Thirty four SIKAT scholars of Lopez-led geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC) recently received their brand new ASUS laptops last 22-23 October as the learning environment in the country shifted to online and modular classes due to threats of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
EDC tapped Taiwan-based multinational computer and electronics company ASUS to provide laptops for free to the SIKAT scholars in Kananga, Leyte and Ormoc City as they venture towards the new normal of online learning.
EDC Corporate Social Responsibility Head for its Leyte geothermal facility, Erwin Magallanes, said it has always been the company’s top priority to support unprivileged but deserving students through its newly branded flagship education program SIKAT.
Magallanes, likewise, expressed his gratitude to ASUS for its laptop donation to SIKAT scholars. “We thank ASUS for their support to our program, which will definitely help our students in obtaining quality education despite the current remote learning set-up,” he said.
One of the recipients, Rica Baring, Batch 2018 BS Mechanical Engineering from Visayas State University, expressed her utmost gratitude to EDC and ASUS for their support in achieving her dreams of completing tertiary education. “Words cannot describe how thankful we, SIKAT scholars, are for receiving the laptops. Through this, we can accomplish and perform our school tasks efficiently. We are eternally grateful for the support that the companies have provided us. This will serve as our inspiration to strive harder in chasing our dreams,” Baring said.
Kananga town Mayor Matt Torres facilitated the turnover of 20 laptops to SIKAT scholars in Kananga, Leyte while 14 laptop units were given to scholars from Ormoc City.
The laptop units, with memory capacity of 1 TB HDD and runs an Intel Core i3-1005G1 Processor, will help the students attend synchronous classes, execute their class assignments and do research for their class requisites.
Moreover, each student beneficiary of the laptops also received one unit of pocket wifi from EDC to enable them to connect to the internet and have hassle-free remote learning access and environment.
SIKAT is EDC’s flagship education program that aims to help the youth in EDC’s host communities to have access to quality education and enable them to become productive citizens and change-makers in our society.
EDC’s Leyte geothermal facility that straddles between Ormoc City and the Municipality of Kananga currently supplies more than 30% of the country’s installed geothermal capacity.
In total, EDC generates over 40% of the Philippines’ renewable energy output and serves about 10% of the country’s overall electricity demand with its installed capacity of 1,499MW. Its over 1,200MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity, putting the Philippines on the map as the world’s third largest geothermal power producer. (PR)
EDC, ASUS distribute laptops to Leyte scholars, support students in “new normal”
Biliran Gov. Espina offers reward for those who killed a critically-endangered bird
TACLOBAN CITY – The governor of Biliran is offering a reward for those who can provide information on the identity of the three poachers who were responsible in the killing of a hornbill.
Those who can provide the identities of the three suspect will receive cash reward from him, Gov. Rogelio Espina said.
The cash reward offered by the governor stemmed from a post from Julius Sabile on his Facebook account where he took photos on the killing of the Visayan hornbill last October 31 in Barangay Libtong.
Sabile said that he asked the men, who used homemade shotgun, not to shoot the bird but they did not listened to him.
He said that he felt bad that instead of helping in protecting and conserving the wildlife there are people who are capable of destroying it.
Gov. Espina asked the public to contact the Provincial Environment and Task Force Kalikasan head if they have information on the identities of the suspects.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources VIII said the Visayas hornbill is one of the identified critically endangered bird species in the country.
It is usually found in the rainforest in the islands of Panay, Negros, Masbate, Guimaras, and Ticao Island.
Visayan Hornbill main diet is fruit but they also eats insects, beetles, ants, and sometimes, earthworms, lizards, and fish.
The DENR added that those who will be found guilty in capturing and killing the critically endangered bird will face a jail time of six years and one day imprisonment to a maximum of 12 years and or payment of fine ranging from P100, 000 to P1 million, as mandated under Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Farmers group receive aid from Mayor Romualdez
TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Alfred Romualdez together with City Veterinarian Dr. Eunice Alcantara led the turnover of Artificial Insemination (AI) sa Barangay facility held Thursday morning, November 5, at Brgy. 108 Tagpuro Gymnasium.
As a start-up support the beneficiary-association, Tagpuro Farmers United for Progress (ATFUC), received AI equipment and consumables, laboratory equipment, 6 bags of feeds, refrigerator, and aircon. Also, the recipient received 2 purebred boars to be used as breeding animals.
ATFUC president Christopher Dela Cruz, in his message, expressed gratitude saying, “…it’s a big help and rest assured that what we have received will be used and well taken cared of.”
Department of Agriculture (DA) R8 Livestock Program Coordinator Dr. Renato Destrajo and other local officials also graced the said event.
A.I. SA Barangay Project, which is also in support of the National Livestock Program, promotes commercialization of the small-hold poultry and swine raising. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFIFCE)
Mayor Avestruz delivers her Soma: Despite COVID-19, projects, programs for people unhampered
In Barugo
(Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY- Barugo Mayor Maria Rosario ‘Macel’ Avestruz said that despite of the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-1) that hit their town, programs and projects intended for the people were not affected.
Avestruz made this remarks during her November 3 state of the municipality address (Soma) held at their public gymnasium.
According to her, COVID-19 affected not only the lives of the Barugonons as many establishments were forced to cease their operations due to the health pandemic.
“Almost eight months have passed since we started this war against COVID-19. And for the past eight months, many sectors of our community have been affected. The imposition of quarantine restrictions brought many our fellow Barugonons to economic collapse. Many were rendered jobless and businesses greatly affected,” Avestruz said in her message.
But despite of the adverse situation, the municipal government continue to work by providing programs and projects that benefited the people, she added.
“LGU-Barugo continued delivering basic services to its constituents. We stick to the frontlines and despite all the threats from COVID-19, we have ensured that programs and projects that will benefit Barugonons will continue to be implemented,” Avestruz said.
At present, the town has 136 COVID-19 cases since March of this year and of which only 45 are considered as active cases.
And for next year, the people of Barugo could expect more projects, both funded by the municipal government, and financial aid from other government agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the town mayor said.
Among the projects that are in the pipeline for next year include completion of the town’s bus terminal; construction of canopy at the town public market; improvement of the town gymnasium; acquisition of more lots for the expansion of the public cemetery; construction of road networks, especially in far-flung barangays for easy and fast transportation of goods and services, among others.
“Gradually, we will narrow the long stretches of gravel roads of these barangays to improve access and transportation,” she said.
The municipal government under her administration will continue to provide financial assistance to the barangays for them to finance their chosen ‘felt-need programs and projects.’
She also said that repair and rehabilitation of road projects like the Barugo-San Miguel road will continue as well as the widening of the bridges in Canomantag and Himanglos; concreting of Barangay Roosevelt to Barangay Pitogo as well as the Minuhang-Balud and the Balud-Duka road which is part of the Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade Infrastructure Program for the town’s economic zone.
During her speech, Mayor Avestruz also gave thanks to other officials of the town like Vice Mayor Josephine Tiu and the entire members of the town council and other heads of various offices of the municipal government; Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla; and Reps. Lolita Karen Javier(2nd district) and Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel of the An Waray party-list group.
“To the people of Barugo, ladies and gentlemen who are present here today, I say to you, claim this victory. This is yours!”
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Alfred: Only Masses due to COVID-19 pandemic
7th Yolanda anniversary
By: Joey A. Gabieta
TACLOBAN CITY- This year’s commemoration of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ will be ‘very simple’ as it is impacted by another catastrophe, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that has also claimed lives.
City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, in a press conference, said that several of the previous activities that were normally held during the anniversary of Yolanda’s onslaught are cancelled.
Tacloban, considered the ground zero of the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland, is to hold the seventh year anniversary of the Nov.8,2013 deadly typhoon this Sunday.
“For Yolanda’s anniversary, it will be a very simple commemoration. We’ll just have some Masses, perhaps at the mass grave and at the shipwreck,” the city mayor said Friday (Oct.6).
The sites Romualdez referred were the mass burial site located in Barangay Basper where more than 2,200 people who died due to the massive typhoon were buried, and the Yolanda Shipwreck Memorial Park located in Brgy. 68(Anibong District)where commercial cargo M/V Jocelyn was washed inland due to the storm surge generated by Yolanda.
He also said that while mass gathering is strictly prohibited during this time of quarantine, he might just allowed entry at the mass burial ground.
Social distancing and other health protocols should always be observed during the visit, the city mayor said.
To recall, the national government prohibited any visit to cemeteries and other burial grounds during the All Saints and Souls Days as an added measure to stop any possible spread of the virus.
Romualdez said that while this year’s seventh anniversary of Yolanda’s onslaught will be simple due to COVID-19 restrictions, those who perished will still be remembered.
The city mayor added that the people should not forget one of the lessons learned due to Yolanda-to evacuate once there is a typhoon.
“I ask the residents not to forget Yolanda. If there is a super storm, evacuate immediately,” Romualdez said.
The city mayor said that the simple ceremony of Yolanda’s onslaught is mainly due to COVID-19 which has already claimed 15 lives in the city.
Tacloban has 950 total COVID-19 cases of which 869 of them have recovered from the deadly virus.
Other areas in the region also affected by Yolanda have also cancelled their annual commemorative programs due to COVID-19 pandemic.
For one, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan said that instead of these programs, the municipal government will only have a Mass on Sunday.
It was in Guiuan town where Yolanda made its first landfall early morning of Nov. 8, 2013 that killed more than 100 people of the town.