TACLOBAN CITY- A vessel that was washed inland in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda has resulted for the destruction of mangroves. Margarita de la Cruz, a known environmentalist and former professor of the University of the Philippines-Tacloban Campus, said that the vessel is owned by a mining company that operates in the province. According to her, the owner of the vessel is trying to pull it back to the waters which resulted for the destruction of the mangroves. De la Cruz said workers of the mining company cut the mangroves on their effort to tow the vessel back to the waters which was stuck in Barangay Santo Nino, Quinapondan town. The said vessel was washed inland 120 meters from the water as a result of a storm surge generated during the onslaught of Yolanda. “The national government has allocated P1 billion for the planting of mangroves and we have a case here of mangroves being destroyed wantonly,” she said. She said that mangroves are important not only because they serves as breeding grounds for fish but as barriers for storm surges. De la Cruz said that she is not aware if the action of the mining company cutting mangroves as it tow back the vessel to the water has permission from the local government or from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Quinapondan is estimated to have more than 900 has mangrove cover. Based on a study conducted by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, research arm of the DENR, the damage to mangrove sites due to Yolanda was estimated at 350 hectares in two out of the six mangroves sites bordering the Leyte Gulf Area. And close to seven months after Yolanda, most of the mangroves are still without leaves and could be dead. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY-It’s very disappointing that seven months after supertyphoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, the government still don’t have an over-all master plan despite of the fact that officials of all affected areas have already submitted their post disaster assessment needs. Thus said Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who visited Tacloban and other Yolanda-hit areas last May 23. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on local government, added that until now the funds that are intended to go to the LGUs hit by the typhoon and even to the affected public schools, state colleges and universities remained undelivered. “Yolanda-affected state universities and colleges reported they haven’t received a single centavo of the fund to be used for their facilities,” Marcos said in a press conference. “Right now, reconstruction and rehabilitation are still being spearheaded by international agencies, non-government organizations and private Philippine corporations. But we are still waiting for massive assistance that we have been promised,” Marcos added. According to Marcos, he learned that Budget Secretary Butch Abad has announced that P32.8 billion was already released, and for this Marcos expressed hope “that the funds will be felt by the LGUs on the grounds because those are badly needed.” The senator said that some of the mayors that he met were affiliated with the ruling party, thus, dispelling speculations that politics could be the reason for the delay on the release of financial assistance. “But these mayors refused to talk about it openly for fear that they might not receive the financial assistance,” Marcos said. Marcos said that since the LGUs are requesting him about the funds, he said what he can do is to “just keep bringing it up.” “We are still in an emergency. I do not propose that we’ll cut corners. But I think we can do a lot to expedite the process,” he said. Marcos said he understand about the dilemma faced by rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson “since his office doesn’t have the funding and it is only on making proposals and coordination.”(RONALD O.REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- A couple with two others was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in different sting operations in the region for using and selling the prohibited hydrochloride methamphetamine or shabu. Liza Baoy, PDEA information officer, identified the arrested persons as Danilo Bueta, 50 and his common-law wife, Nenita Solayao, 44; Melvin Facturan; and Conrad Borneo. Bueta and his wife were arrested by the PDEA agents in Calbiga, Samar last May 13 in a buy bust operation which yielded for the confiscation of five sachets of purported shabu, various drug paraphernalias and P500. The couple are now detained at the Calbiga police station and charged for violation of Republic Act 9165, the comprehensive drugs law, particularly for possession and selling of the illegal drug. Meantime, Factoran of Lumbang 1, Calanipawan of Tacloban was arrested in possession of shabu weighing 6.9 grams last May 21. Also arrested was a Conrad Borneo,34 and married in Brgy. Santo Nino, Matalom, Leyte during a buy bust operation last May 24 with agents of the NBI were able to seize from the suspect one gram of shabu with a street value of P10,000. Cases for illegal possession and selling shabu were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the PDEA-8. Baoy said that suspects arrested by them are place under their custodial unit while those arrested in a joint operation with police are locked up at jails. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)

TOLOSA, Leyte – The American Chamber Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.(AmCham) donated 30 fishing boats made of fiber glass to fishermen coming from different coastal towns in Leyte. The donation of the 18 footer fishing boats was held last May 22 in Barangay Dona Brigida, this town, and led by AmCham’s president Rhick Jennings and its executive director Ebb Hinchcliffe. Also present were rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and Mayors Remedios “Matin” Petilla of Palo; Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan and Erwin Ocana of this town. The beneficiaries of the fishing boats donated by the American business chamber came from the different coastal villages of the three towns which were among the hardest areas in Leyte during the onslaught of Yolanda last November 8, 2013. Hinchcliffe, in his message, said that the fishing boats donated by them were just part of their “overall effort” to help rebuild Leyte. “It may be in another set of boats for another set of recipients but surely more help will still come from us,” Hincliffe said. The boats, which were first tested in Bacoor, Cavite before they were brought here, were donated by different companies and individuals who are affiliated with AmCham. The donations were 18-footer fiberglass boats painted in red, white and blue. These include Arankada, Sc Johnson & Son, Ambassador Charles Salmon, Fair Isaac (ASPAC) Ltc., FICO, US Chamber Foundation, Time Depot, Harte-Hanks Philippines, New World Makati Hotel, Nu-Skin Enterprises, Inc., American Camber Foundation, Quezon Power Philippines, Inc., Rapha Health Institute, Mary Kay Philippines, Inc., Atty. Peter Yap, Manpower Group, FactSet, UHS Essential Health Philippines, Inc., Mr. Rhick Jennings, Del Monte Philippines and Del Monte Foundation. The AmCham founded on December 06, 1985 which acts as the socio civic arm of member companies of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. (AHLETTE C. REYES)