With anti-drug campaign in full swing

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has asked the regional office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to brace for higher budget next year in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust on war against drugs. DBM-8 Director Imelda Laceras, at the same time, asked the PDEA regional office to prepare all plans as the national government steps up funding support for its anti-drug programs starting next year.

PDEA’s proposed budget nationwide rose to P1.21 billion for next year from P1 billion in 2016. “There is a positive development as far as the Duterte administration priorities are concerned. There is an increased in budget of agencies involved in crusade against drugs and criminality. The President has the leeway to expand agencies to support his priorities,” Laceras said. The DBM official expressed concerned that PDEA might not be prepared for higher outlay since this was not discussed during their 2017 budget deliberations at the regional level early this year.

“Try to plan for the higher budget like finding properties for offices. We don’t want under spending anymore. We have to fast track the implementation of infrastructure projects by completing the design and program of work this year, bid out in the last quarter of 2016 and award the project early next year,” Laceras said. PDEA Regional Director Edgar Jubay said their office currently rents an apartment at the city’s Marasbaras district at P35,000 monthly. The agency has no provincial offices outside the regional capital.

“Manpower resources are not enough to cover six provinces in the region,” Jubay said. The agency is now finalizing their proposal for a P26 million new building in this city. This will be presented to the Regional Development Council for endorsement. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

ALBUERA, Leyte- Alleged hit men of Kerwin Espinosa have surrendered to the local police as they vowed to cooperate in the investigation against the region’s top drug lord.
Ruel Manidlangan,45, and Buan Anthony, who was also known as Tonypet Zaldivar, voluntarily surrendered to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, town police chief.
The two claimed to be hit men of Espinosa who remain at-large and faces a shoot on sight order issued by no less than Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa.
The two vowed to cooperate in the police investigation on the illegal drug trade of Espinosa and his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa by executing affidavits.
Manidlangan and Zaldivar decided to surrender out of fear and tired of being on the run.
“Sometimes you’re just relieved that it’s over. I don’t want now to endanger the lives of my family especially my children,” Manidlangan, father to seven children, said.
According to him, it was Kerwin who facilitated for his release at the Ormoc City Jail and offered him to work as his security guard.
Meantime, Espenido said that they are still waiting for the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the embattled mayor and his son.
Cases for illegal possession of firearms and illegal drugs have been filed against the Espinosas.
Espenido said the court is still reviewing all affidavits and documents submitted by the police.
Warrants are expected to be issued against the two if the court finds the complaints strong enough and with basis.
According to Espenido, filing cases against the Espinosas will be the start in making the town of Albuera free from illegal drugs and make it a peaceful town again.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

TACLOBAN CITY – A budget of P 3.2 million has been allocated by the 2nd Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways(2nd LED-DPWH) for the installation of 20 rainwater collection system (RWCS) in the district.
The implementation of the RWCS is in compliance with RA 6716 which mandates for the construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water wells in several barangays.
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse on-site, rather than allowing it to run off.
Rainwater can be collected from rivers or roofs, and in many places, the water collected is redirected to a deep pit, a reservoir with percolation, or collected from dew or fog with nets or other tools.
The feasibility of rainwater harvesting in a particular locality is highly dependent upon the amount and intensity of rainfall.
The DPWH has come up with prototypes of rainwater collector system that would harvest, collect, and store rainwater from the roof or from a groundwater catchment or multi-purpose pavement for use during dry season.
Based on the DPWH prototype, the RWCS should have a reinforced ground storage tank, with capacity of 3,200 litters of water capacity.
2nd District Engineer Carlos Veloso said priorities for the project are public schools and markets.
“Schools without access to potable water facilities are the top priorities for this project while public markets are also targeted,” Veloso said.
As RWCS uses existing structures not specially constructed for the purpose, rainwater harvesting has few negative environmental impacts compared to other water supply project technologies.
Rainwater harvesting can satisfy the ever increasing demand for water supply as rainwater harvested can also be used for several agricultural and environmental purposes.
The RWCS project is also part of the government’s efforts to promote water conservation to address the diminishing freshwater supply due to over extraction of groundwater, water pollution, inefficient water infrastructure and climate change. (AHLETTE C. REYES)