‘Usman’ strands thousands in ports, displaces families

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28  -- At least 3,200 passengers have been stranded in various Eastern Visayas seaports as authorities suspended sea travel, while hundreds of families moved to safer grounds as Tropical Depression Usman dumped heavy rains Friday.

Based on reports received by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, "Usman" has prevented 12 ships from leaving ports, stranding 328 vehicles.

Stranded passengers are in the ports of Ormoc and Bato in Leyte; Maasin, Liloan, and San Ricardo in Southern Leyte; San Isidro and Allen in Northern Samar; and Calbayog in Samar.

Local government units readied 571 evacuation centers in six provinces to accommodate families from communities vulnerable to flooding and landslides.

Since Thursday, pre-emptive evacuation has been done in the town of Naval, Biliran; some parts of Eastern Samar; and Tacloban City.

In Naval town, 11 families have been evacuated to the gymnasium, where each family from danger zones took shelter in evacuation tents waiting for the weather to improve, Raymundo Espina, Naval municipal administrator said.

“Aside from evacuation tents, the local government also provided play spaces for children to relieve stress and help them relax while staying at the evacuation center,” Espina said.

The Philippine National Police has deployed 120 policemen for search and rescue operations, while 1,167 others were on standby.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that the road in Lope de Vega has been flooded. The highway links Calbayog City in Samar and Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8 (Eastern Visayas) was ready to deliver prepositioned food packs to local government units if necessary.

The DSWD has a stockpile of relief items, both food and non-food, at the Regional Resource Operations Section, said Vina Aquino, DSWD-8 information officer, in a phone interview.

Currently, DSWD has 24,543 family food packs and additional food stock that includes 653 sacks of rice, 86,328 cans of corned beef, 126,496 cans of beef loaf, 2,140 cans of meatloaf, and 112,100 sachets of coffee.

Non-food relief items include 24,397 blankets, 594 mosquito nets, 14,914 malongs, 1,344 hygiene kits, 497 family kits, and 497 sleeping kits.

Aside from the food packs from the DSWD, some local government units have also prepared relief goods to be distributed among families affected by the weather disturbance. (RTA/PNA)

Flood warning raised in east Visayas due to ‘Usman’

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28  -- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued on Friday a flood warning over Eastern Visayas provinces as Tropical Depression Usman threatens to dump heavy rains.

In its flood advisory, Pagasa has identified several rivers in six provinces that would likely be affected by heavy downpour.

These water courses are in Sangputan, Palo, Solano, Daguitan, Marabong, Cadacan, Bongquirogon, Salug, Pagbanagaran, Pagsangahan, and Binahaan in Leyte; Catarman, Bugko, Pambujan, Catubig, Palapag, Mano, and Gamay in Northern Samar.

Other affected rivers are Oras, Dolores, Ulot, Taft, Borongan, Suribao, Llorento, Balangiga, and Sulat in Eastern Samar; Basey, Silaga, Calbiga and Jibatan in Samar; and Bisay, Himbangan, and Pandan in Southern Leyte; and all river systems in Biliran province.

People living in low-lying areas near these river systems are advised to be alert for possible flash floods. Those settled near mountain slopes are told to watch for signs of landslides.

The Leyte provincial disaster risk reduction and management has been on alert for potential overflow of Binahaan River in Pastrana town since it would affect highly-populated communities near the regional capital.

Binahaan watershed, which has its source in the upstream of Pastrana, flowing downstream to Dagami, Tanauan and Palo towns has been disrupting normal routines of 36,932 residents in Leyte during flooding, according to German Technical Cooperation Agency, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit.

In the region, public storm warning signal number one was hoisted since Thursday over Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar provinces.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has identified 2,433 villages in Region 8 as highly susceptible to flooding. The agency urged local governments to conduct appropriate preparedness and disaster risk reduction measures as needed.

As of Friday morning, the center of the tropical depression was estimated at 230 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph. It is moving west northwest at 10 kph. (SQM/PNA)

Group formed to check projects in rebel-infested areas

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28  -- A technical working group (TWG) has been formed to find out concerns and recommend solutions on the delayed construction of government infrastructure projects in conflict-affected areas of Samar Island.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, in a mobile phone interview on Friday, said the Regional Development Council (RDC) has already approved the resolution creating the TWG. The group will have its first meeting early next year.

Uy, the RDC vice chair, said the group is composed of officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division, and concerned local government units.

“There is a need to create a group that will look into prevailing issues in the implementation of projects in conflict-affected areas, such as the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), and identify recommended actions that have to be undertaken to avoid similar issues in the future,” Uy told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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.

Early this month, the RDC has identified three terminated PAMANA infrastructure projects in Samar provinces funded under the 2016 budget of OPAPP.

These are the PHP71-million bridge construction in Motiong, Samar; PHP114.7-million box culvert construction in Las Navas, Northern Samar; and PHP192-million road construction also in Las Navas town.

Initially, the region’s highest policy-making body identified some major setbacks of project implementation such as threats from the New People’s Army, absence of access roads, subcontracting issues, unworkable ground conditions, and lack of manpower and equipment.

Top officials in Eastern Visayas have elevated to Cabinet secretaries the discussion on delayed and terminated infrastructure projects meant for impoverished and conflict-stricken areas on Samar Island.

The RDC’s discussions on delayed PAMANA projects have started in the second quarter of this year. Earlier, the body already passed two resolutions to help expedite the project and conduct problem solving sessions.

The council also passed a resolution endorsing the transfer of implementation of delayed PAMANA projects to the engineering brigade of the Philippine Army. The document also requested concerned agencies to expedite the execution of an agreement to facilitate the project construction turnover. (SQM/PNA)

Top cop asks men to be alert this holiday season

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 28 -- A top regional official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here has asked his men to ensure their personal safety after the recent killing of two police officers in Leyte.

Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said he does not want a repeat of what happened to the two policemen attacked by still unidentified assailants, especially because some cops are on conditional holiday break.

"Though we have not seen a pattern that these killings were planned attacks on the police force in the region, it is always ideal to be on the lookout for their personal safety, especially this holiday season,” Carlos told reporters Thursday night.

The regional police chief also suggested that police officers must not put a pattern on their activities as precautionary measures.

Carlos reiterated this reminder after a junior police officer was gunned down near the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in this city. The incident happened on December 23 while the victim was on his way home after his duty.

Two months ago, motorcycle-riding gunmen also attacked a police officer in Palo, Leyte.

Meanwhile, Carlos commended the entire police force in the region for the generally peaceful Christmas celebration and 50th anniversary of the New People’s Army last December 26.

Although some police officers are on conditional break, they were asked to report to the nearest police station on December 31 to augment the force for the New Year revelry.

“We hope the zero casualty and ‘no major incident’ during Christmas Day will be replicated this New Year,” he added. (SQM/PNA)

Council sees viability of Samar Island Medical Center

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 27 -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) has found the proposed PHP1.14-billion Samar Island Medical Center (SIMC) economically viable, citing “health benefits that exceeds the investment requirement”.

In a committee report, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the RDC’s secretariat, said there is a need for the project to be endorsed to the Department of Health (DOH) for future multi-year funding.

Ernesto Octaviano, NEDA Eastern Visayas chief economic development specialist, said in an interview Thursday that the hospital will incur negative cash flows during the first 10 years of providing services.

“However, if the provincial government of Samar will provide annual subsidy for 10 years, the medical center will be able to sustain its operation until it generates income starting 2028,” Octaviano said.

In an earlier interview, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the local government is committed to support the hospital’s operation since the central government has already committed to put up some of the capital outlay requirements and additional health workers.

The first phase of the hospital's construction is now ongoing with the use of the PHP150 million initial funds downloaded by the health department to Samar province early this year.

As proposed, the existing Samar Provincial Hospital in Catbalogan City in Samar will be called SIMC. It will operate as level two health facility with a 300-bed capacity and will be supervised by the provincial government.

The provincial hospital, at present, can only accommodate 100 patients. It is currently the core referral hospital of 24 towns and two cities in Samar. The province has a population of about 800,000.

The RDC endorsed the project on Dec. 3, subject to consideration of the following recommendations: the hospital should remain as level 2 facility, DOH assistance should be part of the provincial investment plan for health, identify manpower resources, and back the provincial government subsidy with resolution by the provincial board.

Level 2 facility hospital has such facilities as intensive care units and specialist doctors for gynecology and pediatric services.

Octaviano said there is no assurance of fund allocation for the project from DOH in 2019 since the maximum amount for cash-based budgeting allowed by the budget department in one year ranges from PHP100 million to PHP150 million. It is lower than the proposed funding requirement for next year. (SQM/PNA)

Samar villagers stage anti-NPA rally

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 27 -- More than 300 residents from 12 upland villages of Calbiga, Samar joined a peace rally at the town’s plaza, expressing opposition to recruitment activities being conducted by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The activity organized by the Philippine Army 87th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Calbiga, Samar counters the 50th anniversary celebration of the armed struggle of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Rommel Cabanayan, 87th IB commander, said placards condemning the extremists were displayed. These were later burned by the protesters to express their disgust with the anti-government movement.

“The gathering was to evade the public of getting into the trap of the rebels who have been trying to entice them of good words. Also, it was intended to encourage the radical members to go back in the arms of the government and avail the government aid intended for them,” Cabanayan said in a phone interview Thursday.

The town’s president of association of village chiefs Miguel Cabornay and local police chief Senior Insp. Michael Ray Cañete were among the resource speakers.

The Samar provinces have been the stronghold of armed rebels due to its densely-forested mountainous areas, high poverty incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness, according to 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 campaign against cattle rustling gangs. (ERR/PNA)

TD ‘Usman’ strands over 2K passengers in east Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 27 -- More than 2,000 passengers have been stranded in various ports in Eastern Visayas as Tropical Depression Usman continues to threaten central Philippines.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Henry Anthony Torres said sea travel has been suspended for all types of sea vessels in the region since early Thursday affecting holiday travel plans.

Most of the stranded travelers are in the ports of San Isidro and Allen in Northern Samar bound for Luzon, Liloan; in Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte bound for Mindanao; and Ormoc City in Leyte going to Cebu.

“We don’t expect the number of stranded passengers will increase since bus companies are advised that their buses should stay in terminals and not proceed to roll-on roll-off ports,” said Torres, chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

The official asked passengers to change their travel plans and just stay home if their areas are still under storm warning signal.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has placed under Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 1 all the region’s six provinces - Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.
Aside from impact to transportation, the RDRRMC is also concerned on the thousands of residents in vulnerable communities that may be affected by flooding and landslides.

“Our advice to local government units is to conduct pre-emptive evacuation for vulnerable communities as we expect heavy rains starting Thursday night. We have been coordinating with local disaster risk reduction and management offices to check their preparedness,” Torres said.

The RDRRMC convened on Wednesday and Thursday for the pre-disaster risk assessment and response cluster meetings.

The council asked local DRRMOs to activate emergency operations centers, advice fishermen not to venture out into the sea, ensure widest dissemination of timely weather advisories, and undertake other preparedness activities.

As of Thursday noon, “Usman” has slowed down as it moved towards Eastern Visayas. Its center was estimated at 450 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte or 440 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph. It is expected to move west at 15 kph. (SQM/PNA)

State schools asked to align goals with regional dev’t plan

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 26  -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas has asked state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the region to come up with academic plans that support the Regional Development Plan (RDP).

Eastern Visayas RDC vice chair Bonifacio Uy, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority, said the plan is the blueprint in achieving the mission and thrusts of SUCs.

“It served as the vital tool that provides the SUCs a clear picture of their respective goals by defining the outcomes and outputs, establishing end-of-plan targets and identifying critical and relevant indicators to track their progress,” Uy said in a mobile phone interview Wednesday.

The submission of SUCs’ academic plans will help keep the RDC informed on the efforts of schools in achieving their mission and thrusts related to RDP.

On Nov. 29 this year, the RDC’s regional project monitoring committee passed a resolution asking SUCs to align their thrusts with the RDP.

Under the 250-page plan, the region aims to attain 5.8 to 7 percent economic growth for 2018 to 2022 on the average.

The regional plan is considered as a “companion document” of the Philippine Development Plan for 2017 to 2022, or within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Prior to its endorsement by the regional council last year, the RDP underwent a series of consultations with the regional line agencies, local government units, business groups, religious sectors, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders.

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

NEDA sees approval of Samar dev’t agenda early 2019

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 25 -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is eyeing the approval and adoption of the Samar Island Development Agenda (SIDA) by the Regional Development Council (RDC) within the first quarter of 2019.

NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said in a phone interview Wednesday that SIDA will contain an in-depth analysis of the poverty situation in three Samar provinces.

“The document will present socioeconomic challenges in the island and based on such analysis, provide practical recommendations,” Uy told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Since early 2018, a series of workshops has been conducted to generate inputs for the formulation of SIDA 2018-2022. These include the Samar Island consultative workshop in Catbalogan City, task force workshop in this city, and SIDA write shop in Palo, Leyte.

After the review and editing earlier this month, the document will be reviewed and endorsed by the provincial development councils of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.

In 2016, the RDC then chaired by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla proposed the creation of a “Mini Marshall Plan” directing the formulation of SIDA and creating a task force “to arrest the worsening poverty scenario and accelerate the development of Samar Island.”

“I’m happy that my proposal to address poverty in Samar has been considered. Just like in Leyte, we want to see development in Samar not just in cities and major commercial districts, but in rural areas as well,” Petilla said in a radio interview.

Samar Island, being the country’s third largest island covering approximately 1.34 million hectares, has a lot of potential given its vast and rich agricultural lands, extensive and lush forests, abundant marine and fishery resources, and large mineral deposits.

“However, various socioeconomic issues and challenges in Samar Island continue to hamper the achievement of its full potentials. Samar Island’s poverty incidence has worsened with the average proportion of families below the poverty threshold increasing from 38 percent in 2006 to 44.8 in 2015,” Uy added.

The three Samar provinces are consistently among the country’s top 10 poorest provinces. (SQM/PNA)

Tacloban council approves P1.41-B 2019 budget

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 25  -- The city council here has approved without modification the 2019 proposed PHP1.41-billion budget, as submitted by Mayor Cristina Romualdez.

The approved budget is slightly higher than the 2018 budget. The funding is mainly sourced from the city’s internal revenue allotment (IRA) and income generated from its various local sources.

Dolores Tan, officer-in-charge of the City Budget Office, said in a phone interview on Monday that the city remains to be slightly dependent on its IRA share from the national government.

Of the total, PHP720.511 million or 56 percent will be sourced from the city’s IRA share. About 54 percent or about PHP696.11 million will come from local sources.

“This is the second time that we will be having over a PHP1 billion city budget (after the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda),” Tan said.

The current 2018 annual budget is about PHP1.4 billion, which is slightly higher by a percent from the recently-approved 2019 city budget.

Under the 2019 budget, allocation for maintenance and other operating expenses got 42 percent or in the amount of PHP598.35 million.

This was followed by allocation for personnel services amounting to PHP484.32 million, which accounts for 34 percent of the total.

About PHP263.77 million was earmarked for capital outlay or about 19 percent under the 2019 budget.

Under the allocation for capital outlay, about PHP2 million was set aside for the flood control program; PHP21 million for the citywide development program; and PHP4.14 million for the acquisition of vehicles, among others.

The city government also set aside PHP158.59 million for the economic development fund.

Meanwhile, about PHP 70.87 million was allotted for the calamity fund and PHP138,000 for aid to villages.

The City Mayor’s Office, under the 2019 budget, has an allocation of PHP187.45 million, which is relatively higher compared to the current budget of PHP186.81 million.

The 2019 allocation include funding for clean and green activities (PHP2 million); anti-drug abuse campaign (PHP9.9 million); health-related programs (PHP15 million); and livelihood programs (PHP9.13 million), among others.

The Sangguniang Panglungsod or the city council has an approved budget of PHP78.23 million for next year, higher than the current PHP60.38 million. (LAAA/PNA)

Massive rice dev’t eyed in Samar's 100K hectares

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 25 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is upbeat about transforming Samar provinces from being a poverty-stricken area into one of the country’s rice granaries through the recently-launched Samar Rice Development Program (SRDP).

On his Facebook post on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the government’s target is to “make Samar Island one of the major producers of rice in the country by introducing modern technology and extending the needed support.”

“Last December 20, I visited Catubig and Mapanas towns in Northern Samar and made a promise that under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Samar will undergo a radical transformation, especially in agriculture,” Piñol said.

The official was in Samar to lead the SRDP, covering an estimated 100,000 hectares of new farms. The initiative will use modern technology and mechanization in three Samar provinces.

The SRDP will be the first major beneficiary of the Rice Tarrification Program with an estimated PHP10-billion fund for 2019. The project seeks to introduce new rice farming technology and equipment to develop areas and contribute to a bigger national rice production and poverty reduction in Samar Island.

“From the current average of two metric tons per hectare average yield in the island, the SRDP targets an average production of six metric tons by introducing high-yielding rice varieties developed by PhilRice and commercial hybrid seeds and solar irrigation systems in the vast rain-fed areas of the island,” Piñol said.  

By 2020, the SRDP is expected to contribute an estimated 1.2 million metric tons of paddy rice to the national production, which would make Samar Island as one of the country’s major rice-producing areas, the DA chief said.

With the availability of water for irrigation, Samar Island has the potential of even increasing its rice areas from the original target of just 100,000, according to PhilRice.  The island has an estimated 500,000 hectares of under-utilized fertile agricultural lands.

The highlight of the SRDP launch is the opening of a three-hectare demonstration farm in Catubig town and another three hectares in Mapanas, a town facing the Pacific Ocean.

A private company tapped by the farm department will develop a 200-hectare rice seed production area in Catubig in January 2019. It will supply the seeds requirements of the island using the PhilRice-recommended varieties adaptable in the island.

The DA will also organize in January the Project Management Office tasked to handle and monitor the implementation of the SRDP. It will be chaired by the DA Secretary with the heads of the other support agencies as members.

“I made a promise to the people of Samar that I will be personally involved in the development of the island into a major agricultural production area in the country,” he added. (SQM/PNA)

Army asks Samar soldiers to step up fight vs. NPA

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 25 -- The Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas has asked its men to be more aggressive in their fight against the New People’s Army (NPA), after a soldier engaged in community support program was killed in an ambush in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Saturday.

In a statement issued on Monday, Maj. Gen. Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said there should be no holiday break for soldiers despite their enemy’s declaration of holiday truce.

“I instructed the troops to be more aggressive to put an end to the terroristic activities of the terrorists against our people within our area of operations,” Farnacio said.

On Dec. 22, about 30 NPA members attacked soldiers in Caputo-an village deployed to assist the community for the needed basic services by the local government of Las Navas town.

The more than one-hour gun battle killed Pfc. Alvin Avila of Burauen, Leyte and wounded Privates Ivan Anthony Ignao and Michael Ocasla. After the encounter, the troops recovered drop wire; a bag of assorted empty shells of machine gun, rifles, and pistols; cooking pots; detonating cords and one empty box with Armscor trademark.

The Army also condemned recent crimes committed by the NPA such as the killing of former San Jose de Buan, Samar Mayor Ananias Rebato, assassination attempt on Matuguinao, Samar mayoralty candidate Aran Boller, and landmine explosion that wounded soldiers and civilians in Catarman, Northern Samar.

“It only shows how desperate they are in their armed struggle, in their failure to conduct extortion activities in the far-flung areas particularly in San Jose De Buan and Matuguinao, Samar,” Farnacio said.

“I urge the community to report to the authorities the presence of any armed group in your area. Security is a shared responsibility of everyone, it is not just for us, the security forces and government institutions but also with the civil society and the communities,” he added.

With communist rebels poised to celebrate their 50th founding anniversary on Dec. 26, the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday advised the public to take the necessary security precautions and remain vigilant for possible attacks by the terror group.

The NPA, the rebel group's armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. (SQM/PNA)

Eastern Visayas reaps gains from absence of disasters

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 21  -- Eastern Visayas enjoyed more economic gains in 2018 with no major calamities that disrupted business activities, despite being one of the country’s most disaster-prone region.

The region’s six provinces did not experience major earthquake similar to what struck Leyte province early of July 6, 2017 and powerful typhoon that devastated Biliran province mid-December last year.

“The only damaging natural occurrence that hit the region is the flooding in Eastern Samar last November, but its negative impact was mitigated through quick and massive assistance by the Department of Agriculture in affected areas,” said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

The official believes that the impact of natural hazards is a major factor that worsens poverty situation in the region as they destroy the people’s source of livelihood.

The region is one of the most calamity-prone areas in the country due to its geographic location, facing the Pacific Ocean in the eastern portion and within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

As of the first half of 2018, agriculture and fishery production improved by 4.71 percent. Gainers during the period were rice, corn, coconut, banana, sugarcane, and livestock products.

Rice, the most vulnerable crop to disaster, posted a production growth of 7.88 percent in the first semester. This could be credited to the distribution of high-yielding varieties and sufficient water supply during the period, Uy said.

Eastern Visayas region is a predominantly farming area, where 45 percent or 976,415 hectares of its total land area is devoted to agriculture.

The good economy is evident in the sustained double-digit growth in the region’s bank deposits during the first six months of the year. The region’s deposit portfolio grew by 13.67 percent to PHP115.43 billion in the first half of 2018.

“More bank deposits means that people gain more income this year and they’re able to save some of the amount in banks,” the NEDA official said.

Uy noted that the construction boom continues despite slowdown of post-disaster recovery projects in the region due to President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program and private sector investments.

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) banking statistics, posted on its website, showed the total number of accounts grew by 9.87 percent, from 901, 471 to 990,514 during the first six months of 2018.

The number of banks increased to 234 in 2017 from 214 in the previous year. All provinces also posted significant growth in both accounts and deposits.

Business name registrations totaled to 1,463 in the first six months of 2018.

“More than half of these were new registrants, an indication of the renewed enthusiasm of businessmen to invest in the region,” Uy added.

Giant firms such as SM Prime Holdings and Robinsons Land Corp. opened their new malls in Ormoc City this year. This year, Double Dragon Properties Corp. also kicked off the construction of two malls in Ormoc City and Palo, Leyte this year.

Initial data on the number of foreign tourists in the region as of first half rose by 20.8 percent, reaching 28,769, while domestic tourists slightly dropped by 2.0 percent.

More tourists are expected to visit Eastern Samar now that the Balangiga Bells are back after these were seized and kept by the US government for 117 years.

“These bells will bring a lot of opportunities not just in Eastern Samar, but in the entire Samar Island since we have been promoting the three provinces as one tourism destination,” Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said. (SQM/PNA)

Ormoc tourist workers get new gears

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Dec. 21 -- The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Eastern Visayas has turned over gears to eight organizations in this city under the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) on product development and capability building for various tourism livelihood opportunities on Thursday.

The beneficiaries are the Cabintan Local Eco-Guide Association; Maglahug, Gaas, Kasudsuran, Sayahan Eco-Guide Association; Active Genuine Youth Leader Association; Brgy. Org. Serve & Accommodate You; Naungan-SanJuan Mangrove Planters Association; Ormoc Food Park Barbecue Stall Occupants; Ormoc City Drivers and the Ormoc Youth Organizations.

The groups received recreation gears and equipment, culinary implements and uniforms, which are aimed to help boost their services and prepare the city to become one of the top tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas.

“I like to thank you, Mayor Richard Gomez, for making it possible for the completion of the Ormoc BUB program, this has been a fund for 2016. I almost thought that we will not be able to use the fund,” DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said during the turn-over ceremony.

Around PHP7 million budget for tourism purposes was about to be returned to the national coffers after the previous administration failed to submit a proposal for its use.

“You all have your trainings and gear, what else will you asked for? It is now in your hands if you will use these gears or not,” Tiopes said.

Tiopes added that part of the tourism plan of the DOT for Ormoc is to create a circuit for local governments offering tourism related activities in the western part of Leyte, where the city serves as the service center.

“For this area, one of the circuit created was the BOP or the Baybay-Ormoc-Palompon circuit, where Ormoc City serves as the service center meaning the tourist will sleep here or do shopping because you have more facilities and services for tourist,” Tiopes explains.

Baybay City is known for its Linta-on Peak 16,000 Blossoms in Pomponan village, which is also a major tourist destination of the city during Holy Week.

Ormoc City, aside from the famous Lake Danao and the geothermal plant that is ideal for educational tourism, is also known as the best jump-off point to Alto Peak, the highest elevation in Eastern Visayas.

Palompon is known for Kalanggaman Island, the leading tourist destination in Eastern Visayas with white sand beach and long stretch of sand bar.

Aside from the BOP circuit, the DOT will also promote the city along with Tacloban and Calbayog to become MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events) destination in 2019.

MICE industry added value for tourism and enhances the tourism economy and is one of the key drivers of tourism destination development and important sources of income, employment and investment.

“As part of the preparations, you need to improve your tourist activities, because when they come, they will not only focus on their conference but will also asked what are the other activities that they can do in Ormoc,” Tiopes said.

Activities that tourist can do while mountain trekking are the city tours, mangrove tour and a visit to Lake Danao.

Gomez, during the turnover of the gears, asked beneficiaries to take care of the gears and always treat tourists properly.

“Make it a wonderful experience for them when they visit. Give them the excitement of coming back to experience again the activities that you offer, Always make them feel good, make your place beautiful and make them feel that Ormoc love them” Gomez added. (RTA/PNA)

Simple party to bring Christmas spirit to Leyte prison

PALO, Leyte, Dec. 21 -- It will not be a lonely Christmas after all for the more than 600 inmates of Leyte’s provincial jail as a simple party had been set on Christmas Eve to make prisoners feel the holiday cheer even behind bars.

Although Christmas in prison is unthinkable in the real world, they have to celebrate the holiday to lighten the mood, let everyone relax, and even put their guard down, said Raul Jacosalem, 47, who has been detained at the provincial jail for 15 years over murder charges.

“There’s nothing more special than to spend Christmas with my family outside, but our party every December 24 helped us a lot to break the routine and monotony of life. Without this, Christmas Eve would be just another day on the calendar,” Jacosalem told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Everyone looks forward to December 24, when inmates can feast on traditional Filipino food, such as lechon (roasted pig), pansit (noodles), and soda. There is music and dancing until 5 p.m., but strictly no alcoholic drinks. Family members have been invited to attend the celebration at the covered court.

“Through our livelihood activities here, we’re able to raise money to buy decent food for everyone. Some generous prisoners’ families also donated cash for the simple celebration,” said 49-year-old Joseph Candila, who has been jailed for six years for a murder case.

Candila will celebrate his 50th birthday on December 25. It will be a quieter day inside the prison complex on Christmas Day as all Leyte provincial jail staff will go on holiday break. Only inmates and some guards on duty will be left inside the compound, which is surrounded by hills in upland Kausawagan village here.

Jacosalem and Candila’s Christmas wish is for faster resolution of their cases, serve their sentence, go home, and be with their families.

Leyte provincial jail warden Brendo Gamez said since prison life is boring, inmates need a little Christmas spirit and make the season more meaningful to them.

“Each of them will receive goodie bags filled with hygiene kit from the provincial government. On that day, we will also give recognition to the winners of our sports tournament,” said Gamez, a retired police superintendent and former town mayor.

“Christmas in prison isn’t like Christmas outside, but at the end of the day, it’s still Christmas and the effort is made to make inmates feel the holiday revelry even just for a few hours,” he added.

The jail, under the watch of the provincial government, has 624 inmates with all of them have pending cases before the regional trial courts. Once convicted, they will be transferred to the Leyte Regional Prison in Abuyog, Leyte. (SQM/PNA)

No Christmas break for soldiers after N. Samar landmine attack

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 20 -- The Philippine Army has questioned the sincerity of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) declaration of holiday truce following the landmine attack in the capital town of Northern Samar that wounded four soldiers and two civilians on Tuesday.

In a statement issued Wednesday night, the Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion base in Lope De Vega, Northern Samar, said the actual situation on the ground signified the rebels' lack of intention to observe ceasefire this holiday season.

The NPA detonated landmines in the boundary of Hinatad and Mckinley villages in Catarman town, when soldiers on board a civilian vehicle passed the area Tuesday noon on their way to deliver food supplies for their comrades.

The military have been conducting community support program in the area.

The wounded soldiers were Private Rolly Dizon, Private 1st class Rorey Montopar, Private Joel Lacabe, and Corporal Jose Jerome Ballano. The landmines also injured Sherly Robenacio, 35 and her son Christian, 17, who were passing by the area.

After the landmine blast, the rebels opened fire, triggering a five-minute gun battle. The number of casualty on the enemy side is still unknown.

“This incident shows that communist NPA terrorists are not sincere of their offered unilateral truce this Christmas season because their plan is in contrast with what is happening,” the military said.

“The Philippine Army calls the attention of the people to condemn the barbaric act done by the communist NPA terrorists particularly in using anti-personnel mines and other terroristic atrocities actions in Northern Samar,” the statement added.

The recent attack, according to the military, is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law and Comprehensive Agreement for Respect on Human Rights and International Law and had affected the peace effort of the government, particularly in attaining long-lasting peace and development.

Lt. Col. Apollo Herrera, commander of the 43rd IB, said their soldiers will not observe Christmas break to ensure the safety of residents and to brace for other possible attacks by the guerrillas from the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“The unit will plan different and massive tactical operations, and will file both human rights violation and criminal cases against the terrorists,” he added in a statement.

Communist rebels declared a ceasefire for the Christmas and New Year holidays, but Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the government will not be fooled by this truce.

The ceasefire will give rebels freedom to regroup and refurbish and be more prepared to fight again after the ceasefire, Lorenzana said.

The communist rebels have been battling government forces for 50 years. The communist rebellion in the Philippines is one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.

Remote communities of Samar Island have remained among the rebels’ strongholds in the country. (SQM/PNA)

Leyte folk savor Christmas spirit of giving

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 20  – The spirit of giving this Christmas is very alive among Leyte folks, from bringing cheers to flood victims to singing Christmas carols to poor families.

Moved by photographs of flood devastation in the town of Jipapad, Eastern Samar, Tacloban-based media workers conceptualized a gift-giving activity for flood victims.

Journalist Marie Tonette Grace Marticio launched an online campaign, asking donations for 100 flood-hit families. Some contributed cash, noche buena items, clothes, school supplies, toys, vitamins, medicines, and shoes. Among the biggest contributors are her media colleagues.

On Sunday, Marticio and her friends took a six-hour overnight trip from this city to Jipapad town to deliver the early Christmas gifts on board a military truck of the 14th Infantry Battalion.

“It was a very tiring trip, but the feeling was overshadowed when we saw the smiles of children coming out of evacuation centers. Some shouted for joy and said thank you for the Christmas gifts,” Marticio recalled.

Jipapad town suffered widespread flood last Nov. 22 when a tropical depression crossed Eastern Samar province.

With the kick-off of the Christmas tradition of Misa de Gallo or the dawn masses, children and even teens are on their feet, hopping from one house to another every night singing Joy to the World, Jingle Bells, Silent Night and traditional Filipino Christmas carols. Singers usually expect to receive cash from house owners.

They usually have hand-made musical instruments like tambourine made from bottle caps, cans or biscuit tins used as drums.

After receiving money, children would sing "Thank you, thank you, "ang babait ninyo (you’re all so kind)". If by chance you ignore them, children would sing "Thank you, thank you, "ang babarat ninyo (you’re a haggler)", and leave ones front yard laughing.

Over the past few years, tricycle driver Emmanuel Alcober, 54, of Tanauan, Leyte noticed that some house owners would bar the children from singing particularly those out of tune and citing the wrong lyrics.

“Some even close their doors and turn off the lights just to make carollers believe that nobody is at home. Some tell carolers to return on Christmas Day,” he said.

Public school teacher Lemuel Pagliawan, 35, of Palo, Leyte observed that “if you give money to a group of children, they would tell others to go and sing at your doorstep because you are generous”.

“With the rising inflation rate, it would be financially challenging for someone to give money to every carolers every night for nine days before Christmas,” Pagliawan added.

Rodel Almeria, a local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Tanauan, Leyte said they want to change the mindset of singing Christmas carols by giving gifts to house owners “instead of us receiving money from them”.

Under the church’s Light the World campaign, Almeria’s group listed about a hundred poor families to receive a gift pack with rice, canned goods, and noche buena items. Church members contribute cash for the nightly activity.

“We’re about to hand them (caroling group) PHP20, but they refused. Instead, they handed to me a gift pack. This is a very unique Christmas tradition,” said Joenil Solayao, 33, a father of eight. His family earns from collecting recyclable materials.

Almeria said they have been practicing the gift-giving activity in the past two years, emulating the Three Wise Men from the east who worshipped the child Jesus. “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” he said. (SQM/PNA)