As new RDC chair

TACLOBAN CITY- Inviting investors not only for the city but in other parts of the region, notably in the three provinces of Samar, will be among her agenda for the next three years as the new chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
Thus said Mayor Cristina Romualdez who will formally assumed the RDC chairmanship on March 22, succeeding Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
Romualdez said that while Tacloban is getting its fair share in attracting investors, it could not be said to the three Samar provinces, among the most depressed provinces in the country.
“Tacloban is now doing quite well economically as we are attracting investors. However, same could not be said to the Samar provinces where poverty incidences are high,” the city mayor said.
“Our poverty incidence is being addressed and it is the Samar provinces that are pulling the region and Tacloban down in terms of poverty incidence,” Romualdez added.
“So I will also give focus to (the) Samar (provinces,” stressed.
Based on records of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), as of 2015, poverty incidence in Northern Samar is the highest in the region at 52.4 percent followed by Samar at 41.8 percent and Eastern Samar at 40.1 percent.
Meantime, the poverty incidence of Tacloban is at 9.8 percent, the lowest in the region.
For Tacloban, Romualdez said that she is focused in developing the 13.8 hectares agri-tourism economic zone located in the northern part of the city.
By developing the area, it would create additional employment with the coming in of potential investors. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

CAMP GENERAL VICENTE LUKBAN, CATBALOGAN CITY – Troops of 43rd Infantry Battalion, 8ID, led by 1Lt. Edsel Ryan B. Celebre engaged NPA(New People’s Army) rebels under their leader Salvador Nordan alias “Badok” while conducting combat operations against lawless elements at Sitio Cabaywa, Brgy. Santander, Bobon, Northern Samar on February 14, 2017.
The fire fight lasted for about five minutes that resulted to the death of the wife of the NPA leader identified as Bernadette Lutao alias “Kakan” and the recovery of one improvised explosive device (IED) and three cellular phones.
The use of IED is restricted under the United Nations Geneva Convention because of its indiscriminate effects and humanitarian harm it can cause to innocent civilians as well as a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines- National Democratic Front)
In a statement, Maj. General Raul M. Farnacio, commanding officer of the 8th ID, said that the NPAs have been using IEDs as their weapons of choice without consideration on the welfare of the civilian populace.
“The NPA has been deliberately violating the human rights with their production and employment of IEDs and their continuous disruption of the peaceful lives of our fellow Filipinos especially those in the far-flung barangays,” he stated.
“This accomplishment is a triumph for the collective effort of the local government unit and agencies, 8ID, and our civilian constituents to attain just and lasting peace in Northern Samar. Filipinos want peace and it is high time for our fellow Filipinos who were misled to join the NPA to lay down their arms and lead their lives away from armed struggle,” Farnacio urged.
Since the lifting of the ceasefire by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, 8ID troops have been conducting security operations in the region as part of their mandate.
“Rest assured that your Army in Eastern Visayas are tirelessly committed to serve and secure the people within the bounds of respect of Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, and Rule of Law,” Farnacio added. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public and Highways (DPWH) will carry out a P23.48 billion worth of infrastructure projects here in the region for this year as the national government accelerates investment to upgrade national highways and build more bypass roads.
This year’s budget is higher by P2 billion compare to last year, said Engr. Virgilio Eduarte, DPWH assistant regional director.
“Our budget has been increasing every year to support the national and regional plans to bring about more economic opportunities in the country through infrastructure development,” Eduarte said.
About half of the budget for the region will be managed by the department’s 13 district engineering offices in six provinces – Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
A big chunk of the 2017 outlay will be supervised by the regional office.
The DPWH is tasked to implement 834 projects this year. About 520 of these were already bid out as of end of Jan. 31.
Among the major projects that will be funded this year are the on-going 6.4 kilometer four-lane Tacloban bypass road and the 1.84 km. four- lane Palo West bypass road, which will be completed in the second quarter of 2017.
The department proposed extending these by-pass roads up to the junction of San Juanico Bridge to complement the proposed international seaport to be constructed in nearby Babatngon town in Leyte.
The DPWH regional office also proposed the extension of by-pass roads that would link to this major project.
“This is in compliance to Secretary Mark Villar’s directive to decongest traffic through construction of by-pass roads in populated areas,” Eduarte added.
The official also confirmed that there is on-going feasibility study for the construction of Sogod bypass road in Southern, Leyte.
Also listed as 2017 priority is the Leyte tide embankment project designed to shield communities hit when supertyphoon “Yolanda” pummeled the province with an allocation of P700 million for this year alone.
The said project has a total budget of P7.9 billion.
Other priority projects for the year are road widening, bridge reconstruction, flood control structures, and preventive maintenance.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO)

TACLOBAN CITY— About 44 police officers from the region were dismissed from service as of this month.
The dismissed police officers, whose names and ranks were not divulged, committed various violations, said Chief Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, police regional information officer.
The dismissal of these policemen was the result of the investigation conducted by the RIAS (Regional Internal Affairs Service).
Rentuaya said that these policemen were discharged from service for committing offenses ranging from absent without leave(AWOL); accepting or soliciting gifts or favors; dereliction of duty; illegal possession of firearms and direct assault against an agent of the government, among others.
Two of the dismissed policemen were involved in adultery cases, the police regional information officer added.
“The dismissal of these police officers is part of the internal cleansing of the organization,” Rentuaya said.
Earlier, Police National Director Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa vowed to dismiss rogue members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after it was discovered that some of them are engaging in illegal activities like kidnapping.
Several police officers were accused to be behind in the abduction and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the controversial “Operation: Tokhang,” his government’s campaign on illegal drugs.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Police authorities claimed that one of the dead bodies found inside a torched vehicle last month was said to have kept the money of an alleged drug lord who was murdered inside a penal colony in Leyte.
Thus, the incident that took place in sitio Abaca, Barangay Balinsasayao in Abuyog town last January 27 could be considered as drug-related, said Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, regional police director.
Killed inside the vehicle was Bernardino Remolador, 44 and his live-in partner Jennifer Corsiga,25.
Remolador was said to have kept huge amount of drug money of Edgardo Alvarez alias Egay who was killed inside the Abuyog Penal Colony, Abuyog town, last August 11, 2016.
Alvarez, a known drug pusher, was killed while a search warrant was being served to him for alleged possession of drugs and firearms by the members of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
The dead bodies of Remolador and Corsiga were discovered at about 6 am on Jan. 26 by PO1 Marco Alexis Mercado who is assigned at Regional Public Security Battalion (RPSB) based in Tacloban City.
Mercado immediately sought the assistance of the Abuyog police with the members of the scene of the crime (Soco) led by Chief Inspector Edwin Zata processed the crime scene.
Also found inside the burned vehicle Toyota Avanza 1.3M/T with plate number YGC957, color silver, was a service firearm.
It was also learned that the vehicle was owned by the younger brother of Remolador, Fernando who resides in Libangon, Cebu City.
Beltejar said that investigation on this grisly killing is ongoing though they have already some leads who could be behind on the incident. (VICKY C. ARNAIZ)