ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) joins the annual celebration of Women’s Month with the theme, “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society”.
In line with this, employees follow the “Purple Wednesdays” campaign by wearing purple, a color that symbolizes women empowerment, every Wednesday to show support for women’s rights.
In addition, the DEO also organized a one-hour Zumba exercise activity for its employees every week in partnership with a certified Zumba instructor. This activity promotes physical wellness and camaraderie while also showcasing female employees’ strength and resilience.
To further show their support, snacks were also distributed among female employees after every Zumba activity as a small gesture to acknowledge the contributions of women in the workplace and to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication.
By commemorating this month-long observance, the DEO, which is dedicated to promoting gender equality, seeks to foster a work environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. (PR)
A student of the Albuera North Central School, Francis Gabriel Batican, made wave at the recently-concluded Iron Kid competition held in Davao City. (PHOTO COURTESY)
A student of the Albuera North Central School, Francis Gabriel Batican, made wave at the recently-concluded Iron Kid competition held in Davao City. (PHOTO COURTESY)
ORMOC CITY-A Grade IV pupil from Albuera, Leyte ruled the Aquathlon 9-10 (swim-run) category of the first stage of the Iron Kids competition held on March 25 in Davao City.
Francis Gabriel Batican, 10, and enrolled at the Albuera North Central School defeated nearly 300 other competitors.
The category consisted of 150 meters swim and 1.5 kilometers run.
Batican got interested in the sport in the early age of eight because he was influenced by his elder brother Ryan who is also a runner, while their father Reynante was coaching them both.
The kid’s idea of joining the event came when he was in Ormoc City and saw some of his teammates in running from Albuera Team were participating in the sport called triathlon and aquathlon held at the in Ormoc City Plaza stage.
Since then, the boy started practicing every day and the fruit of what he was dreaming paid off when he was declared the champion of the Iron Kids 9-10 category. (ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office here together with its regional counterpart in Region IX and the United Nations Development Program(UNNDP)– Philippines Accelerator Labs recently conducted the ‘SalikLakbay’ trainers training and immersion.
SalikLakbay is a component under Grassroots Innovation for Inclusive Development (GRIND), a program designed to “empower marginalized communities” by encouraging them to develop and improve existing grassroots innovations.
GRIND was launched in 2020 by the DOST IX (Zamboanga del Norte).
SalikLakbay is a short term for “saliksik” and “lakbay” or research and travel created by the UNDP – Philippines Accelerator Labs with a goal that the “lakbayers” will identify the needs, issues, and opportunities by looking for solutions developed by the people.
Participated by members and experts from the academe sector, national government agencies and media, the two-day training was aimed to capacitate partner agencies and institutions on the SalikLakbay Solutions Mapping Methodology, and identify grassroots innovations.
It also aimed to assess the needs of possible science and technology interventions on the specific challenges in the community.
The trainers training program focuses on grassroots innovations from the towns of Basey, Samar and Carigara, Leyte.
Focus areas in these two towns were the mat weaving and fishing in Basiao village and heirloom recipe in Magallanes village in Basey, and the blacksmith industry, and roscas and pastillas making in Carigara town.
The two day-day training that ended on March 28 was also graced by social media influencer and personality Kyle Douglas Jennerman or “Kulas” of #BecomingFilipino who is the GRIND program ambassador. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY– Another laying of asphalt overlay project is ongoing along the portion of Mayorga – La Paz road section.
The Leyte Second District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that a total of P10.17 million under asset preservation program – preventive maintenance has been allotted to cover the 1.86 lane kilometers of asphalt overlay and application of reflectorized thermoplastic marking on top of the existing pavement surface in the villages of Calipayan and Mabini, both in Mayorga town, Leyte.
Leo Edward Oppura, district engineer, said that the project engineers were directed to take advantage of the good weather in implementing the project, especially on the preventive maintenance projects and particularly on the asphalt overlay projects, which need dry weather for the laying of asphalt paving mixture.
Asphalt overlays provide a smooth road, improve the ride quality, reduce noise levels, and reduce the full life cycle costs of the surface.
Motorists and travelers can expect smoother and faster access to schools, health care facilities, government centers, and other public and private establishments in the area now that the road has been improved.
The project’s implementation started on February 17, 2023 and is expected to be completed on or before April 4, 2023. It is funded under the DPWH-CY 2023 General Appropriations Act.
Aside from this project, the district office is also implementing an asphalt overlay project in Barangay Bonifacio, also this town along the road portion of the Mayorga-La Paz road section.
The Mayorga-La Paz road section, classified as a tertiary road, measures 5.975 kilometers, with the junction in Daang Maharlika and Burauen town proper. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
TACLOBAN CITY– At least 56 former members of the communist armed wing, the New People’s Army(NPA), have surrendered to the military on Wednesday (March 29), further weakening the remaining numbers of the rebels in Leyte province.
Aside from the regular armed members, 65 of their civilian supporters have also yielded to them, B/ Gen. Noel Vestuir, the brigade commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City, said.
Their withdrawal of support and condemnation from the communist group, he added, is a sincere manifestation of their commitment to be part of the whole of the nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict.
“I expressed my deep appreciation on the courage shown by the former rebels and mass supporters in openly condemning the CPP-NPA-NDF’s 54-years of terrorism that caused prolonged sufferings and destruction of life and properties of our people,” Vestuir added.
The military official then called on the remaining rebels and their supporters to return to the folds of the law and enjoy the programs and benefits given to them as former enemies of the state.
“You better avail the benefits of the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), and live a peaceful and decent lives with your families and loved ones,” Vestuir said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
FORBIDDEN. The annual ‘Turogpo Festival’ of Carigara, Leyte will not be staged beginning this year due to mounting concern on animal protection. The festival, which shows carabaos and horses fighting against each other, has been an annual tradition in the town for more than two centuries held every Black Saturday. (PHOTO COURESY)
A tradition for the past two centuries
FORBIDDEN. The annual ‘Turogpo Festival’ of Carigara, Leyte will not be staged beginning this year due to mounting concern on animal protection. The festival, which shows carabaos and horses fighting against each other, has been an annual tradition in the town for more than two centuries held every Black Saturday. (PHOTO COURESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit of Carigara, Leyte has cancelled the holding of the ‘Turugpo Festival’ which is held every Black Saturday in deference to a law protecting animals.
A memorandum to this effect was signed by municipal administrator Wenceslao Narido Jr.
Narido cited the provisions under Republic Act No 8485 as amended by RA 10631 otherwise known as “The Animal Welfare Act and the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulation, making it unlawful to subject animals to torture and maltreatment except on instances expressly authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
Under Section 6 of the law, it prohibits the torture of any animal, maltreatment, or neglect, or deprived of adequate care, sustenance or shelter or in use for research or experiments not authorized by the Committee on Animal Welfare.
Violating these provisions will be meted with punishment of imprisonment or fine that ranges from one year to six months and one day to two years and fine not exceeding to P100, 000 if the animal is subject to cruelty or maltreatment or imprisonment of six months to one year or fine of not exceeding to P30, 000 if the animal is subjected to cruelty.
Turugpo Festival is an annual event during Holy Week in Carigara that dates back more than 220 years ago.
This unique festival is derived from the word “tugpo” which means matchmaking or matching opponents.
The festival has three main events, the “pasungay” the fight of two carabaos, the “paaway” the fight between two horses,” and the carambola wherein each of the 49 villages of the municipality is represented in a cockfight, the rooster that will survive will be declared as the winner.
Based on the town’s history, Turugpo was originally held every Good Friday, as defiant of the Carigara people to the order of Friars to observed piety, solemnity, and absolute silence on the day, the Catholic faith observes the death of Jesus Christs.
In 1983 thru the request of the late Palo Archdiocese Bishop Cipriano Urgel, the date was change to Black Saturday in order not to distract the parishioners in their pious observation of Christ’s suffering and death. His request was agreed by the organizers. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
