CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – The flood waters in
Northern Samar have already subsided, Governor Raul Daza informed in an
interview with the Philippine Information Agency.
Governor Daza said
that the evacuees have gone back to their respective homes. The
problem, he said, is food because all their food have perished or got
wet because of the flooding on Friday.
He said that the
Provincial Government is taking care of the affected families. He
added that the National Disaster Coordinating Council has given rice
to help the affected families who do not have food because of the
flooding on Friday.
The Governor revealed
that the Lope de Vega Road which was closed to traffic Friday because
of high floodwaters, is now passable because the floodwaters have
subsided. Several motorists were stranded at Lope de Vega on Friday
night because of the flooding.
The Lope de Vega Road
connects Calbayog City to Catarman Northern Samar saving at least two
hours travel time.
Governor Daza also
informed that the other roads in Northern Samar which were closed to
traffic on Friday are now passable.
Department of Public
Works and Highways Regional Office 8 Director Jaime Pacanan, however,
informed when interviewed by the Philippine Information Agency, that a
landslide occurred five kilometers away from the town proper of
Catubig, Northern Samar.
Director Pacanan
informed that DPWH personnel are now at the site of the landslide in
order to clear the road, which has been made unpassable because of the
landslide.
No casualty was
reported as a result of the landslide because it occurred in an
unpopulated area, Director Pacanan said. He called on the motorists to
bear the temporary inconvenience, saying that the Department of Public
Works and Highways is doing its best to complete the clearing of the
roadblock.
As of press time,
Northern Samar is still under blackout.
18 barangays in
Northern Samar affected by floods, rescue operations ongoing
By PIA
Northern Samar / PIA 8
December
30, 2006
CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – At least 18 barangays in three municipalities of Northern
Samar have been affected by floods brought about by continuous heavy rains.
Reports coming from
the Philippine Information Agency in
Northern Samar stated that in Catarman capital town, thirteen
barangays have been reported to have already been affected by floods.
These are barangays Bankerohan, Yakal, Abad Santos, Narra, Kawayan,
Hinatad, Macagtas,
Dalakit, Washington,
Casuy, Molave, Bagsay and Ipil Ipil.
It was reported that
flood waters in Barangay Ipil Ipil which is located near the Catarman
River, have reached up to the shoulders deep.
In the municipality of
Mondragon, the barangays affected are Makiwalo, Sitio Bugho at
Barangay Banika and the most affected is Sitio Kamanukan at Barangay
Talolora where the people had to go up their rooftops to save
themselves.
Mayor Ismael Bugna of
Mondragon informed that the evacuees are now situated at the church
and in the public school in Barangay Talalora.
Unconfirmed reports
alleged that there was a landslide at Barangay Nenita in Mondragon
town and that there is one casualty.
In the municipality of
Pambujan, the three barangays affected are Hiparangan, Kaibiran and
Hinulgan. The number of people affected has not yet been determined.
PIA Northern Samar
said the local governments which are affected have their own rescue
operations. The Provincial Disaster Management Unit have been very
active in the rescue operations together with the military, the Red
Cross, the DPWH and other agencies.
Currently, there are
five vehicles scouring Catarman and other nearby municipalities for
rescue operations. Six more military vehicles are on standby in case
more vehicles are needed.
The Department of
Public Works and Highways have reported that the national road passing
the Palapag-Mapanas-Lapinig going to Lao-ang and Catubig are
unpassable and there are no alternate routes that will reach these
places.
Meanwhile, the Lope de
Vega road from Calbayog going to Catarman has been reported to be
unpassable.
The motorists and the
travelers are advised not to dare take these routes because they will
only be stranded.
PAGASA in Catarman
reported that the flooding is caused by the continuous heavy rains
brought about and magnified by the collision of the easterly winds and
cold front.
As of this writing,
the rains have ceased but the authorities are still worried about the
waters which will come from the mountains.
Turn-over and
citations program push through at new Guinsaugon
By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern
Leyte)
December 27,
2006
BRGY. MAGBAGACAY,
Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte – It was a typical case of force
majeure.
With non-stop pouring
rain and zero visibility clouds, everyone was expecting the worst here
Tuesday, December 26: that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo could
not make it for her date.
Among the
distinguished guests who patiently waited for the President in spite
of the wet surrounding were business tycoon Lucio Tan, the Chairman of
the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI)
and scores of his fellow private businessmen, among others.
Also present were
Regional Directors from various national line agencies, municipal
mayors from the province’s 18 towns and one city, together with their
Vice-Mayors and members of the Sangguniang Bayan/Panlunsod, and the
residents of the new Guinsaugon community.
The reception party
upon the President’s arrival was composed of Gov. Rosette Lerias, Rep.
Roger Mercado, Saint Bernard Mayor Maria Lim, Presidential Assistant
Victor Domingo, FFCCCI Chairman Lucio Tan, 8th ID M/Gen. Rodrigo
Maclang, and PNP Chief Supt. Eliseo de la Paz.
Shortly before ten in
the morning, with the rain going on at a steady pace still without
let-up, there was already an inkling that the President may not be
able to show up, when the announcer began calling the signatories for
the donation papers for the various housing communities.
Then came Gov. Lerias’
official announcement that the President would be unable to come
because of the bad weather, followed by a brief message of greetings
and a desire to come by the President herself by cellphone magnified
though the microphone.
“Tahuron ko unta nga
matapos ang ulan apan ingon ang tanan dili mahuman karong buntag, so
thank you very much for the invitation. Kita tanan, magpasalamat kita
tanan sa Ginoo tungod sa sayo nga pag-recover sa mga katawhan sa
Southern Leyte,
sa Guinsaugon ug sa Liloan. Ug unta ang inyong experience mahimong usa
ka inspirasyon sa atong mga biktima naman sa landslide sa Bicol. Sa
gihapon daghang salamat and congratulations on your faith of the
people of Southern Leyte, daghang salamat kaninyong tanan, Rosette,”
President Arroyo said, her talk lasting only one minute, ten seconds.
(I would have waited for the rains to stop but many said this will not
be through for the whole morning, so thank you very much for the
invitation. We all should thank God for the early recovery of the
people of Southern Leyte, in Guinsaugon and Liloan. And hoping that
your experience will serve as an inspiration for the landslides
victims in Bicol. As always thank you so much and congratulations on
your faith of the people of Southern
Leyte, thank you so much, Rosette.)
“So, mga kaigsoonan,
unsaon ta man…Mas importanti ang iyang seguridad ug ang iyang safety.
Apan magpadayon ta sa atong programa paghatag plaque of appreciation
ug turn-over sa school buildings”. (So, my brothers and sisters, what
can we do…Her security and safety was more important. But we must go
on with the program, giving plaque of appreciation and turn-over of
school buildings), Gov. Lerias said right after the President’s call.
The school
administrators whose schools excelled in the recent National
Achievement Tests (NAT) were then called to receive their individual
certificates of recognition.
“Politics of Gold”
should not rule, Rep. Petilla says
By Provincial Media Relations Center (PMRC Leyte Province)
December
27, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Leyte First District Representative Remedios “Matin” Petilla called
on political hopefuls not to let the “politics of gold” rule over the
people and put a price to their dignity as a voting public.
This as reports that
barangay officials, teachers, PNP members are being called to attend
meetings and assemblies allegedly on the account that a certain amount
of money are being distributed.
“They are degrading
the public, taking away their dignity and putting a price to each of
them. Baga ba hin ikaw, as an individual, you’re only worth let’s say
P3,000. After I gave you that, you would already support me,” Rep.
Petilla said.
She added the Leyteños
need not be degraded that way as what they need instead is a figure
who truly wants to help and not those who puts a price tag on
somebody’s head.
The lady solon
otherwise called on her reported opponents in the May 2007 polls not
to let “politics of gold” rule over the constituency.
“The politics of gold
will not make good governance. The people need more than just a small
amount from a public official,” Congresswoman Petilla said.
While saying this, the
congresswoman instead stressed the need to show the constituents the
politics of service and performance.
However, the lady
solon believes that the public has matured over the years, unmindful
of the “money and gold” that has already got involved in politics and
during polls.
“They have already
grown wise. Bisan pa may-ada nanhahatag, nagpapahakot-hakot, when
voting coming comes, they choose whoever they think could best serve
them.
Renowned national artists to stage Cuarenta at the Coliseum
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
26, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Renowned artists Douglas Nierras of Powerdance, Mr. Aldin Lugnasin
of Ballet Philippines, the Leyte Dance Theater and the Kaliawan
Performing Arts Group, teamed up to present a show as a tribute to Mr.
Jesus de Paz who is celebrating his 40th year of dedicated commitment
in the field of dance.
The show which is
dubbed as “Cuarenta,” and which will serve as a grand reunion
and dance concert in honor of Jess de Paz, will be held at 7:30
o’clock in the evening of December 28, 2006.
Cuarenta will
be conducted at the new Tacloban City Convention Center (Tacloban
Coliseum) and will be participated in also by some alumni members of
the Leyte Dance Theater and the Kaliawan Performing Arts Group.
Mr. Jess de Paz is a
retired instructor at the
Leyte Normal University.
He is a prime mover in teaching dance to the young people of region 8
and is the founder of the Leyte Dance Theater and the Kaliawan
Performing Arts Group.
Mr. de Paz has
inspired many young artists to make good in the field of dance, among
whom are Mr. Douglas Nierras and Mr. Aldin Lugnasin who both are now
renowned artists of the country.
With the patient
tutelage of Mr. de Paz, many of his protégés are now well known
choreographers and winners in various competitions.
Mr. de Paz was
instrumental in teaching and giving seminars to the choreographers of
the Pintados Festival in the festival’s twenty years of existence.
Jess as he fondly
called by his friends, brought accolade and honor to the Region by
bringing his group to different international festivals of dance and
other cultural competitions and bringing home the bacon.
His Leyte Dance
Theater and Kaliawan Performing Arts Group has served as the Region’s
ambassadors of goodwill of the Region and of the country as they
traveled to the different parts of the world.
Tanauan Young Singing
Ambassadors is born
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
26, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The Tanauan Young Singing Ambassadors, a group of twenty-five
young children ages seven to eleven who are musically inclined, was
officially presented to the public during the recently-concluded
Kaadlawan Festival in Tanauan, Leyte.
The Tanauan Young
Singing Ambassadors wowed the audience with their renditions of
original Waray compositions, Christmas songs and popular songs. With
more trainings, this group will truly bring out their best in music.
The twenty-five young
children from the different barangays of the municipality passed the
auditions for them to become the first batch of music scholars of
Mayor Roque Tiu and the municipality of Tanauan. They are currently
training once a week, under the tutelage of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Gravoso
who are resident artists of Tanauan, Leyte.
Mayor Roque Tiu was
inspired to provide the young talents of Tanauan, a scholarship in
music during the Fiesta of Tanauan in August where an eight-year old
child bested other older participants from all over
Leyte in the Bulilit Singing competition. Right there and then,
Mayor Tiu decided to give this little girl the proper training in
music under the tutelage of a music instructor Mr. Clark Gravoso.
Aside from Honey Molon, Mayor Tiu decided to give the same opportunity
to other budding artists.
Mayor Tiu thought that
if given proper training, these young children will be given the
chance to hone their talents which will enable them to perform better.
Besides, he believes that it is the responsibility of the local
government unit that these children are given the opportunity to
develop their talents to the fullest.
The parents of the
scholars expressed gratitude in the opportunity being given to their
children. They are very appreciative of the way Mr. and Mrs. Clark
Grovoso train the young artists.
Mr. Gravoso said that
he has at least three young scholars who are already ready to join
singing contest. With that information, Mayor Tiu announced that in
support to Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla’s Idol Music Competition,
he will allow the three members of the Tanauan Young Singing
Ambassadors to join the competition with the full support of the local
government unit.
