TACLOBAN CITY– Due to poverty, hunger, and hardship in the mountains, three alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Las Navas, Northern Samar decided to return to the fold of the law.

Based on the report from the 20th Infantry Battalion based in Las Navas, the three rebels who surrendered were identified as alias ‘Rion’, alias ‘Bunso’, and alias ‘Ekgong.’

They were said to be members of the Front Committee-15 Sub Regional Party Committee (SRC) Arctic of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) which has been dismantled by the military.

They also surrendered two firearms with bullets and magazines.

The former rebels received financial assistance and food packs by the local government under its Local Social Integration Program and Municipal Task Force Balik-loob Program and Initiatives.

(JANESSA T.MOSCOSA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan was among the awardees during the 36th founding anniversary of the 802nd Infantry Brigade in Ormoc City held on April 16.

Agda and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Verina Amoyo were honored at the 36th Founding Anniversary of the 802nd Infantry Brigade in Ormoc City today, April 16.
Mayor Agda received recognition for leading the City Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (CTF-ELCAC) and for his partnership with the Philippine Army in peace engagement programs.

Similarly, the city’s social welfare office headed by Verina Amoyo was also lauded for its exceptional work in implementing local social integration programs, aiding individuals in crisis situations, and facilitating the enrollment of 75 former rebels under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
(THERESE A. CASILLANO, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– A total of P 2.7 million worth of suspected shabu were confiscated by the joint anti-drug operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) through a buy-bust operation at 9:08 pm in Ormoc City.

Based on the report of PDEA, the suspect was identified as alias “Popoy,” 39, and a resident of Carlos Tan St., Barangay South, Ormoc City.

During the operation last April 18, 11 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated commercial value of P 2.7 million were confiscated by the authorities from the suspect.
The suspect faces criminal charges for possession and selling of prohibited drugs and is now detained at the Ormoc City police detention facility.

(MIYLENE CATUBAY, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in the region conducted its first regional mass graduation and distribution of scholarship toolkits and allowances last April 18.

TESDA deputy director general for operations, Ancieto Bertiz III, and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla led the celebration with a representative of Rep. Yedda Romualdez of Tingog party-list group, Alexis Uy, also in attendance.

Over 2,000 scholars of TESDA attended the ceremony held at the People’s Center, this city.
A total of 1, 262 scholars in different qualifications received their certificates during the ceremony while 758 scholars from various qualifications in Leyte and Southern Leyte received their starter scholarships toolkits and allowances.

Bertiz III, in his message, commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance emphasizing the vital role they play in driving economic growth and development in the region.

“We are proud to witness that we have numerous graduates in the region and eight out of 10 of these graduates will be able to find jobs especially with the help of our private sectors and industry partnership, wherein they have engaged their industry immersion. They can look forward for employment from this companies,” he said.

TESDA, headed here in the region Gamaliel Vicente Jr., will be celebrating its 30th anniversary on August 2024.

(NICOLE FANOGA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– The spokesperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that they will make sure that only qualified senior citizens will be given the social pension.

Lawyer Jonalyndie Chua, DSWD regional information officer, made this statement as the government has set aside P2.5 billion intended for the country’s elderlies.

Chua said that qualified to receive the social pension are those indigent senior citizens who are 60 years old and above with no monthly pension either from the public or private institution.

They are to receive a P1,000 monthly social pension from the government through the DSWD.

The social pension program is an additional augmentation for indigent senior citizens to be used on administrative expenses.

The local government unit will identify the indigent senior citizens with the DSWD validating the eligibility of the individuals on the list provided by the former.

Interviews and assessments will be made using the social pension validation form.
(MARY ANN M.OLAYA, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

In Northern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY– Governor Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar said that his administration is making its commitment to improve its agriculture sector.

The governor, in a statement, said that this can be achieved through training assistance and increased crop production.

The provincial government has recently rehabilitated its provincial agriculture and fisheries extension office into Provincial Research and Extension Center intended for agricultural research and development.

The facility is located in Barangay Galutan at the provincial capital of Catarman.
It functions as a nursery, propagation center, and agricultural development hub in the province, and helps in enhancing the production efforts in rice, livestock, and vegetables.

It is also equipped with a dormitory to facilitate in-house training sessions as it is envisioned as a hub for learning and innovation, and additionally operates as a technological demonstration farm, providing trainees with practical experience in diverse agricultural practices.

Additionally, it also functions as a location for implementing a biosecurity program known as “earwig” or “sipit-sipit,” providing an efficient alternative for pest control.

(MAVEL ANGELA J. GOMBA, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDEN INTERN)