ORMOC CITY-The PNP Maritime group has expressed gratitude to Mayor Rolando Villacencio of Merida, Leyte for approving their request to amend a municipal ordinance in connection with the permit and registration of fishing vessels of 3 tons and below.

Police Major Benjamin Lodo, chief of the PNP Maritime Northern Leyte, said that the approved amendment includes a provision directing all fishing vessels that would ask for a permit should seek their office first before the municipal government would issue their permit and registration.

Major Lodo explained that there is only one reason that their office sought the LGU’s support on this matter and that is to ensure that the engines used by fishing boats are legally owned and not stolen.

Major Lodo also appealed to the fishermen and fishing operators in Merida to comply in registering their vessels and motorboats and ask permission from their concerned LGUs to avoid arrest while doing their livelihood.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) chief in this city will be organizing a candidates’ forum in connection to the October 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The forum is aimed at informing the candidates of the prohibitions imposed during the election period, lawyer Maria Goretti Cañas said.

Based on their record, there were over 3,500 candidates are running for the forthcoming barangay and youth balloting.

“We will inform them on all prohibitions especially now that we already entered the election period; what are the prohibited acts during and outside the campaign period so that we lessen in the filing of cases against a candidate,” Cañas said.

Among these prohibitions include the posting on social media of the candidates or their relatives or even others who will promote their candidacy outside the allocated date of the campaign period.

The Comelec had scheduled the campaign period for the barangay and SK elections to start from October 19 to 28.

“Campaigning also covers their post on social media, this should be taken down unless gusto nira nga cases will be filed against them. Most of our candidates are unaware of this rule pero ignorance of the law excuses no one to compliance therewith,” Caňas said.

Aside from briefing the candidates, the polls official added that they will also conduct training for individuals who will compose the electoral board.

“It is very important considering that the October 30 BSKE is a manual election,” Cañas said, adding that the training will be conducted on all Saturdays of September.
Caňas added that they also have a schedule for posting the names of all official candidates for the BSKE.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-The abundance of marine life foods in the seawaters of Catarman, Northern Samar resulted in the frequent visit of the world’s biggest fish locally called “butanding” or whale shark.

The latest whale shark citing took place last August 25 at about 3 pm on the shore of Barangay Dalakit in the said town.

The frequent presence of this world’s largest fish was observed by local residents who do not disturb them while they are hunting for food.

The whale shark was seen in the area until 5 pm.

Local residents in the area just observed what the whale shark was doing as the local government of this town prevented them from harming this endangered fish based on national law.

After enjoying the Catarman waters, the whale shark returned to the depths of the waters.
The presence of this giant marine fish is common in Eastern Visayas.

In Southern Leyte, whale sharks have been observed to be present several times in a year passing at their seawaters. Their presence became important to the LGUs as this boosted their tourism industry.
(ROBERT DEJON)