Coco oil exports continue to decline

PALO, Leyte – Coconut oil exports from the second largest coconut-producing region in the country dropped three times as of September, signaling a continued decline in total shipments of this commodity towards the end of the year.

The regional office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said in its report released this week that Eastern Visayas’ coco oil exports totaled 101,758 metric tons (MT) in the first three quarters of the year, about 158 percent less than the 190,720 MT shipped out in the same period last year.

Isafi to be implemented in Biliran, Southern Leyte

THE Department of Agriculture (DA)—Unified and Enterprise Geospatial Information Systems (UEGIS) will implement the Inventory System of Agriculture and Fishery Investments (Isafi), an inventory activity aimed to enhance the planning and implementing capability in Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones.

Wilson Cerbito, UEGIS-National Farmers Registry System-Isafi project manager, said, during the opening program of the Isafi Implementing Manual of Operations and GPS Training held at Leyte Park Resort Hotel, the DA-Planning Service-Public Investment Program Division suggested Isafi to put into service in other provinces of Biliran and Southern Leyte for an outstanding implementation of it in Leyte.

Public Works office to deploy personnel to assist motorists on holidays

PALO, Leyte - A team will be deployed in strategic areas in Eastern Visayas starting Sunday to assist and ensure safety of motorist in the observance of All Souls and All Saints Day.

Police assistance centers established

PALO, Leyte – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas has established police assistance centers to assist the public on November 1 and 2.

PNP Regional Director Arnold Revilla said the assistance centers will increase police visibility throughout the region, especially in areas where people converge most.

1st Mayor Alfred’s Amateur Boxing Tourney launched

TACLOBAN CITY - The Tacloban City Government through its City Sports Office has launched the 1st Mayor Alfred’s Amateur Boxing Showdowns 2011 to identify and select potential boxers from the city.

The first tourney was held at Barangay 88- Fishermen’s Village, San Jose last Friday, October 21.

No funds yet for voters' signatures verification in Samar

LACK of available funds prevents the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Eastern Visayas to conduct verification of voters' signatures in Samar, an official said.

Army receives 5 rubber boats

PALO, Leyte -- The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) turned over Thursday five rubber boats to the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas to be used for rescue operations during disasters.

Undersecretary Benito Ramos of the OCD said that the rubber boats, donated to the country by the World Food Programme-Philippines (WFP), would help boost the rescue capability of the Army during their rescue operations.

Councilor calls for 'entrance fee' collection suspension

COUNCILOR Jerry Uy is calling for the suspension of entrance fee collection on all viajeros/suppliers bringing in commodities and other goods for sale particularly agricultural products to Tacloban City.

In a privilege speech delivered Wednesday, Uy said that imposition of the entrance fee being collected by the City Treasurer’s Office on motor vehicles particularly delivery trucks carrying agricultural products coming from other local government units, runs counter to the provisions of Section 133 (e) of the Local Government Code of the Philippines.

Bomb scare suspends courts' proceedings

TACLOBAN CITY -- A comprehensive security plan is being eyed by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) here following a hoax bomb scare that paralyzed the courts' proceedings Wednesday morning.

Survey: Leyte farmers getting older, their farms getting smaller

TACLOBAN CITY -- Leyte farmers are getting older and their farms are getting smaller; the Department of Agriculture (DA) said citing preliminary data gathered through a survey this year.     Result of the National Farmers Registry System (NFRS) showed that 52 percent of farmers in the province are 50 years and above, while 25 percent of the farming workforce are 40 to 49 years old.

DENR to host 1st Eastern Visayas Outdoor Festival

TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) invites outdoor enthusiasts and organizations to join the 1st Eastern Visayas Outdoor Festival (EVOF) dubbed as "The Gathering," slated November 3-5, 2011 in Borongan City.

Activities lined up for the event include mountain trekking, mountain biking, surfing and base camping.

Medical-dental mission held at Tacloban City jail

TACLOBAN CITY -- In order to monitor the health situation of the inmates at the Tacloban City Jail (TCJ), the City Government here conducted a day long medical-dental mission last Wednesday.   City Health Officer Dr. Jaime Opinion said the medical-dental mission, spearheaded by the City Government, is a commitment of Mayor Alfred Romualdez to provide health services to the inmates detained at the TCJ.

Social welfare agency conducts probe on P8-M robbery

TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started its investigation on the P8.2 million heist at its regional office here last October 17.

DSWD regional director Leticia Diokno said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman ordered the investigation to determine accountability of DSWD personnel over the robbery.

Labor department to provide aid to Tacloban workers

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said it will provide livelihood assistance to cooperatives in coordination with local government units here.

"We do not focus mainly on taking care of our workers on the private sectors, but also on the formal sectors," Marites Viñas, in-charge of the Northern Leyte field office, said.

Lawmaker backs call for return of Balangiga Bells

A PARTY-LIST lawmaker supports the move to ask for the return of the Balangiga Bells that were taken by American soldiers as war booty after the deadly Balangiga encounter at the height of Philippine-American War.

The two bells, which were used to warn residents of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, were taken after a siege conducted by American forces as retaliation against the locals who had killed around 70 American soldiers.

Military urged to undertake troop strength assessment

SENATOR Francis Escudero urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to undertake immediate and actual troop strength assessment in the wake of the recent deadly clashes in Mindanao.

San Miguel Corp. to invest by funding an economic zone

A GIANT Filipino firm had informed the Leyte Provincial Government its intention to make an investment by funding to create an economic zone in the province.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, in an interview, revealed that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) through its president and CEO Ramon Ang had told him its intention to fund a creation of an eco-zone in the province with a power plant that can generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity.

Eastern Samar chosen as model for environmental protection

EASTERN Samar was chosen as one of the five local government units in the country that will serve as models for environmental protection.   This after the Climate Change Commission (CCC) identified environmentally friendly towns through its "Ecotown Framework" that will serve as models for sustainable economic growth.

Mother, 3 children killed in landslide

A FAMILY of four was killed in a landslide incident in Catbalogan City around 2:30 Friday morning.

Rey Gozon, acting regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), identified the victims as Maricel Bulan, 30 years old, and her three children Carlo, 6; Carla, 4; and Marycarl, 2, all residents of Barangay Guinsorongan, Catbalogan City.

Indigenous group gets basic knowledge in literacy

A COLLABORATIVE literacy program by the An Waray partylist and the University of the Philippines’ Office for Continuing Education for the minority group composed of Mamanwa and Manobo in Tacloban is currently being implemented to assist and help them acquire basic knowledge in learning and writing.

2 soldiers killed, 2 wounded in clash with NPA rebels

TWO Army soldiers were killed while two others were wounded in an encounter between government troops and communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Samar province on Wednesday night, a military spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Joel Alejandro Nacnac, spokesman of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID), said in a radio interview that government troops recovered the bodies of the slain soldiers in Barangay Canlobo, Pinabacdao, Samar the following day after the incident.

City council wants to look into revised MOA with German company

TACLOBAN CITY -- City Council members here are asking for the revision of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) that the German company Herhof through its country representative TIG would like to enter with City Government.

Romualdez: Leyteños must pay tribute to war veterans

TACLOBAN CITY -- Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte) reminded all Leyteños, especially the children, to pay tribute to the veterans who fought for the country to attain freedom during the World War II.

As the province commemorations of the 67th Gulf Landings anniversary, Romualdez said it is necessary to pay tribute to the people who helped our nation to be free from invaders.

Agri-trade fair highlights Ormoc charter day

ORMOC CITY -- The City Government here lined up several activities for the 64th Charter Day celebration this year.

One of the most awaited events being featured during the Charter Day celebration is the Agri-Aqua Trade Fair.

4th Oktubafest successful

REPRESENTATIVE Florencio Noel (An Waray party-list) expressed his gratitude to all who those participated in the successful fourth Oktubafest.

The festival aims to promote tuba (coconut wine) as one of the best local wines in the country.

Finance bureau: Many Eastern Visayas towns still poor

MAJORITY of municipalities in Eastern Visayas have remained poor, falling under fourth to sixth class brackets, the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) said, citing the latest round of reclassification.

BLGF Assistant Regional Director Teresita Atuel said they are not positive that many local government units (LGUs) will join the higher status considering the low local tax collection improvement this year.

German firm wants to put up waste facility in Tacloban

A TOP official of a German company presented a proposal for the construction and development of waste management disposal plant facilities in Tacloban City.

Michael Jimenez, president of Herhof GmbH-Zehira Philippines, made the presentation before the City Council for the construction of waste management disposal plant facilities using a technology from Germany called Stabilat®.

Party-list lawmaker helps local coco industry

TACLOBAN CITY- Representative Florencio Noel of the An Waray party-list group said he is doing everything he can to help the local coconut industry, including those who are into tuba (local wine) making.

DOST to address absence of doctors in municipalities

TACLOBAN CITY – The problem of having no doctors in municipalities will be addressed soon with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) testing the efficiency of National TeleHealth Service Program.

It is a technology designed to enhance access to healthcare in remote villages.

Drug bureau tests can detect 4 drugs residues

PALO, Leyte – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is capable to determine the presence of four dangerous drugs through urine drug testing.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. said the drug testing kit, the immuno-assay kit, currently being used by the PDEA Laboratory Service is capable of identifying the presence of shabu, marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine.