Information is our business. INFOBYTES THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY-7 | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH VOL. 1 | NO. 4 | SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 TOPSTORIES NEGROS ORIENTAL P-Noy opens P265-M ‘Mercado de Bais’ in Negros Oriental Pres. Aquino with Bais City Mayor Karen Villanueva (right) after the unveiling of the marker in front of the P265-M Public Market in Bais City, Negros Oriental. (PHOTO BY PIA/HAZEL GLORIA) BY JENNIFER Catan-Tilos marker in front of the market building “This market, a center of with assistance from Bais City Mayor commerce in the city, provides positive DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) -- Karen Villanueva and witnessed by business to all farmers, traders and President Benigno S. Aquino III today the city and municipal mayors in producers,” the chief executive said. led the inauguration of the mall-like Negros Oriental along with some President Aquino also described P265 million public market in Poblacion other national and local officials. the market as “one of the biggest new I, Bais City, Negros Oriental. President Aquino appreciated public market in the country designed The President arrived in Bais the unique structure of the two-storey to boost the city’s farm productivity City on Sept. 8, 2011 with Agriculture multi-million market building. It and economy.” Secretary Proceso Alcala, Trade has an elevator and contains a cold The development of the Secretary Gregory Domingo, Interior storage facility with ice maker and market is in line with the national and Local Government Secretary Jesse underground sewerage treatment at government’s program to spur Robredo, Transportation Secretary the ground floor, while at the second trading and economic activities in Mar Roxas, and Felipe Remollo of floor there are function, dining and the neighboring towns in Manjuyod, Clark Development Authority. transient rooms, and child minding Mabinay, and Pamplona, said Aquino. He proceeded to unveil the area. (PIA NegOr/JCT) INFOBYTESTOPSTORIES BOHOL Bohol has 67% lower crime rate compared to 2010 BY REY AnthonY CHIU Police presentations showed that since April peaking in June at 50 theft at 570 cases, constitutes 46% of all incidents. TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept 4 crimes recorded for the period. Robberies in July slid down to (PIA) -- Bohol enjoys a 67 percent “The upward trend in the crime 37 cases, police records show. decrease in crime incidence, a success volume for the months of April to For the month of July, local police authorities quickly attribute July, particularly on theft incidents Alburquerque, Mabini and San Isidro to the strong support communities gave can be prevented through the help of posted a perfect slate for crime solution for the local police. the citizens,” Bohol police authorities efficiency while the whole of Bohol During his report to the Provincial through PSSupt Barot bared. police only recorded some 47%. Peace and Order Council in its regular Following theft is robbery, San Isidro Police Station meeting Friday in Guindulman, Bohol which pegs at 25% OR 305 cases. recorded 2 cases and solved them both, Police chief said while the decrease in Police authorities however have Alburquerque solved all of their 9 cases crimes can be attributed the police anti- successful pulled down the incidents while Mabini solved all 16 of their cases crime drives, but much of the credit in July from an increasing trend recorded. (30) should be given to the people for their unwavering support for the local police. Citing crime incidents in Bohol totaling 2,320 from January to July in 2010, PSSupt Constantino Barot pointed out through a power-point presentation the notable decrease for the same period this year at 1564 cases for index and non index crimes. In his bar graph presentation, Barot showed that in all months in 2011, crimes were lower compared to all the months in 2010. Police noted 607 cases of non index crimes in 2010 as compared to 317 in 2011. The decrease is pegged at 52.24% For index crimes, the Bohol Chief who hails from Negros but has a stint in Bohol way back in the early 90’s said they noted 1713 cases on index crimes in 2010 over 1247 in 2011. The decrease shows some 72.79%. Most alarming among the cases noted for the period is theft, which HEAT IS ON. Drug suspect Victor Navarro has been slipping through police dragnets for drug possession until Sept. 2 when he was cuffed after a buy-bust operation showed a consistent increase in incidence during a Health Education, Agriculture and tourism caravan in his town. (PIA-Bohol) since April of this year to present. SIQUIJOR DOST invites local companies to innovation event BY RIZALIE A. CALIBO technological content and market celebration of the Filippinovation. A viability and high potential socio- cash award of P100,000 each awaits SIQUIJOR, September 7 (PIA) -- economic impact. awardees. The local office of the Department It promotes and recognizes Interested persons are invited to of Science and Technology (DOST) start-up companies’ local innovative submit directly to the DOST regional invites local start-up in the province technology development in the fields of office, the following documents: logo, to join the 2nd Filipinnovation Award biotechnology, electronics, information product/services offered, date started, and get the chance to win P100,000 and communication technology, sales from the last three semesters, cash in each of the five categories. material science/engineering, business plan, and contact details. DOST provincial director nanotechnology, and robotics/ For more details please see or Engr. Mario de la Pena said the mechatronics, or a combination of call Mario de la Pena at DOS-Siquijor Filipinnovation Award is given to these fields. office, tel. no. 344-2008 or 480-9018. Filipino start-up companies operating Awarding will be on November (PIA-Siqujor/mbcn/rac) for less than three years with exemplary 25, 2011 during the 4th year anniversary INFOBYTESCOMMUNITYNEWS CEBU Possible oil source in Cebu town discovered BY AMOR SALUdar CEBU CITY, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Energy (DOE) has discovered a possible oil source in the mountain barangay of Alegria, southern Cebu as drilling operation is expected to start next year. Energy Assistant Secretary Ramon Allan Oca said that after the successful oil exploration done by the DOE team in the area, it was found to be an oil source that can be used as motor oil. It is reported that as of this time, the DOE surveying team that started its exploration a few months ago continues to observe and test the said area to ensure that the oil source is usable. Oca said in case the area yields positive with oil, then the Municipality of Alegria is privileged as this signals a rise in their local economy attracting business investments that can lead to more job opportunities for its residents The impact of having a positive oil source will not only benefit Alegria but the whole province of Cebu as well and the entire country, the DOE official said. Oca said with this development, two power plants are expected to rise in the LECTURE. DSWD-7 Regional Information Officer, Jaybee Binghay (left) province -- the 1.5 megawatt power plant in shares her expertise and knowledge on “Basic Photojournalism” to AGIO-7 Libertad, Bogo City and the oil station in members during the association’s monthly general assembly meeting held at the DENR-7 Training Center, Banilad, Mandaue City.(pia7/hfg) Alegria. (PIA- CEBU) NEGROS ORIENTAL Negrense to lead Asian youth program BY RACHELLE M. NESSIA Adolf Aguilar has been selected emerging youth leaders in Asia to lead the group of 29 total youth sponsored by the Government of DUMAGUETE CITY, Sept. 5 (PIA) ambassadors from the Philippines Japan. -- The National Youth Commission onboard the cruise liner MS Fuji Maru More than 300 young delegates has picked a Negrense as the National from October 26 to December 16. from Japan and the ten ASEAN member Leader during the 38th Ship for Aguilar is a Bachelor of Science states are expected to participate Southeast Asian Youth Program in Education major in Social Studies in this program to promote and (SSEAYP) that will take 29 young and Southeast Asian Studies graduate strengthen friendship and cultural Filipino leaders on a cruise around of Silliman University, Dumaguete understanding. Asia. City. He currently works as the For fifty-two days, the delegates division information communication visit six ports of call, namely: Adolf Aguilar technology coordinator at the Philippines (Manila), Brunei Department of Education (DepEd) Darussalam (Muara), Indonesia provincial office. (Jakarta), Malaysia (Port Klang) , Aside from Aguilar, another Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh) and Japan Negrense youth, Regina Clarina (Tokyo). Elmaco, have also made the cut of During ports of call, the delegates SSEAYP youth participants. will interact with the local youths and Elmaco is a Bachelor of Science in will be on a homestay program and Education and a Student Government pay courtesy visits on dignitaries and officer in St. Paul University of institutional visits in order to learn Dumaguete (SPUD). more about other Southeast Asian SSEAYP is a diplomatic and cultures and traditions. (RMN/PIA cultural exchange program among Negros Oriental) INFOBYTESCOMMUNITYSTORIES CEBU Positive business confidence could fast track economic growth momentum BY Minerva NEWMAN factors for their more buoyant outlook: suggest that the challenges posed by the that there are expectations of more recent US credit rating downgrade and CENTRAL VISAYAS, Sept. 3 (PIA) robust demand and implementation by sovereign debt crisis issues in some -- The improved business confidence of government projects, including parts of Europe could be countered by at 34.1 percent in the 3rd quarter of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) stronger domestic demand, higher fiscal 2011 indicates that more businesses are program.