KANANGA, Leyte-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) breaks ground on the Construction of Multi-Purpose Building in Barangay Montealegre, Kananga, Leyte on Tuesday(April 2).
Spanning an area of 87.50 square meters, the two-story building, complete with a roof deck, has a total project cost of Php 4,925,200.93 funded under the General Appropriations Act of 2023. It is designed to serve a multitude of functions as it can be used for disaster response efforts and may also serve as venue for various community meetings and gatherings.
As construction commences, Leyte 4th DEO remains committed to ensuring the timely and efficient completion of the project while the community looks forward to a safer and better-equipped facility.
The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by key government officials including Leyte 4th District Representative Richard I. Gomez, Municipality of Kananga Mayor Manuel Vicente M. Torres, and barangay officials. (PR)
TACLOBAN CITY– Officials of Guiuan town in Eastern Samar defended themselves amid a report from the Commission on Audit (COA) that they have allegedly overspent their discretionary fund.
The officials, however, said that for one, they have not allocated any discretionary funds for COA to flag them for such an act.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, in a phone interview, said that the COA could have mistaken the account for an extraordinary and miscellaneous expense (EME), which was also known as a discretionary fund when it was actually a regular fund.
“It was just a mistake on the use of the title of the account which COA considered as an extraordinary and miscellaneous expense or discretionary fund,” she said.
“The local government of Guiuan has no discretionary or confidential fund. The correct account title is other miscellaneous expense, which is a regular fund allocation,” Gonzales-Kwan added.
The same line of reasoning was also shared by the town’s budget and accounting officers who both said that though they are questioning the report of the COA, they have decided to realign this year’s similar budget amounting to P6.1 million for other purposes like procurement of office supplies, among others.
Jaime Lucero, municipal budget officer, said that since they have treated the questioned amount of P6 million as a regular fund and not a discretionary fund, all COA regulations were followed when this amount was spent last year.
“Since we treated the questioned amount of P6 million as a regular fund and not a discretionary fund, we adhered to all COA regulations during its expenditure last year. All processes, including procurement and canvassing, were followed meticulously, supported by thorough documentation,” he said in a phone interview.
According to Lucero, the P6 million was allocated to different offices of the local government like the offices of the mayor and vice mayor, treasurer, and tourism, among others.
For his part, municipal accountant Adrian Bernardo said that the amount was used by these offices for meetings, conferences, and even for public relations.
He also said that they were not aware that such an account was considered by CO as a discretionary fund.
“It was just a matter of nomenclature or question of title of the account. All expenses using this fund were all above board and complete with documents,” Lucero said.
He insisted that if they had treated the fund as a discretionary fund, they would not have any documents to show and support the expenses.
He said when using a discretionary fund, it would only need a certification that an amount was used.
To recall, the COA has reported that the municipal government of Guiuan overspent its EME last year amounting to P6.56 million when the cap for such allocation should only be P26,465.
Based on the Local Government Code or RA 7160, the appropriations for discretionary purposes of the local chief executive should not exceed two percent of the actual receipts derived from the basic real property tax in the next preceding calendar year.
For that particular period, the real property tax of Guiuan amounted to P1.32 million with the supposed EME capped at just P26, 465.
MANOG-BANOG FESTIVAL. Lapaz, a town in Leyte, hosts an annual Manog-Banog Festival with the aim of reigniting the youth’s interest in kite flying. Known as ‘manog-banog’ in the local Waray dialect, kite flying has long been a beloved tradition among Filipinos, but has somewhat faded in popularity with the rise of online gaming. Photo shows one of the contenders preparing his kite for the competition held last April 9. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
With online gaming becoming the fave pastime among youth
MANOG-BANOG FESTIVAL. Lapaz, a town in Leyte, hosts an annual Manog-Banog Festival with the aim of reigniting the youth’s interest in kite flying. Known as ‘manog-banog’ in the local Waray dialect, kite flying has long been a beloved tradition among Filipinos, but has somewhat faded in popularity with the rise of online gaming. Photo shows one of the contenders preparing his kite for the competition held last April 9. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
LAPAZ, Leyte – Amidst the fervor of online gaming, a cherished summer tradition is being revived by this town: kite flying.
This pastime, beloved by both children and adults, remains alive and vibrant thanks to the efforts of the community and town councilor Marlou Marticio.
On Tuesday (April 9), 36 participants hailing from various barangays gathered in Barangay Canbañez, located approximately a kilometer away from the town center, to take part in the second ‘Manog-Banog Festival’.
Named after the Waray term for kite, the festival offers cash prizes to winners and consolation prizes to all participants.
The event showcased a myriad of kites crafted from string and colored cellophane, boasting designs ranging from dragonflies and planes to birds and traditional diamond shapes.
Marticio, the organizer of the festival, shared that his inspiration stems from a desire to reminisce about his own childhood memories and to encourage younger generations to explore activities beyond the realm of online gaming.
“As a child, kite flying was my favorite pastime. Nowadays, many children are unfamiliar with or disinterested in traditional pastimes, as they are more engrossed in online games like Mobile Legends,” Marticio expressed.
Thus, the Manog-Banog Festival not only serves as a competition but also as a celebration of the joy of kite flying—a wholesome and cost-effective activity.
Marticio expressed delight at the increased participation in this year’s festival, with 36 contestants compared to the previous year’s 27.
Among the participants was six-year-old Akiyo Enciso, accompanied by his mother, Liezl, 26. Akiyo, the youngest contestant and currently enrolled in Kindergarten, shared his enthusiasm for kite flying.
“I love flying kites. My uncle Ronel helped me make mine,” Akiyo shared.
According to Liezl, Ronel crafted a kite for his son, resembling a ship, using colored cellophane just last week for the contest.
“Akiyo was eager to participate. He thoroughly enjoys flying kites after his afternoon classes,” Liezl remarked.
“Despite the intense heat we are experiencing, seeing him enjoy himself makes it all worthwhile,” she added.
With the success of the Manog-Banog Festival, the local government is considering integrating it into its annual fiesta activities, scheduled every April 28.
ORMOC CITY-A laborer is being hunted by local police of Maripipi, Biliran after hacking three persons, one of them a woman, last April 5 at about 9:30 pm.
The police identified the suspect as a certain Arsenio, 24, single laborer, who resides in sitio Hagonoy, Barangay Ermita of the said town.
The victims were identified through their aliases as Marie, 46; Mar, 52; and Ollie, 53, all residents of the said village.
Initial investigation conducted by responding police disclosed that the victims and the suspect were on a drinking spree when a heated argument ensued.
The police said that the suspect got mad and took his long-bladed weapon locally known as “sundang,” and hacked Mar, hitting his right arm, and Marie, who was hit on her right abdomen, while Ollie sustained abrasions on his left leg.
The victims were brought to Maripipi rural health unit for medical attention, while the suspect fled in an unknown direction.
Elements of Maripipi municipal police station immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation for the possible apprehension of the said suspect. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY-Four persons were arrested by combined forces led by elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in a buy-bust operation in Palompon, Leyte on Saturday (April 6) at about 6:45 pm.
The arrested persons were identified as Robert Sanico, 51; Ronbert Sanico, 20; Romel Flores,27; and Reynard Cornillos, 26 at Barangay Mazawalo.
PDEA8 Regional Director Jacqueline De Guzman said that the target of the operation was the elder Sanico, the alleged drug den owner who was caught in possession of a sachet of suspected shabu.
Further body search resulted in the recovery of suspected shabu weighing around 30 grams with a street value of P234,000.
All suspects were charged for violations for selling and possession of prohibited drugs as enumerated under RA 9165, the Comprehensive Law against Illegal Drugs of 2002.
All are detained at the lock-up facility of the Palompon police station. (ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CIY– A buy-bust operation here in the city turned tragic after the suspect engaged in an armed battle with the operatives.
Eros Arradaza, 30, a resident of Barangay Valencia and identified as the second priority on the target list by the law enforcers, engaged in a drug transaction in his rented room on Rizal St., Brgy. South last Tuesday (Aril 9).
The suspect sensed the presence of an undercover police officer and initiated a gunfight, using a .38 caliber firearm resulting in a gun confrontation.
Tragically, he was fatally wounded and pronounced dead upon arrival at the Ormoc District Hospital.
Ormoc Police Director Col. Nelvin Ricohermoso confirmed the fatality listed as the second priority target in Police Regional Office 8.
Arradaza’s common-law wife, Camille, was also taken into custody by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit after a sachet of suspected illegal drugs was found in her possession during a routine body search. She was charged with violating the Dangerous Drugs Act.
At the crime scene, Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered multiple sachets of suspected illegal drugs, spent bullets and cartridges, approximately P30,000 in marked bust money.
The total volume of confiscated prohibited substances was estimated at 4 grams, with an approximate value of P72, 000. (ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)
