TACLOBAN CITY– As cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases here in the city continue to surge, the City Health Office (CHO) continues its free HIV testing service.
Last year, the CHO reported 1,076 HIV cases in the city, which was comparatively higher than the 2022 record of just 638 cases.
Dr. Danilo Ecarma, CHO officer-in-charge, emphasized the importance of knowing one’s HIV status.
Aside from free HIV testing, their office also offers counseling and medical consultations for the target sector of the program, notably the members of the LGBTQ+, youth, and those with risky behaviors when it comes to sex.
Meanwhile, with the advocacy of ensuring the health of city residents, CHO also continues to offer a tuberculosis program that provides free medication for the illness.
Tuberculosis ranks as the second leading infectious killer worldwide after COVID-19, this initiative, making it essential and necessary.
Mel Maravilles, CHO TB program coordinator for the Tacloban City Health Office, encourages the public to visit their office saying it is free.
Maravilles further noted that their patients start at a very young age, as early as 6 months old, which is alarming, extending to children and adults who are highly susceptible to infection by this illness. (JOYLIN MEDINO,STEFTI STUDENT INTERN)
IRRIGATION PROJECT. The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of the P24.46 million irrigation project at the Binahaan River in Pastrana town. (L2DEO)
IRRIGATION PROJECT. The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways reported the completion of the P24.46 million irrigation project at the Binahaan River in Pastrana town. (L2DEO)
TACLOBAN CITY – District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)- Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) has announced the completion of the P26.46 million Katubigan (Kalsada Tungo sa Patubigan) project in Binahaan north river irrigation system—main canal service road in Pastrana town.
According to Oppura, the road concreting project was funded under the 2023 DPWH Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) initiative, covering 2,186 linear meters with a 5-meter width of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP).
Additionally, concrete stone masonry was implemented to protect the irrigation canal, mitigating soil scouring and erosion caused by water flow.
Farmers along the road network are now reaping the benefits of the newly concreted road, as it helps them reduce hauling and transportation costs, thereby increasing their income.
Moreover, the local community utilizes the paved road for their day-to-day travel needs, including commuting to school, work, accessing social services, and other related activities.
The upgraded road significantly improves travel conditions, especially during the rainy seasons, eliminating the inconvenience of bumpy and muddy roads.
The DPWH-SIPAG initiative aims to stimulate economic activity by creating more livelihood opportunities and facilitating quicker access to social and educational services. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
ORMOC CITY – Tragedy struck on Saturday (March 30) when an 8-year-old boy drowned while swimming at the beach in Sitio Digyo Island, Barangay Apid, Inopacan, Leyte.
The victim, a resident of Barangay San Roque, Santa Fe, Leyte, was enjoying the Holy Week with his family when the unfortunate incident occurred.
According to the police, the boy was swimming at the beach without supervision when he was suddenly found lifeless near the coastline, indicating that he had drowned.
His family rushed him to the General District Hospital in Hilongos, Leyte, for immediate medical attention. However, upon arrival, he was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
The boy’s remains were then transported to a local funeral parlor before being returned to his hometown in Santa Fe. (ROBERT DEJON)
SECURITY CONCERNS: Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.(center) met on Saturday (March 23) with several mayors from Leyte’s third district, an area plagued by a surge in shooting and killing incidents. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla and police officials, led by regional director B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, were also present.Sec. Abalos made a commitment to tackle the escalating security problem besetting the area. (PHOTO COURTESY, JAY VIAGEDOR)
Proposed railway project also discussed
SECURITY CONCERNS: Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.(center) met on Saturday (March 23) with several mayors from Leyte’s third district, an area plagued by a surge in shooting and killing incidents. Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla and police officials, led by regional director B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, were also present.Sec. Abalos made a commitment to tackle the escalating security problem besetting the area. (PHOTO COURTESY, JAY VIAGEDOR)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas has greenlit various projects for the current year with a total budget of P268.7 billion.
These government-initiated projects were approved by the RDC, chaired by Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez during their first quarter regular meeting held last March 19, Meylene Rosales, the regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority(NEDA) which serves as the secretariat of the council.
Rosales said that these projects are composed of 3, 575 government initiatives submitted and approved by the RDC to the various government agencies for funding purposes.
Included in these projects are ongoing projects under Tier 1 to be implemented next year and Tier 2 projects funded and to be implemented this year.
Of these 3, 575 projects, 1, 268 are priority programs and projects under the infrastructures and utilities sector, 357 under the social sector, 215 under the economic sector, and 127 under the development administration.
The RDC-8, during the meeting, also discussed three priority projects for the region which include the proposed Eastern Visayas Railway System worth P105 billion, scheduled to be implemented from 2025 to 2035.
The railway project aims to connect Samar and Leyte Island through a railway system which is one of the priority infrastructure projects of the Marcos administration.
The Department of Transportation will lead the implementation of this project which bidding for a feasibility study worth P78.60 million will be conducted this year.
They also discussed the Basic Education Facility project of the Department of Education worth P8.1 billion which implementation started in 2023 until 2027.
Another priority project for the region is the Tuna Development Program of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources worth P2 billion implemented in 2023 until 2028.
DENR-8 Regional
Executive
Director
Lormelyn Claudio
DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio
TACLOBAN CITY – The regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) vowed that their office is strictly monitoring the operations of mining companies in Eastern Samar, particularly on the islands of Homonhon and Manicani.
DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio made this assurance during an online press conference who said that protecting the two islands are among her priorities.
She said that she made this known when she assumed her post and during her meeting with officials of the Environmental Management Bureau and the Mines and Geoscience Bureau together with the provincial government of Eastern Samar.
“We discussed concerns, environmental concerns, and that needed studies that these mining corporations would have to do,” Claudio said.
“In fact, it would be good for you to know, that we even proposed for the mining companies to enhance the cultural and the historical features of both islands and they agreed on that,” she said.
“They agreed as well that the biophysical and marine assessment studies would be undertaken,” she further said.
Claudio said that this project even implemented by the government will still have to go through the clearance and permitting system of DENR.
“Please be assured that we will ensure that the stakeholder concern will be considered even with the review process within these two islands,” she said.
The environment agency official added that they had strengthened the environmental monitoring of the projects and that this monitoring “has to be transparent.”
“Even with the concern on the watershed in Homonhon Island, I’d like to inform you that one company will only be allowed to do the tree cutting and operation in the center of its MPSA,” Claudio added.
Environmental groups are opposing the mining operations on Homonhon and Manicani Islands which they said aside from destroying the environment, also pose health hazards to the residents.
The group added that these mining operations desecrates the historical value of the island particularly Homonhon which is recognized in the pages of world history, being the site where Ferdinand Magellan landed while they were looking for a new route going to Moluccas for spice trade.
At least four mining companies are operating on the island of Homonhon which are concentrated in two villages – Cagusuan and Casuguran, extracting nickel and chromite.
At least three of the eight villages on the island are not affected by mining operations, namely, Bitaugan, Habag, and Inapulangan.
During the commemoration of the 503rd Philippine part of the first circumnavigation in the world last March 17, a 21-kilometer road project was launched by the 4Ps Partylist headed by Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan together with the municipal government of Guiuan, and the Department of Public Works and Highways which will be part of the 61-kilometer Homonhon Island Circumferential Road. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY-The local police here are conducting a thorough investigation over the shooting that led to the death of a businessman last March 21.
The victim was identified as a certain Deo, 51, and a resident of Brgy. 28, P. Gomez St., this city, who was shot dead at about 5:30 am by still unidentified suspects who were on board a single motorcycle.
Investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the victim was walking on the sidewalk along P. Gomez, St., and upon reaching in front of a pawnshop, one of the suspects, who seemed to be waiting for him in the area, suddenly pulled an unknown caliber of a firearm a shot the victim in his abdomen.
The suspects fled after the incident on board a scooter-type motorcycle with no plate number.
The victim was brought by residents in the area to Divine Word Hospital for medical attention but was declared dead on arrival by his attending physician.
Operatives of Police Station 2, of Tacloban City Police Office are now conducting a follow-up investigation for the possible motive and identification and arrest of the suspects. They likewise continue the backtracking of CCTV footage in the area for the identification of the suspects.
SOCO operatives that processed the crime scene recovered two empty shells of fired cartridges and one slug of an undetermined caliber of firearm. (ROBERT DEJON)
