Tacloban New Transport Terminal now operational

By RACHEL ANN M. VILLEGAS, (KIMRO)
August 15, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – The newest and state-of-the-art Land Transport Terminal started its partial operation, August 15, 2006 at Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City.

This multi-million-peso priority project of Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez is designed and constructed by Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. and financed through a loan from Land Bank of the Philippines and Postal Bank. This New Bus Terminal is one of the largest transport terminals in the Region and will have significant urban, economic and social impact on Tacloban City itself.

In response to the demands of his fellow Warays, Mayor Bejo believes that this project will be efficient, economic and functional in accommodating the anticipated growth of traffic in the city, and is set to decongest traffic in the Rizal Avenue and Real Streets, as number of vehicles and busses entering the Old Bus Terminal will be reduced.

For its soft opening, only selected transport vehicles will be accommodated to the facility as the city tries to come up with a well-planned traffic scheme. The road adjacent to Leyte Progressive High School is still under construction and soon to have asphalt overlay for easy access to and from the city proper.

Other works that are on going and in progress includes the 14 slots Commercial building, Wet Market building, Dry Market buildings, One-storey Commercial building and Site Development works (ph 1&2). The architectural concept of this project is mainly focused on delivering an improved passenger experience, state of the art facilities and an attractive and peaceful environment.

Meanwhile, Hon. Gary Teves, Chairman of the Land Bank of the Philippines, likewise the Secretary- Department of Finance is scheduled to have a site visitation both on the Terminal Facility and Tacloban City Convention Center this Saturday.

Mayor Bejo’s vision and leadership, along with the cooperation and dedication of his people and other entities, the realization of this project has been fulfilled.

Northern Samar 803rd Brigade sustains intensified combat operations

By AILENE N. DIAZ, (PIA Norhern Samar)
August 15, 2006

CATARMAN, Northern Samar  –  Responding to the call of the commander in chief President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to contain the insurgency problem in the country, the 803rd Brigade based in Camp Sumoroy, Catarman and led by its brigade commander Col. Roland Rodriguez, vows to sustain intensified combat operations in the brigade’s area of coverage.

Rodriguez said that their combat operations yielded in the destruction of 37 NPA camps as a result of 14 engagements since January this year.

According to Rodriguez, the four (4) guerilla fronts in this part of the region were reduced into two (2) which means that their (brigade’s) operations have been effective, thus reducing the enemy’s strength and also decreasing the enemy’s capabilities.

Rodriquez added that no single major incident ever happened in this area since January because the enemy could not launch an attack against the military, as the NPAs are having a hard time. They (the NPAs) have been running and evading military operations. "We will continue our offensive operations as this is our best defense", Rodriquez quipped.

Rodriguez also said that "we have learned, in a letter from one commander to another which we seized, that they (NPAs) are having a problem in recruitment especially in the bright sector of the society which is the students. The quality of their recruits and leadership is now becoming lower and lower." Some members according to Rodriguez are lying low. They are on "rest and recreation" and never returns to the combat field. The people in turn are no longer supporting them.

Aside from combat operations, the 803rd brigade is also into community endeavors. "We continue our community projects, we cooperate with the local government units, national government agencies and provide support to the needs of the people in the community. We also continue our ALPS program, the Army Literacy Patrol System and we conduct symposium in different schools," Rodriguez further said.

Rodriguez took over the command from BGen. Bernard Z. de Luna on January 2 this year. The 803rd Brigade carries with it the title "Peacemaker" from the old "Camurayao" when it moved its headquarters from Catigugan, Sta Rita, Samar to Camp Juan Ponce Sumoroy in Catarman, Northern Samar on May 20, 1998. The 803rd Brigade replaced the deactivated 801st Infantry (Tanglaw) Brigade. Since the existence of the brigade in the province, the following brigade commanders took turns in serving the Nortehanon: BGen. Dionisio R. Santiago, BGen. Iluminado B. Aragon, Col. Rafael S. Romero, BGen. Cesar DP Tiongson, and BGen. Bernard Z. de Luna.

Samar Police to solve recent extra-judicial slays in Samar

By ELI C. DALUMPINES, (PIA Samar)
August 14, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar   – In response to the calls of the top PNP leadership to solve the rising extra-judicial killings in the country, Samar PNP Director Supt. Asdali Idja Abah vowed to exhaust all efforts to bring to the courts the suspects of the recent spate of killings here.

Supt. Abah in an interview Friday said his men are already gathering documents and interviewing witnesses so that they can file charges to the suspects.

The case in Samar is, however, different since most of the victims were closely identified with the right and most were active supporters of the government’s anti-insurgency drive.

Last July 22, Gorgonio I. Gabane, Brgy. Captain of Casapa, Jiabong town, was gunned down by four suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) while on his way home from his farm in Casapa at around 4 pm.

Gabane, a former NPA leader, was actively supporting the clearing operations of the military during the short stint of MGen. Jovito Palparan here as Commanding General of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division. Gabane’s wife was with him when the incident happened.

On August 3, a farmer in Brgy. Inasodlan, Villareal town was shot dead by three armed men believed to be members of the NPA.

The following day, a barangay captain of Brgy. Bato, in Paranas, Alfredo Dacoag, was also killed by four suspected members of the Rebolusyunaryong Hukbong Bayan (RHB), a breakaway group of the NPA. One of the suspects was however identified.

Last Monday, August 7, Macario A. Cajefe, a resident of Brgy. Old Manunca, Sta. Rita town and an alleged informant of the military was shot by three suspected members of the NPA.

Supt. Abah admitted though that cases involving the communists NPAs usually take time to solve but he expressed confidence that with the support of the people, together with their wide intelligence network, the perpetrators will eventually be brought to court.

The Samar PNP Chief, meanwhile, informed that they now take an active part in the internal security operation (ISO) to address the country’s insurgency problem unlike before where they were only assigned a supportive role.

He said it is more likely that some of his men will again be engaged in combat operations against the communist insurgents but he clarified that theirs is only territorial, that is, they are limited only within their area of responsibility.

He further informed that those who will see action in the future are only the members of the PNP’s mobile group which are trained for combat operations.

PGMA lauds Ford Motors’ line of flexible vehicles

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 14, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – A jubilant President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo praised Ford Motor Company for coming out with its line of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) which are equipped with engines that can run on either conventional gasoline or blended gasoline and bio-ethanol fuels.

The President has every reason to be happy during her inspection of the flexible vehicles in Cebu City Friday morning, as she has long been advocating the use of alternative sources of fuel in order to lessen the country’s dependence on imported fuel oil.

Ford's FFV is the car manufacturer's answer to the President’s call and to growing worldwide need for safer, cleaner and more energy efficient internal combustion engines that rely less on conventional fossil fuel-derived gasoline but on alternative sources of fuel "specially blended" with ethanol.

Data sourced from Ford Motor Company's subsidiary in the country – Ford Motor Company Philippines – its sedan line of vehicles, particularly the Ford Focus 1.8-liter and the Ford Focus 2.0-liter Sport, are now equipped with engines that can run on either conventional gasoline or blended gasoline and bio-ethanol fuels.

Both vehicles are E20 capable, meaning they can run on fuel composed of 80 percent gasoline and 20 percent ethanol. Ethanol is a by-product of sugarcane after the extraction process. Ethanol has been touted as the "new gasoline" because in its purest form, it has a higher octane rating which means it burns better and leaves little or no unburnt fuel molecules.

When mixed with regular unleaded gasoline, the resulting blend increases the energy efficiency of an engine and lessens harmful emissions to the environment, ensuring a clean and green environment. The detergent properties of this special blend are far more superior than that of regular unleaded gasoline, thereby reducing the need for frequent oil changes.

Indeed, this breakthrough is the answer to some opinions that the vehicles today are not really ready to use the gasoline-ethanol blend.

Miss Calbiga romps away Mutya han Samar 2006 title

By ROMMEL L. RUTOR
August 13, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar –  Besting 20 other beautiful ladies from different municipalities in Samar province obtaining 96.07 over-all points, Miss Calbiga represented by Christina Sabarre Chan emerged to be the most beautiful candidate and was adjudged the Mutya han Samar 2006 in last Wednesday’s pageant held at the fully packed provincial gymnasium here.

The beauty search is one of the highlights of Samar’s celebration of its founding anniversary on August 11, 2006.

Miss Calbiga carted away a cash prize of P50,000.00, a “pangkabuhayan showcase”, and likewise took at her helm the Best in Swim Wear, Miss Eloquence and Best in Gown awards.

In an interview over Decobeam Cable Television right after she was capped the beauty title; Miss Calbiga revealed that her confidence as a woman which has been innate in her since she was a kid was her edge among the rest of the candidates, who are mostly veteran participants in various beauty pageants.

She revealed that her participation to the Mutya han Samar search was her first time, “although our local government unit has continuously convinced me to represent our town in this search during the previous years, but I would always turn the offer down”, she stressed.

Miss Calbiga reasoned out that she has to wait for the right moment before indulging into beauty tilts, “and since I already graduated from my course, I am already at the legal age, and most of all I am very much confident in my person now, I believe this is the right time that I am waiting for, hence my joining”, the Mutya han Samar 2006 winner explained.

It was learned that Miss Calbiga is a graduate of Communication Arts at the Assumption College in Manila, but always return to Calbiga every year particularly during the town’s fiesta celebration every May of the year.

She is the daughter of Cyhthia Sabarre who hails from Calbiga but her father, Robert Chan is from Quezon City, where they are residing at present.

This year’s Mutya ha Samar winner was crowned by no less than Gov. Milagrosa T. Tan and Vice-Gov. Jesus B. Redaja, while the “pangkabuhayan showcase” was awarded by Mayor Tekwa Uy of Catbalogan town.

Meanwhile, the pride of Tarangnan, Myth Anisca Tuñacao came up the 1st runner-up of the Mutya han Samar title garnering 92.85 points from the panel of judges.

Miss Tarangan almost lost her title when the host erroneously pronounced “Tarangnan” to “Gandara” which subsequently resulted for the Gandara beauty to come forward to be crowned as the first runner-up in the said competition. The glitch however was immediately corrected by the host.

The 2nd runner-up was Miss Sta. Rita, Aiza B. Molina with 92.56 points who likewise took for her the “Panurundon” festival costume award; while San Jorge town represented by Janet Pedrano landed on the 3rd runner-up place garnering 92.07 points but was also awarded the Most refreshing Smile; and the last place for the top 5 beauties of the Mutya han Samar 2006 beauty tilt was captured by Miss Catbalogan Juvie Pearl Cueva with 92.04 points and also awarded as the Miss Congeniality and Miss Smart Amazing.

Among the 21 candidates, the other five candidates who landed into the 10 semi-finalist were: Miss Gandara Reina Julienne Jumagdao who got 91.85 points, Miss Paranas Claudene Mae Nuñez with 91.70 points, Miss Hinabangan Irene Kaye Cabilao with 91.56 points, Miss Sta. Margarita Eva Dimaano garnering 90.56 points and Miss Talalora Jackelyn Wilby who got 90.52 points but adjudged to be the Most Photogenic.

On the other hand, Calbiga town Mayor Luzviminda Nacario likewise got P50,000.00 cash prize handed by Governor Tan as a token for the support extended by the LGU to the town’s candidate which eventually emerge as the province’ most beautiful maiden.

Members on the panel of judges were Col. Asdali Abah, Col. Ricardo Papina, Dr. Leo Lofranco, Dr. Rosario Abriolsantos, Mr. Renato Mendiola, Mr. Hugo Turla and Ms. Liberty Lopez.

Hosted by showbiz personality Archie Alemania and anchorwoman Myra Letaba, the pageant night was carried live on television by Decobeam Cable TV Services and D’ Leopards CATV.

DILG bares the state of local governance in Eastern Visayas

By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
August 13, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – National government agencies and local government units in Eastern Visayas have vowed to improve delivery of basic services among LGUs, following a presentation of the regional State of Local Governance Report (SLGR) by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Regional Director William C. Paler and DILG-08 officials revealed the findings of the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) for 2005 [the LGU self-assessment tool used to generate data for the SLGR] during a Stakeholders Conference at the MacArthur Park Resort in Palo, Leyte on August 4, 2006.

In response, participants then proposed programs and activities to address the identified problems in a workshop that followed the presentations of the regional SLGR, and the municipal SLGR of Malitbog, Southern Leyte by Mayor Norma Go.

Of the five (5) performance areas covered by the LGPMS report, the region scored highest in Administration with a result of 3.9 (out of a highest possible score of 5) in the Input or Performance level. This means that most of the region’s 139 towns and four (4) cities have the capacity or resources to deliver administrative services effectively.

On the other hand, Economic Development registered the lowest, with a “risk rating” of 1.57. This implies that many LGUs still need to improve their services to farmers and fisherfolks, and should develop the entrepreneurial, business and industrial sectors.

Environmental Management scored 2.07 and Social Services rated just above the national benchmark, at 3.02. This indicates that LGUs can still improve on their performance in these areas.

Governance scored 2.91, showing that some basic services were not delivered due to poor community participation and a lack of relevant ordinances and transparency. 

Dir. Paler challenged local governments to address the identified problem areas or service gaps in planning and budgeting, and to sustain the gains made by the program.

The regional SLGR is based on information entered by each LGU in the LGPMS website, which became operational since last year. A performance area may be considered “at risk” when all or most of its indicators fall below or within the national standard.