March 12

March 12, 2014 1

“in pursuit of PIA’s commitment to provide a national mechanism for the free flow of timely, accurate and relevant information… “

VOL 2 ISSUE 59 Daily E-Newsletter of Philippine Information Agency - 8 March 12, 2014

C l o s e t o 5 1 p e r c e n t o f t h e b a r a n g a y s i n E a s t e r n

V i s a y a s h a v e a l r e a d y s e t u p t h e V i o l e n c e A g a i n s t Wo m e n D e s k s t h a t a r e r e a d y t o r e s p o n d t o g e n d e r - b a s e d v i o l e n c e c a s e s b r o u g h t t o t h e b a r a n g a y, t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f I n t e r i o r a n d Lo c a l G o v e r n m e n t i n R e g i o n 8 s a i d . T h e D I LG s a i d t h a t o f t h e 4 , 3 9 0 b a r a n g a y s i n E a s t e r n V i s a y a s , s o m e 2 , 2 3 7 b a r a n g a y s h a v e a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d VAW d e s k s a s o f D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 3 . A VAW d e s k i n e v e r y b a r a n g a y w i l l e n s u r e t h a t c a s e s i n v o l v i n g v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n a r e a d d r e s s e d i n a g e n d e r -r e s p o n s i v e m a n n e r. T h e M a g n a C a r t a o f Wo m e n p a r t i c u l a r l y C h a p t e r I V o n R i g h t s a n d E m p o w e r m e n t , S e c t i o n 9 . d p r o v i d e s t h a t “ A l l l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t u n i t s s h a l l e s t a b l i s h a V i o l e n c e A g a i n s t Wo m e n’s D e s k i n e v e r y b a r a n g a y t o e n s u r e t h a t v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t w o m e n c a s e s a r e f u l l y a d d r e s s e d i n a g e n d e r -r e s p o n s i v e m a n n e r.” VAW d e s k s a r e t a s k e d p r i m a r i l y t o : r e c o r d a n d s u b m i t q u a r t e r l y r e p o r t o n a l l c a s e s o f VAW t o t h e D I LG c i t y / m u n i c i p a l o f f i c e , k e e p VAW c a s e r e c o r d s

51% of Eastern Visayas barangays now with VAW desksA s it r i ses again af ter Yolanda,

the Saint Paul School of Business and Law, one of the largest accountanc y schools in the Phi l ippines is set to insta l l in the I nst i tut ion’s helm of leadership Dean Er win Vincent G. Alcala , CPA, MIB as i ts second pres ident on March 12, 2014 at the school auditor ium at 10:00 o’c lock in the morning. Dean Alcala is a Cer t i f ied Publ ic Accountant by profess ion and is among the Outstanding CPA’s of the countr y. He earned his accounting degree, Summa Cum Laude, f rom the Div ine Word Univers i t y of Tacloban and his Master ’s Degree in I nternat ional Business f rom the Univers i t y of Br istol in England, United K ingdom. He is l ikewise an a lumnus

continued on page 5continued on page 7

at the Asian I nst i tute of M anagement in Mak at i Ci t y for h is Strategic Management and M arket ing Diploma. He has been in the academe for the past 27 years as Professor of Accounting and CPA reviewer at Div ine Word Univers i t y in Tacloban, De La Sal le Univers i t y-M ani la , St . Scholast ica’s Col lege - M ani la , and Saint Paul School of Business and Law- Leyte. He a lso ser ved as Chairman of the Depar tment of Accountanc y at De La Sal le Univers i t y-Mani la . Dean Alcala was a former Direc tor at KPMG I nternat ional , one of the top four global audit ing f i rms ser v ing as audit and learning direc tor of KPMG off ices in some countr ies in the Asia-Paci f ic , Amer icas, and European Regions. Current ly, he is a Member of the Technical Panel for Accountanc y Educat ion at the Commiss ion on H igher Educat ion Nat ional Headquar ters. I t was learned that last year, the school ’s board of t rustees e lec ted i ts new set of of f icers paving the way for the appointment of M r. Alcala as the new School Pres ident . Three months af ter SPSBL was devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the school was back to normal operat ions with the help of generous indiv iduals and organizat ions. This a l lowed the coming

Premier business school in East Visayas installs its 2nd president on March 12

ERWIN VINCENT G. ALCALA, CPA, MIB

2 March 12, 2014

DOT consults with gov’t sector on Tourism Recovery Action Plan for Yolanda-hit East Visayas areas

T he Department of Tourism has scheduled a consultative

meeting with the government sector for the preparation of the Tourism Recovery Plan for Yolanda-affected areas in Eastern Visayas. DOT Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes told the Philippine Information Agency that the consultation is set for March 13, 2014 from 1:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon at the Leyte Park Hotel in Tacloban City. Director Tiopes said that in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda, the Department of Tourism saw the need to bring back the confidence of the international and domestic markets to the affected destinations. The DOT also saw the need to ensure that local communities continue to benefit through business continuity, creation of jobs and livelihood opportunities for enhanced and new tourism products. I t is in this context that the Department has sought the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) thru its Advancing Philippine Competitiveness (COMPETE) Project - and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNW TO) and in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to provide a holistic strategy towards the rehabilitation of the tourism industry in the affected areas. The Plan will contend, among others, the assessment of the tourism products; recovery strategy; site / product development plan; local community involvement in tourism; marketing and communications; and institutional support. To ensure that the plan responds to the needs of

our industry stakeholders, a consultation in deemed imperative in order to identify issues, elicit inputs and suggestions and assess existing tourism products and services. “As our valued partners in tourism development, the inputs of the government sector in this consultation will help frame recommendations on programs on how best to make products more attractive to tourists, more commercially viable and how the effects of the calamities can possibly be turned around to create new products and market opportunities for both affected tourism enterprises and local communities; and sites and product development programs to increase tourist arrivals and spending in affected destinations,” Director Tiopes said. Moreover, the inputs will aid in framing recommendation

on programs to stimulate and encourage the local tourism industry, particularly operators – hotels, resorts – to be more resil ient to future disasters; and conceptual outlines for identified tourism development focus on infrastructure requirements and their l inks to local communities either as supplier or destination communities. Super Typhoon Yolanda has greatly affected the robust tourism growth momentum that the Region gained in the past years. To gain this back, there is a need to work together to create awareness and put in place a guide for the local stakeholders in the rehabilitation and rebuilding process, as well as boosting confidence with a view to stimulating tourism growth, Director Tiopes added. (PIA 8)

Catbalogan Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan leads the 600 Fun Walkers stretch with Zumba dances before the 3-kilometer fun walk around the city during the International Women's Day on March 8, 2014. (Photo by Jun Arceno/PIA-Samar)

March 12, 2014 3Tacloban City marks World Water Day

A n i n t e r - a g e n c y c o m m i t t e e c o m p o s e d o f g o v e r n m e n t

a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l h u m a n i t a r i a n a g e n c i e s h a s p r e p a r e d a s e r i e s o f a c t i v i t i e s i n l i n e w i t h t h e c e l e b r a t i o n o f Wo r l d Wa t e r D a y o n M a r c h 2 2 . M r. A l e x a n d e r Le g i o n t o l d t h e P h i l i p p i n e I n f o r m a t i o n A g e n c y t h a t s e r i e s o f a c t i v i t i e s w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d a r o u n d t h e t h e m e “ Ta k e A c t i o n f o r Wa t e r a n d S a n i t a t i o n” w i t h t h e Wa r a y t r a n s l a t i o n “A k s y o n K i t a N g a t a n a n Pa r a H a M a l i m p y u n g a Tu b i g n g a n S a n i t a s y o n” i n o r d e r t o r e l a t e i n t h e p r e s e n t l o c a l c o n d i t i o n a n d e m p h a s i z e t h e e m e r g i n g n e e d f o r p o t a b l e d r i n k i n g w a t e r a n d a d e q u a t e s a n i t a t i o n a n d h y g i e n e . T h e a c t i v i t i e s a i m t o g a t h e r a n d p a r t n e r w i t h a l l v a r i o u s s t a k e h o l d e r s i n o r d e r t o p r o m o t e w a t e r c o n s e r v a t i o n b y t a k i n g a c t i o n f o r w a t e r a n d s a n i t a t i o n a n d t o i n c r e a s e a w a r e n e s s o n t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f w a t e r r e s o u r c e s a n d m a n a g e m e n t a s v i t a l c o m p o n e n t f o r s u r v i v a l . I n o r d e r t o l a u n c h t h e a c t i v i t i e s , a p r e s s c o n f e r e n c e w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d o n M a r c h 1 4 , Fr i d a y, 2 : 0 0 o’c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n v i a t h e H a r a m p a n g H a P I A m e d i a f o r u m a t t h e Le y t e S p o r t s A c a d e m y c o n f e r e n c e h a l l . A m o n g t h e a c t i v i t i e s p l a n n e d b y t h e g r o u p i s a t w o - d a y s y m p o s i u m o n h e a l t h , s a n i t a t i o n a n d e n v i r o n m e n t m a n a g e m e n t o n M a r c h 1 8 f r o m 9 : 0 0 o’c l o c k t o

1 1 : 0 0 o’c l o c k i n t h e m o r n i n g a t t h e Le y t e N a t i o n a l H i g h S c h o o l a n d o n M a r c h 1 9 a t t h e S a n J o s e N a t i o n a l H i g h S c h o o l . A n o t h e r a c t i v i t y i s t h e r a d i o g u e s t i n g a n d m e d i a n e t w o r k i n g ; Wo r l d w a l k f o r w a t e r c o n s e r v a t i o n a w a r e n e s s t h r o u g h a To r c h Pa r a d e ; a n d Tr e e P l a n t i n g, C r e e k s a n d C o a s t a l C l e a n - u p a c t i v i t i e s a s c u l m i n a t i o n a c t i v i t y. O n M a r c h 2 1 , a Wa l k f o r Wa t e r C o n s e r v a t i o n Pr o g r a m , a To r c h Pa r a d e , w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d f r o m 4 : 0 0 o’c l o c k i n t h e a f t e r n o o n t o 8 : 0 0 o’c l o c k i n t h e e v e n i n g. T h e f i r s t p a r t w i l l b e a Pe p t a l k o n s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e C e l e b r a t i o n b y M a y o r A l f r e d R o m u a l d e z . I n t e r m i s s i o n n u m b e r s w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e Pa l o C u l t u r e a n d A r t s O r g a n i z a t i o n T h e a t e r o r P C AO T h e a t e r a n d b y s i n g e r R i c o B l a n c o w h o w i l l b e i n v i t e d b y C R S . T h e s e c o n d p a r t w i l l b e t h e To r c h Pa r a d e w h e r e a l l t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d w i t h t o r c h e s . Pa r t 3 w i l l b e a p r o g r a m b y t h e C i t y B a n d a n d P C AO T h e a t e r. T h e P l e d g e o f C o m m i t m e n t w i l l b e l e d b y C R S . F i n a l l y o n t h e D - D a y, t h e Wo r l d Wa t e r D a y o n M a r c h 2 2 , S u n d a y, a c i t y - w i d e s i m u l t a n e o u s t r e e p l a n t i n g a n d c r e e k a n d c o a s t a l c l e a n - u p a c t i v i t i e s w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d f r o m 6 : 0 0 o’c l o c k t o 8 : 0 0 o’c l o c k i n t h e m o r n i n g. ( P I A 8 )

T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h ( D O H ) i n E a s t e r n V i s a y a s

h a s m o u n t e d i t s a n t i - d e n g u e c a m p a i g n i n t h e r e g i o n f o l l o w i n g t h e r e p o r t e d c a s e s o f d e a t h s f o r t h i s y e a r d u e t o d e n g u e f e v e r. I n a m e e t i n g h e l d r e c e n t l y a t Le y t e S p o r t s D e v e l o p m e n t C e n t e r ( L S D C ) , i n t h i s c i t y, D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h ( D O H ) R e g i o n 8 D i r e c t o r D r. J o s e L l a c u n a s a i d , n i n e h u n d r e d n i n e t y t w o ( 9 9 2 ) c a s e s o f d e n g u e f e v e r w e r e r e p o r t e d i n t h e r e g i o n s i n c e N o v e m b e r w h e n s u p e r t y p h o o n Yo l a n d a d e v a s t a t e d m o s t a r e a s o f r e g i o n 8 . O u t o f t h i s f i g u r e , t h r e e ( 3 ) d i e d t h i s y e a r d u e t o t h i s i n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e : a 1 4 y e a r o l d b o y f r o m S o g o d S o u t h e r n Le y t e , a n 8 y e a r o l d c h i l d f r o m b r g y. 7 4 a n d a 2 y e a r o l d c h i l d f r o m B r g y. 5 9 - A , b o t h f r o m Ta c l o b a n , C i t y. A l t h o u g h t h e r e w a s a s i g n i f i c a n t i n c r e a s e o f c a s e s , t h e r e w a s n o e p i d e m i c . “ I w o u l d l i k e t o e m p h a s i z e t h a t w h i l e w e h a v e c a s e s i n s u c h m a g n i t u d e , w e d o n’ t h a v e e p i d e m i c s i n c e c a s e s w e r e t h e s a m e a s i n t h e s a m e p e r i o d l a s t y e a r,” L l a c u n a s a i d . B e c a u s e o f t h i s , D O H h a s r e p e a t e d l y w a r n s t h e p u b l i c t o t a k e a l l t h e n e c e s s a r y s t e p s i n o r d e r t o a v o i d t h i s f a t a l d i s e a s e w h i l e t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n t e n s i f i e s i t s d r i v e t o p r e v e n t a n o u t b r e a k o f d e n g u e f e v e r. ( P I A - 8 )

DOH-8 reports 3 deaths in EV due to dengue

BY: CONSUELO B. ALARCON

4 March 12, 2014

Agriculture secretary monitors assistance to farmers in Basey, Marabut

Secretary Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture was in

the Region Monday to monitor the FAO and DA assistance to farmers in two municipalities of Samar that were ravaged by super typhoon Yolanda. Secretary Alcala who was with Food and Agriculture Organization Director General Jose Graziano da Silva, first visited Basey, Samar. Together with the FAO Director General, the Secretary was able to see how effective FAO and the Department of Agriculture’s fast and timely assistance to the farmers of Basey. “it ’s good news actually that it ’s as if our farmers were not displaced because after a few weeks from now farmers will harvest the produce of their labor , this is because of the timely intervention of FAO in distributing seeds to farmers of Basey,” said Alcala in an exclusive interview with the Philippine Information Agency. Aside from seeds, the FAO also distributed a sack of fertilizer in every hectare of land per farmer. The department of Agriculture has taken charge of those farmers not supported by FAO. The department also facilitated in identifying the recipients of FAO’s assistance. Meanwhile, in Marabut all local chief executives of Samar converge and had a consultative meeting with Sec. Alcala.The secretary also had a very good inter-action with the farmers and fisher folks.“After giving them the information

Red Cross-So. Leyte steps up partnership with various sectors

BY: MARCELO PEDALINO

With a fresh energy infused in a new leadership fully backed

up by active board of directors, the Philippine Red Cross-Southern Leyte Chapter is bent on revisiting past linkages with different groups in and out of the province. Foremost among the links that must have to be re-strengthened are the close tie-ups with local government units in the province. “The Red Cross always lives up to its slogan of ‘Always first, always ready, and always there’ in times where and when our assistance is badly needed,” said Jonas Maco, the Officer-in-Charge of the local chapter who took over the helm from Noli Casa just last month. In an interview in the cable TV program Action Center Kapihan sa PIA Wednesday last week, Maco stressed that the Red Cross is not a government organization, not a non-government organization, but a humanitarian institution ready to assist people and communities in need to save lives. Although not necessarily new to the job as he has been connected with a chapter in Mandaue, Cebu, Maco, 27, still acknowledged the huge challenge in front of him and the high expectations for him to

deliver in terms of top performance and essential services. But he was confident that with the support of an active set of board of directors, the Red Cross’ image as a trusted entity during times of calamities and special services can be redeemed in due time. On top of his to-do list was to mobilize young students as reliable Red Cross volunteers that can easily be tapped in various activities, ready to be called on short notice. Soon, he envisioned a decentralized provincial Red Cross where all the 18 municipalities in the province will be enabled to have some sort of a branch.Further down the line will be the mobilization of barangay-based volunteers for each of the 500 barangays around the province for quick response during accidents in real-time. “There is already a program for this, and this is called Red Cross 143, which means that in every barangay there is one leader and 43 members, or 44 volunteers in all per barangay, which would readily act on emergency calls, from first aid to rescue,” Maco explained. (PIA8-Southern Leyte)

continued on page 7

March 12, 2014 5Premier business school...from page 1

back of the 3 ,500 students to their c lassrooms. The histor ic occas ion wi l l s tar t with the of fer ing of a Holy Mass which wi l l be pres ided by Bishop Fi lomeno Bac tol of the Diocese of B i l i ran. I t was a lso learned that a press conference is scheduled to be held af ter the invest i ture ceremony at around 9 :30 in the morning at R m. 113 Academic Bui ld ing of the school . A Pres ident ia l Banquet wi l l fo l low at 12 noon at the SPSBL Quadrangle, i t was learned. (P IA 8)

The Department of Science and Technology in Eastern Visayas

has identified two municipalities in Eastern Visayas as the pilot areas for the implementation of the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) project in the Region.DOST Region 8 Director Edgardo Esperancilla named the two municipalities as Jaro in the province of Leyte, and Basey in the province of Samar. Recently, DOST conducted a Stake Holders’ Consultative Meeting – Workshop to facilitate the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) Convergence and Collaborative Projects for Jaro, Leyte and Basey, Samar. According to Dir. Esperancilla, this is a collaborative project between the SUCs, the local government units and the national government agencies.Present during the activity were representatives from the Dept. of

Labor and Employment, Dept. of Trade and Industry , Dept. of Science and Technology and the Visayas State University. The DOST will provide for the technologies while DOLE will provide funds. DTI will help to find sources for markets and financing of some of the projects while the local government units will provide buildings, sites and they will also help identify the beneficiaries. For Basey, the technology that DOST will provide is the preservation of root crops such as gabi, ube and sweet potato and the production of nipa sugar and vinegar. In Jaro, the DOST will introduce brown rice, and high value crops, vegetables production. DOST will also provide the two municipalities with safe drinking water by installation of a solar powered water purifier funded by DOST. On March 10, DOST with the stakeholders signed a Memorandum of Agreement as to the counter

DOST-8 names two pilot areas for the Community Empowerment thru S&T project in East Visayas

parting of the said project. Basey and Jaro are the pilot areas, Esperancilla said. The project will be expanded later on to other municipalities. In fact similar activities are now happening in Guiuan, Salcedo, Lawaan in Eastern Samar and also in Bobon, Northern Samar and Mahayahay in Sogod, Southern Leyte. The activity is a sign of joining forces to implement specific projects and signify the intentions and come up with a final list of projects that will be implemented in the municipalities. Aside from shelter, another important need of the people after all relief releases will be food and livelihood this is the reason that all their activities will focus in these two important needs of the constituents. The success of the project said Esperancilla will depend on the strong converge of the stakeholders. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann Abella)

DOST-8 director Edgardo M. Esperancilla presides during the Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting-Workshop relative to its convergence and collaborative projects dubbed as Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) for the municipalities of Jaro (Leyte) and Basey (Samar) as pilot areas in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment thru Director Exiquiel Sarcauga (seated front), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Visayas State University and the Province of Leyte. (Photo by Raul Tiozon, Jr.)

6 March 12, 2014

Pag-abre otro han voter’s registration para 2016 nga pinili-ay, ika 6 han Mayo

Nagpapasabot an Tacloban City COMELEC Office nga an

panrehistro han mga botante para han 2016 Presidential Elections in ma-abre otro han ika 6 han Mayo, yana nga tuig. Amo nga gintatawagan ni City COMELEC Officer Atty. Rosemarie Ann Reas Polistico an mga kwalipikado nga botante nga waray pa mag-rehistro

nga pumakadto ha City COMELEC Office, P. Paterno St., Tacloban City tikang han ika 6 han Mayo aber maghurar kon magrehistro. Segun kan Atty. Polistico, ha pagkayana, tulo na nga batches han Voter’s ID para han tuig 2009 tubtub 2010 in gin release han COMELEC Central Office nga andam na ipanhatag han Tacloban City. Ugaring,

ginpahinumdom la ni Atty. Polis nga personal an pagkuha han tag-iya han Voter’s ID ha City COMELEC Office. Waray daw eksakto nga petsa han panhatag han voters’ ID para han waray pa katagi komo madepender ini han ka abelable han kanan COMELEC printing machine ha Manila. (PIA-8) (trans: PIA 8-Samar/NBQ)

WARAY NEWS

March 12, 2014 7

51%...from page 1

c o n f i d e n t i a l a n d s e c u r e , a n d a s s i s t v i c t i m s o f VAW i n s e c u r i n g a B a r a n g a y Pr o t e c t i o n O r d e r ( B P O ) a n d a c c e s s i n g n e c e s s a r y s e r v i c e s . T h e c o s t o f t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e VAW d e s k i s c h a r g e d t o t h e LG U ’s g e n d e r a n d d e v e l o p m e n t b u d g e t , w h i c h s h a l l b e a t l e a s t f i v e p e r c e n t o f t h e i r b u d g e t a l l o c a t i o n , t h e D I LG p o i n t e d o u t . M e a n w h i l e , R e p u b l i c A c t 9 2 6 2 ( A n t i - V i o l e n c e A g a i n s t Wo m e n a n d T h e i r C h i l d r e n A c t o f 2 0 0 4 ) d e f i n e s VAW a s “a n y a c t o r a s e r i e s o f a c t s c o m m i t t e d b y a n y p e r s o n a g a i n s t a w o m a n w h o i s h i s w i f e , f o r m e r w i f e , o r

a g a i n s t a w o m a n w i t h w h o m t h e p e r s o n h a s o r h a d a s e x u a l o r d a t i n g r e l a t i o n s h i p, o r w i t h w h o m h e h a s a c o m m o n c h i l d , o r a g a i n s t h e r c h i l d w h e t h e r l e g i t i m a t e o r i l l e g i t i m a t e , w i t h i n o r w i t h o u t t h e f a m i l y a b o d e , w h i c h r e s u l t i n o r i s l i k e l y t o r e s u l t i n p h y s i c a l , s e x u a l , p s y c h o l o g i c a l h a r m o r s u f f e r i n g, o r e c o n o m i c a b u s e i n c l u d i n g t h r e a t s o f s u c h a c t s , b a t t e r y, a s s a u l t , c o e r c i o n , h a r a s s m e n t o r a r b i t r a r y d e p r i v a t i o n o f l i b e r t y.”I t i n c l u d e s , b u t i s n o t l i m i t e d t o p h y s i c a l v i o l e n c e , s e x u a l v i o l e n c e , p s y c h o l o g i c a l v i o l e n c e , a n d e c o n o m i c a b u s e . ( P I A 8 )

and the whole idea as to what are the programs the government intends to do for them, we also had an open forum. We let the farmers and fisher folks speak so that the government can hear their side and what are the things they want to happen,” added Alcala. The main concern of the fisher folks was to ask for a continued assistance from government with their livelihood until they can recover from the big loss.Meanwhile, farmers according to Alcala brought out the concern about their banana plantation that was damaged because of typhoon Yolanda. With this the Department had a plan of helping the farmers. Aside from clearing operations, the DA will provide planting materials, make new programs and some interventions such as providing fertilizers until their full recovery. Alcala promised to the typhoon affected persons especially the farmers and fisherfolks, that the Department of Agriculture is with them for this is the clear order of President Benigno Aquino III. He also called on farmers and fisherfolks for cooperation, and to help themselves to be able to fully recover from the adversaries brought about by typhoon Yolanda. (PIA 8 with Lizbeth Ann Abella)

Agriculture secretary...from page 4

DPWH 5th District Engineering Office completes P1.9-M Kiga flood control project

R esidents of Barangay Santa Cruz and the nearby areas in

Baybay Cit y can now s leep wel l at n ight without worr y ing about f lashf loods with the complet ion of the repair and maintenance of the K iga Flood Control st ruc ture. The 5th Leyte Distr ic t Engineer ing O ff ice of the Depar tment of Publ ic Works and H ighways sa id the K iga Flood Control projec t at Barangay Santa Cruz , Baybay Cit y a long the Tacloban- Ormoc-Baybay-Southern Leyte Boundar y Road KM 1055+702, has been completed. The projec t amounting to P 1 , 930, 000.00 is envis ioned to protec t nearby res idents f rom potent ia l r iver over f lows and eros ion. I t was star ted on September 27, 2013 and was ful ly real ized on December 5 , 2013 under contrac t with R .S Reyna construc t ion f i rm. I t was learned that on March 6 , the inspec torate team of 5th Distr ic t Engineer ing O ff ice monitored and inspec ted the

completed Repair Maintenance of K iga Flood Control Struc ture. The team was headed by OIC-Ass istant Distr ic t Engineer Eusebio T. Culas with of Chief of Planning and Design Sec t ion Engr. Daniel i to P. Padon, Chief of M aintenance Sec t ion Engr. Lyndel P. Jabines and Chief of Mater ia ls Qual i t y Assurance Sec t ion Engr. Deol inda C. Palma. The team measured the ac tual length of the f lood control st ruc ture and found that i t compl ies with the required length. Engr. Culas sa id i t i s ver y impor tant that f lood control projec ts are wel l p lanned and implemented proper ly. With the DPWH commitment to provide good ser vice, the projec t i s expec ted to lessen current f lood predicaments within the area . (P IA8)

8 March 12, 2014

Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan graced the opening of EastWest Bank, at Curry Avenue, the newest bank to open in the city on March 4, 2014. The Mayor believes that the presence of many banks indicate the sound economy of the city. (photos by Paulus Aragon of Catbalogan LGU)