TACLOBAN CITY- Promoting development in the countryside and increase the share of the internal revenue allotment (IRA) for local government units are just two of the priorities that would be pushed by the Leyte mayors.
This was disclosed by Barugo Mayor Maria Rosario Avestruz who was elected as the information officer of the League of Mayors of the Philippines- Leyte Chapter.
Avestruz, who is serving on her first term as mayor, said that during the organization’s election held on Monday (August 22), Javier Mayor Leonardo “Sandy” Javier was reelected as president.
This will be Javier’s second term as president of the group.
Also elected were Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla as vice president; Dulag Mayor Joy Mildred Que, secretary with Mahaplag Mayor Daisy Lleve as her assistant; La Paz Mayor Lesmes Lumen as treasurer with San Miguel Mayor Cheeryl Enrica Esperas as his assistant; Palompon Mayor Ramon Oñate as auditor; Calubian Mayor Doroteo Palconit and Dagami Mayor Abundio Delusa as sergeant-at-arms.
Also elected as board of directors were Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson Jr., for first district; Burauen Mayor Juanito Renomeron for second district; Tabango Mayor Bernard Jonathan Remandaban for third district; Kananga Mayor Rowena Codilla for fourth district and Hindang Mayor Betty Cabal for fifth district.
The new set of officers of the Leyte mayor’s group was inducted into office by Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
While Leyte has 41 town mayors, only 30 were present during the Monday’s election. Among those who were absent was embattled Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. who is fighting allegation on his involvement on illegal drug trade.
Leyte has 21 new mayors of which 13 of them are women.
According to Mayor Avestruz, the thrust of their group under Mayor Javier, is to request the national government to increase the IRA shares of the local government units, especially those categorized in the fourth to sixth classes which depends much of the funding coming from the national government and encourage more investments in the countryside.
“By promoting investments in the countryside not only these areas will (economically) develop but will also help stop people leaving the provinces to find work outside,” Avestruz said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
Leyte mayors group reelects Mayor Javier as prexy
Grafil officially assumes as president of the Rotary Club of Leyte Gulf
TACLOBAN CITY- Last August 19, 2016 at Hacienda Verde, Utap, this city, was a special day for Rotary Club of Leyte Gulf as it was the 12th Induction of new set of officers of the Club for the year 2016-2017. The new set of officers are the following: President-Dalmacio C. Grafil; Vice-President-Wilfred A. Diu; Treasurer: Jose E. Clarin; Secretary: Humberto S. Franco; and Club Directors Emmanuel K. Veloso for Club Administration; Loreto T. Yu for Public Relation; Daniel G. Matriano for Membership; Francisco Andrade for Community Service; Cesar E. Lee for New Generation; Ralph A. Salazar for Rotary Foundation and Reynaldo B. Alip as Immediate Past President.
The Rotary Club Leyte Gulf conducted several medical missions in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar, Naval, Biliran and Tabango and San Isidro, Leyte. It distributed bags and jogging pants to Tagpuro Elementary School in Tacloban City; donated 2 electric fans to Sto. Niño Sped Center also in Tacloban and school supplies to Capirawan Elementary School at Palo, Leyte.
President Dalmacio Grafil, the newly inducted president of Rotary Club Leyte Gulf, emphasized that the Rotary Club will unify as one driving force to which our community and help better the lives of those that need most. Its primary focus is on youth and education and the development of young people in our schools and local organizations. The Club needs to contribute new ideas but above all, to participate in developing those ideas into real life projects. He asked for the active participation and inspired contributions of every member while he pledged to work and strengthen the Club as its President. He said he is humbled by the confidence given to him as president of the Club. It only means that he is taking a greater share of responsibility to the Club and its members. He is looking forward to projects that will provide opportunity to highlight the Club and to work best when we have a common project to unite all members. As the Rotary motto says “Rotary Serving Humanity.”
The highlight of the activity was the presentation of the three adopted Children of RC Leyte Gulf which is the brainchild of Rotarian Jean Marechaux. Leyte Gulf adopted the children Sandie Centula, 17 years old, a 3rd year high school student; Chosua Centula, 13 years old and 1st year high school; and Cindie Centula, 11 years old and Grade 6 pupil.
They were introduced to John Marechaux six years ago by Daisy Labanta and Josh Zyss. Jean knows that the children needed special attention and help. They were on their own as their mother died from disease and their father married another woman and has a new family somewhere in Tacloban City. They supported themselves by going to dumpsite located near their place by selling Kangkong and asking food from neighbors. They quit school for one year and mere encouraged to go back to school They are new enrolled at the Lucio Vivero Memorial School at New Kawayan, Tacloban City. These adopted children of RC Leyte Gulf will be given food, rice, potable water, clothes and medicines if needed. They viel also by provided with complete school uniform and school supplies. During the induction ceremony, the members of RC Leyte Gulf donated the amount of P6,000 for their miscellaneous expenses in going to school. Indeed this is one act that shows that “Rotary is Service Humanity”.
Congratulations to all the officers and members of Rotary Club Leyte Gulf. (JOEY E. CLARIN)
Dengue cases continue to rise in Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY – Dengue fever cases continue to rise sharply here in the region, killing 16 people and afflicting 2,982 others since January until this week, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, said this year’s ballooning dengue fever cases is quite alarming.
“Number of cases increased by 228 percent compared to the same period last year. Dengue mortality rose by 300 percent this year compared to 2015,” Cerro said in a mobile phone interview.
Deaths have been reported in Catbalogan City and Catbalogan City; Maasin City; San Miguel, Abuyog, Baybay City, Palo, and Tanauan, all in Leyte; Borongan City; and San Vicente, Northern Samar.
Clustering of cases have been noted in Baybay City, Capoocan, Palo, Sta. Fe, Tacloban City, and Tolosa, all in Leyte; Guiuan and Lawaan, both in Eastern Samar; Lavezares in Northern Samar; Naval in Biliran; and Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte.
The DOH field office here sent a team of health workers to the island town of Sto. Niño in Samar to check as local authorities have reported of a dengue outbreak in their area.
“For areas with many dengue cases, our advice is to conduct fogging operation to kill any adult mosquitoes. This can be done once a week for three weeks to control the mosquito population,” Cerro added.
Other strategies of the health department to combat rising cases are intensified mosquito control efforts, coordinate with local government units in information drive, conduct fogging and larviciding in areas with clustering of cases, install dengue express lanes in hospitals, purchase and preposition of fluids.
Dengue fever is marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body.
Cerro urged those who suffer the symptoms to immediately seek consultation from local health workers to prevent deaths from this mosquito-borne disease.
(SARWELL Q.MENIANO)
Leyte town to focus on infra works, investment promotion
TACLOBAN CITY – The municipal government of Carigara will be giving more focus on infrastructures and implement projects that could stir more economic activities among its local businesses as it charts its local agenda for 2017.
Town officials together with department heads, selected employees, and representatives from national government agencies recently gathered to formulate its Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) in Cebu City.
Carigara Mayor Eduardo Ong disclosed that he would be prioritizing for more investments and businesses to generate more jobs and livelihood opportunities for the people.
“More investors would mean more jobs and economic opportunities for our people,” Ong said.
Meanwhile, Ong said that they will be providing a special program for those who surrendered under the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Tokhang” which would include food- for- work and counseling classes.
About 350 drug users and pushers in the town have voluntarily surrendered since “Tokhang” was enforced last month.
“The surrenderees underwent several trainings for self-renewal as they were integrated back to the community” said Ong.
The mayor said that since they don’t have limited fundings, the plan to put up their own rehabilitation center is remote at this time.
“The LGU may be able to construct a rehab center but with the limited funding, we cannot operate our own since it will require staff, counseling, and food,” Ong said.
The mayor emphasized other target priorities such as improved health service; program for basic services; housing programs for families living along the coastal areas and permanent danger zones; business industry promotion and marketing for more economic activity and, effective disaster preparedness and management.
Mayor Ong said formulation of the ELA is important as it guides and enables the executive and legislative branches to agree on priority problems and issues and focus on a set of interventions.
“This activity also promotes the judicious use of LGU budget and resources,” Ong added.
Carigara works on P102 million internal revenue allotment and an P 18 million local revenue. (AHLETTE C.REYES/
LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
Calbayog officials seeks additional police force to ensure peaceful brgy and SK polls
CALBAYOG CITY-Anticipating of a possible violence on the forthcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, the city government will be seeking for additional police force.
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said that the request was contained in a resolution aproved by the city council which aim to ensure that the conduct of the barangay and youth polls in Calbayog will be peaceful.
“In our quest for peace, we feel the need of urgency. We’ve decided to pass a resolution to request for addition number of police forces here especially in our remote villages, so that we can stop violence,” he said.
However, the city mayor did not say as to how many additional police they need to ensure a peaceful and orderly barangay polls in Calbayog.
At present, the city has 86 policemen.
The country is set to hold barangay and SK polls this October.
“There has been a history of violence and conflicts being incited by some political parties here in previous elections,” Aquino said.
“Politics is politics. We cannot blame anyone. We all know that barangay and SK election is a litmus test for our young democracy,” the mayor added.
Calbayog has always been tagged as among the region’s hot spots during elections.
The city is politically subdivided into three districts (Calbayog, Tinambacan and Oquendo) and has 157 barangays.
According to Aquino, he has received reports that as early as now, there are “conflicts” monitored in the different barangays in the city with the forthcoming village polls as the reason.
“In our quest for peace, we feel the need of urgency. We’ve decided to pass a resolution to request for addition number of police forces here especially in our remote villages, so that we can stop violence,” he said.
However, the city mayor did not say as to how many additional police they need to ensure a peaceful and orderly barangay polls in Calbayog.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
Couple arrested in drug bust operation claims Kerwin as their supplier of shabu
KANANGA, Leyte- A couple arrested in an anti-drug operation of this town named alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa as their supplier of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
Not only that, Espinosa also gave them security so they could evade arrests from authorities, said Sarah Tan.
Tan and her husband, Ernesto, were arrested inside their house located at Riverside, Poblacion, this town.
Tan, 50 is considered as Kananga’s second drug pusher while her 54-year old husband is ranked just behind her, Chief Inspector Ricky Reli, town police chief, said.
According to her, it is Espinosa who provided them with shabu which they sold.
“Kerwin provided us (drug) supply. He promised he will do the rest so we will be protected (and not get arrested)”, she said during an interview.
Tan said that she normally received a gram of shabu valued at more than P260,000 from Espinosa who has long gone into hiding.
Espinosa and his father, Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. has been tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as among the country’s biggest drug lords.
The embattled mayor, however, strongly denied the allegation though he faces complaints for possession of illegal drugs before the Leyte prosecutor’s office filed by the police.
Tan also said that Espinosa also provided them security so they could continue their illegal activity.
“There were times he would call telling me to cool down and leave the place for a while. Then days after, our house were raided”, she said.
The couple left the town last June and returned the following month to surrender to the police.
Tan insisted they already stopped in the prohibited business as she denied that the shabu seized from their houses were planted.
The local police, armed with a search warrant issued by Judge Ephrem Abando of Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Hilongos, Leyte, seized from the couple nine sachets of shabu, P500 marked money and drug paraphernalia.
“The police are serious in running after those who still engaging in the outlawed occupation and who are still resorting to use drugs. I urge everybody to stop,” Reli said.
(ELVIE ROMAN ROA)