TWO DRUG DEALERS BUSTED IN ORMOC CITY

Tacloban City --- Anti-Drug elements of PDEA RO8 and Ormoc City Police Station- City Drug Enforcement Unitarrested two Drug Personalitiesduring a conduct of Buy-bust Operation at Brgy. Macabug, OrmocCityon April 10, 2017 at around 08:15PM.

In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 under Director Edgar T. Jubay and Ormoc CPS-CDEUidentifiedthe suspects as Elpidio Buya y Donayre, 44 y.o, male, single, Habal-Habal driver and resident of Brgy. Danhug, Ormoc City; and Luis Lacerna y Ymas Jr., 43 y.o.,male, married, Ormoc LGU employee (JO- Assigned with ORWASA), and resident of Brgy. Macabug, Ormoc City.

Purchased and confiscated from the suspectswere three (3) pcs. heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride also known as Shabu with a total estimated weight of  0.2gram with an estimated market value ofOne thousand sixhundred pesos (Php 1,600.00).

Buya and Lacerna will be charged for violations ofSection 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165

The suspectsarenow temporarily detained at Ormoc City Police Station Lock-Up Facility while waiting for their confinement order. (PDEA-8)

TRICYCLE DRIVER DETAINED FOR SHABU SALE

Tacloban City --- Anti-Drug elements of PDEA RO8 and Calbayog City Police Station- City Drug Enforcement Unitarrested another Drug Personality during a conduct of Buy-bust Operation at Brgy. Obrero, Calbayog City, Samaron April 10, 2017 at around 03:30PM.

           In a report submitted to PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña, elements of PDEA Regional Office 8 under Director Edgar T. Jubay and Calbayog CPS-CDEUidentifiedthe suspect as Joey Santiago y Monteno, 29 y.o, male, with live-in partner, tricycle driver and resident of Purok 3, Barangay Carmen, Calbayog City.

Purchased from the suspectwere one (1) pc. heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride also known as Shabu with a total estimated weight of  0.05gram with an estimated market value ofFive hundred pesos (Php 500.00).

          Santiago will be charged for violations ofSection 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of RA 9165

The suspectisnow temporarily detained at Calbayog City Police Station Lock-Up Facility while waiting for hisconfinement order. (PDEA-8)

East Asia Pacific Economic Update, April 2017: Sustaining Resilience

Key findings
 

• The outlook for developing East Asia is expected to remain broadly positive in the next three years, with growth driven by robust domestic demand and a gradual recovery in the global economy and commodity prices.
• China’s economy will grow 6.5 percent in 2017 and 6.3 percent in 2018, compared with 6.7 percent in 2016, as the government rebalances toward consumption and services.
• In the rest of the region, including the large economies in Southeast Asia, growth is expected to pick up slightly to 5 percent in 2017 and 5.1 percent in 2018, up from 4.9 percent in 2016.  
• As a whole, the economies of developing East Asia and Pacific are projected to expand at 6.2 percent in 2017 and 6.1 percent in 2018.
• Poverty in the region is likely to continue to fall, driven by sustained growth and rising labor incomes.
• The global environment and domestic vulnerabilities still pose risks to the region’s prospects.These include: faster-than-expected interest rate hikes in the U.S.; protectionist sentiments in some advanced economies; and rapid credit expansion and high levels of debt in several East Asian countries.
• To address these risks, the report recommends that policy makers continue to focus on prudent macroeconomic management and ensuring sustainable fiscal balances in the medium term.
• Growth in the region will continue to be driven by strong domestic demand, including public, and increasingly private, investment. This trend will also be supported by gradually rising demand for exports, as emerging markets and developing economies recover.
• The slow pace of recovery in commodity prices will benefit commodity exporters in the region, but won’t unduly hurt the economies of commodity importers in East Asia.
• In China, growth will continue to moderate, reflecting the impact of the government’s measures to reduce excess capacity and credit expansion. As a result, the report expects activity in the real estate sector to slow down.
• In the short term, policy makers should prioritize measures that counteract global risks threatening the availability and cost of external finance, as well as export growth.
• Across the region’s large economies, increasing fiscal revenues can help governments finance programs that boost growth and foster inclusion while reducing risks to fiscal sustainability.
• Some smaller commodity-exporting economies will need to take steps to increase their fiscal solvency.
• In China, the government can sustain its efforts to reduce corporate debt and restructure state-owned enterprises, tighten the regulation of shadow banking and address rising household mortgage debt. Reforms to reduce excess industrial capacity could be complemented with improved social transfers and labor policies.
•  With credit growth remaining high across much of the region, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Lao PDR, the report suggests an emphasis on strengthening regulation and enhancing supervision.
• The longer-term challenge for the region lies in sustaining rapid growth while ensuring greater inclusion. Governments can address these challenges by increasing productivity and investment, which have slowed recently in several economies, as well as by improving the quality of public spending. 
• In the face of rising protectionism outside the region, East Asia can seize opportunities to advance regional integration, including by deepening ongoing initiatives, lowering barriers to labor mobility and expanding cross-border flows of goods and services within the ASEAN Economic Community.
• Policy makers can put future economic prospects on a more sustainable path if they take steps to reduce pollution caused by farming, a rising threat amid the intensification of agriculture in the region.

NPA Attacks CAFGU Detachment, Wounding 4 Civilians

 

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – On March 30, 2017, a day after the 48^th NPA Founding Anniversary, a series of attacks was perpetrated by communist terrorists in different military detachments as part of their offensive operation against government forces. Among these is the NPA attack on the Geparayan CAA Detachment located at Brgy. Geparayan, Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar.

More or less 150 NPAs attacked the detachment which is surrounded by the community of the Brgy. Geparayan which resulted to the casualty of four civilians, namely, Genalyn C. Tulin, 31 y/o; Jocelyn Tulin, 12 y/o; Danica Tulin, 10 y/o and Ruby Jane Tulin, 2 y/o, burning of the detachment, and the loss of one (1) M60; one (1) R4A3; four (4) carbine rifles; five (5) garand rifles and one (1) Harris handheld radio.

The atrocity proved once again that the NPA is no longer concern for the well-being of civilians who are considered non-combatants and a clear manifestation that the communist terrorists do not abide to the Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law and Rule of Law.

To achieve lasting peace and development, your Army in Eastern Visayas is calling the stakeholders and the general public to support the government forces in fighting these communist terrorists. Everyone is highly encouraged to report to any nearest military units any NPA sightings in their area. Despite this unfortunate incident, rest assured that the 8ID will continuously conduct massive combat operation to deter the evil plans of the NPA and other lawless elements against our peace-loving people in Eastern Visayas. (8th ID-DPAO)

NMP QMS to Undergo Surveillance and Certification Audits in 2017

Tacloban City --- The National Maritime Polytechnic Quality Management System (NMP QMS) will undergo surveillance and certificationaudits under ISO 9001:2008andISO 9001:2015, respectively, this year.

As an agency that commits to continuous enhancement of seafarers, maintaining ISO Certification of its QMS confirmsthe agency’s relevance in carrying out its mandate of upgrading the qualifications of Filipino seafarers and providing responsive maritime industry researches.

With the Surveillance Audit under ISO 9001:2008 set on25-26 May2017, the NMPremainsdedicated in the further improvement of system processes and procedures.

Internal quality audits are conducted year-round in all levels of the organization to ensure that actual processes follow the established procedures.

Challenges in the accomplishment of agency plans, programs and activities are being addressed in the quarterly management review meetings and monthly quality time meetings.

Review and revisionof quality procedures are conducted to ensure its relevance and that these are carried out in accordance with agency and GOP policies and regulations.

More importantly, to keep NMP abreast with the evolving quality standards and other industry requirements, preparations are underway towards the transition of its existing standardtoISO 9001:2015.

Accordingly, revisions on the Quality Policy Manual adopting the new standard was approved by the NMP Board of Trustees during its meeting on 27 March 2017 held at the Office of the Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment, Intramuros, Manila.

Review and modifications on the Quality Proceduresare being undertaken that involve its re-alignment to the requirements of the 2015 standard, conduct of internal quality audits, submission of documents for Stage 1 Audit by the Certifying Body, and Stage 2 Audit that entails on-site visit by the Certifying Body within the last quarter of the year.

The changes introduced in the 2015 revision of the standard are intended to ensure that organizations continue to adapt to the changing environments in which they operate. Some of the key updates in ISO 9001:2015 include the introduction of new terminology, restructuring some of the information, an emphasis on risk-based thinking to enhance the application of the process approach, improved applicability for services, and increased leadership requirements. A three-year transition period (September 2015-September 2018) is given to organizations certified under the 2008 version to move to the new edition of the standard. (PR)

DAR installs 84 beneficiaries

SAN MIGUEL, LEYTE – After over 20 years of waiting the 84 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) here were finally installed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to their awarded lots within the Leyte Sab-a Basin Development Authority.

          In 1991, DAR handed a collective certificate of landownership award (CLOA) numbered OC-4, covering Lot 1578 in Barangay Capilihan to the beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) but failed to install them due to harassment by other farmers in the area.

          Leyte Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Renato Badilla who issued the writ of installation disclosed during the ceremonial installation that the area measures 207 hectares.

          In September last year, DAR conducted the subdivision survey and revalidation of ARBs to check if those mentioned in the CLOA are still around.

          Remegia Labaclado, one of the ARBs installed, wished in her message that the individual CLOAs be released to them soon.

          She also said that they will immediately till the land and make it productive after having been deprived for two decades.

          Meanwhile, Regional Director Sheila Enciso directed DAR’s Program Beneficiaries

Development Division to discuss with the ARBs appropriate projects that would help increase the farmer’s production and income and submit immediately the project proposals to the central office for funding.

          Meanwhile, Badilla likewise acknowledged the partnership that has been established between DAR and the Rights, the non-government organization assisting these farmers, which resulted to their installation.  (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)

Legarda on Peace Talks: NDF Agenda is Within Reach

Senator Loren Legarda today expressed optimism that the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) would finally come up with a peace accord that is agreeable to both parties and beneficial to the Filipino people.

Legarda said that many of the NDFP’s proposals can already be addressed through existing laws and government programs.

The Chair of the Senate Committees on Finance and Climate Change said that the 2017 national budget, and even the 2016 national budget, includes programs and provisions aimed towards rural industrialization and development as well as environmental protection, which form part of the NDFP’s social reform agenda.

“I welcome the agreements made during the fourth round of peace talks under the current administration. I am optimistic that the matters discussed and those in the NDFP’s social reform agenda would already be addressed as many of these are covered by current laws and funded in the national budget,” said Legarda.

“I commit to work on a national budget for 2018 that would support and advance the gains of the peace process. That is the least Congress can do,” she added.

The 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has funding for rural industrialization and development. Under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Program (AFMP), Php3.9 billion is for the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in support of the programs and projects of the AFMP.

Other items in the budget on rural development include the Php2 billion irrigation service fee subsidy and Php1 billion under the Small Business Corporation subsidy for microenterprises.

The 2017 GAA also includes a provision mandating the Department of Agriculture (DA) to increase the resilience of agricultural communities through the implementation of disaster-resilient agricultural infrastructure projects and the distribution and development of seeds, which are optimally adaptive to present and to future climate conditions; while the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall provide support to all Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) for them to be attuned to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The DAR shall also capacitate the ARCs in renewable energy and energy efficiency, ecological solid waste management (ESWM), and sustainable land use such organic farming approaches and the use of water catchments.

Legarda said that the Agri Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009, which she co-authored, requires all banking institutions to set aside 25% of their total loanable funds to agriculture and fisheries credit.

Moreover, post-harvest facilities, irrigation, and farm-to-market roads are funded annually by the National Government through the DA.

On the issue of environmental protection, Legarda said that the country has laws in place protecting our natural resources and ensuring the integrity of our ecosystems. She cited the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Environmental Awareness and Education Act, Renewable Energy Act, Climate Change Act and the People’s Survival Fund Law, and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.

She said that the 2017 GAA funds the implementation of these laws and contains various provisions also aimed at biodiversity protection.

“All government agencies are mandated to ensure that the protection of biological diversity is integrated in their development programs and projects. We also sought the support of state universities and colleges (SUCs) through area management and mapping and inventory of biodiversity. SUCs shall ensure the protection and enhancement of protected areas located within the vicinity of their campuses, while the DENR should involve SUCs in the National Greening Program through the establishment of clonal nurseries and conduct of forest research,” Legarda explained.

Moreover, local government units (LGUs) are primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of environmental laws within their respective jurisdiction.

“Many of the items in NDFP’s social reform agenda can already be addressed through existing laws and programs. We also have several proposed measures in the Senate that would support these programs. I am optimistic that with the sincere efforts of both parties to pursue just and lasting peace, we will see the creation and eventual implementation of a peace agreement between the government and the NDFP,” Legarda concluded. (PR)

NPA Threats Led to Massive Evacuation in Calbiga

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – About 549 household from the barangays of Cambagtic, Bulao, San Mauricio, Guimbanga, Minata, Sinalangtan, Caamlungan, Binangaran, Daligan and Buluan all of Calbiga, Samar fled their respective communities to seek shelter to the town gymnasium from April 4 – 7, 2017.

One of the Barangay Chairmen from upper barangay claimed that residents were forced to evacuate on the grounds of threat from communist terrorists that they will conduct an attack against the 87^th IB troops at the said area and they were ordered purportedly by the New People's Army to troop down to avoid being caught in a possible crossfire with government troops.  The passing of the villagers of Canbagtic to other barangays spread like wildfire of the above mentioned rumors which the residents panicked and also evacuated, triggering a mass exodus to the town gymnasium.

       Combined efforts of 87^th IB, Municipal Police Station (MPS), Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) and Local Government Unit (LGU) reached at a dialogue with the evacuees to solve the current situation represented by their respective Barangay Chairmen, agreed to convince the residents to return to their community.

Local DSWD distributed relief goods to the evacuees and the LGU of Calbiga provided trucks for transportation back to their respective barangays. Most of the evacuees returned to their communities but some refused and opted to stay at the covered court as of press time.

       Your Army in Eastern Visayas is deploying community peace and developments teams which are encouraging community based initiatives defined by the local communities, with local government units coordinating efforts against insurgency, geared towards presenting long-term solutions while at the same time addressing the immediate needs of the local community. (8th ID-DPAO)

DILG to LGUs: Ensure peaceful, safe Holy Week

Despite the decreasing trend of petty crimes as a result of the national government’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) still urges all local chief executives to ensure peaceful commemoration and safety of their constituents and guests this Holy Week.

DILG Officer-in-Charge Catalino S. Cuy said that local government units (LGUs) should work closely with the concerned local traffic enforcers, barangay tanods, law enforcers, or public safety officers in places of public convergence such as churches, transport terminals, plazas, and malls to ensure the safe observance of this yearly commemoration.

“People usually flock to churches and other religious destinations during the Holy Week but there are also those who would like to relax and enjoy the long weekend,” Cuy said. “Whatever their choice may be, let us ensure that crowded places and other places of interests remain crime-free, safe, and clean.”

The DILG OIC also emphasized that medical assistance booths should be set-up to assist people who might faint or get dizzy amid the excruciating heat.

He added that segregated trash bins should be placed in strategic locations to keep the public places litter-free and clean.

Cuy also advised the Philippine National Police (PNP) to deploy their staff and ensure police visibility, checkpoints, and mobile patrols to prevent the occurrence of crimes and other threats to public order and safety.

“Be on guard for pickpockets who easily prey on unsuspecting victims amid the huge crowd,” he said. “Be alert also for those akyat-bahay criminals who barge into empty houses and rob whatever worthy materials they could find.”

Cuy also assured the public that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is always ready to respond to fire incidents and other accidents that may happen during the Holy Week.

He also called the public to make sure that all electrical appliances are unplugged and  gas tanks are turned off before leaving their homes or heading off to their vacation destinations.

“Let us maintain the solemnity of the Holy Week and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus for all humanity. At the same time, let us ensure that the long holiday break this Lenten season will be crime-free, safe, and stress-free” Cuy said. (DILG)