TACLOBAN CITY – A foot, hand, and mouth disease (FHMD) outbreak was declared by the health office of Borongan last Friday (March 10) due to the ‘unusual rise’ of the said disease.
With the declaration, the public is mandated to comply with all the minimum public health standards to ensure that the virus will not spread further.
Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda reported that of the 61 barangays of the city, 36 have confirmed FHMD cases totaling in all 154 as of last Friday.
It was learned that children from one up to 10 years old were most of the victims of the FHMD.
Mayor Agda said that while FHMD is not as deadly as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the city government is making preventive measures to stop its further spread.
Last week, several schools in the city suspended their classes as a precautionary measure.
Mayor Agda disclosed that the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit is still investigating to determine the cause of the disease’s rapid spread in the city.
The epidemiology unit together with the City Health Office declared FMHD outbreak on March 10.
“The city strategy to curb the infection is to isolate the infected. The children who are infected should be isolated at their homes. If they don’t have area or room where they can isolate the child, the city has the isolation facility,” Mayor Agda said.
He then urged Borongan residents to observe proper hygiene like regular hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizers, and observe minimum health standard to curb the further spread of the virus. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY– It appears that it’s all systems go for the construction of a new bridge that will serve as an alternative to the San Juanico Bridge.
And the cost of constructing the proposed bridge is a staggering P9.2 billion.
Engr. Edgar Tabacon, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said that the feasibility study of the project has already been approved.
In fact, he said, representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the main funder of the proposed project, are scheduled to conduct their ocular inspection of the site.
It was learned from Tabacon that the proposed bridge will start at Barangay Guintigui-an, Babatngon in Leyte, and will end at Brgy. San Pascual, Sta. Rita, Samar.
The DPWH official added that the proposed P9.2 billion bridge will be known as the ‘Janbatas Bridge’ as it will straddle the Janbatas channel.
The proposed length of the bridge is 1.2 kilometers, this includes 600 meters for the main bridge and 600 meters for the causeway.
The proposed Janbatas Bridge will serve as an alternative to the San Juanico Bridge which serves as the main highway connecting the Leyte and Samar islands and in the process help ease traffic congestion.
“The Janbatas Bridge will be an alternative road for the increasing number of motorists passing through the San Juanico Bridge,” Tabacon said during the weekly ‘Kapihan ha PIA” last Friday.
Tabacon, however, did not say when the timetable for the construction of the bridge.
San Juanico Bridge is almost 50 years old and was fully operational in 1973 during the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. as his ‘gift’ to his wife, Imelda, who is from Leyte. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Manila-On International Women’s Day March 8, Filipino entrepreneur Senith Araez received the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Outstanding Achievement Award from the United States government for her exemplary leadership in business and contributions to the empowerment of women in her community.
The award was presented during the first regional AWE Summit organized by the U.S. government from March 6 to 9 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More than 200 businesswomen and AWE graduates from Brunei, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam attended the event.
Araez founded Whistler Travel and Tours in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in 2019. Through the business mentorship and training provided by AWE, she was able to expand her business and cater to clients based in the United States. In Araez’s company, 75 percent of employees are single mothers or women who are family breadwinners.
“I am humbled to receive this Outstanding Achievement Award. AWE made it possible for me to develop a sound business plan that resulted in engagements with local, national, and now, international corporate accounts,” Araez said.
Launched by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in 2019, AWE is a hybrid program that combines the use of DreamBuilder—an online business training curriculum developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management—with in-class mentoring and facilitation. Globally, the program has trained more than 25,000 women entrepreneurs in 100 countries.
In the Philippines, AWE has trained more than 180 women beneficiaries since its launch in October 2020. Araez is actively involved in establishing a new AWE cohort in Puerto Princesa City that is expected to provide professional training for 30 women working in the local fishing industry.
“When we opened AWE Philippines in 2020, our vision was to provide Filipinas with the confidence and technical skills needed to start sustainable businesses. Now three years later, we are excited to see these entrepreneurs expand their business ideas and their networks of entrepreneur partners,” said U.S. Embassy Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer Pauline Anderson.
AWE Philippines is implemented by non-profit organization Samahan ng mga Pilipina para sa Reporma at Kaunlaran (SPARK!) and the U.S. Embassy’s American Spaces network in Bacolod City, Cebu City, Manila, Marawi City, and Puerto Princesa City. In December 2022, two new AWE cohorts led by SPARK! were established in Bohol and Zambaonga del Sur. (PR)
NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar– The Maintenance Section of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office headed by Engr. Francisco Y. Taňala has been consistently rated as ‘outstanding’ for the implementation of Department Order No. 41 series of 2016; for six consecutive semesters since 2020.
In a Memorandum dated December 29, 2022 by Director Melvin Navarro, Director IV, Bureau of Maintenance, DPWH Central Office through DPWH Region VIII, Regional Director Edgar Tabacon commended NSSDEO for a 100% final rating with its corresponding subjective equivalent of ‘Outstanding’ relative to the Road Maintenance Performance Assessment/Rating pursuant to the Interim Guidelines of Department Order No.41, Series of 2016.
The technical team from DPWH-RO VIII Division headed by Engr. Nilo Jumagdao validated and inspected the performance in maintaining the Policy Guidelines on the Maintenance of National Roads and Bridges within the NSSDEO jurisdiction.
The inspection was accompanied by the NSSDEO District Maintenance Engineer Francisco Y. Taňala, Assistant Chief Engineer Nicanor L. Mejos, Jr., and technical personnel of NSSDEO Maintenance Section.
‘Ensuring and prioritizing the safety and convenience of the travelling public has always been our key goal for a better national roads and bridges, and this is the reason why the district office got an outstanding rating during this year’s road rating conducted by the regional office’. OIC-District Engineer Charlito Carlobos said.
Section Chief Engineer Francisco Y. Tańala is supported by Engr. Nicanor Mejos Jr. as his assistant while Engineers Shawnameh B. Osias, Danny M. Pillado, Jr., and Christian Dave C. Pangandoyon are all acting as Maintenance Point Person (MPPs) in the Pacific and Mainland Area respectively. (LYCA MAE T. QUILICOL,PIO Alternate)
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla (center) led in the launching of the two-day Leyte Tourism Summit that ended on March 8. The event aim to further enhance the tourism industry of the province by coming up strategies and activities and lure more tourists to the province. Among in attendance were Tourism Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, tourism regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, and Frances Anne Petilla, provincial tourism consultant.(Photo Courtesy)
PALO, Leyte– Provincial officials of this province have expressed renewed optimism in its tourism industry following the “resounding success” of a two-day first tourism forum that gathered over 500 tourism stakeholders, industry experts, and government leaders from all over Leyte.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla (center) led in the launching of the two-day Leyte Tourism Summit that ended on March 8. The event aim to further enhance the tourism industry of the province by coming up strategies and activities and lure more tourists to the province. Among in attendance were Tourism Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, tourism regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, and Frances Anne Petilla, provincial tourism consultant.(Photo Courtesy)
“It’s a privilege in helping the province of Leyte in bringing together tourism stakeholders from both the government and the private sectors, tourism champions from all over Leyte that will strengthen the Leyte tourism industry,” Frances Ann Petilla, provincial tourism office consultant and former mayor of this town, said during the March 7-8 event.
“As I give my humble assistance to the provincial tourism in developing tourism strategies, I believe that by working together, we can create a vibrant and sustainable tourism industry that will benefit everyone,” she added.
Through its theme “Empowering Leyte tourism: A gathering of ideas, opportunities and solutions,” tourism experts and stakeholders had the opportunity to talk about trends and technology in tourism that included empowering local stakeholders, capacity building and accreditation standards, and sustainable tourism.
Other topics were also focused on product development for rural destinations: community-based approach, connecting suppliers to tourists through technology, preliminary planning guide for tourism stakeholders and provincial plans on tourism accreditation.
“The only way you can succeed in having good tourism is when you know what the people are looking for,” said Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla during the gathering at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo.
He also welcomed the discussion on the different strategies to attract more tourists to the province.
Aside from the governor, the keynote speakers and resource speakers during the event also included Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, and tourism regional director, Karina Rosa Tiopes, among others.
Leyte’s unique products were also displayed during the event for “potential business partnerships.”
“About this month, three years ago, talks about coronavirus disease being a global health concern was becoming louder. Then on the 16 of March, a lockdown was imposed nationwide. This marked the start of over two years of travel restrictions to difficult years for the tourism industry in Eastern Visayas, in the country, and in the world. Today, the travel and tourism industry is almost back to normal,” Tiopes recalled.
Provincial tourism officer Jescyn Kate Nierras-Ramos expressed confidence that the tourism forum “will be our first step in working as one in building networks and future projects and endeavors.” (RONALD O. REYES)
Bishop Hobayan died on the day diocese marks its founding anniversary
TACLOBAN CITY– The diocese of Catarman has announced the passing of its first bishop, Angel Hobayan, on Saturday(March 11). He was 94.
The announcement was made by Bishop Emmanuel Trance who noted that the death of the prelate coincided with the 48th founding anniversary of the Catarman diocese which covers the entire province of Northern Samar.
“With sadness of heart but with consolation of our faith…. we announce the passing of our beloved in Christ, Most Rev. Angel Ti-I Hobayan,” Trance said in his message posted on the social media account of the diocese.
“We enjoin our parishes and mission centers to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the mass for his eternal repose. And we extend our sincerest condolences to the bereaved family and relatives and to all the faithful of the Diocese of Catarman,” the bishop added.
The cause of death of Hobayan was not disclosed except that he died while confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City at around 2:30 am Saturday (March 11). His interment will also be announced later.
Hobayan, who was from Taft, Eastern Samar, was ordained as priest on March 25,1955 and as bishop on March 5,1975.
He was installed as bishop of Catarman on March 11,1975 until March 10, 2005.
The provincial government, through Gov. Edwin Ongchuan, joined in condoling the family and relatives of the late bishop and the entire diocese.
“The provincial government is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Monsignor Angel T. Hobayan, our bishop-emeritus in the Diocese of Catarman. We extend our sincere condolences to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Catarman,” Ongchuan said in a statement.
“The people of Northern Samar will always be thankful to God for sending us a teacher of peace and humility. We trust that the merciful Lord would grant him eternal rewards in His presence,” he added. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
