HINUNANGAN, Southern Leyte – Problem on low supply of water being experienced by the concessionaires of this town is now a thing of the past.
This after the Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) funded the construction of a level III water system project amounting to P22 million for the town.
And this bit of good news was welcome by Dannieca Piga, who said that just like the more than 3,550 water members of the town, they have been complaining on the poor services being rendered by the local government run-water district office.
According to the 28-year old housewife, they have to wait for hours for their taps to have water which they uses for their daily needs.
“Problem on water is experienced during morning which is at its peak because many are using it for bathing,” Piga said.
Her family uses at least two pails of water for each person who takes a bath, this aside from cooking, laundry and other chores.
“We don’t mind if there will be an increase on water rate for as long as the water supply is enough and efficient,” Piga added.
With only one water system operating serving 3,552 water concessionaire, supply of water in this municipality, particularly within its town center, is not enough, as constructing an additional water system will be costly for the local government to build, Mayor Reynaldo Fernandez said.
Thus, they were grateful that the DILG provided them the needed funds to build another water system, the town mayor added.
The existing water supply coming from Magatas Spring would no longer be sufficient to supply the growing population of the town.
The Hinunangan Water District is expecting that an additional 1,000 households will benefit from this new water supply.
Mayor Fernandez said that supply of safe and potable water is one of the main problems of all local government units like Hinunangan.
“Without our government assisting disadvantage municipalities, this kind of high-impact project is unachievable for local government units with problem on funding.In most cases we will resort to loan but with this assistance, we are able to implement it because the national government provided us the funds,” Fernandez said.
The DILG provided P22 million fund for the construction of the new water system which involved the construction of the water plant facility equipped with modern filtration processing, construction of big tank with five cells for sanitizing the raw water from the source, development at the water source area and the pipelines, among other materials needed.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
DILG provides funding for construction of water system to a Southern Leyte town
Eastern Samar town now 90 percent in clearing operations
JIPAPAD, Eastern Samar – The mayor of this town said that they have now reached 90 percent on the clearing operations involving public streets.
However, they have to finish their town fiesta first before they could demolish the remaining structures, town Mayor Benjamin Ver said.
According to Ver, these structures are located in the area leading to the town proper.
The town mayor said that the owners of these structures, mostly private houses, have asked the local government unit to allow them first to observe the town fiesta before they tear down their structures.
Jipapad, one of the remotest town in Eastern Samar, celebrates its annual fiesta every October 7.
Mayor Ver said that in view of the request of the house owners, they have asked the evaluators from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to give them grace period of at least 10 days due to this appeal of the owners.
The clearing operations being conducted by local government units across the country was in view of an order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte to clear all obstructions in public streets and roads during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) early this year.
LGUs were given 60 days to comply with the memorandum issued by the DILG which lapsed last Sept.30.
“We are already at 90 percent in clearing our roads within the town proper, our only problem is the more than 20 houses in the access road leading to the town,” Mayor Ver said.
“We asked the DILG evaluators to give us 10 days after the town fiesta celebration for the owners to demolish parts of their houses that obstructs the road,” he added.
Affected houses are all made of light materials and already marked by the local government.
“The owners volunteers to demolish portion of their houses encroaching the road. Our residents are cooperating because they see this program is implemented not only in our town but in the whole country,” Mayor Ver said.
Mayor Ver added that he is thankful for Pres. Duterte for issuing the order to clear the streets and roads from obstruction making it easier for local chief executives to implement.
“From that on, we will strictly implement that policy,” Ver said.
Personnel from the Municipal Local Government Operations Officers, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, barangay officials and employees of the LGU enforces the clearing operations. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Katungod claims military arrested 3 farmers; military says they were NPA members
TACLOBAN CITY-A progressive human rights group based in this city reported that three peasant members were detained by soldiers in Northern Samar on October 2, an allegation vehemently denied by the government troops.
Alexander Abiguna of Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas said that detained by the members of the 20th Infantry Battalion, which is based in Catubig town, Northern Samar, were Christian Sabado, who belong to a peasant group, Northern Samar Small Farmers’ Association (NSSFA), Anton Manoso, and Edson Piczon, whom he said to be village watchmen of Barangay Hinagonoyan, Catubig town.
Abiguna claimed that the three were on their way to Brgy. San Francisco, Las Navas town, also in Northern Samar, reportedly to conduct investigation on the pest infestation affecting the abaca industry in the town and the impact among coconut farmers on the low price of copra when they were apprehended by the government troops on that day at about 11 am.
“They were made to lie face down on the ground while the soldiers stepped on them multiple times. It also appears that they were manhandled and physically abused upon arrest,” he said.
Abiguna said that they condemns the ‘intimidation and harassment of the civilians as they demanded for the immediate release of the three.
But this allegations of Abiguna was dispelled by the military saying the three were not physically abused during their arrest.
In a post on their Facebook account, the 20th IB, which is under the command of Lt.Col. Juan Gullem, said they were not farmers contrary to Abiguna’s claims but members of the New People’s Army(NPA).
The government troops were in the area as part of their security patrol when they chanced upon Sabado and his companions who were said to have carrying firearms, explosives and subversive documents which resulted to their arrest.
And based on their questioning to Sabado, who is from Manila, he said that he was sent to Northern Samar to ‘propagate’ the white area operations of the CPP-NPA in the province long been considered by the military to still have an active insurgency problem in Eastern Visayas.
His companions, Manoso and Piczon, were identified by the military as regular members of the NPA.
“We assure the family and friends of (Sabado) and his company, now in the custody of PNP, are treated humanely in accordance to the rule of law,” it said.
A video, showing a clean-faced Sabado was posted by the 20th IB on their Facebook account to dispel claims of Abiguna that he was physically mauled and manhandled.
Sabado said that he is being treated well by both soldiers and police of Las Navas.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Students of San Policarpo National High School win ‘tinapa’ cook fest
Now on its 6th year
CALBAYOG CITY–The students from the San Policarpo National High School (SPNHS) once again won this year’s annual ‘tinapa’ cookfest, with 14 other participants coming from different schools based in this city and nearby towns.
For their winning menu, the Grade 12 students cooked tinapa ter sa gata, served in sliced banana, fresh ternate flower and “latik”, a solid by-product of coconut oil used a garnishing for variety of desserts at the 6th Calbayog Tinapa Cookfest.
“I am pressured because we need to do our best next year to make sure that our school will win again,” Divina Sumayan, SPNHS technology and livelihood education teacher and coach of the winning team.
The cookfest, now on its 6th year, which gives focus on tinapa( smoked fish)which serves as one of the activities of the annual World Tourism Week celebration of the city government through its tourism office.
This year’s event was held on October 4 held at the city’s convention center with one of the country’s most respected and well-loved restaurateurs, Glenda Barretto, who is from this city, among the guests and judges of the cooking fest.
Sumayan said that they only have less than two days to prepare and had to change the members of her team because of conflict in the schedules of the students.
As for the dish that they have prepared, Sumayan said that she always cooked it to her family and only made some enhancements to taste it better and more pleasing for the competition.
Barretto, owner of the famed Via Marie restaurant, mentioned that the ingredients and presentation of the winning dish complimented with each other and did not overpowered the taste of tinapa.
“Ingredients must enhance not cover the taste of tinapa. Our tinapa is very tasty and is of good quality but sometimes is overpowered by the sauce that you do. So make sure that your sauce compliments and it should enhance and not overcome your main ingredients,” Barretto said.
The culinary legend added that she will be using the winning dish in some of her catering services in Metro Manila.
Via Marie, which she started in September 1975, is one of the frontrunners in the restaurant and catering industry in the country, serving in some of the big events in the country like state gathering in Malacañang.
Barretto added that the competitors this year have a high level of preparation but some has problem in the texture of their dish.
Aside from SPNHS, other winners were STI Calbayog with their spicy tinapa sisig shawarma (2nd place), Calbayog City National High School with ginataang tinapa sa basi (3rd place).
The dishes were judged based on taste, texture and appearance, creative use of tinapa, presentation, and ‘mise en place.’
Calbayog tourism officer Ronald Ricafort Jr., said that next year, the competition will be much bigger with the addition of new categories by including teachers and professionals.
“Hopefully we can come up with a book compilation of recipe especially the winning recipe of the competition,” Ricafort said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Yohann Panis Luzano and her Youthplus center
“Beautiful skin adds one’s confidence”
While it has been a dream of Yohann Kae Panis-Luzano to become a doctor, particularly treating those suffering from skin problems, the 38-year old mother of two young kids also would like to see the better side of having good skin.
After all, she acknowledges that one’s better and improved physical looks could make others to notice them, but more so, give them much needed confidence in life.
“I know that having a bad skin causes some to suffer depression and low morale. That is why, Youthplus Skin and Laser Center is there for them to help and uplift them, morally and developed self-confidence which could not be bought,” Yohann, as she is fondly called by her family and friends alike, said.
And so, close to 10 years ago, Yohann Kae, with the support of her mom, Dettie, owner of a chain of beauty salons, made her first step in realizing her goal – to have a skin center of her own.
Thus, the Youthplus Skin and Laser Center was born!
It was first of its kind in the city, if not in the region, as it used state-of-the-art equipment to make sure that its prospective clients would have a happy return of every cent they spent.
Needless to say, the skin center, located along Real Street, steadily developed clients not only coming from Tacloban City but even outside the city.
But nature intervened-big time!
Just over a year after it opened for business on October 5,2012, Tacloban City was pummeled by super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ causing massive destructions in the city never seen before, just like it suffered during the Liberation campaign in 1945 by the American Forces.
“I was in Manila for a seminar when Yolanda pummeled Tacloban City. Good thing, my mom was able to secure our equipment located on the second floor of our skin center,” Yohann said.
And needless to say, even the world’s strongest typhoon failed to stop Yohann’s dream as she was back in business in 2015.
Again, with the help of her mom, Dettie, she found a place to start her Youthplus Skin and Laser Center.
This time, bigger and better!
Her new space, located along Zamora Street, is steadily gaining clients, again, not only from this city but even those coming from other parts of the region.
With her new space, Yohann is now realizing her dreams, with the full support of her husband, Rex, to become Eastern Visayas top skin center and specialist.
Aside from its Tacloban City branch, Yohann has also put a Youth Skin and Laser Center in Catarman, Northern Samar and is generating additional employment from its previous seven workers to now 22.
Yohann is investing not only her time by attending seminars and studies here and abroad like Italy, but even having the latest state-of-the-art equipment to make sure that their clients could get the best services, comparable with that of a Cebu or Manila-based skin centers.
“We are giving the best services that we can give to our clients by having these state-of-the-art equipment. They would no longer go to Cebu or Manila just to have skin treatments as we also offer competitive prices,” the licensed pharmacist-turned medical doctor-turned fellow of Philippine Dermatological Society said.
Among the latest services being offered by the Youthplus Skin and Laser Center is the Ultherapy, BTL Exilis, CO2 Laser Quanta Asset Winback therapy machines.
These machines are the top-of-the-line which are being used by some of the best skin clinics in the country, particularly in Manila.
“But here in the region, Youthplus Skin and Laser Clinic is the only one which has these equipment,” Yohann said.
By acquiring these machines, they are realizing their goal for Youthplus Skin and Laser Center to become Eastern Visayas’ to-go-to skin center, offering their ever-growing customers with excellent quality cosmetic services using these state-of-the-art equipment.
Yohann is not shy to say that she dreams of having her own skin center with operating rooms as if boutique hospital-like style rooms and whose services could be at par with the best in the country, if not in the world.
By having her own skin center that will offer innovative and non-invasive aesthetic and cosmetic surgical procedure, Yohann could help the government’s campaign to make the Philippines a hub in medical tourism.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)