CAN-AVID AND TAFT, EASTERN SAMAR – The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) is making progress on the phase one – construction of the new municipal building in Can-Avid and Taft, Eastern Samar.

According to the latest update from DPWH ESDEO, the actual accomplishment on the construction of phase one of the new municipal buildings in Can-Avid and Taft, Eastern Samar is now at 42.27% and 24.33%, respectively.

The details of phase one of the project construction in Can-Avid include the construction of the municipal building with ground floor slab, second floor slab, stairs, electrical, and other works indicated in the budget. The project appropriation is Php 30,000,000.00, and the project contract amount is P29,009,716.68. The said contract project started on August 31, 2023, and is set to expire on April 20, 2024.

Meanwhile, the phase one construction of the municipal building in Taft involves foundation works from the first floor up to the fourth floor, including concrete works, steel works, electric roughing installations, plumbing roughing installation, and other work scopes indicated in the budget. The project appropriation is P 30 million and the project contract amount is P29,231,121.68. The project started on September 11, 2023, and is set to expire on May 1, 2024.

District Engineer Domcelio Natividad assures the public that the projects will be implemented according to international standards and specifications. He also added that the Local Government Unit and the public are encouraged to help monitor the implementation of the municipal building.

The municipal building projects are expected to provide the people of Can-Avid and Taft with new and modern facilities that will cater to their needs. The DPWH ESDEO recognizes the importance of providing excellence, safety, and sustainability in every aspect of the construction project.

“The completion of these projects will promote progress and development in the communities of Can-Avid and Taft, Eastern Samar. The DPWH ESDEO remains committed to provide quality infrastructure that will serve the needs of the people and contribute to the growth of the local economy,” said DE Natividad. (PR)

Manila-On February 15, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), awarded P8 million ($142,475) in grants to four Philippine higher education institutions working on innovative programs that improve the lives of Filipino out-of-school youth.

Administered through USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 program, the ASPIRE (Advance and Support Philippine-International Academic Relations for Out-of-School Youth Development) grant, valued at P2.5 million ($44,643) each, facilitates partnerships between local and U.S. institutions on out-of-school youth advancement.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, an ASPIRE awardee, will partner with Gallaudet University in Washington D.C to enhance training and higher education access for deaf out-of-school youth. Another ASPIRE awardee, Ferndale College in Zamboanga City, will work with Adams State University in Colorado on developing learning modules designed to engage out-of-school youth in addressing food security issues in their communities.

“Out-of-school youth deserve an equal opportunity to define the kind of life they want to live,” USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said. “These new grants will help create a positive environment for youth by tapping the creativity, resources, and expertise of Philippine and U.S. higher education institutions.”

Additionally, USAID awarded a P1.5-million ($26,786) GAIN (Government-Academe-Industry Collaborative) grant to Quezon City University, which would allow the extension of their executive training course to local government officials in Pasig City and Angeles City in Pampanga. The executive course provides lessons on leadership and creating effective programs for out-of-school youth.

“Through the grant, Quezon City University is able to empower key decision makers on co-creating and implementing meaningful programs supported by their learnings through the expanded Executive Leadership course in their respective communities. We are hopeful that through the program, more leaders will be equipped with the knowledge and means to support out-of-school youth and create an inclusive environment for them,” Quezon City Councilor Aly Medalla said.

Cebu City’s School of Knowledge for Industrial Labor, Leadership, and Service, Inc. (SKILLS), another recipient of the GAIN grant, will partner with the Technical Vocational Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the private sector to establish an “industry certification process” for multi-skilled out-of-school youth in the construction industry.

“The grant is valuable to SKILLS as it would enable us to implement activities that provide sustainable employment to the youth while addressing the perennial challenges in the construction industry, such as shortage of skills and negative perception on construction jobs,” SKILLS Executive Director Jessie Cubijano said.

USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 program works with local and international partners across 15 cities in the Philippines to improve the lives of out-of-school youth through further education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The project has impacted 70,000 youth through TESDA technical-vocational programs and through the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Leyte, in collaboration with the provincial office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has formalized an agreement for the establishment of a local flood early warning system.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla and DOST Leyte Chief John Glenn Ocaña, with the presence of board member Carlo Loreto, municipal mayors, and officials from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and Municipal DRRMO.

The installation of early flood warning devices along the Binahaan and Bangon Rivers, which flow from the town of Jaro down to Alangalang, Dagami, Pastrana, Sta Fe, Tanauan, and Palo, marks a critical step towards enhancing disaster preparedness and response in the province, stated board member Loreto.

“Leyte, like many other areas, has faced recurrent threats of devastating floods, resulting in significant loss of life and extensive damage to property and infrastructure. The Binahaan and Bangon Rivers, traversing these municipalities, have been notorious as primary sources of these massive floods. Hence, the urgent need to establish a comprehensive and robust early warning system becomes apparent,” Loreto emphasized.
He explained that the primary objective of the project is to provide residents and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) operatives with timely and real-time data on water levels and predicted flood events before they occur.

By installing early warning devices along the rivers, the project aims to empower at-risk communities with the necessary information to take proactive measures and evacuate vulnerable areas promptly.

In addition to saving lives, the early warning system will play a crucial role in mitigating socioeconomic losses caused by flooding incidents. It will offer advance notice of impending floods, enabling residents to safeguard valuable assets, evacuate livestock, and protect critical infrastructure.

This proactive approach is expected to alleviate the financial burden on affected individuals, local governments, and the economy as a whole. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Dental Association (PDA) has announced plans to distribute one million toothbrushes to students in public schools across the country as part of an extensive campaign promoting proper oral hygiene.

Dr. Emmanuel Centino, president of the PDA, made the announcement during a two-day gathering of dentists from three Visayan regions in Palo town that ended Friday (Feb.23).
Centino revealed that Colgate, a leading toothpaste company, has pledged to donate 4.7 million toothbrushes to the PDA in support of their initiative to educate every Filipino family, especially children, about the importance of oral hygiene.

This campaign aims to enhance overall physical and emotional well-being and boost confidence throughout life.

“With this effort, we aim to foster behavioral change among our children and encourage families to prioritize oral health to ensure the well-being of all family members,” stated Centino.

As part of the program titled “Isang Milyong Sipilyo, Angat ngiting Pilipino” (One Million Toothbrushes, Brighter Filipino Smiles), launch events will be held in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Centino affirmed the PDA’s commitment to providing oral hygiene education to public schools in collaboration with the Department of Education, dentists, and Colgate.
“While we still have progress to make in making oral health a top priority, our association, with the support of chapters and affiliate societies, is dedicated to bringing this focus to every Filipino,” he added.

The two-day 26th PDA Visayas Convention at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo town concluded on Friday (Feb.23), with approximately 500 dentists from 17 PDA chapters across Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas in attendance.

The convention aimed to facilitate networking among dentists and introduce new dental practices to improve oral health services for their patients.

The opening of the 26th PDA Visayas Conference was attended by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.

Gov. Petilla encouraged dentists to embrace innovation, such as digitalization, in their practices, mirroring the advancements made by provincial and local government units in service delivery, particularly in response to the pandemic.

“Technology is evolving, and we must adapt. Anything that cannot be improved becomes obsolete. We must remain competitive, even in your profession, as digitalization becomes increasingly important,” remarked Petilla. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)