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)

ORMOC CITY– The top three policy-making bodies in Eastern Visayas approved on Monday(Dec.3) a resolution asking the central government to reallocate the P729.67 million unused ‘Yolanda’ funds that had been returned to the National Treasury.
Members of the Regional Development Council (RDC), Regional Peace and Order Council, and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council unanimously endorsed the proposal presented by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy is optimistic that the main offices of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and NEDA will consider the proposal since there are still many post-Yolanda unfunded projects.
The unspent budget is under the 2016 “Yolanda” Recovery and Reconstruction Program that “remained untapped and were not released until the expiration of the validity of the funds last Dec. 31, 2017,” Uy said during the quarterly Regional Project Monitoring Committee meeting.
The 2016 allocation was released late in 2016 or early 2017, giving the agencies less time to procure and obligate the funds within the year.
The consolidated unspent budget came from the calamity fund, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, quick response fund, automatic and supplemental appropriation, realignments and savings, and regular agency funds, among others.
These funds were not utilized as some agencies encountered issues in the procurement of “Yolanda” projects, such as processing of documents and usufruct agreement, according to NEDA.
Of the nine agencies and universities with unspent outlay, the top three with returned allocations are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P493.2 million), the Department of Agriculture (P114.14 million), and the Visayas State University (P80.05 million).
Others on the list are the Department of Public Works and Highways (P26.24 million), the Department of Health (P7.9 million), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (P4.34 million), the Leyte Normal University (P3.6 million), the Professional Regulation Commission (P178,745), and the Northwest Samar State University (P1,111).
In a letter, Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns Wendel Avisado recommended the use of the funds as subsidy for individual water service connections in all relocation sites, as proposed by the Local Water Utilities Authority.
“The subsidy is highly recommended as it is crucial in the sustainability and livability of the resettlement sites and is beyond the coverage of the regular national government subsidy to the agency,” Avisado said in his letter to the NEDA regional office here.
The P495-million water system project will only cover the extension of water distribution pipes, develop two new sources in the city’s northern villages, set up and repair old pumping stations, set up a new reservoir, upgrade the existing reservoir, and rehabilitate the city’s water pipes.
More than 14,000 families transferred to the northern part of the city will benefit from this water connection project.
Since the super typhoon struck in 2013, some P146.2 billion had already been released for post-disaster recovery in all affected areas in central Philippines. About 46 percent of the funds or P67.1 billion was intended for Eastern Visayas.
In the second quarter of 2018, the RDC in Eastern Visayas and NEDA Board Regional Development Committee for the Visayas passed a separate resolution requesting the Office of the President to facilitate the reallocation of reverted post-disaster funds.
(SARWELL Q.MENIANO/PNA)

NAVAL, Biliran- As part of the joint advocacy efforts of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for energy efficiency and conservation through the E-Power Mo Campaign, PIA-Biliran is set to conduct a special event dubbed as “Recycled Energy Saving Device Contest” for secondary students on Dec. 10 at the Naval Gymnasium.
This event is aimed at harnessing the capabilities and ingenuity of students in the secondary schools of the province to innovate energy saving device utilizing available recycled materials.
The activity is also expected to raise the awareness level of the students on their social responsibility particularly on proper waste management and of putting into viable economic enterprise out of available waste materials.
The contest is open to Grades 7 to 10 students in the public and private secondary schools in Biliran province.
Each school can submit only one official entry as a team composed of three students to be selected from the said grade levels with a coach.
The entry shall be made solely of recyclable materials, those that can still be processed to make a new item or material for energy saving purposes.
The production of contest entry is not only limited with the use of recyclable materials for its functionality, but can also use other means such as electricity, battery, and other energy sources, to aid in the utilization of the device.
The first place winner will receive P5,000 cash prize, second place winner will receive P3,000 and the third place winner will receive P2,000. All the three winners will also receive plaque of recognition.
Aside from the major prizes, special awards will also be given including some tokens to the participants.
The top three winning recycled energy saving devices will be turned over to their respective schools, however, the said winning devices can be put on display or used during special events like science and technology fairs.
Judging shall be based on the following criteria: Creativity – 35%, Usefulness – 30%; Originality – 25%, and Demonstration skills – 10%.
The judges of the contest will be composed of Engr. Saul Gonzales, Director of the DOE Visayas Field Office; Milfrance Capulong, Corporate Communications Officer of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)-Ormoc; Faustino V. Gayas, Jr., Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) –Biliran; Romeo Dignos, Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Biliran; and Engr. Gerado Oledan, General Manager of the Biliran Electric.(RODRIGO S. VICTORIA-PIA-8 BILIRAN)