Southern Leyte Province News October 2011

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Southern Leyte Realty

Philippine News

Southern Leyte Police arrests wanted person, illegal gamblers

by. ES Gorne


SOUTHERN LEYTE, October 31 (PIA 8)-- Continued police operations resulted to the apprehension of wanted persons in the province as Southern Leyte Police Provincial Office (SLPPO) Officer In Charge PSSupt Allan Tribiana Cuevillas directed all chiefs of police to strictly implement the service of all warrants of arrest received by their respective office. This he said is “in order to enhance the quality of justice dispensed by the courts and to give speedy trials of all cases filed,” Police Chief Inspector Abdulmajid Jaji, the PCR Chief said in their report to PIA Southern Leyte. On October 28, the Bontoc Police Station personnel arrested Eduardo Navarro Tan, 58 years old, a resident of Barangay Divisioria, Bontoc by virtue of warrant of arrest by Judge Bethany G. Kapili dated November 26, 2007 for a crime of murder docketed under Criminal Case No. 1170, Jaji said. Jaji further reported that the arrested person was brought to Bontoc Police Station for proper disposition. Meanwhile, Jaji said the provincial police continues to implement the “One Strike Policy” in the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling in the area of responsibility,as directed by PSSupt Cuevillas. He said in Hinunagan, Southern Leyte on October 28, the PNP personnel of Hinunangan Police Station conducted operations against illegal activities at Barangay Calag-itan which resulted to the apprehension of Arnel Jay-R Espanol. Confiscated from his possession and control were swertres control sheets, ballpen and bet money. While in Macrohon, Southern Leyte, Franko Lolo Degios, 33 years old, married, laborer and of Brgy. Maria Clara was caught in the act of collecting illegal gambling paraphernalia such as tally sheets and bet money. And in Maasin City on October 29, police arrested Rico Miras Damole, 27 years old, single, jobless and a resident of said place, as police operations against illegal gambling activity at Brgy. Tagnipa was conducted. Confiscated from his actual possession, control and custody were one piece summary sheet, ten pieces control sheet and cash money amounting to ninety five pesos (P 95.00) in different denominations, he said. All persons apprehended were brought to respective police stations for documentation and filing of appropriate criminal charges in court, he added. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)






Army cites political unity in “insurgent free” Southern Leyte

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY – The Philippine Army leadership of the Central Command cites Southern Leyte’s political unity that contributes in the attainment of its status of an “insurgent free” province.

The members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) in Southern Leyte led by Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado together with Lt. General Ralph A. Villanueva, Commander, Central Command based in Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City, Major General Mario F. Chan, Commander, 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army participated in the ceremonial signing of the Joint Declaration of an “insurgent free” Southern Leyte.

During the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting headed by Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado and members of the PDC, the council accorded the ceremonial signing among its priority PDC agenda at the R.K. Kangleon Function House in Maasin City in Southern Leyte in the morning of September 29.

Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva said that the province of Southern Leyte is the sixth province in the Visayas that were declared with insurgent free condition together with the provinces of Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras and Siquijor. This year, only the Southern Leyte province has been declared insurgent free, so far, he added.

He assured the media group that the Internal Security Operations in the province is in place and to be continued.

Villanueva also informed that the provincial government the military presence in the province will still be around with (1) regular Charlie Company for the 78th IB and (2) CAFGU companies of the 52nd IB when asked.

During the press conference that followed after the declaration ceremony, Major General Mario F. Chan, Commander, 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army disclosed that the role of the military in the peace and order status of the province was to support Southern Leyte, which eventually spearheaded in bringing development in the province.

He said the united political leadership in the province of Southern Leyte has brought about economic development coupled with the installation with basic infrastructures such electric power, among others, that gives access for all the people to information that would help change their perception and no longer join the insurgency movement.

Chan noted that no less than the lone representative of Southern Leyte, Congressman Roger Mercado reported that it took the representative seven (7) years look into the construction of the roads, bridges, interconnect roads take place around the province. That all these developments closely contributed to faster interaction among the people, he added.







SoLeyte inks MOA with DENR to spearhead development of timberlands in the province

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 25 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Southern Leyte inks a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Southern Leyte for the latter to turn-over the supervision of timberlands. For the meantime, the provincial government will partially develop about 259 hectares of the timberlands of the province for agricultural development, Provincial Governor Damian Mercado said during the visit of Dr. Sebastian Paust, GIZ Managing Director, Monday at Mangrove Resource and Environmental Learning Center, San Roque, Macrohon. Gov. Mercado said the provincial government have already started to plant in the 59 hectares of land area in Barangay Cagnitu-an, Maasin City. Provincial Agriculturist Marina Gador further disclosed that there are two more timberland areas that the provincial government will initiate its development, namely, the 100 hectares in Maningning, Malitbog and 100 hectares in Tigbawan, Malitbog, all of Southern Leyte. The provincial government aims to plant coconut trees, varied fruit trees, timber trees, high valued crops, among other agricultural products for the timberland to be productive and for the people in the community concerned to gain livelihood opportunities, as well, Gador added. Meanwhile, the Provincial Governor expressed his gratitude to the GIZ for the total of P 84 M worth of financial and technical assistance the country has extended to Southern Leyte, as of press time. &nb sp; He specifically mentioned that the German government agency has played important role as real partner of the province in the environment and rural development, food security , promotion of private sector program and disaster risk reduction management, among others. ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)

So Leyte solon leads planting mangroves at Silago

by. Bong Pedalino


BARANGAY HINGATUNGAN, Silago, Southern Leyte, Oct. 24 (PIA) -- Southern Leyte Lone District Representative Roger Mercado waded into ankle deep waters here Saturday to plant mangroves along the rocky shores in this pacific barangay. He was joined by some 300 young people coming from seven parishes comprising the pacific vicariate, an ecclesiastical subdivision of the Diocese of Maasin, in a show of force led by Cong. Mercado that was aimed to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Parish-based youths earlier had a value-formation lecture at the Hingatungan Chapel with Rev. Fr. Hope Lambonao, and when the solon arrived direct from Manila he was given the floor for a short pep talk shortly before the actual planting of mangrove petioles. Ever a walking environment crusader, Cong. Mercado riveted his remarks on the need for conscious efforts, particularly initiated by the young people, to alter the erratic weather patterns brought about by global warming, and one of the ways to do this is to continue planting trees in the mountains, or mangroves along the sea coasts. He said upon learning about the activity in an invitation extended by Fr. Lambonao, he did not hesitate to come directly to the venue after alighting from the plane at the Tacloban airport, saying he valued every opportunity that he can personally participate in a tree-planting event. Mercado also mentioned the recent weather disturbance, tropical depression “Ramon” which was forecast to hit land at Silago on October 12 but veered in its direction instead, “jumping” to Northern Cebu area. “This showed that, aside from our prayers that we be spared from the calamity, our consistent efforts on planting trees paid off, as typhoons are known to slow down in areas with thick vegetation,” Cong. Mercado told local media in a short interaction following the mangrove planting. Rosalinda Lumaas, Punong Barangay of Hingatungan, said in an interview that a total of 18,000 mangrove seedlings were already planted since the project began in May this year, and they are still intent on planting some more as the site is still wide open. (PIA-Southern Leyte/bong)






DPWH – Southern Leyte receives P25.7M for roadslips repairs in 5 areas

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Southern Leyte Engineering District (SLED) is a recipient of a P25.7 million program funds intended for the repair and stabilization of road slips in five road network areas in the province damaged by the heavy rainfalls early this year. DPWH-SLED Assistant District Engineer Manolo Rojas reported to PIA Southern Leyte that the engineering district will be working on the programming and planning of the five projects identified to undergo the repair and road slips stabilizations which are expected to be completed by October 26, this year. Then the engineering district will bid out the 5 projects competitively through on line bidding, which is in line with PNoy's "matuwid na daan" policy, in the next 20 days, he said. Rojas said that the following roadslip repair project areas identified are in Katipunan, Silago – P3.5 Millions; Tubod, Silago – P4 Millions, Saub, Saint Bernard – P 1.5 Millions; Hindag-an, St. Bernard – P 10 Million and Lepanto, St. Bernard – P7 Million, all of Southern Leyte. He said those roadslips were damaged during the heavy rains experienced last January 2, 2011 in the province that resulted to the death of three children aged one to five, were killed in a landslide that hit Barangay Bolod-bolod in St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)






NFA-SoLeyte to purchase palay from legitimate farmers, readies buying stations

by. R.G. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Oct 20 (PIA) – The National Food Authority (NFA) Southern Leyte Provincial Office informed all concerned parties that their office is willing to purchase palay from legitimate farmers and famer’s organization, especially this season, which is the onset of harvest. NFA Information Officer designate Elisa E. Almacin reported that the food agency of the government is aiming foran aggressive palay procurement operations, thus NFA Provincial Manager Isagani T. Nicandro instructed to position procurement teams at different buying stations. The buying stations were mentioned as follows: Maasin GID Warehouse at Barangay Canturing, this city, FLGC Warehouse – Barangay Ma. Asuncion, Saint Bernard and MLGC Warehouse of Poblacion, Hinunangan, all from Southern Leyte and JICA Warehouse from Barangay Liberty, Hilongos and Baybay Warehouse from Hipusngo, Baybay City, both from the province of Leyte. “The agency is fully committed to support our farmers, thus appealing to all City and Municipal Mayors through their Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAOs) to help the agency in the said program,” Almacin quoted Manager Nicandro as their agency is targeting to lower the country’s dependence on rice importation through procurement. The MAOs were urged to encourage farmers to sell substantial part of their harvest to NFA, hence the agency has adequate funding for the Palay Procurement Activities @ P17 per kilogram for a clean and dry palay with incentives as follows: Cooperative Development Incentives Fee (CDIF) of P0.30/kg. Delivery Incentive Fee of P0.20/kg. and P0.20/kg. of Drying Incentive Fee, the report said. NFA-Southern Leyte is also urging all farmers to produce more to make the country rice self-sufficient, while committing also to serve the farmers and consumers stakeholders as well. (rgc/PIA-Soleyte)






PENRO-Southern Leyte joins annual Fisheries Conservation Week fete

by. R.G. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 17 (PIA) -– The Province of Southern Leyte through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) will observe the annual Fisheries Conservation Week celebration on October 18-20, 2011. The whole celebration will highlight activities such as the Mangrove Forum and Greenbelt Appreciation Trip, the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Forum and Awarding of Financial Assistance to 22 MPAs and the Launching of 2012 Search for the Champions of the Seas and MPA Appreciation Trip. Coastal Fisheries Resources Management Unit Officer Eva Abad reported in a phone interview this afternoon, Monday, that the Mangroove foum whill be held in the morning of Oct 18 at Casa Ampil here to be participated by MPA beneficiaries,among other participants and project visits will proceed in the afternoon of the same day at Barangay Manhilo, Maasin City and Molopolo of Macrohon, this province, two of the marine protected areas here. While, the awarding of financial assiatance for the MPAs will be conducted on the second day, October 19 at Casa Ampil, Maasin City,”this is the second batch of MPAs -beneficiaries that will be given financial assistance, the first batch was awarded last July, 2011 yet,” Abad bared. “For the second batch, a total of 22 Marine Protected Areas were identified throughout the province, with P10,000 as cash assistance to be given per site, a total of P220,000 was allotted for the said purpose,” Abad reported. On the third day, the delegates will visit San Pablo Island, at the municipality of Hinunangan and will conduct an MPA Pride Campaign, the source added. This year’s theme is dubbed as ”Fishery resource conservation in the context of global needs for food, security and safety.” (rgc/PIA-Soleyte)






SoLeyte dad commends skills registration initiatives of DOLE in the province

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 15 (PIA) -- Southern Leyte Provincial Gov. Damian G. Mercado commended the national government-conceptualized National Manpower Skills Registration System, through the initiatives of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Provincial Office, as it made employment facilitation easier and faster. The province of Southern Leyte has been identified as one of the pilot areas for the second wave of Skills Registry System (SRS) implementation in the region after a one-day orientation on the skills registry was conducted yesterday at the Casa Ampil among the 70 barangay captains in Maasin City. Mercado said the new skills registry system being mobilized at the barangay level will provide better employment facilitation services among the constituents in the province. He encouraged the barangay captains, who are in the forefront in the implementation of the SRS, to work closely with the DOLE provincial office to establish a good database of city-wide manpower skills registration system. Earlier, Mercado hired two out of school youths in every municipality to undertake the provincial skills registry mobilization at the barangay level under the Work Appreciation Program of DOLE. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)






DTI intensifies bamboo production in Southern Leyte

by. R.G. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte Oct 14 (PIA) -– In order to support and develop the bamboo production in the province of Southern Leyte, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently conducted basic skills training on Processed Bamboo Products under the project Sustainable Development of Southern Leyte Employees Multi –Purpose Cooperative- Bamboo (SLEMBOO). Trade and Industry Development Specialist Sandra Alcober said Friday the SLEMBOO project of the Southern Leyte Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative Inc. now focused on increasing the volume of production, improved quality of bamboo products, capacity development of human resources and increased, well-organized nodes. “After the project’s implementation, for the last quarter of 2010, an increased awareness of bamboo products which resulted to its growing demand,” Alcober said, adding that there’s a need for an additional source of bamboo raw materials and workers in order to cope up with the said demands and will also serve as a buffer for future demands. Alcober said the skills training conducted to the participants was aimed to open another outlet that will supply the bamboo raw materials and labor needs of SLEMBOO through imparting the skills on how to harvest bamboo products, cutting, cleaning, flattening and bamboo chips making. DTI-Southern Leyte headed by DTI Provincial Dir. Micahel Nuñez encouraged the prospect-producers to “sharpen their skills they learned from the training through continuous production.” The idea of barangay entrepreneurship is also a gesture of the local government of supporting the project through serving as a middleman such as in the allocation of funds for labor payment and the purchase of equipment and in turn selling the output of its people to SLEMBOO, the source said. The skills training targeted Barangay Libhu, this city in addition to the treatment plant in Barangay Sto. Niño in the municipality of Macrohon and the display center at Barangay Ibarra here, where different bamboo products can be seen such as luber, sheets furniture and designed chips, among other bamboo finished products. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)





DepEd-SoLeyte joins Global Handwashing Day this October

by. R.G. Cadavos


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct 13 (PIA) -– “Handwashing with soap is the most effective and cheapest way to prevent diseases,” Department of Education (DepEd) Supervising Nurse Teresita Marquez disclosed in an interview with PIA-Maasin, Tuesday. Marquez said that October 15 is set as the Global Handwashing Day, but since it falls on Sunday, “DepEd Southern Leyte Division will conduct the Global Handwashing Day on Monday, Oct 17 at Bolod-Bolod Elemntary School, Barangay Bolod-Bolod, Saint Bernard, this province.” The said activity which is relative to Essential Health Care Package program of the education department will be participated by different stakeholders such as the local government units, the Parents-Teachers Association officials, school principals, head teachers, among other division teachers and DepEd health personnel throughout Southern Leyte Division. “While the other school districts throughout the (18) municipalities of the province will have a synchronized activity at their own level,” Marquez bared. This will be led by the school’s principal, she added. Proper handwashing has been echoing and reinforcing the call for improved hygiene practices not only here in the country but worldwide. Global Handwashing Day will be the centerpiece of activities that will mobilize millions of people across five continents to wash their hands with soap. As of school year 2011-2012, Southern Leyte Schools Division has a total enrolment of 53,933 for the elementary and Kindergaten departments, Marquez disclosed during the Provincial Nutrition Planning with the Technical Working Group held at Supercha Restaurant in Maasin City. (rgc/PIA-SoLeyte)






PAG-ASA-Maasin: Signal number 1 in So Leyte

by. Bong Pedalino


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 12 (PIA) -- The local weather bureau here went on-air over dydm 8:30 am today to announce that tropical storm Ramon has changed position, sparing the province and Silago town that was riveted to be hit in an hour or so. With this development, Southern Leyte province’s storm signal has been lowered to number 1, down from number 2 hoisted since late yesterday afternoon. “There is an amendment to bulletin number 8, in which Ramon was tracked in its latest course at 80 km. north of Cebu, at coordinates 11.0 degrees north, 123 degrees east, still at 55 Kph,” said Manny Gonzalez, head weather forecaster of PAG-ASA-Maasin in a live, phone patch to dydm. The skies remained heavy with rain-drenching clouds here, and slight rains still kept pounding as the number 2 signal was lifted and lowered to number one. Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) has been moving since yesterday packing relief goods and distributing those to families in evacuation centers today. More than 100 families still in various evacuation centers around the city will be distributed with relief goods coming from the city social welfare office, Zaldy Olita reported. (PIA-Southern Leyte.bong)

Maasin willing to donate lot for new city jail, says BJMP

by. BONG PEDALINO


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – The city local government unit is willing to partake of a reclaimed lot within city to be used as the site for a new city jail.

This was learned from Eleuterio Ortiz, Provincial Head and concurrent City Warden of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

At the weekly “Media Forum” Wednesday where he was the guest live at dyDM, Ortiz quoted City Mayor Maloney Samaco as saying the new prison facility can be located at the reclamation area in barangay Combado, this city.

The new structure will be a two-storey building, but details on specific area or how much would be the cost-sharing between the BJMP and the city government for the project are still unknown as of the moment.

How soon such a project can start in its construction stage was also another unknown factor, even as Ortiz hoped it can be realized sooner than later.

Ortiz earlier disclosed a resolution passed by the city council that called for the relocation of the city jail in barangay Bactul, a far-flung, interior barangay more than 15 kilometers from the city proper.

He said he lobbied for reconsideration of the planned Bactul site, citing as reason its far location from the authorities which could pose as an invitation for enemies of state to rescue one of their own, if ever.

The present city jail at the old municipal building in the heart of the city has been cramped and crowded, with its present population of 58 inmates, including one lady, in a jail capacity of only 30 prisoners, Ortiz said, adding that the edifice itself was already dilapidated and needed major repairs.

This building will be re-invented and b






SoLeyte provincial children’s council to distribute 300 slippers to children

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 7 (PIA) -- The Southern Leyte Provincial Council for the Protection of Children will initiate for the distribution of 300 pairs of rubber slippers to children in the municipality of Sogod to highlight the Children’s Month celebration this year. Lead by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Daisy Gamale, who is the chairman of the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children, a culmination program on the celebration of the Children’s Month has been set on October 18, 2011, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) senior staff Amelita Malazarte, who is also the designated Public Information Officer disclosed to PIA today. Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 267 issued in 1993, the National Council for the Welfare of Children together with the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children spearheads the celebration of October as the National Children’s Month in recognition of Filipino children as the most valuable assets of the nation and their vital role in nation-building. Malazarte said on October 18, the provincial council will start with the distribution of 300 pairs of rubber slippers to public school elementary Grade Six pupils in the morning which shall be followed with a motorcade right after the lunch and a short program at Sogod, Southern Leyte. The said activity will also be graced with the presence of Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado, PSWDO Provincial Head Nelita Gomez, among other provincial key officials and personnel, she said. Meanwhile, Malazarte also reported that other local councils based at the municipalities in the province also initiated their respective activities such as conduct of mass, cheer dance competitions, parade, ground demonstrations, draw and tell, literary contest and mass feeding to day care children. She added that other activities includes the hanging of streamers and radio guesting at local radio stations to further promote awareness of the children’s welfare and needs. Earlier this month, Provincial Governor Damian Mercado led in the MOA signing the Provincial Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking (PIACAT) and Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) for the province of Southern Leyte, Malazarte added. ### (PIA SoLeyte/esg)

So Leyte’s Bgy Hingatunggan vies for LTIA national award

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Oct. 6 (PIA) -- As the local chief executives (LCEs) throughout the nation will celebrate the 20 years of local autonomy next week, Barangay Hingatunggan of Silago vies for the national level Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentive Award (LTIA) to be given during this year’s celebration. The celebration is spearheaded by the DILG and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines wherein all the local chief executives in Southern Leyte are set to attend to the national convergence in Manila on October 9-11, DILG Southern Leyte LGOO IV Loren Abrau, who is also the designated Public Information Officer disclosed to PIA Southern Leyte. Abrau said Barangay Hingatunggan is an intermittent regional awardee and has been a national awardee last 2001 for the LTIA. This year, Barangay Hingatunggan is vying for the LTIA national award being nominated now among the top three barangays nationwide, Abrau added. The attendance of the members of the League of Provinces of the Philippines, League of the Municipalities of the Philippines and the League of the Cities of the Philppines were represented by the (18) municipalities, (1) city local chief executives to be led by Provincial Governor Damian G. Mercado, Abrau further said. She added that during the said ocassion three different local government awards namely Seal of Good Housekeeping, EXCELL Awards, and Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives awards will be given to deserving LGUs in recognition of good performance. Meanwhile, on October 9, the DILG issued memorandum circular for a synchronized barangay assembly in the province in time with the celebration of the 20th local autonomy anniversary wherein all barangay officials, staff and workers will conduct a synchronized text voting of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), Abrau added. ### (PIA Southern Leyte/esg)






NSO facilitates indigents’ need for NSO generated birth certificates in So. Leyte

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 5 (PIA8) -- The National Statistics Office – Provincial Office is heeding the requests of the indigents needing particularly the NSO generated birth certificates in security papers, among others in the province. NSO Officer Charge Jimmy Dagupan reported during the “Action Center” kapihan segment at the Senior Citizen Building, Maasin City this morning in observance of the 22nd National Statistics Month anniversary celebration this month The first omnibus request for the indigents was facilitated to the underprivileged people in Macrohon, this province, he said. Dagupan said due to the financial limitations of indigent people who are in need of the said official document required in order to avail especially the government programs, omnibus request for the indigents were readily accommodated by the provincial statistics office. He said that as long as these group of persons were duly acknowledged by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or their local counterparts at the local government units, then they would facilitate for the acquisition of the said official document. While , Dagupan also explained that their office is also extending assistance for the out of town registration for the convenience and economic reasons of those people born outside the province and in need of birth certificates from their original birth place outside the province. He also disclosed the impending merging of all statistical bodies in the country into one Philippine Statistics Authority. (PIA SoLeyte/esg)






Southern Leyte free of insurgents, say officials

by. Carmel Matus and Jani Arnaiz

Inquirer Visayas


MAASIN CITY—Officials have declared Southern Leyte insurgency-free but soldiers will stay in the province until its police force becomes ready for the task of maintaining peace and order without military participation. Members of the council, headed by top officials of the province, and a top officer of the military’s Central Command (Centcom) signed a document declaring Southern Leyte free of communist guerrillas. Gov. Damian Gaviola Mercado, Vice Gov. Miguel Maamo II and Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, Centcom commanding general, signed the declaration. The signing ceremony was witnessed by all the province’s mayors and other top military officers. Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Centcom public information officer, said Southern Leyte was declared insurgency-free because three years have passed without a guerrilla being sighted or a guerrilla attack being reported anywhere in the province. “A province is categorized as insurgency-free when the threat posed by the New People’s Army is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem,” Tampus said on Monday. Southern Leyte is the sixth province in the Visayas declared as insurgency-free. The five others are Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras and Siquijor. Tampus, however, said soldiers would stay in the province until the military has formally turned over the role of maintaining peace and order to police and civilian authorities. The provincial board, said Tampus, has passed a resolution supporting the declaration of Southern Leyte as insurgency-free. Lieutenant General Villanueva, in a press statement, said local governments play a key role in the counterinsurgency campaign. “The main factor which led to the declaration of Southern Leyte as an insurgent-free province is the determination, commitment and sincerity of the stakeholders especially the local chief executives in solving insurgency problems,” said the general’s statement.






SoLeyte propagates parasitoid to combat brontispa infestation in 6 towns - PCA

by. ES Gorne


MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, October 3 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Southern Leyte Provincial Office now undertakes the propagation of parasitoids to combat the infestation of brontispa in the six municipalities of the province. The provincial office has started to gather the pupa of brontispa from the municipality of Bontoc that they can use for the parasitoids to lay their eggs, PCA Provincial Officer Manuel Sembrano disclosed. Sembrano said their office no longer promote spraying insecticides since it has no effect to curb brontispa infestation but rather affected more municipalities instead. He earlier reported that brontispa infestation has covered only four municipalities, namely Bontoc, Tomas Oppus, Malitbog and Lilo-an and the city of Maasin, however recently, their office has monitored that the municipality of Sogod is the newest municipality to have been affected by the said coconut disease. He is optimistic that brontispa could be minimized with the introduction of parasitoids eating the eggs of brontispa that in a cycle of 18 days, one mummified pupa of brontispa could produce 7 to 40 parasitoid adults. That only five mummified pupa of brontispa is needed to clear out brontispa infestation in one hectare of coconut trees. Sembrano said that parasitoid propagation has been successfully implemented in Vietnam in its struggle against brontispa dilemma among coconut plantations. He further disclosed that they expect that from six to twelve months after the parasitoids shall be introduced in brontispa infected coconut trees, affected trees will be revived. Sembrano said that they intend to pilot in Barangay Pamahawan of Bontoc to its three-year old affected brontispa coconut trees since it would be easier for them to monitor of the progress of the parasitoid. ### (PIA Southern Leyte/esg)

AFP: Southern Leyte is insurgency free

by. Ninfa Quirante


BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, October 2 (PIA)-- The army declared Southern Leyte as insurgent free. Through the signing of a Joint Declaration by the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and the province of Southern Leyte, it declared the province as INSURGENT-FREE”. The 802nd Brigade, 8th ID under the command of Colonel John S Bonafos facilitated the signing of the document. Last September 29, the top officials of the two parties attached their signatures at the Ruperto K Kangleon Function House, Maasin City. Members of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOA) headed by Governor Damian Gaviola Mercado witnessed the historic event along with Vice-Governor Miguel C. Maamo II and some mayors of Southern Leyte. Present too were members of the army headed by Lieutenant General Ralph A Villanueva, Commander of the Central Command, AFP and Major Gen.Mario F. Chan, Commander of the 8th ID. Since the entry of communist insurgency in Southern Leyte in the early 1970s, insurgency steadily grew until it reached its peak in 2001. But, due to the massive peace and development operations of the 802nd IB based in Ormoc City coupled with the active support of the LGU, the rebels surrendered gradually. By year-end 2006, the main bulk of the South Leyte Front, the insurgent’s armed group in the province greatly diminished. Intelligence reports said that the NPA leadership dissolved the group as its remnants splintered and joined the other rebel groups in other areas. The succeeding years saw a tranquil and peaceful Southern Leyte, resisting the treachery and resurgence of the communist cause, according to the army. Villanueva, in his message, attributed the declaration to the determination and commitment of the local chief executives in helping the soldiers of the state solve insurgency. “The military alone cannot sustain the clearing of an area without the sincere support of the local government as proven in the 8th Infantry Division’s area of responsibility”, General Chan, added. The challenge, though according to army officials remain. Southern Leyte and 802 Brigade may face resurgence of the rebels in the province. The army leadership is convinced though that it can be done. With the help of the established Barangay Intelligence Network, the Integrated Territorial Security System and the commitment of the stakeholders, the insurgents will have no more place and no more business in the province. It will be recalled that the Internal Security Operations in the provinces of Biliran, Cebu and Bohol were handed over to the peace and order councils. Biliran was declared insurgent free in 2008 while Cebu and Bohol attained peace in 2010. The 802nd Brigade was able to hand over internal peace operations to the PPOC of four out of five provinces. The brigade takes pride that it is the only brigade that has overcome insurgency challenge in four provinces included in its area of responsibility. (NBQ/PIA 8- E Samar)

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