MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has kicked off this week the P27 million rock netting project meant to curb rock fall in San Ricardo, Southern Leyte.
The project, which will utilize Switzerland’s rock protection netting technology, is located in Sitio Bil-atan, Brgy. Camang, San Ricardo town where rock slides occur during rainy days, making the road impassable.
“Erosion and rock slides issues would likely continue if the problem will not be addressed. With this rock netting project, we can lessen the damages incurred by rock fall and soil erosion in the area,” said DPWH Southern Leyte district Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia.
Rock netting is used on unstable rock faces and slopes to contain and control rock fall, protect against the effects of erosion, and to improve stability.
Aside from rock netting, other works include installation of stone masonry crib, wall slope protection, and metal guardrails.
DPWH Southern Leyte will fast-track mitigation works in Bil-atan since the road leads to farm-producing communities in the southernmost tip of Leyte Island.
The road section is part of the highway that is being developed into a circumferential road linking San Ricardo and Liloan towns.
The ongoing road opening project is designed to provide buses and big trucks safer routes to Benit port in San Ricardo town instead of traversing the landslide-prone and accident-prone road sections in San Francisco and Pintuyan towns. Benit port is the region’s exit point to Mindanao.
“We have to consider and ensure the safety of the traveling public since many are passing through this road section. Also, whenever there are rock fall, our maintenance workers are having a hard time removing debris and rocks during clearing operations,” Junia said.
Rock netting system is a key element in the design and maintenance of infrastructure networks with direct impact on safety. Rock slope netting is used to safeguard against rock slope failure and progressive degradation.
The DPWH will also kick off next year a similar project dubbed as slope stabilization control system near the foundation of Agas-Agas Bridge to avert a collapse of the country’s tallest bridge. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY-Generic medicines offer substantial health and economic benefits to patients, their families, and the national health system according to Angelica Marie Bolos of the Department of Health Regional Office- 8.
“Despite the affordability of these medicines, it contains the same active ingredients and therefore should work as well as the more expensive branded products provided that they have passed the safety and quality requirements of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA),”Bolos said.
Health authorities assured that a generic drug is a pharmaceutical drug that is equivalent to a brand-name product in dosage, strength, safety, and quality.
Bolos advised to “Always ask for the generics name of medicine every time you buy in a drugstore.”
However, patients or consumers are advised to buy medicines only from FDA-licensed outlets which are properly authorized to dispense medicines.
September of every year is generics awareness month. Hence, DOH strengthens its advocacy campaign to educate patients on the benefits and rational use of generic drugs in accordance with the provisions of the generics law.
Bolos, a pharmacist of the Department of Health Eastern Visayas, was the guest during DOH-PIA on AIR program aired over a local radio station in the city. (PIA8)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte– Police Regional Director Chief Superintendent Gilberto Cruz led in the burning of items confiscated during massive greyhound operations last week.
The destruction and burning of the confiscated items was held at the grounds of the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), this town, on Monday(September 18), attended by representatives of different jail facilities in the region.
Cruz said that they have to burn the items, which included a drone, computer and television sets, and illegal drug paraphernalias, to show the public that they don’t recycle them.
“We want to show to the public that the police are not using them,” the police regional director said.
Last week, Cruz launched the ‘Oplan Galugad’ targeting all jail facilities in the region aim to ensure that no inmate will be in possession of contrabands and items prohibited inside the detention centers.
Destroyed and torched were 193 drug paraphernalia; 13 live ammunition and 9 fired cartridges; 276 deadly weapons; 249 electronic equipment and 233 other items including cash of P3,861 in nine detention facilities.
Cruz said that he will meet with detention officials to come up with mechanisms to ensure that no that contrabands and other illegal items would enter the detention facilities.
He said that more greyhound operations will be conducted in the succeeding days to ensure that they could achieve their objective.
“We suggested to the jail wardens to tighten their security and put closed circuit television cameras in the facilities,” Cruz said.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

CEBU CITY- The Department of Energy (DOE) will bring to the Visayas its “E-Power Mo” campaign as part of its commitment to empower energy consumers and stakeholders in the country.
Through “E-Power Mo,” the DOE hopes that people in the Visayas can avail of vital information about recent developments in the energy sector, including, but not limited to policies, programs, and plans.
“We will empower energy consumers and stakeholders through education on their energy options so that they can make informed choices,” DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said during the opening of the Energy Investment Forum and Stakeholders Conference at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel here.
“E-Power Mo” serves as President Rodrigo Duterte’s energy policy agenda with the following objectives: to develop and utilize the energy resources available to Filipinos for wealth creation and global competition (E-Power Mo); undertake safety and savings measures through energy efficiency (E-Safety Mo); secure the delivery of quality, reliable and affordable energy services (E-Secure Mo); and empower consumers through a wide range of options in utilizing conventional, renewable and alternative energy sources (E-Diskarte Mo).
“Why we are here? We are here as part of our intensified information and education campaign. It’s intensified because we gathered all stakeholders from different energy sectors,” DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
“We in the DOE are intensifying our dissemination of program and activities. We like to ensure sustainable, stable, secure and sufficient accessible and affordable supply of power in propelling energy development,” DOE-Visayas Director Antonio Labios, for his part, said.
The DOE also launched the documentary “Lampara ng Pangarap” which tackles options in coping with energy poverty using alternative energy technology and solutions. (PNA)