TACLOBAN CITY- A barangay in Southern Leyte is protecting a Philippine Eagle and its habitat, a report from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 8 office (DENR-8) said.
DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca said in an in an interview that the residents of Barangay Catmon in Silago are protecting voluntarily the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and its habitat within the village.
Sibbaluca said that the barangay council has passed Barangay Resolution 103 last June of this year to provide conservation and protection measures of Philippine Eagle consistent with section 27 of the Republic Act 9147 otherwise known as the Wildlife Act of the Philippines.
The DENR official said that Brgy.Catmon is located within the Mount Nacolod range wherein the presence of the Philippine Eagle has been reported and a possible nesting site of the national bird.
Sibbaluca said that with the efforts of his office on the information, education and communication campaign, the barangay constituents attended a community-based awareness program activities conducted by DENR-8, instituting the protection and conservation measures of the Philippine Eagle within the barangay area of responsibility. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and provincial government of Northern Samar launched today (Nov.4) a community-based program for the prevention of corruption, illegal drugs and criminality in barangays.
Entitled Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Ilegal na Droga or ‘MASA MASID,’ the program aims to encourage communities to take a proactive stance in the government’s fight against corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality.
Provincial information officer Rei Josiah Echano said that MASA MASID is an innovation of massively mobilizing the people against corruption and addiction is the perfect program that can curb these two social evils.
“Truly, with the MASA MASID, the Governor Jun Ong’s will as shown in his issuances and actions will not only have political support but will also have a muscle that will send tremors against the evils of corruption and illegal drug addiction,” Echano said.
DILG Provincial Director Valente Bajet said that the program has four main thrusts: information and education campaign in communities for government programs against corruption, illegal drugs and criminality; creation of a reporting mechanism on illegal drugs-related activities; formulation of community-based rehabilitation programs; and revive the spirit of volunteerism by creating a volunteer-friendly atmosphere for organizations that wishes to be partners for change
“I am urging the municipal mayors and their grass roots leaders to organize similar activities and organizations of Masa Masid so that we can enlist the widest possible participation of our people,” Bajet said.(PR)

BORONGAN CITY- Plan Philippines International celebrated the 5th International day of Because I am a Girl 2016 with the theme: “A global day of action for the girls rights movement,” in October 11, 2016 in Borongan City.
The rationale of Plan International envisions a world that values girls, promotes their rights and ends injustice.
Because I am a Girl is a global movement to transform power relations so that girls everywhere learn, lead, decide and thrive.
During this celebration, the highlight activity on the date of the “International Day of the Girl Child” itself was the “takeover” of young girls on the jobs of a few officials of the government and private organizations.
The municipality of Salcedo, Eastern Samar had a little girl mayor in the person of Dorren Faye Castro.
She approved a few documents and made decisions as little mayor.
Rogelene Altar became a provincial social welfare and development officer for a day and had taken over for PSWDO Josefina Paligutan.
Meanwhile, Plan International program unit manager Lolita Arellano’s managerial job had been taken over by Jelyn Donceras.
Juancho Romero, area supervisor/focal person on gender equality, disclosed the “take-over” was done to motivate the young girls to finish their studies in order for them to land a job like a professional, like their “take-over” of a few positions.
This one-day “take-over”, he says, shows young girls what future awaits them.
This concept of the Plan International was made under the concept of “Walk the talk” since Plan International encourages the participation of young girls, that’s why this activity was made inside the organization.
(PIA-Borongan)

GOVERNMENT CENTER,PALO,Leyte-The regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau(MGB) attended a training on strategic planning for the 2018 MGB Gender and Development (GAD) work plan and budget and orientation on basic concepts on GAD held in Quezon City on September 26-30, 2016. The said activity, among others, underscored anew the importance of GAD in the workplace, outlined the major GAD policies such as the JC 2012-01, PCW MC 2015-01, COA Circular 2014-04, Magna Carta of Women, discussed the GAD guidelines – gender analysis tool for programs, projects and activities which, towards the end, provided inputs in the crafting of the 2018 GAD Plan and Budget of the MGB. MGB-8 was represented by Engr. Ayra Mae Tuazon and Celeste Faith de la Cruz, information officer. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- Series of activities has been lined up by the city government in line with this year’s 72nd Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary this Thursday (October 20).
The commemorative program of the Tacloban city government, under Mayor Cristina Romualdez, will start on Oct. 19 through a food exhibit to be held at the City Hall grounds.
At 5 pm of the same day, a sunset ceremony will be held at the Sangyawan grounds facing the Cancabato Bay.
A barrio fiesta will follow at the City Hall grounds.
The city government will honor surviving war veterans during the program.
At 7 pm, a fashion and cultural show at the Sangyawan grounds will cap the night with some candidates of this year’s Miss World expected to join the merriment.
On the day of the commemoration, Oct.20, an art exhibit is scheduled from 1 pm until 5 pm at the City Hall grounds.
In the evening, Rico Blanco, one of the country’s known soloists, will headline a free concert at the Sangyawan grounds. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

KANANGA, Leyte- The municipal government under Mayor Rowena Codilla and the local Philippine National Police (PNP) office are determined to rid this town from illegal drugs.
There are more than 700 voluntary surrenderees under the ‘Oplan Tokhang’ of the PNP, said town police chief Chief Inspector Ricky Reli.
Mayor Codilla, on the other hand, intensified the town’s initiative to combat illegal drugs.
Since she assumed office last July 2016, she reconstituted and regularly convened the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) to address anti-drug related activities within the municipality.
She ordered the police chief in this town to “do whatever it takes to make Kananga, a drug-free town”.
Vice Mayor Elmer Codilla, meantime, said that the Sangguniang Bayan have a proposed ordinance that will remove government employees and barangay officials if found positive in using illegal drugs.
He added that they are doubling their efforts to go after these drug pushers operating in this town.
Thru series of meetings, the MPOC and MADAC of the locality chaired by the mayor have identified its interventions for Oplan Tokhang surrenderees such as spiritual counseling, physical fitness and sports activities, community service, livelihood and skills training.
So far, the surrenderees divided into batches have already undergone various sessions and activities.
Recently, a cleanup drive and tree planting activity was conducted at the Uban Falls by the municipal officials, peace and order and anti-drug abuse councils, Oplan Tokhang surrenderees and barangay officials in Barangay Libertad.
Uban Falls, identified as among the eco-tourism destinations of Kananga, is 7 kilometers from the town proper.
The tree planting and clean up drive is not only to engage the town officials, council members, surrenderees in community service activities but also to help protect our environment.
For the next phase, the surrenderees will be given an opportunity to undergo skills and livelihood training wherein they can earn income.
Municipal agriculturist Carlito Torreon said that they will present during the next meeting of the MPOC and MADAC on what kind of skills and livelihood training for the drug surrenderees.
(GERARDO C.REYES JR.)