Culture meets contemporary in City's kick-off program

By LAIMINH S. MABULAY
August 2, 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Out of nowhere, 130 youths came running to the different parts of the newly-renovated City Plaza, dancing to the beat of today’s latest hits, to signal the start of the Manaragat Festival Month-long Fiesta Celebration, yesterday, August 1, 2012 at around 6 pm.

The combined performances of students from Samar National School’s Special Program for the Arts (SPA), Samar College’s Rayhak Dance Troupe and the nine groups that will compete in STEP High: the Search for Catbalogan City’s Next Dance Crew, meant to herald the city’s most important cultural event were obviously inspired by the flash mob.

Defined in Wikipedia as “a group of people who assemble suddenly in a place, perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, and artistic expression”; the flash-mob-inspired dance number was performed at the start of the kick-off program, which was meant to set the tone for the month-long fiesta celebration.

Mayor Coefredo “Tekwa” Uy was present along with Vice Mayor Art Gabon and several City and Barangay Officials to witness the launching. Councilor Stephany Uy-Tan gave the message in behalf of Mayor Tekwa who was equally overwhelmed by the large turn-out of crowds that night.

The day of kick-off activities started in the morning with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Fr. Joe Calderon.

A motorcade participated in by city employees served as a prelude to the brief but eventful launching program. Scheduled cultural presentations from schools namely St. Mary’s Child Development Center (SMCDC), Catbalogan Community School (CCS), and Catbalogan I District and SPED Center followed right after.

The said kick-off program also served to showcase the newly renovated City Plaza, which now boasts of a 15-square meter LED giant electronic billboard placed on top of the plaza stage. Being the first of its kind in the entire region, the said electronic billboard was purchased by the City Government to intensify its income generation and information dissemination mechanism. But for now, it served as a window into the city’s sights and colors as well as what people should expect this August as it flashed teasers about future activities in line with the fiesta, giving a vivid image of the month long festival as a spontaneous, dynamic and exciting cultural celebration.

BARECO farmers raise rice harvest from 80 to 178 cavans

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 1, 2012

CABUCGAYAN, Biliran – They used to harvest a maximum of 80 cavans of rice from a one-hectare lot during dry cropping season, and they were already happy with it.

Imagine the jubilation of the members of the Balaquid Agrarian Reform Cooperative (BARECO) in Cabugcayan, Biliran, when recently, there they were able to harvest 178 cavans of rice from the one hectare lot that serves as their demo farm for the season-long training on Palay Check System.

Mr. Jose Alsmith Soria, Information officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Eastern Visayas said that Palay Check System is a program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) considered to be a dynamic rice crop management system that presents the best technology and management practices.

Development Facilitator Thelma Alba and Agriculture and Agribusiness Development (AAD) coordinator Joy Sandigan who assisted agriculture technician Elizabeth Gayrama in the conduct of the training, said that they were only anticipating an increase of up to a maximum yield of 120 cavans.

The 178 cavans yield is indeed far beyond their expectations.

From the selection of seeds that are appropriate for a particular cropping season the farmers also learned in this training the timely applications of fertilizers and pesticides, proper water management and even the timing of harvesting in order to produce more.

According to BARECO chairman Roger Ayuste, 51, one of the 15 participants of the said training, in the past, they repeatedly used the same seeds over and over again during planting season; apply fertilizers and pesticides anytime; and supply the field with abundant water with the belief that what they were practicing would help them achieve a good harvest.

After that training, they did not only learn to determine which seed variety is appropriate for the season, but also the right amount of seeds needed.

For his half a hectare lot, Ayuste said that prior to this training he used 40 kilos of seeds and plant the seedlings too close to one another thinking it would produce more.

But after acquiring knowledge on the proper rice farming practices he found out that he just need 20 kilos of seeds and saved half of the price. He also realized that planting seedlings closely would rather produce less.

In the application of fertilizers and pesticides, they in the past, used 12 bags of commercial fertilizers that cost about P1,300 per bag for a one-hectare lot and used pesticides indiscriminately.

Now, they use five bags only of commercial fertilizers and mix them with six bags of organic one, much cheaper than the former at only P420 per bag; while use of pesticides was minimized.

Aside from the very high yield, the farmers are likewise extremely happy to tell that they saved a lot of money from seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, and made farming less hazardous to their health too.

The farmers sell their produce to the cooperative, while the cooperative’s buyers for now include residents of this town and nearby barangays of adjacent municipalities, hoping that someday they can expand their rice trading business to other areas.

During the preparation in 2001, of the development plan for the Cabucgayan agrarian reform community (ARC) which is composed of six farming villages: Bunga, Magbangon, Look, Esperanza, Libertad and Balaquid, into a vibrant one, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Ismael Aya-ay, who was then the Provincial Agrarian Reform Support Services Officer (PARSSO), included said training in the list of required activities as he deemed it necessary to increase productivity to improve agrarian reform beneficiaries’ (ARBs’) income and contribute as well to the province’s attainment of food security particularly in the supply of rice.

When Cabucgayan ARC was included under the third phase of the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP-3) jointly funded by the governments of the Philippines and Japan thru the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) collaborated with the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO) for the conduct of the said training under its AAD component.

During the last quarter, DAR Regional Director Eliasem Castillo turned over to the local government unit and to the irrigators association the maintenance of the completed farm-to-market road in Brgy. Balaquid, and the rehabilitated communal irrigation system that supplies water now to about 60 hectares of rice fields in the area.

Castillo disclosed that the two projects implemented under the physical infrastructure component of ARISP-3 complement with the AAD activities to ensure that ARBs achieve the maximum production in their awarded lots under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program (CARP).

Presently, the farmers are into the second cycle of rice productivity enhancement training, this time for the wet cropping season.

Because of this training, the farmers were identified as community seed banking (CSB), a source for certified seeds.

The BARECO farmers have endless inspiring and encouraging stories to tell from what they have learned and experienced.

They finally bade goodbye to traditional farming and opened their world to modern techniques.

Other farmers in the area who witnessed the “miracle” brought by the Palay Check System were encouraged to follow them, while those who have undergone the training are just too willing to share the knowledge they have gained. (with DAR-8 report)

VP Binay - Heidi Mendoza audit task force politically motivated; brains behind demolition job “insecure”

By OVP Media
August 1, 2012

MANILA  –  Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has branded as "politically motivated" the on-going audit of all projects during his term as Makati Mayor being undertaken by a task force formed reportedly upon the behest of Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza.

The Vice President said the Mendoza audit is part of a demolition campaign against him by those who are “insecure” because of his high survey ratings and who see him as a threat to their own presidential plans in 2016.

"By that time, ‘di ko naman tinatanggi sa inyo na ako ay magkakandidato. Eto nga, hindi pa nga ako kandidato winawasak na ko. Siguro dala na rin ito ng survey, nai-insecure sila sa lumalabas na survey," he said.

The Vice President said it was “not normal” that issues that have already been answered and clarified in previous audits are being resurrected. He added that the projects being audited have already passed previous audits.

"Hindi naman maitatangging politically motivated ito. Biruin mo naman iyon, normally, Mayor pa lang ako pinasasagot na sa akin iyon, sinagot ko naman, tinanggap naman iyong paliwanag, heto na naman pinalalabas pang (new) initiative," Binay told reporters during separate interviews Tuesday afternoon.

"Kung maya’t maya ay binabalikan ka ng issue, hindi na yata normal iyon. Mayroon nang ibang dahilan," he added.

"Noong Mayor pa po ako, issue na sa amin iyon, ipinaliwanag na namin iyon, na-clear na po iyon,” he added.

The Vice President also took note of negative statements made by Mendoza against him, noting that the Commissioner had headed several special audit teams during the Arroyo administration.

The findings of the Mendoza team served as the basis for the filing of a case against former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, the Vice President’s wife, but it was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan for lack of factual basis. Other COA findings also served as basis for complaints before the Ombudsman against the Vice President but they were also dismissed.

"Sabagay, iyon naman ang talagang pinagsasabi ni Commissioner Mendoza, na talagang isa kami sa bubusisiin niya. Dahil sa iyong kanyang mga kaso sa amin, kaso sa akin hindi naman ako na-convict," Binay said.

He added that the Mendoza audit was consistent with information received of a demolition job against him, with December as the target month where “he will be gone.”

Binay refused to identify the people behind the moves against him.

"Ayoko nang sagutin iyan. Ang sasabihin ko lang sa inyo, talagang may dumadating sa akin (na impormasyon). Iyang demolition, sa Disyembre mawawala na daw ako, hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng mawawala," he said.

When asked by a reporter whether "mawawala" meant that he will also be removed by impeachment, the Vice President replied, "Baka. So, tingnan natin."

Pag-IBIG cuts interest rate for calamity loans - VP Binay

By OVP Media
July 31, 2012

MANILA  –  Pag-IBIG Fund has reduced the interest rate of its calamity loans to help families affected by typhoons and other disasters, said Vice President and Pag-IBIG Board chair Jejomar C. Binay.

“Pag-IBIG’s calamity loan now carries a yearly interest rate of 5.95 percent, compared to the previous 10.75 percent,” Binay said.

“We intend to help ease the burdens of our kababayans living in typhoon-prone areas and those hit by other natural calamities,” he added.

The housing czar said that Pag-IBIG aimed to offer the lowest interest rate of calamity loans in the market without compromising the sustainability of the Fund. Members may borrow the equivalent of 80 percent of their total savings.

Pag-IBIG also offered a 3-month moratorium on housing loan payments to affected members. Members may also apply for insurance through Pag IBIG, where they could get the value of the extent of damage.

Meanwhile, the Fund also encouraged members working in strife stricken areas abroad to avail of its Special Assistance Program.

Under the program, members may withdraw their total savings without having to wait for 20 years for their membership to mature. They may also avail of a 6-month moratorium on their housing and short-term loan payments.

“These are the Fund’s way of showing continuing concern for its local and overseas members, and its way of helping out its members during their times of need,” Atty. Darlene Berberabe, Pag-IBIG president and CEO said.

Assistive devices given anew to PWDs in Leyte

By Provincial Media Relations Center
July 31, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  More than 50 persons with disabilities were given new comforts by the provincial government of Leyte through some new assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and canes distributed personally by Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla during the culmination program of the Leyte Provincial Persons With Disabilities Consciousness Week.

The province, as has become a tradition, provided assistive devices to identified beneficiaries, all suffering from physical disabilities.

Twenty-three adult wheelchairs, five pedia wheelchairs including ordinary canes, crutches, folding canes for the blinds as well as a walker were among those assistive devices provided for this year’s PWD-beneficiaries through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Federation of Disabled Persons of Leyte Inc. (FEDPELI).

The provincial government has been consistent in providing assistance for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) both for physical comfort and some livelihood training.

“There’s no reason why they should be treated differently. We should treat them as equals. That’s why, whenever there is an opportunity for them to excel and give their best, we help in providing for such opportunity,” Gov. Petilla said.

The governor likewise awarded winners of the PWD Got Talent Search held at the Robinsons Place where contestants showed off their talents in singing and dancing despite having physical disabilities.

Medalists in the Sports Olympics for PWDs held in Cebu were likewise given incentives by the governor.

The month of July has been declared by the province of Leyte as Persons with Disability (PWDs) Consciousness Month, which was authored by then Leyte Board Member Roque Tiu.

The Ordinance makes it imperative to conduct province-wide and month-long activities that will promote the genuine and full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities, respect for their inherent dignity, suppression of discrimination, recognition of their vital role and contributions in society, good health, and sense of belonging with their fellow Leyteños.

Lady solon lauds CHED for clarifying policies on educational tours and field trips

By Office of Hon. Janette L. Garin
July 30, 2012

QUEZON CITY  –  Believing that costly field trips and educational tours are unnecessary and it has become an entrepreneurial undertaking for some professors, Rep. Janette LoretaGarin of the 1st District of Iloilo lauds the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chaired by Patricia B. Licuanan for issuing Memorandum Order No. 17 which clarifies the policies and guidelines on educational tours and field trips of college and graduate students.

Rep. Garin’s heartfelt sentiment on the issue is influenced by the countless personal accounts from long distressed constituents requesting for financial aid in order to fulfill this school requirement. These educational tours and field trips should promote learning but most often than not, based on the comments from parents and students, are just recreational activities that offer very little or at times absolutely no valuable learning at all, explained Rep. Garin.

According to Rep. Garin, the issuance of this much needed memorandum is such a welcome move towards PNoy’s Matuwid na Daan. Rep. Garin said, “finally, CHED has issued something concrete to help alleviate the suffering of students and parents unnecessarily burdened with exorbitant field trip fees,” she said.

Rep. Garin stressed that the expenses incurred for such activities are an encumbrance that should never have been placed on the already heavily burdened students and their financially challenged parents. “These parents are already facing hardships just to send their children to school, these additional unnecessary expenses should be lifted off their shoulders,” she added.

However, Rep. Garin recognizes that there are courses which require learning exposures. “A thorough review should be done to identify specific curriculum needed field trips,” she said.” Once determined to be vital to the students’ learning, a maximum allowable charges for mandatory and required education tours must be imposed,” ended Rep. Garin.

Calbayog’s no. 4 most wanted person arrested

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
July 30, 2012

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  One of the most wanted criminal in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar was arrested by elements of Calbayog City Police Station.

On July 25, 2012, Calbayog City Police Station led by PSI Aaron Raemon Abon Elago arrested one Gregorio Salnoy Salindayao alias “Goyong”, 79 years old from Purok 1, Brgy. Patong, Calbayog City, Samar. He was wanted for the crime of Murder docketed under Criminal Case Nr. 6675 issued by Honorable Reynaldo B. Clemens, Presiding Judge of RTC 8th Judicial Region, Branch 31, Calbayog City.

Gregorio Salindayao is rank number 4 in the list of Most Wanted Person in Calbayog City and was brought thereat for proper disposition prior turn-over to issuing court.

PNP PRO 8 is in constant coordination with other law enforcement agencies to arrest criminals from our communities, PSSupt Roel Balintong Acidre, Chief, RPCRD said.

Meanwhile, a 40-year old resident of Barangay San Juan, Sta. Rita, Samar was arrested by Sta. Rita Police Station led by PCI Lope M Macauba, Jr.

On July 26, 2012 at about 8:40 in the morning, a certain Eduardo Conco Odinada was arrested for the crime of Attempted Homicide docketed under Criminal case Number 4-201-993 issued by Honorable Ma. Lourdes A. Hilvano, Presiding Judge of 9th MCTC, Sta. Rita, Samar with recommended bail of Twelve Thousand Pesos (P12,000.00).

A 47 years old School Teacher identified as Josephine Reduban from Barangay General Luna, Mayorga, Leyte was arrested by Mayorga Police Station on July 26, 2012.

Josephine Reduban was arrested for the crime of ESTAFA issued by Honorable Joshua P. Palalay, Presiding Judge MTC, Ormoc City with recommended bail of Six Thousand Pesos (P6,000.00).

Said successive arrests is part of the PNP’s campaign against wanted persons in the country, as outlined by PNP Chief Police Director General Nicanor A Bartolome in his 10-point action plan to reform the entire police community which includes reforms, performance audits, skills development, increased visibility, human rights awareness, accounting of wanted persons, transactional transparency, improvement of discipline and welfare projects.

Eastern Visayas economy grows by 1.8 percent in 2011

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 27, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The economy of Eastern Visayas in 2011 as measured by the Gross Regional Domestic Product grew by 6% if measured in current prices, and by 1.8 percent in real terms using constant prices.

This is the statement of NEDA Region 8 Director Bonifacio Uy during the news conference on the 2011 report of the National Statistical Coordination Board held on July 26 at the Ritz Tower de Leyte, hosted by NSCB-8 and moderated by PIA Region 8.

Director Uy’s statement was based on the presentation made by NSCB Regional Head Ms. Evangeline M. Paran on the 2011 Economic Performance of Eastern Visayas.

The 1.8% real economic expansion of the Region is lower than the Plan target of 5.26% for the year, Director Uy said. He, however, told the local media this is not really very poor performance considering that the country and at least ten other regions missed their respective growth targets in 2011.

As Director Paran has reported, for the Visayas, the service sector registered the highest growth of 4.1 percent while Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing and the industry sector grew slightly by 0.07% and 0.04%, respectively.

The Industry sector continues to be the dominant sector in Eastern Visayas contributing 43% to the GRDP, Director Uy said. This sector, according to him, holds the fastest growing sub-sector for the past two years. This, he said, is the Mining and Quarrying, with a tremendous growth of 62.3% in 2011. The major mineral products are chromite and magnetite from Eastern Samar and Leyte.

The top contributor to the region’s economy is again the Manufacturing sub-sector, accounting for a little more than a quarter or 26.3% of GRDP. Its 2011 Gross Value Added at current prices of about P60.8 Billion is 4.6% more than its value in 2010.

The economic stronghold of the manufacturing sub-sector still relies on the metals and chemical and heavy industries located at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate or LIDE.

Director Uy said that in addition to PASAR, a copper smelting plant and Philphos, a phosphate fertilizer plant, LIDE gained three industry locators. These are McMAI, an aluminum sulphate plant; Century Huang Guang, a nickel smelting plant; and Clean Way Waste Treatment Plant.

43-year old man apprehended for illegal drugs

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
July 27, 2012

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte  –  PNP PRO 8 is determined to vigorously implement “LOI SANG-BANAT” – one of the PNP’s Master plan to fight against illegal drugs where it has undeniably seeped into the root of social, health, legal and economic problems in our community, and in our country as a whole. The prevention of this problem demands a strong, collaborative action and not left to the police alone but along with the community moving together to effectively combat this menace.

Just recently, a 43-year old man was apprehended by authorities in a joint buy-bust operation with the PAIDSOTF, Northern Samar PPO and Allen Police Station Intel Operatives led by PSI Joseph Abalos Imperial under the supervision of PSSupt Isaias Bañez Tonog, DSC, OIC, NSPPO, PNP PRO 8 said Wednesday.

PNP PRO identified the suspect as a certain Rey Sytico alias “Benga”, 43 years old, married, self-employed and a resident of Rizal Street, Barangay Kinabranan, Zone 2, Allen, Northern Samar.

Along with money used for the entrapment operation, six (6) heat-sealed transparent cellophane with suspected “shabu”; thirteen (13) heat-sealed transparent cellophane with suspected shabu residue; Nokia cellphone; two lighters and various drug paraphernalia were also recovered from the suspect.

The operation was conducted in the presence of Barangay Chairman Leo G. Lim of said place, Mr. Danilo C. Cabacang, a representative from Provincial Prosecutor’s Office and Ms. Mary Ann Cinco, a representative from the media.

Appropriate charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed against the suspect before the Northern Samar Provincial Prosecutions Office.

The prevention of this problem demands a strong, collaborative action and not left to the police alone but along with the community moving together to effectively combat this menace, PSSupt Roel Balintong Acidre, Chief, RPCRD added.

Women to Bishops: We will reject your anti-RH candidates

By Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP)
July 27, 2012

QUEZON CITY  –  Following the Roman Catholic hierarchy's pronouncements that they will make a list of anti-reproductive health (RH) bill candidates that they will support for the coming 2013 elections, a group of women working in grassroots communities welcomed the move saying that it will even help them know the candidates to reject and not vote for.

The Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), a national federation of 264 community women’s organizations with 40,000 members chaired by Elizabeth Angsioco is not threatened by this announcement and in fact, fully supports it.

She added, “the move is good for RH champions as non-inclusion in the bishops’ list means that they favor saving mothers from dying and adolescent girls from untimely pregnancies.”

"The bishops will make our work easier. Inclusion in their list is a guarantee that a candidate is anti-RH. For women, especially those in poor communities such as our members, being anti-RH is being anti-women and anti-poor. With the bishops' list, we will no longer need to do further research on included candidates. We will simply campaign against and NOT vote for them", Angsioco stressed.

However, Angsioco explained, that such move is just an empty threat from the bishops because it has been proven from past elections that the Catholic block vote is at best, a myth.

Angsioco recalls that the Catholic church openly went against former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Erap Estrada, as well as former Senator Juan Flavier but all of them won the elections.

She added, “Even at the local level, priests went against champions of the RH bill but virtually all of those re-electionists won. In contrast, during the 2010 elections, anti-RH candidates at the national level who said that they had the bishops' support, lost, and lost miserably. The Catholic church has never proven that it has a block vote unlike the Iglesia ni Cristo.”