TACLOBAN CITY- The naming of their mayor by President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drug activity was “absolutely shocking.”
Thus said a close aide of Mayor Hector Ong of Laoang, Northern Samar who was named, together with his wife, Madeleine, by the President to be protector of those in the illegal drugs activity.
The aide, who is a lawyer by profession, said that not once their mayor and his wife, who also served as mayor of the town, were involved in illegal activity, much more on illegal drugs.
The aide declined to be identified saying she has no authority to speak for Mayor Ong and his wife.
“Laoang is a very small town. Everybody knows everybody. No secret could be hidden. They never engaged in any illegal activity to include in the illegal drug,” she said in a phone interview.
According to her, the couple is considered as the richest in Laoang, a coastal town inhabited by 61,359 people based on the 2015 population census.
She said that they maintain a gasoline station, commercial buildings for rent, copra- buying and a big hardware in Manila.
One of their sons is into business while another son is a doctor based in Manila.
“That is why it is really unbelievable that they would be engaging in the illegal drug activity. They are very rich already,” the aide aid.
She admitted that just like in any area in the country, Laoang is facing problem on the illegal drug.
“But it does not follow that because the problem is not completely solved under their respective administrations, they will be tag in the illegal drug trade. That is unfair,” she said.
It was learned that Mayor Ong and his wife left for Manila just hours after they learned that they were among those named by Mr. Duterte Sunday(August 7).
The source could not ascertain whether the two would go to Malacañang to meet the President or to Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa to clear their names.
The Ong couple has ruled Laoang since 1986 after Madeleine was named as its officer-in-charge after the 1996 EDSA People Power I.
Madeleine, who is not holding any elective post this time, also served as governor of Northern Samar from 1998 to 2001.
During the May 9 elections, Hector replaced his wife as mayor of Laoang.
The Ong family is considered to be the most politically powerful in Northern Samar, one of the poorest provinces in the country.
Mayor Hector Ong’s brother, Jose, is the current governor, while a nephew, Edwin, just won as a congressman, replacing his father, Emil.
Emil Ong served as the administrator of the National Food Authority during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Mayor Ong, wife are not into illegal drug trade, says aid
Palo Archbishop Du reminds: True transformation happens with God in man’s heart
(Eileen Ballesteros)
PALO, Leyte- Palo Archbishop John Du underscored once more the Church’s teaching that true transformation happens if God is within the person wanting it. The prelate reiterated this point in his homily at the Pontifical High Mass today on the Feast of Our Lord’s Transfiguration here co-celebrated by Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Catarman Bishop Emeritus Angel Hobayan and a little over a hundred clerics. Du said the gospel and the feast day of the transfiguration of Jesus is “teaching us so many things but above we have to be humble so we can see the power and presence of God in our life.”
“Change is going to happen if He lives in our heart,” he stressed, saying further that change should be for improvement and betterment, not just simply transforming.
While man strives for change, he should not ignore the Ten Commandments God conveyed to Moses in Mt. Sinai, according to Du. He recited some of the Commandments, such as “Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbours and Honor your mother and your father.” The social and mainstream media these days are flooded with news on the unprecedented number of killings allegedly of suspected drug pushers who fought back during police operations and summary executions.
This has caused the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Commission on Human Rights to slam the administration of Pres.Rodrigo Duterte for the apparent pro-death stance in the intensified war on drugs. Pres. Duterte, even during his election campaign, was already vocal in his desire to eradicate drug trade in the country. His crusade was built up when he assumed post and allegedly went overboard to the point of allowing shoot on site of persons suspected as drug personalities resisting arrest and putting the lives of arresting police officers in danger.
The people’s long standing call out for “change” is now a battlecry of Mr. Duterte with warning of getting killed to those who refuse it. A man who aims for change “finishes the race, the good fight but keeps the faith until he accomplishes (his goal),” as Christ demonstrated for his desire for man to change. “A courageous man falls but never fails,” Du exhorted describing Christ’s heart as fearless due to his love for humanity. “Move on” he exclaimed with reminder that the faithful should keep the sense of gratefulness to those who help them.The prelate, who was among the survivors of the supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013, however, said that one who aims towards change should have love and gratefulness in his heart as well. Meantime, Du will be setting the stage for the National Social Action General Assembly in September this year, according to the vicar-general Msgr. Rex Ramirez. The archdiocese accepted the hosting of NASAGA in gratitude to the help extended by various parishes in the country through the social action commissions to the residents in the archchdiocese after it was ravaged by Yolanda in 2013, he added. Through the multifarious aids given to the Yolanda survivors, many changes for improvement took place that transformed affected into resilient ones. (EILEEN BALLESTEROS)
Hundreds more into transformation in Tacloban
TACLOBAN CITY – Hundreds of Tacloban substance users and pushers availed of the five-day holistic 2nd batch transformation program held July 25-30, 2016 at the Tacloban Astrodome. Supportive of the city’s priority program in support to President Rodrigo Duterte’s thrust, City Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez welcomed hundreds of participants on its first day opening and signified her presence as they recieved their certificate of completion. Mayor Cristina informed them that an office at the astrodome will be open to provide service to their needs such as livelihood classes through the Cristina Learn & Earn Program (CLEP) and the Comprehensive Livelihood Entrepreneurial Program which will equip “transformers” with skills that will free them from the bondage of the prohibited drugs.
The rehabilitation of each user will take some time but sacrifices will be made by the victim, supported by the government from the barangay, city and the national as well, the lady mayor said. In an interview, Yoyong (not his real name) and who has been into drugs since his teen years, said that he hope that the transformation program will totally change his ways, especially with a family to take care of. Yoyong has a wife and two kids. He sees a brighter future with the livelihood skills training the program can provide, through an array of course such for men as carpentry, masonry, plumbing, welding, electrical installation and heavy equipment operator. Meanwhile, the program also offers courses on cosmetology, dressmaking, food processing and cooking and haircutting for women. The city government’s Transformation Program Inside Out” is the city’s answer to President Duterte’s anti illegal-drug campaign. As of press time, thousands of illegal drug users have submitted to transform themselves through the program. (Gay Gaspay -TISAT/Kanhuraw Media Team)
Rep. Noel opposes abolition of party-list system
TACLOBAN CITY- She agrees that the party-list system has been abused but abolishing it would be a big disservice to genuine groups which advance the interests of their respective constituents. Thus said Rep. Victoria Noel of the An Waray party-list group, reacting on the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to abolish the party-list system.
The President said that the party-list system has been abused by some well-moneyed politicians and their families to gain more power. “I agree what President Rodrigo Duterte has said that it has been abused in a way. However, this is not the fault of the honest to goodness party-list(groups),” Noel said. “I do not conform to the abolition but I go for reform or amend the party-list law,” she added. Noel said that there were already moves in previous Congress to amend laws governing the party-list system but failed to take off. She said that she will introduce a bill that will seek the amendment of the system. Noel, however, did not elaborate what possible changes she will introduce to the system. The party-list system was introduced under the 1986 Constitution to provide representation at the Lower House to give sectors considered underrepresented or not represented. “We agree that there should be a reform and really make sure that the representation of people that are unrepresented will be represented in Congress,”Noel said. “The President should know that party-list representatives are the ones who religiously attends committee hearings; the ones who helps to constitute quorum. They are really hardworking,” Noel added. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Is rice to be blamed for rising diabetes?
Rice consumption and diabetes was the topic of debate in the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Conference in Clinical Nutrition (APCCN) in Kuala Lumpur’ Malaysia on January 26-29, 2015.
Two clinical nutrition experts served as opposing speakers of the debate’
Yes, it is
Dr. Christiani Jeyakumar Henry from the United Kingdom presented the arguments that link white rice consumption to the rising prevalence of diabetes, particularly that Asia is the epicenter of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D)’
He also said that the Asian phenotype or body composition predisposes them to T2D. He then discussed several studies on the high glycemic response of white rice that contributes to T2D. Glycemic response is the change in blood glucose after consuming a carbohydrate-rich food.
No, its not rice alone
Dr. Shigeru Yamamoto from Japan presented opposite arguments saying that even though rice consumption has dramatically decreased, diabetes prevalence is still rising, specifically in their country.
Dr. Yamamoto said that rice cannot be blamed as long as everything is consumed in moderation. lt is the amount of rice that may need monitoring, Yamamoto further reiterated.
The high glycemic index of white rice came from the results of studies on post-prandial glucose or after-meal blood glucose response using a single food.
However, in daily life, people do not eat a single food but in combination with something else.
Moreover, Dr. Yamamoto said that the prevalence of obesity in Japan is low despite high carbohydrate intake and they have the highest life expectancy in the world.
Dr. Henry rebutted that Japan’s rice consumption is different from other Asians in the sense that while Japanese eat rice, the amount is nothing compared to how much more their neighboring countries do.
The Philippine scenario
In the Philippines, the 8th National Nutrition Survey (NNS) of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) in 2013 showed that the individual rice consumption was 298 grams or about 1.5 cups daily.
Rice consumption in2013 was lower than the 2008 NNS which was 3’17 grams or a little more than 1.5 cups daily.
Moreover, diabetes prevalence at the national level based on a cut-off of 126 milligrams per deciliter is 5.1 percent in the 2013 NNS.
Diabetes prevalence in 2013 was higher than the 2008 prevalence at 4.8 percent. This trend was similar to what is being observed in Japan.
Promoting brown rice
Going back to the topic of debate: Is rice consumption causing the rise of diabetes in Asia?
In the end, Drs. Henry and Yamamoto concluded that the rising prevalence of diabetes cannot be blamed on a single food. It is not rice per se that is the issue’ but the kind and amount of rice, they further emphasized.
The FNRI-DOST has been promoting the consumption of brown rice, the kind that ts minimally processed, with its bran still intact. (PR)
DPWH-BDEO set to complete senior high school buildings in Biliran before end of the year
NAVAL, Biliran-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) target to finish all senior high school buildings in the entire province of Biliran by August or September this year. District Engineer David P. Adongay Jr. during the Kapihan: Pulong-pulong ng Bayan on Radyo Natin Fm, said that the target completion of the school building projects, which were supposedly finished by June before opening of classes, was extended due to the failure of the sub-soil exploration tests. Engr. Adongay clarified that the completion of the senior high school buildings are dependent on the result of the subsoil exploration test and the release of the additional funds.
“Meron kaming mga projects na nabid-out na but ang nangyari during the subsoil exploration test ay nag-fail, so irere-design namin yan so additional funding yan, nirequest namin sa higher authorities kasi mag-iiba yung foundation niya, mas tataas yung volume niya ng concrete at mas lalalim ang kanyang excavation works so until now hinihintay pa namin yan (release of funds),” he said. Adongay points out that the main problem in the implementation of school building projects are the site identified by the Department of Education. The district engineer suggested that the DPWH and DepEd should have a joint evaluation and identification of building sites because its terrain is one to be considered in the budget allocation.
“Kaya dapat talaga sa identification palang ma-identified namin kung ano talaga ang dapat tatrabahuin diyan for example yung leveling, yung scope of work sa excavation, aside sa subsoil exploration,” Engr. Adongay said. As of July, 2016, Engr. Adongay reported that Biliran DEO have already posts 59.43% for the school building projects.
Out of the 30 school buildings projects, 11 are already completed, 4 not yet started, 5 are still on-going and 10 are substantially completed. Adongay explained that they still didn’t allow classes to hold on those substantially completed buildings to ensure the safety of teachers and students. (PR)