AFP Chief of Staff
commends the 8ID Command’s successful engagement with the Civil
Society Organizations and the LGUs
By EMY C. BONIFACIO,
Samar News.com
July 11,
2011
CATBALOGAN CITY – In
a routine visit to the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, ACS
General Eduardo SL Oban Jr. has personally congratulated the 8ID
family for its outstanding accomplishments for the 1st semester of
2011. The accomplishments were in line with the objectives of the
Internal Peace Security Plans-Bayanihan (IPSP Bayanihan).
Based on the over-all
performance evaluation conducted by the AFP General Headquarters, two
(2) brigades (801st and 803rd) were included in the top 5 list and
three (3) Battalions (14IB, 19IB and 34IB) of the “Stormtroopers” were
made part of the top 10 list of performing units of the Philippine
Army. It has recorded 36 encounters, 46 firearms recovered and 22
enemies neutralized.
Gen. Oban commended
MGen Mario Chan for his strong leadership. He cited Chan’s
concretely-planned and critically-analysed strategies that paved way
to the 8ID’s successes. Jokingly, Gen. Oban said that they both
belonged to the “Plans Family” because they never stopped planning.
“The IPSP will be
largely dependent upon the Commander’s imagination, creativity and
appreciation of the environment and strategic aspects in the
implementation of his campaign plans”, Oban disclosed.
Furthermore, he
appreciated the efforts of the 8ID leadership for its successful
engagements with the non-military sectors such as the non-government
organizations, people’s organizations, church and the academe.
“Each and every member
of the society should be with us because we only have one dream – to
have a lasting peace. We saw this in all the efforts shown by the 8ID
under the leadership of Gen. Chan. We should encourage our
stakeholders and plan on how to invite them to participate and get the
support of the other sectors. This was achieved by the General. He has
good relations with the LGUs. They are important because they are the
ones who will implement the delivery of the basic services and
projects. This is the challenge for all commanders. Our only role is
to catalyze the stakeholders towards the road going to the attainment
of our objectives” Oban stressed.
“Let’s commend the 8ID
for the direction towards road networks development and the
implementation of projects under PAMANA of our government. We have
played a very important role in the first quarter. Let’s sustain the
efforts” was Gen. Oban’s continuing challenge to the officers and men
present.
On the other hand,
MGen Chan commits to pursue his development agenda for
Samar in response to the public-private partnerships that are
being encouraged under the IPSP Bayanihan. The General has been
repeatedly heard talking about the military’s vital role and
participation in the implementation of the proposed road
infrastructures that would interconnect the tri-boundaries of
Samar.
In a latest report,
ground breaking activity preparations for the Gandara-Matuguinao Road
Project are now being facilitated. Chan disclosed that coordination
meetings have already been made with the DPWH, the Department of
National Defense and the military’s Engineering Units and the Local
chief Executives for its immediate implementation. He expects the road
to be passable by the end of September 2011.
Chan is not all
bothered by reports that his leadership at the 8ID is presently being
challenged by a group’s petition to unseat him due to unconfirmed
reports or allegations of being involved in political partisanship. He
strongly denies the allegations and asserts on the non-partisan status
of his position.
“Decision like this is
political in nature that is dictated by the incumbent leadership. The
AFP will just abide by it. If I will be ordered to move out of the
8ID, I have to obey because I am a soldier in the first place. I am
ready for it, to accept whatever decision. Meantime, I will just do
what I can do while I’m here. I assure everyone that I have been fair
in my dealings with everybody and I will continue my commitment to
change Samar Island
and make it one of the best tourists’ destination,” was the General’s
ready answer.
Chan is confident that
he has the support of the multi-sectoral groups who also dream of
developing Samar. The recently held Samar Island Partnership for Peace
and Development (SIPPAD) assembly attended by the three (3) Bishops of
the Samar islands and
representatives of the civil society groups, expressed an all-out
support to Chan’s clear direction in ensuring the peace and
development of the area. Specifically, he stressed the urgency of
interconnecting the three islands thru the road networks. This,
according to him, will be the road that would end the war against
poverty and would uplift the lives of the people.
Gen. Oban furthermore
believes that the 8ID’s outstanding performance and the good feedbacks
that he’s gathered from all other sectors would be enough to keep Gen.
Chan in command until he completes the implementation of his plans and
programs that would serve the interests of the majority in his area of
responsibility.
In a related story,
the AFP Chief of Staff also took the opportunity of disseminating the
various programs that would boost the morale and welfare of the
troops. He announced the availability of 10 thousand housing units for
the AFP and another 10 thousand units for the PNP. The continuity of
the Pension Plans Benefits was assured and the proposed reforms or
changes will be made effective for the newcomers only.
With reference to the
suggested reforms during his assumption speech, Gen. Oban informed
that the commissary services have already been improved, thereby
making available supplies for their daily needs at reasonable prices.
This was intended to increase the purchasing power of the soldiers.
Likewise, he is
decisive in pushing reforms on logistics and financial management. He
recalled how the AFP Fund Scam affected every soldier and their
families when the AFP was tagged as the most corrupt agency in the
government.
“It became a challenge
to show the people that we are a model of good governance – make the
organization stronger and transparent in all our actions. I will leave
footprints behind with things that I expect to happen within the year.
And I will also leave a blueprint that will serve as guide for our
future leadership to push for financial reforms” was how Oban
concretized the challenge to fight corruption in the AFP.
“Reforms cannot be
done overnight. Slowly, we see the weaknesses and continuous
improvement happens. We are focused on an 18 point action plan to
include reforms on logistics, management, training and personnel. This
will be implemented in my incumbency. We will leave blueprints. Until
now, slowly, we are creating public trust and confidence. Actually,
we have also been receiving expressions of support and encouragement
for us to continue the challenge” explains Gen Oban as he suggests for
the revisiting of the AFP organizational structure and system.
The soldiers were once
again reminded to strictly abide with the provisions of the Human
Rights, International Humanitarian Law and the rule of law. Oban
proudly disclosed that since his assumption, there were no human
rights violations received in the newly created AFP Human Rights
Office.
“Hopefully, it will
continue and become part of the culture of the AFP to become agents of
human security”, Oban said.
“I don’t want
half-baked or half-cooked reforms for the soldiers. We belong to the
Plans Family. Kaya puro plano kami. Kailanangang planuhin namin yan
para alam namin pagdating sa dulo kung hanggang saan lang tayo at kung
hanggang saan ang ipagpapatuloy ng papalit sa akin. Ganyang klase ang
gusto nating approach. Ayoko yung i-coconcentrate natin para masabing
tinapos ko yan. Half cooked. Process properly. Kung aabot hanggang
December, we leave a blue print for their continuous implementation.
We also have a mechanism for feedback para continuous ang improvement
and enhancement” were Gen. Oban’s final statements.
Sec. Ona approves
water system project for Guiuan
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Borongan
July
11, 2011
BORONGAN, Eastern
Samar – Health Secretary Enrique Ona responded positively to the
clamor of Guiuan, Eastern Samar Mayor Annaliz Kwan as regards water
system in her municipality.
During the live
telecast of Pilipinas Natin-Human Development Forum telecast in
Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Kwan pose her question.
“Secretary Ona, If you
may please recall, when we had our shoot for sanitation at the
National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), I asked for your help for
water allocated fund for Guiuan, eto po ay napa-importante sa amin
since we are promoting Guiuan as a tourist destination, water is a
very big problem here,” Kwan said addressing Health Secretary Ona.
Ona responded smiling
saying, “Mayor tamang- tama ho na itong pondo ng potable water under
sa LWUA ay attached sa DOH.”
“Mabibigyan na ho
natin ng rapid implementation itong potable water program, kasi ho ito
ay isang programa na kasama natin ang DILG (Department of Interior and
Local Govenment) at NAPC (National Anti-poverty Commission), ang NAPC
ang nag i identify, DILG ang nag i-implement at DOH ang magbabayad,”
Ona said.
He added, “Kaya ito
pong programa ay talaga siguro makakaabot na in the next few months sa
inyo.”
Mayor Kwan was so glad
with Ona’s response, even more so when Albay Governor Joey Salceda who
was at the other end commented.
“I guess i translate
ko lang si Secretary Ona dahil lagi ko naman itong kausap, Mayor, it
means yes!” Salceda said.
Though not seen on TV
anymore, Mayor Kwan’s staff and the whole NBN, PIA and Radyo ng Bayan
crew applauded with the positive development.
Mayor Kwan was still
in high spirits as she hosted the lunch of fresh sea-water food to her
one dozen-visitors at the Calicoan Villa.
Guiuan is promoting
Calicoan as a tourist destination and several resorts have been
constructed on the white sand beaches of Calicoan.
As Guiuan is a strip
of land between two bodies of water, the
Pacific Ocean and
Leyte Gulf, access to potable water has been a problem.
Mayor Kwan would
have wanted to ask newly-installed Secretary of the Department of
Transportation and Communication Mar Roxas for the rehabilitation of
Guiuan airport, still in support to her tourism project, but for now,
the promise of a potable water system was good enough.
Daram Mayor aims an
Organic Vegetable Production from Women's Farm
|
Mayor
Lucia Latorre-Astorga with Daram Mobile Kusina Women's
Organization in a meeting on the implementation of Organic
Vegetable Production. |
By
MYRA M. TAMBOR
July
10, 2011
DARAM, Samar – Mayor
Lucia Latorre-Astorga surprised the residents of a far flung barangay
Nipa in the island
municipality of
Daram
when she visited the place without notice this week. Awed, the
residents altogether approached the simply visiting Mayor as she comes
nearer to the center of the barangay.
Her intention of
visiting the place is to meet with her Mobile Kusina Women's
organization, popularly known as MK, and introduce to them the Organic
Vegetable Production Project for MK's, where her administration is
currently implementing under the sustainable agriculture program. With
an agriculturist companion, Mr. Richard Milod, an expert in
sustainable agriculture from a partner non-government organization ADF,
the Mayor discussed with the women and barangay officials the concept
of the project.
Barangay Nipa, is just
one of the 6 pilot MK gardens who's actual training on organic farming
is underway within the week. The others are situated in Birawan, Ubo,
Badiang, Cabil-isan and Tugas. With the on-going 3-year program on
nutrition in various elementary schools in partnership with Jollibee
Foundation and ZFF, the Mayor hopes that the garden will cater the
need for vegetables of the said program without purchasing it from the
nearby towns while at the same time fulfilling the goals of the LGU in
addressing the malnutrition problem of the island.
Hence, positively
responding to the MDG's goal of reducing under five and maternal
deaths and addressing micro-nutrients needs of the children and
mothers. The project also hopes to make the garden a livelihood
opportunity primarily for women but generally for the community
itself. Saying that organic vegetable is "in" the market today, the
Mayor said, this simple intentions may and could be turned out into
large and increase income among families in Daram.
ANAD hits Duterte’s
rule in Davao City as brazen thuggery!
By ANAD Parylist
July
10, 2011
QUEZON CITY – ANAD
Rep. Jun Alcover called on Davaoeños to stand up for justice, in its
real sense, as he decried the Duterte family’s iron fist and
dictatorial rule in Davao City. Rep. Alcover said that the
condemnable “I-punched-the-sheriff” incident last July 1 in Barangay
Soliman, Agdao District; and the reported refusal of Sheriff-victim
Abe Andres to file criminal charges against the City Mayor is more
than enough proof to show that the city is truly ruled by thugs where
the word of the gang-boss is the law.
“I can’t think of
anything else but Duterte’s fiefdom in the making when, in television
news reports, I saw City Vice-Mayor Digong Duterte and his son poking
dirty fingers against their critics and taunting CHR chair Etta
Rosales to helplessness,” the ANAD solon said.
“Vice-Mayor Duterte
and his son, a Davao City councilor, poking their dirty fingers are
not mere exercises of their freedom of expression but an open
challenge to the rule of law and national legal authority. This is a
highly despicable display of public disservice and sheer arrogance
deliberately made by a public official!” Rep. Alcover pointed out.
“I understand the
sheriff’s feeling when he apologized on television and expressed his
desire not to file a case against the City Mayor. No one in Davao City
would dare raise a finger against the Duterte family without putting
his dear life and that of his family, on the line. Without any second
thought, the Duterte’s exude power and blood reminiscent of the
dreaded Mafia syndicates as they seemed untouchables in their own turf
with about 90% of Davaoeños cowed in fear while 10% just keeping mum
yet having deep reservations against them,” he added.
“Government must now
show to all, that public officials are duty-bound to uphold the rule
of law and that they must conduct themselves in the highest standards
of public service,” said ANAD Rep. Jun Alcover in reaction to the
seeming timid response of Malacañang, the DILG, and the League of
Cities of the Philippines, to the incident.
“Malacañang and DILG
Secretary Jessie Robredo are duty-bound to act accordingly and with
dispatch to prevent a repeat of Davao City Mayor Sara-Duterte-Carpio’s
brazen display of thuggery to happen in other areas of the country,”
Rep. Alcover stressed.
“At the same time, as
a lawyer, City Mayor Duterte is fully aware of the consequences of her
act. She blatantly obstructed the imposition of a lawful order of the
court for which she should be cited for contempt and subjected to
appropriate disciplinary sanctions by the Supreme Court,” Rep. Alcover
added.
Leyte to join trade,
investment expos in foreign countries
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 9, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – The
province of Leyte is gearing up to join trade and investments fair in
other countries this year to strengthen investments campaign to the
province.
