TACLOBAN CITY – The Disiplina Muna Advocacy Campaign was formally launched here in the region on Monday (July 13) which gives priority on all programs and policies of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The launching was held at the Camp Ruperto Kangleon Camp where the regional headquarter of the Philippine National Police (PNP) is based.
One of the highlights of the launching of the advocacy campaign was the signing of pledge of commitment led by DILG Regional Director Karl Caesar Rimando and Police B/Gen. Manuel Pepino, assistant regional director for administration.
Disiplina Muna Advocacy Campaign is a program of the DILG which promotes its programs, policies, and activities like road clearing, disaster risk reduction and management, anti-smoking, liquor ban, clean-up of tourism sites, ease of doing business, and anti-illegal drug campaign.
DILG Regional Director Caesar Rimando, in his speech during the launching, encouraged policemen to set a good example, not only in their workplace but also in their community by following laws and ensuring that their family members are not involved in vices like illegal drugs.
“Kapag ito ay nakita ng mga mamamayan, sisiguraduhin ko sa inyo na sila ay sasaludo.Sasaludo hindi lamang dahil ikaw ay miyembro ng PNP, kundi sasaluduhan ka nila dahil ikaw ay idolo ng kanilang pamayanan,” he said.
Rimando reminded the policemen that they must always do the right thing, follow all laws like wearing of helmet, and especially, protect the integrity of their institution.
“For people to continue to look at police as their protectors, each must strive to embody the concept of discipline, decorum, distinction, so as to properly represent the organization to the public. People must see the civilian side of the PNP that is disciplined uniformed personnel,” the DILG regional director said.
Since, Eastern Visayas region is prone to all kind of natural disaster and calamity, the DILG8 official also calls for policemen in the region to help in the disaster mitigation efforts and not only on preparedness.
Policemen can help the communities by training them on preparedness and what they should do and where to go when a disaster strikes.
The DILG official also reminded the police force in the region to strictly observed and follow all health protocols against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as ways to ensure limiting the spread of transmission of the virus as the world continue to battle against the disease that is until now has no vaccine.
Eastern Visayas has about 646 confirmed COVID-19 cases with three fatalities.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
DILG exec lead regional launching of Disiplina Muna Advocacy Campaign
N. Samar, Biliran seek moratorium on the LSIs return
Due to spike of COVID-19 cases and lack of facilities
(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
BY: ROEL T. AMAZONA
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial governments of Northern Samar and Biliran have sought for the extension on the moratorium on the return of the locally stranded individuals (LSIs) to their respective provinces until the end of this month.
While they are asking for the extension of the moratorium, Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan stressed that they welcome the LSIs to their province.
“While we wait for the decision of the NIATF, we will allow documented locally stranded individuals to enter and return to our province,” Governor Edwin Ongchuan posted in his Facebook account.
Documented LSIs are those who made coordination with their respective local government units prior to their return.
On June 25, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año after visiting the region approved the request of local chief executives in the region to suspend the travel of LSIs for 14 days to help contain further spread of the COVID-19 cases.
The suspension started on June 28 and last until July 9.
The provinces of Northern Samar and Biliran province have submitted a resolution to the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease (RIATF8) and the Regional Task Force on COVID-19(RTF8) for the extension of the moratorium on the return of the LSIS until July 31.
This request of the two provinces was granted by the two body during a joint resolution issued on July 10 though the NIATF has yet to give its response to the appeal.
The two provinces cited “limited resources and capacity to quarantine these returning residents” as their reason for the extension.
The two provinces also cited the lack of level three hospital in their respective areas and the limited number of hospital beds as well as supplies and materials for COVID-19 and fewer healthcare workers and professionals.
They added that because of these problems, “the local health care system would be easily overwhelmed in the event of a surge of the coronavirus cases.
As of June 12, the number of COVID-19 cases in Biliran had increased to 22 where seven of which had already recovered and one death, while Northern Samar has 22 cases with 11 recovered cases.
Majority of the confirmed case are LSIs including the two reported new cases in Northern Samar, a 14-year old girl who arrived with her grandparents to Lavazares town on June 15 from Paco, Manila and a 60-year old male from San Jose town who arrived with his wife from Caloocan City to the province on June 18. Both new patients are currently isolated at the respective isolation facilities.
All eight towns in the province of Biliran have COVID-19 cases.
These cases are in Biliran (7), Naval (5), Cabucgayan (4), Almeria and Caibiran (3), Kawayan (3) and Maripipi (1).
Six of the 24 municipalities in Northern Samar had recorded cases of COVID-19. These are the towns of Lavezares (10), San Isidro (7), San Jose (2) and one case each in the municipalities of Victoria, San Roque and the capital town of Catarman where the first case in the region was recorded.
Eastern Visayas as of July 12 has a total of 646 confirmed cases with a total of 535 recovered and with three recorded Covid-19 related deaths.
38 nabbed over ‘sabong’ in 1 day
TACLOBAN CITY- At least 38 individuals involved in alleged illegal cockfighting activities were arrested in one-day police operations in the Eastern Visayas on July 5, following the order of police director Brigadier General Bernabe Balba to strengthen the anti-gambling campaign in the region.
“We will not tolerate any form of gambling in our area of responsibility. The people of Eastern Visayas deserve peace and security at all cost,” said Balba.
Leyte Police Provincial Office (LPPO) apprehended 18 individuals from the towns of Matalom, Kananga, Carigara, Villaba, Tabontabon, Barugo and Mahaplag.
Also confiscated from them were fighting cocks, gaffs and bet money amounting to P15,900.
In Eastern Samar, police arrested nine persons from MacArthur and Lawaan towns and confiscated from the alleged violators fighting cocks, gaffs and bet money with a total of P6,000.
Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) also arrested eight individuals from Catbalogan City and Pagsanghan.
Police confiscated from them fighting cocks, gaffs and bet money with a total of P8,000.
In Northern Samar, police nabbed three persons from Catubig town and confiscated from them one fighting cock with an estimated value of P500.
All arrested violators were brought to their respective police stations for documentation and for proper filing of charges in connection with Presidential Decree 449, or Illegal Cockfighting Law, as amended by Presidential Decree 1602, which prescribes stiffer penalties for illegal gambling.
(RONALD O. REYES)
Monkey attacks farmer in Biliran
TACLOBAN CITY – A farmer from Maripipi town in Biliran province was attacked by a monkey.
Police Lieutenant Junriel Rosario, in a mobile phone interview, identified the farmer as Jeffrey Rosario, 34, single and a resident of Barangay Olog of said island town.
Police Investigation showed that Rosario caught the monkey harvesting his plants when he visited his farm on July 6, the monkey was eating his crops.
The farmer tried to drive away the beast but instead of running, it instead attacked him.
The two engaged in a brawl which resulted for Rosario to sustained bites and scratches on his body. He was later brought to the Rural Health Unit.
Maripipi Mayor Joseph Caingcoy said that there have been complaints from the farmers in his town regarding monkeys harvesting the plants in their farms.
The mayor expressed surprise on the incident saying that this is the first time in his municipality wherein the monkey attacked a human being.
Mayor Caingcoy theorized that the monkeys are becoming aggressive and harvest the plants of the farmers because they are deprived with their sources of food.
He explained that with the forest clearings done by farmers for food production resulting in environmental destruction and the devastation of the wildlife habitat including the sources of food for the animals in the forests.
The monkeys deprived of their daily sustenance and are hungry due to the forest destruction, venture into the farms to look for food.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
DPWH-Leyte 4th DEO constructs medical health facilities in Ormoc City
O
RMOC CITY- The Leyte 4th District Engineering Office commences the construction of health facilities for the healthcare professionals assigned at COVID Center in Ormoc City.
The project consists of two buildings with 28 air-conditioned rooms that can house up to 56 healthcare workers.
With a total budget of P15 million the building includes a nurse station, a separate toilets & baths, kitchen, laundry area and infirmary.
The structures were designed using modular containers for easy fabrication and disassembled when not anymore needed. Components will be kept by the DPWH for future use especially during calamity response when related structure is necessary.
“Our brave healthcare workers assigned to monitor COVID patients need not any more go directly to their homes after work cause these dormitories will serve as their temporary resting place,” District Engineer Francisco Gonzalez said.
“These buildings will be provided with basic home equipment to make their stay comfortable as possible” he added.
This project is a convergence program of the DPWH, Local Government Unit of Ormoc City and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).
Its funding was sourced out from the Quick Response Fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) while the land where the structure is being built was provided by the LGU-Ormoc.
With a duration of 45 calendar days, the project is expected to be completed by the middle of August of this year. (PR)