Philippine Information Agency Central Visayas

  DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, September 20 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here has identified 27 villages in Negros Oriental as "areas of grave concern" in line with the October 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). This was disclosed by Comelec Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria during the launching of “Ang Maayong Politiko” Candidates’ Forum, education campaign, and peace covenant signing on Sept. 19, 2023 at the Provincial Convention Center, this city.  The areas are under the election hotspot list, which has four categories: green, yellow, orange, and red. Labaria said 26 barangays have been classified under the orange category, while one under the yellow category. The orange category includes those areas that have been determined to have "serious armed threats." Areas under the yellow category are those that have a "history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of par

  CEBU CITY (PIA) --  The National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) will kick off the national celebration of Elderly Filipino Week in Cebu City with a grand opening at SM Seaside on October 1, 2023.  The opening ceremony in Cebu will be marked by the National Centenarian Recognition Day, which is expected to be attended by thousands of senior citizens along with NCSC Chairman Atty. Franklin Quijano.  Part of the festivities on the said day is“Simba, Zumba, Sigla at Saya.”  On the second day, October 2, a flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Malacañang grounds followed by the launch of the Philippines Plan of Action for Senior Citizens 2023-2028. The NCSC annually celebrates Elderly Filipino Week from October 1-7, 2023.  This year’s theme, "Honoring the Invaluable Legacy of Filipino Senior Citizens," emphasizes the contributions of Filipino Senior Citizens in contemporary society.  The celebration aims to honor the elderly populace, which was placed at 9.22 million b

  TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 8 (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Personnel and Related Policies led by Board Member Elpidio Bonita has addressed the complaints of members being charged with health care premiums without prior agreement by a credit cooperative. It was through Ramil Rodela, a member of Cebu Court of First Instance (Cebu CFI) Community Cooperative that the SP learned that members of the credit cooperative were imposed with health care premiums in the company’s Mutual Medical Assistance Fund (MMAF) without any agreed legal instruments, such as duly signed contract or policy that details the premium fees, coverage, and their accredited health institutions. When he realized the deductions were made without his knowledge, Rodela withdrew his membership, however, his resignation was still subject to his being cleared of all his outstanding health care obligations, which he did not know existed. Rodela’s experience was the same with another Capitol e

  CEBU CITY (PIA) --  According to the 2015 National Nutrition Survey, one out of 10 or 11.7% of women of reproductive age in Central Visayas are suffering from anemia, a condition wherein there is an insufficient number of red blood cells in the body, thus limiting the body’s oxygen-carrying capacity.  The condition can be a result of nutritional deficiencies or chronic health conditions. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD) is an abnormality that results when the body does not get enough iodine, which is one of the main causes of thyroid disease.  According to the results of a survey conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI), IDDs are still prevalent among 15 provinces in the country, which recorded an overall median UIC below 99 µg/L (Iodine deficiency). These are the provinces of Mountain Province, Benguet, Pangasinan, and Palawan in Luzon; Cebu; Antique; Capiz; Biliran; and Western Samar in Visayas; Bukidon; Davao Occident

  CEBU CITY (PIA) – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 7 is set to impose a fishing ban in the Visayan Sea from November 15, 2023 to February 15, 2024.  This after the bureau noted the decreasing supply of fish in the region.  “There has been a depleting supply of fish in the region,” BFAR-7 Director Allan L. Poquita disclosed during the September 19 meeting of the Coastal Law Enforcement and Alliance of Region 7 (CLEAR-7) in Cebu City.  The closed fishing season, which is implemented under the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) 167-3, will allow fish propagation and ensure the protection and conservation of the sardines, herrings, and mackerel in the Visayan sea fishing ground.  “ Ato ning gibuhat para modaghan balik ang mga isda kay in the end kita gihapon ang makabenepisyo ani  (We are doing this so the fish can spawn and grow because in the end, we are the ones who will benefit from this),” Poquita added. FAO 167-3 prohibits the catching, killing, sell

  CEBU CITY, Cebu, September 22, 2023(PIA) -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has trained selected officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and prosecutors in Region 7 for a more efficient case build-up. A total of 195 prosecutors, police chiefs, and directors attended the symposium on September 22, 2023, which highlights the Department Circular (DC) 020 issued on March 31,2023. One of the salient features of DC 020 is the close cooperation, coordination, and collaboration of the law enforcement agencies, while building confidence among the police personnel in case build-up. Under the said circular, government prosecutors are mandated to be pro-active in the investigation of crimes by helping complainants and law enforcers in the case build-up. This is to ensure that only criminal cases with reasonable certainty of convictions are filed before the courts.   “The goal is to gather evidence in partnership with the law enforcement agencies, to build up a case, to pre

  TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 18 (PIA) -- Gitugotan sa  Commission on Elections (Comelec)  ang hangyo sa  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)  nga i- exempt  ang mga programa niini sa pagdili sa pagpatuman sa mga proyekto sa dili pa ang 2023  Barangay ug Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE). Giaprobahan ni Comelec Chairman George Garcia ang rekomendasyon sa  Law Department s a  poll body  nga ilibre ang mga programa sama sa gihangyo ni DOLE Kalihim Bienvenido Laguesma. Ang maong programa naglakip sa espesyal nga programa alang sa  Employment of Students  nga adunay 34,496 ka benepisyaryo;  Government Internship Program  nga adunay 30,745 ka benepisyaryo;  JobStart Philippines Program  nga adunay 647 ka benepisyaryo;  DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program o KABUHAYAN Program  nga adunay 48,461 ka benepisyaryo; ug  Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program (TUPAD)  nga adunay 1,059,135 ka benepisyaryo. Sa iyang hangyo, ang  Comelec Law Department  n

  CORTES, Bohol, September 24 (PIA) -- There is still time for qualified marginalized power consumers to get listed and enjoy discounted power rates through the government’s lifeline rate subsidy program. This is according to Lester Laborte, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) National Household Targeting System (NHTS) during the recent Kapihan sa PIA as he shared the good news from the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA). Both ERC and NEA have put up an enhanced law in partnership with the DSWD and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to give power usage subsidy for qualified marginalized power end-users a non-monetary discount, as long as they are registered by their power distribution utilities. The subsidy is provided under Republic Act 11552 or an Act Extending and Enhancing the Implementation of the Lifeline Rate. This provision has amended, for the Purpose Section 73 of RA 9136, or the El

  Si ‘Datu Jumong’ kinsa numero uno nga nominee sa iyang giangkon nga partylist sa mga rebelde nga Sulong Katribu, mibutyag nga si Kerlan Fanagel, sama kaniya, rebelde ug ika tulo nga nominee sa Partido, maoy usa sa mga tig-organisa sa mga rally sa mga aktibista lakip na ang Manilakbay - baklay sa mga lumad paingon sa Manila aron pahawaon ang mga militar sa mya lugar nga iya sa mga IP, nga ilang gihawakan. Katupad ni Jumong si PLtCol Norman Nuez ug si 3ID Deputy Commander Col. Leeroy Daanton sa pikas kilid. (PIA Bohol) TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, September 19 (PIA) -- Usa sa mga armadong tawo nga sakop sa mga teroristang  New People’s Army  (NPA) nga napatay niadtong Septembre 7 didto sa Bilar, usa ka lider sa mga lumad nga maoy tig-organisa sa mga rally didto sa Mindanao ug sa Manila, ug ika tulo nga nominee sa partylist nga  Sulong Katribu. Gani, si Kerlan Fanagel, kinsa migamit usab sa ngalan nga Rogelio Jorillo subay sa  identification card,  ika tulo unta nga nominee sa  Sulong Katrib

  Chairpersons of the various committees comprising the festival directorate of the Buglasan Festival 2023 officially announce the lineup of activities for the festival slated on October 14 to 22 in a press launch held Sept. 21, 2023 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center, Dumaguete City. (PIA Negros Oriental) DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, September 21 (PIA) -- This year’s Buglasan Festival is expected to gather the biggest festival contingents in Negros Oriental. A total of 24 local government units (LGUs) are participating in the festival. During the festival’s press launch on September 21, Provincial Tourism Board Executive Director Woodrow “RR” Maquiling Jr. said this year’s festival of festivals in the province will be more meaningful and grandiose as it unifies all LGUs to show to local and foreign audiences the rich diversity of the local culture and arts in a single venue at the Capitol area in Dumaguete City. Maquiling said that when Gov. Manuel “Chaco” Sagabarria took hi