It is a do-it-yourself thing that prevails these days in the society distressed by a horrifying catastrophe called supertyphoon Yolanda. The principle of self-help has become more of an imperative rather than a last ditch recourse for self-preservation. This is effectively felt and visibly observed in areas where the storm surge that rushed through the mainland about a kilometre from the shoreline and major waterways.
Though fearful yet of the tsunami-like torrents, quite a number of affected households continually rebuilt their abodes in same location in spite of the no-dwelling or no-build zone markers put up by authorities, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. As if held at bay by the delay in the relocation of those within these no-dwelling zones, the original dwellers have decided to remain near the “danger zone”. They seemed to be helpless with no permanent relocation to go in the face of the government advisory or prohibition to stay longer in their original abodes proximate to the shores and riverbanks.
While at first these dwellers were not many, the inaction of local authorities apparently tolerated them to mushroom persistently. The DENR office in Eastern Visayas has at the outset stayed itself away from blame on this sprouting frenzy despite of being at the forefront in erecting no-build zone posts in concerned vicinities. The DENR-RO8’s role in this regard is simply to do conduct the survey and establish the mark as well as put up the marker according to Regional Technical Director Ramon Unay. For now, the DENR-RO8 is targeting to cover in the marking the shorelines of Leyte island from Tacloban to Tolosa about 93 kilometers, Marabut and Basey in Samar about 57 kilometers, and 192 kilometers of Eastern Samar.
The DENR stressed that the local government unit, through its assessor’s office, will be the institution that will release the certification as to what areas are within the no-dwelling or no-build zone, and not this agency. In the same breadth, it is the LGU that has the power to restrain dwellers to reconstruct their homes in these zones and not the DENR. With a political will so lax, the mushrooming is an expected occurrence. Only the LGU that gives priority to this concern that could effectively stop the residents from rebuilding their homes in areas fit only for reforestation per Presidential Decree No. 1076.
As of now, the Tacloban City government has enumerated the residents subject for transfer to permanent relocation in northern barangay such as New Kawayan in 2016. This brings hope and flesh to the rhetoric of creating a buffer zone along the coastline communities to stave off high waters that another strong typhoon could produce.
Self-help, self-preservation
K to 12 program 8 public schools in Samar to pilot senior high school curriculum
TACLOBAN CITY-Eight government high schools in Samar province were identified for the implementation of the senior high school curriculum for school year 2015-2016.
This was revealed by Clarita Menda, education program supervisor for the K to 12 program of the schools division of Samar.
The readiness of the administrators and the students themselves were among the factors considered why the eight schools were chosen, Menda added.
She also said that the support of the communities was also a big factor why the schools were selected. There are 73 secondary schools within the Samar schools division.
The eight schools that are to implement the senior high school are the Quintin Quijano Sr. Memorial Agriculture School, Pinabacdao National High School and Parasanon National High School, all in Pinabacdao town; Calbiga National High School in Calbiga; Clarencio Calagos Memorial School of Fisheries in Sta. Margarita; Ramon T. Diaz Memorial School in Gandara; Paranas National High School in Paranas and Valeriano Yancha Memorial Agricultural School in Basey.
Menda said that this early, she is optimistic that the implementation of the senior high school curriculum in these eight public schools Samar would yield positive result.
Eventually, the senior high school program would be implemented in all the remaining 65 public high schools in the province.
Menda said that because of the willingness of the administrators and the students themselves of these schools to embrace the new curriculum being piloted by the Department of Education for the first time.
“Of course, we cannot also discount the fact that the help from our leaders here in Samar will also help for the success of the program’s implementation,” Menda said.
She particularly cited the full support being extended by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan for the K to 12 implementation.
The governor led a forum held on April 2 in Catbalogan City on the program that will be introduced for the first time in Samar.
The governor, in several interviews with her, had underscored the importance of education as a key for the province to improve the living condition of her people.
Thus, she had said, any program that has something to do for the improvement of the province’ education sector would be given needed support by her office.
Menda said that as part of their preparation for the implementation of the senior high school, their office is currently finalizing the number of teachers and classrooms that will be needed for the program.
“All we want now is for all the stakeholders to embrace the program. This is for our student’s benefits and for us all as well,”Menda said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Palo archdiocese launches fund drive
TACLOBAN CITY- The archdiocese of Palo has launched a new fund drive dubbed as Club Cuarenta (40) to bankroll its different undertakings under its “Alay Kapwa Projects.”
The Club Cuarenta was launched on April 13, a Palm Sunday simultaneously in all parishes within the jurisdiction of the metropolitan.
Under the Club Cuarenta program, donors are to register and give a minimum contribution of P40 into the fund. Among the main thrusts of the year-long project is to feed malnourished children for six months and provide livelihood to the parents in indigent families, archdiocese’ vicar-general and project promoter Monsignor Jaime Villanueva said.
Villanueva stressed the advantage of a combined undertaking among the people in doling out their spare amount over the customary giving of alms to beggars individually, which effect he described as “not very big and not significant.”
He added that they set a target of P20 million for this fund drive, representing half of the 1.2 million Catholics within the archdiocese.
Interested to join this undertaking of the archdiocese of Palo has to fill up a membership form available at the office of every parish or mission station; then they will give P1 for the next 40 days.
Those who contributed the entire P40 will be given a membership card of the Club Cuarenta which makes them a donor of the Archdiocese of Palo-Caritas Inc. (API).
The Club Cuarenta was implemented by dioceses outside the region in the 40 days of Lent this year in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines’ official alms-giving advocacy, Alay Kapwa. The Palo Archdiocese, however, is embarking on the project in one-year time commencing on April 13.
Meanwhile, the on the standard living allowance (SLA) for all the 148 priests within the archdiocese of Palo, which started January this year, will continue at a much lesser amount.
This is to give priority to priests who have no assignments and are sick, as clarified by Archbishop John Du, in his homily at the Chrism Mass he concelebrated at the Palo Cathedral on Maundy Thursday with the archdiocese former vicar-general Msgr. Bernie Pantin and current vicar-general Msgr. Villanueva.
Pantin is now assigned at the Catholic Bishops Conference f he Philippines where Arch. Du is an officer. As vicar-general, Villanueva assists the archbishop in the administration and governance of the Archdiocese since his appointment in 2010. (EILLEN NAZARENO-BALLESTEROS)
Last day of tax payment a success, BIR said
PALO, Leyte –The last day of filing of the income tax returns (ITRs) among taxpayers in the region on April 15 had a fiesta atmosphere.
Indeed, the regional office of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR Region 14) dubbed the last day of filing of income tax as “BIR Grand Fiestax 2014.”
The name was coined by BIR-8 Director Diosdado Mendoza who said that it was just fitting to celebrate the occasion to show their gratitude to the taxpayers who are fulfilling their duties as citizens of the country.
During the last day of filing of the ITRs, taxpayers were treated to free coffee, cakes, pastries, candies, ice cream, cotton candies, popcorn and even lechon (roasted pig).
Taxpayers were also entertained with local song and dance performances from local artists.
A free legal assistance was likewise offered to the taxpayers who needed legal advice as paramedics were present in case of medical emergencies.
A special line for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and parents who brought their babies with them were offered for their comfort.
Mendoza was glad that despite the bad weather, the last day of filing of taxes proved to be successful as thousands of taxpayers trooped to their offices to file their ITRs.
The BIR director expressed his hope that with the high turn-out of taxpayers, they could reach their tax collection for this year which is about P6.1 billion. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)
DA’s new director created sub-regional offices to better serve farmers
TACLOBAN CITY- The newly-assumed regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA-8) said that she created sub-regional offices to better their agency’s services to their clients who are mostly farmers.
The creation of sub-regional offices will also help address their lack of personnel considering that Eastern Visayas is quite big an area for their department to be able to monitor their programs, said Bernadette San Juan.
San Juan, who is just two months in her position as DA-8 director, said that the sub-regional offices would be headed by her assistant directors.
Each assistant regional director was assigned three provinces for them to monitor the implementations of the DA’s programs. Eastern Visayas comprises six provinces.
According to San Juan, each of her assistant will have seven clusters with each cluster manned by five 5 personnel that will focus on palay, corn, livestock, marketing, engineering, or infra concern.
San Juan said that with 146 municipalities to cover, it is quite impossible for her to personally visit all the areas for her to see their programs intended to improve the lives of their clients who are mainly farmers.
San Juan said that having no personnel in the fields makes it difficult for the DA to really see the impact of their programs. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)
Grand Fiestax 2014: Rebuilding E. Visayas through a festive and colorful income tax filing
PALO,Leyte– Regional Director Diosdado Mendoza along with the smiling officials and employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region (RR) No. 14, Tacloban City greeted a large number of taxpayers who rushed to various BIR offices in Leyte and Samar to beat the income tax filing deadline last April 15, 2014.
The BIR Grand FiesTax, which is a combination of the words “fiesta” and “tax” which is now on its second year, was a big hit to the taxpayers as a fiesta inspired income tax filing deadline captured their attention and brought back the spirit of our local culture and added color and entertainment to an otherwise stressful income tax filing deadline.
Simultaneously held in all six district offices in Leyte and Samar, the people in long lines were pleasantly delighted upon being served with free-flowing native delicacies and drinks by officials and employees of the BIR that made tax (return/s) filing more friendly and refreshingly fun.
Folk music filled the air even as taxpayers were enchanted by the colorful performances of a series of folk dances and folk songs from guest artists in the region.
Moreover, free legal assistance was offered to the taxpayers who needed legal advice while paramedics were assigned to offer medicines and blood pressure check-up and formedical emergencies. A special lane dedicated for Senior Citizens, Persons with Disability (PWDs) and pregnant women has been set up to facilitate their transactions with the Office and address their needs.
“We need a renewed hope to move forward after this Region was devastated by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, and the BIR Grand FiesTax is our way of inspiring the people to help rebuild Eastern Visayas,” Director Mendoza said.
“Despite of the calamity that we have experienced, the taxpayers came today to show how they support the BIR and the government by paying their taxes. Thus, it is but fitting that we express our heartfelt thanks to themand commit that we will continue this tradition every year,” he added.
The BIR has continually committed itself to work hand-in-hand with all its partners to help in the recovery efforts of all local industries in the region. Thus, the BIR Grand FiesTax is not just an innovative way to improve the image of the BIR but also an undertaking to encourage and entice taxpayers to pay their taxes as a symbol of patriotism in line with the current thrustof Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares. (PR)