TACLOBAN CITY- Troops from the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion discovered another remains of an alleged member of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bobon, Northern Samar Friday, July 17.
Lieutenant Colonel Raymundo Picut Jr., commanding officer of 43rd IB, extended his sympathy to the family and friends of those NPA rebels who were abandoned by their comrades while struggling for their lives.
“Your government forces will continue its commitment to serve justice to the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-Terrorist victims so as to attain peace and development in Northern Samar,” the Army official said in a statement.
The skeletal remains were found in the vicinity of Barangay E. Duran of Bobon town at 7 a.m. Friday.
After documentation, the remains were turned over to the Scene-of-the-Crime Operative (Soco) of the Philippine National Police in Catarman, Northern Samar for proper disposition.
The remains belonged to an alleged NPA rebel who was killed during the series of encounters by the 43rd IB in Brgy. Cag-amesarag, Lope de Vega, also in Northern Samar last August 3 and 4, 2019, according to Captain Allan Jay Buerano, civil-military operations officer of the 43rd IB.
On July 10, the remains of a one alleged NPA rebel, who died in an encounter sometime in 2009, were also found in Barangay E. Duran.
Eastern Visayas, particularly the Samar Island, remains a hotbed of insurgency with the continued presence of NPA.
(RONALD O. REYES)
Remains of an alleged NPA member found in Northern Samar
Proposed Tolosa National High School (TNHS) Extension Classes
BY: GLADYS L. RIZAGA
San Roque Elementary School is the biggest non-central elementary school in Tolosa District.
For SY 2019-2020, its Grade VI pupils were 99. With the concerted efforts of the School Head, the General PTA and Barangay LGU, the proposed Grade 7 Extension Class was born.
On Sept. 3, 2019, Sir Raul Salaño, Education Program Supervisor (EPS) of Leyte Division, visited San Roque Elementary School, for ocular inspection. Barangay chairman, Hon. Tito Amboy Villarino and Gladys L. Rizaga appreciated the visit of EPS Raul Salaño.
Last March, EPS Salaño, Public Schools District Supervisor, Lolita P. Legaspi, Tolosa National High School, Principal II, Flora M. Pica and Gladys L. Rizaga, School Principal II of San Roque Elementary School, attended Barangay Council session to discuss matters for the proposed Tolosa National High School Grade 7 Extension Classes.
As of the moment, the School Head of San Roque Elementary School, together with Hon. Raul Cesista and Hon. Aquilina L. Canonigo are copying with the submission of the documents to EPS Salaño, so that Grade 7 Extension Classes for SY 2020-2021 will come to reality.
(Note: The author is the school head of the San Roque Elementary School, Tolosa, Leyte)
Old trees saved during the road widening project at the Visayas State University
TACLOBAN CITY – The road project traversing the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City is already finished.
This was announced by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which said that not much of the old grown trees inside the state own university were affected by the road widening project.
This road widening project along VSU Main Campus, was strongly opposed by VSU officials as it involved cutting of old trees as they instead presented an alternative plan that would not affect the landscape of the university.
Instead of widening the road and cutting several trees, the DPWH agreed to construct another lane on its west side which will be used for traffic going southbound while the existing road is going to be used by northbound vehicles.
Although there were trees that were still cut during the construction of the new road, the number was minimal as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources planted 100 trees seedlings for every tree that was cut down.
“We successfully saved our trees on our own highway. This is a great feat in terms of protecting, conserving and preserving our environment,” Edgardo Tulin, VSU president said, expressing the commitment of his administration to protect the environment.
“I’m hopeful that this will inspire other movements and groups to never sacrifice our trees for the sake of continued development. There are innovative ways we can push for development while we also take care of our natural resources and that should be our way forward,” he added. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Maasin City reports zero active COVID-19 case
MAASIN CITY- Mayor Nacional Mercado of this city has confirmed that the city has zero active cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after the recovery of its two remaining patients.
The city recorded a total of eight COVID-19 cases since June 17, 2020.
Mercado said the patients were already discharged from their isolation facility for community reintegration.
However, he reminded the residents to maintain the established health protocols for the safety of the city.
“With or without cases, we urged the public to religiously practice the infection-prevention and control measures,” the city mayor said.
Meanwhile, Mercado disclosed that the newly constructed quarantine facility located in Barangay Rizal is almost completed meant for locally stranded individuals who will return to the city.
Mercado said they will be accepting 50 individuals at the quarantine facility starting next week.
“This may not be as comfortable compared to your own rooms but we are doing our best in giving quality service to our constituents most especially in times of crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Philippine Red Cross-Southern Leyte chapter and the Maasin city government launched the first “Red Cross 143 Covid-19 Skills Camp”, a skills training program in a safe quarantine facility for returning residents during their 14-day quarantine.
(RONALD O. REYES)
City government to resume ‘no segregation, no collection campaign’
TACLOBAN CITY- Personnel of this city’s Solid Waste Management Team (SWMT) composed of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the City General Services Office (CGSO), Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD), TOMECO, Barangay Affairs, City Information Office (CIO) have discussed plans for the resumption of the info dissemination on the city government’s ‘No Segregation, No Collection’ Campaign that was started early this year.
The team has decided that it is now time to focus on the 30 barangays of Area Two (Real, Magallanes, Sagkahan, Sampaguita, San Jose, Apitong, Fatima, V & G, Imelda Village, Marasbaras, etc.) after the activity was suspended in February this year when the city’s focus was on the preparation for the COVID – 19 pandemic.
It may be recalled that the implementation of the ‘No Segregation, No Collection’ policy in Area One (Downtown/Central Business District) was successful.
For Solid Waste Management, CENRO has divided Tacloban City into three areas. The third area is composed of barangays from Anibong to Tacloban North.
During the meeting, held last July 15, representatives from the City Mayor’s Office were present as well. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)