ORMOC CITY-An 18-year-old cook was arrested during a buy-bust operation on Saturday, July 20, at around 3:30 pm in Barangay Combado, Maasin City.

Maasin City Police Chief PLt. Col. Jason Balbarona identified the suspect as Justin Botyok, single and a resident of said village.

Botyok is listed as a street level individual on the police drug watchlist.

During the operation, three sachets containing a white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu were recovered from Botyok.

The substance was purchased by an undercover operative for P3,000.

A body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, led to the discovery of three P1,000 bills.

The suspect did not issue any statement to the media covering the operation.

Charges for violating Section 5 (selling illegal drugs) of Article II of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002, have been filed at the City Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspect is currently detained at the Maasin City Police Station lock-up cell.
(ROBERT DEJON)

MAASIN CITY-Some 3,824 farmers and fisherfolk in the province of Southern Leyte received P10,000 each in cash assistance through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF) program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The amount disbursed amounted to more than P37 million. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) implemented the cash assistance in partnership with the provincial government through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

As of July 17, eleven local government units (LGUs) in the province had already conducted the PAFFFF payouts.

This includes the municipalities of Hinunangan, Liloan, Malitbog, Limasawa, Padre Burgos, San Francisco, Libagon, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Silago, and the City of Maasin.

The provincial LGU reported that the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte distributed 5 kilograms of rice to all PAFFF recipients in addition to the cash aid.

The beneficiary has signed a document confirming receipt of the cash assistance. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government)

The cash assistance was first released on July 4, at Palo, Leyte, during the president’s visit and will continue until July 22.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) will announce the following schedule for the distribution of financial aid, as clarified by the provincial LGU.

The PAFFF program is a component of the ‘Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita’ (AKAP) program implemented by the DSWD.

It aims to offer social assistance to individuals who may not have access to regular aid forms because they do not belong to the poorest population.

It also addresses the adverse impact of the El Nino phenomenon, especially in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

The Provincial Social Welfare office personnel ensured that each recipient received 5 kilos of rice as part of the province’s relief efforts. Vice Gov. Rosa Emilia Mercado supervised the distribution, wearing a pink attire. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government)
Maajo na lang nakapamajad-bajad sa mga utang, nakapamalit sa mga kinahanglan sa pamilya,” said Jocelyn, the wife of Rodel Luncin from Brgy. Combado, Maasin City, one of the beneficiaries, said this when asked for her reaction.

(It was good for us to pay off our debts and buy some items for family needs.)

Another Combado fisherman stated that he gave more than three-quarters of his earnings to his wife, and the remainder was spent on a celebration to mark the unexpected government support.
(MMP, PIA Southern Leyte)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Eastern Visayas has apprehended 399,341.73 board feet of logs, lumber, and timber in its efforts to combat illegal logging hotspots in the region.

Lormelyn E. Claudio, the regional executive director of the DENR-8, has reported increased efforts to enhance forest protection and address illegal logging hotspots in the region during the 8th episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, July 16.

“Through the collaborative efforts and coordination with the law enforcement agencies kasama natin diyan ang Philippine National Police, Philippine Army at pati na rin yung Philippine Coastguard, NBI and of course, the local government units, meron tayong monitoring at ini-strengthen natin talaga ito,” Claudio said.

These reported apprehensions were recorded from January 2022 to the first semester of 2024.

The Landscape and Wildlife Indicator (LAWIN) patrols had patrolled a total of 21,690.05 kilometers in different areas of the region, according to DENR.

So, gusto ko rin ipamalita na meron tayo priority program din para ma-neutralize natin yung mga illegal logging hotspots alam ko interesado kayo na malaman ito at ito nga mayroon tayong patrolling ng Lawin System inaayos natin yan at sa katunayan nga may 21, 690 kilometers na na-patrol natin dahil mayroon tayong mga tinatawag nating LAWIN patrollers,” Claudio said.

(So, I also want to announce that we have a priority program to neutralize illegal logging hotspots. I know you are interested to know this, and indeed, we have the Lawin System patrolling. We are organizing this, and in fact, we have already patrolled 21,690 kilometers with the help of our so-called Lawin patrollers.

In addition, the DENR has strengthened its collaboration with law enforcement agencies by conducting regular monitoring and continuous forest patrolling through the LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System.

This includes the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and National Bureau of Investigation, among others.

The local government units are also involved, especially the barangays, as local leaders are interested in protecting their respective barangays.

“Nakikipag-ugnayan tayo hanggat sa barangay level. Ito ang kaigihan nito dahil alam ko ang ating mga local leaders at the barangay ay interesado din siyempre kailangan din nilang protektahan ang ating mga kagubatan,” Claudio said.

(We are coordinating down to the barangay level. This is beneficial because I know our local leaders at the barangay are also interested since they also need to protect our forests.)

A memorandum of agreement has been established between the DENR-8 and various stakeholders to reinvigorate the anti-illegal logging task force. (CBA, PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas said that nine coastal areas in the region continue to be excluded from the “safe areas” list due to the presence of Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic microorganism responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) or more known as red tide.

Based on its latest advisory issued, BFAR said that based on the seawater samples from these locations have tested positive for the harmful microorganism.

Villareal Bay, Villareal, Samar; Daram Island, Samar, Zumarraga Island, Samar; Maqueda Bay, Samar covering the towns of Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, and Hinabangan; Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan, Samar; Irong-Irong Bay in Catbalogan City, Samar; and the coastal waters of Calbayog City, also in Samar.
Also detected with the red tide toxin are Matarinao Bay, Eastern Samar covering the municipalities of General MacArthur, Quinapondan, Hernani, and Salcedo; and the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

In light of these findings, BFAR has enforced a strict prohibition on the collection, consumption, and sale of all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. (“alamang”) from these areas.

However, fish, snails, and other seafood that have scales from these waters are deemed safe for consumption, provided they are fresh, their internal organs (such as intestines) are removed, and they are thoroughly washed with running water.

Residents in these areas are urged to adhere to these guidelines to avoid health risks associated with PSP. BFAR continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary to ensure public safety.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)