TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office VIII informs the public that assistance will be provided to the workers affected by the fire incident at Robinsons Place Tacloban last October 23, 2019.
In an interview with local media networks on October 28, 2019, DOLE RO VIII Assistant Regional Director Amable Ildefonso C. Roa informed that immediately the day after the fire incident, the DOLE Quick Response Team was deployed to the affected area to look into the incident particularly on the status of the tenants and workers affected.
“Since investigation was ongoing when our team visited Robinsons, we were not yet given the exact information as to the number of establishments directly affected by the incident. We have conducted interviews with the tenants and employees waiting outside the mall for us to have at least estimates”, said ARD Roa.
As a result of the interviews conducted, the DOLE-QRT was able to profile 1,137 workers from 101 establishments operating in the said mall.
As of Friday, October 25, 2019, the DOLE North Leyte Field Office has already provided orientation on the agency’s livelihood and emergency employment programs to 192 workers of the affected mall.
“We would like to call on other affected workers to visit our office within this week, if possible, so we can assist them. We have our DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP). They have the option to choose between the components of the program, livelihood assistance or emergency employment”, ARD Roa added.
Of the 192 workers, 98 signified to avail of emergency employment or Tulong Panghanapbuhay para sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) while the remaining 57 wanted to have their own businesses through DOLE’s livelihood or Kabuhayan program.
Workers who will choose TUPAD program will work for fifteen (15) days and receive payment equivalent to 100% of the highest prevailing private minimum wage in the region.
Meanwhile, those who signified for Kabuhayan program can avail of the Starter Kit or Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart), up to a maximum assistance of P20,000, depending on the project requirement.
Aside from DILEEP, ARD Roa also mentioned some employment facilitation programs such as Job Fair and Skills Registry System which can be of help to the displaced workers.
(NORMA RAE S. COSTIMIANO/PR)
DOLE to assist displaced workers of Robinsons Tacloban
CPP-NPA declared persona non grata in Sulat, Eastern Samar
SULAT Eastern Samar – The Sangguniang Bayan of Sulat, Eastern Samar has declared the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) “persona non grata”.
The members of the town legislative council presided by Hon. Vice Mayor Amado A. Amigo passed Resolution No. 056 series of 2019 “Resolution Declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Persona Non Grata”, unanimously, last September 30, 2019.
The said declaration was in support to Memorandum Circular No. 211-2018 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government with the subject, “Prohibition of Support to Left Wing Rebel Group” and President Duterte’s call for a whole-of-nation approach to fight insurgency through Executive Order No. 70 “An Act Institutionalizing the Whole-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework.”
The council believes that this declaration of persona non grata should not be taken for granted for this will start economic improvement by maintaining peace and order in the community and suppressing lawless violence that creates havoc, fear and panic among the populace.
Sulat Municipal Police Station welcomed the move of the local government unit to denounce the atrocities of the communist terrorist group.
Police Lt. Antonio C. Docena, OIC, encourages the people of Sulat to join and stood up for the fight against terrorism for the lasting peace and in ending insurgency towards sustainable development. (PR)
City Vet: Abattoir not yet operational, undergoing dry run
TACLOBAN CITY-Contrary to a report that the Tacloban City slaughterhouse is operating without a permit, the City Veterinary Office (CVO) clarified that the abattoir in Barangay Salvacion is not yet operational and is still undergoing a dry run.
In a statement, City Veterinarian Doctor Eunice Alcantara clarified that the machinery within the state-of-the-art slaughter is undergoing a run-through, but is not commercially operational.
The CVO has already revised and complied with requirements set by the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) three weeks ago for accreditation such as good manufacturing manual, sanitary standard operating procedures and others, explained Alcantara.
“Oo nag-apply kita, but dire kita nago-operate (Yes, we have applied for the necessary permits, but we are not yet operational). Kun baga it masisiring it mga tawo nga nago-operate bisan waray permit, dire ito tinuod. Kun may-ada man didto yana nagamit an facility, it’s because nagda-dry run kita, (It is not true that we are operating without a permit, we are just conducting a dry run)” she said.
“Ine man gud kay para mahasa an tawo didto ha paggamit it equipment ngan mabaro an process han slaughtering procedure, (the dry run is being done to enhance the skills of staff on slaughtering procedure) “ Dr. Alcantara added.
The dry run is expected to end this December, according to the CVO.
Meantime, Alcantara assured that the facility will not operate without necessary permits required by the proper authority.
Categorized as ‘AAA’, the city abattoir is equipped with modern and state-of-the-art amenities and will be the first to be set up here in Region 8. (C. MERIN/CIO)
Some 135 surviving families of victims of NPA purging in Leyte, target of ELCAC convergence
TACLOBAN CITY- Some 135 surviving families of the victims of the Inopacan purging of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the 1980s, from Baybay City, Mahaplag and Inopacan, all in Leyte, are the target of help from the various government agencies under Executive Order 70.
Twelve years after the exhumation of the mass grave on September 2, 2006, these surviving families will be the recipients of collective help from the government.
Dubbed “Special ELCAC Convergence Mission,” with the theme “Halad of Panaghiusa Alang sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan,” the launching is set on October 29 in Baybay City with no less than National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict Vice-Chairperson Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Eastern Visayas Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario in attendance.
Before the launching, a series of dialogues and consultations with the beneficiaries were made by the military, TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority)-Leyte, the province of Leyte, and the local government units in order to know the felt needs of the families.
The services and programs that will be delivered by various agencies are the answers to the concerns of the surviving families.
During the launching, various government agencies and local government units like the province of Leyte, TESDA, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) are expected to unveil their projects/programs for the surviving families.
The beneficiaries were organized into associations in order to get accreditation from the DOLE.
The DSWD will provide financial assistance in the amount of P5,000 cash assistance to each of the 135 surviving families.
TESDA Leyte will provide various livelihood training as requested by the beneficiaries.
The province of Leyte will conduct a medical and dental mission and will provide free reading glasses and agri services, free seeds, and lecture on preventive medicines.
TESDA will make available free manicure, pedicure, haircut for both men and women, and hilot wellness to the family-beneficiaries, during the convergence caravan.
The DOLE will accredit the associations of beneficiaries so that they can avail of livelihood funding by the agency.
Meanwhile, PIA will organize the beneficiaries into information volunteers network so that they will be empowered to communicate their concerns and the help given by the government. (PIA-8)
Councilor Grafil pushes regulation on use of plastics, polystyrene in Tacloban City
As a way to help the environment
TACLOBAN CITY-A public hearing on the possible regulation on the use of plastics and polystyrene here in the city was conducted by the members of the committee on environmental protection and waste management.
The panel, chaired by Councilor Aimee Grafil, aims to solicit opinion and at the same time, support from the public on a measure she introduced at the city council on the regulation of single-use of plastics and polystyrene on food products.
The committee’s public hearing, conducted at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, was attended by business establishments’ operators or their representatives, barangay officials, and some environment groups.
Councilor Grafil said that under her proposed ordinance, end-users, to include business establishments, will be given six months to properly dispose and stop in using plastic bags and polystyrene.
But this deadline was opposed by some saying it is too short for them to comply the mandate of the proposed ordinance which carry a penalty of fines of not less than P5,000 and imprisonment.
However, majority present in the public hearing eventually agreed for a six months grace period.
Under the proposed ordinance, the City Information Office, the media and information arm of the city government, will lead in the information dissemination campaign on the regulation on the use of plastic bags and polystyrene on food products.
Grafil is pushing for the enactment of the ordinance saying that there is now a need to at least regulate the use of plastic use in the city not only they cause damage to the environment but also to help lengthen the use of the city’s sanitary landfill.
Jonathan Hijada, city environment and natural resources officer, informed those who attended the more than three-hour public hearing that there is really a need for the people of the city to be conscious in properly disposing their waste, particularly plastics which are non-biodegradable.
According to him, the waste disposal in the city is declining due to the cooperation of the public, especially on proper waste disposal and segregation.
Hijada reported that from the previous 154 tons per day of waste, they now collects 114 tons a day.
“But with the proposed ordinance, we hope to target to just 100 tons a day of waste,” he said.
Also present during the public hearing were Councilors Evangeline Esperas, Dalisay Erpe and Leo Bahin.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
PNP 8 on full alert status during ‘Undas’
CAMP KANGLEON, Palo Leyte-The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas is set to declare a full alert status in the region starting Wednesday, October 31, 2019, at 6 o’clock in the evening until November 3, 2019, at 6 o’clock in the morning.
This is in preparation for Oplan Undas or All Saints Day and All Souls Day on November 1 and 2 respectively.
In a press conference held Monday, October 28, 2019, at Camp Kangleon, this municipality, Police Lieutenant Col. Hector F. Enage, chief of the PNP8 Regional Operations Management Division, said this would mean that all PNP personnel whether on leave or not are mandated to report to their respective units.
“This coming Undas we are on full alert. This means that all personnel in their respective units kahit on leave sila, magrereport sila doon sa unit nila so it means 100 percent ng unit anduon of course excluding yung non-uniformed personnel which is bounded ng civil service law,” Enage said.
A Regional Standby Support Force at the regional and provincial levels will be created that will serve as a quick reaction team to other units if augmentation is needed.
Aside from the four thousand force multipliers from various agencies, over two thousand police personnel will be deployed in new bus terminals, seaports, airports, malls, cemeteries and other areas of convergence all over the region.
With regards to traffic enforcement in the city, the Tacloban City Police Office has a contingency plan in coordination with the Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement, and Control Office (TOMECO).
Police Lieutenant Col. Lope M. Macauba Jr, deputy city director for administration of the Tacloban City Police Office said, all the six cemeteries in the city will be secured with police personnel scattered in such areas during the holidays. (nbq/cba/PIA8)