TACLOBAN CITY- The Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP) in Eastern Visayas denied claims of the military that they were responsible of an ambush directed against soldiers who were trying to help villagers escape their village from flooding spawned by tropical storm ‘Urduja’ in Northern Samar.
In an emailed statement, the group also said that they have declared a ‘state of calamity’ in the entire region as it was battered by Urduja and Vinta.
“The Communist Party of the Philippines in Eastern Visayas denies that the New People’s Army carried out any tactical offensive on Government of the Republic of the Philippines troops allegedly doing relief operations during Typhoon Urduja in Northern Samar,” the group said on its statement issued on December 26, coinciding its 49th founding anniversary.
“This allegation was separately spewed, Goebbels-like, by the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson as well as presidential mouthpiece Harry Roque. This is a brazen lie to diminish the prestige and political support of the CPP-NPA-NDFP in line with the US-Duterte regime’s terrorist-tagging and suppression of the revolutionary forces and all political opposition,” it added.
On December 16, a group of soldiers belonging to the 20th Infantry Battalion was on their way to Barangay Hinagoyonon, Catubig town in Northern Samar when they were ambushed by about 50 alleged NPA members in Barangay San Miguel.
The soldiers were heading to Hinagoyonon to rescue trapped families of the said village of flooding as Urduja battered the province.
Two of the soldiers, Corp. Yzazel Laure and PFC Roland Gomez, were wounded due to the armed fight that lasted over an hour.
President Rodrigo Duterte condemned this attack staged by the communist group which he branded as a terror group.
In the same statement, the communist group also said that they have declared a state of calamity across the region and ordered all rebel members to help storm victims.
“To serve the people on this 49th anniversary of the CPP’s reestablishment, and in solidarity with the plight of the people who are struggling against natural calamity as well as the brutal and repressive US-Duterte regime, the CPP Regional Committee in Eastern Visayas declares a state of calamity for the entire region and orders all NPA units to give priority to relief operations and other necessary support for all those affected by Typhoons Urduja and Vinta,” it said.
“Aside from addressing the direct damages of the storms, the people must also be supported in their struggles against hunger and socio-economic crisis in the coming months because of ruined or lesser crop yields,” the group added. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Eastern Visayas Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) has welcomed the recent approval on the extension of validity of Korean-funded $20.63-million loan for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road.
In a meeting held Wednesday, RPMC chair and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said the extension will ensure the improvement of the 109.3 kilometers road.
The extension will cover civil works for the 11.3-kilometer unpaved section of the coastal road and construction of three bridges. These projects are not included in the original proposal.
“The Samar Pacific Coastal Road will eventually complete the circumferential road loop for Samar Island. This will enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces,” Uy said.
The approval has paved the way for the Department of Public Works and Highways to award the contract for the project before Christmas holidays, he said.
The NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee has approved last December 6 the loan validity extension of the foreign-funded project from Jan. 18, 2018 to Jan. 17, 2020.
The extension of the implementation from September 2017 – July 2019 to January 2018 – December 2019 was also approved.
The project has been delayed due to security issues, bidding failures, concerns on hiring of consulting services, and late submission of deliverable bidding documents.
The Korea Export-Import Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan No. Phl-14 was signed on Aug. 19, 2013 and took effect on Jan. 17, 2014 with the original closing date of January 16, 2018.
The DPWH completed the detailed engineering design last Oct. 8, 2015. Pre-procurement conference for selection of contractors was held Jan. 11, 2017, followed by a pre-bid conference on February 7 and submission of technical and financial proposal on February 28.
The government submitted the report to the Korean bank on Mar. 25, 2017 and was concurred last July 5, 2017.
The fund will also be used for civil works, payment of consulting services, and for contingencies.
The foreign-funded project is on top of the ongoing works for the Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis that link Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Health (DOH-8) recorded six cases of firecracker victims in the region since they started monitoring in December 21, 2017.
John Paul Roca, DOH-8 information officer, said that victims are from the towns of Dolores and Salcedo, both in Eastern Samar province, and one from Tacloban City.
“Worst of these victims is from Salcedo (Eastern Samar) who lost his index finger for using a whistle bomb,” Roca said.
Other victims of firecracker incidents used ‘lantaka’ or bamboo cannon and kwitis.
The six cases reported were far below from the 98 cases of firecracker victims last year from December 21 to January 10.
But the DOH expects the number could increase during the New Year’s revelry.
“Twenty-five to 30 percent cases of firecracker incidents happen on the evening of December 31, that is why we are continuously monitoring it,” Roca said.
“We are urging public if you see vendors of illegal firecrackers please report it to authorities,” he added.
Roca added that instead of using firecrackers individually, people should instead join the firework display in their respective locality or used the identified firecracker zone which police authorities will select.
No report on victims of stray bullet had been received by the DOH during the Christmas celebration.

Aside from the DOH, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also warns public not to sell illegal firecrackers.
“Those who is caught manufacturing, selling, distributing or using illegal firecrackers and pyrotechnics may be fined or imprisoned or suffer both penalties,” the DILG, in a statement, said.
Republic Act 7183 or An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices states that any person who manufactures, sells, distributes or uses firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices shall be fined from P20,000 to P30,000, or imprisoned between six months to one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court and their license and business permit of the manufacturers will be confiscated.
Included in the list of prohibited firecrackers are piccolo, pop pop, Goodbye Philippines or Crying Bading, Yolanda or Goodbye Napoles, Watusi, pla-pla, giant kwitis, watusi or “dancing firecrackers,” super lolo, atomic big trianggulo, mother rockets, lolo thunder, pillbox, boga, big Judah’s belt, big bawang, kwiton, Bin Laden, kabasi, atomic bomb, five star, Og, and giant whistle bombs.
Allowed firecrackers includes baby rocket, bawang, small triangle, pulling of strings, paper caps, el diablo, and sky rocket (kwitis), sparklers, luces, fountains, jumbo regular and special, mabuhay, Roman candle, trompillo, air wolf, whistle device, and butterfly.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Counting its blessings, year 2017 has been fruitful for resilient Tacloban which has just risen from the 2013 devastation brought by super typhoon ‘Yolanda.’
Under the administration of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, the Tacloban city government has garnered several awards and recognitions locally and nationally from various organizations and government agencies.
These awards, indeed, are testaments how effective and efficient the administration of Mayor Romualdez who assumed the post in 2016.
The national awards garnered by the city government and its different offices in 2017 are the following: The City Tourism Office (CTO) was the grand champion of the best float competition showcasing its Sta Cruzan de Mayo float during the Aliwan Fiesta 2017(float competition) held April 23, 2017 at Star City, Roxas Blvd. and the best booth award during the 28th Philippine Travel Mart held Sept. 1-3 at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
As a highly urbanized city (HUC), Tacloban got the 1st place as the most improved local government units in the HUC category in terms of tax collection during the 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit held August 16, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) CCP Complex, Pasay City.
For the month of October alone, Tacloban City got two awards: as a finalist to the 2017 Most Business Friendly LGU Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, city level category and for having the country’s best cooperative office.
The Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) garnered awards during the 116th Philippine National Police (PNP) Police Service Anniversary held on August 22, 2017 at the Police Regional 8, Camp Ruperto Kangleon Palo, Leyte.
TCPO got the “best city police office award” for outstanding police administration and operations in Eastern Visayas; “best police strategy management unit” for its service and dedication, visionary guidance and stellar accomplishments in the effective execution of the PNP P.A.T.R.O.L Plan 2010 and “ best senior police non-commissioner officers for operations” received by SPO1 Anthony Amora.
Also, the TCPO also got several awards during the July 31, 2017 Police Community Relations (PCR) culmination program: ‘outstanding city police office in community relations and “outstanding junior police”
The city was among awarded the 2017 seal of good of local governance award by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) also declared Tacloban City as a drug-cleared city, the first HUC in the country to be named as such.
And among the most promising services to rescue human victims, the Tacloban Rescue Unit (TACRU) got the 1st Place Gawad Kalasag Award during the 19th Gawad Kalasag Search for Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Humanitarian assistance for 2017 for being the Best government emergency response management services (basic search and rescue) category given by the Office of Civil Defense Dec. 4, 2017.
Meanwhile, giving priority attention to a child-friendly environment assuring that all children of Tacloban enjoy their rights for survival, protection and participation, Tacloban City was awarded as the national finalist to the 2016 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities/Cities given December 12, 2017 at Malacañang Palace.
During the 9th HUC anniversary held December 18, 2017 at the City Hall lobby, Mayor Romualdez congratulated and thanked all department heads and their respective personnel for bringing pride and honor to the city.
(GAY B. GASPAY, TISAT/KANHURAW MEDIA TEAM)

TANAUAN, Leyte – A gift of school supplies brought back the smile on Jonabel Garcelazo’s face after the recent flooding brought by tropical storm ‘Urduja’ soaked her most valued school materials.
Jonabel, whose dream is to become a lawyer, is very grateful for the Christmas gift she got on Thursday (December 28), knowing that her mother, Joan, has no means to buy her basic classroom needs.
“This is my first time to receive a gift like this. This really motivated me to study. I am aware that my mother has no budget for new school supplies,” said the Grade 6 student, who turned emotional as she grasped a plastic envelope filled with notebooks, pens, crayons, and papers.
Jonabel’s mother is separated from her husband for more than 10 years now and leaving her no choice but to support her three children as a farm laborer, earning only P200 daily from eight hours of difficult jobs usually done by men.
“I really want to become a lawyer and help those who are oppressed to fight for their rights,” said Jonabel, although uncertain of who will support her college education.
Jonabel is one of the 156 pupils of Sacme Elementary School who received school supplies through the “Light the World” campaign of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or commonly known as Mormon Church.
The campus is located in a flood-prone community of Sacme, a farming village in Tanauan, Leyte province.
Surrounded by rice fields, the school suspends classes many times in a year as floodwaters enter classrooms and swamp pathways during typhoons and rainy days.
Teacher Merriam Domael said this act of service is very timely as floodwaters caused by Urduja have soaked notebooks and papers.
“It breaks my heart seeing some children coming to school without a single piece of paper inside their bags. These gifts really means a lot to us,” Domael shared.
Local LDS church leader Rodel Almeria said churchgoers contributed money to buy school supplies for the Light the World campaign, now on its second year.
The LDS Church launched its global Christmas campaign on Nov. 26, 2017 with the goal to inspire individuals, families, and youth groups to be a light of the world by emulating the Savior’s example of service. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the LDS Church has established congregations and built temples in six continents.
From the original six members when the Church was first formed in 1830, the restored Church of Jesus Christ has now grown to a membership of nearly 16 million people, according to its website. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO/PNA)

MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways field office here will pave roads leading to five tourism destinations in Southern Leyte next year.
Recently, the DPWH bidded out the more than P60 million worth of tourism road projects to ensure timely completion next year.
“Of the first seven 2018 projects bidded this month, five are tourism roads,” Junia said.
These road-access projects will lead to Bitoon beach in Liloan town, Buenavista dive site in Padre Burgos town, Calag-itan fish sanctuary and Doña Marta and Casa Isabel Cave in Hinunangan town, and Hindag-an falls in St. Bernard town.
“These roads are just few of our many projects next year in our effort to make the province more accessible to travellers and tourists,” Junia said.
Works for the concreting will include construction of covered canal and installation of slope protection.
The site for tourism access road project has been identified through a convergence between the DPWH and Department of Tourism in the bid to attract more tourists to less developed communities. (PR)