TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Director Artemio B. Caneja urged Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in Eastern Visayas especially those outgoing officials to initiate the creation of the Local Governance Transition Team.
Regional Director Caneja revealed that it is imperative to prepare for an effective turnover of responsibility as part of ensuring continuity in local governance, as enunciated by Secretary Eduardo Año.
Pursuant to Memorandum Circular 2019-39, the team is responsible in conducting an inventory of the properties of their respective LGUs. These include the immovable properties such as the land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and its improvements, and machineries made immovable as well as the movable properties like the vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and office supply stocks, among others.
Director Caneja said all official documents and/or records of LGU official transactions such as, but not limited to, Governance Assessment Report (CY 2018) and Commission on Audit Report (CY 2018) should be gathered, secured, and preserved by the newly elected and reelected officials.
Furthermore, the officials are directed to conduct turnover of accountabilities using the prescribed forms. They should as well organize a turnover ceremony that will include briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and key challenges to incoming set of officials to ensure a smooth local governance transition.
The DILG8 chief likewise encouraged them to accomplish and submit the Elective Local Official Personal Data Sheet (ELOPDS) not later than July 8 to their respective Human Resource Management Offices, Sanggunian, and DILG city/municipal office.
The newly-elected and reelected officials will also undergo the Program for Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) led by the Local Government Academy (LGA) which will train them on how to become effective leaders.
The NEO Program has five major components which shall be open to all elected local officials. The five components of the program are: (1) Ensuring Smooth Transition; (2) Jumpstarting Local Governance; (3) Creating the Roadmap for LGU Development; (4) Sharpening the Competencies of NEOs and Functionalities; and (5) LGU Performance Management.(PR)
DILG urges governors, mayors to create Local Governance Transition Teams
DPWH Samar II employees, salute to a clean flag of the Philippines
CATBALOGAN CITY- All employees and some field personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH)- Samar II joined the simultaneous flag ceremonies synchronized with all government agencies, ground owned and control corporation, and LGUs nationwide during the National Flag Day Celebration.
The same was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 8:00 AM at the DPWH Compound as consonance with Memorandum Circular No. 2019-76 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) enjoining DPWH and all Local Government Units (LGU) to conduct Flag Raising Ceremony Nationwide.
According to Pronove Tai website, this event was the first in Philippine history when privately owned business districts and residential villages advanced their flag display ahead of June 12 Independence Day and held simultaneous flag ceremonies to celebrate the National Flag Day.
This is also in line with 120th anniversary when the Philippine Flag was first unfurled by Emilio Aguinaldo to signify victory over Spanish colonialism in a historic battle of Alapan in Imus Cavite.
“Stop and Salute” is the present campaign of Salute to a Clean Flag movement – a non-political citizen’s initiative that aims to reignite patriotism through the abundant and proper display of the Philippine Flag.
This movement aims to spark renewed respect and love for the Philippine flag, through the re-education of the private sector in proper and visible flag management.
This celebration is the year’s project of National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and Pronov Tai International Property Consultants.
The DPWH issued a memorandum dated May 16, 2019 signed by B. Elizabeth Yap, Assistant Secretary for Support Services, directing all Undersecretaries, Asst. Secretaries, Bureau Directors, Regional Directors, Heads of UPMOs, and District Engineers to actively take part of the said national celebration.
During the flag ceremony, Creole Montallana, Administrative Officer (AO) thanked the DPWH Samar II management and to all employees for showing their respect to the one flag of the country which symbolizes victory and unity of every Filipino.
“I think we succeeded, we were united as one. There was no color, no height, and no odor. At least we are one Filipino saluting to one flag and that is the flag of the Republic of the Philippines”, he said.
(JAIME L.BERNALES/PR)
Tag-abaca Elementary School in Leyte town relocated to safer location
Old site declared as prone to landslide by MGB
Tag-abaca Elementary School (TES) is a multigrade school located in the far-flung barangay of Tag-abaca in the municipality of Leyte, Leyte.
In the year 2014 after the typhoon ‘Henry’, the school grounds and buildings developed some cracked and erosions due to heavy rains.
The school head requested the local government unit and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to conduct ocular inspection of the said school.
Based upon the findings of the MGB, the school site of TES is prone to landslide. The MGB with the implementation of the 2nd phase of the National Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program aimed at disaster risk reduction had conducted field assessment for landslide and flood hazard sometimes June 18-26, 2014.
Field assessment showed that Brgy. Tag-abaca is one of the villages in Leyte town that are prone to landslides reason for the immediate transfer of the school to safer location.
Consequently, after a month of survey by the MGB, heavy rains occurred which resulted to major ground cracks evidently observed at the site of the school which affected the structural integrity of its buildings.
Presidential Decree 1096 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippine specifically under section 215 provides that when any building or structure found to be dangerous, building officials shall order its repair, vacation, or demolition, depending upon the degree of danger to life, health or safety.
In the case of structures within the school of TES in Brgy. Tag-abaca declared by Municipal Engr. May Wen Beth P. Sabite that buildings to be unsafe for occupancy and immediate transfer of the structures was highly recommended.
The teacher-in-charge of TES, Mrs. Marilou N. Go, initiated in looking/soliciting land donor for the new site for the school for its immediate relocation.
Fortunately, the heirs of Muertegui families donated one hectare for the new school site of TES last 2015.
Finally, last January 2015, TES transferred/relocated to the new site with the help of barangay officials.
At present, TES has a total of 167 pupils, offering Kinder to Grade 6 respectively. The government has a mission to deliver quality and equitable basic education to all Filipino children.
But this government’s vision could not be realized due to lack of conducive classroom buildings for the learners as there are still schools which uses makeshift classrooms.
This shortage of classrooms could be addressed by seeking donations either from government agencies like the Department of Education, local government unit or nongovernment organization.
In the case of TES, the AGAPP Foundation donated one unit two-classrooms and school supplies of the learners.
At the moment, TES has an ongoing two-storey with classroom school building from the Department of Education.
TES is the first recipient school of a two-storey building in the municipality of Leyte.
(Note: The author is he teacher-in-charge of the Tag-abaca Elementary School in Leyte, Leyte)
BY: MARILOU N. GO
DepEd allots P35M for repair of quake-damaged schools
BORONGAN CITY- The Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted P35 million for the repair of damaged school buildings in San Julian town, Easter Samar.
It can be recalled that on April 23, 2019, a strong earthquake with 6.5 magnitude rocked Eastern Visayas with San Julian town as the epicenter.
Engineers noticed cracks in some bridges and roads right after the quake.
Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways immediately repaired the roads.
In the schools, a team of DepEd engineers assessed the school buildings.
They have identified classrooms in San Julian Central School, San Julian National High School, Libas Elementary School, Pagbabangnan Elementary School, and Nena National High School as defective and needed repair.
As to the start of the repair, Montallana said, “Repairs will be done immediately once the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) comes in, I think this June.”
(NBQ/PIA 8-E Samar)
A better, grander Piña Festival this year, says Mayor Gomez
Now on its 3rd year
ORMOC CITY- Mayor Richard Gomez of this city is inviting the public again to visit Ormoc for this year’s Piña Festival as he vowed that it would be ‘better, bigger, and brighter” compare to the previous years of its staging.
“There are a lot of people working together for our fiesta. Everyone involved wants the celebration to be more exciting,” said Gomez who is now on his second term after winning in the May 13 elections.
“The Piña Festival also seeks to promote, not only Ormoc’s very own sweet queen pineapple but also its people’s strong personality that overcomes challenges and obstacles they face, from personal problems to calamities and disasters,” he added.
The city government has earmarked P22 million for the city fiesta celebration with other funds to be augmented by private sponsors.
According to the mayor, the month-long festivity is expected to draw over a million visitors while ensuring to keep the economic activities alive in the city
Dr. Gregorio Yrastorza III, city councilor and committee executive-co-chairman, urged the visitors to get ready for the “exciting days” as they will be rolling out the various month-long activities for the 422nd fiesta celebration in honor of its patrons, Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.
Rotary groups like the Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay through its president Apple Anido Alagon will also lead in different socio-civic activities during the celebration.
One of the major fiesta events will be the Parade of Lights on the evening of June 15.
The parade, with its theme “Storyland”, will feature luminescent vehicular floats and lighted costumes that will pass through the city’s major thoroughfares.
Parade of Lights was also among the crowd-favorites in last year’s fiesta events.
“Now in its third year, the Piña Festival street dance and ritual showdown is one of the highlights on the entire celebration which will be held on June 23,” said the Piña Festival chairwoman Estrella Maria Pangilinan.
About 10 schools will compete during the event with a grand prize of P500,000.
Also, there will be 20 candidates who will vie for this year’s Search for Miss Ormoc scheduled on June 28 at the Ormoc Superdome.
The crowned queen will have the chance to represent the city in the Miss World Philippines pageant in Manila, added Nelson Alindogan, chairman of the Miss Ormoc 2019.
Aside from being an advocate on environmental protection and local tourism, the title holder will also receive P100,000 as the grand prize.
Rey Evangelista, the sports committee chairman, said that tournaments will be played starting June 1.
These include volleyball (June 1-2), basketball (June 3-6), triathlon (June 9, open to all players around the country), boxing (June 14-16), table tennis (June 9), soccer (June 15-16), law tennis (June 15-16), chess (June 15-16), laser run (June 16), dance sports (June 16), airsoft (June 16), trail bike (June 30), swimming (June 22-23), and badminton (June 22-23).
From June 1-30, the fiesta food bazaar coupled with nightly entertainment will open at the city’s downtown area, targeting 3,000 diners per night. The fiesta culminating concert on June 29 will have the Pinoy rock star Bamboo to entertain the expected crowd of 20,000 at the city public plaza.
Other sectoral fiesta celebrations include religious night (June 9), barangay day (June 12), government employees’ night (June 14), market vendors night (June 17), socio-civic organizations night (June 18), business night (June 19), and educators night (June 21).(RONALD O. REYES)
PSA says EV’s inflation rate decreased by 0.1 percent on April
TACLOBAN CITY- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the region’s inflation rate last month stood at 2 percent.
The latest inflation rate is relatively lower compared to previous month’s 2.1 percent inflation rate, Wilma Perante, PSA regional director said.
The decline of the regional inflation rate was due to the decrease of prices of basic commodities like rice, she added.
The April inflation rate of Eastern Visayas is said to be the third lowest among the country’s regions.
Among the provinces, Leyte posted the fastest increase on prices of goods and services at 3.5 percent, followed by Southern Leyte, 2.0 percent, Eastern Samar, 1.8 percent and Northern Samar at 1.6 percent.
Inflation rate refers to the increase of prices of goods and services over a period of time. (APRIL Q. UYKIENG, STUDENT INTERN – ASIAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION COLLEGE)