TACLOBAN CITY- The Archdiocese of Palo highlighted the importance of social media literacy in the recently concluded summer camp in Carigara, Leyte.
“Young people are fully adept at using these tools. They need less to acquaint themselves but to be trained to responsible social media users,” said Archdiocese of Palo spokesperson Fr. Chris Arthur Militante on the need for the youths to learn responsible use of social media.
“The power of the young together with the proper use of social media is a strong force that will benefit society,” he added.
During the camping, Militante lectured a group of youths on the track “social media in evangelization” as the Church sees that today’s young generation needs to be properly guided on how to be a responsible internet user, and at the same time, on how to use the technology in propagating the Catholic teachings.
Jhonel Cobacha, 17, and a frequent social media user from Palo town, said that youths like him need more information and social media literacy, saying this is the reason why most teenagers are drawn into “liking lewd acts” and even committing crimes through the internet.
“Youths need more guidance. Because of too much curiosity, they are not aware that this leads them to commit wrong actions online,” said Cobacha, who spends his time up to four hours on the internet.
Earlier, Gregorio Angelo Villar, the deputy director general of the Philippine Information Agency, urged netizens that every time they use the social media, they should look for the betterment of others, particularly in fighting misinformation, disinformation, and other cybercrimes.
He reported that with a total of 67 million Filipinos out of 105.7 million population who are active internet users as of January 2018 study, this phenomenon is both seen as a “gift and a curse”.
In a study, US-based social media think-tank Hootsuite revealed that Filipinos spent an average daily time of 9 hours and 29 minutes on social media via various devices and that their weekly online activities covered 47 percent for socialization. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY— The International Justice Mission(IJM), a global organization that protects the poor from violence through the developing world, has revealed some signals to guide the public in catching suspected perpetrator of Online Sexual Exploitation of Children (OSEC).
Rebelander Basilan, JIM partnership development coordinator,said there are various warnings for the people and authorities to detect the existence of OSEC cases.
These include someone having varied means of internet connection (broadband, pocket wifi, etc); frequent trips to money transfer outlets; having multiple social media accounts (Facebook, Messenger, Skype, etc.); several male foreigner friends on social media; and unexplained wealth, among others.
He also debunked some myths on OSEC cases, saying it is wrong for people to say that it is just about standing naked in front of the camera and no physical contact happened because in reality these victims are molested and sexually abused by adults.
Basilan said that it is wrong to say that OSEC does not harm children because, in reality, the children are “deeply traumatized”.
It is also wrong to say that rescuing children from OSEC results in a dysfunctional family because, as it is, these victims already have a dysfunctional family environment, he added.
“OSEC is a very dark world but there is hope for children to recover. We need to be vigilant. If we don’t rescue these children, it will be normal for them,” Basilan told local media and publication information officers in the region during the recently-concluded orientation forum on OSEC held in the city.
While he urged the public to report any cases of OSEC to authorities, he also cautioned media and government information officers on proper guidelines in reporting it to ensure the “privacy and the best interest” of the victims.
According to the IJM, the Department of Justice received 1,000 cyber tip reports each month in 2014 alone.
These referrals doubled to more than 2,000 in the first four months of 2015.
IJM was instrumental in rescuing 165 victims of OSEC in their first 64 cases from 2011 to January 1, 2017.
It said that more than half or 50.3 percent of these victims were in their pre-teens; the youngest of these was a 3-month old baby boy.
IJM reported that with the help of the authorities, they have conducted 76 rescue operations, with 268 victims rescued, 121 suspects arrested, and 20 people convicted as of January 2018.
In a statement, Samson Inocencio Jr., national director of IJP Philippines, said that “more than 80 percent of victims rescued from online sexual exploitation are minors, making this a staggering humanitarian issue and a problem for the Philippine law enforcement to tackle….”
“Perpetrators of online sexual exploitation produce illicit photographs, pornographic videos, and customer-directed live sex shows for costumers residing overseas. These customer-criminals are active in directing the abuse perpetrated on the young children. This crime is spreading as more people gain access to the internet,” the statement said.
In February this year, IJM helped authorities in rescuing 13 victims of cybersex den in Tacloban city and in Biliran province.
Authorities caught an elder sister in the act of offering to sexually abuse minor siblings ages 15 and 17 and “live-stream” those sex acts in exchange for money from a foreigner.
(RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- Caasi Salvador, 16, and a student at Leyte Sports Academy of the Leyte Division is the region’s sole boxing champion in the recently concluded 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Salvador received P3,000 from Vigan and P10,000 from the region for his gold medal, according to Leyte division boxing coach Mualilot Ronen Pamor of Hindang, Leyte.
Salvador fought under light flyweight category 46-48.kg. against Eduardo Jimenez from Central Visayas.
The region had 10 boxers sent to Palaro, comprising three from Leyte division, six from Ormoc division, and one from Calbayog division, Pamor told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
Salvador, who interestingly hopes to become a seaman after his studies, is a native of Naval, Biliran.
Leyte division schools superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo congratulated Leyte athletes for representing the Eastern Visayas as the main contributor to the over-all gold medal tally of the region.
Leyte bagged six gold in wrestling, one gold in athletics 4x100m relay and one gold in boxing, Firmo said.
“We may not have won the EVRAA 2018 over-all championship but we have won the hearts of the Palarong Pambansa 2018 participants,” Firmo announced online.
During the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet held in Calbayog City last February, Leyte came second to Ormoc City division after over 10 years of being on the top.
With a 9 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze medals harvest, Eastern Visayas ranked 12 in this year’s Palarong Pambansa.
The National Capital Region, with its 14th year in a row winning records, harvested 100 gold, 70 silver, and 50 bronze medals during the 61st annual Palarong Pambansa participated by 17 regions in the country.
Davao City will host the Palaro next year.
(RONALD O. REYES)

ISABEL, Leyte – The municipal government is mulling the idea of providing civil registry documents to the members of Badjao tribe living in this town.
By giving them registry documents, they can enjoy benefits that are being provided by the rest of the residents, said town Mayor Saturnino Medina.
Isabel is home to 69 Badjao families comprising of 277 individuals.
“Although shelter assistance had been given now to Badjao community, many things is need to be done to make sure that they will really feel that they belong to the community and receive assistance from the government like any other ordinary Filipino does. But they can’t benefit from these services and assistance because most of them are not yet registered,” Mayor Medina said.
“Many of them are not yet registered at the Civil Registrar Office. A lot of them are still undocumented,” he added.
According to Medina, the Badjaos remain without any civil documents because they fear that they might just be rejected or ridiculed if they seek these documents before the local registry office
The town mayor said that if these Badjaos will have their documents, they could avail benefits being provided by the government like the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) and stop begging in the streets just to earn money to sustain their daily needs.
“For the Badjao people to receive assistance from the government they must be registered at the civil registrar office,” Media said.
Most of the Badjaos in the town are into fishing, carpentry and other menial jobs.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Projected to help congestion problem in Calbayog City

CALBAYOG CITY-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the first district of Samar has started the implementation of a P350 million bypass road project.
The project is divided in three points: the first where it starts in Barangay San Policarpo; the second that acts as a midpoint access is in Brgy. Aguit-Itan; and the last one is in Brgy. Rawis where it ends.
The 4-lanes road project has a total length of 4.6732 kms.and covers bank and slope protection works and other structures.
According to project Engineer Ramon Calagos, the construction of the bridge and concreting of the road is not included in the budget.
“The P350 million budget is only for the phase 1 of the project. It does not include the concreting and the construction of the bridge that will be located in Brgy. Aguit-itan,” Calagos said.
He added that the road will pass thru the seashores of the seven coastal barangays in the city and assured that mangrove plantations will not be affected.
The official further stated that the project is needed as an alternate route to help decongest the traffic in the city proper.
“The increasing volume of vehicles coming in and out of the city congest the road so we need to do something to help control it,” Engr. Calagos said.
Although the Calbayog City Diversion Road was already opened to traffic earlier, still traffic situation in the city is still a problem.
“This project just like the Calbayog Diversion Road will help in solving our traffic problems and help in bringing economic development in our place,” Calagos further added.
The project is being implemented by B. Vicencio construction, which according to Engr. Calagos will be finished by 2020.
Meanwhile, Rep.Edgar Mary Sarmiento (1st district) is very positive of the outcome the project will bring to Samarnons.
“This project is something for the development not only of the city but the entire province as well,” Sarmiento said.
He added that with the non-stop increase of the number of vehicles passing thru the city from Luzon to Mindanao and vice-versa, an alternate road such as this bypass road will be very helpful.
“Calbayog is the center where vehicles coming from Luzon and Mindanao passes thru. With this, they now have an alternate route aside from the city proper and the diversion road,” Sarmiento said.
(JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Welfare Office VIII continue to intensify its link with partner agencies and municipalities in the region through memorandum of agreement signings.
Last April 16, 2018 two more municipalities in the province of Samar have showed their support to the agency as they signed MOA with OWWA RWO 8.
Municipal Mayor Danilo V. Tan of Tarangnan, Samar and Joseph B. Grey of San Jorge, OIC, Regional Director, Mary Catherine Pastor and OIC, Programs and Services Division Chief Arlene F. Salloman and the OFW Help Desks Officers of the respective municipalities were present during the signing.
Family Welfare Officer Emily Calutan requested for a list of OFWs for formation of OFW Family Circles in the two municipalities.
Calutan will also conduct an orientation on OWWA’s Programs and Services along with barangay officials of Tarangnan and San Jorge tentatively on April 26-27, 2018.
Mayors Tan and Grey are hopeful that through the MOA signing they will be able to give their OFW constituents apt and prompt action with the help of the agency. There are already seventeen municipalities in Western Samar that has MOA with OWWA RWO 8.
(KATRINA D. OBEJERA)