11th May 2013

DSWD fears deluge of 'beneficiaries', appeals Pols not to use 4Ps in election Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 11, 2013, 3:58 am   By Jani Arnaiz May 11, 2013 MAASIN CITY – The provincial link of the 4Ps program (Pantawid Pilipino Pamilya program) of the DSWD expresses fear that a deluge of “beneficiaries” will come to their office after the elections saying the program was used reportedly by Liberal Party to get votes for their local candidates. Manneth Catina, provincial link of the 4Ps program said, “We are afraid that after the election those who are being listed even if not qualified to be a member would come to our office and would blame us if they will be turned down.” She said the evaluation for new members has been suspended at the start of the election period “so that the program to alleviate the poor will not be politicized.” She stressed, “We did not receive any order from the national office to continue the evaluation. If ever there is one we have nothing to do with it.” She admitted in an interview that they received report that a certain Rico Cajife, who claimed that he is the NAPCI coordinator in Southern Leyte, is coordinating with the local Liberal party in listing possible beneficiaries of the 4Ps. She also said that the form they used is different from what we are using. “We are appealing to the politicians not use the 4Ps for political ends,” Catina said. Cahipe is reportedly using a form with the picture of Pres. Aquino with markings of Liberal Party and yellow ribbon. The report also alleged that leaders of local LP are facilitating the listing with the promise that they will become members of 4Ps. “There is no ongoing National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), the arm of the 4Ps for indentifying poor families,” said Catina adding that those who will qualify are only those who have 0-14 aged children. “Even if they are poor but they have no children with 0-14 age requirement they will not become a member.” Catina pointed out that no one can delist the beneficiaries as long as they follow the conditionalities. She said that among the conditionalities are pre and post natal check-up for pregnant mothers, 0-2 years old should have monthly check-up and in every two months for 3-5 years. Six to 14 years old should undergo deworming and attend monthly family development session and should attend school for at least 85 percent. The beneficiaries received P500 per household monthly as health grant, P300 per child per month for education and P1,400 for those who have three children enroled in school. Cajife in an interview with local radio station, he said that the on-going listing is a special project for Southern Leyte from the National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPCi) which will end on May 30. He said did not get cooperation from the local officials so he coordinated with the local LP. Several calls and text messages were made but Cahipe never returned the calls and answered text messages.  Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

10th May 2013

Mammoth crowd in LP miting de avance Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 10, 2013, 12:04 am   By Jani Arnaiz May 10, 2013  MAASIN CITY -- Hundredsof people mostly wearing yellow shirts flocked at an open space at the wet market area on Thursday for the miting de avance of former Gov. Rosettte Lerias and her LP candidates. Lerias faces mayor Malone Samaco and her daughter Marisa against gov. Damian Mercado for a seat in congress. This would be their third face-off against Samaco and Mercado respectively. Liberal party gubernatorial bet Robert Castanares would be up against Rep. Roger Mercado, who is running for governor after his term ended as Rep. of the lone district of Southern Leyte. This is the second face-off between the two. They fought it out for a seat in the House in 2007. The LP bets took turns in lambasting the incumbent officials of alleged corruption. Their supporters lapped it up when one of their speakers, Engr. Anggo Astorga, enumerated the alleged corruption at the Capitol and the city hall. Just days ago, Astorga was a job order employee of the province and a mouthpiece of Gov. Mercado’s two blocktime programs at a local radio station DYDM. The flip-flopping Astorga as anchor of the provincial government’s program castigated former Gov. Lerias administration for graft and corrupt practices. At the public plaza fronting the city hall, St. Bernard mayor Rico Rentuza, who is running as congressman, presented his platform of stand up for a change in his own miting de avance. He is supporting the candidacy of Robert Canstanares and Sogod mayor Sheffered Tan who is up against Board Member Roberto Lagumbay for vice governor. Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

28th February 2013

Kangleon memoirs relocates to permanent place Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on February 28, 2013, 6:07 pm By Rebecca S. Cadavos MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- The memorabilia of the late war hero, Col. Ruperto K. Kangleon is scheduled to be transferred tomorrow, February 27 from Saint Joseph College (SJC) to the city-run Maasin City College (MCC) said Maasin City Investment Officer Willy Justimbaste in a phone patch over radio station DyDM.  The scheduled date of the transfer will coincide with the 55th death anniversary of Kangleon, a former secretary of the National Defense and senator.  "A more historic, meaningful and symbolic ceremony will be conducted during the transfer of Kangleon memorabilia,” Justimbaste disclosed during the “Maasin City in Action” regular program.  A Holy Mass will start the day activity at 5:30 a.m., to be followed by the transfer ceremony from SJC to a designated room at the second floor of the MCC which will house the personal belongings, among other valuables left behind by the former statesman. “A covenant signing of Board Resolution will be done after the program proper,” Justimbaste disclosed further.  It was learned that the board resolution states that MCC will be the permanent location of Kangleon memorabilia. It will be inked by MCC President Mayor Maloney Samaco and MCC-VP Vice Mayor Ma. Effie Abiera-Sabandal and will be witnessed by the Kangleon family and clan, among other expectators. (PIA8-Southern Leyte) - See more at: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R08&article=1291361848187#sthash.5WsgN9nv.dpuf Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

23rd January 2013

Police, radio station criticized over accident involving governor's son Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on January 23, 2013, 4:03 am By Jani Arnaiz January 23, 2013 MAASIN CITY – Politics turned ugly as it gets in the way in a tragic road accident involving a grandson of the late former city councilor and a son of a top official of the province that led to the death of the victim, a jolly four years old boy. The accident happened last Sunday afternoon when everybody was crossing the Tomas Oppus street in Mantahan, a fishing village in the poblacion of this city to watch the annual fluvial parade of Senior Sto. Nino in the seas along the city’s coastal villages. The parade coincided with the Cebu grand Sinulog mardigras Witnesses said that a boy aged between 4-5 ran across the street alone towards the seashore just in time when a Hammer type jeep was cruising on the same street, hitting the boy on the head. The victim died hours after he was brought to the Salvacion Oppus Yniguez Memorial Provincial Hospital. Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

22nd January 2013

DOH-funded projects in So. Leyte almost complete Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on January 22, 2013, 6:17 pm By Marcelo M. Pedalino Tuesday 22nd of January 2013 MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- Several health-related projects funded by the Department of Health (DOH) under its facility enhancement program here in the city and other areas of the province are almost complete, according to Dr. Joselito Trumata, the Provincial Health Officer. In a recent phone interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Trumata said the status of these projects was the subject of his report during the Health Summit scheduled in Manila January 17.  Some P148 million was allocated by the health department for Southern Leyte province to cover construction or upgrading of wellness centers such as rural health units and hospitals, and the provision for some needed equipment, Trumata said.  He added that the amount was good for three years - from 2010 , 2011, and 2012.  It was learned that among the infra projects were construction of rural health units I and II for Maasin City, and Pintuyan hospital, and Trumata said that P8-million worth of equipment are due for delivery. The only remaining task at hand is the P8-million allocated for Limasawa hospital, but this was already decided that P 4 million will be used for upgrading the Limasawa hospital which would be converted into a rural health unit.  The other P4 million will be for the health facility at Padre Burgos, Trumata further said. (mmp-PIA8, Southern Leyte) Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

10th January 2013

Twas a good year for So. Leyte, says Rep Mercado Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on January 10, 2013, 12:25 am   Pres. Aquino administration poured more than P200 million   By Jani Arnaiz January 10, 2013 MAASIN CITY – The year just past has been a very good year for the province of Southern Leyte in terms of government infrastructures and other projects, says solon. “It was a very good year for us, because almost all the major infrastructure projects have been implemented,” said Rep. Roger Mercado of the lone district of Southern Leyte. Mercado pointed out the infrastructures as the P40 million Panan-awan airport improvement, the P56 million alternate port in Guadalupe (Can-iwan) and the five new Spanish bridges worth P126 million in Silago which connects the province to Abuyog in Leyte in the eastern seaboard and in San Ricardo on Panaon island. The cost of these Spanish bridges is a loan grant from the Spanish government to the Philippine government. The former will provide materials for the superstructure while the construction of the substructure will be on Philippine government side. “These infrastructure projects have been implemented in year 2012. What more can we asked? We should be thankful to Pres. Benigno Aquino for including us among his priority provinces,” emphasized Mercado, whose three terms as Congressman ends this year. He said these are aside from the regular projects implemented by the DPWH’s Southern Leyte Engineering District (Sled) like the second Subang Daku bridge along the Subang Daku river in Sogod which is worth about P100 million including its road component in Concepcion village. “The bounty from Pres. Aquino’s administration to the province belies the claims of the opposition that Southern Leyte will be left out without infrastructure or projects,” the solon said. The opposition claims was based on the incident where then presidential hopeful Sen. Aquino and his LP party were not allowed to use the city gym in their campaign sortie here in the city in the last presidential elections of 2010. They have to make do with a makeshift stage in front of the Maasin cathedral. In another development, Sled district engineer Carlos Veloso disclosed that the province’s engineering district will receive more than P300 million appropriation this year for its regular infrastructure projects. He said the amount is 50 percent more than last year’s appropriation of around P200 million plus. The Southern Leyte engineering district consistently topped all other districts in Eastern Visayas in the last seven years in terms of performance.     Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

18th December 2012

Bgy. Concepcion to be vibrant again with Subang Daku bridge 2 Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on December 18, 2012, 10:51 pm   By Jani Arnaiz December 16, 2012 SOGOD, Southern Leyte— Older residents of Concepcion village in this town turned emotional and could not hide their happiness as the second bridge in Subang Daku river was inaugurated at the same area where a wooden bridge used to be. Concepcion village chief, Danilo Aguilon said that their village was vibrant until a new bridge was built in along the Maharlika highway abandoning the exiting one. “Since then we became a lonely barrio. Some residents were leaving the area because it’s already far from the town center.” He added, before it would only took us a few minutes of travel because the stretch is only about three km but after the bridge was transferred we have to go around passing by the Maharlika highway in going to Sogod town proper and the distance is about 10 km. For a while we didn’t understand why the bridge was transferred but soon enough we accepted our faith. A resident, in her sixties could not hide her happiness. She profusely thanked Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado and his brother, Gov. Damian Mercado, other provincial and DPWH officials for the bridge in the old site of the Subang Daku river, the biggest in the province. It would shorten travel by 7 km in going further south and to Mindanao. It’s not only the biggest, the river flow always meander that one politician twitted “bridge finish river no more.” While the project was implemented by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Southern Leyte Engineering District monitored the construction of the P80 million second bridge and the component 1 km concrete road that cost s more than P10 million. In his speech, Mercado thanked Pres. Aquino and repeated the new DPWH slogan, “the right projects at the right time with the right cost, with the right quality for the right people.” “Let us thank President (Benigno Pnoy) Aquino for giving us this beautiful bridge which would lessen travel time and easy access for your produce. Let us take this and advantage and maintain it so that our children’s children would still benefit from it. He added that the village would become vibrant again and the lots would become expensive. "Expect it to happen soon enough before you would know it."   Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

4th December 2012

Maasin City delegates at Batang Pinoy 2012 elimination in Tacloban City Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on December 4, 2012, 9:22 pm (By Rebecca S. Cadavos, Tuesday, 20 Nov 2012) MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte (PIA) – Maasin City sports delegation are in Tacloban City to compete for the Batang Pinoy 2012 Visayas Leg taking place November 21-28, 2012. Maasin City Sports Council staff Daryl Cinco informed that there were around 60 delegates from the locality who went with the team including coaches, trainors, athletes and the delegation head Dominador Rojas and staff. Cinco said that Maasin City delegation will compete on different events such as arnis, badminton, boxing, chess, swimming, lawn tennis, taekwondo and athletics. "The gold and silver medalists of the Visayas Leg is set to compete for the National Batang Pinoy 2012 on December 5-8, 2012 to be held in Iloilo city," she bared. The Visayas Leg is the elimination round for the national competition. It will be competed by athletes ages 15 and below from Regions 6, 7 and 8. "Last year, Maasin City athletes competed the national championships held in Naga City, Camarines Sur and went home at least 10 medals for different events such as in lawn tennis – singles and doubles, badminton single and doubles, boxing, and taekwondo," Cinco reported. Batang Pinoy 2012 carries the theme "Batang Pinoy….YES! A Youth Excellence in Sports Program." (PIA8-Southern Leyte/FMGM) Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0 More than 4,000 evacuated due to typhoon "Pablo" Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on December 4, 2012, 12:59 am By Jani Arnaiz, December 4, 2012 MAASIN CITY – More than 764 families were evacuated to evacuation centers and public school building due to typhoon “Pablo,” said Marichu Tan, head of the office of the Civil Defense in the province. Tan said although signal number 3 was lowered to number 2 in the province, preempted evacuation continues. The evacuees were from Sogod, 86 families, St. Bernard 500, Limasawa 123, Padre Burgos, 15, Pintuyan 24, Hinundayan 16 and Maasin City 30 families. Tan said two houses in Hinundayan were partially damaged by strong winds. She also disclosed that a fisherman from Liloan indentified as Juanito Polbo who went missing early dawn was found alive in Saub village (Barangay) in San Ricardo. Tan also reported that a fire in San Juan town burned down 7 houses. Faulty electrical wiring caused the fire. At around 2:00 p.m., 30 families from Mambajao village were seen evacuating to the DILG gym in Capitol.No officials from the DSWD in the province or in the city and from PDRRMC attended the evacuees, said an evacuee. Maasinreporter online news called the Provincial Disaster Management Office (PDMO) for updates but the one answered could not give any. They didn’t even know whether there were evacuees. Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

3rd December 2012

Southern Leyte province ready for 175 kph typhoon "Pablo" Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on December 3, 2012, 1:03 am By Jani Arnaiz December 3, 2012 MAASIN CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened Monday morning to assess the province’ preparation as typhoon “Pablo” moving west northwest which trajectory would likely hit the province. Gov. Damian Mercado, who presided the meeting as PDRRMC chair, told PDRRMC focal person, Elfledo Hernandez and heads of offices to tighten their contingency plans to prevent unnecessary casualty and damages. “We convened this meeting to assess our readiness so that we can plan thoroughly what to do in case typhoon “Pablo” hit our province,” Mercado said adding, “We should do our best to prevent casualty or major damages.” Read more... Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0