NAVAL, Biliran-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) has recently completed nine school building projects that would benefit the students in four towns of the province.
The province of Biliran is composed of eight towns, namely, Almeria, Kawayan, Culaba, Caibiran, Cabucgayan, Biliran, Maripipi and Naval, the capital town.
In Culaba town, Biliran-DEO has completed the construction of a P3.1 million school building, a 1-storey 2-classroom structure, and construction of P4.5 million school building, 1-storey, 3-classroom both in Acaban Elementary School that would accommodate around 200 students of the said school.
The construction of P13.6 million,3-units 1 Storey 3 – classroom at the Bool Elementary School, also in Culaba, was also recently completed that will benefit about 360 students.
In the town of Caibiran, the district office has also completed the construction of a 1-storey 4-classroom in Caibiran Elementary School that will benefit at least 160 pupils.
About 120 pupils will also benefit the newly-completed construction of the 1-storey 3-classroom in Katipunan Elementary School of the same town.
The construction of the P4.4 million, 1-storey 3-classroom school building at Salangi Elementary School in Almeria town is also one of the schools that will benefit the newly completed building that can accommodate more or less 120 students.
About 80 students will also benefit on the newly-completed P3 million, 1-storey 2-classroom in Bato Elementary School in the town of Biliran.
Biliran DEO under the helm of District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr. has already conducted final inspections on these school building projects that are funded under Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) of FY 2017.
As per inspection, minor defects and deficiencies were noted by the inspectorate team.
Adongay orders contractors to immediately rectify the said defects and deficiencies of the building in order to turn over the projects in time so that it can be utilized by the end users.
Biliran DEO has a total of 71 school buildings implemented under 2017 BEFF. Out of this number, the district office has completed 53 with 17 on-going projects and one not-yet-started (NYS) with an overall accomplishment of 89.18% as of September 30, 2018. (PR)
DPWH-Biliran DEO complete construction of school buildings in four towns in said province
15 ‘nuisance’ candidates in Samar withdraw their certificates of candidacy
CALBAYOG CITY-At least 15 candidates bearing similar family names of leading and more established candidates in the province have voluntarily withdrew their certificates of candidacy at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The ‘nuisance candidates’ withdrew their candidacies together with their lawyers on October 20, just three days after the end of the five-day filing of the certificates of candidacy.
Provincial elections supervisor Corazon Montallana said that she welcomed the decision of these candidates to withdraw their candidacies saying this would stop the practice of some candidates to confuse their respective rivals.
Montallana said that under section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code, the Comelec, on its own or motu propio, could refuse to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy if it is shown that said certificate has been filed to put election process in mockery or disrepute or to cause confusion among the voters by the similarity of the names of the registered candidates.
By doing so, the candidates made it easy for the Comelec to identify legitimate candidates for the forthcoming May 13,2019 elections, Montallana added.
“As I observed, said act has become a practice because every elections, nuisance candidates (who files their certificates of candidacy) increases in number,” she said.
“I want this to stop because it becomes a culture that is not good to the entire province,” the provincial elections supervisor added.
Of the 15 candidates who withdrew their CoCs, one bears the surname Tan and Sarmiento, four Zosa for the position of governor, two Tan and four Sarmiento for the position of House of Representatives in the first district of the province, three with the surname Bolastig for the position of House Representatives in the 2nd district.
The Comelec had identified outgoing Rep. Milagrosa Tan and Emil Zosa as legitimate candidates for the position of governor.
Rep.Edgar Mary Sarmiento and Vice Gov. Stephen James Tan are considered to be the major candidates for the province’s first congressional district while Gov. Sharee Ann Tan and lawyer Christopher Bolastig are the acknowledged serious candidates for Samar’s second congressional district.
Montallana said that candidates coming from both parties should know the rules regarding fielding candidates with the same name as to their opponents. (JENNIFER D.SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)
EVRMC clarifies “No Balance Billing” policy, cadaver for sale issues
TACLOBAN CITY- After they have stayed and had been treated, indigent patients need to process still their bills before going home, not for their families to pay for it but for the hospital to complete the documents for submission to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for reimbursements.
This was how Dr. Salvador “Buddy” Evardone, chief of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) put it in a brief interview.
Evardone’s statement was in answer to a post that went viral which, according to him, could be a product of misinformation, inadequate to no information at all.
“In adherence to the policy of the Duterte Administration, EVRMC just like other hospitals, have not been charging indigent patients, contrary to the FB post, except of course when one opts to be admitted in a private or semi-private room. When so, hospital will charge and compute billings, but otherwise, hospitalization is free”, Evardone explained.
An example he cited on a Myoma operation of which P26,000 is paid by PhilHealth of the total P56,000 expense.
“If the papers are not complete and receipt is not retained at the Accounting Section, we shall have no document to submit to PhilHealth for payment, and with more reasons that we can hardly collect reimbursements, to help us in the sustenance of hospital operations”, Dr. Evardone said.
Thus, he appeals to non-paying patients to be responsible also and be cooperative and not just step-out immediately of the hospital once treated, all because they are fully aware of the “No Balance Billing” policy of the government.
“Let us help one another, EVRMC is imposing complete documentation because other patients are awaiting equal assistance from government through this “No Balance Billing”. When PHILHEALTH payment is delayed due to incomplete papers, other patients needing assistance, will be sacrificed also”, he pointed out.
Similarly, he appeals that for minor ailments, patients can go to rural health units (RHUs), district and provincial hospitals where drugs and medicines for minor diseases are made available by the Department of Health (DOH).
“A simple diarrhea may not be brought anymore to EVRMC because RHUs can treat it and medicines of the disease are available there”, he added.
The level up care he mentioned when level 1s and 2s could be done in provincial hospitals and RHUs while EVRMC takes charge of diseases that might be needing help of doctor-specialists.
On the “visiting hour” issue, Dr. Evardone seeks understanding on the limited space of the hospital.
“EVRMC has 450-beds but daily admission would not go less than 800. This is how congested our hospital is”, he further cleared out.
With the kind scenario, EVRMC implements the “one patient, one watcher” policy instead of more than two or three. Only one gate pass is issued to a watcher which entitles him to go and fro his patient’s bed, and when 8 pm strikes, all watchers are sent down to the waiting area at the lobby, until morning but “Visiting Hour” resumes at 9 am.
“This is also to protect the watchers from infections and give a peaceful environment of the in-patients who need ample and more time to rest and recover”, Evardone stressed.
This is only temporary, it was learned from Evardone because once the other two buildings are completed construction, more spaces can be provided for more rooms and beds of EVRMC’s patients.
Asked how true that cadavers are subjected to bidding process among operators of funeral parlors in the city, Evardone said it might have happened before but knowing the issue, he immediately met the people concerned and resolved the matter.
To effect immediately, ordered for security guards not to meddle in the affairs of the hospital because as outsourced, they are not part of the operation.
Only the nurses concerned and the doctor charge of the laboratory unit of the hospital are the only authorized persons to contact funeral parlors and never, a security guard, on duty or not. (PIA08-)
Tarsier turned-over to DENR, released into the wild
TACLOBAN CITY-A coconut land owner residing in Abucay, this city, turned-over a tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office 8.
Salvador Peliño and four other companions found the tarsier in his coconut plantation in Villa Magsaysay, Babatngon, Leyte. He said, “We were clearing the area of tall grasses when we saw the tarsier which we initially thought was a rat”.
He also disclosed that there were local residents who showed interest to take the tarsier as pet, but he refused. “I told them it’s best to turn-over the tarsier to authorities for it to be handled well”, he adds.
Per DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-15 dated May 22, 2004, Philippine Tarsiers are classified as “Other Threatened Species”.
This means that said species is under threat from adverse factors, such as over collection and is likely to move to the vulnerable category.
The DENR poses a stern warning against the collection, possession, and other acts contrary to the policy of the State to conserve the country’s wildlife resources and their habitat.
“Charges may be imposed to violators pursuant to RA 9147 or An Act Providing for the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and Habitats”, the Environment Department emphasized.
The tarsier identified by the DENR as female measures 33 cm. It was immediately released back into the wild to ensure that it will have the habitat necessary for survival.
In region 8, the Philippine tarsier is found in some parts of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
(MAITA REINA G. SUCGANG/PR)
Vice Gov. Loreto nixes congressional ambition; seeks reelection instead
BAYBAY CITY- Had someone filed for the position of vice governor, he could have submitted his certificate of candidacy (CoC) for Leyte’s fifth congressional district.
Thus said Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto who is sure to have his third and last term having no rival for the position he has been holding since 2013.
Loreto, a cousin of Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, filed his CoC at the last minute at the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on October 17, the last day of the five-day filing of CoC for those running for the May 13, 2019 elections.
He was accompanied by his wife, Joane Karen and daughter Margarette, and former Energy Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla, also a cousin and the acknowledged political kingmaker of the clan, when he filed his CoC for vice governor.
Rumors swirled that the vice governor was eyeing the congressional seat of the fifth district to be vacated by another cousin, Jose Carlos Cari.
Cari fielded his son, Carl Nicholas, currently federation president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen in Baybay City, as his possible successor.
The vice governor, in an interview, said that there was a ‘clamor’ from the mayors in the district for him to seek the congressional seat.
While he was pleased and encouraged of their clamor, which he said an indication of their trust and confidence in him as a political leader, Loreto said that he has to set it aside in order for him to avoid any possible ‘vacuum’ in the vice gubernatorial position as one has filed for said position.
“I was waiting for somebody to file for vice governor but since no one filed, it is unacceptable for me that there will be a vacuum in the vice gubernatorial post (if I will not file for the post),” Loreto said when asked why he did not pursue his reported plan to run for Congress.
Loreto said that had he chose to run for Congress, he would follow the footsteps of his father, Jose, and grandfathers Domingo Veloso and Eriberto Loreto.
The vice governor visited the tombs of his late father and grandfathers at Baybay cemetery to pay his respects to them.
Loreto, who is a lawyer by profession and an environmental advocate, is the current national vice president of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines (LVGP) for Visayas.
He also served as board member representing the fifth district for nine years before he was elected to his current position.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Calbayog City Mayor Aquino to deliver his Soca
By: Jennifer D. Sumagang-Allegado
CALBAYOG CITY- Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of this city is to deliver his State of the City Address (Soca) on Monday (Oct. 8) as he will report to his people what his administration has achieved and what he intends to accomplish.
Aquino, who is serving his second term as mayor of this city, is expected to deliver an hour-long Soca to be held at the Calbayog Sports Center at about 8 in the morning.
Aquino’s delivery of his Soca coincides with the celebration of the city’s 70th founding anniversary on October 16.
Expected to be given focus by Mayor Aquino on his Soca is his campaign to attract more investors to the city as this could result to employment for the local people.
He boasted that it was under his term that shopping malls opened in the city which generated not only additional income to the city government but more so, employment to its people.
Super Metro and Grand Gaisano have opened their businesses in Calbayog hiring in the process thousands of local workers.
Mayor Aquino, in an interview days before he delivers his Soca this Monday, said that the number of investors in Calbayog is expected to increase as many investors have signified their intention to put up their businesses in the city, considered Samar’s gateway.
Seacat, a fast craft will soon operate in the city which will ply the Cebu-Calbayog route.
Mayor Aquino added that Glacier storage facility will also operate in the city as he disclosed that another investor is also interested to put up a storage business in Calbayog.
“We need this kind of business as this will be a big help especially to our fishermen,” Aquino said.
The city mayor also said that he would also further develop the city’s tourism attractions by improving road access leading to these sites.
With an improved tourism road access, it would now be easy for tourists to visit these sites, the city mayor added.
“How can we attract potential tourists if we don’t have facilities; if we will not develop our tourism sites?” Aquino said.
In particular, he cited the ongoing development works of roads and facilities in Malajog Beach, Tarangnan Falls and Bangon Falls.
Records of the City Tourism Office has shown a remarkable increase of tourists visiting the city for the past months.
Last year, about 115,995 tourists arrived in Calbayog of which 109,242 were local tourists with the 6,753 were foreigners.
And for the first semester of this year, at least 72,351 guests, both local and foreigners, visited the city, providing additional income to the city’s tourism-related establishments.
The city mayor added that with the redevelopment of the Calbayog City Airport, more tourists and investors are to be expected to come to the city as it would now be easy for them to travel to Calbayog City, now considered among the country’s fast growing cities.
“If given the chance to serve the city again, I will continue all the projects and programs that the city deserves, to attract more tourists and investors to come and do business in Calbayog,” Aquino, who is serving on his second term, said.
Aquino also bared that once completed, the P200 million development of the Aquit-itan Development Project will be an additional attraction of the city for investors as it was designed as the city’s new commercial area.
With this project, a resettlement site, located in Barangay Basud, will be developed to relocate the 71 families who will affected by the project.
A new government center will also be constructed in Brgy. Bagacay where presently a terminal and a public market are located.
Mayor Aquino also said that cacao production will also be improved considering its increasing demand in the market.
“Cacao is very demanding, as of now, we have at least 200 hectares of land cultivated for cacao, and we are thankful to Calbayognons for the response and support to the program,” he said.
Aquino likewise shared that the city fully supports the commercial fishing ban being implemented in the Samar Sea.
“The alliance created with other LGUs surrounding the Samar Sea was cited in the national level, and we will continue to protect the Samar Sea,” the city mayor said.
His administration is also giving focus in the education sector by addressing its needs, Mayor Aquino said.
For one, his administration has initiated a project dubbed as Project Shuttle All Kids and Youngsters Needing Assistance (SAKAY NA) which is now operating for almost 12 years and has contributed to high enrolment rate of the Department of Education Calbayog City Division.
The city government hired buses to transport students from their barangays to the nearest school where they attend classes.
Aside from that, the city government continue in supporting the sports program of the division.
Just this year, Calbayog City successfully hosted the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet.
“We fully support the needs of our schools. We allocated P5,000 for each school, elementary and high school, as a support to the Brigada Eskwela that is every year,” the city mayor said.
He was happy to share that under his administration a lot of integrated schools have been created.
Meantime, city planning and development officer Reo Marquez, in a separate interview, said that the present administration of Mayor Aquino has followed the programs and projects that were identified in the master plan made by former city mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.
“The projects that were implemented by Mayor Aquino was same as those in the master plan prepared during the administration of then Mayor Mel Sarmiento and we just conceptualized a program for the implementation under his administration,” Marquez said.
The administration’s focus, he said, would be Responsive Programs for Advancement: Projects for Urban Renewal and Expansion for Calbayog Now and Onward.
Marquez said that Mayor Aquino will focus on urban renewal which include road opening, making it accessible for people coming from remote villages reach the city center.