TACLOBAN CITY — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has warned against consumption of shellfish gathered from Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar after the recurrence of the red tide phenomenon there.
In a local red tide warning issued Thursday (August 2), BFAR confirmed the red tide bloom in the bay through laboratory analysis for more than a week.
The presence of red tide in both meat and water calls for a ban on the gathering, trading and consumption of shellfish from identified areas, BFAR Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.
“To safeguard human lives while waiting for the result of confirmatory test of shellfish sample sent to BFAR central office, we are issuing this warning as a precautionary to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating all types of shellfishes and hipon from Matarinao Bay to avoid possible shellfish poisoning,” Albaladejo said.
Fish caught in these areas are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh, washed and cooked thoroughly, according to BFAR’s advisory.
Matarinao Bay, noted for frequent occurrence of red tide, spans the coasts in the towns of Salcedo, Quinapondan, McArthur and Hernani in Eastern Samar.
Earlier, the fisheries bureau also imposed shellfish ban in the coastal waters of Biliran province and Leyte.
Red tide refers to the phenomenon, wherein water is discolored by high concentration of algae.
The discoloration may not necessarily be red in color, but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organism involved.
The fisheries bureau has stepped up water sampling activities in the affected areas to ensure the safety of shellfish consumers.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army marked its 30th founding anniversary on Wednesday (August 1) with this years’ theme, “Kabulig han Molupyo ha Kamurayawan, ug Pag-atiman han Kalibungan Pakadto han Kauswagan,” this August 1, 2018 with Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as guest of honor and speaker.
The event included a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the fallen comrade-in-arms and in recognition of their heroism and ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace in Eastern Visayas and in Mindanao. The ceremony was attended and witnessed by four of 8IDs Former Division Commanders, retired Major Gen. Rufo de Vera, retired M/Gen Glenn J. Rabonza, Usec. Arthur Tabaquero, the current presidential adviser on military affairs and retired M/Gen. Mario F. Chan, head executive assistant, DENR, soldiers and their loved ones, officers, civilian employees, and invited guests.
Sec.Cimatu also led the awarding to deserving personnel who have shown meritorious achievement in combat and non-combat role that significantly contributed to the overall success of the 8ID’s mission.
In addition, civilian stakeholders who also contributed to the accomplishments of your Army in Eastern Visayas were also awarded with plaques of recognition during the said occasion.
Among the awardees were Atty. Bonifacio G. Uy, regional director, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 8; Marivel Sacendoncillo, regional director, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 8; Melba J. Arino, Land Management Officer III, CENRO, Pambujan, Northern Samar; Atty. Eunice U. Babalcon, municipal mayor of Paranas, Samar; and Elena G. Piczon.
Sec. Cimatu in his message expressed that, “Today, the Stormtroopers carry a legacy as partners of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in ensuring the environmental protection as deputized agents in the National Greening Program. Anti-illegal logging, enforcement of other related laws of the environment, and preservation of ecological balance and biodiversity.”
“I wish you all the best. I congratulate each and everyone for a job well-done. Happy 30th Anniversary to you all. Damo nga salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!” Cimatu concluded.
The DENR Secretary also viewed 8ID’s photo display as well as PENRO Samar’s information booth prior to granting interviews with the media. He and his party capped their visit by joining the Stormtroopers in the traditional boodle fight.

NEW BUS TERMINAL, ABUCAY, Tacloban City- Secretary Mark Villar will lead the inauguration of the four-lane Tigbao Bridge in Barangay 94(Tigbao),this city.
The bridge, which is expected to cut the travelling time from those coming from southern part of the city to Tacloban center to 25 minutes from the current 45 minutes, will be inaugurated on August 7.
Also invited in the event is Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez.
Although the four-lane was completed on January 16 of this year, its August 7 inauguration remains significant, said Engineer Arnaldo Bonifacio, head of the Tacloban City Engineering District Office. (PR)

PALO, Leyte- The Department of Education (DepEd) through its schools division in Leyte have put up new secondary schools to provide more access to education and solve the school dropout issue in the province.
Ronelo Al Firmo, the Leyte schools division superintendent, disclosed that the list of newly-opened schools in Leyte is increasing since he assumed office in 2013.
In Barangay Bilwang, Isabel, parents, students and village officials expressed their excitement over the opening of their new school to accommodate the increasing enrolment at the Matlang National High School (MNHS).
“We’re really thankful to Dr. Firmo for the initiative,” said MNHS school principal Vivian Salahid.
The other schools to be opened include the Gimarco National High School and Campokpok National High School, both in Tabango; Bachao National High School in Leyte-Leyte; Villahermosa National High School, Calubian; Hilusig National High School,Mahaplag; Danao Natonal High School in MacArthur; San Vicente National High School in Tolosa;Talisay National High School, Hilongos; Libertad National High School and San Jose National High School, both in Palo; and Cansamada National High School in Dagami.
Edgar Tenasas, assistant schools division superintendent, lauded Firmo’s effort to improve access and promote opportunities by opening schools, saying it “is an action responding to our Secretary’s vision for a liberating education.”
“As to the number of schools he opened during his incumbency is something worth to be proud of. My prayers that God gives him more wisdom and strength as he squarely faces all challenges he met along his journey as schools division superintendent,” Tenasas said in a statement.
Firmo had earlier established 24 secondary schools across Leyte, many of them are located in remote areas.
Known as the biggest among the 13 schools division in the region, the Leyte Division covers 40 towns with more than 15, 000 teachers assigned in 1, 107 elementary schools, 149 secondary schools, and 126 senior high schools.
(RONALD O. REYES)

PALO, Leyte- The Leyte schools division bagged all the regional level awards under the public school category in this year’s 20th Gawad Kalasag awarding ceremony held on Tuesday (July 31).
The school awardees for elementary level were Abuyog South Central School in Abuyog, first place; Cogon Elementary School in Palo, second place; and Tinambacan Elementary School in Jaro, third place.
For secondary, the winners were Bienvinido Guillera Celebre National High School in Jaro, first place; Barugo National High School in Barugo, second place; and Matlang National High School in Isabel, third place.
The winning schools received a plaque and cash prize of P50,000; P30,000; and P15,000, respectively.
The Leyte schools division, which is headed by schools superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo, congratulated the school awardees and wished them luck for the national level competition.
“It’s an honor for the Leyte Division to have six schools acknowledged by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Office VIII. Unforeseen events occur at the least expected time and the preparedness of the school matters to lessen the impact of such situation,” said Edgar Tenasas, the assistant schools division superintendent.
“We look forward that this becomes an inspiration to other schools in Leyte that may also aspire to work for the same award in the future,” he said.
Tenasas also lauded Karen Barril, the division’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) coordinator for her hard work and technical assistance to the schools.
The awarding ceremony served as the culminating activity in the observance of National Disaster Resilience Month which was led by the Office of Civil Defense and other government partner agencies.
The event was attended by OCD Deputy Administrator Nicanor Faeldon, OCD Regional Director Henry Anthony Torres, among other officials.
Since its inception in 1998, the Gawad Kalasag served as the country’s premier annual awards for outstanding contribution in the fields of disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance.
It recognizes best practices of DRRM among individuals, groups or institutions which have shown “extraordinary courage, heroism, and sacrifice in times of emergencies, be it natural or human-induced.” (PR)

By ARNEL C. BALLON

As the future becomes the present, gone are the days when we are required to travel to get the information we need.
The advent of the internet and social media have made information about anything virtually available to us anywhere and anytime.
This change in the communication and acquisition of knowledge has not only affected our daily activities but more so in the educational system. Students tend to neglect the deeper reasons of understanding and absorbing the lessons since everything is easily available for them in just a click.
This is one of the many changes technology has provided.
As most Filipinos spend many hours surfing the net as easily as that, the hard part is not knowing what our children learn from it.
The world has become more sophisticated with technology.
People need to elevate themselves to cope with and maneuver this fast pace changes and somehow forget the essential emphasis on the foundational development of the child: Pagpapakatao, Values Education, Respect, Ethics, Pagpapahalaga sa Kalikasan along the way.
In this new age, we believe it is even more important to remember our fundamentals as we always look back at our reason for being a decent human not changed.
At the core, whatever we learn to try or to achieve, we are all human beings and we must always keep in mind the importance of values throughout our learning.
The thing that we must remind ourselves is that people are the same, learning is similar and the general purpose of school is the same as it was 10, 20,and 50 years ago. The only thing that’s changed are the tools we use to allow students to learn.
As teachers, we all believe that integrating values with each lesson is a way for us to help build a more harmonious nation and produce more knowledgeable and respectful citizens in terms of differences even in times of difficulties for a more productive nation where everyone contributes to a better society.
The students’ capability to explore and enhance knowledge bring about their full potential to be better and bankable workers to build a much progressive society.
Their ability to collaborate, work on authentic problems, and engage with the community is believed to be what separate those who are prepared to increasingly complex life and work environments, and those who are not.
Now, where do think you belong? Are you the kind of student who adopts with the different changes and ultimately affects who you really are, or are you the type of person who adopts with the changes but knows limitations and borderlines?
How do you fare?
(Note: The author is the teacher of the Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries in Tanauan, Leyte)