Tacloban | Sun.Star Network Online

Army to join in medical mission

mvgalarpe — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:02:41 +0000

THE Army’s 8th Infantry Division in Eastern Visayas said it will participate in the largest humanitarian and civic assistance mission of the United States Pacific Fleet next month.

Brigadier General Gerardo Layug, commanding general of the 8th ID, said Pacific Partnership 2012 will be conducted in selected municipalities in Samar Island.

Controversy still hounds fish kill in Lake Bito

mvgalarpe — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:01:51 +0000

CONTROVERSY still hounds the fish kill incident in Lake Bito even if the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has released its findings on the studies conducted.

The fish kill was estimated to be more than 21,000 kilograms of tilapia valued at P1.7 million.

Set aside politics in helping fire victims, councilor urged

mvgalarpe — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:00:48 +0000

TACLOBAN City Councilor Jerry Yaokasin appealed to all politicians to set aside politics while providing assistance to the fire victims of Barangays 58 and 60-A.

Yaokasin’s appeal came after rumors circulated that some of the fire victims were not given assistance, as the funds were used by some politicians for the upcoming elections.

Foundation conducts business lectures

mvgalarpe — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:59:33 +0000

THE managing director of the Villar Foundation said the foundation conducts lectures to impart knowledge and skills for entrepreneurship and livelihood to individuals who aspire to put up business of their own.

Cynthia Villar in a recent interview during her visit at Hindang, Leyte, said the Villar Foundation, said the foundation plans to impart business knowledge through “teaching on wheels.”

56 contractors join Samar roads project bidding

laureenjean — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:22:06 +0000

AT LEAST 56 foreign and local contractors participated in the bidding process for the package 3 of United States-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Samar road project.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Samar district engineering office chief Ricardo Odita said some of these contractors have been coordinating with their office to get some information about the area.

Total stoppage of sand mining sought

laureenjean — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:21:31 +0000

EASTERN Visayas’s regional peasant alliance Samahan han Gudti nga Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas (Sagupa-SB) has called on authorities to totally stop mining operations and moratorium applications on magnetite sand in the region.

Nestor Lebico, secretary-general of Sagupa-SB, said the two waves of fish kill on Lake Bito in Mac Arthur, Leyte, were results of the ongoing magnetite mining operations.

City problematic on fire victims’ relocation

laureenjean — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:20:57 +0000

TACLOBAN City Councilor Jerry Yaokasin said the City Government is mulling whether the Sagkahan fire victims will be permitted to stay in the same area or will be relocated to another site.

The fire over the weekend left 1,500 people homeless in three villages in Sagkahan area, including Barangays 60, 60-A and 58. The damage was pegged at P32 million.

Eastern Visayas still depends on Cebu for egg supply

laureenjean — Thu, 24 May 2012 10:20:08 +0000

EASTERN Visayas remains highly dependent on Cebu in terms of egg supply with the low feed output for local poultry products, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The region ranks fourth with the lowest egg output among the 17 regions in the country, according to the official data of the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS).

14-year-old girl from Leyte shines in lawn tennis

armiesheila — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:07:20 +0000

A 14-YEAR-OLD girl, who is a native of Carigara, Leyte, is slowly making waves at the local tennis scene.

Maria Dominique Ong, who is now residing in Manila and is an incoming second year high school student, has recently won the Cebuana Lhuillier national tennis series held in Ormoc City last May 16 to 20.

Fire victims can get party-list’s shelter aid

armiesheila — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:06:10 +0000

THE affected families of the fire that occurred last Sunday in Sagkahan, Tacloban City, may avail themselves of the shelter assistance provided by An Waray party-list Representative Florencio Noel.

The fire left 1,500 people homeless in three villages in Sagkahan area, including Barangays 60, 60-A and 58. The damage was pegged at P32 million.

Officials urged to craft emergency entry, exit plans

armiesheila — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:04:31 +0000

BARANGAY officials must craft emergency entry and exit plans to ensure safety and quick response of authorities during fires, said Tacloban City Councilor Jerry Yaokasin.

Yaokasin made the statement following the fire last May 20 in one of the depressed areas in Tacloban City. The fire in Sagkahan area left more than 200 families homeless.

Local governments urged to support maternal, child health care project

armiesheila — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:03:37 +0000

PALO, Leyte – Governor Jericho Petilla enjoined local government units in the province to support the implementation of the Strengthening Maternal and Child Health Services in Eastern Visayas (SMACHS-EV) project.

The governor, during the recently held SMACHS-EV dissemination forum held at the ARCIVU Hall here, said the program aims to decrease maternal and child mortality rates.

Media’s support in development sought

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:02 +0000

MAASIN CITY – Southern Leyte lone district Representative Roger Mercado said in a press conference that the media can make a lot of difference in pushing for development of an area.

“We cannot underestimate how powerful media is in the pursuit of development. We need your support through your continued reportage in our bid to put flesh on two development projects which can spur tourism and economic boom as the province position itself as the ‘Playground of Eastern Visayas,’” Mercado said.

Creation of body to regulate tuition hike pushed

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:58:41 +0000

SAN Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito is pushing for the creation of a multi-sectoral body that will regulate tuition adjustments of tertiary school, a recurring problem every opening of school year.

The lawmaker stressed the need for a council that will look into justification of tuition increases of both public and private tertiary schools.

Program bares proposed interventions in Samar

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:57:47 +0000

CATBALOGAN CITY — Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) bared its proposed interventions in Samar to push for peace and development.

In the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting in Catbalogan City, members of the Pamana management team facilitated the appraisal for two priority projects in Samar province.

Mining firm told to observe rules

daryl_anunciado — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:56:24 +0000

PALO, Leyte – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) told the Nicua Mining Corporation to observe mining rules after it failed to prevent run-off that caused a new fish kill incident last week in Lake Bito in MacArthur, Leyte.

MGB Regional Director Roger De Dios said he told the mining firm to look into their mitigation measures to prevent the same problem that occurred last weekend.

Leyte guv asks for state anti-poverty program statistics

laureenjean — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:15:21 +0000

LEYTE Governor Jericho Petilla asked the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for statistical data to determine the program’s impact.

The state’s anti-poverty program’s provincial advisory committee recently held a meeting to discuss the status of implementation of 4Ps in Leyte province.

Explanation on rehabilitation project funds, details sought

laureenjean — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:14:41 +0000

TACLOBAN City administrator John Tecson Lim clarified why the local government is urging the City Council to explain the source of fund for the ongoing rehabilitation of the city legislative building.

The City Government is also inquiring about the agency implementing the rehabilitation project.

4 village chiefs want suspension vs mining firms lifted

laureenjean — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:14:02 +0000

A GROUP of village chiefs from four barangays in Manicani Island of Guiuan, Eastern Samar have called on the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in the region to lift the suspension order against the mining firm operating in the island.

Igmedio Abucejo, village chief of Barangay Buenavista of Manicani Island, said Samar Nickel Mining Resources Corporation (SNMRC), formerly Hinatuan Mining Corporation, should again be given permit for another contracted period to start their mining operations. He said livelihoods of residents heavily relying in mining jobs are compromised.

Government asked to hike subsidies to 112 SUCs

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:21:05 +0000

WARNING that budget cuts in state colleges and universities (SUCs) will further commercialize education, San Juan City Representative Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito called on the government to increase subsidies for 112 state-run schools nationwide.

Ejercito said he has filed a resolution reiterating his appeal for the restoration of budget cuts made on the SUCs.

Transport groups oppose fixed wage rate for drivers

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:20:27 +0000

TRANSPORT groups in Eastern Visayas has expressed opposition on the fixed wage rate for drivers, asserting that the standard set for Metro Manila is not applicable in the region.

Jaime Velarde, the transport group representative to the Regional Development Council, said fixed salary might be good for the National Capital Region but not in Eastern Visayas where transport system operate in different way.

Councilor slapped with suspension files motion for recon

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:19:42 +0000

A MUNICIPAL councilor of Abuyog, Leyte who has been slapped with a six-month suspension without pay by the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas has filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) on Tuesday.

Councilor Benito Sy said the Ombudsman has no reason to neither suspend him nor favor the administrative charges hurled against him by Nathaniel Piscos, another council member who filed the complaint last year.

Fisheries bureau issues warning on red tide in Matarinao Bay

daryl_anunciado — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:18:54 +0000

TWO weeks after the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) lifted the toxic red tide warning on shellfish from Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, the agency has issued a new bulletin declaring the area positive of paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Justerie Granali, BFAR acting regional director, said shellfish samples collected from Matarinao Bay continued to test positive for traces of paralytic poison, more commonly known as red tide.

GoHotels Tacloban formally opens

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:34:54 +0000

GOKONGWEI-LED Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) opened its hotel in Tacloban under the gohotels.ph brand, the fifth budget hotel of the property developer in the country.

The 98-room hotel will be carrying over the same pricing concept together with the same hotel and room feature, which was formally opened Wednesday along with the expansion wing of Robinsons Place Tacloban.

Police still investigating Dagami shooting incident

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:34:18 +0000

POLICE authorities in Dagami, Leyte are still investigating on the killing of two farmers by still unidentified perpetrators the other day.

Police Senior Inspector Romulo Alvarina, the town’s police chief, said they are still conducting further investigation to give them leads as to the real motive of the suspects and their arrest.

Crown-of-thorns starfish hit 217 has. of coral reefs

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:33:41 +0000

POPULATION outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (Cots) was observed in 217 hectares of coral reefs in seven municipalities and one city of Southern Leyte along Sogod Bay, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said, citing initial assessment reports.

The BFAR has raised concern on the growing population of destructive pest that already reached the bay’s famous dive sites and protected areas. The highest density was noted in Limasawa, where 1,397 pieces of Cots are present in every 500 square meters.

Group still seeking justice for slain church advocate

laureenjean — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:32:50 +0000

THE 7th death anniversary of slain church advocate Edison Lapuz on May 12 may have went unheard of by some, yet for fellow members of Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) in Eastern Visayas, the call for Lapuz’s justice is still reverberating on.

Lapuz was the founding member of PCPR, coordinator of the Eastern Visayas convenors of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Visayas Jurisdiction, and the conference minister of the North Eastern Leyte Conference when he was killed in San Isidro, Leyte on May 12, 2005 shortly after attending the burial of his father-in-law.

Group seeks total mining ban in Guiuan island

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:26 +0000

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group will seek an exception from the National Government to implement a total mining ban in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

Marcial Somooc, an official of Barangay Buenavista of Manicani Island in Guiuan and member of the board of directors of Save Manincani Movement (SaMaMo), said they have written several petitions for President Benigno Aquino III to declare a total mining ban in their island due to the damaging effects of the mining operations.

Borongan graduate among top 10 passers in engineering exam

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:31:50 +0000

A STUDENT from the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan City was among the top 10 passers of the May 2012 Civil Engineering Board Examination given by the Board of Civil Engineering.

Vincent Tegio, a native of Dolores, Eastern Samar who took a Civil Engineering course at the ESSU Borongan campus, garnered an average rating of 91.50, placing him in the 10th spot.

Mines bureau assesses Nicua mining site

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:31:07 +0000

THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is assessing the mining site of Nicua Mining Corporation to find out if the firm’s mining activities have contributed to the massive fish kill in Lake Bito of MacArthur, Leyte.

MGB mining supervising unit head Romulo Babatugon said a joint team from the MGB and Environmental Management Bureau was sent to Barangay Villa Imelda of MacArthur town to gather samples.

7 communal irrigation projects to be implemented in Leyte

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:30:28 +0000

KANANGA, Leyte -- Seven communal irrigation projects are implemented in seven identified sites in Leyte under the Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project (IRPEP) component 2 rural infra as of January 2012.

IRPEP is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Maydolong health office to work with DOH to contain typhoid

daryl_anunciado — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:29:40 +0000

SALCEDO, Eastern Samar -- The Provincial Government of Eastern Samar has instructed its health officer to work hand-in-hand with the Department of Health and the Municipal Government of Maydolong to address the typhoid fever outbreak in said town.

Governor Conrado Nicart Jr. said he had convened the inter-local health zone in his province that was attended by the different mayors and provincial health officers. The municipal mayor of Maydolong, however, failed to attend said meeting.

Tourism in Leyte paddling off to a good start

laureenjean — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:46:30 +0000

IN LINE with the 2011 National Tourism Development Plan, the Province of Leyte is prioritizing the development of key destination areas in its Northwest Leyte Tourism Cluster.

The cluster involves the two cities of Ormoc and Baybay, as well as the municipalities of Palompon, Isabel, and Inopacan, which have been identified based on their readiness for local economic development and the presence of "must-see" tourist sites in these communities. Among such sites are the Calanggaman and Tabuk Islands in Palompon.

Eastern Visayas police to hire 144 cops

laureenjean — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:09:17 +0000

AT LEAST 144 police officers are expected to boost the undermanned police force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas this year, an official said Tuesday.

Police Superintendent Jennifer Sumpo, deputy chief of the Police Community Relations Office of PNP-Eastern Visayas, said a total of 625 applicants are now being processed by Camp Crame but only 144 will be accepted to join its roster in the last quarter of this year.

K+12 program launched in Leyte schools

laureenjean — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:08:40 +0000

LEYTE Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla challenged Merida Vocational School teachers and students as they become one of the two pilot schools for the implementation of the K+12 program.

Petilla, together with Department of Education (DepEd) Assistant Secretary Elena Ruiz, led the launching of the K+12 program modeling implementation, after a similar launching was conducted for the same purpose at the other chosen pilot school in Leyte, the Palo National High School, with Vice President Jejomar Binay and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro attending the launching.

Government, public urged to clean up lake

laureenjean — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:08:05 +0000

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has called on the local government unit and local residents in MacArthur, Leyte to address domestic pollution, observe proper aquaculture practices, and prevent contamination from mining site to prevent recurrence of massive fish kill in Lake Bito.

BFAR acting Regional Director Justerie Granali said they are willing to provide fingerlings to the fisherfolk but they have to work on improving the water quality first to ensure that government assistance will not be wasted.

Photo exhibit highlights Southern Leyte’s biodiversity

laureenjean — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:07:11 +0000

MANY marveled at the rich biodiversity of Southern Leyte in photos during the opening of a photo exhibit dubbed as “Forest Exhibit: State of the Philippine Forest, Southern Leyte Forest Management Experience and Its Rich Biodiversity” last May 8-10.

The exhibit was housed at the Maasin City Gymnasium.

Maasin swimmer bags 1 gold, 1 silver medal

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:01:00 +0000

CHRISTIAN Ivan Salud of Maasin City brought pride to Eastern Visayas after bagging the gold medal in the 50-meter breast stroke and another silver medal in the 100-meter breast stroke at the Palarong Pambansa 2012 in Linggayen, Pangasinan.

Christian studies at the College of Maasin.

Waray art revolution opens

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:59:36 +0000

A “MULT-DAY summer festival,” which features various arts and sports competitions, opened on Sunday, with an initial sports battle in soccer held at the University of the Philippines (UP)-Tacloban playing field.

Organizers of Waray Art Revolution (WAR), who also called themselves as “war heads,” will also have an art exhibit and bazaar all throughout the various competitions on May 14-19.

P200-M budget set aside for roads, bridges rehab

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:58:36 +0000

OVER P200-million budget was set aside by the National Government this year to improve the conditions of approximately nine-kilometer bad roads in Leyte’s third congressional district.

In a chance interview, Representative Andy Salvacion said the budget is enough to concrete some critical road sections traversing the villages of San Isidro, Calubian, Tabango, and Leyte.

Adongay joins Lingkod Bayani awardees congress

laureenjean — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:57:45 +0000

DISTRICT Engineer David Adongay Jr. of the Northern Samar second district Engineering Office participated in the 1st Regional Congress of Lingkod Bayani awardees in Eastern Visayas.

Spearheaded by the Civil Service Commission (CSC)-Eastern Visayas, the activity was held last April 19, 2012 at the Archbishop Cipriano V. Urgel Hall in Palo, Leyte.

5 top officials in Northern Samar join Liberal Party

laureenjean — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:07:29 +0000

CATARMAN, Northern Samar -- As the elections near, local politicians start to change fences.

Former Nacionalista Party member, Northern Samar Vice Governor Ramp Neilsen Uy, along with four other top local officials in the province who belong to the former ruling party Partido Lakas-CMD, moved to the now ruling Liberal Party (LP) and took their oath of party affiliation before LP president Mar Roxas.

Monitoring on Tourism Act compliance pushed

laureenjean — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:06:47 +0000

MONITORING of local government compliance on Tourism Act of 2009 should be included in next year’s task list of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an official said.

During the recent Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said compliance to the Tourism Law should be traced by DILG considering that tourism is one of the priority sectors under the 2011-2016 Regional Development Plan (RDP).

Ordinance regulating fish pens, cages approved

laureenjean — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:06:03 +0000

CONSTRUCTIONS of fish pens, fish cages, hatcheries and other similar structures in Lake Bito are now regulated.

The move came after the Provincial Board of Leyte approved the ordinance submitted by members of the Municipal Council of MacArthur town for them to conduct a review.

Eastern Samar bridge now passable

jhayar_book — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:49:55 +0000

THE Quinapondan Bridge in Eastern Samar is now open to traffic, but for light vehicles only, after its approaches collapsed Tuesday, the public works department reported.

Department of Public Works and Highways Eastern Samar district engineer Rocardo Odita said the contractor placed six-meter coconut logs in the bridge approach just to allow light vehicles to pass the bridge.

Audit tells LGUs to have properties insured

jhayar_book — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:49:15 +0000

ORMOC CITY - The Commission on Audit reminded local government units (LGUs) to have their properties covered by insurance as mandated by the RA 656 or the Property Insurance Law.

State Auditor Eva Fulache and Crisostomo Apurillo in their audit discovered that most of the LGU properties are not covered by insurance.

Du is new Archbishop of Palo

jhayar_book — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:48:38 +0000

PALO, Leyte - Archbishop John Du was formally installed as the archbishop of the Metropolitan of Palo in a simple yet solemn rites attended by church princes, considered to be the biggest in terms of attendance in the history of the archdiocese.

And the reception he received from the faithful and priests from the archdiocese simply “overwhelmed” him, the 57-year-old Du said in a brief interview.

Maasin mayor optimistic city will bag Crown award

jhayar_book — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:47:59 +0000

MAASIN CITY – The City Government is optimistic to earn the Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner on Nutrition (Crown) award this year that will bring them a single step closer to receiving the country’s highest nutrition recognition.

Mayor Maloney Samaco said looking at the result of the recent assessment by national evaluators, they are positive to be recognized as Crown winner this year with the good performance of many barangays in their city.

Quinapondan bridge approach collapses

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:30:23 +0000

AN APPROACH of a bridge under rehabilitation in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar collapsed Tuesday dawn, leaving the Samar South Coastal Road impassable to all types of vehicles.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Samar district engineer Ricardo Odita said the bridge is still intact but its approach has been closed to traffic after shoring materials collapsed.

Many factors trigger fish kill in Lake Bito

victor — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:28:02 +0000

THE fish kill in MacArthur town, Leyte was due to various factors that could possibly include mining activities.

Based on the findings of the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the pollution that occurred in Lake Bito could have been triggered by three factors.

Dr. Nancy Dayap, chief environmental and monitoring section of BFAR-Eastern Visayas, said that for one, Lake Bito was polluted due to the presence of fecal coli form, which means people living within the lake throw their feces down to Bito.