On Thursday, February
28, 2008, Calbayog
City
councilor Julius Mancol took the floor and presented in PowerPoint the
justifications why there should be a separate province.
Mancol cited that the
population of Samar is growing, based on the latest National
Statistics Office (NSO) record.
He said that it is
difficult to manage a big province like
Samar, with 24 municipalities and two cities.
He added that in terms
of the basic social services, there is almost an absence in the first
district. He cited that their district hospitals cease to treat but
act merely as referral entities.
The official cited
that Samar province places 13th biggest in area and in population in
the entire nation.
In comparison, he
cited the provinces of Sibugay, Dinagat and Batanes. He added that
these are very small provinces that had been created.
He mentioned that
Batanes has only six municipalities, 39 barangays with a land area of
some 209 square kilometers and a population of 16, 467.
In the region, Mancol
emphasized Biliran province composed of only a few municipalities and
how so far has it progressed.
He said that even if
only nine municipalities and one city belonging to District one will
be created as one province, still the area, population and number of
barangays, would qualify and would even be bigger than the mentioned
ones.
By all angles and
figures the province being proposed could qualify, yet the Sangguniang
Panlalawigan still requires an ample time to study the implications
that the proposal brings.
Vice Governor Jesus
Redaja, presiding officer requested the proponents to allow the other
provincial Board Members a thorough deliberation and a sufficient time
to examine the proposal.
As it is, the Calbayog
City officials brought with them Resolution Number 2008-02-030
sponsored by Hon. Julius Mancol of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the
City of Calbayog adopted on January 14, 2008 requesting the Honorable
Congressman Reynaldo Uy (1st district of Samar) to file a bill
creating a new province in Samar by converting the first legislative
district of Samar into a Province of Northwestern Samar.
The group said that
in response to the earlier resolution, Representative Uy has filed
House Bill 3553 before the congress of the Philippines on February 2,
2008.
Thousands of
Biliranons troop to NIT gym to avail of caravan services
By FLOR JACKSON (PIA Biliran)
March
1, 2008
NAVAL, Biliran – A
huge crowd of Biliranons trooped on Wednesday to the Naval Institute
of Technology (NIT) gymnasium and its premises to avail of the
one-stop-shop services and medical and dental mission brought in by
the People’s Government Mobile Action (PGMA) caravan through the
Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) in coordination
with the provincial government of Biliran, the national government
agencies (NGAs), the non-government organizations (NGOs) and other
groups.
The activity was
started with an 8:00 o’clock mass officiated by Msgr. Filomeno Bactol,
Bishop of Naval this at the NIT gym.
The holy mass was
immediately followed by a short program.
In his welcome
message, Dr. Getolio Solite, Sangguniang Panlalawigan member of
Biliran who is also a medical doctor by profession who spoke in behalf
of Vice-Governor Lucila Curso said that the Biliranons have everything
to be thankful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for bringing in
the PGMA Caravan especially the patients who underwent harelip and
cleft palate operation as they were able to avail the service for free
and was saved from spending P35,000 or more if they sought treatment
in a private hospital.
He likewise
thanked the regional directors of the different NGAs for their
participation in this big event here in Biliran.
Later during the
program, Joseph Sibangan of PAGCOR announced the rationale of the PGMA
caravan saying that this particular project of President Arroyo is an
all-encompassing effort which gathers the socio-civic and development
projects of several key government agencies in cooperation with the
local government units, the private sectors and other non-government
groups.
He added that the PGMA
caravan addresses the vital concerns that affect the day-to-day life
of every Filipino like food and nutrition, livelihood, peace and
order, health, community development and basic infrastructures.
He informed that the
caravan is held in different barangays of the National Capital Region
(NCR) where there is a high concentration of urban poor families and
in the 10 priority provinces in the
Philippines.
Mr. Sibangan said that
the PGMA caravan aims to bring the government services, programs and
projects nearer to the constituents. Likewise, it aims to make
available the socio-civic and development projects of several key
government agencies through a one-stop-shop concept.
Moreover, he said,
that the PGMA caravan provides a venue for surgical outreach program
that will cater to the poor patients with medical disorder in the
local government units who need immediate surgical medical and dental
treatments.
He reported that the
medical and dental missions conducted in the two barangays of Kawayan
town was able to serve some 188 dental patients and 912 medical
patients or a total of 1,100 patients while in the municipality of
Caibiran, some 2,083 medical patients were served while 326 residents
availed of the dental services bringing the total of patients served
to 2,409.
For the surgical
mission update, he informed that some 116 patients underwent minor
surgery while 48 patients were operated on for harelip and 290
patients underwent eye surgery for cataract and pteridium and 94
patients availed of the ECG services at the Biliran Provincial
Hospital (BPH).
He said, the number of
patients who will undergo surgery will still increase as the surgical
mission comes to a close Friday night.
Alton Durano,
Administrative Officer of the BPH bared that some 70 doctors, nurses,
medical technologists and other medical personnel came to Biliran
province to assist in the medical mission in Kawayan and Caibiran
towns and the medical and dental mission at the NIT compound.
The DOH regional
office sent doctors and medical staff from the Eastern Visayas
Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) in Tacloban City to assist in the
medical missions.
As Leyte Province’s
contribution and help to the province of Biliran, Leyte Governor
Jericho “Icot” Petilla sent doctors, nurses and other medical staff
from the Leyte Provincial Hospital also in Tacloban to likewise assist
in the medical and dental mission here.
Hon. Remedios “Matin”
Petilla in her message, said, she brought the greetings of President
Arroyo to the people of Biliran. “President Arroyo hopes the caravan
will be more productive and will truly help the poor people of Biliran”,
she added.
“I thank everyone, the
clergy, Governor Espina and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, NIT
President Edita Genson for the venue, all the mayors, the national
government agencies through the respective regional directors, the
surgeons, and the medical staff for making the PGMA Caravan in Biliran
a resounding succeess”, she said.
For his part, Gov.
Roger Espina thanked President Arroyo for bringing the PGMA caravan
here in Biliran through PAGCOR.
“I hope the PGMA
caravan will come back to Biliran”, he said.
Gov. Espina ended
his message by saying “We are grateful to you Madame President for
your help”.
Region 8 floods,
landslides cause P133.72 M damage to agriculture; P725.75 M damage to
infra
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
March
1, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The floods caused by the incessant heavy downpours prevailing in
Eastern Visayas has already bring about damages to agriculture and to
infrastructure placed at P133.72 million and P725.75 million
respectively.
Reports coming from
the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC 8) showed that
21,619.77 hectares of agricultural lands in the Region have been
damaged by floods. The province of Eastern Samar accounts for
14,380.48 hectares amounting to P97,668,936.22; Leyte 5,343.89
hectares or a total damage cost of P35,189,213.88; Northern Samar
1,658.79 hectares with total cost of P17,819,850.42; and Samar
accounts for 236.65 hectares with damage cost of P865,877.75.
The province of Samar
recorded the highest total damage to infrastructure amounting to
P282.2 Million; Leyte comes in next with P212.0 M, Director Estudillo
of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD 8) said. The province of Northern
Samar reported a total infrastructure damage amounting to P118.0 M;
Eastern Samar posted a P90.25 M damage; while the
province of Biliran
incurred damages amounting to P10.5 million.
Meanwhile, in the
afternoon of February 27, the 801st Infantry Brigade in Eastern Samar
reported that Macabut Bridge in Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar, is
already passable to all types of vehicles.
All Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council Member Agencies and Local disaster
coordinating council have been continuously advised to take
precautionary measures due to continuous downpour in Region 8,
Director Estudillo added.
Continuous
heavy downpour in Region 8 leaves 18 dead, 3 missing, 36 injured
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February
29, 2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The continues rains prevailing in Eastern Visayas even as of
presstime, has left 18 persons dead, 3 missing, and 36 others injured,
the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council reported.
As of 1:00 o’clock in
the afternoon of February 27, OCD 8 Director Salvador Estudillo,
informed that Eastern Samar had the highest death toll with 13 out of
the 18 reported. Of the 13 deaths, 2 are reported to be from Borongan
City; 1 in Can-Avid; 3 in Dolores; 1 in Jipapad; 3 in Maydolong; 1 in
San Julian; and 1 in Taft.
One death was reported
in Pinabacdao, Samar; 1 in Culaba, Biliran and 3 in Leyte with 1 each
from Babatngon, Dulag and
Tacloban City.
Of the 4 persons
missing in Eastern Samar, the one missing in Guiuan town was found
alive, leaving only three persons missing.
All the 36 persons who
have been reported as injured, are all from the various municipalities
of Eastern Samar.
The dead, missing and
injured persons have been identified except the 17 injured from
Maydolong, Eastern Samar, Director Estudillo said.
A total of 66,310
families or 335,235 persons in 723 barangays in 5 provinces of Eastern
Visayas, have already been affected by the heavy rains that continue
to prevail in the Region.
The province of
Eastern Samar accounts for 34,950 families or 173,909 persons in 378
barangays of 23 municipalities. Samar accounts for 12,387 families or
66,276 persons in 144 barangays of 9 municipalities and 2 cities;
while Northern Samar accounts for 2,571 families, or 12, 383 persons
in 38 barangays of 5 municipalities.
The province of Leyte
has a total of 16,402 families affected or 82,607 persons in 154
barangays of 14 municipalities and 1 city; while the
province of
Biliran
accounts for 1 family or 5 persons in 1 barangay of Culaba town.
A total of 722 houses
in the Region have been totally destroyed while 3,300 houses have been
partially damaged.
RDCC 8 cautions the
people in the Region to continue to be vigilant as the inclement heavy
rains continue to pour in the area.
Diarrheal cases at
Eastern Samar caused by heavy rains
By MARIVIC ALCOBER (PIA Eastern
Samar)
February 29,
2008
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– For the past few days
Eastern Visayas, most especially
Eastern Samar
has been suffering continuous heavy rains which resulted to flooding
incidents that caused to diarrheal cases in some of the municipalities
in said area.
It was learned from
the Department of Health - Eastern Visayas (DOH-EV), that diarrheal
cases in Eastern Samar
which was badly hit by the flooding, have already reached a total of
178.
To accommodate
affected families due to the flooding incidents, Evacuation Sites have
been set up in Dolores, Borongan, Maslog, Jipapad, Balangkayan,
Maydolong, and Gen. MacArthur. Said Evacuation Sites were able to
accommodate some 363 families.
Center for Health and
Development (CHD)
Operations Center
was activated and served the affected families 24 hours daily.
Likewise, there was continuous coordination with the Department of
Health Representative of the affected municipalities of Eastern Samar,
the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, and with the Provincial
Health Office. The CHD Response Team gave technical support to the
Local Government Unit in matters of health emergency management and
disease surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases.
The DOH-EV extended
logistic support to the
province of
Eastern Samar
through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Municipal Disaster
Coordinating Council of Guiuan and Dolores, in the form of drugs,
medicines and medical supplies, in the total amount of P152,400.
It was anticipated
that the massive rainfall which flooded the drinking water sources
which are mostly open dug wells and springs is one of the causes of
the increase of disease incidence, specifically acute respiratory
infections and diarrheal diseases.
Water treatment was
conducted in the affected communities by the local health workers,
while disease surveillance was continuously done. It was learned from
DOH that CHD8 provided chlorine granules and water treatment tablets
and these were distributed to the affected municipalities by the PHO
and the MHOs.
It was also bared that
schistosomiasis infested areas has been flooded and because of this,
larval production is expected to increase, hence, intensive treatment
through conduct of massive treatment has been carried out in infested
areas that were flooded. Relative to this, praziquantel tablets has
been provided by CHD8.
On the other hand,
the recent “Knock-out Tigdas” campaign of DOH-EV enhanced the herd
immunity for measles in the whole province of Eastern Samar. Said
office is likewise currently reaching out areas of low immunization
coverage in said province.
Biliranons thank PGMA
for bringing in caravan, medical-surgical mission
By FLOR JACKSON (PIA Biliran)
February
27, 2008
NAVAL, Biliran – Biliranons
have all the reasons to be happy as they thank President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo for bringing in the surgical and medical mission as
well as the People’s Government Mobile Action (PGMA) Caravan to the
province of Biliran.
The surgical mission
which is part of the entire PGMA Caravan in Biliran started Tuesday at
about 8:00 o’clock in the morning with surgeons from Manila and from
the Biliran Provincial Hospital (BPH) performing the operation to
patients.
In an interview with
Dr. Edgar Veloso, the newly installed Chief of Hospital of the Biliran
Provincial Hospital, he said that the surgeons including the nurses,
medical technologists and other medical personnel that compose the
surgical team arrived from Manila Monday morning, February 25 and
immediately after they have put their equipment in place at the BPH,
they started doing the final screening of patients who will undergo
surgery of their various ailments.
He added that even as
some doctors of the surgical team are performing the operation to
patients, other members of the team together with the doctors of the
BPH will do the screening to ensure that these patients are qualified
to be operated on.
He informed that the
surgical mission will be conducted starting Tuesday, February 26 until
Friday, February 29 but the screening will continue up to Thursday,
February 28.
He bared that the
surgical team from Manila is composed of four opthalmologists, three
plastic surgeons, five general surgeons and the surgeons from the BPH
together with Gov. Rogelio Espina who is himself a medical doctor by
profession especializing in orthopedics.
The surgical patients,
Dr. Veloso said, include those suffering from harelip, cleft palate,
cataract, pteridium, cyst and other minor surgery cases.
Moreover, he disclosed
that on February 27, a medical and dental mission will be conducted in
the two barangays of Kawayan, one of the eight towns of Biliran
province, which are Barangays Mapuyo and Ungale and also in Caibiran
town on Thursday, February 28. The medical and dental mission in
Caibiran will be held at the municipal gymnasium.
Former Congresswoman
of the first district of Leyte Remedios “Matin” Petilla and now
Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Vice President
for PGMA Programs on Social Development and party arrived on Tuesday
in Naval where she met with Biliran Governor Rogelio Espina and other
provincial officials.
She also visited the
BPH to meet with the surgical team and other hospital officials to see
for herself the on-going surgical mission.
The surgical mission
which forms part of the caravan is targeting some 500 cataract
patients, Dr. Veloso said, but as of now, only 80 cataract patients
have submitted for screening. He added that 50 cleft palate patients
have already been screened, while 40 patients were screened for
pteridium and some 138 patients for minor surgery such as cysts and
other minor body mass.
“The number of
surgical patients will still increase until Thursday, February 28”, he
added.
He informed that some
35 medical personnel to include surgeons, nurses, medical
technologists among others from the regional health office and from
the Leyte Provincial Hospital will be arriving on Wednesday, February
27 and will join with the doctors and other health personnel of the
BPH and the Biliran Medical Society for the scheduled medical and
dental mission in the two barangays in Kawayan and in Caibiran town.
For his part, Jun
Oliva, Information Officer of the provincial government of Biliran
disclosed that on Friday, February 29, the PGMA caravan to be
participated in by the national government agencies will be conducted
at the Naval Institute of Technology (NIT) Gymnasium and at the campus
of the said school instead of holding the activity at the provincial
capitol compound in anticipation that it might rain on the day of the
caravan.
As mandated by
Administrative Order No. 159, all government line agencies will extend
their services during the caravan day.
The PGMA Caravan and
the surgical and medical mission are parts of the pro-poor programs of
President Arroyo with PAGCOR as the lead agency through Hon. Remedios
“Matin” Petilla in coordination with the provincial government of
Biliran through Gov. Rogelio Espina, the national government agencies
and the local government units.
In the never ending quest for peace…
Samar peace assembly
and consultation workshop set
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA
Samar)
February 27,
2008
CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar
– “Building bridges, waging peace” is the theme adapted by
Samar in its never ending quest for peace as stakeholders set
Samar Peace Assembly and Consultation Workshop on
March 5-6, 2008.
In a letter addressed
to PIA-Samar, Rev. Fr. Cesar Aculan of the Social Action Center and
noted by Most Reverend Isabelo Abarquez, Calbayog Bishop, the
invitation speaks of the usual cooperation and unity of all to achieve
lasting peace in the community.
The letter further
said that the achievement of viable and lasting peace is only possible
when the capacity of local people are utilized and complemented to the
efforts of the government, church-based organizations, media, the
academe and other peace sectors.
Based on the attached
program, the Bishop of Calbayog will share the limelight with Samar
Mayors’ League President Melchor Nacario as keynote speakers.
Archbishop of Cagayan
de Oro City Most Reverend Antonio Ledesma, SJ will talk on Church’s
Social Teachings on Peace and its Relevance to Present Times.
Another guest, Ms.
Priscilla Valmonte of
Zamboanga City
will tackle “Waging a Culture of Peace”.
Director Romy Halabaso
of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process (OPAPP)
will talk on the National Situation and Trends in Peacebuilding.
Finally, Ms. Joven
Reyes, Sulong Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and
International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) will talk on “Waging Peace
through CARHRIHL”.
The workshop aims to
surface a broad framework and peace agenda for
Samar and to produce an action plan on peace building for adoption
by Samar’s
Peace Organizations waging for peace.
The workshop will be
held at the St. Mary’s College of Catbalogan City (Samar).
Mayor Coefredo ‘Tekwa’
Uy is expected to welcome the participants from all over Samar
province.
Cebuano tops Marine
Basic Course
Press Release
By Philippine Marine Corps
February 27, 2008
TAGUIG CITY,
Philippines – Sixty (60) Candidate Soldiers graduated from the
Marine Basic Course Class 358 last February 22, 2008 at the Marine
Barracks Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City. The 60 were the top
20 of three classes that have been undergoing stringent physical
training and academic schooling at the Marine Corps Training Center in
Cavite since September last year. Candidate Soldier Jorge C. Hamili, a
native of Sudlon 1,
Cebu
City,
who was recruited and inducted last September 27, 2007 at
Camp
Lapu-Lapu
in Cebu City, topped the class.
After their academic
break, the Candidate Soldiers will be integrated into the existing
marine battalions. Most of them, however, will form part of the newly
activated Marine Light Infantry Company which will be deployed in
Palawan.
The Philippine
Marine Corps’ Personnel Procurement Office is daily entertaining
applicants. The examination is being conducted twice a month at the
Marine Barracks Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City. Those who took
the AFP Aptitude test battery and IQ test conducted by the PMC
recruiting team last August and September at the AFP Central Command,
Camp Lapu-Lapu, can still continue to process their application at the
Marine Barracks Bonifacio Naval Station as long as they are not older
than 23 years. For further information, contact 1Lt. Prisco T. Tabo,
Jr. PN(M) through mobile phone number 0928-4507674, or MC1 Hotline
0916-5733710 or email
pmc_recruiting@yahoo.com.
