In a recent international appraisal of countries that are prone to natural calamities, our country emerged on top as the most disaster-prone nation on earth due to its high risk, vulnerability, and exposure to disasters. This is bad news to our ailing economy amid global inflation, soaring US dollar value, and the ongoing war in Europe that affects oil supply and prices.
It is not just hearsay or a product of baseless rumors. This was reported by the World Risk Index, a part of the annual risk report responsible for calculating the disaster risk for 193 countries. According to its report, the Philippines has the highest disaster risk, with an index score of 46.82, trailed by India with an index score of 42.31.
This is taken from the top ten countries with the highest disaster risk ranking. Accordingly, the risk assessment is based on the general notion that the emergence of disaster not just depends on how severely natural disasters hit a society but also on how vulnerable society is to their effects, “as a result of extreme events and adverse impacts of climate change.” In reality, even without this report, we can tell that our country is indeed prone to frequent and devastating calamities. In fact, it’s one of the potential destroyers of our economy. Before people in devastated areas can recover from a destructive disaster, another one brings similar or even worse devastation than the previous one.
Eventually, our economy keeps on starting all over again, sometimes from scratch just because a series of devastations come. Other countries do not have that, hence their stable infrastructures and production in many areas. Perhaps, that’s what we get for fronting the Pacific Ocean, for being isolated from mainland Asia.
TACLOBAN CITY– About 736 farmers from different municipalities in Northern Samar received cash assistance from the government sourced from the rice tarrification law.
Each of the farmers received P5,000 who were from the municipalities of Biri, Capul, Lavezares, lope de Vega, San Isidro, San Jose, Victoria, Catubig, Gabay, Las Navas, and Palapag.
It was learned from Francis Rosaroso, head of the regional roll-out committee of the Department of Agriculture (DA), that the 736 farmer-beneficiaries were part of the original target of 1,132 for the province on that day.
However, due to some reasons, they were not able to attend the cash assistance distribution held last October 6 at the provincial capital of Catarman.
Rosaroso said that those who failed to get their P5,000 cash assistance could still receive it pending their announcement on the next rollout in Northern Samar.
It was learned from him that the Northern Samar cash distribution for farmers is the first such rollout for farmers in Eastern Visayas for this year.
They target to provide the cash assistance to 103,000 farmers across the region with a total amount to be distributed of P532 million.
The cash assistance was sourced from the implementation of the rice tarrification law. Entitled to receive the assistance are farmers tilling land of two hectares and are registered at the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) which mostly come from the local government units.
Rosaroso said that the amount received by the farmers is intended for them to buy input materials like fertilizers for them to help improve their production and at the same time, help them during this time of pandemic. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
TACLOBAN CITY-An 86-year-old woman from this city became the latest casualty due to complications caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) in the region said.
The woman, who was identified as patient EV63583, died on October 2, the DOH added.
The regional health department did not mention whether she received the vaccine or not.
In its October 10, 2022 bulletin, the region’s total number of COVID-19 cases is at 63,643 with total recoveries at 62,890 (98.82&) and total deaths at 685 (1.08%).
This brings the total active cases to 68 (0.11%).
From October 3 to 9, Eastern Visayas also recorded 61 new cases out of 1,073 laboratory test results that were tested in the four laboratories of the region – Eastern Visayas Regional Covid-19 Testing Center (EVRCTC), Divine Word Hospital Virology Laboratory (DWHVL), Ormoc Molecular Diagnostic Center (OMDC) and Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital – Molecular Laboratory (SOYMPHML).
According to DOH, the latest number of cases represents a 5.68 % positivity rate.
However, there is no severe and critical case admitted in the region’s hospitals due to Covid infection.
“Out of 49 ICU beds intended for patients with Covid-19, 12 (24.49 percent) are occupied. Meanwhile, 18.73 percent of 1,137 non-ICU Covid-19 beds are currently being used,” the regional department said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 2,848,793 individuals or 83.% have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 while 498,898 individuals have already received their booster shots.
Also, 70.1% of its target A2 population have already received their primary series. (RONALD O. REYES)
TACLOBAN CITY– Police in Southern Leyte have launched the revitalized crime-prevention strategy dubbed “Kasimbayanan,” which stands for “Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan,” to ensure peace and order in the province.
“I sincerely commend you all for your diligence, support, contribution, and participation. This activity will never be successful without each one of you,” said Colonel Hector Enage, director of the Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office (SLPPO).
“Besides, unity is achieved when a community of diverse beliefs finds a common ground to work together for a greater vision,” added the police official.
Under the revitalized strategy, authorities have involved the local government unit (LGU) officials, village tanods and officials, faith-based leaders and volunteers, and the entire community.
During the launching ceremony last Monday(October 10), Enage also lauded the “timely and relevant messages of support” from different LGU and non-government organization officials, along with faith leaders.
The participants also pledged commitment and support to the police in its crime-prevention activities.(RONALD O.REYES)
With Pres. Marcos and VP Duterte expected to grace
HISTORIC EVENT. No less than President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte are expected to lead in the switch-on ceremony of the aesthetic lights and sounds project at the iconic San Juanico Bridge on October 19. With its new attraction, the bridge, which connects Leyte and Samar Islands, is projected to draw ‘night tourists.’
TACLOBAN CITY- The formal switch-on of the aesthetic lighting at the iconic San Juanico Bridge is scheduled on October 19 with both President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte expected to attend.
This was announced by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes on Thursday (Oct. 13) night during a coordination meeting.
The two officials confirmed the attendance of Tourism Secretary Cristina Garcia-Frasco and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid at the event.
TIEZA set aside P80 million for the aesthetic light and sound project at the San Juanico Bridge.
“Our purpose here is to attract our national figures to visit us – Samar and Leyte – as far as tourism is concerned and of course so that we can encourage more tourists to come and eventually will paved the way for additional livelihood particularly in the province of Samar where we are more focus and prioritizing the people’s organizations and community-based tourism,” Gov. Tan said.
Tan added that this has long been waited by the province to finally open the aesthetic light show to the public.
The project was supposed to be finished in 2019 but was rescheduled due to rehabilitation work at the bridge.
In 2020, works were suspended for several months due to restriction imposed by the government due to pandemic.
During the official switch-on ceremony, a 21-minute light show will take place with members of the Buraburon Festival of Burauen town will perform at the Leyte side of the San Juanico Bridge while the Manaragat Festival of Catbalogan will also perform at the Samar side of the bridge.
Traffic at San Juanico Bridge will be controlled and no vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridge during the program.
The San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Lighting Project is a first of its kind in the country.
The colors can be customized depending on the occasion. Last month, purple color was used to light the bridge for about an hour to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.
During the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day, the colors of the country’s flag were used to illuminate the bridge and for the light show.
Last August, the Embassy of India also requested to illuminate the bridge with color green as part of their 75th-year founding anniversary.
Although the entire bridge was installed with LED lights, these are installed at the outer part of the bridge to avoid distracting the traffic flow.
The San Juanico Bridge is the longest bridge along the Pan-American Highway that connects Luzon to Mindanao.
Built in August 1969 and completed in 1972, with a span of 2.162 kilometers and connecting Samar and Leyte, the bridge had stood many challenges.
The most recent of which was when Tacloban was hit by Super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ last November 8, 2013.
The bridge is one of the tourist attractions of the region, particularly attracting day time tourists but with the lighting project, visitors may now also visit the bridge even at night.
The project is expected to usher economic development in the southern part of Samar province, particularly in the towns of Sta. Rita and Basey. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Starting on November 25, the airport in Borongan City, Eastern Samar will start accepting twice a week flights from Manila. The operation of the said airport is expected to contribute in the increase of tourist arrivals and even investors, says Mayor Jose Ivan Agda.
TACLOBAN CITY-After a long wait, the commercial airport of Borongan City in Eastern Samar is now ready to accept flights mainly from Manila.
This was announced by Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda on Tuesday (Oct.11) in a press conference who added that the opening of the city’s airport will complement with the arrival of the five buses earlier procured by the city government as this will serve as free transport for tourists who will visit the Eastern Samar provincial capital and its nearby municipalities.
Agda said that the city government will formally sign an agreement with the Philippine Airlines (PAL) on October 25 which will pave the way for the country’s flag carrier to use the Borongan Airport located in Barangay Punta Maria, about 12 kms away from the city proper.
The city mayor said that the maiden flight of PAL to Borongan will take place on November 25.
Initially, the Manila-Borongan flight will take place twice a week or every Monday and Friday with the PAL providing an 86- seat plane.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), it was learned, will provide the X-ray machine and generator set at the airport’s terminal building.
“Let’s patronize, support, and encouraged our people to use our Borongan airport. Let us not squander this opportunity,” Mayor Agda.
Agda said that the operations of the Borongan Airport will open economic opportunities to the city.
At present, clients from Borongan and the rest of Eastern Samar have to endure a five-hour land travel to Tacloban City for their air travel. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
