CALBAYOG CITY– Two young girls were drowned while swimming in a sea in Calbayog City on Friday (June 15).
The victims were identified as Rhea Mae Nabor,7, and Hilary Quin Salvadora,5, both residents of Barangay Malajog in the said city.
Police said that the victims were seen floating by some individuals who happened to be in the area at about 2 pm.
One of them was a nursing student who tried to revive the two kids but to no avail.
This prompted the parents of the children to bring them to a hospital where they were declared dead on arrival by an attending physician, the report added. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY-An altercation between a fishing boat skipper and his crew turned tragic when the crew clubbed the skipper several times using a piece of wood causing the former to lose consciousness and died while being treated in a hospital in Catbalogan City on Friday (June 16) at about 5 pm.
Police identified the victim as Fernando Latorre, 58, and a resident of Brgy. Diit, Tacloban City while the suspect was only identified through his nickname “Regor” who is from Brgy. Bislig, Tanauan Leyte.
Investigation conducted by responding police said that the victim and the suspect had an altercation about an old grudge in connection with their work.
This escalated into a violent commotion wherein the suspect picked up a 2×2 piece of wood and without any hesitation, hit the victim several times in the head and in the different parts of his body.
The suspect immediately fled while the victim was rushed to a hospital but was declared dead on arrival by an attending doctor.
As of press time, the suspect remains at large.
MAASIN CITY-It’s all systems go for the province of Southern Leyte to hold this year’s anniversary celebration on July 1 sixty-three ( 63) years after separating by virtue of law from the mother province of Leyte, and after a three-year break due to the global pandemic.
“A future proof Southern Leyte against all odds” is this year’s theme, indicating a sense of resilience for the people and officials when faced with natural calamities and emerging health-related concerns.
Jason Calva, provincial administrator, formally announced the series of day-time and nocturnal activities of the anniversary during a meeting of the provincial disaster risk reduction management council (PDRRMC) at the old DPWH building on Wednesday, June 14.
The formal start of the festivities began Friday, June 16, with the opening of a food court in the capitol sunken garden, spiced with live local bands by evening.
Various sports competitions started on Wednesday, June 21, such as basketball, national darts tournament, Tour de So. Leyte cycling race, Gov. Mercado badminton competition, volleyball, football, futsal, boxing, and mixed martial arts.
On Monday, June 26, another competition, the inter-agency sports fest, will start right after the opening Mass and a motorcade, then in the afternoon will be the anniversary walk from the city plaza to the capitol grounds, with DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos as the invited guest, Calva reported.
By June 28, the Agri Fair and Aqua Show will open, while pet lovers are to be treated to a dog show and fighting cock expo.
The most anticipated event will be the return of the Miss Southern Leyte beauty pageant on June 29, in which all 19 bets representing each LGU will vie for the coveted crown.
The guest speaker for the anniversary celebration on July 1 will be Sen. Francis Tolentino, Calva further said. (MMP/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
PASTRANA, Leyte – In an effort to sustain the needs of the communities for reliable infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) funds has allotted P26.36 million for a Katubigan (Kalsada Tungo sa Patubigan) project in Binahaan north river irrigation system – main canal service road in Pastrana town.
According to Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO) District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, once completed, this project will provide 1,981.50 linear meters of concrete road beside an irrigation system in the farm fields.
Some portions have provisions for concrete stone masonry as protection from scour and erosion from the ravaging effects of water flow.
Added benefits of a concrete road include reducing travel time and aiding the faster transport of goods and farm produce to the market. Fare and handling costs will also be minimal, increasing the income for the farm producers.
The local community will have easy access to medical services, especially in emergency situations, and commuters will no longer endure bumpy and muddy roads, especially during wet seasons.
DPWH-SIPAG aims to boost economic activity by opening more opportunities for livelihood and facilitating faster access to social and educational services.
The project is expected to be completed by October of this year. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
BRIDGE OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. The town of Silvino Lubos is now connected to the rest of Northern Samar province with the completion of the Suba Bridge which was funded at P295 million under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Pamana) of the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace Process. The June 6 inauguration was attended by Silvino Lubos officials, Gov. Edwin Ongchuan, Rep. Harris Ongchuan, and Emy Bonifacio, Pamana regional manager, among others. The bridge is expected to boost the town’s economy and help address its problem on insurgency.
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
BRIDGE OF PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. The town of Silvino Lubos is now connected to the rest of Northern Samar province with the completion of the Suba Bridge which was funded at P295 million under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Pamana) of the Office of Presidential Adviser on Peace Process. The June 6 inauguration was attended by Silvino Lubos officials, Gov. Edwin Ongchuan, Rep. Harris Ongchuan, and Emy Bonifacio, Pamana regional manager, among others. The bridge is expected to boost the town’s economy and help address its problem on insurgency. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)
Ex-president said imprisonment not enough
ORMOC CITY– Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez expressed his support on the declaration of former president Rodrigo Duterte to kill cops who are involved in illegal drugs.
As he said this, Gomez said that he hopes that President Ferdinand MarcosJr. would include the fight against illegal drugs in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Gomez seconded to an earlier declaration of the former president saying that these erring cops should not be treated lightly.
“I am for it. Gusto ko pa manood eh pag-ginawa yan. I am a strong anti-drug advocate. Yan talaga ang isa sa pinaglalaban ko,” he said.
Duterte earlier said that cops who are involved in illegal drugs should be killed and not just put behind bars.
During his six-years in office, Duterte waged a controversial and brutal campaign against illegal drugs reason he is facing a complaint before the International Court of Justice.
Rep. Gomez, representing Leyte’s 4th district, admitted that one of the reasons why even government personnel like members of the Philippine National Police are being involved in the illegal drug trade is due to the huge amount of money involved.
“Ang problema kasi, maraming pera ang involved dito. Madaling magpa-corrupt ng tao,” he said.
Meantime, Rep. Gomez said that he hopes that during the Sona of Pres. Marcos, he would come up with a declaration against illegal drugs, adding that he would like to see the campaign under his government to be ‘stronger.’
“I wanted it to be stronger. I am hoping that the President will announce it sa kanyang Sona. That we will have to continue with our fight against illegal drugs,” he said.
And he would not mind, if the Marcos administration will wage a brutal war against illegal drugs, the Leyte solon said.
“You destroy our people. You should be destroyed,” Gomez said.
Gomez’s congressional district involved the town of Albuera, once considered to be the drugs capital of Eastern Visayas region where self-confessed drug lord, Rolan ‘Kerwin’ Espinosa came from whose late father, Rolando Espinosa was once its mayor and described by Duterte as a drug protector.
ORMOC CITY-Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has championed a series of important health bills with the aim of improving the accessibility of government services for the Filipino people, particularly the poor and indigents.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go
These proposed measures seek to bridge the gap between citizens and essential healthcare, as well as enhance mental health support across communities.
The first bill, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which recently passed the Senate’s third and final reading, is currently awaiting the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Go, an author and the principal sponsor of the bill, underscored the significance of establishing specialty centers in various regions.
During his visit to this city on Friday(June 16), Go informed that if enacted, these centers would provide specialized medical services to individuals who cannot afford or travel to Metro Manila for treatment at National Specialty Centers like the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, or National Kidney and Transplant Institute.
“With this, we can bring medical services closer to our fellow citizens who have serious illnesses but lack the means to come to Metro Manila for treatment at specialty hospitals,” the senator said.
The bill’s bicameral conference report includes provisions for establishing specialty centers within existing government-owned and controlled corporations or specialty hospitals, ensuring the availability of quality healthcare in different regions.
Furthermore, the Regional Specialty Centers Act sets clear service standards that the Department of Health (DOH) will establish in hospitals serving subnational and regional catchment populations.
The proposed measure aims to ensure that these specialty centers possess the necessary expertise and resources to effectively address patients’ specialized medical needs across the country.
It also specifies the medical specialties that the DOH will prioritize in the establishment of these centers, further streamlining the provision of specialized care.
Recognizing that a well-functioning healthcare system is essential for the country’s progress, Go also reiterated the importance of investing in health infrastructure as a vital component of national development.
He stressed that by expanding and modernizing healthcare facilities, the government can ensure that Filipinos receive timely and adequate medical attention, regardless of their location or economic status reason that he initiated early on the establishment of Super Health Centers nationwide.
“Super health center is one of the methods for us to bring medical services closer to our countrymen and decongest the hospitals because there is no need to go to the hospital in the city, the primary ones can be there in the community itself with a Super Health Center,” Go explained.
According to him about 307 super health centers have been funded last year and another 322 for this year.
The super health center is a medium type of polyclinic where childbirth can take place, dental, laboratory, x-ray, and others with the local government unit to run it. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
