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Peace and Quiet caravan gain more partners

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Peace and Quiet Culture and Arts Caravan is gaining momentum as more partners join its cause, to the delight of its organizers and coordinators.

Originally aimed at steering youth towards the arts to keep them from falling prey to recruitment by communist armed groups and engaging in vices such as illegal drug use, the caravan has now expanded its advocacy to include environmental protection and conservation.

This new direction is facilitated through a partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The 5th edition of the Peace and Quiet Culture and Arts Caravan features over 40 artists from across the region, showcasing their works at an art exhibit held from June 5 to 9 on the second floor of Robinsons North Tacloban.

Among the new partners are the Leyte National High School Special Program for the Arts, ACLC Arts Appreciation, and the Palo Culture and Arts Organization (PCAO), a group of young artists from Palo which is known for its community theater play performances.
“PCAO members will present a live theater play on Friday, June 7, as part of the culmination of the HURMA Basic Integrated Theater Arts Workshop,” said Diana Jane Saballe, the event coordinator.

In addition to the live theater performance, the five-day event includes art exhibits, live sketching, a poster-making contest, a dance contest, an acoustic band competition, a ‘siday’ competition, and canvas bag painting.

The Peace and Quiet V is also part of the World Environment Month celebration, themed “Reviving Nature, Sustaining Life: Together We Restore.”

DENR Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio highlighted the importance of providing youth, particularly artists, with a platform to create and showcase artworks that advocate for environmental protection and conservation.

“Artists are sensitive, conscious, and passionate about everything. We want to channel that passion towards environmental protection and management,” she said in her message.

The Peace and Quiet V is organized in collaboration with the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict, the Philippine National Police, Robinsons North Tacloban, the Hands Off Our Children Movement Inc., Youth for Human Rights International Eastern Visayas, and arts groups Istilo Poetry, Langkaw, Islaw, ArtPalo, and Kasugbong.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Cops arrest one of EV’s most elusive drug personalities

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Police Regional Office 8, under the leadership of B/Gen. Reynaldo Pawid, successfully arrested the region’s 3rd most wanted person for drug peddling in Barugo, Leyte on Tuesday (June 4).

The apprehended individual, known as alias “Angaw,” is a 41-year-old farm laborer residing in Sitio Cansagaya, Barangay Bulod of said town.

He is an identified high-value individual (HVI) who managed to elude arrest during a targeted buy-bust operation conducted on February 27, 2024.

Authorities apprehended the accused based on outstanding warrants of arrest for multiple drug-related charges.

Angaw was subsequently brought to Barugo municipal police station for documentation and processing.

B/Gen. Pawid expressed his commendation for the close collaboration among the units involved, which led to the successful apprehension of a high-value fugitive.

“We are committed to exhausting all available resources to ensure that these individuals are brought to justice,” he added.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

EV’s number 8 most wanted person arrested in Cavite

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ORMOC CITY– The region’s No. 8 most wanted person was arrested by joint operatives in Bacoor City, Cavite on Wednesday (June 5) at about 4:30 pm

Arrested by the elements from the municipal police station of Malitbog, Southern Leyte, Provincial Intelligence Team (PIT) of Cavite-RIU4A, Provincial Intelligence Team (PIT) Southern Leyte-RIU8, PIU SLPPO, Southern Leyte MARPSTA, Leyte Sur Provincial Highway Patrol Team was alias “Nardo” 62, a tricycle driver, and a resident of Poblacion Malitbog, Southern Leyte and temporarily residing in Salinas I, Bacoor City.

The accused was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest, dated February 20, 2024, issued by Judge Ma. Daisy Paler Gonzalez, presiding judge of Branch 25, Maasin City for the crime of frustrated homicide and frustrated murder.

The accused is now under the custody of the Bacoor Component City Police Station for documentation and proper disposition. (ROBERT DEJON)

Over 2,500 individuals from Eastern Samar receive TUPAD cash assistance

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ASSISTANCE. More than 2,500 residents from different municipalities of Eastern Samar received cash assistance through TUPAD on Monday (June 3). Among those who were present during the payout were Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of 4Ps party-list, Governor Ben Evardone, and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo. (Photo Courtesy)
ASSISTANCE. More than 2,500 residents from different municipalities of Eastern Samar received cash assistance through TUPAD on Monday (June 3). Among those who were present during the payout were Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of 4Ps party-list, Governor Ben Evardone, and ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo. (Photo Courtesy)

TACLOBAN CITY – The 2,590 beneficiaries of the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program from the province of Eastern Samar received their payouts from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The payout distribution, held on Monday(June 3), event was attended by ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo, DOLE Regional Director Dax Vilalruel, 4Ps Partylist Representative and House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan, Salcedo Mayor Ma. Rochelle Melgar, provincial board officials, and municipal council officials.

“Ang paki-usap ko lamang po, gastusin ng tama yang pera na yan, hindi niyo yan waldasin. Binigay yan para magamit ninyo pambayad ng kuryente, pambili ng bigas, yung iba may mga gagraduate na mga anak,” advised Rep.Tulfo to the beneficiaries.

About 1,591 TUPAD beneficiaries received their payouts at the Guiuan municipal gymnasium, while 999 received theirs at the Salcedo gymnasium. These beneficiaries hail from the towns of Guiuan, Salcedo, Maydolong, Gen. MacArthur, Hernani, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, and Mercedes.

Each beneficiary received P4,050, amounting to a total of more than P10.488 million distributed to the TUPAD beneficiaries.

This amount compensates the beneficiaries for participating in community work, such as clean-up drives in their respective barangays, for 10 days.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Pintados and Kasadyaan Festivals await response on permit application from Tacloban city government

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NO PERMIT YET. The organizers behind the Pintados Foundation and Kasadyaan Festival are waiting for the response of their permit application to conduct their street parade relative to the June 30 Tacloban City fiesta. (Photo Courtesy)
NO PERMIT YET. The organizers behind the Pintados Foundation and Kasadyaan Festival are waiting for the response of their permit application to conduct their street parade relative to the June 30 Tacloban City fiesta. (Photo Courtesy)

TACLOBAN CITY – The permit for the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, which organizers applied for in March, is still pending with the Tacloban City government.
Pintados Foundation president Eugene Tan provided this update when asked about their preparations for the grandest festival competition in Eastern Visayas, held in relation with the annual Tacloban City fiesta.

“We were not given a permit for the nightly activities we are planning to hold at the RTR Plaza, but we are still hoping they will grant us a permit to hold a parade. Our request was sent to the city government in February or March, but we have yet to receive a response,” Tan said.

“Despite the lack of response, we continue preparing for the festivals and other activities,” he added.

The Pintados Festival, organized by members of Tacloban’s business community in 1987, and the Kasadyaan Festival, a provincial government-organized competition of festivals from various parts of the region, are typically held on the day before the Tacloban City fiesta.

The date was later changed to June 27 and, last year, to June 24, as decided by the city government.

Tan said that their organization usually applies for parade permits early due to the extensive preparation required for the festival.

“Preparing for a contingent is not easy. It takes time to rehearse, find choreographers, musicians, costumes, and props. You need at least six months of preparation for each contingent,” he explained.

In 2023, after large gatherings were permitted following a three-year prohibition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their organization learned that their parade permit request was granted less than two weeks before the festival competition.

“Our only goal is to bring joy to the people. Since this festival started in 1987, we’ve seen how tourists enjoy it and how local businesses profit from it. We hope for a peaceful celebration in honor of our city fiesta,” Tan added.

This is not the first time the group has encountered difficulties obtaining a permit from the city government.

In 2011, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival sought to conduct a parade using their usual route, but the city government barricaded it and diverted the parade, leading to a standoff between festival and city officials.

In 2023, the festival organizers applied for a permit but were allowed to parade around the city on June 24 instead of the usual June 27.

For this year’s Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals, Tan said they expect four contingents for the Pintados Festival and 10 contingents for the Kasadyaan Festival.
The Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival of Festivals has produced several national championship-winning contingents, such as the Buyugan Festival of Abuyog, Lingganay Festival of Alangalang, Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, and Buraburon Festival of Burauen.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Destroy and repair

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This has become a common practice in Region 8, particularly in the province of Samar: roads that are still in good condition, with smooth asphalt overlays, are being recklessly destroyed by heavy equipment, pulverizing perfectly serviceable infrastructure. Meanwhile, the heavily damaged roads, marred by deep crevices and dangerous cracks, are being blatantly ignored. This grotesque inversion of priorities raises an unavoidable question: what kind of practice is this?

This is not merely a matter of incompetence or poor planning; it reeks of systemic corruption. Destroying roads that are in good condition to justify new construction projects is a blatant ploy to secure additional budgets. These budgets, in turn, offer ample opportunities for unscrupulous officials to siphon off funds for personal gain. This vicious cycle wastes public money and subjects the populace to unnecessary inconvenience and danger.

The logical and ethical approach is to prioritize repairing the damaged roads, ensuring safety and mobility for all. Instead, the current practice suggests a deliberate, nefarious strategy designed to perpetuate a continuous flow of funds into the pockets of those in power. This form of corruption is particularly insidious because it masquerades as a development while actively sabotaging progress and eroding the very infrastructure it purports to improve.

Furthermore, this practice has far-reaching consequences beyond immediate financial waste and public inconvenience. It creates a culture of cynicism and helplessness among citizens, who see their needs and safety blatantly disregarded. When people witness such blatant malfeasance, it diminishes their faith in public institutions and discourages civic engagement. The long-term impact of this erosion of trust is incalculable, leading to apathy and disengagement that weaken the fabric of society.

This malpractice must be exposed and condemned in the strongest possible terms. Transparency in allocating and using public funds must be enforced, and those responsible for these nefarious actions should be held accountable. Only through rigorous oversight and a commitment to genuine public service can the integrity of infrastructure projects be restored. The people of Samar and Region 8 deserve roads that are safe, functional, and built with their best interests at heart—not the wallets of corrupt officials.

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