ORMOC CITY-Mayor Richard Gomez, this city, is now a proud member of a nationwide campaign advocating for environment promotion as the country’s local government units (LGUs) representative.
The actor-turned-mayor is recognized as an advisory council member representing all LGUs all over the country in the advocacy group ‘Ako Ang Bukas’, a multi-sectoral crusade, which aims for central campaign on climate neutrality in the Philippines by 2050.
Gomez was chosen to represent among all LGUs due to his leadership in climate change mitigation, as reflected in the sustainable initiatives undertaken in Ormoc.
“Climate change is a supreme manifestation of human impact on the environment. It affects and will continue to affect greatly people’s lives and livelihood,” he said as he emphasized the urgent need to address the climate emergency at the launch of multi-sectoral environmental movement Ako Ang Bukas last June 18, 2021 via online.
Ormoc City government is a recipient of Allen S. Quimpo Climate Leadership for Governance Memorial Award at the Climate Reality Leadership Awards last November 2018 “for advancing climate action and promoting renewable energy”.
Just recently, the city also launched its ‘Ormoc Tree Haven and Eco-Park’ for native trees in partnership with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
The city has prepared programs and strategies on how to mitigate climate change as outlined in its Local Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2025, a 10-year plan.
“It is required that in the local climate change action plan, we are to incorporate the inventory of our carbon emissions. Thus, we welcome this initiative which helps [or will help] us in this important task” Mayor Gomez said.
“Quantum Leap NOW to Climate Neutrality 2050” is a campaign for Ako Ang Bukas promoting the importance of stock-taking greenhouse gas emissions in grappling with the climate crisis.
“It is incumbent upon local government leaders to continuously study, evaluate, and address the environmental situation under our jurisdiction,” Gomez said, highlighting the importance of LGUs’ involvement in tackling the climate crisis.
Through the movement, sector-specific greenhouse gas calculators will be made available for public use by July; trainings on their use will also be provided.
Ako Ang Bukas is a Philippine environmental movement whose campaign “Quantum Leap NOW: Climate Neutrality 2050” which seeks to involve all sectors and levels of society nationwide in taking urgent, concerted action to address the climate crisis facing the country and the world and reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Other members in the advisory council for Ako Ang Bukas include Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines for the grassroots sector, Federico “Piki” Lopez, chair and CEO of First Philippine Holdings Corporation for business, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos for faith-based organizations and communities, Vicky-Tauli Corpuz, Former UN Special Rapporteur for Rights of Indigenous Peoples for the indigenous sector, Fr. John Christian Young, president of Fr. Saturnino Urios University for academe, and Gabrielle Marciano, president of Y’s Men’s Club of RAHA Paranaque for the youth sector.
(ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez chosen to represent LGUs in PH campaign for environment promotion drive
Eastern Samar Gov.Evardone asks for more vaccine allocation to hasten their campaign against further spread of COVID-19
TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone has made a request before the National Task Force against Covid-19 for the increase of vaccine allocation to the province.
In his letter, addressed to Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., and Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Evardone said that the increase of vaccine allocation in the province will allow them to maximize the potential of their vaccination centers in all municipalities and to inoculate as much of the eligible population.
“Eastern Samar, much like its neighboring provinces in Region VIII, is into its 3rd wave of the COVID-19 surge which started on May 18, 2021,” the governor said.
“As of today, we have 1, 808 confirmed cases, 224 of which are active cases. We have officially surpassed the peak of our second wave last year and this surge is now the worst we have since the start of the pandemic,” the governor added in the letter dated June 21.
As of June 23, Eastern Samar has now a total of 1, 831 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which a total of 223 active cases, with 52 deaths.
Majority of the confirmed cases are from Guiuan town with 444, and Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar, with 359.
The governor said that despite the limited vaccine allocation, the provincial government is proud that Eastern Samar has one of the highest vaccine utilization rates in our region.
However, the limited supply has allowed us to inoculate only 59 percent of our A.1, 21 percent of A.2, and 33 percent of A.3.
“With this, it is unfortunate that the operations of our vaccination centers are not maximized and are only being used on the average of 2-3 times a week,” Evardone said.
“If granted this request, we are positive that the number of people vaccinated in our A.1, A.2, A.3 categories will increase and the operation of our vaccination centers will be maximized,” he added.
Based on the data from the Provincial Health Office of Eastern Samar, the province had vaccinated a total of 26, 995 individuals for the 1st dose while, 14, 399 were inoculated for the second dose.
Of the inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines, 13 have experienced mild adverse events which includes hypertension, dizziness, headache, and hypertension. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
EV leaders mourn death of PNOY
The remains of the former leader to be buried today
TACLOBAN CITY-The sudden death of former President Benigno ‘Noynoy’Aquino shocked and saddened officials here in the region as they extended their condolences to the family of the late leader, and extolling his contributions to the development of Eastern Visayas.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city said that he is joining the rest of the country in expressing condolences and grief to the Aquino family on the demise of the former president.
Romualdez said that when he learned about the passing of the former leader, he has to verify the information first saying he was preoccupied in overseeing the ongoing vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
“I was unsure whether it was true because I was busy here,”he said, referring on the ongoing vaccination.
“But on behalf of the Taclobanons, I express my condolences to the family of the late president Aquino,” he added.
The city mayor said that at his age, the former president was still “young” but his health could have been affected due to his duties as president.
“He was just 61.Bata pa.Mahirap talaga ang trabaho ng isang Presidente…it took toll on his health,” Romualdez said.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (1st district) also expressed his tribute to Aquino who died on Thursday (June 24) due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.
“We all grieve for losing him so early—a man of integrity, a Filipino leader who made it his primary mission to institutionalize good governance reform,” he said in a statement.
An Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel also joined the nation in mourning on the death of the 61-year former leader.
“He was a friend. We were together in the 13th Congress. Principled and grounded. While I was not a party-mate, I was considered by him as a personal and political,” he said.
Meantime, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla directed all the local government units in the province to place at half-mast all of their flags to show their mourning on the death of Aquino.
The governor’s elder brother, Jericho, once served as Energy Secretary during the Aquino administration.
All local government units in the region, to include public offices and even private establishments, have placed their Philippine flag at half- staff to show their respect and mourning on the death of the former president who visited the region for a couple of times.
Reps. Edgar Mary Sarmiento of Samar and Paul Daza of Northern Samar, both stalwarts of the Liberal Party of which the former President belonged, said that they considered him both as a friend and a good leader who ruled the country well.
“Pnoy served our country well and was responsible for many accomplishments in Samar Island. He was both a friend and an idol,” Daza, in a text message, said.
Sarmiento: “Like his parents, he served our country so well.”
Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone expressed his gratitude for all the projects and programs implemented under his administration to his province.
“We would like to express our sincerest appreciation for all his assistance to the province of Eastern Samar from infrastructures to social services. He really cared for our people,” the governor said in a text message.
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez also condoled to the family of the late president saying his passing was a ‘sad day’ for the country.
“It is a sad day for our nation to see the passing of the former President. He served our nation and dedicated many years to public service. He will remembered and missed,”he said in a text message.
In a statement, Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado thanked Aquino for his service to the Filipino people.
Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan also expressed his condolences, describing him as a ‘great leader.’
“It is with deep sadness that the Province of Samar joins the nation in grief for the loss of a great leader, President Noynoy Aquino,” he said.
Liberal Party members here in Tacloban has also expressed their shock on the death of the former president.
“We are saddened and shocked with the death of Former President Noynoy Aquino. We thank him for his dedicated service to the nation and to the Filipino people,” former city councilor Jerry Uy, who added that the former leader will be remembered as a kind and hardworking leader of country who fought for our national sovereignty.
Former Tacloban vice mayor and former Leyte Governor Mimietta Bagulaya, also joined in the mourning on the death of Aquino.
“We will always be thankful for everything he did for our country, the support he showed to us and the province of Leyte,” she said.
In Northern Samar, Gov. Edwin Ongchuan also expressed his condolences to the Aquino family.
“The Nortehanons will be praying for the eternal repose of his soul and for his family to get through in this time of bereavement. Let’s take comfort in the fact that he will be joining his parents, democracy icons, former senator Ninoy and former president Cory Aquino, as they continue to look after the Filipino people from above,” he said.
Aquino served as the country’s president from 2010 to 2016.
His cremated remains are to be buried today (Saturday) at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City where the remains of his parents, former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino and former president Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino were also laid to rest.
Northern Samar 56th founding anniversary Gov. Ongchuan honors LGUs, groups for their contributions
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar has recognized top performing local government units in the province as part of its 56th founding anniversary held through virtual program last Saturday (June 19).
The town of Allen was recognized for posting the highest collection of real property tax (RPT) among the 24 municipalities of the province. The town collected P4.311 million for RPT last year or an increase of over 126 percent compared to 2019 collection or P1.90 million.
Also recognized were the towns of San Isidro and Laoang for also collecting real property tax.
The provincial government has also recognized the top 10 local government units with highest collection efficiency rate.
These were the municipalities of Palapag, Lavezares, Capul, San Antonio, Mondragon, Mapanas, Bobon, Catarman, Victoria, and San Isidro.
Special award was also given to Catarman town, the capital of Northern Samar, for contributing a significant amount of collection of their RPT to the province.
Meanwhile, Kadasig Award, which is given to the outstanding program initiated by youth organization, awardees were the Kabataan Kabubwasun Kausawagan (KKK) youth organization of Mapanas, Northern Samar for the environment and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation category.
For the agriculture, livelihood and entrepreneurship category, the award was given to SK Federation of San Roque town.
For sports, culture and arts category, the award was given to the isTOURyahe of the Allen District Volleyball Organization of Allen town.
For the health and well-being category, the award was given to the psychosocial support services: Kumustahan sa Gitna ng Krisis of GIOS Kabataan Organization of Laoang town.
Each winner was given P20, 000 cash prize.
Governor Edwin Ongchuan, in his message, said that while this year’s celebration is not the same with previous year due to the on-going pandemic of corona virus disease (COVID-19), the province made some victories that needs to be share and for people to know.
This include the reduction of poverty incident and the fight against COVID-19.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
After more than a week of suspension, vaccination drive in Tacloban resumes
TACLOBAN CITY-The vaccination activities here in the city resumed Monday (June 21) after of more than a week of temporary stoppage.
The scheduled inoculation drive on June 21 to 25 at the USAID Building in Kanhuraw Hill will be for target barangays 76, 1&4, 50-A, 59-B, 59, and 79.
On June 21 to 24, another vaccination drive will take place at Robinsons North Tacloban Mall in Abucay for the A2 Priority Group or Senior Citizens.
These senior citizens will come from target Barangays 3&3A, 18, 17, 28, 47, 5, 89, 30, and 50-B.
Around 500 elderly citizens of the city are expected to receive the jab at each site on the said dates, from 8a.m. to 11a.m., according to the city government.
Senior citizens scheduled for inoculation are reminded to bring their OSCA ID, ball pen, and QR Code; wear facemask and face shield; and show confirmation text message at the verification area to get a priority number.
“No walk-in will be allowed. Only senior clients who have received the confirmation text will be entertained. Those not belonging to the A2 category will not be entertained,” the city government said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the city government said the resumption of the vaccination drive came after a week’s pause due to the surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases which also infected several vaccinated healthcare workers or vaccinators in the city.
Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, acting city health officer, said three nurses, one doctor, two information technologists, and two medical technologists were tested positive for COVID-19.
“However, even before they were infected with the virus, they have been isolated,” said Fabrigas.
The infected health workers were discharged last June 19.
The health official also clarified the confusion over the online vaccination registration that checks the status of the applicant’s jab appointment.
The clarification was issued after some alleged complaints in recent weeks, saying that registrants have not been given their schedules after signing up for vaccination.
Under the new system, https://safecity.tacloban.gov.
Citing Fabrigas, the city’s information arm said that registering online does not mean that the applicant can immediately be notified of their schedule and can be vaccinated.
“Almost 15,000 have already registered online, but this does not denote that they will be automatically be inoculated. It has to follow the priority population,” Fabrigas said.
“They have to be scheduled based on the priority groups (A1-A3) and second, they have to be verified by the barangay,” she added.
According to the health officer, the vaccination activities in the city also depend on the vaccine allocation by the Department of Health (DOH).
As of June 17, the city received 3,000 doses of Sinovac shots, which are good for 1,500 vaccine recipients.
It was learned that since the start of the rollout, about 15,300 people have received the COVID-19 jab and of the said number, almost 9,000 have been fully vaccinated.
Meantime, Tacloban officials urged the public to continue complying with minimum health standards.
Individuals who will be scheduled for vaccination are also advised to get ample rest right after getting their shot, as it typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity, the city government said.
“COVID-19 is here to stay, so we can’t neglect the fact that we need to follow the minimum health standards–it is a shared responsibility,” Fabrigas said. (RONALD O. REYES)