1st Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit opens

THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Eastern Visayas on Monday opened the first regional-based competition that aims to search and recognize local inventors as mandated by Republic Act 4759.

Dubbed as the 1st Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (Rice), the competition aims to promote creation or ideas from inventors in the region that has a possibility of commercializing their inventions.

Samar recall polls depend on funds’ availability

THE possible conduct of recall elections in Samar province would depend on the availability of funds of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), an official said.

Comelec Assistant Regional Director Felicisimo Embalsado said their office may have the money but not just be enough to cover the expenses needed for the recall elections.

Slain mayor’s daughter cries foul over vice guv’s ‘many’ escorts

THE eldest daughter of slain former Calbayog City mayor Reynaldo Uy, Jessica Uy-Delgado, cried foul over what she claimed excessive number of security escorts of Samar Vice Governor Stephen James Tan.

21 farmers graduate from vegetable, fruit production training

THE Provincial Agriculture Office conducted the first farmers’ graduation on the Season-long Technological Transport Training on High Value Vegetable and Fruit Crop Production in Barangay Tingib, Pastrana, Leyte last August 15.

Rogelio Portula, provincial agriculturist, said that for the first batch of the said 12-week training, 21 farmers have graduated.

Human rights commission archives mayor’s murder case

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Eastern Visayas archived the murder case involving the death of former Calbayog Mayor Reynaldo Uy due to lack of witnesses.

Health official: Health should not be used as political commodity

Health Regional Director Edgardo Gonzaga said, during the opening of the PhilHealth Link and the communication center last August 16, that health should not be used by politicians as a political commodity.

Gonzaga stressed that if health would be dragged with politics the populace would suffer.

Historical commission funds Guiuan church’s roof repair

THE National Historical Commission (NHC) provided a funding for the repair of the roof of the historic Guiuan Church, according to Mayor Annaliz Gonzalez-Kwan.

The NHC allocated around P250,000 for the repair of the church roof, and that the municipal government was chosen as the project implementer, according to Kwan.

Rebel group to continue attacks vs military

TACLOBAN CITY- The New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar will continue their onslaught against members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), a rebel spokesperson said.

Leyte conducts info drive on offshore mining ban

DULAG, Leyte — The Provincial Government of Leyte will conduct a massive information drive on a resolution banning offshore mining to guide local government units (LGUs) in dealing with applications for mining explorations and operations in their respective areas.

The provincial board passed the resolution on July 5, to ban mining within the territorial jurisdiction of the province.

2 fishermen rescued in Siargao

PALO, Leyte - After their 12-days ordeal in the seas, two fishermen from Eastern Samar were rescued August 12 in Siargao, Surigao del Norte by a local fisherman.

Harry Palahan, a resident of Barangay San Luna, Siargao, rescued the two fishermen identified as Nathaniel Roncales, 39, and Michael Diolalo, 30, both from Barangay Hilabaan, Dolores town in Samar.

Church to continue opposition vs RH bill passage

TANAUAN, Leyte - A Catholic bishop maintained the church will continue to fight to against the passage of the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill now pending in Congress.

Bishop Emeritus of Novaliches, Teodoro Bacani, maintained that anti-abortion is against the principle of the church.

Rebels group seeks release of comrades, government seriousness

THE National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas (NDF-EV) sought the release of some of their members, presently detained in various detention cells all over the country.

The NDF sought for the release of NDF peace consultant for Eastern Visayas Eduardo Sarmiento and other NDF peace consultants.

Guv: Insurgency-free province to increase investments

LEYTE Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla is certain that if the province of Leyte will be declared as insurgency-free “again”, it would provide a positive push in the province’s efforts to becoming a business and investment destination.

Proposed anti-plastic ordinance passed to City Council

A COPY of an ordinance prohibiting the use and disposal of plastic bags, plastic bottles, styrofoam in all commercial establishments, markets and households, was submitted to the members of the Tacloban City Council.

Business group moves to rehabilitate Maqueda Bay

CATBALOGAN CITY - The Samar Chamber of Commerce and Industry has moved to rehabilitate the Maqueda Bay in this city after noting sales decline due to weakening purchasing power of many city residents who mainly depend on marine resources for livelihood.

Chamber president Dominador Cabangangan said businesses based in the city have seen a 20 to 30 percent decline of sales as a result of dwindling fish catch in the coastal waters of Catbalogan.

Guv advises barangays, town officials to gird for budget cut

LEYTE Governor Jericho Petilla cautioned barangay and municipal officials during his recent visit to the countryside to brace for the reduction of their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) share for 2012.

His advice is for officials to spend wisely their respective IRA share, as it will be slashed by about five percent next year as in 2009. The Bureau of Internal Revenue reflected a lower tax generation, which is the baseline year for the 2012 local government unit (LGU) funding.

Mayor bids City Council to tackle revenue code

TACLOBAN City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has called on the members of the City Council to tackle the revenue code of the city, which he said has no longer suits the present time.

Mayor seeks help for town

SAN Sebastian town Mayor Arnold Abalos is asking for some assistance for his poor town, citing little available resources and with a very high poverty incidence.

Guv, general urge leaders to stop politicking

SAMAR Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Major General Mario Chan, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, have both called other leaders in the province to stop politicking, set aside their personal interest and start to focus on the interest of the Samarnons who need their services.

Both the governor and the military official appealed during the 14th founding anniversary of Samar Thursday.

1st batch ‘Makamasang Tugon’ orientation ends

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Eastern Visayas recently concluded the orientation-training for the first batch of municipal teams that will implement the “Makamasang Tugon” in the region.

According to DSWD Assistant Regional Director Jaime Eclavea, the orientation-training highlighted building communities of good practice on community-driven development for local governance.

Samar guv wages battle vs opponents

CATBALOGAN CITY - Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said that she and her younger brother, Vice Governor Stephen James Tan, would wage a legal battle, as their joint motion for reconsideration relative to the recall petitions filed against them were dismissed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Civil Service Commission announces examination passers

THE regional office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has reported 468 examinees have successfully passed the Career Service Examination Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) for professional level, and 33 for the sub-professional level.

In a statement released by CSC-Eastern Visayas, it said that 468 out of the 4,732 examinees passed the CSE-PPT professional level, while 33 examinees out of 453 passed on the sub-professional level.

Confirmed HIV cases in Eastern Visayas rising

AS OF August this year, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) of the Department of Health (DOH) recorded eight confirmed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in Eastern Visays, doubled from the last year’s reported number.

“We know that the Philippines is one of the seven countries among the 61 countries that was reported having more than 25 percent increase of HIV cases,” Boyd Cerro, regional sentinel nurse, said.

Agriculture department lauds local research and development networks

THIS year’s gathering of agricultural researchers and development workers from the different government agencies, state universities and colleges, local government units (LGUs) and farmer-leaders in Eastern Visayas at the Biliran Garden Resort in Naval, Biliran, was a resounding success.

The 23rd Regional Research, Development and Extension (RDE) Symposium’s keynote speaker, Antonio G. Gerundio, Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Eastern Visayas, commended the two local Research and Development Networks -- the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Project (Vicarp) and the Regional Research, Development and Extension Network (RRDEN) -- for spearheading the said annual gathering of researchers and development workers.

DOST, Teco to launch e-learning center in Baybay City

AN electronic learning center, backed by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco) and Leyte Provincial Government, will be opened in Baybay City, Leyte on Friday.

This is to raise the quality of information and communications technology (ICT) education in the province.

Health department: Dengue fever cases in Eastern Visayas declining

PALO, Leyte - The Department of Health (DOH)-Eastern Visayas reported dengue cases in the region has significantly decreased, saying that for the past seven months now, only 400 cases were recorded compared to last year’s 6,771 of the same period.

The decline of dengue fever cases in the region could be attributed to the cooperation of the public on the DOH’s campaign against the mosquito-causing disease, Dr. Minerva Molon, health assistant regional director, said.

Army soon to declare Leyte as insurgent-free province

MAJOR General Mario Chan, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, announced that the Philippine Army in the region will soon declare the province of Leyte as insurgent-free.

“By the end of this year, we are hoping that we can declare the province of Leyte as an insurgent-free province,” Chan said.

Newly-crafted plan targets investments, jobs

A NEWLY-CRAFTED development plan for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Leyte targets to generate P49 million investments, create jobs and assist nearly 5,000 entrepreneurs until 2016.

Comelec dismisses Samar guv’s appeal

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and her brother, Vice Governor Stephen James Tan, against a petition for recall elections.

The Comelec en banc said that the recall petition filed against them has complied all the necessary requirements as set under the Local Government Code.

Leyte to create economic development team

THE Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government recently met to jumpstart the creation of the Provincial Economic Transformation Team.

Economic Transformation Team is organized specifically to assist local government units (LGUs) in crafting local economic development plans using local resources. It will also help provide LGUs a better platform to improve entrepreneurial opportunities.