PCOO USEC Lorraine Badoy gives a loving hug to these girls who come from extremely poor families of barangay Binaloan, Taft, Eastern Samar.
In 2015, typhoon Ruby devastated several northern barangays of ESamar, including barangay Binaloan, Taft, Eastern Samar which remained flooded to the house roofings in days.
Seeing the children’s hapless condition, when she led a medical mission, the former DSWD ASEC Badoy promised to herself to adopt the barangay, particularly the children.
Indeed, the now PCOO USEC Badoy has kept on returning to this far flung barangay that is nestled in a mountainous terrain, barely mindful of possible challenges along the way.
Today, as she arrived for the graduation rites, the Malacanang lady beamed with overwhelming joy at the sight of the children now looking better and well-learned. #PartnersForChange #TapangatMalasakit #WorkingPCOO. (PR)

PALO, Leyte-The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Eastern Visayas continues to watch major ports in the region to prevent the entry of planting materials with coconut scale insect or “cocolisap”.
PCA Regional Manager Joel Pilapil said the entire region is still free of the very damaging “cocolisap” infestation, prompting them to step up all efforts to prevent the bugs from entering the coconut-producing provinces.
Pilapil said they have been coordinating with the quarantine office based in ports of Northern Samar and Southern Leyte provinces to ensure that coconut planting materials are free from pests and diseases
“It can kill a mature coconut tree. It’s a real headache on how to address this concern. We don’t want this to happen in the region,” Pilapil told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
‘Cocolisap’ has affected several areas in the country such as Batangas, Quezon province, Basilan, and Zamboanga, but it is being contained as scientists found antidotes to these bugs, said Pilapil.
The pest infestation starts with yellowing of the lowermost leaves, followed by drying of all leaves and ultimately the death of the palm.
To date, the only major threat to the region’s coconut industry is the coconut rhinoceros beetle manifesting in areas with rotten coconut trees as their breeding ground, Pilapil said.
“Although we have many rotten coconut trees damaged by super typhoon Yolanda, the population of rhinoceros beetle has not reached the alarming level due to massive debris clearing activities since 2014,” Pilapil added.
The PCA reported that 33.90 million coconut trees in Eastern Visayas were affected by the monster storm in 2013.
Of the total, 13.90 million were categorized as totally damaged, 9.04 million severely damaged, 5.69 million slightly damaged, and 5.28 million moderately damaged.
Eastern Visayas — the second top coconut producing region in the country — has 46.9 million bearing trees. About 72 percent were destroyed by the disaster.
Millions of planting materials have been distributed to replace uprooted and sheared trees.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

PALO, Leyte-The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Eastern Visayas continues to watch major ports in the region to prevent the entry of planting materials with coconut scale insect or “cocolisap”.
PCA Regional Manager Joel Pilapil said the entire region is still free of the very damaging “cocolisap” infestation, prompting them to step up all efforts to prevent the bugs from entering the coconut-producing provinces.
Pilapil said they have been coordinating with the quarantine office based in ports of Northern Samar and Southern Leyte provinces to ensure that coconut planting materials are free from pests and diseases
“It can kill a mature coconut tree. It’s a real headache on how to address this concern. We don’t want this to happen in the region,” Pilapil told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
‘Cocolisap’ has affected several areas in the country such as Batangas, Quezon province, Basilan, and Zamboanga, but it is being contained as scientists found antidotes to these bugs, said Pilapil.
The pest infestation starts with yellowing of the lowermost leaves, followed by drying of all leaves and ultimately the death of the palm.
To date, the only major threat to the region’s coconut industry is the coconut rhinoceros beetle manifesting in areas with rotten coconut trees as their breeding ground, Pilapil said.
“Although we have many rotten coconut trees damaged by super typhoon Yolanda, the population of rhinoceros beetle has not reached the alarming level due to massive debris clearing activities since 2014,” Pilapil added.
The PCA reported that 33.90 million coconut trees in Eastern Visayas were affected by the monster storm in 2013.
Of the total, 13.90 million were categorized as totally damaged, 9.04 million severely damaged, 5.69 million slightly damaged, and 5.28 million moderately damaged.
Eastern Visayas — the second top coconut producing region in the country — has 46.9 million bearing trees. About 72 percent were destroyed by the disaster.
Millions of planting materials have been distributed to replace uprooted and sheared trees.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CARIGARA, Leyte- The Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) is set to implement four major projects with a total cost of over P384 million.
The regional office of the DPWH gave the green light for the district under Engr. Carlos Veloso to handle the projects despite of a policy that an engineering office should only handle projects with budget allocation of P50 million.
These projects include the rehabilitation/reconstruction/ upgrading of the damaged paved roads Jaro-Dagami-Burauen- Lapaz road worth P62.54 million; construction of a sea wall in the villages of San Jose and San Rafael, both in Dulag, worth P50.84 million; construction/ improvement of access roads leading to declared tourism destinations-access road leading to Villaconzoilo Agri and Eco-Tourism Farm in Silawa Falls, in Barangay Villa Consuelo, Jaro with a funding of P85 million; the construction / improvement of access roads leading to trades, industries and Economic zones Minuhang-Balud and Balud-Duka road connecting Bagahupi-Babatngon- Sta. Cruz, Barugo Carigara National road in support of the Barugo Eco-zone in Barugo , Leyte amounting to P150 million.
Veloso said that he is happy that the regional office has allowed his office to implement these projects.
“This move will minimize the load of the regional office and the district has the capacity to implement the projects considering that these are located within the district and it has the manpower and equipment,” he said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

PALO, Leyte- In celebration of women empowerment, the Leyte 1st District Engineering Office, headed by District Engineer Johnny M. Acosta, held a seminar last March 23, 2018 with a theme “We make Change Work for Women” through the resource speaker Marilou B. Parina, Gender and Development advocate.
The National Women’s month, spearheaded by the Philippines Commission on Women is an annual celebration conducted to give due recognition to women’s significant contributions in nation-building.
One of the main topics emphasized was the R.A. No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.” Violence against women appears as one of the country’s pervasive social problems.
It is closely linked with the unequal power relationship between women and men otherwise known as “gender-based violence”. These acts of physical and mental violence affect the overall productivity of women. The economic impact of abuse may extend to losses in women’s earning potential.
As an office with a significant number of women employees, the said seminar was considered a realization and an eye opener to all employees in ensuring that women and their children have effective access to justice and to services and programs.
Concurrently gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Now is the right time to recognize the critical role that women can and are playing in conflict resolution and community building.
(DESSA T. MALIB)

MONDRAGON, Northern Samar – A farmer from this town who is accused for qualified theft was arrested by the members of the municipal police station last March 26.
Police Chief Inspector Florando S. Relente identified the suspect as Belardo Noguit, 46, who was arrested at his residence in Barangay San Antonio, this town.
The arrest of the suspect, who was also known as ‘B-ay,’ was by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Alma Consuelo B.D. Esidera, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 20, Catarman, this province.
He was charged for violation of Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code with recommended bail of P24,000.
He was brought to Mondragon Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition prior turn over to the court taking cognizance of his case. (PR)