TACLOBAN CITY– Over P272 million worth of humanitarian aid was provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to the families affected by the shearline that struck Eastern Visayas last November.
This was declared by Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Irene Dumlao who said that the aid provided to the affected families included family food packs (FFPs), non-food items, and cash through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
A total of 323,301 food boxes amounting to more than P222 million were distributed by the DSWD to the affected families from the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.
“The DSWD Eastern Visayas is continuously coordinating with the National Resource Operations Center on the delivery of the requested additional FFPs intended for the affected families,” she said in a statement.
Some 584 hygiene kits and 72 kitchen kits were also distributed to the families affected by the weather disturbance in Northern Samar and Samar provinces, Dumlao added.
“Aside from food packs, the DSWD also provided cash assistance to allow the affected families to buy or purchase other necessities in their preference,” she said.
According to Dumlao, some 17,331 beneficiaries from Northern Samar received financial assistance from the DSWD, with a total disbursement of P49.99 million.
Northern Samar was the hard-hit area during the flooding incident, killing four people and displacing tens of thousands of families.
“We are in constant communication with the affected localities so we can facilitate their augmentation requests as soon as possible,” Dumlao said. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Natasha Jung won as Miss Kananga 2023, giving her the ticket to represent the town to the 2024 Miss Universe-Philippines.
(Photo Courtesy)
Winner Jung veteran of beauty pageants
Natasha Jung won as Miss Kananga 2023, giving her the ticket to represent the town to the 2024 Miss Universe-Philippines. (Photo Courtesy)
KANANGA, Leyte-Despite not feeling well, Natasha Jung was able to bring home the Miss Kananga crown 2023 during a glittering coronation night held at the town gymnasium on December 11.
Jung, representing Barangay Rizal, bested 21 other candidates from different barangays of the town for the crown, making her the official candidate of Kananga for next year’s Miss Universe Philippines.
She aced the final question on how she would use the crown as Miss Kananga to inspire others and drive a meaningful change.
“If I win the Miss Universe Kananga, I will champion resilience and empowerment for broken families. My goal is to support them, nurture their inner strength, and build a supportive community. Let’s turn difficulties into opportunities fostering unity and strength,” she said.
Jung answers to the final question “if crowned Miss Kananga, how do you plant to leverage your unique background and experience to inspire others and drive meaningful change” that sealed her winning of the crown.
She also won several special awards which also including two of the major awards- best in evening gown and Miss Photogenic.
“I’m honored to represent Kananga’s spirit—a reflection of strength and resilience—on the Miss Universe Philippines stage,” Jung said after winning the crown.
“To my co-candidates, thanks for the friendship and memories. I will treasure the memories we made; however, I genuinely wish we could have spent more time together. Remember, we are all queens in our own right, and I wholeheartedly believe everyone deserves a crown. I truly mean it,” the newly-crowned Miss Kananga added.
Jung is not new in national pageantry.
She joined the Miss World 2021 where she placed among the top 10 for the best in the national costume category. A year later, she competed at the Binibining Pilipinas and was crowned as Miss Caloocan 2023.
April Tanhueco, municipal tourism officer, in her message said that Jung’s winning the crown is a testament to the beauty and goodness that resonate within the heart of the Kananga people.
“As you embark on the journey to represent our town on the national and global stage in Miss Universe Philippines 2024, we have full confidence that you will eloquently showcase the spirit and grace of our community,” she said.
Tanhueco assured the newly- crowned queen on the full support of the local government in her quest for the Miss Universe Philippines.
Also crowned were Jhy-ross Yboa, a crowd favorite, as Miss Philippines Kananga and will represent the town in The Miss Philippines pageant in 2024 whose winners will have the chance to represent the country at the Miss Supranational, Miss Charm, and Miss Asia Pacific International.
Just like Jung, Yboa, who represented Brgy. Lim-ao, is not new in pageantry.
She is the current Mutya han Samar titleholder.
In 2018 she joined the Miss Teen Pintados search where she landed 4th runner-up. In 2022 she bagged the crown as Miss Manaragat 2022 in Catbalogan City.
This 2023 she joined the Miss Pintados search and was crowned as 3rd runner-up.
Yboa also bagged the Best in Swimsuit major award, including Miss EDC and Miss Paytaca special award.
Charlene Angel Custodio of Lonoy village was crowned as Miss Tourism Kananga.
She also bagged the Miss Kawa café. Her previous feats in pageantry was being crowned as Miss West Leyte Colleges 2023 second runner-up in April and Miss EVSU-OC 2023 second runner-up last November.
All winners received cash prizes.
The event was hosted by beauty queen MJ Lastimosa and television host Sean Kyle Ortega. (ROEL T.AMAZONA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
TACLOBAN CITY-The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas has issued a warning for the public not to eat, collect, or sell all types of shellfish as it issued a red tide alert covering two major bays.
In a local red tide advisory released on Monday (Dec.10) and Monday (Dec.11) respectively, the BFAR said that the presence of Pyrodinium bahamense, a toxic microorganism that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) was detected in San Pedro Bay in Basey, Samar, and Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, Leyte.
“To safeguard human lives, we are issuing this warning as a precautionary advice to the public to refrain from gathering, selling, and eating, all types of shellfish and Acetes sp., locally known as alamang or hipon from Cancabato Bay and San Pedro Bay to avoid possible shellfish poisoning,” it said.
The BFAR also said that eating squid, crab, fish, and shrimp gathered from these two bays are safe to eat provided that they are fresh, and all entrails are removed and washed thoroughly with running water before cooking.
It added that together with the local government units concerned, they are closely monitoring the affected areas ‘to safeguard public health and to protect the shellfish industry.’ (JOEY A. GABIETA)
MBC/Aksyon Radyo DYVL outreach activity in Hinatad Elementary School, Catarman, Northern Samar (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
DyVL extends aid to damaged schools
MBC/Aksyon Radyo DYVL outreach activity in Hinatad Elementary School, Catarman, Northern Samar (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – The affected schools in Northern Samar province by severe flooding are still in the process of restoration, according to provincial schools superintendent Gaudencio Aljibe.
At least 24 classrooms were destroyed, 35 with major damages, and 191 with minor damages due to the massive flooding that hit the province on November 21, he added.
A total of 85 temporary learning spaces are needed in the province for affected students, Aljibe further said.
Also destroyed were learning resources, computers, and furnitures, according to the DepEd official.
He, however, is thankful to the different groups and individuals who responded to their call for donations to help the affected schools and students, particularly those from Catarman, Catubig, Lope de Vega, and Las Navas recover from damages.
Last Thursday (Dec. 14), the Manila Broadcasting Company through the Aksyon Radyo – DyVL visited one of flood affected schools in Catarman town, the Hinatad Elementary School where they distributed school supplies to 423 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
The distribution was led by DyVL station manager Francisca “Babes” Custodio, news anchor/reporter Ioannes Omang, and showbiz news anchor Sid “Madam Cheding” Palaña to the students whose school grounds are still covered in thick mud.
“On behalf of the more than 10,000 teaching staff here in Northern Samar we are thankful for your assistance,” Aljibe said, citing the power of media and social media to influence people to help those who are in need especially in times of disasters and calamities like what happened in Northern Samar.
“Our technology and communication system and the media have a big impact on our community allowing for the immediate response to those who are in need like on what happened now in our province,” Aljibe added. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
ORMOC CITY– Killing incidents appear to be unabated in Leyte’s third district.
Just this week, separate shooting incidents took place which resulted in the death of two persons, one was a village councilor.
On Monday(Dec.11), Danilo Mates, a former village councilor of Casilion, Villaba was shot to death while he and his son and wife were on board a motorcycle on their way home.
Mates’ son, Dan Kyles, 7, was also killed in the shooting incident while his wife, Marivic, was unharmed.
And on Wednesday (Dec.13), another shooting incident occurred in San Isidro, killing a man said to be a security escort of a contractor.
The fatality was identified as Mark Rio Castillo,46, a resident of Brgy. Capiñahan who was riding his motorcycle heading towards the town proper of San Isidro.
He was hit on his head by the riding-in-tandem suspects.
San Isidro, Leyte- A personal driver of a contractor is the latest victim of killing incidents in the third district of Leyte.
In both shooting incidents, the police have yet to determine the identities of the suspects and their motive. (ROBERT DEJON)
Once flourishing and a major player in the global market, the abaca industry in the Philippines has experienced significant changes as time passed by. Derived from the abaca plant which is native to the country, abaca has had a rich history in our country, as it was primarily used for making ropes, textiles, and other handicrafts. However, the abaca industry has faced several challenges, causing its decline in recent years.
One major factor that has affected the abaca industry in our country is the shift in global demand for natural fibers. In the past, abaca was highly sought after for its strength and quality, making it a valuable export commodity. However, with the emergence of synthetic fibers and the development of more cost-effective alternatives, the demand for abaca has decreased. This has caused a decline in both production and exportation, negatively impacting the industry’s growth and profitability.
Climate change has also posed a significant threat to our abaca industry. The abaca plant requires specific environmental conditions, such as high humidity and well-distributed rainfall, to thrive. However, global warming and changing weather patterns have disrupted these conditions, leading to a decrease in abaca yields. Extreme weather events, such as typhoons, have become more frequent and severe, causing extensive damage to abaca plantations and affecting the livelihoods of farmers.
The emergence of synthetic alternatives has also contributed to the decline of the abaca industry in the Philippines. Synthetic fibers can be produced at a lower cost, are readily available, and often offer comparable or superior properties to abaca. As a result, the demand for abaca-based products, such as ropes and textiles, has been replaced by cheaper synthetic alternatives in various industries. This shift in consumer preference has significantly impacted the market for abaca, leading to a decline in the industry’s overall growth.
Our abaca industry has then faced numerous challenges that have hindered its growth and profitability. The government and industry stakeholders must implement sustainable measures, such as diversifying product offerings, promoting green technologies, and supporting farmers in adapting to climate change. With these, the abaca industry may still reclaim its position as a vital player in the global market and contribute to the country’s economic development.
