15th May 2012

Maasin's pride, Christian Ivan Salud wins gold, silver in Palarong Pambansa 2012 Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 15, 2012, 5:44 pm   MAASIN CITY—Maasin swimmer Christian Ivan Salud is the sole player from Eastern visayas delegation who brought home 1 gold and 1 silver during the recently held Palarong Pambansa 2012 in Linggayen, Pangasinan.    Salud,  a student from the College of Maasin, bagged Gold medal in 50m breast stroke and another Silver medal in 100m breast stroke. His proud trainor and coach are Brian Morales and Jilma Maraon. Also behind Salud’s winning were local leaders headed by Mayor Maloney Samaco and school officials who did everything so Salud can get all the trainings for the event.     Salud has been a consistent winner in Batang Pinoy, PRISAA, EVRAA, and other local swimming competitions.   In the final tally,  National Capitol Region (NCR) dominated the event, followed by Western Visayas and Southern Tagalog region.    Eastern Visayas with only 1 gold thru Salud, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals was ranked 17th, the last spot.   Palarong Pambansa is the biggest annual sports events for both elementary and high school students from private and public schools in the country conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd). BY RONALD O. REYES Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0 Coalition fears "second death" of FOI bill, appeals to Evardone for Committee action Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 15, 2012, 5:31 pm   The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition, a network of over 150 organizations and civil society leaders pushing for the passage of the FOI Act, today aired its appeal for Rep. Ben Evardone, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Information, to call hearings on the FOI bill and complete its committee report before Congress concludes its second regular session on June 7.   The coalition said any further delay in committee action could spell the second death of the FOI bill. It will be recalled that the FOI bill almost passed in the 14th Congress, but in the final session days the House leadership refused to put the bicameral conference report to a ratification vote. When it did in the last session day, proceedings were aborted due to lack of quorum.   The coalition shared the observation made by Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jr., a member of the committee, that the window to pass the measure is fast closing. In a privilege speech, Rep. Baguilat emphasized that the 15th Congress is already at the homestretch of its legislative work.   "Historical experience tells us that by the third regular session, the coming elections will not only become the preoccupation of many of us, the election period will in fact cut short our time for legislation so that when we adjourn in February next year, legislation will virtually come to an end.", Rep Baguilat said.   The House Committee first conducted a hearing on the FOI bills on 23 November 2010. It appointed a technical working group to consolidate the bills, which submitted its report in February 2011. The committee, however, deferred further action on the bills to await the results of the work of a study group created by Malacañang to study a number of concerns raised by President Aquino. On 2 February 2012, the Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Cabinet Cluster Secretariat, by authority of President Aquino, transmitted to the Committee an FOI bill with a number of amendments to the proposed consolidated versions that the committee was working on.   The coalition anticipated that President Aquino's endorsement of the passage of the FOI law, and the emerging consensus on various contentious issues, would have sped up Congressional action. However, after another committee hearing on 13 March 2012, a number of issues remained unresolved, including the insertion of a right of reply provision being proposed by Rep. Rodolfo Antonino.   The coalition pointed out that the Chairman of the House committee has the responsibility to facilitate the deliberation of these issues through hearings, dialogues, and consultation, to reach a timely resolution. The coalition noted that Senator Honasan has committed to finalize the Senate committee report and sponsor the same in plenary before the close of the second regular session on June 7. It appealed to Rep Evardone for a similar commitment. - The Right to Know, Right Now! Coalition Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

4th May 2012

Maasin Zoo opens at Danao tree park Posted by Jani Arnaiz, Chief Editor on May 4, 2012, 5:46 pm By Jani Arnaiz May 5, 2012 MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – Nine years old Yanyan Paloma was among other children walking as the convoy of businessmen from different chamber of commerce and Industry in Eastern Visayas passed them in Malapoc Norte village on their way to the Maasin zoo. Looking at their eyes, they were excited as much as the adult on the thought that they would see a real zoo. As the zoo opened for the soft opening, children and adults alike were rushing in to take a vantage view of different animals. “I’m happy. I only saw these animals on TV,” said Paloma who was at the crocodile cage. His excitement was shared by five other children watching the crocodiles being fed. At the ostrich confine, Jean Ponce and several teenagers were warning themselves to watch out as one of the two ostriches was getting near them. “Kataas og liog,” Ponce exclaimed. “Mora mana og manok nga higante.   At the camel cage, visitors took turns for photo ops where the camels playfully obliged. The local visitors who were around during the soft opening were very fortunate to see the zoo for free because the zoo management will collect around P150 as entrance fee as it fully opens on May 25. The zoo is temporarily confined near the camp ground but it would be transferred to a 30 has. area where visitors will have to ride to make the rounds to see different kind of animals, said Mayor Samaco when told the present area was small for a zoo.       The animals at the Maasin zoo may be caged but at least they are inside the vast jungle of the Maasin Tree Park, 13 kilometers from the city proper. The first of its kind in Eastern Visayas, the 30 has. zoo is set within the 500 has. Maasin City Wildlife and Conservation Camp, located at sub village Danao in Malapoc Norte which is 300 meters above sea level. The zoo had its “soft opening” on April 26 to accommodate the members of the different chamber of commerce and industry in the region, which held its 2nd Business Conference held in Kuting Resort in nearby Macrohon town. It will be fully opened on May 25. It’s the second hub of the province’ tourism master plan to create a loop of activities within the province to give visitors or tourists a complete experience. The first hub is the Agas-agas zipline. Both a product of private-public partnership initiated by the Southern Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The tigers, which arrived few hours before the opening enjoyed their meal of chicken joy and didn’t mind hordes of excited young and old people looking at them.              The inventory of animals at the Maasin Zoo are two camels, two miniature horses, three tigers, one small Celebes Black Ape, two red-necked ostrich, crocodiles, snakes, and different species of birds such as the silver pheasant, three Queen Victorias, umbrella and black palm cockatoos, Philippine eagle, Ecleptos parrots, a pair of imperial pigeons, three NIcloar Pigeons, three black lorry among other classes of birds. The vast tree park was then managed by the DENR but it was turned over the Maasin government after around 40 hectares of trees was burned, “and almost torched a fire truck,” said Mayor Malone Samaco. “It would have been the scenario and a comedy of sorts had the fire truck burned during the fire.” Engr. Robert Castañares, who heads the chamber, said the residents would be the first to benefit the zoo.   Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

3rd May 2012

Maasin City keen on innovative health practices Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on May 3, 2012, 8:10 am (By Ronald o. Reyes, 3 May 2012) MAASIN CITY -- Mayor Maloney Samaco is serious in implementing his health programs that traditional midwives or hilots are no longer existing and hard-core smokers are no longer that "thriving" in the city. This also in connection to their goal to win the prestigious honor award for nutrition to include the Department of Health-World health Organization Red Orchid Award for Eastern Visayas region. For its strong advocacy on anti-smoking, the city won the Red Orchid award two consecutive years already -- in 2010 and 2011. This year, Mayor Samaco remained optimistic the city will get the same award for the third time, adding their evaluation proved to be “positive.” “The villages evaluated are performing well, and as far as the city is concerned we are already prepared. However, we are still waiting for the official result,” the mayor said.  Also in support to the national health program and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on reducing  maternal and infant mortality rate, the mayor said they are continuously spearheading massive information on  the benefits of breastfeeding among the mothers, pre/post natal care and other healthy habits among their constituents. Regular city-sponsored feeding is also conducted to 10 villages in the city where malnutrition is prevalent. Some of their innovative health programs include establishing health stations and breast feeding centers  in the terminals, market areas, city hall, and malls. Aside from their rural health units which now cater maternity services, the city already has 6 birthing centers which are all Philhealth accredited. With this development the mayor added they are hoping to be the 2nd local government unit to get Honor Award for the province and the region and to be the first city Nutrition Honor awardee in Eastern Visayas. Limasawa island in So. Leyte province is the first town in Region 8 to have won the Nutrition Honor Award. BY RONALD O. REYES Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0

2nd May 2012

DSWD-8 to hire 800 young workers in Southern Leyte Posted by Yel Cobile, Contributing Correspondent, on May 2, 2012, 8:13 am (By Erna S. Gorne, PIA-8 SoLeyte, 2 May 2012) MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, May 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Office 8 is set to screen today the applicants for the 832 summer job young workers coming from Southern Leyte to join the nationwide Expanded Government Internship (EGIP). According to Edna Dator of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) EGIP team will meticulously select 112 qualified youths out of 700 young applicants in Maasin City alone; the rest of the EGIP slots will be filled by 40 selected youths from each of the 18 municipalities in the province. Right now, the said team is still screening the final list of summer job youth workers, who will participate in the internship program of government, she added. The hired applicants will work for 52 days in the community where they come from in 4Ps, Social Pension for the Indigent Elderly, Supplemental Feeding, Cash for Work and Day Care Services earning P252 per day, she said. Most of the applicants are aged 18 to 30 years old, many are in school, a number are out-of-school youths, several have degrees and technical-vocational courses, Dator added. Tell a Friend... :: Comments: 0