NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar– Department of Public Works and Highways—Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO) District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos recently conducted a random inspection of ongoing projects in the Pacific towns of the Second District of Northern Samar.
One of the ongoing projects he particularly inspected was the construction of a slope protection in Barangay Nipa, Palapag, Northern Samar, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
The purpose of his inspection was to ensure that the scope of works implemented by the district office was in accordance to the construction methods requirements provided in the DPWH plans and specifications.
DE Carlobos spearheaded the District Inspectorate Team, accompanied by the Chief of Construction Section, Engr. Gil D. Herrera, Jr., and Engr. Bryan M. Fortes, Asst. Chief of Quality Assurance Section, along with project contractor Engr. Andres D. Balajadia,Jr., proprietor of ADB Dynamic Builders and Supply and his Project Engineer Lean Joseph Balanon.
The aforementioned slope protection project has an allocated amount of P53 million intended to protect the road section from further damage by preventing spalling and soil collapse that may occur due to continuous heavy rains in the area during a period of calamities.
The completion of this project will lessen traffic disruptions from scouring roads that could interfere with road users’ daily routines travelling along Palapag to Eastern Samar and vice versa, wherein the said area is prone to landslides and soil collapse.
TACLOBAN CITY’S BET FOR MISS UNIVERSE-PHILIPPINES. Tamara Ocier won over 13 equally beautiful women for the chance to represent Tacloban at the Miss Universe Philippines national beauty pageant. Also declared as major winner was Yoshabel Lebico who won the Miss Philippines crown. Photo shows the two crowned beauty queens with their court.(MISOSSOLOGY PHILIPPINES)
TACLOBAN CITY’S BET FOR MISS UNIVERSE-PHILIPPINES. Tamara Ocier won over 13 equally beautiful women for the chance to represent Tacloban at the Miss Universe Philippines national beauty pageant. Also declared as major winner was Yoshabel Lebico who won the Miss Philippines crown. Photo shows the two crowned beauty queens with their court.(MISOSSOLOGY PHILIPPINES)
TACLOBAN CITY – The city’s official candidate for the Miss Universe Philippine 2024 pageant was finally crowned in a glittering coronation night held at Tacloban Astrodome on Wednesday (Jan.31).
Winning the title as the first Miss Universe Philippines Tacloban was Tamara Ocier who bested 13 other candidates who tried their luck to win the crown that will give them a ticket to represent the city in the country’s biggest beauty pageant, the Miss Universe Philippines.
“I believe one thing that is permanent is love because love conquers everything. If you love something, it pushes you to what you love, and if you really want something you put your mind into it and make a way to achieve it no matter what because determination and commitment on love makes our goals not only a possibility but a certainty,” Ocier’s winning answer to the final question asked by host KC Montero, “In a world that everything is temporary, what is your permanent?
Ocier also won best in swimwear, Miss RD Pawnshop, and Miss Kotex awards.
Meanwhile, Yoshabel Lebico was crowned as The Miss Philippine Tacloban.
“In a world where everything is temporary, I think my permanent is to use my voice to promote my cause and that cause is to promote my advocacy which is basic education and literacy. For I am a firm believer of education of the many which transform the lives of the many, open doors for opportunity, and break the cycle of poverty,” was Lebico answer to the final question.
She also bagged the Miss Pixelenz, Mario Roca’s choice, Miss Goldilocks, and Miss Calista special award.
Completing the court were Margarette Odiver (1st runner-up) who also won the best in evening gown, miss photogenic, miss beshe, miss Toyota, and Alberca’s dental ambassadress; Nesylvie Dupal (2nd runner-up) who bagged the Miss Granda Manor, Miss Drake’s, and Miss Elcarte I.D.E.A.S special awards; Jialyn (3rd runner-up) and also won the Castila David Surgi Ambassadress special award; and Edlynne Yu (4th runner-up) and also won the Best in Modern Filipiniana, and Miss Wok Eat Out.
Other winners were Arianna Metran for best advocacy video, Henedine Brosas for Miss Personality, Miss Congeniality, and Miss Saint’s travel, Princess Aguila as Pet Haven ambassadress and Miss MWJ, Jane Agao who won the Miss Elevate special award, Jara Encina for Miss Ninth Beauty, Camille Lawsin for Miss Capital Tiago, Trisha Babon for Miss EAC Construction, Arianna Metran for Miss Pixel Eater, and Jeansy Zepeda for Miss Funbox.
Judges who selected the winners include Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee, Miss Universe Philippines Creative Partnerships, Llyod Peter Lee, Bb Pilipinas Intercontinental 2022 Gabrielle Basiano, Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro and his wife, actress Sunshine Garcia, and actress/tv host Karla Estrada. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office is constructing spur dikes along the Daguitan-Marabong River. The P63.37 million worth project aim to mitigate flooding and protect farm lands.( L2DEO)
The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office is constructing spur dikes along the Daguitan-Marabong River. The P63.37 million worth project aim to mitigate flooding and protect farm lands.( L2DEO)
TACLOBAN CITY-To build a safer future and enhance flood control measures, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) is constructing spur dikes along the portion of the Daguitan-Marabong River basin in Barangay Batug Dulag, Leyte.
The construction of spur dikes along the Daguitan-Marabong River project with a total allocation of P63.37 million is currently underway in its final stage and despite of heavy rains, the fast-approaching completion of the project aimed to safeguard the lives of residents, and mitigate the impact of flooding and protect agricultural lands.
According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, as part of the department’s commitment to improving flood control measures and ensuring the safety of the public, “we aim to improve the overall efficiency of flood control systems and reduce the risks associated with severe weather events, especially during the rainy season.”
“These structures play a vital role in protecting communities, minimizing property damage, and enhancing the overall resilience of our infrastructure. This coordinated effort will ensure that the construction is aligned with the needs and priorities of the affected communities” he said.
The DPWH assures the public that the spur dikes structure will be implemented with the highest standards of quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.
Likewise, prioritize the protection of the environment and remain committed to delivering infrastructure projects that prioritize public safety to the communities.
The completion of 873 cubic meter of concrete slope protection, structural steel sheet piles furnished and driven, grouted riprap, and gabions will serve to redirect water flow, prevent erosion, and effectively manage flooding in times of excessive rains, the DPWH said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
TACLOBAN CITY – United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan expressed her ‘satisfaction’ with her visit here in the city where she met detained personalities tagged by the by the military to be connected with the communist armed movement.
Khan met Frenchie Mae Castro Cumpio, Mariel Alvez Domequil and Alexander Philip Dizon Abinguna whose been detained at the Tacloban City Jail since 2020.
They are facing charges with illegal possession of firearms and explosives by the military as a result of a raid they conducted in what the government forces claimed to be the ‘safe house’ of the accused.
The group of Cumpio, said to be the secretary-general of the regional white area committee of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, has denied the allegation.
“Khan and her party arrived at the Tacloban airport past 12 noon on Saturday to personally check on the condition of Frenchie Mae Castro Cumpio, Mariel Alvez Domequil and Alexander Philip Dizon Abinguna. The three are members of the so-called ‘Tacloban-5’ who were arrested last February 7, 2020, by law enforcement agents armed with search warrants issued by the Tacloban Regional Trial Court,” the Presidential Task Force on Media Security(PTFoMS) said in a statement.
Khan was joined by Usec. Paul Gutierrez, PTFoMS executive director.
The group was welcomed by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Regional Director JCSupt. Delvic Oreiro and female dormitory warden Jail Inspector Fe Reynalda Chan.
In her visit to the jail facility, the BJMP official also showed to the UN official the quarters of Cumpio and Domequil who are detained at the female dorm.
The PTFoMS statement added that the UN official was impressed with the Tacloban City Jail facility as it was “well ventilated and is not smelling of human sweat” despite of the power outage during her visit.
She was also briefed on BJMP’s program for inmates which includes Bible studies and a livelihood program.
Khan was also informed that all detainees have access to regular visits from their families and that they can also avail of the “E-dalaw Program” wherein they utilize video calls to talk with their loved ones.
Usec. Gutierrez, in a press conference called after the visit of Khan at the BJMP, said that meeting with Cumpio and her companions 5 was her main agenda in visiting the region.
Gutierrez stressed that the government is firm on its stand that they are not red-tagging the detained personalities as it was their former colleague who identified them as members of the communist group.
He added that the prosecution had finished in presenting its evidence in November last year and it is now time for the defense of Cumpio to present their side but her counsel had asked the court to defer the schedule of her hearing to March 2024. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Two cargo shipping lines have opened a new route connecting Eastern Visayas to the Luzon and Mindanao regions.
Last Sunday(Jan.28), Ormoc-based cargo shipping line ALD Sea Transport launched its Calbayog-Matnog route providing daily trip servicing carriage freight and rolling cargo crossing Eastern Visayas to Luzon and vice versa.
The launching was attended by Calbayog City officials led by Mayor Raymund Uy, officials from the Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, together with ALD Sea Transport General Manager Antero L. Doyon.
Mayor Uy said that the opening of the Calbayog-Matnog route through Maguino-o Port is beneficial to all cargo trucks as they will no longer need to wait for longer time, sometimes days especially those at the Matnog Port as they have other options in crossing the sea to Eastern Visayas.
Cargo vessels carrying trucks and other cargo crossing to Eastern Visayas either dock at the ports in Allen or San Isidro town, both in Northern Samar, which is more than two hours travel from Calbayog City.
Travel time from Matnog to Maguino-o Port is more than three hours depending on the sea conditions.
“Trucking business from the city will benefit from this because they no longer need to travel to Allen or San Isidro. We will try to request if possible the port authority can provide a priority lane for Calbayog trucking business operators to have priority lane,” Mayor Uy said.
Doyon, for his part, said that their vessel MV Poseidon 49 can accommodate up to 35 trucks per trip.
On February 1, RLS Shipping Lines also started its cargo shipping operation from Maasin City to Lipata port in Surigao del Norte in Mindanao.
Mayor Nacional Mercado said that this operation is a piece of good news particularly for cargo truck operators as they already have more options to reach their destination in Luzon and Mindanao even with the ongoing rehabilitation of several ports in Southern Leyte province.
“For the longest time, Lipata to Southern Leyte has been existing through San Ricardo and Liloan, and there is also a new route to Padre Burgos. So this is another option and opportunity of opening Maasin-Lipata port for our travelers, especially cargo truck operators,” Mayor Mercado said.
Travel time from Maasin City to Lipata will last for more than five hours during fair weather.
The cargo vessel of LCT Josie Fe 01 can carry 20 wing vans, six SUVs, and 10 to 15 motorcycles. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
NATIONAL ARTS MONTH. In preparation for the National Arts Month (NAM) activities this coming February, various local artists convened at Tacloban City Hall on Friday (Jan.26) and presided by Councilor Aurora Aimee Grafil, the chairperson of the committee on culture and the arts. Representatives from the City Tourism Operations Office and the City Information Office were also in attendance during the meeting. Presidential Proclamation No. 683 designated February as National Arts Month in recognition of the role of arts and culture in shaping society. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
NATIONAL ARTS MONTH. In preparation for the National Arts Month (NAM) activities this coming February, various local artists convened at Tacloban City Hall on Friday (Jan.26) and presided by Councilor Aurora Aimee Grafil, the chairperson of the committee on culture and the arts. Representatives from the City Tourism Operations Office and the City Information Office were also in attendance during the meeting. Presidential Proclamation No. 683 designated February as National Arts Month in recognition of the role of arts and culture in shaping society. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
150 hogs been culled as part of a measure
TACLOBAN CITY– About 150 hogs have been culled in the town of Malitbog, Southern Leyte as it was hit of African Fever Swine (ASF) for the first time.
The ASF in the town was first detected in the village of San Vicente last January 15 involving 14 hogs, Vanessa Timkang of the municipal agriculture office said on Thursday (Jan.25).
“We have yet to determine the cause of the spread of ASF in Barangay San Vicente and its neighboring villages,” she said in a phone interview.
She, however, said that one possible cause of the ASF spread could come from traders who could be selling infected hogs.
According to Timkang, in Brgy. San Vicente, about 14 hogs were first initially detected to be infected with ASF, a highly infectious and severe hemorrhagic disease involving pigs.
About 80 pigs in San Vicente were later depopulated or culled leaving only 49 ‘healthy’ pigs in the village, 3 kms away from the town proper.
“These were buried in a pit 15 meters in depth, away from the residential area of the barangay,” Timkang said.
Aside from San Vicente, ASF cases were also detected in the villages of Pasil with 15 affected pigs and Cadaruhan with 55.
All these pigs were also culled and buried, Timkang said.
In all, 150 pigs were depopulated as part of the effort of the local government to contain the possible spread of ASF in the town which has 37 barangays.
“This is the first time that Malitbog has experienced ASF cases. The LGU immediately conducted orientation and information dissemination regarding ASF and how can this be addressed,” she said.
The spread of ASF in the three villages has affected more than 100 small hog raisers.
The town of Malitbog has over 2,000 hogs population as of last year.
Last month, ASF cases were also reported to hit the town of Sogod, also in Southern Leyte.
