September 28, 2013 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL I ISSUE 27 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 September 28, 2013

continued on page 7

PCOO chief guest of honor at 112th Balangiga Encounter Day celebration

BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA PECSON TIU

Secretary Sonny B. Coloma of the Presidential Communication

Operations Office is the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the 112th Balangiga Encounter Day celebration commemorative program at historic Balangiga, Eastern Samar today, September 28, 2013. Balangiga Mayor Viscuso S. de Lira told the Philippine Information Agency that the honorable Secretary Coloma has graciously accepted the LGU’s invitation to attend the commemoration which is a significant event in the history of the Philippines. Secretary Coloma will be introduced by the honorable Congressman of the lone district of

Eastern Samar Congressman Ben Evardone, Mayor de Lira added. Mayor de Lira disclosed that the commemoration of the anniversary of the Balangiga Encounter has become a tradition, a regular undertaking of the municipality of Balangiga and the entire province of Eastern Samar. This year’s Balangiga Encounter Day celebration started on September 26 with the opening of a three-day Photo and Memorabilia Exhibit and Agro-Industrial Fair. A blood-letting activity dubbed “Dugong Bayanihan” was also conducted at 8:00 o’clock in the morning at the municipal auditorium. A Poster-Making contest was conducted in the afternoon

while in the evening, a Quiz Bee contest was held in front of the Blangiga E n c o u n t e r Monument.Meanwhile on September 27, a jobs fair and service fair will be conducted starting at 8:00 o’clock in the morning at the Municipal Auditorium. In the evening, a Harana Contest which is open to four other municipalities comprising the BALANGIQUE cluster ( Lawaan, Giporlos, Quinapondan and Hernani), will be conducted at the municipal auditorium.On the D-Day, the activities will start at 6:00 o’clock in the morning with a Thanksgiving Mass at St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish Church. This will be followed by a Civic-Military Parade at 7:30 in the morning. At 9:00 o’clock in the morning, a ceremonial candle lighting will be conducted at the Balangiga Encounter Monument which depicts the scene when the Filipino revolutionaries were about to attack the American soldiers, with life-size statues and a replica of the church belfry, among others. The P6-million Balangiga Encounter Monument and Memorial Library was designed by national artist Napoleon Abueva. A wreath laying ceremony will be held at the Captain Valeriano S. Abanador monument. Captain Abanador was the leader of the Filipino revolutionaries who staged the Balangiga Encounter in 1901.The commemorative program will start immediately with the welcome message of Hon. Mayor de Lira. Among the highlights of the

BALANGIGA ENCOUNTER MONUMENT

SECRETARY SONNY B. COLOMA (photo from PCOO website)

2 September 28, 2013

The 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army based in Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City prepares goods to be transported to Zamboanga victims.

8ID troops donate relief goods for Zamboanga evacuees

In the spirit of “Bayanihan”, officials and subordinates of the 8th Infantry (Storm-

troopers) Division and its subordinate units donated assorted goods for the evacuees of the Zamboanga stand-off. They also accepted donations of assorted goods from kind hearted individuals and civic organizations in their area of coverage. For this, the division was able to gather 10 sacks of rice, 11 cartoons of canned goods, 19 cartoons of noodles, assorted medicines, 52 sacks of clothing and P8,925.00 cash. The goods and cash were sent to the Central Command (CENTCOM), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) based in Cebu City on September 21, 2013 through the Philippine Navy ship BRP Bagobo AT 293 for consolidation

with other donations from other AFP units in the Visayas. Thereafter, the relief goods will be sent to Zamboanga City via C130 plane of the Philippine Air Force. “We call on every peace-loving and well-meaning individuals to help in the resolution of the conflict in Zamboanga City and we hope that the relief goods that we have sent will help alleviate the plight of the evacuees,” said BGen Jet B Velarmino, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division.The commanding general also extended his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of their fallen comrades who offered the ultimate sacrifice. (PIA 8-Samar with reports from 8th ID /DPAO)

No areas of concern come barangay elections 2013 in Southern LeyteBY: ERNA GORNE

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Officer

noted that there is no area of concern being reported from the 18 municipalities

relative to the coming barangay elections in Southern Leyte, so far. As the local forces of the Philippine National Police (PNP) , Armed

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) based in the province led in the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) coordination conference together with the stakeholders, DILG Provincial Director Juan M. Badocdoc reported that there was no area of concern in the province as reported by their respective Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs), as of yesterday. However, the MLGOO in Malitbog have just recommended for the assessment of two barangays, Cantamuac and Kadaruhan Sur if these barangays can be categorized among the areas of concern, PD Badocdoc said. Provincial Director S/Supt Armando F. Bolalin noted in his welcome message, “the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) coordination conference were gathered to keep abreast with the updated instructions as part of the security preparations for the holding of barangay elections come October 28, 2013.” Provincial COMELEC presented during the same conference that the basic statistical informationin the province are the following: there will be 261,821 registered voters who will participate in the coming elections in 916 clustered precincts and a total of 467 voting centers, among other important information relative to the holding the mentioned election. While the representative from the Bravo (Black Hawk) Company of the 78th IB and PNP Southern Leyte Provincial Police Office also presented their security updates of their areas of responsibility with the updated COMELEC resolutions and election laws as part of their security preparations, it was learned. Among the participants are the (18) municipal police stations and (1) city police station chiefs also participated in bringing up their different concerns in order to facilitate a safe and fair elections. (PIA8 SoLeyte)

September 28, 2013 3

45-day gun ban starts today

BY: AURORA J. CASIMPAN

The top official of the Police Regional Office (PRO8) in Eastern Visayas told

that the imposition of the gun ban in the region for the barangay election on October 28 starts today, September 28, Saturday. Police Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, PRO8 regional director disclosed the gun ban covers the suspension to carry firearms issued to civilians by the Philippine National Police (PNP) outside the homes of licensed gun owners. The imposition of the firearms ban starts this Saturday until November 12 or 30 days before and fifteen days after the election. The top police official however clarified that exempted from the gun ban are regular members of the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies of the government deputized in writing by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Soria informed the gun ban will be enforced through the conduct of checkpoint operations in strategic places, operation bakal/sita, search warrants, police response and intelligence-driven operations. He also said that Comelec Resolution No. 9735 still stand as basis for all gun ban exemptions issued during the midterm national and local elections and recognized as valid for the barangay election purpose. (PIA-8)

SoLeyte PJSCC convenes, Barangay election issues tackledBY: MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

The Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC) led by the Commission

on Elections (COMELEC) convened September 25, 2013 in preparation for the upcoming Barangay Elections this October, 2013. The gathering held at Maasin Country Lodge was participated by the different Chiefs of Police and Election Officers throughout the province, among other government agencies and stakeholders concerned, a press statement from Police Senior Superintendent Armando Bolalin informed. Acting PNP Provincial Director Bolalin further said that during the conference, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) presented their security plans and deployment of troops, among other personnel at respective polling centers before, during and after the barangay elections. In a briefing from the Intelligence Branch of Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office (SLPPO), it recorded less total crime volume compared to the last two months (July & August) since September is not through yet. “However, this office is optimistic that no more crimes be

committed and recorded,” the intelligence report said. Likewise, the Provincial Director of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Dir. Juan M. Badocdoc presented in the conference the DILG updates in preparation for the Barangay Election. While COMELEC Provincial Office through Election Assistant II Reuel M. Junio, gave updates on the Resolutions and Memorandum Circulars released by the COMELEC Central Office in the conduct of the Barangay Election. “COMELEC resolutions during the automated May 2013 National and Local Elections will also be adopted in the conduct of the October Barangay Election. However, only the dates/calendar of activities were amended,” Junio quoted. After all the presenters showed their concerns, an open forum followed thereafter. Panel members include Atty. Antonio G. Gulay, Jr., Provincial Election Supervisor, PD Badocdoc, PSSupt F Bolalin, and 1Lt Jorry A Vinluan for clarification on some issues and concerns in the past elections so as not to repeat those incidents. (PIA8-SL)

PHOTO ON RIGHT.National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) executive director Forter Puguon (center) answers questions from the media during the press conference after the blessing of the NMP Public Employment Service Office (PESO) at Cabalawan, Tacloban City, September 25. At right is PIA 8 regional director Olive Tiu, presscon moderator. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

4 September 28, 2013

Men opposed to violence against women organized in Samar’s capital city

Members of the Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) in

Samar pledged not to commit, not to keep silent nor condone Violence Against Women (VAW). The group assembled men to advocate against VAW, formulate actions for the involvement of men in the elimination of VAW, and form partnerships and linkages to push for advocacy. In a press statement, Ador Hurtado of the Catbalogan City Hall, mentioned that more than 50 male employees of the Catbalogan LGU attended a MOVE orientation on September 26, 2013 at the Cocina de Cabral as organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office with assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office VIII. City Legal Officer, Atty. Aileen Forteza discussed on the salient features of RA 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, the backbone of the MOVE advocacy. The participants elected officers for the MOVE Catbalogan City where they also signed the Pledge of Support towards elimination of violence against women and their children, facilitated by no less than City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan.“We need men to help us address issues about women,” said Tan in her impromptu message. She then extended her commitment to support the organization and encouraged them to be strong partners of the government in the elimination men of VAW. (PIA 8-Samar)

Twenty-six couples from poblacion Naval, Biliran and from the different barangays of the municipality who were living together for years say “I Do” during the Kasalan sa Pueblo on the occasion of the 153rd Pueblo Day celebration of Naval on Thursday, September 26, 2013. The mass civil wedding was one of the highlights of the celebration was solemnized by Mayor Susan Parilla. (fj/PIA 8 Biliran)

Europe-based company seeks deals with So. Leyte farmers for cacao production

BY: MARCELO M. PEDALINO

A Dutch company is linking with farmers’ organization in the province

to produce quality cacao fruits that will be used as raw materials in making sweet chocolates. This was disclosed by Mike Nunez, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), whose office was used as a conduit in reaching out to interested individuals and groups. In fact, a farmer’s group in Sogod and Bontoc had actually started planting seedlings, as well as a group under the Social Action Center (SAC) of the Diocese of Maasin, which planted the pre-supplied seedlings in the diocese’s lot at barangay Panan-awan, this city, said Nunez during the DYSL Kapihan sa PIA yesterday. “The seedlings will bear fruit after one and a half years since actual planting with proper care and maintenance,” he added. The company will be the one to

buy the ripened fruits for eight years under a contract growing scheme, the price per kilo set at 70% of the prevailing price in the world market, Nunez informed. He said he found it a bit awkward that his office has entered into the scene when everything is still in the primary planting stage, DTI being more on food processing, labelling, and marketing concerns. But since his office was tapped as a coordinating arm to reach out with various groups, then he was involved, Nunez said. The deal also jibbed with the coconut rehabilitation program of the province, a roadmap that the DTI helped crafted, in which it was stated that cacao planting should be intercropped under coconut trees.Nunez urged interested persons and groups to contact his office so a technical training or seminar can be scheduled as soon as possible. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

September 28, 2013 5LMWD schedules water service disconnection in Tacloban and some Leyte towns

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BY: MARIVIC ALCOBER

The Leyte Metropolitan Water District would like to inform its

concessionaires in Tacloban City, and the municipalities of Palo, Tolosa, and Tabon-tabon, Leyte of the scheduled water disconnection on September 30 to October 3, 2013. On September 30, areas covered for disconnection in Tacloban City are Fatima Village, Pleasant Ville, Manlurip, San Jose (Calanipawan) Flexihomes, Lolita Village, and V & G Subdivision, under Zones 101-108 and 111-118. Scheduled for disconnection on October 1, is Tolosa, Leyte which covers the Poblacion, National Highway, Olot, Imelda St., Osmeña St., Magsaysay,

and Imelda Lane, under Zones 205 to 207. A l s o scheduled on October 1, is the municipality of T a b o n - t a b o n . Covered areas are: Poblacion, Quezon St., Juan St., and Brgy. Mering.On October 2-3, scheduled for disconnection is the municipality of Palo under Zones 1512-158, 161-168, 171-178, 181-188, and 222-224. To avoid the inconvenience of a disconnected water service, the Leyte Metropolitan Water District requests its concessionaires to immediately pay their back accounts. (PIA-8)

DOH trains Biliran BHWS as partners in TB control program

BY: RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

The Department of Health (DOH) through the Biliran provincial health

office conducted a two-day training for the selected barangay health workers (BHWs) in Biliran as partners in the implementation of government tuberculosis control program. The training entitled Interpersonal Communication and Counseling for TB Prevention and Control Program was held on two batches from September 24-25, 2013 and September 26-27, 2013 at the Inter-Local Health Zone office located at the Biliran provincial hospital. It was learned that two BHWs were selected from each of the eight towns in the province for the first and second batches. Vanessa D. Veloso, health education and promotion officer (HEPO) of the Biliran provincial health office, informed that the DOH regional office here in Eastern Visayas provided P100,000 for the training which is aimed at enhancing the counseling skills of BHWs in the care of TB clients. Veloso emphasized the role of BHWs in Biliran as treatment partners so they must have the skill to counsel and interact with TB clients for them to become effective in the case finding and case holding strategies. She said that though the BHWs underwent counseling skills in the care of TB patients, yet it can be applied also to other health programs implemented by the health department especially in the area of advocacy. The Biliran HEPO admitted that BHWs are the active partners who serve as the frontline in the delivery of DOH of its programs and services to the community. The training was conducted by Ms Veloso herself and Elsa B. Baltazar, the provincial TB program coordinator in Biliran province. # (PIA-8 Biliran)

Private NGO initiates facilitators’ training on participatory capacity, vulnerability assessment

Plan International, a global children’s development organization, recently

initiated the conduct of Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment (PCVA) Facilitators´ Training in a move to help stakeholders better understand the fundamentals of climate change especially its effects, causes and potential impacts. “We are conducting this to let the participants become aware and knowledgeable on the legal basis mandating the government to support the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation,” said Joseph McDonough, project manager of Plan’s Child-Centered Community based Climate Change Adaptation Project (CC-CBA). The training was attended by the various stakeholders composed of representatives from the different sectors

such as women, children, barangay health workers, fisher folks and local government units of Hernani and Salcedo, Eastern Samar, who were taught on how to apply the PCVA tools including applicable participatory rapid assessment (PRA) tools. McDonough said that the participants will soon demonstrate the conduct of PCVA tools through a practicum. CC-CBA project is led by Plan International in partnership with Save the Children and Institute for Sustainable Futures of University of Technology Sydney. Supported by AusAID under its Community-based Climate Change Action Grants (CBCCAG) Program, CC-CBA is 30-month project that will last until continued on page 7

6 September 28, 2013

Pangulo Aquino naghatag katapusan nga respeto kasundalohan nga nagkamamatay agway ha Zamboanga

WARAY NEWS

Hi Pangulo Benigno S. Aquino III en naghatag han iya katapusan nga

respeto ngan pagduyog han kasakitan han pamilya ni 1st Lieutenant John Kristofer Rama, an pinaka-una nga opisyal nga nabiktima nga natikang ha Armed Forces of the Philippines nga namatay ha pakig-enkwentro han Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari nga grupo ha

siyudad han Zamboanga, dida han iya pagbisita ngadto han panimalay han mga Rama dida han Huwebes. An Pangulo, nga gin-updan ni Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Abad, en umabot ngadto han kan Rama lamay dida han 10:45 han aga. Sering ni Erlinda, an kan Rama asawa, nagsaad an Pangulo paghatag hin

bulig para pagbalay ngan para edukasyon para ha iya ngan para han iya anak nga hi Elisa Irene. Nagpagawas hiya han iya kinasing-kasing nga pagpasalamat para ngadto han kanan Pangulo pagbisita ngan panaad, ngan nagsering nga duro an iya kalipay nga naghatag an Pangulo hin oras paghatag hin dungog ngadto han panumdoman han iya asawa pinaagi han iya personal nga pagkadto. Matapos makig-aragtubang hin 20 minutos, an Pangulo en lumakat para Pulilan, Bulacan para bumisita liwat han patay nga lawas ni 2nd Lt. Florencio Michael Esguerra Meneses ngan ha Camp Aguinaldo ha siyudad han Quezon para bumisita han lamay ni 1st Lt. Francis Damian. (Trans. by MAA/PIA-8)

padayon ha page 7

DA: Produksyon han bugas maabot hin 18.6 MMT para han 2013

Gindadahom han nasud an pakaproduser hin 18.6 MMT o milyon

metriko toneladas hin bugas para yana nga tuig labot la hin ano man nga diri maupay nga mga kahimtang hin panahon ha nasud, sumala han Department of Agriculture (DA).Ginbabana-bana hiton Bureau of Agricultural Statistics en kabug-osan nga produksyon hin 10.46 milyon metriko toneladas, kon diin darudamo ini hin 3.1 porsyento komparar han produksyon han naglabay nga tuig nga 10.14 MMT. Pinaagi hini, maabot an kabug-osan nga tinuig nga produksyon para han 2013 hin 18.45 MMT, darudamo hin 2.3 porsyento komparar han 18.03 MMT nga produksyon han 2012. Dida hin pamakiana ha iya, nagsering hi National Rice Program Coordinator Undersecretary Dante De

September 28, 2013 7PCOO chief...from page 1celebration is the re-enactment of the Balangiga Encounter 1901 directed by Mr. Nestor Salazar Campanero. After the re-enactment, Congressman Evardone will deliver his message and will introduce the keynote speaker. Mayor de Lira said that the commemoration was institutionalized by the passage of the Republic Act No. 6692 mandating September 28 as the Balangiga Encounter Day and as such it was declared as a special non-working holiday in the entire province of Eastern Samar. As in the previous years, hundreds of people are expected to flock to the municipality of Balangiga in order to witness the commemoration rites and the reenactment of the Balangiga Encounter of 1901 when revolutionaries almost wiped out the entire American detachment. The commemoration will be simple as usual, Mayor de Lira said. It is usually the people’s attendance which makes any simple affair grandiose, he added, as he invited every Eastern Visayans and other Filipinos to witness this year’s commemorative rites. Considered as the “worst single defeat” of the Americans during the Philippine-American War, the Balangiga Encounter was participated in by some 500 residents of Balangiga who bravely fought the well-armed Americans. It was on September 28, 1901 when hundreds of bolo-wielding native fighters lead by Captain Valeriano Abanador, made a surprise attack on the soldiers of Company C, 9th US Infantry Regiment, killing more than 40 American soldiers. However, the American forces quickly launched a brutal counter-offensive, killing thousands of Balangiga residents, leaving this town in ruins. The American forces also took off with the church bells the ringing of which, signaled the Samarenos’ surprise attack on the American soldiers. After the war, the Philippine government launched numerous efforts to persuade the U.S. Army to return the three bells, but the Americans refuse

to this day, claiming the bells serve as memorials to their soldiers who were killed during the attack. At present, the smallest bell is on permanent display at the Traveling Museum of the 9th US Infantry, now stationed in Korea; while the two bigger bells are displayed at the Trophy Park at the F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne,

December 2014. The project covers 40 barangays in four provinces namely, Aurora, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte.It aims to increase resilience of children, youth and their communities to climate change impacts and to strengthen evidence-based child-centered community based adaptation program in the Philippines. (PIA8/ Janice Tapil)

Private NGO...from page 5

Lima nga nakaproduser an nasud hin 3 MMT para han ika-tulo nga kwarter. Naglalaom gihapon hiya nga an ginbabana-bana nga 7.16 MMT nga maa-ani para hiton ika-upat nga kwarter en malalabwan pa hin dos porsyento o 143,200 ka metriko tonelada. Sumala kan De Lima, ginlalaoman nira nga mahitaas iton produksyon para hiton kataposan nga kwarter tungod han kadelatar han panahon han pagtanom dida hin pira nga mga lugar tungod han panahon han kat-uran. Samtang, gintagan hin duon ni Secretary Proceso Alcala nga supisyente an bugas han nasud bisan pa han mga bulan kon diin maluya an produksyon. Dida han iya Pamulong durante han Grand Harvest Festival ha M’lang, North Cotabato ha diri pa la maiha, ginpatapod ni Alcala an mga parag-uma nga an imbentaryo hiton bugas ha pagkayana en supisyente para hiton panginahanglan han nasud. Gin-aghat niya an mga kritiko nga pumakadto ha mga poroprobinsya ngan personal nga saksihan an hitaas nga produksyon han mga parag-uma. Iginpasundayag dida han mao nga harvest fest en kaparte han masobra 7,000 ka ektarya nga gintamnan hin humay nga nahimumutang dida han

DA: Produksyon...tikang ha page 6

mga bungto han M’lang ngan Tulunan. Mayda duha nga irigasyon an M’lang nga amo an M’lang RIS ngan Malasila RIS nga nakakagserbe hin pito nga irrigators associations. Gindayaw niya en pira nga M’lang Irrigators’ Associations (Ias) nga malinamposon nga napaumento an ira ani hin humay nga inabot hin 120 ngada hin 145 ka kaban (6 ngada hin 7 MT) kada ektarya. An regular nga naa-ani nga humay ha nasud hadton 2012 en 3.84 MT la kada ektarya. Nagtagana hi Secretary Alcala hin P20 milyon nga kantidad hin mga proyekto pan-agrikultura ngan pan-imprastraktura, sugad man mga kagamitan ha pag-uma ngan iba pa nga mga materyales ngadto hin mga grupo hin mga parag-uma ngan local government units durante han mao nga okasyon. (Ginbinisaya ni DUM-PIA8, Eastern Samar)

September 28, 2013 - November 12, 2013Election Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9715

October 11 - 17, 2013(Except October 13)

Filing of COCsfor the 2013 Barangay Elections

as per COMELEC Resolution No. 9761

October 18 - 26, 2013Campaign Period

for the 2013 Barangay Electionsas per COMELEC Resolution No. 9749

October 28, 2013

2013 Barangay Electionspursuant to Sec. 1 of Republic Act No. 9340

September 28 - October 28, 2013Period of Prohibition on issuance

of Appointment, creation of new positions,promotions or giving salary increasesAs per COMELEC Resolution No. 9769

BARANGAY ELECTIONS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

8 September 28, 2013

Labor undersecretary Ciriaco Lagunzad (center) assisted by assistant secretary Rebecca Calzado and National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) executive director Forter Puguon cuts the ribbon during the blessing of the NMP Public Employment Service Office (PESO) at Cabalawan, Tacloban City, September 25. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

DA cites Leyte organic fertilizer producers for its role in advancing organic farming in East Visayas

Region 8 has been into organic by default. This is because many farmers

especially in the three provinces of Samar have been doing things naturally. We are fortunate to have a thriving, alive and committed organization that promotes Organic Agriculture and provides the fulcrum and nexus in these initiatives,” Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), proudly stated during the Strategic Planning Workshop for the Development of the Organic Fertilizer Production Project (OFPP) and the Leyte Organic Fertilizer Producers Association (LeOFProA) on September 17-19, 2013 at the Baybayon ni Agalon Resort, this municipality. Director Cañeda also underscored that Organic Agriculture does not only save cost in farming but also retains the productivity of the farmer. “It’s all about going back to the basics and embracing what we have naturally,” he quipped. Dir. Cañeda likewise gave

an overview of the 2011-2013 accomplishments of the National Organic Agriculture Program during his lecture. The strong support of some local chief executives to Organic Agriculture was manifested by their presence in the said activity. Honorable Mayor Ramon P. dela Cerna of Albuera, Leyte greeted the guests and participants with his welcome message stressing the importance of organic agriculture. On the other hand, Ormoc City’s Mayor, Honorable Eduard C. Codilla emphasized that organic farming is not just good for health but it also addresses climate change. For Dr. Carlos S. dela Cruz, DA-8’s Organic Agriculture Program Focal Person, representing Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio, commended LeOFProA for venturing into the noble task of producing the most important input in organic agriculture, the organic fertilizer. He then challenged the group to become a model for organic crop and input producers in the region.

The activity was orchestrated by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) which has been supportive of the LeOFProA. In fact, Ms Mercedes Fernando, Head of the OFPP said, “we will continue to support Region 8 because it is the most cooperative of all the regions in the country.” The workshop became more interesting with the series of lectures presented which was kicked-off by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through Leyte Provincial Director John Glenn D. Ocaña. He noted various points on the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises in the region. Dir. Ocaña also shared that horticulture, aquatic and marine-based enterprises are among the priority sectors of DOST’s Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading Program (Set-Up). From the members of the academe, Ms Catherine Corcino of the Visayas State University-Isabel Campus stressed that partnership among the SUCs and the industry stakeholders is the key to share resources and knowledge in order to achieve efficiency in the implementation of the program. Meanwhile, Dr. de la Cruz shared that in acquiring certification as organic fertilizer producer, various aspects should be considered such as the raw materials used, composting activity, analysis, labeling, environmental and health impact. To further supplement the knowledge of the participants on organic fertilizer production, they visited and witnessed hands-on demonstration at the Trophy Farm in Kananga, Leyte owned by Ret. Col. Troy D. Bumagat, the Chairperson of LeOFProA. The farm of the IAL Farmers-Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (IALFEMCO) in Ormoc City which was founded by Mr. Jun Paredes, LeOFProA’s Vice-Chairperson, was also visited by the participants of the said workshop. The three-day activity was capped by a planning workshop and the regular meeting of LeOFProA, presided over by Ret. Col. Bumagat.