NAVAL, Biliran- The new set of Naval municipal officials has implemented its anti-smoking ordinance to promote health and safety of its constituents.
Romel Salvatierra, communications officer and chief of Task Force Anti-Smoking of Naval, informed the public of the strict implementation of “no smoking in public places” within the municipality during his guesting at the PIA-Biliran’s Pulong-Pulong ng Bayan over Radyo Natin-Naval recently.
The local government unit of Naval has designated six smoking areas in town.
Salvatierra said the designated smoking areas are as follows: at the back of the Naval Municipal Legislative Building; at the last portion of the barbecue stalls along the boardwalk; at the back of the public CR at the town’s PUV terminal; at the back of the Naval gymnasium; and two separate smoking areas at the back of the public market, near the seawall.
All smoking areas are designed with anti-smoking campaign tarps showing the ill-effects of smoking.
Police officers and members of the task force are deployed to apprehend and issue citation tickets for violators.
Salvatierra advised smokers follow the ordinance, otherwise, a fine will be imposed in the amount of P500, P1,000, P1,500 for the first, second, and third offenses, respectively, or an equivalent community service.
The municipality of Naval was previously awarded 100 percent tobacco-free environment according to the Sangguniang Bayan Secretary, Marilou Lucente.
Naval also received the Red Orchid Awards in 2011 and 2012, and the Red Orchid Hall of Fame Award in 2013, all at national level, Lucente said.
(LDL/MLT/PIA-8, Biliran)
Naval town implements anti-smoking ordinance, designates smoking areas
Rep. Noel, DOLE extends assistance to displaced workers in Anibong district
TACLOBAN CITY-An Waray Rep. Florencio “Bem” Noel together with Regional Director Yahya Centi of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) turned over checks to the 80 residents of Barangay 70, Anibong District who are the beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhy sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
The financial assistance was worth P400,800.
TUPAD is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for a minimum period of 10 days but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days depending on the nature of work to be performed.
The eligible social community projects include repair, maintenance, and/or improvement of common public facilities and infrastructure such as schools and health centers, debris clearing, de-clogging of canals, debris segregation and materials recovery, stockpiling and clearing.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
ESSU hosts 6th international meet on disaster management
BORONGAN CITY-The Eastern Samar State University(ESSU) is revving up its academic engagement by hosting the 6th international conference on disaster risk reduction management on Sept. 3-5, Teatro Ibabawnon, ESSU, Borongan City.
This year’s theme is ‘Resilience Means Changing Lifestyle in a Changing Global Climate.’
Welcome remarks will be delivered by ESSU President Edmundo Campoto.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Raul V. Destura of UP National Institutes of Health and inventor of the Bioteck-M Dengue Aqua Kit which won gold in the 46th international exhibition of inventions held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Plenary speakers include Prof. Javad ‘Richard’ Heydarian, Dr. Eulito Casas, Jr, Mr. Julliano Fernando Guiang, Dr. Mark Anthony Velasco, Mr. Alexes Joseph Bendijo, Mr. Peter Negrido, Mr. Joey Capisonda and Dr. Reggy Capacio Figer.
One of the highlights of the conference is the awarding of the first Gawad Batuganan Award to Dr. Destura in recognition for his breakthrough discovery of the dengue diagnostic kit which was funded by DOST-PCHRD.
There will also be parallel paper and poster presentations on the second of the conference.
The conference aims to generate knowledge and technologies that will marshal the widest range of possibilities and solutions relative to disaster risk reduction management.
It also envisions to link up with communities and local government units as able partners who can also provide knowledge, capacities, and networks critical to rebuilding a more cohesive, resilient, and empowered communities
A total of 250 participants coming from various higher educational institutions and local government units are expected to attend the 3-day event which has been favorably endorsed both by CHED and DILG through Secretary Eduardo Año.
Registration fee is P3,500 inclusive of 3 meals, 6 snacks, kit, certificate and tour to selected eco-tourism sites in Eastern Samar.
For inquiries, you may email to teso.essu@gmail.com or text/call 09468045421, 09281681634 or 09269028516. (V. Agda, Director for Administrative Services)
Mayor Romualdez graces kick off observance of the 25th National Crime Prevention Week
TACLOBAN CITY- City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez attended the 25th National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW) kick off celebration on September 1, 2019 at Robinson’s North, this city.
Mayor Romualdez, in his short talk, enjoined all Taclobanons to be keen, observant and vigilant in preventing a crime from happening.
An outright reporting is needed when suspiciously bad elements is observed in your vicinity and an outright reporting of unscrupulous act, the city mayor said.
“Be keen in reporting at once so we can prevent crime. Our police stations in the city is open 24/7.The city has police single driven motorcycle rescue team to answer incidents in the city aside from the mobile patrol positioned for police visibility,” Mayor Romualdez said.
Just like the rest of the country, the city government of Tacloban joined together with other line agencies of the government in the simultaneous whistle blowing demonstration to formally open the weeklong celebration.
This year’s theme is “Buhay Pahalagahan Komunidad Magtulungan, Krimen Hadlangan”.
(GAY B. GASPAY-TISAT)
Japanese teacher shows her local counterparts, students new teaching methods on math and science
Assigned as a volunteer teacher in a Leyte school
TACLOBAN CITY – A Japanese volunteer teacher is helping public school teachers in Tanauan, Leyte by sharing her knowledge in new approaches in the areas of math and sciences to boost their competitiveness in said subjects.
Rena Takahashi is assigned at the Tanauan II Central School under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Volunteer Program and been a volunter for over a year now.
Takahashi used to be an elementary teacher in Sapporo, Japan before coming to the Philippines, according to JICA statement.
For her two-year volunteer work, Takahashi is focusing on shifting from traditional stick-counting techniques to which students are accustomed to new approach on math and science learning used in Japanese schools.
“In Japan, emphasis is on inculcating appreciation among students on math and science and using practical methods to teach difficult subjects,” Takahashi said.
Takahashi shares that in her country, teaching science is not through lectures but through experiential learning.
The method appears to be effective as Japan school-aged students ranked as among the top in the world in science and math, based on the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study.
Takahashi believes that teachers should devise ways on how to make children enjoy learning.
One of the techniques she is employing is the use of a calculation box which will help develop the students’ ability to calculate quickly and accurately through constant practice.
“Our teachers are using new instructional materials that they can apply in their daily math and science lessons, including variations from traditional stick-counting to using calculation boxes and hands-on science experiments,” Arnulfo Octa, principal of Tanauan II Central School, said.
The method of box frames to calculate numbers is effective since it was introduced to students as more Grades 1 to 3 students are able to have higher passing marks (93 to 96%) in addition and multiplication activities.
For the science subjects, the Japanese volunteer also organized an exposure trip of math and science teachers of the school in Japanese schools based in Manila, Planetarium, and University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (UP-NISMED).
“By visiting the Japanese schools in Manila, we saw best practices in classroom management, while also teaching students to become responsible and independent,” said Rhea Alkuino, a Grade 1 teacher.
Since 1960’s, JICA has been dispatching Japanese volunteers with a total of 1,669 volunteers helped support socio-economic development in the Philippines.
In Leyte, JICA focuses with particular attention to education, public health and livelihood sectors, the top priorities of the region. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Tacloban booth wins anew in this year’s travel mart
TACLOBAN CITY- Once again, the booth of Tacloban City was adjudged as the best in this year’s Philippine Travel Mart.
City Mayor Alfred Romualdez congratulated and thanked the team responsible behind the award-winning booth of the city through its City Tourism Office.
“Congratulations and thank you city team for the job well done”, the city chief executive said.
With this latest victory of the Tacloban City, the city was elevated into hall of fame as it won for three consecutive years.
During the August 30 to September 1 event held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, the Tacloban city booth was also adjudged as the people’s choice winner.
Tourism officer Bardot Atillo said that the city booth, mainly designed by Daniel Guarino with the help of his team, depicted the four elements of earth, air, fire and water.
Highlighted by the remnants of the strongest typhoon to hit inland, super typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ the booth showed the M/V Eva Jocelyn shipwreck at Anibong; the Monumental Flame located at the Astrodome where the names of the more than 2,200 people who perished during the deadly calamity are written, and the mass burial site located at the Holy Cross cemetery where those who died were buried.
The booth also showcased the destination assets of the city like the Sto. Niño Church; Sto. Niño Shrine; and the iconic San Juanico Bridge which connects the islands of Leyte and Samar inaugurated by then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos in 1974.
The booth also displayed and offered food tasting of Tacloban’s best foods, delicacies and local wine like lechon, tuba, moron, binagol, sagmani, pastillas, and cookies, among others.
The Tacloban booth also showed the city’s annual Sangyaw Parade of Lights which is being held a day before the city fiesta celebration on June 30.
The annual event, now on its 30th year, is sponsored by the Philippine Tour Operators Association which aims to promote and develop domestic and inbound tourism. (GAY B. GASPAY, TISAT)