N. Samar provincial government strengthens anti-COVID-19 measures

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November 17, 2020

Amid rising of cases

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – In order to slow down the spread COVID-19 in Northern Samar, which is soon to exceed 1,000 cases in our province, Task Force Disiplina was organized to strictly enforce the mandatory wearing of face mask and face shield in public places.
Governor Edwin Ongchuan has asked the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office to strengthen implementation of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance No. 10, or the mandatory wearing of face mask or other protective equipment in public places. He also asked the police not to spare even the big fishes, particularly government employees, during the conduct of Task Force Disiplina, which started on November 12, 2020 in this town.
“Pag Empleyado sa Gobyerno madakop san Taskforce Disiplina, Police Blotter and multa dayon,” Governor Ongchuan posted in his Facebook account.
Though SP Ordinance No. 10 was passed in May 2020, many Nortehanons have been lax and negligent in observing said law, a behavior credited as one of the factors in the current surge of COVID cases in the province, prompting the governor to organize said task force. Task Force Disiplina is led by PLtCol Crisanto Lleva of the NSPPO.
On November 12 and 13, the task force has apprehended 214 violators from 18 operations conducted in the towns of Catarman, Bobon, Rosario, San Jose, Lavezares, Biri, Gamay, Palapag, Lapinig and Las Navas; 109 of them were from Catarman.
They were brought to their respective police stations and underwent counseling from the Local Health Office on the importance of wearing face protections in order to stop the spread of the virus. They were subsequently subjected to appropriate police processing and disposition. Those who cannot afford to buy their own face mask and face shield were given said items for free by the task force.
Per data from the PDRRMO, in Catarman alone, the task force has already given around 700 face shields and 500 face masks to the public.
Violators of this ordinance will be penalized accordingly: P1,000 or community service for 24 hours for first offense; P2,000 or community service for 48 hours for the second offense; and P5,000 or 1-month imprisonment or both for the third offense.
In relation to pandemic concerns, public places are areas or places where a large number of people go to or congregate, such as public conveyances and public facilities.
In particular, these places include transport terminals and loading areas for pdcabs/tricycles/motorcabs; restaurants, cafeterias and takeout establishments; government buildings; hospitals and pharmacies; churches; public markets, supermarkets and grocery stores; and other similar places/establishments. As a general guideline, wearing face mask and face shield should be practiced upon leaving the house.(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

Tacloban city gov’t, group launches Christmas Lights on Wheels program to cheer people amid COVID-19 pandemic

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November 17, 2020

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TACLOBAN CITY- Smart Communications, in cooperation with the Tacloban City Tourism Operations Office and Star 8 Events Production, launched the first-ever Christmas Lights on Wheels, a PUJ Christmas decorating competition.
The competition aims to spread Christmas cheers in the city amid the pandemic. The contest is likewise possible through the sponsorship of the Tingog Party-list, Uni-Soft Hygienic Product Corporation, and Leyeco II.
Last November 13, the organizers conducted an orientation with the initial participants to explain the mechanics and safety guidelines.
In attendance were Police Lt. Dennis Bardillon of the Highway Patrol Group; Deputy City Director for Operations of Tacloban City Police, Lt.Col Alex Cobacha; Deputy Chief, POR PCPT Marjorie Manuta; Emily Orejola, representative of the Land Transportation Office; Patrick Chico; Smithy Tilao, and Roy Nebrija of Smart Communications.
The LTRFB Office 8, likewise, sent their support for the project.
The month-long competition will kick-off on the 30th of November and will be the initial judging.
Prizes at stake are P10,000 for 3rd place, P15,000 for 2nd place, and a whopping P20,000 for the winning entry.
None winners will receive consolation prizes from LTFRB, TOMECO, LTO, and HPG.
Registration is still ongoing as of writing.
For those who are interested, you may visit the Tacloban City Tourism Operations Office and look for Maeflor Espino.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

Village in Samar town devises scheme to catch mobile phone signal

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November 17, 2020

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ouses in Tenani, Paranas town in Samar province have 10-meter high bamboo poles where they place their Wifi modems for them to catch internet connection . (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

PARANAS, Samar- In the village of Tenani, more than 10 kilometers from Buray junction this town, almost all houses have put up bamboo poles measuring of more than 10 meters high.
And at the tip of each bamboo pole is a plastic bottled container with a modem of a Wifi gadget.
“That’s for using messenger and Facebook. We have cellphones here but you can’t call or message us. But you can contact us through messenger and Facebook,”Sherly Villamor, a mother of five children, said, referring to the use of the bamboo poles that the villagers have erected.
Villamor said that they have to have internet access as the Department of Education is to implement online classes amid the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) this school year.
But there is no mobile signal in their village which is located in between mountains along the Buray-Taft road.
Thus, the residents of the village find ways to catch mobile signal and putting up bamboo poles with Wifi modems attached on the poles was their solution on their problem.
Although they have now access to internet, this is only through Facebook and messenger and they can only read the message during night time.
“Usually, around 8 pm we can already access on Facebook and messenger but if we wanted to have a video call, we have wait until 2 am when the signal is stronger,” Villamor said.
Her five children are all studying but only three, who are in high school, are using the Wifi connection.
”They’re not supposed to sleep late because one of the requirements for us who are 4Ps members is to let our school children have enough sleep, but sometimes we allow them especially if they are doing their modules and activity sheets because they need to talk to their classmates,” she added.
Having a good communication signal is very important to their village, shares another resident, Eugene Igdalino, the president of Torpedo, an extreme river cruise adventure along the 10 kilometers portion of the 100 kilometers along Ulot River, the longest river in the region.
Tenani is known for the Ulot Torpedo Extreme Boat Ride, an extreme water adventure for tourists.
With the present problem on COVID-19, and their reopening to tourists, Igdalino said that better signal is important to them for tourists to easily contact them as reservation is mandatory to observe physical distancing.
“Right now, tourists may do reservation by sending us message on our Facebook Page. If only the signal here is stable, it is better for our tourism enterprise,”he said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Samar now ready to accept tourists

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November 17, 2020

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TOURISM REOPENING.After almost eight months, some major tourist destinations in Samar prov- ince have started to welcome local tourists starting Nov.16.Among the tourist attractions in Samar that now welcome tourists is the Balantak Falls in Basey town as shown in the photo. The sector was one of the hard-hit when the country was hit COVID-19 pandemic.(SPARK SAMAR)

Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Samar has formally opened its tourism industry to local tourists, almost eight months after the sector was shut down due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Last November 16, the provincial government under Governor Michael Reynolds Tan reopened four of its major tourism destinations.
These are the Torpedo Extreme Boat Ride and the Paranas Ecotrail and Birding Site in Paranas town; San Juan by the Bay in Sta Rita; Balantak Falls, Saob Cave, and Sohoton Caves, and Natural Bridge, all in Basey; and the Lulugayan Falls and Ecovillage, both in Calbiga.
The decision to open these tourism destinations is also to help the people’s organizations that manages these assets which provides them livelihood.
But while these tourist destinations have been revived, only local tourists would be allowed to visit and they would be coming from areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status.
To visit these tourist destinations, tourists are required to do early reservation to observe the physical distancing and follow the 50 percent total capacity in accommodating visitors in these selected sites.
They are also required to bring and present valid medical certificate and travel authority before they would be allowed to enter the sites.
Failure to present these documents means that they will barred from entering these destinations.
The operators of these tourist destinations will also accepts those who are 16 years old up to 64 years old.
Tourists who wanted to visits the destinations in the four towns may coordinate by contacting the provincial tourism office or directly to the town they wanted to visit.
Before the opening of the tourist destinations in Samar, personnel from the Tourism Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism (DOT) visited some of these sites like the Torpedo Extreme Boat Ride and the Paranas Ecotrail and Birding Site, both in Paranas.
Preparations and careful planning was also made by the province with the help of the regional office of the DOT to ensure the safety and well-being of the tourists when they visit these sites especially now that cases of COVID-19 in the region continue to increase.
“All the preparations are being done now to ensure that there will be safe trip in Samar, safe trip in Eastern Visayas,” DOT Regional Director Karena Rosa Tiopes said.
She added that even the DOT want to open all tourist destinations, the final decision will still have to come from the local government unit and the organizations that are managing the sites if they are ready or not to accept tourists.
Opening the province to local tourists of the region is a first step to future plans of allowing tourists from other regions to visit beautiful places in Samar, according to its Gov.Tan.
“This is a work in progress. This is just a start. We will start first within the region tourism and when we are comfortable enough, then we will open the inter-regional travel,” he said.
The provincial government of Samar has started to give focus on its tourism industry back in 2015 when then governor and now congresswoman, Sharee Ann Tan, launched the Spark Samar program.
Ready to market tourist destinations were selected under the Spark Samar program like the Sohoton Cave and Natural Bridge in Basey; Lulugayan Falls in Calbiga; Torpedo Boat Ride in Paranas and the San Juan by the Bay, in Sta.Rita.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)