BIR-Southern Leyte has a new RDO head by: Bong Pedalino The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Dis- trict Office No. 90 in this province will have a new head. "By virtue of Revenue Travel Assignment Order of Com. Kim Jacinto Henares I will be transferred to RDO Number 12 in Lagawe, If- September 16-30, 2013 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. I, No. 6 ugao. The new RDO who will take my place is Gil Tabanda from RDO number 72, Roxas City, Iloilo," Alexander Laroza, Revenue Dis- SL sustains filariasis-free status trict Officer of the provincial BIR office, said. by: Rebecca S. Cadavos Asked when the transfer would take place, Almost 700 individuals aged two-years-old and above were exam- February of 2009 and was Laroza replied that by September 27 he is ined for Filariasis in the border municipality of San Ricardo, the exit able to sustain the status up expected to be there in his new assignment. municipality in Southern Leyte leading to Mindanao Island. to the present. Continuous During the recent cable TV Kapihan sa surveillance among municipal- Technical Department Medical from the PHSO-Technical De- PIA, Laroza already hinted at his impending ity-boundaries was conducted Technologist Erwin Malazarte from partment and one each from to achieve the target. (to page 4) the Provincial Health Services Office the rural health units of San Ri- said the surveillance activity held Sep- cardo and Liloan conducted the tember 9-13 was conducted from 7 surveillance activity, Malazarte p.m. to 2 a.m. at the border barangays said. They are Yuladia Pan- of San Ricardo such as Saob, Bitoon gilinan, Eunice Aida Batalon and and San Ramon. Malazarte from the PHSO and “It is during these hours that micro-fi- Lydia Soson and Fe Ocon from laria known as Wuchereria Bancrofti is the RHU of San Ricardo and seen,” Malazarte said. Liloan, respectively. “Although a fourth barangay, The surveillance activity aims Pinut-an, still in San Ricardo, was to sustain the status of South- also examined because of one ern Leyte as a Filariasis-free FILARIASIS TESTING: Medical Technologists literally burn the positive result last May 2013 mon- province. midnight oil in testing700 residents of San Ricardo for the filarial itoring, but was already treated Southern Leyte was the first virus that turned out negative, thus maintaining the province’s and all those tested from the four province in the country de- record as the first in the country declared by the Department of barangays showed a 100 percent clared as Filariasis-free since Health (DOH) as filariasis-free since 2008. negative result,” he added. Three medical technologists PSC official explains difference of Palaro, For 2012 Batang Pinoy Games SL ranks lowest malnutri- by: Bong Pedalino The Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission tion rate in Region 8 (PSC) used the opening rites of the Visayas-wide sports by: Erna Sy Gorne event in Maasin City, Sept. 24, to enlighten the people on the The local government unit distinguishing features between the Palarong Pambansa and of Southern Leyte ranks the Batang Pinoy games. lowest malnutrition incidence in the region with the rate of "Palarong Pambansa caters to in-school sports of elemen- 7.11% of the total population tary and high school, ages 10-12 and 16-18, respectively. How of preschool children weighed about the ages in-between?. This is being taken care of by the while the Department of Batang Pinoy sports," said PSC Com. Atty. Jose Luis "Jolly" Education – Southern Leyte PSC IN MAASIN: Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Gomez, the keynote speaker during the opening ceremonies Schools Division got 4.6% mal- Commissioner Atty. Jose “Jolly” Gomez stresses a point of the Batang Pinoy tourney at the city gym. nutrition rate of all the school- in his speech during the opening rites of the Batang Pi- Palaro has been under the Department of Education children in the province. noy in Maasin. Seated in the lead table upstage while (DepEd) and players are mostly students enrolled in schools, According to Assistant Pro- listening him speak are, from left, Romeo Maga, repre- vincial Nutrition Action sentative of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), while Batang Pinoy, also known as Philippine Youth Games, (to page 4) City Mayor Maloney Samaco, and Gov. Roger Mercado. (to page 4) Vol. I, No.6 Nurses, midwives trained for NEWS ROUND-UP Family Planning Info and Services by: Rebecca G. Cadavos DPWH intensifies national The Maternal and Newborn Child services at health facilities roads recovery Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) throughout the province, The Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern program in coordination with the Generan, who was one of the Leyte Engineering District (DPWH-SLED) intensified the Department of Health (DOH) speakers, said. recovery of national roads as encroachments have already and the local government units Topics discussed during the reached to the point threatening the safe mobility of the rid- in Southern Leyte conducted a said activity include the fol- ing public. District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia directed “Competency-Based Family Plan- lowing: The Philippine Family the maintenance section to conduct general inventory of all ning Training – Level 1,” Septem- Planning Program; Human encroachments and, if necessary, file legal charges against vi- ber 16-20, 2013. Reproductive Anatomy and olators. (ESG) There are at least 30 Rural Physiology; FP Client As- Health Midwives from the Rural sessment; Infection Preven- DepEd partners support K to 12 Health Stations throughout the tion in FP Services; Fertility province and four Public Health Awareness-Based Methods; The Department of Education (DepEd)-Maasin City Schools Nurses participated in the activi- Hormonal Contraceptive Division gathered the leaders of the local business and indus- ty held at the Supercha 2 Restau- Methods; The Male Condom; try sector as partners of the K to 12 Basic Education program rant here, Provincial Supervising Long-term and Permanent during the Division Education Congress September 23. The Midwife Victoria Generan said. Methods; FP for Special Pop- public and private stakeholders committed to support the The 5-day training aims to ulations and the Counseling for new curriculum, especially in the immersion of Senior High ensure the availability of Fam- Family Planning and action School On-the-Job-Training (OJT) students in their establish- ily Planning information and ments for the full implementation in 2016. (ESG) (see page 4) 1st BJMP friendship games by: Rebecca G. Cadavos The Bureau of Jail Man- basketball and volleyball agement and Penology is in connection with the (BJMP) through the Maasin National Correctional City Jail (MCJ) slated the 1st Consciousness (NACO- ever Friendship Games to CO) Week set on October be played between the MCJ 21-27, 2013. CAPDEV Seminar in Cebu:Gov. Roger G. Mercado and oth- personnel and its inmates "This friendship games er officials in a brainstorming session during the 3-day Capa- and the Southern Leyte Pro- would foster camarade- bility Development (CAPDEV) Seminar for provincial heads of vincial Jail personnel along rie, humane treatment to offices and elected officials held in Cebu which was facilitated with their inmates starting on respective inmates and by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). September 30. bring awareness that BJMP Maasin City Jail correction is everybody's DILG BATS FOR LGU SUPPORT Wardress Senior Inspector concern, concrete man- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Arlene T. Barraca said that ifestation of hope for the of Southern Leyte encourages local government officials, the activity will be held at inmates, the community elected and appointed, to exert more efforts to achieve re- the Southern Leyte Provin- as well, and the nation as sults in good governance practices to deserve DILG incen- cial Jail grounds. It carries a whole," Barraca stated. tives and awards for excellent performance. the theme, "Panagtagbo, She added that "positive Local government cluster head Fe Thelma D. Cruz led the Panaghimamat, Panaghiga- relationships, reactions, panel of resource persons from DILG-Southern Leyte to dis- laay, Pinaagi sa Paugnat sa reinforcement and rejoic- cuss their programs thrusts and priorities during the recent week’s “Action Center television program” at the OSCA me- Kausog," Barraca said. ing would result to fruitful- dia center in Barangay Tagnipa, Maasin City, aired live on She said that the friend- ness, and this is what we DYSL Sogod radio. ship game which includes are aiming to achieve." Page 2 (see page 4) Page 2 September 16-30, 2013 Vol. I, No.6 Maasin hosts "Batang Pinoy" Visayas leg sportsfest by: Bong Pedalino Maasin city formally opened but he accepted it as a challenge its doors to visiting players inasmuch as one of his key coming from about three doz- agenda focused on putting the en local government units in city in the map for sports excel- the entire Visayas who saw ac- lence. tion in 21 sports events for the He also said the games of- qualifying rounds of the Philip- fered an opportunity to pro- pine Youth Games, the Batang mote the city through sports Pinoy Visayas leg. tourism. "You can visit our city City Mayor Maloney Sama- zoo and our many pilgrimage co declared open the five-day sites," Samaco said, addressing sports hostilities Tuesday, Sep- the visiting contingents. tember 24, at the crowded city Gov. Roger Mercado, for gym to the wild cheers of over his part, said he was grateful to 1,000 athletes from the three the Philippine Sports Commis- Visayas regions, in fitting open- sion (PSC) and the Philippine ing ceremonies spruced with Olympic Committee (POC) for surprising fireworks. choosing the province and the were Romeo Maga, POC representative and Atty. Jose Luis Gomez, PSC In his welcome message, city as the venue of the Visayas Commissioner. Samaco said he was only in- round of the national sportsfest. A colourful rendition of a local, cultural show called "Ajonay festival" formed of the city's hosting Among the guests who performed by students of Maasin City College capped the dazzling open- right after this year's elections, graced the opening ceremonies ing rites. (Photographs by: Rheden Grullo - City Tourism Office) Cebu City rules Batang Pinoy Visayas leg in Maasin by: Bong Pedalino The city local government unit of Cebu dominated the obtained from the Batang Pinoy secretariat. race for the most number of medals won in gold, silver, Closely following for a third spot in terms of and bronze, to grab a convincing victory in the Batang gold hauled was Iloilo City with 18 gold, 5 silver, Pinoy sports competition- Visayas qualifying rounds 3 bronze, or a total of 26 medals, and fourth was held in Maasin CitySeptember 24-28. neighboring Bacolod City for 11 gold, 5 silver, 7 The queen city of the south went home with 72 gold bronze, or 23 medals in all. medals, 52 silver, 25 bronze for a total of 149 medals in The host city, Maasin, landed in the fifth slot, most of the events contested, while coming in for a far sec- with 8 gold, 21 silver, and 32 bronze, or a total of ond place was Bohol province with 29 gold, 19 silver, 14 61 medals netted, making the city third in terms bronze or a sum of 62 medals, the tally based on records of overall medal count, just one medal shy of Bo- hol province’s 62 total medals bagged. Vying for the fifth place with Maasin City based on gold medals won were Iloilo province and the province of Leyte, with 8 gold each LGU. Iloilo province, how- ever, got off with 20 more silver and 9 bronze for a total of 37 medals -- making it 4th in overall medal standing -- while Leyte province had 8 silver and 7 bronze for a total of 23 overall, a tie with Bacolod City. As of Saturday, September 28, the last day of the sportsfest, four out of 21 sport- ing events were still scheduled to be played, such as Sipak Takraw, Dancesport, Boxing, and Badminton, but results may hardly alter the trend, if at

(see Pagepage 34) September 16-30, 2013 Page 3 Vol. I, No.6 (from page 1) SL ranks...... (from page 1) PSC Official... Officer (APNAO) Nilda Rich in a meeting conducted by the Provincial Nutrition has been handled by Committee at Maasin City Sept. 14, “the malnutrition rate in the province from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine among the 41,298 preschool children with ages ranging from 0-71 months old Olympic Committee (POC), and out-of-school players weighed in 18 municipalities of Southern Leyte got an average rate of 7.11% in who showed potentials can also be accepted, Gomez 2012.” “Out of the total preschool children, 450 of them were severely underweight said. while the 2,490 were underweight, “ she reported. Rich further reported that Both sports competition, however, are being heavily Southern Leyte got the lowest malnutrition rate for the provincial category supported by the local government units, he added. throughout the Eastern Visayas region in 2012. Another difference was that in Batang Pinoy "mas She noted that the National Nutrition Council has set the 10% malnutrition rate maraming pag-pipiliang sports" as cheerdancing and of the total weighed preschool children as benchmark for not alarming malnutri- sportsdance have been included, Gomez also said. tion incidence, while the same indicator was also observed by the DepEd SoLeyte He said the first, second, and third place winners of Schools Division as they gathered the nutritional status of the elementary children from Kindergarten to Grade VI, according to DepEd Nurse -In-Charge Teresita the games in the city represent the top three placers for Marquez. the Visayas, and they will be sent to the Batang Pinoy The DepEd-Southern Leyte Division also reported that out of 53,892 school- National Championships scheduled in Bacolod City children weighed, it was found out that 316 schoolchildren were severely wasted November 19-23 to compete with winners from Mindan- and 2,118 of them were wasted, with the overall malnutrition rate pegged at 4.6% ao and Luzon. in the SY 2013- 2014 as of July 2013, Schools Medical Officer IV Dr. Consolacion The other guest who was around to witness the Ruflo of DepEd Southern Leyte Schools Divison reported in the same meeting. launching rites was Romeo Maga, POC representative.

Cebu City rules...(from page 3) Nurses, midwives, trained...... (from page 2) all, for the top five winners. planning. Generan said that the She further said that At least 36 local government units in the Resource speakers during Philippine Family Plan- MNCHN’s goal is to im- entire Visayas composed of Regions 6, 7, and 8 the week-long activity include ning Program (PFPP) is prove financial risk pro- actively participated, and 1,306 young athletes, PHN Azucenas Garcia from an intervention to improve tection particularly among boys and girls aged 15 below, played in various Maasin City Health Unit, Gen- the health of all Filipinos the poor, ensure access to games. der Health Program Coordi- with special attention to quality health and to imple- Expectedly, the most number of players nator for Visayas Dr.Feliciano women and children. “The ment key interventions to came from the host city with 276, followed by John Matibag from USAID, PFP program relate to the achieve health-related con- the victorious Cebu City delegation, 159, and RO8-Center for Health De- reduction of Maternal and cerns, particularly that of third was the province of Southern Leyte, 106. velopment Nurse Fe Modesto Child Mortality program,” reducing maternal mortality Most of the medals won by Cebu City were and Generan herself. she said. and infant mortality. in swimming, karatedo, and athletics, while DILG Bats..... (from page 2) coordination and camaraderie between Maasin city won one gold each in wrestling, Among the DILG activities were the prov- LGU officials for efficient and effec- swimming, cheerleading, futsal, and 4 gold in ince-wide Executive Legislative Agenda tive results in local government among soft tennis, as of this writing. (ELA) and Capability Development (CAP- others. Southern Leyte province had three gold, DEV) training and orientations of newly The other DILG guests included three silver, and five bronze, all in athletics. elected and reelected local officials of the LGOO V Ma. Cristina B. Tiu who ex- EditorialStaff province, city and municipalities in South- panded on the Kasambahay Law, LGOO ern Leyte where the participants discussed V Geraldine C. Maquelabit on ELA and Bong Pedalino plans and programs for the next three years CAPDEV and LGOOV Loren A. Aneciete Editor of their new mandates. Rebecca G. Cadavos Erna Sy Gorne on performance awards and incentives Diego Credo Willy Justimbaste These would foster closer cooperation, given by DILG to LGUs. (Willy J.) Writers BIR So. Leyte... (from page 1) Aida Morsen transfer, saying how he wished he were still be Maryrose Asis here the moment the new BIR permanent “Do not spoil what you have by Vincent Ralph Dag-uman building of its own will be erected in a lot thinking on what you have not. Re- Renan Fernandez granted by the city government. member: what you now have were once Circulation In February, 2011, Laroza came to the part of the things you only hoped for.” Tereso Espere III Louie L. Sandoval province, swapping places with a native-born Photographer Video Editor Southern Leyteno, Noemi Abiera Pizon, who -Epicurus Jocelyn B. Pasaylo was assigned to Virac, Catanduanes. Greek Philosopher Layout Artist Page 4 September 16-30, 2013