TACLOBAN CITY- A couple with two others was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in different sting operations in the region for using and selling the prohibited hydrochloride methamphetamine or shabu. Liza Baoy, PDEA information officer, identified the arrested persons as Danilo Bueta, 50 and his common-law wife, Nenita Solayao, 44; Melvin Facturan; and Conrad Borneo. Bueta and his wife were arrested by the PDEA agents in Calbiga, Samar last May 13 in a buy bust operation which yielded for the confiscation of five sachets of purported shabu, various drug paraphernalias and P500. The couple are now detained at the Calbiga police station and charged for violation of Republic Act 9165, the comprehensive drugs law, particularly for possession and selling of the illegal drug. Meantime, Factoran of Lumbang 1, Calanipawan of Tacloban was arrested in possession of shabu weighing 6.9 grams last May 21. Also arrested was a Conrad Borneo,34 and married in Brgy. Santo Nino, Matalom, Leyte during a buy bust operation last May 24 with agents of the NBI were able to seize from the suspect one gram of shabu with a street value of P10,000. Cases for illegal possession and selling shabu were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the PDEA-8. Baoy said that suspects arrested by them are place under their custodial unit while those arrested in a joint operation with police are locked up at jails. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)
Mayor Aquino talks his vision for Calbayog’s transformation as agri-eco-tourism hub for EV
BAYBAY CITY- Calbayog City Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino shared the PGS (Public Governance System) practice of his administration during the first ever Partnership Summit on human resource reforms and good governance held this city. The summit, spearheaded by the Civil Service Commission(CSC-8) held last May 26, were participated by regional directors of the different national government agencies, managers of government owned and controlled corporations and water districts in the region as well as presidents of state colleges and universities; DepEd Superintendents, mayors and their human resource officers and human resource management practitioners. The CSC conducted the summit to report to their partners and colleagues in government service their HR principles; what have they done when it comes to the delivery of their mandate and share with them their experiences in their journey to transformation thru PGS. CSC Regional Director Victoria Esber said that they started using PGS in 2010 and alongside restated their vision to becoming “Asia’s leading center of excellence for strategic Human Resource and Organization Development by 2030”. In his talk at the summit, Mayor Aquino asserted his commitment to transform Calbayog into the premiere eco-agri-tourism hub by 2020. To support this vision, he said that on September 2012, Calbayog renewed its commitment to pursue the “institutionalization” stage. A refreshed strategy map called the “Calbayog 2020 Development Strategy Map”, the city governance scorecard and 15 strategic initiatives, he further said, are now fully installed for the city to finally reach the said long overdue potential of achieving its vision. The “2020 Development Strategy Map of Calbayog” is anchored on the values of good governance, better quality of life for empowered God-loving citizens, and private-public partnership for a sustainable economic development, entrepreneurship and self-reliance. Whereas, its mission is to initiate programs with holistic approach that will promote sectorial recognition and role actualization, thus affording its citizens and tourists with quality basic services for progress and total well-being. Meanwhile, for governance scorecard, Calbayog has identified 30 quantifiable, reliable and regularly available strategic indicators, but during the summit, Mayor Aquino only discussed three – first is the increased total local income that is therefore a sign that Calbayog is now “fiscal self-reliance;”second, an investor-friendly atmosphere that is best in the region and third, a place that people will want to visit because of its beautiful waterfalls, caves, long coastal area, arts and culture, and strategic geographic position. (AIMEE A. CATALAN/PR)
American chamber donated fishing boats to Leyte towns
TOLOSA, Leyte – The American Chamber Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.(AmCham) donated 30 fishing boats made of fiber glass to fishermen coming from different coastal towns in Leyte. The donation of the 18 footer fishing boats was held last May 22 in Barangay Dona Brigida, this town, and led by AmCham’s president Rhick Jennings and its executive director Ebb Hinchcliffe. Also present were rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and Mayors Remedios “Matin” Petilla of Palo; Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan and Erwin Ocana of this town. The beneficiaries of the fishing boats donated by the American business chamber came from the different coastal villages of the three towns which were among the hardest areas in Leyte during the onslaught of Yolanda last November 8, 2013. Hinchcliffe, in his message, said that the fishing boats donated by them were just part of their “overall effort” to help rebuild Leyte. “It may be in another set of boats for another set of recipients but surely more help will still come from us,” Hincliffe said. The boats, which were first tested in Bacoor, Cavite before they were brought here, were donated by different companies and individuals who are affiliated with AmCham. The donations were 18-footer fiberglass boats painted in red, white and blue. These include Arankada, Sc Johnson & Son, Ambassador Charles Salmon, Fair Isaac (ASPAC) Ltc., FICO, US Chamber Foundation, Time Depot, Harte-Hanks Philippines, New World Makati Hotel, Nu-Skin Enterprises, Inc., American Camber Foundation, Quezon Power Philippines, Inc., Rapha Health Institute, Mary Kay Philippines, Inc., Atty. Peter Yap, Manpower Group, FactSet, UHS Essential Health Philippines, Inc., Mr. Rhick Jennings, Del Monte Philippines and Del Monte Foundation. The AmCham founded on December 06, 1985 which acts as the socio civic arm of member companies of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
“Little bit slow” East Visayas bishops appeals to Pres. Aquino to speed up recovery efforts
TACLOBAN CITY—Bishops from the region issued an appeal to President Aquino to hasten the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in Yolanda-hit areas as they noticed that the effort was “a little bit slow,” close to seven months after Eastern Visayas was pummeled by supertyphoon Yolanda. The appeal was issued by Bishops Isabelo Abarquez of the diocese of Calbayog and Crispin Varquez of the diocese of Borongan during a media interview. The two bishops were in Tacloban to attend the “Livelihood Recovery Convergence in Samar Island” organized by the Asia Foundation and attended by different government agencies like Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other non-governmental organizations like Tindog (Rise up) Samar held last May 26. “There seem to be lack of coordination, maybe there is lack of convergence. Those are important. Then when (BFAR national director Asis) Perez showed me a presentation this morning, it was found out that they have ‘convergence.’ So what is important is to integrate those suggestions made by the organizer,” Abarquez said. Abarquez, however, said that when he interviewed several mayors and even a governor, he was able to know on the issue of lack of funding. “I think the locals are just waiting,” he said. Abarquez’ area covers the entire province of Samar with the towns of Basey and Marabut the hardest areas. For his part, Bishop Varquez said that he is more concern of the housing needs in his areas. “On housing, still there is no concrete (solution). There is a plan, but still no concrete plan,” Varquez said. Varquez said that since they were able to get some funding from various private donors, they were doing their part for the construction of temporary shelters for the victims in Eastern Samar, particularly in the towns of Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan, considered to be the worst hit of Yolanda in the province. The bishop also voiced out on the problem of land acquisition for the permanent housing. Varquez maintained that there is still a chance for the region to recover quickly if everyone will work together. “The reason of our coming here is why we have this convergence. Practically, so that all sectors, whether from private, public, local, national and international, to help each other, to help survivors to rebuild their lives and become better persons. Eastern Visayas would not the same anymore, three years after Yolanda. I hope we can see that kind of goal, otherwise if nothing happens, we’ll go back to being poor, perhaps even more like before Yolanda,” he said. “That is our common vision. How we can make our place more productive three years from now. Otherwise we will miss the opportunity. We have to transcend ourselves. Yolanda must be transformative. Its destructive effect should transform us all,” Varquez added.
Meanwhile, BFAR national director Perez assured the public that they have doing their job, particularly in providing fishing boats for the fishermen in all affected areas.
He, however, admitted that with the extent of damage caused by Yolanda, the government was overwhelmed of its impact reason why the rehabilitation effort appears to be slower than expected.
Perez also said that their efforts are not being announced to the public as “this is part of our job.’
“It is part of our duty. It is our job,” he said.
Director Bernadette San Juan of the DA also maintained that rice farmers in the region continued to boost its productivity by giving the farmers certified seeds and fertilizers with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).(RONALD O.REYES)
UN exec assures Yolanda victims of their continued presence in the region
TACLOBAN CITY-United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Kyung-Wha Kang made an assurance that their presence will continue to be felt in all Yolanda-hit areas for as long as there are humanitarian groups who are helping victims in the recovery and rehabilitation phase. “We will continue to monitor and coordinate all relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of typhoon,” said Kang during her visit last May 24 this city. Kang was on her second visit to Tacloban as she first visited the city, considered to be the ground zero of Yolanda, last December, 2013 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Kang noticed that despite of the massive tragedy that they have suffered due to Yolanda, the survivors are doing their best to return to normal life. The UN humanitarian deputy chief’s visit to Tacloban and nearby town of Palo was to assess the humanitarian response and the transition to recovery of the survivors six months after supertyphoon Yolanda devastated these areas. Among sites she visited in Tacloban were Barangay 88 at San Jose District where she met residents of the village and nearby barangays who are beneficiaries of skills trainings from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and Barangay 52 at Magallanes where she checked the shelter solutions and talked with people chosen to be relocated in safer areas. Kang was joined with Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during her visit to these areas. In Palo, Leyte, the UNOCHA head visited a bunkhouse located at the Government Center, Brgy. Baras and engaged in a dialogue with local officials headed by Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, Palo Councilor Jonathan Chiquillo. She also asked the typhoon victims living at the bunkhouse regarding their living conditions. The UN OCHA chief was informed that acquiring lots remains to be the problem of local government units why there is a delay in the construction of permanent shelters for the displaced families who totally lost their houses due to Yolanda. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
DENR signed partnership with 2 S.Leyte towns for fast land title process
TACLOBAN CITY-The filing of applications for land titling will soon be made accessible and easier in two towns of Southern Leyte, after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-8) signed a memorandum of partnership with the town officials for this purpose. With the signing of the memorandum, the Land Information Office was effectively created in the towns of Malitbog and Libagon to carry out the task of a faster land titling process, said DENR Executive Director Leonardo Sibbaluca. Sibbaluca informed reporters that the signing of the memorandum of partnership agreement (MOPA) with the DENR-8 between Mayor Oliver Ranque of Libagon and Mayor Allan Go of Malitbog was held at the DENR Provincial Office in Maasin City last April 2, 2014. Sibbaluca said that through the said MOPA, the LIO is established and operated in the respective municipalities. The LIO will be manned by DENR-8 personnel and LGU personnel who are to be trained on land titling procedures, he added. He said that the people from the two towns could now file their land title applications and have other land transactions with the LIO at their respective municipality instead of going to the DENR’s Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices to transact on land matters. “The DENR came up with this strategy to bring its services closer to the people. It would be easier for them to secure lot data, maps, and file land title application, thus saving time, money and effort,” Sibbaluca said. He further said that at present his office together with the LGUs of Libagon and Malitbog are mapping plans for the training of the DENR-8 and LGU personnel who will be assigned and operate the LIO offices in the respective municipalities. Sibbaluca said that the establishment of the LIOs in municipalities is mandated in Republic Act No. 10023, otherwise known as “An Act Authorizing the Issuance of Free Patents to Residential Lands”. This covers applications for free patents pertaining to untitled public alienable and disposable lands which have been zoned as residential. It shall also cover zoned residential areas in proclaimed town site reservations, he added. Sibbaluca further informed reporters that in 2011, DENR issued Department Administrative Order No. 2011-06 which prescribed the guidelines for the implementation of public land titling in partnership with the local government units. He said that his office is still looking at increased partnership pacts with other municipalities to boost not only residential but also other modes of titling activities of the region. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)