Jaro, Leyte-At least 25 former rebels, seven of them were women, have completed their 27- day training Landscape Installation and Maintenance (Softscape) NC II initiated by Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The former members of the New People’s Army (NPAs), who were from the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte, were thankful to the national government for helping them start a new life through the competency skills training provided to them.
“This training proves many things for us. It did not only gave us knowledge and skills on landscaping but also proves that former rebels like us and soldiers can be good friend,” former rebel ‘Jovito’ said in his message during the event held at held at the Villaconzoilo Farm School, this town.
“We are thankful to our government because this will not only help us individually to have work as this will also help us have additional income for our families,” he added.
‘Jade’, another former rebel from Samar province, also expressed his gratitude on the program extended to them by the government saying that he was happy that a Grade 1 finisher like him would receive a certificate that he can use to apply for work.
“Because I am a former rebel, I thought my life is useless. That I have nowhere to go because I’m uneducated. But now I am graduate, and I am proud to say congratulation to myself and to all of you,” he said.
TESDA-8 Regional Director Gamaliel Vicente Jr., said that they are duty-bound to help the former rebels who surrendered to the government to help them become productive members of our society.
“As graduates, keep in mind you have now the high responsibility to meet the high expectations of what you have achieve today for your family and love ones,” Vicente said.
Meanwhile, 802nd Brigade Commander BGen Zosimo Oliveros encourages the rebel returnees to reciprocate the government help to them by paying it forward.
“Help other people like how the government help you. You can do that by convincing your former colleagues to surrender and open their eyes to the reality that the government is here ready to help them,”Oliveros said.
Meantime, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla asked the returnees to emulate the success of Villaconzoilo which used to be a rebel-infested community but now a best example of a farming community that had expanded to tourism-related activities.
Petilla recalled that the first time he visited the upland village, the residents hid at their houses fearing that an encounter would happened between the government forces and the rebel group.
They were only met by the village officials, the governor said.
But after successfully piloting the Leyte EconoMics Program, the village started to develop and improve economically, reducing its poverty incidence including malnutrition rate, Petilla added.
From a rebel affected area, the village is now one of the leading farm schools in the region, and also a leading farm-tourism site in the province of Leyte.
“What we need is solution to our problem. Now that you have graduated, this is the beginning; you’re not the only one who will benefit this, but also your family, the community, the province and the country as well,” the governor said.
Alex Aborita, Villaconzoilo Farm School administrator, advices the former rebels to start by not expecting too much.
“Start with what you have. As starters, you must first avoid having big dream. Like us, we started with nothing, but what is important is we never lose hope,” he said.
He added to never forget of asking guidance from the Lord and at the same time trust on their selves.
“You were misled before but now you are following the right path. Our gift to you is the skills that we imparted and enrich it by practicing it in your community, “he added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Former rebels finished competency skills training, thanks government for giving them new lease of life
DENR rescues ‘matsing’ that invades a house in Tacloban City
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here in the region has rescued a monkey that earlier invaded a family, in this city.
DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Tirso Parian, Jr. told reporters that a monkey, which invaded a family in one of the barangays in this city, and was held captive was rescued by their personnel.
Parian said that the monkey Philippine Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis philippensis) should have been caught and held captive but rather been left in the wild.
“This should serve as a reminder that any wildlife deserves to be left alone in the wild because this is where they belong. Unless one has secured the necessary permits, having custody of any wildlife is a violation of R.A. 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, Parian said.
Parian explained that the monkey was rescued by personnel of the DENR-8 after it got away from its owner at Barangay 59-A, this city.
Thereafter, a family member reported to the barangay officials that the said monkey invaded their home and ransacked their refrigerator, prompting them, including their minor children, to lock themselves in a room in fear.
Parian said that the rescued monkey which was assessed to be a sub-adult is a subspecies of the crab-eating macaque that is commonly known as “matsing” or the more general term of unggoy. It was already very aggressive which may have been aggravated because of a wound on his belly that was punctured by the wire used to tie the monkey.
Parian reported that the monkey was then brought to the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center at PENRO-Leyte for assessment and rehabilitation.
“Unfortunately, most rescued monkeys are no longer released back to the wild because they are normally not accepted by other monkey troops and are instead attacked and killed. Even if released, it will have to undergo extensive rehabilitation and preparation,” Parian said.
Parian warned that sections 27 and 28 of R.A. 9147 or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act,” prohibits the injuring, killing, collection and trading of wildlife. Any violation thereof is punishable with a fine of as low as P1,000 to as high as P5,000,000 and/or imprisonment of 1 month to as long as twelve years, depending on the classification and status of the wildlife.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Congress approves proposed Samar Island Medical Center, expansion of Samar Provincial Hospital
TACLOBAN CITY- The House of Representatives has approved separately on third and final reading the creation of a hospital facility that will cater the medical needs of the people of Samar Island and the expansion of a provincial hospital based in Catbalogan City.
The proposed Samar Island Medical Center (SIMC), which will be located in Calbayog City, was approved by the Lower House during their Jan.20 plenary session and principally authored by Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, wife of Leyte Rep. and House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Rep. Romualdez said that the establishment of the SIMC, as contained under House Bill 8195, would result in the people of Samar provinces not travelling to Tacloban City to seek for medical assistance, particularly at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).
“The establishment of the Samar Island Medical Center would help address the hours-long travel times patients and their families take to travel to avail of treatment at the nearest government tertiary hospital in Tacloban City, Leyte by providing affordable and accessible hospital care for all on the island of Samar,” the lady solon said.
Samar Island is composed of the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The proposed Samar Island hospital is a 300-bed health facility which will be under the administration of the Department of Health.
It would be constructed in a four-hectare lot offered by the city government of Calbayog.
Meantime, the proposed measure for the expansion of the Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH) located in Catbalogan City was also approved on the third and final reading by the Lower House on Jan.20.
HB 8196 is authored by Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan which proposes to make the provincial hospital into a 220-bed capacity from its current 100-bed capacity.
The SPH is under the supervision of the provincial government.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Mayor Romualdez willing to receive anti-COVID shots
To prove that vaccines are effective
TACLOBAN CITY- The mayor of this city, Alfred Romualdez, said that he would lead among officials and residents once the vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are available and prove that these are effective.
Romualdez, who has just recovered from the dreaded virus, also said that the city government is ready to allocate funds as high as P400 million so long as Taclobanons would receive the antidote.
“Funding will not be a problem. We will find ways to allocate funds even it will be P300 million or P400 million (and) I am willing to be a food taster, a guinea pig (once it is available in the city),” the city mayor said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“I will do it if it will encourage our people to be vaccinated,” he added.
According to the city mayor, he has yet to decide what brand of vaccines the city government will procure but added that he is closely coordinating with the national government through his cousin, Leyte congressman and House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on this regards.
He, however, stressed that his primary considerations in buying the vaccines are good price and their efficacy.
This early, he cautioned Taclobanons who will be receiving the vaccines to continue to observe all the health protocols as the inoculation should not be considered 100 percent antidote for one not to acquire the virus.
Tacloban is considered as a high risk area due to the presence of community transmission of COVID-19.
The city has, at present, 1,558 COVID-19 cases with 160 active cases and 25 deaths.
Meantime, city health officer, Dr. Gloria Fabrigas said that they are initially targeting around 89,000 persons to be given the vaccines, representing about 40 percent of the city’s population.
The city government will also be needing more than 200 vaccinators who will be deployed to the different vaccination areas which are mostly hospitals.
These vaccinators could potentially give the vaccines to 75-100 people per day.
Leyte mayor stops officiating marriage amid town spike of COVID-19 cases
TACLOBAN CITY-A town mayor in Leyte will not be performing any marriage ceremony as their area is grappling with high cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In an advisory, Mayor Azucena Mirambel will not officiate any civil marriages for the entire month. Under our laws, mayors are authorized to solemnize civil rites.
The municipal hall itself was closed starting Monday, Jan.18, until Jan.20 for disinfection as several employees were said to have been direct contacts of one employee who was earlier tested to be positive of the dreaded virus.
Among other measures instituted by the municipal government to curb its increasing COVID-19 cases include prohibition of masses and other religious gatherings and private gatherings until the contact tracing that is underway would be completed.
It was learned that the municipal government is tracing around 200 individuals.
At present, the town, which was placed under lockdown since Jan.16 which is to end on Jan.20, has 30 COVID-19 cases with one death involving a 75-year old man who died last Jan. 13.
The rural health unit in Capoocan, also in Leyte, was closed indefinitely since Monday (Jan.18) after one its employees was tested positive of COVID-19.
And since Jan.16, the rural health unit of Mayorga, also in Leyte, was shut down for disinfection and contact tracing after one of its health worker tested positive.
Meantime, the regional office of Department of Health reported of 24 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the region’s total cases to 12,931.
The region’s number of deaths has also increased to 16 with two new deaths.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)