Southern Leyte gov’t pushes aquaculture training for farmers

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Nov. 26 (PNA) -– The provincial government here is proposing a deal with Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) Bontoc Campus for the establishment of a demonstration farm for aquatic production and culture in Hinunangan town.

The proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA), according Governor Roger Mercado aims to increase food productivity and enhance food security in the province, by teaching and encouraging farmers to engage in aquaculture, tapping the technical know-how of SLSU.

“Farmers in other towns who are going to learn the aquatic technology, they will be more motivated to apply what they will learn to augment their income,” Mercado said

SLSU-Bontoc will likewise be conducting teach-in seminars, on-the-spot teaching demonstration in the field and other hands-on techniques once the MOA will be approved by school head Dewoowoogen Baclayon.

Former provincial board member Vick Barcelon said he will donate a hectare lot as demonstration farm in Hinunangan town.

The new building can accommodate 50 farmers for teach-in seminars and other hands-on field demonstration for the participants’ learning and acquiring skills.

The area located in Tal-ay Hills within Catublian and Nueva Esperanza villages is ideal for inland and upland aquatic culture since it has its own spring water, which normally protects and prevents it from being polluted with other waters from outside source.

The area is also accessible to farmers and other people interested in aquatic food production, according to Barcelon.

A team from SLSU is scheduled to check the lot to come up with recommendations.

The provincial government is committed to provide for the equipment needed in the constructions of infrastructure for the proposed project to make the site suitable to SLSU-Bontoc aquatic technology.

The knowledge and skill in acquiring the technology and techniques in aquatic culture and production will also be taught to farmers and other interested parties in towns outside Hinunangan.

“Teaching the farmers and entrepreneurs in this province how to fish is the best way of helping them provide for their livelihood and food security for their families,” he added. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/QUIRICO M. GORPIDO JR./EGR

New private modern hospital to open soon in Maasin City

MAASIN CITY, Southern, Leyte, Nov. 26 (PNA) – A Php70 million modern private hospital in this city will open early next year.

Contractor Philip Jun Celerinos of Mandaue-based PLD Construction said the well-equipped Living Hope Hospital is being constructed within a 1,600 square meter lot in Isagani village, this city. The works started early last year.

The building is about 75 percent complete, according to the contractor. Works include installation of steeled concrete foundations, architectural, electrical and plumbing, mechanical works, auxilliary works, telecommunication installation, installation of centralized oxygen, and elevator installation.

The Third and fourth floor are designated for the patients’ confinement. The second floor is for the operating rooms and delivery rooms. The laboratory room, pharmacy, emergency room, consultancy clinic and outpatient department are to be found on the first floor.

The new hospital have four wards with a capacity of seven beds each. It has 19 single occupancy private rooms and one room for semi-private with two beds.

The contractor claimed that with the modernization adopted by its owner, Dr. Levi Tan, plus the amenities of the tertiary level hospital, including the acquisition of its newly-purchased modern equipments, Livinghope hospital can be considered as competitive vis-a-vis with the Cebu-based facilities.

“There’s also a big possibility that the new corporation-run hospital can even offer lower rates for its services to confine patients than those in Cebu,” Celerinos said.

The health facility is the fourth hospital in Maasin City. Others are the New Provincial Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, Maasin Maternity and Children's Hospital. (PNA)
CTB/SQM/QMG, JR./EGR

NEDA sees brighter prospect of 2015 Eastern Visayas’ economy

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) –- The 2015 Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) is expected to get back on track with two years of massive post-Yolanda reconstruction activities, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reported.

NEDA sees a brighter prospect of the region’s 2015 economic performance, getting closer to the target of five percent set under the Regional Development Plan.

“Economic growth may be below the target, but it is better than in 2014 given the massive infusion of investment and construction works. Yolanda assistance translates into more building and better roads and more jobs,” said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy.

The 2014 GRDP performance nosedived by 6.8 percent from a positive growth of 4.5 percent in 2013. Economic growth in Eastern Visayas – the poorest region in the country – suffered a 2.3 percent decline last year.

The goal of stepping up growth to 4 to 5 percent looks more achievable with remarkable improvement of the industry sector, which contributes 41 percent to the GRDP.

Citing the latest available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Uy said the value of first quarter export of the region rose to USD138.25 million in the first quarter of this year or nearly tripled than the USD35.01 million exports in the same period a year ago.

For importation, the total value increased to USD156.26 in the first quarter or nearly double than last year’s USD60.62 million.

The official sees a sustained growth of services sector, which is the second biggest contributor to GRDP (40.7 percent). In 2014, it is the only sector that recorded increase in 2014 at 3.6 percent.

“That’s possible if the reconstruction programs will be expanded, sustained and expedited. There are still many rehabilitation activities coming, which will generate more jobs due to higher demand of services,” he added.

Massive assistance from government agencies and non-government organizations to farming and fishing is expected to drive minimal growth in agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (AHFF) sectors.

The sector is still largely dependent on the recovery of coconut industry, which would take five to seven years to restore its output.

The construction sub-sector, both private and public constructions, is expected to rise because of the repair of roads, bridges, buildings and houses.

“An increase in public expenditure is expected because of the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts to address the needs of the affected communities. Implementation of major infrastructure programs and projects will also contribute to the growth in government expenditure,” Uy explained.

Looking at the trend of GRDP growth rates before super typhoon “Yolanda” struck, the target for 2015 is ambitious, according to NEDA.

In 2008, the GRDP grew at 2 percent; in 2009, it contracted by 1.8 percent, then bounced back by 2.0 percent in 2010, and grew by 2.1 percent in 2011.

However, in 2012, the already crawling economy of the region turned for the worse when it contracted by negative 6.2 percent. In 2012, it was the only region in the country that encountered a negative growth.

Eastern Visayas has a very strategic location. It plays an important role in the country because it serves as the backbone of the entire Philippine archipelago. Owing to this location, the region is the principal gateway to northern and southern parts of the country, linking Luzon and Mindanao through the Philippine Nautical Highway.

A major component of the Nautical Highway is the roll-on roll-off (RORO) ports in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Leyte mayors back DPWH’s tide embankment project

PALO, Leyte, Nov. 25 (PNA) – Mayors in Leyte province have welcomed the tide embankment project of the Department of Public Works and Highways as it would protect coastal communities from threats of rising seas.

Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said there were many concerns raised during the consultation process, but these were all resolved through regular meetings with concerned agencies, village officials, and affected communities.

“I support the project because it is an important defence against destructive waves. It will not completely stop the impact of major disaster, but it will help mitigate,” Petilla told reporters.

“A protection of whatever magnitude is better than none. You have to remember that the storm surge was the major reason why many people perished,” she added.

Mayor Pelagio Tecson of neighboring Tanauan town said their town has been consulted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the preparation stage.

“There’s no problem on our part because we have been relocating families away from danger zones. Any help to protect us is welcome,” Tecson told PNA.

In contrast, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez said the national government should prioritize first the water system project for relocation sites before the “giant seawall.”

The absence of sustainable water system has been derailing the transfer of families from danger zones to resettlement sites. Consequently, the DPWH could not immediately proceed with the construction in highly populated communities.

DPWH Assistant Regional Director Edgar Tabacon agreed that there are many concerns in Tacloban than in nearby towns since there are more structures that would be demolished and more activities would be disrupted.

“We will hold it in abeyance for Tacloban area, as government looks for long term solutions to different issues and concerns. We will probably start the construction in Palo and Tanauan, since those areas are less populated,” Tabacon said in a phone interview.

The 27.3-kilometer project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town. Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 are some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 in Tanauan town.

The four-meter high structure, designed to shield coastal communities from big waves, was pushed through by President Benigno Aquino III after the 2013 storm surges wiped out neigborhoods in Leyte province.

The PHP7.9 billion “Great Wall” project include civil works and right of way acquisition broken down in four years – PHP1.46 billion for 2016, PHP1.19 billion for 2017, PHP2.64 billion for 2018, and PHP2.64 for 2019. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

PCA expands coconut intercropping in ‘Yolanda’-hit areas

PALO, Leyte, Nov. 25 (PNA) – Two years after super typhoon Yolanda struck, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) continues its intercropping program in badly-hit coconut farms, covering 11,063 hectares this year.

Intercropping involves planting of various crops to augment farmers’ income, enhance food supply and mitigate hunger and malnutrition while they are waiting to restore coconut production, said PCA Regional Manager Renato Dubongco.

“Part of intercropping is the provision of a grant-in-kind assistance in the form of planting materials and fertilizers to affected farmer families,” Dubongco said.

Of the 11,063 hectares covered by the project, 7,063 hectares are carry over from last year and 4,067 hectares for 2015.

The intercropping program prioritizes the planting of some crops and fruit-bearing trees in coconut farms. These include cassava, camote, corn, mungbean, mixed vegetable seeds, pineapple, lanzones, ginger, jackfruit, and banana.

“It will take seven years before coconuts return to full productivity. To help coconut farmers earn income and go back to farming, the government, in collaboration with the international agencies, provided alternative livelihood solutions,” Dubongco said.

Eastern Visayas, with an annual average yield of 1 billion nuts, reported 33.82 million damaged trees by Yolanda, almost half of the previously 72.75 million thriving coconut trees.

Of those affected, 15.04 million were categorized as totally damaged; 9.06 million, severely damaged; 4.98 million, slightly damaged; and 4.84 million, moderately damaged. Damage was estimated at PHP16.6 billion in this region. (PNA)

FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO