Leyte town adjudged most business friendly municipality of the Visayas

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 21, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The Municipality of Tanauan, Leyte was once again adjudged as the Most Business Friendly Municipality of the Visayas.

This good news is contained in the communication sent by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry thru the Award Committee Chairperson and President Emeritus Miguel Varela.

Tanauan emerged as the victor in the Most Business Friendly Municipality for the Visayas, over its closest rival Guimbal, Iloilo. Last year, Tanauan was also the winner in the same category and as the Best Business Friendly Municipality of the Philippines.

Jubilant, Tanauan Mayor Roque A. Tiu said that the award will again serve as an inspiration for all the local government team to work doubly hard to deserve the citation.

Asked which municipality won as the Most Business Friendly Municipality of the country, Mayor Tiu said that it will be learned on October 26 yet. Considering the very good presentation of the other contenders, Mayor Tiu intimated that he is not really expecting to win the award again.

Mayor Tiu reiterated his usual stand that when the local government joins competitions, he is not really after the winning but on learning from the experiences of the other contenders. That way, he is able to weigh which is the best way to serve his constituents and the clients of the local government.

More than ever, the local government of Tanauan will continue to pursue its thrust of providing the best service not only to the people of Tanauan but to everyone who comes to transact business in the municipality.

After all, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been calling for good governance, so it is but proper that the local government units should be attuned to the National Government’s thrust, Mayor Tiu said.

The President has been working hard to attract investors to the country. The local government units must also do their share, Mayor Tiu added.

This is exactly what Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla is doing in the province, so in order to have a synchronized action at all levels of governance, it is but right that the municipal governments should also do its share in inviting investors, he added.

The awarding of the Most Business Friendly local government units, province, city and municipality in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will be conducted at the Manila Hotel on October 24, 2007, Mayor informed.

63rd Suluan Raid Celebration

Governor, Guiuan mayor call for national recognition

By BRYAN M. AZURA
October 18, 2007

GUIUAN, Eastern Samar  –  The top official of this municipality strongly called for a national recognition on the annual commemoration of the Suluan Raid citing that what happened in her town 63 years ago is vital to the history not only of the province but the of nation and even internationally.

“We have been celebrating this Suluan Raid for 63 years and I couldn’t imagine that up to this time, we still have no support from the national government,” Mayor Analiz Gonzales-Kwan said in a speech before a group of around a hundred people who attended the said commemoration at Brgy. Ngolos of this municipality.

Governor Evardone, meanwhile, said that he himself will join the call for a national recognition of the historical commemorations in the province. “If Balangiga Encounter was given of national importance by enacting a law on it thereby making its celebration a provincial holiday, why not the Magellan Landing and Suluan Raid,” he said in a phone interview.

“The provincial government is giving emphasis on these celebrations because this is important as our identity as Eastern Samareños,” Evardone added. “We are people rich in cultural and historical backgrounds,” the provincial chief said.

Evardone was not able to attend the celebration as he has to attend an urgent meeting with President Gloria Arroyo in Manila that day. Kwan claims that the famous landing of Gen. Douglas McArthur could have not happened without the incident that happened in Suluan island on October 17, 1944. Veterans recalled that the allied forces raided a Japanese garrison in Suluan paving the arrival of McArthur.

The lady chief executive narrated that the Guiuan airport, the largest in Southeast Asia that time, was a classified airstrip which was built in less than a month in preparation for the arrival of the American general who would have to fly from Australia at the height of Japanese occupancy in the Philippines.

Logic points out, according to Kwan, that McArthur stayed in Guiuan first before going to Leyte because he already had Filipinos with him when he went offshore Palo beach. Then President of the Philippines Sergio Osmeña and Resident Commissioner Carlos P. Romulo, were with MacArthur upon landing in the gulf of Leyte. “Where would they (Osmeña and Romulo) come from if he (MacArthur) went straight from Australia,” posed Kwan.

Kwan said that the events in Guiuan could not be seen in any historical accounts. “I believe that history should be re-written,” she said. She divulged that she already commissioned the Senior Citizens including the war veterans in her town to rewrite the history of Guiuan. Once established, the mayor is very optimistic that Eastern Samar will be the center of the history of the Second World War.

Kwan repeatedly called on the media to help her get the public and national attention. “I hope that the media will find its way to promote us and to tell the world and the national hierarchy that we need this particular attention,” he said referring to the unrecognized anniversary.

Vice Governor Leander Geli for his part said that he will extract whatever means to help the tourism, historical and cultural promotion of the province.

“It’s unfair to our veterans. It’s unfair to the values that had been exuded as our contribution to the war,” says Geli citing that the commemoration remains unknown to many.

Geli was the guest speaker during the said event in behalf of the governor. The municipal chief sighed that for the 63rd time, the province is celebrating the Suluan raid without national participation. “We are celebrating this ‘secretly’ again,” she whined.

In an interview, Kwan said that she is calling upon Congressmen to make a noise in the Halls of Congress for recognition of the annual event including the Magellan Landing in the island of Homonhon. “A privilege speech of a congressman will be good to start with,” she said. “By next year, I am planning to invite the presence of the National Historical Institute and Department of Tourism,” she said.

Brontispa threatens collapse of coco industry in Eastern Visayas

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
October 18, 2007

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Coconut Leaf Beetle or brontispa longissima (gestro) is threatening  to wipe out the coconut industry of Eastern Visayas with the infested coconut trees already reaching a alarming number of 40,468.

Philippine Coconut Authority Regional Manager Edilberto Nierva’s revelation surprised the members of the Regional Anti-Brontispa Action Team during the meeting on October 15.

Director Olive Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency remarked that the latest figure which Director Nierva gave her was 6,000 infested coconut trees.

Manager Nierva said that the sudden increase in the number of infested coco trees is largely due to the 23,000 infested trees discovered in Capul, Northern Samar.

Manager Nierva informed the body that there are now seven municipalities in the three provinces of Samar with coconut trees infested with the dreaded brontispa or coco leaf beetle.

Five of these municipalities are in Northern Samar, namely, Allen where the first sign of brontispa infestation in the Region was observed, Victoria, Lavizares, San Antonio and Capul.

In Eastern Samar, the municipality of Mercedes have coconut trees already infested while in the province of Samar, brontispa infestation was observed in Paranas town.

Manager Nierva also revealed that of the 40,468 coconut trees infested with brontispa, only 6,000 have been treated with the three types of treatment, the chemical, mechanical and biological treatments.

The members of the Regional Anti-brontispa Action Team asked Director Nierva what is keeping the Philippine Coconut Authority from controlling the infestation since it has been a year since the brontispa infestation was discovered in Allen, Northern Samar.

Manager Nierva said that his agency is having difficulties with the funding for the purchase of chemicals as a priority measure in controlling the pest and saving the coconut tree.

Another concern, Manager Nierva said, is that some coconut farmers refuse to have the trunks of their coconut trees injected because when the trees are injected, the farmers will not be allowed to harvest the fruits for a period of six months.

Samar Food for School recipients raise issues and concerns

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
October 18, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Leyte  –  While it is true that the Food for School (FFS) program of President Gloria Macapaga-Arroyo is helping subsidize food consumption in the form of rice allocation to families, it has also been a source of problem for some sectors.

In the FFS Provincial Technical Working Group (FFS-PTWG) meeting hosted by National Food Authority (NFA) newly assigned general manager Francisca Mercado, the group discovered that in some cases, the real number of enrollees differ from the ones given by the central office.

Provincial Nutrition Action officer (PNAO) Alva Gadin, in one of her monitoring visits to Tarangnan town, said that instead of 75 enrollees only 25 were given.

Lemuel Uy, NFA delivery in charge said that the number came from the central office and that NFA could not alter any data provided.

Dr. Angelica Rodriguez, DepEd Medical officer confirmed that DepEd also erred because it relied on the previous enrolment, however, she said, as this is a national concern, it has been rectified and that they are now awaiting for the corrected delivery.

In other instances, the one-kilo-a-day ration has also encouraged mendicancy said another member of the group, parents instead of farming have solely relied on the government’s dole out.

Presently, 14 municipalities have received a total of 2,612.12 bags of well milled rice for a 19-day allocation period to some 8,303 pupils based on the NFA delivery report dated October 10, 2007.

PGMA’s Food for school Program stated that Grade one pupils and some selected day care children will be supplied with one-kilo a day for 120 days. The FFS-PTWG however, could not ascertain as to when the remaining number of kilos will be dispatched.

NFA Manager Francisca Mercado said she will seek the assistance of the League of Mayors (LMP) of Samar for their support. 

The group includes DILG, PIA, AFP, PHO, PSWDO, NFA and DepEd as lead convenor.

“Tong-its” causes malnutrition, poor school performance

By ALICE NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
October 15, 2007

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  “Tong-its” is one cause of malnutrition among children in several rural areas of Eastern Samar.  This was observed by the Communication Task Force (CTF) of UNICEF’s Sixth Country Program for Children (CPC-6).

This small time gambling session using cards came out in a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) which were conducted by the CTF in the disparity barangays of the province.  Again, in an Advocacy and Planning Conference held recently with some elementary school teachers the same complain surfaced:  “Tong-its” is commonly observed among mothers, even those lactating ones.

Miss Vanessa Caspe of Oras School District claimed that some young children are perhaps no longer attended to by their mothers before they leave for school. She suspects that  even at the first crack of dawn mothers are all set likewise for their favorite past time while children are left behind to fend for themselves, which would mean to a helpless child seeing a boiled banana or camote, on the table for his breakfast and nothing more.

Provincial Nutritionist, Sally Jabinal stressed that proper nutrition need not be expensive.  It is a matter of preparation.  The humbly camote tops which is a good source of Vitamin A may not be boiled as in the old practice.  After washing the leaves thoroughly, they can be put inside a frying pan and without adding water, cover it and put it on fire, and presto! After a few minutes the family can have a delicious and very nutritious vegetable.

Understandably, malnutrition as a poverty indicator can have several causes and mothers glued to “Tong-its” can only be one.

“There is easy money in the game”, Caspe said, “that perhaps mothers are tempted to focus most of their time.  They also enjoy because the game is quick and thrilling”, Caspe said, who chanced upon one of the gambling mothers. The same mother according to Caspe, argued that it can be painful to stop playing “tong-its” because when she wins in the game, she goes home with several stuffs for the house, from laundry soap to sugar and coffee and pancit canton for her children.  But when she loses, she thinks and tries again for the next time around that is why, Caspe said, the game will always be patronized by mothers…Breastfeeding mothers find it very convenient also in the “Tong-its” because they just have to breastfeed their youngs from their sides while at the same time attending to their game in front, Caspe quoted the gambling mother.

Malnutrition among young children is still prevalent in some disparity areas of the province, because of this, some interventions are never stopping.  Feeding programs are being conducted by DSWD with the Prep Schools.

The President’s Program with fortified rice, noodles and milk being distributed to elementary school children have also been implemented. Some NGOs are also into it. On the other hand, exclusive breastfeeding is very well practiced by most mothers, the FGDs found so.

The Communication Task Force of the UNICEF’s Sixth Country Program for Children is being lead by Philippine Information Agency.

Evardone lights 419th Barangay

By BRYAN M. AZURA
October 15, 2007

ORAS, Eastern Samar  –  Villagers have marked off from hopelessness to jubilation as Governor Ben P. Evardone led the electric switch-on ceremonies very recently of Brgy. Binalayan of this northern municipality as part of the barangay electrification project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The provincial chief took the risk of riding on a motorized banca, locally known as “boatie,” to the said barangay to personally put on the ceremonial switch signifying that the place is already energized.

At the start of the project, Eastern Samar had 597 interior and island barangays off for electrification and Binalayan is the 419th village to be lighted so far.

Evardone challenged the barangay folks to take good care of the electric facilities as these will “bring progress” to the locale.

Meanwhile, the villagers were high-spirited as it is the first time a governor of the province visited their place. “Ora-ora it amon kalipay kay ha primero nga higayon gin bisita an amon barangay hin gobernador (We are overjoyed because this is the first time a governor visited our barangay,” says Dante Dimatira, a barangay kagawad, in an interview.

Evardone, in his speech, said that he is happy that finally the local folks will now enjoy the benefits of electricity. Noticing the newly installed water system upon arrival, he said that the barangay will be off for progress with the availability of the electric and water facilities.

The governor on the other hand thanked the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (ESAMELCO) for being a strong partner in the electrification program of the government.

As part of the governor’s desire to truly uplift the economic condition of the residents, Evardone informed them that the province is offering hand tractors and shallow tube wells on installment basis without interest to interested individuals and parties.

“I have observed that a big part of the barangay’s surrounding is still unused. With this, the province would like to assist you in whatever it can so your agricultural lands will be productive,” Evardone said in vernacular.