CARIGARA, Leyte – The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) has completed the P49 million slope protection project along a landslide prone road section in Barangay Lemon, Capoocan, Leyte.
The concrete wall protecting the national highway from landslide covers a total length of 350 meters and a height of 8 meters. The department also rehabilitated the canal along this structure.
According to Gerald Pacanan, DPWH Leyte 2 district engineer, this section along Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road accommodates a huge number of motorists and travelling public everyday as it connects to major cities in the province, Tacloban and Ormoc.
“This will prevent major soil erosions that could endanger the properties and lives of the people utilizing the highway,” he added.
The permanent concrete structure will provide slope stability, thus avoiding abrupt collapse of weakened slope brought upon by heavy downpour and natural ground movement.
In December 2017, one lane of this particular road section was left impassable to traffic due to a landslide and after a portion of the road collapsed during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Urduja.
“In the recent years, the country has experienced series of strong typhoons and earthquakes that have caused major damages and casualties. That is why the department continuously implements quality infrastructure projects that could safeguard the life of every Filipino,” said Pacanan.
In Leyte 2, Capoocan is among the high-risk towns susceptible to landslides, along with some inland villages in Burauen, La Paz, and Mac Arthur based on the geo-hazard assessment conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
DPWH builds slope protection along landslide prone highway in Leyte
3 Tacloban villages declared winners in the search for astray and rabies-free barangays
TACLOBAN CITY- The National Rabies Awareness Month Celebration in the city government of Tacloban was capped with the awarding ceremony of the winners of the “Search for Astray and Rabies Free Barangay” held at the USAID Training Center on March 29, 2019.
The team leaders of the 5 evaluating teams together with Dr. Eunice Alcantara, Dr. Rogiel Mahait and Dr. Johdel Ty of the City Veterinary Office after thorough deliberations unanimously selected Barangays 36-A Imelda Village, 44 Sta. Cruz St./Quarry District and 43-A Quarry District as the grand winners of the Contest.
Each of the barangay received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize worth P10,000.
Chairmen Rebecca Obenieta (Brgy. 36-A), Marilou Tiu (Brgy. 44) and Evelyn Magalona (Brgy. 43-A) each gave their impressions of the event.
Tiu committed to continuing the campaign against rabies in her barangay through a barangay-based search for Astray/Rabies Free Households and regular film-showing event about the dreaded disease in her barangay.
Consolation prizes were also given to seven barangays, namely Brgys. 71 Naga-Naga, 81 Marasbaras, 109 V&G, 92 Apitong and 17 Gomez St; each received plaque of participation and a cash prizes of P7,000.
Brgy. 83-A Burayan and Brgy. 39 Siren District both received plaque and cash prizes worth P5,000.
The barangays were rated using the following criteria: record of dog population survey (10 points), adoption of the barangay of the city ordinance (15 points), record of barangay blotter of animal bite cases (10 points), record of negative results of samples submitted to RADDL (Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory) (10 points), rabies awareness posters in strategic places in the barangay (10 points), negative human/animal cases for the past five years (15 points), record of dog registration/vaccination (10 points) and on-site evaluation/enumeration of stray dogs (20 points).
According to City Veterinary Officer Dr. Eunice Alcantara, the contest was the first ever held in the entire Country.
Alcantara likewise disclosed that for almost 15 years there was no human transmission of rabies recorded in Tacloban City.
The last recorded case was in 2004, and she hopes that Tacloban City will finally be declared nationally as a “rabies-free city.”
The success of the anti-rabies campaign in Tacloban is due to the unwavering support of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez to the Veterinary Office.
Mayor Romualdez was represented by Executive Assistant Dr. Teofila Brosas who was one of the Award presenters.
Last year, the CVO was awarded by the Department of Health Regional Office 8 as the Best Performing local government unit in the region for the Rabies Awareness and Control Program.
(R.CALIPARA/CIO)
Sandiganbayan dismisses graft case against Rep. Mila Tan
Now a candidate for Samar governor
TACLOBAN CITY- Samar Rep. Milagrosa ‘Mila’ Tan was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan on a complaint filed against her over alleged irregular purchase of medical and dental supplies while she was still the governor.
In a decision released on March 29, the anti-graft court said that the prosecution failed to establish that Tan committed graft and malversation of public funds involving P69 million.
The said act happened in 2007 while she was the governor of the province.
“There is no evidence that the drugs and medicines purchased were overvalued nor was there any showing of the accepted, appropriate or standard prices for the items. The court cannot merely speculate,” the Sandiganbayan said on its 67-page decision.
Associate Justice Geraldine Faith Econg penned the decision concurred by Associate Justices Efren dela Cruz and Edgardo Caldona.
The decision of the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan came out as Tan was gearing for her campaign on her bid to replace her daughter, Sharee Ann Tan, as governor of the province.
The younger Tan is running for the congressional post to be vacated by her mother.
Aside from Tan, also cleared by the Sandiganbayan were her co-defendants, namely, Roselyn Larce, Bienvenido Sabenecio Jr., Francasio Detosil, Ariel Yboa, Rolando Montejo, and George Abrina.
The Sandiganbayan has also ordered the release of their respective bail bonds and directed the Bureau of Immigration to remove them from the hold departure list.
Tan allegedly took advantage of her position as governor when she purchased various drugs, medicines, and dental supplies from Zybermed Medi Pharma owned by private respondent Larce between March 28 and August 21, 2007.
The Sandiganbayan, on its ruling, said that the questioned supplies were delivered and distributed to the people and a regular bidding was conducted.
Tan was earlier found guilty by the Fourth Division of Sandiganbayan on the alleged anomalous procurement of emergency supplies worth P16 million in 2001 when she was the governor of the province.
She posted bail for this case. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
First hanging hammock adventure opens in Eastern Samar
TACLOBAN CITY- One can now enjoy watching the sunset while one is sitting in a hammock at Bantayan cliff off Ando Island in Borongan City.
“Welcome to the newest playground in Eastern Visayas, the Huplag Adventure in Ando Island off Borongan City,” said Butz Eguia, an expert tour guide in Eastern Visayas.
Eastern Samar provincial tourism officer Franklin Robedizo said the adventure activities at Bantayan cliff, Ando Island was opened since last year.
“The ‘duyan’ or hammock was opened for public since March last year but they have been doing rappelling activities before that,” said Robedizo.
Eleazar Labtic of Huplag adventure is its operator and event manager.
“The provincial tourism office is supporting Eleazar for his passion on his craft, the new tourism playground with its eco-friendly site,” Robedizo said.
He also said that Eastern Samar Governor Marcelo Picardal through the Provincial Tourism Office “regularly sponsors some of the events conducted thereat.”
Meanwhile, Eguia said they are also assessing the tourism services offered in the island being part of the Eastern Visayas Tourism Association (EVTA), a Department of Tourism (DOT)-recognized group which aims to strengthen the working relationships of allied tourism services in the region from tour guiding, training sectors, souvenirs, events, and conventions.
“The good thing is they are receptive to the improvement we offered,” said Eguia, the EVTA secretary.
“Their package deal is P2,200 per person with a boat ride to and fro mainland Borongan, then tent rental, hammock ride, rappelling, island food, and island survival skills training,” Eguia said.
Adventure seekers can also do some birding at the same time be amazed by a varied selection of sturdy coastal flora on the island, he said.
Rhoel Ladera, EVTA’s public information officer, said they will be helping Labtic in terms of marketing to better improve the tourism in Eastern Samar.
“We will offer a package for the hanging hammock,” said Ladera who also runs his own tour business.
The boat ride from Borongan to the island is approximately 30 minutes.
From Ando island port, one has to walk or trek to the Bantayan cliff for 15- 20 minutes.
(RONALD O. REYES)
100 complete Jobstart training in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY- A total of 100 Jobstarter program trainees successfully graduated from the six-month full cycle training in this city last March 29.
The graduates represented the first batch of the partnership program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the local government of Tacloban which aims to increase the employability of the youth through technical and skills training.
Present during the graduation held at the Fatima Parish Hall in Tacloban was Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Emilia Cruz, Cooperation Embassy of Canada Head Stephen Weaver, DOLE North Leyte Field Office Head Bernardita Navarra and Bureau of Local Employment Representative Roanna Kyra Querijero.
Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez was represented by Executive Assistant Atty. Marie Ronette Salve Barreda who read the message of the mayor exhorting the Jobstart trainees to use their full potential and not take the opportunity for granted.
“We hope that you will not take this opportunity for granted. Paniguro kita ngan ayaw naton sayanga ine nga oportunidad. Hinaot unta Nga makabulig a Jobstart para makabiling kamo hin trabaho ngan makabulig han iyo pamilya,” the message read.
The Chief Executive likewise lauded the generous partners of the local government in the program which is being implemented for the first time in the City.
The jobstarter completers started their training last September 2018 until March 20, 2019.
Before their 3-month internship on food and beverage in a partner business establishment, the trainees first underwent a 55-day Life Skills and Technical Training.
The life skills training is an essential component of the full-cycle employment facilitation service which offers one-on-one career guidance among the beneficiaries.
At the end of the training, the completers received their National Competency (NC) II Accreditation from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The jobstart partner establishments are McCarol Ventures, Pinutos Express Kuisin, Taytay Sa Kauswagan, Stephanie Smoke Haus, Mang Inasal and McDonalds. (HENRY JAMES ROCA with a report from D. ABARQUE)
Sen. Villar nixes post as Senate president
BAYBAY CITY- Senator Cynthia Villar said that she does not aspire to become a Senate president.
Villar made this remark in an interview here after she urged the women of this city to become empowered during the culmination program of the Women’s Month celebration Sunday (March 31).
“Ano ang gagawin ko doon (as Senate president).Magma-manage ng mga senador? Gusto ko bumalik sa committee on agriculture kasi ito yung most challenging,”she said during a media interview.
While the House of Representatives has elected a woman for speaker in former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Senate has yet to produce a woman president.
Aside from Villar, the current women in the Senate are Nancy Binay, Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, and Laila de Lima, now detained for drug-related charges.
The current Senate president is Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto who is to end his term this June 30,2019.
Villar’s husband, Manny, served as Senate president in 2006 until 2010 where he ran for President, losing to senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino.
Villar, in her speech before the 3,000 women who gathered at the city’s gymnasium led by Mayor Carmen Cari, said that she would like to see women become empowered by having their own source of income of their own, thereby lessening their dependency to their husbands.
Sen. Villar asked the women to have their own income adding that there are livelihood programs that they could avail.
“It’s my advocacy, especially for women,” she said.
Villar, among the strong favorites to win based on various pre-election surveys on the May 13 elections, said that she would continue to push for the improvement on the living conditions of the country’s farmers reason why she would like to keep the chairmanship on the committee on agriculture.
“Poverty remains to be the biggest problem of the country,” she said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)