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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:
  1. 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.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

City, Province entice investors in the BPO industry

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- Mayor Maloney Samaco said Tuesday the government is willing to share the cost of training call center agents needed by call-center businesses investing in his locality.

In a press conference, Samaco said that investors in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry were willing to locate in the region if there was trained manpower capable of handling the job demands.


To entice these investors, “the city and province will share in the cost of training prospective and potential personnel as call center agents,” he said.


The demand for offshore call-centers has paced the private outsourcing agency’s promotion of foreign direct investments in the country.


Meanwhile, Samaco said a Cebu-based business consortium is being contracted to expand an existing reclamation area in the city with landfill from nearby hills. Talks with the consortium started last year under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement. The consortium would then convert the landfill area into a memorial park. (MMP/PIA8)





SoLeyte bares prevalence of malnutrition in East Visayas

by Rebecca S. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- The Provincial Nutrition Council in a meeting held Tuesday bared how the region fares regarding the prevalence of malnutrition by municipality throughout Eastern Visayas Region.

Provincial nutritionist Nilda Rich disclosed in a meeting with the PNC-Technical Working Group that the municipality of Pintuyan, in Southern Leyte was at top 25, having 20.97 percent underweight from 68.1 percent total preschoolchildren (Operation Timbang coverage). Number 1 went to San Jorge from the province of Samar, with 30.50 percent underweight from the 64.74 percent conducted OPT.

While Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar have 29.72 percent from the weighted 43.50 percent and San Jose de Buan from Samar with 29.66 percent over the weighed pre-schoolers of 64.53 percent, second and third ranks respectively.

Rich reported that the municipality of Limasawa ranked the least at 137th place from the total municipalities throughout Eastern Visayas, with only 4.19 percent underweight pre-schoolers. Limasawa already won the Galing Pook Award for the implementation of nutrition program, it was learned.

Rich informed that all muncipalities from the provinces of Eastern Visayas region were ranked according to the number of malnourished pre-schoolers from the OPT coverage. “Leyte’s first municipality was at top 12 with Jaro having 25.75 percent from 84.99 percent OPT coverage; Biliran at 64th with Caibiran town having 16.48 percent out of 83.41 percent OPT coverage; and Eastern Samar with Gen,. McArthur as the first municipality that ranked 43rd with 18.69 percent out of 82.27 covered OPT,” she added.

The presentation was made by Rich as a feedback from the District Nutrition Provincial Coordinators’ meeting held from January 31-February 1, 2012 at Tacloban City hosted by the National Nutrition Council through Regional Nutrition Program coordinator Carina Z. Santiago.

On the other hand, Rich also expounded on the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act No. 10028, or the promotion of breastfeeding and the establishment of rooming-in and breastfeeding practices, where any establishment, whether public or privately-run are encouraged to put-up a breastfeeding room for working mothers who breastfeed their babies

The meeting was attended by members of PNC-Technical Working Group such as the National Food Authority (NFA), Department of Interior and Local government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), among other member-provincial offices. (PIA 8-Southern Leyte)

OCD enhances knowledge of disaster-risk barangays in SoLeyte

by Rebecca S. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) conducted a hazard mapping orientation in 14 barangays in the municipality of Libagon to enhance knowledge on disaster-risk and vulnerabilities in their areas.

“At least 14 barangay chairmen from the 14 municipalities of Libagon attended the one-day hazard mapping orientation,” Civil Defense officer Marichu Tan disclosed to PIA-Maasin. It was also participated by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) members headed by Libagon Mayor Oliver Ranque, she added.

The activity taught the barangay officials how to conduct hazard mapping, especially those barangay residents at risk in times of disaster, before, during and after any calamity, Tan said.

The hazard mapping orientation also aims to strengthen the disaster risk reduction council at the local level, especially the barangay DRRMC, since they will be the first to act in times of disaster,” Tan said. (PIA 8-Southern Leyte)

PNP – Maasin City initially plants 750 mangrove trees

by Erna S. Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb 14 (PIA) --- The police here has already started planting at least 750 mangrove seedlings to strongly support the nationwide tree planting campaign, in compliance with the President's National Greening Program.

Superintendent Hector Enage disclosed that each of the 52 organic police officers and staff in the police station are required to plant at least six trees every month for a year. Enage said earlier this month they were able to plant 500 mangrove trees in Barangay Pasay mangrove in Maasin City in close coordination with the barangay officials, who also contributed their share of mangrove seedlings to the tree planting. On February 11, Saturday, the Maasin City PNP conducted the second tree planting in Barangay Manhilo mangrove area and planted another 250 seedlings, Enage added.

Enage said the will further coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and barangay councils in the city for the rest of the tree planting activities particularly in their need for tree planting materials and planting areas. The tree planting activity of Maasin City Police Station is in consonance with the campaign of Police Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to plant 10 million trees for the same period and to PNoy's call to plant a billion trees to mitigate climate change.(PIA8- Southern Leyte)

Solon offers scholarship to students taking up Agriculture course

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 13 (PIA) -- Graduating high school students here and anywhere in the province who belong to the top five of the graduating class were challenged by the province's representative to avail of his scholarship program for the coming school year, 2012-2013. But one pre-requisite condition should be met, and that is, that the student take up an agriculture course at a government school here in the province, referring to the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) or the Maasin City College (MCC). According to Aida Morsen Moralde of Cong. Roger Mercado’s district office, there were students in the past who availed of the lawmaker’s initiative, as agriculture was one of the courses listed under the Congressman’s scholarship program. So far, however, someone has yet to graduate from this course, as the tendency was to shift to other courses, it was learned. In a recent meeting with heads of national line agencies, Mercado announced his desire to help graduating students continue college schooling, even as he singled Agriculture as the preferred course to be taken up. He appealed on the students to spread the word to those interested to pursue an agriculture degree, especially if he or she belongs to the upper level of the graduating class. Last month, Mercado rallied concerned stakeholders in his vision of a Southern Leyte province that will become a producer, no longer a consumer, of agriculture products, to reverse the trend nowadays that virtually anything agricultural sold in the market either came from Cebu or Mindanao. The province should be producing these staples so that it can be self-reliant and can even sell to other places of the country, Mercado said. During the Agriculture-Tourism summit last month, Mercado had linked up with the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the people’s organizations, and the Mayors of the different local government units in the province to start mapping a roadmap or blueprint for the province’s full-speed agricultural development. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

TESDA-So. Leyte is now ISO certified

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 12 (PIA) -- The Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provincial office here has undergone the necessary processes required by an audit-qualifying body for it to pass the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

In previous interviews with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), TESDA Provincial Director Rolando Juanillo has intimated that his office was subjected to a rigorous scrutiny assessing its quality services, along with provincial offices of Samar and Leyte.

Aside from the TESDA Central Office, Region 8 was part of the three regions initially selected to undergo the ISO certification, the two others were Regions 3 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), Juanillo had revealed.

On February 10, Friday, the mentioned areas were scheduled to receive the ISO 9001-2008 certification for having complied the requirements on quality procedures among others, Juanillo told PIA over the phone Wednesday.

An agency granted with the ISO mark usually enhances its reputation as a globally competitive office recognized to deliver quality product and services to its clientele, in an atmosphere of improved efficiency and at least cost, it was learned.

Juanillo said that as of now all other TESDA provincial offices in the region will also be undergoing a similar process.(PIA8-Southern Leyte)

31 sitios in So. Leyte awaits NEA lighting project

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 10 (PIA) -- Residents in 31 remote sitios all over this province can expect to avail the services of the local power firm Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) anytime this year because of the rural electricity program of the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Benson Mindajao, Member Development Officer of SOLECO, told Philippine Information Agency (PIA) yesterday that the list was already submitted to NEA before Christmas last year for implementation which he hoped to be undertaken sooner. Last year, also before Christmas, two sitios were energized, Sitio Mangmang and Bagong Silang, all of Macrohon town, with a total cost of P 1.2 million mostly subsidized by the electrification agency, benefiting more than the minimum limit of 30 household connections, Mindajao said. For this year 2012, the total cost for energizing the 31 sitios or Puroks amounted to P 12,165,382.80 with SOLECO shouldering the labor component, among others, while the materials costing more than P 9 million was handled by NEA, Mindajao disclosed. This will be under its Subsidiary Electric Program or the Barangay Line Enhancement Program that was pushed aggressively for lighting all far-flung sitios nationwide as one of the pet priorities of President Benigno Aquino III, he added. Mindajao also said that four out of the 31 sitios were located in Maasin City, the rest distributed in the 18 other towns of the province. These were Sitio Gawad Kalinga in barangay Combado, Sitio Alpha in San Rafael, Purok Anahawan in barangay Libhu, and Sitio Upper Kandiis, also of Libhu. In December, City Tourism Officer Royeno Segovia informed PIA that all farthest sitios were already reached by an electrification program initiated by the city government. When told about this, Mindajao said new sitios kept propping up every year which needed extension of their existing lines. In fact, for this year, aside from the 31 awaiting NEA’s go-signal, about 40 potential sitios are longing for power connectivity, and resolutions from barangays on this matter kept coming, Mindajao further said. (Marcelino Pedalino - PIA8 Southern Leyte)

National Greening Program gaining headway

by www.tempo.com.ph


Manila, Philippines – Eastern Visayas (Region was selected as pilot site for the 2012 national Greening Program (NGP), to highlight the region’s record of exceeding its targeted number of hectares with tree seedlings planted since the program was launched on May 2011. Eastern Visayas, consisting of six provinces – Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte – exceeded its 2011 NGP target. It produced 4,052,500 seedlings and planted 8,105 hectares with indigenous tree species and fruit-bearing trees. Eastern Visayas has been given a higher target of 12,365 hectares to be planted with trees this year. The Bicol Region (Region 5) also surpassed its 2011 target by 12 percent with 6,303 hectares of open and denuded forestland planted with close to 4 million tree seedlings. When the NGP was launched in Bicol in May last year, stakeholders in the region planted 3.9 million tree seedlings in 6,303 hectares of open and denunded forestland. Camarines Sur led with 2,102,578 tree seedlings planted in 3,005 hectares. The Department of National Defense (DND) allocated 12,000 hectares for the establishment of tree nursery sites in military reservations nationwide, including Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Kibaritan Military Reservation in Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur, Camp Peralta in Capiz, and Villaviciosa Military Reservation in Abra. In coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Agriculture (DA), the DND is also propagating bamboo plantations. The NGP targets the planting of 1.5 billion tree seedlings in 1.5 million hectares nationwide from 2011 to 2016. priority areas include mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domain, civil and military areas, and urban areas under the LGU greening plan. For 2012, the target is 200,000 hectares. The goal is a survival rate of 80 percent by tapping sound upland practices and confining identified planting sites to areas where there are communities that can maintain and ensure growth of the seedlings into mature trees. The overall objectives of the National Greening Program are poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and environment mitigation.

TESDA-So. Leyte offers three voc-tech courses scholarship training

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 8 (PIA) -- Interested and qualified youths in this city can avail of a scholarship training program for three vocational-technical courses at a private learning school here in partnership with the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

In a phone interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) this morning, TESDA provincial director Rolando Juanillo said the three voch-tech courses due to open at the Saint Joseph College (SJC) Vocational Training Center include Metal Arc Welding, Plumbing, and Electrical Wiring.

Juanillo said he already communicated this opportunity to the 70 barangays all over this city which is the priority area for this TESDA-initiated training, and many have already responded.

Still, TESDA will not start until all slots are covered. For metal arc welding, 43 slots were made available, and five slots are yet unfilled; so also with electrical wiring, where 41 slots were granted.Plumbing, which also has 43 slots, were just a little over half filled-up, Juanillo said.

The total of 127 slots for the three mentioned voc-tech courses scholarship training was part of a P 1 million fund set aside by TESDA Secretary Emmanuel Joel Villanueva as the city’s share for this particular project, Juanillo said.

On Saturday during a meeting with heads or representatives of national line agencies called by Rep. Roger Mercado, Josefina Corollo of the provincial TESDA office announced that the Congressman’s request for training was already approved as part of the current scholarship program.

uanillo said the three vocational-technical courses do not discriminate acceptance on whether the applicant is a male or female, as long as he or she is 18 years old and above, and a high school graduate at least.

Welding requires 304 hours or an equivalent of 38 days, plumbing 162 hours or 20 days, while electrical wiring 402 hours or 50 days. Students who take these courses will assessed for a National Certificate (NC) 2 level, Juanillos further said. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

DOH conducts exit conference for RN-HEALS project in Southern Leyte

by Erna S. Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 7 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) based in Southern Leyte conducted an exit conference for the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement And Local Service (RN-HEALS) project through presentation of accomplishments at the Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) conference hall, February 7. DOH Representative to the province, Dr. Feliciano John Matibag disclosed that Southern Leyte was allotted at least 77 registered nurses for the nationwide project, from February 2011 up to February of 2012. “DOH required them to present their accomplishment for evaluation since their contract will end on February 14, 2012,” he said, adding that another batch of nurses will be hired for the next RN-HEALS project. The conference was done in two batches, Matibag said. The first batch was held February 6 for Maasin City to Malitbog areas and February 7 for Sogod Bay to Panaon areas, discussing RN-HEALS accomplishment reports and the issues and concerns within their areas of jurisdiction.

Matibag informed PIA-Maasin this morning that there will be another RN-HEALS project, allotting Southern Leyte for at least 105 registered nurses to be distributed at the local government units such as Macrohon, Limasawa, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Liloan, San Francisco, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, Hinunangan, Silago and in Maasin City. A minimum of 7 nurses will be assigned in each area with an allowance of P8,000 a month coming from the DOH funds and a counterpart from the assigned LGU, depending on the LGUs availability of funds for at least P2,000 per month. Likewise, the LGU will supervise the nurses assigned and ensure their safety and security, Matibag added. He said that qualifying examination was already conducted for the applicants for the next batch of RN-HEALS last December 2011. “Though, those nurses with outstanding rating will be considered, but DOH will try to accommodate new but deserving nurses for the next set of RN-HEALS project,” he added. It was learned that RN HEALS is expected to address the shortage of skilled and experienced nurses in 1,221 rural and unserved or underserved communities for at least one year will prioritize those newly graduate nurses with license and who have no fixed income yet. (PIA 8-Southern Leyte)

SoLeyte dad grateful as 3,198 Southern Leytenos benefit from medical and dental mission

by Erna S. Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb 6 (PIA) -- Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado extolled public and private partnership as he expressed deep gratitude to the Philippine Nurses Association in Metropolitan, D.C., USA (PNAMD) mission benefiting at least 3,198 Southern Leytenos with medical problems. “If left alone on the shoulders of the provincial government, it cannot affort the expenses to have all sick people healed," Governor Mercado disclosed during the closing ceremony honoring the 71-member mission team that conducted the weeklong medical, surgical, and dental mission in Maasin City last January 23- 27. Governor Mercado said that the voluntary acts of the private sector like the PNA from Metropolitan DC in USA, is a good example of government and private sector partnering for development and service delivery. According to PNAMD president Alice N. Andam, the dominantly Filipino volunteers composing the mission- team came all the way from United States of America were mostly medical practitioners such as surgeons, anestheologists, pediatricians, ob-gyn, operating room nurses, pharmacists, nurses, dentists, and some volunteers. Andam reported that 2,135 out-patients got medical treatment, 708 had their teeth extracted while, 90 patients underwent major operations, and 157, minor operations. All the patients also enjoyed free medicines. The 100 barangay tanods who assisted in securing peace and orderly crowd in three different venues for the medical, surgical, and dental locations were all given multivitamins, Andam said. The surgical team conducted operations on gall bladder stone extractions, myoma, cysts, breast mass, hernia, goiter, broken bones, cleft, eye cataract operations, among others, she reported. The mission team was also bolstered with three eye specialists coming from the local “Sagip sa Mata Foundation” based in Tacloban City and logistics from the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) headed by Dr. Paula Sydiongco, she said. According to Andam, this is the 10th medical, surgical, and dental mission they have conducted in the Philippines. (PIA8 –Southern Leyte)

Leyte delegation bags overall EVRAA 2012 championship crown

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- Athletes from Leyte province hauled most of the gold medals in the 17) sporting events during the week-long conduct of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) meet held here last week, making it the overall champion of the regional sportsfest. Out of 10 competing teams, Leyte garnered a total of 730.5 points -- 369 points from the elementary level, 361.5 points from the secondary level -- to grab the glory of being awarded the EVRAA 2012 champion in the closing ceremonies at the Southern Leyte Sports Complex yesterday afternoon. Landing at second place in overall tally was Eastern Samar for a total of 487 points -- 255 points from the elementary, and 232 points from high school. The host city, Maasin, got 206.5 points in the elementary level for third place, while the third placer for high school level went to Ormoc City with 203.17 points. Maasin landed fourth place in the secondary level, along with Tacloban City, for a tie at 161.5 points. Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco had expressed satisfaction on the efforts exerted by the home players, saying that even if the city failed to come out champion its performance showing improved over last year’s Calbayog EVRAA, where it finished fourth in elementary and number 8 in secondary. As for the hosting, it was learned that Regional Sports Coordinator Cesar Verunque rated the city “Excellent.” For special awards, Southern Leyte division was chosen the Cleanest and Most disciplined delegation, while best in athletic uniform was Leyte province. In yesterday’s closing rites, which was attended by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and wife Cristina, City Councilor, Samaco rallied the winning players “to improve Eastern Visayas’ finish in the Palarong Pambansa slated at Lingayen, Pangasinan” this May. DepEd Regional Director Luisa Bautista Yu, who formally closed the EVRAA 2012 five days after she declared it open, expressed a similar hope with Samaco over the upcoming national meet. “May we have a higher rank in the Palarong Pambansa,” Director Yu said. More than 6,000 players, officials, and school personnel from the Department of Education (DepEd) family participated in the week-long EVRAA games games January 29-February 3, consisting of seven provinces and three cities around Region 8 clashing it out in a friendly sports competition. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)





Southern Leyte equips its constituents with skills trainings

  • Source: Southern Leyte equips its constituents with skills trainings
  • Friday 3rd of February 2012
by Erna S. Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb 3 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Southern Leyte is equipping its constituents with skills through trainings; these trainings would eventually prod them towards self employment. According to Cristina Aguelo of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), their office already conducted the first skills training on haircutting to 30 residents at Hinunangan Municipal Covered Court on January 16-22. This will be followed by manicure and pedicure training in Silago before February ends; massage therapy is scheduled for March while facial make-up training in Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City will be on April. Last year, the Barangay Asuncion in Maasin City provided skills trainings in partnership with the provincial government where manicure, pedicure, haircutting, and massage therapy skills trainings were held at the barangay hall, Aguelo said. Also last year, the provincial government was able to gainfully equip about 689 local constituents with varied skills such as massage theraphy, haircutting, manicure and pedicure, facial make-up, motorcyle repair and maintenance, food processing, among others, she added. (PIA8 / SoLeyte)






DENR chooses greening sites in Southern Leyte as national model

by Marcelo M. Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 1 (PIA) -- The central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was so impressed with the panoramic view of two tree-planting sites here under the National Greening Program (NGP) that these were declared model NGP areas . According to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer (PENRO) Ricardo Tomol, the NGP sites at barangays Bogo and Laboon, and another at barangay Lunas, caught the attention of the agency’s higher-ups, thus its selection as model sites.

Tomol said the one at barangay Bogo is supported by Cong. Roger Mercado; the one at Laboon, an accredited NGP site is managed by CENRO-Maasin, while the Lunas site is managed by a people’s organization (PO), in which their areas were enrolled as NGP sites as well.

Young Innovators for Sustainable Environment Development Association (YISEDA), the accredited PO based at Lunas, has been active in projects relating to environment conservation and preservation, and they have maintained their site, Tomol added.

Tomol also said that CENRO-San Juan emerged as number one in NGP implementation for the year 2011 in Region 8, having planted its target of 400 hectares from the congressional initiative and another 930 hectares from regular NGP.

For areas under CENRO-Maasin, Tomol said the targets of 930 hectares regular NGP plus 100 hectares from Cong. Mercado were also finished well ahead of time.

The DENR field coverage in Southern Leyte was divided in two, the CENRO-Maasin which covers Maasin city up to Sogod, and CENRO-San Juan, which covers Libagon, the four towns of Panaon island, and the six towns in the pacific area.

For the 2012 NGP targets, Tomol said he has yet to attend a national conference on the subject next month, even as he already had the proposed figures, definitely an increase from 2011 goals.

The NGP is a nationwide massive tree-planting activity spearheaded early last year by President Benigno Aquino III, involving government employees in all levels, including school children, where each individual is given a quota of 10 trees planted per year until 2016.

Overall, the NGP aspires to plant close to two million trees in millions of hectares of timberland areas around the Philippines to mitigate the ill effects of climate change. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

NFA pushes for i-Rice consumption in Southern Leyte

by PIA Press Release


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan 30 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority – Southern Leyte Office is encouraging every concerned official throughout Southern Leyte province to support government programs, particularly the iron-fortified rice, known as the “i-Rice”. NFA information officer Elisa E. Almacin in her report disclosed that the agency’s ultimate goal in the “i-Rice” advocacy is to squarely face the problem of micronutrient malnutrition of the populace She revealed that micronutrient malnutrition is, “one of the country’s utmost problems because of lack of micronutrients which include iron, iodine, and vitamin A.” In response to the study which put the Philippines as one of the countries that suffer from nutritional disorder, NFA is emphasizing the importance of “i-rice” to help the country fight this battle towards good nutrition and a well balance diet, Almacin disclosed to PIA-Maasin. It was learned that the nationwide launching of i-Rice was held last March 2011. It aims to promote the NFA’s program that supports the fortification of products based on Republic Act 8976 or the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 Almacin said that the food department’s main concern is rice, which is the main staple of the country, “we highly advocate the i-Rice program” for your support as an outward extension to the people, referring to the different agencies concerned. “Health is wealth, let the i-Rice program be part of the daily dietary intake of our people,” she said while hoping that the agencies concerned will be part in disseminating this information drive for the welfare of each one towards a journey for a healthy people in a healthy country,” Almacinbared. (PIA-8/Southern Leyte)

Nutrition plan

by Tarra Quismundo

Philippine Daily Inquirer


The local government of Limasawa, a poor Southern Leyte municipality but enshrined in Philippine history books as the site of the first Catholic Mass, implemented an “innovative nutrition plan” to reduce malnutrition, which often kept children away from school. Between 2004 and 2009, malnutrition rates dropped from 8.8 to 2.61 percent among preschoolers and from 6 to 2.17 percent among grade schoolers. In Mindanao, Sarangani province launched the Justice Enhancement and Empowered Program (JEEP), deploying a mobile court to its municipalities to speed up the resolution of cases involving poor litigants. Since its launch six years ago, the program has trimmed the number of detainees at the local jail from 600 to 286. The town of Upi in Maguindanao started an information technology (IT) project that has been a model for neighboring municipalities. Established in 2004, the Community e-Center (CeC) project “remains the only fully operational center” in Maguindanao providing IT and even broadcast capability to locals, Galing Pook said.

Leyte eyes ‘ulang’ production hike

by Marvyn N. Benaning


A farmer in Southern Leyte has taught his colleagues a lesson in entrepreneurship by making money on an enterprise based on freshwater prawn, also known as “ulang.” Benjamin G. Gerona Jr. has trailblazed the culture of “ulang” along tilapia culture and vegetables in his town, which is hardly the base for such an enterprise. By doing so using an investment of P34,400, Gerona had a return of 32 percent. This has encouraged officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte, to find out if “ulang” production could be increased exponentially by putting up more hatcheries to remove one of the most critical hurdles in the expansion of prawn yield. The target is actually the Japan market, which spends $2 billion annually in prawn exports, and hopefully win a bigger market share for the Philippines, which used to be a big prawn producer until viral diseases ruined the industry. Thailand now supplies bulk of prawns for the Japanese market while the country bids to match its 7 percent share of the market in the 1990s. Thailand supplies 20 percent of the global prawn market. VSU developed a technology for increased production of prawn and other commodities using Gerona’s system, consistent with the multicommodity enterprise as a development strategy promoted by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

Four public elementary schools now use DPWH’s rainwater collection project

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 24 (PIA) -- Four barangays of this city, each one with an elementary school, stood as living beneficiaries of an innovative water impounding project built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) provincial engineering district here. “These rainwater collection structures were already finished in the first quarter last year, and since then it has been used by the school children, faculty and other personnel for their washing needs,” said District Engr. Carlos Veloso of the Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED) in a press conference at his office on Tuesday. Veloso identified the recipient schools as Batuan Elementary School, Tomoy-Tomoy Elementary School, Bilibol Elementary School, and Panan-awan Elementary School, all of Maasin City. Except for barangay Panan-awan, which is located along the national highway, barangays Batuan and Tomoy-Tomoy are located in the interior, upland section of the city, while barangay Bilibol lies along the coast near the boundary with Matalom. Scarcity of water for daily use like watering the garden and for general cleaning was one of the needs of these schools that were addressed by the water collection project, Veloso said, quoting one teacher who expressed appreciation for the initiative. The structure looks like an elevated water tank with collection vessels linked to the school building’s roof gutters. Veloso said the four rainwater collection system has an appropriation of P191,065, and was put up by the contractor in 60 days. Of the entire engineering district in Region 8, it was only SLED which finished the project in time for President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July last year. It was also referred to as a SONA project, while all the other districts completed the same by the last quarter of the year, Veloso also said. (PIA-8)

DepEd – 8 first regional education summit draws stakeholders’ support

by PIA Press Release


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office in Eastern Visayas got the support of various stakeholders in the implementation of the K to 12 basic education program during its first regional education summit today. According to DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects USEC Yolanda S. Quijano, the graduates of K to 12 will be holistically-developed young Filipinos armed with 21st century skills as the program will enable the students to be emotionally mature, to acquire mastery of basic competencies and legally employable with potential for better earnings. Quijano said 200 stakeholders coming from the local government units, media sector, parents- teachers associations, teachers’ coalitions, student leaders and the association of private schools in its effort to strengthen the quality basic education thru the “K to 12” program starting this year. After the message of Quijano, a series of messages of support from the mentioned stakeholders were pledged by the different representatives such as Hon. Mayor Remedios L. Petilla, president of the Leyte League of Mayors, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu, representing the media sector, Assistant Regional Director Arnel Agabi of DILG, Regional Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Federation president, Teachers Dignity Coalition regional coordinator Edilberto U. Sumapig and Executive Director Sonia C. Palami of the Eastern Visayas Association of Private Schools. She revealed the four phases in their preparations for its full implementation. Phase one is the laying of the foundations from October 2010 to May 2012 which is Universal Kinder Implementation and enhancement of universal kindergarten law. Phase two includes modeling and Initial migration from June 2012 to May 2016 which includes the migration of Grades 1 and 7 roll forward, Senior High School (SHS) modeling and enactment of K to 12 basic education law. For phase three, it will be the SHS roll-out from June 2012 up to May 2018 where the Grades 11 and 12 implementation in public schools starts and complete migration to new elementary curriculum including Grades 5 and 6. The fourth phase is the completion of the reform which is covered from June 2018 to May 2023 wherein the K to 12 basic education curriculum will completely be migrated already. The K to 12 is Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education are sort out as follows. Kindergarten students should at least be 5 years old. Six years of elementary will follow with a grade 1 student required to be at least 6 years old. Four years of junior high school will follow with grade 7 student should at least be 12 years old. Two years of senior high school shall be next, with a grade 11 student must be 16 years old at least. In other words, it’s kindergarten-6-4-2, the K to 12 basic education program, she added. (PIA8 – SoLeyte)

Search for Maasin City smoke–free barangay is on

by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan 20 (PIA) -- The search for a smoke –free barangay otherwise known as Red Orchid Award Barangay in Maasin City is on. This development came as the barangay captains of the 70 strong- barangays in the city underwent an orientation conducted by the Healthy City Initiatives (HCI) this week, so disclosed Maasin City In Action anchorman Zaldy Olita during its weekly program over DyDM radio station in Maasin City. Olita reported that Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco wanted that the achievement of the city as a Red Orchid Awardee replicated down to the barangay level. “This is not only for the sake of getting an award but it would also be beneficial for the health of the whole barangay, “ Samaco was noted. Olita said the barangays were encouraged to come up with their own information dissemination activities such as setting up of posters and tarpaulins that depict the dangers of smoking. The city government of Maasin bagged the “Red Orchid” award for the second straight time in 2011, Olita added. He revealed that the city government will give incentives to the first five winners of the search for the smoke-free barangays with the following cash awards: First prize – P 30,000; second prize – P 20,000; third prize – P 10,000; fourth prize – P 7,000; and fifth prize – P 5,000. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

Disaster management office eyes barangay covered courts as evacuation centers

by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan 19 (PIA) -- The barangay covered courts constructed in the locality have been eyed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by provincial governor as among the evacuation centers in the province. According to PDRRMO consultant Jason Calva, Governor Damian G. Mercado said during the Action Center Kapihan, that using the barangay halls as evacuation centers is not convenient to both the barangay officials and evacuees since this will be disrupting official functions. In Maasin City alone, 40 out of the 70 barangays have steel-covered courts which Governor Mercado considers improving with toilets, and sleeping quarters, Calva added. Meanwhile, Congressman Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte, had been leading massive tree planting for years. This had contributed to a cooler Southern Leyte in the midst of global warming. (PIA8 - SoLeyte)

2012 funds for R8 for release this month -- DPWH

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 18 (PIA) -- At the beginning of this year, the District Engineering Office of Southern Leyte will get its entire 2012 funding, the first time it will happen, because in previous years, funding would be released after six months. This is a nationwide strategy designed to pump-prime the economy as money will circulate nationwide with the implementation of various public works projects, Carlos Veloso, district engineer, said during a press conference. Last year, critics assailed DPWH for not releasing enough infra funds that could have stimulated the economy. This year, DPWH will reverse that picture by releasing funds early, right on the first month of the year, Veloso explained. He said that a total of P 145,432,000 is due for release anytime this month for the Southern Leyte Engineering District's (SLED), specific infra projects. The amount is for five projects, four of which had already been bid out, like the widening of the national road Tomas Oppus street in Maasin City for P 5.456 million, San Ricardo-Bil-atan road for P 5 million, and improvements along Daang Mahalika road for P 10,976,000. Slated to be bid next month will be the completion of Subang Daku bridge in Sogod for P124,000,000. Should there be any excess amount, it would be used to improve three old bridges in barangays Combado and Tunga-tunga in Maasin City, and one in San Roque, Macrohon. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong) .

LGU-SoLeyte provides cash assistance to 777 distressed persons

by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) -- A total of 777 distressed persons availed of the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the local government of Southern Leyte; this is designed to provide relief to needy individuals and their families particularly in times of crises. Together with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the Southern Leyte Congressional District and the PAGCOR, the assistance for individuals in crisis situations totaled P 1.294 million, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) Social Welfare assistant Amelia Malazarte reported to PIA. Malazarte said the provincial government gave P 956,800; PDAF P 290,500; and PAGCOR P 47,300 for its social services last year. She added that said cash assistance are intended for the purchase of medicines, burial assistance, educational assistance, transportation needs, emergency food, laboratory examinations, CT scan, confirmatory test, vitamins, heart examinations, among other needs. Meanwhile a relief augmentation in the amount of P720,000 was released to at least 1,000 families in the municipalities of Hinundayan, Sogod, St. Bernard, and Bontoc who were evacuated in early 2011 due to flooding. The assistance came in the form of rice, canned goods, and mineral waters, she added. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)

Agri-tourism-coop summit in the province now on

by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- The first agri-tourism coop summit as a vehicle to the vision for the province to become an agricultural exporter in 2012 is now on. In close coordination with the office of the provincial agriculturist, the summit shall the venue for the sharing of insights and knowledge in mapping out strategies for the realization for Southern Leyte to be no longer dependent of agricultural products from outside the province according to provincial agriculturist Marina Gador. Cong. Roger Mercado aimed that the agriculture development in the province will improve in tandem with tourism advancement, she said. That if the province will be able to turn out abundant supply of rice, coffee, banana, coconut, and even abaca products, it will eventually attract more tourists in the province, she added. Hence, the province will no longer buy agricultural products from outside the province sources for its food, she said. Mercado believes that the undertaking will eventually benefit the environment particularly in the proper cultivation of the land that, whatever development from the mountains, will not affect the reef resources, Gador explained. Municipal mayors, the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SLCCI), municipal agricultural officers, municipal tourism officers, Philippine National Police (PNP), local media among other stakeholders of the vision will attend the summit. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)

PCA distributes salt fertilizers to coco farmers in Southern Leyte

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- A total of 4,500 sacks of salt fertilizers were given free to at least 1,000 coconut farmers all over this province by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provincial office. Each sack consisted of 50 kilos good for 25 coconut trees at two kilos per tree, said Carmelita Maturan, Coconut Development Officer in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Farmers with at least 50 fruit-bearing trees were given, although most recipients on average had at least 100 coconuts due for fertilization, Maturan said. This was the second round in a three-year consecutive fertilizer application as programmed by PCA, but Maturan said it cannot be helped that some farmers who wanted to partake of the fertilizers were accommodated as first-time applicants. Also, as programmed all the 18 municipalities were given an equal share of 226 sacks each, while Maasin City had 232 sacks. Out of the 70 barangays of the city, only two were not yet able to retrieve their fertilizers as of last week for lack of transportation, Maturan said. It was already established that duly fertilized coconuts increase yield by about 25 percent, while its effects in terms of copra production also rise by 20 to 25% during the first year, 50 to 100% on the second year. Aside from being cheapest and easy to apply, the benefits of using salt fertilizer can increase thickness of coconut meat, increase number of nuts harvested, and can make the trees resistant to drought, pests, and diseases. And while the rains these days may pose as a danger especially in vulnerable areas, the occasion is the best time to fertilize the coconuts, as the PCA instructional pamphlet specified that field application must be done during the rainy season. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)

'Zipline' in Sogod engenders more business

by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan 11 (PIA) -- To the surprise of local businessmen, zipline, a locally based extreme sport destination in the municipality of Sogod has engendered a host of business opportunities for them. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office spearheaded an investment and financing forum in the locality participated in by 28 local business giving priority to the tourism sector, DTI Trade and Industry Development specialist Sandra Alcober said. DTI provincial director Michael Nuṅez emphasized that the locality lacks facilities needed by tourists. He noted that there is a need for restaurants, night life entertaiments (bands, disco, etc), transportation facilities to ferry visitors from poblacion down to the Zipline area in Brgy. Kahupian, souvenir shops, Alcober said. It is also noted that even at the zipline area, there is no restaurant. One has to travel more 10 kilometers to get to the downtown area for food, she added. At the same time, the financing forum followed where government brought three banks; SB Corporation, Land bank, and Metro Bank, who offered local businessmen different financing programs, Alcober reported.(esg/PIA Southern Leyte)

Maasin City gets P20-M DILG support fund DILG

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The city local government unit here was a recipient of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the amount of P20 million. The city government received the said grant for having garnered numerous awards and citations, and which the DILG duly considered, said City Mayor Maloney Samaco a radio program this morning. Also considered in LGSF is an LGUs compliance with the full disclosure policy of the DILG, Samaco said in a follow-up phone interview by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). This also showed that the city succeeded in clinching the Seal of Good Housekeeping as part of the full disclosure policy, Samaco added. On Friday, City Councilor Rene Hatayna told PIA that the P20 million grant can do much to cushion the impact of the expected decrease in this year's Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which was earlier estimated at around P47 million. Hatayna said among the project proposed in the use of funds were improvements of the Maasin Commercial Complex, roads, bridges, and a new slaughterhouse slated to be constructed around barangay Dongon-Bato I area. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)

So Leyte to embark on massive coconut replanting

by Erna Sy-Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan 9 (PIA8) -- The provincial government of Southern Leyte will embark on a massive coconut tree replanting in the province this year. More and more old trees are becoming unproductive; this, coupled with rampant and indiscriminate cutting of coconut trees into lumber had dwindled the number of coconut trees substantially, provincial agriculturist Marina Gador reported. Gador disclosed that with the recent directive of Governor Damian G. Mercado, the provincial agriculture office will be buying nuts from municipalities that will be planted after three to four months when these are already planting materials. Gador said that an initial 10,000 coconut trees will be replacing old coconut trees.(ESG-PIA SoLeyte)

Smoking ban stays during athletic meet in Maasin City

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 5 (PIA) -- Coaches and trainers from other school divisions in Region 8 who smoke tobacco or cigarettes better be warned: they should kick the habit -- at least while living in this city for the week-long duration of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) January 29 – February 4. This was made clear by Fernando Salapi, Sports coordinator of the City Schools Division, Department of Education (DepEd). Aside from smoking, adult participants of the regional sports meet are also not allowed to be seen in public drinking alcoholic drinks, saying that sports requires discipline, Salapi said during the cable TV program “Action Center” yesterday. The strict regimen to preserve one’s health was in line with the theme for this year’s EVRAA, which is “School Sports: Foundation to a Healthy Lifestyle,” he added. Salapi said the ages of participating officials was limited at 55 and below as a matter of policy, to prevent any untoward incident with regards to the health of these delegates. During the first EVRAA in the city in 2005, one of the officials ended as a fatality after the opening parade, an incident the organizers do not want repeated. It was learned that some players, coaches and trainers, or staff of visiting delegations do smoke, but once in the city they will be forbidden under pain of being penalized once caught smoking in public places. The city local government did not tolerate smoking habits by visitors during their stay for certain events, like boy scouts on a jamboree, or any other gathering. City enforcers and police personnel were seen issuing citation tickets to strangers who violated the city’s anti-smoking ordinance. Meanwhile, Salapi also said that officiating officials for this year’s EVRAA will undergo a refresher course from January 25 to 28 so that they will be updated on current rules and regulations, including some policies that must be followed as the games progress. Non-attendance to this four-day course will disqualify an official to officiate in the games, Salapi added. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)

Maasin City ready to host EVRAA 2012

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 4 (PIA) -- With just twenty-four days to go, this city is now all set for Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) sports competition, scheduled to be held here January 29 to February 4. Everything has been laid out for the accommodations, from the billeting quarters of athletic delegates and officials to sports venues and other physical facilities, said City Sports Coordinator Dominador Rojas. On the part of the Department of Education (DepEd) City Division, all the teachers were already oriented on their specific roles to ensure a successful hosting of the annual sports tournament among elementary and secondary schools students all over Leyte and Samar, said Fernando Salapi, Division Sports Coordinator. Both Rojas and Salapi were the guests during this morning's edition of the cable TV program “Action Center." Rojas said the only problem he foresee is the weather suggesting that playing venues must have alternate sites to counter the ever changing climate. Games such as volleyball and basketball that are set to be played in open arenas of the provincial sports complex, or at the Tomas Oppus Pilot School (TOPS) oval, will be transferred to covered gyms when it rains, and for this purpose all the barangay gyms in the city may be used, said Rojas. City Mayor Maloney Samaco had said he wanted this year’s EVRAA hosting as a memorable experience for the visiting delegates, estimated at over 6,000 from ten school divisions around Region 8, even as he also wanted athletes of the home division to be the champion. This will be the second time Maasin City played host to the regional, annual sports meet, the first time was in the year 2005 where the city emerged overall champion, a feat Mayor Samaco wants repeated. A total of seventeen sporting events will be competed, and in all these games, except for Archery, the City Division has been training hard its players in close coordination with the city local government unit, said Salapi. As guests of honor during the opening ceremony, DepEd invited Assistant Secretary Tony Umali, while the city government invited Chito Loyzaga, Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), but both have not yet confirmed their presence to date. This year’s EVRAA carries the theme, “School Sports: Foundation to a Healthy Lifestyle”, a message that jibes well with the city’s no-smoking policy, which will be strictly implemented as the games unfold, Salapi said. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)

DPWH – SoLeyte bags Best Engineering Office 2011 in Eastern Visayas

  • Source: DPWH – SoLeyte bags Best Engineering Office 2011 in Eastern Visayas
  • Tuesday, January 03, 2012
by ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 3 (PIA8) -- The Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been awarded as the Best Engineering Office in Region 8 for 2011. The award given last December 21, 2011 at the DPWH Regional Office was based on the collective performance of each section. The said engineering district has ranked first in both Materials and Quality Control and Maintenance Sections, according to SLED Administrative Officer Lilia Mulaan. The performance of the following sections such as Comptrollership (20%), Construction (20%), Materials and Quality Control (30%), and Maintenance (30%), Mulaan reported. While, District Engineer Carlos G. Veloso has been awarded also as the Best District Engineer in the region, she added. Mulaan also disclosed that Engineer Manolo Rojas is also awarded as the Best Assistant District Engineer, Engr. Allan Eway is the Best Maintenance Engineer and Engineer Leonides Olarte is the Best Materials Engineer, all of Southern Leyte Engineering District. The SLED office got the highest rank among the 13 district offices in the region, Mulaan reported. She added that SLED has consistently won the Best Maintenance award for three years. These awards are the department’s recognition of the district’s efforts under the PRAISE (Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence) program to deserving officials and employees and offices in the region, she added. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)

Zero firecracker injury, one gunshot wound in So. Leyte

by Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 2 (PIA) -- Except for the gunshot wound, it is a scorecard worth emulating. This province maintained its record for the second year of zero casualties reaching hospitals resulting in firecracker burns at the height of the usually boisterous New Year’s eve celebration. As of 8:00 a.m. yesterday, there was no firecracker-related cases registered at the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) in this city and at Sogod District Hospital (SDH). The zero incidence of firecracker injury showed that the heightened advocacy campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) on “Aksyon Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR) was successful, even as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) also did their share in issuing public precautions for their “Iwas Paputok” campaign. At SDH, it was learned that one Rodel Renoblas, 21, single, resident of barangay Tampoong, Sogod, was rushed to the hospital a few minutes past midnight after he sustained a gunshot wound at the back. (PIA-Southern Leye/bong)


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