Iloilo City News June 2017

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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.

Iloilo City launches urban gardening program

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 30 -- The city government of Iloilo, through the City Agriculture Office, on Friday morning launched the "Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan", a farmers’ training program on urban agriculture to encourage household food production and promote farming as livelihood.

The project is a partnership among the City of Iloilo, SM Foundation, Inc., Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, and Harbest Agribusiness Corp.

Some 150 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the Ati community in Brgy. Lanit here, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), schools, farmers, drug surrenderers, and relocatees are expected to benefit from the project to be implemented at Brgy. Lanit, Jaro here.

City agriculturist Romulo Pangantihon said the beneficiaries would undergo training on urban agriculture from June 30 to September 29.

Pangantihon stressed that with the unstoppable growth and urbanization of Iloilo City, the food production area of the city was getting smaller.

But instead of totally abandoning agriculture to give way to urbanization, Pangantihon stressed that the city shifted its program from land-based agriculture to urban agriculture and vertical gardening “to not abandon the farmers but to sustain the remaining production areas.”

Pangantihon said the long-term goal was to make Lanit the Iloilo City Urban Agriculture Demo Farm and Livelihood Center.

“With the use of backyards and fences and containers, a household can now learn how to grow their own food,” he said.

Cristy Angeles, AVP of SM Foundation Outreach Programs, encouraged the 142nd batch of Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan trainees to grab the opportunity to learn from the training.

The program, now on its 10th year, is also implemented in other Iloilo towns like Alimodian and Leon. The farmers’ harvests are sold to SM malls here.

Iloilo to plant 5,000 mangroves for environment month

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 29 -- The Iloilo provincial government through its Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) will plant around 5,000 mangrove seedlings on Saturday, in line with the culmination of Environment Month this June.

PENRO chief Arturo Cangrejo, in a media interview on Thursday, said that the mangrove planting activity will be specifically conducted in Barangay Santiago, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

The activity will be participated by about 500 individuals composed of the employees of the provincial Capitol, representatives from the different government agencies and other volunteer groups, he added.

To recall, PENRO also initiated the planting of around 20,000 mangroves in the 20-hectare land in Anilao town during the celebration of "Earth Day" last April.

The mangrove planting activities being conducted by PENRO is part of its continuing support for the Action for Re-greening and Transformation for Climate Change Adaptation (ART for CCA) program on the provincial government.

Under the ART for CCA program, the province is annually aiming to plant 1.5 million trees, including fruit trees in the different areas in the province.

Any-day cleanup in Iloilo City barangays approved

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 28 -- The Iloilo City Council on Tuesday approved the proposal of Councilor Reyland Hervias, Liga ng mga Barangay (LNB)-Iloilo City president, to let barangays do their mandatory one-day cleanup any day of the week.

Hervias made this possible by amending Resolution No. 2016-355 that established every Saturday as City Clean-up Day.

The City Clean-up Day is held simultaneously. It was then implemented to eliminate if not minimize the cases of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

But not all barangays conduct clean-up every Saturday for various reasons. Thus, to encourage 100 percent and regular compliance of the barangays, Hervias said the villages could do it any day of the week instead.

The City Health Office (CHO), Office of the Barangay Affairs, and LNB Iloilo City will monitor the barangays’ compliance.

CHO chief, Dr. Bernard Caspe has been encouraging barangays to do the clean-up not only on required day.

As the rainy season approaches, Caspe is concerned that mosquitoes will breed in the stagnant waters.

Caspe also called on barangay captains to urge all households to participate in the clean-up as one non-participating household with stagnant water would be enough to let mosquitoes to multiply and put the whole community at risk of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.

Per CHO-City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, there were 87 dengue cases from January to May 2017, with zero death. The statistics are 60 percent lower compared to the 1,834 dengue cases and six deaths recorded in the same period in 2016.

In the last five months, Mandurriao and Jaro recorded the highest cases at 18 each; Molo, 17; Arevalo, 16; City Proper, 7; Lapaz, 6 and Lapuz with 5.

In 2016, Jaro posted the highest number of dengue cases at 713, Mandurriao, 308; Lapaz,230; Arevalo, 198; Molo, 161; City Proper, 140 and Lapuz with 84.

Last year, Iloilo City also posted cases of zika virus, another mosquito-borne disease.

Iloilo City public market toilets up for repair

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo City Government through the Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) targets to rehabilitate public market lavatories this year as the first step of the long-term plan of modernizing this city’s seven public markets. said LEEO chief, Ariel Castañeda.

LEEO chief Ariel Castañeda has said the rehabilitation of comfort rooms (CRs) would be implemented first in the Iloilo Terminal Market and in Iloilo Central Market, both located at the city proper here.

“The bidding for the PHP1.2-million CR per market was held June 22,” he confirmed on June 25. “The bidding for the other CR repair/rehabilitation projects will follow so that by the end of this year, all markets will have new CRs,” he said.

The facility will be built in such a way that when the rehabilitation of the main market building starts, it will not be affected, he added.

Castañeda said the repair of comfort rooms was part of the target to improve the look of the public markets to attract more market-goers, and eventually make economic activities in the facilities more vibrant.

He said that with more vibrant economic activities, these enterprises could bring more income to the city’s coffers.

Apparently, these enterprises were self-sustaining but its income was not enough yet to fund its repair and improvements.

“For the daily operations, it can (support itself). However, when it comes to repair, procurement of new facilities, it can’t (support itself yet),” he said.

Prior to Castañeda’s stint as LEEO chief two years ago, the city’s markets were in deficit due to alleged corruption and inefficient collection, among other irregularities.

The lamentable market conditions were also brought then to the attention of the city government.

Under Castañeda’s term, the market staff and collection system was overhauled.

Castañeda cited the case of Iloilo Terminal Market, popularly called “Super”.

“In 2015, the collection at Terminal Market averaged Php15 million. In 2016, the LEEO was able to collect PHP2.2 million,” he said.

He attributed the improvement in collection to the transparent and efficient ways of collection he implemented, particularly the daily shuffling of market collectors and the regular depositing of collection to LEEO vault every week.

Iloilo City all set for total plastic ban starting July

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Iloilo City government is all set for the enforcement of the city’s Plastic Ordinance starting July 1, said Jovan De la Peña of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

De la Peña, who heads the 10-man team that will oversee the apprehension of violators of Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-403, said establishments and vendors were warned that they only have at least five days to use in their business their remaining non-biodegradable plastic bags.

He said based on his latest inspection, most big malls here are already compliant to the ordinance.

Non-biodegradable plastic bags have been gradually eliminated here starting 2013. Now on its fourth year, the ordinance calls for its total elimination.

Regulation Ordinance No. 2013-403 regulates the use of non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags as wrapping, bagging, and/or packaging materials of establishments in the city. It covers sari-sari stores, market vendors, hawkers or bolanteros, supermarkets, department stores/malls, groceries or restaurants, canteens, fast-food chains, bakeries, coffee shops, hotels, catering services, and other similar establishments.

De la Peña said CENRO has tapped the experts of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Science and Technology here in the training of task force members on how to differentiate/identify biodegradable from non-biodegradable plastic bags.

However, the city has no equipment that will determine if unlabeled plastic bag is biodegradable or non-biodegradable. Hence, CENRO sought the help of Central Philippine University (CPU) here for the use of the latter’s machine.

“If we are not sure if the plastic bag is biodegradable or not, what we will do is get a sample and have it checked at CPU,” said De la Peña.

“If the plastic is non-biodegradable, we will issue the vendor/establishment citation ticket,” he said.

Penalties for violators are: PHP500 fine and confiscation of non-biodegradable plastics for the firstoffense; PHP700 fine, confiscation of non-biodegradable plastic bags, and suspension of business permit for one week in the second offense; and PHP1,000 fine, confiscation of plastic bags, and cancellation of business permit in the third offense.

De la Peña called on the public to support the enforcement of the ban on plastic bags by bringing their recyclable bags when shopping.

DENR slates Solid Waste Management Summit

By Esa S. Subong (jcm/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY (PIA) — A summit on solid waste management is set on June27-28 here, as part of the Environment Month celebration led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The Summit is a regional regular event to hammer the importance of implementing a vigorous solid waste management program among local government units and other stakeholders.

This year some 200-300 participants are expected to attend.

Engr. Ariel Gloria, regional director, DENR-Environmental Management Bureau, said the summit this year carries the theme “Sustaining Shared Responsibility in Solid Waste Management through Convergence.”

Gloria said through the summit, the DENR-EMB seeks to increase knowledge and capacities of the environmental officers in the local government units on the effective and strategic implementation of the Solid Waste Management Law.

“Further, we also aim to reach out to local community leaders, youth, academe and other stakeholders to enable them to strictly observe ecological integrated waste management,” Gloria said.

The event will include Waste Recycling and Recovery Exhibit, Presentations of solid waste management best practice by the City of Bago, Negros Occidental and lectures on roles and functions of the Ombudsman in relation to implementation of the law.

Some technologies will also be introduced like Biodigester and Bioreactor Technology and Sanitary Landfill (large and small) Development among others.

DENR Undersecretary Noel Felongco will give the keynote message.

A press conference will be held at 12 noon of June 27, at the Amigo Terrace Hotel Iloilo City.

Iloilo hosts PH Sepak Takraw training for SEAG

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The provincial and local governments of Iloilo will be hosting the more than a month training of the Philippine Sepak Takraw team in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) this coming August.

The team cancelled its training in Dipolog City when the Marawi City crisis broke out.

The team paid Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog a courtesy call on Thursday.

Coach Metodio Suico Jr., in a interview, thanked the city and province of Iloilo. “We are thankful because Iloilo city and province willingly accommodated the team by providing us the training venue at the Iloilo Sports Complex and billeting facilities,” Suico said.

He said the team preferred to train outside of Metro Manila so the players could focus on the training

“We are thankful because Iloilo City adopted us. This is a big help to continue our training for the upcoming SEA Games,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Suico said the 12 men and eight women players of Sepak Takraw would undergo rigorous training for the Chinlone and Sepak Takraw Regu (3 on 3), Doubles and Team Doubles events.

Suico said the team was optimistic it would bring home a gold medal in Doubles.

“We expect a gold medal in Doubles because Philippines was the champion in the last world championship, the King’s Cup, wherein we defeated the powerhouse Thailand,” Suico said.

The team is a newbie in Chinlone, the traditional sport of Myanmar. Suico said they were in Myanmar for a month just to learn Chinlone – a combination of sport and dance played by six players per team.

Suico encouraged Ilonggos to play sepak takraw for the sports and for the scholarship opportunities it offers.

Apparently, many Metro Manila schools are scouting sepak takraw players in the provinces.

“It will be very easy for (successful sepak players) to study in private schools, especially those in Metro Manila because only few players play it,” Suico said.

“If you excel in Sepak, there’s a chance that Manila schools scouting for players in the provinces will invite you to be their varsity player,” Suico said.

Creation of public safety, transportation office backed

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 22 -- The Iloilo City Council supports the plan of the Executive Department to cluster three public safety-related offices into one department to make their services more efficient.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved on first reading this week an ordinance that would merge the Special Services Unit (SSU), Transportation Management and Traffic Regulation Office (TMTRO) and Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS) into one department to be called Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).

Councilor R Leone Gerochi, SP committee on good government and public accountability, said in his committee report that PSTMO was expected to improve the quality of services of the TMTRO.

Gerochi said the PSTMO shall implement the mandate and objectives of the TMTRO. It will be in-charge of providing public safety, security of the citizens, and other protective services in the City of Iloilo.

Per proposed ordinance, the PSTMO shall be comprised of three divisions: Administrative, Special Services, and Transportation Management; and two units, Public Safety (PS) and Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structure (ASIS).

Aside from the administrative duties, the admin division shall assist in the policy-making related to public safety and transportation.

On the other hand, the Special Services Division shall be in charge of sidewalk and ambulant vendors in all city streets, plazas, sidewalks and jaywalking while the Transportation Management Division shall supervise and manage transportation related concerns.

The ASIS Unit shall be tasked to investigate and prevent the proliferation of professional squatters and squatting syndicates in Iloilo City, investigate and prevent the establishment of illegal structures, stalls and kiosks in all city streets, plazas, sidewalks; remove and demolish all illegal structures in the city, and file charges in court, among others.

The new office, if realized, would result to the creation of at least three new positions: Department Head II, Administrative Officer IV, and two (2) Administrative Aide II; renaming of the position of Supervising Transportation Regulation Officer SG 22 into Supervising Administrative Officer SG 22; and transfer of the SSU of the City Mayor’s Office to the proposed department with 12 positions.

Gerochi said the creation of new positions “adopts the scrap and build principle and would not entail additional cost on the part of the city government.”

Surgical caravan in W. Visayas launched

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 21 -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday launched this year's Surgical Caravan in Western Visayas.

The surgical caravan or the "To DOH Alaga, May TSEKaP na, May Operasyon Pa!" is a follow-up program of the Philippine Health Agenda-Check-up to realize the provision of surgical intervention to those who need them.

DOH-6 assistant regional director Ma. Paz Corrales, in an interview, said that the surgical intervention would specifically benefit the indigent patients in the region.

As of this month, Corrales said there were 852 identified patients in the region needing surgeries.

Specifically, the province of Antique has 362 patients; Aklan, 213; Iloilo province, 159; Iloilo City, 66; Capiz, 37 and Guimaras with 15 patients.

These patients were identified through the annual medical check up done in the rural health units (RHUs), barangay health stations and other hospitals.

"If they need surgery, then they will be listed under this caravan, " she said.

Corrales said that most these patients were in need of surgeries for they have masses, cleft palate, cataract, cyst, hernia and ob-gyne cases.

But, Corrales said that all these patients would still have to undergo cardio-pulmonary evaluation if they were medically qualified to undergo a surgery.

DOH here has identified hospitals where the surgeries would be performed. For DOH hospitals, these include the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), Western Visayas Sanitarium and Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center.

For LGU hospitals, they have identified the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Iloilo, Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Capiz, Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in Antique and Dr. Rafael S. Tumbucon Memorial Hospital in Aklan.

Corrales said that surgical caravan in DOH hospitals would run from June 21-27 while in LGU hospitals, the surgical caravan was slated July 3-16.

The surgical caravan here is being implemented by DOH 6 in collaboration with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the medical assistance program of DOH.

This caravan is expected to enhance the service delivery of LGU hospitals through the technical assistance from DOH hospitals and provide healthcare across all stages of life; establish service delivery network and improve universal health insurance coverage.

Disaster response in Iloilo City's 180 brgys boosted

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 20 -- The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of this city on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution calling for the strengthening of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) by establishing "Barangay Kabalaka Corners" in the 180 barangays of this city.

Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda, who sponsored the resolution, said the "Kabalaka Corners" in barangays was pursuant to the Kabalaka Advocacy Campaign of the city government of Iloilo.

“The Kabalaka Advocacy Program aims to create a new generation of Ilonggos, through education who will be resilient to disasters and imbued with the spirit of kabalaka and a culture of caring among their fellow Ilonggos particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and environment during disasters,” she explained.

Kabalaka is an acronym for KAhublagan sa BArangay para sa LApnagon nga KAhandaan sa Kalamidad (Movement for Community-Based Disaster Preparedness). Kabalaka is a Hiligaynon word which means “to care or giving concern to something; may it be a disaster, calamity, tragedy, or a personal woe of someone.”

Kabalaka has became the battle cry or campaign banner of the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (ICDRRMC) under the Community Based Adaptation and Resilience Against Disasters Project (CBARAD), a joint project of City of Yokohama in Japan, CITYNET Yokohama Project Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and City of Iloilo that started August 2012 to promote disaster resilience in Iloilo City barangays.

“Due to climate change, there is an increasing rate of natural disasters such as typhoons, flood, earthquake and fire. Hence, there is a need to instill to the community the rudiments of disaster management in order to develop Ilonggos who are knowledgeable of the fundamentals of disaster management and climate change adaptation and mitigation advocacy campaign of the city,” she said.

Through Kabalaka advocacy, the councilor is hopeful that barangays will be aware of the three levels of disaster management: self-help, mutual-help, and public- or government-help.

“Numerous activities and projects were borne out of this campaign such as the Kabalaka Camp, Kabalaka Gallery, Kabalaka Volunteer Program, Kabalaka Tech, and Kabalaka Teach.

“It is necessary to incorporate this advocacy especially its programs in the Barangays through the establishment of barangay KABALAKA Corners so that the constituents of the city will be aware of life saving and community based projects, programs, and guidelines embodied in this campaign,” Baronda stressed.

The lady councilor said the establishment of DRRM corners in barangays would be in cooperation with the Liga ng mga Barangay-Iloilo City Chapter headed by its president, Councilor Reyland Hervias.

Iloilo honors 6 int'l taekwondo tourney medalists

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 19 --The Iloilo city government recognized on Monday six young athletes who bagged medals in the International Taekwondo Festival 2017 held in California, USA last May.

The six jins, all Iloilo Taekwondo Association (ITA) members are:

Justin Clark Gancero – Gold, Individual Poomsae Senior Men Black Belt division and Bronze, World Class Senior-Men Light/Welter division;Lovett Shauden Uy de Ong (University of San Agustin) – Gold, Individual Poomsae Senior Men Black Belt division and Silver, World Class Senior Men Fin/Fly division;

Floramie Navales – Gold, Individual Poomsae Senior Women Black Belt division and Bronze, World Class Sparring Senior Women Feather division;twins Lance Izaak Fermiza – Gold, Individual Poomsae Brown Belt division and Gold, Color Belt Sparring Male Cadet division and Laurence Izaiah Fermiza – Silver, Individual Poomsae Black Belt Cadet division; and Vicente Gella II – Silver, Grassroot Sparring Brown Belt division.

The athletes received PHP5,000 cash incentive for every gold medal; PHP3,000 for silver medal, and PHP2,000 for bronze medal.

The Iloilo Taekwondo Association won the Best Taekwondo School Award for winning the most number of medals.

They also received certificates of recognition from Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Councilor Mandrei Malabor.

Jojo Castro, Iloilo City Sports Division head, said the six athletes were part of the 10-delegation team Iloilo city and province sent to the tournament.

The four jins from the province are: Stephen Bill Dy Buco, Gold, Individual Poomsae Junior Men Black Belt division; Zeny Lyn Dy Buco, Bronze, Grassroot Sparring Yellow Belt division; Tanya Mosquera, Gold, Grassroot Sparring Brown Belt division; and Jean Albert Tunguia, Gold Grassroot Sparring Red Belt division.

Castro said it was only right to recognize the feat of the athletes as they brought honor and pride to the city of Iloilo.

He is hopeful that these young athletes’ success would inspire other Ilonggo young athletes to pursue taekwondo as sports.

For the city government, the LGU support come in terms of making taekwondo a priority sport, he said.

“It is part of the Summer Sports Clinic, and we have a yearly taekwondo tournament. We assigned taekwondo trainers in our public schools to develop young players,” Castro said.

The 2017 International Taekwondo Festival was participated in by more than 1,000 competitors and 105 dojang (taekwondo schools) from all over the world.

CSC intensifies info campaign on ASEAN

By Lilibeth A. French (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

ILOILO CITY (PIA6) -- The Civil Service Commission has intensified its information campaign aimed at raising the awareness of government officials and employees and their stakeholders on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Director Rodolfo Encajonado of the Civil Service Commission 6 said the agency has already issued two directives on the country’s hosting of ASEAN in his message during the opening of the Philippine Information Agency 6 Photo Exhibit on ASEAN member states traditional costumes on Thursday, June 15, at SM City Iloilo.

He said Memorandum Circular No. 6 was issued in 2016 enjoining heads of agencies to participate in the information campaign which among the identified activities are the inclusion of the singing of the ASEAN Anthem in the first flag ceremony of the month and the sharing of information on ASEAN during such flag ceremony and other employee fora.

Recently, this year, Encajonado said the Commission has taken further the information campaign to heighten awareness not only of civil servants but also of the general public through MC No. 7 that include additional measures such as posting of all or any ASEAN 2017 streamers/banners in conspicuous places within the agency premises; playing the theme song, “ASEAN Spirit” during agency events and activities; wearing of the national attire of any ASEAN Member State during flag raising ceremony and in activities of the agency requiring formal attire; and conduct of appropriate activities to commemorate the 50th Founding anniversary of ASEAN in August 2017.

Likewise, government officials and employees are encouraged to “like” the official ASEAN 2017 Facebook page and follow the Instagram/Twitter account #ASEAN 2017 for the latest updates on ASEAN 2017.

The banner designs and recording of "ASEAN Spirit” can be downloaded from the CSC and ASEAN websites.

Encajonado said the CSC field personnel in the provinces were tasked to monitor and report to them the agency’s compliance in the posting of banners.

He lauded the PIA for mounting the exhibit which was doing beyond required of them but through the activity they can help further spread awareness on ASEAN not only in the province of Iloilo but also in the region as mall goers come from different places including the Negros Island Region.

Considering that the Philippines is part of the ASEAN community together with the other nine member states, Encajonado said that “it is high time that we also learn more about our fellow member states, understand the purpose of ASEAN and its pillars which are the ASEAN political security community, ASEAN economic community and ASEAN socio-cultural community”.

He also called on the public to help the government, particularly PIA and CSC, promote ASEAN starting with their family, friends, communities and in their workplace.

“Your help in the dissemination of information will surely contribute in our quest to increase awareness on ASEAN,” said Encajonado as he stressed the benefits and opportunities of ASEAN to Filipinos citing easy travels to all ten ASEAN countries as these are visa-free countries for Filipinos.

Iloilo City to adopt PSC ‘Laro’t Saya sa Parke’

By Perla G. Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 16 -- A memorandum of agreement will be signed between Iloilo city government and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the staging of the “Laro’t Saya sa Parke”(LSP) program.

An authority was given by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to sign for and on behalf of the city government to formalize the partnership during Tuesday’s regular session.

PSC, in a letter to the city government, explained that the LSP was “park-based sports that will eventually evolve into a national campaign to draw Filipino family into sports.”

To ensure the sustainability of the program, PSC will provide a PHP10,000 weekly fund to be used as allowance of sports coaches who will teach arnis, basketball football, lawn tennis, taekwondo, volleyball, wushu and Zumba.

On the other hand, the city government will be obliged to make available Lapaz Plaza for at least five hours every Saturday this 2017 and 2018 for the sports activities. The plaza has already been a venue of various sports events initiated by the city government.

“We have done that before and is now being revived by the PSC,” said vice-mayor Jose Espinosa III, who also chairs the city’s sports council.

PHP657-M foreign-assisted agri reform infra projects completed in W. Visayas

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 15 (PNA) -- Around PHP657 million worth of foreign-assisted agrarian reform infrastructure projects were completed in Western Visayas as of December 2016, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 6.

These projects were fully funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR-6 program beneficiaries development division chief Mercy A. Lagaña said that the projects covered 52 sub-projects in 15 agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in the region.

Specifically, they composed of 25 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) amounting to PHP407.2 million; 14 irrigation projects at P85.4 million; 11 post-harvest facilities, PHP23.7 million; three potable water supply projects, PHP11.4 million and three bridges at PHP54.9 million.

Lagaña stressed that these projects were for the thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries and community residents where they were implemented.

She particularly mentioned about the projects carried out in Pandan, Antique which provided access to seven highland barangays and parts of the province of Aklan.

"In case of illnesses and emergencies, the barangays can easily access assistance from the nearest town. We have made a difference in the lives of these people in the hinterlands," she added.

Based on the sustainability planning and assessment conducted last April, Lagaña said that DAR-6 has showcased an "outstanding accomplishment for the implementation of the projects."

"We have implemented the projects efficiently and effectively because all of these projects are now operational," she said.

This year, DAR-6 is implementing another five foreign-assisted rural infrastructure projects in the municipalities of Bingawan, Lambunao, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas and San Rafael, all in Iloilo province.

These projects are all in the form of farm-to-market roads (FMR) with bridges amounting to PHP238.2 million, funded by the Asian Development Bank.

Lagaña said that these projects have an average completion rate of 70 percent.

"Hopefully by the end of December of this year, all these FMR projects will be completed because we are already fast-tracking these projects," she added.

DRRM project evaluation team in WV formed

By Jaime S. Cabag, Jr. (DSWD). (JCM/JSC-PIA6)

ILOILO CITY, June 14 (PIA6) – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) 6 formalized through as resolution the creation of the Regional Project Validation and Evaluation Team whose main task is to review and assess projects submitted for funding through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund.

The creation of the regional team, done during the 2nd quarter regular meeting of the RDRRMC here June 14, was mandated by the national council following the formulation of the guidelines on the administration of the NDRRM Fund by virtue of Memo Circular No. 45, Series of 2017. The memo circular was issued by the national council during its March 11, 2017 meeting in Metro Manila.

The agencies and RDRRMC members involved in the RPVET include the DPWH, DA, DSWD, STI, DENR, NHA, DILG, DOST, and GSIS.

Any project proposed for funding out of the NDRRM Fund shall pass through the RPVET for evaluation including the completeness of documents and supporting.

The regional council was oriented on the guidelines by Director Josefina T. Timoteo of the Rehabilitation and Recovery Management Service of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) during its second quarterly meeting at Amigo Terrace Hotel.

Timoteo said the fund is provided for in Section 22 of Republic Act 10121 or the country’s DRRM law.

The official also presented the review and approval process of projects including the role of the RPVET. She added that Western Visayas is the first region to create the team.

With Director Timoteo was Julius Hontiveros who presented the procedure for funding the local government units projects related to DRRM. Other resource persons were from the Government Service Insurance System on non-life insurance of government equipments and properties, Department of the Interior and Local Government on disaster preparedness dialogue, and OCD on the proposed activities of the National Disaster Consciousness Month observance in July.

Hontiveros said the Memo Circular prescribes a template to be accomplished by LGUs for proposed projects submitted. At the meeting, OCD Director and RDRRMC chair Rosario Cabrera appealed to members of the council for help for families affected by the Marawi siege. Cabrera advised the members including local government DRRM councils to course their donations through the Department of Social Welfare and Development

Iloilo council approves meter reading card ordinance

By Maricyn A. De los Santos (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 13 -- The Iloilo City Council unanimously approved on second and final reading on Tuesday an ordinance that will require this city’s power distributor to put up a meter reading card system.

The Council passed the ordinance after its author, Councilor Joshua Alim, inserted provisions that would address the issues and concerns raised during the two committee hearings led by Councilor R Leone Gerochi, SP committee on public utilities chairperson.

To be known as the “Meter Reading Card Ordinance,” it would require the city’s sole power distributor, Panay Energy Company (PECO) to set up a Meter Reading Card System.

Under the ordinance, PECO will place easily visible and accessible protected hard card to the houses of their consumers that will reflect their monthly consumption and other charges.

The ordinance also prohibits tampering of the card. Non-compliance of PECO would result to penalties of PHP3,000 fine per consumer for the first offense, PHP5,000 fine per consumer for the second offense, and PHP5,000 fine per consumer for the third offense and imprisonment of one month to three months and one day plus cancellation of permit to operate.

Any person caught tampering or destroying the card shall be fined of PHP3,000 and/or one month to three months and one day imprisonment at the discretion of the court.

Alim amended the ordinance to address the issues raised during the committee hearings, particularly the location of meter card and who will receive the meter reading in case the consumer is not around.

In his ordinance, Alim said that per Magna Carta for Residential Electricity Consumers, the meter must not be more than three meters high nor less than 1.52 meter high from the ground.

“PECO shall designate a specific assigned number to the meter of every consumer and inform the consumers of such assigned number,” Alim said.

To ensure consumers will be present during the meter reading, Alim said PECO shall announce in advance the date of their meter reading in the barangays. “The consumer shall make sure that a responsible person or neighbor will be present during the reading,” Alim said.

According to Alim the ordinance will be enforced by Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).

BPLO shall monitor and religiously check the business operations of PECO and its compliance. Non-compliance, he said, could mean non-approval of the renewal of business permit.

The ordinance gives PECO six months from the approval of the ordinance to comply.

Alim authored the ordinance amid allegations of PECO overbilling.

However, PECO passed on the alleged overbilling problems to its contracted meter reader firm. PECO has repeatedly suggested to the Council that it has programs to address consumer concerns like the installation of Smart Meters, setting up of website where consumers can access their accounts, and printing of meter reading history, among others.

Chinese firm eyes Iloilo City for monorail system project

By Perla G. Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- A Chinese firm has shown interest to put up a monorail system in Iloilo City.

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who received the communication through an email Tuesday evening, said that he would forward the proposal to the city planning and development office to “seriously look” into the matter.

“These are all offers, showing a big promise for Iloilo to still become bigger because there are investors that are interested to invest in the city,” he said.

The name of the Chinese firm was not disclosed although according to the emailed communication, the firm has meet with President Rodrigo R. Duterte when the latter visited China.

The mayor explained that the company was looking for areas where they could invest aside from key cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

He was optimistic of the investment as he said that it would not entail any expense on the part of the city government. If realized it will be a big help to mobility, he added.

“I am very much interested in the project,” he said, adding that probably it could serve the city’s coastal areas going to the downtown area.

Over 100k jobs available at Independence Day job, business fairs

By Ferdinand G. Patinio (PNA)

MANILA, June 10 -- More than 100,000 jobs will be available at the nationwide job and business fairs in commemoration of the 119th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Monday, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that the job vacancies offered by close to 700 employers, were for local and overseas employment.

“A total of 680 participating employers will be bringing with them 123,330 local, overseas, and government jobs in the 21 Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) job and business fairs to be held in 14 regions throughout the country,” he said in a statement.

With this, Bello urged jobseekers to take advantage of the employment facilitation service that the DOLE is bringing closer to them.

Likewise, he reminded applicants to bring the following application requirements: resume or curriculum vitae (bring extra copies for multiple job applications); 2 x 2 ID pictures; certificate of employment for those formerly employed; diploma and/or transcript of records; and authenticated birth certificate.

The top local jobs with the most number of vacancies are: Customer Service Representative – 5,455; Production Worker/Factory Worker/Production Helper - 5,210; Production Machine Operator – 5,200; Sales Associate Professional/ Sales Clerk/ Sales Representative – 1,208; Call Center Agent – 1,139; Police Officer (PO1) (CARAGA) – 800; Service Crew – 642; Cashier – 572; Quality Control Inspector – 520; Merchandiser – 471; Marketing Assistant – 354; Kitchen Staff – 281; Salesman – 248; Accounting Assistant – 206; Intelligence Officer (Government) (CAR) – 183; Retail and Sales Agent – 180; Technical Support Representative – 170; Sewer – 150; Company Driver – 129; and Staff Nurse – 110.

For those seeking overseas employment, the top vacancies are as follows: Hotel & Restaurant Services (Service Crew /Beautician /Receptionist/ Steward/ Waiter/ Waitress/ Bartender/ Barista/ Cashier/ Singer/ Dancer) – 2,764; Construction Worker (general) – 1,055; Professional Nurse – 710; Company Driver – 508; Laborer – 426; Cook (general) – 371; Physical Therapist – 309; Carpenter – 267; Mason – 247; Cleaner – 208; Car Driver – 205; Office Clerk – 200; Medical Technician – 168; Plumber – 162; Welder – 155; Pharmacist – 150; Household Service Worker – 130; Electrician – 116; Salesman – 101; and Production Machine Operator – 95.

The 2017 Independence Day job and business fairs will be held in the following venues:

National Capital Region (NCR) – Senior Citizen’s Garden, Rizal Park, Manila; Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) – SM Baguio City; Region 1 – CB Mall, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan; Nepo Mall, Dagupan City; Candon Civic Center, Candon City, Ilocos Sur; Manna Mall, San Fernando City, La Union; Robert Estrella Gymnasium, Rosales, Pangasinan on June 13;

Region 2 – Cagayan State University, Caritan Campus Gym, Tuguegarao City; Region 3 – Malolos Convention Center, City of Malolos, Bulacan; Robinsons Townville, Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City; Region 4A – Binangonan Municipal Hall, Binangonan, Rizal; Region 4B – Xentro Calapan Mall, Roxas Drive, Lumangbayan, Calapan City; Municipal Plaza, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Region 5 – Daet, Camarines Norte;

Region 6 – Marymart Mall, Iloilo City; Region 7 – Covered Court, Cebu City Sports Complex, Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City; Region 8 – Tacloban City Convention Center, Tacloban City; Catbalogan City Plaza, Catbalogan City Samar (June 15) Region 12 - SM City of GenSan, General Santos City CARAGA – Provincial Capitol, Butuan City (June 14) Negros Island Region (NIR) – 888 Premiere Mall, Bacolod City

DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiated the job fairs anchored on the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan program.

The Independence Day job and business fairs is part of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) by the DOLE and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which aims to bring employment opportunities and entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.

The theme for the 2017 Independence Day is, “Kalayaan 2017: Pagbabagong Sama-Samang Balikatin.”

2-day Independence Day job and business fair in Iloilo City

By Ma. Leonora E. Estanque(WVSU OJT, PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Independence Day job and business fair slated on June 11 and 12 here will adopt the "Trabaho, Negosyo at Kabuhayan" (TNK) concept as a means to reduce the unemployment rate in Western Visayas.

The Departments of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and of Trade and Industry (DTI) have joined efforts to put up the two-day fair. The activity to be held at the Mary Mart Mall here.

“TNK is balancing jobs and provision of livelihood,” said DOLE assistant regional director Salome O. Siaton, adding that the concept has strengthened the role of the two agencies in providing assistance to intended clients.

Unemployment rate in Western Visayas that rose to 6.1 percent in January this year, showing a difference of 1.3 percent when compared with the same period in 2016.

Under the “Trabaho” concept is the job fair and the employment coaching. There are 29 local companies and seven overseas companies participating in job fair with 7, 451 job vacancies available as of date.

The employment coaching will be about the basic labor rights, life skills, livelihood orientation and pre-employment orientation.

“They will be thought how they will behave in their workplaces, their rights, and what their obligations are," Salome emphasized.

“Our new breeds of workers need to be oriented in their rights, duties and responsibilities because we want our labor force to be globally competitive. We value quality over quantity” she further added.

Under the “Negosyo” concept, DTI will facilitate an entrepreneurship talk.

“These people will be given the opportunity to open their minds that if they don’t have the certain skills needed by the various industries they can be an entrepreneur,” Siaton explained.

DTI also invited some entrepreneurs to share their knowledge during the skills demonstration.

For “Kabuhayan,” DOLE will help qualified participants how to access fund support from various government agencies.

Rebecca Rascon, DTI regional director, hoped that they could double the success rate of this two-day job and business fair.

DSWD-6 spends PHP8.1-M for free medicines in W.Visayas

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 8 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 has already utilized PHP8.1 million of its PHP138 million fund for the provision of free medicines in Western Visayas.

DSWD-6 information officer May Castillo said they were able to help 2,476 patients from the different parts of the region under President Rodrigo Duterte's Libreng Gamot sa Masa (LinGap sa Masa) program as of June 2 this year.

DSWD-6 has spent PHP6.7 million for free medicines of 2,180 patients that fall under the family head and other needy adult (FHONA) client category of the program.

PHP1.1 million was spent for medicines of 255 senior citizens; PHP123,788 for 22 women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDC) and PHP162,464 for medicines of 19 persons with disability.

Castillo urged the public to avail of the free medicines with so much aid still to be given out.With the PHP8.1 million expenditures as of this month, the department still has PHP129 million fund to be spent for the free medicines of patients until this end of the year.

To date, Castillo said that there were still no patients under the children in need of special protection (CNSP) and youth in need of special protection (YNSP).

DSWD-6 started to implement the President's LinGap sa Masa program last March this year in partnership with the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in this city.

The PHP138 million fund for the region is part of the PHP2 billion Presidential Social Fund for the LinGap sa Masa. Western Visayas is among the five regions in the country chosen to pilot the program.

Under the program, qualified as beneficiaries are families or individuals who are indigent, vulnerable or disadvantaged; those who are in crisis situations based on the assessment of social workers; those in the formal sector and poor based on the Listahanan of DSWD; government employees and contract of service workers and soldiers and police who were wounded in the line of duty.

Requirements needed to be qualified as beneficiary include doctor’s prescription, certificate of indigency and valid identification card.

Eligible patients will be issued a DSWD LinGap sa Masa Guarantee Letter (GL), which includes the needed amount for medicines that will be presented to the pharmacy of the hospital for the patients to get their medicines.

New school building in Iloilo City ready for students

(DPWH PR/PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- An approximately 800 students can be accommodated at the newly completed school building in Ramon Avanceña National High School in Arevalo, Iloilo City, just in time for the opening of classes this year.

District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) said they had completed the construction of the PHP27.914 million four-storey, 16-classroom school building.

“We closely fast-tracked the construction of this school building and now ready for occupancy as the classes opened this week,” he said.

The said project was made through the Department of Education (DepEd) under the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF) to cater to the increasing number of students of the said school, particularly the junior and senior high school students.

Maribel E. Sumagaysay, one of the senior high school teachers, said the building would bring great comfort to both the students and teachers. “This is a big comfort to the children that we won’t be bothered anymore looking for a place to have our classes,” she said in dialect.

Ma. Fe V. Montealto, another senior high school teacher, added that this 16-classroom school building was beneficial with the increasing number of students.

In addition, Renalyn Abangan, a Grade 12 student, said that this project was useful particularly to the students who before used to have their classes under the trees.

To date, DPWH Iloilo City DEO has already completed 11 school building projects with a total of 81 classrooms while four more school buildings are currently being constructed, with a total of 39 classrooms.

“Hopefully, two of these four school buildings will be completed by the end of June this year,” said Gustilo. “Nine more school building projects with a total of 118 classrooms are up for construction this year.

Meanwhile, in a recent DepEd-DPWH press conference, District Engineer Rodney A. Gustilo said that the DPWH would be constructing more classrooms to augment the number of school buildings in Iloilo City.

“We will continually support the program of the government by providing more classrooms to cope with the shortage of facilities,” said Gustilo.

“As far as Iloilo City DPWH is concerned, we are projecting to be completing at least 589 classrooms by the end of 2017 to possibly reduce the shortage of classrooms within Iloilo City,” he added.

In addition, Assistant Regional Jose Al V. Fruto assured that DPWH would remain steadfast in its commitment to provide enough classrooms for the students.

‘Tiendas Ilonggas’ helps women promote products

By Cindy B. Ferrer (PNA)

ILOILO CITY, June 6 -- Some women entrepreneurs in Iloilo currently joining the week-long exposition dubbed "Tiendas Ilonggas" shared how the exhibit helped them promote their products and find markets.

The 3rd "Tiendas Ilonggas" by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Iloilo Ilang-Ilang aims to promote women empowerment through entrepreneurship. It is one of the projects of JCI under its "All About Her" flagship program to provide solutions to the needs of women in legal, medical and economic aspects.

Maria Mylyn Junsay of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina in Dumangas, Iloilo, said that the exhibit really helped her get significant income to provide for the needs of her family, especially for the allowance of her children attending schools. Among her products are pillows and pillowcases.

Meanwhile, Maria Susie Ansena of Janiuay, Iloilo, said the exhibit helped her promote her products and become well-known to the public. She has been joining exhibits since 2012.

"After several exhibits, I gained a lot of customers and my income has also increased," she said.

Ansena sells herbal products like essential, liniment and massage oils; insect repellant; herbal soap and teas.

Karen Suegay of Jaro, Iloilo City also said that the exhibit helped them find markets after their products were exposed to the public. She helped promote Sun's Spot Catering and its products like bila-o meals, packed meals, desserts, among others.

"With the help of the exhibit, our business has really become well-known to the public. We get to introduce our food products to the people because we offer free taste to them," she added.

The "Tiendas Ilonggas" is being participated by 25 women micro-entrepreneurs from Iloilo.

Aside from pillows and pillow cases, food items and herbal products, also available in the exhibit are accessories, paintings, hand-made crafts and many more.

"Tiendas Ilonggas" is held in coordination with the Gender and Development Unit of the provincial government, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 6, Iloilo Negosyo Center, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development.

The exhibit at the grounds of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol will be open until June 9.

Close to 1,000 applicants join job fair in Iloilo

(Angelica G. Punsalan , Ma. Leonora E. Estanque and Florybel G. Tamonan (WVSU OJT)

ILOILO CITY -- Close to 1,000 applicants trooped to the provincial capitol on Friday for the one-day job and tourism fair facilitated by the provincial government through its Public Employment Services Office (PESO).

“We have local companies. There are companies for overseas employment. For local employment we have Robinson’s, SM, and BPO’s. For overseas, we have from Manila, Cebu, and Negros,” Francisco Heler, department head and PESO manager said.

Teletech-Iloilo was one of the participating companies.

“We’ve been supporting this kind of activity ever since. It’s really a good way to represent the company and also to show them what we have and also a good way to personally connect to jobseekers and to talk to them any concerns that they have. It’s also to correct some misconceptions about the call center industry,” said Anne Gail R. Apostol, Senior Specialist Talent Acquisition from Teletech Iloilo.

Aside from local employment, the job fair also gives opportunity to those who want to work abroad.

“We are hiring nurses at least those with experience and willing to work abroad. We know that there are many capable nurses here in Iloilo City.” said Eliseo L. Duero, Recruitment Officer of GBMLT Manpower that sends nurses abroad.

The job fair was held in partnership with other agencies of the government such as TESDA, DOLE, OWWA, POEA as major partners were Red cross, SSS, Philhealth, Pag-Ibig, PRC, NBI, DFA, and Philippine Statistic Authority.

“The very purpose of this is to facilitate employment as an intervention of the government. This is what we call simultaneous employment intervention where applicants can simultaneously apply to several companies in just one venue at the same time,” Heler said.

Heler also added that it would be difficult to get hired on-the-spot because the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had been strict about the contracting and subcontracting of companies upon the implementation of Order 174. This order prohibits the recruitment and placement activities whether local or overseas employment.

PHP229-M for DepEd feeding program in W. Visayas, NegOcc

By Perla G. Lena (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted PHP229 million for the supplemental feeding program directed to boost the nutritional status of severely wasted and wasted school age children in Western Visayas and Negros Occidental this school year 2017-2018.

DepEd Regional Health and Nutrition Unit head, Dr. Melchor Kim Kwan, said not all of the enrollees from Kindergarten to Grade 6 enrolled in public schools could avail of the program.

Starting June until July, nurses will visit schools for the "Operation Timbang" to determine their nutritional status and learn who will be the recipients of the program.

The fund allocation is lower than the PHP300 million budget of the previous school year.

The lower budget is proof that the program is effective, according to Kwan.

“We expect (the number) to lessen. What’s the purpose of feeding if the number will increase?” he said.

The provision of hot meal will start in August and will last for 120 days or until March 2018. There will be 20 feedings days in a month. Each child is allotted PHP18 per day.

The food will be prepared by feeding coordinators and parents of the recipients. The amount of food to be served will be based on the recommendation of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Department of Health (DOH), he said.

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