No doubt that the Philippine nation has been the focus of other sovereignties the world over, when our people assume the responsibility of making a difference to make true democracy work. They proved that one dictum that characterizes the statement that “sovereignty resides on the people” is real. This was proven when the mass of people patriotically worked together at EDSA to topple down the Marcos regime having abused the power by virtually installing himself a dictator. However, he got literally driven out of the country to include his family, relatives and cronies on various crimes of plunder, human rights abuses, etc.
Democracy was restored. But the emerging national leaders never learned this lesson. Again with combined efforts of people, Erap was ousted. GMA was able to hang on up to the last hour of her controversial presidential perch. But the law of the land again triumphed and eventually placed her behind bars albeit hospital arrest. Both were charged of graft and corruption during their incumbencies.
Today, we are watching with a tinge of frustration on the lesser gods in the bureaucracy committing similar sins Marcos et al did. We are referring to legislators involved in the P10 -billion pork barrel scam. At the rate of a turtle-paced resolution for this nauseating and shameless behavior of legislators, the Filipino nation may employ once more moves to oust them from their position via the historic EDSA style -People Power bloodless revolution.
And if this happens, we should support and encourage, this Filipino peoples’ consistency in its desire to blot out graft and corruption in the corridors of power.
Safeguard encourage and support empowered people’s consistency
Sec. Singson commended members of NSSDEO Task Force Yolanda
CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways commended the members of the Northern Samar Second District Engineering District Task Force Yolanda for their invaluable services they rendered during the massive typhoon.
The men and women members of the task force were given a certificate of appreciation signed by Secretary Rogelio Singson and Regional Director Rolando Asis, among other officials.
‘LEST WE FORGET’. This certificate of commendation is hereby awarded to ‘person involve’ for extending his dedicated and untiring services in the clearing and other disaster response operations, thereby leaving his comfort zone in order to alleviate the hapless plight of the people of Eastern Visayas, especially in the hardest-hit areas of Tacloban City and outlying municipalities caused by the utter devastation brought about by Super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ on November 8, 2013.
Indeed you exemplify what a dependable DPWH employee; is one who is relentlessly eager to Deliver Public Service Without Hesitation. May your tribe increase,” part of the certification said issued on December 19, 2013.
The other signatories of the award were Asec. Dimas S. Soguilon, Assistant Secretary for Visayas and Mindanao and Usec. Romeo S. Momo, Undersecretary for Regional Operations.
All the recipient personnel of the Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office led by OIC District Engineer Ferdinand Briones down to the last worker of the maintenance section and other support staffs who were in Tacloban City during the whole duration of the above-mention clearing operations of the regional center were center were elated and have conveyed their gratitude for having given such recognition. (PR)
913 Yolanda victims to avail housing project of Pag-Ibig Fund
TACLOBAN CITY- A total of 913 families, all victims of the supertyphoon Yolanda, will benefit from a housing project in this city, a Pag-Ibig Fund 8 report said.
Paulino Talacay, regional department manager of Pag-Ibig (Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan-Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya, Gobyerno),told reporters in an interview that Greenland Townhomes housing project will provide housing for the 913 beneficiaries from this city.
Talacay said that the 5-hectare project is funded by the Pag-IBIG Fund 8 with the total project cost of more than P273.74 million.
He added that each housing unit with a cost of P400,000 has a floor area of 26 square meters with a lot area of 28 square meters. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Master plan bypassed Tacloban aldermen skips session in favor of Manila gathering
TACLOBAN CITY- Failure to attend their regular session held last March this year
has resulted for the city council not to tackle the master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban.
Thus said Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin who is also the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglunsod during an interview.
Yaokasin said that majority of the members of the council were not able to attend their scheduled regular session as they were in Manila to attend the national congress of the Philippine Councilors League.
Aside from the vice mayor, only Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez was in Tacloban during that time.
Had they held their session, they could have discussed the proposed master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban after it was pummeled by supertyphoon Yolanda, Yaokasin said.
According to the vice mayor, the master rehabilitation plan for Tacloban must be given a priority by city officials as the national government has been waiting for it for quite sometimes now.
Under the proposed rehabilitation plan, all projects need funding requirements reason why this must be tackled and presented to the national government through the office of Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of the Presidential Assistant for Recovery and Rehabilitation.
He added that the priority now should be the immediate repairs of all public buildings, and housing, among others. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)
ASSISTANCE
Aftermath of Yolanda Swiss film shows soccer loving Taclobanons
TACLOBAN CITY-For John Wayne Regis, 17, playing football becomes his ultimate drive to continue living and eventually winning in the game of life after supertyphoon Yolanda flattened this city and killing over 2,000 people more than four months ago.
“Playing football changes my life. The sports give me the chance to get a good education. When typhoon Yolanda came, I thought my hope and dream will be also gone, but then help arrived,” Regis told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview.
The same also happened to Regis’ teammates like Janry Villalino, Jade Nicole Lapena, Mark Gesulga, and Jonel Cablaw, this as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)and the Switzerland Embassy launched a short film “The Football Wonder of Tacloban” by renowned Swiss filmmaker Michael Steiner to raise awareness and support “to help meet enormous recovery needs” across the Yolanda-devastated areas.
“My father is a football player and he is the one who teaches me about the game since I was six years old,” said Regis, who is the eldest of five siblings in their family.
Regis added that after Yolanda hit Tacloban, his father found a job through the cash-for-work program of the UNDP.
Even before Yolanda, football is extremely gaining attention in the country particularly Tacloban, home of Dan Palami, the coach who propelled the national football team Azkals into world stage of football sports.
Azkals’ success has inspired several of the Philippines ‘ rising football stars like Regis who also got shot of fame in football sport with the 1st division Global Football Club.
The “Football Wonder of Tacloban” had its launching in Manila last March 6, two days after a short version of the film was showcased in front of the 21,000-strong crowd that turned out for the international football “Match against Poverty” in Bern , Switzerland on March 4.
The match, along with the one-minute film, was beamed to 74 countries around the world, including the USA, Brazil, France, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines, which will broadcast it over the coming week, according to UNDP.
“By telling the story of how the typhoon devastated the lives of local football players, I wanted to tell the story of an entire region,” according to filmmaker Steiner.
“There is still a long way to go to rebuild and we need to keep reminding everyone that people in Visayas need their support,” he added.
For UNDP resident representative Luiza Carvalho, the film is a “wonderful opportunity to remind the world that recovery is the most complex and longer part of a disaster response and we need support from all partners.”(RONALD O.REYES)