TACLOBAN CITY- At least 188 major projects have been listed by the Regional Development Council (RDC) as priority for monitoring this year in Eastern Visayas, citing its importance to the attainment of regional development goals and targets.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, chair of the RDC’s Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC), said there are only 188 projects picked by the body for monitoring given the “limited technical and logistical resources.”
“We prioritize programs and projects to be monitored by RPMC based on the reports submitted by the implementing agencies,” Uy said.
These projects include post-“Yolanda” reconstruction activities; resettlement sites in Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, and Biliran; livelihood projects; irrigations; social infrastructure; agriculture and fishery; road and bridges; roads leading to tourism destinations; roads in conflict-stricken areas; seaports; and airports.
Uy said the project monitoring initiative by RDC members both from government and private sector will help ensure timely implementation of programs and projects critical to the attainment of goals in the 2017-2022 Regional Development Plan.
The official said programs and projects with substantial negative slippage and problems in implementation have been the priority for field monitoring and problem solving sessions.
RDC Co-Chair Roy Bernard Fiel urged RPMC to link the NEDA Region 8 monitoring system with similar existing tools of implementing government agencies.
“Our proposal was to create a technical working group to study the possibility of harmonizing all monitoring systems of all agencies,” Fiel said in a separate interview.
The RPMC is RDC’s project monitoring arm responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of priority programs and projects implemented in the region, particularly those that are encountering implementation bottlenecks and projects that are worthy for replication.
The body forwards monitoring reports and recommendations generated during the problem-solving sessions to the council for information and appropriate action.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

ORMOC CITY- As part of the disaster and risk reduction management programs of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte Fourth District Engineering Office (DEO), the office conducted the second earthquake drill this year.
DPWH conducts earthquake drills every quarter to equip all employees with the proper skills and abilities to avoid any injuries in the event of an earthquake or fire. To help with this activity, the Bureau of Fire Protection assessed the performance of the DEO during the entire process to enable each one to further improve.
The drill started at the sound of a siren. Everyone, alert of the signal, immediately performed the drop, cover, and hold sequence.
As the sound ended, everyone continued to cover their heads with their hands or some hard material to protect them from any falling debris and proceeded outside the building. Everyone then counted themselves off to ensure no one was left behind. It was found out that there was a member missing.
Two members were then sent to check back on the missing member and check if there were still people inside the building. After seeing an injured member, the team hurried outside to fetch a stretcher which they used to carry the injured member outside and into the ambulance.
After the drill, the BFP informed the team that compared to the last time, the DEO improved. DE Gonzalez also congratulated the team and continued to remind each one about the importance of these drills. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY -Leyte province will showcase its best cultural-religious celebrations in the upcoming Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals.
Although only five contingents are joining the parade and ritual presentations on June 27, some of them were champions in previous competitions.
Joining this year’s festivals are the Tribu Buraburon of Burauen, Leyte; Heraite of Leyte, Leyte; Sanggutan of Barugo, Leyte; Tribu Pasaka of Tanauan, Leyte; and Solosogui of Balangiga, Eastern Samar.
Tribu Buraburon was last year’s grand champion of Pintados-Kasadyaan and the winner of Aliwan Fiesta 2018 in Pasay City.
Groups from the towns of Tanauan and Barugo were champions in the past province-wide competition.
Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios Petilla, Pintados- Kasadyaan Festival executive committee chairperson, said some local government officials backed out of the contest due to budget constraints and lack of preparations.
“All contingents wanted to win. They don’t want to join the festival if they’re not well-prepared. For this year, dancers from these five festivals are ready to awe spectators,” Petilla told reporters during a press briefing at the RTR Plaza Friday afternoon.
The official is optimistic that showcasing local festivals is an effective way to attract tourists as it presents local culture and history through ritual dance, music, and merry-making.
“Towns with much improved festivals attract visitors during fiesta. People who are in Manila and abroad are proud of their festivals and share photos in their social media accounts,” Petilla said.
Now on its 23rd year, the Leyte Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals brings together the diverse, vibrant and colorful festivals from the different towns in the province of Leyte and other participating festivals from its sister islands of Samar and Biliran, as well as other provinces in the Visayas.
It is one of the most awaited events of Tacloban City’s fiesta celebrations this month in honor of its patron, the Señor Sto. Niño de Tacloban.
Leyte’s festivals have brought fame and fortune to various champions, among them the Buyogan Festival of Abuyog, Burauen’s Buraburon, Tanauan’s Pasaka Festival and Lingganay Festival of Alang-alang, having bested other festivals in the country and emerged as champions in such prominent festivals as Sinulog of Cebu and the annual national Aliwan Fiesta – Battle of Festival champions in Manila.
On the other hand, the Pintados Festival was first celebrated on June 29, 1987 when a group of businessmen belonging to the Pintados Foundation, Inc. came up with this event to showcase Leyte and Samar’s early tattooed inhabitants called Pintados, and their rich cultural heritage and indigenous music and dance.
For Pintados, seven contingents are joining the smaller festival, mostly from this city and nearby towns.
In 1998, the Pintados and the Leyte Kasadyaan were merged into one big attraction called the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

ABUYOG, Leyte—Leyte Division education officials and corrections officers of the Leyte Regional Prison on Saturday(June 23)expressed appreciation to the “package of surprises” by the Standard Chartered Bank to the 63 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) or inmates at the correctional facility this town.
“We really have to thank God every day for this program. As we continue to search for partners in the operation of our senior high school to the persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), we’re happy to have the support of the Standard Chartered Bank,” said Edgar Tenasas, the Leyte assistant schools division superintendent.
Tenasas, who first conceptualized on the offering of the program to the selected PDLs on June 4 after they graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program last April, thanked the employees of the Standard Chartered Bank led by Mai Sangalang, the Philippines head of Corporate Affairs/Brand and Marketing, for spending their time and money in support to the program.
Standard Chartered Bank employees donated and delivered personally school bags, shoes, socks, laptops, and computers for the 63 inmate-students of the first senior high school program.
Leyte Regional Prison Corrections Senior Superintendent Geraldo Aro also lauded the bank employees for their efforts, saying that the prison facility needs all the help from various sectors to fulfill their mandate in rehabilitating the PDLs.
“We started from scratch here. We’re always thankful of your help,” Aro said.
In his speech, he urged the inmate-learners to do their best in their studies for the benefit of their respective families and communities.
“If you’re serious with your studies here, it will have a multiplier effect. Your families will not be worried about your situation and you will become productive citizens upon your release,” he added.
Sangalang emphasized that their coming to the regional prison facility is a matter of “divine providence,” adding that it is just but right for them to arrive in the said place as it is part of their service to the community.
“We didn’t think twice about helping you. If there is one message that we would like to give you, it is the message of hope. Even though you’re here, don’t lose hope,” Sangalang told the PDLs while holding back her tears.
She also acknowledged the enthusiasm of the PDLs in their classes.
Meanwhile, Leyte schools division superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo said that the opening of senior high school inside the regional prison facility is part of his administration’s mission of providing access to education for the secondary students in the province due to its low participation rate and high drop-out rate which he found out when he assumed office in 2013.
“We started to put up high schools around Leyte. We’ve been working silently, and up to this time, we’ve learned that we already established over 30 high schools. When Tenasas presented the proposal to open a senior high school in Leyte Regional Prison, I immediately gave my go signal,” Firmo recalled on how the senior high school inside the prison facility was realized.
(RONALD O. REYES)

LAS NAVAS, Northern Samar- A member of the communist New People’s Army terrorist (CNTs) was left dead by his comrades after a 10-minute firefight with the members of the 43rd Infantry (WE SEARCH) Battalion in Barangay McArthur, this town on June 23, 2018.
Government forces responded to an anonymous tip from the residents in the area and immediately deployed 43IB elements to verify the veracity of the report.
Few kilometers from the barangay proper, said troops were fired upon by undetermined number of CNTs forcing them to retaliate which ensued a firefight that killed the still unidentified communist terrorist member and the recovery of his rifle.
Col. Ramil Bitong, commander of 803rd Brigade, said that this incident could have been avoided if CNT heed to the call of the government to stop their extortion activity and avail the Enhance Comprehensive Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“This should serve as stern warning to other member of the lawless CTG that the arm of the law can reach you, no matter how long and far you can hide for evil never triumph as long as good men stands for what is right,” Col. Bitong added. (PR)

Mandated to finish CARP under Pres. Duterte’s term

TACLOBAN CITY- Over 63,000 hectares of agricultural lands in the region are still subject to be distributed to farmers under the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
And of this number, more than 42,900 hectares are in Leyte, Joel Alsmith Soria, regional information officer of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), said in an interview.
This year marks the 30th year of CARP implementation.
Soria said that they are under instructions to distribute the remaining 63,141 hectares to benefit 27,452 farmer-beneficiaries within the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Since the start of the CARP implementation in 1988, DAR in the region has distributed 431,972 hectares, benefitting 187,813 farmers.
For Eastern Visayas, about 495,113 hectares of lands have been identified to be place under CARP with 215,266 farmers as targeted beneficiaries.
Each farmer is entitled to receive a maximum of three hectares under CARP.
“During his recent visit to the region, Undersecretary (for field operations) Karlo Bello mentioned that DAR should finished the land distribution within the term of Pres. Duterte,” Soria said.
He said that there were issues confronting the implementation of CARP reason why 30 years after it was first implemented, there are still lands remaining to be distributed.
Among these issues cited by Soria include the resistance of some land owners to place their lands under CARP who filed petitions and no notice of coverage received by the landowners.
Soria said that they are working to address these concerns for their office to eventually distribute the remaining 63,141 hectares of land.
Based on their records, Biliran has 100 percent accomplishment which means all its 10,982 hectares targeted under the program have been distributed which benefited 4,774 farmers.
Leyte has the biggest agricultural lands that were distributed for the past 30 years with 182,695 hectares out of 225,687 hectares identified.
About 79,432 farmers have received their certificates of land ownership across the province.
Soria said that of the remaining 63,141 hectares of lands, the biggest is in Leyte with 42,993 to potentially benefit 18,692 farmers.
Following Leyte is the province of Northern Samar with 9,349 hectares still to be distributed which could benefit 4,064 farmers.
In Eastern Samar, 3,386 hectares are to be distributed which could benefit 1,471 farmers while in Samar, 5,787 hectares remain undistributed with about 2,526 farmers to benefit and in Southern Leyte, 1,625 hectares of land are still be placed under CARP and could benefit 706 farmers.

By: Joey Gabieta