TACLOBAN CITY – Red tide bloom has recurred in San Pedro Bay in Samar province just a month after it was declared toxin-free, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) reported on Friday.

BFAR-8 (Eastern Visayas) head Juan Albaladejo said the recurrence of red tide in the bay in Basey town happens because the bay has shallow parts that contribute to the interaction of warm and cold weather.

“This triggers the red tide-causing dinoflagellates cyst to migrate to (the) water surface and expose to accompanying sediments laden with organic matter. It fertilizes the microorganism, causing red tide,” Albaladejo said in a text message.

On October 11, the shellfish ban was lifted in San Pedro Bay as favorable weather dispersed red tide organisms.

San Pedro Bay in the coastal waters of Basey and Marabut towns in Samar is a rich source of shellfish in the southern part of Samar Island.

The latest advisory said the red tide toxins also remain in the coastal waters of Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, and Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City in Samar.

“We have been issuing precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. locally known as ‘alamang or hipon’ from the said bay,” Albaladejo said.

Fish, squid, crab, and shrimp gathered from these areas are safe to eat provided that all entrails are removed and washed thoroughly with running water before cooking.

The BFAR asked local government units to heighten their watch against the gathering, trading, and consumption of shellfish to prevent the incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

PSP occurs from ingesting bivalve shellfish, such as mussels, oysters, and clams that contain red tide toxins. Its symptoms include the tingling of the lips and tongue, which may progress to the tingling of fingers and toes and loss of control of arms and legs, followed by breathing difficulties.

Red tide is a term used to describe a phenomenon where the water is discolored by high algal biomass or the concentration of algae. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY– A giant Christmas tree was lighted up inside the provincial capitol grounds in Catarman on Friday (Nov.4), signaling the official start of the Christmas season in the province.

Aside from the switch-on of the 18-meter foot Christmas tree, mostly made of metals led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan and his wife Bles, the event also marked as a gift-giving to about 1,000 children consisting of toys, candies, and school supplies.

This year’s yuletide theme is Christmas Carnival which showcases designs and decorations prepared by different national government offices and civic organizations, says Allen Berbon, the provincial information officer.

Those who were present during the occasion immediately took photos or selfies with the Christmas tree and various decors inside the Christmas park as their background.

Gov. Ongchuan said that the Christmas park at the provincial capitol grounds is primarily for children ‘for them to savor the joy of Christmas’ as well as for adults for them to have a feeling of childlike joy that the season brings.

“The provincial government endeavors to live out the distinct celebration of Filipinos during Christmas season where it is shared with an extended time for family, for sharing, for giving, and for renewed friendship”, the governor said, as he encouraged the public to visit the Christmas park which will end until January 6,2023.

The provincial government-initiated activity dubbed as the “Karibhungan sa Pasko” is now on its six years now.

The event, capped with a spectacular fireworks, also aims to promote the spirit of giving and sharing, and boost local tourism. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

CALBIGA, Samar – A farmer from Barangay Macaalan in this town thanked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the opportunity to learn the different aspects of marketing their produce such as planning, recording and even in planting.

Ricky Antony Cardeno, a leaseholder, was among the 33 agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) members of the Calbiga Vegetable Growers Association (CVGA) who graduated recently from DAR’s Farm Business School (FBS) after completing the 25 sessions in seven months.
Cardeno was chosen to receive the Mountain Mover Award for his active participation, dedication to his craft and the ability to provide solution when problem arises.

During their graduation, Thelma Alfaro, chief of the Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) at the DAR Samar Provincial Office, encouraged the participants of the FBS to apply what they have learned in order to increase their income.

FBS, according to the point person, Kimberly Morillo, is a sub-program under the Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES) of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program (ARBDSP). It is guided by the principle of learning by doing together, which aims to improve market access and increase incomes of the farmers, she added.

Meanwhile, Fe Ocasla, barangay chairperson of Barangay Macaalan, emphasized to the FBS graduates that “By sharing what you have learned here will also help improve the lives of other farmers in our village.”

At the moment, Cardeno disclosed, crops planted in their garden include eggplant, bell pepper, hot pepper and bitter gourd (amplaya), as a result from the market survey they have conducted, which was among the activities they have learned in FBS.

(JESSA LABAGALA/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The mayor of Can-avid in Eastern Samar said that she will be seeking help from the Department of Tourism (DOT) to help her government draft their tourism program.

According to Mayor Vilma Germino, while they have tourist destinations that could compete with other places, these areas remain underdeveloped and not visited by tourists due to their lack of tourism program.

Thus, she said, she will be seeking assistance from the DOT and other government agencies to help them draw the needed tourist program.

This way, Germino said, their tourist attractions could be marketed well and in the process, provide job generation to her people and income to the local government.

Germino said that they have at least eight identified areas for tourism activities, namely, the Pasig naked island, Balwarte, Pangpang view deck, Kanmanghit Cave, the Lulugayan, Kantalon, and Lusungan Falls, and the Ulot River.

Of these eight tourist assets, the Pangpang View Deck was listed among the top destination in Eastern Samar.

Located in Barangay Guibungan, the view deck offers a stunning sunrise view, sea of clouds, beautiful landscape of Can-avid and its nearby municipalities, islands and the Pacific Ocean, and also the Ulot River.

The portion of the Ulot River, the longest river system in Eastern Visayas that runs for about 100 kilometers starting from the town of San Jose de Buan in Samar province and ends in Can-avid, has also a big potential for tourism activities, according to the mayor.

“If these attractions will be developed, this can really help the town to develop economically,” Mayor Germino said.

“With more tourists arriving, this means more businesses are created and more jobs are generated,” she added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)