KALAHI News 260 field coordinators hired Some 260 individuals were hired based on their qualifications when the Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive, Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP) came over to this province starting in September 2014. In a mini-press conference held in Kuting Beach Resort last month, Eubolo Co, Regional Project Manager of the enhanced anti-poverty program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the hiring will continue to maintain a pool of qualified personnel to offset sudden vacancies. The turn-over of old and new recruits usually happened when field coordinators, who are mostly college degree graduates waiting for results of their applications in their chosen careers like teachers or engineers, were called to assume the permanent posts, hence the need for a steady pool of ready applicants, Co explained. As the presscon was in progress, hired teams of KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP coordinators underwent training by batches in Kuting Beach Resort for two months, February to March. Their areas of coverage included the whole of Southern Leyte province -except Maasin City and Malitbog town for now -- and some municipalities in Leyte province, like Hilongos and Bato, Co said, noting that all around Region 8 (to page 2) P578-M fund to empower deprived communities By Erna Sy Gorne The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – National Community Driven Development Program(KALAHI-CIDSS NCDDP) finally comes to empower the poorest of the poor communities in Southern Leyte and parts of Leyte province. According to Deputy Project Manager Eubolo Co, “KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP is one of the anti-poverty programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that seeks to alleviate poverty using the community-driven development strategy, which shall be the approach in its implementation in the province. ” The other anti-poverty programs of the DSWD are the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Sustainable Livelihood Program, he said. Co mentioned that a total of P578 million grant will be poured in 546 barangays in Southern Leyte down to Inopacan, Leyte throughout the (to page 2) March 1-15, 2015 Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg. Vol. II, No. 17 DPWH Infra Projects for 2015 SL gets over P1 Billion By Bong Pedalino The funds that can circulate in this province out of programmed projects the patience and understanding for coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) any inconvenience that the public provincial engineering district can very well surpass the one-billion peso may experience in their travel while mark this year. these bridges undergo construction, Engr. Allan Eway, Officer-in-Charge Eway’s disclosure that lately the bud- repair, and rehabilitation,” the DPWH Assistant District Engineer, disclosed get surpassed the P1 billion threshold. report said. For the tourism-related projects, Eway attributed this huge share during the dySL Kapihan sa PIA Friday, that the huge appropriation in- with the constant push and follow-up these included the construction of cluded carry-over, obligated projects at the higher levels by the District En- access road leading to the barangay Napantao dive and whale watching in 2014 which was implemented in gineer Ma. Margarita Junia. Repair and make-over of about site in San Francisco town, worth P50 2015, and the current year regular 40 bridges all over the province com- million, and the Maria Clara-Cagbudget. Also a contributory factor for the prised one of the bulk for this year’s nituan Maasin tourism loop for P80 first time budget hit of over a billion construction work, costing more than million. Other guests during the dysl Kapipesos are fund sources coming from P400 Million, the DPWH report rehan were Engrs. Gideon Sacro, Leticia other government agencies like the vealed. “The office is therefore soliciting Olarte, and Leonides Olarte. Department of Agriculture (DA) for P 50 Million plus worth of farm-to-market roads in 25 locations, and from the Department of Tourism (DOT) for over P 100 Million construction of access roads leading to tourism sites. Construction of school buildings for the Department of Education (DepEd) was also another source of outside funds, although most of the projects were still from the obligated 2014 budget, Engr. Eway said. Earlier, a press statement said the Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (SLDEO) got P923.1 million budget this year, by far the biggest slice the local DPWH got, and the DPWH-Southern Leyte District Engineering Office amount shot even bigger with Engr. in barangay Asuncion, Maasin City. FIRE SAFETY Unplug electrical connection Saying that short circuits due to long extended extension lines that result in “octopus” connections were often traced as the main cause of most fires that happened, the Fire Department issued a simple advice: unplug electric connections when not in use. The advice is applicable to any place that uses electricity, like homes, offices, and business establishments, said Insp. Kenneth Casas, Maasin City Chief Fire Marshall. The Bureau of Fire Protection in the city joins the nation in observing the month of March as Fire Prevention Month with the theme, “Kaligtasan sa Sunog Alamin, Gawin, at Isabuhay Natin” aimed at raising people’s awareness and lessen fire incidence. During the Provincial Report cable TV Program where Firemen were guests as part of OCTUPOS CONNECTION: The most common unsafe practice at home, occurs when an extension outlet has various loads connected to it such as electrical iron, fans, lamps, among others. their series of month-long activities, SFO2 Normalito Caube, the chief of operations, disclosed that as per their records, there were 21 cases of fire alarms they responded in the year 2013 but was reduced to 9 cases in 2014. Most causes of the fires were related to faulty electrical wirings, thus the need to unplug appliances after being used, including charging of cellular phones, Caube said. For the first two months of 2015, no fire alarm was reported, Caube also said. But in the first two weeks of this month, or just two days after the taping of the cable TV program, a fire broke out in an old house in barangay Combado, and another one at an eatery in the center part of the city, but luckily the two blazing incidents were controlled quickly and none was reported hurt. Investigation for the causes was still ongoing at this writing, but faulty electrical connection was usually among the factors considered. Vol. II, No.17 ESTORYAHI! Willie Justimbaste BANTAY SA ILAD! Election season also comes with scams and fictitious groups of dubious agenda and diverse motivations, foremost among which is for early risers to be able to gather the worms. Reports received detailed a retirees and of course elderly organization victimizing senior citizens by promising financial assistance from abroad, Germany daw, for them to secure membership cards for P 100, P40 to P50 for solicitors travel expense and even for paid I. D. pictures. Even the name of the group is already suspicious with no particular address or contact number for confirmation. Unya naa poy connections kuno sa notorious FIRM adding to its shady or suspicious association. They are plying their trade in unsuspecting barangays preying on the innocent elderly and gullible retirees. Beware of promises that are too good to be true! Our concern is the indigent senior citizens who are recipients of the social pension fund of the conditional cash transfer program of the national government. Dali ra ning mabiktima labi nag mosaad ug sapi. The OSCA of the Office of the Mayor, Federation of Senior Citizens and provincial and city social welfare offices are issuing this advisory. If the ID’s are being paid, this is a scam! Senior Citizens membership cards signed by the Mayor and OSCA chairman ARE NOT FOR SALE! Nobody is authorized to collect fees for photos or travel expenses by solicitors. Beware of these scam operators and always ask for certification or authorization from the Mayor’s Office, OSCA, Federation or the social welfare agencies if these groups are accredited or recognized. This malpractice, if not stopped, will thrive for unscrupulous people who would take advantage of the political opportunity. Please call the nearest OSCA, police or barangay hall and report this illegal activity being perpetuated by known operators, the usual notorious suspects! ***** Commemorative events like anniversaries are not so much intended to whip up a crowd or multitude but to enhance remembering and honoring the legacy of greatness of a folk hero, exemplary public servant or distinguished statesman such as the late Sen. Ruperto K. Kangleon’s 57th death commemoration last February 27. It was a simple cultural tribute to his saga of heroism and love of country. The cultural presentation made possible by multi-sectoral support may not have been as expected attendance- wise but the presence of some teachers and students nevertheless made it worthwhile despite the conspicuous absence of some kin and officials. Thanks again, everybody. There will be no surrender for love of RKK! P578-M fund... (from page 1) duration of four grant cycles. The project commenced last September 2014 and targeted to end by 2020, he said. Co emphasized that the community empowerment gives an opportunity for barangay folks to identify their own needs and to prepare project proposals to address their common problems. These projects include local infrastructure such as water system, roads, bridges, health stations and school buildings, among others. Aside from community empowerment, the said program also aims to improve local governance by strengthening formal and informal institutions to be able for the barangay folks to manage resources in the implementation of sub projects identified to address their community needs, Co added. He noted “ that the higher the poverty incidence in an area, the more funds can be accessed.” As he mentioned that a municipality affected by Tropical Storm Yolanda within an NCDDP province are eligible to participate in the program. Page 2 Textblast News Red Cross membership Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco said all elected and appointed barangay officials and volunteers were enrolled anew as Red Cross members this year, paying P 400,000.00 membership fees to Philippine Red Cross (PRC) -- Southern Leyte Chapter. Last year Samaco enrolled the same group thus the family of the late kagawad Marlonita Kaindoy of barangay Dongon received P 55,000.00 accidental death claim from PRC, OIC Administrator Jonas Maco noted (esg) City support for fire fighting Maasin City Fire Marshall Kenneth Casas reported that fire incidents in the city have dropped down, from 21 to 9 cases in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Casas said LGU-Maasin purchased clamp meter to monitor the load of electric power, installation tester, one (1) aerial ladder truck, and sponsored for the Volunteer Fire Fighters seminars for all the 70 barangays of the city. (esg) NSTP, PENRMO tree planting The National Students Training Program (NSTP) of Saint Joseph College in Maasin City, in coordination with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), conducted a tree planting activity March 7, 2015. At least 400 bungalon, 400 pagatpat, and 200 coastal trees were planted along the coastal areas of Pasay in Maasin City and in Macrohon Park and Bird Sanctuary. (esg) Computers from DOLE to LGUs Four units of computer sets including printers were turned over to four local government units in Southern Leyte, such as Silago, Hinundayan, Padre Burgos, and Macrohon by DOLE-8 as an equipment support for the ongoing implementation of the 3rd Wave Skills Registry under the Employment Facility Program. (rgc) P 14-Million Emergency Employment DOLE Regional Office 8 released more than P 14-Million Emergency Employment under TUPAD, a component of DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program. Of the total amount, P 11,501,702.00 was granted to Southern Leyte while P 3,075,800.00 went to Gamay, Northern Samar. The amount is a package assistance for emergency employment for the beneficiaries. (rgc) More GSIS Kiosks GSIS-Maasin requested an additional three kiosks to be installed in the towns of Pintuyan, Saint Bernard, and DepEd-Maasin City Division Office. The requested additional kiosks is due to the increased membership of GSIS-Maasin, from 10,000 to 11,600 members. Branch Manager Igmidio Ponay, Jr. said that there are already 8 kiosks that had served its members, excluding the one at GSIS-Maasin office, which marked its 14th founding anniversary March 12, 2015. (rgc) Medical mission at SLPH in April St. Luke’s Hospital medial mission led by Dr. Larry Malley will conduct free operation for cleft lips on April 13 and 14, 2015 at the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital. Interested patients should report to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). Patients coming from Matalom, Bato, and Hilongos are also accommodated, according to Information Officer-Designate Diego Credo of the Provincial Capitol. (esg) 260 field... (from page 1) a simultaneous training is ongoing in selected places. KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDDP is basically a community empowerment initiative undertaken in four cycles whose period of implementation will end in the year 2020, until then it is expected that all cycles shall have been completed, said Co. Trained coordinators will go out to the barangay level, talk to barangay officials and residents, discuss what their priority needs are -- mostly water, multi-purpose buildings, access roads, etc. -- and help prepare project proposals for submission and funding considerations. Once approved, financing will go directly to the beneficiary barangay concerned, the project implementation closely monitored by the coordinator in-charge, said Co, whose counterpart in the province is Ms Thema Montejo, with office at main SLEM building in Maasin City. Asked if the scaled KALAHI program will not duplicate other community-based development initiatives such as the bottoms-up budgeting (BUB), Co assured there will be no duplication, instead they will complement each other to avoid overlapping. March 1-15, 2015 Vol. II, No.17 YOUNG VOLUNTEERS: Philippine Red Cross – Southern Leyte Chapter OIC Administrator Jonas Maco (third from left, holding microphone), along with some of his top Red Cross youth leaders, were guests in a Provincial Report cable TV program. The young volunteers shared how fulfilling it is to be part of the Red Cross family, doing volunteer work in times of calamities, and engaging themselves in various programs and projects of the Red Cross. (photo from Red Cross fb) COASTAL TREE PLANTING: College students from Saint Joseph College (SJC), along with personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO), plant trees along the coastal areas of barangay Pasay, Maasin City, up to the fish sanctuary in Macrohon town. The activity is part of the students’ community outreach under the NSTP, or the National Students Training Program. (photo from Armand Gaviola fb) FIRE PREVENTION: Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Maasin City Fire Station, also appeared in the Provincial Report cable TV program, giving some tips and information on how to avoid tragic fires by being mindful of their electrical connections for faulty wiring. From left: host Bong Pedalino; Inspector Kenith Casas, City Fire Marshall; SFO2 Normalito Caube, Chief of Operation; SFO3 Salustiano Jacobe, Jr., Chief, Health and Emergency Management Section (HEMS), or the Rescue Section; SFO1 Jerry Evale, Chief, Fire Safety Enforcement Board (FSEB); and Erna Sy Gorne, co-host. (photo by Loloy Salazar) SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING: Children of barangay Combado, Maasin City, accompanied by their parents, wait in line to be called and served nutritious food, courtesy of the provincial government’s supplemental feeding program. The activity was held in barangay Combado gym, March 13, 2015. Photo montage shows the varied menu in the meals served, together with some provincial and barangay officials. (photo by ebec and fb of Kagawad Samuel Casepe) March 1-15, 2015 Page 3 Vol. II, No.17 Bunker House Alang sa PENRMO Monitoring Team Gipaayo sa Gobyerno Office of the Governor- Sa milabay nga semana gitigum ni Gobernador Roger G. Mercado and mga department heads sa kapitolyo aron ipadayag niya ang hinuosang plano sa haom nga plano aron mahatagan og insaktong pagproteher ang mga Monitoring Team sa PENRMO, sa lalawigan. Mahinumduman nga ang probensya nag-umol og pondok sa mga “job-order” gikan sa kapitolyo aron bantayan ang kabaybayonan og kadagatan sa tibook lalawigan. Ang naasoy nga grupo gihatagan og patugot sa Mines and Geo Science Bureau alang sa naasoy nga misyon. Adunay sakop sa Phil. National Police ug mga environmentalist nga apil niining punduka. Matud ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado, si Dra. Eva Abad nga maoy pangulo sa PENRMO nagtudlo kang Mr. Boy Malubo regular employer sa kapitolyo, maoy team leader sa 12 Man Team. May babaye og lalaki ang maong Team, nga maoy magbantay sa mga aktibedad sa mga quarry operator, og dakpon nila ang kadtong dili mosunod sa reglamento ug balaod sa Provincial Enviromental Code og sa Mining Law. Aron mahapsay ang ilang pagdumala sa pagbantay sa palibot ilabina sa kasabutan gimando sa Gobernador nga ipaayo ang ilang bunk house. Sa pagkakaron adunay kuryente , tubig, neon bulbs, kahimanan sa kusina ug uban pang mga mwebles nga gikinahanglan. Sa pagkakaron gipatuman na Administrasyong Mercado ang gitawag og C.D.O nga sa atong pinolungan, “ipahunong ug undangon” ang pagkawat og minerales, ilabina kon walay insakto nga papeles ang bisan si kinsa nga tawo. Ug labaw sa tanan kinahanglan nga dunay Governors permit. And maong balaudnon gisubay sa kamanduan sa Court of Appeals Cebu City, nga mipabor sa Goberno probensyal, nga “no permit, no extraction.” Nahibulaan niining nagsulat nga sa pagkakaron aduna nay check permit, particular na sa Subang Daku sa Sogod ang giplastar sa monitoring team, gumikan kay dinhing dapita, adunay mgapermites nga gahi og mga “ulo”. progresiba nga barangay sa St. Bernard, ang barangay Guinsaugon, daw mihinayhinay na sa pag-aginod ang lumulupyo niini, og mihilom na ang mga uwat sa kasakit ug kaguol nga ilang nahiaguman human naboak ang porsyon sa dakong bukid nga maoy mitabong buhi sa kapin usa ka libo ka mga tawo nga gitabunang buhi niadtong adlawa. Dako na og kalainan ang maong barangay sa pagkakaron, nagkanayon si Mayor Nap cuaton nga usa ka Retired Brigidair General sa PNP. Sa pagkakaron human sa siyam ka tuig nanumbalik na ang kinabuhi sa lumolupyo og mianam na usab og kadaghan ang taga Brgy. Guinsaugon, apan ang problema kay wala na itugot sa Goberno National ang pagpuyo ug balik sa mga tawo sa dapit nga gitawag og "ground zero" gumikan kay nagpabilin pa ang paghulga sa kalamidad ilabina niining panahona nga ang Climate Change maoy dakong kuyaw nga sa dili lang damhon mokalit kini og paghapak, sama sa bagyo, dagkong balod, og kusog nga pag-ulan. Sa laing bahin sa maong paghandom, gibendisyonan ang dakong arka nga anaa mahimutang sa intrada pagsulod sa ground zero. Ang maong arka nga hinimo gikan sa "black marmol" maoy magpahinumdom sa mga tawo, gumikan sa tatak niini nga "Guinsaugon Eco Park". Matud pa ni Mayor Nap nga ang salapi nga gigamit niini hinatag sa maayong kabubot-on ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado ubos sa pag-abay sa mga probensyal legislators sa pagpanguna ni Board Member og Atty. Bebe Almario, mobalor ang arka og mga P800,000.00 ka pesos. Sa laing bahin, sa habig ni Gob. RGM nga mitambong sa maong paghandum, duna siyay plano nga himu-on ang lugar og "Guinsaugon National Park" aron makatabang ang National Government, sa pagmentinar niini, ilabi na kay nailhan sa tibuok kalibutan ang makasaysayanon og makalilisang nga trahedya. Andam ang Gobernador sa paghimo og mga dokumento para ihatod sa balay bala-oranan ang usa ka hiniusang resolution nga Guinsaugon National Eco Park, para sa pag-inat sa natad sa Torismo sa atong probensya, nagkanayon ang gobernador. Culion Foundation Motabang sa Pag-atiman sa mga May Sakit og TB So. Leyte Provincial Capitol - Dili na magkaproblema ang taga So. Leyteños kon takbujan sila og sakit nga Tuberculosis. Sa miaging semana nakigkita kang Gob. Roger G. Mercado ang mga opisyal sa Culion Foundation, usa ka inila nga grupo nga nakabase sa Metro Manila, og usa ka non-government organization nga motabang sa pagbantay sa Maayong Panglawas. Sa pamahayag ni Doktor Calixto Trillanes III nga leader sa naasoy nga grupo, iyang gikalipay ang paghatag og pabor sa atong gobernador nga mahatagan sila og lawak didto sa So. Leyte Provincial Hospital nga maoy ilang pwestuhan sa pag-atiman sa mga pasyente nga nakasinati og sakit sa baga. Gipasalamatan usab ni Gob. RGM ang maong grupo nga gipili ang So. Leyte, aron maatiman ang mga kaigsuonan nga naghambin sa maong mga balatian. 9th ANNIVERSARY SA "BRGY. GUINSAUGON TRAGEDY" YANO NGA GISAULOG Brgy. Guinsaugon, St. Bernard - Human milabay ang siyam ka tuig, nga diin giuy-og ang kayutaan sa So. Leyte ilabina ang Page 4 March 1-15, 2015