For a woman who dreamt to become a Civil Engineer, responsible in constructing roads, bridges and other infrastructures, and be part in community development, I turned out to become a Head Teacher, running a school instead.
While my first ambition did not materialized, I still have no regrets as I will still give myself a pat on my back.
Why not?
As a Head Teacher, I am not just a part of a community but more so, I now serve as a guide and a moulder of character and personality not just among my teachers but to my students as well.
While my being a Head Teacher sometimes give me stressful days, and even nights, I don’t actually mind.
In our school, Pagsulhugon National High School, I am at the center of the wheel.
I have to balance the needs and demands of my teaching staff, the students, the school, and the community at large.
While my position in our school as its Head Teacher is not only physically demanding but mentally draining and sometimes test my patience, I still chose to carry my works and responsibilities without any hesitation.
Credit goes to my training during the School Heads Development Program last January and February of this year held at Milka Hotel.
The training, consisting of several modules, was really a big help to me.
Module 1-3, for example, was focused on instructional leadership, organizational leadership and examplars.
Also, the training help become efficient and gained needed knowledge and skills. Thanks to our intelligent speakers and facilitators.
I really see to it that every day’s work is done perfectly and on time.
I see to it that all my teachers could perform their respective tasks expected on them.
I am closely working with them to ensure that our students will turn out fine and get what they should gain while in school- knowledge.
Also, establishing a close relationship with both my teachers and students, we can achieve the vision, objectives and goals as enumerated by the Department of Education.
I must thank our schools division superintendent, Dr. Ronelo Al K. Firmo, for giving me the opportunity to manage a school, for his trust and confidence and for sending me to the said training.
Like an engineer in a construction work who is responsible in planning and in day to day building operations, my position as a School Head is designed to be an administrator and instructional leader who is responsible in daily operations of the school.
Though I did not become an Engineer, I am still happy that I became a Head Teacher.
I am at the central for child’s development. I strongly believe that everything happen for a reason. Thanks God for making me a Teacher.
(Note: The author is the school head of Pagsulhugon National High School in Babatngon, Leyte)

BY: MARIA VICTORIA VICENTUAN-DINGDING

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region is hoping that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials will support on the anti-smoking campaign of the government.
Their agency’s anti-smoking campaign has involved the youth as among their targets reason why they are soliciting support from the young leaders, Charisse Daya, regional tobacco control program coordinator of the DOH, said.
“We can tap the SK officials through their president(s) for training of peer educators who will form an organization of youth against tobacco smoking,” Daya said.
The DOH, together with advocacy group Rights Network, conducted a forum at the Leyte National High School on June 11 highlighting the ill-effects on smoking and their appeal to local government units and private sector to support their campaign.
This call of the DOH immediately got the support from SK president Dean Aaron Lauron of Carigara, Leyte who said that he is willing to help on this campaign by ensuring that the anti-tobacco law will be implemented.
A self-confessed cigarette smoker, Lauron said that he started smoking when he was in high school and could consumed two packs of cigarette a day.
He, however, said that now that he is in college, he could only consumed a pack a day.
“This is a slow process. I’m doing it slowly,” Lauron said.
He said that while there is already an anti-smoking ordinance in several local government units, smoking remain to be prevalent on these areas as the regulation is not strictly implemented.
The SK leader said he would come up with a program targeting the youth in their town on the ill-effects on smoking.
“The law is there but the enforcement is not strong. On my part, we are much willing to help in achieving the goal of making our town as smoke free with the help of DOH to attain this making into reality,” Lauron said.
For his part, the president of the student council of LNHS, Jonathan Ramirez, issued an appeal to local government units and other government agencies and private institutions to ensure of a healthy and smoke-free environment for the youth.
“We believe that if we achieve in reducing the population of smokers in this city, this will result for a better and healthy environment for the youth. Smoking does not only affect our health, it also destroys our environment because cigarette filter is not easy to dissolve,” Ramirez said.
“That is why we are urging all agency concern to enforce the law for the youth’s welfare and to have a clean environment,” he added.
Responding to Ramirez, Daya said that the DOH is strengthening their partnership with the Department of Education in the implementation of policy for a smoking ban as it is noticed that there are still vendors who sells cigarettes near school campuses.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Borrowers of the now-closed Rural Bank of Basey Inc. in Basey, Samar were advised to pay their obligations.
Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), the receiver of the closed rural bank, said that borrowers are “under obligation to pay their loans notwithstanding the closure of the bank.”
“Deposits of borrowers who have past due loans with the bank are automatically applied to their loans, by operation of law. If the loans are on current status, the borrowers may opt to apply their deposits against their loans, to avoid paying interest on their loans,” said PDIC.
In a statement, PDIC reminded borrowers to transact only with authorized PDIC representatives, adding that it has not engaged any person, agent or agency to collect the loan payments for and in behalf of the bank.
Borrowers are advised to always secure copies of official receipts issued by the PDIC, as liquidator of the closed rural bank, it said.
Borrowers of Rural Bank of Basey may pay their loans and other obligations through any of the following modes:
– by paying directly at any Philippine National Bank (PNB) branch. Payment should be for the account name, PDIC FAO BURL – Rural Bank of Basey (Samar), Inc. Borrowers are advised to indicate their assigned Account Reference Numbers on the PNB payment slips and keep copies of the same to ensure proper recording of their payments;
– by paying through postal money order (PMO) or check payable to PDIC FAO BURL – Rural Bank of Basey (Samar), Inc. Payment should be directly sent via mail to the PDIC Loans Management Department III, 5th Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City; or
– by paying directly at the PDIC Public Assistance Center located at the 3rd Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City.
PDIC, as Receiver, will issue Official Receipts for all payments received upon verification and shall send the Official Receipt to the borrowers through mail.
Borrowers who do not receive their Official Receipts are advised to send by mail/e-mail/fax a copy of their PNB deposit/payment slips to Ms. Madeleine C. Ribay, Deputy Receiver for loans, 5th Floor, SSS Bldg., Ayala Avenue corner V.A. Rufino St., Makati City or via e-mail at mcribay@pdic.gov.ph and to Ms. Thelma A. Peña atbarias@pdic.gov.ph.
Borrowers of the bank may contact the PDIC-Public Assistance Department for any queries or concerns at (02) 841-4630 or send these through email at pad@pdic.gov.ph or private message at PDIC’s Facebook account,www.facebook.com/OfficialPDIC. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY – Two persons died in a separate road accidents and injured others, police report said.
The two killed persons were identified as Mateo Versoza from this city and Carmelita Esquerdo from Catbalogan City.
Reports from the Philippine National Police disclosed that Versoza of legal age and a resident of Barangay 48, this city, was riding on a motorcycle when he was hit by another motorcycle which resulted to his instant death.
Esquerdo, meantime, was killed when a rampaging 10-wheeler truck directly hit her as she was about to fetch water.
The said incident in Barangay Maulong, Catbalogan City, also resulted to the injury of seven others.
The wayward truck also damaged three houses and four electric posts.
The 10-wheeler, driven by Romulo Adlaon, 54, married, and a resident of Brgy. Maguikay, Mandaue City, was loaded with grocery items and bound for Calbayog City when it went downward while traversing the diversion road along Brgy. Maulong.
The driver is now detained at the Catbalogan City Police Station as investigation is ongoing. (ROEL T. AMAZONA,
RONALD O. REYES)

NAVAL, Biliran-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) is implementing additional two flood control projects under its 2018 fund.
These flood control projects are implemented at Barangay Mapuyo in Kawayan town and in Brgy. Busali in Biliran town.
District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr. said that these projects are currently on-going with an accomplishment of 50% and 20%, respectively as of May 31, 2019.
“The funds for the additional flood control projects are late release of the 2018 budget under the local infrastructure program, hence also the late in implementation” said Adongay.
According to Adongay, these flood control projects were prioritized to protect the community and agricultural products against flooding and damages.
“There is an urgent need for the completion of these projects especially that it is already rainy season,” said Adongay.
The P9.63 million construction of Busali flood control project entails the construction of a 156-linear meter length on both sides of the river with a height of 3.5-meter. This project is target to be completed on June 30,2019.
Meanwhile, the Mapuyo Flood Control project entails the construction and reconstruction of revetment structure with a total length of 192-linear meter on both sides and a height of 3.5-meter with a contract cost of P14.46 million.
This project is set to be completed on September 23, 2019.
Adongay revealed that the portion of the existing flood control structure in Mapuyo River was damaged during tropical storm “Urduja” in December 2017 due to the impact of the washed out debris, thus the need for a reconstruction of a 65-linear meter length on one side of the river.
Adongay said that with the additional project, Biliran DEO now has a total of 62 projects implemented under 2018 fund from only 60 projects.
Out of the 62 projects, 52 were already completed while 10 are on-going with an overall accomplishment of 91.97% as of May 31, 2019.
On-going projects includes four access roads leading to tourist destinations, one slope protection project, one bypass road, one bridge widening, one multipurpose building and two flood control projects. (PR)