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PWDs availed life skills training from NCFPWD

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TACLOBAN CITY- A two-day life skills training for physically challenged individuals were conducted by the National Federation Cooperative for Persons with Disabilities (NFCPWD) last September 8 and 9 in this city. The training, participated by more than 20 PWDs, involved various activities such as workshops on how to cope up with challenges after the devastation of the super typhoon, stress debriefing and counseling, and open forum where they voiced out their concerns and needs in their present state. The participants were also taught of different strategies for adaptive and positive behavior that will enable them to deal with the challenges of their lives. “This life skills training is a way of NFCPWD to help our members emotionally and at the same time, to respond to their essentials especially now that they have gone through a traumatic experience,” said Rose Carilla, human resource development officer of NCFPWD.

PWDs belonged to the group of victims who greatly struggled and suffered from the merciless supertyphoon that was Yolanda that struck the city. “They need us the most, that is why we give them priority and focus,” Carilla added. NCFPWD is a nationwide cooperative based in Cainta, Rizal that aims to strengthen livelihood and social integration of persons with disabilities. It is also funded by the Canadian Cooperative Association which establishes cooperatives, credit unions and community based organizations worldwide. (SHAIRA VALENZONA, LNU Intern)

DTI released funds to small business enterprenuers hit by Yolanda

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TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has approved more than 300 applications for soft loans from small business companies whose operations were affected by supertyphoon Yolanda.

However, out of this number of applications, only over 100 were given the needed funds, said DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras. As of August 31, Nierras said that the Small Business Corporation(SBC), which is DTI’s partner bank, received 378 applications under their soft loan assistance in which 325 are from Leyte; 30, Eastern Samar and 23 from Samar with an indicative amount P516 million.

And out of the 378 applications, the SBC approved already 185 applications amounting to P202.9 million wherein P80 million was already released for 115 applications. “The approval and release of soft loans is not in the hands of our department for we are just assisting the SBC,” Nierras said. The release for the soft loan is by tranche in which they prioritize the rehabilitation of the building, buying of equipment, machines and last is the working capital. The requirements and procurement procedure of the soft loans of SBC have been simplified in order to fast-track the releasing of assistance. The grace period was shortened to nine months from one year, Nierras said.

When it comes to interest rates of the soft loan of SBC, it increases from six percent to eight percent for they are already using as separate funding.  Nierras said that they are waiting for the funds that will be downloaded to them by the national government and in turn, distribute to the remaining 263 applicants seeking fresh capitals. “We are focus more in bringing back the livelihood of the people as it was before Yolanda,” Nierras said. Meanwhile, the DTI encourages those business establishments affected by the typhoon which have not obtained yet soft loans to visit their office. The SBC still continue to receive applications for soft loan assistance in which they have an available fund amounting to P700 million. (RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)

Pest stalking region’s abaca being addressed by PhilFIDA

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TACLOBAN CITY— With the region’s abaca industry being stalked with a viral disease, the regional office of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is conducting a training to address the problem.

The training aims to bring down the disease incidence below 5% since it is at this level that abaca farmers can still manage the worsening situation caused by the massive virus infection, said Engr. Wilardo Sinahon, PhilFIDA-8 head. According to Sinahon, the main strategy of the abaca disease management training is to teach farmers on how to kill the vectors and to stop the virus from spreading. A technology was created by the PhilFIDA that could kill the vectors that causes bunchy top, the disease that has been stalking the region’s abaca industry since 2005. Insecticides and herbicides were used to kill the insects and the infected abaca plants. Chemicals and other supplies such as protective gears, rain coats, boots, goggles, and mask were also provided.

Aside from the technical supervision from the PhilFIDA, technicians and contractual workers were hired to guide farmers in spraying and injecting the infected abaca plants.
The participating farmers likewise received P1,500 per hectare incentive, as part of assistance. The virus that affected abaca production in the region, notably in Southern Leyte and Leyte provinces, is considered as a major disease because the infected abaca plants become unproductive. Thus, reducing the income of the abaca farmers. After the program was implemented in Southern Leyte, there were already visible abaca plants in the said province. In Barangay Pinamunuan, Mahaplag, Leyte, five stripping machines were operationalized and their production of fiber went back on track after PhilFIDA implemented the program in the barangay.

“These reports are proof that the abaca disease management program has a good effect,” Sinahon said. Northern Samar, the region’s top abaca producer, has reported of virus-infected areas like in Las Navas. (JESLY MARIVIE GASPAY, LNU Intern)

DENR, Church-based, climate groups joined against climate change

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TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and natural Resources (DENR) based here is enlisting the involvement and cooperation of church people in climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy campaign.

Leonardo Sibbaluca, DENR regional executive director, in an interview, said that together with the Climate Change Commission, the DENR-8 sponsored a one-day Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change participated by more than 200 church people from all over the region and other parts of the country. Sibbaluca said that the September 2 activity was just one among the series of regional and national dialogues on climate change which convened by the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines, Climate Change Commission and the DENR.

“It aimed to provide the opportunity to bring together scientists, government experts and decision-makers, Catholic bishops and various religious congregations and ecumenical groups share knowledge, experiences and commitments in addressing pressing climate issues at the local, national and international levels,” Sibbaluca said. The DENR executive director said that his office is calling on the active participation and involvement of the church in pursuing programs and projects that would help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Sibbaluca pointed out that climate change has its causes and effects and how it impacts vulnerable countries like the Philippines and its people. “Global warming and climate change are environmental concerns which affect all of us,” he said. Former senator and now Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission Heherson Alvarez graced the interfaith dialogue with a presentation on the topic “Earth in Peril: A Climate change situationer”.

According to him, while climate change should be an issue of science and technology, it is likewise and issue of morality because of the various man-made destructive activities leading to climate change. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro City, who also attended the said activity, discussed “How Faith Communities Can Lead the Secular Environmental Movement”. He emphasized that the environment is God’s gift to everyone, and that the church has a responsibility towards creation and integral human development, it was further learned. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

Limited flights at DZR hurt sales of “pasalubong” items

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TACLOBAN CITY- Even owners of pasalubong (homecoming gift) centers in the city are feeling the crunch of the limited air flights at the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport. In interviews, owners of the pasalubong centers selling local delicacies like “moron” and “binagol” claimed that the current situation at the DZR Airport has already resulted to the drop of their daily sales.

They said that the drop of their sales reached as high as 75 percent compare to their previous sales. The runway of the Tacloban airport is under repair reason why only small aircrafts are allowed to land at the said facility. Big airplanes of Airbus or Boeing types, which could carry more than a hundred passengers, are temporarily prohibited to use the airport.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), which runs the Tacloban airport, said that the repair of the runway could last six months. “Yes, the situation has affected us. In just a week’s observation, our sales dropped to 50%,” said Susan Altezor of the Cherry’s Refreshment, a specialty store selling local delicacies. It was the same thing for Edelyn Nato of Joedy’s Pasalubong Center.

“Our sales are not okay. If we have to compare our sales before last week’s happening, the number of buyers of our products dropped to 25%,” Nato said. While they have claimed that the repair of the runway at the DZR Airport had resulted for the decrease of their daily sales, they understand the situation. “We just have to accept it, we can’t do anything about it because it’s for the good of our city. We understand that because the airport was really damaged when supertyphoon Yolanda struck and it needs to be repaired,”Nato said.
Earlier, Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that the limited number of airplanes landing at the DZR Airport would result to a drop of tourist arrivals in the region. (ROXANNE D. LOGATOC, LNU Intern)

PTA now operational

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The S.M. Purisima Training Academy(PTA) has started its operations to the delight of young but deserving out of school students of Isabel and nearby towns. The newly opened training academy offers short technical courses to include welding, pipe fitting and several other short-term technical courses. This is a manifestation and a clear indication of the philanthropic and generous character of the president/founder of the institution, Engr. Saylito Mondares Purisima, who in his lifetime experienced a very challenging life, from being a working student in his college days in Cebu ; finished Mechanical Engineering,passed the board with an impressive grade. He got employed with PHILPHOS, but resigned from his Managerial position in that industrial estate within Leyte Industrial Development Enterprises (LIDE) after several years and became municipal administrator in Isabel under the administration of mayor Saturnino Medina. He resigned after the first term of Median and put up his own SNP Engineering Works. He is also now an engineering consultant and one of the top officials in the province of Palawan now under Gov. Jose “Pepito” Alvarez.

Realizing that the students come from poor families, as shown by the fact as they revealed it they could not pursue college education because of being a member of poor families, he devised a plan of a “study now pay later” scheme. After they finish at least 3-months skill training in the academy, Engr. Purisima will assist them being hired. Some selected few certificate of training holders will be employed at his own SMP Engineering Works. Some may get employed at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (PASAR & PHILPHOS) which need these qualified applicants. There are 16 students now.

In the near future, the academy will earn an upgrade into a higher level and bigger educational enterprise. Purisima has already a designated area where to build it. Known personalities who attended the historic launching of the academy expressed their impressed appreciation with the opening of this new institution. They even thank the Heavens for having in their midst a Saylito Purisima who has made this project a possible, a Masbateño at that. He is married to Angelina or Angie, an elementary grades teacher a popular lady who in her own right also a philanthropic educator, and a scion of the highly respected-esteemed Rojas clan of Isabel. Alvin Arpon was the invited lecturer-consultant of the school. He delivered the opening remarks during this hoistoryc launching. He extolled the commendable and worth emulating virtues of Engr. Purisima, he being a close friend of the founder.

He is designated as lecturer and consultant of the academy invited by the PTA founder Purisima. He was formerly a professor in college at the Leyte Normal University teaching subjects in journalism. Arpon is a retired regional director of the Philippine Information Agency Region 8.

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