ORMOC CITY-The local Bureau of Fire Protection in Kawayan, Biliran is conducting a thorough investigation over the origin of the fire that gutted four classrooms at Mapuyo Elementary School last Saturday(March 16).
Local police chief, Lt. Rodolfo De Mesa, said that the fire was first discovered by a resident identified as Boy Rabora who noticed smoke coming from one of the rooms of the said building.
The fire, which started at about 3:30 am immediately spread to the three adjacent rooms.
The affected rooms, according to school officials, were being used by Kindergarten, and Grades 1 and 3 students, DE Mesa said.
The fire was declared under control by the local fire at 6:08 am and declared fire out at 6:27 am.
The cause of the fire is still to be determined by the BFP Kawayan as the investigation is still ongoing.
No injuries/casualties were reported from the fire with an estimated damage of P1.72 million. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY– A school teacher was arrested in Naval, Biliran by police for a child abuse charge on March 13.
The 42-year-old male teacher was arrested at about 10 am by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Luz Navarrete, executive judge of the 8th Judicial Region, Branch 16, Naval, Biliran issued on February 29, 2024, for three counts for alleged lascivious conduct.
The court recommended P30,000 bail for the accused.
The arrest of the teacher came after the parents of a minor filed formal charges in court for an act of lasciviousness against him.
The accused is now detained at the local police detention facility. (ROBERT DEJON)
CAMP JORGE DOWNES, ORMOC CITY– Another active communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) member surrendered to the 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army under the operational control of 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade in Sogod, Southern Leyte Sunday(March 17) morning.
John Lamadora aka Joven/Yudi, a member of Squad 1, Platoon 1, Island Committee-LEVOX, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (Sqd 1, P1, IC-LEVOX, EVRPC) gave himself in to troops of the Hibod-hibod CAFGU Active Auxiliary patrol base.
Local Army Commander Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Gabia expressed his joy at Lamadora’s courageous decision to surrender opting to embrace a path of righteousness and peace.
Lamadora revealed that he heard his mother’s plea in different media channels which eventually led him to decide to go down and live peacefully.
Jocelyn, the mother of John, cried in happiness when she finally saw her son for the first time since he became an NPA together with his father in 2019.
She said in the local dialect, “Nagapasalamat ko sa Ginoo kay nakahuna-huna si John nga musurender ug magkuyog na kami, para dili mapareha sa iyang Papa nga namatay sa pakigbisog sa gobyerno. Gapasalamat pud ko sa Army ug sa gobyerno tungod nadunggan ni John ang akong panawagan nga musurender ug sa pagtratar sa seguridad sa akoang anak.” (I am very thankful to God that we are already together and very thankful to the Philippine Army and the government in ensuring the safety and security of my son. Unlike his father who died fighting against the government.)
It can be recalled that on August 19, 2021, Lamadora was wounded while his father, the late Ambrosio Lamadora @Ihid/Rino died during a gun battle with the government forces in Brgy Lawgawan, Bontoc, Southern Leyte.
The 802nd Infantry Brigade and the 14IB in collaboration with LGU-Mahaplag, Leyte facilitated the decent burial of his father in Brgy Maligaya, Mahaplag.
Meanwhile, Mahaplag Mayor Ronaldo Lleve, who chair the MTF-ELCAC, was happy upon hearing of the surrender. He himself also called for the surrender of the remaining NPA operating in his municipality.
“I promised that the Mahaplag LGU will provide assistance to John Lamadora and his family,” Lleve said.
Recently, Mayor Lleve and the LGU-Mahaplag were met by Colonel Rico O Amaro, deputy brigade commander together with Lieutenant Colonel Gabia to officially harmonize the implementation of FReE Families program in his municipality which aims to engage all the families of active NPA who operates in his municipality for the peaceful surrender of their family member NPAs.
“I commend the collective efforts of the 14th Infantry Battalion and the local government of Mahaplag, Leyte, together with the families of John Lamadora for giving positive response to my long-standing call for the remaining NPAs in our area of operations to abandon the armed struggle so that we could achieve our common goal of having a peaceful community conducive for living and socio-economic development,” Brigadier General Noel A Vestuir, 802nd Infantry brigade commander, said.
“The revelation of John Lamadora is true. The NPAs are no longer welcome in the community because the populace is already enlightened of your lies and deceptions. You will suffer hunger, fatigue and sickness if you continue to hide in the mountains. Come out now and live a peaceful life with your family and love ones.” Vestuir ended. (PR)
We have been told endlessly by authorities to segregate our garbage and, better still, recycle them. Recycling is essential to manage our mounting waste. But it cannot be denied that we lack the technology to efficiently repurpose trash into usable products like bricks and many more. This technological gap poses a nagging handicap in our efforts to combat environmental degradation and resource depletion.
Without advanced recycling technology, we end up perpetuating the cycle of waste accumulation and environmental harm. Traditional recycling methods fall short in handling the diverse and voluminous waste streams of modern society. Add to it the undisciplined tendency of our countrymen to spread their garbage anywhere, and we continue to have a dirty, trash-laden country.
Investment in research and development is crucial to bridge this gap. Collaboration between governments, industries, and research institutions is necessary to drive innovation in recycling processes. Some advanced countries have already set an example by successfully converting their garbage into something useful, and all we have to do is follow and invest in similar technologies that they have used.
Of course, public awareness and advocacy must be geared towards innovative recycling processes. Communities must cooperate and prioritize sustainable practices and pressure policymakers and industry leaders to invest in recycling infrastructure. If the accumulation of garbage cannot be avoided, then innovative ways to make usable items out of garbage must be pursued. That’s the wisdom to prevail in the battle against trash.
These innovations in recycling technology are paramount to unlocking the full potential of recycling as a sustainable solution. We must prioritize research, development, and public engagement to address the pressing challenge of waste management.
I was shocked to discover last week that the amount that I believed was stored safely in my Gcash account had gradually diminished to the point of totally disappearing when in fact I didn’t spend any amount from it as I was saving it for future necessities. Alarmed, I traced the transaction history and I saw that there were unauthorized, automatic deductions that google made to my balance as payment for an app that I was not using at all nor familiar with.
In this age of convenience, where our smartphones serve as gateways to an array of digital services, it’s easy to get lost in the marvels of technology. With just a few taps, we can order meals, shop for clothes, or even manage our finances—all from the comfort of our fingertips. However, amidst this convenience lies a lurking danger, one that preys on our trust and reliance on online applications: the silent siphoning of funds from our digital wallets.
GCash, undoubtedly a revolutionary tool in the realm of digital payments, has become an indispensable part of many Filipinos’ lives. Its integration with various services offers unparalleled convenience, allowing us to effortlessly transact in a cashless manner. Yet, this convenience can sometimes lead to complacency, making us vulnerable to unseen threats.
Recently, aside from my bad experience, reports have surfaced regarding unauthorized deductions from GCash wallets, often linked to subscriptions or services that users might not even be aware of. The modus operandi of these digital pickpockets is alarmingly simple: exploit the auto-debit feature of GCash-linked apps to quietly siphon off funds, leaving users bewildered by sudden deductions.
The implications of such unauthorized transactions extend far beyond mere financial inconvenience. They erode the trust we place in digital platforms and undermine the sense of security we expect from them. What’s worse, as what happened to me, they can often go unnoticed for extended periods, compounding the financial impact on unsuspecting users.
To combat this growing menace, vigilance, and measures are paramount. First and foremost, we must exercise caution when linking our GCash wallets to third-party apps, scrutinizing the terms and conditions, especially regarding auto-debit agreements. It’s imperative to stay informed about the transactions occurring within our GCash accounts, regularly monitoring activity to detect any suspicious deductions promptly.
Moreover, GCash itself must play a protective role in safeguarding its users’ interests. Enhanced transparency regarding auto-debit agreements, coupled with robust authentication measures for such transactions, can bolster consumer confidence. A simple notification that our Gcash is about to be deducted certain amounts by an online app will do. This way, we can take the necessary measures early on. Additionally, facilitating easier recourse for users to dispute unauthorized deductions and providing timely resolution mechanisms are essential to restoring faith in the platform.
Ultimately, the onus falls on both users and service providers to fortify the digital fortress surrounding our financial transactions. As we embrace the convenience of cashless payments, let us not forsake prudence and skepticism. Let us remain vigilant against the lurking threats of digital pickpockets, safeguarding our hard-earned funds and preserving the integrity of our digital interactions. Imagine that, the amounts repeatedly deducted from my balance never came back to me, and I doubt that I could ever retrieve them.
In this ever-evolving landscape of digital innovation, let us ensure that the promise of convenience does not come at the cost of security and trust. Let us stay informed, exercise caution, and demand accountability as we sojourn the digital realm with confidence, ensuring that our GCash wallets or the like remain under our control, not in the hands of unseen adversaries.
A fast growing business is going unregulated by the authorities. People are not complaining for it somehow serves their needs. There are risks involved that put to peril both lives and properties. But people care less about the dangers for they are satisfied with the convenience it affords to the public. This is about the proliferation of motorbikes in almost every place everywhere. These vehicles had been flooding the market and the end users are rising every minute. We saw in the recent past motorcycles being used as engine for tricycles, some use the vehicle as a single unit to carry both passengers and cargoes. Such vehicle is ideal in places accessible only by feeder roads that are mostly macadamized or simply graded with aggregates.
Places connected with these types of roads are hardly passable by automobiles, buses and cars because of the rough road conditions. But motorcycles can easily navigate the tough rough road conditions. Some years ago, roads that are not passable by motor vehicles are the domain of bicycle-driven cabs. Many places in the rural areas had resorted to these modern carts that are powered by man. The cab moves faster than the obsolete carts pulled by carabaos. But the shift of power from carabao to man has demeaned the dignity of humans are being dragged to the level of working animals. But there is dignity in the hard labor of pushing cabs by the power of the feet for it earns an honest living for the driver and his family.
However, the slow-paced pedicabs proved a bit inconvenient to the hurrying passengers. It takes too much time reaching their destinations aboard pedicabs. But during floods when motor vehicles could not pass through deeply inundated streets, the pedicad gains recognition as a good transportation alternative. Under normal circumstances however, motorized transport is still better than animal driven ones. Fast movement from place to place is a primary consideration in the choice of transportation. People would always opt for the faster unit in order to arrived at the desired destination with less time consumption.
Because people are getting the convenience of moving through rough roads on motorbikes instead of hiking, they do not mind whether these vehicles are complying with public safety laws and regulations. Surely, these are not public utilities for hire and do not have certificates of public convenience that is required of vehicles for hire. Worse, these single motorcycles are not even registered as for hire in the localities where they operate.
In most cases, these vehicles are driven by unlicensed drivers who can afford to pay the low down payments for these easy installment motorcycles but could not obtain a driver’s license. We do not know how aware are government agencies are about these fast growing business that is being conducted not like a business but in the guise of mere public service. People are exposed to dangers that are not even covered by insurances because the trade of this mode of transportation is being made to appear as personal service of the owner but in fact, such vehicles are unregulated but serves the riding public for hire. comments to alellema@yahoo.com
