TACLOBAN CITY-It’s very disappointing that seven months after supertyphoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas, the government still don’t have an over-all master plan despite of the fact that officials of all affected areas have already submitted their post disaster assessment needs. Thus said Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who visited Tacloban and other Yolanda-hit areas last May 23. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on local government, added that until now the funds that are intended to go to the LGUs hit by the typhoon and even to the affected public schools, state colleges and universities remained undelivered. “Yolanda-affected state universities and colleges reported they haven’t received a single centavo of the fund to be used for their facilities,” Marcos said in a press conference. “Right now, reconstruction and rehabilitation are still being spearheaded by international agencies, non-government organizations and private Philippine corporations. But we are still waiting for massive assistance that we have been promised,” Marcos added. According to Marcos, he learned that Budget Secretary Butch Abad has announced that P32.8 billion was already released, and for this Marcos expressed hope “that the funds will be felt by the LGUs on the grounds because those are badly needed.” The senator said that some of the mayors that he met were affiliated with the ruling party, thus, dispelling speculations that politics could be the reason for the delay on the release of financial assistance. “But these mayors refused to talk about it openly for fear that they might not receive the financial assistance,” Marcos said. Marcos said that since the LGUs are requesting him about the funds, he said what he can do is to “just keep bringing it up.” “We are still in an emergency. I do not propose that we’ll cut corners. But I think we can do a lot to expedite the process,” he said. Marcos said he understand about the dilemma faced by rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson “since his office doesn’t have the funding and it is only on making proposals and coordination.”(RONALD O.REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- A couple with two others was arrested by members of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in different sting operations in the region for using and selling the prohibited hydrochloride methamphetamine or shabu. Liza Baoy, PDEA information officer, identified the arrested persons as Danilo Bueta, 50 and his common-law wife, Nenita Solayao, 44; Melvin Facturan; and Conrad Borneo. Bueta and his wife were arrested by the PDEA agents in Calbiga, Samar last May 13 in a buy bust operation which yielded for the confiscation of five sachets of purported shabu, various drug paraphernalias and P500. The couple are now detained at the Calbiga police station and charged for violation of Republic Act 9165, the comprehensive drugs law, particularly for possession and selling of the illegal drug. Meantime, Factoran of Lumbang 1, Calanipawan of Tacloban was arrested in possession of shabu weighing 6.9 grams last May 21. Also arrested was a Conrad Borneo,34 and married in Brgy. Santo Nino, Matalom, Leyte during a buy bust operation last May 24 with agents of the NBI were able to seize from the suspect one gram of shabu with a street value of P10,000. Cases for illegal possession and selling shabu were filed against the suspect who is now detained at the PDEA-8. Baoy said that suspects arrested by them are place under their custodial unit while those arrested in a joint operation with police are locked up at jails. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)

TOLOSA, Leyte – The American Chamber Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.(AmCham) donated 30 fishing boats made of fiber glass to fishermen coming from different coastal towns in Leyte. The donation of the 18 footer fishing boats was held last May 22 in Barangay Dona Brigida, this town, and led by AmCham’s president Rhick Jennings and its executive director Ebb Hinchcliffe. Also present were rehabilitation czar Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto and Mayors Remedios “Matin” Petilla of Palo; Pelagio Tecson of Tanauan and Erwin Ocana of this town. The beneficiaries of the fishing boats donated by the American business chamber came from the different coastal villages of the three towns which were among the hardest areas in Leyte during the onslaught of Yolanda last November 8, 2013. Hinchcliffe, in his message, said that the fishing boats donated by them were just part of their “overall effort” to help rebuild Leyte. “It may be in another set of boats for another set of recipients but surely more help will still come from us,” Hincliffe said. The boats, which were first tested in Bacoor, Cavite before they were brought here, were donated by different companies and individuals who are affiliated with AmCham. The donations were 18-footer fiberglass boats painted in red, white and blue. These include Arankada, Sc Johnson & Son, Ambassador Charles Salmon, Fair Isaac (ASPAC) Ltc., FICO, US Chamber Foundation, Time Depot, Harte-Hanks Philippines, New World Makati Hotel, Nu-Skin Enterprises, Inc., American Camber Foundation, Quezon Power Philippines, Inc., Rapha Health Institute, Mary Kay Philippines, Inc., Atty. Peter Yap, Manpower Group, FactSet, UHS Essential Health Philippines, Inc., Mr. Rhick Jennings, Del Monte Philippines and Del Monte Foundation. The AmCham founded on December 06, 1985 which acts as the socio civic arm of member companies of American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. (AHLETTE C. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY—Bishops from the region issued an appeal to President Aquino to hasten the rehabilitation and recovery efforts in Yolanda-hit areas as they noticed that the effort was “a little bit slow,” close to seven months after Eastern Visayas was pummeled by supertyphoon Yolanda. The appeal was issued by Bishops Isabelo Abarquez of the diocese of Calbayog and Crispin Varquez of the diocese of Borongan during a media interview. The two bishops were in Tacloban to attend the “Livelihood Recovery Convergence in Samar Island” organized by the Asia Foundation and attended by different government agencies like Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and other non-governmental organizations like Tindog (Rise up) Samar held last May 26. “There seem to be lack of coordination, maybe there is lack of convergence. Those are important. Then when (BFAR national director Asis) Perez showed me a presentation this morning, it was found out that they have ‘convergence.’ So what is important is to integrate those suggestions made by the organizer,” Abarquez said. Abarquez, however, said that when he interviewed several mayors and even a governor, he was able to know on the issue of lack of funding. “I think the locals are just waiting,” he said. Abarquez’ area covers the entire province of Samar with the towns of Basey and Marabut the hardest areas. For his part, Bishop Varquez said that he is more concern of the housing needs in his areas. “On housing, still there is no concrete (solution). There is a plan, but still no concrete plan,” Varquez said. Varquez said that since they were able to get some funding from various private donors, they were doing their part for the construction of temporary shelters for the victims in Eastern Samar, particularly in the towns of Salcedo, Mercedes and Guiuan, considered to be the worst hit of Yolanda in the province. The bishop also voiced out on the problem of land acquisition for the permanent housing. Varquez maintained that there is still a chance for the region to recover quickly if everyone will work together. “The reason of our coming here is why we have this convergence. Practically, so that all sectors, whether from private, public, local, national and international, to help each other, to help survivors to rebuild their lives and become better persons. Eastern Visayas would not the same anymore, three years after Yolanda. I hope we can see that kind of goal, otherwise if nothing happens, we’ll go back to being poor, perhaps even more like before Yolanda,” he said. “That is our common vision. How we can make our place more productive three years from now. Otherwise we will miss the opportunity. We have to transcend ourselves. Yolanda must be transformative. Its destructive effect should transform us all,” Varquez added.

Meanwhile, BFAR national director Perez assured the public that they have doing their job, particularly in providing fishing boats for the fishermen in all affected areas.
He, however, admitted that with the extent of damage caused by Yolanda, the government was overwhelmed of its impact reason why the rehabilitation effort appears to be slower than expected.
Perez also said that their efforts are not being announced to the public as “this is part of our job.’
“It is part of our duty. It is our job,” he said.
Director Bernadette San Juan of the DA also maintained that rice farmers in the region continued to boost its productivity by giving the farmers certified seeds and fertilizers with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).(RONALD O.REYES)