TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) will be studying the prevalence of box jellyfish sting injuries in this city and nearby towns to be used for future surveillance systems.

Research proponents said the presence of lethal box jellyfish poses a significant threat to emerging tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas with no identified national “hot spots” where frequent and severe injuries and fatalities occur.

Leonido Olobia, EVHRDC research program coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH), said on Thursday that at least P500,000 would be set aside to finance the study next year in this city and neighboring towns of Babatngon in Leyte and Marabut in Samar.

“We have been receiving reports of jellyfish sting injuries, but these are all narrative and without supporting data. We hope that through this study, cases like this will be included in our surveillance system,” Olobia told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

With proper and accurate reporting, the DOH could extend interventions, he said.
The project, tagged as one of the three priority health research studies for Eastern Visayas, will be conducted by instructors of the Leyte Normal University here.

“There is a lack of comprehensive data regarding the frequency and prevalence of box jellyfish stings in Eastern Visayas, creating a public health concern for these emerging tourist destinations. It is crucial to prioritize public safety measures to minimize, alleviate, and effectively manage the risks associated with box jellyfish envenomation,” the project proponents said.

The study will analyze key epidemiological data related to box jellyfish sting injuries.
The researchers believe that by examining the demographic characteristics of affected individuals and determining incidence and prevalence rates, they can gain a better understanding of the extent of the issue.

Additionally, the study seeks to document the treatment approaches employed by the local community for box jellyfish stings, providing valuable insights for future mitigation strategies.

A previous study published by the Philippine Journal of Science disclosed that encounters between humans and jellyfish are also more likely on coasts where the monsoon winds blow onshore during the warmer months, bringing these animals closer to beach areas. They then stay longer in the shallows when the seas are calm.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, the long tentacles trailing from the jellyfish can inject venom from thousands of microscopic barbed stingers.

This study was suggested through consultations conducted by EVHRDC over the past years.
Organized in 1983, EVHRDC has been encouraging and promoting health research activities in Eastern Visayas.

The consortium is chaired by DOH and co-chaired by the Department of Science and Technology with members from five government agencies and academe. (PNA)

ALBUERA, Leyte– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) undertakes the Construction of Seawall in Sitio Lawis, Brgy. Tabgas, Albuera, Leyte.

According to local resident Mrs. Salvacion Dabalos, prior to the ongoing construction of the seawall, residents of Sitio Lawis had been facing the relentless onslaught of strong waves and flooding during typhoons, resulting in damage to their homes and belongings.

Kinahanglan pa mi mu-evacuate sa eskwelahan (We would need to evacuate to the school),” she stated. The vulnerability of their lives and properties to coastal hazards had caused distress for the community.

With its construction, Mrs. Dabalos and her neighbors can find solace in the reliable protection afforded by the robust infrastructure as it shields them from the destructive effects of strong weather condition.

Funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2023 with a contract cost of Php 28,900,007.48 and spanning a length of 135 meters, this vital infrastructure will significantly enhance the safety and security of the community.
(ROSITA A. TINAWIN/OIC District Engineer)

Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project

PALAPAG, Northern Samar – This remote town will finally be connected to the rest of the province with the opening of a road and bridge on July 14.

Palapag has been existing for 437 years but remains to be isolated from the rest of the province until the opening on July 14 of the 11.6 kms Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCRP).

The road and bridge project, funded by the South Korean government through its Export-Import Bank, also connects the towns of Laoang and Catubig to the rest of the province.
Prior to the construction of the said SPCRP, also known as Simora-Palapag road project, residents of the town have to travel via sea transport if they are to go to the nearby towns or to the provincial capital of Catarman.

Elena Aoyang, who owns a general merchandise business, said that the road finally solve their travel woes.

“The impact of this project to us Palapag residents is immense, especially for traders and businessmen who need to cross a body of water when buying and bringing goods to our town,” she said.

The cost of fare for every passenger of a sampan, as the passenger motorboat is known by the locals, is P10 per person. If they have a motorcycle they need to pay P70. For those with goods, the cost would reach P500, and P1,200 if they will bring with them a vehicle.
The completion of the project will not only benefit the traders and businessmen but also the local tourism industry of the municipality and its neighboring towns.

Palapag, a historical town, has great potential to attract local, domestic, and even international tourists.

The road will ‘awaken’ the tourism potential of their town, Paul Go, who is the local civil registrar chief and tourism-designate officer.

“This will have a great contribution to our local economy and to the business sector particularly those in the accommodation and restaurant businesses”, he added.

Palapag is the birthplace of Agustin Sumuroy, the leader of the first Filipino to lead a revolt against Spanish occupation that took place in 1649 to 1650, older than the more popular and longer Dagohoy revolt of Bohol that happened after a century from 1744 to 1829.
The old church of Palapag, a remnant of the Spaniards occupation, can still be seen in the municipality.

Aside from being a historical town, Palapag is also blessed with waterfalls, mountains that are good for trekking and climbing, beaches, rock formations, and an islet that is popular among locals for camping.

What the municipality is doing now is developing these tourism sites, organizing people’s organizations, and encouraging tourism-related businesses to accredit with the Department of Tourism, Go added.

But while the majority of residents are thankful that finally their town is connected to the main provincial road, there are members of sectors, particularly in the transportation industry, who fear that soon they no longer have the income to sustain the needs of their family.

Sirenaldo Sua, 73, a sampan operator, said that since the road was open for vehicles to use, travelers crossing the old route massively declined. From the almost P4,000 a day income that he earned before the road was constructed, it dived to P1,000 a day.
Habal-habal driver Jomar Oladive, 32, also shares the same sentiment with Sua adding that aside from most travelers prefer the new road, most residents in the Pacific Coastal towns particularly students now owned motorcycles for their service.

From more than P1, 000 income a day as habal-habal driver, he now only earns more than P500.

The two said that they acknowledge the importance of their town to be connected to the national highway even if it affects their source of livelihood.

“We can’t do anything about it, and we need that road. But we also need help, the drivers and operators for us to earn to support our family”, Oladive said.

During the inauguration of the Simora-Palapag road led by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., it was announced by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan that there is a second phase of the coastal road project.

This project includes the construction of a bridge from Rawis to the island of Laoang, and another bridge from Laoang that will connect to Palapag.

Once this road is materialized, Palapag Mayor Florence Batula said that this will heavily affect sampan operators and will displace them economically.

But the local government has already prepared plans to support them and prepare the sector by coordinating with government agencies who can help them in providing alternative livelihood.

A feasibility study is now ongoing and included in it are interventions needed for the families that will be displaced and sampan operators whose income will be affected by the project. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

In response to the call of 3 Samar bishops

MAYDOLONG, Eastern Samar-The call of the bishops of Samar Island to have a “One Samar, One Region” has gained grounds with Rep. Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group to file such a measure.

This was disclosed by Libanan, who also acts as the minority floor leader of the House of Representatives, who said that he will file such a measure with the resumption of the session of the Congress.

Both chambers of Congress are to resume their respective regular sessions on July 23, a day before President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., is to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (Sona).

“I will file the One Samar, One Region measure with the resumption of our session. This is in response to the call of the three bishops of Samar to have a One Samar, One Region,” the party-list solon said on Saturday (July 15).

According to Libanan, a separate Samar Region will result in the development of the island, which is comprised of (western) Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar which has a combined population of 1.11 million.

He said that with a separate region, the allocation of funds for development-related projects would be higher compared to the current situation as it shares funding allocation with the Leyte Island provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran.

He said that he will ‘lobby’ that his measure will be passed and approved, notably to House Speaker Martin Romualdez who is from Leyte, and Pres. Marcos who is also considered a Leyteño whose mother, Imelda, is from Leyte.

Earlier, the bishops of Samar Island, Crispin Varquez of Borongan diocese, Emmanuel Trance of the Catarman diocese and Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog diocese, has earlier called for the creation of One Samar, One Region.

The prelates claim that separating the Samar Island from Leyte Island will result to development of the island, one of the poorest in the country.

They also claim that a Samar region could also hasten in the promotion of investors, address peace and order particularly the insurgency, and better road connectivity, among others.

They have called on President Marcos on this regard for a support for the creation of Samar Region which is about 333,300 hectares, the third biggest in the country.

Rep. Libanan said that he already made an informal discussion with Governors Sharee Ann Tan of Samar and Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar.

“And they both expressed their support for the creation of One Samar, One Region,” he said.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone earlier throw his support on this proposal.
The three Samar provinces have a combined population of 1.11 million with high poverty incidence remain to be a problem.

Based on the poverty incidence among families conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2021, Northern Samar has a record of 19.3 percent, Eastern Samar at 29.4 percent, and Samar at 27.0 percent.

The island is also a focus area on the insurgency campaign of the government where most New People’s Army (NPA) operations are on the island, notably in Northern Samar.
Meantime, Libanan said that one of his priorities is constructing a road network that will not only connect the municipalities of Eastern Samar to its capital city of Borongan but to Samar and Northern Samar as well.

On Saturday, Libanan led in the groundbreaking of a 2.48 kms road construction that will connect the town of Maydolong in Eastern Samar, starting from Barangay Del Pilar to the village of Balagon, Basey town in Samar.

Last Friday(July 14), no less than Pres. Marcos led in the opening of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project in Palapag town, Northern Samar which will not only connect the towns of Palapag, Laoang, and Catubig, all in Northern Samar, but even Arteche in Eastern Samar.(JOEY A. GABIETA)