ISSUE NO. 26, SEPT. 22, 2005

Tamlang Valley chosen as beneficiary of hybrid corn program in Central Visayas
Among the corn producing areas in the 4 provinces of Central Visayas, the Department of Agriculture (DA) -Region 7 has chosen Tamlang Valley in Oriental Negros as the recipient of a subsidy program in line with the agriculture department's hybrid corn program.

Under the DA's Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Corn Program, farmers in Tamlang Valley who plant corn, particularly hybrid corn, are given a subsidy worth P1,200.00 from the national government.

This started in the 1st cropping period of this year from April to June, wherein the corn farmers were also provided organic fertilizers aside from the subsidy, disclosed DA's Provincial Corn Coordinator Medardo Villalon.

For the second cropping period this year ranging from September to November , Villalon said the farmers will continue to receive the subsidy but instead of the fertilizer, corn farmers will be provided with the inoculant BIO-N. "Research shows that this inoculant can save from 30% to 80% of nitrogen requirement in one hectare of corn crop," says Villalon.

Tamlang Valley is a vast stretch of 10,000 hectares that was considered a no-man's land in the 1980's due to active rebel activities in the area.

Now a proposed zone of peace, the valley that is a common boundary of the municipalities of Sta. Catalina, Siaton, Valencia and Sibulan, is under the control and supervision of the provincial government.

The provincial government has already poured in more than P20M worth of socio-economic development projects in the area, says Provincial Information Officer Oliver Lemence.

He said projects such as infrastructure, road rehabilitation, opening of roads, energization, irrigation and agro-forestry are currently being implemented in Tamlang Valley "with the aim of developing this area as the food basket of Oriental Negros."

According to Francisco L. Sopsop of DA-7 in Cebu, the department is eyeing Tamlang Valley to become a major commercial corn production in the province.

Oriental Negros has a total of 51,414 hectares of corn plantation producing traditional and hybrid corn varieties.

Areas where hybrid corn is being planted in addition to the traditional corn variety are in Bayawan City, Sta. Catalina, parts of Siaton, Mabinay and Bindoy, says Villalon.

The provincial corn coordinator added that majority of the corn farmers in the province are subsistence farmers (those who plant for their own consumption) rather than market-oriented farmers.

The national government has been encouraging farmers nationwide to plant high-yielding variety of corn, which has been reported to be a better source of ethanol.

The substance ethanol can be burned as fuel and is used in industries and medicines. It is also the intoxicating agent in whiskey, wine, beer and other fermented or distilled liquors.

Unlike sugar cane that produces only 22.14 gallons of ethanol per metric ton, corn produces the highest yield pegged at 109 gallons of ethanol per metric ton.
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New events added to this year's Rodeo competition
It's going to be three days packed with fun, danger and excitement during the Buglasan Rodeo and Horseshow Competition from October 14 to 16, 2005 at the Perdices Coliseum, Dumaguete City.

Now on its third year to be held simultaneously with the Buglasan Festival of Festivals celebration, this year's Rodeo, however is uniquely different from the previous years.

According to Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Antonio Mutia in yesterday's Kapihan forum, a Kiddie Carambola has been added in this year's Rodeo.

"Children from 10 to 12 years old will show off their cowboy skills like pagpatumba sa baka during the 4-person and 2-person kiddie carambolas," says Mutia.

For an entrance fee of P5.00 each day, the audience can watch rodeo events and get the chance to win special items to be raffled for the audience while children can ride horses especially hired for the three-day affair.

Bronco riding is also an added event this year, wherein participants will restrain wild, untamed horses. "This is similar to bull riding only that in this event, the horses haven't been ridden yet, fresh from the ranch," says Mutia.

The provincial veterinary officer is, however, quick to assure the safety of the participating cowboy teams as all measures have been implemented to minimize the risks during the competition. "We only allow certified players who are already skilled in rodeo events. There is also a standby medical team in case of emergencies," he said.

A total of 15 teams coming from Visayas and Mindanao will participate in this year's rodeo competition, with teams coming from as far as Marawi City.

Oriental Negros is the only province in Central Visayas that holds a rodeo event each year and because of this, cowboy teams from other provinces come in droves. "I had to turn down five teams this year because we can only accommodate 15 teams. I had a hard time turning down teams interested in joining our competitions," Mutia relates.

He adds that Oriental Negros is also the only province in the country with a considerable number of ranches.

In the same forum, City Veterinary Officer Dr. Lourdes Socorro disclosed that the events in the rodeo competitions are conducted in accordance with animal safety provisions under the Animal Welfare Act.

"In these events, the animals are not hurt. We only show how to restrain the animals," she said.

The Buglasan Rodeo & Horseshow Competition will open on Oct. 14 with a Street Parade at 7:30 a.m.

Events during the competition include lassoing on foot, whip cracking, calf wrestling, casting down of large animals, Ms. Buglasan Rodeo 2005, tartanilla and carabao race, cowboys songs singing and square dance contest, lassoing on horseback, load carrying relay and cock carambola.
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Dumaguete City as Motorocycle Capital of the Philippines
Here in Dumaguete City, you will see motorcycles everywhere.

Of the 29,000 motorcycles registered at the Land Transportation Office, a big percentage can be found in the city, the Motorcycle Capital of the Philippines!

As reported by Zapphire Zamudio of the Kabataan News Network-Dumaguete Bureau, teens are into motorcycles as well; three out of 10 teenagers in Dumaguete ride motorcycles.

Most teens say, they are using motorcycles because it provides a faster and easier way of transportation, and some use it in going to school because it's more convenient and saves time and money.

Unfortunately, many of them meet accidents. From 2002 to 2004, it is estimated that an average of three teenagers per month get into motorcycle accidents here in Dumaguete.

Zamudio warns young people to be extra careful in order to avoid accidents. "They should follow traffic rules, use mufflers, headlights and helmets for their safety."

Being known as Motorcycle Capital of the Philippines, the Provincial Tourism Council will establish the longest and largest motorcycle parade as an entry for the Guiness Book of World Records.

The Motorada is one of the significant events of the Buglasan Festival celebration slated on Oct. 16.

Owner-driven motorcycles in the province are encouraged to join the Buglasan Motorada and register their motorcycles at all PNP stations.
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CFO launches stamp design competition
In line with the Centennial Celebration of Filipino Migration to Hawaii this year, all students and professionals are encouraged to join in the Hawaii Centennial Commemorative Stamps Design Competition.

The competition marks a series of activities from December 2005 to December 2006 celebrating 100 years of friendship with the island-state of Hawaii.

With the theme "100 Years: The Filipino Legacy in Hawaii," the competition is open to students and professionals and hopes to bring together the best and brightest Filipino artists, designers, illustrators and students in interpreting 100 years of fruitful Philippine engagement with the United States' 50th state.

The entries or artwork design must interpret the theme using any one of the following: crayons, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal pen and ink or oil. Computer-generated artworks will not be allowed.

Winners have a chance to win P25,000, P20,000 and P15,000 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively, under the Professional Category.

Winner under the Student Category will receive P10,000, P7,000 and P5,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, respectively.

Winning designs from both categories will be used for the Hawaii centennial commemorative stamps to be issued and circulated by the Philpost in 2006.

For inquiries, please contact Atty. Golda Myra Roma and Mr. Rino Paez at tel. nos. 5618321 locals 600 and 604 or browse online at www.cfo.gov.ph, www.ncca.gov.ph, and www.philpost.gov.ph.

The said competition is launched nationwide by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost).
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Manpower spells mediocrity and excellence in business, says TESDA
The Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here is urging local government units and the private sector co-manage the TESDA training center for a competitive and skilled workforce.

Mr. Ulpianito Atienza Jr. of TESDA here said that businesses and LGUs should be able to identify their manpower skills priorities as a first step in developing their workforce.
By co-managing the TESDA training center, a pool of manpower based on the employer's sector needs will be produced. "The output of the training center will be utilized by the private or the LGU sector," says Atienza.

According to TESDA Region 7 Director Ernesto Beltran, a company's manpower or work force is still the "critical factor that spells the difference between mediocrity and excellence in business."

Beltran was speaking during the opening ceremonies of the 4th Pursuit of Excellence Sharing Rally 2005 held in Lapulapu City recently.

In his message, Beltran said, even with the rapid growth and development of technology today, "people are still our best bet for excellence."

He added that manpower development must include continuing education and skills training program whose methods of education and apprenticeship must be designed to address the holistic development of skills, personality and character as well as preparing the individual for lifelong learning through building the necessary mental tools, technical and entrepreneurial skills.

With globalization, trade and commerce pose vast opportunities and countless challenges. Local business cannot afford to be complacent. The landscape of business in the country today has changed tremendously that the pursuit of excellence is no longer an individual effort but more of a collaborative act between management and manpower, Beltran went on.

According to him, with borderless commerce, companies would have to innovate to excel to keep their competitive advantage, or they would stagnate and perish. Betran concluded that TESDA recognizes the urgency of being attuned to the developments in the global and local business environment, however, the issues of poverty and improving the quality of life of Filipinos are always the end-results of business and economic growth.
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Oriental Negros hosts 23rd provincial Girl Scouts encampment
Nearly 1,000 Girl Scouts delegates from the provinces Oriental Negros and Siquijor are expected to join in the 23rd Provincial Junior, Senior, Cadet Encampment at Camp Lily Gamo, Sibulan, Oriental Negros.

According to local Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) Executive Officer Rosario Rosales, the encampment will start from September 23 until September 25 with the theme: "GSP at 65: Responding to the Needs of the Times."

During the three-day encampment, delegates will take part in several activities geared towards responding to the challenge of economic self-sufficiency, family life, environment and emergency preparedness.

Rosales said the Opening Ceremonies on Sept. 23 will be graced by Negros Oriental State University President Dr. Henry A. Sojor, Provincial Governor George P. Arnaiz, Dumaguete City Mayor Agustin Perdices, Sibulan Mayor Antonio D. Renacia, Lo-oc Brgy. Captain Cerefino Gravador in Sibulan and GSP Oriental Negros-Siquijor Council President Atty. Luisa Villegas.

The ceremonies will be highlighted by the lighting of the urn by City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Carmelita T. Dulangon and Dr. Ma. Milagros Velez.

Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Aleli Abne, on the other hand, will declare the opening of the encampment.
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TLDC holds training session on banana, tomato catsup and dish sauces
The Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC) is offering another training course, this time on "Banana, Tomato Catsup and Dish Sauces" on Sept. 23, 2005.

According to TLDC Manager Dr. Rodrigo T. Labe, the training will include how to make banana and tomato catsups, remolad or tartar dressing, thousand island dressing and siomai sauce.

The training will start 8:00 a.m. at the TLDC Training Hall, Provincial Nursery Compound, Piapi, this city.

Registration is set at P150 per participant.

For reservations and inquiries, interested participants can call 422-9278.
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2005 Visayas Invention Contest is on

The Department of Science and Technology 7 - Technology Application Promotion Institute (DOST 7-TAPI) and the Visayas Inventors Association are pleased to announce that the CY 2005 Visayas Invention Contest is on.

The contest has five different categories namely: Outstanding Invention (Tuklas Award), Outstanding Utility Model, Outstanding Industrial Design, Outstanding Creative Research (Likha Award) and the Outstanding Student Creative Research (Sibol Award).

The Visayas Invention Contest is part of this year's Visayas Island Invention Exhibit (Fair) Festival that will be held from October 21-23, 2005 at SM City Cebu, Atrium BC, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City.

The contest is a pre-qualifying phase, as winners will compete in the National Invention Contest in Manila during the celebration of the Inventors Week from November 17-21, 2005 at the Philippine Trade and Training Center.

Forms for the Visayas Invention Contest on the different categories and the rules and criteria are available at DOST-7 Regional Office. These contest papers may also be downloaded at (http//:www.ro7.dost.gov.ph) or reproduced as needed.

Deadline for duly accomplished entry forms and other requirements must be submitted to the DOST-7 on or before October 7, 2005. For further details and other information, please call DOST-7 and look for Sam or Bebe at tel. nos. 232-8632 or 232-8634. (PIA-7)
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DOH keeps tight dengue watch
LGUs pool efforts to combat the disease

Health authorities and medical personnel in Siquijor are, up to now, implementing tough measures against dengue as cases still continue to soar.

The virus that has killed lives has also been the focus of the different local government units in the province for it to put into a halt.

Massive information drives and clean-ups, school-to-school campaigns and purchasing of medicines and larvicides through calamity funds and medical allowances were done by the different towns headed by the local chief executives.

In Larena, having the most number of cases and with three deaths reported, an epidemiological and entomological investigation to barangays hard hit with the disease was done while a resource person from Dumagute City is, on the other hand, invited to talk on dengue this month of September.

Siquijor town which comes close second by number of cases has meanwhile sought IPHO's technical assistance in the impregnation of mosquito nests and curtains to the different schools.

The activity has been made available to teachers, school children and to the different communities. Fogging machine and chemicals were procured for fogging activities.

In light to these continuous efforts, the Provincial Government through Governor Orlando Fua has released funds to purchase larvicides such as Resigen for impregnation and Abate for treating swamps, ponds, lakes and any breeding places of mosquitoes. Also it purchased medicines, fluids and laboratory supplies for platelet and hematocrit counts.

The IPHO, on the other hand, provides technical assistance to the different LGUs in impregnation activities, information drives and fogging activities.
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Larena is green banner awardee
The local government unit of Larena is one of the recipients of the 2004 Municipal Nutrition Green Banner Award.

The award was given during the 2005 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony at the Casino Espanol de Cebu, Cebu recently. Mayor Gold Calibo and Mr. George Arcaya, Nutrition Action Officer attended the ceremony.

In Region 7, there are only three winners of the 2004 Green Banner Award namely: Larena in Siquijor Province and Trinidad in Bohol as Provincial Winners while Pamplona in Negros Orinetal as Regional Winner.

The evaluation was anchored on the performance implementation of nutrition program/projects including budget; monthly monitoring of weights of pre-school children by barangay Nutrition Scholars and then presence of Municipal Plan of Action for Nutrition.

In 2004, total malnourished pre-school totaled 223 with 48 being rehabilitated.

As of June 30, 2005 the Municipal Nutrition Council has identified 173 malnourished children has rehabilitated 14. These malnourished children were given supplemental dry feeding (milk) and their parents were distributed vegetable seeds for backyard gardening.

Meanwhile, in observance of the Municipal Nutrition Month, the municipality of Larena Nutrition Council has conducted information campaign to 23 barangays. It culminated its Nutrition Month celebration in Bintangan on July 27.

The activities highlighting the celebration were: physical examination of malnourished children in Basac, Bintangan, Calunasan and Canlasog conducted by Dr. Susan Jojie O. Villa and distribution of Certificate of Appreciation to parents of 14 rehabilitated children coming from barangays Nonoc., Basac, Canlasog, Canlambo, South Poblacion, North Poblacion, Cang-apa and Catamboan.

Dental examination was, on the other hand, done to all preschoolers in the municipality.
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