Police from Babatngon, Leyte, assisted a passenger from a capsized motorized boat Sunday (Feb. 5). The said boat was battered with heavy rain and strong winds while it was sailing from Talalora, Samar to Babatngon. (BABATNGON MPS)
Police from Babatngon, Leyte, assisted a passenger from a capsized motorized boat Sunday (Feb. 5). The said boat was battered with heavy rain and strong winds while it was sailing from Talalora, Samar to Babatngon. (BABATNGON MPS)
ORMOC CITY– Seven passengers on board a motorized banca were rescued after the boat they were on board capsized after encountering big waves in Babatngon, Leyte on Saturday (Jan.4).
The sea mishap happened along a sea canal in between the villages of Malaguining of Talalora, Samar, and sitio Canaway of Brgy. District-IV, Babatngon at about 4:30 pm, a report from the local police said.
The victims were identified as Norberto Dagami, 42, single, owner of a funeral parlor, and his two embalmers Unida Ladrera, 43, and Ben Fernandez, 38; Marimel Villegas, 22; Aday Villegas, 15; Alrico Saludaga, 50, and owner of the motorized banca, and Sam Royo, 17.
The Babatngon police said that the victims on board of the motorized banca were sailing from the island of Brgy. Tatabunan, Talalora going to Babatngon after attending a funeral service.
However, the motorized banca capsized due to the strong current of the waves, about five kilometers away from the shoreline. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY– A man was killed while his two companions sustained injuries after the motorcycle they were on board fell on a drainage canal in Laoang town, Northern Samar on Sunday (Feb.5) at about 12:10 pm.
Report from the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP) based in Palo, Leyte identified the fatality as Anthony Capacio, 34, while his back riders were identified as Mark John Capacio, 28, and Aproniano Beconio, 54, and all residents of Barangay EJ Dulay of the said town.
Initial investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the three victims were traversing a national highway in Catubig going to Brgy. Rawis, Laoang while a Toyota Revo was parked on the right side of the road.
However, when the motorcycle arrived in Brgy. La Perla, the vehicle suddenly made a U-turn without looking for incoming vehicles.
The driver of the motorcycle tried to swerve to avoid hitting the vehicle but lost control which resulted for the three to stumble to the drainage.
The impact of the fall to the drainage resulted in the instantaneous death of the driver, while his back riders sustained injuries and were rushed to St. Scholastica’s Hospital in Pambujan town, also in the same province.
The unidentified driver of the vehicle fled after the incident going in the direction of Las Navas Northern Samar leaving his victims on the road.
A flash alarm was immediately issued to all neighboring towns to flag the vehicle once it passes in their respective areas. (ROBERT DEJON)
Centenarian Consuelo Dejaño from Ormoc City received cash assistance and food packs from the city government as she reached the 100-year mark on Jan. 24.
TACLOBAN CITY– A centenarian from Ormoc City was awarded with a centenarian gift after she turned 100 years old.
Centenarian Consuelo Dejaño from Ormoc City received cash assistance and food packs from the city government as she reached the 100-year mark on Jan. 24.
Consuelo Dejaño of Barangay Juaton turned 100-years last January 24.
Dejaño received P20,000 cash gift and food packs on Feb.3 by councilor Carmen Jean Rama who chairs the committee on senior citizens and persons with disabilities at the city council, representing Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez.
Rama was assisted by Maribel Gucela, officer-in-charge of the city’s social welfare office, and Niña Restauro, head of the Ormoc City Persons with Disability Affairs Office.
Dejaño said that she loves to eat Monde cheese bars and can consume one pack (10pcs.) per day and pair it with a glass of milk.
Aside from the centenarian gift from the city government, Dejaño is also expected to receive P100,000 from the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development as mandated under Republic Act 10868 or the Centenarian Act of 2016.
At least 16 centenarians from Ormoc City had already received said cash gift since it was implemented after the law was passed. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking P2.94 billion in funding for the construction of 35 flood control projects in three Eastern Visayas provinces this year.
DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said these projects are highly necessary given the recent massive flooding experienced in the region from late December 2022 to early January this year.
“We are happy that the Regional Development Council (RDC) endorsed these projects to our central office for inclusion in the 2023 funding. These are urgent projects meant to protect lives and properties,” Tabacon said in an interview Monday.
The regional office here is still waiting for feedback from their main office.
These projects are in General MacArthur and Oras in Eastern Samar; Ormoc and Kananga in Leyte; Saint Bernard, Sogod, San Juan, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Sogod, and Hinunangan in Southern Leyte province.
Of the total outlay, P2.59 billion will go to flood-prone areas in Southern Leyte, P200 million in Eastern Samar, and P155 million in Leyte province.
In a resolution approved by the RDC, the council said the additional flood control projects are also found to be aligned with the regional strategies and priorities on infrastructure development based on the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan.
“In addition, majority of the said projects have direct impact on the disadvantaged sectors and areas while two were identified in the Eastern Visayas Typhoon Odette Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan,” the RDC said in its resolution signed on Dec. 19, 2022.
Some of these projects are in areas badly hit by Typhoon ‘Odette’ in December 2021. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)
BORONGAN CITY – To help sustain the Philippine Airlines’ operations in the province, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone asked all local government units to create a tour package for their respective tourist destinations.
Evardone made this call during his meeting with the mayors and tourism officers in the province as he urged them to develop a tour package.
The governor asked them to submit their proposals to him next month.
Since the opening of its flight in the province in December of last year, the country’s flag carrier had recorded 900 passengers.
“This is big advantage for us having flight here in the province. That is why we need to sustain it, and we can do it by promoting the tourist destinations in our respective places,” Evardone said.
“I know that every town in Eastern Samar has something to offer to visitors. What you have to do is to create a product wherein tourists will know where they will go and what they will do when they come to visit our province,” the governor added.
Evardone stressed that promoting the tourist destinations of the province will help the local economy and will open job opportunities and income to the locals like farmers and fishermen.
Meantime, the tourism personnel from Maslog town informed the governor that they have to beg off because of their problem of accessibility as it is not yet connected to the province.
To reach the town, one has to travel by sea from Dolores town. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III leads the inauguration and turnover of the P9.1 million 28 linear-meter Tulay ng Pangulo in Balangiga, Eastern Samar during his recent visit to Eastern Visayas. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
HINUNANGAN, Southern Leyte– A total of 29,149 residents including 4,759 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the Hinunangan agrarian reform community (ARC) from this town will now have easier access to transport their agricultural products to the nearest markets, with the completion of the P8.5-million bridge under the ‘Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo (TPKP)’ project.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III leads the inauguration and turnover of the P9.1 million 28 linear-meter Tulay ng Pangulo in Balangiga, Eastern Samar during his recent visit to Eastern Visayas. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
The TPKP project is facilitated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), in close coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Victorio Dagohoy, president of Barangay Ilaya Kikoy Farmers Association (BIKFA), expressed his gratitude to the government and said that the newly-constructed bridge would be a big help not only in bringing their products to the market but also during emergency disaster evacuation cases.
“Thank you very much. You can expect that we would take care of this bridge so we can benefit much longer from the project,” Dagohoy said.
Atty. Kazel C. Celeste, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Office (FOO), and Rene E. Colocar, Assistant Secretary for Special Projects under the Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO), led the inauguration and turnover of the said bridge to Vice Mayor Marian Donayre-Pelin.
Celeste said that DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, will provide more support services to the farmers upon the directive made by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“The Secretary’s intention is to link the remotest barangays or villages to the town and market proper, so that farmers can feel that they belong and play a big role in nation-building,” Celeste said.
Atty. Robert Anthony P. Yu, DAR Eastern Visayas regional director said the 22.80 linear meters two-lane bridge will benefit 17 barangays and one sitio namely: Calag-itan, Calinao, Catublian, Ilaya, Ingan, Libas, Lumbog, Manlico, Matin-ao, Nava, Nueva Esperanza, Palongpong, Patong, Pondol, Sto, Niño II. Tuburan, Upper Bantawon, and Sitio Tabjon. (PR)
