TACLOBAN CITY-Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) commenced the groundbreaking ceremony for two significant road projects, the construction of crossing San Roque-Sitio Kulapniton and the improvement of New Kawayan-Santo Niño farm-to-market roads, on March 11, 2024.

The event, held to inaugurate these vital infrastructure initiatives, saw the presence of esteemed officials including OIC District Engineer of TCDEO, Rebecca G. Yuse, and key personnel from the Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Office VIII, notably Ismael P. Aya-ay and Attorney Daniel E. Pen. Local government unit (LGU) representatives from Camansihay and Sto. Niño, including Brgy. Camansihay Chairman, Adan Esmeres, and Brgy. Sto. Niño Chairman, Edgar B. Grego, also graced the occasion.

In addition to government officials and stakeholders, farmers, the primary beneficiaries of these infrastructure projects, were in attendance.

The construction of crossing San Roque-Sitio Kulapniton farm-to-market road, valued at P75 million, is funded under the General Appropriations Act 2023, Department of Agriculture-Farm-to-Market Road (DAR-FMR). Encompassing 3.00 lane kilometers of concrete, the project’s timeline spans 197 calendar days.

Simultaneously, the improvement of New Kawayan-Santo Niño farm-to-market road, a P21-million endeavor, also receives backing from the General Appropriations Act 2023, DAR-FMR. Spanning 1.418 lane kilometers of concrete road, this project is scheduled for completion within 72 calendar days.

Expressing optimism and gratitude for the transformative impact of these projects, Brgy. Camansihay Chairman, Adan Esmeres, remarked, “Dako ine na grasya farm-to-market road.”

Echoing this sentiment, Atty.Pen emphasized the broader significance of these initiatives, stating, “This is not just a farm-to-market road; this is a bridge towards progress.”

OIC-DE Yuse underscored the critical role of accessible roads in fostering economic development, asserting, “Kun waray dalan na maupay tikadto ha atun mga mercado, mahal it atun paralitun.”

These projects signify a concerted effort towards infrastructure development, poised to enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and uplift the communities they serve in Tacloban City. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY –The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas has garnered numerous awards and recognitions at the National Summative Assessment for its outstanding implementation of the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project in the region.

Held in Angeles City, Pampanga on March 5 to 8, the said event highlighted the region’s exceptional performance in advancing agrarian reform initiatives.

During the flag-raising at the DAR Regional Office in this city on March 11 this year, Regional Director Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, alongside Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Renato Badilla and Assistant Regional Director for Administration, Ismael Aya-ay, proudly showcased the awards before the agency’s employees and the Project SPLIT team.

Aya-ay expressed gratitude to the project implementers, acknowledging their relentless efforts and dedication which played a crucial role in securing these prestigious awards for this region. He emphasized that the team’s hard work reflects the department’s commitment to excellence and innovation in agrarian reform.

Project SPLIT represents DAR’s focused efforts on accelerating the subdivision of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) into individual titles, thereby reinforcing the rights of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

With its comprehensive approach encompassing parcelization of collective CLOAs, capability building, and stringent project management with monitoring and evaluation, the project stands as a testament to DAR Region 8’s unwavering commitment to ARB development.

Aya-ay said that the recognitions received are not only a tribute to the hard work and perseverance of DAR in Eastern Visayas but also a motivation to continue striving for excellence in the pursuit of justice and equity in agrarian reform.
(MARVIN R. ORQUIOLA/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Eastern Samar and the city of Baybay have imposed a no-entry policy of chickens to their respective areas, amid a confirmed report of bird flu in a poultry farm in Kananga, Leyte.

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, in his order, mandated all personnel who are manning border and animal quarantine checkpoints that all live poultry, eggs, and even chicken dung coming from Leyte should not be allowed entry in the province.

Poultry products, the governor added will only be allowed to enter Eastern Samar if documents are presented such as the certificate from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS).

The directive of Evardone was in accordance with the recommendation of the Provincial Veterinary Office.

Meantime, Baybay City Mayor Jose Carlos Cari also issued an order prohibiting entry of live chicken, raw poultry meat products, and other poultry derivatives coming from areas where there are confirmed avian flu.

Live chicken, raw chicken meat, and processed poultry meat products coming from places where there are no avian flu cases will be allowed entry, the order of the city mayor said.
The City Agriculture Office was also tasked to conduct monitoring all commercial and backyard poultry farms in the city if there are chickens showing symptoms of the virus.

Earlier, the municipal governments of Matag-ob, Palompon, Merida, and Isabel also imposed a ban on entry of chicken coming from Kananga, in particular.

Likewise, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia also issued an executive order banning chicken to the province coming from Leyte.

Earlier, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has confirmed of an outbreak of avian flu cases in one of the poultry farms in Kananga.

The management of the said poultry farm killed over 60,000 chickens as part of its mitigation solution. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)