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VOL. 15 NO. 20 ORMOC CITY P 15.00 at the newsstands JUNE 9-15, 2014

Website address: www.evmailnews.com For feedback/inquiries: e-mail [email protected]

Army, PNP declares Matag-ob

insurgency free

SEE MATAG-OBP. 9

SEEAMBUSH P.

9

NEW OFFICE ADDRESS:

HERMOSILLA DRIVE, ORMOC CITYLandlines: 832-0704 (PLDT); 561-

0809 (Globe)0916-493-8704 (Elvie); 0921-211-9603 (Rosenda); 0918-923-4408

(Lalaine).Email: [email protected] and

[email protected]

Independence Day in Ormoc was a triple celebration

LGU EXECS OF MATAG-OB, LEYTE, ARMY AND PNP OFFICIALSsign a covenant declaring Matag-ob as insurgency

free and maintaining it that way. Standing at the back are the SB members of the town while seated (L-R) 19th IB commander Lt.

Col. Nedy Espulgar, Vice Mayor Michael Torrevillas, Mayor Agustin Pedrano Sr., Col. Dinoh Dolina of the 802nd Infantry Brigade,chief of police Insp. Christopher Pangue, and a representative of Leyte Provincial director Brigido Unay.

... while 3 soldiers die and 8 arewounded in N. Samar clashes

TACLOBAN CITY Three

government trooperswere killed and 6 otherswounded when they wereambushed by an unde-termined number of NewPeoples Army rebels atBrgy. Bugtusan, Las Navas,Northern Samar, aroundlunch of June 10. In a sepa-rate incident, another 2soldiers were wounded, itwas further learned.

Maj. Amado C. Gutier-rez of the 8th Infantry Bat-talion in Camp Maulong,Catbalogan City identiedthose killed in action asPvt. Lino Mahinay, PFC

Jaype Yulas and PFC Al-bert Abolencia. Woundedwere Scout Rangers PFC JayArabening and PFC DexterQuilates of the 2nd ScoutRanger Co; 2Lt. MarcoAbante, Cpl. Ronnie Balas-tas, Pfc Gerry Culaban, PfcDanmar Ching, Pfc MarlonUrbano, Pfc BuenaventuraRaygon of the 34th IB.

The attack is the latestof encounters between gov-

ernment troopers and the

rebels in Northern Samar,where the NPA is said tostill have a strong foothold.

Maj. Gutierrez said theambush happened just 700meters away from the vil-lage poblacion. They wereon security operationswhen a landmine detonatedalong the troopers way. A25-minute gunght ensuedthereafter.

The Army report statesthat they recovered fromthe scene ve improvisedexplosive device (IED),ve electrical blasting caps,1,500 meters electrical wire

and two backpacks.The ambush follows

closely in the heels of threeearlier incidents, also inNorthern Samar. Last June7, Army troopers encoun-tered a company of around50 NPA rebels at Brgy. Paco,at around 4:30 PM. Basedon a report from Lt. Col.

MATAG-OB, LEYTE ThePhilippine Army and thePhilippine National Po-lice has declared the land-locked Matag-ob town asinsurgency free duringthis days 116th Indepen-dence Day celebration.

The joint declarationis a first in the province

of Leyte and befitted thedays celebration, notedvice mayor Michael L. Tor-revillas, who added that thetown has been insurgencyfree for years already.

The closest thing hecan recall about Matag-obhaving peace and orderproblems was at the height

of agrarian related disputes,when the militant farmersgroup SAGUPA (Samahansa mga Gagmayng Parag-uma) attempted to occupyagricultural lands forcibly.This stopped when land-owners fought back andled cases against the farm-ers group, resulting to their

arrests.The declaration was

marked with the signingof a covenant to maintainpeace and order in the mu-nicipality. Mayor Agustin B.Pedrano Sr., vice Mayor Tor-

City councilors danced on stage as GK Bayani Challenge volunteers passed by and did a street dance to express their joy in helping rebuild homes for Leyteos. (L-R) Councilors Roland

Villasencio, Vincent Rama, Bennet Pongos Jr., Ruben Capahi and the emcee .

ORMOC CITY An estimated 3,000 people joined the116th Independence Day parade here which is also therst day of a series of daily and nightly activities thatwould culminate on June 29, the city annual esta inhonor of Sts. Peter and Paul.

It was a triple celebration this year as it was also theAraw ng mga Barangay as well as the culmination ofthe Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge in Leyte, whichthe city hosted this year.

The atmosphere at the city plaza, where the parade

assembled and ended, was festive. Aside from booths anddisplays of various business establishments, a plants andgarden show was opened at the nearby mini-forest.

There was also a Libreng Pagwapo and Pagwapaactivity held at the Superdome nearby. Salon operators andbarbershops, in cooperation with the city social welfare andservices ofce, gave people who lined up for their servicesfree haircuts, manicure, pedicure and even foot spas.

Traditionally, Independence Day in Ormoc is a grandcelebration. This years celebration did not disappoint, de-

spite the city being badly hit by super-typhoon Yolanda.Mayor Edward Codilla urged residents to enjoy the

day.This years esta theme is We Prayed, We Survived.

One City, Moving On. Heading the citys esta executivecommittee is the mayors brother, Edwin, who has hada jingle composed for the 2014 esta.

Titled Padayon Ormocanon (Onward, Ormo-canon), the song emphasizes on how residents prayed,

SEE JUNE 12 P. 9

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2 NEWSJune 9-15, 2014

Leyte SP to probe complaint vs. former PNBmanager for investment scam

Another salvage victim

found

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Ormoc has 43 mentally ill folks,

13 cause by drug abuse

US renews commitment to help Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY (PNA)

- The Sangguniang Panlala-

wigan of Leyte is looking into

complaints hurled against

the former manager of the

Philippine National Bank

(PNB)- Baybay City branch

for allegedly duping bank

clients to invest in the

bank but found out these

were bogus investments upon

maturity.

The former bank manager

is Gabriel Bobby B. Kirong

and the PNB has already issued

notices to the public informing

that he is not longer connected

with the bank and that infor-

mation as to his whereabouts

shall be greatly appreciated.

The SP investigation stems

from a letter-complaint of Dr.

Lydia Palermo sent to them

alleging that she was one of

his victims.

Gabriel D. Kirong

She only found out she

was duped with PNB did not

act on her request to recoup

her investment when it already

reached maturity. PNB said

there was no record of her

so-called transaction with the

bank. Dr. Palermo said that

it was then manager Gabriel

Bobby Kirong of PNB Bay-

bay who personally talked with

her to invest in the bank.

Vice Governor Carlo Lo-

reto said that aside from Dr.

Palermo, there were also other

victims of the alleged scam

from nearby towns like Bato

and Inopacan, Leyte, mostly

government employees.

Board member Atty. Flo-

rante Cayunda Jr. , chair of

the committee on banks and

nancial institution that will

handle the investigation, said

he has already invited ofcials

of the Bangko Sentral ng Pili-

pinas in Tacloban to shed light

on how to go about the matter,

and for the complainant to ap-

pear before the SP in session

on Tuesday.

It was also learned that

PNB officials are already

conducting an investigation

about the matter and has even

freezed the manager of an-

other PNB branch whom they

found out knew about Kirongs

alleged anomalies.

Meanwhile, the SP on

Tuesday approved a resolu-

tion authorizing Governor

Leopoldo Dominico Petilla to

transfer all bank accounts of

the province deposited in PNB

to other banking institutions.

Petilla admitted they were

alarmed of the report and that

they have the right to protect

the provincial governments

money deposited with PNB,

which is why they want to

transfer it to another bank.

As for Kirongs actions,

the governor said PNB must

assure its depositors such will

not happen again. They need

to make an assurance to the

public that this will not happen

again, said Petilla.

TACLOBAN CITY - United

States Agency for Interna-

tional Development (USAID)

Acting Assistant Administra-

tor (AA) for Asia, Denise

Rollins, led the launch of

US-funded reconstruction

and recovery activities in

Typhoon Yolanda-affectedareas.

Accompanied by USAID/Philippines Mission DirectorGloria D. Steele, Rollins vis-ited program sites and engagedwith local leaders and victims

of Yolanda, to personally lendher assurance that USAID willcontinue to help.

Rollins said The U.S.Government is committed tohelp restore normalcy in thelives of the affected families.We will continue our workwith our GPH partners to helpthe province build back better,to be more resilient to futuredisasters, and ultimately work

towards a more stable, pros-perous nation that can achieve

broad-based and inc lusiv egrowth.

Leyte government ofcials

attended the launch ceremo-nies led by Governor DominicL. Petilla, Congressman Mar-tin Romualdez and rehabilita-tion Czar Sec. Panlo Lacson.

An event was held at theSan Fernando Central School,where the U.S. Governmentwill construct a Php21 million(US$480,000) school build-

ing with eight classrooms. Aspar t of USAI Ds Rebuild seducation component, the US

Government will build andfurnish up to 165 classroomsand provide teaching kits. Thiswill be implemented in closecoordination with the Depart-ment of Education to addressthe need for permanent schoolbuildings in Yolanda-affectedareas.

We will also work withthe Department of Health to

construct and rehabilitate upto 10 health facilities. This willinclude the provision of vitalequipment and supplies to ad-

The dignitaries during the USAID Rebuild launching. From left, Leyte governor Dominic Petilla,

USAID mission director Dr. Gloria Steele, PARR Secretary Panlo Lacson, USAID Acting Asst.

Administrator Denise Rollins and Leyte 1st Rep. FM Romualdez.Photo by Mel Caspe

dress the most critical medicalneeds of the affected popula-tion. These new infrastructure

facilities are designed to bemore resilient to the impactsof earthquakes and extremeweather events, added Direc-tor Steele.

It was also learned thatUSAID is also introducingclimate-adaptive technologiesto farmers and fisher folks,which will enable them to pur-sue more lucrative and sustain-able livelihood opportunities.This will be complemented byproduction suppor t, farming

and post-harvest equipment,and support facilities such astrading centers, boat landings,market buildings, warehousesand solar dryers.

The USAID will also beworking with the chambersof commerce and industry ofLeyte and Eastern Visayas,it was further announced. Acomponent was the re-estab-lishment of common servicefacilities and equipment, pro-

vide training on alternativelivelihood and entrepreneur-ship, and improve product de-velopment and market linkageto support small and mediumenterprises and industry as-sociations.

During her visit, Rollins

inaugurated the rst two of the

approximately 1,000 sari-sari

stores that will be constructedand rehabilitated by the U.S.Government and Americanrms, Coca-Cola and Procter

& Gamble.Rollins also witnessed the

signing of a USAID-supportedtwinning agreement on disas-ter risk reduction and manage-ment between the Albay PublicSafety and Management Of-

ce, led by Albay Governor

Joey Salceda, and the provin-cial government of Leyte, led

by Governor Petilla.In the Memorandum of Un-

derstanding, the two provincesagreed to share knowledgeand expertise, and implement

activities such as technicaltrainings and sharing of in-novative technologies andapproaches, scenario drillsand peer reviews of existingplans and activities. USAIDsWater Security for ResilientEconomic Growth and Sta-

bility (Be Secure) Project isfacilitating the twinning. Inaddition, Be Secure is workingto repair and rehabilitate dam-aged water systems in Leyte.

I am glad and thankful forthis partnership with USAID.

In this changing climate, animproved disaster risk re-sponse capacity will help us

bo un ce ba ck imme diat elyfrom the impact of any disasterand increase our capability tobecome more resilient Gov.Petilla said.

Rolllins also visited theDepartment of Health Region-al Health Ofce VIII, where

she commended the dedicationof the health service provid-ers during and after TyphoonYolanda. The U.S. Govern-ment provided solar refrigera-tors to the Tacloban City Main

Health Center immediatelyafter Yolanda to ensure thatthe potency of vaccines forchildren is maintained despitethe absence of a reliable source

of electricity. Six (6) solar re-frigerators were distributed toselected public health facilitiesin Tacloban City and the simi-larly affected municipalitiesof Palo and Tanauan, Leyte,including the Tacloban CityMain Health Center.

Overall, U.S. Governmentsupport is estimated at ap-proximately $142.5 million tohelp the people of the Philip-pines respond to, and recoverfrom, the devastating effects ofTyphoon Yolanda.

BAYBAY CITY- An already decomposing body of a salvage victimwas discovered thrown into the grassy portion of the highway at SitioHicgop, Brgy. Caridad, this city last June 11 (Wednesday).

The body was discovered inside a garbage bag. Police describedthe victim as 57 in height, around 28 to 30 years old, was wearing

black shorts and brown T-shirt when found and had a silver necklacewith a cross pendant.

The victim, when found, was bound with packing tape on his handsand feed and his mouth gagged. He had wounds at the back of hishead and neck but what was used in bashing him is yet unidentied.

PO2 Christopher Baslan, in an interview with media, said they es-timate that the body could have been there for around 3 days already.The body, he said, was already decomposing indicating he has beendead for days already before he was found.

According to the policeman, the body was found by a constructionworker, Allan Monares, at 5:30 in the afternoon of June 11. He waswalking on his way home when he noticed a bad smell emanatingfrom the garbage bag. When he checked what was inside the bag, hesaw the dead body.

Policemen here said they have no clue yet to the identity of the body.

ORMOC CITY- There are 43 people in this city who were reported tohave mental illnesses, this according to the Protection Service Unit(PSU) of the City Social Welfare Development Ofce (CSWDO).

In an interview with a local radio station here, Arlene Sode of thePSU said they have referred said patients to the Eastern Visayas Re-gional Medical Center for consultation and treatment. However, shecannot say if this is the only number of people suffering from variouskinds of mental illnesses in the city.

The patients are brought to the EVRMC on a monthly basis, sheinformed, and they are escorted by a family member.

In the year 2011, a program to give a P 1,500.00 nancial assistanceto families with such patients was launched. The funds come from theCrisis Intervention unit.

From January to June 2014, it was learned there were six whoavailed the nancial assistance.

Sode also stressed on those

from Ormoc City are qualied toget the assistance.The CSWDO also said the

City Health Ofce could also assistthem in the program to take careof the mentally ill. However, it hasbeen many years now that theCHO could not help the patientsbecause of the lack of a psychia-trist and needed medicines.

It was further learned thatof the 43 mentally incapacitatedpeople, 13 are directly linked todrug abuse and the youngestvictim is 15 years old.

Drug cartels have taken the

drivers seat, training our

youngmen and women on how best

to self destruct, while the

larger

community watches on

helplessly as these bands of

renegades lead

our people towards the path

of self annihilation

Oche Otorkpa, The

Unseen Terrorist

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3June 9-15, 2014 NEWS

NGCP gives Javier town 2 classroomsTACLOBAN CITY (PNA)

- The National Grid Cor-

poration of the Philippines

(NGCP) on Tuesday (June

10) turned over to the

Department of Education(DepEd) a two-classroom

building in Caranhug Pri-

mary School at the mu-

nicipality of Javier, Leyte.

Ryan Aasco, principal

specialist, Corporate Af-

fairs Department of the

NGCP, said that the newly

constructed school building

will allow the young ones

of the town to nish their

studies and uplift their lives.

The school building,

costing P1.3-million, can

accommodate 120 students.

The building, he said, was

constructed to be able to ac-

commodate the increasing

number of enrollees for this

school year.The students also received

school supplies from the

NGCP following the projects

blessing and formal turnover.

We are very thankful for

the opportunity given to us in

helping the Caranhug Primary

School, especially the stu-

dents, Aasco added.

The Don Orestes Romual-

dez Electric Cooperative, Inc.

also donated blackboards to

each classroom that the NGCP

constructed.

Through its Corporate So-

cial Responsibility Program,

Aasco said that the NGCP

has been providing develop-

ment assistance to its host

communities.In fullling our commit-

ment to the Filipino people

and as part of their corporate

social responsibility program,

education is one of NGCPs

advocacy, Aasco said.

Among the VIPs who attendedwere DORELCO manager Atty.

Emmanuel Sao; NGCPs RyanAnasco, Corporate Principal

Specialist; and Maria EdnaPajaron-Legaspina, Division

Head, Visayas Corporate Affairs.

DARs farm-to-market road reduces fare intransporting goods from P 60 to P 20

Third warmest May on record might portend record-setting El NioMAY 2014 was the third warmest May in the 35-year satellite-

measured global temperature record, and the warmest May

that wasnt during an El Nio Pacic Ocean warming event,

according to Dr. John Christy, a professor of atmospheric

science and director of the Earth System Science Center at

The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The global average temperature for May was 0.33 C (about

0.59 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than seasonal norms for the

month. The warmest May was in 1998, during the El Nio of

the century. Temperatures in May 1998 were 0.56 C (about 1.0

degrees F) warmer than normal. May 2010 -- also an El Nio

month -- was second warmest at 0.45 C (0.81 degrees F).While May 2014 was not ofcially an El Nio month, in-

dications are that an El Nio is forming in the eastern central

Pacic off the equatorial coast of South America. Even if that

El Nio is nothing spectacular, it might become a record setter

simply because it is getting a warmer start, Christy said. The

long-term baseline temperature is about three tens of a degree (C)

warmer than it was when the big El Nio of 1997-1998 began,

and that event set the one-month record with an average global

temperature that was 0.66 C (almost 1.2 degrees F) warmer than

normal in April 1998.

January through August of 1998 are all in the 14 warmest

months in the satellite record, and that El Nio started when

global temperatures were somewhat chilled; the global average

temperature in May 1997 was 0.14 C (about 0.25 degrees F)

cooler than the long-term seasonal norm for May.

With the baseline so much warmer, this upcoming El Nio

wont have very far to go to break that 0.66 C record, Christy

said. That isnt to say it will, but even an average-sized warming

event will have a chance to get close to that level.

Compared to seasonal norms, the coldest place in Earths

atmosphere in May was over the northern Pacic Ocean, where

temperatures were as much as 2.08 C (about 3.74 degrees

Fahrenheit) cooler than seasonal norms. Compared to seasonal

norms, the warmest departure from average in May was along

the western border of Kazakhstan. Temperatures there were as

much as 4.18 C (about 7.52 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer thanseasonal norms.

As part of an ongoing joint project between UAH, NOAA

and NASA, Christy and Dr. Roy Spencer, an ESSC principal

scientist, use data gathered by advanced microwave sounding

units on NOAA and NASA satellites to get accurate temperature

readings for almost all regions of the Earth. This includes remote

desert, ocean and rain forest areas where reliable climate data

are not otherwise available.

The satellite-based instruments measure the temperature of

the atmosphere from the surface up to an altitude of about eight

kilometers above sea level. Once the monthly temperature data

is collected and processed, it is placed in a public computer

le for immediate access by atmospheric scientists in the U.S.

and abroad.

Neither Christy nor Spencer receives any research support or

funding from oil, coal or industrial companies or organizations,

or from any private or special interest groups. All of their climate

research funding comes from federal and state grants or contracts.

Global Temperature Report: May 2014

Global climate trend since Nov. 16, 1978: +0.14 C per

decade

May temperatures (preliminary)

Global composite temp.: +0.33 C (about 0.59 degrees

Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for May.

Northern Hemisphere: +0.33 C (about 0.59 degrees

Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for May. Southern Hemisphere: +0.33 C (about 0.59 degrees

Fahrenheit) above 30-year average for May.

Tropics: +0.17 C (about 0.31 degrees Fahrenheit) above

30-year average for May.

April temperatures (revised):

Global Composite: +0.19 C above 30-year average

Northern Hemisphere: +0.36 C above 30-year average

Southern Hemisphere: +0.02 C at 30-year average

Tropics: +0.09 C at 30-year average

(All temperature anomalies are based on a 30-year average

(1981-2010) for the month reported.).Story Source: The above

story is based on materials provided by University of Alabama

Huntsville.(ScienceNews)

DAR-8 Regional Director Sheila Enciso (6th from right) and Kananga Mayor

Elmer Codilla (4th from left) cut the ceremonial ribbon during the turnover of

the concreted 3.8-kilometer farm-to-market road. Also in photo are Provincial

Agrarian Reform Program Ofcer Melecia Ong (5th from left), Municipal

Agrarian Reform Program Ofcer Mae Barbara Almeria (extreme left) and

Barangay Chair Clarita Cuizon (4th from right).Photo by JASoria

SEE DAR FMR P. 9

KANANGA, LEYTE The Department of

Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over to the lo-

cal government unit (LGU) the concreted 3.8

kilometer farm-to-market road in Barangay

Masarayao here.

Residents of the farming community are

elated because the road has effectively reduced

the transport cost of their goods from P 60.00 to

only P 20.00.

DAR Regional Director Sheila Enciso said

that the road concreting project, which connects

the national highway to Sitio Toril where the

plantations of the renowned Queen Pineapple

are located, is the second project implemented

under the Agrarian Reform Community Project

(ARCP-2). The rst one was the farm-to-market

road in Javier town which was turned over last

year.

Enciso added that 30 percent of the total

project cost of P21.2-million was loaned from

the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while 45

percent or P9.5-million came f rom the LGU as

the latters equity. The 25 percent or P5.3-million

was shouldered by the ofce of President thru

the National Government Assistance to LGUs

(NGALGU).

Mayor Elmer Codilla, in his acceptance speech, reminisced

how their municipality nearly missed out getting project because

of the high equity asked from them. Originally, he said, the LGU

was supposed to shoulder 70 percent of the project cost. But

thanks to NGALGU, our share was reduced, Codilla narrated

Barangay Chairwoman Clarita Cuizon, on the other hand,

said the concrete road has made the transport of their produce

easy and less expensive. She said fare from their barangay to

Ormoc City which is just 19 kilometers away, where they sell

TACLOBAN CITY (PNA) - The Ofce of the Presidential

Assistant on Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) has al-

ready sent technical people to assist local government units

(LGUs) that are yet to submit their Yolanda rehabilitation

plan.

While four local government units (LGUs) are done with

their master rehabilitation plan, Secretary Panlo Lacson said

that other affected LGUs are yet to submit their rehab plan and

program of works.

He said that they utilized portion of a grant from the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID), upon

clearance from the latter, to capacitate local chief executives

(LCEs) that dont have much expertise in coming up with theabove-mentioned documents.

On Monday, he disclosed that Eastern Samar has already

submitted while they await the documents from Biliran, Antique

and Aklan, among others.

Meanwhile, a pre-cabinet meeting is slated in Manila this

Friday to look into the rehabilitation plans of Tacloban City,

Cebu, Leyte and Western Samar prior to the approval of President

Benigno S. Aquino.

He emphasized that funds are available at the Department

of Budget and Management (DBM) that will be downloaded

right away once rehab plans are approved by President Aquino.

Lacson added they are very cautious with their gures be -

cause the President is very strict when it comes to disbursement

of funds.

The secretary estimated that the delivery will be one week

after the June 15 target but they are still on track citing that it is

always better to be at the side of caution.

Lacson sends technical peopleto help LGUs on rehab plans

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Weddinganniversaries

LALAINE MARCOS-JIMENEAPublisher/Editor-in-Chief

JOSE SANRO C. JIMENEABusiness Manager

Correspondents/ Columnists:

PAUL LIBRES, MUTYA COLLANDER, JHAY GASPAR, TED MARCOS, IVY CONG-SON, DR. MANUEL K. PALOMAR, Ph.D., VICKY C. ARNAIZ, JUAN MERCADO, JTDELOS ANGELES, ATTY. BEULAH COELI FIEL, RICARDO MARTINEZ, JR., FR.ROY CIMAGALA,, ATTY. CARLO LORETO, ATTY. EMMANUEL GOLO, ADELINACARRENO, IIGO LARRAZABAL, YONG ROM, PROF. EDITHA CAGASAN

KEN ENECIO

Section Editor

with MAI-MAI T. VELASQUEZ,GILBERT ABAO, EMIE CHU, DR. GERRY

PENSERGA, NIKKI TABUCANON SIA

Cartoonist:HARRY TEROWebsite address:http://www.evmailnews.comemail: [email protected] [email protected]

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& ROSENDA CELIZ (Ormoc Ofce)

Authorized Representatives:

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(Balangiga, E. Samar) MARITESSMASENDO (Hilongos) CHARISA

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INSTITUTE

The tougher sex

The backlash ofpatronage politics

SEE FR. ROY P. 9SEE MERCADO P. 5

4 June 9-15, 2014

SEEVIEW FROM ORMOCP. 5

WOMEN DOMINATED the headlines this

week. Two women members of President Be-

nigno Aquinos cabinet, plus a Commission

on Audit ofcer, whod been repeatedly by-

passed, were conrmed by the Commission

on Appointments (CA). But not before the

CA itself was severely trounced for political

partiality.

The three were Justice Secretary Leila

De Lima, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon

Soliman and Commission on Audits Heidi

Mendoza. Environment Secretary Ramon Paje

also got the CAs nod, despite Senator Sergio

Osmenas no vote.

No member of the CA objected when sepa-rate motions were made to endorse the conr-

mation of COA commissioners Heidi Mendoza

and Jose Fabia. Mendozas term will expire on

February 2, 2018

That vote reect reactions from readers of

my column Wishbone or Backbone. Om-

budsman Conchita Carpio Morales didnt dally

for the standing ovation that erupted after she

hauled, into the anti-graft court, Senators Juan

Ponce Enrile, Bong R and Jinggoy Estrada.

She lodged an urgent petition with the Supreme

Court: Please create two special divisions, in the

antigraft court, to conduct, without break, trial

of the pork barrel scam.

Other women who towered include

housewife Corazon Aquino who sent a d icta-

tor packing.

People Power 1 installed Cory as the11th - and rst woman - president. She reestab-

lished constitutional government, served with

integrity, oversaw peaceful transition of power

and returned to her modest Times Street home.

Cecilia Muoz Palma (1913-2006) was the

rst woman Supreme Court justice. She didnt

buckle when male colleagues surrendered to

Marcos the 12th-century prerogative of courts

to rule on habeas corpus pleas. She ayed the

farcical Citizens Assemblies.

Presidential Commission on Good Govern-

ment Haydee Yorac recovered $683-million

from Marcos Swiss bank accounts. Senior

vice president of Equitable-PCI Bank Clarissa

Ocampo refused to certify a P500-million loan

when President Joseph Estrada signed as Jose

Velarde.

Women who hew to principles and refuseto be cowed includes todays Justice Secretary

Leila de Lima, Commission on Audits Grace

Pulido Tan and Heidi Mendoza, Social Welfare

Secretary Dinky Soliman and Internal Revenue

Commissioner Kim Henares, we wrote before

the CA vote... Here are some reader reactions:

We need more women with integrity and

fortitude to balance out the likes of Imelda

Marcos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, emailed

jgj1019. Women of this kind. Priceless re-

ally, said Rational and Objective. Most of

these Commission on Appointment members

weigh in with their personal grudges rather than

looking into the competency of the candidates,

commented Ganymede.Who in the CA blocked the appointment

of Heidi Mendonza, De Lima and Soliman?,

asked Phil Cruz. Publish the names of object-

ing senators and Congressmen and how they

vote each time. This is getting to be a big joke.

These politicians reasons and logic must be

exposed to public scrutiny. Jinggoy Estrada,

who else?, replied Engineer Leonor Lagsca

from Iloilo.

Thanks to these bright, courageous and

principled women, wrote Virgo Yap. They are

not only women with the golden hearts but they

are women who will surely bring our country

to a very promising future. Domingo Reyes Jr

chimed in: I salute these women of principles,

courage and substance. May their (tribe) grow

in the government service.

You are right, Eirons 1043 commented- Conchita Carpio Morales, Leila de Lima,

Kim Henares, Heidi Mendoza, Grace Padaca

of Comelec and Grace Pulido-Tan are excel-

lent female appointees of P-Noy. I hope these

women win Senate seats to bring back honor

in the Senate. I hope Pnoy appoints also Rep.

Leni Robredo of Bicol to complete the cast.

And for every noble Filipina, you have

Gloria, Spidekick commented. I just hope

there will never be a G L O R I A, added Eelap

I think the reason why our public servants

have turned to shenanigans is because they have

abandoned poetry and music, claims Cogito-

728sum. All they can think about is pick up

the phone and say Hello Garci! By how many

millions would I win? Or perhaps, Hello Janet,

how many millions did you transfer to my bank

account today?

ITS always a cause for joy when a couple

decides to celebrate their wedding an-

niversary and asks for a renewal of their

marriage vows in the Holy Mass. I nd that

gesture very meaningful. Denitely it goes

beyond mere social expectations, since there

is actually no obligation for them to do that.

Besides, the whole affair usually entails a lot

of inconveniences.

It must be more because they know they

have lived their marriage as best as they could.

And even if there had been many trials and dif-

culties, and even mistakes and failures, they

managed to go through it all in a way that is

not just a matter of luck but more a matter ofreliance on Gods grace and many blessings, as

well as faith in their own powers.

Every time I have the chance to take part

in these celebrations, I always see the couples

very thankful to God and to many others who

may have helped them in some way. I dont

think they do it to show off. When they again

say their I dos, I cant help but notice the

tone of greater sincerity, meaningfulness and

fulllment.

I dont think they feel like they are mere

survivors of a long plight of suffering, though

suffering they must have experienced quite a

lot. They look more like beaming victors who

feel blessed and privileged to have gone through

the drama of married and family life with their

love not only intact, but rather growing and

prospering.As they look back on their years of marriage,

they must feel how they have proven the verac-

ity of their commitment to have and to hold,

from this day forward, for better, for worse, for

richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until

death do us part.

Through those years, they must have raised

children and faced the complex and complicated

responsibility of bringing them up, educating

and forming them into mature persons and

Christians. They must have faced all kinds of

tests ranging from the physical to the spiritual

and moral, from the nancial to the emotional.

Through it all, they have managed to remain

rm to their commitment and must have expe-

rienced rst-hand the wonders of Gods grace

working in them, to which they also much have

tried to correspond as faithfully as possible.They must have been convinced that the whole

thing is more the making of God than theirs.

All they did was simply to remain faithful in

spite of whatever.

Yes, there could have been mistakes, failures

and lack of correspondence, but in the end, they

managed to go past them, even making them the

concrete occasions to develop virtues and other

qualities that have been missing in the beginning

of their married life.

I usually ask the couples why they decided

to celebrate their anniversary with a renewal

of their marriage vows in the Holy Mass, and I

also usually get a good, earnest and spontane-

ous answer. All this comes from God, is their

more or less standard reply.

This is true, and is worth spreading around.

Its the good news that should warm the hearts

BEFORE ANYTHING else, I would like to

extend my condolences to Irma Sumaljag-

Tagabucba of the City Court for the death

of her husband, Jongjong. Jongjong used

to write for the EV Mail before he joined

Ormoc Cable. He was bedridden for quite a

time and I read on a Facebook post by media

colleague Kimberly Urboda about his passing

away. May Jongjong nd rest and peace in

the bosom of God.rrr

Here is also something heartwarming from

the Jimmy Elorde who contributed last weeks

article on Butnga Falls at Villaba, who admitted

to having nose bleed writing about it.

Good day Miss Lalaine! Salamat kaayo

sa imo article about Butnga Falls sa Villaba.

Nasurprise ko gahapon kay samtang nag-parade

mi, a certain Joy & Honey of Insular Life- Or-

moc txt me yesterday morning asking for tour

guides to Butnga Falls once they arrive. Luck-

ily for them, they were accompanied by Noy

Eting, our barangay tanod. While me and my

ofcemates, nagsabot nga muapas nila after

our Independence Day parade in Villaba town.

Mao to nagkita mi nila didto na sa Busay Tres.

I am happy meeting new friends like them. Gani

gihatag nila sa akua ang EV Mail newspaper nga

ila gida. Thank you so much Miss Lalaine and

to all EVmail staff. More power!

To Jimmy, I should thank you more. Your

guts in writing the details of your beautiful wa-

terfalls was admirable. Others fear that if they

think they cannot write well, it would not see

print. The EV Mail puts a premium on tourism

and human-interest stories. I hope your experi-

ence would encourage others to also try contrib-

uting stories that they think should see print.rrr

I was in Calbayog City Friday and Saturday

to attend the 4th Eastern Visayas Chamber of

Commerce and Industry Business Conference.

We just returned this morning, arriving in Or-

moc at around 11:00 AM. The trip was six hours

long, including a breakfast stop at Jollibee in

Tacloban. I am exhausted.

So that instead of writing tons of stories

about the conference, I would like to write about

former Calbayog Mayor and now congressman

Mel Senen Sarmiento, who was hailed during

our conference as Eastern Visayas champion.

He was not only a good speaker but the

congressman made sense.

This years conference theme was Rebuild-

ing Eastern Visayas and his talked revolved

around it. He spoke a breadth of issues affect-

ing the country and how rebuilding in Eastern

Visayas is going on, from their vantage point

in Congress.

But one thing that struck me was his candid

statement that rebuilding efforts in EV and other

Yolanda-affected areas was being slowed down,

not because of the lack of interest from the na-

tional government, but because of the lack of

competence of the people on the ground.

He said this was the backlash of patronage

politics, of political leaders like mayors hiring

inept people who do not even know how to

prepare program of works.

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PEOPLE, PLACE6

WAND Foundation trains bunkhouse residentsa few tricks in veggie, swine growingORMOC CITY 30 residents of the temporary bunkhouses

at Brgy. Concepcion, this city, were given training over theweekend on how to grow crops and tend to livestock despite

limited space by the WAND Foundation or the Water, Agro-

Forestry, Nutrition and Development Foundation.

Dr. Elmer Sayre, a professor of the Xavier University and thehead of WAND, personally led the training which he said wasthe rst batch of residents in the said bunkhouses.

During the training, Dr. Sayre showed the bunkhouseresidents how they can do container gardening and even onbamboos, whether vertically or horizontally. He also showedthem how they can raise hogs in a small space, without the smellbothering their neighbors.

The hogs are raised on small pens where the ooring is made

of one-meter deep rice hull or ipa. He said the rice husksneutralizes the odor of the hogs refuse and will not bother theneighbors.

WAND has been operating in various areas of Albuera town,even in Tacloban City. Now, Dr. Zayre said, they are doing a skillstransfer to residents in the bunkhouses who might be stayingthere for a longish time yet, because their permanent relocationsites have yet to be built.

The small vegetable gardens and swine projects, he said,will not only feed the beneciaries but also give them income.

By Paul Libres

Photos on top show Dr. Elmer Sayre as he teaches the

beneciaries how to grow vegetable on bamboos split in half.

Below, a kamote patch using a used container and right, a

sample of a pig pen lined with rice hull.

TACLOBAN CITY (PNA) -

This years celebration of the

116th Independence Day of

the country was a bitter but

sweet event for Leyteos,

according to Leyte Gov. Leo-

poldo Dominic Petilla.

It was bitter because many

lives and properties had been

lost during the devastation of

typhoon Yolanda and yet

it was also sweet as people

become united to stand again

after falling and continue re-

building their lives, Petilla said

in his message during a simple

Freedom Day celebration heldat the provincial capitol ground

on Thursday morning.

More than seven months

since the province was devas-

tated by Yolanda last Novem-

ber, Petill a said that people

have slowly battled odds with

help from the international

community whose presence

is still felt in Yolanda-affected

areas and from the national

government.

Independence is tough

war to fight, like what had

happened during World War

II where we fought for our

freedom. What happened dur-

ing typhoon Yolanda was webecame prisoners of trauma

that made us incapable to do

things that we used to do,

said Petilla.

But with the help of in-

ternational communities and

other individuals, recovery

of typhoon survivors in the

province is comparatively fast

if compared to other countries

that were affected by disasters

and calamities, he added.

In his message, he ex-

pressed his thanks and grati-

Gov. Petilla says this years Independence

Day a bitter but sweet eventtude to all organizations thathelped in the rebuilding, reha-

bilitation and recovery effort

for Yolanda victims in the

province.

Petilla noted the observa-

tions of United Nations of-

cials who lauded the resiliency

of Filipinos after each and

every disaster and calamity,

saying a few weeks after the

typhoon, people had started

to rebuild their houses, went

back to work and looked for

livelihood, unlike in other

countries that some eight years

had already passed but theirpeople were still in the transi-

tion phase.

The resiliency of Leyteos

play an important role in the

fast recovery of the people

even though there are still pres-

ences of typhoon Yolandas

devastation in some parts of

the province, Petilla said.

My thought is of hope that

we can make our lives even

better before the typhoon and

this celebration gives us cour-

age to go on for an extra mile

in these unusual circumstances

and make things better for us

again, he added.

He also called on Leyteos

to work together toward attain-

ing freedom against hunger,poverty and threa ts in their

respective community.

Leyte governor Dominic Petilla is anked on the left by Nonie Balintong, President of the Provincial AssocGovernment Employess (PAGE) and on the left by Sr. Supt. Bregido Unay, Leyte PNP Provincial Director

the wreathlaying and ag-raising ceremony on Thursdays Independence Day rites.

ACTRESS SHAINA Magda-

yao and friends who co-own

SMILE, an events company,

were in Ormoc City recently

to bring cheers to some 250

pupils of the Ipil Elementary

School.

The group worked through

the ofce of Rep. Lucy Torres-

Gomez and Vice-Mayor LeoCarmelo Locsin Jr. and gave

away school bags and supplies,

aside from treating the kids to a

Jollibee lunch and a fun morn-

ing with a Challenge Island

Outplay. Also present was

city councilor Vince Rama.

In an interview with Ch-

esca Tenerio, one of SMILEs

incorporators, it was learned

that the group had recently

franchised Challenge Island

and the visit to Ormoc was an

outreach project.

Shaina, SMILE group brings laughter to Ipil kids

She

their Or

Tacloba

and the

to Cebu

The

introduc

ing was

where e

land the

their is

She

therapy

them f

Yoland

pa tie ncvative

analytic

It w

incorpo

Cayeta

of Sena

Cayeta

Afte

group p

nao for

Locsin

his SP

plantin

8/12/2019 June 9 - 15, 2014 Layout

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& Happenings 7

Be an EV Mail

Contributor!Share to us your experiences, places youve gone

and travelled. Let us see the world with youreyes.

Our People, Places and Happenings page is foryour adventures, milestones and important mo-

ments.Send your stories and pictures of things and

events you think should see print!Email to [email protected] and/or ormoc-

[email protected]

Republic of the PhilippinesProvince of Leyte

Sangguniang Panlalawigan

Greetings of Peace and Love!

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte extends its felicitations to the Great People of Baybay on the occasion of its 7thCharter DayAnniversary.

We stand by the LGU officials and the good people of Baybay whom they work for and represent.

This 7thyear of Baybay as a city is a fitting tribute to the sacrifices and hard work of those who built the Baybay we now cherish andlive in and to the many men and women who continue to join us in our journey towards a more prosperous, vibrant and justcommunity of visionaries.

God bless Baybay, the Baybayanons and the many good things it has come to mean forus all. Mabuhay!

ATTY. CARLO P. LORETO

Vice Governor

The Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte

Hon. Ranulfo S. Abellanosa Hon. Florante CayundaHon. Gina E. Merilo Hon. Emmanuel L. Gacis1stDistrict 5thDistrict

Hon. Anlie G. Apostol Hon. Margarita C. CariHon. Niccolo J. Villasin Liga ng mga Barangay President2ndDistrict

Hon. Wilson S. UyHon. Alan P. Ang Philippine Councilors League PresidentHon. Ma. Mimietta S. Bagulaya3rdDistrict Atty. Manuel A. Cadano

Secretary to the SanggunianHon. Deborah BertulfoHon. Mesias P. Arevalo

4thDistrict

ation ofduring

aid that the day before

oc visit, they were in

for a similar activity

r next hop would be

.

challenge they were

ing the kids that morn-

the copter challenge

ach kid would try to

ir paper helicopters on

lands.

said this was a play

for the kids to help

rget the trauma of

, while teaching them

e, discipline, inno-ess and even to be

al.

s also learned that an

ator of SMILE is Ren

o, the youngest brother

ors Pia and Alan Peter

o.

r their Ipil leg, the

oceeded to Lake Da-

unch, where VM Toto

Jr. showed the group

Green Initiative of

trees at the denuded

ALBUERA, LEYTE A small school in the mountain

barangay of Mahayahay in Albuera, Leyte was cho-

sen as Best Brigada Implementor (District Level)

during last months Brigada Eskwela 2014 that

kicked off May 19-24, 2014.

Teacher-in-charge Evelyn del Prado said she isvery happy with the citation, saying she cannot do itwithout the help of the schools Parent-Teacher Com-munity Association and the private groups that cameto help.

She said the private entities included the M. Lhuil-lier, OPEC Leyte Movers, the Alpha Sigma Epsilonfraternity, the Foursquare Gospel Church. The Philip-pine Army also helped them a lot, she said.

The cooperation of the private and public groupshelped restore the school and made it ready for theopening, she added. She is very thankful to them,saying that all they can do to show their gratitude is toassure them the teachers in the school will do their bestto impart knowledge and skills to their pupils.

Mahayahay, Albuera ES chosen Best Brigada Implementor

Photos show the Brigada Eskwela at theMahayahay ES. Top photo left shows theM.Lhullier group opening a can of paint.Middle: A volunteer picks up a tool to startworking. Righmost, another volunteertakes care of varnishing the armchairswhile bottom right, another one paints theseats. Last photo shows teacher Evelyndel Prado painting a bulletin board.

8/12/2019 June 9 - 15, 2014 Layout

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8 NOTICES June 9-15, 2014

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Transportation andCommunications

Regional Ofce No. VIII

Ormoc CityCASE NO. VIII-2014 2559

Application for Reconstitution ofRecords of a Certicate of P ublic

Convenience to operate a FILCAB

service.With prayer to adopt trade name.

MA. ANGELINA V.BOHOLSTApplicant/s

x----------------xNOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant is a grantee of a Cer-

ticate of Public Convenience to operatea FILCAB service for the transportationof passengers and freight on the route:ORMOC PUERTOBELLO & VICEVERSA, with the use of ONE (1) unit/swhich Certicate is still valid and subsist-ing up to JULY 26, 2018.

In the present application, ap-plicant request authority for reconstitutionof records of the said certicate on the

same route, with the use of the samenumber of unit/s.

NOTICE is hereby given that thisapplication will be heard by this Board onSEPTEMBER 17, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. atthe above address.

At least Ten (10) days prior to theabove date, applicant/s shall publish thisNotice once in one (1) daily newspaper ofgeneral circulation in Visayas.

This application will be actedupon by this Board on the basis of itsrecords and documentary evidence sub-mitted by the parties, unless the Boarddeems it necessary to receive additionaldocumentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable AR-THUR L. SAIPUDIN, Regional Director,this 13TH day of JUNE, 2014.(Sgd.) GUALBERTO N. GUALBERTO

Clerk of BoardCopy furnished:

Applicant/s : MA. A. BOHOLST,PUROK 9, LINAO, ORMOC CITY

Counsel for applicant/S: ATTY.

N.M.SIA; Avenida Veteranos St.,Tacloban City

EV Mail June 9-15, 2014

rrrRepublic of the PhilippinesDepartment of Transporta-

tion and CommunicationsRegional Ofce No. VIII

Ormoc City

CASE NO. VIII-2014 2061Application for Issuance of a

Certicate of Public Convenience tooperate a FILCAB service.

With prayer to adopt tradename.

SHERWIN S. ORION

Applicant/sx----------------x

2nd NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant request authority forthe issuance of a Certicate of Public

Convenience to operate a FILCAB forthe transportation of passengers andfreight on the line: TACLOBAN PHHC-DIIT & VICE VERSA, with the use ofONE (1) unit.

In the present application, ap-plicant request authority for reconstitutionof records of the said certicate on thesame route, with the use of the samenumber of unit/s.

NOTICE is hereby given that thisapplication will be heard by this Boardon JUNE 25, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. at theabove address.





REPUBLIKA NG PILIPINASSANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD

LUNGSOD NG ORMOCEXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE

REGULAR SESSION OF THE THIRTEENTH SANG-GUNIANG PANLUNGSOD NG ORMOC HELDSANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD SESSION HALL,ORMOC CITY HALL BUILDING ON JUNE 03, 2014IN LIEU OF JUNE 05, 2014PRESENT:Hon. Leo Carmelo L. Locsin, Jr. Vice Mayor& Presiding Ofcer

Hon. Rolando M. Villasencio, SP Member, MajorityFloor LeaderHon. Tomas R. Seraca, SP Member, Asst. Ma-

jority Floor LeaderHon. Mario M. Rodriguez, SP Member, PresidingOfcer Pro-TemporeHon. Ruben R. Capahi, SP Member, Asst. Mi-nority Floor LeaderHon. Benjamin S. Pongos, Jr., SP MemberHon. Antonio M. Codilla, SP MemberHon. Vincent L. Rama, SP MemberHon. Pedro Godiardo P. Ebcas,SP. MemberHon. Mariano Y. Corro, Ex-Ofcio SP MemberChapter President, Liga ng mga Barangay ng OrmocON LEAVE:Hon. Eusebio Gerardo S. Penserga, SP MemberABSENT:Hon. Nepomuceno P. Aparis I, (Deceased),SP Member Minority Floor Leader

PREFATORY STATEMENTTHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10068 otherwise

known as Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 was

enacted by the Senate and House of Representativesof the Philippines for the purpose of promoting,propagating and implementing the practice or OrganicAgriculture in the Philippines.

WHEREAS, there shall be a comprehensive pro-gram for promotion of a community based OrganicAgriculture systems in Ormoc City.

WHEREAS, promoting and supporting organicproducts as a high value crop will redound to thebenet of the farmers.

WHEREAS, the Organic Agriculture practiceminimizes the health risk to farmers by not beingexposed to toxic and hazardous chemicals used infertilizer and pesticides that are present in conven-tional farming;

WHEREAS, there is a need to promote overallfood and nutrition security in our city;

WHEREAS, there is a need to promote sustain-able agriculture with the necessary package of publicinvestments made available;

WHEREAS, policy direction and incentives mustbe provided to our small farmers engaging in OrganicAgriculture;

WHEREFORE, FOREGOING PREMISES CON-SIDERED, on motion of Honorable SP Member TomasR. Sereca, Chairman, Commimttee on Agriculture &Fisheries, severally sconded by Honorable SP Mem-bers Eusebio Gerardo S. Penserga, Mariano Y. Corro,Antonio M. Codilla, Pedro Godiardo P. Ebcas andVincent L. Rama; be it.

ORDINANCE NO. 007AN ORDINANCE ENACTING THE ORMOC

CITY ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ORDINANCEOF 2014.

BE IT ORDAINED by the Thirteenth Sanggu-niang Panlungsod ng Ormoc in Session assembled,THAT:

SECTION 1. TITLE This ordinance shall beknown and cited as the Ormoc City Organic Agri-culture Ordinance of 2014:

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. It ishereby declared the policy of the City to promote,propagate, develop further and implement thepractice of Organic Agriculture in the City that willcumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the

soil, increase farm productivity, reduce pollution anddestruction of the environment, prevent the deple-tion of natural resources, further protect the healthof farmers, consumers and the general public, andhave program for the promotion of community-basedOrganic Agriculture systems which include, amongothers, farmer produced purely organic fertilizerssuch as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs,together with a citywide educational and promotionalcampaign for their use and processing, as well as theadoption of Organic Agriculture system as a viablealternative shall be undertaken.

SECTION 3. DECLARATION OF RPINCIPLES.To guide the implementation of this ordinance thepractice of Organic Agriculture shall adhere to thefollowing principles;

a. Organic Agriculture does not co-exist withthe genetically modied crops, chemically producedcrops and related organisms;

b. All existing policies on agriculture in theCity Government should adopt and integrate allaspects of Organic Agriculture;

c. The integrity of organic products throughthe approved organic certication process and or-ganic production, handling and processing standardsshould be ensured; and

d. Integration of Organic Agriculture in thebasic education agriculture subjects in all levels inpublic and private schools.

SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF TERMS. Asdened in this ordinance, the following words shallmean;

a. Accreditation is the procedure by whicha government agency having jurisdiction formallyrecognizes the competence of an inspection and/orcertication body to provide inspection and certica-tion services.

b. Agricultural Waste shall refer to waste gen-erated from planting or harvesting of crops, trimmingor pruning of plants and waste or run-off materialsfrom farms or elds.

c. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life.This can refer to genetic variation, species variation,or ecosystem variation with an area.

d. Certifi cation is the procedure by whichofcial certication bodies or ofcially recognizedcertication bodies provide written or equivalent as-surance that foods or food control systems conformto the requirements.

e. City shall refer to Ormoc City.f. Composting shall refer to the controlled

decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms,mainly by bacteria and fungi into a humus-like prod-

uct.g. Endemic/Indigenous would mean plant or

animal native to a certain area;h. Organic refers to the particular farming and

processing systems, described in the standards and notin the classical chemical sense. The term Organicis synonymous in other languages to biological orecological. It is also a labeling term that denotesproducts considered organic based on the PhilippineNational Standards for Organic Agriculture.

i. Organic Agriculture includes all agricul-tural systems that promote the ecologically sound,socially acceptable, economically viable and techni-cally feasible production of food and bers. OrganicAgriculture dramatically reduces external inputsby refraining from the use of chemical fertilizers,pesticides and pharmaceuticals. It also covers areassuch as, but not limited to, soil fertility management,varietal breeding and selection under chemical andpesticide free conditions.

j. Organic Center shall refer to a place ownedby the government or private entities that showcases

and promotes varied organically raised products.k. Organic Gene/Seed Bank shall refer to astorage area of organically raised seeds that couldsupply and produce these indigenous seeds to farm-ers.

l. Small Farmers include all marginal andsub-marginal farm household and/cultivating notmore than three (3) hectares.

m. Solid Waste Management is the generation,prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment,handling, reuse and residual disposition of solidwastes.

n. Watershed is the area of land where all ofthe water that is under it or that drains off it goes intothe same place.

SECTION 5. COVERAGE. This ordinance shallapply to the development and promotion of OrganicAgriculture and shall include, but not limited to, thefollowing:

a. Policy formulation of regulation, regis-tration, accreditation, certication and labeling onOrganic Agriculture.

b. Research development and extension of

appropriate, sustainable environment and gender friendly Organic Agriculture.

c. Promotion and encouragement of the estab-lishment of facilities, equipment and processing plantsthat would accelerate the production and commer-cialization of organic fertilizer, plan based pesticides,herbicides and other appropriate farm inputs.

d. Implementation of Organic Agricultureprograms, projects and activities including the provi-sion and delivery of support services with focus onthe farmers and other stakeholders.

SECTION 6. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRO-GRAMS. Organic Agriculture program shall embracethe following;

a. The promotion and commercialization oforganic farming practices, cultivation and adoptionand processing methods which have already beendeveloped or to be developed;

b. The continuing research and developmentof Organic Agriculture Agenda;

c. Upgrading thereof, the capacity building orfarmers and the education of consumers thereon; and

d. The extension of assistance to all stake-holders including individuals and groups who arepracticing and promoting the methods as well as thosewho are willing to do other pertinent activities anddocumentation and evaluations of the programs.

SECTION 7. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE COM-MITTEE. An Organic Agriculture Committee is herebycreated, which shall be composed of:

Chairman : City MayorVice-Chairman: SP Chairman, Committee on

Agriculture & FisheriesSecretariat : City Agriculturist, or his duly au-

thorized representativeMembers: City Director, Department of Interior

and LocalGovernment (DILG), or his authorized repre-

sentative-Chairman, Independent Component CityAgricultural & Fishery Council (ICCAFC), orHis duly authorized representative- Superintendent, School Division, or his duly

authorized Representative- City Health Ofcer, or his duly authorized

representative- Director, Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI), or his duly authorized representative- Head, City Environment & Natural Re-

source Ofce (CENRO), or his duly authorized rep-resentative

- Presidents of not more that three (3) dulyaccredited

- Organic farmers associations of the Cityto be appointed by the City Mayor for a term of twoyears.

- Heads of NGOs of not more than two (2)duly accredited by the City that are involved in sus-tainable agriculture for at least three (3) years.

The Existing Local Technical Committee on Or-ganic Agriculture created pursuant to Executive OrderNo. 29 series of 2011, shall continue to function untilthe new LTCOA created herein has been constituted

pursuant to Section 7 hereof.SECTION 8. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF

THE COMMITTEE. The committee shall have thefollowing powers and functions:

a) Formulate policies, plans, programs andprojects to develop and promote Organic AgriculturePrograms;

b) Oversee the successful implementation ofthe programs;

c) Identify source of nancing to expand;d) Monitor and evaluate the performance of

the programs and appropriate incentives.

e) Undertake measures for National Recog-nition of local certication of organic products andorganic farm sites;

f) Call concerned sectors that could provideadvice on matters pertaining to Organic Agricultureand to conduct of capability building initiatives tofarmers;

g) Promulgate such rules and regulations andregulations and exercise such other powers and func-tions as may be necessary to carry out effectively itspurposes and objectives;

h) Perform such functions as may be neces-sary for its effective operations and for the continuedenhancement, growth, or development of OrganicAgriculture;

i) Organize educational seminars and assistfarmer groups in implementing the program;

j) Coordinate and facilitate the applicati onand availment of loans from the Department oif Ag-riculture (DA) and other nancing institution;

k) Arrange possible joint venture agreementbetween the landowners and farmers, nanciers and

agrarian reform beneciaries;l) Form farmers association, train, lead, pro-fessionalize the group for a more collaborative andefcient business model;

m) Ensure that farmers are the direct bene-ciaries and not simply hired workers and must becollaborative partners;

n) Create working committees if necessary.o) Recommend to the Sangguniang Panlung-

sod any amendments to this ordinance;p) Recommend the needed budgetary alloca-

tion for the promotion of Organic Agriculture.SECTION 9. MEETINGS AND QUORUMS. The

committee shall meet at least once a month and uponthe call of the chairperson whenever he deems it neces-sary on such a day and time as the committee may x.Notice of meeting shall be given to all members of thecommittee. The presence of at least a majority of themembers of the committee shall constitute a quorumand the afrmative vote of a majority of the quorumshall be necessary for the exercise of its powers andthe performance of its duties, including the approvalof all decisions and policies issued by the committee.

SECTION 10. ACCREDITATION OF ORGANICCERTIFYING BODY. All organic products under theOrganic Agriculture Program should be certied byeither Negros Island Certicate Services (NICERT) orwith the Organic Certication Center of the Philip-pines (OCCP) that are both authorized by the Bureauof Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards(BAFPS) of the Department of Agriculture.

SECTION 11. ORGANIC CENTERS. The CityGovernment, through the city Agriculture Office(CAO), shall establish, recognize and/support Or-ganic Centers including those initiated by the privatesector that will promote, market and develop OrganicAgriculture.

The CAO may also recognize or support organicmarket centers which are established for the purposeor marketing organic products.

SECTION 12. ORGANIC GENE/SEED BANK.The City Government, through the CAO, in coordina-tion with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs),international organizations and other appropriateagencies, shall establish an Organic Seed/Gene Bank

which will produce and supply organic, endemic orindigenous seeds to farmers.SECTION 13. SUPPORT SERVICE TO ORGANIC

FARMERS. The City Government shall ensure supportto farmers who wish to engage in Organic Agriculture,such as training, production, marketing, and brand-ing, including nancial management and accounting,among other necessary skills to develop an OrganicAgriculture product that will secure a market niche,including the practice of fair trade.

Support services shall also be primarily extendedto small and marginalized farmers and womensgroups including the promotion, enhancement andfulllment of their rights as dened in national laws.

SECTION 14. INCENTIVES TOFARMERS,SCHOOLS AND BARANGAYS.

The City Government shall give incentives,awards and nancial support to farmers,, schoolsand barangay local government units which pursue,promote and practice organic farming. The CAOshall formulate guidelines for developing incentiveprograms, award systems and/or nancial supportthat will be properly endorsed by the City Mayor tothe Sangguniang Panlungsod.

SECTION 15. RESEAR4CH AND DEVELOP-MENT. A Master Plan for Research and Developmenton Organic Agriculture shall be created by CAO incoordination with the Department of Agriculture,Regional Field Office VIII. The Master Plan shallbe regularly updated in consultation with differentsectors. The participation of farmers and other stake-holders such as but not limited to, private entities,NGOs and barangays in the research, developmentand implementation of the Master Plan encouraged.

SECTION 16. PROMOTION OF URBAN OR-GANIC AGRICULTURE. The CAO shall promoteOrganic Agriculture even in urban areas utilizingnew technologies and taking advantage of ecologicalsolid waste.

SECTION 17. CAPACITY BUILDING. To sustainand broaden the base for the implementation of this

ordinance, there is hereby adapted a continuous effort,funded by at least twenty percent (20%) of the budgetset aside for Organic Agriculture as identied in thisordinance for capacity building and training, includ-ing continuous research and development.

SECTION 18. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.In accordance with the provisions of Republic Act9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act,there shall be established a solid waste managementplan with particular emphasis on management andutilization of agriculture wastes for composting thatcould be a good source for organic fertilizer.

SECTION 19. WATERSHED AND BIODIVER-SITY CONSERVATION AND REHABILITATION. Inaccordance with existing laws (National IntegratedProtected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992. Wild-life Act, Cave Act, Indigenous People Republic Act

(IPRA), Fisheries Act and National Ecotourism Strat-egy), there shall be biodiversity and watershed con-servation and rehabilitation to ensure the continuousprovision of these ecological and biological servicesvital to Organic Agriculture.

SECTION 20. RECOGNITION OF THE ROLEOF WOMEN. The role of women in the practice ofOrganic Agriculture is recognized. Towards this end,measures shall be taken by the City to comply with itsobligation to ensure a gender fair and gender- bal-anced development along with support mechanismsto take into account the particular needs of women.

SECTION 21. ANNUAL CELEBRATION OFTHE ORGANIC FARMERS FESTIVAL. In accordancewith the Organic Agriculture program of the City Gov-ernment, an organic, Farmers Festival shall be heldannually as one of the highlights during the CharterDay Celebration.

SECTION 22. APPROPRIATIONS. The CityGovernment shall yearly allocate an amount for thepromotion of Organic Agriculture.

SECTION 23. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND

REGULATIONS. The committee shall, in due courseissue implementing rules and regulations as it deemsnecessary to aid in the orderly implementation of thisordinance.

SECTION 24. IMPLEMENTING OFFICE. TheCAO shall be primarily tasked in implementing thisordinance in coordination with other agencies.

SECTION 25. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If anyprovision of this Ordinance is declared invalid orunconstitutional, the other provisions not affectedthereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 26. REPEALING CLAUSE. All localordinances and executive orders, or parts thereof,contrary to or inconsistent with this Ordinance arehereby repealed or modied accordingly.

SECTION 27. EFFECTIVITY. This ordinanceshall take effect immediately after the compliance ofthe necessary publication and posting requirementsas provided in the Local Government Code of 1991.

ENACTED, June 03,2014.RESOLVED, FURTHER, to furnish copies of this

ordinance each to the Honorable City Mayor EdwardC. Codilla; the City Administrator; the City Legal Of-cer; the City Budget Ofcer; the City Accountant; theCity Treasurer; the City Auditor; the City AgriculturalServices Ofce; the City Director, DILG; and otherofces concerned.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the

foregoing ordinance.(Sgd.)NANCY I. LOPENAActing SP Secretary(Local Legislative Staff Ofcer)

ATTESTED:(Sgd.) LEO CARMELO L. LOCSIN, JR.Vice Mayor & Presiding Ofcer

APPROVED:(Sgd.) EDWARD C. CODILLA

City MayorDate: 6-6-14

EV Mail June 9-15, 2014

8/12/2019 June 9 - 15, 2014 Layout

9/12

9NEWSJune 9-15, 2014

Commercial rate * - P100.00 per col. cm. *

Judicial Notices *- P 60.00 per col. cm *

For inquiries: Call (053) 561-0809(053) 530-3366 (Tacloban); 500-9389

(Biliran)* Exclusive of taxes/Black and White rate

AMBUSH ... from P. 1

FR. ROY ... from P. 4

JUNE 12 ... from P. 1

Applicant/s : S.S. ORION, BRGY. 6STO. NIO EXT. TACLOBAN CITY

Counsel for applicant/S: ATTY. E. JO-MADIAO, COR. ZAMORA & SALAZAR

STS., TACLOBAN CITYEV Mail June 9-15, 2014

rrrRepublic of the Philippines

Department of Transportation and

CommunicationsRegional Ofce No. VIII

Ormoc CityCASE NO. VIII -2014-2572

REF. CASE NO. V III-2013-0315Application for Reconstitution of

Records of a Certicate of Public

Convenience to operate a FILCABservice.

With prayer to adopt trade name.LARRIE B. RAYMUNDO

Applicant/s

x----------------xNOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant is a grantee of a Cer-ticate of Public Convenience to operate

a FILCAB service for the transportationof passengers and freight on the route:ORMOC CITY ALBUERA & VICEVERSA, with the use of ONE (1) unit/swhich Certicate is still valid and subsist-ing up to JULY 8, 2018 .

In the present application, ap-plicant request authority for reconstitutionof records of the said certicate on thesame route, with the use of the samenumber of unit/s.






Applicant/s : L.B. RAYMUNDO, ZONE1, TALISAYAN, ALBUERA, LEYTE

Counsel for applicant/S: ATTY.N.M.SIA; Avenida Veteranos St.,

Tacloban CityEV Mail June 9-15, 2014

rrrRepublic of the Philippines

Department of Transportation andCommunications

Regional Ofce No. VIIIOrmoc City

CASE NO. VIII-2014 2569

REF. CASE NO. VIII-2006-0062Application for Reconstitution of

Records of a Certicate of PublicConvenience to operate a PUJ

service.With prayer to adopt trade name.

AUREO P. SAMSON

Applicant/sx----------------x

NOTICE OF HEARING

Applicant is a grantee of a Cer-ticate of Public Convenience to operate

a PUJ service for the transportation ofpassengers and freight on the route:TACLOBAN CITY- PALANOG & VICEVERSA, with the use of ONE (1) unit/swhich Certicate is still valid and subsist-ing up to OCT. 31, 2015.

In the present application, ap-plicant request authority for reconstitutionof records of the said certicate on the

same route, with the use of the samenumber of unit/s.






Applicant/s : A. P. SAMSON, BRGY.103, PALANOG, TACLOBAN CITY

Counsel for applicant/S: ATTY. E. JO-MADIAO, COR. ZAMORA & SALAZAR

STS., TACLOBAN CITYEV Mail June 9-15, 2014

of couples already married or planning to do

so. Marriage is a matter of faith more than

anything else.

When its authentic nature and intrinsic laws

are respected and followed, you can be sure that

the grace of God will always be there to give

light, strength and support. What is wanting,

wounded or damaged in our human efforts tostay married is supplemented or completed,

healed and repaired.

More than that, if lived according to Gods

designs for it, marriage can be a sure way

to heaven, a great provider of sanctity, aside

from being an effective means to foster human

maturity and social progress and development.

This is because marriage is a reection and

participation of nothing less than Christs love

for his all of us, the people and children of

God. Its guaranteed not to fail. It is a powerful

generator of goodness in the world.

We need to spread the gospel of marriage

more vigorously, to counter forces than tend to

undermine and openly contradict its true nature

and laws, obviously with expected and matching

consequences.

Lets hope that those who have gone throughmarried life already for such a period as to

celebrate their silver, ruby, golden or diamond

anniversaries should take active part in pro-

claiming, promoting and defending marriage

as it should be.

The world is in great need of living wit-

nesses who attest to the true beauty of marriage.

Email: [email protected]

Bisaya ug ilonggo nag pahambugay!Bisaya: To! Kung muadto kug Manila sa pakpaklang ko sa eroplano musakay!Ilonggo: Yutarot, ah!Bisaya: Wala diay kakita nako ganina??Ilonggo: Nano pagkakita ko sa imo nga ga sakwatko ka buldosir!

rrr

Sakristan: Padre, nganong naa man kay daghanhinayhay nga bra, panty ug blouses? Naa kayasawa?Pari: Sus! Kung ang inyong limos ug amot raang akong saligan, dili ko mabuhi. Nanglabadako no!!!!!!

rrr

Ang UYAB murag TINOLA, lami kung init pahAng KABIT murag INUN-UNAN, lami gihapunbsan paugmaan pah.Ang ASAWA murag tinapa ablihan lng kongapiki nah!Hala pagpili, asa man ka?

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Girl: Nong bayad.Driver: Pila ning 50 day?Girl: 1 kuya! Estudyante, Nursing, Cebu Doc,bag-ong SAKAY!Boy: (naHambogaN, nibayad ug 500) Nongbayad.Driver: (Nasuko) PiLa ning 500?

Boy: 1, kEep da cHangE! SEaman, bag-ongNAOG!Buang: (nakatawa, GiiHap ang pasaHero, nitu-noL ug 1000) Nong bayad.Driver: (suko kaayo) piLa ni?Buang: 5, ApiL ang nars ug sEaman. kEepda cHangE! Buang, mEntaL gikan, bag-ongGAWAS!

Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURTRegional Trial Court8th Judicial Region

Branch 17Palompon, Leyte

EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE NO. PN-10-0002-FC

FOR: SALES UNDER ACT NO. 3135 AS AMENDEDGEORGE A. LIOK, JR.

Mortgagee/Petitioner,versusJANE E. FENIX

Mortgagor/RespondentNOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE

AND SALEUpon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act

No. 3135, as amended, which was led by Mortgagee/Petitioner GEORGE A. LIOK, JR., with residence atBrgy. San Isidro, Palompon, Leyte against Mortgagor/Respondent JANE E. FENIX with postal addressat Brgy. Guiwan II, Palompon, Leyte to satisfy themortgage indebtedness which as of June 30, 2010the amount to PESOS: TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SIXTHOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED TEN PESOS and27/100 CENTAVOS (P246,710.27), Philippine Cur-rency, exclusive of penalties, expenses, charges andthe government commission due thereon, as requiredunder Rule 141, Sec. 9 (1) of the Rules of Court asamended, the undersigned Sheriff under the super-vision of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Ofcio Sheriff ofthe ofce of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court,Branch 17, Palompon, Leyte, will sell at public auction

on July 23, 2014 at 9:00 oclock in the morning soonthereafter at the ofce of the Clerk of Court, RegionalTrial Court, Branch 17, Palompon, Leyte, to the high-est bidder, for cash and in Philippine Currency, thefollowing properties with all its improvements, to wit:

A parcel of residential land covered under TaxDeclaration No. 02-31004-00371 R11, Cadastral Lot No.505-part, declared in the name of Sps. Diomedes Fenixand Jane E. Fenix, bounded on the North, by share of

Jose Fenix; on the South, by Legaspi St., on the East, byTaft St., and on the West, by share of Ambrosio Fenix,containing an area of 96.33 square meters, more orless, with an assessed value of P4,950.00.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the under-signed on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not takeplace on the said date, it shall be held on August 6,2014 without further notice.

Prospective bidders/buyers may investigate realestate properties hereinabove describe the encum-brances thereon, if any there be.

Hall of Justice, Palompon, Leyte, Philippines,

June 10, 2014.(Sgd.) JIRSON ABAYONSherriff IV

Copy furnished:George A. Liok, Jr., Mortgagee

Brgy. San Isidro, Palompon, LeyteJane E. Fenix, Mortgagor

Brgy. Guiwan II, Palompon, LeyteEastern Visayas MAIL

111 Real St., Ormoc CityWARNING

IT IS ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED TO REMOVE,DEFACE, OR DESTROY THIS NOTICE OF SALE

ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF SALE.EV Mail June 9-15, 16-22, 23 29, 2016

survived and arose from the typhoonsdevastation. It also thanks those whovecome to help. It was composed by NendelEndrina and performed by Renato Baguio.The song was continuously played as pa-rade contingents passed by the city stage.

Capping the triple celebrations wasa free concert at the plaza by the StageCrew Band, a comic show with Dos Kom-edyantes, and a ballroom and disco at thepublic square. By Lalaine M. Jimenea

Eugenio C. Boquio, commanding Ofcerof 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, the clashlasted for about 40 minutes but there wereno casualties then.

On the same day, troopers under 63rdIB encountered a band of NPA rebels atBrgy. Sumuroy, Lope de Vega, NorthernSamar at around 8:55 a.m. and 2:30 p.m,respectively. Two soldiers were woundedin the encounters.

Meanwhile, it was also learned thatsoldiers recovered from the Brgy. Bacoclash resulted to the recovery of one Cal. 30Garand rie with one clip and six rounds ofammunitions, assorted supplies, 50 metersdetonating wire, two military backpacks,20 pairs of rain boots, sandals, 32 ponchos,assorted belongings and various subver-sive documents. The Army also overranan NPA encampment that had 32 bunkerswith tents, two kitchens, one mess hall andtwo comfort rooms.

Maj. Gutierrez, in a phone interview,said that the clashes were the result of anintensified operation against the rebel.We want to meet the target to be ableto declare Northern Samar and Samar asmanageable conflict and developmentready provinces.

He said that of the six provinces in theregion, only Northern Samar and Samarare those where NPA presence still existsand their intelligence reports indicate theirnumbers are dwindling. As of now, hesaid, Eastern Visayas now has only 543members.

He said it was unfortunate that somesoldiers were killed pero trabaho naminiyan.

He added that if people noticed thatclashes have increased in the last months,it is because people in the barrios are begin-ning to cooperate with the Army. Naiipitna sila, he said, as people themselves areinforming the Army about the rebelswhereabouts.

On the other hand, Maj General Jet B.Velarmino, Commander of the 8th InfantryDivision, denounced the use of the landmines as a violation of Part III, Article 3, No.15 of Comprehensive Agreement on Re-spect for Human Rights and InternationalHumanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) thatspecically prohibits the use of landmine.

It is sad that the NPA once again

showed disrespect to the CARHRIHL,and the Ottawa Treaty where the used oflandmine is clearly prohibited. The NPAact shows treachery as they professed to behuman rights advocates, but do otherwise.If they do not honor CARHRIHL signed byNDF that represented them and the OttawaTreaty signed and ratied by 161 states,how can the masses in the countryside relyon their verbal promises?, Velarmino saidin a statement.

The government and the NationalDemocratic Front (NDF) which representsthe Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP) and the New Peoples Srmy (NPA),signed the CARHRIHL on March 16, 1998.

Landmines, the 8th ID commandersaid, do not only pose danger to militarypersonnel but endangers the lives of in-nocent civilians who regularly and unwit-tingly pass by roads where landmines areplanted.

Based on AFP records released last2013, the NPAs use of landmines in the last10 years has resulted to the deaths of 113people and injuries to 262 others.

Recently, on March 2, 2014, the NPAapologized to civilians hurt by a landmineblast conducted by its unit in Davao del Surwhere 5 PDRRMC members were criticallyhurt. The incident clearly shows the dangerposed to civilians by landmine use of NPAs.

Velarmino also expressed his condo-lences to the families of the recent fatalities.Their death will not be forgotten. Theydied a glorious death in the service of theNation and the Filipino people. They arethe epitome of modern heroes and I salutethem.

He added, The death of our soldierswill not deter us in pursuing our commit-

ment to win the peace, albeit it adds re toour desire to do more community servicesto our people. The series of encounters isexpected as we are now in the last phaseof our plan to eradicate the remnants ofthe NPAs in Samar and Northern Samar.Soon enough, we will be able to declare thetwo provinces as Manageable Conict andDevelopment-ready. In this token, we inviteall peace stakeholders to add their voices inthe desire for peace. Let us shun violence,such as the violence being perpetrated bythe NPAs. By Lalaine M. Jimenea with areport from Mel Caspe

revillas, 802nd Infantry Brigade command-er Col. Dinoh Dolina and a representativeof PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. BrigidoB. Unay signed the covenant, .Lt. Col. NedyEspulgar of the 19th Infantry Batallion andthe towns chief of police Insp. ChristopherC. Pangue were witnesses.

The parties, together with SangguniangBayan ofcials and 21 barangay chairmen,also signed a tarpaulin to afrm their sup-port to the covenant.

Col. Dinoh Dolina said the declaringMatag-ob as insurgency free was animportant step to improve its economicstatus. He said investors could come if theyknow a place is peaceful. The rst thingthat investors do, he said, is to assess thepeace and order situation of a place.

Dolina said that per their intelligencereport, only a few stragglers remain ofthe New Peoples Army in Leyte. He saidthey were now only 44-man strong with51 rearms between them. He also told

media, Unahan ko na kayo. Yes, our intelsays they have AK-47s but theyve had thislong before, referring to the controversyof government bought AK-47s landing inthe hands of the leftist rebels.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Nedy Espulgar, ina brief rundown of events leading to thedeclaration, said the Army succeeded inbreaking up the two rebel fronts in Leyteand Southern Leyte in the early 2000s yet.Now, only one front remains and membershave reportedly lied low after the Armyneutralized top leaders.

Espulgar said he believes in winningthe war with peace rather than use strong-arm tactics. Under his watch, he said the19th IB has already organized 50 farmerorganizations, 15 of which are alreadyregistered with DOLE and are gainfullyengaged in organic farming. The farmerswere previous members of the rebel groupor supporters. By Lalaine M. Jimenea andPaul Libres

MATAG-OB ... from P. 1

their products, has reduced to only P 20.00 from

a previous fare of P60.00.

The barangay has 2,711 residents, 737 who

are agrarian reform beneciaries (ARBs), said

Leyte Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Of-

cer (PARPO) Melecia Ong. They will benet

directly from this project, she ad

June 9 - 15, 2014 Layout

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