CATARMAN, Northern Samar—The government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in the country continues as a significant budget of P2.74 billion has been allocated for the development of Northern Samar’s 1st District Engineering Office (DEO) this year.
The FY 2024 Infrastructure Program of Northern Samar First DEO encompasses 25 projects under the national road network services; 3 under the flood management services; 1 under the local program; and 48 under the basic infrastructure program, comprising a total of 77 projects, as outlined in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio revealed that the major projects with the largest budget allocation for this year include the construction of the San Isidro-Lope De Vega Road which has an allocation of P100 million.
Additionally, an amount of P85 million has been allocated for the preventive maintenance along Catarman-Calbayog Road.
He further emphasized the priority given to infrastructure projects severely affected by the recent shear line that hit the province, particularly in the first district of Northern Samar.
“The district office will give priority to those infrastructure projects that caused disruption to the traveling public. We have already sent a request for Quick Response Funds (QRF) to the Central office,” he stated.
As of January 5, 2024, the district had already bid out 34 projects. Three projects are scheduled for bidding on January 23, and the remaining 40 projects are under preliminary detailed engineering.
The district office is committed to efficiently utilize allocated funds to improve infrastructure development, enhance connectivity, and contribute to the overall economic development of Northern Samar. (ANALIZA A. PABIA, PIO ALTERNATE/PR)
Miss Universe Philippines- Leyte Angel Rose Tambal made her courtesy visit to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday (Jan.16). During her visit, a resolution was presented to her, declaring her as Leyte’s tourism ambassador.
(PHOTO COURTESY WILSON UY)
Miss Universe Philippines- Leyte Angel Rose Tambal made her courtesy visit to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday (Jan.16). During her visit, a resolution was presented to her, declaring her as Leyte’s tourism ambassador. (PHOTO COURTESY WILSON UY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial board of Leyte passed a resolution naming Miss Universe Philippines – Leyte as a tourism ambassador and the official candidate of the province in the upcoming Miss Universe Philippines national pageant.
The resolution, authored by board member Carlo Loreto(5th district) was passed by the provincial board after the first Miss Universe Philippines – Leyte titleholder Angel Rose Tambal appeared before the members of the provincial board during their regular session last Tuesday(Jan.16) at the Leyte Provincial Capitol complex in Palo town.
In her message to the members of the provincial board, Tambal appealed to the provincial board to help her in her journey at the national pageant as she encouraged all residents of Leyte to support her, particularly in social media engagement.
“To be the official ambassadress of Leyte will empower me to contribute to the promotion of our rich tourism, cultural diversity, and heritage,” Tambal said.
“I commit my hundred percent best in bringing the name of Leyte to the forefront of the national pageant. I am not here just as a candidate but as a proud Leyteña ready to represent our province with passion,” the beauty queen, who is an engineer by profession, added.
This February 10, Tambal will be leaving for Metro Manila for the sashing of the MUPH 2024 candidates where she will be officially announced by the organization as the official representative of Leyte in the national pageant.
In the region, Leyte province along with Kananga town whose representative is Natasha Jung had already crowned their representatives to the national pageant.
The two beauty queens were crowned after the MUPH organization introduced the accredited partner’s program concept last year wherein they will no longer hold the traditional screening process as candidates but as winners of the local pageant organized by their accredited partners.
Before the declaration of Tambal as the tourism ambassador of Leyte and the official MUPh candidate of the province, she along with two other winners of the local pageant had signed a contract with IM Travel Corporation as the official tourism ambassador of the travel and tour company.
As tourism ambassador, Tambal will help in promoting and marketing local tourism attractions and destinations of the province. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
CATARMAN, Northern Samar –District Engineer Alvin A. Ignacio with the Inspectorate team lead by Construction Chief Engineer Vicente C. Galecio of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Northern Samar First District Engineering Office (DEO), conducted an inspection of various infra projects within the first district of Northern Samar on January 4, 2024.
During the inspection, District Engineer Ignacio underscored the importance of conducting routine project inspections to ensure that the contractors comply with correct construction methodologies and adhere to the department’s guidelines and specifications.
The team inspected the ongoing concreting of Barangay Chitongco to Sitio Pamiswakan, Brgy. Chitongco farm-tom-market (FMR), Brgy. Chitongco, Mondragon Northern Samar; rehabilitation of river control, Barangay Makiwalo, Mondragon, Northern Samar; construction of 1STY 4CL Cawayan Integrated School, Catarman, Northern Samar; rehabilitation/reconstruction/upgrading of damaged paved roads – tertiary roads – Bugko – Nenita – Mirador- Cagpanit-an – De Maria – Sn Jose Rd – K0762+00-K0763+092, Mondragon, Northern Samar; construction of multi-purpose building, Brgy. Cawayan, Catarman, Northern Samar and rehabilitation/reconstruction/upgrading of damaged paved roads – Secondary Road – Catarman – Laoang Rd – K0761+480-K0762+000, Mondragon, Northern Samar.
District Engineer Ignacio emphasized the significant impact these projects will have upon completion.
“The successful completion of these projects will certainly benefit the traveling public and will contribute to the overall improvement of infrastructure in the first district of Northern Samar,” he said.
DE Ignacio further stressed that routine inspections play a crucial role in monitoring the progress of ongoing projects and addressing any issues promptly. Hence, the monitoring Engineers are required to join the project inspections.
The DPWH officials are committed to overseeing the successful implementation of these initiatives for the betterment of the community and the efficient use of public resources. (ANALIZA A. PABIA, PIO ALTERNATE/PR)
CANIGAO ISLAND. Tourists are beginning to flock and enjoy the aquamarine and freshwater of Canigao Island off Matalom, Leyte. Canigao Island is one of the favorite destinations in Leyte, especially during summer times.(DEFINITELY PINOY)
CANIGAO ISLAND. Tourists are beginning to flock and enjoy the aquamarine and freshwater of Canigao Island off Matalom, Leyte. Canigao Island is one of the favorite destinations in Leyte, especially during summer times.(DEFINITELY PINOY)
Relative to the SK city federation polls
TACLOBAN CITY– The director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) this city was slapped with criminal and administrative charges related to the recently-held Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Tacloban city federation elections.
Charged before the Office of the Office of Ombudsman Visayas in Cebu City was City DILG Director Visitacion Giva for her alleged ‘blatant and gross’ violations of DILG memoranda relative to the conduct of the SK Tacloban city federation elections held last November 14, 2023.
The complaint filed against Giva was filed by Maxinne Allyssa Roseño, SK chairman of Barangay 109-A, V and G subdivision, this city, before the anti-graft court on December 22, 2023.
“Respondent miserably failed to observe, monitor, and ensure the orderly and smooth conduct of the SK Panlungsod na Pederasyon election in Tacloban City,” she said on her 15-page complaint, a copy of which was obtained by Leyte Samar Daily Express.
“(Respondent), being installed in a position of public trust, has the obligation to perform the functions of her office in good faith and to the best of her ability, using reasonable skills and diligence, particularly where rights of individuals may be jeopardized by (her) action,” Roseño added.
She asked the Ombudsman that the election of the SK Tacloban City Federation be nullified and to dismiss Giva from government service.
Reached for her comment, Giva said that she has yet to receive the copy of the complaint filed against her by Roseño.
She, however, said that once she received a copy, she would answer the complaint.
“I was just informed by our regional director (Arnel Agabe) about it. I have yet to receive a copy of the complaint,” Giva said.
The city DILG official was charged with violation of the DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2023-168 mandating all SK chairmen who are joining the federation elections to shell out P1,700 sourced from their SK funds to cover the cost of meals, and supplies, among others.
Giva, the complainant claimed, did not collect the amount as mandated nor issued official receipts. Many of the SK leaders have made cash advances for this purpose, Roseño said.
Giva also did not ask the newly-elected SK chairmen for their oath of office or the SK mandatory training certificate of completion or attendance but just their certificate of proclamation, contrary to MC 2023-168, Roseño said.
Roseño also said that the acts of Giva were also in violation of RA 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Official and Employees; and RA 9485, or the Anti-Red Tape Act.
Roseño also noted that the official ballots used during the election bore numbers or ‘coding scheme’ that corresponds to the name and barangay number of the SK chairpersons to influence the election which undermines the secrecy of the ballots and is inconsistent with the principle of maintaining the secrecy and confidentiality of the ballot under our election law, a clear violation of DILG-Comelec-NYC JMC No. 2017-01.
“In the conduct of the election, the nomination process was rigged to favor a certain candidate. While many SK chairpersons were still raising their hands to be recognized, the SK election committee chairperson following a script and in a cue, abruptly closed the nomination for the SK city federation president, thereby closing the chance of other interested candidates to be nominated,” Roseño said in her complaint.
TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan welcomed the declaration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that all communist fronts in the country, including in his province, have been dismantled.
According to Ongchuan, the dismantling of the communist fronts could lead to development in Northern Samar and the rest of the areas where there was a presence of communist armed groups.
“The pronouncement of the President on zero active guerilla front in the country is a very welcome development, especially for our province,” the governor said.
“This attests to the success of our collective efforts for lasting peace in Northern Samar, which will largely contribute to our aim for development,” Ongchuan added.
The provincial government, he said, is in support of the anti-insurgency campaign of the national government and has implemented various programs and projects that benefit former rebels in their province who surrender to the government and communities formerly affected by the armed struggle like conducting the ‘Kauswagan Caravan’ which bring government services to various barangays and towns in the province.
The province also identified a housing site for former rebels in Mondragon town called ‘Kauswagan’ village, where not only shelters are provided but including livelihood support.
“We will continue to work for an insurgency-free province which we hope will come soon,” he added.
Meantime, the spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division, Cpt. Jefferson Mariano declined to give a categorical answer when asked about the statement of their Commander-in-Chief.
He also added that they need to wait for the official announcement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines that all communist fronts in the country are already neutralized or dismantled.
Earlier, the 8th ID has announced that only two communist fronts are operating in Northern Samar, considered the last bastion of communist insurgency in Eastern Visayas. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
The German Embassy in the Philippines has granted a rice mill to poor farmers from Barangay Tag-Alag of Marabut town,Samar.
The rice mill started successful test operations in December 2023. This was facilitated through the efforts of Leyte Center for Development(LCDe).
Currently, the rice mill is providing cheaper milling prices for “palay” as compared to the commercially owned rice mills.
Furthermore, residents of Barangay Tag-alag do not have to travel five kilometers or spend for transportation to the nearest commercially owned rice mill.
The rice mill is owned and managed by the Farmers and Fisherfolk Association of Tag-alag, which is registered with the Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE).
“We are very much thankful to LCDe who supported us to solve our problems on the high cost of rice milling, this rice mill can add to our meager income,” says Abraham Galangue, chairperson of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Association of Tag-Alag.
Minet Aguisanda-Jerusalem, LCDe director, expressed her gratitude to the German Embassy for providing a rice mill to the people of Tag-Alag.
“We would like to thank the German people, through the German Embassy in the Philippines Ambassador Plaffernoschke, for granting us this rice mill worth P 650,000. These projects are all part of LCDe’s efforts to help the government solve poverty and contribute to making poor communities disaster resilient,” she said.
“We are honored by a coming project visit from the German Ambassador in the coming weeks,” Jerusalem added. (PR)
