In the wake of Pres. Duterte’s
declaration as a terror group

TACLOBAN CITY- Soldiers in Eastern Visayas are in alert for possible attacks from the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) after President Rodrigo Duterte officially labeled the communist group as a terror group and for its forthcoming anniversary this December 26.
This was disclosed by Captain Francis Agno, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the 8th Infantry Division whose headquarters is based in Catbalogan City.
Agno said that they are anticipating arm attacks by the rebel members of the CPP reason they are now in alert.
“They will surely stage attacks as a show of force although they just number fewer than 200,” Agno, reached on his mobile phone, said.
“But we will continue our combat operations as we expect that their Sparrow Units will conduct attacks against us and other law enforcers,” he added.
Most of these rebels are operating on Samar Island composed of (western) Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
However, there are still some rebels operating in Leyte and in fact, engaged government troops in Albuera town last November 28.
Agno said that while there are just about 200 armed members of the communist group in the region, they are conducting ‘mass recruitment’ especially in remote barangays, citing their intelligence gathering.
Mr. Duterte has officially labeled the CPP-NPA as a terror group after he earlier ended peace talks with the former.
Agno said that they are solidly behind on the declaration of the President calling the CPP-NPA as a terror group.
“That is a correct label. They have been terrorizing our people; killing them all these years,” he said.
The military official asked the people in the communities and officials to help them in their campaign against the rebels.
“We have also strengthened our coordination with our PNP counterpart particularly on intelligence sharing,” Agno said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed concern over 119 persons with untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Eastern Visayas, saying they are at risk of spreading this sexually-transmitted disease.
Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, said they got the report about “lost to follow” cases from their central office last month.
“We came up with the data by subtracting the number of those under treatment from the total number of screened patients that turned out positive of the virus,” Cerro told PNA.
The official said majority of these people are aware of their health status, but some have no knowledge that they are infected. “Some came for screening, but never came back to get the result.”
“The best that we can do is to warn the public not to engage in unprotected sex to prevent HIV transmission,” Cerro added.
The regional office does not keep personal profiles of untreated patients.
The health department has reported 528 HIV cases from 1984 to the present in the region. With an estimate of 20 new detected cases every month, the DOH expects the number to rise to more than 600 at the end of 2017.
Eastern Visayas ranks eighth in the nationwide tally, contributing two percent of the total 38,872 cases in the country as of last year.
Similar to the national level, 79 percent of cases were transmitted due to male-to-male sexual contact.
To detect and treat HIV cases in the region, DOH will establish treatment hubs in every province and city in the region for HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) affected individuals.
The DOH will also open a social-hygiene clinic in strategic areas as part of the services provided by the HIV/AIDS treatment hub.
At present, the region has only one operating treatment hub for the disease – the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City.
“HIV has no cure, but treatment can manage the infection, help an infected person live longer, healthier and reduce the risk of transmission,” Cerro added.
The DOH targets that by 2022, some 90 percent of all persons with HIV would be aware of their health status and would be undergoing treatment.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. If untreated, a person’s immune system will eventually be completely destroyed, according to Avert, an organization based in the United Kingdom.
AIDS, on the other hand, refers to a set of symptoms and illnesses that occur at the very final stage of HIV infection.
Preventing the spread of HIV-AIDS is one of the targets under Goal 3 of the 17 goals of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders in September 2015. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

PALO, Leyte- The Department of Tourism (DOT) is eyeing the accreditation of 58 farms in Eastern Visayas as tourism sites under the “It’s More Fun in Philippine Farms” campaign.
DOT-Eastern Visayas Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said Tuesday (Dec.5) that there’s a huge potential for the predominantly agricultural region to develop its economy through farm tourism.
Currently, Canaan Hill Farms and Honey Garden in Caibiran town is the only accredited agri-tourism site in the region. The organic farm, situated in a seven-hectare land, is personally managed by a family of professionals.
“The development of farm tourism is not only aimed to attract visitors but also to help local farmers diversify and supplement their agriculture income. It serves as a medium to augment the business of farming,” Tiopes said during Regional Farm Tourism Consultative Workshop at the Oriental Hotel here.
The workshop aims to accredit more farms in the region to be officially listed as farm tourism sites.
Owners of agri-tourism sites aiming for accreditation need to submit to the DOT documentary requirements, which include a business permit, business name certificate and notarized list of names of all officials and employees.
Prospective farm tourism sites should be in safe and peaceful locations with roads, electricity, water; have sufficient facilities and amenities such as reception center, parking space, dining or multipurpose area, souvenir shops, accommodation and restaurants; and have trained tour guides.
The 58 potential farm tourism sites as listed by the Agriculture Training Institute are located in Javier, Merida, Bato, Alangalang, Babatngon, Baybay City, Palo, Hinunangan, Albuera, Isabel, Tacloban City, Merida, Ormoc City, Carigara, Jaro, Kananga, Mahaplag, and Capoocan, all in Leyte.
In other provinces, these farms are in Tomas Oppus, Macrohon, Bontoc, Sogod, Silago in Southern Leyte; Almeria and Caibiran in Biliran; Basey, Paranas, Sta Rita, Marabut, and Calbayog City in Samar; Lawaan, Mercedes, Quinapondan, and Borongan City in Eastern Samar; Palapag, Mondragon, and Catarman in Northern Samar.
Some cities and towns have more than one site. These farms produce rice, dairy, coconut, aquaculture, high value fruits and vegetables.
“The presence of these farm sites puts the region in a good position to develop distinct and complementing farm experiences, that can be more interesting because of unique and even heart-warming stories of the farm owners themselves,” Tiopes explained.
The government enacted Republic Act No. 10816 or the Farm Tourism Development Act on May 23, 2016, recognizing the value of farming in food productive and providing income.

The law defines farm tourism as a practice of attracting visitors and tourists to farm areas for production, educational, recreational, purposes which involves any agricultural or fishery-based operation or activity and may also provide a venue for outdoor recreation and accessible family outings.
The tourism department launched the “It’s More Fun in Philippine Farms” program on Oct. 23 recognizing that “a day in the farm is both relaxing and educational.”
Eastern Visayas region is a predominantly farming area where 45 percent or 976,415 hectares of its total land area is devoted to agriculture.
Of its agricultural lands, 70 percent is planted to coconut and 20 percent is planted to rice and corn. The rest is planted to other crops, used to raise livestock and poultry, or inland fishery products. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The provincial government of Leyte has extended cash incentives to the more than 1,000 day care workers across the province.
Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla told Leyte Samar Daily Express that his office released more than P2 million to give cash incentives to the 1,148 day care workers from Baybay City and the 40 towns of the province.
Petilla said that the cash incentive received by the day care workers depend on their length of service.
For those who served for 6 months to 9 years, they received P1,100; for the beneficiaries who served for 10 to 19 years they received P 1,500; those beneficiaries who served for 20 to 24 years received P2,200.
And for those who rendered service for 25 to 29 years, they received P 4,000 and those in service for 30 years and above got P5,000.
Day care worker municipal coordinators also received P1, 200.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- Supporters convened on Tuesday (Dec.5) in Allen, Northern Samar and Ormoc City in Leyte for the “Biyayang Pagbabago” Caravan 2017, drumming up support for the Duterte administration’s poverty alleviation agenda.
In Allen, Northern Samar, Fr. Elmer Cajilig, Visayas co-convenor of Kilusang Pagbabago (KP), arrived at the town’s plaza to meet with a group of supporters.
Cajilig’s group arrived at the town’s port from Luzon Island for the Eastern Visayas leg of the caravan.
KP members signed a manifesto supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-poverty program through the Office of the Participatory Governance dubbed as “Biyayang Pagbabago”, the Philippine Information Agency reported.
In Ormoc City, KP supporters gathered at the city’s plaza for the caravan Tuesday night.
“We believe that we need a firm leader like President Duterte to bring about positive change in the country,” said Enrico Oliveros, KSP Isabel, Leyte coordinator.
On December 1, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, in partnership with 12 agencies under the Office of the President alongside Kilusang Pagbabago, initiated the “Biyayang Pagbabago Tungo sa Masagana at Matiwasay na Buhay Pilipino” (Biyayang Pagbabago) Program, which aims to provide better living conditions for Filipinos.
The nationwide caravan commenced in Luzon, starting from Ifugao province, all the way to Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Parañaque, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, and Camarines Sur.
After which, selected participants proceeded to Northern Samar and Ormoc City on Tuesday.
On Wednesday (Dec.6), the group proceeded to Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro City and Bukidnon province in Mindanao.
The caravan will culminate in Davao City on December 9, where President Duterte is expected to formally launch the “Biyayang Pagbabago” program at the city’s Freedom Park.
Participating agencies for the “Biyayang Pagbabago” include the Cooperative Development Authority, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, National Anti-Poverty Commission, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, National Food Authority, National Youth Commission, Presidential Action Center, Philippine Commission on Women, Philippine Coconut Authority, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (SARWELL Q. MENIANIO/JOSEPH PILAPIL/PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is upbeat of the tourism industry’s brighter future in Eastern Visayas with the easy access by air, sea, and land.
The region’s strategic location in the central Philippines makes it very accessible through different means of transportation, according to DOT Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes.
“Tacloban is the region’s main gateway by air. It is served by three major airlines with a total of 96 flights per week from and to Manila, Cebu, Davao, and by next year, Clark. Accessibility is a primary consideration for visiting a place,” Tiopes said.
Tacloban’s Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport is ranked as the country’s 9th busiest airport in 2016 with 1.1 million inbound and outbound passengers.
In Calbayog City, eight flights per week serve the Calbayog-Manila and Calbayog-Cebu routes while the Ormoc City’s airport in the western part of Leyte has seven flights in a week to and from Cebu.
Catarman Airport in Northern Samar has four flights a week from and to Manila.
Air connectivity between Cebu and Naval in Biliran, and between Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Cebu and Tagbilaran is made possible through Air Juan.
From April to June 2017 alone, the region’s 10 airports recorded a passenger movement of 642,701, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
This is due to the onset of summer season and long holidays during Holy Week.
In terms of access by land, Eastern Visayas serves as the vital link that promotes connectivity between Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Land travel from north to south pass this route via the Maharlika Highway, using roll-on roll-off ports in Southern Leyte and Northern Samar.
“With seaports located in various localities in the region, sea travel between Luzon, other parts of Visayas and Mindanao is also convenient,” Tiopes said.
In 2016, the region ushered 1.22 million visitors, a significant increase from the measly 365,000 arrivals in 2011.
From a 6 percent to 7 percent annual growth target, stakeholders increased it to at least 20 percent annually for both domestic and foreign guest arrivals.
Of the 3.23 million projected arrivals after six years, 81,936 of them are foreign and 3.15 million of them are domestic.
Tourism stakeholders of the region are eyeing at least 1.31 million to 3.23 million annual tourists from 2017 to 2022 as outlined in the new development roadmap. (MELVA MAE C. MENIANO)