PopCom lauds Region 8 for high contraceptives use

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 2 -- The Commission on Population (PopCom) lauded Eastern Visayas region for achieving 48 percent of contraceptives prevalence rate, surpassing the national average by three percent.

PopCom Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez told reporters Friday that the region is on track of hitting the 65 percent prevalence rate goal by the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

“We still have a gap to fill and I’m happy that Region 8 is doing well, but we need to improve every year,” said Perez, a day after the Family Planning Summit here.

Contraceptive prevalence is the percentage of women currently using, or whose sexual partner is currently using, at least one method of contraception, regardless of the method used. It is usually reported for married or in-union women aged 15 to 49, according to the World Health Organization.

Perez explained that among the major factors that raised contraceptive prevalence rate is the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH).

“The fact that circulars from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and from the President asking local government to implement RPRH law, that is a plus factor,” Perez said.

However, the law’s implementation was hampered by the issuance of temporary restraining order (TRO).

“Even the President is conscious of the problem that's why he has called on the Supreme Court, in his State of the Nation Address or even a few days ago, informing them that some of the implants PHP250 million are about to expire,” the official added.

Perez pointed out that the only way to lift the TRO, according to the Supreme Court, is for the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to determine that the implants, intrauterine devices and pills are not abortifacient.

He is upbeat that FDA will generate support to complete the process within the year. (LAAA/PNA)

Lawmakers blast subcontracting of ‘Yolanda’ housing in E. Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 2  -- The subcontracting scheme in the 'Yolanda' housing projects in Eastern Samar turned out to be a major setback in the construction of permanent homes for the victims of the 2013 typhoon.

This was uncovered during a two-day inquiry here by the House of Representatives. The probe ended Friday.

Lawmakers learned that projects have been delayed due to hiring of subcontractors, which also resulted in substandard projects.

Camilo Salazar from Balangiga, Eastern Samar said that he is a third-party contractor of JC Tayag Builder, the winning contractor of National Housing Authority (NHA) projects for Yolanda housing units in his home province.

He told lawmakers in a public inquiry on Friday that 40 housing units were contracted to him by a certain Sally Almazan, a sub-contractor of JC Tayag Builder based in Montalban, Rizal. The NHA is building 480 units in Cansumangkay village in Balangiga town.

Salazar also claimed that some of the construction materials used in the housing units were sub-standard.

He revealed the PHP300, 000 uncollected payment from the subcontractor, but admitted he has no documents to prove that he sub-contracted housing projects of JC Tayag Builders.

NHA officials, who attended the public inquiry, said that subcontracting is not allowed by the agency, but if it is needed, the contractor must first seek permission from the agency.

In the case of 'Yolanda' housing projects, NHA never issued a single sub-contracting permit.

Housing and Urban Development Committee Chair Rep. Alfred Benitez said that the revelation of Salazar will be used by his committee in the succeeding inquiries for 'Yolanda' housing projects.

Benitez also called for other sub-contractors of NHA housing projects to come out and provide the committee information so that they can help improve and rectify the process of housing project implementation.

“We cannot continue these projects if such problems and issues are not addressed first. There is already a revelation here when this sub-contractor share the anomalies about the on-going housing projects. What we are going to do when we come back is to call the contractors so that we can hear their side,” Benitez said.

“If these will be proven, like the usage of sub-standard material or that the housing projects are substandard, then we will be filing appropriate charges to concern people,” Benitez added.

Before the public inquiry, the lawmakers inspected 'Yolanda' housing projects in Eastern Samar and Tacloban. Those who joined the inspection were Benitez, Reps. Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur, Tom Villarin of Akbayan, Gary Alejano of Magdalo and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela.

The committee also found out from workers that they had stopped working because of non-payment of their salaries in the past two months.

Benitez said the committee wants the NHA to hasten the construction of the housing projects and implement it correctly.

Other issues raised by beneficiaries during the inquiry include absence of water and electricity, and small houses for big families.

In Eastern Samar, housing project demand under the NHA is 7,573 but only about 454 units have been completed with only 289 occupied nearly four years after the super typhoon struck.

The committee noticed that the bidding of housing projects was held at the NHA main office in Manila.

Alejano said that these schemes also contribute in the slow pace of project implementation because only big contractors have the capacity to join biddings in Manila while local qualified contractors are not given the chance to join the competitive bidding.

The lawmakers held dialogues in several places with the final stop at the office of Leyte Rep. Yedda Romualdez.

Committee members expect that more people will come out in future inquiries to help resolve housing concerns. (RTA/PNA)

P11.25-B of 'Yolanda' rehab funds still unspent: NEDA

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 1  -- About PHP11.25 billion of government funds meant for rehabilitation projects for areas ravaged by super typhoon "Yolanda" nearly four years ago remain untouched as of first half of 2017.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said the latest "Yolanda" progress report showed that only PHP20.94 billion of the PHP32.19 billion had been disbursed to implementing government agencies.

Of the total funds released, the social services cluster got the highest share of PHP8.71 billion, followed by resettlement (PHP6.09 billion), infrastructure (PHP4.28 billion), and livelihood (PHP1.86 billion).

“More than three years after Yolanda struck the region, there are still issues and concerns that impede the smooth and fast implementation of programs and projects in Region 8,” NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Bonifacio Uy told PNA Thursday.

The report also identified five major issues in carrying out post-disaster projects, all related to relocation efforts. These are: delay in the construction of permanent housing projects in this city and other typhoon-hit areas; substandard housing units; poor access to water and power in resettlement sites; livelihood assistance to newly-transferred families; and absence of permanent school building near housing sites.

Citing reports from the National Housing Authority, NEDA revealed that only 15,422 houses out of the 56,140 target for Eastern Visayas have been built.

Among the major setbacks are unavailable lots, land acquisition issues, procurement concerns, and lack of qualified contractors.

Uy said the central government and regional officials have been working closely to complete all ongoing projects within three years.

Last week, key regional officials held a meeting among members of an inter-agency task force for the unified implementation and monitoring of post-"Yolanda" rehabilitation and recovery projects.

The formation of task force is in compliance with Administrative Order No. 5 issued on Aug. 8, 2017 by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The task force is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco with Presidential Assistants for the Visayas Michael Dino and for Special Concerns Wendel Avisado as co-chairs. Avisado is also the Presidential Assistant for "Yolanda" Rehabilitation.

The directive has listed 17 government agencies as members.

“There are some issues that can be better addressed and decided quickly at the highest level. We’re very hopeful that this administrative order will help address the remaining works,” Uy added.

The super typhoon, which struck central Philippines on November 8, 2013, is the deadliest typhoon in the country on record, killing at least 6,300 people. This city is considered as the typhoon’s ground zero. (SQM/PNA)

Eid'l Adha prayer: For Marawi evacuees in Tacloban to return home

TACLOBAN, CITY, Sept. 1  -- Muslims who fled the war-torn Marawi City observed Eid'l Adha with a special prayer -- to return home.

About 30 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi joined a simple Eid'l Adha celebration with Tacloban-based Muslims on Friday, offering prayers inside a mosque and joining a feast at the Leyte National Gymnasium.

Local government officials and some individuals donated food for the feast.

Young mother Farhanah Jamel, 26, said they were praying for the end of war in Marawi -- for them to be able to return home and start anew.

Her husband, who used to be a businessman before the war, was hired to do clerical jobs by the city government.

“Back in Marawi, we’re the one sharing food with others, but now we are struggling to buy food daily to survive,” Jamel shared.

The evacuees, composed of eight families, are temporarily staying in a village hall in Sagkahan district. They are getting support from the city government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and some private donors.

They have relatives who are based in Tacloban.

“Because of this war, sometimes we ask ourselves if we are really sinners for us to suffer this consequence. Despite hardship, we are thankful that Allah has been guiding us,” Jamel said.

Another IDP Nor-ain Radia, 21, was sad that her education has been interrupted bu the terror attack.

“I want to finish my studies and graduate, but the problem is that I don’t have money to support myself,” said Radia, a graduating nursing student of SMD Foundation Academy in Marawi City.

Radia travelled to this city with her relatives two months ago as condition at the evacuation center in Marawi worsened.

Her parents, who are into rice milling business, have been trapped inside the war-torn city. She has lost contact with them since.

"I'm praying that the war will end soon so we can go back to our village and see if our parents are still there," Radia said.

The city government of Tacloban has given the evacuees training on food preparation and marketing.

 Their delicacies are now being sold in a number of restaurants in the city.

For the evacuees, observing Eid'l Adha is a way to remember their sacrifices, resilience, and the generosity of others in the midst of war in their home city.

Eid'l Adha is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ismaeel, as an act of obedience to God's command. (SQM with reports from Madelene Perez & Reynadel Costillas, OJTs/PNA)

Ormoc City to have wastewater testing lab

ORMOC CITY, Sept. 1 -- This city will soon have its own laboratory that will be used to test wastewater quality.

And once fully operational, the facility can become an income earner for the city, servicing private establishments in other areas in the region.

Fe Comorposa, head of the city’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), said a laboratory will be set up at the second floor of the Ormoc City Hospital, situated in San Pablo village. The future laboratory will be an extension of the local environment office.

Comorposa, in an interview on Thursday, said the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) agreed to provide financial support for the project as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

The official estimated a PHP2 million outlay for the acquisition of various equipment, but she said that EDC will source out funds through the Energy Regulations No. 1-94 for the final quotation from the supplier.

A room will be devoted for bacteriological testing, and the other one will be for physico-chemical analysis of waste water.

“The facility will conduct analysis of waste water initially, but in due time, potable water will be included,” she emphasized.

There are 13 water sampling stations in Ormoc Bay, which expands up to its neighboring Albuera and Merida towns, 10 of which are in Ormoc City.

Currently, the city sends water samples to Cebu for some analysis not available in local sampling stations, spending some PHP10,500 every month.

Comorposa believes that putting up its own water quality laboratory will significantly reduce the city’s expenditure for water quality testing.

Moreover, she said that the laboratory can become a source of revenue for the city, as it can cater testing services for private establishments in other areas in the region, once it is fully operational.

With this, she added that they will request technical assistance from DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau to conduct further training to augment their capability of manning the facility.

No particular date has been set yet for the turnover of the building, but city planning coordinator Engr. Raoul Cam said that repair work for the city hospital is nearly completed by the contractors.

The Ormoc Bay and its associated watershed were officially designated as water quality management area through DENR Administrative Order No. 21, series of 2013 aimed at working and protecting the water quality of water bodies to sustain safe resources for the people. (Joseph B. Pilapil/PNA)