TACLOBAN CITY – Tacloban-born Olympian Aira Villegas received a brand-new car worth P1.4 million as a surprise gift during the “Tribute to Our Local Athletes” ceremony on August 23.

The event was organized by the Office of House Speaker and First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, along with Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre, held at the People’s Center, this city.

The car, personally handed by Rep. Yedda Romualdez to the bronze Olympic medalist, was used to bring Villegas and her family to her new house and lot in Palo, Leyte, valued at P6 million, a promise fulfilled by Speaker Romualdez during Villegas’ visit to Congress a week ago.

On Thursday, August 22, Villegas received P2 million in cash rewards from Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the Tacloban City Council, and the Hiraya Foundation.

Villegas, 29, made history as the first-ever Olympic medalist from Tacloban, winning a medal in boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Meanwhile, during the same event, Eastern Visayas athletes who participated in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, which saw Eastern Visayas’ highest placing at 7th, along with their parents and coaches, received P10,000 in assistance/incentives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Medalists received additional incentives: P7,000 for bronze, P8,000 for silver, and P10,000 for gold. Coaches of winning athletes also received an additional P10,000.

Aside from Rep. Romualdez, also present during the event were Karla Estrada, Department of Education Regional Director Evelyn Fetalvero, and DSWD Assistant Regional Director Clarito Logronio.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Tacloban City— The Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) participated in the conduct of upkeep and cleanliness inspection of equipment/vehicle documents by the Equipment Management Division (EMD) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VIII on August 16, 2024.

The inspection was led by Engr. Jaryd Jay T. Latoza (Engineer II), Engr. Lattrell Francis Ruth R. Carolino (Automotive Equipment Inspector II), Mr. Jasper C. Sarmen (Automotive Equipment Inspector II), and Ms. Maria Luisa V. Pedrosa (Administrative Aide IV).

During the visit, the team checked several important documents, including trip tickets, equipment logbooks, and updated LTO registration and insurance papers. They also reviewed property acknowledgment receipts, driver’s license, and ensured that the vehicles had the correct DPWH logo and plate numbers. Additionally, the inspectors conducted an inventory of the district engineering office’s equipment holdings and discussed the proper completion of equipment logbooks and daily maintenance procedures with all drivers and operators.

The team also inspected the TCDEO vehicles to ensure they were in good condition and safe to use. The initial findings of the inspection were positive. It was noted that TCDEO is compliant with the necessary documents asked during the inspection. It was also noted that all vehicles checked were in good condition.

District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse thanked the inspection team for visiting TCDEO. She said “I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Equipment and Management Division of DPWH Region VIII for doing this inspection. It helps ensure that our equipment/vehicles, as well as the drivers and operators, have the documents necessary for their operation.”
(PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)

HILONGOS, Leyte – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) works double time by conducting simultaneously subdivision survey and inspection of surveyed lots in this town to expedite the issuance of individual land titles to agrarian reform beneficiaries under the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) project.

On August 14 and 15, five survey teams were dispersed to this town. Three teams conducted subdivision surveys in 11 lots covered by collective certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs), while two teams inspected separate eight previously surveyed lots to check if monuments are properly in place.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Ruben Rebato disclosed that the 11 lots that were subdivided have a combined area of 63 hectares situated in the upland barangays of Agutayan, Cacao and Hitupdan.

According to him, there are 55 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in these 11 lots awaiting for their individual land titles.

Meanwhile, the inspection of the eight previously surveyed lots with an aggregate area of 45 hectares turned out successful with complete monuments properly in place. These lots are situated in Barangays Agutayan, San Isidro, Sta. Margarita and Marangog. Survey documents will then be forwarded to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the approval of survey plans.

Rebato further disclosed that he shares the credit with MARPOs Connie Siegred Ulbata, Melchora Telin and Florida Amores in accomplishing these tasks.

He also acknowledged the support of the local government unit through Mayor Manuel Villahermosa for providing a vehicle in the hauling of the monuments to the above-mentioned villages which are more than 20 kilometers away from the town proper, and a living quarter for the surveyors.

SPLIT project subdivides landholdings covered by collective CLOAs issued under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and replaces with individual electronically generated land titles to improve land tenure security and strengthen property rights of ARBs. This project is funded by the World Bank.

Further, this contributes to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC), a whole-of-nation approach in addressing insurgency in the country.
(JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)