BORONGAN CITY MARCh 2014VOl. 2 NO 3.p.2

Routinary Assessment of DPWH’s On-going and Completed Projects Conducted by its Technical Staff

Cascaders frolic at the foot of the Amandaraga Falls in Lawaan, Eastern Samar. [Photo by: Fr. Roneil Canillas]

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By Alice Nicart

The Amandaraga Falls of Lawaan this province can sup-ply about three-fourths of the electrical needs here.

This was said by Eastern Samar Electrical Cooperative (ESAMELCO) Spokesperson, Danny Azura in a recent radio interview.

Azura said that the un-tapped Water Falls can pro-duce 10-megawatts of hydro-electric power which is enough to address the intermittent power interruption in the prov-ince.

According to him, some banks are ready to finance the development of Amandaraga Falls, all they need is a Feasibil-ity Study(FS) of any interested electric cooperative.

He stressed that the far distance from the power source to the province can explain pe-rennial brownouts here, other than the carelessness at times of a few individuals.

Not one report has been said by the electric coopera-tive of burnt electric post as a result of Kaingin activities in the forest, and thus caused

The provinces of Northern Sa-mar, E. Samar and Western Samar with their representatives from church, government, academe and civil society convene for the 25th Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) on April 1, 2014 at the Our Lady of the Nativity College Seminary in Borongan City, E. Samar.

With the theme “Build Back, Build Better: Resiliency of Local Communities in Samar Island After Yolanda” speakers talked on the aid and development brought by the organizations and agencies for the survivors of Yolanda in their re-covery and rehabilitation.

The speakers who were pres-ent are Dr. Jean Marie Egargo of

AMAndArAgA fAlls eyed to supply electricAl needsof eAstern sAMAr

DOH, Ms. Cynthia Nierras of DTI, Reg. Dir. Rolando M. Asis of DPWH, Mr. Wilson A. Cerbito of DA, Mr. Henry O. Duzon of Philippine Co-conut Authority (PCA), Reg. Dir. Nestor A. Ramos of DPWH, Engr. Enrico Banario of TESDA, Mr. Ja-mie P. Salazar of BFAR, Reg. Dir. Rey F. Bulawan of DepEd, Mr. Greg C. Pellerin of CBCP-NASSA, Rev. Fr. Jovic Lobrigo of Bicol Consortium of Development Initiatives (BCPI), and Ms. Jacqueline O. Constantino of Pag-ibig Fund.

Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan, Bishop Em-manuel Trance of the Diocese of Catarman and Fr. Cesar Aculan, the Social Action Director of the Diocese of Calbayog were the

prelates of the church that were present in the said affair who wel-comed the participants.

Each of the speaker present-ed their intervention on Yolanda affected areas as well as their concerns for the recovery and re-habilitation of the said areas in the Samar island.

Bishop Varquez posed his concern on the high cost of mate-rials and labor these days during and after Yolanda. Cynthia Nierras of DTI said that the supply of ma-terials came from other provinces such as Calbayog and Ormoc as a result materials were sold at a high price. To augment this, she said that there will be a product depot of some companies such as

brownouts.In a separate pep talk Ms.

Marilyn Reyes, ESAMELCO In-formation Officer, mentioned how difficult it is restore pow-er once it is cut. According to her, line men climb up the high mountains in search for the tripped off line, come rain or shine. Likewise, even in the dark, about 200 crew would drag a post replacement just so power can be restored.

People should cooperate and be considerate in protect-ing the electric posts and wires so that brown outs can be pre-vented, Ms. Reyes said.

Lawaan is blessed to have two Water Falls, Amandaraga and Amanhuray, the latter be-ing able to produce 1-mega-watt, currently supplies the electrical needs of Lawaan it-self and nearby Balangiga mu-nicipality.

Once Amandaraga is de-veloped to supply the power needs of the province, electri-cal costs will surely becomes cheaper, Azura concluded.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

Samar Island Provinces convene for SIPPADVanessa Puno

Photo by: Vanessa Puno

ESTE! News2

Province of E. Samar gives tribute to Yolanda humanitarian actorsVanessa Puno

PHO bares zero death in 221 Dengue casesAlice Nicart

Routinary Assessment of DPWH’s On-going and Completed Projects Conducted by its Technical Staff By Jeymar Grafil

The province of E. Samar led by Gov. Conrado Nicart, Jr. hosted the tribute to humanitarian actors, the United Nations (UN) agencies, I-NGOs, NGOs and local partners, of their response to Yolanda for relief, rehabilitation, and recovery of the survivors last March 21, 2014 at the provin-cial capitol gymnasium.

The tribute began with a Eu-charistic celebration celebrated by his Excellency Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan and concelebrated by Fr. Leroy Geli, the Team Moderator of the Cathedral Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady. Fr. Geli in his homily posed the ques-tion to humanitarian actors present if they have seen the face of God in the Yolanda survivors whom they have extended help and support and also in their situation. He stressed that God is visible in the said sur-vivors and that Jesus is the one whom they have served through them.

Mr. Levi M. Nicart, the Provincial

There had been 221 cases of Dengue in 12 of the 22 municipalities and one city here, from December 2013 to February 28 this year, so reported the Provincial Health Office(PHO), but of this number, there had been zero death.

Unlike in previous years, when a num-ber of deaths from Dengue had been re-ported, hospital personnel are now happy at the negative reports and they attribute this to the control measures that are being undertaken by communities and health personnel, e.g. search and destroy activi-

The DPWH- Eastern Samar District

Engineering Office’s (ESDEO) Technical

Staff with its Project Engineers concerned,

conducted an inspection on various proj-

ects of the department on the southern

part of Eastern Samar. This is in connec-

tion with the department’s mission to make

sure that all the quality of services/proj-

ects that it gives to the people be always

on high standards and caliber without

compromising the public’s safety.

A team headed by the department’s

hard working Construction Section Chief

Disaster Risk Reduction Management Of-fice – Designate warmly welcomed the humanitarian responders in his welcome remarks stressing that humanitarian actors are not only to help in the relief, recovery and rehabilitation phase but also to make us equipped in disaster protection and mitigation.

Gov. Conrado Nicart, Jr. ex-pressed his gratitude in his words of thanks to these humanitarian actors who underlined that the province is grateful for responding to the Yolanda aftermath and this tribute is a “celebration of hope and unity.” He also hoped that humanitarian actors will have untiring support not only for Yolanda survivors but anywhere in di-saster stricken countries.

Rev. Crispin Varquez in his in-spiring message publicly declared his gratitude to all those who intervened who “gave us hope and strength.” He under-scored that there have to be a “common

ties by Barangay Dengue Control Teams, continuous larval survey and encouraging all households to do a daily search and destroy activity.

In addition, a DOH team with trained community volunteers regularly does Spraying sessions giving priority to ba-rangays of Lawaan, Giporlos, Balangiga and Guiuan, including the health facilities of these areas, so with the occupied bunk houses and schools.

Some international humanitarian or-ganizations have also extended help in

Engr. Juan Alejandro Jr. accompanied by

Engr. Romer Acol went for this inspection

on February 18, 2014.

First stop of the teamwas on an ongo-

ing road shouldering project at Bgry. San

Pedro, Quinapondan. In this particular in-

spection, Engr. Romer Acol found out that

the width measurement of the road shoul-

der was not in accordance with the actual

Project Plan. Thus, the latter immediately

instructed the contractor of the project

to be cautious on its implementation and

always follow to what is specified on the

DPWH’s standard specification.

MARCH 2014

direction of humanitarian actors of em-powering people for resiliency in disas-ters.” He said that we empower them by guiding them to be creative and by creat-ing an environment where “you learn to support each other,” and by encouraging people to be more productive not to be dependent on others.

Mr. Timo Knaute of United Na-tions Office for the Coordination of Hu-manitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in his re-sponse said that actors have to continue their support to Yolanda survivors in soli-darity and urge E. Samar to stand, “tindog” after the typhoon.

Mr. Ernesto Casiple of OXFAM in his response shared the story of a woman who survived Yolanda because of the aid of humanitarian actors and also a story of a volunteer who left his stable job to help E. Samarenos which for him is an “act of her-oism.” He said the “effort of volunteerism” is evident which is true in E. Samar and in

the Search and Destroy Program by em-ploying local residents under their “Cash for Work”: ICRC, UNDP and People in Need(PIN) while Plan International dis-tributed bed nets, and Doctors without Borders(MSF) did fogging in 20 baran-gays of Guiuan.

A similar Search and Destroy Opera-tion was likewise made in four other mu-nicipalities of Hernani, Balangkayan, Gen. McArthur and Mercedes, while Balangiga, Lawaan and Quinapondan were advised to reactivate their Dengue Bugle Teams.

Another area that the team had in-

spected was the bridge of Brgy. StoNiño,

in Quinapondan. Fifteen percent (15%)

of its construction is completed and the

contractor in-charge of it has committedto

double its effort to be able to finish the

task as soon as possible. Second to this,

the team proceeded to Brgy.Ginob-an, La-

waan where a farm to market road is being

constructed. It was indeed a breathtaker

as the project was 100% complete. Prior to

this, Engr. Alejandro and Engr. Acol manu-

ally measured the length of the road and

carefully inspected the details of the proj-

humanitarian actors for Yolanda after-math.

One of the highlights of the af-fair is the unfolding of the public dec-laration of gratitude to UN agencies, I-NGOs, and local partners for respond-ing to Yolanda as a sign of thanksgiving by the province of E. Samar and signing of the said tarpaulin by Bishop Varquez, Gov. Nicart, Mr. Knaute and Mr. Casiple.

Certificates and tokens were awarded to the humanitarian actors present honoring them as persons and groups who relentlessly championed humanitarian aid to Yolanda aftermath.

The performance of the Karasi-kas Dance Troupe of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) exhibited an overwhelming response from the au-dience of feeling of hope brought by the world’s intervention in Yolanda on-slaught after their feeling of helpless-ness portrayed by the said dancers.

Bed nets were distributed in ba-rangay Taguite of Lawaan that hit the most number of Dengue cases during the period covered and since then, no new case had been reported.

With this positive mark however, PHO does not sit on its laurels, instead, a continuing advocacy with IEC activi-ties is on-going with sustained Search and Destroy Operations as it likewise seeks for a strengthened community participation by activating the Dengue Brigade in communities and in schools.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

ect to ensure that it is constructed in ac-

cordance to the standard specifications

of DPWH. Last and final stop of the team

was in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Balangiga where

a farm to market road has also been fin-

ished.

Engr. Juan Alejandro Jr. said that

once a project is reported finished by

the DPWH’s project Engineer, it will be

subject for a final inspection to be con-

ducted by the district’s inspection team

to effect the contractor’s final payment.

3

TESDA empowers blue-collared workers in “Yolanda” affected areasSamuel Candido

UNICEF pushes for zero open defecationAlice Nicart

GK gives permanent dwellings to Yolanda survivorsSamuel D. Candido

In line with the Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA) Rehabili-tation and Recovery Program of Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Provincial Office , Borongan City implement some programs in Eastern Samar especially to the munici-palities that were hardly hit by Typhoon Yolanda.

According to Engr. Enrico C. Banario, TESDA Provincial Director, under this pro-gram there are three components namely Training Cum Repair (House Repair of par-tially Damaged Houses), Livelihood pro-gram, (Agri-Related and Non-Agri-Related – for Self –Employment) and Panday pro-

gram (For wage Employment).Banario added that under the Train-

ing Cum Repair, they have recently trained framing works and installation leading to carpentry National Competency (NC) II to some 80 beneficiaries in four municipalities of Quinapondan, Giporlos ,Balangiga and Lawaan.

“While building their houses, TESDA will train them in order for them to be ca-pable, responsible trough their acquired skills and for them also to have sustainable income in the future”,Banario said.

After they acquired skills, the train beneficiaries will assist the community

In its objective to ensure a life-sav-ing primary health care services par-ticularly for children in “Yolanda” strick-en areas, the United Nations Children Fund(UNICEF) in partnership with OX-FAM, is now in thick preparation for the campaign against open defecation.

The two humanitarian organi-zations campaign for “Zero Open Defecation”(ZOD) which aims to encour-age barangays to construct toilets in or-der to better ensure good health through improved practices.

The endeavour is based on reports that indicate of several barangays in ty-phoon affected areas and evacuation centers which do not have comfort rooms and which certainly poses a great health hazard. The report further reveals of the most common practice of toilet-less households who just “do their thing” in rivers and seashores.

The recent devastation of Typhoon Yolanda left many Waray-waray speaking people homeless but Gawad Kalinga (GK) is now in the process of rebuilding commu-nities for the survivors.

And for this, the GK Executive Director Luis Oquinena and Board of Trustees Mem-ber Fr. Ben Nebres, S.J., together with the Member of Provincial Management Team recently visited Brgy. Carmen, Hernani, this province to validate and inspect the new site for GK Village.

It was learned that GK will facilitate the purchase of a lot for the proposed village which is 4.34 hectares.

According to Mr. Renato G. Badilla, GK Provincial Head, in the middle of May, GK will commence the site development and construction of 100 row houses for phase I and priority to occupy are families whose houses were washed out by the storm surge.

In a separate interview, Mayor Edgar C. Boco, thanked the GK for providing per-manent house and lots for his constituents.

Boco also said that this is GOD’s gift to them and a big help to the Local Govern-

with partially damaged houses in the spirit of bayanihan.

Aside from acquired skills, the ben-eficiaries were also provided with tool kits and supplies such as galvanized iron (GI) sheets and concrete nails.

Meanwhile, under the livelihood pro-gram (Non-Agri- Related) TESDA recently conducted a 15-day training on Haircutting Services Leading to beauty Care NC II in Hernani, E. Samar.

Some 17 participants were trained and graduated with National Competency II Certificates with the help of Ging Monis Salon in Greenbelt, Makati.

The Ging Monis Salon provided hair-cutting tool kits and inside the kits were hair clipper, cape, scissors, hair comb and hair brush.

The trainors came from Cabucgayan National School of Arts and Trade, in Leyte.

This program is in response to Presi-dent’s instructions to all government agen-cies to extend the necessary financial and training support that will enable Yolanda victims to rebuild their homes and resume productive livelihood and employment ac-tivities. (PIA-E Samar)

“This is not being child and wom-an-friendly practice”, Ms. Rory Vil-laluna, UNICEF WASH Cluster Coor-dinator told the province’s municipal health officers(MHOs) and sanitary inspectors(SIs) in the Workshop-Con-ference held at Doña Vicenta recently. “That is why, let us put our axe together to achieve this ZOD because UNICEF and OXFAM cannot do this alone”, she added.

She pointed out further that toilets should be constructed in such a way that the right of women and children to pri-vacy should be given primordial atten-tion, i.e. hinges, door locks and walls are in proper order.

The two humanitarian-group re-sponders are set to provide the toilet con-struction materials on certain conditions, while local communities will do the con-struction work and other labor require-ments.

In the workshop that was facilitated by OXFAM, Villaluna further guided the MHOs and SIs how the ZOD campaign could be strategically implemented given some sensitivities of some local officials and some other issues that could possibly hamper the program implementation.

She stressed further, that ZOD how-ever does not expect a rapid turn-around in the construction of the basic home fa-cility rather it pushes for improved toi-lets, from zero to temporary- communal but sanitary. But suggests though that communal toilets may be good only for 20-individuals or four families.

Eventually ZOD expects targeted barangays to achieve sustained sanita-tion where each household maintains a toilet, so with the schools and govern-

MARCH 2014

ment buildings in the community. It is also expected that the bodies of water and open fields are spared of both hu-man and animal wastes.

After a series of assessment and evaluation by municipal, provincial and regional health teams, the barangay with validated reports on best sanitation prac-tices will be recognized accordingly, she concluded.

It is encouraged then that barangay and municipal local government units pass, approve and enforce local ordi-nances in order to fully implement ZOD.

The program is in-line with the Yolanda Emergency Sanitation to the Philippines Approach to Total Sanitation (Yes to PhATs). (PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

ment Unit (LGU) considering their financial inadequacy.

“I also believe in the saying, “when it rains, it pours” because of the so many non-government organizations (NGOs) who of-fer us for housing projects” Boco added.

The GK Members and Provincial Man-agement Team are: Atty. Bryan Lassiter, Engr. Raul Lopez, Honorato Altar, Jr., Jo-sephine Marasigan, Rey Dominic Ladera, Lowie Ladera, RamonAntipolo, Jr. and Christopher Ellado.

Come April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan) to June 12 (Araw ng Kalayaan) GK will hold a Bayanihan Challenge 2014 where GK tar-gets 1 Million volunteers to help them build the houses of the survivors.

“Walang Iwanan” or “No one is left behind” is the principle of GK, a campaign developed to promote “bayanihan” or the willingness to help others .

The GK mission is ending poverty for 5 million families by 2024, land for the land-less, homes for the homeless and food for the hungry. (SDC/PIA-E. Samar)

ESTE! NewsMARCH 2014

EDITORIAL

ESTE! – Eastern Samar News & Views 2nd Floor, Bishop’s Residence, Borongan City

Publisher: Diocesan Commission on Mass Media & Social CommunicationsEditor-in-Chief: Fr. Neil TenefranciaAssociate Editor: Vanessa PunoLay-out Artist: Francis Dave Panaguiton Photographer: Alren Jerome BeronioCartoonist: Fred Kevin AbenisBusiness Manager: S. Lilyfe Cagas, LGCCirculation: Limbert Dulfo

MORE NEWS AT: http://www.estenews.orgTWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/estenewsonlineEMAIL: editor.estenews@gmail.com

THE evacuation of more than 5,800 emigres to the island of Tubabao, Guiuan, Eastern Samar in 1949-1951 sprang from the relentless efforts of the White Russians in Communist China to flesh out their aspi-ration to live as a free people.

It should be recalled that during and after the 1917 Bolshevic revolution in Russia under Vladimir Lenin against the Tsar and the Russian civil war that ensued, the White Russians, who were opposed to the Com-munist regime, fled the country. Emigres from Southern Russia and Ukraine, for in-stance, went to eastern Europe. But those in Siberia and in the Russian Far East settled in Harbin, Hankow andShanghai, among other cities in China, where they felt safe from the clutches of Communism.

Their stay in these Chinese cities was not for long, however. AfterWorld War II, when China was freed from the Japanese, the Chinese civil war between the Com-munists under Mao-Tse Tung and the Na-tionalists under Chiang Kai Shek resumed.

Why Did the White Russians Settle in Tubabao Is., Guiuan?

By 1948, the Communists, who were sup-ported by Russia, took control of northern China, forcing hundreds of Russian émigrés in Peking, Hankow, Tiensin and nearby cit-ies to transfer to Shanghai. But it was clear to them that Mao’s army would eventually overrun the whole of China and place it un-der a Communist rule.

Meanwhile, it came also to their knowl-edge that, as a result of the Yalta Confer-ence, the White Russians in Europe were being repatriated by force to Russia. It was claimed, for instance, that in Austria, around 40,000 Cossacks were deported to Russian labor camps. In Harbin itself, the Russian Army and the Secret Police (KGB) were already arresting and deporting Russian emigrants to forced labor camps. Indeed, all White Russians living in China were ad-vised to leave.

Alarmed by these developments, Gregory Bologoff, a Cossack, formerly

ANTIGOMsGr. LOpe C. rObredILLO, VG

It is my hope that all the interven-tions done for the survivors of the super typhoon Yolanda will not create a dole out and dependency mentality. Even the poor and those in need have a right to the dignity of being God’s co-creators. They are robbed of such dignity when they lose their sense of livelihood and become overly dependent on dona-tions.

----------------------------------------We must be extra-careful in dealing

with NGO’s which promote the artificial reproductive devices. They are taking advantage of the vulnerability of the vic-tim-survivors.Let us teach our people to accept their assistance for shelter and livelihood but refuse their promotion of artificial reproductive devices. It is our moral stand that the survivors still have the right to health and life. The artificial reproductive devices arethreats to such

The United Nations relief agencies vow in its “Humanitarian Principles” to be culturally-sensitive: “We aim to ensure that all aid actors respect local customs and are culturally sensitive in the delivery of services to local communities and indigenous peoples, respecting their culture and religion.”

They also pledge to do no harm: “We strive to do no harm and to minimize any harm that inadvertently might be caused by our presence and/or our provi-sion of assistance. Any agreements negotiated between the aid community and respective authorities – and any assistance arising out of such agreements – must not result in the reduced protection of civilians or distribution of aid. It is the responsibility of humanitarian actors to understand and consider the impact of their operations in terms of social dynamics, including sensitivity to dynamics of conflict, power, religion and gender relations. Any negative effects should be avoided or mitigated.”

Such are the ideals of UN relief and rehab interventions and, presumably, also of other foreign aid groups.

But when some of these groups try to impose their own perceptions regard-ing problems to be addressed and how to resolve them without on-the-ground consultations, such ideals become mere ideals- things just to be hoped for.

Also, when some sectors try to stealthily introduce interventions like repro-ductive health methods to a 400,000 plus population in Eastern Samar, almost 99% of which are baptized Catholics, relief is turned into a tyranny- a high-handed imposition of agencies trying to impose their own ideology to an unsuspecting populace.

Let relief be truly relief and aid be aid without strings attached. And the first thing for foreign donors to do so that this will happen is to LISTEN. By listening, hopefully, they will learn to RESPECT.

The Tyranny Of Foreign Yolanda Aid

4

bIsHOp CrIspIN b. VArQUeZ, ddsIMpLe & HUMbLe THOUGHTs

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rights.-----------------------------------------All the interventions must be di-

rected to creation of COMMUNITIES which are EMPOWERED and RESILIENT, MORE CREATIVE, INTERACTIVE, SUP-PORTIVE and PRODUCTIVE.

-----------------------------------------Catholics should become more ac-

tive, participative and empowered lay faithful in the parishes. They ought to become more knowledgeable and com-mitted in their faith and have a deeper awareness of their roles in the parish. As they help and support each other, they can have more concrete experiences of God’s love.

------------------------------------------I pray that all families will unite and

support each other.May they become

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ESTE! News MARCH 2014

Juana ‘di ka nag-iisa!

A Lingering Lenten Memory Of An Un-likely Hero

A Motor Vehicle Owner’s Liability

He was Albert Einstein’s namesake. Admittedly, I thought he was no less a hero than the genius whose name he bore. But to anybody who was somebody in my hometown Albert was a nobody. I would have been deeply honored had he been someone I knew. But when I did meet him it was too late. He was already in a coffin, waiting to be buried.

It all started when I came home to the rectory from two Sunday Masses and two sick calls. I just wanted to take a nap and forget the world for a while. But I heard some gentle knocking on my door. I wanted to say, “Please leave me alone for a while. I have to get some rest.” But I found myself dragging my feet to the door. It was then that I saw this lady who behaved rath-er strangely.

She left her slippers at the bottom of

the rectory stairs. I realized it was a gesture of courtesy. Simple barrio courtesy. “It’s just about Albert, Padre,” she said. “Please allow us to bury him today. We couldn’t af-ford to have him embalmed for the nine-day wake (as is the local custom). Neigh-bors contributed pieces of wood and slab for his coffin. Please, Padre. We only have two hundred pesos. May we have a Mass for him, please?”

“Of course,” I said. Actually I just wanted to get back to my siesta. “Bring him at two o’ clock this afternoon.” Then she haltingly started to tell a story that woke me up the rest of the day.

Albert was her fourteen-year-old nephew from Barangay San Mateo. He was the eldest of five children. His father, a rice farmer, didn’t come up with much in this

bALIK bALAYsArAH MAbANsAG pUNO

LeGAL INsIderATTY. MAU ObON

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THOUGHT FOr THOUGHTreV. eUTIQUIO ‘eULY’ b. beLIZAr, Jr., sThd

A fatherless family can still expe-rience the sweetness of a home but a motherless home is lifeless. This is not just based on opinions but observations. What could be in these homes?

As we celebrate the Women’s Month this March with the theme, “Juana ang tatag natin sa pagbangon at pagsulong,” allow me to focus on my mga “kabaro.”

In fatherless homes, families aban-doned or left by death, the home is preserved because of a strong mother. What makes those mothers strong? What makes a woman’s heart strong in a weak body compared to a man is her genuine love, a grace from God due to her nearness to Him as she offers her all, joys, pains, sacrifices and her whole life to God expressed in her own home. And that is her mission.

But why is it that there are many broken homes these days? Because the Juanas had an amnesia of their mission.

I heard a woman and a mother said:

“Ay hiya la ba it maaram? Kun may “mama” hiya may “papa” daman ak.” A woman if she allows her life to be scat-tered because of the weakness of her husband is committing IDOLATRY. She forgets that her husband is NOT her God. She is commissioned by her Cre-ator to be in that family and be the heart of the home to preserve it by letting God dwell, He the source of true LOVE and the source of all graces and bless-ings. The heart should pump the blood of love to circulate in this home.

A broken home is NOT God’s de-sign for a family. A family should be in a home where love dwells because God dwells in it. God who is love unites not scatters. This is a woman’s greatest mis-sion to preserve the home for God.

The foundation of a Christian home is a couple, a man and a woman one in love and blessed by God. So the first mission of a woman is to love her hus-

ESTE! News 5

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Lorrie was walking on her way home when she was hit and violently thrown away for about five meters from the roadside by a truck. She was imme-diately brought to the hospital where she suffered a coma and died two days later.

At the time of the incident, the truck was registered in the name of Fortune Leasing, Inc. (FLI) and was leased to Extreme Builders Co.,(EBC) and driven by EBC’s driver. The lease contract how-ever, was not registered with the Land Transportation Office.

Lorrie’s parents sued FLI and EBC. FLI defended itself by alleging that the lease contract between FLI and EBC specifically provides that EBC assumes the liability for any loss, damage, or in-jury the leased truck may cause even if FLI is its registered owner.

Would FLI still be liable though it is only the lessor?

The answer is in the affirmative. Un-der Section 5 of Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as the “Land Transpor-tation and Traffic Code” as amended, the law states that:

SEC. 5. Compulsory registration of motor vehicles. - (a) All motor vehicles and trailers of any type used or oper-ated on or upon any highway of the Philippines must be registered with the bureau of Land Transportation for the current year in accordance with the pro-visions of this Act.

x x x

(e) Encumbrances of motor vehicles.-Mortgages, attachments, and other encumbrances of motor vehicles, in order to be valid against third parties must be recorded in the bureau.

x x x In the case of FEB LEASING

vs. BAYLON (G.R. No. 181398; June 29, 2011), the Supreme Court held as fol-lows:

In accordance with the law on com-pulsory motor vehicle registration, this Court has consistently ruled that, with respect to the public and third per-sons, the registered owner of a motor vehicle is directly and primarily re-

PARADIGM of a Filipino Poor Clare

CLOISTER CONNECTIONSr. Claire Aviso, OSC

Emboldened by Divine Inspiration and by the grace of the Father of the Mercies

(TCI,58)to imitate and follow our Lord Jesus Christ

in the perfection of the Holy Gospel,

We, the Filipino Poor Clare cloistered contemplative sisters of the

Madre Jeronima Federation, members of theSecond Order of the Franciscan family;

mirroring Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi,

Believe in the Gospel lifewitnessed to in the Church and to the world

by our life in the highest poverty (RB 6:4; RCI8;2 ) sisterhood, and hidden life in prayer, penance and contemplation, in the contextof our historical, social, cultural, ecclesial,

political and economic situation.

It is our desire and choice to live in the enclosure

our life of fraternal communion, contemplationand poverty of Christ in solidarity with the

poor and the whole creation.

Thus, rooted in our humanity,we aspire to be grounded in the Word of Godand to deepen our understanding of Sacred

Scriptures, especially the Gospel;to live out our life of contemplation;

to preserve joyfully in love, peace and simplicityof life in the servant hood of uselessness;

to be spiritual mother to one anotherthrough the mutual acceptance, trust and

respect; to grow in responsible and mature freedom of expression;

to respond to the needs of signs of the times by sharing our gifts and blessings with others

and by making our monasteries places inviting people to pray;

to inspire leadership by example of transparency, honesty, and consultation;

and finally , to strengthen our bondswith the First order, the rest of the

Franciscan family and all of creation.

MARCH 2014

year’s harvest. And while his mother also does other jobs, such as washing laundry and selling vegetables, the family income was not enough. So he did what he thought best. He stopped schooling and got him-self a job in a local bakery. He ended up mostly by the firewood-fed oven. It was tough and the heat could sometimes be unbearable. But he couldn’t and wouldn’t complain. He was glad he could work and help the family. But his body was not su-perman’s. Recently he ran a fever and felt weak. He asked to be excused. But his employer threatened to dismiss him if he missed work, especially that it was two or three days before the month’s end. Albert naturally didn’t want to lose his job and decided to go on working. He made it to payday. He brought all his money home and having given it to his mother, said: “Now I just want to rest and sleep…”

Albert never woke up again.As I presided over his funeral I was

both angry and depressed. “How could any human being threaten someone not even qualified yet to work to fire him just because he was sick?” But other deeper questions were raging in my mind. How could a young man with such obvious love for his family, a young man with such promise fall into a fate as cruel as Al-

bert’s? How could his parents be power-less to even consider seeking for justice? I searched the faces of Albert’s mother and father. I saw in them anything but protest. Both have now accepted Albert’s fate as inevitable. Both now eyed me with pro-found gratitude for refusing their two hun-dred pesos but nonetheless giving Albert a sung funeral Mass. “It’s the least I could do, Albert,” I said under my breath. “What I did is nothing compared to what you did.” Never have I felt more depressed over a funeral of someone I was not related to.

But I found myself continuing my homily. “Albert expresses, oh yes, Albert continues the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. And we are all witnesses to this. The world, let alone his country, has no idea that he did. But we do. God does. And it’s all that matters. Albert has made it clearer to us what the sacrifice we celebrate during Lent is all about. May his sacrifice bear fruit in a better life for his family the way the sacrifice of Jesus brought us a sharing in the life of God.”

I glanced at the faces of Albert’s brothers and sisters. They appeared calm and taking my words in. But one thing bothered me. Their eyes also seemed to say to me: “Father, we know Lent. When do we know Easter?”

Thought For Thought (from p.5)

6

Close to 20,000 jobs are up for grabs in the Mega Jobs Fair in Guiuan, this prov-ince come April 2.

This was reported in today’s Press Conference with officials of the Depart-ment of Labor and Employment(DOLE).

Atty. Roy Buenafe, Regional DOLE Ar-biter informed media here, that the Gui-uan big job facilitation is a commitment of Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, in alleviating the survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” .

Assisted by the Public Employment Service Officer(PESO) in each local gov-ernment unit(LGU) the Jobs Fair expects that more applicants will be hired, some are even hired on the spot(HOT).

He added that it will be the third Jobs Fair that DOLE would be conducting, the first one in Ormoc the next in Tacloban, where more damage were recorded.

Buenafe assured the public that no placement fee is required of each job hunt-

er and most importantly, there is no fake or illegal hiring because all the 19 recruiters that are arriving in Guiuan are registered with them and at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration(POEA).

Mrs. Sentay Quitorio Provincial PESO Manager informed further that at the first announcement of the job openings, appli-cants started teeming the door of her of-fice seeking for application forms.

Quitorio further informed that, in sup-port to the job seekers, Governor Conrado Nicart offered free transportation and food to close to 60-applicants from Borongan city alone.

The Middle East has the most number of job applicants needed from skilled la-bor to nurses, engineers, accountants and communication specialists. Canada and Saudi Arabia are also in need of workers.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

Mega Jobs Fair for “Yolanda” survivors up in Guiuan,Prov’l dad throws support April 2.

Alice Nicart

Simple & Humble Thoughts...(from p.4)

Samar Island...(from p.1)

more inspired to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. Lupa man ay ma-giging langit na rin.

-----------------------------------------I urge you to always remember: In

the midst of difficulties and hardships, the grace of God is more abundant. We have to unite and support each other in

order to survive. The destructive super typhoon Yolanda can transform us to be-come better persons if not the best.

-----------------------------------------A simple life has simple problems.

Thus, simple solutions. And if there is a big problem, we just remember thatwe have a Big God!

San Miguel Corp. in Palo that will result to an increase in supply and lower cost of re-sources. Regarding the construction materi-als, she said that there will be a construction materials depot for companies to sell the said materials and for hardware companies to buy the showcased materials at given prices.

It was noted that the clearing of ground for coconut replanting is important by a participant who posed his questions to PCA. Henry O. Duzon of PCA said that there is a replication of the focused intervention in Ta-cloban, Tolosa, Palo and Tanauan in Samar Yolanda devastated areas which is a ninety day clearing of six million trees in 6,000 hectares that would amount to billion pe-sos with the participation of coconut plant processors. He also stated that the damaged trees classified as severely damaged will be used as coco lumbers and the slightly and moderately damaged trees will undergo a fertilization program. The chainsaws are being lent to coconut planters and some of these chainsaws are also being imported from other places in the country.

It was revealed in the SIPPAD by Reg. Dir. Rey F. Bulawan that the DepED has in-cluded the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) in the school improve-ment plan even before Yolanda although the intervention has not pushed through because of the typhoon Yolanda and is ex-

pected to implement its intervention at the second week of April. He also stated that the money and donations of the I-NGOs, NGOs, DepEd and local agencies should be used for the construction of school buildings and repair of these buildings for sustainability purposes instead of the provision of tempo-rary learning space after the Yolanda for the pupils and students this coming school year.

Also present were Mr. Timo Knaute of United Nations, Vice-governor of E. Samar Ferdinand Marcial Picardal, and several mayors of the province of E. Samar

Ms. Jacqueline O. Constantino of Pag-ibig Fund suggested the duplication of the Gawad Kalinga asssisted local government of Tanauan, Leyte and NHA for the construc-tion of permanent units which the LGUs are also responsible in other Yolanda stricken areas.

Reg. Dir. Rey F. Bulawan of DepEd said that for the community building, DepEd assured the production of carpenters and skilled workers.

Bishop Trance said that there are nu-merous projects to address the issues on Yolanda but there is seemingly a slow action from the agencies and this action are felt not being concretized by the said agencies. Bishop’s statement led to the drawn resolu-tion by the group in the SIPPAD for the fos-tering of developed recovery and rehabili-tation phase of the Yolanda affected places in the Samar island.

ESTE! News MARCH 2014

a colonel in the Russian Imperial Army (which opposed Communism), became involved in organizing the White Russians in China into the Russian Emigrants’ Asso-ciation. As President, he rallied the Russian émigrés to organize the evacuation of their fellow White Russians to a safe and secure place.

Thousands supported him, declaring their irreconcilability with Communism. Rather than having themselves subjected to a communist dictatorship either in Russia or in China, they decided to leave Shanghai. Col. Bologoff appealed to the United Na-tions, to the International Refugees Organi-zation (IRO) and to all countries in the free world to save them and give them asylum.

The Philippines, under Pres. Elpidio Quirino responded—actually, ours was the only country that did—to the appeal, and offered to the refugees the island of Tuba-bao, Guiuan. And, through an arrangement made and facilitated by the IRO, to the is-land they did come. (Later on, Quirino him-self, as well as Senator Noland and Ortho-dox Archbishop John Maximovitch, visited the camp to express his concern and soli-darity to the refugees.)

Though almost uninhabited when the first batch of refugees came, Tubabao, a triangular-shaped island south of Guiuan, was, as described in HyperWar, formerly a Quonset “city” with mess halls, recreation facilities, churches, and utilities for 10,000 men. It was chosen by the American forc-

The women of Borongan gathered for the GAD Pulong Pulong spearheaded by Gracia Q. Anacta, President – Philippine Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, Inc. (PWCTU) Borongan Chapter and Chaiperson of the Council of Women of City of Borongan last March 14, 2014 at Bo-rongan City Water District where several guests were invited who were Ma. Clariza C. Promida, CSWD Social Welfare Officer on Gender Sensitivity, PO2 Ma. Liza D. Isa-da, City Police Officer –Women and Child Protection Desk Officer on Human Traf-ficking, Mrs. Editha B. Sepulvida, Pres. El-derly Women and Senior Citizen Associa-tion of Borongan on Women Leaders in the Community, Ms. Socorro Aberia, DYES-Media/Member Council of Women-City of Borongan on Media Participant on GAD Program and Mrs. Mila Rebato, Officer-Council of Women of the City of Borongan.

Last March 7, 2014 the PWCTU Borongan Chapter led by Gracia Anacta also conducted a Pulong Pulong at Bugas, Borongan City with rural women, Tag-alag, Banihit Women’s Association (TAG-BANWA) Cooperative, and several wom-en. The women listened to these leaders who were Milagros Rebato of PWCTU and several members of the Council of Wom-en, Mrs. Thelma Banal of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PO2 Liza Isada of Police Department.

The PWCTU Borongan Chapter

last March 9, 2014 also expressed their generous hearts by giving nipa shingles, relief goods and blankets to Brgy. Bugas and Punta Maria of Borongan City, Bal-angkayan, Guiuan and Tacloban.

On March 24, the PWCTU Borongan Chapter in coordination with University of the East group will also be distribut-ing school bags with school supplies to twenty-one children of Ma. Cleta Learning Center at Sitio Tag-alag, Bugas, Borongan City and thirty-one students of Alternative Learning System in the said learning cen-ter.

The TAGBANWA Agricultural Pro-ducers Processors Cooperative (TAPPC) is also one of the projects of the PWCTU Borongan Chapter.

Gracia Anacta said that the main thrust of PWCTU Borongan City Chapter is the improvement of quality of life of wom-en in rural areas. The PWCTU Borongan City Chapter during their first anniversary last November 18, 2010 was featured on September 11, 2011 issue of the publica-tion “White Ribbon of PWCTU” because they gave mosquito nets, and relief goods to Dolores E. Samar which was flooded due to typhoon.

Last March 31, 2014, a Women’s Forum was conducted at Brgy. Tabunan covered court where several speakers talked on different issues about women. Thelma Ba-nal talked on Gender sensitivity, PO2 Ma.

Liza Isada shared on human trafficking, and Sarah Puno tackled on the concerns of family savers organization. GOCC Gender and Development (GAD) programs were discussed by Dir. Ma. Lilane Casillano. Similarly, initial preparation of GAD Plan and Budget was revealed by Gracia An-acta. Sarah Cabo shared on the 4-H Club Youth Development Program. Open forum followed after the discussions.

Similarly, on March 26, 2014, the East-ern Samar State University (ESSU) Col-lege of Education spearheaded the activity entitled “Usapang Babae: Eve of Beauty” with the theme “Celebrating Women of Character, Courage and Commitment” participated by all co-ed senior female students in Borongan at ESSU College of Education student lounge. The activity is aimed to form integrated women who be-lieve that there should be equal empow-erment of men and women in leadership and governance. Issues on women’s health were raised in the discussions. Dr. Nenita Agda welcomed the participants with her remarks. Dr. Josephine Marasigan gave a rationale of the activity. The speakers with their talk were YFC Leader Darrise Mana-lo on Eve of Beauty, and Dr. Ethyl Lagria on Women’s Health. Open forum followed with the panelists Mrs. Sarah Puno, Dr. La-gria and Darrise Manalo who enlightened the participants with their answers to the posed questions.

Antigo.... (from p.4)Local Alternative Learning achieves greater heightsAlice Nicart

Borongan celebrates Women’s MonthVanessa M. Puno

Passers of the Accreditation and Evaluation Test (A & E) of the Alternative Learning Scheme(ALS) have increased in number and in percentage.

This was the information said to PIA by ALS Supervisor Junilou Dulfo in a brief interview.

Mr. Dulfo said that in 2012, there were 62 passers of the 176 takers of A & E, or a 35.23% passing percentage while in 2013, 219 took the test and 134(61.19%) of them qualified to the next higher level of learning, 34 of whom were jail inmates from the Provincial and City Jails here.

The 2013 A&E ALS result likewise re-vealed that 17 jail inmates will be accel-erated to secondary level and another 17 will proceed to college level.

This, he credits to the hard-working ALS teachers who are fully supported by top management, Dulfo said.

Recently, ALS opened its doors to some 34 parent-scavengers with their children who have stopped learning in preference instead to scratch the piles of garbage at the former city dumpsite at barangay Camada.

In partnership with some donors, a makeshift learning center had been erected in the mounds where learners interact with their ALS teachers. Other kind-hearted individuals have likewise shared their blessings in school supplies

and used clothings.It was learned further, that the ALS

Mobile teachers in the 20 Community Learning Centers of the City Division themselves, scour the corners even of the farthest barangays in search for non-read-er and non-writing individuals, includ-ing school drop-outs and out-of-school youths.

With their Modules at hand, ALS mo-bile teachers look for prospective enroll-ees and when found, offer them the most flexible schedule to cater to their most available time for the modular learning sessions.

“This is the current thrust of DepEd as ordered by the President, Education for All, until it achieves one of the goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)”, said acting City Division Superintendent Judith Boco who occasionally join other teachers in reaching upstream barangays to search for would-be enrollees.

As of this writing, about 614 are now enrolled in the 20 learning communities which are found in Siha, brgy. H, Sohotan, Campesao, Calicoan, District ALS Office, San Saturnino, Bugas, Can-aga, Balac-das, Can-abong, Nabiyawan, Bato, Tabok, Songco, Pinanag-an, Camada, San Mateo, Punta Maria and Canjaway all of Borongan city.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

LEGAL INSIDER...(from p.5)

sponsible for the consequences of its operation regardless of who the actual vehicle owner might be. Well-settled is the rule that the registered owner of the vehicle is liable for quasi-delicts resulting from its use. Thus, even if the vehicle has already been sold, leased, or transferred to another person at the time the vehicle figured in an accident, the registered vehicle owner would still be liable for damages caused by the ac-cident. The sale, transfer or lease of the vehicle, which is not registered with the Land Transportation Office, will not bind third persons aggrieved in an accident involving the vehicle. The compulsory motor vehicle registration underscores the importance of registering the vehi-cle in the name of the actual owner.

The recourse of FLI in this case would be to file a cross-claim against EBC based on the lease contract, so that it may be reimbursed for the amount it may be required to pay to the family of the victim.

*Caveat: This article is for general information only and NOT a legal advice.

es as a navy receiving station. It was con-nected to Guiuan by a 515-ft long bridge of timber, 22 ft wide.

However, save for the bridge, a few Quonset huts, a rusty pontoon serving as pier, a nonfunctioning walk-in refrigerator, an abandoned large mechanized laundry, and a dilapidated church, there was hardly any trace of the “city” when the first White Russians arrived in January 1949, 49 of them (the “advance echelon”) by air on the 12th, and 492 by sea on the 23rd, on board S.S. Hwa Lien.

As refugees poured in, the practically uninhabited island of Tubabao was trans-formed into what was known as Russian Ref-ugee Camp. It was divided into 14 districts, each district taking care of its own needs. Eventually, electricity, hospital, sanatorium, supply office, cemetery and churches of ev-ery denomination were set up. After almost three years of refuge in the island and of waiting for immigration officers, they were eventually admitted to France, Chile and other South American countries, the United States and Australia, but the great majority was finally settled in the U.S.

However unpleasant may have been their life in the island, especially for the el-derly, the White Russians were freed from the power of Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung. Indeed, their very lives were saved from pogrom and certain death. Obviously, their plight was better than of those who chose to remain in China, for whom life in the 1950s was almost intolerable.

7MARCH 2014 ESTE! NewsMARCH 2014

“Thank you for portraying Eastern Sa-mar before and after ‘Yolanda’ in a dance-drama. I was also teary-eyed.”

So said Reverend Bishop Crispin Var-quez as he referred to the very impressive dance-drama performance of Karasikas Dance Troupe of the Eastern Samar State University(ESSU) which is being choreo-graphed by Ms. Ginaly Avila.

The “Yolanda” themed Dance-Drama was part of the Tribute-Program cum din-ner tendered recently by the Governor, Honorable Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. in honor of the foreign and local emergency re-

sponders of “Yolanda” survivors. Bishop Varquez was one of the hon-

ored guests and awardee likewise, and his most awaited inspirational message affirmed the audience’s common reaction to the “Yolanda” storyline and its artistic interpretation which was “realistic and emotional” they said. The good Bishop though, encouraged one and all to move forward and continue praying because God never fails.

A lady from ZOA, a German based-NGO that provides shelter among others, asked for Ms. Avila’s number while an

“Karasikas” performers wow UN-agencies, I-NGO responders with “Yolanda Dance-Drama”Alice Nicart

Bureau of Fire Protection Borongan takes action for Fire Prevention Month Vanessa Puno

The Bureau of Fire Protection spear-headed by City Fire Marshal F/Ins Erwin U. Limbauan with fourteen personnel marks

the Fire Prevention Month this March with theme “Isulong and Kaunlaran, Sunog ay Iwasan, Kaalaman at Pag-iingat ang Kailan-gan” after one month that some of its per-sonnel braved the forest fires at Salcedo and Balangiga.

Forest firesThe personnel of the Bureau of Fire

Protection audaciously protected the ba-rangays from the forest fires at Salcedo almost near the vicinity of Eastern Samar State University Salcedo where boarding houses are located on February 20 and 21, 2014. Borongan firemen together with fire-men from Guiuan and Lawaan and the help of the continuous rains consumed the for-est fires at Salcedo, E. Samar.

The forest fires at Balangiga which was two kilometers away from the barangays was courageously tried to be exhausted

through the action of firemen of Lawaan and Borongan with their C/Insp. Sergio Nayra BFP, the Provincial Fire Marshal on Feb. 21, 2014. They reported that due to the vast forest fires they felt hopeless adding to the fact that the fires almost engulfed them so they felt that the fires were difficult to consume. It was then a Divine interven-tion that heavy rains came which saved the barangays and the forests from the said fires. It was said that the cause of the for-est fires could have been “kaingin” or the heat of the sun which began the dry field to ignite unaidedly.

A month on Fire Prevention The said bureau this March conducts

lectures on awareness on fire protection, and proper use of fire extinguisher to pu-pils at elementary schools in Eugenio S. Daza Pilot Elementary School, Taboc El-

army officer (Maj. Bugayong) said he was also teary-eyed at the performance, be-cause he was reminded of his first arrival in Hernani after Yolanda struck. Accord-ing to him, he could not believe his eyes then, as cadavers laid in the damaged streets of barangay Carmen and Padang

“Karasikas Dance Troupe” has al-ways garnered recognition. For one, it al-ready has been acclaimed as Hall of Fame Awardee, having won three consecutive championship awards in the local festival, Borongan’s Padul-ong.

Since then, Ms. Avila and her dancers

have been sought for including a perfor-mance in Cebu’s Sinulog where they also got an award.

Asked about her choreography se-crets, Ginalyn said, that after reading a storyline, she just pause and visualize how story plots can be presented in the most artistic and interesting way. She also thanked her protégées that despite their graduation from the university, they keep on coming back to execute exceptional performances. (PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

8

band and be a Christian wife and fol-lows, to be both Christian wife and mother.

A Christian wife accepts her hus-band as a gift from God and she is a helpmate of her husband in creating a clear vision of a family that will make our CREATOR happy according to His holy will.

I remember an old friend who is in the church everyday even if she was still in active service as a public school teacher up to the present in her old age. She said, “It akon tuhod kibalon na pero akon ini ginhahalad sa Diyos para hit ak asawa ug mga anak.” So a wife and a mother must always commune with the Lord to intercede for her husband and children.

She seeks for God’s inspiration and guidance on how to carry on the vision of their family with all her gifts, ability and creativity.

Propelled by God’s inspiration she acts with love, honor and respect in meeting the needs of her husband and children.

Her mouth should be a source of blessings NOT curse – “Grasya diri dis-

grasya”.Kay maupay gad la kon waray pa-

saway, kon waray problema! Replied a friend.

My fellow Juanas “hindi tayo nag-iisa” let us always remember that our GOD is always with us and He is much, much bigger than our problems.

Our head is over and above our heart. Let us be detached from our emo-tions, to be open to God’s enlighten-ment and guidance by being with Him always in prayer.

God calls us to this mission to pre-serve our homes ,to be our vehicle to His Kingdom. This is a spiritual war-fare with our own flesh, the world and the devil who are trying to destroy our homes. May we always remember that, if He calls, He provides and He sustains! There is nothing impossible with God! Like Mama Mary, she answered “Yes”, she believed that God knows what is best.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Mama Mary, pray for us, and all the angels and saints, pray for us and preserve our homes. Amen!

ementary School, Sabang Elementary School and Songco Elementary School. They stressed on information on fire, the importance of having an open fire exit al-ways, the causes of fire and on ways how to prevent fire.

The Bureau of Fire Protection also car-ried out a fire drill at Landbank last March 11, 2014 as part of fire protection and safe-ty of the said establishment.

City Deputy Fire Marshal, Senior Fire Officer 1 Mario B. Alde said that fire can be caused by electricity, octopus connection, leaking gas stove, unconsumed cigarette butts, unattended candles, “katols,” lamp with petroleum and wood stove. He also said that in case of fire, it is important to switch off the main switch of the electricity. He stressed establishments and houses can use panel boards for automatic fire safety.

Mother Butler Liturgical Center

We sell at reasonable prices: Religious Icons, Hosts, Mass Wine, Bibles, Yukaristiya, Anawim, Candles,

Incense, Magic Charcoal, Audio CDs, Songbooks, etc.

Cathedral Compound, Borongan City 6800 Eastern Samar

Balik balay...(from p.5)

ROSAMAR ENTERPRISES

AVON BOUTIQUESTaboc, Borongan/Baybay, Dolores/Butnga, Oras

Offers Free Dealers’ Registration!

AMISTOSO’S SPACE RENTALSTaboc, Borongan City: Function Hall, Office Space,

& Residence Lodge Butnga, Oras & Baybay, Dolores: Rooms Accomodation

RIDES MOTOR PARTS & ACCESSORIESTaboc, Borongan City

ESTE! News MARCH 2014

Photo by: Vanessa Puno

EASTERN SAMAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (ESAMELCO)

Brgy. Cabong, Borongan City, Eastern Samar

Four months ago, most destructive typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas Region particularly the provinces of Leyte and Samar. ESAMELCO’s distribution lines and facilities especially the southern coverage area was heavily devastated, particularly from Hernani down to Guiuan, and also

up to Lawaan.

ESAMELCO exerted all its effort s to restore the damaged distribution lines especially to those area totally damaged by the typhoon, with the as-sistance of other Electric Cooperatives under NEA Task Force Kapatid from other regions which immediately deployed their construction groups

to expedite the restoration.

As of March 19, 2014, it has energized 170 Barangays (805) out of 213 Barangays, leaving 43 more barangays to be energized by March 31, 2014 and the restoration of the remaining Barangays is still in progress as some are far flung or islands and can only be reached by foot trail or boat where delivery of materials like line hardware, conductors and transformers is difficult. Out of 21, 124 households, 10,682 (75.41%) are already connected and energized, 3,484 yet to be connected and 6,958 are not ready for connection as they are still under construction or with temporary roofing. Consumers approved for reconnection are those who have Five Safety Inspection Certificates, settled their arranged their arrearages and

submitted the required documents.

ESAMELCO targets to energize 90% of the 213 devastated barangays by March 31, 2014. The remaining barangays will be completed in the fol-lowing month.

We wish to express our thanks to all Electric Cooperatives Board of Directors, General Managers and employees involved in Task Force Kapatid namely: SAMELCO I, SAMELCO II, CAGELCO I, SORECO I, SORECO II, CASURECO I, CASURECO II, CASURECO III, CASURECO IV, CANORECO, FICELCO and DORECO, and also to ESAMELCO employees as well as contractors who worked hand-in-hand in restoring power in the municipalities of Balangkayan, Hernani, Gen. MacArthur, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, Mercedes and Guiuan.

THANK YOU MESSAGE

The management and staff of Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ESAMELCO), would like to thank you the invaluable support that the BOSUNG POWERTEC PHILS., INC. extended to us in donating the following:

1. Two (2) units of 50 kVA Pole Transformers2. Four (4) units of 25 kVA Pole Transformers

For the YOLANDA recovery and restoration of ESAMELCO’s heavily damaged distribution lines.

9MARCH 2014 ESTE! NewsMARCH 2014

10

After the ill-effects of super-typhoon “Yolanda” which rendered major damage to school buildings and learning materi-als, the Department of Education(DepEd) this Division is now getting more school buildings and classrooms from generous donors.

This was the information given re-cently by Schools Division Superinten-dent, Officer-in-Charge, Bernardo Adina to PIA.

Adina said that by June or before the following school opening comes, about 80 to 90% of the devastated school build-ings and classrooms would be restored citing for instance the 2-storey building in Salcedo-I District with eight classrooms that is set to ground-break soonest.

Another 1-unit, 2-classroom building in barangay Bagtong, Salcedo II District is also set to be launched.

The two school buildings are fi-nanced by Kindernot-Hilfe, a Germany-based non-government organization and is implemented by Amurt International.

It can be recalled that Salcedo, which is about 30-minute drive north of Guiuan, was also one of the 12-hardest hit munici-palities by super-typhoon “Yolanda”.

Recently, a negotiated bidding was

With high hopes to increase local rice production in the province, the De-partment of Agriculture(DA) through its Regional Office in Tacloban and the Of-fice of the Provincial Agriculturist(OPAS) distributed today nine Hand Tractors and eight Shallow Tube Wells to some local farmers’ organization.

This is in connection with the con-tinuing national support to modernize farming in the countryside in order to increase rice production and food sus-tainability in the country.

Senior Agriculturist Arvin Car-gando reported that other neighboring countries has 2.27% horse power output in farm mechanization while only 1.5% has it in the country.

In the province however, since its mechanization program had been im-plemented three years ago, OPAS has noticed a 5% increase in rice produc-tion as compared to the traditional farm-ing, and the program is on going, he added.

Cargando informed further that the national department has allocated some

A team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office visited Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) to check on prices especially on construc-tion materials after the super typhoon Yolanda hit Eastern Visayas including a significant portion of Eastern Samar.

Engr. Alex Almojuela and Engr. Mario Puddanan of DPWH’s Price Moni-toring Validation Team visited the prov-ince to monitor and validate the prices of construction materials used by the district. According to Assistant District Engineer Rudyard Lim who accommo-dated the visitors in his office upon their arrival said that this is part of the trans-

also done for the repair of 166 class-rooms, covering the most hard-hit baran-gays. The project costs P42M, Mr. Adina said.

UNICEF also granted 96 temporary classrooms costing P176,000.00 which can last for 2-3 years, he added.

Moreover, Amurt International re-paired all the comfort rooms of the 13-classrooms of Mercedes Central School in Mercedes, another hard-hit area.

Supt. Adina shared that he is glad and has many things to thank for to these donor organizations because their inter-vention have so much complemented government assistance, in fact they were quicker.

The school highest official in the DepEd Division likewise informed that Child-friendly spaces, learning kits on top of the Psychological Trainings had been granted by UNICEF to the most af-fected schools.

Early reports indicated that there is an estimated total damage of Php453,563,000.00 to DepEd here which covers 141 damaged elementary school buildings and 20 public high school buildings.(PIA-Eastern Samar/aen)

parency thrust the agency is pursuing in line with President Benigno Aquino III’s call for a “MatuwidnaDaan.”

“This is to ensure our compliance to the department’s directive in the guide-lines for the establishment of Construc-tion Materials Price and Standard Labor and Equipment Rental Rates Data Base,” Engr. Lim said. District Engineer Manolo Rojas was on important travel when the monitoring team arrived.

ESDEO Administrator NildaLim-bauan said that the district is adapting the said guidelines. “We are glad that the (monitoring) team from Manila has come to check the actual prices here in Borongan City and other places here in the district,” She said.

Accompanied by Eva Caspe and Arvin Puno, district’s monitoring coun-terparts, Almojuela and Puddanan visited various hardware stores and construction material suppliers in the locality. The joint team also visited some sources of aggregates in the district.

During the exit conference attend-ed by the monitoring team together with Engr. Arturo Apura, planning and de-sign section chief, and ADE Lim, it was found out that the prices of construction materials have obviously increased and

DepEd-ESamar gets more school buildings after “Yolanda”Alice Nicart

DPWH’s Price Monitoring Team from Central Office Validated the Construction Materials Prices used by ESDEO

Jeymar Grafil

DA-OPAS increases farmers mechanization equipment

Alice Nicart

Mr. & Mrs. Andres Bacor(nee: Asuncion Navidad)

andChildren

Geronimo & Aileen Bacor & ChildrenMa. Gina Navidad Bacor

Genith & Bonifacio Zacate & ChildrenJorenda & Benjie Godino & Children

James & Wilda Bacor & ChildrenGener Bacor

Jenelyn & Dennis Cardenio & ChildrenJanice Bacor

ESDEO Price Monitoring Team accompanied the visitors to hardware stores for assessments and validation on prices of construction materials

P6B for farm mechanization program until 2016 and thus, OPAS hopes further that more farm equipment will be com-ing to the province. Today’s distribution was the second of the series.

Governor Conrado Nicart, Jr. con-gratulated the farmer-recipients, who still travelled from the northern baran-gays. According to him, they were most fortunate, because not all farmers had the privilege to receive the DA assis-tance. However, the Governor advised them to take proper care of the equip-ment so they will last longer than ten years as expected.

Asked if there is a provincial coun-terpart in the DA’s granting of the ma-chineries, Governor Nicart replied in the negative.

Each tractor costs P115,000.00 and the farmers association will only have to pay the P17,535.00 equity, but in cases where the association is not capable, the office of the governor assumes part of the financial obligation.(PIA-EASTERN SAmAR/AEN)

is mainly attributed to the difficulty and more expensive transportation of the said goods after the November 8 catas-trophe. The biggest typhoon to hit earth

in recent history has claimed thousands of lives, displaced thousands of families and millions worth of infrastructure and agricultural damages in Region 8.

ESTE! News MARCH 2014

Greetings from:

DONORSABS Loquine

Dr. Evelyn S. AsebiasJunjun and Sheryl Montes

Ma. Rina A. PinarokMr. and Mrs. Bernardino Corre

and family

Alyson Gil OperarioDr. Mac FelicenDra. Lerma Badiola-RomeroEdgardo JuabanFe M. TyHazel DelantarHon. and Mrs. Jose SabulaoIsabel Ariaso, Novy Navares and children Abelyn, Vincent and KethJ and D EateryKier Andrei GloriaKristine PrestozaLilibeth BarisMarvie TanauanMr. and Mrs. Ariel Palce and childrenMr. and Mrs. Benjamin MabansagMr. and Mrs. Joaquin Lumagbas, Sr.Mr. and Mrs. Joel MacapanasMr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Afable

BENEFACTORS

Mr. and Mrs. Romeo Beringuel and childrenMr. and Mrs. Rufino GaradoMrs. Beatriz EgargoMrs. Concordia Luma inMrs. Epifania de VeyraMrs. Eva DiazMrs. Gregoria CalumpianoMrs. Mary Grace Soraya DuranMrs. Myrna Isaig and familyMrs. Rosemarie AmistosoMrs. Sharon AbreraMs. Megan MolinaPatrocinia C. CanitesRoy Dadios and Melba Baris and childrenRuperto and Sheila IlayaVictoria CrusperoVirginia Dalina

Rapadapa ni Noypi

11

TINDOG TAWOBy: Angel Rose

Kulaw dinhi, kulaw didtoMakikita an mag-aringasa nga mga tawo

Nagtarampo an tsismosa tsismosoKay ira gin iiristuryahan an makanhi nga bagyo.

An mga `patrol cars’ in nanlilibotPagsarang han bagyo nga maabot

Pero an iba waray la labotParo la hin waray kasabot.

Na evacuate na an ibaMan hin dara hin bis ano la

Paro la hin mga dagaNga karuyag makasakob han ira lungga.

Pag-abot han Nobyembre ika – otsoHinangin hin dire – diretso

Linapiran pa han kidlat nga maul-ul ha uloPinan ruba ngatanan , waray sinasanto.

An mga tawo nagpakiana han ira mga kalugaringon

“Asya na ba ini an katapusan naton?”May binaton , “diri ta sasabuton”

Basta nakilala pa kita han at ` Panginoon.

MARCH 2014 ESTE! NewsMARCH 2014

“The unlived life is not worth examining .” - Anonymous

12 ESTE! News

Sunrise at Baybay BoulevardBorongan City

Brgy. Batang, Hernani, Eastern Samar

MARCH 2014

Sunset at Cabong Beach, Borongan City