TACLOBAN CITY– The song ‘Dungga an Sulod’ composed and performed by Kargada 85 bagged the top prize of the rap competition staged during this year’s ‘peace and quite’ event held last March 29.

Kargada 85 is one of the 25 rappers from all over the region that participated in the biggest music and art festival for peace organized by the Tacloban City Police Office, 8th Infantry Division, Hands of Our Children Movement (HOOCM), Office of Civil Defense, Istilo, WaRap, Pitad Kultura Waraynon in partnership with Robinsons Mall.

Kargada 85 won P5,000 and gadget and also bagged the HOOCM-Eastern Visayas special award.

‘Warasik’ that bagged 2nd place and ‘Celestial Poets,’ the 3rd place.

The Peace and Quiet rap contest was held on March 29 as part of the initiative of the government against the insurgency problem. It coincided with the 54th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“Nandito tayo hindi para makisaya sa kanila. Nandito tayo to condemn their atrocities. Nandito tayo ngayon to condemn their deceptions,” PLtCol Michael Palermo, Tacloban city police director, said in his message during the event.

Palermo said that Tacloban City is among the white areas where the CPP-NPA operates and targets students for recruitment to join their group.

He added that the holding of the rap contest is one way to touch the hearts and minds of the youth thru music and inform them to be mindful and be aware of deceptions that are being made by some groups who victimizes students to become part and member of the communist group.

Aside from the rap competition, winners for the Likha Arts Competition was also announced which include the artwork of Aldrin Mercado called the ‘Brave Men’ in 3rd place, ‘Regret and Redemption’ of Eduardo Labana in 2nd place, and ‘Take My Hand’ of Elliele Jeed Labana in 1st place.

The art work made by Al Constantino called ‘Bring My Father Back Home’ bagged the juror’s choice award while Jay-ar Larido’s ‘Bomdora: Without Peace We Die’ bagged the Stormtroopers Award. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) joins the annual celebration of Women’s Month with the theme, “WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society”.

In line with this, employees follow the “Purple Wednesdays” campaign by wearing purple, a color that symbolizes women empowerment, every Wednesday to show support for women’s rights.

In addition, the DEO also organized a one-hour Zumba exercise activity for its employees every week in partnership with a certified Zumba instructor. This activity promotes physical wellness and camaraderie while also showcasing female employees’ strength and resilience.
To further show their support, snacks were also distributed among female employees after every Zumba activity as a small gesture to acknowledge the contributions of women in the workplace and to show appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

By commemorating this month-long observance, the DEO, which is dedicated to promoting gender equality, seeks to foster a work environment where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. (PR)

ORMOC CITY-A Grade IV pupil from Albuera, Leyte ruled the Aquathlon 9-10 (swim-run) category of the first stage of the Iron Kids competition held on March 25 in Davao City.
Francis Gabriel Batican, 10, and enrolled at the Albuera North Central School defeated nearly 300 other competitors.

The category consisted of 150 meters swim and 1.5 kilometers run.
Batican got interested in the sport in the early age of eight because he was influenced by his elder brother Ryan who is also a runner, while their father Reynante was coaching them both.

The kid’s idea of joining the event came when he was in Ormoc City and saw some of his teammates in running from Albuera Team were participating in the sport called triathlon and aquathlon held at the in Ormoc City Plaza stage.

Since then, the boy started practicing every day and the fruit of what he was dreaming paid off when he was declared the champion of the Iron Kids 9-10 category.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– Another laying of asphalt overlay project is ongoing along the portion of Mayorga – La Paz road section.

The Leyte Second District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported that a total of P10.17 million under asset preservation program – preventive maintenance has been allotted to cover the 1.86 lane kilometers of asphalt overlay and application of reflectorized thermoplastic marking on top of the existing pavement surface in the villages of Calipayan and Mabini, both in Mayorga town, Leyte.

Leo Edward Oppura, district engineer, said that the project engineers were directed to take advantage of the good weather in implementing the project, especially on the preventive maintenance projects and particularly on the asphalt overlay projects, which need dry weather for the laying of asphalt paving mixture.

Asphalt overlays provide a smooth road, improve the ride quality, reduce noise levels, and reduce the full life cycle costs of the surface.

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 now that the road has been improved.

The project’s implementation started on February 17, 2023 and is expected to be completed on or before April 4, 2023. It is funded under the DPWH-CY 2023 General Appropriations Act.

Aside from this project, the district office is also implementing an asphalt overlay project in Barangay Bonifacio, also this town along the road portion of the Mayorga-La Paz road section.

The Mayorga-La Paz road section, classified as a tertiary road, measures 5.975 kilometers, with the junction in Daang Maharlika and Burauen town proper.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)