ORMOC CITY-Miscalculation caused the life of a seaman who was about to work back overseas next month after he figured in a road accident at about 4:10 pm Sunday (March 26) along the highway of Barangay Olotan, Jaro, Leyte.

Police said that the victim Christian Jay Bardelas, 35, single, and a resident of Brgy. Balud, Capoocan, Leyte driving on his motorcycle was hit by the vehicle driven by Leonardo Peñaranda,73, a retired airline employee and a resident of V and G subdivision in Tacloban City.

Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the victim who was heading towards the direction of Capoocan, Leyte coming from Tacloban City, while the suspect was traveling towards the direction of Brgy. Olotan, Jaro, Leyte coming from Barugo, Leyte.

Upon reaching the place of incident, Peñaranda without taking preventive measures, suddenly made a U-turn and was accidentally hit/bumped at the left side rear portion by the Yamaha Mio.

The impact caused Bardelas to fall to the concrete road sustaining severe injuries in different parts of his body causing his life in the place of accident.

Rescue responders immediately brought the victim to Carigara Hospital for medical attention but was declared dead on arrival at around 6 pm by the attending doctor.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Leyte Normal University (LNU) celebrated its 102nd founding anniversary on March 20 to 24 kickstarting with a concert conducted on March 20 and held at the newly-refurbished Human Resource Development Center (HRDC) gymnasium.
After two year pause of the concert due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the university once again staged the concert organized by the Bachelor of Arts in Communication students every year from 2009 up to date.

The 2023 LNU concert highlighted the theme “Sustainable Development Goals” of the United Nations.

Eva Rosal shared that the concert was used as an instrument utilizing communication for development, advocating for this year’s founding anniversary theme.

“The importance of this (event) is we give chance to undiscovered homegrown talent in Leyte Normal University, as well as to the BACOMM students to serve as the production team,” she said.

“It’s a way for them to learn hands-on everything the in’s and out’s about producing a variety show,” Rosal added.

Rosal then added that this concert will greatly impact LNU as a whole.
“Of course we consider LNU as somehow the center for arts, performing arts, and culture. So it’s a way to promote what LNU can showcase and also these students who have these talents in the performing arts to be exposed to the public and to make LNU known locally, regionally, and national,” she stressed.

The event was divided into six parts, production number, ‘dasig Normalista’, ‘tunog ng barkada’, ‘contemporary dance’, hiphop dance, and ‘face boyz’, which have shown the different talents of the 78 Normalistas.

(JAIRON RIC BALAIS, LNU Student Intern)

MAASIN CITY– The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Southern Leyte has taken the lead in forming an organized body composed of various agencies from the national government including the private sector in a unifying effort to deliver services.
The newly formed organization was called Multi-Sectoral Advisory Council (MSAC), and it will eventually be like an umbrella for a much wider collaboration leading to having a Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC).

“There is a need for a synchronized approach in delivering services from various government agencies including the private sector in order to avoid possible duplication of functions, and this can be done through LGRC,” said Danilo Laguitan in remarks during the MSAC meeting Monday, March 20, at the legislative building in the capitol.

The meeting was attended by representatives and heads of more than a dozen national line agencies, the academe, and some private sector organizations.

Basic concepts in maintaining LGRC rested on knowledge management sharing by concerned offices to get ideas on how things are effectively done, multi-stakeholder participation to get desired results, and convergence of forces to maximize implementation of planned activities.

Jhonel Anavesa, DILG assistant provincial director for operations, discussed extensively minute details on the challenges of keeping LGRC functional under MSAC wings.

“The strategic focus of LGRC is the need to sustain high-performing local government units, particularly Southern Leyte, whose high standard of performance of performance has been looked up to for being branded as the home of champions in Region 8, Eastern Visayas,” Anavesa declared.

Participants actively voiced out positive impressions on the presented workings of LGRC, sharing thoughts on upcoming events in their respective turfs that will give the new approach a try.

(LDL/MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)

BORONGAN CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways – Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH-ESDEO) joined the Serbisyo Caravan spearheaded by the provincial government in the villages of Casuguran and Pagbabangnan in the island of Homonhon, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on March 17, 2023.

During the activity, the DPWH ESDEO represented by Engineer Roderick L. Floria informed the residents about the updates of the infrastructure projects implemented in Homonhon Island.

“DPWH ESDEO has three projects as part of the Homonhon Circumferential Road which started the ground-breaking last year. Out of these three road projects, two projects amounting to P15M and P45M respectively were already completed both located in Pagbabangnan while the other one projects amounting to P45M located in Brgy. Casuguran is still ongoing as of this date with 85% accomplishment,” Engr. Floria said.
He also reported the present classification status of the road after the effort made by the district office to convert it into a national road.

“We fulfilled our promise to convert Homonhon Circumferential Road to a national road on May 4, 2022 to help the local residents. However said declaration was deferred on July 8, 2022 which retains the status of Homonhon Island as local road,” added Engr. Floria.
He also disclosed that while the road is still a local road, the district office will continue to support the infrastructure development in the area.

In fact, the office included the 5-kilometer road concreting along the Homonhon Circumferential road in the lined-up projects for next year with a total amount of P150 million.

“We are hopeful that said proposal will be approved and be included in the GAA for next year for it to be implemented,” said Engr. Floria.

Meanwhile, Governor Ben P. Evardone thanked the national and local agencies who participated in the caravan and brought their government services closer to the residents of Homonhon Island.

Some services offered were free medicine, medical consultation, free vegetable seeds, national ID registration, public consultation, and information dissemination.

“Karuyag ko every six (6) months magka may-ada Serbisyo Caravan dinhe ha Eastern Samar. More or less, maaram na kamo hit maibubulig hit agencies nga aanhe yana. Ayaw kamo pag alang pag pakiana kun ano iton ira pwede mahibulig pa ha iyo [I would like to conduct this Serbisyo Caravan here in Eastern Samar every six months. More or less, you already know the kind of services that these agencies can offer to you. Don’t hesitate to ask them of what other services they can extend to you],” said Gov. Evardone.

Also present during the Serbisyo Caravan were Vice Gov. Maricar S. Goteesan, Sangguniang Panglalawigan 2nd District Members Pol Gonzales, Evet Gaylon, Atty. Melchor Mergal and Provincial Administrator Nelson Cortez.

The said activity was initiated by the provincial government as part of the celebration of the 502nd Anniversary of the Guiuan Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World.
(MAY ANTOINETTE O. NABLE, PIO STAFF)

TACLOBAN– Travelers utilizing the Mayorga-La Paz road will have a more convenient road with the asphalt overlay implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura of the Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO), they had started implementing the P14.56 million under the asset preservation program which involves the asphalt overlay with provisions for thermoplastic pavement markings along Barangay Bonifacio, Mayorga town.

Oppura also mentioned that when roads are exposed to heavy loads, they are susceptible to damage, and the combined effects of traffic loading and the environment will cause damage to the infrastructure, no matter how well-designed and constructed it is. Thus, road restoration is necessary to improve the road’s surface capability.

With the improved road, motorists and travelers can expect smoother and faster access to schools, health care facilities, government centers, and other public and private establishments in the area.

The project is expected to be completed on or before April 28, 2023 sourced from the department’s general appropriations for this fiscal year.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)