ORMOC CITY- A fisherman from Barangay Sap-ang, Silago, Southern Leyte who went missing for eight days was found dead at the nearby village on Sunday (June 16).
Town police SSgt. Leonilo Closa, investigator on case, said the beheaded body of Almer Tomol, 36, was already on the state of decomposition when found drifted to a knee-deep seawater in sitio Hibatian of Brgy. Hingatunggan, also of the same town.
His body was already bloated and beyond identification, Closa said.
The victim’s elder sister, Ailene Silda, confirmed the dead body was of his brother, through his short pants, the only clothing remained.
Closa, citing what the victim’s wife stated, said that Tomol gone fishing alone on Saturday morning (June 8), and never returned.
The boat he used was found glided ashore to the nearby village on the same day with his lunch still intact and some catch.
He also said the victim’s wife shared previous incident saying Tomol fell from his boat while fishing and went home with injured knee.
The police said, a local resident found Tomol’s body and reported to the police who responded along with the coast guard personnel.
The town police is still conducting investigation to identify possible crime causing the victim’s death.
(RONALD O. REYES)
Missing fisherman found dead in Southern Leyte
Sen. Villar to introduce carabao dairy industry in Northern Samar
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Senator Cynthia Villar believes that carabao milk is a good alternative livelihood for farmers in the provinces.
During her to Northern Samar on Saturday(June 15), Villar, who topped the senatorial derby of the recently-concluded elections, told members of the media here about her plans of establishing in Northern Samar a livelihood model for dairy production using carabao fresh milk.
Noting that only one percent of the milk supply in the country is produced by local manufacturers, Villar stressed the need to increase local production of dairy.
She said that unlike cattles, the Philippine carabao is easier to tend as it adopts to hot weather conditions.
In 2018, Villar has allocated funds for dairy centers in 15 provinces. This year the senator announced that she will fund for dairy centers in 15 more provinces including Northern Samar.
“Bibigyan ko ang Northern Samar ng isang model, gaya ng ginawa nila sa Ubay, Bohol where carabao milk stalls have flourished because they have a well-managed dairy center,” Villar, who chairs the committee of agriculture at the Senate, said.
The project will require an initial cost of P10 million and will be assisted by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), she said.
“Tetistingin ko lang na pag binigyan ko kayo kaya nyong ma-expand (yung dairy project). Kasi minsan bibigyan mo imbes na ma-expand nawala,” Villar said.
The P10 million will cover for dispersal of 100 milking carabaos, establishment of a processing center, and a storage.
The senator was in Catarman as guest of honor and speaker for the 58th commencement exercises of the University of Eastern Philippines.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)
Gov. Petilla calls for unity and friendship as Tacloban City celebrates its 130th fiesta
(GINA P. GEREZ)
In honor of Senior Santo Niño
TACLOBAN CITY-Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla issued an appeal that unity and friendship should prevail as this city is to celebrate its annual fiesta celebration on June 30.
Petilla made this call as he led the opening of the ‘Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival Park’ at the RTR Park, this city, on June 14.
Tacloban City is to celebrate its 130th fiesta in honor of Senior Santo Niño.
“We hope that this coming fiesta will be more meaningful. We saw that a lot of blessings are coming to our province (and) to the city of Tacloban,” Petilla said.
“Let us not forget that this coming fiesta is the time for giving thanks, of prayers, of helping each other, of friendship, and unity so that blessing will continue to pour in our province,” he added.
Gov. Petilla added that the annual Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals is a treasure of the province where talents of the Leyteños are showcased in festival competition which they can be proud of presenting in national competitions.
“We will not only see performance but also the dedication to the devotion to Sr. Santo Nino,” he said.
The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals had produced several winners in national festival competitions like the Aliwan Festival in Pasig and the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.
Among these Leyte-based cultural festivals that made good in the national competitions were the Buyugan Festival of Abuyog; Pasaka Festival of Tanauan; Alikaraw Festival of Hilongos; Lingganay Festival of Alangalang; Buraburon Festival of Burauen; and the Sanggutan Festival of Barugo.
“This proves that we have excellent and talented people that even in the national level, their talents excels,” he added.
Pintados president Eugene Tan, for his part, was thankful to the provincial government and Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla for their continued support to the annual event that is recognized in the national arena of festival competitions.
“This yearly activity will not be a success without the support of Mayor ‘Matin’ Petilla who is always on the forefront of this annual event. Because of their support, we have been successful every year,” Tan said.
For this year, Kasadyaan Festival four contingents are to battle for the title as champion.
These are the Pasaka Festival, Tolo-Usa Festival of Tolosa, Haru Tambalan Festival of Jaro, Leyte and Macarato Festival of Matuguinao, Samar.
The grand champion is to receive P500,000.
The Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals is now on its 24th year while the Pintados Festival is now on its 33rd year.
(ROEL T.AMAZONA, LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
NEW AND SPACIOUS MARKET STALL
UEP graduates collapse due to exhaustion, heat exposure
CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Protests and hate comments flooded the social media after several graduating students collapsed on their seats during the 58th Commencement Exercises at the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP), this town, held on Saturday (June 15).
Records from the university clinic disclosed that 23 graduating students collapsed due to exhaustion and too much exposure to sun.
Unlike in previous commencement exercises, UEP hold this year’s graduation rites early morning which ended in the afternoon due to the big number of graduates.
The occasion was held at the uncovered UEP R.A.B. Amphitheater.
The processional started at exactly 6 am as scheduled even if the commencement speaker, Senator Cynthia Villar, has not even arrived.
Ronnie Ballado, dean of Student Affairs, told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the change of schedule for the graduation rites was to accommodate Villar who was said to arrive at 10 am, or four hours ahead of the start of the graduation rites.
“It was really our plan to start with the program without the guest speaker and when she arrives, she will directly deliver her speech then she will leave immediately for her other commitments. We understand she had a meeting scheduled at lunch,” Ballado said.
Villar arrived at 9:45 am while the distribution of diplomas was ongoing.
After the formal introduction by Rolando Delorino, the university president, the senator gave her 30-minute commencement address to the 2,361 graduating class after which she was excused.
Villar’s staff, Candy Buenaventura, said that some students were already fainting before the senator arrived.
After the speaker left the venue, some more graduates collapsed one after another as the distribution of diplomas was ongoing.
On its Facebook page the university campus paper “The Pillar” posted that 23 graduates collapsed “due to complaints of dizziness, diarrhea, headache, and difficulty in breathing”.
They were rushed to the university clinic where the university physician, Elizabeth Dubongco, explained that the patients’ conditions were the results of “too much exposure to heat”.
The paper tried to reach Delorino for his comment but the latter has not yet answered as of press time.
Many netizens, who witnessed the affair, took to social media and vent on their disappointment about the incident.
It was learned that the graduating students were told to be at the venue as early as 5am with the ceremonies ending at 1 pm.
“This is outright stupidity on the part of the (UEP) administration. They fully know that the sun’s heat is at its height at 8am to 3pm why would they hold the ceremony at that time? It must have been a nightmare for the (graduates) wearing that toga…’ a netizen said.
“Shame on UEP for allowing this to happen,” another one remarked.
A father of a graduate expressed his pity for all the graduates who he said apparently did not enjoy their moment.
“I’m sure walang retention sa graduates ang speech ni Cynthia Villar. Kasi uneasy sila because of their hellish situation,” he said.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)
DOH renews call for a heightened anti-dengue campaign
With over 4,400 cases and 17 deaths
GOVERNMENT CENTER,PALO,Leyte- The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region has renewed its call for local government units and other sectors to help them intensify the campaign against dengue fever.
This after the health regional office reported that cases of mosquito-causing ailment has surged for the past six months of the year.
As of June 15, dengue fever cases across the region was at 4,437 with 17 deaths.
Boyd Cerro, DOH-8 regional epidemiologist, said that the current number of cases is more than double compared to last year covering the same period.
Last year’s record covering its first six months was 2,011 cases with 14 deaths.
“This increase of dengue fever cases of the region is very alarming. And considering its current trend, there is a possibility that last year’s entire dengue fever cases will be surpassed,” Cerro said in an interview.
Cerro said that there were 11,023 dengue fever cases in the region last year with 61 deaths.
The health official said that as a precautionary measures, they are calling anew close cooperation with the local government units, even school managements, to help them address the ballooning cases of dengue fever in the region.
“The DOH could not do this alone so we need the cooperation of everybody,” Cerro said.
Cleaning the sorroundings, particularly the breeding places of the dengue-causing mosquitoes should be conducted regularly.
“The hot weather that we have also contributes to the high number of dengue fever cases because these mosquitoes easily hatches, thus easy for them to grow and spread. And for some reason, they also attracts to our perspirations,” Cerro said.
Of the 17 fatalities, three were from Guiuan town, Eastern Samar and two in Tacloban City.
The following areas had one fatality each: Kawayan, Biliran; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Mahaplag, Babatngon, Merida and Babatngon, all in Leyte; Calbayog and Catbalogan cities, all in Samar; General MacArthur, Hernani, Mercedes, Quinapondan, where the last casualty on June 1 was recorded, all in Eastern Samar.
Of the 4,437 cases, Leyte to include its cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, and Baybay, posted the highest number of dengue fever at 1,240 followed by Samar to include cases in Catbalogan and Calbayog cities at 1,056; Northern Samar, 946; Eastern Samar to include Borongan City, 611; Biliran, 355; and Southern Leyte, to include Maasin, 229.
BY JOEY A. GABIETA