PNP condemns shooting of an intel cop in Northern Samar
(Photo courtesy of Danny Balading)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has condemned the fatal shooting of an intelligence police officer in Catubig, Northern Samar on January 10.
The Police Regional Office 8 (Eastern Visayas) here said the “treacherous” attack against Staff Sgt. Joerel Pajac was a clear violation of human rights.
“We call on witnesses to the incident to cooperate with our police to identify the attackers so that justice will be served,” the PNP said in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
Pajac, 39, a resident of Calingnan village in Catubig town, was assigned to the Northern Samar Police Intelligence Unit.
He was about to disembark from a motorboat when four armed men suddenly appeared and shot him.
The unarmed victim jumped into the water but the gunmen continued shooting at him before fleeing towards San Francisco village.
The victim’s body was recovered floating on the river after more than an hour.
Catubig, a third-class town in Northern Samar, is about 311 km. north from Tacloban, the regional capital.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)
No vax card, no entry now imposed in Tacloban
Other LGUs impose same policy amid EV’s soaring COVID-19 case
TACLOBAN CITY- As this regional capital of Eastern Visayas now under Alert Level 3 beginning Friday (Jan.14), its cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to soar in huge numbers.
On Friday, the city logged 128 new cases, a record for the city since the pandemic started in 2020.
Its total cases are now at 453, a figure covering just of the current month.
City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, in a move to address the soaring number of COVID-19 cases of the city, issued an executive order on Thursday, which among others, prohibits unvaccinated individuals to enter any commercial or business establishments.
The same Executive Order 2022-01-001 issued by Romualdez, non-residents of the city who are planning to enter Tacloban but are not fully vaccinated need to present either a negative RT-PCR test administered within 72 hours or a negative antigen test administered within 24 hours to their arrival to the city.
The same directive of the city mayor has formalized the use of the vaccination card as a pass for one to enter government offices and commercial establishments.
It also encourages government offices to adopt a work-from-home or other flexible working arrangement.
Mayor Romualdez issued his appeal for still unvaccinated Taclobanons to get their shots not only to have a ‘defense’ against the deadly virus but also for them to enter establishments and even government offices.
“This is the new normal,” he said, referring to the vaccination need.
He also welcomed non-residents but are working in the city to have themselves vaccinated in Tacloban.
As of Thursday,172,157 city residents have received their first dose of which 150,863 of them are now considered as fully vaccinated or for having received their second shots.
Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, city health officer, said that while cases of COVID-19 in Tacloban is on the uptick, they have not monitored any severe or critical condition.
This could be attributed to the high vaccination rate in the city, she said, adding that almost all of the COVID-19 patients of the city are at their homes for isolation.
“And beginning on Monday, our vaccination campaign will be extended up to seven pm as directed by the city mayor to ensure more people will avail of our vaccination campaign,” Fabrigas said.
In Tabango town, Leyte, priests who are not based in the town but either to officiate or to attend mass relative to the town fiesta on Saturday are also required to present their vaccination cards before they will be allowed entry to the municipality proper.
In Catbalogan City, an executive order issued by Mayor Dexter Uy, directed, among others, that all employees, regardless of their status, are to be fully vaccinated. Otherwise, they have to undergo RT-PCR test or every two weeks at their own expense.
In Borongan City, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda has ordered that unvaccinated persons are to stay at their homes ‘at all times’ save for medical emergencies purposes.
In Northern Samar, the outpatient department of its provincial hospital was temporarily closed beginning on Thursday due to the number of health workers getting the infection and the surge of patients admitted due to COVID-19.
On Friday, Eastern Visayas also logged its highest single-day cases since the pandemic started for more than two years now.
The Department of Health reported of 450 new cases, bringing the region’s total active cases of COVID-19 to 1,771.
All six provinces of the region have registered new cases with Leyte, which includes Tacloban City, having the highest with 291 cases followed by Northern Samar with 68; Samar, 52; Eastern Samar,32; Southern Leyte, 5; and Biliran, 2. (with report ROEL T. AMAZONA
Chiefs of government agencies in the region assure Limasawa of immediate assistance
Among the worst-hit areas due to ‘Odette’
LIMASAWA, Southern Leyte- The government will help for the fast recovery of the people of this historic town still reeling from the impacts of Typhoon ‘Odette’ that hit their island on December 16.
This assurance was made by the regional directors of different government line agencies who are part of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).
The officials, led by Office of Civil Defense Regional Director and RDMMC chairman Lord Byron Torrecarion, visited the island on Jan.7 and turned over assistance to the local government unit consisting of carpentry tools, fiberglass fishing boats, family food packs, hygiene kits, and temporary shelter assistance.
“Kami ay taus-pusong sumusuporta sa muling pagbangon at pagtayo ng ating mga pamahalaan, duon po simula sa barangay level. Kaya po sinusuportahan ko po ang ating mga punong barangay, mga municipal officials, ia-assisst po namin kayo na maitawid itong pagdurusa ng ating mga kababayan,” lawyer Arnaldo Escober, the regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.
“Marami pong dalang serbisyo ang national government para ibigay sa mga barangay sa buong munisipyo ng Limasawa,” he added.
Grace Sugbong, the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), announced that the agency had already provided over P15 million food and non-food assistance to the island residents, and financial assistance under the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation.
“Ang ayudang ito ay hindi makaka-abot sa Limasawa kung wala ang effort at support ng mga government agencies,” she said.
“Hindi po tayo tumitigil, tinitingnan po natin kung ano ang pwedeng tulong pa or other response na pwedeng maibigay Dito po sa Limasawa,” Subong added.
She added that their office together with the livelihood and shelter cluster of the regional council, are also discussing now what other assistance they can provide to the residents
For her part, agriculture regional director Angel Enriquez said that whatever livelihood their office can offer will be provided to Limasawa.
“I will make a report to the secretary to prioritize in Southern Leyte this island and we wanted to build back agriculture kasi alam namin from the devastation marami ng tumutulong na agency. Whatever livelihood we can offer, you have my commitment,” she said.
Limasawa town Mayor Melchor Petracorta was thankful for the visit of the regional officials and was overwhelmed by the assurance of the agency officials.
“Marami salamat. Even sa mga padala, wala akong reklamo. Kaya nga… kasi sa akin…hindi ko sana gusto manghingi nang – magmaka-awa, pero naawa ako sa mga tao, pero ang gobyerno natin nandiyan para sa amin, maraming salamat” an emotional town mayor said.
A total of 1, 433 houses from the six villages of Limasawa were totally damaged by Odette while 169 were partially damaged.
Some of those who lost their houses are still staying in evacuation centers while others had constructed temporary shelters using tarpaulins and other materials available on the island.
Gerry Sinoc, who is the village chairman of Cabulihan also expressed his gratitude for the support extended to them by the government.
He declared that practically all the houses in their village were destroyed due to the ferocity of the typhoon.
Aside from housing materials, Sinoc, who is also the town president of the association of barangay chairmen, also appeals that they be given assistance for their livelihood.
“Sa amin talaga, madami ang duon lang sa dagat nabubuhay. Yung mga nabubuhay sa dagat wala na ngayong sasakyan na gagamitin pandagat. Meron dyan mga butas, giba, kaya ang tulong na ganyan pampaayus at saka gamit sa panghanap-buhay pangisda, napakalaking tulong kung mayroon kaming makukuha galing sa mga concern agencies natin,” he said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Gov. Mercado bars transport of lumber outside Southern Leyte
To address possible shortage of lumber amid rehab efforts
TACLOBAN CITY- The governor of Southern Leyte has issued an order prohibiting any transport of lumber outside the province, still reeling from the devastations of Typhoon ‘Odette.’
The order, issued Jan. 7 of this year by Governor Damian Mercado, mandated all the local government units of the province to bar any transfer or utilization of lumber outside their respective areas.
The directive is meant to ensure that there will be enough supplies of lumber as the province is geared towards helping families rebuild their damaged or destroyed houses due to Typhoon Odette.
“The massive volume of fallen trees can be utilized by the local government units in Southern Leyte making it into lumber to be distributed to families with totally and partially damaged houses so that rebuilding of houses can be commenced,” part of the order of the governor said.
Based on the report of the regional office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) around 10 million trees were toppled, of which 3.9 million were classified as beyond recovery, in Southern Leyte and parts of Leyte due to the typhoon.
The same order of Gov. Mercado mandated the police to establish checkpoints that no business establishments or individuals could sneak out lumber from the province.
Also, chain saw operators from the province would be given priority in cutting the fallen trees into lumber.
Around 120,797 houses were damaged in Southern Leyte wherein 44,562 were totally destroyed.
Meantime, the PCA said that it will provide assistance to coconut farmers who were affected by Odette’s devastation.
The PCA said that about 82,358 coconut farmers in typhoon-hit areas in the region were affected by the typhoon.
It will also distribute 70 chainsaws in the province for the clearing of the fallen trees.(with report
ROEL T. AMAZONA)