ORMOC CITY – After more than a decade of tilling their small rice fields, 10 farmers in this city finally received land titles that will prove their ownership.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to the said farmers through Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Ruben Rebato in a simple distribution rite held in Barangay San Jose, where most of the recipients reside.

Rebato said the 10 individual CLOAs covered an aggregate area of 6.8660 hectares previously owned by the Concepcion Espina Agricultural Corporation and Anito Ygot. The landholdings are situated in the adjacent Barangay Guintigui-an in this city.

“I am grateful I received a title. Thank you, Lord, I now have my own title,” says 63-year old Ernesto Bolakinia after receiving his land title for the 0.6489-hectare rice field that he has been tilling. He said this would be of big help in sending his children to school.

Ramil Catado, a 42-year old recipient, happily received his CLOA for a 1.0255-hectare piece of land, as he will now be relieved of giving a share of the harvest to the former landowner.

“All the harvests will now be ours,” he said, adding, “Thank you very much, we now own land where we can plant for our livelihood.”

Elenita Godin, a recipient of 1.8 hectares of land, also said that she is very much grateful because it is her first time to own a piece of land. Rebato reminded the new landowners of their obligations as agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), including the diligent payment of land amortizations and the real property taxes. By Elmer Recuerdo (EV Mail August 22-28, 2022 issue)

TACLOBAN CITY – Two modern public utility buses and three mini-bus type of public utility jeepneys add to the growing list of environment-friendly public transport that will ply the city of Ormoc.

Accordingly, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regional office (LTFRB-8) awarded the Roberginia Transport Corporation a provisional authority to operate the modern transport during the launching of the Modernized PUV here on Friday, August 26.

Michael Matiga, president of Roberginia Transport Corporation, received the provisional franchise from LTFRB regional director Gualberto Gualberto and LTFRB Executive Director Robert Peig. The modern buses will ply the Ormoc-Merida-Palompon route while the PUJ will take the Ormoc-Merida route.

The awarding of the provisional authority to operate on modern public transport is part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization (PUVM) Program of the government aimed to transform the road sector of public transport through the introduction of safer and climate-friendly vehicles, improved regulation, and industry consolidation.

“The present administration is committed to continue the PUV modernization program,” says Peig. The latest launch on Friday is the first in the country under the administration of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Philippine President.

Peig said LTFRB received numerous positive reactions from the riding public since the program was launched.

“Passengers are happier because our modern vehicles are comfortable, environment-friendly and safe. The fare is also reasonable and within the means of ordinary Filipinos,” he said.

Peig says Eastern Visayas ranks third among the regions in the country in the compliance of PUVMP next to Metro Manila and Central Visayas. Gualberto also thanked the local government units of Ormoc City and Palompon for its all-out support to the government transport program. By Elmer Recuerdo (EV Mail August 22-28, 2022 issue)

ORMOC CITY – The community-based Coffee Processing Center in Brgy. Tongonan, this city, which is jointly funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office 8 through a ‘Grant-in-Aid Program’ and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), will soon begin producing ground coffee using coffee beans grown in the said barangay.

The project aims to make the local coffee available in the local market, subsequently creating livelihood opportunities for the center’s farmer-members.

Accordingly, the project is implemented as a collaborative endeavor of EDC, DOST-8 through DOST-Leyte, the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU)-Tongonan, LGU-Ormoc City, and the Tongonan Farmers Association (TOFA).

Meanwhile, in order to assure a consistent quality of the final product, a training on how to process coffee beans into roasted ground coffee was conducted during the first week of August 2022, which included methods for sorting and preparing beans for processing.

TOFA’s vice president, Albert G. Calarion, welcomed all guests, participants, DOST-8 through DOST-Leyte, and EDC-Ormoc to the said training activity.

Meanwhile, it was Mhardy C. Montejo, Science Research Specialist II of DOST-Leyte, who presented the rationale of the project including its background, objectives, and the list of equipment provided. He also highlighted the role of the proponent and the beneficiary group in the implementation of the coffee processing project.

On the one hand, Dr. John Glenn D. Ocaña, Provincial Science and Technology Director of DOST-Leyte, commended TOFA for its sustained passion to make the project work, as well as discussed food safety and good manufacturing practices.

Finally, a training on coffee processing was done by Candelaria Adanza of Adanza Coffee Farms, wherein Adanza emphasized the need for the proper sorting of raw coffee beans and observing the ideal moisture content to achieve a quality product. Accordingly, roasting and grinding processes using the equipment funded by DOST-8 were done at a later date when experts from suppliers were already available. By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail August 22-28, 2022 issue)

ORMOC CITY – DOST Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. lauded this city’s business community, as ably represented by the Ormoc Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (ORCHAM), in his message during the opening ceremony of the three-day Stakeholders Forum and Caravan in this city on August 25, for a job well done hosting not only the forum but the whole of the 31st Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC).

The activity is also in line with the 2022 Eastern Visayas Regional Science and Technology Week Celebration with the theme, “Agham at Technolohiya: Kabalikat sa Maunlad at Matatag na Kinabukasan”, and the VABC, of which ORCHAM is hosting under the banner, “From Setbacks to Comeback: Getting Business Back to Track.”

Among the many important topics that were given emphasis at the said forum was the briefing on the country’s technology transfer and commercialization landscape.

In addition, the Secretary during the Press Conference reiterated the different programs of the department alongside other partner agencies and stakeholders. He also said that among his focus is job creation and having a ‘blue and green economy’.

He further stressed the importance of innovations and even quoted, “Imagination is better than knowledge” to emphasize said importance. He also mentioned that their DOST scholars should also be taught entrepreneurial skills.

Further, he said that SMEs also has a special place in the department, as manifested in exhibit at the City’s Quadrangle, showcasing adoptors displaying their products after being successful beneficiaries of DOST’s assistance.

It was learned that Ormoc and the DOST had long been partners and are doing good in terms of collaboration especially on technology transfer for the people. Finally, the three-day event also aims to bring science and technology closer to the people while, at the same time, tackling different aspects such as health, strengthening of social protection and upholding public safety. By Josie Sersena (EV Mail August 22-28, 2022 issue)

CATBALOGAN CITY – A former high ranking official of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered 23 high-powered firearms to the government received Php 650,000 from the Samar’s Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) as the provincial peace panel awarded Php 2.12-million to 17 former rebels.

Ka Dori, who served as the Organizational Department (OD) Secretary and the Second-in-Command in the Guerilla Front Damol operating in the areas of Villareal and Pinabacdao in Samar, was instrumental for the surrender of other guerillas in the two municipalities.

Dori said he did not expect to receive a large sum for his surrender as his only motivation was to live a normal life together with his family and to stop hiding from the military for fear of being caught or killed in an encounter.

“We are very grateful to the Philippine Army that we were able to see the help that the government is offering under the EO70 of Duterte, the ELCAC. The government’s promise to help is true. It will be a big help for us, for our family, and alleviate our economic status since we are back in mainstream society,” he said.

Under the LSIP, the local government will provide Php 25,000 to assist the transition of a surrenderee, Php 50,000 for livelihood assistance, and another Php 25,000 for each firearm surrendered.

Dori, as the OD Secretary, was the Samar Peace Panel’s bridge for the couple, alias “Noli” and alias “Messy” both under GF Damol, and six other CPP-NPA members to surrender and hand over different war material.

GF Damol plays a vital role in the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) transport and distribution of war materials and medical supplies to the different units in the region. The said group also caters to key leaders of the Central Committee in the CPP-NPA-NDF organization.

Messy received Php 100, 000 from the provincial peace panel and expressed her gratitude for all the assistance they have received from the government.

Messy is a former Political Guide under Guerilla Front Damol together with her husband Noli, the Vice Commander, who also received Php 100,000.

Messy said she will start a livelihood and send her children to school. She also thanked the soldiers of the 46th Infantry Battalion who helped them to surrender and be reunited with their children whom they had abandoned when they were still active in the armed struggle.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan thanked the former rebels for their decision to surrender and lauded the impact of the ELCAC in the province.

“We are expecting them to really support and cooperate with the government. We are expecting that whatever financial assistance na we give to them will be utilized nang maayos at tama, makatulong para mas mag-improve ang buhay nila at pamilya nila,” Tan said.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the 8^th Infantry Division, encouraged the former rebels to help each other and sustain what they have started.

“Ang natanggap niyo ay galing lang yan sa Samar, ang hiling ko lang sa inyo pag-aralan niyo, magtulong-tulong kayo. Ituloy natin ang pagiging organisado pero sa magandang paraan; ang binigay na tulong ng gobyerno gamitin natin itong pang-umpisa,” De Leon told the former rebels. Aside from this financial assistance, the former rebels already received Php 3,000 cash assistance and food packs from the different government agencies and the Local Government Unit. They are also set to receive financial assistance under the National Government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). By Elmer Recuerdo (EV Mail August 22-28, 2022 issue)