Negros Occidental News May 2016

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Negros Occidental Province
Negros Occidental Archived News
Negros Occidental News
Philippine News


Negros-occidental-seal.png
Seal of the Province of Negros Occidental
Interactive Google Satellite Map of Negros Occidental
Negros occidental map locator.png
Negros Occidental Map Locator

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.

Bacolod government center 02.jpg
Bacolod government center 01.jpg
Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FACTS & FIGURES

Land Area : 7,926.10 sq. km (2004)
No. of Barangays: 661 (As of September 2003)
No. of Municipalities: 19 (As of September 2003)
No. of Cities: 13 (As of September 2003)
Total Population: 2,565,723 (As of May 1, 2000 census)
Population Growth Rates: 1.08 (1995-2000)
Income Class: First Class
Consumer Price Index (2000=100): 116.4 (2004)
Inflation Rate: 4.1 (2004)
Average Family Income: 73,923 (2000)
Average Family Expenditure: 69,241 (2000)
Telephone Loads: 45,348 (2003)
Telephone Density: 1.6 per 100 population (2002)
No. of AM Broadcast Stations: 13 (2003)
No. of FM Broadcast Stations: 15 (2003)
No. of Motor Vehicles Registered: 105,127 (2004)
No. of Elementary Schools:
     Public:    949 (SY 2003-2004)
     Private:  39 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Secondary Schools:
     Public :   200 (SY 2003-2004)
     Private:  38 (SY 2003-2004)
No. of Tertiary Schools: 39 (SY2003-2004)        
No. of Licensed Hospitals: 22 (2003)
No. of Establishments (3rd Qtr. 2004)
     Business Name Registration: 828   

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.

Brigada promotes community participation for better education

By Carlson B. Alelis (JCM/CBA-PIA6 Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, May 31 (PIA6) – The Department of Education (DepEd) – Negros Island Region is promoting community cooperation to provide better quality education to students through the nationwide Brigada Eskwela activity.

DepEd – NIR Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said everybody in the community must be involved in teaching the children aside from their teachers in school.

“Ang gusto talaga nating makita sa Brigada Eskwela is that every parent, every member of the community maging aware, ma-absorb at ma-imbibe yung value na tumutulong sa paaralan (What we really want to see in the Brigada Eskwela is that every parent, every member of the community must be aware, must absorb and imbibe the value of helping the school.),” he said.

“Because it’s a basic principle, that it takes the whole community to educate the child,” Sadsad added.

About 5,000 teachers and staff of DepEd offices in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and NIR attended the launching of Brigada Eskwela 2016 at the Kabankalan Public Plaza in Kabankalan City.

The event started with a caravan from DepEd – Neg. Occ. Division in Bacolod City to the Kabankalan Public Plaza.

Brigada Eskwela, also known as the Bayanihan Para Sa Paaralan, is a nationwide voluntary effort of teachers, parents, students, community members, and other organizations to do minor repairs and clean-ups on their schools in preparation for the start of the school year.

The theme for this year’s event is “Tayo Para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa Mula Kindergarten Hanggang Senior High School.”

With the start of the clean-up activities, Sadsad urged the parents and guardians to enroll their children early and not wait for June 13, the first day of classes.

“Let’s enroll our students early so that the school officials can also plan out their schedule,” he said.

Negros Occidental strengthens linkage with Japan's Ibaraki to boost tourism, economic initiatives

(PNA), LAP/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY, May 30 (PNA) -- A group of delegates from Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan are touring Negros Occidental until May 31 as part of the efforts to strengthen the partnership between the two localities.

Direct chartered flights from Ibaraki to Bacolod-Silay Airport in the province are being proposed.

The arrival of 10 Ibaraki delegates is a result of the discussion on the proposed project with Ibaraki Prefecture Governor Masaru Hashimoto.

The Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) said Governor Marañon Jr. has encouraged the group to go around the province to explore possible collaboration in the areas of trade, medical tourism, education, and training focused on English as Second Language (ESL) Program.

The Ibaraki group went to the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, and also visited the beaches of Sipalay, Lakawon Island Beach Resort in Cadiz City, Mambukal Mountain Resort in Murcia, Silay City’s heritage houses and cathedral, The Ruins in Talisay City, Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) Silk Farm in Bago City, and Association of Negros Producers (ANP) Showroom in Bacolod City.

Their itinerary also includes visits to universities and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-accredited technical vocational institutes to look into the potential tourism and investment destinations.

Dr. Hideya Terunuma, president of Rose Hills Mito Ibaraki Clinic and head of the delegation, has expressed hopes that the goodwill mission will further strengthen the partnership of the two provinces and will eventually spur more economic development initiatives.

Ibaraki Prefecture through the members of OISCA have been promoting international cooperation by providing support in the construction of day care centers in Bago, donation of musical instruments, and the establishment of sports-related facilities.

Among the members of the delegation were Hiroshi Shoji, president of Ibaraki Christian University; Tomoyuki Okagawa, president of Japan Travel Bureau-Manila; Soutarou Nishikawa, director of Japan External Trade Organization-Ibaraki; Junji Sakamoto, council member of Oarai-Machi town; Itumu Eda, council member of Tokai-Mura village and managing director of Rokai Golf Corp., and Nobuaki Fudetani, executive director of Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy.

Bacolod's La Niña Watch formed

(CNC)

THE Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) is bracing for La Niña as evidenced in the rains that now occur almost every day.

Aaron Bais, acting head of DRRMO, said they have already formed a La Nina Watch in preparation for the rainy days.

La Niña is associated with thunderstorms, typhoons, and heavy rains seen to result to the outbreak of dengue, and common illnesses such as cough, flu, and fever.

The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) has prepared a budget of P200,000 for the second quarter to purchase relief goods, and signed a memorandum of agreement with the food suppliers.

Evacuation centers have also been identified, Bais said.

For search and rescue, the city has also purchased 10 units of Mitsubishi L-300 back-to-back to be utilized by the disaster response unit of the Bacolod City Police Office. Two units will be assigned for the DRMMO volunteers.

The pruning of trees and declogging of creeks, rivers, and drainage are also being done, Bais said.

The DRMMO will set up an emergency warning system and will renew partnership with the volunteer groups.

There are 10 volunteer groups from the church, schools, and private organizations who help the city during emergency and disaster. The Amity and Chamber fire volunteer brigades are on call 24/7.

They have also trained on disaster response 748 Community Emergency Response Team volunteers.

Negros Occidental up for free Wi-Fi connections

By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) in Negros Occidental province will start the installation of free Wi-Fi connections in the province as soon as it is through with the signing of memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the recipient-municipalities, its official said.

Engineer Romeo Tome, team leader of DOST-ICTO in Negros Occidental, said the agency’s Central Office has just obtained the notice to proceed with the project, providing the contractor 60 days to finish the installation of free Wi-Fi connections.

Tome, however, said that due to the national and local elections, they cannot immediately proceed with the MOA signing since there might be changes with the administration of some of the municipalities.

“We will now schedule the signing of agreement only with those municipalities with unopposed and re-elected mayors to ensure continuity on the program implementation,” Tome said, adding that those with new leaderships are next in the list.

From only eight priority recipients, all 19 municipalities in Negros Occidental are now covered by the free Wi-Fi access project of DOST-ICTO. This, after the National Government has raised the budget to P3 billion, covering all classes of municipalities in the country, from third to sixth levels.

The project is aimed at providing internet access across the country to enhance communication, which is vital in continuing socio-economic growth.

The free Wi-Fi access will be installed in priority public hotspots, including town plazas, schools, municipal halls, and rural health units.

Initially, only the municipalities of Toboso and Salvador Benedicto in the north, and Candoni, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid in the south were included in the project.

With the new mandate, Binalbagan, Calatrava, Cauayan, E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Manapla, and Murcia towns were then added as project recipients.

Tome said they target to fully complete the installation process as soon as possible.

In not more than two months, residents in the recipient-municipalities can already avail of the free Wi-Fi access, he added.

Negros Occidental SP approves P17.7-M disaster mitigation projects

(PNA), LAP/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY, May 27 (PNA) -- Almost P17.7 million worth of disaster prevention and mitigation programs and projects for Negros Occidental were approved Wednesday by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan here.

The items were included in the resolutions passed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

Sixth District Board Member Pedro Zayco, chairman of committee on natural disasters and calamities, said the PDRRMC passed a resolution approving the re-alignment and reprogramming of the balance of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Project and Climate Change Adaptation Program amounting to P14.3 million to the various projects of the Provincial Environment Management Office.

The allocation will be taken from the 2015 Special Trust Fund intended as PDDRM Fund.

Zayco added that the reprogrammed projects also include the conduct of Negros Occidental Climate Change Summit with an allocation of P500,000, and purchase of various equipment worth P8 million.

A portion of the fund will cover the P3.5 million worth of larvicides and fogging machines to be purchased under the Dengue Prevention, Control, and Treatment program of the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

“With the recent reports on increasing number of dengue suspected cases in the province, this project is vital to respond and address the problem,” Zayco said.

Part of the P17.7-million fund is the support to disaster prevention and mitigation initiatives of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) amounting to P3.4 million, which will be sourced from the 2016 PDRRM Fund.

The PPDO proposed realignment of programs cover projects such as coordinating roads and infrastructure investments for development worth P1.4 million; upgrading of provincial road for development plan, P1.5 million; and training and development of environmental planning, about P500,000.

193 farmers in northern Negros complete organic vegetable production training

(PNA), LAP/NLG

BACOLOD CITY, May 26 (PNA) -- One hundred ninety-three farmers in northern Negros have graduated from the three-month training-course on Organic Vegetable Production initiated by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

The farmer-trainees, who are from the cities of Sagay, Cadiz, and Escalante, and town of Manapla, completed the training last month, and were recognized during the closing rites held Wednesday at Balay Kauswagan in Sagay City.

Capitol’s Provincial Peace Integration and Development Unit (Pro-PIDU) organized the training with the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, and 62nd Infantry Battalion.

Trained were marginal farmers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and former rebels, who learned about organic vegetable production, and making organic fertilizers using backyard materials.

The participants also attended exposure trips and farm tours at Fresh Start Organic Farm in Silay City, Army Wellness Farm at the 303rd IB headquarters, and Mambukal Resort, both in Murcia.

Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. lauded the farmers for accepting the challenge of shifting to organic farming, which is healthier for consumers, and also environment-friendly.

“This day marks the change of system in our farming,” the governor said.

Celia Mendoza, a trainee from Sagay City, said she is thankful for the training which helped her realize that through hard work and sheer determination, organic farming will give her a promising income.

Ma. Renita Aujero of Manapla said she learned that organic vegetables are good for the health because these are free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

The farmers were provided with seeds while some won livestock animals such as ducks and pigs during a raffle.

All farmer-traineers were also enrolled in the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Program.

20 million cacao trees eyed in Negros Island Region

By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Davao City-based Plantacion de Sikwati Cacao Producers Association Inc., a non-stock, non-profit group of cacao growers and processors, is eyeing 20 million cacao trees to be planted in Negros Island Region (NIR) in the next five years.

Christopher Fadriga, president of Plantacion de Sikwati, who led the training on cacao production held at the Negros First Negosyo Center in Bacolod City recently, said their group continues to encourage local growers to expand their production.

“The 20 million trees in five years is our battle cry for Negros, if we can achieve at least half of it, that is already a success story for the cacao industry (in NIR),” Fadriga said.

If the region can plant at least 10 million cacao trees, it is projected to bring in P20 billion worth of economy, he added.

The training, spearheaded by the Plantacion de Sikwati in cooperation with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (Nisard), was attended by more than 50 cacao growers, processors, and land owners.

It featured lectures and discussions on cacao production, and on how to acquire market by identifying potential buyers.

Fadriga said the activity is an eye opener for local farmers to realize and appreciate the huge demand for cacao and its potential as an industry.

He added that there is a projected scarcity of about a million tons of cacao by 2020. Cacao growers, including those in Negros Occidental, have not yet realized the production’s business side, he pointed out.

In Negros Occidental, records of OPA showed the province has only about 10 to 15 hectares of sporadic cacao plantations.

Fadriga said it is still minimal for the province, which is ideal for cacao planting, due to its rich and fertile soil and abundant water.

Plantacion de Sikwati currently has chapters in Cebu, Bohol, Capiz, Bicol and Negros.

“The hard work is yet to start that is why we are encouraging people, we are trying to inspire them to get involved in the growing industry of cacao,” Fadriga said.

Majority of NegOcc provincial gov’t employees already received mid-year bonus

(PNA), RMA/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY, May 24 (PNA) -- The Negros Occidental provincial government has already released the mid-year bonus of majority, or about 80 percent, of its employees as of Monday.

Provincial Administrator Leonardo Eusebio said they had allocated almost Php 80.8 million for the full mid-year bonus of more than 2,000 employees, which is part of the province’s partial implementation of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 4.

Section 10 of Executive Order 201 of the Office of the President provides that partial implementation can be done provided there is an authority from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).

Eusebio said that by the end of the month, the provincial government could already release the mid-year bonus of all its employees.

The SP unanimously approved a resolution providing authority to Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to implement a partial salary standardization since the province already reached the 45 percent ceiling for personal services.

The partial implementation covers the provision of 14th month pay, also amounting to Php 80.76 million, as well as cash gift and productivity enhancement incentives (PEIs) each worth almost Php 20.84 million.

The 14th month pay to be given in November will come from the Capitol’s savings under the General Fund.

The Php 5,000 cash gift and PEI for each employee will be released in November and December, respectively, and will also be sourced out from the savings of the General Fund.

IT professors in Visayas join lean startup bootcamp

By Erwin P. Nicavera

ABOUT 40 information technology (IT) instructors from different provinces in the Visayas such as Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Siquijor attended the Lean Startup 101 Bootcamp held at the Negrense Suites in Bacolod City on Friday.

The Lean Startup Bootcamp is one of the preparatory activities for professors in the field of IT, including computer studies and engineering, who will serve as faculty mentors for the 2016 Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC) set on the last quarter of the year.

Rosario Ito, co-founder of Spring.ph, a group under the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), told Sun.Star Bacolod that professors were trained on how to use the lean startup tools in developing a business.

It is also for the purpose of enabling them to teach the teams in their respective schools, Ito said.

"Through this bootcamp, mentors will be equipped on the process and the tools so that the teams can use these tools to present their own startup ideas to the PSC competition," she added.

PSC, now on its third year, was launched by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) in partnership with PSIA, Intel Philippines, and the Philippine Society of IT Educators.

It is a national student start-up competition aimed to open opportunities for young "technopreneurs" to create relevant innovation as they engage with society and learn from community leaders.

For this year, the competition is open for entries both in the fields of software, including web and mobile systems and applications, as well as hardware innovations which apply the internet of things concepts.

Aside from participating in the Lean Startup 101, participants also attended Saturday the Internet of Things Bootcamp, which further equipped college mentors the necessary tools and methods in guiding the students through the challenge as well as enriched their skills as ICT educators.

Moreover, Ito said Bacolod has really a huge potential in terms of startup industry.

"I am so encouraged by the ideas that are being put forward, it is just a matter of showing to them what is possible," she said, adding that "as to ideas and talents, I think it exist here."

Hinobaan fish port, airstrip underway

(TDE)

THE developments of a fish landing port and an airstrip in Hinobaan, Negros Occidental have already started, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said Friday.

Marañon said the construction of the fish port that will serve fishermen in southern Negros has already started Friday after the bidding was completed.

Moreover, the governor said the development of the existing airstrip in Barangay Bacuyangan used to be owned by Insular Lumber Company will be implemented by the province as soon as possible.

He added that the Provincial Engineering Office will start the detailed engineering survey on Monday, then the costing will follow.

The airport can accommodate small aircrafts that will cater to tourists in southern Negros.

“Once we get the writ of possession, we will immediately take over and start the relocation of the affected houses,” Marañon said.

Up to 56 houses will be relocated and affected residents are asking that they will be given priority for the jobs that will be opened when the airport development starts, he added.

San Carlos gets 4 more Tech4Ed centers

By Erwin P. Nicavera

FOUR more Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurial, and Economic Development (Tech4Ed) centers were established in three barangays and in the public library of San Carlos City.

The project is a joint-initiative of the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), San Carlos City Government, and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Romeo Tome, provincial team leader of DOST-ICTO in Negros Occidental, who attended the project launching in San Carlos City Thursday, said the Tech4Ed centers will benefit all sectors of the community in Barangays 1, Rizal, and Bulwangan, including students who will be catered by the city’s public library.

Officials who attended the event were led by Frederick Amores, director of DOST-ICTO Visayas Cluster, and San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor. Currently, San Carlos has already five Tech4Ed centers, including the one in Barangay Codcod, launched in December last year.

“These five Tech4Ed centers are just part of the 18 (identified) areas, mostly barangays, the DOST-ICTO intends to cover through an agreement with the local government,” Tome said, adding that the agency targets to establish another five centers in San Carlos this year.

These would surely benefit thousands of residents of the city, including the out-of-school youth and alternative learning system students, who will be linked by the DepEd in the center’s digitized program, he added.

Aside from San Carlos, the province already has three Tech4Ed centers in Himamaylan City, Cauayan town, and Bacolod City located at the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC).

Tome said they are waiting for other local government units (LGUs) in the province to accept the proposal for the establishment of Tech4Ed centers in their respective localities.

Under the program, DOST-ICTO provides the platform and software, while the recipient-LGUs take charge of the building, equipment. and personnel as counterparts, he added.

Tech4Ed centers provide three main services such as eEduSkills, which focuses on educational and digital divide; eAssist for opportunity divide; and eGovServ devised for direct service to people.

The eEduSkills are digitized reviewers for Alternative Learning System, Learning English Language for Pinoys, online Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training courses, and value formation, including how to use the internet and cyber security.

The eAssist includes Microsoft digital literacy and career shifting module for teachers, while the eGovServ provides community the access to services of various government agencies like Social Security System, Pag-Ibig Fund, and National Bureau of Investigation.

“By bridging the gap between educational and digital divide, Tech4Ed project mainly aims to complement the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth,” Tome said, adding that “inclusive growth can only be achieved if the whole sector especially women, youth, persons with disabilities as well as indigenous people are covered and part of the development.”

Open PESO to save more

By Carlson B. Alelis (JCM/CBA/PIA6-Negros Occidental)

BACOLOD CITY, May 20 (PIA6) – The Social Security System – Bacolod Branch is offering the Personal Equity Savings Option (PESO) fund to its members here who have the capacity to contribute more.

Janice Diaz, senior communications specialist of SSS, said the PESO fund is open for members who want to get more benefits by paying an additional amount aside from their regular SSS Retirement Program contribution.

“This is a voluntary prominent fund that SSS is offering to its members so that they have the opportunity to save more and to receive additional benefits in the future,” she told PIA.

SSS members who are employed under any type of salary bracket are qualified to join.

However, for those who are self-employed, voluntary and Overseas Filipino Workers – members, they must pay the maximum amount of contribution under the regular SSS program before they can qualify for the said program.

Likewise, members must not have filed any final claim under the regular SSS program such as Retirement, Total Disability and Death benefits.

Additional requirements include: the member must not be more than 55 years-old and must have contributed in the regular SSS program for six consecutive months within the 12-month period immediately prior to the month of enrolment.

The minimum payment for the PESO fund is P 10,000 while the maximum amount is P 100,000 yearly, Diaz said.

Sixty-five percent of the contribution under this program will be allocated to the member’s retirement pension, which means the member will be unable to get the money until retirement.

Further, 25 percent of the contribution will be allocated to the member’s medical benefits while 10 percent will go to his general purpose benefits.

Pemo continues to energize upland areas in NegOcc

By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo) will continue to energize upland communities in the province covered by the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) program.

Luisa Tutor, ISF program coordinator of Pemo, said that the Provincial Government has allocated P1.5 million for the 30 solar panels, which will energize 150 upland houses.

Tutor said that the installation of these solar panels complete with accessories, which can generate 12 volts or 100 watts, is aligned with the livelihood to upland reforestation swap program of the Provincial Government.

In return, farmer-recipients will plant not less 2,500 endemic and other fruit trees in one year, as stipulated in the program.

“The project does not only capacitate farmers to better their livelihood but also enjoins them to help in the protection and conservation of environment,” Tutor said, adding that the electrification program will also greatly benefit the children of the farmers who are studying at night.

The first to receive the installations were the farmers of the Buenavista ISF Farmers Association of Sitio Doong in Barangay Buenavista, Murcia town.

The group recently received four solar panels which will be shared by 20 members through rechargeable batteries to be used only during night time.

As their swap for the given solar panels, Tutor said that the farmers have offered their collective area of wild or shed coffee totalled at about 200 hectares, aside from another 50 hectares for the cultivated plantation.

Tutor added that the growing demand for coffee have made it as one of the top priority commodities of the province being recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture.

“It is also a means of reviving our wild coffee plantations and at the same time maintaining the shed forest above it,” she stressed.

In September last year, a 50-watt solar panel was also installed at Sitio Igcamalig in Barangay Mabini Cadiz City, through the communities coping mechanism on climate change project of Pemo.

The solar panel worth P30,000 has energized 60 households in the upland barangay.

For this year, installation of solar panels in other upland communities in the province will continue, Tutor said.

DepEd allocates Php1.13-B for senior high classrooms in Negros Occidental

(PNA), ZST/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY, May 18 (PNA) -- A total of 614 classrooms amounting to Php1.13 billion will be constructed in 77 schools under the Department of Education (DepEd) Division of Negros Occidental offering senior high school beginning school year 2016-2017.

Part of allocation worth Php714 million will be used to build 454 classrooms for Grade 11 while the remaining Php417 million will be used for the construction of about 260 classrooms for Grade 12 next year.

DepEd-Negros Occidental is one of the 10 divisions in the province, covering public schools in 23 cities and municipalities,.

In the north, schools under its jurisdiction include those in Calatrava, E.B. Magalona, Manapla, Murcia, Talisay City, Toboso and Victorias City.

It also covers schools in Binalbagan, Candoni, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinoba-an, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Salvador Benedicto, Sipalay City, and Valladolid in the south.

During a press conference here Tuesday, Geronimo Ermio, division engineer III of DepEd-Negros Occidental, said they are currently constructing 399 of the 454 classrooms intended for Grade 11, with a contracted amount of almost Php639 million.

However, only 47 classrooms are ready for use by the opening of classes on June 13.

Ermio said that of the 77 senior high schools under the DepEd Negros Occidental, about 30 schools have already completed the construction of their classrooms for Grade 11.

The rest are expected to be completed this year, he added.

For his part, Schools Division Superintendent Jose Freddie Mocon reiterated that DepEd-Negros Occidental is “100 percent ready” for the opening of classes next month despite the pending construction of other buildings for senior high school.

School administrators have alternative plans on where to hold classes when school buildings for Grade 11 are not yet ready for use, he added.

City gov’t regulating waterway structures

By MAE SINGUAY (PN)

BACOLOD City – The city government will now strictly regulate the construction of any infrastructure near waterways and drainage systems here to minimize or prevent flooding.

Landowners planning to build such infrastructures are required to submit a location, building and project plan.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod has amended Article 3 of City Ordinance 335, requiring lot owners to seek consultation and clearance from the barangay council and the city government before building such infrastructures.

Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., author of the ordinance, said landowners must submit the plan to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), which will in turn issue a certificate of approval.

The CDRRMO certificate is a requirement for a barangay council resolution in favor of or against the construction, said Gamboa.

The barangay council is tasked to determine whether or not the site where the construction would take place is prone to flooding.

If the village council disapproves of the project, construction will not be allowed.

Negros organic advocates, entreps to speak on health empowerment

(EPN)

TWO Negrense organic advocates and entrepreneurs will speak on health empowerment trough a seminar organized by the Junior Chamber International-Bacolod Chapter at May’s Organic Garden in Barangay Pahanocoy, Bacolod City on May 21.

Aside from being an entrepreneur, Honey Grace Catalan, who is a cancer survivor, an inspirational speaker, and life coach, will lead the morning sessions entitled “There is Life After Cancer,” which include topics on mindset of a health warrior, health protocol, and God’s word as medicine.

For the afternoon sessions, pesco-vegetarian and naturopath doctor Albert Jo, who owns the Rapha Valley Organic Restaurant in Salvador Benedicto, will talk on “Your Food is Your Medicine”.

Jo, an advocate of natural health and healing, will give lectures on awareness and lifestyle of wellness.

Project head Aljon Candelasa said that for many years, the two have been constant speakers in different events, seminars, and trainings around the country, particularly with different health groups.

The seminar dubbed “Live Life to the Fullest II” is aimed at urging Negrenses to provide utmost importance to health and wellness, he added.

“According to research, people are now living longer, yet so many young people are also falling victim to such diseases as stroke and cancer, diseases that had been ailing older people in the previous decades,” Candelasa said.

Seminar registration fee is P600 inclusive of kit, certificate, guided educational tour of the May’s Garden, organic snacks for the morning and afternoon sessions, organic lunch, free on-site blood pressure, and random, and fasting blood sugar tests.

Participants will also get a chance to get 15 percent discount on laboratory exam, free on-site medical and general check-up from various private partners, Candelasa said.

Proceeds will go to Ramon Torres Dulao National High School in Bago City and Medalla Elementary School in Bacolod City.

Free medical consultation for 153 BJMP inmates

By MAE SINGUAY (PN)

BACOLOD City – One hundred fifty-three inmates at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) here have undergone medical consultation for free.

The medical mission on May 7 was part of the City Health Office’s duty to give medical attention to BJMP detainees in barangays Taculing and Handumanan, said the office head, Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli.

Medicines, vitamins, and creams and ointments to protect the skin from extreme heat in detention cells due to El Niño were given to the inmates.

“This is one way to help alleviate the living condition of our inmates,” said Gensoli.

Aside from Gensoli, the medical mission team comprised Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Jovy Vergara, Dr. Ma. Luz Ma-apni, Dr. Shirley Rodrigazo, Dr. Ava Joy Infante, Dr. Alma Ruiz-Padrigo, Donna Mae Las Piñas, Lolita Bahil, and Imelda Soriano.

P3-M liquid nitrogen plant, processing hub fast tracked

(EPN)

THE construction of the P3-million Liquid Nitrogen Plant and Semen Processing Center at the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia town is being fast tracked.

Dr. Renante Decena, head of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental, said they are following up with the Provincial Engineer’s Office, which is in-charge of the infrastructure projects, the release of the purchase order for the immediate start of the building construction.

Decena said that on top of the P3-million building, the provincial government has allocated P5 million for the equipment which already have a purchase order.

“We are just waiting for the engineering office which initially told us to finalize everything after the elections,” Decena said, adding that “we hope to have the construction started within this quarter.”

The plant and center is part of the PVO’s effort to expand its artificial insemination program to further increase the province’s production input and output, particularly for large animals like cattle and bull.

Decena reiterated that the project will be instrumental for the province to reach its target of producing a “Negros First” breed of cattle within three years.

On top of the new facility, Decena had earlier said the Provincial Government is also establishing one bullpen in every district in the province worth P250,000 each.

The pens will house bulls from the Negros First Ranch and those bought by the province, with artificial insemination facilities for extensive cattle development.

“Increasing our production input and output for other commodities which need further improvement through these facilities is part of the five-year development plan, which is currently being formulated to serve as the local industry roadmap until 2021,” Decena said.

5-year animal dev’t plan for NegOcc pushed

(EPN)

THE Province of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) is formulating a five-year animal development plan to further boost the province’s strong livestock and poultry industry.

Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said Wednesday the planning division of PVO has already started working on the creation of the plan, which will serve as the local industry development roadmap for 2016 to 2021.

Decena said the plan mainly includes development strategies particularly in terms of marketing and production methodologies specialized for each type of commodity.

“Specialization of development efforts will further attract investors who would like to venture in businesses with a specific commodity,” Decena said, while stressing that the development initiative is aimed at sustaining the province’s lead in the production of various animals and advancing in other commodities which need further improvement.

Negros Occidental is the country’s number one in production of backyard swine, free-range or native chicken, goat, sheep, and gamefowl.

Currently, the province ranks second in carabao production.

Part of the five-year development plan is to surpass Leyte, by meeting the production capability or population growth of at least 10 percent for carabaos, Decena said.

PVO records showed the province currently produces 15 to 17 percent of the 103,000 total population of carabao in the country. Leyte is ahead of Negros Occidental by 2,000 heads only, while Isabela follows at third.

“If we can just increase at least 1,000 heads per year, in two years time, we can already take the top spot,” Decena said.

The roadmap will also concentrate on developing methodologies for production of other kinds of chicken, cattle for dairy and meat production, pekin duck breeding, and strengthening of bull dispersal through artificial insemination projects, among others.

“Part of the goal set is inclusive growth and in order for it to be achieved all industry stakeholders should be involved and aware of the plan’s direction thus, the provincial government will be working closely with private sector, including raisers organizations up to the individual raisers level,” Decena added.

Bacolod chosen as 1 of 4 locations for PHL Startup Challenge boot camps

(PNA), RMA/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY, May 12 (PNA) -- One of the Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC) 2016 boot camps will be hosted by this city next week.

The back-to-back Lean Startup 101, and Internet of Things Bootcamps is scheduled on May 20 and 21, respectively.

Bacolod is one of the four locations of the boot camps for college professors in the fields of information technology, computer studies, and engineering in the Visayas region who will serve as faculty mentors for the PSC 2016.

Now on its third year, the PSC was launched by the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) in partnership with the Philippine Software Industry Association, Intel Philippines, and the Philippine Society of IT Educators.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT), said the PSC is scheduled on the last quarter of the year for students.

The start-up competition aims to open opportunities for young “technopreneurs” to create relevant innovation as they engage with society and learn from community leaders, she said.

This year’s competition is open for entries both in the fields of software, including web and mobile systems and applications, as well as hardware innovations which apply the internet of things concepts.

“This initiative is also a way for us to empower our academe partners especially college mentors to get involved, and be updated in the opportunities that they along with their students can take advantage of,” she added.

Batapa-Sigue said the boot camps seek to equip college mentors the necessary tools and methods in guiding the students through the challenge and also in enriching their skills as ICT educators.

Mentors who have attended the bootcamps in 2014 and 2015 are automatically eligible to join the PSC 2016.

Loan restructuring available to SSS members in Negros

(Visayan Daily Star)

The Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) of the Social Security System is now available to member-borrowers who have previously lived or worked in disaster and calamity-stricken areas.

The LRP aims to assist these members to help them clean up their overdue calamity and other past due short-term SSS loans.

Josephine Sombilla, Officer-in-Charge Assistant Branch Head of SSS – Bacolod, said that around 300 member-borrowers have inquired about the program, while 80 have availed of it as of May 5.

“The program has a one-year period wherein members who have delinquencies can pay their loans,” she said.

She said those who are eligible to apply for the program are member-borrowers with past due short-term loans of SSS such as: Calamity Loan, Salary Loan Early Renewal Program , Salary Loan, Emergency Loan, Educational Loan (old), Study Now Pay later Plan, Vocational/technical Courses Loan, Y2K Loans and Investments Incentive Loan.

The LRP started last April 28 and will end on April 27 next year.

The areas are declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Council and the national government are those that were affected during the following disasters or calamities:

Ondoy (2009), Sendong (2011), Pedring, Qiuel and Pablo (2012), Labuyo, Amring, Santi, Yolanda and Agaton (2013), Glenda, Mario, Ruby and Sendang (2014), Lando and Nona (2015).

Janice Diaz, senior communications analyst, said members can visit the SSS office and bring with them valid identification cards so the agency can check their eligibility.

Through this, SSS can check the balances, and give members payment options.

A member who is unable to visit the SSS office can send a representative with an authorization letter to inquire about the balances.

NOLITC among country’s top performing Tech4Ed centers

By Erwin P. Nicavera

THE Negros Occidental Language and Information Center (NOLITC) in Bacolod City is one of the top performing Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurial, and Economic Development (Tech4Ed) centers in the country.

The recognition came from the Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO).

Cristina Orbecido, vocational school administrator of ‘NOLITC, said that since the Tech4Ed center in NOLITC was opened in March, along with other two centers in towns of Himamaylan and Cauayan, it has been consistently recognized as one of the country’s top five performing centers.

Last April, Orbecido said the DOST-ICTO ranked NOLITC third in providing Tech4Ed services among its recipient-users, mostly students and out-of-school youth.

“One of the criteria for the recognition is the huge number of users that the center is serving, “which is one of the areas that we are currently concentrating on,” Orbecido said, adding that through the Tech4Ed mobile, NOLITC is working on maximizing and further bringing the services to the communities outside Bacolod.

DOST-ICTO “said that Tech4Ed project is mainly designed to complement the government’s goal of achieving inclusive growth through bridging the gap between educational and digital divide.

The agency said it is eyeing to establish 42,000 centers in the country, which will comprise the nationwide Tech4Ed network. The project targets all sectors of the community, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, out-of-school youth and indigenous peoples, empowering, ‘and enabling them to join the growth mainstream.

For the first phase, the Tech4Ed centers in the province will provide three main services such as eEduSkills, which focuses on educational and digital divide; eAssist for opportunity divide; and eGovServ devised for direct service to people.

Under the eEduSkills are digitized reviewers for Alternative Learning System, Learning English Language for Pinoys, online Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training courses, and value formation, including how to use the internet and cyber security.

The eAssist includes Microsoft digital literacy and career shifting module for teachers.

The eGovServ provides the community access to services of various government agencies like Social Security System, Pag-Ibig Fund, and National Bureau of Investigation.

For NOLITC, Orbecido said the Tech4Ed services that are mostly used are the eGovServ and eEduSkills.

“We continue to promote the Tech4Ed project to cover more recipients in the province by incorporating it in other activities and programs of NOLITC,” she said.

PVO generates P2.3-M from various fees in Q1

(EPN)

THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental has generated almost P2.3 million from farm income and various fees collected in the first quarter of 2016.

The figure is 13 percent higher than P2.02 million collection for the same period last year.

PVO records showed that from January to March, the highest income came from animal shipment permit fees totaling P1.81 million collected by the veterinary permit division and ports in cities of San Carlos, Cadiz, Victorias, and Escalante.

In terms of animal and license registration, inspection and health certificate fees, PVO generated a three-month income of about P149,000.

Its income from Capitol operated-farms in La Granja, La Carlota City and Negros First Ranch in Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia, including training fees, is almost P296,000.

For anti-rabies vaccine and other laboratory fees, the province has earned P21,000, records further showed.

Collection of fees for the shipment of animals, particularly livestock and poultry, is mandated by the Provincial Tax Ordinance 11-001, or an ordinance amending certain provisions of the 2007 Provincial Revenue Code of the Negros Occidental.

Under this ordinance, fees on other veterinary services are imposed, including inspection on large and small domestic animals, poultry, game fowls; issuance of permits for transport; and inspection and issuance of certificate of registration to commercial livestock and poultry farms.

It also has a provision to collect registration and licensing of livestock and poultry handler or trader, and diagnostic laboratory services fees which vary depending on the type of test.

Dr. Ryan Janoya, head of PVO Animal Health and Meat Inspection Division, reiterated that for the shipment of more than nine heads, one must register as animal handler or breeder.

The permit fees are collected on a per shipment basis, he added.

The bulk of collection was recorded during the month of January.

Janoya said it is mainly because most breeders, handlers, and commercial farm owners are renewing their registrations and licenses during this period.

PVO records further showed that it has generated P896,337 in January; P673,358 in February; and P710,374 in March.

Under the ordinance the province implements a 40-60 scheme, where ports in different local government units have an income share of 40 percent from the total shipment fees collected, and the rest goes to the PVO as the province’s revenue.

NIR PALARO winners get incentives

By Atty. Janet Mesa (JCM/EAD-PIA6/Capitol News Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA6) - - Medalled athletes of the Palarong Pambansa 2016 held in Legazpi City in Albay recently received their cash incentives amounting toP1,073,500 from the provincial government.

For individual games, the student-athletes from the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental received P10,000 for each gold medal, P7,000 for silver, and P5,000 for bronze while the gold medallists for the ball games received P75,000, P50,000 for silver and P25,000 for bronze respectively.

For groups, incentives were divided among the members of the team.

The cash incentives were given out during a program spearheaded by the Negros Occidental Provincial Government and Department of Education – Negros Occidental at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.

The athletes representing Negros Island Region Athletic Association (NIRAA) finished 6thplace over-all, bringing home 21 gold medals, 28 silver, and 39 bronze for the elementary and secondary levels.

For the demo sports and PARA games (SPED), NIR garnered 9 gold medals, 4 silver, and 12 bronze.

Medallists in the elementary level received a total of P390,000; Secondary level received P487,500; P63,000 for the demo/special events; and P133,000 for the coaches and chaperons.

Schools Division Superintendent Jose Freddie Mocon said that the journey doesn’t end at Palarong Pambansa and encouraged them to level-up next year.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental Provincial Sports Coordinator, Angel Verdeflor congratulated and thanked the athletes for placing 6th

out of the 18 participating regions nationwide despite joining Palaro for first time as one region.

Negros Occidental entrepreneurs trained on basic accounting

(EPN)

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Association of Negros Occidental Food Processors (ANOFP) trained 27 micro entrepreneurs in the province on basic accounting.

Romel Amihan, senior trade and industry development specialist of DTI-Negros Occidental, said the two-day lecture and workshop held on May 4 and 5 at the Negros First Negosyo Center in Bacolod City was attended mostly by entrepreneurs in the food business.

Amihan said that through the activity, participants were taught on preparing and recording all business transactions, and coming up with basic financial reports, including balance sheet, income statement, and statements of cash flow and capital.

“Basic accounting is vital in determining the financial statements and conditions of the business, whether they are currently operating in profit or loss,” he said.

According to the DTI, one of the common causes of business failure is lack of record keeping, adding that most local enterprises are not maintaining their records and not even preparing basic financial reports.

Thus, Amihan said the lecture and workshop on basic accounting, which is conducted once every year, is a means of addressing such deficiency and gap.

“Those entrepreneurs having no background in basic accounting are really urged to attend activities like this,” Amihan said.

Audited reports and statements are also part of the requirements for an enterprise to avail of credit programs from the government and other financial institutions, he added.

WV employment rate up 5%

BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA (PN)

ILOILO City – The employment rate in Western Visayas (WV) increased by five percent, showed the January 2016 Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

From 3.13 million employed Western Visayans last year, the number rose to 3.29 million, said Assistant Regional Director Salome Siaton of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6.

“This was one of the more positive increases in terms of percentage for the past several years. We attribute this to the continuing growth and development of the region,” said Siaton.

In the construction industry alone, “thousands” of workers were hire by private companies for various development projects undertaken by both the government and private sectors, said Siaton.

The tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO) industries also hired “thousands” of employees, she added.

The PSA survey also recorded a “nine percent decrease” in underemployment rate and “17 percent decrease” in unemployment rate in the region.

From last year’s 670,000 underemployed individuals and 201,000 unemployed, it counted 607,000 underemployed and 166,000 unemployed as of January this year.

DAR, GSIS enroll new employees

(KBC)

The Department of Agrarian Reform-Negros Occidental North and the Government Service Insurance System Bacolod conducted an enrollment of about 150 new employees at the GSIS and supplication for the Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID) cards at the DAR Provincial Office Tuesday.

The simultaneous GSIS enrollment and UMID application were also gave a chance to other employees to process their own UMID cards and update their biometrics, Teresita Mabunay, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, said.

The enrollment was a collaborative effort between the two agencies to comply with the hiring policies and procedures for newly hired personnel and their benefits in the government service, she said.

Negros Occidental provincial gov’t releases P1.073M in cash incentives to NIRAA medalists

(PNA), LAP/NLG/PR

BACOLOD CITY, May 4 (PNA) -- The provincial government of Negros Occidental released cash incentives worth P1.073 million to Negrense medalists in the 2016 Palarong Pambansa held in Legazpi City last month.

For individual games, the student-athletes both from the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental received P10,000 for each gold medal, P7,000 for silver, and P5,000 for bronze.

For ball games, gold medalists received P75,000; silver, P50,000; and bronze, P25,000. The amounts were divided among the team members.

The athletes received the cash incentives in rites held Tuesday at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City, with Schools Division Superintendent Jose Freddie Mocon and Negros Occidental Provincial Sports Coordinator Angel Verdeflor.

The Negros Island Region Athletic Association (NIRAA) finished sixth overall, bringing home 21 golds, 28 silvers, and 39 bronzes for both the elementary and secondary levels.

For the demo sports and para games, NIR garnered nine golds, four silvers, and 12 bronzes.

Medalists in the elementary level received a total of P390,000; secondary level, P487,500; demo/special events, P63,000; and coaches and chaperons, P133,000.

Tourism Office finalizes nomination for heritage declarations in NegOcc

(EPN)

THE Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) of Negros Occidental is finalizing the nominations of structures and houses in the province for heritage declarations.

In a memorandum issued last April 26, Cristine Mansinares, supervising tourism operations officer, told tourism officers in different local government units (LGUs) in the province to comply with the requirements and forms need to be filled out under the National Museum Properties Division Manual of 2014.

On April 5, tourism officers in the province with the representatives of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Heritage Conservation Society gathered for a meeting on heritage protection.

During that meeting, LGUs through their respective tourism officers were encouraged to draft legislation that grant incentives to owners of heritage structure to strive to preserve their cultural treasures.

Based on the said memorandum, PTO has initially identified more than 60 structures and houses in Negros Occidental as potential sites for heritage declaration.

These include the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol, San Sebastian Cathedral, Public Plaza, heritage houses like Mariano Ramos, Generoso Villanueva, Dizon-Ramos, Yulo’s Park, Silverio House, Sacred Heart Seminary, Dr. Antonio Lizares Mansion, La Consolacion College, Rizal Elementary School, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, all in Bacolod City.

Other nominees are Ma-ao Sugar Central, Muscovado Mills, Church Complex of San Juan Bautista, and Araneta House in Bago City; Gil Lopez and Gustilo Houses in Cadiz City; and old city hall, plaza, elementary school and ruins of old Escalante Church in Escalante City.

Thirty-nine other sites potential for heritage declarations mainly include churches, halls, cemeteries, milling centers and ruins from LGUs of Kabankalan, Sagay, San Carlos, Victorias, Calatrava, Hinigaran, Murcia, Pulupandan, La Carlota, Silay, Talisay, Binalbagan, E.B. Magalona, Manapla, and Valladolid.

Japanese water technology lessens Negros health, livelihood challenges

(PNA), SCS/CJT/PR/EBP

MANILA, May 2 (PNA) -- Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting pilot-testing of a water purifying technology in the Philippines -- a move to share Japanese know-how and expertise in addressing development challenges like water supply in areas deprived of safe, affordable water.

Called Aqua Cube, the technology was pilot-tested in two far-flung and low-income villages of Sagay City in Negros Occidental province.

“We aim to share Japanese technology that can help disseminate safe water to remote areas in the Philippines. Assuring supply of quality water in low-income areas is crucial in addressing public health challenges and livelihood opportunities,” said JICA SeniorRepresentative Takahiro Morita.

Aqua Cube was developed by Japanese company Murakami Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

The technology features a compact, all-in-one package of treatment, generator and water tank of simple operation and maintenance.

The equipment's purification capacity is 2,000 liters per hour.

It was introduced in the Philippines and other countries by Japanese marketing company INADA Inc.

Aqua Cube technology can process raw water from irrigation channels, rivers, and creeks.

It has auto-cleaning function and can produce clean drinking water for 600 people in an hour.

Support for the pilot-testing is part of JICA’s Verification Survey with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technologies, a component of Japan’s official development assistance where Japanese companies work with government agencies to share technologies that canhelp address needs of developing countries.

JICA welcomes Sagay City LGU's support for the technology.

The agency also lauded the LGU’s effort on prioritizing safe drinking water supply to sustain development.

Aside from providing safe and affordable water supply, JICA said the project aims to address vulnerability of drinking water sources during disasters and the El Nino phenomenon.

In Japan, the technology was developed to ensure stable, safe water supply during emergencies.

Sagay City LGU said the technology could help ensure health of people in the area since it can purify water from deep wells which are commonly contaminated with bacteria.

Water supply system in Negros Occidental only covers 53 percent of the population (2012 data) and many poor areas without water system rely on boiled rain water or boiled water from wells for household use.

Local residents noted improved water quality helped extend shelf life of buko pie products which are Filipino baked coconut pies which are income sources in the villages.

The pies' shelf life increased from a few days to a week,bolstering sales by 50 percent.

In times of disasters and emergencies, the LGU said portability of the technology also allows easy relocation of equipment to villages where safe drinking water is needed.

JICA also helped introduce other Japanese technology in the Philippines recently to support sustainable development.

The technology includes geo-cloud software that helps LGUs utilize maps and manage disaster-related information for coordination and easy allocation of resources in times of disasters.

DA purchases PHP16.2-M worth of certified seeds for El Niño-affected farmers in Negros Occidental

(PNA), BNB/NLG/EPN

BACOLOD CITY (PNA) -- A total of PHP16.2 million worth of certified rice seeds has been purchased by the Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) for distribution to farmers in Negros Occidental affected by the dry spell associated by El Niño.

DA Region 18 Director Renato Manantan, who confirmed the delivery of the certified seeds by middle of next month, said the seeds distribution is one of the measures they took after the state of calamity was declared in the province.

A total of 3,200 bags have been purchased by the DA in addition to the 180 bags of registered seeds earlier distributed to affected local seed growers.

Manantan said the DA-NIR is working closely with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to ensure that the recipients will be those who are affected worst by the dry spell.

“These are mainly for multiplication purposes. This will enable growers to produce certified seeds for the next planting season. The rice seeds that we are currently procuring are both for irrigated and rain-fed areas,” Manatan said.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that only 40 percent of the total rice areas in Negros Occidental province are irrigated and the rest are rain-fed.

Based on the latest OPA report, damage and production losses brought by dry spell and rat infestation among rice, corn, high-value commercial crops (HVCC), and tilapia have reached PHP221.88 million.

The highest losses were reported by the rice sector at PHP211.97 million; corn, PHP3.83 million; HVCC, PHP5.10 million; and tilapia, PHP985,250.

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Negros_Occidental_News_May_2016&oldid=925989"