ALANGALANG, Leyte- “These new facilities will answer the food security concerns of Region VIII,” National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino emphasized during the blessing and inauguration of a 2.5 tons per hour (TPH) rice mill and groundbreaking ceremony of the 100,000 cavans capacity warehouse at the NFA compound, this town.
The 2.5 TPH multi-pass rice mill can process 50 bags of palay per hour and guarantees a minimum milling recovery of 65.00% and 63.00% for regular-milled rice and well-milled rice, respectively.
Aside from ordinary milled rice, the plant can produce mist polished premium grade to other grades as desired.
The 100,000 cavans capacity warehouse will come to fruition within the 180 days construction period.
Together with NFA Deputy Administrator for Finance and Administration Ludovico J. Jarina, the NFA chief graced the occasion with the added purpose of touching base with field operations and the local government.
He underscored the importance of consultations and interactions with the LGUs in the implementation of the agency’s plans and programs.
On the other hand, Deputy Administrator Jarina delved on the lifting of the Quantitative Restrictions (QR’s) specifically on rice. He also discussed the operational and financial status of the agency.
In his welcome message, NFA-8 Regional Director Marciano A. Alvarez declared his continuing support to NFA’s thrusts on food security and affirmed that the facilities will indeed be an immense help to all NFA stakeholders in the whole region.
NFA-8 Assistant Regional Director Procopio B. Trabajo II expressed his gratitude to the men and women of NFA, as well as the local government officials for gracing the affair, a manifestation of their support to the agency. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued over 7, 000 land titles to qualified beneficiaries here in the region last year.
The issuance of the land titles was under its “Handog Titulo” program which is in compliance of Republic Act 10023 otherwise known as “Free Patent Act” as well as under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of 2016.
“This law (RA 10023) aims to ease the requirements and procedures in the titling of residential lands. It legalizes a Filipino citizen’s rights over a parcel of land actually possessed for at least 10 years provided that the land applied for is not needed for public use or public service,” Leonardo Sibbaluca,DENR regional director, said in a press statement.
Sibbaluca said that the issuance of the free patents is part of the government’s program to reduce poverty and increasing the productivity of the people.
“We care about the economic growth and the total well-being of the people through an equitable access to land,” the DENR official said.
Sibbaluca said that their office, which is responsible in managing, disposing and recording, and administering the alienable and disposable kinds of the state, ensures to facilitate ownership of lands, especially to those who have less in life.
Sibbaluca urged land claimants to file their applicants for land titles at their nearest DENR office.
Aside from issuing free residential patents, the DENR regional office distributed 1, 888 agricultural patents last year, covering an aggregate area of 1, 484 hectares.
The issuance of agricultural patent is under the CARP that aims to alleviate poverty and to promote social equity among landless individuals.
The DENR regional office shows data that 5, 705 residential free patents covering an aggregate area of 91. 53 hectares were distributed to beneficiaries across the region last year. (PEDRO NOYA, EVSU Intern)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte-Police Regional Office 8 under the leadership of Chief Supt.Elmer C. Beltejar, police regional director, acknowledged in a formal rite a total of 290 police personnel who were promoted to the next higher rank during the flag raising ceremony at PRO8 Grandstand Monday (January 30).
During the activity, C/Supt. Beltejar together with Alicia Pardiñas and Arlyn Basas, Napolcom regional office 8 representatives, led the recognition of the newly promoted PNP personnel in the donning and pinning of ranks ceremony.
The event was witnessed by Police Senior Superintendent Allan Cuevillas, deputy regional director for operations; members of the Command Group and Directorial Staff, family, friends, relatives and partners of the promotees.
C/Supt. Beltejar said that out of the 290 promotees, 20 are Police Commissioned Officers (PCOs) and 270 are Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs).
He further noted that the promotees were composed of eight for the rank of police chief inspector, 10 for police senior inspector, two for police inspector, nine for senior police officer 4, nine for senior police officer 3, 25 for senior police officer 2, 11 for senior police officer 1, 42 for police officer 3 and 174 for police officer 2.
In his message, C/Supt.Beltejar said that the PNP always notes that rank and promotion are not a reward of what was done well but a recognition that each has the potential to do more.
”Your reward will be the exact proportion of your service,” he added.
Moreover, the donning and pinning of ranks is done simultaneously in all levels of command of the PNP to acknowledge the achievement of the promotees. (PR)

CARIGARA, Leyte- Belgian philanthropist Patrick Haghedooren based in Southern Leyte provided a new multi-million worth of hospital equipment for the hospital and health centers in this town.
Haghedooren came with a 40-foot cargo containing donations of 30 hospital beds, delivery tables, mattresses, chairs, tables, sofas, cabinets, hospital staff uniforms and several other medical instruments to equip the local hospital.
All the items were donations from different hospitals in Belgium and were shipped to Leyte via Cebu.
The Belgian national has previously donated similar hospital equipment in Camotes Island and in some towns in Southern Leyte province.
This time, Haghedooren chose to help the Carigara District Hospital (CDH) and some health centers.
“I have seen for myself how lacking in equipment, even beds, some of (the) hospitals here.Patients have to lie in worn-out mattresses and rusty hospital beds,” Haghedooren said.
“I really hope these (equipment) will help patients recover faster and help hospitals in their service,” he added.
The 30 electronic hospital beds alone cost P 6 million, it was learned. Haghedooren usually brings in the medical equipment from Belgium at his own expense.
Haghedooren also said that additional donations of wheel chairs for the town are to be delivered soon.
Town Mayor Eduardo Ong extended his gratitude to the Belgian national saying these equipment will go a long way in furnishing community health centers in the town.
Ong pointed out that with maternal delivery now only allowed in hospitals and birthing centers, the donated equipment can be put into good use.
Meanwhile, Engr. Roque Aguilar, a local philanthropist who has been soliciting donations for CDH, said that the arrival of the hospital equipment is timely considering that its new wing is to open increasing its current 75-bed capacity.
CDH has been undergoing face-lifting and expansion after most of its buildings were destroyed during the onslaught of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. (AHLETTE C. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- “We should help bring in more investments in terms of agricultural infrastructures and livelihood, especially in areas severely hit by calamities. The opportunity is there under the project (PRDP).”
Thus said Director U-Nichols A. Manalo during the recent Philippine Rural Development Project(PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office 8 (RPCO) and LGU Management Implementation Units’ 1st Quarter Coordination Meeting held in separate sessions at the Department of Agriculture -8’s office building, in Kanhuraw Hill, here.
He pointed out that the usual occurrence of typhoons in the region poses a major challenge for the agriculture sector.
“There are still areas in our region which have not yet fully recovered from calamities. Some displaced farmers still need badly our assistance for them to find better income opportunities,” the DA-8 director said.
“We have more work to do this year. It is high time we push ourselves higher and work together as a team for a much better performance this year,” he added.
In particular, Director Manalo cited the need to fast track the completion of the value –chain analysis and correspondingly, the formulation of the commodity investment plans of the different provinces.
“We could not proceed with any proposed enterprise and infrastructure subprojects without complying with this basic requirement,” he stressed.
Under the project enterprise component, Region 8 has already a total of 45 subprojects submitted with a budgetary requirement of P59 million, 44 of which were approved and funded while 3 more are still subject for approval.
On the other hand, under its infrastructure component, out of 39 subprojects requiring P2.5 billion, 4 are already under ongoing implementation, 7 more had been approved, and 29 are still in the pipeline.
Last December 19-20, 2016, a conditional approval was made by the Regional Project Advisory Board for the concreting of Brgy. Conception to Sitio Morena, Hampangan farm-to- market road, in Hilongos, Leyte involving a total cost of P136.6 million.
The board also unanimously approved 9 micro-enterprise subprojects for the different farmers associations in the province of Northern Samar requiring a sum of P11.3 million.
The funding support under the project for micro-enterprise subprojects partake as part of the DA’s rehabilitation assistance for the farmers affected by typhoon Nona.
“The challenge goes even enormous for Region 8 this year as we will be hosting two important activities for the Visayas cluster. First, will be the World Bank implementation support mission to be held possibly in April and, the mid-term implementation review in November,” Director Manalo said. (PR)

CATBALOGAN CITY- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Regional Office VIII conducted a values re-orientation and financial management with simple book-keeping to the 29 members of Catbalogan Overseas Workers and Families Association (COWFA) last January 24, 2017 at SP Session Hall, here.
Director Meilou C. Macawile, provincial director of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Samar steered the morning activity with her talk about entrepreneurship and values re-orientation.
Director Macawile focused her discussion on the process of achieving self-mastery and on what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
Furthermore, she also advised the participants to have a positive outlook in life and to continue pursuing their dreams and start their own business.
After the inspirational talk of Director Macawile, Zeyric D. Tan, DTI-Samar technical assistant facilitated the conduct of the financial literacy Seminar.
The financial management, which as requested by the organization to be conducted, aims to help them be equipped with the proper knowledge in handling their organization’s resources.
Tan taught the OFC members on how to use cashbook for easy bookkeeping and gave them a basic understanding of the financial statement. After the short discussion the participants did a practical application of what they learned and made their own financial statements for the business they want to have in the future.
The COWFA, which was organized last October 17, 2017, is the 22nd OFW Family Circle organized by the RWO 8 in the province of Samar.
The organization was also awarded a certification of registration during the event, which was received by the OFW Family Circle president Hilda Samante.
Maila G. De Guia, Peso manager and OFW Help Desk Officer, also graced the occasion.
Future plans of the organization includes a counselling session with DTI-Samar this February 2017 and looking forward to avail of the free IT training offered by OWWA RWO VIII.(PR)