Pres. Aquino to inaugurate diversion road in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, April 16 (PNA)-– President Benigno C. Aquino will inaugurate on Monday the newly-completed Php374.62 million Baybay Diversion Road in Baybay City, designed to decongest traffic in one of the commercial centers of the province.

Aquino will be joined by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson during the inaugural drive of the 5.154-kilometer road.

Among the local officials who will join the Chief Executive are Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Leyte 5th district Rep. Jose Carlos Cari, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari, and

The President will be in some parts of Leyte and provinces next week to campaign for the Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, his running mate Leni Robredo and the entire senatorial slate of the ruling party.

The national road serves as the trunk line and the fundamental component of the road network of Baybay City from Maasin City to Tacloban City and Maasin City to Ormoc City.

The road, which was completed on December 2015, serves also as an access in going to and from the roll-on roll-off ports of the city with a total length of 5.154 kilometers.

“The project has minimized traffic congestions in the city proper by diverting vehicular traffic to the new diversion road, thereby reducing convergence in the busy streets,” said DPWH Eastern Visayas regional director Rolando Asis.

Other benefits include reduced the travel time and reduced dust and air pollution. This will lead to increased commercial activities and job opportunities for the locals. In the long run, this will ultimately improve the socio-economic condition of Baybay City, according to the DPWH official.

Of the Php374 million, Php90.66 million was released in 2013, Php144.74 million in 2014, and Php97.49 million in 2015. The DPWH has just started the Php41.71 million slope protection works this year.

The road stretches at junction Ormoc-Baybay Road in Candadam village, passing through Cogon and Can-ipa villages, then crossing the Tacloban-Baybay South Road in Gaas village and ends at junction Baybay-Maasin Road in Hipusngo village. (PNA)

PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Pres. Aquino to inaugurate diversion road in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, April 16 (PNA)-– President Benigno C. Aquino will inaugurate on Monday the newly-completed Php374.62 million Baybay Diversion Road in Baybay City, designed to decongest traffic in one of the commercial centers of the province.

Aquino will be joined by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson during the inaugural drive of the 5.154-kilometer road.

Among the local officials who will join the Chief Executive are Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Leyte 5th district Rep. Jose Carlos Cari, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari, and

The President will be in some parts of Leyte and provinces next week to campaign for the Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, his running mate Leni Robredo and the entire senatorial slate of the ruling party.

The national road serves as the trunk line and the fundamental component of the road network of Baybay City from Maasin City to Tacloban City and Maasin City to Ormoc City.

The road, which was completed on December 2015, serves also as an access in going to and from the roll-on roll-off ports of the city with a total length of 5.154 kilometers.

“The project has minimized traffic congestions in the city proper by diverting vehicular traffic to the new diversion road, thereby reducing convergence in the busy streets,” said DPWH Eastern Visayas regional director Rolando Asis.

Other benefits include reduced the travel time and reduced dust and air pollution. This will lead to increased commercial activities and job opportunities for the locals. In the long run, this will ultimately improve the socio-economic condition of Baybay City, according to the DPWH official.

Of the Php374 million, Php90.66 million was released in 2013, Php144.74 million in 2014, and Php97.49 million in 2015. The DPWH has just started the Php41.71 million slope protection works this year.

The road stretches at junction Ormoc-Baybay Road in Candadam village, passing through Cogon and Can-ipa villages, then crossing the Tacloban-Baybay South Road in Gaas village and ends at junction Baybay-Maasin Road in Hipusngo village. (PNA)
PGL/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

DA Eastern Visayas keeps one million MT rice yield target amid drought

TACLOBAN CITY, April 15 (PNA) -– The Department of Agriculture (DA) is keeping the one million metric tons production target for Eastern Visayas this year despite adverse impacts of El Niño phenomenon.

DA regional technical director for research and regulation Elvira Torres said hitting the target is realistic since they expect rains starting next month.

“Based on forecast from Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), there will be rains between May to August,” Torres told PNA.

The official said that the peak of dry season has been experienced by the region between March and April as rainfall was categorized as way below normal.

El Niño has plagued 8,973 hectares of rice farms in Eastern Visayas since late last year.

The prolonged dry season wreak havoc on the livelihood of 8,948 rice farmers in Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar provinces. Output loss is valued at PHP64.77 million.

The impact of El Niño is only mild since those farmers who planted early were able to harvest rice before the peak of dry season.

DA regional information officer Francis Rosaroso said the impact of drought in the region is only minimal considering the abundant water resources in rural communities.

“Based on aerial inspection, most of the vegetation in the region is still green unlike in other parts of the country,” he said.

Rosaroso urged farmers to step up their water management practices to maintain moisture in soils.

Among the recommendations are declogging of canals to improve water flow, intermittent irrigation scheme to save water, prioritize water supply to very dry areas, reduce tillage during land preparation to conserve moisture, and direct seeding.

The farm department has intensified the promotion of rice varieties resistant to adverse weather conditions. One of this is the Green Super Rice variety, which is being piloted in selected areas in the region.

The Green Super Rice is a mix of more than 250 different potential rice varieties and hybrids variously adapted to difficult growing conditions such as drought and low inputs, including no pesticide and less fertilizer, and with rapid establishment rates to out-compete weeds.

The region has about 159,000 hectares of farms devoted to rice cultivation with an annual average yield of more than 900,000 metric tons.

Eastern Visayas is an agricultural area with 45 percent or 976,415 ha of its total land area is devoted to agriculture. (PNA)

JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

New graduates urged to venture into business

TACLOBAN CITY, April 15 (PNA) -- A top provincial official in Leyte has called on this year’s graduates to venture into entrepreneurship and create more employment opportunities for future job seekers.

Vice Governor Carlo Loreto asked graduates to create their own sources of income, explore endless possibilities and not just be limited with regular salary.

“Although finding a work is suited for others, I think our 2016 graduates can be more than just employees,” Loreto said.

“There are many services needed, there are many products that ordinary people cannot access because there are no businessmen who ventures these niches in society.”

Fresh graduates can avail of the Comprehensive Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Program Ordinance of the provincial government.

The ordinance authored by Loreto during his stint as board member provide trainings to youth as to what businesses they would engage, such as accounting and financial management.

Through the ordinance, new businessmen can access financial institutions and avail the two-year incubation period wherein these new businessmen can occupy space equipped with amenities offered by the provincial government with a minimal rent for maintenance. (PNA)

JMC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR

DILG kicks off search for top performing LGUs

TACLOBAN CITY, April 15 (PNA) –- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is evaluating local government units in Eastern Visayas to see if they are qualified to receive the 2016 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

DILG Regional Director Pedro Noval said the assessment has been ongoing for two months and will be done by the middle of the year.

All provinces, cities, and towns will be assessed to find out if they’re qualified. This is also to measure if SGLG awardees last year managed to sustain or improve their performance.

The 2015 SGLG awardees are Biliran province; Northern Samar province; Barugo, Carigara, and Jaro in Leyte; Gandara, Samar; and Limasawa, Southern Leyte.

Each province got PHP7 million Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) while each town received PHP3 million. PCF is a facility that grants financial subsidy to SGLG passers. The incentive is intended for development projects.

SGLG, which was originated from the Seal of Good Housekeeping program in 2010, was introduced by then Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to challenge local governments to continue good governance practices while providing better services.

Noval said that for an LGU to become an SGLG recipient, they have to pass all the three core assessment areas—Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection and Disaster Preparedness, and at least one from the essential assessment areas—Business-Friendliness and Competitiveness, Peace & Order or Environmental Management. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO