MAASIN CITY – Nine flood control structures with a total funding of over P173 million will be completed next month in the bid to curb overflowing and erosion in Southern Leyte province, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field office here reported.
DPWH Southern Leyte district engineering office (SLDEO) chief Ma. Margarita Junia said they have been expediting the construction of embankments along riverbanks and coastlines in critical sections and populated villages as rainy season approaches.
These flood mitigation structures are located in Guinsangan in Bontoc town (22.54 million) , Lawigan in St. Bernard(P27.93 million), Biliran in Malitbog (P24.50 million), Bitanhuan in Libagon (P19.60 million), Das-ay in Hinunangan town (P22.54 million), and Marayag in San Francisco town (P24.5 million).
Also targeted to be completed this August is the riverbank protection project in Concepcion-1 (P19.89 million), San Vicente Section 2 (P6.86 million), and San Juan Section 2 (P5.19 million), all in Sogod town.
“The construction of flood control is always included in our priority development projects. We believe it is the permanent solution to safeguard the lives and properties of the residents living near rivers and other flood-prone areas,” Junia said.
Flood control structures not only prevent flooding in the river’s adjacent areas but also protect against scouring or erosions along riverbanks, according to DPWH.
DPWH Southern Leyte has 24 flood control projects this year with a total budget of P458.65 million. Last year, the field office implemented six flood control projects along Subang Daku River in Sogod town with P278.24 million allotment. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- Tacloban City bags as the 1st place in this year’s Regional Gawad Kalasag Award which is held every July of the year as part of the disaster awareness month.
The awarding ceremony was held on July 31 at the Summit Hotel July 31, 2018 during the 20th Gawad Kalasag.
Proud of the performance of the Tacloban Rescue Unit (Tacru), City Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez congratulated the disaster team for garnering the 1st place Gawad Kalasag Award.
Mayor Romualdez, in an interview, revealed that she herself encourages the Tacru team to continue their dedicated efforts and be the instrument of disaster risk reduction management.
“May you be effective in your endeavors, we should be always in a disaster preparedness mood or rather mode,” Mayor Romualdez added.
Tacru, Tacloban’s rescue unit working hand in hand with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council chaired by Mayor Romualdez and supported by Leyte 1st District Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez responds to emergency cases within the city and neighboring municipalities.
Tacru received P50,000 and a plaque of appreciation from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (RDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD-8) which headed by Henry Anthony Torres as its prize.
The awarding ceremony was attended by OCD Deputy Administrator for Operation Asec. Nicanor Faeldon, who in his speech, commended the winners of the Gawad Kalasag Award.
Tacru has assisted various disaster awareness events such as the Barangayan medical mission; as stand-by medic for the various fun run events held in the city; conducted trainings on standard first aid; basic life support; urban search and rescue; mountain search and rescue; water search and rescue; hosted the recently held two-day Regional Rescue Jamboree 2018 at the Tacloban Astrodome and Patio Victoria and conducted various simulation drills at Rizal Central School, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Tacloban National Agriculture School & Nula-Tula Elementary School and assisted the CPR For Life led by the city government of Tacloban at the Tacloban Astrodome.
TACRU Team Leader Lotlot Raagas, in an interview, thanked the OCD-8 for the trust and for believing in their cause; TACRU’s number one benefactor, Rep. Romualdez; the city government of Tacloban through Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez and the guidance and courage extended by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management (CDRRMC) Officer Ildelbrando Bernadas; and all their volunteers for their hard work and sacrifices.
Gawad Kalasag (meaning Kalamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kaligtasan) celebrated its 20th Gawad Kalasag Regional Awards in Tacloban City in recognition to the outstanding contributions rendered in disaster risk reduction and humanitarian assistance.
(GAY GASPAY, TISAT)

PALO, Leyte – The 40-year-old National Food Authority (NFA) regional office building here has been undergoing major repair after several calamities weakened its foundation.
NFA Regional Manager Henry Tristeza said the P12 million major facelift of their office that started last May will be completed in November.
“This is the first major rehabilitation building after a fire incident in 2007, super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, and strong earthquake in 2017,” Tristeza said.
The project, which mainly involves retrofitting, will add one more storey to the two-storey building. It will also convert vacant spaces into storage area, records room, and lodging rooms for visitors.
“The new NFA office will look modern with full glass convention hall on the third floor,” he added.
The building built in late 1970s houses the regional office, Leyte provincial office. It is located in Barangay Pawing, this town, just 10 kilometers away from Tacloban City.
NFA is a government-owned and controlled corporation tasked to ensure the food security of the country and the stability of supply and price of the staple grain rice through procurement of paddy from farmers, buffer stocking, processing activities, and dispersal of rice to strategic locations.
(MELVA MAE C. MENIANO)

BURAUEN, Leyte- The Villa Rosas Elementary School (VRES) of Burauen North District is a complete elementary school categorized as small school by the Leyte Division with a total enrolment of 165 for this school year.
The school has 7 regular permanent teachers and is supervised by a school principal.
It has a total land area of 10,000 square meters with a vegetable garden area of 140 square meters.
The vegetable garden is managed by the EPP teacher Marilyn M. Cabus with the support and help of parents, pupils and barangay officials.
May of this year, the school received P10,000 to fund the “Gulayan sa Paaralan Program” which will be used for purchase of garden tools, seeds and other garden materials.
The school has started the implementation of Gulayan sa Paaralan Program with the assistance of parents, pupils and barangay officials.
Products of the Gulayan sa Paaralan Program will be used for the supplementary feeding program of the school.
(Note: The author is the head teacher of the Villa Rosa Elementary School in Burauen, Leyte)

By: MELVIN G. AMARGO

CARIGARA, Leyte-The Department of Public Works and Highways- Leyte Second District Engineering Office has convened contractors recently in an effort to correct the negative slippages that may lead to termination of contracts if remained unsolved.
“Let us help one another to resolve and avoid negative slippages. The district office is here to support you because we cannot stand alone. The accomplishment of the department lies in you,” District Engineer Carlos G. Veloso said to the contractors.
He added that the administration strictly adheres the Department Order No. 193, Series of 2016, “Administrative Action on Contracts with Negative Slippage in Accordance with the Revised IRR of Republic Act 9184” to terminate contracts with negative slippage of 15% or more.
This would therefore result to non-payment, cancellation of contract, or blacklisting.
The district office advised that, if necessary, contractors must file for time extension with legal causes of delay before the expiration of contract to prevent termination.
The office, however, suggested for the contractors to submit catch-up plan to work up and fast-track projects delayed caused by unpleasant weather condition and such, so projects would still be completed right on time.
Veloso further instructed not only to strictly follow the required duration of contracts, but also comply with the quality standards and specifications set by the department.
He also ordered that the office must altogether work proficiently on projects in order to provide better service by sustaining the needs of the public on infrastructures.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The blister wing oyster pearl culture undertaking of Leyte fishermen is evolving into another source of income for many of them.
This was disclosed by Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla in an interview with reporters who said that based on their assessment and findings, the pearl culture is emerging as one of the profitable undertakings for among the fishermen.
Gov. Petilla said that the results of the field trials and studies conducted by his office on pearl culture production was very encouraging.
Thus, he is asking the fishermen to venture to pearl culture production as it has been proven to be highly feasible and profitable undertaking.
Petilla claims that pearl culture can help improve the income and eventually alleviate the depressed socio-economic conditions of the fishermen.
He explained that that growing the blister wing oyster that produces the pearl does not need feeds and medicines like in the piggery or poultry production and with minimal care as the oysters just grow in the sea naturally.
The governor added that the meat of the oysters is in demand in the market while the shells command high price in the shell craft industry.
Gov. Petilla said that, at present, there are eight fishermen’s groups in the province that are into the pearl culture venture which include the: Pinamopoan Fisherfolk Wing Oyster Culture Association, Culasian Wing Oyster Growers Association, and Atipolo Fisherfolk Wing Oyster Association all in Capoocan town; Babatngon District 1 and 4 Fisherfolk Wing Oyster Association in the town of Babatngon; Pinarigusan Fisherfolks’ Association in San Miguel town; Balud Fisherfolks’ Association and AHON Duka Association both of Barugo town; San Mateo Small Fishermen’s Association and West Victoria Small Fishermen’s Association both of Carigara town.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)