ORMOC CITY-Twelve sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu were recovered from an employee of the city government in Catbalogan during a buy-bust operation on Thursday (August 9).
Arrested during the sting operation was Jeffrey Igana,35, an employee of the city government assigned as a traffic enforcer in Barangay 7 at about 5:55 pm.
Recovered from the possession of Igana, listed as a high-value target watch list of the police, were 12 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P8,000.
Charges of violations of sections 5 (selling) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of R.A. 9165 the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 were filed against the suspect. (ROBERT DEJON)
AWARDEES. The Regional Tripartite Productivity Board recognized about 20 small, micro, and medium enterprises from the region for this year’s Productivity Olympics Regional Award held on Thursday (August 9) (RTWPB-8 PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY –The Regional Tripartite Productivity Board (RTWPB) awarded 10 small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region during the 2023 Productivity Olympics Regional Award.
AWARDEES. The Regional Tripartite Productivity Board recognized about 20 small, micro, and medium enterprises from the region for this year’s Productivity Olympics Regional Award held on Thursday (August 9) (RTWPB-8 PHOTO)
The awardee includes Bibar’s Farm, and Mary’s Abuyog Spesyal Tsokoleyt Moron Atbp., for micro category; Alto Peak Chocolate Processing, Eva Marie Arts and Craft, Ladea Artspot and Advertising, Abuyog St. Francis Xavier Credit Cooperative (AFCCO), Northern Samar Multi-purpose Cooperative (NSDWCC), PASAR Employees Multipurpose Cooperative, and Palompon Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative – PACCI for small category, and Don Orestes Romualdez Electric Cooperative for the medium category.
RTWPB-8 chairperson John Henry Jalbuena lauded the awardees for their commitment to excellence and seal of productivity that made them ‘undoubtedly surpass expectations, showcasing not only impressive abilities but also serving as an inspiration to all those who witness their remarkable journey.’
“Your accomplishments stand as testimony or testaments to your unwavering determination and relentless pursue of success reflecting the true essence of Productive Olympics,” Jalbuena, who is also the regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said.
“Your stellar performance not only contribute to your personal growth but also positively impact the entire workforce in our region by setting new benchmark or productivity and exemplifying the power of sheer determination, you have become an exemplary role model for your peers and individuals across various industries,” he added.
The Regional Productivity Olympics is a biennial competition that serves as an advocacy strategy to heighten national consciousness and commitment to quality and productivity, and showcase best designed and successfully implemented productivity improvement programs and practices of MSMEs in the agribusiness, service, and industry sectors.
The awardees were chosen from the submitted nomination at the RTWPB and were screened by members of the regional screening committee.
The 2023 Productivity Olympics Regional Award is anchored on the theme, “From Striving to Thriving: Reset and Reposition for Impact”. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ORMOC CITY-A passenger of a habal-habal motorcycle was declared dead by an attending physician at a local hospital while the driver died on the spot when the vehicle they were boarding was accidentally hit by a truck at about 12: 45 pm Sunday (August 6) along the National Highway in Brgy. Concepcion, this city.
Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) of the Ormoc City Police Office Chief Police Lt. Col Gregorio Tedura identified the fatalities as Ponciano Janito, 59, and the driver of the vehicle and his passenger, Norma Lamberte, 55.
While the driver of the truck was identified as Jason Opiniano, 27, and a resident of Brgy. Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte.
Case investigator Police Corporal Jason Abe in a telephone interview disclosed that both vehicles were traversing on the same lane going north side of the city with the motorcycle ahead and the truck behind running at a fast pace.
He said that while the two vehicles were traversing, the habal-habal motorcycle suddenly turned left as the passenger who boarded in Brgy. Juaton was on her way to Brgy. Nasunogan.
He added that the truck driver applied his brake but because his vehicle was running at fast speed he still hit the motorcycle and dragged several meters away from the impact site.
The driver sustained severe multiple wounds in different parts of his body that resulted in his instantaneous death with his passenger declared dead while being treated in a hospital.(ROBERT DEJON)
Bishop Crispin Varquez(center) led a prayer rally in Borongan City on Monday (August 7) against mining operations in Eastern Samar, particularly on Homonhon and Manicani Islands. (Photo Courtesy: Borongan Cathedral)
Bishop cites ‘horrific effects’ to environment
Bishop Crispin Varquez(center) led a prayer rally in Borongan City on Monday (August 7) against mining operations in Eastern Samar, particularly on Homonhon and Manicani Islands. (Photo Courtesy: Borongan Cathedral)
TACLOBAN CITY– Thousands of people from all parts of Samar parishes conducted a prayer rally on Monday (August 7) to voice out their strong opposition against mining operations, particularly in Guiuan town, Eastern Samar.
The prayer rally, dubbed as a ‘Jericho Walk’ as inspired in the Bible, was led by Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez, with the estimated 2,000 participants coming from the various parishes of Samar Island converging at the grounds of the Borongan cathedral.
In his statement, Varquez called on the provincial government of Eastern Samar as well as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) not to approve any mining applications and cancel the existing ones.
“I appeal to our government officials responsible for processing applications for mining operations in Eastern Samar, to the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, please do not endorse such applications for the sake of our people, especially our poor,” the prelate said
“I (also) appeal to the DENR and the Mines Geosciences Bureau to please cancel all mining permits being used by mining companies operating in our areas,” Varquez added.
He urged these officials not to be blinded to the ‘horrific effects’ of mining operations in Homonhon Island, off in Guiuan town.
Varquez insisted that ‘destroying’ the earth is never part of God’s plan. ‘This is especially because, as Pope Francis puts it, the earth is our common home.’
At present, there are four mining companies conducting mining activities on the island where Portuguese navigator, Ferdinand Magellan, landed on March 16, 1521 which led to the discovery of the Philippines.
These companies are the Cambayas Mining Corp., Techiron Resources Inc., Emir Mineral Resources Corp.; and Mt. Sinai Exploration and Development Corp.
In Manicani Island, also in Guiuan, the Hinatuan Mining Corp. is reportedly to resume mining activity.
Fr. James Abella, the social action director of the Borongan diocese, said that the prayer rally held on Monday was a culmination of their seven-day movement against mining which started on August 2.
During the past five days, ‘prayer for the earth’ was recited in all parishes and barangay chapels not only within the diocese of Borongan but in the entire Samar Island which includes those in Samar and Northern Samar provinces.
Fr. Abella said that the call against mining is being supported as well by Bishops Emmanuel Trance of Catarman diocese and Isabelo Abarquez of the Calbayog diocese.
“Today is the culmination of our prayer rally against mining which we dubbed as Jericho Walk and we hope that any mining activity will come to its end,” he said.
A Jericho Walk comes from the Old Testament Book of Joshua which tells the story of the walls of the Canaanite city of Jericho coming to collapse after Joshua led the people of Israel on seven marches, one per day, around the ancient city.
On the seventh day, it was said, the Israelites blew their trumpets and the walls collapsed.
According to Abella, they hope that during the past seven days, they were able to raise awareness among the people about the ‘massive destruction caused by the mining activities, particularly on Homonhon Island and in the process, joined the Church-back opposition against any mining operations.
“The mining operations in Homonhon, all four of them have caused nothing but massive destruction on the island. The water is polluted; the white school uniforms of children turned gray due to the dust coming from the mining pits and the fishermen could no longer fish within the island’s water. They have to conduct their fishing far which is dangerous for them,” Abella said.
Rico Palconit from Cabucgayan, Biliran did not allow his physical deformity for him to dream big. He graduated magna cum laude as he finished his degree of information technology at AMA Computer Learning Center, Tacloban. (RICO PALCONIT FACEBOOK)
Rico Palconit has a cleft palate
Rico Palconit from Cabucgayan, Biliran did not allow his physical deformity for him to dream big. He graduated magna cum laude as he finished his degree of information technology at AMA Computer Learning Center, Tacloban. (RICO PALCONIT FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY – Rico Palconit did not allow his physical deformity to be a hindrance to his goal to have a good future.
The 25-year-old native of Cabucgayan, Biliran province has a cleft palate that was both a source of bullying and inspiration for him.
Despite of the bullying he endured, Palconit proved to himself that he could overcome the bullying as he graduated magna cum laude earning a degree of Bachelor of Science major in Information Technology at the AMA Computer Learning Center, this city, in a graduation rite on August 2 with over 500 graduates.
Palconit, eldest among his brood of six siblings, said that despite his physical deformity, he was determined to finish his studies and find a better job to help his family.
He also said that what inspired him to do well in his studies was to prove to those who bullied him that he can make it despite his condition.
“I want to help my family and what motivated me to do well in my studies is my (late) father and the people who thought I could not make it because of my physical condition,” Palconit said in an interview through a private message application.
It was learned from him that when he was about to enroll his college, he first went to the grave of his father, Roque, and vowed that he would finish his college with flying colors. He lost his father when he was just three years old.
He survived his college as a government scholar and with the help of a sister who is now based and working in Tacloban.
Palconit, who has been a consistent honor student since elementary, admitted that because of his condition, he has been subjected to bullying since he was a child and even up to this day.
Due to his physical condition, he has some difficulties in speaking.
“My college life was not good as I expected. There were still bullies, discouragements, judgments, and all but I faced all of them and take them as my source of strength,” he said.
“When there were times that I felt hopeless and empty, I just look back for what I have promised because I am so scared to break it,” Palconit added.
He said that he hopes that his story-full of struggles but at the same time, punctuated with small victories, will serve as an inspiration to those who are also suffering the same physical condition.
He said that now that he is done with his studies, he wants to help his widowed mother, Lani, and two younger siblings for them also to finish their studies.
And armed with determination, Palconit said that he will apply for work and help his family. ( JOEY A. GABIETA)
ORMOC CITY– A barangay treasurer from the town of Almagro, Samar was shot dead in Calbayog City on Thursday (August 3) at about 12:35 pm.
Killed was Jocelyn Bago, a treasurer of Barangay Imelda who tried to grapple with the suspect who shot her point blank, the local police said.
It was learned that the victim, who was with village chairman Glocer Villa, was on board a motorcycle when she was approached by the suspect.
The victim tried to fight back with the suspect, who took a plastic bag that contained the amount of P200,000 intended as salaries for village officials.
The unidentified suspect, however, pulled a gun and shot her repeatedly.
This is the second time that a robbery involving a barangay treasurer occurred in Calbayog City.
Last July 20, the treasured of Brgy. Caloocan, Erecita de Leon,59, while walking along at the old national road within their village, a rider-in-tandem appeared and grabbed her bag containing P90,000 payroll money for the village officials.
While the victim survived, the suspects were able to cart the money away.
