BORONGAN CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways – Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH-ESDEO) joined the Serbisyo Caravan spearheaded by the provincial government in the villages of Casuguran and Pagbabangnan in the island of Homonhon, Guiuan, Eastern Samar on March 17, 2023.

During the activity, the DPWH ESDEO represented by Engineer Roderick L. Floria informed the residents about the updates of the infrastructure projects implemented in Homonhon Island.

“DPWH ESDEO has three projects as part of the Homonhon Circumferential Road which started the ground-breaking last year. Out of these three road projects, two projects amounting to P15M and P45M respectively were already completed both located in Pagbabangnan while the other one projects amounting to P45M located in Brgy. Casuguran is still ongoing as of this date with 85% accomplishment,” Engr. Floria said.
He also reported the present classification status of the road after the effort made by the district office to convert it into a national road.

“We fulfilled our promise to convert Homonhon Circumferential Road to a national road on May 4, 2022 to help the local residents. However said declaration was deferred on July 8, 2022 which retains the status of Homonhon Island as local road,” added Engr. Floria.
He also disclosed that while the road is still a local road, the district office will continue to support the infrastructure development in the area.

In fact, the office included the 5-kilometer road concreting along the Homonhon Circumferential road in the lined-up projects for next year with a total amount of P150 million.

“We are hopeful that said proposal will be approved and be included in the GAA for next year for it to be implemented,” said Engr. Floria.

Meanwhile, Governor Ben P. Evardone thanked the national and local agencies who participated in the caravan and brought their government services closer to the residents of Homonhon Island.

Some services offered were free medicine, medical consultation, free vegetable seeds, national ID registration, public consultation, and information dissemination.

“Karuyag ko every six (6) months magka may-ada Serbisyo Caravan dinhe ha Eastern Samar. More or less, maaram na kamo hit maibubulig hit agencies nga aanhe yana. Ayaw kamo pag alang pag pakiana kun ano iton ira pwede mahibulig pa ha iyo [I would like to conduct this Serbisyo Caravan here in Eastern Samar every six months. More or less, you already know the kind of services that these agencies can offer to you. Don’t hesitate to ask them of what other services they can extend to you],” said Gov. Evardone.

Also present during the Serbisyo Caravan were Vice Gov. Maricar S. Goteesan, Sangguniang Panglalawigan 2nd District Members Pol Gonzales, Evet Gaylon, Atty. Melchor Mergal and Provincial Administrator Nelson Cortez.

The said activity was initiated by the provincial government as part of the celebration of the 502nd Anniversary of the Guiuan Part in the First Circumnavigation of the World.
(MAY ANTOINETTE O. NABLE, PIO STAFF)

TACLOBAN– Travelers utilizing the Mayorga-La Paz road will have a more convenient road with the asphalt overlay implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura of the Leyte Second District Engineering Office (L2DEO), they had started implementing the P14.56 million under the asset preservation program which involves the asphalt overlay with provisions for thermoplastic pavement markings along Barangay Bonifacio, Mayorga town.

Oppura also mentioned that when roads are exposed to heavy loads, they are susceptible to damage, and the combined effects of traffic loading and the environment will cause damage to the infrastructure, no matter how well-designed and constructed it is. Thus, road restoration is necessary to improve the road’s surface capability.

With the improved road, 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.

The project is expected to be completed on or before April 28, 2023 sourced from the department’s general appropriations for this fiscal year.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

ORMOC CITY-A jobless man who visited his friend at the city jail in Tacloban City is set to join his friend after he was arrested in possession of suspected shabu upon inspection at about 1:40 pm on March 22.

The suspect, Bryan Claros, 35, and a resident of Barangay 62-B Sagkahan Charismatic, was about to enter the jail facility when he was discovered possessing one opened plastic sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu and a crumpled tin foil.

The items were discovered by JO2 Bryan Concepcion during the conduct of a body search.
Charges of violation of Sec 11 and 12 of RA 9165 the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002 were already filed by the police against the suspect who is presently detained at the Police Station 2 locked-up cell.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary of this city joined the celebration of the 60th Earth Day by conducting a coastal cleanup activity at the river banks of the Malbasag River Saturday (March 25).

Commodore Jimmy Elazegui said that the 1102nd, 1103rd &1105th PCGA Squadrons of Ormoc together with CGS Western Leyte, joined the other groups led by the city government of Ormoc City and the Environment and Natural Resource Office in participating in the cleanup activity.

He said that joining the cleanup activity was the squadron’s way of supporting awareness of climate change that brought catastrophic situations in many parts of the world.
Elazegui added that their station collected 16 sacks of non- biodegradable trash weighing about 450 kilos.

(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY – The city Public Employment Services Office (PESO) will conduct a MEGA (Mayor’s Employment Generation Activity) job fair on Friday (March 31) at the ground floor of the People’s Center.

This activity is open to all job seekers from the city as well as from neighboring towns where 50 local and 10 overseas employers are expected to join.

“At the same time, mag-iinvite gihapon kami hin government agencies like PAG-IBIG, SSS, PhilHealth, para at least if may inquiries an job seekers para han requirements, an event is one stop shop na gihapon,” said Katherine Singzon, PESO development management officer 1.

About 1,000 job positions are available on this job fair.

As of March 24, 40 domestic and 6 overseas employers have confirmed their participation of the job fair.

About 471 job vacancies were already submitted and numbers are still expected to increase as vacancy enlisting and application are ongoing.

The organizers remind all job seekers to bring all pertinent papers, updated resumé, and be early to the venue as it is on a first come first serve basis.

This fair is organized by Tacloban PESO in coordination with the city government, Department of Labor and Employment VIII, and Philippine Overseas Employment Agency VIII.

(MARCO JEMSBOY ARCENA, LNU Student Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY – The 8th Infantry Division together with the Hands Off Our Children Movement, and the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster the regional task force on ending Local Communist armed conflict(RTF-ELCAC), and the Pitad Kultura Waraynon presented the ‘peace and quiet 2’ event last.

The event, which opened on March 22 and to end this Wednesday (March 29) is in cooperation with the Robinsons Mall.

B/Gen Noel Vestuir, the brigade commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, lauded the organizers of the event and noted that the Philippine Army should not be left alone in fighting for peace but should be participated by all stakeholders of the society.

“This Peace and Quiet 2 culture and arts caravan, Likha para sa Kapayapaan exemplifies our collective quest for peace,” he said in his message.

Vestuir then urged those who participated in the event to help the government in maintaining peace and order to ensure progress and development and continue the fight against insurgency.

Among the activities of the week-long event were art competition, spoken word poetry concert, cosplay exhibition, rap competition, and concert spearheaded by the Army.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)