April 16-30, 2016 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 20

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DA gives farm implements to farmers, fishers

PSA empowers brgy. secretaries

Limasawa gets tourism road upgrade

Sec. Alcala interacts with farmers, fishers

By Rebecca Cadavos

By Bong Pedalino

By Bong Pedalino

By Rebecca Cadavos

The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned-over farm implements to the different farmer/fisherfolks or-ganizations throughout the province of Southern Leyte in a turn-over cer-emony graced by DA Secretary Pro-ceso Alcala.

The day activity held April 5, 2016 at Maasin City gymnasium was par-ticipated by different stakeholders spearheaded by DA Regional Office 8 through Regional Director Leo Cañe-da and DA 8 personnel.

The farm implements distribut-ed during the Technical Consulta-tions with Agri-Pinoy Stakeholders in Eastern Visayas were as follows: farm tractor, cassava grater, corn mill, hand tractor, cassava granulator, rice thresh-er, corn shelter, floating tiller, among others.

The undertaking also presented commitments of agricultural inter-ventions such as the rehabilitation and improvement of Mahayag-Mana-log Farm to Market Roads, Expanded

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala played Santa Claus to farmers and fish-ermen from different places of the province Tuesday, April 5, at the city gym, hearing their stories, giv-ing direct answers, and assuring of concrete actions.

The gathering of more than a thousand farmers and fisherfolks felt it was Christmas in April, their re-quests either granted on the spot, or noted as a top priority on Alcala’s to-do list.

The occasion was dubbed Tech-nical Consultation with Agri-Pinoy Stakeholders in Eastern Visayas, in which selected farmers shared tes-timonies on successful agricultural ventures, and voiced issues and con-

The national government is build-ing high standard circumferential roads in the island of Limasawa for the con-venience of tourists going to historical sites, among other natural wonders found in the said island municipality.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Southern Leyte District Engineering Office chief Ma. Margarita C. Junia in a press release stated that they are

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MWD Board okays Maasin City offer

Barangay scribes all over the province are a bit well-versed on matters of civil registration due in large part to the constant mento-ring of the provincial Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) office.

Jimmy Dagupan, Statistician II, in an interview at the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA cable TV program last week reported that last February 16-18, 2016, the PSA initiated anoth-er convention of barangay secretaries of Southern Leyte, the fourth such kind of event in a row.

The activity, which was held at Sabin Resort Hotel in Ormoc City, drew 431 participants -- a huge crowd that was divided in two batch-es, the attendees also including 25

barangay captains, two barangay kagawads, and five local Civil Regis-trar staffs.

Barangay secretaries who are al-ways attending PSA-organized ac-tivities possess enough learning with regards to issues affecting civil reg-istration, so that he or she is already capable of giving advice to the con-stituents in a barangay who are long-ing for services of the civil registrar, Dagupan said.

For instance, they can guide those with wrong spelling or wrong gender in their birth records to see the mu-nicipal or civil registrar in order to correct these errors, Dagupan added.

Also during the 3-day baran-

gay secretaries’ convention, some 16 City/Municipal Registrars were present, and the guests from the regional office included OIC Region-al Director Wilma Peran-te and Supervisor Felimon Garcia Jr.

Invited resource speak-ers from different agencies were Misael Paigan, Phil-health-Ormoc Branch head; Roselyn Pilapil, EO II of SSS-Ormoc; Dr. Archilles Silva, Ormoc City Civil Reg-istrar; and Dr. Edmund Vil-la, Provincial Health Officer II of IPHO-Southern Leyte.

The Board of Directors of Maasin Water District (MWD) had approved the P 50-Million assistance extended by the city local govern-ment to boost water supply and cover more areas that needed service connections.

And even with this LGU loan the minimum charge for ten cubic meters will remain the same at P 160.00, the second lowest in Region 8, as-sured Nestor Geraldo, MWD General Manager, unless more compelling reasons warrant a review of existing water rates.

During a press conference at the MWD Office Friday, April 1, Geraldo said the planned infusion of funds from the city government got stalled be-cause of the election ban period, but he expressed hope this will push through after this year’s polls.

City Mayor Maloney Samaco earlier informed local media that the city would foot the bill for ex-pansion of MWD’s services to reach barangay Panan-awan, the location of the airport, and ba-rangay Guadalupe, site of the alternate port.

MWD will repay the amount at P 1 Million a year without interest for fifty years, Samaco had said, adding that the city’s loan with DBP for this purpose is now on process.

Geraldo confirmed the statements of Mayor Samaco, even as he emphasized the need for MWD to develop more water sources.

Water concessionaires now stood at 4,700 most of them, about 80% residential, and many

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Agri-business Activities like banana plantation, rehabilita-tion and vegetable production, animal re-stocking and infu-sion project, rehab/concreting of Suba-Kamagkaan-San Vi-cente-San Juan Farm to Mar-ket Roads, the construction of FMR with footbridge compo-nent concreting at La Purisima

IT”S YOURS: DA Secretary Proseso Alcala leads the distribution of farm tools to Southern Leyteno farmers and fishermen at the entrance of the city gym. With him are Gov. Roger Mercado and City Mayor Maloney Samaco, among other officials.. (above and below photos)

ESTORYAHI!Willie Justimbaste

Vol. III, No.20

Page 2 April 16-30, 2016

MORE REASONS TO UNITE THAN DIVIDE

Limasawa gets tourism...(from page 1)converting a gravel road into a highway, comparable to a major thoroughfare in Leyte prov-ince.

“The road width is 6.1 meters, just like Palo-Carigara-Ormoc roads prior to widening, with thickness of nine inches as thick as Daang Maharlika,” Junia told. This refers to the main road that links the two major trading centers in Eastern Visayas – Tacloban City and Ormoc City.

She added that even if Limasawa is an Island, the DPWH will have to follow the stan-dards set by the DPWH and the Department of Tourism.

The DPWH is now implementing the P43.17 million road project, which aims to pave 1.6-kilometer bumpy road which started on March 20, this year. “This is the third phase of the 3.9-kilometer portion of the Limasawa Circumferential Road,” Junia said.

The concreting project had started in 2013 yet with an outlay of P36 million for 1.23 kilometers, while for 2014, the project got a P32 million funding for 1.1 kilometer, she added.

The road links the six villages of the island town – San Agustin, San Bernardo, Triana 1, Triana 2, Magallanes and Lugsongan. The town’s provincial road has a total length of six kilometers,but some portions were paved by the local government before the central government invested on tourism access road, Junia stated further.

It was learned that the road tourism projects included local roads under the jurisdiction of the local governments in which many of these local roads that serve as entry and exit points of tourist destinations are being paved and upgraded to national road standard sta-tus.

It was learned further that the completion of the concreting is part of the preparation for the 500th commemoration of the First Mass on March 31, 2021.

DA gives farm implements...(from page 1)Concepcion to Zone V in Sogod town and organic fertilizer production, to name a few.

Secretary Alcala in his inspiration-al message responded to the call of the farmers’ testimonies who urged the ag-riculture department to help the agri sector particularly the farmers to help them learn on how to use the organic agriculture, an additional abaca seeds for plantation, among other short, me-dium and long term farm inputs and projects.

The secretary also announced that there are 15 slots available for scholar-ships in agriculture courses, with free school tuition fees, book allowance and a monthly stipend. He did not elaborate the details.

He further said that the agricul-

Sec. Alcala interACTS...(from page 1)cerns affecting them during the brief open forum.

Also attending the event were provincial officials led by Gov. Roger Merca-do, Cong. Damian Mercado, city officials led by Mayor Maloney Samaco, and DA as well as Bureau of Fisheries regional officials.

In his short talk, Alcala announced the upcoming big-ticket farm-to-market road project in Liloan worth more than P 200 Million under the Philippine Road Development Program (PRDP).

He then vowed that all the remaining provincial roads will have to be con-creted as a legacy to future generations.

He pledged to deliver 10,000 new, disease-free abaca seedlings to revive the abaca industry in the province, and that his agency will shoulder expenses of 15 young farmers in the province for a scholarship training.

Alcala affirmed the request of a seed grower from Hinunangan, Santiago Dagcutan, Jr., who requested subsidy for in-breed rice seeds and fertilizers, as well as a cold storage facility to stock unsold certified seeds.

Farm implements, boats, fish gears were earlier handed over by the Sec-retary to the provincial government for distribution to different farmers and fishermen’s organizations.

MWD Board okays...(from page 1)are clamoring to have their homes installed with water lines but because of the prevail-ing El Nino or long drought MWD stopped accepting new connections.

Customers living in elevated and far areas of the city can have their faucets flow only during the night, so Geraldo advised them to bear this condition for the moment due to the long dry spell for he will not impose a water rationing schedule unlike in the past.

However, two new groundwater sources at barangay Ma. Clara are now being tapped to pump water into the system so that water service can be had 24/7 despite El Nino, Geraldo also reported.

ture sector is very important in every one’s life, saying “kung maganda ang ani, maganda ang buhay,,,,,at maganda ang buhay, kung maganda ang ani.” A farmer or a fisherman should not be left alone, we should support them in all their efforts which can be benefitted by all.

At lunch time, a raffle draw was conducted based on the registration numbers of the participants with priz-es prepared such as fiber glass paddle-boats, assorted seedlings, corn seeds and fish nets.

The whole day activity was attend-ed by Cong. Damian G. Mercado, Gov. Roger G. Mercado in behalf of the provincial government, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco, among other guests and visitors.

From Facebook . . . Congrats to the new president and others-elect! People in government come and go. The Filipino people stay. . . To bring about real change, let’s always do our part for the country we love! Con-gratulations to the other winners. May you be humble and magnanimous in victory, gracious and graceful in defeat. Our people have spoken and we must respect their collective decision. Time to move on for a new future . . . change is coming, for the better not otherwise. We hope and pray for the new centurions, even angels were no match to the angles of mind spinners, PR strategists and political tacticians who had earlier jump shipped to the DU30 shadow cabinet, all presidents’ men. Expect horse trading and inner bickering for the booties and spoils of war by the dogs-of-war.

Congratulations also to all the proclaimed local winners, time to pre-pare credible statements of expenditures especially donations and for your bright boys and girls to come up with action-programs to fulfill election promises. Not plans revealed during the campaign but action blueprints for implementation upon assumption to office to hit the ground running.

Legacy of continuity will no longer be the order of the day for the na-tional government after” matuwid na daan” got derailed on its tracks. The new Malacaῆang clique of traditional pols from unlamented past lead-erships will see to it for novel priorities at least by nomenclature would come into play. Of course, these would just be basically old problems win-dow dressed for the occasion.

At least some of our political leaders have matured and mellowed that should be emulated by supporters even victors. The early conceding and appeal for unity after conflict by some election losers demonstrate political maturity that should inseminate their followers from Aparri to Jolo and mend broken fences instead of basking in the free ambience of unbridled license and abuse of social media to heal not open wounds of partisanship. As US presumptive Democratic nominee for President Hil-lary Clinton would say” There are more reasons to unite than divide us!”

We PROMDI’s, really appeal to the Duterte presidency to give fair share for rural development in genuine not lip service not like before where countryside and grassroots economy were widely abused and much maligned terminology. Marginalized farmers, fishermen and small livelihoods were merely relegated as human props during state of the na-tion speeches by whoever the top honcho happened to be. To be fair to the Aquino leadership, multi-sectoral achievements and headways had been made that PNoy’s critics and detractors choked on.

But these were all documented domestically, recognized and con-firmed internationally. World-wide anti-corruption agencies not only praised but also awarded these efforts, adeptly obscured by selective bi-ased mainstream and social media hacks. The comparative growth of the nation’s economy is a fait accompli complete with statistics, data and tes-timony but has been given less space and prominence so as not to trickle down to somebody’s credit. Instead, the negative intervening factors kept repeating ad infinitum to hurt the chances of the anointed one. The con-ditional cash transfer like 4P’s, social pension funds and other poverty al-leviation mechanisms did not go to Mar but to Dinky. So did honest reha-bilitation efforts politically exploited by opportunists to sow propaganda damage. But not with 4P’s and CCT or there would be a revolution by the people-recipients from impoverished communities. And, most hurting of all, the legacy of continuity for good governance by the late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo went to the credit of widow VP contender Leni Robredo. So, Bongbong Marcos need not be surprised who’s had the good and bad memory of their legacy that people remember.

Southern Leyte is doubly fortunate, literally and figuratively, not only because President Digong traces his roots here in Laboon Maasin unless he renounces them. But, most of all, our local leaders are known to be co-operative and easy to get along for the good of So. Leyteῆos. The people’s well-being is always in their minds and hearts. So, to everyone, let’s move on over the roadblocks of threat, hate and recrimination together with our chosen leaders. The people have spoken.

“The best preparation for tomorrow is doing

your best today.”-- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Vol. III, No.20

Page 3April 16-30, 2016

DA Secretary “invades” Southern Leyte

FOR FARMERS, FISHERS: The speeches during the Agri-Pinoy Technical Consultation pay tribute to those who toil the soil and the sea, without which there will be no food on the table. From left, DA Secretary Proseso Alcala, Gov. Roger Mercado, and Mark Lapid, a surprise guest.

MESSAGE IN TARP: Officials hold a tarpaulin containing the list of items the DA distributed in the province.

CAPTIVE CROWD: Farmers and fisherfolks from all over the province listen intently as DA Secretary Alcala delivers his talk.

PITCHING FOR MAR:

Korina Sanchez Roxas appears

during the event to campaign for her

hubby, LP standard bearer Mar Roxas.

MWD PRESSCON: General Manager Nestor Geraldo (left photo, center; right photo, extreme right) discusses the plans and existing projects of Maasin Water District (MWD) in a meeting with local media at his office in barangay Nasaug.

Vol. III, No.20

Page 4 April 16-30, 2016

WOMEN’S MONTH EVENTS

mobalik ra...

MGA TAMDANAN PANAHON

SA KATALAGMAN

(Hinikay saProvincial Disaster Risk

Reduction and Management

Council)

Around 128 women in Maasin City participated the Women’s Month Culmination Program held March 16, 2016 at the city’s gymnasium. The event was spearheaded by the city's Social Welfare Services Office.

A parade around the city proper participated by the PNP, BFP-Maasin Fire Station women fire officers, the social Welfare office staff and personnel, kicked off the day activity followed by a celebration of a Holy Mass before the short program proper.

The women’s Month celebration for this year carries the theme, “Kapa-kanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda."

One of the highlights of the month's long celebration was the booth display competition of different products produced in the province.

The participating women, clustered in 4 teams displayed their products for the booth display competition featuring food products like bocarillo, salvaro, sortidos, banana/java chips, ensalada, home-made peanut butter, to name a few; farm products such as sweet potatos, banana, kamoteng kahoy, and the like; and souvenir items such as headbands, baskets, rosary beads, candle hold-er, among others.

The products display competition was based on the criteria as follows: Phys-ical Appearance – 30%; Number of Products displayed – 30%;and 40% for the number of women-participants for each of the team. The judges of the compe-tition were Children/Women’s Desk Officer Jennifer Pagula of the PNP-Maa-sin Police Station, BFP Fire Officer III Ma. Elena Galeon and Department of Social Welfare and Development -8 Planning Officer Gilbert Villamor, who delivered the inspiration message.

The CSWDO led by Ma. Febe Sta Cruz also prepared prizes for the booth display winners such as P2,000 for the 1st prize, P1,500 for the 2nd and P1,000 for the 3rd prize winner and a P500 consolation prize for the 4th winner, CSW-DO Women Focal Person Jhade Maturan informed.

Villamor, in his inspirational message said that the Philippines have plen-ty of laws concerning women. He asked the crowd to identify their concerns “kung ano-ano ang mga kapakanan ninyo (referring to the women-partici-pants) na pwedeng isama sa Philippine Agenda.”

He added that every woman should learn how to develop her potentials in order to help other women, particularly those who are in need.

Hundred-plus Juanas join Women’s Month Culmination Program

By Rebecca Cadavos

The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) joined the 2016 National Women’s Month Celebration, this March, advocating women’s rights in support to the govern-ment’s Gender and Development (GAD) programs.

The kick-off activity held Monday was a motorcade around the city proper fol-lowed by the gathering of all women employees of the district office at the multi-pur-pose hall. The event supports this year’s theme of “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isama sa Agenda!”

“The theme resonates the call for gender-balance in leadership and decision making positions and inclusion of women’s concerns in leadership platforms and the government’s development agenda,” said DPWH-SLDEO chief Engr. Ma. Margarita C. Junia, quoted in a press release sent to PIA.

The activity’s guest speaker, Noreen Silot-Buhat, GAD focal person of Saint Jo-seph College in Maasin City discussed about gender equality, women’s rights, gen-der-related issues and existing GAD programs.

She also expounded on how the Philippine government achieve gender-respon-sive governance through legislation.

Among this is the Magna Carta of Women which mandates non-discriminatory and pro-gender equality and equity measures to enable women’s participation in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of policies, plans, and programs for national, regional, and local development.

Junia, the only woman district engineer among the 13 key field officials in East-ern Visayas said that the SLDEO acknowledges the role of women in infrastructure development, hiring 71 women out of the more than 200 workers.

Three of the six sections of the DPWH Southern Leyte office are headed by women - Letecia Olarte (construction), Datesy Mahusay (financial management), and Lilia Mulaan (administrative).

“Women are superior. Whatever you give to a woman, she will make it greater. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her,” Junia explained.

DPWH Southern Leyte joinsWomen’s Month celebration

By Rebecca Cadavos