Multi-awarded local newspaper May 2014 - SM Foundation Inc.s’ Super Awards October 2014 - PIRA’s Award for Excellent Media Coverage of Disaster PPI’s 2015 Civic Journalism Community Press Awards, Best in Fisheries Reporting-Weekly Listen to EV Mail sa Radyo! VOL. 18 NO. 49 ORMOC CITY P 15.00 at the newsstands JANUARY 1-7, 2018 Monday to Friday Website address: www.evmailnews.net For feedback/inquiries: e-mail [email protected] 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. 107.1 Hot FM Ormoc Top 10 stories of 2017 COMPILED BY THE EV MAIL TEAM ORMOC CITY – 2017 was a year of many contrasts for the people of Ormoc and, perhaps, the entire Eastern Visayas. As your favorite weekly newspaper bids farewell to 2017, and as we welcome the Year of the Earth Dog, 2018, we compiled what we believe to be the Top 10 Stories of the year that came to pass. Here they are: • 48 injured in Supercat “no” and 2 “absent”. Rep. Lucy crash – On the evening of Feb- Torres-Gomez defending her ruary 18, 2017, a Supercat fast “yes” vote for the re-imposition craft coming in from Ormoc col- of the death penalty said that, lided into a San Miguel barge, just “I thought long and hard about about 20 minutes before it could it. Voting yes gave me the most have docked in Cebu. There were peace. I like knowing that there no casualties but 48 passengers is capital punishment for the evil were injured, four of them quite ones.” severely. • For the alleged murder • Lucy votes ‘yes’ to death of the late Albuera Mayor… No – There were 10 “yes” votes from bail set for 19 CIDG men – The Mayor Richard Gomez himself leads the distribution of social pension, or the annual cash incentive, to Ormoc City’s Eastern Visayas congressmen, 1 19 officers and members of the senior citizens. (Photo & caption grabbed from the Ormoc City Government FB Page) Criminal Investigation and De- tection Group (CIDG) in region 8, who have been accused for the alleged murder of the late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espi- Army lauds Leyte residents for nosa Jr. last November 5, 2016, were detained at the CIDG office in Tacloban City, following their reporting NPA presence surrender late March 2017; and no bail for their temporary liberty ORMOC CITY (PNA) – The Phil- the recovery of firearms. able information to government was recommended, as they faced ippine Army has lauded the local Brig. Gen. Francisco Men- troops. murder charges . community for reporting sight- doza, Jr., commander of the Philip- “Our soldiers patrolled the • Ormoc makes instal- ings of communist rebels in Leyte pine Army’s 802nd Brigade, said area because we got reports from RICE NO LIMIT!!! lation of water-harvesting fa- that led to a clash Thursday, Janu- on Friday, January 5, the NPA ex- the community that a group of ... and more Filipino favorites cilities mandatory – In what ary 4, resulting in the killing of tortion and recruitment activities is viewed as a climate change two suspected NPA members and were foiled as people share valu- SEE NPA P. 12 MILAGRINA resilience measure, Ormoc City made the installation of water- RESTAURANT harvesting facilities mandatory now with a better and for new buildings, even residen- fresher ambiance. tial ones, to be constructed after the “Rainwater Ordinance of Located at Ormoc City” passed on second 134 Real St., Ormoc City SEE TOP 10 P. 12 STERLING INSURANCE CO., INC “We go further to serve you better” For your non-life insurance needs, visit us at: Door 486 Lilia Avenue, Cogon Ormoc City, Leyte This photo is the 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest grand prize winner. The Telefax: (053) 561-0750 photographer, Sergio Tapiro Velasco, captioned it, “The Power of Nature”; and the featured volcano is Mexico’s Colima Volcano. (Photo & caption grabbed from the website of National Geographic) 2 NEWS January 1-7, 2018 N. Samar, Leyte local officials “Araw ng Isabel 2018” sure to be festive & fun! charged at Sandiganbayan ISABEL, LEYTE – This other constituents/employ- ert Bolick, some NCAA impersonator/comedian MANILA (PNA) – The but they were included in town, a first class munici- ees have organized series of players, and other local “Osang” are just a few of the Office of the Ombudsman the names of those who ap- pality in Leyte, will once fun and festive activities for basketball players from invited guests and person- has filed criminal charges proved the resolution. again celebrate its annual this annual celebration. Ormoc and those coming alities who are said to grace before the Sandiganbayan On the other hand, Isa- fiesta on January 14-15, An Agro-Industrial from the different baran- and entertain Isabelanons against the mayors of Pala- bel Mayor Saturnino Me- 2018 in honor of the town’s Fair, Parish Night, Isabel’s gays joined in the basketball on the vesper night, January pag, Northern Samar, and dina, Jr., his wife Nolette, patron saint Sr. Sto. Nino. Got Talent, Isabelly Queens, open tournament with their 14, during the Miss Isabel Isabel, Leyte. and municipal administra- The Local Government Senior Citizen’s Day, Coop- respective sponsors from Beauty Pageant. In the records of the tor Perla Brebante were Unit (LGU) of the Munici- erative Night, Educator’s PASAR, PhilPhos, other Seventeen (17) lovely Ombudsman, Palapag charged with graft for the pality of Isabel under the Night, Cebu Variety Show, agencies/companies and candidates sponsored by Mayor Manuel Aoyang, alleged anomalous pur- administration of Munici- Alumni Night, Color Fun the rest of the 24 barangays the different companies, or- Councilor Eleno Calot, and chase of vehicles by the pal Mayor Hon. Saturnino Run, LIDE/VSU Night, composing the municipal- ganizations, and barangay municipal council secretary municipal government in “Jun” M. Medina, Jr. and LGU Night and Talent Dis- ity of Isabel. There is also a officials will also be charm- Emil Go were charged for August 2010. Hon. Godfrey T. Alcantara, play of Miss Isabel 2018 volleyball tournament and ing Isabelanons as they the alleged falsification of Mayor Medina and his Municipal Vice Mayor/ candidates are the activities a lawn tennis competition. compete for the coveted public documents involv- wife purportedly sold to Co-Chairman of “Araw ng set for the whole week ‘til Meanwhile, ABS-CBN’s crown of Miss Isabel 2018. ing some anti-poverty proj- the municipal government Isabel 2018” together with the culmination day of the “Wildflower” star, dancer There will be a fire- the Sangguniang Bayan town fiesta. and actress Maja Salvador, ects deliberated in a special their own Kia Pregio in SEE ARAW NG session in February 2015. the amount of P546,000 members, the head of the Basketball players from famous rapper Andrew E., It was learned that when its market value was different committees and Manila like San Beda’s Rob- singer Wincy Cornejo and ISABEL P. 7 Councilors Sonia Evardone pegged at P396,000. and Anacorito Javier were Likewise, Brebante sold absent during the conduct her second-hand Mitsubishi of the special session and Pajero in the amount of took no part in the delibera- P648,500 when its market tions for the said resolution, value was only P600,000. PhilHealth to implement new premium rates this month MANILA (PNA) – Health In its Circular No. 2017- Secretary Francisco Duque 0024 published last October III announced Friday, Jan- 27, PhilHealth announced uary 5, that the Philippine the adjustment, which it Health Insurance Corp. said is part of its strategy to (PhilHealth) will raise the ensure the sustainability of premium contributions the National Health Insur- of its members starting ance Fund. January. The contribution rate “Magtataas tayo ng will be adjusted by 0.25 (We will raise PhilHealth’s) percent from the current premium contribution, 0.25 2.5 percent to 2.75 per- percent, effective January cent, applied straight to 2018,” Duque said during the monthly basic salary of the Clean Forum held at the employed members. The Manila Hotel. salary floor and ceiling The health chief de- will be pegged at P10,000 scribed the adjustment as and P40,000, respectively. timely, saying PhilHealth The monthly contribution has already expanded its will still be equally shared benefit packages but has by the employee and the not increased its premium employer. contribution in a while. The premium contri- bution of kasambahays is solely shouldered by their A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT NOW SHOWING @ household employers, but those receiving a monthly As the revised tax rules (TRAIN) takes effect January 1, 2018, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-RDO 89, STAR THEATER salary of P5,000 or more in partnership with ORCHAM, PICPA and Ormoc City LGU, shall be conducting a series of information campaign have to pay their propor- and seminars in the coming days to guide all taxpayers and others concerned to participate in the discussions of tionate share. the same in public consultations and briefings, and to help in the hassle-free implementation of the Tax Reform According to Phil- for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. The facilitators are just awaiting the final go-signal from BIR. Health interim officer- For interested parties, one may coordinate with ORCHAM’s office secretariat at the 2nd Floor West Wing in-charge/president, Dr. Ormoc Superdome to register to the above-planned seminars. Please keep posted too for any development and Celestina dela Serna, the related details through the EV Mail or through the mentioned organizations’ FB pages. premium adjustment is necessary to sustain the provision of present ben- efits and enable the agency 200 drug surrenderers in Region 8 join skills training to develop new and better packages for its members.