TACLOBAN CITY- Illegal recruitment and trafficking of persons particularly women and children continue to plague the world, not sparing the weak and hard-up Filipinos.
This was stated by DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto in the interaction with media as a kick-off activity for the upcoming observance of the “World’s Celebration of Trafficking Against Persons Day,” on July 30.
Thus, in their bid to stop the transporting of people to the profit of illegal recruiters, some members of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Persons (RIACAT) met the press to seek help in raising public’s consciousness and understanding about the ill-effects of forced recruitment and transport of innocent victims across the archipelago.
This act is termed trafficking in persons, which is prohibited under Republic Act 10364.
Director Macuto further disclosed that from January to March 2018 alone, about 32 persons from the city, had been recruited to work in a Fishing Industry in a far Luzon province.
“So sad, that one victim gathered it from co-workers that, some of their friends are sent out to feed Milk Fishes in far offshore fish cages, and when one is hit by lightning and die in the open sea, he is just left to decay,” Macuto shared.
“Fortunately, one recent victim was able to post on FB their sad plight, prompting the family in Tacloban to seek help of the authorities to recover their children who were recruited with some adults,” Macuto added.
As of press time, the victims were being transported back to Tacloban and to their respective families, though the stormy weather hampered their crossing the Matnog-Allen Strait.
Asked why trafficking of persons prevails despite the heightened advocacy, Atty. Rugy de Veyra of NBI-08, a RIACAT member replied that, it is just like asking why crimes do not stop.
“I think, for as long as poverty prevails, trafficking in persons stays, it is for economic reason that the illegal act is committed,” he added.
Nevertheless, Donabelle Abalo, Project Manager of Terre des Hommes (TDH), said that as a community, particularly the local government units, which they closely work with, we can do so much, if only every everyone cooperates for the safety and welfare of the most vulnerable members of society – women, children, young boys and girls.
“Prompt reporting to the police or social workers of illegal trafficking act, counts much,” she said.
Fondly called “Babet,” Abalo works with TDH, an international non-government organization, a leading Swiss child relief agency, that is largely involved in stopping child exploitation.
Spearheaded by DSWD08, PLAN International, DILG, PNP, NBI, CHR and City Social Welfare and Development Office, PIA among others compose the region’s RIACAT that is in its thick and thin for the upcoming July 30 Celebration.
(AURORA FROLINDA J. CASIMPAN/PIA-8)

TACLOBAN CITY- A tourism official in the region lauded the effort of the An Waray party-list group and the city government of Tacloban in coming up tourism promotional billboards.
Norberto ‘Bing’ Lumbre, senior tourism promotions officer of the Department of Tourism (DOT), said that the campaign launched by the An Waray party-list group and the Tacloban city government through its tourism office, complements with their campaign to attract local tourists to visit the region’s tourist destinations.
He also said that the information contained in the promotional campaign billboard like the distance of these tourism attractions to Tacloban City, the regional capital, is very helpful.
Found in the billboards are basic information on the tourist destination, tour rates and contact information.
On July 27, former An Waray party-list congressman Florencio ‘Bem’ Noel and city tourism officer Malou Tabao unveiled the tourism promotional billboards at the Tacloban new bus terminal and in one of the city’s private passenger van terminals.
“This will encourage locals to patronize local tourist destinations and give information on what to expect in these places. Many people in region 8 have visited destinations in other parts of the country and even outside the country, but never visited local destinations” Noel said.
Photos of the unveiled tourism destinations were the Sambawan Island in Maripipi Biliran; Biri rock formations in Northern Samar and the Kalangaman Island in Palompon, Leyte.
Tabao said that the initiative is supported by the city government as tourists drop by the city being the regional capital.
“This will benefit the city being the commercial center of the region. So let us help promote destinations to create more opportunities in the region,” she added. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

PALO, Leyte- While the mayor of this town is the driving force behind a multi-million cultural extravaganza, the Kasadyaan Festival, she frowns in holding a local beauty search due to high cost of staging it.
Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla said that holding a Miss Palo during its annual town fiesta would not only entail lots of preparation but especially, would cost a lot.
Petilla, who is now on her third and final term as mayor of this bustling town, said that the money that they would spend in staging a Miss Palo could better be used to other activities relative to their town fiesta.
“It’s very expensive to have a Miss Palo. You have to spend a lot in inviting judges, for one. The money that we will spend for the holding of the Miss Palo could better be used to other activities,” Petilla said during a media press conference.
Palo will observe its 188th fiesta on August 6 with series of activities been lined up by the municipal government.
Among these activities include sports competitions, agriculture and trade fair and nightly activities which include presentation of local dances and culture.
Mayor Petilla, who is known for being a perfectionist, said that if ever they would stage a Miss Palo activity, she would make it sure that it would be a grand presentation.
“It should not pale in comparison with the Miss Universe or Miss World staging,” she quipped.
Mayor Petilla, while she was the governor of Leyte, initiated the staging of the Kasadyaan Festival, a high-level cultural festival event in the province held during the annual fiesta of Tacloban City.
The Kasadyaan Festival, which has now fused with another festival, Pintados Festival, is now considered as the region’s premier cultural festival.
Mayor Petilla said that while they make sure that the people of Palo and their guests will have a good time during the entire town fiesta celebration, the funds allocated by the municipal government will still be minimal.
It was learned from Councilor Wilson Uy that for this year, the municipal government has allocated P2.8 million to be spent for all fiesta-related activities.
He also said that the entire amount may not be dispense as they also sought financial assistance from private donors as well as from the provincial government of Leyte.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Residents of Costa Brava in Barangay 88, San Jose district, this city, conducted an evacuation drill Saturday (July 28) as part of their activity relative to the observance of the National Disaster Resilience this month.
Costa Brava, including other villages in San Jose district, was among the most heavily damaged area when Tacloban City was pummeled by super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ on November 8,2013.
During the drill, about 150 residents of the village were ‘evacuated’ to San Jose Elementary School, about 700 meters away from the village, as the identified evacuation center.
Leading the drill were members of the RE-SERVE Humanitarian Corps, a volunteer group composed of responders from various local government units, humanitarian organizations, community groups, and students.
The corps are trained to provide solar power to humanitarian and emergency responders.
“We need accessible energy sources in times of disasters. This is why we volunteered to join the RE-Serve Humanitarian Corps and trained to help provide solar power not only to our communities but to others in need,” RE-Serve spokesperson Janice Bertulfo said.
This is the first time for the corps to conduct a community drill of this scale here in Tacloban City, and they hope to extend their work in other parts of the region, she said.
Their skills in operating a drone, satellite phones and other response tools were also tested, she added.
The City Disaster Risk and Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) of Tacloban also witnessed the drill in a bid to institutionalize this response mechanism into their CDRRM plan, particularly in addressing energy needs during disaster.
Brgy. 88 chairwoman Emelita Montalban said that the drill was timely especially as survivors of Yolanda, they have to be reminded of the things to do in case another typhoon hit their area.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN City, Leyte, July 27 (PIA) — Admitting he is more on personnel and operational management than a clinician, Doctor Salvador Evardone assumed recently as the 10th hospital chief of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) since”Yolanda”.
Prior to this, he was the chief of the Eastern Samar Provincial Hospital (ESPH) for 14 years, which gave him a rich experience in running a government health facility.
Back there, he paid attention and resolved staffing and personnel issues.
One ESPH staff who requested anonymity said, as a health leader Evardone is diplomatic not dominant with what he wants to implement. Whenever possible, he agrees on personal limitations of people and of available resources.
Evardone believes that for personnel to better perform, their needs have to be satisfied because they are the ones who translate strategies to action.
At EVRMC before his official assumption on August 2, he said he has heard of a few complaints of patients or their families but this is normal, he said.
Not to be discounted are complains in the recent past of arrogant health personnel, of which Dr. Avito Salinas, Deputy Chief acknowledged.
On the same note however, did Salinas appeal to the public to think of the majority of nurses, doctors and attendants who give better attention and services.
“EVRMC has about 2,400 personnel and the fault of one or two should not be branded for the entire working force, that is unfair,” Dr. Salinas said.
He was seconded by Dr. Evardone who requested media to validate any perceived misconduct of personnel, to validate the info with management.
On the operations side, Dr. Evardone stressed that he will be consultative with other members of top level management, continue the good practices and improve other service delivery if need be.
What is most challenging to EVRMC is the unfinished work of JD Legaspi Contractor.
“We’ve sent demand letters to JD Legaspi Construction in Manila for several months now, but we have yet to receive a reply or better yet to complete Phase-1 building of Cabalawan EVRMC,” Dr. Salinas shared.
Part of the construction, he added, is the provision of a transformer so they can start using their CT Scan machine.
“With our fluctuating electric current, we cannot start using the P100M worth CT Scan machine without the heavy duty transformer, otherwise it will destroyed instantly.
EVRMC also needs the help of DPWH08 to finish the road construction fronting the building and the Tacloban City LGU to control the increasing number of illegal stores which is believed to hamper the traffic flow.
Dr. Evardone and Dr. Salinas are highly hopeful that the Master Plan in making EVRMC an Apex health facility will soon be realized so people in the region will no longer have to go to Manila or Cebu for treatment of serious ailments.
(G.Tabao/PIA Leyte)

BURAUEN, Leyte- The Cadahunan Elementary School (CES) of Burauen North District, this town, is one of the recipients of School-Based Feeding Program of the Department of Education (DepEd).
The beneficiaries are all the undernourished children in the school based on the nutritional assessment conducted at the beginning of the school year.
It aims to improve the daily attendance, performance and nutritional status of learners from Kindergarten to Grade 6.
About 23 students of CES were identified as beneficiaries of this program which was implemented this month and is to end by August of this year.
Each beneficiary is given P18.00 per meal for 120 feeding days including the operational expenses.
The target beneficiaries are to take deworming medicine and vitamins with the consent of the parents.
The school, together with the stakeholders, are encourage to have Gulayan sa Paaralan Program and backyard vegetable gardening to augment the feeding program.
This program also promotes health and nutrition information and awareness among the target beneficiaries.
They will conduct hand washing and tooth brushing every day before and after the feeding.
The parents of the identified beneficiaries will prepare the menu every day with the supervision of the school feeding coordinator Florencia C. Arellano and to be monitored by the school head Lisa D. Superales.
It is very important that the school have this school-based feeding program, because most of the children go to school with empty stomach due to poverty.
And most of the pupils fond of making absences because of hunger. It affects the academic performance of the learners.
Through this program, it will reduce hunger, improve the nutritional status, health condition and academic performance of the learners.
(NOTE: Lisa D. Superales is the school head of Cadahunan Elementary School, Burauen North District, Burauen, Leyte)