Shakeup happened amid earlier calls of Rep. Gomez

TACLOBAN CITY– Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Loyzaga has implemented revamp of several regional directors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agency, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

And among those affected were the DENR executive regional director Arturo Fadriguela and EMB director Martin Despi, both in Eastern Visayas.

Taking the post of Fadriguela, who was assigned to Region 9, is Lormelyn Claudio who was from Mimaropa, while Despi was reassigned to Region 3 and was replaced by Wilson Trajeco.

The change of leadership came at a time as Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez (4th district) has previously called on Sec. Loyzaga to replace the DENR-MBG officials in the region amid his row with Palompon Mayor Ramon Oñate, who owns a poultry farm, DBSN.

According to the Leyte solon, the poultry farm owned by Oñate discharges its wastes directly to a major watershed in Palompon.

Gomez said that aside from polluting the environment, the improper discharge of wastes from DBSN has also resulted in health and sanitary problems among residents, particularly those residing in Barangay San Joaquin, where the poultry farm is located.

The lawmaker has earlier called for a congressional inquiry on this matter and also mulls filing a writ of kalikasan against the town mayor.

“I am very passionate about this environmental problem in our district because if this violation will not be acted accordingly, what will happen to our environment, especially in the fourth district of Leyte,” Gomez earlier said.

“That is why, I am here, standing up against this environmental violator,” he added.
Mayor Onate, for his part, denied the allegations of the congressman saying the watershed is not affected as it is located a kilometer away from his facility.

He also owns a 55,000-capacity chicken dressing plant in Albuera, also in Leyte.

The revamp issued by Sec. Loyzaga, citing ‘in the interest of public service’ as the reason, was issued on July 6 with both new officials of DENR and MGB in the region taking their posts on July 24.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

BORONGAN CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways – Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH-ESDEO) held a Culminating Program for the On-the-Job trainees of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Main Campus and Guiuan Campus on Friday, July 28, 2023 at ESDEO Function Hall.

The said activity was participated by 11 interns from ESSU Main Campus whom they started their On-the-Job Training (OJT) from June 26 to July 28, 2023 which is equivalent to 192 hours and another 10 interns from ESSU Guiuan campus who successfully completed their 240 hours of training from June 15 to July 27. 2023.

During the Culminating Program, Mylene Lanuevo, a BSCE intern from ESSU Guiuan Campus extended her gratitude to Eastern Samar DEO for accepting and showing them the extent of work that a licensed Engineers does.

“Thank you for exposing us to different areas where we can develop our skills and gain knowledge that will guide us throughout our journey as Civil Engineering Students,” Lanuevo, one of the trainees said.

Meanwhile, Marlyn Abique, an intern from ESSU Main campus said that the internship was a worthwhile experience since the agency provided them a hands-on experience honing their knowledge and skills in the field of engineering.

“I have developed many skills and have a much greater concept of what to expect after college. My internship has given me a greater understanding of what I have learned in the classroom and given the opportunity to apply it to real situations. One of the greatest benefits that I have received is the knowledge that I actually enjoy doing what I have been studying for,” said Abique.

District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio thanked the two (2) campuses for giving Eastern Samar DEO an opportunity to perform an extension service as part of the district’s social responsibility. ESDEO provided the interns a hands-on training throughout their internship and conducted an evaluative examination a day before the end of their training.

“You were given an assessment examination to enable us to measure the effectiveness of our teaching by linking your performance to specific learning objectives. This is also a tool used to improve student’s performance, thus, becoming them more involved in the learning process and from this they will gain confidence in what they are expected to learn and to what standard,” DE Ignacio said.

DE Ignacio also gave an advice to the future engineers that never be afraid to ask and always expect the worst.

“Do not hesitate to ask questions as it is through asking that you will learn. This will also help us enhance your performance by sharing clearly defined learning goals,” added DE Ignacio.

In his message, Assistant District Engineer Domcelio M. Natividad commended the On-the-Job Trainees for their cooperation during the anniversary of the district.

“In all aspects they are really good students. They are so cooperative and whatever our activities they are involved in. They really have shown cooperation. That’s one thing I have observed from them,” said ADE Natividad.

He also said that the internship that they had in ESDEO is not the beginning nor the end of their journey in getting their goals in life.

“Make it a principle in your lives that slowly but surely you will be able to attain your goals that you want to achieve. Try to make your family as your inspiration in achieving your goals,” ADE Natividad added.

Also present during the said activity were Chief of Planning and Design Section Arturo A. Apura, Chief of Finance Section Rolando S. Rosaroso, Engr. Sheila Operario, OJT Adviser of ESSU Main Campus Emelyn Malinao and Head of Internship Program of ESSU Guiuan Anthony Jude Pagatpatan.
(MAY ANTOINETTE O. NABLE, PIO STAFF)

Globe is the undisputed Mobile leader in the Philippines, edging out competitors in its user count as it logged nearly 54 million registered SIMs as of July 30, the end of the 5-day grace period following seven months of registration.

Based on data released by the National Telecommunications Commission, Globe has logged 53,727,798 registered SIMs as of 11:59 p.m. on July 30, over 1.2 million higher than the nearest competition.

Globe earlier logged a last-minute surge in SIM registrations after as the deadline lapsed on July 25 and the grace period for reactivation started on July 26, recording nearly 4 million more registered and reactivated SIMs during the 5-day grace period. A survey found that many registered at the last minute as they were afraid to be victimized by identity theft while the others were extremely busy with other pressing matters.

“After seven months of our nationwide registration which brought us to the remote parts of the country, Globe was able to reach the most number of customers successfully. With close to 54 million subscribers registered, we retained our position as the country’s Mobile leader,” said Darius Delgado, Head of Globe’s Consumer Mobile Business.

“We thank our customers for taking part in this historic undertaking as we work together to beat spam, scam and other forms of online fraud,” he said.

Throughout the registration process, Globe rolled out several modes of registration for the convenience of its customers: its online portal https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg, the GlobeOne app, GCash, and the bulk registration portal for enterprise customers.

To reach as many customers as it could, Globe also deployed 1,572 SIM Registration Assistance Desks to help the elderly, PWDs, and those without internet access or are using basic or feature phones. Globe Stores and EasyHubs nationwide were also open for walk-in customers who may need help to register their SIMs.

With the lapse of the deadline and grace period, all unregistered SIMs have been permanently deactivated. Globe said those who missed the deadline may buy new SIMs and register for activation so they could access connectivity services. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here and the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte will assess the impact of the foreign-funded Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) project implemented in Eastern Visayas from 2016 to 2020.

NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales said the project was chosen as one of the eight studies across the country with funding of PHP2 million under the NEDA and United Nations Development Programme Philippines for the 2023 capacity development program on impact evaluation.

“The impact evaluation study aims to estimate the impact of the FishCORAL livelihood projects on the income of fishing households in the recipient coastal barangays. It also intends to determine the extent of women’s participation in the livelihood project, among others,” Rosales said in a statement on Friday.

Recently, key officials from NEDA regional office and VSU representatives met to finalize the approach to the study and discuss the partnership between the agency and the school. The study will kick off within the year.

The meeting specifies the evaluation design, timeline of key deliverables, communication and policy advocacy plan, evaluation team composition, budget, and survey questionnaires, among others, for the study on the implementation of the FishCORAL project in the region.
The FishCORAL was a five-year (2016-2020) project jointly funded by the Philippine government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the concerned local government units.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) implemented the project in 11 bays in Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Those four regions got an allocation of PHP1.86 billion during the five-year implementation. The BFAR has no data available on how much was spent for the Eastern Visayas region.
Of the 11 bays covered by the project, four are in the region. These are Maqueda, Matarinao, Leyte Gulf, and Silago-Cabalian Bays.

The project aimed at reducing poverty among fishermen while strengthening local food and nutrition security in economically challenged coastal communities in four regions.

FishCORAL targeted the covered areas to adopt sustainable management of the fisheries and coastal resources as well as to increase the income of the fishing households through viable engagement in diversified livelihood activities and entrepreneurship. (PNA)