TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas has retained its red tide-free status in the past four weeks based on the latest bulletin issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Laboratory testing shows that the region’s 16 bays and coastal waters with a history of red tide infestation are cleared from toxic organisms as per Shellfish Bulletin No. 21 series of 2023 relayed by BFAR Eastern Visayas on Tuesday.

The BFAR said the sampling conducted in four consecutive weeks yielded negative results for paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The last area with red tide occurrence was in Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, recorded from the last week of May to mid-August this year.

“Our fishermen can now resume the gathering and trading of shellfish in this area since these products are now safe for human consumption based on the latest results of our laboratory analysis,” the BFAR regional office said in a statement.

Although the shellfish ban has been lifted in all areas in the region, the monitoring will continue to check the possible recurrence.

The regular water sample checks cover the coastal waters of Daram, and Zumarraga, Cambatutay, Irong-irong, Maqueda, and Villareal Bays in Samar; coastal waters of Guiuan; San Pedro Bay in Samar; coastal waters of Leyte, Calubian, Ormoc, Sogod, Carigara Bay, and Cancabato Bay, Tacloban City in Leyte; and coastal waters of Biliran Island.

These areas had a history of red tide recurrence in the past years.

BFAR regularly analyzes water samples through its regional laboratory to ensure that shellfish gathered from these areas are safe for human consumption.

If seawater turns positive for red tide, they gather and send meat to their national laboratory for thorough analysis.

Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water gets discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae. (PNA)

Relative to the barangay and SK elections

TACLOBAN CITY – A top official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued an appeal to voters of the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) elections to vote for the ‘right and best’ leaders in order to help solve some ills of the country.

Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, the police deputy chief for administration, also called on the villagers to ensure that the October 30 barangay and SK balloting will be peaceful, credible, and orderly.

“We need the help of the whole government spectrum for us to be able to have an honest, credible, and safe elections,” he said on Tuesday (Sept. 12).

“This is the best time for all of us, the problem with illegal drugs, the problem with insurgency, bakit po nandyan ang mga problema natin, hindi pa rin nawawala, nagsisimula po iyan lahat sa baba, barangay level. Karamihan po diyan nagsisimula sa barangay level,” he added.

Sermonia, who visited the regional PNP headquarters at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo, Leyte as he served as the guest speaker during the 122nd service anniversary of the PNP-8, assured the villagers that the police force is always ready to assist them in addressing crime incidents particularly involving illegal drugs problem, even the insurgency.

Based on the record of the regional office of the Commission on Elections, about 8, 915 individuals filed their certificates of candidacy for barangay chairman and 24, 422 for barangay council while 8, 456 filed CoC for SK chairman and 46, 364 for SK Council.

Meantime, Brig. Gen. Vincent Calanoga, police regional director, assured continuing police presence and strict enforcement of the election gun ban until November 29.

Calanoga made this assertion in the wake of shooting incidents in Leyte, Leyte and Calbayog City involving barangay officials.

The police official said that they will strictly monitor these two areas due to intense political rivalry.

Calanoga said that additional police forces were deployed in those areas to avoid similar incidents and also created a task group to solve the cases of shooting incidents and identify the perpetrators.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ALBUERA, Leyte-The Police Drug Enforcement Group and the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police here arrested a former drug prisoner in a buy-bust operation on Thursday (Sept.14), this town.

Arrested was Richard Dela Cruz,38, jobless and a resident of sitio Soob of Barangay Poblacion, where the sting operation took place at about 12:55 am.

De La Cruz was recently released from prison due to drug related charge.

Town police officer, Lt. Col. Criselda L. Bongtiwon, described the suspect as a high value individual (HVI) and is included in the top 10 drug list in the region.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect was one sachet containing white crystalline substances suspected procured by an operative in the amount of P500.

Further body search to the suspect yielded five sachets of shabu weighing 50 grams and with a street value of P340,000.

The suspect, in an interview, admitted that he returned back into selling illegal drugs due to financial problems.

He said that he was arrested during a buy bust operation in 2013 and was released from incarceration after the Court of Appeals dismissed his charges in 2021.

Charges of violation of section 5 (selling illegal drugs) and section 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal was filed against the suspect who is now detained at the at the Albuera municipal police station. (ROBER DEJON)