Leyte-Samar DAILY EXPRESS POSITIVE l FAIR l FREE VOL. XXX NO. 57 SATURDAY, JULY 07 2018 P15.00 IN TACLOBAN Killings of mayors ‘Isolated cases,’ says Leyte mayors’ spokesperson JOEY A. GABIETA TACLOBAN CITY-While they are concerned on the killings involving mayors, Leyte mayors still considers the incidents as ‘isolated.’ This was disclosed by The Barugo mayor, who Barugo town Mayor Ma. is serving on her first term, Rosario Avestruz, spokes- said that their league will person of the League of convene sometime next Municipalities of the Phil- week to formally discuss the ippines-Leyte chapter. matter. Avestruz, in a phone in- Avestruz added that all terview Thursday (July 5), of the 41 town mayors of was reacting on the killings Leyte will continue to have just days apart of Mayor their police security escorts. Antonio Halili of Batangas “We continue to support City, Bataan, and Mayor all the programs of Presi- Ferdinand Bote of General dent Duterte,” she said. Tinio, Nueva Ecija. About 10 mayors of the The incidents, which country have been killed are still under investiga- under the administration of tions by police authorities, President Rodrigo Duterte raised fears among mayors among them was the mayor of the country. of Albuera, Leyte in 2016. “While we are con- Mayor Rolando Espino- cerned on these incidents, sa was gunned down inside WELCOME HOME. Soldiers belonging to the 63rd Infantry Battalion returned to the region Thursday (July we still consider them as his cell at the Leyte sub- isolated case(s). We don’t provincial jail in Baybay 5), close to two years after they were deployed to Mindanao to fight against Abu Sayyaf and Maute terror see them as really targeting City on November 5,2016 groups. Photo shows a soldier lovingly kisses his son. Story on page 2. the mayors,” Avestruz said. see ‘Isolated /page 7 ... (VICENTE LUKBAN Photo) Mayor Uy-Tan delivers 5th Soca, Food gardens seen to combat promises economic development for Catbalogan City Region 8’s malnutrition TACLOBAN CITY -- to high rates of stunting in 2003 to 66.9 percent in CATBALOGAN CITY- Food gardening is seen as and underweight in Eastern 2008,” Dotollo explained. Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan a strategy to combat mal- Visayas. The survey also re- pictured her city as one of nutrition among children In 2017, about 20.8 per- vealed that 28.6 percent of the fastest booming cities in Eastern Visayas, the Na- cent of children in Eastern mothers and caregivers ex- in the region, if not in the tional Nutrition Council Visayas suffered growth perienced food insecurity. country, as she delivered (NNC) said as the country stunting while 9.8 percent Among households, 72.7 her fifth State of the City celebrates Nutrition Month. of them are underweight. see Food /page 7 ... Address (Soca) on Tues- Citing surveys, NNC re- Most of these children are day (July 3). gional program coordinator in poverty-stricken Samar Uy-Tan, in her more Catalino Dotollo said only provinces. than an hour Soca held at 67 percent of households in “Household food secu- the provincial gymnasium, the country have vegetable rity is an essential measure said that Catbalogan City gardens, depriving families of nutritional status and is now attracting investors from consuming nutritious health. Data from the Na- which could spur its eco- foods. tional Nutrition Surveys nomic development and Catbalogan City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan delivers her During the Nutrition show that the percent of provide employment gen- fifth State of the City Address on Tuesday (July 1), enu- Month launching in this city households with daily in- eration for its people. merating the achievements of her administration as she on Tuesday (July 3), Dotollo take below the recommend- In particular, the city also divulged her programs and projects for the city aim- said non-consumption of ed 100 percent dietary en- mayor cited her ambitious ing for its economic development. vegetables due to absence ergy requirement, actually see Mayor Uy /page 6 ... (Photo Courtesy:RONIAN JABON) of food garden contributed increased from 57 percent 2 Leyte Samar Daily Express NEWS Saturday, July 07, 2018 After Mindanao assignment Members of the 63rd IB return home, to fight NPAs in Samar CALBAYOG CITY- IB, four of them officers, anao. After almost two years of arrived home with the re- “We welcome you back deployment in Mindanao, maining of more than 100 home, saluting you in mak- members of the 63rd In- soldiers expected to come ing our country a peaceful fantry Battalion have re- home soon. place to live,” the city mayor turned home as officials The weary but excited said. and their loved ones joy- soldiers were welcomed by He also acknowledged ously waited at them as B/ General Eliezer Losañes, the returning soldiers of they disembarked in a deputy commanding officer their contribution in the Philippine Air Force plane of the 8th Infantry Division, stability of Mindanao and Thursday (July 5) morning and Calbayog City Mayor their effort in the fast recov- at this city’s airport. Ronaldo Aquino. ery of Marawi City. GETTING CONNECTED. President Rodrigo Duterte cites the importance of The soldiers, led by Their loved ones were “We hope that you will transport connectivity to proper economic progress in his message as guest their commanding officer also around to welcome the continue to be the van- of honor and speaker during the 58th founding anniversary of Southern Leyte Lt.Col.Rizaldo Laurena, soldiers. guards of democracy that province on July 2.(PIA-8) were assigned in Jolo, Sulu Sonia Cabrera, a cousin we are enjoying and will on August 31,2016 to help of one of the soldiers, was continue to serve our peo- fight members of the ter- delighted that her cousin ple,” Aquino further said. ‘Yolanda’ survivors push for rorist Abu Sayyaf Group has returned safely. Meanwhile, BGen and in 2017, were deployed “I am happy that my Losañes said that the sol- to Marawi City to neutral- cousin is now here, he is diers had shown how to be ‘People’s Plan’ in absence ize another terror group, back and safe,” Cabrera said. heroes with their sacrifices the Maute Group. Other family members while in Mindanao. About eight soldiers of of the soldiers were delight- “The sacrifices made by of gov’t response the 63rd IB were killed and ed and happy upon seeing Filipino soldiers is not ob- 30 were wounded during their loved ones. served by public but it does TACLOBAN CITY- The ity to their sources of liveli- partment of Agriculture, their assignment in Mind- In his message, Mayor not serve as a hindrance Community of Yolanda Sur- hood that is the determin- Department of Agrarian anao. Aquino expressed his ap- for you to offer yourself for vivors and Partners (CYSP), ing factor in their choice Reform, Bureau of Fisher- On Thursday morning, preciation to the soldiers the country,” he said, add- an alliance of 163 devas- of location for a relocation ies and Aquatic Resources, 50 personnel of the 63rd for their heroic act in Mind- see Members /page 7 ... tated communities and 10 site. People’s Plan, we said, and Inter-Agency Task non-governmental organi- is a venue for their voices to Force Yolanda,” Reyes said zations, has pushed for the finally be held,” the group in an interview. adaption of a ‘People’s Plan’ said. “Moving to a distant Pres. Duterte cites connectivity in the communities affected “In the first draft, we had location would post more by the onslaught of super 13 barangays in Lawaan, burden on them. They said typhoon ’Yolanda’ as an al- Balangiga, and Giporlos in the price increase, exacer- to spur So. Leyte’s growth ternative to the government Eastern Samar. We’re work- bated by the TRAIN Law, program. ing on the second draft on gasoline and kerosene Christopherson Yap, and MAASIN CITY-Pres- retary Tugade and top of- “The housing program, because we have already were between P12-15. This City Mayor Nacional Mer- ident Rodrigo Duterte ficials of the Civil Aviation it appears, is not designed reached 15 barangays to also affected price increas- cado. pointed out on the need Authority of the Philip- for the betterment of lives. include those in Gen. Mac es in other commodities, Among the Cabinet of- for connectivity, especially pines (CAAP) inaugurated It was, and remains to be, all Arthur, Eastern Samar. and they said rice is the ficials travelling with the in relation to the trans- the new passenger terminal for compliance and accom- Once it is finished, we’re highest today at P48-50 per President were spokes- portation industry, so the building at the airport. plishment,” said the group targeting a July submis- kilo. These rising prices, person Harry Roque, who province can move on the Tugade was quoted as they worked on the Peo- sion,” Rina Reyes, project additional costs, when re- held a press conference path to economic growth. by reporters covering the ple’s Plan which, according coordinator of land rights located to the poorly built ahead of the presidential “Connectivity is what is event as saying that among to them, has a similar con- group Rights Network and NHA housing units and visit, Francis Tolentino, important now. You have the work priorities was to cept to that of a community leader of CYSP. difficulty in accessing their political affairs secretary, all factors to make it really extend the airport’s run- mortgage program (CMP) “We’re hoping to submit source of livelihood are too Christopher’Bong’ Go, spe- big, the problem is on con- way from 1.3 kilometers to or a housing cooperative.