Southern Leyte 56th Founding Anniversary(July 1,1960-July 1, 2016)“Ipadayon ang Panaghiusa Para sa Kalambuan sa Atong Probinsiya”

June 16-30, 2016 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 24

2016 TOP BEAUTIES IN SO. LEYTE: (left to right) 3rd runner-up Miss Pintuyan Jolliene Ba-gasbas; 2nd runner-up Miss Maasin Wella Cruz; Miss Southern Leyte, a Macrohon lass Diane Lesiguez; 1st runner Miss Malitbog Leah Lili; and 4th runner-up Miss San Juan Lyra Cabatingan.

CONGRESS-PROVINCE: Cong. Damian Mercado reads his oath to be the Governor of the province once again before Judge Kapili (left and above pho-tos). He said in his acceptance speech that education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure are priorities in his governance agenda.

PROVINCE-CONGRESS: Gov. Roger Mercado takes his oath as Representative once again for Southern Leyte lone district with his son, incoming Maasin City Mayor Nacional “Niko” Mercado, as the administering officer. "Our people are our most valuable resource," he remarked in his speech.

TURN-OVER: The provincial flag, symbolic key, and records are handed by outgoing Gov. Roger Mercado to the incoming local chief executive, Damian Mercado, as part of oath-taking rites June 28, 2016.

2016 OUTSTANDING SOUTHERN LEYTENOs: (left to right) Jay Yap Yuvallos, Business Leadership and Small and Medium In-dustrial; Bernardo Humangit Tocmo, Retail Banking and Manage-ment; Dr. Mina Sirikit Claridad-Tagra, Humanitarian Service; Cong, and Incoming Gov. Damian Mercado; Milagros Laraga Gaviola Vda. De Castro, Leadership in Social, Cultural, Tourism develop-ment; Lourd Ernest Hanopol De Veyra, Journalism and Literature; Dr. Rosette Gaditano Pagpaguitan, Academics-Dentistry Board 1st Placer; and Francisco Mapa Lim, Arts Painting-Education; YOUNG ACHIEVERS (left photo) Engr. Reigh Mark Tatad Salomon, Aca-demics-Electrical Engineering Board 2nd Placer; and Marieliz Abu-cayan Jayma, Sports-Gold Medalist Palarong Pambansa.

Vol. III, No.24

Page 2 June 16-30, 2016

When the month ends and the next one sets in, the Filipino people will be treated to a thrilling and unpredictable changing of the guards from national to local levels. The bestseller would be the assumption and ascension to power of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, ever controver-sial, combative and eristic non-conformist. There would always be sur-prises, gnawing and gnashing of teeth with RRD. Right now, no one knows for sure when, where, how, etc. how it would be on D-Day and where the command post would be. Everything is tentative subject to change with or without prior notice. That’s how the national political weather has become. Well, Rizal Hall in Malacaῆang is the venue after all but contraditionally, not with the Vice President.

And for the rest of the country, nothing significant or noteworthy as most oath-takers as new or old centurions are recycled politicians from dynasties and party lists of interest groups never the marginalized sectors. Of course, most striking and very real is the Leftist power shar-ing which seemed to be one bad dream turned to nightmare. It looks like one grand reunion of sort. We wonder how it is from the Rightist point of view. And what about the Muslims’concession. Will there be anything left after the division of spoils and booties of victory.

From the looks of it in various media outlets and from the minus-cule presidential exposure, it appears that the factotums and spokes-men are enjoying their damage control efforts. It is these windpipes who are enjoying such popularity and loquacity. We hope and pray di-vine discernment would descend on their principal to eventually come to terms with the demands of the highest position of the land. The rule of law, respect for human rights and due process are the bedrock of this power emanating from God and the Filipino people. Too many cooks may spoil the broth in the kitchen. After the promises and commit-ments, reality is beginning to sink in.

Let us wish our leaders, old and new, the best of luck. Government is not only for them but also for the people who are empowered to partic-ipatory governance, the price for which is eternal vigilance. We should be wary on emergency powers, change of system of government, crime and drug crusades without due process, piecemeal military law in trou-bled areas, amnesty for political prisoners, among the many “changes”. The pervading influence of violence and breakdown of values especial-ly among the youths should never be our daily norms of conduct and way of life in the midst of technological advancements we can use but not enslave ourselves to.

As one of the partner-agencies of Oplan Brigada Eskwela, the Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) joined the Brigada Eskwela by stepping up efforts to prepare classrooms, school grounds, and roads for the new academic year.

District Engineer Ma. Margarita C. Junia in a report ordered about half of SLDEOs maintenance workers to participate in the weeklong school prepara-tion activities, heeding requests of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Junia asked maintenance engineers to coordinate with DepEd because many schools have asked for assistance to clean school grounds and repaint classrooms.

“Aside from preparing campuses, we are also repainting pedestrian lanes to ensure safety of students, and clear roads leading to schools from any obstruc-tions,” Junia quoted.

She said that SLDEO’s all-out support to DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela is on top of their massive school building construction to accommodate senior high school enrolees.

It was learned that DPWH is eyeing a substantial accomplishment in their school building construction in time for the opening of new academic year.

Out of 53 school building projects in different sites in the province, 13 have been completed and 37 are still ongoing as of end of May, DPWH reported. It was expected that DPWH-SLDEO will complete all classrooms before the fourth quarter of this year.

These projects are expected to boost the preparation of the province for this year’s full implementation of the SHS program under the kindergarten and 12 years of basic education (K to 12) program of the national government.

DPWH NewsBrigada Eskwela participation

Standard school buildingprojects

By Rebecca G. Cadavos

By Rebecca G. CadavosThe Department of Public Works and Highways – Southern Leyte Dis-

trict Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) is eyeing for quality standard school building construction in time for the opening of academic year on June 13, 2016.

DPWH-SLDEO Chief Ma. Margarita c. Junia informed that out of the 53 school building projects in different sites in the province, there are 13 that have been completed and 37 are still on going as of this week.

She said that four projects were suspended due to redesigning of foun-dation which is up for review by the Bureau of Design.

“The reason of the failure was based on the soil bearing capacity test which was conducted,” Junia revealed.

The 53 mentioned school building projects with varied designs have 173 classrooms that are meant to house the first batch of senior high school students in the 18 municipalities and 1 city in the province of Southern Leyte.

Junia said that there are some projects that encountered delays due to cost adjustments to include the transshipment of materials to far flung project locations. Bidders filed a motion for reconsideration but failed to pass the sub soil test.

“With the regular coordination with the Department of Education and measures undertaken to address bottlenecks, we are optimistic to attain re-markable accomplishments in our school building projects for the opening of classes,” Junia quoted.

The DPWH-SLDEO expects to complete all classrooms before the fourth quarter of this year.

The said projects are expected to boost the preparation of the province for the next year’s full implementation of the SHS program under the Kin-dergaten and 12 years of basic education (K to 12) program of the govern-ment.

Junia disclosed that one of the recipients of school building projects is Ichon Integrated Senior High School in Barangay Ichon, Macrohon, this province with more than 700 secondary students. It will cater students from 17 villages of Macrohon and nearby barangays from Maasin City.

The Ichon Integrated SHS is just one of the 56 public schools in the province that will offer the SHS program this school year 2016-2017.

Data from DepEd showed that Maasin City and Southern Leyte towns need at least 242 classrooms this year for the projected 8,655 SHS enrollees, DPWH-SLDEO reported.

God Bless The Philippines

ESTORYAHI!Willie Justimbaste

Vol. III, No.24

Page 3June 16-30, 2016

OATH-TAKING: Vice-Governor Christopherson “Coco” Yap (topmost photo, left) and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are all sworn in (above photos). Below, right, incoming City Mayor Nacional Mercado and Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco are also sworn in.

OPENING SALVO: A Holy Mass at the Cathedral and a fun walk from the pla-za to the capitol grounds (top photo) ushered in the week-long activities for the province’s 56th anniversary celebration, like sportsfest, Agri-Garden Show, fun prize, boodle meals, among others. One of the booths, bottom left photo, exhibits the Tourism, Environment, and Agriculture (TEA) projects and initiatives of the province.

Vol. III, No.24

Page 4 June 1-15, 2016

PDU30: The Maasinhon/Southern Leyteño President takes his oath.

CHANGE IS HERE: “The fight will be relentless and it will be sustained... tinud-anay nga kausaban, tinud-anay nga kabag-ohan. - Pres. Rody Duterte inaugural speech 063016.

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LOQUINTE, DIEGO A.RUALES, MATIAS MERVIN C.FERNANDEZ, REYNALDO C.LAGUMBAY, ALFREDO M.RANQUE, OLIVER E.CHONG, TEOFILO L.PETRACORTA, NILO P.MERCADO, NACIONAL V.AROY, ALAN JOSE K.GO, ALAN L.CULPA, HERMENEGILDO C.ESTRELLA, RUSTICO L.GAMUTAN, SAMSON, JR. E.MORTERA, VIRGILIO A.SALINAS, ROY .ALMINE, PACITA T.TAN, IMELDA U.CALAPRE, MANUEL O.ESCAÑO, AGUSTIN, JR. R.

LOQUINTE, ROBERTO A. FUSTANES, PEDRO, JR. V.FERNANDEZ, FLORENTINOCADINGAN, ELISASALDIVAR, NESTOR Y.CHONG, SHIRLITA Y.PETRACORTA, MELCHOR P.SAMACO, MALONEY L.ESTELA, DAN PERFECTO F.GONZALES, NESTOR M.POBLETE, MA. FE CRISPINA B.HERRERA, ROBERTO C.ASPERIN, ELVERO ALFONSO, JR. M.CASERA, LOLITO, JR. A.HERRERA, GENEROSO M.LABRADOR, MANUEL, JR. M.OLO, RUFO C.BUNGCARAS, JOCELYN L.MOSOT, LODIVICO C.

LIST OF MAYORS:Province of Southern Leyte (2016-2019)

LIST OF VICE MAYORS:Province of Southern Leyte (2016-2019)