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187 P. Zamora
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Tel No. (053)
321-4833

EASTERN
PACIFIC
HARDWARE
Baybay 3,
Borongan City
Eastern Samar

JUNE 29- JULY 05, 2014

JICA gives P298-M for

Guiuan radar system

-- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is

providing PHP298.44-million grant for the repair the Guiuan Meteorological Radar System in Eastern Samar that was
badly damaged by last years super typhoon.
The fresh grant will be used to replace equipment to
make the doppler radar functional late next year.
Presently, we are on the process of procuring equipment. Crafting will follow, which takes longer. Installation
will be done on January 2015, said Nakamura Hayato, JICAs project formulation adviser on disaster management.
The 700 million or roughly PHP298.44-million fund is
a component of JICAs USD 46 million grant for the rebuilding of Yolanda-hit areas. Japanese experts completed the site
assessment December last year, few weeks after the typhoon
struck.
The reconstructed radar system is expected to start sending data to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) by September 2015.
Guiuan, the first town where the storm made its first
landfall on November 8, was chosen as the location of the
radar project in 2009 as it faces the Pacific Ocean.

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THANKSGIVING. The city government staged a rather low key fiesta celebration of Tacloban as a sign of respect to
the victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Pictures shown on this page have dancers participating the Pintados-Kasadyaan
Festival of Festivals and Sangyaw Festival dance their way giving homage to Senior Santo Nio. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)

NGO sets turnover of 50 fishing

bancas to Eastern Samar towns

--Fishermen who lost their source of income and upkeep in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
in the municipalities of Guiuan and Salcedo, in Eastern
Samar, will receive bancas from Kabuhayan Para sa Kaunlaran (KAISA), a non-government organization, funded
by the Chinese-Filipino community on Tuesday.
KAISA project coordinator Annabel Chua Lim said
the project dubbed as Bangkabuhayan will distribute 25
fishing boats and implements in Salcedo and another 25
for Guiuan.
Teresita Ang See, chairman of KAISA will lead the
turn-over ceremonies.
Lim said that this is just an initial support to the fisherfolks of Eastern Samar and Samar.
Sometime in August another 50 bancas will be turned
over to Marabut, Samar and Giporlos, Eastern Samar.

KAISA went to several municipalities in Yolanda disaster-hit provinces of Iloilo, Palawan and Leyte to distribute
relief goods as well as tools and construction materials for
repairs of houses and school buildings.
It is also during their relief distribution that KAISA
made an assessment of the livelihood support it can give to
the affected community.
Last March and April, KAISA turned-over 100 bancas
in the municipality of Ajuy, Iloilo.
The Bangkabuhayan project is aimed to restore the
capability of the affected fishermen to earn a living. Taking
from the saying Give man a fish and he eats for a day, but
teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime.

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contact Romy Cebreros at
(055) 261-3319

P13.23 million proposed to

rehab ICT industry of
Eastern Visayas

The Eastern Visayas Federation for Information Technology

(EVFIT) Committee is proposing a P13.23 million rehabilitation project to restore the regions shattered ICT industry in the
next three years.
EVFIT chairman Edgardo Esperancilla, regional director of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), said they
are lobbying for the inclusion of the regions proposed ICT restoration activities in the livelihood cluster rehabilitation funds.
About 5,000 people working in the local ICT industry have
lost their jobs due to damaged infrastructure. The impact of super typhoon Yolanda is a setback to our long-term plan to double the number of people employed in ICT, Esperancilla told
Leyte Samar Daily Express.
The region has more than a thousand workers in Expert
Global Solutions (EGS), a call center firm with site in the Leyte
ICT Park in Palo, Leyte.
There are about 4,000 people involved in non-voice business
process outsourcing and online-based ICT jobs. EGS has not
yet announced reopening plans.
The ICT industry suffered a lot of losses due to damaged infrastructure and unstable internet connectivity. The immediate
needs are to repair buildings and restore internet speed, which

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As Tacloban is
slowly
making
its way towards
recovery, job opportunities are not
far behind. Series
of job fairs have
been held in the
city providing possible employment
for workers who
were displaced as
an aftermath of
Yolandas wrath.
(LITO A. BAGUNAS)

NEWS

Easter Samar Bulletin

JUNE 29- JULY 05, 2014

Construction of new EVRMC to

start in October at a cost of P2 B

The national government will embark on a P2 billion

modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical
Center (EVRMC) in the next two years, after it was damaged due to supertyphoon Yolanda.
The entire facility will be transferred to a storm surgesafe and government-owned 30,000 square meter lot in
Barangay Cabalawan, a northern village of this city, said
Department of Health Regional Director Jose Llacuna.
It will be a six-storey main hospital and ancillary building with 420-bed service wards and 180-bed private rooms.
The national government officially approved the project
in March 2014. It was followed by National Economic Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee approval and hiring of project management consultant
in April.
Bidding process is scheduled between August and September of this year with the actual construction to start in
October this year.
The new EVRMC is expected to be finished by June,
2016 or before President Benigno Noynoy Aquino step
down from office. The President led the groundbreaking of
the new site in February.
The ground floor will house radiology and diagnostic,
emergency room, outpatient complex, patient business
services, pharmacy, and dietary services. Special areas,
central supply, food court, and radiology department will
be in second floor.
The third floor is devoted for operating rooms, intensive care complex, watchers area and counseling area. Service wards and private rooms are located in the fourth and
fifth storeys of the building.
To be housed in the sixth floor are the administration
offices, department offices, information technology room,
training rooms, auditorium, and records section.
Of the P2 billion budget, P1.44 billion was set aside for
Republic of the Philippine
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
8th Judicial Region
Branch 3
Guiuan, Eastern Samar
IN RE: PETITION FOR
APPOINTMENT AS
NOTARY PUBLIC FOR
and IN THE PROVINCE
OF EASTERN SAMAR
ATTY. RAMON JAMER
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
EIGHT (8TH) JUDICIAL REGION
CITY OF BORONGAN,
EASTERN SAMAR
BRANCH 2
IN THE MATTER OF
JUDICIAL DECLARATION AS L.C. LASSITER AND NOT JIMMY
L.C. LASSITER THE
REAL AND COMPLETE NAME OF THE
PUTATIVE FATHER
OF THE HEREIN PETITIONER AND DECLARATION THAT JAIME
C. LASSITER AND
JIMMY C. LASSITER IS
ONE AND THE SAME
PERSON
JAIME C. LASSITER,
Petitioner,
SP. PROC. CASE NO.
165-14
x- - - - - - - - - - - ORDER

This is a verified petition

for judicial declaration as L.C.
Lassiter and not Jimmy L.C.
Lassiter the real and complete
name of the putative father of
the herein petitioner and declaration that Jaime C. Lassiter and
Jimmy C. Lassiter is one and the
same person; filed by petitioner
Jaime C. Lassiter through counsel. The petition alleged, among
others, that sometime in 2004,
the herein petitioner filed an

DADULLA, JR.
x- - - - - - - - - - - - -x
ORDER

Notice is hereby given that

a Summary Hearing on the Petition for Appointment as Notary
Public for and in the Province
of Eastern Samar of ATTY. RAMON JAMER DADULLA, JR.,
is scheduled on July 17, 2014 at
the Session Hall of the Regional
Trial Court, Branch 3, Guiuan,
Eastern Samar at 8:30 in the
morning.
Any person who has any
cause or reason to object to the
Special Proceeding case for Judicial Declaration as Acknowledged Natural Child, docketed
as SPL. Proc. Case No. 3887;
that the petitioner made a mistake in alleging in the petition
that his putative father was Jimmy L.C. Lassiter since the real
name of his putative father was
actually L.C. Lassiter as indicated in the Death Certificate of
L.C. Lassiter (Annex A) and
Enlisted Record and Report of
Separation (Annex B); that a
decision dated November 12,
2004 was issued by then Presiding Judge Arnulfo O. Bugtas
favorably granting the petition
filed by the petitioner; that said
decision does not accurately
and completely pronounce the
complete name of the putative
father of the petitioner since
the complete name of the former is only L.C. Lassiter and
not Jimmy L.C. Lassiter; that
this inaccuracy has proved
difficulty on the part of the
petitioner to prove the name
of his father before American
Embassy and in connecting his
filial relationship to L.C. Lassiter, the petitioners putative
father; that further, it is likewise
prayed and requested that it be
established and indicated in the
decision, to avoid confusion
and doubt that JAIME CATALO LASSITER and JIMMY
CATALO LASSITER is one and
the same person. The petitioner, therefore, prayed that, after
due proceedings, an order be
issued judicially establishing
as fact that the putative father
of the herein petitioner is L.C.
LASSITER and further be it

hospital construction, P72 million for design, P146.25 million for information technology and communications system, P45 million for project management, P90 million for
site development, and P200 million for ware house.
Also a component of the hospital construction is the
P350 million out-patient department building to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Companies like the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels Inc.
(BRHI) have donated funds for the project.
Director Llacuna said upgrading the EVRMC is crucial
since the facility is a general hospital and an end-referral
center in the region.
Expanding the bed capacity of EVRMC will make public health services more accessible to poor families, which
gives them better chances of recovery through improved
quality of health services, facilities and expertise, Llacuna
said.
The existing EVRMC located along Magsaysay Boulevard and was badly damaged by storm surges, has only a
325 bed capacity.
Its poor services results to 7% mortality rate, according
to a project briefer presented by the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA).The new facility aims to
bring down the hospital mortality rate to 4%.
Eastern Visayas, with a population of 4.2 million has
only 2,700 hospital beds, which is 1,500 below the World
Health Organization (WHO) standard of one hospital bed
for every 1,000 population.
The project, with an initial funding released of P500
million, is expected to contribute to the reduction of 40%
infant mortality rate, 92 maternal mortality per 100,000
deliveries, and 24% deaths associated with tuberculosis.
(SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

grant of the petition may file

a verified written opposition
thereto, received by the undersigned before the date of the
summary hearing.

SO ORDERED in
Chambers.
June 19, 2014
Guiuan, Eastern Samar,
Philippines.
(Sgd.) HON. ROLANDO
M. LACDO-O
Executive / Presiding Judge
ESB: June 22-28, June 29- July
05, 6-12, 2014

established as a fact that JAIME

CATALO LASSITER and JIMMY CATALO LASSITER is one
and the same person.
Finding the petition to be in
due form and substance, set this
case for hearing on October 9,
2014 at 9:00 oclock in the morning, at the Session Hall of this
Court. Any person having or
claiming any interest under the
corrections/modifications being
sought may, within fifteen (15)
days from notice of the petition
or from the last date of publication of this Order, file his/her
opposition thereto.
Let a copy of this Order be
published once a week for three
(3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation
and duly accredited to publish
judicial or legal notices in the
province of Eastern Samar at the
expense of the petitioner.
Send a copy of this Order,
together with a copy of the petition, to the Office of the Solicitor General, 134 Amorsolo
St., Legaspi Village, Makati City
and to the City Civil Registrar of
Manila, the Civil Registrar General, National Statistics Office,
Manila and to the petitioner and
his counsel,

SO ORDERED, In
Chambers.
Borongan City, Eastern Samar,
13 June 2014.
(Sgd.) NATHANIEL E.
BALDONO
Presiding Judge
ESB: June 15-21, 22-28, June
29- July 05, 2014

JICA gives...

...from Page 1

The Guiuan Doppler Radar Station

in Sapao village, adopts the new system
developed by Japan Radio Co. using integrated chips to transmit sound waves
as far as 480 kilometers away to determine wind velocity, rainfall intensity and
speed, volume of rainfall and area coverage.
This is a JICA project that will utilize the highest level of technology. Japan
is investing on improvement of the meteorological radar system because many
typhoons in Philippines also enter Japan.
This is not just the first line of defense for
Philippines but this will also send warning to us, Nakamura said.
Before the typhoon, the Guiuan project was almost complete and partly operational. In fact, JICA was scheduled to
turn over the project on November 29,
2013.
The first of the three Japan technology
doppler radars has been operational since
March 2012 in Catanduanes.
The same facility, built for PHP560
REPUBLIC OF THE
PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT
EIGHTH (8TH) JUDICIAL REGION
CITY OF BORONGAN,
EASTERN SAMAR
BRANCH 2
IN THE MATTER
OF CORRECTION
OF ENTRIES IN THE
CERTIFICATE OF LIVE
BIRTH OF JOEY A.
ORTIGUESA,
JOEY A. ORTIGUESA,
Petitioner,
-versusTHE CITY CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BORONGAN CITY, EASTERN
SAMAR
Respondent,
SP. PROC. CASE NO.
164-14
x- - - - - - - - - - -x
ORDER

DOH EV calls the public

with risky sexual behaviors
to undergo HIV testing

The Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with

the Philippine National AIDS Council urged the public especially those engaged in risky sexual behaviors to undergo HIV testing at the nearest Regional Health Facility.
During the press conference with the DOH on Wheels:
Kalusugan Pangkalahatan Program launching held recently at the Schistosomiasis General Hospital in Palo Leyte,
Dr. Chito Avelino, Executive Director of the Philippine
National AIDS Council called the people of Eastern Visayas to be tested with HIV as the cases went higher for the
past ten (10) years.
Unexpectedly, the global AIDS report in 2012 disclosed
that the Philippines is one of the nine countries in the
world where cases of HIV/AIDS rapidly increased by 35%
in the last 10 years covering the period 2001-2011.
In Eastern Visayas, there are 151 reported cases of
which 121 are males and 30 are females.
Avelino further said that HIV infected persons are now
getting younger. Previously, most Filipinos who are infected with HIV are OFWs but now, professionals as young as
29 years old are reportedly infected with the virus.
HIV infection is transmitted through sexual intercourse, by blood transfusion and from an infected mother
to her child.(GTT/CBA/PIA-8)
million by the Japanese-Filipino consortium was also
installed in 2012 in Aparri,
Cagayan.
The reconstruction in
Guiuan will highly consider
building protective measures
so it wont be damaged easily
by future typhoon. It is designed in such a way that it
can be repaired by PAGASA
after turnover, Nakamura
told reporters.
With the dysfunctional
Guiuan doppler radar facility, the state weather bureau
relies on a meteorological
satellite in monitoring typhoon movement in Pacific
Ocean, which only transmits
hourly data.
Doppler radar can observe the occurrence, movement, distribution and
amount of rainfall and wind
speed over a large area in real
time, he said.
On November 13, 2009,
officials signed the grant
agreement for the construction of three doppler radars
amounting to PHP1.7 billion
under the official development assistance of the Japanese government.
The project will also provide equipment for the Tacloban Airport. The elevation system will be adopted
to protect buildings from
future storm surges and possible tsunamis. (PNA) JBP/
PGL/SQM/EGR

This is a verified amended

petition for correction of entries in the record of birth filed
by petitioner Joey A. Ortiguesa,
through counsel. The petitioner alleged, among others, that
there are several errors in the
Certificate of live birth of the
petitioner. His date of birth
found in entry no. 3 is written
as 30th May 1977 instead of
30th May 1975. In entry no.
6, the space allotted to mothers maiden name, the entry is
Pedro T. Ortiguesa instead of
Filomena Rivera Agravante.
Likewise in entry no. 9, the
space allotted for the name of
father, the entry is Filomena
R. Agravante instead of Pedro
Tomenio Ortiguesa; in entry
no. 14, space for informant, the
name in print is Filomena R.
Agravante instead of Filomena
R. Agravante-Ortiguesa; and
the date of marriage of petitioners parents was entered as
September 9, 1971 instead of
September 11, 1971. The petitioner, therefore, prayed that

NGO sets...
...from Page 1
We want to include another line where you help
the fishermen fish and the
whole community gets to
eat, Lim said.
The group also targeted
the fishermen of Aklan and
Cebu to avail of Bangkabuhayan with another 100
fishing boats.
KAISA also partnered
with Health Futures Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) which is
headed by Dr. Jaime Z. Galvez Tan, that will choose the
beneficiaries, monitor their
activities and provide technical support in installing
the motor to the banca and
on its maintenance side for
the next two years.
A signing of the Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) will take place
during the turnover with
the LGU chief executive,
KAISA, HFFI and the beneficiaries.
The fishing boats donation cannot be sold,
pawned, dismantled and
bartered. The beneficiaries
are also obliged not to engage in illegal fishing activities.
Lim added that seven
big groups in the Chinese
Filipino community have

after due notice and hearing,

a decision be rendered declaring that: (1) The petitioner was
born on May 30, 1975; (2) the
maiden name of petitioners
mother is Filomena Rivera
Agravante; (3) The complete
name of petitioners father is
Pedro Tomenio Ortiguesa; (4)
The date of marriage of the
parents of the petitioner is
September 11, 1971; and (5) in
item no. 14, the name in print
of the informant is Filomena R.
Agravante-Ortiguesa.
Finding the petition to
be in due form and substance,
set this case for hearing on
October 8, 2014 at 9:00 in the
morning, at the Session Hall of
this Court. Any person having
or claiming any interest under
the entries in the record of
birth the corrections of which
are being sought may, within
fifteen (15) days from notice
of the petition or from the
last date of publication of this
Order, file his/her opposition
thereto.
Let a copy of this Order

turn to Page 4...

be published once a week for
three (3) consecutive weeks in
a newspaper of general circulation and duly accredited to
publish judicial or legal notices in the province of Eastern
Samar at the expense of the
petitioners.
Send a copy of this Order, together with a copy of
the petition, to the Office of
the Solicitor General, 134
Amorsolo St., Legaspi Village,
Makati City and to the Local
Civil Registrar of Borongan
City, Eastern Samar, the Civil
Registrar General, National
Statistic Office, Manila and to
the petitioner and his counsel.

SO ORDERED, In
Chambers.
Borongan City, Eastern Samar
11 June 2014.
(Sgd.) NATHANIEL E.
BALDONO
Presiding Judge
ESB: June 15-21, 22-28, June
29- July 05, 2014

JUNE 29- JULY 05, 2014

OPINION

COMMENTARY:

Easter Samar Bulletin

EDITORIAL

By Fr Roy Cimagala
Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

What to do with
temptations
I WOULD say that when temptations come, the first
thing we have to do is to immediately go to God, to run
to him, to stick to him as closely as possible. Thats simply
because God is our rock and fortress, the ultimate source
of strength. Missing this reaction, we open ourselves to a
long, tortuous episode that can end badly.
Missing this reaction is actually a common thing to
happen because in the first place our relation with God
is not strong. If ever there is some relation, it is more on
the theoretical level and hardly on the practical, much less
something that involves our feelings and instincts.
And so, we have to work hard in building up this relation with God if we want to keep some safe distance away
from temptations. If our love for God is hot, the devil will
find it hard to get near us, just like a fly would not get close
to a hot soup.
Our usual problem is that we tend to be by ourselves
when temptations come, and to rely simply on our powers
which actually are already heavily compromised since our
wounded flesh is an ally of the enemies of our soul. We
always have a Trojan horse in our personal lives.
Without Gods grace we simply cannot do anything except to fall, if not soon then later. It would just be a matter
of time. But when we are with God, we get to see the whole
picture, and can distinguish the poison embedded in the
many good, beautiful, true and sweet things that temptations come with.
From there we would know what strategy to take. Very
often, what can be effective is simply to ignore the temptation and the pour scorn on the evil spirits behind the
temptation. This is effective if in the first place our spiritual life is healthy, with faith and love for God and for souls
vibrant and strong.
But then when such faith and love is not that strong,
the temptations can gain some foothold in us. When we
notice this, our reaction should be just to stay calm and
not to dare to get overexcited. When there is a storm
around, we usually would stay home or at a safe place to
ride it out, and avoid going around.
The same with this particular case of temptations gaining some foothold in us. It simply means that God is allowing these temptations to come to show us where we are
weak, and therefore where we should do something about.
This is when we have to spend time praying and offering sacrifices, for only in this way can we discern the
proper tactics to take advantage of the temptations. Yes,
temptations are not all that bad. They can be tremendous
occasions to boost our spiritual growth. We all need to be
tested.
Lets always remember that everything that happens to
us, including those that appear very bad, are at least allowed by God to happen. And if he allows them to happen
it is because there will always be some good that can be
derived from it.
Lets remember St. Pauls words: Where sin has
abounded, the grace of God has abounded even more.
(Rom 5,20) Lets be quick to assume this reasoning when
temptations come to avoid sinking in depressions.
Rather we should be quick to discern Gods ever wise,
if mysterious and often painful ways of his providence
that is meant to lead us to him through the drama of our
life here on earth. Thats why he is full of mercy, and also
wants us to be merciful to one another.
It is also good that we avail of whatever help we can
get to tackle our temptations. In this, what is most recommended is frequent confession and regular spiritual direction. That would mean that we are going to God and to a
very reliable person to ask for help.
The story of Christ being tempted by the devil after his
forty days of prayer and fasting in the desert is a model for
us to follow. Like Christ, we should be steeped in prayer
and fasting if we want to be prepared to face temptations

The Department of Health recently reported that the case prevalence of

the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and full blown Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have gone to an epidemic proportion in the
current statistics the agency has gathered. Almost 5,000 cases were recorded as of last year. Of the total number in the country, Region VIII registered
a high prevalence rate, with Leyte having the most number of cases. Although the health agency assured of free medicines for HIV, it categorically
pronounced that the same may not be enough to sustain a lifetime treatment of the disease.
At the DOH on Wheels Kalusugang Pangkalahatan Roadshow press conference held on July 1, Health Undersecretary Janette Loreto-Garin admitted
the insufficiency of medicines that could be supplied for free to HIV patients
across the country. This, she said, underscored the importance of prevention rather than cure, accentuating the need for intensified information dissemination to the public, especially through the media, on avoiding being
afflicted with HIV and AIDS. There are now 151 cases recorded in Eastern
Visayas, 121 of them are male.
This number, she remarked, is certainly under-declared considering the
popular habit of suspected patients in undergoing laboratory test only when
the disease has become symptomatic. The symptoms would come out in 7
to 10 years after infection. She stressed that the people should realize that
one person is affected of HIV every hour in the Philippines. Thus by mathematical proportion the number of HIV patients could balloon to an even
higher rate in the coming years.
Dr. Chito Avelino, executive director of Philippine National AIDS Council,
while dismissing the chance of infection through saliva or mosquito bites, reiterated that the disease is transmissible sex, intravenous or injectible drugs
and multiple sexual partners. Albeit a feared disease, HIV could be treated
but for a lifetime just to delay or prevent developing the HIV disease into
AIDS. He said, TB is more dangerous and communicable than HIV in fact,
but should be avoided.
For now, with the logistical and medical support from Global Fund, every
HIV patient are afforded free medication but only until the supply lasts which
is now available at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center, according to
Avelino. He however said that suspected patients in Eastern Visaya should
first undergo screening at the Center for Health Development (CHD) unit
at the DOH regional office in Candahug, Palo. USec Garin said the agency
releases the free medicines monthly but patients need to be checked up
before the medication is continued.

P13.23M...
E A S TE RN S A M A R

Dalmacio C. Grafil
Publisher
Aljim Denver M. Arcueno
Editor-in-Chief

Romeo Cebreros
OIC
Brgy. Songco, Borongan City
Eastern Samar

(055) 261-3319
properly.
Lets not forget that temptations will always be packaged
very beautifully. In Christs case, even Gods words were cited by the devil. But then again, if we are truly with God, we
also would know where the lie is inserted and, like Christ,
how we can remain unaffected by these temptations.

...from Page 1
we are proposing for prioritization in early reconstruction
activities, Esperancilla said.
Of the total proposed budget for recovery, P4.5 million is
needed in 2014, P4.36 million
in 2015, and P4.36 million in
2015.
The budget will mainly be used for conduct of
post-Yolanda baseline survey
and ICT research, consultations with stakeholders, developing the ICT industry rehabilitation plan, conduct of
boot camp for startups, search
for ICT-enabled local small
and medium enterprises for
funding, production of promotional collaterals (website,
brochures, exhibit, multimedia
presentations, and media kits).
After Yolanda, the situation has changed. There are
many questions that need answers. We need to have a pool
of experts who will help us
identify new priorities, Esperancilla said.
The original ICT plan tar-

geted 13,000 direct employment in the next five years

with 8,000 in non-voice business processing outsourcing
(BPO) and 5,000 in voice BPO.
A total of 32,000 indirect jobs
were projected in this sector
by 2016.
DOST Leyte provincial director John Glenn Ocaa said
that before the storm struck,
one of the strengths of the local
is the linkage of national government agencies, academe,
and private sector in developing strategies to promote Eastern Visayas as ICT hub. The
industry has been identified as
on the three priority sectors in
the 2014-2016 Regional Development Plan.
Unfortunately, as the region was beginning to flap
its new found wings in the
ICT sector, Yolanda came and
washed away the gains, Ocaa
said.
Leyte has two designated
ICT parks - the 6.8-hectare
Leyte ICT Park approved in
2005 and the 22-hectare Leyte
Mikyu Economic Zone approved in 2012. (SARWELL
Q.MENIANO)

Easter Samar Bulletin

NEWS

JUNE 29- JULY 05, 2014

Robinsons in Tacloban
now in full business

TACLOBAN CITY - Robinsons Place Tacloban is now back

to its full operation close to eight months after super typhoon
Yolanda that incurred the mall developer nearly P300 million
losses.
The Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) formally reopened
its 38,000 square meter Tacloban mall on June 28, two months
behind the target reopening timetable.
We initially targeted to reopen April, but it was so hard for
us to bring all construction materials. It was a logistical nightmare. However, it gave us more time to concentrate on total rehabilitation, said Arlene Magtibay, RLCs senior vice president
and general manager for commercial centers division.
During its reopening, only 40 of the 180 tenants resumed
their business, but RLC expects that most tenants will reopen
their branch inside the mall by fourth quarter in time with the
Christmas season.
Rehabilitation of the mall is practically 100% complete. We
are happy that majority of tenants committed that they will come
back to Tacloban soon. In the next few weeks a lot more will
open, Magtibay added.
Robinsons Supermarket and Department Store reopened in a
compressed area on December 19 last year or six weeks after the
storm struck. The mall had very limited shopping hours and only

PANTALAN
EATERY
Come & Dine!
Brgy. Tiguib,
Pantalan,Oras Eastern Samar

used generators until January when power distribution utilities

restored the electricity
With its full operation, mall hours starts at 10 a.m. up to 9
p.m.
In its latest disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission, RLC reported P297.20 million losses due to the typhoons fierce winds, storm surges, and looting incidents. The
calamity significantly contributed to the reduction of interest
income by P89.5 million during the first quarter of 2014.
When Yolanda struck, theres a lot of uncertainty given the
magnitude of destruction. However, with the encouragement of
local government, we initially reopened, offering pre-typhoon
level of prices despite high operating costs. This is our way of
giving back to the citys loyal patronage. We are here to stay,
Magtibay said.
Leading the reopening on June 28 were top RLC and Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. officials led by its President and Chief
Operating Officer Robina Gokongwei-Pe wearing white shirts
carrying an inspirational message Tindog (stand up) Tacloban.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez is optimistic that the full
reopening of Robinsons will encourage other entrepreneurs to
reopening their business. This gives us hope that the city will
rise up soon after the typhoon. Robinsons will spur economic
activities. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Book on climate change launched in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY--KATIG Writers Inc., an organization of writers in Eastern Visayas, and the Institute for
Climate Change and Sustainable Cities (iCSC) on June 28
launched its book entitled Agam: Filipino Narratives on
Uncertainty and Climate Change at the Multi-Purpose
Building, University of the Philippine- Visayas Tacloban
College.
Agam reflects the confrontation between climate
change and diverse cultures across the country. It combines original new works in prose, verse, and photographs and depicts uncertaintyand tenacityfrom the
Filipino perspective, said Janis Claire Salvacion, president of KATIG Writers, Inc.
The book is composed of creative narratives in eight
languagescrafted by twenty-four writers representing a
broad array of disciplinespoets, journalists, anthropologists, the countrys godfather of climate science, and an
indie erotic artist working with twenty-five images from
the lens of the photojournalist Jose Enrique Soriano,
added Salvacion, who is also the regional coordinator of
the National Committee on Literary Arts-National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
In an emailed letter to reporters, Salvacion said the
book launch in Tacloban holds a special significance for
all of us, who experienced firsthand the impacts of climate change.
This event becomes part of our reflection and rebuilding for a better community, added Salvacion.
iCSC, a non-profit group working on sustainable energy solutions and fair climate policy, is the publisher of
the book.
According to the organizers, the full price of the book
is at P1,600 though it was offered at a discounted price of
P1,200 during the launching.

NGO sets...
...from Page 2
united as one, to respond to
disastrous calamities.
Leading the donor
groups that donated 300
boats to different beneficiaries are the Federation of
Filipino Chinese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Federation of Filipino-Chinese Associations
of the Philippines; World
News Daily; Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Overseas
Chinese Alumni Association of the Philippines;
Filipino-Chinese Shin Lian
Association and the Philippine Chinese Chamber of
Commerce and Industry,
Inc. (PNA)
JBP/PGL/VCARNAIZ/
EGR

Proceeds of the book sales will be given to iCSCs

RE-Charge Tacloban, wherein a fleet of electric jeepneys
(e-jeepneys) will serve the commuters of Tacloban and
will be powered by a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility, and
combined with training programs for local drivers, dispatchers, operators, administrators and technicians in
the maintenance and servicing of operations, the organizer said.
As our community rebuilds after Typhoon Haiyan/
Yolanda, we seek to be more responsible to our environment, and utilize a sustainable transport fleet composed
of electric vehicles is significant response in that direction while answering the needs of the public transport
system, added Salvacion.(RONALD O.REYES)

Over 32,000 board feet of hot

lumber seized, DENR reports
TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office
of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR-8) has reported
that more than 32,000 board feet of illegally
cut lumber were confiscated by their office
for the past six months of this year.
Leonardo Sibbaluca, executive director
of the DENR-8, said that the confiscation of
the illegally cut lumber and round timber
was a result of their intensified campaign
against illegal cutting in some parts of the
region.
From January up to May of this year,
DENR personnel have confiscated 32,426
board feet of lumber and round timber with
total commercial value of more than P3.5
million.
Sibbaluca said that cases for violation of
Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known
as the Revised Forestry Code of the Phil-

ippines, was filed against four suspects

which he did not identified.
He also said four cargo trucks and four
chain saws used in the illegal cutting of
the forest products were also seized.
Sibbaluca said that as part of their
intensified campaign on illegal logging,
checkpoints were put up in strategic areas in the region in coordination with the
police, Army and other law enforcement
agencies.
We are maintaining and operating
these checkpoints to deter those people
who are into the illegal cutting of forest
products, he said.
He added: Most of the confiscations
made by our men in the field were made
possible with the cooperation and information by the people in the communities. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)