TACLOBAN CITY- The Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) in coordination with the United Nations (UN) and World Food Program (WFP) continue its rice distribution in the province of Leyte.
In an interview, ACTED project manager and spokesperson Engr. Francis Lloyd Cinco said that the beneficiaries under their rice distribution were identified by the WFP.
The rice distribution of ACTED covers the town of Javier, San Miguel, Barugo, Carigara, Capoocan and Kananga in which each beneficiary whose age ranges five years onward will receive 10 kilos of rice.
Around 60,000 individuals have availed the rice donation of the ACTED.
“We always have a close coordination with the UN especially to the WFP because they are the ones who have data about those areas who have not been reached by other organizations who are also distributing rice,” Cinco said.
On the other hand, the WFP was tasked to identify areas that will be covered by food distribution of those organizations.
“Our rice distribution will continue as long as there are still families who are in need of rice,” Cinco said.
“The rice seeds planted by the farmers will not immediately grow, they still need to wait for 5 to 6 months before they can harvest those rice they planted,” he added.
TACLOBAN CITY- Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has appointed a new regional executive director for DA-Region 8,Bernadette San Juan, the first-ever lady director to assume as DA-8 Chief.
In a simple turnover ceremony which coincided with the First Regional Management Council (RMC) Meeting held January 29 at the Main RIARC, Babatngon, Leyte, Dir. San Juan humbly introduced herself as a former NGO worker; a foreign affairs director from 2000 to 2006; an OFW, having previously worked as director of Regent College in Cambodia; and an educator as she was then affiliated with the academe particularly with the University of Asia and the Pacific, Perpetual College of Las Piñas and the Miriam College.
However, a closer look at her resume would actually reveals that she have had an impressive educational background and record of service from her undergraduate course to her post-graduate studies, she was a consistent recipient of various scholarship grants and awards. A Grants-in-aid Awardee for her Bachelor of Science in Geography at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City; a Partial Tuition Fee Scholar for her Masters of Arts in Education at the Center for Research and Communication (now University of Asia and the Pacific), Pasig City, and an Aurelio Calderon Scholar for her Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies at the De La Salle University, Manila.
She first joined the government service as personal assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). She also used to hold various designations as a consultant, training specialist and part-time lecturer at the Center for Research and Communication from 1991-1998.
Subsequently, she got some consultancy jobs at the Bishops-Businessman Conference of the Philippines Livelihood Foundation, Inc. (BBCPLFI); Development Advocacy for Women’s Volunteerism, Incorporated (DAWW); National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and as a researcher or training specialist for the Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of National Resources, Inc.
Her wide exposure to the different sectors had practically widen her horizon, honed her capabilities and talents to handle a bigger, more grounded and challenging job in the government service, particularly in the Department of Agriculture as Assistant Regional Technical Director/Special Assistant for Technical Concerns at the Office of the Secretary (OSec) from September 2010 to October 2012.
Her new assignment in the region is her second regional posting following a successful stint as the regional technical director for operations and extension in Region 11 from January 2, 2013 to January 28, 2014.
CHEERS. Football superstar David Beckham visited Yolanda victims in Tacloban City and Tanauan, Leyte on February 13 and 14. In photo above shows one of the world’s most familiar faces being mobbed during his visit at the Tacloban astrodome. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)
CHEERS. Football superstar David Beckham visited Yolanda victims in Tacloban City and Tanauan, Leyte on February 13 and 14. In photo above shows one of the world’s most familiar faces being mobbed during his visit at the Tacloban astrodome. (ROEL T.AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY- Football superstar David Beckham visited this city and the nearby town of Tanauan, this week and in the process providing comfort and cheer to the victims, particularly children, of supertyphoon Yolanda.
Beckham arrived in this city on February 13 at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport and immediately proceeded to the Tacloban Convention Center or astrodome, now temporary homes to more than 400 families.
There, he stayed for more than an hour, interacting with the kids, cajoling babies and asked the mothers how they were coping after the massive disaster that struck this city three months ago.
Jade Maceda, a 13 year old boy who was among the 300 lucky children who met the global superstar said that he and other children gave Backham a massage at his back.
“He just kept on smiling while we were giving him a massage at his back,” the boy said.
He also admitted that he has no idea who was Beckham, considered to be one of the most familiar faces in the world and one of the most popular soccer players.
The 38-year soccer player arrived at the area at 1:38 p.m. amid tight security provided by the local police and burly white men apparently hired by the Unicef(United Nations Children’s Fund)of which Beckham is one of its ambassador of goodwill.
Upon disembarking from a vehicle, Beckham mobbed by the media, evacuees and kibitzers immediately proceeded to a white tent provided by the Unicef where he met the 300 children, all survivors of the Supertyphoon Yolanda.
There, he sat in one corner of the huge tent where the children entertained him by singing “Ako ay Pilipino, “among others.
They also gave Beckham flowers made by the children from a colored paper. In turn, Beckham also created his own heart artwork made colored paper.
Keith Sacramento, a soccer player who also teaches the sport at the Bethel International School based in Palo town, Leyte, said that he was happy to see his “idol.”
“I only see him in television. But now, I was able to see him up close and personal,” the 27-year old Sacramento said.
And the following day, Beckham visited Barangay Santo Nino, a coastal village of Tanauan where he played soccer with 15 kids of the barangay.
John Kelvin Dado, 12, said that he was happy not only to see Beckham in person but had a rare chance to play with him at their school’s grounds.
“I just see him in television but for almost 20 minutes, we see him play with us here. We shake his hands which were sweaty,” the Grade 6 student of the Santo Nino Elementary School of said village said.
Beckham also visited the house of couple Trinidad Ojeda and her partner Rodolfo Mueba whose youngest child, Viana, died due to the typhoon. The couple’s two other children, Vince and Venus, survived the tragedy.
“He consoled us saying that everything happened for a purpose and we’re all be OK,” Ojeda said.
According to the couple, Beckham stayed at their house for almost 30 minutes as he asked them how they are now living after the storm and if they are being provided with aid, particularly by the UNICEF.
“He kept on asking how we are now and if everything’s okay with us. He also promised to return and give possible help to our family,”Ojeda said.
“Of course, we were happy. He really went out of his way just to be with us, “her husband, Rodolfo, said.
Aside from giving the family a rare photo with him, Beckham also signed his signature with his soccer number 23 at Sharina’s notebook.
“I have a personal souvenir from him,” Sharina giggled as she revealed that Beckham even changed his wet shirt before them.
TACLOBAN CITY– A “Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village” will soon rise in Barayong, Palo, Leyte with the construction of 500 houses and five units or 10 classrooms under the Operation: School for the Barrio Project.
Palo Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla, in a text message, the 500 houses which cost P40 million project for the Yolanda survivors, will be shouldered by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) while the ten classrooms will cost P2 million.
President Benigno Aquino III witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) held in Malacanang Palace.
The signing of the MOA was done with FFCCCII Foundation, Inc. president Dr. Alfonso Siy and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla.
“I am happy with this partnership,” said Mayor Petilla.
The municipality of Palo has been a recipient of 12 classrooms during her two-term incumbency, under the foundation’s Operation: School for the Barrio Project.
“They are very generous. I am overwhelmed the FFCCCII chose Palo. The permanent housing project is for 500 families. This will start very soon as we are doing the site development of Barayong village,” Petilla added.
The Tacloban-Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (TFCCCI) will oversee the construction of the project according to TFCCCI president Jack Uy.
Also present during the MOA signing were Mayor Petilla’s son Department of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla; Secretary Mar Roxas of the Department of Interior and Local Government, business magnate Lucio Tan, chairman emeritus of the FFCCCII Foundation, Carlos Legaspi, project coordinator of FFCCCII and other FFCCCI executives.
TACLOBAN CITY – The Small Business Corporation (SBC) reported a total of P200 million loan applications from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Visayas regions displaced by super typhoon Yolanda.
SBC president and chief operations officer Ma. Luna Cacanando said they expect to complete the release of initial loan applications to SMEs in the next three months.
The state-run corporation, the lending arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said that 34 borrowers have already received loans in northern Cebu and several areas in Tacloban City, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar and Eastern Samar.
“We have now processed applications of 135 borrowers with a total loan application of about P200 million. Every other week, we sent teams in affected areas to process about 15 to 20 applications,” Cacanando said.
The SBC offers special loans to displaced businessmen with one year grace period and an interest rate of 5% to 6%, lower than the 10% to 12% interest for regular financing program.
“Our goal is to help more SMEs, but we are encouraging the banking sector to start lending. They need to have strategy on how to help affected businessmen considering the scale of destruction in several areas,” she added.
Recently, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo led the release of checks to 13 Yolanda-displaced SMEs in Eastern Visayas amounting to P8.9 million.
“Providing loans will definitely help. It will have multiplier effect since businesses that will resume operation would hire workers and need supplies. The effect is symbiotic,” Domingo told reporters.
The beneficiaries are engaged in businesses like healthcare, vehicle and parts, soft drinks distribution, printing, grocery shop, food processing, motorcycle and bicycle parts, pharmacy, farm machineries, scrap metal, construction supplies trade, lumber, meat shop, and hardware.
“We pulled out budget from our existing programs to provide loans to affected SMEs. We are proposing additional budget in the form of support to SBC operation to serve more entrepreneurs,” Domingo said.
One of the recipients was Gimine Ann Pacanan, 35, whose family owns a grocery shop, pharmacy, and franchise of three Monterey Meat shop branches in Tacloban.
“The loan is a big help for us to restart the meat shop business. We still have to decide whether to reopen our grocery shop and pharmacy because it will need more capital,” Pacanan said.
Her family has been into retail business for 17 years. They decided to shutdown their shops after losing about P10 million from storm surge and looting incidents. They had 30 workers.
The DTI said that about 50,000 SMEs were affected by the destructive typhoon in the three Visayas regions.
CATBALOGAN CITY- It is over three months since super Tyhoon Yolanda wrought havoc in the Visayas regions that cost lives and leaving severe damages to the economic livelihood and properties in these regions, yet, the victims are still in dire need of assistance to which every agency and sector, local and foreign, is trying to address.
At the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the focus of its intervention is on the farmers in worst hit agrarian reform communities (ARCs).
In an effort to revive the livelihood industry of the affected farmers in the ARCs, a rapid survey and assessment was conducted by DAR late last year in partnership with the United Nations’ World Food Programme to come up with information as to priority areas in the province needing immediate assistance.
Headed by provincial agrarian reform program officer I Segundino L. Pagliawan, another round of survey is being undertaken in the ARCs of Marabut, Basey and Sta. Rita, having been identified as the worst hit municipalities in Samar per result of the rapid survey earlier conducted.
The survey is to come up with a master list of the farmers in said areas who shall directly benefit from the program.
Included in the survey is gathering of data on the available labor force of the affected family within the ARC; the extent of damage on community facility or assets specifically related to farming like irrigation; and farm areas still filled with debris caused by the super typhoon that needs clearing; or any other needed farm inputs.
Information on family with no labor-abled body is also included in the survey to come up with an appropriate project and assistance that can be delivered to them under the same program.
Under the auspice of the Sustainable Livelihood Recovery Program, the affected farmers shall render labor on their own respective areas; the UN-WFP shall pay the farmer for the labor rendered-one laborer per family under the cash for work sub-project of the program; and DAR shall implement monitor and supervise the implementation of the program in the identified affected areas.
Per preliminary report from the Program Beneficiaries Development Division of DAR Samar, it reveals that about 200 farmers in 20 barangays within the ARCs of the said municipalities would benefit from the program.
