Vol 1 Issue 8 A Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

500 environment advocates in Leyte join in the successful conduct of Oplan Broadcastreeing

By: CONSUELO ALARCON

Around 500 environment advocates in leyte join in a massive tree

planting activity dubbed as Oplan Broadcastreeing held at Brgy. Malibago Babatngon Leyte Saturday. The participants came from various government agencies, private entities, volunteers, students from different schools in Tacloban City, barangay officials and residents of said barangay and the members of KBP in Eastern Visayas led by KBP EV chapter President Ms. Babes Custodio. Ms. Purificacion Daloos, regional information officer of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Region said, out of 10 hectares of land targeted by their office only 2 hectares were initially covered by the mangrove tree planting activity. Brgy. Malibago is one site of the National Greening Program of Department of Environmnent and Natural Resources, Ms., Daloos said. Mr. Myles Colasito, presented the overview of the broadcastreeing activity saying that it was during the time of then Secretary Robredo that the DILG and the KBP signed a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the partnership on broadcastreeing. Meanwhile, Malibago barangay chairman Nestor Cadano expressed his gratitude to the government for choosing the barangay as a site for the NGP as this will help the environmental

concerns of the barangay. He likewise assured the DENR and other stakeholders for the protection of the mangroves. For her part, Ms. Babes Custodio thanked the volunteers for joining the broadcastreeing which is now in its fourth year of implementation in Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, in her short message, PIA Region 8 Director Olive Tiu underscored the importance of continued on page 4

Some 500 volunteers trooped to the planting site of the KBP-DILG led Oplan Broadcastreeing in Brgy. Malibago, Babatngon, Leyte and planted each at least three mangrove propagules, September 7. (PIA-8)

DTI Leyte’s shared service facility project to enhance productivity of bangus tinapa processors

The productivity of microenterprises and tinapa processors Babatngon

and nearby areas is expected to improve with the setting up of a Shared Service Facility for Tinapang Daing na Bangus project. The Department of Trade and Industry- Leyte Director Desiderio Belas, Jr. said the launching of the project is set on September 9, 2013 at Barangay Bagong Silang, Babatngon, Leyte.continued on page 5

2 | SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

8th Infantry Division holds Change of Command

The 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army will be holding a Change of

Command Ceremony on September 12, 2013 at ten o’clock in the morning at the Division Grandstand, Camp General Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan City, Province of Samar. The Commanding General of the Philippine Army, LTGEN Noel A. Coballes AFP, will be the Guest of Honor and Presiding Officer during the said occasion. At the same time, a Testimonial Review in honor of Major General Gerardo T. Layug AFP, who will retire from the military service on the same day, September 12, will be rendered by the troops of the Philippine Army. Invited as one of the Distinguished Guests during the Change of Command and Testimonial Review, is Regional Director Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency, Regional Office VIII and other heads of some government institutions. (PIA-8)

continued on page 3

DPWH-Southern Leyte Engineering District Engineer Carlos Veloso turns-over the symbolic key to the new District Engineer of DPWH-SLED Engr. Maria Margarita Junia in a turn-over ceremony held at the DPWH Function Room in Maasin City. DE Veloso assumes the post vacated by DE Junia at the 2nd Leyte Engineering District. (rgc/PIA8-SL)

CSC-Southern Leyte kicks-

off 113th Civil Service

Anniversary

The Civil Service Commission (CSC)-Southern Leyte Provincial

Office kicked-off the 113th Civil Service Anniversary celebration in the morning of September 6, 2013 with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Maasin Cathedral attended by government employees from the national line agencies, provincial and Maasin City. CSC Provincial Head Lysander Navales who led the activity “enjoined all public servants to be part of the month-long anniversary celebration,” during the short program held at the city hall grounds which followed thereafter

By: MARIVIC ALCOBER

By: MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

the Eucharistic Celebration. During the program, the participants recited together the “Panunumpa sa Watawat” and the “Panunumpa ng Lingkod Bayan,” before they listen to the message of President Benigno S. Aquino III in relation to the celebration of the Civil Service anniversary. After the program, Navales announced that “all participating employees were allowed to log-in with the Biometrics starting 6:30 in the morning or right after the Holy Mass, or whichever comes earlier and log attendance with the Official Logbook Sheet provided by the Human Resources and Management Officer (HRMO) of each agency after the activity.” Among other activities during the day was a dance aerobics held at the city hall grounds participated by the government employees. “The activity will promote good camaraderie among government employees whether from the national and local offices, while promoting also healthy lifestyle,” Navales disclosed. A mass blood donation is also scheduled on the 19th of September at the City Sports Council lobby. “All qualified employees are encouraged to

donate blood,” Navales said. Navales said that this year’s theme is dubbed as “Tatak Lingkod Bayani: Isabuhay, Ipagmamalaki at Ipagbunyi.” It aims to promote, showcase and celebrate heroism in public service and to highlight stories of triumph and sacrifices of government employees among public servants. (rgc/ PIA8 SoLeyte)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

in Eastern Visayas hopes to finish the political boundary survey being conducted by the agency before the end of the term of President Aquino in 2016. This is what Engineer Winston N. Solite, OIC for Regional Survey Division of DENR Region 8 said during the Harampang ha PIA held Friday at PIA 8 Office. The objective of the political

DENR EV optimistic to finish Political Boundary Survey before P-Noy term ends

By: CONSUELO ALARCON

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 | 3

Maasin City allocates funds

for Batang Pinoy 2013

Visayas Leg hosting

Maasin City government has allocated Php2-million funds

in preparation for the upcoming Batang Pinoy Visayas Leg hosting on September 24-28, 2013. The said allocation will be distributed to transportation expenses to include the bus rentals, purchase of gasoline, and other miscellaneous transportation expenses; daily snacks of the athletes and officiating officials

By: MA. REBECCA G. CADAVOS

DENR..from page 2

boundary survey is to determine the political administrative jurisdiction of every barangay or municipality to the next municipality. Whatever is the result of the survey will be the basis of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in determining how much IRA allocation is intended for a barangay or municipality. Solite also emphasized the significance of the survey as one requisite before a residential free patent application will be approved. Since the implementation of the new residential free patent act in 2010, several local government units in Eastern Visayas have been surveyed by DENR like in San Juan Southern Leyte, Sta. Rita W. Samar, Pambujan N. Samar and still on going in Merida and Capoocan, Leyte and in other parts of the region. The new Residential Free Patent Act covers all lands that are zoned as residential areas including town sites as defined under the Public Land Act; provided, that none of the provisions of Presidential Decree No.

PIA-Southern Leyte staff Bong Pedalino (standing)presents to Cong. Damian G. Mercado (seated in yellow)the programs related to the solon’s priority programs. PIA commits to support through information dissemination as one of the agency’s goal. The meeting with Cong. Mercado was attended by the different heads of national line agencies.(rgc/PIA8-SL)

705 shall be violated. Furthermore, Zoned residential areas located inside a delisted military reservation or abandoned military camp, andthose of local government units or town sites which preceded Republic Act No. 7586 or the NIPAS Law, shall also be covered by this Act.(PIA-8)

and the secretariat; and the bigger part of the allocation went to the repair of the billeting quarters for the sports delegates, among other related expenses, Sports Council staff Zaldy Olita reported. The city government identified public schools to be used as the billeting quarters to include Asuncion Integrated School, Maasin City National High School, Maasin City College, Maasin Central School and Ibarra National High School. Around 3,000 guests are expected to participate and witness the Batang Pinoy sports competition including the sports delegates from the (3) Visayas Regions,” Olita informed. Delegates include the athletes, technical/officiating officials, the Philippine Sports Commission Secretariat, among other guests and visitors, he said. Earlier on Monday, September 2, the PSC has already delivered the sports equipment that will be used for the games to be competed by the young athletes of Eastern, Western and Central Visayas regions. Among other delivery received by the local sports council include electric fans, more than a thousand foams for beds, scanners, printers, among other related materials and equipments, Olita disclosed. “The materials and equipment came from the Batang Pinoy 2013 Mindanao Leg that had just completed the sports event,” he added. Games to be competed include archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, dancesports, futsal, gymnastics, judo karatedo, lawn tennis, pencak silat, softball, sepak takraw, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. Batang Pinoy is pursuant to Executive Order No. 44 also known as Philippine Youth Games in partnership with the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Department of Education and the respective Local Government Units. It encourages the participation of children ages 15 and below in the games under the continued on page 4

4 | SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Shellfish ban in 3 Samar

bays lifted

Shellfish collected from the three bays of Samar provinces are now

negative for red tide toxins based on the results of red tide monitoring activities of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas and local government units (LGUs) of the affected areas. This was the content of Shellfish Bulletin No. 10 issued by BFAR National Director Asis Perez which further informed that shellfish collected in Cambatutay Bay, Irong-Irong Bay and the coastal waters of Calbayog City can now be safely eaten.

By: AURORA CASIMPAN

supervision of the different sports associations. The first, second and third placers of the different regional legs will qualify for the Batang Pinoy National Championships which will be held in Zamboanga City on November 19-23, 2013. (PIA8-SoLeyte)

Maasin City..from page 3

The Chiefs of Police throughout Southern Leyte led by Provincial Director PSSupt. Provincial Director Armando Bolalin pose with Gov. Roger G. Mercado (center, in white)after the PNP presented the peace and order situation in the province, its workforce, including logistics and other police-related activities. The 1st conference with the new governor was held at PNP Camp Alfredo K. Bantug in Asuncion, Maasin City. (fb/rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

BFAR lifted the shellfish ban on Wednesday when water and shellfish meat samples taken from the three bays were found negative from

The bulletin declares that all types of shellfish and Acetes SP or alamang from the Matarinao Bay is unsafe to eat and advises the public to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing and buying the products coming from the areas until BFAR advises that the products are fit for human consumption. (PIA-8)

paralytic shellfish poison. The fisheries bureau conducted three consecutive testing before drawing conclusion that the shellfishes drawn from the three bays were safe for consumption. M o n i t o r i n g of the three bays will however be continued to ensure public safety. While BFAR lifted the shellfish ban in the three bays of the Samar provinces, shellfish ban is still in place for the Matarinao Bay covering the coastal waters of Salcedo, Quinapondan, Gen. MacArthur and Hernani in Eastern Samar.

500 environment..from page 1volunteerism in nation-building and for the protection of the environment. She lauded the young volunteers for starting to build their legacy in volunteerism at an early age. She also called on the volunteers to dedicate the activity to Mother Mary for her birthday on September 8.The activity called Oplan Broadcastreeing Project is a partnership between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Kapisanan ng mga broadcaster ng Pilipinas with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as their contribution to the National Greening Program of the government. (PIA-8)

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 | 5

OFW help desk officers provided capability training

By: AURORA CASIMPAN

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) access to programs and

services of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) was strengthened with the recent capability building training undertaken for OFW help desk officers in Eastern Visayas. The OWWA regional office conducted the two days-training held on August 29-30, at the Ritz Tower de Leyte in Tacloban City aimed at providing OFW communities in the region access programs and services of OWWA. Marlene Kajano, OWWA social welfare officer said the OFW help desk officers were trained on how to address problems or concerns of OFWs or members of family right at the

community level. The training was on stress management, case management and client serviced relations. The training was in line with OWWA’s task under RA 10022 (an Act amending RA 8042 or the Migrant Workers Act) which provides that the role of the local government unit (LGU) include the creation of OFW help desk, with the help of national government agencies, to help in the information dissemination on all aspects of overseas employment. The OFW help desk officer,

being at the forefront is expected to attend complaints and problems of OFWs and family and serve as information hub of programs and benefits from OWWA and other agencies catering to OFWs and relatives. Meantime, OWWA provides the help desk with information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on OWWA programs and services where clients can avail every time they visit the help desk. (PIA-8)

Together with DTI-Leyte, the project was made possible in partnership with the Saint Joseph Multipurpose Cooperative and the Local Government of Babatngon, Leyte. Director Belas said that together with the launching is the turn-over to the officers of said Cooperative, of three equipment or machineries namely, Multifunction Smokehouse, Chest Freezer and Stainless Working Tables. Through the SSF project, the pre-identified production gaps and bottlenecks brought about by the absence and unavailability of necessary equipment will be addressed, thus, the quality and productivity of microenterprises and tinapa processors within and outside of Babatngon will be improved, Director Belas said. The important activity which will start at 9:00 o’clock in the morning will start with the cutting of the ribbon of the Tinapang Daing na Bangus Plant, the welcome address by Babatngon Mayor Charita M. Chan and Ms. Fe G. Hipe, the station in charge. Director Belas will deliver

the opening remarks and present the overview of the DTI-SSF program. DTI Region 8 Director Cynthia Nierras will deliver the Inspirational Message while statements of support will be delivered by Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Antonio Gerundio, Municipal Agriculturist Nimfa Machete; Emma Lacaba, the president of Masisinop na Kababaihan ng Barangay Guintigian; and CDA Director Atty. Alexander Papac.

The ceremonial turnover of the SSF equipment will be done by Director Nierras, Director Belas and Mr. Rolando Hipe, the chairman of the SJMPC. Director Nierras will lead in the formal switching of the SSF equipment while Mr. Hipe will deliver the acceptance speech and present the manual of operations. Product demonstration will be conducted by Mr. Eduardo Malang, CITC representative. (PIA 8)

DTI Leyte’s ..from page 1

6 | SEPTEMBER 9, 2013