Disaster impact threatens Eastern Visayas’ 2017 economy

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29  -- The two major natural calamities that battered Eastern Visayas region this year may slow down the 2017 regional economic growth after four years of reeling from the impacts of super typhoon Yolanda.

The magnitude 6.5 earthquake that shook Leyte Island on June 6, 2017 and Tropical Storm Urduja that ravaged Biliran province mid-December are considered by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as major setbacks in sustaining economic growth.

The ground-shaking has destroyed facilities of geothermal power plants, triggering a week of total blackout in the region’s six provinces and nearby islands and two weeks of rotational brownouts. It killed four people and injured 100 others.

The earthquake may not be very damaging to lives and properties, but its aftermath disrupted economic activities of major industries, said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

“We are losing about 10 percent of our economic output if there’s brownout for a day,” Uy said

Eastern Visayas is one of the seismically active areas in the country because of the Philippine Fault and the Philippine Trench, which are the main earthquake generators, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

“The region’s geographic location, facing the Pacific Ocean and within the Pacific Ring of Fire, makes it prone to all known natural hazards, aggravated by climate change effects,” the official added.

Oliver Cam, business sector representative to the Regional Development Council said power interruptions in July caused weeks of shutdown of two major industries – the Philippine Smelting and Refinery Corp. and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corp. both in Isabel, Leyte.

“The impact of power shutdown to the overall economy may be significant since manufacturing subsector accounts 17 percent to the Gross Regional Development Product,” Cam said.

The official recalled that the tremendous decline in the production of basic metals after PASAR was razed by fire had pulled down the growth of the industry sector to negative 18.5 percent, a sharp reversal from the 1.7 percent growth in 2011.

In 2014, the industry sector value-added growth plunged to negative 3.3 percent due to the production decline of two giant firms after super typhoon Yolanda pummelled Leyte Island.

Consequently, Eastern Visayas was the only region in the country that displayed contraction in its industrial value by about seven percent from 2011 to 2015.

STORM URDUJA

Biliran, the most economically improved province in the region with a poverty incidence of only 17 percent as of 2015, suffered the brunt of slow moving Tropical Storm Urduja a week before Christmas.

Its heavy rains triggered widespread flooding and massive landslide in one of the country’s smallest provinces with a population of only 171,612, less than the number of people in Tacloban City, the regional capital.

Urduja left a massive trail of destruction as landslide buried dozens of houses, cut water and power supplies, and isolated Naval town, the provincial capital as major bridges collapsed.

In the entire region, the calamity killed more than 50 people, the Office of the Civil Defense reported.

Natural disasters inflict serious damage as it destroys tangible assets such as buildings and equipment as well as human resource, hence, reducing production capacity, said Uy.

“We’re still hopeful to achieve respectable if not a remarkable growth since post-Yolanda reconstruction program is continuing. Huge funds have been released this year to government agencies for economic improvement,” Uy explained.

In storm-hit areas, government response is immediate, hence, reducing risks of economic downfall, Uy added.

“The focus in the response phase is meeting the basic needs of the people while the government is looking for more permanent and sustainable solutions,” he said.

Citing the destruction of powerful post-“Yolanda” typhoons such as “Ruby” (2014) in Eastern Samar and “Nona” (2015) in Northern Samar, Uy said “Urduja’s” impact may not be reflected in the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP).

“The most affected sector by weather disturbances is the agriculture sector, where majority of the region’s population depends on it. However, its contribution to the total economy is lower than the manufacturing subsector,” the NEDA regional chief said.

The year-on-year decline in agriculture and fishery output resulted to decreasing share of the sector to the regional economy from 21.9 percent in 2011 to 16.7 percent in 2015.

Despite recent disasters, the region is still keeping the 5.2 percent to 7 percent economic growth and reduce poverty incidence by half to 22 percent within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The challenge is on maintaining the record-high 12.4 percent growth in the GRDP and the decade-low poverty incidence at 38.7 percent attained last year.

Poverty incidence went down, but it is still the country’s third highest next to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (53.7 percent) and Caraga Administrative Region (39.1 percent).

The predominantly agriculture region is situated in the middle of the Philippines and serves to link the islands of Luzon and Mindanao through the national road and nautical highway that runs through it. (SQM/PNA)

No dengvaxia vaccination in Region 8: DOH

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29  -- The Department of Health has dismissed reports that a girl was hospitalized after receiving the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine in the region, saying the patient was immunized in Luzon.

DOH regional information officer John Paul Roca said on Friday the 12-year-old girl, one of the vaccine recipients reportedly admitted at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) after suffering dengue, was given Dengvaxia in Bulacan province.

Her family visited their hometown in Catbalogan City in Samar for the Christmas holidays.

“She was first admitted at the Samar Provincial Hospital then transferred to EVRMC, where she was monitored. Good thing that her blood platelet count became normal and was already discharged from the hospital,” Roca said on Friday.

The DOH maintained that no one received the controversial vaccine in the region based on monitoring both in state-run hospitals and privately-owned facilities.

The health department also reminded everyone that whether or not a person have been vaccinated by Dengvaxia, there is high possibility of suffering severe dengue once bitten by a dengue virus-carrier mosquito.

“A clean environment and in your homes are ways to prevent acquiring dengue,” he added.

Dengvaxia developed by Sanofi Pasteur, is a live recombinant tetravalent dengue vaccine, based on the yellow fever 17D vaccine strain, given as a three-dose series with six months between each dose.

The vaccine has four components, encoding for antigens of the four dengue virus strains. It is the first dengue vaccine to be licensed, according to the World Health Organization.

The vaccine became controversial after its manufacturer admitted that 10 percent of over 800,000 students who were immunized with Dengvaxia, but did not have a prior dengue infection, now face contracting a "severe disease."

The issue forced the DOH to halt its nationwide dengue immunization program and it was followed with investigations by the House of Representatives. (SQM/With reports from Mary Fatima T. Berongoy, OJT/PNA)

Tourism road projects up in Southern Leyte in 2018

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 29 -- The Department of Public Works and Highways field office has set aside PHP60 million to upgrade existing roads leading to five tourism destinations in Southern Leyte next year.

In a statement released by DPWH Friday, the agency said they already bidded out the tourism road projects early of December to ensure timely completion next year.

“Of the first seven 2018 projects bidded this month, five are tourism roads,” said DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said.

These road-access projects lead to Bitoon beach in Liloan town, Buenavista dive site in Padre Burgos town, Calag-itan fish sanctuary and Doña Marta and Casa Isabel Cave in Hinunangan town, and Hindag-an falls in St. Bernard town.

“These roads are just few of our many projects next year in our effort to make the province more accessible to travellers and tourists,” Junia added.

Works for the concreting will include construction of covered canal and installation of slope protection.

The site for tourism access road project has been identified through a convergence between the DPWH and Department of Tourism in the bid to attract more tourists to less developed communities. (SQM/PNA)

Netizens urged to help check internet speed through app

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28  -- The region’s business group has encouraged the public to use a mobile application to help monitor the status of internet connectivity in Eastern Visayas.

Oliver Cam, private sector representative to the Regional Development Council (RDC), said they had been seeking support from different sectors to raise public awareness on the benefits of using project BASS (bandwidth and signal strength).

“This is a crowd source monitoring tool that will measure the signal strength of a mobile carrier in an area and compile the local data available that would help improve the internet speed in the country,” Cam said on Thursday.

The project’s primary aim is to inform the telecommunication companies which areas need improvement, especially with the internet speed, which has been a big issue in the country, the businessman added.

“If the information and communication technology infrastructure in the country will improve, it will reduce poverty incidence since internet speed has a direct impact to poverty based on studies conducted from 2007 to 2010 in four Eastern African countries,” Cam said.

The concept of the use of the Project BASS application is based on the principle of Hawthorne Effect which is the tendency to perform or perceive differently when one knows they are being observed, Cam said.

“Using this principle will help the telecommunication companies to take steps on improving their services as they are aware that their performance are being observed and measured,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

He also encouraged the local government units and government agencies to use the application to further improve their projects.

The developers are working for the Windows version of the app so that installation will be available for laptops and desktop computers.

The project will be presented in future meetings of RDC and sectoral committees, added Cam . (SQM/with reports from Jeraldyn Bagasin, OJT/PNA)

6 firecracker injuries reported in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28  -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas on Thursday reported six firecracker-related injuries during this year’s first week of holiday revelries.

Four of the six blast victims, reported from December 1 to December 27, are from Dolores, Eastern Samar; one from Salcedo, Eastern Samar; and a lone victim from this city.

Five of the victims were reported on Christmas Day and one on Christmas Eve, said DOH regional information officer John Paul Roca in a press briefing.

The health department has no record of firecracker-related injuries in the same period last year.

Despite the reported cases during the period, health officials are optimistic that there will be less number of injuries this year. From December 21, 2016 to January 5, 2017, the region reported 98 blast victims.

The health department has no record of firecracker-related injuries in the same period next year, but officials are very positive that the number of casualties will be way below than in 2016 due to the strict implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 28.

The EO signed last June 20, limits the use of firecrackers in the country. The directive confines the use of firecrackers to “community fireworks display.”

Victims from Eastern Samar ignited sparklers and piccolo. The most serious was in Salcedo where the victim’s left index finger had to be amputated due to severe infection.

The lone victim in this city were brought to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center after she was slightly hurt by “lantaka” explosion.

“Lantaka” is a home-made bazooka made of either bamboo or recycled empty cans traditionally used to make noise during Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“We have been reminding the public not to use firecrackers to welcome the New Year. Instead, use some alternatives to avoid accidents. We also encourage local government units to hold community fireworks display,” Roca said.

The DOH will continue the monitoring of firecracker-related injuries until January 5, 2018. (SQM/With reports from Vic Domingo Obaob OJT/PNA)

Region 8 welcomes loan validity extension for Samar Road

 TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 27 -- The Eastern Visayas Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) has welcomed the recent approval on the extension of validity of Korean-funded USD20.63-million loan for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road.

In a meeting held Wednesday, RPMC Chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said the extension will ensure the improvement of the 109.3 kilometers road.

The extension will cover civil works for the 11.3-kilometer unpaved section of the coastal road and construction of three bridges. These projects are not included in the original proposal.

“The Samar Pacific Coastal Road will eventually complete the circumferential road loop for Samar Island. This will enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces,” Uy said.

The approval has paved the way for the Department of Public Works and Highways to award the contract for the project before Christmas holidays, he said.

The NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has approved last December 6 the loan validity extension of the foreign-funded project from Jan. 18, 2018 to Jan. 17, 2020.

The extension of the implementation from September 2017 - July 2019 to January 2018 - December 2019 was also approved.

The project has been delayed due to security issues, bidding failures, concerns on hiring of consulting services, and late submission of deliverable bidding documents.

The Korea Export-Import Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan No. Phl-14 was signed on Aug. 19, 2013 and took effect on Jan. 17, 2014 with original closing date of January 16, 2018.

The DPWH completed the detailed engineering design last Oct. 8, 2015. Pre-procurement conference for selection of contractors was held Jan. 11, 2017, followed by pre-bid conference on February 7 and submission of technical and financial proposal on February 28.

The government submitted the report to the Korean bank on Mar. 25, 2017 and was concurred last July 5, 2017.

The fund will also be used for civil works, payment of consulting services, and for contingencies.

The foreign-funded project is on top of the ongoing works for the Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis that link Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces. (SQM/PNA)

Post-‘Urduja’ recovery plan for Biliran to be prepared

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 27  -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is eyeing to complete the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) for Biliran next month to be able to map out a post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation plan.

National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy told Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that the RDANA led by OCD was just completed in eight Biliran towns.

Biliran is still reeling from the damage suffered after Tropical Storm Urduja hit the province more than a week ago.

RDANA is a disaster response tool used immediately during the early and critical onset of a disaster.

It aims to determine the immediate relief and response requirements, and identifies the magnitude of a disaster by focusing on the general impact on the society and the people’s coping capacity.

“The next step is to conduct a write shop focused on consolidating the programs, projects and activities and policy recommendations as well as potential risks or bottlenecks to implementation,” said Uy also the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) vice chairperson for disaster rehabilitation and recovery.

The plan, which will outline the rebuilding strategy, will be published within the first quarter of 2018. It comprise the investment program with specific cost estimates per year of implementation.

The RDRRMC is tasked to come up with the recovery and rehabilitation plan, which will be patterned after Super Typhoon Yolanda that pummeled Leyte and Samar provinces and Typhoon Nona that ravaged Northern Samar.

It will be divided into four sectors - infrastructure, social, productive, and cross-sectoral.

“Preparing this plan is one of the top priorities of our office since this will be the basis of the government’s response to help Biliran recover and build back better from Tropical Storm Urduja,” Uy added.

The planning will gather RDRRMC key officials from OCD, NEDA, Biliran provincial government, Department of Science and Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department Social Welfare and Development.

The Biliran provincial disaster risk reduction and management council reported that landslides and flooding brought by the tropical storm has killed 42 people and 14 others missing.

The weather disturbance has displaced 22,535 families or 90,000 persons in Biliran province alone.

Biliran is one of the country's smallest provinces with a land area of 536 square kilometers and a population of 171,612 as of 2015.

Formerly a sub-province of Leyte, it became an independent province in 1992. (SQM/PNA)

Power restored in all 117 storm-hit Biliran villages

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 26  -- The Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco) has restored electricity in all 117 villages of Biliran province battered by Tropical Storm Urduja more than a week ago.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page Tuesday, Bileco said power restoration was completed on the night of December 24 with two villages in Naval town as the last areas energized after the destructive storm.

“Please take note that there are still portions in some villages which remain un-energized to date. Our linemen are now exerting effort to restore power in these areas up to household level,” the power cooperative said.

Bileco said that restoration works were hampered by mobility as some roads have been closed due to landslides and damaged bridges. 

The sole power service provider in Biliran province has 34,066 household connections in 117 villages.

The cooperative’s initial report showed that more than a hundred electric poles were toppled or sustained damage. The storm incurred damage cost of primary lines pegged at PHP11 million.

Last week, the Bileco board of directors passed resolutions to avail calamity loan from the National Electrification Administration and approved emergency purchase of rehabilitation materials after the local government declared Biliran province under state of calamity. (SQM/PNA)

East Visayas cop chief lauds men for ‘Urduja’ response

PALO, Leyte, Dec. 26  -- The Philippine National Police in Eastern Visayas on Tuesday lauded its personnel for responding to the needs of residents displaced by Tropical Storm “Urduja” last week.

PNP-Eastern Visayas regional director, Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, said policemen were actively involved -- from the evacuation before the storm’s landfall to the retrieval of bodies and relief distribution after the typhoon.

“Some policemen had to brave crossing up to neck-deep water to save residents trapped inside houses due to massive flooding,” Cruz said.

After the typhoon, policemen and soldiers joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units in distributing relief goods.
Policemen also helped clear roads of fallen trees and landslide debris.

“We are thankful for the dedication of our policemen here in Region 8 to help and save people who are in need of assistance,” Cruz said.

As a member of the security force, he said their organization not only functions as a security provider, but also assists during emergencies.

The PNP top official in the region also distributed relief goods and water purifiers to affected villages in Biliran.

“Urduja” left a massive trail of destruction, especially in Biliran province where 42 people perished, with 14 bodies still missing as of December 24.

Worst hit by the landslide is Lucsoon village in the capital town of Naval where 21 bodies had been recovered. Six bodies remain missing as of this week.

Cruz led the search and rescue operation at the landslide site to recover fatalities and save those who are alive underneath the rubble of mud and big rocks.

A policewoman of the Biliran Police and her family were among the landslide victims. She remains missing as of press time.

“We’re still hoping to see her alive. We don’t want to declare her death, not unless we see her body,” Cruz added. (RTA/PNA)

Water sources in storm-hit Biliran towns contaminated

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 26  -- Residents of Naval town in Biliran province were warned on Tuesday to refrain from drinking water coming from open sources, such as deep wells due to coliform bacteria, particularly E-coli, contamination.

Naval’s local health office collected the samples last Dec. 20 and sent them to the Biliran Provincial Hospital for analysis. At least 16 water sources, including water refilling stations, have been subjected to sampling.

Aside from regular water potability test, health officials immediately conduct water sampling after every disaster to ensure that its sources are free from contamination.
Biliran suffered from massive landslide and flooding brought about by Tropical Storm Urduja last week.

Of the 16 sources tested, E-coli was found in 10 sources, and coliform, in three sources, including a water refilling station.

The findings prompted Naval Mayor Gerard Espina to order the temporary stoppage of operations of the said refilling station.

“Residents who have been getting drinking water from deep wells may visit their sanitary inspectors for testing to ensure public safety,” Espina said in a mobile phone interview on Tuesday.

Coliform and e-coli are types of bacteria normally found in digestive tracts and wastes of animals and humans. They are also present in plant and soil material. Some strains of these bacteria can cause diarrhea and other serious illnesses.

In Almeria town, bacteria have been detected in water sources through rigid testing by the municipal health office from 15 water sources.

At least 12 water sources tested positive for E-coli while the rest were found contaminated with coliform, said Dexter Narrido, the town’s local government operations officer.

“We advised families to boil their water before drinking and use boiled water to wash dishes to prevent food contamination,” Narrido told Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) recently distributed 15 water purifiers in several storm-hit villages in Biliran.

“We are aware that after every calamity, safer water is a basic need of affected residents. We turned over purifiers to ensure that people drink clean water,” said PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz.

Aside from water purifiers, the PNP also distributed relief goods, each pack of which contained five kg. of rice and some canned goods. Children also received new clothes, bags, school supplies, and flip flops. (RTA/PNA)

Rock fall hits major Samar road

CALBAYOG CITY, Samar, Dec. 22  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways has closed a section of a primary highway that links Samar province to Luzon Island after a massive rock fall hit this city.

“Boulders as huge as houses fell Thursday night and we’re thankful that the incident happened far from residential areas,” said DPWH Samar first district engineer Alvin Ignacio on Friday.

Ignacio said that the area has a history of rock fall, but Thursday’s incident is the most devastating so far as boulders blocked the entire four-lane road.

Heavy rains in the province since last week triggered the rock fall.

The DPWH advised motorists going to the north and south to take the Catarman-Calbayog via Lope de Vega route.

On Friday morning, the DPWH made a detour road for the motorists to pass along the said area, but still limit the passage of vehicles.

“Some motorists still want to pass on the area despite our advisory to take the Lope de Vega route, so we just made a detour road for them to pass but controlled and scheduled,” Ignacio added.

However, in its advisory issued late Friday afternoon, the DPWH field office said the portion of the rock fall-hit road will be temporarily closed to traffic to all types of vehicles.

“The clearing operations and the continuing repair or improvement of the constructed detour road will be temporarily stopped due to darkness and the danger of another rock fall,” the DPWH said in a statement.

The Calbayog-Allen Road is a vital link of Luzon-bound vehicles from Mindanao and Eastern Visayas regions. It leads to a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) port in Allen, Northern Samar.

For decades, RoRo ferries cross the San Bernardino Strait, transporting passengers and vehicles to and from Allen Port and Matnog Port in Sorsogon. With a distance 28 kilometers, the average travel time is one hour and 30 minutes. (JAB/PNA)

DPWH to replace 4 timber bridges in Eastern Samar

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar, Dec. 22 -- Four existing timber bridges in the towns of Maslog and Dolores, Eastern Samar will soon be replaced with permanent bridges, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

DPWH Eastern Samar district engineering office chief Manolo Rojas said on Thursday, they would soon construct four concrete projects along Hinolaso, Dolores-Maslog Road.

The bridges to be constructed include the PHP43.69-million Hinolaso Bridge III, PHP20-million Hinolaso Bridge, PHP17.77-million Hinolaso Bridge I, and PHP14.63-million Villahermosa Bridge.

The improvements of these four bridges connecting Hinolaso village, Dolores town to the interior town of Maslog, will result to higher farm productivity, transportation efficiency for agriculture products and consumers’ access to affordable, healthy and safe goods, said Rojas.

It has been observed that heavy vehicles don’t reach Maslog town due to absence of concrete bridges.

Maslog is a fifth-class town with 5,407 population. It can be reached by a four-hour motorboat ride.

Maslog is also a recipient of the government’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan project. The projects include the rehabilitation of a major road connecting Maslog to the national road and neighboring towns and provision of livelihood support to farmers. (VCA/PNA)

Gift-giving sparks students' hopes in flood-prone Leyte school

TANAUAN, Leyte, Dec. 22 -- A gift of school supplies brought back the smile on Jonabel Garcelazo's face after the recent flooding brought by tropical storm Urduja soaked her most valued learning materials.

Jonabel, whose dream is to become a lawyer, is very grateful for the Christmas gift she got on Thursday, knowing that her mother, Joan, has no means to buy her basic classroom needs.

“This is my first time to receive a gift like this. This really motivated me to study. I am aware that my mother has no budget for new school supplies,” said the Grade 6 srudent, who turned emotional as she grasped a plastic envelope filled notebooks, pens, crayons and papers.

Jonabel’s mother separated from her husband more than 10 years ago and leaving her no choice but to support her three children as a farm laborer, earning only PHP200 daily from eight hours of difficult jobs usually done by men.

“I really want to become a lawyer and help those who are oppressed to fight for their rights,” said Jonabel, although uncertain of who will support her college education.

Jonabel is one of the 156 pupils of Sacme Elementary School who received school supplies through the “Light the World” campaign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or commonly known as Mormon Church.

The campus is located in a flood-prone community of Sacme, a farming village in Tanauan, a coastal town in Leyte province.

Surrounded by rice fields, the school suspends classes many times in a year as floodwaters enter classrooms and swamp pathways during typhoon and rainy days.

Teacher Merriam Domael said this act of service is very timely as floodwaters caused by tropical storm Urduja soaked notebooks and papers.

“It breaks my heart seeing some children coming to school without a single piece of paper inside their bags. These gifts really means a lot to us,” Domael shared.

Local LDS church leader Rodel Almeria said churchgoers contributed money to buy school supplies for the Light the World campaign, now on its second year.

The LDS Church launched its global Christmas campaign on Nov. 26, 2017 with the goal to inspire individuals, families, and youth groups to be a light of the world by emulating the Savior’s example of service.Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the LDS Church has established congregations and built temples in six continents.

From the original six members when the Church was first formed in 1830, the restored Church of Jesus Christ has now grown to a membership of nearly 16 million people, according to its website. (SQM/PNA)

Leyte employees get more Christmas incentives

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 22 -- Capitol employees of Leyte province are set to receive PHP20,000 bonus.

Out of the amount, PHP15,000 is for the Collection Negotiation Agreement (CNA) incentive while the additional PHP5,000 is for the Performance Enhancement Incentive (PEI).

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said during Thursday night’s Christmas party at the capitol that employees deserve more than their bonus for working hard in helping the provincial government perform well this year.

“I am proud to say I am your leader here in the province, because I have you as employees who work well and do their best so we can provide the services our people need,” Petilla said.

He said that although the province did not earn the Seal of Good Local Governance this year, due to intensified qualifications, it was still recognized for its Good Financial Housekeeping by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

This should instead become a source of inspiration to do better next year and earn that seal, the governor said.

He likewise lauded the employees in their effort in making sure the success of several projects initiated under his administration.

Capitol employees welcomed the release of the signing bonus. Last year, the provincial government provided extra cash gift of PHP15,000 while in 2015 employees were given PHP20,000.

Job order employees will also receive PHP8,000 this year.

Capitol employees just received their salary adjustment this year pursuant to the approved Salary Standardization Law. (ACR/PNA)

Power restored in 65 storm-hit Biliran villages

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21  -- The Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco) has restored electricity supply to 65 out of 117 villages in province after tropical storm “Urduja” damaged power lines.

In a statement released Thursday, Bileco said of all the seven towns connected to the main grid, only the town of Kawayan is now experiencing power outage since the storm pummeled the region last week.

“Restoration works have been hampered by mobility as some roads are still inaccessible due to landslides and damaged bridges. Our priority is to repair the backbone leading to Kawayan town to attain 100 percent energization in all covered towns,” the electric cooperative said in statement issued Thursday noon.

Bileco, the sole power service provider in Biliran province, has 34,066 household connections in 117 villages.

In an advisory issued on December 18, the NGCP said power transmission operations in Visayas are back to normal operations as the firm successfully completed the restoration of lines damaged by the storm.

The cooperative’s initial report showed that more than a hundred electric poles were toppled or with damage cost of primary lines pegged at PHP11 million as of December 18.

Early this week, the Bileco board of directors passed several resolutions to avail of calamity loan from the National Electrification Administration and approve the emergency purchase of rehabilitation materials after the local government declared Biliran province under a state of calamity. (SQM/PNA)

Army honors wounded relief troops in Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21  -- The Philippine Army has recognized the bravery of wounded soldiers who fought the New People’s Army (NPA) who attacked humanitarian response team in Catubig, Northern Samar.

Brig. Gen. Mario Lacurom, 803rd brigade commander, pinned the wounded personnel medal to Corporal Yzazel Laure and Pfc. Ronald Gomez on Thursday while in confinement. The Northern Samar provincial government awarded PHP40,000 cash and grocery packs to each soldier.

Gomez suffered a bullet wound in the buttocks while Laure was hit in the belly when about 50 rebels attacked them, triggering an hour-long firefight Sunday afternoon in Hinagonoyan village, Catubig town.

The military was heading to flooded communities to help bring residents to higher grounds and transport relief goods.

Top military officials condemned the attack of NPA terrorists against soldiers delivering food relief to families affected by Tropical Storm “Urduja”, calling it cowardly and inhuman.

Despite the attack, Lacurom promised that the military will continue serving the people especially in times of calamities. He branded the attack as a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law.

“We deplore this kind of act of terrorist NPA that instead of helping the victims of disasters, they are making the disaster response complicated to the detriment of those who are already affected,” Lacurom said.

Despite the recent declaration of President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend military operations against the New People’s Army, the military in Northern Samar will remain vigilant and mindful of their safety during the holiday truce, according to Lacurom.

The ceasefire would run from Dec. 24, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018 and the Palace expects the communist rebels to return the favor. (RTA/PNA)

E. Visayas storm death toll climbs to 46

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 20  -- Death toll from Tropical Storm Urduja has climbed to 46 in Eastern Visayas region Wednesday morning while 49 are still missing, according to initial reports of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC).

Of the total fatalities, 33 are from Biliran, the most devastated province by the slow moving storm that crossed central Philippines last week. Its heavy rains triggered landslides and flooding.

Outside Biliran, storm-related deaths were also reported in Ormoc City, Tacloban City, and Mahaplag in Leyte; Maydolong, Guiuan, Lawaan, and Taft in Eastern Samar; Daram, Pinabacdao, and Sta. Rita towns in Samar.

Lucsoon village in Naval, the capital of Biliran province , has the most number of deaths at 19 due to massive landslide that buried several houses.

Of the 49 missing in the region, 17 are from Lucsoon village.

At least 26 victims succumbed to landslides and 21 died from drowning, the RDRRMC regional report added.

The storm has damaged 4,289 houses and destroyed learning facilities in 535 schools in Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, as of Wednesday morning, there are 4,000 food packs received by the provincial government from the Department of Social Welfare and Development .

The shipment is part of the 25,000 food packs committed by the central government when President Rodrigo Duterte visited the typhoon-stricken province on Monday.

Prioritized in the distribution of initial shipments are the towns of Culaba, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, and Almeria. (SQM/PNA)

DSWD- 8 ends accepting ‘Urduja’ damage report

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 20  -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 8 office here will no longer accept damage reports from local government units affected by Tropical Storm “Urduja”.

DSWD disaster response and management unit head Pauline Nadera said they had set December 20 as deadline for the submission of damage reports.

The damage report will serve as a basis for the agency to find out how much is needed to meet the requirements of local governments as it moves on to the second round of relief distribution.

“Our assistance is really dependent on the reports of local government units. We need to know how much budget is needed,” Nadera said.

Nadera said that for the first round, the DSWD distributed food packs to all families in storm-hit areas.

The submitted local damage report will be used as basis as to how many families are qualified for the second round of food assistance from the government.

Aside from relief distribution, the DSWD is also preparing to carry out the early recovery and rehabilitation phase.

Before Urduja’s devastation, DSWD had 98,728 family food packs.

As of December 19, DSWD has released 65,973 family food packs, 127,678 blankets, 46,749 hygiene kits for storm-hit provinces.

The regional office initially shipped 2,700 family food packs to Biliran. Logistical hurdle is a challenge after flood waters cut off bridges connecting Biliran to Leyte province.

The DSWD Eastern Visayas assistance is on top of 15,000 family food packs from the agency’s regional office in Central Visayas.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the storm had displaced 52,428 families in Eastern Visayas region. (RTA/PNA)

Food depots eyed in calamity-prone areas: Piñol

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 19  -- President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the National Food Authority (NFA) to set up food supply depots in provinces highly susceptible to natural disasters.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the Chief Executive issued the directive on Monday during a briefing at the Naval State University in Biliran after mayors in the province complained of food supply shortage after the storm.

"The DSWD and NFA should work on that," Piñol said in his Facebook post Tuesday, quoting the President.

The idea of establishing food supply depot in areas frequently hit by natural calamities is not a new idea to Duterte, the agriculture secretary said.

“Long before he agreed to take up the challenge to run for President, he and I already talked about the need to ensure that there is ample food supply in areas often hit by typhoons,” he said.

The official said the idea came in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas where people resorted to food looting due to shortage.

“Then-Mayor Duterte said there should be the pre-positioning of food in areas identified to be in the path of a typhoon good for at least two weeks to forestall hunger among the people in isolated areas,” Piñol recalled.

Duterte's idea of food supply depots was presented during the APEC Agriculture Minister's Conference in Peru in 2016.

On Monday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development announced the delivery of 15,000 food packs from Cebu and 10,000 food packs from Leyte.

Duterte visited the storm-stricken province late Monday afternoon to check the impact of the storm.

He and his Cabinet promised to mobilize all resources to help one of the country’s smallest provinces recover. (SQM/PNA)

DOE to address fuel overpricing in storm-hit Biliran

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 19  -- The Department of Energy (DOE) will look into the reported overpricing of oil products in Biliran province after then-tropical storm “Urduja” damaged roads and bridges leading to the provincial capital.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said they have been receiving reports of gasoline price surge in Biliran province in the past few days.

“Because of the difficulty of our officials to get here, we urged local authorities and even social media users to document overpricing and report to us,” Fuentebella said during Monday afternoon’s press briefing at the Naval State University in the provincial capital.

In a Facebook post by Biliran Island, some gasoline stations have already closed Tuesday as oil supply ran out. The price of retail gasoline sold by some houses in Naval town now costs PHP90 to PHP100 per liter.

“Some Naval residents buy gasoline by the gallons from Calubian, Leyte crossing the Biliran Strait,” the FB post said.

Photos of long queues of oil consumers and closed gasoline stations in Biliran have been circulating in social networking sites

Fuentebella said of all fuel suppliers to Biliran, only Chevron in Ormoc City has closed after the storm. Still operating are Petron, Shell and Phoenix Petroleum with depots in nearby Leyte and Cebu provinces.

The DOE official said ship tankers would come to Biliran to avert shortage of petroleum products in the province.

The energy department has been working with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and electric cooperatives to immediately restore power in typhoon-stricken communities, Fuentebella said.

In an advisory issued Monday, the NGCP said power transmission operations in Visayas are back to normal operations as the firm successfully completed the restoration of lines damaged by the storm.

On Tuesday, the Biliran Electric Cooperative (Bileco) said power was restored in 20 villages of Biliran, Cabucgayan and Caibiran towns.

“Please take note that Bileco prioritizes the restoration of power in our backbone lines to serve the district towns in whole area coverage so that vital institutions can operate and provide the needed services to our people,” the power cooperative said in a statement.

Fuentebella reported that the Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant in Leyte was also damaged by the storm, consequently reducing its generation capacity from 463 megawatts to 215 megawatts. (SQM/With reports from Maria Fatima Berongoy, OJT/PNA)

DPWH builds detour bridges in Biliran

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 19  -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has set a 30-day timeline to make the two bridges in Biliran cut off by tropical storm “Urduja” to be passable.

During Monday afternoon’s press briefing at the Naval State University in Biliran’s capital, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said work had started to build detour bridges to make the Caraycaray and Catmon Bridges passable within a month.

“Expect that we are working full time. All DPWH assets are being deployed for immediate repair of damaged infrastructure,” Villar said.

The DPWH secretary said there’s an ongoing clearing operations in several sections of Biliran Circumferential Road to reopen access to the provincial capital. The highway is considered as alternative route to Naval town from Tacloban, the regional capital.

Taking the alternate highway means driving 90 kilometers farther from Biliran town to neighboring Naval town.

Catmon Bridge in Biliran town and Caraycaray Bridge in the capital town of Naval are categorized by DPWH as old bridges built 40 years ago without major rehabilitation activities, said DPWH regional information officer Antonieta Lim.

“The plan is to replace the two bridges with longer and taller structures so it can resist strong currents. The DPWH has yet to come up with budget requirements for these projects,” Lim said in a mobile phone interview.

Aside from Biliran-Naval Road, still impassable as of Tuesday morning is the highway linking Caibiran town to Naval due to landslide, eroded pavement, and badly damaged slope protection.

Villar was in Biliran to inspect collapsed bridges, blocked roads, and ongoing clearing operation in landslide-hit areas.

President Rodrigo Duterte visited the storm-stricken province late Monday afternoon to check the impact of the storm. The Chief Executive and his Cabinet promised to mobilize all resources to help the recovery of one of the country’s smallest provinces. (SQM/With reports from Jeraldyn F. Bagasin OJT/PNA)