ORMOC CITY– A teacher who had just finished a performance died in Calbiga, Samar Saturday (May 21).
Renato Ocasla 48, who taught at the Literon Elementary School in Calbiga passed out after he and his co-teachers just completed their dance number during a program held at the town gymnasium.
After their group performed and returned to their table, the victim reportedly collapsed and became unconscious prompting his fellow teachers to bring him to the rural health unit (RHU) for immediate medical assistance.
He died while being transported to a hospital in Tacloban City.
The teachers joined the town’s fiesta celebration through performances held at the town gymnasium. (ROBERT DEJON)
A fishing vessel donated by Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is now being enjoyed by a fishermen’s group in Northern Samar. (Photo Courtesy)
A fishing vessel donated by Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is now being enjoyed by a fishermen’s group in Northern Samar. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY – A fishing vessel donated by the Bureau of Department of Agriculture (DA) and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to a fishermen’s cooperative in Northern Samar is now in operation.
On May 15, the FV DA-BFAR 2102 steel-hulled fish harvester, made its first fishing voyage resulting in a catch of 3,000 kilograms of fish.
The P39 million worth fishing vessel was donated to DA-BFAR to the Northern Samar Pacific Towns Fishermen’s Cooperative (NSPTFC) last March 29 of this year.
The fishermen are from the Pacific towns of Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig.
“With more fish expected to come in and more regular voyages, we are prospecting an increase of needed labor with the local fisherfolks to deal with the demand of work,” Mapanas Mayor Ronn Michael Tejano said.
“This will not only provide more employment locally but would definitely enhance our local economy and provide extra revenue for our LGU which could be used to further the development of our fishing industry. Our local consumers, particularly the indigents, are now enjoying cheaper prices of the fish caught by NSPTFC,” he added.
Northern Samar has almost 1,000 tuna fishers who mostly rely on traditional fishing methods when catching tuna within the Pacific Ocean, according to the data of BFAR-8.
Through the help of the fishing vessel that BFAR gave to the fisherfolk organization, the bureau foresees at least a 5.4% or 180-200 metric ton increase in tuna production in Northern Samar being provided with the state-of-the-art steel-hulled purse fishing vessel which can store at most 5,000 kilograms of fish catch.
In 2022, Northern Samar contributed 13% of the region’s total fisheries production and recorded the second-highest yield of tuna production in the region. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
SWELTERING HEAT. Students at the Bacayawan Elementary School in Llorente, Eastern Samar are taking shades to avoid extreme heat as Eastern Visayas continues to experience heat spells. (PHOTO COURTESY NERISSA BARBO)
Due to extreme heat
SWELTERING HEAT. Students at the Bacayawan Elementary School in Llorente, Eastern Samar are taking shades to avoid extreme heat as Eastern Visayas continues to experience heat spells. (PHOTO COURTESY NERISSA BARBO)
TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Education (DepEd) reported that 788 schools in the region are now implementing modular or limited face-to-face classes due to extreme heat.
These schools cover from elementary up to senior high levels.
In Tacloban City alone, out of the 41 elementary and secondary schools, 14 of them have shifted the mode of learning into modular or limited face-to-face classes.
City Mayor Alfred Romualdez said that he would leave it to school officials to shift to modular or online classes saying they knew better in protecting the students due to the heat spells we are experiencing right now.
“I will fully support (their) recommendation because they are the ones who are in touch with the students every day,” he said in a press conference Wednesday (May 17).
At the Leyte National High School, with over 10,000 enrolled students, the two-day in-person classes will begin starting next week.
Bernie Jude Lamograr, the school’s information officer, said that this week, they started distributing the modules to the students which they have to answer during the three days which they are off campus.
“This is just to decongest (the school) which adds so much heat to the already hot temperature,” he said.
The in-person classes will be held every Monday and Tuesday with the students to answer their modules during the remaining three days of the school days.
It was learned from Lamograr that since the city experienced the hot spell, about 20 to 30 students every school day have experienced hyperventilation.
Despite of these changes, the delivery of education in the region will not be affected, Jasmin Calzita said on Thursday (May 18).
Calzita said that about 115,262 students are affected by this shift or learning methods which include limited face-to-face or just twice-a-week meetings; modular learning, or online classes.
“Classes are not affected by this because we are implementing an alternative delivery mode. Learning continues,” she said.
Calzita said that schools could shift to other learning methods if a situation like extreme heat would put the health and safety of the students at risk.
Under DepEd Order Number 037, schools could shift to modular distance learning due to natural calamities, disasters and human-induced hazards to ensure learning continuity.
There are 4,474 public elementary and secondary schools across the region involving 1.28 million students.
Asked if there are also private schools that have shifted to distance learning method due to the heat spell, the DepEd regional information officer said that they have no such report.
“Besides, private schools are air-conditioned. But this may adopt the same policy if needed,” Calzita said.
For several days now, Eastern Visayas has been experiencing extreme heat ranging from 34 degrees Celsius up to 46 degrees Celsius recorded in Catarman, Northern Samar on Wednesday (May 17) at about 1 pm, based on the heat index report of Pagasa.
CATARMAN, Northern Samar—As mandated by the Legal Education Board, around 211 lawyers and Bachelor of Law graduates were granted ‘Juris Doctor Degree’ during the 1st conferral ceremony here in this province on May 6 held at the gymnatorium of the University of Eastern Philippines, this town.
Said grantees, composed of 24 batches since 1996 to 2018 and graduates of the UEP College of Law were conferred by House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Marcelino C. Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group as the guest speaker.
Lawyer Daryl V. Navaroza-Basiloy, Dean College of Law, led in the distribution of the diplomas whose three-year stint has resulted in the passing of 38 lawyers.
During the program, Cherry Y. Ultra, the University president, led in the investiture and conferment of the Degree of Juris Doctor.
In his conferment address, Rep. Libanan assures lawyers from Northern Samar who seek to be connected at the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
He also mentioned that during his college of law days, “Kon may ada na hadto nga mga panahon abogasiya nga kurso dede ha UEP, dede gud ako mag eskwela.”
Aside from his congratulatory message to the 211 grantees of the Juris Doctor Degree and the first conferment held here under the deanship of Navaroza-Basiloy, Libanan also extended his appreciation to the university’s leadership along with the officials of the province for continuously producing lawyers.
Libanan was the principal author for the creation of the Public Attorney’s Office now being enjoyed of employed lawyers across the country headed by PAO Chief Persida Acosta.
Also during the conferment ceremony, Atty. Herbert Miscreola led in the renewal of pledge of loyalty to the Alma Mater together with Atty. Albert Yruma, President, UEP Alumni Association Federation who led in the renewal of alumni oath.
Also in attendance were Rep. Paul Daza, Senior Deputy Minority Leader, and town councilor Tantan Uy, who represented Gov. Edwin Ongchuan. (PETER D. PAREDES)
18 individuals coming from different parts of the region are the latest to avail a scholarship program offered by the Technical Education Skills, World Vision, and Development Authority and Isuzu. They are to take auto-mechanic course during their training. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
18 individuals coming from different parts of the region are the latest to avail a scholarship program offered by the Technical Education Skills, World Vision, and Development Authority and Isuzu. They are to take auto-mechanic course during their training. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 18 individuals are now undertaking a two-year auto mechanic training at the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) – 8.
The trainees were chosen from the 620 applicants all over the region for the scholarship program offered by TESDA, Isuzu Motors Limited, and World Vision Philippines.
Among the new trainees is Megan Longasa, 20, from Barangay San Antonio, Basey, and Samar who stopped schooling after the first semester of her first year in college due to financial difficulties.
Longasa said that being chosen as one of the scholars for the program is a challenge for her being a woman as she has no prior knowledge on vehicles or on mechanical works.
“I will listen carefully during our lesson, and persevere to make sure that this opportunity that was given to me will not be wasted,” she said, adding that graduating with the national competency will allow her to land jobs not only in the country but even abroad.
“To my fellow scholars, our dream is now ahead of us and thankfully enough, we are the luckiest one out of the many others who aim to be part of this scholarship. I hope that we continue to follow our dreams, always find our passion, and never let go,” she said in her message of commitment during the welcome ceremony Wednesday (May 17).
For Remar Taneo, 22, who is from Ormoc City, the opportunity given to him to be part of the Batch 23 scholars of the auto mechanic training is a stepping stone for him to achieve his goal to become an engineer.
Taneo said that he took up an engineering course at the Eastern Visayas State University but due to some problem, he had to stop his schooling.
“I have a better chance of getting employed after my two years of training here at TESDA as an auto mechanic. The competency that they are giving to us is a big help in looking and landing for a job,” Taneo said, adding that he would like to pursue his engineering course once he already enough savings.
The Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic in partnership with the World Vision had been ongoing since 2008 and had produced more than 300 trainees mostly come from underprivileged families but deserving to be provided with needed education to gain employment.
Isuzu and World Vision had allocated P366 million for the operation of the project since their partnership started in 2012.
The training facility located inside the regional office of TESDA-8 is complete with training tools and equipment, a dormitory for boys and girls, a cafeteria, and a multi-purpose covered court.
Graduates of the training will undergo competency assessment and those who will pass will be certified by the TESDA and issued the national certificate or certificate of competency.
The Isuzu-TESDA auto mechanic scholars were welcome by the Isuzu Senior Executive Officer of administrative division Hirokazu Okubo, World Vision Philippines Executive Director Rommel Fuerte, TESDA Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr., and TESDA Leyte Director Rolando Bade.
Vicente, in an interview, said that more than 91 percent of the graduates under the scholarship program are employed after the training both locally and abroad.
“Some of the graduates are hired by Isuzu and with their learning and skills being globally competitive, companies from the Philippines and abroad may immediately hire them,” he said.
Aside from the 18 new scholars, the training center has currently 18 auto mechanic trainees for automotive servicing NC I, 18 for NC II, 18 for NC III, and 19 for NC IV. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY-Cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Eastern Visayas continue to see an uptick with health officials asking the public to again follow all the health protocols.
Based on the records from the Department of Health (DOH), the region has 135 active COVID-19 cases covering the May 8 to 14 monitoring.
The figure is higher compared to the May 1 to 7 report of the DOH which noted of 84 new COVID-19 cases.
The DOH noted that all six provinces of the region is seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases.
The province of Leyte logged the highest active cases with 88 cases, higher compared to the May 1 to 7 period which was only 59 cases.
The city of Tacloban in Leyte and the regional capital has 43 cases, an increase of 13 cases from the previous DOH monitoring.
Dr. Gloria Fabregas, assistant city health officer, said that while Tacloban City is seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases, she does not find it ‘alarming.’
This is because, she said, majority of the active cases of the city are considered ‘mild.’
“It is no longer of epidemic proportion,”she said on Tuesday.
She blamed the increase on the disregard of the public in following the health protocols.
Thus, she asked the public to again follow all the mandatory health protocols like the wearing of face mask.
The DOH in the region also made the same appeal.
Aside from wearing the face mask, it urged the public to immediately isolate oneself if sick; and get the vaccine and booster shots.
It said that the increase of COVID-19 cases in the region serves as a ‘reminder’ to the public to get anti-COVID-19 shots.
However, despite of the increasing COVID-19 cases of the region, the DOH 8 stressed that there is no severe and critical case admitted in the hospitals due to COVID-19.
It said that out of 49 intensive care unit (ICU) beds intended for patients with COVID-19, only 5 beds are occupied or 10.20%. Meanwhile, 21.79% of 1,083 non-ICU COVID-19 beds are currently being used.
Meantime, the province of Samar has 22 cases from the previous 18; Northern Samar, 10 from earlier cases of 3; Eastern Samar, eight from a single case; Southern Leyte, from two to four cases; and Biliran, from one case to three COVID-19 cases. (JOEY A. GABIETA/ROBERT DEJON)
