Kalibo elderly gear up for Senior Citizens’ Week
by Venus G. Villanueva
KALIBO, Aklan, September 12 (PIA) — Kalibo’s senior citizens are more than ready to celebrate Senior Citizens Week on October 1-7.
These include a Thanksgiving Mass on October 3 at the St. Jude Thaddeus Church followed by a walk for a cause, dubbed “Alay Sa Nakatatanda” from the church to the Federation of Senior Citizens Center.
The senior citizens will also join in the “Baligya-Baligya Sa Senior Citizens Center” for those who have farm produce like vegetables, fruits and many others from their respective barangays which will involve displaying and selling their goods to their fellow senior citizens and the public.
On the same day, the winner in the search for “Señora 2011”, a fund-raising activity of their group will be proclaimed.
The activity will be graced by Kalibo Mayor William S. Lachica.
The senior citizens will also avail of free medical services on October 4 from Dr. Jocelyn Garcia and Dr. Melanie Tolentino, Kalibo Rural Health Physicians (RHUs), who will provide free consultations and free medicines and vitamins.
Ignacio clarified, however, that only 10 senior citizens from each of the 16 barangay of Kalibo could avail of the free medical services as agreed during the meeting. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)
P-Noy opens P265 M ‘Mercado de Bais’ in Negros Or
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 7 (PIA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III today led the inauguration of the mall-like P265 million public market in Poblacion I, Bais City, Negros Oriental.
He proceeded to unveil the marker in front of the market building with assistance from Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva and witnessed by the city and municipal mayors in Negros Oriental along with some other national and local officials.
President Aquino appreciated the unique structure of the two-storey multi-million market building. It has an elevator and contains a cold storage facility with ice maker and underground sewerage treatment at the ground floor, while at the second floor there are function, dining and transient rooms, and child minding area.
“This market, a center of commerce in the city, provides positive business to all farmers, traders and producers,” the chief executive said.
President Aquino also described the market as “one of the biggest new public market in the country designed to boost the city’s farm productivity and economy.”
The development of the market is in line with the national government’s program to spur trading and economic activities in the neighboring towns in Manjuyod, Mabinay, and Pamplona, said Aquino. (PIA NegOr/JCT)
Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility, says DILG
TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, Sept. 6 (PIA) – Preventing crime requires the support and collaboration of all sectors of the society, the Department of Interior and Local Government in Region 8 stressed as the country commemorates the National Crime Prevention Week on September 1-7.
Community involvement is a vital ingredient in crime prevention. It is communities which have proven to be the catalyst for much of the work on crime prevention. As they are the ones who are most directly affected by crime, it is logical that they should be involved.
The police rely on the support of the community, he said, to report to the police any unnatural happenings or the presence of unidentified persons in the community.
The value of helping people who are in need cannot be over-emphasized. The good Samaritan in each and everyone should be reincarnated. The community should be ready to help when their fellowmen is being victimized, even just by reporting to the police authorities. If there is no report, the police cannot respond.
Mr. Colasito said that there are three elements which must be present so that a crime could be committed. First, there must be the opportunity to commit the crime. The community should not give the unscrupulous people the opportunity to commit a crime by being vigilant, he said.
Another element is instrumentality which refers to the firearm, deadly weapon that is used in committing the crime. The third element is motive to commit the crime which may either be for personal gain or revenge.
If one of the three elements is missing, a crime cannot be committed, Atty. Rosillo said. Theft and robbery are committed most often because of the negligence of the victims. In other words, they gave the criminals the opportunity to perpetrate the crime.
Crime prevention should be the lookout of the family and the community. There is a need to upgrade the security in the case of the business establishments. There should also be an increased awareness on detection of criminals.
The observance of the first week of September as the National Crime Prevention Week was started in 1994 through Presidential proclamation No. 461.
Now, in its 17th year, the celebration’s theme focuses on bringing together bonds between and among the police and other sectors of the community which result to maximum community participation in the government’s anti-criminality campaign particularly in strengthening of the role of the police in harnessing community participation in crime prevention for an improved socio-economic development.
The celebration also helps create a secure and safe community environment through sustained and reinvigorated community-based crime prevention programs and inculcate in the hearts and minds of police officers, especially new police the importance of nurturing a good leader in implementing programs that are beneficial to the community. (PIA 
DOH to release P30 M worth of potable water projects in Eastern Visayas
by Rodrigo S. Victoria
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept. 6 (PIA) -– The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas is set to release P30 M worth of potable water supply projects in identified local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas that are beneficiaries of a grant from the department.
DOH assistant regional director Dr. Minerva Molon disclosed that the local government units in Region 8 that are beneficiaries and are entitled each of P10M are San Isidro in Leyte, Laoang in Northern Samar and Taft in Eastern Samar.
Molon said that the three LGUs are part of the identified LGUs in the region that does not have their own potable water supply system.
She added that a feasibility study coming from these identified LGU beneficiaries is one requirement needed for the release of the grant aside from an agreement that will be inked between the DOH and the three identified LGUs.
The lady assistant regional director assured that the water supply project can provide the constituents living in these LGUs the accessibility to safe potable drinking water.
DOH is implementing the potable water supply project in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the region to address diseases that are caused by the absence of safe potable water supply system.
It was learned that the potable water supply system project is part of the Millennium Development Goal which is to provide accessible and free potable water supply system to the people in the countryside.
However, Molon revealed that there are still several LGUs in Eastern Visayas that do not have their own potable water supply system. (PIA
PNoy to inaugurate “Mercado de Bais” public market
by Rizalie Anding Calibo
DUMAGUETE CITY, September 5 (PIA) — President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III will visit Bais City in Negros Oriental on September 7, 2011 to inaugurate the town’s public market complex known as “Mercado de Bais”.
The project was started on December 16, 2009 and completed on September 6 this year.
With a floor area of 11,000 sq. meters, Mercado de Bais is a two-storey market complex with a cold storage facility, an ice maker and underground sewerage treatment plant located at the Ground Floor. It has a function room that can accommodate 200 persons,a dining room for 100 persons, transient room and child minding area on the second floor.
The P265 million project was funded through a P220 million a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). The local government unit (LGU) of Bais City put up the remaining balance of P45 million.
The said public market is located along the National Highway, bounded by Mabini Street at the North, Aguinaldo Street at the South, and Roxas Street at the West.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has also lined up activities for PNoy’s visit in Bais City. These include turn-over of three units of 7-horsepower diesel engine Shallow Tube Wells with pump for the Pump Irrigation System for Open Source (STW-PISOS), five bags of registered rice seeds for community-based production to barangay officials, ten bags of registered corn seeds (open-pollinated white corn, IPB Var6 variety) to barangay officials, printed IEC materials on various crops, and assorted vegetable seeds for “Pinakbet” (PIA-Dumaguete/RAC)
NFA increase palay procurement target
by Margie L. Gadian
SAN JOSE,Antique, August 31 (PIA) — The National Food Authority in Antique has increased its palay procurement target from 121,000 to 130,000 until the end of December, 2011.
This is in line with the desire of the PNoy administration to reduce rice importation and focus more on local procurement to address rice sufficiency.
The agency will reactivate the mobile procurement to be dispatched in far flung areas in the eighteen (18) municipalities of Antique in coordination with the Local Government Units. Farmers from northern part of Antique can visit the NFA Satellite Office at Brgy. Caridad, Culasi, Antique for their inquiries.
At present NFA needs to decongest the warehouse of stored palay to accomodate more deliveries from farmers. In line with this. the agency will disperse about 45,000 bags of rice to Region 8 provinces to achieve its procurement target.
NFA still buys palay at Php 17.00/kg (clean and dry) with an additional of Php 0.20/kg incentive for drying and Php 0.20/kg for delivery and Php 0.30/kg for Cooperative Development Incentive Fee (CDIF) for farmers who are members of Cooperative/Farmer’s Organization.
NFA Provincial Manager Hedy G. Jardeleza calls on farmers to sell their produce to the agency and avail of the government incentives given to them. (NFA/ MLG/JCM/ PIA6-Antique)
PNRC holds first Palawan disaster forum
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, 31 August (PIA) — To deepen the understanding on community disaster preparedness, the Palawan chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is conducting the 1st Palawan Disaster Risk Reduction Forum at the A&A Plaza Hotel today.
The forum also aimed at substantiating the knowledge on risk reduction, early warning system, and climate change and mainstreaming these in the activities of the participants especially those working in the village level.
One of the speakers in the said forum was Mr. Mario Daquer, Provincial Director of the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG). He discussed the Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.
Ms. Rosalie Pagulayan, Weather Specialist of PAGASA, discussed Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) which is a community-based early warning systems. It is a “people-centered” system which will help communities to act accordingly and immediately as to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life, damage to property, environment and loss of livelihood.
The topic on “Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation with Disaster Risk Reduction” was discussed by Mr. Dennis dela Torre, Chief of the Research & Documentation Division of the Climate Change Commission in the wake of destructive floods and landslides causing death and destruction.
The one-day forum was attended by about 50 participants coming from the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (LDRRMO), the Municipal PNRC, the Provincial DRRMC, and other stakeholders of PNRC. (vsm/pia-palawan)
Aklan SP commends SME Star Awardees
by Venus G. Villanueva
Kalibo, Aklan, August 29 (PIA) — A local enterprise here involved in processing quality meat products had been commended recently by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan for being one of the awardees of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The enterprise, Rosa Foods, is one of Aklan’s leading Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and was adjudged by the DTI as SME Star Elite Award in Region 6 for the Small Enterprise Category.
Roselita Sauza, who pioneered Aklan’s processed meat products, received the award during the recent second quarter meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) held in Negros Occidental.
The SP resolution commending Rosa Foods was sponsored by Vice Governor Gabrielle Calizo and co-sponsored by Hon. Raymar A. Rebaldo.
Prior to its receipt of the SME Star Elite Award, Rosa Foods had been recipient of awards from various national government agencies since it began operations.
Its operation, which started in 1990, encouraged other aspiring entrepreneurs in the province to follow suit, opening and processing their own line of meat products.
The giving of this award by the DTI was initiated this year.
In Aklan, it also recently awarded Fruit of Life, producer of coconut-based products, Culdura Pina Cloth and Jojo’s Christmas Cottage as Star Awardees. (JCM/VGV PIA 6 Aklan)
Assign PMA Entrance Examination Centers for 2011.
Below are the PMA Entrance Examination Centers for 2011:
Code Place
001 Manila City (Mapua Institute of Technology)
003 Quezon City (Ramon Magsaysay High School)
011 Baguio City (Philippine Military Academy)
013 Laoag City (Northwestern University)
015 Dagupan City (University of Pangasinan-PHINMA)
016 Bontoc, Mountain Province (Mt Province General Comprehensive High School)
021 Bayombong (Saint Mary’s University)
023 Tuguegarao City (Cagayan National High School)
032 Cabanatuan City (Araullo University)
034 Tarlac City (Tarlac State University)
036 City of San Fernando, Pampanga (Heroes Hall Building , Sta Magdalena)
041 Calapan City (Divine World College of Calapan)
042 Lipa City (Fernando Air Base)
043 Puerto Princesa (Holy Trinity University)
044 Lucena City (Quezon National High School)
051 Legaspi City (NAVFORSOL, Rawis)
052 Naga City (University of Nueva Caceres)
061 Bacolod City (West Negros University)
062 Iloilo City (Iloilo National High School)
063 Kalibo,Aklan (Northwestern Visayan Colleges)
071 Cebu City (Southwestern University)
072 Dumaguete City (Siliman University)
073 Tagbilaran City (Holy Name University)
081 Catbalogan (Samar State University-Mercedez Campus)
083 Tacloban City (Leyte Normal University)
094 Zamboanga City (AFP Western Mindanao Command)
101 Butuan City (Agusan National High School)
102 Cagayan De Oro City (Camp Evangelista, Patag)
103 Ozamis City (Cong Hilarion J Ramiro Jr City Gymnasium)
111 Davao City (University of Southeastern Philippines)
112 Gen Santos City (Mindanao Polytechnic College)
115 Tacurong City (City Gymnasuim)
121 Iligan City (Iligan City National High School)
122 Cotabato City (Notre Dame of Cotabato-Boys)
124 Jolo Sulu (Notre Dame of Jolo College)
125 Basco Batanes (Batanes National Science High School)
126 Tawi-Tawi (MSU Bongao Campus Prep High Gym)
For more information visit the Philippine Military Academy website.
PMA entrance exam set on Aug 28 in Dumaguete City
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 25 (PIA) — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is set to conduct a simultaneous entrance examinations in 37 testing centers nationwide on Sunday, August 28, 2011.
Silliman University is one of the testing centers, PMA Officer-in-Charge Examiner Vladimir Gracilla said. He expects more than a 100 candidates to take the PMA entrance exams, the same number that took in 2010 here in Dumaguete City.
Gracilla said they are still accepting walk-in applicants on exams day. He advised them to bring a true copy of their High School Form 137, birth certificate, 2″ x 2″ ID picture and pencil.
Gracilla said height requirement for male and female are 5’4″ and 5’2″, respectively. Applicant must be at least high school graduate, and with a general average of at least 85 percent. One should also be able to perform the minimum requirements for physical fitness test.
According to Gracilla the examination covers Algebra and Geometry, Grammar and Composition, Reading and Comprehension. Verbal and Numerical Reasoning, and Pattern Analysis.
The Philippine Military Academy is the premier military institution of the country and has graduated some of the best generals in the country. (PIA-NegOr/mbcn/jct)
