TACLOBAN CITY – The inflation rate of the region at the start of the year was pegged at 4.0 percent, a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistical Service Office VIII (PSA – RSSO 8), said.
Wilma Perante, regional director, PSA – RSSO 8, told Leyte Samar Daily Express in an interview that Eastern Visayas welcomed 2019 with a 4.0 percent inflation rate.
Perante reported that the 0.4 percentage point is lower compared with the 4.4 percent inflation rate a month ago but equal with the same period last year.
The regional inflation rate was 0.4 percentage point lower than the 4.4 percent national average in January 2019.
Among other regions, Eastern Visayas ranked fourth from the bottom.
Perante said that four provinces in the region registered lower inflation rates in January 2019 compared with their figures in the previous month.
“Eastern Samar and Northern Samar posted the highest decrease of 2.2 percentage points each. Southern Leyte recorded a 0.7 percentage point decrease, while Biliran registered a decrease of 0.3 percentage point from their figures a month ago. On the other hand, increases in inflation rate were noted in Samar with 0.7 percentage point and Leyte at 0.4 percentage point. Samar recorded the highest inflation rate at 6.3 percent, while Biliran posted the lowest at 1.4 percent,” Perante said
Perante said that the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages eased down to 5.3 percent in January 2019 from its previous month’s rate of 6.0 percent, a decrease of 0.7 percentage point.
This can be traced to slower price increases of majority of the food items. Fruits index registered a negative inflation rate at 1.3 percent, from 2.1 percent in December 2018.
Inflation rate for transport also went down by 0.5 percentage point, from 3.0 percent in December 2018 to 2.5 percent in January 2019. This can be traced to the slower inflation rate seen in the index for operation of personal transport equipment.
The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) of the region was recorded at P0.80 in January 2019, slightly weaker than the P0.81 PPP a month ago.
PPP implies that goods and services worth P100 in January 2019 costs P80 only in 2012.
Biliran and Eastern Samar registered a 0.01 centavo decrease each in PPP compared with their figures in December 2018, while Southern Leyte recorded a 0.01 centavo increase from its PPP a month ago.
The rest of the provinces sustained their PPP last month. Leyte recorded the strongest PPP at P0.83. Biliran and Southern Leyte ranked second at P0.82, followed by Eastern Samar at P0.77. Northern Samar and Samar posted the weakest PPP at P0.76.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

MAASIN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has kicked off the rehabilitation and stabilization works of the landslide-hit area in Sogod, Southern Leyte to fully restore the major road section within the year.
The DPWH field office here was referring to 200-meter portion of the highway in Pancho Villa village where a major landslide occurred last March 2018, seriously damaging the road.
The infrastructure agency will utilize its P40 million allocation this year to carry out the restoration projects. Works include road reblocking, construction of a slope protection wall, and disposal of debris materials.
“We instructed the contractor to start the work even before the approval of the 2019 infrastructure program because we understand the danger it poses to the residents and travelling public. We have to address this problem immediately,” Junia said.
The field office will apply displacement piling installation method to stabilize the foundation of the landslide site. Workers will drive piles 30 meters below underground to reach the solid ground foundation and create sheet pile afterwards.
Displacement piling installation is a method used in providing foundation support for buildings and other structures through driving piles into the ground without removing any soil or other material until it reaches the stable layer of the ground.
“Once we finish stabilizing the ground movement, we will introduce a slope protection technology to prevent another landslide in the future. The damaged road stretch will undergo major repair after prevention measures are fully completed,” the official said.
Currently, only one lane is passable in the 200-meter portion of the national highway in Pancho Villa village.
The DPWH Southern Leyte chief advised the public bound for Benit Port in San Ricardo town to take safer alternate routes while threats along the highway in Sogod town is not yet fully addressed.
Travelers bound for Benit Port may take Tacloban-Mahaplag-Baybay-Bato-Bontoc-Sogod-Daang Maharlika-Liloan-San Ricardo road for the meantime. The port is the region’s gateway to Mindanao.
(PR/FMMT)

CARIGARA, Leyte- The mayor of this town has filed criminal cases against the incumbent vice mayor and a councilor who is running against him in this year’s midterm elections.
Mayor Eduardo Ong filed perjury and falsification of public documents against Vice Mayor Mildred Modesto and Councilor Rachel Makabenta before the Office of the Assistant Provincial Prosecutor based this town on February 18.
On his affidavit-complaint, Ong claimed that both Makabenta and Modesto, running-mates in this year’s elections, committed forgery using falsified documents when they filed disqualification cases against him and his son who is his running mate.
Ong alleged that the witness of the complainants, Maritess Cantojos, denied that she signed an affidavit supporting the disqualification cases filed against Mayor Ong and his son, Eduardo, Jr.
Cantojos claimed that her signature that appeared on the complaint was forged.
Ong also said that lawyer Ulpiano Arpon, Jr., who was said to have notarized the disqualification cases filed against them before the Commission on Elections has also made a denial.
Ong, who is seeking for his third and last term as mayor, faces disqualification on the grounds of residency.
Dennis Garay, spokesperson of Mayor Ong, dismissed the disqualification petitions saying it’s nothing but political harassment saying that Ong has been serving as mayor of Carigara for the past six years now.
Still, they will answer the petition as they remain positive that it will eventually be dismissed by the Comelec for lack of merit.
Mayor Ong claims residency in Barangay Sagkahan of said town.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA/
LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Biliran prepares for EVRAA 2019

NAVAL, Biliran- A total of 373 teachers attended and participated a three- day division- based regional training for training and coaching official enhancement.
The activity was aimed at capacitating and enhancing the coaching skills of teachers who will serve as coaches in the forthcoming Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (EVRAA) Meet which is set on April 7-12, 2019 in Ormoc City.
Biliran has improved its ranking during the last three years where it holds the crown in archery for the last five years.
In an interview, Ryan Remandaban, the division sports coordinator, expressed his thanks to the eight mayors of the province for supporting the sports program of Governor Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. and Rep. Roger Espina.
Both officials have been supporting the sports program of the Department of Education (DepEd).
The training covered all games such as archery, baseball, basketball, softball, sepak takraw, taekwondo, volleyball, boxing, chess, bowling, billiard, arnis, among others.
Resource speakers and trainers from other school divisions shared their expertise on the different techniques and strategies in winning the games.
Last December, a special four- training for gymnastics was also conducted for Biliranon gymnasts with trainers from Manila.
It was participated by elementary and secondary pupils and students who aspire to become versatile gymnasts. Biliran wants to restore back gymnastics along with other new games.
(REY E. FAJARDO)