CARIGARA, Leyte- The Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) is set to implement four major projects with a total cost of over P384 million.
The regional office of the DPWH gave the green light for the district under Engr. Carlos Veloso to handle the projects despite of a policy that an engineering office should only handle projects with budget allocation of P50 million.
These projects include the rehabilitation/reconstruction/ upgrading of the damaged paved roads Jaro-Dagami-Burauen- Lapaz road worth P62.54 million; construction of a sea wall in the villages of San Jose and San Rafael, both in Dulag, worth P50.84 million; construction/ improvement of access roads leading to declared tourism destinations-access road leading to Villaconzoilo Agri and Eco-Tourism Farm in Silawa Falls, in Barangay Villa Consuelo, Jaro with a funding of P85 million; the construction / improvement of access roads leading to trades, industries and Economic zones Minuhang-Balud and Balud-Duka road connecting Bagahupi-Babatngon- Sta. Cruz, Barugo Carigara National road in support of the Barugo Eco-zone in Barugo , Leyte amounting to P150 million.
Veloso said that he is happy that the regional office has allowed his office to implement these projects.
“This move will minimize the load of the regional office and the district has the capacity to implement the projects considering that these are located within the district and it has the manpower and equipment,” he said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

PALO, Leyte- In celebration of women empowerment, the Leyte 1st District Engineering Office, headed by District Engineer Johnny M. Acosta, held a seminar last March 23, 2018 with a theme “We make Change Work for Women” through the resource speaker Marilou B. Parina, Gender and Development advocate.
The National Women’s month, spearheaded by the Philippines Commission on Women is an annual celebration conducted to give due recognition to women’s significant contributions in nation-building.
One of the main topics emphasized was the R.A. No. 9262, otherwise known as the “Anti-Violence against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.” Violence against women appears as one of the country’s pervasive social problems.
It is closely linked with the unequal power relationship between women and men otherwise known as “gender-based violence”. These acts of physical and mental violence affect the overall productivity of women. The economic impact of abuse may extend to losses in women’s earning potential.
As an office with a significant number of women employees, the said seminar was considered a realization and an eye opener to all employees in ensuring that women and their children have effective access to justice and to services and programs.
Concurrently gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Now is the right time to recognize the critical role that women can and are playing in conflict resolution and community building.
(DESSA T. MALIB)

MONDRAGON, Northern Samar – A farmer from this town who is accused for qualified theft was arrested by the members of the municipal police station last March 26.
Police Chief Inspector Florando S. Relente identified the suspect as Belardo Noguit, 46, who was arrested at his residence in Barangay San Antonio, this town.
The arrest of the suspect, who was also known as ‘B-ay,’ was by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Alma Consuelo B.D. Esidera, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 20, Catarman, this province.
He was charged for violation of Article 310 of the Revised Penal Code with recommended bail of P24,000.
He was brought to Mondragon Municipal Police Station for documentation and proper disposition prior turn over to the court taking cognizance of his case. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY—Student scholars of Ormoc city government will each receive a cash gift after achieving “Latin honors” this school year.
The Local Scholarship Board in the city said that the honor scholars will receive their cash incentives during their graduation ceremony on April 12 at the Ormoc superdome.
A graduate with summa cum laude will receive P25,000, while the magna cum laude is P 15,000 and for cum laude, P12,000.
The said scholars will also get an additional P3,000 graduation allowance.
City Mayor Richard Gomez has institutionalized the Ormoc Scholarship Program in 2017 with an allocated fund of P8 million after an ordinance was passed in 2016.
However, it was learned that only around P 4 million was used up because there were only few who qualified during the said year.
In December 2017, around 250 applied but only 154 of them were accommodated because these were the ones who reached a cut off of their exam results.
Mayor Gomez had expressed admiration over the academic accomplishments of their scholars.

TACLOBAN CITY– A group of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ survivors and leaders of internally displaced persons (IDPs) expressed concern over the government rehabilitation program in war-torn Marawi City.
“We see several parallelisms between the approach to rehabilitation in Yolanda-affected communities and that to Marawi — the disregard for survivors’ rights, lands, and participation in the whole rehabilitation process,” said Tin Domdom, advocacy and campaigns associate of Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP).
Domdom’s reactions came after their dialogue with IDP leaders and evacuees of Marawi dubbed as “Two Tragedies. Together” on April 3 at the Mindanao State University main campus in Marawi City.
“President Rodrigo Duterte promised change will come during his administration. Duterte also claimed Maranaw blood runs through his veins. If all these are true, prove it to the people of Marawi that they may not experience the same disappointments that Yolanda survivors still struggle with four years after the storm,” she said in an interview.
Tessie Elacion, president of Balangiga Municipal Unsafe Zone Federation in Eastern Samar, hoped that the mistakes in Yolanda rehabilitation will not happen in Marawi City.
The 56-year-old Yolanda survivor, who also went to Marawi City to join in the dialogue, said that consultation and respect of the IDPs are important in the rehabilitation process.
Meanwhile, Marawi IDP leader Adel Ditucalan of Bangsamoro Civil Society Organization Platform belied government reports that they were being consulted.
“They say they did a consultation to local government units. But no way can we say that these local government units represent us. [They do not] give us room; we weren’t invited to these meetings. We believe that we should be heard, IDPs specially,” Ditucalan said.
(RONALD O. REYES)

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – A platoon from 43rd Infantry (We Search) Battalion, while conducting security patrol in Barangay San Vicente, Catubig, Northern Samar, encountered undetermined number of CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) at around 4:05 am on Thursday (April 5).
Troops were in the area to check the validity of the information relayed to them by the populace on the extortion activities of the armed group.
The encounter resulted in the apprehension of two suspected CNTs (their names are presently withheld) and the recovery of one M16A1 Elisco rifle, two magazines long, two magazines short, 79 rounds for 5.56mm ammunition, one Lenovo laptop, three USB drive, one memory card, two card readers and, two cellphones.
There was no casualty or injury on the government side.
Maj. Gen. Raul M. Farnacio, commander 8ID, lauded the troops for a job well done and urged them to be aggressive against the CNTs who continue to harass civilian communities thru armed threats and deceptions.
In his statement, Maj. Gen. Farnacio said that, “troops are there in the area to protect the people and safeguard the ongoing PAMANA Projects and other government projects in Northern Samar. This incident clearly shows that these CNTs are desperate to incur casualties to government troops to slow down the delivery of basic services of the government to the communities.”
“This terrorist group is responsible for large-scale extortion activities, and other criminal acts that instill fear and anxiety in the hearts and mind of the peace-loving Filipinos that greatly affects their day-to-day activities,” Farnacio added. (PR)