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LDS Church embarks on $1.5-M livelihood recovery program

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TACLOBAN CITY – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) embarks on a $1.5 million project for technical education and livelihood recovery of more than 5,000 members affected by supertyphoon Yolanda. Jose Antonio San Gabriel, LDS self reliance service manager, said that half of the amount from the church’s Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) will be used for scholarship of enrollees while the remaining half will be spent to procure needed equipments to jumpstart livelihood activities. Members can avail a maximum loan of P22,000. They will only be required to return15% of the loan, payable in 10 months or just P220 monthly. “PEF are donated funds from generous members worldwide. We want to use this money to restore the shattered livelihood of families,” San Gabriel told reporters at the sidelines of a commencement exercise of 620 carpenters who took part in the rebuilding of 620 houses held on May 28. Although these carpenters have already received certificates from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), they are also encouraged to avail the PEF project. “Education is the key to opportunity and we ask those interested to continue education so they could receive certificates. The hope here is to educate and build self reliance and help them learn how to progress and provide for their families,” said Elder Ian Ardern, one of the top LDS church leader in the Philippines area. The PEF has been established to provide adults of LDS church with the support and resources necessary to improve their lives through education and better employment to better serve their family, the Church, and their community. LDS Charities, the social arm of LDS church reported that $6 million emergency funds have been poured out along Yolanda’s path. These include food and hygiene kit, medical supplies, funds for clearing activities, food supplies, generators, shelter repair kits, water purifiers, cooking kits, fishing gears, and vegetable seeds.

(SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Our Last Resort

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cartoon 31We hear of this declaration from our religions preachers that prayers can move mountains and therefore is the only effective approach to various lives’s concerns specially those that affect the vast expanse of our taxpaying population. For almost a year now the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel P11 billion scam or simply put, thievery that involves a well-heeled businesswoman in cahoots with “honorable” legislators and other leaders in government agencies is slowly grinding. Sadly, for almost a year now three senators have been found to have been proven by credible government investigating bodies that have discovered strong evidences to prove they have committed the crime and so cases have been filed against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, and Jinggoy Estrada in the Sandiganbayan. Scores of other senators, congressmen, Cabinet members even private sector “mystery agents” and others have also been exposed. Unfortunately and to our frustrations these suspects are still scot-free. They have not been arrested. That’s our Philippine justice system. If these charges were committed by you and me, the lesser citizens, the ordinary ones, we shall have been in jail already, and await hearings during scheduled court trial and to be released only if proven not guilty. There is therefore a need now for our Christian communities to jointly storm the heavens with prayers that something should be done soonest to make these thieves bear the brunt of their abuses through our laws. Let us not forget that the PDAF funds – billions of them come from government’s hard-earned taxes intended for poor people, to improve agriculture production, specially. These politicians appear like they are far away from and beyond the reach of Philippine laws. The last resort therefore is to offer prayers that our Heavenly Father send His spirit of justice soonest to cleanse this nation with thieves in government, and for them to suffer for the misdeeds they have blatantly committed.

Heartwarming

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ObserverDBM Secretary Florencio Abad has announced that government has already released P32.2billion as to finance government agencies tasked to undertake post disaster relief and reconstruction programs of the areas devastated by Yolanda. The National Electrification Administration (NEA) got P5.4B to restore power; P2.2 Billion for National Housing Associations housing programs. That is why a good percentage of the area hit by Yolanda has already restored electricity; we still have to really see which of the housing projects come from the National Housing Authority because what we have seen are housing projects of foreign donors. The most recent fund release is P2.01B was for the Dept. of Interior and Local Government for rehabilitation and repairs of municipal halls, public markets, civic centers and police stations. DSWD got P1.07B to be used to underwrite relief operations in communities ravage by Yolanda. They are doing their jobs. It’s heartwarming to note especially when Secretary Abad says that more releases should be expected, to speed up the rehab efforts in areas affected by Yolanda. -0- What remains painful even reaching the height of hopelessness and anger at this point in time is whether the alleged perpetrators in this shameful biggest thievery perpetrated by “honorable” but shameless legislators and other government officials involved in the so called PDAF scam is will these dishonest officials go to jail? Not in a short while, I project. The names of public officials specially congressmen and senators have been exposed in Ben Hur Luy’ hard disc files and those of DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima’s to include those of Secretary Ping Lacson, since last year yet. -oOo- But what do we read and hear? A surge of denial, denial and denials coming from majority of these suspects are quite disturbing. Counter charges have even been done by these suspects by filing libel cases to operators of media outlets and whistle blowers. Are we equal before the law? A big flat No! If the three Senators (Estrada, Revilla, Enrile) were just an ordinary Juan de la Cruz they could have been arrested and clapped in jail already. Since their crimes are non bailable offenses they should have stayed in jail until the courts shall have cleansed and released them if proven innocent. It appears that since these are not only powerful public officials but they are wealthy as well that our justice system appears weak in implementing legal procedures to officials like them. They are the top ten among Senators with the highest net worth in 2013, based on their SALN. Jinggoy Estrada ranked No. 3 with a net worth of P195million; Bong Revilla ranked 4th , with a net worth of P166million and Enrile 7th; whose net worth is P166.7 M.

Cleansing

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Gem of thoughtsPeople would usually associate the term “cleansing” with spiritual purging wherein believers receive the grace and mercy through the Holy Sacrament of Reconciliation or simply put, the confession. This is true among the Roman Catholics. Faithful from other sects and religion have their respective ways of purging their spirits and their souls. The society in general has its mechanism of purging its ranks of toxic elements. Politics has the elections and other constitutional remedies. Crimes have the laws and the courts to weed the streets of sinister minds. Organizations have their adminstrative recourse to discipline their officers and members. If the spirit and the society are not void of these cleansing strategems, the sacred human body has the mechanism to free itself of destructive components in all that it it ingests. There are those who consult beauty experts for some superficial clinical procedures. Others do the strenuous muscle flexing, while some apply the healing wonders of nature. The media is overloaded with ads and spam messages on the various products that could aid the human body in its cleansing process. To some, those advertised are effective, while to the rest not. Here, however is one product that has proven its worth to remain in the market, although through direct selling. Cleansing Advanced Formula, another quality product of M&S Imported Health anf Beauty Care Products, is an option for thosr who have tried other products but ended up frustrated. The Cleansing Advanced Formula, which now comes in mixed berry blend, consists of beneficial organic ingredients, which are not only healthy but truly helps shrink the waistline to a trimmer size. It has the following ingredients that bring out the desired result if taken regularly, such as mixed berry extracts that are rich in anti-oxifants and offer protection against a wide range of illnesses including cancers, heart disease, memory loss, macular degeneration, aging and inflammation. Cleansing of M&S HB Important Products has oil palm fiber, an insoluble fiber which will clean all food scraps along the intestine and colon; mixed powder from spinach, celery, cabbage, peas, wheat grass, which are good for good bacteria in our colon. It also has guar gum from the plant cyamopsis tetragonolobus that is effective in promoting regular bowel movements and relieving constipatuon and other chronic bowel ailments amd able to absorb toxic substances. Psyllium husk, which is responsible in the reduction of absorption of blood cholesterol and bile acids from the intestine, is a special component of Cleansing. This product also has Fructose Oligosaccharides extracted from tomatoes, bananas, asparagus, garlic, and others. Further, Cleansing has chlorophyll believed to be a powerful blood cleanser and citric acid which helps regulate pH balance in the digestive tract and aids in the remival of toxins from the body and helps breakdoen fatty foods. Boyax, a first-timer in patronizing this line of food supplement, tried this miracle product on hope that his beer belly would significantly reduce. His hope did not fail him. After a month of continuous drinking of Cleansing of M&S HB Imported Products, his waistline shrank by 4 inches. Now he got too engrossed with Cleansing, almost making it a part of his daily morning and evening meals. Boyax only had the trimming of his waistline in mind when he started consuming his first box of Cleansing. Little did he know about the benefit of cleansing. What should be noted though are the effects of not detoxifying oneself. Toxic body, accelerated aging, bad breath, getting tired easily, and being able to acquire lifestyle diseases, diabetes and head-ache are among the downsides if ine will not detox. Marlaw Kaquilala and Shirlee nee Herrera gladly distribute these products not actually for profit but as a mattet if public concern and service.

Another Delayed Reactions from Government

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Part II – Conserving, Protecting, Documenting, and Publishing the Philippines’ Marine Resources

Following my ‘graduation from government service’, I have shifted my study area to the waters of the 6 provinces of Eastern Visayas, not only because I am from Leyte, but because Region 8’s rich marine natural resources have remained very anemically studied. More or less, I can now talk authoritatively on the marine macro-algae of Biliran Province – my study area since my Philippine National Museum (PNM) days starting as a fledgling seaweed researcher. Also, I acknowledge the financial research funds from the PNM, UNESCO Philippine National Commission, and DOST Region 8. Now, I have moved to Leyte Province with research funds from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). The province has been phycologically divided into Northeastern Phase (survey, documentation of its seaweed flora already completed, final report awaiting publication by the NRCP), and Northwestern and Southern Phases of the Island, with funds coming from the same agency aforementioned. For the 3 provinces of Samar Island, only a few more coastal towns of Northern, Eastern, and Western provinces have remained to be botanized, yet – Samar island having been included in the PNM funded research under the project on “The Marine Algae of the Philippines”. It might be well to mention that my efforts to hasten the study of the macro-algae/seaweeds of Region 8, have been made lighter following support of my Masters Degree Graduate Students from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), thus: Sis Hermelina Puig (Biliran Province), Ms. Patria Castronuevo (Eastern SamarProvince), and Mr. Ceasar Adriasola (Northern Samar). My research data and those contributed by my theses advisees consisted of accounts on the rich growth of Sargassum in Eastern Visayas, especially along its Pacific corridors, ecologically rich because of its being in the Tropics. The thick and tall growths of Sargassum along the St. Bernardino Strait, between Sorsogon and Northern Samar Provinces as well as the same seaweeds’ dominance in the ‘central’ coastal towns of Leyte have convinced me to use the sobriquet of “Sea-Forest of Leyte Gulf”, referring to the rich and luxuriant population of brown seaweeds dominated by Sargassum and Hormophysa triquetra (=Cystoseira triquetra), an equally large brown algae. Indeed, our call (amongst Filipino Marine Biologists), is for concerned government offices to put more sharper teeth, to the Fishery Law and other related administrative memoranda to stop the “rape” of the seaweed resources of the Philippines! Unless we are prepared to destroy our marine ecosystem that “basically provides a life support system to most aquatic marine organisms.” And, that “the natural re-colonization and recovery of damaged sea grass and algae areas would take decades.” To this, I would like to add, that most edible seaweed species or sea vegetables (e.g. Caulerpa racemosa ‘Lato’, Codium ‘Ambang’, Eucheuma and Kappaphycus ‘Guso’, Gracilaria ‘Gulaman-dagat), Sargasssum ‘Aragan’, Hydroclathrus clathratus ‘Balbalulan’, and Porphyra ‘gamet’ are rich in protein, carbohydrate, and iodine needed by the human body. While, sea grass are used as pollution indicator and some species (Thalassia hemprechii) is eaten in northern Philippines! With the quoted statements, we, however realize the gigantic role people expect from DA and BFAR to marshal the country’s long coastal line and should therefore realize the need to link with other offices (LGUs specifically), NGOs, the academe (SUCs and HEIs), and S & T Organizations, e.g. Society of Fishery Technologists of Eastern Visayas (SOFTEV), Federation of Freshwater and Marine Institutions (FIMPS), Philippine Association of Marine Sciences (PAMS), NRCP Visayas Regional Cluster, among others, primarily to educate the dire need to protect, preserve, and conserve the country’s aquatic resources.

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In Eastern Samar — Mining company cut mangroves to pull back vessel washed inland during Yolanda’s onslaught

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TACLOBAN CITY- A vessel that was washed inland in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar during the onslaught of supertyphoon Yolanda has resulted for the destruction of mangroves. Margarita de la Cruz, a known environmentalist and former professor of the University of the Philippines-Tacloban Campus, said that the vessel is owned by a mining company that operates in the province. According to her, the owner of the vessel is trying to pull it back to the waters which resulted for the destruction of the mangroves. De la Cruz said workers of the mining company cut the mangroves on their effort to tow the vessel back to the waters which was stuck in Barangay Santo Nino, Quinapondan town. The said vessel was washed inland 120 meters from the water as a result of a storm surge generated during the onslaught of Yolanda. “The national government has allocated P1 billion for the planting of mangroves and we have a case here of mangroves being destroyed wantonly,” she said. She said that mangroves are important not only because they serves as breeding grounds for fish but as barriers for storm surges. De la Cruz said that she is not aware if the action of the mining company cutting mangroves as it tow back the vessel to the water has permission from the local government or from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Quinapondan is estimated to have more than 900 has mangrove cover. Based on a study conducted by the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau, research arm of the DENR, the damage to mangrove sites due to Yolanda was estimated at 350 hectares in two out of the six mangroves sites bordering the Leyte Gulf Area. And close to seven months after Yolanda, most of the mangroves are still without leaves and could be dead. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

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