TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing to accredit six more farm tourism sites in Eastern Visayas this year to provide a better life to farmers in this predominantly agriculture region.
The target will bring the number to nine accredited sites in the region by the end of the year or a 200 percent increase from 2018 figure, said DOT Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.
Currently, there are only three accredited farm tourism destinations in the region – Softea Garden in Biliran, Biliran; Canaan Hills Farm and Honey Garden in Caibiran, Biliran; and Villaconzoilo Farm in Jaro, Leyte.
Prospective farm tourism sites should be in safe and in peaceful locations with roads, electricity, water; have sufficient facilities and amenities such as reception center, parking space, dining or multipurpose area, souvenir shops, accommodation and restaurants; and have trained tour guides.
“We would like to identify diverse farms so that they will not be in competition with each other. We want at least one well-developed, market-ready farm tourism sites. We’ll try to find places in the region with marine agriculture parks, a large track of coconut plantation, vegetable production area, dairy farms. Among others,” Tiopes told reporters on Thursday.
Earlier, the tourism department and the Agriculture Training Institute have identified 58 farms as potential agriculture tourism sites. These farms produce rice, dairy, coconut, aquaculture, and high-value fruits and vegetables.
“The presence of these farm sites puts the region in a good position to develop distinct and complementing farm experiences, that can be more interesting because of unique and even heart-warming stories of the farm owners themselves,” Tiopes explained.
The official said farm tourism opens up the possibilities for diversification of income for small-scale farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural systems and community involvement and participation.
The tourism department has been gathering farm owners and other stakeholders to come up with a strategic action plan that will guide them on how to develop farm tourism in the region.
“We assist them in product development, identify potential activities given the terrain, main resources, and organizational set-up that they have,” she added.
The government enacted Republic Act No. 10816 or the Farm Tourism Development Act on May 23, 2016, recognizing the value of farming in food production and providing income.
The law defines farm tourism as a practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational, recreational, purposes – which involves any agricultural or fishery-based operation or activity, and may also provide a venue for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings.
The tourism department launched the “It’s More Fun in Philippine Farms” program on Oct. 23 recognizing that “a day in the farm is both relaxing and educational.”
Eastern Visayas region is a predominantly farming area where 45 percent or 976,415 hectares of its total land area is devoted to agriculture.
Of its agricultural lands, 70 percent is planted to coconut and 20 percent is planted to rice and corn. The rest is planted to other crops, used to raise livestock and poultry, or inland fishery products. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY- “The sanggunian is the brain of the local government and the sanggunians who are present today are doing a great job at providing the brains of the local government; that is, being the source of ideas and innovations translated into policies and programs.”
This was the pronouncement of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marivel C. Sacendoncillo, as she recognized the accomplishments of the best performing Local Government Units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas during the Regional Awards Ceremony of the 2018 Local Legislative Award at Robinsons Summit Hotel, Tacloban City on February 7, 2019.
“The LGUs should not only look at the needs of the people but also search for opportunities that they can maximize to pursue development in their respective communities,” Sacendoncillo added.
She told the sanggunian members to be serious in the jobs that they entered into because the people will not remember them by just being honorable but by the things that they were able to do to contribute to the betterment of their communities.
In the categories of Highly Urbanized Cities and Independent Component Cities, the Cities of Tacloban and Ormoc emerged as the regional winners, respectively. Both cities were lone entries in their respective categories.
Baybay City made it as the regional champion in the Component Cities Category followed by the Cities of Catbalogan and Borongan which were both regional finalists.
In the 1st-3rd Class Municipalities Category, Basey, Samar notched the top spot while Sogod, Southern Leyte and Naval, Biliran were recognized as runners-up.
Furthermore, Balangiga, Eastern Samar took the lead in the 4th-6th Class Municipalities Category. Following the winner were the municipalities of San Isidro, Leyte; San Juan, Southern Leyte; Cabucgayan, Biliran; and Motiong, Samar (regional finalists).
The LGUs were assessed by the Regional Award Committee (RAC) which is headed by the DILG Regional Director with the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) Regional Council Chairman as the Vice-Chairman. Members of the committee also include the Regional Directors of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and a Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) representative.
The RAC evaluated the finalists through the Awards Criteria totalling 100 points: (a) Responsiveness of the Legislative Agenda (30 points); (b) Availability of Legislative Documents (18 points); (c) Effectiveness of Performance of the Sanggunian (30 points); (d) Efficiency of the Performance of the Sanggunian (13 points); (e) Legislative Citations and Awards (5 points); and (f) Capacity Development for Legislators and Staff (4 points).
“The regional winners will now vie for the national legislative award. The National Award Committee (NAC) will be coming in the region and reevaluate the nomination,” PCL Regional Council Chairman Wilson Uy said in his closing remarks.
Usec Sacendoncillo, OIC – Assistant Regional Director Valente P. Bajet and PCL Regional Council Chairman Uy awarded a plaque of commendation and a cash award worth P10,000 to the regional champions in every category.
Approximately 300 participants from different LGUs, government agencies, and the DILG regional and field offices attended the said event.(PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Kalanggaman Island located in the town of Palompon and is considered as the Leyte’s top tourist destination, has earned more than P22 million last year, a report from the Department of Tourism regional office 8 (DOT-8) based here.
Karen Tiopes, DOT-8 regional director, told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview that based on the report from the municipal government of Palompon, the total revenue of Kalanggaman Island has exceeded its target of P21 million as the total income reached P22.189 million generated from tourist receipts last year.
Tiopes reported that the total number of tourist who visited the island last year reached 113,556 composed of 104,203 domestic tourists while the 9,353 were foreign tourists.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in another interview, said that the Kalanggaman Island, which is maintained and operated by the local government unit of Palompon, has been attracting droves of local and foreign tourists, an indication that it has fully recovered from the devastation due to super typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
The six-hectare Kalanggaman Island is just about an hour boat ride from Palompon town proper and is considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines.
The island features powdery white sand beach surrounded by clear blue water with a long stretch of sandbar with its fine white sand attracts tourists.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- A town in Biliran province has declared an outbreak of dengue fever due to its record number of children getting sick due to the mosquito-causing ailment.
On Wednesday (Feb.13), Mayor Rodolfo Espina, Sr. declared a dengue fever outbreak in the town as it has now about 81 cases as of Tuesday.
Out of the town’s 20 barangays, 10 have cases of dengue fever with the village of Mapuyo having the biggest number of cases with 42 followed by the village of Tucdao with 12, Dr. Christine Balasbas, municipal health officer, said in a phone interview.
She also said that a five-year old boy from Brgy. Tucdao died on Jan.24 due to dengue fever while being treated at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City.
Balasbas also said that while they have 81 cases, many of them have already recovered from the ailment.
About 15 patients remain at their rural health unit as they are still being treated.
Balasbas said that with the declaration of an outbreak, they could now access funds from the local disaster funds to buy another unit of fogging machine and medicines and other needed supplies.
Balasbas said that as part of their precautionary measures, they have conducted fogging operations in the villages where there are dengue fever cases.
The municipal government has also asked the villagers to clean their surroundings, particularly their waterways and other stagnant waters to stop dengue fever-causing mosquitoes from breeding.
Meantime, Leonido Olodia, anti-dengue coordinator of the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH), said Eastern Visayas has monitored 1,069 cases as of this week.
Majority of the cases or 241 cases are from Northern Samar province, followed by Biliran with 175 cases, Samar with 163 and Leyte 151.
He also said that six have died due to dengue.
The DOH official said that those who experiences fever should immediately consult a doctor and seek for medical attention for proper care.
Those who had dengue after their hospitalization should have regular check-up for 10 days to monitor their condition and have laboratory test.
“Basta may positive dengue RDT (rapid diagnostic test), it is very important that children or patients should stay in the hospital,” Olodia adding that if ever they go home, they should go back to the hospital for check-up.
Olodia also advices communities to continue the search and destroy activities for breeding ground of mosquitoes to address problem on dengue cases in their respective areas.
(JOEY A. GABIETA,ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, CATARMAN, Northern Samar – The intensified effort of the manhunt Charlie operatives from the different municipal police stations resulted to the arrest of five wanted persons in the province.
At around 7:30 am of February 3, both elements of Pambujan and Lavezares Municipal Police Stations scored on arresting wanted persons in their municipality.
In a manhunt operation led by Chief Inspector Moises Balanquit, officer-in-charge of the Pambujan Municipal Police Station, they were able to arrest Juning Bantilo at Sitio Macarinao, Barangay Malobago, of said town for the crime of grave threats.
Meanwhile, Lavezares Municipal Police Station led by PCI Florando Relente, OIC captured Fernando Cagsawa, 54, farmer, married and resident of Brgy. Enriqueta, Lavezares town.
Cagsawa was held captive by virtue of an alias warrant of arrest for the crime of murder with no bail recommended, issued by Judge Adolfo G. Fajardo, RTC Branch 55, Irosin Sorsogon issued on January 21, 2015.
On the following day, February 4, 2019, Ariel Tuballas, 31, single, farmer and a resident of Brgy Abaton, Laoang, charged with slight physical injuries was arrested at around 9:25 pm by elements of Laoang Municipal Police Station led by Chief Inspector Manuel O. Castillo, OIC was arrested at Brgy. Little Venice of said municipality with the crime docketed under criminal case no. 17-10 issued by Ruberna Quibal, acting presiding judge of the MTC Laoang with recommended bail bond fixed at P2,000 for his temporary liberty.
On February 6, 2019 at 3 pm, Lope de Vega Municipal Police Station personnel led by Senior Inspector Ronnie Abendan, OIC, conducted same operation at Brgy. Cag-aguinay of said town which resulted to the arrest of Julio Santiago,41, with live-in partner, who was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest for frustrated murder issued by Judge Alma Consuelo BD Esidera, presiding judge of the RTC-Branch 20 based in Catarman with recommended bail bond of P 200,000.
Further, at about 8:20 am of February 6, Nestor Surio,55, married, farmer and a resident of Brgy. Igot, Pambujan, charged for robbery with intimidation against person was arrested in his residence.
Said suspects undergone proper documentation at the aforesaid municipal police stations prior turn-over to the court of origin.
“We will always work selflessly in order to maintain peace and order in the province of Northern Samar. Wanted persons and criminals must have their appropriate place”, S/Supt. Reynaldo de la Cru, police provincial director, said. (PO3 JENNY C. APOLONIO/PR)

GUIUAN, Eastern Samar– Residents of Homonhon Island, this town, expressed their anxiety after 50 policemen descended to their island.
The policemen, who are members of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, 8th Regional Public Safety Battalion and from the police municipal station of Guiuan, arrived at the island last Feb.8 purportedly to ensure peace will be maintained there after a dispute broke out between two mining companies.
The residents said that while they do not feel threatened with the presence of the police in their island, they still find it uncomfortable having them.
The team was in Homonhon Island to maintain the peace and order of the island after Cambayas Mining Corporation president Yan Ming went to the island to enforce a liquidation order against TechIron Resources Incorporated issued by a regional trial court in Taguig City.
Cambayas filed a claim in court alleging that TechIron is not compliant on a profit sharing agreement that they have entered.
TechIron maintained that based on their agreement, sharing will come from the net income of the operation.
In November 2018, the court issued a resolution in favor of Cambayas reason why its officials wanted it to be implement even in the absence of a court sheriff.
“We feel threatened. Most residents are afraid to leave their house. Some even say that we were like in Marawi,” Jonalyn Anos, village council member of Barangay Casuguran.
Anos relayed the sentiments of the island residents to the officials of mining companies who came to Homonhon Island accompanied by their respective lawyers.
During the meeting, Urbano E. Garado Jr., village chairman of Canawayun, asked the two erring mining companies to settle the problem in proper court.
“This problem is too big for us to handle. I suggest that you settle this in court,” Garado said.
After a long debate, the two sides agreed to have the policemen pulled out from the island to the relief of the islanders.
TechIron is one of the three mining firms which have mining claims in the historic island Homonhon.
The other two are Mt. Sinai Mining Exploration and Development Corp.; and Emir Minerals Corp.
Of the three, only TechIron continue to conduct mining activity in the island. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)