TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is seeking a P37.84 million budget to carry out a massive rehabilitation program of abaca farms in Eastern Samar province until 2021.
Of the total funding requirement, P7.55 million is meant for treatment of abaca diseases, P13.05 million for replanting, and P12.09 million for fertilization.
The remaining amount will be used for capability training and mobilization.
Wilardo Sinahon, PhilFIDA Eastern Visayas regional director, said on Wednesday that rehabilitation works would cover 1,650 hectares and benefit 900 farmers in poverty-stricken towns of Samar Island.
“The abaca industry in Eastern Samar has been damaged by diseases and natural calamities over the past years, which calls for massive and long-term rehabilitation,” Sinahon said.
PhilFIDA is pushing for inclusion of the proposed project in the post-disaster response funding of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to fast-track budget releases.
Most of the covered farms are in the towns of Arteche, Dolores, and Oras tagged as focused areas for abaca.
“There will be a convergence as an effective anti-poverty mechanism that will aid poor farmers and cooperatives in attaining resiliency and sustainable livelihoods especially after the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013,” Sinahon said.
As preliminary steps to rehabilitation the industry in Eastern Samar, among the activities last year were the creation of the technical working group for abaca, conduct initial farm survey, held value chain analysis workshop, presented the roadmap to the Regional Development Council, conducted disease management trainings, and distributed 5,000 planting materials.
Eastern Visayas was the top fiber producer in the country until abaca disease wreaked havoc in many farms in the region in the early 2000.
Known globally as Manila hemp, abaca is processed into cordage, pulp and specialty paper and fiber crafts including handwoven fabric.
Last year, the Philippines earned more than US$100 million from abaca fiber shipments. Majority of export earnings came from abaca manufacturers such as pulp, cordage, yarns, fabrics and fiber craft.
Destinations of the country’s abaca fiber include United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, United States, and Canada. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte- Two days after his daring escape at the Northern Samar Provincial Jail, a prisoner was sent back to jail.
Arvino Ballesta, 24 and charged with robbery and theft, managed to escape at the provincial jail on January 2, reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP), based here.
But during a manhunt operation by the police operatives of San Jose municipal police station, led by Senior Inspector Lloyd Lagrimas, the escapee was arrested at his village in Barangay Layuhan of said town at about 1:15 pm on January 4.
Ballesta was brought to San Jose municipal police station for proper disposition for eventual return to the provincial jail. (PR)

President Duterte beyond 2022?

TACLOBAN CITY- The idea of extending the term of President Rodrigo Duterte beyond the constitutional limit could only result in a possible public outcry.
Thus said Joshua Sagdullas, spokesperson of Bayan- Sinirangan Bisayas, reacting to reports that some Congress leaders are toying the idea of extending the term of Mr. Duterte.
Mr. Duterte, under the Constitution, is only to serve for a single term which is good for six years. He is supposed to step down by 2022.
“This term extension is a by-product of the federalism which is being pushed (by his political allies). But this will only spark a public uprising. This will replicate what Marcos did who imposed martial law just so he could extend his term,” Sagdullas said.
Sagdullas claimed that extending the President’s term has no other purpose but to solidify his grip on power saying that there is a possibility that the scheduled 2019 barangay polls could be scrapped.
Thus, this could only ‘stifle grassroots mobilization effort’ of which their group has been doing in raising certain issues initiated by the government which they consider as anti-people.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza dismissed the report as ‘highly speculative.’
“We have yet to discuss about conass (constituent assembly). Let’s wait for development,” Daza, reached on his phone, said.
Daza, who belongs to the Liberal Party, however, said that if ever this term extension would push through, he would oppose to it.
“I think, the terms of office of the President and congressmen as stipulated under our Constitution are enough. Let’s give others the chance to serve our people,” the veteran solon said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Ship made emergency docking due to ‘Agaton’

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – Nine foreigners on board a Chinese-registered cargo vessel were rescued off the waters of Pambujan, this province, on Tuesday (January 2).
The cargo ship, Jin Ming No.16, was said to be on its way to Chile when it encountered heavy rains and strong winds spawned by tropical storm ‘Agaton,’ forcing it to have an emergency docking 300 meters away from the shorelines of Barangay Poblacion 2 of Pambujan.
The ship made a distress call which was received by the local police which immediately conducted its rescue operations at about 12:30 pm, said S/Supt. Felix Diloy, police provincial director.
The rescued passengers were identified as Hans Febie; Xu Xi; Yin Yui Q Jin; Lu Wei Long; Chen Xin Chuen; Lun Xi Long; Wunens Jin and Ho Sai Cheong.
One of the rescued Chinese nationals was not identified by Diloy as his name was written in Chinese.
Diloy said that the Pambujan police received a distress call from the Chinese registered cargo vessel which immediately conducted its rescue operation after assessing the safety of the waters.
Joining the six-hour rescue operation were members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Philippine Coast Guard, Provincial Mobile Force Company 2nd Mobile Platoon and the Red Cross- Northern Samar chapter.
The rescued crew members were immediately brought to the rural health unit of Pambujan for a medical checkup and were made to stay at the residence of Mayor Felipe Sosing.
The Philippine Army’s 20th Civil Military Operations (CMO) Battalion reported that the ship was severely damaged.
“Said vessel sustained severe damage on its bottom portion which is the entry point of sea waters that gradually submerged the vessel in more or less 350-400 meters”, the report said.
Diloy said he has ordered a thorough investigation on the foreign ship and the rescued crew as it was possible that they are not ordinary fishermen.
He added that based on their interview to one of the crew member, the ship left China on December 12 going to Chile to buy some goods.
While on their way, their ship was battered by huge waves which resulted in the rupture of its hull and eventually the seawaters flooded the compartments and the engine room causing the engine to conk out.
Their ship drifted towards the municipal waters of Pambujan when the Coast Guard received a distress call from them.
The ship was loaded with 100 packs (cartons) of alcoholic beverages.
(RACHEL V. ARNAIZ)

ORMOC CITY- Police authorities here seized prohibited firecrackers from a Chinese businessman worth P4 million on December 30.
James Sy, 28, however, immediately posted bail of P2,000 as he was charged for violations of Republic Act 7183 and Executive Order 28 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, both edicts mandate for the regulation on the sale, distribution, and manufacture of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
Sy was arrested during an operation conducted jointly by the members of the City Public Safety Company headed by Supt. Joel Camacho and Police Station 1 led by its chief Supt. Reynaldo Torlao on Dec.30.
The police were armed with two search warrants against Sy and a certain Juliana Co issued by Judge Carlos Arguelles, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court based in Abuyog, Leyte.
Co, however, was not around when the police personnel conducted their raid at a cellular store owned by the suspects located along districts 5 and 7, this city.
Ormoc City Police Office Intelligence Division Chief Senior Insp. Ian Salvador Po said a surveillance against the suspects were earlier conducted which resulted in the discovery that they were in possession of banned firecrackers which they sold in volumes to their prospective clients.
Confiscated from the suspects were 217 boxes of various firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices with an estimated value of P4 million.
Sy, who could not speak the local dialect, did not give any comment.
Camacho said that not all items seized from the suspects were illegal. However, they were selling without the required permit. (ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)