'Social media addiction' threatens family ties: Church

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 24 -- As the country celebrates the National Family Week, church officials have raised concerns over interference of excessive social media use to family relationships.

Pedro Bimbo Tan, a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Tacloban stake (diocese), said it is alarming that social media activities have been replacing the family’s worthwhile activities in their homes.

“Social media addiction is very dangerous to families. Parents should know how to stop using mobile phones and other gadgets. How can we have strong family if family life is dominated by social media and other online activities?” Tan asked during a press briefing Monday.

Tan, one of the LDS church leaders with jurisdiction over nearly 5,000 members in the regional capital and nearby towns, said one of the church’s advocacies is to help families learn to control the use of social media.

“It’s alarming that even in dining tables, each members of the family are busy with web-based activities instead of talking about plans, achievements, and concerns,” Tan said.

The use of social media is not bad per se, Tan said, since it helps connect friends, learn valuable information, and share inspirational messages, but it should be controlled.

In its Digital 2018 report, We Are Social revealed that 67 million Filipinos with social media accounts spent an average of three hours and 57 minutes a day on social media sites, mainly on Facebook, topping the world in terms of social media usage.

Another local church leader Jordan Villarmino urged families to create happy memories that would be remembered by their children.

“Families that play together stay together, especially when their play is uplifting and wholesome. Family activities build strong bonds and feelings of self-worth,” Villarmino said.

Joy Alban of LDS Church Educational System said in the advent of technology and societal problems confronting families, there is a need to bring to people’s mind to the basic doctrines behind the establishment of families.

“We want families to improve their spirituality. All social ills such as drug abuse will be solved if parents are working together. The success of family not depends on the government, but lies within the four corners of our homes,” Alban pointed out.

Mark Espedilla, one of the church’s bishops in Tacloban stake, said they have lined up several activities to raise public awareness on the importance of family, including the tie-up of Church officials with community leaders to discuss ways on how to strengthen families.

“The emphasis is matatag na pamilya (strong family) because we believe in the saying that no success can compensate for failure in the home,” Espedilla said.

The celebration of National Family Week from September 23 to 29 is based on Presidential Proclamation No. 60 issued on Sept. 28, 1992, which aims to increase awareness on various family issues; enhance effectiveness of efforts to carry out specific programs concerning families; and promote collaboration among organizations in support of multi-sectoral activities. (SQM/LAAA/PNA)

2 kids drown after heavy rains in Ormoc

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Sept. 24  -- The bodies of two young siblings were found at different sites Sunday morning, a day after they were swept by flood waters from Anilao River in San Pablo village here after a heavy downpour.

The police identified the drowned kids as Nerry Gonaro, Jr., 8, and Jhonar Joseph Gonato 9.  They went swimming at the river while their mother, Jocelyn Gonato, 55, was on an errand in a nearby town that day. 

Nerry was found by a villager submerged at the side of the Anilao river, face down and entangled in weeds while the body of his elder brother, Jhonar Joseph was found by a fisherman floating in a deep sea in the nearby village of Bantigue. Police said the two were found some five kilometers away from where they were last seen swimming.

Jocelyn said she left her four young children to their neighbor when she left for an errand at a nearby town.

According to residents, heavy rains last Saturday afternoon triggered flood water surge, but the young victims seem to have continued soaking themselves despite the bad weather.  

Jocelyn said her kids used to swim along with playmates at the river in the village located at the back of their school near their house.

The mother said her kids’ playmates seem unaware of their whereabouts until she learned the next morning that the bodies had been recovered.

In the 1991 disaster, the strong, gushing floodwater that overflowed to the city's commercial area during the flashflood came from Anilao River and claimed 4,992 lives and more than 3,000 missing. (Elvie R. Roa/PNA)

SAP Go leads opening of Malasakit Center in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept. 23 -- Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go on Saturday led the opening of Malasakit Center at the Southern Provincial Hospital that extends medical assistance to the underprivileged.

Go urged local officials to raise public awareness on the benefits of Malasakit Center, the second facility of its kind in the region next to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

It is the 7th Malasakit Center opened in the Philippines.

“Asking for financial assistance from different agencies is now just under one roof and you don’t have to queue since this is digital. This is to amplify President Duterte’s advocacy of streamlining government processes, especially the health services needed for the poor,” Go added.

He also turned over a PHP5-million check to support the local government’s hospital operation.

The center, which is housed at the provincial hospital in Dongon village, will prioritize senior citizens and persons with disabilities, but it is meant to assist all Filipinos, Go added.

The center is manned by staff of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. It makes a unified requirement system possible, aside from the unified, single-window application form.

The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas is the lead agency behind the project that is funded by the socio-civic funds of the Office of the President.

Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson Yap said he personally asked President Rodrigo Duterte during the Chief Executive’s visit here last July 2 to set up the facility for poor families that need health services.

Yap said the President told him he would discuss his request to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Dino.

“For people who have nothing, the center can really help them a lot if they seek for medical assistance,” Yap said. “Before we can position our self as economically viable to any market, we have to also take care of our human resources.”

To date, the program is available at the Philippine General Hospital, Davao, Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Bacolod City, and Southern Leyte. (LAAA/PNA)

Duterte gov’t fights corruption in ‘Yolanda’ housing

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 22 -- The Duterte administration is firm in running after officials involved in multi-million-peso anomalies over the implementation of the community mortgage program meant for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in this city.

On Friday, the Social Housing Finance Corp. (SHFC) filed a case before the City Prosecutor's Office against officials of Brigham Estate Home Owners Association for failing to remit payments of thousands of housing beneficiaries, representing their monthly amortization.

The beneficiaries had a dialogue with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy, who led SHFC activities here.

“The President is very concerned with housing projects since it has been five years after the disaster. While we file cases against corrupt officials, we have to work on completing housing projects,” Badoy said during the housing site visit.

Next week, the SHFC will file a case against Community Mortgage Program (CMP) community organizer Siony Sia and her cohorts in the SHFC for overpricing of land acquisition, non-remittance of payments, and illegal collection of fees from housing recipients.

“I am shocked because multi-million-peso funds are unaccounted (for). President Rodrigo Duterte wants to punish those behind this corruption activity. We hope to file cases within the year so we can take over these projects and complete these projects within the term of the President,” said SHFC Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling in a press briefing Friday night.

Cabling, a former councilor of Davao City, who handled the city council’s housing committee, said five SHFC lawyers have been coming to the city to gather evidences and talk to victims.

“We want to make sure the case is very tight because we really want to serve justice to ‘Yolanda’ victims. Let us fight corruption together as we work to strengthen the project to make houses truly livable, adequate, and inclusive for poor Filipinos,” Cabling said.

Aside from Brigham Estate in Bagacay village, the SHFC is also investigating six other housing sites, also handled by Mineland Shelter Foundation owned by Sia.

There are about 2,500 beneficiaries in these anomalous housing projects in the city, according to SHFC.

Sia, whose accreditation as mobilizer has been revoked by SHFC, cannot be reached for comment, but in earlier media interviews, she denied all accusations.

Under CMP, the SHFC buys the lot for accredited housing association members. The beneficiaries will pay to SHFC in more than two decades.

Under its loan entitlement, the SHFC raised the loan package from PHP165,000 to PHP250,000. Of the amount, PHP100,000 is for lot acquisition, PHP30,000 for site development, and PHP120 for housing materials.

The loan is payable in 25 years with a monthly amortization of PHP474 and at an annual interest rate of 6 percent based on the outstanding balance.

The community-based housing project is managed by the homeowners’ association, with a CMP mobilizer assisting the community associations in availing of the program for their lot acquisition, site development and housing fund assistance with the SHFC.

Cabling said SHFC has established measures to strengthen communication between the agency and the communities, through decentralization and streamlining of its processes to expedite shelter assistance to the underprivileged. (SQM/PNA)

PNP Region 8 renews call to rebels to surrender

PALO, Leyte, Sept. 21 – The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here renewed its call to communist rebels in Eastern Visayas (Region 8)  to surrender and avail of the government’s comprehensive reintegration program.

The PNP made the call after several members of New People’s Army (NPA) turned themselves in to local police stations.

“This is a manifestation that our policemen have been working and coordinating with the community for their safety and comfortable living,” said PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos in an interview Thursday.

Carlos assured rebel returnees that the government is ready to extend the enhanced comprehensive local integration program (E-CLIP) that comes with complete package assistance.

“Those who desire to abandon the armed struggle and aim to become productive members of society will certainly be provided with the benefits of E-CLIP that will pave the way for their new beginning,” Carlos said.

The assistance includes physical safety and security for them and for their family for three years while enrolled under E-CLIP.

The program is being carried out by local government units in coordination with the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In the past two months, NPA rebels in Eastern Samar surrendered to the 2nd Eastern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (ESPMFC) headed by Chief Insp. Frederick Señal based in Quinapundan, Eastern Samar.

On July 31, Antonio Amadar, 80, finance officer of the NPA’s Artemio Command, yielded to authorities with caliber .45 pistol and ammunition.

After a month, the rebel group’s Efren Martires Command political instructor Jojo Gerillana surrendered to the same unit, yielding firearms and ammunitions.

Early this month, George Bolito Command political instructor Abe Labide showed up at the 2nd ESPMFC with a .357 magnum revolver and ammunition.

Last week, NPA team leader and intelligence officer Jovany Gerillana surrendered to the same unit.

Aside from safety, livelihood and housing assistance, former rebel members who avail of the E-CLIP may be reintegrated to the military service or by joining the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit. (RTA/PNA)