TACLOBAN CITY– The Department of Education (DepEd) is mulling of returning to the old school calendar days amid the intense heat being experienced in the country.

Jazmin Calzita, the regional information officer of DepEd-8, said shifting to the old calendar school days would help prevent students from the harsh classroom conditions,especially during the months of April and May, the onset of summer season in the country.

Calzita said that under Republic Act 7797, classes in the country start in June and end in March.

She added that the plan to gradually shift to the old school calendar is provided under DepEd Order No. 3.

The plan to shift to the old school calendar will also be made in consultation with stakeholders, experts, parents, students, and school management.

Due to the intense heat, the DepEd has applied the Alternative Delivery Modes (ADM).
More than 200 schools in the region have shifted to ADM due to the extreme heat conditions.

(MAVEL ANGELA GOMBA, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

— Invitations are out for those interested to join the Sangyaw Festival of Lights, the major cultural show of this city during its annual fiesta celebration.

Based on the statement released by the City Information Office said that it is inviting all participants, contingents and choreographers for the Sangyaw Festival of Lights which is held on June 29, a day before the annual fiesta celebration in honor of its patron, Senior Santo Nino.

Further, educational institutions, barangays, private establishments, and even other local government units are welcome to join the competition.

Contingents eager to participate are invited to the Tacloban City Tourism Operations Office on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 1 pm.

(QUELLA MARIE LADERA, LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

In Borongan City

TACLOBAN CITY– About 435 students who availed of the ‘Bulig Para Estudyante (BPE) program of the provincial government of Eastern Samar attended an alumni homecoming last April 6.

The event was attended by Rep. Erwin Tulfo of the ACT-CIS party-list group who pledged P5 million to help students who are scholars under the program.

Governor Ben Evardone, who initiated the scholarship program, reiterated the goal of the BPE saying it is intended for students who come from poor families who continue to persevere to finish their studies.

The governor said that due to limited funds of the provincial government, he has initiated some fundraising like golf tournaments just to sustain the BPE.

(THERESE A. CASILLANO, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– The local government unit of town Arteche in Eastern Samar is to mark its 73rd founding anniversary on April 27 with a series of activities lined up.

For this year’s anniversary, the municipal government under the leadership of Mayor Roland Boie Evardone has a theme ‘Dalang ngadto hin Malimsong nga Molopyo.’

The activities include a blood-letting dubbed as ‘Oplan Dugtong (Dugo nga Ungara Ginhatag Tungod han Onong ngan Gugma), tree planting for couples who are into pre-marriage counseling scheduled on April 18; launching of the summer tour package and art exhibit and agri-tourism fair, both on April 20; and Kasalang Bayan on April 26.

Mayor Evardone will also deliver his State of Municipal Address on April 27.

(JANESSA T. MOSCOSA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY– An 18-year-old woman from San Miguel, Leyte was arrested by personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for qualified trafficking in person and child exploitation.

Arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Emelinda Maquilan of the Regional Trial Court(RTC)-Branch 13 was ‘Maria’ in Barangay Santa Cruz, San Miguel town last April 12.

Maria was considered to be the region’s number 2 of the police’s most wanted persons.
While the court recommended bail of P80, 000 for the two counts of child exploitation lodged against the suspect, it did deny the suspect of the same for qualified trafficking in persons she was facing.

(ALYSSA G. PLANA, EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT INTERN)