TACLOBAN CITY– A month-long ‘pork holiday’ has been imposed in Silago town, Southern Leyte, effective December 27.

The imposition of the pork holiday is to ensure that the African Fever Swine (ASF) that has affected several of its barangays could be contained, Mayor Lemuel Honor said.

Honor issued Executive Order Number 41 on December 27, declaring the pork holiday, particularly in the villages of Katipunan, Imelda, Hingatugan, Salvacion, Laguma, Tubaon, Tubod, Poblacion District 1, Poblacion District 2, Puntana, and part of Sudmon.
The pork holiday will last for the next 30 days, the order said.

As part of the measure to contain further spread of the ASF in the town, slaughtering of hogs and selling of pork, and other pork products from the affected barangays is strictly prohibited, the order said.

It also said that the entry and exit of live hogs is provided within the next 30 days. “Only the meat from ASF-free barangays is allowed to enter and supply the market needs of the affected barangays,” the order added.

It was learned that the ASF in the town was first detected in Barangay Tubod and Salvacion, and Puntana involving nine pigs in total were tested positive based on the blood samples undertaken by the veterinary laboratory division of the Department of Agriculture taken on December 1.

Mayor Honor said that since then, there were about 60 pigs confirmed ASF cases from the affected barangays.

“But there were also report of ASF-infected pigs which were not reported by the owners,” he said in a private message interview.

According to Honor, those who will not obey the order face confiscation of their swine which would be killed and buried to ensure that the virus would not further spread.

Honor said that they have yet to confirm how the ASF in their town started.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) of the Department of Public Works (DPWH) installed the rainwater collection system (RCWS) in six strategic locations in the district.

The installation of the RCWS is in line with Republic Act 6716, otherwise known as the “An Act Providing for the Construction of Waterwells, Rainwater Collectors, the development of springs, and the rehabilitation of existing water wells in several barangays in the Philippines,”

District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura identified the areas as Liwayway Elementary School and the New DPWH L2DEO office, both in MacArthur, Leyte.

In Barugo, the same facility would be installed at the San Roque Elementary School, Ibag Elementary School, and Roosevelt Elementary School.

“Government schools, offices, public markets, and rural health facilities with limited access to potable water are the top priorities for this project. Water collected from roofing facilities is stored in the tank and can be used for sanitation and other appropriate uses,” Oppura.
The government promotes water conservation through this project in order to mitigate the declining freshwater supply due to excessive groundwater profiteering, water pollution, inadequate water infrastructure, and climate change.

Each RCWS cost P2.3 million which involves structure excavation, concrete works, reinforcing steel, roof drains with strainers, and the installation of a stainless-steel water tank of approximately 4,000 liters with plumbing accessories.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda signed the city’s budget for 2024 in the amount of P1.2 billion.

Last year, the city had a budget of P1.14 billion.

The city mayor, in his message, said that a big portion of the city budget would go to various social services programs.

“I wish to inform (the Boronganons) that 21 percent of our budget next year is allocated for social services that include the allocation for the Dukwag Agrikultura, Libre Medisina, and other cash assistance to our people in dire need,” Mayor Agda said right after he signed the fiscal ordinance on December 29, 2023.

Dukwag Agrikultura is a priority project of Mayor Agda which aims to develop agriculture by boosting the productivity of farmers and fishermen, providing them support for agri-entrepreneurship through cash loan assistance with zero interest that they can use in investing in agribusiness.

Libre Medisina is a city government program launched in 2021 that provides free medicine to city residents provided that they have a doctor’s prescription.

Under the P1.2 billion, P434 million would go for general services; P440.13 million for economic services;social and welfare services,P253.54 million and other purposes,P80.54 million.Among those who witnessed the signing of the 2024 city budget was Vice Mayor Emmanuel Tiu-Sonco.

Mayor Agda said that the majority of the budget is allocated to the general fund that will finance the operational expenses, development projects, and other services of the city government.

The city government also provides cash assistance to senior high school and college students, including senior citizens.

“The signing of the budget is a big milestone for the city government because it emphasizes the thrust of the city government ensuring to its people that no one is left behind. This also gives emphasis on providing better funds to social services so that all residents will benefit from it,” Agda said.(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The town of Burauen, Leyte has now its own branch of the LandBank of the Philippines which opened on December 29 of last year.

The opening of the government-run bank was led by Mayor Juanito Renomeron and LandBank officials headed by its branch manager Ma. Lilia Fabella.

Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio blessed the newly-opened bank located the town proper.
Renomeron said that opening of Landbank in their town is a significant milestone for Burauen from improving access to financial services to supporting economic development and fostering community connections.

The neighboring villages, especially those who are members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would no longer come to Tacloban City to withdraw their monthly incentives from the government, the town mayor added.
(LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)