Greenpeace ship brings anti-climate change drive to Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 28  -- Rainbow Warrior, the iconic ship of Greenpeace, docked in this storm-hit city Wednesday to hear and share stories of those who suffered from the impacts of climate change.

The 55-meter high ship that sails primarily under wind power arrived at the city port Wednesday morning and will stay in the regional capital until March 5. 

Super typhoon Yolanda survivor Joanna Sustento, 26, one of Greenpeace’s international climate justice champion, said it had always been her dream to see the campaign ship in her hometown where people suffered the brunt of climate change.

Sustento from the city’s Fatima village, lost her father, mother, brother, sister-in-law and nephew when the super typhoon struck on Nov. 8, 2013. She recalled how people from different parts of the world turned emotional whenever they heard stories of suffering of Tacloban residents.

“For them climate change is just changing winter clothes, but for us, climate change means losing our livelihood, our homes, and even the lives of our families,” Sustento told reporters in a press briefing on board the ship Wednesday.

The typhoon survivor is a business administration graduate  working as call center agent when Yolanda struck central Philippines. Since 2016, she had visited The Netherlands, Greece, Norway and Germany to share stories of suffering due to the effects of climate change.

Ship Captain Hettie Geenen said several activities had  been lined up to raise awareness on the need to act against climate change.

 “Back in the Philippines after almost 20 years I feel the same. I’m inspired by all your stories although most of them are quite painful. It’s time to act, we need to make sure the most responsible for climate change are accounted for,” Geenen told reporters.

On Thursday, Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines, will launch the LIVErary - a human library -- where storytellers and experts will share their knowledge and experiences on themes of loss and hope, pain and perspectives, as well as justice and injustice in the context of climate change.

“The LIVErary will be collecting and connecting peoples’ stories, as well as surfacing stories yet untold, of the impacts of the climate crisis on our rights as human beings. Remembering and sharing are key elements of justice and healing. They contribute to social memory, build on and strengthen the social and cultural fabric, and raise questions of accountability and responsibility, of what is fair and right, and what is unjust,” said Sustento, who will be one of the story tellers.

Representatives from other countries, who are also fighting to reclaim rights threatened by climate change, will also participate in the LIVErary. They are Ingrid Skjoldvær, former chair of Nature and Youth, an organization that, along with Greenpeace Nordic, has sued the Norwegian government for allowing new oil drilling in the Arctic; George Nacewa of the Pacific Climate Warriors in Fiji; and Kelsey Juliana, one of the youth plaintiffs who filed a constitutional climate lawsuit against the US government. 

“Responsible countries leave their oil in the ground. Norway claims to be a climate hero, but continues to drill in the Arctic. This violates our constitutional right to a safe environment and is deeply unfair to those already affected by climate change and future generations,” said Skjoldvær.

A permanent symbol of remembrance will be unveiled in Tacloban during the Rainbow Warrior’s visit. The Memorial Gift, a 2 meter-high installation made from scrap metal salvaged in the aftermath of Haiyan, is in the style of a crinkled paper boat to signify how strength (metal) can come from vulnerability (paper).

The Rainbow Warrior’s tour in the Philippines, dubbed “Balangaw: The Climate Justice Ship Tour”, is part of its five-month “Climate Change and People Power” tour of Southeast Asia.

The Rainbow Warrior is the first ship in the fleet designed and built specifically for Greenpeace. It’s also one of the most environmentally-friendly ships ever made, sailing primarily under wind power. (SQM/PNA)

Local school for folk dance pushed in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 27  -- The Leyte-Samar Heritage Society is pushing for the establishment of a school that will teach "Kuratsa", a local folk dance in Eastern Visayas to young generations.

“'Kuratsa' is still popular in our region, but we need to strengthen the awareness and consciousness of our youth to this dance because this is a heritage dance,” said University of the Philippines Tacloban professor Joyce Dorado Alegre of the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society on Monday.

This can be achieved by establishing a school for folk dance enthusiasts aimed at raising awareness on the dynamics of the traditional dance.

“Although most youth in the region know how to dance 'Kuratsa', learning its steps is not enough. One must also learn how to properly execute the steps and its meaning,” Alegre added in an interview.

The official said that in Indonesia, there were schools focusing on teaching their traditional dances to students.

Holding "Kuratsa" dance competition had been helping in introducing the dance to younger generations, but having a formal mode of transmission was better, said Alegre.

Currently, there’s only one school for living traditions in the region - the Basiao National High School in Basey, Samar that teaches children how to weave mats.

Kuratsa is one of the traditional dances in Leyte and Samar province. It is widely danced especially during fiesta, family reunions, and weddings.

It is referred to as a courtship dance where dancers imitate courtship movements of rooster and a hen in a creative way.

"When it is danced in a wedding, this becomes an expression of commitment of the family or affirmation of the clan and community in welcoming the newlywed," explained Alegre, a former steering committee chair of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Unlike other traditional dances in the Philippines, "Kuratsa’s" dance steps vary in different provinces in the region.

"Kuratsa Menor" is the most popular while other versions are "Kuratsa Mayor", "Kuratsa han Kadam-an", and "Kuratsa nga Pinayungan".

Movement of "Kuratsa" dance in Leyte is graceful yet gentle, emphasizing on the movement of female dancer, whose movement of feet is fine and intricate, a ritualistic dance.

The "Kuratsa" dance in Samar is more playful and lively where dancers especially men sometimes do fancy movements like imitating a rooster attracted to a hen.

“Dancing "Kuratsa" depends on the level of the dancer’s expertise and of the community. The more expert the dancer is, the more difficult the movements are,” she added.

In community, dancing "Kuratsa" is a way of raising fund because of the "gala" or "abwag".

"Gala" is the money that people offer to dancers, while "abwag" is the money tossed up on air by the dancers or the people who offer their money.

Mostly, "abwag" is done when politicians are the ones dancing Kuratsa or someone from a higher social status.

"'Kuratsa' sometimes helps politicians become more popular during campaign period. It’s a dance of affirmation of unity and sense of belonging. It’s really a community dance that helps strengthen people's social life,” Alegre added. (RTA/PNA)

Calbayog to ship dried fish to US

CALBAYOG CITY, Feb. 27  -- This city will bring the taste of dried fish to the United States, an official confirmed on Tuesday.

Samar (1st District) Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento said a private company that owns chains of store abroad would ship dried fish from Calbayog to the US to cater to Filipino communities.

“There is a great demand for dried fish in the US. We are not yet sure in terms of the number, but we are hoping that Calbayog City and Samar province will be one of the suppliers,” Sarmiento said.

There are about four million Filipinos currently living in the US, the second largest Asian group in that country, according to the US Census Bureau.

The company, which the solon declined to name, has already invested in improving the packaging and labeling of dried fish.

“They also committed to provide a fish drying machine so that people don’t have to rely on sunlight to dry the marine product,” Sarmiento added.

This development will particularly benefit poor fishing communities of Maguino-o, a village in the northern part of the city.

The city is known for producing Labtinao, a dried fish delicately marinated in local vinegar and seasoned with spice.

The lawmaker is optimistic that the potential of dried fish in the US market will compel fishing communities to protect marine resources to ensure sustainable fish production. (RTA/PNA)

PhilHealth E. Visayas eyes P4.4-B claims in 2018

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 27  -- The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is eyeing a PHP4.4 billion payment to Eastern Visayas members in 2018 with the full implementation of electronic claims system this year.

PhilHealth Eastern Visayas Regional Vice President Renato Limsiaco said about 500,000 patients in the region stand to benefit the government health insurance program in 2018.

“We expect higher benefit payment this year with electronic submission of claims and faster processing,” Limsiaco told Philippine News Agency (PNA) on the sidelines of awarding of best partners on Monday.

The projected claims in 2018 is 19 percent higher than the PHP3.68 billion worth of health insurance paid last year. The regional office maintains a 32 percent payment growth rate since 2010.

PhilHealth is eyeing to automate transaction of all hospitals in Eastern Visayas by mid-2018 to improve operational efficiency in the processing and payment of claims.

Under the automated system, encoded claims information in the hospital systems can now be submitted online via the PhilHealth web service, which will eventually provide hospitals and other institutional health care providers to view status of their claims online.

Limsiaco said automation would reduce turnaround time to 15 days from 42 to 50 days under the manual system.

In 2017, PhilHealth regional office recorded a 48 days turnaround time of claims processing, which ranked 6th nationwide. Health insurance has benefitted 471,169 patients in the region.

Eastern Visayas region, divided into six provinces, has 4.25 million PhilHealth members, representing 4.57 million of the region’s projected population as of last year. (SQM/PNA)

Eastern Visayas forms research, dev’t committee

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 27  -- The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) has formed a committee that will ensure that research and development activities are aligned with regional development thrusts.

In its first meeting Tuesday, the Regional Research, Development and Innovation Committee (RRDIC) assigned specific tasks to state universities and colleges (SUCs) to do research on priority commodities.

“Since there is no committee in the past, we just consolidated research and development priorities from different sectors. We have to make into one and assign specific commodities to each SUCs to really create economic development,” said RRDIC chair Edgardo Esperancilla, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional director.  

Members of the new committee are regional directors of the Departments of Agriculture, of Environment and Natural Resources, and of Health; Commission on Higher Education; presidents of SUCs and higher education institutions; and chairs of various consortia in the region.

Also included as members are presidents of industry groups with science and technology related advocacies, private sector representatives, officials from the local government units.

The region has existing consortium for agriculture, aquatic resources, health research and development, industry and energy, and emerging technology.

The proposal to create RRDIC was pushed in December 2016. RDC members reviewed the proposal in three quarterly meetings until it was finally approved on December 13, 2017.

Within the first two quarters of the year, the committee will also come up with the proposed Eastern Visayas Regional Research and Development Agenda for the years 2018 to 2022.

Now that new committee was created, Esperancilla is upbeat that more experts will engage in research and development.

With only 667 personnel, Eastern Visayas had the lowest number of R&D workers in the Visayas and the sixth lowest nationwide in 2013. (SQM/PNA)

200 drug surrenderers complete skills training in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 27  -- At least 200 former drug personalities will complete their 45-day skills training, a major program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here aimed at transforming drug surrenderers and help them reintegrate to the community.

These drug surrenderers, according to PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz are ready to return to normal lives and become productive citizens with the new skills acquired.

“The trainings are designed not just to help them earn money for their own and their family, but become first responders in their communities during calamities and emergencies,” Cruz added.

Courses offered to the surrenderers from the region’s six provinces are motorcycle servicing, service consumer electronic products and systems, food processing, organic vegetables cultivation, organic chicken raising, massage, emergency search and rescue, stress management, traffic management, village peacekeeping operations, self-defense techniques, environmental protection, conflict management, internal security operations, community integration, counseling, and healing.

There will be a graduation ceremony on March 5 at the Araw camp in this town. The Korean Army established the camp as their hub during the emergency phase after super typhoon Yolanda flattened Leyte towns in 2013.

The beneficiaries are expected to become trainers in their respective communities after their learning.

Each of them will receive a training completion certificate and an identification card from the PNP stating that they are fit to work.

Partners of the PNP in this program are the Technical Skills Development Authority, Department of Health, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Tacloban Rescue Unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Leyte provincial government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and private institutions.

On Sunday, the PNP sponsored a fun run dubbed as “Takbo para sa Pagbabago” (Run for Change) to raise funds as start-up capital for the 200 drug surrenderers.

The PNP will start the second batch of training in March enlisting 300 former drug users and traders as participants. (RTA/PNA)

Region 8 contractors asked to improve performance

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 27  -- Contractors of government infrastructure projects will be included in capacity building training by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here this year in preparation for massive construction activities in 2019.

DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon admitted on Tuesday that the limited capacity of contractors is a major setback to their goal to ensure timely completion of projects.

“What else can we do to increase our accomplishment rate if contractors have very limited capacity to implement projects? Tabacon asked.

This year, the DPWH regional office has invited contractors to attend trainings on conducting surveys, preparing project designs, and making plans. These trainings were originally designed for DPWH personnel, Tabacon said.

“The most challenging part is the limited capacity of contractors. We have to help them improve on some technical aspects of construction activities because they are so dependent on us to comply some required documents,” Tabacon said.

He also asked local contractors to buy equipment and hire more engineers in preparation for more roads and bridges projects in 2019.

The DPWH regional office and 13 district offices in Eastern Visayas proposed a PHP70 billion for next year, more than double than the PHP32 billion approved outlay for 2018.

In 2017, the infrastructure agency only attained 70 percent accomplishment with 233 projects still ongoing. The completion rate is way below than the 85 percent annual target.

In a press briefing last January 27 in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered DPWH contractors to finish delayed projects in 30 days or face contracts cancellation.

To ensure that there will be no unfinished projects starting 2019, all projects will have an implementation time frame of 300 days or less.

“Big projects will be implemented by phase so that there would be unfinished project by the end of every year,” Tabacon added.

The strategy is in compliance to annual cash-based budget starting 2019. According to Memorandum No. 129 of the Department of Budget and Management, agencies can only incur contractual obligations and disburse payments for goods delivered and services rendered and inspected within the year, with an extended payment period of three months.

This will effectively limit agencies to submit budget proposals reflecting payment of goods and services that will “actually be delivered for the year”, according to DBM.

This shift is expected to quicken program delivery, as well as strengthen the “focus and accountability of government” as target outputs of government programs become more clearly linked to their appropriated budget. (SQM/PNA)

Low immunization coverage among seniors noted in east Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 23  -- Only few senior citizens in Eastern Visayas have availed of the immunization program for them in the past years, raising concerns over the vulnerability of this age group to killer diseases.

“Senior citizens are the most neglected group when it comes to immunization program despite available free vaccines in rural health units for them. They really need vaccines because they are prone to age-related impairment of the immune system compounded with decrease of physical activity and poor nutrition,” said Elaine Joy Villarosa, Department of Health national immunization program manager for Eastern Visayas.

Coverage for immunization of senior citizens is only more than 50 percent with no strong campaign for vaccination at the local government level, buoyed by aged-old beliefs and lack of awareness, Villarosa told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.

The immunization for adults aged 60 years and above is meant to combat flu and pneumonia. Flu is a common disease among the elderly while pneumonia is included in the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines.

Every year, the region gets a minimum of 65,000 doses of anti-flu vaccines and 10,000 doses of anti-pneumonia vaccines.

The central government allocates one dose of anti-flu vaccine for each senior citizen every year for immunization during flu season from October to May.

For anti-pneumonia, a dose of the vaccine is available to each senior citizen every five years.
This year, the region aims to immunize 814,554 senior citizens against flu and 57,498 against pneumonia. The target is based on the projected population.

“Based on reports, not all vaccines are used by senior citizens. They have to be proactive as well, since there are services available to them. Our rural health units should bring senior citizens immunization program to the community and not just focus on children,” she added. (SQM/PNA)

RDC upbeat of proposed P193.7-B 2019 funds approval

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 23  – The Regional Development Council (RDC) is hopeful that Cabinet secretaries will consider the PHP193.7 billion proposed budget for various development activities in Eastern Visayas next year.

National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, the region’s RDC vice chair, confirmed that the list of proposed projects and activities with funding requests have already been forwarded to Cabinet secretaries.

“We hope that secretaries will support by including the project in the budget proposal of their departments because these are the needs of the region to attain development,” Uy told PNA in a mobile phone interview Friday.

Of the PHP193.7 billion funds endorsed by the region’s highest policy-making body, PHP94.8 billion will be for social services, PHP89.5 for infrastructure and utilities projects, PHP8.8 billion for economic development sector, , and PHP667 million for development administration sector.

“These priority programs and projects support the development thrusts along economic, infrastructure, social, and development administration advancement as proposed by different stakeholders,” Uy added.

They are aligned with the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan (RDP) ‎2017-2022, the Philippine Development Plan ‎2017-2022, as well as the 0 to 10 Socioeconomic Agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The early review of priority PPAs seeks to strengthen the link between the regional plan and the plans of the line agencies and state universities, and improve their respective operational plans.

The RDC, the region’s highest policymaking body approved the new RDP during its full council meeting late last year.

Eastern Visayas or Region 8 is the third poorest among 18 regions in the country. As of 2015, the region’s poverty incidence among families is pegged at 30.7 percent, which means that three out of every 10 families in the region are poor.

However, in 2016, its Gross Regional Domestic Product grew by 12.4 percent, the fastest growing region in the country, offsetting economic losses incurred from super typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

For 2018 to 2022, the average target economic growth is 5.8 percent to 7 percent. (SQM/PNA)

NHA okays 12,016 additional houses for ‘Yolanda’ survivors

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 23  – The National Housing Authority (NHA) has approved at least PHP4 billion funds to build additional 12,016 houses for areas not previously covered by resettlement projects meant for super typhoon Yolanda survivors.

NHA Eastern Visayas Regional Manager Rizalde Mediavillo confirmed on Thursday that more government housing projects will rise in the region, heeding the request of mayors sent to the Regional Development Council last year.

Mediavillo said local government units proposed 15,594 new houses but only 12,016 were approved by the national government to be financed by unspent allocations from the 2016 Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program.

“There were proposals to download funds to local government units, but President Rodrigo Duterte directed us to implement the project by contract in accordance with existing procurement rules. The procurement is scheduled starting this first quarter of 2018,” the official said.

Of the 12,016 houses, 9,516 units will rise in Leyte province, which include 1,500 in Dulag town, 1,616 in Leyte, 1,000 in Barugo, 1,000 in Tabontabon, 2,000 in Villaba, 600 in Capoocan, 300 in Dagami, 1,000 in Sta. Fe, and 500 in Javier.

In Samar province, 2,500 new houses will be built in the towns of Talalora (1,000 units), Daram (1,000 houses), and Zumaraga (500 units).

Each resettlement site will have a multi-purpose covered court and training center to support livelihood and other community projects.

The new projects are in addition to the 56,140 permanent houses intended for super typhoon survivors in the entire Eastern Visayas region. Of the total, 14,433 are in Tacloban City, 16,199 in Leyte, 130 in Southern Leyte, 8,900 in Samar, 7,573 in Eastern Samar, and 8,905 in Biliran province.

As of Jan. 31 this year, 13,343 houses have been awarded to beneficiaries, 18,543 are completed, 15,839 are ongoing, and 3,456 are up for bidding. The rest are still under planning stage.

From 2013 to 2017, the NHA got the highest outlay among all agencies involved in post-disaster recovery projects at PHP21.92 billion.

Design parameters for all housing projects conform with the National Building Code, design for socialized and economic housing, and other related laws to make sure that shelters will be able to withstand natural calamities and extreme weather conditions.

Each house has a 40-square meter lot area. It is loftable with a total floor area of 33 square meters with structural improvements following the "Build Back Better Policy" and other guidelines for disaster-resilient housing.

On the reported substandard NHA projects by contractor JC Tayag Builder in Eastern Samar, Mediavillo said all their contracts have been terminated. The project will be awarded to “best contractors” according to him. (SQM/PNA)

Widened Leyte highways provide easier, faster travel

CARIGARA, Leyte, Feb. 22 -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd engineering district has completed the widening of the Bagahupi-Sta. Cruz-Barugo-Carigara Road which resulted to a faster road travel to the regional center.

“This particular road provides an alternative route from Tacloban going to Ormoc for motorists who usually make use of the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road, which has become busy being a prime highway in the region,” said District Engineer Carlos Veloso on Thursday.

The road network is one of the highways being opened and upgraded by the district office to offer new routes especially during bad weather and times of calamity that render some road portions impassable.

Covering the towns of Carigara, Barugo and Babatngon in Leyte, the widening of the Bagahupi-Santa Cruz-Barugo-Carigara got an allocation of PHP34 million.

With the Bagahupi-Santa Cruz-Barugo-Carigara Road, travel time is now reduced by as much as one hour and 45 minutes from Tacloban City to Ormoc City.

Tacloban City, the regional capital, can now be reached through roads in Barugo, San Miguel and Babatngon. It is a shorter route than the existing commonly used highway of Carigara-Jaro-Alang-Sta Fe-Palo-Tacloban.

Meanwhile, Veloso reiterated his call on local government units with recently widened highways under the DPWH road widening program, to help maintain and preserve these roads by prohibiting private vehicles to use it as parking areas.

He urged local government units to pass ordinances so this prohibition can be fully realized.

DPWH is committed to building better national road network as it recognizes its importance in maximizing the potential of the country’s world-class tourism destinations and providing safer and better transportation, he said. (ACR/PNA)

Army eyes deployment of elite force to Leyte

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Feb. 22 -- Some members of the Army battalion recently formed to fight communist rebels will be deployed to Leyte province this year.

Major Gen. Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, confirmed the assignment on Thursday, but declined to reveal the number of troops from the 93rd Infantry Battalion (IB) to be sent and the specific timetable for the deployment.

The 93rd IB or the elite force is under the 8th Infantry Division.

Farnacio said the 93rd IB soldiers are currently undergoing six months of intensive training on counter-insurgency operations at Camp Fatima, in Bagacay village, Hinabangan Samar prior to deployment.

“This is to build their confidence and prepare the troops to go out and engage their enemies in the mountain areas of Jaro, Burauen and Albuera in Leyte where rebels have sought sanctuary and established defenses,” Farnacio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Eastern Visayas needs additional troops and soldiers from the 93rd IB, said Farnacio.

They will also be deployed to Samar Island after their mission in Leyte.

Leyte will be the priority for the deployment of the elite force as the New People’s Army from Samar Island has intensified its effort to retake its former strongholds in the mountains of Leyte.

The 93rd IB, also known as “Bantay Kapayapaan” (Peacekeeper), is headed by Lt. Col. Hilarion Palma and composed of 500 well-trained army officers and enlisted military personnel.

The NPA in Eastern Visayas has 403 active members with 577 firearms. It has five guerrilla fronts in Leyte and Samar and maintains its influence in 31 villages, according to the 4th quarter 2017 report of the Philippine Army to the Regional Development Council.

Meanwhile, Farnacio encourages local officials and other sectors to initiate dialogues between them and NPA members to open up opportunities to talk peace at the local level.

The Army, according to Farnacio, is ready to support the local peace talks despite countless of failed attempts to agree on peace deals.

“We do believe that if there is peace, progress and development would soon follow. Investors would come in and provide jobs to people in the region,” Farnacio said. (JB/PNA)

PNP Region 8 to raise funds for training of 200 drug surrenderers

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 22 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here will hold a fun run on February 25 dubbed as “Takbo para sa Pagbabago” (Run for Change) to raise funds for the training of drug surrenderers.

The fun run is divided into three categories, the individual run where runners may chose if they will participate in the three-kilometers, five-kilometers, 10-kilometers or 25-kilometers run; the three-kilometer buddy run for those who want to participate along with their friends or relative; and the five-kilometer run for couples.

Registration fee ranges from PHP350 to PHP950 depending on the category. This is part of the program Tokhang 200: “Oplan Pagbabago” skills and livelihood training of the police regional office here.

“Proceeds of the activity will finance the training of 200 surrenderers who are undergoing skills training. This will serve as their start-up,” said PNP Eastern Visayas spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma Bella Rentuaya on Thursday.

Tokhang 200: “Oplan Pagbabago” is a skills development program for 200 drug surrenderers in Eastern Visayas aimed at providing reformation and diversification program in line with the objective of the national government to transform and prepare them to the reintegration to the community as a productive individual.

The project also aims to generate community partnership to forge a united front for the promotion of peace and order by developing the surrenderers into productive community members and inculcate greater social responsibility.

The beneficiaries are expected to become trainers in their respective community after their learning.

Partners of the PNP in this program are the Technical Skills Development Authority, Department of Health, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Tacloban Rescue Unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Leyte provincial government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and private institutions.

Courses offered to the surrenderers are motorcycle servicing, service consumer electronic products and systems, food processing, organic vegetables cultivation, organic chicken raising, massage, emergency search and rescue, stress management, traffic management, village peacekeeping operations, self-defense techniques, environmental protection, conflict management, internal security operations, community integration, counseling, and healing. (RTA/PNA)

P67-B released for Yolanda rehab since 2013

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 21  -- The central government has already released PHP67.1 billion funds for the rehabilitation of areas in Eastern Visayas ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda from 2013 to 2017, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) regional office here confirmed.

DBM Regional Director Imelda Laceras said Wednesday that of the total, PHP44.6 billion is a direct release to central office but implemented in Eastern Visayas, while PHP22.1 billion was directly downloaded to field offices based in the region.

“The amount represents 45.94 percent of total PHP146.2 billion releases for Yolanda-affected areas in central Philippines,” Laceras said.

The budget department, however, has no figures showing how much funds have been spent in more than four years of rehabilitation works and how much unspent budget have been reverted back to the National Treasury.

Majority of funds were downloaded through national government agencies at PHP41.88 billion, government-owned and controlled corporations at PHP24.83 billion, and other executive offices at PHP405.43 million.

The National Housing Authority got the highest outlay among all agencies at PHP21.92 billion. The agency is tasked to build 56,140 permanent houses for typhoon survivors in six provinces. Of the target, only 18,543 have been completed as of January 31, 2018.

The DBM official believes that huge unspent funds have been returned to the central government due to various project implementation issues after the monster typhoon.

“Many backlogs of government are releases on Yolanda rehabilitation. To address this, we went around the region to conduct trainings for officials involved in procurement,” Laceras added.

In regional briefing for the provincial grassroots consultation in the Yolanda Corridor-Region 8 meeting held at the NEDA regional office here on Tuesday, Presidential Assistant Wendel Avisado asked officials to find out how much funds were returned to the national government’s fund.

“We will push for reallocation of funds and include these in future General Appropriations Act. There are still many needs by affected communities and this money are intended for typhoon survivors as originally approved,” said Avisado, the official tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to oversee Yolanda rehabilitation efforts.

Based on rules, an unspent budget should be returned to the National Treasury if not utilized within two years after appropriation.

In the next two months, the Office of the President will conduct consultations in five Eastern Visayas provinces pummeled by the killer typhoon in a bid to update the public on government-led recovery efforts and hear concerns of beneficiaries.

Each consultation would invite 120 participants composed of beneficiaries of resettlement projects, local and national government officials, and representatives of civil society organizations.

The activity will gather issues and concerns encountered by survivors in resettlement sites and convene various government instrumentalities to identify interventions that will ensure sustainability of resettlement projects and improve their quality of life.

After the consultation, the Office of the President expects to formulate the multi-year post-resettlement program for submission and approval of President and inter-agency task force.

The consultation, which was recently completed in Western Visayas, includes reporting of projects status for every cluster, open forum, and ocular inspection of resettlement sites.

On Nov. 8, 2013, super typhoon Yolanda unleashed its wrath in central Philippines, killing around 6,300 people and leaving more than 4.4 million people displaced and homeless.

Tacloban City, the regional hub of Eastern Visayas region, was considered as Yolanda’s ground zero. (SQM/PNA)

Greenpeace ship sails to Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 21  --The Greenpeace ship dubbed “Rainbow Warrior” will visit this city for the first time as part of the Philippine tour, Greenpeace Southeast Asia announced on Tuesday.

The ship will arrive at the city port on February 28 and will stay until March 5.

“The Rainbow Warrior’s journey will visit areas that have experienced the brunt of climate change impacts and will act as a global platform for the climate justice movement and other impacted communities - building support and solidarity with the people most affected by the actions taken by big polluters. It is time to stand up for climate justice,” the group said in a statement.

“The journey of climate justice in Eastern Visayas continues. It highlights the role of communities in pressuring governments and corporations to take immediate action on climate change and to protect the human rights that continue to be threatened by its impacts,” the statement added.

Several activities have been lined-up for the five-day tour of the ship that sails in the name of Climate Justice, dubbed as “Balangaw (rainbow): The Climate Justice Ship Tour”.

The visit will kick off with a press conference on board the Rainbow Warrior ship.

On March 1, activities include the Opening Day of LIVErary, an arts and culture activities highlighting the call to break free from fossil fuels.

The “LIVErary: Living Books, Learning Live” is a combination of experiential art installation and storytelling, through human “books” that are both universally relevant and distinctly “Waray”.

It will also feature international activist and their stories on demanding their government to have a stronger climate ambitions. The event will run until March 4.

On March 2 activities includes the “Larga Bista” - showing of films from the region’s directors while on March 3 and 4 there is an Open Boat - Green Fair Exhibit at the Rainbow Warrior.

The tour will wrap up with regatta of fishermen and dragonboat paddlers race on the last day.

Tacloban is the last stop of “Rainbow Warrior” visit in the Philippines. The ship made its first stop in Manila and second stop in Guimaras.

The Manila visit highlights the power of the people who are reclaiming their rights to safe and ecologically-sourced food, rights to resilient and thriving oceans while the Guimaras visit highlights the promotion of using renewable energy and call for the stoppage of using coal energy source. (RTA/PNA)

Leyte army again calls on Reds to surrender, avail of aid

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Feb. 21  -- A top Army official in Leyte province has called on the New People’s Army (NPA) to abandon communism and avail of government assistance meant for rebel returnees.

Brig. Gen. Francisco F. Mendoza Jr., commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade based here, said Wednesday they have been pushing maximum opportunities for rebels to surrender to return to their normal lives.

To encourage more rebels to return, the government offers financial help through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), which includes an immediate assistance of PHP15,000 that a rebel returnee would receive while undergoing processing, an additional PHP50,000 for livelihood, and PHP20,000 from the Provincial Social Work and Development Office.

“Rebels who submit firearms would get a financial assistance from the government, ranging from PHP2,000 to PHP449,000, depending on the kind of weapon. These are given so they could start life at the mainstream anew,” Mendoza said.

Any rebel who surrenders a heavy machine gun caliber 7.62 (M73) is entitled to a PHP279,510 cash assistance.

Mendoza said last year, armed rebels deployed 18 individuals from Northern Samar for their recruitment in upland Leyte, which turned out to be a failure.

“The fatality during the encounter in Hilongos, Leyte last year and the one wounded were both from Las Navas, Northern Samar. As we monitored, they have already returned home following failures in their mission,” Mendoza told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The army assured they would assist all rebel surrenderers, whom they advised to approach village officials, local chief executives, religious leaders, relatives from the army and police, or media.

Late last year, at least five rebels from Leyte turned themselves in to authorities. (ERR/PNA)

Malacañang sets consultations for post-Yolanda projects

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 20  -- The Office of the President has scheduled consultations in five Eastern Visayas provinces pummeled by super typhoon Yolanda in a bid to update the public on government-led recovery efforts and hear concerns of beneficiaries.

In a meeting held Tuesday at the National Economic Development Authority regional office here, Presidential Assistant Wendel Avisado, said each consultation would invite 120 participants composed of beneficiaries of resettlement projects, local and national government officials, and representatives of civil society organizations.

“We will go to all provinces and our office has allocated budget for these consultations. That’s how serious our President is as he ordered government agencies to provide solutions to all concerns. Let the people know that they are not neglected,” said Avisado, the official tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to oversee Yolanda rehabilitation.

The first leg of series of consultations will be in relocation sites in Tacloban City on March 19 to 20.

It will be followed by dialogues in Guiuan, Eastern Samar (April 3); Balangiga, Eastern Samar (April 4); Basey, Samar (April 10); Carigara, Leyte (April 11); Isabel, Leyte (April 12); Naval, Biliran (April 17); and Silago, Southern Leyte (April 19).

Nearby towns and cities to the venues are invited to the provincial consultations.

The activity will gather issues and concerns encountered by survivors in resettlement sites and convene various government instrumentalities to identify interventions that will ensure sustainability of resettlement projects and improve their quality of life.

After the consultation, the Office of the President expects to formulate the multi-year post-resettlement program for submission and approval of President and inter-agency task force.

The consultation, which was recently completed in Western Visayas, includes reporting of projects status for every cluster, open forum, and ocular inspection of resettlement sites.

The central government has already released PHP146.15 billion for areas ravaged by the 2013 monster typhoon as of end of last year.(SQM/PNA)

Eastern Samar ex-rebels receive cash aid

BORONGAN CITY, Feb. 19  --Three former rebels from Eastern Samar province received financial assistance under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Eastern Samar Provincial Director Visitacion Giva and 14th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Manuel Leo Gador led the awarding of financial assistance to the three former rebels over the weekend.

Each of the rebels received PHP65,000 for livelihood activities.

The financial assistance was broken down to PHP15,000 as immediate assistance, PHP50,000 as livelihood assistance.

One surrenderer received an additional PHP15,500 for turning over a firearm.

The former rebels completed a two-day training for former rebels on values formation and livelihood project management at the provincial capitol prior to the awarding of financial assistance.

Giva is hopeful that the assistance given to former rebels will truly help them in their quest to renew their life by integrating with the normal community and will become partners of the government in convincing other rebels to surrender.

“We assured that the government will continue to provide support. They will be monitored regularly to ensure that the awarded assistance is used properly,” Giva said.

Gador voiced optimism that with the assistance extended by the government, former rebels will now achieve their dreams of having a better life.

“Due to poverty, many are enticed to join communist rebels. The lack of opportunity to have decent jobs that can provide needs of the family also adds to this problem,” Gador said.

Through CLIP, the army is hopeful that this will contribute in achieving a lasting peace and economically developed community.

Gadro assured that the military will continue to support government agencies in curbing insurgency in Eastern Samar province by bringing basic services to remote communities. (RTA/PNA)

Ormoc’s best athletes to receive cash reward

ORMOC CITY, Feb. 19  -- The city government here will provide cash reward to athletes who won medals in the recently concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association (EVRAA) held in Calbayog City.

City Councilor Vincent Rama passed a resolution recognizing student athletes and coaches who showed good performance in the regional athletic event, making the Ormoc team as overall champion for the first time in EVRAA meet.

“Said victorious outcome is the first in the history of Ormoc City delegation to EVRAA, which deserves a high commendation and recognition of all personal sacrifices, determination and discipline displayed by athletes and coaches in carrying of Ormoc,” Rama said on Monday.

In the resolution, the city government will reward PHP5,000 for each gold medalist, PHP3,000 for silver medalist, and PHP2,000 each for bronze winners.

Teams which earned gold will receive PHP20,000. Those teams that won silver and bronze will get PHP18,000 and PHP15,000 cash prize, respectively. Winning coaches will receive PHP3,000.

The city government will allocate more than PHP1 million funds as financial reward to players.

Ormoc city division gathered a total of 109 gold, 56 silver, and 74 bronze, defeating Leyte team, the seven-time EVRAA over-all champion.

More than 50 athletes from this city will join the official Eastern Visayas delegation to the Palarong Pambansa 2018 in Ilocos Sur on the last week of April. (RTA/PNA)

Eastern Visayas’ inflation climbs in January 2018

TACLOBAN CITY, Feb. 16  – Inflation rate in poverty-stricken Eastern Visayas region stood at 4.5 percent in Jan. 2018, higher than the previous month’s data and significantly faster than the figure seen in the same period last year.

The Philippine Statistics Authority reported Thursday that the region’s inflation rate was 0.5 percent higher from 4 percent a month ago and 1.7 percent more from 2.8 percent recorded in Jan. 2017.

Faster inflation was buoyed by the higher cost of transport, food beverages, tobacco, furnishings, household equipment, and routine house maintenance.

In contrast, annual price changes has slackened in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, and health from Dec. 2017 to Jan. 2018.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said the inflation rise is expected due to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law that adjusted oil and automobile excise taxes, and introduced excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

“The impact of faster inflation will be minimized with financial assistance to poor families, lowered and simplified personal income taxes, and the subsidy for minimum wage earners,” Uy added.

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising and, consequently, the purchasing power of peso is falling.

“We are hoping that this is temporary as government moves to stabilize production to bring down the level of prices of goods and services,” Uy said.

The region’s purchasing power of peso was recorded at PHP0.61 in January 2018. This is weaker compared with the PHP0.62 registered in Dec. 2017. This means that goods and services worth 100 pesos in 2006 only costs PHP61 in Jan. 2018.

Northern Samar, the region’s poorest province, registered the highest inflation rate in the region at 7.3 percent, while Southern Leyte posted the lowest inflation at 1.5 percent. Northern Samar’s poverty incidence is at 47.9 percent, higher than the 30.7 percent in the regional level. (SQM/PNA)