Army condemns NPA attack in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 29 --  The Philippine Army condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) for attacking two soldiers tasked to do community work in conflict-stricken villages in Las Navas, Northern Samar.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar said that the attack is proof that communist rebels are anti-development.

“The two soldiers were in the area not to combat, but to help transform conflict-affected areas into progressive and sustainable communities through collective and collaborative efforts with local government units and line agencies,” the Army said.

Both soldiers were tasked to buy food supplies in the market in San Miguel village late Tuesday afternoon. While on their way back, they were shot several times by assailants. Members of the NPA’s special partisan unit were behind the attack, according to the military.

Corporal Jaype Malbas was wounded while private 1st class Rommel Debuton died upon arrival at the nearest hospital, according to the military report.

The Army launched hot-pursuit operations to apprehend these terrorists.

In his statement, Farnacio conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and loved ones of the soldier who died while performing his duty.”

“Your Army will be more steadfast in its campaign, now, that we are under a state of national emergency, in suppressing lawless elements from sowing fear in the hearts and minds of vulnerable communities located in remote areas. These terrorists are depriving the people to act, think, and live normally,” Farnacio added.

Malacañang issued on Nov. 22, 2018 Memorandum Order No. 32 declaring a state of national emergency in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region amid "sporadic acts of violence allegedly committed by lawless groups particularly.”

The order, titled “Reinforcing the guidelines for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence,” ordered the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to coordinate with each other in deploying the troops. (SQM/PNA)

Samar officials cite benefits of MO 32 declaration

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Nov. 29  -- Officials in Samar province has welcomed the move to send additional troops after Malacañang issued Memorandum Order No. 32 to suppress and prevent the lawless violence.

Governor Sharee Ann Tan, in a text message, said that there is nothing wrong with the directive as long as the security sector will abide by the policy, properly implement and will not abuse it.

“It was successfully implemented in Mindanao and supported by the local executives,” Tan said on Thursday.

Samar (1st District) Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, in an interview on Wednesday, said their aspiration is for the province to become peaceful, especially that the mid-term election is approaching.

“Our ultimate objective is to end the violence, the killings that is happening in the province,” Sarmiento said. I am thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for this effort and I am hoping that this will help in suppressing lawless violence in the province,” he said.

Samar for the past years has been haunted by series of killings allegedly perpetuated by private armed groups (PAGS), wherein most of the victims are village officials or political party leaders. The province has been in the hot spot or watch list every election season.

Sarmiento asked residents not to panic even with the presence of more uniformed men.

Early this week, top police and military officials in Eastern Visayas assured strict adherence to human rights amid President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to augment forces in Samar province to suppress “lawless violence” and acts of terror.

Malacañang issued the directive, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Nov. 22, amid "sporadic acts of violence allegedly committed by lawless groups particularly in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region.”

The order, titled “Reinforcing the guidelines for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence,” directed the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to coordinate in the deployment of additional troops. (JSA/PNA)

NEDA confirms P729.6-M returned ‘Yolanda’ funds

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 29  -- At least PHP729.67 million unused funds meant for the recovery of Eastern Visayas after Super Typhoon Yolanda had been returned to the National Treasury, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) confirmed on Thursday.

The budget is under the 2016 “Yolanda” Recovery and Reconstruction Program that “remained untapped and were not released until the expiration of the validity of the funds last Dec. 31, 2017,” NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said during the quarterly Regional Project Monitoring Committee meeting.

The 2016 allocation was released late in 2016 or early 2017, giving the agencies less time to procure and obligate the funds within the year, Uy said.

The consolidated unspent budget came from the calamity fund, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, quick response fund, automatic and supplemental appropriation, realignments and savings, and regular agency funds, among others.

These funds were not utilized as some agencies encountered issues in the procurement of “Yolanda” projects, such as processing of documents and usufruct agreement, the NEDA official said.

Of the nine agencies and universities with unspent outlay, the top three with returned allocations are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (PHP493.2 million), the Department of Agriculture (PHP114.14 million), and the Visayas State University (PHP80.05 million).

Others on the list are the Department of Public Works and Highways (PHP26.24 million), the Department of Health (PHP7.9 million), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (PHP4.34 million), the Leyte Normal University (PHP3.6 million), the Professional Regulation Commission (PHP178,745), and the Northwest Samar State University (PHP1,111).

Uy is optimistic that the central government will heed the request of the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council to reallocate the budget to be used for the “actual needs of people in affected areas.”

Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Wendel Avisado, who asked for reports of unspent funds from the National Treasury, recommended the use of the funds as subsidy for individual water service connections in all relocation sites, as proposed by the Local Water Utilities Authority.

“The subsidy is highly recommended as it is crucial in the sustainability and livability of the resettlement sites and is beyond the coverage of the regular national government subsidy to the agency,” Avisado said in his letter to the NEDA regional office here.

The PHP495-million water system project will only cover the extension of water distribution pipes, develop two new sources in the city’s northern villages, set up and repair old pumping stations, set up a new reservoir, upgrade the existing reservoir, and rehabilitate the city’s water pipes.

More than 14,000 families transferred to the northern part of the city will benefit from this water connection project.
Avisado already sent the recommendation to NEDA main office and the Department of Budget and Management for consideration.

Since the super typhoon struck in 2013, some PHP146.2 billion had already been released for post-disaster recovery in all affected areas in central Philippines. About 46 percent of the funds or PHP67.1 billion was intended for Eastern Visayas. (SQM/PNA)

PCA renews call for group marketing of copra

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 28 -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has reiterated its call to farmers in Eastern Visayas to venture into group marketing in the bid to minimize the impact of fluctuating domestic copra price.

PCA Regional Manager Jeffrey Delos Reyes said farmers will earn more from direct selling of copra to oil mills than through traders based in communities.

“The price difference between oil mills and traders is about PHP7 to PHP8 per kilogram. Even if farmers will spend for logistics, they will still earn more from this marketing arrangement,” Delos Reyes told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday.

Oil mills in Eastern Visayas buys copra at PHP19 per kilogram, more than the PHP12 buying price of traders based in towns and villages.

This year’s copra domestic price is way cheaper than the PHP47 mill gate price and PHP35 farm gate price recorded in November 2017.

“We have been encouraging coconut farmers to work together as an organization and engage in group marketing to be able to negotiate for a better price than the prevailing local buying price,” Delos Reyes said.

Copra price has been going down since trading price is dependent to the coconut oil price in the global market, he said. The international coconut oil trade is determined or affected by the supply and demand situation of other vegetable oils such as oil palm, soybean, rapeseed, sunflower, olive oil, etc.

“Though the Philippines is the biggest exporter of coconut oil in the world, coconut oil’s share is only two percent in the world market. It is just one of the many vegetable oils produced in the world. As such, its price is greatly affected by the movement of prices of other vegetable oils particularly the palm oil and soybean oil,” he added.

Palm oil accounts 35 percent of the internationally traded vegetable oils while soybean oil is the second biggest with a share of 29 percent, Delos Reyes said.

Copra, one of the by-products of coconut, is the dried meat or kernel of the coconut. The oil is extracted from copra. It also yields coconut cake after oil extraction, which is mainly used as feed for livestock.

On Nov. 22, the agriculture department gathered some owners of coconut oil mills in a caucus and solicited their commitment to buy copra directly from organized farmers’ groups instead of middlemen and traders.

Under the direct marketing arrangement, the Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council will provide organized coconut farmers groups with working capital to buy the product of members.

This will be delivered directly to the oil mills who will pay the farmers at the price the traders are getting, according to a statement posted on social media by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

The DA will also provide the farmers groups some funds for the purchase of hauling trucks and dryers. The direct marketing arrangement will be implemented before the end of November. (SQM/PNA)

Joint meeting set for 3 Eastern Visayas reg’l councils

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 28 -- About 150 key officials of Eastern Visayas will meet next week in Ormoc City for the first joint meeting of three regional bodies to tackle issues related to economic development, peace and order, and disaster resiliency.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, also vice-chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC), said this is the first time in the country that members of the RDC, Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) will jointly meet.

It will be held at the Ormoc City Hall on Dec. 3, with actor-Mayor Richard Gomez as host.

“Knowing that this is the first ever in the country, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año have expressed their interest to attend this meeting,” Uy said.

On top of the agenda is the passage of a resolution supporting the creation of a Department of Disaster Management (DDM), now pending at the Senate.

President Rodrigo Duterte called for the creation of a Department of Disaster Management in his State of the Nation Address on July 23 as many areas in the country face natural threats. On Oct. 1, the House of Representatives approved a bill creating the new department.

Currently, efforts to minimize risks against disasters are handled by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, an agency established by law in 2010.

It “is a working group of various government, non-government, civil sector and private sector organizations, administered by the Office of Civil Defense under the Department of National Defense.”

Another agenda is the proposal to pass the responsibility of building roads in conflict-stricken areas in the Samar provinces from the Department of Public Works and Highways to the Philippine Army engineering brigade.

The implementation of multi-million Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) infrastructure projects has been moving slowly in the Samar areas due to threats of the New People’s Army, according to RDC reports.

Adding to the delay are politics and the absence of a technical working group, PAMANA-Samar area manager Imelda Bonifacio said in an earlier interview.

PAMANA is 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.

The joint meeting will be led by RDC chairperson Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, RPOC chairperson Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, and RDRRMC head, Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Henry Anthony Torres.

“This meeting will consolidate our efforts to attain socio-economic development, lasting peace, and disaster management and resiliency. The idea of the joint meeting emanated from one of the RPOC meetings in Samar which Secretary Lorenzana attended,” Uy added.

The RDC is the highest planning and policy-making body in the region. It serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the sub-national level. It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region.

The RDRRMC provides for the development of policies and plans and the implementation of actions and measures pertaining to all aspects of disaster risk reduction and management, including good governance, risk assessment and early warning, knowledge building and awareness raising, reducing underlying risk factors, and preparedness for effective response and early recovery.

As a coordinating body, the RPOC is tasked to provide a forum for dialogue and deliberation of major issues and problems affecting peace and order, including insurgency. (SQM/PNA)

Biz group pushes localized tax payments of giant firms

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 27  -- A group of businessmen in Leyte is lobbying for Manila-based firms with operations here to pay their taxes in Eastern Visayas to raise the region’s economic output.

Oliver Cam, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Tacloban, Leyte chapter vice president for external affairs, on Tuesday formally asked the Regional Development Council’s economic development committee to make representation with the Department of Finance to correct this practice.

Cam said the finance department can require these corporations to prepare and submit to the Philippine Statistics Authority a copy of their local operation’s financial report.

“Our proposal is for these companies to file a return of their corresponding income and other taxes due at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional office,” Cam said during the meeting.

The business group is calling for the accounting of taxes as giant firms managing malls, hotels, retails, hardware, and other big establishments expanded their operations in cities and major commercial districts in Eastern Visayas.

Among these firms are SM Prime Holdings, Robinsons Land Corp., Gaisano, Puregold Price Club Inc., LKY Properties, Wilcon Depot, Inc., and Citi Hardware.

“It is a standard procedure of these corporations to integrate the result of their local operations into one financial report. While this practice suits well to the administrative convenience of the said corporations, it has important implications in the region,” Cam added.

The system affects the gross regional development product (GRDP) since their economic output is counted at the national level, according to the local PCCI chapter.

“Income and other taxes due from the result of local operations are paid in the region where main offices of these corporations are located; hence, taxes due from local operations are not included in the collection targets of BIR field offices,” he added.

Eastern Visayas’ economy managed to grow by 1.8 percent in 2017, but the growth is significantly slower than a year ago due to the scaling down of post-“Yolanda” construction activities and a decline in farm and fishery output.

The GRDP performance nosedived by 10.2 percent from a positive growth of 12 percent in 2016. The region’s growth is way below than the 6.7 percent at the national level. (SQM/PNA)

DA to tap Samar youth in farm modernization

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 27 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) will tap young people in Samar Island, especially agriculture graduates, to operate and manage fleets of machinery and equipment to modernize its agriculture practices.

“The involvement of young Samareños, particularly agriculture graduates, appears to be the only hope for this island to develop its agriculture as older farmers here seem to resist innovations in agriculture,” DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a statement posted on his social media account Tuesday.

The official, who visited the flood-hit town of Jipapad, Eastern Samar Monday afternoon, noted that farmers prefer to use “Kuliglig” (hand tractor) over a modern tractor with plow and rotavator.

“They were also inclined to use their traditional ‘payatak’ method of farming marked by very poor land preparation resulting to very low yields of only two metric tons or less,” he added. “Payatak” is a traditional practice of stomping the feet on paddies to make the field ready for planting.

Under the mechanization program for young farmers, the DA will invite the youth of Samar to organize themselves into groups of at least 30 members.

Once organized, they will be trained in operating farm machinery and equipment and on financial literacy. They will also undergo basic training on rice farming.

After the training, the DA Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) will grant them a loan package for them to be able to acquire machinery and equipment like tractors, planters and harvesters. The loan is payable in eight years with two percent interest per year.

“Operating as service providers, they will be tasked to develop farms in their respective towns and will get paid for their farm services,” Piñol added.

Payment of services is assured considering that farm owners will be granted a loan under the production loan easy access, according to the DA chief.

“This program is expected to fast-track the development of agriculture in Samar and provide jobs to young college graduates.”

Interested youth in Samar are encouraged to visit the DA regional office in Tacloban City. (SQM/PNA)

Flood-hit Eastern Samar town gets P30-M agri aid

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 27 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) delivered on Monday PHP30 million worth of assistance for the fast recovery of flood-stricken town of Jipapad, Eastern Samar.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol took a four-hour trip from this city to lead the delivery of assistance meant for the recovery of farmers and fishermen from a flash flood brought by Tropical Depression Samuel that crossed the province last week.

“The flood was so violent rising to about 10 feet and swept away almost everything that they owned. When I arrived in Jipapad Monday noon, people were cleaning their houses of debris and drying whatever was left of their farm produce,” recalled Piñol in a statement posted on his social media account Tuesday.

Newly-planted rice farms estimated at 640 hectares were totally destroyed by widespread flooding.

The farm department extended PHP5,000 per farmer and fisherman family affected by the floods amounting to PHP9.4 million under the survival and recovery loaning program.

Also released are the PHP10 million in loan funds under the Production Loan Easy Access Program of the DA Agricultural Credit Policy Council. The women’s groups got rice seeds good for 641 hectares and vegetable seeds.

A group received a PHP1.5 million capitalization and PHP1.5 million for the purchase of a hauling truck for coconut farmers so they could buy copra and deliver this directly to the oil mills.

The DA also donated two tractors with plow and rotavators for the rice farms. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) also turned over three 30-footer fiberglass fishing boats.

The National Food Authority (NFA) had set up special outlets to sustain the rice needs of the town until the farmers have fully recovered.

“The residents said it was also the first time that a Cabinet Secretary personally checked on them to find ways to help. A village chief stood up during the forum in the town gym and cried openly as she said that people of the town felt that they are cared for by government,” Piñol added.

The DA chief admitted that food shortage in Jipapad town came to his attention following media reports that the town had ran out of food supplies.

The Philippine News Agency (PNA) was the first to report on the afternoon of Nov. 22 about the appeal for help in Jipapad town after a phone interview with Eastern Samar Board Member Joji Montallana, the town’s former mayor.

Montallana appealed to the national government to help residents of Jipapad town, which was isolated after “Samuel” caused landslides and massive flooding in low-lying communities on November 21.

She reported that many residents have been begging for food after a seven-meter high floodwater-soaked food supplies, including prepositioned relief goods from the national and provincial government.

Jipapad town is about 24 kilometers away from the main Eastern Samar highway in Arteche town. It is located 80 kilometers north of Borongan City, the seat of the provincial government. (SQM/PNA)

Cops, army assure no rights abuses in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 26  — Top officials of the police and the army in Eastern Visayas have assured their strict adherence to human rights, following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to augment forces in Samar province to suppress “lawless violence” and acts of terror.

PNP Eastern Visayas officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Ariel Arcinas said in a press briefing on Monday that fighting human rights abuses is part of their job as they prevent the loss of innocent lives.

“The very reason why we have to augment forces in Samar is to protect human rights. We can assure the public that there is no violation of human rights. This is our guide in the implementation of law enforcement program,” Arcinas told reporters.

The official said they are still waiting for specific guidelines on Memorandum Order (MO) No. 32 signed on Nov. 22 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Malacañang issued the directive amid the "sporadic acts of violence allegedly committed by lawless groups, particularly in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region.”

Major General Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, reminded soldiers to “religiously” live the principles of human rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law.

“To the general public, rest assured that your Army will strictly adhere to the rules and procedures set forth by higher headquarters in the conduct of internal security operations in Eastern Visayas,” said Farnacio in a statement issued on Saturday.

“I urged the communities to be extra vigilant in reporting to the proper authorities the presence of suspected armed groups or individuals that will sow terror in their respective communities,” he added.

The memorandum, titled “Reinforcing the guidelines for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in the implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence,” has ordered the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to coordinate with each other in deploying the troops.

Arcinas expects that Samar will get augmentation force from the PNP national headquarters and the regional mobile force battalion.

“Everything is normal and manageable. The deployment of more personnel is part of the PNP’s regular program. The President wants to reinforce police and military presence to sustain peace in Samar,” he added.

The decision to supress lawless violence is justified, since it is based on intelligence reports received by the Office of the President from various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Arcinas said.

Samar province has been a stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA) due to the place's densely-forested mountainous areas, high poverty incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness based on a 2013 study of William Norman Holden of the University of Calgary in Canada.

The NPA launched its first tactical operation in the country in Calbiga, Samar in 1974, when its members ambushed an Army scout patrol and seized a number of weapons. In 1976, the NPA gained popular support among the inhabitants of Samar, following its actions against cattle rustling gangs.

The most recent encounter between the military and the NPA was on the night of Nov. 20 in Paranas, Samar. No one was hurt in the 10-minute gun battle. Soldiers recovered from the encounter site two improvised explosive devices, one rifle grenade, empty magazines, and empty shells.

Some areas in Samar province are threatened not only by the NPAs, but also by the presence of private armed groups allegedly supported by politicians. (SQM/PNA)

NHCP unveils marker for centuries-old church in Samar

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Nov. 26  – The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) unveiled on Sunday the marker for the 233-year-old Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral here.

Gracing the event were NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante, Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, and Samar first district Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento.

The church will now be included in the list of the Philippine Registry of Cultural Property with the installation of the marker.

With the marker, the government has now the power and right to help or provide funds in the preservation and protection of the church, according to Escalante.

“We see this structure now not as the house of God but a national treasure, that becomes part of the history. The National Historical Commission is here to help if there are problems encounters in this structure,” Escalante said.

He cited as example the assistance given by the national government to the churches in Bohol and Cebu provinces damaged by a strong earthquake in 2013.

The government set aside more than PHP1 billion for the rehabilitation of 10 historical churches that were damaged by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol and Cebu provinces on Oct. 15, 2013.

Escalante also said since the structure is now included at the Philippine Registry of Cultural Properties, the Department of Tourism (DOT) will now include it in the list of historical structures that they have to promote.

Bishop Abarquez, in his message, described the installation of the marker as a significant day for the Diocese of Calbayog.

“This is our contribution to the city’s 70th charter anniversary that could help in promoting tourism and to the development of the city. This is to remind the people that the city’s improvement is a blessing of God,” he said.

The church official noted that the Calbayog Cathedral is called as the mother of all dioceses in Eastern Visayas, being the first Cathedral to be established in the Samar and Leyte areas.

Prior to becoming a diocese, Calbayog was first a "visita" of Capul Island in the 1700s. In 1785, Calbayog was raised to parish status, almost two decades after the Jesuits left. In 1788, it had its first Franciscan pastor, Fray Benito del Carmen.

It was on April 10, 1910 by a decree of Saint Pope Pius X, when Calbayog was declared as Diocese after Samar and Leyte were separated from Cebu. (RTA/PNA)

Cyclists call anew for road safety in PH

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 26 - A group of clean air advocates is calling for stricter implementation of laws for the safety of bikers and pedestrians as they staged a biking event in this city Sunday night.

Firefly Brigade Philippines president Jack Yabut, who led the five-man riders from Baguio to Tacloban, said everyone needs to observe traffic rules for the safety of bikers and pedestrians alike.

“That’s the purpose of this ride. We are doing a trans-Philippine or trans-country ride connecting all the major island and all the major cities and towns and provinces and regions through biking. The Philippines is a beautiful country to travel to and every traveller has to be safe whether you are riding a car, motorcycle or bicycle,” Yabut added.

He urged authorities to strictly enforce road safety laws and provide infrastructure support to bicycle users like providing bicycle lanes.

“This is a concerted effort by all, not only from us, the advocates, but also from the motorists and the government to implement laws that will protect and safeguard the pedestrians and bikers,” Yabut said.

“These bicycle lanes do need to be a visible structure. It can also be an invisible bicycle lane like in Japan where giving bikers safe space in the road is already part of their culture,” Yabut added.

Providing bicycle lane is a big challenge, especially in urban areas, where spaces to expand roads are very limited, Firefly Connections Founder Lyndon Yeo said.

Yeo, along with fellow Singaporean Mervyn Chan, flew all the way from Singapore to Tacloban to join the first “Salubungan” (encounter) in Eastern Visayas.

“One of the biggest challenges is putting up a bike lane especially in big cities. There is always this sense of being safe when you are a cyclist. There is always this right of the motorists to think that the road belongs to them,” Yeo said.

Being healthy and physically fit is not the only benefit that biking gives but it also has economic, environmental, social, emotional and psychological benefits, Yeo noted.

More than 300 bikers joined the “Salubungan” event at the San Juanico Bridge as part of an intensified promotion of a safe zone for pedestrian and bicycle users.

Organized by the Firefly Brigade and Wetland International, the event attracted participants from Luzon. They started their biking journey from Baguio to Metro Manila last week before heading to Bicol region and crossed the sea to reach Eastern Visayas.

Joining their team at Allen port were biking enthusiasts from Northern Samar, who joined them in their journey to Tacloban City.

During the event, the lights of the bridge were turned off as the bikers crossed the iconic 2.2 kilometers bridge that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.

Like firefly in the night, the blinkers of the bikes guided the bikers on their way to the Leyte side from the Samar side of the bridge.

After a day’s rest, the bikers will continue their journey south on Tuesday to Liloan port in Southern Leyte and cross the Surigao Strait to reach Mindanao - with Davao City as their final destination.

In Davao, the bikers will be meet by organizers, who will bike with them until they reach the Philippine Eagle Sanctuary.

Formed in 1999, Firefly Brigade citizen’s volunteer action group works for clean air and a habitable, people-friendly environment in cities in the country. (RTA/PNA)

Espenido back in Eastern Visayas

PALO, Leyte, Nov. 26 -- Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido, who led the government’s anti-drug war, is back in Eastern Visayas for a new assignment in Samar province, a regional official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Monday.

PNP Eastern Visayas officer-in-charge, Senior Supt. Ariel Arcinas said in a press briefing that Espenido has already reported to the regional office on Friday and attended the flag ceremony on Monday. The controversial official got his transfer order on November 20.

The police officer, one of President Rodrigo R. Duterte's key anti-drug enforcers, will be assigned to Samar police provincial office.

There have been reports that Espenido will head the Calbayog City police office. The city is known for election-related violence every poll season.

“Espenido’s return is a normal process in the PNP since he was previously assigned here. This is just normal for every police official. It just so happens that he’s popular,” Arcinas said told reporters Monday.

Espenido was the chief of police in Albuera, Leyte when the town's then Mayor Rolando Espinosa, who was a drug suspect, was shot dead inside the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City in 2016.

He was transferred to Ozamiz the following year where then Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog and 14 others linked to illegal drugs were killed in pre-dawn raids.

Last month, the PNP’s top leadership ordered his transfer as chief of police of Virac, Catanduanes.

The PNP also belied reports that policemen in the region signed a petition for Espenido’s return due to the alleged resurgence of illegal drugs in Eastern Visayas. (SQM/PNA)

DILG to launch barangay SGLG in 2019

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 24 -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will bring the much-coveted Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) down to the barangay (village) level next year.

The department has been developing the scheme for the village-level SGLG and it is ready for launch next year, said Assistant Secretary Marivel Sacendoncillo, who is also director of DILG 8 (Eastern Visayas).

“By conferring the seal on qualified barangays, we hope to see real decentralization practiced down to the grassroots,” Sacendoncillo said on Thursday.

Launched in 2014, the SGLG, which evolved from its predecessor the Seal of Good Housekeeping in 2011, is an award and incentive program for performing local government units.

It is based on the core areas of financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, and any of the essential areas -- business friendliness and competitiveness, peace and order, and environmental management, otherwise known as the "3+1" principle of the Seal.

Winners will get cash rewards, which will be used to develop projects in their communities.

The Commission on Audit (COA), according to the DILG official, will embark on a massive training of citizens to participate in the auditing process. Audit findings will help the central government identify if barangay officials are good in financial housekeeping.

“The hurdle is the audit since COA cannot conduct an audit in all villages of the country. The audit for villages is being done every three years and not all areas are covered. Remember that in the barangay level, many magic are happening,” Sacendoncillo said.

For 2018, the DILG conferred the SGLG award to only five local government units in Eastern Visayas – Salcedo and Sulat in Eastern Samar; Barugo, Leyte; Gamay, Northern Samar; and Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte. (SQM/PNA)