ORMOC CITY– A merchandiser involved in selling illegal drugs was arrested by operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) during a buy-bust operation early Thursday morning, August 22, in Barangay San Pablo, this city.
CDEU Chief PMAJ Michael Ray Cañete identified the suspect as Mar Jalla, alias “Jan-Jan,” a 27-year-old single merchandiser and resident of said village.
During the operation, the police recovered one sachet containing a white crystalline substance, suspected to be shabu, purchased by an undercover operative for P5,000.
In a subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of an elected barangay official and a local media representative, two more sachets containing the same substance, also suspected to be shabu, were found on the suspect.
The suspect admitted ownership of the illegal items, explaining that financial hardship led him to engage in drug dealing. He claimed that his income as a merchandiser was insufficient to meet his needs.
According to the police, the total weight of the suspected shabu recovered from the suspect was 4.19 grams, with an estimated street value of P28,492.
Charges for violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is currently detained at the locked-up cell of Police Station 1 at the Government Center in Brgy. Cogon, this city. (ROBERT DEJON)
Globe continues to make significant strides in expanding its network infrastructure across the country, building 352 cell towers and upgrading 1,942 existing mobile sites to LTE technology for the first half of 2024. The network buildup aims to enhance Globe’s mobile services and data speeds to provide reliable life-enabling connectivity to Filipinos.
In addition to mobile network improvements, Globe has made notable advancements in its fiber infrastructure. The company deployed 39,880 fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) lines from January to June this year, further expanding its high-speed fiber internet coverage.
This year’s rollout is strategically planned to maximize the utilization of Globe’s existing fiber inventory, aligning with its reduced cash Capital Expenditure (Capex) allocation.
Globe’s network expansion efforts extend beyond urban centers, having successfully brought connectivity to over 500 Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) as part of its commitment to bridging the digital divide.
By connecting remote communities, Globe enables residents to access vital online services, educational resources, and economic opportunities that were once limited by geographical barriers.
Joel Agustin, Head of Service Planning and Engineering of Globe, emphasized the company’s dedication to inclusive connectivity: “We believe that every Filipino deserves access to reliable communication services. We’re here to empower them with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world.”
Globe’s network expansion strategy has evolved since 2023, with a shift towards optimizing network investments rather than pursuing opportunistic capacity expansion. This strategic pivot has yielded positive results, allowing the mobile leader to return to sustainable Capex levels without compromising network quality or capacity.
The company’s efforts align with its mission to improve the country’s digital infrastructure and support the government’s initiatives to enhance nationwide connectivity and improve quality of life. (PR)
ORMOC CITY-A motorcycle mechanic was apprehended during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team of Police Station 5 on Thursday, August 22, at Purok 3, Barangay Dolores in this city, at about 10:05 pm.
The suspect, identified as Lando Laurente, 58, a resident of Brgy. Bagong, was listed as a street-level individual on the local police’s drug watchlist.
Laurente, who lives with his partner, was found in possession of suspected shabu.
During the operation, an undercover operative purchased a sachet containing a white crystalline substance, believed to be shabu, for P500 from Laurente.
A subsequent body search, conducted in the presence of an elected barangay official and a representative from the local media, led to the discovery of P650 in cash, in various denominations, and a cigarette pack labeled “Winston.”
Upon inspection, the cigarette pack contained a larger sachet of suspected shabu, weighing 5.0 grams, with an estimated street value of P34,000.
In total, the police recovered 5.4 grams of suspected shabu from the suspect, with an estimated street value of P36,720.
Charges for violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, were charged against the suspect who is currently detained at the locked-up cell of Police Station 6 in Brgy. Dolores.(ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY – The local government units of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, and Baybay City formalized a sisterhood partnership agreement on August 20, 2024 aims to foster cooperation between the two LGUs in areas such as local governance, economic trade and development, public safety, environmental sustainability, disaster preparedness, mitigation and response programs, and social welfare.
The twinning agreement and memorandum of understanding (MOU) held at the Guiuan municipal function hall, were signed by Mayor Jose Carlos Cari of Baybay City and Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan of Guiuan, representing their respective local governments.
They were accompanied by members of their Sanggunian and department heads.
Through this partnership, Baybay hopes to gain insights into Guiuan’s efficient tourism programs, while offering technical assistance to Guiuan in adopting the Barangay Management Information System (BMIS), among other initiatives.
“This sisterhood will enhance local governance in our respective localities and allow us to support each other in areas where we excel,” Mayor Cari stated.
As part of the partnership, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Baybay, in collaboration with the Guiuan Emergency Response Team, installed an ambient weather station at the Guiuan Municipal Hall.
This weather station provides data on wind, temperature, rainfall, heat index, ultraviolet index, and other variables, which will be crucial for disaster preparedness, especially during typhoon season.
In her message after the signing, Mayor Kwan highlighted the unique features of Guiuan, including its eco and adventure tourism offerings, strong historical and heritage programs, and abundant marine resources.
She expressed hope that the partnership would allow Guiuan to learn from Baybay’s best practices in solid waste management, local economic enterprise management, transportation, disaster response, investment promotion, and efficient delivery of social services.
Prior to the signing, members of Guiuan’s Local Economic Development Council (LEDC) and Sanggunian visited Baybay in June for a benchmarking “Lakbay Aral” activity.
During their visit, they learned about the best practices and programs that have significantly contributed to Baybay’s economic development.
ALBUERA, Leyte – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) continues its efforts on the Construction of Seawall in Brgy. Poblacion, Albuera, Leyte, reaching a 70.02 percent accomplishment rate.
The seawall spans a length of 350 linear meters, a width of 5.28 meters, and includes a 1.1 meter-parapet. It is being built with a robust stone masonry structure, reinforced by a steel sheet on pile foundation to ensure durability and longevity. Additionally, it includes the construction of a structural concrete walkway, measuring 0.15 meters thick and 2.5 meters wide, which offers a safe and accessible path for pedestrians along the coastline.
The completion of this well-engineered seawall will help mitigate the long-term impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, by providing a resilient shield that reduces the vulnerability of coastal communities for generations to come.
Funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024, the project has a contract amount of Php 96,399,999.99. Construction began in May 2024, with an anticipated completion date in March 2025. (PR)
ROAD CONNECTION. An interior village in Oras, Eastern Samar, Sitio Calawit, will soon be connected to the mainland as the construction of a road project has broke ground last April 23. The event was led by Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)
With Rep. Libanan leading the event
ROAD CONNECTION. An interior village in Oras, Eastern Samar, Sitio Calawit, will soon be connected to the mainland as the construction of a road project has broke ground last April 23. The event was led by Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list group. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)
ORAS, Eastern Samar– Residents of interior riverbank communities in this town are eagerly anticipating the completion of a road project that will connect their villages to the national highway.
Last Friday, August 23, a groundbreaking ceremony led by 4Ps Partylist Representative and House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan was held in Sitio Calawit, Oras, marking the start of construction for a portion of the over nine-kilometer road leading to Barangay Cadian, nine kms away from the town center.
The road project, valued at more than P168.8 million, includes the construction of a 4.68-kilometer lane, complete with slope protection and drainage systems, under the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) program.
“It would be good if this gets completed because it would improve our transportation,” Mario Nuguit,48, and a resident of Cadian which could be reached by a boat ride, said in a vernacular.
“When it rains, it’s hard to travel by pump boat on the river because of the strong current. If this road is completed, travel will be easier,” he added.
Currently, residents use the Oras River as their main route, traveling by motorboats locally known as “bote,” a type of motorized banca without outriggers.
The fare for passengers is P50 while transporting farm products like copra and palay costs P1 per kilo.
Transporting construction materials is even more expensive, with a sack of cement costing P35, P100 per cubic meter of sand, and P1,000 per cubic meter of gravel.
Barangay Iwayan chairman Ronald Aguilando, 36, noted that the construction and completion of the road leading to interior villages would not only ease transportation challenges but also be crucial during emergencies.
Iwayan is just four kilometers from the town proper, but travel time still takes about 30 minutes by motorboat.
“In emergencies, it will be easier to transport the sick. Travel by road will be faster, unlike on the river, which is not advisable in emergency situations,” he said.
The road construction is expected to be completed within 360 days, although the construction company awarded the project has promised to finish it earlier.
However, more than 6.85 kilometers of the Sitio Calawit-Brgy Cadian road remain unfunded, requiring an additional P541 million.
Rep.Libanan promised to work on securing the necessary funds for the remaining portion of the road project in the upcoming budget submission.
“We’re not just making travel easier for the remote barangays of Oras, but we’re also giving our town a new face,” he said.
“This will open up more opportunities for our people – in education, trade, and daily life,” Libanan said.
Once the entire stretch of the more than nine-kilometer road is completed, at least 2,000 households are expected to benefit from the project. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
