PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and value brand TNT assisted over a thousand customers in Visayas during the three-day nationwide rollout of facilitated SIM Registration booths in remote areas spearheaded by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

NTC Region 7 Director Sophia Lynn Lumantod expressed her gratitude for Smart’s support for this activity. “We saw and felt Smart’s cooperation in our three-day nationwide cascade of SIM Registration in areas far away from cities. The Municipality of Moalboal is the first far-away town in Region 7 where telcos’ registration booths were set up to assist subscribers. We thank Smart for their all-out support in making this cascade possible,” she said.

Under this initiative, Smart deployed SIM registration sites in the towns of Moalboal, Cebu; Palo, Leyte; and Carles, Iloilo. The booths catered to residents from various barangays of each municipality, as well as those in the neighboring towns.

“We at Smart give our all-out support to the NTC, DICT, and DILG’s efforts in ensuring that no subscriber gets left behind in the SIM Registration drive. We commit to fortifying this initiative to comply with the SIM Registration Law and to help protect more Filipinos from SIM-aided fraud, including those living in far-flung areas. We also encourage our subscribers to help their families and friends register to ensure continuous mobile services for them,” said Grace Ruperto, Assistant Vice President for Customer Development Strategies and Support for Visayas at Smart.

“Thanks to Smart for the very smooth registration of my SIM. We hope that this effort will reach more areas to assist those who are still unsure on how to register,” said Geneve Aumentado, a resident from Brgy. San Jose in Palo, Leyte.

The second wave of NTC’s simultaneous SIM Registration in Visayas will be on February 2 to 3, 2023, in Oslob and Malabuyoc, Cebu; in Tolosa and Tanauan, Leyte; in Madalag, Aklan; and in Lemery, Iloilo.

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act, also known as Republic Act (RA) No. 11934, regulates the use of SIM cards by requiring all end-users to register their SIMs under their name.

PLDT and Smart’s compliance with the SIM Registration Act underscores the PLDT group’s longstanding consumer protection initiatives, which includes blocking SIMs that send ‘smishing’ messages and Uniform Resource Locators (URL) or links that lead to illegal activities, to help safeguard the public against emerging cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, and other online criminal activities. (PR)

Due to incessant rain

TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Health (DOH) reported a surge of dengue fever in the region due to the continuous rains.

Based on their record, the region posted 201 dengue fever cases for the first three weeks last month, higher by 19 percent or 176 cases compared to last year of the same period.
Jelyn Malibago, DOH regional information officer, said that the increase of dengue fever in Eastern Visayas could be attributed to the incessant rains experienced across the region since December of last year.

To avoid further increase of the mosquito-bite-causing disease, Malibago urged the public to strictly observe the 4S strategy against dengue.

The strategy refers to search and destroy of mosquito breeding hotspots where the dengue virus starts; seek early consultation from health professionals to avoid serious complications due to the dengue virus and provide early treatment to those individuals who have symptoms; secure self-protective measures, like the use of mosquito repellents and mosquito nets; and support fogging/spraying activities, especially to areas with high cases.
“We should ensure the cleanliness of our surroundings. Dengue is a preventable disease which means we can avoid getting the virus,” Malibago said.

Of the 210 dengue fever cases, 84 were from Leyte; 45, Northern Samar; 31, Southern Leyte; 27, Samar; 16, Eastern Samar, and 7 from Biliran.

The DOH said that no fatality was recorded during this period.

Last year, the region has recorded 6,794 dengue fever with 20 deaths, the DOH added.
(HAZEL LLANETA, LNU Student Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY– The provincial government of Northern Samar has lined up several tourism-related activities in a bid to revive its tourism industry that was affected by the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The efforts started with the holding of Sinulog-like festivals in the 24 towns of the province last month honoring Santo Niño.

Allen Berbon, provincial information officer, said that reviving the province’s tourism industry is one of the top priorities of the provincial government under Governor Edwin Ongchuan.

The governor, he said, has approved the holding of several tourism-related activities as a way to attract tourists and in the process, help the economy of the province.

“It is a top priority along with economic development,” Berbon said on why the governor is pushing for the revival of the tourism industry affected by the pandemic.

Among these activities include the skimboarding and triathlon competitions; the return of the province-wide Ibabao Festival; and the summer festival slated in April of this year which includes, among others, the holding of kite competition; and local food festival.

Berbon said that all local government units in the province are also gearing towards reviving their own tourism industries, adding that they are also ‘tourism-friendly mayors.’
He added that with the revival of tourism-related activities and festivals, will help ‘rekindle the tourism industry of the province.’

Berbon also said that the people of the province themselves are happy that the festivals in their respective areas have resumed after two years in hiatus.

“They were happy that after two years of hiatus, we were able to celebrate our culture and faith through these festivals,” Berbon said.

Based on the data of the Department of Tourism in the region, Northern Samar has attracted 110,987 both local and foreign tourists in 2019, the year before the pandemic started.

However, when the pandemic started in 2020, the province which is also known for its white beaches and rock formations, was visited by just 14,389 tourists.
But the number of tourists saw an increase in 2021 with more than 208,000 tourists going to the province.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar – Farmers and residents expressed thanked the national government for the completion of the Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo project in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Balangiga, Eastern Samar.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), led the inauguration and turnover of the bridge on Jan. 27 to the municipality of Balangiga led by Mayor Dana Flynch De Lira.

“This is a very historic moment for barangay Santa Rosa, for having the first concrete bridge through the Tulay ng Pangulo project. This event is a symbolism where the town of Balangiga can cross from the state of poverty to progress,” De Lira said.

Cambukol Bridge will benefit a total of 14,341 residents, including the 823 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Balangiga agrarian reform communities composed of seven barangays, including Poblacion 1, San Miguel, Cansumangcay, Sta. Rosa, Cag-olango, Guimaayohan and Baciao.

“We are very happy with this project. It will surely promote rural development in the ARCs in this region. Thank you to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and DPWH,” Danilo Abigan, Brgy. Chairman of Sta. Rosa said.

Abigan said the bridge will provide the ARBs easier access to bring their farm products to the market as compared to the old bridge made only of wood materials causing some of the residents to accidentally fall into the river.

Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Our President is fulfilling his promise to provide support services to the ARBs. Whereas before you had difficulty in transporting your products, now you have the Tulay ng Pangulo project to ease your transportation problems,” he said.

Robert Anthony Yu, DAR Eastern Visayas regional head, said the Cambukol Bridge worth PHP9 million has a 28 linear meter, 2-lanes, 1-span prefabricated modular steel technology supplied by the French government. (PNA)