MAASIN CITY-Eastern Visayas’ Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) Rosita Acsibar from Barangay Pansaan, this city, landed 3rd place in the recently concluded search for National Outstanding BNS (NOBNS) held in Manila.
After winning in the regional search early this year, Acsibar competed with 12 other nominees in the national search where she bagged the third spot of the prestigious NOBNS awards conducted by the National Nutrition Council.
“I’ve never dreamed to get a national award. I only desired to get the Regional Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar award,” Acsibar said as she beamed with pride.
Acsibar serves faithfully as BNS for 13 years now in Brgy. Pansaan, a remote and hard-to-reach community. She was appointed as BNS on Sept. 15, 2006.
“This is the first time that Region 8 won a national outstanding BNS award,” said Dr. Catalino Dotollo Jr., regional head of the National Nutrition Council in Eastern Visayas.
Acsibar reported that all the 37 pre-school children in their community are healthy.
Zero malnutrition incidence among children 0-59 months old in 2018 is one of Acsibar’s greatest accomplishments for working hard as barangay nutrition scholar.
Ascibar was also able to present complete documents to the national evaluators coming from Manila such as the monthly minutes of the Barangay Nutrition Council meetings, and how she address issues and concerns during program implementation, among others.
Acsibar also initiated good practices such as the establishment of income generating projects wherein the income is used for the production of flyers on good nutrition practices distributed to parents and children.
The Local Nutrition Council, through a barangay nutrition council resolution, was able to partner with local entrepreneurs engaging in tuba-making, anthorium flowers-cutting and dansalan rootcrops farmers to donate some amount from their sales, she added.
“Each group have their respective donation boxes placed at the barangay nutrition center,” she added.
In addition, the barangay Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries also agreed to set aside some amount from their sales in egg production and put into the donation box at the Center, she said.
Looking forward, BNS Acsibar said “I will continue to implement diligently the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) for Barangay Pansaan.”
In the offing, the local Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiaries who are engaged in selling rice, will soon join in the sinking fund project, Acsibar said.
Acsibar also plans to help in the elimination of malnutrition problem among the school children of Pansaan Multigrade School with 6 out of 40 school children identified as malnourished.

The barangay nutrition council will work hand in hand with the school head and parents in the establishment of Gulayan sa Paaralan program, she added.
The City Nutrition Committee, through the active guidance of the City Health Services Office headed by Dr. Francilisa Tan, is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay nutrition scholars in the city.
The city of Maasin has been acclaimed a hall of fame awardee for achieving excellent nutrition programs implementation in the city.
(LDL/ESG/PIA-8, Southern Leyte)

Now on its 11th year

TACLOBAN CITY – The 11th Oktubafest organized by the An Waray party-list will be stage as part of this year’s 75th Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration activities.
The event will be held on October 18, two days before the annual historical event, at the Leyte Academic Center to give people in the region, especially those who are in the coconut industry and coconut wine production, a venue of their produce.
Oktubafest, which is the local version of German beer fiesta known as the “Octoberfest”, is an annual event mainly organized by the An Waray party-list group, showcases tuba or coconut wine, a popular local wine in the region that comes from the sap of coconut palm.
“Bearing the theme One Eastern Visayas, the festival aims to uplift the tuba industry and tuba wine enthusiasm so that it continually receives its well-deserved national accolades,” the An Waray Party-list said in a statement.
Highlighting the event are various competitions like the Kawit painting contest which is an on-the-spot and must illustrate, interpret and emphasize the Oktubafest and commemoration of the 75th Leyte Gulf Landings.
Winners of this competition will receive P5,000 for the first prize, P3,000 for the second prize and P2,000 for the third prize.
A Siday contest, where contestants must compose an original free-verse or rhyme poem with the theme “Tuba ngan mga Hugot ha Gugma”, written in Waray-Waray, Bisaya or Filipino in a maximum of three minutes to deliver the contest piece, will also be held during the occasion.
Winners of the competition will also receive P5,000 for the first prize, P3,000 for the second prize and 2,000 for the third prize.
The Tuba cook-off challenge that is highlighting tuba as main ingredients of the dish will also be held with the competition divided into two categories- professional and the amateur.
For the professional category, competitors are Filchai, Jo’s Milagrina,Ocho, Pedro, Pugon, Roadside, Rosario’s Sophia’s Way, LGU Tabontabon, Sean’s BBQ Pit, Ron’s Grilled tuna and Sashimi, Secrete Recipe, Steve’s corner griddle and sizzle
In the amateur competitors includes students from the Leyte Normal University, JE Mondejar, Western Leyte College, Samar State University, ACLC College Tacloban, ACLC College Ormoc, ABE and STI.
Winners of the competition will receive P20,000 for first prize;P15,000 for second prize; and P10,000 for third prize.
For the categories of best ‘bahal’ and the best ‘bahalina’ contest, this is open to the identified ‘mananguete’ or tuba producers endorsed by the local government unit.
Winners in these categories will be receiving P20, 000 for the individual winner with P1.5 million worth of project for the winning LGU for the first prize while second place winner will receive P15,000 and P10,000 for the third place.
Oktubafest was first launched in 2008, and is a brainchild of An Waray party-list Representative Florencio “Bem” Noel as part of the continuing efforts to promote the coconut industry in Eastern Visayas.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – About 100 operators of private establishments in Tacloban City attended the nationwide simultaneous launching of “OPLAN: KALASAG” held at Patio Victoria, San Jose on Friday, September 20, 2019, to show their support for a drug-free workplace.
“Oplan Kalasag,” is a program that would engage hotels, bars, restaurants, subdivisions, and warehouses in the fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs.
The said activity was spearheaded by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 8 in partnership with the Tacloban City Government, Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine National Police (PNP) through Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
During the launching, Police Lieutenant Colonel Lope M. Macauba Jr., Deputy City Director for Administration underscored how this advocacy could enhance the anti-drugs campaign not just here in the city, but also the Philippines.
“…Innovations such as this Oplan Kalasag is a major step in the continued efforts to actively and co-actively enjoin and educate the private sector as advocates against illegal drugs toward a drug-free Philippines,” he said during the opening remarks.
Meanwhile, to express support to the advocacy, City Councilor Leo Bahin who represented Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez lauded the law enforcement agencies as they actively pursue their respective mandate and function in fighting illegal drugs and criminality.
“Through your sincerity, commitment and collective efforts our community feel more secure, peaceful and progressive,” Bahin expressed.
“We, your partners from the local government units will continue supporting your endeavor for the common good and national peace and order,” he added.
Apart from the launching, PDEA 8 Public Information Officer Rogellete Urgel said to educate the private owners of their social responsibility, lectures on drugs and health will also be highlighted.
Present during the launching was PDEA 8 Regional Director Edgar T. Jubay, Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, Officer-in-Charge of the City Health Office, and other law enforcement agencies.
(C. Merin/CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

CARIGARA, Leyte –A P20 million worth of flood control structure is now underway in the stretch of river in Barangay Manloy.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Leyte Second District Engineering Office, Carigara, Leyte now builds retaining wall to fasten water flow and prevent flooding in the nearby areas.
“One of the mandates of the DPWH is to build flood control structures to protect lives and properties from force majeure,” said District Engineer Gerald Pacanan.
During his inspection, Pacanan urged the contractor to fast track the project implementation to avoid delays on the operations when rainy season comes.
A total length of 438 lineal meter and height of 2.5 meters will be built in Manloy River.
Manloy has a land area of 419.62 hectares of which 20% are irrigated with rice lands, as farming is the main source of livelihood of the populace.
It traverses the barangay of San Juan, Caghalo, Barayong in Carigara and Manloy in Capoocan which are known as the big rice producer in the municipality.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)