TACLOBAN CITY-Farmers in Eastern Visayas must have realized the importance of crop insurance after the devastation caused by supertyphoon “Yolanda” as more farmers are availing of government crop insurance. Data gathered from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation(PCIC) regional office shows a huge increase in the number of farmers who have filed for indemnity for loss of crops before Yolanda and immediately after compared to last and current year. Records of PCIC-8 office shows 12,981 claims for loss have already been filed for the first semester of the current year. This is already higher than the 12,915 claims filed for the entire 2015. In 2013, only 4,234 farmers claimed for loss of crops and 4,797 in 2014. Indemnity paid to farmers has also shown a steady increase for the last three years- P18.89 million in 2013, P52.37 million in 2014, P55.19 million in 2015. And for the first semester of the year, its P64.93 million. Rice remains the top product among the seven insurance lines which also include corn, high-value commercial crops, livestock, fishery, non-crop agricultural asset and term insurance packages. Figures for this year show that of the 12,981 claims that were filed, 12,362 were for rice, 422 for high value crops, 141 for corn, 49 for livestock, and four term insurance packages. No claims were made for non-crop and fisheries. “Crop insurance is very important in building back and improving the productivity of our farmers,” says Dominico Digamon, PCIC regional manager.
“Farmers will be more motivated to plant if they know that they will at least recoup their investment in times of calamities. It boosts farmers’ resilience from climate change,” he added.

TACLOBAN CITY-The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling on the public to help its intensified drive to stop the illegal possession and trade of wildlife in Eastern Visayas. DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca made this call after 15 pythons were recovered at the house of Albuera Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa and his son Kerwin. The Espinosas were tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte to be in the illegal drug trade with Kerwin alleged as the region’s number drug lord. The beleaguered mayor, however, denied that he is into illegal drugs activity. Sibbaluca said that illegal trade and possession of wildlife is punishable under Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001 with imposed imprisonment and fines as determined by the judge. Sibbaluca said that he is appealing and encouraging the public to report to his office or to the field offices in the region regarding the collection, possession or selling of wildlife for rescue. The Espinosas, based on DENR record, have no permit to possess the animals. Sibbaluca said that the rescue was made possible when one anonymous caller called his office last August 12 regarding the pythons at the custody of the Espinosas. The rescued animals were brought to the DENR-8 Regional Wildlife Rescue Center in Palo, Leyte. They are to be release to any of the DENR-8 protected areas in the region, as their habitat, when their health already good enough to sustain in the wild as determined by the veterinarian.  (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

CEBU CITY- The newly- appointed chairperson of the National Youth Commission(NYC) Aiza Seguerra will give focus in providing protection and information awareness among youth, giving special focus among members of the LGBT community. Seguerra clearly stated that gender sensitivity and awareness will be on the list of her priorties which also include the prevention of spreading of human immuno deficiency virus (HIV), mental health, unemployment of LGBT youth, the harassment, bullying of the youth and the empowerment of youth. Seguerra, who wanted to be addressed as “he,” said that no region including Eastern Visayas will be left out. “It is my goal, since our President is pushing for federalism, it will also be my priority making sure that no region will be left out when it comes to projects for the youth” he said. Seguerra acknowledged that the previous administration tend to overlook other regions and focus most of the projects in Manila. Seguerra is planning as early as now to visit all the regions in the country for him to see the problems the youths are facing now. “The real data will never be presented to you, it is best to go the ground and see for yourself the real deal” Seguerra said. In Eastern Visayas, Seguerra vowed to work with other national government agencies to address the problems after youth were devastated by supertyphoon “Yolanda.” “It’s what is good with NYC because we can always partner with other government agencies, such as the Department of Labor when it comes to unemployment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development when it comes to other concern,” he added. Seguerra is aware that previous chairman of the commission were not able to perform their job perfectly but for himself he vowed that in his term all programs and projects will be inclusive. Seguerra was the guest of honor of the recently concluded Pink Ink Training: Empowering Professional Media PR actioners to deal LGBT human rights issues last August 13 in Cebu where he discussed sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. He was joined by his wife, Liza Dino. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY-For not remitting the town’s tax collections, the Office of Ombudsman ordered for the filing of malversation charge against a former mayor of San Sebastian in Samar. Recommended by the anti-graft court for the Sandiganbayan to prosecute for malversation of funds and violation of section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) was former mayor Arnold Abalos. The complaint against Abalos, who ended his second term as mayor of the town this year, stemmed from his failure to remit the tax collection of his town in the amount of P1,272,831.63 for the years 2008 and 2009.  Also charged was municipal treasurer Virginia Uy. The failure of Abalos and Uy, both accountable officers for the funds of San Sebastian, to remit the tax collections gave rise to the presumption that respondents misappropriated the amount intended for the Bureau of International Revenue, the Ombudsman stated. (MEL CASPE/RYAN ARCENAS)