CATBALOGAN CITY – In celebration of the 120th Philippine Independence Day Celebration this June 12, the city government here has lined up several activities which started with a clean-up drive dubbed as “Pintakasi para kan Pepe” held on Monday (May 28).
“The Pintakasi para kan Pepe involved repainting of the Rizal Monument and cleaning of the city plaza as part of the city’s preparation for the Independence Day,” Ador Hurtado, city tourism, culture, arts and information chief, said.
Catbalogan City has a unique Rizal Monument erected at the city plaza and sculpted by a local artist Miguel Alcazar.
The Rizal monument has a bust of the national hero on top of his two famous novel, ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ being lifted by three naked men.
The city government also conducted a simultaneous display of the Philippine Flag and encouraged the residents to do the same until the celebration of Independence Day on June 12.
Displaying of flag from May 28 to June 12 is mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 374 signed on March 6, 1965 to celebrate the victory of Philippine Revolutionary Army against Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan, in Imus, Cavite where troops led by General Emilio Aguinaldo recaptured the province of Cavite.
Hurtado said that aside from the pintakasi, the city government also organized a contest for its residents particularly the youth to rekindle the reason why the country is celebrating its independence.
The contest includes postcard-making contest dubbed as “Mga Hulagway ngan Siday tikang ha Catbalogan: A Literary Postcard-making Contest about Jose Rizal and the Philippine Independence” and the short video-making contest dubbed as “Katiglugaring: Vlogging Independence in 120 seconds” anchored on this year’s theme “Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan” for amateur vlogger and videographers.
The contest will also honor national hero Jose Rizal on his 157th birth anniversary on June 19.
Postcard-making contest has three category-division A (7-12 years old), division B (13-16 years old), and division C (17-21 years old).
Submission of entry is until June 10 at the City Tourism, Culture, Arts and Information Office.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- More than 4,100 teachers are needed in the region to fill up its vacancies for the incoming school year.
Of the 4,124 vacancies needed, 2,334 is or junior high school, 1,780 for kinder and elementary with the 10 remaining slots for senior high school.
Jasmin Calzeta, information officer of the regional Department of Education (DepEd), said that the vacancies have already given funding allocation by their central office.
She added that while she could not give exact data, there are applicants who want to fill up the vacancies from the 23 school divisions of the region.
“These vacancies are to be filled up for this school year. But while we have several applicants for these vacancies, still applicants, aside from passing the teachers’ board, they need to undergo hiring process like exams and demonstration,” she said.
The starting salary for teacher I is P21,000.
Calzita said that of the 4,124 vacancies of the region, Leyte has the highest teachers need at 1,291-683 for junior high school and 608 for kinder and elementary.
Northern Samar has the second highest need of teachers at 657-401 for junior high school and 256 for kinder and elementary.
Samar need 602 new teachers for junior high school (356) and kinder and elementary (246).
Among the cities of the region, Ormoc has the highest need at 237,135 for kinder and elementary and 102 for junior high school followed by Tacloban at 228-129 for kinder and elementary and 99 for junior high school.
Other provinces and cities that need new teachers in the region are Eastern Samar(184 for junior high school and 127 for kinder and elementary);Southern Leyte,170 for junior high school and 89 for kinder and elementary; Biliran,89 for kinder and elementary(60) and junior high school(29).
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

PhilHealth Regional Office 8 in partnership with the Department of Education Regional Office 8, implements the PhilHealth Learner’s Material for Grade 10 students in public schools.
This means that PhilHealth will now be discussed in MAPEH subject specifically under the Health component. The program was successfully pilot-tested in SY 2017-2018 in DepEd Southern Leyte.
The regional implementation to the rest of the 12 DepEd Divisions is slated this coming school year 2018-2019.
The program involves training the MAPEH Teachers handling Grade 10 students on the basics of the National Health Insurance Program and on the PhilHealth Learner’s Manual (PLM).
The PLM, certified by DepEd head office as compliant to the K to 12 curriculum for public schools, will serve as the reference of teachers when discussing PhilHealth to their students.
Currently, PhilHealth has already conducted 6 training sessions for nine (9) DepEd Divisions. The remaining divisions yet to undergo the training are Western Samar Division on May 29, Borongan City and Eastern Samar Divisions on June 1, 2018.
Among the objectives of the PLM is to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of PhilHealth and instil in them an appreciation of the social health insurance program. It is also expected that they will share their knowledge to their parents and other family members.
Even the MAPEH teachers themselves who have undergone the intensive training about PhilHealth have themselves become more informed and appreciative of the program.
Sheila Palacio of Kananga National High School-Rizal Campus said, “We are truly thankful to be part of this training as we learned a lot about PhilHealth which we can share to our students. We also appreciate the fact that PhilHealth is continuously reaching out to the members so they will be empowered and be able to avail of the benefits when needed.”
With the commitment and enthusiasm of the DepEd teachers, PhilHealth is assured that PLM will raise young advocates and champions among the Grade 10 students.
PhilHealth 8 Regional Vice President Renato Limsiaco Jr. said that, “I really pushed for the regional implementation of this program because I have seen how enthusiastic and receptive the teachers and students were during the pilot-implementation of PLM in Southern Leyte.”
RVP Limsiaco also added that, “I am very grateful for the wholehearted support of the DepEd Regional Office 8 under the helm of Dir. (Ramir) Uytico as well as the cooperation of the different DepEd Division Offices which ensured the successful implementation of the PLM in Eastern Visayas.”
(MIRAMAR P. ZABALA, PRO III)

TACLOBAN CITY-About 38 private schools in the region have sought for tuition fee increase for the incoming school year.
However, only 20 of these schools have been given approval by the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd), said its information officer Jasmin Calzeta.
According to her, the remaining 18 schools have failed to comply some needed requirements reason why their applications have yet to be approved by the DepEd.
Calzeta said that all the 20 schools sought for a 10 percent increase of their tuition fees for kindergarten up to senior high.
There are 301 private elementary and secondary schools, to include those offering senior high, operating across the region.
Calzeta said that 70 percent of the increase should go to the salaries and benefits of their teachers while the remaining 30 percent should be used to improve their facilities and for ROI (return on investment).
She added that of the 20 schools that were given approval to increase their tuition fees for school year 2018-2019, three are in Tacloban City, namely, Tacloban Vocational Christian School, Sacred Heart College and St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban; three from Northern Samar- Catarman Elementary School Foundation, Pearl Island Academy Foundation and St. Michael Academy; three in Leyte, were St. Joseph of Dagami, Dagami town; Assumption Academy of Tanauan and Holy Child Parish School of Isabel, Isabel town.
Also, four schools in Southern Leyte are to increase their tuition fees, Holy Rosary of Hinunangan, Hinunangan town; Hinundayan Catholic Institute, Hinundayan; Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy, Liloan and St. Joseph College in Maasin City.
Four are in Samar- St. Michael High School and MSH School Academy of Basey, Samar College in Catbalogan City, and La Milagrosa Academy in Calbayog City.
Three schools are in Eastern Samar, namely, St.Mary Academy of Guiuan, Guiuan and Holy Cross of Oras, and Our Lady Fatima Academy in General MacArthur.
“These schools were able to comply all the needed requirements reason why their applications for tuition fee increase was approved,” Calzeta said.
Among these requirements are a parent-teacher association (PTA) resolution indicating the proposed tuition fee increase; proof of notice received by the parents; proof of confirmation on the tuition fee increase by the parents; certification that there was consultation relative to the proposed tuition fee increase; and a financial statement showing the financial status of the school.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominic Petilla expressed his support to the newly chartered lions club in this city, the Tacloban Centennial Lions Club (TCLC).
Gov.Petilla said that the battle cry of the club is ‘service to the community’ which most of the people in the province needs.
“I really admire those who join this club because this is the club that I knew since I was young,” Petilla said.
He also appreciated the club for being active after the onslaught of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ not just on the relief stage but also on the rehabilitation phase.
“I know that Lions has been very active after Yolanda not just on the relief but on building homes for the victims just like people of San Isidro who received beautiful houses from this club and they are very happy for these houses they received,” Gov.Petilla said during his speech before members and officers of the TCLC held on May 26 at the Leyte Park Resort, this city.
Just like the Lions Club, Petilla said that community development is the flagship program of his administration, including human and family development.
“If you develop a human being, you must also cover all those who have influence to humans and the biggest influence to a person is his/her family. If you develop people to be good citizens, it will reduce crimes, increase production and protect our environment,” Petilla said.
“It’s an honor to be with you tonight because I know we share our malasakit in our community. If we are in the government, in the private sector, there is a lions club to help and serve those poor communities,” he added.
The governor said that he is hoping for a partnership with the TCLC in order to help and serve poor communities, especially in the province.
Aside from Gov. Petilla, Stephen Yap, the district governor of Lions Club International District 301-B2 also congratulated the new officers and members of the TCLC.
“Tacloban is a big progressive city but for the past 68 years, it has only one Lions Club, compare to other smaller neighboring cities like Ormoc City and Tagbilaran City that have five Lions Clubs each. So the addition of a second club to Tacloban is a welcome breakthrough to our district. More clubs means more members, more members means more service. Indeed the power of we,” Yap said in an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express.
“With the leadership of the Charter President, who I personally have witnessed how dedicated and passionate lion she is, I’m pretty sure this club will grow and be a successful club,” Yap added.
In order to survive, Yap advised the TCLC to invite more dedicated quality lions to be a part of the team, conduct orientations, organize fellowships to deeper camaraderie and do quality projects to attract more members to join.
Ruth Chua, past district governor of Lions Club International District 301-A1, also congratulated the new officers and members of the TCLC.
“Always be proud to wear the lions pins symbolizing as members; (be)proud to be part of the great service association. It is this pride in (our) hearts that will lead (us) towards respectable service; that will remind (us) to always protect our beloved association’s name (and) its proud history,” she said.
Lion Grace Cornista, Charter president of the TCLC, was thankful for the support she received from the provincial government and officials of District 301-B2 including the other clubs who graced the event.
Also elected as new TCLC officers are the following: Atty. Jose Van Tan, 1st vice president; Atty. Jasmine Vivero, 2nd vice president; Jane Cara Mae Roa, secretary; Jestoni Urbano, treasurer; Atty. Mar Francis Rebato, lion tamer; Romeo Dax Calamaya, lion tail-twister; and Christian Allair Matillano, PIO.
(RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)

TACLOBAN CITY- The kind of public that may find useful information contained in the technology-driven Starbooks has evolved, from schools to local government units and Negosyo Centers of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Thus remarked Edgardo Esperancilla, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional director, during the turn-over ceremony, orientation, and hands-on training of 15 Starbooks units Friday, May 25, at the regional office here.
Starbooks stands for Science and Technology Academic and Research-based Openly Operated Kiosks, and it has been duly acknowledged as the first digital library for science and technology in the Philippines.
It is a project that makes science, technology materials available especially in remote areas that have few information resources, no libraries, and no internet connectivity, according to a literature printed in a stand-up tarp.
Among the contents stored in Starbooks are How To materials left behind from the defunct Technology and Livelihood Research Center (TLRC), as well as other learning tools that users may use for their educational and professional needs, Esperancilla said.
Recipients during the turn-over on Friday were representatives of schools, Negosyo Centers in Southern Leyte and two other provinces in the region, an attached agency of the Visayas State University, and the PIA regional office.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by the respective agencies as part of the handing out of the technical gadgets, like wifi router, TV screen, vertical steel stand, and other minute accessories that compose the details of one Starbooks unit.
DOST purchased a total of 243 Starbooks units last year for a discounted price of P 12 Million using Yolanda funds, and the giving of 15 units last Friday was the last batch that was distributed, Esperancilla reported in his opening message.
In a follow-up interview, Esperancilla said the funds used to acquire the units were part of the P 76 Million livelihood proposal he had submitted. (MARCELO M.PEDALINO, PIA8-Southern Leyte)