TACLOBAN CITY- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 8 (BFAR 8) will treat the fisheries community to a more interactive and festive celebration of this year’s 51st Fish Conservation Week on October 13-17, 2014 at the Activity Area of the Annex Building of Robinsons Place Tacloban. The BFAR will hold a week- long photo and scale model exhibit showcasing its rehabilitation together with its partner international and local non-government organizations to rebuild the fisheries sector through livelihood assistance initiatives to fisherfolks who were among the most, if not the most vulnerable to the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda. The exhibit is an avenue to commend the continuous operations of BFAR 8’s rehabilitation banner program, AHON, and to recognize the firm unity with the private sector which has been very supportive in all rehabilitation undertakings.

On the 15th of October is a “Konsyerto han Mangingisda”, a mini-concert participated by registered fisherfolks around the region who will compete for the chorale and Siday contests. The concert will also be graced by the country’s renowned patriotic singer and song writer, Joey Ayala, who will serenade the audience with his famous hits. On the last day of the week- long event, October 17, will be the awarding ceremonies for recognitions to BFAR employees and partner NGOs. According to Regional Director Juan Albaladejo, this idea was suggested by National Director Atty. Asis Perez who wants a joyous celebration to take a break from the hard-working days since the AHON Program was launched.

Director Albaladejo added that this year’s fish conservation is one of the most remarkable fetes of BFAR 8 because it signifies a noteworthy reason to celebrate in starting anew from the ravages of the world’s strongest typhoon that was Yolanda. With the theme “Sektor ng mga Mangingisda ng rehistrado at kinilala, Kabalikat sa pagsulong ng pangisda ang masagana”, BFAR also calls for the intensified campaign of the ongoing program for fisherfolks registration. The annual Fish Conservation Week Celebration aims to focus and emphasize the need for conservation and protection of coastal resources of the country. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The relocation of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) will not affect their operations but rather would possibly help boost their income. Thus said Janice Alota, administrative officer of the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC). The EVRMC is soon to be relocated adjacent to the PITAHC located in Barangay Bagacay which manufactures herbal medicines. “This is actually advantageous to us since we are more accessible to our potential consumers. With this development, we will expand our plantation to an adjacent land to maintain our production level,” Alota said. EVRMC will be transferred to storm surge-safe location in Bagacay from its current location near the coastline of the city’s Magsaysay Boulevard. The existing location of the regional hospital is within the property owned by the provincial government of Leyte.

The new EVRMC will rise in a 25- hectare site and is projected to be the “best state-owned regional hospital outside Metro Manila.” However, its construction has yet to start. PITAHC, which occupies 36 hectares, is a government-owned herbal medicine maker under the Department of Health. Its advocacy is to promote better health for Filipino through safe, effective and affordable traditional and health care products, services and technologies. From 2009 up to 2013, PITAHC’s nationwide net sales of herbal products have already totaled P371.75 million. “Herbal medicine is a trending topic that’s why our sales are increasing and herbal medicine is the country’s number one net sales of government-made herbal products nationwide,” Alota added. (JEANE MARIE M.FAMINOGAN, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY- About 32 families who completely lost their houses during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda who sought temporary shelters at the San Fernando Central School (SFCS) were transferred to their transitional houses on October 8. The families’ transitional houses were developed by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The transitional houses made of cocolumber, corrugated iron sheets and equipped with latrine and with a floor area of about 18 square meters to 24 square meters, depending on the number of children, are located in Barangay Utap, this city. Each unit is also connected with power and water supply.

About 77 transitional houses were constructed in the private lot owned by the family of Councilor Evangeline Esperas with the 31 families, consisting of more than 150 individuals, were the first to be relocated.
It was learned that the USAID provided the financial assistance to the CRS which will pay the monthly rental of P4, 400 to the lot owner for the next two years. The families transferred were from the villages of 51, 52, 54, 54B, 48B and 60A, all located along Sagkahan district. One of the beneficiaries was Tindia Carpina, a 22 year old mother of a one-year old girl whose been staying at the SFCS for almost a year now.
“We are so blessed and grateful for the donation given to us by the CRS,” she said who share the house with her parents and siblings. The remaining families are expected to be transferred from their evacuation center to their transitional houses within the month. The CRS has committed to build 117 transitional houses. (KATHRYN A.ORBIGOZO/JEANE MARIE M. FAMINOGAN, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY- Now that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) will push through next year only proves that the youth plays an indispensable role in the society. Thus said Tacloban City Councilor and former SK city federation president Edward Frederick Chua, reacting the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct the youth polls on February 15, 2015. The Comelec had just finished the listing for prospective voters of the SK elections.

Meantime, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos during his recent visit in Maasin City said that the age requirement for one to be considered as SK could reach up to 30 years old. The elections of the SK scheduled last year was cancelled due to opposition of some sectors questioning the relevant of the youth organization on top of the billions of pesos needed to conduct said polls. “Not just for any reason SK has been a good training ground for future leaders which is exactly was it meant to be,” Chua, who served as SK city federation president from 2010 up to 2013. Councilors Edwin Chua and Eden Pineda, an ex-officio member of the city council being the city president of the Association of Barangay Chairmen, are relatives of the young Chua. Chua admitted that while there is no sitting SK representative at the council, they could still transact their regular work and business as a whole. Meantime, in Maasin City, Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on local government, said that his committee is studying the possibility of extending the age requirements for the SK.

According to the senator, based on their proposal, eligible to be considered as SK are those age from 15 up to 30 years age. Increasing the age bracket qualified as SK would mean stability of the youth organization.
The senator also said that based on international standard, 30 years old is still considered as a youth age. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

LOPE DE VEGA, Northern Samar- Students who are studying out of the scholarship programs of the municipal government can be assured of their continued studies. This after Mayor Ana Tan Palloc said that providing free education to students coming from poor families but are showing interests to study and finish school would remain among her top priorities. She said that the scholarship program is just a continuation program initiated by former mayor and sister, Linda Palloc Cinco. Cinco is now serving as an ex-officio member of the town council being the president of the association of barangay chairman. The same post was occupied by Mayor Palloc before she became the town chief executive.

“Definitely yes, igpapadayon ko an mga programa komo sunod nga gin tapuran kahuman nga mag serbe ka-mayor an ak bugto nga si Linda Palloc-Cinco, ngamao an ABC President yana,” the lady mayor, serving on her first term told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview. At present, there are 750 high school students and another 100 college students who are enjoying the scholarship program of the municipal government. Considering that Northern Samar particularly, her town as famous for its vast lands of coconut plantation, Palloc said that she hope that scholars would take agriculture-related courses and help provide valuable contributions to the town’s agricultural programs.

Mayor Palloc said that she is also providing livelihood employment opportunities to the women of the town like soap-making, coconut oil processing, among others. She said women organizations were armed of their needed technical know-how trained by the Department of Trade and Industry in collaboration with other concerned government agencies. Several school buildings, day care and health centers were recently inaugurated the construction of which were funded under the KALAHI-CIDSS(Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The mayor said that of the P17 million worth of various infrastructure projects, her government funded around 15 percent of these projects expected to be finished by December of this year. On top of this, Mayor Palloc added, she is also bent at improving the health services programs. To date, their rural health unit building has now a lying-in unit manned by a hired municipal health officer and other medical experts along with the assistance of the national government’s Nurses Deployment Program. They have a readily-available stand-by ambulance for use in cases of emergency and referral to the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman and even in Manila for further medical treatment. (PETER PAREDES)