FLASHBACK YOLANDA...

The following are some photo-documentation after Yolanda struck my home...

The path of Yolanda via internet:

The devastation:

The relief operations:

Relief Goods from Heifer International USA, the first responder for Calubian

MY PERSONAL RECOLLECTION WHEN YOLANDA STRUCK CALUBIAN...

The following is my short speech delivered during our first year commemoration of the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda

Fellow civil servants, good morning. Indeed, this is a very good morning for us today compared to what had happened the past year. I just would like to share to you my personal and family experience when super typhoon Yolanda struck Calubian last November 8, 2013. Before, many believed that number 8 could bring fortune to everyone, that when an activity is held on the eight day of any month it would bring luck or fortune to the celebrator. That is why my son scheduled their church wedding in the eight of November 2013. Why do we believe that number 8 is a lucky number? Because it shows sign of infinity, a never ending value so great that many believed it would give us limitless bounty. But after Yolanda, my belief has proven wrong.

One month before the big event in our family lives happened, everything were already set, invitations were already sent, caterer has already been ready, every details had already been planned. One week prior to the event, visitors coming from Cebu had already arrived simultaneous with the big news that super typhoon Yolanda had been forming in the east, that the news will definitely hit Visayan Region, and that it would landfall on the 8th of November, the very day the schedule of my son’s wedding. We were so worried, if we will postpone the event, we had to inform everybody that would be involved with the activity, caterer, sponsors, everybody else. I consulted my brother who is working with DOST since they are working with Project Noah which is closely monitoring with the typhoon, he clarified and assured that Yolanda would definitely hit Leyte and according to their monitoring it would definitely hit Leyte on the 8th of November. We then finally decided not to take a chance, we then finally informed everybody especially the caterer to indefinitely postpone the wedding depending on the damage brought by the typhoon. Instead of the wedding preparation, I actively participated in closely monitoring the typhoon together with the members of the MDRRMC. I even trace the probable path of the typhoon via internet and it would really hit Calubian.

On the dawn of the 8th of the November until early morning, that was Friday , the wind had started to gain momentum. I contacted again my brother if that was it “Mao na ba ning Yolanda”. He answered, “Di pa na mao, gikusokuso na ang Tacloban”. After few minutes, the wind has gained its peak , every tree standing surrounding my house has gone. And they all surrendered and bow down to the ground. I could even remembered my 2 year-old granddaughter sung every whistled of the wind “ Lord Patawad” because the rain had already been fallen in every corner of the house. That even at their early age they felt something strange. It was almost half day of uncertainty if my roofing could stand the strongest wind I ever experienced in my entire life. Paghangag gyod sa akong kusina, I thought my roofing had already been blown away, ang ako diayng punoan sa Mangga sa likod ang milukapa na. Mao diayng mihayag ang likod.

After the typhoon, everything has returned to basic, and the basic is HIM. We never have anything but Him, we cannot contact my sister in-laws family in Cebu because we have no signal of any network whatsoever, except the only one connection left, and that was to Him in heaven. And the connection left is through prayers, “nga unta mawala ang ilang kaguol sa nahitabo nato. Nga unta nahibalo sila sa atong kahimtang dinhi”. We were left isolated. No connection to the outside world. And the rest I remember is we again appreciate nature. Nga kung mohayag ang bulan malipay ta, kay Makita man kung dunay moagi nga mangyan, or badjao nga mosuroy sa gabii. But then, the disaster has just made as unified, strong and willing to sacrifice. In one leadership we were united to face the challenge, to deliver the relief goods to the needy so that once and for all , we could draw a smile in every faces of Calubianons.

May I end up my recollection with this new belief I had in mind, “Kung ang otso nga swerting numero matunong gani sa adlawng Martes or Biernes, mahimo kining dimalas. Martes petsa otso sa Enero nasunog atong commercial complex ug Biernes petsa otso sa Nobyembre naigo ta ni Yolanda. Maayo gani karon biernesa kay natunong ug siete. Daghang salamat ug maayong buntag natong tanan.

OCTOBER 20 - SPECIAL HOLIDAY IN ENTIRE PROVINCE OF LEYTE

Tacloban City (October 16) - October 20 is special holiday in the entire province of Leyte.

This is in answer to the numerous telephone queries that Philippine Information Agency has been receiving this week on whether their local government units are included in the pronouncement.

The Philippine Information Agency made some research and learned that per Republic Act No.1745, issued on June 21, 1957, better known as an act declaring October 20 of every year as special holiday in the Province of Leyte.

This is in order to give meaning to the commemoration of the historic Leyte Gulf Landings of the Allied Forces of Liberation under General Douglas McArthur in 1944, thus ending the Pacific War of World War II.

The Legal Division of the Provincial Government of Leyte informed the PIA that the same legal document is the reference the province of Leyte is holding.

Atty. Gil Cana said that the Special Holiday will be observed in all the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Province of Leyte.

As to the several constituents of the province of Southern Leyte as to whether or not Southern Leyte is included in the Republic Act, Atty. Roque Tiu, Board member of the first district of Leyte, said that since Southern Leyte is now a separate province, it is no longer a part of Leyte province.

Thus, Board Member Tiu opined that Southern Leyte is no longer included in the local government units which are covered by the Republic Act.

Southern Leyte used to be the third district of Leyte until it was inaugurated as a new province on July 1, 1960.

Thus, the third District of Leyte became the province of Southern Leyte and Lone District of Southern Leyte (PIA8).(Photo courtesy of kabyahe.wordpress.com

NEWLY HIRED CLAD COMMUNITY FACILITATOR (CF) TRAINED

Last August 27, 2014 five newly hired personnel of CLAD, Inc. to serve as the Community Facilitator of two projects, one jointly funded by DISOP Belgium and Heifer International USA while the other project is solely funded by Heifer to support the rehabilitation efforts of the municipality of Calubian from the devastation caused by super typhoon Yolanda. The team headed by Mr Rolando “Bimbim” Lunzaga who is already a veteran member of CLAD, Inc. He had been joined by four newly hired personnel of CLAD, Inc. in the person of Mr. Klent Lapid, James Pepito, Bogart Napoles and Lyndon Corpin. Their Cornerstone Workshop Seminar was held at Prince Hotel in Butuan City last August 28-Sept.4, 2014. The following are some photo-documentation when they where at Butuan City.

CALUBIAN BUDGET PREPARATION FOR FY 2015 HELD…

Last September 24-25, 2014, department heads of the Local Government Unit of Calubian headed by its Local Chief Executive, Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit and was joined by the Finance Committee of the Sangguniang Bayan with the chairmanship of Hon. Lucita A. Palconit had convened at Pongos Hotel in Ormoc City to conduct its annual budget preparation. A total of more than 72 million was divided to its different departments as their annual allocation for the implementation of their different programs and activities for the Fiscal Year 2015. The following are some photo-documentation of the proceedings;

(Photo courtesy of Mr. Armar Torlao)

IRRIGATION DAM PROJECT CONSTRUCTED…

It was during the first term of Hon. Doroteo “Dodong” Palconit , Municipal Mayor of Calubian that irrigation dam of Brgy Laray was constructed. For Calubianons especially to the residents of Brgy Laray, they thought that the project would just remained to be a dream.

Brgy Laray is located in the northernmost tip of the municipality with Brgys Dalumpines, Pal-og, Jubay, and Casiongan as adjacent to its boundaries. Previously, the National Irrigation Administration had constructed an irrigation project before but probably there was no thorough and in-depth study conducted prior to its construction that caused to its collapsed few months after the project completed. The project was already constructed and damaged before I was assigned in the area in 1992. I just only seen the remnants of the project when I had made field visit to the area. According to the rice farmers, the dam was constructed in the place not suited for its purpose. Besides, engineers did not consider the flow of the water during heavy downpour of rain which could produce a very strong water current. This was the main reason for the collapsed of the dam. When Municipal Mayor Palconit had been seated as the Chief Executive of the town and with his commitment for agricultural development in the municipality, he made endorsement for the construction of the new irrigation dam in Brgy Laray. I was the one who made follow-up at NIA office in Palo and with my surprise, few days after my visit to NIA office, NIA surveyor had conducted the necessary detailed survey of the project. After all the necessary supporting documents were completed, construction commenced thus the project hereby realized. The following pictures show the Brgy Laray Irrigation Dam as hereby presented;

CULMINATION PROGRAM ON RICE AND VEGETABLE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS CONDUCTED…

Last August 20, 2014, Wednesday, a joint culmination program on season long training in rice production using the palay check system as well as the season long training in vegetable commercialization was held at the Brgy Laray Quadrangle. Barangay Laray which is situated in the northernmost part of the Municipality of Calubian was presently the center for the two simultaneous season long training for the two important commodities in the town, the vegetable and rice. In collaboration with CLAD Inc, LGU personnel through the office of the Municipal Agriculturist has focused its farmers development activities in the north the center of the Phase 2 project sponsored by two international NGO, the DISOP of Belgium and Heifer International USA. With the project entitled “Improving productivity and organizational capacity of rural communities for self-employment and sustainable enterprises”, the project has focused on 400 new participating families which come mostly from the northern associations such as the Casiongan Farmers Association, the DLPJ or Dalumpines-Laray-Pal-og-Jubay Farmers and Fishermen Association and the Juson Farmers and Fishermen Association. Since the project is covering five cluster organizations, the other two organizations are the Seahorse Fishermen Association of Brgy Cristina and Kawayanan Integrated Livelihood Association of Brgy Kawayanan.

The culmination program of Brgy Laray commenced with an opening prayer followed by the welcome remarks given by the Brgy Captain Hon Agapito Pedida followed by some impressions coming from the participants and some testimonies and success stories coming from previous graduates from earlier techno-demos. For rice, Mr. Guillermo Legazpi of Villalon shared his gains as graduate of rice techno-demo held at Brgy. Villalon while Mr. Norberto Dillo of Brgy Tagharigue imparted the success he earned as graduate of both rice and vegetable. According to him, trials while doing farming should be overcame by continuously raising the crops. He shared his experienced after Yolanda when all his Ampalaya was damaged by the strong wind. He immediately planted 1,600 hills and was able to earn more than P300,000.00 pesos being the supplier to Tacloban after the typhoon. After deducting the expenses, more or less P200,000.00 was his net income plus the benefit he has shared to neighbors as his hired laborers in the farm. There were some messages coming from the Municipal Agriculturist (actually its me) which stretch that Brgy. Laray is so lucky to had irrigation project constructed in the barangay. It was during the first term of Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit that this project as realized. Hon. Aida Q. Labtic, chairperson committee on agriculture also shared her gratitude being a witness of the advancement of agriculture in that far flung barangay. The honorable Vice Mayor also delivered his message to the graduating farmers. After all the messages, Mr. Rolando Lunzaga and Mr. Antonio Nierras presented the graduating class for Vegetable and rice, respectively. Mr. Dignos in his capacity as the Municipal Agriculturist of the municipality confirmed the 29 women and 21 men who passed the minimum requirements required for the training as the new graduates for the recently concluded techno-demo. Hon. Palconit, municipal mayor distributed the certificates attended the SB members present such as Hon. Lucita Palconit, Hon. Aida Labtic, Hon. Rosevida Ruiz, Hon. Vivencia Casas, Hon. Nilda Omega and the Vice Mayor Hon. Gilbert Ponce.

After the distribution, the mayor delivered his speech and reiterated his commitment to fully support the agriculture sector of the municipality. As a graduation gift to the graduates, the mayor has given each of them one sack (25kg) of rice and an additional one sack (10kg) of fertilizer courtesy of PCA. They were so satisfied and so thankful for the early gift they had received. Their neighbors who were hesitant to join the training had felt sorry of what they had witnessed. After the message of the mayor, everybody in the site had partake the lunch prepared by the Municipal Agriculture’s Office.