TACLOBAN CITY— Two business establishments and a government agency were bestowed by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for their contributions to economic growth in the region. Recognized by the BSP on September 16 were Ktrust Commodities Inc. as outstanding respondent among large and medium firms; Business Frontier Corporation as outstanding respondent among small firms and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) as outstanding partner on regional economic development. The abovementioned awards signify BSP’s appreciation to stakeholders that provide information and statistics, enabling the government-run financial institution gets an idea of people’s perspective on the general direction of the economy, which is significantly needed in monetary and financial policy setting. Juan de Zuniga Jr., Monetary Board Member, said that the annual giving of awards, which is now on its 11th year, is BSP’s way of expressing their appreciation to all stakeholders in helping them make their policies well anchored, their forecast more credible and their regulatory more effective. On the other hand, BSP deputy governor resource management Vicente S. Aquino said that expressed his gratitude to their partners on their “contributions in the effective delivery of the Bangko Sentral mandate to promote price and financial stability and develop a better inclusive financial system.” (JESLY MARVIE GASPAY, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY – The ongoing rehabilitation of damaged health facilities here in the region has a total fund of P322 million. This was disclosed by Doctor Jose Llacuna, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH) who added that the rehabilitation has 60% identified projects which are ongoing with 40% now on their preparation phase or bidding process. “The entire budget requirement for quick fix has been downloaded already. We expect to complete all projects by the end of 2014,” Llacuna said. The quick fix has 34 towns listed in Leyte, nine towns listed in Eastern Samar, three towns in Samar and two towns in Biliran. “By 2015, we hope to complete the construction of bigger, better and safer health facilities,” Llacuna said. A total of P1.2 billion budget was approved for rehabilitation of destroyed health facilities in the three regions of Visayas. And of this allocation, P702.76 million was recorded for health facilities and P274.86 million for equipment. The DOH reported that 1,229 facilities were destroyed by during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda.
Of this number, 991 were barangay health stations, 153 were rural health units, 68, local-managed hospitals, seven city or district health centers, six retained hospitals, three private hospitals and a municipal health office.(JONA MAE ESTIL, LNU Intern)

PALO, Leyte- Mylene Sabalza, 27, said that she enrolled of the heavy equipment operation training course offered by the Korean contingent to have a better future for her family. While the course is considered for men only the mother of two children said she took it anyway hoping that she could easily find job, citing that heavy equipment operator has a high demand particularly abroad.

Sabalza, who is from Tolosa town in Leyte, was just one of the 12 women who took the course offered by the South Korean Joint Support Group, known also as “Araw Forces” at their base camp located in Government Center, this town. They received their certifications on September 19. Sabalza, a computer secretarial student but failed to finish the course due to poverty, enrolled for crane operation. “At first it was hard. During the theory (class), I was very excited but when it was time for the practical training, I got scared because I don’t have knowledge in driving,” she said. “I hope that this will bring me a better future not only for me but also for my children,” Sabalza added. Her husband has no steady income of his own being only a laborer.

Technical Education Skills Development Authority Regional (TESDA) Regional Director Cleta Omega recognizes the women who finished the heavy equipment course saying that they could do what men could accomplish. But Omega admitted that finding jobs could be quite difficult as training centers produces graduates than what the market could only absorb.
Since April of this year, more than 400 individuals finished their courses sponsored by the Korean contingents with only few of them managed to find work. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)