TACLOBAN CITY – Provincial employees from Northern and Eastern Samar are sure to have a merry Christmas with the release of additional bonuses through the granting of the service recognition incentives (SRI).

The provincial government of Northern Samar has approved an appropriation ordinance in the amount of P28.66 million upon the request of Governor Edwin Ongchuan during their session on Wednesday (Dec. 21).

The following day, all the 1, 433 regular and casual employees of the provincial government started to receive their extra bonuses in the amount of P20,000, provincial information officer John Allen Berbon.

Prior to the release of SRI, the regular and casual employees had already received P5,000 Productivity Enhancement Incentive.

The provincial board of Eastern Samar, meantime, also approved Appropriation Ordinance No. 17 containing the amount of P19.31 million which was a surplus from salary savings and benefits from different offices of the province.

The appropriation ordinance which was immediately approved by members of the provincial board headed by Vice Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan was immediately forwarded to the office of Governor Ben Evardone who signed its approval.

Granting of SRI seeks to incentivize government employees for their unwavering commitment and dedication in their performance of their duties and responsibilities towards quality and responsive delivery of public services amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and current socioeconomic challenges.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CALBAYOG CITY – A flood control structure was built by Samar First District Engineering Office along Jibatang River in Barangay Nabang, Calbayog City.

The above-mentioned structure spans 254.6 meters in length and has an average height of 3-12 meters since some areas have existing flood control structure. Part of the scope of work includes the installation of 16 solar street lights every 20 meters along the structure. This will serve as a protection wall for residents of the said barangay.

The structure has a total revised contract amount of P43.61 million drawn from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022.

Barangay Nabang is a low-lying area that is prone to flooding, particularly during typhoons and heavy rains. Flood control was built to reduce the effects of flood water or high-water levels in flood-prone communities.
(FLORSELISSA A. JUSAYAN, PIO STAFF)

Police says could be a case of ‘mistaken identity’

ORMOC CITY– Police authorities are still conducting their investigation to determine the suspects behind a shooting incident in Kananga town, Leyte which resulted in the death of the sister of a town mayor.

Killed on the spot due to bullet wounds was Juanita Veloso,77, elder sister of Mayor Remedio Veloso of San Isidro town while his wife, Leleena, 61, and driver, Edmil Bacay, were unscathed.

Cpl. Nicanor Romawak, officer-on-case of the Kananga police, said that the victims were on board an SUV traversing along a national highway in Barangay Libongao, Kananga at about 4 pm Wednesday (Dec.21) when they were peppered with bullets from the suspects who were also on board of a vehicle.

The group was from Ormoc City going to San Isidro town.

“We are still conducting our investigation on the case. But initially, we are considering politics as one of the possible angles,” he said in a phone interview.

The police officer said that the vehicle where the victims were on board was said to be a vehicle owned by Mayor Veloso.

“It could be a case of mistaken identity. The suspects could have thought that the mayor was on board of the said vehicle,” Romawak said.

Recovered from the crime scene were 40 pieces of empty shells of 5.56 mm at the crime scene.

It was learned that Juanita, who died on the spot due to several gunshot wounds which include the fatal on her chest, has just arrived from the United States last week for Christmas vacation.

Meantime, Councilor Carmichael Villarino, San Isidro town councilor and a relative of the victims, said that they were shocked on the incident.

“The entire town of San Isidro is shocked and shaken by this unfortunate incident. The family is seeking for an immediate solution on the case,” he said in a phone interview.
It was learned from Villarino that Mayor Veloso has been receiving death threats reason he was provided with his own security detail from the provincial police office.
He also suspects that politics could be behind on this incident.
(ROBERT DEJON)

The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII
(PSA – RSSO 8) will conduct the 2021 Survey on Innovation Activities (SIA) with rider questionnaire on 2022 Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Private Firm Awareness Survey (PPFAS) on 19 December 2022 until 10 February 2023. The 2021 SIA is a joint collaboration between PSA and the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), while the PPFAS is a collaboration with the PCC.

The 2021 SIA aims to examine innovative performance of economic actors across all major sectors of the economy, including the extent of the platform economy. It will provide internationally comparable data on innovation that are systems-oriented and policy-relevant in the Philippine setting. It also aims to gather new information on use of digital platforms by Philippine businesses, recognizing that markets of all kinds are becoming more digitized and digitalized with rapid use of internet. The data collected from the 2021 SIA shall provide innovation data or information which business associations, national and local government authorities, and other stakeholders can use as empirical bases for policy and program recommendations.

The 2022 PPFAS is a nationwide survey of establishments that aims to determine the level of awareness on the Philippine Competition Act (PCA) or R.A.10667, the PCC, and its mandate. The survey aims to guide the PCC in designing strategies to enhance its advocacy, and to educate the public on the relevance of market competition. The results of PPFAS will be used to compare the annual targets set forth in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017 – 2022 and the General Appropriation Act (GAA).

The PSA – RSSO 8 enjoins all sample establishments to support the survey by providing the required information to authorized PSA interviewers who will distribute the addressed questionnaires personally to the sample establishments. A fillable PDF or Excel version of the 2021 SIA questionnaire is also available to those who will opt to respond to the survey through electronic means

The PSA adheres to the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality pursuant to R.A. No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and R.A. No. 10625 or the Philippine Statistical Act of 2013. All information gathered from the survey will be held strictly confidential and shall not be used as evidence in court for purposes of taxation, regularities, or investigation. Moreover, PSA will release data only in the form of summaries or statistical tables.

The office assures the public that required public health and safety measures to contain COVID-19 will be strictly observed in all phases of field operations. All PSA personnel and hired statistical researchers who will be deployed are vaccinated, healthy and will strictly follow precautionary measures against COVID-19 and wearing of PSA ID. (PR)