TACLOBAN CITY – Pintados Foundation President Eugene Tan lambasted the report regarding the statement of a female council member in the city during their recent session on the passage of ordinance making Sangyaw as the official festival of the city.
During the deliberation of the ordinance, he said that he “heard reports” that the money solicited by the festival organizers of a festival in the city goes directly to the pocket of some of their members.
Tan exclaimed that said accusation was absurd as the entire money that they were able to solicit from their sponsors goes directly to the organizing of Pintados Festival and if there is an excess it goes directly to the fund Pintados Foundation which they use to support some of their programs.
“All the money that we are able to solicit goes directly to the funding of the festivals which we uses mostly for the prizes of the contingent. If there is a excess the amount it goes directly to the foundation to be used for the scholarship programs of Pintados Foundation,” Tan explained.
Tan stressed that when they created the festival, its intention was not just to showcase through ritual dance presentation the life of early Taclobanons but also to help the most in need constituents of the city which are the street children who are vulnerable to sort of crimes and accidents as they roam in the streets.
Tan added that aside from sending the street children to school (elementary and secondary) they also provide them school supplies, uniforms and school fees including their other needs such as feeding programs to improved their nutritional and health conditions.
Tan revealed that since the foundation started in 1986 they were able to send a handful of street children in school where some of them were able to graduate in college.
“This is what we are, this is what we really do, not just presenting festival but helping the Taclobanons particularly the street children to be integrated back to the mainstream community in order to shape their mind up to become a good and productive citizen in this city,” Tan said.
“Though we experience obstacles through the 24 years of our existence in this city, we are able to survive because we are able to manage our organization well including our funds, because we are not here for money but to help Taclobanons, by bringing joy through festival and improve their lives through the scholarships that we grant,” he added.
Tan said that aside from the holding of Pintados Festival and programs like scholarship to street children, they were able to institutionalized some of the competitions they are hosting and make other municipalities and province in the region closer to Tacloban.
Among which is the regional inter-school cheer dance competition and the regional inter-school drums and bugle competition. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
DOT urges tourism players to be accredited
TACLOBAN CITY – Department of Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Maria Victoria Jasmin has urged tourism players to have their businesses accredited with the department.
The accreditation of tourism players is mandatory in order to strengthen data gathering and research on tourism and facilitate the promotion of individual enterprises and the industry as a whole, Jasmin said.
Accreditation with the lead agency of the government concerning tourism sector will make premier player in the tourism industry at the level to global competitiveness. she added.
“This would mean all players in the tourism industry representing them in providing services on where local or international tourists should seek for accreditation from the DOT before they can operate,” Usec Jasmin said.
She added that at present the DOT is formulating a new standard for their accreditation process that will meet the international standard.
On the process of accreditation, Jasmin emphasizes that it should not be a sole responsibility of the DOT to oblige tourism primary players to accredit with them, but they also need the help of the local government units.
“We would really enjoin the local councils to pass a resolution or ordinance for non-issuance of business permit unless endorsed or accredited by the DOT,” Jasmin stressed
She added that at present the DOT together with the GIZ (former GTZ) is conducting research on the wide range of standards for accommodating facilities to ensure that the standards that are being adopted is not too relax.
But before finalizing the new standard for accreditation of DOT, Jasmin said that they will first conduct consultation among tourism key players especially the private sector as they are in the frontline of tourism industry that will be the subject of said accreditation requirement.
“We wanted to convey our message to our visitors that we are what we advertise,” Jasmin stressed.
However, as most of the regional office of the DOT lacks personnel, Jasmin admitted that they will be having a hard time to implement the accreditation. (ROEL AMAZONA)
The accreditation of tourism players is mandatory in order to strengthen data gathering and research on tourism and facilitate the promotion of individual enterprises and the industry as a whole, Jasmin said.
Accreditation with the lead agency of the government concerning tourism sector will make premier player in the tourism industry at the level to global competitiveness. she added.
“This would mean all players in the tourism industry representing them in providing services on where local or international tourists should seek for accreditation from the DOT before they can operate,” Usec Jasmin said.
She added that at present the DOT is formulating a new standard for their accreditation process that will meet the international standard.
On the process of accreditation, Jasmin emphasizes that it should not be a sole responsibility of the DOT to oblige tourism primary players to accredit with them, but they also need the help of the local government units.
“We would really enjoin the local councils to pass a resolution or ordinance for non-issuance of business permit unless endorsed or accredited by the DOT,” Jasmin stressed
She added that at present the DOT together with the GIZ (former GTZ) is conducting research on the wide range of standards for accommodating facilities to ensure that the standards that are being adopted is not too relax.
But before finalizing the new standard for accreditation of DOT, Jasmin said that they will first conduct consultation among tourism key players especially the private sector as they are in the frontline of tourism industry that will be the subject of said accreditation requirement.
“We wanted to convey our message to our visitors that we are what we advertise,” Jasmin stressed.
However, as most of the regional office of the DOT lacks personnel, Jasmin admitted that they will be having a hard time to implement the accreditation. (ROEL AMAZONA)
GK targets 15,000 informal settlers in the city thru partnerships
TACLOBAN CITY – The Gawad Kalinga (GK) is targeting to provide shelter to an estimated 15,000 informal settlers in this city through their partnership with various civic and private sectors based in this city, especially with the help of Mayor Alfred Romualdez, said Jade Quicot, GK city coordinator at the weekly press forum “Express it at the Park.”
At present, the GK has two pilot areas in the city, one in Cabalawan where an initial total of 16 residential houses constructed through the process of volunteerism are to be awarded to its beneficiaries by March.
The other project site is in Palanog area that covers 10 hectares with a total of 77 houses to be constructed.
But Quicot revealed that in their Palanog project only 37 potential beneficiaries are active in the various activities conducted by their organization like in their values formation seminar and on housing construction activities.
Aside from Tacloban, there are other GK sites in the region-Leyte with a total of 30 GK villages, among which aside from the two in the city of Tacloban are found in the municipality of Palo, Kananga, Bato, Ormoc City, among others.
Quicot revealed that aside from the two project sites, the GK management with the help of the city government is now on the stage of planning to put another GK site in the Sto. Niño area, a barangay in the northern part of the city which most of the beneficiaries are the informal settlers residing in Sitio Alimasag, San Jose.
Residents in Sitio Alimasag are among to be affected on the planned expansion and upgrading of the DZR Airport.
Quicot added that in the process of awarding the title of houses to the beneficiaries, there are certain qualifications that each beneficiary should meet and abide. This include their sincerity to help the organization in the construction of their would-be houses and by attending various seminars organized by the coordinators such as the value formation seminar conducted every week.
He added that beneficiaries of houses from GK are bound to observe and follow the condition stipulated in the “deed of restriction” that includes the non-conversion of their houses into a boarding houses, store or sell it to other individuals.
“If they wanted to engaged in business inside the GK village, we had allocated a space inside the village where they can put-up their business,” said Quicot.
Aside from providing area for business purposes, Quicot added that there is also an area allocated for schools, multi-purposes area and other buildings that is important in a community.
He added the organization is strongly requiring beneficiaries to have a small garden where they can plant vegetables for their own consumption.
“This project is to encourage residents in the village to be closer with nature and to allow them to have fresh foods served on their meals,” Quicot explains. (ROEL AMAZONA)
At present, the GK has two pilot areas in the city, one in Cabalawan where an initial total of 16 residential houses constructed through the process of volunteerism are to be awarded to its beneficiaries by March.
The other project site is in Palanog area that covers 10 hectares with a total of 77 houses to be constructed.
But Quicot revealed that in their Palanog project only 37 potential beneficiaries are active in the various activities conducted by their organization like in their values formation seminar and on housing construction activities.
Aside from Tacloban, there are other GK sites in the region-Leyte with a total of 30 GK villages, among which aside from the two in the city of Tacloban are found in the municipality of Palo, Kananga, Bato, Ormoc City, among others.
Quicot revealed that aside from the two project sites, the GK management with the help of the city government is now on the stage of planning to put another GK site in the Sto. Niño area, a barangay in the northern part of the city which most of the beneficiaries are the informal settlers residing in Sitio Alimasag, San Jose.
Residents in Sitio Alimasag are among to be affected on the planned expansion and upgrading of the DZR Airport.
Quicot added that in the process of awarding the title of houses to the beneficiaries, there are certain qualifications that each beneficiary should meet and abide. This include their sincerity to help the organization in the construction of their would-be houses and by attending various seminars organized by the coordinators such as the value formation seminar conducted every week.
He added that beneficiaries of houses from GK are bound to observe and follow the condition stipulated in the “deed of restriction” that includes the non-conversion of their houses into a boarding houses, store or sell it to other individuals.
“If they wanted to engaged in business inside the GK village, we had allocated a space inside the village where they can put-up their business,” said Quicot.
Aside from providing area for business purposes, Quicot added that there is also an area allocated for schools, multi-purposes area and other buildings that is important in a community.
He added the organization is strongly requiring beneficiaries to have a small garden where they can plant vegetables for their own consumption.
“This project is to encourage residents in the village to be closer with nature and to allow them to have fresh foods served on their meals,” Quicot explains. (ROEL AMAZONA)
DOT convincing LGUs, tourism players to focus on local cuisine as promotion
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism is convincing local government units and tourism players in the country to also focus on the local cuisine as part of their tourism promotion package.
During her recent visit to the province for the 4th Municipal Tourism Assembly, Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin emphasized that local delicacies are also a great factor for attracting tourists to visit a particular place.
“Just like what Indonesia, Malaysia and our other Asian countries are doing where they added their local cuisine, uniquely found in their country as part of their tourism promotion,” Usec Jasmin said.
“Promoting cuisine products will generate multi-million incomes for tourism,” added Jasmin.
Promotion of Filipino cuisine is said to further enhance and help to promote our cuisine popularity in global community and help tourists, foreign and local alike to enjoy and have a higher quality of culinary experience throughout the country.
Aside from generating income for the tourism key players, it is also said to generate additional job particularly among suppliers of agriculture, livestock, poultry and fishery products.
Local tourism players are of great help in this project to use cuisine as a tool in tourism promotion as they are the main operators of facilities that caters to the needs of visiting tourists, Jasmin said.
This program of the DOT is supported by DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, saying that development and promotion of local cuisine is important for local government units, especially if they are embarking in the promotion of their local tourism industry.
“If we are going to serve food to our visitors, make sure that the food that we are presenting is presentable and is uniquely found in our locality,” said Nierras.
“We must not just serve them with foods that can be found in other areas or in fast food chain,” added Nierras.
“If the area is in a coastal area, therefore they should focus on the types of products that are found in their area which are the marine products,” Nierras said.
“Served them with your fresh marine products which is not found in urban areas for most tourists prefer their foods to be served in a most presentable and delicious way of cooking,” she added.
Nierras said that local government units must conduct a master listing of all local delicacies found in their areas in order to always have an ample supply of its raw ingredients. (ROEL AMAZONA)
During her recent visit to the province for the 4th Municipal Tourism Assembly, Tourism Undersecretary Maria Victoria Jasmin emphasized that local delicacies are also a great factor for attracting tourists to visit a particular place.
“Just like what Indonesia, Malaysia and our other Asian countries are doing where they added their local cuisine, uniquely found in their country as part of their tourism promotion,” Usec Jasmin said.
“Promoting cuisine products will generate multi-million incomes for tourism,” added Jasmin.
Promotion of Filipino cuisine is said to further enhance and help to promote our cuisine popularity in global community and help tourists, foreign and local alike to enjoy and have a higher quality of culinary experience throughout the country.
Aside from generating income for the tourism key players, it is also said to generate additional job particularly among suppliers of agriculture, livestock, poultry and fishery products.
Local tourism players are of great help in this project to use cuisine as a tool in tourism promotion as they are the main operators of facilities that caters to the needs of visiting tourists, Jasmin said.
This program of the DOT is supported by DTI Regional Director Cynthia Nierras, saying that development and promotion of local cuisine is important for local government units, especially if they are embarking in the promotion of their local tourism industry.
“If we are going to serve food to our visitors, make sure that the food that we are presenting is presentable and is uniquely found in our locality,” said Nierras.
“We must not just serve them with foods that can be found in other areas or in fast food chain,” added Nierras.
“If the area is in a coastal area, therefore they should focus on the types of products that are found in their area which are the marine products,” Nierras said.
“Served them with your fresh marine products which is not found in urban areas for most tourists prefer their foods to be served in a most presentable and delicious way of cooking,” she added.
Nierras said that local government units must conduct a master listing of all local delicacies found in their areas in order to always have an ample supply of its raw ingredients. (ROEL AMAZONA)
DTI to support move to lessen use of plastic bags in Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Cynthia Nierras said that they will fully support a proposed ordinance authored by Leyte First District Board Member Roque Tiu that will seek to lessen the usage of plastic bags in the province.
This announcement of Nierras was made in the weekly press forum “Express it at the Park” saying that said ordinance is a great help to their campaign for Filipino to go back to basics and use indigenous materials such as “bayong” when doing groceries and going to market.
“We take this as a welcome development because we in the department had been promoting the usage of “bayong” for two years now,” said Nierras.
“With this(proposed) ordinance, this would be of great help in our advocacy to lessen the bad effect of plastic in our environment as we all know and witnessed its dreadful effect happened during Ondoy’s time,” Nierras said.
“Although we are campaigning for the use of bayong, we are not setting aside plastic bags because we still need to use this particularly when we buy wet products, ” Nierras added.
“I hope that this ordinance once passed will be implemented by the respective local government units in the province, for this is a good and commendable ordinance,” Nierras said.
In the program of the DTI to promote bayong as a substitute to plastic bags, she revealed that there are 18 bayong producers which their agency had provided with assistance like in the technical aspects of coloring and designing.
Here in Leyte, among the municipalities that have been focusing on bayong production are Carigara and Baybay.
Meantime, Board Member Tiu said that he had provided copies of the draft of his ordinance to his fellow board members to solicit additional inputs that would be useful improve his proposed ordinance and to know if they wish to act as co-sponsor.
He added that aside from implementing it in the province, he plan to recommend it for both the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc to adopt similar ordinance considering that most of big business establishments are located in this two cities.
Although they are seeking to lessen the use of plastic bags, Tiu said that there will be considerations under his proposed ordinance as there are products in the market that needs plastic bags for packing.
“We need to consider everything in this ordinance, but we are creating this for our future generations,” Tiu added. (ROEL AMAZONA)
This announcement of Nierras was made in the weekly press forum “Express it at the Park” saying that said ordinance is a great help to their campaign for Filipino to go back to basics and use indigenous materials such as “bayong” when doing groceries and going to market.
“We take this as a welcome development because we in the department had been promoting the usage of “bayong” for two years now,” said Nierras.
“With this(proposed) ordinance, this would be of great help in our advocacy to lessen the bad effect of plastic in our environment as we all know and witnessed its dreadful effect happened during Ondoy’s time,” Nierras said.
“Although we are campaigning for the use of bayong, we are not setting aside plastic bags because we still need to use this particularly when we buy wet products, ” Nierras added.
“I hope that this ordinance once passed will be implemented by the respective local government units in the province, for this is a good and commendable ordinance,” Nierras said.
In the program of the DTI to promote bayong as a substitute to plastic bags, she revealed that there are 18 bayong producers which their agency had provided with assistance like in the technical aspects of coloring and designing.
Here in Leyte, among the municipalities that have been focusing on bayong production are Carigara and Baybay.
Meantime, Board Member Tiu said that he had provided copies of the draft of his ordinance to his fellow board members to solicit additional inputs that would be useful improve his proposed ordinance and to know if they wish to act as co-sponsor.
He added that aside from implementing it in the province, he plan to recommend it for both the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc to adopt similar ordinance considering that most of big business establishments are located in this two cities.
Although they are seeking to lessen the use of plastic bags, Tiu said that there will be considerations under his proposed ordinance as there are products in the market that needs plastic bags for packing.
“We need to consider everything in this ordinance, but we are creating this for our future generations,” Tiu added. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Uy favors amending the Constitution
CALBAYOG CITY – City Mayor Reynaldo Uy said he supports the move for amending the Constitution.
Mayor Uy, who is a former representative of Samar first district, said that there are some provisions in the present Constitution that should be amended like its economic provisions and the term of office of all elected officials.
Uy said that extending the term of office of all elective officials would ensure that they could provide better service to their constituents.
He also claims that the number of economic provision of the Constitution hampers the country’s economic development.
“Yes to Cha-cha because for a good elected government official three years is not enough, we need to have more time,” Mayor Uy.
The present term of elected officials, according to him, is too short for them to carry out all their intended programs and projects intended to their constitients.
Uy also said the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution should be amended as the strict restrictions of foreign business and property ownership in the country had put us at the tail end among our neighboring Asian countries. “We have to re-think and re-visit the ownership of lands and properties in the Philippines by foreigners if we are to embark on the massive invitation of foreign investors to put investment in the country,” Uy explained.
At present, based on the 1987 Constitution only allows Filipino citizens to own properties and businesses in the country.
“If want more flow of capital in our country, I think this provision in the Constitution should be amended to invite more foreign business investors to come,” Uy added.
The talks on Charter change was ignited anew when Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone proposed that any move to tinker the Constitution should now be started.
The first attempt to change he constitution was during the presidency of former President Fidel V. Ramos who sought to change the present system of government into a parliamentary form of government and lift the term limits of public officials.
Under former President Joseph Estrada, a similar attempt was also proposed with a process called CONCORD or Constitutional Correction and Developent proposing for amending the restrictive economic prvisions of the Constitution that is seen as impeding to the entry of more foreign investors in the country.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also sought for Cha-cha only to met strong resistance from various sectors. (Roel Amazona)
Mayor Uy, who is a former representative of Samar first district, said that there are some provisions in the present Constitution that should be amended like its economic provisions and the term of office of all elected officials.
Uy said that extending the term of office of all elective officials would ensure that they could provide better service to their constituents.
He also claims that the number of economic provision of the Constitution hampers the country’s economic development.
“Yes to Cha-cha because for a good elected government official three years is not enough, we need to have more time,” Mayor Uy.
The present term of elected officials, according to him, is too short for them to carry out all their intended programs and projects intended to their constitients.
Uy also said the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution should be amended as the strict restrictions of foreign business and property ownership in the country had put us at the tail end among our neighboring Asian countries. “We have to re-think and re-visit the ownership of lands and properties in the Philippines by foreigners if we are to embark on the massive invitation of foreign investors to put investment in the country,” Uy explained.
At present, based on the 1987 Constitution only allows Filipino citizens to own properties and businesses in the country.
“If want more flow of capital in our country, I think this provision in the Constitution should be amended to invite more foreign business investors to come,” Uy added.
The talks on Charter change was ignited anew when Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone proposed that any move to tinker the Constitution should now be started.
The first attempt to change he constitution was during the presidency of former President Fidel V. Ramos who sought to change the present system of government into a parliamentary form of government and lift the term limits of public officials.
Under former President Joseph Estrada, a similar attempt was also proposed with a process called CONCORD or Constitutional Correction and Developent proposing for amending the restrictive economic prvisions of the Constitution that is seen as impeding to the entry of more foreign investors in the country.
Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also sought for Cha-cha only to met strong resistance from various sectors. (Roel Amazona)
Leyte optimistic to win again in this year’s EVRAA meet
CALBAYOG CITY – Officials of the Department of Education Leyte Division are optimistic that they will once again bring home the beacon in this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association here in this city.
For four years now, the Leyte delegation has always been declared as the over-all champion of EVRAA.
In an interview with Rogelia Urbino from Leyte DepEd Division and also the regional physical education supervisor, she said that athletes from their division are prepared for the competition. Around 500 athletes from various elementary and secondary schools in the province of Leyte competing for the EVRAA, to include aroun 100 coaches, officiating members and DepEd officials from their division and staff.
Ubina added that among the expected athletes to produce medals for the Leyte delegation are the scholars of the Leyte SportsAcademy, a priority program of the provincial government of Leyte through Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla that helps to enhance the ability of every student athletes in their respective field of sports.“We are thankul for the support that the governor had provided to all our athletes from the start of our training until this very day of competition,” Urbina said.
She added that trainings provided to the athletes in the academy ensured an exemplary performance for an athlete which is why they are hoping to top once again this year’s regional sporting event.
Among the sports where they are expecting to win gold medals are boxing, taekwondo, athletics, baseball, softball, swimming, chess, table tennis, sipa, sepak takraw and tennis.
Meanwhile,Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy said that he is not hoping for their athletes to top the medal standings in the competition.
The city government of Calbayog had allocated P5.9 million for the staging of this year’s EVRAA competition while Samar First District Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento provided P500,000 as support to the city government.
“We are hosting the competition right now and we are not expecting to be on top of the medal standing but what we can only assures is we will provide a good fight in every field of sports were our athletes are to compete,” Uy said. (Roel Amazona)
For four years now, the Leyte delegation has always been declared as the over-all champion of EVRAA.
In an interview with Rogelia Urbino from Leyte DepEd Division and also the regional physical education supervisor, she said that athletes from their division are prepared for the competition. Around 500 athletes from various elementary and secondary schools in the province of Leyte competing for the EVRAA, to include aroun 100 coaches, officiating members and DepEd officials from their division and staff.
Ubina added that among the expected athletes to produce medals for the Leyte delegation are the scholars of the Leyte SportsAcademy, a priority program of the provincial government of Leyte through Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla that helps to enhance the ability of every student athletes in their respective field of sports.“We are thankul for the support that the governor had provided to all our athletes from the start of our training until this very day of competition,” Urbina said.
She added that trainings provided to the athletes in the academy ensured an exemplary performance for an athlete which is why they are hoping to top once again this year’s regional sporting event.
Among the sports where they are expecting to win gold medals are boxing, taekwondo, athletics, baseball, softball, swimming, chess, table tennis, sipa, sepak takraw and tennis.
Meanwhile,Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy said that he is not hoping for their athletes to top the medal standings in the competition.
The city government of Calbayog had allocated P5.9 million for the staging of this year’s EVRAA competition while Samar First District Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento provided P500,000 as support to the city government.
“We are hosting the competition right now and we are not expecting to be on top of the medal standing but what we can only assures is we will provide a good fight in every field of sports were our athletes are to compete,” Uy said. (Roel Amazona)
Rep. Sarmiento pushes for 12-year grade school, high school education
CALBAYOG CITY – The committee on education of the House of Representatives is currently working on the bill that will improve the basic education system of the country by institutionalizing the creation of kindergarten or K-12, said Samar first district Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento, who is a member of the committee and a member of the congressional team that goes around the country to explain the rationale of K-12.
K-12 refers to Kindergarten and the number 12 refers to the sum of seven years in grade school and five years in high school.
The proposed education system is said to help graduates of the country to meet international standard of education system and be globally competitive and was part of the promise of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to improve the education system of the country.
The current basic education system of the country has six year elementary education and four year secondary education.
“Probably some of us are thinking that the government had not yet provided solutions to existing problems of the education sector like the lack of school buildings and teachers,” said Sarmiento.
“But if we will look at other countries like the USA and our neighboring Asian countries like Singapore where their basic education graduate age are at 18 or 19 years old, their economy is strong because most of their high school graduates can already enter the labor force of their country,” the solon added.
“It is only in our country where we keep on insisting that our high school graduate enter college for them to land a job because they can’t be hired because they finish high school at the very young age,” Sarmiento said.
“Our graduates are masyadong hilaw to enter the labor force of our country because they graduated at the age of 15 or 16, unlike in progressive country na they graduate at age of 18 which is hinog,” Sarmiento added.
Based on our Labor Code, for one to be legally employed that employee should be at the age of 18.
Although this proposed bill had earned a huge number of criticisms particularly from parents, students and caused-oriented groups, as this would result additional burden to parents and students and provide additional work load to teachers, get the support from the members of the Lower House, Sarmiento said. (Roel Amazona)
K-12 refers to Kindergarten and the number 12 refers to the sum of seven years in grade school and five years in high school.
The proposed education system is said to help graduates of the country to meet international standard of education system and be globally competitive and was part of the promise of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino to improve the education system of the country.
The current basic education system of the country has six year elementary education and four year secondary education.
“Probably some of us are thinking that the government had not yet provided solutions to existing problems of the education sector like the lack of school buildings and teachers,” said Sarmiento.
“But if we will look at other countries like the USA and our neighboring Asian countries like Singapore where their basic education graduate age are at 18 or 19 years old, their economy is strong because most of their high school graduates can already enter the labor force of their country,” the solon added.
“It is only in our country where we keep on insisting that our high school graduate enter college for them to land a job because they can’t be hired because they finish high school at the very young age,” Sarmiento said.
“Our graduates are masyadong hilaw to enter the labor force of our country because they graduated at the age of 15 or 16, unlike in progressive country na they graduate at age of 18 which is hinog,” Sarmiento added.
Based on our Labor Code, for one to be legally employed that employee should be at the age of 18.
Although this proposed bill had earned a huge number of criticisms particularly from parents, students and caused-oriented groups, as this would result additional burden to parents and students and provide additional work load to teachers, get the support from the members of the Lower House, Sarmiento said. (Roel Amazona)
Leyte SP commends An Waray, prov’l gov’t for the weeklong medical, surgical mission
TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte during their 27th regular session unanimously passed a resolution of commendation to the members of the medical teams assisting the An Waray party-list and the provincial government of Leyte in the week- long regional medical and surgical mission held in the city.
The resolution was authored by Board Member Roque Tiu, chair on committee on public information, citing that it is proper to commend and recognize the members of the medical team as they do not only provide medical services to the people of Leyte but also those coming from other provinces of the region.
Tiu said the medical mission is of a great help to the needy residents in the region, particularly those who cannot afford to undergo surgical operation due to poverty.
The medical mission is held at the Leyte Capitol Gymnasium for the medical check-ups and distribution of free medicines while the surgical operation is being conduced at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
Said undertaking is in partnership with the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines Inc., a group established in 1986 which started their medical mission in 1997.
The Leyte medical mission is composed of 54 medical practitioners (doctors and nurses) and is their first medical mission in the Visayan region.
The five-day medical mission, 1,500 patients a day are to be provided with their medical needs, while on the surgical operation about 500 patients are accommodated as per availability of surgeons, said Jude Acidre, regional chair of the An Waray party-list.
Aside from the An Waray party-list, the on-going medical mission is also supported by the provincial government Leyte, Department of Health and the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
Conducting medical missions is among the priority program of the An Waray party-list under the leadership of Representatives Florencio “Bem” Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo who promised to intensify it more with their combined Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Aside from conducting regular medical missions in various municipalities and cities in the region, the two congressmen also promised to increase their budget allocation to the EVRMC where the party-list group pays the medical bills of the indigent patients. (ROEL AMAZONA)
The resolution was authored by Board Member Roque Tiu, chair on committee on public information, citing that it is proper to commend and recognize the members of the medical team as they do not only provide medical services to the people of Leyte but also those coming from other provinces of the region.
Tiu said the medical mission is of a great help to the needy residents in the region, particularly those who cannot afford to undergo surgical operation due to poverty.
The medical mission is held at the Leyte Capitol Gymnasium for the medical check-ups and distribution of free medicines while the surgical operation is being conduced at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
Said undertaking is in partnership with the Foundation for Aid to the Philippines Inc., a group established in 1986 which started their medical mission in 1997.
The Leyte medical mission is composed of 54 medical practitioners (doctors and nurses) and is their first medical mission in the Visayan region.
The five-day medical mission, 1,500 patients a day are to be provided with their medical needs, while on the surgical operation about 500 patients are accommodated as per availability of surgeons, said Jude Acidre, regional chair of the An Waray party-list.
Aside from the An Waray party-list, the on-going medical mission is also supported by the provincial government Leyte, Department of Health and the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
Conducting medical missions is among the priority program of the An Waray party-list under the leadership of Representatives Florencio “Bem” Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo who promised to intensify it more with their combined Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Aside from conducting regular medical missions in various municipalities and cities in the region, the two congressmen also promised to increase their budget allocation to the EVRMC where the party-list group pays the medical bills of the indigent patients. (ROEL AMAZONA)
PBMLP lobbying for passage of bills granting CSC eligibility, career executive eligibility to SB, SP members with 3 terms
TACLOBAN CITY – The Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines is lobbying in Congress for the passage of the bills submitted at the Lower House that would provide grant civil service eligibility or career executive service eligibility to members of local legislative body who are able to finished three consecutives terms of office said Leyte 5th district Board Member Carlo Loreto in an interview.
The two bills are House Bill 3678 or the Act conferring upon member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan who has served for at least three and/or two consecutive terms in office appropriate civil service eligibility and House Bill 3116 or an act conferring the appropriate civil service eligibility upon a member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan who has served for at least three consecutive terms in office.
HB 3678 is the principal authorship of AANGAT TAYO sectoral Representative Daryl Grace Abayon who is also the vice-chairperson of civil service and professional regulation while HB 3116 is the principally authored by Congressman Isidro Rodriguez, Jr. who chairs the committee on Southern Tagalog Development, a special committee at the House of Representatives.
Loreto attended the committee hearing of the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation Chaired by Leyte third district Representative Andres Salvacion Jr, where they submitted their groups’ position to the said bills.
“The consensus of our members in the national level is that we agreed that public officials who completed their terms should be provided with eligibility according to their degree in their educational attainment,” said Loreto.
In their position letter for those who serves the local legislative body for three consecutive terms who were unable to graduate in college, they proposed that the town, city councilor and provincial board member should be provided with the non-professional eligibility.
Degree holders are to be provided with professional civil service eligibility, while those who are professionals like doctors and lawyers are to be provided with Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) eligibility.
“This is in a way to motivate them to provide better services to their constituents as it is mandated to them when they took their oath,” Loreto explained. (ROEL AMAZONA)
The two bills are House Bill 3678 or the Act conferring upon member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan who has served for at least three and/or two consecutive terms in office appropriate civil service eligibility and House Bill 3116 or an act conferring the appropriate civil service eligibility upon a member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan who has served for at least three consecutive terms in office.
HB 3678 is the principal authorship of AANGAT TAYO sectoral Representative Daryl Grace Abayon who is also the vice-chairperson of civil service and professional regulation while HB 3116 is the principally authored by Congressman Isidro Rodriguez, Jr. who chairs the committee on Southern Tagalog Development, a special committee at the House of Representatives.
Loreto attended the committee hearing of the Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation Chaired by Leyte third district Representative Andres Salvacion Jr, where they submitted their groups’ position to the said bills.
“The consensus of our members in the national level is that we agreed that public officials who completed their terms should be provided with eligibility according to their degree in their educational attainment,” said Loreto.
In their position letter for those who serves the local legislative body for three consecutive terms who were unable to graduate in college, they proposed that the town, city councilor and provincial board member should be provided with the non-professional eligibility.
Degree holders are to be provided with professional civil service eligibility, while those who are professionals like doctors and lawyers are to be provided with Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) eligibility.
“This is in a way to motivate them to provide better services to their constituents as it is mandated to them when they took their oath,” Loreto explained. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Gov’t should not be left alone in the problem on education – Samar Rep. Sarmiento
CALBAYOG CITY – Samar first district Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento said the government should not be left alone in providing solution on the problems besetting the education sector, as the government cannot provide all the facilities and materials needed in every public schools, both elementary and secondary levels.
“At present, we need 116,000 classrooms, but what the government can provide is only 40,000 classrooms and we need 108,000 teachers, but what the government can only provide so far is only 10,000, ” Sarmiento said.
The figures, according to him, only show that the education sector of the country is facing a very big problem.
“But the government alone won’t be able to do it, which is why we need everybody’s help because there are many challenges ahead that we need to deal with,” Sarmiento stressed.
With this existing problem, Sarmiento said that the government is now studying on the possible integration of the three major government agencies that are in-charge in supervising the education sector in the country.
Said plan to re-integrate the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education Skills Developments Authority into one department is a way to address the existing problem that concerns the education sector to improve the quality of education and meet the international standard.
Sarmiento added that with the integration of the three agencies of the education sector, the closer coordination among the educators from the three education agencies might provide the much need reform.
Formerly, the Department of Education was called the Department of Education Culture and Sports when it was renamed through Republic Act No. 9155 of the Governance of Basic Education Act that redefines the role of field offices, which include regional offices, division offices, district offices and schools.
RA 9155 also removes the administration of cultural activities to the DepEd but culture and arts are still part of school curriculum and transfer all functions, programs and activities of DepEd related to sports to the Philippine Sports Commission.
The CHED was established on May 18, 1994 through Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994 which was authored by Senator Francisco Tatad, which was outlined by the Congressional Commission on Education as part of the broad agenda to reforms the country’s education system.
Meanwhile, TESDA was established through Republic Act 7796 also known as the Technical Skills and Development Act of 1994 also authored by former Senator Francisco Tatad.
Said act aims to encourage the full participation of and mobilize the industry, labor, local government units and technical-vocational institutions in the skills development of the country’s human resources.
Aside from the integration of the three agencies, the move to a have a 12 year basic education system in the country is being pushed as most countries in the world are now implementing such system and among the requirements they impose in hiring applicant’s lays on the basic education background of applicants. (ROEL AMAZONA)
“At present, we need 116,000 classrooms, but what the government can provide is only 40,000 classrooms and we need 108,000 teachers, but what the government can only provide so far is only 10,000, ” Sarmiento said.
The figures, according to him, only show that the education sector of the country is facing a very big problem.
“But the government alone won’t be able to do it, which is why we need everybody’s help because there are many challenges ahead that we need to deal with,” Sarmiento stressed.
With this existing problem, Sarmiento said that the government is now studying on the possible integration of the three major government agencies that are in-charge in supervising the education sector in the country.
Said plan to re-integrate the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education Skills Developments Authority into one department is a way to address the existing problem that concerns the education sector to improve the quality of education and meet the international standard.
Sarmiento added that with the integration of the three agencies of the education sector, the closer coordination among the educators from the three education agencies might provide the much need reform.
Formerly, the Department of Education was called the Department of Education Culture and Sports when it was renamed through Republic Act No. 9155 of the Governance of Basic Education Act that redefines the role of field offices, which include regional offices, division offices, district offices and schools.
RA 9155 also removes the administration of cultural activities to the DepEd but culture and arts are still part of school curriculum and transfer all functions, programs and activities of DepEd related to sports to the Philippine Sports Commission.
The CHED was established on May 18, 1994 through Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994 which was authored by Senator Francisco Tatad, which was outlined by the Congressional Commission on Education as part of the broad agenda to reforms the country’s education system.
Meanwhile, TESDA was established through Republic Act 7796 also known as the Technical Skills and Development Act of 1994 also authored by former Senator Francisco Tatad.
Said act aims to encourage the full participation of and mobilize the industry, labor, local government units and technical-vocational institutions in the skills development of the country’s human resources.
Aside from the integration of the three agencies, the move to a have a 12 year basic education system in the country is being pushed as most countries in the world are now implementing such system and among the requirements they impose in hiring applicant’s lays on the basic education background of applicants. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Rep. Edgardo Angara not in favor of re-imposition of death penalty
TACLOBAN CITY – Lone District of Aurora Province Representative Juan Edgardo Angara said that he does not favor the imposition of the death penalty sentence among hardened criminals as proposed by some legislators and some anti-crime crusaders after a series of heinous crimes perpetuated by alleged organized crimes groups in the country, prominent of which is the series of killings among car traders in Metro Manila.
“I am not really in favor for its re-imposition,” said Angara during his talk with media practitioners in Tacloban City.
“We have a death penalty, but the Supreme Court had not really implemented it,” added Angara.
Said proposed imposition of death penalty, according to Angara, was raised at the height of crime problems in the country which should be carefully studied as it takes long for the criminal justice system in the country before an accused is meted with final conviction.
“We cannot just impose death penalty right away, as we still need to go on legal proceedings before we can impose death penalty to accused criminals,” explains Angara.
He added that criminals should not also be denied their rights in court for fair trial.
Although said proposal might have an effect to the solution of the crime of today, Angara stressed that the government should find more ways on how to effectively enforce the law to prevent any form of criminality to occur in the communities.
It may recall that during the height of killings of car traders in Metro Manila, some individuals and anti-crime groups have proposed to the President for the imposition of death penalty.
President Aquino said that he is against for the re-imposition of the capital punishment, adding that he would look into the matter while stressing that the judicial system of the country is “not perfect” as there might be a possibility that those sentenced to death might be innocent.
Among legislators who are vocal in their call for the re-imposition of death penalty is Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri through Senate Bill No. 2383 he hopes that death penalty would deter the commission of heinous crimes.
During the presidency of the late President Corazon Aquino, the death penalty law was repealed by Congress and was re-imposed during the term of former President Fidel Ramos where child-rapist Leo Echegaray was the first convict to be executed through lethal injection.
However, said law was abolished by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during his term amid protest of families of the victims of heinous crimes and anti-crime groups. (ROEL AMAZONA)
“I am not really in favor for its re-imposition,” said Angara during his talk with media practitioners in Tacloban City.
“We have a death penalty, but the Supreme Court had not really implemented it,” added Angara.
Said proposed imposition of death penalty, according to Angara, was raised at the height of crime problems in the country which should be carefully studied as it takes long for the criminal justice system in the country before an accused is meted with final conviction.
“We cannot just impose death penalty right away, as we still need to go on legal proceedings before we can impose death penalty to accused criminals,” explains Angara.
He added that criminals should not also be denied their rights in court for fair trial.
Although said proposal might have an effect to the solution of the crime of today, Angara stressed that the government should find more ways on how to effectively enforce the law to prevent any form of criminality to occur in the communities.
It may recall that during the height of killings of car traders in Metro Manila, some individuals and anti-crime groups have proposed to the President for the imposition of death penalty.
President Aquino said that he is against for the re-imposition of the capital punishment, adding that he would look into the matter while stressing that the judicial system of the country is “not perfect” as there might be a possibility that those sentenced to death might be innocent.
Among legislators who are vocal in their call for the re-imposition of death penalty is Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri through Senate Bill No. 2383 he hopes that death penalty would deter the commission of heinous crimes.
During the presidency of the late President Corazon Aquino, the death penalty law was repealed by Congress and was re-imposed during the term of former President Fidel Ramos where child-rapist Leo Echegaray was the first convict to be executed through lethal injection.
However, said law was abolished by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during his term amid protest of families of the victims of heinous crimes and anti-crime groups. (ROEL AMAZONA)
DA reports production loss of P145 M in EV
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agriculture in this region reported a total production loss of 43, 306.25 metric tons of rice with a total amount of P145,407,133.27 caused by the insistent rain fall experienced by the region in the early month of this year.
Based on their report, the province of Northern Samar was the most affected among the six provinces in the region with total cost damage on agriculture of P 37,636,155.78
A total 4,051 affected farmers coming from the 21 municipalities out of 24 municipalities in the entire province of Northern were affected due to the heavy rainfall that caused flooding that destroys rice fields.
These municipalities are Allen, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, as Navas, Lavezares, Lope De Vega, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Roque and Victoria.
Leyte Province was second with a total of cost of damage of P35, 362, 929.17 affecting 6,801 farmers coming from 26 municipalities and two cities.
The affected municipalities are Abuyug, Alangalang, Barugo, Baybay, Burauen, Carigara, Capoocan, Dagami, Dulag, Hilongos, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Leyte, Leyte, Mahplag, Matag-ob, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tabon-tabon, Tanauan and Tolosa, while the cities affected are Ormoc City and Tacloban City.
The province of Samar ranked third with a total of P32, 931,880.60 total cost of damage from the 16 municipalities and from the city of Calbayog affecting 2,992 farmers.
Municipalities affected are Basey, Calbiga, Catbalogan, Daram, Gandara, Jiabong, Marabut, Matuguinao, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Pinbacdao, Sto. Niño, San Jorge, San Sebastian and Tarangan.
Eastern Samar has the total damage of P29,258,689.55 from the nine municipalties affecting 6, 917 farmers.
The municipalities affected are Balangkayan, Borongan, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian and Taft.
Southern Leyte has a total cost of damage of P5, 910,731.29 from the 11 municipalities in the said province including from Maasin City.
A total of 2,138 farmers were affected from the municipalities of Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Macrohon, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago and Sogod.
While the province of Biliran was the least affected with a total cost of damage of P306, 746.88 with 44 farmers affected from the three municipalities of Biliran, Caibiran, and Kawayan. (Roel Amazona)
Based on their report, the province of Northern Samar was the most affected among the six provinces in the region with total cost damage on agriculture of P 37,636,155.78
A total 4,051 affected farmers coming from the 21 municipalities out of 24 municipalities in the entire province of Northern were affected due to the heavy rainfall that caused flooding that destroys rice fields.
These municipalities are Allen, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, as Navas, Lavezares, Lope De Vega, Mapanas, Mondragon, Palapag, Pambujan, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Roque and Victoria.
Leyte Province was second with a total of cost of damage of P35, 362, 929.17 affecting 6,801 farmers coming from 26 municipalities and two cities.
The affected municipalities are Abuyug, Alangalang, Barugo, Baybay, Burauen, Carigara, Capoocan, Dagami, Dulag, Hilongos, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Kananga, La Paz, Leyte, Leyte, Mahplag, Matag-ob, Palo, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Tabon-tabon, Tanauan and Tolosa, while the cities affected are Ormoc City and Tacloban City.
The province of Samar ranked third with a total of P32, 931,880.60 total cost of damage from the 16 municipalities and from the city of Calbayog affecting 2,992 farmers.
Municipalities affected are Basey, Calbiga, Catbalogan, Daram, Gandara, Jiabong, Marabut, Matuguinao, Motiong, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Pinbacdao, Sto. Niño, San Jorge, San Sebastian and Tarangan.
Eastern Samar has the total damage of P29,258,689.55 from the nine municipalties affecting 6, 917 farmers.
The municipalities affected are Balangkayan, Borongan, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian and Taft.
Southern Leyte has a total cost of damage of P5, 910,731.29 from the 11 municipalities in the said province including from Maasin City.
A total of 2,138 farmers were affected from the municipalities of Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Libagon, Liloan, Macrohon, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago and Sogod.
While the province of Biliran was the least affected with a total cost of damage of P306, 746.88 with 44 farmers affected from the three municipalities of Biliran, Caibiran, and Kawayan. (Roel Amazona)
An Waray reps vow to conduct more medical missions in EV
TACLOBAN CITY – The representatives of the An Waray party-list vow to conduct more medical missions in the entire region as their way to help their most in need constituents.
Representative Florencio “Bem”Noel said that aside from the regular twice a month medical missions in selected municipalities and cities in the region, the party-list group is also conducting medical missions in Metro Manila and grand medical mission every now and then.
The latest medical mission that the An Waray party-list organized was with the Foundation for Aid in the Philippines Incorporated where medical staff from the said organization provided services for various surgical operations that are not commonly offered in hospital in the region aside from the medicines they gave from those who seek medical consultations.
“I would like to thank our partners who helped us in the medical mission, the province of Leyte, FAPI, the EVRMC and all the medical volunteers who helped us to make the medical and surgical mission successful,” said Noel in an interview.
He also thanked the village chiefs in the city for bringing their constituents to the site of the medical mission for them to avail the free medical services that the medical staffs are providing especially on the surgical operation.
Moreover, Noel revealed that together with his fellow An Waray party-list Representative Neil Benedict Montejo, their budget allocation at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center intended for the less privileged residents in this region will be increased.
At present, the party-list group is allocating P1 million a month to the said hospital that caters people across the region.
“It has always been our focus since the start of my term as the party-list representative; to provide free medical and health services to the people,” Noel said.
“We have been consistent with this program for many years now and we will continue to do this as our way of expressing our gratitude to our people who put us in this position,” he added. (Roel Amazona)
Representative Florencio “Bem”Noel said that aside from the regular twice a month medical missions in selected municipalities and cities in the region, the party-list group is also conducting medical missions in Metro Manila and grand medical mission every now and then.
The latest medical mission that the An Waray party-list organized was with the Foundation for Aid in the Philippines Incorporated where medical staff from the said organization provided services for various surgical operations that are not commonly offered in hospital in the region aside from the medicines they gave from those who seek medical consultations.
“I would like to thank our partners who helped us in the medical mission, the province of Leyte, FAPI, the EVRMC and all the medical volunteers who helped us to make the medical and surgical mission successful,” said Noel in an interview.
He also thanked the village chiefs in the city for bringing their constituents to the site of the medical mission for them to avail the free medical services that the medical staffs are providing especially on the surgical operation.
Moreover, Noel revealed that together with his fellow An Waray party-list Representative Neil Benedict Montejo, their budget allocation at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center intended for the less privileged residents in this region will be increased.
At present, the party-list group is allocating P1 million a month to the said hospital that caters people across the region.
“It has always been our focus since the start of my term as the party-list representative; to provide free medical and health services to the people,” Noel said.
“We have been consistent with this program for many years now and we will continue to do this as our way of expressing our gratitude to our people who put us in this position,” he added. (Roel Amazona)
BFP-8 exec: Mayor permits issued to some Tacloban establishments despite lack of building requirements
TACLOBAN CITY – A top official of the Bureau of Fire Protection in this city revealed that there are business establishments operating in the city that did not complied building requirements but were still able to operate as the city government has issued a mayor’s business permit to them.
City Fire Marshall Fire Chief Inspector Adel De Paz Bautista revealed that two business establishments, whose identity were withheld, had been operating despite the lack of issuance of occupancy permit from the fire department.
“This business establishment that had been operating for some years now have not yet been issued with an occupancy permit due to some problems with their building construction,” said Bautista.
“Although, as far as fire safety is concern, it is our duty to issue occupancy permit but the issuance of mayor’s business permit is not our concern and since they were not able to comply with the provisions of our fire code, we did not issue any occupancy permit to them,” Bautista stressed.
However, Bautista clarified that he do not want to put any blame to the department concerned in the city government as why they were able to issue mayor’s business permits to these business establishments even though the business operators were not able to comply with all the requirements needed.
“I do not want to blame anyone but as far as our part is concerned, we had already done our job,” Bautista stressed.
Bautista added that he cannot categorically say that a business establishment operates illegally if they do not have clearance from the fire department.
As part of their efforts to enforce the fire code in the city, Bautista said that they had asked the management of the two establishments to talk with them and discuss on how they can comply with the requirements needed for them to pass the inspection being conducted for the issuance of occupancy permit.
He added that the management of the business establishments have even gone to their central office just to apply for exemption but they were referred back to their office.
“They really need to comply with the requirements because if we will look at their structures, it really hazardous for the people who are going to the said establishment,” Bautista stressed, adding that it is also unfair for other establishments who are complying with the requirement set by law.
In the part of the city licensing office, the top official of the said department said that they had already sent a notice to the business establishments concerned to comply with the requirement needed in the application for their mayor’s business permit. (Roel Amazona)
City Fire Marshall Fire Chief Inspector Adel De Paz Bautista revealed that two business establishments, whose identity were withheld, had been operating despite the lack of issuance of occupancy permit from the fire department.
“This business establishment that had been operating for some years now have not yet been issued with an occupancy permit due to some problems with their building construction,” said Bautista.
“Although, as far as fire safety is concern, it is our duty to issue occupancy permit but the issuance of mayor’s business permit is not our concern and since they were not able to comply with the provisions of our fire code, we did not issue any occupancy permit to them,” Bautista stressed.
However, Bautista clarified that he do not want to put any blame to the department concerned in the city government as why they were able to issue mayor’s business permits to these business establishments even though the business operators were not able to comply with all the requirements needed.
“I do not want to blame anyone but as far as our part is concerned, we had already done our job,” Bautista stressed.
Bautista added that he cannot categorically say that a business establishment operates illegally if they do not have clearance from the fire department.
As part of their efforts to enforce the fire code in the city, Bautista said that they had asked the management of the two establishments to talk with them and discuss on how they can comply with the requirements needed for them to pass the inspection being conducted for the issuance of occupancy permit.
He added that the management of the business establishments have even gone to their central office just to apply for exemption but they were referred back to their office.
“They really need to comply with the requirements because if we will look at their structures, it really hazardous for the people who are going to the said establishment,” Bautista stressed, adding that it is also unfair for other establishments who are complying with the requirement set by law.
In the part of the city licensing office, the top official of the said department said that they had already sent a notice to the business establishments concerned to comply with the requirement needed in the application for their mayor’s business permit. (Roel Amazona)
An Waray congressmen to distribute checks for scholars in Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY – Representatives Florencio “Bem” Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo of the An Waray party-list will be distributing checks to the scholars of the An Waray studying in Tacloban and its neighboring school campuses on Feb. 18, according to Jen Padua of the an Waray party-list group.
The venue of the distribution of scholarship checks has yet to be finalized said Padua, as they are still looking for a place that can accommodate about 1,000 individuals.
“We are planning to use the Tacloban City Convention Center for the said activity, but as of now we haven’t tried to seek if the convention center is available at the 18th,” said Padua.
She added that aside from the Tacloban Convention Center, they are also considering the Leyte Normal University HRDC and Leyte National High School Gym for the event.
“But if I were to choose on the which venue, I would like it to be at the Convention Center because the place is strategic for the students and it can accommodate a big crowd,” Padua added.
Based on the list of the An Waray party-list, more than 700 scholars from Tacloban are to be given with their scholarship checks by the two solons on top of the scholars coming from different university campuses and colleges in the neighboring towns.
Scholars are then advice to bring with them their identification cards and the scholarship matrix.
Earlier, the two representatives of the An Waray lead in the distribution of checks among scholars in Ormoc and nearby towns.
Around 100 scholars were able to receive the check while there were 50 scholars who personally claim it at the An Waray headquarters,Padua saif.
After the distribution of scholarship checks in Tacloban, Noel and Montejo are expected to distribute another set of scholarship checks in the three provinces of Samar, Padua added.
In the numbers of scholars that An Waray party-list is supporting, Padua said that most of those who are benefiting the said programs are from the three provinces of Samar.
“Samar has the most number of applicants for scholarship which is why most of our scholars are from Samar provinces,” Padua said.
Following Samar provinces with the most number of scholars are Southern Leyte, Biliran and Leyte.
Padua made it clear that in the implementation of scholarship program of the An Waray, scholars do not need to maintain high grades for most of the scholars are working students.
“We do not expect high grades from them but we ask them not to have failing grades for their scholarship to continue,” Padua explained. (ROEL AMAZONA)
The venue of the distribution of scholarship checks has yet to be finalized said Padua, as they are still looking for a place that can accommodate about 1,000 individuals.
“We are planning to use the Tacloban City Convention Center for the said activity, but as of now we haven’t tried to seek if the convention center is available at the 18th,” said Padua.
She added that aside from the Tacloban Convention Center, they are also considering the Leyte Normal University HRDC and Leyte National High School Gym for the event.
“But if I were to choose on the which venue, I would like it to be at the Convention Center because the place is strategic for the students and it can accommodate a big crowd,” Padua added.
Based on the list of the An Waray party-list, more than 700 scholars from Tacloban are to be given with their scholarship checks by the two solons on top of the scholars coming from different university campuses and colleges in the neighboring towns.
Scholars are then advice to bring with them their identification cards and the scholarship matrix.
Earlier, the two representatives of the An Waray lead in the distribution of checks among scholars in Ormoc and nearby towns.
Around 100 scholars were able to receive the check while there were 50 scholars who personally claim it at the An Waray headquarters,Padua saif.
After the distribution of scholarship checks in Tacloban, Noel and Montejo are expected to distribute another set of scholarship checks in the three provinces of Samar, Padua added.
In the numbers of scholars that An Waray party-list is supporting, Padua said that most of those who are benefiting the said programs are from the three provinces of Samar.
“Samar has the most number of applicants for scholarship which is why most of our scholars are from Samar provinces,” Padua said.
Following Samar provinces with the most number of scholars are Southern Leyte, Biliran and Leyte.
Padua made it clear that in the implementation of scholarship program of the An Waray, scholars do not need to maintain high grades for most of the scholars are working students.
“We do not expect high grades from them but we ask them not to have failing grades for their scholarship to continue,” Padua explained. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Rep. Noel still undecided on issue of restoration of death sentence
TACLOBAN CITY – An Waray party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel, reacting to the call of some legislators and anti-crime groups for the re-imposition of the death penalty, said that he ramain to be a “pro-life” advocate.
He, however, stressed that his being a pro-life advocate would not mean that he would remain as such.
“When I was asked before on my stand in the issue of death penalty, I always stressed that definitely I am pro-life, but I also said that there should be an exemption for it,” Noel said.
“We cannot just take the life of somebody just because of the crime they have committed. However, there are crimes which deserve to be meted with a death penalty,”Noel added.
Crimes such as rape and other heinous acts where the victims are killed in dreadful way by the perpetrators should be punished accordingly, he added.
“This might go against our Catholic beliefs, but if we are going to put ourselves in the situation of the parents or relatives of the victims we would like justice be served according to what they did to our relatives who fell victim to a heinous crime,” Noel added.
Noel added that as of the moment his stand would be “to favor”for the restoration of the death penalty as it may deter the commission of heinous crimes.But he admitted that once the issue would be tackled at the House of Representatives, he would seriously contemplate on what would be his stand on the issue.
“I will just cross the bridge when I get there, but as of now I go for it,” said Noel adding that said statement is not yet final.
Issue to reimpose the death penalty in the country has once again take the center stage as series of heinous crimes committed against individuals sparked in some part of the country.
Among the most sensational killings that sparked on the debate of death penalty involved on the gruesome murder of a son of one of the country’s most well-known lawyers.
The reimposition of the death penalty is strongly opposed by the leaders of the Catholic Church and pro-life groups as they claim that it would not help stop the commission of gruesome murders in the country. (Roel Amazona)
He, however, stressed that his being a pro-life advocate would not mean that he would remain as such.
“When I was asked before on my stand in the issue of death penalty, I always stressed that definitely I am pro-life, but I also said that there should be an exemption for it,” Noel said.
“We cannot just take the life of somebody just because of the crime they have committed. However, there are crimes which deserve to be meted with a death penalty,”Noel added.
Crimes such as rape and other heinous acts where the victims are killed in dreadful way by the perpetrators should be punished accordingly, he added.
“This might go against our Catholic beliefs, but if we are going to put ourselves in the situation of the parents or relatives of the victims we would like justice be served according to what they did to our relatives who fell victim to a heinous crime,” Noel added.
Noel added that as of the moment his stand would be “to favor”for the restoration of the death penalty as it may deter the commission of heinous crimes.But he admitted that once the issue would be tackled at the House of Representatives, he would seriously contemplate on what would be his stand on the issue.
“I will just cross the bridge when I get there, but as of now I go for it,” said Noel adding that said statement is not yet final.
Issue to reimpose the death penalty in the country has once again take the center stage as series of heinous crimes committed against individuals sparked in some part of the country.
Among the most sensational killings that sparked on the debate of death penalty involved on the gruesome murder of a son of one of the country’s most well-known lawyers.
The reimposition of the death penalty is strongly opposed by the leaders of the Catholic Church and pro-life groups as they claim that it would not help stop the commission of gruesome murders in the country. (Roel Amazona)
Leyte SP commends EVRAA athletes
TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte has passed a resolution of commendation to the athletes and coaching staff of the Leyte Sports Academy after their successful stint in the recently concluded Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association held in the city of Calbayog, said Board Member Roque Tiu, chair on committee on public information.
The resolution of commendation was authored by Board Members Jonathan Bernard Remandaban and Wilson Uy.
The said commendation was passed to acknowledge the efforts of the athletes and their coaching staff to bring home the glory of being the top delegation in the regional sporting event.
This year’s declaration of Leyte delegation as the over-all champion of EVRAA, their fifth in a row.
“We are happy that once again the Leyte delegation was declared as the champion in the EVRAA which only means that the governor is right in creating a program that would enhance the abilities of our athletes as far as sports is concern without affecting their academic performance,” Tiu said.
“Because of this positive effect and the achievements that the students were able to accomplish, we are sure that the provincial government might increase the number of their athlete’s scholars,” added Tiu.
Tiu added that the success of the athletes in the recent competition can also be attributed to the management of the LSA which is under the supervision of their former co-league former Board Members Rowil Batan.
Among those who won medals in the recently held EVRAA competition were, for secondary athletics gold medal, Leah Creer for 100m and 200m and June Marie Maygon was silver medal in same event. Both athletes were also part of the 4x400m relay and 4x100m relay while Melissa Escoton earned gold in 100m and 400m hurdles.
Other secondary girls who won medals in athletics were Winnie Loreno who won bronze in triple jump and Ellen Nayon with silver in discuss throw.
For athletics in elementary division, Rosemarie Onorvida won golds in the individual 100m and 200m run and 100m hurdles.
Frances Acedillo won two silvers in the 400m low hurdles and 800m run for secondary boys.
In swimming, Leyte swimmers swept most of the golds with LSA athletes leading their team.
Christal Ray Bullo won golds in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley while Jackielyn Valeriano also won golds in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle for elementary girls while Justin Estremus earned three golds in the individual 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle for elementary boys Marco Dayoc earned a bronze in the 100m freestyle and silver in the 200m freestyle for the secondary boys.
For swimming in secondary girls division, Mary Grace Orquesta won gold in the 200m freestyle and silver medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle respectively. Catherine Montecillo won gold in 100m breaststroke and silver in 200m breaststroke; Gay Marie Garrido won silvers in 200m and 100m Butterfly; Ivy Soledad won bronze in the 200m Butterfly and silvers in the 400m and 100m freestyle; and, Kezia Mariel Meneses won silvers in the 200m and 100m backstroke and a bronze in the 400m freestyle. (Roel Amazona)
The resolution of commendation was authored by Board Members Jonathan Bernard Remandaban and Wilson Uy.
The said commendation was passed to acknowledge the efforts of the athletes and their coaching staff to bring home the glory of being the top delegation in the regional sporting event.
This year’s declaration of Leyte delegation as the over-all champion of EVRAA, their fifth in a row.
“We are happy that once again the Leyte delegation was declared as the champion in the EVRAA which only means that the governor is right in creating a program that would enhance the abilities of our athletes as far as sports is concern without affecting their academic performance,” Tiu said.
“Because of this positive effect and the achievements that the students were able to accomplish, we are sure that the provincial government might increase the number of their athlete’s scholars,” added Tiu.
Tiu added that the success of the athletes in the recent competition can also be attributed to the management of the LSA which is under the supervision of their former co-league former Board Members Rowil Batan.
Among those who won medals in the recently held EVRAA competition were, for secondary athletics gold medal, Leah Creer for 100m and 200m and June Marie Maygon was silver medal in same event. Both athletes were also part of the 4x400m relay and 4x100m relay while Melissa Escoton earned gold in 100m and 400m hurdles.
Other secondary girls who won medals in athletics were Winnie Loreno who won bronze in triple jump and Ellen Nayon with silver in discuss throw.
For athletics in elementary division, Rosemarie Onorvida won golds in the individual 100m and 200m run and 100m hurdles.
Frances Acedillo won two silvers in the 400m low hurdles and 800m run for secondary boys.
In swimming, Leyte swimmers swept most of the golds with LSA athletes leading their team.
Christal Ray Bullo won golds in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley while Jackielyn Valeriano also won golds in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle for elementary girls while Justin Estremus earned three golds in the individual 200m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle for elementary boys Marco Dayoc earned a bronze in the 100m freestyle and silver in the 200m freestyle for the secondary boys.
For swimming in secondary girls division, Mary Grace Orquesta won gold in the 200m freestyle and silver medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle respectively. Catherine Montecillo won gold in 100m breaststroke and silver in 200m breaststroke; Gay Marie Garrido won silvers in 200m and 100m Butterfly; Ivy Soledad won bronze in the 200m Butterfly and silvers in the 400m and 100m freestyle; and, Kezia Mariel Meneses won silvers in the 200m and 100m backstroke and a bronze in the 400m freestyle. (Roel Amazona)
Establishment of more birthing centers a great help to EVRMC, says hospital info officer
TACLOBAN CITY – The establishment of birthing centers and upgrading of hospital facilities in some provinces in the region particularly in the province of Leyte is of great help for the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, said Dolly Casio, EVRMC information officer.
“The establishment of birthing centers in terms of workload will lessen our job,” said Casio in an interview.
“There would be certain cases that won’t be referred to us once these facilities begin their operations,” Casio added.
Casio added that as the end- referral hospital in the region, the referral of medical cases would not be lessened as they are the only tertiary hospital in the region.
However, as far as the construction of birthing facilities is concerned, Casio said that it would be beneficial for them as this would lessen the number of cases for child delivery at the EVRMC.
Based on the 2010 data, there were more than 3,600 maternal deliveries at the EVRMC recorded by the hospital staff that makes it as the top health service that the hospital has provided to the people in the region.
“With the construction of birthing centers in the city of Tacloban and in the province of Leyte perhaps this would lessen the child birth delivery in the hospital,” said Casio, adding that those construction is in relation to meet the Millennium Development Goal which is to lessen the number of maternal and child death in the country.
In the province of Leyte, among the top priority project of Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla is to upgrade the hospitals and construct birthing centers in strategic places throughout the province and in partnership with various non-government organizations.
In Tacloban, the same project is also being implemented by Mayor Alfred Romualdez wherein three birthing facilities were constructed at three districts to decentralize the work of the City Health Office.
Earlier, Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel of the An Waray party-list group, had said that their group is seriously mulling of constructing birth centers both in Tacloban and in some parts of the region as part of their program making health service accessible to all. (Roel Amazona)
“The establishment of birthing centers in terms of workload will lessen our job,” said Casio in an interview.
“There would be certain cases that won’t be referred to us once these facilities begin their operations,” Casio added.
Casio added that as the end- referral hospital in the region, the referral of medical cases would not be lessened as they are the only tertiary hospital in the region.
However, as far as the construction of birthing facilities is concerned, Casio said that it would be beneficial for them as this would lessen the number of cases for child delivery at the EVRMC.
Based on the 2010 data, there were more than 3,600 maternal deliveries at the EVRMC recorded by the hospital staff that makes it as the top health service that the hospital has provided to the people in the region.
“With the construction of birthing centers in the city of Tacloban and in the province of Leyte perhaps this would lessen the child birth delivery in the hospital,” said Casio, adding that those construction is in relation to meet the Millennium Development Goal which is to lessen the number of maternal and child death in the country.
In the province of Leyte, among the top priority project of Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla is to upgrade the hospitals and construct birthing centers in strategic places throughout the province and in partnership with various non-government organizations.
In Tacloban, the same project is also being implemented by Mayor Alfred Romualdez wherein three birthing facilities were constructed at three districts to decentralize the work of the City Health Office.
Earlier, Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel of the An Waray party-list group, had said that their group is seriously mulling of constructing birth centers both in Tacloban and in some parts of the region as part of their program making health service accessible to all. (Roel Amazona)
Leyte SP suggests to Abuyog to form ‘habal-habal’ group
TACLOBAN CITY – The members of the provincial board of Leyte suggested to the municipal government of Abuyog to form an organization of “habal-habal” operators and drivers in their municipality for them to approve an ordinance that will regulate its operation.
In an interview with Leyte First District Board Member and committee chair on public information Roque Tiu said that the members of the provincial board during their recent regular session had come up with said stand as there is no existing national law that allows the operation of “habal-habal” in the country.
Tiu refers to the Ordinance No. 03 series of 2010 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Abuyog which seeks to regulate the operation of single motorcycle for hire (habal-habal) operating within their municipality that was subject for discussions in the previous session of the provincial board prompting the members to raise a motion to refer said ordinance to in-depth study of committee concerned.
He added that said decision was the result of the study conducted by the committee on laws chaired by Board Member Florante Cayunda, Jr. when it was referred during their previous session.
As “habal-habal” becomes a popular means of transportation in some areas in some municipalities in the province of Leyte like Abuyog for the lack of accessible roads for bigger vehicles, the provincial board advises the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the said town to initiate in the formation of an organization of “habal-habal” operators for them to regulate their operations.
“It would be like an internal operation and they do not need to pass an ordinance as it will go against national law,” Tiu said.
In the previous session of the provincial board,the said ordinance become the subject of discussion after Board Members Tiu and Anlie Apostol of the 2nd district opposed for the passage of said ordinance as it is in conflict with the existing national law.
The two board members explained that based at the existing law, single motorcycles when registered with the Land Transportation Office is granted with a private license and not for public use which therefore prohibits the usage of such vehicle for public transport. (ROEL AMAZONA)
In an interview with Leyte First District Board Member and committee chair on public information Roque Tiu said that the members of the provincial board during their recent regular session had come up with said stand as there is no existing national law that allows the operation of “habal-habal” in the country.
Tiu refers to the Ordinance No. 03 series of 2010 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Abuyog which seeks to regulate the operation of single motorcycle for hire (habal-habal) operating within their municipality that was subject for discussions in the previous session of the provincial board prompting the members to raise a motion to refer said ordinance to in-depth study of committee concerned.
He added that said decision was the result of the study conducted by the committee on laws chaired by Board Member Florante Cayunda, Jr. when it was referred during their previous session.
As “habal-habal” becomes a popular means of transportation in some areas in some municipalities in the province of Leyte like Abuyog for the lack of accessible roads for bigger vehicles, the provincial board advises the members of the Sangguniang Bayan of the said town to initiate in the formation of an organization of “habal-habal” operators for them to regulate their operations.
“It would be like an internal operation and they do not need to pass an ordinance as it will go against national law,” Tiu said.
In the previous session of the provincial board,the said ordinance become the subject of discussion after Board Members Tiu and Anlie Apostol of the 2nd district opposed for the passage of said ordinance as it is in conflict with the existing national law.
The two board members explained that based at the existing law, single motorcycles when registered with the Land Transportation Office is granted with a private license and not for public use which therefore prohibits the usage of such vehicle for public transport. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Tabango to operate its own water district
TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Tabango in Leyte will now operate its own municipal water system to address the need of having a source of potable water. This, after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte approved on its third endorsement Municipal Ordinance No. 1-2010 of the Sangguniang Bayan of the said town.
The said ordinance creates the Tabango Municipal Waterworks System as an autonomous economic enterprise owned and controlled by the local government unit, defining its functions, creation of rates, fees and other charges.
In an interview with Leyte Third District Board Member Bernard Jonathan Remandaban, who is a former mayor of the said town, said that they were convinced to put up their own water system by the officials of Albuera town.
Remandaban added that initially the charge per cubic meter will be P30 for residential use and P34 per cubic meter for commercial use.
To ensure that there will be a sufficient water source for their water system, Remandaban revealed that they had identified four major springs as the sources of their water.
The waters sources are found in Barangays Tabing and Campokpok, and in the poblacion.
“We need this to ensure its sustainability and this was also the result of the consultation we have conducted on how we can ensure that we will meet the future demands of water for our town,” Remandaban said.
He added that aside for the fact that the population of their town is increasing Tabango is now getting to be an investment area in their district.(Roel Amazona)
The said ordinance creates the Tabango Municipal Waterworks System as an autonomous economic enterprise owned and controlled by the local government unit, defining its functions, creation of rates, fees and other charges.
In an interview with Leyte Third District Board Member Bernard Jonathan Remandaban, who is a former mayor of the said town, said that they were convinced to put up their own water system by the officials of Albuera town.
Remandaban added that initially the charge per cubic meter will be P30 for residential use and P34 per cubic meter for commercial use.
To ensure that there will be a sufficient water source for their water system, Remandaban revealed that they had identified four major springs as the sources of their water.
The waters sources are found in Barangays Tabing and Campokpok, and in the poblacion.
“We need this to ensure its sustainability and this was also the result of the consultation we have conducted on how we can ensure that we will meet the future demands of water for our town,” Remandaban said.
He added that aside for the fact that the population of their town is increasing Tabango is now getting to be an investment area in their district.(Roel Amazona)
Dettie Salon and Spa ties up with TESDA to help enhance skills of salon workers
TACLOBAN CITY- “I want to spread out the knowledge that I have acquired over the years on how to make every person feel and live beautiful.”
So says Dettie Panis, the owner of one of the biggest beauty salon and spa in the region which is now on its 24 years in operation.
To share this knowledge, Panis revealed that the training center which she started to operate a couple of years ago to train zero -skilled individuals for salon and spa works has entered an agreement with the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide scholarship trainings for would-be students who wanted to learn skills related to work on salon and spa.
“They don’t know where to put it so they had asked me if they can have in my training center since we are the only salon with a training center in this region,” Panis said.
“The competency, experience and the knowledge that we have are among the basis why they choose us to become their partner in this program, “she added.
The salon owner added that before the program can be implemented with them, their training program should be accredited first with TESDA which they are now working on.
“We are now renovating our training center for us to comply with the requirements specified by the TESDA,” she said.
She added prior to the said partnership, they had been planning to come up with a module- type training program which will be under the accreditation of TESDA.
The training center of Panis has been operating for years now which serve as the training ground for her employees.
“Hopefully, this year we can accommodate all those who wanted to be trained in our training center which we cannot do so in the past because the training center was only meant for the staff of the Dettie Panis Salon,” she explained.
“But now, we will be accommodating them because I wanted to share all the knowledge that I have acquired over the years to those who wanted to learn the secrets of how to make every person beautiful from inside and out,” she added. (Roel Amazona)
So says Dettie Panis, the owner of one of the biggest beauty salon and spa in the region which is now on its 24 years in operation.
To share this knowledge, Panis revealed that the training center which she started to operate a couple of years ago to train zero -skilled individuals for salon and spa works has entered an agreement with the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to provide scholarship trainings for would-be students who wanted to learn skills related to work on salon and spa.
“They don’t know where to put it so they had asked me if they can have in my training center since we are the only salon with a training center in this region,” Panis said.
“The competency, experience and the knowledge that we have are among the basis why they choose us to become their partner in this program, “she added.
The salon owner added that before the program can be implemented with them, their training program should be accredited first with TESDA which they are now working on.
“We are now renovating our training center for us to comply with the requirements specified by the TESDA,” she said.
She added prior to the said partnership, they had been planning to come up with a module- type training program which will be under the accreditation of TESDA.
The training center of Panis has been operating for years now which serve as the training ground for her employees.
“Hopefully, this year we can accommodate all those who wanted to be trained in our training center which we cannot do so in the past because the training center was only meant for the staff of the Dettie Panis Salon,” she explained.
“But now, we will be accommodating them because I wanted to share all the knowledge that I have acquired over the years to those who wanted to learn the secrets of how to make every person beautiful from inside and out,” she added. (Roel Amazona)
PhilHealth official says hospitals in EV now almost all are accredited
TACLOBAN CITY – The top official of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation in this region revealed that hospitals in Eastern Visayas are now accredited with Philhealth except for the five hospitals that have yet to comply with the accreditation requirements set by the government in order for their patients to avail the benefits that is provided by the government- run insurance company.
In an interview with Philhealth Regional Director Walter Bacareza, he revealed that despite their call to the management of these hospitals for them to have their facility be accredited with their agency,the management of these hospitals still failed to do so.
The five hospitals that are not yet accredited with Philhealth are located in San Vicente, Northern Samar, Homonhon and Oras in Eastern Samar, Gandara in Samar and a private hospital in Bato, Leyte.
For the hospital in San Vicente, Bacareza explained that the problem why they cannot issue an accreditation was the lack of doctors who will facilitate and run said hospital.
“Although they were given license by the Department of Health, the Philhealth cannot issue accreditation to the hospital even if there is a facility because of said problem,” Bacareza added.
However, the hospital in Oras is now under repair particularly the roof and ceiling of the building.
To address some of the problems that are being faced by those hospitals, Bacareza said that together with the different local government executives in the region and the Department of Health they are appealing that doctors be assigned in these doctor-less hospitals.
“We are calling all doctors, especially those who are from the region, to help us in providing health services to the people, especially in the areas where their services are really needed,” said Bacareza.
He added that for this year they are targeting to have a 100% accreditation of all hospitals in the region.
“We are confident that we can accredit them all, except for hospitals with no doctors; we cannot issue accreditation to them,” he stressed.
Accreditation of hospitals is among the top priority of Philhealth as it will ensure Philhealth members with insurance rendered by them.
Aside from the insurance, the accreditation also guarantees the quality of medical services provided by the hospitals as it is part of the requirement before any hospitals that can be accredited with Philhealth. (ROEL AMAZONA)
In an interview with Philhealth Regional Director Walter Bacareza, he revealed that despite their call to the management of these hospitals for them to have their facility be accredited with their agency,the management of these hospitals still failed to do so.
The five hospitals that are not yet accredited with Philhealth are located in San Vicente, Northern Samar, Homonhon and Oras in Eastern Samar, Gandara in Samar and a private hospital in Bato, Leyte.
For the hospital in San Vicente, Bacareza explained that the problem why they cannot issue an accreditation was the lack of doctors who will facilitate and run said hospital.
“Although they were given license by the Department of Health, the Philhealth cannot issue accreditation to the hospital even if there is a facility because of said problem,” Bacareza added.
However, the hospital in Oras is now under repair particularly the roof and ceiling of the building.
To address some of the problems that are being faced by those hospitals, Bacareza said that together with the different local government executives in the region and the Department of Health they are appealing that doctors be assigned in these doctor-less hospitals.
“We are calling all doctors, especially those who are from the region, to help us in providing health services to the people, especially in the areas where their services are really needed,” said Bacareza.
He added that for this year they are targeting to have a 100% accreditation of all hospitals in the region.
“We are confident that we can accredit them all, except for hospitals with no doctors; we cannot issue accreditation to them,” he stressed.
Accreditation of hospitals is among the top priority of Philhealth as it will ensure Philhealth members with insurance rendered by them.
Aside from the insurance, the accreditation also guarantees the quality of medical services provided by the hospitals as it is part of the requirement before any hospitals that can be accredited with Philhealth. (ROEL AMAZONA)
Leyte prov’l gov’t to have MOA to turn-over management of ODH to city gov’t of Ormoc
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Leyte through the leadership of Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and the city government of Ormoc through the leadership of Mayor Eric Codilla is coming up with the Memorandum of Agreement for the turn-over of management operation of the Ormoc District Hospital (ODH).
“There are still things that we need to iron-out as what provincial administrator Vincent Emnas and Leyte Provincial Hospital Chief Doctor Erlinda Astorga,” said Leyte 3rd District Board Member and Committee on Health Chairman Bernard Jonathan Remandaban in an interview.
Among these issues are the staffing pattern, whether the city government will absorb the present medical staff of the ODH and who will pay for the salaries of the medical staff and hospital personnel of the ODH once the provincial government transfers the management of the hospital to the city government of Ormoc.
Remandaban added that another issue that needs to be settled is on the hospital equipment as there are equipment that are owned by the provincial government and the Department of Health that are being used by the ODH.
At present, Remandaban said that another meeting with the provincial administrator, the city mayor of Ormoc and the members of the committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan together with the chief of the LPH for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that will take effect to form this month until June of this year.
Then a MOA will be signed by both parties that will take effect from the month of June until December, where it will stipulate all details on what is going to happen to the staff, salaries and equipment of the hospital which is being studied by the provincial legal office.
In this plan to transfer the management of ODH to the city government of Ormoc, Remandaban stressed that when the governor had started its program to rehabilitate and upgrade hospitals in the province, it has been his plan to transfer the management of community and district hospital to the local government units where they are located.
This is part of the provincial government way to strengthen the capability and operation of hospitals run by the provincial government of Leyte to ensure that they could attend the medical and health needs of all Leyteños.
According to Remandaban, about P50 million is allocated by the provincial government of Leyte for the ODH every year as its subsidy. (ROEL AMAZONA)
“There are still things that we need to iron-out as what provincial administrator Vincent Emnas and Leyte Provincial Hospital Chief Doctor Erlinda Astorga,” said Leyte 3rd District Board Member and Committee on Health Chairman Bernard Jonathan Remandaban in an interview.
Among these issues are the staffing pattern, whether the city government will absorb the present medical staff of the ODH and who will pay for the salaries of the medical staff and hospital personnel of the ODH once the provincial government transfers the management of the hospital to the city government of Ormoc.
Remandaban added that another issue that needs to be settled is on the hospital equipment as there are equipment that are owned by the provincial government and the Department of Health that are being used by the ODH.
At present, Remandaban said that another meeting with the provincial administrator, the city mayor of Ormoc and the members of the committee on health of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan together with the chief of the LPH for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that will take effect to form this month until June of this year.
Then a MOA will be signed by both parties that will take effect from the month of June until December, where it will stipulate all details on what is going to happen to the staff, salaries and equipment of the hospital which is being studied by the provincial legal office.
In this plan to transfer the management of ODH to the city government of Ormoc, Remandaban stressed that when the governor had started its program to rehabilitate and upgrade hospitals in the province, it has been his plan to transfer the management of community and district hospital to the local government units where they are located.
This is part of the provincial government way to strengthen the capability and operation of hospitals run by the provincial government of Leyte to ensure that they could attend the medical and health needs of all Leyteños.
According to Remandaban, about P50 million is allocated by the provincial government of Leyte for the ODH every year as its subsidy. (ROEL AMAZONA)
An Waray committed to have more scholars
TACLOBAN CITY – The An Waray party-list is committed to have more scholars and keep on adding more.
A total of 857 scholars that is part of the 1,500 total number of scholarship beneficiaries of the An Waray party-list scholarship grant program from Tacloban city and Leyte personally recieved their scholarship checks held at the Leyte Normal University Human Resource Development Center.
Jude Acidre, regional coordinator of the party-list group, said that at present there are 4,000 students throughout the region who are benefiting the scholarship program of the An Waray party-list and they are targeting to have 10,000 student beneficiaries by the end of their present term.
For this year, the An Waray party-list will be adding 1,300 students as scholar-beneficiaries.
“I know that this is not an easy job, but this is our testimony in our commitment to education,” Acidre said.
“This is our part in helping people especially students to have a better and brighter future not just for them but for their future children,” Acidre added.
He added that even with the small amount that the party-list group is providing to their scholars that is mainly used for paying their tuition fees, they are still hoping that said amount will pave way for the students to finish their chosen degree and have better jobs.
Acidre also added that unlike other scholarship program, the scholarship grant of the An Waray does not require their beneficiaries to pay them back.
“What we ask for you is to “pay it forward” to look at what is right ahead of you by serving your community when you finished your degree,” Acidre , in his speech,stressed.
Among scholars who were present during the distribution of checks were students from the Leyte Normal University, University of the Philippines Tacloban-Visayas Campus, Visayas State University while others are students of private schools from this city and here in Leyte.
The distribution of check to their scholars was led by no less Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel who provided time to personally meet their scholars.The scholarship grants is among the two major projects of the An Waray party-list in this region which is to help less privileged students from the six provinces by sending them to schools with funds from the Priority Development Fund of the two congresmen of the An Waray party-list.
Aside from the scholarship program, the party-list group also conducts medical and surgical missions throughout the region and in selected areas in the country with the help of private medical organizations and the respective local government units. (ROEL AMAZONA)
A total of 857 scholars that is part of the 1,500 total number of scholarship beneficiaries of the An Waray party-list scholarship grant program from Tacloban city and Leyte personally recieved their scholarship checks held at the Leyte Normal University Human Resource Development Center.
Jude Acidre, regional coordinator of the party-list group, said that at present there are 4,000 students throughout the region who are benefiting the scholarship program of the An Waray party-list and they are targeting to have 10,000 student beneficiaries by the end of their present term.
For this year, the An Waray party-list will be adding 1,300 students as scholar-beneficiaries.
“I know that this is not an easy job, but this is our testimony in our commitment to education,” Acidre said.
“This is our part in helping people especially students to have a better and brighter future not just for them but for their future children,” Acidre added.
He added that even with the small amount that the party-list group is providing to their scholars that is mainly used for paying their tuition fees, they are still hoping that said amount will pave way for the students to finish their chosen degree and have better jobs.
Acidre also added that unlike other scholarship program, the scholarship grant of the An Waray does not require their beneficiaries to pay them back.
“What we ask for you is to “pay it forward” to look at what is right ahead of you by serving your community when you finished your degree,” Acidre , in his speech,stressed.
Among scholars who were present during the distribution of checks were students from the Leyte Normal University, University of the Philippines Tacloban-Visayas Campus, Visayas State University while others are students of private schools from this city and here in Leyte.
The distribution of check to their scholars was led by no less Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel who provided time to personally meet their scholars.The scholarship grants is among the two major projects of the An Waray party-list in this region which is to help less privileged students from the six provinces by sending them to schools with funds from the Priority Development Fund of the two congresmen of the An Waray party-list.
Aside from the scholarship program, the party-list group also conducts medical and surgical missions throughout the region and in selected areas in the country with the help of private medical organizations and the respective local government units. (ROEL AMAZONA)
BM Apostol expresses concern over ongoing mining operations in Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Second District Board Member Anlie Apostol said that she was surprised by reports concerning an on-going mining operation in MacArthur town as the national government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had already implemented their decision to have a moratorium on mining in the entire country.
“I went to the area to look if the report is true and people immediately approached me, telling me what is really happening in their area,” said Apostol.
“I was surprised with what the people had told me and on the report that I’ve read in a local newspaper that the concerned agency for mining will issue mining permit to applicants not just in the province but in the entire region because there is a moratorium currently implemented by the national government,” Apostol stressed.
“That is why I made a query to my fellow board members and inform them on what is really happening so that the committee concerned can take a look and we can have action regarding the problem,” added Apostol.
“I cannot just set it aside because the town is part of my district and it concerns the welfare of the people,” she said.
Apostol added that mining operators based on the provision of the law should only rent the land where they are operating but based on the report that reached her, mining operators in Macarthur are now buying lands from the farmers.
“If they are now buying the lands from the farmers, therefore these properties will not go back to the original owners,” Apostol said, adding that based on the mining law after the mining operators were able to extract the minerals from the area of operation it should be rehabilitated then return the land to its original owners.
With this problem, Apostol said that she asked the committee on environment chairman Board Member Roque Tiu to look into said concern which he gladly accepted.
“I am glad that Board Member Tiu said that he will look into it and knowing him, he will immediately talk with the concerned agency about this matter,” said Apostol. (Roel Amazona)
“I went to the area to look if the report is true and people immediately approached me, telling me what is really happening in their area,” said Apostol.
“I was surprised with what the people had told me and on the report that I’ve read in a local newspaper that the concerned agency for mining will issue mining permit to applicants not just in the province but in the entire region because there is a moratorium currently implemented by the national government,” Apostol stressed.
“That is why I made a query to my fellow board members and inform them on what is really happening so that the committee concerned can take a look and we can have action regarding the problem,” added Apostol.
“I cannot just set it aside because the town is part of my district and it concerns the welfare of the people,” she said.
Apostol added that mining operators based on the provision of the law should only rent the land where they are operating but based on the report that reached her, mining operators in Macarthur are now buying lands from the farmers.
“If they are now buying the lands from the farmers, therefore these properties will not go back to the original owners,” Apostol said, adding that based on the mining law after the mining operators were able to extract the minerals from the area of operation it should be rehabilitated then return the land to its original owners.
With this problem, Apostol said that she asked the committee on environment chairman Board Member Roque Tiu to look into said concern which he gladly accepted.
“I am glad that Board Member Tiu said that he will look into it and knowing him, he will immediately talk with the concerned agency about this matter,” said Apostol. (Roel Amazona)
Request for fund must be backed up by a study of proposed project
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla said that before asking for the national government to fund various projects in the region, fund should be backed up with a study and proposal on the viability of the projects.
This reaction of Governor Petilla is in relation to the question on the funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Daniel Z Romualdez Airport located in Tacloban City during the press conference held at the National Economic Development Authority building for the Regional Development Council meeting which was attended by Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.
“I had told the members of the Regional Development Council that before we should ask for the national government to fund the identified projects for the region, we should justify first what we have,” said Petilla who is also the current RDC Chairman of Eastern Visayas.
At present, the RDC’s main thrust is to look for reason why the national government should provide a P5 billion fund for the rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities of the DZR airport.
“We need to explain to them that we need this facility in order to sell our tourism sites, support our agriculture products and we need this airport to help more investors for our region.But in the end it will be up for the national government to decide whether they will provide the P5 billion budget for airport,” Petilla explained.
He added that once the airport rehabilitation and upgrading project push through, this could increase the number of employed individuals in the region that will lead to the reduction of poverty incidence.
Sec. Abad revealed that presently, the national government is focusing on funding the construction of the four new airports distributed in various parts of the country known to be major destination of local and foreign tourists.
Areas to be constructed with new airports are Panglao in Bohol, Daraga in Albay, Puerto Princesa in Palawan and in Misamis Oriental.
As far as the DZR Airport is concerned, Sec. Abad agreed with Petilla that when one is asking for the national government to invest in a facility such as an airport, it should be justifiable with the study that will support staple production and tourism promotion of the area.
“If this will provide solution to those concerns, I think the government will not hesitate to include it in the next batch of the Public Private Partnership program sometime in 2012,” Sec. Abad added.
In earlier interview with An Waray party-list Representative Neil Benedict Montejo, who is a members of the committee on transportation at the House of Representatives, he admitted that the government cannot easily provide the lump sum amount of P5 billion for the rehabilitation of the DZR Airport but on a staggered scheme of releasing of fund.
He added that aside from the staggered release of fund, the Public Private Partnership that President Aquino is promoting may also be viable for the DZR airport project. (Roel Amazona)
This reaction of Governor Petilla is in relation to the question on the funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Daniel Z Romualdez Airport located in Tacloban City during the press conference held at the National Economic Development Authority building for the Regional Development Council meeting which was attended by Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.
“I had told the members of the Regional Development Council that before we should ask for the national government to fund the identified projects for the region, we should justify first what we have,” said Petilla who is also the current RDC Chairman of Eastern Visayas.
At present, the RDC’s main thrust is to look for reason why the national government should provide a P5 billion fund for the rehabilitation and upgrading of facilities of the DZR airport.
“We need to explain to them that we need this facility in order to sell our tourism sites, support our agriculture products and we need this airport to help more investors for our region.But in the end it will be up for the national government to decide whether they will provide the P5 billion budget for airport,” Petilla explained.
He added that once the airport rehabilitation and upgrading project push through, this could increase the number of employed individuals in the region that will lead to the reduction of poverty incidence.
Sec. Abad revealed that presently, the national government is focusing on funding the construction of the four new airports distributed in various parts of the country known to be major destination of local and foreign tourists.
Areas to be constructed with new airports are Panglao in Bohol, Daraga in Albay, Puerto Princesa in Palawan and in Misamis Oriental.
As far as the DZR Airport is concerned, Sec. Abad agreed with Petilla that when one is asking for the national government to invest in a facility such as an airport, it should be justifiable with the study that will support staple production and tourism promotion of the area.
“If this will provide solution to those concerns, I think the government will not hesitate to include it in the next batch of the Public Private Partnership program sometime in 2012,” Sec. Abad added.
In earlier interview with An Waray party-list Representative Neil Benedict Montejo, who is a members of the committee on transportation at the House of Representatives, he admitted that the government cannot easily provide the lump sum amount of P5 billion for the rehabilitation of the DZR Airport but on a staggered scheme of releasing of fund.
He added that aside from the staggered release of fund, the Public Private Partnership that President Aquino is promoting may also be viable for the DZR airport project. (Roel Amazona)
MGB-8 has not issued commercial mining permits to firms who want to operate in Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte First District Board Member Roque Tiu, who is the chairman of the committees on public information and on environment, said that no mining permit was issued by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here in Leyte, to include in MacArthur town.
This was the reaction of Tiu on the query of Board Member Anlie Apostol(2nd dst) after she received complaints that a mining firm in MacArthur is currently having a commercial operation contradicting to the recent mandate from the national government declaring a moratorium on mining in the entire country.
Based on the information that Tiu received from the MGB, the agency has not issued any permit for any commercial mining operation to Nicua Mining Corporation but rather there is a pending application by the said company but the MGB has not yet issued an exploration permit to them.
“There is no information as to the issuance of a commercial mining operation permit to Nicua although the MGB had issued an extraction permit for them to extract about 25 metric tons of magnetite sand but that was long time ago,” said Tiu.
“The MGB also assures that once they decide to issue exploration permit to Nicua, they will first seek for a meeting with the members of the provincial board for consultation,” Tiu added as it was agreed during their meeting with the national officials of the MGB and officials of the provincial government.
Tiu added that Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla had also instructed the municipal mayor of MacArthur to regularly monitor the operation of Nicua and report immediately to him any violation on their operation so he could immediately recommend suspension of the mining firm operation.
He added that the local government of MacArthur has now a negative impression in the operation of the mining firm in the said town due to the different complaints from their constituents and on the possible negative effect to the environment of the mining operations. (Roel Amazona)
This was the reaction of Tiu on the query of Board Member Anlie Apostol(2nd dst) after she received complaints that a mining firm in MacArthur is currently having a commercial operation contradicting to the recent mandate from the national government declaring a moratorium on mining in the entire country.
Based on the information that Tiu received from the MGB, the agency has not issued any permit for any commercial mining operation to Nicua Mining Corporation but rather there is a pending application by the said company but the MGB has not yet issued an exploration permit to them.
“There is no information as to the issuance of a commercial mining operation permit to Nicua although the MGB had issued an extraction permit for them to extract about 25 metric tons of magnetite sand but that was long time ago,” said Tiu.
“The MGB also assures that once they decide to issue exploration permit to Nicua, they will first seek for a meeting with the members of the provincial board for consultation,” Tiu added as it was agreed during their meeting with the national officials of the MGB and officials of the provincial government.
Tiu added that Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla had also instructed the municipal mayor of MacArthur to regularly monitor the operation of Nicua and report immediately to him any violation on their operation so he could immediately recommend suspension of the mining firm operation.
He added that the local government of MacArthur has now a negative impression in the operation of the mining firm in the said town due to the different complaints from their constituents and on the possible negative effect to the environment of the mining operations. (Roel Amazona)
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