After flooding incident

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 125 families, whose houses were completely destroyed by the shearline-induced flooding that struck Catarman, the capital of Northern Samar province, last year, received shelter material assistance from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

The shelter materials, consisting of corrugated G.I. sheets and marine plywood worth P1 million, were handed over by Zhang Shuhao, chief of staff of the Chinese Consulate General in Cebu.

The distribution was assisted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Catarman Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.

Present during the turnover ceremony were board member Emmanuel Christian Uy, representing Governor Edwin Ongchuan, Catarman Vice Mayor Francisco Rosales Jr., Andres Balajadia Jr., barangay chairman of Washington, and Fred Salazar, chairman of Brgy. Tinowaran.

The 125 families include 110 beneficiary households from Brgy. Tinowaran and 15 from Brgy. Washington. Brgy. Tinowaran, a low-lying area located along the river, was the hardest hit by the massive flooding in late 2023.

Uy conveyed Governor Ongchuan’s appreciation for the generosity of the Chinese Embassy, which the provincial government had requested following the devastating floods.

Vice Mayor Rosales Jr., on behalf of his son Mayor Rosales III, also expressed gratitude from the municipal government for the assistance provided to the flood victims.

The municipal officials extended their thanks to the provincial government for their efforts in seeking donors to aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of the flood-damaged houses in their municipality. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Borongan City – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) has planted over 150 fruit-bearing and native seedlings during the nationwide simultaneous tree planting activity.

This event was one of the highlights of the DPWH 126th Anniversary held in Barangay San Andres, Borongan City, Eastern Samar on June 7, 2024.

According to Assistant Maintenance Section Chief, Engr. Niño Carlo S. Castillejos, the activity also aligned with the observance of Philippine Arbor Day, celebrated every month of June.

“The district will continue to support and participate in this kind of activity since it balances infrastructure implementation with the practice of protecting our natural environment to minimize the effect of climate change,” Engr. Castillejos stated.

The event saw participation from various Section Chiefs, Assistant Section Chiefs, Unit Heads, staff, and maintenance field personnel of Eastern Samar DEO.

Furthermore, the DPWH will celebrate its 126th Anniversary on June 23, 2024, with the theme “Serbisyong May Bilis: Building Better More For A New Philippines’’.

This theme emphasizes fast and effective service delivery with a sense of urgency and commitment to efficiency and progress aiming to create a better and modern nation in the future.
(MAY ANTOINETTE O. NABLE,PIO STAFF/PR)

ORMOC CITY– Five housewives are presently languishing at the detention cell at the police station in Cabucgayan, Biliran after they were caught engaging in illegal gambling at the house owned by a certain alias “Merwa” on Wednesday (June 12).

The arrested suspects were identified as alias “Merwa” 66; “Neda” 49; “Tese” 50; “Lanny” 53, and “Wena” legal age, single. All residents of Barangay Casiwan of the said town.

The Cabucgayan police said that at about 2:50 pm, they were conducting an anti-illegal gambling operation when they chance to find the suspects playing ‘tongits’, an illegal card game in the open.

The suspects were stunned upon their arrival of the police and failed to elude the arrest.
Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were one set of playing cards and bet money amounting to P298 in different denominations.

The suspects and confiscated evidence were brought to Cabucgayan MPS for documentation and proper disposition, while a case of violation of PD 1602, the law against illegal gambling, was charged against them.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY-A laborer was arrested by the local police in Naval, Biliran for violation of anti-gambling law at about 11:21 am on Tuesday (June 11).

Arrested was Roger Etol, 48 of Barangay PI Garcia whose arrest was by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Phenalyn Brazil-Abellar, the presiding judge of municipal trial court based in Naval.

Etol, who was arrested in Brgy. Smo Rosario, was charged for violation of PD 449, or the cockfighting law with the court placing a P30,000 for his temporary liberty.

(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A big branch of a Gmelina tree falls at a passing passenger bus destroying the windshield of a vehicle in Jiabong, Samar on Monday (June 10).

The involved bus was a red color MR Clemacor passenger bus with plate number NAL 7212 which was on its way to Catbalogan City when the accident happened at about 4:45 pm along a national highway in Barangay Catalina of the said town.

Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the bus was traveling from Tacloban City en route to Catbalogan City.

And while passing a sharp curve, a large Gemelina tree branch accidentally fell on the bus, particularly in the frontal part of the vehicle.

Fortunately, the driver, the conductor, and all passengers were unharmed.

(ROBERT DEJON)