LGU to appeal the decision

TACLOBAN CITY-The Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) regional office issued a notice of violation against the city government of Catbalogan for allegedly dumping dirty water and solid wastes that go directly to Maqueda Bay, a major body of water in Samar province.
Based on its ruling dated September 13 of this year, the EMB in a decision signed by Regional Director Letecia Maceda, said that the city government violated Republic Act 9275 or the ‘Clean Water of 2004,’ and Administrative Order 2016-8 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) known as ‘Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards.’
The alleged dirty water and sludge were from the public market of the city which is located in Barangay San Roque.
The said public market, involving around 300 stall owners, is a temporary facility as the original site, located in Barangay 13(Poblacion 11), is under construction being developed by the Primark Town Center under the private-public partnership entered by the city government.
“After a careful evaluation of the investigation report, the office records, and such all records relevant to the case, this Office finds respondent liable for both of the violations…that there being substantial evidence to support the conclusion that a prima facie exists against respondent,” the EMB, on its five-page ruling, said.
This action of the EMB-8 was prompted on a complaint-letter dated on May 27 filed by one Plaridel Oscar Bohol, a lawyer and resident of the city.
On June 3, personnel from the EMB conducted their investigation which issued its findings, among others: that the waste water coming from the different stalls goes into the drainage system and drains directly to the sea; no waste water treatment was installed; and improper waste disposal was observed.
But these findings of the EMB is being questioned by the city government through Edgardo Guya, city environment and natural resource officer.
Guya, in a phone interview, said that they were surprised on this EMB ruling saying that they have instituted the necessary precautionary measures to avoid that the Maqueda Bay would not be polluted.
For one, they have installed what he called ‘holding tanks’ where the waste waters coming from the vendors are being deposited.
And in turn, he said, these waste waters are treated using bio-enzymes so these could still be used.
Guya also said that they have also advised the vendors to impound their wastes waters and placed in a container and disposed them properly and not directly to Maqueda Bay.
The official also said that City Mayor Dexter Uy also asked for a thorough clearing operation to ensure the orderly and cleanliness of the area.
Guya said that they will be seeking for a reconsideration on this findings of the regional office of the EMB before its adjudication board- Manila which will rule on what possible sanctions would be meted against the city government of Catbalogan.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

As part of the 2020 ID system policy

TACLOBAN CITY-This early, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) here in the region is asking individuals who have no live birth records to register themselves as they are readying for the implement the national ID system program July of next year.
Wilma Perante, PSA regional director, said that while Eastern Visayas is not part of the first regions in the country where the Philippine Identification System ID (PhilSys ID) is to be tested, they are encouraging those who have no records with their office to have themselves registered.
This way, they would not find any difficulties once the program will be rolled out starting on July,2020.
Perante, speaking during the weekly media forum ‘Kapihan ha PIA” on Thursday(Sept.26),they estimated that out of more than 4 million people of the region, 10 percent of them have no birth records at their office.
Around 90 percent of the people of the region have records with their office, using their registration level.
Thus, she said, they are asking them to register with their office under the early registration process being offered by the government.
Perante said that they are asking all the people of the region to cooperate, especially those who have no records with their office.
“We encourage those who have no live birth (record) to register under the late registration (policy) which is needed under the program before we implement it on July, 2020,” the PSA regional head said.
She said that those who will have no ID under the program, which is to be completed by 2022, are likely to be left out from programs being offered by the government where IDs are required.
“They will not benefit the programs of the government that requires an ID,” she said.
Perante said that under the program, all citizens of the country, from zero to 100 years old or more, to include the indigenous peoples (IPs), are required to enroll under it.
She said that basic informations of a person like his name, birthday, and address, among others, are those contain in the ID.
This early, Perante assured the public that all data contained under the ID will not be used for any sinister purpose but merely to have a single identification cards for all Filipinos.
“All informations contain in the ID will be strictly confidential as we adhere to the Data Privacy Act,” the PSA-8 director said.
Some sectors have expressed their opposition to the national ID system program of the government saying this could be used against them by the government.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

PALO, Leyte- A convicted person freed under the controversial implementation of the good conduct time allowance (GCTA) law voluntarily surrendered on Saturday (September 14) to police in Baybay City.
Authorities said that around 5 p.m. Saturday, Arnel Corcino, 28, single and a resident of the city voluntary surrendered himself to Baybay City Police Station.
Corcino was sentenced on January 20, 2016 by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 in Baybay for the crime of murder.
He was released from Leyte Regional Prison (LRP), Abuyog, Leyte on June 8, 2019 under Republic Act 10592 pursuant to the Department of Justice approval as per memorandum dated 19 March 2019 from Undersecretary Nicanor Faeldon, director general of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).
His certificate of discharge from prison was dated June 8, 2019.
(RONALD O. REYES)