TACLOBAN CITY- A top regional official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the recent harassment by the New People’s Army (NPA) was all just for show as they were trying to project their strength.
PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar said the armed rebels are incapable of launching major attacks or even fighting back government forces.
“The incident of harassment is alarming because it injured soldiers and policemen, but we are more than prepared to face them,” Beltejar said.
The police regional chief backed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to terminate peace talks with the communist rebels frustrated by attacks against government troops.
“There are many violations committed by the NPAs indicating that they are not sincere about peace talks,” Beltejar told reporters Wednesday (July 26) night.
He reiterated his call to all units to be on alert against possible attacks after two policemen were wounded when rebels detonated an improvised explosive device targeting a police patrol car at a national road in Jiabong, Samar on Wednesday.
Police officers of Catarman, Northern Samar were heading to this city to attend a meeting when attacked around 12:15 p.m. in Barangay Jia-an, Jiabong town.
Samar police provincial director Supt. Nicolas Torre said about five NPA members planted the explosives to harm policemen.
“When we responded, they just ran away and not attempted to fight back. This is just pure harassment since they have no capability to really fight back,” Torre said.
Citing intelligence report, Beltejar said rebels in the region have not increased its numbers.
“We know their real strength. They’re just launching attacks as a strategy to project that they are strong,” he said.
The police have stepped up its security plan after the Communist Party of the Philippines asked its armed wing, the NPA, to launch “armed counteractions and offensives” across the country.
The violent action is a protest against the five-month extension of martial law in Mindanao.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The 2017 Nutrition Month Celebration in the region has culminated with a one-day array of activities on July 27 at SMED Center, this city.
In coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), the National Nutrition Council (NNC-8) spearheaded the activity led by Catalino Dotollo, Jr.; Leyte Board Member Ranulfo Abellanosa; Emilie Grande, a non-government organization representative; Sonia Cabahit, regional chief of the Food and Drug Administration; members of the technical working committee, barangay nutrition scholars from the six provinces and the representatives of the different regional line agencies, LGUs, academe and NGOs including HIMSoG (Harmonized Initiatives of media for the Spread of Good Nutrition), the media arm of NNC.
A photo exhibit, announcement of winners of the region-wide contest nutri-jingle, nutri-photo, nutri-comics participated in by students served as the highlights of the celebration.
The on-the-spot contest participated by the barangay nutrition scholars, the front line of the nutrition program at the grassroots level were poster-making, cooking using vegetables, ‘siday’ and nutria-quiz.
This year’s celebration centered on the theme “Healthy Diet, Gawing Habit for Life”. It emphasized eating a balanced diet with a variety of food, adding ample amounts of fruits and vegetables and exercise.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

CARIGARA, Leyte- The Jugaban Bridge was temporarily closed to vehicular traffic last Monday (July 24) to give way for a widening project.
The Jugaban Bridge, one of the major bridges in Leyte located along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road, is expected to reopen by September 21 of this year.
Engineer Carlos Veloso, chief of the 2nd Leyte Engineering District Office, thus advises all vehicles from Tacloban to Ormoc cities and vice versa to utilize alternate route at Enage St., Brgy. Jugaban to Real Street, the Esperanza Street to the national highway.
Appropriate directional signs and traffic advisory have been installed to inform motorists on the bridge closure.
The district office also coordinated with the local government unit of Carigara as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay officials to provide assistance in managing the rerouted traffic.
The project cost P4.606 million and will span the length of 12.66 meters. Bridge widening project is to complement the road widening also being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways all over the area.
The Jugaban Bridge has been a two-lane bridge for many years now and is in need of a good repair.
Veloso has ordered the contractor for speedy completion with enough manpower to finish the project in accordance with the plans and specifications.
Veloso asked the public to bear the adverse effects of the bridge’s temporary closure, saying the expansion project will be for the greater good that could last a long time.
The DPWH has continued to lobby funding to widen all two-lane bridges in the region into four lanes as road widening continues to ensure safety among motorists and vehicles.
(AHLETTE C. REYES)

CATBALOGAN CITY- A land owner is stalling a big and ambitious project of the city government.
Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said that the full construction of the Sky City Mega Project has been temporarily stopped due to the opposition of a land owner to sell his property to the city government.
The city mayor added that one of the land owners located within the project site is reluctant to sell his property due to a low price being offered by the city government.
The said project, located in Barangay Socorro, involves more than 480 hectares of land intended for mix-use wherein commercial and residential units and government agencies are to be put up.
“Although we are facing this problem, the Sky City Mega Project will push through because this is the future of Catbalogan,” Mayor Uy-Tan said.
“The best way to expand the city is by going up,” Mayor Uy-Tan added, referring to the proposed site which is 120 meters above sea level which makes it not prone to landslides or floodings.
The expansion project is designed to decongest traffic and address effect on climate change on top of it becoming a new township, Uy added.
The city mayor added that this project has already marked and made significant buzz among investors.
Investors who showed interest at the Sky City Mega Projects includes township developer, Suntrust Properties Inc, a subsidiary of Megaworld Corporation and Odin Energy Co., Ltd, a South Korean company that plans to construct a multi-purpose wind and solar tower building.
“Because of this, the city becomes more extra careful in dealing with investors and land owners,” Uy said.
Aside from the two, Mayor Uy-Tan said that there are other local and foreign investors who are interested in the project.
“The city government is pushing this project to materialize soon for the people to know that we are serious to make this project happen,” she said.
Construction of access road started sometimes in 2013 with the project expected to be finished by 2018. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)