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EASTERN VISAYAS
San Juanico Bridge remains safe despite minor cracks
TINIKLING – a Filipino folk dance originated in Leyte
By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte, Sept 9 (PIA) - The San Juanico Bridge which connects Leyte and Samar provinces is safe despite sustaining shallow cracks on some of its piers, Department of Public Works and Highways Region 8 Director Rolando Asis said.
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he damage sustained by the Bridge is minor and cannot cause any alarm on the commuting public, Asis told the media during the Harampang at PIA held here, recently. Asis disclosed that he has already created a team that will thoroughly look into the piers or columns of the bridge so these could be fixed immediately considering its importance in the
transportation system. Based on the DPWH inspection, piers 5, 33, and 34 sustained “minor cracks” which could be the result of the earthquake. Pier 5 is located at the Leyte side while piers 33 and 34 are located at the Samar side. It may be recalled that the entire region and some parts of the Visayas and Mindanao were jolted by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake last August 31 which also
caused minor damages to various public infrastructures in Eastern Visayas. San Juanico Bridge which is a major landmark in the Region, spans 2.1 kilometers, has more than 50 piers and is considered to be a vital installation in the region. The bridge, located along San Juanico Strait, was constructed at a cost of more than $12 million in 1969 and was finished in 1973. (PIA-8)
Local law granting BHW benefits, incentives passed By Rodrigo S. Victoria NAVAL, Biliran, Sept 13 (PIA) -- The long wait for granting benefits and incentives for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) serving Naval, the capital town in Biliran province, is over.
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he Sangguniang Bayan of Naval has finally passed the "Barangay Health Worker’s Benefits and Incentives Ordinance of the Municipality of Naval, Biliran 2012” recently (or Ordinance No. 19 series of 2012). Section 6 of Ordinance No. 19 granted all accredited BHWs in Naval the following incentives and benefits: hazard allowance; subsistence allowance; P200 monthly honorarium; PhilHealth insurance; terminal pay of P500 per year of service but not to exceed P10,000 for each BHW, training, education and career
enrichment programs; civil service eligibility for BHW who rendered five years continuous service; free legal service;, preferential access to loans and mortuary assistance of P2,000 for each BHW. However, hazard allowance is still to be determined by the Local Health Board and the Local Peace and Order Council in Naval. The subsistence allowance is computed equivalent to the meals they take in the course of their duty. PhilHealth insurance will be charged against the funds
of the barangay they are serving and a second grade civil service eligibility is granted as provided under Section 6 of the ordinance. Sections 8 and 12 of the ordinance provides the amount of P100,000 appropriated from the general funds in Naval, which is over and above the existing appropriations for the BHW. The financial benefits granted in Ordinance No. 19 will be implemented effective on January 2013 based on Section 16 of the ordinance. (PIA-Biliran)
BIR-Southern Leyte collects P38.4M in taxes By Marcelo M. Pedalino MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Sept 10 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here has collected P38,426,070.73 in taxes for August 2012.
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his is a 34.11 percent increase from P28,652,376.20 in August 2011, said Revenue District Officer (RDO) Alexander Laroza. The cumulative collection also yielded high results year-on-year. Cumulative taxes as of August this year taxes reached P 254,606,647.30, as against the accumulated tally for the same period last year of P 219,403,023.92, or a 16.05 percent increase, Laroza said. When measured vis-à-vis the stated goal, the
August 2012 collection exceeded the target set for that month in the amount of P 35,415,000.00 by P 3,011,070.73, the chief taxman said. But when the cumulative collection performance was compared with the cumulative collection goal, Laroza said they still incurred a deficit of P 8,945,352.70, a slight 3.39 percent short over the goal of P263,552,000. He said he would intensify some activities to offset the slight decrease of
the cumulative tax take, even as he moved to strive and maintain a surplus output for the remaining months of the year. Among the tax-related acts that he intends to focus to keep the momentum of high performance and cover the shortage were monitoring for compliance, tax mapping operation and a regular, weekly re-orientation seminar with business taxpayers. (PIA-Southern Leyte)