Two died, one injured 274 families homeless as Typhoon Seniang hit Biliran province

By RODRIGO S. VICTORIA (PIA Biliran)
December 13, 2006

NAVAL, Biliran – Typhoon Seniang which placed the province of Biliran under Tropical Storm Signal No. 3 with a maximum wind of 150 to 180 kilometers per hour hit the province late Saturday afternoon (December 9) has left two persons dead and one injured and affected thousands of families and persons.

According to the latest disaster monitoring report of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) of Biliran, two persons were reported to have died in the municipality of Caibiran, one injured in Libtong Dako in the municipality of Naval and affected 2,631 families 9,120 persons.

The report also revealed that there were 1,412 partially damaged houses and about 274 totally damaged houses in the entire province of Biliran.

The estimated cost of partially and totally damaged houses were placed at P7,739, 487.00.

As of reporting time, the municipality of Cabucgayan is the only municipality among the eight municipalities in the entire province of Biliran that has not submitted a disaster report.

Meanwhile, Governor Rogelio J. Espina yesterday morning during the flag ceremony at the provincial capitol ground, officially placed the entire province of Biliran under a state of calamity due to the big destruction provincewide brought about by typhoon Seniang.

However, the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) who are on official travel in Manila, according to Avelino Hernandez, Provincial Administrator in a brief interview with PIA on Monday bared that they already held a conference in preparation for the official passage of a resolution declaring the entire province of Biliran under a state of calamity upon their return.

In a talk with the staff of the legislative department of the province Monday, they said that the provincial board members will be back Tuesday and will immediately convene to formally pass a resolution for a declaration of a state of calamity here.

In an interview with Sammy Sale, Executive Assistant IV in the office of the provincial governor, he assured that an executive order will be immediately drafted relative to the official declaration of putting the entire province of Biliran under a state of calamity which will adopt the resolution to be passed by the SP.

Ms. Sylva L. Yubal, Acting Provincial Budget Officer informed that the province has some P10 million allocation out of the 5% budgetary reserve of the total  regular income which will be utilized as calamity fund as provided in R.A. 7160 ( Local Government Code of 1991).

On the other hand, Ms. Flordeliza Trani, Provincial Social Welfare Development Officer (PSWDO) of Biliran assured to the affected families and persons that the office has continued its relief and rehabilitation operations like giving-out cans of sardines, kilos of rice, packs of noodles in designated evacuation centers provincewide and the provision of light construction materials such as nipa shingles, nails and coco lumber to residents with damaged houses in the community affected by typhoon Seniang.

DPWH-Biliran Engineering District declared the national road from Lemon to Naval, the capital town of the province of Biliran passable to all kinds of vehicles since Sunday, December 10 at 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

Leyteño among 48 Outstanding Overseas Filipinos and Organizations

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 13, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Mr. Gregorio Macabenta whose mother is from San Miguel, Leyte is among this year’s recipients of the Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas.

Mr. Greg Macabenta has been in the news recently for his generous gesture of paying for the freight and handling of the Books for Barangays from California to the municipality of San Miguel.

He is one of the Awardees in the Pamana ng Pilipino category which is conferred on Filipinos, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession. Mr. Macabenta is the editor-publisher of a Filipino newspaper in California.

The Commission on Filipino Overseas informed that on December 7, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo conferred the Presidential Awards for Outstanding Filipinos Individuals and Organizations Overseas to 48 recipients coming from 14 countries around the world. The awarding was held at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang Palace.

The Presidential Awards carries four categories, the Lingkod sa sa kapwa Pilipino Award, the Banaag Award, the Kaanib ng Bayan Award and the Pamana ng Pilipino Award.

This year’s recipients of the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Award are Gloria Ysmael Adams, ALA EH gem e.V., Dr. Estela Evangelista, FEU - Dr. Nicanor Reyes School of Medicine Alumni Foundation, Society of the Philippine Surgeons in America and Honesto Tria.

The Kaanib ng Bayan Awardees are California Technological Care, Inc., CORA Filipino American Task Force, Misao Hanazaki, Ma’Ma’s Hope Haven of Norway, Inc., Dr. Robert Sommer Martens, Operation Rainbow Australia Limited and Social Welfare Corporation Raphael Clinic.

The Banaag Awardees are Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, Inc., Thelma Garcia Buchholdt, Atty. Lolita L. Farmer OAM, Filipino American Medical, Inc., Filipino Association of Singapore, Engr. Roman Ting Go, Iskwelang Pilipino, Inc., Lahing Kayumanggi, Vladimir James Manuel, Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians, Eduardo J. Navarra, Philippine American Group of Filipino Educators and Surgeons, Philippine Cultural Foundation, Inc., Edgardo Quinto, Loline A. Luahati Reed, Justina Sales, Dr. Rosario B. Tigno, Tuluyang Pinoy (Philippine Center Zurich), and Veterans Equity Center.

For the Pamana ng Pilipino Award, the recipients are Adolovni P. Acosta, Engr. Editha M. Ardiente, Larry Asera, Mayor Ruth Asmundson, Armando V. Baisas, Olegario Cantos VII, Senaida F. Cunanan, Michael A. Dadap, Vellie Dietrich-Hall, Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Gregorio B. Macabenta, Dr. Romulo Magsino, Consorcio Don Manuel, Dr. Enrique M. Ostrea Jr., Jeffrey P. Rustia and Emme A. Tomimbang-Burns.

Typhoon Seniang hits whole of Eastern Visayas

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December 11, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Typhoon Seniang hit Eastern Visayas at noon of December 9 uprooting trees and plants, hurting several people and forcing people in the coastal areas to go to the evacuation centers in the different provinces of the Region.

Seniang also caused power failure in all the provinces of Eastern Visayas, except Southern Leyte.

As of this writing, evacuees have been reported in the Catholic Church in Guiuan, as reported by PIA Eastern Samar. In the Province of Leyte, 167 in the town proper of Palo, 20 in Barangay Cogon of Palo, more than 500 in the four evacuation center of Tanauan – 2 evacuation centers in Barangay Bislig, one in San Roque and another one in Barangay Canramos.

In the province of Southern Leyte, initial reports coming from the PIA Southern Leyte and confirmed by OCD, there are about 759 evacuees in the municipality of San Francisco and 191 families from Maasin. OCD reported that there are also evacuees in Macrohon town.

A thirteen year old girl was brought to the hospital after she was hurt when a fallen tree hit her house at Barangay Cabuynan, Tanauan, Leyte. Another person from the Northern barangay of Tacloban City, was hospitalized when hit by fallen tree.

The Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and the Office of Civil Defense through Director Adriano Fuego, have been giving warnings to the public since the afternoon of December 7. At the same time, the different Provincial and Municipal Disaster Coordinating Councils were also giving warnings on their respective constituents.

Early morning of Saturday, when the winds became stronger, many local chief executive immediately went around their respective areas overseeing the evacuation of people.

Mayor Analiza Kwan when reached by PIA was already up and going around Guiuan as early as five o’clock in the morning. She said there seemed to be a lull and the weather was better at about 8:00 o’clock in the morning. However at about 12:00 o’clock noon, she texted that she was already with evacuees inside the church because of strong winds and heavy rains.

Mayors in the first District of Leyte, Mayor Caadan of Tolosa, Mayor Roque Tiu of Tanauan, Mayor Teddy Sevilla of Palo, Mayor Asoy Quemado of Sta. Fe, Mayor Fruto Brazil of San Miguel, Mayor Jimmy Velarde of Alang-Alang and Mayor Ernesto Fabi of Babatngon were observed to have been busy taking care of their constituents.

Mayor Tiu said that cooking of food for the evacuees started at lunch time of Saturday. He expressed gratitude to the utility officers of the municipality who were all present to help without being called.

Leyte Governor Petilla also had the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council as early as Friday afternoon. Early morning of Saturday, he was still contacting the municipal mayors regarding the typhoon. He also has made available the province’s rubber boats and heavy equipments for use in case of emergency.

Casualties receive financial assistance from GMA

BY1Lt. MARIO JOSE M. CHICO, (INF) PA
December 11, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  As a simple gesture in acknowledging the heroic deeds shown by gallant members of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army in defending our freedom and democracy against the communist terrorists, the national government thru its Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs represented by Maj. Gen. Arturo B. Carrillo AFP (RET), came all the way from Manila to Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Western Samar on December 5, 2006 at 10:00 in the morning, to personally hand-over the cash reward to the beneficiaries of the soldiers who were killed in action (KIA) as well as to those wounded in action (WIA).

The families of the three (3) soldiers Killed In Action (KIA), all received a check amounting to one hundred thousand pesos (100,000.00) respectively. While the four (4) Wounded In Action (WIA) received twenty thousand pesos (20,000.00) each.

In his message, MajGen. Carrillo (RET) said that the cash reward extended to the battle casualties were taken from the Presidential Social Fund. According to him, the amount is not a payment to the lives of those fallen comrades, but a simple acknowledgement of our beloved President Gloria Arroyo, to the heroic feat displayed by our army troopers in the performance of their sworn duty of protecting the people.

The event which was held at 8ID Grandstand was attended by organic officer, enlisted personnel, civilian employees and media practitioners.

NPA terrorists kill anew at Eastern Samar

By 1Lt. MARIO JOSE M. CHICO, (QMS) PA
December 8, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  –  NPA murderers strike anew brutally killing a soldier near his home at vicinity of Brgy 8, Poblacion, Can-avid Town in Eastern Samar on December 2, 2006 at about 12 noon.

Reports reaching 8th Infantry Division Headquarters revealed that Cpl Reynaldo Bantayan, assigned with the 14th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Wilson Leyva INF (GSC) PA, was walking back to his house from his backyard piggery at Brgy 8, Can-avid town when two youthful-looking hitmen of the CPP-NPA-NDF Terrorist shot Cpl Bantayan using an M16 rifle hitting him in the head, chest and nape. His wife came to his rescue and rushed him to Can-avid hospital where he was pronounced dead-on-arrival. Late Cpl Bantayan was survived by his wife and six young children with the youngest at 8 months old.

The murder of Cpl Bantayan added anew to the long list of barbaric killings perpetrated by the local communist terrorists. The frustrations of the hierarchy of the CPP-NPA-NDF operating in the region led by the former priest-turned terrorist, Fr. Santiago Salas, brought about by the failure of their tactical offensives against the Army troopers in the region had made them resort to assassinating defenseless individuals even in heavy populated areas just like in the poblacion of Can-avid town.

Likewise, we still find the same silence of the alleged ‘human rights advocates’ groups in the long list of brutal killings being systematically done by the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists group not only in the region but in the whole country. The likes of KARAPATAN (KATUNGOD-SB), SAGUPA-SB, BAYAN, PCPR, have been adopting a deafening silence stance whenever there are killings committed by the communist terrorists groups.

The leadership of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army headed by Maj. Gen. Rodrigo F. Maclang strongly condemns the barbaric, treacherous, and cowardly act of the communist terrorists and urges the people of Eastern Visayas to denounce the systematic killings being done by the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorists group. He likewise extends his condolence to the bereaved family of late Cpl Bantayan assuring them of the wholehearted assistance and support from the Command.

Authorities express concerns on the impending release of child warrior Ka Liza

By ELI C. DALUMPINES (PIA Samar)
December 7, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Authorities here recently expressed concerns over the court’s impending decision to release the child warrior Ka Liza who, along with two other females, was rescued by the military in an interior barangay here at Samar ’s capital on October 4, this year.

This after the MABINI Group of Lawyers, represented by Atty. Fernando Perito, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus against the Army’s 8th Infantry Division and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to produce before the court the five minors rescued by the military in separate incidents.

The five minors were by then brought by the military to the DSWD facility in Tacloban City. This was in line with the military’s effort to observe guidelines that armed members of the CPP-NPA who are minors will, after rescue, be transferred custody to the social welfare department.

The court though dismissed the petition during its second hearing but in the course of the proceeding Ka Liza chose Atty. Perito to be her counsel. The lawyer’s argument to release the rescued child warrior to her parents got the court’s approval but not until a formal hearing for her release will be conducted.

Provincial Social Welfare Officer (PSWDO) Luz D. Tacal, however, aired her apprehensions that the communist insurgents might again convince Ka Liza to join them in the mountain.

Ms. Tacal said that past experiences showed that rescued or captured members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were, after release, can’t no longer found in the community since their former comrades get them back.

She said Ka Liza’s future will be bleak once she chose to join the revolutionary movement again.

Meanwhile, Maj. Felix Mangyao, Chief of the Army’s Civil Military Office (CMO) here said the military can do nothing other than to accept whatever the decision of the court is.

He warned though that the Ka Liza will again be on the losing side if she opts to join the revolutionary movement the second time.

He cited the case of the 8-year-old boy who was rescued by the military in Inopacan town in Leyte a few years back who has already finished his schooling while under the DSWD custody. The boy was featured in the national televisions for his expertise in handling firearms even at an early age.

The DWSD earlier vowed to shoulder the expenses of the rescued chills warriors should they chose to continue their studies.

related news: Social welfare officer bares a group shows interest on female child warrior “Ka Liza”