TACLOBAN CITY – The Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) conducted the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) for the 3rd Quarter on September 26, 2024, aimed at strengthening the office’s preparedness for earthquake emergencies.

The drill was led by TCDEO’s Emergency Response Team (ERT), along with representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Tacloban City, including Senior Fire Officer 1 (SFO1) Rowena C Bulawan, SFO1 Rodevic B Sipaco, and Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Eric Kim M Inovejas.

Following the drill, the evaluation committee, composed of SFO1 Bulawan, SFO1 Sipaco, and FO2 Inovejas, gave positive feedback on the office’s performance, awarding an impressive rating of 80%. The committee commended the efforts but also provided key recommendations to further improve future drills and enhance preparedness.

The recommendations included the need for proper first aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) training for the emergency response team (ERT), relocating evacuation area outside the immediate vicinity, and providing a tent for the Incident Command Post (ICP) and triage during the drill.

OIC- Assistant District Engineer Marichu T. Eduarte highlighted the importance of readiness, stating, “Our goal is to cultivate a culture of safety and preparedness within the office. Every drill brings us closer to ensuring that, in the face of a real disaster, our response will be swift, coordinated, and effective.”

The TCDEO continues to prioritize the safety of its personnel by conducting these drills and implementing the recommendations to be better prepared for any future earthquake situations.
(PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)

TACLOBAN CITY – Over 80 swimmers from various parts of Eastern Samar participated in the first-ever Borongan City Open Water Swim Meet held on September 21.

Unlike regular swimming competitions that take place in swimming pools, open water swimming is conducted in outdoor bodies of water, such as seas, lakes, oceans, or rivers.

The Borongan City Open Water Swim Meet was divided into four categories: Class A: 12 years old and below; Class B: 13 to 17 years old; Class C: 18 years old and above; and Open Category which was open to all contenders from Classes A, B, and C.

Initially scheduled for September 1, the event was postponed to September 21 by the city government due to inclement weather.

Each category’s winners received a trophy and cash prizes: P1, 000 for bronze, P1, 500 for silver, and P2, 000 for gold.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar is reopening applications for its medical scholarship program, specifically targeting fourth-year medical students, post-graduate interns (PGIs), and reviewees who are residents of the province.
The Northern Samar Medical Scholarship Board will begin accepting applications on October 14, 2024.

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: a Filipino citizen and resident of Northern Samar; no pending administrative or criminal cases; good moral character, certified by the dean of the last school attended; physically and mentally fit; certified by a government physician; not more than 35 years old for incoming first-year students; and not more than 45 years old for upperclassmen

The applicant must have passed the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) with a score of at least 50% and currently enrolled in a medical degree program at a school accredited by the Commission on Higher Education.

The applicant should not also be a related by affinity or consanguinity within the fourth civil degree to any owner of a pharmacy or laboratory operating in Northern Samar.

Successful applicants will receive a scholarship benefit package that includes tuition and review fees, along with allowances for living expenses, books, and uniforms.

Fourth-year medical students are entitled to a tuition fees of up to P100,000 per semester, paid directly to the school; stipend of P35,000 per semester; book allowance of P30,000 per semester; and a uniform allowance of P5,000 per semester.

Also, review class participants for the Medical Licensure Examination are eligible for: review fees of up to P60,000, paid to the review center; stipend of P35,000; book allowance of P30,000; and uniform allowance of P5,000.

Among the needed documents include a certified true copy of NMAT result (at least 50%); Philippine Statistics Authority authenticated birth certificate; clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation; voter’s certificate from the Commission on Elections; certificate of registration or other proof of enrollment; and certified true copy of transcript of records for the pre-medical course.

For indigents include certificate of indigency issued by the MSWDO where the applicant’s parent resides; medical certificate issued by a government physician within the last three months; drug test result within the last three months; psychological test result within the last 12 months; and certificate of good moral character from the last attended school.

Since the program was initiated by the provincial government in 2020, it has already accepted 22 scholars, according to John Allen Berbon, Chief of the Provincial Information Office.

“So far, we have four doctors already serving the province,” Berbon added.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship program will be required to provide service in government hospitals in the province after becoming licensed doctors, depending on the number of years they availed of the program.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)