Sunday, July 31, 2016

Operation vs. mayor’s aids yields drugs, firearms in Leyte

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, July 30 (PNA) –- The joint operation between the local police and Regional Public Safety Batallion yielded an approximately Php1.9 million worth of suspected drugs, firearms, and five suspects in Albuera town Thursday night.

In the intensified anti-drug campaign, the local police here seized large sachets of suspected drugs weighing 238 grams having an approximate street value of Php1.9 million, two caliber .45 pistols loaded with live ammunition, cash and drug paraphernalia, said Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, Albuera town police chief and team leader.

The arrested suspects were identified as Marcelo L. Adorco, 40; Jose O. Antepuesto, 36; Jeffrey R. Pesquera, 39; Ernesto A. Dumalat, 20; and Jessie C. Ocaris, 34, all residents of Albuera town. All the five suspects claimed that they are security officers of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa.

Espenido said a surveillance of the subjects few days ago triggered the buy bust to Antepuesto at the village basketball court and resulted to the arrest of four others. The rest of the crowd managed to flee.

In a body search, the police yielded from Antepuesto a medium-sized sachet containing suspected drug, drug paraphernalia and bust money worth Php300.

Adorco and Ocaris claimed that Mayor Espinosa provided them licenses to carry firearms. The former being his bodyguard and the latter for self-defense, for which they failed to present documents. The two also yielded large sachet containing suspected drugs for which they both denied
.
The police are still on the process of securing the documents at the agency firearms division.

Espenido said, “Before we left the station, all of us prayed so no one will be hurt or killed. And I thank God for hearing my prayers, that none of the suspects prompted to open fire.”

For that, Adorco and Ocaris were glad for being captured alive.

Espenido who has been tagged as the province’s drug buster cop was installed as the town’s chief of police mid-July to curtail the drug activities in the area. He deepens his scheme in the fight against drug in the entire town where an alleged high profile drug lord dwells.

PNA still tries to reach the camp of Mayor Espinosa for his comment on the allegations inflicting his name.

Cases are prepared against the suspects at Baybay City Court. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/ELVIE ROMAN ROA/EGR

Tacloban police warns surrendered personalities to completely abandon illegal drugs

TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PNA) -- The city police here warned self confessed drug personalities in the city not to use “Oplan Tokhang” as a ploy to evade arrest during anti-illegal drug operations.

The stern warning, came after Rolando Ramirez, resident of Sabang district, and one among those who voluntarily surrendered under "Oplan Tokhang" was arrested in a buy bust operation on Friday.

Confiscated from the suspect was a small plastic sachet of suspected shabu, 10 pieces of big and medium size sachets with suspected shabu, a motorcycle, a mobile phone, lighter and PHP400 marked money.

The suspect is now detained at Tacloban City Police Office Custodial Facility while charges has been filed in court.

Sr. Supt. Rolando Bade said that many of those self confessed drug personalities surrendered mainly because of that desire to stay alive and to some they wanted to use “Oplan Tokhang” as a strategy to hid their illegal drug trade activities from the police.

“However, it is not a guarantee as we will continue to monitor their activities to make sure that they completely abandon illegal drugs,” Bade added.

Self confessed drug users and pushers who voluntary surrendered at police station were made to sign a commitment form and promised to stop their involvement in illegal drug operations either as drug dealers, peddlers, runners or users.

Records from the Tacloban police showed that some of its more than 600 surrendered drug personalities under “Oplan Tokhang” has no pending warrant, however, for those with pending warrants, they will immediately be turned over to the courts for proper disposition of their cases.

Oplan Tokhang, a combination of Bisayan phrase “toktok-hangyo,” is part of a nationwide campaign of the police to ask drug personalities to stop their illegal activity as the law enforcers are going to run after them. (PNA)
RMA/PGL/SQM/JAZMIN BONIFACIO/EGR

Leyte town eyes tourism potential in remembering ‘Yolanda’ victims

PALO, Leyte, July 30 (PNA) -- This town is adding up a new tourism program remembering those who perished during the onslaught of super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Few years back, the local government here conceptualizes 4Ps-Pamalandong (Holy Week) in every March or April, Patron (fiesta) in August, Pagbalik (Leyte Gulf Landing Commemoration) in October, and Pasko (Christmas) in December.

4Ps is a local tourism program launched by Mayor Remedios Petilla. In this initiative, all significant events in their town are being presented as a package for all tourists.

Petilla said the program will soon be dubbed as 5Ps with the inclusion of Paghinumdum or remembering those who died when super typhoon Yolanda ravaged their town on November 8, 2013.

“There is a big possibility that the Paghinumdum event will be included in the program, especially that many people will come home for the commemoration of the event, giving honor to their dead love ones,” Petilla said.

These tourism activities have drawn tourist to their town, she said.

Petilla is hopeful that with the inclusion of Paghinumdum, local tourism will be more vibrant and meaningful. (PNA)
LDV/SQM/LAAABELLA/EGR

Business, investments assured for Region 8

TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PNA) -- Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Diño has assured to work for more businesses and investments in the Eastern Visayas region.

Diño visited the region this week and met with local chief executives in Samar and Leyte to follow President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to listen to the people’s voice, know their problems and immediately find solutions.

He assured that for Leyte province, he will work for more investments and business locators to the area, both local and foreign.

Before the end of the year, the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Visayas, which has its official residence at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, will be conducting a Foreign Investors’ Forum in Cebu where each of the province and place in the whole the Visayas area will be able to showcase their potentials as business location as well as the products they can offer.

Foreign investors will be invited to the forum.

“It will not happen soon, but definitely we will work for more investments both from local and foreign investments. It will be for the whole Visayas and not just for Cebu,” Diño told local officials here on Friday.

Diño is one of the founders of the Bis
ayas Na Pud movement, the first group to support Duterte's presidential campaign in the Visayas.
He is also chief operation officer and executive vice president of land developer Fifth Avenue Property Development Corporation.

The official vowed to respond to questions and concerns addressed to his office in two weeks.

“I cannot promise you that I can solve the problem hundred percent but I will make you feel that there is really a difference now that the office is active” he told local officials here," he said.

“Every time you ask questions, every time you send emails or letters to the office, we will make sure that within two weeks we can answer you already may that news is bad or good, we will answer you,” he added.

In Leyte, majority of the local chief executives were in attendance including presidents and representatives of the various Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.

Among those raised during the consultative meeting was for a possible expansion of the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) to accommodate more locators, as well as business insurance for commercial businesses and establishments in Tacloban City.

Leyte is currently home to the copper smelting and refining operations of the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. (PASAR).

PASAR, which operates within the 425-hectare LIDE, the country’s only copper smelting and refining firm and its products are among the top 10 exports of the Philippines.

Leyte has also been a Hall of Fame awardee as Most Business Friendly province years back and was cited for institutionalizing the observance of the Leyte Provincial Business Month every October, for promoting and grooming the province as an IT destination through the PEZA declared Leyte ICT Park and the launching of the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) that provides initial assistance to starting entrepreneurs in the IT field. (PNA)
LDV/SQM/ACR&LAAABELLA/EGR


Eastern Visayas rebels welcome truce

TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PNA) -- The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas (NDF-EV) has welcomed the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of the Nation Address.

In a statement posted in their website, NDF-EV said that “the unilateral ceasefire declaration of Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), through President Rodrigo Duterte, is a positive development for the resumption of the peace talks.”

“We believe the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will be issuing a reciprocal unilateral ceasefire declaration soon. In the meantime, the NDF-EV calls on the New People's Army (NPA) in Eastern Visayas to maintain active defense mode as ordered by the CPP and the NPA National Operational Command,” the group stated.

The NDF-EV claimed that in the towns of Calbiga and Pinabacdao in Samar province and towns of Las Navas and Catubig in Northern Samar where soldiers still “conduct combat operation or occupying civilian communities.”

“Be that as it may, the NDF-EV believes the NPA will be carefully restrained toward the GRP ceasefire and will also carry out any reciprocal ceasefire by the CPP with utmost discipline.

When asked to comment over the rebel’s statement, Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, Captain Ian Andres Fabellon said that government troops in the region have been supportive in the advocacy of lasting peace.

“The Philippine Army actively support, advocates peace building in the region, and always adhere on the primacy of peace process. We remain to be a partner of in promoting peace and resolution of conflict and we remain sincere and follows the laws of the land,” Fabellon said.

The military official added that throughout history, the Philippine Army always offer openness to the New People’s Army (NPA) in convincing them to return to the folds of the law and live in a normal and peaceful environment.

“The irony of being in the NPA is that they suffer all the hardship and dislocated lives bearing arms, while we are just performing our mandate as a protector of the people and the community for terrorist group and other lawless elements including protection of government installations and infrastructures,” Fabellon said.

The military added that for the past decades the NPA is insincere and continuously violates human rights by conducting ambuscades on Army forces involved in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response operation, which clearly violates international law and Geneva convention.

The army official then denied the accusation of the NDF that despite the declaration of the President for unilateral ceasefire government troops in the region specifically in Samar are conducting military operation. (PNA)
RMA/PGL/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

Floods hit low-lying communities in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, July 30 (PNA) -– Flooding caused by tropical depression "Carina" has forced some families in Mondragon, Northern Samar to move to higher grounds Friday night, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported.

About 66 individuals in Mondragon town took shelter at the covered court as floodwaters from Bugko River rose, said OCD regional director Edgar Posadas, chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).

There are also flooding in the towns of Laoang, Catubig, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, Pambujan, and San Roque in Northern Samar, but local government units did not order mandatory evacuations.

“The impact of tropical depression Carina was only minimal and the situation was managed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC),” Posadas told PNA in a mobile phone interview.

Affected families have returned home Saturday morning as rain stopped and flood water subsided. 

The Northern Samar PDRRMC will convene Saturday to assess the effect and check if relief goods are needed.

There was no reported flooding in low-lying communities of Eastern Samar despite being near to the center of the storm on Friday.

“We are happy to note that local DRRMCs are active and people in vulnerable communities are cooperative during weather disturbances,” Posadas added.

As of Saturday 7:00 a.m. Pagasa forecast, the center of tropical depression Carina was estimated based on all available data at 155 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.

It has a maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, moving northwest at 15 kph.

Tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 was raised Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon. (PNA)
RMA/PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Eastern Visayas LGUs told to brace for rains due to tropical depression ‘Carina’

TACLOBAN CITY, July 29 (PNA) –- The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has called on local authorities to be on alert for possible flooding and landslides as tropical depression Carina is expected to dump moderate to heavy rains in Eastern Visayas.

RDRRMC Chairman and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Edgar Posadas said they have sent advisories to provincial, city and municipal disaster and risk reduction councils to prepare for the impacts of heavy downpour.

“We asked local councils to undertake precautionary measures in their areas of responsibility and initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying areas and mountainous areas if situations warrants,” Posadas said.

The OCD has disseminated a weather advisory on Friday through text messaging and facsimile from the provincial down to the municipal level.

In its 1:55 p.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has raised orange (intense) rainfall warning over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran provinces.

That means intense rains of 15-30 liters per square meter per hour are expected within one hour and flooding is considered a definite threat in communities under this alert. Rainfall is expected to continue in the next two hours. 

According to 11a.m. weather bulletin of Pagasa, the center of tropical depression Carina was estimated based on all available data at 195 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

It has a strength of 45 kilometers per hour moving northwest.

Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within the 300 km diameter of the tropical depression.

Fisherfolk are alerted against moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO


PSA bares plan to curb long queues in getting registry documents

TACLOBAN CITY, July 29 (PNA) -– Heeding orders of President Rodrigo Duterte to avert the sufferings of public in transacting with government agencies, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has started opening their outlets early morning and some operate on Saturdays.

Lisa Grace Bersales, PSA national statistician and civil registrar general said they are mapping out strategies to curb the problem on long queues and inconveniences of those who are securing civil registry documents at Census Serbilis Centers.

PSA has been perceived as slow in processing requests due to thick crowds in their offices, according to the official.

“We have long lines in PSA, but that should not just be the only indicator of service we provide to citizens. We should look on how long they stay on the line,” Bersales told reporters here Thursday on the sidelines of 2015 regional economic performance press briefing.

The PSA releases 75,000 birth, marriage, and death certificates daily. The process takes two to three hours from application to release of documents.

“We are listening to the President’s instruction. PSA is opening some outlets during Saturdays for outlets with many clients requesting documents,” Bersales said.

PSA will also open up new outlets in strategic areas to bring their services closer to rural communities.

“We will open new outlets as long as we’re able to hire new staff. We are a new agency, many people retired and we have about 800 vacant positions,” she added.

For more convenience, the PSA is advocating to “use other channels” such as online through e-Census and telephone services.

E-Census (www.e-census.com.ph) is an online facility that allows the public to submit requests for the issuance of certified copies of birth, marriage and death certificates; and certificate of no marriage record. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Presidential Assistant for Visayas meets Samar officials

TACLOBAN CITY, July 29 (PNA) - Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Diño visited Samar province on Thursday to link the needs of local government units (LGUs) to Malacañang.

Upon his arrival, he had a brief meeting with Major General Jet B. Verlamino, commander of the Army's 8th Infantry Division.

The two officials discussed priority projects to fully address insurgency in remote communities.
Diño also thank the military for being a strong partner in peace and development in the region.

He also gathered all local chief executives in Samar province. Local officials asked the present administration to continue the implementation of bottom-up budgeting, the government’s reform program institutionalizing people’s participation in the budget process.

"He was here to listen and particularly find out the needs of Samar LGUs," said Imelda Bonifacio, 
Samar area manager of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, one of the participants.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan handed to Diño a three-year irrigation plan and the proposed roads that will link remote towns to the national road.

The roads are among the needs to respond to the development gaps that would lift Samar from being the 10th poorest province, according to Bonifacio.

Tan asked all mayors set aside politics and encourage everyone to support the socio-economic agenda drafted by the province.

All mayors in the province were present except Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and Matuguinao Mayor Melissa Dela Cruz, but both of them sent representatives.

After the gathering, Diño had a private meeting with Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan on programs that the city needs.

The city mayor lauded the present administration for giving priority to impoverished Samar province.
Uy-Tan said that with the focus now of the government to help Samar, she hopes that this will meet the dreams of Samar residents for sustainable development.

Diño is the second cabinet member of President Rodrigo Dutere who visited Samar after Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.


The three Samar provinces is on the list of top 10 poorest provinces in the country. Eastern Samar has a poverty incidence of 55.4 percent while Samar and Northern Samar share identical poverty rate of 43.5 percent. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

Friday, July 29, 2016

Leyte bridge reconstruction nears completion

TACLOBAN CITY, July 29 (PNA) -– Half lane in the ongoing reconstruction of the vital Hiagsam Bridge along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc national highway is now completed, prodding the Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH 2nd LED) to declare the first phase of the bridge project to be completed by August.

The target date of completion was this July; however, driving its huge pier deep down into soil caused additional days of work including the soil exploration and boring test conducted prior to the actual construction.

Presently, the DPWH 2nd LED reports the bridge to be 83 percent complete, with half of the lane of the main bridge already poured with concrete, while the other half will be completed soon.

DPWH 2nd LED District Engineer Carlos Veloso said this just forms part of the first phase of the project as the new bridge will have a total of four lanes to accommodate increasing traffic.

The Hiagsam Bridge is a reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridge which is 19.3 meters wide and will span the length of 50.8 meters. The bridge will be expanded on each side in line with the road widening projects being done to highways adjacent to the bridge.

The bridge was damaged during typhoon Senyang in 2014 and formal works on the bridge commenced on November 16, 2015. The bridge reconstruction runs on a PHP37.9 million budget.

Other improvement works will also be done on the bridge such as slope protection, drainage and sidewalks.

Construction is being done by MWJ Construction through the supervision of the DPWH 2nd LED.

An asphalt overlay detour spillway has been constructed as an alternative bridge and has since been utilized to provide access along this route. The detour bridge is accessible to motorcycle, light vehicles and medium truck. The detour bridge runs both ways. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR


Bypass road to spur economic growth in Leyte town

PALO, Leyte, July 28 (PNA) -– The west bypass road here, once completed, is expected to stir more economic activities amid the continuing growth of the town.

Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said in a press conference that a number of businesses and establishments are trying to acquire properties along this area.

Originally, the construction of the PHP136 million west bypass road, which was started on March 2 this year, was to provide alternative route from this town’s Arado village to Pawing village, near the border of Tacloban City.

With the growth of commercial and business establishments along the Pawing area and Government Center, increased traffic along the national highway that it spans has been experienced.

The by-pass road now underway is primarily constructed to decongest traffic in these areas.

However, the new road, targeted to be completed by October this year, is providing new opportunities and sites for economic development.

Petilla said that under their Comprehensive Land Use Plan, areas along the west bypass road can be utilized for housing development and commercial sites for light industries.

This, the lady mayor added, as Palo is envisioned to become a sub-center of the region because of its strategic location. All vehicles coming from Luzon and going to Mindanao and vice versa pass through the town.

The Palo West By-Pass Road, which also includes the construction of a bridge, is a 3.66-kilometer road project that spans the villages of Pawing, Campetic, Guindapunan, San Jose and Arado. It will terminate at the Tacloban City diversion road on one side and at Palo-Carigara National road on the other end.

Construction is being implemented by High Innovative Construction and Development Phils. through the Department of Public Works and Highways. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR

PSA tags poverty-stricken Eastern Visayas as fastest growing PHL region in 2015

TACLOBAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) -- The Eastern Visayas Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) grew by 3.9 percent in 2015 from a contraction of 2.4 percent the previous year, making it as the fastest growing region in the country, offsetting economic losses incurred from the 2013 Yolanda catastrophe.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Regional Director Wilma Perante, in a press briefing on 
Thursday, said the regional economy accelerated by 6.3 percent between 2014 to 2015, gaining PHP152.21 billion. Eastern Visayas or Region 8 bested six other regions in the country with positive economic performance last year, she added.

The services sector, with a share of 41.9 percent to the GRDP, posted a 6.8 percent growth, a significant rebound from four percent decline the previous year. This was due to the strong performance in the transport, storage and communication subsector.

“Other major contributors to the sector’s growth are financial intermediation and trade of vehicles and personal and household goods,” Perante said.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) tagged the sector as the strongest driver of the regional economy. The sector has generated thousands of jobs, absorbing 45 percent of the region’s working population first semester of 2015.

“We also observed gradual growth in the value-added share of most components of the services sector, primarily accounted for by the resurgence of businesses. For instance, in Tacloban City, the region’s capital, we see newly-established hotels and food establishments, which is evident of a vibrant service-oriented economy,” said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

Industry sector, which accounts 41.4 percent of the regional economy, recovered from the 3.3 percent decrease in 2014 to 4.4 percent growth last year.

Subsectors such as mining and quarrying; construction; and electricity, gas and water supply have shown double-digit growth last year.

“While the manufacturing subsector contributed the largest share to the region’s industry, it contracted by three percent, although better than the 16 percent slump in 2014,” he explained.

The NEDA regional chief reported that weak global demand for copper must have affected the supply of metallic inputs in the production of cathodes at the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refinery Corp., one of the heavy industries situated in Isabel, Leyte.

Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (AHFF) continued to decline, but at a slower rate from 12.7 percent in 2014 to 3.5 percent in 2015. Farming and forestry recovered from negative 3.6 percent.

Fishing also managed to improve from negative 18.2 percent to negative 3.2 percent, according to the PSA.

Although most of the region’s families are dependent on AHFF, the sector’s share to the local economy plunged to 16.7 percent from 18 percent in 2014 and 20.1 percent in 2013.

“Broad-based growth was not realized given the setback in the agriculture and fisheries sector – a challenge that consistently hounds the region. Natural threats such as the effects of El Nino and the impact of typhoon Nona have aggravated the already fragile agricultural production of the region after super typhoon Yolanda,” Uy pointed out.

GRDP measures the value of goods and services produced by a region. The figure of all regions sums up to the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country. The country’s GDP growth in 2015 is pegged at 5.9 percent.

Despite economic growth in 2015, poverty incidence in the region has worsened between 2012 to 2015, placing the region as the country’s second poorest, based on the latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) result. (PNA)
LAP/SQM

Thursday, July 28, 2016

No damage reported from 5.2 earthquake in Ormoc

TACLOBAN CITY, July 28 (PNA) –- No damage was reported when a magnitude 5.2 earthquake jolted Ormoc City in western Leyte Wednesday night.

Ormoc Mayor Richard Gomez said the earthquake has caused panic to some residents, but it did not destroy any structure in the city.

Photos have circulated in social media of patients confined at the Ormoc Doctors Hospital being moved to safety after the tremor. Some guests of Ormoc Villa Hotel also rushed to an open area for fear of aftershocks.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in a bulletin issued Wednesday night, said the quake with tectonic origin was felt at 7:56 p.m., with a depth of 9 kilometers

The ground shaking had its epicenter eight 8 kilometers north of Ormoc City, was said to be tectonic in origin.

Phivolcs reported that the tremor was felt at intensity 4 in Ormoc City, while intensities 3 and 2 were felt in Villaba and Pastrana, Leyte; and Cebu, respectively.

It was followed with a magnitude 3.1 earthquake with tectonic origin at 8:12 p.m. The epicenter was six kilometers south of Ormoc. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Historic Leyte town lines up activities for fiesta celebration

PALO, Leyte, July 27 (PNA) -– This town, the center of Roman Catholic faith in Eastern Visayas, will celebrate its 186th Fiesta Day with series of activities geared towards acknowledgment of the town’s development over the past decades.

Topping the list of activities are the launching of the Palo Tourism and investment promotion office and the opening night of several activities held at the town’s plaza.

The nightly activities will kick off Wednesday and will end on August 5.

During the opening, there will be a fireworks display and dance competition. The following night, the highlight is the presentation of students from the Saint Paul School of Professional Studies.

On July 30, the Saint Marys Academy of Palo will present socio-cultural activities.

Local poems will be read on the night of July 31 to be followed with a presentation from Loboc Youth Ambassador Band. Song and dance presentation will continue the following night through the Tug-tug Sayaw Awit and Birit Idol grand finals.

On August 2, a job fair will be conducted together with Agri- Aqua Trade Fair at the town’s plaza. A concert dubbed as music and dance icon, variety show, and magic show is scheduled at night.

Highlights on August 3 is the hip hop challenge grand finals and night of the faculty and students of the Eastern Vsiayas State University.

On fiesta eve, local town officials, employees and village officials will showcase their talents.

On August 5, the town’s youth group will have a big celebration. It will be followed with a fireworks display. It will be capped with a dance party sponsored by Love Radio Tacloban.

“I want to enjoin everyone to celebrate the 186th Palo Day Celebration. Let us be one in the joy of celebrating the development of Palo,” said Mayor Remedios L. Petilla.

Palo, a neighboring town of Tacloban, the regional capital, is a 3rd class town in Leyte province. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 70,052 people.

The town is the seat of most government departments, bureaus and regional offices in Eastern Visayas, although some are situated in Tacloban.

The town is also home to the offices of the ecclesiastical government of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo; the archbishop's residence; as well as the secondary, tertiary and theology seminaries of the archdiocese.

Palo is considered to be one of the most historical towns of the province. It is well known as the site of General Douglas MacArthur’s return to the Philippines together with Philippine and American military forces after a period of exile in 1944. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

Government to double production of abaca planting materials

TACLOBAN CITY, July 27 (PNA) -– The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is aiming to double the production of abaca planting materials with the commitment of the new administration to embark on massive rehabilitation of abaca farms infested by diseases.

PhilFIDA regional director Wilardo Sinahon said they are mapping out plans on how to maximize the production of disease-free planting materials from two existing tissue culture laboratories in Eastern Visayas.

These are located in a Department of Agriculture compound in Abuyog, Leyte; and National Abaca Research Center at the Visayas State University (VSU), Baybay City.

“Despite high demands, both laboratories currently produce half of their maximum capacity due to lack of manpower and limited budget,” Sinahon said.

The Abuyog and VSU facilities are capable of producing 10,000 and 20,000 plantlets monthly, respectively.

“The concern now is the source of clean planting materials. The plan is to get from other provinces, but we have to check for the sources to ensure that planting materials are disease-free,” Sinahon added.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol recently announced a Php100 million funding for the revival of abaca industry this year in Sogod, Southern Leyte alone.

Part of the funds will be for the enhanced production of plantlets in existing tissue culture laboratories and make the similar facility inside the Southern Leyte State University operational.

Out of the Pp100 million, Php50 million is allotted for the immediate procurement of planting materials, which will cover about 1,500 hectares.

The plan is to immediately assist the farmers by buying planting materials from them using the local abaca variety, which is thriving well in the area.

In addition to free planting materials, the national government will also provide organic fertilizers to recipient farmers in this town.

Sinahon is very optimistic that with the Php100 million budget, Sogod will be able to restore its production in the next few years.

“The fresh funding support for this town is 14 times more than the current Php7 million abaca disease eradication budget for the region’s six provinces,” he added.

Sogod is the top abaca producing town in Southern Leyte with about 6,000 hectares devoted to abaca cultivation. About 2,000 of 6,000 abaca farmers in the province are based in Sogod. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Anti-drug war yields 2 more traders in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, July 27 (PNA) -- The city police here has arrested two suspected drug pushers in a buy bust operation Tuesday night.

Tacloban City police director, Sr. Supt. Rolando Bade identified the two suspects as Erwin Edrich Montecastro, 37, resident of Fatima Village and Carmela Ponsalan, 26, resident of Rainbow Village.

The city police arrested the suspects through a buy bust operation around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Rainbow Village, San Jose district here.

Operatives confiscated from the two suspects a big plastic sachet with suspected shabu, 11 pieces medium size plastic sachets with suspected shabu and PHP500 bill as marked money.

Bade said the two suspects have been under surveillance by the police in the past few weeks due their illegal drug trade activities in the city.

A case for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed in court while suspects are detained at the Tacloban City jail.

“The fight against illegal drugs will continue either through asking them to stop all their drug-related activities or through police operations,” Bade said.

The anti-drug war in the city has already yielded 600 drug personalities through voluntary surrender and arrest. (PNA)
BNB/SQM/JAZMIN BONIFACIO/EGR

More Eastern Visayas LGUs join 2016 competitiveness poll

TACLOBAN CITY, July 27 (PNA) -– Number of areas in Eastern Visayas included in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) 2016 ranking has increased three times than in the previous year, indicating that more local government units (LGUs) are taking part in the benchmarking of their performance against local and global standards.

From 30 cities and towns included in the CMCI ranking, the number of participating LGUs rose to 97 in the 2016 ranking as revealed in the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) website.

“We are very happy with the result after we held a held an information caravan through the provincial development councils. We helped them understand what it means to be in the CMCI list,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director Cynthia Nierras, chairperson of the Regional Competitiveness Committee.

With the significant rise in the number of participants, the region received the Quantum Leap Achievement Award during the 4th Annual Regional Competitiveness Summit on July 14 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

All the region’s seven cities – Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Maasin, Catbalogan, Calbayog, and Borongan – were included in the annual competitiveness survey.

The NCC recognized Ormoc City in Leyte as the most improved component city in the country. The city jumped to 30th rank this year from the 91st spot in the 2015 survey among the 110 component cities in the country.

All the remaining six cities in Leyte and Samar provinces have shown remarkable ranking improvement except Tacloban, the regional capital. Tacloban is the least competitive among the 34 highly urbanized cities in the country.

Of the 755 towns in the Philippines classified as 3rd to 6th class, Barugo, Leyte was recognized as the most improved in the CMCI 2016.

Barugo, a 4th class farming town jumped to 56th spot this year from 436th spot in the 2015 ranking.

“I hope the awards earned by our city and town in the region will motivate other LGUs to take part in the CMCI data gathering. Those who participated registered the highest improvement. It means that competitiveness of our towns and cities as location of business are improving,” Nierras added.

Of the 90 participating towns in the latest CMCI, 29 were in Leyte, 12 in Southern Leyte, 15 in Samar, 15 in Northern Samar, 14 in Eastern Samar, and five in Biliran.

The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities based on an overall competitive score along the three indicators and their sub-indicators – economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure.

The overall competitiveness score is determined by the completion rate or all the number of data points filled out over the number of data points required. These information are sourced from the LGUs and national government agencies.

The study serves as basis for LGUs to improve their competitiveness to attract investments and contribute to socioeconomic development. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

President’s speech gets mixed reviews from Region 8 professionals

TACLOBAN CITY, July 26 (PNA) -– The first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday has earned mixed reviews from professionals in Eastern Visayas region.

Many gave the Chief Executive a thumbs up for reiterating strong position on criminality and illegal drugs while others expressed reservations on drug-related killings.

Vice Governor Carlo Loreto said the SONA was good, resonating the shared sentiments of every Filipino to end crime and illicit drugs.

“By far, this is the most authentic and heartfelt SONA,” said the official, who is a lawyer by profession.

Rebecca Ada, retired employee of the National Food Authority regional office said she liked President’s speech even if it was “sometimes senseless as he was true to self.”

“Some programs were clearly stated in general, it was still a motherhood statement why there were killings. Violence and crimes should have been emphasized that same is still a basic denominator of poverty and social injustice,” Ada said.

Tacloban-based entrepreneur and online copywriter Bert Malate shared that Duterte’s ad-libs and jokes had put further emphasis of salient points.

“Lower taxes and the rice subsidy for the poor are promising. All these under one serious behest - obey the rules! I think I saw and heard enough from a sincere man who means business. I just hope he graduates with flying colors,” Malate said.

Myrna Tambor, lead convenor of Samar Women Action Network for Peace and Development lauded the President for his pronouncement to implement the Magna Carta of Women.

“I like hi pronouncement on women's rights and gender equality. It is something to be optimistic about in the coming years under his administration. It is worth to note the peace agenda of his administration as well,” Tambor added.

Francis Joseph Grey, Samar provincial convener of the National Youth Commission noted how the President expressed his concern on the daily struggles of many Filipino.

“Duterte has started addressing the problems that made life miserable for ordinary Filipinos – complicated process of government transactions, traffic congestion, and long lines."

“Other problems will take more than six years to resolve such as inadequate infrastructure and Asia’s highest power costs, but the President can lay the groundwork for long-term solutions,” he added.

The youth leader said the present administration can bank on what the past administration had started – investor’s confidence, a framework for peace in Mindanao, and good governance policies. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/VICKY ARNAIZ & ROEL AMAZONA/EGR


DA Region 8 braces for soil analysis

TACLOBAN CITY, July 26 (PNA) –- The plan of the present administration to conduct nationwide soil analysis will address the basic requirement of the farming sector, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here said.

“We go will back to basic – soil and water resources. This is the basis for any development effort,” said DA regional executive director Wilson Cerbito.

Cerbito said that the DA regional office through the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) is on the process of identifying which of the region’s 723,000 hectares of farm lands will be covered in the study.

“We did the initial test in the past years, but for 2016, this is more comprehensive since it included analysis on crop sustainability and identification of appropriate fertilizer applicable in an area,” Cerbito said.

Citing initial test results, the BSWM concluded that many farms in Eastern Visayas were found to have degraded soil quality, pointing to applications of inorganic fertilizer as the main reason.

In his first State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned soil analysis as one of his thrusts for the farming sector. Others are infrastructure support and strict enforcement of fishery laws.

“We shall also conduct a nationwide soil analysis to determine areas most suitable for rice farming to optimize production with the use of effective soil rehabilitation and fertilization,” the President said.

A nationwide soil testing and sampling is necessary to determine which regions of the country could grow certain crops best based on soil components and fertility.

“With the budget support and President’s pronouncement, we are optimistic that this will be pushed through next year,” Cerbito added.

Upon assuming the post, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol noted that DA has been using information based on soil samplings done in the late 1970s.

Result of the analysis will be incorporated in a Color Coded Agriculture Guide Map, which DA aims to come up during the first 100 days of Duterte administration. (PNA)
LAP/SQM

Duterte’s first SONA earns praises from Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, July 25 (PNA) – The pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte during his first State of the National Address (SONA) earned praises from officials and residents in Eastern Visayas.

Capt. Ian Andres Fabellon, acting chief of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said that the pronouncement of the President for a unilateral ceasefire with the New People’s Army was in line with their thrust to sustain peace.

“This is very welcome to us because our ultimate goal is to attain peace. We will just wait for further directions from higher officials,” Fabellon told PNA.

For decades, the army has been fighting with armed rebels in the region especially in the northern part of Samar Island, considered as the insurgents’ stronghold.

On the Chief Executive’s affirmation for entitlement of more resources to poor fishermen, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan D. Albaladejo said this was very commendable.

Although Duterte made the pronouncement referring to the proliferation of fish pens in Laguna Lake owned by rich and influential families, he said the policy direction was very beneficial in poor coastal communities in the region.

“The reason why our marine resources have been depleting and income of poor fishermen has been reduced because commercial fishers have been encroaching our municipal waters,” Albaladejo said.

In this city, more than a thousand survivors of 2013 super typhoon Yolanda from different Leyte towns held a rally expressing support to the President, but they carried placards reiterating their demands.

People’s Surge spokesperson Marissa Cabaljao said the President’s emphasis on disaster resilience was very encouraging, however, the present administration should investigate how the previous leaders spent rehabilitation funds.

“We are appealing to President Duterte to give justice to typhoon Yolanda victims. Let them get what they are supposed to get because that is why we have trust in you,” Cabaljao said.

The Chief Executive’s performance in the first few weeks get a thumbs up from a waray-speaking resident.

Single mother Sarah Dixon, 32, who lost her job after the monster typhoon, said the President’s anti crime and anti drug war would attract investments that create more jobs.

“Duterte is giving me the opportunity to get ahead. He’s creating more jobs and opportunities to get another job,” Dixon shared. (PNA)
RMA/SQM/ROEL AMAZONA & JAZMIN BONIFACIO/EGR

Monday, July 25, 2016

Tacloban to end dry run of one-way traffic scheme

TACLOBAN CITY, July 25 (PNA) -- The city council here is looking into the possibility of ending the one way traffic scheme in the city by the end of July.

Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin said a group will be coming next week to help the city government craft the traffic impact assessment as well as the recommended re-routing scheme.

The vice mayor made a statement after a lot of motorists have raised questions as to when the traffic scheme will end.

The present is just based in an executive order issued by the mayor and an ordinance. The order also directs the creation of a technical working group to continue the study of rerouting in the city.

“Findings of experts will tell us what are the things needed - traffic signs, traffic lights or trained personnel,” Yaokasin said.

The city government pushed for the re-routing scheme to check whether the proposal is effective or not.

The re-routing scheme is based on the request of the Traffic Operations Management Enforcement Coordinating Office (Tomeco).

The city council received the request for a dry-run. It was referred to the committee on transportation and the council passed a resolution, allowing Tomeco to temporarily implement the traffic scheme effective June 1.

A two-month dry-run is required to assess the traffic scheme proposal.

Yaokasin is hopeful that an assessment report will come out soon to check if the scheme is beneficial to all parties concerned.

“The interest of the majority should be considered, and that the good of all should prevail,” he said.

Motorcab-for-hire operators and drivers already sent a manifesto to the city council, outlining their recommendations such as color coding of private vehicles, prohibition of double parking and the ouster of some city traffic officials.

Yaokasin said they will study if these proposals will contribute to ease traffic congestion together with the assessment of the invited traffic experts. (PNA)
BNB/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR


Sunday, July 24, 2016

Region 8 officials, residents share SONA expectations, predictions

TACLOBAN CITY, July 24 (PNA) -- A day before his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), officials and residents in Eastern Visayas shared their wish list to President Rodrigo Duterte.

For Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, the President will surely express his strong position against criminality and illegal drugs.

“For the past few months, we see the intensified campaign of the present administration on criminality and illegal drugs. The message is very clear and I think that is where the President will reiterate his stand, his ultimatum against criminals and illegal drugs operators,” said Loreto.

In the intensified anti-drug war, 60,393 self-confessed drug users and 5,914 alleged drug pushers have surrendered nationwide since July 1.

In Eastern Visayas, the campaign yielded 962 drug personalities from the 2,227 houses visited.

Loreto also predicted that the new administration will expound fiscal policy, priority legislative agenda, Charter Change and projects that he will implement to improve situations in the provinces.

“I just hope that if he ever mentions Eastern Visayas, it will be a good term and he will implement priority projects in the region just like what he said before that he wanted to explore the possibility of implementing a railway system in the vast land of Mindanao,” Loreto said.

“I just hope that the SONA will really be the picture of what he will going to do for the next six years, but he should not also forget his anti-poverty reduction program that is very important and his plan on how to improve the economy of the country,” said Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin.

“But I think he is really doing good and effective at this time. He is doing the unexpected beyond the expectation,” he added.

Yaokasin hopes that Duterte will promise to push for the full development of the Tacloban Airport, which the previous administrations failed to achieve.

Florida Enovejas, village chief of Bangon Gote, Tarangnan, Samar wanted to hear from the President his sincerity to help improve the living conditions of the poor.

Bangon Gote is a small farming village located more than eight kilometers from the town center and can be reached through a bumpy road.

She said that although all village dwellers are into farming, their produce is only good for their personal consumption due to poor rural infrastructure.

“We are hoping that the President will see our condition. We hope to hear from his SONA the livelihood assistance from the present administration,” said Enovejas.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) recipient Carmelita Rosialda of Naval, Biliran is looking forward that the Chief Executive will continue the implementation of conditional cash transfer.

Rosialda’s eldest son is a recipient of Expanded Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), an college educational grant for 4Ps beneficiaries.

“The program can really help families like us who are incapable of sending children to school,” Rosialda said. (PNA)
BNB/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA

Samar capital’s competitiveness ranking inches up

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 23 (PNA) -- The city government here significantly improved its competitiveness ranking among component cities in the country, based on the 2016 National Competitiveness Council report.

From 104th place last year, the city made a major leap to 46th rank this year as revealed in the 4th Regional Competitiveness Summit held last July 14 at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The city jumped to 17th place from 102nd a year ago in terms of government efficiency.

The city maintains its position as the center and most competitive local government unit (LGU) in Samar province.

In Eastern Visayas, Catbalogan is the second most competitive city next to Ormoc. The city ranked 73rd in economic dynamism and 66th in infrastructure.

Although the city is not included in the top 10 list of competitive cities in the country, the local government is still elated by their rank as this shown that they are the most competitive LGU in Samar Island.

“Our big jump from 104th to 57th spot out of hundreds of components cities in our nation, serves as a vindication for the hard work of our employees, the cooperation of various agencies in the city and the support of the people of Catbalogan. This is no less than what we expected,” Uy-Tan said.

The city mayor offers this good news to all their development partners who “assisted them in all their endeavors.”

“It is through their generous inputs that we were able to improve our programs and services,” the city mayor added.

She has called on their development partners to continue helping the city government in the provision of better services in the future.

“Although this recent victory has surely lifted our spirits, let it not be a cause for us to be complacent.

 Let this victory further remind us how much we can achieve if we will be united. Let us therefore work together for the attainment of the much higher goal – the top spot,” she said.

The competitiveness ranking of LGU that is joined by 1,300 LGU is based on three pillars namely economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure awards.

Every year, LGUs’ performance are evaluated and benchmarked against local and international standards. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA

BFAR raises red tide alert in Eastern Samar bay

TACLOBAN CITY, July 23 (PNA) -– Red tide alert was raised over Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) found toxins from shellfish meat samples gathered from the bay.

In its advisory issued late Friday afternoon, the fisheries bureau disclosed that there are 65 saxitoxins per 100 grams of meat from shellfish gathered in Matarinao Bay.

“This is above the regulatory limit because the normal should be below 49 saxitoxins per 100 grams of shellfish meat,” said BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo.

Saxitoxin is a principal toxin responsible for a human illness known as paralytic shellfish poisoning. Some shellfish can store this toxin for several weeks and very harmful if consumed by humans.

BFAR advised the public not to consume all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from Matarinao Bay.

Also prohibited is the harvesting, marketing, and buying shellfishes and Acetes sp. until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level.

Fish from the bay are safe for human consumption so long as they are cleaned and washed thoroughly and internal organs are removed before cooking.

Matarinao Bay covers the coastal waters of Salcedo, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Gen. MacArthur in Eastern Samar.

The bay has been subject to regular monitoring after recurrence of red tide bloom. The last one was in 2013, which lasted for almost a year.

Aside from Matarinao Bay, shellfish ban is also hoisted over Irong Irong Bay, Cambatutay Bay, Villareal Bay, and Maqueda Bay in Samar province; and Carigara Bay in Leyte.

BFAR believed that prolong dry season followed by a heavy downpour this week triggered the red tide bloom due to discharge of waste water from the mountains and residential areas. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Friday, July 22, 2016

Airport worker’s honesty earns praise from Tacloban city council

TACLOBAN CITY, July 22 (PNA) -- The Tacloban City Council passed a resolution commending honesty of a porter at the city airport here.

Ricardo Moreno earned the praise of netizens after a story of him returning a box he found at the airport’s arrival area was spread over social media.

Last week, Moreno was on his casual daily routine when found a box lying under the conveyor belt of the arrival area. He immediately took the package and turned it over to the security department.

He later found out that that the box contained Php21,000 cash, chocolates and other personal items
Vice Mayor Jerry T. Yaokasin said Moreno will be invited to the council’s next session so the commendation will be presented to him personally.

The official is hopeful that the city government will give him a small reward in recognition of his honesty.

This is not first time that Moreno reported to the airport security cash and valuable items found within the airport’s premise, but this was the first time that his honesty was spread through a Facebook post of an employee of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

“When I saw the box, I had only one thing in mind. That box was not mine. It belongs to someone,” Moreno said. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

Leyte official lauds proposed senate Civil Service Eligibility Bill

TACLOBAN CITY, July 22 (PNA) -– Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto lauds the senate bill being filed by Senator Francis Pangilinan that would automatically grant civil service eligibility to government workers who have rendered at least five years of continuous and efficient service.

Loreto said it is a “good and sound bill” as there are more than 50 percent casual and contractual workers being employed by the government.

He added that casual and contractual employees should also enjoy the benefits of regular employees such as security of tenure, social security, housing fund and other benefits accorded to the former.

“The bill makes sense. For the reason that they are contractual and casual and subject to renewal for a period of time makes them work more efficiently so they can be rehired. That is why I say they should be entitled to the same benefits,” Loreto said.

As for the province of Leyte, Loreto said, should the bill becomes a full law, putting in additional budget for more regular employees complete with benefits can be worked out.

“It can be done. For the Sangguniang Panlalawigan alone, if all casual and contractual employees it would cost the Php30 million more in budget for personnel,” Loreto disclosed.

Pangilinan’s Civil Service Eligibility Bill acknowledges the long years of experience in the service of contractual and casual employees is enough to merit them regularization.

The government is the biggest employer of the country, with some 1.4 million civil servants, however, almost three of four non-career workers hold casual or contractual positions.

The measure would also make good on the promise of President Rodrigo Duterte to end contractualization. (PNA)
PGLSQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR

Red tide kills 2 kids in Samar; BFAR issues stern warning vs eating shellfish

TACLOBAN CITY, July 22 (PNA) -– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has expressed alarm over the red tide phenomenon in Eastern Visayas that has already killed two children.

The BFAR regional office here said on Friday that red tide toxins found on May 27 in Irong Irong Bay in Tarangnan, Samar and Cambatutay Bay in Catbalogan City have spread to nearby Maqueda Bay, Villareal Bay and Carigara Bay.

Maqueda Bay in Jiabong, Catbalogan City, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, and Calbiga in Samar is a major source of mussel in the region. The area has been shipping shellfish to Manila for export.

Another rich source of shellfish is Carigara Bay in Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Leyte, and Capoocan towns in Leyte province.

BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said that a family of seven from Cagutsan village, Sierra Island in Catbalogan City were brought to the Samar Provincial Hospital and later to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center after consuming penshell locally known as "sarad".

An 11-year-old girl from the family died due to paralytic shellfish poisoning on July 17.

On July 20, another family from San Andres village also in Catbalogan consumed mussels for dinner bought from a village market. Two of their children were hospitalized after suffering severe stomach pain.

The five-year-old boy succumbed to dehydration at the Samar Provincial Hospital the same day.

The fisheries bureau asked local government units to assist in the information drive and enforcement of shellfish ban, which strictly prohibits consumption, trading, and transport of shellfish gathered from infested bays.

“It’s unfortunate that these incidents happen despite effort to warn the public starting from the onset of red tide recurrence,” Alabaladejo said.

“We reiterate our public advisory to refrain from eating, harvesting, marketing, and buying shellfishes and Acetes sp. from affected bays until such time that the shellfish toxicity level has gone down below the regulatory level,” he said.

Fish, squid, shrimp and crab are safe to eat “provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking,” according to BFAR.

In the last quarter of 2015, Eastern Visayas region was hit by what the BFAR described as the biggest red tide bloom that has not been seen in more than three decades. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO


NEDA notes brighter Eastern Visayas economy in Q1

TACLOBAN CITY, July 22 (PNA) -– The Eastern Visayas economy in the first quarter had shown positive performance fueled by improved farm production, vibrant tourism, and higher tax earnings.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said key indicators displayed gains in the beginning of 2016.

“Production increment of most crops sustained the year-on-year growth of the agri-fishery sector in the previous quarter. Fishery catch made a turnaround with a 15.43 percent increase,” said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

Production of selected agricultural commodities in the first three months of 2016 scaled up by 12.30 percent to 864,822.70 metric tons (MT), according to NEDA’s quarterly economic report release this week.

Higher production was noted for rice, corn, banana, pineapple, sugarcane, and livestock and poultry.

For fisheries, catch from January to March 2016 grew by 15.43 percent to almost 30,000 MT. Its value rose by 11.30 percent to PHP1.97 billion.

Tourism sector, one of the thrusts under the regional development plan, inched up by 14.4 percent in terms of tourist arrival. Domestic tourists posted an increase of 18.3 percent from last year.

“The increase in tourist arrivals generated tourist receipts of PHP1.34 billion, which was higher by 35 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015,” the NEDA report stated.

Taxes generated by the Bureau of Internal Revenue in the first three months rose by 18.7 percent year-on-year from PHP1.5 billion in 2015 to PHP1.8 billion this year.

“Similar to internal revenue collection, this quarter’s collection of customs duties, taxes, among others, which was worth PHP42.6 million, saw a 19 percent increase over the PHP35.8 million in the same period of 2015,” NEDA reported.

Socio-economic planners projected that growth will be sustained in the coming months due to higher spending during election period, revival of business sector, ongoing post-Yolanda rehabilitation, 
opening of new businesses, and impacts of change promised by the new administration.
Eastern Visayas region is composed of six provinces – Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, 

Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. It serves as the geographical backbone of the Philippines as it lies in the mid-easternmost border of the Philippines archipelago.

As embodied in its 2011-2016 Regional Development Plan, it was aiming to become a leader in agri-business, information and communication technology and a tourism haven as its contribution to the national goal of inclusive growth.

For this year, the region is aiming a 5.6 percent growth in the Gross Regional Development Product.

The region is the country’s second poorest, based on the latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) result of the Philippine Statistics Authority. Poverty level inched up to 47.3 percent during the first half of 2015 from 45.4 percent three years earlier. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Samar’s capital to mark 400th year anniversary

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 21 (PNA) -- The city government here has lined up several activities for the upcoming 400th year anniversary of this city as capital of Samar Island.

Activities ahead of the August 24 foundation day is also part of the Samar Day celebration from August 1 to 6. It will highlight the annual Mutya ng Samar pageant, dance competition, agro trade fair and Samar Day parade.

On August 8, the city government will sponsor a mass wedding for residents of the city who have been living together as couple for many years.

From the first week up to the third week of August, a regular presentation will be shown at the city’s plaza, depicting the lives of Catbalogan people from the Spanish colonization until the modern day.
Students who will be part of the 15-day presentation attended a workshop of Cebu-based musician and composer Lucien Letaba.

The city government will also launch the mini-museum that will house several memorabilia of old Catbalogan and coffee table book that contains historical and political facts of the city since 1616.

The city government together with the Philippine Postal Corporation will also launch the commemorative stamp of Catbalogan on August 21 and the documentary Quatro Cientos directed by veteran comedian and TV host Tessie Tomas, a native of this city.

The city government will also unveil the commemorative marker that symbolize the 400 years of the city that is moving forward to a better community.

Also in partnership with the provincial government, they will also launch the Maqueda Bay Sunset Cruise.

Catbalogan is the fourth place in Eastern Visayas that is celebrating 400th year of civilization. Other areas are the towns of Carigara in Leyte, Palapag in Northern Samar and Guiuan in Eastern Samar.

Catbalogan became the capital of Samar at the arrival of Jesuits missionary after Moros raided their residence in Tinago, Tarangnan, Samar. As residence, Catbalogan has jurisdiction over six pueblos, Catbalogan, Calbiga, Paranas, Bangahun (now Gandara), Yvatan and Capul.

Under Jesuits' administration, Catbalogan became not only the center of Catholic faith, but also of government and commerce. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR

Tacloban strengthens women protection initiative

TACLOBAN CITY, July 21 (PNA) -- The city government here is stepping up the protection against women as violence against them continues nearly three years after super typhoon Yolanda.

Without giving figures, Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, the second woman city chief executive, said they are increasing budget for women protection in the city.

Romualdez said that the local government is stepping up support to Women’s Shelter, which receives complaints of violence against women and children and offers comfort and protection.

The two storey building is a center for women who are maltreated and abused by their husbands or partners.

“They are given free food and accommodation, legal and medical assistance. During their stay in the center, they are taught with skills like cosmetology, dressmaking, haircutting, cooking, and baking, which they can use to earn a living once they are on their own,” Romualdez said.

Built in 2010, the Women’s Shelter has been a refuge to abused women and their children in Tacloban and other parts of Eastern visayas region.

For its years of operation, the Women’s Shelter has already served thousands of victims to include transient individuals rescued from human trafficking activities.

Aside from values formation provided inside the Women’s Shelter, victims are also given legal assistance from the city hall.

In Eastern Visayas, the case of violence against women and children has increased after the 2013 catastrophe, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA record shows that Violence Against Women (VAW) complaints reported to the Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas has been increasing in the last six years from 2010 to 2015.

A total of 1,466 VAW cases were reported in January to October 2015, from only 60 in 2010. The increase in the number of reported VAW cases can be attributed to the massive campaign and implementation of the country’s laws on VAW and the improved reporting system in the region.

It further shows that Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act comprised the bulk or 87.6 percent of the total reported cases in 2015.

More than half or 57.8 percent of the 1,285 reported cases were physical abuse and 38.5 percent were psychological abuse. Perpetrators were mostly husbands, live-in partners or those with whom the victims had sexual or dating relationship.

Rape cases also increased from 28 in 2010 to 86 in January to October 2015. It accounted for 5.9 percent of the total VAW cases reported during the period. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

Php100-M funding for revival of abaca industry raises Sogod farmers’ hope

SOGOD, Southern Leyte, July 21 (PNA) -– The move of the government to revive the abaca industry has sparked hope to San Vicente village chief Oscar Alcotes, who witnessed how people in their community struggled after diseases send abaca farming back to year zero.

“Fibers are now gone, but we will never abandon our farms because this was how my parents supported us. We are happy that the new administration listens to our plea,” said Alcotes, 49.

Alcotes recalled that in the early 2000, nobody was poor in their village as people reap the fruit of lucrative abaca farming.

When abaca mosaic and bunchy top diseases infested their farms, many people lost hope and some even left to Cebu or Manila to find jobs.

“Although I only own a small farm, I remember earning up to Php10,000 during harvest season,” he recalled.

Due to meager income from planting alternative crops, no one among his three children completed college education after finishing high school.

The village chief is just one of the hundreds of abaca farmers who personally heard Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol committing Php100 million for the revival of abaca industry in this town this year.

It is part of DA's Php2 billion budget left for 2015 that needs to be expended by the end of 2016 or else it will be reverted to the national treasury.

Out of the Php100 million, Php50 million is allotted for the immediate procurement of planting materials, which will cover about 1,500 hectares.

The plan is to immediately assist the farmers by buying planting materials from them using the local abaca variety, which is thriving well in the area.

“There is a great demand for abaca all over the world and there are only three countries producing it - Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. We really have to exploit new opportunities in front of us, as far as abaca is concerned," Piñol said during his visit to this town last week.

The allotment fulfills Piñol’s promise to this abaca-producing town during his “biyaheng bukid” last month.

Philippine Fiber Development Authority Eastern Visayas Regional Director Wilardo Sinahon said they will conduct intensive technical training on production of abaca planting materials, disease management, accurate fertilizer application, proper planting distance, and cultural management practices.

In addition to free planting materials, the national government will also provide organic fertilizers to recipient farmers in this town.

Sinahon is very optimistic that with the Php100 million budget, Sogod will be able to restore its production in the next few years.

“The fresh funding support for this town is 14 times more than the current Php7 million abaca disease eradication budget for the region’s six provinces,” he added.

Sogod is the top abaca producing town in Southern Leyte with about 6,000 hectares devoted to abaca cultivation. About 2,000 of 6,000 abaca farmers in the province are based here. (PNA)
PGL/SQM