Palay production in Eastern Visayas increases by 5.2% during the first quarter of 2019

By PSA-8
August 8, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – Palay production in Eastern Visayas exhibited a 5.2 percent growth, from 279,728 metric tons (MT) in the 1st quarter of 2018 to 294,402 MT in 2019.

The province of Leyte posted the highest palay production in Eastern Visayas at 148,212 MT in the 1st quarter of 2019. It comprised more than half (50.3 percent) of the total palay production in the region. Samar ranked second with 51,813 MT, accounting for 17.6 percent of the region’s total palay production. Northern Samar followed with 49,097 MT production contributing 16.7 percent share to the total production. Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte shared 8.2 percent (24,076 MT) and 4.4 percent (12,862 MT), respectively. Meanwhile, Biliran had the least contribution with only 2.8 percent and only 8,342 MT of palay produced.

Area harvested for irrigated palay in the region went up by 5.0 percent, from 30,713 hectares in the 1st quarter of 2018 to 32,249 hectares in the 1st quarter of 2019. All provinces, except for Northern Samar, exhibited increases in area harvested of irrigated palay. Northern Samar posted a decline of 0.6 percent.

The province of Leyte, being the biggest contributor of irrigated palay, has also registered the highest area harvested for irrigated palay with 77.4 percent share to the total area harvested. Meanwhile, Eastern Samar posted the least area harvested for irrigated palay with 0.01 percent share.

Among the provinces, Southern Leyte recorded the highest yield per hectare at 4.49 MT per hectare during the 1st quarter of 2019. However, this figure was lower by 0.3 percent compared with the 4.50 MT per hectare in the 1st quarter of 2018.

Biliran closely followed at 4.41 MT per hectare. This figure was lower by 2.4 percent, from 4.52 MT per hectare of the same quarter in 2018. Leyte ranked third with 4.28 MT per hectare, which was slightly higher by 0.3 percent from its figure in same quarter of 2018.

On the postponement of the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE)

By NAMFREL
August 7, 2019

MANDALUYONG CITY – The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) encourages Congress to allow the conduct of the May 2020 BSKE as scheduled. To do otherwise contravenes the principle of regularity in the conduct of an election and deprives the electorate of seeking accountability from elected officials by submitting themselves to a fresh mandate.

Moving the date of elections set by law can only be justified when any of the conditions mentioned in Section 5 of the Philippine Omnibus Election Code exist: any serious cause such as violence, terrorism, loss or destruction of election paraphernalia or records, force majeure, and other analogous causes of such a nature that the holding of a free, orderly and honest election should become impossible in any political subdivision. It is the task of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to make such determination, which in turn should be through public hearings.

The planned deferment of the May 2020 BSKE to May 2022 (Sen. Go version) / May 2023 (Sen. Marcos version), unwittingly or not, extends the term of incumbent barangay and SK officials without a clear mandate from their constituents.

Periodic elections are an institutionalized governance feature in countries that have chosen democracy as their form of government. Upholding the conduct of periodic and genuine elections becomes an obligation under international law. These are articulated in both Article 21 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and Article 25 of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both can be described as foundational legal commitments that require free and fair elections to be held on a regular basis.

Regular and periodic elections are part of universal principles and guidelines to promote genuine democratic election processes. These international election standards can be traced back to the cardinal principle that citizens have a right to take part in the governance and public affairs of their countries. Article 21, Section 3 of the United Nations (UN) UDHR enshrines this cornerstone precept: “The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.”

Further, the ICCPR stipulates that every citizen must be provided the right and opportunity, without discrimination, based on distinctions of “race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status” and without unreasonable restrictions, to “vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections.”

Thus, the regularity of elections is important to establish the mandate, legitimacy and moral authority of elected leaders. Not holding elections regularly could undermine the democratic process of ensuring the citizens’ right to choose their leaders and make them accountable.

Meanwhile, NAMFREL commends the Comelec for pushing through with the continuing registration of voters and for actively promoting citizens' participation in the electoral process. NAMFREL urges the public, especially the youth, to heed the calls to register or to have their registration records updated or transferred before the deadline. As of today, the Barangay and SK Elections are still scheduled to take place on May 11, 2020: ensure that your registration records are in order to avoid disenfranchisement.

DPWH opens new classrooms in Jaro, Leyte

Press Release
August 7, 2019

JARO, Leyte – Eighteen (18) new classrooms was recently completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte Second district engineering office in Granja-Kalinawan National High School (GKNHS), Jaro, Leyte.

The classrooms amounting to P34.4 million funded under the DepEd Basic Educational Facilities Fund are divided into three two-storey units each with six classrooms.

These will be utilized by the senior high school students taking up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and other strands offered by GKNHS.

“This is part of the government’s efforts to provide a conducive learning environment for students, as each year, enrollees continue to rise with the implementation of K-12 program,” District Engineer Gerald Pacanan said.

He added that the engineering office is conducting regular ocular inspections on the projects to ensure that the program of works, plans and specifications are strictly followed by contractors.

Nicerato Gonzaga Jr., the school principal said that with the construction of these school buildings, students and teachers will have a better interaction during classes.

“I am grateful that we are one of the recipients of the school building projects and for the fast implementation of DPWH,” he added.

For 2019, the school has a total of 128 teaching and non-teaching staff and accommodates 3, 271 students from grades 7 to 12.

Save the Children Philippines to mothers: Breastfeed infants exclusively on first 6 months

Press Release
August 6, 2019

MAKATI CITY – Save the Children Philippines is urging mothers to breastfeed infants exclusively during the first six months to protect them from diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia – the world’s leading causes of child death.

The group raised concern on the steady decline of exclusive breastfeeding in the Philippines with 65 to 68.6 per cent of mothers breastfeeding exclusively for the first two months but declining to 29 percent as babies turn 5 months. The figure was reflected in the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey of the Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

The call was made in time for the World Breastfeeding Week, celebrated from August 1 to 7 with the theme: “Empower Parents. Enable Breastfeeding” to raise awareness on the many benefits of breastfeeding.

Despite known benefits of breastmilk, 60 per cent of the world’s total infants including those in the Philippines are not getting the recommended six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

Lawyer Albert Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said existing laws including the Milk Code and First 1,000 Days mandate local governments and hospitals to facilitate exclusive breastfeeding for newborn babies up to six months.

He said local health and nutrition workers have a critical role to allow the infant to be breastfed in the first hour after birth and assist mothers to breastfeed exclusively in the first six months and to continue up to two years with complementary feeding.

“Local leaders should invest in health and nutrition of children by hiring adequate number of skilled health and nutrition workers to ensure mothers breastfeed immediately after birth and exclusively up to six months,” said Muyot.

In a research study of Save the Children Philippines, it cited the decline in breastfeeding practice due to the lack of skilled health workers in maternity clinics in the communities.

The study also noted rampant violations of the Philippine Milk Code or Executive Order 51, National Code of Marketing Breast Milk Supplements and Other Products that prohibits the promotion of milk products as breastmilk substitutes.

It also blamed aggressive promotions of giant manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes or milk formula targeting mothers and putting health claims in the packaging that misinform the public that the benefits of breastmilk can be gained from infant formula.

The study noted that there are still milk companies that sponsor trips and conventions of doctors and health workers to encourage them to promote milk products to mothers of infants and young children.

Save the Children Philippines implements a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition program in the most deprived communities in Caloocan, Navotas and Malabon in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces of Sarangani and North Cotabato conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

Dr. Amado Parawan, Health and Nutrition Advisor of Save the Children Philippines said besides exclusive breastfeeding for six months, mothers should ensure continuous breastfeeding up to two years to guarantee optimum health of their babies.

Save the Children Philippines advocated the passage of the Republic Act No. 11148 or Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act that ensures optimum care of a child from conception up to two years or the first 1,000 days of life to reduce malnutrition and child deaths due to preventable causes.

The law, now passed as ordinance in the cities of Malabon, Caloocan and Navotas, and the municipalities of Magpet and Arakan in North Cotabato and Alabel in Sarangani mandates exclusive breastfeeding for babies during the first six months.

More than 30 studies worldwide have shown that breastfeeding provides optimum benefits to both mothers and babies that include:

• Reduces the risk of dying for infants and young children. At least 840,000 neonatal deaths can be prevented annually if breastfeeding is initiated within an hour after birth.

• Boost immune system for infants and young children living in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water.

• Reduce cases of respiratory tract infections, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections and otitis media among babies and children.

• Reduce rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome within the first year of life.

• Decrease incidence of both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus among children

• Reduce possibility of lymphoma, leukemia, and Hodgkin’s disease, obesity, and allergic conditions in children.

• Reduce risks of mothers getting breast cancer, ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.

NUSP: Underutilized funds prove CHED, gov’t insincere to make college free

Press Release
August 2, 2019

QUEZON CITY – CHED was unable to utilize P20.3 billion or half of the P39.9 billion budget for RA 10931 in 2018.

CHED cannot argue that this is a natural outcome of newly implemented laws. Right from the start, we can observe that the Duterte administration has been insincere in providing free education to the Filipino youth.

For instance, President Duterte signed the law on August 3, 2017, but the final version of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) was released only on March 26, 2018. This seven-month delay was caused by the insistence of the government to “make best use of funds” and “target the most needy students” by inserting layers of restrictions as to who can avail of free education.

CHED has even gone so low that it ordered SUCs and LUCs to tighten their admission and retention policies, thereby limiting the number of students who can benefit from free education. As the report of the Commission on Audit (COA) reveals, there is more than enough funds to cover all students in SUCs and LUCs. On top of that, all students of public higher education institutions essentially deserve the right to free and quality education.

Also, the law already has funding for January to December 2018. Yet the Duterte administration stubbornly pushed that funds be used starting June 2018. This has deprived students enrolled in SUCs and LUCs of one semester of waived fees: not just tuition, but also other school fees.

While CHED has not fully utilized the funds for free education, it permits continued charging of fees in SUCs and LUCs. It was quick to release a list of around 140 other school fees that may be collected from students, contrary to the spirit of the free education law.

Even associations of private higher education institutions decried the very late implementation of the Student Loan Program and the Tertiary Education Subsidy, which are two other components of RA 10931. These programs could have provided immediate relief to students in private schools who suffer from annual school fee increases approved by the government itself through CHED.

The COA report confirms the cry of many students nationwide: that CHED has been making it very difficult for the youth to gain access to scholarship funds and subsidies of the government. In the case of the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), only P18 million out of P342 million, or a tiny 5.27 percent, was utilized for fiscal year 2018.

CHED and the Duterte government implemented RA 10931 only because of strong pressure from students, youth and advocates of accessible education for all. Unfortunately, after President Duterte has taken credit for the law, his administration is now dozing off in its task to make sure that collection of school fees stops.

The various excuses of CHED for underutilization of funds cannot hide the reality that it has been functioning as Duterte’s agency for inaccessible and market-driven education.

FundLife and Toby’s Sports join forces to empower girls through access to football and education!

Press Release
August 1, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – FundLife are excited to announce a new partnership with Toby’s Sports – the Philippines’ largest multi-sports retailer. The effort will aim to protect, educate and empower marginalised girls through the retailing of special keychains to support FundLife’s work in communities. The limited-edition designs will sell across 10 Toby’s Sports branches, including its Flagship store in BGC. All proceeds from the sales will go directly to help more girls access safe spaces to play sports and further their education through FundLife’s sports-based educational programs.

The announcement comes after FundLife launched its Girls Community League (GCL) movement at the World Football Summit in Kuala Lumpur on 29th April. The regional movement, which started in Tacloban in 2018, aims to give equitable access to 23,000 marginalised girls and boys across the Philippines by 2023, through the creation of community-led football leagues.

The partnership with Toby’s Sports will allow consumers to stand with girls and support them through equitable access to play, education and opportunity. Under the banner of ‘Rock the chain, let them play,’ socially-conscious consumers will be given a chance to purchase the stainless steel, engraved keychain for only P129, which is the cost to keep one girl in the GCL program for two weeks.

“We want to show people that a small contribution goes a long way – by giving up just one Starbucks coffee every month, it can keep one girl enrolled in the GCL program – buying a keychain is a great way to start a conversation with friends and family about supporting girls to have access to sports and education,” said Kimberly Lopez, FundLife Operations Manager.

“We are extremely happy to partner with Toby’s Sports in this campaign. Toby’s Sports has long been a champion of helping children through sports and this collaboration is very exciting for FundLife,” added FundLife Program Director, Marko Kasic.

GCL is supported through global partners, which includes Common-Goal, a global movement of professional football who have chosen to donate 1% of their wages to supporting football for good programs.

“We’re excited to partner with FundLife in this amazing initiative. At Toby’s Sports, we believe in harnessing the power of sports to change lives, and we applaud FundLife for doing what they can to make sports accessible to these girls,” said Toby Claudio, President of Quorum International Inc., the parent company of Toby’s Sports.

The proceeds of sales from the GCL keychains will be used to support FundLife’s football for good projects that currently reach over 5,000 children in Tacloban, Cebu and Northern Mindanao and to bring the Girls Community League to even more aspiring football players.

RONDA 1 media group visits Eastern Visayas, exchanges notes with counterpart HIMSoG-8

By JACK C. GADAINGAN
July 30, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – A contingent of 13 practitioners of the quad-media from Ilocos Region (Region 1) visited Eastern Visayas for a technical rendezvous with National Nutrition Council Region VIII (NNC-8) media-group partner Harmonized Initiatives of Media for the Spread of Good Nutrition in Region 8 (HIMSoG-8) on July 15-17, 2019.

The media personalities are members of the Regional Organization of Nutrition Development Advocates of Region 1 (RONDA 1), the media-group partner of NNC-Ilocos Region. Like HIMSoG-8, RONDA 1 is also into the fight against hunger and malnutrition in Region 1, through the persuasive use of media power.

RONDA 1 contingent was headed by its President Bernie Errasquin, with him were gentlemen Romeo Umipig, Harry Peralta, and Cesar Obar; with ladies Celestina Paz, Maricel Fonda, Charity Frianeza, Milagros Abuan, Gina Mae Villanueva, and Gloria Tuazon; and escorts from NNC-1 headed by Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator (RNPC) Ma. Eileen B. Blanco together with Kendall Pilgrim A. Gatan and No Wyli.

A contingent from HIMSoG-8 headed by President Antonio C. Pueblos welcomed the media-visitors on their arrival at the Tacloban City Airport, and after a whistle-stop breakfast in Palo town, in a two-van convoy the two media groups proceeded on a three-hour journey to Palompon town, west coast of Leyte Island where the serious activities were scheduled to transpire.

In Palompon, NNC-8 RNPC Doc. Catalino P. Dotollo Jr., joined the congregation for the courtesy call and interaction with newly installed Palompon Mayor Myra Georgina L. Arevalo. Then the nutrition advocates from Region 1 and Region 8 proceeded to the Polompon Institute of Technology (PIT) for the scheduled nutrition promotion activities, and to observe the operations of NNC stablished FM station Radyo Kausbawan, a Nutriskela Radyo run by the academe.

After lunch, RONDA 1 and HIMSoG-8 tackled the main agenda of exchanging accomplishments – with each group making presentation of each’s achievements, that was followed with questions and answers, and finding common grounds to share and adopt strategies to combat the common enemy, malnutrition! After which the media groups examined the broadcast booth of Radyo Kausbawan, which provided some the opportunity to air to local listeners their visit intentions to Region 8.

The following day, July 16, RONDA 1 with some members of HIMSoG-8 together with NNC-8 media conduit Novida Rico, proceeded to the town’s Tabuk Marine Park Fish and Bird Sanctuary, a five-minute boat ride distance from the town center, where RONDA 1 conducted a scheduled Program Implementation Review (PIR).

On the third day, July 17, RONDA 1 contingent with Novida Rico for a guide, got the chance to tour Tacloban City tourist and historical sites, and observe the local nutrition situation first hand – prior their flight back home the flowing day to Ilocos Region.

DOLE-8 assists bakers, dressmakers in Tacloban City

By NORMA RAE S. COSTIMIANO
July 29, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – Some fifty (50) bakers, dressmakers and entrepreneurs receive a total of P724,400.00 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VIII last July 25, 2019 at Tacloban Training Center, USAID Building, this city.

Charged against the agency’s DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) funds, DOLE RO VIII downloaded the said amount to LGU-Tacloban for the implementation of three (3) approved individual and group projects namely: “Dressmaking”, “Bread & Pastry” and “Souvenirs & Giftshop”.

From the total of P724,400.00, P150,000.00 were utilized for the procurement of ten (10) units of sewing machines and P176,400.00 were spent for ten (10) ovens.

Meanwhile, the Tacloban Entrepreneurs Association Marketing Cooperative received a total of P398,000.00 worth of assistance for their proposed Souvenirs & Giftshop Project.

DOLE RO VIII Regional Director Yahya A. Centi was present to personally turn over the livelihood tools and equipment to the beneficiaries. In his message, Director Centi congratulated all the beneficiaries for their resiliency and expressed continued commitment to delivering public service in the region.

“I am now facing Taclobanons whom I know are resilient people. Let me congratulate all of you for being our beneficiaries. Today is a classical proof that we are doing our very best for you, our dear clients. As long as we are complying with the rules, we will continue our engagement with you”, said Centi.

Director Centi likewise challenged the beneficiaries to grow their respective businesses and not settle for what they have at present.

You know, it is my dream to see you in the future having your respective businesses reaching even the foreign market. And that will start by you being so dedicated to your crafts”, Centi added.

Also present to grace the simple turnover ceremony were Tacloban City Councilors Jom Bagulaya and Leo Bahin and PESO Manager, Ms. Emilia Cruz.

Honorable Leo Bahin thanked DOLE for the usual support and even recalled how the agency assisted them when he was still a barangay chairperson few years back when super typhoon Yolanda devastated the city in 2013.

“I can really testify how we are able to avail emergency employment program from the DOLE during the Yolanda. As a barangay chairman that time, I was so thankful for all those help for our constituents who were trying to cope with the challenging situation. Sincerely, I am grateful to DOLE for all the help”, Hon. Bahin said.

The program ended with a photo opportunity wherein the genuine smiles of the beneficiaries were captured, a manifestation of their joy and excitement for the blessings received.

Tanauan farmers get 500k worth of poultry business from DOLE

By Norma Rae S. Costimiano, DOLE-8
July 29, 2019

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of P500,000.00 worth of poultry business had been turned-over by the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VIII through its North Leyte Field Office to the local government unit of Tanauan last July 22, 2019 at Brgy. Cabuynan, Tanauan, Leyte.

Direct beneficiaries of the project entitled “Layer Poultry Farming” are some thirty-five members of the Cabuynan Small Coconut Farmers Organization of LGU-Tanauan.

Honorable Pelagio R. Tecson, Jr., Mayor of the municipality, graced the turnover ceremony together with Ms. Gemma D. Dela Cruz, Senior Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-North Leyte Field Office representing Director Yahya A. Centi. He sincerely thanked DOLE for the assistance it extended to the municipality.

“I am so grateful to our labor department here in Region VIII for assisting us in terms of augmenting the income of our constituents here in Tanauan. It is indeed a big help not just for the LGU but most importantly to the beneficiaries and their families”, said Mayor Tecson.

Ms. De la Cruz urged the LGU and the association to really look into the business so that it will become sustainable.

“We hope that through the coordinated efforts of the Cabuynan Small Coconut Farmers Association and the supervision of the LGU, this project will be a successful one. We are happy that you now have this business but we will be much happier if this will become sustainable”, de la Cruz said.

The beneficiaries were so happy that finally they now have their own business. Per approved livelihood proposal, the association was granted ten (10) egg laying units equivalent to 480 chickens.

Considering there is no existing layer farmer in the locality, the association saw it as an opportunity for them to venture in. With the help of the DOLE and LGU, their plan is now a reality.

Seawall project to protect residents in Leyte town

By DPWH 2nd LED
July 26, 2019

DULAG, Leyte – Intending to protect the residents along coastal villages, the Department of Public Works and Highways Leyte Second District Engineering Office geared up a total of P17 million worth of flood mitigation project in Dulag, Leyte.

District Engineer Gerald Pacanan said that the embankment project involves the installation of 120 meters prefabricated concrete pile sheet that would absorb and lessen the force of waves and redirect the water towards the sea.

The project will alleviate the problems of erosion along the coastline and reduce the hazards of storm surge to the residents of Brgy. Luan during the occurrence of typhoon.

“It is always the top priority of our office to protect and ensure safety of the people and of the community, especially those that are greatly susceptible to the dangers of flooding during inclement weather conditions,” Pacanan added.

The project started on June 07, 2019 and will be completed on or before November 21, 2019.

For 2019, the district has carried out a total of twelve flood mitigation projects amounting to P286.74 million.

DPWH rehabilitates Daang Maharlika to Magsaysay Blvd. exit

By MAE ANGELICA R. COMOTA
July 25, 2019

CALBAYOG CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways Samar First District Engineering Office completes the P80 million road improvement project from Daang Maharlika (Toyota Calbayog) to Magsaysay Boulevard exit.

The project covers the rehabilitation of 2.64 lane kilometers of road including the construction of drainage structures. The previously 2-lane road is widened into four lanes to accommodate a continuous, smooth flow of traffic.

The travelling public can now enjoy a safer travel environment as some elevated parts of the road were also downgraded.