DENR, LBP, ROD renew support for CARP implementation in E. Visayas

By JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
March 9, 2023

TACLOBAN CITY – With the renewal of support of three Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implementing agencies, Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas is optimistic to hit the target in land distribution this year.

During the “Synchronization of 2023 targets and Problem Solving Session with Line Agencies,” held in February, Yu thanked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Land Bank of the Philippines-Agrarian Operation Center (LBP-AOC) and the Registry of Deeds (ROD) for their support in 2022 which made DAR Eastern Visayas accomplished its targets.

Yu took the opportunity to ask the three agencies to continue supporting the DAR this year for the benefit of the landless farmers who rely much on CARP to improve their quality of life.

For this year, DAR Eastern Visayas targets 1,131 hectares for claim folder preparation and documentation; 811 hectares for verification and approval of land survey; 758 hectares for Emancipation Patent/Certificate of Land Ownership Award (EP/CLOA) registration; and 106 landholdings to be issued with Memorandum of Valuation, which are dependent on the three CARP implementing agencies abovementioned.

Yu likewise disclosed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the DAR to fast track the implementation of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project which made Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III committed to deliver 50 thousand hectares issued with individual titles by June.

“Because Region-8 has the biggest scope under SPLIT with more that 220 thousand hectares, I committed to deliver 10 thousand hectares by June,” Yu said.

In response to Yu’s plea to the line agencies, Engineers Fiel Pedrosa, Manager of LBP-AOC and Ramon Unay, Chief of the Surveys and Mapping Division at the DENR together with lawyers Emeterio Villanoza Jr. and Ryan Villablanca of ROD-Leyte and ROD-Samar, respectively, signed the pledge of commitment.

Pedrosa said, we are very much willing to help the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers (MARPOs) improve the field investigation report which serves as input to our computation of land valuation.

Unay stressed, “Noon pa palaging nandyan ang DENR to support the Program.” He added, “Hindi namin ililimit sa target lang namin. If you still have survey to be submitted to us for verification and approval, then we will still do it.”

Meanwhile, Villablanca exclaimed “If I was able to sign 980 titles for the pabahay project in just half of a day, the two thousand targeted titles under SPLIT in Samar ay toothpick lang yan!”

In return, Yu committed to provide to the said partner agencies the necessary logistics that will aid them in accomplishing the tasks required from them.

8ID sends-off new enlisted soldiers to various army battalions in E. Visayas

By DPAO, 8ID PA
March 9, 2023

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City Samar – A total of 564 newly-enlisted soldiers of the 8th Infantry “Stormtroopers” Division, Philippine Army, have been deployed to their designated army units in Eastern Visayas after a send-off ceremony Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Headquarters, 8ID.

Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, Commander of the 8ID expressed confidence in the new privates' ability to succeed.

In his message, he encouraged them to put forth their best efforts in performing their tasks.

“After hurdling the rigorous training, it is with great expectations that you are physically, emotionally, and psychologically prepared to face the multifarious challenges ahead,” Ligayo told the new privates.

The newly trained soldiers will now contribute to the 8ID's various humanitarian efforts and peace initiatives in ending communist armed conflict, as four of the country's last five guerilla fronts are located in Region 8.

The new privates completed their Basic Military Training (BMT) during their candidate soldier course last February 20, 2023.

DTI launches Malikhaing Pinoy pushing creative industry to greater heights

By DTI-OSEC-Public Relations Unit
March 7, 2023

PASAY CITY – Recognizing the significant contributions of the country's creative industries in the pursuit of robust economic growth and expansion, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual expressed the Department’s unwavering support for the expansion and integration of the creative industry into the domestic and international market during the 2nd Philippine Creative Industries Summit held on 7 March 2023 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). With the theme “Unifying Creative Agenda, Elevating Filipino Creativity,” this year’s summit ushers creativity in different sectors of society including agriculture, manufacturing, and other industries.

Likewise, Secretary Pascual acknowledged the hard work that our legislators have put in pushing for the enactment of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA) saying that “We are gathered here today to celebrate the enactment of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which our champions – Congressman Toff de Venecia and Senator Loren Legarda – have deeply elaborated on earlier. More importantly, this occasion is an opportunity for us to lay down our concrete plans, projects, and programs that will give life to the spirit of PCIDA."

The passage of the PCIDA shall ensure that a strong, solid, and clear mandate will be implemented to address the constraints of our creative industries and shall drive the sector toward greater heights. As the chair of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC), Secretary Pascual aims to further capacitate Filipino creators and designers as well as improve the quality of their outputs, enabling it to compete in both the local and global markets.

One of the highlights of the event is the launching of Malikhaing Pinoy Program or Creative Philippines Program, which will be implemented by DTI.

"Malikhaing Pinoy is our holistic approach to addressing the constraints and barriers of the creative industries. It is a flagship initiative well-informed by various sector-specific industry studies and roadmaps carried out by the DTI with support from our champions in Congress," added Secretary Pascual.

As mentioned by Secretary Pascual, the DTI will establish the following to further assist in the development of the creative economy: (1) Creative Industries Satellite Account; (2) Creative Venture Fund; and (3) ENSAYO Creative Hub. Likewise, the Department commits to ensure that the country's workforce are well equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare them for possible job opportunities in the sector through the expansion of the Philippine Skills Framework that will cover creative industries.

Moreover, to address the country's limited access to technology, the DTI will endeavor to build Creative Innovation Centers similar to the Marikina NACIDA Incubator Facility. Along with this, the Department also envisions the creation of a Creative Market Acceleration Program, which will enable our creative industries to grow their businesses, attract investments, and expand in foreign markets.

In closing, Secretary Pascual ensured that the DTI will work closely with Presidential Adviser on Creative Communications (OPACC) Secretary Paul Soriano on various strategic collaborative activities that will extend the reach of Malikhaing Pinoy to as many stakeholders as possible. He said that "Ultimately, cooperation and collaboration between and among the government, industries, the academe, and development partners will be the powerful force that will drive the progress and success of Malikhaing Pinoy towards achieving the aspirations embodied in the PCIDA.”

DAR trains 150 DFs in E. Visayas on community organizing

By JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA
March 5, 2023

TACLOBAN CITY – Level of development of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) and agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in Eastern Visayas is expected to improve after 150 development facilitators (DFs) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this region underwent extensive training on community organizing.

Divided into three batches, the said DFs were subjected to a five-day training on Enterprise-based Agrarian Reform Community Organizing and Development (E-ARCOD), which gave emphasis on developing the participant’s social entrepreneurial skills.

Assistant Regional Director for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program (ARBDSP), Ismael Aya-ay, said that E-ARCOD is basically rural development, community organizing, and extension works which is facilitated from production to marketing.

Melecia Ong, chief of the Program Beneficiaries Development Division (PBDD), stressed during the training the need to be innovative in order to adapt to the various factors affecting the growth of an ARB, ARBO and the ARC they serve to be effective social entrepreneurs.

Al Francis Caballero, a DF for almost three years assigned in Ormoc City in the province of Leyte, shared he feels more confident now in discharging his functions as a DF with the learnings he gained in the said training.

According to him, “The knowledge I gained here will enhance my skills in communication, problem solving and critical thinking, which are important in community organizing.”

For Betoin Veras, the DF of Pinabacdao, Samar, “This training enables me to be self-aware of the role of a DF.” She pointed out the qualities of a good DF, like how to deal with ARBs and how to empower them, which made an impact to her as a community organizer.

DF Mark Kevin Chua of Gandara, Samar, shared that the topics on how to address problems and challenges encountered in the field and how to lead ARBs and ARBOs to be productive and successful entrepreneurs, were among the biggest learnings which he plans to apply when he returns to his area of assignment.

In Mondragon, Northern Samar, DF Marian Marquita shared that she learned and would embrace the qualities and competencies a DF should possess to be effective in her work.

For Aniway Elizan, who had been assigned to several municipalities in Samar on separate occasions during her 19 years as a DF commented that all the learnings shared in this training were applicable not only in her work as DF but to one’s personal life as well. Though, she considers the strategic development planning as the most important learning she gained which she could impart to the ARBOs she is assisting.

Meanwhile, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer I (PARPO I) Rosemarie Balanquit of DAR Northern Samar Provincial Office commended in her facebook post the resource speakers for the comprehensive discussions of the different topics which sustained the interest of the participants until the last day of the training.

Aside from Ong, other speakers included PBDD staffs Ronalyn Acol, James Paul Albia, Adriano Badana, Leonard Fulminar and DF Czarina Vanelli Piñon.

Balanquit and the other PARPOs I in the region requested that they be included in the third batch of the said training, which was conducted last week, to be updated of the enhanced modules.

National minorities join 2023 Global Climate Strike

Sandugo: ‘Time to replace Mining Act of 1995 with People’s Mining Bill’

Press Release
March 3, 2023

QUEZON CITY – Today marks 28 years since Republic Act 7942, or the Mining Act of 1995, was passed. In a demonstration held at the central office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Sandugo - Movement of Moro and Indigenous Peoples for Self-Determination joined various sectors in calling for the repeal of the said law.

“Sa loob din ng 28 taon na ito, hindi umalwan ang buhay ng mga katutubo sa lugar na kung saan may mga minahan,” said Eufemia Cullamat, Sandugo spokesperson. “Sa halip, kami ay nagkawatak-watak dahil sinisira at winawasak ng mga minahan ang mga lupang ninuno.” [In the past 28 years, the lives of indigenous communities in mining areas have not improved. Rather, we have been torn apart as mining continuously ravages our ancestral lands.]

Sandugo cites the key role of the DENR in greenlighting environmental degradation through the Mining Act of 1995, claiming the department has placed profit over the people’s welfare. “Ito pa ang nagbebenta ng aming mga lupang ninuno, nagbibigay ng Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) kahit walang malinaw na FPIC [free, prior, and informed consent] o pahintulot ng mga katutubong komunidad!” [The DENR itself is selling out our ancestral lands, issuing ECCs without securing FPIC, or the free, prior, and informed consent of indigenous communities.]

Cullamat further lamented the impact of large-scale, corporate mining on indigenous communities’ agricultural practices and food security. “Kung dati ay nakakapagtanim kami ng palay dalawang beses sa isang taon, ngayon ay hindi na dahil hindi na balanse ang tag ulan at tag init na syang bumubuhay sa mga pananim.” [Before, we would harvest grain twice a year; this is no longer possible because the climate that nourishes our crops has been altered.]

The demonstration is part of the Global Climate Strike, a globally-coordinated mass action spanning nearly a hundred countries which demands urgent action on the worsening climate crisis. The mining sector represents an estimated 4 to 7 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Up to half of copper, gold, iron ore, and zinc mining is located in areas with high water stress, greatly altering the lifeways of communities. In the Cordillera for example, a long history of mining has seen villages lose irrigation for rice production, as well as massive landslides and ground collapse. Since mining requires large amounts of water for its operations, mining companies in the area have privatized water sources, making life more difficult for indigenous and peasant communities.

Sandugo supports the passage of House Bill (HB) 259, or the People’s Mining Bill, which moved forward last month with the approval of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The bill seeks to make important shifts in the mining industry, among these the encouragement of foreign companies to reinvest rather than repatriate profits to their home countries, and the overall reorientation of the mining industry towards the development of domestic industries. The movement welcomes the bill’s ban on prime agricultural lands and watershed areas, sacred indigenous sites, small island ecosystems, and areas specified for food production and fishing. Sandugo also laud’s the bill’s intent to ban firms and conduits with a poor track record.

“Ang mga nasirang kabundukan, buhay at kabuhayan ay hindi na maibabalik pa,” says Cullamat. “Nararapat lamang palayasin at pagbayarin ang mga mandarambong at lumapastangan sa kalikasan. Kailangan natin itong tuloy tuloy na ipaglaban sa pamamagitan ng ating mahigpit na pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan.” [The destruction that has already ravaged our mountains, lives, and livelihoods is irreversible. It is only right to banish and punish the greedy entities that have pillaged our environment. We need to be relentless in our fight, by supporting each other and standing in solidarity.]

24 Former Rebels receives P760k E-CLIP benefits

By DPAO, 8ID PA
March 2, 2023

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City, Samar – A total of P760,000 financial assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government was given to 24 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

The distribution was made possible through the support of the 78th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government Unit (DILG), and the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar.

Eight former NPA regular members received P65,000, while 16 former Militia ng Bayan (MB) members received financial assistance of P15,000 each.

The said financial assistance is part of the government’s program in helping the former rebels as they start their life anew.

Eastern Samar Vice-Governor Maria Caridad Goteesan assured the returnees that the government is always ready to assist them.

“Gusto naming makita niyo na nandito kami para tumulong at bilang nagsisilbing mga magulang ninyo. Gusto naming nandito kayo sa aming lokalidad, at ng sa ganoong paraan, nakikita namin kayo at naaasikaso. Inuulit ko, hindi lang ang Lokal na Pamahalaan, ang ating Probinsya kundi pati ang National Government ay nagmamalasakit sa inyo,” Vice Gov. Goteesan told the former rebels.

The Commanding Officer of 78th Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Allan Tria also expressed optimism that the assistance extended to former rebels will be a big help in starting their lives anew.

“Lahat ng tulong na natanggap ninyo ay nagpapakita lang na seryoso ang gobyerno sa pagtulong sa inyo at sa mga gusto pang magbalik-loob sa pamahalaan,” Lt. Col. Tria shared.

Meanwhile, 8th Infantry Division Commander, Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, continues to urge those who have not yet surrendered to leave their armed struggle and emulate their former comrades who are now working hand-in-hand with the government in peace-building.

“It’s not yet too late. Ang gobyerno ay handang tumulong sa mga kasapi ng teroristang NPA na gustong magbalik-loob at magbagong buhay. Nakahanda na ang mga programa ng gobyerno ang kailangan na lamang nilang gawin ay bumaba na at makipagtulungan sa gobyerno,” Ligayo said.

Before receiving E-CLIP, the beneficiaries also received government financial assistances through the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD), and participated in various livelihood training.

PH gov’t, KOICA and UN agencies launch joint programme to address national emergency of adolescent pregnancies

Press Release
March 1, 2023

TACLOBAN CITY – Officials from the Philippine government, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the United Nations (UN) jointly launched on February 20, 2023 a programme that aims to address the high rates of adolescent pregnancies in the country.

Funded by the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the joint programme “Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy in Southern Leyte and Samar in the Philippines” aims to improve access of the adolescent population to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information, to raise their self-awareness on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as to enhance leadership and governance on ASRH.

According to the World Bank, the Philippines has one of the highest adolescent birth rates among the major economies in the ASEAN region.

In November 2022, KOICA, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO) inked the agreement on the joint programme, which is slated to last until 2026. Leading the Joint Programme steering committee is the Department of Health (DOH) with the UN Resident Coordinator, Gustavo Gonzalez, as its co-chair. Joining as members are the said UN agencies, KOICA, the Department of Education (DepEd), and the governors of Samar and Southern Leyte.

“Korea is committed to support the Philippines in its goals to achieve universal health for all. This is the first time that KOICA is working on a joint project on adolescent health in partnership with the three UN agencies in the Philippines. Hence, we look forward to working towards improving the comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights of Filipino adolescents in the Philippines,” said KOICA Country Director Kim Eunsub.

DOH Officer-In-Charge Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire said that teenage pregnancy, which has been declared by the government as a national social emergency, deprives many young Filipinos of their future, she then highlights of addressing these concerns through solidarity in partnership.

“Together, we, along with our partner agencies and stakeholders – must work in weaving our strategies to contribute to positive and long-lasting impacts for adolescents. As a key objective of the Universal Health Care Act, equitable access to health services for the youth, especially those in the vulnerable and marginalized sector, is central to the DOH’s priorities. To address these gaps, we will continue to seek the support of our partners, as we can only truly achieve the universality of health through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” said DOH OIC Singh-Vergeire.

“Adolescent pregnancy is not only a health and education problem but also an economic development issue,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, United Nations (UN) Philippines Resident Coordinator. “We are hoping that with this program with KOICA, we will be able to reduce adolescent pregnancy and support the Philippines in maximizing the ‘demographic dividend.’”

With the Philippines having one (1) out of three (3) people under the age of 18, it is expected to benefit from the change of its population structure towards a younger demographic structure. However, the window opportunity that the demographic dividend brings may be lost if Filipinos are not able to care for their sexual and reproductive health and their families.

Gonzalez said the group is eager to build on previous partnerships with the local governments of Samar and Southern Leyte and to accelerate the progress that they have reached in terms of development and humanitarian programs.

Besides being one of the Philippines’ poorest and most typhoon-battered regions, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS5) Study also showed that Eastern Visayas has the highest rates of 15 to 19-year-old female youths that had begun childbearing.

The programme’s efforts are expected to provide additional training for health workers and non-health service providers such as social workers, teachers and peer educators; work on the expansion of the PhilHealth package for adolescent pregnancy; provide mobile medical facilities to benefit adolescents; and support the implementation of a Performance Accountability System for the local health and government units, as well as a Youth Leadership and Governance initiative.

The steering committee of this Joint Programme will be collaborating with other strategic government partners that will serve as advisory members: the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the National Youth Commission (NYC). Other government units will also be part of the regional and provincial committees of the program.

Coinciding with the joint programme launch is the ongoing congressional discussions on the proposed measures to address adolescent pregnancy.

Trade chief spearheads distribution of assistance for MSMEs

By DTI-OSEC-Public Relations Unit
February 28, 2023

MANDAUE CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. together with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Fred Pascual spearheaded the distribution of assistance for MSMEs on 27 February 2023. The assistance given is part of DTI's Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program, which aims to capacitate and assist existing and future micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the provision of kits containing materials, equipment, and initial stocks to commence and improve their businesses.

"Ito ay bahagi ng ating tuluy-tuloy na pag-alalay sa mga maliliit na negosyo sa gitna ng pandemya. Ngayong araw ay namigay tayo ng worth 8,000 pesos na vouchers o negosyo kits sa dalawampung mico-entrepreneurs. Umaasa ang DTI na makakatulong ito sa pag cover ng kanilang operational costs at sa kanilang muling pagbangon mula sa nangyaring sunog noong nakaraang taon", said Secretrary Pascual.

The DTI-PPG is a livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program whose target beneficiaries are micro-enterprises affected by fire incidents and other calamities, including health disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department provides beneficiaries with information materials, business counseling and mentoring, enterprise development training, and livelihood kits.

During the program, Secretary Pascual lead the distribution of DTI-PPG 2023 Livelihood/ Negosyo kits to 20 beneficiaries who were victims of a fire incident on 13 December 2022. Each beneficiary has received a voucher amounting to PHP8,000. In total, the DTI distributed P160,000 worth of financial assistance.

MSMEs are considered as the backbone of the Philippine economy as it constitutes 99.5% of all registered businesses in the country. Likewise, MSMEs generated 64.6% of the country's total employment. Thus, the DTI recognizes their vital contributions to economic growth and recovery.

Further, Secretary Pascual said that "The DTI will continue to assist MSMEs, especially in terms of digitalization so they can reach wider markets. We will also help them access financing, mayroon pong Small Business Corporation or SBCorp under the DTI na maaaring mag-assist sa mga MSMEs kung kailangan nila ng loans na makakatulong sa kanila sa pagsimula o paglago ng kanilang negosyo."

The distribution program was also attended by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Charter Change: prosperity for the Marcoses and capitalists; poverty for the Filipinos – GABRIELA

Press Release
February 28, 2023

QUEZON CITY – “Galawang mandaraya ang pagraratsada ng Charter Change na iskema ng administrasyong Marcos. Sahod, trabaho, pagkain, serbisyo – yan ang kailangan ngayon hindi chacha!” declared Clarice Palce, Gabriela Secretary General, in reaction to the approval of the Congressional Committee on Constitutional Amendments last Monday.

“Hindi pa nasapatan ang Marcos sa samu’t saring pamamaraan ng pandaraya noong eleksyon, ngayon naman ay pilit niyang babaguhin ang konstitusyon para pumabor sa kanyang administrasyon at balak na term extension, samantalang ang mamamayan ay umaaray na, hindi makasabay sa taas-presyo ng bilihin ang kinikita, pero walang reaksyon at kibit-balikat lang ang tugon ni Marcos Jr.,” Palce insisted.

The last Constitutional Convention was during the time of the late dictator President Marcos Sr. on January 17, 1973, changing a presidential form of government to parliamentary form amid widespread protest. It created a government with a figurehead prime minister and the power remained in the president-dictator Marcos.

With the present Marcos Jr., the intent of the charter change is further liberalization of the country’s economy and a longer term for the political leaders.

“May panganib na maulit ang nangyari noong panahon ni Marcos, the dictator. Hindi na natin kaya ang dekadang paghahari ng mga Marcos na sa siyam na buwan na panunungkulan, wala man lang kongkretong hakbang para sa kagalingan ng kababaihan at mamamayan kundi ang mangayupapa sa dayuhan, alagaan ang kanilang cronies at negosyante, magparty at maglibot sa ibang bansa.

Nasa panahon tayo ng krisis ni hindi pa lubusang nakakarecover ang mamamayan sa pandemya, lugmok sa hirap ang taong bayan, halos hindi na makasabay sa taas-presyo ng mga bilihin, ito lang talaga ang pinagkakaabahalan ng administrasyong Marcos Jr., ang pagbabago ng konstitusyon?” commented Palce.

In the proposed bill for the constitutional convention (ConCon), each sector will have a representative of workers, farmers and others but 20% of the delegates will be appointed by the Speaker and Senate President, who are both allies of the president. Further, there will be P10,000 per diem each delegate per day, aside from its travel and accommodation costs.

“Lantarang paglulustay at prone sa korapsyon ang ganitong klase ng bill, kahit sa istruktura, kakatigan nito kung sinuman ang nag-appoint sa mga ito, kaya nakikita nating ‘bias’ ang batas na ito at pabor sa mga nasa posisyon”, Palce remarked.

According to the bill, Concon can finish the new constitution by June 30, 2024, it can also table revisions in any part of the constitution and there will be an uncertain election in 2025.