TACLOBAN CITY- Recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided assistance to the victims of two fire incidents in Tacloban City.
On November 13 at around 3:06 am, a fire broke out at Barangay 46, Juan Luna Street. According to initial investigation, the cause of the fire was electrical in nature.
The fire resulted in 5 totally and 5 partially damaged houses, based on the same investigation. It affected 10 families (155 individuals, 96 of whom were boarders). The fire was put out at around 4:40 am. The estimated cost of damages is P4.5 million.
Only a few days later, another fire broke out on November 16 at around 9:35 pm. Based on initial investigation, the fire was caused by an unattended candle at a boarding house at Brgy. 42, downtown.
The fire also spread to Brgy. 39. Over-all, the fire resulted in 17 totally and 2 partially damaged houses. Over-all 31 families (133 individuals) were affected.
DSWD promptly responded to these incidents. DSWD staff from the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) conducted an onsite evaluation and coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) to assess the needs of the fire victims.
The Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) focal person gathered data and in coordination with CSWDO and the DRMD project development officer, while the Regional Resource Operation Section (RROS) was also alerted to ensure the readiness of relief items for dispatch.
Initially, the fire victims in Brgy. 46 were provided with family food packs, pots and pans, plates, bowls, tumblers and kitchen utensils.
Over-all, DSWD and the CSWDO provided P32,784 in assistance to Brgy. 46. The survivors at Brgy. 39 and 42 were also provided with family food packs, pots and pans, plates, bowls, tumblers and kitchen utensils, as well as plastic mats, mosquito nets, malongs, hygiene kits and blankets. Over-all, DSWD and the CSWDO provided a total of P70,587 in assistance to these barangays. (PR)

Part of ‘Yolanda’ anniversary

TACLOBAN CITY – The second edition of the An Waray party-list sponsored ‘Saving Race 2’ was a resounding success.
The Saving Race, patterned after the popular Amazing Race, was held as part of the An Waray party-list activities relative to the observance of the anniversary on the onslaught of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ that pummeled the region on November 8, 2013, said former congressman Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel, the party-list number one nominee for next year’s elections.
Saving Race, as designed by the An Waray party-list group, is a competition that challenges the teams’ mental resilience and physical strength during a disaster or emergency situation.
All tasks or challenges are related to disaster management and preparedness.
They move around the city’s main streets or areas where clues are being provided or for the competing teams are to perform a certain task, either as a group or by a single member of the group.
This year’s winners were the following: first prize Tribu Harbat of Tacloban city, Agnes E. Cablao (Captain), Kenth Ralph Abolon, and Thomas Oliver G. Corduwa; 2nd prize La Familia Roos of Tacloban City, Klint Andrew G. Tan (Captain), Sharmaigne Callosa and Melchor Bustillo; 3rd place Triskellion of San Jose, Tacloban City, Eric De Veyra Jr. (Captain), Hannah T. Dioquino and John Gerez; 4th prize of Palo Skim Club of Palo Leyte, Williambill P. Teraza (Captain), Kendy T. Castro, and Justine Vinze Enriquez; and 5th prize SMART 235 (San Miguel Alert and Rescue Team) of San Miguel, Leyte, Zoilmar C. Tabalanza (Captain), Jesy B. Babula, and Vincent Balida.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY- A joint intelligence operations conducted by police and military operatives resulted in the death of a suspected ISIS-linked member in Ormoc City.
Killed was Joseph Anulga Jr., who was reportedly into gun running activity, after he resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) along sitio Lawis of Barangay Airport about 8 am on Thursday (November 22).
CIDG Northern Leyte Chief P/Supt Marvin Pedere said that Anulga, who was also known as Dawud, pulled a caliber .45 pistol and tried to shoot it out with the operatives when he sensed that he was dealing with police operatives.
But other operatives, who acted as security to the buy-bust, shot the suspect, hitting him at his head which resulted to his instant death.
Supt. Ma Bella Rentuaya, regional spokesperson of the Philippine National Police, said Anulga resisted arrest during the buy-bust operation conducted by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in connection with his gun running activities.
Recovered from Anulga were two units of caliber .45 pistol, one improvised explosive device, P10,000 used to procure the firearm, and one motorcycle.
Brigadier General Lope Dagoy, commanding officer of the 802nd Brigade based in Ormoc, said that Anulga is set to go on “Hijirah” to join the local terrorist group in Mindanao and intends to die as a martyr of Islam.
Anulga was said to have pledged allegiance to Daesh and its recognized caliph, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi.
“Anulga is a direct associate of the late Yusuf Macuto. Macuto was involved in a foiled plot to bomb the US Embassy last November 2016 and the main suspect in the Hilongos(in Leyte) bombing last December 2016, and was killed during the Marawi siege,” said Dagoy in a press statement.
“Anulga’s death shows the government’s conviction in protecting the people from these lawless elements. This is a clear message that your AFP and PNP will not allow neither tolerate terror groups in our midst,” he added.
Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, in a message he posted on his Facebook account, maintained that the government “will not tolerate any acts and personalities who can and may bring harm and terrorism in Ormoc.”
“The PNP and the Army will work hard to take them out of our city by all means,” he said.
Meanwhile, businesswoman Lalaine Marcos of Rotary Club of Ormoc Bay thanked the police and military for acting right away against Anulga.
“I think Ormoc has nothing to worry about the incident. This shows that our Army and PNP are getting A-1 intelligence (report) that is why the alleged ISIS member was caught. We are very proud that Ormoc is the safest city in the Philippines and want to keep it that way,” she said.
(RONALD O. REYES)