TACLOBAN CITY – The mayor of Calbiga town in Samar province has issued an executive order (EO) outlining actions that barangays must undertake to address the problem of African Swine Fever (ASF) that hit their town.

Mayor Red Nacario issued EO Number 19 on Tuesday (June 4) following the confirmation of an ASF case from one of the two blood samples taken by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) from two separate backyard piggeries in Barangay Calingonan.

The samples were sent for laboratory examination at the regional office of the Bureau of Animal Industry on May 29 and one tested positive for the ASF virus.

Under the EO, villages without positive ASF cases are mandated to establish a “barangay border control” supervised by village officials and tanods, with guidance and assistance from the MAO.

The “Bantay ASF” will monitor and regulate the entry of pigs, pork, and pork-based products from villages with suspected and positive cases, as well as the exit of sick animals.

The EO also mandates that all pigs in ASF-affected villages must be culled and disposed of properly, under the supervision of the Provincial Veterinarian Office and MAO, with assistance from the Municipal Police Station, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Areas within a one-kilometer radius of the positive case will be placed under strict quarantine. In areas with suspected ASF infections, blood samples from pigs must be extracted for laboratory examination, and the pigs must be quarantined until results are released.

Healthy pigs outside the 500-meter radius may be slaughtered and sold at the public market, provided they have the appropriate documentation, such as certification from the village chairman.

Agricultural extension workers on livestock and village officials are ordered to conduct active surveillance for unusual pig mortalities and immediately report them to the MAO for investigation and blood sampling for laboratory tests.

The EO also prohibits the entry of private feed technicians into any village while the locality is affected by ASF.

“All private feed technicians shall not enter any piggeries and render technical health services on livestock in the different barangays of the municipality until such time that the location is declared ASF-free,” the EO states.

Piggery owners affected by the ASF problem are ordered to conduct daily disinfection activities for 30 days. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Over a thousand agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) throughout Eastern Visayas received on Tuesday, May 28 this year, cash support assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Tingog Partylist.

About 1,199 ARBs from different parts of the region trooped to designated payout areas to get their cash assistance under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

This is in partnership with the Tingog Partylist, said Atty. Jonalyndie Chua, DSWD’s Information Officer.

Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, Regional Director of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas, coordinated with the Tingog Partylist, who provides fund for the said assistance, the inclusion of ARBs who received Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) during the May 20 CLOA distribution with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Tacloban City Convention Center.

However, those who previously received similar assistance from the DSWD were deleted from the list.

On Tuesday, after the validation by DSWD, qualified ARBs throughout the region simultaneously received five thousand pesos each.

In Northern Samar, 298 ARBs from the towns of Allen, Victoria, Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose, San Isidro, Capul, Palapag, Gamay, Lapinig, Lope de Vega, Catubig, San Roque, Pambujan, Mondragon, Las Navas, Laoang and Catarman received their cash assistance which was released at the DAR Provincial Office in Catarman and at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Offices of Palapag and Allen.

In Western Samar, 216 ARBs from the towns of Jiabong, Pinabacdao, Motiong, Villareal, Sta. Rita, Marabut, Daram, Sta. Margarita, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, Gandara, San Jorge and from the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog received their cash assistance at the DAR Provincial Office in Catbalogan and at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office of San Jorge.
In Southern Leyte, 99 ARBs from the towns of Malitbog, Macrohon, and Hinunangan and from the City of Maasin received their cash assistance at the Municipal Agrarian Reform Office of Maasin and at the Hinunangan Municipal Cultural Center.

In Leyte, 586 ARBs from the towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, San Miguel, Tanauan, Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Albuera, Isabel, Kananga, Matag-ob, Merida, Palompon and from the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc initially received the said cash assistance in designated payout centers, which included the headquarter of Tingog Patylist in this city.

Meanwhile, one of the recipients, Epifanio Calubia from Las Navas, expressed his gratitude to DAR, DSWD and Tingog Partylist. According to him, “Daku in inga bulig san mga parag-uma.” (This is of big help to the farmers.)
(JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO) has conducted road repair works particularly in Brgy. Rombang, Laoang, Northern Samar, on May 31, 2024, making it passable to all types of road users. The local road is part of the Palapag-Simora Road section of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) which is awaiting conversion to a national road.

As immediate response, the Chief of Maintenance Section, Engr. Francisco Y. Tañala, instructed the maintenance field personnel, led by Assistant Chief Engr. Nicanor J. Mejos, to undertake repair woks on said road which involves patching of damaged or dilapidated Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP).

“The Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) is still in the process of being converted from local to national road. This road section has not yet been declared a national road under the jurisdiction of this office, and routine maintenance activities are unlikely from our end. Moreover, local government continues to have administrative authority over this road section”. District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos said.

As a proactive measure the District Office has proposed a Rehabilitation of Simora-Palapag Road, with a budget proposal of Php25 million for Fiscal Year 2025, to guarantee a smooth, safe, and convenient road connection between the towns of Laoang and Palapag.

By this project proposal, the towns of Laoang and Palapag will greatly benefit to invigorate the local economy, where local markets will be more progressive and competitive, and attractive to bigger market centers which will allow them to grind and thrive.

Then, motorists, commuters, and wayfarers can traverse a seamless transportation route leading to the coastal towns of PAMAGALA. (PR)