Rest of Visayas guvs sign manifesto of support

TACLOBAN CITY– The governors of the Visayas have signed a manifesto of support to Tourism Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco and its controversial ‘Love Philippines’ tourism campaign.

The manifesto of support was released by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas which is headed by Usec. Terence Calatrava.

Of the 16 governors of Visayas, two have not or failed to sign the manifesto which was posted on the social media account of the OPAV on Sunday (July 9).

The two governors whose names and signatures did not appear in the manifesto were Jose Miraflores of Aklan and Eugenio Lacson of Negros Occidental.

In Eastern Visayas, all six governors have signed the manifesto, namely, Gerard Roger Espina of Biliran; Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte; Carlos Jericho Petilla of Leyte; Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar; Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar, and Sharee Ann Tan of Samar.

In the wake of the controversy, local government units in the region used the logo of the ‘Love Philippines’ on their respective tourism promotional campaign, showing their support for Frasco and her tourism campaign.

Jhon Allen Berbon, the information officer of the provincial government of Northern Samar, said that as a proof that they are supportive of the campaign they have invited Sec. Frasco to attend the provincial launching of the ‘Love Philippines’ campaign next month.

“The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, together with the governors of the different local government units in the Visayas Region, declares our full and unwavering support to the DOT’s rebranding of the Philippine tourism campaign,” part of the manifesto said.

“It is our firm belief that the DOT, under the leadership of Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco, poses no other interest than to bolster the tourism framework of the country despite of the setbacks and adjustments that we, as a nation, had to unfortunately encounter during the pandemic,” it added.

It further said, “We are confident that as soon as the matter fades into insignificance, the superior intentions of the good Secretary and her commitment to developing and promoting the Philippines to the world will prevail.”

The officials then urged the public to be with the mission and vision’ of the DOT and ‘be our country’s beloved envoy of goodwill…and how we Love the Philippines.’

The “Love Philippines’ campaign came under fire after it was discovered that it used stock footage from other countries.

Part of the New Emancipation Act

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed 2, 641 electronic certificates of land ownership award (e-CLOAs) to a total of 2,118 agrarian reform beneficiaries from across the region.

The title covers a total of 3, 961.5 hectares that is part of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project of the department.

About 207,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are to benefit from the newly-signed law, DAR-8 said.

“Eastern Visayas is leading among regions of the country with the most number of distributed individualized CLOA with 6, 483 land titles covering 10, 060 hectares,” DAR Regional Director Robert Anthony Yu said during the e-CLOA distribution last Friday (July 7).

Yu added that the government will also provide additional support services like farm machinery, trainings, and loan to help farmers improve and develop their farms and produce.

The distribution of e-CLOA was held after the official signing of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act or Republic Act (RA) 11953 at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang.

The new law condones all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges incurred by agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from land awarded to them under Presidential Decree (PD) 27 or the Tenant Emancipation Decree of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. issued on Oct. 21, 1972, RA 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, and RA 9700 or the An Act strengthening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, cousin of the President, said that he is happy that the law was enacted that would benefit the farmers.

“Kaya ako’y natutuwa na tinanggal na itong utang lalo na yung interes na binibigay sa inyo ay mawawala na,” he said during his message during the event.

Liberato Nueva, 66, of Barangay Lapaz, San Jorge, Samar, and a recipient of a two-hectare farm lot awarded to him under the (CARP), said that he welcomed this move of the Marcos administration.

“Thank you to the President. Now I would not be bothered by any loans,” he said.
Present also during the awarding of e-CLOA were Southern Leyte Representative Christopherson Yap (2nd district), Tingog party-list Rep.Jude Acidre, and Samar Vice Governor Arnold Tan.

These officials urged all CLOA beneficiaries not to sell the farmlands ty they received from the government but instead cultivate them to generate income to help them improve their living conditions and for the future of their children. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CALBAYOG CITY– About 13 former members of the New People’s Army(NPA) who yielded to First Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st SPMFC) received P10,000 each as a financial grant from the local government of Calbayog and the first congressional district of Samar.

Brigadier General Vincent Calanoga, the police regional director, witness the distribution of said assistance and personally welcome them back to the folds of the law.
“I am privileged to personally welcome you and thank you for giving up the armed struggle and to finally embrace peace with your respective families,” he said.

City Mayor Raymund Uy and Rep. Stephen James led the distribution of cash assistance.
“Today’s payout is a proof of LGU Calbayog’s commitment to assist and support your (former rebels) reintegration to our city”, Uy stated.

For his part, Rep. Tan said that he too is happy that the former rebels chose to abandon their armed cause and return to the folds of the law.

“I understand that you went through a lot of thought before you came up with your decision and I want to assure you that you made the right decision. Choosing peace is always the better choice,” the Samar solon said.

Since the institutionalization of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 or ‘whole-of-nation’ Approach in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict in 2018, an influx of rebel-surrenderers was recorded nationwide. The government agencies have complemented all their efforts with a unified objective in ending insurgency in the country.
Police Cap. Joel Merino, the acting deputy commander of the 1st SPMFC, said that they are happy that leaders like Tan and Uy are giving their full support on the campaign of the government to quell the insurgency problem in Samar, in particular.

“We, therefore, urge our brothers and sisters who are still in the boondocks to lay down their arms and we will warmly welcome them”, he added.
(LEVIRESA ATIS GETIGAN)

Manila—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently contributed close to P7 million ($125,000) to the Philippines-United Nations (UN) Joint Programme for Human Rights.

These new funds will support the Philippine government in strengthening accountability mechanisms and promoting human rights in the country.

U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. expressed support for advancing human rights in the Philippines during his recent meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Washington, D.C. Promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law, as well as ensuring the safety of civil society leaders and marginalized communities, are among the key priorities in the U.S.-Philippines relationship.

“Human rights are a critical pillar in development, and we believe it is not possible for any country to rise to its full potential without them,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. “We are proud to join the international community in supporting the Philippines to protect human rights and uphold every person’s individual dignity.”

Launched in 2021, the UN Joint Programme in the Philippines supports government and non-government institutions in critical areas, including safeguarding civic space and engaging with civil society and the Commission on Human Rights. The three-year initiative also strengthens reporting mechanisms for accountability and promotes human rights-based approaches to drug control.

“We welcome the contribution of the United States to the UN Joint Programme for Human Rights and their commitment to promote human rights in the Philippines and beyond. We look forward to engaging with them further on this important work,” said Gustavo González, UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines. (PR)