TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) had agreed to hasten the distribution of the certificate of land ownership awards (CLOAs) to farmers who have been deprived of government relief assistance due to the absence of said document. In an interview, DAR Regional Director Shiela Enciso made this disclosure after she appeared before an inquiry conducted by the committee on agrarian reform at the House of Representatives chaired by Rep. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. last Oct.29.

Thousands of farmers in Leyte, who were earlier identified as beneficiaries of the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), failed to receive housing assistance from various humanitarian groups as they failed to present a CLOA. CLOA is used as a document to show that the farmers own the lot. The said document is being asked by various humanitarian groups in providing housing assistance.
In the region, Enciso said that they need more time before the remaining CLOAs will be distributed for the reason that they are in the process of conducting an investigation and retrieving some documents under CARP which have been damaged due to the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda. But Enciso said that in the absence of the CLOAs, her office will issue for the meantime CLOA beneficiary certificate that will proved that they are among those who will be given CLOA by DAR.  Enciso said that she would inform the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) and to other national government agency to consider the CLOA beneficiary certificate as an alternative of the CLOA.

“We cannot assure that the CLOAs will be distributed within one or three months, that is why will just issue them temporarily CLOA beneficiary certificate in order for them to avail the housing benefits or assistance that they are saying,” Enciso said. Before the distribution of the remaining CLOAs, Enciso disclosed that they will conduct a re-identification of farmer beneficiaries in order to know if those who have applied for CLOAs are still occupying the land covered by CARP. In case that the farmers who applied for CLOAs are no longer occupying the land covered by CARP, the DAR has no other choice but to exclude them from the program. In a data presented by DAR in the committee hearing conducted, there are around 88,000 hectares of Untitled Privately-Claimed Agricultural Lands (UPALs) under the Agrarian Law. (RYAN GABRIEL L.ARCENAS)

DULAG, Leyte-Ten year old Jan Ruiz of this town continues to carry the burden of remembering his aunt and some cousins who were drowned when supertyphoon Yolanda hit them last year. During the observance of the All Souls Day on November 2, Ruiz lit a candle and offered prayers for his aunt and other relatives who perished during the onslaught of Yolanda. In Tacloban, storm survivor Eileen Ballesteros said the observance of the first year anniversary of the strongest typhoon to make landfall should be marked with the survivors resilience and strong faith in God. “It is a day to thank God for another chance to live and be helpful citizens. It is a day of mourning too for those who lost their loved ones. One year is yet too short to see the recovery from such huge devastation and overcome the loss of loved ones,” Ballesteros, who is also a columnist of this paper, said.

“There can be no closure yet until all the marks that the devastation has left are completely eradicated from the people’s perception and remembrance,” she pointed out. Another storm survivor Efleda Bautista, recalling her experience on the wake of Yolanda’s onslaught, also felt “overwhelmed and saddened” by the realization that this disaster could not have happened if the people were fully warned on its impacts. Bautista eventually turned into a convenor of People Surge, a broad coalition involving storm survivors which is demanding for due assistance from the government.  “Even until now I cannot believe the devastation that befell on us,” she said, adding that the government’s lack of serious action to the victims proved to be more difficult for the recovery of the survivors. “So we are demanding justice, and then on the absence or slow response in terms of relief and rehabilitation and the corruption issues in the midst of relief and rehabilitation efforts,” Bautista said. (RONALD O.REYES)

BOBON, Northern Samar- Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo visited the province to see various projects funded or assisted by his office. Montejo, who arrived last November 3, was joined by his Undersecretary, Carol Yorobe during his sojourn to the province. Montejo, whose family hails from Tacloban City, met with members of the local media after he arrived at the Catarman Airport, and proceeded right away to the provincial capitol to meet Governor Jose Ong and officials of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP) led by its president, Mar De Asis.

Sec.Montejo visited a project at the UEP’s National Seaweeds Research and Development program-B (DOST-PCAARRD Funded HITS) project and toured DOST-PSTC project at the said university. He also visited a metal and car center and furniture maker in Barangay Molave and Dalakit, in Catarman. Bobon Mayor Reny Celespara accompanied Montejo in visiting the Neneng’s Furniture and Moulding Maker at Brgy. Arellano and a “pinyato” and “pinangat” processing center and the launching of a CEST-project beneficiary for the processing of coconut vinegar and wine production, both projects located in Brgy. Dancalan.
Montejo also met local officials of Bobon together with CEST beneficiaries. Montejo also visited the towns of Lavezares and San Isidro for the turn-over of DOST-GIA-8 Fund amounting P485, 740 and P207, 500 respectively for the establishment of vegetable farming and food processing center in both towns. (PETER PAREDES)

ORMOC CITY- The massive tragedy that hit this city over two decades ago that killed more than 3,000 people remembered to be fresh from the collective memories of the city residents. Last November 5, the city residents led by their officials marked the 23rd anniversary of the flash floods spawned by typhoon “Oreng” that hit Ormoc. During the commemoration, Mayor Edward C. Codilla continues urged the people of the city to “protect the environment and help the populace prepare for the incoming hazards.” At 7:30 a.m., the city officials and government employees did a procession with public rosary starting from the City Hall passing through both sides of river walk at Anilao River going to the city mass grave at public cemetery.

It was at the Anilao River where the huge bulk of flood water traversed and overflowed to the city proper that caused at least 10-feet torrent. The procession showed a picture of white- clad employees that symbolized unity and peace. Rev. Fr. Danny Pongos celebrated the Holy Mass at the mass grave that buried 4,922 bodies. Councilor Atty. Ruben Capahi became emotional as he recalled how his family grieved on the loss of his mother Nenita Capahi, 50, then the budget officer of the city government whose body was found at the sea three days after the November 5, 1991 tragedy.

Mayor Codilla said that the 1991 flash flood is one of the country’s worst tragedies where Ormoc became globally known triggering aids from the international community. The tragedy also became part of the city’s history that should never be ignored, he went on. Atty. Capahi compared “Yolanda” to the 1991 flash flood saying the former destroyed wider scope since Ormoc was near its eye but claimed only few lives while the latter was focused at the city proper but thousands of lives were lost hitting the city’s most populous area. This year’s theme, “we prayed, we survived, one city, moving on”. On Nov. 8, the city is set to observe the first anniversary of super typhoon “Yolanda” that claimed lives and caused damages in the region. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)

PALO, Leyte – Survivors of the supertyphoon Yolanda, joined by the members of the People Surge Alliance, held a memorial at the mass graves in Tanauan, Palo and Tacloban City during the observance of All Souls Day. The survivors placed candles at the top of the plots where the dead bodies were buried. Banners bearing the message “Here lie the victims of Aquino Governments Criminal Negligence,” were displayed by the People Surge members. According to the Marissa Cabaljao, information officer of the People Surge, blamed the government for lack of preparation why there were thousands of people who died during the onslaught of Yolanda. “There was criminal negligence (on the part of the government) because these thousands of people who died will not die if the government really prepared before the landfall of the super typhoon,” she said. “One week before the typhoon the government already knew this tragedy. In fact, Noynoy stated that there will be a strong storm coming but he just commanded to evacuate. He did not explain how strong it would be specifically regarding the storm surge,” Cabaljao added. Cabaljao also stated that they will continue to support the people in asking for justice from the gross negligence of Aquino administration. Meanwhile, when asked about the President’s approval for the rehabilitation a/assistance for Yolanda survivors, Cabaljao said that it was not favorable to the poor because it focuses more on the infrastructure rather than in livelihood. “The master plan is not favorable to the poor, no livelihood. They only focus on the infrastructure that will favor the big business. So what the poor will gain from this? she said. (MYLA ANN M. JOMADIAO (LNU Intern)

CALBAYOG CITY- The first ever officers training on DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) was commended by Mayor Ronaldo Aquino as being timely considering that problem on illegal drugs is becoming rampant anew. The city mayor, however, stressed that while concerned security officials should do their best to address the menace, this cannot be totally addressed without the support of the community and proper information dissemination.

“Proper Education and information on the menace of drug abuse has been a generally accepted strategy. Indeed, the first objective is to prevent drug abuse among people before it starts,” Mayor Aquino, who was the guest speaker during the opening of the occasion held at the Calbayog City Sports Center last November 3, said. “Information and opinion molding are essential in order to keep the young people off from drugs, because curiosity, drug propaganda and peer pressure may mislead them into testing drugs,” he added. Mayor Aquino is the current chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council. He vow to address the problem on illegal drug as one of his priority as RPOC chair. DARE project coordinator Police Senior Supt. Cedrick Train, DRDA-PRO 8, spearheaded the activity, in coordination with the Samar Police Provincial Office through police provincial director S/Supt Nolasco Bathan and the Calbayog City Police Office through city police chief Supt. Glenn Oliver Cinco.

The training, which will end on Nov.12, is under supervision of Philip Josef Vera Cruz, legal division chief of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). Vera Cruz gave lecture on Republic Act No. 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Police chiefs in the province and other officers who are to become instructors under the DARE program participated the 10-day training. Dr. Raul Agban, assistant schools division superintendent representing DepEd-Calbayog City for the in-school beneficiaries, and Betty Jane Arnejo, city social welfare and development officer, for the out-of-school youths (OSY), also joined the activity.

DARE is an international education program founded by Daryl Gates developed in 1983 that seeks to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior.  It aims to teach effective peer resistance and refusal skills in psychosocial approach so that adolescents can say “no” to drugs and their friends who may want them to use drugs. The secondary goals of the program are to build the children’s social skills and enhance their self-esteem, as these are believed to be linked to adolescent drug use. (AIMEE CATALAN)