Maasin City joins ASEAN smoke-free Workshop By Rebecca Cadavos Being one of the Red Orchid awardees and a Hall of Famer in the successful implementation of An- ti-Smoking policies, Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco participat- ed in the two-day Smoke-free Cities ASEAN Workshop at Balanga City, Bataan starting August 27. He said in a phone interview over (to page 2) August 16-31, 2014 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. II, No. 4 BELOW OR ABOVE 5 HECTARES LGUs authorized to issue SAG permits Committee on Environment in Congress clarifies approving authority, says Cong. Mian By Bong Pedalino Permits for sand and gravel extraction, irrespective of size - either five hectares or above - will have to be approved by the provincial government before any other agency can issue succeeding permits. This was reported by Cong. Da- tiative of the lone Southern Leyteno mian Mercado Friday in a block-time solon in an effort to settle linger- program over dydm, “Action, Solusy- ing questions on who can grant ex- on, Inisyatibo sa Congreso.” traction permits, especially those Quoting the gist of a House Envi- concessionaires beyond five hectares. ronment Committee hearing in aid of Mercado also quoted Cagayan De legislation, which conducted a mara- Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez, thon session on the matter Wednes- a member of the House Environment day last week, Mercado said the clar- Committee, as saying that in their ification was also based in a Supreme province the provincial government Court ruling on a similar issue, in ad- was empowered as the issuing body dition to various rules, laws, and regu- for such kind of permits. THE SUBANG DAKU RIVER lations cited by the committee. Earlier, shortly after an early The hearing was held on the ini- morning tree-planting activity at barangay Cambooc here, Gov. Rog- er Mercado told TSS the same up- Business Club to help struggling entrepreneurs date as the main substance of the By Bong Pedalino congressional hearing that he also A group of individuals whose attended. rags-to-riches success stories can The elder Mercado, who was inspire those wanting to follow in celebrating his 63rd birthday Fri- their footsteps banded together to day, reiterated the authority of the do just that, to serve as willing life province to issue extraction per- coaches for those with passion to go mits, whether big and small, in an into business the entrepreneur way. interview with Nestor Abrematia, a The Southern Business Tacloban-based journalist, on the Club, Inc. (SLBCI), based in Sogod sidelines of his birthday party at the town, partnered with the Department Capitol Tree Park. of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial Meanwhile, some 1,870 seedlings office, to conduct the first Southern The Board of Directors of the Business Club of Acasia Mangium trees have been Leyte SME Entrepreneur Summit planted by about three hundred em- scheduled on September 7 at Mali- mand for chickens by going into a city, in Sogod, and in – and still ployees who joined the tree-plant- payon Shores Resort, barangay Ju- food business called Sir Organco, a counting. bas, . venture that boosts selling organical- To sustain the supply, SLBCI went ing, a regular activity every natal Senator Bam Aquino is the guest ly-grown poultry products for as long into chicken dispersal projects with day of the Gov. Mercado, even long speaker of the event, according to the as the supply is available, in at least families in Libagon and nearby areas before when he was still the prov- organizers. fifteen (15) franchised outlets in the (to page 2) ince’s lone district lawmaker. Tito Calooy, SLBCI President, said in a recent Action Center Kapihan sa PIA cable TV program, that their orga- nization was born three years ago, in August, 2011, out of the need to meet the challenge of investing here in the province using whatever resources available, with limited finances. The SLBCI was different from the Southern Leyte Chamber of Com- merce and Industry, because the later was more composed of established businessmen, while the former was more centered on start-ups or the small and micro entrepreneurs, Calo- oy explained. As a group, SLBCI created a de- Vol. II, No.4 Maasin City joins... (from page 1) of anti-smoking policies,” Mayor Samaco revealed this morning. radio station DyDM that representatives ESTORYAHI! “I have learned not only on the smoke- from the Southeast Asian countries such free policies implementation of Balanga Willie Justimbaste as Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Lao City, but as well as tourism development PDR, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and of the place where a Private-Public Part- the as the host country also at- nership is adopted for its development,” LET IT GO! tended the undertaking. the City Mayor added. The smoke-free workshop which carries There’s so much happening, both tragic and comic, here It was learned that the anti-smoking the theme, “Shaping the Future of Smoke- workshop is focused on benchmarking of in the country and abroad that makes us wonder if Armageddon Free in the Association of Southeast Asian Smoke-free policies, strengthening of en- or the Second Coming is at hand. The Middle East is racked with Nations (ASEAN)” is led by the Southeast forcement and developing and putting in wars and rebellions reminiscent of biblical lines just like some Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). place effective tobacco control policies. “As part of welcoming the participants parts of Europe threatened with internecine border conflicts and It was learned further that this is the sec- to the two-day workshop, we were toured invasions. Coalitions and alliances between good and evil depend- ond Smoke-Free Cities ASEAN Workshop by the Balanga City officials in their differ- ing which side you’re on resurface. Even the Supreme Pontiff hints held by the SEATCA, a multi-sectoral alli- ent smoke-free places that gained the local ance to provide technical assistance to the of a Third World War, a very grim and painful reminder of what government a Red Orchid award and a hall government officials across the region. may have started as Lucifer’s pride scorned in heaven. So, the great of famer for the successful implementation tug of war never ceased since then, only magnified in casualties and mortalities of even the young and innocent victims of naked greed and unbridled ambitions. History never runs out of their purveyors and the inevitable road to doom and perdition. Mans’ greatest enemy is pride that leads to megalomania and messianic complex. Alexander the Great, Julius Ceasar, Na- poleon and Hitler, among others, are indelible lessons of past hu- man folly. Let this not happen here. No one has the monopoly of leadership and to stretch it beyond the limit of tolerable endurance is dangerous if not anomalous. Continuity is a legacy that should be passed on and not used as an instrument for perpetuity. Every Alpha must have its Omega, a beginning and end. So, let it go! We sincerely hope Pnoy’s better judgment is on the right side of history and would prevail over those personal interests in 4Ps: About 1, 086 highschool students from Maasin City will have their 4P's educational his inner circle. Remember what the late Don Chino Roces unso- grant increase from P300.00 up to P500.00 per child every month under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P's) . Maasin City Link Zara Jane M.Edjoc said, As the licitedly advised then President Cory to look beyond her corridor Aquino Administration extended 4P's age coverage to 0-18 years old but elementary pu- of power and inner sanctum for other Filipinos who have the zeal pils- beneficiaries remains to get P300.00. Presently among 2,556 families from Maasin and capacity to serve the people with honesty and integrity. There City will have the chance to receive the maximum of P4,000 in the next cash payment. are still those outside the inner recesses of that snakepit called Malacañang who are yet undiscovered and unheralded. And it’s part and parcel of leadership to search diligently and intelligently for their successors for continuity. It would be the height of fool- hardiness and absurdity to imagine or think only a few or a per- sonality can singularly lead the Filipinos to greatness. Dili na ni “gilas but hilas” Pilipinas! Current controversies many of which are politics-relat- ed are not surprising, considering that the 2016 elections are just around the corner. To those who are hopefuls but have dirty lin- ens, it’s time to clean and clear skeletons in the closet. Political mo- tivation is necessarily imbedded in every corruption accusation directed to big politicians expected to run. But they have to pres- ent counter proof or evidence and not just shroud it in a cloak of political machination by enemies. The tentacles of politics and the pot are creeping and boiling. These are what make Pinoy politics exciting!

Business Club... (from page 1) called “Hapi Nay, Hapi Tay”. “We can put Southern Leyte in the business map as our province is a very strategic place for travelling goods to or ”, said Rey Calooy, Tito’s brother, who is a member of the Board of Directors of SLBCI. The elder Calooy offered this advice to would-be entrepreneurs who lacked capital: the money will come later through an Angel Investor who will be sold out with the passion and the efforts you put in your VIEWFINDER: enterprise. A twin Tagnipa Barangay Council resolution and NGO Senior Citizens Feder- Other SLBCI Board of Directors who also shared inputs during the ation resolution are petitioning the Maasin City Government thru Mayor Maloney L. Kapihan were Crisandee Laroa, Gavino Dejito, Lito Amaris, Erman Se- Samaco to declare the nearby open space vacated by a carwash business a no- parking libio, and the Manager of Padre Burgos Rural Bank Victor Pangilinan. area. Both entities have found the space hidden by parked big buses a haven for urina- Padre Burgos Rural Bank and SLBCI is in the process of forging an tors smokers and suspicious characters creating environmental, sanitation and public agreement, in which the former will be the one to finance the dispersal safety problems especially for senior citizen clients. (Contributed) projects of the latter to qualified takers. Page 2 August 16-31, 2014 Vol. II, No.4 AT THE CAPITOL TREE PARK... 63rd Birthday Celebration: August 29, 2014 Gov. Roger Gaviola Mercado

PRE-BIRTHDAY ACTIVITES (photos below); TREE PLANTING at Barangay Cambooc, Maasin City.

August 16-31, 2014 Page 3 Vol. II, No.4

PRC REGIONAL DIRECTOR, BELIB SA MCC

Maasin City College - Dako ug pasalamat ni Mayor Maloney Samaco sa pagtambay ni PRC Regional Director Hermano Policarpio Palabyab sa gipa- higayon nga seremonyas sa mga social works professionals nga gipahigayon sa MCC Social Hall. Nasayran nga ang Maasin City College nagmalamposon DOUBLE ENGINE NGA PATROL BOAT NAGAMIT NA sa pagpapasar sa 24 ka mga social works sa gipahigayon nga examination sa milabay nga buwan. Bontoc, So. Leyte - Dako ang kalipay nga gibati sa mga lungsora- Atol sa seremonyas nga diin nanumpa ang mga bag-ong professionals non ilabina ang mga kalungsuran nga nahisakop sa SBSMMA, sa ilang responsibelidad, gihatag dayon s director ang ila nga mga PRC License. Sustainable Marine Management Alliance. Ang mga naglangkob niini nga Sa iyang mensahi atubangan sa mga ginikanan, bisita ug pipila ka sakop sa As- mga LGUs mao ang , , San Francisco, Liloan, Liba- sociated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL) gibutyag niya nga belib na belib siya gon, Sogod, Bontoc, , Malitbog, Macrohon ug . sa pagdumala sa MCC kay nakaprodyus kini ug 24 ka mga Social Works Pro- Hinungdan sa ilang kamalipayon mao ang pag-angkon ug tulo ka fessionals bisan pa nga bag-o palang kini sa natad sa edukasyon. Midugang pa patrol boats nga nagtangag ug duha ka 16hp nga Makina, nga hinimo sa siya nga gilupig sa MCC ang Tacloban City College, gumikan kay dyotay ra ang Honda Philippines. ang sukod niini moabot ug 40 ft. ang gitas-on, nga ang ningpasar sa BSSW nga kurso. Nadugangan ang kalipay sa mga nitambong sa kasko usab, gikan sa primera klase nga fiber glass. dihang miingon si Director Palabyab nga sa dili madugay ang Professional Regu- Sa nakuha nga pamahayag gikan ni SBSMMA Pres. Mayor Ricardo lation Commission, mopahigayun na ug examination sa Maasin City sa mga pinili Borces sa Padre Burgos, siya nagkanayon nga dugay na kaayong panahon nga mga kurso, kay aron dili na mogasto ug dako ang mga kabataan. nga nangindahay ang ilang Association ug Patrol boat para mapanalipdan Sa habig usab ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado, nga wala niadtong tungora, ang ilang kadagatan batok sa mga illegal og dagkong pangisdaan pero apan mi-proxy kaniya, si ABC Pres. Nikko Mercado ug Board Member Almario, wala silay kadaghanun sa kwarta nga magamit. ang duha miingon nga garbo kaayo sa Maasin City College sa pagdumala ni Ug miabot karong panahona nga si Gobernador Roger G. Mercado Mayor Samaco nga adunay mga batan-ong mga professionals, pinaagi sa barato ang nagdumala sa lalawigan, nahimong tinuod ang ilang damgo. Sa pa- of dekalidad nga edukasyon. kisusi niining nagsulat, nasayran nga migahin og usa ka milyon ka pesos, ang administrasyon ni Gob. Oging para mahimo ang mga patrol boats. Mga Pangalan sa Nakapasar sa BSSW: Sa laing bahin gibutyag ni Mayor Shirley Chiong Sa Liloan og Trea- 1. Arot, Ricky Canico surer sa Grupo nga ang maong sakyanang pangdagat mobalor ug mga 2. Arot, Rolly Canico }kaluha 800 thousand, apil na ang 3 ka megaphone, 3 ka global positioning system 3. Bragas, Carisa Gerong device o GPS, 36 ka salva vida kon Life Vest, 3 ka Search Light nga dag- 4. Cagorol, Ginalyn Sandoval ko, mga uniform sa mga bantay dagat, ug ginalon nga gasolina. 5. Dayola, Ceasmar Malig-on Matud pa ni Ms. Eva Abad sa PENRMO, nga kining patrol boat 6. Debajo, Dinah moposisyon sa kadagatan sa , Tomas Oppus ug sa Lima- 7. Deodora, Anabelle Serdan sawa. 8. Eralino, Iarah Palco Ang mepresentar sa katongod ni Gobernor Roger G. Mercado mao 9. Gaviola, Jonalyn Morilla si Benito Gaviola, private Secretary sa gobernador. Didto usab sila Board 10. Gonzales, Ervie Ramos Members, Tata Estrera, Allan Aroy ug Daisy Gamale. Si Board Member 11. Laran, Daliana Siega Bebe Almario nga maoy OIC Governor niadtong tungora, wala makatam- 12. Limas, Leah Cipres bong kay adunay laing ground breaking sa multi-million project sa lungsod 13. Luperte, Eduardo, Jr. Abiñon sa Silago. 14. Macul, Joana Espina 15. Metra, Jeamilyn Paña 16. Marquez, Monalisa Ochavillo 74.098 MILYON PROJECT GILUNSAD SA SILAGO 17. Maturan, Jhade Doron 18. Opias, Estrella Escoro Silago, So. Leyte - Sunod-sunod nga deboynas ang nahimam- 19. Omaga, Cherry Macoto at karon sa administrasyon ni Govbernador Roger G. Mercado, ninning 20. Paler, Catherine Basco pag-entra sa ikaduha ka tuig niyang pagdumala sa atong lalawigan. 21. Rebaldo, Junessa Bestudio Sa milabay nga semana gilusad didto sa Silago ang multi-milyong 22. Rojas, Cristine Orag pesong proyekto nga gipangunahan sa kadagkoan nga mga opisyales sa 23. Vallejos, Lyndie Deligero Department of Agrarian Reform, National Irrigation Association, provincial 24. Vallejos, Mylene Mapalo government ug ang LGU sa lungsod sa Silago. Ang naasoy nga proyekto sa patubig nga moabot ug 74,098,486.00 gikalipay pag.ayo sa katawhan Congratulations kaninyong mga kabataan ug sa mga ginikanan nga sa mao nga LGU nga gidumala ni last termer Mayor Manuel A. Labrador, nagsakripisyo aron makahuman kamo, matud ni Gobernador Roger G. Mercado. Sr. Nasayran sa opisina ni Gobernador Roger G. Mercado nga ang katun- ga sa naasoy nga proyekto naggagikan sa National Government, pinaagi ni Pangulong Aquino og ang implementing agency mao ang DAR. Samtang ang katonga usab magagikan sa panudlanan sa LGU sa maong lugar. "Counterparting ang trend sa pang-goberno nato karon", nagkanay- on si Atty. ug Board Member Almario, OIC governor niadtong gihayona. Naglangkob kini sa potable water system, farm to market road with bridge, JNR katipunan to Catmon, Katipunan to Mahayahay Road. Gilauman nga kining proyektoha magahatag ug dugang ekonome- kanhong paglambo sa katawhan, pinaagi sa harohay nga mga kalsada padulong sa mga kaumahan, paghatag og maayo ug lunsay nga tubig mainom, ug dugang ani sa kahumayan pinaagi sa mga iregasyon nga ipa- haluna sa tulo ka mga barangay. Sa data nga nakuha sa Agrarian, ang barangay Katipunan sa Si- lago, nakatala isip 5th class. Adunay total land area nga 960 (HAS) ug ang agricultural land area moabot ug 672 ka ektarya, adunay population nga 623, 302 ang mga laki og 321 babaye. Adunay 120 ka mga balay og kasagaran taglima ang namuyo kada panimalay.

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