TACLOBAN CITY-In line with the annual observance of the National Disaster Resilience Month, Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez and newly-assumed Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 8 Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan led the formal opening of the Response Cluster Exhibit at the City Hall grounds on Friday, July 5.
Gopalan said that the exhibit showcases the commitment to ensure resiliency amidst disaster by displaying the latest response equipment and capabilities.
“We are armed with the necessary types of equipment in facing these challenges. But, more than that it is the people who are ready and consciously doing what they can to be able to help respond to (any) crisis,” she added.
In addition, Mayor Romualdez also shared how cooperation is crucial in terms of addressing any unfortunate event.
“Everyone has a particular role to address the issues. It is important that all the agencies understand their particular role so we can prevent now any incident from becoming an emergency,” said the city Mayor.
Meanwhile, the exhibit was participated by the 9 member-agencies of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Present during the event were representatives of the Bureau of Fire Protection Tacloban, ACCESS 5 (Emergency Telecommunication Cluster), PNP, the Philippine Coast Guard, DPWH, DepEd City Division, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Tacloban City Rescue Unit and Assistant Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense Rey Gozon.
This year’s celebration carries the theme: “Kahandaan sa Sakuna’t Peligro Para Sa Tunay na Pagbabago.” – CBM/TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

Due to his contribution to agriculture industry

ALANGALANG, Leyte- Apparently enamored with the multi-billion peso rice facility project built by Patrick Renucci, President Rodrigo Duterte directed Solicitor General Jose Calida to look if the French national could be naturalized as a Filipino.
The President made this declaration during his visit to the Chin Yi Agriventures Rice Processing Complex located in Barangay Mudburon, this town, last Friday (July 5).
The Chief Executive lead in the formal inauguration of the P1.5 billion facility sprawled in 8-hectare lot owned by Renucci and his wife Rachel.
Mr. Duterte, in his speech during the event, said that considering what Renucci has done to help the farmers and the agriculture sector in the country by building the state-of-the-art rice complex, he believes he deserves to become a naturalized Filipino citizen.
He added that while there is a law on how a foreigner like Renucci could acquire a Filipino citizenship, he is willing ‘to cut corners’ in the case of the French national.
“I said few in my life, people who would come to, come here and try to help my fellowmen. Kaya I feel like almost maybe sentimental now because I’ve seen the complex that you have built for my countrymen,” he said.
And addressing to Calida, the President said:” Di ba may administrative yan? Well, kindly work on it because actually Patrick is very much willing to become a Filipino citizen. And if we can do that in a jiffy, hurry up,” he said.
The President even said that he is even willing to ‘cut corners’ and just issue an executive order.
Then, he added that if Renucci eventually become a naturalized Filipino citizen, he might just name him at his Cabinet.
“Maye I’ll try-experimental lang naman. If he becomes a naturalized citizen, then I think he is qualified to be a member of the Cabinet. Then I can maybe ask Sir Patrick that you join us and help us because it’s really agriculture,” the President said.
Renucci and his wife came to the country, particularly in Leyte, in 2015, two years after the province was devastated by super typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
According to the couple, whose been living in Europe, they decided to put up the facility to help farmers, in particular have sustainable livelihood, as they were the most affected by the disaster as they noticed that there were several arable lands but the farmers were lacking of assistance and skills to improve their living condition.
The vast complex, built at P1.5 billion, is considered to be the most technologically advanced such facility in Southeast Asia where the milling, drying, and packaging are being done by automation using a Japanese technology.
For his Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol also expressed his gratitude to the Renucci couple for coming up such facility.
“In behalf of the DA and the rice farmers of Alangalang, I would like to extend to them our great appreciation and I pray that this project will be replicated elsewhere in the country so that our rice farmers would have a fighting chance in competing foreign-produce rice,” he said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

PALO, Leyte-For his ‘gulayan’ project, Gary Mosquito, a teacher from Cabarasan Daku Elementary School, this town, was adjudged as this year’s national winner for Bayaning Gurong Pilipino during the 15th Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards sponsored by ABS-CBN and Ugat Foundation.
“Now, I can say that nothing is impossible if you will just offer everything to our Almighty Father for His will is our path towards success,” said Mosquito after receiving the award in Manila on July 3.
“Receiving an award from a very prestigious award-giving body like ABS-CBN and UGAT Foundation is more than enough to say that at last I was able to fulfill my duties and responsibilities of being a public elementary school teacher,” he said.
According to Mosquito, whose been in the teaching profession for 13 years now, working beyond and above the call of duty is not so easy but if a teacher is inspired and passionate enough to serve the best interest for the learners’ welfare he will succeed and fulfill the realization of being a true public servant.
“We should not limit our services within the four walls of our classrooms but rather widen its horizon to touch and uplift the lives of the people,” said the 34-year-old head teacher.
Mosquito’s innovation is called Project: Life or “Lifelong Interventions through a Finest Environment,” a project enhancing the implementation of “Gulayan Sa Paaralan” into an organic vegetable production for malnutrition alleviation, love for mother nature, income generating project, livelihood for parents, school greening and beautification program.
He thanked for the support of his fellow faculty members, principal, parents, students, education officials, and local leaders who inspired him in his teaching career.
Edgar Tenasas, assistant schools division superintendent of Leyte, extolled Mosquito’s achievement saying what he is doing is ‘inspiring.’
“The schools division of Leyte is one with you in celebrating this success. May you continue to inspire others for the sake of our learners,” he said.
The annual Gawad Geny Lopez, Jr. – Bayaning Pilipino Awards aims to give recognition to ordinary Filipinos who exemplified the Filipino values of humanitarianism, industry, determination, and dedication to public service.
(RONALD O. REYES)