Measles cases in NegOcc still ‘manageable’: PHO

BACOLOD CITY — Measles cases in Negros Occidental are still manageable amid the reported outbreak of the infectious disease in Western Visayas, an official of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said Friday, February 8.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the provincial government has strengthened its immunization program to address the cases, which significantly increased in the past year.

“We have positive cases. Our measles cases increased, not only in Bacolod City, not only in Negros Occidental but all the Visayas areas,” he said in a radio interview.

In 2018, measles cases in Negros Occidental rose to 103, or by 3,333 percent, from only three in 2017.

Tumimbang said the PHO continues to conduct a supplemental immunization activity.

“We hold door-to-door immunization. We don’t just wait for our clients in the rural health unit or barangay health station. We locate those children who have not been immunized to cover the 95 percent target,” he added.

On Thursday, the Department of Health’s Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) 6 (Western Visayas) reported 166 suspected measles cases with three deaths from January 1 to 26 this year.

Dr. Mary Jane Juanico, medical coordinator for child health program of DOH-CHD 6, said that in the previous year, the CHD-6 has recorded 245 confirmed measles cases from out of the 1,052 suspected cases in Western Visayas. Four suspected deaths are all waiting to be confirmed.

Of the 245 confirmed cases, 94 were from Negros Occidental and 63 from Bacolod City and 32 from Iloilo province.
Juanico noted the low turnout of the measles immunization coverage for children less than a year old.

Partial report of CHD-6’s immunization coverage showed that only 61 percent of babies, who were supposed to have their first dose at nine months old, had been vaccinated.

In terms of all immunizations for babies less than a year old, the CHD also achieved a 61 percent rate. Both turnouts are lower compared to the 67 percent coverage in 2017. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061393

NegOcc dog owners organized to aid anti-rabies campaign

BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) in Negros Occidental has organized dog owners to assist its initiatives to bring down rabies cases in the province.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said Thursday that in organizing a dog owners club, their main goal is to strengthen responsible pet ownership and create more awareness of the anti-rabies campaign.

“The organization of dog owners club is a province-wide initiative. Through the organization, educating the members, as well as the community about responsible pet ownership, would be easier,” he said.

Members of Hinigaran Dog Owners Club with personnel of the
Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinary Office District Field Unit V led by veterinarian Ma. Regina Gawan during their recent meeting.
Photo courtesy of PVO-Negros Occidental

Decena noted there is already a dog owners club in each of the six congressional districts of the province, but not in all local government units.

In the 5th District, the Hinigaran Dog Owners Club held an organizational meeting at the PVO District Field Office in the town recently.

The activity was led by district veterinarian Ma. Regina Gawan in coordination with the municipal agriculture office of Hinigaran, in line with the 2019 Rabies Control Action Plan formulated by the PVO’s Animal Health Division.

Gawan said the participants were reminded of responsible pet ownership and the government’s rabies control and prevention program.

Owning a dog requires time and commitment in taking good care of the animals, and aside from provision of shelter, food and obedience training, dogs should also be given regular vaccination to protect them from diseases, she added.

Records of the PVO showed that in 2018, canine rabies cases in Negros Occidental increased by 50 percent, totaling 33 from only 22 in 2017. There were seven human deaths in the past year.

The PVO has stepped up its efforts to reduce, if not eliminate rabies, with the implementation of the Rabies Control Action Plan for 2019, which includes the formulation of a risk-based map for rabies vaccination based on the occurrence of recorded rabies cases. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061371

Palace declares special non-working days in 2 NegOcc cities

BACOLOD CITY — The Office of the President has declared special non-working days in two cities of Negros Occidental celebrating their respective charter anniversaries this February.

In Talisay City, it will be a holiday on February 11, which marks the northern Negros city’s 21st Charter Anniversary as stated in Proclamation No. 661 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on February 6.

On February 19, it will also be a non-working day in Bago City in commemoration of its 53rd Charter Anniversary, based on Proclamation No. 668 signed also by Medialdea on February 7 upon the authority of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Talisay and of the City of Bago be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies,” the proclamations stated.

Talisay City, under Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III and Vice Mayor Samuel Siote, is commemorating its founding anniversary together with the 21st Pasidungog Festival on February 7 to 11 with the theme, “Maghiliusa Talisaynon, Asenso Padayunon”.

Bago City, headed by Mayor Nicholas Yulo and Vice Mayor Ramon Torres, is celebrating its 53rd Charter Anniversary and 22nd Babaylan Festival from February 11 to 19 under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Development”.

Among the highlights are the Search for Diwata sang Bago 2019 on February 17; 12th Gawad Bagonhon Awarding Ceremony on February 18; and the 53rd Charter Anniversary Parade, Babaylan Forum, Farmers’ Day and Karabag-O Festival, and Babaylan Street and Stage Dance Competition on February 19.

Last December, the Office of the President released copies of laws signed by the President on November 9 declaring non-working holidays in several areas in the country, including two other cities in Negros Occidental.

Republic Act Nos. 11134 and 11146 declare a special non-working holiday in Sagay City on June 11 and in Bacolod City on June 18 in commemoration of their founding anniversary and charter day, respectively. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061365

20 Yolanda-hit families in north Negros get houses thru TESDA

BACOLOD CITY — About 20 families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in two local government units of northern Negros Occidental have received houses under the initiative of the Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA).

TESDA-Negros Occidental said in a statement on Wednesday, February 6 they partnered with the city government of Cadiz and the municipality of Manapla for the implementation of the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Program Training Cum Production.

TESDA-Western Visayas and Negros Occidental personnel led by Regional Director Ashary Banto with city officials of Cadiz and beneficiaries during the recent turn-over of the housing project in Barangay Daga.
*Photo courtesy of TESDA-Negros Occidental*

As of the first week of February, 10 families in Cadiz City received five duplex-type shelters located in Barangay Daga while in Manapla, the same number of beneficiaries were also awarded five duplex housing units in Gawad Kalinga Village, Barangay Punta Mesa.

The recipient-families have already occupied their new and permanent shelters.

Through the program, TESDA pushes for sustainable development among Yolanda-affected communities through provision of livelihood and skills training opportunities.

In 2013, after “Yolanda” hit the Visayas, TESDA participated in relief efforts and also helped in rebuilding structures that were destroyed by the typhoon. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061283

Land Bank taps NegOcc Vet Office as partner for financing program

BACOLOD CITY — The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) is partnering with Negros Occidental’s Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) for the implementation of a financing program for backyard animal raisers.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said Wednesday their office is the bank’s partner, specifically in the evaluation and implementation of the program in the province.

“The evaluation will start this week and will focus on the capability of the raisers to produce, as well as pay the acquired loan,” he said.

Dr. Renante Decena (2^nd from right), provincial veterinarian of Negros Occidental, and LBP-Bacolod assistant vice president Vivian Cañonero (4^th from left) during their meeting at the Provincial Veterinary Office in Bacolod City on Monday (Feb.4, 2019).
*Photo courtesy of PVO-Negros Occidental*

Decena, who met with officials of LBP-Bacolod led by assistant vice president Vivian Cañonero on Monday, said the initiative is under the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) lending program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), coursed through the state-owned bank.

The program was initially intended for commercial farming, but eventually expanded to small-scale rice and other crop production, as well as livestock.

Through the program, the LBP will provide financial assistance to qualified raisers subject to a certain interest rate.
Decena said the PVO is pushing for the provision of financing support, particularly to animal raisers with production gaps, such as those for layers and goat in southern Negros.

He noted that the lack of financing is one of the reasons some raisers failed to sustain their production. The LBP is amenable to such proposal, he said.

“Aside from the production aspect, financing would also help raisers in terms of marketing,” Decena said, noting that most of the raisers being assisted by the PVO are also clients of the bank.

According to the DA, the ACEF lending program aims to increase productivity of farmers and fisherfolk by providing them and their cooperatives and associations and micro and small-scale enterprises the necessary credit for the acquisition and establishment of production, post-harvest, and processing machinery, equipment and facilities, and farm inputs, among others.

A maximum of PHP5 million can be availed of by farmer and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations, and MSEs and PHP1 million by individual farmer and fisher.

The LBP shall manage the credit facility funded and shall determine the eligibility requirements and set the required loan security or collateral and reasonable interest for the loan, it added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061149

NegOcc state college poised to become university soon

BACOLOD CITY — The Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) in Negros Occidental is expected to become a university soon after the Senate approved on third and final reading the bill for its status conversion.

House Bill 8732 seeks to convert the CHMSC, with a main campus in Talisay City and satellite campuses in Bacolod City and Binalbagan town, into a state university.

Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, one of the main authors of the bill, said on Wednesday that after the Senate’s approval on Monday, the proposed law will be forwarded to the Office of the President for the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) main campus in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
*Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver*

Gasataya added that once it will obtain a university status, the CHMSC will be able to establish more facilities and offer additional academic programs.

Among the co-authors of the House Bill 8732 are (3rd District) Rep. Alfredo Benitez and (5th District) Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, whose jurisdictions include Talisay City and Binalbagan town, respectively.

CHMSC has almost 10,000 students in its four campuses, including the main college in Talisay City in northern Negros as well as the two in Bacolod City situated in Alijis and Fortune Towne, and another in Binalbagan in southern Negros.

Dr. Renato Sorolla, president of CHMSC, said in an interview last week he is optimistic that they will obtain the university status within the year.

“We are nearer to the goal. We still need to submit more documents to comply with the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education,” he said.

Sorolla said that becoming a state university is not just an aspiration for the CHMSC, but also an opportunity for them to become more responsive to the community that it serves and uplift the quality of services they deliver as an educational institution.

“It will change the budget because the emphasis of the university is more on the generation of new knowledge. With that, we will invest much on the improvement of our research facilities,” he added.

Currently, CHMSC offers academic programs under the College of Education, College of Industrial Technology, and School of Arts and Sciences (all in Talisay City), College of Business Management and Accountancy (Fortune Towne), Institute of Information Technology (Alijis), and College of Fisheries and Criminology (Binalbagan). (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061137

Workers’ groups launch manifesto vs. sugar import liberalization

BACOLOD CITY — Three labor groups launched a manifesto expressing their opposition to the liberalization of sugar imports, a proposal that has been met with protests by sugar industry stakeholders in Negros Occidental since last month.

The position paper, titled “The Karga-Tapas Manifesto”, was signed by leaders of the General Alliance of Workers Associations (GAWA), Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union -Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (Paciwu-TUCP), and National Congress and Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) in a forum held at the Geocadin Building in this city on Monday.

Karga-Tapas is Hiligaynon for a farm worker whose job is to cut and haul sugarcane.

Wennie Sancho (2^nd from left), secretary general of General Alliance of Workers Associations, and Hernane Braza, (2^nd from right), national president of Philippine Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Workers Union-Trade Union of Congress of the Philippines, lead the signing of the “The *Karga-Tapas* Manifesto” opposing the proposal to liberalize the importation of sugar in Bacolod City on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.
*Photo by Erwin P. Nicavera*

“If this plan will materialize, it will obliterate our local industry that would result into severe economic dislocation of thousands of sugar farmers and workers. The economic disaster that would occur would be unparalleled in the history of our province,” the labor groups said in the manifesto.

Negros Occidental, considered the country’s sugar capital, produces close to 60 percent of the Philippines’ sugar output.

GAWA secretary general Wennie Sancho said the position paper is in reaction to the pronouncement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to “relax” the rules or deregulate the importation of sugar.

Sancho signed the manifesto together with Paciwu-TUCP national president Hernane Braza and NACUSIP national director Jun de la Cruz.

Both Sancho and Braza are also labor sector representatives to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – Western Visayas.

According to the labor groups, the economic managers need to consider the implications of the sugar import liberalization scheme, as it would come “at the cost of the economic well-being of the people.”

Copies of the manifesto will be furnished to Sugar Regulatory Administration chief Hermenegildo Serafica and two members of the Sugar Board, representing the planters and the millers, to be presented during the Sugar Summit in Manila on February 11.

Last week, Diokno said while the planned liberalization of sugar imports would negatively affect local producers, this would benefit a greater number of consumers.

“There are more consumers than sugar producers,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The plan to import some 200,000 metric tons of sugar seeks to address the elevated domestic inflation rate, whose upticks last year was caused by supply-side factors, such as the lack of supply of rice, meat, and several agricultural products, Diokno said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061018

NegOcc releases P15.3-M for infra projects in 27 villages

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Occidental has released PHP15.3 million worth of funds for the construction of infrastructure projects in 27 villages in four local government units.

In a provincial report released Monday, the checks have been distributed by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. to authorized barangay officials and representatives.

Among the recipients are barangays Caliban and Zone 4 in Murcia town, which were granted PHP250,000 each for the concreting of barangay road and repair, and improvement of a concrete drainage system, respectively.

Barangay Camandag in La Castellana received PHP500,000 for the renovation of barangay hall.

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. (seated, 3rd from left) with some of the recipient barangay officials and representatives who received their checks for the construction of various infrastructure projects in their respective villages on Feb. 1, 2019.
Photo courtesy of Capitol PIO

In Binalbagan town, 16 villages were provided PHP300,000 each for the implementation of various projects. The recipients are barangays Amontay, Bagroy, Bi-ao, Canmoros, Enclaro, Marina, Paglaum, Payao, Progreso, San Jose, Santol, San Teodoro, San Juan, Sto. Rosario, San Pedro and San Vicente.

Other recipients are eight villages in Sagay City, including Sewahon I, Rafaela Barrera, Puey, Malubon, Molocaboc, and Baviera, which were granted PHP1 million each for road concreting projects.

Barangay General Luna received PHP1 million for the rehabilitation of its multi-purpose building while Barangay Plaridel received PHP2.5 million for the concreting of barangay road.

Last January 3, the provincial government also turned over checks totaling PHP800,000 to barangays Payauan and Agboy in Candoni for the purchase of multi-purpose vehicles for each village.

In the first week of December, Candoni town was also given checks for a total of PHP2 million for various projects in its six barangays.

On December 18, a total of 13 villages in Isabela received PHP4.3 million in financial assistance from the provincial government for various projects.

The beneficiaries were Barangay 7 Poblacion, Barangay 8 Poblacion, Amin, Banogbanog, Cabcab, Cansalongon, Guintubhan, Limalima, Makilignit, Maytubig, Riverside, Sebucawan, and San Agustin.

The financial assistance were used for projects, such as the repair and improvement of water systems, hog dispersal, repair and improvement of water hand pump, agricultural inputs and purchase of farm equipment, and flood control. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061033

Negros Occidental to pursue sorghum production

BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government of Negros Occidental is embarking on the production of sorghum this year, mainly as an alternative crop for silage and feeds.

Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino bared the plan on Sunday after he and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. met with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in North Cotabato over the weekend.

Piñol has pushed for the production of sorghum in Negros Occidental when he toured the provincial officials at the sorghum model farm in Makilala town.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol (3rd from left) tours Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. (2nd from left) and Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino (left) at the sorghum model farm in Makilala, North Cotabato on Saturday.
*Contributed photo*

Masculino said the agriculture chief told them that sorghum is a crop worth considering for two major benefits — income for the farmers from feeds and source of silage for livestock.

“Secretary Piñol assured that market is available for sorghum and he will provide Negros Occidental with hybrid seeds,” he said.

Masculino added that sorghum is promising as a feed ingredient and its production is very suitable for the province.

Sorghum, which can be rationed (to sprout or spring up from the root) three times in a year, is considered a versatile crop that can be grown as a grain, forage or sweet crop.

In Negros Occidental, there are some sorghum plantations producing the crop, primarily as sources of raw materials for bioethanol production.

Masculino said the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist will start the initiative on sorghum production this year.

“We have to set up a model farm at the earliest,” he added.

With the huge demand from the local livestock industry, the provincial government will venture into sorghum production – mainly for feeds and silage since Negros Occidental lacks feed ingredients which can be an alternative to corn.

Masculino said the provincial government is eyeing a 10-hectare portion of the Capitol-owned property at Paglaum Village in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City as a model farm.

“It will be a province-led production initiative for the meantime. In terms of market, we can eventually tap our local feed producers,” he added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060911

NegOcc gets DA, DAR support amid sugar industry woes

BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) 6 (Western Visayas) has supported the bid of the Negros Occidental provincial government to diversify its agriculture sector to cushion the effects of the proposed sugar import liberalization and other industry woes.

DA-6 Director Remelyn Recoter, during the Negros First Transformative Agriculture Summit on Thursday, said their agency can assist in the implementation of a potential conversion through the provision of both soft and hard support.

Recoter said soft support includes seeds, planting materials, training and research, while hard support covers irrigation, farm mechanization, farm-to-market roads, and other farm infrastructure.

The Province of Negros Occidental conducted the Negros First Transformative Agriculture Summit in Talisay City on Thursday (Jan. 31, 2019) to craft a five-year agriculture development plan amid the woes faced by the sugar industry.
*Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Capitol PIO*

“These are the areas where we can work on,” she added.

Diversification is one of the main components of the five-year agriculture development plan crafted during the summit held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.

The province plans to reduce by 30,000 hectares its total land area of about 189,000 hectares devoted to sugarcane, and diversify into other crops, such as yellow corn, rice, high-value crops (HVC), and tropical fruits.

Former governor Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant on investment promotions, export, and trade development, said the biggest area for diversification is intended for yellow corn at 15,000 hectares.

Yellow corn is needed for livestock and poultry sector of the province.

The remaining 15,000 hectares will be equally converted to rice, HVC with integrated poultry and livestock, and tropical fruits or 5,000 hectares for each crop.

Coscoluella said the conversion area of 30,000 hectares is just a target, and the provincial government can still be ambitious if there is a potential for other crops.

“Ultimately, the deciding factor is profitability so we will go where there is higher profit,” he said, adding that the major challenge is how to encourage planters and farmers to diversify.

Recoter said that diversification would not mean “forgetting” the sugar industry, considered as the lifeblood of the province, which is the country’s top sugar producer.

She said Negros Occidental will still be a sugar-producing province.

Western Visayas, mostly Negros Occidental, contributes 55 percent to the Philippines’ PHP96-billion sugar industry.

The DA official also said the Sugar Regulatory Administration has programs on increasing the yield despite the reduction of areas devoted to sugarcane.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-6 is also banking on the diversification plan to prepare the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) on the possible adverse effects of the proposed sugar import liberalization.

DAR-6 Regional Director Stephen Leonidas said on the sidelines of the summit that under their agency’s effort alone, there are about 100 hectares of agrarian areas in the province utilized for organic farming, vegetable, rice and corn farming, and livestock growing.

Leonidas said the ARBs are gradually shifting to other crops so they will not be adversely affected.

“We are preparing for that whatever effects, negative or positive, to our ARBs,” he said.

Negros Occidental has larger ARB-covered areas compared to other provinces in the country.

Leonidas said the sugar import deregulation would impact both big planters and small farmers, including ARBs.

An open-market importation would result in competition among local and foreign products, he added.

“Given the lower price of local sugar, it would be difficult for ARBs to compete as they are not yet ready,” the DAR official said.

In Negros Occidental, the average area for ARBs is one to 1.5 hectares per farmer. There are about 74,000 ARBs in the southern part of the province alone. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060734