CATARMAN, Northern Samar– A total of 52 former rebels who returned to the fold of the law in this province have recently received 403 chickens as well as 53 sacks of feed as part of an egg-layering project under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program in barangay Cablangan in Mondragon town.

The former rebels, who are now called peacebuilders, expressed gratitude to the local and national government for the opportunities and the chances given them and their families to live a new life free from hunger and fear.

At a forum initiated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and the Provincial Task Force Balik-Loob, one of the peacebuilders shared the experience he had at the hands of the communists, saying everything was hard work and they were always in fear of their lives.

“I thank the government for giving us a new life free from hunger and fear,” the peacebuilder, also known as Manoy, declared.

Aside from the egg-laying livelihood project, the provincial government, through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), built the first halfway house called Darangpan Center, where former rebels temporarily stay while their financial assistance is are being processed.

Another big-time project being implemented is the housing project in a more or less 17-hectare ‘Kauswagan Village” exclusive for peacebuilders situated at barangay Cablangan, Mondragon town.

During the forum of the peacebuilders and the concerned government agencies, some issues were exhaustively discussed, such as the sustainability of the livelihood program, and how the peacebuilders handled the financial assistance extended by the government.
The forum served as a platform to settle these issues and to inject inputs on the reintegration of the peacebuilders into the community.

For its part, the DILG conducted an orientation on the local government operation, the various public institutions, their roles and responsibilities, and while BGen. Efren Morados of the Philippine Army discussed their responsibilities towards sustaining peace and development in the province.

Most important, the activity was a venue for integral healing and transformation of God’s love, mercy, and compassion. (MMP/AND/PIA Northern Samar)

MAASIN CITY– Some 1,361 rice farmers in this city who are enrolled with the Department of Agriculture (DA) registry system received certified seeds in two tranches for the semester-cycled planting sessions.

The city’s Office of Agricultural Services got 600 bags of certified rice seeds from the DA regional office this year, at 300 bags per release, as well as the appropriate fertilizers, through the Rice Competency Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

According to City Agriculturist Virgilia Barrientos during a recent ‘Kapihan sa PIA’ interview, each bag contained 20 kilos at one hectare every two bags, and these were given in pro-rated shares because the farmlands most of the farmers tilled did not surpass a hectare.
Barrientos also reported having received 72 packs of hybrid rice seeds at 3 kilos per pack from the provincial government, with matching fertilizers, which were distributed to rice farmers with irrigated rice lands.

It can be recalled that Governor Damian Mercado, in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last December 4, reported the distribution of quality rice seeds to farmers in all the 19 local government units of the province through the city/municipal agricultural offices as a food security strategy.

Barrientos explained that both certified and hybrid seed varieties have high-yielding properties, but the certified seeds can fit in rain-fed areas and can be set aside for new crops in the next cropping, while hybrid seeds require irrigated rice fields and another set of planting materials.

During this year’s mid-year harvest, some farmers in barangays Libhu and Bactul had excess supplies that were sold in the DA’s Bagsakan Center for a reduced price than the prevailing market selling price, Barrientos reported. (LDL/MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)

TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar released the year-end benefits of the employees before Christmas Day, giving them a reason to have a joyful occasion with their families.

The year-end benefits included the Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) amounting to P20,000 per employee which was released on December 22, 2023, along with the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) amounting to P5,000, granted to regular provincial employees, who included casual employees with at least four months of service as of November 30, 2023.

As for job order workers and contractual employees who have rendered at least four months of service, they received a gratuity pay of P5,000.

Aside from the SRI, PEI, and gratuity pay, the employees also received their 14th-month pay or Christmas bonus, released to regular employees last month.

The year-end bonus came with a cash gift of P5,000 per employee, based on the guidelines set by the national government.

The provincial government has 1,265 permanent and casual employees and 2, 540 job order workers.

“It is because of your unwavering commitment that the provincial government of Northern Samar continues to achieve great things for our province. I express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your hard work and dedication throughout the year,” Governor Edwin Ongchuan said in his message to the employees.

“It is because of your unwavering commitment that the provincial government of Northern Samar continues to achieve great things for our province. Thank you for your efforts in making Northern Samar a better place for everyone,” the governor added.

Ongchuan reiterated that he gave premium on the welfare of the employees because they believe that the provincial government’s human resources are as vital as its fiscal resources and an essential component to sound public administration.

The governor also expressed his appreciation for the support of the legislative body headed by Vice Governor Clarence Dato for approving the budget that provides benefits to the employees.

The provincial board authorized the allocation of P38 million from the province savings of which P25.3 million was approved for the payment of SRI while P12.7 million was for gratuity pay. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)