The Philippine National Red Cross-Siquijor Sub Chapter through the local government units of Siquijor is working for the establishment of a "walking blood donor program" to address the need of fresh blood in Siquijor and its neighboring provinces.

PNRC-Siquijor Officer-in-charge Louella N. Bael said the program aims to identify the potential blood donors for every municipality. Its target, she said, is to have at least 350 potential donors per municipality which is equivalent to 2,100 or more donors provincewide.

The Siquijor provincial government, she said has allocated P50,000.00 as counterpart fund for the blood program.

The blood program of the Philippines operates in accordance with the provisions of the National Blood Services Act of 1994 or Republic Act 7719, in tripartite cooperation of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Blood Coordinating Council (RBCC) and the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) who are tasked to provide safe blood donation, donor retention and care and operation of a network of 72 blood service facilities all over the country.

By: Rizalie A. Calibo
PIA Siquijor

High school institutions from the municipalities of Siquijor and Larena attended the symposia conducted by the Balangay Voyage Team on November 9, 2009 at the Siquijor Capital Square and at the Queengate Center Larena, respectively.

Students from the different high schools were listening carefully amid the hot afternoon as the team share the inspirational true to life experiences of their journey in conquering Mt. Everest and of their voyage in the sea.

Various lessons were learned by the different students from the six high schools who attended the symposia.

Nove O. Macahis, a 3rd year of BIT-International College acclaimed, "I have learned that there is no impossible in dreaming…that if we want to reach our goals and dreams, we should have perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice."

Chessa C. Duhaylungsod, a 3rd year from Quezon Memorial High School said, " daghan kaayo kong nahibaw-an sa symposium karon. Especially, ang mga pahimangno nila nga kaya natong makab-ot ang atong mga pangandoy basta naay salig sa kaugalingon og hugot nga pagtoo sa Ginoo."

Likewise, Estella Fe S. Aron, of the same school also said she learned lot from this symposium, that it is all right to dream big for the future.

"Nothing is impossible. Let's not degrade ourselves. Let's believe in ourselves. We can make a difference," also says Caressa P. Antipuesto, of Siqujor Provincial High School.

Beth Eunice Orsilada, of St. Francis of Assissi High School also realizes the need to help our environment "para dili ta mapareha sa Luzon," she said.

On the other hand, April Anne Bonachita, a 4th year from Saint Vincent Academy after listening and learning from the symposium, vowed that she will try to study more so that she will have better scores and pass all her exams", while Ryan Cornelius Larot 4th year in SSC said he will try to make a difference as a Filipino citizen.

The symposium was one of the activities lined up by the Balangay Voyage Team for its visit to provinces aside from the medical mission, film showing, rescue teaching, and visitation to the tourist spots, among others.

By: Rizalie A. Calibo
PIA Siquijor

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will release a total of P665,000 assistance grant for two associations namely Kasamahan sa mga Anak sa Yuta ug Dagat (KAYUD) of the town of Enrique Villanueva and Tubod Fisherfolk Association (TFA) of San Juan town as part of DOLE's Integrated Services on Livelihood Advancement (ISLA) Project.

TFA will receive P305,000 to buy fishing and diving gears, and a pump boat which will be used for fishing and for the transportation of their catch to the market. The pump boat is also intended for renting by the local and foreign tourists to generate more income while promoting the town's tourism industry.

KAYUD association, on the other hand, will also receive P365T for the procurement of a pump boat with a fiber glass at the bottom which will be used in deep sea diving for the promotion of the eco-tourism of their municipality.

According to Ms. Maritess Tanquiamco, Provincial Extension Officer of DOLE, the ISLA Project in Siquijor like any projects from their office had already undergone the Project Management Team Deliberation. "This is a once a month activity wherein all the Provincial Heads are tasked to present and support the various projects of their corresponding areas," she said.

Through DOLE's different projects, Tanquiamco said, "mas visible na ang mga services sa atong government karon, alang sa tanan ilabi na sa mga nanginahanglan ug panginabuhi."

As of the present, she said, DOLE has established 11 projects all over Central Visayas.

These are the PRESEED (Promotion for Rural Employment through Self- Employment and Entrepreneurship Development; WEED (Women Employment and Entrepreneurship Development; TULAY (Tulong Alalay Para sa Taong may Kapansanan; NEGO-KART (Negosyo sa Kariton); TUPAD (Tulay Para sa ating mga Disadvantage Workers; Kabuhayan Starter KITS; SPES (Special Employment of Students) Program; NARS (Nurses Assigned in Rural Service) ng Bayan program; K-ITO (Kabataan Information Technology Opportunities) ; YES (Youth Entrepreneurship Support); and the ISLA.

ISLA project will be launched sometime in December this year.

By: Rizalie A. Calibo
PIA Siquijor

The Municipal Development Fund Office (MDFO)-Management Committee of the Department of Finance (DOF) recently approved the P24M proposed rehabilitation and expansion of water supply system III subproject of the municipality of Larena per Resolution No. 01-03-27-2009.

The approval stems from the study conducted by the University of San Carlos Water Resources Center Foundation, Inc. (USCWRCFI) and the Resolution passed by the Sangguniang Bayan that affirms the interest of the local government unit and authorizes Mayor Gold Calibo to apply, negotiate, and avail financing from the MDFO and undertake acts necessary to the effective implementation of the construction/improvement/rehabilitation of the potable water supply system.

The seven beneficiaries composing barangays Helen, Bontod, North and South Poblacion, Cangbagsa, Nonoc, and Sabang had also passed a resolution interposing no objection to the proposed rehabilitation of the Larena Water System into Level III.

The DOF's role under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Fund involves the appraisal of proposed sub-projects approval of the MDG-Fund loan and administration of the fund while, the DILG provides capacity building assistance covering project development of the Sub-project completion report(SPCR). The local unit is guided in the implementation of the project by the MDG-Fund procedures for the procurement, loan releases and sub-project implementation.

The Sub-project Loan Agreement was already signed by the DOF represented by MDFO Executive Director Helena B. Habulan and the Municipality of Larena.

By: Rizalie A. Calibo
PIA Siquijor

Siquijor Provincial Governor Orlando "Shane" Fua, Jr. welcomed the balangay voyage team along with the members and officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), and Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DFAR) at Siquijor pier on November 10,2009.

The Balangay Voyage Team is on board the balangay named "Diwata ng Lahi" which is made up of hardwood joined together with wooden pegs.

The team is spearheaded by Art Valdez, the former undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), with the core crew members composed of the team Everest Leo Oracion, the first Pinoy who reach the summit of Mt. Everest, Erwin "Pastour" Emata, Janet Belarmino-Sardena, Carina Dayondon, Noelle Wenceslao, Ted Esquerra, Fred Jamili, Voltaire Velasco, Lito Esparar, and Mark Lim.

Along with them are members from the Philippine Navy, namely Ronel Santelices, Michael Loyola, Peter Punongbayan and Jovito Benosa III, members from the Philippine Coast Guard Reynaldo G. Gadoy, Nelson D. Ojano and Jan Paul C. Rodriguez, and four from the Badjao group: Ibrahim A. Abdulla, Jubail Muyong, Abdul Gamar Abdulla, Sukri Jauhal and Junior Mura.

From the success of conquering the highest peak of Mt. Everest they are now sailing the seas along the Philippine coastal lines.

While in Siquijor, the team conducted a series of symposia at the Siquijor Capital Square and at the Queengate Ceter in Larena, Siquijor. High school students of St. Francis of Assissi High School, Siquijor Provincial Science High School, BIT-International School, Quezon Memorial High School in Siquijor town, and Siquijor State College High School and Saint Vincent Academy in Larena filled the venue.

The symposia were all about the inspiring true to life experiences of the Team Everest and its Glorious Victory as well as various inputs on how to be a good Filipino citizen.

In his lecture, USEC Valdez said the team's task is to retrace the migration of our ancestors across the oceans.

Aside from it, if there is enough time, he said, the team will also do medical mission, school convocation within the balangay, film showing at the plaza, rescue teaching, and visitation to the tourist spots.

The balangay team left Canoan Port early morning of November 11 heading towards another island paradise of Central Visayas, Bohol.

By: Rizalie A. Calibo
PIA Siquijor