Tour Leyte

Lester Lagahit

Lester Lagahit

Vice mayor’s daughter defends father

PALO, Leyte – A daughter of City Vice Mayor Arvin Antoni claimed that her father was simply “too good” to be accused as a gun-toting person who even his own wife could be his possible victim.

And as she defended her father, Kaye Dominique, 18, point to politics as the reason why even on what she called a “family problem” has become a media subject.

“Please spare our father, our family. And no matter what, I will always be with my (father),” the Nursing student in an emotional outburst said in a press conference Sunday afternoon.

The daughter of Antoni claimed that she herself called for a press conference to defend her father who was accused no less than by his wife to have poked a gun at her during a heated argument and carrying an affair with other women.

Antoni, who is seeking for a reelection in this year’s elections, “fetched” his daughter as the press conference was about end. He will soon call a press conference to air his side, the vice mayor said, adding that his lawyer advised him not to issue any statement on the issue at hand for now.

Antoni is being accused by his wife of poking a gun at her in one of their heated arguments, hurt her physically and psychologically for several times and carrying illicit affairs with other women during their marriage.

She sought for the temporary protection order as provided for under Republic Act 9662 which gives protection to women and children against commission of violence before the courts which could prohibit her husband go near with her and stop any further harassment against her.

The wife is also seeking for the custody of their two young children.

But the couple’s eldest sibling, said that she was surprised that the “family problem” has been played by the media as she vigorously defender her father.

“Papa is a good father to us all his children. He is always there for us. I will never leave him,” Kaye Dominique said.

“It pains me so much that we are facing this kind of problem. This is just a family problem; no family is perfect,” she added.

She admitted that her parents were no longer in good terms and in fact been separated since 2004.

The young Antoni, who is studying in a Nursing school in Cebu City, also admitted that she is not in speaking terms with her mother and her two siblings. And whenever she returns to Tacloban, she stays with her father.

Asked how she will describe her mother, the young Antoni did not comment.

She accuses the political rivals of her father why their problem has been exposed to media and why her mother filed a petition before the courts.

Last Friday night, the Leyte Samar Daily Express chanced upon Antoni’s wife at a concert venue for possible statements from her but she politely turned the request down.

But based on her nine page- petition she filed last Feb.16, she accused her husband of poking a gun at her, and for physical and emotional violence on her.

The vice mayor is also being accused of “intentionally” of not paying the amortization before the Pag-Ibig which resulted for the foreclosure of the house. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

Liga Ng Mga Barangay convention to be held in Cebu City

TACLOBAN CITY – Some 1,300 Barangay Chairmen, Barangay Council and Municipal Mayors of Leyte will participate in the Annual Provincial Convention scheduled March 1-3, 2010 at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), Mandaue, Cebu City.

This was revealed by Vice Governor Mimette Bagulaya who said that the purpose of the convention is to provide Barangay Captains and other participants the needed knowledge and inputs on current issues relative to the conduct of elections on May 2010.

COMELEC Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal will discuss how the 2010 automated elections will be done and he will likewise conduct demonstrations on how the PCOS machines work.

There will also be discussions on the truth behind the feared issues on Climate Change to be provided by Albert Magalang of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Margarita C. Cari, provincial LIGA president, takes center stage as the overall coordinator in the 3-day activity. She will deliver the Opening Address.

In order for the participants to be knowledgeable with the burning issues relative to the 2010 national elections, leading in surveys presidential and vice presidential candidates will be provided the opportunity to deliver their messages to LIGA participants.

On Day 1 administration candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro and his running mate Eduardo Manzano will be given the chance to inform Liga participants their platforms of government. Day 2 Nacionalista Party Candidates Manny Villar and running mate Loren Legarda will be given the opportunity to address the participants in the convention hall.

Later in the afternoon the Liberal Party tandem Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Mar Roxas, Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates respectively will also deliver their talk.

Leyte Governor Jericho L. Petilla likewise will address the convention delegates on the same afternoon after Aquino and Roxas shall have delivered their messages. Cebu Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia will deliver a Welcome Address on its opening ceremonies.

Other Speakers during the 3-day convention include Ricojudge M. Echiverri, National President of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, Presidential Adviser For Eastern Visayas Cynthia Nierras, and Francisco C. Jose, DILG 8 Regional Director. (ALVIN GZ ARPON)

Abaca farmers field day held in Kananga

ORMOC CITY – More than 100 abaca farmers, barangay officials, employers and other key players in the abaca industry gathered during the Abaca Farmers’ Field Day last February 18, 2010 at Kananga Gymnasium. The activity was also coincided with the celebration of the international year of natural fibers.

The municipality of Kananga was among the LGUs in the province that prioritized programs for abaca production, which is included in the expanded agricultural program of the municipality. Mayor Elmer C. Codilla said that since he assumed office, he assisted abaca farmers of this town through the distribution of abaca plantlets, tissue-cultured planting materials, and the establishment of 1-hectare abaca municipal nursery in Barangay Mahawan, this town. He encouraged farmers to plant their idle farms for abaca and other high value crops to augment their income. He said that abaca is better than sugarcane plantation, which farmers can earn more, considering that the abaca plantation in this town was not affected by the virus.

Dr. Alfredo Guevarra, chief, research division of the office of the provincial agriculturist, said that the once very abundant abaca plantation in the Bicol, Sorsogon and Eastern Visayas was wiped out in 1915 and 1927 because of bunchy top virus. This includes the towns of Baybay and Mahaplag where the thriving abaca industry is present. Dr. Guevara represented Governor Petilla during the occasion.

It was also learned that Equador in South America, which is now exporting abaca fibers, only shipped abaca plantlets from Davao and some provinces of Mindanao sometime in the 1950s. It was during the spread of the virus that affects the abaca plantation in the country. Today Equador has 30,000 hectares of abaca plantation.

At present, the Philippines has 161,000 hectares devoted for abaca in 52 provinces, with 108,000 farmers benefited. United Kingdom, Japan and China are main market of the Philippines for raw abaca fiber. In 2008, the country earned $103 Million in exporting abaca fiber, but in 2009, it reduced to only $60 Million. The provinces of Catanduanes, Leyte, Northern Samar, Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental are major abaca producing provinces. For abaca pulp, Japan Germany, USA and France are major markets, while, for abaca rope, Philippines exported to USA, Singapore, Canada, Germany, UAE, France, Netherlands and Germany. It was also learned that 50 % of the Japanese Yen has abaca pulp while Philippine Peso bills has only 20-25%.

Jeffry G. Espeña, OIC-regional director of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), stressed the need of going back to natural fiber to prevent pollution and in addressing the climate change. He said that in the United States and Australia, paper bags are widely used compared to plastic. According to him, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched the Bayong Project using abaca, buri and other sources of quality fibers for bags and hand baggage. He added that in car industry, abaca fiber, locally known as lanot is used in car siding, dashboard and other parts of the automobile. Fibers are also widely used in oil drilling in Middle Eastern countries since they prefer abaca rope compared to nylon rope which is not recyclable, while the abaca ropes can be recycled into newsprint/ paper. Cosmetics and pharmaceutical products such as foundation, face powders, and medicines, use abaca fibers, while extract from abaca is also needed in producing quality paints.

Assistant Regional Director Olympio Macarayan presented a comprehensive situationer of the different natural fibers in the country. He said that fiber from buri called “Rafia” fiber which is a raw materials for native hats and ropes produced 9,000 metric tons of rafia fiber and with an export earning of $99 Million. The country’s main market are UK, Taiwan, US and China. The bark of the siapo tree, which is present in Cebu, is used in making paper, particularly bank notes, and even Japanese Yen. It produces 489 metric tons with an earning of $5.9 Million. Barong from piña fiber is manufactured in Iloilo and Aklan provinces. There are 3,137 hectares of pineapple plantation extracted with pineapple leaves fiber in different parts of the country particularly in the provinces of Camarines Norte, Aklan and Palawan with an export earning of $16,000 annually. Natural fiber from coconut is used in making coco coir which is used in making rags, carpet, and for drainage canal and as protection from landslide.

Also present during the occasion were Mayor Codilla, Vice Mayor Macario Lumangtad Jr., FIDA Regional Director Jeffry Espeña, Assistant Regional Director Dr. Olympio Macarayan, Engr. Willardo Sinahon, Provincial FIDA Officer, SB Member Ferdinand Borela, chairman of the committee on agriculture. Also present were the visitors from Mandaluyong City led by Barangay Chairman Vedasto Guisando of Brgy. Barangka Drive. (GERARD REYES)

Tacloban City jail avails livelihood program

TACLOBAN CITY- The Tacloban City Jail inmates are now given the opportunity to have their own livelihood under the Cristina’s Learn And Earn Program (CLEP), a livelihood program of Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez.

In an interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, JO2 Resti Teves, rehabilitation officer for Inmates Welfare and Development, said that this is the first time that the inmates have the opportunity to undergo training on t-shirt printing. For the first batch, they have 32 students for this course. In choosing who will join this training, they identified the inmates who already have background knowledge on this field. And there is another group, who has no knowledge at all but is interested to learn.

CLEP Trainor on t-shirt printing Regina Serevilla, shared her experience teaching the inmates. “Teaching the inmates make my work challenging. Compared to other group that I teach, their willingness to learn is commendable. They are even fast learners and really knowledgeable since most of them had already experience the craft of t-shirt printing. All they need is to explore more and enhance their talents because through this livelihood, this can really help them in their future endeavor,” she said.

Benito Dacara, an inmate of Tacloban City Jail, expressed his optimism in this livelihood training of the city. He said he is now looking forward to making the skills he learned from CLEP when he gets out of jail. He knows he can now earn a living for his family through t-shirt printing because of this program.

CLEP has different training courses now in different barangays of the city like cosmetology, haircutting, food-processing, tailoring, reflexology and the latest addition to this program, furniture making. (NYLL ACEDO-CIO)

Seminar on breastfeeding at Allen district hospital held

ALLEN, Northern Samar – Around 100 employees including contractual and job order workers of the Allen District Hospital converged for their 2-day breastfeeding seminar which kicked-off Feb. 18 in their spacious conference room within the hospital’s premises.

The 2-day gathering, which was also participated in by the security force, dental division headed by Dr. Daisy Lomo, Nursing dep’t chief Rose Adal, X-Ray and Laboratory Department and among other hospital division is also joined by admin office chief Remelo Pajares spearheaded by OIC-Chief of Hospital Dr. Flora Tamparia and Asst. Chief Dr. Ma. Rizalina Ebdane, is aimed to equip the said employees on the campaign of the health department of breastfeeding, thus, benefiting mothers of a strong mother-child relationship, preventing children from early ailment as well as economic consciousness, among others.

On the first day of the seminar, among the topics that were discussed are the following; Global Strategy; Anatomy; Physiology; Communicating Skills and How Milk Gets from Breast to Baby with Dr. Tamparia and Dr. Ebdane are the main speakers and was being aided by Nurse Blesilda Manga.

They also discussed Preventing during Pregnancy; Protecting Breastfeeding; Best Practices and Breastfeeding and Practices that Assist Breastfeeding as well.

On the last day of the seminar, among the topics that were tackled are; Milk Supply; Special Infant Sanitation; Breast and Nipple Care; and how to make the hospital a baby friendly one and as well Overview of HIV.

According to an employee mother participant, she was impressed with the lectures tackled by their resource speakers, particularly on the counseling aspect in accepting mothers ideas and feelings, recognizing and acknowledging what is right and make suggestions as well rather than command.

The Allen district hospital, which is perceived as one of the cleanest and well-maintained among the nine district hospitals in this province, has a very accommodating and professional employees that caters to the health needs of poor individuals in the Balicuatro area.

Joining also as resource speakers was Ms. Shirley Ombrog; BSN, RN who discussed particularly on helping with breastfeeding. (PETER D. PAREDES)

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)