Program focuses on farmers and fisherfolk

TACLOBAN CITY– Government offices are working as one to help address the poverty incidence, particularly those in the farming and fishery sectors.

The government has earlier launched the program dubbed Enhanced Partnership Against Poverty and Hunger Program or EPAHP.

This involves partnerships with different major government offices like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), among others.

Its primary goals are to mitigate hunger, reduce poverty, improve malnutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, and link farmers and fishermen to the market, Noel Villones, EPAHP regional coordinator, said.

Here in the region, EPAHP continues to help fishermen and farmers who belong to the 5th and 6th class municipalities which have high poverty incidences.

EPAHP serves as a link that connects fishermen and farmers in need or community-based organizations directly to the market.

With their help, these people can secure buyers instantly and even receive huge assistance from the different institutions involved.

Aside from connections, they also teach their beneficiaries about financial literacy and train them in proper water resource management and sustainable agriculture.

Villones said the impact of this initiative on the poverty rate of the region has also been observed.

In 2018, there was a 30.4% poverty incidence, and as of the first semester of 2023, it was reduced to 26.10%, resulting in a 4.3% reduction.

Currently, EPAHP continues to work towards its mission to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by the year 2030.

(JOYLIN MEDINO, STEFTI STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY-In response to the recent fire incident that ravaged 11 houses in Barangay 51, Magallanes, Tacloban City, the Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) has taken swift action to provide assistance to the affected residents.

The fire, which occurred in the early hours of March 20, left several families displaced and in dire need of support. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, TCDEO promptly mobilized efforts to extend a helping hand to those affected.

OIC District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse expressed her concern and sympathy for the affected families, stating, “Our hearts go out to the residents of Barangay 51 who have been affected by this unfortunate incident.”

In an effort to alleviate the hardships faced by the fire victims, TCDEO donated clothing items to assist them in rebuilding their lives.

The donated clothes were relayed to the Barangay Captain of the affected area, Hon. Cecilia Evella G. Almerino, who oversaw their distribution to the affected families. (PR)

MANILA-TaskUs, one of the world’s fastest-growing business process outsourcing service providers, has partnered with GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance app, to support local coffee farmers.

This partnership, launched through a ceremonial tree-planting event, paves the way for TaskUs to plant 10,000 coffee seedlings in Cavite, through GCash’s GForest, an interactive climate tech platform, that allows users to contribute to reforestation and tree-planting initiatives. GCash and its partners plant actual trees in strategic sites across the Philippines for every digital tree planted in-app. Through this feature, users are also encouraged to shift to digital transactions which can help reduce their carbon footprint.

The partnership also enables TaskUs to build more communities and create lasting positive impact. Beyond doing good for the environment, TaskUs will also be purchasing beans directly from local women coffee farmers.

“This partnership with GCash is aligned with our core values and commitment to supporting the communities where we are present. Social responsibility is strongly embedded in our culture, and we encourage our teammates to make a difference in issues they care about,” explained Dean Van Ormer, Senior Vice President – Southeast Asia of TaskUs.

For GCash, the partnership showcases how corporations can work with the fintech giant in fulfilling their sustainability commitments through GForest.

“GCash is an advocate of tech for good—not only are we empowering financial progress for all, but we are also using our platform in ways that can create significant positive social impact, from protecting the environment to creating sustained opportunities for our local farmers. GForest is proof that innovative solutions can engage individuals and corporations to act for our planet and local communities,” shared CJ Alegre, Sustainability Head of GCash.

Planting 10,000 coffee seedlings is a welcome initiative for the Philippine coffee industry, which has been advocating for the local development of coffee to meet the Filipinos’ coffee demand.

“Coffee has historically been an integral component of the Philippine economy, but today, we see a huge opportunity for companies to support local coffee farmers. We laud the partnership between GCash and TaskUs as they leverage innovative platforms to grow coffee seedlings and boost the livelihood of local farmers. Actual planting will begin during the rainy season, at the third to fourth quarter of 2024,” stated Chit Juan, President of Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Give Compassion: Every day the average person fights epic battles never told just to survive!” -Ken Poirot

The Region Eight Administrators League (REAL), an organization populated by career executive officers and eligible, organized and carried out a gift-giving ceremony for 50 female prisoners and 60 impoverished family recipients as a genuine expression of love and service all in Tacloban city.

The event unfolded last February 14, 2024 for the REAL LOVE 2024 and the EASTER GIFT GIVING 2024 for the indigent’s families happened last April 7,2024.

Dr. Manuel Albano, REAL president, had given the green light to implement the twin gift-giving projects as part of Region Eight Administration League projects for the 2023-2024 calendar year. This writer serves as the focal person for the events.

REAL LOVE 2024 seeks to give hope to 50 female PDLs. The event unfolded on Valentine’s Day at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Female Dorm in Paterno Extension Tacloban City.

Toiletries and health kits plus canned goods and fruits were distributed to the PDLs.
Attended by Region Eight Administrators League, an organization populated by Career Executive Officers and Eligible.

Aside from Albano, also present were Dr. Clemelle Montallana, president Abuyog Community College, Dr. Lani Cervantes, schools division superintendent Biliran Division, ARD; Rufino Mengote of the Department of Science and Technology and Assistant Regional Director Aleli Hernandez of the Department of Budget and Management and Mrs. Marjorie T. Montallana, foreign language coordinator of the Leyte National High School.

The second gift-giving was the Easter Gift Giving to the beneficiaries in the relocated free housing at the Guadalupe Heights in Tacloban.

The community is part of the Tacloban City Relocation Projects for the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, families whose houses and family members perished in the typhoon.

Spearheaded by the very same REAL officers plus the presence of Dr. Chester Tamayo and Dr. Carmela Tamayo, schools division superintendent of Catbalogan City Division, and Dr. Teofilo Montallana, quality assurance director at Abuyog Community College.

The second gift-giving project was appreciated by more than 50 families as the organization distributed canned goods, fruits, toiletries, and health kits, among others.
It was community passion and community engagement at its core as emulated from the Career Executive Service Board initiatives, which were highlighted that day.
(CLEMELLE L. MONTALLANA)

TACLOBAN CITY– Over 2 million kilograms of premium rice and a total of P250 million in cash assistance were distributed to 83,000 beneficiaries across the Eastern Visayas region under the national government’s “revolutionary” Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program from April 5 to 7, 2024.

The CARD recipients mostly came from marginalized groups, including the poor, senior citizens, persons with disability, single parents, and family breadwinners, among others.

“Lumapag na po sa Leyte, Samar at Biliran ang CARD Program upang maghatid ng libreng bigas at ayuda para sa ating mga kababayan na nagmumula sa mga vulnerable sectors. Dito po ipinadadama ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa ating mga mamamayan ang pagkalinga ng pamahalaan,” said Leyte First District Congressman and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in a statement.

The CARD program was rolled out as part of Marcos’ nationwide Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF).

House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada Jr. said the CARD Program “has benefitted the citizens of Tacloban City, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.”

“Under the leadership of Speaker Martin, the House of Representatives is fully committed to addressing President Marcos’ challenges, focusing on aiding the vulnerable sectors,” said Gabonada who leads the secretariat for the House of Representatives’ CARD program.
He also lauded the partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian for the program.

Launched in 2023, the CARD Program seeks to provide cash and rice assistance to qualified Filipino families, which will be identified by the congressional districts.

The pilot distribution occurred in Metro Manila, covering all its 33 legislative districts, with each having 10,000 beneficiaries for a total of 330,000 residents, and in Biñan City and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, as reported by the Office of the House Speaker.
(RONALD O. REYES)

ORMOC CITY-A drinking session has turned messy after a fish vendor stabbed his drinking buddy during a heated argument at about 7:20 pm Monday (April 8) in Barangay Langgao, Cabucgayan, Biliran.

Police identified the victim as Ador, 44, while the suspect was identified as Mark, 33.
Investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the victim and the suspect, together with their friends, were in a drinking session when a heated argument between the two ensued.

The police said that the suspect got mad and drew a bladed weapon, and stabbed the victim, hitting his body.

The victim was immediately brought to Cabucgayan Rural Health Unit for medical treatment but was referred to Biliran Provincial Hospital, Naval, Biliran, for further medication.

The suspect voluntarily surrendered to village chairman John Andy Ticoy and was subsequently turned over to Cabucgayan police with the bladed weapon used for proper disposition. (ROBERT DEJON)