Procurement Service Sub-Depot opens in Calbayog City

Mayor Mel Sarmiento leading the ribbon-cutting ceremomy. Also in photo are (l-r) Maj General Arthur Tabaquero, Councilor Regina Rabuya, DBM-8 RD Imelda Laceras and Procurement Service Director Estanislao Granados.

The Procurement Service Sub-Depot at the Calbayog City Sports Center

The opening of the Procurement Service Sub-Depot in Calbayog was among the last official functions of Mayor Mel Sarmiento. Let me give you a report by my friend Ninfa B Quirante of the PIA.

Procurement Service subdepot opens in Calbayog City

Catbalogan City (25 June) -- The Procurement Service Regional Office 8 under the supervision of the Department of Budget 8 opens its third sub-depot in Calbayog City on June 24, 2010.

Located in the new Calbayog City Sports Complex, the depot will sell 300 most common office supplies.

Fr July Gaddi blessed the government procurement service depot with scores of government workers and media in attendance.

"I am thankful to DBM for believing in Calbayog, " Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said in his welcome remarks.

He stressed that he wanted to purchase quality office supplies without necessarily going to the tedious work of checking the quality, exact number and the prices.

With the sub-depot in their midst, the government agencies are then assured of quality and reasonably priced office supplies.

"The Calbayog sub-depot is strategically located and can serve, Catbalogan, Catarman and other LGUs, " stressed Sarmiento.

Mr Estanislao Granados, Procurement Service Director in the Region graced the launching along with Ms Imelda Laceras, DBM 8 Regional Director.

Director Granados surprised everyone when he addressed the crowd in fluent Waray, claiming later that he is from Leyte.

The director also revealed that since he is retiring, his attendance in the Calbayog event is his last public appearance.

Calbayog Sub-depot is the 10th provincial depot while there are 12 regional depots, accross the country, according to Director Laceras.

Both Laceras and Granados emphasized that Government offices are mandated by law to purchase office supplies in the depot which is now more accessible.

Atty. Isagani Togonon was assigned to lead the sub-depot along with some six Calbayog City employees deployed by the city government.

Laceras said that Procurement Service in the Region's biggest customer is the army as Samar island houses the 8th Infantry Division (8th ID)and three or four battalions.

The 8th ID commanding general, Maj General Arthur Tabaquero was present along with 20th Infantry Battalion Commander Jose Narciso. (PIA-Samar)

Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry

Let me give you a report which I received courtesy of PIA-8 and Eleen Lim of DYOG Radyo ng Bayan.


Tricycle driver wins national award on poetry
By Neil D. Lopido

Nemesio “Totoy” Baldesco, a tricycle “padyak” driver from Calbayog City, won the Jimmy Y. Balacuit Special Award on Poetry in the just concluded 17^th Iligan National Writers Workshop held at the Mindanao State University, Iligan City on May 23-28, 2010.

Baldesco was given with such meritorious award by the panel of critics from big universities in the country for his craftsmanship in his poem “Sikad” which talks about the life of a tricycle driver who takes pain in earning money just to feed his family and send his children to school.

The panel of critics who granted the said award were: Antonio Enriquez (Ateneo de Zamboanga), Leoncio P. Deriada (UP Iloilo), Merlie M. Alunan (UP Tacloban), Victor N. Sugbo (UP Tacloban), German V. Gervacio (MSU-IIT), Steven P.C. Fernandez (MSU-IIT), this year’s keynote lecturer, Lawrence Ypil (Ateneo de Manila University), and workshop director, Christine Godinez-Ortega (MSU-IIT).

Baldesco was the only fellow from Eastern Visayas. Along with him were: Bernardo Miguel from Calabanga, Camarines Sur; Paul A. Castillo from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila; Roberto Klemente R. Timonera from MSU-IIT, Iligan City; Gratian Paul R. Tidor, MSU-IIT, Dipolog City; Herminigildo M. Dico, MSU-IIT, Dumingog, Zamboanga del Sur; Jona B. Bering from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City; Jayson E. Parba, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City; Kyra Camille C. Ballesteros, Ateneo de Manila University, Taytay, Rizal; Romulo P. Pena, UP Diliman, Quezon City; Reynaldo A. Villaruz, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Roxas City; and Anili F. Butcon, Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

The said writer has already received numerous awards from various award-giving bodies. In Eastern Visayas for example, the Ibabao Arts Council of Calbayog bestowed unto him the Poet Laureate Award of Calbayog in 2008 during the Siday sa Kahanginan Poetry and the Provincial Government of Samar proclaimed him Champion in the Oral Siday Competition held in 2004 during the Samar Day Celebration. While at the national scene, Baldesco received a Gantimpalang Ani Award for Poetry in 1994 from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and in 2007 the Gawad Komisyon Karangalang Banggit for Poetry by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

As a traditional writer in Waray, Baldesco updated himself in contemporary writing through his active involvement in the annual Lamiraw Regional Creative Writing Workshop held in Northwest Samar State University ( NwSSU). His attendance in the Iligan workshop this year is a big leap in broadening his knowledge in poetry and literary criticism, especially in honing his craftsmanship.

Baldesco, 55, lives in Brgy. Matobato in Calbayog City, together with his writer-wife Ana and his children who are also artists in their respective fields. (PIA-8/Lamiraw)

CLEEP benefits more than 7,000 E Visayans

Calbayog City - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) has benefited some 7, 112 Eastern Visayans during its implementation.

In the recently held Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, the region’s National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that eight government agencies have implemented CLEEP.

Of the eight, the Departmet of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR hired some 3,054 Bantay Gubat and Upland Devlopment Program jobs.

Self Employment Asistance –Kaunlaran (SEA-K) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) followed next with some 1,488 job takers.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) came to a close third by employing some 1,310 Bantay Dagat operators.

Other agencies which provided CLEEP are DOH, DPWH, DOT, DTI and DOLE.

PGMA offered the program to enable the people especially the vulnerable sectors to sope-up with th economic crisis. (Ninfa B. Quirante with report from NEDA)

Breasfeeding advocates find ally in Eastern Visayas RDC

(From the Philippine Information Agency website)

Calbayog City (19 February) -- Breastfeeding advocates have found a new and formidable partner in its advocacy-Eastern Visayas RDC.

Yesterday, the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) proposed for the Establishment of Breastfeeding Rooms/ Corners in Government offices.

In the latest RDC meeting held at the Calbayog Sports Center, sponsored by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Regional Director Forter Puguon of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) presented the reasons why such move is pushed.

The move, said Puguon"s presentation is consistent with the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number one which is eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. "Breastfeeding," added Puguon "will also try to reduce chid mortality."

The DOLE Director also said that doing the act of establishment of breastfeeding rooms/corners in government offices will create an atmosphere of harmonizing with the right of the child and the UN MDG.

"It is also anchored in the global strategy on Infant and yopung Child Feeding (IYF-DOH)," stressed the presenter.

Aside from the given reasons, breastfeeding is also consistent with the much publicized Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos and the Updated Medium Term Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (MTPPAN) for 2008-2010, he added.

Because mothers refuse to breastfeed, 30% of under five children are underweight, according to the data presented.

The data stressed that only 16.1% of Filipinos are exclusively breastfed.

Meanwhile, a Filipina mom blogger wrote:

"Marketing by milk formula companies has become increasingly aggressive. The number of women who breastfeed their infants has gone down dramatically in just a few years, while the sales and profits of the companies have risen. The irony, in the words of Sen. Edgardo Angara, author of the Rooming-In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992, is that each year we import $400 million in milk formula, but spend P536 million to bury 15,000 bottle-fed babies, and another P3.5 billion to treat infant malnutrition and diarrhea. We needlessly fritter away our foreign exchange reserves. We forget nature"s first form of immunization, enabling the infant to fight serious infection. We forgo the benefits of birth spacing as a form of natural birth control."

As the RDC meeting folded up, RDC members could not decide yet whether to support the move or not, one member asked whether this does not violate a Civil Service rule, they still have to ask.

Another said, "Then, if bringing babies in the office may transgress civil service rules, at least let the mother express her milk in the workplace and store it in a refrigerator that the office can supply-at the very least." (Nimfa Quirante/ PIA-Samar)

International NGO to launch anti-trafficking project in Samar

Calbayog City (May 13) -- The International Justice Mission (IJM), an international NGO is set to launch Samar Anti-Trafficking Project on May 21, 2009 in Calbayog City.

In an interview with Project Coordinator Janette Bragais-Borac, she said that the US State Department has awarded them a grant to create a satellite office in Samar (Calbayog City) to combat child sex trafficking.

Borac added that she feels honoured to be of service to Samarnons.

The grand event will start with a motorcade at 8:00 am.

Expected visitors will come from the US Embassy and IJM's partners, including officials of the local government unit of Calbayog City, Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, local barangay officials and members of the local protestant and Catholic churches.

Based in an account, On March 29, 2009, IJM proved its readiness to respond to an emergency when the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer(MSWDO) of Gandara and the local police intercepted three minors and two adults bound for Manila.

IJM staff immediately tended to the aftercare of the victims and transported them to a government shelter.

The two adults who brought the minors were charged with trafficking.

Samar's field office aims to support IJM's field offices in Cebu and Manila by providing aftercare to trafficked children, reintegrate them with their families in the province.

IJM also aims to prevent the recruitment of children in Samar for prostitution in Manila.

In the international scene, IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppressions.

IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local officials to ensure immediate victims rescue and aftercare and to prosecute perpetrators and promote a functioning justice system.

The Arroyo administration has meanwhile opened in 2008, Bahay Silungan sa Paliparan (Shelter at the Airport) located along Ninoy Aquino Avenue and Chapel Road in Parañaque City.

The shelter with Visayan Forum is aimed to show the government's commitment to curb human trafficking which continues to prey on unsuspecting and trusting Filipinos, especially women and children. (Ninfa B Quirante / PIA Samar)

One Visayas heeds PGMA's call, embarks on a Climate Change Summit

(Mayor Mel Sarmiento will be in Cebu City today and tomorrow for the One Visayas Summit on Climate change. Here's a report from PIA-8)

Tacloban City (May 11) -- The three Visayas Regions, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas, unite as One Visayas as they address the global environment threat through a Climate Change Summit on May 11 and 12 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City, in answer to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's call for the adoption of necessary measures to mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming.

No less than Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been invited to attend the Summit to receive the Summit Outputs and to deliver a inspiring speech at the Closing of the Summit on May 12, Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, who is the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas, informed.

Mayor Sarmiento expressed hope that the members of the Regional Development Councils who have been invited to attend the Summit will participate actively, volunteer suggestions and help solve the problems of climate change and do their share in saving Mother Earth for this and the future generations.

DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr., is scheduled to talk about the Climate Change Initiatives in the Philippines.

Fr. Jet Villarin and Ms. Tony Loyzaga will present the overview of climate change, its consequences and impacts with focus on the Visayas Region while Dr. Julian Amador of the Environmental Management Bureau will present the GHG inventory of the Philippines.

In the afternoon, the participants will be divided into seven island groupings: Negros, Panay, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Small Islands.

The focus questions will include the major concerns of the respective islands; the current practices that have great impact on climate change (health, business, environment, social); and the specific mitigation and adaptation measures, either policies, programs and projects, that could be undertaken.

Other topics during the Summit are the Climate Change resiliency tools for LGUs; the opportunities for Carbon finance; and the legal aspects of climate change.

The highlights of the Summit are the covenant signing, presentation of the commitment and the action plans to the President and the keynote address of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

One Visayas is the brainchild of and is led by the chairpersons of the Regional Development Councils of each of the three regions, Antique Governor Sally Perez for Region 6; Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for Region 7 and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento for Region 8.

The One Visayas Climate Change Summit is the second major collaborative undertaking of the One Visayas Region. The first was the One Visayas, One Culture, One People fair held in the month of March. (PIA 8)

DPWH speeds up completion of Calbayog-Gatanguit Road Project

Tacloban City (April 8) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 8 is fast tracking the completion of the Calbayog-Gatanguit Road, a report at the DPWH website stated.

The project which is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's SONA commitment, is aimed at rehabilitating and improving the economy of Calbayog City and the other municipalities in Samar province.

It would be recalled that President Arroyo is determined to fulfill her SONA commitments before her term ends in 2010.

The project consists of improvement and widening of road; upgrading and widening road tracks and shoulders; building better drainage facilities and slope protection; and building road safety devices alongside the existing 52.7 kms road, along Maharlika Highway.

The road project also includes replacement of two (2) bridges and rehabilitation of thirteen (13) more bridges located along the Calbayog- Gatanguit.

The Calbayog-Gatanguit Road Section is under Package III of the Arterial Road Link Development Project and entails the improvement and upgrading of about 52.7 kilometers of existing road. The project, Director Angelito Twano informed started in November of 2006 and is scheduled to be completed by August of 2009.

Considering that Samar is located in the country's typhoon belt and runs along the route being passed by commuters from Luzon to Mindanao and vice versa, the road network is constantly subjected to destruction, and deterioration of roadways and shoulders, thus, the DPWH took immediate actions in rehabilitating and improving the road section.

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that taking immediate actions are necessary in improving the national road net. He also added that the DPWH does not only rehabilitate or reconstruct roads immediately but also continue producing new, lasting, safe and efficient roads and bridges to be more convenient. (PIA 8)

Army confers honorary membership to Calbayog City mayor

(Let me give you something from the PIA website. It's a report by Ms. Nimfa Quirante of PIA-Samar)

Army confers honorary membership to Calbayog City mayor
By Ninfa B. Quirante

Calbayog City (24 March) -- The 20th Infantry (WE LEAD) Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division (ID), Philippine Army conferred honorary membership to Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.

In simple but fitting tribute to the chief executive, the mayor received the certificate on March 20, 2009 at the 20th IB camp at Tinambacan Sur, Calbayog City.

Sarmiento was cited among others for unconditionally spearheading the government holistic approach in the conduct of the Internal Security Operations (ISO) within the Area of Operation of the 20th IB.

Said action and support resulted to the collaboration of efforts of all stakeholders towards the realization of the 20th IB mission that is to establish a physically and psychologically secure environment conducive to economic development.

Lt. Col Francis L. Cabugon, Battalion Commander of the 209th IB said he wanted to have a model for LCEs to emulate. He has reiterated seeking support from the mayors and the local populace as regards the region’s effort to promote peace in the area.

Sarmiento said Cabugon exemplifies their model of an LCE thus the conferment of honors.
Earlier, Sarmiento with Representative Reynaldo Uy personally visited 8th ID based in Catbalogan City to profess their support and reportedly extended financial support to the army operations in the region.

Sarmiento then reiterated his dream of uniting the three Samar provinces to attain a physically and socially secure environment.

He also added that he longs to unite all chief executives of the whole Samar, get their acts together and push for the total development of Samar. (PIA-Samar)

on the Women's Day Celebration in Calbayog

(As I have reported last Monday, a good number women in Calbayog celebrated Women's Day. Here are some details of the said celebration as reported by Ms. Nimfa Quirante of PIA Samar. This report appears in today's edition of the Leyte Samar Daily Express)

Women pampered during Women's Day celebration

CALBAYOG CITY — Close to a thousand women were pampered during the recently concluded celebration of Women’s Month in this city.

Women’s groups led by Calbayog City officials, other government agencies and organizations, non-government organizations, other women’s groups down to the barangay, rganized a Multi-Services Fair where women were treated to various services for free.

The Julio Cardinal Rosales Plaza was teeming with several women and a few men eyeing the several booths put up there.

The Ophthalmology booth had the most number of patients. A limited edition of frames and lenses were given to indigent patients.

PIA also spotted a Reproductive Health booth where the women were given lectures on the topic.

Three dentist volunteers grappled with scores of women for their oral health problems while some women had their BP taken, submitted to fasting blood sugar test and even urinalysis test for those suspected of having renal failure.

In another nook, the City Nutrition booth took pride in their cooking demonstration with lessons on malunggay based recipes featuring malunggay polvoron and malunggay lumpia.

A legal service booth was also installed to draft affidavits for the numerous concerns of women regarding legal matters.

The Bantay-Abuso Network (BAN), through Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF) Inc., a group composed of government advocates on anti-violence against women and children also installed their booth to give information as to where women could seek help in case of domestic violence.

Women here are also taught livelihood skills to empower them and thus help the family in its economic aspect.

Aside from all these seemingly serious services for women, they also received pampering from foot reflexology, body massages, manicure, pedicure and haircut.

One such patron, Emma Calesa, indulged in a free manicure service. She said she belonged to an organization called Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina from Tinambacan District.

Some women were also drawn by the crowd in beauty products where they were taught to put on make up and sell the beauty products.

The whole day had the women (for a day) experience booth hopping, if only to see what a women should be getting not only on Women’s Day.

Although it was Hon. Regina Rabuya who penned the invitation, Eleen Lim from DYOG who served as emcee, credited all donors, patrons and organizers including the two top government officials Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Rep. Reynaldo Uy who supported the Multi-Services Fair for the women even if only for a day. (Ninfa B Quirante)