In Calbayog City

TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Raymund Uy of Calbayog City led in the turnover of projects to a remote village of the city funded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The project involved a P4 million worth of school building and street lights in Barangay Macatingog, considered the farthest village in Calbayog City.

The project is part of the DILG’s Support to Barangay Development Program which provides essential infrastructures and social services to geographically isolated barangays like Macatingog.

The village was also said to be a former lair of the communist rebels, the New People’s Army.

Mayor Uy, in his talk with the community, reminded them to continue supporting the government and urged them to maintain and sustain the new projects.

“Maswerte kamo kay ini nga administrasyon nagbuburublig para sa kaupayan san barangay,” he said.

Among those present during the turnover were DILG assistant provincial director Fortunato Legarde and city counterpart, Gretchen Mae Corrales, Lt. Col. Naser Arojo, the commanding officer of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, and city police director, Lt. Col. Aquilino Pongcol.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

LOPE DE VEGA, Northern Samar – Though Children’s Month is already over, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Eastern Visayas continues to support schoolchildren in agrarian reform communities (ARCs), particularly in disaster-stricken areas.

Last week, 135 pupils at the Lower Caynaga Elementary School in this town received school supplies from DAR after Barangay Lower Caynaga and many other areas in the province were submerged in flood waters due to the heavy rainfall brought by the low pressure area and shear line.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Loradelle Flores, assisted by the school’s head teacher, Bella Doinog, led the said distribution.

Aside from the school supplies, the schoolchildren also received snacks from Flores.
According to Flores, Barangay Lower Caynaga is among the villages within the Northern Samar Settlement project, an ARC area.

Grade five pupil, Jellyn Tonog, expressed gratitude to the DAR for the school items they received. According to her, some of their notebooks and papers were damaged by the flood.

Meanwhile, Doinog became emotional as she reminisced how the water in the river rose at about four early in the morning of November 20 this year prompting residents in low-lying areas to evacuate.

She also shared how grateful they are for the various relief assistance they received from different sectors but stressed that only DAR provided school supplies specifically for the schoolchildren.
(JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Christmas Season in Palo town, Leyte started its celebration after the local government unit formally opened the ‘Pasko Ha Palo 2023’ with the simultaneous ceremonial lighting of all Christmas decorations in various areas of the municipality on Thursday (Dec.14).

The lighting was graced by town Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla, Vice Mayor Jojo Chiquillo, and members of the municipal council.

Provincial board member Wilson Uy represented Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla.
The Christmas decorations are located at the Palo Pag-ibig Plaza, public market, Purisima Bridge, Saboren’s Christmas House, and at the Luntad Christmas Village.

Mayor Petilla said unlike in previous years when the competition for Christmas decorations participated by different departments of the municipal government were displayed in their respective offices, this year they provided them kiosk around the municipal plaza.

Petilla added that they also assigned every team of Palo employees to bring in gifts that would be given to their selected institutions like the provincial jail, hospitals, and Pope Francis Center for the Poor, among others, where there are less fortunate individuals.
“I think this is the best way to express our love to them because we show them our concern by sharing what we have for Christmas,” the mayor said.

She then expresses her gratitude to all municipal employees and officials for continuously supporting the yearly program that aims to provide joy and let the residents of Palo feel the spirit of Christmas.

“Let the spirit of Christmas dwell in our hearts and minds. Let us celebrate it not just on Christmas Day but in every day of our lives,” Mayor Petilla added.

Also part of the Pasko Ha Palo 2023 festivity is the trade fair at the Enchanting Palo Livelihood and Tourism Information Center where various delicacies and items are displayed for visitors to buy.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)