Photo shows a rice field and a tall  mountain in Caibiran, Biliran where a  power firm is presently conducting an exploration of geothermal energy. (Photo by VEN LABRO)

 Leyte governor proposes P1-M donation to Bohol

HILONGOS, Leyte, Philippines, Oct 25 -- The provincial government of Leyte may extend some P1 million financial assistance to quake-stricken Bohol, according to Gov. Dominico C. Petilla.

Petilla said that earlier, he asked Mayor Sandy Javier of the municipality of Javier who at the same time is the national president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) when he went to Bohol to determine the kind of assistance the province needs.

“In the end we will just be giving cash donation,” he affirmed, adding that he still has to consult with the budget authorities of the province if they have funds.

“We are just neighbors, we have to help them,” he added.

Also, the proposal has to get the nod of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during its Tuesday session next week.

He added if he could, he would like to personally deliver the assistance to his counterpart in Bohol. (PNA)

Official ballots for barangay election arrive in Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 22 – Official ballots that will be used for the October 28 barangay elections are now at the custody of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) here.

The packages containing the official ballots for distribution to all polling centers in the city were received by City Treasurer Zosima Cordaño and will be stored at the CTO for safekeeping.

Personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will be stationed round the clock to safeguard the ballots.

Cordaño said the packages will be available for verification by the different barangay candidates, and official election watchers starting Oct. 23 at the CTO in the presence of City Election Officer Rosemarie Ann R. Polistico.

Board of Election Tellers (BET) are slated to get their allocated sealed election supplies on Oct. 27 while the official ballots will be delivered on Election Day to the different polling places.

The BET will likewise verify the serial numbers of the election materials and check the quantity allocated for each precinct.

Meanwhile, the City Treasurer said that they have already requested the local police office to provide at least two security escorts for each of the eight vehicles that will be used in the delivery and retrieval of the ballots during and after the election.

Around 112,053 registered voters distributed in 371 clustered precincts and 37 polling centers are expected to cast their votes on Monday in the city. (PNA)

 SP steps up info drive vs fake bill this poll period

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 23 -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is stepping up its drive against circulation of counterfeit bills, which might surge days before and after the village polls.

BSP Tacloban branch acting deputy director Joseph Norbert S. David asks the public to immediately report to the banks or BSP office if they are doubtful to the genuineness of any bill.

“During election period, our concern is the genuineness of currency. If one is doubtful about the money they receive, the first step is go to the bank. The bank will then report to us,” David told reporters.

David allayed public fears saying that there’s no local production of counterfeit bills in Eastern Visayas, however, vote buying may trigger its circulation.

The central bank is stepping has continuing information drive for representatives from the local government units, rural and commercial banks, pawnshop owners, remittance agents, and money changers.

“Our discussion has been focused on the features of genuine notes instead of telling people what the fake money looks like because manufacturers could easily change features of counterfeit bills,” David said.

The BSP official claimed that there was no surge in the number of fake banknotes during the May 2013 national and local elections.

“There were some reports about doubtful bills from the police but it turned out to be genuine,” he added.

The BSP Tacloban branch recovers an average of five to 10 counterfeit money of multiple denominations every month, coming from banks and individuals. The BSP branch office here sends fake money to the currency analysis and redemption division for further investigation.

To facilitate identification of fake notes, BSP has been implementing a Clean Note Program, which encourages people to exchange unfit or dirty banknotes in exchange for crisp and clean money at bank branches.

Central Bank officials urged the public to study BSP banknotes through feeling the paper, examining the watermark, inspecting the security fibers, and other features.(PNA)B

DILG 8 goes massive in educating public on how to vote for right candidate

By Perla Lena

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct 18 -- A massive information and education drive is now being undertaken by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) here urging eligible voters to exercise their right of suffrage likewise guiding them on how to choose the right candidate this Oct 28 barangay elections.

DILG 8 regional director Pedro Noval Jr said that they have come out with information and education campaign (IEC) materials detailing the traits of candidates that are worthy of their votes.

All municipal local government operation officers have been provided with materials for widest dissemination in their areas of jurisdiction.

In their materials, the DILG has aptly explained the significance of a barangay being the basic political unit, power and terms of officials, services and facilities, sources of income, characteristics of a good barangay leader, among others.

Meantime, the term of the current set of officials will end noontime of November 30 to give way to the newly elected ones.

To facilitate the smooth transfer of power, the DILG also recommends for the creation of a transition team and the punong barangay and the treasurer should secure a clearance.

After the transfer of power all elected officials will undergo the barangay newly elected officials’ (BNEO) training program to equip them as they exercise their responsibilities. (PNA)

Pro-poor technology developed in Leyte’s Javier town

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 4 -- A technology that is expected to provide more income to poorest of the poor here has been developed by the group of Mayor Leonardo M. Javier Jr of Leyte’s Javier town.

Javier said the technology patented under the “Mini-mini Mina Mo” Corporation separates minerals from the soil.

“We don’t know how to classify it; whether mineral separator or a cottage industry,” he said.

He shared that he and his group noticed that there are a lot of idle lands in the province. When they have the soil tested and analyzed it was found out that it has high iron content.

“But the thing is I don’t allow mining in my town because of the environmental impact. But this way there is no environmental impact; as a mater fact, this really is very good for the environment because it makes the soil arable and there is no drilling involved,” he explained.

The technology known as “mini-mini mina mo” is manually operated.

The soil is placed through a funnel situated at the topmost of the machine. Then the handle bar situated at the side of the machine has to be manually rotated following a required pacing for it to start operating.

The soil will automatically drop at the other side of the machine and the minerals on the other side.

The minerals can be sold at 30 centavos/kilo. Javier said that a recipient of the machine can earn up to P2000 a day just by selling minerals that have been produced from out of the machine.

On the other hand, the soil when mixed with vermi-compost and coconut peat will make very good garden soil.

Javier intends to tie up with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as he mulled to provide the machine to indigents through a “conditional machine transfer” scheme.

The conditions include that recipients should send their children to school and avail of health services similar to the requirements under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Currently, they have produced 7,000 machines. The target is to come up with 10,000, he said.

However, they have to slow down due to budget consideration even as some of the materials are still being imported from China.

He added that they are yet to set a date for the technology to be presented to the public.

Among others, he also intends to link with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) because it is a cottage industry, Mines and Geosciences Bureau because it is a mine processing technology, provincial government of Leyte for the use of sand and gravel.

“Everybody will benefit. Most importantly, people will not be poor anymore,” he said. (PNA) 

EV has over 600 three-termer  punong barangays

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines, Oct. 4 -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) here is urging the public to file a disqualification case for any three-termer official who would still run for the same post this Oct. 28 elections.

Atty. Jose Nick Mendros, regional director of Comelec in Eastern Visayas, made the advice, amid the possibility that there might be some incumbent officials supposedly on their final term and yet would still run for the upcoming barangay polls.

In Eastern Visayas, Comelec in a data furnished by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has posted in its website 608 punong barangays already on their third term.

The highest three-termers are from the province of Leyte including the highly urbanized city of Tacloban with 245 and next is Samar with 124.

Biliran province has the lowest number of three-termer punong barangays at 11.

Meantime, Northern Samar has 89 while Eastern Samar has 60.

Comelec warned that elected officials who served the same government post for three consecutive terms and yet will seek again for another term this election will be liable for material representation.

The violation could be a ground for the cancellation of their certificate of candidacy (COC)
or prosecution of an election office.

Meantime, those who are intersted to run can file their COC starting Oct. 11 until Oct. 17, except Oct. 13.

Mendros said filing time is from 8 a.m. Until 5 p.m. With no extension. (PNA)