Rice yield in C. Visayas higher in 1st quarter, DA-7 says
By Eli C. Dalumpines
CEBU CITY, May 26 (PIA) – An official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) here reported that the rice yield in Central Visayas for the first quarter of this year has increased.
DA-7 Senior Agriculturist Jeorge Paculba, in a recent media forum, informed that rice production in the region for the first quarter, this year posted 85,250metric tons, which is a bit higher than the 83,990 metric tons that farmers here have produced in the same period of last year.
Though he blamed last year’s low production to the dry spell brought about by the mild El Nino, which hit the country, he said that they are really working hard to assist farmers in the region in the technical aspect so that they will be able to increase their yield.
He said DA is eyeing to increase rice production by 32 percent in the next five years.
At present, local rice production shares only some 24 percent in the total rice demand in the region. The other 76 percent is filled in by local importation from the neighboring regions that are rice sufficient and by foreign
importation.
But he expressed apprehensions that the region might not be able to hit the target of attaining rice sufficiency by 2016 due to some factors like the continued conversion of farm lands to residential lots, soil type and soil fertilization practices, among others.
Meanwhile, National Food Authority (NFA)-7 Information Officer Lucia Rosales said they have lowered the volume of importation for this year because local rice production has increased.
Rosales assured though that there is an adequate supply of rice for Central Visayas that may last until the year ends.
She said their latest inventory showed that there are still 1.4 million bags of rice that are stored in their warehouses throughout the region.
This, plus the 360,000 bags which is part of the 200,000 metric tons that constitutes NFA’s latest importation from Vietnam, helps stabilize the supply of rice in the region, she clarified. (FCR/ECD/PIA 7-Cebu)
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DOLE-OWWA to launch Balik-Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay! Project
By: Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 25 (PIA) --- The Department of Labor and Employment DOLE-7) in Central Visayas and the National Reintegration Center for OFW’s thru the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Regional Welfare Office (OWWA RWO-7) will launch the “Balik Pinay, Balik-Hanapbuhay” Project on May 27 (Friday) at the OWWA regional office at LDM bldg., Legaspi corner MJCuenco Ave., Cebu City.
In an interview with PIA, OWWA-7 Information Officer Rudylyn Gimena said the project aims to provide skills training to returning women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
It will particularly cater to women OFWs in distress who were repatriated, including those who were displaced due to conflicts in the Middle East countries, Gimena added.
This project intends to improve the socio-economic well-being of women OFW-returnees thru livelihood skills training intervention.
Gimena added it will also provide a package of starter kits which will enable the beneficiaries to start quickly a livelihood undertaking through self/wage employment.
For the first batch, 50 women Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)-returnees in Central Visayas will avail of the first livelihood skills training on Thai Massage.
This is in collaboration with Nuat Thai Massage Services, Inc. with Kenneth Carredo who owns and operates the franchise of Nuat Thai. Carredo was himself a former OFW.
OWWA- RWO 7 regional director Wilfreda Misterio and DOLE-7 director Exequiel Sarcauga will give an inspirational message during the launching and opening of the training. (PIA-7/mbcn/hfg)
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P-Noy lauds structural engineers for promoting public safety thru design and construction
CENTRAL VISAYAS, May 25 (PIA)---President Benigno S. Aquino III lauds the structural engineers in the country for promoting responsible structural engineering through various undertakings, such as effective programs for disaster risk reduction and management and continuing professional development for structural engineering.
In a press conference, President Aquino said the recent global developments related to natural disasters highlight the importance of promoting public safety through the design and construction of safe and sound engineered structures such as buildings, bridges, towers and other structures.
Aquino further noted that there is a need to increase public awareness about the role and the social and moral responsibilities of Civil Engineers specializing in structural design in relation to promoting public safety.
The Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP), an affiliate society of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), is the country’s only national organization of practitioners of structural engineering.
For the past 50 years, ASEP has been a partner of the government in its commitment to the protection of life and property by promoting public safety through responsible structural engineering.
To express appreciation for the work of structural engineers and to spread awareness of their vital contribution to the country, President Aquino declared the month of September 2011 as “Structural Engineering Month”.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 164 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on May 9, 2011, the President declared the month of September as “Structural Engineering Month, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of ASEP. (PIA 7/mbcn/Angie P. Amodia-CTU)
“What we do with the reports coming outside Cebu on illegal drug activities is refer it to the concerned agency with jurisdiction of the place where the report came from,” Buenafe ended. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Police in Cebu step up security measures for ‘Balik Eskwela’ in June
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, May 26 (PIA) - Police in Cebu are now stepping up its security measures in preparation for the opening of classes in less than two weeks time tapping barangay officials, tanods, school authorities and the community in general to ensure that peace and order is maintained during the beginning of classes.
S/Supt. Josephus Angan, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7 said the ‘ Oplan Balik Eskwela’ Program is an annual ritual for the police in terms of security preparations to guarantee the safety of schoolchildren.
“We want our school children and faculty members to be safe when they attend classes. In fact, it is not just near the school areas that police will strengthen its visibility but also boarding houses because we want to deter bad elements from victimizing our students,” Angan bared.
Angan also said assistance centers have also been established near school areas.
As the school opening approaches, an influx of students from neighboring provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao has started to arrive in Cebu City where there are many universities and colleges, according to Cebu City Police Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe.
“We are also strengthening police visibility in seaports, terminals as we also give priority to the deployment of police in school areas,” Buenafe said.
Buenafe added that nightlife in Cebu City has become more vibrant especially the establishments frequented by college students as he ordered the mobile patrol to intensify its night watch in these areas.
In Mandaue City, two police personnel will be deployed in the 33 schools scattered around the city, according to Police Senior Inspector Orlando Cariño of the Mandaue City Police Office.
“We are also asking the help of the barangay tanods and members of the barangay intelligence network as our force multipliers to guarantee the security of students. This is apart from the motorcycle cops that will also complement the regular monitoring by our mobile patrol,” Cariño declared.
As a tourist area, Lapulapu City is also strengthening its tourist mobile police while the measures adopted by the other police offices are the same measures that will be implemented as part of their security preparations for the 2011-2012 school year opening, P/Supt. Pedrillo Villamor Jr. of the Lapulapu City Police Office disclosed.
Cebu Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Patricio Commedador on the other hand, said that as the province has a big area of responsibility and not all police can be deployed in every school, he has asked the different police stations to coordinate with school authorities on their immediate concerns relative to security to ensure that peace and order is maintained.
“We are involving all stakeholders to ensure that our students are safe especially with what happened to Ellah Joy,” Commendador said. The kidnap-slay case of six-year old Ellah Joy early this year has caused grave fears among parents for the safety of their children.
The implementation of security measures for the ‘Balik Eskwela’ Program is based on the Letter of Instruction (LOI) 55-11 directing all provincial and city police offices in Central Visayas to guarantee the safety of school children and students as schools open next month. (PIA 7-Cebu)
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Cebu City Police urges public to become members of anti-drug movement
By Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, May 26 (PIA) - “Help fight illegal drugs” and become a member of the MAD Movement Against Illegal Drugs, urged Cebu City Police Director S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe.
In the recent ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum, Buenafe called on media reporters to help the police in the campaign against illegal drugs by becoming members of the movement.
“We will soon be distributing membership forms to interested parties who want to help us in virtually eradicating the social problem of illegal drugs in society,” Buenafe disclosed.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Regional Director Adrian Alvariño previously said that after Metro Manila, the huge market for illegal drugs is in Cebu.
“Although there have been attempts to manufacture illegal drugs here by big-time syndicates, but our consistent efforts to prevent such a thing from happening have deterred them from their objective,” Alvariño further said.
The MAD Task Force that has recently been organized is a mutli-agency body with the basic aim of fighting the war against illegal drugs. The body is composed of the Cebu City Police Office(CCPO), Police Coordinating and Advisory Council of Cebu City, PDEA-7, local National Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Association of Barangay Captains – Cebu City and the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Central Command.
Three hotline numbers and two cell phone numbers of Smart and Globe have been allocated by the CCPO where the public can reach the police to report illegal drug activities. Such data is contained in posters posted in every police precinct in the city to hike public awareness and to recruit members to the movement.
“We have been asking our media friends to disseminate our contact numbers to report any illegal drug activities and we are very happy to inform the public that people from other provinces likeTacloban City in Region 8 have contacted us to report illegal drug activities in their areas,” according to Buenafe.
The city police chief said the media’s help has been tremendous in reaching out to the public about our cause. “Those people outside Cebu City that have contacted us heard it over the radio so they report to us anything suspicious in their areas,” Buenafe added.
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NegOr Schools Div prepares for June 6 opening
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 26 (PIA) A total of 477 public elementary and 105 high schools under the Negros Oriental Schools Division have simultaneously implement theBrigada Eskwela this week in preparations for the opening of classes on June 6.
Schools Division Superintendent Milagros Velez has enjoined all elementary and secondary schools, parent-teacher-community association s(PTCAs) and the alternative learning systems from all local government units (LGUs) to support the cleaning up the school grounds and repair classrooms, school furniture and other facilities.
Dr. Velez said Brigada Eskwela has become a movement that has ensured the readiness of public schools for the opening and ensure that the schools are conducive for learning.
This DepEd's program is genuine public and private partnership in action bringing together voluntary efforts of parents, teachers, students, local businesses, local government units, NGOs, among others to do minor repairs, maintenance and cleaning up in the schools, said DepEd official.
For Dumaguete Schools Division, a team of personnel and staff headed by Schools Superintendent Ramil Uytico made a surprise visits to some school- barangays to assist in the cleaning up drive and repairs of some facilities.
The team brought their own provision or food for their snacks so not to bother the teachers or principal of the schools visited.
The visitation has started on May 23 Brigada Eskwela launching with 4-5 schools a day to prepare and continuously support the different programs of the school. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
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NegOr tackles women’s health in Summit
by: Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 26 (PIA) Some 250 women’s advocates in the Negros Oriental are expected to participate in Women’s Summit on May 27 at the Cong Lamberto Macias sports & Cultural Center in celebration of International Day of Action for Women’s Health.
According to Assistant Provincial Administrator Josie Columna the activity brings together various groups who contribute to the development and welfare of women in the community.
One of the main speakers, Provincial Board Member Liland Estacion, a doctor by profession will talk on “Advancing Women’s Health for a Productive Citizenry.”
Spearheaded by the provincial government, Columna has enjoined theMunicipal Social Welfare & Development Officers (MSWDOs), Municipal Health Officers, incharge of Women’s Desk in the towns, Association of Barangay Captains Federation presidents, Barangay Health Workers, representatives of senior citizens, committee chairs on health of city and municipal councils, and other women’s organizations to participate in the summit.
As chair of the Provincial Commission of Women (PCW), Governor Roel Degamo will grace the occasion.
Governor Degamo said women’s groups here are partners of the provincial government in development and the promotion of their health and well-being which is one of the priority concerns of this administration.