ORMOC CITY– A local government unit (LGU) employee was discovered dead by his brother in their home in Barangay Gamay, Burauen, Leyte, with local police has yet to determine the cause of his death.
Authorities identified the victim, known by the alias “Rico,” as a job order employee of LGU Burauen and a resident of the same barangay who was discovered dead inside his home last Sept.8
According to the Burauen police, they received a report about a lifeless body found inside a residence.
Responding officers, upon initial investigation, revealed that the victim’s brother, identified as “Neil,” had discovered Rico unresponsive inside his home.
The victim, who was single, was rushed to Burauen District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Rico’s death. Coordination with the Burauen Municipal Health Office has been made for a post-mortem examination to rule out the possibility of foul play. (ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY— The Administrative Section of Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) prepares for rightsizing by attending the Field Offices Online Workshop for Rightsizing Proposal Writing, conducted via Microsoft Teams with more than 300 participants nationwide on September 13, 2024.
The workshop was attended by key administrative personnel including Administrative Section Chief Arlene A. Ballon, Administrative Officer IV (HRMO II) Anna Larena C. Samson, and Administrative Assistant II Felomina L. Lagado.
The workshop commenced with a welcome address by Undersecretary for Operations in Charge of Convergence Projects Eric A. Apayana, who also chairs the DPWH Rightsizing Sub-Committee for Field Offices. This was followed by a roll call led by Ms. Aurelita Cabrebra from the Office of Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain.
Engr. Maria Christina M. Abad, from the Office of Undersecretary Apayana, served as the resource person for the workshop. She provided an in-depth session on effective proposal writing for the rightsizing initiative.
Chief Ballon, expressed her views on the workshop, stating, “The workshop was a crucial step in enhancing our proposal writing skills for the rightsizing process. It provided valuable insights that will enable our team to craft more effective and impactful rightsizing proposals. We appreciate Engr. Abad’s expertise and look forward to applying the knowledge gained in crafting our proposal.”
The purpose of the rightsizing is to strengthen the department’s operational efficiency and effectiveness. This involves a thorough examination of the existing functions and organizational framework to pinpoint and address redundancies, overlaps, and inefficiencies. The ultimate aim is to enhance service delivery, optimize resource utilization, and enable the department to better accomplish its objectives. (PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Blood Center at Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) continues to face a critical shortage of blood supply, a situation aggravated by limited support from some local government units (LGUs), according to Roland Gorgonia, head of the EVMC Blood Bank.
Gorgonia expressed concern that blood donation campaigns are not a priority for many local chief executives, making it difficult to ensure a stable supply of blood, which is vital in saving lives, especially during emergencies. This challenge has become even more pressing as dengue cases in the region surge.
As of September 17, the Department of Health (DOH) in the region reported 11,624 cases of dengue fever in the region—a staggering 314 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The outbreak has claimed 23 lives, with the rising number of critical cases driving up the demand for platelets.
“Platelets have a very short shelf life, expiring after just five days,” Gorgonia said. “We prepare as much as we can for our dengue patients, but it’s often not enough to meet the demand.”
Regular mobile blood donation drives are held to bolster the region’s blood reserves, but these efforts still fall short of meeting the growing need.
According to Gorgonia, the support from LGUs is inconsistent, with some units contributing only minimal quantities, while others lack the necessary funds to organize blood drives at all.
“Blood donation is not a priority program for some LGUs, and many don’t have the budget to conduct it effectively,” Gorgonia added.
He noted that the shortage becomes particularly severe during the fiesta season in May and the holiday months of December and January.
In an effort to address the shortage, DOH-8 has implemented the School Blood Olympics, a program launched in partnership with public and private colleges and universities across Eastern Visayas.
While the program helps increase blood collection, its primary aim is to instill the value of blood donation in the younger generation.
“Our goal is to encourage students to become lifelong blood donors, so they can help save lives,” said Winnie Dorego, DOH-8’s Regional Blood Service Program Coordinator.
“Blood donation is not just the responsibility of LGUs—it’s something the entire community should be involved in.”
Last year, Saint Paul School for Business Professionals was recognized for its efforts, collecting 93 bags of blood during the one-day event. This year, the School Blood Olympics has been extended from March to December to engage more students and significantly boost blood collection efforts.
“Many students want to donate; we just need to strengthen our advocacy and expand programs like this,” Dorego emphasized.
Despite these initiatives, Gorgonia and Dorego continue to call on the public and local governments to step up their support for blood donation campaigns.
They stress that sustained participation from all sectors is essential in maintaining a reliable blood supply and saving lives in Eastern Visayas. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
BIG-TICKET PROJECTS – Leyte’s first congressional district is experiencing an unprecedented surge in infrastructure development, thanks to the efforts of House Speaker and district representative Martin Romualdez, in collaboration with the Tingog Party-list. Together, they have spearheaded major infrastructure projects across the district, marking a significant boost to the region’s progress. (PTV)
Under Speaker Romualdez leadership
BIG-TICKET PROJECTS – Leyte’s first congressional district is experiencing an unprecedented surge in infrastructure development, thanks to the efforts of House Speaker and district representative Martin Romualdez, in collaboration with the Tingog Party-list. Together, they have spearheaded major infrastructure projects across the district, marking a significant boost to the region’s progress. (PTV)
TACLOBAN CITY—In addition to its regular programs offering scholarships and medical assistance, Leyte’s first congressional district, represented by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, is set to benefit from a series of modern infrastructure projects.
Among the most significant developments is a new sports stadium in the town of Tolosa—home of former First Lady Imelda Marcos, Speaker Romualdez’s aunt.
The stadium, with a budget exceeding P1 billion, is expected to be the largest of its kind in the Visayas, boasting a seating capacity of 25,000 and state-of-the-art sports facilities.
Rep. Jude Acidre of the Tingog party-list, a close ally of Speaker Romualdez, announced the groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium on September 13.
Acidre noted that the facility will serve not only for sports events but also for conventions and meetings, positioning Leyte’s first district as a new destination for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) events.
“This aggressive push for infrastructure is aimed at transforming the district into a hub for major events and activities,” said Acidre.
The stadium is projected to be completed within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., by 2028.
Other Major Projects in the Pipeline
In addition to the sports stadium, several other infrastructure and healthcare facilities are planned for the district, which includes Tacloban City and the municipalities of Palo, Babatngon, Santa Fe, San Miguel, Alangalang, Tanauan, and Tolosa.
Tacloban City will see the construction of an international convention center within the six-hectare Leyte Park Hotel compound. The center will accommodate over 7,000 people and has an initial budget of P700 million.
The city’s P4.58-billion causeway connecting the city proper to the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport is already underway, along with a P2.16-billion rehabilitation of the airport itself.
In Babatngon, an international-standard seaport is set to rise, with a budget of P934 million.
Palo will host an infectious disease and research center at the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomiasis Center. While no total cost was disclosed, Acidre indicated that the building alone would cost more than P4 million.
In Alangalang, plans are in place for a Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Center, which will streamline public services and reduce red tape.
The project is still under consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to finalize the facilities.
Additionally, TESDA (Technical Education Skills and Development Authority) training centers will be established throughout the district to provide vocational and technical courses aimed at boosting local employment.
Acidre stressed that these projects are designed to attract investors and create job opportunities for residents, with completion targeted by 2028.
“Our goal is to drive development not only in Tacloban City but across the entire district,” Acidre said, adding that more “big-ticket projects” are on the horizon under Speaker Romualdez’s leadership.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), led by Regional Director Engr. Edgar Tabacon, is optimistic that all major infrastructure projects will be completed with the support of Speaker Romualdez and President Marcos. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla has urged national government agencies to allocate more budget for livelihood programs rather than relying solely on financial assistance or “ayuda” to ensure that government support is more sustainable.
He made this appeal during the ‘Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat’ event held at the Leyte Academic Center on Friday, September 13.
The event was attended by more than 2,700 residents from various towns in Leyte province, including Tacloban City.
Among the beneficiaries were 2,000 workers from Palo and Tanauan who are part of the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
While Gov.Petilla acknowledged the value of financial assistance, he stressed that it does not provide a long-term solution, as those who receive ayuda tend to rely on it and wait for more once the money runs out.
“This is an ongoing program, but what we are requesting from DOLE is to divert more funds towards livelihood programs rather than distributing financial aid. People need the ayuda, but the same problem will persist month after month,” the governor stressed.
He added, “If we focus on livelihood, even if only 10% of the beneficiaries succeed, that 10% would no longer need further assistance.”
Aside from the 2,000 TUPAD beneficiaries, the event also provided aid to other sectors.
These included 500 farmers who received Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) amounting to P5,000 each, 115 sari-sari store owners who received Livelihood Seeding Assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 117 college students who received training assistance from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and 10 business owners who received loan assistance from Small Business Corporation.
The Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Tapat Para sa Lahat event also saw the participation of 20 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) supported by the DTI, along with two distributors.
Farmers and farmer associations took part in a mini-KADIWA fair, where they sold their products.
TACLOBAN CITY-The Tacloban City District Engineering Office (TCDEO) successfully completed the asphalt overlay of 3.176 lane kilometers on the Gov. Benjamin “Kokoy” T. Romualdez Diversion Road. The project was finished on July 24, 2024, with a total contract cost of P24.31-million, funded through the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Asphalted roads offer several benefits, including cost efficiency, durability, and ease of maintenance. They can be constructed and repaired faster than concrete roads, minimizing traffic disruptions.
Additionally, asphalt provides a smoother and quieter driving surface, reducing noise pollution and offering better traction and skid resistance, which enhances safety, especially in wet conditions.
Asphalt is also considered environmentally friendly due to its 100% recyclability and lower energy requirements during production and construction.
“The completion of the asphalt overlay on this key road is a vital development for improving road safety and efficiency in Tacloban. The smoother surface will not only reduce travel time but also offer better protection for drivers, especially during heavy rains.” District Engineer Rebecca G. Yuse, said, emphasizing its significance. (PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIT)
