RGM reports on first 100 days

Province-wide organic hog-raising project takes off

H I G H L I G H T SFirst 100 days SOPA

Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg.December 16-31, 2013 Vol. I, No. 12

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Governor Roger Mercado looked back on his first 100 days as chief executive of the province, and the days beyond those, reciting what were done, and setting a vision for a province that will be an ideal place to live and work. “Our aim is to become the best live-able province in the Philippines” Gov. Mercado declared in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) Wednesday,

A massive swine fattening project that will in-volve hog-growing families all over the province was launched into action here Thursday, December 19, with twenty-two families as initial beneficiaries, each family getting five piglets. The livestock project was pushed by a newly-formed non-government organization, the Southern Leyte So-cio-Economic Development, Inc. (SOLSED) under its

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ORGANIC HOGS: Cong. Damian Mercado (rightmost) and Gov. Roger Mercado led the distribution of piglets in Hinundayan as Mayor Evelyn Lee, and other officials look on.

RGM FIRST SOPA: Gov. Roger Mercado stresses a point during his State of Province Address, where he outlined some accomplishments in his first 100 days in office, and detailed a number of policy and governance agenda.

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Skills training program for the poor set for implementation in 2014Delivered 5,000 robusta coffee seedlings to 2 farmers-cooperatives in PintuyanP260,000.00 provincial funds and P 164,000.00 PDAF given as direct financial aid to beneficiaries in 18 towns and one cityRevolutionized provision and system of health care services for wider pro-poor ac-cessOrdered close monitoring of sand and grav-el extractionSet higher local income by revising the Pro-vincial Revenue CodeCitations, certificates of recognition given to provincial employees, other individuals who volunteered during the relief, repacking, and search and rescue operations at the height of typhoon YolandaInducted officers of the Provincial Federa-tion of Liga ng mga Barangays (photo below)Signed the 2014 Budget of the province (bottom photo)

December 18, held under the canopy of trees fronting the Capitol building. The SOPA, an 8-page speech enti-tled “My 100 Days as Your Governor”,

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RGM reports... (from page 1)

contained the four areas of concern that served as the centerpiece agenda of his administration since assuming office as first-term Gover-nor in July this year after having served two full terms as the province’s lone lawmaker. These included poverty reduction, environment protection, inclusive economic growth, and good governance. “This report is long overdue, and I apologize for the delay, but we have been overtaken by events as a result of typhoon Yolanda, and we have to attend to the more urgent activities like emergency assistance and relief operations for Leyte” Mercado said in the opening part of his 50-minute address, interrupted 12 times by applause. “There are many things I want to do to bring our people nearer to our shared vision of a developed, healthy, safe, secure, and happy people, and my first 100 days as your Governor were very critical in laying the proper foundations towards attaining this desired state,” he told a captive audience of local chief executives, provincial officials, heads of provincial and national offices, and capitol employees. He said he was prompted to declare war against poverty after learning from a 2009 NSCB report that about 43% of the people in the province lived below poverty line, and he addressed this by empower-ing them for capacity building through skills training conducted by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). His development outlook, he said, has always been anchored on attaining progress without sacrificing the environment. He mentioned tourism as the industry that can spearhead the local economy. “For 2013, the provincial tourism office has set the target of tourist arrivals at 32,765. But for the first two quarters alone, the number of tourists reached 165,477, which is five times more than the annual target.” Throughout his speech, he repeatedly thanked the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in the various initiatives that he launched, like the continued concreting of a provincial road traversing the moun-tains of Maasin to Bontoc using savings of local funds. Towards the end of his talk, he quoted and paraphrased Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City: “I call for your support to transform the province into a global growth generator where the next miracle will take place.”

Gov. Roger Mercado gives cash awards to 27 Batang Pi-noy provincial athletes who joined in Batang Pinoy Games-Vi-sayas Qualifying Leg last September 2013 at Maasin City. Winning athletes who won 4 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 19 bronze medals all received the cash awards at the provincial capitol. (esg)

CASH REWARDS FOR BATANG PINOY WINNERS

ESTORYAHI!Willie Justimbaste

WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY The year that was 2013 brought us down on our knees in supplication for God’s compassion and mercy to spare us from the scourges of nature and man. The Zam-boanga siege in Mindanao was largely a matter of wound-ed ego and KSP –kulang sa pansin. But what a costly toll of lives, limbs and properties that still need reparation and reconstruction both physical and psychological for victims and survivors of a senseless jihad or political ploy. The trail of blood and dislocation cries out for justice. But the main perpetrator has fled the coop, as usual. The killer quake that devastated Bohol, Negros and Cebu, among others was a grim reminder of how puny mortals are and the helplessness of even the stron-gest structures before nature’s wrathful act when the time comes. Treasured churches, favored spots and creations of leisure and pleasure crumbled down like houses of cards.” Sic transit Gloria mundi”- for those whom the gods wish to destroy even Mt. Olympus can’t defend. Then came Yolanda and all heads bowed before her deadly might carving a horrific path of destruction and disaster wherever her landfall by eye or tail. The indomitable Filipino fighting spirit to the fore but the shining moments were those of world response and the multi-national volunteers. Then, they were victims. Now, they want to be called survivors, resilient and determined to move on with or without government aid and those from domes-tic and foreign sources. Of course, when there’s honey, there’s the greedy grabbing and grappling for the gravy. But should beggars be choosers? We hear lots of com-plaints though not necessarily from the recipients them-selves but from shady sources who simply gloat and glory over conflict, chaos and confusion. Bunkhouses for temporary shelter not condos are being constructed. It’s absurd to expect luxurious ac-commodations. At least this is a lot better than tents. It’s scandalously shameful when politicking comes into play, especially with 2016 just around the bend. The demoli-tion job is even worse than the calamity at the expense of the innocent and well-meaning. The politician-crabs will always try to put good men down to earn notice. But cre-dence or credibility is a commodity hard to come by for aging has-beens who had time and opportunity to lead but met their downfall instead. By now the three wise men, kings or stoogies should realize the folly of being on the wrong side of history.

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SOPA NI GOB. ROGER MERCADO NAGTUMBOK SA IYANG NAHIMO

Kaniadtong Dec. 18, atubangan sa mga kawani sa kapitolyo, gihimo sa atong Gobernador ang gitawag ug State of the Province address kon SOPA. Sa iyang mensahe gihisgutan niini ang iyang mahimo alang sa mga katawhan sa atong lalawigan. Partikular nga iyang gi-saysay mao ang paghatag ug maayong serbisyo sa panglawas, edu-kasyon sa mga bata, trabaho, dayag nga panggoberno, pag-atiman sa kalikupan, paglambo sa Agrikultura ug pagtagad sa mga hangyo sa mga katawhan ilabina sa mga LGU ug barangay official. Human sa iyang "mensahe kalamposan" iya nga gipasalamatan ang tanang mga kawani sa kapitolyo, mga regular ug Job Order nga mitabang aron magmalamposon ang iyang goberno solod sa onom ka bulan. Gitu-nol pod niya ang iyang kinasingkasing nga pasalamat sa tanang mga SP members sa Hunta Probinsyal, sa makanunayon nga pagbulig sa iyang goberno, ug mga hangyo, aron magmalambo-on ang iyang kawsa nga Matinud-anong Pagpangalagad ug tinuoray nga Serbisyo Publiko. Gitapos ang maong okasyon sa yanong "salo-salo", ug sa pagsaulog sa mga kawani sa simple nga pagsaulog sa kapaskohan.

Balitang probinsya... (from page 4)

Province-wide organic... (from page 1)

Market-led Integrated Agri-business Networking (MIAN) program. Conressman Damian Mercado, the main proponent of the liveli-hood project who declared its formal launching during the ceremo-nies, led the guests attending the program at the town’s gym, along with Gov. Roger Mercado, and Hinundayan Mayor Evelyn Lee. Also attending the event were the local chief executives of the pacific area, several heads of national line agencies, municipal agriculture of-ficers led by Provincial Agriculturist Marina Gador, SOLSED Board of Directors, and families of the first batch of beneficiaries. In his brief talk, Cong. Mercado, fondly called Cong. Mian, empha-sized that funding for the swine raising project came from private sourc-es, not government funds, hence those who availed must exert extra efforts for the success of the venture. “Help us succeed by faithfully caring for the piglets. Do not waste away our trust in you. These efforts are for your very own benefits, not ours,” Cong. Mian said in bisaya. He challenged the Hinundayan beneficiaries to become success-ful models for other towns, as the project will be expanded sooner to all the other 17 municipalities and one city. He also said that marketing of the full-grown pigs, estimated to happen by April 2014, will not be a problem as SOLSED will be the one to buy them at a price higher than the prevailing market price. Gov. Mercado, for his part, threw his full support to the project, calling it “a very intelligent move” to transform the province’s im-age from being a net consumer of meat to a producer and eventu-ally an exporter to other areas of the country. A ceremonial turn-over of piglets and their actual distribution capped the day’s activity.

COURTESY CALL: Police Supt. Avelino Doncillo, the new Chief of Police of Maa-sin City Police Station, in a

WEIGHING: Cong. Mian (center) watches as one of the piglets was weighed before actual distribution to benefi-ciaries in Hinundayan. Below, Mayor Evelyn Lee (second from left) and SOLSED Board

Members pose while a piglet was weighed.

courtesy call with Gov. Roger Mercado at the Governor’s office shortly after assuming his post, vice Police Supt. Elwin Fernan-dez who had retired.

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December 16-31, 2013Page 4

Mobile Skills training to roll on-site A skills training program that would meet the labor market demand and based on interests and background of target beneficiaries is set for implementation by the pro-vincial government here in 2014. This was announced by Gov. Roger Mercado Wednesday during his State of the Prov-ince Address (SOPA) that dwelt on his first 100 days in office and the plans he intend-ed to undertake in the near future, among them equip-ping the poor with skills. “The Southern Leyte Mo-bile Skills Training program is designed such that, rather than for the students to go to the training centers, which will entail additional costs, the training services will be delivered and conducted on-site or near where the target beneficiaries live. The pro-gram will be implemented in 2914,” the Governor said. All of the trainings to be

conducted will use the TES-DA-approved curriculum, and only those who qualify and meet the TESDA stan-dards will be issued qualifica-tion certificates, he added. Funds for such trainings will be sourced from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with counterpart funding from provincial, city, and mu-nicipal local government units. “Courses to be offered are welding, electrical, ma-sonry, plumbing, carpentry, acupressure, haircutting, and manicure/pedicure, Mercado informed. Meanwhile, Mercado dis-closed that the provincial Public Employment Services Office (PESO) had solicited 327 job vacancies from var-ious business firms in Maa-sin City, in which out of the 206 job applicants, 198 indi-viduals were employed, or a hiring rate of 96%.

KWARTA NGA GIGASTO SA BAGYONG YOLANDA GIPAGAWAS NA

Maayo pa nga kita ang mohatag kaysa kita ang hatagan, kini maoy nahimong baroganan sa atong probinsya pinaagi ni Governor Roger Mercado. Gumikan niining mao nga prinsipyo gipagawas sa Pro-vincial Budget services Office (PBSO) pinaagi ni OIC Budget Offi-cer Ms. Sylvia E. Torredes ang kantidad sa kwarta nga gigamit ug gigasto sa bagyo nga Yolanda. Sa gihatag nga lista ni Mr. Torredes kinatibuk-an miabot ug P893,520.30 ang tanan. Gipalit kini ug nag-kalain-laing mga panginahanglan sama sa bugas, delata nga pagka-on, water container, battery, load sa cellphone, bayad sa chainsaw, plastic, flashlight og megaphones. Apan ang pinakadako niini mao ang kwarta nga gipalit ug bugas nga miabot og P700k, nga diin gi-panghatag ngadto 18 ka LGU's ug sa syudad sa Maasin apil na sa mga 4Ps members. Ang naasoy nga sumada sa galastuhan gipamatud-an usab ni Ms. Imelda O. Monter Budget Officer III ug ni Mr. Jess L. Go, OIC Provincial Treasurer sa atong probinsya. Kabahin usab kini sa Dayag nga Panggoberno ni Gob. Oging Mercado.

BAG-O NGA HEPI SA DAKBAYAN SA MAASIN Mihimo ug Pagtimbaya sa Gobernador aron sa pagpaila nga por-mal nang mosugod sa iyang trabaho isip bag-o nga magdumala sa kwerpo sa kapulisan sa syudad sa Maasin, si Col. Avelino Doncello nakigkita kang Gobernador Roger G. Mercado sa miaging semana. sa pagduaw sa maong hepe sa buhatan sa Gobernador, ilang gihis-gutan ang sitwasyon ug kahimtang sa kahapsay ug kalinaw, ilabina ang problema sa droga nga maoy mihulga sa maayong panghunahu-na sa mga kabataan. Si Col. Doncello naggikan sa ranggo nga P.O. I, hangtud nga naha-tagan kini ug hataas nga promosyon sa PNP headquarters sa kampo Crame, gumikan sa iyang katakos pakigbisog aron depensahan ang kahapsay ug kalinaw sa Rehiyon Otso, partikular na sa lalawigan sa Samar nga gustong samukon sa mga tawo nga nahitipas sa sabakan sa atong balaod. Welcome to Maasin city and the Province of So. Leyte, Col., pana-pos nga pamahayag sa Gobernador.

ADLAW SA KAHOY, GIDEKLARA NI GOB. ROGER MERCADO

Aron kanunay nga matiman-an sa panomdoman sa mga tawo sa atong Probinsya ang nahitabo kaniadtong Nov. 8 gumikan ni Super Typhoon (ST) Yolanda, gipirmahanni Gob. Roger G. Mercado ang Executive Order-059 Series of 2013. Ang naasoy nga ordinansa, mao ang gitawag ug "Arbor Day" kon adlaw sa kahoy sa pinulongan nga binisaya. Ang onud sa maong kamanduan, mao nga kada petsa otso sa kada buwan, ang mga tawo sa lalawigan motanum ug kahoy sa ilang yuta, aron madugangan ang atong mga kakahoyan. Napa-matud-an sa mga "scientists" nga gumikan sa kadaghan sa atong mga kakahoyan, wala kayo makapangdaot si Yolanda, sa atong Probinsya.

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