TACLOBAN CITY – A two-week pork holiday is now being implemented in Calbiga, Samar, to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs raised in different barangays.
The pork holiday started on August 1 and will run until August 16, in accordance with Executive Order 25 issued by Mayor Red Nacario.

For two weeks, the slaughtering of pigs and the selling of pork, as well as processed pork meat products such as chorizo, longganisa, and lechon, are prohibited. However, the slaughtering of pigs for personal consumption is allowed.

The order also prohibits the transportation of pigs from one barangay to another. Violators will face sanctions, including the confiscation of pork and pork meat products, and the suspension or revocation of business permits.

The order directs meat inspectors and livestock inspectors, along with the market supervisor, to strengthen market inspections with the assistance of the police.

The mayor issued the EO after learning that some sellers of pork in the Calbiga public market are suspected of being affected by ASF. In response, Mayor Nacario also ordered the total disinfection of the municipal slaughterhouse.

Barangay officials are also ordered to strengthen their monitoring and prohibit the entry and exit of hogs/swine and any pork products in their respective areas.

The ASF case in Calbiga began on June 3, recorded in Brgy Calinogan, and immediately spread to 12 other barangays.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Philippine Statistics Authority–Regional Statistical Services Office VIII (PSA-RSSO 8) has implemented stricter compliance measures for late birth registration for foreign residents.

In a recent ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas,’ Wilma A. Perante, PSA-8 Regional Director, announced the following additional mandatory requirements:

Philippine National ID
Barangay certification
Passport
Parents’ live birth certificates
Personal appearance

Perante also highlighted the significance of verifying records to prevent fraud, counterfeiting, and stolen identity, which is now required under Memorandum Circular No. 2024-17, issued on June 4.

“The local civil registers are conducting this to ensure the authenticity and correctness of the information and the documents presented to them,” she said.

This was in response to recent high-profile cases, such as the Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, whose true identity was later revealed as ‘Guo Hua Ping.’
In Guo’s birth certificate, details of her parents’ marriage, her father’s nationality, and her mother’s identity were mismatched with her claims upon questioning.
A certain National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance containing the same name, province, and birthday as Guo, but with a different face in the photo, was also found.
The investigation then focused on identifying Guo Hua Ping’s fingerprints, which matched those of Guo.
“This is why national IDs must be considered mandatory requirements; the iris and biometric information are accessible there,” she said.
Biometric information is used to accurately identify individuals through fingerprint scans, facial recognition, voice recognition, and iris scans.
According to Perante, in case of errors in birth records or other legal documents, it is advisable to visit the local civil register where they were issued to prevent additional complications. (AAC/JKPA, PIA Leyte)

With over P1.2 billion in cash and kind

TACLOBAN CITY – The two-day ‘Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF)’ held in the city and in some major centers in Eastern Visayas, concluding on Saturday, August 3, is seen to benefit the local economy in addition to assisting the intended beneficiaries with various services offered during the event.

According to the organizers of the BPSF, the two-day event will bring in P1.2 billion worth of programs and services to the region, benefiting 253,000 individuals.

Of this amount, P807 million is in the form of cash assistance provided by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), among others.

Additionally, about 2.2 million kilograms of rice were distributed to the beneficiaries during the event.

The BPSF event in the region, particularly in Tacloban City, was attended by more than 240 congressmen, led by Leyte Congressman and House Speaker Martin Romualdez and all six governors of the region.

To ensure the safety of students amid the traffic caused by the event, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, the Speaker’s cousin, suspended classes at all levels.

In Tacloban City, the event was held at various venues, with more than 15,000 beneficiaries expected to attend to avail themselves of services and cash payouts.
Similar event was also held in Catbalogan City in Samar; Catarman in Northern Samar; Maasin City in Southern Leyte; and Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

Rep. Jude Acidre of the Tingog party-list group mentioned that 56 government agencies participated in the event, which he said brings government services closer to the people while simultaneously impacting the region’s economy.

“Aside from bringing government services closer to the people and clarifying their most urgent needs, it has a significant impact on the local economy,” he said.(JOEY A. GABIETA)