BURAUEN, Leyte- The Mamanwa tribe living in Barangay Kagbana, this town, is helping in the protection of the national bird.
Bernal Managbanag, the chieftain of the tribe in an interview during the second Mahagnao outdoor festival, held here recently, confirms the presence of the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii) in their village saying that the big bird “can carry a wild piglet weighing 10 to 15 kilos.”
He added that they observe that eagle also eats snakes, monkeys, weasel and other animals.
The members of the Mamanwa participated in the festival that promoted environmental conservation, protection and ecotourism of the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, here.
Managbanag said that they recognized the bird as the Philippine eagle when the personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, regional office 8 (DENR-8), based in Tacloban City introduced to them the animal before the occurrence of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.
Managbanag said that they have been observing the presence of the bird in their area many years ago and there were people hunting it for food.
He added that his tribe is now protecting the bird after the DENR-8 personnel asked them to protect it.
DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo said that based on their initial assessment, the Philippine eagle is roaming along the forests in the Anonang-Lobi mountain ranges located at the boundaries of the towns of Burauen-Jaro-Albuera and Ormoc City.
He added that his men in the field are further conducting studies on the range or how far is the coverage of the Philippine eagle forest habitat in Leyte.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in an interview, said when it was confirmed that the Philippine eagle exists in the province sometime in 2014, his office immediately conducted information dissemination for its protection.
Eagles should not be harmed as they are protected under our laws, Petilla said.
Petilla and Sibbaluca are appealing for and soliciting support from the general public, the local government units, private organizations, stakeholders and concerned other concerned government agencies to help preserve the Philippine Eagle now freely flying in the mountain ranges of Leyte island.
(RESTITUTO CAYUBIT)
Mamanwa tribe in Leyte helps protect Philippine Eagle
On the red
Besides today being Valentine’s Day, the day of hearts and the day of reds, people are on their toes and on the red for whatever might happen this day – either favourable or not. Albeit denied by the police and military authorities, the fear of terrorist attack in Eastern Visayas by the Maute group in collaboration with the militant Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, keeps the people in the region vigilant. Tacloban City was earlier reported a target of the Maute group’s bomb attack.
On Monday, February 13, an explosion happened in the heart of Tacloban City, causing people to fear that the Maute group has already staged its threat. The paranoia sent people to surmise that what exploded was an improvised explosive device (IED) paralyzing some activities in nearby offices and institutions. The explosive and ordnance unit of the Tacloban City Police Office later announced that what caused the explosion was the detonation done by the EOU of a suspicious package of celfone with wire attached to a speaker with some wires with them wrapped in plastic bag. There was no IED that exploded.
Although the police authorities have already declared safety in the city’s environs, they advised the people to remain vigilant. Stay on the red and be on your toes are among the best principles to carry on these days. Tacloban City Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, in his social media post urged the Taclobanons to continue to be vigilant to ensure their safety. Otherwise stated, the people’s safety is in their own hands not in another’s.
While that may be in a bigger scale, the smaller one, such as the lovers’ celebration of Valentine’s Day now, take on same caveat. The safety of one does not completely depend upon another persons gesture but upon one’s own vigilance.
Festival held aim to preserve Mahagnao Natural Park
BURAUEN, Leyte- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with the local government unit of Burauen conducted the second Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Outdoor Festival in Mahagnao Natural Park.
Among the activities held during the February 3 festival included fun run, kayak racing, photo contest, and booth making contest to commemorate the declaration of Mahagnao as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Area System through Proclamation Number 117 in 1998.
This year’s Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park Outdoor Festival also recognized the members of the Mamanwa tribe from Mindanao who have been living in Barangay Kagbana for more than 50 years now.
During the festival, the Mamanwas showcased their traditional dance to the visitors. Meantime, soldiers belonging to the 78th Infantry Battalion, whose headquarter is based in this town, also performed a Tausug dance.
Leyte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Ranulfo Abriol said that the activity is meant to dramatize their call for the protection and preservation of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park.
Abriol called on the residents and tourists of the natural park not to do any act that would result to its destruction.
The vast park is also now considered to be one of the fast emerging tourist attractions of the town.
Mahagnao Volcano is a dormant volcano located in Barangay Mahagnao, more than 30 kms away from the town proper.
The area is composed of wetland forest and abundant with hot springs, awe-inspiring craters, hot springs, multi-colored muds and rocks, lakes, virgin forests with giant ferns and orchids, lagoon, and temperature climate
Part of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park located in the southern part is Lake Malagsom, a crater lake with green acidic water that serves as nesting and breeding grounds of thousands of Philippine wild ducks. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Slope protection along NCCCR to be completed with corrections
Worth P41.6 million
NAVAL, Biliran- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) reported that the P41.6 million slope protection project along Naval-Caibiran Cross Country Road (NCCCR) is yet to be completed.
Engr. Jeorge S. Malaque, project inspector, said that said project was found with defects and is scheduled for corrections by the contractor.
“We have found some transverse cracks, hardened concrete, insufficient sealant and other minor defects on the project,” said Malaque.
Malaque revealed that the project was completed on December, 29, 2016 after the project was extended for 30 calendar days due to unfavorable weather condition and road-right-of-way (RROW) problems.
Furthermore, Malaque explained that there was an extra work added in the variation order which was the re-blocking of damaged pavement.
On the question as to assurance of the quality of the project, Engr. Malaque said: “our assurance is that what was planned has been implemented. All materials and required samples were tested so that designed quality of the structure was attained and the structure itself will serve its purpose.”
Furthermore, Engr. David P. Adongay Jr., district engineer, said that DPWH-BDEO will not process the final payment of said project unless the found defects are corrected or rectified.
The said road section is prone to flooding during rainy days hence drainage structure was included in the Slope Protection project.
Other than the slope protection structure and drainage, concrete paving of one lane is also included in the project.
The completed project will provide a structure that will prevent further landslide along this road section and contain run-off water during rainy days to prevent future damage to existing paved national road. (PR)
Manufacturing in, ICT out in new EV dev’t plan thrust
TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas is shifting its development focus from information and communication technology (ICT) in the past six years to manufacturing from 2017 to 2022.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said it is more realistic for the region to attain economic growth from manufacturing sector than from ICT sector.
However, the 2017-2022 Regional Development Plan (RDP), which is up for review until last week of February, is still keeping agriculture and tourism as major thrusts for Eastern Visayas.
“There are several highly-educated graduates for ICT, but the challenge is our geography. We are prone to natural hazards that might cause destructions to operations of ICT companies,” Uy said.
He recalled that when supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck the region in 2013, a business process outsourcing firm with over 1,000 workers, suffered massive loss, prompting them to permanently shut down its operations in Palo, Leyte.
The Department of Science and Technology said there are about 3,000 workers in the region engaged in ICT-related jobs, including home-based businesses.
There are only four major ICT firms in the province which all engages in non-voice outsourcing.
Palo is the seat of the 6.8-hectare Leyte ICT Park and the 22-hectare Leyte Mikyu Economic Zone.
“We also need facilities to provide very reliable internet connections. The required internet connection is better in other parts of the country,” Uy added.
The development plan has tagged manufacturing as third main priority, citing the region’s existing support facilities.
Manufacturing firms at the Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) in Isabel town have been the major contributors in the Gross Regional Domestic Product.
LIDE houses the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation and the Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Corporation.
In 2015, the industry sector, where manufacturing subsector belongs, accounted 41.4 percent of the regional economy.
The RDP outlines strategies to attain up to seven percent economic growth in Eastern Visayas from 2017 to 2022.
The regional plan is considered as a “companion document” of the Philippines Development Plan for 2017 to 2022 or within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The RDP, which serves as the blueprint of the region’s development direction, is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Long-Term Vision of Filipinos or AmBisyon Natin 2040 and President Duterte’s 0+10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
The RDC, the region’s highest policy-making body, approved the new RDP during its full council meeting on Dec. 20, 2016.
Under the plan, the region aims to attain 5.2 percent to 5.7 percent economic growth in 2017. For 2018 to 2022, the average target is 5.8 percent to seven percent.
(SARWELL Q.MENIANO)
Pag-IBIG Fund to sponsor mass wedding event
TACLOBAN CITY- February 14 is the Pag-IBIG Day of Pag-IBIG Fund, which turned out to be a Valentine’s Day.
One of its nationwide activity is the “I do, I do”, mass wedding event of Pag-IBIG member couples who had been in cohabitation for at least five years.
The Tacloban Members Services Branch will be conducting its “I do, I do” at Patio Victoria, Brgy. San Jose, Tacloban City, 10:00 ó clock in the morning with Manasseh S. Bastes as solemnizing officer.
The sponsors are Ms. Alectys G. Bajarias, branch head of Pag-IBIG Fund, Tacloban Members Services Branch, Imelda Roa, city civil registrar, and Bernardino Pica, local partner relations coordinator of the Operation Blessing Foundation.
One house and lot package will be raffled to all “I do, I do” beneficiaries nationwide, Kabuhayan packages for every area, and household packages for every sponsoring Branch.
The Fund sponsors the couples’ symbolic rings, bouquets, food and reception. (PR)