TACLOBAN CITY– About 35 senior citizens in this city are to undergo a through training program as they will become ‘heritage’ tour guides.

The program is in coordination with the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tacloban City Tourism Operations Office together with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

The elders will undergo a seven–day training program from May 22 to 28 that will equip them with the skills and capabilities for them to become effective tour guides.

Eligible senior citizens of this city are encouraged to be part of the heritage guardians training through OSCA.

(NICOLE A. FANOGA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

ORMOC CITY– Three sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu were recovered by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of the local police during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Caragas, Lavezares town, Northern Samar on Tuesday (May 7) at about 8:45 am.

The suspect was identified as alias “Reme”, 40, and was described as a street-level individual (SLI) in the drug watchlist of PDEA Northern Samar and the local police.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect was one sachet containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu procured by an agent in the amount of P500.

During the conduct of a body search, the searching agent recovered from the possession of the suspect two more sachets containing a white crystalline substance also suspected to be shabu.

Charges of violations of sections 5(selling illegal drugs) & 11 (possession of illegal drugs) of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the local police station.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY–The Bureau of Fire Protection ended on Friday (May 10) its three-day regional sports fest participated by all of its offices in the region.

Deputy City Fire Marshal SPO4 Noel V. Permejo mentioned that the sports event allowed them to enjoy, as well as to improve their physique and develop their camaraderie and sportsmanship resulting in good teamwork inside and outside of their office.

Their activities for their sportsfest and future events focus on educational games and seminars to prevent loss of life and damage of properties in the event of a fire accident.
Despite their busy months ahead, SPO4 Permejo maintains that they will continue the current initiative on hose mapping areas that the fire truck cannot reach, including those areas that have small roads.

“Let us all be responsible with what we do inside our homes because fires usually start there. Let’s be careful and be knowledgeable about fire safety,” Permejo said.

“The community and BFP need to work together so we can prevent fires within the neighborhood,” he added.

(KATRYNA MAE N. MALLARI, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– A top drug personality was apprehended by joint police operatives in a buy-bust operation which also led to the discovery of a marijuana plantation in Purok Banog, Barangay Baras, Palo, Leyte, on Tuesday (May 7).

Operatives from the Regional Drug Enforcement of Police Regional Office 8 led the buy-bust operation which resulted in the arrest of the suspect, identified as ‘Jojo’, 58, who was also said to be the maintainer of a marijuana plantation.

Seized from the suspect were two sachets of suspected marijuana, three branches of marijuana plants, nine pieces of suspected marijuana covered by banana leaf, 33 branches of suspected marijuana plants, and one zip lock pouch containing cannabis leaves on it.
In all, the confiscated prohibited items weigh 12, 330 grams with a total value of P1.47 million.

The suspect is now detained and was charged for violation of RA 9165 also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

(NICOLE A. FONOGA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY, STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) launched the PLAN & DO (PLANADO) Program at the People’s Center, here in the city, on Tuesday (May 7).

As part of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ initiative, this program aims to achieve six key outcomes, including the elimination of backlog in comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs) and provincial development and physical framework plans (PDPFPs) by 2028, with a particular focus on UrbaNext 2024.

Tacloban City was selected as one of the pioneering locations for the program due to its readiness, presence of a master plan for the site, and the area’s economic development prospects.

UrbaNext 2040, aligned with Ambisyon Natin 2040, aims to revolutionize urban development for future generations.

It emphasizes the creation of open spaces and networks, transit-oriented development, support for local government units (LGUs) in implementing urban development projects, and optimal utilization of idle government funds.

“Though ambitious, if we delay, when will we begin?” remarked DHSUD Regional Director Michael Victor Tezon regarding UrbaNext 2040.

DHSUD’s main goal is to streamline and digitize land use and urban planning processes, fostering the creation of smart, green, resilient, and inclusive human settlements.
These efforts are essential in addressing pressing issues such as traffic congestion and informal settler displacement.
(By KATRYNA MAE N. MALLARI, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)