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Fishing boats worth P1 million remain undistributed

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More than 500 fishing boats donated by a private company remain idle and undistributed. The sea worthiness of these fishing boats are now in serious doubt. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
More than 500 fishing boats donated by a private company remain idle and undistributed. The sea worthiness of these fishing boats are now in serious doubt.     (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
More than 500 fishing boats donated by a private company remain idle and undistributed. The sea worthiness of these fishing boats are now in serious doubt. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

PALO, Leyte- Possibly another case of relief assistance gone to waste? About 500 units of wooden-made fishing boats have yet to be distributed to intended beneficiaries with its usefulness now in doubt. The fishing boats have been stockpiled at the front and near the office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) located in Barangay Candahug, Palo in Leyte.

According to Ranulfo Arbiol, PENRO officer, these fishing boats, painted in yellow green, were donated by the David M. Consunji Incorporated (DMCI) to be distributed to fishermen who were affected by supertyphoon “Yolanda” close to two years now. Each of these boats costs P18,000 or close to P1 million in all. These were assembled December of last year with workers coming from Mindanao. These were turned over by DMCI through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to the regional office of the Department of Interior and Local Government June of this year.

However, the DILG has yet to distribute these outriggers to the intended beneficiaries, four months after these were turned over to them, Arbiol said. “I am afraid that these boats will no longer be of use because of too much exposure from weathering process,” he said. Arbiol lamented that these sea crafts, if distributed earlier, could have helped the fishermen recover from the onslaught of Yolanda. These fishing boats, made of plywood, are deposited outside the compound of the PENRO office without any coverings to protect them from elements. Many of these outriggers could no longer be used for fishing as their bows now have cracks and their paint started peeling off. Some parts appear to have dilated.

DILG Director Pedro Noval Jr., for his part, said that they have yet to receive the listing of the beneficiaries for the fishing boats, reason why up to now these remain undistributed. His office has asked a list of fishermen from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for the list. However, an official from the said office debunked the claim of Noval saying that they have provided them the list on April 6 of this year. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

DPWH-SLED consults Sec. Singson on actions against employees using illegal drugs

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MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte Engineering District (DPWH-SLED) is seeking the opinion of Secretary Rogelio Singson on what actions to take against the 23 employees that were found positive of illegal drugs use. In a letter to Singson dated August 19, 2015, District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia wants to know of “what is best decision” for the 23 employees. Despite putting her safety at risk, the district engineering office chief felt the dire need to do this to achieve a drug-free workplace and raise the productivity of workers. “Lately, these addicted engineers had contributed to the low performance of this Office because due to their addiction, their work performances were erratic and unreliable, thus their output were erroneous and needs to be reworked,” Junia said.

On August 17, all of the more than 200 personnel of the field office went through a surprised drug test inside the district office multi-purpose building. Staff from a private drug testing center based in Ormoc City approved by the Department of Health for the specific activity and agents from the National Bureau of Investigation came to facilitate the drug test. “We were told that those who are taking some medicines may be found positive in the drug test. The confirmatory test in Manila will tell us if all of these 23 personnel are really illegal drug users or not,” Junia explained. The district engineer pushed for the mandatory drug testing after agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) caught a DPWH-SLED employee for illegal drugs trade on March 1.

The suspect alleged that the drugs were intended for government engineers. “That claim is alarming because it brought shame to our district office. We also heard rumors that some personnel have been using illegal drugs, which calls for our immediate action since it affects productivity, decision making, and safety concerns,” Junia added.
Early this year, Junia asked some personnel to undergo drug test and submit the result, but she doubted that the findings are accurate since the method was done through urine samples only.
The mandatory drug test is part of DPWH-SLED’s drive to increase awareness on the harmful effects and dangers of drug use and abuse in the workplace. (DPWH-SLED PR)

OFWs from EV received livelihood assistance from DOLE

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TACLOBAN CITY-The regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-8) releases more livelihood assistance this August to returning overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs. For August, DOLE NRCO already released livelihood assistance to fivequalified OFW beneficiaries for their business ventures: botika ng barangay, meat processing, variety store and rice trading.

Each beneficiary received P 10, 000worth of starter kits, amounting to a total of P 50, 000.00. “The program is part of the initiative of DOLE to productively reintegrate returning OFWs in the mainstream Philippine society that they may enjoy the gains of overseas employment. NRCO encourages them to obtain an entrepreneurial mindset, through awareness on the value of saving, investment, business, and local employment upon their return,” Regional Director Elias Cayanong said. Raquel Postrero, a beneficiary, thanked DOLE for giving her the opportunity to live a new life from the distressful situation she encountered as a Household Service Worker in Kuwait.

“Akala nila, madali at masarap ang buhay OFW. Pero, hindi madali ang pinagdaanan ko sa Kuwait bilang isang Household Service Worker. Nagpapasalamat ako sa DOLE na natulungan ako ng NRCO na makapagsimula ng panibagong buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaroon ko ng negosyong Variety Store. [Most people thought that it easy to be employed overseas. Little did they know that I had experienced worst being a Household Service Worker in Kuwait. I am grateful to DOLE for helping me start a new life by having a business venture with variety store,” Postrero added.

In an interview, Assistant Regional Director Exequiel Ronie Guzman urged all qualified OFW returnees to avail of the livelihood assistance and other opportunities from NRCO which are intended to augment their income and in the long run, contribute to the region’s economic status. (NIA CHUA)

Duterte close to announcing his 2016 plan

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TACLOBAN CITY- He will announce his decision regarding next year’s presidential election. This was disclosed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte when asked when he will formally declare his bid as a presidential hopeful. Duterte was in Leyte last week to attend the 36th annual general assembly meeting of the Leyte III Electric Cooperative in Tunga town, 46 kms away from this city. According to the controversial Davao mayor, what stops him to formally declare his intention to seek the country’s highest post was the opposition of some of the members of his family.

Thus, the need for him to meet them all “in one setting” to settle the matter, he said. “I will be meeting them next week. I have talked to some individually but I would like to gather them in one setting and discuss (the matter) as some of the members of my family are against my running, “Duterte said. According to Duterte, he needs to get the “consent” of his entire family members before he makes his decision regarding his plan in next year’s elections. He disclosed that among those who oppose his possible run for President is his daughter, Sarah, former mayor of Davao. “She does not like me to run because she says I’m old and not that strong (physically),” Duterte said.
He admitted that he might not withstand the rigor of a long-haul campaign if in case he decides to run for President. “I’m 70 years old now; may be one or two days, I’m comfortable but in the long haul, di ko talaga masabi,” he said. But Duterte said that he is not really salivating the presidency “unlike some of them,” without naming names. “I don’t have the ambition. Di naman ako serious tulad ng iba. I’ll stay in Davao. I started it there and I will end it there,” he said. His visits around the country are just part of his drive for federalism, Duterte said, and not connected to the 2016 elections. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

Fisherman caught turtle for the 26th time

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turtle

ORMOC CITY- For the 26th time, a fisherman from a sea fishing village in Merida town, Leyte, caught a sea turtle. And for the same number of time, Marcelo Tomada chose to return the creature he caught back to its natural habitat. Last August 27, the 52-year old Tomada caught the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at the town bay at around 4 p.m. The fisherman lives in Barangay Libas, 10 kms away from the town proper.

The green sea turtle that measured 50-inch long and 33-inch wide was estimated at 80 kilograms. Tomada fed the animal before he returned it back to the sea with the help of some personnel of the town’s agriculture office. It was learned from the fisherman that it was the 26th time that he accidentally caught a turtle. Last year, he caught another sea turtle. And all the animals were returned by him back to the sea, a gesture he attributed to a bounty catch of fish. Iluminada Gomez, Merida’s agriculture officer, lauded the act of Tomada saying that there were fishermen who caught turtles and just took them as pets. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

Mayor Aquino invites all to ‘Hadang’ Festival

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Showing artistry and gracefulness. Calbayog Dance Icon members display their dancing skills during an event marking the city’s 323rd annnual fiesta. Mayor Ronaldo Aquino (inset photo) invites people from the region to join their festivities. (HENRY PUYAT)

 

Showing artistry and gracefulness. Calbayog Dance Icon members display their dancing skills during an event marking the city’s 323rd annnual fiesta. Mayor Ronaldo Aquino (inset photo) invites people from the region to join their festivities.(HENRY PUYAT)
Showing artistry and gracefulness. Calbayog Dance Icon members display their dancing skills during an event marking the city’s 323rd annnual fiesta. Mayor Ronaldo Aquino (inset photo) invites people from the region to join their festivities. (HENRY PUYAT)

CALBAYOG CITY- Mayor Ronaldo Aquino will lead the celebration of Calbayog’s 323rd annual city fiesta on September 8. The celebration will not only showcase the rich culture of Calbayog but also its growth as the economic hub of Samar, its officials say. Mayor Aquino, in particular, invites the people outside the city to join their festivities as they continue their aspiration to make Calbayog the most economically developed across the province that still continues to be mired in deep poverty.

“I invite you all to come and celebrate with us our festive celebration in honor of Our Lady of Nativity,” the city mayor said, referring to the patron saint of the city. The city mayor attributed to the divine grace coming from their patron saint to the continued economic success the city has been experiencing for the past years now.  Aside from activities sponsored by the local Church, series of events were also lined up by the city government with the help of other sectors to ensure that this year’s celebration will be colorful and memorable.

This year’s celebration revolves around the theme “Hadang 2015: Music and the Arts Festival”, an eight-day celebration aimed to nurture local culture, tap artistic potentials, develop and promote tourism destinations and provide a venue of activity where the Samarenos could support and be involved with. The celebration officially started last Tuesday, Sept.1, with best bits, the hadang/ritual competition and Ms. Hadang 2015 both aimed at showcasing the surviving elements of the indigenous culture assimilated into Christian Cultural realm.

Barangay Malajog, for their “Hadang para sa mga engkanto,” bested other competitors in the hadang/ritual competition, while Janina Garciso of the Calbayog City National High School was declared as this year’s Ms. Hadang. On September 2 (Wednesday), Calbayog City honored the legacy of the Calbayog Dance Icons who personified and epitomized the cultural aspirations of Calbayog through their significant contributions in the preservation and evolvement of the traditional folk dances of Calbayog. On this occasion, the present generation was enjoined to help pass down this legacy to the next. This weeklong Calbayog City Festival of Music and the Arts continue with the yearly drum corps competition, theater festival, body painting competition, concerts, and the traditional civic-military parade.

This annual celebration of “Hadang” Festival is under the auspices of the City Arts and Culture Office managed by Jonas Lim. Lim, also the festival director, said that “hadang” are rituals founded on pre-Magellanic beliefs and is held during feasts and other occasions like planting and harvest season, drought and in times of dreadful epidemics to please the spirits called “anito”. “Today, when viewed from the historical perspective, “hadang” is seen that a great deal of its meaning and symbol have succumbed to a developing urban culture of the whole Samar Island. From what it used to be in its natural form and religious character, the celebration of this ritual becomes a “rite of modernization”, also a tourist attraction,” Lim said.
(AIMEE A. CATALAN)

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