TACLOBAN CITY- Four people, two of them were children, were shot by still unidentified armed men while they were on board a vehicle on Sunday (July 21) at about 6 pm in Jaro, Leyte.
Two of the victims, Leopoldo Po, 44 and said to be a businessman, and his wife Ailen, 40 and a teacher by profession, are now in critical conditions after they were hit in their heads, Captain Arnel Saremgumba, police chief of Jaro town, said.
The other victims, Estrella Geraldo, 62 and a village chairwoman of San Pedro, Tunga town, also in Leyte, and Rachel Cuña, 27, were hit at the lower back of their bodies but are now in stable conditions.
Geraldo’s husband, Wilfredo, 62, and Cuña’s children, Estefanie, 6, and Sheena, 4, were unharmed.
Capt. Saregumba, in a phone interview, said that the victims, on board a Suzuki Ertega, were heading to Tacloban City from their village of San Pedro, Tunga town.
And while cruising Barangay Hibucawan, two kms away from Jaro town proper, they were chased by the still unidentified suspects who were also on board a vehicle and shot them several times.
This resulted for the vehicle, driven by Leopoldo Po, to fell on a bridge, as he lost control of the steering wheel.
The Po couple were hit on their heads while Geraldo and Cuña were hit at the lower back of their bodies. Both are said on stable conditions.
The rescuers of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) who responded to the scene brought all the victims to the hospital at the region’s capital.
Saremguba said that they have yet to unmask the suspects and their motive.
“We are still conducting our probe on the incident,” he said.
Recovered from the crime scene were two deformed fired cartridge cases that were turned over to regional police headquarters for ballistic examination.(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
Couple hit in their heads in a shooting incident in Leyte town
Groups stage protests on ‘failure’ of the Duterte administration
In time of the President’s 4th Sona
TACLOBAN CITY- Various progressive groups based in the city staged their protest rally against President Rodrigo Duterte who delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address (Sona) Monday.
Serving as the highlight of the protest, attended by about 500,000 rallyists as estimated by the organizers, was the burning of the effigy of Mr. Duterte placed in a cartoon-made boat, representing the issue surrounding the dispute between the Philippines and China on the South China Sea.
The protest rally started at 1 pm at Noblejas Junction, named after a popular local radio commentator Ramon ‘Monching’ Noblejas who was gunned down on October 4, 1987, and ended along P. Rizal Avenue.
Speakers after speakers denounced the Duterte administration claiming its failure to deliver ‘genuine and pro-poor’ programs.
“The rice tarrification, for example, only rendered the poor farmers poorer as rice traders now choose to buy imported rice, leaving behind the local farmers,” Jun Berino, secretary-general of Sagupa(Samahan han Gugti na Parauma)-Sinirangan Bisayas said, citing one of the laws passed under the Duterte administration which they called as among the anti-poor measures.
Berino also cited the modernization of public transportation as anti-poor measure and the administration’s failure to fully enforce its anti-contractualization.
“Poverty incidence in Eastern Visayas remain to be widespread,” he said.
Meantime, a full alert status was declared by the Philippine National Police (PNP) across the region on Monday as part of the security preparations as the Pres. Duterte delivered his 4th Sona.
Police Brigadier General Dionardo Carlos, police regional director, said that 900 policemen were deployed as part of the security measures.
Carlos told reporters that in line with the declaration of full alert status, all personnel were required in attendance and be ready for any maximum deployment as Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF).
Police Provincial Offices (PPOs), City Police Offices (CPOs) and Regional Mobile Force Battalion were directed to intensify simultaneous checkpoint operations in all strategic areas especially to vehicles transporting significant number of persons without clear purpose.
Police Colonel Warren de Leon, force commander of Regional Force Battalion 8 said that their unit was ready for the deployment of personnel.
“We provided standby civil disturbance management platoon led by a Police Commissioned Officer and our companies are already conducting checkpoints in their respective area of responsibilities,” he added.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT/JOEY A. GABIETA)
Leyte residents complain on the operation of poultry farm
CAPOOCAN, Leyte – Residents of a village in this town are complaining on the operations of a poultry farm saying it’s becoming a health hazard to them.
The residents of Barangay San Joaquin claimed that they have made their complaint against the owner of the A&E Farm but to no avail.
Antonio Aragon, a resident of the village whose house is located few meters away from the poultry farm, said that their health are now affected.
“It poses health risk to us. We can’t eat well during harvest time because of flies swarming our houses and our food,” he said.
His neighbor, Danilo Malicabul, added that the flies are even infesting his farm located in adjacent mountain.
He added that the waste water of the poultry farm pollutes the creek down the mountain that is used by residents for bathing.
The residents said that they felt that they were deceived because when the poultry farm was being constructed two years ago, they were told by the workers that were constructing a hospital.
The owner of the said poultry farm is said to be a well-known political figure in the province reason why their complaints are not being acted upon, the residents said.
An employee of the poultry farm, who did not gave his name, asked for an appointment from Leyte Samar Daily Express before they could answer any questions relative to the complaints of the residents.
Rosie Quilarto, village chairwoman, said that she already visited the poultry farm twice after they received complaints from the residents and were shown some mitigation measures purportedly put in place by the management, mainly to stop the fly infestation.
But obviously, the measures did not help contain the problem as the village continue to be swarm with fly infestation, especially during harvest time.
Quilarto added that the council cannot make any action against the problem because they had not yet received a formal complaint from any of the residents.
Leyte Board Member Raissa Villasin, who represents the 2nd district of Leyte where Capoocan town is included, asked the residents that if the barangay leaders failed to take action on their problem, they should elevate their complaint to the municipal level before they in the provincial board can take action and conduct any possible investigation.
“The board cannot just supersede the power of the barangay and the mayor. That is why, the residents should file their complaint first in the barangay level and in the municipal level before we can take action by conducting an investigation in the provincial board if the two offices cannot make action,” she said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
CSWDO spearheads forum on rights of PWDs
TACLOBAN CITY- Around 200 participants attended the forum on Rights and Benefits of Person With Disability (PWDs) at the Tacloban City Training Center on Friday, July 19.
Spearheaded by the Local Government of Tacloban through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the forum was held as part of the 41st National Disability Prevention & Rehabilitation (NDPR) Week Celebration.
Maria Lourdes Sabate, PWD Welfare Focal Person, said that the event is special for it is in respect to the rights and privileges, as well as the programs and services that the City Government can offer to the PWDs.
Representatives from PhilHealth, Commission on Human Rights, City Cooperative Development & Livelihood Assistance Office, Public Employment Service Office and EVRMC attended the forum to discuss the programs and services available to the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society.
Also present during the event was the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8 Focal Person Ben Calzado.
This year’s theme is “Lokal na Pamahalaan: Kabalikat sa Pagtupad ng Karapatan ng mga Taong May Kapansanan.”(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Modernization transforms Tacloban’s commuting experience
(Photo courtesy of Tacloban City government)
TACLOBAN CITY- Commuting experience has never been dignified for Gerry Montellano until after the national government piloted the public utility vehicles (PUV) modernization program in this city.
For over a year now, Montellano, 25, has been taking a 40-minute trip daily from a relocation site in Suhi village to the city’s downtown, where he works as a goldsmith to support his family.
“I always prefer to ride the solar jeepney because of its bigger space and comfortable seats. For a man with long legs like me, it is very uncomfortable to ride a multi-cab or a very crowded old jeepney,” he told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Department of Transportation launched the PUV modernization program in this city on Jan. 23, 2018 to “overhaul” the country’s public transportation system.
This is one of the priority projects of President Rodrigo Duterte to provide a more dignified commuting experience.
The program has initially deployed 45 solar-powered jeepneys supplied by the Star8 Green Technology Corp. The number of units has doubled this year.
The jeepneys initially covered the Tacloban-Palanog route, which is intended to improve accessibility to resettlement sites occupied by thousands of super typhoon Yolanda survivors.
This year, the project has launched new routes in the city.
“I wish the government will push through this modernization program for the safety and comfort of thousands of commuters. This is way better than aging jeepneys and tiny multicabs,” Montellano said.
Solar jeepney driver Rodolfo Solidor, 60, said driving the modern jeepney has encouraged him to extend his working years. The old man, who earns P320 to P500 daily, has been driving the solar jeepney since its launching here early 2018.
Each unit carries 22 passengers with free Wi-Fi on board, overhead electric fan per passenger, and USB power port to charge their devices.
It has a capacity to travel approximately 100 kilometers on a full battery charge, and adding another 10-15 km from the solar production during daylight hours.
“Its power steering makes it easier for me to drive this jeepney especially for an old man like me. I can drive for as long as I can breathe,” said Solidor who has been transporting commuters to the new Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center and relocation sites in Kawayan village.
He shared that after working as a driver for over three decades, he never had social and health insurance until Star8 Green Technology Corp. hired him last year.
The solar jeepneys, designed to replace the aging combustion engine fleet, have initially operated in the city starting mid-December 2017.
On July 11, the company launched 20 more solar jeepneys to ply new routes from the city’s downtown.
“This is really introducing better technology for the public and better jobs for the people. This will address the transportation needs of the city’s one million day-time population. It’s really important to provide mobility and convenience for the people,” said Mayor Alfred Romualdez during the launch.
The PUV modernization is a flagship project of the Duterte administration, which aims to restructure, modernize and make an environment-friendly transport system in the country.
The program also aims to provide drivers and operators with stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods and at the same time, to let the commuters enjoy a safe and comfortable transportation system.
“You know the machines, the engines of public utility jeepneys, are about 20 to 25 years old. We got them from other countries. The reconditioned ones were sold here and they have been pumping in so much carbon dioxide into the air, including the factories,” President Duterte said during a federalism forum sometime in October 2017.
State-run Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines earlier announced the availability of multi-billion loans to finance the acquisition of new PUVs to qualified prospective borrowers.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)
Leyte now under state of calamity due to dengue fever
photo by Ver Noveno
DILG asks officials to help in the campaign
BY: LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT
TACLOBAN CITY-The province of Leyte was placed under state of calamity on Friday (July 19) amidst the increasing number of dengue fever cases.
As this developed, the regional Department of Interior and Local Government(DILG) has called all local government unit officials down to the villages to step up their campaign against the mosquitoes-causing ailment in order to contain the increasing number of dengue fever in the region.
With the declaration, the provincial government and all its municipalities, to include Baybay City, could now use part of their calamity funds to procure needed medicines and fogging machines to combat the mosquito-causing ailment, Board Member Raissa Villasin, who sponsored the resolution,said.
The declaration was made through a resolution passed by the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan upon the request of Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
As of July 12, the province has about 1,747 cases of dengue fever with six deaths.
The number does not include those of Tacloban and Ormoc cities being highly urbanized and independent charter cities respectively which made them administratively independent from the provincial government.
Tacloban City has about 407 cases with six deaths while there is no data available as of press time on Ormoc.
“It’s about time that we declare a state of calamity due to the increasing number of dengue fever cases which does not only affect children but of all age group,” she said.
“The least that we can do is to (prevent) the increasing number of our cases, even deaths by declaring the province under the state of calamity so we can address the situation,” Villasin added.
Villasin said that all the 40 towns and the city of Baybay have dengue fever cases.
The six deaths were from the towns of Burauen (2) and one each from the towns of Babatngon, Mahaplag, Merida, and Baybay City.
The top five areas in the province which have more than a hundred cases of dengue fever were Baybay City (155); Jaro (126); Palo (123); Sta. Fe (217); and Alangalang (118).
Meantime, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through Regional Director Artemio Caneja, urged all local government units across the region to strengthen their measures to address the increasing number of dengue fever cases in Eastern Visayas.
“Governors, mayors, and punong barangays should take the lead in ensuring that households, workplaces, and other parts of the community do not become breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” Caneja said in his open letter addressed to all local government units in the region.
(with reports JOEY A. GABIETA)