Part of Ormoc City’s annual fiesta celebration

TACLOBAN CITY – STI College Ormoc’s ‘Pundok Nagkahiusang Ormocanon’ emerged as the winner again in this year’s Piña Festival held at the city’s plaza on June 25.

The festival is among the lined-up activities of the city’s annual fiesta, now on its 426th year in honor of Saints Peter and Paul.

Pundok Nagkahiusang Ormocanon was the winner of the 2019 Piña Festival before the annual celebration was temporary stopped in 2020 due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The contingent won P500, 000 cash prize and Best in costume, best in graphic design, best choreographer, and best in street dancing.

‘Pundok Kasadpan’ of Western Leyte College of Ormoc bagged the 1st place and won P450,000, while Pundok Sidlakan of Eastern Visayas State University was the 2nd place and won P400,000.

Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez and Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez handed over the trophy and cash prize to the winners.

“This festival is our form of gratitude for the many blessings that we have received throughout the years. What we celebrate here is not just about the queen pineapple, what we are celebrating is who we are, as Ormocanon people, the city of resilient, sweet, happy, and beautiful people,” Mayor Torres Gomez said.

In his message, Rep. Gomez expressed his gratitude to all sectors who helped them in the preparation for the return of the Piña Festival this year and those who witnessed and watch the street dance parade and the ritual dance presentation.

“It is you who motivate us to continuously provide you with the best in Ormoc and in the fourth district of Leyte, the best entertainment, the best learning, the best experiences, and most of all the best service to all,” Gomez added.

Aside from awarding the best festival showdown winners, they also crowned the Piña Festival Queen won by Lime Berry Linaga of Ipil National High School, with Geovanna Catalina Dawa of Western Leyte College of Ormoc as 1st runner-up, and Giovana Scala of New Ormoc City National High School in 2nd runner-up. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar– The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in partnership with the provincial government of Northern Samar launched 22 Wi-Fi sites and a Tech4Ed Center in the province.

The project, launched on Tuesday (June 27), is part of DICT’s initiative to strengthen the free Wi-Fi sites in different localities as the country continues to transition to the new normal.

DICT Secretary Ivan John E. Uy stressed that the project will help Northern Samar in its efforts for growth and development.

“Information and Communications Technology has become the primary tool for our people, in our pursuit of growth and development and to cope up with the challenges of our times,” Secretary Uy said.

Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan and Vice Governor Clarence Dato supported the DICT’s project as it will bring Northern Samar closer to its vision of fully espousing digital governance.

“This program of the DICT has surely enabled us, both the community and the government to access greater avenues and opportunities for development and technological growth. Thanks to our DICT, together with provincial government, access to free internet is now at our reach,” Governor Ongchuan said.

Dato said the project will provide the needed internet connection in the province that will help continue its other projects.

“The free Wi-Fi for All Project of the department can provide in Northern Samar the much-needed source of connectivity for its line-up of priority projects,” Vice Gov Dato said.

The purpose of the Tech4ED project is to provide a hub for digital information and a reliable internet connection to the people of Northern Samar.

(The Provincial Government of Northern Samar)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the region will be offering a scholarship program for incoming third-year college students who are taking priority courses.

DOST-8 center manager of the Science and Technology Human Resource Development Promotion and Information Center, and regional scholarship technical coordinator Ramil Uy said that they are offering the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS) Program to undergraduate students.

JLSS aims to provide scholarships to qualified students taking science and technology courses and in the process, help address the inadequate supply of science and technology students.

Uy said that application for the JLSS scholarship grant had already started with July 28 as the last day of submission of application.

Interested applicants may visit E-Scholarships Application System – JLSS for further information and for requirements in filling for the scholarship grant.

E-Scholarships Application System – JLSS

The scholarship grant is available to regular second-year college students with a general average of at least 83 percent and has no failing grade from first year up to first semester of the second year.

“We already conducted orientation with our scholarship coordinators in universities on how they can assist our applicants in applying for the program,” Uy said.

Among the courses that are allowed to apply for the program are those enrolled under sciences, mathematics, engineering, agriculture, forestry, fishery, veterinary medicine, health and medicine-related courses, food-related courses, environmental science, food technology, fine arts and architecture, astronomy, marine biology, among others.

Successful applicants who will be part of the scholarship grant will be entitled to receive tuition and other school fee, learning materials and connectivity allowances, stipend, transportation allowance, thesis allowance, and graduation allowance.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

In Catbalogan City

TACLOBAN CITY – Over 140 families were affected by a demolition conducted by the city government of Catbalogan City on Monday (June 26).

However, the demolition turned ugly after an improvised bomb was thrown allegedly by some protesting residents of Barangay 6 to the demolition team from the city government.
The incident injured some personnel of the demolition team.

The residents were protesting the demolition of their houses on grounds that they were not being provided with a relocation site and economic loss.

However, the city government denied the claim of the affected residents saying that they have a relocation site in Barangay Payao which is just temporary as they will construct a tenement-type for the displaced families through the help of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

The city, through its administrator Dennis Cosmod, assured the affected families of assistance from the local government.

He also appealed to the affected families not to believe any misinformation saying they should directly contact him or any concerned official of the government.

The city government wants to relocate the families in Brgy. 6 as it identified the area as a ‘hazard zone’ being within the wharf area.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)