CATARMAN, Northern Samar- Farmers and local residents are now benefiting from the recently completed farm-to-market (FMR) road Phase II, in Barangay Jose Abad Santos, Bobon, this province.
OIC District Engineer Mario Villena said that the previously unpaved road was converted into two-lane concrete paved road with Grouted Riprap Slope Protection.
The 0.30-lane kilometer concrete road will give convenience to farmers and locals in transporting their farm products to the market centers, providing the community with the fresher goods for consumption. Motorists utilizing the said road section will no longer be burdened especially during rainy days, when the unpaved road was muddy and slippery posing hazard to their safety during travel.
The P9.8-million FMR project started its construction last March 22,2021 and was completed on June 22,2021, more than two (2) months ahead of schedule, funded under the convergence program of DPWH and Department of Agriculture (DA).
(ANALIZA A. PABIA, PIO ALTERNATE/PR)
P9.8-million farm- to-market road project in Bobon N. Samar now completed
27 medical workers in EV among active COVID-19 cases
3 of them have the Delta variant infection
TACLOBAN CITY- At least 27 medical workers in the region are among patients who continue to battle with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
And three of them were detected to have infected of the highly transmissible Delta variant, Dr. Marc Steven Capungcol, head of the regional surveillance and epidemiology unit of the Department of Health (DOH), said.
Of the three medical workers confirmed to have been infected of the Delta variant of COVID-19, two were from Taft in Eastern Samar and one from Alangalang in Leyte.
And of 27 medical workers whose COVID-19 infection are considered as active, 16 of them were from Leyte; eight from Northern Samar; two from Samar; and one from Southern Leyte.
Since the start of the pandemic, 1,733 medical workers from the region have been infected with COVID-19 of which 1,699 of them have recovered and seven of them died due to COVID-19 complications.
Capungcol said that these medical workers infected of COVID-19 have most likely get the infection from their work places.
Thus, he appealed to the public to strictly follow all the health minimum protocols as their way of helping the medical workers from getting the infection.
“It is most high likely that these medical workers get the COVID-19 from their work stations; from the (patients tested positive for COVID-19),” Capungcol said.
The health official said that they continue to receive report that mass gatherings which are considered to be super spreader of COVID-19.
“If our COVID-19 cases will continue to increase, the more we are exposing our medical workers to infection,” Capungcol said.
He asked the public to report to their office or to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) or at their respective local government units those who continue to stage mass gatherings.
The region, as reported by DOH on Monday, has 143 new cases, bringing its total cases to 44,240 of which 41,723 have recovered.
About 2,032 are considered as active and 485 deaths.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
More than 950,000 students enrolled in EV
As classes start on Monday using online and modules method of learning
TACLOBAN CITY- About 954,073 students across the region are now enrolled for this school year which started Monday (Sept 13).
Jasmin Calzita, information officer of the Department of Education (DepEd), said that they expect the number of enrollment to further increase as enrollment is still underway.
The enrollment will last until the end of this month.
The region had an enrolment of 1.26 million in last school year.
And just like in the past school year, students in the region are still to observe blended learning method which means either they will have modules or through online classes as Eastern Visayas continue to experience surge of coronavirus disease(COVID-19).
But Calzita said that despite of the challenges brought by the pandemic, teachers in the region are ready to start their classes beginning Monday (Sept.13).
“Our teachers are always ready despite of the limitations brought by the current health situation,” she said.
Calzita said that considering of the experiences that they have encountered during last year’s first implementation of the distance learning, they will be adopting more measures to ensure that students will still have quality education like the strengthening of the radio and television-based instructions.
The DepEd in the region also expressed its gratitude to all local officials for their continued support to them, especially during this time of pandemic.
“The local government units and our education partners have been extending their full support to our basic education learning continuity plan since the onset of pandemic. Regional Director Gemma (Ledesma) is grateful for their robust partnership with them,” Calzita.
Tacloban City Alfred Romualdez has donated P50,000 to all public elementary and secondary schools in the city to augment their school expenses for this school year.
Both Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone have also vowed their continued support to DepEd, especially during this time of pandemic.
Gov. Petilla, aside from praising the teachers for their efforts during this time of pandemic, has also gave credit to the ‘sacrifices’ of their parents who are helping their children on their lessons and gathering their modules from the schools.
Gov. Evardone said that teachers will be given priority for the vaccination against COVID-19 to ensure their safety against the dreaded virus.
For his part, Catbalogan City Mayor Dexter Uy has encouraged the parents to enroll their children of school age.
Tacloban city gov’t summons resort owner amid viral video showing big crowd
TACLOBAN CITY- The owner of a beach resort here has been summoned by the city government for possible violation of the minimum health protocols being imposed against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Gemafiel Gaspay, head of the business permit and licensing division, said that a notice to explain was issued against the management of the Aqua Tico Beach Resort/ Blue paradise Bar and Grill located in San Jose district.
The summon was a result of a video that circulated in the social media last August 29 showing big number of people gathered inside the beach resort.
According to Gaspay, the management of the said resort was given three days to explain their side.
Meanwhile, the alleged super spreader event has reached the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) which, in turn, reported it to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for an investigation.
It was also learned that the Office of Civil Defense has taken action and the event was reported to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)