TACLOBAN CITY – The regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) conducted a “walk-through” visit to this city’s biggest river to see its physical condition after the supertyphoon Yolanda. The visit to the Mangonbangon River by the EMB personnel was in light of the observance of the World Water Day earlier as said river was among the bodies of water in the region identified under its adopt-an-estero program. The walk through was also done to raise awareness on various water-related issues that may have come up after the onslaught of Yolanda. The river was among those heavily covered by debris from the devastation of the supertyphoon. The walk through also drew attention to the current efforts being done to revive Mangonbangon River  as well as major rivers and creeks in Eastern Visayas. Meanwhile, the EMB-8 also disclosed that other donor-partners under the adopt-an-estero program conducted clean up of their respective adopted water bodies to highlight the World Water Day celebration. In Isabel, Leyte, the Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp.(PSAR)together with other companies and locators inside the Leyte Industrial Development Estate, led the clean- up of Cabangcoy Creek. Meanwhile, in Baybay City, the city government spearheaded a clean-up of the Pagbanganan River. A World Water Day program and symposium was also conducted to emphasize on the connection of water and energy which is this year’s international theme. Through the EMB’s adopt-an-estero/water body program, private company partners undertake environmental improvement on the waterway they have adopted. These include community mobilization, regular clean-up activities, dredging of the creek, trainings for concerned stakeholders as well as information and education campaigns. With the global theme, “Water and Energy,” and national theme, “Water is Power,” local and international organizers of WWD aim to raise awareness on water-energy related issues affecting millions of people all over the world. (AHLETTE C. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- Kristene Joy Alas, 21, is a smart lady and on her way to receive her diploma in business administration on April 2, 2014 in Manila. Like many other young graduates in the country, Alas is already dreaming herself working in a corporate office, earning enough money to send for her family back in the Yolanda-hit province of Leyte and save some for her own.
Latest employment figures reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority, however, show no rosy picture for Alas and for the rest of the more than 700,000 college graduates who will join the labor market in the next few days.
According to the agency, unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in January 2014 from 7.1 percent in January 2013. Independent think-tank IBON also contested that about 4.5 million were unemployed last year, hinting also a similar problem on unemployment rate for this year.
In spite of her gut feeling that landing into a job is feat of “survival of the fittest,” Alas remains positive.
“I know it’s not that easy to get a job but if you’re really that person who is motivated and dedicated in job hunting I think you’ll get lucky,” she told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
Raymund Astorga, also graduating on his accountancy degree from a reputable school, shared the same views with Alas.
“I don’t have any fear in entering the business knowing that business courses are in demand nowadays. For us, it will depend on our performance and good background in our undergraduate history like the school, grades and other affiliations,” he said.
Astorga added what he fears most is the job mismatch.
“I want to be in a workplace where I will be happy, in my line of degree,” he said, yet adding he is open to any possibilities for work experience.
He also expressed disappointment to the government on the rising unemployment.
To cope with the changing needs of time, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has announced expansion to its short-term courses which include learning foreign languages, this as some Filipinos who cannot find a work in the country opted to leave for abroad.
It is estimated that about one million left the country every year to find work overseas. (RONALD O.REYES)

CALBAYOG CITY- The Department of Education Calbayog City Division urged barangay officials to activate the Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council (BLCC) as mandated to them.
In an interview, assistant schools division superintendent Raul Agban said that barangay officials should also make sure that the said council is functional to support the literacy program in the barangay level.
“Barangay officials are mandated to form a Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council and they must make sure that said council is functional. This is part of our effort in strengthening the literacy program in the barangay,” Agban said.
The BLCC is headed by the barangay chairman; the school principal as the vice chairman and with all the barangay councilors and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) coordinator of DepEd sitting as members.
Meanwhile, DepEd Calbayog City Division ALS program coordinator Ricky Cano said that the barangay has an important role for the success of the literacy program.
Cano added that one of their predicaments when they are in the barangay is to encourage the out- of- school youth to continue their education through the program.
He encouraged the barangay officials to coordinate with DepEd’s mobile teacher and help them in the sustainability of the ALS in their respective barangays.
As of now, there are 978 out-of- school youth in the city that are enrolled under the ALS Program. The DepEd is hoping that the number will increase with the help of the barangay officials.
“We are hoping that the said 978 enrolled out –of- school youth will increase with the help of our barangay officials, “Cano said.
Formerly known as Non- Formal Education which mainly focuses on livelihood program, the ALS Program now gives importance to the education of the youth who does not have means to continue their studies in regular schools. (JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)

TACLOBAN CITY- Bias, favoritism and duplication.
These are but just few of the feedbacks received by the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) about aid distributions in the communities.
Worst, these concerns are usually listed under high frequency category basing on the number of queries by the typhoon-affected.
Adding also are questions about how the criteria for choosing a beneficiary is being chosen.
With these complaints and feedbacks, OCHA sees the need to incorporate its accountability to affected populations (AAP) working group not just what it did during the early stages of Yolanda Humanitarian Response but also in creating a more sustainable mechanism that will focus on effectiveness, learning, quality and accountability in aid distributions.
Veronika Martin, UN OCHA AAP officer, said that this measure will effect change to ensure that communities are heard in the decision-making.
The AAP will play a critical role to promote community perspective, thus the need to systematically gather, hear and integrate their view points, she added.
Aside from “checking” the system of aid distributions, AAP will also become the avenue for pointing out the gaps in assistance and a follow-up arm for unmet needs. Thus, it may also play a role in formation of future strategies in humanitarian aspects, Martin added.

Meanwhile, initial surveys under AAP perspective reveals that most asked for availability of construction materials from the humanitarian aid groups.
A clear indication that the people are now more into the rehabilitation stage and may have recovered from the early effects of the calamity like fear for lack of food supply. (REGIN OLIMBERIO, COMMUNITERE)