by health service providers and the amount that target project beneficiaries can afford to pay for approved services.
“This output-based aid scheme supports the new government’s reform agenda to achieve universal access to health care,” said Motoo Konishi, World Bank Country Director for the Philippines. “The project also makes access to quality health services affordable through the subsidized voucher component and more inclusive by explicitly targeting the poor.”
The project will address barriers to health service access by expanding insurance coverage of the poor and by supporting the upgrade of additional service providers in order to meet the national Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) accreditation requirements.
Consistent with the OBA approach, GPOBA will retain an independent verification agent to verify output delivery, including service provider upgrading, and that pre-agreed targets have been met by the project partners before subsidy payments are made. Independent verification makes aid more transparent by linking payment to the delivery of specific services or “outputs.”
“We are enthusiastic about using an innovative approach, as part of a joint effort with PhilHealth, to meet the needs of a population that cannot afford to pay for access to basic health services and to support the government’s commitment to reducing maternal and infant mortality,” said Virgilio Pernito, Chief Executive Officer of PSPI.
Globally, more than 350,000 women die each year due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complications. For the Philippines, this initiative is an important step towards the goal of reducing maternal mortality rates to 52 deaths per 100,000 live births, although past experience suggests that goal may be difficult to attain.
This program is in direct response to the Philippine government’s commitment to pilot interventions that improve the health outcomes, particularly the maternal and reproductive health status, of poor populations.
MACROHON, Southern Leyte -- Local business chambers are concerned over the slow growth of Eastern Visayas’ gross regional development product (GRDP) and its per capita income, which is lower than its neighboring regions.
Robert Castañares, president of the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), said they wonder why there has been a consistent decline of GRDP growth momentum between 2004 and 2009.
“The National Government is actively involved in social services and infrastructure programs but not that much in economic development. That partly explained why in 2004 to 2009 our economy has not improved and poverty incidence has gone up,” Castañares told participants of the 2nd Eastern Visayas Regional Business Conference held in Kuting Reef here this week.
Citing latest available data from the National Government agencies, the business group disclosed that from 5.2 percent GRDP growth in 2004, it went down to 1.8 percent in 2009. The growth rate recorded in 2009 is way below than the 6.3 percent target.
The region’s per capita income is only P7,400 just half of Western Visayas’ P14,500 and Central Visayas’ P15,300. The National Capital Region’s per capita is P38,600.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 27 (PIA) -- Organized by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI) in coordination with the city government of Maasin, the Maasin City Nature and Wildlife Park or simply known as Maasin Zoo had its soft opening, April 26, Thursday, situated at Danao Forest Park, Sitio Danao, Malapoc Norte, this city.
The soft opening was conducted hours after the 2nd Eastern Visayas Business Conference was held at the Kuting Reef, in the municipality of Macrohon. Twelve (12) chambers of commerce and industry that attended the business meeting trouped to Maasin Zoo for the soft opening, the first throughout Eastern Visayas region.
The soft opening held at past three in the afternoon started with a short program, attended by different stakeholders, media practitioners, local and regional officials and visitors composed of the 12 chambers throughout Eastern Visayas coming from Palompon, Baybay, Isabel, Ormoc, Leyte, Calbayog, Samar, Catarman, Northern Samar, Guian, Burauen, and the Southern Leyte CCI headed by its President Robert Castañares. The program was hosted by Zaldy Olita from the city government.
A tour around Maasin zoo was made after the program, led by Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco with the Sangguniang Panglungsod members, Regional Directors from the Department of Tourism (DOT), Karina Rosa Santiago, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)Cynthia Nierras and Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Edgar Esperancilla and investors of the zoo.
Animals that can be seen at Maasin Zoo are two camels, two miniature horses, three tigers, one small Celebes Black Ape, two red-necked ostrich, crocodiles, snakes, and different species of birds such as the silver pheasant, victoria crown, umbrella and black palm cockatoos, Philippine eagle, among other classes of birds.
A grand opening of Maasin Zoo is set next month, May, while summer break is on the wane, it was learned.
SLCCI President Castañares was grateful for the realization of one of the tourism hubs in Southern Leyte, saying that, “the local economy can benefit through building this major tourism hub in the province.” He was pleased with the visitors who came from other parts of region 8 for them to observe while the zoo is still under construction.
The 30-hectare park is located in the 500-hectare Danao Forest Reserve in the upland barangay of Malapoc Norte, 14-kilometer away from the city proper and situated 335 meters above sea level. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
DENR-8 finalizes Biodiversity Assessment of REDD+ Pilot Area and Mt. Nacolod in SoLeyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has completed the Biodiversity Assessment of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) pilot area and at Mt. Nacolod in the province of Southern Leyte.
DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Rogelio T. Trinidad in a letter to PIA-Maasin said, a presentation of the assessment and a Management Planning will be conducted on May 2-3, 2012 at Kuting Reef in Macrohon, this province.
The activity, he said, is aimed to present the results of the biodiversity assessment and draft the management plan for Mt. Nacolod based on the practical knowledge and strategic species-habitat information gathered during the study.
The study was jointly undertaken by Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau/New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (PAWB/NewCAPP) and Forest Management Bureau//German Development Cooperation-Deutsche Gesellschaft fluer Internationale Zusammenarbeit –Climate relevant modernization of forest policy and the REDD in the Philippines Project (FMB/GIZ REDD+ Project) through the Fauna and Flora International (FFI).
The project study coordinated by DENR 8 and PENRO Southern Leyte was also participated by the local universities and representatives from the local government units.
“It was a long-month ground survey that started November 2011 yet,” Director Trinidad said.
The two-day activity is expected to be attended by key stakeholders of the province including the mayors of municipalities within the Mt. Nacolod and chairperson of Sanggunian for Environment at the provincial and municipal levels, representatives from the academe, natural environment protectors and managers, provincial and municipal planning office, among others concerned. (ldl/rgc/PIA 8-Southern Leyte)
East Visayas business leaders gather for trade conference
KUTING BEACH, Macrohon, Southern Leyte, April 25 (PIA) -- Leading personalities in the business sector from six provinces and eight cities in Region 8 will converge for two days - today and tomorrow - in this resort to discuss issues and concerns about tourism and trade opportunities.
The gathering, officially called Second Eastern Visayas Business Conference, is hosted by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), and some 200 participants all over the region are expected to attend, said Sandra Alcober, information officer of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office.
Aside from known business figures, mostly heads and members of various chambers of commerce in the region, political leaders and regional directors of government agencies involved in promoting tourism and investments are also expected to come, Alcober added.
Governor Damian Mercado will be the keynote speaker, said Alcober.
She said the two-day affair will also highlight a trade fair and exhibit and actual visits to the province’s prime tourist destination at the Agas-Agas zipline at Sogod.
The group will also witness the soft opening of the “ZooLeyte” or the Maasin Nature and Wildlife Park at Danao Forest Park in Maasin City scheduled tomorrow afternoon, April 26.
The conference carries the theme, “One Region. One Team: Economic Development thru Public-Private Sector Initiative.” The first-ever Eastern Visayas business meeting was held in March last year, hosted by Leyte province, Alcober further said.
Engr. Robert Castanares, SLCCI President, in his letter of invitation to fellow members to display their products and services, said the objective of the conference is to promote regional trade and investment cooperation in the region.
“Among the highlights of the conference is the presentation by each chamber of its respective province or city development strategy, dominant industry or products, and trade and investment opportunities,” Castanares said.
He also said that the individual output of the different chambers will be consolidated into a Regional Development Framework which will be presented to the Regional Development Council. (LDL/MMP-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
DSWD-8 announces schedule of orientation and interview of its internship program
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 8 through its regional director Leticia T. Diokno issued last Monday the schedule of provincial orientation and deliberation for its applicants of the Expanded Government Internship Program (EGIP).
For Leyte, the schedule of interview and orientation will be on April 24 and 25 in Tacloban City while in Ormoc City, it will be conducted at the Pantawid Pamilya Operations Office on April 30.
For Southern Leyte, interview and orientation will be on April 25 at the provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in Maasin.
For Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 26 at the Pantawid Pamilya Provincial Operations Office in Catbalogan City.
For Eastern Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 27 at the Operations Office of the Pantawid Pamilya located near the Metrobank building in Borongan City.
For Biliran, interview and orientation will be done also on April 27 at the Provincial Capitol building in Naval, and for Northern Samar, interview and orientation will be on April 30 at the Cluster Office of the Pantawid Pamilya in Catarman.
DSWD-8 is hiring 7,634 workers regionwide, specifically in-school youth/students, out-of-school youth, college graduates/vocational course graduates who are unemployed, aged 18 to 30 years old.
Those who will qualify will have a hands-on experience in working with the DSWD, either in centers, institutions, field offices, or at the communities where they come from to assist in the implementation of the agency’s programs and projects such as Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Supplemental Feeding, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Cash For Work, and Day Care Service.
Application forms are now available at the DSWD-8 office website, at the regional office at Tacloban City, and at the Pantawid Pamilya provincial/city/municipal operations office. (ldl/PIA-8/DSWD-8)
Brontispa infestation gradually decreasing in SoLeyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 23 (PIA) -– Coconut farmers from municipalities affected by the brontispa have reported positive results in the treatment of this infestation.
According to Carmelita Maturan, coconut development officer of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Provincial Office, the remedy they have employed may have proven to be effective since latest accounts of farmers suggest that the dessicated coconut leaves affected by the insect are progressively being replaced by regular green and healthy leaves.
However, treatment is not a hundred percent.
“The fight against Brontispa will always be existent. Hence, continued upkeep and maintenance of the coconuts should be exercised,” Maturan said.
Some of the control measures that PCA recommends are the mechanical control which involves cutting and burning, spraying insecticides, and utilizing biologically controlled parasitoids.
Currently, there are nine municipalities in Southern Leyte that are threatened by Brontispa: Maasin, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, Bontoc, Sogod, Liloan, and Hinunangan.
The Department of Agriculture is leading the Brontispa fight and is constantly supplying chemicals and fertilizers to local farmers. The PCA are also closely monitoring the condition of our province’s coconut farms to ensure substantial recovery from the insect attacks. (ldl/esg/Yevgeny Duarte, Student Intern/PIA8 SoLeyte)
S. Leyte urged to conserve forests and biodiversity
by (ldl/Ms.Y Duarte, student OJT/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
SOUTHERN LEYTE, April 20 (PIA) -- With the discovery of the new species of frogs in Southern Leyte, Gordon Ignacio, senior adviser of the biodiversity assessment project, urges Governor Damian Mercado and local government units to conserve the forest and the biodiversity of the province.
According to Ignacio, the rich and unique bio-diversity wildlife is “Southern Leyte’s pride,” for this reason, it must be well-preserved and protected.
The joint project of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), a German government organization, Southern Leyte provincial government, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yielded numerous significant results.
Aside from the new amphibians, the Mount Nacolod assessment also recorded 229 flora species, 31 of which are found only in the Philippines. The survey team recorded 212 vertebrates. These included 112 birds, 36 mammals, and 64 amphibians and reptiles. Flora and Fauna International, a British-based group, said most of these animals are endangered.
Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss, principal advisor for GIZ's forest policy, said the revelation of new species in Southern Leyte underscored the need to protect the forests of the Philippines, a key biodiversity center in the global map. At present, about 80% of the country's forests are degraded.
“By destroying forests, we are also destroying habitats. Who knows what's out there?” he said.
Liss also noted that new species could benefit the community greatly. To start, these species may help in developing new substances, medicines, and materials.
As stated by GIZ’s press release, “support from the government and greater involvement of LGUs are expected to ensure the success of protection and rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity.”
The said institution, together with DENR, plan to continue its field sampling in Mt. Nacolod, a mountain peak near Silago, as well as other areas of the province including the municipalities Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus, and Malitbog.
Frog species, size of a thumb, found in Southern Leyte forest
SOUTHERN LEYTE, April 19 (PIA) -- This province has carved a new impression as a haven for a rich bio-diversity wildlife in the wake of reports broadcast on nationwide television and online news outlets that two new species of frogs were discovered in the forests off the pacific area.
According to reports, the newly-found frogs species were a mottled brown frog with red eyes and a broad yellow stripe running down its back, and a yellow green frog the size not much bigger than a man’s thumb.
The finds were announced by personnel of the British-based Fauna and Flora International in a forum held at the National Museum, it was learned.
Reports said the new species, which have been labeled as endangered and on the brink of extinction and were yet to be named, were found at the Nacolod mountain range in the pacific area of Southern Leyte province.
This area has been part of a conservation-oriented undertaking initiated by the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in addition to an initiative of a German government organization GIZ, the Reducing Emission on Degradation and Deforestation Plus (REDD Plus) project.
The brown frog specimens measured 1.7 -- 2.2 inches, while the yellow-green ones were 0.8 -- 1.1 inches, an online report said.
The Philippines has been listed by US-based Conservation International as one among 17 countries that hold most of Earth’s plant and animals, but at the same time a bio-diversity hotspot due to massive kaingin and illegal logging operations on what was once heavily-forested areas.
The DENR, through its wildlife protection department, reported that aside from the frogs, 36 new plants and animal species were discovered in the country over the past ten years. (ldl/mmp-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
MANILA, Philippines - Two new species of frogs and 229 recorded flora species were discovered in Southern Leyte late last year.
Mundita Lim, head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (DENR-PAWB), said the frogs belong to the genus Platymantis.
“These species inhabit the montane and mossy forests of the Nacolod Mountain Range in Southern Leyte province,” she said. “Both species differ markedly from other known species of Philippine Platymantis frogs by their body size, coloration patterns, and advertisement calls. The two species are allied to two different species groups, the Platymantis guentheri group and Platymantis hazelae group.”
Lim said this is the first time that a Platymantis species belonging to the hazelae group has been discovered in Mindanao faunal region, to which the island of Leyte belongs.
“Herpetologists from the Philippines and the United States are now working on the formal taxonomic description of the species,” she said.
Lim said the month-long ground surveys in Southern Leyte – covering the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, Sogod, Maasin, Tomas Oppus and Malitbog – also recorded a total of 229 floral species (31 of which are unique to the Philippines) and 212 terrestrial vertebrates species comprising 112 species of birds (41 species are unique to Philippines; 11 of which are threatened to extinction), 36 species of mammals (17 species are unique to the Philippines) and 64 species of amphibians and reptiles (more than half of which are found only in the Philippines).
“It is anticipated that a significant number of species will be recorded from Southern Leyte with continued field sampling, especially if the surveys are conducted during the drier months of the year and if a wide range of habitat and elevation zones, from lowland Dipterocarp to mossy forests, are sampled in detail,” she said.
Lim said the assessment indicated the general preference of Southern Leyte’s fauna to forest and riverine environments.
“The information generated now provides a baseline that can be used to predict impacts of habitat change on species and to design measures to protect forest biodiversity. For local government units in Southern Leyte, the findings provide the scientific basis in designing appropriate management systems and monitoring protocols useful in protecting forest ecosystems, establishing local forest and
biodiversity areas as well as to steer the rehabilitation of forests towards an efficient and more ecologically sound path,” she said.
Lim said the assessment will spur forest protection and rehabilitation efforts under the Philippine National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)-Plus Strategy as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan, and the National Greening Program.
Lim said the discovery of the new species on the fragmented forests of Mt. Nacolod intensifies the potential of REDD-Plus for effective protection and rehabilitation of natural forests and conservation of biodiversity, while benefiting local communities.
Greater involvement of LGUs in conserving the biodiversity of Nacolod is expected, she added.
The study was aimed at generating species inventories and practical information on key species-habitat associations as sound bases for forest and biodiversity management planning, Lim said.
Joining the PAWB in conducting the biodiversity assessments last November 2011 were the Fauna & Flora International, the National Museum of the Philippines, and DENR Eastern Visayas.
PALO, Leyte – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) will push through a one-year pilot technology demonstration on coral reef restoration in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.
The coastal area situated within the Sogod Bay will get a P5-million budget out of the recently approved P35.35 million funding for nine coral reef rehabilitation projects nationwide.
DOST Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla said they signed an agreement with SLSU based in Sogod town, which will be their partner in undertaking pilot technology demonstration.
“We prioritize the one hectare in Padre Burgos because it is where depleted coral reefs can be found. There are also nearby resort owners who are willing to sustain the project. The undertaking is to show how the private sector can implement coral reef reforestation,” Esperancilla said.
The project aims to promote science-based coral reef management practices through public-private sector partnership, establish technology pilot demonstration sites for coral nurseries to produce 30,000 coral nubbins, and establish one hectare of reef in Padre Burgos.
The science department is eyeing to complete the project on March 14, 2013.
“To make sure that corals will grow, we need the help of the private sector to maintain this, especially that damaging starfish are infesting the area,” he said.
Population outbreak of damaging crown-of-thorns starfish was spotted in 74 hectares of coral reefs in Southern Leyte with a population density of up to 420 pieces per square meter, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
Of the 74 hectares infested, 60 hectares are in the municipality of Padre Burgos, nine hectares in Maasin City and five hectares in Macrohon town.
Crown-of-thorns starfish climbs over the corals, releases digestive enzymes to break down its food, and then absorbs the coral polyp, leaving only coral skeleton.
Other than the toxic starfish, the DOST believed that coral reefs in Southern Leyte are damaged by a variety of human activities such as household sewage, industrial wastage and agricultural chemicals from land that are washed off to the sea.
Dangerous fishing methods such as blast and dynamite fishing also contributed to coral reef destruction.
Coral reef reforestation will also be implemented in provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Zambales, Batangas, Masbate, Aklan, Bohol, and Tawi-Tawi.
Environmental office bares municipalities with highest collection of deadly starfish
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Apr 16 (PIA) -- The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) has been continuously extracting the crown-of-thorns starfish throughout Southern Leyte since it reportedly increased in number, particularly in the waters of Sogod Bay and in Maasin City.
In a mitigation report by Coastal Fisheries Resources and Management Office Provincial Head Eva Abad the municipality with the highest COTS extracted was Padre Burgos with 80,145, followed by Maasin City that extracted around 34,000 and in Limasawa with 25,461 by the end of March 2012.
Abad added that other municipalities which conducted COTS extraction include Macrohon with 3,000 deadly starfish collected; Tomas Oppus – 2,192; Malitbog – 23,565; Lilioan – 1,056; San Francisco – 1,143; Pintuyan – 1,054; Hinundayan – 356; Hinunangan – 863; Bontoc – 18; Libagon – 10; and Sogod with only one reported.
Crown-of-thorns starfish are locally known of dap-marine invertebrates that feed on corals which are marine sanctuaries and kills corals.
In the mitigation report, Abad informed that there were municipalities in the province not included in the COTS outbreak such as San Ricardo, St. Bernard, San Juan, and Anahawan.
The total crown-of-thorns starfish extracted as of April 2012 numbered 170,165 pieces, initiated by the provincial government with the assistance of volunteers throughout the province, Abad disclosed. “This does not include the different Dive Shop Divers collection,” she said.
The local government units concerned has been coordinating with different agencies including non-government organizations to assist in the COTS outbreak and how to mitigate its existence, such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SLCCI), the GIZ, Provincial and Maasin City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, among other concerned agencies.
“We are proposing the production of IEC materials such as pamphlets and posters for public awareness which is now designed by PENRMO staff,” Abad said while other activities are properly coordinated with the other agencies. (ldl/rgc-PIA 8, Southern Leyte)
11 Eastern Visayas LGUs yet to comply with policy on disclosure
TACLOBAN CITY—Only 11 of the over 140 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have yet to comply with the national government’s policy on full disclosure of financial transactions, according to a Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) official.
Pedro Noval Jr., DILG Eastern Visayas director, said the 11 LGUs were only missing one or two documents mandated to be posted under the full disclosure policy being implemented by the department.
These LGUs were Pintuyan in Southern Leyte; Lapinig in Northern Samar; and the towns of Almagro, Gandara, Hinabangan, Jiabong, Matuginao, Motiong, Tagapul-an, Tarangnan and Zumarraga, all in Samar province.
Eastern Visayas has about 149 LGUs constituting provinces, cities and municipalities. This means that 138 LGUs across the region have fully complied with the policy.
The full disclosure policy program requires LGUs to post several documents, including their budgets and finances, and bids and public offerings in government websites, newspapers of general circulation and in other conspicuous and appropriate places.
Full disclosure
Based on the provisions of Republic Act No. 10147, or the General Appropriations Act of 2011, adherence to the full disclosure policy is now compulsory.
Local governments without a website should also post the required information on the website of the DILG regional office concerned on www.dilg.gov.ph, the website of the DILG central office.
Noval cited the document on items to bid as the most common instrument that the 11 LGUs have not yet posted so they could not be considered as having complied with the full disclosure policy.
He said that based on their explanations, the LGUs said they lacked the time to prepare the said document.
“But I expect within this month that all the 11 LGUs will be able to fully comply with the full disclosure policy,” said Noval who has been monitoring the LGUs’ compliance.
He added that the failure of the LGUs to observe the full disclosure policy could mean the filing of administrative charges.
“(Officials) should be held accountable and responsible with their actions to the people they serve,” Noval said.
Earlier this year, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered the DILG field offices to send “show cause” orders to the executives of the LGUs concerned to explain or face sanctions for noncompliance with the provisions of the 2011 General Appropriations Act.
The full disclosure of financial transactions aims to minimize, if not totally, eradicate corruption and misuse of public funds.
LIMASAWA, SOUTHERN LEYTE -- A military official vowed to block rebels’ efforts to retake insurgent-free Visayas provinces as they shift their thrust to implementation of development projects from counter-insurgency efforts.
Col. John S. Bonafos, commander of 802nd brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Downes, Ormoc City, said they are stepping up efforts to coordinate with local government units and other government agencies in undertaking development projects. "We will continue our support operations particularly in the development aspects needed by people. After we have attained peace, we will move to development phase like construction of classrooms, road repair and road widening," Mr. Bonafos told BusinessWorld.
The brigade covers the insurgent-free provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran. It is the only Philippine Army headquarters in the entire country with all covered areas officially declared as rebel-cleared.
Among the five provinces, Biliran was the first to gain the insurgent-free status as jointly declared by the army and local government unit in December 2008. Cebu and Bohol were declared free of rebel activities in March 2010 while Southern Leyte and Leyte attained the same status in September 2011 and December 2011, respectively.
"The situation of these Visayas provinces exemplifies that we can attain the insurgent-free status through multi-stakeholders participation," Mr. Bonafos said.
For insurgent-free areas, the military turned over the lead role in maintaining the internal security to its local executives and police.
A province is categorized as insurgency-free when the threat posed by the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem.
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 12 (PIA) -- The Office of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)-8 through its Regional Director German Palayab signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Southern Leyte Governor Damian G. Mercado to bring their services closer to Southern Leyteños.
The MOA signing was held at the governor’s office here this morning, April 11.
“Both parties need to gain strength and joint benefits from its creative cooperation and collaboration towards extending frontline services such as 'one-stop shop' to be set up by the local government unit in order to serve the public more efficiently," the MOA stated.
Director Palayab disclosed that the office will open as soon as the assigned staff from the local government will be trained. “An office staff will be trained for two days,” the director said, referring to one of the counterparts of the provincial government, an office staff in addition to the office space, among other supports to PRC.
PRC’s service commitment to the said agreement would bring services closer to the constituents of Southern Leyte by extending its window services at the provincial capitol, and conducting “PRC on wheels” whenever requested in order to renew PRC professional IDs, issuance of certifications, authentications, and accept applications for PRC licensure examinations.
The source added that PRC will also conduct briefings on PRC services and Licensure Examinations upon request from the provincial government, manage the day-to-day operations of the PRC Service Kiosk at the local level, among other service commitments.
On the other hand, the provincial government likewise will extend assistance to PRC, such as to cooperate with the PRC desk officer to ensure that only qualified and licensed professionals are employed at positions in the municipalities that require such qualifications, cooperate with the PRC for the protection of the public by raising awareness among professionals in government service.
The MOA signing was witnessed by Vice Governor Mike Maamo, Sangguniang Panlalwigan Member Romeo Gomez, Provincial Administrator Crispin Arong, Jr., College of Maasin President Miguel Udtohan, and media personnel from Southern Leyte Balita and PIA-Maasin. (LDL/RGC-PIA 8 Southern Leyte)
LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte – Mothers in this island town are not left alone in ensuring that children are well-nourished with fathers equipped with knowledge on good nutrition and proper breastfeeding.
The “Tatay Ko, Kaagapay sa Kalusogan Ko” campaign was launched three years ago by the local government, which regularly gathers all fathers in the island and orients them on their role to improve or maintain the nutritional status of children.
Jesrel Tiongco, a community health team member, said while men in other places usually make jokes on breastfeeding-related topics, fathers here are taking the support role seriously.
“We gather in barangay health center every quarter and discuss how fathers can support lactating women. We ensure exclusive breastfeeding during first six months of life. We also learn the proper position of breastfeeding so that we can help our wives,” said Tiongco, a father of a three-year-old child.
Remegilda Salomon, municipal nutrition action officer, said during a gathering with fathers, local nutrition workers gave updates on good nutrition and responsible parenthood aside from breastfeeding promotion.
“As practiced in Limasawa, the mother and the father jointly monitor the nutritional status of their children,” Salomon said.
In 2010, almost all the men in the municipality together with all municipal and barangay officials had undergone the training on Infant and Young Child Feeding and the Pabasa sa Nutrisyon.
In most areas in the region, these advocacies are centered on health and nutrition workers and mothers.
In this town, stores don’t sell infant formula since all mothers are exclusively feeding their babies with breast milk from birth to six months and provide nutritious complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years.
Limasawa’s performance in terms of breastfeeding is remarkable compared to the national figure, Salomon said.
The 7th National Nutrition Survey revealed that among infants 0-5 months old, only 36 out of every 100 were exclusively breastfed; only 37 of every 100 were breastfed at the same time given a complementary food and as many as 27 out of every 100 infants were given other milk and other foods.
Breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life is deemed crucial since it cuts the risk of chronic diseases and leads to overall better development.
The government will be conducting the Leyte-Mindanao interconnection project study that would establish an integrated grid and allow reserve electricity generation capacity to be shared by the three regional grids — Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The study, which is estimated to cost P90 million, will be undertaken by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) for a period of one year and another year for assessment.
Energy Undersecretary Josephine Patricia Asirit said for the first time, the Aquino administration will implement the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao interconnection grid to assure power stability in the country.
At present, Asirit said only the Luzon and Visayas — through the Leyte grid — have interconnectivity. It will only be in this administration that the entire Philippine grid would be interconnected.
She cited the current power situation in some parts of Mindanao where it experienced regular brownouts.
With the Leyte-Mindanao interconnection in place, Asirit said, the Luzon grid which has 200 MW excess and the Visayas which can also export another 200 MW, power shortage in Mindanao can easily be resolved.
The Leyte-Mindanao interconnection project was aimed at addressing the power shortage not only in Mindanao but the entire country as well.
It includes the installation of about 455-kilometer overhead line and 23-km submarine cable with a maximum depth of around 1,000 meters below sea level.
The interconnection project was originally designed for 250-kilovolt high-voltage density cable bipolar link with a total transfer capacity of 500 MW to 800 MW.
It will start from the existing Ormoc Converter Station in Leyte and terminates at Kirahon Converter station in Northcentral Mindanao via Southern Leyte and Northeastern Mindanao.
The Leyte-Mindanao interconnection is part of the long-term solution to resolve power shortage in the region.
SILAGO, Southern Leyte– A food security program sponsored by the European Union, Germany-based Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) has benefited over 40,000 poor households in Eastern Visayas.
The program, named Enhancement of Food Security in the Visayas (EFOS), which was implemented by the Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Internationale Zummenarbeit (GIZ), and which ended early this year, was designed to sustainably increase food security, and agricultural, fisheries and forestry productivity in the region, with special focus on Eastern Visayas.
GIZ operates in more than 130 countries worldwide with most of its work commissioned by the BMZ
EFOS was comprised of four project components, namely, natural resources governance, infrastructure through cash-for-work, productivity and production enhancement, and crop insurance.
EFOS Senior Adviser Alex Tabada said the program’s cash-for-work covered over 12,000 households in 24 towns, earning some P35 million in wages.
That particular program component paved way for the creation of 62-kilometers of farm-to-market roads and 40 kilometers of upland foot trails including 11.4 kilometers of communal irrigation canals supporting some 933 hectares of ricelands.
Communities extract 170,000 Crown Of Thorns Starfish in Limasawa, Padre Burgos and Maasin City
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 6 (PIA) -- The bane of corals are finally being decimated. At least 170,000 Crown Of Thorns Starfish (COTS), locally known of dap-marine invertebrates that feed on corals which are marine sanctuaries, and also kill corals, were extracted particularly in Limasawa, Padre Burgos, and Maasin City, all of Southern Leyte in less than 10 days.
“We have found extreme population of COTS particularly in the municipalities of Limasawa and Padre Burgos and the city of Maasin where we estimated the presence of over a thousand COTS in one hectare compared to 12 COTS in normal condition, “ according to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) – Coastal Fisheries Resource Management Office (CFRMO) Chief Eva Abad.
She said that in less than 10 days of synchronized extraction of COTS in the mentioned three different areas, an estimated 170,000 of COTS were partially gathered by the communities including the owners of foreign-operated dive shops in the locality particularly in Padre Burgos.
Abad said the initial estimates of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Provincial Office reported last March 22 that in one 500 square-meter area of corals alone, there were an estimated of over a thousand COTS.
However, BFAR Provincial Office is now undertaking an actual underwater assessment of the presence of COTS to 500 square meters of corals and to determine the extent of the damaged coral areas had done in the province, she said.
She added that there will be more joint lined up activities by the local government units and by the GIZ, a German organization in order to prevent this impending coastal disaster in the province.
In Maasin City alone, the local government unit–initiated extraction got a total of 23,000 COTS collected March 27, 2012, she added.
She noted that extraction of COTS most of the times were stalled due to the lack of funds in order to mobilize the community to join in the extraction along their barangays. (ldl/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)
Over a thousand slots await “summer jobbers” in So. Leyte
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Apr. 4 (PIA) -- The Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial office here just got even more special this summer time, as more qualified youths will be gainfully employed.
In a list of 2012 SPES pledged by DOLE, some 1,031 posts are up for grabs, mainly through the labor agency’s partner institutions that include local government units (LGUs), a public school, and one national government office - the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Mario Tictic of DOLE-So. Leyte said that for this year, their office was given an allocation of 1,500 students for SPES placement, also popularly known as summer job, so there are still some 400 more slots to be filled, this time in cooperation with private schools which already signified their intention to join.
DOLE and their respective listed partners are presently finalizing the papers of students who had applied for this summer’s SPES, which will start on May 7 for a 20-day employment period, while educational institutions in the private sector like Saint Joseph College (SJC) and the College of Maasin (CM) will start in June, Tictic said.
The provincial government tops the list with 338 students up for hiring, followed by the city government at 150, and Malitbog LGU with 110, then Sogod LGU at 100. Malitbog has the distinction of hiring similar students for years in a row, even as it accepts new SPES applicants, 80 students for this summer.
The public school which participated in this program is the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)-Bontoc Campus.
Other LGUs with SPES placements this year are Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Tomas Oppus, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Silago, and Liloan.
Most summer jobbers have a daily rate of P 150 per day, except for SLSU-Bontoc at P 133 per day, Maasin City at P 180 per day, and DPWH at P 250 per day. Salaries, however, will be shared between DOLE and the sponsoring LGU/agency, with DOLE paying 40 percent of the rate, and the LGUs, 60 percent.
Based on the list, DOLE had set aside a budget of P 1,338,662.40 for 1,031 SPES, while the combined counterpart of all the LGUs was P 2,007,993.60.
Last year, there were only a little over 400 SPES slots reserved by DOLE for Southern Leyte.
The Special Program for Employment of Students is mandated under Republic Act No. 9547 which aims to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by providing income or augment their income through encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations. The SPES is open to all qualified high school, college or vocational students or drop-outs and interested employers. (GTT/MMP-PIA8, Southern Leyte)
MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, April 3 (PIA) -- Together with 44 other honor students, two Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) scholars graduated Cum Laude during the Commencement Exercises of the Leyte Normal University on March 26 in Tacloban City.
“We take pride in the achievements of our scholars. This makes evident that the financial assistance extended to them as qualified beneficiaries of our OFW (overseas Filipino workers) clients is not put to waste,” says OWWA- RWO8 OIC-Director II Ma. Evangelina V. Filamor in a press release.
Filamor said after four years of struggle for academic excellence was worth the long wait for Ritzee Operio and Mark Geraldo when they graduated Cum Laude among 1,059 graduates.
The graduates are OWWA scholars under the OFW Dependents Scholarship Program (OFW-DSP) whereby an eligible dependent of an active OFW with a basic monthly salary of $400 and below receives financial assistance of P10,000 per semester, she said.
She further said Geraldo, with a grade of 1.55, and Operio, with 1.65, outstandingly earned a double degree in Bachelor of Science in Secondary and Elementary Education major in English. While in search for a private school to practice their profession, they plan to review for the September Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
“OWWA is part of our success and we are very much thankful for the assistance they have extended to us,” says Geraldo in an interview, Filamor quoted.
Another OWWA scholar grabbed first honor award in the Commencement Exercises of the Sto. Nino SPED Center, Tacloban City on March 31 - Danna Mheliza Mae D. Budano garnered 93.8 percent, topping the entire second grade level of the said school, Filamor further reported.
The achiever is an OWWA scholar under the education component of Education and Livelihood Assistance Program whereby an eligible dependent of deceased OFW who was an active OWWA member at the time of death receives financial scholarship grant until completion of a tertiary degree, Filamor said. (LDL/ESG-PIA 8, SoLeyte)
NSO to Visayans: Pls cooperate in the Consumer Expectations Survey in Region 8
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, April 2 (PIA) -- The National Statistics Office in Eastern Visayas under the leadership of Director Raul Dones called on the public to cooperate in the conduct of the April 2012 Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) in selected provinces in Eastern Visayas namely, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, and Eastern Samar.
Director Dones enjoined all sample household to actively support and cooperate in the said activity which will start on April 2 to 16. Likewise, the support and assistance of the local government units are solicited in order to ensure the success of this undertaking, the NSO Director said.
Dones said that just like any other surveys undertaken by NSO, the data that will be gathered shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be divulged to any person except to authorize NSO personnel. The data will not be used for taxation, investigation, or enforcement purposes.
Dones said that the Consumer Expectations Survey is actually conducted in selected provinces nationwide except except in Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) contracted the NSO to conduct CES in order to collect comprehensive information on the business conditions of the country in the household sector, Director Dones informed.
The NSO’s responsibility is to undertake the data collection and encoding of the questionnaires while BSP’s responsibility is the generation of tables and analysis of the results, the NSO Director added.
The CES is a household-based survey on the consumers’ assessment of their financial situation, the economic condition of the country and the overall performance of the government. This is a complementary survey to BSP’s Business Expectations Survey (BES).
The survey is administered on a sample basis at the household level drawn through a stratified multi-stage random sampling. The survey has a total sample of about 5,000 households nationwide. The total sample in Region VIII is 308 households.
The conduct of CES aims to provide a quick and regular assessment of the financial condition of consumers and economic condition of the country at present and in the near future, from the consumers’ own viewpoints; to generate forecasts in the direction of the country’s economic activity based on consumers’ outlook in the next 12 months; and to provide quick and regular assessment of consumers’ outlook in terms of their income and expenditures. (EOPT - PIA 8)
DSWD 8 releases cash grant to 2,550 "Pantawid Pamilya" beneficiaries in Maasin City
MAASIN City, Southern Leyte, Apr. 1 (PIA) -- A total of 2,550 household beneficiaries here received their conditional cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Together with the two bank tellers from the Land Bank of the Philippines – Maasin Branch and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Office, the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries on Friday started to claim their conditional cash grants for the months of November 2011 – February 2012 at the maximum of P 1,400 per month for every beneficiary.
Instead of only two months, Maasin City beneficiaries are entitled to receive four – months worth of cash grant as decided by the DSWD Central Office, to fully utilize the previous year's Pantawid Pamilya funds throughout the region.
DSWD Region 8 Director Letecia T. Diokno admonished the beneficiaries to handle the financial assistance properly and reminded them that the money is not for the parents but for the education and health care of the children and the expectant mothers.
She cautioned them to comply with the conditions set by the program since if they lack in fulfilling the requirements they will be cut off in receiving the said monthly cash grant.
She further urged the parents to work hard instead of waiting for the monthly conditional cash grant as this serves only to supplement their needs for their children to pursue education and health of the children and pregnant mothers.
Diokno challenged the beneficiaries that as a 4Ps family, they should become model of a peaceful family with children going to school, healthy children and mothers, among other being socially developed family with the additional income of P15,000 every year for five years from now. (EOPT/ESG, PIA8 SoLeyte)