ORMOC CITY-The local police are conducting a thorough investigation on the identity of those who gunned down a public utility vehicle driver.
Reynante Bojos,39 and a resident of Barangay Poblacion, Merida, Leyte, was shot to death by a riding-in-tandem after his passengers disembarked from his vehicle in Purok 2, sitio Kinayaban in the said town last April 3 at about 3:55 pm.
Case investigator Police Staff Sergeant Orlando Morados said that the victim was hit in his back and his left arm and the fatal wound was in his neck.
Recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol firearm recovered from the crime scene.
The victim was brought to the Ormoc District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician.
Morados said that the victim was known as a good person in the community and reportedly a preacher and a transport official. (ROBERT DEJON)
On April 22, the country will again join the global community in celebrating Earth Day under this year’s theme, “Invest in Our Planet.”
The theme encourages everyone to unite in partnership for the planet and invest their time, money, and effort into protecting the Earth and ensuring its sustainability.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas shares that investing in the planet could be done through simple actions like conserving water and energy, reducing waste, planting trees, using public transportation, eating locally sourced food, and adopting sustainable practices. It further reminds all sectors that all must take action against the climate crisis and invest in a green economy that will leave the world in a better state for future generations.
The Earth Day celebration was first started in 1970 when millions of Americans took to the streets to protest against the pollution of the environment. Since then, the celebrations have grown annually, becoming one of the most significant environmental observances in the world.
In the Philippines, April 22 of every year has been declared as the Philippines’ Earth Day under Presidential Proclamation 1481, signed on April 10, 2008, by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to raise the level of awareness on environmental degradation and destruction in the country that threatens the very quality of life of many Filipinos. Presidential Proclamation 1482 was also signed on the same date, declaring the whole month of April each year as the Month of the Planet Earth.
DENR Eastern Visayas shall conduct information, education, and communication activities across the region to mark these celebrations. It shall likewise launch through its FB page DENR Eastern Visayas, a digital poster-making contest dubbed KalikasART. ENR Ambassadors, youth groups, students, and volunteers will also participate in a tree-planting activity at Brgy. Paglaum, Tacloban City on April 22, 2023. (PR)
ORAS, Eastern Samar– Rep. Marcelino Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group expressed his optimism that his bill splitting into two the current lone congressional district of Eastern Samar will be realized.
Libanan, the current House minority floor leader, said that it’s high time since the province composed of Borongan City and 22 towns is big an area to have just one congressional representative.
His bill, contained under House Bill 3647, was recently approved by the committee on local governments.
According to Libanan, who once served the lone congressional district of the province from 1988 to 2007, of the 19 similar measures pending in the Lower House, he is confident that his measure will be first or among those to be approved.
He admitted that for his measure to be approved realized lies in the hands of House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos.
“If there is such a measure to be approved under the 19th Congress, I am confident that my bill will be given the priority me being the minority floor leader,” Libanan said in an interview Tuesday (April 11) where he lead the groundbreaking of a farm-to-market road covering eight villages of this town.
Libanan lamented that despite of having a small coverage, Southern Leyte, which has 19 towns and the city of Maasin, has now two congressional districts.
The creation of two congressional districts for Southern Leyte came into effect in 2019.
“I have filed a similar bill during the 13th Congress but was not approved,” he said.
Libanan, which he refiled a similar measure in August 2022, said that there is a need to break into two the lone congressional district of the province for the reason it covers 597 barangays, which he said is the biggest in the country for a congressional district.
Also, having another congressman will mean additional benefits for the province in terms of projects.
The current post is being held by Rep. Ma. Fe Abunda.
Libanan did not say if he will run for a congressional seat under the proposed district.
Under his measure, the first congressional district will be composed of Borongan City and the municipalities of Arteche, Can-vid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Taft with a combined population of more than 270,600.
Meantime, the towns of Balangiga, Balangkayan, Gen. MacArthur, Giporlos, Guiuan, Hernani, Lawaan, Llorente, Maydolong, Mercedes, Quinapondan, and Salcedo will compose the proposed second congressional district which has a combine of over 206,400 population.
If approved, of the six provinces of Eastern Visayas, it will leave only Biliran to have a lone congressional district. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
CEASE AND DESIST. Due to its failure to secure an environmental compliance certificate, the shore protection project along Cancanbato Bay area near the Tacloban’s astrodome was ordered stop by EMB. (TCDEO)
The shore protection project is worth P57.5M
CEASE AND DESIST. Due to its failure to secure an environmental compliance certificate, the shore protection project along Cancanbato Bay area near the Tacloban’s astrodome was ordered stop by EMB. (TCDEO)
TACLOBAN CITY-The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office issued a cease and desist order on a shore protection project of the Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO).
The April 4, 2023 notice of the EMB was due to the failure of the TCDEO to secure the environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
An ECC is a document issued by EMB certifying that based on the representation of the enterprise, in this case, the TCDEO, a proposed project will not cause significant environmental impact.
The shore protection project is located along the coast of the Cancabato Area in Sagkahan District, this city.
It cost about P57.5 million with a length of 210 meters and a height of four meters. It is 120 meters away from the coastline.
It is located where the city’s astrodome is situated which serves as an evacuation center during typhoons.
The astrodome was also among the few structures in the city that was not destroyed when it was hit by Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
Leyte Samar Daily Express reached TCDEO through its public information unit for a statement but did not get any reply.
But a personnel assigned at the site of the project said that they have stopped working on the project a week ahead of the issuance of the order on April 4.
“We learned about it one week before the EMB made its order which is posted on the project site. We are not aware that the TCDEO has not complied with the needed requirement,” the personnel, who asked not to be named, said.
It was learned that the shore protection project started on February 19 of this year and is supposed to be completed within 229 days.
Aside from being a protection against the rise of seawater, the project is also being seen as an area for biking and walking.
TACLOBAN CITY– the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Leyte Second District Engineering Office assisted travelers and motorists during the Holy Week observance by putting up three strategic stations.
Two stations were placed along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road section located in Lemon Junction, Capoocan, and in the Leyte 2nd district engineering office based here while one was located in Dulag Junction to cover the Daang Maharlika road section.
District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura said that he instructed the project engineers to ensure that proper signage and warning signs were installed within clear and safe sight distance of all ongoing construction projects.
He also instructed the maintenance engineers to thoroughly maintain the national roads and bridges to ensure the safe travel of motorists and to stand by for any untoward incidents that may cause interrupted traffic flow.
DPWH’s “Lakbay Alalay” program was manned by the district offices nationwide, to ensure the safety of motorists and a faster flow of traffic, and is coordinating with other agencies like the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office, and the local government units. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
To avoid any inconvenience and problem, the Department of Tourism in the region asked visitors to only deal to accredited service providers. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY – The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) has advised tourists and visitors who will be visiting Eastern Visayas to transact only with the agency’s accredited tourism services providers.
To avoid any inconvenience and problem, the Department of Tourism in the region asked visitors to only deal to accredited service providers. (Photo Courtesy)
To help the tourists connect with service providers easily, a QR Code that will direct them to stored web data was developed by the regional office.
The web data provides visitors with relevant travel information by just scanning the QR Code using their Android or iOS phone.
The data includes the list of accredited tourism establishments and service providers, boat schedules, destination brochures, flight schedules, map of the region, tour packages, among others.
The QR Code also includes information for explore the Infinite Escapes of Eastern Visayas, fun things to do in Eastern Visayas, sail Eastern Visayas, and why is it more fun in Leyte and Samar Islands.
“We strongly advise that you patronize and avail of the services of DOT-accredited tourism enterprises. This will assure you that you are dealing with legitimate tourism businesses who follow ethical business practices and provide good customer service,” the DOT said in a statement.
To ensure that tourist will enjoy their visit in the region, they also advised them to constantly check out travel advisories, weather forecasts, and emergency contact details. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
