An Waray eyes at least 1.5 million votes to secure 3 congressional seats
TACLOBAN CITY- The An Waray party-list is targeting at least 1. 5 million votes for it to secure three seats at the House of Representatives.
Rep. Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel, the party-list first nominee, said that they could achieve their goal by ‘maximizing’ the more than 2 million votes of Eastern Visayas alone.
Aside from Noel, the party bared its nominees who include Mayor Allan Contado of Balangkayan in Eastern Samar as first nominee; Ormoc City Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo ‘Toto’ Locsin as its third nominee; Dr. Jason Alve as its fourth nominee and lawyer Camille Villasin as its fifth nominee.
An Waray started their foray in politics via the party-list system in 2004 and since then managed to secure even two congressional seats.
Noel said that it was always his dream to have three seats in Congress because it will entail more funds for the various programs of the An Waray.
During the 2019 elections, An Waray was able to poll more than 700,000 votes.
Mayor Contado said that aside from securing votes, their mission is to educate the voters about the party-list system.
He said that there is still low understanding of party-list among the people which results to low turnout of voters in the party-list system.
During the 2019 elections, for example he said, out of the more than 338,000 voters in Eastern Samar, only around 150,000 of them cast their votes in the party-list system.
For next year’s balloting, 270 party-lists are to contest for congressional representations.
The party-list is also banking on the votes from all Waraynons not just from all around the country but from other parts of the world.
Locsin, meantime, said that he is honored to be chosen as one of the nominees of the An Waray saying that it has been in service to the people of Ormoc ‘for the longest time’ providing free medicine, scholarships, and livelihood opportunities.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Mamawag named as acting chief of the 8th ID as Diñoso retires from military service
TACLOBAN CITY-Brigadier General Wilbur Mamawag was named as the acting commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Division, following the retirement of Major Gen. Pio Diñoso III.
Lieutenant General Andres Centino, commanding general of the Philippine Army, formally installed Mamawag during a simple change of command and retirement ceremony Saturday (October 9) at Camp Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan City.
“(The) Philippine Army will provide all necessary equipment and resources for your Division to triumph over the enemy and sustain your unit’s milestones for the months ahead,” Centino said in his speech.
General Jose Faustino Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, also joined the ceremony via video teleconference.
Mamawag, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Makatao” Class of 1989, previously served as commander of 603rd Infantry Brigade and assistant division commander of 8ID.
Diñoso, a member of PMA “Maringal” Class of 1988, assumed the post as the commanding officer of the 8th ID on July,2019.
It was during the term of Diñoso that the government soldiers scored its biggest victory against the members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Last August 16, 19 NPA rebels were killed in an air and ground assault conducted by the government soldiers against the rebels in Dolores, Eastern Samar.
No soldier was killed in the said operation.
(RONALD O. REYES)
South Leyte to vote 2 solons for the first time
With the creation of 2 congressional districts
TACLOBAN CITY-For the first time of its history, voters of Southern Leyte province will be electing two congressional representatives.
The election of two congressmen is by virtue of Republic Act 11198 reapportioning the lone congressional district of the province into first and second congressional districts.
The law, approved on February 19,2019, was sponsored by Rep. Roger Mercado (Lakas-CMD) who is seeking for a fresh term for the province’s first congressional district.
The first congressional district, which has a voting population of 132,114 as of the 2019 elections, covers the provincial capital of Maasin City and the towns of Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, and Bontoc.
Mercado will be slugging it out for the post against two other candidates.
The towns of Sogod, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, San Juan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan, and Silago comprises the newly-created second congressional district which has more than 160,200 registered voters as of 2019 balloting.
Incumbent Vice Gov. Christopher Yap (PDP-Laban), a political ally of Rep. Mercado, is among those running for congressman in the district.
Four others have filed their certificates of candidacy for the same post.
Earlier, Rep. Mercado explained that having two congressional representatives of Southern Leyte would mean more fundings from the national government and Congress.
The solon’s brother, Damian, is seeking for another term as governor of the province with his son, Naccional, is running for his third term as mayor of Maasin City.
The Mercados have long held the political power in Southern Leyte.
DPWH Northern Samar First DEO participated in the launching of Duterte Legacy “Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery”
CATARMAN, N. Samar-The Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar First District Engineering Office has participated during the launching of “Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery” held on September 30, 2021 at UEP Gymnatorium, Catarman Northern Samar.
The Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan was launched simultaneously in all 16 regions nationwide, its aim was to inform the public about the government’s programs, policies, accomplishments, and efforts to bring about real change to the lives of the Filipino people by showcasing real stories from beneficiaries in their respective localities of the Duterte administration’s landmark policies and programs. The caravan also intended to bring basic services of the government to the grassroots level and has offered on-ground activities for the participants.
DPWH joined the activity by establishing designated DPWH Public Assistance and Complaint Desk. The Help desk aimed to further improve engagement to the public and provide information regarding infra projects within the district. The district also presented Audio Visual Presentations (AVP’s) featuring the on-going and completed projects under the Build,Build,Build program of the department.
Legacy programs of various government agencies and testimonial messages of beneficiaries highlighted the event.
Other government agencies also rendered services through distribution of cash assistance and gift packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); medical assistance and lunch packs from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO); likewise, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) showcased learners’ output (TTIs), distributed starter tool kits and scholars allowances; the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offered Business consultancy; the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) conducted registration process for the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys); pangkabuhayan programs from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);hygiene kits and gift packs were distributed by the Office of Civil Defense 8 (OCD), the Philippine National Police RO8 distributed food packs while the Regional Civil Service Unit of PRO 8 (RCSU) conducted a License to Own and Possess Firearm (LTOPF) Caravan for owners who wish to renew their license while Regional Medical and Dental Unit (RMDU) rendered consultation; distributed medicines, vitamins and flyers for oral health.
The said caravan was spearheaded by the Presidential Communications Operations (PCOO), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
(ANALIZA A.PABIA/PR)