Carigara, Leyte to mark 445th founding anniversary

CARIGARA, Leyte, Jan. 15 (PNA) - The local government here is gearing up for its 445th founding anniversary celebration on January 25.

Several socio-cultural activities have been planned for the two-week celebration, which will start on Jan. 18 and will end on the anniversary day.

Mayor Edurado C. Ong said village officials agreed to have a nightly activity with live band performance for two weeks dubbed as “Tambayan ni Gara.”

On Jan. 18, a bloodletting activity is slated and awarding of the reverted lots to residents of Mahulos subvillage.

At least eight days of the two-week celebration will be devoted to farmers and fisherfolks through an agri-techno farmers forum, food processing demonstration, distribution of tilapia fingerlings, distribution of vegetable seeds, agri-trade fair for local farmer’s contest and garden show contest.

A medical mission and feeding program is slated on Jan. 20. It will be followed with a mass wedding on Jan. 21.

Jan. 22 is the day dedicated to students where there will be an inter-school singing contest, draw and tell contest and a folkdance contest.

A coastal clean-up along boulevard to be headed by the Senior Fire Officer Felipe A. Molabola, Jr. and his staff in scheduled on the 23rd.

On the founding anniversary, officials from 49 villages will join a thanksgiving and wreathlaying ceremony at Datu Gara Shrine.

There will be a cooking contest dubbed as “Tatak Carigara” where famous food unique in Carigara, will be featured.

In the afternoon, a float and civic parade is slated and a fireworks display after the party dubbed as “Rayhak han Tulin ni Gara” will cap the two-week celebration.

According to online encyclopedia Wikipedia, Carigara was originally called Kangara, meaning "that of Gara" or simply "Gara's."

Gara was said to have come from Borneo, one of the unnamed companions of the ten datus who landed in Panay and purchased that island from the Ati (or Aeta) chief Marikudo. Later, for phonetic convenience, Kangara became Kalgara and when the Spaniards came, they called the place Carigara. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA

Leyte town braces for El Niño impacts

CARIGARA, Leyte, Jan. 15 (PNA) - The local government is stepping up preparations to assist rice farmers mitigate the impacts of El Niño phenomenon.

Mayor Eduardo Ong said their local farmers have much to lose due to this extreme weather event expected for the most part of 2016.

Ong said that at least 800 sacks of fertilizers have been provided to rice farmers in Carigara through a support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Likewise, he said rice farmers have also been advised on the availability of drought-resistant palay varieties that they can plant during the dry months caused by the climatic El Niño.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) has already released the list of the drought- tolerant rice varieties and where they can be bought, it was learned.

The local government is also preparing for possible financial assistance to farmers organization to weather the economic impact of El Niño.

With the El Niño, the mayor said the rice farmers may not just suffer from low production volume but also decreased farm gate price of rice, which heavily affects their income and, hence, their ability to meet their own needs. (PNA)

ZST/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES

640 poor Leyte families get timber houses

CARIGARA, Leyte, Dec. 24 (PNA) - At least 640 families in this town received timber houses from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The 640 families from 44 villages, whose houses were totally wrecked by super typhoon Yolanda two years ago, formally received the new houses on Tuesday,

Among the recipients is the family of Aurea Dandan, 69. The couple and their youngest son have temporary stayed at their daughter’s house before receiving the shelter.

For two years, Dandan waited for the time to have a new house. They have prayed that somebody would come to them and offer help to build a new house.

Then came people from the DSWD and IOM who answered their prayer.

The house was specially designed for the old couple. Aside from stairs, a ramp was also installed for her easy access going in and out to their house. The old woman has walking disability due to her leg’s injury.

Her neighbor, Regina Lloren, 25, a mother of two is also thankful to the assistance given to them by the DSWD and IOM. Lloren’s common-law husband, Ryan has been supporting the family through fishing.

The DSWD, IOM, and the local government unit prioritized poor families in safe zones, whose houses have not been repaired after the 2013 catastrophe.

Aside from shelter, beneficiaries also received water sanitation and hygiene kits. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/Roel T Amazona