MAASIN CITY-Those in the running for various elective positions at the local level in the province, city, and municipalities, better be informed that the last hour on the last day of filing for certificates of candidacy is until 5 pm.
It is no longer midnight on the last filing day, unlike before, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Comelec has passed Resolution 10717, the guidelines for filing certificates of candidacy, from October 1 to 8, from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. It is no longer like before when COC filing can still be done by 12 midnight, no more,” Atty. Antonio Gulay, provincial election supervisor clarified.
Regarding substitution of candidates, this can only be possible on situations when the filer died, withdraws his/her candidacy, or be disqualified, and the deadline on this is on November 15, Gulay said during a Kapihan sa PIA forum.
There will be no substitution for independent candidates, he added.
Meanwhile, for new voters in the city, Atty. Joshua Margate, city election officer, appealed that they should not wait for the last day of registration on September 30, as has been the culture, but make use of the remaining days of the month.
The City Comelec Office is open from 8 a.m. 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. 5 p.m. for Saturdays and holidays in order to cater new registrants, which include those who will turn 18 years old on May 9, 2022, transferees from other places into the city, and change of names, especially for newly-married ladies, Margate explained.
There were 57,000 registered voters in the city during the 2019 elections, but this number was reduced to 50,000 after cleansing of lists for those who never voted twice and those who died.
New registrants, however, numbered about 5,000 at the last count, so it could be possible there will be the same number of voters, more or less, in the city for next year’s pandemic-themed voting, Margate shared.
(LDL/MMP/PIA-Southern Leyte)
Deadline for filing COCs is until 5 pm only of October 8, says Comelec
San Juanico lighting project hit a snag anew with the bolt replacement works
Supposed to be completed early this year
TACLOBAN CITY, – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) issued a joint statement informing the public that the long awaited San Juanico Aesthetic Lighting project will be delayed due to the on-going bolt replacement project.
“In January this year (2021), the DPWH VIII informed the provincial government of Samar and Amigo that they were advised by JICA that there is a need to replace the bolts of the bridge according to Japan standards,” the joint statement said.
“It is noteworthy to mention that the bridge is almost 50 years old and replacement of the bolts to strengthen the bridge takes the top priority,” the statement added.
The replacement of the bolts in the arch portion of the bridge will be completed by the DPWH in December 2021.
Amigo will also be able to complete the remaining five percent of its deliveries by that time.
“The opening of the light and sound of the San Juanico Bridge has been highly anticipated by everyone. At the same time, we call on everyone’s understanding that it is better to err on the side of caution for the safety of our commuters and the public that traverses the bridge,” the statement said.
“Rest assured that all of the concerned parties are working together for the benefit of everyone and for the completion of the necessary activities to showcase the significance and the beauty of the San Juanico Bridge,” it added.
The Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in 2017 granted the request of the provincial government of Samar and the DOT-8 to fund the San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic amounting to P80 million.
The project was awarded to Amigo Entertainment Technologies Incorporated in March 2019.
As of August 2021, Amigo was able to implement 95 percent of its commitment.
As counterpart to the project the provincial government, contributed a project equity amounting to P15 million awarded to Samelco II and Asiaphil, Incorporated for the installation of a separate high voltage power supply facility that will be used for the operation of the lights and sound show.
Various dry-run testing were also conducted to make sure that expected technical issues will be addressed and resolved.
The project was earlier targeted to be completed earlier this year but with series of problems encountered notably the restrictions caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic, its completion was affected.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Over 463,000 in EV receive jabs against COVID-19
As the region’ COVID-19 cases continue to spike
TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 463,742 people in Eastern Visayas have been fully vaccinated as of September 16 as the region continues to receive more vaccine supplies from the national government.
The number forms part of the 974,470 first and second doses administered to health workers, senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and essential workers in six provinces and seven cities in the region, the Department of Health (DOH-8) here reported.
A total of 510,728 doses, or 76.99 percent of the 663,373 first doses allocated to the region, have been administered.
The DOH-8 also reported that about 98.83 percent of the available doses have been distributed, equating to 1,299,131 out of the 1,314,560 doses received.
The region has 419 sites conducting COVID-19 vaccination.
“The government’s intensified vaccination drive is continually in action as the vaccine inoculation for the first three priority groups (health workers, elderly, and those with comorbidities) is still ongoing, both for their first and second doses,” the DOH-8 said in a statement sent to reporters.
“The public is reminded to coordinate with their LGUs (local government units) for vaccine registration and get vaccinated, following the government’s Prioritization Framework, to get maximum protection against the severe form of COVID-19.”
The direct deliveries of vaccines from the Tacloban airport to several local government units in the region is expected to step up the government’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout, protecting more individuals from catching severe infections and deaths from the coronavirus.
The health department reminds everyone, including those vaccinated, to continue to adhere to public health measures, such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks and face shields, hand and respiratory hygiene, and ensuring good ventilation by opening windows and doors where possible, as vaccines do not replace the important preventive measures that are being practiced.
On Monday (September 20), the DOH reported of 124 new COVID-19 cases, pushing the region’s total cases to 46,031 cases.
It also reported of 43,239 recoveries with active cases at 2,307 and total deaths to 485.
PRDP turns over one unit hauling truck to NSIHCCPA
CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) under its Investment in Rural Enterprise and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) component recently turned over the hauling truck amounting to P1.9 million to the Northern Samar Indigenous Handicraft and Coco-coir Producers Association (NSIHCCPA) through a simple ceremony at the provincial covered court, provincial capitol compound.
Vice Governor Gary Lavin, who represented Governor Edwin Ongchuan, extended gratitude to the PRDP for its continuous support to the association.
Faustina Yosores, NSIHCCPA president, said that the dream they have been waiting for has finally realized.
She was thankful to the provincial government of Northern Samar under the leadership of Gov.Ongchuan for the support and exposure to trade fairs in order to promote and showcase their products.
She added that the hauling truck will surely help in transporting their products to different parts of the country such as Ormoc, Laguna, Quezon, etc.
Meanwhile, Editha Adalla, I-REAP head, reminded the officers and members of the association to manage well their handicraft and coco-coir project particularly the hauling truck and to use it solely for the project.
Allan Ultra, assistant provincial agriculturist emphasized that the hauling truck will help in lowering the cost of production of their products, and at the same time, create employment in their communities.
As of now, the NSIHCCPA is composed of 16 associations with more than 500 members in three clusters areas – Pambujan, San Roque and Laoang.
Also present during the turn-over ceremony were Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Romeo Cardenas, staff of the Department of Agriculture Regional Project Support Office 08 and PRDP Visayas Cluster Support Office, and officers and members of NSIHCCPA.
(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)