ORMOC CITY – In a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous development, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) recently completed a third-party surveillance audit conducted by SOCOTEC Certification Philippines, Inc. (SCPI), a globally recognized certification and compliance company.
The audit, led by system auditors Mark Allan Balbarino and Anna Theresa Manlangit, aimed to assess the effectiveness of the DEO’s Quality Management System in conformance with the requirements of the International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001:2015. The audit’s itinerary went through Top Management, Construction Section, Quality Assurance Section, Finance Section, and Planning and Design Section.
Despite some observations, no non-conformities were identified, highlighting the office’s strengths while providing opportunities for further improvement.(PR)
ORMOC CITY –The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office successfully completes and turns over the Construction of One-unit, Two-classroom School Building at Dr. Geronimo B. Zaldivar Memorial School of Fisheries in Brgy. Poblacion, Albuera, Leyte.
With an aim to improve the overall learning experience, the new building addresses space constraints and accommodates the increasing demand for classrooms of the growing student population. The inclusion of comfort rooms, a handwashing area, and other necessary utilities such as electrical and lighting installations ensures a conducive environment for the students and teachers alike.
Funded through the Basic Educational Facilities Fund (BEFF), the project has a contract amount of Php 4,937,623.80. (PR)
TACLOBAN CITY– A hefty penalty of about P500,000 will be imposed on agencies that will not accept the national identification card as a valid proof of identity with no valid reason.
This was disclosed by Wilma Perante, the regional director of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), during a recent media briefing.
Perante said that this is based on the Republic Act 11055 or the PhilSys Act, wherein penalties ranging from P50,000 up to P5 million are penalized to people or entities that commit crimes related to the Philippine Identification (PhilID).
Earlier, several establishments, including government offices, were reported to not accept or recognize the PSA—issued ID.
Perante added that the law states that the national ID will serve as the official government-issued identification document for national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and all private sector entities
The PSA official further states that the national ID is one of the 4 primary identification documents and is enough and valid proof of identity. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
The Social Security System (SSS) announced its net income in 2023 exceeded by 62.8 percent its target of P51.06 billion to P83.13 billion as it recorded higher revenues than its expenses.
Based on its 2023 unaudited financial statement, SSS’ net income of P83.13 billion in 2023 surpassed the P52.60 billion net income recorded in the previous year.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet noted that the P83.13 billion profit last year was the highest net income attained by SSS.
“Our revenue in 2023 grew by 15.6 percent to P353.82 billion from P306.16 billion in the previous year,” Macasaet said.
He said that the bulk of SSS revenue in 2023 came from contribution collection, which rose by 18.2 percent to P309.12 billion from the P261.44 billion collected in 2022.
“Our record-high net income last year shows that we continue to strengthen our finances through programs and policies that increase new paying members and strengthen collection efforts,” he added.
Macasaet said that SSS recorded lower-than-revenue expenses of P270.69 billion, wherein the lion’s share of the total expenditure in 2023 went to benefit payments to members and pensioners.
“Our 2023 expenses reflect how SSS has prudently kept its expenses at modest levels and ensure that every peso contributed by its members are well spent for the benefit of all its stakeholders,” Macasaet said.
He said benefit payments last year stood at P259.03 billion, up by 6.7 percent from P242.81 billion in 2022, while our operating expenses were at P11.65 billion, 8.4 percent higher than the P10.75 billion a year ago.
“Our operating expenses last year were only 30.32 percent of the allowed charter limit of P38.4 billion. Based on our charter, the operating expenses are 12 percent of the contribution collections and 3 percent of other SSS income such as investments and loans,” Macasaet explained.
Macasaet attributed the outstanding financial performance of SSS last year to the efforts of the SSS management and employees in intensifying its collection activities such as registering new paying members, improved collection from delinquent employers, and the 2023 contribution rate hike.
“We implemented new initiatives in 2023 that resulted to an expansion of SSS membership and reaching more workers,” SSS Executive Vice President for Branch Operations Sector Voltaire P. Agas said.
Agas also explained that it recorded a high collection of delinquencies from employers who are not remitting their employees’ contributions due to the Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign. (PR)
ON CHA-CHA. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez expressed his openness to engage in discussions regarding the controversial issue of Charter Change. He stated that he welcomes any discourse and debate on the matter, believing that such discussions will ultimately benefit the Filipino people. Photo shows Mayor Romualdez, a cousin of Pres. Marcos Jr., speaking during the 33rd founding anniversary of the PNP at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo on February 12, 2024. (ALFRED ROMUALDEZ FACEBOOK)
ON CHA-CHA. Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez expressed his openness to engage in discussions regarding the controversial issue of Charter Change. He stated that he welcomes any discourse and debate on the matter, believing that such discussions will ultimately benefit the Filipino people. Photo shows Mayor Romualdez, a cousin of Pres. Marcos Jr., speaking during the 33rd founding anniversary of the PNP at Camp Ruperto Kangleon, Palo on February 12, 2024. (ALFRED ROMUALDEZ FACEBOOK)
Been inactive for 3 decades
TACLOBAN CITY– A hydropower plant located in Eastern Samar town that was originally constructed by the government 33 years ago is now back in operation.
On Feb.20, the rehabilitated Amanjuray hydropower plant located in Barangay Bolusao, Lawaan was inaugurated with officials of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) led by its administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda and local officials in attendance.
“It is heartening to see and hear that a cooperative has its own power source. This is yours already, take advantage of it for life),” he said during the inauguration of the facility.
The operation of the 1MW Amanjuray hydropower plant was welcomed by provincial officials led by 4Ps party-list representative Marcelino Libanan.
Libanan said that the operation of the Amanjuray hydropower plant would be a help to the province’s ‘persistent electricity problem.’
“We are optimistic that the restoration of the hydropower plant will offer relief to Eastern Samar residents who have long been grappling with recurrent power outages and high electricity costs,” Libanan, who is also the minority floor leader of the House of Representatives, said in a statement issued on Sunday (Feb.25).
With this development, Libanan has also called on the Department of Energy to promote the development of small-scale, eco-friendly renewable energy projects in rural areas to help address the issue of rural electrification, emphasizing the potential economic benefits for marginalized families engaged in agriculture and fishing.
“Ensuring adequate and stable electricity services to rural barangays will undoubtedly create more economic opportunities for vulnerable households and enhance their standard of living,” Libanan said.
On that same day, a new 20MVA (megavolt ampere) substation located in Borongan City was also inaugurated.
The Amanjuray hydropower plant harnesses energy from the Amanjuray Falls, one of the four waterfalls in the Bolusao River Watershed Forest Reserve, which provides the power needs of the residents of Lawaan and Balangiga, both in Eastern Samar.
With its operation, the Amanjuray hydropower plant will now be synchronized to the grid.
Esamelco general manager, lawyer Jose Michael Edwin Amancio, said that with the operation of the said plant, not only will it provide a stable power supply to Lawaan people but also help reduce the power cooperative’s system loss and boost its power supply.
“With this major rehabilitation, upgrade, and repair, we will now be able to achieve to synchronize the plant to the grid…and will be able to contribute to Esamelco’s revenue, reduction of systems loss, and reduction of power interruption,” he said.
It was learned that the said hydropower plant was commissioned in 1991 after NEA initiated its construction through a grant from the United Kingdom and was later transferred to Esamelco (Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative) Renewable Energy Corp. which undertook its rehabilitation.
The said power plant, constructed from 1988 to 1991, but whose operation was described to be ‘on and off’ due to a number of reasons like not being synchronized to the grid; damage to its equipment; and instability of water supply.
Its rehabilitation started as early as 2021 and was completed in 2023 with most of the funding through a grant coming from the Rural Electrification Financing Corp. in the amount of P30 million with Esamelco providing a P15 million equity.
Based on the NEA data, Esamelco is serving 117,443 member consumers and maintains over 2,101 kms of distribution lines with a peak load of 23 megawatts. At present its consumers pay P13.40 per kilowatt hour.
Last year, Libanan filed House Resolution No. 846, which sought a congressional inquiry into Eastern Samar’s power issues that caused electricity rates to shoot up amid frequent outages.
About 50 police personnel exchanged vows with their respective partners during a mass wedding sponsored by the PNP regional headquarters on Friday (February 24). This program underscores the police organization’s commitment to promoting morality and decency among its members.
(POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE 8)
About 50 police personnel exchanged vows with their respective partners during a mass wedding sponsored by the PNP regional headquarters on Friday (February 24). This program underscores the police organization’s commitment to promoting morality and decency among its members. (POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE 8)
TACLOBAN CITY – About 50 police personnel from the region had their marital union blessed in a mass wedding ceremony spearheaded by the Police Regional Office 8, aptly named “Kasalang Pulis sa Rehiyon Otso,” held at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño last Friday (Feb.23).
During his homily, Police Major Rev. Fr. Rhey Dollesin, regional pastoral officer, underscored the significance of friendship, fecundity, fidelity, and forgiveness in nurturing a successful marriage. He urged the couples to emulate Jesus’s selflessness and embrace a life of prayer in their journey together.
“In today’s world, the concept of ‘forever’ in relationships is often lost. However, for our police officers in PRO 8 who unite in marriage every year, this stands as a testament to their belief in forever,” he added.
Standing as principal sponsors were PRO 8 Regional Director, B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid; M/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, director of the directorate for comptrollership; Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez; and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez who was represented by ABC president Raymund Romualdez.
Pawid expressed gratitude for the generosity and unwavering support behind the success of the mass wedding rites.
He lauded the initiative as a best practice of the PRO-8, hoping for its continuation annually, and warmly congratulated the couples on their union blessed by God.
“As your marriage is blessed by the Lord, I wish you all the best as one family, and remember, the secret to a lasting marriage is ‘forgive and forget’,” he added.
The mass wedding, an annual event organized by the Regional Community Affairs and Development Division and the Regional Chaplain Service, commenced on February 28, 2022, with 16 couples, followed by another ceremony on June 14, 2023, joining 48 couples.
This initiative aims to provide recognition to both uniformed and non-uniformed police personnel cohabiting with their partners, legitimizing their relationships in accordance with the PNP’s call for morality and decency.
A traditional reception followed featuring the grand entrance of the newlyweds, and wedding rituals such as cake cutting and wine toasting. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
