Boarded on rented
vans, Cabral and Panganiban risked the 10-kilometer bumpy drive to
barangay Cag-olango, an upstream barangay of historic Balangiga town.
However, the caravan
of about 15 vans, was worth the effort and energy of top government
officials as they discovered for themselves how the government
investment as in KALAHI-CIDSS have impacted in the lives of poor
people.
The word “Cag-olango”
from which was derived the name of barangay Cag-olango is a name of a
firewood which abounds their river, barangay secretary Imelda Naputo
shared. It was aplenty that they would block the normal flow of the
river until it swells so often; nonetheless, it was somehow beneficial
because they did not have to go deep into the forest to gather
firewood, she added.
Naputo believes, God
endowed them with their river because it turned out to be their source
of living; from food to firewood, to water for drinking, for laundry,
for bathing and later on to relieve their heavy stomachs every
morning. Simply put, it became not only their source of drinking water
but also their big wide toilet. But it also built a health problem
because oftentimes diarrhea occured among the children and adults as
well.
Comes now the
KALAHI-CIDSS project of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
Tessie Ilacion,
Chairman of Barangay Sub-Project Management Committee (BSMPC) proudly
informed PIA that they now have level-2 water system with 12 communals,
drainage canals and all 60 households have their own toilets.
“Waray na nagkakasakit
hit am kabataan, kay mayda namon malinis nga irinmon nga tubig ngan
mayda na namon mga toilet nga ginagamit”, Ilacion testified. (Nobody
now among our children gets sick because we already have a safe
drinking water and also we have toilets to use). “Thanks to DSWD,
thanks to the KALAHI-CIDSS and Makamasang Tugon”, she concluded.
For her part,
Secretary Cabral as short a speaker that she is, expressed likewise
her thanks for the people for their active participation and
involvement for the project to get through.
“Despite the
meticulous process, I know you did your part so that the series of
fund releases were still delivered and this important projects for you
were achieved, congratulations!”, Cabral said with all smiles of
content for a successful project implementation.
Search for oldest
living veteran in region 8 to be given recognition during 65th Leyte
Landing Anniversary
By JONNIE H. BUENAVENTURA (PIA 8)
August
3, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – In
response to the call of Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla to
convene the different technical working group to discuss the programs
and activities and prepare a budget for the incoming 65th Leyte
Landing Anniversary come October 20, 2009.
The Committee
Chairperson had heed to the call of the governor and met the different
technical working group on Thursday to discuss programs and activities
that would be highlighted during the 65th Leyte Landing Celebration.
It was agreed by the
body that a search for the oldest living veteran in region 8 should be
given preferential attention due to the dwindling number of veterans
because of old age.
According to Antonio
“Toto” Cinco, Jr., Chairman Technical Working Group, Provincial
Tourism Council, the Leyte Landing Celebration is intended to the war
veterans who participated together with the allied forces in the World
War II (WWII) which plays a vital role in defeating the enemy against
invasion perpetrated by the Japanese forces 65 years ago.
It is of common
knowledge to all that living heroes in the WWII is the main reason why
the celebration is still important and we should give it to them
specially the living veterans, said Cinco.
Cinco said that the
oldest living veteran in Region 8 will be chosen based on the records
of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) and Philippine
Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) who served during the WWII in Region 8
and is an inhabitant of such area and who served during WWII but of
roots from Leyte.
The chosen old living
veteran in Region 8 will be given commemorative recognition during the
65th Leyte Landing Anniversary in October 20, 2009 at Mac Arthur Park,
he said.
According to Vincent
L. Emnas, Provincial Administrator, Province of Leyte this 65th Leyte
Landing Anniversary is different from the previous celebration because
the Fiesta Leyteña which honors the delegates of foreign embassies and
visitors will be termed Fiesta Leyteña and Samar as suggested by
Director Sol F. Matugas of the Department of Education during the
recent meeting and will honors the living veterans and their surviving
spouse and families to let them feel that the celebration is intended
for them for the valor and bravery they initiated which results to the
liberation of the entire archipelago against invasion by foreign
forces.
We should remember in
every bricks, walls, tablets and in the history that Leyte Landing
Celebration is celebrated because we won form foreign invasion thru
the help of allied forces 65 years ago.
PHO confirms 4
positive cases of A(H1N1) in Southern Leyte
By REBECCA G. CADAVOS (PIA Southern
Leyte)
August 2, 2009
MAASIN CITY, Southern
Leyte – Provincial Health Officer Joselito Trumata of the
Salvacio Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) confirmed
four positive cases of A(H1N1) flu in the province, in an interview
live over radio station DYDM, Wednesday, July 29.
Trumata said that the
three positive cases were found out to be in San Roque Elementary
School at Liloan town while the other one was in Hinunangan. “Though,
the infected individuals are now contained. The one from Hinunangan
can now go back to work, and the three pupils from Liloan are being
treated,” Trumata disclosed in his report during the “Pamahaw Balita”
interview portion.
In the case of San
Roque Elementary School, a kilometer away from Liloan proper, they
directed the school officials to suspend classes on Wednesday and gave
vitamin C to the pupils for protection. A team of health personnel is
scheduled to clean the surroundings of the school through spraying to
assure that the virus will not spread out.
“Actually H1N1 can be
treated, unless complications come in, such as heart failure, kidney
failure or if the infected has other illnesses,” Traumata said. The
reported cases her in Southern Leyte are still manageable since the
affected school-children had no other complications, the doctor added.
Health personnel
throughout the province are ready to determine the H1N1 virus, Trumata
revealed. They had sent health personnel at the Eastern Visayas
Regional Medical Center to train how to get a specimen of a suspected
case, he informed.
They have already
conducted random sampling throughout the province last Monday, July
27, particularly in schools and there’s no reported cases yet in other
municipalities and in the City of Maasin, Trumata noted.
In Southern Leyte
patients complaining to have coughs and colds with fever, which is one
of the symptoms of the virus was reported to be almost 200 cases since
last month but as of this writing the problem went down to 30 cases,
Traumata further reported.
Slain journalist in N.
Samar still unsolved; assassins still scot-free
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
August
2, 2009
CATARMAN N. Samar –
A top official of the local press group here said that police
investigators here is still “empty-handed” of a possible lead that
will resolve to the killing of a broadcaster here and the perpetrators
are still off the hook.
Elad Perfecto,
president of the Union of Northern Samar Journalist (UNSJ) and
vice-president of the Samar Island Press Club (SIPC) revealed this sad
fact before his audiences that composed mostly campus journalists from
the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) in a press forum held the
other week.
Perfecto is referring
to Leo Mila, 35, a hard-hitting broadcaster of Radyo Natin who was
“silenced” and shot to death last December 2, 2008 in front of his
station in Brgy. Poblacion, San Roque town,
Northern Samar.
The murder of Mila is
the seventh journalist killed in the Philippines as of December 2008,
and the number 62 of slain journalists under President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo’s watch.
“We feel disappointed
that none of our government authorities seems to give us good news as
to the case of our fallen comrades who were killed in the line of
duty,” Perfecto stressed.
Perfecto further said
that his fellow workers in the media industry also felt the same way
as he was. “Given the fact that, despite of very low income, we are
still working very hard to keep the public inform and more
knowledgeable on the current happenings in the present administration,
we are still being deprived of justice,” he added.
Rev. Fr. Eleno Delizon,
chairperson of the Social Action Commission of the Diocese of Catarman,
who was with him during an interview, also told this writer that
“(these killing of journalists) should not be taken lightly; every
person working in the media should take extra precautions to avoid
these incidents.”
While showing his
sympathy to the flight of the media sector, the priest advised the
media practitioners not to take “standard” or “habitual” routes on
their way home as this will make the assassin easy to follow.
Fr. Delizon advised
the group of Perfecto to ask the government or request an
“inter-agency coordination” to fasten the investigations of the
unsolved case.
Publishers Association
of the Philippines Inc., President Johnny “Juan” P. Dayang, who was
the guest speaker of the 1st Provincial Media Conference here said,
“The media plays a vital and pivotal partner of our government in
achieving the country’s development agenda, therefore the government
should protect us at any cost.”
Meantime, in the said
press forum, there were no police officers present to give their sides
of the status of the case. Military officials in the forum did not
commented on the issue.
On the other hand,
the campus journalists who were a bit surprised of the sudden deaths
happenings in the members of the Fourth State just ignored the
possible threats they will be facing once they will become a full
pledge media practitioners and ended the forum with commitment to
continue the struggle of the Philippine free press.
Calbayog mayor
partners with PNP and army for security
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
August 1, 2009
CALBAYOG CITY, Samar
– Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento met with the so called Security
Cluster Tuesday for the update on the investigations being made by the
PNP on the reported shooting incidents in Calbayog City.
Also discussed was the
coordination to be made between the
PNP and the Philippine Army and their respective tasks to
maintain peace and order in the city.
As reported earlier,
the police troops from the Police Regional Mobile Group (PRMG) will be
conducting checkpoints in Calbayog.
The Philippine Army
through the 34th Infantry Battalion (34th IB) will conduct propelactic
patrols in some barangays in Calbayog District particularly in the
Upper and Lower Happy Valley areas, while the 20th IB will go on with
its operations in the Tinambacan and Oquendo Districts.
As per report made by
Calbayog PNP Chief PSupt Lito Bigoy, (as of
July 22, 2009) the number of shooting incidents reported was at 27; and
most of these incidents are results of personal grudges.
As of the meeting on
Tuesday, nine cases have been filed in court; one case was reportedly
settled amicably, another case found one suspect dead, 12 cases are
being investigated while four cases are due for filing.
In an earlier
interview dated
July 14, 2009 Samar Provincial Director PSSupt Pancho Hubilla said that
Samar is ‘very
peaceful’. Although the PNP chief admitted he was concerned with the
killings in
Calbayog
City
and other areas in the first district.
Two days after the
interview, Matuginao Mayor Carlos dela Cruz was gunned down and killed
by unidentified assailants in his very home in Catbalogan. Matuginao
is a municipality that belonged to the first district.
Dela Cruz, along with
a cousin named Joel Adel were gunned down in the mayor’s house in
Catbalogan, Adel however survived but could not identify the
assassins. Police are now pursuing all angles in this killing and have
identified a suspect based on witnesses accounts, the suspect though
remains elusive.
Hubilla meanwhile said
his PNP force is addressing the problem. In addition, new batch of
SWAT graduates have been deployed to problematic areas in Samar.
Peace and order is a
high priority of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In her final SONA delivered on July 27, PGMA mentioned her concern for
security and peace and order. “High on our agenda will be peace and
security issues. Terrorism: how to meet it, how to end it, how to
address its roots in injustice or prejudice – and first and always how
to protect lives”, PGMA cited.
She urged congress to:
fund more policemen on the streets.
(with Ron Ricafort)
San Ricardo PNP
rescues capsized RORO passenger off Panaon Island in South Leyte
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
30, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
members of the San Ricardo Philippine National Police together with
the Philippine Coast Guard and the San Ricardo Emergency Rescue Team
successfully rescued all the passengers and crew of the MV Ocean King
2 which accidentally capsized noontime of Tuesday, July 28, off the
coastal waters of San Ricardo, Southern Leyte at the southern tip of
Panaon Island.
A report coming from
the PNP Region 8 office stated that all the 121 passengers consisting
of 119 adults, two children and crew, are all safe. Although all of
the rescued were wet, no body was reported injured, the PRO 8 report
stated.
PSSupt Manuel E.
Cubillo, Police Regional Office 8 spokesperson, said that the vessel
tipped heavily 45 degree to the right side due to big waves which
struck it, as a result of a low pressure area on July 28.
MV Ocean King 2 which
has a gross tonnage of 112.01, loaded with 13 rolling cargoes and
estimated to have 25 crew members including the vessel captain Zaldy
Anggot, was able to reach Benit Port in San Ricardo before it
grounded.
It was good that the
ship's captain managed to maneuver towards the shore as the boat
slowly submerged due to huge and strong waves, the same report said.
The San Ricardo
Police, together with the Southern Leyte Coast Guard are now currently
exploring the possibilities for what happened to the vessel. A formal
investigation is also being conducted in order to determine the
accountability as to damage to property.
Meanwhile, Police
Chief Superintendent Mario R. Sandiego, immediately gave a directive
for the investigation of the case for possible violation of vessel
safety rules and regulations. (with report from Rochelle Febria, PNP)
Church leaders to
‘fight’ all attempts to change Constitution by force
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
July
30, 2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar –
Church leaders coming from this country’s third largest island have
renewed its vow to “fight till the end” the regime’s repeated attempts
to change the Constitution “by force”.
Saying that it is “a
trap that will necessitate Martial Law again,” the 11th Samar Island
Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) together with the
Catholic bishops of three provinces of this island has issued again a
strong and unified stand to oppose the plan of the government to
change the Philippine Constitution.
The “no to con-ass”
papers, some of which, distributed by the church groups during the 1st
Provincial Media Conference held in UEP Campus last July 20 stated
that around 128 participants from the church, government, academe and
civil society strongly oppose the recent move of the Congressmen to
“railroad constitutional reform through constitutional assembly
(Con-Ass).
“The social teachings
of the Church directly remind those with political responsibilities
that they must not forget the moral dimension of political
representation. This consists in the commitment to seek the common
good and not just the advantage of some persons,” the paper dated June
18, 2009 stated.
In an interview, Rev.
Fr. Eleno Delizon, chairperson of the Social Actions Commission (SAC)
for the Diocese of Catarman said that “charter change is a real threat
especially to the forthcoming 2010 elections.”
Fr. Delizon said,
quoting the 1997 CBCP statement on Cha-cha “let it be done with
widespread participation and unity of vision, with total transparency
and serenity, with reasons unarguably directed to the common good
rather than to the self-serving interests of politicians.”
Fr. Delizon and his
co-signatories of the “peace protest” namely Borongan bishop Most Rev.
Crispin Varquez, Calbayog bishop Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, Catarman
bishop Most Rev. Emmanuel Trance, Borongan SAC chairperson Ian
Mosquiza and Calbayog SAC chair Fr. Cesar Aculan called other
religious, civic and political leaders and the people to be vigilant
in protecting the nation from abuse of power.
“Let us heed the call
of the President of the CBCP to express our objection in a peaceful
non-violent way in order that we may not fall into a trap that will
necessitate Martial Law again. Learn the lesson from the past,” the
church leaders said in their signed statement.
Gov. Petilla appeals
vs power hike to retain big Leyte industries, locators
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 30, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – The
provincial government of Leyte together with two of the province
biggest business locators recently made a personal appeal to the
Energy Regulatory Commission to altogether deny the petition made by
the National Power Corporation (NPC) and Power Sector Assets and
Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) to increase by a total of
P1.1460 per kWh the power rate for the Visayas Grid.
The ERC, to recall,
granted provisional authority to NPC and PSALM earlier this year,
modifying the provisional increase from PhP1.1460 per kWh to P0.8376
per kWh for the Visayas Grid.
Leyte Governor Carlos
Jericho Petilla said a full increase as petitioned by Napocor and
PSALM may spell a big problem for big companies operating in
Leyte with the grimmer picture lying ahead that of companies
closing and thousand of employees being displaced.
The governor, together
with officials from Philippine Associated Smelting & Refining
Corporation (PASAR) and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation (PhilPhos)
as well as representatives from the local government unit of Isabel,
Leyte, personally appeared before ERC Chairman Zenaida Cruz Ducut to
appeal, among others, that Leyte consumers at least be given a
preferential rate in the proposed hike.
“We noted to the ERC
chair that Leyte be given a bit of favor since the power comes from
Leyte,” Gov.
Petilla said.
All five geothermal
power plants in barangay Tongonan in
Kananga,
Leyte, is the main source of electricity for the Visayas grid. The
Tongonan-generated electricity is sold to power companies and
cooperatives in the three Visayan regions and to Luzon.
The governor also
contended by jacking up the power rates would burden these industries
more even as they are already reeling from the collapse of overseas
markets.
“Power hike would
overly burden households and industries at this extremely harsh time,”
the governor said.
“We have to remember
that these companies (PASAR & PhilPhos) are competing globally and
burdening them more in their local operations may force them to lay
off some of its employees, or worse close altogether and displace
hundreds of workers. That’s what we fear and that’s what we cannot
allow to happen,” Gov. Petilla added.
Reportedly, the power
increase petitioned by Napocor with the ERC would balloon the power
bill to at least P45 million a month for PASAR alone. PhilPhos and
other big companies here in Leyte would be having the same plight too,
the governor said.
“Magmahal ngani dinhi
bangin mangagsara ito hira and I’m afraid ano it mahitabo hit aton mga
trabahante,” Gov. Petilla lamented.
These two big
companies, located at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE)
in Isabel, Leyte, are employing at least 2,000 workers from all over
Leyte and nearby regions.
So far, Gov.
Petilla disclosed the commission through ERC Chair Ducut appears to be
sympathetic on this issue and that it would take into consideration
the points on the appeal they made while adding it would really impact
much on the economic capacity of the province and its existing
business locators.
Samar political pot
now starts boiling
By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
July
29, 2009
CATBALOGAN, Samar
–
With government offices and coffee shops clients talking about who is
running for what positions and against whom, no doubts the political
pot in this province, like in Manila, started to boil.
And shortly after the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced the deadline of filing for
Certificate of Candidacy on November 30 this year, national and local
political players has also publicly announced their interests to
clutch their targeted major and minor posts, at the same time, set up
their machineries and source of logistics.
And of course, the
“vote-buying,” mudslinging and character assassinations will be some
of the usual route of most politicians this year.
In a phone-patch
interview over Radyo ng Bayan Calbayog last Thursday, former San Jorge
mayor Joseph V. Grey, who ran for congressman but lost against veteran
Cong. Reynaldo Uy of the 1st district has announced to throw his hat
again come 2010 synchronized elections.
Grey said he is
thinking of three options in joining again the political race in Samar,
“either to run for Governor, Vice-Governor or even for Congressman in
the first district.”
“This (plan of mine)
is not yet definite as this will depend to the party decisions… If
(Mila) Tan and (Rudy) Tuazon will get me as their partymate, I will
decide what position I will run depending on their suggestions,” Grey
said.
It was learned that
Grey has just received a membership application for Nacionalista Party
(NP) sent to him by former Congressman Rodolfo “Rudy” Tuazon. To date,
Grey is running under the banner of Sec. Norberto Gonzales’ PDSP and
Kampi.
A political analyst, a
university professor, who asked not to be named, shared to this writer
his analysis of the possible political rivalries in the two districts
of this province.
If Grey will run as
Samar Governor, he will face a tough fight for blocking the political
ambition of Vice-Governor Jesus B. Redaja and 2nd district
Congresswoman Sharre Ann Tan who apparently showed interest to grab
the post of her mother who is now in her third term.
For Vice-Governorship
post, Provincial Board Members Nancy Rosales (1st district) will fight
against Tommy Bolastig (2nd district) and possibly Grey if he decided
to join the game.
For Congressman in the
1st district, it will be Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Ex.
Cong. Tuazon and possible Grey, while in the 2nd district, Governor
Milagrosa Tan and the come-backing Ex. Cong. Catalino V. Figueroa.
Both Sarmiento and Tan are in their last term in their current posts.
For mayoralty posts,
third-termed Congressman Reynaldo S. Uy (Liberal Party) will run for
Calbayog City and possibly against the son of Governor Mila Tan,
Jimboy. While in Catbalogan, it is SB member Jay Yulo against
reelectionist Mayor Coefredo “Tekwa” Uy.
“Let me clarify that
this scenario is not 100% sure, we cannot just yet predict who really
run and against whom as these political players played strategically.
I mean, anybody can divert plans in favor of their interests or for
the interest of their party affiliations,” the political analyst
disclosed.
Malobago village
receives newly built river landing, Evardone pledge more support
By BRYAN M. AZURA
July
29, 2009
MAYDOLONG, Eastern
Samar – The entire
village of
Malobago
was in elation as the villagers accepted the P170,000 newly built
river landing from Governor Ben P. Evardone recently during the
turn-over rites of the said project and switch-on ceremonies held in
this upstream barangay of this town.
Barangay Captain
Ernesto Bajado, in a message, said that the new river landing will
bring relief to his people as the barangay can only be reached by boat
through the Suribao River. The village is an hour travel by boat from
Brgy. Camada, also of this town.
The project,
facilitated by Provincial Planning and Development Officer Henry
Afabne and funded by the provincial government, was tagged at P200,000
but its actual implementation cost reached only P170,000. The barangay
chief said they are able to implement other project with the remaining
amount.
The village chief also
expressed appreciation to Gov. Evardone for facilitating the
electrification project in their barangay. “We never thought that in
our lifetime, we will experience the benefit of electricity,” Bajado
noted.
Governor Evardone, for
his part, said that he admits the difficulty of mobilizing resources
for Malobago’s electrification project as the Department of Energy
already declared the area ‘energized’ due to the solar powers
installed in the village. “I personally have to convince the people at
DOE that this barangay is still without electricity and should be
erased in the energized barangays,” Evardone revealed.
As of press time,
almost 90 percent of 597 barangays of the province is already with
electricity. “We are working doubly hard for the rest to be connected
with electricity,” the governor expressed.
Meanwhile, Evardone
said that the P20,000 provincial aid for the barangay is already up
for release. “It’s prepared already and should be turned over any time
soon,” the governor said. “I’m happy that your village chief chose
comfort rooms as the barangay’s priority project,” he continued.
According to the data sourced from Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS),
almost 90 percent of the homes in the area do not have CRs. The
provincial aid, as a matter of policy, will only be released to
barangays with projects based on CBMS.
Sangguniang
Panlalawigan Members Enerio Sabulao, Jovi Opinion and Generoso Yu
pledged to add P5,000 each on top of provincial aid for the
implementation of barangay’s priority project.
In his message, Mayor
Daniel Baldono said that he still has remaining funds of P300,000 for
Malobago. Initially, he is thinking of using the fund to open an
access road from Brgy. Guindalitan to the village. “We have our own
heavy equipment and we can start the project anytime upon the signal
of the barangay officials,” he said.
A(H1N1) cases in
Region 8 continue to rise
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
28, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – Department of Health Region 8 Director Edgardo Gonzaga informed
that as of July 24, 2009, the total number of A(H1N1) cases under
observation is 411; the confirmed positive cases counts 196 while the
negative cases numbers 154 and the result of about 50 cases is still
pending.
Director Gonzaga said
that there are already 27 schools in Region 8 with positive cases of
A(H1N1) with the number of cases tested positive totals 160. Several
schools remain suspended and others just like the
Rizal
Community
School
with about 2,700 population, have just decided to declare the
suspension of classes.
Earlier, Mayor Alden
Avestruz informed that he will declare a state of calamity in his
municipality where there are positive cases and clustering in several
schools. In Baybay, Leyte, one village, Guadalupe, was declared to be
under a state of calamity when 9 school children were found positive
with A(H1N1).
The local government
of Tacloban City under the leadership of Mayor Alfred Romualdez
donated ten thermal scanners to the City Schools Division in order to
mitigate the incidence of A(H1N1) cases in Tacloban City.
The Provincial
Government of Leyte under the leadership of Governor Carlos Jericho
Petilla said that although the incidence of A(H1n1) is very minimal in
the province, has called for sustained information dissemination on
the mitigation and control of the novel virus.
Earlier, the
Provincial Health Office has been tasked by Governor Petilla to
conduct a sustained public information campaign in order to mitigate
and slow down the spread of the dreaded virus.
The Leyte Provincial
government that although the Region is already in the Mitigation
Response Level and no longer in the containment level, still, there is
a need for dissemination of information on the measures of mitigation
and control of the A(H1N1) infection.
These include
reminding the public on the symptoms of Influenza-like illnesses,
proper hand washing techniques; coughing and lung clearance
etiquettes; social distancing; and voluntary isolation.
Social distancing
means that the public should be at least one meter away from other
people and must not frequent crowded places. This also calls for
refraining from hand contacts like hand-shaking.
The public should also
know the symptoms of influenza-like illnesses and what they should do
in case the symptoms manifest on them.
Among the six
provinces in Eastern Visayas, only Biliran and Southern Leyte have no
confirmed positive cases of A(H1N1) infection.
The wearing of masks
is not recommended as this will only be additional expense to the
public. What is important is for the positive cases or those
exhibiting the symptoms of influenza-like illnesses to undergo a 10
day self-quarantine so that he or she will not spread the virus.
DENR ASec. Calderon
bats for compliance on solid waste management program among LGUs
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
July 28, 2009
ORMOC CITY, Leyte
– Assistant Secretary Gerardo Calderon of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday virtually
lectured the municipal Mayors attending the Luzon Island Cluster
conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)
held at Sabin Resort Hotel here on the virtues of keeping their
dumpsites clean and livable.
Calderon, who also
sits as the Executive Director of the National Solid Waste Management
Commission, discussed in great detail on what he called the doable ten
commandments in transforming the messy and foul-smelling garbage heap
of municipalities into sites worthy to be considered as ecological
parks.
The move has been
integrated into the government’s overall campaign on climate change
and “zero basura” interconnectivity caravan held recently, Calderon
said.
He stressed that many
environment-oriented non-government organizations (NGOs) have been
monitoring DENR‘s action regarding compliance by various LGUs on the
provisions of Republic Act 9003, the National Solid Waste Management
Program-Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Top ranking officials
of the DENR had been hailed to Courts, including Calderon himself, he
disclosed, for perceived inaction on the key provision of the law,
hence the need to strengthen coordination efforts and working ties
with the LMP to show to one and all that both the concerned national
agency and the local counterparts have been actively involved in
giving life to the letter and intent of RA 9003.
He cited several
models from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao areas who complied strictly
to the waste management program, and whose effective practices can be
replicated by other LGUs, under pain of administrative sanctions once
they fail to follow.
Among the reference
model LGUs for compliance with RA 9003 are Los Baños, Laguna and
Teresa, Rizal for Luzon; San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and
Tabon-Tabon, Leyte for Visayas; and Linamon, Lanao Del Norte and Sto.
Tomas, Davao del Norte for Mindanao.
“You can organize
Lakbay-Aral to any of these places so you can see for your own eyes
how they do it and put it into practice in your respective
municipalities,” Calderon advised local chief executives numbering
over one hundred listening him speak.
Among those who
listened in the audience was Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, the
guest and next speaker on the second day of the two-day conference.
DENR Secretary Jose
Atienza had defined Ecological Solid Waste Management as the
empowerment of LGUs down to the barangay level “to engineer strategies
to manage and reduce waste at source, for a better environmental
governance.”
“As we go towards a
greener society, we have model barangays – responsible and committed
LGUs who have successfully implemented R.A. 9003 – who have set a high
environmental standard that has been proven attainable, and that
others must follow,” Sec. Atienza had said.
4 persons die in road
mishap in Biliran
By FLOR JACKSON (PIA Biliran)
July
26, 2009
NAVAL, Biliran – Four persons died here when a dumptruck that followed
vehicle-riding groups of some 500 persons who were on their way to
bury a friend and relative from Barangay Capinahan in Naval town to a
Catholic cemetery in the poblacion lost break hitting some of the
motorcycle-riding sympathizers at about 8:45 this morning.
According to a police
report released by the Naval Police Station headed by PSupt Anastacio
Agullo, the dumptruck that figured in the accident was owned by Tuscan
Structures with Plate Number GKV-475 and was driven by Bernard
Villarin, 30 yeas old from Brgy. Pinamihagan in Culaba, one of the
towns in Biliran province.
The report further
disclosed that the driver of the dumptruck allegedly lost control of
the brakes while travelling on a slopy road down, hitting the Honda
TMX motorcycle with Plate Number G7801 owned and driven by Wilfredo
Casanares Bernal of Sitio Eden, Brgy. Capinahan, Naval.
Casanares was brought
to the Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH) where he was declared dead on
arrival by doctors.
The report declared
that Marcial Baco Payos, 52 years old and a resident of Sitio Agsim,
Brgy. Capinahan and brother of the late Juliano Payos, 57 years old
and a lay minister whom they would bring to his final resting place at
the catholic cemetery here Thursday morning died instantly at the site
of the accident. His passengers in the single motorcycle, Cleofe
Matugas Narrido, 54 years old, also a resident of Sitio Agsim was
pronounced dead on arrival at the BPH, while her companion, Donya
Payos Boncayo, 37 years old of Sitio Eden, Brgy. Capinahan is now
undergoing treatment at the BPH for wounds, bruises and broken arm and
shoulder.
Reynaldo Navarro, 32
years old of Sitio Agsim who was driving a separate single motorcycle
died on the spot while his wife, Emma Delda Navarro, 31 years old is
presently undergoing treatment at the BPH.
“I heard shouts of
warning to go to a safe side of the road, but things happened so fast
that when I looked back, I saw two of our motorcycle-riding companions
dead and their motorcycles torn to pieces,” said Laura Bueno, midwife
of the RHU of Naval town and one of the relatives who joined the
funeral procession.
As of press time,
PSupt, Anastacio Agullo informed that the driver of the dumptruck
involved in the accident is now at the Naval lock-up cell.
The owner of the
dumptruck, he said, promised to shoulder the expenses of the
fatalities and medicines and other medical supplies that the victims
may need while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Provl govt calls for
sustained info dissemination on A(H1N1) mitigation
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 26, 2009
TACLOBAN CITY – With
Eastern Visayas having one of the highest A(H1N1) cases in the
country, the provincial government of Leyte called for a sustained
information dissemination efforts for the wide public to contain the
virus spread.
This as it was earlier
reported, the level of contamination in the region is now classified
as Mitigation Level 3 which means there is now a sustained and wide
coverage of cases of A(H1N1) in the region.
Leyte Provincial
Administrator Vincent Emnas said, though the number of cases has yet
to be considered alarming as far as
Leyte province is
concerned, the province’s call now is to sustain the public
information dissemination on mitigation and control of the A(H1N1)
virus.
According to Mr. Emnas,
the Provincial Health Office has likewise been tasked by the
Governor’s Office to inform the public on the symptoms of
Influenza-Like Illnesses, proper hand washing techniques; coughing and
lung clearance etiquettes; social distancing; and voluntary isolation.
Social distancing
means that the public should be at least one meter away from other
people and must not frequent crowded places. This also calls for
refraining from hand contacts like hand-shaking.
“Even before the
A(H1N1) cases were finally confirmed, the province had devised an
action plan particularly in the prevention of the spread of the virus.
We have continuously reminded the people through our Provincial Health
Office to heed the proper hygiene and coughing and sneezing
etiquettes,” Emnas said.
The public should be
made very aware, he said, of the symptoms of this influenza like
illness and what to do in case similar symptoms manifests on them.
“We have always
advised for self-quarantine but more importantly to submit themselves
for medical check-up to verify if they really are affected with the
virus and proper medication can be given to them,” Emnas added.
The DOH in the region
has earlier emphasized the importance for individuals experiencing
flu-like symptoms to immediately subject themselves to treatment which
are being offered for free by the government.
Also, the DOH does not
recommend the wearing of masks especially if one is not experiencing
symptoms of the virus as they may otherwise pose health hazards if
improperly used. For positive cases or those exhibiting the symptoms
of influenza-like illnesses, health authorities advise for individuals
to undergo a 10 day self-quarantine so that he or she will not spread
the virus.
Among the six
provinces in Eastern Visayas, only Biliran and Southern Leyte have no
confirmed positive cases of A(H1N1) infection.
The local
government units have also been advised to facilitate the reactivation
of the barangay health emergency team in order to mitigate the impact
of the A(H1N1) in the region.
This the governor said
amid continuous call to lower power rates in Leyte province and even
neighboring provinces within the Eastern Visayas region considering
that the biggest electricity source is located here in Leyte.
