My beloved countrymen:

Our administration is facing a forked road. On one direction, decisions are made to protect the welfare of our people; to look after the interest of the majority; to have a firm grip on principles; and to be faithful to the public servant’s sworn oath to serve the country honestly.

This is the straight path.

On the other side, personal interest is the priority, and where one becomes a slave to political considerations to the detriment of our nation.
This is the crooked path.

For a long time, our country lost its way in the crooked path. As days go by (since I became President), the massive scope of the problems we have inherited becomes much clearer. I could almost feel the weight of my responsibilities.

In the first three weeks of our administration, we discovered many things, and I will report to you some of the problems we have uncovered, and the steps we are taking to solve them.

This report is merely a glimpse of our situation. It is not the entire picture of the crises we are facing. The reality was hidden from our people, who seem to have been deliberately obfuscated on the real state of our nation.

In the first six years of this year, government expenditure exceeded our revenues. Our deficit further increased to PhP196.7 billion. Our collection targets, which lack PhP23.8 billion, were not fully met, while we went beyond our spending by PhP45.1 billion.

Our budget for 2010 is PhP1.54 trillion. Of this, only PhP100 billion – or 6.5% of the total budget – can be used for the remaining six months of the current year. Roughly 1% of the total budget is left for each of the remaining month.

Where did the funds go?

A calamity fund worth PhP2 billion was reserved in preparation for anticipated calamities. Of this already miniscule amount, at a time when the rainy season has yet to set in, PhP1.4 billion or 70% was already spent.

The entire province of Pampanga received PhP108 million. Of this, PhP105 million went to only one district. On the other hand, the province of Pangasinan, which was severely affected by Typhoon Pepeng, received a mere PhP5 million, which had to be used to fix damages inflicted not even by Pepeng, but by a previous typhoon, Cosme.
The funds were released on election month, which was seven months after the typhoon. What will happen if a typhoon arrives tomorrow? The fund has been used up to repair damage from typhoons that hit us last year. Our future will pay for the greed of yesterday.

This is also what happened to the funds of the MWSS. Just recently, people lined up for water while the leadership of the MWSS rewarded itself even though the pensions of retired employees remain unpaid.

The entire payroll of the MWSS amounts to 51.4 million pesos annually. But this isn’t the full extent of what they receive: they receive additional allowances and benefits amounting to 81.1 million pesos. In short, they receive 211.5 million pesos annually. Twenty four percent of this is for normal salaries, and sixty six percent is added on.

The average worker receives up to 13th month pay plus a cash gift. In the MWSS, they receive the equivalent of over thirty months pay if you include all their additional bonuses and allowances.

What we discovered in the case of the salaries of their board of trustees is even more shocking. Let’s take a look at the allowances they receive:
Attending board of trustees and board committee meetings, and you get fourteen thousands pesos. This totals ninety eight thousand pesos a month. They also get an annual grocery incentive of eighty thousand pesos.

And that’s not all. They get a mid-year bonus, productivity bonus, anniversary bonus, year-end bonus, and financial assistance. They not only get a Christmas bonus, but an additional Christmas package as well. Each of these amounts to eighty thousand pesos. All in all, each member of the board receives two and a half million pesos a year exclusive of car service, technical assistance, and loans. Let me repeat. They award themselves all of these while being in arrears for the pensions of their retired employees.

Even the La Mesa watershed wasn’t spared. In order to ensure an adequate supply of water, we need to protect our watersheds. In watersheds, trees are needed. Where there should be trees, they built homes for the top officials of the MWSS.

We cannot remove them from their positions quickly because they are among the midnight appointees of former president Arroyo. We are investigating all of these things. But if they have any shame left, they should voluntarily relinquish their positions.

Now let’s discuss funds for infrastructure. The DPWH identified two hundred forty six priority safety projects to be funded by the motor vehicle user’s charge. This needs a budget of 425 million pesos. What they ended up funding were only 28 projects. They disregarded 218 projects and replaced these with seventy projects that weren’t in the plans. The 425 million pesos originally asked for became 480 million pesos, increasing because of projects allocated for a favored few.

These projects make no sense: unstudied and unprepared for, sprouting like mushrooms.

The era of such projects is at an end. Under our administration, there will be no quotas, there will be no overpricing, the funds of the people will be spent for the people.
There’s more. Five days before the term of the previous administration ended, they ordered 3.5 billion pesos to be released for the rehabilitation of those affected by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. This was supposed to fund eighty-nine projects. But nineteen of these projects amounting to 981 million pesos didn’t go through public bidding. Special Allotment Release Orders hadn’t even been released and yet the contracts were already signed. It’s a good thing Secretary Rogelio Singson spotted and stopped them. Instead, they will all go through the proper bidding, and the funds will be used to provide relief to those who lost their homes due to typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Let’s discuss what happened in Napocor. From 2001 to 2004, the government forced Napocor to sell electricity at a loss to prevent increases in electricity rates. The real motivation for this is that they were preparing for the election.

As a result, in 2004, NAPOCOR slumped deeply in debt. The government was obligated to shoulder the 200 billion pesos it owed.

What the public thought they saved from electricity, we are now paying for using public coffers. Not only are we paying for the cost of electricity; we are also paying for the interest arising from the debt.

If the money we borrowed was used properly, then there would be added assurance that constant supply of electricity is available. However, this decision was based on bad politics, not on the true needs of the people. The people, after having to sacrifice, suffered even more.

This is also what happened to the MRT. The government tried again to buy the people’s love. The operator was forced to keep the rates low.

In effect, the guarantee given to the operator that he will still be able to recoup his investment was not fulfilled. Because of this, Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines were ordered to purchase the MRT.

The money of the people was used in exchange for an operation that was losing money.

Let us now move on to the funds of the National Food Authority (NFA).

In 2004: 117,000 metric tons (of rice) was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they (the government) bought were 900,000 metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than seven times the amount of shortage, they still bought more than what was needed.

In 2007: 589,000 metric tons was the shortage in the supply of the Philippines. What they bought were 1.827 million metric tons. Even if you multiply for more than three times the amount of shortage, they again bought more than what was needed.

What hurts is, because they keep purchasing more than what they need year after year, the excess rice that had to be stored in warehouses ended up rotting, just like what happened in 2008.

Is this not a crime, letting rice rot, despite the fact that there are 4 million Filipinos who do not eat three times a day?

The result is NFA’s current debt of 177 billion pesos.

This money that was wasted could have funded the following:
- The budget of the entire judiciary, which is at 12.7 billion pesos this year.
- The Conditional Cash Transfers for the following year, which cost 29.6 billion pesos.
- All the classrooms that our country needs, which cost 130 billion pesos.

This way of doing things is revolting. Money was there only to be wasted.

You have heard how the public coffers were squandered. This is what is clear to me now: change can only come from our determination to stamp out this extravagance and profligacy.

That is why starting now: we will stop the wasteful use of government funds. We will eradicate projects that are wrong.

This is the point of what we call the zero-based approach in our budget. What used to be the norm was every year, the budget merely gets re-enacted without plugging the holes.

Next month we will be submitting a budget that accurately identifies the problem and gives much attention on the right solution.

Those that I have mentioned were only some of the problems we have discovered. Here now are examples of the steps we are undertaking to solve them.

There is a case of one pawnshop owner. He purchased a vehicle at an estimated cost of 26 million pesos.

If he can afford to buy a Lamborghini, why can’t he pay his taxes?

A case has already been filed against him. Through the leadership of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, every week we have new cases filed against smugglers and against those who do not pay the right taxes.

We have also already identified the suspects of the cases of Francisco Baldomero, Jose Daguio and Miguel Belen, 3 of the 6 incidents of extralegal killings since we assumed the Presidency.

Fifty percent (50%) of these incidents of extralegal killings are now on their way to being resolved.

We will not stop the pursuit of the remaining half of these killings until justice has been achieved.

We will hold murderers accountable. We will also hold those who are corrupt that work in government accountable for their actions.

We have begun forming our Truth Commission, through the leadership of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide. We will search for the truth on the alleged wrongdoing committed in the last nine years.

This week, I will sign the first ever Executive Order on the formation of this Truth Commission.

If the answer to justice is accountability, the answer to the dearth in funds is a new and creative approach to our long-standing problems.

We have so many needs: from education, infrastructure, health, military, police and more. Our funds will not be enough to meet them.

No matter how massive the deficit is that may keep us from paying for this list of needs, I am heartened because many have already expressed renewed interest and confidence in the Philippines.

Our solution: public-private partnerships. Although no contract has been signed yet, I can say that ongoing talks with interested investors will yield fruitful outcomes.

There are some who have already shown interest and want to build an expressway from Manila that will pass through Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, until the end of Cagayan Valley, without the government having to spend a single peso.

On national defense:

We have 36,000 nautical miles of shoreline, but we only have 32 boats. These boats are as old as the time of (US General Douglas) MacArthur.

Some had this proposition: they will rent the Navy headquarters on Roxas Boulevard and the Naval Station in Fort Bonifacio.

They will take care of the funding necessary to transfer the Navy Headquarters to Camp Aguinaldo. Immediately, we will be given 100 million dollars. Furthermore, they will give us a portion of their profits from their businesses that would occupy the land they will rent.

In short, we will meet our needs without spending, and we will also earn.

There have already been many proposals from local to foreign investors to provide for our various needs.

From these public-private partnerships, our economy will grow and every Filipino will be the beneficiary. There are so many sectors that could benefit from this.

We will be able to construct the needed infrastructure in order to help tourism grow.

In agriculture, we will be able to have access to grains terminals, refrigeration facilities, orderly road networks and post-harvest facilities.

If we can fix out food supply chain with the help of the private sector, instead of importing, we will hopefully be able to supply for the needs of the global market.

The prices of commodities will go down if we are able to make this efficient railway system a reality. It will be cheaper and faster, and it will be easier for travelers to avoid crooked cops and rebels.

A reminder to all: creating jobs is foremost on our agenda, and the creation of jobs will come from the growth of our industries. Growth will only be possible if we streamline processes to make them predictable, reliable and efficient for those who want to invest.

We make sure that the Build-Operate-and-Transfer projects will undergo quick and efficient processes. With the help of all government agencies concerned and the people, a process that used to take as short as a year and as long as a decade will now only take six months.

The Department of Trade and Industry has already taken steps to effect this change, under the leadership of Secretary Gregory Domingo: The never-ending horror story of registering business names, which used to take a minimum of four to eight hours depending on the day, will be cut down drastically to fifteen minutes.

What used to be a check list of thirty-six documents will be shortened to a list of six, and the old eight-page application form will be whittled down to one page.

I call on our local government units to review its own procedures. While we look for more ways to streamline our processes to make business start-ups easier, I hope the LGUs can also find ways to implement reforms that will be consistent with the ones we have already started.

All will certainly benefit from this streamlining — be it businessmen, soldiers, rebels and ordinary Filipinos. As long as the interests of Filipinos will not be jeopardized, we will explore all available avenues to make this a reality. We must start now, and we should all help achieve this and not stand in each other’s way.

The time when we will no longer be made to choose between our people’s security and the future of our children is upon us now.

Once we implement these public-private partnerships, we will be able to fund public service in accordance with our platform.

This will enable us to fund our plans for education.

We will be able to expand our basic education cycle from seven years to the global standard of twelve years.

We can build more classrooms, and we will fund service contracting under the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Program (GASTPE).
Conditional cash transfers that aim to lessen the burden of education on parents will also be funded if this partnership becomes a reality.

Our plans for improving PhilHealth can now be within reach.

First, we will identify the correct number of Filipinos who sorely need PhilHealth coverage, as current data is conflicting on this matter. On one hand, PhilHealth says that eighty-seven percent (87%) of Filipinos are covered, then lowers the number to only fifty-three percent (53%). On the other hand, the National Statistics Office says that only thirty-eight percent (38%) of Filipinos are covered by Philhealth.

Even as we speak, Secretary Dinky Soliman and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are moving to implement the National Household Targeting System that will identify the families that most urgently need assistance. An estimated 9 billion pesos is needed in order to provide coverage for five million poor Filipinos.

Our country is beginning to see better days ahead. The private sector, the League of Provinces headed by Governor Alfonso Umali, together with Governors L-Ray Villafuerte and Icot Petilla, are now ready to do their share when it comes to shouldering the financial burden. I know that the League of Cities under the leadership of Mayor Oscar Rodriguez will not be far behind.

If the local governments share in our goals, I know that I can surely count on Congress, the institution where I began public service, to push for our agenda for change.
Our Cabinet has already showed it skill by identifying not just problems but also proposing solutions in a matter of three weeks.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Basyang, we were told by those in the power sector that we would be without electricity for four days. The quick action of Secretary Rene Almendras and the Department of Energy resulted in the restoration of power to almost all those affected within twenty-four hours.

The so-called water shortage in Metro Manila was quickly attended to by Secretary Rogelio Singson and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Secretary Singson did it without prodding, which alleviated the suffering of those affected.

We also witnessed the competence and initiative of those we appointed to be part of our Cabinet. It is but just that they not be forced to go through the eye of a needle to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Should this happen, competent Filipinos will be encouraged to help our country by becoming public servants.

In the soonest possible time, we will convene the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to discuss the important bills that need to be addressed. Rest assured that I will keep an open mind and treat you honorably.

We will push for the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, which will limit spending bills only for appropriations that have identified a source of funding. We need 104.1 billion pesos to fund those laws already passed but whose implementation remains pending because of lack of funds.

We will re-evaluate fiscal incentives given in the past. Now that we are tightening our purse strings, we need to identify those incentives that will remain and those that need to be done away with.

We will not allow another NBN-ZTE scandal to happen again. Whether from local or foreign sources, all proposed contracts must undergo the scrutiny of correct procedures. I now ask for your help with amending our Procurement Law.

According to our Constitution, it is the government’s duty to ensure that the market is fair for all. No monopolies, no cartels that kill competition. We need an Anti-Trust Law that will give life to these principles, to afford Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises the opportunity to participate in the growth of our economy.

Let us pass into law the National Land Use Bill.

It was in 1935, during the Commonwealth, that the National Defense Act was passed. There is a need to amend for a new law that is more responsive to the current needs of national security.

I appeal to our legislators to pass the Whistleblower’s Bill to eradicate the prevalent culture of fear and silence that has hounded our system.

We will strengthen the Witness Protection Program. We must remember that from 2009 to 2010 alone, cases which involved the participation of witnesses under the program resulted in a ninety-five percent conviction.

There is a need to review our laws. I call on our lawmakers to begin a re-codification of our laws to ensure harmony in legislation and eliminate contradictions.

These laws serve as the basis of order in our land, but the foundation of all rests on the principle that we cannot grow without peace and order.

We face two obstacles on our road to peace: the situation in Mindanao and the continued revolt of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Our view has not changed when it comes to the situation in Mindanao. We will only achieve lasting peace if all stakeholders engage in an honest dialogue: may they be Moro, Lumad, or Christian. We have asked Dean Marvic Leonen to head our efforts to talk to the MILF.

We will learn from the mistakes of the past administration, that suddenly announced an agreement reached without consultations from all concerned. We are not blind to the fact that it was done with political motivation, and that the interest behind it was not that of the people.

We recognize the efforts of the MILF to discipline those within its ranks. We are hopeful that the negotiations will begin after Ramadan.

To the CPP-NPA-NDF: are you prepared to put forth concrete solutions rather than pure criticism and finger-pointing?

If it is peace you truly desire, then we are ready for an immediate cease-fire. Let us go back to the table and begin talking again.

It is difficult to begin discussions in earnest if the smell of gun powder still hangs in the air. I call on everyone concerned not to waste a good opportunity to rally behind our common aspiration for peace.

Our foundation for growth is peace. We will continue to be shackled by poverty if the crossfire persists.

We must understand that now is a time for sacrifice. It is this sacrifice that will pave the way for a better future. With our freedom comes our responsibility to do good unto our fellows and to our country.

To our friends in media, especially those in radio and print, to the block-timers and those in our community newspapers, I trust that you will take up the cudgels to police your own ranks.

May you give new meaning to the principles of your vocation: to provide clarity to pressing issues; to be fair and truthful in your reporting, and to raise the level of public discourse.

It is every Filipino’s duty to closely watch the leaders that you have elected. I encourage everyone to take a step towards participation rather than fault-finding. The former takes part in finding a solution; from the latter, never-ending complaints.

We have always known that the key to growth is putting the interest of others beyond one’s own. One thing is clear: how do we move forward if we keep putting others down?

How will those without education secure quality jobs? How will the unemployed become consumers? How will they save money for their future needs?

If we change all this, if we prioritize enabling others, we will open a world of opportunities not just for ourselves but for those who direly need it.

We have already begun the process of change, and we are now able to dream of better things for our country. Let us not forget that there are those who wish us to fail, so that they will once again reclaim power to do as they please at the expense of our people.

My firm belief is that our fate is in the hands of God and our people. While we focus on uplifting the lives of our fellow men, I have an unshakeable faith that Almighty God will give us His blessings and support. If we remain firm in our belief that God is on our side, is there anything impossible for us to achieve?

The mandate we received last May 10 is testament to the fact that the Filipino continues to hope for true change. The situation is not what it was before; we can all dream again. Let us all become one in achieving a fulfilment of our hopes and aspirations for our country.

Maraming Salamat Po!

Apostol bared that the town’s fiesta celebration come July 16 will be simple yet meaningful as their series of program activities are more focused on the delivery of basic social services to their constituents rather than on expensive fanfare.

“ I don’t feel like spending people’s money on elaborate and costly festivity. Money is hard to come by these days. We have to observe austerity,” the former Leyte 2nd district representative now Carigara mayor  said.

Apostol added that she even went soliciting for financial support for fiesta activities so as to save the town’s coffer.

“ Good thing my friends in congress didn’t frustrate me. We got some help from An Waray party-list representatives Bem  Noel and Neil  Montejo, and from Leyte Gov. Icot Petilla.”

Apostol said that the financial support they received will be used not only for the prizes but more on the health and nutrition activities they are now spearheading in line of the fiesta activity.

“ We will be having supplementary feeding to our students in seven elementary schools on July 13 to July 28, distributing vitamins, nutri-packs, and school bags to our day-care pupils aside from the job fair, the banca-thon, pedicab and bicycle race, and the simple affair on the eve of our fiesta.”

Apostol said that the feeding activities will also culminate the observance of nutrition month this July.

She was also thankful for the other fiesta activities organized by the church, private business establishments and other learning institutions in the town.

GO FOR REVENUE INCREASE

Meanwhile,  Apostol said that she is contemplating for tax increase in the municipality so as to get more revenue to finance basic social services.

“ It’s not good to be dependent on Internal revenue allotment from the national government. The town must also do its share to augment its income so as to maximize its delivery of services to the people.”

Asked about projects which her administration would like to focus or continue from her daughter’s term former mayor Anlie Apostol, Apostol said she will focus on livelihood and cottage-industries in the villages in her town.

“ As we can see, paved roads are already in place, linking even our upland  villages  today. This is now the time for livelihood to come in. We will be giving and finding support, training, and market for our cottage-industries here.”

Apostol identified that Brgy. Piloro is now heading its tilapia culture into a bigger market because of the support it gets from the town and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the region.

She also said that Brgy. Tagak will also have their support for its hand-woven native bags called “bayong” and also the blacksmiths and other small-scale businesses in other villages.

“ Since economy is in the market, it is but common sense that improvement of its facilities should be prioritized, this to include the finishing of the wharf to ferry goods and services in the town. This is the reason why I also look forward for tax increase so as we can finance our other needs in the town, ” she added.

She said she is hopeful that the municipal council will push on this plan.

Apostol then defended the loan incurred during the term of her daughter for the construction of the new public market.

Anlie Apostol is now elected as Leyte 2nd district board-member.

“ The said public market being assailed by the critics is earning. The town can now afford to pay P 2 million annually for it. Soon it will be paid up. Yet the bottom line of this is that the new public market is self-sustaining now.”

Carigara was hailed as the first capital of Leyte province during the Spanish colonization before the title was turned to other towns in Leyte until finally to Tacloban city in 1787.

Today Carigara’s prestige and glory can still be traced on its  various historical land marks, rich culture and pulsating economy.
(By Ronald O. Reyes and Eden Benusa-Reyes)



TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla who ran unopposed during the last election confirmed that he is being groomed to be the next chairman of the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas.

Leyte governor Icot Petilla

When first asked about this in the early part of June, Governor Petilla said that he is giving it a thought but he will first inform President Aquino about it. That time, he was scheduled to meet the President elect on a Friday. He said he will inform the President about it and he will respect the decision of the President.

Governor Petilla has already talked to President Aquino about this, thus, he has decided to seek the position.

This is not the first time that the Leyte Governor is being encouraged to run as the chairman of the highest planning body for Region 8. In fact, in 2007, he was the more popular choice but he did not push through with the idea when he learned that then President Arroyo has already committed the post to Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento of Calbayog City.

Governor Petilla is respected by his colleagues because of his no nonsense development orientation. In fact, he has the support of most if not all of the governors in Eastern Visayas.

He envisions reinvigorating the tourism industry not only of Leyte but that of the entire Region which has been identified to be part of the Central Philippines Tourism center. This will open many employment opportunities to the people of Region 8.

Governor Icot who is in his third and last term as governor, also hopes to continue to invite investors to the Region particularly the ICT sector for business process outsourcing and call centers, as this will also generate jobs.

Noting that Eastern Visayas has remained to be an agricultural region, Governor Petilla is for the development of agriculture by tooling the farmers to enable them to produce more and earn more through diversifying to other agri-business.

Being the RDC chairman would enable Governor Petilla to tutor other provinces on programs which have been tested in Leyte and have been proven to be effective.

Based on Executive Order 325, the President appoints the RDC chairman and co-chairman from among the nominees submitted by the Council. The number of nominees includes at least two local chief executives and two private sector representatives.

The RDC 8 is composed of regional directors of various government departments, local government executives from governors to mayors of capital towns, president of mayors’ leagues, city mayors and private sector representatives.

The RDC-8, which counts 96 members, serves, among others, as a policy and recommending body related to programs and projects in the region that needs support, mostly funding, from the national government.

The RDC is expected to conduct election of PSRs in July, ready for the election of the chairman and co-chairman in August or September.

TACLOBAN CITY – Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival has gone a long way, all the nine participants this year are qualified to join the Aliwan Festival in December, Ms. Ellen Fullido of Manila Broadcasting Company and Aliwan Festival exclaimed after watching the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival in honor of Santo Niño, on June 27 at the Leyte Sports Development Center.

The 2010 champion Buyugan Festival

Hearing the remarks of Ms. Fullido, Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla was quick to say that only the first two winners will join the Aliwan this year. Knowing how much is spent in bringing festival contingents to Metro Manila, it is no wonder that the Governor, who runs the Provincial Government of Leyte, the way he runs his lucrative family business, had a ready reply.

Ms. Fullido is a familiar face in the Pintados-Kasadyaan annual festival because she comes every year, a ready letter in hand to invite the winners of the Festival.

This year’s festival championship trophy went once again to Abuyog, Leyte’s Buyugan Festival, one time Aliwan Festival Champion and Sinulog Festival Champion.

Coming in as the first runner up is Dulag, Leyte’s Karatong Festival which won fourth place in the Aliwan Festival 2009. The second runner up trophy was awarded to the Viajedores Festival of La Paz, Leyte.

The third runner up in this year’s festival is the Pasaka Festival of Tanauan, Leyte while the Pinilipig Festival of Sta. Fe, Leyte was awarded the fourth runner-up trophy.

Nine festivals participated in this year’s spectacular Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival which never fails to make Leytenos proud of their rich culture.

Among the seven Pintados tribes, the championship award was presented to the Tribu SPAS Tanauan which is a community youth group in Tanauan, Leyte. The second place went to Tribu Buskada while the third place was bagged by the Kasiruman.

Per the permit granted by the City of Tacloban, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival street dancing parade started right after the 7:30 in the morning mass at the Leyte Sports Development Center.

For the first time in the Pintados Festival’s 24 years of existence and in the Kasadyaan Festival’s 15 years of existence, the city of Tacloban only allowed them to take the route only until Burgos Street for reasons that the three other main streets will be used by the City’s Sikad-sikad race.

Despite such predicament, the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival parade was just as if not more spectacular as in the past years. Only allowed to use one lane of the narrow Burgos Street, the organizers led by Mayor-elect Remedios Petilla who is the chairman of the festivities this year and the youthful Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, lauded the spectators who provided enough space to the participants to do their street dancing.

The spectators did not complain despite the heat of the sun and the inconvenience caused by the narrow streets and spaces in the routes.

TACLOBAN CITY – Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday thanked his fellow officials and employees for “the four most productive years” of his career and bade them farewell as he embarks on a new life as a private citizen on June 30.

Puno, who was appointed by President Arroyo as DILG Secretary in 2006, said that whoever takes over his post under the new administration will “find that the Department is in good shape” because of the initiatives it has undertaken on his watch to strengthen local governance, better maintain peace and order and enhance public safety.

He shared his accomplishments as Secretary with the men and women of the Department, saying that the array of capacity building programs for the local government units and the groundbreaking projects to boost the capability of the Philippine National Police and the other attached agencies of the DILG would not have been possible without their cooperation, hard work and perseverance.

“Once again, thank you to all of you. Thank you for the great experience. Thank you for the four most productive years of my life,” Puno said during a thanksgiving get-together organized in his honor by the DILG’s officials and employees at the Camp Crame Multipurpose Center in Quezon City.

Puno started his career in the government service at the DILG 36 years ago as one of its youngest assistant secretaries. He also served as its Undersecretary and later, as Secretary, during the Estrada administration.

Puno is credited with having competently steered the DILG through its most difficult challenges and having inspired its men and women to work harder in serving their fellow Filipinos.

On Puno’s watch, the budget of the DILG increased by 44% from P43.6 billion in 2006 to P62.9 billion in 2009, which allowed it to implement programs and projects to strengthen local autonomy; hire more policemen and public safety officers; procure additional equipment to better maintain peace and order; and increase the salaries and pensions of its rank-and-file.

On the local government front, among a few of Puno’s most notable accomplishments were improving the capability of LGUs in addressing calamities and cutting red tape; and the implementation of the single biggest road project in the countryside under the P3.8 billion Australia-funded Provincial Road Management Facility; and the P704-million Local Government Support Program – Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED) project, which helps LGUs enhance the exercise of their corporate powers. Further, training programs for new officials in 2007 and 2010 were updated and revised to be responsive to the clients’ needs.

On the other hand, DILG-8 Regional Director Francisco C. Jose echoed Secretary Puno’s hopes that the DILG would continue to be supported by the incoming administration “as one of the important pillars of peace, growth and stability.”

Under Secretary Puno’s leadership, the Department adopted for nationwide implementation the Local Legislative Awards, which started in Eastern Visayas in 2001. Several local government units in the region also won recognition in various award-giving bodies in the same period. Likewise, a new DILG regional office was completed in 2007 with the help of Secretary Puno in place of the one that was razed by a fire in December 2004.

Speaking during the program “[in] my last speech, I think, as a public servant,” Puno quoted the late Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy of America in describing the experiences he had shared with his DILG family during his four-year stint at the Department. “Let me say a few words to all those who have supported me….To quote Sen. Ted Kennedy: ‘There were hard hours on our journey and often we sailed against the wind. But always we kept our rudder true, and there were many of you who stayed the course and shared our hope. You gave your help, but even more, you gave your hearts,’ ” Puno said.

On behalf of the employees of the DILG and its attached agencies, Undersecretaries Marius Corpus and Austere Panadero; National Police Commission vice chairman Ed Escueta and PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa each thanked Puno for the programs he has initiated to improve the DILG’s capability in carrying out its mission of maintaining peace and order and building on the gains of local autonomy. (with a report from DILG-Office of Public Affairs)

TACLOBAN CITY – Ms. Maybelle Holanda of Palo, Leyte and a college student at the University of the Philippines Tacloban Campus was crowned as Ms Pintados 2010 before midnight of June 25 at the LNHS Gym, in a well organized pageant hosted by young heartthrob Jurus Gamboa and the reigning Ms. Pintados.

Miss Pintados 2010 was crowned by Former Governor, former congresswoman and Mayor-elect of Palo, Leyte, Hon. Remedios L. Petilla and Pintados Founding President, Tanauan Mayor Roque Tiu.

Miss Gianell Marie Carian of Pastrana, Leyte, was proclaimed as the first runner up. Her awards were presented to her by PIA 8 Director Olive Tiu and Mr. Erwin Alcala.

Dagami, Leyte’s Miss Aira del Pilar was chosen as the 2nd runner up. This pretty student of De La Salle’s St. Benilde who was among the favorite of the crowd was awarded by PIA 8 Director Olive Tiu and the Operations Manager of APAC. Ms. Del Pilar was also chosen as Best in Swimsuit, among others.

Chosen as the 3rd runner up is another crowd favorite, Miss Trishia Dawn B. Daffon from Palo, Leyte whose awards were presented by former Ms Pintados Lourdes Golong. Miss Daffon was also awarded as the Most Popular Candidate among others.

Fourth runner up was Barugo’s Monique Ayes while Ormoc’s Darling Lelibeth Lourine Pelicario was chosen as the Most Photogenic.

Among the distinguished board of judges were Don Pedro Rodriguez of Spain who is the Director of the Instituto Cervantes in Manila, former Ms. Aliwan and former Ms. Pintados Trisha Veloso, former Ms. Pintados Lourdes Golong, this year’s Sto. Niño Fiesta Hermana Mayor Mrs. Agaton and the operations manager of APAC Leyte.

Now on its 24th year, what makes the Search for the Miss Pintados different from the usual beauty tilts is its being a beauty and talent Search with a cause, that of making the candidates appreciate the qualities and values of a true Filipina, realize the spirit of volunteerism and their social responsibility particularly for the well-being of the street children of the Region.

Caring for disadvantaged fellowmen and working for them without waiting anything in return is most fulfilling. Watching the street children and the candidates playing parlor games together, eating the same food together, this writer wonders who was enjoying who more. To the writer, the players are all the same youthful children playing and sharing fun together, no barriers, no rich or poor, no one beautiful and ugly.

There is a wonderful law of nature which states that the three things man crave most in life – happiness, freedom and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else.

The Ms. Pintados candidates do not discover and enhance their God-endowed talents, they also find their heart and happiness in sharing their time and charm in bringing happiness to the street children.

This is the secret why the Search for the Miss Pintados continuous to attract contestants every year for the last twenty years, it is a search with a difference. This is the reason why most of the Miss Pintados candidates become volunteers to the various Pintados Foundation undertakings long after the Search. This is the secret to the success and more beautiful aura of the candidates after the Search.

Indeed, there is no beautifier of complexion or form or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain to the people who need people. It is good to share a meal with disadvantaged, and bring joy to those who have almost forgotten what smile and joy is all about.

For as long as the Search for Miss Pintados of the Pintados Foundation is able to mobilize people into action, building real people and future leaders in the process, able to build real people, and for as long as the people will continue to accept and support the cause of the street children, the Search for Miss Pintados is here to stay.

CATBALOGAN CITY – 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)

TACLOBAN CITY – One Visayas composed of Western, Central and Eastern Visayas Regions forged a Health Covenant as a result of the recently concluded One Visayas Health Forum at Leyte Park Hotel Convention Center A.

The Health Covenant was signed on June 22 by the One Visayas Regional Development Committee composed of the Regional Development Councils of Regions VI, VII and VIII Chairpersons Governor Salvacion Z. Perez for Region 6; and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento for Region 8, and the representative of Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia for Region 7.

The Health Covenant which will undergo polishing and styling was based on the issues and experiences generated from the participants of the three Visayas Regions in their operations of devolved tertiary, provincial and district hospitals.

The Health Covenant is a manifestation of the One Visayas Regions to share and to mentor one another on the best practices on the four thrusts of Fourmula One health service delivery, health regulation, health care financing and health governance.

The One Visayas Health Covenant expresses the hope of the member regions to have bigger voice in policy recommendations and courses of action to improve delivery of devolved health services to local government units.

Furthermore, the One Visayas Health Covenant underscores that the great impact climate change has on human health.

Although Health Secretary Cabral was unable to attend the Forum, she was ably represented by Assistant Secretary of Health Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, who also tackled another topic, the consolidated issues and concerns of the Health sector.

The successful hosting of the Health Forum by Region 8 was made possible by the Department of Health Region 8 under the able leadership of Director Edgardo Gonzaga.

TACLOBAN CITY – The pupils and the respective families of Governor E. Jaro Elementary School in Babatngon, Leyte are among the 73,000 happy beneficiaries from 174 public school in selected barangay across the country, of the Balik Eskuwela 2010 campaign of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

The NGCP Balik Eskwela 2010 is set to be in Governor E. Jaro Elementary School at 10:00 o’clock in the morning of June 25 to distribute school supplies consisting of a school bag with 10 notebooks and 3 pencils, to the elementary pupils.

The privately-owned power transmission utility and system operator selected the schools from among the thousands of barangays throughout the country where transmission towers, lines, substations and other NGCP facilities are located.

Ceremonial handover programs will be held simultaneously on June 25 in the following areas: Pila, Laoag City in North Luzon); Bibincahan, Sorsogon and Oas, Albay in South Luzon; Governor Jaro, Babatngon, Leyte in Visayas; and Cabligan, Davao; Jasaan and Aplaya, Misamis Oriental in Mindanao. Distribution of school supplies began on June 15, 2010, the first day of the new schoolyear.

“Balik Eskwela” aims both to support students and their families who may not afford to provide for a few school supplies and also to ensure the safety of children and other residents living in communities near transmission facilities.

To help minimize the incidence of electrocution and/or pilferage of tower and line parts in communities, NGCP volunteers at the “Balik Eskwela” activities will educate the children, teachers, and parents on line safety and security. The distributed notebooks carry similar information and reminders from NGCP.

NGCP is counting on the support of its partners in the power industry as well as residents and officials of host communities to ensure that reliable and safe electricity is delivered to all its customers.

Residents near transmission facilities are encouraged to help monitor and protect the towers and lines from theft and pilferage, which make the system vulnerable to power outages, as well as to observe established right-of-way easement areas to prevent grassfires, forest fires, electrocution and other accidents.

NGCP Ormoc Corporate Communications Officer Edna Legaspina in a report said, all measures are being done to ensure that transmission lines, substations and other facilities across the country are in good condition and able to deliver whatever power is available from the generating plants.

The corporation operates 19,425 circuit-kilometers of high-voltage transmission and sub-transmission lines and 23,853 mega volt amperes of substation capacity in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

TACLOBAN CITY – Police Regional Office 8 Director Chief Superintendent Rey Laquihon Lañada informed that a wanted person by the name of Rex Pajarito alias Ricric, 19 years old, single, was nabbed at 7:00 o’clock in the morning of June 24 at Barangay Lungib, Gandara, Samar.

The apprehension was made by the combined elements of Gandara Municipal Police Station, the Regional Public Safety Battalion and Special Task Group 8 led by Police Inspector Jovie R. Espenido, by virtue of Alias Warrant of Arrest for the crime of murder docketed under Criminal Case Number 06-0342 with no bail bond; and serious physical injuries docketed under Criminal Case Number 6128, with bail bond of One Thousand Pesos, both issued by Presiding Judge Cesar T. Mabansag, Branch 41 in Gandara.

This fete is pursuant to Police Regional Office 8 Director Rey Laquihon Lañada’s directive to his men to intensify their drive against all forms of criminality to ensure the safety of the general public.

Director Lañada said that the Philippine National Police in the Region is working harder in its fights against lawless criminals. He, thus, gave a stern warning to the Wanted Persons who are still at large to turn in themselves because the hands of justice will sooner or later nab them.

Do not resist arrest, Director Lañada said, because his men will defend themselves.

“If poverty is the reason why they commit crimes, they could work. There is a lot of work to be had in the locality. There is dignity in labor for as long as it is legal. There is no need for them to commit crimes in order to gain something,” Director Lañada added. (with data from PNP RPCRD8)

TACLOBAN CITY – Thirty-five (35) new mayors in the region attended the “First 100 Days” seminar of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conducted on June 21-22, 2010 at the Sabin Resort in Ormoc City.

The live-in, free seminar which is a part of the second component of the 2010 Newly Elected Officials (NEO) Program was held simultaneously with other regions throughout the country, to prepare the new mayors for their tasks even before they assume office on June 30.

Next month and up to August, DILG rolls out a different training for all mayors, vice-mayors, called “Knowing My LGU”. This is an on-site “utilization conference” to familiarize mayors, vice-mayors, and sanggunian members on their town’s state of local governance, state of development and financial capacity based on the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS) to help them prepare their respective term-based plans.

Executive Director Marivel C. Sacendoncillo of the DILG-Local Government Academy which oversees all DILG training programs, urged the neophyte mayors to learn from their more seasoned colleagues, especially on resource mobilization.

DILG-8 Regional Director Francisco C. Jose for his part urged the mayors to provide clear, concise and realizable vision of their municipality, and to exercise prudent use of their corporate powers. Likewise, he encouraged mayors to be magnanimous victors, and tap all resources and sectors to increase productivity and achieve their goals.

Heads of government oversight agencies: DILG, Department of Budget and Management, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, as well as Parole and Probation Administration offered insights on common problems in local governance and held a dialog with participants.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture, DENR, DSWD, Department of Health, and Philhealth likewise presented their programs for possible partnerships with LGUs.

Much of the questions put forth by training participants centered on appointments, succession of vacancies, local discipline, sharing of the Internal Revenue Allotment, environment, and local government – national government relations.

On the first day, Mayor Melchor Nacario of Calbiga, Samar shared his thoughts on protecting the environment and Leonardo Ubalde of Galing Pook highlighted some characteristics of local best practices.

On the second day, Mayor Roque Tiu of Tanauan, Leyte discussed revenue generation and fostering a business-friendly LGU. Both mayors have received awards in the past for their exemplary programs.

Towards the end of the seminar the mayors crafted their draft agenda for the first 100 days of office.

Out of a total of 143 local chief executives (mayors and governors) In Eastern Visayas, there are 50 new municipal mayors, two (2) new city mayors, and four (4) new governors. All of them are to undergo trainings and conferences by DILG together with the rest of the new set of local officials in preparation for their three year term.

The 2010 DILG Newly Elected Officials (NEO) Program has four components. Ensuring Smooth Transition mandates the creation of LGU transition teams to organize data, prepare transition documents, and develop briefing schedules to facilitate smooth transition in the LGU operations, as well as the conduct of a turnover ceremony between old and new officials.

The first track of Laying the Foundation component includes the First 100 Days and Knowing my LGU, while the second, Learning from the Experiences of My Peers involves mentoring and is led by the leagues of local officials.

Building Alliances shall be a province-led activity to shape a common vision, mission and goals with component cities and municipalities and harness multi-sectoral support, while Sharpening the Saw refers to trainings that may be requested by LGUs based on their needs.

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Education is now prohibiting all students of public and private elementary and secondary schools from going to computer shops, malls, theaters, and other similar establishment during class hours.

Through DepEd Order No. 86 series of 2010 issued on June 18, 2010, Education Secretary Mona Valisno directed all school officials and employees concerned to institute and implement the necessary mechanism on the school discipline applicable under the situation.

Secretary Valisno said the school officials should monitor closely those students who are absent or cut class often. DepEd is aware of the prevailing situation that there are students in the elementary and secondary levels from public and private schools who go to computer shops, malls, theaters, and the likes during their class hours while in their school uniforms.

To carry out the ban effectively, Education Secretary Mona Valisno directed said school officials and teachers concerned to communicate and coordinate with their respective local government officials so that both parties could work on a possible enactment or implementation of the appropriate legislation to implement this. These legislations may be in the form of regulating the distance of computer shops, malls, theaters and the likes from schools, she added.

The directive may also be sent to the owners of these establishments not to allow entry of students during their respective class hours. The LGUs can ask the owners of these shops and malls to check first the class schedules of the student trying to enter the establishment, Secretary Valisno said.

Secretary Valisno said schools should accordingly provide their students with certified copies of their respective class schedules.

The Education Secretary also urged the school officials and teachers to provide their students with worthwhile and productive activities, particularly those that can enhance the creative and communicative skills such as debate or their creative skills such as dramatic activities and theatrical programs, which can be done during the free time of the students in school.

CALBAYOG CITY – Aside from celebrating Independence Day on June 12, 2010 the Local Government Unit of Calbayog City awarded an SP Resolution commending Mr. Reynaldo Prudenciado, Jr. an accounting graduate from Christ the King College, Calbayog City who placed 6th in the recent CPA Board Exam.

Calbayog city councilor Julius Mancol (left) handing over the copy of the SP Resolution to CPA topnotcher Reynaldo Prudenciado, Jr. during the awarding ceremony held at the Nijaga Park.

City Councilor Julius Mancol handed over a copy of the resolution to Mr. Prudenciado himself at the Nijaga Park stage.

In a phone interview, Rey told PIA that he did not expect to top the exam, he only prayed hard to pass.

Prudenciado’s family is of humble beginnings, his father is a farmer while her mother tends a small sari-sari store in Barangay Guin-on, Calbayog City.

They are poor all right, said Rey but his siblings, four of them, including himself were able to go to school through scholarship grants.

His elder sister graduated cum laude at the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) now Northwestern State University.

He, too, graduated magna cum laude according to a personnel at Christ the King College.

Rey initially wanted to become a nurse, but a problem with his benefactor sprouted that he was forced to take accounting, a situation which gave him enormous blessings.

As he recalled how he learned of his passing the test, much more his being on the top 6 was too overwhelming for words.

He recalled being on review school because of another scholarship grant from Punongbayan and Araulo Auditing Firm which he hopes to serve for at least sometime.

He admitted he received many offers, but chose to stay with the Punongbayan Auditing Firm.

This 21 year old lad believes that being poor is not an excuse not to pursue higher education, one’s determination and drive will more than compensate for any financial difficulty.

Meanwhile, Christ the King College admitted this is the first time their graduate topped the CPA Board Examination.

An employee told PIA that they have also students who topped the teachers board and other board exams.

Christ the King feels proud that their graduates have performed well.

Soon, a testimonial dinner awaits the successful batch of CPA examinees in and they will be led by this 21-year old lad who dreamed and infused diligence determination and perseverance to succeed. (with reports from Ron Ricafort)

QUEZON CITY – “For the Families of the Disappeared for Justice, the Supreme Court did not bestow justice; it only prolonged the Burgoses’ agony.” This was the statement made today by Lorena Santos, Deputy Secretary General of Desaparecidos or Families of the Disappeared for Jusitce after the Supreme Court came out with its non-decision over the Writ of Amparo on the Jonas Burgos abduction case.

“After making the Burgos family wait for more than a year for the Supreme Court ruling on the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, the decision is still found wanting,” Santos said unable to hide her disappointment.

The victims’ organization said that the Supreme Court failed to come up with a decision on the Writ of Amparo brought to their court after the Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal filed by the Burgoses. The Court of Appeals dismissed the case due to “lapses” by the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) in investigating the case. “Those were not lapses but a cover up on the abduction of Jonas Burgos.” Santos stated.

“With the Supreme Court ordering the Commission on Human Rights to conduct an investigation on the case, it seems the legal woes of the Burgos family will be starting all over again.” Santos shared while reminding the public that Jonas Burgos’ family had previously filed a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights during the term of the CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing. “The Commission ordered a suspension of the hearings then.” Santos lamented. “The Burgos family expressed the futility of the proceedings at the Commission at that time,” she continued.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, President Arroyo should be taken out from the respondents. “It is simply unacceptable. She is the commander-in-chief of the AFP and her state policies include Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch) that gives power to the military to abduct and disappear people like Jonas,” Santos adds.

“Is this what we shall expect with the other pending Writ of Amparo cases that families of victims of enforced disappearances have filed before the High Courts?” Santos asks.

Decisions for petitions for the Writ of Amparo for the disappearance of National Democratic Front of the Philippines consultant for the peace process Leo Velasco, and, the UP Students Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan are still pending with the Supreme Court. They have been missing for almost four years now.

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So said congressman-elect Sergio A. F. Apostol of the 2nd district of Leyte amid impending exodus of Lakas members to the Liberal party of President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III by the time the latter will sit into office come June 30.

“ The party remains solid. Judging by our numbers in congress, we are still formidable.”

Apostol added that the position of their party under Aquino’s administration would be of the opposition.

He however added that they will be cooperative on legislative agenda which would benefit the entire nation.

“ Many things will be expected from the new president. It is important that he’ll get the support from everyone. We’re also working towards that purpose, ” he said.

The race for speakership

On a personal note, Apostol said that the race for speakership is getting crucial with their partymates and coalition parties.

It was learned that Lakas is bent on getting the support from other coalitions for Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman or Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez.

Apostol then said that Pres. Arroyo, now 2nd district of Pampanga congresswoman-elect, will not be seeking the post for speakership.

He added that Rep. Arroyo would just be a regular member in the 15th congress.

“ The contest will be among Quezon city 4th district Rep. Feliciano Belmonte, Lagman or Suarez. Apparently, the Liberal is not receptive with the support coming from our other coalitions.”

In a separate report, it was learned that Lakas-Kampi-CMD is still expected to dominate in the political landscape in the country as majority of its members had won last May 10 election.

“ Politics in the Philippines is always local. When you go outside Manila, you will feel the impact of your party among the local leaders who are your partymates, ” Apostol said.

Apostol then said that this was the reason why Lakas presidential bet Gilbert ” Gibo” Teodoro failed last May 10 election due to some allegations coming from local party officials that they were not being properly taken care of by him. (By Ronald O. Reyes and Eden Benusa-Reyes)

TACLOBAN CITY – Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla disclosed that he will take his oath of office on June 28 before Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.

At the Harampang Ha PIA held recently at Gerry’s Grill, Governor Petilla bared that the oath taking will be conducted at 9:00 o’clock in the morning at the Provincial Capitol Terrace.

The other provincial officials to include Vice Governor Mimyet Bagulaya and the Provincial Board Members from the five Districts of Leyte, will also take their oath before the Supreme Court Administrator.

Governor Petilla intimated that several mayors and several Tacloban City councilors will also take their oath of office on the same day before the Supreme Court Administrator.

Governor Petilla who is in his third and last term as Governor of Leyte, ran unopposed in the just concluded elections.

The Supreme Court En Banc appointed Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) Jose Midas P. Marquez as the newest Court Administrator on January 26, 2010, filling the vacancy left by newly-appointed SC Justice Jose P. Perez.

Court Administrator Marquez, who took his oath of office before Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno last January 27, is, at age 43, the youngest to be appointed to the post after besting eight other applicants who were all interviewed by the Court En Banc.

He is the 15th person to be appointed to Court Administrator and now oversees the administration of all lower courts in the country. He, however, remains Spokesperson and Acting Chief of the PIO for the time being.

The new Court Administrator started his career in the SC in 1991 as a law clerk for several Justices of the SC, among whom are retired Justice Abraham F. Sarmiento, Senior Justice and former Philippine Judicial Academy Chancellor Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera, and Senior Justice Josue N. Bellosillo.

He later on acted as Deputy Secretary of the Senate Electoral Tribunal, detailed at the Office of the Chairman of then Senior Justices Bellosillo in 1999 and Puno in 2003.

From 1998 to 2000, he was the Project Director of the Supreme Court-United Nations Development Programme Project on Technical Assistance to the Philippine Judiciary on Justice and Development which served as the forerunner of the World Bank-assisted projects of the Court and the present Action Program for Judicial Reform of the Court.

Marquez gradually rose from the ranks until he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Office of Chief Justice Puno, and the Supreme Court’s second spokesperson and PIO Chief in 2007.

Marquez finished his Juris Doctor degree in 1993 at the Ateneo de Manila University, from where he also obtained his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts, major in Economics in 1987. He is also a law professor in a law school in Makati and has written several law books.

Marquez is married to the former Liezl Sarmiento. They are blessed with two children, Galo, 16 and Maia, 14.

TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla has given the green light to the city of Baybay to be the province’s next alternative business district.

He encouraged Baybay city officials and hundreds of city residents in attendance during the 3rd Charter Day Celebration of Baybay City that by being more competitive in investment and business promotions, the city can bag new locators to the area that would help the city’s economy.

He said that if nearby cities of Maasin and Ormoc were able to make a headway into the business scene, the city of Baybay, which he said may still be in its infancy, can easily be at par with the rest of them business and investment wise.

Already, he said, the province for its part is already readying the groundwork for more investments to come to this new city by inviting locators in the business process outsource field.

The governor, who was instrumental in the location of APAC Customer Services Inc to Leyte via the Leyte ICT Park in Palo, said that similar businesses could also consider the city of Baybay as the next ICT hub.

It was learned that for its part, Baybay City in 2005 developed and implemented a five-year Tourism and Investment Plan. After two years of implementation, Baybay improved tourism and investment collaterals which resulted in more investors locating in Baybay, tourism sites developed that helped generate more employment in the city.

Through the set up of the Baybay Tourism and Investment Promotion Office, the city has aggressively promoted the municipality as a location for business and provide better services to potential and actual investors.

Since 2005, it was learned that more or less P125 million was invested in Baybay, which according to the governor is a clear demonstration that Baybay has improved its business climate and institutional environment.

Baybay is home to several of the province big companies particularly in the oil and fiber industry.

The city has also packaged itself as a tourist destination with direct established links to hotels and tourism operators in the Visayas.

With this call, Gov. Petilla has also called on the Department of Budget and Management to restore Baybay’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) under its cityhood status.

The governor explained that returning the IRA to Baybay as a city, would help the local government to operate as a city and perform its other functions and responsibilities to its constituents.

The governor also added that with Baybay operating on a municipal status IRA, their capacity are being limited.

However, Gov. Petilla expressed confidence the DBM could restore Baybay City’s IRA as questions on its cityhood has already been established and decided upon through a Supreme Court ruling.

TACLOBAN CITY – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed on June 17, 2010, Proclamation No. 2085 declaring Wednesday, June 30, 2010 as a special nonworking holiday all throughout the Philippines.

In signing the Proclamation, President Arroyo said that it is fitting and proper that all citizens of the country be given the full opportunity to witness and welcome this historic event in the life of the nation.

President Arroyo noted that the Presidential inaugural ceremonies for the incoming President of the Republic of the Philippines will be held on June 30, 2010.

President Arroyo’s move bespeak of her consistently being a stateswoman, always advocating that the rule of law must prevail.

President Arroyo right after the May 10 elections created the Transition Committee so that basic services could continue and to facilitate the coming in of the next Administration.

As protocol and tradition dictates, President Arroyo will not mind sharing a farewell limousine ride with the incoming President on his way to his inauguration as the Philippines’ 15th President.

The June 30 holiday would be a chance for Filipinos to show oneness with the outgoing and incoming Administrations.

With June 30 having been declared a special holiday, it would be safe to expect an overflow crowd to converge at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to witness the inauguration of the 15th President of the Republic.

Among others, President Arroyo will always be remembered for making the smooth transition of power, her final act of governance.

MAASIN CITY – If he has his way, elementary pupils must be spared lessons on sex education, and the subject must be taught only for high school students.

This was the reaction of City Mayor Maloney Samaco on the raging issue now hounding the Department of Education (DepEd) as the controversial subject is being pilot-tested in select schools around the country – 80 public elementary schools and 79 high schools – for the present 2010-2011 school year.

Luckily, for this city and Southern Leyte province, no elementary or secondary school here was listed as among the randomly selected areas for teaching sex education, based on published reports.

“That is my personal opinion,” Mayor Samaco stressed in an interview at his office Tuesday, as he voiced his concerns that the matter may not be handled properly by competent teachers at the intermediate levels, or the grades IV, V, and VI, in which it was targeted to be taught.

His worry was that the topic may end up rousing the curiosity of boys and girls, and questions on sexuality or the reproductive processes may cause confusion rather than enlighten the children.

It will be fitting to be taken up during high school, since this is the onset of a teen-ager’s growth development, otherwise known as the puberty period, wherein many physical changes can be expected, and the teens can relate and understand better.

In fact, it was only when his children were in high school, Mayor Samaco stressed, that they discussed the topic on sexuality, not during their elementary years.

According to reports, DedEd Secretary Mona Valisno declared there will be no discussion on things about contraception on the pilot-tested project.

The lessons have been limited to reproductive system, proper peer behavior, personal hygiene, and problems on unwanted pregnancy.

But teachings on the different systems of the human body, be it a man or a woman’s body, had been integrated into such subjects as Science especially biology and Health, it was learned.

The loud uproar soared only when the word “sex” was written, for if another term was used, such as “gender” for “gender education”, it may not have mattered at all, many keen observers noted. (PIA-Southern Leyte)

TACLOBAN CITY – The ABS-CBN Tacloban headed by its Station Manager Clifford Nolido is sponsoring a jobs and livelihood fair to be held on Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 8:00AM to 3:00PM at the Leyte SMED Center located beside the Leyte Provincial Capitol. The fair is expected to draw job seekers from the various municipalities in the region.

Dubbed as “Trabaho Patrol”, the employment activity is in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment’s Northern Leyte Field Office and its attached agency, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

During a meeting with DOLE Regional Director Forter G. Puguon, Ms. Marites Z. Viñas, Chief Labor and Employment Officer (Chief LEO) and head of DOLE Northern Leyte Field Office, reported that sixteen (16) local employers have confirmed their participation in the one day jobs and livelihood fair. These are APAC, Accudata, Dranix, Jollibee/Chowking/Greenwich, Opportunity Bank/Taytay sa Kauswagan, Trisean ventures/Bayantel, Gaisano Central, MJ Prime Ventures, New Leyte Edible Oil, Andoks, Vision Janitorial & Allied Services, Inc., LEYECO II, AMA Computer College, ABE International College of Business and Economics, M. Lhullier & J Gourmet Partnership Co. and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office No. 8.

The local employers will be bringing in openings for various professional, skilled and unskilled jobs, including seventy five (75) customer service representatives or call center agents, credit analyst, billers, programmer staff, accounting clerk, cashiers, bagger, utility worker, sales assistant, assistant store managers, management trainees, bookkeeper, accountant, restaurant supervisor, restaurant receptionist, waitress/waiters, kitchen crew, company driver and messenger.

Likewise, seven (7) Tacloban-based private recruitment agencies will also take part in the jobs fair with several job orders for employment abroad. These are 10th Story placement agency, Ascend Overseas Recruitment Agency, Mondial Recruitment Agency, Mother’s Way Overseas Manpower, New Era Placement Agency, Pacific Mediterranean.

The livelihood component of the fair will feature opportunities for self employment through livelihood or entrepreneurship. Among the livelihood exhibits are the vegenoodles of Burak Magkaisa Small Business Association in Tolosa, Leyte, deboned bangus of Tanghas, Tolosa, Leyte, processed meat products of DORELCO Independent Workers Union in Tolosa, Leyte, roscas, decania and torta of Barugo Roscas Producers Association and Barugo Food Delicacies Association, mushroom and bath soap of Tabon-tabon, Leyte and food supplements of Lifestyles Inc.

A unique feature of the Livelihood Fair is the participation of Lifestyles Inc. which will offer opportunity either for additional income or income augmentation to those already employed, for self employment to those unemployed.

Interested applicants should bring with such them basic documentary requirements such as resume, diploma, transcript of records, NBI Clearance, Passport for overseas applicants, employment certification and other relevant documents.

For more information, you may contact Ms. Marites Z. Viñas, Head of DOLE Northern Leyte Field Office at telephone number (053) 325-5236.

TACLOBAN CITY – For the first time in Tacloban City, an exhibit of various Santo Niño images was organized by the Leyte Pintados Foundation to highlight the month-long celebration of the feast of the Patron of the entire province of Leyte.

The Sto. Niño Exhibit was officially opened on June 15 at the activity area of Robinsons Place Tacloban, with the cutting of the ribbon by Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla who was represented by Vice-Governor Mimyet Bagulaya, together with this year’s Hermanos, the Agaton Family, and the Leyte Pintados Foundation officers.

Before the opening of the exhibit, all the images of Sto. Niño including the Teniente of the Parish were toured around the main thoroughfares of Tacloban and were met at the entrance of the Robinson’s Mall in Marasbaras by the Pintados group of Anibong.

The exhibit of the Santo Niño images in different presentations and sizes will run for three days only, from June 15 to 17, Mr. Eugene Tan, the president of the Pintados Foundation disclosed.

The exhibit was blessed by Rev. Fr. Erwin Balagapo of the Sto. Niño Parish of Tacloban City and was followed with the reading of the Message of Gov. Icot Petilla by Vice Gov. Mimyet Bagulaya.

In his speech, Gov. Icot lauded the Pintados Foundation for spearheading the exhibit as it will bring more awareness of and devotion to Senor Sto. Niño.

About 15 Sto. Niño images were loaned by their owners to the Pintados Foundation and each of them has a donation/love offering box. Many devotees dropped some amount and when counted at the end of the day, the total amount donated or offered reached to more than P30,000 which will go to the Sto. Niño Parish of Tacloban.

In the afternoon, the Our Lady of Lourdes Choir of V&G entertained the shoppers. It was learned from the organizers that for the duration of the exhibit there will always be a group to entertain the shoppers.

QUEZON CITY – If the Department of Education (DepEd) must push through with the pilot testing of basic sex education in selected public schools, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas wants the new program to be taught wholly in English.

“This way, the DepEd also gets to use the new program to advance the English skills of our children at an early age,” said Gullas, an educator and principal author of a bill seeking to reinforce the use of English in schools.

Assuming the trial run of sex education will proceed, Gullas said the Deped has the option to teach the new program in English, Filipino or in the regional/native language.

“Of course we would prefer that it be taught entirely in English, as a language is best learned and mastered through constant exposure and use in school and elsewhere,” Gullas said.

Despite resistance from the Catholic Church, the DepEd said it intends to carry out this school year the pilot testing of sex education in 80 elementary and 79 high schools nationwide.

Gullas’s bill, the proposed Act Strengthening and Enhancing the Use of English as the Medium of Instruction, was actually passed by the House of Representatives on third and final reading in the 13th Congress. However, the Senate failed to act on the bill in that Congress.

In the outgoing 14th Congress, the House failed to pass the bill, although an overwhelming majority of its members, or 202 of them to be exact, co-authored the measure.

Gullas vowed to re-introduce the bill on July 1. In the bill:

English, Filipino or the regional/native language may be used as the teaching language in all subjects from preschool to Grade 3;

English shall be the teaching language in all academic subjects from Grades 4 to 6, and in all levels of high school;

English and Filipino shall be taught as separate subjects in all levels of elementary and high school;

The current language policy prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education shall be maintained in college; and

English shall be promoted as the language of interaction in schools.

A previous survey by the Social Weather Stations indicated that while most Filipinos are convinced that English mastery leads to greater employment opportunities, many still lack competency in the language.

In that survey, only 76 percent of voting-age Filipinos said they could understand spoken English. Of those polled, only 75 percent said they could read English; only 61 percent said they could write English; only 46 percent said they could speak English; and only 38 percent said they could think in English.

Gullas stressed the need to provide the country’s future labor force participants with the language skills necessary for them to compete aggressively in all gainful job markets here and abroad.

TACLOBAN CITY – Police Region 8 Director Rey Laquihon Lañada expressed his gratitude for the all out support of the public in PNP programs, particularly that on drugs.

Director Lañada informed that at around 1:00 o’clock in the morning of June 15, a Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN) agent in Gamay, Northern Samar, turned over 7.5 kilos of suspected cocaine bricks amounting to about Thirty Seven point five Million (P37,500,000.00) Pesos.

The surrender was made to the combined force of the Regional Intelligence Division, Police Region Office 8, and Regional Special Operations Group led by Police Inspector Rolly Tagama and Police Inspector Raul Sarabia in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 8 under the direct supervision of Police Superintendent Crizaldo Nieves, chief of RID 8.

The subject person and the surrendered cocaine bricks were brought to Gamay Police Station for documentation and subsequently brought to the office of RID, PRO 8 for proper disposition.

In a press conference held in the morning of June 16, Director Lañada turned over the surrendered cocaine to PDEA 8 Deputy Chief Operations Section Raymond Gidal who in turn deposited the same with SOCO8 for safekeeping.

Police Regional Director Lañada reiterated his directive to all police stations along the shorelines to monitor any similar recovery of cocaine bricks by the fishermen. He also called for the mobilization of Bantay Dagat of concerned municipalities and neighboring towns to monitor and inform the public to turn over to the PNP any recovered similar items.

Director Lañada said that the PNP together with the PDEA will continue to closely investigate the recovery of said white substances and to exert more efforts to further recover more cocaine from other municipalities.

On December 28, 2009, 218 bricks of cocaine were turned over by the Police Regional Office 8 to PDEA. Said bricks of suspected cocaine were recovered by joint elements of Eastern Samar, 4th Alpha Coy, PA and 52nd IB Delta Coy PA within the municipalities of Balangkayan, Maydolong, San Policarpio and Llorente, all in Eastern Samar, and in Northern Samar.

On January 11, 2010, another 80 bricks of suspected cocaine were turned over to PDEA 8. More than a month after, on February 26, 2010, another 28 bricks of cocain were turned over to PDEA.

PRO 8 has recovered a total of 335.320 bricks or kilos of cocaine which amounts to about 6 Billion, 676 Million, 600 Thousand Pesos (P6.67B).