MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) field office here will embark on a P458.65 million flood control projects this year in a bid to prevent overflowing of rivers.
The multi-million projects in 24 sites include the construction of embankments along riverbanks and coastlines considered as critical sections in the province.
DPWH Southern Leyte chief Ma. Margarita C. Junia said the construction of these concrete barriers is a practical solution to the problem of overflowing and erosion that posed danger to dwellers near rivers.
Of the 24 flood mitigation structures, 12 will be built in Sogod town; two each in Libagon, San Francisco, and San Juan; and one each in Malitbog, Hinunangan, Bontoc, St. Bernard, Silago, and Macrohon towns.
“The main objective in implementing these projects is to safeguard the lives and properties of the people against major floods,” Junia said.
Last year, the field office implemented six flood control projects along Subang Daku River in Sogod town with P278.24 million cost.
The district office will continue to identify other flood-prone areas as future sites of flood control projects. These projects are on top of drainage systems and declogging of waterways.
(GERICO A. SABALZA)

TACLOBAN CITY (CIO) – About 4,373 senior citizens of this city are set to receive their social pension as the city government under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez through its City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will start releasing the government stipend this coming Monday, February 5, 2018.
The release of the government stipend will continue until the last week of February.
According to the CSWDO, the pension payout amounting to P1, 500 covers the last quarter of 2017 (October to December).
The cashier’s division of the City Treasurer’s Office will facilitate the release of the government stipend. Claim stubs and the schedule of payout per area were earlier disseminated to the barangays.
Social pensioners use the monthly stipend of P500 to buy basic necessities such as food and medicines. Likewise, it was learned that the allowance keeps the elderly recipients motivated and active in any activity related to their sector.
Per the criteria set by Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 those who are qualified to avail of the pension program are: Filipino citizens, sickly, disabled, no income or any other means of livelihood, no pension from private and government pension bodies, and no regular support from relatives.
Indigent senior citizens have to submit the following requirements to the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) or the CSWDO to avail of the social pension: Filled out application form (copies are available at the OSCA and CSWDO), copy of baptismal or live birth certificates and barangay certification, stating the applicant is a bonafide resident of the barangay.
The welfare of senior citizens is a priority concern of Mayor Romualdez as manifested by the services available for the elderly residents of Tacloban at the CSWDO, among them the provision of financial assistance, medical assistance, and burial assistance.
The assessment of possible recipients is handled by the CSWDO while the pension applications are accepted at the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs
(HENRY JAMES G.ROCA)

BORONGAN CITY- Borongan City athletes competing in the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association(EVRAA) Meet 2018 need to work out their stamina and endurance.
This was what Assistant Division Superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe, Jr. told the media in a mini-press conference held recently at the office of the Department of Education.
Some 400 athletes from Borongan City will be competing in the EVRAA to be held in Calbayog City on Feb 4 – 10, 2018.
As early as January, Aljibe said that the different coaches have started physical activities like brisk walking, jogging and running, activities needed to enlarge the lung capacity, build the muscles around the heart and strengthen the muscles for endurance.
These physical exercises, along with the food intake designed by the school’s health and nutrition center, prepare the athletes to withstand the rigors of the physical training preparations.
Supt. Gorgonio Diaz, on the other hand, said that they have met the school board to tackle the financial needs of the delegation in Calbayog.
He revealed that the city is funding some P 2.4 million while the DepEd complements the budget with P1 million budget.
As to what sporting events they would join, Diaz said that they have as many entries as there are in EVRAA.
The Borongan delegation is proud that they have always been champion in taekwondo.
Although they have been ranked 11 out of 13 divisions last year, the DepEd officials this time feel they are improving.
The City Meet scheduled very soon will serve as screening for the best athletes Borongan will bring to Calbayog for a fierce sporting competition.
(NIMFA ILUMINADA B. QUIRANTE, PIA, Borongan)

TACLOBAN CITY- A total of 53 sports scholars of the Leyte Sports Academy (LSA) will be joining the Leyte Division delegation for this year’s Eastern Visayas Regional Athletics Association (EVRAA) in Calbayog City.
Of the 53 LSA-scholar athletes, 18 of them will compete in athletics; 16 in wresting; 10 in swimming; four in boxing; three in archery; and two in wushu.
They will join the 634-strong delegation from Leyte, the over-all champions of last year’s EVRAA Meet held in Naval, Biliran.
The provincial government had allocated PP3.5 million assistance to the Department of Education Leyte Division for the participation of all athletes representing the province.
The division won 97 gold; 72 silver and 66 bronze.
The regional sports competition will start this Sunday, February 4 and will end on February 10.
Winners of the competitions will represent the region at the Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Sur from April 16 to 20.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- A man was killed while nine others were injured when a bus, owned by the Tacloban City government, rammed through several vehicles and pedicabs on Friday (February 2) morning in Catbalogan City.
Reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police disclosed that the bus, driven by Aniceto Lumbre, 55 and a resident of Ridge View in Barangay Calanipawan, this city, lost its brakes while it was sneaking its way towards Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan City, at about 9 am.
This resulted for the wayward bus to hit 13 vehicles and pedicabs that were parked in the area which is located near the Catbalogan City Hall.
One of the passengers of these damaged vehicles, Adriano Sonio, 65 and a resident of Brgy. 9, Catbalogan, died while nine others sustained injuries.
They were identified as Evelyn Roque, Monalisa Jabonero, Eusebia Lama, Maria Leyson, Elena Jabiquero, Ricardo Mabansag, Nelson Mabilangan, Danilo Esquerdo, and Martin Rod Leyson.
The fatality and the injured victims were brought to the Samar Provincial Hospital.
The driver was detained at the Catbalogan City lock-up facility.
The bus, with plate number 073208 and donated by the Office of the President to ferry residents living at the resettlement sites in the northern part of Tacloban City, was on its way to Calbayog City for the opening of the EVRAA (Eastern Visayas Regional Association Athletic) Meet and with personnel from the Department of Education on board when the freak accident happened.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- While he is supportive on the move towards federalism, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla admitted that he still has some reservations on this plan.
Petilla said that what he would like to clarify is on sharing of income between the federal state or province and the central government, among others.
“I am supporting federalism but I have some concern about it which the proponents are not giving us details like on the sharing agreement. How much are we really going to keep and how much are we going to give to the (central) government,” the governor said.
At present, all local government units receive their share on income through the collection of internal revenue allotment which varies depending on a formula stipulated under the Local Government Code.
The Leyte governor said that he would like to be clarified on this aspect on income sharing under the federal system.
President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies in both House of Representatives and the Senate are pushing to convert the current form of government to federalism through Charter Change.
But this move towards federalism is being questioned by some sectors saying, among others, this could lead to some politicians to stay in office for years and would only economically discriminate regions which are classified as poor like Eastern Visayas.
But Petilla said that with a ‘federal state’ giving more control, this could lead for its economic development as it is now responsible in managing its own resources.
It was learned that all the governors and mayors from the Visayas and Mindanao are scheduled to meet with the President on February 12 in Cebu City.
As what could be the agenda of the meeting, it is not clear yet though the issue on federalism is expected to be discussed. (JOEY A. GABIETA)