TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is upbeat about doubling the number of local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas passing the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) this year.

Citing the result of the recent calibration, the DILG regional office here said at least 61 LGUs have been identified as potential SGLG passers based on assessments by the third-party monitoring partners.

In a statement,DILG Regional Director Arnel Agabe said he is pushing for Project 66, which aims for a 100 percent increase in SGLG passers from last year’s 33 LGUs.

“The result of the SGLG validation will provide an overall analysis of the current situation and the progress made by each LGU towards the standards set by the SGLG, thereby laying the foundation for well-informed decision-making,” he said.

These LGUs were assessed based on their capacity to demonstrate proficiency in all 10 governance areas: financial administration and sustainability; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness and competitiveness; safety, peace, and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture, and arts; and youth development.

The SGLG, implemented under Republic Act No. 11292, is an institutionalized award incentive, honor, and recognition-based program that aims to boost LGUs’ commitment to continuously progress and improve their performance in various governance areas.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

The presidential award to be given on July 10

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar has received commendation from Malacañang for coming up with initiatives that have improved the business climate and attracted investments to the province.

Under Governor Edwin Ongchuan, and through its Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (PEDIPO), Northern Samar will receive presidential recognition for outstanding development partner in the category of creating and improving the business climate, which will be awarded on July 10.

“This recognition not only validates our dedication but also serves as a catalyst for further investments, ultimately boosting the province’s economy and creating opportunities for its residents,” said Jan Allen Berbon, PEDIPO head.

Under Ongchuan’s leadership and in coordination with PEDIPO, the provincial government initiated strategic measures to foster a business-friendly environment, focusing on the creation of the provincial green lane.

This initiative was designed to streamline investment procedures and expedite business permits, making it easier for investors to process necessary documents and cut any red tape.

Among the significant multi-billion peso projects that have come to the province due to the improved business climate are those in the renewable energy sector.

Since the operation of the green lane or one-stop shop at the capitol in Catarman town, the province has already attracted two major investments.

These include a common cell sites project by Philtower Consortium and the P108 billion offshore wind power project by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Aboitiz Infrastructure.

Additionally, a tidal energy project by Energies PH Inc., the first of its kind in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, is also in the pipeline. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY-A five-year-old girl and the driver of a motorcycle were brought to the rural health unit in Biliran, Biliran for medical treatment after being injured in a road mishap.
The incident took place around 5 pm on June 25, along the municipal road of Barangay San Isidro, Biliran town.

The girl, identified as alias “Aica,” is a resident of the said barangay.

An initial investigation conducted by the local police revealed that the vehicle involved in the accident was a gray Honda XRM 125 motorcycle without a plate number.

The motorcycle was driven by alias “Rica,” 21, single, a student, and a resident of Brgy. San Isidro, who has a driver’s license.

The motorcycle was traveling from Brgy. San Isidro to the diversion road when the girl suddenly crossed the road, resulting in the motorcycle accidentally hitting her.

Both the driver and the girl sustained injuries and were brought to the Biliran Rural Health Unit for medical attention. The motorcycle was taken to the Biliran Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.
(ROBERT DEJON)

TACLOBAN CITY– Some 191 families from Arteche in Eastern Samar received a sack of rice from the Southern Korean government on Thursday (July 4).

The recipients are beneficiaries of Project SUSAN.E (Sustainable Nutrition and Nanay Empowerment) of the local government unit.

“This is in line with our goal of addressing and solving problem on malnutrition,” Mayor Roland Boie Evardone said.

These families that received a sack of rice from the South Korean government are those with children who are stunted and severely wasted.

For 2024, Arteche town has a total of 191 stunted and severely stunted children ranking them on 17th place among 23 local government units in Eastern Samar.

This is, however, a major decline from the 314 stunted and severely stunted children in 2023 placing them on ranked two among 23 LGUs in the province.

“They are the priority because they have malnourished (stunted) children and these children are also beneficiaries of the HAPAG-ASA feeding program,” Mayor Evardone said.
Project Susan.E is a holistic flagship program of the local government unit of Arteche that aims to address malnutrition through a feeding program, and empowering the mother or father through skills development and livelihood.

The project has other components which includes Masustansyang pagbubuntis, Masiglang kamusmusan (MaMa) which is a 36-month program that secures the nutritional needs of mothers and infant in their first 1,000 days to prevent malnutrition and stunting; then the Lunchbox Library: Healthy Readers On-the-Go!, a 20-week program that focuses on helping children in-school on literacy development incorporating supplementary feeding.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

ORMOC CITY-The local police are investigating the identities of the victims and the motives and identities of the suspects behind the killing of three young victims who were thrown from the top of Dampoy Bridge in Sogod, Southern Leyte.

The bodies were discovered by local residents due to a foul odor around 5:50 pm on Wednesday (July 3) in Barangay Olisihan of the said town.

According to the police, Kristall Ann Rabaco Revilla, 28, barangay secretary of Olisihan, personally reported to Sogod police that the bodies of three male individuals were found beneath Dampoy Bridge.

Revilla stated that the discovery was made after local residents complained of foul odors, prompting barangay officials to investigate. During their visit, they were shocked to find the three bodies in the early stages of decomposition.

The police noted that the victims were tied with masking tape and had several gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies, leading them to suspect that the victims were executed.

The three bodies are temporarily being held at a local funeral parlor in Bontoc, Southern Leyte, with an autopsy tentatively scheduled for July 5.

If the identities of the victims are revealed by their families, the police will request that the families do not waive the autopsy before the release of the bodies.

The PCR section is advised to conduct flash alarms on social media for the widest and fastest dissemination of information. (ROBERT DEJON)