CATBALOGAN CITY- An official of this city said that they are ready to accommodate the more than 300 delegates who will attend this year’s United Cities and Local Governments, Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) next month.
Ador Hurtado, city tourism officer, said that all the hotels around Catbalogan will be used for the billeting of the local and international guests.
“For the main UCLG event, the city has identified 10 hotels and tourist inns for the international and local participants, excluding the locals’ entourage. That would be a total of 210 rooms,” Hurtado said.
Catbalogan has 17 hotels and inns that could accommodate more than 500 people, he added.
Catbalogan will host this year’s UCLG-ASPAC slated to be held on April 4-7, the first international event to be stage in this city of more than 103,000 people.
Catbalogan is the lone member from the region of the association which is the lone UN-accredited league of local governments.
City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan had earlier said that the city government is ready for the international event that is expected to be attended by about 100 officials from the different cities and provinces in Asia-Pacific.
“When I presented last year to the group the city’s desire to host the event, no country has opposed. Every member of the 19-countries in ASPAC is excited about the city’s hosting of the Executive Bureau’s meeting,” Uy-Tan said.
This event is an opportunity for the city and the region to open doors for investors to come in, an international mileage to showcase our tourist destinations, our cultural heritage and uniqueness as a nation, the mayor added.
The meetings will allow local chief executives to interact with their counterparts from other countries and establish possible linkages that would lead to productive partnerships.
Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has sent memorandum circular inviting 50 women local chief executives, 50 members of League of Cities and all local chief executives of Region VIII to attend the conference.
Aside from soliciting commitments of local governments for full implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, there will be commitments and declarations, policy proposals and projects to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The Sendai Framework on DRR was adopted by the Third United Nations Conference in Sendai, Japan on March 18, 2015.
Mayor Uy-Tan will present the city’s partnership with South Korea Odin Energy Co., Ltd. on the US$2.4 million wind tower that will provide 200 megawatts power that will supply 90% of the electricity needs of the city.
It is part of the new local government center and Sky City mega complex. It is one of the city’s contributions on climate change mitigation.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office 8 (DENR-8) is encouraging the planting of bamboos for environmental and economic benefits.
Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, DENR regional director, said that based on studies, bamboo leaves could absorb more than 100 times than the ordinary leaves.
Sibbaluca explained that more bamboos planted could absorb more greenhouse gasses that are causing global warming, which results to climate change.
Sibbaluca further explained that Eastern Visayas is suited for bamboo production and in fact, bamboo is very good specie for soil erosion control especially in steep slopes or hilly areas and in river banks.
Sibbaluca said that aside from environmental benefits, bamboo has many economic uses for food, for building purposes, for fencing, and it has an export potential as bamboos are used in furniture industry and for the production of chopsticks among others.
He also said that establishing bamboo plantations is one of the flagship programs of DENR for 2017.
He added that DENR is set to undergo massive planting of bamboo throughout the country especially in the areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” this year.
The DENR has allocated P600 million for bamboo plantation establishments across the region wherein P200 million is allocated for Leyte; P200 million for Samar; P100 million for Eastern Samar; and 100 million for Northern Samar. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- Three towns in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages when super typhoon ‘Yolanda” hit the region in 2013 received evacuation centers from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union (EU) under their Project Recovery.
Receiving the facilities which could withstand typhoon of at least 300 kph were the towns of Balangkayan, Hernani and Quinapondan, three areas in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages due to Yolanda, considered the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland.
UNDP deputy country director Enrico Gaveglia and EU programme officer Caroline Maningo led in the turnover of the facilities to the officials of the three towns on Thursday (March 16).
The community evacuation centers are designed and constructed to withstand a 300 kph wind velocity, integrates water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and fitted with solar panels and a generator set.
The facilities could also be used by the local government units for any public functions.
Maningo said that the EU are thankful to have given opportunity to help areas affected by Yolanda and are confident that the structures could withstand natural calamities like typhoons that may hit the three areas.
For Gaveglia, the evacuation centers could be important assets of the LGU that they could use to help the communities.
Under the Project Recover, the EU and the UNDP has donated P508 million to areas devastated by Yolanda.
The fund was used in recovery programs such as employment and livelihood opportunities including on fish and seaweed processing, food production and handling, and sustainable agricultural management, construction of housing units, evacuation centers and providing search and rescue equipment and facilities to the local government units.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Angel Khalilah M. Zaragosa, Grade 10 student of Bato School of Fisheries, won the 2017 Regional Civil Registration Quiz (RCRQ) conducted last March 14, 2017 at Corridor’s Rest Hauz, Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.
The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistics Services Office VIII (PSA-RSSO VIII), in coordination with the Eastern Visayas Federation of Provincial Associations of Civil Registrars (EVFPACR) successfully conducted the 2017 RCRQ as one of the highlights of this year’s Civil Registration Month Celebration.
Among the 21 contestants from different secondary schools in the region, Zaragosa emerged as regional champion after scoring 22 out of 30 questions administered in three rounds.
Completing the top three winners are Ryan M. Yepes of Macrohon Institute – Jose K. Demetrio Learning Foundation Inc., second place, and, Eva Mae O. Aldeon of New Ormoc City National High School- third place.
This contest is conducted yearly to increase knowledge of students on civil registration and likewise encourage the youth to participate in the global advocacy of getting everyone registered and of promoting awareness on the importance of civil registration in the lives of every Filipino.
Serving as members of the board of judges were PSA-RSSO VIII Regional Director Wilma A. Perante, chief of PSA Civil Registration and Administration Services Division Anesia Babante and EVFPACR president Marlon O. Morallos.
Winners were awarded with cash prizes, certificates, and PSA tokens. (PR)

HERNANI, Eastern Samar– Lilia Quiñones, 64, separated, of Barangay 1 of this town is excited to transfer to her new home, over three years after her home was totally damaged when super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ hit their town.
And with her now home, located in Barangay Canceles funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she will no longer have to live with her sister.
Quinoñes said she will transfer in two weeks with her eight-year-old grandson Abraham.
Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Philippines’ deputy country manager, led the ceremonial turnover of the 55 housing units to the beneficiaries on Thursday (March 16).
Gaveglia said these houses were part of the UNDP’s Project Recovery in partnership with the European Union (EU) after the devastation wrought by the typhoon on November 8, 2013 in Eastern Visayas.
UNDP’s program works to ensure a model for disaster-resilient resettlement infrastructure.
Beneficiaries were asked to help in the construction of their houses as their sweat equity, giving them a sense of ownership.
UNDP and EU partnership is constructing 165 houses across Tacloban and Ormoc cities and Hernani, Eastern Samar province.
Each unit costs P350,000 with the floor area measuring 35 per square meter.
These are built to withstand strong typhoons. The houses were provided with water-system and electrical support facility.
The program also capacitates the local government units in helping in addressing, shelter, planning and management issues.
The land purchase for the housing and the community evacuation center built nearby was donated by the local government of Marikina in the amount of P2.4million.
The UNDP’s Recovery Project is part of the P508 million EU’s package of assistance to help the efforts of the national and local governments to give a better life to survivors after Yolanda. (VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

Hilongos bombing incidents

PALO, Leyte- A 26-year old Muslim convert was among the four suspects behind the bombing incidents in Hilongos, Leyte on December 28,2016 and believed to be members of the terrorist Maute Group.
This was disclosed by Chief Supt. Elmer Beltajar, regional police director, who said that multiple frustrated murder was filed against the four suspects.
Charged before the Assistant Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Hilongos on Wednesday (Feb.22) was Jake Anthony Macuto, who was also known of his Muslim name as Yusuf, and three “John Does.”
The December 28,2016 twin bombing incidents in Hilongos resulted to the wounding of 32 people, 10 of them were children.
Macuto was identified through their “extensive police and intelligence work” with the help of the witnesses, Beltejar said during a press conference Thursday (Feb.23) at their regional headquarters this town.
Macuto, 26, was said to have resided in Barangay Concepcion of said town that was shaken on the night of Dec.28 when two improvised explosive devices (IODs) exploded at the Rizal Park packed with more than 1,000 people who were watching an amateur boxing fight as the town was celebrating its annual fiesta.
Macuto and his still unidentified cohorts are still at large.
He was also known to have lived in Cavite and in Lanao del Sur where he could have possibly been recruited to the Maute Group, tagged as the terrorist group which has a link with the Isis Group.
Based on what they have gathered, Macuto was the one who planted the device of an 81 mm mortar near the stage, the other one was located beneath a water tank.
The same kind of explosives was found by the authorities during the foiled US Embassy bombing on November 28.
The other bombs were a 60 mm rounds mortar.
“He was a Muslim covert who could be on a test mission,” Beltejar said citing possible reason for the incident.
Hilongos, a fourth class town 146 kms away from this city, has a Muslim community residing Brgy. Concepcion who mostly worked as traders.
Supt. Allan Cuevillas, who was the head of the special task group created to solve the incident, said that some of the local Muslims also helped them identify Macuto.
Macuto was said to have converted into Muslim through the influence of his mother who worked in the Middle East.
He was said to have conducted some preaching and recruitment activities in the region, notably in Eastern Samar, back in 2015, Cuevillas said.
“But we can assure you that there is no cell of the Maute Group in the region,” he said.
But Beltejar said that they are monitoring Muslim converts across the region as they are the most prone to be recruited to a terrorist group like the Maute Group.
“The Muslim converts are the ones who are being tap by the Maute Group because they are the ones who are more aggressive,” he said.
The police official added that the new recruits are being paid in exchange of their involvement to the terrorist group, dismissing though that local Muslims or what he described as “natural” Muslims are not inclined to join the group.
Police decline to provide more information pending issuance of warrant and the arrest of the four suspects.

By: Joey A. Gabieta/VICKY  C. ARNAIZ