TACLOBAN CITY- About 1,800 residents from the four relocation sites in the northern part of the city received pails and free services from the city government of Tacloban’s Barangayan under Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez held at St. Francis covered multi-purpose building on September 27.
Mayor Romualdez led the distribution of pails with covers and was accompanied by former senator Bongbong Marcos, who likewise donated medicines for the Barangayan activity that benefited residents from St Francis Village, Greendale, Guadalupe, and Ridgeview resettlement sites.
In his speech, the chief executive reiterated his call for the public to do more in the campaign against dengue though cases have decreased in Tacloban City.
“Nalilipay naman ako na at least nabawasan pero inuulit ko lang kapag ang anak niyo may nararamdaman, itakbo niyo agad sa Health Center para maasikaso namin agad,” said Mayor Romualdez.
Meanwhile, the former senator thanked the volunteers and government employees who rendered their services in the Barangayan, which is the second conducted by the local government since Mayor Romualdez assumed office last July.
Marcos also mentioned that they tried to make the outreach program as a one-stop-shop to cater to the needs of the people.
“We try to do as much as possible kasi karamihan sa kanila malalayo, may trabaho, Hindi makapunta sa hospital kahit may sakit na. So instead of waiting for them to go to the hospital, we bring the doctors and the medicines to them,” he said.
The basic services given by LGU were free veterinary and grooming services, live birth registration, medicines as well as free vaccination, medical and dental consultation.
Also in attendance during the Barangayan were Councilors Evangeline Esperas and Leo Bahin.- C. MERIN/CIO)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Eastern Visayas Tourism Association (Evta) launched its “Mice and More Forum” to promote the region as the next destination for prime Meetings, incentives, conference exhibition (Mice) on Saturday (Sept.28).
Reynaldo ‘Pocholo” Franco, Evta president, said the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the region initially identified Tacloban, Ormoc, and Calbayog, as Mice cities.
“These cities should really focus their tourism investments as Mice destinations,” Franco said.
To coincide with their first anniversary celebration at the Oriental Leyte in Palo town, Evta officials and members mapped out their competitive, incentivized and curated Mice packages according to Mice value chain.
“We see opportunity from Mice, even when it is regarded as medium size. We believe all of us will earn from it, not just one sector,” said Karen Tiopes, DOT regional director.
“Eastern Visayas is the heart of the Philippines. It is accessible by air, sea, and land. We recall the Haiyan (super typhoon Yolanda) rebirth. We had to pause. After the pause, we had several even huge Mice events. Among the most memorable was the hosting of Pope Francis,” she said.
Tiopes maintained that the region has been hosting Visayas-wide conferences, international conference, sports events, and festivals, among others.
“We’re learning Mice. When we talk about Mice, it’s always about venues and accommodations,” said Tiopes as she presented the inventory of accredited venues and accommodations in the region.
Tiopes said her office is strictly imposing primary enterprises to include Mice facilities.
“This shows our capacity in Mice,” she said.
Meanwhile, Franco said they are expecting to increase the current 70 members in their group as tourism stakeholders now that they know the benefits from being an Evta member.
“Mice is a very fast-growing segment of tourism. Its projected value by 2025 is $1.5 trillion globally. The trend of Mice globally is moving to Asia and the Pacific. It’s one of the most inclusive industry. The ripple effect of Mice is wide,” said Tourism Undersecretary Arturo Boncato Jr.
“Why invest in Mice? It has high potential, high value, and great opportunities,” added Boncato as he shared the success story of Mice in Iloilo City in his speech on Mice and More, Sustainable, and Inclusive.
The official said that Mice growth in the Philippines is relevant, adding that almost 60,000 participants were recorded for the first half of the year.
Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) president Jose Clemente III added that what the region needs to do is invest on infrastructure, marketing, education and training, creativity, be on the lookout for opportunities, and constant dialogue with the DOT and its Tourism Promotions Board (TPB).
“We’re trying to create more responsive programs in partnership with the private sector. In TPB, we are committed to bid, bid, bid for events to be held in the Philippines,” said Ma. Carla Remedios Miranda, acting head of TPB’ Mice department.
In her speech, Miranda inspired the Evta and the officials in the region to create “inspiring incentives program and unforgettable experiences” to travel to the Philippines.
(RONALD O. REYES)

In the occasion of the 118th Balangiga Encounter anniversary

BALANGIGA, Eastern Samar-In an apparent tit-for-tat move, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that he would ask President Rodrigo Duterte to ban US senators to enter the country who earlier sought in prohibiting Filipino officials who were involved in the detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima to come to the US.
Go, a most trusted ally of the President, issued this statement in a speech during the 118th anniversary of Balangiga Encounter held Saturday (Sept.29) at the town’s gymnasium.
According to Go, the act of US Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin was a clear “interference to the internal affairs” of the Philippines.
“I condemned this act of handful US senators for seeking to ban officials of the Philippine government involved in the detention of Sen.Leila de Lima entering from the US. This is an affront to our sovereignty and to our ability to govern ourselves,”Go said in his speech.
“I will suggest to President Duterte to also ban these senators in entering our country for interfering our internal affairs,”the senator added.
Sen. Go said that de Lima is detained by virtue of a “lawful order by an independent court” whose decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
The two US senators earlier passed a resolution seeking the prohibition banning US officials involved in the detention of de Lima, a known staunch critic of Duterte.
“Hindi tayo nanhihimasok sa kanila.Ngayon, nakikialam sila,”the senator said in a brief interview who maintains that the senator is not a political prisoner.
Meantime, Sen.Go said that he welcomes the return of the three bells artifacts to the town after being deposited in a US Naval base.
He mainly credited the President for the return of the bells to the town last December 15, 2018.
This year’s commemorative program is the first time ever that the people of Balangiga marks the historic event considered to be the single defeat by the American forces during the Filipino-American war.
For Enrique Valenzuela,15, said that while he could not understand the historical meaning on the return of the bells, he is still happy to see it personally.
“I’m just happy to see the bells myself,” the Grade 8 student said.
The bells are temporarily placed at the garden of the St. Lawrence the Martyr church.
For Eulogia Amano, grandniece of Captain Valeriano Abanador who led the uprising, she now feel “relax.”
“When the bells were returned last year here in our hometown, we were happy and overwhelmed. Now, we feel relax because they are now with us forever,”the 80 year old retired school principal said.
Go, joined by Eastern Samar Gov.Ben Evardone and Rep.Ma.Fe Abunda, offered wreath to the statue of Abandor.
Earlier, the Church honored the 113 locals who were part of the uprising 118 years ago by mentioning their names one by one during a Holy Mass held at 6 am.
The 73 American soldiers who also died in the uprising were also mentioned in the same occasion.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)