CATARMAN, Northern Samar– The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) of Northern Samar, in partnership with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), recently trained 14 children from the Lingap Center on how to bake bread and pastries.
The children, aged 12 and above, have been abandoned, neglected, or were victims of abuse, and have been sheltered by the PSWDO in its Lingap Center.
“For the children to gain confidence and boost their morale, we train them to acquire skills aside from values formation we inject on a regular basis. The training they undergo will hopefully hone them into productive members of society,” said Social Welfare Officer Jhen Darish.
‘Tin-tin’ (not her real name), a 17-year-old Grade 11, student has been living at the Lingap Center after she got orphaned. She was also separated from her two siblings.
She said she would go into the bread-making business and work to be reunited with her siblings.
Aside from bread making, the center also teaches knitting, first aid, home-making weekly activities, financial management, and even how to play piano and guitar, among others.
The home shelter and foster care is under the DSWD’s program and services, providing various development and welfare services to include psychological and social support.
It aimed at maximizing the opportunities of children under their care and building bridges from hopelessness to being productive members of society, thereby instilling and re-establishing for these underprivileged the hope they need to regain and become normal members of society. (MMP/ADiaz/PIA-N. Samar)
Maasin City Mayor Naccional Mercado(right) a check from DOST led by its regional director, Ernesto Granada, as the city aims to become a ‘smart city’ with innovations.(PHOTO COURTESY)
Maasin City Mayor Naccional Mercado(right) a check from DOST led by its regional director, Ernesto Granada, as the city aims to become a ‘smart city’ with innovations.(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has turned over to the city government of Maasin a fund for the implementation of the agency’s Smart and Sustainable Communities Program (SMART Program).
The turnover of funds, which is expected to jumpstart the Maasin City project, ‘Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Ecosystem Development Toward Smart and Sustainable Maasin City,’ was held on January 3 during the visit of DOST-8 officials to the capital city of Southern Leyte province.
The turnover of funds to Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado was headed by DOST-8 Regional Director Ernesto Granada, Ramil Uy, supervising science research specialist, and OIC provincial science and technology director Emmanuel Lagdamen.
“The implementation of the SMART program will focus on the formulation and installation of an appropriate digital infrastructure platform to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of local government services, Mayor Mercado said.
According to Mercado, the project will surely lay a strong foundation for Maasin’s transformation into a smarter and more sustainable city through a comprehensive review of existing systems, the development of a robust Information Strategic System Planning (ISSP), and road map for the city, and capacity building.
The DOST SMART Program aims to provide a high-quality life, a competitive economy, and sustainability, ushering smart, resilient, and sustainable communities and facilitate the integration of various technologies and innovations for communities to harness the benefits and promote positive change.
“With our unwavering commitment to resilience, innovation, sustainability, and fairness, Maasin City is on an upward path. Let’s be a beacon of progress and a model for holistic development, ensuring a promising and fair future for our constituents,” Mercado said.
All over the country, more than 80 LGUs have signified their interest to adapt the SMART Program of the DOST.
In the region aside from Maasin City, the program is also implemented in the cities of Ormoc, Tacloban, Catbalogan, Calbayog, and Borongan City; Catarman, Northern Samar, and Naval in Biliran province. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA RSSO 8) enthusiastically welcomed the new year of 2024 with a vigorous effort in registering the people of Eastern Visayas to PhillSys.
After the resounding success of registering about 3.8 Million as of December 2023, PSA will continue registering the uncovered populace and with additional target registrants of 300,000 this year.
“We are calling upon our people especially those 5 years old and above to register and we are trying our best to bring our PhilSys services right at your doorsteps.” PSA RSSO 8 Regional Director Wilma A. Perante shared. PSA will further intensify its strategies reaching out at the grassroot level where people can register and have their ePhilIDs.
Near or far, be it on smooth or rugged ways, the PSA will continue to reinforce its service and commitment in providing an inclusive identification system for Filipinos.
Since its launch in 2021, PhilSys has been steadily progressing despite the challenges brought about by various challenges like the pandemic and natural calamities in the region.
The significant accomplishment is the result of the collaborative perseverance of the PSA with its PhilSys field personnel, the local government units, stakeholders and partner agencies who continuously support the programs of PhilSys.
For inquiries and further information, you may visit the PSA’s official website at www.psa.gov.ph or contact our office with telephone number (053) 839-1884 and email address rsso08@psa.gov.ph. (PR)
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan (right) and Usec.Elmer Sarmiento of the Department of Transportations signs an agreement for the construction of several ports in the province with a total budget of P75 million.
(THE NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL OFFICE)
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan (right) and Usec.Elmer Sarmiento of the Department of Transportations signs an agreement for the construction of several ports in the province with a total budget of P75 million. (THE NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY– The provincial government of Northern Samar and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a memorandum of agreement on Thursday (Jan.4) that aims to expand port projects in the province.
The agreement was signed by Governor Edwin Ongchuan and DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Francisco Sarmiento solidifying the partnership to boost employment opportunities and streamline transportation in the province, particularly, expanding the ports in the municipalities of Allen, Mapanas, and San Jose.
The projects are funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022 by the DOTr amounting to P75 million.
“Malaking bagay po ito for our economic upliftment dahil dito po dadaan sa amin ang mga barges, commercial vessels para po sa mga infrastructure projects na aming tinatayo. Dito po kami nagko-concentrate sa copra buying and copra supplying papunta pong Lucena, papunta po sa ibang probinsya gaya sa Quezon,” said Gov. Ongchuan.
“We are connecting communities such as Mapanas and other municipalities in Northern Samar to the bigger island economies for their economic growth. We are happy to work with the governor and mayors in Northern Samar so that the benefits will be given to the province and respective LGUs,” Usec. Sarmiento said during the signing of the MOA.
Mapanas Mayor Ronn Michael Tejano joined Gov. Ongchuan in visiting the DOTr Central Office and witnessed the MOA signing.
Tejano expressed his gladness over the project which he said would bring more development not only in his municipality but also to neighboring towns in the Pacific Coast of the province.
The governor also reiterates his appeal to the DOTr for the funding for the construction of a domestic airport in Pambujan and the rehabilitation and improvement of the Batag Lighthouse on Batag Island, Laoang town.
The construction of the Pambujan Domestic Airport which will also be called Northern Samar Airport is proposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines as a relocation site for the Catarman Airport to pave way for its expansion.
In February of 2023, CAAP-8 manager Danilo Ab said that they are looking for a relocation site for the Catarman Airport because the expansion is not feasible in its present location big portion of the facility is located within a military reservation, and both ends of the airport runway are classified as main roads. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
NO PLASTIC USE. The city of Tacloban is now among local governments in the country to prohibit the use of plastic and Styrofoam, beginning on Jan.1, New Year’s Day, by virtue of an ordinance principally authored by Councilor Aimee Delgado Grafil. Photo shows one of the biggest shopping malls in the city posting a reminder of such order among its customers. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Beginning on New Year’s Day
NO PLASTIC USE. The city of Tacloban is now among local governments in the country to prohibit the use of plastic and Styrofoam, beginning on Jan.1, New Year’s Day, by virtue of an ordinance principally authored by Councilor Aimee Delgado Grafil. Photo shows one of the biggest shopping malls in the city posting a reminder of such order among its customers. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY– This city has joined local government units in the country prohibiting the use of plastics by business establishments and the public.
The ban on the use of single-use plastics in the city started on Monday (Jan.1), based on Ordinance Number 2023-15-06, otherwise known as the Plastic and Styrofoam Packaging Regulation Ordinance approved by the city council and signed by Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
Under the said ordinance, business establishments, restaurants, fast-food outlets, food kiosks, catering services, and the likes are prohibited from using plastic or Styrofoam or expanded polystyrene foam as food containers.
The author of the measure, Councilor Aimee Grafil, in a previous interview, said that the ordinance is not only meant to help address the city’s problem of garbage, particularly involving plastics but more so, encourage the public to use indigenous or reusable bags, potentially opening livelihood opportunities among its residents.
“The ordinance aims to eventually reduce the volume of solid wastes generated in the city, promote the use of indigenous or reusable bags, and provide opportunities for livelihood to communities, thereby upholding health, safety, and welfare not only of the people but including the environment,” Grafil said, after the passage of the ordinance March of last year.
‘Banderitas’ which is being used during celebrations like fiesta is also banned under the ordinance.
The city has an average of 141 tons of daily waste of which plastic wastes account ‘significant portion,’ the City Environment Office said.
Violators of the ordinance face fines of P1,000 to P5,000 with the cancellation of the business permit for establishments and imprisonment of at least six months, subject to the discretion of the court, for individuals.
The Business Permits and Licensing Office is mandated to conduct inspections and ensure the compliance of the establishments on the ordinance.
The prohibition on the use of plastics and Styrofoam is in line with the mandate of RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The implementation of the single-use prohibition in Tacloban was welcomed by a pro-environment group based in the city.
Ronan Renz Napoto, founding member of Balud, an Eastern Visayas-based youth-led environmental organization
“This sends a strong message to the entire region that it is really high time and long overdue that we put prime focus on the state of our environment and move towards progressive practices, and Tacloban, being the lone highly urbanized city in the region brings more weight to this call,” he said in a statement.
“However, we are also interested to see how this implementation would go; how would they translate the policy into action; how would the LGU Tacloban would address the varied reactions and the feedbacks from the people; etc,” Napoto added.
GIANT LANTERNS. The town of Can-avid in Eastern Samar is fast becoming the Christmas capital of the province with its annual giant Christmas lanterns festival. Photo shows one of the entries made of recyclable materials.(CAN-AVID NEWS AND INFORMATION)
GIANT LANTERNS. The town of Can-avid in Eastern Samar is fast becoming the Christmas capital of the province with its annual giant Christmas lanterns festival. Photo shows one of the entries made of recyclable materials.(CAN-AVID NEWS AND INFORMATION)
TACLOBAN CITY – The entry of Barangays 1 and Camantang were the big winners in this year’s annual lantern festival in Can-avid, Eastern Samar.
The lantern festival, now on its sixth year, is not only aimed as an ordinary lantern competition but as part of the tourism campaign of Can-avid.
The winners were declared on December 30 with cash prizes at stake.
Judging of the entries was divided into two parts, first during the opening last December 18, then the final on December 30.
Brgys 1 and Camantang both won P200,000 donated by 4Ps party-list Representative Marcelino Libanan. They also won the People’s Choice Award winning an additional P5,000.
Second place winner was the entry of Brgys. 8 and Mabuhay, winning P150,000 sponsored by Gov. Ben Evardone.
The 3rd Place winner was the entry of Brgys. Rawis and Balagon winning P100,000 each with Marie Villarino Sy as the sponsor.
Mayor Vilma Germino was thankful to the sponsors of the cash prizes and to barangay officials who despite short notice were able to come up with entries for the annual competition.
“We want this to succeed because this has become our trademark,” she said during the awarding ceremony.
Unlike in previous years, each of the 28 barangays of Can-avid has entry to the annual competition, this year 14 giant Christmas lanterns participated after the local government clustered them into two barangays per entry.
The giant Christmas lanterns measuring about 5 meters were made from recyclable materials in support of the solid waste management program of the local government.
Lanterns were made of empty plastic bottles, plastic cups, and other recyclable materials. These were painted with vibrant colors and decorated with colorful Christmas lights.
The lanterns were displayed along the national road to catch the attention of the public and motorists. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
