TACLOBAN CITY- For a change, 24 police women took off their uniforms and donned in colorful and beautiful gowns and walked and waved like trained beauty queens.
They were part of the ‘sagalas’ or maidens in costumes during the Santacruzan organized by the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the leadership of Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz.
PO1 Nova Jane Barbosa, the queen Helena, said she was “happy” that she was part of the religious event.
She said that she hope that by having their own Santacruzan, the public would also realize that they are not only after running criminals.
The PNP is leading the anti-illegal drug campaign being enforce by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte which is strongly criticized by some human rights and Church-based groups.
PO1 Pablo Yap, a policeman for three years, said that holding this event can help inspire the people that the police is not only focusing on drug war but also to other religious activities.
“This is one way to promote our core values, of being pro-country, pro-people, pro-environment, and pro-God,” he added.
Marjorie Nicer said that she was pleased to see policemen and women joining the Santacruzan which was held on Tuesday (May 29).
“I am excited. This is the first time I see policemen (and women) in this religious procession. This is usually done by the villages,” she said.
About 300 police personnel joined the procession of Santacruzan, which is part of the ‘Flores de Mayo’ celebration held during the entire month of May, starting from Fatima Church going to Robinsons’ Place in Marasbaras district, said Chief Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region.
Fr. Ramil Costibolo of the Archdiocese of Palo said that it’s normal and ordinary among Catholic faithful to have this kind of activity to show our devotion to Mother Mary and to celebrate our faith to Jesus Christ.
But for the police personnel to hold their own version of Santacruzan in the wake of its controversial campaign against proliferation of illegal drugs, Costibolo said that the event “only shows the reality that our police are just like us, normal people, (and) spiritual people.”
“Before they were assigned to their authority, they are also very religious and spiritual,” the priest said in an interview.
Costibolo said that he was “impressed” of this initiative from the police force.
“Very nice. They can show that they are ordinary people. First, before they were policemen, they also have families, they are brothers or sisters, mothers or fathers. They are ordinary people given with extraordinary task in our community. That is why we should understand them,” he added.
The priest, however, maintained that while he supported the drug campaign of the government, he is also opposing any brutal means in enforcing it.
“Illegal drug has to stop because it destroys our youth. The Church favors for its eradication. It is only opposing the method,” he added.
Fr. Joselito Borja, police chaplain, said that while they regularly hold this type of event inside their camp’s premises, this is their first time to do it outside the streets through the efforts of Chief Supt. Cruz.
“By bringing our Santa cruzan outside, people will know that there is God in our lives; that we are religious,” Borja said.
In an interview, Borja said that with their event they can help the young people to avoid drug addiction.
He also hinted that this may be staged annually considering some positive remarks they received from others.
“In my homily, I said this event is not only a mere parade of the beauty of our young women. Santa Cruzan, first and foremost, is religious.
(RONALD O. REYES with ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Around 80 barangay leaders, persons who used drugs (PWUDs), staff and life coaches of the New Beginnings Drug Rehabilitation Program of the city government attended the first day of the Seminar-Workshop on Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) on Tuesday, May 29.
Organized by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the city government through Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez, the event will be held at Leyte Park Resort and Hotel until May 30, 2018.
According to DDB training specialist Nelia Fiecas, STEP is one of the preventive education programs of the DDB which complements the national government’s campaign on illegal drugs.
Fiecas said that the activities during the seminar-workshop will help parents and anti-drug campaign workers “deliver” effectively their roles on drug abuse prevention and control in the communities.
“Participants are expected to come up with their action plan in the implementation of the drug abuse programs in communities, replicate the activity in their respective communities and become anti-drug advocates,” she added.
The two-day activity consists of a workshop as well as talks and lectures on building self-esteem, family drug abuse prevention program, responsible parenthood, role of parents in drug abuse prevention and intervention, among others.
“Strengthening the Roles of Parents in Drug Abuse Prevention and Control,” is the theme of the seminar-workshop.
The New Beginnings Program is the community-based anti-drug rehabilitation and advocacy program of Mayor Romualdez in coordination with local and national government agencies.
(HENRY JAMES ROCA/CIO)

CATBALOGAN CITY – In celebration of the 120th Philippine Independence Day Celebration this June 12, the city government here has lined up several activities which started with a clean-up drive dubbed as “Pintakasi para kan Pepe” held on Monday (May 28).
“The Pintakasi para kan Pepe involved repainting of the Rizal Monument and cleaning of the city plaza as part of the city’s preparation for the Independence Day,” Ador Hurtado, city tourism, culture, arts and information chief, said.
Catbalogan City has a unique Rizal Monument erected at the city plaza and sculpted by a local artist Miguel Alcazar.
The Rizal monument has a bust of the national hero on top of his two famous novel, ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo’ being lifted by three naked men.
The city government also conducted a simultaneous display of the Philippine Flag and encouraged the residents to do the same until the celebration of Independence Day on June 12.
Displaying of flag from May 28 to June 12 is mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 374 signed on March 6, 1965 to celebrate the victory of Philippine Revolutionary Army against Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan, in Imus, Cavite where troops led by General Emilio Aguinaldo recaptured the province of Cavite.
Hurtado said that aside from the pintakasi, the city government also organized a contest for its residents particularly the youth to rekindle the reason why the country is celebrating its independence.
The contest includes postcard-making contest dubbed as “Mga Hulagway ngan Siday tikang ha Catbalogan: A Literary Postcard-making Contest about Jose Rizal and the Philippine Independence” and the short video-making contest dubbed as “Katiglugaring: Vlogging Independence in 120 seconds” anchored on this year’s theme “Kalayaan 2018: Pagbabagong Ipinaglaban, Alay sa Masaganang Kinabukasan” for amateur vlogger and videographers.
The contest will also honor national hero Jose Rizal on his 157th birth anniversary on June 19.
Postcard-making contest has three category-division A (7-12 years old), division B (13-16 years old), and division C (17-21 years old).
Submission of entry is until June 10 at the City Tourism, Culture, Arts and Information Office.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY- More than 4,100 teachers are needed in the region to fill up its vacancies for the incoming school year.
Of the 4,124 vacancies needed, 2,334 is or junior high school, 1,780 for kinder and elementary with the 10 remaining slots for senior high school.
Jasmin Calzeta, information officer of the regional Department of Education (DepEd), said that the vacancies have already given funding allocation by their central office.
She added that while she could not give exact data, there are applicants who want to fill up the vacancies from the 23 school divisions of the region.
“These vacancies are to be filled up for this school year. But while we have several applicants for these vacancies, still applicants, aside from passing the teachers’ board, they need to undergo hiring process like exams and demonstration,” she said.
The starting salary for teacher I is P21,000.
Calzita said that of the 4,124 vacancies of the region, Leyte has the highest teachers need at 1,291-683 for junior high school and 608 for kinder and elementary.
Northern Samar has the second highest need of teachers at 657-401 for junior high school and 256 for kinder and elementary.
Samar need 602 new teachers for junior high school (356) and kinder and elementary (246).
Among the cities of the region, Ormoc has the highest need at 237,135 for kinder and elementary and 102 for junior high school followed by Tacloban at 228-129 for kinder and elementary and 99 for junior high school.
Other provinces and cities that need new teachers in the region are Eastern Samar(184 for junior high school and 127 for kinder and elementary);Southern Leyte,170 for junior high school and 89 for kinder and elementary; Biliran,89 for kinder and elementary(60) and junior high school(29).
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

PhilHealth Regional Office 8 in partnership with the Department of Education Regional Office 8, implements the PhilHealth Learner’s Material for Grade 10 students in public schools.
This means that PhilHealth will now be discussed in MAPEH subject specifically under the Health component. The program was successfully pilot-tested in SY 2017-2018 in DepEd Southern Leyte.
The regional implementation to the rest of the 12 DepEd Divisions is slated this coming school year 2018-2019.
The program involves training the MAPEH Teachers handling Grade 10 students on the basics of the National Health Insurance Program and on the PhilHealth Learner’s Manual (PLM).
The PLM, certified by DepEd head office as compliant to the K to 12 curriculum for public schools, will serve as the reference of teachers when discussing PhilHealth to their students.
Currently, PhilHealth has already conducted 6 training sessions for nine (9) DepEd Divisions. The remaining divisions yet to undergo the training are Western Samar Division on May 29, Borongan City and Eastern Samar Divisions on June 1, 2018.
Among the objectives of the PLM is to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of PhilHealth and instil in them an appreciation of the social health insurance program. It is also expected that they will share their knowledge to their parents and other family members.
Even the MAPEH teachers themselves who have undergone the intensive training about PhilHealth have themselves become more informed and appreciative of the program.
Sheila Palacio of Kananga National High School-Rizal Campus said, “We are truly thankful to be part of this training as we learned a lot about PhilHealth which we can share to our students. We also appreciate the fact that PhilHealth is continuously reaching out to the members so they will be empowered and be able to avail of the benefits when needed.”
With the commitment and enthusiasm of the DepEd teachers, PhilHealth is assured that PLM will raise young advocates and champions among the Grade 10 students.
PhilHealth 8 Regional Vice President Renato Limsiaco Jr. said that, “I really pushed for the regional implementation of this program because I have seen how enthusiastic and receptive the teachers and students were during the pilot-implementation of PLM in Southern Leyte.”
RVP Limsiaco also added that, “I am very grateful for the wholehearted support of the DepEd Regional Office 8 under the helm of Dir. (Ramir) Uytico as well as the cooperation of the different DepEd Division Offices which ensured the successful implementation of the PLM in Eastern Visayas.”
(MIRAMAR P. ZABALA, PRO III)

TACLOBAN CITY-About 38 private schools in the region have sought for tuition fee increase for the incoming school year.
However, only 20 of these schools have been given approval by the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd), said its information officer Jasmin Calzeta.
According to her, the remaining 18 schools have failed to comply some needed requirements reason why their applications have yet to be approved by the DepEd.
Calzeta said that all the 20 schools sought for a 10 percent increase of their tuition fees for kindergarten up to senior high.
There are 301 private elementary and secondary schools, to include those offering senior high, operating across the region.
Calzeta said that 70 percent of the increase should go to the salaries and benefits of their teachers while the remaining 30 percent should be used to improve their facilities and for ROI (return on investment).
She added that of the 20 schools that were given approval to increase their tuition fees for school year 2018-2019, three are in Tacloban City, namely, Tacloban Vocational Christian School, Sacred Heart College and St. Therese Educational Foundation of Tacloban; three from Northern Samar- Catarman Elementary School Foundation, Pearl Island Academy Foundation and St. Michael Academy; three in Leyte, were St. Joseph of Dagami, Dagami town; Assumption Academy of Tanauan and Holy Child Parish School of Isabel, Isabel town.
Also, four schools in Southern Leyte are to increase their tuition fees, Holy Rosary of Hinunangan, Hinunangan town; Hinundayan Catholic Institute, Hinundayan; Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy, Liloan and St. Joseph College in Maasin City.
Four are in Samar- St. Michael High School and MSH School Academy of Basey, Samar College in Catbalogan City, and La Milagrosa Academy in Calbayog City.
Three schools are in Eastern Samar, namely, St.Mary Academy of Guiuan, Guiuan and Holy Cross of Oras, and Our Lady Fatima Academy in General MacArthur.
“These schools were able to comply all the needed requirements reason why their applications for tuition fee increase was approved,” Calzeta said.
Among these requirements are a parent-teacher association (PTA) resolution indicating the proposed tuition fee increase; proof of notice received by the parents; proof of confirmation on the tuition fee increase by the parents; certification that there was consultation relative to the proposed tuition fee increase; and a financial statement showing the financial status of the school.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)