30 C
Tacloban City
May 09, 2025 - Friday | 11:14 AM
Home Blog Page 1569

Politics, a strange and funny game in a democracy….Philippines Style

By
Web Master
-
0

Observer

The recent pronouncements of presidential wannabes relative to the 2016 elections appear quite illogical even comic. They project doubts over their qualification to run this country – even their intentions appear questionable.
Vice President Jejomar Binay’s recent public announcement carries with it an aura of being “segurista”. Flashback:
They had a bitter challenging fight for the vice presidency of the land between himself and Mar Roxas’s in the 2010 presidential elections. Binay seems to have forgotten that up to this moment Roxas’ frustration could still be burning alive in his heart when he narrowly lost to Binay. And here he comes saying that he looks forward to having Roxas his running mate. It gets funnier when he even toys with the idea of having other even a presidential wannabe Senator Chiz Escudero as a possible running mate.
“Nothing is impossible in politics. Everything is possible in politics” intones the Vice President. It proves if true, that our politicians have weak backbones. It proves further if VP Binay is correct that our politicians do not possess ideals of governance in their hearts and minds. It proves that politicians think primarily for themselves than to serve for the better interest of the nation. Not quite surprisingly DILG Secreatary Mar Roxas is so cool to that position of Binay that recently he even toys with the idea of supporting the moves of some political leaders to encourage President Aquino to run for another term. Ano ba yan? He does NOT sound presidentiable with that stand. (Of course the President serves only for one term of six years, and therefore the proposal of the P’noy loyalists is unconstitutional unless and until the Constitution is amended.)
The Binay revelation was denied that a coalition to support his presidential dream will happen between the Liberal Party and the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA), by no less than Senate President Franklin Drilon who at the same time is Vice President of the ruling party. Drilon up tothis writing maintains that Secretary Mar Roxas is still their bet for the 2016 presidential derby. Knowing this therefore it appears that Vice President Binay is not well informed of political development of the opposite camp. Or is he simply releasing a trial balloon?  He leads in the surveys as a winning candidate among presidential aspirants, but surprisingly he still dreams that everybody support his bid. Segurista?
-oOo
We should go back to the two- party -system. We shall attempt to discuss this in the next issue.

Amid better than expected revenue Tacloban govt to introduce supplementary budgets to support its 2014 budget

By
Web Master
-
0
pix2
BFAR-8 Regional Director Juan Albaladejo personally awarded five motorboat engines each per member-LGU of the Samar Sea Alliance last August 6 at the BFAR-Regional Fisheries Training Center, Catbalogan City. (photo courtesy of IAN VILLANUEVA BALDOMARO)

TACLOBAN CITY – The city budget office here is eyeing a supplemental budget of up to P200 million citing better than expected post-Yolanda tax collection. City budget officer Vicente Dy III said that since January of this year, three supplemental budgets have been approved and before the year is over, two more additional appropriations are expected to be introduced.

“For this year, our estimated income was P550.78 million, lower than last year’s actual income of P882.96 million from all sources. During our planning early this year, we lowered our target because many buildings were destroyed (during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda),” Dy explained. “It doesn’t mean that we’re back to normal. Our collection is just higher than what we expect,” he added. By the end of the year, Dy said they expects a P600 million to P700 million earnings or a supplemental budget of P100 million to P200 million, but still lower than the pre-Yolanda level. From January to June 2014, the city collected P152.9 million taxes, doubling the entire year’s target of P72.25 million. “It is always being given in the Local Government Code that if there are changes in annual budget or surplus from estimated income, it could be used to supplement the annual budget,” Dy explained.

The latest P200 million supplemental outlay was for honorarium of village-based health workers, nutrition scholars and service point officers. These officials have not received any pay from the city government since January. Local government’s financial records show that combined income for the first six months has totalled to P366.58 million. The amount was sourced from taxes, sale of goods and services, interest income, and other receipts. Dy admitted that the city government has to cut down expenses this year due to budgetary constraint. Among the unfunded are the subsidies for salaries for workers in the national government like in the education department, police, and trial courts, which costs P22 million last year.

“If you scrutinize this year’s budget, it is only good for electricity, office supplies and gasoline. We need funds for repairs of damaged facilities. There are many projects that need financial support. Little by little, we adjust our budget to fund priority programs, which have no allocations,” the official added. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

DEs and DMEs converged in Cebu City

By
Web Master
-
0

pix11

In order to retool and update the district engineers (DEs) and district maintenance engineers (DMEs) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the basic maintenance planning procedure, methodology and practices, a two (2)-day training/workshop was conducted at the DPWH-Regional Office No. VII in Cebu City. The workshop aimed to refresh them on basic maintenance methodology as well as the details in the preparation of the annual maintenance work program (AMWP).

Various training methodologies were employed during the training which include pro-active discussions, video presentation, workshop, walk-the-line and open forum. An actual field inspection to determine road distress was also facilitated in order to effectively edify and illustrate the basics of maintenance methodologies. Given the said training strategies, the participants are expected to assimilate in their respective work the DPWH’s goal of putting emphasis on the role of proper and timely road maintenance to preserve infrastructure assets of the government, recognize the importance of safety management before, during and after every repair works/operations, be familiar with significance and details of the different Maintenance Planning features thru active participation in the preparation of AMWP that would incorporate labor, appropriate equipment and proper material resources based on needs and become skilled thru gainful knowledge of the proper way to implement and apply basic road repair works on every road distress/defects.

The training ended with a written exam and distribution of certificates to all participants. DE Virgilio Eduarte and DME Albert Lazana of Samar First District Engineering Office are among the said participants along with the DEs and DMEs of DPWH-Region VIII. (Leviresa Getigan-Barnizo, Samar I PIO Staff)

DILG-sponsored awards benefits residents of San Isidro, N. Samar

By
Web Master
-
0

SAN ISIDRO, Northern Samar-This town is getting its full rewards for following the full disclosure policy of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). It was awarded of the Seal of Housekeeping for the years 2012 and 2013, receiving in the process P1.8 million as incentive which it used to bankroll programs that are to benefit its constituents.

Mayor Conrado Avila, Sr., the “no adverse findings” of the Commission on Audit (COA) together with observing of the no noon break policy and the wearing of office uniform of the employees officials during office hours were the main factors for the recognition it received from the DILG. The municipal building was expanded to a three-storey level at a cost of P13 million sourced from its own fund. The fourth class town enjoy a P80 million assistance from the government for its internal revenue allotment share. For his part, town administrator Ferdinand “Nanding” Avila, in a separate interview, said that the municipal government under his father continue to provide scholarship grants to 500 students enrolled in various colleges and universities. He also said that medical assistance like giving free medicines to the needy but poor people of the town who visit at their rural health unit facility is likewise being sustained.

The town’s ambulance is always ready for those who want to use the vehicle for emergency purposes, the administrator added. He also said that construction of a farm-to-market road in Barangay Palanit with a cost of P5 million is underway. The second phase of the town’s evacuation center worth P4.7 million is also now being constructed. The funding for the project was sourced from the town’s calamity fund and assistance from former governor Paul Daza. San Isidro is also a beneficiary of the government’s “Salintubig” program with the construction of a level II water system located in Brgy. Palanit and the completion of a diversion dam in Brgy. San Juan.

(PETER D. PAREDES)

US mayors pay tribute to Mayor Romualdez

By
Web Master
-
0

pix4

TACLOBAN CITY- California Mayors and California Contract Cities Association President (CCCA) honored Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina G. Romualdez during their recent visit in California, USA. The five California mayors namely Artesia City ,California Mayor Tony Lima, Bellflower City Mayor Sonny Santa Ines, Carson City Mayor Jim Dear; Ontario City Mayor Paul S. Leon and Rancho Cocumonga paid tribute to Mayor Romualdez on how he handle the tragedy that was supertyphoon Yolanda that devastated Tacloban, Romualdez received a certificate of recognition from his American counterparts in support of the CCCA led by its president Victor Manalo. Mayor Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina Romualdez expressed their gratitude for the assistance extended by the American government and its people as well as Filipinos now living in California for their assistance toe survivors of Yolanda. (GAY GASPAY)

Manulife partners with Philippine Business for Social Progress for livelihood project in Leyte

By
Web Master
-
0

pix22

Makati City, Philippines – Months after super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Visayan Islands, claiming lives, homes, and livelihood along its wake, help still continues to pour down on the hard hit areas. Among those who reached out to extend its support is Manulife Philippines, one of the country’s leading life insurance firms. The company is helping fund a livelihood project, in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) that aims to support around 75 families in Leyte by providing business skills training and the initial retail inventory for starting-up their own ‘sari-sari’ stores. Manulife believes that this program will help survivors in Leyte re-build and move forward from the aftermath of Yolanda. This is part of Manulife Philippines’ continuing commitment to give back to the communities in order to help improve the quality of life of Filipinos. In photo during the ceremonial turnover of Manulife’s donation to PBSP are (from left): Manulife Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Charland; Manulife Philippines Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Margarita Lopez; and Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, Rafael Lopa.

1...1,5681,5691,570...1,668Page 1,569 of 1,668

Recent Posts

DALMACIO C. GRAFIL
PUBLISHER

ALMA GRAFIL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ROMEO CEBREROS
OFFICE IN-CHARGE

OFFICE
BRGY. SONGCO, BORONGAN CITY

CONTACT NUMBERS
(055) 261 – 3319 | 0955 251 1533 | 0917 771 0320 | 0915 897 7439 | 0921 511 0010

DALMACIO C. GRAFIL
PUBLISHER

RICKY J. BAUTISTA
EDITOR

ALMA GRAFIL
BUS. MANAGER

OFFICE
RIZAL AVENUE, CATBALOGAN
(INFRONT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, NEAR CITY HALL)

CONTACT NUMBERS
0917 771 0320 | 0915 897 7439 | 0921 511 0010

EMAIL
lsdaily2@yahoo.com

WEBSITE
www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress