SAN ISIDRO, Northern, Samar—“My program for the next three years is HEART or “kasingkasing” which stands for health, education, agriculture, revenue generation and tourism,” says newly-elected Mayor Ferdinand Avila. Mayor “Nanding”, as he is fondly called by his town mates, took the post from his father, Conrado Avila who is now a councilor, said that the delivery of basic health services like free medicines will continue. A mobile clinic, which could be the first of its kind in Northern Samar, will be made available to the people in the barangays. The mobile clinic is equipped with medical facilities and to be man with medical personnel providing free checkup and treatment for their primary medical needs.  “This will bring health service at your doorsteps,” the mayor said, addressing his constituents.  On education, aside of their continuing educational assistance program funded under educational special fund (ESF) which were apportioned to different school levels, the mayor will also introduced a concept that is new to the province: providing free school buses for all the students. Mayor Avila also disclosed of an amount for cost-share for the purchase of four-wheel (big) tractor sthat to help the agriculture sector of the town. “Kay dede sa San Isidro, may halo nga bato an tuna so they are hard up for the soil preparation”, he said. He will also provide assistance to the farmers like providing them free seeds and technical assistance, among others. On the revenue generation aspect, one of his plans is to construct a bus terminal, wet and dry public markets and hotel and restaurant run by the municipal government. “Kay dede sa amon bungto problema an accommodation”, he said adding that promoting the local tourism industry is also a priority of his administration. Likewise, Avila also announced of their town’s being chosen by the Department of Energy as one of the four towns in the country being considered of its wind mass project. The installation of wind turbine, to be constructed in Barangay Seven Hills, will not only generate employment to the local people but could become a tourist attraction of their town like that in Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte and Pelilia, Rizal.(PETER D. PAREDES)

TACLOBAN CITY- The surrender of Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son, Kerwin, is a big blow for those engaging in the illegal drug activity in the region.
Thus said Isidro Lapeña, director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who was in the region last Friday (August 5).
The Espinosas, particularly Kerwin, are considered as Eastern Visayas’ number one drug lord. While the embattled mayor has surrendered to the authorities last August 2 after President Rodrigo Duterte asked him to give up, his son remain at-large.
A shoot-to-kill order was already issued against the young Espinosa by Police Director General Roland de la Rosa.
“With the neutralization of drug syndicate led by Kerwin Espinosa, more people will come out to report incidents of operation on illegal drug trade here in Region 8,” said Lapeña.
“It is good that we have now a President who is hands on on the fight against illegal drug. This is a golden opportunity for the Filipino people to suppress illegal drugs,” he added.
Lapeña said that their agency is still investigating and conducting surveillance operations against individuals in the region who are considered high value targets.
The PDEA official, however, declined to divulge any names who are in the illegal drug activity in the region.
Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, in a press briefing on August 4, also confirmed that they are conducting surveillance several individuals in the region who could be involved in the illegal drug trade.
Lapeña did not provide any names of individuals in the region that they consider as high value targets that are under their list.
The new PDEA chief re-echoed Pres. Duterte’s announcement to end illegal drug trade problem in the country within three to six months by intensifying their campaign up to the community level.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- The naming of their mayor by President Rodrigo Duterte as being involved in the illegal drug activity was “absolutely shocking.”
Thus said a close aide of Mayor Hector Ong of Laoang, Northern Samar who was named, together with his wife, Madeleine, by the President to be protector of those in the illegal drugs activity.
The aide, who is a lawyer by profession, said that not once their mayor and his wife, who also served as mayor of the town, were involved in illegal activity, much more on illegal drugs.
The aide declined to be identified saying she has no authority to speak for Mayor Ong and his wife.
“Laoang is a very small town. Everybody knows everybody. No secret could be hidden. They never engaged in any illegal activity to include in the illegal drug,” she said in a phone interview.
According to her, the couple is considered as the richest in Laoang, a coastal town inhabited by 61,359 people based on the 2015 population census.
She said that they maintain a gasoline station, commercial buildings for rent, copra- buying and a big hardware in Manila.
One of their sons is into business while another son is a doctor based in Manila.
“That is why it is really unbelievable that they would be engaging in the illegal drug activity. They are very rich already,” the aide aid.
She admitted that just like in any area in the country, Laoang is facing problem on the illegal drug.
“But it does not follow that because the problem is not completely solved under their respective administrations, they will be tag in the illegal drug trade. That is unfair,” she said.
It was learned that Mayor Ong and his wife left for Manila just hours after they learned that they were among those named by Mr. Duterte Sunday(August 7).
The source could not ascertain whether the two would go to Malacañang to meet the President or to Police Director General Ronald de la Rosa to clear their names.
The Ong couple has ruled Laoang since 1986 after Madeleine was named as its officer-in-charge after the 1996 EDSA People Power I.
Madeleine, who is not holding any elective post this time, also served as governor of Northern Samar from 1998 to 2001.
During the May 9 elections, Hector replaced his wife as mayor of Laoang.
The Ong family is considered to be the most politically powerful in Northern Samar, one of the poorest provinces in the country.
Mayor Hector Ong’s brother, Jose, is the current governor, while a nephew, Edwin, just won as a congressman, replacing his father, Emil.
Emil Ong served as the administrator of the National Food Authority during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. (JOEY A. GABIETA)