When reached via phone
patch, Vice-Governor Mimyet said she is humbled by the trust given to
her by the vice-governors across the country. The Leyte Vice-Governor
was unopposed in her bid to become the league’s chairperson.
All the other league
positions had at least two candidates each, Vice-Governor Bagulaya, a
hard-core Liberal Party Member, disclosed.
It would be recalled
that the lady vice-governor who is on her third term as vice-governor,
also was unopposed during the latest campaign for the synchronized and
first automated elections.
Vice-Governor Bagulaya
disclosed that as of this writing she is still in Manila to attend the
first State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino on July
26.
Elected as President
of the Vice-Governors League of the
Philippines
for 2010-2013 was Vice-Governor Leonides Fausto of Cagayan, who is
also a member of the Liberal Party. He was forced to run in another
party during the last elections because there was already another
candidate who run under LP, Vice-Governor Bagulaya said.
Vice-Governor Victorio
“Baby” Suaybaguio Jr. of Davao de Norte was elected as the Executive
Vice President.
Elected as Secretary
General was Masbate Vice-Governor Vince Revil while Aklan
Vice-Governor Gabrielle Quimpo was elected as treasurer, the position
Vice-Governor Bagulaya held during the previous term of office.
Vice-Governor
Cresencio Pacalso of Benguet was elected as auditor while Batangas
Vice-Governor Mark Leviste was re-elected as the League’s PRO.
Vice President for
Luzon is Mario Gene Jaro Mendiola is the current Vice-Governor of the
province of Occidental Mindoro.
Elected as Vice
President for Visayas is Vice-Governor Mike Maamo of
Southern Leyte, while elected as Vice President for
Mindanao was
Vice-Governor Leo G. Lasacar of Camiguin.
Vice-Governor Bagulaya
said that the abovementioned officers compose the executive committee
of the League. The directors for each region will be appointed, she
added.
The League of
Vice-Governors of the Philippines has the primary purpose of
ventilating, articulating, and crystallizing issues affecting
provincial government administration specially those concerning local
legislation and securing, through proper and legal means, solutions
thereto.
Calbayog City alarmed
over rise in dengue cases
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
July
25, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
Alarmed at the high number of dengue fever cases, Calbayog City Mayor
Reynaldo Uy through his Memorandum Circular 002 ordered the 157
barangays for a clean up drive to avert the situation.
According to City
Health Officer Dr. Sylvia de Guzman, the dengue cases started with 8
cases which rose to 21 the following week.
De Guzman added that
of these cases four dies coming from Brgy.
East Awang, Begaho Tinambacan Norte, and Malopalo.
Dr. de Guzman noted
that most victims are children and that in the whole Region 8,
Calbayog is number five with the highest number of dengue cases.
Recently, Calbayognons
made a clean-up drive in their barangays as part of the ‘Iwas Dengue’
campaign.
During the weekly LGU
press conference, City Population Officer and Tri-District Development
Program Office (3D) focal person Ruben Adona explained that everyone
will be mobilized to ensure that dengue-causing-mosquitoes will not
transfer to other barangays whose folks are not cleaning.
“Let us not wait for
the health people to declare an outbreak,” Adona stressed.
Since January of this
year a total of 288 suspected dengue cases have been reported with the
4 deaths.
Grace Campo,
surveillance nurse of the city health office (CHO) said that it is
possible that there are more cases as she can only record those
hospitalized on the four hospitals in the city. Campo suspects that
other dengue patients may still be in hospitals in Tacloban City.
Presently some 60 of
the 157 barangays have been affected by the tragic dengue illness.
Brgy. Matobato has posted the highest number of cases with 30,
followed by Dagum 18, Oquendo Poblacion 17, Tinambacan Sur 16, Balud
11, Capoocan ug East Awang 10.
The different barangay
and schools are enjoined to clean their homes, schools, surroundings,
check for stagnant water and dispose and clean the canals.
The City Health Office
will also conduct an information drive, distribute leaflets and other
dengue literature. The CHO meanwhile will get samples of the larvae
coming from the barangays for lab tests. (PIA
Samar with report from DYOG)
Samar GSP honors
differently abled Girl Scouts
By NINFA B. QUIRANTE
July
25, 2010
CATBALOGAN CITY –
The Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP)
Samar chapter treated their differently abled peers in a day of
fun, games and food treats on Friday.
The activity dubbed as
“A Day for Differently Abled Girl Scouts” had them singing, dancing
and just having fun through interaction with other girl scouts.
At least some 32
differently abled students from all over
Catbalogan
City joined the fun with their parents, teachers, guardians and
nannies at the GSP Heaquarters in Catbalogan, Samar.
Ms. Trinidad Escobar,
GSP Council President told PIA that this is their contribution to the
nation’s observance of the National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation (NDSPR) Week from July 13-23, 2010.
She said that NDSPR
aims to stimulate public awareness of disability issues and concerns
and also to promote the inherent rights of persons with disabilities.
In a message done by
Ms. Florfina Daradal, a GSP council board member, she urged the girl
scouts not to lose hope for being differently abled.
She told the story of
one woman stricken by polio, but was able to study being a teacher and
ended up teaching home economics to children.
She then urged the
parents, nannies and guardian to continue nurturing them despite the
challenge.
To show their talents,
visually impaired Mary Jane Cabornay sang a Christian song which she
claimed was composed by the blind singer and composer Art Ramasasa.
Ronalyn, another visually impaired lass, sang Jessa Saragoza’s “Bakit
Pa”. Bernard Longasa another visually impaired lad of 12 played on the
organ and sang Willie Revillame’s “Ikaw na Nga” the later song had the
differently abled kids singing with Bernard.
For the deaf and mute
kids, dancing with Jollibee mascot proved to be so enjoyable, it was
almost a non-stop dancing showdown.
The kids were also
treated to a spaghetti snack given for free by Jolibee Manager Shaun
Paul Pondiong.
Gift packs were also
distributed to all differently abled girl scouts.
After the dance
showdown, kids started taking turns in photo ops with the mascot
Jolibee until the batteries of their cameras bleed dry. (PIA-Samar)
BFAR 8 empowers
fisherfolks through “Rent-a-Cage” Program
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
24, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – In
order to encourage small fisher folk to venture in mariculture parks,
the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 8 (BFAR) helps
fishermen organize themselves into cooperatives and enroll in its
"Rent-a-Cage" Program.
Under this scheme, the
fishermen could start raising fish and pay the cage rent, including
the cost of production after selling their produce, according to BFAR
Region 8 Director John Albaladejo.
Already, a number of
fisherfolks group in the
municipality of
Basey,
Samar have already availed of the BFAR’s Cages-for-Rent program, the
good Director said.
BFAR encourages the
fisherman to organize themselves into cooperatives and enroll in its
“Rent-a-Cage Program” to enable them to start raising fish and pay the
cage rent, including the cost of production, after selling their
produce. Within two years or an average of four harvests, the group
shall have been able to fully pay the cage and acquire additional
cages for their business venture.
A bamboo fish cage
costs P470,000 and a GI pipe cage, P576,000. This amount covers the
cost of the cage, fingerlings, feeds and labor, among others during
the grow-out period, BFAR said. Within a period of two years or an
average of four harvests, fishermen cooperative could be able to pay
in full the cost of the cage and acquire additional cages for their
business venture.
Besides empowering
small fisher folk, the establishment of mariculture parks also helps
mitigate the ill effects of climate change on the fisheries sector.
Coral bleaching, changes in the migratory patterns of fishes,
occurrence of dreadful diseases and even mutation are among the
adverse effects of climate change on the marine environment.
Mariculture parks
provide a respite for marine life to flourish and increase in
population without any adverse effects on the environment.
The Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has established 40 mariculture
parks nationwide. The latest of which are the 2 mariculture parks in
Sorsogon.
The other mariculture
parks in Luzon are found in Sto. Tomas, La Union; Casiguran Aurora;
Padre Burgos and Tagkawayan in Quezon; Looc, Romblon; San Jose City,
Occidental Mindoro; Sta. Cruz, Marinduque; Calapan City, Oriental
Mindoro; and Ragay and Sangay in Camarines Sur.
In the Visayas, these
mariculture parks are in Talibon,
Bohol; Brgy. Malahog,
Calbayog City; Basey
and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar; San Jose, Sta. Rita and Laoang in
Northern Samar; Liloan, Southern Leyte; Batbatngon, Merida, Tacloban
City and Ormoc City in Leyte; and Navalin Biliran.
Those in Mindanao are
located in Tungawan, Sibugay, Margosatubig, all in Zamboanga del Sur;
Zamboanga City, Murcielagos, Rizal in Zamboanga del Norte; Balingasag,
Misamis Oriental; Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte; Island Garden
City of Samal; Panabo City, Davao del Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental;
Surigao City and Dapa, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; Barugo,
Surigao del Sur; and Sibutu-Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
These types of
industrial parks in sea that were first conceptualized five years ago
by the BFAR include basic infrastructure facilities like mooring
systems that are set up in areas identified by marine technologists as
ideal for fish farming.
Mariculture parks
operate much like industrial estates on land, with investors setting
up or renting fish cages to grow high-value marine species such as
bangus, lapu¬lapu, siganids, seaweeds and other high-value aquatic
organisms.
Along with the local
government unit (LGU) and other stakeholders, a management council is
organized by the BFAR and a development plan is crafted to ensure the
health of the environment and the sustainability of every mariculture
venture.
Mayors, governors
throw support for Gov. Icot’s RDC chairmanship bid
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 23, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Mayors in Leyte and governors in have thrown in their support for
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla bid for chairmanship of the
Regional Development Council in
Eastern Visayas.
League of
Municipalities of the Philippines - Leyte Chapter President Remedios
“Matin” Petilla, the municipal mayor of Palo, said the governor is
ready for such a post and can help a lot in regional tourism
particularly his expertise in information and communication or ICT.
“He would do well in
helping the region become an ICT hub. He has done it for the province
of Leyte and with him as chair, he can also contribute to its growth
in other parts of the region,” Mayor Petilla said.
Several other mayors
in Leyte such as newly-elected Javier town mayor Sandy Javier
expressed confidence the governor would be effective as chairman of
the RDC.
His experience and his
performance as a governor in the last two-terms could prove that,
Javier said.
Meanwhile, governors
in Eastern Visayas who recently have grouped together as the Eastern
Visayas Governors League has decided to support and endorse Gov.
Petilla as the next
RDC chair.
Northern Samar
Governor Paul Daza who has been chosen as the president of the EV
Governors League, said that the Leyte governor is the most familiar
among governors on regional issues.
The chairmanship of
the RDC is voted upon by its members and endorsed to the President for
approval and confirmation.
Aside from the
provincial governors, the RDC voting members are the city mayors,
presidents of league of mayors, regional directors of major government
agencies and Private Sector Representatives.
As earlier reported,
Gov. Petilla revealed that he has been encouraged for the RDC
chairmanship even during his second term started in 2007. He likewise
disclosed that he has already made known of this interest to President
Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
The Regional
Development Council serves, among others, as a policy and recommending
body related to programs and projects in the region that needs
support, mostly funding, from the national government.
The Leyte governor, if
his bid is approved, would be succeeding former Calbayog City Mayor
and now Samar First District Representative Mel Sarmiento, who is said
to have made leaps and bounds during his incumbency as
RDC chair from 2007-2010.
Laoang Lady Mayor
institutionalizes anti-poverty initiatives of the national government
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
23, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY – Lady
Mayor Madeleine Mendoza-Ong of Laoang, Northern Samar, is indeed a
champion Mayor.
Under her steadfast
leadership, her municipality has showed other municipalities how every
local government units must align its programs with that of the
national government in order to have synchronized development process.
After the prescribed
three-year implementation of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive
and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) in Laoang,
the Lady Mayor has approved Ordinance No. 130, S.210, firming up its
commitment to adopt the project’s principles and processes.
The KALAHI-CIDSS is
the country’s flagship anti-poverty community development project
being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD).
The ordinance created
the Municipal Coordinating Team of the Municipal Community Driven
Center as an institutional mechanism to ensure the adoption and
sustainability of the completed KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects.
The Ordinance
explicitly stated that even if the project has been completed,
principles and processes will be integrated into the municipal local
government development and planning framework.
By adopting processes
and principles of transparency and accountability inherent in the
KALAHI-CIDSS Community Empowerment Activity Cycle, problems needing
immediate solutions will continue to be identified in the respective
barangays and appropriate funds will be allocated where these are
badly needed. Careful identification need to be done since there are
56 barangays in the municipality.
Selected volunteers
will take the lead in implementing and managing subprojects as well as
see to the operations and maintenance of completed structures.
The ordinance took
effect last June 30, 2010, 15 days after the regular June 15 session of the
Sangguniang Bayan convened by Vice-Mayor Fred Daenaneas. The
legislation was duly approved by Mayor Mendoza-Ong.
Overseeing the
processes and the volunteers will be the responsibility of the
Municipal Coordinating Team under the direct supervision of Mayor
Madeleine Mendoza-Ong.
The team is composed
of one municipal area coordinator, a municipal community driven
development specialist, one technical assistant, one municipal finance
analyst, and two municipal roving bookkeepers. The team is supported
by an administrative staff, utility worker, and one draftsman.
Funding for the
maintenance and operations of the municipal coordinating team was
drawn from the 20 percent Economic Development Fund (EDF).
Available savings from
the General Fund will also be tapped for the team’s operations.
Moreover, in
anticipation of future development projects, Mayor Ong is eyeing for
negotiations with the Development Bank of the
Philippines,
the Municipal Development Fund Office, the PDAF allocation of Rep.
Emil Ong, senators and Party List representatives, small embassy
funds, and funding networks of civil society organizations for funds
that will finance development projects in the barangays.
Local governments must
take their cues from the National Government. They must sustain the
poverty alleviation projects initiated by the National Government by
aligning the same to the local development plans, the Lady Mayor said.
Human rights watchdog
KARAPATAN to P-Noy: Prosecute GMA!
Press Release
By KARAPATAN
July 23, 2010
QUEZON CITY – As
they prepare to echo calls for justice in the mass actions on Pres. Noynoy Aquino’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, members
of the human rights alliance, Karapatan, reiterated calls for the
prosecution of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and all perpetrators of human
rights violations.
In a press conference
this morning, Karapatan chairperson Marie Hilao-Enriquez said that
they demand “a categorical statement that shall make clear what is the
true commitment of the Aquino administration with respect to the
prosecution of Arroyo and all the perpetrators of its bloody human
rights record.”
“P-Noy should not
mince words on the issue of human rights. If his SONA will be
straightforward and he will talk about resolutions and plans, we
demand a concrete answer. Shall he prosecute GMA or not? Can the
victims be assured of justice?” Hilao-Enriquez asked.
Calls for justice and Arroyo’s prosecution echo nationwide
Human rights workers
from the different regions of the country, each having experienced the
lash of the past Arroyo government’s bloody counter-insurgency
campaign Oplan Bantay Laya, said they shall bring forth in their
respective SONA mass actions the victims’ calls for justice and the
prosecution of Arroyo.
Karapatan Eastern
Visayas spokesperson Atty. Kathrina Castillo said they also demand “an
end to the vilification campaign led by the
AFP against activists and ordinary citizens,” as this was used
by the past Arroyo government to legitimize attacks against
progressives. Castillo was herself a victims of numerous threats and
harassment including the military tagging that “she is a lawyer of the
NPA” in their local radio programs.
Meanwhile, Fred Caña,
Secretary General of Karapatan-Negros, said they call for justice for
victims of killings since Aquino took oath as president in the same
weight of calling for justice for the Arroyo government’s victims. “As
in the killing of Fernando Baldomero, the first case of extrajudicial
killing under his term, we will see this as a measurement whether he
is truly serious to end the killings,” Caña said. Baldomero is a Bayan
Muna coodinator and two-term councilor from Lezo, Aklan in the Panay
region.
Fr. Dionito Cabillas,
National Coordinator of SELDA, also said the issue of the more than
300 political prisoners all over the country should be a major concern
for Aquino regarding civil and political rights.
Dennis Abarientos,
Secretary General of Karapatan-Central Visayas added that PNoy must
end the bloody and brutal counter-insurgency campaign, Oplan Bantay
Laya (OBL) I and II, and desist from embarking on a similar program,
as this is one of the reasons for the massive human rights violations
in the country under the GMA administration.
Protests shall continue
Hilao-Enriquez said
they shall continue with a resounding campaign for justice and
Arroyo’s prosecution especially in the Aquino administration.
“We will definitely
push through with the legal actions involved in pursuing justice, to
show that we are more than serious in prosecuting all perpetrators. On
the other hand, we call on all human rights defenders here and abroad
to continue supporting the campaign not only for justice but for a
definite end to the killings, disappearances and all forms of
violations,” she concluded.
Police recovers 18
more bricks of cocaine in Eastern Samar
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July
22, 2010
TACLOBAN CITY –
Eighteen more bricks of suspected cocaine were recovered after two
days of intensive monitoring and search operations versus illegal
drugs conducted by the members of the Anti-illegal Drugs Special
Operations Task Force, Regional Intelligence Division, Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency, K9 Team of the Philippine Coast Guard, Borongan
City Police, and Salcedo Municipal Station in the province of Eastern
Samar.
Philippine National
Police Regionn 8 Director Rey L. Lañada informed that at around 8:30
in the morning of
July 21, 2010, at Barangay Divinubo, Borongan,
Eastern Samar, 16
cocaine bricks were voluntarily surrendered at the Borongan Police
Station.
The PNP Director said
that fourteen (14) cocaine bricks were surrendered by Edwin Doculan,
37 years old; and two other cocaine bricks were turned-over by Edgar
Beros, 50 years old.
This was made possible
through the efforts of the joint elements of Eastern Samar Provincial
Police Office, Borongan Police Station, AIDSOTF, RSOG and RID 8,
Director Lañada said.
Meanwhile, at about
11:00 o’clock in the morning of the same day, two bricks of cocaine
were surrendered by Victor Gana, of legal age of Barangay Burak; and
Antonio Basiides Labay of Barangay San Roque, both of the
municipality
of Salcedo.
This was made possible
through the collective effort of the Salcedo Municipal Police Station
led by Police Inspector Gilberto Colima, AIDSOTF, RID PRO 8, K9 Unit
of the Philippine Coast Guard and PDEA 8 under the supervision of
Eastern Samar Provincial Director Felixberto Castillo.
The surrendered
cocaine bricks are now under the custody of the Eastern Samar Police
Provincial Office, Director Lañada said. The same will be subsequently
turned over to the PNP Crime Laboratory 8 for chemical analysis.
Director Lañada
expressed his gratitude for the all-out support of the local residents
in Borongan and Salcedo, Eastern Samar, in informing and surrendering
the cocaine bricks to the Philippine National Police.
Director Lañada
reiterated his call for the local residents not to sell any illegal
drugs they might recover. If they do that and they are arrested, the
case that would be filed against them will be non-bailable, the good
Director added.
Palo town hall to see
restoration
By
Provincial
Media Relations Center
July 22, 2010
PALO, Leyte – The
old municipal building of the local government here may see to a
restoration instead of a full reconstruction says Mayor Remedios
“Matin” Petilla.
The lady mayor
revealed this plan after speculations that the municipal building of
the town may well be relocated to the
Government
Center
among other regional and provincial offices and the
Leyte ICT Park.
According to Mayor
Petilla, they did thought of the idea to construct a new municipal
building at the Government Center with the provincial government
through Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla giving the nod.
Mayor Petilla said the
present municipal building is more strategically located and more
accessible to her constituents that the idea of transferring the
facility was set aside.
Although, she added
that she agrees with the governor’s idea that the best way to promote
a town is by way of having a “presentable” municipal hall as this is
the first structure that visitors or any other clients look for to
transact or visit.
However, Mayor Petilla
said the building’s historical value and location is more important at
the moment.
Instead, it was
learned that of tearing out the whole two-storey structure that now
houses many of the town’s municipal offices and build a new and modern
one, the LGU is set to restore all its features and would only be
replacing those parts which are dilapidated and badly need repairs.
“We would be sending
in a restoration team as they are the ones who knew better what should
stay, what should be preserved. This is an old building and it has its
own story to tell that we cannot just easily tear it apart and build a
new one,” Mayor Petilla said in an interview.
As a newly elected
chief executive of the town, she disclosed that the Mayor’s Office
were in disarray and noted of old and worn wooden planks at the
building’s second floor.
“There is so much to
repair here, so much to restore that I hope we can all finish it
within the next few years,” Mayor Petilla said.
Already, the
provincial government, she likewise disclosed has prodded Palo
officials to immediately set out their plans and expressed their ready
support for the building’s restoration.
