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Sen. Villar happy to see Calbayog City’s continued development

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Senator Mark Villar attended the 75th Charter anniversary of Calbayog City on Oct.16 saying he is happy to see the Samar city’s continued economic progress.Also in photo are Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, Rep. Stephen James Tan, and Mayor Raymund Uy. (Photo Courtesy)

City celebrates its 75th Charter Day

Senator Mark Villar attended the 75th Charter anniversary of Calbayog City on Oct.16 saying he is happy to see the Samar city’s continued economic progress.Also in photo are Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, Rep. Stephen James Tan, and Mayor Raymund Uy. (Photo Courtesy)

TACLOBAN CITY– Senator Mark Villar said that he is happy to see that Calbayog City is now emerging as one of the country’s developing cities.

Villar made this remark as he graced the 75th Charter Day celebration on October 16, joining local officials led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Rep. Stephen James Tan, and City Mayor Raymund Uy.

“In the past 75 years since Calbayog became a full-fledged city, we have seen the development of the economy and infrastructure here. Now that we are celebrating the Diamond Anniversary of Calbayog, I am happy to be a part of your celebration because I have also witnessed the development of the city,” the senator said.

He added: “I am happy to see the people of Calbayog who are giving vitality and life to the city. Our celebration today is a celebration of your continued love and dedication for our beautiful city.”

This year’s diamond anniversary carried the theme “Handumanan San Calbayog: Embracing Calbayog’s Legacy.”

During his term as the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Villar said that several multiple infrastructure projects in Calbayog City were undertaken like multi-purpose buildings, by-pass roads, and diversion roads.

One of these major projects was the construction of the Calbayog coastal road which connected two barangays and reduced the traffic in the city proper.

“These infrastructures have become a bridge to speed up transportation here in Calbayog and pave the way for economic opportunities for the people of Calbayog,” Villar said.

Calbayog was made a city through Republic Act No. 328 or the Charter of the City of Calbayog when President Manuel Roxas signed it on July 15, 1948. However, the city celebrates its anniversary every 16th of October as it marks the first election of its city officials in the same year they attained their cityhood.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Gov. Petilla raises alarm; sends more cops

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FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS. About 2,660 policemen were deployed to the different parts of the region to ensure that the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be orderly and peaceful. Several shooting incidents during the election period were recorded, mostly in Leyte and Samar provinces.Story on Page 2.(POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE-8)

Amid series of shooting incidents in the 3rd district

FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS. About 2,660 policemen were deployed to the different parts of the region to ensure that the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections will be orderly and peaceful. Several shooting incidents during the election period were recorded, mostly in Leyte and Samar provinces.Story on Page 2.(POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE-8)

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla has expressed his alarm about the series of shooting incidents in the third district, some resulting in the deaths of the victims.

Petilla said that as part of the measures, he has instructed the police leadership in the province to focus on the third district relative to the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) this October 30.

The district is composed of the towns of Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, and Villaba.
Shooting incidents in the district have become frequent in the run-up to next week’s barangay and SK elections.

On Monday (Oct.23), another shooting incident occurred in the district, particularly in Villaba town involving Aldwin Perez whose brother-in-law Raul Cosinillo, village chairman of Barangay Mataloto in Leyte town, was killed on May 10 of this year by still unknown assailants.

Perez’ sister, Mercedes, survived the gun attack.

The police could not determine yet if his killing was politically related. The victim was said to be the president of a farmers’ association in their village of Tag-abaca, Leyte town.
Prior to this, last Saturday (Oct.21) an SK council candidate was killed while another was hurt in a shooting incident in Brgy. Mataloto, also in Leyte town.

“We’re given special attention to the third district. In fact, half of our police force is monitoring and securing the district because of the violence reported from that area,” Petilla said.

According to the governor, he will provide all needed assets to the police for them to better carry out their duties and end the violence there.

“We will do everything to prevent violence (in the third district),” Petilla said.

The district is composed of the towns of Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, and Villaba.
Only Villaba and Leyte are under the “area of concern” or yellow category by the Regional Joint Security Control Center which is chaired by the Commission on Election 8 with members of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard as members.

Yellow category are areas of concern where there has been a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, there is a possible employment of partisan armed groups, and the occurrence of politically motivated election-related violence.

ROEL T. AMAZONA

Gov. Petilla pays homage to the veterans; says their heroic stories need to be heard by future generations

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With number of World War II veterans declining fast

TACLOBAN CITY – The memories of Leyte Gulf Landings are slowly fading with the rapid deaths of World War II veterans, mainly due to old age.

This is why Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla once again urges the people of Leyte to pay their homage and always remember the stories of the Leyte Gulf Landings to keep the bravery and valor of the veterans, especially those who are still alive.

Based on the record of the Philippine Veteran Affairs Office (PVAO), there are only 19 living World War II veterans from the region.

A veteran from Paranas, Samar died a few days before October 20, the history-changing event that occurred on the shores of Leyte that happened 79 years ago which led to the liberation of the Philippines from the control of the Japanese forces.

Last year, there were 30 living World War II veterans in the region.

Unlike in the pre-pandemic commemoration of the Leyte Landings where there are World War II veterans who joined the celebration, this year none of the remaining living veterans were able to join the annual event at the McArthur National Memorial Park in Palo town.

Of the 19 remaining living veterans, the youngest is Eleoteria Cabacungan, 95, who is from Tanauan town, Leyte while the oldest is Gervacio Apostol, 102-year old from Burauen town, also in Leyte.

“The veterans and their stories are fading away, and we have to preserve their stories if only to remember what happened,” Gov. Petilla said.

One way of preserving the stories of World War II heroes is through the establishment of a museum where visitors may listen and learn the stories of veterans and see some displayed artifacts of war, the Leyte governor said.

Petilla disclosed that they are planning to convert the old provincial capitol building in Tacloban City as the site of the proposed museum.

The building itself is a witness to history as it is where President Sergio Osmeňa declared Tacloban as the temporary seat of the Philippine government as General Douglas McArthur started liberating the country from the hands of Japanese soldiers in 1944.

To convert the old capitol building into a museum, Petilla said that they will need at least P300 million for the repair of the structure and aesthetic design.

Petilla said that they are looking for government agencies or institutions that they can partner with to fulfill this plan.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

10 ex-rebels gave up armed struggle; surrender attributed to the ‘FReE Family Program’

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In Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY– Ten members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar surrendered attributed to the newly-formed program of the provincial government encouraging rebel members to return to the fold of the law.

The 10 reformed rebels were identified by the military officials as key leaders of the ‘Apoy platoon’ of the sub-regional committee of the NPA operating in Eastern Samar.

On Oct.17, seven of them surrendered while on Monday(Oct.23) three more followed their comrades in giving up armed struggles.

The former rebels who surrendered before Lt. Col. Allan Tria, the commanding officer of the 78th Infantry Battalion based in Borongan City, also gave up their firearms consisting of two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, and one M653 carbine, and other ‘war materials.’

Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, the commanding officer of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, also based in Borongan City, disclosed that the surrender of the former rebels was a result of the provincial government-initiated program under Governor Ben Evardone encouraging the rebels to surrender, dubbed as ‘Friends Rescued Engagement through Families’ or FReE Families.

The military official said that since the program was launched on September 19 of this year, 15 rebels have already returned to the fold of the law.

“We have once again proven that the love of family conquers the hate that the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF sowed in the hearts of their recruits as part of their agitate-organize-mobilize methods of radicalizing our people to support their evil intentions,” Vestuir said.

“The FReE Families project gives you an opportunity to be reunited with your families at the comforts of your home especially now that Christmas is fast approaching,” he added.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Mayor Torres-Gomez: Peace, security, and good leadership key to Ormoc’s continued development

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Mayor Lucy Marie Torres Gomez

ORMOC CITY– Mayor Lucy Marie Torres Gomez delivered her State of the City Address (Soca) on October 19 to focus not only on the city’s wealth but as well as health, peace, security, and good public service.

Mayor Lucy Marie Torres Gomez

Torres-Gomez said that she is just too glad to be of service to almost 231,000 people of Ormoc for two years now.

The mayor credited her husband former mayor of the city and now representative of the 4th district of Leyte Richard Gomez for making Ormoc the wealthiest city in Region 8 with total assets of P7.4 billion.

”Our success today would not have been so, without the efficient, well-managed LGU that I took over from Mayor Richard. Indeed, it is easier to reach for the skies when standing on someone’s strong shoulders. His task was not easy, building from almost ground zero, but he fought bravely and was rewarded handsomely” Torres-Gomes said in her address held at the session hall of the city council.

Torres–Gomez revealed that her ultimate dream is for Ormoc City to be one of the blue zone cities where people are healthiest, happiest, live the most fulfilling and longest life spans.

“These conditions follow the availability of world-class, relevant education and training, good health by practicing active lifestyles, and making available both holistic and modern treatments for diseases,” she said.

Aside from health, the second aspect she wanted to focus on is peace and security, saying it is a factor for the city’s continued growth and development, Torres-Gomez said.

“A city just cannot move forward with sustainable economic growth without peace and order and disaster resilience. All of these make up the bedrock of development. Without these, all efforts towards advancement just get washed out like sandcastles in the outbreak of violence or when a super typhoon hits the city,” she said.

The third aspect the mayor wanted to focus on is good quality, reliable, and efficient public services. This includes sufficient, disaster-resilient, physical infrastructure, affordable housing, economic centers, and basic services such as power, water, and telecommunications.

The mayor ended her SOCA with a presentation to the members of the city council of the 2024 proposed city budget in the amount of P2.4 billion.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Ombudsman taps GCash as payment option for frontline services

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The Office of the Ombudsman has tapped leading finance super app GCash, as a cashless payment partner, enabling it to accept fees for its legal services through GCash Scan-To-Pay QR in all its offices.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed at the Office of the Ombudsman in Agham Road, Quezon City. Representing the Office of the Ombudsman during the MOA signing were Ombudsman Samuel Martires, Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices Hon. Jose Balmeo, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Hon. Cornelio Sumido, and Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval. Joining them were GCash AVP and Head of Public Sector Cathlyn Dolor Pavia, and Public Sector Head for National Mara Karmela Duterte.

“The Office of the Ombudsman shares a common goal with GCash in making government services safer, faster and more inclusive, all of this while ensuring transparency in every digital transaction under this partnership,” said Ombudsman Samuel Martires. “The Office of the Ombudsman plays a pivotal role in ensuring the integrity of public office. With a history of safeguarding the interests of the Filipino people, the Office of the Ombudsman remains steadfast in its mission to maintain good governance and fight against corruption.”
The partnership marks a milestone in financial technology, demonstrating GCash’s dedication to building and upholding the trust and confidence of the government and the nation at large.

“GCash is honored to become a partner of the lead agency against corruption. This shows the trust of our government in our capability to provide accountability and transparency through financial technology. We hope that the general public, especially our users, will continue to give their trust in us,” said Gilda Maquilan, vice president and head of corporate communications of GCash.

GCash has been proactive in establishing partnerships with government agencies to promote financial inclusion and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence. The collaboration between the Office of the Ombudsman and GCash is a testament to their shared vision for a more transparent and accessible government-citizen relationship.(PR)

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