12 towns, 1 city in Samar declared ‘areas of concern’

By MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA
The Philippine Star

TACLOBAN CITY – The regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here declared 12 Samar towns and one city as immediate areas of concern not because of intense political rivalry but due to the presence of New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas and of partisan armed groups.


PNP regional director Chief Superintendent Eliseo Dela Paz, the municipalities of Jiabong, Motiong, Sta. Rita, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Gandara, San Jorge, Matuguinao, Paranas, Basey, Villareal, Tarangnan and Calbayog City were among the latest to have been declared as election hot spots or immediate areas of concern.

Because of the PNP’s intensified campaign against loose firearms all over the region, Dela Paz said they have so far confiscated 32 loose firearms in checkpoints across the six provinces and those caught have been charged in court.

He admitted that there were a series of killings in Samar during the first two months of the campaign period and some election-related violence have also been recorded, but these were immediately solved because of the deployment of troops.

"The deployment of additional troops in Samar has really improved peace and order and helped stop killing incidents," Dela Paz added.

The PNP regional leadership encourages the signing of peace covenants among candidates in provinces and municipalities. On Saturday, local candidates in Tacloban signed a peace covenant. Biliran province will follow this week.

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Six architectural heritage sites in Leyte identified

Tacloban City (April 18) -– There are six Architectural Heritage sites in Leyte which will be showcased in the Architectural Heritage Tour on May 1, 2007 in connection with the commemoration of the National Heritage Month in the month of May.

The first heritage destination identified is Tanauan where the Our Lady of Assumption Parish Church is one of the oldest churches and where the Rectory was restored to its natural design.

Then there is Dulag, where the ruins of the 1595-built Jesuit Seminary at the Our Lady of Refuge Parish Church still remain.

In Carigara could be found the Old Settlement Ruins at the Cassidy Elementary School, the Balay nga Gawas It Harigi and the Carigara Community Museum. Carigara is the place where Christianity was first introduced in Leyte.

In Baybay Leyte, there is what is called as the Heritage Street, the Mabini Street where heritage houses of different vintages are still being occupied by people.

The Fian Ancestral House in Albuera, Leyte is representative of the rich architectural heritage in Leyte.

Finally, in Hilongos, Leyte there remains the Fort and Old Church Ruins which are rich in architectural heritage.

The Architectural Heritage Tour on May 1 will be participated in not only by the architecture students but also by the media and the members of the United Architects of the Philippines Leyte Chapter.

This is a good way of learning what cannot be learned in school, the actual experience of seeing for oneself the actual rich architectural heritage of the province of Leyte.

Indeed, the choice of Leyte as the venue of the Grand Opening of the National Heritage Month not only showcases the rich heritage of the province of Leyte but it is an eye-opener for the Leyteños, to be proud of their province. (PIA 8)

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Landbank Tacloban adopts Binahaan River watershed project

Tacloban City (April 17) -– In answer to the National Government’s call to raise public awareness of wetland values and benefits and promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands, the LandBank of the Philippines in the Region is undertaking the Adopt Binahaan River Watershed Project.

This was bared by Land Bank Regional Head Vice President Ruel Z. Romarate, who said that LandBank recognizes the principle that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of everyone.

It also believes that planting of trees generally improves environmental conditions and so LandBank has signified to contribute to national development by reforesting portion of priority watersheds as identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

VP Romarate said that the Adopt Binahaan River Watershed Project is being implemented by LandBank as lead agency with DENR and the local government of Dagami as collaborators. The project is located at Barangay Camono-an, Dagami, Leyte with project duration of three years and project cost of P76, 428.50 covering an area of two hectares.

LandBank hopes to support the DENR in its efforts to rehabilitate the denuded portion of the Binahaan River Watershed through volunteerism under the Bayanihan Bayan Program.

Binahaan River Watershed has a total area of 6,317.50 hectares and covers the city of Ormoc and the municipalities of Dagami, Pastrana, Jaro, Tanauan, Palo and Tabon Tabon in the province of Leyte.

Binahaan River Watershed is the source of water of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) for water distribution to the different municipalities in Region 8, namely Pastrana, Sta, Fe, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Dagami, Tabon Tabon, Dagami.

It also services 6,317.50 hectares of irrigated farmlands in the lowlands covering the municipalities of Dagami, Pastrana, Jaro, Tanauan, Palo, Tabon-tabon, Leyte and Ormoc City.

LandBank will supervise, guide and administer the project implementation to ensure that the activities and outputs are in accordance with the plan. It will also ensure that the implementation activity will strictly adhere with the environmental protection and conservation measures for the watershed as prescribed by the DENR and will turn over the project to DENR upon completion. (PIA 8)

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Site management

I posted in the SamarNews forum that I have limited time to manage this site. I have therefore, requested interested individuals to email me at leytesamar@gmail.com so I can share with them the password and login for this blog and forum.

By doing so, this site will effectively become a group site and a group responsibility (at least in posting, updating, and moderating the forum).

Members will have no financial obligations whatsoever in so far as maintaining this site is concerned, nor yours truly will provide financial compensation to members. Everything will be done gratis - for the sake of discussion, and information dissemination. The site is geared towards improving the lives and outlook of the people of Samar and Leyte through the exchange of ideas.

Suggestions are welcome.

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DOLE Tacloban invites security agencies to participate in bidding

By Marivic Alcober

TACLOBAN CITY (April 16) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Region 8 headed by Regional Director Forter G. Puguon invites PAGPAO registered security agencies to participate in the bidding process for three shifts 54 hours security services for DOLE Regional Office at one per shift.

According to DOLE, all interested applicants may submit their sealed bids on April 30, 2007 at exactly 9:30 A.M. Said bids will be opened at the same time at DOLE Conference Room.

Pre-qualification documents to be submitted should be original and photocopy. Said documents are as follows: name of company/business, telephone/fax number and the year of incorporation/year business was established; Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Department of Trade and Industry Registration; and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Clearance from 20047 to 2005.

Other documents needed are: Value-Added Tax (VAT) Registration Certificate with BIR; Audited Financial Statements such as Balance Sheets and Profit and Loss Statements for the last two years which is 2004 to 2005; track records like list of clients and their addresses; and certified xerox copy of the latest business/license permit for the current year.

And lastly, certified xerox copy of the latest DOLE and NLRC clearance, certified xerox copy of Court Clearance; latest Social Security System (SSS) clearance; references; list of equipment owned; and Certificate of Remittance of SSS/Medicare/ECC contribution for the year 2006.

The deadline for the above listed pre-qualification requirements is scheduled on or before April 26, 2007. Said documents will be submitted to the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat at the 2nd Floor IMSD, DOLE-8, Tacloban City.

According to DOLE, only those who will meet the pre-qualification requirements will be notified to attend and participate the bidding proper.

The DOLE Bids and Awards Committee reserves the right to reject any bids, waive any defects found therein and accept the bids that may be considered advantageous to the agency. (PIA-8)

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Nat’l Heritage Month grand opening showcases unique Leyte tradition

Tacloban City (April 16) -– The Leyte Heritage Festival Committee for the Grand Opening of the National Heritage Month on April 30 to May 2 will showcase the heritage that is uniquely Leyte.

This was bared by Prof. Joyce D. Alegre, the chairperson of the Committee during the weekly media interaction at the Harampang Ha PIA, which she guested together with Prof. Jose Lianza of the Leyte Normal University and Professor Merlie Alunan of the UP Visayas Tacloban College.

Rightfully, the Grand Opening on April 30 will start with a Misa Cantada at the Sto. Niño Church, and this will be followed by the Opening of Church Heritage Exhibit at the Sto. Niño Rectory.

At 10:00 o’clock of the same day, the Food Festival which will be participated in by the different municipalities in Leyte will be opened at the Price Mansion Bldg., now called the CAP Building. There will be food tasting of Tanauan’s sarungsong, Carigara’s Inutok, labtinaw, hinatukan nga kasili, among others. Cooking contests on the best humba, best hinatukan na manok and best paksiw, will also be conducted.

Also to be opened is the Food Implements Exhibits which will showcase the old grinders and other olden food implements in the province.

Meanwhile, Bartending and Tuba Exhibit will be opened at the RTR Gazebo. On display will be the best tuba in Leyte.

At 10:30 in the morning, the Architectural Heritage Photo Exhibit sponsored by the United Architects of the Philippines will be opened. This photo exhibit at the Price Mansion, will showcase the old architecture in Leyte.

The afternoon will see the Opening of the Arts Exhibit at the Leyte Park Hotel and the Abaca Installation Exhibit at the UPVisayas Tacloban College Grounds.

The Heritage Awards Ceremony at the Governor’s Hall, Capitol Building will highlight the day’s events. Prof. Merle Alunan who is the chairperson for the activity, said that some of those nominated are well known contributors to the Heritage of Leyte in the likes of Norberto Romualdez for music; Iluminado Lucente for Literature; Eduardo Makabenta for Literature; Ms. Teresita Pil for dance, and several others.

On May 1, there will be an Architectural Heritage Tour to the 6 identified cultural heritage municipalities in Leyte. This will be participated in by the Architecture students, the media and the members of the United Architects of the Philippines.

On May 2, the Grand Heritage Parade and the Grand Performing Arts Festival will be held in the morning and early evening, respectively, at the RTR Plaza.

In the middle of May, Glot or Terra Cotta (Clay) Sculpture Workshop and Exhibit will be showcased at the UP Leyte Samar Heritage Center. (PIA 8)

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Commentary: Gov't never promised instant results from economic surge

Tacloban City (April 15) -- No, Virginia , the government never promised instant results from the economic surge but the reality is that today, there are more jobs, lower inflation and lesser debt.

It may take some time to transform into an ideal one, the quality of life of Filipinos, continuous effort on the part of the government to increase social services on the back of a growing economy will hopefully eventually increase optimism and hope among the people.

Yes, there are many economic positives like the boom in portfolio investments and the early repayment of debts in the amount of $175 million can be sustained and move forward the government programs to mitigate if not completely eradicate hunger and poverty.

That is why the government continues to call for unity and for rolling up of sleeves which more and more Filipinos are doing. The country’s economic growth has been rising global confidence in the country and the people’s dexterity and excellence are the right tool that is to the country’s advantage.

Every Filipino knows that there is no instant transformation and no instant flowing of the economic gains down to the common people and the Filipino understands and is willing to wait for as long as it sees that the government is indeed working hard to uplift the lives of the people.

Life is not a measure to be drained but a goblet to be filled. While the detractors insist on seeing a cup that is half empty, the Administration would rather see it as half full and it would continue to fill as the country moves forward to the realization and implementation of the programs that would mitigate and eradicate hunger and poverty in this side of the universe. (PIA 8)

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