BORONGAN CITY- In order to ensure the proper utilization of funds, efficiency, effectivity and impact on the beneficiaries’ lives of “Dukwag Agrikultura” project, the city government of Borongan, signed a 3-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Extension Program.
Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda and ESSU president, Dr. Ed Campoto, inked the binding document at the Faculty House of the university, in the presence of Vice Mayor Emman Tiu Sonco, SP Members Bryan Suyot and Kathlyn Cainday, Evelyn Amit Corado, director for extension program, the finance group of the city government and other officials of ESSU.
The MOU indicates the respective roles of the two parties for the successful implementation of “Dukwag Agrikultura.”
In her brief presentation, Amit Corado explained to the body, the important role that ESSU would play, in the next six years or so, for the realization of Dukwag’s objective that is mainly focused on the farmers’ improved production.
Primarily, Dukwag envisions beneficiaries to produce more than their families’ consumption so they can engage in small to medium entrepreneurial activities.
However,Amit Corado pointed out that it is vital to the program’s success, that  both farmer-beneficiaries and project implementers undergo trainings  before the roll-out, to somehow ensure its success.
She said that it is imperative to find out first the farmers’ weaknesses so that these can be addressed as these could probably be the reasons why many of government’s assistance to farmers in previous years flop.
“Basic Financial Literacy is one thing that beneficiaries of government assistance must know,” Amit Corado said.
“Other general skills in farming, marketing, even values reorientation must be acquired by the beneficiaries, for funding agencies to be ensured of program’s outcomes and impacts,”she added.
“How farmers’ strengths and weaknesses can be determined, will have to be revealed in the results of a pre-test to be administered soon,” Amit Corado concluded.
Improving the living condition of the farmers in Borongan is one of the priority program of the Agda administration.
And in his message, Mayor Agda articulated the need to increase production of farm products, given the high prices of agricultural goods in the market.
“More than 60% of family income and of our farmers are spent in food consumption, thus, the City Government is bent to realize the goals of Dukwag Agrikultura,” the city mayor said.
He added that he is thankful to the new breed of leaders at the City LGU, because like him, the SP members are after the welfare of the public, the farmers, which very much facilitated the passage of Dukwag Ordinance.
He is certain that “Dukwag” will not only cause business-minded farmers, but it can also propel the production and graduation from college of many graduates in agricultural courses.
With the assistance that will be extended by ESSU, Mayor Agda sees a brighter future of the Borongan farmers, through “Dukwag’s” lending program, in farm implements, mechanization and technical assistance.
It was also learned that apart from ESSUs independent assessment, monitoring and evaluation activities, the CLGU will also organize its own team to assess “Dukwag Agrikultura’s” implementation.
(BORONGAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

TACLOBAN CITY – The main public plaza in Catbalogan City has been refurbished by adding more attractions like fountains and colorful lights around the facility.
The beautification of the city park was funded under the Green Green Program of the Department of Budget and Management allocated in 2019 with an amount of P12 million with the city government providing its counterpart of P10 million.
The improvement was geared towards the development of public open spaces among cities in the country.
Major features of the improvement were the installation of greeneries in the inner portion of the plaza as well as vertical gardens behind the stage, the installation of water fountains and lighting fixtures, to further highlight its unique Rizal statue, considered as a cultural heritage of Catbalogan.
“This project was supposed to be completed in August but due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic the project’s completion was delayed,” Mayor Dexter Uy said.
Uy added that the opening of the new city plaza is timely with the celebration of Christmas providing the city residents a place to visit and give a refreshing atmosphere in this time of pandemic.
The city mayor appealed to the public who have will visit the newly-improved city plaza to observe the minimum health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 like proper wearing of face masks, and face shield, including physical distancing.
“I hope that this will not be a cause for the increase of COVID-19 cases in the city but rather will remind us that there is hope despite we are facing this pandemic,” Uy said.
The mayor also appealed to keep the plaza always clean, by avoiding loitering, and destroying the structures.
Mayor Uy added that improving the Catbalogan City plaza was conceptualized by his elder sister, former mayor and now Councilor Stephany Uy-Tan.
Catbalogan is one of the 144 local government units in the country that are recipient of the DBM project that aims to make their place livable and sustainable.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

DepEd says it is on a voluntary basis

TACLOBAN CITY-At least 14 schools in the region were identified by the Department of Education (DepEd) as pilot schools for its face-to-face classes.
Jasmin Calzita, regional information officer of DepEd, said that of the 14 schools identified in the region, eight are in Samar province; and three each from the provinces of Southern Leyte and Leyte.
She, however, could not say yet as to how many students would be participating for this face-to-face classes setup as this would be ‘voluntary’ especially on the part of the parents.
“This is purely voluntary so we cannot yet determine how many will volunteer,” Calzita said.
She also declined to identify the schools where the face-to-face classes will be piloted January next year which is to last for a month.
Due to the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, classes in the region and the rest of the country are being conducted either through online or modular to ensure that students and teachers would not acquire the dreaded virus.
It was learned that the schools identified as pilot areas for the face-to-face classes are located in areas considered as ‘low risk areas’ in terms of the coronavirus disease(COVID-19)cases; readiness of the school and its teachers and staff; request of the barangay or from the local government itself; and from no to low internet connection.
Meantime, the Department of Health in the region said that Eastern Visayas’ number of COVID-19 cases is now at 9,900 as 57 new cases were added on Friday.
Of the 57 new cases, 37 are from Leyte province; 13 from Samar; three each from Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar provinces; and one from Northern Samar.
The virus has already claimed 109 lives.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)