November 17, 2014 1

INSIDE

The Archdiocese of Palo has announced the itinerary of Papal

visit in Leyte next year. In a press conference held Friday at the Palo Chancery, Palo, Leyte, Fr. Amadeo Alvero, Social Communications Coordinator of the Archdiocese confirmed the coming of the Pope’s visit in Tacloban, City and Palo, Leyte on January 17.

Fr. Alvero said, Pope Francis will arrive Tacloban City at 9:30 in the morning where he is scheduled to hold Mass near Tacloban airport at 10:00 in the morning,, share lunch with some Yolanda survivirs at the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo Leyte at 12:45 noon on that same day. Afterwards, the Pope will lead the blessing of Pope Francis Center for

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

Archdiocese of Palo announces itinerary of Pope’s visitthe Poor followed by a meeting with the priests, religious men and women, seminarians and families of the survivors at Palo Metropolitan Cathedral, in Palo, Leyte. Millions of faithful not only from the region but also from other places are expected to attend the mass and excited to see the Pope in person.(ajc/cba/pia8)

GK, Australian government turn-over housing units to homeowners

President Aquino seeks increased regional cooperation to address climate change

DAR EV turnover potable water system to LGU Tolosa

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President Benigno S. Aquino III links arms with Republic of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Myanmar President U Thein Sein, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Brunei Darussalam Prime Minister Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia President Joko Widodo and Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong for a group photo souvenir during the 12th ASEAN-India Summit at the Sapphire Hall of the Myanmar International Convention Center on Wednesday (November 12) at the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

VOL 1 ISSUE 17 Weekly E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 November 17, 2014

November 17, 20142

The Gawad Kalinga (GK) Community Development Foundation,

Incorporated represented by Jose Luis Oquinena, National Executive Director and the Australian government represented by Bill Tweddell, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines turned-over in November 8, 2014 12 housing units to the homeowners of GK Village in Barangay San Agustin, Palo, Leyte. The simple ceremonial turn-over which was one of the highlights of the first year commemoration of the wrath of super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas that claimed lives and heavy damage to property was attended by the beneficiaries of the GK housing project together with their families, barangay leaders, staff of GK Foundation and the Australian embassy and other guests. In his message during the short program, Ambassador Tweddell expressed his appreciation to the resiliency of the homeowners and the entire community as they were able to bounce back to normal life several months after Yolanda. “Now, you see the results of your labor. Achieve your dreams for you and your family”, Ambassador Tweddell said to the homeowners. He informed that construction of the 250 housing units at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is progressing for the 250 families that were affected by typhoon Yolanda. For his part, Executive Director Oquinena in his message, told the homeowners of the GK village, “you are not only beneficiaries of the project but homeowners because you helped in building the houses. Make sure to take care of your houses and take care of the community”. “Take pride because these houses are yours and take pride because this community is built with solidarity and cooperation. When you grow old you will pass this on to your children”, he said. He thanked the Australian

government through Ambassador Tweddell for entrusting their resources to the GK Foundation for the construction of the housing units at the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte “The GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin is the first subdivision in the municipality of Palo with streets named after the streets in Australia. The houses are painted with bright colors of different kinds because bright colors symbolizes hope”, he added. The homeowners are not really dislocated because they are just near the areas where their farms and other livelihood were located before Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas in November 8 last year, he said. For his part, Rodolfo Miralles, Sector coordinator of GK in the municipalities of Palo, Tanauan, Dulag and Alang-alang all of Leyte province informed that the homeowners of the GK Village in said barangay are from other areas in the town of Palo who were affected by the no build zone policy of the government to include Brgy. San Agustin whose houses were totally damaged and were left homeless after typhoon Yolanda. He said, the farmers were given livelihood assistance by the GK Foundation so that they can support their family’s needs and go back to normal life after Yolanda. “Initially, some 23 farmers received financial assistance for farm implements and labor which they will pay within the period of three years, interest-free. The funds will be rolled out so that other farmers in the village will also be able to have their own livelihood”, he said. “To be able to get the certificate of occupancy of the housing units at the GK Village, the homeowners must render labor service in the construction of the GK houses for 1,500 hours called the “sweat equity”. With this requirement, they will develop that sense of ownership and be able to recognize their role in the completion of the construction of the

GK, Australian government turn-over housing units to homeowners

houses at the village”, he added. “As of now, the highest pointer in terms of the number of hours rendered in the construction of the houses is the couple Paulito and Erlinda Leona having been able to render their sweat equity of 1564 hours”, he said. “The construction of the GK houses is made possible through the spirit of volunteerism and bayanihan. Volunteers from other parts of the country not affected by typhoon Yolanda and who are members of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA) and the homeowners helped one another in the construction work”, he informed. The 250 housing units intended for the GK Village in Brgy. San Agustin in Palo, Leyte is targeted to be finished in June next year. The homeowners in said barangay were one in thanking the Australian government and the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Incorporated (GK) for providing them with decent houses. Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Incorporated (GK) is a Philippine-based movement that aims to end poverty for five million families by first restoring the dignity of the poor. It’s mission is to end poverty of these families by 2024. Gawad Kalinga which means “to give care” employs an integrated and holistic approaches to empowerment with values-formation and leadership development at its core. Established in 2003, the foundation currently works with over 2,000 communities and has been recognized as the 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and the 2012 Skoll Awardee for social entrepreneurship. (fjackson/PIA 8 Biliran)

November 17, 2014 3CSC Northern Samar Field Office opens new building

The Civil Service Commission Northern Sa-mar Field Office new building is now open

to serve the public within the compound of the University of the Eastern Philippines, Catarman since October 30 right after the inauguration day which was held last October 29, 2014. CSC Provincial Director Ma. Natividad L. Costibolo said that the inauguration marks that part when the Civil Service Commission takes permanent home to better serve the Nortehanons from Mondays to Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., without noon break. Costibolo said that through the years, CSC has initiated various programs and issued policies towards building a highly competent, credible and motivated bureaucracy. She further said that CSC manages and develop the bureaucracy’s most import-ant resource its people through five human resource initiatives such as recruitment, perfor-mance management, human resource coach-ing, learning and development and agency accreditation. CSC promotes morale, efficiency, in-tegrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and courtesy in the civil service. It adopts measures to strengthen the merit and reward system, in-tegrates all human resources development pro-grams for all level and ranks, and institutionalizes a management climate conducive to public ac-countability, she added. (ajc/tbc/PIA8-Northern Samar)

EDC partners with LGU-Southern Leyte in native tree species productionThe Energy Development Corporation

(EDC) partnership with the local government of Southern Leyt geared towards production of native tree species will be the first of its kind in the region. According to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) Dr. Eva Abad, ”the project aims to preserve and propagate these types of seedlings to eventually become the mother trees of the native tree species in the province.” Abad said, “the native tree species are endangered nowadays as exotic tree species like germilina, mahogany and acasia mangguim which are very prolific and now grow dominantly around in our province.” She added that EDC together with Provincial Governor Roger Mercado and the provincial heads of offices, among others, will plant the first 100 native tree species at the back of the Provincial Capitol building on November 8, 2014, one year after the super typhon. Under the BINHI program of EDC, the provincial government of Southern

Leyte will take care of the growth until it reaches maturity in the next ten years and become the source of good quality of native trees in the province, she said. The mentioned exotic trees though fast growing were noted to have its not-so good impact to the environment as they were found to be to use up much water endangering our water tables nor friendly to the natural organisms since they do not come from our place, she added. The tree planting highlighted the Provincial Arbor Day celebration which also coincided with the first commemoration of the victims during the onset of super typhoon Yolanda, Abad said. There will be a synchronized tree planting across the province to be participated in by the 500 barangays of the 18 towns of the province to include the City of Maasin. At least 50 tree seedlings or an estimate of 25,000 seedlings will be planted on the same day, she said.(ajc/esg/PIA8 SoLeyte)

Cristito Eco, Northern Samar OIC Schools Division Superintendent, gives his message during the joint launching of the Senior High School Early Implementation and Abot Alam Program held at the Bulwagan ng mga Guro, Catarman, Northern Samar, November 6. (PIA-NSamar)

November 17, 20144

Around 100 participants composed of local government executives and

municipal planning and development officers in 18 municipalities in the region converged Wednesday at LNU House, this city for the Feedback Forum on RAY-Rehabilitation Plan Implementation. The forum, which was sponsored by GIZ-Environment Rural Development Program, is an opportunity for the various national partners to listen to feedbacks from the different local government units

EV LGUs converge for feedback forum on RAY implementation

and functionaries and for the relevant agencies to seriously consider the next month’s rehabilitation after Yolanda hit the region last year. Matthias Niggel, Chief Adviser of the GIZ-EnRD Program assured to aforesaid LGU’s of their commitment to help in whatever way they can through the programs being implemented in the region. In said forum, local government officials from 18 municipalities presented the recovery efforts undertaken by the respective LGUs

relative on RAY implementation one year after Yolanda hit the region. The18 municipalities include Abuyog, Javier, MacArthur, Burauen, La Paz, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tabon-Tabon, Alang-Alang, Barugo, all in Leyte and Basey, Marabut, both are in Western Samar. Said areas are considered worst-hit municipalities when Yolanda hit the region last year. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

November 17, 2014 5

President Aquino seeks increased regional cooperation to address climate change

President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on fellow ASEAN leaders to

step up efforts in addressing climate change. President Aquino made the pronouncement during his intervention at the 2nd ASEAN-US Summit, which is part of the 25th ASEAN Summit held at the Myanmar International Center here on Thursday. Before ASEAN leaders and US President Barack Obama, President Aquino underscored the massive effect of climate change to the Philippines, citing recent powerful storms, including Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which left a trail of destruction in the Visayan region last year. “These natural disasters do not recognize national boundaries, and they emphasize the necessity of increased regional cooperation through every available channel,” he said. He mentioned the adoption of the ASEAN-US Joint Statement on Climate Change as an important political statement regarding the Philippines’ expectations of the work the ASEAN

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(NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar) President Benigno S. Aquino III participates in the exchanges during the 2nd ASEAN-United States of America Summit at the Sapphire Hall of the Myanmar International Convention Center on Thursday (November 13) at the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit. The ASEAN-US dialogue relations have been progressing well since its establishment in 1977. (Photo by Gil Nartea / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

November 17, 20146

Christmas comes in November for 1000 kids in remote Samar townChristmas came early for more than

a thousand kids in this remote Matuginao town as Anne Turla of the Soldiers’ Wives and Girlfriends (SWAG) brought cheers and goodies. As the convoy of army officials and elements travelled to the heart of Samar where Matuginao town is located, the convoy meet the children and their parents from nearby Barangay Barruz hiking towards the town to get their ‘gift’. It was proverbially raining cats and dogs, but the kids did not mind and used even banana leaves to shield them from the heavy downpour.“This is a promise fulfilled, the kids are so excited!” said the visibly happy Mayor Melissa dela Cruz. It was not much for an

urban kid, the little bag containing a pad paper, crayons, pencil and one notebook, but to Jazel Jean Ostano it was an early Christmas gift and it was hers, she held on tightly to her new possession as her mother joined the line for mothers to get shampoo and conditioners. Leoberto, 5, did not budge from where he stood ogling at the PAMANA driver putting air to the balloons. He whispered to his mom if he could get the blue one-his favorite color. Hearing him the Pamana driver obliged and gave him what he wished. The act of kindness brought an endearing toothless smile. Ronalisa Velarde, a teen-age girl did not get the gift of school supplies anymore, yet she proudly

bared her ‘loot’ of fashionable earrings and a choker. She said she also lined up for the shampoo. It was almost a Christmas party, there were food which they also got lining up, drinks and parlor games-all these lining up and hollering and running while the rains were pouring. “I am happy to see their smiles which are pure, they seem very grateful,” Anne Turla, guest and gift giver mused. The SWAG founder also assured the young mayor she will link the town to other charitable NGOs for services and livelihood packages. Turla was accompanied by Col Erwin Alea of the 8th Infantry Division, Lt Col Siegfreid Tubalado of the 43rd Infantry Battalion, LtCol Edgar Yerro of the 546th Engineering Battalion who is credited for opening the 1.5 kilometer road to the town and Imelda Bonifacio Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) manager and the media. (ajc/PIA 8-Samar/nbq)

November 17, 2014 7DAR EV turnover potable water system to LGU TolosaT he Department of Agrararin

Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas formally turne -over a potable water system to the Municipality of Tolosa, Leyte. This, after the project was completed in partnership with the Agrarian Reform Communities Project Phase 2 (ACRP2) , Asian Development Bank and the local

government unit of Tolosa. Based on a press release sent to Philippine Information Agency by DAR Leyte -Bil iran Provincial Field Office, the project will benefit the residents of Barangay Capangihan and Canmogsay who have been dreaming to have drinking water for a long time. Mayor Erwin Ocana of

Tolosa, Leyte expressed thanks to DAR saying the project will be a big help to the people as water is a necessity in our daily l ives. DAR officials from Leyte and Bil iran urged the people to take care of the facil ity and ensure good maintenance for the benefit of the future generations.

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November 17, 20148DAR EV...from page 7

President Aquino seeks...from page 5

nations must do together to combat climate change. “Among these are support for low-carbon economic growth trajectories, particularly the building of more climate-resilient societies, as well as access to climate change financing and technology transfer,” he said. He said the Philippines is in the process of drawing up its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions

(INDCs), which is one of the key components of the global climate change agreement to be adopted by countries signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. President Aquino noted that Typhoon Haiyan demonstrated the value of strong humanitarian and defense partnerships between the Philippines and the US.

“The American and Philippine armed forces, along with defense establishments throughout the world, worked together to provide rapid humanitarian assistance in the wake of the disaster,” he said. He reiterated the Philippines’ gratitude to the US and the ASEAN nations for their help in the recovery and rehabilitation of typhoon-struck communities. PND (jb)

The potable water system is sourced from a nearby mountain designed by engineers to serve the residents for the next 10 years or more using a reservoir system with

pipes connected to said barangays. The provision of potable water system is part of the Rural Infrastructure Component of the Agrarian Reform Communities

Project Phase 2 (ARCP2) which is supported by Asian Development Bank in order to alleviate the l iving condition in the rural communities. (ajc/cba/DAR8/PIA-8)

USWAG, which means to move forward or towards progress, is the weekly E-Newsletter of the Philippine Information Agency in Eastern Visayas. It aims to document current efforts to build-back-better communities devastated by super typhoon Yolanda as well as deliver timely, useful and relevant information as we move forward together in realizing inclusive growth not only in the region but also the rest of the country.