CATUBIG, Northern Samar- A farmer from this town is now detained after he was arrested for illegal possession of firearm on Saturday (February 11).
Detained was Jinel Modrigo,31, single and a resident of Barangay Calingnan,this town.
Based on report, Modrigo went to the house of his neighbor, Florencio Lambino, armed with air rifle and threatened to kill him.
But before he could carry out his intent to harm Lambino, two village officials, namely, Lionel Tentativa and Dennis Mercado, arrested him and turned him over to the Catubig police station.
The suspect is now detained at the said police station and is facing for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms Law.
As this developed, S/Supt. Ceasar ZL Tannagan, police provincial director, reminded the public especially firearm holders to update the license of their firearms as non-compliance of the same is tantamount to criminal act.
Further, he reiterated that PNP’s program on illegal firearms still subsists and that use of unlicensed firearm in furtherance of crime has stiffer penalty under R. A. 10591. (PR)

Involving P995 million worth of brgy. projects  

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had set the March 2017 deadline for the completion of P995 million worth of projects meant to rebuild village facilities damaged by supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013.
Artemio Caneja, DILG-8 assistant regional director, said these projects are originally scheduled for completion last December 2016, but were extended until the first quarter of this year.
“We understand that it took time for our village officials to come up with documentary requirements for these projects even with the help of city and municipal governments,” Caneja said.
Among the requirements are program of works and detailed engineering designs which is being undertaken in coordination with concerned the local government units.
As of Wednesday (February 1), the 1,613 projects under the 2nd batch of Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY) posted a completion rate of 71 percent.
The DILG had already disbursed P977.87 million of the total project cost.
These projects include barangay halls, day care centers and community centers.
Typhoon-ravaged communities in the region received more than P930 million outlay for RAY batch 2, covering 57 villages.
For RAY batch 1, which focuses on town government facilities, almost all projects are complete except in Tacloban City; Guiuan in Eastern Samar; and Tanauan, Alangalang, Jaro, and Julita, all in Leyte.
RAY is the government’s strategic plan to guide the recovery and reconstruction of the economy, lives, and livelihoods in the affected areas.
The objective of the plan is to restore the economic and social conditions of these areas at the very least to their pre-typhoon levels and to a higher level of disaster resilience. By Sarwell Q. Meniano

ALANGALANG, Leyte- “These new facilities will answer the food security concerns of Region VIII,” National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino emphasized during the blessing and inauguration of a 2.5 tons per hour (TPH) rice mill and groundbreaking ceremony of the 100,000 cavans capacity warehouse at the NFA compound, this town.
The 2.5 TPH multi-pass rice mill can process 50 bags of palay per hour and guarantees a minimum milling recovery of 65.00% and 63.00% for regular-milled rice and well-milled rice, respectively.
Aside from ordinary milled rice, the plant can produce mist polished premium grade to other grades as desired.
The 100,000 cavans capacity warehouse will come to fruition within the 180 days construction period.
Together with NFA Deputy Administrator for Finance and Administration Ludovico J. Jarina, the NFA chief graced the occasion with the added purpose of touching base with field operations and the local government.
He underscored the importance of consultations and interactions with the LGUs in the implementation of the agency’s plans and programs.
On the other hand, Deputy Administrator Jarina delved on the lifting of the Quantitative Restrictions (QR’s) specifically on rice. He also discussed the operational and financial status of the agency.
In his welcome message, NFA-8 Regional Director Marciano A. Alvarez declared his continuing support to NFA’s thrusts on food security and affirmed that the facilities will indeed be an immense help to all NFA stakeholders in the whole region.
NFA-8 Assistant Regional Director Procopio B. Trabajo II expressed his gratitude to the men and women of NFA, as well as the local government officials for gracing the affair, a manifestation of their support to the agency. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued over 7, 000 land titles to qualified beneficiaries here in the region last year.
The issuance of the land titles was under its “Handog Titulo” program which is in compliance of Republic Act 10023 otherwise known as “Free Patent Act” as well as under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of 2016.
“This law (RA 10023) aims to ease the requirements and procedures in the titling of residential lands. It legalizes a Filipino citizen’s rights over a parcel of land actually possessed for at least 10 years provided that the land applied for is not needed for public use or public service,” Leonardo Sibbaluca,DENR regional director, said in a press statement.
Sibbaluca said that the issuance of the free patents is part of the government’s program to reduce poverty and increasing the productivity of the people.
“We care about the economic growth and the total well-being of the people through an equitable access to land,” the DENR official said.
Sibbaluca said that their office, which is responsible in managing, disposing and recording, and administering the alienable and disposable kinds of the state, ensures to facilitate ownership of lands, especially to those who have less in life.
Sibbaluca urged land claimants to file their applicants for land titles at their nearest DENR office.
Aside from issuing free residential patents, the DENR regional office distributed 1, 888 agricultural patents last year, covering an aggregate area of 1, 484 hectares.
The issuance of agricultural patent is under the CARP that aims to alleviate poverty and to promote social equity among landless individuals.
The DENR regional office shows data that 5, 705 residential free patents covering an aggregate area of 91. 53 hectares were distributed to beneficiaries across the region last year. (PEDRO NOYA, EVSU Intern)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte-Police Regional Office 8 under the leadership of Chief Supt.Elmer C. Beltejar, police regional director, acknowledged in a formal rite a total of 290 police personnel who were promoted to the next higher rank during the flag raising ceremony at PRO8 Grandstand Monday (January 30).
During the activity, C/Supt. Beltejar together with Alicia Pardiñas and Arlyn Basas, Napolcom regional office 8 representatives, led the recognition of the newly promoted PNP personnel in the donning and pinning of ranks ceremony.
The event was witnessed by Police Senior Superintendent Allan Cuevillas, deputy regional director for operations; members of the Command Group and Directorial Staff, family, friends, relatives and partners of the promotees.
C/Supt. Beltejar said that out of the 290 promotees, 20 are Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and 270 are Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs).
He further noted that the promotees were composed of eight for the rank of police chief inspector, 10 for police senior inspector, two for police inspector, nine for senior police officer 4, nine for senior police officer 3, 25 for senior police officer 2, 11 for senior police officer 1, 42 for police officer 3 and 174 for police officer 2.
In his message, C/Supt.Beltejar said that the PNP always notes that rank and promotion are not a reward of what was done well but a recognition that each has the potential to do more.
”Your reward will be the exact proportion of your service,” he added.
Moreover, the donning and pinning of ranks is done simultaneously in all levels of command of the PNP to acknowledge the achievement of the promotees. (PR)

CARIGARA, Leyte- Belgian philanthropist Patrick Haghedooren based in Southern Leyte provided a new multi-million worth of hospital equipment for the hospital and health centers in this town.
Haghedooren came with a 40-foot cargo containing donations of 30 hospital beds, delivery tables, mattresses, chairs, tables, sofas, cabinets, hospital staff uniforms and several other medical instruments to equip the local hospital.
All the items were donations from different hospitals in Belgium and were shipped to Leyte via Cebu.
The Belgian national has previously donated similar hospital equipment in Camotes Island and in some towns in Southern Leyte province.
This time, Haghedooren chose to help the Carigara District Hospital (CDH) and some health centers.
“I have seen for myself how lacking in equipment, even beds, some of (the) hospitals here.Patients have to lie in worn-out mattresses and rusty hospital beds,” Haghedooren said.
“I really hope these (equipment) will help patients recover faster and help hospitals in their service,” he added.
The 30 electronic hospital beds alone cost P 6 million, it was learned. Haghedooren usually brings in the medical equipment from Belgium at his own expense.
Haghedooren also said that additional donations of wheel chairs for the town are to be delivered soon.
Town Mayor Eduardo Ong extended his gratitude to the Belgian national saying these equipment will go a long way in furnishing community health centers in the town.
Ong pointed out that with maternal delivery now only allowed in hospitals and birthing centers, the donated equipment can be put into good use.
Meanwhile, Engr. Roque Aguilar, a local philanthropist who has been soliciting donations for CDH, said that the arrival of the hospital equipment is timely considering that its new wing is to open increasing its current 75-bed capacity.
CDH has been undergoing face-lifting and expansion after most of its buildings were destroyed during the onslaught of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. (AHLETTE C. REYES)