TACLOBAN CITY – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 8 has distributed P7.6 million worth of assistance to six fisherfolk associations in Samar province during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) held in Calbayog City on November 22, 2024.

The aid includes bangus production in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) cages, shallow water payao projects, and motorized fiberglass boats, all provided under BFAR 8’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase II.

The beneficiaries of the Bangus Production in HDPE Cage project include Brgy. Yangta Fisherfolk Association (Brgy. Yangta, Daram);Kapit Bisig Tungo sa Pag-unlad ng Mamamayan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (Brgy. Poblacion 1, Talalora); Brgy. Poblacion B Fish Cage Association (Brgy. Poblacion B, Tarangnan); Sitio Sabang Fisherfolk Association (Brgy. Poblacion 2, Talalora); Sitio Bonga Small Fisherfolk Association (Sitio Bonga, Brgy. Banquel, Villareal);and Sto. Niño Marginal Fisherfolk Association (Brgy. Basud, Sto. Niño, Samar) received the Shallow Water Payao Project with a motorized boat.
BFAR-8, through its Provincial Fisheries Office in Samar, also provided frontline services during the event.

These included assistance with licensing of commercial fishing vessels, Fishpond Lease Agreements, legal consultations, technical advice on fisheries production, free tilapia fingerling applications, fisherfolk registration, and applications for the Fisheries Scholarship Program, among others.

The initiative underscores BFAR-8’s commitment to enhancing the livelihood and productivity of Samar’s fisherfolk through sustainable and innovative fisheries programs.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY – Students of Cagbuhangin Elementary School in Barangay Cagbuhangin, Ormoc City, Leyte can now look forward to a better learning environment with the completion of a new two-classroom school building constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office.

The single-storey building with an area of 133.52 square meters, is designed with inclusivity and functionality in mind. Each of the two classrooms is equipped with its own toilet, ensuring convenience for students, and a ramp to provide easy access for persons with disabilities.

Funded through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024 with a contract amount of Php4,950,120.31, it involved extensive earthworks, reinforced concrete, electrical installations, and other civil works to meet high-quality standards.

By providing a safe and comfortable space for learning, the new building aims to improve education quality and contribute to the economic growth in the area. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda commended the City Health Office (CHO) for initiating a creative and impactful program aimed at steering the youth away from harmful vices.

Dubbed as the “Bisyo Skeri Maze,” the event took place on November 19 and sought to discourage young people from engaging in smoking, alcoholism, gambling, drug addiction, and pre-marital sex.

“I commend our City Health Office for successfully organizing the Bisyo Skeri Maze event. As I’ve said, it’s delightful to see that our healthcare providers are not only skilled in administering care but are also creative! Through their thoughtfully designed booths, they were able to vividly portray the frightening consequences of various vices,” Mayor Agda said in a mix of English and Waray.

The mayor expressed his intent to expand the program into a larger event by the first quarter of 2025, emphasizing its significance in addressing issues like teenage pregnancy, substance addiction, and other social challenges.

“This initiative not only educates but also motivates our youth to act responsibly and become productive members of the community,” Agda added.

He encouraged the CHO to replicate the activity next year on a bigger and more extensive scale to reach a wider audience.

The Department of Health-sponsored event featured interactive booths that graphically showcased the negative effects of vices. Youth participants, including Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, were actively involved.

SK Barangay E Kagawad Angela Lagrada praised the program for its relevance and the lessons it imparted.

“As youth leaders of our barangay, attending activities like this is important because it helps us understand key issues better. This enables us to support our peers’ well-being and implement effective community projects,” Lagrada said.

Mayor Agda expressed hope that the program’s success will inspire similar youth-focused initiatives to foster healthier, more responsible lifestyles among the young people of Borongan City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ALBUERA, Leyte— Six sachets of suspected shabu were seized from a newly identified drug peddler during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the local police on November 16, in Barangay Poblacion, this town.

Police Captain Julio Tamayo, chief of police, identified the suspect as Primo Caparos, 49, single, jobless, and a resident of the area.

Caparos is listed as a street-level individual (SLI) in the Albuera PNP’s drug watch list.
During the operation, an undercover operative purchased a sachet of suspected shabu worth P500 from the suspect. A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the recovery of five more sachets of suspected shabu inside a small plastic container.

In an interview, the suspect admitted that he recently resumed selling illegal drugs after years of abstaining, claiming he had stopped during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte. He also confessed to being a drug user, saying his last use was on the morning of the day he was arrested.

Charges for violating Sections 5 (selling illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of Article II of Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, have been filed against the suspect at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Baybay City. He is currently detained at the lock-up cell of Albuera MPS.

(ROBERT DEJON)