TACLOBAN CITY – A top official from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) visited Samar province this week to conduct a four-day monitoring on the projects being implemented by the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) in the province.
OPPAP national program management department director Cesar De Mesa visited Pamana projects in Basey, Sta Rita, Hinabangan, Paranas, Calbiga, San Jorge, Calbayog City and Catbalogan City.
“We received invitation from the governor to visit Pamana projects so we deem it necessary to accept because we intend to follow-up the completion of Pamana projects from 2020 and earlier,” De Mesa said.
In Basey town, De Mesa and his team visited and met the Basiao Native Weavers Association, Loog Tikog Weavers Association, Sitio Rizal Farmers Association, and the Basey Farmer Rainfeed Producer Association.
In the Sta Rita town, he met the members of the Sta. Rita Food Processors Association that produces ‘karlang’ chips.
In Paranas town, De Mesa had a meeting with members of the Apolonia Samahan ng Magsasakang Nagkakaisa who are beneficiaries of cacao intercropping livelihood project; the Basaran nga Organisasyon han San Isidro (Bosis), recipient of the enhanced peanut production; and officials at the 801st Infantry Brigade where there is an ongoing construction of animal shelter for integrated farming within the compound of the Halfway Village for former members of the New People’s Army (NPAs).
In Calbiga town, they visited the Borong Active Farmers Association that produces ube, and the Malabal Lowland Farmers Association.
In Catbalogan City, De Mesa’s group meet with the top officials of the 8th Infantry Division and inspected the halfway house inside Camp Lukban.
De Mesa also visited the Bulao-Guindapunan Irrigators Farmers Association and the people’s organization Solid Dapdap Farmers and Fishermen Association who are beneficiaries of a bamboo production project.
In Calbayog, they visited the Spark Samar Hybrid Rice Production managed by the Bayo Pilar Roxas Irrigators Association Inc.
During his meeting, Pamana projects’ beneficiaries informed De Mesa some of their concerns that could help increase their income productivity, like the banana producers of Sitio Rizal Farmers Association who informed him that they need a truck to deliver their product to the market.
At present, they rely to the availability of truck of the provincial government that delivers their crops to Catbalogan City.
The tikog producers of Loog village also sought help from the official on their problem in the marketability and pricing of their products.
Pamana beneficiaries with concerns are advised by the official to make a proposal which they promised to forward to concern agencies like OPPAP.
“What we can commit is we will work for the approval of the project proposal,” De Mesa said.
Although most of the Pamana beneficiaries whom he met relayed their concerns, there were also who made a positive impact during his visit, like the Basey Farmer Rainfeed Producer Association, who are recipient of more than P3 million assistance for rice production.
The group with 106 members received the assistance in 2019 wherein the fund was used by the members in rice production. They then expanded their business last year into a small grocery store and bought a truck which they uses in delivering palay to their buyers.
“They can be cited as example for best practice, from a small business, they have now big store and a truck,” De Mesa said.
The official added that with the help of other government agencies, OPPAP through Pamana will work together for the peace and development of areas that are benefiting from projects funded by their agency.
“Our approach in the project implementation is through the CSPP or conflict, sensitive, and pace promoting. Meaning it will contribute to the peace process and address issues or the basic needs of the community in the conflict affected areas especially those that are geographically isolated and depress areas, “he said. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar launched Prevention, Early Identification, Referral and Interventions for Delays, Disorders and Disabilities in Early Childhood (PEIRIDDDEC) which aims to address children suffering from disabilities.
PEIRIDDDEC system is funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and implemented by Plan Philippines and Humanity & Inclusion (HI).
The project aims to address issues and challenges of children with disabilities especially those on the marginalized sector, as well as to refine the system on how to provide sustainable and effective services on the municipal and provincial level to help the children with developmental delays, disorders and/or disabilities.
The target age group of the project are children under 0-4 years of age.
The program started on September 1, 2020 and will end on February 2022 is piloted in four municipalities- Catarman, Lope De Vega, Mapanas and Mondragon, including the coordination and data gathering of the target children.
“Plan will not provide financial support but we can provide trainings, skills and information for the barangay health workers and daycare workers for the awareness on how to identify children with disabilities, disorder, and delays,” Plan Philippines Project coordinator Armand Duque said.
Provincial health officer II Dr. Ninfa Kam, who represented the province in the commitment signing, stressed the need to have a baseline survey to identify the prevalent disabilities in the province.
She also recommended to utilize existing PHO programs such as the “Under 5” to help in the mapping and data gathering.
Meanwhile, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Jenny Darish suggested that the mapping will be conducted by her office.
Also present during the project launch were Unicef health and nutrition coordinator Flory Ann Dycoco, PPDC Engr. Romeo Cardenas, provincial disaster risk reduction management officer Rei Josiah Echano, municipal social welfare officers, among others.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- Until now, Fred Lawrence Samante could not still believe that he aced this year’s medical technology board examinations, beating more than 2,000 others.
The 21-year old native of Capoocan town in Leyte garnered 91.40 percent to top the MedTech examination held last January 21-22, this year with the results released last Feb.9, this year.
While Samante may have the intelligence to pass and eventually top the examinations, the current circumstances made him wary.
For one, the schedule of their examinations have been reset at least three times, citing the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as reason.
According to Samante, who finished his course at St. Scholastica’s College-Tacloban, the first scheduled for their examination was on March 2020.
But this was abruptly cancelled after the national government declared a lockdown amid the entry of COVID-19 in the country.
The examination was reset to April of the same year but was again scrapped to September until finally it was held last Jan.21 to 22 of this year.
“Of course, I was devastated the first time it was cancelled considering that I made a lot of preparations and reviews already. It was cancelled for three times that it somehow affected me, my concentrations,” he said in a phone interview.
“That is why, when it was announced that the examination will be held on January, I could barely gave my (100 percent) focus as this might be cancelled again,” Samante said.
But with strong support of his parents and younger sibling, Samante gave his all for the examination held at the RTR Medical School, this city.
Social distancing and the wearing of face shield and mask were strictly observed during the grueling examination, he said.
Samante took online reviews and another self-review for 12 to 15 hours a day, only taking respite to eat and have a walk to make him relax.
And of course, prayers, too.
“My mama really cried when she learned that I topped the examination. I was also ecstatic because all my efforts bore fruit,” Samante, who want to proceed to medicine, said.
His mother, Loriebel works as an elementary teacher at Leyte Central School in Leyte-Leyte town, while his father, Freddy is the chairman of their village.
His younger sister, Florence Ingrid, 17 is now on her Grade 7.
Asked his immediate plan, the board top board passer said that he received offers from their school to teach but is incline to accept the offer of the review centers where he took a review as a lecturer.
“I have to work first considering that a medical course is quite expensive and I don’t like to add further financial burden to my family,” Samante said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)