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.

OPENING SALVO FOR 2014 CALUBIAN TOWN FIESTA HELD…

August 8, 2014, Friday, although PAG-ASA forcasted that there will be a good weather in the entire Visayas and Mindanao regions, clouds had covered the sky as the Town of Calubian has started its weeklong Fiesta Celebration with an opening salvo.

My committee has been very busy this day since our activity, the “2nd Calubian Regatta 2014” will be the highlight in the morning activities; although the activity went along with the Food Festival sponsored by TESDA. I see to it that everything is set before the parade arrives in Calubian wharf. All sub-committees had been checked if everything’s okay.

The first activity which was held before the parade arrived was the Fishing Festival which was started at 7:OO am and soon to end once the parade has arrived at the wharf area. A total of 23 participants had joined the contest with only very few participants caught some small fishes. At exactly 8:30 in the morning the first contingent arrived in the port area headed by the colors followed by the candidates of the Miss Lubi-lubi beauty pageant followed by the LGU contingent composed of the Executive Committee headed by Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit, members of the Sangguniang Bayan and LGU employees. The parade attendance was overwhelming since even the elderly under their Senior citizen’s group has given time in attending the parade. Members of the national government agencies such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the NWLDH, the judiciary and other agencies had not missed to witness the event.

The members of the business and financing institutions had also actively joined the parade with a colorful uniforms. The Calubian Business Circle which is composed of the majority if not all the entities doing business in the municipality regardless of its volume of business had shown up for the first time in public. Members also of CLAD, Inc, an NGO operating in Calubian has also been visible as well as members of big coops such as the Fatima Multi-purpose Cooperative and OCCI had also joined the parade.

Learning institutions and the academe had also found their places in the parade such as the North and South districts of the DEPED, the different secondary schools whether private and public had shared their presence in the merrymaking.

When everybody had settle down, although only few had been seated due to a very limited chairs in the area compared to a huge crown gathered in the port, the opening had started. The opening prayer was led by Mr. Fanny Pedida, an employee of the Municipal Agriculture Office followed by the singing of Philippine National Anthem. Hon. Aida Q. Labtic, SB-Chairperson, Committee on Agriculture had delivered her welcome remarks. Mr. Agustin L. Dignos, actually its me who delivered the significance of the event wherein I emphasized that Regatta is an important event which could draw tourist to the municipality. That another event had been conceptualized which would probably be contested next year which could also be a crowd-drawer, the “Dragon Boat Race” which could be participated in by the different barangay clusters. Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit, the municipal mayor had also delivered his inspiring message and he was so thankful for the support that had been shown by all the sector in the community as evident by a huge crowd who witnessed the opening salvo. After all the speeches had been delivered, the race had started.

The following were the different events contested during 2nd Calubian Reagatta 2014; 1)- Paddle Boat or “Bugsay Subiran Race” – played in single and double categories with the following prizes for the two categories , 1st Prize- Php3,000.00; 2nd Prize- Php2,000.00 and Php1,000.00 for the 3rd Prize. The other events were 2) Motorized banca race with maximum of 5.5hp engine and 3)the Subiran Sailing Competition. Prizes of the last two events were as follows; 1st Prize = Php5,000.00, 2nd Prize = Php3,000.00 and 3rd Prize =Php2,000.00. For the sailing competition, non-winners received a consolation prizes of Php500.00.

After the competition, awarding of prizes were conducted right away at the port area with no other than the Hon. Mayor Doroteo N. Palconit assisted by Hon. Aida Q. Labtic administered the awarding of certificate to all the winners.

The Regatta Committee would like to express its heartfelt gratitude to all who in one way or another had helped the event a very colorful and successful one. Thank you everybody.