TACLOBAN CITY – A new breed of soldiers (privates) recently finished their six months basic military training course trained with jungle warfare mountain operation course spearheaded by the 8th Infantry Division.
The 199 new privates, 13 of them are from Luzon, 24 from Mindanao, with the rest coming from Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu and Panay Island with their educational background varies from high school graduates (57), college undergraduates (30), college graduates (32), criminologist (1) and two registered nurses.
Aside from basic military training the soldier’s course was also incorporated with basic civil military operation and observance of human rights based on International Humanitarian Law, said Colonel Alejandro Nacnac of the 8th Infantry Division Civil Military Operation Office.
In this batch graduation, media icon and talent manager Boy Abunda was the guest speaker of the graduation ceremony that includes ceremonial entrustment of firearms by the civilian to the new Philippine Army graduates.
In his speech, Abunda emphasized to the young soldiers the value of courage, trust and accountability of handling their firearms upon bringing the peace and order of our country.
“When you are entrusted to carry firearms, you are supposed to maintain peace. You are supposed to protect this country from internal and external invaders. You are not supposed to create bloodshed but to prevent it. You are not supposed to have power over another person’s life but to have restrained from it. And young soldiers, whatever it cost, for the sake of peace, as you carry your firearms, we cannot give up on peace,” Abunda said.
“Whatever happens, you and I will do everything within our power to have peace,” he added.
He also shared his experiences to the new soldiers on how to be a strong man and not to be hopeless in achieving their goals in life.
“We are so interconnected; we should be celebrating commonalities rather than insisting differences because at the end of the day we are similar,” Abunda said adding that in the seeking to have peace and security it is not only the job of military but including the community.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Leyte SP supports Apostol’s bill on re-districting of Leyte province
TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte recently approved a resolution supporting the move for the re-districting of Leyte province, a bill filed in Congress by 2nd district Representative Sergio Apostol.
The resolution authored by Board Member Roque Tiu from the 1st district of Leyte aims to inform Congress and the Senate the reaction of local leaders in the province in their view with regards to re-districting which they supports as it is favorable to the people of the province.
The re-districting bill of Apostol, will divide the second district, the biggest district of the province consisting of 14 municipalities.
Towns in the second district of Leyte are composed of Carigara, Capoocan, Tunga, Jaro, Barugo, Burauen, Dagami, Dulag, La Paz, Julieta, Macthur, Mayorga, Tabontabon, and Pastrana.
With the addition of a new district, Tiu said that the people of Leyte will be ably represented in Congress and more fund from the Congress through the priority development fund(PDAF) of each representative will be allocated to the province.
At present around P70 million PDAF is allocated per congressman, which said amount, according to the representative of the second district, is not enough for the entire district with 14 municipalities as compared to other district in Leyte with only five or nine areas covered.
Apostol said that the bill is now approved in the third and final reading at the Lower House and now in the Senate,said Tiu.
“Even I am from the first district but since this bill will benefit the people in the province of Leyte especially the people in the second district, I strongly support the bill of (Rep.)Apostol,” Tiu added.
On the part of the two board members in the second district of Leyte, Board Members Niccolo Villasin and Anlie Apostol said redistricting would also mean having additional members in the provincial board which will provide more efficient representation to the people
The resolution authored by Board Member Roque Tiu from the 1st district of Leyte aims to inform Congress and the Senate the reaction of local leaders in the province in their view with regards to re-districting which they supports as it is favorable to the people of the province.
The re-districting bill of Apostol, will divide the second district, the biggest district of the province consisting of 14 municipalities.
Towns in the second district of Leyte are composed of Carigara, Capoocan, Tunga, Jaro, Barugo, Burauen, Dagami, Dulag, La Paz, Julieta, Macthur, Mayorga, Tabontabon, and Pastrana.
With the addition of a new district, Tiu said that the people of Leyte will be ably represented in Congress and more fund from the Congress through the priority development fund(PDAF) of each representative will be allocated to the province.
At present around P70 million PDAF is allocated per congressman, which said amount, according to the representative of the second district, is not enough for the entire district with 14 municipalities as compared to other district in Leyte with only five or nine areas covered.
Apostol said that the bill is now approved in the third and final reading at the Lower House and now in the Senate,said Tiu.
“Even I am from the first district but since this bill will benefit the people in the province of Leyte especially the people in the second district, I strongly support the bill of (Rep.)Apostol,” Tiu added.
On the part of the two board members in the second district of Leyte, Board Members Niccolo Villasin and Anlie Apostol said redistricting would also mean having additional members in the provincial board which will provide more efficient representation to the people
An Waray, UP teach indigenous group basic knowledge in literacy
TACLOBAN CITY – A collaborative literacy program by the An Waray party-list and the University of the Philippines’ Office for Continuing Education for the minority group composed of Mamanwa and Manobo in Taacloban is currently being implemented to assist and help them acquire basic knowledge in learning and writing.
The program is dubbed as Project Lapis: Learning for Adult Persons initiative of the Sinirangan Visayas Youth Organization (SVYO and started last September 10, 2011 around 20 members of the indigenous group with ages raging from 26 to 60 years old most of them are parents.
Clement Dula, project coordinator of the literacy program, revealed that since most of their students are adult the teaching process would be indefinite.
“What we really want is for them to learn how to read and write and to count, until they have acquired this knowledge we will not stop the program,” Dula said, adding that most of those who are attending the class are parents.
To ensure that their students will attend the classes, Dula said that they had provided them with school supplies such as papers, notebooks, pencil and pen for them to use in the class.
Every Wednesday from 1:30 until 4:00 the students from their village located in a mountainous part of the city would go down to the Philippine Institute of Herbal and Traditional Medicine located in Barangay Bagacay at the northern part of the city for their weekly class session.
Professor Irma Tan of the UP- Tacloban Campus is the one supervising and conducting the lecture among the literacy program beneficiaries, which she devotes as part of giving back and sharing the knowledge she acquires while members of the SVYO provides her manpower support by assisting her during their weekly session.
The first thing that they teach to their students, according to Dula, is by familiarizing the letters of the alphabet and how numbers are written in words.
“Slowly we are teaching them how to read and then write words,” Dula said.
“It’s all basic because most of them do not really know how to read or write even simple words,” Dula added.
“They are amaze when they learned that numbers when put into words are written that way, although they can recognize them it is written in numbers,” he added.
“Although, there are notion that adult students are hard to be taught, the good thing with them is they really wanted and eager to learn which really inspires us,” he stressed.
Dula added that their lesson is in the local dialect(Waray) including the words they are teaching which is more familiar to the group of Mamanwa and Manobo.
He added that there are also times that they teach how to write Tagalog words.
Once the group already learns the basic writing and reading comprehension, Dula said that it will be the time they will go to the next step of their class which is teaching basic mathematics.
Aside from providing basic learning comprehension to indigenous group, Dula said that the program also aims to encourage members of SVYO to have the essence of volunteerism.
“We want to have the sense of thinking by lending help to other people without expecting anything in return,” Dula stressed.
The program is dubbed as Project Lapis: Learning for Adult Persons initiative of the Sinirangan Visayas Youth Organization (SVYO and started last September 10, 2011 around 20 members of the indigenous group with ages raging from 26 to 60 years old most of them are parents.
Clement Dula, project coordinator of the literacy program, revealed that since most of their students are adult the teaching process would be indefinite.
“What we really want is for them to learn how to read and write and to count, until they have acquired this knowledge we will not stop the program,” Dula said, adding that most of those who are attending the class are parents.
To ensure that their students will attend the classes, Dula said that they had provided them with school supplies such as papers, notebooks, pencil and pen for them to use in the class.
Every Wednesday from 1:30 until 4:00 the students from their village located in a mountainous part of the city would go down to the Philippine Institute of Herbal and Traditional Medicine located in Barangay Bagacay at the northern part of the city for their weekly class session.
Professor Irma Tan of the UP- Tacloban Campus is the one supervising and conducting the lecture among the literacy program beneficiaries, which she devotes as part of giving back and sharing the knowledge she acquires while members of the SVYO provides her manpower support by assisting her during their weekly session.
The first thing that they teach to their students, according to Dula, is by familiarizing the letters of the alphabet and how numbers are written in words.
“Slowly we are teaching them how to read and then write words,” Dula said.
“It’s all basic because most of them do not really know how to read or write even simple words,” Dula added.
“They are amaze when they learned that numbers when put into words are written that way, although they can recognize them it is written in numbers,” he added.
“Although, there are notion that adult students are hard to be taught, the good thing with them is they really wanted and eager to learn which really inspires us,” he stressed.
Dula added that their lesson is in the local dialect(Waray) including the words they are teaching which is more familiar to the group of Mamanwa and Manobo.
He added that there are also times that they teach how to write Tagalog words.
Once the group already learns the basic writing and reading comprehension, Dula said that it will be the time they will go to the next step of their class which is teaching basic mathematics.
Aside from providing basic learning comprehension to indigenous group, Dula said that the program also aims to encourage members of SVYO to have the essence of volunteerism.
“We want to have the sense of thinking by lending help to other people without expecting anything in return,” Dula stressed.
San Miguel Corp. to invest by funding an economic zone
TACLOBAN CITY – The recognition that Leyte province had been receiving from groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is now starting to provide a positive feedback from business sector.
This after a giant Filipino firm had informed the provincial government their intention to make an investment by funding to creation an economic zone in the province.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla in an interview revealed that the Filipino giant firm giant, San Miguel Corporation through its President and CEO Ramon Ang had told him their intention to fund a creation of an eco-zone in the province with a power plant that can generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
“This is a clear manifestation that we are on the right track and we are doing the right thing in order for investors to come and to let them know our province exists,” said Petilla.
“So, I welcome them, anybody who want to do business in Leyte are always welcome and this is because of the recognition that the province is receiving from various groups,” he added.
The eco-zone to be put-up by the SMC, according to Petilla, will cater to Chinese locators, among which are manufacturers of aluminum.
However, Petilla aired his apprehension over the construction of a power plant as based on the information that he received, said plant that is to be put-up will use coal to generate electricity.
“Environmentalists are against the use of coal for it has bad effect on mother earth, and this is highly debatable,” said Petilla.
“But at least we are happy because there are giant companies that are showing their interests in putting business in the province,” he added.
This after a giant Filipino firm had informed the provincial government their intention to make an investment by funding to creation an economic zone in the province.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla in an interview revealed that the Filipino giant firm giant, San Miguel Corporation through its President and CEO Ramon Ang had told him their intention to fund a creation of an eco-zone in the province with a power plant that can generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity.
“This is a clear manifestation that we are on the right track and we are doing the right thing in order for investors to come and to let them know our province exists,” said Petilla.
“So, I welcome them, anybody who want to do business in Leyte are always welcome and this is because of the recognition that the province is receiving from various groups,” he added.
The eco-zone to be put-up by the SMC, according to Petilla, will cater to Chinese locators, among which are manufacturers of aluminum.
However, Petilla aired his apprehension over the construction of a power plant as based on the information that he received, said plant that is to be put-up will use coal to generate electricity.
“Environmentalists are against the use of coal for it has bad effect on mother earth, and this is highly debatable,” said Petilla.
“But at least we are happy because there are giant companies that are showing their interests in putting business in the province,” he added.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
‘Bahalina’: Special promotion in the yearly Oktubafest
TACLOBAN CITY – The promotion of local tuba wine especially the “bahalina” is one of the best part of the yearly Oktubafest that is being sponsored by the An Waray party-list said Philippine Coconut Authority Assistant Regional Director Joel Pilapil.
PCA is one of the partners of the An Waray party-list in their yearly endeavor staging the Oktubafest, an activity that aims to promote tuba not just as wine but also as uses in other aspects such as cooking.
Tuba is one of the main products of the region that comes from coconut tree next to copra.
It is called a poor man’s wine because of its inexpensive distillation and more accessible for people to enjoy.
Although tuba is popular in the region, Pilapil said that other regions are not aware of our local wine which is why marketing and promotion is needed for the said coconut product.
In the fourth Oktubafest held Friday (Oct.14) 25 local government units have participated showcasing their tuba products.
The municipalities that joined the festival were Julita, La Paz, Dulag, Mayorga, Tanauan, Palo, Alangalang, Tunga, Carigara Barugo, Babatngon, Burauen,all from Leyte; Hinabangan, Villareal, Calbiga, Lawaan, Basey, Sta. Ritafro Samar province; Balangiga, Sulat, Guiuan and Oras in Eastern Samar and Limasawa(Southern Leyte).
Aside from LGUs, barangays from Tacloban had also participated coming from districts of San Jose, Sagkahan, Anibong Nula-tula, Marasbaras and Real and downtown areas.
Meanwhile, Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel of the An Waray party-list in his message at the opening of the 4th Oktubafest expressed his optimism that the bill, which he filed in Congress revitalizing the coconut industry, will be given immediate action after the President had put it as one of his priority legislative agenda.
The bill was already referred to the committee on agriculture and food and to government agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management and Department of Finance.
PCA is one of the partners of the An Waray party-list in their yearly endeavor staging the Oktubafest, an activity that aims to promote tuba not just as wine but also as uses in other aspects such as cooking.
Tuba is one of the main products of the region that comes from coconut tree next to copra.
It is called a poor man’s wine because of its inexpensive distillation and more accessible for people to enjoy.
Although tuba is popular in the region, Pilapil said that other regions are not aware of our local wine which is why marketing and promotion is needed for the said coconut product.
In the fourth Oktubafest held Friday (Oct.14) 25 local government units have participated showcasing their tuba products.
The municipalities that joined the festival were Julita, La Paz, Dulag, Mayorga, Tanauan, Palo, Alangalang, Tunga, Carigara Barugo, Babatngon, Burauen,all from Leyte; Hinabangan, Villareal, Calbiga, Lawaan, Basey, Sta. Ritafro Samar province; Balangiga, Sulat, Guiuan and Oras in Eastern Samar and Limasawa(Southern Leyte).
Aside from LGUs, barangays from Tacloban had also participated coming from districts of San Jose, Sagkahan, Anibong Nula-tula, Marasbaras and Real and downtown areas.
Meanwhile, Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel of the An Waray party-list in his message at the opening of the 4th Oktubafest expressed his optimism that the bill, which he filed in Congress revitalizing the coconut industry, will be given immediate action after the President had put it as one of his priority legislative agenda.
The bill was already referred to the committee on agriculture and food and to government agencies such as the Department of Budget and Management and Department of Finance.
Icot says board members, others also helped Leyte in attaining awards
TACLOBAN CITY – The good and harmonious relationship between the executive department and the legislative department of the provincial government of Leyte is one of the reasons why the governance of the province is being recognized by the national government and other sectors, thus said Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Vice Gov. Mimiette Bagulaya, Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin “ Petilla and members of the provincial board pose for posterity after they recieve the national Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award from DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo at the PICC Manila. PMRC
“Any award that the province will receive is not just my award but it is everybody’s award,” Petilla stressed in an interview after Leyte received three different national recognitions.
Just last week, the provincial government received three different recognitions, two from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and one from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The recognition was on Seal of Good Housekeeping, Pamana ng Lahi Award and the Most Business Friendly Province, the third time Leyte recieved such award.
“These awards are not just because of my efforts but including the efforts and support of the provincial board members to my administration,” said Petilla.
All that he asked from the provincial board especially on his program that aims to promote the province to become an investment hub and to provide security and assurance to businessmen by providing easier means of business processing was supported by the legislative body of the province, according to Petilla.
Among that was asked by the executive department to the legislative department was the formulation of an ordinance declaring the entire month of October as Leyte Business Month.
Aside from the legislative body, local businessmen of the province through their organization Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also supportive to his governance, according to Petilla.
Aside for this year’s award from the PCCI, the province of Leyte was also given the Hall of Fame Award, which prohibits them to join next year’s competition to give way to other LGUs, according to Petilla.
But this, according to Petilla, is good for it will encourage other LGUs to do their best to attain same award that the province had been receiving for three years now.
Although it is the province that was given the award, Petilla stressed that it is not just Leyte that will benefit the award but including the city of Tacloban and the entire region as well.
He added that it also provides a distinction and identity for the province.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, Vice Gov. Mimiette Bagulaya, Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin “ Petilla and members of the provincial board pose for posterity after they recieve the national Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award from DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo at the PICC Manila. PMRC
“Any award that the province will receive is not just my award but it is everybody’s award,” Petilla stressed in an interview after Leyte received three different national recognitions.
Just last week, the provincial government received three different recognitions, two from the Department of the Interior and Local Government and one from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The recognition was on Seal of Good Housekeeping, Pamana ng Lahi Award and the Most Business Friendly Province, the third time Leyte recieved such award.
“These awards are not just because of my efforts but including the efforts and support of the provincial board members to my administration,” said Petilla.
All that he asked from the provincial board especially on his program that aims to promote the province to become an investment hub and to provide security and assurance to businessmen by providing easier means of business processing was supported by the legislative body of the province, according to Petilla.
Among that was asked by the executive department to the legislative department was the formulation of an ordinance declaring the entire month of October as Leyte Business Month.
Aside from the legislative body, local businessmen of the province through their organization Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also supportive to his governance, according to Petilla.
Aside for this year’s award from the PCCI, the province of Leyte was also given the Hall of Fame Award, which prohibits them to join next year’s competition to give way to other LGUs, according to Petilla.
But this, according to Petilla, is good for it will encourage other LGUs to do their best to attain same award that the province had been receiving for three years now.
Although it is the province that was given the award, Petilla stressed that it is not just Leyte that will benefit the award but including the city of Tacloban and the entire region as well.
He added that it also provides a distinction and identity for the province.
German firm demonstrates construction of waste management disposal facility
TACLOBAN CITY – The German firm Herhof GmbH recently made a presentation before council members of this city as it aims to forge a memorandum of agreement with the city government for the construction and development of waste management disposal plant facilities using “a highly reliable and safe technology from Germany called Stabilat-R Method.
BRINGING BACK THE SMILE. House Assistant Minority Leader and 1st District of Leyte Rep.Ferdinand Martin "FM" Romualdez visited 8 months old Arriane Mae Roaring with her mother from Sta Fe Leyte after a succesful operation together with 18 other patients with cleft palate who undergone surgical operations at RTR hospital thru the help of Philippine Band of Mercy Medical Team and RTR Doctors.Inset photo shows Rep.Romualdez hand over the plaque of recognition to Dr.Ernesto Casilang (3rd left) and Dr. Gilbert Esquejo (left) of the Philippine Band of Mercy medical team after his succesful medical mission for the first batch of patients with cleft palate. photo by Ver S. Noveno
The presentation was made by Michael Jimenez, president of Zehira and CEO of TIG Green Mindanao Technology.
Based on the presentation of Jimenez, their company will be using around six hectares of land for the Stabilat facility with a 50 years usufruct arrangement, ensuring that all fresh garbage of the city will be dump in their plant and around nine hectares of land are to be used for the possible construction of a power-generation technologies or the so-called “EVA Power Plant.
The project, according to Jimenez, would mean no cost for the city as the facility will be put up by their company only the area should be provided by the city government.
He added that the facility aside from helping in giving solution to the garbage problem of the city would also help in providing employment and income generation from the city.
However, Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni during the presentation said that the technology is good. However, the problem lies the fact that the city government has yet to organize the solid waste management board as mandated under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act(RA 9003).
The board, according to Antoni, which is headed by the city mayor should be the formulator of the solid waste management plan for the city that is to be submitted to the Solid Waste Management Council for approval.
The company, Antoni said, should have met first with the members of the board before they made presentation at the city council, which the city mayor had yet convened.
BRINGING BACK THE SMILE. House Assistant Minority Leader and 1st District of Leyte Rep.Ferdinand Martin "FM" Romualdez visited 8 months old Arriane Mae Roaring with her mother from Sta Fe Leyte after a succesful operation together with 18 other patients with cleft palate who undergone surgical operations at RTR hospital thru the help of Philippine Band of Mercy Medical Team and RTR Doctors.Inset photo shows Rep.Romualdez hand over the plaque of recognition to Dr.Ernesto Casilang (3rd left) and Dr. Gilbert Esquejo (left) of the Philippine Band of Mercy medical team after his succesful medical mission for the first batch of patients with cleft palate. photo by Ver S. Noveno
The presentation was made by Michael Jimenez, president of Zehira and CEO of TIG Green Mindanao Technology.
Based on the presentation of Jimenez, their company will be using around six hectares of land for the Stabilat facility with a 50 years usufruct arrangement, ensuring that all fresh garbage of the city will be dump in their plant and around nine hectares of land are to be used for the possible construction of a power-generation technologies or the so-called “EVA Power Plant.
The project, according to Jimenez, would mean no cost for the city as the facility will be put up by their company only the area should be provided by the city government.
He added that the facility aside from helping in giving solution to the garbage problem of the city would also help in providing employment and income generation from the city.
However, Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni during the presentation said that the technology is good. However, the problem lies the fact that the city government has yet to organize the solid waste management board as mandated under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act(RA 9003).
The board, according to Antoni, which is headed by the city mayor should be the formulator of the solid waste management plan for the city that is to be submitted to the Solid Waste Management Council for approval.
The company, Antoni said, should have met first with the members of the board before they made presentation at the city council, which the city mayor had yet convened.
Guvs, solons hold friendly basketball match
TACLOBAN CITY – Despite the hectic schedule in Congress and in their respective provinces, representatives and governors from different provinces in the country found a way to engage themselves in a meaningful activity by conducting a fund raising activity for victims of calamities.
In a friendly basketball match held at the Leyte Capitol Gymnasium last Friday, which coincided with the 4th Oktubafest sponsored and organized by the An Waray party-list, Reps.Florencio “Bem” Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo joined other members of Congress to have a friendly basketball match with governors from several provinces.
Team Congress beats Team Governors with more than 70 points score over the team of governors, which had more than 60 points after six times of deadlock.
The group of Noel was composed of Reps.Juan Edgardo Angara, Sigfried Tinga, Alfredo Garbin, Lord Allan Jay Velasco, Sherwin Tugna, Yevgeny Vicente Amano, Mark Enverga, Romeo Jalosjos, Rommel Amatong, Marc Douglas Cajas, and Aliah Dimaporo, the lone woman solon.While the team of governors was composed of Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza, Cavite Governor Junvic Remulla, Biliran Governor Gerry Boy Espina, Governor Bajam Mitra, Governor Oscar Moreno, with Councilor Jerry “Sambo “ Yaokasin and a board member from Misamis Oriental.
Noel explained that in every point that congressmen have is equivalent to P2, 000 while for the part of governors will be up to their decision as to how much will they allocate.
The first beneficiary of the fund that was raised in the event, according to Noel, will be the province of Mindoro, which was heavily affected by the recent typhoon that hit the country. Mindoro Governor Aurelio Umali failed to come to attend the game.
In a friendly basketball match held at the Leyte Capitol Gymnasium last Friday, which coincided with the 4th Oktubafest sponsored and organized by the An Waray party-list, Reps.Florencio “Bem” Noel and Neil Benedict Montejo joined other members of Congress to have a friendly basketball match with governors from several provinces.
Team Congress beats Team Governors with more than 70 points score over the team of governors, which had more than 60 points after six times of deadlock.
The group of Noel was composed of Reps.Juan Edgardo Angara, Sigfried Tinga, Alfredo Garbin, Lord Allan Jay Velasco, Sherwin Tugna, Yevgeny Vicente Amano, Mark Enverga, Romeo Jalosjos, Rommel Amatong, Marc Douglas Cajas, and Aliah Dimaporo, the lone woman solon.While the team of governors was composed of Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, Northern Samar Governor Paul Daza, Cavite Governor Junvic Remulla, Biliran Governor Gerry Boy Espina, Governor Bajam Mitra, Governor Oscar Moreno, with Councilor Jerry “Sambo “ Yaokasin and a board member from Misamis Oriental.
Noel explained that in every point that congressmen have is equivalent to P2, 000 while for the part of governors will be up to their decision as to how much will they allocate.
The first beneficiary of the fund that was raised in the event, according to Noel, will be the province of Mindoro, which was heavily affected by the recent typhoon that hit the country. Mindoro Governor Aurelio Umali failed to come to attend the game.
Rep. Noel promises a more exciting Oktubafest next year
TACLOBAN CITY – With the success of 4th Oktubafest,Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel expressed his gratitude all those who participated in the yearly activity that aims to promote tuba as one of the best local wines in the country.
This, despite to the short notices they made to various local government units in the region, he said.
Noel, in his speech during the the closing ceremony of the event, promised that they will provide new gimmicks for next year’s event of Oktubafest to make it more exciting for those who will join.
After a day of activity for the 4th Oktubafest, winners of different categories were immediately declared by the organizers as culmination in this year’s event.
Some 23 local government units, seven delegations from various areas in the city of Tacloban and eight tertiary schools from the city joined the Oktubafest. Declared as the most participative delegation was the Calbiga delegation, while the winner for the best in tuba exhibit booth was awarded to delegation from Sta. Rita, Samar.
Best tuba concoction category barangay area base (Tacloban City) winners are Area 10 in third place; Area 7 in second place and delegation from Area 1 was declared as Champion.
For school based entries, winners are Leyte Normal University in third place; Saint Scholasticas College of Health and Science in second place while ABE International Business College was declared as Champion.
Local government unit (LGU)-based entries winners are; Basey was third, La Paz was second and the delegation from Guiuan was this year champion.
In best tuba-infused dish for Barangay Area Base (Tacloban City) Area 1 was third place; Area 3 was second and Area 6 was declared as champion.
In school based categories, third place was the dish from UNIC Training Center, dish from ABE was second and the dish cooked by students from Saint Scholastica College of Health and Science was this year’s champion.
While for LGU based, the dish cooked by delegates from Mayorga was in third place Balangiga was second and the dished cooked by delegates from Hinabangan was this year’s champion.
Best bahal winners are entries from Mayorga Leyte in third place; Burauen in second place and Basey was declared as champion.
Best bahalina winners are the Vino de Coco from Tacloban in third place; the bahalina of Tunga in second place and Burauen’s bahalina as this year’s champion.
This, despite to the short notices they made to various local government units in the region, he said.
Noel, in his speech during the the closing ceremony of the event, promised that they will provide new gimmicks for next year’s event of Oktubafest to make it more exciting for those who will join.
After a day of activity for the 4th Oktubafest, winners of different categories were immediately declared by the organizers as culmination in this year’s event.
Some 23 local government units, seven delegations from various areas in the city of Tacloban and eight tertiary schools from the city joined the Oktubafest. Declared as the most participative delegation was the Calbiga delegation, while the winner for the best in tuba exhibit booth was awarded to delegation from Sta. Rita, Samar.
Best tuba concoction category barangay area base (Tacloban City) winners are Area 10 in third place; Area 7 in second place and delegation from Area 1 was declared as Champion.
For school based entries, winners are Leyte Normal University in third place; Saint Scholasticas College of Health and Science in second place while ABE International Business College was declared as Champion.
Local government unit (LGU)-based entries winners are; Basey was third, La Paz was second and the delegation from Guiuan was this year champion.
In best tuba-infused dish for Barangay Area Base (Tacloban City) Area 1 was third place; Area 3 was second and Area 6 was declared as champion.
In school based categories, third place was the dish from UNIC Training Center, dish from ABE was second and the dish cooked by students from Saint Scholastica College of Health and Science was this year’s champion.
While for LGU based, the dish cooked by delegates from Mayorga was in third place Balangiga was second and the dished cooked by delegates from Hinabangan was this year’s champion.
Best bahal winners are entries from Mayorga Leyte in third place; Burauen in second place and Basey was declared as champion.
Best bahalina winners are the Vino de Coco from Tacloban in third place; the bahalina of Tunga in second place and Burauen’s bahalina as this year’s champion.
LMP-Leyte opposes off-shore mining
TACLOBAN CITY – The League of Municipalities of the Philippines–Leyte chapter had already made a decision on the issue of mining operation in the province, according to Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla in the weekly press forum “Express it at the Park” held at the Leyte Park Resort Hotel.
The decision, according to Petilla, is “no to off-shore mining” but made a reservation to “on-shore mining”.
Petilla said that off-shore mining would mean destruction of natural seabed where marine life lives and the source of livelihood among fisher folks along the eastern seaboard of the province including those living in Samar.
Although it was unanimously agreed by the members of the mayors league through a resolution to oppose off-shore mining, Petilla said that in the case of on-shore mining, their group had decided to support only those who can provide and secure that rehabilitation would be done while they are conducting mining operation.
“Minerals that are extracted are also important and in a way we need to support mining companies but we only need to support those who are into responsible mining,” the lady mayor said.
Aside from the resolution of the municipal mayors in the province, Petilla said that in the group composed of members from the Alliance of Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Development Council (ALFARMDC) had also made a stand not to allow off-shore mining in the areas covered by their group.
ALFARM was founded on March 23, 2010 and assisted by the German International Cooperation to protect the Leyte Gulf and re-establish a former successful fishery in the area.
It is composed of Tacloban City, municipalities of Marabut and Basey in the province of Samar and municipalities in the province of Leyte.
The decision, according to Petilla, is “no to off-shore mining” but made a reservation to “on-shore mining”.
Petilla said that off-shore mining would mean destruction of natural seabed where marine life lives and the source of livelihood among fisher folks along the eastern seaboard of the province including those living in Samar.
Although it was unanimously agreed by the members of the mayors league through a resolution to oppose off-shore mining, Petilla said that in the case of on-shore mining, their group had decided to support only those who can provide and secure that rehabilitation would be done while they are conducting mining operation.
“Minerals that are extracted are also important and in a way we need to support mining companies but we only need to support those who are into responsible mining,” the lady mayor said.
Aside from the resolution of the municipal mayors in the province, Petilla said that in the group composed of members from the Alliance of Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Development Council (ALFARMDC) had also made a stand not to allow off-shore mining in the areas covered by their group.
ALFARM was founded on March 23, 2010 and assisted by the German International Cooperation to protect the Leyte Gulf and re-establish a former successful fishery in the area.
It is composed of Tacloban City, municipalities of Marabut and Basey in the province of Samar and municipalities in the province of Leyte.
Sto Niño to ‘return’ to Leyte
TACLOBAN CITY – After almost 500 years since the image of Santo Niño set foot in one of the islands in Leyte (Limasawa Island) brought by Portuguese explorer under Spanish flagship and armada Ferdinand Magellan, the Holy Image of Child Jesus will once again visit the island of Leyte for the second time.
Dubbed as Du-aw, the second visit of the Santo Niño image will happen this Friday first in the island of Biliran, then a vigil at the St. Therese Dioceses Shrine in Calubian town, Leyte, according to Nerito Rey Martinez, the shrine founder.
The visit of the Sto Niño image in the region particularly in Biliran and Leyte is in preparation for the 500 years celebration in 2021 since He arrived in 1521.
Another important part of the visit is the ecological evangelization of the faithful in the island, said Martinez.
“Ecological evangelization means reminding us that we have responsibility to protect the environment from the various destructions that it experience due to mans neglects,” Martinez explained.
Among the environment that should be protected, according to Martinez, is the sea which most people in the region depends as source of their livelihood.
The two-day event will start on October 20 with a send-off activity in Malacañan sa Sugbo in Cebu, where the image of Santo Niño will be carried by Navy ship and assisted by the Coast Guard on His journey to the region.
A Holy Mass at the Naval Cathedral to be officiated by Bishop Filimeno Bactol and a symposium at the Naval State University on ecological evangelization are to be held before the Holy Child travels to Calubian.
While on Oct.22, members of the Santo Nino de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation Inc., the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and officials of Biliran will conduct a “eskubasurero” and mangrove plating.
Dubbed as Du-aw, the second visit of the Santo Niño image will happen this Friday first in the island of Biliran, then a vigil at the St. Therese Dioceses Shrine in Calubian town, Leyte, according to Nerito Rey Martinez, the shrine founder.
The visit of the Sto Niño image in the region particularly in Biliran and Leyte is in preparation for the 500 years celebration in 2021 since He arrived in 1521.
Another important part of the visit is the ecological evangelization of the faithful in the island, said Martinez.
“Ecological evangelization means reminding us that we have responsibility to protect the environment from the various destructions that it experience due to mans neglects,” Martinez explained.
Among the environment that should be protected, according to Martinez, is the sea which most people in the region depends as source of their livelihood.
The two-day event will start on October 20 with a send-off activity in Malacañan sa Sugbo in Cebu, where the image of Santo Niño will be carried by Navy ship and assisted by the Coast Guard on His journey to the region.
A Holy Mass at the Naval Cathedral to be officiated by Bishop Filimeno Bactol and a symposium at the Naval State University on ecological evangelization are to be held before the Holy Child travels to Calubian.
While on Oct.22, members of the Santo Nino de Cebu Augustinian Social Development Foundation Inc., the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard and officials of Biliran will conduct a “eskubasurero” and mangrove plating.
City council wants to look into revised MOA with German company
TACLOBAN CITY – The members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of this city are asking for the revision of the memorandum of agreement that the German company Herhof through its country representative TIG would like to enter with city government .
Originally, the MOA that TIG would like to enter with the city include a 99 years usufruct contract using 25 hectares of land in the city, said Councilor Jerry Yaokasin.
But in the presentation made last week by its representative, it was revealed that there was a revision made on the MOA, now only asking for 25 years contract and will use only six hectares of land.
“We want to look at the revised MOA, because in other LGU they are implementing a BOT (build-operate-transfer) agreement but in the city of Tacloban they will be asking for 25 years contract and it is renewable,” said Yaokasin.
Yaokasin added that in the previous MOA presented to the city council, it stated that all waste that the city will be producing will be collected by the company including the waste coming from nearby towns.
“The technology they are presenting is good,” said Yaokasin.
“However, using the technology to the actual operation would be a different story because they must first make clear to us all aspects of the contract they wanted the to enter with city,” he added.
Yaokasin added that when they asked the representative of TIG if how many countries in Southeast Asia and municipalities in the country had implemented their technology, it was revealed that there was still no implementation of the waste disposal management facility called Stabilat-R Method in any country in Southeast Asia and even in the country.
“This provides apprehension to us,” said Yaokasin.
“Because the city had already been receiving a letter from the Environmental Management Bureau asking as to comply with the mandate of putting up a sanitary landfill and close the existing open-dump site,” Yaokasin added.
Originally, the MOA that TIG would like to enter with the city include a 99 years usufruct contract using 25 hectares of land in the city, said Councilor Jerry Yaokasin.
But in the presentation made last week by its representative, it was revealed that there was a revision made on the MOA, now only asking for 25 years contract and will use only six hectares of land.
“We want to look at the revised MOA, because in other LGU they are implementing a BOT (build-operate-transfer) agreement but in the city of Tacloban they will be asking for 25 years contract and it is renewable,” said Yaokasin.
Yaokasin added that in the previous MOA presented to the city council, it stated that all waste that the city will be producing will be collected by the company including the waste coming from nearby towns.
“The technology they are presenting is good,” said Yaokasin.
“However, using the technology to the actual operation would be a different story because they must first make clear to us all aspects of the contract they wanted the to enter with city,” he added.
Yaokasin added that when they asked the representative of TIG if how many countries in Southeast Asia and municipalities in the country had implemented their technology, it was revealed that there was still no implementation of the waste disposal management facility called Stabilat-R Method in any country in Southeast Asia and even in the country.
“This provides apprehension to us,” said Yaokasin.
“Because the city had already been receiving a letter from the Environmental Management Bureau asking as to comply with the mandate of putting up a sanitary landfill and close the existing open-dump site,” Yaokasin added.
199 new soldiers finish 6-month military training
TACLOBAN CITY – A new breed of soldiers (privates) recently finished their six months basic military training course trained with jungle warfare mountain operation course spearheaded by the 8th Infantry Division.
The 199 new privates, 13 of them are from Luzon, 24 from Mindanao, with the rest coming from Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu and Panay Island with their educational background varies from high school graduates (57), college undergraduates (30), college graduates (32), criminologist (1) and two registered nurses.
Aside from basic military training the soldier’s course was also incorporated with basic civil military operation and observance of human rights based on International Humanitarian Law, said Colonel Alejandro Nacnac of the 8th Infantry Division Civil Military Operation Office.
In this batch graduation, media icon and talent manager Boy Abunda was the guest speaker of the graduation ceremony that includes ceremonial entrustment of firearms by the civilian to the new Philippine Army graduates.
In his speech, Abunda emphasized to the young soldiers the value of courage, trust and accountability of handling their firearms upon bringing the peace and order of our country.
“When you are entrusted to carry firearms, you are supposed to maintain peace. You are supposed to protect this country from internal and external invaders. You are not supposed to create bloodshed but to prevent it. You are not supposed to have power over another person’s life but to have restrained from it. And young soldiers, whatever it cost, for the sake of peace, as you carry your firearms, we cannot give up on peace,” Abunda said.
“Whatever happens, you and I will do everything within our power to have peace,” he added.
He also shared his experiences to the new soldiers on how to be a strong man and not to be hopeless in achieving their goals in life.
“We are so interconnected; we should be celebrating commonalities rather than insisting differences because at the end of the day we are similar,” Abunda said adding that in the seeking to have peace and security it is not only the job of military but including the community.
The 199 new privates, 13 of them are from Luzon, 24 from Mindanao, with the rest coming from Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu and Panay Island with their educational background varies from high school graduates (57), college undergraduates (30), college graduates (32), criminologist (1) and two registered nurses.
Aside from basic military training the soldier’s course was also incorporated with basic civil military operation and observance of human rights based on International Humanitarian Law, said Colonel Alejandro Nacnac of the 8th Infantry Division Civil Military Operation Office.
In this batch graduation, media icon and talent manager Boy Abunda was the guest speaker of the graduation ceremony that includes ceremonial entrustment of firearms by the civilian to the new Philippine Army graduates.
In his speech, Abunda emphasized to the young soldiers the value of courage, trust and accountability of handling their firearms upon bringing the peace and order of our country.
“When you are entrusted to carry firearms, you are supposed to maintain peace. You are supposed to protect this country from internal and external invaders. You are not supposed to create bloodshed but to prevent it. You are not supposed to have power over another person’s life but to have restrained from it. And young soldiers, whatever it cost, for the sake of peace, as you carry your firearms, we cannot give up on peace,” Abunda said.
“Whatever happens, you and I will do everything within our power to have peace,” he added.
He also shared his experiences to the new soldiers on how to be a strong man and not to be hopeless in achieving their goals in life.
“We are so interconnected; we should be celebrating commonalities rather than insisting differences because at the end of the day we are similar,” Abunda said adding that in the seeking to have peace and security it is not only the job of military but including the community.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Returning “White” Russians thanks the Philipine gov’t, the people of Guiuan
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – Well-known Russian folk singer Nikolai Massenoff was thankful to the people of Guiuan who witnessed the concert that was held in the municipal plaza as his way of showing gratitude to the town people and Philippine government that allowed them to enter the country in the midst of crackdown on “White Russians” in China more than 60 years ago.
Massenkoff, who turned 72 years old just this week, had a concert in Guiuan upon invitation of Mayor Annaliz Kwan.
Massenkoff, an orphan when he arrived in the Philippines and lived in the island of Tubabao off Guiuan together with more than 5,000 Russians for more than two years, expressed his gratefulness to the Filipino people for accepting them and letting them stay in the country.
He added that after seeing and witnessing the warm welcome that Filipino people had showed him in his return after more than 50 years, he would also invite his fellow Russians to visit the country particularly the municipality of Guiuan that had played an important role among Russians like him who left their country due to the communist regime.
Massenkoff said that since he arrived in the municipality of Guiuan he was fascinated with the ways of people especially their personality, gentleness and character.
The concert of Massenkoff was witnessed by municipal officials of Guiuan, headed by Mayor Kwan, some foreign visitors and presentation by local talents including the pride of Eastern Samar, the Saurug Dance Troupe.
Massenkoff, who turned 72 years old just this week, had a concert in Guiuan upon invitation of Mayor Annaliz Kwan.
Massenkoff, an orphan when he arrived in the Philippines and lived in the island of Tubabao off Guiuan together with more than 5,000 Russians for more than two years, expressed his gratefulness to the Filipino people for accepting them and letting them stay in the country.
He added that after seeing and witnessing the warm welcome that Filipino people had showed him in his return after more than 50 years, he would also invite his fellow Russians to visit the country particularly the municipality of Guiuan that had played an important role among Russians like him who left their country due to the communist regime.
Massenkoff said that since he arrived in the municipality of Guiuan he was fascinated with the ways of people especially their personality, gentleness and character.
The concert of Massenkoff was witnessed by municipal officials of Guiuan, headed by Mayor Kwan, some foreign visitors and presentation by local talents including the pride of Eastern Samar, the Saurug Dance Troupe.
City gov’t workers urged to synchronize time with standard time set by DOST
TACLOBAN CITY – To avoid being late from work and have a common clock time, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tacloban, through a motion of Councilor Edward Frederick Chua, passed a resolution subjecting all officials and employees of the city government to synchronize their clock with the standard time set by the Department of Science and Technology(DOST).
Chua, in his motion, said that he noticed that some employees were at their respective offices early while others are late.
He added that this is also the same with his colleagues at the city council.
With this observation and as there is a program which was recently launched by the DOST synchronizing time pieces in the country, Chua said that it would be better if all employees in the city government will follow the Philippine Standard Time set by the DOST.
Last September 30, 2011, the DOST headed by Secretary Mario Montejo launched the nationwide use of Philippine Standard Time(PST).
Time, according to Montejo, is a resource that often overlooked, it has social and economic value and can also unite Filipino people.
Following PST will also avoid confusion due to unsynchronized time, he added.
The PST (the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Bilang is set via DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.
The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.
Chua, in his motion, said that he noticed that some employees were at their respective offices early while others are late.
He added that this is also the same with his colleagues at the city council.
With this observation and as there is a program which was recently launched by the DOST synchronizing time pieces in the country, Chua said that it would be better if all employees in the city government will follow the Philippine Standard Time set by the DOST.
Last September 30, 2011, the DOST headed by Secretary Mario Montejo launched the nationwide use of Philippine Standard Time(PST).
Time, according to Montejo, is a resource that often overlooked, it has social and economic value and can also unite Filipino people.
Following PST will also avoid confusion due to unsynchronized time, he added.
The PST (the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Bilang is set via DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.
The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.
BM Tiu to look into mushrooming cell sites
TACLOBAN CITY – Committee on environment and natural resources chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte, Board Member Roque Tiu said that he will look into reports that cellular phones sites (cell sites) were mushrooming in different parts of the province.
The report, according to Tiu, was brought to his office by a concerned citizen after several people particularly those living near cell sites raised alarm that it may cause radiation that would threaten their health.
“This gives me an idea to conduct a research if this cell sites mushrooming will cause radiation,” Tiu said.
At present, Tiu said that he already instructed his staff to make a research on the effects of cell sites radiation to human health.
Research on the matter according to Tiu would also include consulting the Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Communication and National Telecommunication Commission.
The information from those offices according to Tiu will be important as they will base their report on the findings gatherd from those agencies.
He added that if it would be proven that cell sites mushrooming has bad effects to human health, he will immediately file an ordinance to control and regulate the installation and construction of telecommunication sites in the province.
The report, according to Tiu, was brought to his office by a concerned citizen after several people particularly those living near cell sites raised alarm that it may cause radiation that would threaten their health.
“This gives me an idea to conduct a research if this cell sites mushrooming will cause radiation,” Tiu said.
At present, Tiu said that he already instructed his staff to make a research on the effects of cell sites radiation to human health.
Research on the matter according to Tiu would also include consulting the Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Communication and National Telecommunication Commission.
The information from those offices according to Tiu will be important as they will base their report on the findings gatherd from those agencies.
He added that if it would be proven that cell sites mushrooming has bad effects to human health, he will immediately file an ordinance to control and regulate the installation and construction of telecommunication sites in the province.
PCGG reminds public of lessons learned from EDSA
TACLOBAN CITY — Letting the public remember and reminding them the lessons that EDSA taught 25 years ago was the goal of the Philippine Commission for Good Government in their campus visitation throughout the country in line of their 25th year anniversary.
PCGG Commissioner Maita Chan-Gonzaga in a press conference held yesterday at the Leyte Normal University (LNU) explained that they are visiting regions in the country to let people know that efforts to recover of the so-called Marcos ill-gotten wealth and their cronies.
The lady commissioner added that part of their campus visitation is to educate the people that the PCGG is not only mandated to go after ill-gotten wealth, but according to law that created them they are also entitled to investigate and come up and develop safeguards or measures to promote anti-corruption.
Since 1986, 291 cases are under their supervision and pending in court, mostly Marcos-related cases filed 23 years ago.
In the region, among the sequestered properties are the Olot Mansion in Tolosa, Santo Niño Shrine, People Center, Nipa Hut and radio station DyBR and television station PRTV 12, all located in the city of Tacloban and all owned by the Romualdezes.
Aside from LNU, the PCGG will also visit Visayas State University in Baybay City.
“We chose schools which are center for excellence on teaching education because we want our teachers to educate the students on the lessons of EDSA and the center of excellence on agriculture for the agrarian reform program,” she explained.
LNU is the 8th school they visited on the 20 schools determined by the Commission of Education as center for excellence.
PCGG Commissioner Maita Chan-Gonzaga in a press conference held yesterday at the Leyte Normal University (LNU) explained that they are visiting regions in the country to let people know that efforts to recover of the so-called Marcos ill-gotten wealth and their cronies.
The lady commissioner added that part of their campus visitation is to educate the people that the PCGG is not only mandated to go after ill-gotten wealth, but according to law that created them they are also entitled to investigate and come up and develop safeguards or measures to promote anti-corruption.
Since 1986, 291 cases are under their supervision and pending in court, mostly Marcos-related cases filed 23 years ago.
In the region, among the sequestered properties are the Olot Mansion in Tolosa, Santo Niño Shrine, People Center, Nipa Hut and radio station DyBR and television station PRTV 12, all located in the city of Tacloban and all owned by the Romualdezes.
Aside from LNU, the PCGG will also visit Visayas State University in Baybay City.
“We chose schools which are center for excellence on teaching education because we want our teachers to educate the students on the lessons of EDSA and the center of excellence on agriculture for the agrarian reform program,” she explained.
LNU is the 8th school they visited on the 20 schools determined by the Commission of Education as center for excellence.
Guiuan LGU welcome surfing participants
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – The local government of Guiuan was pleased with the number of participants in this year’s surfing competition held at the Calicoan Island.
At the opening ceremony, Association of barangay chairmen federation president Paul Gonzalez expressed satisfaction and thanks to those who went to Calicoan to participate in the competition especially those who are from outside the region.
Around 200 surfers from all over the country and some foreigners were in Calicoan for the 7th Odyssey National Surfing Competition.
Some of the competitors came from Pagudpud, La Union, Baler, Manila, Siargao, Tanauan(Leyte) Borongan and Guiuan.
Gonzalez said that the participation showed by surfers show their full support to the promotion of Calicoan as one of the top surfing sites in the country having been dubbed as the surfing capital of the Visayas.
He added that Calicoan waves used to frighten people in their municipality only to find out that those waves will make Guiuan known to the country and will put it in one of the sought after surfing sites not just locally but also by foreign surfers.
Moreover, Keina Kwan, surf club secretary, revealed that aside from local surfers, foreign surfers had expressed their intention to participate in the competition, but they were not granted as the competition is a national in scope and not an international competition.
Among the categories in the surfing competition are the men’s open long board; men’s open short board; junior short board; wahini long board; wahini short board and the pawikan category which is a special category in the event
At the opening ceremony, Association of barangay chairmen federation president Paul Gonzalez expressed satisfaction and thanks to those who went to Calicoan to participate in the competition especially those who are from outside the region.
Around 200 surfers from all over the country and some foreigners were in Calicoan for the 7th Odyssey National Surfing Competition.
Some of the competitors came from Pagudpud, La Union, Baler, Manila, Siargao, Tanauan(Leyte) Borongan and Guiuan.
Gonzalez said that the participation showed by surfers show their full support to the promotion of Calicoan as one of the top surfing sites in the country having been dubbed as the surfing capital of the Visayas.
He added that Calicoan waves used to frighten people in their municipality only to find out that those waves will make Guiuan known to the country and will put it in one of the sought after surfing sites not just locally but also by foreign surfers.
Moreover, Keina Kwan, surf club secretary, revealed that aside from local surfers, foreign surfers had expressed their intention to participate in the competition, but they were not granted as the competition is a national in scope and not an international competition.
Among the categories in the surfing competition are the men’s open long board; men’s open short board; junior short board; wahini long board; wahini short board and the pawikan category which is a special category in the event
Gov. Petilla supports to amend the Constitution
TACLOBAN CITY – Plans to amend the Constitution is timely to let the country go with the flow of global economic trend, Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla said.
Petilla is among the public leaders in the region who is supporting to Charter change but what it known that provision on the term limits of all elected officials should not be touched but only those something to do with the economy.
“There are lot’s of provisions in the Constitution that need to be amended to adopt with the changing times,” said Petilla.
The economic provisions particularly on the ownership of land, according to Petilla, should be amended if the government wants more investors to come in to do business in the country.
“Big companies mostly owned by foreign firms are the ones who can afford to invest huge amount of money as their capital, but their problem is they cannot own a land in the country because it is not allowed by our present Constitution,” Petilla said.
“If you want some investors to come, they need to be provided with a land where they can put their business, although there are exemption as of the moment in the present Constitution but this exemption is still not clear,” he added.
“Maybe if we can clear this exemption we can have good investment,” he stressed.
However, Petilla added that in the course of changing some provisions in the Constitution, people should also be consulted.
“We must make all things clear to the people, what are to be changed and why these needs to be changed,” he stressed.
To recall, both the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to tackle the issue on Charter change, touching mainly on its economic provisions.
Although both leadership of the highest legislative body of the government had agreed on the plan, President Aquino, however, do not support said plan especially in changing the economic provision but rather emphasizes that the solution for the economic growth of the country depends on good political system.
Petilla is among the public leaders in the region who is supporting to Charter change but what it known that provision on the term limits of all elected officials should not be touched but only those something to do with the economy.
“There are lot’s of provisions in the Constitution that need to be amended to adopt with the changing times,” said Petilla.
The economic provisions particularly on the ownership of land, according to Petilla, should be amended if the government wants more investors to come in to do business in the country.
“Big companies mostly owned by foreign firms are the ones who can afford to invest huge amount of money as their capital, but their problem is they cannot own a land in the country because it is not allowed by our present Constitution,” Petilla said.
“If you want some investors to come, they need to be provided with a land where they can put their business, although there are exemption as of the moment in the present Constitution but this exemption is still not clear,” he added.
“Maybe if we can clear this exemption we can have good investment,” he stressed.
However, Petilla added that in the course of changing some provisions in the Constitution, people should also be consulted.
“We must make all things clear to the people, what are to be changed and why these needs to be changed,” he stressed.
To recall, both the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to tackle the issue on Charter change, touching mainly on its economic provisions.
Although both leadership of the highest legislative body of the government had agreed on the plan, President Aquino, however, do not support said plan especially in changing the economic provision but rather emphasizes that the solution for the economic growth of the country depends on good political system.
Eastern Samar’s ABC prexy plans to conduct barangay visitations to discuss various issues
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – The president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen of this province is planning to conduct barangay visits to discuss with his fellow barangay officials several issues that concern their organization.
Eastern Samar ABC President Mark Paul Gonzales revealed that in this coming month of November, he will start his barangay visitation in 22 municipalities and one city in his province, to discuss issues like having a fix term for barangay officials and on the plan of the national government to combine the barangay election with the local and national election.
Gonzales said that these two issues will greatly affect them, which is why there is a need to consult his fellow officials in the barangay level to get their sentiments on the issues.
He added that he will also ask his fellow barangay officials to support the resolution he is planning to make in behalf of his fellow officials, which will reject or oppose the plan to combine the barangay election with the regular election.
Aside from the consultation, Gonzalez said that the barangay visitations will also a venue for him to know different concerns in the barangays, which need to be addressed by concerned agencies.
Eastern Samar ABC President Mark Paul Gonzales revealed that in this coming month of November, he will start his barangay visitation in 22 municipalities and one city in his province, to discuss issues like having a fix term for barangay officials and on the plan of the national government to combine the barangay election with the local and national election.
Gonzales said that these two issues will greatly affect them, which is why there is a need to consult his fellow officials in the barangay level to get their sentiments on the issues.
He added that he will also ask his fellow barangay officials to support the resolution he is planning to make in behalf of his fellow officials, which will reject or oppose the plan to combine the barangay election with the regular election.
Aside from the consultation, Gonzalez said that the barangay visitations will also a venue for him to know different concerns in the barangays, which need to be addressed by concerned agencies.
FDC urges EV residents to join ‘Parung Suga!”
TACLOBAN CITY – The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) urges residents in the region to participate in the nationwide protest through a 30-minute “Parung Suga!” Kontra 40 centavos/kwh power rate hike, Stop Privatization and Repeal Epira Law campaign on October 11, Tuesday, at 7:30 to 8:00 in the evening.
The 30-minute power off and noise barrage aims for residents in the region to become participative in the issue of increasing power rate and make the government have a concrete solution and action in the problem.
Recently, the National Power Corp.(NAPOCOR) and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) filed a petition to the Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the power rate by 40 centavos/kwh intended for the recovery of NAPOCOR’s stranded debts amounting to $65.019 and included the stranded contract cost amounting to $74.2988 of the Universal Charge.
This debt, according to the FDC, will be passed on to the consumers, which, based on the timeline of the PSALM, will be paid by consumers for 25 years.
At present, PSALM is just waiting for the provisional authority in order to start charging electricity consumers, FDC added.
In order to secure consumers interest and to prevent electric consumers in the region and in the Visayas to become victims of high power rates the government according to FDC should stop privatizing the remaining government assets like the 640 MW Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant Supply Contract.
Aside from the privatization, FDC also sees that the government should cancel all contracts with independent power producer.
Problem on high power rates, according to FDC, is not just a problem of ordinary citizens but including the business sector that consumes bigger amount of electric supply for their business.
High power rates in an area can also discourage would-be investors to invest in a potential place.
The 30-minute power off and noise barrage aims for residents in the region to become participative in the issue of increasing power rate and make the government have a concrete solution and action in the problem.
Recently, the National Power Corp.(NAPOCOR) and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) filed a petition to the Energy Regulatory Commission to increase the power rate by 40 centavos/kwh intended for the recovery of NAPOCOR’s stranded debts amounting to $65.019 and included the stranded contract cost amounting to $74.2988 of the Universal Charge.
This debt, according to the FDC, will be passed on to the consumers, which, based on the timeline of the PSALM, will be paid by consumers for 25 years.
At present, PSALM is just waiting for the provisional authority in order to start charging electricity consumers, FDC added.
In order to secure consumers interest and to prevent electric consumers in the region and in the Visayas to become victims of high power rates the government according to FDC should stop privatizing the remaining government assets like the 640 MW Unified Leyte Geothermal Power Plant Supply Contract.
Aside from the privatization, FDC also sees that the government should cancel all contracts with independent power producer.
Problem on high power rates, according to FDC, is not just a problem of ordinary citizens but including the business sector that consumes bigger amount of electric supply for their business.
High power rates in an area can also discourage would-be investors to invest in a potential place.
LGUs mandated to construct sanitary landfill or put up MRF
TACLOBAN CITY – Clustering of municipalities is among the options in constructing a sanitary landfill, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Director Francisco Jose in the weekly press forum “Express it at the Park.”
Having a sanitary landfill for every local government unit is mandated by Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Failure to comply said mandate would mean that concerned local government units would be meted with appropriate charges.
With clustering, Jose stressed that it would mean lower cost for the construction of a sanitary landfil.
Sanitary landfill construction, based on estimate, would cost from P20 million to P50 million.
In the region, the first clustered towns on sanitary landfill construction were the municipalities of Anahawan, San Juan and Saint Bernard,all in Southern Leyte, through the assistance of the German International Cooperation.
Aside from clustering, another option for an LGU who cannot comply with the construction of a sanitary landfill would be putting up a Material Recovery Facility or MRF, according to the Environmental Management Bureau.
Other options would be by asking help from foreign funded organizations like the German International Cooperation and JICA, which had helped the cities of Calbayog, Ormoc and Maasin and the three municipalities in Southern Leyte in constructing their sanitary landfills and some municipalities in the region like Tunga, Leyte, which opted to put up an MRF.
Moreover, to lessen the burden in allocating fund for constructing a sanitary landfill, the EMB stressed that the LGU can construct their sanitary landfill on a phase-to-phase basis.
Having a sanitary landfill for every local government unit is mandated by Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Failure to comply said mandate would mean that concerned local government units would be meted with appropriate charges.
With clustering, Jose stressed that it would mean lower cost for the construction of a sanitary landfil.
Sanitary landfill construction, based on estimate, would cost from P20 million to P50 million.
In the region, the first clustered towns on sanitary landfill construction were the municipalities of Anahawan, San Juan and Saint Bernard,all in Southern Leyte, through the assistance of the German International Cooperation.
Aside from clustering, another option for an LGU who cannot comply with the construction of a sanitary landfill would be putting up a Material Recovery Facility or MRF, according to the Environmental Management Bureau.
Other options would be by asking help from foreign funded organizations like the German International Cooperation and JICA, which had helped the cities of Calbayog, Ormoc and Maasin and the three municipalities in Southern Leyte in constructing their sanitary landfills and some municipalities in the region like Tunga, Leyte, which opted to put up an MRF.
Moreover, to lessen the burden in allocating fund for constructing a sanitary landfill, the EMB stressed that the LGU can construct their sanitary landfill on a phase-to-phase basis.
3 LGUs in EV are Gawad ng Lahi awardees
TACLOBAN CITY – Three local government units in the region are to be recognized as Gawad Pamana ng Lahi regional awardees today in line with the 20th anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code of the Philippines.
The three LGUs are the Leyte (provincial category); Ormoc City (city category); and Naval (municipal category).
Gawad aims to accord government recognition to provinces, cities and municipalities that have distinguished themselves in the performance of their roles and responsibilities not only on the basis of a single program performance but also on their significant and quantifiable achievements along major development initiatives in local governance (administrative, social, environmental and economic governance).
It is also an instrument to scale up the valuing of accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in local administration and development.Award citeria and regional point-score is derived from LGPMS-overall performance index (80); Seal of Good Housekeeping (10%); innovation (5%) and awards or distinctions (5%).
Winners of said award are to be given with financial incentive P3 million for provinces;P2 million for cities and P1 million for municipalities.
The three LGUs are the Leyte (provincial category); Ormoc City (city category); and Naval (municipal category).
Gawad aims to accord government recognition to provinces, cities and municipalities that have distinguished themselves in the performance of their roles and responsibilities not only on the basis of a single program performance but also on their significant and quantifiable achievements along major development initiatives in local governance (administrative, social, environmental and economic governance).
It is also an instrument to scale up the valuing of accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in local administration and development.Award citeria and regional point-score is derived from LGPMS-overall performance index (80); Seal of Good Housekeeping (10%); innovation (5%) and awards or distinctions (5%).
Winners of said award are to be given with financial incentive P3 million for provinces;P2 million for cities and P1 million for municipalities.
Leyte to receive 3 awards this week
TACLOBAN CITY – Three awards are to be received by the province of Leyte this week, according to committee on public information chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte Roque Tiu.
These awards are the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Pamana ng Lahi Award to be given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Most Business Friendly Province to be awarded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Tiu, Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla together with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte will personally accept the award today for the SGH and Pamana while the award for the Most Business Friendly Province is to be given on October 13.
For the SGH award, the province will be receiving P7 million cash incentive and P3 million for the Pamana award while two class rooms are to be awarded by the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated to the province of Leyte for being a business friendly LGU.
The most business friendly province award of Leyte is its third time since 2008. The business sector in the province recognizes the effort of the provincial government to promote Leyte as a top destination for business investors, implement measures to help investors process their pertinent papers easily,
“This is a great honor for the province to be recognized by the business community,” said Tiu, who was the mayor of Tanauan, Leyte when the town was recognized by the chamber as the business friendly municipality.
Being given with said award, Tiu said it gives an impression for the business sector and prospect investors that the province is a good area to put investment and secures that investors and business sector are well taken cared of.
Just this year, a local investor from the province had planned to develop his 23 hectares land into an information technology park, according to Tiu.
To materialize this plan, Tiu said that the governor had help the investor to have his area be declared as a PEZA site, which will allow him to receive benefits and assistance from the government.
These awards are the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Pamana ng Lahi Award to be given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Most Business Friendly Province to be awarded by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
According to Tiu, Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla together with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte will personally accept the award today for the SGH and Pamana while the award for the Most Business Friendly Province is to be given on October 13.
For the SGH award, the province will be receiving P7 million cash incentive and P3 million for the Pamana award while two class rooms are to be awarded by the Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Incorporated to the province of Leyte for being a business friendly LGU.
The most business friendly province award of Leyte is its third time since 2008. The business sector in the province recognizes the effort of the provincial government to promote Leyte as a top destination for business investors, implement measures to help investors process their pertinent papers easily,
“This is a great honor for the province to be recognized by the business community,” said Tiu, who was the mayor of Tanauan, Leyte when the town was recognized by the chamber as the business friendly municipality.
Being given with said award, Tiu said it gives an impression for the business sector and prospect investors that the province is a good area to put investment and secures that investors and business sector are well taken cared of.
Just this year, a local investor from the province had planned to develop his 23 hectares land into an information technology park, according to Tiu.
To materialize this plan, Tiu said that the governor had help the investor to have his area be declared as a PEZA site, which will allow him to receive benefits and assistance from the government.
DILG-8 says nat’l awards way of encouraging LGUs to comply with full disclosure policy, others
TACLOBAN CITY – The awards being given by the national government through its line agencies to local government units is a way of encouraging them to comply with what is being mandated by law, like the policy on full disclosure.
Thus said Darwin Bibar, legal officer of the regional office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Among these awards are the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Gawad Pamana ng Lahi being given by their agency to different LGUs who were able to pass the criteria set forth for the competitions.
In the region, nine LGUs were recognized by the DILG for the SHG award. These are the province of Leyte, Ormoc City, municipalities of Naval, Guiuan, Laoang, Hinunangan, Alang-alang, Burauen and Jaro.
“No matter how we encourage them to comply with what is being mandated by law if they don’t want to comply, we can’t do anything,” Bibar explained on why only few local government units in the region were able to comply with the full disclosure policy which is one of the criteria for the SGH award.
“That is why we made an innovation by giving an award just to make them comply what is asked from them,” Bibar said.
Bibar, however, added that if the LGU still fails to comply even with the presence of innovation that they implement like giving award, their agency cannot do anything but file appropriate sanctions or penalties.
Thus said Darwin Bibar, legal officer of the regional office of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Among these awards are the Seal of Good Housekeeping and Gawad Pamana ng Lahi being given by their agency to different LGUs who were able to pass the criteria set forth for the competitions.
In the region, nine LGUs were recognized by the DILG for the SHG award. These are the province of Leyte, Ormoc City, municipalities of Naval, Guiuan, Laoang, Hinunangan, Alang-alang, Burauen and Jaro.
“No matter how we encourage them to comply with what is being mandated by law if they don’t want to comply, we can’t do anything,” Bibar explained on why only few local government units in the region were able to comply with the full disclosure policy which is one of the criteria for the SGH award.
“That is why we made an innovation by giving an award just to make them comply what is asked from them,” Bibar said.
Bibar, however, added that if the LGU still fails to comply even with the presence of innovation that they implement like giving award, their agency cannot do anything but file appropriate sanctions or penalties.
Tanauan skimboarder reigns in Hong Kong competition
TACLOBAN CITY – A Tanauaneño once again dominated the Palm Beach 2nd International Skimboarding Competition in Hong Kong held just this first week of October, according to Leyte Board Member Roque Tiu.
Roderick Espada, the cousin of Leo Espada who was last year’s champion in the Palm Beach 1st International Skimboarding Competition, was this year’s champion in the same competition besting other skims boarders from Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, Germany and United Kingdom.
The competition was held at Palm Beach Cheung Sha, Lantau Island in Hongkong, according to Tiu.
Espada is the only competitor from Leyte and was supported financially by the provincial government through Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla.
As the champion of the competition, Tiu said that Espada received $1,000 (around P40, 000) and several items from sponsors.
With this award of Espada, Tiu said that it only proves that skim boarders from the province are among the best in the world.
“This only strengthen and prove that Tanauan is really the skim boarding capital of country,” said Tiu who help institutionalized the skim boarding competition in his town when he was still the municipal mayor of Tanauan.
Roderick Espada, the cousin of Leo Espada who was last year’s champion in the Palm Beach 1st International Skimboarding Competition, was this year’s champion in the same competition besting other skims boarders from Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, Germany and United Kingdom.
The competition was held at Palm Beach Cheung Sha, Lantau Island in Hongkong, according to Tiu.
Espada is the only competitor from Leyte and was supported financially by the provincial government through Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla.
As the champion of the competition, Tiu said that Espada received $1,000 (around P40, 000) and several items from sponsors.
With this award of Espada, Tiu said that it only proves that skim boarders from the province are among the best in the world.
“This only strengthen and prove that Tanauan is really the skim boarding capital of country,” said Tiu who help institutionalized the skim boarding competition in his town when he was still the municipal mayor of Tanauan.
DSWD supports amendment to Juvenile Welfare Act
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development fully supports the proposed amendment to Justice Juvenile Welfare Act or Republic Act 9344, which Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero had proposed, said DSWD Regional Director Leticia Diokno.
Diokno in the press forum “Harampang ha PIA” said that there are certain provisions of said law that really need to be scrutinized or studied well, particularly on the case of “discernment”.
In legal terms “discernment” means the ability to distinguish or judge. The quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure such as an age that the will impose ordinary legal responsibility upon the person.
Diokno added that the creation of RA 9344 is also based on the product of foreign research or study and not based on local setting.
She added that although the law is currently taking effect, not all provision of RA 9344 is being implemented like the creation or putting up of facilities for rehabilitation or intervention process.
This problem according to Diokno was due to the unavailability of funds of some local government units due to budget constraints.
The construction of rehabilitation or intervention center, according to Diokno, is one of the most important parts of the law as children in conflict with law are first being brought before they are sent back to the community must undergo intervention programs.
Diokno in the press forum “Harampang ha PIA” said that there are certain provisions of said law that really need to be scrutinized or studied well, particularly on the case of “discernment”.
In legal terms “discernment” means the ability to distinguish or judge. The quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure such as an age that the will impose ordinary legal responsibility upon the person.
Diokno added that the creation of RA 9344 is also based on the product of foreign research or study and not based on local setting.
She added that although the law is currently taking effect, not all provision of RA 9344 is being implemented like the creation or putting up of facilities for rehabilitation or intervention process.
This problem according to Diokno was due to the unavailability of funds of some local government units due to budget constraints.
The construction of rehabilitation or intervention center, according to Diokno, is one of the most important parts of the law as children in conflict with law are first being brought before they are sent back to the community must undergo intervention programs.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
EMB presentation of a sanitary landfill to city council cancelled
TACLOBAN CITY – The presentation supposed to be made by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB-8) before the members of the city council on the technical aspect of constructing a sanitary landfill was cancelled after members of the majority bloc called for the declaration of adjournment citing that the presence of an EMB official, Maribel Munsayac, was not made known to them and that she was not invited to appear before the regular session.
Councilor Edwin Chua, majority floor leader of city council, stressed that they have not invited Munsayac to make a presentation, adding that national line agencies or any other institution that wishes to conduct presentation to the city council must first send a letter to inform them.
He added that since the session was already adjourned it was up to a council member to stay or not and listen what the EMB official would say.
But Munsayac, who is the regional coordinator of the solid waste management, said that their office received a letter of invitation from the secretariat of the city council asking them to made presentation of the technical aspect of constructing a sanitary landfill.
“I don’t know about it, but we received an invitation, and every time we received invitation from any agency we always take action on it,” Munsayac stressed.
“Even a small barangay when there is a formal invitation we see to it that we grant their request,” she added.
This pronouncement of Munsayac was confirmed by Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, adding that during their previous session, the city council voted unanimously to invite EMB officials to attend and made a presentation on sanitary landfill construction before them.
To recall, the EMB regional office had been calling the attention of city officials to comply with the mandate of RepublicAct 9003(Solid Waste Management Act) mandating all local government units to construct a sanitary landfills and close all open and control dumped sites.
Tacloban is the only city in the region excluding the three newly-created cities that has yet to comply with the construction of a sanitary landfill.
“Even though we lack manpower and with this number of local government units that we need to serve, if our schedule will warrant us, then we will grant their request,” Munsayac answered when she was asked whether she will appear to the city council once their attention is called.
In an earlier interview, city environment and natural resources officer Jonathan Hijada said that the city government is willing to comply RA 9300 adding that they have all the necessary papers.
But what stop the city government to come up with its own sanitary landfill is the huge cost the construction would entail.
The construction of a sanitary landfill is estimated to cost about P40 million.
Hijada had said that the proposed P400 million loan that the city government is planning to secure, P40 million of it is intended to finance the construction of the city’s sanitary landfill at Santo Niño, a northern village of the city.
Councilor Edwin Chua, majority floor leader of city council, stressed that they have not invited Munsayac to make a presentation, adding that national line agencies or any other institution that wishes to conduct presentation to the city council must first send a letter to inform them.
He added that since the session was already adjourned it was up to a council member to stay or not and listen what the EMB official would say.
But Munsayac, who is the regional coordinator of the solid waste management, said that their office received a letter of invitation from the secretariat of the city council asking them to made presentation of the technical aspect of constructing a sanitary landfill.
“I don’t know about it, but we received an invitation, and every time we received invitation from any agency we always take action on it,” Munsayac stressed.
“Even a small barangay when there is a formal invitation we see to it that we grant their request,” she added.
This pronouncement of Munsayac was confirmed by Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, adding that during their previous session, the city council voted unanimously to invite EMB officials to attend and made a presentation on sanitary landfill construction before them.
To recall, the EMB regional office had been calling the attention of city officials to comply with the mandate of RepublicAct 9003(Solid Waste Management Act) mandating all local government units to construct a sanitary landfills and close all open and control dumped sites.
Tacloban is the only city in the region excluding the three newly-created cities that has yet to comply with the construction of a sanitary landfill.
“Even though we lack manpower and with this number of local government units that we need to serve, if our schedule will warrant us, then we will grant their request,” Munsayac answered when she was asked whether she will appear to the city council once their attention is called.
In an earlier interview, city environment and natural resources officer Jonathan Hijada said that the city government is willing to comply RA 9300 adding that they have all the necessary papers.
But what stop the city government to come up with its own sanitary landfill is the huge cost the construction would entail.
The construction of a sanitary landfill is estimated to cost about P40 million.
Hijada had said that the proposed P400 million loan that the city government is planning to secure, P40 million of it is intended to finance the construction of the city’s sanitary landfill at Santo Niño, a northern village of the city.
VM Antoni clarifies issue on asking permission from mayor
TACLOBAN CITY – Agencies of national government invited by the Sangguniang Panlungsod do not need to ask permission from the city mayor to appear in the session of the city council in compliance to their request through a resolution.
This was according to City Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni as he clarified if it is necessary that invited guest of the city council must first go the Mayor’s Office and ask permission to appear in the city council session.
However, it is different to the situation of executive officials of the city government as they need first to ask permission to the chief executive per mandated on the executive order signed by the mayor and as included in the internal rules and regulations of the city council.
“There is a memorandum or office order (issued) by Mayor Alfred Romualdez mandating all officials under the executive department to ask permission from if they can grant our request if there are issues that needs to be answered or clarified by them,” said Antoni.
He added that in their 2007 revised internal rules and regulation the city council also included those city officials, executive department heads and other department heads request to make them appear in the city council must be forwarded to the city mayor’s office.
The reason for is, according to Antoni, is based on the provision of their revised internal rules, there might be some questions to the official of the city that “can be answerable through a letter which will not comply them to appear any more in the session hall.
Moreover, in what had happened in their last session this week, Antoni stressed that the Environmental Management Bureau does not need to go to the office of the city mayor to inform him that they will appear at the city council to make a presentation on the subject matter of sanitary landfill.
“The only time that they (representative of government instrumentalities and private entities) cannot present their presentation or answers our query is when there is lack of quorum and due to lack of time,” Antoni clarified.
To recall, during their regular session held last Wednesday, the EMB representatives were at the city council to do presentation on establishing sanitary landfill, in the presence of 11 city council members.
Through the request of the majority floor leader ,Councilor Edwin Chua, EMB was subjected to do their presentation after the city council finished to tackle their agenda.
However, after they discussed all the subject matter in the agenda, councilors who belongs to the majority bloc left the session hall one by one until only six of them were left.
With the presence of only six members and due to lack of quorum, Antoni was forced to adjourn the session due to lack of quorum
This was according to City Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni as he clarified if it is necessary that invited guest of the city council must first go the Mayor’s Office and ask permission to appear in the city council session.
However, it is different to the situation of executive officials of the city government as they need first to ask permission to the chief executive per mandated on the executive order signed by the mayor and as included in the internal rules and regulations of the city council.
“There is a memorandum or office order (issued) by Mayor Alfred Romualdez mandating all officials under the executive department to ask permission from if they can grant our request if there are issues that needs to be answered or clarified by them,” said Antoni.
He added that in their 2007 revised internal rules and regulation the city council also included those city officials, executive department heads and other department heads request to make them appear in the city council must be forwarded to the city mayor’s office.
The reason for is, according to Antoni, is based on the provision of their revised internal rules, there might be some questions to the official of the city that “can be answerable through a letter which will not comply them to appear any more in the session hall.
Moreover, in what had happened in their last session this week, Antoni stressed that the Environmental Management Bureau does not need to go to the office of the city mayor to inform him that they will appear at the city council to make a presentation on the subject matter of sanitary landfill.
“The only time that they (representative of government instrumentalities and private entities) cannot present their presentation or answers our query is when there is lack of quorum and due to lack of time,” Antoni clarified.
To recall, during their regular session held last Wednesday, the EMB representatives were at the city council to do presentation on establishing sanitary landfill, in the presence of 11 city council members.
Through the request of the majority floor leader ,Councilor Edwin Chua, EMB was subjected to do their presentation after the city council finished to tackle their agenda.
However, after they discussed all the subject matter in the agenda, councilors who belongs to the majority bloc left the session hall one by one until only six of them were left.
With the presence of only six members and due to lack of quorum, Antoni was forced to adjourn the session due to lack of quorum
Problem on insurgency makes it hard to promote Samar Island
TACLOBAN CITY – Regional Development Council Chairman and Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla urges officials, private entities and people in the region to work together in order to promote Eastern Visayas as among the top destinations for tourism.
Petilla, in an interview, stressed that tourism promotion needs participation of all stakeholders in the society particularly in putting facilities that will address the needs of visiting tourists and to make a good whole-year round tourism promotional campaign and program.
“We need to put first things first, we need to address what tourists are looking for,” Petilla said.
Among these, according to him, are good accommodation facility, best food and good scenery.
In the region, Petilla said that the best place to send tourists is Samar Island. However, the local government units in the three provinces of Samar are currently facing problem on how to address the insurgency situation in their respective areas, which greatly affect tourism promotion.
Samar provinces have abundant beautiful sceneries that can attract local and foreign tourists, among these sceneries are beaches and seawater that are good in activities such as snorkeling, diving and surfing; islets and islands, caves, historical sites and religious sites.
The presence of insurgents in Samar had a great effect in the promotional campaign to boost tourism activities in the said island, which some national officials and even high ranking military officials had dubbed Samar as a good haven for tourists, once said problem is address.
Petilla said that he had been busy on promoting and inviting investors to visit and invest in Leyte. He added that aside from taking investors to visit the province, he also promotes the nearby island of Samar.
Petilla added that in order for tourism activities to flourish, local government units must actively participate in its promotion.
“LGUs need to realize and let them be involved in tourism promotion as there is business in tourism that will help boost not just their local economy but including the regional and national economy,” he stressed.
Petilla, in an interview, stressed that tourism promotion needs participation of all stakeholders in the society particularly in putting facilities that will address the needs of visiting tourists and to make a good whole-year round tourism promotional campaign and program.
“We need to put first things first, we need to address what tourists are looking for,” Petilla said.
Among these, according to him, are good accommodation facility, best food and good scenery.
In the region, Petilla said that the best place to send tourists is Samar Island. However, the local government units in the three provinces of Samar are currently facing problem on how to address the insurgency situation in their respective areas, which greatly affect tourism promotion.
Samar provinces have abundant beautiful sceneries that can attract local and foreign tourists, among these sceneries are beaches and seawater that are good in activities such as snorkeling, diving and surfing; islets and islands, caves, historical sites and religious sites.
The presence of insurgents in Samar had a great effect in the promotional campaign to boost tourism activities in the said island, which some national officials and even high ranking military officials had dubbed Samar as a good haven for tourists, once said problem is address.
Petilla said that he had been busy on promoting and inviting investors to visit and invest in Leyte. He added that aside from taking investors to visit the province, he also promotes the nearby island of Samar.
Petilla added that in order for tourism activities to flourish, local government units must actively participate in its promotion.
“LGUs need to realize and let them be involved in tourism promotion as there is business in tourism that will help boost not just their local economy but including the regional and national economy,” he stressed.
Icot: There’s a need to amend Juvenile Justice Welfare Act
TACLOBAN CITY — There is a need to change some provision of the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006 for children not to be the subjected anymore of criminal groups, said Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla who also chairs the Regional Development Council 8.
Although RDC 6 had already passed a resolution supporting the amendments of Republic Act 9644, Petilla said that as of the moment RDC 8 members had not made any resolution to support the amendment proposed in the Senate by committee on justice and human rights Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
However, Petilla said that they can tackle said issue with the fellow members of RDC.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region, also a member of the RDC, had already express its support to amend the law.
Youth offenders, particularly those who ages 15 and below, had increased due to the provision of the existing law that they cannot be criminally liable but they should be put in a rehabilitation and reintegration facility to undergo intervention before they are sent back to their families and communities.
This, according to Petilla, is true as most criminal groups use youths in carrying out their illegal activities.
He, however, stressed that aside from being used by criminal groups that lack of parental guidance of parents to their children is also among the causes of children involved in crime.
Although RDC 6 had already passed a resolution supporting the amendments of Republic Act 9644, Petilla said that as of the moment RDC 8 members had not made any resolution to support the amendment proposed in the Senate by committee on justice and human rights Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
However, Petilla said that they can tackle said issue with the fellow members of RDC.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region, also a member of the RDC, had already express its support to amend the law.
Youth offenders, particularly those who ages 15 and below, had increased due to the provision of the existing law that they cannot be criminally liable but they should be put in a rehabilitation and reintegration facility to undergo intervention before they are sent back to their families and communities.
This, according to Petilla, is true as most criminal groups use youths in carrying out their illegal activities.
He, however, stressed that aside from being used by criminal groups that lack of parental guidance of parents to their children is also among the causes of children involved in crime.
Returning “White” Russians thanks the Philipine gov’t, the people of Guiuan
GUIUAN, Eastern Samar – Well-known Russian folk singer Nikolai Massenoff was thankful to the people of Guiuan who witnessed the concert that was held in the municipal plaza as his way of showing gratitude to the town people and Philippine government that allowed them to enter the country in the midst of crackdown on “White Russians” in China more than 60 years ago.
Massenkoff, who turned 72 years old just this week, had a concert in Guiuan upon invitation of Mayor Annaliz Kwan.
Massenkoff, an orphan when he arrived in the Philippines and lived in the island of Tubabao off Guiuan together with more than 5,000 Russians for more than two years, expressed his gratefulness to the Filipino people for accepting them and letting them stay in the country.
He added that after seeing and witnessing the warm welcome that Filipino people had showed him in his return after more than 50 years, he would also invite his fellow Russians to visit the country particularly the municipality of Guiuan that had played an important role among Russians like him who left their country due to the communist regime.
Massenkoff said that since he arrived in the municipality of Guiuan he was fascinated with the ways of people especially their personality, gentleness and character.
The concert of Massenkoff was witnessed by municipal officials of Guiuan, headed by Mayor Kwan, some foreign visitors and presentation by local talents including the pride of Eastern Samar, the Saurug Dance Troupe.
Massenkoff, who turned 72 years old just this week, had a concert in Guiuan upon invitation of Mayor Annaliz Kwan.
Massenkoff, an orphan when he arrived in the Philippines and lived in the island of Tubabao off Guiuan together with more than 5,000 Russians for more than two years, expressed his gratefulness to the Filipino people for accepting them and letting them stay in the country.
He added that after seeing and witnessing the warm welcome that Filipino people had showed him in his return after more than 50 years, he would also invite his fellow Russians to visit the country particularly the municipality of Guiuan that had played an important role among Russians like him who left their country due to the communist regime.
Massenkoff said that since he arrived in the municipality of Guiuan he was fascinated with the ways of people especially their personality, gentleness and character.
The concert of Massenkoff was witnessed by municipal officials of Guiuan, headed by Mayor Kwan, some foreign visitors and presentation by local talents including the pride of Eastern Samar, the Saurug Dance Troupe.
City gov’t workers urged to synchronize time with standard time set by DOST
TACLOBAN CITY – To avoid being late from work and have a common clock time, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tacloban, through a motion of Councilor Edward Frederick Chua, passed a resolution subjecting all officials and employees of the city government to synchronize their clock with the standard time set by the Department of Science and Technology(DOST).
Chua, in his motion, said that he noticed that some employees were at their respective offices early while others are late.
He added that this is also the same with his colleagues at the city council.
With this observation and as there is a program which was recently launched by the DOST synchronizing time pieces in the country, Chua said that it would be better if all employees in the city government will follow the Philippine Standard Time set by the DOST.
Last September 30, 2011, the DOST headed by Secretary Mario Montejo launched the nationwide use of Philippine Standard Time(PST).
Time, according to Montejo, is a resource that often overlooked, it has social and economic value and can also unite Filipino people.
Following PST will also avoid confusion due to unsynchronized time, he added.
The PST (the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Bilang is set via DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.
The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.
Chua, in his motion, said that he noticed that some employees were at their respective offices early while others are late.
He added that this is also the same with his colleagues at the city council.
With this observation and as there is a program which was recently launched by the DOST synchronizing time pieces in the country, Chua said that it would be better if all employees in the city government will follow the Philippine Standard Time set by the DOST.
Last September 30, 2011, the DOST headed by Secretary Mario Montejo launched the nationwide use of Philippine Standard Time(PST).
Time, according to Montejo, is a resource that often overlooked, it has social and economic value and can also unite Filipino people.
Following PST will also avoid confusion due to unsynchronized time, he added.
The PST (the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Bilang is set via DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.
The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.
BM Tiu to look into mushrooming cell sites
TACLOBAN CITY – Committee on environment and natural resources chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte, Board Member Roque Tiu said that he will look into reports that cellular phones sites (cell sites) were mushrooming in different parts of the province.
The report, according to Tiu, was brought to his office by a concerned citizen after several people particularly those living near cell sites raised alarm that it may cause radiation that would threaten their health.
“This gives me an idea to conduct a research if this cell sites mushrooming will cause radiation,” Tiu said.
At present, Tiu said that he already instructed his staff to make a research on the effects of cell sites radiation to human health.
Research on the matter according to Tiu would also include consulting the Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Communication and National Telecommunication Commission.
The information from those offices according to Tiu will be important as they will base their report on the findings gatherd from those agencies.
He added that if it would be proven that cell sites mushrooming has bad effects to human health, he will immediately file an ordinance to control and regulate the installation and construction of telecommunication sites in the province.
The report, according to Tiu, was brought to his office by a concerned citizen after several people particularly those living near cell sites raised alarm that it may cause radiation that would threaten their health.
“This gives me an idea to conduct a research if this cell sites mushrooming will cause radiation,” Tiu said.
At present, Tiu said that he already instructed his staff to make a research on the effects of cell sites radiation to human health.
Research on the matter according to Tiu would also include consulting the Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Communication and National Telecommunication Commission.
The information from those offices according to Tiu will be important as they will base their report on the findings gatherd from those agencies.
He added that if it would be proven that cell sites mushrooming has bad effects to human health, he will immediately file an ordinance to control and regulate the installation and construction of telecommunication sites in the province.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
34IB Joint Coastal Clean-Up and Launching of the National Greening Program
The 34th (Reliable) Infantry Battalion in its new area of responsibility stationed at Barangay Tambangan, Palapag, Northern Samar supports the coastal clean-up and tree planting activities to win the peace in connection with the National Greening Program this morning September 23, 2011.
Said activities were participated by the LGU’s, LGA, PNP, AFP, Sanguniang Kabataan, Religious Sector, Teachers, students and other participating concerned agencies which aims to uplift the morale of the constituents living in the area.
The commanding officer of the 34IB, Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM P PENAFIEL JR INF (GSC) PA and its men gives out their full support in promoting peace and order by joining hand in hand through Alay Lakad which started 6:30 early in the morning from the Peoples Center to barangay Talolora of Palapag followed by Coastal Clean Up and Tree Planting activities in some coastal barangays like Barangay Cabatuan, Maragano, Nipa, Binay, Mapno, Paysud, Talalora, Monbon and barangay Pangpang all of Palapag, Northern Samar.
Meanwhile in his message, LTC PENAFIEL said “ the Armed Forces of the Philippines does not only limit its services in supporting the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force but also supports the different tangible programs such as Coastal Clean-Up and Tree-Planting to ensure sustainable development of resources and protection of our environment to promote biodiversity not just for us but for our children’s sake as well. Let us help each other in creating a cleaner, greener and safer future for our children by doing it in our own little ways. Not tomorrow but today, not just today but everyday and not by other people but through ourselves.”
The Army is now running in full steam to establish a lasting peace and order situation in its area of responsibility by giving its full support in order to attain its mandated mission which is to eradicate the insurgency problem especially in Region 8, Penafiel adds.
Said activities were participated by the LGU’s, LGA, PNP, AFP, Sanguniang Kabataan, Religious Sector, Teachers, students and other participating concerned agencies which aims to uplift the morale of the constituents living in the area.
The commanding officer of the 34IB, Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM P PENAFIEL JR INF (GSC) PA and its men gives out their full support in promoting peace and order by joining hand in hand through Alay Lakad which started 6:30 early in the morning from the Peoples Center to barangay Talolora of Palapag followed by Coastal Clean Up and Tree Planting activities in some coastal barangays like Barangay Cabatuan, Maragano, Nipa, Binay, Mapno, Paysud, Talalora, Monbon and barangay Pangpang all of Palapag, Northern Samar.
Meanwhile in his message, LTC PENAFIEL said “ the Armed Forces of the Philippines does not only limit its services in supporting the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force but also supports the different tangible programs such as Coastal Clean-Up and Tree-Planting to ensure sustainable development of resources and protection of our environment to promote biodiversity not just for us but for our children’s sake as well. Let us help each other in creating a cleaner, greener and safer future for our children by doing it in our own little ways. Not tomorrow but today, not just today but everyday and not by other people but through ourselves.”
The Army is now running in full steam to establish a lasting peace and order situation in its area of responsibility by giving its full support in order to attain its mandated mission which is to eradicate the insurgency problem especially in Region 8, Penafiel adds.
THIRTY EIGHT POLICE GRADUATED ISO TRAINING
Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte - Class 01-2011 graduated today in their Internal Security Operations (ISO) Enhancement Training at PRO8 Headquarters, Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte.
The graduation of the thirty-eight (38) trainees from Provincial Public Safety Company of Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office were witnessed by PSSupt Edgar Orduña Basba, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, PSSupt Eusebio Adamero Mejos, chief, Regional Persunnel Human Resource Development Division, PSSupt Elizar Patano Egloso, Chief Regional Police Community Relations Division, PSupt Raymundo P Graveles, Training Manager, Regional Special Training Unit 8, other officers in the region, non-commissioned officers and non-uniformed personnel.
PSSupt Edgar O Basbas, Deputy Regional Director for Operations as the Guest of Honor and Speaker awarded the Certificates of Completion which was assisted by PSupt Raymundo P Graveles, Training Manager, Regional Special Training Unit 8.
Then afterwhich was the messege of PSSupt Basbas in which he said training is very important and useful for the police in conducting community-based activities, information campaign and other doable, sustainable and continuing PCR activities in the insurgency affected areas.
Further he elaborated that pursuant to the AFP-PNP Joint Letter Directive No. 3, the AFP turned over yesterday the entire Southern Leyte to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) declaring the province as insurgency-free area.
Communist ideological beliefs might still be in the minds of the populace and has not been completely eradicated. These ideological remnants are where the CTs may capitalize in their attempt to regain, as they have actually regained in past experiences, foothold in cleared areas/barangays after security forces had left.
It is therefore incumbent upon the PNP, having the primary responsibility in the conduct of ISO in the affected areas/barangays, to initiate measures to preserve the gains made by the government in clearing and preventing the resurgence of CT influence in these areas he said.
The graduation of the thirty-eight (38) trainees from Provincial Public Safety Company of Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office were witnessed by PSSupt Edgar Orduña Basba, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, PSSupt Eusebio Adamero Mejos, chief, Regional Persunnel Human Resource Development Division, PSSupt Elizar Patano Egloso, Chief Regional Police Community Relations Division, PSupt Raymundo P Graveles, Training Manager, Regional Special Training Unit 8, other officers in the region, non-commissioned officers and non-uniformed personnel.
PSSupt Edgar O Basbas, Deputy Regional Director for Operations as the Guest of Honor and Speaker awarded the Certificates of Completion which was assisted by PSupt Raymundo P Graveles, Training Manager, Regional Special Training Unit 8.
Then afterwhich was the messege of PSSupt Basbas in which he said training is very important and useful for the police in conducting community-based activities, information campaign and other doable, sustainable and continuing PCR activities in the insurgency affected areas.
Further he elaborated that pursuant to the AFP-PNP Joint Letter Directive No. 3, the AFP turned over yesterday the entire Southern Leyte to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) declaring the province as insurgency-free area.
Communist ideological beliefs might still be in the minds of the populace and has not been completely eradicated. These ideological remnants are where the CTs may capitalize in their attempt to regain, as they have actually regained in past experiences, foothold in cleared areas/barangays after security forces had left.
It is therefore incumbent upon the PNP, having the primary responsibility in the conduct of ISO in the affected areas/barangays, to initiate measures to preserve the gains made by the government in clearing and preventing the resurgence of CT influence in these areas he said.
WIFE OF COMMUNIST TERRORIST SURRENDERS
Camp Ruperto K Kangleon, Palo, Leyte - PCSupt Arnold Rayala Revilla, Regional Director discloses that one way of addressing problem regarding insurgency is coming up with a holistic approach wherein all sectors of the society need to cooperate and contribute efforts in solving it. Thus, he elaborated that such move requires an active support from the Local Government Units, the business groups and the other sectors on all programs of the government aimed at addressing the insurgency problem such as the delivery of basic services to the remote areas, infrastructure projects in the Barangays and livelihood programs to the surrenderees among others.
This he said after the wife of a member of the PLAGUER 1, Front Committee 2, Northern Samar Provincial Party Committee (NSPPC) surrendered to Police Regional Office 8 operatives headed by PSupt Isaias B Tonog.
Based on reports this office received that last September 25, 2011 at about 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Communist Terrorist Alijandria A Parido alias Mariz surrender to the police operatives at Brgy Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar. Mariz, a CT member is the wife of Agusto Parido alias Ka Dino, a member of the Communist Terrorist Movement/Under Ground Movement, PLAGUER 1, Front Committee 2, Northern Samar provincial Party Committee (NSPPC), EVRPC operating in the 1st District of Northern Samar Province who surrendered to PSupt Isaias B Tonog, together with the elements of 3rd RPSMC on September 18, 2011 at around 9:30 in the morning in collaboration of the Local Government Unit of Catarman, Northern Samar thru Hon Mayor Rolando F Carpio.
Mariz is a resident of Brgy Pilar, Oquendo District, Calbayog City and included in the 2nd Semester 2010 Periodic Status Report (PSR) on Threat Group/Order of Battle as member of the CTs/NPA, PLAGUER 1, Front 2, NSPPC, EVRPC. She was a fulltime member of the UGM, under the POT for almost six (6) years.
Afterwhich, at about 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon of same date, surrenderee was brought to HQS, 3RPSMC, Brgy. Urdaneta, Lavesarez, Northern Samar for temporary custody while under tactical interrogation.
This he said after the wife of a member of the PLAGUER 1, Front Committee 2, Northern Samar Provincial Party Committee (NSPPC) surrendered to Police Regional Office 8 operatives headed by PSupt Isaias B Tonog.
Based on reports this office received that last September 25, 2011 at about 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Communist Terrorist Alijandria A Parido alias Mariz surrender to the police operatives at Brgy Dalakit, Catarman, Northern Samar. Mariz, a CT member is the wife of Agusto Parido alias Ka Dino, a member of the Communist Terrorist Movement/Under Ground Movement, PLAGUER 1, Front Committee 2, Northern Samar provincial Party Committee (NSPPC), EVRPC operating in the 1st District of Northern Samar Province who surrendered to PSupt Isaias B Tonog, together with the elements of 3rd RPSMC on September 18, 2011 at around 9:30 in the morning in collaboration of the Local Government Unit of Catarman, Northern Samar thru Hon Mayor Rolando F Carpio.
Mariz is a resident of Brgy Pilar, Oquendo District, Calbayog City and included in the 2nd Semester 2010 Periodic Status Report (PSR) on Threat Group/Order of Battle as member of the CTs/NPA, PLAGUER 1, Front 2, NSPPC, EVRPC. She was a fulltime member of the UGM, under the POT for almost six (6) years.
Afterwhich, at about 5:30 o’clock in the afternoon of same date, surrenderee was brought to HQS, 3RPSMC, Brgy. Urdaneta, Lavesarez, Northern Samar for temporary custody while under tactical interrogation.
SOUTHERN LEYTE: INSURGENT-FREE PROVINCE
CAMP JORGE DOWNES, ORMOC CITY, LEYTE. The 802nd Bde, 8ID, PA under the command of Colonel John S Bonafos facilitated the signing of a Joint Declaration by the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and the Province of Southern Leyte declaring the province of Southern Leyte “INSURGENT-FREE”.
The signing was conducted on 29 September 2011 at Ruperto K Kangleon Function House, Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte province which was attended by the members of the Provincial Peace & Order Council headed by Governor Damian Gaviola Mercado and Vice-Governor Miguel C. Maamo II and the Mayors of Southern Leyte; and the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines headed by Lieutenant General Ralph A Villanueva, Commander of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Major General Mario F. Chan, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
Since the entry of communist insurgency in Southern Leyte in the early 1970s, insurgency steadily grew until it reached its peak in 2001. Due to the massive Peace and Development operations of the 802nd Infantry Brigade and the very active support of the LGU and other stakeholders of peace in the province of Southern Leyte, the Communist Terrorists (CTs) either surrendered, abandoned the Communist Movement or evacuated the province and moved elsewhere. By yearend 2006, the main bulk of the South Leyte Front, the insurgent’s armed group in the province has been greatly diminished so the NPA leadership declared it dissolved and its remnants scattered to the other NPA Groups in other areas. The succeeding years saw a tranquil and peaceful Southern Leyte, resisting the treachery and resurgence of the communist cause.
“The main factor which led to the declaration of Southern Leyte an insurgent-free province is the determination, commitment and sincerity of the stakeholders specially the local chief executives in solving insurgency problems”, General Villanueva told to the members of the Peace & Order Council and other guests.
“The military alone cannot sustain the clearing of an area without the sincere support of the local government as proven in the 8th Infantry Division’s area of responsibility”, General Chan, added.
The challenge that the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and 802 Brigade will face is the re-entry or resurgence of the insurgents in the province. But with constant evaluation and strengthening of our established Barangay Intelligence Network and the Integrated Territorial Security System and the commitment of the stakeholders, the insurgents have no place and no business to transact in the province.
Internal Security Operations in the provinces of Biliran, Cebu and Bohol was handed over from the AFP to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC); Province of Biliran in 2008 and the provinces of Cebu and Bohol in 2010. Thus, 4 of the 5 provinces in the 802nd Brigade area of responsibility were handed over to the respective Peace & Order Councils, the only brigade in the Philippine Army that successfully handed over Internal Peace Operations responsibility to the PPOC of four (4) provinces in a row.
The signing was conducted on 29 September 2011 at Ruperto K Kangleon Function House, Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte province which was attended by the members of the Provincial Peace & Order Council headed by Governor Damian Gaviola Mercado and Vice-Governor Miguel C. Maamo II and the Mayors of Southern Leyte; and the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines headed by Lieutenant General Ralph A Villanueva, Commander of the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Major General Mario F. Chan, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.
Since the entry of communist insurgency in Southern Leyte in the early 1970s, insurgency steadily grew until it reached its peak in 2001. Due to the massive Peace and Development operations of the 802nd Infantry Brigade and the very active support of the LGU and other stakeholders of peace in the province of Southern Leyte, the Communist Terrorists (CTs) either surrendered, abandoned the Communist Movement or evacuated the province and moved elsewhere. By yearend 2006, the main bulk of the South Leyte Front, the insurgent’s armed group in the province has been greatly diminished so the NPA leadership declared it dissolved and its remnants scattered to the other NPA Groups in other areas. The succeeding years saw a tranquil and peaceful Southern Leyte, resisting the treachery and resurgence of the communist cause.
“The main factor which led to the declaration of Southern Leyte an insurgent-free province is the determination, commitment and sincerity of the stakeholders specially the local chief executives in solving insurgency problems”, General Villanueva told to the members of the Peace & Order Council and other guests.
“The military alone cannot sustain the clearing of an area without the sincere support of the local government as proven in the 8th Infantry Division’s area of responsibility”, General Chan, added.
The challenge that the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and 802 Brigade will face is the re-entry or resurgence of the insurgents in the province. But with constant evaluation and strengthening of our established Barangay Intelligence Network and the Integrated Territorial Security System and the commitment of the stakeholders, the insurgents have no place and no business to transact in the province.
Internal Security Operations in the provinces of Biliran, Cebu and Bohol was handed over from the AFP to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC); Province of Biliran in 2008 and the provinces of Cebu and Bohol in 2010. Thus, 4 of the 5 provinces in the 802nd Brigade area of responsibility were handed over to the respective Peace & Order Councils, the only brigade in the Philippine Army that successfully handed over Internal Peace Operations responsibility to the PPOC of four (4) provinces in a row.
Vice Gov. Bagulaya happy with the aid of Rep. Noel for rehab of legislative bldg
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya said that she is happy with An Waray Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel’s effort to provide assistance for the repair of the city legislative building where she once held office when she was Tacloban’s vice mayor.
The legislative building of the city was constructed and inaugurated during her term with the help by then Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez with a budget of about P10 million.
“The (council) members at that time were grateful to former City Mayor Bejo Romualdez for giving assistance and providing funds for the construction of the building,” Bagulaya said.
Bagulaya added that the several visits she made at the building after she stepped down as vice mayor, she noticed that the physical condition of the building had become dilapidated which made her think that there was really no funds available to repair it.
“It’s really sad and difficult on my part being a former city vice mayor to see the building of the former institution where I worked looks really bad,” she added.
With the gesture of Noel in giving a share or donating fund for the repair of the city legislative building, Bagulaya said that she is happy for the repair had long been needed by the building.
The share or a contribution from the fund of Rep. Noel might not be enough for the repair, but it is of great help to rehabilitate the building where city legislators are crafting laws for the city, Bagulaya added.
To recall, Noel personally handed over the special allotment release order worth P2 million to City Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni intended for the repair of the city legislative building and witnessed by Councilors Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, Jerry Uy, and Neil Glova including some barangay officials of the city.
Moreover, Bagulaya added that even if the city is already a highly urbanized city and politically independent from the provincial government, there are also instances that the province can provide assistance to the city government.
Citing example to this, was when the city of Tacloban was greatly affected with flooding in the month of March this year, the provincial government aside from allocating funds for relief goods to affected constituents in the province had included residents of Tacloban in their relief operation.
The legislative building of the city was constructed and inaugurated during her term with the help by then Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez with a budget of about P10 million.
“The (council) members at that time were grateful to former City Mayor Bejo Romualdez for giving assistance and providing funds for the construction of the building,” Bagulaya said.
Bagulaya added that the several visits she made at the building after she stepped down as vice mayor, she noticed that the physical condition of the building had become dilapidated which made her think that there was really no funds available to repair it.
“It’s really sad and difficult on my part being a former city vice mayor to see the building of the former institution where I worked looks really bad,” she added.
With the gesture of Noel in giving a share or donating fund for the repair of the city legislative building, Bagulaya said that she is happy for the repair had long been needed by the building.
The share or a contribution from the fund of Rep. Noel might not be enough for the repair, but it is of great help to rehabilitate the building where city legislators are crafting laws for the city, Bagulaya added.
To recall, Noel personally handed over the special allotment release order worth P2 million to City Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni intended for the repair of the city legislative building and witnessed by Councilors Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, Jerry Uy, and Neil Glova including some barangay officials of the city.
Moreover, Bagulaya added that even if the city is already a highly urbanized city and politically independent from the provincial government, there are also instances that the province can provide assistance to the city government.
Citing example to this, was when the city of Tacloban was greatly affected with flooding in the month of March this year, the provincial government aside from allocating funds for relief goods to affected constituents in the province had included residents of Tacloban in their relief operation.
Baybay mayor supports move to amend RA 9344
BAYBAY CITY – The mayor of this city supports the move to amend Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the committee on justice and human rights, is the main proponent for this move in the Senate, which is gathering support from various local chief executives and even from the hierarchy of the Philippine National Police.
Mayor Carmen Cari said that to amend RA 9344 is a good move as the number of youth involved in crimes had been increasing due to provisions of said law that 15 years old and below are not criminally liable of the crime they committed.
This, aside from the reason that there are criminal elements who are using children as their front on illegal activities.
“I’m glad that this problem is not that rampant in this city,” Cari said.
Although there are cases in Baybay where children are involved in various crimes, Cari said that they cannot do anything but follow the mandate of the law, which is to let go of the minors.
But before they let the youth offenders go, Cari stressed that they are referred to a social worker for interventions.
She added that in order to fully address that needs of Children in Conflict With Law in the city, they have identified a place where they will construct a rehabilitation or holding facility for youth offenders.
The rehabilitation facility provides intervention program like counseling to ensure that youth offenders will be molded into a better citizen before going back to society.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the committee on justice and human rights, is the main proponent for this move in the Senate, which is gathering support from various local chief executives and even from the hierarchy of the Philippine National Police.
Mayor Carmen Cari said that to amend RA 9344 is a good move as the number of youth involved in crimes had been increasing due to provisions of said law that 15 years old and below are not criminally liable of the crime they committed.
This, aside from the reason that there are criminal elements who are using children as their front on illegal activities.
“I’m glad that this problem is not that rampant in this city,” Cari said.
Although there are cases in Baybay where children are involved in various crimes, Cari said that they cannot do anything but follow the mandate of the law, which is to let go of the minors.
But before they let the youth offenders go, Cari stressed that they are referred to a social worker for interventions.
She added that in order to fully address that needs of Children in Conflict With Law in the city, they have identified a place where they will construct a rehabilitation or holding facility for youth offenders.
The rehabilitation facility provides intervention program like counseling to ensure that youth offenders will be molded into a better citizen before going back to society.
Tiu lauds Congress for filing bill seeking to ban use of plastic bags
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Board Member and chair of the committee on environment and natural resources Roque Tiu has lauded Congress for filing a bill that seeks to ban the usage of plastic bag in the country.
Tiu, who author of the anti-plastic bag ordinance, said that he is happy that there is already a national law that would soon to be implemented once passed by Congress that will strengthen the local ordinance that they crafted to protect the people and environment from the dreadful effect of plastic bag.
“If this law takes effect, it will be easier for the local government units to implement the local version as there is already a national law that supports the banning of the usage of plastic bags,” Tiu said.
The anti-plastic bag of the province of Leyte was passed early this year and will take effect a year after the posting and publication requirements set forth by law, and three years after its effectivity, the use of plastic bags and styrofoam/styrophor is prohibited to be used by all businesses and commercial establishments and houses within the province.
In the region, aside from Leyte, the city of Calbayog had already been implementing their anti-plastic bag ordinance wherein every weekend business establishments are to use alternative bags for packaging their goods.
Meantime, similar measure is also being drafted by the Tacloban city council.
The versions of the House of Representatives and Senate on banning usage of plastic bag was authored by Senator Loren Legarda and Caloocan Representative Oscar Malapitan.
While the provincial ordinance of Leyte promotes the usage of eco-friendly bags such as bayong, bags made of katsa, baskets, paper bags and other alternative bags, the bills both in the Senate and the Lower House requires operators of business establishments to provide bio-degradable plastic bags to costumers and to have a recovery program that will give costumers the opportunity to return used plastic bags.
While Congress had already passed and approved House Bill 4840 or the Plastic Bag Regulation Act of 2011 on the third and final reading, Senate Bill 2729 or the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 was just tackled for first reading by members of Senate and was referred to the joint Senate committee on trade and commerce and the committee on environment and natural resources.
Violators of proposed Senate Bill 2729 will be fine of P10,000 for the first offense; P50,000 for the second offense; and P200,000 as well as one year suspension of business permit for the third offense while House Bill 4840 provides fine of not exceeding for P100, 000 for first offense; a fine not exceeding to P250, 000 for second offense; a fine not exceeding P500,000 for the third offense; and a fine of not exceeding P750,000 for the fourth offense as well as automatic revocation of business permits.
Tiu, who author of the anti-plastic bag ordinance, said that he is happy that there is already a national law that would soon to be implemented once passed by Congress that will strengthen the local ordinance that they crafted to protect the people and environment from the dreadful effect of plastic bag.
“If this law takes effect, it will be easier for the local government units to implement the local version as there is already a national law that supports the banning of the usage of plastic bags,” Tiu said.
The anti-plastic bag of the province of Leyte was passed early this year and will take effect a year after the posting and publication requirements set forth by law, and three years after its effectivity, the use of plastic bags and styrofoam/styrophor is prohibited to be used by all businesses and commercial establishments and houses within the province.
In the region, aside from Leyte, the city of Calbayog had already been implementing their anti-plastic bag ordinance wherein every weekend business establishments are to use alternative bags for packaging their goods.
Meantime, similar measure is also being drafted by the Tacloban city council.
The versions of the House of Representatives and Senate on banning usage of plastic bag was authored by Senator Loren Legarda and Caloocan Representative Oscar Malapitan.
While the provincial ordinance of Leyte promotes the usage of eco-friendly bags such as bayong, bags made of katsa, baskets, paper bags and other alternative bags, the bills both in the Senate and the Lower House requires operators of business establishments to provide bio-degradable plastic bags to costumers and to have a recovery program that will give costumers the opportunity to return used plastic bags.
While Congress had already passed and approved House Bill 4840 or the Plastic Bag Regulation Act of 2011 on the third and final reading, Senate Bill 2729 or the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011 was just tackled for first reading by members of Senate and was referred to the joint Senate committee on trade and commerce and the committee on environment and natural resources.
Violators of proposed Senate Bill 2729 will be fine of P10,000 for the first offense; P50,000 for the second offense; and P200,000 as well as one year suspension of business permit for the third offense while House Bill 4840 provides fine of not exceeding for P100, 000 for first offense; a fine not exceeding to P250, 000 for second offense; a fine not exceeding P500,000 for the third offense; and a fine of not exceeding P750,000 for the fourth offense as well as automatic revocation of business permits.
LTO-8 exec: Road safety is everybody’s concern
GOV’T CENTER, PALO,Leyte-– “Road safety is everybody’s concern,” said Region 8 Land Transportation Office Chief of Operation Division Rebecca Obenieta.
This was her reaction when asked on what LTO is doing to address the problem on commuters riding in the roof on public utility vehicles, which is so common here in the region.
The reason, according to her , why some hitchhikers and commuters choose to ride on top of passenger vehicles are the lack of transport facilities in some areas and the value of drivers and commuters.
Hitchhiking is rampant not just in the region and in the entire country but including on third world countries, according to Obenieta.
In the region, hitchhikers are rampant especially on passenger vehicles (jeepneys) with route going to nearby towns and provinces from Tacloban City.
This problem, according to Obenieta, poses a danger to vehicle passenger.
“Some passengers tend to chose to stay on top the passenger vehicles, and if you will notice it, when the vehicle is still at the terminal you will see few passengers on it but once the vehicle is outside the terminal, you will see passenger climbing to the roof of the vehicle,” Obenieta said.
This,according to Obenieta, is a violation of the anti-overloading law in the countr,y which some vehicles drivers are violating.
She added that most instances , vehicle operators are the ones who suffer from these violations as citation and violation tickets are issued to them and not the driver of the vehicle, up to the point that their permit to operate is being cancelled because of a vehicular accident due to irresponsibility of the drivers.
Although there are implementers of the law, Obenieta stressed that it is not important as some road users (drivers and passengers) are not aware of the law.
“First we should educate them, but if they continue doing it then we should fine them,” she stressed.
To recal, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte had already called the attention of the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board through a resolution to look into the matter after some board member noticed vehicle passenger riding on the roof of passenger jeepneys that puts their lives in danger.
This was her reaction when asked on what LTO is doing to address the problem on commuters riding in the roof on public utility vehicles, which is so common here in the region.
The reason, according to her , why some hitchhikers and commuters choose to ride on top of passenger vehicles are the lack of transport facilities in some areas and the value of drivers and commuters.
Hitchhiking is rampant not just in the region and in the entire country but including on third world countries, according to Obenieta.
In the region, hitchhikers are rampant especially on passenger vehicles (jeepneys) with route going to nearby towns and provinces from Tacloban City.
This problem, according to Obenieta, poses a danger to vehicle passenger.
“Some passengers tend to chose to stay on top the passenger vehicles, and if you will notice it, when the vehicle is still at the terminal you will see few passengers on it but once the vehicle is outside the terminal, you will see passenger climbing to the roof of the vehicle,” Obenieta said.
This,according to Obenieta, is a violation of the anti-overloading law in the countr,y which some vehicles drivers are violating.
She added that most instances , vehicle operators are the ones who suffer from these violations as citation and violation tickets are issued to them and not the driver of the vehicle, up to the point that their permit to operate is being cancelled because of a vehicular accident due to irresponsibility of the drivers.
Although there are implementers of the law, Obenieta stressed that it is not important as some road users (drivers and passengers) are not aware of the law.
“First we should educate them, but if they continue doing it then we should fine them,” she stressed.
To recal, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte had already called the attention of the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board through a resolution to look into the matter after some board member noticed vehicle passenger riding on the roof of passenger jeepneys that puts their lives in danger.
Law enforcers, others urged to comply with helmet law
GOV’T CENTER, PALO,Leyte- People in uniform especially law enforcers to include government officials and employees must comply with the law mandating for the proper usage of helmet at all times.
Tanauan Mayor Agapito Pagayanan shows to the local media some illegal fishing paraphernalia seized by the Bantay Daga of his town. LITO ABALA BAGUNAS
This was the reactions of the members of the technical working group for the Road Traffic Injury Prevention composed of different national government line-agencies in the region.
In the press conference held at the regional office of the Department of Health,one of the questions centered on the observation that some men in uniform particularly law enforcers are roaming around the city of Tacloban without wearing helmet.
Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement and Control Office, for example, cited that in some operations they conduct in this city for the implementation of the local ordinance prescribing the use of helmet among road users, most of the violators they caught were law enforcers.
For their part,the Land Transportation Office, the Division chief for Operation Rebecca Obinieta stressed that law enforcers should not abuse their position.
“PNP personnel should not do this,” Obinieta stressed, adding that people in uniform should set as good example to ordinary citizen.
“Non-wearing of helmet corresponds with a huge penalty and much more if violators are working in the government, this might be heavier than the violation made by ordinary citizens who did not comply with the law,” Obinieta added.
She added as part of their effort to lessen riders who are not wearing helmets, they had deputized some TOMECO members who, aside from issuing citation tickets, are also auhtorized to confiscate drivers license.
On the part of Highway Patrol Group Director Police Senior Superintendent Romeo Campomanes, law enforcers in the region have no reason not to abide with the law as the national headquarters of the PNP is on the campaign to ensure that all law enforcers will abide with the law prescribing wearing of helmet.
Tanauan Mayor Agapito Pagayanan shows to the local media some illegal fishing paraphernalia seized by the Bantay Daga of his town. LITO ABALA BAGUNAS
This was the reactions of the members of the technical working group for the Road Traffic Injury Prevention composed of different national government line-agencies in the region.
In the press conference held at the regional office of the Department of Health,one of the questions centered on the observation that some men in uniform particularly law enforcers are roaming around the city of Tacloban without wearing helmet.
Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement and Control Office, for example, cited that in some operations they conduct in this city for the implementation of the local ordinance prescribing the use of helmet among road users, most of the violators they caught were law enforcers.
For their part,the Land Transportation Office, the Division chief for Operation Rebecca Obinieta stressed that law enforcers should not abuse their position.
“PNP personnel should not do this,” Obinieta stressed, adding that people in uniform should set as good example to ordinary citizen.
“Non-wearing of helmet corresponds with a huge penalty and much more if violators are working in the government, this might be heavier than the violation made by ordinary citizens who did not comply with the law,” Obinieta added.
She added as part of their effort to lessen riders who are not wearing helmets, they had deputized some TOMECO members who, aside from issuing citation tickets, are also auhtorized to confiscate drivers license.
On the part of Highway Patrol Group Director Police Senior Superintendent Romeo Campomanes, law enforcers in the region have no reason not to abide with the law as the national headquarters of the PNP is on the campaign to ensure that all law enforcers will abide with the law prescribing wearing of helmet.
‘We need to act professionally’ Councilor Yaokasin comments on walkout incident
TACLOBAN CITY – “We need to act professionally,” so said Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, this after an incident in the city council of Tacloban, were members of the majority bloc left the session hall when Environmental Management Bureau Solid Waste Management Coordinator Maribel Munsayac was about to present the technical aspect on the construction of a sanitary landfill for the city.
It was learned from Yaokasin that through the motion he made in last week’s regular session, the members of the city council unanimously pass a resolution asking the presence of the EMB to clarify on the technical aspects of constructing a sanitary landfill which explained the presence of Munsayac and some EMB personnel during their regular session last Wednesday.
Yaokasin said that he had been checking regularly the control dump site of the city located in Barangay Santo Niño.
The dump site, according to Yaokasin, poses danger to residents in the area including students who are studying at the newly- constructed school campus allocated by the city government just a few meters away from the dump site.
He added that in his last visit in the area, residents, including students and teachers, had already raised concern that the present condition of the dump site had been affecting their health.
“Sad to say that for some other reasons my colleagues were (become) busy when EMB are about to present,” said Yaokasin.
“They went here prepared hoping that the city council is now serious to tackle and listen to what they have prepared. I just hope that this will not happen again when we invite other agencies,” he added.
Yaokasin added that he hopes that members of the legislative body would act and show professionalism being elected officials of this city the next time they invite representative of other agencies to appear at the city council.
It was learned from Yaokasin that through the motion he made in last week’s regular session, the members of the city council unanimously pass a resolution asking the presence of the EMB to clarify on the technical aspects of constructing a sanitary landfill which explained the presence of Munsayac and some EMB personnel during their regular session last Wednesday.
Yaokasin said that he had been checking regularly the control dump site of the city located in Barangay Santo Niño.
The dump site, according to Yaokasin, poses danger to residents in the area including students who are studying at the newly- constructed school campus allocated by the city government just a few meters away from the dump site.
He added that in his last visit in the area, residents, including students and teachers, had already raised concern that the present condition of the dump site had been affecting their health.
“Sad to say that for some other reasons my colleagues were (become) busy when EMB are about to present,” said Yaokasin.
“They went here prepared hoping that the city council is now serious to tackle and listen to what they have prepared. I just hope that this will not happen again when we invite other agencies,” he added.
Yaokasin added that he hopes that members of the legislative body would act and show professionalism being elected officials of this city the next time they invite representative of other agencies to appear at the city council.
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