TACLOBAN CITY-At least two patients died and another is in critical condition due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) here in the region.

The Department of Health (DOH) identified the fatalities as a 55-year-old woman from Northern Samar, who died on December 23, 2022; and a 79-year-old woman from Leyte, who died on December 28, 2022.

In its latest bulletin, DOH said that out of 49 intensive care unit (ICU) beds intended for patients with COVID-19, 3 or 6.12% are occupied while 21.04% of the 1,093 non-ICU COVID-19 beds are currently being used.

As of January 4, the region’s total number of COVID-19 cases has reached 64,610, with total recoveries at 63,894 (98.89 %), total deaths at 689 (1.07%), bringing the total active cases to 27 or 0.04.

At least 27 new cases were also recorded from December 26, 2022 to January 2 of this year out of 620 laboratory test results in four testing centers in the region.
The DOH said that the figure represents a four percent positivity rate.

“As we go through a more lenient implementation of our border restrictions which cause our mobility to increase, it is very important to still practice our health protocols,” it said.
Presently, 2,871,625 individuals or 85.9% of the region’s target population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 536,375 individuals have already received their booster shots, with 70.1 % of the target A2 population already received their primary series. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY– To verify that Leyte Second District Engineering Office’s (L2DEO) ongoing infrastructure projects are compliant with Department Order 125, Series of 2019, known as the Roadworks Safety Assessment Team (RSAT), the Bureau of Quality and Safety (BRS) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office has conducted an assessment.

RSAT objectives were carried out by engineers Marjorie Añasco, Clarizze Angela Calleja, and Louie Luxie Gumba from DPWH-RO8 to ensure that a standardized system of signs and traffic management is followed in all maintenance and construction roadwork sites in accordance with the Department’s roadwork safety guidelines.

The team, during their December 2,2022 inspection, visited four projects of the district, namely, the road slope protection Burauen-Albuera Road (Burauen Side), Burauen, Leyte; installation of road stud or solar along Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road ; network development road widening – primary roads along Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Rd ; and Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road.

During the inspection, various documents were evaluated such as the approved worksite traffic management plan; contract documents; quality control program; latest statement of work accomplishment; site inspection files; project designation orders; and B.7 and B.8 on program of works; detailed unit price analysis, and inspection report/engineers certificate to verify if the project conforms with roadworks safety and traffic management plans and specifications.

Meanwhile, minor findings were identified by the RSAT during the deliberation and it ordered immediate actions, especially on the location and road section with potential road hazards where safety devices are needed.

District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura said that the office firmly mandates that the contractor and maintenance crew provide adequate signage and traffic control devices in all areas where they have continuing work.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar– To encourage youth participation in agricultural production, the provincial government here through its Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO) turned over farming tools and seedlings to the 4H Club on January 6, 2023 at the Governor’s Conference Room, this town.

The turned-over tools and agri inputs included brush cutters, seedling trays, spade with steel handles, rake with steel handles, plastic sprinklers, pechay seeds, lettuce seeds, upland kangkong seeds, okra seeds, sweet pepper, tomato seeds, eggplant seeds, and marcotted kalamansi seedlings.

The initiative aims to encourage responsible and sustainable agricultural practices especially among the youth in the province and support youth-initiated programs which contribute to increased food production.

The 4H Club – a group of young farmers in the province- is a registered youth organization in the province with agricultural development as its primary thrust.

Led by 4H Club provincial federation president, Kaiser Christoffer del Valle, the 4H Club members who were present during the handover came from the towns of San Jose, Laoang, Catarman, Silvino Lubos, Lope De Vega, Mondragon, and Las Navas.

Riza Cabales, provincial 4H Club coordinator from the Provincial Agriculture Office, Catarman RBO Gemma Nazam, DepEd representatives, Allen Agricultural Technologist (AT) Carl Crebello and other ATs joined PYDO youth focal Louana Sagadal in the simple handover ceremony.
(EUGENE M. ENANO)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council has recognized 10 local government units (LGUs) in the region that topped the 2022 cities and municipalities competitiveness index (CMCI).

NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales, the RDC vice chair, said on Friday(Jan.6) the council approved a resolution congratulating the top performers in the recent CMCI.

“The council finds merit in recognizing the said top-performing LGUs to encourage and inspire other LGUs in the region,” Rosales said in a phone interview.

Achievers are Basey town in Samar province as among the top nine most improved LGU (1st to 2nd class municipality category); San Antonio, Northern Samar in the top two most improved LGU (5th to 6th class municipality category); Almeria, Biliran in the top nine most improved LGU (5th to 6th class municipality category); Maasin City in the top three most improved LGU and top nine most competitive LGU (component cities category); and Calbayog City in the top five most improved LGU and top eight most competitive LGU (component cities category).

Other top performers are Tomas Oppus town in Southern Leyte province as among the top five most competitive LGU – economic dynamism pillar (5th to 6th class municipality category); Can-avid, Eastern Samar in the top 10 most competitive LGU – government efficiency (3rd to 4th class municipality category); Kawayan, Biliran in the top nine most competitive LGU – government efficiency and top seven most competitive LGU – innovation pillar (5th to 6th class municipality category); Catubig, Northern Samar in the top two most competitive LGU – resiliency pillar (3rd to 4th class municipality category); and Biliran town, Biliran as the topmost competitive LGU – innovation pillar (5th to 6th class municipality category).

“Some 142 out of the 143 cities and towns in the region participated in the 2022 CMCI, and 10 were among the top performers in the country for that year,” Rosales added.
CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development.

Areas are ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score which is the sum of scores on five main pillars.

The five main pillars are: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation. Scores are determined by the values of the actual data, as well as the completeness of the submitted data.

The higher the score of a city or municipality, the more competitive it is.

The index can be used as a diagnostic tool by local government officials to assess the competitiveness of their city or municipality and identify areas for improvement and collaboration.

Data can provide insight for policymaking, development planning, and investment promotion.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)