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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Ranking Red leader, 4 others fall in Leyte

A ranking communist leader and four of his comrades including a 15-year-old boy was nabbed by government security forces Friday evening in the central Philippine province of Leyte, a military statement said.

The Army's 8th Infantry Division said about 10:10 p.m. Friday, operatives of the 19th Infantry Battalion swooped down on a suspected New People's Army (NPA) lair in Nulatula village in Tacloban City, resulting in the arrest of Paterno Opo alias Loloy/Laloy/Noble and four unidentified companions.

The statement described Opo as the commander of the Mt. Amandewin Command, the NPA unit of the Communist Party of the Philippines North Leyte Front operating in the region.

The statement said the raid was conducted by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Apolinario Buaya of Ormoc City regional trial court although it failed to indicate what specific case the suspects were facing which prompted the court to issue the arrest warrant.

Seized were an M16 rifle with magazines and ammunitions, three caliber .45 pistols, a caliber .38 revolver, three fragmentation grenades, two rounds of M203 ammunitions, and several rounds of assorted ammunitions and gun parts.

Also recovered were volumes of subversive documents consisting of Marxist-Leninist-Mao Zedong books, minutes of conferences of CPP’s North Leyte Front, CPP/NPA memos and directives, CPP plans during the 2004 elections, financial records of extorted money, and most significantly a copy of the 4th National Convention Report of Bayan Muna entitled “Plano sa Halalang 2007".

Police are readying charges of violation of the election gun ban against the suspects.

Chief Superintendent Eliseo Dela Paz, Region 8 police director said: "We are investigating the involvement of the occupants of the house with the New People’s Army and why a copy of Bayan Muna’s election plan was found on the site."

For his part, Major General Armando Cunanan, commanding general of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said: "The CPP’s North Leyte Front is on the verge of collapse following the arrests of its key leaders, including the two successive Front Secretaries, within the period of six months. Alias Laloy is the 2nd high ranking NPA leader neutralized in Leyte since the start of AFP’s Campaign Plan Bantay Laya II. We are well within the timeline set by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to end the insurgency problem in three years." - GMANews.TV

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Splashes and spatters expected as 3rd Nat'l Skimboarding reels off in Tanauan shores

Tacloban City (April 7) -- All is set for the exciting splashes and spatters as the best skimboarders compete at the 3rd National Skimboarding Competition on Easter Sunday, April 8.

As people usually go to the beaches on Easter Sunday, the National Skimboarding Competition will surely have thousands of spectators cheering the competitors coming from the different parts of the country.

As early as Holy Wednesday, skimboarders or riders as they are called in the sports world, started trekking down the Bantay Dagat Compound at the Tanauan, Leyte shores which has been enhanced with colorful flaglets to give a festive mood to the venue.

Tanauan Mayor Roque A. Tiu said that the first to arrive was the delegate from Skim Asia in Singapore. On Good Friday, the participants from as far as Davao to as near as Ormoc City arrived taking along their tents with them.

This year, the contestants are limited to one hundred only which means that the bests have been screened. What makes this year's competition different from that of the other years is that another category, the Women Category has been added so the public will not be seeing the male riders but also the women riders.

The competition has the sanction of the Skim Asia Federation and the Philippine Skimboarding Association. This means that the international criteria would be used during the competition.

Tanauan, Leyte which is a coastal municipality fifteen minutes away from the City of Tacloban, is known as the skimboarding capital of the country. It is in this town where skimboarding in the country was first introduced by an American citizen who was in town to woo a local beauty.

While waiting for the answer of the lady, this American taught the local youngsters how to ride a skimboard and even taught them how to make one.

The American did not win the hand of the local lass but he left a legacy. Today, even small boys ride the skimboard and several young people have started the manufacturing of skimboard, a good source of their their livelihood. (PIA 8)

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Food for School Program benefits 5,905 Leyte grade I pupils this summer

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
April 5, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Food For School Program continues to benefit 5,905 Grade I pupils in Leyte, even during this summer vacation.

This was learned from Leyte National Food Authority Manager Francisca T. Mercado who said that the Leyte Provincial Office of the National Food Authority has started delivering on March 27, summer stock allocations to the schools involved in the Food For School Program.

The additional allocation is for Grade I beneficiaries 175 schools in nine municipalities of Leyte namely: Tolosa, Tabon-Tabon, LaPaz, Mahaplag, MacArthur, Sta. Fe, Pastrana, Tunga and San Miguel.

The Summer Food for School Program in the province of Leyte alone, will entail 1,771.5 bags of rice fortified with iron and a total amount of P1,771,500.00.

Manager Mercado said that in line with the government's thrust to achieve quality education and in consonance with the Millennium Development Goals, among which is to achieve universal primary education, ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Food Authority (NFA) are jointly implementing the Food for School program.

As envisioned by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Food for School addresses the malnutrition and hunger problems. It also improves the children's participation in school, like academic performance, enhance study habits and attendance in classes.

The Food for School Program of the government continues even during the summer vacation in response to the increasing percentage of families experiencing hunger, as indicated by the Social Weather Survey on hunger and poverty.

Anti-Hunger Task Force head and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said President Arroyo has ordered the resumption of the program which involves the distribution of a kilo of rice to school children to bring home to their families.

In his statement sometime ago, Duque said the distribution of the rice will be made through school principals and Church leaders during the months of March to May when children are on vacation from school.

Duque further said the Department of Education will require principals to be on duty during these months, adding that politicians will not be involved in the distribution.

Duque also said the Food-for-school program can be expanded to involve the distribution of cooked noodle soups and milk supplements to school children, if more funds are allocated for it.

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OUR FORUM IS BEING READ BY LEYTENYOS AND SAMARNONS ALL OVER THE WORLD

by Waray waray gud

The fact that we have many kababayans in many parts of the world, our forum is one way to dessiminate informations. I had the chance to call my cousins in Australia and Canada and both are also retiring. They informed me that they are planning to retire in their country of origin. During our conversation I told them to read our forum. As far as I know, many Leytenyos and Samarnons are reading but they don't want to participate in our discussion. It will be more fitting and timely if someone can get more pictures of the beaches in Samar and Leyte. Thank you Keliguy for posting those pictures in Marabut,Samar and Tolosa, Leyte. But regarding our political discussion especially the NPA,Insurgents, Killing and the coming election, I think some kababayans who are working abroad are not very much interested in reading the same. We should discuss more on the brighter side like a good place for business projects so that these kababayan retirees will think about a business to invest in our region. Since there are towns that are already converted into cities, these will be good prospects for investment. We need to cater more money for investment if we want a good economic future in our region. I don't mean that politics is irrelevant. It's very important also as part of enhancing our economic future. But right now we should paint as good picture of our region for all our kababayans abroad to come here and be ready to invest.

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Millions allotted for West Leyte Hospital upgrade

Press Release
By Provincial Media Relations Center (PMRC-Leyte)
March 30, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Through a newly signed Memorandum of Agreement with the provincial government of Leyte, the Department of Health in the region has committed an amount of P12 million to upgrade the facilities of the West Leyte Hospital of Baybay, Leyte.

This as part of Gov. Carlos Jericho “Icot” Petilla’s effort to look for means of improving the medical facilities and services of the different hospitals under the provincial government that includes the West Leyte Hospital in Baybay town.

According to the governor, the province, under his administration is putting much effort in reducing the number of patients being catered to by hospitals based in the City of Tacloban.

Not only are the hospitals in this city get crowded by patients coming from the different towns in Leyte, the medical facilities are likewise wanting, which Gov. Petilla stressed are the problems that really need to be addressed.

Under the newly signed MOA, new infrastructures and equipments will be installed as well as additional needed supply of medicines will be purchased for the West Leyte Hospital.

With these new improvements, the hospital will subsequently be upgraded from a secondary hospital to a tertiary medical facility.

The MOA was recently forged at the Leyte Provincial Capitol with Dr. Minerva Molon, chief of the DOH Technical Division as representative of the health department and Gov. Petilla for the province of Leyte.

It can be recalled that Gov. Petilla has continuously poured in projects to the different hospitals and improvements of rural health units of the different municipalities of the province to decongest hospitals in the city.

Values formation among hospital members and staff were likewise successively conducted by the provincial government to renew and assess the commitment within the ranks of the province-run hospitals.

So far, the Provincial Health Office reports, these projects and undertakings under the leadership of Gov. Petilla has proven effective as positive performance was seen resulting to better services and better revenue among these hospitals under the province.

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Poor students of Eastern Samar to avail government assistance

By SAMMY CANDIDO (PIA Eastern Samar)
March 29, 2007

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar – A sizeable amount of educational assistance awaits some poor but deserving students in the province. Under the Special Program of Employment for Students (SPES), the provincial government of Eastern Samar, through the efforts of Governor Ben P. Evardone, allotted some P250,000.00 for some 130 students-beneficiaries.

According to provincial Public Employment Service Office Manager Crescentia Quitorio, these students will be taken in under the program starting April until May to render various office works at the provincial capitol which will entitle them to compensations. As of this writing, 45 students are already assured of extra income this summer vacation, having passed the screening conducted by respective school administration committees of the Eastern Samar State University Campus of Guiuan, Salcedo, and Can-avid as sanctioned by the provincial government.

Some 85 slots more up for grabs as more student-applicants continue to troop to the capitol to seek admission to the summer jobs project, PESO manager Quitorio stressed that the hiring of additional students, this time, will be opened to applicants coming directly from the 23 municipalities of the province and will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis. Quitorio also revealed that the funding for the program was forged through a sharing scheme wherein 40% will be borne by the Department of Labor and Employment, while the provincial government shoulders the remaining 60 percent.

Meanwhile, Gov. Evardone encourages students to personally apply sans their parents beside them. This, he said, is for them to develop self-reliance and a genuine appreciation of work.

The SPES is anchored on the Arroyo administration’s thrust of providing working opportunities to underprivileged students thereby easing up tuition fees burden.

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Police sees politics behind the Calbayog check point attack

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
March 27, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar – Police authorities here maintained that the recent attack on a check point manned by four personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to enforce the COMELEC gun ban was not the doing of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) as reported earlier.

Samar Police Chief P/SSupt. Asdali Idja Abah, in a report yesterday, blamed the partisan armed group of a certain politician in Samar’s 1st district for the attack saying the said politician was in desperation that the movement of his men was restricted because of the presence of the PNP check point.

A group composed of six armed men on board a van open fired at the PNP check point in Sitio Talahib, Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog City at around 8 p.m. Friday (March 23) killing PO3 Valeriano Valenzuela and PO1 Ramil Biso, who was undergoing his Field Training Program.

The group carted away one M16 rifle and a 9mm cal. Pistol which was issued to PO3 Valenzuela and withdraw north immediately after the attack.

Witnesses disclosed that prior to the incident one of the suspects who was standing across the check point made a call through a cellphone and after a few minutes a van stopped at about 50 meters away from the check point where about 6 men armed with assorted firearms got out and opened fire at the police officers on duty.

A witness, however, said that PO1 Valenzuela might have known the suspects as he saw him talking to one of the suspects just a few meters away before the shooting took place.

It was learned that Valenzuela’s older brother and Sta. Margarita Police Chief PInsp. Nestor Valenzuela was tasked by the higher headquarters to make a research on the previous cases filed against the said politician.

Insp. Valenzuela’s effort appears to have been a taking progress as the police was able to file some four other cases against the political leader lately.

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