NAVAL, Biliran- In the interest of greater transparency in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) project implementation, as well as engaging major stakeholders for support and cooperation, DPWH-Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) has initiated in the creation of Infrastructure Monitoring & Advisory Group (IMAG) for each of the major projects implemented.
The composition of the IMAG/ad hoc body are the local chief executives of the local government unit where the project is located or their authorized representative, DPWH regional director, DPWH district engineer of the place where the project is located, project engineer, project contractor, and representative from the religious group.
“The purpose of having this IMAG meeting is to ensure effective and efficient implementation of Infrastructure Development Program especially on high impact infrastructure projects,” said David P. Adongay Jr., district engineer.
The meeting was conducted on December 13 at DPWH-Biliran DEO and attended by Mario L. Tabunia, DENR-PENRO, Biliran, Warlito B. Alagao, president – PICE Biliran Chapter, and Alex L. Quiñones, representative of Governor Gerry Espinsa.
Maripipi Mayor Uldarico P. Macorol, Flores de la Peña, contractor’s representatives of LEDA Construction, Biliran DEO Personnel and Engr. Sandy Pua, incoming chief of Construction Division of DPWH Regional Office also attended the meeting.
IMAG is an ad hoc body which will assist the DPWH during all phases of project implementation including the problems and issues arising during the project implementation.
It is a mechanism for a participatory and transparent monitoring during the project’s construction phase to ensure that projects are accomplished at the right time, and with right quality.
According to Engr. Pua, the IMAG was adopted in 1996, in response to the delays in implementation of flagship projects of the national government.
One of the projects identified in the province of Biliran is the concreting of Maripipi circumferential road.
Alberto V. Cañete, project engineer, reported that the project is on-going with 16% accomplishment and was delayed due to residential buildings affected in the implementation of projects particularly in Brgy. Canduhao.
Said project has a contract amount of P128.8 million with a contract duration on March 31, 2016 from its start date on July 6, 2016.
The scope of work includes rehabilitation of 6 km. gravel road starting from Km. 0+450 to Binalayan. The length of PCCP is 4 KM divided into 2, the first 2 Km located at Banlas-Poblacion side and the second location at Poblacion- Binalayan with concrete line canal.
Cañete requested Mayor Macorol and the village officials of the town to help the contractor in solving the problem on obstructions of Road Right of way (RROW) in order not to hamper the project implementation. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- Three drug suspects from this city were arrested in a buy-bust operation that resulted to the confiscation from their possession illegal drug worth P60,000.
Arrested by the city anti-drug special operations task group, headed by Chief Inspector Steve Castillote III, were Genita Magno, 50, married and a resident of Barangay 53, Real St.; Abegail Samarro,28, single and a resident of Brgy 74, Nula-Tula and Ashley Matillano,26, married and a resident of Kassel City.
The three suspects, who were all jobless, were arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 53, Real St. at about 4:30 pm on December 29 that resulted to their arrests.
The poseur- buyer bought from the suspects one piece heat-sealed transparent sachet containing suspected shabu.
Recovered from the suspects’ actual possession were six pieces heat sealed transparent sachet containing suspected shabu with estimated market value of P 60,000, three wallets, one unit black My Phone cellular phone and three pieces P100 bills.
Confiscated pieces of drug evidence were turned over to the Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO8) for qualitative and quantitative analysis while the other pieces of non-drug evidence were turned over to the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) evidence custodian.
Suspects are now under the custody of TCPO custodial facility while cases for violation of Sections 5 & 11 of RA 9165 are being prepared for filing before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8 under the supervision of S/Supt. Rolando V. Bade, acting city director of TCPO. (PR)

ORMOC CITY- An alleged drug pusher this city was killed during a buy bust operation on the eve of New Year’s celebration.
Em Luzares, 37, married and a resident of Barangay Cogon was killed after he attempted to draw his gun while he was dealing with an undercover policeman, Chief Inspector Joseph Joevel Young, head of Police Station 3 and of the city anti-illegal drugs and special operations task group (CAIDSSOTG),said.
Recovered from the suspect, who was also known to be contractor, was a packed of methamphetamine or shabu and a P500 marked money.
Young added that Luzares was on board in his white car going to the city when the drug transaction was done.
While the transaction was ongoing, the suspect sensed that he was dealing with a law enforcer and drew his gun.
But the undercover policeman was able to shot him first which resulted to his instant death, Young said.
Luzares, a suspected drug pusher known as street value target, was earlier subjected to a series of surveillance but the operatives have difficulty getting chance on him as he was said to be very careful on his illegal drug dealings.
The intensified campaign by the government against the proliferation of illegal drugs have resulted the price of the contraband to increase reason why Luzares, who has a legitimate business, continued to engage in the illegal drug trade, police said.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

Year 2016 is Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) 75th birth year, having flown for the first time in 1941, just months before the outbreak of World War II.
So, on March 15, 2016, PAL management unveiled its new marketing campaign – the Heart of the Filipino – before its personnel and a select group of VIP guests
Special dinners in Manila and major domestic and international stations for PAL personnel and guests were held to start the ball rolling for the year-long 75th anniversary celebration.
A coffee table book and a commemorative postage stamp were unveiled, together with the traditional exhibit of historical photos and memorabilia.
Three of the country’s best contemporary singers – Leah Salonga, Bamboo and Sarah Geronimo – gave life to PAL’s new theme song, “The Heart of the Filipino,” igniting a global campaign that associated heartwarming Filipino service with the flag carrier.
The marketing campaign coincided with the announcement of a new corporate vision – to be a five-star airline within five years.
PAL now aims to rejoin the league of the world’s best airlines, to be ranked five-star by Skytrax, a global airline rating organization.
Inside PAL, employees’ mantra is to “Get That Star” – soliciting personal staff commitments to ensure passenger expectations are exceeded.
In 2016, PAL announced a most impressive financial performance with $134.42 million comprehensive income for 2015, which is a six-fold leap over the previous year.
This is one of the reasons why the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA) named PAL as Airline Turnaround for the Year 2016.
During the year, the airline took delivery of seven new aircraft – two Boeing 777-300ERs and five Airbus A321s – bringing the PAL fleet to 81 aircraft by yearend.
The aircraft deliveries continue until year 2024.
An expanded fleet allowed PAL to fly to four new international destinations (Kuwait, Jeddah, Doha, Saipan), open new routes (Cebu-Singapore, Cebu-Los Angeles, Manila-Taipei-Osaka, Cebu-Caticlan-Clark) and increase flight frequencies (Manila-Los Angeles – twice daily; Manila-Toronto – 3x to 4x weekly; Manila-Beijing – 4x to 6x weekly; and Manila-Vancouver – 7x to 10x weekly).
In January 2016, PAL ordered six Airbus A350-900, a twin-engine jet designed for long-haul flights, fitted with luxurious cabin amenities that will redefine the standards of premium travel. Four A350s will be delivered in 2018, the last two in 2019.
With the A350, PAL will be able to fly non-stop Manila-New York, through the Arctic region.
Also, PAL ordered five new generation Bombardier Q400 turboprop airplanes, configured with 86 seats (10 seats more than the existing Q400 fleet) and choice seats in the forward section.
Meanwhile, the airline introduced a series of product innovations topped by an enhanced inflight connectivity system called the myPAL Inflight Entertainment System, which consist of myPALeSuite, myPALWifi, myPAL Mobile and myPAL Player apps.
With myPALeSuite, passengers can catch up on the latest movies, TV shows and music while flying. With myPALWi-fi, passengers can surf and browse the internet, update and check social apps at 30,000 feet above ground. With myPAL Mobile, passengers can call and text loved ones. Lastly, with the myPAL Player app, passengers can stream the latest movies, TV shows and music on one’s own device. The myPAL Player app is available on both android and iOS.
Other service enhancements include myPAL Upgrade, which allows passengers to bid online for upgrades to Business Class; myPAL Roam, which is a global mobile hotspot that provides fast and affordable mobile data around the world; Mabuhay Miles Travel Card that serves as a travel wallet; and the PAL Boutique that sells exclusive co-branded items essential for travel.
Other milestones marked in 2016 include:
• In January, PAL adopted a Philippine eaglet, named by employees ‘Sinag,’ and donated a million miles which the Philippine Eagle Foundation may exchange for free tickets in pursuit of their advocacy to nurture and preserve the endangered specie;
• In April, PAL took pride at Maxine Medina for being crowned 2016 Binibining Pilipinas-Universe. She is the daughter of PAL pilot Capt. Max Medina;
• In May, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented to PAL and PAL Express a certificate of implementation of the IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM), proving the two carriers’ compliance to internationally recognized standards in ground safety and operations;
• For more than a week in August, PAL operated special direct flights to Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to fly Filipino Hajj pilgrims;
• In September, PAL opened its first contact center in China, serving passengers from seven mainland cities – Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Jinjiang, Shanghai, Xiamen;
• PAL hosted the 60th Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA) last November;
• Also in November, the 180-seater A320 jets were deployed for the first time to Caticlan, accommodating more passengers to/from Boracay.
Throughout the year, the company maintained being a socially responsible corporate citizen. PAL continued to deliver relief goods to disaster areas, repatriated OFWs in war-torn countries and recently flown financially-challenged, talented Filipinos to represent the best of country in international competitions through its flagship corporate social responsibility project – RPRSNT Pinoy!
The excitement continues in 2017 as PAL lines up more aircraft deliveries, inaugural flights, new products and services – starting with new routes that would fly passengers direct to their destinations without transiting in Manila, such as Clark-Incheon (South Korea) on January 1, 2017
Also in 2017, PAL will start retrofitting its fleet of Airbus A330 with new economy seats, lie-flat Business Class seats and the latest inflight entertainment system through individual seat monitors. By removing more than a hundred seats, all passengers get more legroom.
The country’s pioneer flag carrier is focused at its goal of transforming into a five-star airline. The pace just got faster towards achieving that goal in 2017.