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PGMA showers Eastern Samar with more anti-poverty goodies

Calbayog cops nab 31 people, seize home-made guns, money for violation of election laws

One protesting Sumilao lady farmer hospitalized in Leyte

Leyte town adjudged most business friendly municipality of the Visayas

All is set for historic Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration

2 pharmacies from Catbalogan to receive “Quality Seal” awards from DOH-BFAD

Cong. Cari to refile bill creating Western Leyte province

Region 8 got ten of top 20 in National Achievement Test

Schoolgirl from Eastern Samar tops National Achievement Test

PNP, army forge MOA on internal security

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Roxas is the standard bearer of LP in 2010, Drilon says

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 19, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Senator Mar Roxas will be standard bearer of the Liberal Party come 2010. This was the pronouncement of former Senate President Franklin Drilon in a press conference with the local media here on November 15.

Philippine Senator Mar Roxas
Senator Mar Roxas

Sen. Drilon, who is the current president of the Liberal Party said that the party which one of the oldest political parties in the country, will have its annual meeting on November 26, 2007 during which, Senator Roxas will be surely elected as the new President of the party and will be formally proclaimed as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2010 elections.

Drilon who was in town to keynote the first Government Accountants’ Forum and to attend the 45th Anniversary of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Tacloban Chapter held at the Kanhuraw Convention Center, said that the country needs a strong party and so the move is to revitalize the Liberal Party and with Sen. Mar Roxas as the standard bearer, the Liberal Party will present a solid good governance platform.

Senator Roxas is the unanimous choice of the party, there are no other candidates for President from the party, Drilon said. He however could not say who the running mate of Senator Roxas will be. The party will decide on that in the near future, Drilon who reliable sources say will run again as Senator in the 2010 election, intimated.

Drilon said that he foresees a three or four cornered fight in the coming Presidential elections. He however declined to name the names of the would-be candidates. Again reliable sources informed that very soon, the Nacionalista Party which is also one of the oldest parties in the country will have its convention in the near future and will proclaim Senate President Manny Villar as its standard bearer in the forthcoming 2010 presidential elections.

The Liberal Party, as a political party will present a solid platform based on good governance, the former Senate President declared saying that the problem today is that there is too much distrust and doubt in the government. The Liberal Party will therefore present a strong platform that will endeavor to win the confidence and trust in the government.

For the government to be truly effective, it needs the trust and confidence of the people, Drilon added. It would be recalled that the former Senate President who was once a political ally of the Administration, joined the call for the current President to resign amid the Garci scandal.

Asked if the party will be supported by former President Estrada on the presidential bid of Senator Roxas who is the scion of a family of politicians and one of the richest clans in the country, former Senate President Drilon refused to give categorical answer.

He however, lamented that most of the political parties in the country today, are personality based and not on principles as when the country has only two political parties.

Asked if it is rather early to start the presidential campaign, Drilon said that whether we like it or not, the would be presidential candidate should start by this time, otherwise, the people will not be given the chance to really know the candidate and the presidential candidate will not have the chance to really go around the country to present his platform.

 

 

 

 

Continuous heavy rains cause damages to several roads and bridges in Region 8

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 19, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the Department of Public Works and Highways provided a situational report on the roads and bridges which have been affected by the continuous heavy rains in Region 8.

In the province of Biliran, all road sections are passable to traffic. No damages were noted except for washed out surfacing materials and clogged-up waterways.

No damages were reported in the province of Leyte except for the washed out surfacing materials and clogged up waterways in Leyte II.

In Tacloban City, however, although all roads and bridges are passable to traffic, damaged grouted riprap due to flooding has been observed along Maharlika Highway, KM 903+000 at the Nulatula section, while grouted riprap and surfacing materials washed out along Tigbao-Pulak-Sta. Fe section has also been reported. The total estimated cost or repair was placed at P10 million.

In Samar II, roadways were flooded due to clogged up ditches and cross drainages, but all roads are passable to traffic. Declogging of ditches and drainages are now being undertaken.

Eastern Samar appears to be mostly affected by the heavy rains because of the landslide which occurred in the evening of November 13 along the junction of the Buenavista-Lawaan-Marabut Road, KM 995+400 in Barangay Sto. Nino, Quinapondan, Eastern Samar.

The landslide caused the total closure to traffic of the said national road. Vehicles bound for Eastern Samar were directed to take the Wright-Taft-Borongan Road. Warning signs were installed and the DPWH maintenance team undertook emergency removal of debris. On Nov. 14, half lane of the affected road portion was opened to traffic. Estimated cost of the damage was placed at P850,000.

Also in East Samar, along Wright-Taft-Borongan Road, San Julian Road Section, KM 924+721, the DPWH reported damaged slope protection at Bugas Bridge approach with estimated cost of damage placed at P500,000. Said section, however, is passable to all types of vehicles. The DPWH engineering district in Borongan reported that installation of warning signs were already undertaken.

In the second district of Northern Samar, the mainland road network are all passable to traffic. No occurrence of overflowing or landslides were reported except for the observed scouring that has started at the bridges approaches due to increasing flood water in the Bantayan and Dale rivers in San Roque, Northern Samar. The DPWH said that the condition of the two rivers is now closely monitored for possible inundation due to strong currents and increasing water levels.

All roads and bridges within the Northern Samar first district are passable to traffic.

Meanwhile, the Region continuous to experience rains. The Office of Civil Defense reported that a low pressure area was spotted at 80 kms of Northern Mindanao and the difused tail end of a cold front affecting the Bicol Region, will bring cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms beaming widespread rains over the Eastern sections of Visayas and Mindanao.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail over northern and eastern Luzon and Eastern Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

 

 

 

 

Leyte 5th district solon’s car heavily damaged in the Batasan blast

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 16, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Toyota Fortuner vehicle of Congresswoman Carmen Loreto-Cari of the Fifth District of Leyte, was heavily damaged during the Batasan explosion on Tuesday November 13. In a phone patch with the good Congresswoman, it was learned that her car is right next to the motorcycle which allegedly carried the bomb that blasted the south wing entrance of the Batasan Complex on Tuesday night.

Congresswoman Cari said that she was at the legislators lounge exchanging pleasantries with some of the lady solons when she learned that the session was already adjourned.

The Lady Solon had to go back to the session hall to get her bag. She was already halfway in the hallway when the explosion was heard. Together with her staff, Congresswoman Cari ran back to the session hall.

It has been her policy that when she is ready to leave, her secretary calls her driver to immediately go near the South Wing entrance so that the congresswoman will not have to stand and wait for so long.

That evening, right after the secretary called him, the driver immediate parked the Fortuner near the entrance. However, because Congresswoman was delayed because she had to go back to the Session Hall for her bag, the driver left the car as he couldn’t endure the call of nature anymore.

The driver did not bother to go to the comfort room anymore as it was too far, so he just went farther to relieve himself. Just then he heard an explosion. In fact his hand was wounded because of splinters.

Congresswoman Cari said she shivers every time she thinks that had she not been delayed for only about one or two minutes, she and her staff could have been among the victims of the explosion.

Although her car is already beyond repair, Congresswoman Cari is still thankful to God for sparing her life.

"Perhaps God still has many assignments for me to accomplish," the Lady Solon said. There are still many things she wants to accomplish for her constituents, she said.

Earlier, the Lady Solon mentioned to her staff and her friends that it was Tuesday the 13th, the day of St. Anthony de Padua, whose feast day is 13th and whose day is Tuesday. The Lady Solon is a devotee of St. Anthony de Padua in Pomponan back in her hometown in Baybay, Leyte. She said she usually offers mass there because it is known to be miraculous.

Congresswoman Cari believes St. Anthony de Padua spared her and her staff from the blast.

With her car totally wrecked, she had to call her house to send in another car for them to ride on. It was only at midnight when she called the office of the Speaker informing that the wrecked car was hers and requested that the security guard keep watch of the vehicle.

Congresswoman Cari said that she offered Mass Wednesday morning for the blast victims and for sparing her and her staff’s lives.

Congresswoman Cari thanked those who called and showed concern for her and for the other members of the House of Representatives. She said that she immediately called her sister, PAGCOR Vice President and former Congresswoman Remedios L. Petilla to inform her about what happened.

 

 

 

 

Jobs Fair yields hundred new jobs

By SAMMY CANDIDO (PIA Eastern Samar)
November 16, 2007

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  In line with the celebration of 42nd Founding anniversary of the Province of Eastern Samar, the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar sponsored a “Jobs Fair” on November 6-8, 2007 which fast tracked the meeting of job seekers and employers/overseas recruitment agencies in only one venue at a specific date.

Here, job seekers and employers met and agencies processed and prepared the documents needed by the applicants. Specifically National Statistics Office (NSO) served 13 clients for marriage contract and 104 clients for Birth Certificates, while 88 clients were served by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for new and renewal of NBI clearance; 81 clients were served by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for new and renewal of passport.

Two private recruiting agencies participated in the fair. The Mothers Way Manpower Special Overseas Agency recruited 59 clients and Pacific Herenian International Manpower Agency recruited 72 clients from different Jobs List during the three-day Jobs Fair.

Upon the completion other requirements, the jobs seekers will undergo rigid six months training, after that they will take TESDA Assessment Test. Once they pass the test, the recruitment agency will finally decide. Applicants were required to bring their bio-data, one 2x2 picture, certificate of employment, diploma/transcript of records and authenticated birth certificate.

Other agencies which participated in the fair were: DOLE, TESDA and POEA.

The Jobs Fair recently conducted was the 4th one already since 2004, where a total of 11 Jobs Fair were held in the municipalities of Dolores, Guiuan, Salcedo and Borongan.

The fair opened to all unemployed, skilled and unskilled workers, fresh college graduates, graduates of training institutions, displaced workers and employees seeking advancement, where they selected vacancies suited to their qualifications, also employers interviewed and hired on the spot the qualified workers.

 

 

 

 

Contaminated water source seen as culprit in Gamay diarrhea outbreak

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 14, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Gamay diarrhea outbreak in Gamay, Northern Samar could be due to contaminated water source. This is the report of the DOH- RDCC-OCD Team which was formed and was dispatched to provide technical assistance and to conduct epidemiological investigation on November 11, 2007 via chopper from the Philippine Airforce Tactical Operation 8.

The team composed of Director Tiogenes Baluma of DOH Region 8, Dr. Nicolas Bautista who is the Regional Epidemiologist, Nurse Boyd Cerro who is the Epidemiology Nurse, Engr. Alejandro Rivera who is the Supervising Sanitary Engineer and OCD Director Salvador Estudillo coordinated with the NDCC for the transport of the needed medical supplies and manpower to Gamay.

The findings of the Team showed that there were 147 (used to be 154 but Director Baluma said that several names were entered twice) diarrhea cases who consulted the Gamay District Hospital from October 22 to November 11. Eighty cases were admitted, from ages one month to 78 years old.

Most of the affected age group are the one to four years old; one case died and most of the cases came from Barangay Burabod. One hundred twenty one of the cases drank water fro the Burabod water source.

Director Baluma said that the water source from Barangay Burabod was from a developed spring. Four jetmatic pumps were connected to the improved spring and were located outside the perimeter of the improved spring.

The report stated that several months before the epidemic, the barangay officials decided to construct a water reservoir which was again attached to the improved spring. This was operationalized on October 17. Water from the spring, without chlorination, was pumped into the reservoir, every 7:00 o’clock in the morning and at 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, and distributed to the barangay through communal faucets.

In between, the water pump was turned off. People living near the source claimed that they utilized the water from the reservoir only for washing and bathing and only water from the four jetmatic pumps were used for drinking. However, houses far from the source were utilizing water for drinking from the reservoir.

A spring adjacent to the water source was also improved and was utilized by the residents for laundering of clothes. It was noted that the people washing their dirty clothes were also pouring their dirty water into the spring.

The report added that based on key informants interview, residents claimed that the level of the nearby spring used for laundering goes down when the electric pump was used.

In the report, the Team observed that the symptoms of the diarrhea outbreak were cholera-like in character. The outbreak could be due to the contamination of the water source. The use of an electric pump to pull out water to the newly constructed reservoir created a negative pressure inside the spring sources thereby suctioning water from the nearby springs used for laundering thereby contaminating the improved spring.

The presence of septic tanks from the houses less than 15 meters away from the water source can also be a factor for the contamination of the source, the report said.

Personal hygiene and home chlorination was emphasized until a system in chlorinating the water for drinking is in place, the Team recommended.

The actions taken, according to the Team’s report to Health Secretary Duque, are provision of medicines, IV fluids and medical supplies to the hospital and Rural Health Units of Gamay and Lapinig; provision of technical assistance in the consultation and conduct of epidemiological investigation; provision of chlorines for home chlorination (stock solution); augmentation of medical manpower to the hospital; advisory for local sanitary inspectors on how to improve water system; conduct of water sampling and coordination with OCD and other agencies.

On November 9, Dr. Mary Ann Avalon, the Provincial Health Officer of Northern Samar reported to the Region of 100 diarrheal cases of whom 60 were admitted at the Gamay District Hospital. Most of the cases came from 8 barangays of the municipality. Along with the report was the request for augmentation of manpower to the hospital and fluids and medicines to meet the increase demand of services.

A DOH- Provincial Health Team Physician was immediately requested to proceed to Gamay on November 10, 2007. Medicines and IV Fluids were immediately procured.

 

 

 

 

PGMA order release of additional P1,000 election honorarium for teachers

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
November 14, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Greek philosopher Aristotle once said that in the arena of human life, the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action.

Another favorite quotation goes, "we will receive not what we idly wish for but what we justly earn. Our rewards will always be in exact proportion to our service."

Thus, for ensuring free, fair and fast selection of the grassroots leaders through their vigor and vigilance, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Budget Secretary to release an additional one thousand pesos (P1,000) to all teacher who served in the recently concluded synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The augmentation the President has just ordered, will bring to a total of two thousand five hundred the total remuneration the teachers will receive for the last elections.

The President said that the teachers selflessly displayed vigor and vigilance so that all Filipinos can exercise their rights of suffrage. The President believed that the industry and commitment of the teachers who served during the last elections must not go unappreciated.

The President said that this financial initiative to the teachers is extended to them by a grateful government not just for the services beyond the call of duty in the last elections but also for the sacrifices they continue to endure in molding the minds of the Filipino youth.

Although the 2007 budget only authorized P1,500 maximum honorarium for the teachers who will serve in the barangay elections, the President, however, pursuant to powers vested on her have ordered the corresponding adjustments to be sourced from savings made possible by the prudent utilization of the country’s fiscal surplus.

So that delays and miscommunications will be avoided, the President has also instructed the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Education to coordinate with COMELEC to review policies pertaining to the release of pay for teachers performing election duties.

The Presidents move is but a manifestation that she realizes exemplary work and commitment of the government workers who are partners in the ordering of society and in the attainment of good governance, and who more often than not serve more than what they are paid for.

 

 

 

 

Gastro intestinal epidemic strikes in Gamay, Northern Samar

By Maj. OTHELO D. YAÑEZ, (FA) PA
November 12, 2007

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City  –  During President Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo’s visit in Region 8 last November 9, 2007 to attend the Eastern Samar 42nd Founding Anniversary in Borongan City and the Peace Summit of Region 8 in Tacloban City, an unofficial report reached her regarding the outbreak of epidemic on gastro intestinal disorder associated with vomiting and severe LBM in Gamay municipality, Northern Samar.  A small town of 25,000 people and 26 barangays is situated around100 kms southeast of Catarman, the capital of the said province.

According to the report, hundreds of victims were rushed to the 25 bed capacity hospital of said municipality with only one doctor.

The President immediately instructed Presidential Adviser for Eastern Visayas Victor Domingo to provide all the necessary medical assistance at the earliest possible time.

Early morning of the following day, Presidential Adviser Domingo, Mayor Timoteo Capuquian of Gamay, Northern Samar with Major General Armando L Cunanan, Commanding General, 8ID, PA, and medical teams under Major Teodoro Montes aboard two (2) UH-1H helicopter proceeded to the municipality of Gamay to conduct the immediate medical response per PGMA’s instruction.

It was learned that a total of 138 persons were reportedly suffering from the disease. Eighty-eight (88) persons of which were recorded treated at Gamay District Hospital in the said province while others opted to stay home for local medications. One victim identified as Emma Celis, 42 years old, residing at Barangay Baybay of said town died at the emergency room of the hospital earlier on the day due to severe dehydration. The victims were reported to have experienced severe stomach pain and lose bowel movement accompanied by vomiting.

Accordingly, the residents of the said Poblacion has a common source of water at a nearby spring previously reported to have been contaminated while the others get their source of water from deep wells.

The group of DOH personnel in Region 8 headed by the Regional Director Dr. Teogenes Baluma brought with them volume of medicines and reinforced the medical teams in the hospital.

As of press time, the number of in-patient victims declines to 74 while 8ID medical teams are still at the area to provide continuous medical attention and assistance to the victims.

Mayor Timoteo Capuquian of said town expresses his heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the immediate medical attention extended by the government through the Presidential Assistance for Eastern Visayas and the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army.

 

 

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