TACLOBAN CITY-The regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) held a three-day ‘Kadiwa’ event at the Robinsons offering up to 20% discount on agricultural products.
The event, which ended on Wednesday (March 15), was part of the department’s celebration of the National Women’s month.

The farm products that were sold at the Kadiwa at the Robinsons in Marasbaras were from farmers coming from the different parts of Leyte.

“The goal of Kadiwa is to sell at least 10 to 20 percent from the normal market price,” Brenda Pepito, chief of the agribusiness and marketing assistance division of the DA-8 said.
During the first day of the Kadiwa alone, the total sales reached up to P125, 000.
(JAIRA SOPHIA ROSE ENCINA,LNU Student Intern)

Manila—On International Women’s Day March 8, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced two new grant projects valued at P37.9 million ($690,000) to boost women’s participation in energy resilience, innovation, and security in the Philippines.

USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks formally awarded the Women in Energy Leadership, Innovation, and Resilience grant to the Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc. and the Women Engineers Network of the Philippine Technological Council, Inc. (PTC) during the Women Champions in Sustainable Climate Solutions Forum held on March 8 and 9.

More than 100 women leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators attended the event to exchange ideas and propose solutions that address climate risks.

“Women empowerment and climate change are two pressing issues of our time. They are inextricably intertwined,” USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Eubanks said. “Climate change exacerbates gender inequalities and developmental gaps. Women have a unique perspective on these issues as they often bear the brunt of climate shocks and stresses.”
Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc. received P29 million ($528,000) to expand “Tanging Tanglaw: Turning IP Women into Solar Engineers,” a program that trains elderly women from indigenous communities to build and maintain solar-powered pump systems to electrify their neighborhoods.

PTC received P8.9 million ($162,000) to implement the “Women Engineers as Instruments for Sustainable Engineering in Renewable Energies (WISER) Project” which will increase the enrollment of girls in renewable energy engineering programs through mentoring, technical seminars, competitions, and renewable energy campaigns in eight cities under the USAID Cities Development Initiative.

“When we talk about sustainable operations, it is not just about transitioning to cleaner energy. It also means opening management positions to women and giving them a voice in the energy transition,” ENGIE Services Philippines General Manager Louella Caridad said during the Women Champions in Sustainable Climate Solutions panel discussion.
Through the Energy Secure Philippines Activity, USAID positions women at the forefront of climate action and sustainable energy development in line with its 2022-2030 Climate Strategy. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY— The City Veterinary Office (CVO) here started the National Rabies Awareness month by conducting various vaccination and deworming drive in the different barangays in the city.

Dr. Eunice Alcantara, the city veterinarian, said that their office has lined up activities for this month’s event highlighting the theme “Rabies free na pusat aso, Kaligtasan ng pamilyang Pilipino” which aims to lessen and further prevent the widespread of rabies through responsible pet ownership.

“Unlike any other diseases, this virus can be prevented through vaccination and responsible pet ownership which is part of our campaign,” she said.

Alcantara added that the vaccination will also serve as a preventive measure in cutting rabies transmission from dogs to humans, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to both pets and their owners.

Aside from the mass vaccination, the CVO will also conduct a neuter activity that will take place at City Engineers Office (CEO) gymnasium.

In addition, awarding of the winner of the search for “STRAY – FREE resettlement Site” will be on March 31. This contest was conducted in the northern part of the city which campaigns to highlight zero tolerance in the abandonment of pets that may lead to animals ending up on streets and also to lessen littering and accidents on road.
(JAIRON RIC BALAIS, LNU Student Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY – The town of Guiuan, Eastern Samar has the great privilege to be the site of the first circumnavigation of the world led by Ferdinand Magellan.

Thus said Mayor Annaliza Gonzalez-Kwan as the town marked the historical event 502 years ago with several activities.

“We are not only celebrating the first contact with the Western people led by Magellan, but we are also celebrating and highlighting the hospitality and humanity that Filipinos show to the foreigners who were desperately in need of help when they arrived because of hunger, sickness, and some are almost dying,” Mayor Kwan, referencing the arrival of Magellan to Homonhon Island on March 16,1521.

“For 502 years or more we are known around the world for this unique hospitality and care for others. This became the heart of quincentennial ceremony especially here in Guiuan. We recognize the value of Magellan and his crew but we should also recognize our ancient forebears, their kindness, their humanity, and their valor, things we ought to preserve within us today,” Kwan added.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held at the different historical markers erected by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NCHP).

These are in Calicoan Island where a marker was placed representing the Samar Island; Suluan Island, the first island seen by Magellan and his crew when they arrived in Guiuan; and in Homonhon where they stayed for several days and had their first contact with the early settlers of Suluan.

A job fair and a forum were also conducted as part of the celebration.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY– A soldier was injured after the motorcycle he was driving hit another motorcycle driven by a woman on Wednesday (March 15) at about 7:15 pm in Barangay Casab-ahan, Gandara, Samar.

Injured were Private Romeo Dumayan, Jr, 27 and assigned at the 19th Infantry Battalion based in Matuguinao, and Richelle Martin, 44, said to be a businesswoman and a resident of the village where the incident took place.

Investigation conducted by responding police said that both victims were heading towards Gandara.

However, upon reaching the place of incident, the single motorcycle driven by Martin maneuvered to the left turn and was bumped by the motorcycle driven by the military personnel causing both motorcycles to fall down onto the highway road resulting in injuries to the two drivers.

The two were immediately rushed to Gandara District Hospital for immediate medical intervention. (ROBERT DEJON)