TACLOBAN CITY- A group of supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ survivors in the region called on the national government to demolish the substandard housing units which they refused to occupy five years after the deadly storm hit the region.
“First, they should destroy the substandard units because we believe that almost 80 percent of them are defective. It doesn’t matter whether the funds are wasted as long as our children are in a safe place,” Imelda Tacalan, 48, of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, said.
Tacalan, a leader of Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP), urged President Rodrigo Duterte to launch a bigger inquiry over the substandard and anomalous housing projects, saying certain heads must roll over the issue.
Dhon Daganasol, leader of CYSP affiliate group Katarungan-Eastern Visayas, also asked the President not to put its efforts into waste by ignoring the facts surrounding the bungled Yolanda housing program.
“To put a value on what the government is doing, the officials involved in this resettlement program should be held accountable,” said Daganasol.
During his recent visit to Eastern Samar, Usec. Wendel Avisado, presidential assistant for special concern, personally expressed his disappointments over the delays and backlogs of the government’s resettlement projects.
While the group has welcomed the efforts of Avisado, they also stood firm on their demand “to audit and review Yolanda projects, and allow for a participative, and genuine, people-centered rehabilitation.”
According to Vincent Basiano, another CYSP official from Tacloban City, the “relentless” complaints of the Yolanda survivors over the resettlement projects are “sufficient proof” that no consultation took place in Yolanda corridors.
“Consultation had been a difficult subject for the communities of Yolanda victims. Local government units claim that consultation had been going on. But if you look at it, there was no consultation that really happened reason we have this problem in Yolanda projects,” said Basiano.
Pete Carlos, another Yolanda survivor from Carigara, Leyte, also expressed his fear that the anomalies in the housing projects will continue to be unchecked if Mr. Duterte will not solve the issues before his term ends.
Earlier, National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. announced that at least five housing officials could face suspension over the bungled Yolanda housing projects in the Visayas and Mindanao.
He also said that at least 46 unfinished housing projects will also be canceled due to various defects and negative slippage.
Out of the 205, 128 target units for Yolanda victims, 67, 754 units or 33 percent have been fully completed and 23, 414 or 11 percent were occupied as of August last year.
In Tacloban City, Yolanda’s ground zero, out of more than 14,000 housing units, over 9,000 units had already been awarded.
For the more than 50,000 housing units in the Eastern Visayas region, over 20,000 units had been turned over to the recipients.
(RONALD O. REYES)

Brgy. 1&4 – Maria Quebral
Brgy. 2 Jones – St. Guendolyn Selga
Brgy. 3 Upper Nula-Tula – Salvador Altares
Brgy. 5 T. Claudio/Lopez Jaena – Arjan Antig
Brgy. 5-A Sen. Enage/T. Claudio Rosalia Emphasis (Re-elected)
Brgy. 6 – Gabina Ladera
Brgy. 6-A Sto. Nino Extension – Edgar Canada
Brgy. 7 – Vilma Corbilla
Brgy. 8 Sofia Silagan
Brgy. 8-A Darlene Alberca
Brgy. 12 GE Palanog – Eduardo Tan
Brgy. 13 Salazar/J. Romualdez – Ava Tumambing
Brgy. 14 – Elmer Lee (Re-elected)
Brgy. 15 – Mirben Basilio (Re-elected)
Brgy. 16 – Eden Pineda (Re-elected)
Brgy. 17 – Benedicto Yerro (Re-elected)
Brgy. 18 – Jesusa Yu
Brgy. 19 – Erwin Cupta
Brgy. 20 (Downtown) – Arlene Hidalgo (Re-elected)
Brgy. 21-A P. Burgos – Lydia Gaspay (Re-elected)
Brgy. 22 -Gary Chu
Brgy. 23 – Isidro Macion, Jr. (Re-elected)
Brgy. 23-A – Lourdes Reglo
Brgy. 24 – Eduardo Hidalgo
Brgy. 25 – Timothy Waniwan
Brgy. 26 P.Gomez St. – Milagros Betanzor (Re-elected)
Brgy. 27 – Catheline Lou Superable
Brgy. 28 – Maria Medalla
Brgy. 29 P. Gomez/Paterno – Nicol Caroline (Re-elected)
Brgy. 30 – Philip John Cinco
Brgy. 31 – Vicente Marabe
Brgy. 32 – Edwardine Federica Almeria
Brgy. 33 (Downtown) – Dennis Chu (Re-elected/Unopposed )
Brgy. 34 Real St. – Raymund Lagutan
Brgy. 35 – Benito Nayra
Brgy. 35-A – Marcelino Del Rosario
Brgy 36 Sabang – Ma. Nilda T. Brazil (Re-elected)
Brgy. 36 – A – Rebecca Obenieta
Brgy. 37 Sea Wall – Francisco Yerro
Brgy. 37-A G.E. Palanog – Artemio Insigne, Jr. (Re-elected)
Brgy. 38 – Alice Chua
Brgy. 39 – Ricardo Ogardo
Brgy. 40 – Henry Herbert Yao (Re-elected)
Brgy. 41 – Jason Nicholas Go (Re-elected)
Brgy 42 (Downtown) – Federico Binghoy (Re-elected)
Brgy. 42-A Rolando Abogado
Brgy. 43 – Joel Demillo (Re-elected)
Brgy. 43-A Quarry District – Evelyn Magalona (Re-elected)
Brgy. 43-B – Teresita Malquisto
Brgy. 44 – Marilou Tiu
Brgy. 44-A Quarry – Rey Montilla (Re-elected/Unopposed )
Brgy. 45 – Ramon Salvador Dagandan (Re-elected)
Brgy. 46 Imelda/Juan Luna – Rebecca Paglinawan
Brgy. 47 – Rafael Banez (Re-elected)
Brgy. 48 – Silvestre Commendador (Re-elected)
Brgy. 48-A – Irvin Tañala (Re-elected)
Brgy. 48-B – Fernando Magdua
Brgy. 49 Youngfield – Rose Faith Uykieng
Brgy. 50 – Athena Grandeza
Brgy. 50-A – Alexander Bentulan (Re-elected)
Brgy. 50-B – Cielito Co (Re-elected)
Brgy. 51 – Rey Abeto
Brgy. 51-A Vicky Jornales
Brgy. 52 Lucban Magallanes**
Brgy. 53 – Thomas Walerico Butalid (Re-elected)
Brgy. 54 – Cyrill Malinao (Re-elected)
Brgy. 54 –A Ciriaco Villanueva (Re-elected)
Brgy. 55 El Reposo – Richard David Estrada
Brgy. 56 – Ceasar Advincula (Re-elected)
Brgy. 56-A Omar Go
Brgy. 57 Whitelane Sampaguita – Carol Enerez (Re-elected)
Brgy. 58 – Noel Tupaz (Re-elected)
Brgy. 59 Picas Sagkahan – Teresita Garcia (Re-elected)
Brgy. 59-A – Kenneth Mate (Re-elected)
Brgy. 59-B – Marife Diaz (Re-elected)
Brgy. 60 – Milagros Baoy
Brgy. 60-A – Rudyliza Mojados
Brgy. 61 – Marlyn Sampilo
Brgy. 62 Saging, Sagkahan – Erlindo Solis (Re-elected)
Brgy. 62-A Ilong Sagkahan – Felipa Espejo (Re-elected)
Brgy. 62-B – Rosita Luyten (Re-elected)
Brgy. 63 – Arlen Divino
Brgy. 64 Bliss Sagkahan – Arlene Superable Chua
Brgy. 65 – Joey Duenas
Brgy. 66 – Fe Marteja
Brgy. 66-A – Delia Bato (Re-elected)
Brgy. 67 – Charlie Retuerto (Re-elected)
Brgy. 68 – Arlen Ibanez
Brgy. 69 Anibong – Nelia Tabao
Brgy. 70 – Sherly Boca (Re-elected)
Brgy. 71 – Henry Solmeron
Brgy. 72 PHHC Seaside- Raul Asensi (Re-elected)
Brgy. 73- Edgar Allan Yu
Brgy. 74 Lower Nula-Tula – Nelia Malate (Re-elected)
Brgy. 75 – Estelita Daaco (Re-elected)
Brgy. 76 Marasbaras – Melchor Cañete (Re-elected)
Brgy. 77 Banezville Marasbaras – Sonia Surpia
Brgy. 78 Marasbaras – Erwin Bidua (Re-elected)
Brgy. 79 – Herwina Abendano
Brgy. 80 – Jessie Dayandante
Brgy. 81 Marasbaras – Iris Ting (Re-elected)
Brgy. 82 – Rustico Medina
Brgy. 83 Paraiso – Jan Michael De Veyra (Re-elected)
Brgy. 83-A Burayan – Ma. Resthia Tan (Re-elected)
Brgy. 83-B Cogon San Jose – Carlita Go Perez (Re-elected)
Brgy. 83-C – Bonifacio Dagami
Brgy. 84 San Jose – Dexter Bahin
Brgy. 85 – Chairman Santiago
Brgy. 86 San Jose – John Placa (Re-elected)
Brgy. 87 San Jose – Leo Bahin (Re-elected)
Brgy. 88 San Jose (Fisherman) – Emelita Montalban (Re-elected)
Brgy. 89 – Melba Villalino (Re-elected)
Brgy. 90 – Ramil Pedrosa
Brgy. 91 Abucay – Ricardo Benitez (Re-elected)
Brgy. 92 Apitong – Anastacio Wenceslao, Jr. (Re-elected)
Brgy. 93 –Jonathan Daylo
Brgy. 94 Tigbao – Lito Navarra (Re-elected)
Brgy. 94-A Basper – Edwin Bramida (Re-elected)
Brgy. 95 – Michael Millos (Re-elected)
Brgy. 95-A Caibaan – Albert Eviota (Re-elected)
Brgy. 96 – Jocelyn Rosales
Brgy. 97 – Lito Balangbang
Brgy. 98 – Alejandro Reataza (Re-elected)
Brgy. 99 – Mario Escarlan
Brgy. 100 San Roque – Jelito Dela Cruz (Re-elected)
Brgy. 101 – Leah Altobar
Brgy. 102 Caroline Jane Budano
Brgy. 103 Palanog – Silvino Baldesco, Jr. (Re-elected)
Brgy. 103 –A – Edgardo Condesa (Re-elected)
Brgy. 104 – Trinidad Quero (Re-elected)
Brgy. 105 – Eutequio Balunan (Re-elected)
Brgy. 106 – Alden Villarmino (Re-elected)
Brgy. 107 – Letecia Olino (Re-elected)
Brgy. 108 – Racheln Lacaba (Re-elected)
Brgy. 109 V&G – Raymund Balagapo
Brgy. 109 -A V&G – Rodolfo Padillo (Re-elected)
Brgy. 110 Utap – Rodolfo Miralles (Re-elected)

**Barangay 52 (Lucban Magallanes) – no declared winner yet. Candidates for Barangay Chairman Noel Martinez and Judy Trinidad received the same number of votes.

#TaclobanBarangayandSkElections2018
#TaclobanBarangayChairmen2018

TACLOBAN CITY- A sectoral party-list group on Thursday (May 17) lauded the passage on third reading of House Bill 7392 or An Act Institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System authored by Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of the first district.
“Widening the access to and improving the quality of basic education is crucial to regional development. Thus, education deserves the fullest of our lawmakers. We are thankful that Rep. Romualdez has taken the lead in institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) as the ‘other lung’ of Philippine education,” said Philip Jude Acidre of the Tingog Sinirangan.
The said bill was passed on its third reading at the House of Representatives on May 15, 2018.
“This will definitely benefit thousands of young people who by particular social or economic circumstance cannot go through the formal school and enable to continue with their studies at the senior high school level,” Acidre said.
“The ALS program in the Philippines today does have its unique challenges and which is why Rep. Romualdez authored House Bill 3706, later substituted by House Bill 7392, entitled an Act Institutionalizing an Alternative Learning System,” he stressed.
The bill institutionalizes the implementation of ALS by establishing at least one community-based learning center in a city and municipality, according to Acidre.
It also mandates the creation of a local ALS committee within the existing local school boards in every local government unit and institutes a mobile teacher program, with teacher plantilla positions created exclusively for the ALS.
Likewise, it allows the Department of Education to authorize private ALS providers, subject to a systematic accreditation process.
According to Acidre, many of these ALS students are determined individuals who faced challenges or made sacrifices, which led them to stop formal schooling.
“Rather than being discouraged by reality, these ALS graduates have found strength in the adversities they faced, leaving us with inspiring examples of the power of education and the hope that it can provide,” he said.
Jake Laurence, an ALS teacher at the Leyte schools division, said this development will make ALS “be more capacitated to serve more than its current standing.”
“It is obvious that the current implementation has some financial constraints. Institutionalizing ALS means it will serve more and will be more effective in reaching its goals,” said Laurence, who has been teaching for the past 10 years
Laurence, who is presently teaching inmates in Leyte, also asked for further support from the local government units on their various projects and programs. (RONALD O. REYES)

CATBALOGAN CITY- Mayor Stephany Uy- Tan issued an appeal to her people to avoid using of plastic and proper throwing of wastes as their contributions in protecting the environment.
“We are calling all Catbaloganons to contribute in your own simple way. By simply not throwing your garbage anywhere and by minimizing the use of plastic, you will make a difference,” the city mayor, who recently received a recognition from the Climate Reality Project Philippines, said.
“If plastic is improperly dispose, this will pollute our environment especially the sea which is our source of food. The pollution it creates does not only lessen the number of marine life but also affects the livelihood of people who are depending on sea to get their source of income,” Mayor-Uy-Tan added.
The city mayor said that waste like plastic also results in flooding once they clogs the waterways.
“For us to have a clean environment, the effort should not start with one person alone but for the entire city to work in making and keeping the environment clean and livable,” she added.
As part of the environmental protection program of the city government, Mayor Uy-Tan led in the launching of the Cabugawan Eco Park in Barangay Cabugawan on Buri Island.
The project is part of the ecotourism program of the city through its Sustainable Tourism and Ecological Protection (STEP) Program under the Office of the City Tourism, Culture, Arts and Information.
The eco-park which is managed by the barangay covers a three-hectare mangrove area which can be access through the 350-meters boardwalk constructed along the protected area.
Three gazebos were constructed that will be used for-eco-educational tour coordinated with the City Environment and Natural Resources where visitors at the eco-park will be taught on the importance of mangrove to human and to the ecosystem which includes as nesting ground of marine life such as fish, shrimps, crabs.
Mangroves also protect shorelines from damaging storm and strong winds, waves, and floods. It also help in preventing soil erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems.
They also help maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

BORONGAN CITY-The completion of elementary and junior high school through the Alternative Learning System (ALS) is a step towards obtaining education.
This is one of the impressions articulated by the ALS 2018 completers numbering to 139 at the Eugenio S. Daza Elementary School Covered Court as they received their certificates.
In his message, Borongan City Division Assistant Superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe said that the graduates may choose the different academic tracks in senior high school like humanities or technical/vocational and livelihood track.
“We admire your skills, good attitude and determination despite your situation,” Aljibe said in his message.
He shared that there are many examples of successful people who have achieved their dreams through the ALS.
He stressed that this batch surpassed the officials’ expectation when it scored a 90 percent passing rate in the ALS examination. The earlier batch, he said, posted 82 percent as passing rate.
Different situations
Lowel M. Amosco, Jr., 20, from Barangay San Mateo stopped schooling when he got sick, he was in his second year high school then.
His father, a tricycle driver, urged him to try ALS. Lowel plans to enroll in Don Bosco Vocational School but is still undecided which vocational course to take.
Manuel Ribay, 19, is from Barangay Maybacong. His mother admitted she asked him to stop schooling because she observed that she did not like the friends he has. Her son dutifully obliged and just opted to work in the construction company of a distant relative.
ALS completer at 57
Inspired by her son, Allan Arma who teaches ALS, Nenita Arma asked her son if she could also join her neighbors in Lalawigan village enrolled in ALS.
She married early and now takes care of her grandchildren. In between being a nanny, she pored over her son’s learning modules and completed the course. At her age, she still wants to pursue education, but is worried that when she graduates, she will then be a senior citizen and could not get a teaching job anymore.
Her son Allan was quick to reply that it does not matter whether she would not work as a teacher, at least her mom could brag that she finished schooling.
Class Topnotcher
Jenilyn Bajado, the class topnotcher, delivered her farewell speech in Filipino. She hopes to pursue an academic track.
For her, success would be finishing a degree, having a small business, working abroad or working in the government.
She plans to pursue a college degree but cannot decide yet. Her graduation from junior high school is a fulfillment of a dream.
Their graduation song, Isang Pangarap, reverberated in the hall, while some shyly mouthed the lyrics, others became emotional.
For the ALS graduates, completing this level of education is one of their Isang Pangarap-One Dream! (PIA-8, E. Samar)

To ensure peaceful conduct of brgy, SK polls

CALBAYOG CITY- About 300 policemen were deployed in Samar province to ensure that the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) elections will be orderly and free from any possible violence.
This was disclosed by Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, police regional director, who said that the augmented force were deployed since last week to secure the conduct of the balloting in the first district of Samar, particularly this city.
Cruz added that they had already coordinated with their counterparts at the Philippine Army through Major General Raul Farnacio, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division, for them to beef up their own personnel in Samar relative to the May 14 elections.
But City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino appealed to Cruz that the deployed police force be placed under his directive and not with the provincial headquarters.
Aquino said that it would be better if the regional police headquarters will supervise the deployed policemen to make sure that there will be no question of bias during their operations.
“I would like to appeal that the said police force will still be under the supervision of the region. It is better that way so that there will be no question of bias,” the city mayor, who was once the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council, said.
The current chair of the said council is Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, who is not politically aligned with Mayor Aquino.
Cruz assured that the battalion will still be under the regional police.
“We will knock on the doors of erring barangay officials or those who frightens the barangay officials and the candidates,” Cruz added.
Calbayog has always been identified as a hot spot during elections due to series of incidents related to the balloting.
Since the start of the barangay and SK election period, two election-related violence have been reported in the city.
The first election-related violence involved a candidate for chairman in Barangay Catabunan, Christopher Branzuela, on April 26 and the second incident happened on May 2 involving a husband of a candidate for councilor in Brgy. San Jose.
The fatality was identified as Teodorico Francisco, whose wife, Jaquilia, is running for village councilor.
Police records have indicated that for the last three years, about 173 shooting incidents happened in the towns of Gandara, Sta. Margarita, Matuguinao and San Jose and this city, where most of these incidents happened.
The incidents were allegedly perpetrated by private armed groups (PAGs).
However, Cruz said that there is no legal basis linking these groups to a certain politician and due to lack of other indicators that will classify these groups as PAGs.
“There is no legal basis linking these groups to a politician that is why we cannot consider them as PAGs, instead these groups were classified as criminal gangs,” Cruz said.
Cruz added that they had already coordinated with the AFP and that Major General Raul Farnacio, commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division, had committed to augment his men.

By: JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO