Taga Ormoc Daily

Though the road to China had been rough, the result was all too sweet for Gilas! Behind another dominant outing by Andray Blatche and the will of the likes of Jayson Castro and June Mar Fajardo, Gilas Pilipinas went all out, blasting Kazakhstan, 93-75, early Monday (Manila time) at the Republican Velodrome Saryarka in Astana. With the win, Gilas ended their 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers campaign as the best fourth-placed team with a 7-5 record in Group F. The Philippines had a little assist coming from Ricardo Ratliffe and South Korea as the country's continental rivals took a huge 84-72 come-from-behind win against Lebanon in Zouk Mikael. But in this game, it was Blatche who towed the Philippines to China. The naturalized Filipino dropped 41 points on 12-of-20 shooting from the field and 12-of-14 shooting from the stripe to go along with 14 rebounds, four steals, three assists, and two blocks. The 6-foot-9 big man out of Syracuse, New York was unstoppable in the g

 The Department of Education (DepEd) is studying the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to implement a “no vaccination, no enrollment” policy in public schools in response to the rising number of measles cases nationwide. In a statement late Friday, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasized that the proposed policy must take into consideration the human rights of learners, especially their access to quality basic education. “While DepEd is looking into different ways to regain the confidence of parents in immunization, the agency has made commitments with DOH in ensuring that the learners are protected,” Briones said. DepEd’s commitment to DOH include the development of consent form and evaluation form, which will categorize learners as “vaccinated,” “doubtful,” and “not vaccinated”; verification of school records and vaccination cards; gathering and sharing of data on the number of learners affected with measles; coordination with health center st

Paid Maternity Leave for 105 days - Naisabatas Na! Ito’y matapos pinirmahan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte kahapon, Pebrero 20, 2019 ang Expanded Maternity Leave Act, na layuning alalayan ang bagong panganak na sanggol at ang ina nito. Ibig sabihin, magkakaroon ng mas mahabang oras na maalagaan ng ina ang bagong panganak na sanggol na hindi nasisira ang budget. May option din to extend an additonal 30 days leave without pay. Ayon pa sa balita, single mothers will get an additional 15 days paid leave (or a total of 120 days). Sa mga tatay naman, pwedeng ilipat ng nanay ang 7 days out of 105 days paid leave. Bago mapirmahan ang batas na ito, meron nang 7 days paid Paternity Leave. Ibig sabihin, pwede nang mag Paternity Leave nang may bayad for up to 14 days sa bagong batas. Ang buong detalye at ganap na kawastuan malalaman kapag maisapubliko na ang batas.

The president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in this town survived an ambush Monday morning, February 18. The victim, identified as Alberto Sumaljag, 60, chairman of Barangay Benolho and president of ABC, was shot by still a unidentified gunman around 8:20 a.m. in Barangay Cambalading, this town. The Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas reported that Sumaljag was onboard his vehicle on his way to the municipal hall to attend a weekly meeting when attacked by a gunman onboard a Sedan type vehicle. Sumaljag's vehicle was peppered with bullets, but he survived the incident. Sumaljag said the gunman wore a bonnet and fired at him using an armalite rifle. The ABC president sustained a wound in his shoulder. Hot pursuit operation against the gunman is ongoing as of this posting. The Albuera Municipal Police Station is investigating the incident.  Source: Sunstar

The Department of Education (DepEd) will consider prohibiting candidates in the 2019 midterm elections from speaking in graduation rites during the campaign period  Education Undersecretary Nepomucen Malaluan made the remark on Sunday after Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez   called on schools not to invite candidates in their graduation rites . Malaluan said that while the DepEd's election guidelines do not disallow candidates to speak in graduation ceremonies, they would discuss Jimenez's suggestion in their executive committee meeting. What their guidelines prohibit, he pointed out, is turning the graduation rite as a political forum or platform. "Pag-uusapan namin 'yan dahil, obviously, it's not a political activity (graduation rites). It is not meant directly to ask for the vote of a person. Pero kung mauwi sa ganun ay 'yun ang pinagbabawal," Malaluan said. "Malinaw naman kasi sa kanilang (Comelec) guidel

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 204 new cases of human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Eastern Visayas in 2018, which accounts for 26 percent of the total cases detected since 1989. There are already 774 cases with 48 deaths since the health department started its monitoring of HIV/AIDS in the region in 1989, said DOH regional information officer John Paul on Friday. Roca said at least nine people died due to the infection last year. “The youngest victim is 15 and the oldest is 49. About 90 percent of the newly-diagnosed cases got the illness through male-to-male sex,” The increasing number of newly-diagnosed victims of this infection is triggered by the massive information drive and the establishment of testing and treatment centers in Tacloban City, Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Southern Leyte. Based on the new cases documented in 2018, the region had an average of one case every day. Last year’s 204 newly-d

PHIVOLCS EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION #2 #EarthquakePH #EarthquakeLeyte #ifelt_LeyteEarthquake Earthquake Information No.2 Date and Time: 16 Feb 2019 - 03:12 PM Magnitude = 3.5 Depth = 007 kilometers Location = 11.26N, 124.59E - 007 km S 55° W of Capoocan (Leyte) Reported Intensities: Intrumental Intensity: Intensity III - Ormoc City

Duha ka pulis ug usa ka sibilyan ang nasikop sa anti-illegal drug operation sa Barangay Macabug, Ormoc City, alas 11:50 sa buntag, Biyernes, Pebrero 15. Giila ang sibilyan nga si Ricsan Salle, 29, nagpuyo sa maong barangay. Samtang ang duha ka pulis mao sila si Police Officer 1 Ronilo Felizarta ug Police Officer 1 Pelboy Lopez. Si Felizarta nadestino sa San Vicente Police Station sa Northern Samar samtang si Lopez nadestino sa Northern Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company. Ang operasyon gipangulohan sa Ormoc City Drug Enforcement Unit pinangulohan ni Police Senior Inspector Franklin Romeo Parangan Jr ug Police Chief Inspector Demosthenes Magnaan sa Mobile Force Company. Nagsilbi usab nga perimeter security ang Philippine Army uban ni Captain Khevin Jay Latoza. Kahuman sa transaksyon, mi senyas na ang poseur buyer nga positibo ang resulta. Wa na makapalag ang mga suspek sa dihang gipalibutan sa mga operatiba. Nasakmit ang pito ka pakete nga may gituhoang shabu, mga p

Kalanggaman Island, considered as the Leyte’s top island destination, earned more than P22 million last year, the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office in Eastern Visayas. Karen S. Tiopes, DOT regional director, said Kalanggaman exceeded its tourist revenue target of P21 million. There were 113,556 visitors to the island last year, 104,203 were domestic tourists and 9,353 were foreigners. Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L.  Petilla told Manila Bulletin Kalanggaman, which is maintained and operated by the municipal government of Palompon town, has rebounded from the devastation wrought by Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2013, thanks to tourism In 2016 there were 95,677 visitors to the island, increasing to 101,312 in 2017. The tourist revenue reached more than P16 million in 2016 and P18.5 million the following year. Kalanggaman is about an hour’s boat ride from Palompon town proper. The six-hectare island is considered as one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines.

The 90-day national campaign for over 60 senatorial candidates and 154 party-list groups in the May elections officially kicks off today, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) again warning them against committing electoral offenses. The Comelec last month released the names of 62 senatorial candidates it has allowed to run as well as 154 accredited party-list groups seeking seats in the House of Representatives. The Senate race is considered to be tight, with seven senators seeking reelection, six others wanting to return to the chamber and several prominent candidates, including those endorsed by President Duterte, fighting over only 12 slots. The reelectionist senators, belonging to different political parties, will be launching their electoral campaign separately but they are expected to be together in a rare sortie tomorrow in Tondo, Manila. Sens. Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito and Aquilino Pimentel III are scheduled to attend a campaign kick-o

JUST IN: A 5.1 magnitude earthquake rocked General Luna town of Surigao del Norte at 10:33 p.m. Sunday, February 10. Intensity 1 was reported in Cebu City.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they are set to resurrect “Operation Baklas”, which is aimed at dismantling illegal posters and tarpaulins as the campaign period starts next week. “We will be talking to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) in the coming days regarding Operation Baklas,” he said in a media briefing at the start of the printing of the official ballots for the May 13 mid-term polls on Saturday. The poll body official noted that they are sending letters to national aspirants and political groups, urging them to put down the campaign materials. “We don't expect them to reply to us written but we do expect to see compliance by February 12,” Jimenez said. A total of 62 candidates are running for senatorial posts while 134 groups are vying for party-list seats in the House of Representatives. The Comelec official reiterated that posters and tarpaulins with a maximum s

 Two governors and four members of Congress were among the candidates from Eastern Visayas who had asked for security detail due to threats to their lives. Records of the Regional Joint Security Control Center (RJSCC) show that at least 30 candidates in the May 13 elections asked for security detail. The RJSCC is composed of regional offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which sits as chair; while Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas (PRO-8), and the Philippine Army in the region sit as members, Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, PRO-8 director, said the applications of these candidates had been approved in the RJSCC level. But he added these would have to be elevated to the Comelec central office where it would be assessed and verified before police escorts would be deployed to them. Carlos said each candidate would be entitled to two security personnel who must be in uniform while on duty. If these candidates would have more than two police bodyguards, he add

#EarthquakePH #EarthquakeSurigaoDelNorte #ifelt_SurigaoDelNorteEarthquake Earthquake Information No.1 Date and Time: 08 Feb 2019 - 07:55 PM Magnitude = 5.9 Depth = 019 kilometers Location = 09.68N, 126.39E - 028 km S 65° E of General Luna (Surigao Del Norte) Reported Intensities:  Intensity V - Surigao City Instrumental Intensities: Intensity IV - Gingoog City Intensity III - Cagayan de Oro City; Borongan City; Cebu City Intensity II - Catbalogan City Intensity I - Kidapawan City; Lapu-Lapu City; Argao City; Alabel, Sarangani http://earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/2019_Earthquake_Information/February/2019_0208_1155_B1F.html

During the meeting of the Association of Government Information Officers in Region 8 (AGIO-8) at the LMWD Office in Tingib, Pastrana, Leyte, PNP Regional Information Officer Bella D. Rentuaya said some proactive security measures are already implemented regionwide, while other interventions are now properly planned in efforts to prevent and suppress crimes and other forms of violence, thereby ensuring a safe, fair and peaceful elections throughout the region. Rentuaya said that aside from the gun ban now being implemented, the PNP has also identified areas of concerns in the region. “Though the police office has not identified election hotspots in the Eastern Visayas region, still there are areas identified that need special concerns,” Rentuaya said.   She added that as part of the preparations, the PNP has established a Regional Special Operations Task Group (RSOTG) which will be headed by the Deputy Director for Operations, PSSupt. Rolando Miranda. “

Gin-anunsyo sa Department Of Health (DOH) sa adlaw huwebes, February 7 nga naay measles outbreak sa Sinirangan Bisayas. Umapela si Health Secretary Francisco Duque III sa publiko nga ipabakuna ang ilaha mga anak kontra tipdas. “The department of health is raising once again today the red flag for measles in other region of Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas.” Gihimo ang anunsyo sa DOH para “mas pakusgon ang surveillance sa mga bag-o nga kaso og mag alerto ang mga ilaha mga anak.” Suma kang DOH Regional Information Officer John Paul Roca, nagtitikahitaas ang kaso sa tipdas sa Region 8, umabot na sa 160 ang kaso og walo na ang namatay. Sa datos sa DOH Regional Office 8 sa January 1 to February 1 kining tuiga, nahipatik ang pinakadamo nga kaso sa tipdas sa probinsya sa Leyte kun diin may 119 cases, ginsundan sa Samar nga may 33 cases, Eastern Samar 3 cases, 2 cases naman sa Biliran og ang Northern Samar, may 1 case naman sa Southern Leyte. Upat (4) ang namatay sa Palo, Leyte

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11198 dividing the Southern Leyte province into two congressional districts. “On the next national and local elections after the effectivity of this Act, the Province of Southern Leyte is hereby reapportioned into two legislative districts,” the new law stated. The first district of Southern Leyte will be composed of the city of Maasin and the towns of Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus, and Bontoc. The second district will be composed of the municipalities of Sogod, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, San Juan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan, and Silago. Under RA 11198, the incumbent representative of the Lone Legislative District of the Province of Southern Leyte will continue to represent the legislative districts until the new representatives of the First and Second Legislative Districts are elected and qualified. Source: Politiko

A total of 1,627 sari-sari store owners from Samar and Leyte provinces graduated in the PREMIUM Project on January 24, 2019 at Leyte Academic Center, Palo, Leyte. Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, founder and chair emeritus of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI), leads the presentation of the PREMIUM graduates symbolic turnover of the project’s advocacy and personally meets also the beneficiaries of the project, who are also microfinance clients of CARD MRI. The Project aims to improve the economic well-being of micro-entrepreneurs affected by Typhoon Yolanda by assisting sari-sari store owners become more resilient to all types of natural calamities. To date, CARD MRI through CARD, Inc. provided loan to 2,456 beneficiaries, which already surpassed its original target of 1,600 by the end of its run in March 2019, totaling to P35.15 million. The Project Premium is in collaboration with Government of Canada, Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) of Canada, Hapinoy, RIMANSI, I

A woman was arrested in a buy-bust along Zone 3, Malbasag Dist. 28 about 1:45 a.m. Friday (Feb. 1). City Drug Enforcement Unit chief P/SInsp. Romeo Franklyn Parangan identified the suspect as Mae Quintana, 30, a mother of two and residing in Barugo, Leyte. Parangan said Quintana is the live-in partner of April Jan Arevalo, who was arrested last October in a buy-bust operation in the same area. Police tagged Arevalo, a drug surrenderee, as a high-value target. Recovered from Quintana was one small sachet containing suspected shabu procured by a poseur-buyer operative at P1000, and two P500 cash used as marked money for the operation. Also seized was a sachet that contains five small plastic sachets containing suspected shabu each worth about P500. Quintana did not say anything when asked about the shabu in her possession. Charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were being readied against the suspect who was jailed at the female detention cell of Police

JUST IN: President Duterte skips Barangay Summit on Peace and Order in Palo, Leyte. Former SAP Bong Go says the President is "not feeling well".

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday urged lawmakers to pass the measure that seeks to grant civil service eligibility to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilors. Ejercito, in filing Senate Bill No. 2185, or the bill that seeks to amend the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015 (Republic Act No. 10742), said he believed youth councilors should also be granted civil service eligibility. The senator noted that under the present law, SK councilors are not included in the list of Elective Barangay Officials to be provided or granted with first level eligibility under the Civil Service Rules. He said that based on the Civil Service Rules, a Barangay Official Eligibility, which is equivalent to Career Service Sub-professional Eligibility, is a privilege granted to barangay officials, including SK chairpersons. He said the bill “seeks to grant the same, if not more fitting privilege to SK kagawads, recognizing them also as barangay elected officials.” “Through the SK Ref