The Official Newsletter of PIA-8 and RTF-8 ELCAC
VOL II NO. 10
May 16-31, 2020
LEYTE WELCOMES FIRST BATCH OF 'BALIK PROBINSYA' BENEFICIARIES By: PIA-8 TACLOBAN CITY -- It was a little after 9 o’clock in the evening when the five busloads of the first batch of about 100 beneficiaries of Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program arrived at Candahug, Palo, Leyte on May 21. The beneficiaries, male, female, several of whom were children, were met with cheers of warm welcome by no less than Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla and a crowd composed of Regional Directors from DA and PIA, Provincial Directors from TESDA and DOLE, frontliners from the AFP, PNP, BFP, Leyte Provincial Hospital, Leyte PDRRMO, and members of the local media. Disinfection was first conducted using foot bath and alcohol, face shields were distributed before they were ushered to their assigned
seat. They were given packed dinner, after which, Governor Petilla officially welcomed them. The governor assured them that they are welcomed and that they will be assisted as they start anew in their respective local government units. Interview and documentation of each beneficiary was conducted before they were swabbed by the Leyte Provincial Hospital staff. While this was going on, the buses and the baggages of the beneficiaries were disinfected. After swabbing, they were ushered to the LGU vehicles that took them to their respective towns of Kananga, Matag-ob, Alangalang, Tanauan, Hilongos, Bato, Burauen, Dagami, Julita, Tabobtabon, Palo, Tolosa, Isabel, Palompon, Tabango, Villaba, Abuyog, Javier, MacArthur,
Calubia, San Isidro, Albuera, Merida, Tunga, Dulag, Mayorga, Carigara, Jaro, Babatngon, Barugo, Capoocan, and Matalom, and Baybay City. At their respective LGUs, they will stay at the quarantine area until
continued on page 20 More than 500 OFW repatriates now back in Eastern Visayas By: PIA-8 TACLOBAN CITY -- Some 143 OFW repatriates arrived from Manila past 6 o’clock in the evening today, May 26, via Air Asia. This makes the total number of OFW repatriates from Manila who arrived since May 25 to 524. All the repatriates observed health protocols such as wearing of facemasks. Social Distancing was also observed as there were physical distancing markers painted on the floor. Before entering the terminals, their temperatures were taken and disinfecting was conducted by way of foot bath and hand sanitizers. Markers for physical distancing are also found at the terminal where the repatriates queued to get their baggages. After getting their belongings, they went out to the terminal lobby where tables marked for the city of Tacloban, Ormoc and the six provinces of Eastern Visayas with OWWA staff and DILG staff were waiting to register the arriving repatriates. The
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA she said. TESDA prioritizes skills trainings for ‘Balik TESDA will provide the Probinsya’ beneficiaries trainees with starter tool kits, 2
May 16-31, 2020
By: PIA 8
TACLOBAN CITY -- Scholarships in various skills training programs for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program beneficiaries will be given priority by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This was disclosed by TESDA-Leyte Director Loreta Banario in an interview on Thursday, May 21, 2020. Banario said this was the instruction given to TESDALeyte by TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña to provide the Balik Probinsya beneficiaries scholarship programs to provide them employment opportunities in Leyte amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Director Loreta Banario said, “We will offer a customized program based on their needs. It could be on food production and processing, agriculture, hospitality,
health care, among others. If what they want is not included in our existing programs, then we will make a project proposal.” TESDA will contact the beneficiaries for assessment and interview to know their specific needs, after the returnees have undergone the proper health protocols and completed the quarantine period, TESDA will contact them for assessment and interview to know their specific needs, Banario said. Banario added that TESDA’s technical-vocational institutions and training centers have been preparing electronic learning materials, as they adapt to the “new normal” environment. “This is now the challenge. We will adopt a flexible learning system, both face-to-face and online or full-online, depending on the capabilities of our trainees,”
personal protective equipment, Internet connectivity allowance, and a daily allowance of P160 during the training period. “We will shoulder their assessment and also provide them post-training assistance wherein our training institutions, will help them with their employment, whether wage- or self-employment,” Banario said. On Thursday night, TESDA Leyte joined the provincial government welcomed the first batch of “Balik-Probinsya” beneficiaries from the National Capital Region. About 112 persons returned to their respective towns of Kananga, Matag-ob, Alangalang, Tanauan, Hilongos, Bato, Burauen, Dagami, Julita, Tabobtabon, Palo, Tolosa, Isabel, Palompon, Tabango, Villaba, Abuyog, Javier, MacArthur, Calubia, San Isidro, Albuera, Merida, Tunga, Dulag, Mayorga, Carigara, Jaro, Babatngon, Barugo, Capoocan, and Matalom, and Baybay City, where they will undergo a 14-day quarantine before going home to their respective families. The “Balik Probinsya” program, institutionalized through Executive Order 114, targets to provide adequate social services, promote full employment, industrialization, and improved quality of life in rural areas through different interventions from the national It also aims to ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities through policies and programs that boost countryside development and inclusive growth. (PIA-8)
DOT 8 ensures people’s safety, prepares guidelines for tourism industry
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA May 16-31, 2020 Centenarian in Maasin City receives P100K cash gift from the gov’t
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By: Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos
By: Gemma T. Tabao TACLOBAN CITY -- To ensure people’s safety and protection against COVID-19, the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 8 (DOT-8) has started preparing guidelines for the tourism industry, should business establishments start to open after quarantine restrictions are lifted. This was learned from DOT-8 Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes during the “Suruswerte ha PIA” hosted by Regional Director Olive Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency 8. “We are looking forward that tourism sites will start operations at the end of the month, as we are hoping that there will now be Modified General Community Quarantine or possible lifting of the quarantine restrictions. We have to be prepared, that’s why we are making the guidelines for the operations of the tourism industry. We will endorse said guidelines to the local government units for them to adopt and make resolutions for strict implementation,” Tiopes said. Tiopes said that DOT will also coordinate with PIA and other media entities on dissemination of relevant information, not just for the business operators but for the general public, as well. The DOT director stressed, “We really have to be extra careful to avoid the spread of the deadly disease.” She even cited Secretary Bernadette Puyat’s statement, “Ayaw naming marinig na dumami na naman ang COVID-19 cases dahil sa isang turista.” She added that we should
MAASIN CITY -- A centenarian in this city received P100,000 cash gift from the government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development 8 (DSWD-8) on Wednesday morning, May 27. Perla Zialcita Kind, who turned 100 years old in October last year, received the check from the DSWD-8 team led by Social Welfare Officer III Hilda B. Tambio in Barangay Mantahan, this city. Donya Perla, as what her friends call her, was born on October 24, 1919. She also received a Letter of Felicitation from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte congratulating her saying, “turning a century old is the biggest milestone a person can achieve.” The plaque also quoted Abraham Lincoln’s line, “It is not the
years that counts, but the life in your years.” Mayor Nacional V. Mercado, who led the LGU Maasin team, also congratulated Zialcita and asked her the secrets of long life. “Do zumba and ballroom dancing once in a while, eat healthy and stay fit, avoid hatred and anger, less stress and laugh with friends,” was the centenarian’s reply to Mayor Mercado. It was learned that Mercado also handed P30,000 cash gift from the LGU-Maasin City coffers during Donya Perla’s 100th birthday. As of this writing, a total of seven centenarians in Maasin City were already given cash gift by the DSWD according to CSWD Officer Jhade M. Bestudio. The granting of cash gift is mandated under Republic Act 10868 be ready for the new normal folor the Centenarians Act of 2016, an lowing the basic protocols, DOTr Act honoring and granting of addiguidelines for transportation tional benefits to Filipino centenariservices, as well as the issuances of ans, she said. the tourism department. All Filipinos who reach 100 “We want tourism enteryears old, whether residing in the prises to develop the readiness so Philippines or abroad, will be honored that people would feel comfortable with a Letter of Felicitation from the to go around and visit places,” she President of the Philippines congratusaid. lating the celebrator for his or her lon “When already ready, our gevity and a cash gift in the amount of continued on page 14 P100,000. (ldl/rgc/PIA SoLeyte)
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
SAP distribution in COVID-hit Samar town continues By: Golda Meir T. Tabao
LGU Borongan extends relief goods to 6 towns hardest hit by Typhoon Ambo By: Samuel D. Candido
CATBALOGAN CITY -- Samar Governor Reynolds Micheal T. Tan said in an interview during the Network Briefing hosted by Presidential Communications Operations (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar that the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) distribution in the municipality of Tarangnan continues. The deadline set forth by the government was extended only until May 10, but Tarangnan, has a 42.30 percent completion rate on the process of the distribution of the financial assitance. Around P22.3 million was budgeted for Tarangnan’s 4,372 target beneficiaries wherein 2,239 are Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members. Out of the 2,133 non-4Ps, some 923 were already given their cash assistance. The reason for the delay in releasing the SAP to their beneficiaries is because the municipality has to wait for the RT-PCR results of some municipal employees. There were municipal employees that tested positive of COVID-19 hence there was a need to conduct contact tracing and swab testing of all municipal employees and the social welfare distribution team. “We need to understand
BORONGAN CITY -- The City Government of Borongan through City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda started distributing relief goods to six northern municipalities of Eastern Samar that were affected by Typhoon Ambo. According to Engr. Jaime J. that Tarangnan, Samar is only a Voces, city disaster risk reduction small town, and the number of em- management officer (CDRRMO) ployees is small. When an employee some 35,311 families will receive tested positive of COVID-19, the relief goods. Local Government Unit has to take He disclosed that the relief precautionary measures and postgoods contain three kilos native rice pone the distribution to avoid the and two canned sardines. possible spread of COVID-19,” Gov. The northern municipalities Tan said. and the number of families that will However, as soon as the receive the relief goods are: Maslog swab results of the municipal em– 1,370, Jipapad -2,341, Arteche ployees, especially that of the social 4,071, San-Policarpo – 4,546, Oras welfare distribution team, yielded – 10,313, and Dolores – 12,670. negative, the payout resumed. The Sangguniang “Now they already resumed Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar with the distribution and may finish through Resolution No. 60 series anytime soon,” Gov. Tan said. of 2020, declared the six northern Moreover, when the municipalities, Maslog, Jipapad, Department of Health declared that Arteche, San-Policarpo, Oras, and there is a now local transmission in Dolores under a state of calamithe area, Tarangnan Mayor Arnel ty due to the catastrophic effects R. Tan, issued Executive Order No. caused by Typhoon Ambo. 8, declaring a total lockdown in the Typhoon Ambo has brought whole municipality. injury, destruction and vast damag Of the 23 confirmed cases es to properties to the six northern of Samar Province, 21 of which are municipalities of Eastern Samar. from Tarangnan hence the strict The City Government of precautionary measures imposed. Borongan started relief operations Later, on May 16, the on May 30, 2020 to the municipaltown was placed under Enhanced ities of Jipapad and Arteche, said Community Qurantine until May Voces. 31, 2020. The city government On the other hand, Gov. allocated funds in the amount of Tan raised to the Department Social P12.2-M from their 70 percent PreWelfare and Development (DSWD) disaster preparation and mitigation Sec. Rolando D. Bautista the fund of 2020 Annual Budget. (ndb/ continued on page 17 SDC/PIA-E. Samar)
Leyte town mayor sets health protocols for returning residents
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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By: Consuelo B. Alarcon TACLOBAN CITY -- The local government unit of Tanauan, Leyte has set some basic health protocols for returning residents as the municipality expects more arrivals in the coming days. This, after the municipality recorded its first COVID-19 case on Thursday, May 28, as reported by the Department of Health 8. During the Panindugan Virtual Kapihan on Friday hosted by PIA-8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia Tiu, Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson said that those who want to come home are very much welcome but they have to follow certain guidelines such as the 14-day quarantine period and RT-PCR testing. “Itong mga kababayan natin that are returning home, we made a policy that we will have to accept them back because kailangan talaga nila makabalik, many of them are displaced in Metro Manila, stranded sila doon at mga kababayan natin ito. However, they have to be coordinated well, yung return nila sa atin at importante sumunod doon sa mga protocol, “Tecson said. Tecson likewise assured the people of Tanauan and the neighboring towns that there is nothing to worry about since the first confirmed case proceeded directly to the municipal quarantine center for isolation. The first COVID-19 case in Tanauan is a 26-year-old male and was among the six returnees in Tanauan who arrived in the evening of May 21, 2020 at the Government Center Circle, Candahug Palo Leyte.
LGU-Maasin implements pre-emptive lockdown in fight vs COVID-19 By: Ma. Rebecca G. Cadavos
MAASIN CITY -- The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Maasin City has declared Thursday, May 28, a “pre-emptive lockdown” in the entire city to ensure the safety and security of its constituents after Baybay City in Leyte recorded its first COVID-19 case. Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado signed Executive Order No. 36 prohibiting the entry of non-residents into the city. However, those involved in the delivery of basic goods and services, medical supplies, health workers, and those government employees rendering emergency frontline services and border controls, will As early as March this year, LGU Tanauan has already established a quarantine facility with 47 rooms. Each room per patient is equipped with medical facilities and health personnel that will attend to the patient’s needs. It also has a comfort room. Tecson said that Tanauan LGU is also planning to expand its quarantine facility adding that the
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still be allowed to enter. Those trying to get in for tourism-related purposes will not be allowed, the EO stated. The first positive case in Baybay City was a beneficiary of the Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-Asa Program of the national government, and based on the contact tracing, some of the patient’s contacts are from Matalom, Leyte, who were also beneficiaries of the program, it was learned. Matalom town is an adjacent municipality of Maasin City. The pre-emptive lockdown is the city’s response measure to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate any adverse effects of COVID-19. All local health units down to its barangay level are were directed to mobilize and coordinate with the LGU on delivering primary health services to all Maasinhons. The EO will remain in effect unless sooner lifted. As of this writing, Maasin City and the province of Southern Leyte remains COVID-free. (ldl/ rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
E. Samar guv challenges DA-8 for P500-M worth of projects By: Ninfa Barcena- Quirante BORONGAN CITY -- Governor Ben Everdone of Eastern Samar posed a challenge to the Department of Agriculture Regional Director Angel Enriquez to allocate P500 Million worth of projects for the poor province of E. Samar. Evardone said that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has allocated P50-M as counterpart for projects in agriculture, especially access to key production areas. Evardone met Director Enriquez at the ground breaking of a farm-to-market road in Maydolong town on May 28. The 1.77 kilometers of Maytigbao (Maydolong) to Brgy. Balogo, (Balangkayan) road is one example of the access roads his people need, said the governor, adding that these municipalities have great potentials in agriculture. Should the RD accept the challenge of the P500-M worth of agri projects, Evardone said he will allot the two agricultural producing towns
with projects worth P100-M each. Balangkayan, he said, has 200 hectares of ricefields and are irrigated, while Maydolong has 30 hectares. He added that Balangkayan ranked next to Dolores town in terms of rice production. Dolores, located some 75 kms north of the capital city of Borongan is considered the rice granary of the province. “Our offer of the P50-M counterpart and our unity shows how ready, willing, able and enthusiastic we are in supporting DAs projects and the national government’s initiative for Food Sufficiency,” he told Enriquez. “Tulungan niyo kami, these projects will be fully and expeditiously implemented for the benefit of our people.” Director Enriquez for her part accepted the challenge. She praised the governor for being able to supply the department with the needed documents.
Governor calls on Leyteños not to panic as two Balik Probinsiya beneficiaries turn COVID-19 positive By:PIA-8
PALO, Leyte -- Amid the report that two Balik Probinsiya beneficiaries were confirmed as COVID19 positive, Governor Dominic Petilla called on Leyteños not to panic and to continue observing health protocols like wearing facemasks, physical distancing, constant handwashing with soap and water or use of alcohol. At the PLIATF meeting Thursday afternoon, Petilla said, the Balik Probinsya beneficiaries were disinfected, given face shields, swab tested right there at the cordoned arrival area at Candahug, Palo, Leyte. The officials, other staff and the media who covered the arrival stayed outside the cordon, the governor disclosed. continued on page 13 Their respective LGUs fetched them and they were brought directly to the LGU isolation facilities. Their baggages and even the buses they rode in were properly disinfected, the governor said. The Governor gave the assurance that protocols are in place and the province is capable of managing the situation. The specimen taken by the Med Tech personnel of the Leyte Provincial Hospital were sent to Cebu because the EVRMC Lab was inoperational at that time because of lack of reagents. The results have yet to arrive. Four Leyte LGUs, had their Balik Probinsiya returnees swabbed and had them
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA 59% of LGUs in Eastern Visayas complete SAP liquidation reports
By: Consuelo B. Alarcon
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- Some 85 out of the 143 local government units (LGUs) in Eastern Visayas have already completed liquidation reports for the funds downloaded and distributed to the beneficiaries of the emergency cash subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of the government amid the COVID19 pandemic. The said figure represents 59.44 percent of the LGUs in the region that have already submitted liquidation based on the progress report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 8 (DSWD-8) as of Wednesday, May 27. The number of LGUs that completed liquidation report by province are as follows: 14 out of 24 in Northern Samar; 19 out of 26 in Samar; 13 out og 23 in Eastern Samar; 20 out of 43 in Leyte; 18 out of 19 in Southern Leyte; and 1 out of 8 in Biliran. Of the 143 LGUs, 141 have already completed payout where each family-beneficiary received P5,000. Joshua Kempis, Information Officer II of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division of DSWD8 said, a total of P2,980,470,000 was downloaded to the 143 LGUs. As of May 27, a total of P2,749,020,000 has already been distributed to 549, 804 families in the region with a completion rate of 92.23 percent. The Social Amelioration Program is a social protection
May 16-31, 2020
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Construction of new SLPPO building ongoing By: Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY -- A new building to house the Southern Leyte Police Provincial Ofice (SLPPO) is now being constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The structure, a three-story building, sits within the sprawling complex of the SLPPO situated in barangay Canturing ,this city. The provincial PNP office is also named Camp Alfredo K. Bantug, to honor the former program and inter-agency measure mandated under R.A. No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act to help mitigate the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidelines implemented during the enhanced community quarantine. (ldl/cba/PIA-8)
governor and Maasin mayor. The project has an allocation of over P24 million, the DPWH said in a statement. Construction has been slated for 306 calendar days, with target completion of the project programmed for early next year. “The Philippine National Police has been requesting a new building for a long time already, that’s why our uniformed and non-uniformed personnel are happy that, finally, their request to have a safer, spacious, and conducive workplace has been granted,” District Engineer Margarita Junia said. In a recent project site inspection, installation of footing and foundation of the building, as well as excavation works, were done. In the last decade, since 2010 or so, field stations of the Philippine National Police in 18 municipalities and one city of the province have transferred from old to newly-constructed buildings. It’s about time the provincial PNP headquarters gets its share of a major facelift, Junia said. (ldl/mmp/ PIA8-Southern Leyte)
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May 16-31, 2020
LGU-Naval expands ‘lend a bike’ program to all Biliranons By: Mary Lailani P. Tupaz MAASIN CITY -- The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Maasin City has declared Thursday, May 28, a “pre-emptive lockdown” in the entire city to ensure the safety and security of its constituents after Baybay City in Leyte recorded its first COVID19 case. Maasin City Mayor Nacional Mercado signed Executive Order No. 36 prohibiting the entry of non-residents into the city. However, those involved in the delivery of basic goods and services, medical supplies, health workers, and those government employees rendering emergency frontline services and border controls, will still be allowed to enter. Those trying to get in for tourism-related purposes will not be allowed, the EO stated. The first positive case in Baybay City was a beneficiary of the Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-Asa Program of the national government, and based on the contact tracing, some of the patient’s contacts are from Matalom, Leyte, who were also beneficiaries of the program, it was learned. Matalom town is an adjacent municipality of Maasin City. The pre-emptive lockdown is the city’s response measure to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate any adverse effects of COVID-19. All local health units down to its barangay level are were directed to mobilize and coordinate with the LGU on delivering primary health services to all
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA DA-8 provides palay seeds for embattled farmers in Eastern Samar By: Ninfa Barcena-Quirante
BORONGAN CITY -- The Department of Agriculture 8 (DA8) came to the rescue of some 1,200 rice farmers in Oras, Eastern Samar with the provision of certified seeds. On May 26, the team led by the DA 8 Regional Technical Director for Operation, Larry Sultan, E. Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, Rep. Maria Fe Abunda and a host of other provincial officials went to Oras town to distribute an initial 600 bags of high quality palay seeds in time for this cropping season. One of the recipients, Froilan Montallana, a farmer who tills 12 hectares was all smiles with the blessing. His farm in Brgy. Cagdine yields an average of 3.3 metric tons. Other farmers were also happy to receive such blessing after Typhoon Ambo destroyed their plants, their homes and the palay seeds they saved for the cropping season. The program that reached this agricultural town is an ‘answered prayer’ said Municipal Agriculturist, Salvador Dalosa, as his farmers are reeling with the huge
damage to agriculture his town suffered. The project that answered their wish is DA’s Rice Sufficiency Program and is supported by the provincial government’s Food Sufficiency Program said Virgilio Capon, the provincial agriculturist. Under the program, a rice farmer is given a bag of certified seeds and two bags of fertilizers, but he too has to provide two bags of fertilizers by showing receipt of the same. With the current situation in the northern towns damaged by Typhoon Ambo, Gov. Evardone asked the DA to just waive the condition citing the difficult life Orasnons and other Estehanons face at the moment. “We already appealed to waive the counterpart of the farmers for the fertilizers and we have high hopes through our Congressman and Governor that our appeal be granted,” Oras Mayor Viviane Alvarez said. To which the governor and the representative replied that “buburubligan ta.” (We will solve this together.) The Rice Resiliency Program
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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DILG-8 submits list of ‘left out’ families in first tranche SAP distribution in EV By: Consuelo B. Alarcon
Repatriation of OFWs starts, 76 back in EV By: PIA-8
TACLOBAN CITY -- The repatriation of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) has started. As of May 23, some 76 have arrived in Eastern Visayas, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Region 8 (OWWA RWO 8) told the Philippine Information Agency. Some 43 OFWs stranded in Cebu have returned to Eastern Visayas via Hilongos Port in Leyte, as of May 20, 2020, DILG OICRegional Direcvtor Darwin Bibar disclosed at the PIA Panindugan Virtual Kapihan among PIA, local media and government agencies, hosted by Regional Director Olive Tiu of PIA-8 on Friday, May 22. The 43 OFWs came home in two batches, Director Bibar said. The first batch arrived on May 10 and was composed of 19 OFWs with four from the province of Leyte, eight from Southern Leyte, six from Samar and one from Eastern Samar. The second batch who arrived on May 19 was composed of 24 OFWs with nine from Leyte, nine from Southern Leyte, one from Biliran, one from Eastern Samar and four from Tacloban City. Meanwhile, OWWA Region
8 told the PIA that some 33 OFW repatriates from Manila arrived in Region 8 early morning of Saturday, May 23, 2020. This makes the total number of OFW repatriates to Eastern Visayas to 76 as of May 23. The repatriates came home via Cebu and then through Hilongos Port in Leyte. Of the 33 OFWs, 21 are from Leyte, three from Eastern Samar, seven from Southern Leyte, one from Biliran and one from Samar. The successful repatriation of these OFWs was made possible thru the collaborative efforts of OWWA RWO 7, OWWA RWO 8 and partner agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the respective Local Government Units where these OFWs are residing. The return of the OFWs was fasttracked by reducing the documentary requirements needed for their
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TACLOBAN CITY -- As the government prepares for the influx of returning residents in Eastern Visayas, an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) presented to local government executives in Region 8 on the protocols that are now in place for receiving locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This, after the DILG established the Emergency Operations Center DILG - OFW Operations Desk all over the country to assist the government on the rising concerns of OFWs and stranded residents. During the Suruswerte ha PIA, a webinar with Eastern Visayas stakeholders on Thursday hosted by PIA-8 Regional Director Erlinda Olivia Tiu, DILG Executive Director Karl Caesar Rimando of the National Barangay Operations Office said, the receiving LGU shall not deny the entry of a resident who wants to come home provided that local health protocols are complied. However, the local government executive has the prerogative to subject returning residents to undergo additional tests as well as strict 14-day quarantine to ensure the safety and health of other residents. “Pero kung meron kayong health protocol at gusto nyo sila i-subject again to quarantine, pwede nyo po gawin yun, naiintindihan po namin yun kasi tinitingnan din ang
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA HEIs adopt ‘flexible learning’ in August, says DSWD distributes cash assistance to CHED-8 chief Typhoon Ambo-hit By: Gemma T. Tabao Eastern Samar town TACLOBAN CITY -- Higher being experienced. Though accord10
May 16-31, 2020
Education Institutions (HEIs) will have to adopt flexible learning systems for the opening of classes come August, this year. This was learned from Regional Director George Colorado of the Commission on Higher Education 8 (CHED-8) during his guesting at the Suruswerte ha PIA on Thursday at DYVL Aksyon Radyo hosted by the Regional Director Olive Tiu of the Philippine Information Agency 8. “Things would change. We will have to adopt flexible learning systems as strategies would depend on the situation and capability of the higher education institutions, especially the teachers and students,” Director Colorado said. Colorado added, “We have to do some extra works, no more faceto-face classes called residential classes, and the capability to open depends on the ability to adopt the new system. We have to check on this because we don’t want to risk the health and life of our teachers and students.” The director also said that they have to forego the scheduled summer classes and that the office is encouraging all to start classes in August, to utilize the next two months for the needed preparations especially on safety concerns. He also said that his office is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) because per DICT, they will be refurbishing towers in the region in order to increase the internet infrastructure capacity, considering that online learning system has been considered appropriate for the situation when health crisis is
ing to him, there is the possibility for a face-to-face mode for a combined learning, but in a reduced number of students per class while social distancing is mandated. Colorado also informed that the school year is supposed to end now, but there are still some schools that have extended for one month more so as to complete the previous semester. According to the CHED director, “Though we expect that some students may not cope with the requirements, yet we don’t want to encourage the mass promotion concept.” “We must maintain quality education. If the students cannot finish with the requirements, we enjoin teachers not to fail them. They should be given one year to comply, maybe together with the following year’s requirements. We should give them the chance considering the difficulties that everybody is experiencing now,” he added. For the on-the-job trainees who are required to complete some number of hours, Colorado emphasized that said trainings are important and that some alternatives maybe
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By: Ninfa Barcena-Quirante
BORONGAN CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Undersecretary Aimee TorrefrancaNeri gave out P3,000 cash assistance each and some food packs to 202 residents of Barangay Catumsan, Arteche town on May 22. DSWD Undersecretary Neri personally flew in from another relief ops in Northern Samar to the barangay and handed out the cash assistance to those who lost their homes due to Typhoon Ambo. Typhoon Ambo made landfall on adjacent San Policarpo town and washed out houses, farms, fruit trees and fishery structures in the northern towns of the province. Neri said that all typhoon victims will also receive Family Food Packs/Family Kits from the department under the program of President Rordigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go. “Kami po sa gobyerno, bababa, yun po ang utos ni Presidente sa amin, babaan niyo ang mga tao,” Neri said in her message
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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Nat’l gov’t extends financial aid to Ambohit North Samar towns By: Teresita B. Cardenas
CATARMAN, Northern Samar -- Help continues to pour in Northern Samar from the national government as Sen. Lawrence Bong Go pledged to give financial aid to the province’s towns hit hard by Typhoon Ambo. This was announced by Governor Edwin Marino Ongchuan during the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting By: Samuel D. Candido held at the capitol’s Ibabao Hall on BORONGAN CITY -- The Can-avid, San-Julian, Lawaan, May 20. Department of Trade and Industry Maydolong, Guiuan, Balangkayan Governor Ongchuan (DTI) and Small Business and Borongan City. informed the body that President Corporation (SBC) - E. Samar Micro enterprises with asset Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Bong Provincial Field Office are now size of not more than P3-M may Go intended to visit the province’s accepting loan applications from borrow P10,000 to P200,000 while hardest hit towns on May 21, Micro and Small Enterprises small enterprises with asset size of however, due to health quaran(MSEs) in the province affected with not more than P15-M may borrow tine protocols, Senator Go called the impact of the Corona Virus-19 a higher loan amount but not to up the governor informing that (COVID-19) crisis. exceed P500,000. the national government will be According to Ms. Ma. Joy R. The small business coorgiving instead P5 million each Abobo, P3 provincial coordinator/ dinator further said that the loans to the towns of Lapinig, Gamay, small business coordinator, they are under the CARES program have a Catarman, Catubig and Las Navas. now accepting applications for the monthly interest rate of 0.5%, and The municipalities of San COVID-19 Assistance to Restart a grace period of six 6 months on Jose and San Roque will receive P3 Enterprises (CARES) program principal repayment. million each, Gov. Ongchuan said. through its offices in areas now To avail the loans, the bor Ongchuan explained that under general community quaranrowers must be a Filipino-owned the financial assistance will be tine (GCQ). micro or small enterprises, should used for relief and recovery pro She said that CARES is part be in operation prior to March grams to normalize the living conof the government’s economic relief 16, 2020, must be affected by the ditions of residents in the commuprogram for micro and small enimposition of enhanced community nities stricken by the typhoon. terprises affected by the COVID-19 quarantine (ECQ) and should not On the other hand, pandemic. have assets worth more than P15-M. PDRRMO Rei Josiah Echano She added that SBC has al Applicants may visit the during his presentation of the ready accepted 33 loan applications DTI - Provincial Field Office, or Rapid Damage Assessment and while the DTI-Field Office accepted SBC website – www.sbgfc.org.ph to Need Analysis report said that a 21 loan applications. get the application form and submit total of 5,659 houses were totally Those MSEs who applied the requirements to the nearest SBC damaged and 31,879 houses were for CARES program are from
DTI, SBC offer loan program for COVID-19 affected MSEs in E. Samar
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
Southern Leyte to purchase rapid test kits, says Gov. Mercado By: Marcelo M. Pedalino
MAASIN CITY -- The province of Southern Leyte is determined to buy some 5,000 units of rapid diagnostic test kits as a proactive measure in checking possible carriers of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This was disclosed by Gov. Damian Mercado in a casual chat with local reporters on the sidelines of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) meeting last week which tackled the extension of the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) for the province until the end of the month, now being implemented under EO 27. Mercado said funds to be used for the procurement of the rapid antibody test kits will be taken from the province’s share of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or RA 11469, wherein the province got P44 million equivalent to one-half of its monthly internal revenue allotment (IRA) share. He downplayed talks on the supposed lack of assistance extended to the 18 municipalities and one city of the province, saying the Bayanihan fund specified to strictly follow the prescribed menu as basis for the money to spend, such as the provision on medical supplies, and
health protection to frontliners and to the people at large. Assisting in the relief initiatives of LGUs was not in the guidelines, but if there is a need to assist the LGUs, the province is ready to help using other fund sources, the governor emphasized. Bidding for the procurement of the rapid test kits had been scheduled last Friday, the governor said, adding that once the kits are in, he shall coordinate with the public health sector for the proper distribution around the province. Rapid antibody tests use blood samples to measure a patient or a person’s antibodies who, like soldiers, react to the presence of a virus in the blood, hence the term “reactive,” meaning an intruder or virus has entered the body’s blood system. Reactive individuals need to undergo a confirmatory test through the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction or RT-PCR test, using material taken from the throat or deep in the nose, to see if the virus found was indeed COVID-19. On Wednesday last week, everyone in the city and province was surprised upon learning that 3
out of 30 construction workers were found reactive after having undergone rapid tests at a private hospital through an agreement with the DPWH. In a press conference, city Mayor Nacional Mercado expressed frustration that the activity was conducted without proper coordination with the city health authorities for the much-needed monitoring and contact tracing. The three were immediately rounded up even in the middle of the night, their swab samples taken and brought to EVRMC, and they
continued on page 16 “DILG submits...” continued from page 9 kapakanan ng mga constituents na dadatnan, “ Rimando said. Dir. Rimando also said that it is the role of the DILG-OFW Desk Officer to immediately coordinate with the local chief executive concerned about the arrival of returning OFWs to ensure the unhampered transit of repatriates that were already issued a DOH or OWWA certificate of completion of 14-day facility-based quarantine. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) shall provide transport to OFWs going to their provinces. However, it must notify in advance the DILG in the province and the LGUs concerned regarding the return of OFWs. As to locally stranded individuals, the official said that LGUs are required to provide transfer services to them at ports, airports, and transport terminals within their areas of jurisdiction to transport them to their respective places of residences. Travel authority to locally stranded individuals will be issued by the Joint Task Force COVID-19. (ldl/cba/PIA8)
Guv seeks restoration of COVID-19 isolation units in E. Samar
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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By: Ninfa Iluminada B. Quirante
BORONGAN CITY -- Governor Ben Evardone is seeking the help of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Inter Agency Task Force on COVID-19 to help some municipalities of Eastern Samar restore and repair their COVID19 isolation units damaged by Typhoon Ambo on May 14. Evardone was interviewed by the Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) Usapang Bayan host Mike Abe on May 20. He said that half of the isolation units in the northern municipalities were damaged by Typhoon Ambo. In the report of Dr. Rodel Delgado of the Provincial Health Office, he said that the COVID19 isolation unit in Jipapad town was totally damaged while partially damaged in Arteche, San Policarpo, Maslog and Oras. The governor lamented that the local government units focused almost all its resources to preparing the COVID-19 isolation units only to be damaged by typhoon Ambo. “Grabe ang paghahanda namin sa COVID-19,” he said adding that the funds were scoured for COVID-19 preps like buying PPEs, health essentials, drugs, and construction of isolation units in all municipalities. “Our evacuation centers were transformed into Isolation units.” He reported that of the 23 towns and one city in E. Samar, nine municipalities are reeling from the effects of the typhoon where 47 thousand families are
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“Governor calls..” continued from page 6 tested at the Divine Word COVID Testing Center. Two of those swabs turned positive, one from Tanauan, the other from Baybay City. At mid-morning of May 28, the DOH Region 8 announced via virtual presser that there are three additional confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Eastern Visayas. This makes the total number of confirmed positive COVID cases in Eastern Visayas to 31. Director Minerva Molon said Patient EV-29 is a 54-year-old female from Tarangnan, Patient EV-30 is a 26-year-old male from Tanauan, Leyte while Patient EV-31 is a 28-year-old male from Baybay City. Both patients EV-30 and EV-31 belong to the first batch of beneficiaries of the Balik Probinsiya program. Patients are currently asymptomatic and have been in isolation facilities in their respective LGUs since they arrived. Contact tracing will be conducted on those who were with them in the bus from Manila. (opt/PIA-8)
“E. Samar guv..” continued from page 6
Enriquez mentioned Evardone as one of those who have recently prepared the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan and Food Security Plan. The DA regional chief said that whatever project the provinces proposed must be supported by data, Enriquez stressed, “Nganong mangayo ka ug farm to market road? Dapat ma document ang mga produkto” (trans: Why ask for a Farm to Market Road? The products from that area need to be documented.) She also posed a challenge to the governor by saying, “The LCEs are food czars, they should be able to know if they can feed their people.” The DA executive acknowledged the fact that E. Samar really needs assistance. She also mentioned that the province has vast potentials in coconut and fisheries. “Ang atong assistance ibuhos dinhi, if we can do more, why can’t we? We want to spur development in this area, the development of an area starts with agriculture.” She admitted that E. Samar needs to be developed but many things still have to be done. “Pero daghan pa buhaton, but we will start and we will accept the challenge.” (nbq with reports from Reden D. Tangara/ PIA E. Samar)
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA “Leyte town mayor..” continued from page 5
“DOT 8” continued from page 3 first targets are our kababayans or the people from the region to show to the world that we are safe here,” Tiopes said. Tiopes also informed that starting June, the DOT will be having a series of financial management fora for tourism enterprises, as some of them are already in difficult financial situation. The DOT chief stressed that while tourism arrival in the Eastern Visayas region has been very high in the past five years, the situation has changed with the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the imposition of travel ban, our tourism industry was badly affected such as the accommodation facilities, tourist transport, tour operators and tour guide services,” she said. “Following the IATF guidelines, 95 percent of the tourism business establishments and tourism sites were closed,” she said adding that though there are hotels that continued with their operations but catered only to frontliners, health workers and OFWs while new guests were prohibited. For cases of stranded tourists, Tiopes assured they have been constantly monitoring them as to
evacuation center may be converted into a permanent quarantine facility that can accommodate more patients. Meanwhile, Mayor Tecson said that those who intend to go home should avoid shortcuts. “A new ordinance was passed by the Sangguniang Bayan, and I already signed it, that starting next week a part of the provision of that ordinance is that anyone who will return home and will not follow the protocol will be penalized,” he said. The Mayor added that they are already putting some teeth into the policy saying, “This is our only defense against COVID-19 in our place.” (ldl/cba/PIA-8)
their safety and needs. She said, “We had 643 foreign guests from the start, but through the sweeper flights organized by the DOT and the different embassies, some 328 guests were already able to return home.” “DA-8 provides..” continued She also bared that there are at least 120 guests who prefrom page 8 ferred to stay and wait for the (RRP) is part of the Plant, Plant, Plant pandemic to end as according Program or Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing to them, it is safer to stay in the Sapat (ALPAS) kontra COVID-19 to region than travel or return home. enhance rice production. The DOT director advised The RRP proposes to prothe public not to lose hope saying, vide fertilizers to those who received “Kakayanin natin ito as what we the high-yielding certified seeds have done with Typhoon Yolanda, under the Rice Competitiveness a different circumstance though. Enhancement Fund (RCEF). We are Waraynons and we Evardone vowed to support have proven that we can overcome the program to ensure that his people whatever difficulties that come our will not go hungry. way, if only we religiously follow “An mga Estehanon in diri the imposed guidelines for us to magugutom labi na yana nga dako it heal as one. (ldl/gtt/PIA Leyte) aton inaatubang nga krisis hit probinsya.” (Estehanons will not go hungry “LGU Naval..” continued from despite the crisis that we face.) On May 14, just as the govpage 8 ernment officials were so occupied Maasinhons. with preparations for COVID-19 The EO will remain in isolation units, Typhoon Ambo effect unless sooner lifted. lashed at the northern municipali As of this writing, Maasin ties, Oras included, and destroyed City and the province of Southern their homes, livelihood and some Leyte remains COVID-free. (ldl/ lives. (nbq/PIA Eastern Samar) rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte) Maasinhons.
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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“HEIs..” continued from page 10 done, or else, extend the training hours for them to be exposed to the real situations as experiences may not be learned from the professors, according to him. He added that this is especially true to those who are in the medical field where actual exposure is needed, for them to be competent and be globally competitive. On the opening of classes, CHED has issued advisories, saying that classes can start on August, provided, that school personnel are showing their capability to handle the situation. If they still have to build up their capability such as training teachers on social media, they may start a little later like September, but they have to ensure that the required number of days for the school year or semester is completed. Presently, CHED is in the process of preparation for the coming school year. It is considering some plans and strategies to include the determination as to what infrastructure to be used, in efforts to have better internet access. The office is also looking into a learning management system such as software packages, modules and lectures that could be downloaded even when not online, particularly for those who have limited access. According to Colorado, “We expect higher education institutions to create innovations for our people. This is the time that they should really be relevant so as to help people survive and recover from the crisis they are facing now.” Meanwhile, PIA-8 Director Olive Tiu informed the CHED chief that there are already some universities who have coordinated with the office as to dissemination of information on higher education concerns. She also bared that Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
has already given the authority to use government radio stations as among the platforms for use in the learning processes. (ldl/gtt/PIA-Leyte)
“Repatriation..” continued from page 9
return to their respective homes. The OFWs still had to undergo a swab test and the quarantine, though. MARINA and PCG provided safe passage to the OFWs through vessels. The two agencies ensured that the vessels were sanitized and safe for travel. OWWA RWO 8 staff were at the port to facilitate the arrival of the OFWs and to ensure proper endorsement to their LGUs. Upon arrival at the port, the OFWs were provided with food and hygiene kits. Transportation from port to the OFWs’ residence was facilitated by each LGUs where they will undergo another 14-day quarantine. Prior to the repatriation of these OFWs, they underwent the mandatory 14-day quarantine required by the Department of Health, got a negative RT-PCR swab test result, secured clearance/ approval from their respective LCEs and Travel Authority from the Philippine National Police from Region 7. (opt/PIA-8)
“DTI, SBC..” continued from page 11 Office or in the Negosyo Centers in the different municipalities. Applicants should also observe health protocols such as wearing face masks and practice social distancing. The loan requirements are fully-accomplished loan application form; one government issued ID with picture, and proof of permanent business address. Businesses can use the borrowed funds to update loan amortizations for vehicles loans, or other fixed asset loans, and replacement of working capitals to restart operations. CARES program is a P1Billion Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing (ERF) facility under the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) to support micro and small businesses affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 in the country. (nbq/SDC/PIA-E. Samar)
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
2 NPA rebels in Basey return to the folds of the law
By: PIA-8 TACLOBAN CITY -- Two NPA E-CLIP is a government members from Basey, Samar program that aims to help the rebel members of CPP-NPA-NDF recently, voluntarily surrendered to the 63rd Infantry Battalion of and Militia ng Bayan to restore their allegiance to the Philippine the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. government. The 63IB initiated the Through this program, they can be reintegrated back to peace talks that led to the laying down of arms of @Del, a former the community, be with their fammember of FGU, FC-SS2, SRC ilies, and start over with their new, SESAME. normal lives. On May 19, 2020, @ Orbito is hopeful that Del surrendered at the 63IB more members of this group Headquarters in Brgy. New San realize that they are fighting for Agustin, Basey, Samar. a lost cause. He called on those The former rebels opted remaining members to avail of the to support government programs E-CLIP and come back to their due to life hardships and realizafamilies to live a free and peaceful tion of their illegal exploitation life away from violence. and extortion activities to the Meanwhile, the two forlocals. mer rebels called on their active One homemade shotgun comrades and fellows to lay down and a caliber .22 pistol was turned their arms to support government over to LTC Edgar Allan Orbito, programs and initiatives leading to the commanding officer of the a peaceful and safe communities 63IB. in Basey, Samar. (PIA-8) Moreover, a former political officer of the same guerilla “Southern Leyte...” continued front, identified as @David also returned to the folds of the law after from page 12 were isolated at the old provincial a series of interventions. Lt Col. Orbito said the two hospital, the province’s isolation NPA-deceived locals will be inter- facility. As of this writing, only one viewed and assisted for them to avail of the government programs of the three had a negative result, while results for the other two are like E-CLIP and livelihood assistance as they undergo community still being eagerly awaited. (ldl/mmp/ PIA8-Southern Leyte) reintegration.
No COVID-19 cases at prov’l hospital’s main building, Samar guv clarifies By: Golda Meir T. Tabao CATBALOGAN CITY -- In today’s Laging Handa Network Briefing hosted by Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan cleared the fake news circulating that COVID-19 positive patients are confined in the same building with non-COVID cases. “We have to clarify the issue on fake news being circulated that there are positive of COVID-19 confined at the main building of the Samar Provincial Hospital (SPH),” Governor Tan said. “In fact, we have an isolation area. The Medical Arts Building was temporarily converted to COVID-19 specific treatment area to avoid contaminating other areas of the hospital,” the governor added. Tan also said that some patients are afraid to seek medical help and have their routine checkups conducted fearing that they may contract the virus. There had also been incidents when pregnant women opted to deliver their babies at home because of the fear of COVID-19 and the wrong information circulating. “When we informed the people of the correct situation, they trusted the medical facility and would go to SPH again for their medical concerns,” Tan said. Tan assured everyone that aside from the patients being
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AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
May 16-31, 2020
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“More than 500...” continued from page 1 PNP and AFP were there to provide security. Also present at the airport was an LTFRB staff to ensure that buses that will take the repatriates to the different provinces. OCD-8 representatives were there while PIA-8 led by PIA Dir. Olive Tiu was there to cover and document the process of welcoming the OFW repatriates. The City of Tacloban put quarantine tags on the repatriates from Tacloban. It was learned that they will return to their respective barangays and undergo 14-day home quarantine. The LGUs of Leyte will fetch their OFWs at the airport it was learned, while the others will be brought to the provincial capitols where their LGUs will fetch them. Before they boarded the assigned buses, right after registration, the repatriates were given packed meals. The OFWs expressed gratitude for arriving safely. As one Mr. Ruben from Baybay City disclosed, they were half-way to Tacloban when it was announced that they needed to return to Manila. “It was good the passengers did not panic,” Mr. Ruben, who came from Jacksonville, Florida, said. When they reached airport in Manila, they changed plane. Mr. Ruben said he was employed in a shipping company but the staff were made to go home by their employer. Ruben disclosed the employer said they will be called back before the end of June but he doubts if that will push through. He expressed gratitude to the government for taking care of them. “The government did not abandon us,” he said. The same sentiment was
echoed by Mr. Lao from Tacloban City. For seven years, he was a crew of the Princess cruise ship which docked for two months at the Manila Bay. On May 20, they were made to disembark and billeted at a very good hotel in Manila, Lao said. Many of the OFWs shared the same expression of gratitude to the government. (PIA-8)
“SAP distribution...” continued from page 4
concerns of Samarnons who were eligible recipients of SAP but were not given financial assistance as the budget did not suffice. Sec. Bautista in turn urged LGUs to submit names of eligible beneficiaries that did not receive the government’s financial assistance through SAP. “We are waiting for the names of those who are in waitlist or left out. Once this is submitted to the field office, it will be subjected for validation then will be submitted to the Central Office. Once it is in the Central office, it will undergo another validation process which is cross matching with other benefits given by Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment,” Sec. Bautista said. Sec. Bautista also clarified that based on the recommendation
of the National Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19, those under the General Community Quarantine are not qualified to receive the second tranche of SAP distribution. “This recommendation was already forwarded to the Office of the President and we are waiting for the memorandum circular from the said office to really know who are eligible to receive the second tranche of the financial assistance,” Sec. Bautista added. Finally, Governor Tan assured that the Provincial Government of Samar will continuously provide all the necessary help to assist the Municipality of Tarangnan and the whole province for it to recover from the ill-effects of COVID-19. (nbq/GMT/RR/ PIA-Samar)
Leyte’s first batch of Balik Probinsya beneficiaries. Related story on page 1.
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA
LTFRB-8 urges transport coops to apply for special permits to resume operations By: Consuelo B. Alarcon TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Eastern Visayas (LTFRB-8) urged transport cooperatives to apply for special permits to resume operations while the region is under general community quarantine (GCQ). This, after the government suspended mass transportation and operations of public utility vehicles following the declaration of nationwide public health emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic. Veronica Reposar, LTFRB-8 transport development officer informed operators that only those with special permits from LTFRB-8 are allowed to operate during the ECQ period. Public utility vehicles need to apply for special permits to traverse roads in the region which are under the GCQ. Reposar said the application for special permit can be done via online transaction free of charge through sending an email to LTFRB-8 with email address r8@ltfrb.gov.ph. Walk-in or personal transaction is not allowed. Reposar further said that transport cooperatives and corporations which have already filed consolidation of franchises and those which are compliant with the modernization program of the government were given priority in the issuance. This is in compliance to the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 to limit the capacity of public transportation as well as the passenger capacity per PUV. To date, almost 80 special permits were already issued by LTFRB-8 in the region while other applications are under validation. (ldl/ cba/PIA8)
Restoration of typhoon-damaged power lines in E. Samar to take time, says ESAMELCO By: Reden D. Tangara BORONGAN CITY -- Restoration of the electricity in the northern towns of Eastern Samar will take time due to the damage from Typhoon Ambo. The northern part of Eastern Samar was severely damaged when Typhoon Ambo made landfall in the province on May 14, 2020. The strong winds caused an outage of electricity due to the damaged electric posts. ESAMELCO linemen are repairing 96 damaged posts, according to General Manager Edwin Amancio. With this, Reynaldo Gerna, board president of ESAMELCO, asked for help from friends electric cooperatives BILECO, SOLECO, and LEYECO that have been spared by the typhoon for faster restoration of the lines in the affected areas. Amancio said the estimated time of line restoration will be two to three weeks for the main lines only. It will take more time to energize the household lines due to the need for the inspection of every meter to make sure it is safe.
Mike Legaspi, supervisor of the ESAMELCO sub-office in Brgy. Burak, Oras, Eastern Samar also asked the barangay captains if they can come to their sub-office to
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“Nat’l gov’t...” continued from page 11
partially damaged as reported by the 19 out of 24 municipalities, namely: Allen, Biri, Bobon, Capul, Catarman, Catubig, Gamay, Laoang, Lapinig, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, , Mondragon,Palapag, Rosario, San Antonio, San Isidro, San Jose, San Roque, and Victoria. Damage to agriculture, Echano reported, are as follows: rice and corn - P8,087,411; crops -P26,115,474; coconut - P65,837; fishery - P25,700,000; and livestock - P8,116,010. On infrastructure, partial report submitted by 12 out of 24 Municipal Engineering Offices reached P127,214,410 million, he said. Some 128,034 families or 521,203 individuals were affected as reported during the disaster council meeting. (nbq/TBC/PIA-Northern Samar)
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA “ No COVID-19...” continued from page 16
treated in a separate building, the medical staff who took care of the COVID-19 patients do not go to the main building. On the other hand, the Samar Provincial Hospital administration issued a statement saying that the COVID-19 isolation area, which is the Medical Arts Building, was identified as early as January and it underwent rigorous inspection complying with the standards set by the Department of Health. The Medical Arts Building, also known as the Malasakit Center, is located near the provincial hospital although it is within the hospital’s compound. Further, the SPH administration said that the distance of the isolation area to hospital’s main building also complies with the standards set. It also has a perimeter fence and is guarded by PNP personnel along with the security personnel of the hospital to ensure that only authorized persons enter the building. The Provincial Government of Samar and the Samar Provincial Hospital continuously urge everyone not to spread fake news as it will only add confusion and panic among the populace. (ldl/gmt/ PIA-Samar)
May 16-31, 2020
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“DSWD 8 distributes..” continued from page 10 to the people of Brgy. Catumsan, Arteche. Before the Arteche distribution, Neri with her team was also Leyte’s first batch of Balik Probinsya beneficiaries. Related story in Brgy. 1 of San on page 1. Policarpo town and typhoon, he said. gave out P3 thousand each to some 30 “Ang pagpunta nyo palang families. dito ay nagpapa-high morale na sa The representative of Senator amin, dahil alam namin hindi kami Bong Go also donated some PPEs for nag-iisa sa krusada naming ito. Nasa health workers of the Eastern Samar gitna pa tayo ng pandemic.” Provincial Health Office. The mayor thanked the “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa president and the national officials Mahal na Panginoong Diyos na kahit that responded to the distress call ganun ka lakas ang bagyo na naranaof this Eastern Samar town. (PIA E. san natin walang kinuhang buhay na Samar with reports from Penelope Artechehanon,” said Arteche Mayor Pomida/RP) Rolando Evardone during the cash distribution. “This is the first time na pagkatapos ng bagyo binisita kami ng isang USEC at ng isang RD.” Evardone said that barely two days after Ambo hit this coastal municipal- “Restoration of typhoon..” ity, DSWD delivered food packs. continued from page 18 The food packs were delivered later as the roads needed clearing report if they see any damage of due to fallen debris caused by the the electric lines in their area.This could speed up the restoration because the linemen will not do inspection anymore. Gerna asked understanding and patience from the people of Oras, San Policarpo, Jipapad and Arteche as it will really take some time to energize the households due to the severe damage in the electric posts. In its latest FB post, Esamelco said it incurred some P55-M damage due to the fallen posts and line structures. (nbq/ RDT/PIA E. Samar)
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May 16-31, 2020
AN REHIYON OCHO YANA resources, and opportunities through policies and programs that boost countryside development and inclusive growth. (PIA-8)
“Leyte...” continued from page 1 the swab test results are known. If the result is negative, they will be allowed to go home to their families but they will be advised to complete the 14-day quarantine. The first batch of Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program of the national government left Manila at 5 o’clock in the afternoon of May 20, 2020. The “Balik Probinsya” program, institutionalized through Executive Order 114, targets to provide adequate social services, promote full employment, industrialization, and improved quality of life in rural areas through different interventions from the national government. It also aims to ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth,
also mentioned that Sen. Bong Go gave more than a thousand food packs for Maslog and Jipapad and that the provincial government also brought in thousands of food packs for the victims “Ang aming pokus ay mamigay ng pagkain para hindi magutom mga kababayan natin,” he said. “Guv seeks.” He added that Sen. Bong continued from Go also promised to extend finanpage 13 cial assistance to the towns hit by affected, adding Ty Ambo. Presently, electricity is that the victims also need food still out in the five municipalities and shelter. of Oras, San Policarpo, Maslog, Typhoon Ambo Jipapad and Arteche. killed three “Nagbagsakan poste ng Estehanons, kuryente and communication is destroyed housstill down,” he said. He is just thankful that two es, classrooms, days after the typhoon, the roads health centers, boats, governwere cleared that his team was ment strucable to check on the situation in tures and even the affected areas. Just last December, 2019, the church of Arteche town. It the southern part of the province also destroyed was also severely damaged by plants, fruits trees and coconuts. Typhoon Ursula that killed three The heavy rains drenched the people and destroyed the livelihood of many families in the newly harvested palays stored in southern part of the province. the homes of poor families. Although Evardone The eastern seaboard, claims that the province remains where the province is located is COVID-19 free, he still would the favorite target place of some want to repair the different isola20-25 typhoons a year. (nbq/PIA E. Samar) tion facilities. As to assistance pouring in to his province, Evardone cited that the province received 4 thousand food packs from the DSWD which his team delivered to Arteche. He