MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways – Southern Leyte District Engineering Office has recently started the installation of kilometer posts along major highways under its jurisdiction.

The move was intended in an effort to improve road navigation, particularly for drivers and motorists who may be unfamiliar with the area, and reach their desired destinations safely and more efficiently, the DPWH-SLDEO said in a press statement.

The kilometer posts were installed along the major road networks in the province, the markers indicating the distance from starting point and along the way, giving ease for commuters to travel around.

“The installation of kilometer posts is a significant step towards improving road safety and efficiency,” District Engineer Manolo Rojas said, “with the kilometer posts in place, drivers can easily determine their location and plan their routes accordingly.”

“This will also help emergency responders to quickly locate accidents or incidents, potentially saving lives,” Rojas further said.

A kilometer post is a marker placed along a road or highway to indicate the distance from a specific starting point, usually from the beginning or end of the road.

It typically includes information on the distance in kilometers, and may also include directional signs, road numbers, and other relevant data that guide safely passing visitors, local or foreign tourists, and reference points for emergency responders.

Usually made of metal or concrete, kilometer posts are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and accidental damage, spaced at regular intervals, such as every kilometer, and may be placed on the side of the road, on a median, or in the center of a roundabout.
(MMP with DPWH-SLDEO/PIA Southern Leyte)

ORMOC CITY-Two persons allegedly involved in selling illegal drugs from a once-declared drug-free barangay were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Inopacan, Leyte.
Arrested were Jovan Miranda, 41, and John Paul Ortega, 25, both residents of Barangay Poblacion which was declared earlier as drug-free.

Lawyer Gil Pabilona, the regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that the target of the operation was Miranda where six sachets of suspected shabu were recovered by the operatives.

A sachet of shabu was also seized from the possession of Ortega.

The PDEA reported that the recovered suspected shabu from the two suspects has an estimated weight of five grams and a street value of P34,000.

Charges of violations of Sec 5 & 11 of Art II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 were filed against the two who are temporarily detained at the locked-up cell of Inopacan municipal police office.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– A 81-year-old man was stabbed and wounded by his 62-year-old stepson in Bato town, Leyte province.

Clemente Salvame was hit on his abdomen from a 23-inches bladed weapon, locally known as ‘sundang’ used by suspect Heracleo Inguito, report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP) based in Palo, Leyte on Sunday(April 9).

According to the report, Inguito was suffering from a mental problem and stabbed and wounded his stepfather for no apparent reason while the victim was resting in a kiosk outside their house in sitio Kapudlusan of Barangay Bago in the said town at about 6:35 pm Saturday (April 8).

The local police learned about the incident through Bago village chairman Marino Juera.
The victim was brought by the Bato rescue unit to a district hospital in the nearby town of Hilongos, also in Leyte.

The suspect is now detained at the Bato police detention facility.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY-An incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan chairman and three barangay health workers were among the 19 members of an underground mass organization (UGMO) that surrendered to authorities in Palapag, Northern Samar on Saturday (April 8).

All were said to be affiliated under the command of alias Raz/Dodong, squad leader of FC15 of the sub-regional committee Arctic of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

The surrender was the result of the negotiation of the 2nd Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company led by its force commander Police Lt. Col Alex C Dand-aoen, together with the 20IB which is under the command of Lt. Col Marvin Buban Special Action Force led by Police Capt. Lloyd Garcia and supported by the Palapag MPS led by Police Capt. Norben Carbonera, COP, NSPIU led by Police Lt. Col Seth Mark Alob, 803rd Regional Mobile Battalion 8 led by Police Capt. Solomon Agayso.

All surrenderers are now in the custody of the 2nd Northern Samar Provincial Mobile.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY-At least 15 employees from different departments of the local government unit (LGU) of Kananga in Leyte received skills training in technical and administrative writing on March 29-30, 2023.

“LGU Kananga’s Technical Writing Workshop is a valuable investment in the professional development of its employees. It is a promising step towards improving communication and service delivery,” April Tanueco, town tourism officer said.

“By enhancing their writing abilities, participants can better communicate technical information to colleagues, superiors, and the public, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective service delivery by the LGU,” she added.

Participants of the two-day technical writing workshop thanked Mayor Manuel Vicente “Matt” Torres for the initiative.

“We learned a lot and used some of their advice immediately. It made our jobs easy,” said Kirby Jay Quijano, a personnel from the Mayor’s Office.

Aaron JP Almadro, one of the resource speakers, also lauded local government for coming up with the activity, saying it enabled the employees to perform their office tasks “with flair and ease.”

The additional topics during the activity included basic grammar and style, documentation, publication, and press release writing. (RONALD O. REYES)