With projected bad weather due to La Niña

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Resource Operations Center 8 (DSWD-RROC8) in Palo, Leyte is ramping up efforts to ensure its disaster preparedness and efficient response to various regional emergencies.

Marie Nelle Lumagsao, information officer of the disaster response management division–disaster response information and management section (DRMD-DRIMS), emphasized that they have increased their preposition sites to provide quick support to affected areas.
These sites are strategically located to ensure prompt delivery of relief goods across the region, she said.

As of May 29, provinces with preposition sites are Northern Samar with 14; Samar,13;Eastern Samar,9; Leyte, 13; Southern Leyte, 9; and Biliran, 5.

Lumagsao said that there is a 91,000-item inventory count all over the region, with about 50,000 items held in the RROC8 warehouse and the rest distributed across the 63 preposition sites.

Distributed items include boxes of food (10 canned goods, 10 sachet drink mix, and 6 kilograms of vacuum-sealed rice), pails with hygiene kits (bath soap, laundry soap, shampoo, sanitary napkins, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shaving razor, nail cutter, and water dipper), and sleeping kits (mosquito net, blanket, pillow, sleeping mat, malong).

Lumagsao said that not all families receive non-food items such as hygiene kits and sleeping kits, as these are provided based on requests from local government units (LGUs).

Inventory checks for goods are conducted every three months with near-expiry items, identified as those with three months left until expiration, are distributed through LGU proposals for activities like food-for-work and food-for-training programs, particularly those focusing on environmental initiatives like prevention and mitigation training, including coastal clean-ups.

RROC8 is also preparing for the onset of La Niña in June with an expected delivery of 50,000 food packs from the National Resource Operations Center (NROC).
(GOLDA MEIR C.CABIDOG, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

Part of the 59th founding anniversary of N. Samar

CATARMAN, Northern Samar– Acknowledging their contribution to the province, senior citizens of Northern Samar were treated to some fun and great pampering Sunday (June 2) where they received a wide array of essential services at the Capitol Gym, as part of the commemoration of the 59th Founding Anniversary of the province.

From availing free medical and dental check-up to receiving hygiene kits, food packs, vegetables seeds and other essential and basic services, senior citizens across the province had fun and light moments sharing conversations with fellow senior citizens, grooved to their favorite music, and enjoyed various performances.

Informative talks on mental health, preventing common chronic diseases of elderlies, and PhilHealth benefit packages were also conducted.

On behalf of Governor Edwin Ongchuan, Vice Governor Clarence Dato extended appreciation and gratitude to the elderly sector.

“Dako an akon pagpasalamat san aton mga kaarugan nga tungod sa kanra, may-ada kita mga nahibaroan. Sanglit yana, ginsasalin-urog naton an Seniors Day komo paglingi san mga nahibulig san aton mga kaarugan para san aton komunidad. An iyo mga ginagihan, kinaadman, ngan paghigugma, mao an naging gabay san kada tagsa sa amon, ngan kamo an pundasyon ngan naghahatag kolor sa aton komunidad,” Vice Governor Dato echoed.

Considered as the pillar of the community, the elderlies are the great mentors of the individuals in the community as they are equipped with knowledge and wisdom from their rich experiences.

With Vice Governor Dato were Board Member Leonida Laodenio, municipal social welfare and development officers, and the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) who graced the event to conduct data gathering on developing programs and initiatives for the elderlies.

Governor Ongchuan and the provincial government continues to recognize and address the needs of all sectors, including the elderly.
(THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF NORTHERN SAMAR)

BORONGAN CITY,Eastern Samar – The Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (DPWH ESDEO) is set to implement 16 school building projects of the Department of Education in Eastern Samar during the upcoming school vacation.

These school building projects with a total budget of P79.8 million funded under the DepEd Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF) FY 2024 involve the construction of one-storey – two classroom school buildings across several schools in the province.

The schools benefiting from this budget allocation include Bulawan Elementary School in Maslog; Guiuan East Central Elementary School, Tubabao National High School, and National High School in Guiuan; Naparaan Elementary School and Tagbacan Elementary School in Salcedo; San Isidro Elementary School and Hilabaan National High School in Dolores; San Jose Elementary School in Mercedes; Tinago Elementary School in Quinapondan; Can-avid National High School in Can-avid; Eastern Samar Comprehensive National High School in Borongan City; Malinao Elementary School in Taft; Giporlos Central School in Giporlos; Llorente National High School- Barobo Extension in Llorente; and Maydolong Central Elementary School in Maydolong.

DPWH ESDEO District Engineer Domcelio M. Natividad announced that the Notices of Award for these school building projects were already issued within this month of May, 2024. The timing allows for the optimal implementation of the construction projects while the students are on vacation minimizing disruption to their classes.

The district engineer emphasized the importance of this period for contractors to expedite construction efforts.

“We urge contractors to take full advantage of the vacation period to ensure timely completion of these projects,” said DE Natividad.

In 2023, DPWH ESDEO has also implemented 21 school building projects with a total appropriation of P152.898 million under DepEd BEFF FY 2023 funding.

The district engineer mentioned that out of the 21 projects, 20 school buildings have already been completed and turned over to the schools while the remaining project, located in San Isidro Primary School in Lawaan Eastern Samar, is nearly complete with an accomplishment of 95.07%.

Furthermore, DE Natividad assured that the district office is fully committed to the fast-tracking the implementation of these projects.

“We are dedicated to ensuring that these school buildings are constructed efficiently and in accordance with DPWH standards specifications. Also, this initiative underscores the commitment of the DPWH to improve educational infrastructure, providing better learning environment for students in the province,” the district engineer added.

These school building projects are convergence projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar in partnership with the Department of Education.

(JAYSON ESPESO/PR)