Grant of assistance suspended during local campaign period

Marine life congregates at artificial reef

By Bong Pedalino

By Rio Cahambing

January 16-31, 2016 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 14

(to page 2)

Extending financial assistance for social services to the indigents will have to take a break soon as the 45-day campaign period for local candi-dates starts on March 25 until after the elections, on June 8.

This was disclosed by social workers at the Provincial Social Welfare Develop-ment Office (PSWDO).

During the maiden session of the dydm Kapihan sa PIA Friday, Daryl Val-dez and Ervie Gonzalez announced that the giving of funds to qualified needy peo-ple under the Enhanced Aids to Individ-uals in Crisis Situations (E-AICS) will be temporarily stopped this election period, in particular for the duration of the cam-paign period at local level plus one month.

These assistance covered needed expenses on medical, burial, transporta-tion, and education, in which in 2015 the amount of P 5 Million was downloaded from the central DSWD office to the PSW-DO through the congressional initiative of Cong. Damian Mercado.

The amount given after thorough as-

A recent assessment dive re-vealed that marine life congregation on artificial reefs has dramatically increased barely six months after 76 bamboo artificial reef modules were launched off Barangay Poblacion, Padre Burgos.

The project is a joint undertaking of Scaph Pro (Philippines) Oceano-graphic Research, a French NGO, the local government of Padre Burgos, with the provincial government of Southern Leyte providing technical support.

Mr. Jean Francois Marailhac, a French Oceanographer and Vice President of Scaph Pro, (Philippines) and its President Michael Levett, a dive operator in Padre Burgos, re-cently submitted a report to the Padre Burgos LGU detailing the number of species of fishes, invertebrates and other marine organisms that have since congregated and colonized the artificial reefs.

The project is still on its first phase, and Scaph Pro Philippines in-tends to expand the artificial reef area to the adjacent barangay of Cantut-ang.

In the trunk line are several ad-ditional artificial reefs ready to launch

Surfing as tourist attraction mulled

Limasawa road completion

P62.65M from Road Board 95/100 projects

done in 2015

38kms roads bridges upgradedDPWH - SLDEO NEWS

The Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) ended 2015 with 87 completed projects, out of the 100 targeted infrastructure proj-ects, a 94.49% accomplishment for the department, District Engineer Ma. Margartia C. Junia reported.

The projects were funded through the P835.61 million regular budget of the public works department, she said.

“I would like to commend all en-gineers and field workers for their hard work in the past 12 months. We

About 37.92 kilometers of na-tional highways and bridges have been constructed, upgraded and rehabilitatedin the province by the Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DP-WH-SLDEO) last year.

In 2015, the central government has invested P658.44 million from its regular budget to improve the conditions of major thoroughfares in Southern Leyte, aimed at creating better economic opportunities, Dis-trict Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia informed.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is determined to com-plete this year the P112 million circum-ferential road in the historic island town of Limasawa, Southern Leyte.

To make this happen, the Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (SLDEO) has already bid out the P44.1 million for the concreting of the remaining 1.637 kilome-ters of unpaved road.

The entire road stretch has been tagged by the DPWH and Department of Tourism (DOT) as priority under the tourism infra-structure project.

District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Ju-nia said paving the rural road network reaf-firms the government’s commitment to link

The Road Board has allocated an additional Php62.65 million for the maintenance and improvement of road networks in the province of Southern Leyte.

Department of Public Works and Highways-Southern Leyte District Engineer Ma. Margarita Junia said the projects are the following::Php12.65 million slope protection in Liloan town; Php10 millio off carriageway improvement in the municipality of Padre Burgos, Php10.5 million instal-lation of guardrails from St. Bernard to Hinunangan, Php12 million road

Aside from caves, gorges, fish sanctuaries, underwater sights, and pilgrimages sites for bodies and souls, add surfing as yet another come-on for travelers longing for adventurous trip here in the prov-ince.

For two years now, Cebu-based surfing enthusiasts have been fre-quenting the town of Silago to surf the seawaters there, according to Nedgar Garvez, provincial tourism officer.

In an interview at the Action Center Kapihan sa PIA cable TV program Tuesday, Garvez said the prime focus of the province’s tour-ism program for next year will be the pacific area, in which the surfing potential of Silago will be explored further.

By Bong Pedalino

By Bong Pedalino

By Rebecca G. Cadavos By Rebecca G. Cadavos

By Rebecca G. Cadavos

(to page 2)

(to page 2) (to page 2) (to page 2) (to page 2)

(to page 2)BAMBOO-STYLE REEFS: From top to bottom, the bamboo structure, the people behind the effort, and the result – a teeming fish colony.

Vol. III, No.14

Page 2 January 16-31 2016

Grant of assistance... (from page 1)

sessment ranged from no less than P 1,000 to P 3,000, and because of the emergency nature of the assistance, processing of the check can be done in one day, provided all the required papers are in order.

Only less than a million pesos remained out of this amount, which is due to be disbursed to the intended beneficiaries, Southern Leytenos in need of support living in the 18 towns and once city of the province, the two PSWDO Staff reported.

Asked what would be the recourse if in rare and real cases it happens that there is an urgent need to provide assistance on days covered by the banned period, the two replied that they will refer this matter to charitable non-government organizations like Kinderhilfe in Padre Burgos and in other places around the region.

Surfing as tourist... (from page 1)“The next tourism frontier is in the pacific,” Garvez said, adding that the

sand sculpture competition in Hinunangan will also be among the events up for promotion.

Garvez said that in a span of one month or so, the province got wide-spread publicity with the features on diving sites along the Sogod Bay shot by Andrew Stevens of Cable News Network, CNN, and with “Biyahe ni Drew” of GMA News TV which was shown on December 4.

When reminded that the province’s tourism branding was “playground in Eastern Visayas”, Garvez said this concept will also have to be revisited, since only the Danao Zoo in this city sustained out of this idea.

He expressed hope the zipline in Sogod, an extreme sports that had gath-ered a steady following, would be revived.

The canopy walk along the virgin forests of Silago and other pacific towns, an integral part of the playground concept, will also be looked into as the province embarks for a pacific-centered tourism development in 2016, Garvez also said.

Marine life...(from page 1)as soon as logistic requirements are met in the next few weeks.

The group is targeting a total of 400 modules to cover the two coastal ba-rangays of Cantutang and Poblacion.

In a related development, Gov. Roger Mercado recently donated bamboos to be made into additional artificial reef modules.

The materials are now ready for transport from the Governor’s tree park in Brgy. Bogo, Maasin City, to the construction site in Sta. Sofia, Padre Burgos.

all villages in the historic town to prop up the local economy.

The DPWH started the concreting proj-ect in 2013 with an outlay of P36 million for 1.23 kilometer. For 2014, the project got a P32 million funding for 1.1 kilometer.

The road links the six villages of the town - San Agustin, San Bernardo, Triana, Magallanes, Cabulihan, and Lugsongan.

“The completion of concreting is part of the preparation for the 500th commemora-tion of the First Mass anniversary on March 31, 2021,” Junia said.

Limasawa, a sixth class town, is the site of the national shrine where the First Cath-olic Mass in the Philippines and Asia was celebrated on March 31, 1521, in which a Sinugdan Festival is held annually on this

Limasawa road...(from page 1)date to commemorate the event.

It has a population of only 6,000 inhab-itants, making it the smallest town in the province, both in population and area.

Aside from its rich history, the town is also endowed with natural wonders. The is-land is surrounded with clear blue water and white sand beaches.

Last month, an earthen jar so tiny it can fit by one’s hand was discovered, and experts believed the ancient pot survived underground for 1,200 years.

The artifact contained markings in “baybayin,” the oldest system of writing in Filipino, and according to experts who ex-amined it the inscription read “Mazaua.”

P62.65M from Road...(from page 1)shoulder construction with line canal in the town of Anahawan, Php7 million thermoplastic painting along Bato-Bontoc section; and a Php10.5 million ther-moplastic painting along Liloan-San Ricardo section.

DE Junia said that the bidding process is on-going and all projects will be awarded to contractors before the year 2015 ends.

“We asked for funding support from tfhe Road Board for critical sections not included in our regular funding with most of these projects intended for the safety of motorists,” Junia quoted saying.

The Road Board is the government’s steward for the objective utilization of the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC), it was learned. Since 2001, the agency is at the forefromt in acting as the supplemental source of funding for road maintenance all throughout the country’s national and local roads.

The source said, the Board consists of no less than seven members. DPWH Secretary as the ex-officio chairman and the secretaries of Department of Fi-nance; Department of Budget and Management; Department of Transporta-tion and Communications as ex-officio members. The three appointed mem-bers come from the motorist and transport sector.

The organization is entrusted the responsibility to ensure and oversee the optimum utilization of resources for the maintenance and improvement of a safe, efficient and environmentally balanced road network, thereby contrib-uting to the physical, social and economic well-being of the country, it stated.

95/100 projects...(from page 1)

did everything to speed up projects in order to improve road accessibil-ity for better mobility of people and products,” Junia quoted in a press release.

Junia said that of the P835.61 million worth of projects last year, P35.30 million was for preventive maintenance, P19.68 million for re-pair of damaged pavement including drainage, P10 million for widening of national highway, P50 million for con-struction of missing gaps connecting major roads, P41.4 million for off car-riageway improvement, P17.27 mil-lion for traffic benchmark for upgrad-ing to paved road standards.

Meanwhile the P56.7 million were allotted for construction of new bridg-es, P408.64 million for major repair of bridges, P4 million widening of bridges, P50 million for construction of roads leading to tourist destina-tions, P500, 000 for building of water supply facilities, P52 various infra-structure including local projects, and P90.1 million for local infrastructure program.

Still ongoing under the 2015 reg-ular funds are preventive mainte-nance, construction of missing gaps, building of new permanent bridges, fish ports, multi-purpose buildings, and water system, Junia added.

“My instruction is to complete all incomplete projects within the first three months so that we can focus our efforts on the construction of 2016 projects,” Junia told.

It was learned that aside from 2015 regular projects, the SLDEO has also been implementing P440.52 million worth of projects from various sources.

These are P334.88 million school building projects from the Depart-ment of Education, P44.15 million special road support fund from the Road Board, P38 million farm-to-mar-ket roads from the Department of Ag-riculture, P8 million repair and main-tenance of flood control and drainage structures, P11.06 million mainte-nance and other operating expens-es, and P4.42 million maintenance of Aga-Agas Bridge.

38kms roads bridges...(from page 1)Of the P658.44 million outlay, P137.61 million was used for paving, rehabil-

itation, preventive maintenance, and construction of 29.38 kilometers of road; P409 million for replacement, rehabilitation, and construction of 38 bridges with a combined length of 1,394 meters; and P11.81 million for concreting of 8.53 kilometers of local roads.

“For 2015, a big chunk of our budget was spent for construction, rehabilita-tion, and strengthening of bridges all over the province,” Junia stated.

“Latest engineering techniques were applied as most bridges were built 40 years ago and are no longer structurally able to withstand the loads of the new-er and heavier vehicles,” she added.

Among the major projects are Otikon Bridge rehabilitation, Dampoy Bridge upgrading, access road construction to Napantao Dive site, Agas-Agas Bridge rehabilitation of piers and abutment protection, Das-ay flood control, and Subangdaku flood control.

Other projects funded through regular budget are water supply systems, national buildings, hospital and health facilities, market and slaughterhouses, and other public infrastructure with a consolidated cost of P8.91 million.

It was learned that the province has 293.34 kilometers of national roads with 270.31 kilometers are paved, 17 .09 kilometers with asphalt overlay, and 5.93 kilometers gravel road.

Aside from road network, under the watch of the district engineering office are the 156 bridges with a total length of 5.59 kilometers.

DPWH - SLDEO NEWS

Success is not the key to happiness. Happines is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you

will be successful. ~Albert Schweitzer

Vol. III, No.14

Page 3January 16-31, 2016

NEW PNP PD: Courtesy call of the newly installed SLPPO Officer -In-Charge PSSupt. Nelson DC Eucogco to the office of the Provincial Governor Hon. Roger G. MercadoROOTCROPS FARM:

Under its Forage and Feedstuff Development Program, the Provincial Veterinary Services Office (PVSO) supported a 1.5 cassava and sweet potato pro-duction at barangay Mabini, Macrohon, in a lot owned by Gimi Irong, shown above be-ing prepared.

MARINE LIFE: Barely six months af-ter artificial bamboos are placed under-water at Padre Burgos, a lively fish com-munity is thriving. FEEDING:

Pres. Benigno Aquino III's supplemental feeding for children 2 years old and below on its 6th release of food items in the next 120 days...Brgy. Asuncion Ba-rangay Nutrition Scholars get their share...

PRIVILEGE STILL ON: PhilHealth’s Yolanda Privilege for those needing hospitaliza-tion for free in Region 8 is still going on, Southern Leyte PhilHealth Head clarifies during Action Center Kapihan sa PIA simulcast with DYSL Radyo ng Bayan Sogod this morn-ing. Meanwhile, there are 118,843 indigent families already enrolled in PhilHealth at Southern Leyte in 2015. PhilHealth Provincial Head Henry Madula reported.

AGRI ON-AIR: Dydm/Dysl kapihan sa PIA with Provincial Agriculturist Mari-na Gador and Rice Technician Nerio Lanugan. Major agri programs of the prov-ince are discussed.

DROUGHT AILMENTS: Dr. Noel Lumen, PHO I of Southern Leyte Provin-cial Health Office advices the public on diseases that come with the onset of El Niño, to beware of sore eyes, dengue fever, respiratory problems, food poisoning, dehydration of bodies, among others, he added.

NEW BIR BLDG: Soon to be occupied new Bureau of Internal Revenue located at Combado, Maasin City second reclama-tion area.... protected by jack-stone-like water breakers.

Vol. III, No.14

Page 4 January 16-31, 2016

TEXTBLAST NEWS

GOBERNO NANGHATAG OG MGA KAGAMITAN SA PAG-PANGUMA

Libagon, Southern Leyte - Sa ika onum nga adlaw sa Enero niining tuiga ang kap-itolyo, DOLE, PESO, LGU og ang buhatan sa District Office pinaagi ni Congressman Mian G. Mercado mipahigayun sa pagpanghatag og mga nagkalain laing kagamitan para sa mga mag-uuma nga taga Libagon. kauban sa tropa sa gobernor mao si Vice Governor to be Coco Yap. Nagkanayon si provincial DOLE administrator, Norma Valuis nga ang maong ka-himanan nagkantidad og kapin sa 9 milyones ka pesos. Ang maong programa maoy tubag o solusyon sa kakulangan sa panalapi sa mga katawhan sa lalawigan. Miabot og 1,118 ka tawo sa Libagon ang nakadawat sa mga botas, kamiseta nga sweatshirts, kalo nga buli, gwantes og mga pala. Mao kini ang programa ni Pang. Aquino nga gihinganlan og Food for Work Program. Nagpasalamat si Mayor Oliver Ranque nga nahatagan o nakapahimolos ang iyang mga katawhan niining maong programa sa national government. Sa habig usab ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado, siya miawhag sa mga mag-uuma nga ipadayon ang pagkugi sa pagpanguma para sa sustinable nga suplay sa pagkaon sa prob-insya, og kon adunay lain nga panginahanglan parti sa pag-panguma, mobisita sa PAgSO Office sa probensya.

BARANGAY SAGBOK, SA HINUNDAYAN NAKADAWAT OG MGA TOBO SA TUBIG

Provincial Engineering Office, Capitol Compound, Asuncion, Maasin City, So. Leyte - Pwerting kalipay ang gibati sa mga opisyales og mga katawhan sa Barangay Sagbok, lungsod sa Hinundayan, sa dihang gidiskarga ang mga tobo sa tubig aron ilang gamiton para sa pagpadagayday og tubig ngadto sa mga lumulopyo sa maong dapit. Ang naasoy nga mga tobo gihatag sa gobernador gumikan sa resolusyon nga gipadala sa opisyales ngadto sa iyang buhatan sa kapitolyo. Miabot og 325 kapin ka mga tobo nga plastik gihatud pinaagi sa koordinasyon sa watsan office sa lalawigan sa pagdumala ni Engr. Orito nag-kantidad og P171,119.16 ang balor o kantidad sa mga tobo. Mahinumdoman nga tuig 2015 ang pang goberno ni Gob. RGM migahin og salapi, nga mikabat og P1.5 milyon ka pesos para ipamalit og mga tobo, aron makaangkon og tubig nga limpyong imnunon ang mga katawhan. Sa simpleng seremonyas dako og pasalamat ni Brgy. Capt. Crisanto Pedrera og sa iyang mga opisyal ngadto sa Gobernador ang pagtagad sa dugay na nilang problema. Misaksi usab ang mga barangay councilors sa turn-over ceremonies.

KINAUNAHANG PAGPAHURAR SA MGA LOCAL LGU, GIHIMO SA TOMAS OPPUS.

Tomas Oppus, So. Leyte - Niadtong milabay nga ika siyam sa Enero, 2016 gihimo sa provincial government ang kinaunahang pagpahurar sa mga local officials sa Tomas Oppus aron hingpit na kining mamahimung membro sa Liberal Party. Sa pagpanguna ni Gobernador Roger G. Mercado, ug sa iyang manghod nga si Magbabalaod Mian G. Merca-do, nahimong nagmalamposon ang mass oathtaking nga giapilan ni Mayor Nene Escaño, Vice Mayor Tahop, mga municipal councilors, Brgy. Kapitan, Brgy. Councilors, lupong taga pamayapa, Brgy. Health Workers, Brgy. Tanods, Brgy. Secretary ug mga Brgy. Treasurers. Ang lungsod sa Tomas Oppus adunay 29 ka mga barangay, og sa record sa attendance sa maong oathtaking, 5 ka barangay ang wala nitambong, apan ang mga barangay councilors niapil sa paghurar. Pagkatapos sa naasoy nga seremonyas, gisunod ang “bodle fight” nga gamit ang mga kamot sa pagpangaon sa inandam nga mga pagkaon. Diha usab ang mga sakop sa Liberal Party provincial candidates nga misaksi sa naasoy nga oathtaking sa LP.

P55.5 MILLION PHP NGA SOLAR TUBAG SA KAKULANGAN SA KURYENTE SA LIMASAWA

Limasawa Island, Souther Leyte - sa milabayng ika dose nha adlaw sa Ene-ro,2016, grupo sa Probensyal Candidate sa Liberal Party, mitabok og nakighimamat sa mnga local opisyal sa naasoy nga dapit. Gipangunahan ni Cong. Mian G. Mercado, Gobernador Roger G. mercado og uban pang mga LP Probensyal Board member can-didates sama nila ni Ms. Jessica Escano Paño, Mayor Fe Edillo, Atty. Margarita Bantug, Koko Yap magpapili nga Vice Gobernador og mga supporters sa LP mao ang kauban sa panon. Sa mensahi nga gibuhian ni Mayor Melchor Petracorta atubangan sa iyang opisyales og mga midapo nga mga tawo, giawhag og gihangyo nya nga suportaan nato sa 100% nga suporta sa LP Presidential Candidate, Mar Roxas. Pasabot sa Mayor nga ang Limasawa sa pagkakaron nakadawat og minilyon nga proyekto sama sa road con-creting, school building og ang pinaka bag-o ang Solar Project nga nagkantidad og 55.5 milyon ka sa pesos. Ang maong proyekto sa pagpasuga sa isla maoy tubag sa kangitngit nga nasinati sa mga katawhan, gumikan sa ka nepis sa kuryente nga nagagikan sa gen-erator. Mosiga alas 6 sa hapon og palongon sa alas 10 sa gabei, hinungdan sa kamin-gaw sa isla panahon sa kagabihon. Suportado ang proyekto sa Probensyal Gobernment, Cong. Mian og ni Pang. Pinoy.

AICS social servicesSome 2,488 students, indigents availed of the social services assistance program of President Benigno Aquino III to individuals in crisis situations in the province last year. According to Social Worker Dary Valdez under Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, the province through Cong. Damian Mercado facilitated for the release of P 5 Million funds for education, burial, medical, food, and transpor-tation needs. (esg) Local winnersMaasin City awards local Red Orchid winners after the flag raising ceremony Jan. 11, 2016. The search committee based the contest on criteria such as smoke-free barangay, city staff Zaldy Olita reported. The search has some categories such as small urban barangay, big urban barangay, small rural and big rural barangays and along the poblacion. Cash prizes were also distributed to the winners. (rgc) AIDS info driveProvincial Health Officer Dr. Noel Lumen has kept abreast 56 high schools and colleges across the province with info on HIV/AIDS infection that proliferates at one new case per hour alarming prevailing rate in 2015. He said as young as 15-25 years old youths are most vulnerable to succumb to said infection. Seven (7) HIV/AIDS suspects have voluntarily sought his office assistance recently. (esg) Ceremonial plantingGov. Roger Mercado joins the Philippine Coconut Authority Southern Leyte-initi-ated ceremonial planting of 75,000 cacao seedlings in 3 barangays in Maasin City, namely, Malapoc Norte, Hantag, and Matin-ao, Sr. Agriculturist Francisco Salaris reported. The coconut and cacao intercropping project aims to plant cacao under coconut trees in said barangays which are managed by respective cooperatives. (esg) New PNP PDTurn-over of command at the Alfredo K. Bantug Police Provincial Office held Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. PSSUPT. Nelson Eucogco assumed his post as the new Southern Leyte PNP Provincial Director vice PSSUPT. Nicerio Obaob, attended by PSSUPT. Marni Marcos, Jr., the Regional Chief Directorial Staff, with City and Municipal Chiefs of Police and the Public Safety Company. (mmp) Vigilance on COTsArman Gaviola of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Manage-ment Office (PENRMO) calls on people living along the coastal areas with coral reefs to help keep watch on the presence of Crown of Thorns starfish (COTs). In his fb account, Gaviola explained that the thorny COTs are a serious threat to coral reef colonies for they eat coral polyps. (mmp) Boat registrationMARINA-So. Leyte is urging all operators of all kinds of vessels whether passenger or cargo including pump boats, Bangka, and barotos to register at their office in compliance with the safety standards for all kinds of vessels. RA #9295 ensures that all domestic ship operators shall have the financial capacity to provide and sustain safe, reliable, efficient and economic passenger or cargo. (rgc) Social pensionThe Office of Senior Citizens Affairs pays out about P 203,000 allocated fund for social pension of 103 senior citizens, 90 years old and above throughout Maasin City. OSCA President Fe Diola informed that the pension funded by the city gov-ernment was for the last quarter of 2015, from Oct.-Dec. The city government had already distributed the social pension from Jan.-Sept. last October yet. (rgc)