DOE to LGUs: Train Technicians By Rebecca Cadavos The Department of Energy (DOE) in their recent visit here in the prov- ince urged the local government units through the city/municipal treasur- ers to train technicians who will be responsible in calibrating gas dispens- ing pumps and LPG cylinders. In a coordination meeting held by August 16-31 2015 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. III, No. 4 the DOE officials with the coordinat- ing members such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of

Bigger Cruise ship to visit (to page 2) By Bong Pedalino DILG to award Seal of Inspired by the positive feedback Good LocalGovernance of the first cruise ship that docked in to Limasawa Limasawa in February this year, an- By Rebecca G. Cadavos other one will be coming, this time a bigger one, and it will be in mid- The Department of the Interior March next year. and Local Government (DILG) is This was announced by Nedgar set to award the island municipal- Garvez, Provincial Tourism Officer, ity of Limasawa with the Seal of during the Action Center cable TV Good Local Governance (SGLG) in program Tuesday. a conferment ceremony scheduled The upcoming tour will have an- other set of passengers, mostly mon- next month at the town’s gym. eyed, retired foreigners, males and Local government operations of- females, who enjoy travelling by ship ficer V Loren Abrau-Aniciete reported to select tourism sites in many parts that DILG regional director Pedro A. of the world. AT DPWH -SLEDO Noval, Jr. will confer the SGLG Medal On February 23, a cruise ship with P1.4B for 2016 23 personnel to Mayor Melchor P. Petracorta and around 100 passengers landed in Li- By Rebecca Cadavos unveil the SGLG Marker before mu- masawa island, virtually recreating a hooked on drugs nicipal officials, employees and ba- scene nearly 500 years ago when the Preparations on the detailed engi- By Rebecca Cadavos natives first made contacts with trav- neering design is now on-going for the rangay officials. An office-wide surprise random elling Europeans led by Ferdinand Php1.45 billion worth of infrastructure She said that Limasawa is the drug test was conducted to all bud- Magellan, a Portuguese navigator un- projects in Southern next year. getary and Job Order field and office lone SGLG awardee for Southern der the services of Spain. The Department of Public Works and personnel of the Department of Public Leyte and one of only 5 municipalities But while Magellan and his men Highways- Engineering Works and Highways-Southern Leyte in Region 8 that have garnered the were looking for famed islands in the District (DPWH-SLED) office has start- Engineering Office (DPWH-SLEO), award. orient that were rich in spices -- and ed the activity and will be completed on Monday August 24. The SGLG Award entitles Limasa- introduced a new faith in the process November in time for the kick-off bidding DPWH-SLEO District Engineer Mar- -- the visiting foreigners on February process for the 2016 projects. wa with 3 million pesos Performance garita Junia said that the activity was 23 simply relished every moment of DPWH-SLED Chief of Planning Sec- Challenge Fund (PCF) as incentive. planned and organized in coordination their fleeting stay in the island. tion Engr. Vincent Sy III said that the de- Aniciete further reported that the with the National Bureau of Investigation Garvez recalled that the guests sign takes into account the defects of in- Seal of Good Local Governance is a (NBI) and administered by a Department broke agreed guidelines for their inter- frastructure, traffic volume and results of of Health (DOH)-accredited laboratory. performance-based incentive for lo- action with the townfolks of Limasa- the 2014 road and bridges inventory. “The purpose of the random drug cal governments that promote good wa, preferring instead a free-wheeling He added that the engineering de- testing is to cleanse the organization,” Ju- financial housekeeping, disaster pre- mingle, such as eating the prepared partment is looking at various consider- nia said. She believes that healthy-bod- paredness, social protection, busi- meals by hand, strolling around free- ations in coming up with designs that will ied and healthy-minded personnel can ness-friendliness and competitive- ly, dancing the beat of the Sinugdan be the blueprint in the implementation of satisfactorily perform their duties and tune, and stayed longer than the al- identified projects. ness, environmental management, responsibilities which forms an integral and peace and order. lowed time. Detailed engineering activities cov- (to page 2) (to page 3) (to page 3) MILESTONES

MOVING ON: From left, new Provincial PNP Director P/Sr.Supt. Nicerio Obaob during a courtesy call to Gov. Roger Mercado; Jessica Escano-Pano signs his oath as new Provincial Board Member to serve the unexpired term of the late Felicula Escano; New Mayor Pacita Almine, formerly Vice-Mayor, serving the unexpired term of the late Mayor Manuel Labrador. Vol. III, No.4 TEXTBLAST NEWS ESTORYAHI! Willie Justimbaste DTI gives Timbangan

The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) distributed 36 units of Timbangan ng Bayan weighing scales with com- Laws of God and Men plete housing to the 18 municipalities and the city of . These Timbangans will be placed in the identified public markets easily seen While the other block like VP Jojo Binay and Sen. Art Trillanes and accessible for consumers’ use and benefits. Consumers can now have voiced their intentions to run for higher positions in 2016, the check if the goods they bought have exact and correct weights. (esg) Bisaya block like Sec. Mar Roxas of Iloilo, Sen. Grace Poe of Ne- gros, Davao Mayor Rudy Duterte of Laboon, Maasin City and Sen. Social Work passers Bongbong Marcos of Tolosa,Leyte have been mum, coy or enigmat- ic about confirming or denying. This is what maybe makes Visay- Nineteen (19) out of 24 BS in Social Work graduates from Maasin an politicians surer, more calculating and careful about their moves City College (MCC) passed the recent Social Work Licensure Board especially finances. “Para di dak-an sa gasto ug sajo modeklarar”. Exam last July 29-30, 2015, a 79.1% passing rate. City Mayor Maloney Except for Duterte whose campaign ads splurge is very obvious and Samaco presented the new registered Social Workers during the 15th expensive and his sorties clearly in the guise of federalism advoca- Charter Day anniversary program. MCC is subsidized by the city gov- cy, the others are not saying just showing interest. We hope it’s not ernment for its commitment to poverty reduction. (esg) the “helehele bago quiere” Pinoy way of secretly coveting some- thing. Irrigation projects The enigmatic Duterte emphatically stresses on a nation-wide television interview that he is not running unless there is no other Provincial Agricultural Services Office Engineering In-Charge Engr. viable alternative. For which he will be morally bound to run. Scan- Feliciano Malaki said two irrigation facilities construction located in ba- ning the political horizon however with a touch of history, there will rangay Cantutang, Padre Burgos, and San Jose, Malitbog, were all be no dearth or lack of contenders. Right now, a multi-cornered fight completed. These were funded from the provincial coffers, he said. for No. 1 and No.2 looms. There might even be a local version of Another irrigation facility in the amount of P 1 million in barangays Donald Trump who does not have to pretend he could be the richest Cogon and Biasong, , is already approved by Gov. Roger US president. No use posing as poor man from Lubao or Makati, just Mercado. (esg) be honest when others are not! There’s nothing to wonder at the Opposition criticizing the Admin- Surgical Mission istration, whether national or local, as long as the “attacks” are cred- ible and not just politically convenient, being on the other side as of The Department of Health (DOH) and the provincial government of the moment. Timing is also quite relevant for logical reason. For how Southern Leyte announce the conduct of Surgical Mission on October can one be a vital cog in any government machinery, enjoying the 19-23, 2015, at the Provincial Hospital in Dongon, Maasin perks and privileges of officialdom for almost half a decade, hearing City. Doctors from Manila will conduct the operations on thyroidectomy, none but praise and also earning “pogi” points for oneself suddenly cataract, cleft palate and lip, hermiography, pterigium, hydroccoelecto- backtrack for partisan motivation or worse money consideration. But my, myoma, and renal stones. (rgc) again, this is how it works in an environment of free choices. The problem is almost always credibility and proximity to facts contrary Disaster training for barangays to allegations. Plus the personality of the source whose fame and notoriety may precede him. Like, how can one preach against graft Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to con- and corruption if he himself has still to untangle himself from a web duct barangay disaster risk reduction management trainings to edu- of charges or from investigations he should answer and extricate cate barangay people on their local risks, hazards, and to identify local himself or his family and cohorts. capacities. PDRRMO Danilo Atienza said barangay folks are the first ***** responders in their communities in times of disasters. Gov. Mercado Same sex marriage advocates have declared victory and its ex- approved the conduct of such training to 500 barangays all over the ponents the world over proclaimed a Round One TKO after the US province. (esg) Supreme Court decided so. But again, this is USA not the Christian especially Catholic universe. Whether this will succeed in the Philip- Midwives assembly pines and other known bastions of the faith is a 64-dollar question. What we are trying to avert is another contentious issue between Around 90 midwives throughout Southern Leyte participated the State and Church, not with the coming partisan election that is al- Maternal and Neonatal Child Health and Nutrition Assembly held in ready very divisive. Who was it who said “We can change the laws Maasin City August 26, 2015. The activity aimed at giving updates on of Men anytime anywhere but not the laws of God ever!” the MNCHN program of DOH and foster strong camaraderie among ***** themselves, PHO I Dr. Noel Lumen informed. The event was held in We think there’s nothing definitive about rumored political alli- coordination with the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philip- ances in Maasin City and Southern Leyte. The incumbents being pines (rgc) seasoned politicians as they are don’t telegraph their punches. It’s still a long way to go and speculating or guessing is just a daydream- BUB road projects er’s preoccupation. To recall, veteran political leaders and perennial winners in the political contest swear they would never give on a DILG-Southern Leyte reported more local access road projects are silver platter their turfs to election perennial losers. They owe this to newly-completed under the Bottoms Up Budgeting (BUB) program in their loyal constituents. People first, with or without political party! barangay Matin-ao, Maasin City, in the amount of P 1.2 million and , Tomas Oppos, amounting to P 1.8 million. The same proj- ect in Sta. Cruz, Saint Bernard appropriated with P 1.65 million funds (from page 1 is 80% complete now. Citizens are given the chance to propose pro- Bigger Cruise ship... grams in the BUB process. (esg) The Department of Tourism (DOT) was the agency arranging with cruise ship travels in their destinations anywhere in the , in coordination with the concerned local government units of towns and provinces where the Star rating tourists are expected to land.

Next year’s schedule, March 12, barring unforeseen obstacles, is timed on DPWH Secretary Rogeio Singson has conferred a one star rating the month in which Magellan’s fleet celebrated Mass in the shore of Limasawa, certification for the District Materials Testing Laboratory of Southern the day being an Easter Sunday, on March 31, 1521, and accounts in history Leyte Engineering District (SLED). The said laboratory is the second books said it was the First Mass ever celebrated on land in the Philippines. facility in the region that got the star rating from the DPWH Central Office. The first was the 2nd Leyte Engineering District, the field office Garvez said it was just fine that the second cruise ship visit was set weeks headed by District Engineer Margarita Junia before she came to SLED. earlier than the First Mass anniversary so as not to disturb the religious signif- (esg) icance of the event. Page 2 August 16-31, 2015 Vol. III, No.4 Southern Leyte joins Nationwide Broadcastreeing Tree-planting August 21, 2015 The event doubles as the 64th birthday celebration of Governor Roger Mercado.

23 personnel... (from page 1) part of achieving the department mandates, she added. The activity was conducted right after the flag raising ceremony. The employees were directed to proceed to the function hall where the drug testing took place. More than 300 personnel went through the drug test, the source said. Earlier, the lady district engineer pushed for a mandatory drug testing after agents of the Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDEA) caught a DPWH-SLED regular employee for illegal drugs trade last March this year. The suspect alleged that drugs he traded were intended for government engineers. “The suspect’s claim is alarming because it brought shame to the whole orga- nization,” Junia said. The surprise drug test found out to have 23 DPWH employees positive of drugs. Though, a confirmatory test is still sought and what action to take with the said em- ployees who were found positive. Junia revealed. The mandatory drug test is part of DPWH-SLED’s drive to increase awareness on the harmful effects and dangers of drug use/abuse in workplaces P1.4B for 2016... (from page 1) ered the setting of design standards, conduct of field surveys and investigations, preparation of design plans and design report, preparation of contract plans and the determination of contract packages. Technical specifications, quantity estimates, cost estimates and the approved bud- get for the contract are also included in the preparation, Sy added. Under the proposed 2016 Infrastructure projects based on the National Expen- diture Program, the district office is tasked to implement Php1.45 billion of projects, it was learned. The said projects include Php160.6 million rehabilitation, upgrading and construc- tion of national highways; Php209.21 million improvements and widening of national roads, construction of missing gaps, off-carriageway improvement; and the P596.97 million for the construction and maintenance of bridges along national highways. Also listed are P27.19 million for the construction and maintenance of flood miti- gation structures and drainage systems, P320 million for improvement of access road leading to tourist destinations and another P90 million for the construction and repair of various infra including local projects. August 16-31, 2015 Page 3 Vol. III, No.4

By: DANIEL C. MATURAN NATIONAL GRID CORPORATION NAGPATABANG MGA PROGRAMA NI MAYOR MALONEY SAMACO – SA SOCIAL MEDIA HUGTANUNG IPATUMAN SA HCI NGCP, Banilad, Cebu City - Niadtong milabay nga mga adlaw ang Na- Ubay – ubay sa mga programa ni Mayor Maloney Samaco kabahin sa maayong tional Grid Corporation of the Phil. NGCP mi-imbitar sa mga mediamen/ panglawas ug pag – amuma sa palibot aron sa pagmentinar sa kahinlo sa kinaiyahan women nga nakabase sa Region 8, aron ilang ipakita ang ilang klasi sa pa- ghatag og mga serbisyo sa mga katawhan sa natad sa sugang dagitab. Ang sa Maasin ang hugtanong tutukan karon sa Healthy Cities initiative (HCI) pinanguluhan maong panagtigum ginahimo didto sa Brgy. Banilad, Cebu City nga diin ni Christopher Plateros, ang team leader sa naasoyng buhatan. Gibutyag ni Plateros atoa nahimutang ang ilang power plant. Gipasabot sa mga opisyal sa NGCP, nga apil sa ilang tutokan mao ang no smoking ordinance sa dakbayan diin gipasabot nga ang ilang negosyo sa mga opisyal sa NGCP, nga ang ilang negosyo mao niini nga sirad – an ug dili na paga – abrihan pa hangtud sa hangtud ang mga tinda- ang pagpahilona sa mga wire nga maoy latayan sa kuryente aron ipadangat hang katulo na nasakpang namaligya ug sigarilyo. Lakip usab nga pagasikopon ug sa mga “power supplier” padulong sa atong mga balay. Dugang pa nila nga ibalhog sa karsil ang si bisan kinsang masakpan nga nanigarilyo sa pangpublikong ang atong kuryente sa pagkakaron moabot sa nagkalain-laing dapit susa- dapit human kini kahatagi ug warning. ma sa Bohol, Cebu province, sa Negros og hangtod pa sa pipila ka lugar sa Gipasabot usab ni Ardin Markines nga apil sa ilang hugtanung ipatuman mao ang Luzon. May higayon usab nga sa panahon nga nipis ang atong reserba sa anti – lettering ordinance, diin pagasikopon ug pahamtangan ug multa ang si bisan kuryente, mokuha sila og supply gikan sa Luzon power supplier sa pagka- kinsa nga masapang maglabay sa ilang sagbot o basura diha sa kadalanan sigun sa karon ang NGCP naghimo og lain nga linya sa kuryente gikan sa nga gilatid sa ordinansa. Tumong niini mao ang pagmintinar sa kahinlo sa atong dakbayan planta padulong sa atong lalawigan isip ikaduhang linya, engkaso og adunay ug aron usab malikay ang tanan nga makahanggap sa hugaw nga hangin gikan sa mga imerhensya nga dili kapugngan. Sobra og otsenta ka mga journalists mga basurang gipataka ug labay nga nagdala ug sakit. Kini ang mga panglantaw ni gikan sa Region 8 ang naminaw sa pagpasabot sa taga NGCP didto sa Mark Hotel, Cebu City. Mikabat ug duha ka adlaw ang naasoy nga kalihukan nga Mayor Maloney Samaco isip amahan sa dakbayan nga nagtan –aw alang sa kaayuhan nag-ulohan “Power Briefing for Local Media (Power 102). sa iyang katawhan.

PDRRMO NAGPAHIGAYON OG DISASTER MGA ILLIGAL VENDORS SA SYUDAD – HIPUSON TRAINING SA MGA BARANGAY Pinaagi sa pagtugot sa buhatan sa planung hipuson sa kasamtangang nagdumala Brgy. Abgao, Maasin City - Climate Change is the no. 1 enemy of the sa market operation ning dakbayan ang mga illigal vendors nga anaa nagpahigayon environment”. Gumikan niining maong mga gumonhap sa atong kalibutan sa pagpamaligya sa bisan asang kanto ning syudad aron sa ingun niana mahiusa ang nga bisan gani ang mga sayantipeko nga nagtuon sa pagohemok sa mga gag- tanang mga baligya didto sa public market ug mamonitor usab ang mga baligyang may’ng orbeto nga naglibot sa kalibutan dili makatombok sa aktwal nga mga isda, gulay ug uban pa kon kini presko o dili na angayan nga ibaligya. Kahibaloan nga panghitabo nga mokalit lang og hasmag sa dili damhon nga oras og adlaw. kasamtangang dunay mokabat sa 13 ka mga stolls ang bakanti karon samtang 41 ka Hinungdan nga ang atong lalawigan sa pagdumala ni Gob. Roger G. Merca- mga lamesa sa isdaan area ang duna nay mga tag – iya. do nagahimo karon og mga depensa aron makonhuran ang dili maayo nga Gibutyag nga ang naasoyng mga illigal vendors magbayad kini sa lamesa sulod sa mga kaswalidad ilabina sa pagkawala sa kinabuhi og mga kabtangan. mercado publiko sa inadlaw nga paagi. Sa milabay nga semana gilunsad usab sa PDRRMO ubos sa pagduma- la ni Bro. Danilo Atienza ang programa aron etraining ang mga barangay EMPLEYADO SA DPWH – SLDEO, GIPAGAWAS NA SA KARSIL opisyal sa disaster preparedness. Mga barangay nga unang naka-angkon sa maong kahibalo, mao ang barangay Hinapu Daku, Hinapu Gamay, Cabadi- Himan sa unom ka bulan nga pagkabilanggo kasamtangang gawasnun na karon angan, San Agustin, Nonok Norte og Pinaskohan. Gihimo ang bansay-ban- ang usa ka suspitsado sa pagpayuhot sa ginadiling druga kinsa usa ka empliyado sa say sa Ampil Function House solud sa tulo ka adlaw. Ang pondo niini aprubado sa Provincial Budget og sa Commission on DPWH – SLDEO. Mahinumduman nga gisikop sa mga ginsakpan sa philippine drug Audit. enforcement agency (pdea) niadtong pebrero 22, 2015 didto sa mahayahay sakop ning dakbayan ang usa ka “osman cadano gamohay” 32 anyos sa dihang aktong nasakpan sa mga personahi sa pdea sa nga matud pa namaligya sa ginadiling druga. Human sa makuting pagtimbang – timbang husgado gipakanaug ni city prosecutor (from page 1) DOE to LGUs... elpedio quejada ang kamanduan sa pagpagawas ni osman cadano gamohay tungod sa Science and Technology, the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National kapakyas sa mga reklamanti sa paghatag ug tubag sa mga pahayag sa mga witness Police; and local government unit representatives, particularly the local trea- batok sa mga reklamanti ingun man sa pagpresenta ug dugang lig – ong mga ebidensya surers, they were encouraged to help and assist their department in monitoring batok sa akosado. local oil industries such as the gasoline stations and LPG retailers. Gibutyag ni district engineer maria margarita junia, iyang ipadayon ang iyang adbo- “Dispensing pumps and LPG cylinders must be properly calibrated and af- kasiya sa usa ka buhatan nga walay mga empliyado nga nag gamit sa ginadiling druga ter calibration it must be sealed to avoid illegal activities,” DOE Engr. Jose Ray piinaagi sa pagpahigayun ug mga surprise drug test. Mahinumduman nga mikabat sa 23 Maleza in his message said during the meeting held at Maasin Country Lodge. ka mga empliyado sa dpwh – sldo ang nakit – ang positibo sa pag gamit sa ginadiling druga sa gipahigayung drug test sa 200 ka mga empliyado sa naasoyng buhatan. DOE’s mandate is to regularly monitor all downstream oil industry players to the compliance of quantity and quality standards petroleum products sold CITY JAIL – GIDUGANGAN UG SILDA in the market, Maleza said, adding that the DOE in region is based in Cebu and with only little manpower, “maybe four years from now will be our Tungod sa hangyo ni Jail Warden Jennifer Joyce Abar nga kadugangan ug silda next visit in this province.” ang city jail gumikan sa kahuot niini tungod sa nagkadaghang mga inmates, gihatagan Illegal activities in LPG-retailing business are scrapped and dilapidated kini ug katumanan ni City Mayor Maloney Samaco diin kasamtangan karong gigamit cylinders, underrefilling, rusty tank, to name some, Maleza said. “An LPG na ang bag – ong selda nga musulod ug 60 ka mga individual. Ang naasoyng dugang tank has a net weight of 11.0 kilograms and gross weight of 23.0 kg., already selda dunay gahin nga mokabat ngadto sa Php300,000 kapin kon kulang nga gisug- refilled. “ dan pagtrabaho niadtong Mayo 29, 2015 ug natapos kini niadtong bulan sa Agosto A gas dispensing pump, meanwhile, needs to be calibrated as often as nec- ning tuiga. Sulod niini sa mao ang 3 ka toilets ug washing area. Lakip usab sa gihatag essary and after calibration it should be sealed immediately by an authorized sa lokal nga kagamhanan sa syudad ngadto sa city jail mao ang 3,000 square meters calibrating entity or authorized technician, Maleza added. nga luna sa yuta nga maoy pagatukuran sa basketball court aron magamit sa mga Calibration shall be performed to correct any deviation from the appropri- inmates alang sa ilang paugnat sa kusug, apil usab niini ang perimeter fence nga ate delivered quantity as measured by a calibrating bucket certified and sealed gisaad sa Mayor. Gilauman sa Warden nga mapagawas na ang pundo niini sa dili pa by the authorized entity. matapus ang tuig 2015.

Page 4 August 16-31, 2015