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Boy, eagle scouts forged agreement to strengthen scouting movement in PH

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The historic MOA signing between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Eagle Scouts Organization of the Philippines. Representing the BSP is its national president, Atty. Wendel E. Avisado and signing for ESOP is national chairman Chito L. Morante and witnessed by new ESOP president, Dr. John R. Vallado and other officers and members.
The historic MOA signing between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Eagle Scouts Organization of the Philippines. Representing the BSP is its national president, Atty. Wendel E. Avisado and signing for ESOP is national chairman Chito L. Morante and witnessed by new ESOP president, Dr. John R. Vallado and other officers and members.
The historic MOA signing between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Eagle Scouts Organization of the Philippines. Representing the BSP is its national president, Atty. Wendel E. Avisado and signing for ESOP is national chairman Chito L. Morante and witnessed by new ESOP president, Dr. John R. Vallado and other officers and members.

TACLOBAN CITY-The Eagle Scouts of the Philippines (ESOP) and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) forged a memorandum of agreement to carry out a shared undertaking in the propagation and promotion of scouting ideals and strengthening of the scouting movement in the Philippines.
The agreement defines, clarifies and specifies in details the roles and functions of both the BSP and the ESOP in order to further improve and strengthen its partnership and contribute to overall development of the scouting movement.
The agreement takes effect for two years subject to renewal upon mutual consent of the parties or unless revoked, amended or superseded by another agreement.
Chito Morante, national chairman of the Eagle Scouts Organization of the Philippines, said the newly-signed agreement made more significant their commitment to promote the scouting movement in the community and through school-based programs where they both are interested to assist
Morante emphasized that ESOP has had more supportive role to BSP and continue to seek out objectives that enables the organization to become distinct and provide value to its membership.
Under the MOA, ESOP has the responsibility, among others, to assist and help the BSP in the promotion of its advancement program and encourage all scouts to attain the highest rank; to assist and help the BSP by serving as merit badge counselors and members of the board of review if or when qualified; and, to encourage all former scouts who have attained the highest rank to become active members again in the scouting movement by registering and coordinating with respective local and regional councils and to be able to help in the development of young boys to become good citizens of the country.
Meanwhile, the BSP shall issue a national memorandum to regional offices and local councils informing them about this agreement and the roles and functions of ESOP in the promotion, development and implementation of the Eagle Scouting programs, among others.
“We have to redefine ourselves as a relevant resource, and show our fellow Filipinos that we are a touchstone for values and vision. We need to include and engage all members of the Scouting family, including those who have gone on to other things in life,” Morante said.
ESOP is a non-stock and non-profit organization formed to perpetually kindle in the hearts and minds the true spirit of the scout oath and law to strive and spread the values of leadership and service by leading and guiding other community and school-based scouts to achieve the highest rank in the scouting movement.
The BSP, meanwhile, is a public corporation organized under Commonwealth Act No. 111, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 460 and Republic Act No. 7278, existing in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.
(AHLETTE C. REYES)

Mondejar Steiner caught the eye of world-famous lensman

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A Taclobanon

monBy: VICKY C. ARNAIZ

TACLOBAN CITY – One of this city’s beautiful women caught the eye of a world-class photographer, Rupert Jacinto.
Minerva Mondejar Steiner, who is from this city but now lives in Switzerland, is one of Jacinto’s models in his annual photo exhibit being held at the The Gallery of the Pensinsula Manila since November 24 which is to end on December 6.
Steiner is the daughter of Rene Bing Mondejar and Lucita Dublas and sister to Bernadette Schuelter who was named as one of the 100 Most Influential Women 2016 by the Female Women’s Network.
Jacinto annually tapped beautiful and fabulous people known for their elan, style and substance.
Mondejar Steiner now lives in Zurich, Switzerland but often returns to Tacloban, mostly to do some charity works.
She is married to acclaimed Swiss movie director Michael Steiner and a mother to commercial models Dean
Mondejar Steiner is a gallerist and a philanthropist. She studied Art History at Oxford University and Fashion Styling at Central St. Martins in London.
She opened the Mondejar Gallery at the heart of Zurich, Switzerland in 2007 showcasing Philippine contemporary art.
Her humanitarian spirit led her to establish the M. Mondejar Steiner Foundation and provided immediate relief to Taclobanons after the supertyphoon “Yolanda” swept the area in 2013.
Her charity organization helped rebuild the damaged facilities of JE Mondejar Computer College and provided scholarships to support students’ uninterrupted education and the school faculty members.
In the aftermath of the typhoon, she invited kids in the neighborhood numbering almost a hundred and enrolled them in the school day care learning center affording them meals and psychosocial therapy.
Her interest to promote cultural exchange led her to produce children’s cooking shows on cuisines from around the world.
Other endeavors include the art space and cinema club featuring independent films at Once-Upon-a-Time in Boracay.
Mondejar Steiner was crowned Miss An Maglipayon in 2007 – a charity ball in Tacloban City.

Mayor Romualdez raised alert due to “Marce”

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marce

TACLOBAN CITY- Classes up to secondary level across the city were suspended on Friday (November 25) amid the threat of tropical storm “Marce” by Mayor Cristina Romualdez.
The city mayor issued Executive Order Number 2016-11-039 declaring the cancellation of classes in both private and public schools covering elementary and secondary levels.
The chief executive had earlier convened the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) to monitor the tropical storm that was hoisted Tacloban and the rest of the region under signal number 1.
Mayor Romualdez, together with CDRRMC co-chair Brando Bernadas, conducted an ocular inspection on flood prone areas of the city as Tacloban experienced heavy rains dumped by Marce.
In the light of Marce’s threat to the city, Mayor Romualdez, through the CDRRMC issued an advisory to the public as to where they would go to seek temporary shelter if the need should arise.
(GAY B. GASPAY/TIM CANES)

Espenido: Kerwin to bolster father’s affidavit

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kerwin
The return of alleged drug lord of Eastern Visayas, Kerwin Espinosa will strengthen the claim of his father, Roland Espinosa Sr., that several high profile personalities received payola from them, so says Albuera police chief, Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido. Photo shows Kerwin being presented to the media by Police Director General Roland “Bato” de la Rosa hours after he arrived Friday(Nov.17) from Abu Dhabi. (photo: Pulis Han Rehiyon Otso Facebook)

List of alleged drug protectors  

TACLOBAN CITY- The return of alleged drug lord of the region, Kerwin Espinosa, to the country would surely bolster the affidavit earlier executed by his father, murdered Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr.
This was the claim of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido, police chief of Albuera who initiated in the filing of criminal cases against the Espinosas.
Espenido, in a phone interview, said that he is glad that Kerwin is finally in the country and now in the custody of the police.
“He will definitely support and corroborate with what his father issued earlier. I just hope that he will just tell the truth and will have the conscience not to include names that they did not deal with,” the Albuera police chief.
Kerwin arrived in the country Thursday (Nov.17) after a month of being imprisoned in Abu Dhabi.
After his arrival, he was presented to the media by Police Director General Roland “Bato” de la Rosa wherein he promised to “tell all” and cooperate to any investigations regarding their illegal drug trade.
His father, prior to his incarceration at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City where he was gunned down in an alleged shootout incident with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Nov.5, executed an affidavit detailing names whom they claimed to have received huge amount of money in exchange of protection for their illicit drug activity.
Among them were Senator Leila de Lima, a former Justice Secretary, and string of police and Leyte officials who include Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Vice Gov. Carlo Loreto, Rep. Vicente Veloso, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, Baybay City Vice Mayor Michael Cari.
All denied the allegations that they received money from the Espinosa drug group.
Espenido said that with Kerwin willing to “tell all,” he expects that all those who supported their illegal drug trade will be prosecuted.
“That is our purpose; to put them behind bars”. I actually pity Kerwin. He is just (reached) second year high school. I’m sure there are people who were behind on the operations of this illegal drug trade,” the police official said.
Espenido also said that he favors for Kerwin to be allowed to visit the wake of his father for “humanitarian reasons” at their house in Barangay Binolho, Albuera.
“He should be allowed to come here in Abuera and visit the wake of his father for humanitarian reasons,” he said.

PNP’s i-Serbis program eyes public assistance to help avert crime, corruption

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PALO, Leyte- By just a flick of their fingers using their mobile phones or computers, the public could now report a crime incident or even what they perceive an anomalous activity involving a member of the Philippine National Police(PNP).
Chief Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, regional information officer of the PNP, said that they are encouraging the public to use the program dubbed as “PNP i-Serbis,” a mobile application.
“We urge the public to use the mobile application to make them aware of what they can do in eliminating criminal activities at their respective areas,” Rentuaya said during an interview.
By using the mobile application will allow the public to easily seek and access police assistance including the contact number of their police chiefs.
The users are also assured that their identities will be protected if they report a crime incident using the i-Serbis.
The application will also encourage the public to support the PNP on its campaign against criminality and provide relevant and immediate information pertaining to crime to its nearest police station.
The PNP i-Serbis is a free mobile application that is downloadable to smart phones through iOS and Google Playstore.
The application features infographics, updates on the Project Double Barrel, emergency hotlines, links to PNP applications, process on steps and documentary requirements for firearms and explosive, the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigative Agencies; Highway Patrol Program and PNP recruitment program.
Also integrated at i-Serbis are “Itaga mo sa Bato” application, 911 and 8888.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Church-based group asks Tacloban gov’t to reconsider immediate transfer of families to relocation sites

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In the absence of needed utilities and livelihood

TACLOBAN CITY- The Catholic Church has appealed to the city government of Tacloban to stop the scheduled eviction of families hit by supertyphoon “Yolanda” in the city.
Through its social action arm, the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) / Caritas Philippines along with other groups said that about 3,500 Yolanda-affected families in 15 coastal barangays in the city will be “displaced” with this move of the city government.
“Unfortunately, this is not the kind of response that the Yolanda survivors had been praying for,” said a letter from Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP), a coalition of 163 community organizations and 10 non-government organizations including NASSA/Caritas Philippines, Urban Poor Associates and the Canadian Catholic for Development and Peace.
During his visit in Tacloban on November 8, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the National Housing Authority to finish all the construction of permanent houses and relocate families still living in temporary shelters or in areas declared as danger zones next month.
City Councilor Aimee Grafil, who chairs the committee on the urban poor, human and housing resettlement, said that the city government “is doing its best” to comply with the mandate of the national government to transfer the families who lost their houses due to Yolanda.
She, however, denied that the city will forcibly evict the families, particularly those in the coastal areas. “We cannot force them,” she said. According to Grafil, they need to “meet half-way” with the people who expressed complaint about the plan.
“They need to understand that we are also doing our part,” she said. She added that there are also families who are willing to transfer in the northern relocation sites.
“The National Housing Authority and City Housing (Office) have conducted orientation and consultation with the families,” Grafil said.
She added that the city government has provided water in the relocation sites through delivery trucks every day as part of its commitment to the families.
On Wednesday (Nov. 16), about 500 Yolanda families and Church group leaders trooped to the Sangguniang Panlungsod building to dramatize their opposition on the planned immediate transfer.
The affected families were one in saying that while they want to be relocated to permanent shelters, needed facilities and provisions like water and power should also be installed.
On top of these, the families, who mainly depend on fishing, also ask the government to provide them livelihood opportunities considering that their transfer would mean economic dislocation.
Ma. Regie Ruego, focal person of the Pope Francis for Resilient and Co-Empowered Sustainable Communities (FRANCESCO), said that that the mass transfer of the Yolanda families “is for compliance purposes only.”
“They are doing it so they have something to report to Pres. Duterte when he would return in Tacloban by December (to check the progress of the housing resettlement). The issues here are acceptability, accessibility, and the process of resettlement projects are too far from being achieved,” she said. (RONALD O. REYES)

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