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DPWH personnel conducts inspection of ongoing constructions of 7 schools in Leyte’s 2nd district

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Members of the inspectorate team of the Leyte II District Engineering Office conducted ocular inspection to seven schools being constructed by the office within Leyte’s second district. (PHOTO COURTESY)
Members of the inspectorate team of the Leyte II District Engineering Office conducted ocular inspection to seven schools being constructed by the office within Leyte’s second district. (PHOTO COURTESY)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO) Inspectorate Team conducted an inspection of the ongoing school projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways in collaboration with the Department of Education.

According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, the seven school buildings constructed in different schools started their construction on January 19 and are expected to be completed on or before May 3 of this year.

“It is necessary to conduct an ocular project inspection, especially at the early stage of the construction activities, to assess that the project implementation adheres to the plans and program of works,” Oppura added.

Recipient schools are Talisay Elementary School, Mayorga, Leyte; Amandangay Elementary School, Tabontabon, Leyte; MacArthur Central School, MacArthur, Leyte; Caridad Primary School, Julita, Leyte; Buracan Elementary School, La Paz, Leyte; Aringit Primary School, Pastrana, Leyte; and Tunga Central School, Tunga, Leyte.

Each school building has a construction budget of P4.9 million sourced from the CY 2022 Basic Education Facilities Fund of the Department of Education (DepEd) aim to address the classroom gaps in high priority schools nationwide.

The school building, built on one storey with two classrooms, is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes, considering that the region is exposed to natural calamities. It is also equipped with restrooms, lighting fixtures, and electric fans to provide a conducive learning environment for the pupils so that they will be motivated to participate in the classroom activities.(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Solar studs light the national roads of Eastern Samar

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BORONGAN CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways – Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH-ESDEO) implemented the installation of solar studs along the national roads in Eastern Samar last year with the total appropriation of P197.5 million, funded under the Convergence and Special Support Program of the department based on General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2022.

DPWH ESDEO has two contract projects for the installation of around 20,400 pieces of solar studs that light the estimated 61.2 kilometers centerline of the road.

Tony Lor, a van driver with route from Borongan City to Arteche town, says that the installed solar studs are a big help to drivers like him that travel during night time, and even during rainy days wherein the road is not visible.

“Maupay ga iton nga solar studs kay iton dako iton nga bulig hit mga driver labi na ngin maraot it panahon, makusog it uran. Asya nala it amon ginkikita iton nga solar [That solar studs is a big relief to the drivers especially during bad weather and heavy rains. It helps us see the road path],” said Lor.

DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia said that solar studs are solar cell-powered LED lighting devices embedded in the centerline of the road surfaces as an alternative to the traditional cats’ eyes.

“The solar studs automatically charge during daylight and activate at night time to help drivers anticipate the road path,” said DE Junia.

She also disclosed that Eastern Samar DEO has already installed road studs in the previous years along road sections in Can-avid, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Salcedo, Quinapondan, and Borongan City that are accident-prone areas under the routine maintenance program of the department.

“Now, the installation of 20,400 solar studs is our initial implementation of lighting up the whole national road of Eastern Samar with solar studs,” said DE Junia.

The District engineer also said that the installation of solar studs will improve the quality and safety of the road network in Eastern Samar for the benefit of the travelling public.
The two contract projects is now fully installed along the national roads of Eastern Samar to guide the travelling public of the province. (PR)

Gov. Evardone welcomes PBBM move to possibly defer devolution implementation

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Mayor Remedios Petilla

Mayor Petilla says devolution affects LGUs services

Mayor Remedios Petilla

TACLOBAN CITY-The move of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to study and review an executive order issued by his predecessor on devolution was welcomed by Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone.

Evardone, in fact, said that he hopes that this devolution order should be scrapped altogether considering that it only adds a financial burden to local government units.
“We welcome this move of Pres. Marcos to seriously consider the deferment of the devolution of some national projects and programs to local government units as a result of the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas case,” Evardone, who is also the public information officer for the Visayas of the governors league in the country, said in a text message.

Pres. Marcos, in his speech on Thursday before the gathering of municipal mayors in the country, said that he is ‘very seriously’ considering reviewing Executive Order 138 which provides full devolution of certain functions of the national government to local government units (LGUs).

The devolution order came amid a Supreme Court Mandanas-Garcia ruling giving more share of taxes to LGUs.

But Evardone said that the High Court decision did not mandate the national government to devolve some of its programs and services to the LGUs.

“It simply states that LGUs must have a share in all national taxes, particularly those collected by the Bureau of Customs. If this ruling will be fully implemented without the devolution of some national programs and functions, LGUs will have more funds for their priority projects, especially social services,” the Eastern Samar governor said.

Eastern Samar has a P1.7 billion IRA, now known as national tax allotment, for this year.
Meantime, Mayor Remedios Petilla of Palo, Leyte, said that they have been calling the national government to suspend the devolution considering LGUs are not yet in a financial position due to the impacts on their finances of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Petilla, who is the president of the mayors’ league in the province, said that insisting on the implementation of the devolution would surely hamper the operations of the LGUs.

“They just want to do this devolution without giving us more funds which is very unfair for us LGUs. That is why, we have been lobbying for its suspension until we can recover due to the pandemic,” she said.

In Palo’s case, their NTA has dropped to P44 million for this year from their share of more than P313 million due to the low income of the national government attributed to the pandemic.

The reduction, Petilla said, could have been used to fund in the delivery of various social services and other programs.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Over 1,000 soldiers deployed by national HQ

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IN SIX MONTHS TIME. Over 1,000 soldiers from Mindanao arrived this week ready for deployment in Northern Samar province with a goal to finally crush the insurgency problem of the region. Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding officer of the 8th ID, target to finish the security problem of the region in six-month time of this year.

Goal is to quell insurgency in EV in six months

IN SIX MONTHS TIME. Over 1,000 soldiers from Mindanao arrived this week ready for deployment in Northern Samar province with a goal to finally crush the insurgency problem of the region. Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding officer of the 8th ID, target to finish the security problem of the region in six-month time of this year.

PALO, Leyte-More than 1,000 soldiers are to augment the fight of government forces in the region with the goal to completely crush its insurgency problem.

On Monday (Feb.20) half of that number arrived on their way to Northern Samar province where most of the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are operating and four of the five remaining communist fronts are based.

The soldiers, belonging to the 74th Infantry Battalion (IB) headed by Lt.Col. Jose Roy Manuel Dizon and 42nd IB, under the command of Lt. Col. Peter Garceniego, were from Mindanao who fought against the Abu Sayyaf group and the ISIS-Maute group.
The other half of the 1,000 additional forces are expected to arrive in the region within this week and also to be under the command of the 803rd Infantry Brigade in Catarman, Northern Samar.

They were welcomed by Major Gen. Camilo Ligayo, the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division, at the ‘Araw Camp’ at the Government Center, this town.

The deployment in Eastern Visayas, particularly in Northern Samar, of these additional forces will be a big boost in their campaign against the communist armed group by dismantling their guerilla fronts and free their remaining ‘influence’ barangays, Ligayo said.
“This division is in the winning momentum in dismantling the four active guerilla fronts in the area of operations. Thus, an additional force would be great as we continue to strike hard on the communist terrorist groups and will shorten the time in attaining strategic victory and to finally put an end to this insurgency,” he said during the arrival of the soldiers.

Aside from the deployment of the two battalions, the Army’s elite force, the members of the 21st Scout Ranger Company belonging to the elite force of 4th Scout Ranger Battalion arrived in the region on Feb.17 as an additional force to help end the decades-long insurgency problem in the region.

Also, the 8th ID has an additional force of more than 500 with newly-trained soldiers who are also to help fight against the rebels.

Ligayo said that he is confident that with additional forces their target to finally quell the rebels will be accomplished within the next six months of this year.

He also expressed his gratitude to their national headquarters for pouring in additional forces to the region to attain the goal.

Meantime, Cpt. Jefferson Mariano, the division’s head of public affairs office, said that while they are determined to quell the armed rebellion, they will continue to provide humanitarian activities in the villages.

“They are here for the peace and development, but because of the geographical location of the 8th ID which is we are along the storm path that would be their second concern, the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR),” he said.

“Part of their training was HADR,” Mariano said.

HADR response includes search and rescue and relief assistance distribution during times of calamity and disasters.

JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA

Leyte officials turn over evacuation center to villagers

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TACLOBAN CITY – A multi-purpose evacuation center located in Barangay Sto. Niño in Jaro town was officially turned over to the local government unit on Feb 12, 2023.

The turn-over was graced by Vice Governor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier, Rep. Lolita Karen Javier (2nd district), Mayor Jassie Lou Tañala, and representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The P34.68 million worth evacuation center can accommodate at least 100 families during times of calamities and disaster.

“This multi-purpose evacuation center will be a big help to his constituents in times of calamities,” Rep. Javier said.

The facility includes a prayer room, office, stage, basketball court/volleyball court with movable beds, mess hall, kitchen, conjugal room, playroom, and a laundry area/ long lavatory.

Mayor Tañala was grateful to agencies and individuals who helped in making the project a success, especially to town councilor Teddy Cabello who donated the lot were the evacuation center was constructed.

“This building will primarily be used as evacuation center during calamities, but it can also be used for sports, meetings, and other LGU and community activities,” the town mayor said.

“My only request to the constituents, especially to the residents nearby, is to please use this facility responsibly and avoid actions that will be detrimental to its purpose,” he added.

For better access to the evacuation center, the town mayor also promised that his administration will be providing fund for the road concreting leading to the facility.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Prayer sustains our faith

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FR. ROY CIMAGALA
FR. ROY CIMAGALA

“HIS disciples asked him in private, ‘Why could we not drive the spirit out?’ He said to them, ‘This kind can only come out through prayer.’” (Mk 9,28-29).

This is the concluding part of that gospel episode where Christ was approached by the father of a boy possessed by a mute spirit. (cfr. Mk 9,14-29) According to the father, “wherever the mute spirit seized the boy, it threw him down; he foamed at the mouth, ground his teeth, and became rigid.” It must have been a terrible sight!

But the father complained that when he asked Christ’s disciples to drive it out, they were unable to do so. That’s when Christ retorted, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?”

Somehow Christ was highlighting the need for faith for the disciples to be able to drive the spirit out. “Everything is possible to one who has faith,” he said. And then he asked the father of the boy if he too had faith that the spirit can be driven out.

That’s when the father said the famous words: “I do believe, help my unbelief!” He somehow captured the usual condition we have in relation to our faith. We like to profess that we have faith, but we also know that our faith is oftentimes wavering.

When Christ finally drove out the spirit from the boy, the disciples asked why they could not do it. That’s when Christ made it clear that “this kind can only come out through prayer.”

Somehow from this episode we can make the following conclusion: for us to share in the very power of God, especially when we are faced with extraordinary challenges and problems, we need to have a strong faith. And for that faith to be a working faith, it has to be sustained always through prayer.

In other words, to live our life with God and share in everything that he has as we are meant to be, we need pray to keep our faith going. Prayer should be a constant activity for us. It should be like the very beating of our heart.

We have to realize more deeply that it is a basic need of ours to pray. If we understand our life to be a life always with God, as our Christian faith tells us, then we need to pray always.

Prayer is actually more important and necessary than the air we breathe, the food we eat or the water we drink. We should do everything to learn to pray always. On this, St. Paul clearly said, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes 5,17).

In fact, in that Pauline passage, what went before and after it are very interesting. St. Paul says that we have to rejoice always and be thankful in all circumstances because that is the will of God for us. (cfr 1 Thes 5,16.18).

We have to find ways of how to conform ourselves to this clear indication of St. Paul. We have to learn how to pray always, converting everything in our life, including those that we consider as negative or bad elements, into an occasion, a means, a reason for praying.
We need to go beyond that common understanding of prayer that pegs it only to the recitation of some vocal prayers or to spending time in some special places to do meditation or contemplation. While these forms of prayer are important and, in fact, are indispensable, they do not have the exclusive ownership, so to speak, of the ways of praying.

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