TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Remedios Petilla of Palo, Leyte led the opening ceremony for the town fiesta celebration under the municipality’s 4Ps tourism program.

Palo fiesta represents the second “P” in the 4Ps program, which includes “Pamalandong ha Palo” during Holy Week, “Patron ha Palo,” “Pagbalik ha Palo” on October 20, and “Pasko ha Palo.”

Activities for the 194th Palo town fiesta began on July 15 with an inter-barangay sports competition featuring sepak takraw, volleyball, basketball, and chess.

The Team Matin Barangayan caravan followed on July 26, with the opening program on July 27.

This included the Iskultura Culmination night of the theater bootcamp facilitated by Langgam Performance Troupe and Climate Fresk Philippines, and the Mr. Enchanting Palo 2024 talent night.

July 28 featured the Palo Harvest and Food Festival and the Gay Pride (Doble Kara singing contest).

On July 29, the town fiesta activities included ‘laro ng lahi’, Enchanting Palo Arts Night, and SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) Night.

A concert hosted by LGU Palo and Tingog party-list group featuring Rocksteady was held on July 30. The vocal duet competition took place on July 31, and the Jota Dance competition (teachers-based category) on August 1.

The Enchanting Palo LGU cheer dance competition was held on August 2. August 3 featured ‘Adlaw Han Kabataan’ and the Search for Mr. Enchanting Palo.

On August 4, activities include the Palo Cross Country MTB and RB Race 2024, the Siday Competition, and the hiphop dance competition.

On the vesper night of Palo fiesta, a grand fireworks display will be showcased at the Palo Pag-ibig Plaza during the Governor and Mayor’s Night, followed by Disco at the Plaza.

“We will never get tired of celebrating the 4Ps of Palo because, through these events, we ensure that Palo remains ever-present in our hearts,” Mayor Petilla said.

“We are thankful to those who helped us organize these activities and encourage all Palon-ons to participate in the celebrations,” she added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-The local police are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the identity and possible cause of death of skeletal bones discovered on Saturday, July 27, in San Miguel, Leyte.

According to the Dulag Police, a 48-year-old laborer known as “Biloy,” a resident of Barangay San Miguel, reported finding human skeletal remains in the upland portion of the barangay.

Initial investigation revealed that Biloy was searching for wood to construct a fence for his house when he came across the skeletal bones.

The responding officers noted that the identity of the skeleton is difficult to determine as no skin remains.

The Dulag Police promptly coordinated with the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of Dulag RHU, which confirmed that the bones were human.

Subsequently, they coordinated with the local government unit (LGU) for the proper disposition of the skeletal remains.
(ROBERT DEJON)

ORMOC CITY– A newly identified drug peddler was arrested with at least 102 grams of suspected shabu during a buy-bust operation on Wednesday, July 24, in Brgy. San Roque, Tolosa, Leyte.

The operation was conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team of the local police and the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of the Leyte Provincial Police Office.

The suspect, known by the alias “Daves,” is a 58-year-old, single, and jobless resident of Brgy. Picas, Sagkahan, Tacloban City.

He was reportedly in Tolosa to deliver shabu to a customer.

During the operation, an operative purchased one sachet of suspected shabu from the suspect for P500.

A body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the discovery of a plastic ice wrapper containing 100.30 grams of suspected shabu and 11 more sachets containing the same substance, all placed inside a transparent zip-lock bag.

The total weight of the suspected illegal drugs recovered was 102 grams, with an estimated street value of P693,600.

Charges for violations of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, have been filed at the Provincial Prosecutors Office against the suspect who is currently detained at the Tolosa Municipal Police Station’s lock-up cell.
(ROBERT DEJON)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar– Some local media practitioners of Northern Samar has conducted a media forum with the top management of Department of Public Works and Highways-Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO) held on June 11, 2024, at the NSSDEO Conference Room, Barangay Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar.

This undertaking was spearheaded by District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos and Assistant District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong assisted by the NSSDEO-Public Information Unit.

Also attended were Chief of Construction Section, Engineer Gil D. Herrera Jr., Acting Chief of Planning and Design Section, Engineer Fiona A. Anunciado, Chief of Maintenance Section, Engineer Francisco Y. Tañala, and the Chief of Finance Section, Michelle G. Suan.
On the other hand, the media practitioners were Mr. Fermin Honey and Jayne Galit of DYSM Aksyon RADYO Catarman, Dennis Orsolino and Samuel Delabajan of Love Radio Catarman, and Danny Balading and Joy Amor of Radyo Pilipinas Catarman.

One of the questions that was asked during the forum was the issue on Samar Pacific Coastal Road where NSSDEO received three different complaints or Request for Action (RFA) from the concerned netizens.

As a response, DE Charlito enlightened everybody that this road section is still in the process of being converted from local to national road.

”This is not under our mandate, because our mandate is to construct and repair national roads and bridges. This road section is still a local road. We are also trying our best to help, like our maintenance engineers initiates to undertake repair woks on said road.” DE Carlobos said.

Then, ADE Atty. Sabong added that, “Major repair and maintenance of this road is not our jurisdiction yet and not included in our regular DPWH mandate as this road is still a local road, however our office has a project proposal of Php 25 million for FY 2025 for the Rehabilitation of Simora-Palapag Road, Palapag, Northern Samar.”

Furthermore, they eventually asked for the process or criteria of conversion, then ADE Atty. Sabong immediately responded that there a lot of things to consider including the Road Right of Way matters, needed to be 4 lanes, and the traffic survey, for it to be converted into national road.

Some issues that have been raised are the road widening projects, proposal of by-pass Road in Palapag, update of Laoang Bridge 1 and 2, preventive maintenance issues, and update for some NSSDEO breakthrough projects.

Queries raised by the media were all answered. DE Carlobos said that there are lot of on-going projects in the province that is advantageous both to the end-users and the locality.(RONEL L.GALUPO,PIO ALTERNATE/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Education knows no age limits, as Rowena Taboso, 52, and Ma. Irma Trinidad, 26, is proving this by enrolling in the Alternative Learning System (ALS) class offered at Northern Tacloban City National High School (NTCNHS).

Taboso and Trinidad are part of the 34 pioneer Senior High School ALS students at NTCNHS. They are grateful for the opportunity to return to school.

As the oldest student, Taboso is proud of her pursuit of further knowledge.

She finished secondary education 28 years ago and, before enrolling in ALS was a computer literacy scholar in a program for parents in northern Tacloban.

“Even though I’m the oldest in the class, I’m not ashamed because my classmates are supportive,” Taboso said.

She always dreamed of going back to school, and 28 years later, after her two children finished college, Taboso finally got the chance.

With this opportunity, Taboso aims to pursue her childhood dream of studying interior design. Last year, she was among the top-performing students in the ALS program.

The ALS is a parallel learning system in the Philippines that provides opportunities for out-of-school youth and adult (OSYA) learners to develop basic and functional literacy skills, and to access equivalent pathways to complete basic education.

Trinidad, unlike Taboso, had to leave school due to poverty, working as a house help in Metro Manila at the age of 13, just after graduating elementary school. Her dream of returning to school was further delayed when she had her first child at 16.

Determined to reach her goal, she enrolled in a computer literacy program for parents in the northern barangays, particularly those relocated to Yolanda housing facilities.

The opening of the Senior High School ALS class last year gave her the chance she had been waiting for.

Trinidad attends her classes with her 1-year-old daughter, as do other ALS students with infant children.

“I am grateful for ALS because I can go back to school even though I am already a mother,” she said.

Trinidad plans to pursue a college education, aiming to study either education or entrepreneurship.

Ares Fritz Almaden, NTCNHS ALS coordinator, shared that from 34 students last year, the number has decreased to 28 due to various circumstances such as marriage, pregnancy, and relocation.

Given the students’ unique conditions, Almaden explained that although ALS subjects are the same as those in regular classes, the teaching approach is different to make lessons easier and more understandable.

“Unlike in regular classes, the teaching method for ALS is simplified for the students to easily comprehend and understand their lessons, helping them catch up to the competency of regular students,” Almaden said.

NTCNHS offers two Senior High School strands: general academic strand and technical-vocational-livelihood focusing on cookery. Students use a blended learning style, combining modular and face-to-face classes.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)