MGB-7 accomplishes 100% in 2012 geohazard mapping
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- Almost 334 barangays in Central Visayas were assessed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 using a 1:10,000-scale geohazard mapping covering 12 cities and municipalities.
This represents a 100 percent accomplishment targeted in 2012, according to MGB 7 regional director Loreto Alburo in a press statement.
He said the MGB has given to local government units (LGUs) geohazard maps with a scale of 1:50,000 and other information, education and communication (IEC) materials like posters and compact discs (CDs).
In Cebu, 170 barangays were mapped to include San Fernando with 21; Talisay city, 22; Minglanilla, 19; Balamban, 28; and Cebu city with 80.
A total of 164 barangays in Negros Oriental were also studied and these were in Jimalalud and Tayasan with 28 each; Ayungon, 24; San Jose, 14; Valencia, 24; Sibulan, 16; and Dumaguete city with 30.
Anchored to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) of the Aquino administration to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, MGB has launched a more detailed mapping and study particularly those areas which have been highly susceptible to landslides and flooding in a previous completed assessment.
So far, MGB has made available color-coded maps in four websites in denr.gov.ph, mgb.gov.ph, pia.gov.ph, and essc.org.ph to allow free and quick access as to the level of vulnerabilities.
For 2013, around P1.283 million is allocated to cover 12 cities and municipalities.
Meanwhile, Alburo said a team of geologists identified possible relocation sites in each barangay, city or municipality.(rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)
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A grander Sinulog sa Kabataan in 2013
By Ferliza C. Contratista
CEBU CITY, Jan 10 (PIA) -- Expect a grander and more competitive Sinulog sa Kabataan this year.
Sinulog Foundation Incorporated (SFI) Executive Director Ricky Ballesteros said spectators are in for a show not only during the Grand Parade on the 20th but starting this weekend during the competitions for both Sinulog sa Kabataan Lalawigan and Dakbayan.
Ballesteros, during the first Kapihan sa PIA forum this year held at the Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission building, said he can see more fascinating performances with the students exerting more effort this time.
“You can really see that there is more creativity, effort and hard work from the school children, with their props and yet still without costume. How much more if they will already be wearing those colorful costumes,” Ballesteros said.
A total of 29 schools are competing in the Sinulog sa Kabataan Lalawigan and Dakbayan this Saturday and Sunday.
On the other hand, school heads are reminded not to disrupt normal school hours for the Sinulog sa Kabataan practices.
Dr. Matilde Mayonila, a representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) heading the Contingent Participation Monitoring, said that DEPED is reminding the principals that practices should be done only after school hours or during weekends.
“They were told to practice since last year so we are hoping that they will not sacrifice the lessons of the children,” Mayonila said.
Furthermore, Mayonila said parents of participants for the Sinulog sa Kabataan are encouraged to watch their children perform
“The children’s participation into the Sinulog celebration is one avenue where the parents can show their affirmation, there is nothing like watching our students, our kids dance, and so let us not miss a chance because they are really trying hard,” Mayonila said.
Prizes for winners in both City and Province are P500,000 for first prize, P300,000 for second prize, and P200,000 for third prize.
Tickets for both events are sold at P75. (rmn/FCC/PIA-7 Cebu)
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DENR-7 files 28 forestry cases in 2012
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has filed a total of 28 forestry cases to identified forest law violators in Central Visayas in 2012.
Based on the annual report released by the Forestry Management Services (FMS), 10 out of the 28 forestry cases were from Cebu province, 11 from Bohol, and seven cases from Negros Oriental, said DENR 7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo.
This is in response to the call of the DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to strengthen forest protection in support to the anti-illegal logging campaign of the department.
“Secretary Paje reiterated his seriousness in fighting against environmental law violators, so we, the DENR 7, in cooperation with our field offices and partner agencies and authorities are stringently monitoring illegal transport of forest products here in the region,” said Montejo.
For 2013, Montejo vowed to continue the strict campaign against illegal logging to help protect and preserve the forest cover in the country.
“We need the vigilance of the communities and local government units as we try to sustain the closer ties with them in enforcing relevant forestry laws, rules and regulations,” he added.
The National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force (NAILTF) recently passed a resolution focusing of the revitalized anti-illegal logging campaign under the leadership of the military this 2013.
It can be recalled that under the National Greening Program (NGP), which is supportive to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), DENR 7 has allocated P369.830 million for 2013 to reforest around 24,461 hectares of identified forest land and NGP sites in Central Visayas.(rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DENR-7)
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DSWD-7 chief commends media practitioners in CV
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, January 10 (PIA) -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) - 7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre expressed her gratitude and commendation to media practitioners in Central Visayas.
Macapobre thanked the media for their initiative in reaching out to the public through their information dissemination of the department’s social welfare programs and services.
“All the past years, the media was very instrumental in achieving successful implementation and delivery of services and programs of DSWD Field Office 7,” Macapobre said.
She said the media has been helping the office answer queries from the public especially about DSWD core programs like Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).
“The media is DSWD’s primary partner in development work. In rare instances that the media had called the attention of DSWD had helped the social welfare agency improve its services and programs,” Macapobre added.
She furthered hope that the strong support of the media will continue with the next regional director.
Macapobre will be transferred to DSWD-6 or Western Visayas.
Director Mercedita P. Jabagat from DSWD-Caraga will take her post effective January 11, 2013. (rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DSWD-7)
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DSWD-7 receives donations for ‘Pablo’ victims
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 received donations from various government offices for the victims of typhoon Pablo that hit the southern part of the country on December 4.
Central Visayas offices of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) extended their assistance to typhoon-stricken provinces , Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.
Donations include used clothing, shoes, slippers, bags, and other assorted goods.
The Talisay City government through their City Social Welfare and Development Office also gave donations in kind.
Bayawan City Mayor Rene Gaudiel personally turned-over a check worth P1-million to DSWD regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
Cash worth P31,000 was also donated coming from the pockets of the employees of the Bayawan City government in Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman ordered the cancellation of its annual department-wide Christmas party to continue assisting thousands of victims of typhoon especially in Davao Oriental.
“Let us focus on the essential programs and services that are expected of the DSWD at this critical time,” Secretary Soliman said. (rmn/PIA-7/HFG/DSWD-7)
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DENR-7 urges schools, universities to boost greening program
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) urges public and private schools, universities and colleges in Central Visayas to establish a plant nursery facility of native tree species within their respective campuses in a move to boost the “greening” campaign.
DENR 7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo encourages school institutions to join in the national greening program (NGP) as key area in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
"The NGP encourages institutions to maintain a nursery and growing trees that are native and endemic to the Philippines," Montejo added.
There are about 3,600 species of trees found in the country, the most famous of which is the narra or Pterocarpus indicus, described as the national tree. Its wood is said to be one of the toughest in the world.
Other Philippine native trees are guijo or Shorea guiso, kamagong or Diospyrus discolor, red lauan or Shorea negrosensis and white lauan or Shorea contorta, tindalo or Afzelia rhomboidea, yakal or Shorea astylosa, molave or Vitex parviflora, among others.
Montejo explained that the initiative would strengthen and propagate more native tree species as it supports and increases biodiversity where wildlife could grow in number of population.
“It could also enhance food production and sources of medicines as it gradually restores a degraded landscape through partnership and collaboration with various stakeholders,” he said.
“Our youth have the dynamism and passion towards the environment and we want to inculcate the value of environmental protection through increased or heightened and continued awareness and advocacy,” he added.
Established in February 2011 under Executive Order No. 26, the NGP seeks to plant some 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares in six years ending in 2016.
So far, the DENR has planted 142.6 million seedlings in more than 232,000 hectares all over the country. The program also generated more than 364,000 jobs.
It could be recalled that around 7,985,542 seedlings which covered 10,896.10 hectares of forest land in Central Visayas were planted and grown in 2012.(mbcn/HFG/PIA-7 & DENR-7)