SWE April 23 - 29, 2013

VOL. 10, NO. 38

APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

CATBALOGAN CITY

8 PAGES

Samar Weekly

EXPRESS Chronicling Events in Samar Island Since 2002

The Exponent of Samar’s Progress

P5-M Jetty Port projects launched in Basey

BASEY, Samar -- Travel to Sohoton Cave, one of the premier tourist attractions in Eastern Visayas, is now made easier with the opening of the P5-million jetty port here Saturday.

Tourism undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation Ma. Victoria Jasmin and regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes on Saturday

See JETTY page 3...

DURING PRES. AQUINO’s VISIT IN CALBAYOG CITY

Rep. Sarmiento assured of significant post in Congress after elections

Candidates present road map of governance to city residents

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA, SWE News & Features

CATBALOGAN CITY -– Three mayoralty and two vicemayoralty aspirants presented their respective road maps of governance to city residents during a candidates’ forum at this city’s St. Mary’s College of Catbalogan Saturday.

Candidates city councilor Step Uy-Tan of the Liberal Party; former mayor Jesus B. Redaja who runs as independent and political neophyte Michael Reynolds Tan of the Nationalist People’s Coalition tried to impress the 60, 535 registered voters here to win their votes this May 13 with their plans and programs for the city.

Rejada, who was a three-termer mayor of the city, proposed

See CANDIDATES page 2...

CALBAYOG CITY -Samar’s first district Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento is not just an ordinary congressman once he goes back to the House of Representatives after this 2013 midterm elections.

This was assured by President Benigno S. Aquino during the political sortie of Team PNoy and local candidates amid cheers reverberating inside the jam-packed Calbayog City Sports Complex on Friday.

The President, who lauded Sarmiento for his works as secretary-general of the Liberal Party, said that he will introduce the Samar solon to the whole country, although it was not categorically stated if his going to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Regional police leads 100 bikers for SAFE 2013 in Samar See STORY p/3...

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Comebacking mayoralty aspirant in Catbalogan Jesus B. Redaja presented his road map of governance to the city voters. His opponents also presented their own platforms.

(Photo courtesy of Rommel Rutor)

DEVELOPERS

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BEETHOVEN M. BERMEJO Manager/Proprietor

Sec. Roxas, Rep. Sarmiento, Mayor Aquino inaugurate new Calbayog BFP building

President Benigno A. Aquino III, during his Friday’s visit in Calbayog City, announced the nearly completion of the Samar Coastal Pacific Road that connects the provinces of Northern and Eastern Samar as well as the “abortion road” that connects Samar and Eastern Samar provinces. (Ricky Bautista)

See SARMIENTO p5...

DESIGNERS

NEW BFP BUILDING IN CALBAYOG. DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II assisted by Samar’s First District Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and BFP officials, performed the ribbon-cutting of the P6.485-M Calbayog City Central Fire Station located in Barangay Capoocan, Calbayog City, April 26. (Ricky J. Bautista)

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CALBAYOG CITY – Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II on Thursday graced the blessing and inauguration of the P6.450-M worth of Calbayog Central Fire Station in Purok 2, Barangay Capoocan, this city.

The secretary assisted

by Samar First District Representative Sarmiento and Mayor Ronaldo Aquino performed the ribbon-cutting which was immediately followed by the blessing of station officiated by Rev. Msgr. Francisco H. Cinco III around 4p.m. of April 25, Thursday.

The city’s new BFP station was funded by the Bu-

See ROXAS page 5...

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Samar Weekly Express

2

THE REGION

APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress

Official ballots for midterm election arrive in Tacloban

PRO-8 starts local absentee voting

2, 500 jobs up for grabs in E. Visayas on Labor Day

Comelec to prioritize PWDs, Preggy and oldies on May 13 poll

TACLOBAN CITY -- Official ballots that will be used for this city this midterm elections are now in the custody of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) here.

A total of 189 packages containing the official ballots for distribution to all polling centers in the city were received by City Treasurer Zosima Cordaño. They will be stored at the CTO for safekeeping.

Cordaño said the packages will be available for verification by the different party representatives, candidates, and official election watchdogs until May 3.

Personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be stationed round the clock to safeguard the ballots.

On May 4, personnel of the CTO will group the ballots for distribution to the respective polling centers, and will be opened only on May 13, Election Day by election inspectors and teachers assigned to the polling precincts.

As per record of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the city, Tacloban has 109,027 registered voters distributed in 189 polling precincts and 37 polling centers. (PNA)

TACLOBAN CITY --The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is inviting job seekers in Eastern Visayas to avail of the 2,500 job vacancies that are available this Labor Day. DOLE regional director Exequiel R. Sarcauga said that the major activity for the celebration is the job fair that will be held at the Tacloban City Convention Center. As of Monday afternoon, the office has received confirmation from 35 local employers offering 1, 000 vacancies and five overseas manning agencies with 1, 500 approved job orders.

Rose P. Jervosa, regional coordinator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said that job orders available do not include household service workers or domestic helpers as per the directive of DOLE secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

“Job orders vary. We do not allow participation of agencies that have job orders of merely domestic workers,” she stated.

Jobs available overseas include among others professional, technical and service workers, construction and those in the operatives or heavy equipment.

Sarcauga added that they look forward to 15 percent of the registered applicants to be hired on the spot (HOTS). The documentation of HOTS extends up to 30 days after the job fair is conducted and not on the day when the event was held.

Their names will also be uploaded immediately into the DOLE website, he added.

Meanwhile, aside from HOTS applicants, the DOLE will also be documenting those that are “near hired.”

Near-hired applicants according to Sarcauga will be referred to the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) for possible training.

This year’s Labor Day celebration anchors on the theme “Manggagawang Pilipino: Handa na sa Hamon ng Makabagong Panahon.”

The theme he said underscores the need for workers to be ready and competitive amid the “continued changes in the world of work and the past-paced changes in technology.” (PGL/PNA)

2 Taclobanons among OWWA scholars this year CATBALOGAN CITY -- Two incoming college students from Eastern Visayas have qualified for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) starting this school year.

Rannikka Ann S. Mondoñedo from the Philippine Science High School-Eastern Visayas campus and Earl Antonell P. Doctolero of the Eastern Visayas State University High School are among the 105 national qualifiers of the program, according to OWWA 8 director Norma Del Rosario.

The two scholars, who both reside in Tacloban City, will be signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the OWWA in the coming weeks, Del Rosario said.

Mondoñedo, a daughter of a sea-based overseas Filipino worker (OFW), ranked sixth among the qualifiers. She is planning to take up Bachelors Degree in Clothing Technology at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

Doctolero, whose brother is working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), plans to take up Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management at the Leyte Normal University.

TACLOBAN CITY -Police officers who registered in the local absentee voting started casting their votes Monday at the Matapat Hall of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8) regional headquarters in Palo, Leyte.

S/Supt. Roel Acidre, chief of the PRO police community relations (PCR) said that they are expecting a 100 percent turnout for their 355 police officers coming from various police provincial offices (PPOs). He added that all policed officers who applied have

PALO, Leyte -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here will give priority to pregnant women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the upcoming May 13 automated midterm polls.

Palo election officer Eunia Vacal said there is no need to designate a separate lane for these people considering that voters from these sectors are few.

Vacal said they will also provide a holding area where voters could wait for their turn.

Records show that Palo town has around 35, 930 registered voters but those who are expected to cast votes declined due to local absentee voting.

Nonetheless, Vacal said that they are ready for the mid-term polls.

She added that teachers who will serve as members of the Board of Elec-

been advised of the start of the two-day voting.

Acidre explained that those who availed of the absentee voting probably believed that they could no longer cast their votes amid their various field assignments for the May 13 polls.

The proceedings for the two-day exercise started 8:00 a.m. Monday and will end at the close of office hours.

Palo election officer Eunia H. Vacal also sits as observer.

Vacal said that once the casting of votes is completed on

Tuesday, their ballots will be sent to the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Manila for the manual counting.

She said that PNP personnel who signified to avail of the local absentee voting but failed to do so could still cast their votes during the elections day at precincts where they have been registered.

Howe ver, t hos e w ho availed of the absentee voting will be manually stricken out from the list of the computerized election of registered voters.

“After this the regional command will be furnishing us a list of those who availed of the absentee voting then we will be crossing out their names from the list of computerized voters list,” she explained.

The two-day voting is being facilitated by S/Supt.

Nilo Donayre, chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Doctrine Development (RPHRDD) assisted by S/Supt. Manuel Cubillo and Supt. Carlito Gallardo. (PNA)

NEW BFP IN CALBAYOG SAMAR. Department of Interior on Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II poses with the regional, provincial and city officials and members of the Calbayog City Central Fire Station during its turn-over, blessings and inauguration of the new fire building located in Purok 2, Barangay Capoocan, Calbayog City, April 25. (Ricky J. Bautista) tion Inspectors (BEIs) and their support staff will have their final briefing on May 3 while the final testing and sealing of ballots will be held on May 6.

She said official ballots have been delivered on Monday and they are just waiting for the arrival of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines.

(PNA)

Scholars of the program are entitled to a P60,000 annual subsidy or equivalent to P30,000 per semester leading to a four-to-five year baccalaureate course in any college or university of their choice.

EDSP is a competitive study grants program that puts premium on the academic profile of the applicant more than the economic status. This means the qualified OFW dependent could avail of the program regardless of the OFW benefactor’s salary bracket.

Every year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Science Education Institute (SEI) conducts the EDSP qualifying exam simultaneously in Manila, Batangas, Pangasinan, Cavite, Davao City, Laguna, NCR, Iligan City, Tagbiliran City, Naga City, Iligan City, Negros Occidental, Butuan City, Bataan.

The examination is also administered in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the State of Bahrainto qualified applicants who are sons and daughters of active OWWA members. Siblings not older than 21 years old of unmarried OWWA members may also apply for the scholarship.

For this school year, a total of 4,506 graduating high school students applied for the program but only 105 have qualified.

Region 4-A (CALABARZON) topped the other regions in terms of number of passers, followed by National Capital Region (NCR), Regions III and VI and Middle East. (Ricky J. Bautista/PNA)

CANDIDATES from page 1 ...

that the coconut industry here should be well supported because it is the main livelihood of the Catbaloganons.

If elected, he said he would provide a source of revenue that would give way to uplift coco farming.

He also wanted to continue his previous programs that focused on health, agriculture, education, livelihood, and youth empowerment to make city residents happy.

Meanwhile, Uy- Tan, the daughter incumbent city mayor Coefredo Uy and wife of the incumbent vice-governor James Tan, said residents need more programs on health, tourism, economy and education.

She promised to construct more health centers, public toilets, and other infrastructure projects.

Reynolds Tan, a political neophyte, disclosed his TRIP (Trabaho, Reporma, Iskolar, Panlawas) program.

He also shared the opinion of other candidates favoring the reclamations projects in the city.

They believed it could give more business expansion and invite investors to construct major establishments such as malls.

Reynolds Tan is the son of incumbent Rep. Mila Tan and younger brother of incumbent Samar governor Sharre Ann Tan and vice governor James Tan. Meantime, vice mayoral aspirants to include incumbent vice-mayor Art Gabon of LP and former vice-mayor Van Torrevillas of NPC showed off their previous accomplishments as they offer to ensure check and balance, review of current ordinances and support to whoever wins as mayor.

The event was organized by the Samar Partnership for Peace and Development (SPPADE), Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Calbayog, Samar Island Press Club, Philippine National Police, Commission on Elections and other media outlets.

The organizers said the next forum to be graced by candidates for the gubernatorial, vice-gubernatorial and congressional candidates for the province of Samar will be slated on May 4, 2013.

Catbalogan City, with a population of 94,317 based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, is Samar’s main commercial, trading, educational, political and financial center.

It is also an important and major seaport serving inter-island vessels.

Samar Weekly Express

APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

PEOPLE & EVENTS

3

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TRAVEL & TOURISM

DOT aims to draw more tourists for Eastern Visayas

Regional police leads 100 bikers for SAFE 2013 in Samar

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA, SWE News & Features

Sohoton Natural Bridge Nat’l Park, Basey, Samar CATBALOGAN CITY -- The Department of Tourism in Eastern Visayas is developing more destinations in a bid to draw half a million tourists here by 2016.

The 523,842 target tourists will be composed of 485,385 domestic tourists from this region, Central Visayas and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The remaining 38,460 are expected to come from the United States, Australia, Japan, Europe, Korea and China.

In 2011, the region was visited by 365,467 travelers, of which 338,099 local tourists.

Government data indicated that foreigners visited famous landscapes and landmarks in the region particularly the San Juanico Bridge, Palo Cathedral, Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park, Leyte Sab-a Basin Wetland Agri-Eco Park, Lake Danao, Tabuk Marine Park, and Mac Arthur National Park in Leyte; Limasawa Island, Agas Agas Adventure Park and Guinsohotan Falls in Southern Leyte.

Mainit Hot and Cold Springs, Caibiran Waterfalls, Higatangan and Sambawan Island in Biliran; Calicoan and Homonhon Islands and Amandaraga Falls in Eastern Samar; Biri Rock Formation and Capul lighthouse in Northern Samar and Sohoton National Park, Bangon Falls and Rapids and Calbiga Cave in Samar also joined the list of attractions that drew thousands of tourists annually.

Eastern Visayas is world renowned for its natural ecological beauty and historical significance during the World War II. Tacloban City, the first highly urbanized city in the region and dubbed as the economic capital, served as jump off point thus facilities to make destinations accessible are already being developed.

Foremost of these is the DZR Airport which is being developed into an international airport.

(Ricky Bautista/PNA)

JETTY from page 1 ...

graced the turn-over and inauguration rites of the projects situated in Samar’s Basey town.

They were joined by Atty. Joy Bulauitan, assistant chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Basey mayor Igmedio “Junji” Ponferrada and An Waray Representative Neil Montejo, who lobbied for the funding of the said project.

The group inspected the first project in Brgy.

Binungtuan and proceeded to Basey wharf for the inauguration ceremony. Basey wharf is the jump off point of tourists visiting the region’s premier attraction – the Sohoton Show cave.

Sohoton Cave is part of the 840-hectare Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park (SNBNP) that was declared a national park in 1935.

It is located inside the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), the country’s largest protected area that has natural wonders like waterfalls, underground streams and caves with unique rock formations aside from a lush forest and wildlife species.

Tiopes said the jetty port would make Golden River cruise to the famed Sohoton Cave safer and more convenient for tourists and visitors using motorized banca.

“The project aims to boost tourist arrival in the iconic tourism site in the island of Samar,” said Tiopes.

Mayor Ponferrada thanked the DOT and the An Waray partylist for the help and support extended to his municipality. He said the arrival of tourists in the area increased every other year.

Rep. Montejo led the “Tagay para Ha Kauswagan” (Toss for Progress) during the said inauguration.

(Ricky J. Bautista/PNA)

CATBALOGAN CITY -- In another effort to ensure secured and fair elections come May this year, the regional police here has conducted a Peace Caravan for SAFE 2013 early morning Sunday.

More or less 100 cyclists from different biker associations in the region have participated in the peace caravan which kicked-off from Calbayog City and Calbiga town and converged at Samar’s capital Catbalogan City plaza.

In Samar, members of the Samar Off-Road Bikers Association (SORBA) led by its president Mr. Ashley Albaña and DILG Northern Samar Provincial Director Valentin Bajet who also led a group of bikers pedaled the 72 kilometers distance from the city of Calbayog to Catbalogan and arrived at the convergence point as early as 5 a.m., Sunday.

In Leyte, meanwhile, bikers from Tacloban City Police Office Bikers Association (TCPOBA) led by S/ Supt. Romulo Cleve Taboso, Samar Adventure Mountain Bikers Association (SAMBA) headed by Joel Cinco and Catbalogan Bikers Association (CBA) led by Aaron Garcia also biked the 44 kilometers road distance from Calbiga town to Catbalogan City.

The caravan from Calbayog City passed through the municipalities of Sta. Margarita, Gandara, San Jorge and Tarangnan in the province’s first district while bikers from Calbiga passed through the towns of Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong and Jiabong, all in the second district of Samar.

At the convergence point, a short program spearheaded by Samar Police Provincial Director S/Supt.

Eusebio A. Mejos and other SPPO officials was held which formally ended by the simultaneous release of white balloons symbolizing the advocacy of Secured and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2013.

“The support and participation of the bikers is a welcome development and exemplifies a good partnership from various sectors of society and PRO8 in attaining SAFE 2013,” said C/Supt. Elmer R. Soria, the PRO8 regional director.

The EV’s top cop, who wore sporty attire, added that the activity aimed to promote awareness among the electorate and political candidates in securing vital support to ensure secured and fair elections in Samar province, one of the identified priority areas for the midterm polls.

“The caravan (also) forms part of the left-hand effort initiated by PRO8 to achieve peaceful polls, aside from conducting focused police operations,” Soria said.

Earlier, the regional police initiated the peace covenant cigning in Calbayog City with DILG Secretary Mar Roxas presiding and supported by the Roman Catholic Church, other election stakeholders and the candidates themselves.

Regional police media officer Inspt Romuel Nacar said that the PRO8 also initiated the Unity Walk and Prayer Rally for SAFE 2013 in Tacloban City in a show of full support in attaining a peaceful May 13 polls.

Inspector Nacar said that all the activities were attended by thousands of community residents and the candidates themselves.

“Aside from these events, the police line units in the region also conduct and support candidates’ forum, peace dialogues, media engagements, coordinating conferences, voter’s education and house visitations to ensure a peaceful elections,” Nacar disclosed. (Ricky J. Bautista/PNA)

BIKE FOR SAFE 2013. Bikers from all over Samar and Leyte making formations as the police leading the group yet to signal the start the roadtrip for peaceful election.

BIKE FOR SAFE POLL. Bikers from all over Samar and Leyte follow the convoy of the police group in the campaign for SAFE 2013. (Photo courtesy by Insp. Romuel Nacar)

Team Pnoy sortie in Calbayog City:

Aquino underscores tremendous tourism potentials of Samar CALBAYOG CITY -The province of Samar has a great potential in tourism and electing leaders aligned with the administration would make it easy for the province to tap this potential.

In his message during his meeting with local Samar leaders and the community, the President said tourism has been the major growth driver for Region 8.

He said that in 2010, the province posted 140,000 tourist arrivals but in 2011, it rose to more than 360,000 in 2011, tripling the number in a one-year period.

“Tiyak ko pong habang tinutukan natin ang imprastuktura sa inyong rehiyon ay dadami pa lalo ang mga turistang namumula’t sa kagandahan ng Samar,” the President said.

The President also mentioned a beautiful place in Brgy. Malahog in Calbayog City where a tall rock formation stands at the mouth of a river going out to the sea.

He said the area is a potential tourist destination.

He said he’ll ask Tourism Secretary Mon Jimenez to coordinate with investors who are willing to put their money to develop the area and make it a tourism destination.

The chief executive also mentioned the P38.5 million Manguino-o Port pier expansion and passenger terminal building here in Calbayog City that is expected to boost tourism and trade.

The government is focusing in developing the country’s tourism sector because it is considered as one of the growth drivers and as such plays a major

Bangon-Bugtong Falls, Calbayog City role in job generation.

Overall, the country has a tremendous potential in the tourism sector, the President said.

The government originally targeted 35 million tourist arrivals by 2016, but in 2011 the government already surpassed the target by generating 37 million tourists.

The current target for 2016 is 56 million, the President said.

In the past, Samar areas weren’t working together to lift the province collectively and this limits its progress, the President said.

This is the goal of the Samar Road rehabilitation project that aims to build and rehabilitate more than 220 kilometers of road that will connect Samar and Eastern Samar as well as the Samar Pacific Coastal road that in turn connects Northern and Eastern Samar.

“Oras na makumpleto ang mga ito giginhawa ang daloy ng kalakalan at paghahatid ng mga serbisyong panlipunan.

Ang resulta --- dere-deretso at malawakang pag-asenso sa buong isla ng Samar.”

“Sa huli po, lahat ng mga hakbang na isinasagawa natin sa tuwid na daan ay nakatindig pa rin sa iisang diwa. Hinahatid natin sa taumbayan ang pamahalaang inuuna ang kanilang kapakanan sa halip na ang uri ng pamumunong sarili lang ang iniintindi,” he added.

The President arrived in Samar Friday morning to inaugurate the Manguino-o Port and rally support for the administration’s candidates this coming May 13 polls. (PNA)

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OPINION Samar Weekly Express

DALMACIO C. GRAFIL Publisher

APRIL 23 - 29, 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.

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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)

EDITORIAL Shameful signs Look around and you will see many political ads being brandished as if governance is a conjugal or family affair. The utter shamelessness of claiming things as if of the family when in truth are funded by public funds is common practice among politicians. One need not look too far to know that these politicians whose faces are bannered in large print sinages are using taxpayers’ money for their projects.

Yet they put their pictures with their large print names to announce as if the project is their own. But the public does not mind at this practice as they know too well that the funds behind those shameless faces are actually theirs.

The practice is in essence thievery of the highest order as it poses claim over a thing not belonging to the claimant. It truly is ironic that we are infuriated at the sight of street snatchers and pickpockets grabbing things from innocent victims and find nothing wrong with politicians grabbing what belongs to taxpayers. It is hard to reconcile our attitude towards poor thieves and those high ranking robbers who pose to grab credit and all from the projects made out of people’s taxes.

Most prominent are pictures of politicians of local governments whose faces are seen everywhere within their territory. Such practice is owing to the fact that the implementation is under the politicians in the locality. Programs and projects are therefore realized through the final act of these officials. This is the reason why all other officials who had actually done their share in the implementation of the program or project are concealed in the background of the main players.

Aside from the local chief executive however, we often see the representative in congress or the governor and senator who extended funds for the project as also credited in the bannered project sign, with their equally large pictures and names. What are left unseen are the small cogs that somehow helped in the realization of the program or project, like the local legislators who cooperated in providing allocation from the budget. The only exception has to do with legislators who are too intimately close to the local chief executive because that affords a good space in the bannered advertisements that are nothing but shameful tags.

Hints and Traces

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Let’s be good partisans NOW that we are again into exercising our duties as citizens to elect our public officials, we need to remind ourselves to be good partisans.

To be partisan is unavoidable among us as we try to choose our options in our effort to organize ourselves as a people journeying in this world toward our ultimate goal in heaven.

This is nothing to be surprised about, and should not cause us some misplaced fear as long as we live that aspect of our life properly.

To be partisan is a consequence of our human condition.

Since we cannot help but have different backgrounds, preferences, views, etc., neither can we help to avoid being partisan of what we think would serve our interests as well as those of the others, or in fact, what would serve our common good.

We need to be respectful though of the different and even conflicting opinions, and just try our best to settle or resolve our differences in ways that are fair and charitable.

To be fair and charitable while being partisan can mean many things. It can mean always trying to enter into dialogue instead of imposing one’s opinions on others. That is why we need to promote anything that can enhance dialogue. We need to hear all sides that have something to say about a certain issue.

It can also mean the effort to get a consensus when a variety of options is presented. As much as possible we have to agree to a certain device or mechanism to arrive at a consensus. In other words, the rules of the game should be set out and accepted by all parties as much as possible.

Underlying all this is the attitude of charity and understanding towards others. No matter how strong we feel about views, ours or those of others—and indeed we can be strong in our views in certain situations—we should never lose this attitude of charity and understanding.

To be Christian about it, what we need to do, more than just voicing out our views and positions, is to pray and offer sacrifices before, during and after expressing these views and positions. We need to understand that it’s not only reason, much less, passion, that should be mainly used in sorting out our differences.

See HINTS page 5...

Samar Weekly Express APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

Politicians keeping many Filipinos poor

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world…” (James 1:27, the Holy Bible).

-oooWHO TO VOTE FOR ON MAY 13: With barely two weeks to go before the May 2013 elections, an effort must be made by all those who want to see real progress and development in this country to ensure that the candidates who will win are only1.8845 those who are possessed with good qualities and impeccable desire to serve the people. Who are these candidates?

As far as I am concerned, these are the candidates who will not buy votes, who will not place their posters and other campaign materials in places not designated by law, who will not terrorize the supporters of their political foes, who will not kill their adversaries. Anyone doing any of these should no be voted into office.

Then, voters must look at the lifestyle of the candidates: do they have mistresses, children out of wedlock, riches beyond their salaries and businesses, and tried and tested loyalty to their political patrons? Again, anyone of these candidates should not be elected. If Filipinos would still be voting for them, then, they get the officers they really deserve.

-oooPOLITICIANS KEEPING MANY FILIPINOS POOR: But, do Filipino voters now have the capacity to make an informed choice as to who to vote for? Perhaps, some of those who belong to the so-called middle class---or those who were lucky enough to become professionals and land stable jobs---can really claim

HINTS from page 5 ...

We have to use the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, because these are what are truly proper to us in our discussions as persons and children of God. Reason and passion without these theological virtues can get us nowhere but spiraling tension and conflict.

We should see to it that our mind and heart be freed of any trace of resentment, anger and the like during and after the exchanges. We should try to avoid as much as possible illegitimate biases and prejudices, always keeping an open mind and the attitude of quickness to understand, disregard and forgive whenever some mistakes are committed by the parties involved.

What should ideally happen is that greater love and understanding is achieved after the discussion, and even after one’s position is outvoted or defeated. Especially when the differences are merely matters of opinion, we should not make a big fuss as to whether who wins or who loses. We just accept what the consensus says.

And even if the differences are serious matters of faith and morals, we should make sure that that such situation does not entitle us to go against the requirements of justice and charity.

While it’s true that we can employ certain techniques and tactics of persuasion that can also be strong and forceful, we should see to it that we don’t depart from the sphere of justice and charity.

In fact, whenever we have to assume a strong position we have to make sure that we also are stepping up our eagerness to be most fair and charitable, only using legitimate means even if they involve inconveniences.

In this regard, we have to realize more deeply that we need to be vitally identified with Christ. It’s the only way we can remain truly fair and charitable amid these sharp and painful differences.

Vital union with Christ would teach us how to be patient, how to see things in the context of eternity, far from a narrow and shallow view of things and from a knee-jerk reaction to issues. It would teach us how to be merciful even as we try to go ahead with a strong and clear vision of things and do our best to win our case.

Views on News

By Ricky J. Bautista trexpelunker@yahoo.com

(This column will resume next issue. Ed.)

OPINION

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that they can make an intelligent decision. But to the millions who are poor and underprivileged, it is clear that choosing the appropriate candidate is a near impossibility.

That is why politicians take advantage of, and abuse, them.

This class of voters can be easily manipulated, enticed and even terrorized. This is why, in many cities and municipalities, officials do not really aspire to provide employment or stable jobs, or bountiful harvests in fields and agricultural lands. It is to the best interest of crooked and greedy politicians that Filipinos remain poor.

With Filipinos remaining poor and uneducated, their dependency on the political kingpins in their towns, cities and provinces, likewise remains. This dependency assures the continuing complete control of a good number of voters, to assure the politicians’ perpetuity in office, and their being succeeded by their wives, husbands, sons and daughters.

-oooFILIPINOS MUST BE EDUCATED ON SPIRITUALITY: The objective therefore should be to educate Filipinos wherever they maybe. And by this “education” I don’t mean a formal education which, by reason of poverty, most often reaches only to the last year---grade six---in elementary school. What I mean is, educating Filipinos on spirituality and righteousness, no matter what their religion or spiritual affiliations might be, no matter how poor they maybe.

If our countrymen are given the desired training and instruction on who or what is God, and are inspired with a life based on spirituality and righteousness, even if they have not received any formal education, they will be able to decide what is good not only for themselves but even for their fellow Filipinos. They will know what is good and what is bad---they will know who among the candidates will do good and who will be corrupt.

They will know, because God---whatever they conceive Him to be---will guide them.

That is why believers of every sect and denomination must endeavor to instill in the minds of their followers their basic doctrines, because these basic doctrines are centered on holiness, obedience to God, and care and concern for other believers and other men and women. It is only when there is a renewing of the minds of believers, when they no longer conform to the evil patterns of the world, that godly strength comes over the country and would propel it to its rightful destiny.

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

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‘Wanted votes for sale!’, vote-buyers scream

By CHITO DELA TORRE, QN Samar Post

SINCE I opened my eyes to a partisan political election, at the time between Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party, with very few independent candidates for different positions, and understood how it goes, I have not seen anyone from among Waray candidates or electors being charged, much more imprisoned, for violating election laws. That holds for vote-buying, of which, while there is a law on that, none has even been charged for vote-buying, much less for vote-selling. Perhaps the law on that being without teeth should be removed instead. I actually have not heard or seen any official from the Commission on Elections filing charges against any violator among Samarnons and Leytenhons.

If the law against vote-buying is deleted from the Omnibus Election Code, come every election, up to the barangay and sangguniang kabataan levels, we will still continue to see candidates, or their leaders, going out to give cash (between P50 and P2,500 per voter, as noted during the 2010 synchronized elections, which translates to higher amounts in the May, 2013 elections), and voters in every barangay or voting center, and even inside precincts, asking for a monetary value to their votes, from every candidate who is willing to give money in exchange for a voter’s vote.

With or without the law, we will still continue to observe that Comelec officials (up to the city and municipal levels), not doing radical actions to correct this political cancer that, by reason of their continued failure to act appropriately or to do what is right pursuant to the law that they are sworn to uphold and enforce, continues to infect every new set of young voters.

That is how corrupt societies are – whether in Region 8 or anywhere in the Philippines. There are no sacred cows. But, as always, our hope to correct this malady remains in the hearts and

See QN SAMAR page 7...

SARMIENTO from page 1 ...

5

He added that personally he would talk to all members the House of Representatives that if they intend to sustain reforms that have been started by the current administration then they need people like Sarmiento.

Aquino said that while he would now be serving at the national level yet the people of Samar will not also be shortchanged, instead they too could benefit.

The President in campaigning for Sarmiento lauded him for his efforts to reduce the incidence of poverty in Calbayog to 38.7 percent in 2009 from 66.5 percent in 2007. Aquino said that the decline was the biggest reduction that happened among cities in the country during the said period.

Meantime, he also asked the support of the people of Calbayog for mayoral re-electionist Ronaldo Aquino if they would like to fast-track developments in this city.

He also campaigned for LPs gubernatorial candidate, Aika Uy and other local candidates in Samar province. (Pearl Lena/ PNA)

ROXAS from page 1 ...

reau of Fire Protection, Sarmiento’s PDAF and the city government. Its 285 square meter lot was donated by the city, it was learned.

The station, manned by 28 on-call personnel, 36 JOs deployed by the city and other fire volunteers has six fire trucks which will expected to serve the population of 172,778 (37,395) as of National Statistics 2010 census.

In his message, he underscored the bravery and courage behind the men and women of the BFP when they rush to enter the building on fire while civilians’ rushes to get out from the scene.

While saying that it is the first BFP building he inaugurated as DILG chief, he said he was quite impressed by the structure.

The BFP building is complete speaking on personnel bunk houses, dispatch area, kitchen, administration, and park space that can accommodate four fire trucks in the chambers.

The secretary assured the Calbayog BFP personnel and officials to provide more equipment such as hand held radios, fire coats and boots, gloves, helmets, and other fire fighting gears.

Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, on the other hand, discussed his ambition to train the city’s fire fighters to act not only as fire fighters but also rescuers and accident first responders.

He extended his gratitude for his Mr. Palengke friend, whom he toured around the city’s public market and carenderias.

Roxas even tried the city’s street foods and drove the city’s main transport called “center car” – a 3-wheled ‘jeepney’ designed motorized cab.

City Fire Marshall Inspector Romeo A. Jaca thanked the government through Secretary Roxas for the untiring support given to the bureau as he vowed to be in active to prevent and suppress destructive fires, investigate its causes, provide medical and rescue service and enforce fire-related laws for the safety of the community.

The inauguration was attended and witnessed by City Mayor Ronald Aquino and his councilors, BPF regional and provincial officials as well as the media representatives in the city

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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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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 32 Calbayog City IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF NEW OWNER’S DUPLICATE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 1621 IN LIEU OF THE LOST ONE, CORAZON SALAS TIMAN, Applicant/Petitioner LRC No. 316 x- - - - - - - - - - - - x ORDER

This is a verified petition for Issuance of New Owner ’s Duplicate Original Certificate of Title No. 1621 in lieu of the lost one, filed on October 09, 2012, by petitioner, thru counsel, praying among others, that after due notice and hearing an order be entered directing the Register of Deeds of Calbayog City, Province of Samar to issue a new owner’s duplicate Original Certificate of Title No. 1621 in lieu of the lost one, the same be regarded as the owner’s duplicate Original Certificate of Title No. 1621 for all purposes of the law.

The petition reads: That petitioner is of legal age, Filipino, married, and with residence and post office address at Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City, Samar; that she is the vendee of a certain parcel of land more particularly described as follows: A parcel of land covered by Original Certificate of Title No. 1621 situated in Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City, Samar, designated as Lot No. 5392, Case 4, Cadm. 422 bounded on the North along line 1-2 by Lot 5394, Case 4, Cadm. 422; On the East along line 2-3 by Lot 5608, Case 4, Cadm. 422; on the South along line 3-4, by Road and on the West along line 4-1 by Lot 5391, Case 4, Cadm. 422, containing an area of Seven Hundred Forty (740) square metesr, more or less and registered in the name of Marcelino Giray”

That said parcel of land was sold by the registered owner Marcelino Giray to Porferio Gara sometime in July 24, 1991; that upon execution of the deed of sale, Marcelino Giray delivered and handed to Porferio Gara the owne’rs duplicate original copy of the Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. 1621; that on June 6, 2001, Porferio Gara sold portion of said parcel of land to herein petitioner; that the remaining portion of the parcel of land was again sold by Porferio to herein petitioner sometime in July 9, 2008; that after the sale of the remaining portion was effected on July 9, 2008; Porferio Gara delivered and handed said owner’s duplicate original copy of OCT No. 1621 to petitioner which she kept inside a cabinet in her bedroom in her house in Brgy. Trinidad, Calbayog City, Samar; that in year 2008, while the petitioner was in the United States, she had a renovation of her house which included the refurbishing of the cabinet where she kept the owner’s duplicate original copy of OCT No. 1621. After the renovation, she was informed that the owner’s duplicate original copy of OCT No. 1621 can no longer be found and was lost during the house renovation; that when petitioner finally came home to the Philippines, she was able to confirm that indeed owner’s duplicate original copy of OCT No. 1621 is lost and can no longer be found despite diligent efforts to retrieve and recover it; that she reported to loss of said owner’s duplicate copy of OCT No. 1621 to the Register of Deeds of Calbayog City through execution of Affidavit of Loss on September 21, 2012; that despite having been issued Certificate Authorizing Registration (CAR), petitioner cannot cause the transfer to her name of OCT No. 1621 unless the owner’s duplicate original copy of said title be re-issued and reconstituted; that said owner’s duplicate original has not been pledged or delivered to any person or entity to secure payment or performance of any

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LEGAL NOTICES obligation but was lost solely.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case is set for initial hearing on July 22, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have objection thereto may file any opposition and show cause why the petition should not be allowed.

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

Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the petition and all its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, the Registry of Deeds of Calbayog City, the Office of the City Prosecutor of Calbayog, the parties and their counsels, for their information and comment.

SO ORDERED. IN CHAMBERS, February 20, 2013, Calbayog City.

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGUILAR Acting Presiding Judge SWE April 9 -15; 16 - 22 & 23 29, 2013 issues

LEGAL NOTICES

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 32 Calbayog City IN RE: GRAPHICAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION TO NUMERICAL TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IN THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 14704.

SPS. ARTURO & CECILIA OLASIMAN, Petitioners -versusTHE REGISTRY OF DEEDS, CATBALOGAN CITY, Respondent LRC No. 317 x--------------x ORDER

This is a verified petition for Graphical Technical Description to Numerical Technical Description in the Original Certificate of Title No. 14704, filed on October 17, 2012, by petitioner spouses Arturo & Cecilia Olasiman, thru counsel, praying among others, that after due notice and hearing, an order be issued directing the Office of the Registry of Deeds for the Province of Samar,

Catbalogan City, to inscribe in the Original Certificate of Title No. 14704 the numerical technical description of the subject property as appearing in the records of Bureau of Lands, DENR, Regional Office No. VIII, Tacloban City, in lieu of graphical description appearing therein.

Finding the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, notice is hereby given that this case is set for initial hearing on July 22, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have objection thereto may file any opposition and show cause why the petition should not be allowed.

Let copy of this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner, once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks prior the above-setting in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Samar and in the City of Calbayog, and likewise let a copy of this order be posted, for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the date of hearing, at the Bulletin Board of the Following: 1.

R e g i o n a l Tr i a l Court, Branch 32, Calbayog City 2.

Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Calbayog City

3.

Municipal Hall of Tagapul-an, Samar; and 4.

Barangay Hall of Brgy. Luna, Tagapul-an, Samar Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the Petition and its annexes, to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) at 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City; the Office of the City Prosecutor, Calbayog City; the Administrator of the Land Registration Authority; the Director of Bureau of Lands, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Office, Tacloban City; the Register of Deeds of Catbalogan City, the adjacent property owner’s of OCT No. 14704 found in Brgy. Luna, Tagapul-an, Samar, the parties and their counsels, for their information and comments.

SO ORDERED.

IN CHAMBERS, February 20, 2013, Calbayog City.

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGUILAR Acting Presiding Judge SWE April 9 -15; 16 - 22 & 23 - 29, 2013 issues

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Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region Catbalogan, Samar Office of the Executive Judge RE: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC FOR AND IN THE CITY OF CALBAYOG AND IN THE PROVINCE OF SAMAR ATTY. OPHELIA S. LLOSA Petitioner x- - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF HEARING

Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petition for notarial commission of Atty. OPHELIA S. LLOSA shall be held on May 9, 2013 at 11:00 in the morning. Any person who has any cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto before the date of the summary hearing.

April 29, 2013, Catbalogan, Samar.

(Sgd.) AGERICO A. AVILA Executive Judge

SWE April 23 - 29, 2013 issue

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Samar Weekly Express APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

ENVIRONMENT

DENR nearing 48,000 target for NGP

LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 32 Calbayog City IN RE: ISSUANCE OF A NEW OWNER’S DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE EDUARDO B. GOMEZ, Petitioner -versusTHE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF CALBAYOG CITY, Respondent LRC No. 319 x- - - - - - - - - -x ORDER

This is a verified petition for issuance of a new owner’s duplicate Certificate of Title, filed on March 07, 2013, by petitioner thru counsel, praying among others, that after due notice and hearing, the Court will issue an Order directing the registers of Deeds of the City of Calbayog for the issuance of a new owner’s duplicate of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1943.

The petition sets forth the following material allegations: That petitioner is of legal age, Filipino, married, with residence at Clearwater, Crystal Cove Garden, Baguio City, and at Brgy. Capoocan, Calbayog City; that petitioner is one of the legitimate children and heirs of the late Tomas Gomez, Jr. who was the registered owner of a parcel of land covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 1943, duly registered with the Registry of Deeds of the City of Calbayog; that

petitioner was the one who kept the said TCT No. 1943, but a few years ago, he entrusted its safekeeping to his late brother Jose Gandhi B. Gomez. Upon the latter’s death early last year, petitioner discovered that the said TCT No. 1943 is missing and inspite exerting effort to find it, same can no longer be found; and that as a result of the said loss, petitioner executed an Affidavit of Loss, a copy of which was furnished the Office of the Registry of Deeds, Calbayog City.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, let the petition be set for initial hearing on August 05, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, during which, all those interested are directed to show cause why the application shall not be granted.

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

Furnish copy of this Order together with a copy of the petition and all its annexes to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), 134 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City, the Registry of Deeds of Calbayog City, the Office of the Prosecutor of Calbayog, the parties and their counsels, for their information and comment.

SO ORDERED. IN CHAMBERS, April 2, 2013, Calbayog City, Philippines.

(Sgd.) FELICIANO P. AGUILAR Acting Presiding Judge

SWE April 9 -15; 16 - 22 & 23 29, 2013 issues

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QN SAMAR from page 1 ... minds of every upcoming youth leadership generation. The only sad fact though is that every year, since Dr. Jose Rizal’s time, we keep mumbling for this ideal to already happen. Yearly, none of this happens as it should when we talk of a larger population. On the contrary, we find youth leadership corrupting itself, if not the villain itself, because it refuses to strike a balance between protagonist lines.

Many do bemuse themselves whenever they hear about strides to quash vote-buying (never “vote-selling”).

Meanwhile, as I have been saying in this corner, “wise” female and male voters never mind that issue.

All their minds are preoccupied with their readiness to accept “each time” a candidate, or a “coordinator”, hands out wads of easy money. Others among them become wilier when they finally decide to vote only for the highest giver (vote-buyer).

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Public school teachers need living wages -- solon

MANILA -- A lawmaker has vowed to pursue his proposal to upgrade the minimum salaries of public elementary and high school teachers from Salary Grade 11 to Level 15 to motivate and maintain highly qualified teachers “The current salaries of public school teachers do not compare favorably with other occupations in government. Their salaries are unable to insure a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families,” ACT Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

HB 2142, authored

by Tinio, which was referred to stakeholders by the Committee on Appropriations on September 20, 2010 for consideration and comment, would best be taken up early by the incoming 16th Congress.

“A duly licensed professional teacher occupying the entry-level position of Teacher 1, with a monthly salary of P15,649 earns substantially less than a high school graduate who enters the Philippine Military Academy as a cadet, with a monthly stipend of P21,709,” Tinio noted when he filed his measure in 2010.

Tinio added that neither does teachers’ pay compare favorably with those employed as call center agents in the pri-

vate sector. The salary for call center employment, which requires neither formal education nor a bachelor’s degree, ranges from P12,500 to P20,000 a month.

In 2010, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the family living wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) was estimated at P957 per day or more than P21,054 per month, in sharp contrast to the P15,649 monthly salary of a Teacher 1.

“In order to cope with this ‘living salary gap,’ teachers resort to borrowing and are heavily indebted to government financial institutions such as the GSIS, private lending entities, or even loan sharks,” Tinio said.

Tinio lamented that the situation is pushing the most qualified teachers out of the country to seek better pay and working conditions. While an entry-level Teacher 1 receives P203,437 annual pay, Filipino teachers in the United States receive annual salaries ranging from P1.5-million to P2.1 million.

“The efforts of government to upgrade the educational system cannot succeed for as long as teachers are taken for granted,” Tinio stressed.

It is interesting to

note that under a Joint Resolution of Congress No. 4 on July 28, 2008, the modified Salary Schedule for Civilian Personnel, to be implemented in tranches, shows that Salary Grade 11 ranges from P18,549 (Step 1) to P19,887 (Step 8) and Salary Grade 15 ranges from P24,887 (Step 1) to P26,868 (Step 8).

The JR No. 4, further states that “the total Compensation Framework shall exclude all indirect compensation under existing laws such as, but not limited to: life and retirement insurance benefits; employees compensation insurance; health insurance; PagIBIG Fund benefits; and Provident Fund benefits.”

Among other provisions stated in the Joint Resolution is that an employee may progress from Step 1 to Step 8 of the salary grade allocation of his/her position in recognition of meritorious performance based on a Performance Management System approved by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and/or through length of service, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be promulgated jointly by the Department of Budget and Management and the CSC. (PNA)

ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office 6 is now nearing its target for the National Greening Program (NGP) with about 20,000 trees currently planted in the region.

DENR Regional Technical Director Livino Duran said they have already planted about 20,000 trees out of their 48,000 target for Western Visayas.

Duran said of the presently number of planted trees, 13,000 were planted in Iloilo province as of 2012 under the Action for Regreening and Transformation (ART) Program launched of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. He said that the tree planting program of the local government unit in Negros Occidental in coordination with the DENR is also helping the NGP attain its goal.

NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of the government established by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 issued on Feb. 24, 2011 by President Benigno S. Aquino III. It seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide within a period of six years, from 2011 to 2016.

Aside from being a reforestation initiative, the NGP is also seen as a climate change mitigation strategy as it seeks to enhance the country’s forest stock to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.

It is also designed to reduce poverty, providing alternative livelihood activities for marginalized upland and lowland households relating to seedling production and care and maintenance of newly-planted trees.

As a convergence initiative among the Departments of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and DENR, half of the targeted trees to be planted under the program would constitute forest tree species intended for timber production and protection as well. The other 50 percent would comprised of agroforestry species.

Areas eligible for rehabilitation under the program include all lands of the public domain. Specifically, these include forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservation, urban greening areas, inactive and abandoned mine sites and other suitable lands.

The program was officially launched by the President in May 2011.(PNA)

S. Leyte’s St. Bernard town vies for global disaster-risk reduction award MAASIN, Southern Leyte -- St. Bernard, Southern Leyte’s fourth class municipality, competes for the 2013 Sasakawa Award of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

St. Bernard, amid its being a disaster-prone area in the Philippines, has been continuously strengthening its efforts on responding to emergencies as evidenced by its being a consistent recipient of the Gawad Kalasag by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRMC), according to Rosalinda Jane Araneta, information officer of the town.

“Our town continues to strengthen its best practices on reducing risk exposures,” Araneta said.

To recall, in 2006 at least 200 people were buried alive when Guinsaugon, a village of St. Bernard, was hit by what was dubbed as one of the world’s worst landslides.

The tragic incident caused various organizations here and abroad to extend help in rebuilding the lives of affected communities likewise prepare at-risk communities for any similar eventuality.

Since 2006 the municipality has partnered with the numbers of stakeholders, civil society groups and other volunteers to help them make capabilities stronger in reducing the possible impact of disasters that may hit the local town.

The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is one of three prestigious prizes established in 1986 by founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa. The two others are the World Health Organization (WHO) Sasakawa Health Prize and the UN Environment Programme Sasakawa Environment Prize.

The winner of the US $ 50,000 will be revealed at the 2013 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), the world’s foremost gathering on disaster risk reduction attended by leading thinkers in the field.

Nominees will also receive certificates of distinction and merit.

This year’s gathering with a theme “Acting as One” is the 4th Session of the UN Global Platform for DRR will be held at the International Conference Center in Geneva this May 19-23, 2013. (RJB/PNA)

Leyte athletes start winning Palaro medals TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Sports Academy athletes had already gathered two medals from two different sporting events at the on-going Palarong Pambansa 2013 being held in Dumaguete City, said Ruben Tamayo of LSA. The first was a bronze medal by Justin Estrimos, a 2nd year high school student of LSA and from the city of Baybay, in the 400 meters free style competition, Wednesday (April 24) swimming competition.

The highest medal so far from the athletes of LSA is the silver medal by Melissa Escoton, a 2nd year high school student from Tanauan, Leyte, in the 100 meters hurdle competition.

“We are expecting more medals because we still need to compete in several events,” said Tamayo over phone interview.

The official said that they have more than 20 athletes competing in three fields of sports, boxing, track and field and swimming.

Most of the athletes are competing for the track and field which, according to Tamayo, they have high chance of garnering more medals.

Moreover, the LSA official also revealed during the interview that five of their athletes were among the victims of food poisoning that happened before the start of the Palaro and they were immediately provided with their medical needs.

The official added that aside from providing the athletes with medicine they also provided supplementary drinks to rehydrate them before the competition started this week.

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Villar gets endorsement from Charismatic Group FORMER Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar got another boost in her senatorial bid after she was endorsed by the Catholic Conscience Vote Phils. (CCVP), an equipment of pro-life, pro-family charismatic communities and organizations.

In a meeting, the CCVP’s Secretary-General Antonio Ag. Medina said they decided to back her candidacy due to her strong stance in the preservation of human life and protection of family.

During her stint as member of the House of Representatives for nine years, Villar supported the passage of significant measures to protect the interest and welfare of the family and its members. Villar is running for senator under Nacionalista Party-Team PNoy In backing Villar, Medina cited the “NO Vote” of her husband, Senator Manny Villar, on the passage of the RH bill in the Senate. He likewise said the Villar couple are long time members of the Couple’s For Christ (CFC), which they have actively been supporting.

The CCVP, which has 600 allied Catholic communities and organizations nationwide, was conceptualized to help pro-life and pro-family candidates win votes.

“While there is the so-called ‘command votes’ from El Shaddai of Brother Mike Velarde, Kingdom of Jesus Christ of Apollo Quiboloy, Jesus Is Lord of Brother Eddie Villanueva and the Iglesia Ni Cristo, the Catholic vote is now shaping up after the RH (issue),” related Medina.

The CCVP was formed in consonance with the January 28, 2013 pastoral letter of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) calling for “circles of discernment” to examine and question the sincerity, quality and effectiveness of governance of our leaders and to answer the question “Is there a Catholic Vote?”, among others.

The CCVP believes that, to the spiritually mature, a public office is an opportunity for service. The office will bring them and the people they serve closer to heaven. “Love them by voting them into office,” it stated.

However, to the spiritually immature, a public office is an occasion of sin. The office will bring them and the people they deceive closer to perdition. “Love them by not voting for them,” added the charismatic group.

Aside from Villar, CCVP will also endorse the candidacy of reelectionist Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV. Villar, Pimentel and Trillanes were also earlier endorsed by the White Vote Movement led by El Shaddai.

CCVP also vouches for senatoriables JC delos Reyes, Lito David and Mar Llasos, all running under Kapatiran, which the group describes as the “only political party with a platform and programs that are aligned with the teachings of the Catholic

Ombudsman reminds gov’t officials, employees on April 30 SALN deadline MANILA -- Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales Friday reminded all government officials and employees to file their Statement of Assets, Liabilities and NetWorth on or before the April 30 deadline.

Morales cited Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713 or Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees “requiring all government officials and employees to submit declarations under oath of, xxx their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.”

Under the law, government officials and employees are required to file their SALNs “(a) within 30 days after assumption of office; (b) on or before April 30, of every year thereafter; and (c) within 30 days after separation from the service.”

Morales also reminded government employees to be truthful in accomplishing the SALN form as it is an important tool in determining illegally acquired wealth of public servants.

Recently, the Civil Service Commission released the new SALN form which shall be used starting this year by all government officials in accomplishing their SALNs. Morales warned failure to file SALN is punishable with suspension of one to six months for the first offense, and dismissal from service for the second offense.

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APRIL 23 - 29, 2013

8 Pages

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Man of the Hour: “Jimber”

Mrs. ‘Hanepbuhay’ Cynthia Villar Church.”

CCVP will officially proclaim their senatorial bets on April 28, 2013 during a gathering of about 6,000 leaders of the Soldiers of Christ, Servant communities and other member organizations in Maypajo, Caloocan City.

The officers of the CCVP are Bert Alba, Chairman; Antonio Medina, Secretary-General; Nestor Camacho, Deputy Secretary General, Ricky Presa, head of the Council of the Laity, Diocese of Paranaque; Bro. Alberto “Ting” Arcadio, National Head Servant Soldiers of Christ and Fr. Leonardo Polinar, National Shepherd Servant Coomunites, Fr. Melvin Castro and Bishop Jose Colin Bagaporo serve as spiritual advisers while retired Supreme Court Justice Leonardo Quisumbing is the legal adviser. Lawyer Alonso Tinagan, Prof. Carmelio Cajayon, Jing Mendoza and Feloryn Delavin, Directors.

The members of the CCVP includes the following: Soldiers of Christ, Servants Communities, Transparochial Catholic Charismatic Alliance, Love’s Flock, Knights of Columbus Paranaque, Knights of Columbus Aklan, Catholic Vote Alliance, Unlad Kapanalig, Kawal ni Kristo (Bulacan Province) and Lunda Luntiang Daigdig. CCVP expects to deliver no less than 1.7 million votes.

HE is neither an action star on the big screen nor a prime leading man on telenovelas we used to watch on televisions. He’s not even Piolo Pascual or Dingdong Dantes, the movie actors that could launch loud screams from female fans. But for me, he’s the man of undeniable wit and intelligence armed with good governance to his constituents, that’s DOH-8 Regional Director Jaime Salloman Bernadas, Sr.,no less.

Intoy Jimmy or simply Jimber, as he was fondly called by his family and friends ,was born and raised in Kawayan, Biliran Province. He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Renenilo Bernadas.

Jimber used to be a privileged child and enjoyed his childhood.

He completed his elementary education in Kawayan Central School; in Divine Word University on his high school years and took his pre-med course and so with his MD in Southwestern University.

A loving husband to Kalilangan, Bukidnon MHO Dr. Elvira Concemino-Bernadas, a good father to his 3 children and a doting uncle to his nephews and nieces. Jimber is the man of simplicity, in other words “makamasa”.

A leader who knows how to adjust his new environment since he was formerly designated as DOH-10’s (Mindanao) Regional Director for years until he was transferred recently to Leyte.

An open-minded man, he’s open to possibilities. As the chosen leader to govern and represent the region’s healthcare department, he was loaded with heavy duties and responsibilities.

Jimber is the man whom we can trust and rely-on as to his caliber is effortlessly a “job-well-done”. Despite of the numerous awards and recognitions under his belt, Jimber remained humbled.

Whenever we are, wherever we may be, no matter how far we may go and our careers may take us he remained humble.

And, if one used to be a humble person from the beginning, no matter what and who he is today, that person will always be grounded. (Virna Luna N. de Loyola)