TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through Director Artemio B. Caneja urged Local Chief Executives (LCEs) in Eastern Visayas especially those outgoing officials to initiate the creation of the Local Governance Transition Team.
Regional Director Caneja revealed that it is imperative to prepare for an effective turnover of responsibility as part of ensuring continuity in local governance, as enunciated by Secretary Eduardo Año.
Pursuant to Memorandum Circular 2019-39, the team is responsible in conducting an inventory of the properties of their respective LGUs. These include the immovable properties such as the land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and its improvements, and machineries made immovable as well as the movable properties like the vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures, and office supply stocks, among others.
Director Caneja said all official documents and/or records of LGU official transactions such as, but not limited to, Governance Assessment Report (CY 2018) and Commission on Audit Report (CY 2018) should be gathered, secured, and preserved by the newly elected and reelected officials.
Furthermore, the officials are directed to conduct turnover of accountabilities using the prescribed forms. They should as well organize a turnover ceremony that will include briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and key challenges to incoming set of officials to ensure a smooth local governance transition.
The DILG8 chief likewise encouraged them to accomplish and submit the Elective Local Official Personal Data Sheet (ELOPDS) not later than July 8 to their respective Human Resource Management Offices, Sanggunian, and DILG city/municipal office.
The newly-elected and reelected officials will also undergo the Program for Newly-Elected Officials (NEO) led by the Local Government Academy (LGA) which will train them on how to become effective leaders.
The NEO Program has five major components which shall be open to all elected local officials. The five components of the program are: (1) Ensuring Smooth Transition; (2) Jumpstarting Local Governance; (3) Creating the Roadmap for LGU Development; (4) Sharpening the Competencies of NEOs and Functionalities; and (5) LGU Performance Management.(PR)

CATBALOGAN CITY- All employees and some field personnel of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH)- Samar II joined the simultaneous flag ceremonies synchronized with all government agencies, ground owned and control corporation, and LGUs nationwide during the National Flag Day Celebration.
The same was held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 8:00 AM at the DPWH Compound as consonance with Memorandum Circular No. 2019-76 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) enjoining DPWH and all Local Government Units (LGU) to conduct Flag Raising Ceremony Nationwide.
According to Pronove Tai website, this event was the first in Philippine history when privately owned business districts and residential villages advanced their flag display ahead of June 12 Independence Day and held simultaneous flag ceremonies to celebrate the National Flag Day.
This is also in line with 120th anniversary when the Philippine Flag was first unfurled by Emilio Aguinaldo to signify victory over Spanish colonialism in a historic battle of Alapan in Imus Cavite.
“Stop and Salute” is the present campaign of Salute to a Clean Flag movement – a non-political citizen’s initiative that aims to reignite patriotism through the abundant and proper display of the Philippine Flag.
This movement aims to spark renewed respect and love for the Philippine flag, through the re-education of the private sector in proper and visible flag management.
This celebration is the year’s project of National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and Pronov Tai International Property Consultants.
The DPWH issued a memorandum dated May 16, 2019 signed by B. Elizabeth Yap, Assistant Secretary for Support Services, directing all Undersecretaries, Asst. Secretaries, Bureau Directors, Regional Directors, Heads of UPMOs, and District Engineers to actively take part of the said national celebration.
During the flag ceremony, Creole Montallana, Administrative Officer (AO) thanked the DPWH Samar II management and to all employees for showing their respect to the one flag of the country which symbolizes victory and unity of every Filipino.
“I think we succeeded, we were united as one. There was no color, no height, and no odor. At least we are one Filipino saluting to one flag and that is the flag of the Republic of the Philippines”, he said.
(JAIME L.BERNALES/PR)

Old site declared as prone to landslide by MGB

Tag-abaca Elementary School (TES) is a multigrade school located in the far-flung barangay of Tag-abaca in the municipality of Leyte, Leyte.
In the year 2014 after the typhoon ‘Henry’, the school grounds and buildings developed some cracked and erosions due to heavy rains.
The school head requested the local government unit and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to conduct ocular inspection of the said school.
Based upon the findings of the MGB, the school site of TES is prone to landslide. The MGB with the implementation of the 2nd phase of the National Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Program aimed at disaster risk reduction had conducted field assessment for landslide and flood hazard sometimes June 18-26, 2014.
Field assessment showed that Brgy. Tag-abaca is one of the villages in Leyte town that are prone to landslides reason for the immediate transfer of the school to safer location.
Consequently, after a month of survey by the MGB, heavy rains occurred which resulted to major ground cracks evidently observed at the site of the school which affected the structural integrity of its buildings.
Presidential Decree 1096 otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippine specifically under section 215 provides that when any building or structure found to be dangerous, building officials shall order its repair, vacation, or demolition, depending upon the degree of danger to life, health or safety.
In the case of structures within the school of TES in Brgy. Tag-abaca declared by Municipal Engr. May Wen Beth P. Sabite that buildings to be unsafe for occupancy and immediate transfer of the structures was highly recommended.
The teacher-in-charge of TES, Mrs. Marilou N. Go, initiated in looking/soliciting land donor for the new site for the school for its immediate relocation.
Fortunately, the heirs of Muertegui families donated one hectare for the new school site of TES last 2015.
Finally, last January 2015, TES transferred/relocated to the new site with the help of barangay officials.
At present, TES has a total of 167 pupils, offering Kinder to Grade 6 respectively. The government has a mission to deliver quality and equitable basic education to all Filipino children.
But this government’s vision could not be realized due to lack of conducive classroom buildings for the learners as there are still schools which uses makeshift classrooms.
This shortage of classrooms could be addressed by seeking donations either from government agencies like the Department of Education, local government unit or nongovernment organization.
In the case of TES, the AGAPP Foundation donated one unit two-classrooms and school supplies of the learners.
At the moment, TES has an ongoing two-storey with classroom school building from the Department of Education.
TES is the first recipient school of a two-storey building in the municipality of Leyte.
(Note: The author is he teacher-in-charge of the Tag-abaca Elementary School in Leyte, Leyte)

BY: MARILOU N. GO

BORONGAN CITY- The Department of Education (DepEd) has allotted P35 million for the repair of damaged school buildings in San Julian town, Easter Samar.
It can be recalled that on April 23, 2019, a strong earthquake with 6.5 magnitude rocked Eastern Visayas with San Julian town as the epicenter.
Engineers noticed cracks in some bridges and roads right after the quake.
Personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways immediately repaired the roads.
In the schools, a team of DepEd engineers assessed the school buildings.
They have identified classrooms in San Julian Central School, San Julian National High School, Libas Elementary School, Pagbabangnan Elementary School, and Nena National High School as defective and needed repair.
As to the start of the repair, Montallana said, “Repairs will be done immediately once the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) comes in, I think this June.”
(NBQ/PIA 8-E Samar)