The municipality of Arteche in Eastern Samar under Mayor Roland Boie Evardone(left)has come up a program to fight malnutrition stalking many of its children. The program is dubbed as ‘Hapag Pagasa Program.’
The municipality of Arteche in Eastern Samar under Mayor Roland Boie Evardone(left)has come up a program to fight malnutrition stalking many of its children. The program is dubbed as ‘Hapag Pagasa Program.’
TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Arteche in Eastern Samar province has launched a feeding program that aims to address its malnutrition problem.
Together with the ASA Foundation, the local government will implement the Hapag-Asa Program targeting 519 children from 20 villages of the municipality who are in need of nourishment.
The children will undergo a feeding program five times a week using MannaPack, fortified rice with dried soybean, vitamin-packed flavoring, and dehydrated vegetables.
Hapag-Asa Program is implemented under the Project SUStainable-nutrition And Nanay Empowerment or Project SUSAN.e which aims to provide a solution to the pressing issue of malnutrition in the community.
Project SUSAN.e is a 36-month-long program targeting infants and their mothers which aims to secure their nutritional needs in their first 1,000 days to prevent instances of malnutrition and stunting, empower the mother or father, provide skills development, and livelihood.
Mayor Roland Boie Evardone disclosed that through this program, they will be providing maternal health support such as check-ups and laboratories, nutrition education, and complementary feeding program for babies from seven months until they reach 2 years of age.
At least 30 mothers who are in the first trimester of their pregnancy will benefit the Project Susan.e after they give birth, and this will be expanded to their babies.
ORMOC CITY– An employee of the provincial government in Eastern Samar was arrested in a buy-bust operation yielding alleged shabu with a commercial value of more than P5,000.
The arrested person was identified as Gabriel Jardio, 40 who work at the office of the provincial president of the Association of Barangay Council.
Jardio, during the operation last Feb. 27 in Sitio Lipgutan, Barangay Balud in Borongan City, was found to be in possession of four sachets containing suspected shabu weighing .84 grams and with a commercial value of P5,712.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the provincial police tagged Jardio as a high-value individual on their drug watch lists.
Charges of violations for selling and possession of illegal drugs were filed against Jardio who is now detained at the Borongan city police locked-up facility. (ROBERT DEJON)
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) scored big in this year’s 20th Philippine Quill Awards, winning the Quill Award of Excellence, the Quill Award of Merit, and the Quill Award of Merit in the Communication Skills category. (EDC PHOTO)
The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) scored big in this year’s 20th Philippine Quill Awards, winning the Quill Award of Excellence, the Quill Award of Merit, and the Quill Award of Merit in the Communication Skills category. (EDC PHOTO)
ORMOC CITY – The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) clinched three prestigious awards at the 20th Philippine Quill Awards, lauding the company’s excellence in strategic communication and outstanding communication skills nationwide.
The Corporate Communications Department’s Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Integrated Report secured both the Quill Award of Excellence and the Quill Award of Merit.
Frances Ariola, head of Corporate Communications at EDC, expressed gratitude to IABC-Philippines for the recognition.
“These awards underscore our regenerative power, driven by 100% renewable energy sources like geothermal, enabling us to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future,” she said.
EDC’s Keitech, a technical-vocational school dedicated to underprivileged yet deserving youth from the company’s host communities in Leyte, also received a Quill Award of Excellence under the Communication Management Category, highlighting EDC’s commitment to empowering communities through education and skills development.
The company’s exceptional storytelling prowess and ability to convey complex information with clarity and impact were recognized with a Quill Award of Excellence in the Communication Management category and a Quill Award of Merit in the Communication Skills category.
The Integrated Report cover underscores the significance of water as the company’s most valuable and vulnerable natural resource, emphasizing the urgent need for regenerative solutions amid the climate crisis.
These accolades reaffirm EDC’s commitment to excellence in communicating and implementing programs that positively impact the environment and communities it serves, as a subsidiary of First Gen.
The Philippine Quill Awards, bestowed by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), recognizes outstanding communication professionals across diverse industries and disciplines, sharing and applying the world’s best communication practices.
EDC continues to set the standard for excellence in the industry, demonstrating its dedication to transparency, innovation, and community engagement. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
We may not yet be experiencing the intense onslaught of the reported upcoming drought as rains still visit as now and then, but as early as now when prolonged droughts have not been experienced, many parts of our region are already enduring the scarcity of water supply, depriving the people of this vital necessity.
Our region is known for its abundant water sources, thick rainforests, and bountiful nature. Ironically, the region is facing this significant challenge—insufficient water supply. Many parts of Eastern Visayas, especially the urban areas, are struggling with little to no water access, the people spending sleepless nights waiting for the water to flow from their faucets. This lack of sufficient water supply is a pressing issue with far-reaching consequences for the communities.
One of the main reasons for the insufficient water supply in Eastern Visayas is the lack of infrastructure and facilities for water storage and distribution. The region’s topography, with its mountainous terrain and scattered communities, makes it difficult to implement water supply systems effectively. As a result, many households rely on unsafe water sources such as rivers and wells, leading to waterborne illnesses and health hazards. The government and local authorities must invest in water infrastructure projects to provide a sustainable solution to this problem.
Climate change also plays a significant role in depleting the water supply. The region is prone to erratic weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and typhoons, which can disrupt the water supply. These extreme weather events not only affect water sources but also damage existing infrastructure, further limiting access to clean water. Adaptation strategies, such as rainwater harvesting and efficient water management practices, are necessary in mitigating the impacts of climate change on water supply in the region.
This issue of insufficient water supply in Eastern Visayas requires prompt action, involving approaches such as investments in infrastructure, climate-resilient water management practices, and community participation. The government, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders must work together to ensure that all residents have access to safe and reliable water sources. Let’s prioritize water security and sustainability to overcome this challenge and improve the health and well-being of our water consumers.
Who would have thought that a college as young as 5 years in existence and fresh from turning out its first batch of graduates would make it to the top-performing schools in the country in terms of passing a national board examination? And who would have imagined that it would land second in the regional ranking with 30 or more examinees?
It is very unlikely, yet Burauen Community College (BCC), a five-year-old college in the heart of Leyte province, made it after the outcome of the recently conducted 2024 Licensure Examination for Criminologists was officially announced. Offering BS Criminology as one of its flagship programs, the college just turned out its pioneering graduates who, recently, took the said examination and yielded such impressive results.
The implications of this young college’s achievement are awesome. It ranked 22nd at the national level, among colleges and universities with 50 or more test takers—that’s out of more or less 223 schools with similar examinees. At the regional level ranking, BCC ranked 2nd out of 15 schools with 30 or more examinees, besting other schools that have had years and decades of operation. It’s indeed remarkable! Almost making it to the top.
This young institution of learning traces itself to a humble beginning. But it started as a vision—the vision of a vibrant, flourishing community college that courageously but tactfully takes on the menacing challenges of the times. Conceived by the visionary leader, Hon. Mayor Juanito E. Renomeron, this vision spread like wildfire and immediately saw the light of day on February 12, 2018, through Municipal Order No. 2018-024.
Recognized on January 29, 2019, as a local community college per Certificate of Authority 039-2019 issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), BCC started with 5 classrooms, offering BS Criminology, BS Accountancy, and BS Management Accounting with the first college president, the late Dr. Jay P. Cabrera. Back then, 546 students comprised the first batch for the first academic year. With the advent of the pandemic in 2020, BCC resorted to blended learning and modality. The following year, two (2) degree programs were added, namely: BS Public Administration and BS Industrial Security Management.
From its old location in LGU Burauen Compound, BCC transferred in 2022 to its present location in Burauen Sports Complex, with its first two buildings—the Criminology and Administration Buildings. With the passing of the first College President, Atty. Absalon G. Apostol took over as the second albeit OIC College President. Two more equally grandiose buildings and a multi-purpose one proudly emerged, besting the looks of other colleges/universities elsewhere. Just last year, Dr. Jett C. Quebec, another visionary leader, was appointed as the new College Administrator, who plans to add two (2) more degree programs and four (4) vocational courses.
With BCC’s rise to greatness, and with the impressive results exhibited by its first board examinees, we can only attribute all these to the untiring efforts of the men and women behind this initial success. Foremost credits go to the good Mayor and his Office, then to the SB members, LGU departments, the BCC Management, Faculty and Staff, the students, and the entire BCC community. Also worth commending are the cooperating and partner government agencies such as the CHED RO 8, PRC 8, PSA, and others.
Congratulations then to the successful examinees with their parents, the LGU Burauen and its people, the BCC Management and Community, and the Criminology Department consisting of its dean and energetic faculty whose direct supervision and guidance partly made this initial salvo of success possible! Keep up the great job! Mabuhay!
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA,DM, CESE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR III
The Great Replacement Theory has garnered attention in both the United States and the Philippines, albeit with distinct contexts. Let’s delve into the details:
The Great Replacement Theory is a far-right conspiracy theory that has gained traction among certain segments of the U.S. population, particularly those whose demographics are predominantly white.
According to this theory, left-leaning domestic or international elites (sometimes alleged to be under the influence of Jewish co-conspirators) are intentionally orchestrating the replacement of white citizens with nonwhite immigrants (such as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or Arab individuals).
Advocates of this theory argue that the increasing presence of nonwhite immigrants, coupled with their higher birth rates compared to whites, will eventually lead to nonwhite majorities in the country. These new majorities, as the theory posits, will then gain control over national institutions, dilute or erode distinctive cultures, and ultimately eliminate the white population.
The theory gained wider attention in the early 21st century with the publication of Le Grand Remplacement (2011) by French writer and activist Renaud Camus, who specifically focused on Muslim immigrants in France as agents of replacement1.
In the Philippines, the context is different, but there are parallels.
While the Great Replacement Theory itself may not be explicitly discussed, concerns about political survival and demographic shifts exist.
The fear of being replaced is not uncommon in Philippine politics. It arises from various factors, including:
Demographic Changes: The Philippines has experienced population growth, urbanization, and migration. These shifts impact political dynamics, representation, and power structures.
Electoral Competition: Political leaders often fear losing their positions due to electoral challenges. The fear of being replaced by opponents drives their actions and policies.
Ethnic and Regional Identities: The Philippines is a diverse nation with various ethnic and regional identities. Politicians may exploit these divisions to secure their own survival.
Changing Political Landscape: As new generations emerge, political preferences evolve. Incumbents worry about staying relevant and retaining their support base.
While the difference is big , the similarity is also alarming and striking. The probability of being replaced and the possibility of being defeated on an election driven by notion and feelings that may or may not be prevalent is indeed very likely. As Frank Sinatra would say riding high in April shot-down in May.
So it is common to have our politicians jockey up their position and create probable shifts in the leadership landscape. It allows the incumbent to sustain its gain otherwise the inaction may create his or her downfall.
Will we witness a Great Replacement or a Great Retention?
