TACLOBAN CITY–Maasin city mayor Nacional “Nikko” Mercado has disclosed that they already have a “person of interest” who was allegedly behind the contamination of the city’s water source by pouring it with kerosene which sent panic to some residents recently.
Despite what happened, Mercado clarified that the no one was killed or harmed when the breach took place at the Maasin Water District’s (MWD) main source in the mountain of Canlited, Barangay San Jose on June 15, 2018, contrary to some reports.
“Official police report in Maasin City does not record of any fatality caused by intake or use of water from Maasin Water District,” Mercado said in an interview.
“In fact, according to the police, no complaints of any harm or injury caused by MWD water were ever received by its station since June 15, 2018, the day when the intentional pollution of MWD water allegedly occurred until the present,” he added.
According to the mayor, no hospital, public or private, or any health clinic in the city has reported of any such incident.
Mercado stressed that police and security personnel are strictly guarding the reservoirs of MWD to prevent similar malicious mischiefs.
Water district employees had already decontaminated and conducted flushing procedure at the said water source.
It was learned that it was the first time that this incident happened in the water district in its over 30 years of operation.
Authorities also conducted an investigation over the incident.
(RONALD O. REYES)

NAVAL, Biliran- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VIII celebrated its 120th anniversary and sportsfest in a two-day event on June 21-22, 2018 simultaneously with other DPWH Offices nationwide.
“For 365 days, let us give these two days for us to celebrate, giving thanks to God, giving thanks to our officials, to ourselves, to each one of us, thank you for your continuous support that is why we existed and it (DPWH) is getting stronger,” Edgar B. Tabacon, regional director said during his welcome address.
Thirteen District Engineering Offices of the region including Biliran District Engineering Office (DEO) gather for the said occasion to have fun and develop camaraderie and sportsmanship through sports activities.
The activity started with a thanksgiving mass at the open field of the DPWH Regional Office, Baras Palo, Leyte at 8:00 in the morning officiated by Fr. Norman Abolencia followed by a short parade around the Government Center in Palo.
The competition for the best in muse highlighted the morning event of the first day of celebration. Photo exhibit contest also opened at the DPWH multipurpose hall displaying completed/proposed high impact projects of the 13 district engineering offices.
The sports activities started at 1:00 in the afternoon which included basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, dart and chess but the highlight of the celebration is the Search for Mr. DPWH Sportspoof 2018 in the evening.
Fourteen ‘straight’ men candidates representing their engineering offices came out as lovely ladies vying for the title. In the middle of the said competition, there was a Search for DPWH Curatcha King and Queen.
The second day of the celebration started with the DPWH Unity Fun Run at 5:00 in the morning competing for the 3k, 5k and 10k run.
Due to unfinished game for the sport badminton, Atty. Neil N. Re-oma, president of Rank and File Employees Union (RFEU), Region VIII said that awarding ceremony for the winners of the different competitions will be held during the second Regional Quarters Meeting.
DPWH is celebrating 120 years anniversary with the theme “Bridging Modern Development”. The department started as the Department of War and Public Works in 1898 during the revolutionary government under the time of President Emilio Aguinaldo. In 1987, after several revolutions, it became the Department of Public Works and Highways, as it is known today. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) together with the Department of Labor and Employment conducted a NMP-Media partnership forum on Monday (June 25).
On that day, NMP executive director Romulo Bernales led the inauguration of their new seafarer training complex in Barangay Cabalawan, this city.
During the forum, NMP officials discussed their various programs like the legal rights and benefits of seafarers.
(HYDE A. OPADA, MA. FELINDA CADA, ESSU Student Interns)

TACLOBAN CITY-More than 480 individuals from this city have been ‘accosted’ by personnel of the Tacloban city police station since they started to implement the campaign against ‘istambay’ or loiterers.
And this campaign is proving to be successful as no crimes have been reported since it was started, said Chief Inspector Rex Cantillep, information officer of the city police station.
According to Cantillep, who is also the deputy chief of the operations division of the Tacloban City Police Office, about 486 individuals have so far been accosted relative to the campaign.
He said that the 486 people which they have approached covers from the period of June 13 until June 20.
And of this figure, 250 of them were children or minors.
“We are not taking into anyone into custody because doing so would mean arrest. We respect human rights and we give importance to it,” he said.
City Councilor Jerry Uy, meantime, said that while he is supportive on this campaign, he asks members of the city police to observe caution in carrying out the campaign.
‘Loitering has been decriminalized already. And while this could deter in the commission of a crime, this should be carried out by following the proper procedure,” Uy said.
The councilor, who is a lawyer by profession, said that if the police would detain these street loiterers, they might be accused of arbitrary detention.
Cantillep said that when they are doing their campaign, they just asked these people to go home and if minors are involved, they escorted them to their respective houses and remind their parents of their obligations.
He added that they are being joined by personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office during this particular campaign to ensure that minors would be protected.
Cantillep said that since they have started the campaign, they have noted a decline of street crimes.
He, however, did not provide data to support on his claim.
“We have a zero crime incidence in the city since we started this campaign,” he said.
This campaign has been hit by some sectors saying this is another human rights violation being enforced by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

By: Joey A. Gabieta

In Northern Samar

SAN ISIDRO, Northern Samar- Mayor Ferdinand ‘Nanding’ Avila disclosed that more programs and projects should be expected by his constituents as he mentioned the accomplishments of his administration during a speech he delivered during the 64th founding anniversary of the town on June 20 which was marked with several activities to enlighten the event.
“Over the years that I’m in the public service, surely, we are heading towards many challenges but I know, we can sustain it all towards our one dream-for the betterment of our beloved San Isidro,” the town mayor said during the anniversary night celebration held at the public’s covered court attended by other town officials and newly-elected barangay and youth officials.
Also present was former governor Paul Daza, representing his father, Rep. Raul Daza.
In his anniversary message, Mayor Avila detailed all the projects and programs, dubbed as Health, Education, Agriculture, Revenue generation, Tourism and Sports (HEART), his administration has so far accomplished.
These include the construction of farm-to-market roads in the villages of San Juan and Palanit; a newly-purchased ambulance; a newly-constructed fish port in Barangay Buenavista; fish landing in Brgy. San Juan and the newly-rehabilitated municipal port together with the construction and installation of street lights in the whole municipality.
He also mentioned of the ongoing construction of a slaughterhouse and material recovery facility.
And on his solid waste management disposal, after a thorough study from his solid waste management technical staff, instead of a segregation policy of trash, his administration is now readying for the acquisition of a ‘gasifier’ equipment, among others particularly of his plan to acquire bus for needy- students coming to and from to far-flung villages to their school and a rescue vehicle and the ongoing renovation of their health centers.
Mayor Avila, who is serving on his first term, said that he is pushing for more investors to come to the town to generate employment opportunities for his people.
The night also marked the mass oath-taking of the newly-elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials coming from the 14 villages of the town with Mayor Avila and board member Joma Vicario as administering officers.
Meantime, town Councilor Conrado Avila Sr. served as the inducting officer of San Isidro’s Municipal Tourism Council.
Among the activities that were lined up relative to the 64th founding anniversary were a fun run attended by representatives from different sectors; a grand parade which included a street parade and float competition on June 14.
There was also painting exhibit, agri-livestock, ‘tabuan’, night food market and children’s game, medical mission, to include giving of anti-rabies vaccine, basketball, motorcade and bangkarera competitions as well as ‘bikini’ open.
(PETER D. PAREDES)

TACLOBAN CITY- Two queens were crowned separately in glittering ceremonies on Friday (June 22) night as they are to serve as ambassadress of goodwill, respectively.
Julie Ann Tarrayo, who hails from Northern Samar, bested 11 candidates to win this year’s Miss Pintados during a glitzy ceremonies held at the Leyte Academic Center in Palo town.
“If I will be Miss Pintados, I will advocate and raise my voice to spread awareness about the children’s rights which under the Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, every child has the right for a balance diet, adequate clothing, sufficient shelter and proper medical attention. In the case of street children, if the parents can’t take care of them, the state can come to protect because every child has the right to live a normal life,” Tarrayo’s winning response on the final question when asked what would be her advocacy should she wins the crown.
Aside from the crown, Tarrayo also won a trip to Hong Kong and P60,000 cash prize. She also bagged the best in swimwear special award.
Angela Milvie Bucu of Tacloban City was hailed as the first runner-up winning cash prize worth P40,000 while Carissa Maynette Domingo of Tanauan, Leyte was declared second runner-up; Nana Typhoor Quilapo of Paranas, Samar was third runner-up and Mystymyles Jude Zaragoza of Palompon, Leyte was fourth runner-up.
During the same ceremonies, which was hosted by young actor Enzo Pineda and Miss World-Philippines 1st Princess 2017 Glyssa Perez, Amanda Rudi Cinco from Catbalogan City was named as this year’s Miss Teen Pintados. She won P60,000 and a trip to Hong Kong.
Meantime, Cassandra Marie Lee snared the Miss Tacloban 2018 crown, besting 11 other equally beautiful candidates.
The Miss Tacloban beauty and brain search was held at the Tacloban Convention Center which was hosted by concert queen Pops Fernandez.
The 24-year old Lee is an active member of the Tacloban City Rescue Unit (Tacru) and is now on her final year as a hotel and restaurant management student.
As Miss Tacloban, Lee received P50,000 cash prize and get to wear a newly-made crown designed by a noted Venezuelan crown maker.
Lee, who stands 5’5, also received some of the special awards like best in evening gown
Declared as her first runner-up was Ivy Mae de Mesa while Khristel Loirah Pulga, second runner-up; Marie Carmen Songalia, third runner-up and Kimberly Rose Ruedas, fourth runner-up.
The runners-up also received their trophies and cash prizes.
The Miss Tacloban is being organized by the Sangyaw Foundation in coordination with the city government of Tacloban while Miss Pintados is organized by the Pintados Foundation.
Both beauty searches are held as part of the annual city fiesta of Tacloban which honor its patron Senior Santo Niño.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA/GAY B. GASPAY)