PALO, Leyte – The Department of Health (DOH) in the region presented awards to local government units and government agencies that strictly implements the no-smoking policy.
For this year’s Red Orchid Award, 22 government offices, three hospitals, and seven local government units were given the recognition by the DOH for their strict implementation of the 100-percent tobacco-free environment.
“This serves as an inspiration and reminder to all to continue working for the betterment for the community members,” DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon said in her message during the awarding ceremony held Friday (December 7).
Among the awardees for government offices were the local health insurance offices of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. in the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin, Borongan, Calbayog and Catbalogan and the municipality of Naval; Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 8 and the district jails in Naval, Catarman, Burauen, San Juan, Carigara; city jails in Baybay City, Borongan City, Ormoc City (female and male dorm) and the municipal jails in Palo and Palompon.
For the government hospitals, Red Orchid Awardees were the Allen District Hospital in Allen town; Northern Samar Provincial Hospital; and the Tacloban City Hospital.
For the LGU category, awardees were the towns of Silago, Limasawa, San Francisco and Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte; San Antonio in Northern Samar; Arteche in Eastern Samar and the city of Ormoc.
PhilHealth Regional Office 8 and the regional office of the Civil Service Commission bagged the Hall of Fame award for government offices.
Arteche town Mayor Roland Boie Evardone was proud of their achievement given by the DOH to their town, the only municipality in the region to receive the Red Orchid Award.
“The campaign became successful because of the support of the people and I am very much thankful, proud and happy for the people of Arteche because we are able to sustain the anti-smoking ordinance,” the town mayor said.
The municipal council of Arteche enacted the ordinance banning the selling and distribution of cigarette in the town in March 6, 2017.
“Technically, smoking in the entire town of Arteche is ban because we don’t have smoking areas and we prohibit selling. If there are people who are into smoking they must do it inside the premises of their house,” Mayor Evardone added.
The DOH Red Orchid Award is an annual search for the 100 percent tobacco-free environment, given to those who positively respond by creating policies and implement to achieve the 100 percent smoke-free environment.
Tobacco use has been recognized as the major contributor in cardio-vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and Cancer.
Red Orchid is the highest award given in this particular search followed by the second highest award, the Pink Orchid, and the third the White Orchid.
For the Pink Orchid, which is given to LGUs who are able to achieve less than 90 percent of tobacco-free environment, the award was given to the Northern Samar provincial capitol. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

In Northern Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – A barangay chairman was killed while his councilor was wounded when they were fired upon by motorcycle-riding suspects in Lope de Vega town, this province, on Thursday afternoon.
Killed due to bullet wounds he sustained was Edwin Teopinto,44, village chairman of Bugho of said town. He sustained five gunshot wounds.
His companion, Benadio Laurian, 34, councilor of their village, survived the ambush though he sustained gunshot wounds.
The two, on board a motorcycle driven by Laurian, was cruising along Brgy. Bayho, 10 kms away from the town proper, when the motorcycle-riding suspects suddenly appeared and fired at them at about 2:50 pm.
SPO3 Marlon Hipe, municipal executive senior officer of the Lope de Vega police station, said that Teopinto died on the spot due to the five gunshot wounds he sustained while Laurian was hit on his right shoulder and right leg and is now recuperating at the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital (NSPH) in Catarman.
The two has just attended a Christmas party tendered by the municipal government for town barangay officials and on their way home when they were ambushed by still unidentified suspects.
The authorities are still investigating the incident to establish the motive of the suspects who immediately fled after the incident.
Police Superintendent Rafael Tayaban, community relations officer of the Northern Samar Police Provincial Office, called on the possible witnesses to report to the police so they could arrest the perpetrators. (RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)

BORONGAN CITY- The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) inaugurated and turned over a new multi-purpose building in Songco Elementary School to school principal Norieta Alpez and the rest of the teaching staff on November 15, 2018.
Construction of the multi-purpose building (MPB) started on March 5, 2018 and completed on July 17, 2018. The building has a dimension of 15m by 20m.
The project cost of the building amounts to P 2,475, 000 funded under the local fund for building and other structures of the General Appropriations Act for this year.
In behalf of DPWH-ESDEO, Assistant District Engineer Rudyard Lim attended the turn-over of the multipurpose building.
Alpez’s, her acceptance speech, expressed her gratitude for the materialization of the multi-purpose building.
“We have been yearning for so long for this covered court to come into existence. It has long been our dream to have a facility like this. We gladly accept this, and ensure you that we will utilize this in its proper purpose. And we will maintain this facility,” the school principal said.
A teacher of Songco Elementary School said that finding a venue for their graduation was always their problem and that they have to incur rental expenses because of it.
But now, they expect to conduct their 2019 graduation rites in their new MPB inside of their very own Songco Elementary School.
Rep.Ben Evardone, Mayor Maria Fe Abunda, among others, graced the said event.
Rep. Evardone, in a message he conveyed during the turn-over ceremony, encouraged the students to study well to have a brighter future.
“You should study diligently for it will serve as your stepping stone in achieving a brighter future,” the solon said.
In an interview, assistant district engineer Lim stressed the value of having educational facilities like an MPB to nurture a student’s potential.
“A school must not only have a classroom but also other facilities that will hone a child’s potential. A school becomes an institution conducive to learning if it can provide well-built classrooms and facilities for outdoor activities where students can learn, enjoy, and develop their multiple intelligence,” he said. (ESDEO PIO Staff Quiteria Baleña)

TACLOBAN CITY — The presence of New People’s Army (NPA) in Northern Samar has discouraged contractors from implementing multi-million infrastructure projects meant for impoverished and conflict-stricken communities, a regional official of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) confirmed on Thursday(December 6).
Imelda Bonifacio, OPAPP program manager for Eastern Visayas, said construction firms have abandoned at least three projects for fear of NPA’s extortion activities and being caught in the crossfire between government troops and armed rebels.
Citing reports from the Philippine Army, communist rebels have asked contractors to allocate 10 percent of the project cost to the NPA movement or else face the consequence of attacks.
“The mere report of their presence discourages implementers to pursue the projects. These areas are critical and they are scared of being a victim of crossfires as there are continuing operations in these areas,” Bonifacio said.
On Monday, the Regional Development Council (RDC) has identified three terminated Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) infrastructure projects in Samar provinces funded under the 2016 budget of OPAPP.
These are the P71-million bridge construction in Motiong, Samar; P114.7-million box culvert construction in Las Navas, Northern Samar; and P192-million road construction also in Las Navas town.
Other than the prevailing peace and order situation, aggravating the project implementation concern is the absence of access roads, subcontracting issues, unworkable ground conditions, and lack of manpower and equipment.
Top officials in Eastern Visayas have elevated to Cabinet secretaries the discussion on delayed and terminated infrastructure projects meant for impoverished and conflict-stricken areas on Samar Island.
Members of the RDC, Regional Peace and Order Council and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council deferred on Monday the approval of the proposed transfer of implementation of delayed projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Philippine Army.
In a joint meeting at the city hall here, RDC co-chair Roy Bernard Fiel said the “best option” to resolve the issue is for DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and the new Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to talk about implementation arrangements.
Lorenzana, who joined the meeting here, vowed to talk to Villar on the process of transferring the implementation of infrastructure projects.
“It is easier for the Army to carry out terminated and not yet started projects. We are willing to accept projects in problematic areas,” he said.
About five PAMANA projects intended for 2018 have yet to start.
Based on RDC records, these are the P63.63-million farm-to-market road in Mapanas, Northern Samar; P36.44-million bridge in Mapanas town;P98.5-million road connecting Lope de Vega and Silvino Lobos towns in Northern Samar;P197-million road in Las Navas, Northern Samar; and P9.6-million Villa Conzoilo farm-to-market road in Jaro, Leyte.
Brig. Gen. Ramon Evan Ruiz, commander of the Army’s 53rd Engineering Brigade, said the projects can be undertaken by two engineering battalions but their implementation will be scheduled and on selective basis only due to limitations in equipment and personnel.
“The recurrent problems such as road right of way, access road, delinquent contractors are to be addressed first by local governments and national government agencies prior to the transfer,” Ruiz said.
The engineering brigade will also check the program of works to determine if the remaining funds are enough to finish the projects and if cost estimate is responsive to the current prices of materials, maintenance, rental of equipment, and labor.
Ruiz also appealed to speed up the execution of agreement between the DPWH and Department of National Defense to implement terminated projects.
DPWH Regional Director Nerie Bueno said passing the responsibility to another agency will further delay the actual construction due to the tedious process of doing so.
“We understand the need to fast-track these projects, but terminating a project and giving it to another entity will take at least six months,” Bueno told council officials.
She added that some projects labeled by the RDC as not yet started have already been bid out and awarded to winning contractors with good track records.
The RDC’s discussions on delayed PAMANA projects have started in the second quarter of this year. Earlier, the body already passed two resolutions to help expedite the project and conduct problem solving sessions.
PAMANA is the national government’s convergence program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities, ensuring that they are not left behind.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

PALO, Leyte-With the promise of a genuine quality service to the general riding public in Eastern Visayas, the regional office of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) under the leadership of Director Gualberto N. Gualberto, has made several achievements for this year.
With the help as well of LTFRB’s competent employees, the office was able to come up with up-to-date and reliable programs.
For one, the anti-colorum campaign of the LTFRB, carried out by its courageous law enforcement officers, was actively and strictly implemented in the region as they apprehended public utility vehicles operating without a franchise.
In the process, they were able to ensure the safety of the general riding public.
Another flagship program of the LTFRB-8 is the Pantawid Pasada Program targeting PUV drive-operators as they were given a fuel subsidy worth P5,000 redeemable only at participating gasoline stations in the region.
The first tranche of fuel card distribution started last August 28,2018 and at present, 529 cards have already been distributed or a 71% completion rate.
Aside from the aforementioned programs, the LTFRB has also started this year the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) wherein 60 new well-equipped E-jeepneys have been giving a safe transport for the riding public all over the region.
Lastly, the LTFRB is actively conducting the PUV Driver’s Academy for PUV drivers all over the region every Thursdays and Fridays, giving lectures on the different modules for the betterment of our drivers.
Aside from these programs, the LTFRB has been giving aid to the public, through our help desk during holidays like on the observance of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Another milestone of the LTFRB-8 for the year was the acquisition of a lot intended for impounded vehicles.
The Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) capacity building attended by different local government unit offices was held with the aim of teaching them on the route planning.
The general riding public could expect that the LTFRB in the region would continue in undertaking activities and enforcement of necessary laws to ensure their safety. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Several tourist attractions of Samar was used as backdrops on a film that was shot entirely in the province.
The film, ‘Kahit Ayaw Mo Na,’ which tells a story of three girls, Joey, Mikee and Ally who were all drawn to Samar, is now showing in over 100 theaters across the country.
The film is primarily produced by Viva Films and Blu Art Productions with the Spark Samar as co-producer.
The film stars some of the country fast-emerging young actors, namely, Empress Schuck, Kristel Fulgar, and Andrea Brillantes.
The film was shot at the Olot River in Paranas town with the Extreme Torpedo boat ride given exposure; the Sohoton Cave, the Basiao Cave where mat are weave by women of Basiao village, the 16th century St Michael the Archangel Church, all in Basey town; the rock formation of Marabut; San Juan by the Bay, Lulugayan Falls in Calbiga and the San Juanico Bridge.
The film on Samar is the latest campaign of the provincial government under Governor Sharee Ann Tan to further promote the tourism industry of the province.
The ‘Spark Samar’ campaign aim to help alleviate the living condition of the people where these sites are located. These remote villages are mostly affected with insurgency problem and high poverty incidence.
“The main objective of the film is to present through cinematic language the under-discovered Samar Province to attract more inbound tourists, locally and internationally. Thus better the livelihood opportunity for the community organizations managing the different tourist spots in the province,” a statement from the provincial tourism office of Samar said.
“In this time of the digital world laced with social networking sites and platforms, cinema is still a very powerful medium for education and information, a potent tool in showcasing the beauty of Samar not only to the millennial but to the other generations as well,” it added.
Some of the province’s officials like Vice Governor Stephen James Tan and Calbiga Mayor Luzviminda Nacario, where most of the scenes were taken, made a Tessie Tomas, who is from Catbalogan City, was supposed to portray the character portrayed by Nacario who played as a grandmother to one of the characters of the movie.
Kahit Ayaw Mo Na is also the title of This BAND which is the official soundtrack of the film. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)