TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) in the region has stepped up its drive in the protection of the foreign and resident ducks at the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park (MVNP), including their habitat in the boundaries of the municipalities of Burauen, La Paz and McArthur, all in Leyte.
Dr. Eugenia Bautista, DENR-8’s chief Conservation and Development Division (CDD), told Leyte Samar Daily Express that her office is closely monitoring the increase in the number of the foreign ducks in the MVNP which are the wandering whistling ducks (Dendrocygna arcuata).
Bautista said that these foreign ducks just live along with the endemic or native Philippine ducks (Anas luzonica) otherwise known as the Philippine mallard ducks and other birds at the national park.
Bautista said that the field personnel of the DENR-8 have been observing the increase of these foreign ducks from less than 1,000 in the 2014 to almost double last year.
Most of these foreign ducks mostly came from Australia, Indonesia, Pacific Islands and the nearby countries in the Pacific areas.
She also said that most of these wandering whistling ducks are now considered “resident foreign ducks” as they have found a new “home” in the two lakes of the park which are the Mahagnao and Malagsum Lakes.
She clarified that these new “settlers” may in the future return back to their place of origin if they will be disturbed, hunted for food or their habitat in the park will be destroyed.
Bautista pointed out that the MVNP should be protected including all its inhabitants, to include the migratory birds.
She said that these foreign ducks are added attraction for the tourists and bird watchers who are visiting the park.
Meantime, Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, in a separate interview, said that his office and the local government units of the municipalities of Burauen, La Paz and MacArthur are also extending assistance for the preservation and protection of the MVNP.
The governor said that the attractive environmental conditions of the park makes it as one of the major tourist spots that the province could be proud of.
He added that his office has also noted increasing numbers of both local and foreign tourists visiting MVNP yearly.
The MVNP is one of the protected areas of the DENR under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
It has an elevation of 1,200 meters above sea level and an area of 635 hectares, within the boundaries of Burauen, La Paz and McArthur towns.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

ORMOC CITY- Tired but obviously happy was how the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangay Sumanga looked as they savor their first harvest of sugarcane within the 17.5-hectare landawarded to them under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) 21 years ago.
“Masaya kami dahil may income na kami. May pambayad na salupa, at matutupad na ang pangarap ng anak ko na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.” (We are happy because we now have income. We can now pay land amortization, and my child’s dream to get a college degree will already be realized.) These were the words of Pablo Silva, 55, one of the 24 ARBs and president of the Sumanga United Farmers Association (SUFA) during the interview on March 8.
Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Perpetua Sabaldan who takes charge of installation activities in Leyte, explained that the 17.5 hectares are just part of the 35-hectare property previously owned by the Potenciano and Anecita Larrazabal Enterprises Corporation (PALEC) that was awarded to SUFA.
According to her, 12 hectares of which were planted to root crops by the ARBs.
Their journey as ARBs was not smooth. They were blocked from entering the property by the previous landowner who resisted coverage of the lot under CARP.
Pablo and the 23 other ARBs waited for 19 years to be installed in their awarded land, and two more years before they were able to harvest in the land that was already theirs 21 years ago.
He narrated that after several attempts, they were successfully installed on June 20, 2016 with the combined efforts of officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); KAISAHAN, a non-government organization assisting them; and the Philippine National Police.
But the previous landowner bargained during the dialogue to allow them to harvest first the existing crop for they were the ones who planted them. After the harvest, the previous landowner surrendered the land to the ARBs as promised during the said dialogue.
Pablo shared that during Tuesday’s harvestthey are expecting about 15 truckloads of freshly harvested sugarcane with an estimated net income of P14,000 for every truckload.
As it takes about 12 months for this crop before it could be harvested, the ARBs had to wait until the current year to experience the complete success of their struggle.
However, Wowie Silva, 21, who helps his father, Pablo, in farming said it could have been better if the trucks that would transport the harvested sugarcane to the sugar central can enter the area for fast and easy hauling.
Wowie disclosed that trucks can no longer enter their area because the road leading here is privately owned by the previous landowner and the latter dug a big hole along the way preventing trucks from passing by.
Because of this according to him, the men have to carry on their shoulders the harvested sugarcane for a distance of about a kilometer where trucks can wait.
Though this is no longer a big deal to Pablo, still he appeals to concerned sectors to help them have an access road.(JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA/PR)

CALBAYOG CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways – Samar First District Engineering Office (DPWH- Samar 1) conducted a monthly coordination meeting held last March 2, 2018, 9:00 AM at DPWH Conference Room.
The meeting was spearheaded by District Engineer (DE) Alvin Ignacio together with the project engineers and contractors.
The main agenda of the meeting were the implementation of projects and the issues and concerns that arise in its implementation.
DE Ignacio also raised issues regarding the directive from the president to complete delayed projects within 30 days and the new City and Business tax regulations.
He further recommended to the contractors and representatives to urge construction firms implementing projects in the district to attend the monthly coordination meeting so that they will be aware of the problems of their projects and the recommendation of the office would be complied by them as soon as possible so as not to delay the project implementation.
“The goal of our District office is to complete all projects within the year; efforts will be exerted to achieve this goal. We are hoping for your full cooperation because we cannot do it without your help,” said DE Ignacio as he explained to the contractors their role in the speedy delivery of infrastructure projects for 2018. (ELENOR A. ANOLLADO/PIO STAFF)

NAVAL, Biliran-Engr. Edgar B. Tabacon, Regional Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VIII conducted an inspection of the Caraycaray Bridge with Engr. David P. Adongay Jr., District Engineer and Engr. Alfredo L. Bollido, Assistant District Engineer of Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) on March 2 to assess the status of the said bridge.
After tropical storm ‘Urduja’, the Biliran District Engineering Office exerted an effort to restore the Caraycaray Bridge within the 30-day timeline set by DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.
Both approaches of the CarayCaray bridge undergone backfilling and embankment to serve as a temporary passage for the public. It was opened to traffic for motorcycles and tricycles on January 9, 2018 and to light vehicles on January 11, 2018.
During the inspection of Director Tabacon, the approaches of Caraycaray Bridge is undergoing riprapping works to ensure that the remaining structures can still sustain another flooding while waiting for the construction of the new bridge.
The construction for the new Caraycaray Bridge is already under Preliminary and Detailed Engineering (PDE) stage undertaken by the DPWH Regional Office thru consultancy.
The approaches of the said bridge were severely damaged during the onslaught of Urduja last December, 2017.
BDEO has still deployed maintenance personnel under Engr. Glenda G. Dagalea, acting chief in the Maintenance Section to man the traffic in Caraycaray Bridge as it is limited only to 4-wheels and light vehicles.
Heavy vehicles are advised to take the alternate long route Naval-Almeria-Kawayan-Culaba-Caibiran-Cabucgayan road and vice versa. (CHELSEA QUIJANO-SALLOMAN/PR)

MAASIN CTY- We wish to inform the public that due to potential hazard of landslide at Barangay ancho-Villa road section, 6 km from Agas-Agas bridge (K1013+600), Sogod, Southern Leyte along Daang Maharlika caused by continuous heavy rainfall, the road is temporarily closed to vehicular traffic effective March 14, 2018 until further notice.
The following suggested routes are hereby recommended:
From Tacloban going to Panaon Area (including Liloan & Benit San Ricardo Ferry Terminal)
· take the Tacloban – Mahaplag – Baybay – Bato – Bontoc – Sogod – Daang Maharlika – Liloan – San Ricardo road route & vice versa or
· take the Tacloban – Abuyog – Silago – St. Bernard – Jct. Himay-angan – Daang Maharlika – Liloan – San Ricardo road route & vice versa.
From Tacloban going to Pacific Towns
· take the Tacloban – Mahaplag – Baybay – Bato – Bontoc – Sogod – Daang Maharlika – Jct. Himay-angan – St. Bernard – Silago – Abuyog Bdry. road route & vice versa or
· take the Tacloban – Abuyog – Silago – St. Bernard road route & vice versa.
Meanwhile, DPWH Southern Leyte District Engineering Office personnel has been dispatched to the area to undertake immediate repair activities. (PR)

PALO, Leyte- Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla announced that the province’s biggest sports arena, the Leyte Sports Development Center (LSDC), is undergoing major repair.
Petilla said that the repair of the facility is being funded by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to the tune of more than P70 million.
“We don’t have any counterpart funding for the repair of the Leyte Sports Development Center. What we did previously was have some minor repairs there,” the governor said.
The said facility, which is also known as Leyte Grandstand, served as the command center by the NDRRMC and other agencies, to include the UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), after the region was pummeled by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
According to the governor, the repair of the said grandstand is expected to be completed middle part of this year.
Petilla said that once completed, some activities relative to the holding of the annual fiesta of Tacloban City could be held there.
The said facility is often used for the cultural competition of the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festivals of Festival.
Also, the provincial government could make use of the facility if ever it decides to bid for the holding of the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet, the governor said.
Asked if he plans to bid again for the provincial government of Leyte to host the annual Palarong Pambansa, Petilla dismissed this.
He said that considering that many provinces and cities in the country are vying for the hosting of the national sporting event, he doubts if Leyte could win the bidding.
“After all, we have just hosted the Palarong Pambansa in 2009. Chances are we might just be turned down if we bid for its hosting. There are about 80 provinces and around 150 cities that are vying to host the Palarong Pambansa,” Petilla said.
Meantime, the governor extended his congratulations to the city government of Ormoc under Mayor Richard Gomez for its performance in this year’s EVRAA.
The Ormoc city delegation was declared as the over-all champion in this year’s EVRAA.
Gov. Petilla said that with a very good sports development program of the city government under Mayor Gomez, he expects that the region could perform well in this year’s EVRAA.
Petilla said that athletes from the Leyte Sports Academy are already tested and could deliver the medals not only for Leyte but for the entire region.
(JOEY A. GABIETA with ROEL T. AMAZONA)