ABUYOG, Leyte-Many years ago no one even imagine that a one-stop shop Technology Management and Demo Center that will feature various farm equipment and machineries (of all sizes and shapes) could be set up right here in Eastern Visayas or Region 8.
But today, local farmers here couldn’t believe that the impossible suddenly became possible. All because something very significant happened inside the Abuyog Experiment Station in Balinsasayao, Abuyog, Leyte.
Unknown to many, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Dev’t and Mechanization (PhilMech), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, was silently constructing its own satellite office inside the DA Research Station in this part of Region 8.
In close collaboration with DA-RFO 8, PhilMech started a big leap by way of building a P3 million-worth of Technology Management and Demonstration Center fully furnished and equipped with various kinds of farm machineries that any progressive farmer right away wants to possess or use as his or her own.
Earlier today, said infrastructure project, including a wide range of farm machineries have been inaugurated or launch as part of the annual observance of Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month Celebration.
The launch has been spearheaded by a team of agricultural engineers of PhilMech led by its Deputy Director Raul R. Paz, who incidentally hails from Carigara, Leyte.
Accordingly, said facility will afford farmers the opportunity to gain access to information and technology services, with the ultimate end of commercializing PhilMech-invented postharvest and farm processing equipment or machineries.
On the part of the DA-RFO8, Farmer Director Inocencio Morallos who was introduced by Dr. Andrew Orais, Chief, Field Operations Division, stood in as the Keynote messenger.
Morallos lauded PhilMech for the realization of this project which is one of the top priorities aggressively pushed by DA Secretary Manny Piñol amidst the issues/challenges with the enactment of the Rice Tarrification Law this year.
“We, the farmers in the region, are very grateful to the gov’t thru Secretary Piñol for the sincerity and dedicated services being accorded to us farmers in Region 8,” the Farmer Director addressed these words to the PhilMech staff who had helped put up the said facility.
Meanwhile, Board Member Emmanuel Gacis of 5th District of Leyte, representing Governor Mic Petilla, also gave thanks to DA and PhilRice in bringing the farm technologies closer to home. “We will continue to support projects that could help push the level of food production, productivity and income of our farmers which are also in accord with the provincial thrusts and priorities,” gushed BM Gacis.
(FRANCIS ROSAROSO/PR)
PhilMech launches Regional Technology Management and Demo Center in E. Visayas
Gov’t to spend P500 million relative to the 500th First Mass anniversary in 2021
MAASIN CITY – The infrastructure project intended for the celebration of the 500 years of the First Easter Mass in Asia will need around P200 million.
This was disclosed by Southern Leyte Governor Damian Mercado who said that the funding will come from the national government,particularly from the Department of Tourism.
“The provincial government will have a counterpart of P30 million or 15 percent of the budget,” Gov. Mercado said.
The 500th year of the First Mass will be held in 2021.
Infrastructure projects for the 500 years celebration includes the construction of 30 feet cross overlooking Limasawa Island that will have restaurant and a café, a shrine and a chapel.
“Some residents are to be relocated because their houses are located in the area where these projects are to be built,” Mercado said.
“The provincial government had already bought a lot where they will be relocated and we also bought the properties within the project site so that when it begins the national government will not face any problem,” Mercado added.
The province bought the property for P7 million.
Last week, the provincial government with DOT8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, Limasawa Mayor Melchor Petracorta, Diocese of Maasin as represented by Fr. Dennis Cagantas and the event technical team met to talk for updates for this monumental event in Philippine history and to Christian faith.
“Most of our discussion was focused on the updates,” Mercado said.
DOT8 heads the committee for the fifth centennial celebration of the First Mass, with the provincial government as co-chair, while members were the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local government unit of Limasawa.
In its earlier full council meeting in June this year, the RDC issued Resolution No. 32 which endorsed the request for support and funding requirements of the 500th celebration to concerned agencies.
Aside from the DOT, the Department of Transportation also implemented a project in Limasawa Island to ease travel of tourists and guest who will be visiting the town in 2021 by constructing a new port in the eastern part of the island closer to Barangay Magallanes where the major activities are to be held.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Tacloban City gov’t to kick-off Sangyaw Festivities on June 1
TACLOBAN CITY-Preparations are underway for the month-long Sangyaw Festivities which is due to start this coming Saturday, June 1, 2019, with a motorcade that will pass through the city’s main thoroughfares at around 4 pm.
At least 40 vehicles will join the convoy that will signal the formal opening of the annual celebration in honor of Senor Sto. Niño.
The Grand Opening Program at the Sangyawan Grounds (Balyu-an Grounds) will follow shortly at 6 pm with the concert of popular Rock Band Razorback.
Several programs of activities are being prepared for the festival by the city government of Tacloban through the leadership of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez in partnership with the different religious and civic sectors in Tacloban.
Among the main events of this year’s festivities themed “Happiest Fiesta” is the Sangyaw Parade of Lights on June 29.
The Parade of Lights features creatively decorated and brightly lighted floats and dance contingents performing ritual dance routines.
Other highlights are the Miss Tacloban Coronation Night on June 22, the Sangyaw Foundation Ball and Balik Tacloban Night on June 26, among others.
Nightly performances at the Sangyawan Music Festival featuring local and Manila-based bands, along with a number of Variety Shows will be starting at 6 pm on June 1.
Cultural shows and a fiesta fair will also be held at Plaza Rizal starting June 14 to June 27. The Sangyawan Han Isla Sinirangan, an Art Show and Festival Costume Competition will be staged on June 22-28.
Among the international, national and regional sports events in this year’s Sangyaw Festival are the 1st Sangyaw Table Tennis National Tournament (June 8-9), 3rd Mayor Cristina National Sepak Takraw (June 20-23), 7th Mr. Sangyaw Tacloban 2019 National Body Building Competition (June 27), Mayor Cristina Regional Open Chess Tournament (June 15-16), the International Jet ski Competition (June 13-15), and 11th Cancabato Sports Competition (June 21).
Religious activities for the 130th Tacloban Fiesta include the pre-Balyuan Rites on June 18 and Balyuan Rites on June 20, and the traditional fluvial and land processions, and Pontifical Mass on Fiesta Day, June 30.
The Sangyaw Festival is the official Festival of the Highly Urbanized City of Tacloban revived by former Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez in 2008.
“Sangyaw” is the local dialect term meaning “to Announce or Herald”. (HENRY JAMES ROCA/CIO)
Police tries to win back trust of children, parents through ‘Flores de Mayo’
Amidst their anti-drug war campaign
PALO, Leyte- Marie Pathyma Ilanan, 13, said she loves to attend in the Catholic traditional “Flores de Mayo (Flowers of May)” inside the police regional camp based in Palo, Leyte.
“Since I was small, I joined this this kind of activity. I feel safer here,” said Ilanan who also brought with her siblings in the camp’s chapel on Thursday (May 30).
“I like it here because they also have a nice playground. I learned a lot about religion and children’s rights during the ‘Flores de Mayo,’” added Beitina Therese Maceda, 11, who joined the 250 other children in the religious activity.
“I want to be closer to Mama Mary, and I am enlightened here through their bible class,” said Maceda who has been joining the activity for three years already.
“We want these kids become God-loving, responsible beings, and disciplined. Aside from teaching them how to pray, we also provide lessons on rights awareness and health issues,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya, the police regional spokesperson.
Police patrolwoman Florlyn Gapul, who is assisting the children inside the chapel, said the holding of Flores de Mayo inside the camp “is not something new.”
The Santacruzan, a novena procession culminating the Flores de Mayo, is participated by selected beautiful young ladies and children wearing extravagant costumes, bedecked with accessories and escorted by well- chosen fine young men in every neighborhood.
The center of attraction during the Santacruzan are those that will act the role of Reyna Elena, in honor of St. Helena, and Constantine, usually a young man clutching a crucifix to symbolize the finding of the “True Cross in Jerusalem.”
Flores de Mayo in the Philippines, with its long Catholic tradition of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, said to start in 1854 after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
“Most of the police are Catholics. We really observe tradition, Catholic rites,” she said.
While Gapul admitted that she noticed the apparent “gap” on the perception of the public to the police amid the brutal drug war campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte, she however said that they are doing the Catholic tradition for children every month of May “to bridge the gap.”
Gapul she said that the holding of Flores de Mayo brings out the “soft side” of the police.
“We are also human, we have hearts. Even though we are in the authority, we also believed that Jesus Christ is the real authority. We are led by God. In my case, I feel I cannot really do what other rogue police were doing because I am guided by God,” said Gapul.
Michelle (name withheld to protect her identity), a mother, said she is also sending her children inside the camp to attend the religious activity despite that her husband was caught and imprisoned due to alleged drug activity for two years now.
“I am happy that they are holding Flores de Mayo at the same time, sponsoring snacks to the children. Good thing that they are giving free snacks because I cannot give at all times for my children,” said the 35-year-old mother who is now working alone as dressmaker to support their four children.
“I looked at policemen as good people,” said Michelle.
“The case of my husband is still in the court now,” she said.
The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is waging a controversial and brutal war against illegal drugs which drew strong condemnation from the Church and human rights groups, both here and abroad.
While the police vowed to continue their Catholic tradition for children, Duterte also pledged that his drug war will persist until he will step outside Malacañang in 2022.
“It will be as relentless and chilling as on the day it began,” said the firebrand president during his State of the Nation Address in July 2018.
(RONALD O. REYES)
DepEd is ready to welcome 1.27 million students back to school
No collection policy is strictly observed
TACLOBAN CITY- More than 1.27 million students are expected to troop to their schools across the region on Monday(June 3) as the Department of Education(DepEd)said that it is strictly implementing the no collection policy.
Ramir Uytico, DepEd regional director, said that students should expect that their classes will start on Monday as all teachers are ready to start their classes.
“Classes will definitely start on June 3.All teachers should have their lesson plans. Division officials will be monitoring during the opening of classes and school heads should be present,” he said.
According to Uytico, it is expected that students would no longer be required to clean their school’s surroundings or classrooms during the opening of classes considering that they have already conducted ‘Brigada Eskwela’ weeks ahead of the school opening.
The Brigada Eskwela, an annual activity of the DepEd aim to conduct cleanup and repairs of damaged school facilities, was conducted from May 20 to 25, participated by students, parents and volunteers.
During the week-long activity, DepEd in the region was able to collect P334 million in donations.
Based on the record of the DepEd-8, of the expected 1.27 million students who will be trooping to their classes, 110,845 of them are in Kindergarten; 615,814 in the elementary; 405,521 in the junior high school; and 138,540 in the senior high school.
Eastern Visayas 4,167 public elementary schools covering Kindergarten and elementary, junior and senior high schools.
The 1.27 million students does not cover those who are enrolled in the region’s 300 private schools.
Uytico issued a warning to all school administrators not to collect any fees during the start of classes saying that the no collection policy of the DepEd is being enforced.
He asked the parents to immediately report at their school division offices if they would be asked to pay during the start of classes.
Uytico said that any complaint should be in written form for their office to act accordingly.
BY: JOEY A. GABIETA, ROEL T. AMAZONA