Student awaits US response on Balangiga Bells’ return plea

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar, Sept. 30  -- A senior high school student from this town is hopeful that US President Donald Trump would grant her plea to return the Balangiga Bells that were taken as a war trophy by American soldiers 116 years ago.

Hannah Ruth B. Padit of the Southern Samar National Comprehensive High School wrote a letter to the White House two months ago, seeking the return of the Balangiga Bells to the belfry of Saint Lawrence the Martyr Church.

"I am bravely writing this message in hopes that it touches your heart and finally hear a plea that the town and its people have been begging to be heard for the past 116 years... It’s time the bells come back home. Balangiga is its home and its people are its family and no one deserves to be separated from their family that long," read Padit’s letter.

In an interview Friday, the 17-year-old said it is the youth’s turn to retrieve the bells since their elders have already done their part.

"The bells are very important to us people of Balangiga because they represent the sanctity of our church. It is also a remembrance of our ancestors who sacrificed to have those bells for our church," she said.

The Balangiga Bells, Padit said, had been serving the Church by reminding the people of their faith and religion until they were taken by American soldiers after their bloody encounter with the natives.

With President Rodrigo Duterte calling for the bells’ return, her hope grows.

"I am hopeful, just like the other people of Balangiga. I am happy that the President has been publicly demanding for the bells’ return, unlike former presidents," Padit added.

Milagros Abanador-Calabos, granddaughter of Valeriano Abanador, the town’s chief of police who led the attack against the American soldiers, said the bells mean so much to them.

"The bells are very important to us because it belongs to the Filipinos of Balangiga, an instrument of the Church, and it was used as a signal of the natives to attack foreign invaders," Calabos said.

The Balangiga Encounter occurred on Sept. 28, 1901, when town residents led by Abanador initiated an attack against US soldiers as the latter were having breakfast.

About 2,500 Filipinos were killed in the US’ retaliatory attack, after which the Americans took the bells as a war trophy.

The three bells are in the custody of the US government, two of them with the FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and one with the 9th US Infantry Regiment in Camp Red Cloud in South Korea.

Attempts by past presidents, and even by the Catholic Church, to recover the bells proved to be unsuccessful.

During the 116th commemoration of the Balangiga Encounter last Thursday, Duterte said the Philippines is giving the US government enough time to return the Balangiga bells.

The President first urged for the return of the bells during his State of the Nation Address last July 24. (SQM/With reports from Pearl Marie L. Ecaldre, OJT/PNA)

E. Visayas 2016 economic growth highest in decade - NEDA

PALO, Leyte, Sept. 29  -- Poverty-stricken Eastern Visayas region achieved a decade-high economic gains in 2016, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said in its State of the Region Address released Friday.

Aside from the record-high 12.4 percent growth in the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) last year, the region also posted the decade-low poverty incidence at 38.7 percent.

“Economic growth took a huge leap from 4.6 percent in 2015 to 12.4 percent in 2016. This was also the first time in eight years where we lead in terms of economic expansion across regions,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy told Regional Development Council members during its 3^rd quarter meeting.

The official primarily attributed the growth to the massive rehabilitation activities after super typhoon "Yolanda" in 2013.

The higher spending both from government and private sector fuelled construction boom, created more jobs and livelihood opportunities.

Upbeat consumer and government spending also contributed to the milestone.

Without giving figures, the region posted in 2016 the fastest growth in per capita household expenditures, as well as in total construction investments, especially those in the private sector.

“This was promising since a vibrant domestic demand complements the renewed business confidence in the region,” he added.

Slow rate of increase in the prices of goods and services boosted higher household spending, according to Uy.

“Last year, we held another record when the region posted the lowest inflation rate at 1.3 percent in at least two decades. This was below the target range of two to four percent,” he explained.

The region also welcomed PHP807.4 billion first two private investments on agribusiness and energy in 2016, based on the projects registered in the Board of Investments.

The official is also counting on the contribution of micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Last year, about 7,750 MSMEs were assisted with half of them are new entrants.  

“We have high hopes that this unprecedented economic growth will translate to better lives for our people… The consecutive gains in the past two years could just be the beginning of making economic growth more meaningful to each and every one in the region,” he added.

Eastern Visayas, the third poorest region in the country, comprised of the large islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran, as well as a number of smaller ones. The region has a total land area of 2,156,285 hectares, accounting for 7.1 percent of the whole country. (SQM/PNA)

P651.66-B investment program for Region 8 approved

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 29  -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Eastern Visayas has approved on Friday the PHP651.66 billion 2017-2022 Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP) after months of drafting and series of consultations.

The amount has increased significantly from the total PHP430 billion proposed prior to the RDC sector committee meetings three weeks ago.

“There was an adjustment because we included more infrastructure projects especially those aligned in the priority of the Duterte administration. We need to build, build, build to support the President’s priority programs,” said RDC Vice Chairman and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

The RDIP contains a list and brief profile of programs and projects of agency regional offices, and state universities and colleges in support of strategies outlined in the Regional Development Plan (RDP).

It also includes a list of activities of the six provincial governments in the region proposed for Official Development Assistance funding and implementation by the central government.

The Council will proofread the approved investment program, print the document, and send to the NEDA main office by October.

“This is still subject to regular updating to see what the needed projects are every year. Projects that are deemed important and critical for the region to attain development plan,” Uy added.

The projects and activities in the RDIP concretize the strategies in the main RDP. It has 15 key strategies meant to reduce poverty and sustain economic growth.

The 15- strategy plan of actions are science and technology innovations, reducing inequality in opportunities in human development, accelerating infrastructure development, promoting regional competitiveness, reaching for the demographic dividend, promoting Eastern Visayas culture and values formation expanding economic opportunities in farming and fisheries.

Other strategies are enhancing peace, security, public order, and justice administration; enhancing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation; enhancing good governance; building resiliency of individuals and families; expanding economic opportunities in industry; maintaining ecological integrity and a clean and healthy environment; providing an enabling and supportive macroeconomic environment; and expanding economic opportunities in services.

The RDP, which serves as the blueprint of the region’s development direction, is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Long-Term Vision of Filipinos or "Ambisyon Natin 2040" and President Duterte’s 0+10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda.

The RDC, the region’s highest policymaking body, approved the new RDP during its full council meeting on December 20, 2016.

Under the plan, the region aims to attain 5.2 percent to 5.7 percent economic growth in 2017.

For 2018 to 2022, the average target is 5.8 percent to 7 percent. In 2015, the region posted a remarkable growth of 3.9 percent in the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) due to massive post-Yolanda reconstruction activities.

The 2015 performance is a “significant turnaround” after the region incurred a 2.4 percent contraction in 2014, largely due to destruction of the monster typhoon.

The region suffered a big drop in GRDP in 2012 at negative 6.8 percent after a minimal 2.1 percent increase in 2011.

It was followed with a big leap to 4.6 percent in 2013 due to good economy before super typhoon "Yolanda" struck.

Last year, the region’s GRDP surged 12.4 percent, the highest among 17 regions in the country. (SQM/PNA)

P7.9-B Leyte 'storm surge shield' project now underway

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 28  -- Construction of nine subsections of the PHP7.9 billion storm surge protection road heightening and tide embankment project in Leyte are now on track, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Thursday.

The ongoing construction under section 4 covers 7.80 kilometers of seawall in some parts of the San Jose district in this city; Candahug, Macarthur Memorial Landing National Park, Baras, and Cogon villages in Palo town.

The government had set aside PHP2.38 billion for the nine subsections.

The four-meter wide structure is designed as a bicycle lane, according to DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon in a mobile phone interview.

The DPWH divided the project into six sections with 30 subsections. Other sections have not yet started due to ongoing detailed engineering, feasibility, alignments, and public consultations.

“For sections 1 and 2, there are proposals to make the tide embankment as alternative road. It’s not yet approved because we are considering the technical, social, environmental and economic aspects,” Tabacon told PNA.

The infrastructure agency will bid out within this year the PHP700 million for section 6 in Tanauan town. Bidded out earlier was the PHP1.2 billion for some parts of Sections 5 and 6.

The project also tagged as Leyte’s “Great Wall” was supposed to prioritize the coastal communities from Tacloban City Astrodome to San Jose district, but it was put in hold pending the relocation of families within the danger zones.

The 27.3-kilometer project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town. Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are the coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 are some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 in Tanauan town.

The project will protect 33.7 square meters area of properties and 33,185 houses and buildings.

The four-meter high structure was pushed through by the previous administration after the 2013 storm surges wipe out neigborhoods in Leyte province. (SQM/PNA)

Samar seeks P1.1-B to link 2 towns

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 28 -- The Samar provincial government is seeking PHP1.1 billion to upgrade the existing road and bridges that link the two economically-depressed towns of Samar province.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, in an interview Wednesday, said they have already secured the endorsement of the Regional Development Council during the body’s second quarter meeting for funding support from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The improved access road is expected to unlock economic opportunities in two of the poorest farming and fishing towns in the region.

The towns of Talalora and Villareal posted a poverty incidence of 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively, based on the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The distance between two towns is 16 kilometers.

“Due to bad road, people from these places take a boat ride to Babatngon, Leyte or Biliran province to buy and sell products especially during rainy days. This is the reason why there's a slow economic circulation in Samar province,” Tan added.

The governor is optimistic that the road link will be concreted within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte. She recalled that some funds have been poured for the road opening activities in the past.

  The proposed project, according to her, will connect the paved road from San Andres village to Villareal town center. The central government recently upgraded the road from the national highway in Pinabacado town to Villareal.

Better road leading to Talalora town is also eyed to benefit island towns of Zumarraga and Daram.

Talalora, a 6th class town in Samar has been known as haven of faith healers. It is about 73 kilometers north of Tacloban City, the regional capital. (SQM/PNA)

Give US enough time to return Balangiga bells: Duterte

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar, Sept. 28 -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the Philippines is giving the United States government enough time to return the Balangiga bells taken by American soldiers 116 years ago.

“They are looking for ways how to get out of this problem because it remains to be not only a source of irritation, but also a source of painful reaction of what really happened to our countrymen,” 

Duterte said during the 116th commemoration of the Balangiga Encounter.

Speaking before thousands of local officials and townsfolk at a covered court in this town late afternoon, Duterte said the process is “not that easy.”

“Those things will only be returned with the permission of US Congress and if the President will approve it. We give them enough time. The Americans say that they are processing it. I hope that the US Congress will give President Trump the authority to return the bells,” he said.

He assured that there is an ongoing negotiation and the US government is trying to figure out how to return the bells.

“To them, it is like a war trophy, but if you will look at it, it cost a lot of innocent lives. Just return it and we will be happy. We’re not angry at you,” the President said.

The President, however, acknowledged that the US has been making efforts to repay the damages brought by US occupation in the country.

“I’d rather be friendly to Americans now because the Americans redeemed themselves a lot... They helped us a lot. They were engaged here during the Japanese occupation. I would not say that they are saviors, but they are our allies,” he added.

“Even today, the Americans provided crucial equipment to our soldiers fighting terrorists in Marawi.”

The Chief Executive admitted that he turned emotional when he demanded for the return of the bells during his State of the Nation Address on July 24.

“I was under advise by DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to temper my language and avoid cursing, which I am prone to do if I get emotional,” he said.

This advice prompted him to be friendlier to the US, he said.

Aside from recalling the heroism of Filipinos in Balangiga, the President also reiterated his administration’s staunch war against illegal drugs in his one-hour speech that concluded at 5:30 p.m. 

The President arrived in town past 4:00 p.m. and left around 5:45 p.m.

More than 150 residents, mostly schoolchildren, prepared an hour-long reenactment, but the President left before the presentation started.

Before he ended his speech, Duterte vowed to confer the Order of Lapu-Lapu to the family of local warriors who fought the Americans.

The Order of Lapu-Lapu, created through Executive Order No. 17, is to be awarded to officials, government personnel, and private citizens "in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service in relation to a campaign or advocacy of the President."

The Balangiga Encounter happened on Sept. 28, 1901, when town residents led by Valeriano Abanador initiated an attack against US soldiers while having breakfast.

Around 2,500 Filipinos were killed by the US retaliatory attack. The Americans took the Balangiga bells as war trophies.

Until now, the three bells are still in the custody of the US government. Two of the bells are at the FE Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while one is located in the 9th US Infantry Regiment in Camp Red Cloud in South Korea.

Previous attempts made by the past presidents and even by the Catholic Church to return the Balangiga Bells to the country were all unsuccessful.  (SQM/RTA/with reports from Pearl Marie Ecaldre, OJT/PNA)

Eastern Visayas fair in Manila eyes P16.5-M sales

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 27 -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is eyeing to generate at least PHP16.5 million income from the upcoming Bahandi Regional Trade Fair, showcasing the best of Eastern Visayas at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

A total of 125 micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from the region’s six provinces will take part in the 20^th trade fair on October 4 to 8.

 “Since they have been informed late last year, we can expect producers to be more improved and prepared. They were trained on how to enhance their products and negotiate with buyers,” said DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras in an interview Wednesday.

Among the products up for display are lechon (roasted pig), tuba (coconut wine), tahong (mussel) crackers, turmeric tea, moron (sticky rice with chocolate), sweet potato chips, chocolate tablets, dried squids, woven mats, coco shells, and fashion accessories.

“This is like a market testing for the products and a marketing search for producers.  Some of their products are making a lot of impressions even in the international market,” Nierras added.

The fair, themed “Breaking grounds for Borderless Markets”, will also highlight the continuing recovery of the region from the 2013 super typhoon.

Bahandi, the local term for wealth, is being organized by the DTI in partnership with the Regional Development Council, Department of Tourism, Tacloban Entrepreneurs Associated Marketing Cooperative, Great Women Project, and SM Megamall. (SQM/PNA)

DOH steps up generic medicines promotion

PALO, Leyte, Sept. 27  -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is stepping up the promotion of generic medicines, citing affordability, safety, and effectiveness of these products.

FDA Eastern Visayas regional field supervisor Sonia Cabahit, in an interview Wednesday, said they have been trying to change public perception about generic medicines.

“The generics are copies of originator branded drug products that contains the same active raw materials and effectiveness of those branded medicines that have passed the FDA quality tests,” Cabahit told PNA.

“This product offers substantial health to the people and economic benefits due to its affordability.”

Cabahit said they want people to spend less for medications while ensuring proper treatment.

“Why choose expensive when there are way cheaper?” she asked.

The FDA official explained that generic drugs are cheap not because they are of low quality, but because the manufacturers did not invest a lot of money on the research, development, marketing and promotion of the medicines.

The Department of Health’s (DOH) regulatory unit conducts monitoring and of generic medicines in the region monthly.

Meanwhile, to ensure public safety , the DOH, FDA and local government units prohibits people from buying prescribed medicines in any unauthorized and unlicensed establishments, side stalls, convenient stores, and especially online.

“These medicines are not allowed to be consumed and sold without proper registration,” Cabahit said.

The strong advocacy on generic drugs is part of Generics Month celebration every September. This is in recognition of the birth of Generics Act of 1988, which aims to promote, require and ensure the production, supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines using their generic names.

Under the Generics Act of 1988, government physicians are penalized if they prescribe branded medicines to the patients, and pharmacists should provide an option to buyers prescribed with branded medicine to buy a generic brand. (SQM/with reports from Reynadel F. Costillas , OJT/PNA)

OPAPP eyes higher budget for road projects in 2018

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Sept. 26  --  The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) is eyeing a minimum of PHP250 million budget next year to build roads in conflict-stricken areas in the country. 

Secretary Jesus Dureza said the office may get higher budget than the proposed amount with the inclusion of integrated development plan formulated by the local government units and submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The proposal is higher than the PHP200 million funding this year for road projects under "Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana)," the national government’s convergence program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind. 

“Pamana is our instrument in bringing peace assistance in responding to the needs especially on development of conflict-affected areas,” Dureza told reporters during a press briefing inside the army camp here Monday afternoon.

Dureza was in this city for the peace caravan dialogue in relation to "Peace Month" celebration.

During the dialogue, Dureza has expressed concern over reports that some projects in Samar provinces have been delayed as New People’s Army (NPA) reportedly threatened construction workers and attempted to collect revolutionary taxes from contractors. 

“I am here also to look into how this problem can be addressed. Rebels must remember that Pamana projects are not for the government, but for the people. If the NPA are also for the people, they should not be an obstacle of these projects,” Dureza said. 

In Samar Island, road projects have been implemented in conflict-affected towns of Matuguinao and San Jose de Buan in Samar province, Maslog and Jipapad in Eastern Samar and Lope de Vega and Silvino Lobos in Northern Samar. 

Meanwhile, when asked about resumption of peace talks with communist rebels, he said they are still waiting for the President’s go signal to resume negotiations with the members of the National Democratic Front. 

“What the President wants is before we resume peace talks, there should be talks first on the implementation of ceasefire,” Dureza told reporters in a press briefing inside the army camp here. 

Attacks launched rebel groups against government forces prompted President Duterte to suspend the peace talk. 

“Success of peace talks can be achieved if only members of rebel groups will not attack government forces,” he said. 

The cabinet official  also urged businessmen to invest in conflict-affected places to spur economic development and achieve lasting peace. 

Businessmen should not wait for the place to have better situation, but rather take every opportunity for them to contribute to the peace and development efforts of the government, he said.

“If you will wait first for peace to happen, you are not contributing at all,” Dureza stressed. “They should come simultaneously, while you work for peace there must also be development.” 

Dureza cited as example the experience of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, a fourth class town now producing export quality banana. 

He recalled that the town was known in the past for violence, but after a company invested on banana production, local abandoned their guns and start working in banana plantations, not only working there but also protecting their source of income. 

Businessmen in Samar provinces should not be hesitant to invest in their hometowns because of insurgency and peace and security problem, he added. 

“If you invest in areas that has problem on peace, when the situation get better you benefit the most because you are way ahead their compare to other businessmen,” Dureza explained. 

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan-de los Santos agreed with Dureza, adding that peace and development is a shared responsibility. 

“Peace and development is not only a job of police and military but all sectors in our society. We should not also focus only to local government officials but we must convince other sectors to help,” Tan said. 

Tan added that under the Peace and Prosperity Roadmap formulated by the members of the Regional Peace and Order Council, proposed projects focuses on accessibility, but included livelihood development and tourism promotion. (RTA/PNA)