SWE July 2 - 8, 2013

VOL. 10, NO. 48

JULY 2 - 8, 2013

CATBALOGAN CITY

8 PAGES

Samar Weekly

EXPRESS Chronicling Events in Samar Island Since 2002

The Exponent of Samar’s Progress

Shellfish ban up in Samar coastal waters

THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is strictly imposing a shellfish ban in three bays of Samar province as red tide toxins spread, affecting the livelihood of thousands of families.

In an advisory, the BFAR said that shellfish ban is now up for Calbayog City Water, after it was found positive of red tide toxins.

All seven sampling areas registered average of 700 cells of toxins per liter, which is up FIVE employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform than the 10 cells per liter in based in Catbalogan City are facing complaints before the normal situation, said BFAR anti-graft court for allegedly committing acts unbecoming Regional Director Juan Alof their being government workers. baladejo.

Facing charges before the Office of the OmbudsmanThese are seawaters in Visayas (Tacloban Office) were agrarian reform technologists coastal barangays of CarayRicardo Flor and Engr.Alfonso Pensotes; acting budget officer man, Poblacion, San Policarpo, Editha Sulague; Valentin Horcasitas, administrative officer and Inigo Daco-ag, chief agrarian reform officer and chief adminSee SHELLFISH p/7... istrative and finance division.

Three other “John Does” were also included in the complaint.

They were charged by their co-employee, Felimon Gualdrapa, with graft and corruption, perjury, theft, conduct unbe-

Graft charges filed vs DARCatbalogan employees

2 Samar police chiefs axed over failure to curb gambling CATBALOGAN CITY – For failing to curb illegal gambling in their areas of jurisdictions, two municipal police chiefs in Samar has been relieved from their posts in line with the “One-Strike Policy” of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Without dropping their names, Soria hinted that the two, both from Samar, were found to be remiss in their duty to curb illegal gambling activities in their jurisdictions which is a violation of the PNP policy on the campaign against illegal gambling.

See GAMBLING p/2...

Samar Island affected by 12hour blackout THE entire Samar Island and some parts of Leyte, including the regional capital, experienced a 12-hour power outage Saturday as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines conducted maintenance servicing activities.

The power interruption disrupted Saturday activities of 275,381 households and business establishments in Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and some part of northern Leyte.

Brownouts were experienced from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The number of affected represents 43percent of the region’s 640,617 total connections as of last year.

Photo shows police officers of the Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) under the supervision of Senior Superintendent Eusebio Adamero Mejos being awarded with “Medalya ng Kagalingan” and the SPPO being awarded as “Best Police and Provincial Command” during a traditional flag raising ceremony at the PNP Regional Office 8 in Campetic, Palo Leyte. Among the awardees were Supt. Mejos, C/Insp. Felipe Tan, Insp. Zaldy Cagampang, Insp. Shyrile Co Tan and Insp. Chamberline Ludevise. (PNP/Lilith Tena)

Guv says Samar hospital in need of doctors CATBALOGAN CITY – Governor ShareeAnn Tan–de los Santos had called for medical practitioners in the province of Samar to provide services in the provincial-run hospitals that now lack of medical practitioners who would render services to Samarnons.

In her speech during her oath taking ceremony, the provincial governor said that facilities at the provincial hospital of Samar are now improving with the changes she made and programs implemented with the help of PhilHealth.

But the problem, according to her, is the lack of doctors that would attend to patients of the hospitals who are from their province as most of those who are serving the medical facilities are from the province of Leyte.

“I call on for those who know some doctors who are from the province to help me in asking them to serve our fellow Samarnons,” said Governor Tan-de los Santos.

Aside from calling for Samarnon doctors to serve at the hospital run by the provincial government, Governor Tan-de los Santos also announced that the Samar Provincial Hospital had been chosen by the Department of Health to become the extension of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center.

This plan of the DoH, according to the lady governor, would help more patients in their province economically aside from the improvements that it will bring to the hospital from the facilities to equipment.

Making Samar Provincial Hospitalas extension of EVRMC would also result in reducing the number of patients going to EVRMC, a state-run-medical facility in the region where more than 70% of its patients are from the Samar provinces. (Roel Amazona)

See SAMAR p/2..

See GRAFT p/3...

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ANTI-RED PLATE. Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol (center) presided an inter-agency task force coordinative meeting on the reactivation of Oplan Red Plate at the OMB regional office in Tacloban City, July 4. With him are PNP director C/Supt. Elmer Soria, PIA chief Olive Tiu, among other heads. (Vino Cuayzon)

Catbalogan City mayor Stephany Uy Tan, in her first few days in office, visited the city’s public market, transport terminal, cemetery, sea ports and other external offices to address some issues and concerns forwarded to her office for action. (PR)

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Samar Weekly Express

THE REGION

2

JULY 2 - 8, 2013

Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

BFAR from page 7 ...

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) presents the weather and flood monitoring and forecasting instruments developed

by DOST’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI).

DOST installs 47 weather monitoring equipment in EV TACLOBAN CITY The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has installed 47 weather equipment in six provinces of the region in line with their climate monitoring this rainy season.

The equipment are in addition to those already installed by their agency in 2011, said DOST assistant regional director Rufino Mengote.

These 47 weather monitoring equipment are composed of automatic rain gaug-

es and water level monitoring system.

In Leyte province, 14 weather monitoring equipment are distributed in areas known to be prone to disaster such as flooding. These include six automatic rain gauges, seven level monitoring systems and a combination of both.

Tw o aut om at i c r a i n gauges, two level monitoring systems and a combination of both are installed in the province of Biliran.

In provinces of Samar and Southern Leyte, the agency has installed three automatic rain gauges, two water level monitoring systems and a combination of both in strategic places of the each province, according to Mengote.

Three automatic rain gauges, three water level monitoring systems and a tandem of both were installed in the province of Northern Samar while in Eastern Samar three automatic rain gauges and

Amazon NPA leader captured

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA SWE News & Feature

CATBALOGAN CITY – Officials of the 8th Infantry Division said that the series of arrests against high-ranking CPPNPA-NDF personalities is a clear manifestation that insurgents in this part of the country are losing its mass base supports.

Another civilian tipster tipped off the presence of a suspicious character in Barangay 8, Guiuan town in Eastern Samar that resulted to the arrest of Edna Montes in her rented safe house Thursday morning.

The Amazon rebel was arrested by combined elements of the 14th Infantry Battalion and policemen by virtue of a warrant of arrest for murder issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 8 of Oras, Eastern Samar.

Showing her postal identification card, Montes claimed she was Ester Belicario but a former rebel who allegedly worked with Montes in the underground movement positively identified her as Edna Montes - the person stipulated in the arrest warrant.

Captain Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the 8ID, said the captured rebel is currently the head of the Educational Department of the Eastern Samar Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Eastern Samar Provincial White Area Committee.

“She used to be an Executive Committee member of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army,” Gutierrez said.

Prior to Montes arrest, the military netted Juan Paolo Rodrigo Verzosa, said

to be the intelligence officer of NPA-Samar and his wife Grace, staff reproduction bureau member of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the New People’s Army in Marikina City last June 28.

The couple was transported back to this city on Monday and was brought to the Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) for processing and documentation and for presentation to the court where they are facing their charges.

Last May 8, residents of Samar’s Pinabacdao town tipped off the presence of a suspicious man which later turned out a member of the NPA. A certain Renato Abadiano alias Tiboy of the NPA’s Samar Provincial Party Committee, was arrested.

Seized from the NPA leader was a caliber .45 pistol, improvised explosive devices, blasting caps, subversive documents, personal belongings and other paraphernalia.

The captured NPA fighters were arrested by virtue of Warrant of Arrest (WOA) for the crimes they committed issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Eastern Visayas.

Gutierrez said the successive arrests of top ranking NPA members in Eastern Visayas is a result of the cooperation of peace loving people in the area as well as other stakeholders’ desire for peace and development.

(Ricky Bautista)

a tandem of automatic rain gauges and water level monitoring system were installed.

Eastern Visayas is one of the most vulnerable regions to disaster and calamities with more than 90 percent of its coastal towns facing the Pacific are declared to be tsunami prone areas. Several areas are declared to be landslide prone like towns in the province of Southern Leyte and several towns of Leyte are flood prone such as Palo. (PNA)

SAMAR from page 1 ...

The outage was due to the “annual preventive maintenance of the 138kV Ormoc-Babatngon transmission line and maintenance activity along the 69kV SAMELCO II-Catbalogan transmission line,” the NGCP said in a statement.

The Babatngon facility in Leyte supplies power in Tacloban and nearby towns of Palo and Babatngon, some parts of Samar and entire Eastern Samar.

The Catbalogan substation transmits electricity to some parts of Samar and entire Northern Samar province.

In the case of Leyte II Electric Cooperative (Leyeco II), General Manager Ma. Rosario C. Avestruz said in a statement that NGCP maintenance concentrated on protection relays, associated High Voltage Equipment in both Ormoc and Babatngon sides and the replacement of rotten cross-arms along the 69KV BabatngonAbucay and Palo-Tacloban lines simultaneously.

Of the 275,381 affected households and businesses, 61,597 are covered by Leyte II Electric Cooperative; 56,585 by Northern Samar Electric Cooperative; 48,083 by Samar I Electric Cooperative; 56,509 by Samar II Electric Cooperative and 52,607 by Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative.

Electricity consumers in Samar provinces have been complaining on frequent brownouts, mostly unannounced due to dilapidated transmission lines.

The supply of electric power in Eastern Visayas is generated solely from the geothermal plant located in western Leyte and transmitted through interconnected lines towards the tip of the region - Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.

Eastern Visayas is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the country. It hosts the Leyte Tongonan Geothermal Field, which generates a total capacity of 699.4 megawatts (MW), more than enough to supply the power requirements of the region. (PNA)

Visayas Sea was among the areas identified by BFAR for fishing closed season on sardines. The ban was lifted in March this year.

“It’s a possibility that Visayas Sea would again be closed to fishing, this time for galunggong to arrest the drop in supply and help lower its price. The seawater in Palawan has earlier been identified to be the pilot area,” Albaladejo said.

“Last summer, we monitored Samar Sea, the number one catchment area for captured fisheries. We found out that biodiversity and volume (of fish) is higher compared to Visayan Sea. What we plan to do is co-management with the local government units and BFAR to maintain and sustain the number of fish,” he added.

Recent market monitoring revealed that galunggong, considered as the “poor man’s fish” retails from P60-P120 per kilogram, depending on size. The nationwide average price however, is at P112.95-P114.85 per kilogram.

“The idea to implement a closed season is to increase the fish population and later bring down its price so that people could afford it,” Albaladejo added.

“The closed season for sardines was BFAR’s inspiration to check areas where galunggong can be found massive and implement possible fishing ban,” Albaladejo said.

He added BFAR’s study is also aimed at determining the exact peak of spawning, where fish congregate when spawning happens, how long it takes for the species to spawn, and how many eggs on the average each fish lays.

Further studies will be conducted by the agency to help gather useful information that will serve as scientific basis for possible seasonal closure for galunggong.

Latest data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) showed that nationwide galunggong output declined by 3.49 percent to 166,000 metric tons (MT) last year from 172,000 MT in 2011. (PNA)

GAMBLING from page 1 ...

“If evidence warrants, they will be charged administratively and criminally,” Chief Supt. Elmer R. Soria, the region’s police director said.

Soria earlier reminded all police commanders under his command to put extra effort on the significant responsibility of police officials in combating all forms of illegal gambling in their areas.

“This (may) serve as a fair warning to other unit commanders for them to take our thrust seriously,” Soria said.

Under the National Police Commission Memorandum Circular No. 2003-001 amending NMC No. 2002-005, all regional, provincial and station commanders were given “green signal” to relieve or initiate administrative and criminal charges against any PNP personnel if there were lapses in the illegal gambling campaign.

It is said that under the PNP’s expanded policy, one successful anti-illegal gambling operation conducted by non-organic PNP units or any other authorized units proving the existence of illegal gambling activities within the city or municipality shall result in the relief of the police chief or the precinct commander of the city police station.

Recently, the PNP Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) conducted anti-illegal gambling operations in said Samar towns which resulted to the arrest of nine persons and the recovery of cash bet and gambling paraphernalia. Suspects have been charged.

The operations proved the existence of illegal gambling in Samar under the noses of the chief of police which resulted for their relieved. (Ricky Bautista)

Business group rejects Tacloban airport’s terminal fee hike TACLOBAN CITY -- The terminal fee hike in Tacloban Airport has faced strong opposition among the city’s business group, citing absence of notice and lack of improvement of its terminal building In a news briefing, Go Tic Ching, president of the Tacloban Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has to freeze the implementation of increase as there’s still no improvement of the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in this city.

He observed that at the rate of P30 per passenger, CAAP must have generated

over P30 million every year but the airport terminal building has very poor facilities and the pre-departure area is overcrowded.

In 2012, the DZR Airport recorded 1.14 million passengers. Currently, the airport caters 17 incoming and outgoing flights daily from and to Manila, Cebu and Iloilo.

The pre-departure area is only 343 square meters with about 300 seats. It was designed for passengers of BAC 1-11 air jetliners and Boeing 737 aircraft. In recent years, Airbus 320 aircraft have been using the facility.

See BUSINESS p/5...

Samar Weekly Express

ENVIRONMENT

JULY 2 - 8, 2013

Eastern Visayas’ rich biodiversity is tarsiers’ sanctuary TACLOBAN CITY -- If you think the world’s smallest animal belonging to the family of primates known as tarsiers can only be found in Bohol in Central Philippines, believe that not.

A greater populace of this nocturnal specie that lives on trees has been thriving in the thick forests of Samar and Leyte, both in Eastern Visayas region.

Danilo Javier, regional technical director of the Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service, said the vast habitat in the region allows tarsiers to grow in population that is even higher than what can be found in Bohol.

The only difference, he said, is that Bohol province has long been promoting the primate as part of its eco-tourism program while in this region they are still up in the wild.

The presence of tarsiers has been reported in Southern Leyte, specifically in Rizal and Hinagtikan villages of Tomas Oppus town and Matuasi in Maasin City.

Also, they can be found in San Agustin, Rubas, Villa Consuelo and Sitio Combado in Tinambacan, villages of Jaro in Leyte province.

The sighting was a result of the Philippine Tarsier Community Survey by the regional office, according to Marcelo C. Macaranda, officer-incharge of PAWCZMS Wildlife Management Section.

Tarsier population was also found in Caraye and Guindopunan in Javier, Leyte while village chief of Cambadbad, Matag-ob also of the same province reported of similar citing.

“These are verbal report from our counterparts in the field,” he said, adding they looked forward to consolidate the data sometime October this year.

Javier, meanwhile, said that they looked forward to a scientific report over a reported 16-inch tarsier spotted at Mt. Nacolod in Southern Leyte that was reported by the Flora and Fauna International during a biodiversity assessment done in the area.

“We want to capture it live so we can determine if it is a tarsier or another specie,” Javier said.

Nevertheless, the regional technical director lauded the tarsier conservation initiated at the town of Javier

Philippine Tarsier as pilot area by the Tarsier Conservation Group and the Visayas State University.

A high concentration of the tarsier population can be found in Javier. Overnight one can trap some 20 to 30 of the population.

“Hopefully the program can be expanded because a lot of tarsiers are also

See EASTERN p/5...

Samar Police office bags best practices award

NEW GOVERNOR OF NORTHERN SAMAR. Governor Jose Ong Jr. deliver his message to the Capitol officials and employees as the new local chief executive of the province during the flag raising ceremony. He urges them to provide efficient public service and work for the development of the province. His priorities are on health, education, agriculture, tourism, and good governance. (PIO)

Police nabs 72 persons in intensified campaign vs illegal fishing At least 72 persons were arrested and 11 fishing boats involved in illegal fishing activities were confiscated in a series of seaborne operations in the seawaters of Leyte, Samar and Biliran provinces recently.

PRO8 director C/Supt.

Elmer Soria informed that these police actions are in line with his directive to strictly implement Letter of Instruction: Kalibungan, PRO8’s campaign against illegal fishing in Eastern Visayas.

“It is our mandate to protect the environment, especially our marine resources, from any illegal fishing activity. Police chiefs were ordered to strictly enforce the Philippine Fisheries Code or RA 8550 and local ordinances in their respective areas in coordination with local government units,” added Soria.

Last Thursday, seaborne operations conducted at the territorial seawaters of Mayorga, Leyte by joint elements of Mayorga police station led

by PSInsp. Jaywen Leona and

3

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personnel from Mayorga Bantay Dagat led by Crisanto Cabaobao resulted in the interception of two fishing boats owned by one Claudio Cadayong and Jonathan Tingzon, respectively and both from Brgy. Rizal, Dulag, Leyte with a total of 8 crew members while engaged in illegal fishing activity locally known as “baby trawling” using fine mesh nets.

At around 11:00 a.m., elements of Dulag police station led by PO1 Nicanor Ellos with Bantay Dagat members and representative of the Department of Agriculture conducted seaborne operations at territorial seawaters of Brgy San Jose, Dulag, Leyte, leading to the confiscation of one motorized boat operated by Marlon Lantajo with two other crew member while at a distance of approximately 10 kilometers away from the shoreline which is prohibited under an ordinance of the local government unit of Dulag. Other confiscated items were one bundle of fish net and fishing paraphernalia with estimated value of P90,000.00.

In Biliran, three fishing

vessles were intercepted in the seawaters of Maripipi and Culaba towns by police authorities and LGU representatives while engaged in illegal fishing known as “pahulbot”. A total of 14 crew members were also arrested.

Meanwhile, in Talalora town in Samar, seaborne operations by a police team led by PInsp. Silvano Soteraña with BFAR-Samar personnel resulted in the arrest of 45 persons and confiscation of five vessels and several fishing paraphernalia while engaged in trawl fishing.

Confiscated items were impounded at police stations of arresting units while arrested fishermen were fined according to existing local ordinances in the municipality where they were arrested.

“Illegal fishing destroys the coral reefs and breeding areas of several marine species and eventually kills small fishes even before they reach maturity, laws and ordinances protecting our marine environment must be strictly enforced,” Soria said.

(PR)

CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Samar Police Provincial Office (SPPO) was awarded as having the best practices in Police Community Relations (PCR) among other police stations in the region.

Police personnel, officers and civil organizations were given medals during the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 kick-off ceremony of the 18th Police-Community Relations Month held at PRO 8 Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte last July 1.

SPPO director Supt. Eusebio A. Mejos attributed this to their successful programs they conducted especially during the May polls with the elimination of the factors attributing to political violence like partisan armed groups, loose firearms and wanted persons.

Mejos said they are also making efforts to make Barangay elections also peaceful.

The Samar PNP chief thanked the public for their cooperation to the police operations in Samar.

Meanwhile, the monthlong observance is mandated

by Presidential Proclamation 764 which declares the month of July every year as PCR month with the National Police Commission as the lead agency and Philippine National Police as implementing agency.

This month’s celebration is anchored on the theme “Serbisyong Makatotohanan at Matatag na Ugnayan ng Pambansang Pulisya at Mamamayan tungo sa Matuwid na Daan.” (Avha Hilario)

What’s new in Samar’s tourism?

DOT identifies Bangon Falls as another potential tourist attraction in EV CALBAYOG CITY -- The Dept. of Tourism has identified Bangon Falls in Calbayog City, Samar as one of the tourismdevelopment areas and part of the Eastern Visayas Tourism Roadmap.

The tourism roadmap, according to DOT 8 regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, envisions to heighten the competitiveness of the region as alternative destination of tourists and increase their length of stay, thus, spreading the economic benefits of tourism to all parts of the region.

This week, a team from the DOT visited the falls to determine the viability of the site and those needed to be established in Bangon to make it truly viable.

Tiopes said that while the attraction has been visited by some tourists, there are still many things to consider for it to become “market-ready” – the road access, potential activities in the falls area and the amenities it can provide to tourists.

For accessibility, Tiopes mentioned the road leading to Bangon Falls, but she is also hopeful that this will be addressed through funding from the DPWH-DOTC-DOT Road Infrastructure Prioritization Program next year.

Also called the DOTDPWH Convergence Project on Enhancing Tourism Access, the program aims to achieve national government’s three main goals, which are to improve market access, connectivity and destination infrastructure to liven the tourism of the country.

There are 41 road projects in Eastern Visayas that had passed the re-evaluation of Tourism Road Infrastructure Project Prioritization Criteria and is now for approval of the national technical working group.

One of which is the P50million worth road upgrading to Bangon Falls.

The tourism department also looked into the most appropriate tourist activity that can be done in the falls area

that will eventually lead to jobs and income generation for the community.

Aside from swimming, she also identified tubing and trekking.

However, Tiopes said these still need another round of validation on their part and more visits to be done for them to also look after the well-being of tourists-whether local, foreign and domestic.

She also added that risk assessment plays a very significant role in identifying the possible dangers guests might be exposed into.

Tubing, also known as river tubing, is a recreational activity where an individual rides on top of an inner tube on water.

The tubes themselves are also known as “donuts” or “biscuits” due to their shape.

While trekking is an activity in which people take hiking trips for an up-close view of the scenery.

This often allows trekkers to interact with nature while doing things such as rock climbing, backpacking and any other outdoor sports while navigating through a mountain range.

Also to be considered are the amenities like the picnic area, washroom and restrooms, and provisions where cars or any other vehicles can park.

But Tiopes said these structures must be something that is in harmony with nature, and does not destroy the natural look of the place.

The Tourism regional director stressed that developing a tourist attraction is not that easy and entails a lot of work, but she believes that this project will take-off the soonest possible time because of the community support especially from Brgy. Tinaplacan where Bangon Falls is located, Calbayog local government unit through Mayor Ronald Aquino, Samar 1st District Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, DOTCentral Office and President Benigno S. Aquino III. (PNA)

GRAFT from page 1 ... coming of an officer and employee, grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, falsification of public documents and dishonesty.

Gualdrapa filed his complaint before the anti-graft court last July 1.

In his four-page letter complaint, Gualdrapa alleged that the respondents connived with each other in committing the acts complained against them, which involved “stealing gasoline through purchase” and without the approval from the provincial agrarian reform officer.

“It is noteworthy that they were able to avail of this gasoline through fraudulent documents and through some authorities/ personnel assigned in the process of gasoline purchase illegally,” Gualdrapa, in his four-page complaint, said.

Asked for comment, one of the respondents denied the allegations leveled against them by Gualdrapa.

“It is not true. But we will answer the complaint against us at the proper forum,” Daco-ag said in a phone interview. Daco-ag declined to issue further statement relative to the matter.

OPINION Samar Weekly Express

DALMACIO C. GRAFIL Publisher

JULY 2 - 8, 2013

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RICKY J. BAUTISTA Editor-in-Chief ALMA GRAFIL Bus. Manager CATHERINE GERADILA Office-in-Charge

Columnists, Writers and Account Executives: Rommel L. Rutor Chito Dela Torre Atty. Batas Maricio Fr. Roy Cimagala Ismael Amigo Juan Mercado Roger Soria Myra Tambor Jenna Tizon Igdalino Gina Dean Ragudo Lilith Sabuco - Teña Malou Bermejo.

OFFICE: The Samar Weekly Express is published weekly in multi-lingual format with editorial and business office located at Rizal Avenue, Catbalogan, Samar (Infront of Fire Department near City Hall) CONTACT: Telephone (055) 251-2341 Fax: (053) 321-5591 Main Office: (053) 321-4833 Mobile: 09207675444 E-MAIL: trexpelunker@yahoo.com, mysolotrek@ gmail.com WEBSITE: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress All rights reserved. Except as permitted by law, no part of Samar Weekly Express may be produced or distributed in any form or by any means stored in a database or retrieval system without its prior written permission from the publisher.

EDITORIAL Abolish SK? Not so fast!

The Sangguniang Kabataan in its inception as a working component in our Philippine political structure had commendable intentions.

Mostly it was supposed to be an early training ground for leadership. It is a separate political entity composed of a chairman and seven members, a secretary and a treasurer.

The chairman sits as member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panglungsod and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and in Congress.

Samar Weekly Express is a member of the

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

SAMAR ISLAND PRESS CLUB, Inc. The only SEC registered media organization operating in the three provinces of Samar A sister publication of the

Leyte - Samar Daily Express (Tacloban City) and Eastern Samar Bulletin (Borongan City)

In the honing process for leadership, training the youth whose membership should be at least 15 years old and not more than 21 years old on the day of election, they are tasked to initiate and conduct youth-related programs designed to “enhance social, political, economic, cultural, spiritual and physical development of the youth.”

During the Marcos dictatorship, this was named Kabataang Barangay in 1975 in response to the United Nations’ Convention of the Rights of the Child that was designed for the youth as vehicle to engage in community activities and eventually to become productive leaders in the future.

In recent times, however, the SK has become irrelevant in government structure. Officers of the youth group mostly are children of local officials and they lost virtually their independence. They eventually acted and moved according to the dictates of their local officials who mostly are their older relatives. They now form part of the obnoxious political dynasties sprouting all over the land.

Be that as it is, the abolition of this organization would be an unthinking unsound decision.

Congress should conduct a study how this youth organization could function according to the spirit of the law contained in Republic Act 7160 or the Local government Code. The provisions of the law relative to the SKs role should be reviewed with the end in view of amending and providing provisions that will harness youth capabilities to pursue the intentions of the land for youth development, sound early preparations for leadership in higher levels of governance in the future.

Hints and Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Sharpening our charity “I DID not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mt 1,13) That’s quite clear. Christ came to save all men. That’s what’s always in his mind. While not neglecting anyone, he however gives some special attention to the sick, the weak, the sinners.

It’s an attitude that we should also have. We cannot think that we can just get contented with loving a few people, or even a lot, but not all. We have to love everyone if we want to be consistent with our Christian identity. We even have to love our enemies, as Christ himself commanded us.

Love has a universal scope. And it’s given without measure.

We can never say enough of it. These are truths that we need to chew on slowly and deliberately, for many are the elements in us and around us that would tend to undermine them.

We always have preferences and biases. We have pet peeves.

We are always subject to certain conditionings, cultural, social, political, that somehow put limits in our concern for the others.

These are natural things that are unavoidable. But it doesn’t mean that we just get stuck there. We have to go beyond them, or above them. And we can do that because our spiritual nature and the grace of God allow us to go beyond these conditionings.

It would be good to acknowledge as clearly and as strongly as possible these conditionings, but we should also as clearly and as strongly do something so that we can go beyond them. Insofar as God’s grace is concerned, it will never be lacking. What is needed is our generous correspondence to this grace.

Thus, we need to consciously sharpen our charity, using all the means—material, human, spiritual, supernatural—to make it reflect and act out God’s very own love. Remember that Christ himself gave us the new commandment, which serves as the summarizing and perfect commandments, to love our neighbour as he loves us.

And how does he love us? Aside from creating us and endowing us with the best of things—we have been created in his image and likeness and, with his grace, adopted children of his—he has given us his mercy in return to our disobedience and sinfulness, a mercy he acted out by offering his life on the cross.

That’s the supreme act of love, for Christ himself said that “No man has greater love than he who lays down his

See HINTS page 5...

Samar Weekly Express

OPINION

JULY 2 - 8, 2013

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SK: training Filipino kids on godliness LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Train the child in the way that he should go, and he will not depart from it when he grows old…” (Proverbs 22:6, the Holy Bible).

-oooPEOPLE’S RIGHT IN ELECTIONS: Reader Jorge Matanguihan, a member of the Internet group “batasforum”, sent this reaction: “It is sad that losing candidates in areas where more votes than voters are noticed prefer to do nothing, when statistically it can be proven if the same winner will come out if the excess votes are duly accounted for.

“They (the losers) are only after winning the position and not serving the people. They only want to serve their interest.

The truth is, this is a matter of significant public interest. How this happened should be determined conclusively so that it can be prevented in future elections.

“At this point, the limited few who know how it can happen can capitalize on it in the next elections, unless it is revealed now and measures are properly put in place. The Comelec owes this not to any candidate but to the public. And it is the people’s right to know how there could be more votes than voters.”

-ooo“MAY GOD TAKE CARE OF YOU”: US news outlets are now engaged in a frenzied attempt to downplay the crash landing of the Asiana Airlines flight last July 07, 2013 (Philippine time) at the San Francisco International Airport in the US, by saying plane crashes occur only at the rate of “one in a million”, and that survival rates are usually at a high of 95 percent during these mishaps.

That is true, and statistics will show that airplanes remain

HINTS from page 4 ...

for his friends.” (Jn 15,13) And that love abides, because that life-offering kind of love is made a sacrament that he himself commanded us to renew till the end of time.

How important therefore that we be theological in our attitude toward this duty. We cannot rely simply on our emotions and other external factors and conditionings. Neither can depend solely on our own will. We have to have the force of grace that made available in the doctrine of our faith and in the sacraments.

We need to be more serious with our duty to love. We have to make it more specific, more direct, more refined, more enduring. It has to be more and more universal.

Yes, we do it in stages, going through the stages of eros, filia and agape, and starting with those close to us and radiating to ever widening circles of people, but we just have to be persevering in it, even if it suffers variation of pace and even if it strays from its proper path from time to time.

What can help is to assume a pro-active attitude toward this duty to love. We should not wait for some inspiration, nor for the others to prove that they deserve our love. We have to love them a priori, and all the way, putting more impulses to make that love always active. We need to reinforce it with an endless supply of theological motives.

Imagine how the world would be if we just put our mind and heart toward this duty to love, which actually summarizes all our duties and responsibilities toward everybody.

We need to overcome that primitive thinking that being serious with charity would make us soft and mushy and all that. The contrary is true. Love would make us strong as it demands us nothing less than willingness to be patient and tolerant, to suffer, to forgive, to reconcile, to step on our own ego, the logic of our flesh and the false values of the world. It’s not afraid of death.

Let’s always sharpen our charity.

Chillax

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to be the safest mode of transportation worldwide, the crashes notwithstanding. But then, nobody knows when a plane will crash, and where. As Filipinos are fond of saying, “only God knows” (or, “tanging Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam”). This being the case, the wisest thing is to invoke God’s protection and deliverance from harm before taking the plane, or before doing anything else.

Indeed, it is no longer enough to simply say “take care” to anyone we hold dear, for no man can ever really take care of himself, especially in stressful and dangerous situations like a plane crash. The better thing to say is “may God take care of you”, with a raised hand towards your loved one. This is so because, in Acts 8:17 of the Bible, we can see that the Holy Spirit of God comes to the people upon whom we lay our hands on, in blessing.

-oooSK: TRAINING FILIPINO KIDS ON GODLINESS: I agree with Senators TG Guingona III and Bam Aquino that we should not abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan---not yet anyway. I also agree that remedial measures must instead be instituted to make the SK more responsive to the needs of the youth today, especially those who are undergoing the trauma of separated parents, for one reason or another.

The SK can be used as an effective forum to instill discipline, love of others, of country and of God, of moral and spiritual education among the youth, which their parents, teachers and their priests or pastors could no longer do, and to teach them practical, vocational, or technical knowhow that they can use in their everyday lives, or in earning decently.

This country needs a strong organization, like the SK, to do all these for the Filipino youth, who are now often the subject of elderly complaints, to the effect that they no longer respect their elders, they no longer have discipline, they have gone wayward, and strayed much too far away from God. The SK can be a forum whereby the Filipino youth are once again trained in the way that they should go, according to godly and spiritual values that can make this nation truly great again!

-oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com.

DISCLAIMER: Views expressed in the opinion and commentary sections do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The Samar Weekly Express. The SWE does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression.

The publication, however, reserves the right to edit contributions for clarity, as it sees fit.

--- Ed.

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EASTERN from page 3 ... reported in Samar,” he added.

PAWCZMS’s chief ecosystem management specialist George F. Guillermo said that a tarsier documentation group was created just recently that will come up with a quarterly report on the status of their monitoring.

Among others, the team is tasked to document citing, meet with locales where there is this presence of tarsier and teach them how to manage the area instead of being threatened and make them partners in the conservation effort.

“They should learn to value and be proud that they have that (specie) in their area,” he said, adding these freedom loving animals “feed on insects that could be harmful to agriculture.”

Javier said that tarsiers are significant parts of the biodiversity.

“Animals are indicators of the richness of forest resources being their habitat. They will not thrive on degraded forests,” he underscored.

However, the frequency of confiscations done by their wildlife enforcement officer is high. The animals are immediately returned to the wild because the longer they stay in captivity, the more difficult it is for them to adjust in the wild, he added.

Tarsiers, he said, are probably declared as endangered amid their higher population because they are being commercialized.

Meantime, he disclosed that there have been prior discussions as to whether or not they will also embark on the promotion of tarsiers to boost eco-tourism in the region and the result was on the negative.

He said that those who were consulted opted to protect and conserve the tarsiers, although he added that there is nothing wrong in promoting them through eco-tourism. (PNA)

BUSINESS from page 2 ...

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“With the hike, CAAP is poised to earn P75 million a year.

They have to upgrade the facility before asking for any increase,” Ching added.

The business group is seeking for a terminal fee hike freeze but this has to be approved by the CAAP board in Manila.

CAAP Area Manager for Eastern Visayas Antonio Alfonso said that income of DZR airport is being deposited to the national coffer to finance upgrading and maintenance of airports nationwide.

“The increase is not related to the improvement. We will improve the airport whether we increase terminal fee or not,” Alfonso said.

The official has no data on the amount the facility has to recover since the P30 per passenger rate was implemented in 1997.

Ching said the fee hike caught everyone in surprise since there were no public notices on adjustments in the media. In response, CAAP said announcements have been posted at the terminal building.

“We are already hand tight. CAAP will just implement what they want without considering the stand of passengers,” he added.

The DZR Airport, with a 2,140 meters-long runway is classified as principal airport class 1.

The circular also raise terminal fee of principal class 2 airports from P20 to P50. These are Catarman Airport in Northern Samar, Calbayog Airport in Samar, and Ormoc Airport in Leyte.

Community Airports in Maasin in Southern Leyte, Naval in Biliran, Hilongos in Leyte, Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Catbalogan in Samar, and Borongan in Eastern Samar adjusted their terminal fee from P10 to P30. (PNA)

SHELLFISH from page 1 ...

Saljag, Tinambacan, Malajog, and Maguino-o. Calbayog Water is part of Samar Sea that separates Eastern Visayas and Luzon.

“We are still studying the presence of red tide in shellfish meat but we have already issued an advisory prohibiting harvesting, transport, marketing and consumption and shellfish in Calbayog Water, ” Albaladejo said in a mobile phone interview.

On Friday, seawater of Irong Irong Bay in Catbalogan City had 1,000 cells of red tide toxins per liter.

In shellfish meat, there were 155 micrograms saxitoxin in every 100 grams.

Red tide toxins have now spread to more coastal waters of Samar province last week after paralytic shellfish poisoning killed 2 people and hospitalized 22 others.

“Current from Cambatutay Bay goes to nearby seawater in Catbalogan and Calbayog, thus contributing to the spread of toxins in Samar,” Albaladejo added.

Last week, two people died in Barangay Gallego, Taranganan, Samar and 22 others were hospitalized due to paralytic shellfish poisoning, after eating green mussel gathered in Cambatutay Bay. Irong Irong Bay and Calbayog Water border Cambatutay Bay. Authorities found 225 micrograms saxitoxin in every 100 grams of shellfish meat collected in Cambatutay Bay. In water, toxins were present in 2,158 cells per liter.

With this phenomenon, BFAR has also intensified its monitoring in nearby Maqueda Bay, known as the major source of green mussel in Samar.

“We will be collecting samples twice a week to check possible of red tide toxins there. This is to safeguard public health,” he said.

The bureau expects worsening red tide bloom if rainfall would occur in the area after a few sunny days.

“Just like in Cambatutay Bay, there was a two-week dry season before the area was hit by rain brought by storm Gorio.

Run off from mountains and residential areas triggered red tide bloom,” the official added.

BFAR blamed the runoff from dump site that carries waste to Tarangnan River as one of the major causes of red tide occurrence.

In addition, Albaladejo said that fishes caught in red tide areas are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh, washed and cooked thoroughly.

Red tide is a term used to describe all phenomena which the water is discolored by high algal biomass or concentration of algae.

The discoloration may not necessarily be red in color but it may also appear yellow, brown, green, blue or milky, depending on the organisms involved. It may either be harmful or harmless. (PNA)

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JULY 2 - 8, 2013

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LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 31 Calbayog City IN RE: PETITION CANCELLATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JOY PAULA REYES ABOY JOY PAULA REYES ABOY Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CALBAYOG CITY, ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Respondents SPECIAL PROC. NO. 500 x- - - - - - - - - - - x ORDER

A verified petition has been filed by the Petitioner JOY PAULA REYES ABOY, praying that an order granting the petition and ordering the cancellation of the first registration (Annex “A”), Directing the National Statistics Office to admit the delayed registration as the official birth certificate of the petitioner.

LEGAL NOTICES

The Petition reads: 1. That the petitioner is a Filipino citizen, of legal age, single and a resident of Brgy. 09, Boao District, Catbalogan City, Samar, where she can be served with court processes; 2. That public respondent civil registrar of Calbayog City can be served with summons at his/her office at City Hall, Calbayog City, while public respondent NSO administrator can be served with summons and court processes in the NSO, East Ave., Quezon City; 3. That petitioner is an illegitimate child of Alfredo Tabones Aboy, Jr. and Rhoda Fe Arcales Reyes, having been born to them last February 28, 1985 in Catbalogan, Samar and was born out of wedlock as her parents were not legally married when she was born; 4. That unfortunately last March 29, 1985, his father, who was then a resident of Calbayog City, submitted to the Local Civil Registrar of Calbayog City a Certificate of Live Birth purportedly pertaining to her, copy of the said certificate is hereto attached as Annex “A”; 5. That however said Annex “A” contains errone-

ous entries as it does not reflect her true place of birth which is in said certificate “Calbayog City”, her first name is RECHELLE”, and her parents were declared to be “legally married in Pinabacdao, Eastern Samar last September 16, 1983”; 6. That when she was about to graduate in high school, she went to the NSO to obtain a copy of her certificate of live birth from said Office, but she did not obtain a certificate of birth which reflects the true facts of her birth; 7. That her mother caused for the delayed registration of petitioner’s birth with the acknowledgment of her father, at the local civil registrar of Catbalogan, Samar, copy of it is hereto attached as annex “B”; 8. That the data above delayed registration of her birth reflect the truth and that they had been habitually, continuously and officially used in her official records, copy of said official documents are hereto attached as annex “C” and series; and 9. That she has been publicly known as JOY PAULA R. ABOY and not RECHELLE R. ABOY; Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and in sub-

stance, notice is hereby given that this case be set for hearing on AUGUST 23, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have an objection thereto may file any opposition and show cause why the same should not be granted.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the Petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the above-setting in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Samar and in Calbayog City.

Let copies of this Order be furnished the Solicitor General, Makati City, the Civil Registrar General of National Census and Statistics Office, Quezon City, the Local Civil Registrar of Calbayog City, the City Prosecutor, the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Calbayog City and the Petitioner and her counsel for their information and guidance.

SO ORDERED. Calbayog City, Philippines, June 21, 2013.

(Sgd.) REYNALDO B. CLEMENS Judge

SWE June 24 - July 1; 2 8 & 9 - 15, 2013

LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE Calbayog City IN RE: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. ANGIEBEL A. DIVINAGRACIA-GO, Petitioner, x- - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF HEARING Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petition for notarial commission of ATTY. ANGIEBEL A. DIVINA-

GRACIA-GO will be held on July 17, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, at the session hall of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 31, Calbayog City. Any person who has any cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned before the date of the summary hearing.

(Sgd.) REYNALDO B. CLEMENS Executive Judge

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 27 (Family Court) Bulwagan ng Katarungan Catbalogan City, Samar IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE MINOR, SOPHIA ISABELLE CABONIOS VILBAR,

BY SPOUSES ELMER RAGADIO SORIA AND EMELITA TEVES SORIA SPS. ELMER RAGADIO SORIA AND EMELITA TEVES SORIA Petitioners, SP. PROC. NO. 8226-320-13 x- - - - - - - - - - - -x ORDER

biological parents Lea Bacsal Cabonios and Fernando Baladjay Cabonios.

Petitioners pray that after due notice, publication and hearing, a judgment be rendered to the effect that thenceforth, the minor child SOPHIA ISABELLE CABONIOS VILBAR be freed from all legal obligations of obedience and maintenance with respect to her natural parent, and be in all legal intents and purposes, the child of the petitioners; that she be allowed to use the surname of the adopters; and that her surname be changed to SORIA which is the surname of petitioners.

The petition being sufficient in form and in substance is hereby set for hearing on July 22, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Catbalogan City.

The Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Regional Office No. VIII, Tacloban City, through its Social Welfare Officer, is hereby directed to prepare and submit its Child Study report on the adoptee as well as her biological parents and Home Study Report on the prospective adoptive parents and indicate a recommendation on or before the date of hearing.

The court Social Welfare Officer II Ms. Annie Llauderes

Filed with the Court is a verified Petition by Spouses Elmer Ragadio Soria and Emelita Teves Soria through counsel Atty. Gerardo C. Teves, for the adoption of the minor Sophia Isabelle Cabonios Vilbar. Said adoptee was born on October 11, 2009 in Brgy. Bagongon, Catbalogan City, Samar to her

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Baby Stroller Used Color blue P1,000 Slightly Neg. 09071079333 is likewise hereby directed to prepare her own Child and Home Study reports and recommendation to the Court on or before the date of hearing.

Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a duly accredited newspaper of general circulation published in the Province of Samar to be selected by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge of this Court.

Let a copy of this Order and the Petitioner be furnished to the Solicitor General of the Philippines, Provincial Prosecutor of Samar, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Regional Office No. VIII, Tacloban City, and Ms. Annie Llauderes, Court Social Welfare Officer II as well as the petitioners and their counsel.

SO ORDERED. Catbalogan City, Samar.

June 3, 2013.

(Sgd.) AGERICO A. AVILA Judge Designate

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DA eyes higher rice yield in 3rd cropping THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing an additional yield of 44,100 metric tons this year from 10,000 hectares of farm in Leyte Island, tagged as third cropping areas.

DA regional executive director Antonio Gerundio said they are largely counting on extra output from third cropping to achieve a 15 percent production growth rate from last year’s 994,972 mt yield.

This is the first time the farm department promote the third crop scheme in the region in the bid to meet higher production target.

“For the third crop, we will provide free seeds from our buffer stocks and free crop insurance. Protection is highly needed since typhoons normally hit the region on the later part of the year,” Gerundio said.

The 10,000 hectares was identified by the National Irrigation Administration based on the record of who among the farmers in Leyte and Southern Leyte were considered as “early harvesters.”

Planting for third cropping will start between August to September and harvest will be on December.

The first cropping took place from November 2012 to March 2013 while the second cropping runs from March 2013 to July 2013.

“This is the first time that the region will venture into third cropping. We really need this scheme to attain growth,” Gerundio said.

For 2013, the region is targeting an output of 1,151,628 metric tons or 156,656 mt more than the 2012 actual rice harvest.

For the first six months, the Bureau of Agriculture Statistics is eyeing a yield of 531,762 mt, while the second semester’s target is 619,866 mt.

Under the regular target, the farm department expects a 520,780 mt production from July to December in 136,249 hectares of planted rice fields.

The region is eyeing an additional rice yield of 85,647 mt from 28,757 hectares of new planting areas. Of the additional production target, 44,100 mt will be from third cropping; 22,624 mt from early planters; 9,055 mt from upland areas; and 9,868 mt for ratooning.

Upland farming has been promoted in Samar Island while rice rattooning technology has been established in Ormoc City.

“We also expect additional 13,439 mt harvest from traditional areas as farmers learned new technologies from our series trainings last year. The concentration is on the use of high yielding seeds,”

Gerundio explained.

The DA also identified additional 4,000 hectares hybrid rice planting in the second, third, and fourth districts of Leyte. The project will be implemented through a plant now pay later scheme.

Since the national government stopped the provision of seeds subsidy to farmers, only 40 percent of farmers are using quality seeds. About 60 percent of

farmers are using traditional seed varieties.

“Even if farmers want to buy seeds on their own, our local seed producers are not capable of supplying the demand. This is the gap that we are trying to address now,” he added.

Hybrid seeds produce 6.5 mt of unhusked rice per hectare, higher than 4.4 mt for certified seeds and three mt for traditional seeds. The region has 185,961 hectares of land devoted to rice farming or 19 percent of the 976,385 hectares of farming area. (PNA)

BFAR monitors areas for possible fishing ban on ‘galunggong’ TACLOBAN CITY -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Eastern Visayas is monitoring the seawater surrounding Samar and Southern Leyte provinces to determine the population of round scad, locally known as “galunggong” for a possible closed season of fishing of the fish species in the said areas.

Dr. Juan D. Albaladejo, Jr. BFAR-8 regional director said the government is mulling over a fishing ban for galunggong to address the dwindling supply and bring down its price.

“BFAR was inspired by what happened in the sardine closure last year, but banning galunggong remains a plan up to now,” Albaladejo said.

“We have so far monitored the seawater of Maasin City that is connected to the Visayan seawater, and galunggong population is thriving. It has been a larger catch compared to that of Palawan,” Albaladejo added.

The Samar Weekly Express Editorial Staff and Employees strongly support the immediate passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill!

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