Ormoc City – Due to extreme and adverse weather conditions since the start of the new year, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) deploys engineers to conduct ocular inspections of national roads and bridges as well as other public infrastructures.
Leyte 4th DEO field engineers conducted these inspections in order to assess and validate on-going infrastructure projects along national roads to ensure safety and passable roads amidst the intermittent rains. (PR)
Former Social Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael G. Regino (right) turned over the leadership of the SSS to newly appointed Acting President and CEO Rolando L. Macasaet (left) in a ceremony held today, January 10, 2023, at the SSS Main Office in Quezon City.
The Social Security System (SSS) has a new president and chief executive officer in Rolando Macasaet who occupied the post beginning Nov.10. He replaced Michael Regino.
In his message, Regino expressed his support to Acting President and CEO Macasaet and the SSS, encouraging them to set a higher standard of excellence for the benefit of Filipino workers.
In response, Macasaet acknowledged Regino’s efforts that steered the SSS to new heights. He vowed to continuously build on the institution’s path of growth, look for new ways to holistically improve the institution, including its workforce, and work doubly hard to provide current and future SSS members and their beneficiaries with meaningful social security protection.
Macasaet is the 20th President and CEO of the SSS. He will now be responsible for the general conduct of the operations and management functions of the SSS, carrying out of its programs, and implementation of the policies of the Social Security Commission (SSC), the highest governing board and policy-making body of the SSS. Also, he will take on the role of Vice-Chairperson of the SSC. (PR)
The region’s employment rate in October 2022 increased to 97.0 percent, from
95.5 percent in July 2022.
The 97.0 percent employment rate translates to 2.03 million employed persons out of the 2.09 million persons in the labor force in October 2022.
This was higher by about 16 thousand employed persons compared with the 2.01 million employed persons reported in July 2022. This was also around 255 thousand persons more than the estimated 1.77 million employed persons in October 2021. In 2022, the region’s employment showed an increasing trend.
Eastern Visayas registered a Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) of 64.3 percent in October 2022.
This placed the region’s labor force at 2.09 million persons who were either employed or unemployed out of the estimated 3.25 million population 15 years old and over.
The 64.3 percent LFPR was slightly lower by 0.7 percentage point than the 65.0 percent LFPR recorded in July 2022.
However, this figure was higher by 4.2 percentage points compared with the 60.1 LFPR in October 2021.
This means that the labor force in October 2022 was lesser by around 17,000 persons than the 2.11 million persons who were in the labor force in July 2022, but higher by around 171,000 persons than the 1.92 million labor force in October 2021.
In 2022, the LFPR was lowest in January at 58.0 percent, while it slightly increased by 2.0 percentage points in April at 60.0 percent, and peaked at 65.0 percent in July.
Eastern Visayas’ unemployment rate continued to decline from 4.5 percent in July 2022 to 3.0 percent in October 2022.
This was equivalent to around 63,000 persons in the labor force who were unemployed in October 2022, lower by about 33 thousand unemployed persons compared with the 96 thousand unemployed persons in July 2022.
The 3.0 percent unemployment rate in October 2022 also translated to a decline of around 84,000 unemployed persons compared with the 146,000 unemployed persons recorded in October 2021. In 2022, the unemployment rate in Eastern Visayas exhibited a decreasing trend.
Underemployed persons are employed persons who expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer hours of work.
In 2022, the underemployment rate in Eastern Visayas was highest in October posted at 22.4 percent or 454 thousand persons out of the 2.03 million employed persons registered during the month.
This was 6.4 percentage points higher than the rate in July 2022 at 16.0 percent. This was also higher by 4.6 percentage points compared with the 17.8 percent underemployment rate registered in October 2021. (PR)
Submits courtesy resignations along with other top execs
Police Regional Director B/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil
TACLOBAN CITY– Police Regional Director B/Gen.Rommel Francisco Marbil signed publicly an affidavit attesting that he is not involved in any illegal drug activities and other forms of criminal activities on Tuesday (Jan.10).
Marbil made the act amid the appeal of Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos for all high-ranking police officers from full colonels to generals to tender their courtesy resignations amid continued fight of the government of illegal drugs activities, in particular.
The Eastern Visayas police regional director and 20 other concerned officials have already submitted their courtesy resignations beginning on Jan. 5.
Among those who submitted their courtesy resignations were the six provincial directors and Marbil’s two deputies, Col. Salvador Alacyang, who is the chief for operations, and Col. Michael David, regional staff chief.
Marbil said that he decided to sign an affidavit witnessed by the region’s top police officers and the 400 newly-promoted police officials to attest that he is not involved to any illegal activities, particularly on the prohibited drugs.
“I categorically state under pain of perjury that I am not involved in any form of illegal drug activity or in any form of illegal or criminal activity,” the police regional director said in his affidavit as he read during a press conference called by the Philippine Regional Police(PRO-8).
He also claimed that he has never received any bribe money from those engaging in illegal activities and neither condone such acts.
Marbil, who’s been in his post since August 8 of last year, stressed that when he learned that all high-ranking police officers were requested to submit their courtesy resignations by Sec. Abalos, he followed it without questions.
“There was no ifs and buts. I submitted by courtesy resignation as (appealed by) SILG Abalos,” he said.
He also stressed that he is giving his full to Sec. Abalos and to his Commander-in-Chief, Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.
“I assure the public that no police personnel from PRO-8 is involved to any illegal drug activity or any illegal activities. If there is one, I will tender my resignation. The buck stops with me,” Marbil said.
He is also confident that all police officers from the region who have tendered their courtesy resignations will be exonerated from any possible links of illegal activities.
Meantime, Leyte police provincial director Col. Edwin Balles admitted that he was hesitant in submitting his own courtesy resignation.
“Honestly, it was a mixed emotion. The people are looking on us. Whatever I have achieved in my 25 years in service is a product of sacrifice,” he said.
“But I understand the rationale behind this move. I am accepting the full process to once and for all, to cleanse the organization and purge the misfits and scalawags,” he said.
Balles, who has been in police organization for 25 years, have submitted his own courtesy resignation on Jan.6.
The region has more than 10,500 active police personnel. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA /JOEY A. GABIETA)
UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING. Spawned by low pressure area, Eastern Visayas experiences continuous rain for a week now which resulted in flooding and landslide that affected more than 120,000 families and killed six people. Photo shows a village in Taft, Eastern Samar swamped with flood water. (ESTE NEWS)
TACLOBAN CITY-The death toll due to the non-stop rains across the region now reached to seven as 120,716 families consisting of 466,745 individuals have been affected by the flooding, based on the reports of various provincial local disaster councils.
All the deaths were due to drowning, reports said.
Of these fatalities, three from Eastern Samar; two each from Leyte and Northern Samar.
The deaths in Eastern Samar, which suffered the brunt of the continuous rain beginning Monday, were from the town of Dolores(one), Sammy Losanggo, and two from Borongan City involving elderly couple, Winefreda Asis,70 and her common-law husband Carlito Dagumay, 73 whose boat they were on board capsized.
The two deaths from Leyte were from the town of Mahaplag identified as Dioscoro Obligado, 53; and Rufo Rallos of legal age.
Meantime, a man from Laoang town, Roger Narca, 52, was found dead believed to have been drowned just outside his house in Barangay Catigbian which was hit by flooding.
A soldier, Capt.Jerry Palacio, died as he was swept away while crossing a river in Brgy. Happy Valley, San Isidro town, also in Northern Samar.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said on its advisory that the region will continue to experience nonstop rain which could result to flooding and landslide incidents.
Meantime, the number of affected families in the region has now reached to 120,716 comprising 466,745 individuals.
Of this number, 72,186 families involving 248,968 persons were from the province of Eastern Samar; 19,503 families or 97,515 persons were from Northern Samar; 17,930 families(72,128 individuals) were from Leyte; 1,285 families or 6,425 persons were from Biliran; and seven families or 35 persons were from Southern Leyte.
Meantime, the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported of over P129.74 million of destroyed agricultural products due to the massive flooding.
The province of Eastern Samar reported of biggest damage to its agricultural sector at P104.35 million followed by Samar with P17.66 million; Northern Samar, P5.64 million;Leyte,P2 million and Southern Leyte with 78,000.
The towns of San Miguel in Leyte; Basey and Gandara, both in Samar; and Dolores and Can-avid, both in Eastern Samar, are now in a state of calamity due to the extensive damages they have suffered due to the incessant rains.
TACLOBAN CITY – Despite only seven contingents which join the return of the Agta Festival this year, the local chief executive of Bobon, Northern Samar was still happy because of the huge crowd that watched the delegates during their performances held last Sunday (Jan. 8).
The town of Bobon in Northern Samar stages its Agta Festival on Sunday (Jan.8), two years after it was unceremoniously halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (PHOTO COURTESY)
“I am very thankful that you continue supporting our Sto. Niño celebration here in Bobon, specially the Agta Festival,” Mayor Rene Celespara said.
“This is the first time that only seven contingents joined the competition but the crowd is big and this is a big challenge for LGU Bobon and the Agta Festival management to improve handling this event including the guidelines,” the town mayor added.
Agta Festival is held in the municipality every second Sunday of January to honor and venerate the black image of the Holy Child Jesus.
Bobon had been holding the Agta Festival since 1981 and is participated by contingents from various municipalities of Northern Samar.
The annual festival competition was halted for two years due to pandemic.
For this year’s competition, the contingent from Barangay Narra, Catarman, the Catarmanon Pride bagged the top prize and won P70,000 cash prize.
Sto. Niňo tribe of Bobon was in second place while Tribu Carang of San Jose town bagged 3rd place.
Tribu San Rafael of Bobon bagged the special award for best in costume while the most discipline contingent was won by the Sto. Niňo tribe.
Prior to the festival competition, a street dancing parade was held around the town’s major streets after the concelebrated mass officiated by Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish which was built in 1892. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
