TACLOBAN CITY– Officers of the Tacloban Persons with Disability Federation, headed by its newly-elected president Raymund Gaspay, and the Tacloban City Persons with Disability Association, headed by Dionisio Alcaraz Balintong, Jr., were sworn in on Wednesday (Sept. 6) by Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, coinciding with the weekly “People’s Day” of the City Mayor’s Office.

According to Person with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) officer-in-charge Claire Eden Tacazon, such organizations are important in bringing important services and assistance to the differently-abled sector, which now has 3,652 registered members in Tacloban City, based on data from the Philippine Registry for PWDs.

Here are the newly-elected officers of the TPDF, which is the umbrella organization of all PWD associations in Tacloban City: president: Raymond L. Gaspay; vice pres.: Jose Juby P. Alday; secretary: Philip C. Ting; treasurer: Alicia Z. Labesig; auditor: Narsal O. Alimangohan; PIO: Wodie M. Labutap Ma.Cecilia M. Unay; protection officer: Diofel P. Llamado, Edgar U. Ditchon business manager: Dionisio A. Balintong.

Elected as board members were Fedilisa G. Dela Peña, Necart Paul M. Enfectan, Armando k. Garrido, Nestor D. Ronda, Rechelle Joy L. Espina, and Edilberto S. Badilla.

Meantime, reflected below are the officers of the city’s PWD Association: president: Dionisio “Onie” Alcaraz Balintong Jr.; Executive Vice President: Ma. Cecilia Maralang Unay; vice president for Internal: Edilberto Suan Badilla Jr.; vice president for external: Susan Puyat Lledo; secretary: Lorna Sawaan Dizor; assistant secretary: Menchie Cajepe Castillote; treasurer: Rechelle Joy Lorenzo Espina; auditor: Sulpicio Peñaranda Cator Jr.; assistant auditor: Arnel Elejeda Grego; public relations officer: Jovelyn Quero Corporal; business manager: Julieta Maypa Abug; assistant business manager: Ma. Josiebel Cadlum Abuyot.
Board of Directors are Juanito Claros Puyat Jr.

Alicia Castillo Benson, Jennifer Tan Arevalo, Mary Grace Medino Plata, Betty D. Pondang, Jennifer Holares Climaco,Domina Adman Cayang, and Lerma Vega.

Serving as adviser/consultant are Vicente Orestes Romualdez, Ben Silla Calzado, Marian Makabenta Llamas, Eleuterio Daria Dagunot, Peluchi Jessamine Escaño Sinaca. (H.ROCA/TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

ORMOC CITY– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) conducted its 3rd Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill on September 07, 2023 with the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in accordance to the standards set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

This quarterly activity aims to ensure preparedness for “The Big One”, a potential earthquake of magnitude 7.2 or higher that experts predict could occur in the Philippines which can strike at any moment, leaving devastating impacts on infrastructure and endangering lives.

It focused on the practical application of the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” technique which involves protecting vital organs by ducking, taking cover under sturdy furniture, and holding on until the shaking stops.

Following the drill, FO2 Astirio M. Caminade III, one of the officials from the BFP shared his evaluation and provided essential reminders to the office. The feedback is instrumental in refining emergency response procedures and ensuring everyone’s safety.

This exercise was particularly timely, given that the day before, on September 06, 2023 a 4.5 magnitude earthquake rattled Leyte province in the evening, underscoring the importance of disaster preparedness.
(ROSITA A. TINAWIN/OIC District Engineer)

TACLOBAN CITY– -” Tribu Rayhak of Sta Fe National High School was adjudged as the top winner for the 29th Padul-ong Festival 2023.

The awarding was headed by Mayor Jose Dayan Agda and Vice Mayor Emman Tiu Sonco.
Tribu Rayhak bested two other contingents and won P 300,000 cash prize. They also bagged the Best in Festival Queen.

Meanwhile, Tribu Sagtik of Maypangdan National High School bagged the 1st runner-up and won P250,000, and Tribu Magkasikasi of Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School bagged 2nd place and won P200,000.

Winners were announced after the ritual dance competition that followed after the street dance parade in early morning of September 7, a day before the city fiesta.

Prior to the ritual and street dance parade, a fluvial procession of the image of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,the patron saint of the city, was first held starting at the Punta Maria to the Rawis Port.

The Padul-ong is the official festival of Borongan City in honor of its patroness celebrated every September 8.

Padul-ong,which originates from Winaray word “dul-ong” means to deliver or transport, recalls thru a ritual dance presentation the miraculous journey of how the Nuestra Señora dela Natividad or the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary became the patroness of Borongan during the Spanish rule.

The festival competition is just one of the several activities that the city government organized for their city fiesta.

Among these activities are the football competition, fishing tournament, e-sports competition, badminton, motorcross, kayak, mixed martial arts and chess tournament.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)