TACLOBAN CITY- About 66 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their families received livelihood ‘starter kits’ from the city government through Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez on Tuesday(August 29) at the Tacloban City Training Center, as part of the local government’s ongoing livelihood program for the vulnerable sectors of the city.
Identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO), the target beneficiaries have earlier attended a free training on food processing for 2 to 3 days and one week on mat and rug making facilitated by the Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program and a partner training center.
The distributions of beneficiaries per livelihood training were as follows: meat processing-33; banana and sweet potato chips making -25; and mat and rug weaving -22.
The beneficiaries who all came from the northern barangays received sewing machines and impulse sealers from the chief executive to help them start a sustainable source of income in the north resettlement sites.
Prior to the distribution, beneficiaries who have undergone training on food processing also received raw materials and cooking utensils from the city government.
Mayor Romualdez said that the provision of livelihood assistance to the vulnerable sector, especially those coming from the northern barangays is a priority project of her administration.
She added that the initiative is aimed at providing the marginalized sector access to sustainable livelihood opportunities so they can start anew in the resettlement sites.
The project was funded by a grant secured by the livelihood cluster of the city government from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bottom Up Budgeting Program amounting to P2 million.
The cluster composed of the CSWDO, the Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program and City Cooperative Livelihood Development and Livelihood Assistance Office (CCDLAO) and other city departments was created to provide livelihood opportunities for the vulnerable sectors.
Also present during the awarding of livelihood assistance were CCDLAO Chief Ruena Mate and City Social Welfare Officer Remedios Buna.
Meanwhile, CSWDO Chief Buna announced that the city government will soon be implementing a group capital assistance project for PWDs and vulnerable women. – HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO, Photos by Tim Canes/CMO)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Manila Amity Lions Club together with Tacloban City Lions Club International District 301-B2 signed a memorandum of agreement last August 25 with the school administration of Sta. Elena Elementary School (SEES) with their Parents and Teacher Association for the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) of a feeding program for undernourished students of the said school in Barangay Sta. Elena, this city.
The LCIF Grant provided the P75,000 funding for this feeding program that will start this month and is to end by March of next year.
Based on the program, 26 students of the SEES, particularly from Kinder up to Grade 4 and identified among the severely malnourished children, are to be given nutritious meals consisting of hot chicken porridge with eggs.
Ruth Chua, past president of Manila Amity Lions Club, said that at the end of almost seven months program, these severely malnourished children will have an improved and better physical condition.
“We check the nutritional status of Sta. Elena Elementary School and we find out that there are 26 wasted and severely wasted students,” Chua said.
“After arranging the menu and cost of the program, I talked with the past president of Tacloban City Lions Club if the club is willing to work with me. And then I applied for a grant to Lions Club International telling them I want to help the 26 malnourished kids. Luckily, my request was approved,” Chua added.
After seven months, Chua said that they will check if there are weight gains among the kids; improve class performance and less absence in school because they are less sickly.
“That is a way to sell your program. You must have parameters to measure your success,” Chua said.
“I have a menu cycle and each meal must have a source of carbohydrates (rice or pasta/noodles), protein (fish/ chicken/ pork/ egg/ malunggay) and vitamins and minerals (vegetables/fruits), decent/ nutrition meals,” she added.
In connection to this, the Tacloban City Lions Club will conduct a visit twice a month during feeding session wherein a picture documentation of feedings will be submitted to Manila Amity Lions Club.
The LCIF empowers clubs to implement programs that address great needs of communities with the understanding that preparing the youth is preparing for the future. The LCIF supports services that help provide better health and better education for them.
On the other hand, the Manila Amity Lions Club together with Tacloban City Lions Club International District 301-B2 is very thankful for the grant given by LCIF for a joint feeding program that will benefit 26 students of SEES.
(RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Junior Chamber International-Candahug Liberation (JCI-Candahug Liberation) together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) launched their life below water program in Barangay 90 Payapay, San Jose of this city.
In an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, Prosecutor Lemuel Modesto, JCI-Candahug Liberation president, said the program aims to educate the public on the current condition of our seas in the region.
Modesto lamented that there are individuals who do not know and do not care on the condition of our seas even though it is already in danger of being polluted.
Under this program, which was launched last Monday (August 28), the JCI-Candahug together with BFAR will teach the people about activities which are allowed and not allowed to be conducted in sea including programs or projects which can help protect our sea waters including its resources.
“The public must know about the condition of our sea water because at this point in time it is very alarming,” Modesto said.
“The population and demand on food in our country are increasing but most of the people do not know that the foods we can get from the sea are decreasing,” Modesto added.
Aside from the increasing population and demand for food, Modesto said many fishermen will suffer once the food we get from the sea will continue to deplete.
“Our sea waters in Region eight are included in the top ten sea waters in the country which are in danger already such as the Carigara Bay, Kankabato Bay, Leyte Gulf and some sea waters in Samar,” Modesto added.
Among the human activities mentioned by Modesto which destroys our sea water are the conduct of illegal fishing and throwing of garbage.
“If we have clean sea water, the food that we get in the sea will increase and it will help us to have a sufficient supply of food in the country and a safer water to drink,” Modesto said.
Modesto emphasized that the sea water will be much more in danger if the people will continue to throw their garbage anywhere especially human waste and other chemicals.
“If we have a clean environment, in effect, we have clean food, water and (safe) place to live,” he said.
During the launching of the program, the JCI-Candahug Liberation posted tarpaulins and distributed fliers to remind the public about those activities which are allowed and not allowed to be conducted in seas.
The life below water program was among the 17 United Nation Sustainable Programs which the JCI-Candahug Liberation must achieve.
(RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Commission on Population (Popcom) held a regional family planning summit to galvanize actions and commitment into a more innovative implementation of the family planning program in the region.
Different concerned agencies and stakeholders converged last Thursday (August 31) for a collaborative information in accelerating the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law (RPRH) underlining the political commitment of local government units in the region in ensuring that women and their families can have access to life-saving family planning information, services, and supplies.
RPPH Law explicitly provides for family planning which is central to reducing poverty, gender equality and women empowerment consistent with the national development goals.
Popcom Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez said that despite having RPRH Law, it has been faced with legal challenges falling short of its envisioned outcomes.
Perez said that family planning is “dependent on supplies” and addressing these needs for supplies can help accelerate the implementation of the RPRH Law. The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order on the certification of certain contraceptives.
While concerned government agencies have pitched its share in terms of administrative issuances and memorandum circular, Perez called on their commitment, particularly the LGU’s in assessing RPRH’s progress, review how family planning can contribute to new and critical global development goals and recommit to enabling every woman to realize her right to choose whether and when to have children.
Popcom maintains that family planning saves lives. It enables couples to choose whether and when to have children. It preserves women’s and girls’ health and empowers them to pursue education and work. It boosts their ability to save, contribute to the economy, and invest in the health and education of their children. In sum, family planning enriches communities and strengthens economies.
Meanwhile, Popcom Regional Director Elnora Pulma called for more access to family planning services for women and men to reduce poverty in the region saying poor families should be given family planning services as couples from the poor tend to have more children because of lack of knowledge on family planning.
In the Philippines, there are currently 101 million Filipinos, 60 percent of whom belong to the poor and middle classes.
With a growth rate of about 1.7 percent a year, the population is expected to reach 104 million by the yearend.
Pulma said poor couples have an average of five children, unlike rich couples who usually only have two. She added this is “alarming” that poor families register more births.
“We should address the needs of poor families,” she added.
The country’s population includes 23 million women of reproductive age, which will grow to 30 million by 2020. Seventy percent of these women need services on reproductive health, family planning and couples need to be made aware of the principles of responsible parenthood. Currently, RH services are reaching 46% of the population. Services need to keep pace with the increasing number of women reaching reproductive capacity every year.
(AHLETTE C. REYES)