News

Congressman Cari sponsors a back-to-back concert for the people of Baybay

The Brownman Revival during their concert at the Baybay City Gym in the evening of December 28, 2017. (Photo Credit:  Jayvee Campomayor, City Information Office Staff, Baybay City, Leyte)

Congressman Cari sponsors a back-to-back concert for the people of Baybay

Time flies so fast when you enjoy the moment. This was how the millennials of the City of Baybay felt when the “Brownman Revival” bade goodbye to the audience at past midnight of December 28, after performing revival songs for around two (2) hours. Women screams and giggles at the start of each song, reminiscing special moments with their loved ones and loved once. ?

The Baybay City Gym was filled with mostly standing rock music lovers who jammed with the performers, to the extent of coming up the stage to perform with them.

Jason X also gave a very entertaining front act before the concert of the Brownman Revival at the Baybay City Gym.  (Photo Credit:  Jayvee Campomayor, City Information Office Staff, Baybay City, Leyte)

For this, the people of Baybay would like to extend their heartful thanks to Congressman Jose Carlos Cari for sponsoring this concert in celebration of the 2017 Baybay City Fiesta in honor of her Patroness Immaculada Concepcion. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Officer III, Baybay City, Leyte)

###

January 4, 2018 in Community News Comments (0)

Pomponan national high school bags it all

The dancers of the Pomponan National High School during the Binaybayon dance Ritual Presentation (Photo Credit: Jayvee Campomayor of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

Pomponan national high school bags it all

Challenged by its loss over Baybay National High School during the 9th Binaybayon Festival in 2016, the students of the Pomponan National High School doubled its efforts and won both the Street Dancing and the Dance Ritual Presentation during the 10th Binaybayon Festival just lately.

Guided by its theme, “Agricultural-based Production with focus on Jackfruit Production”, the students from the Pomponan National High School managed to get the highest score from the judges against the other contingents from Caridad National High School, Baybay National High School and Plaridel National High School.

The Binaybayon Festival interwove the story about how Baybay got its name, its natural resources, the major products it produces, and the veneration of the people to the blessed Immaculate Conception.

Based on the guidelines, each contingent must have at least 70 dancers, but the maximum number allowed is only 100, excluding the props bearers; and there shall be no children dancers who are below seven (7) years old.

The time allotted for the Dance Ritual Presentation at the Baybay Sports Complex is only seven (7) minutes including the entrance and exit. The contingents may use the Binaybayon Jingle in all parts of the Binaybayon Dance Ritual Presentation or they may use natural sound effects and another music related to the theme for the Part I (Occupational Dance Steps) and Part II (Dance Ritual Steps) to further support the theme of the festival, and the Binaybayon Jingle for the Part III (Dance Praise for Thanksgiving).

While to ensure that the participants are guided accordingly, particularly on the basic dance steps, the festival coordinators, choreographers and musicians of all contingents shall attend the Basic Binaybayon Festival Dance Workshop which shall be facilitated by the Binaybayon Festival Working Group at most two (2) months before the contest.

During her message, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari thanked the City Tourism Officer, Ms. Josefina K. Granada-Gutierrez and her staff for facilitating the conduct of the 10th Binaybayon Festival.  She also thanked the members of the Binaybayon Fetival Committee: Dr. Ildebrando Buot, Ms. Thelma Zafra and Ms. Joan Cerna-Rapada; as well as the judges for both the Street Dancing and the Dance Ritual Presentation; the Baybay City Division and the different competing schools for completing the 2017 fiesta celebration by putting up the ritual showdown.

The judges for the Street Dancing Competition were Mr. Ernesto Guarino, Antonio Cinco and Mr. Angelo Manapsal, the Chairperson. They adjudged the winner based on the following criteria:  Performance (30%), Creativity (20%), Showmanship (20%), Discipline (20%) and Costume and Adornment (10%).  And for the 10th Binaybayon Festival Street Dancing Competition, Pomponan National High School ranked first; Baybay National High School came in 2nd, Plaridel National High School ranked 3rd, and Caridad National High School ranked 4th.  However, only the first placer, Pomponan National High School, received the cash prize for the Street Dancing Competition.

The judges for the Dance Ritual Presentation, on the other hand, were Ms. Catherine Vestil, Mr. Angelo Manapsal and Mr. Rene Fervelino, the Chairperson.  The criteria they used for judging the ritual showdown were:  Thematic Interpretation (10%), Performance (30%), Choreography (30%), Costume and Props (20%) and Overall Impact (10%).

Pomponan National High School also ranked first in the Dance Ritual Presentation and received a trophy and a cash prize; Caridad National High School ranked 2nd and they also received a trophy and a cash prize; while the Baybay National High School ranked 3rd and received a trophy and a cash prize.  Plaridel National High School, on the other hand, received a Consolation Prize.

In relation to this, Ms. Gutierrez extends her heartfelt thanks to all who, in one way or another, helped in making the 10th Binaybayon Festival a successful one.  She thanked the Philippine National Police, the 78th Infantry Battalion, and the Bus Terminal and Traffic Management Office for ensuring peace and order during the parade and the dance ritual presentation at the Baybay City Sports Complex.  But most of all, she thanked Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, Congressman Jose Carlos Cari of the 5th District of Leyte and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod for their all-out support to the annual Binaybayon Festival, most especially in the provision of the needed logistics. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Office III, Baybay City, Leyte)

###

January 4, 2018 in Community News Comments (0)

PAINTINGS THAT MAKE OTHERS’ DREAMS COME TRUE

Baybay City City Mayor Carmen L. Cari and Sangguniang Panlungsod Member, Hon. Ernesto Butawan enjoys the paintings during the Formal Opening of “Dinhi sa Baybay”:  First Group Art Exhibit of the Visual Arts Association of Baybay (VAAB)

PAINTINGS THAT MAKE OTHERS’ DREAMS COME TRUE

The newly-organized Visual Arts Association of Baybay City (VAAB) put up its first group art exhibit at the Knights of Columbus Building as part of the 2017 Fiesta Celebration of the City of Baybay.

Eleven (11) local artists, some of whom are winners of regional, national and international competitions agreed to put up the exhibit dubbed as “Dinhi sa Baybay” to feature breath-taking sights around the city from December 8, 2017 to January 5, 2018. They also want to help the Special Program for the Arts (SPA) students and pupils of four (4) schools in the city which offers SPA on Visual Arts.  These include the Baybay National High School, Plaridel National High School, Baybay North Central School and Bunga Elementary School.

The artists include Marvin Alidro, Buen Joseph Andrade, Lito Caña, Mizael Cerna, Domingo “Bebot” Flandez, Architect Pauline Cari Perez, Rico Palacio, Dazzilyn Palermo, Dicoper Pernites, Billy Pomida, and Prof. Jude Nonie Sales.

The SPA is a Department of Education (DepEd) Program where talented students undergo screening to determine which of the SPA programs will they take. The choices include Dance, Theatre, Media Arts or Visual Arts.

According to Prof. Sales, the Consultant of the SPA for Visual Arts at the Baybay National High School, “Under the SPA even the students who come from disadvantaged families are given the chance to express their talents, thru the special classes that is being offered by the school, where the students undergo a series of lectures and workshops.”

He added that, “During the Regional Festival of the Arts (RFA), students from the different schools that offer SPA, from the different divisions in Region 8, compete with each other and for almost four (4) years, SPA students from the City of Baybay have been declared as Champions because they have shown their best in either of these categories: Dance, Theatre, Media Arts and Visual Arts.  Hence, the need to hone their talents more.”

Realizing the need for logistics to support the dreams of the SPA for Visual Arts students of the City of Baybay, because the arts materials are very expensive, the artists agreed to donate twenty percent (20%) of the sales of their paintings to buy art materials for the aspiring young visual artists of the city which will be distributed during the visual arts training-workshop which will be conducted by the artists themselves.

They also agreed that a portion of the funds that will be raised from the art exhibit will be used as initial funds for the organization and will be given to the Knights of Columbus as their share for allowing VAAB to use the building for free.

It could be recalled that in June 13-30, 2017 six (6) of the said artists, which include Caña, Cerna, Flandez, Perez, Pomida and Sales (also known as Hugpong Sabado: Baybayanon Artists Group) also put up an art exhibit dubbed as “Arte sa Diyes”: An Art Exhibit for a Cause, as part of the 10th Charter Day Celebration of the City of Baybay.  They were able to raise funds which they used in the conduct of the Visual Arts Training at the Conference Hall of the Baybay City Division on June 30, 2017 where more than a hundred SPA students had undergone hands-on training with the artists themselves.

 

Participants of the Training-Workshop on Visual Arts in action at the Conference

Hall of the Baybay City Division. (Photo Credit: Architect Pauline Cari Perez)

 

Both art exhibits were facilitated by the City Information Office of the City of Baybay. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Officer III, Baybay City, Leyte)

###

January 4, 2018 in Community News Comments (0)

Baybay City passes it all!!!

(From the left) Officer-in-Charge City Local Government Operations Officer, Ms. Estela I. Creer, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari and Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari received the Seal of Good Local Governance Award at the Manila Hotel, Tent City on November 27, 2017 (Phot Credit: Ms. Portia Bongalos, Baybay City Mayor’s Office).

Baybay City passes it all!!!

The City of Baybay got the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) even if the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) adopted a more stringent assessment criterion of 4+1, with the inclusion of peace and order as one of the core areas.

According to Officer-in-Charge City Local Government Operations Officer of Baybay City, Ms. Estela Creer, “The Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) recognizes the good local governance practices and good initiatives of the local government units and once the LGU passes the Seal of Good Local Governance, it is tantamount to saying that the Local Government Unit is compliant to the mandates of the law.”

Ms. Creer added that to get the SGLG Award the LGUs must pass the four core areas which include Good Financial Housekeeping, Social Protection, Disaster Preparedness, and Peace and Order; and at least one essential area, either Business Friendliness and Competitiveness; Tourism, Culture and the Arts; or Environmental Protection.  But in the case of Baybay City, it passed all the core and essential areas of the 2017 SGLG.

And to think that the City of Baybay had just celebrated its’ 10th Charter Day, its local officials, employees and constituents must really be proud of this accomplishment of being one of the only three (3) cities in Region 8 who got the 2017 SGLG. The two (2) others were Maasin City and Tacloban City.

However, OIC-CLGOO Creer revealed that the biggest challenge which the Baybay City LGU faced in the assessment was on the number of barangays that have been declared as drug-cleared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).  “The process was quite tedious, but the city was able to comply with the requirements, same is true with environmental management,” added Ms. Creer.

 “But the City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Heads and Section Heads of the different offices, the employees and the constituents of the city really prepared for this award not just for three months but for the whole year.  In fact, it has become a way of life, a culture in the city.  There is a conscious effort in all Baybayanons to bag the most prestigious award a Local Government Unit can get, and they did,” ended Ms. Creer.

In an interview with the City Mayor she said that this is a dream come true.  It could be recalled that during the national SGLG evaluation, which was held on August 24, 2017, she said that, “As a leader and Mayor, this is an award I have always wanted because it is an affirmation of how right and good the services we are delivering to our people are. It is a validation of our belief that government services come with the right attitude, the right competence and integrity.”

While, the Evaluators’ Team Leader, DILG Region XI Assistant Regional Director Wilhelm M. Suyco, CESO IV forestalled, even before the evaluation started, that “I have a feeling that what the Mayor said will come true.”

DILG Region XI ARD Suyco also explained that in validating SGLG nominees, one region validates another region to avoid bias.

It could be recalled that 81 provinces, 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities were subjected to the SGLG assessment but only 28 provinces, 61 cities and 359 municipalities got the 2017 Seal of Good Local Governance and these LGUs are now eligible to access the Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) to finance their local development initiatives.  (Marissa Miguel Cano-City Information Office III, Baybay City, Leyte)

###

January 4, 2018 in Community News Comments (0)

PDEA 8:  Baybay City LGU, one of the best performing Local Government Units in the country and The first LGU to have established and operate a Day-time Therapeutic Community Center

PDEA Region 8 Acting Regional Director, Edgar T. Jubay was one of the guests during the Opening of the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center located at the New Baybay City Library, Diversion Road, Barangay Gaas, Baybay City, Leyte.

PDEA 8:  Baybay City LGU, one of the best performing Local Government Units in the country

The first LGU to have established and operate a Day-time Therapeutic Community Center

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of the city launched the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center (BCDTCC) located at the Diversion Road, Barangay Gaas, Baybay City, Leyte almost a year ago. It was one of the highlights of the Kick-off Ceremony of the Drug Prevention and Control Week Celebration in the city on November 14 last year. Thus, in a few days, it will be celebrating its first anniversary with high hopes for renewed lives for the recovering drug dependents of the city.

Dr. Noberto P. Oja Jr., Medical Officer V and BCDTCC Head, revealed that 2,252 drug dependents in the city responded to the “Oplan Tukhang” of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

And as of July 15, 2017, 659 of the surrendered drug dependents have been assessed by the Drug Assessment Team of the City of Baybay and were categorized as Low Risk (238), Moderate Risk (262) and High Risk (159).

According to Dr. Oja, the high-risk drug dependents are the target clientele of the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center, while those who were categorized as moderate and low risk drug dependents will be taken care of by Masa Masid Program which will be spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Oplan Sagip Program of the Department of Health.

In his welcome remarks during the launching of the BCDTCC, Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari, said that, “The centerpiece program of the administration of President Duterte is to stop the drug menace.  We believe that this is also our fight and one of the many ways we can be partners is to provide the facilities where the victims of drug abuse can be helped and rehabilitated to become useful members of our community again. The Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center is our humble contribution to this program.  Here, drug dependents can be closely supervised as they work their way back into a life of hope and possibility during day time.”

Thus, since its operation in November of last year, two (2) batches of recovering drug dependents (RDDs) had finished their six (6) months therapy at the BCDTCC. The first batch started with 23 RDDs but only 18 RDDs graduated in June 19, 2017; then only 6 of the 8 RRDs graduated from the second batch last August 11, 2017. The third batch of 23 RDDs started their six months journey in July 17, 2017 and hopefully none of them will drop out from the therapy.

Dr. Oja revealed that the activities in the Day-time Therapeutic Community Center include Case Work and Individual Counselling, Group Work and Group Counselling, Recovery Skills Training Session, Faith-based Session, Family Counselling, Referral Services and Conduct of Dialogue with the parents of the Recovering Drug Dependents.  But after the six (6) months therapy, he said that the graduates will still undergo the eighteen (18) months after care as part of the therapeutic community program.

The graduates from the BCDTCC had undergone skills training with the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and were given financial assistance by the Baybay City LGU so that they will have something to start with as they re-integrate to their respective communities.

The City Mayor, Hon. Carmen L. Cari, is very delighted with the thought that this facility has paved the way to the change the recovering drug dependents have been longing for in their lives.

But Dr. Teresita Cajano, the former Chief of Hospital at the Saving Lives at a Common Ground (SALAG) Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Dulag, Leyte reiterated that, “Although this will not be easy, addiction is never without redemption.”  Thus, the drug dependents may always go back to the way they were, if they really want to.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 8 Acting Regional Director, Edgar T. Jubay, also attended the ceremony and said, “I would like to congratulate the Local Government Unit of Baybay City. Ma’am Carmen, you are first again! Baybay City is doing good as far as the Anti-Drug Campaign of the present administration is concerned and we hope and pray that we will be able to finish our write up so that the national office will at least know that you’re doing good; and to eventually recommend you to be recognized as one of the best performing local government units as far as anti-drug campaign is concerned.”

It can be recalled that because of these efforts against illegal drugs, Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari received recognitions from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Officer III, Baybay City, Leyte)

###

November 27, 2017 in Announcements, Community News, Community News Comments (0)

Barangay Bitanhuan nag-una sa Blood-typing Activity sa BCLBC

Lakip ang mga hingkod na ang panuigon nga mga molupyo sa Barangay Bitanhuan ‘ning dakbayan sa Baybay, miapil sa blood typing nga gipasi-ugdahan sa Baybay City Local Blood Council (BCLBC), nga gipanguloan ni BCLBC Honorary Chairman ug Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari, tungod kay wala sila mahibalo sa ilang blood type. (Photo Credits: Jayvee Campomayor)

BISAYANG BALITA ‘NI, BAI

Barangay Bitanhuan nag-una sa Blood-typing Activity sa BCLBC

Sitenta y dos (72) ka mga molupyo sa Barangay Bitanhu-an ‘ning dakbayan sa Baybay ang misalmot sa gipahigayon nga Barangay Blood Council Advocacy and Blood Donation Awareness Campaign sa nahisgotang barangay dili pa lamang dugay.

Mao kini ang gibutyag ni Medical Officer V sa City Health Office ‘ning dakbayan ug Baybay City Local Blood Council (BCLBC) Chairman, Dr. Norberto Oja.

Matud pa ni Dr. Oja nga tumong niining maong kalihokan nga ikapasabot ngadto sa mga molupyo sa Barangay Bitanhu-an kon unsa ang mga bentaha sa pag-donate og dugo.

Una, makatabang kita sa mga nagkinahanglan og dugo, ilabi na sa mga kabus nga dili maka-akos sa pagpalit niini; ma-screen nga libre ang atong dugo diin masayran kon aduna ba kita’y balati-an o wala, aron kon pananglitan aduna kita’y balati-an, katambalan gilayon kita; ug ang pagkuha og dugo sa atong lawas maka-stimulate sa atong bone marrow sa pag-produce og bag-o nga dugo.

Samtang, nag-blood typing usab ang BCLBC sa mga molupyo sa Barangay Bitanhu-an aron masayon na unya ang pagpangita og mga blood donors sa ilang barangay sa panahon sa emerhensiya.

Matud pa usab ni Dr. Oja nga mahimo na unyang potential stand-by blood donors ang nahisgotang mga katawhan kon magpahigayon na sila og Barangay Blood Donation Activity.

Sa kabahin sa mga molupyo sa Barangay Bitanhu-an, gikalipay nila ang maong kalihokan tungod kay kon dili pa tungod sa maong Blood-typing Activity sa BCLBC dili gayud sila kahibalo kon unsa ang ilang blood type.

Angayang masayran nga nagpasar og resolusyon ang Sangguniang Panlungsod ‘ning dakbayan nga nagmando sa pagtukod og mga Barangay Blood Council sa noventa y dos ka mga barangay ‘ning dakbayan sa Baybay.

Kini tungod kay matud pa ni Dr. Oja nga segun pa sa Akta Repubika 7719 o ang National Blood Services Act of 1994, nga mas nailhan isip An Act Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, kinahanglan nga makahatag ang usa ka Lokal nga Kagamhanan og napulo (10) ka bag sa dugo sa matag usa ka libo (1,000) nga populasyon sa usa ilang lugar.

Busa, tungod kay pinasikad sa Barangay Management Information System (BMIS) sa dakbayan, kapin na sa 121,000 ang populasyon sa dakbayan sa Baybay hinungdan nga kinahanglan nga 1,210 ka bag nga dugo ang ma-donate niini matag tuig.

Nunot niini, gikatakdang magpahigayon og Blood-typing ang mga ginsakopan sa BCLBC sa nahibiling noventa y uno (91) pa ka mga barangay ‘ning dakbayan. Hinuon, matud pa ni Liga ng mga Barangay President, Hon. Mandy Muñez nga unahon nila ang pag-Blood-typing sa mga dagkong barangay ‘ning dakbayan sa Baybay sama sa Barangay Plaridel, Barangay Caridad ug Barangay Pomponan.

Angayang masayran nga matud pa ni Dr. Oja nga natukod ang BCLBC sa tinguha nga matubag ang panginahanglanon sa dugo sa Western Leyte Provincial Hospital (WLPH) ug sa Baybay City Medical Diagnostic and Dialysis Center (BCMDDC).

Gilangkoban ang BCLBC, Sangguniang Panlungsod sa dakbayan sa Baybay, sa Liga ng mga Barangay, sa City Health Office (CHO), Western Leyte Provincial Hospital (WLPH), Baybay City Medical Diagnostic and Dialysis Center (BCMDDC), Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), VSU Hospital ug sa Philippine Red Cross Ormoc City Chapter.

Sakop usab sa BCLBC ang Baybay City Division, Franciscan College of the Immaculate Concepcion, Visayas State University; City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Administrator’s Office, City Information Office, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Knights of Columbus, Crystal Lion’s Club, Baybay City Chamber of Commerce and Industry ug ang Immaculate Concepcion Parish.

Matud pa ni Dr. Oja nga, “During emergency muadto pa sa Ormoc City para magpa-screen sa dugo.  Unya, wala man ‘tay ensakto nga pondo sa dugo mao nga mo-resort nalang sa mga commercial blood donors ang mga tagtungod.  So, madoble na ang bayranan sa dugo, magbayad pa sa screening, bayran pa g’yud ang dugo.  Gani, kada bulan nga nagpadala og bill ang Red Cross Ormoc sa atong balayranan sa screening sa mga dugo alang sa mga Baybayanon.”

Nunot niini, malaomon si Dr. Oja nga pinaagi sa mga kalihokan sa BCLBC, mamenosan ang galastuhan sa Lokal nga Kagamhanan sa dakbyan sa Baybay tungod kay daghan na man unya ang mag-donate og dugo sa Quarterly Bloodletting Activity sa BCLBC.

Hinuon, matud pa ni Dr. Oja nga segun pa sa World Health Organization (WHO), dili mahimong mag-donate og dugo ang mga tawo nga adunay cancer, sakit sa kasing-kasing, congestive heart failure, may sakit sa baga sama sa tuberculosis, may sakit nga hepatitis (viral man o bacterial), ang mga migamit og iligal nga druga, ang mga commercial sex worker, mga Persons Living with Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (PLHIV), mga tawo nga kusog magdugo, ug ang mga tawo nga kalit lang nga miubos ang timbang. (Marissa Miguel Cano – City Information Officer III)

###

November 27, 2017 in Announcements, Bisayang Balita Ni, Bai, Community News Comments (0)

The BeRiceponsible Team of the City of Baybay conducted an Awareness Campaign about the Goodness of Brown Rice at the Carlos P. Garcia Elementary School located at Zone 22 in Baybay City.

Agricultural Technologist Sopio Rim Jr. of the City Agriculture Office of the City of Baybay explains the goodness of brown rice to almost seven hundred pupils of the Carlos P. Garcia Elementary School at Zone 22, Baybay City, Leyte. (Photo credits: Jayvee Campomayor)

#Brown Rice for Good: Challenge Accepted by the Baybay City LGU

The BeRiceponsible Team of the City of Baybay conducted an Awareness Campaign about the Goodness of Brown Rice at the Carlos P. Garcia Elementary School located at Zone 22 in Baybay City.

This activity is part of the commitment of the Local Government Unit of Baybay to spread the good news about the goodness of brown rice to Baybayanons after winning the 2nd Place on the Nationwide Search for RICEponsible Champions which was spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice). The search was participated in by 24 Local Government Units from the different parts of the country.

Along with this prestigious award is a big challenge to the City Government of Baybay to increase awareness about the goodness of brown rice thereby increasing the number of constituents with heathy rice eating habits.  The advocacy also intends to improve the access of Baybayanons to affordable brown rice which will eventually result to better health among its constituents.

During the said activity, Agricultural Technologist Sopio Rim, Jr. of the City Agriculture Office of the city clarified that brown rice is not a variety of rice, rather it is the product of milling rice using the Pinawa Rice Mill.

According to the World’s Healthiest Food Website, “The process that produces brown rice removes only the outermost layer, the hull, of the rice kernel and is the least damaging to its nutritional value. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Thus, fully milled and polished white rice is required to be “enriched” with vitamins B1, B3 and iron.” 

Agricultural Technologist Rim confirmed this and said that eating brown rice is also good for those who want to trim down their weight because it contains high dietary fiber. He added that, based on experience, brown rice has a 71% grains recovery, compared to white rice which only have a 41% recovery, thus this means more income to the rice farmers in the city.

However, since the nearest Pinawa Rice Mill is in the hinterlands of Barangay Dao, Ormoc City, 44 kilometers away from Baybay City and could not be reached by a vehicle, the members of the Banahao Rice Farmers Association, from Barangay Banahao, Baybay City, Leyte, walked for almost a kilometer with the sacks of rice on their back just to be able to bring back home brown rice for their awaiting consumers. This, according to Agricultural Technologist Rim, is the reason why the cost of brown rice in the City of Baybay is a little higher than that of white rice now.

The members of the Banahao Farmers Association traverse almost a kilometer of very difficult and accelerating road just to have brown rice ready for their awaiting customers.  (Photo credit: Sopio Rim Jr.)

Thus, the Banahao Farmers Association is currently working on a proposal to establish a Pinawa Rice Mill in their own barangay which shall provide milling services to six (6) adjacent barangays.  The funding for this project shall come from the Bottom-up Budgeting Sustainable Livelihood Program (BUB-SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), thru the Local Government Unit of Baybay City. If this project prospers, a healthier and chemical-free rice product will be available for the rice consumers of the City of Baybay.  And because the rice mill will be established in Barangay Banahao, brown rice will then become more accessible and affordable to the consumers.

The RICEponsible Team also conducted the same awareness campaign in Villa Mag-aso Elementary School with 117 pupils, Gacat Elementary School with 250 pupils, and Plaridel Central School with 635 pupils.  According to Head Nurse Ms. Jeanne Araneta of the Baybay City Division, these are the schools with the most number of malnourished children in the City of Baybay thus, the management thanked the Be RICEponsible Team for conducting the said activity in their school.

It could be remembersred that after each lecture, the children were fed with “brown rice pospas” and the team was amazed to see that the children loved it. (Marissa Miguel Cano with reports from Jason Ybañez)

###

November 27, 2017 in Announcements, Community News, Community News Comments (0)

City of Baybay for being one of the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities

These fisherfolks were lucky to be the chosen recipients of the pump boats and fishing paraphernalia from the DA-BFAR as part of the prize received by the City of Baybay for being one of the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities. (Photo Credit: Roy Managbanag, City Mayor’s Office)

Baybay City:  The only BoatR complied LGU in Leyte

The City of Baybay was the only Local Government Unit (LGU) in the Province of Leyte which was included in the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR).

As a reward, the city’s fisherfolks, through its Coastal Resources and Fishery Management Office (CRFMO), will receive two million pesos worth of fishing boats and fishing paraphernalia to be used in its various programs and projects, including on the rehabilitation of the marine sanctuaries in the city.

It could be recalled that the City of Baybay had established eleven (11) marine sanctuaries, many of which need rehabilitation. These said marine sanctuaries are in following coastal barangays: Barangay Bitanhuan, Barangay Plaridel, Barangay Punta, Barangay Gabas, Barangay Hilapnitan, Barangay Marcos, Barangay Palhi, Barangay Sta. Cruz, Barangay Maybog, and Barangay Pangasugan; while another marine sanctuary was established along the shoreline of the Visayas State University (VSU), the premier university for science and technology in the Visayas.

The ceremonial awarding of the Top 100 Boat Registration (BoatR) Program’s Best Performing Cities and Municipalities, with representatives from the DA-BDAR Regional Office, was held on June 4, 2017 at the Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte’s municipal grounds.

It can be recalled that Baybay City has a total number of 2,827 fisherfolks and all of them are registered in the Fish Registration System of DA-BFAR and all those with boats of 3 gross tonnage and below are also registered in the BoatR System.

Thus, during the 10th Charter Day of Baybay City, the City Fishery Officer, Mr. Ruben Mercado Jr. (5th from right), with Baybay City Mayor Carmen L. Cari (beside Mr. Mercado) and Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari (beside the City Mayor), facilitated the ceremonial turnover of pump boats and fishing paraphernalia to pre-selected recipients from the coastal barangays of the city. And according to Mr. Mercado, they distributed 30 units of pump boats and fishing paraphernalia that day.

BoatR is a program of DA-BFAR which is designed to fast track the nationwide registration of municipal fishing vessels with three gross tonnage (GT) and below, as well as the municipal fishing gears.  (Marisse Miguel Cano with reports from Jason Ybañez)

###

November 27, 2017 in Announcements, Community News, Community News Comments (0)

In Baybay City, We Save the User and Jail the Pusher

80% of the cases faced by the residents of the Baybay City Jail are drug-related

The anti-illegal drugs campaign in the city of Baybay focus on saving the user and putting the pusher in jail.  And for the last 11 years, 67 pushers and users have been apprehended and filed with corresponding cases at the Regional Trial Court, Eight Judicial Region, Branch 14 in Baybay City, Leyte.

Based on available records, five (5) of these cases were dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence to establish probable cause of the offense charged, while one (1) case was dismissed due to lack of legal jurisdiction.

This was revealed by PSUPT RAMIL N. AMODIA, Chief of Police of the Baybay City Police Station during the Kick-off Ceremony of the 2016 Drug Prevention and Control Week, on November 14, 2016, which was held at the Baybay City Gym.

PSUPT RAMIL N. AMODIA, Chief of Police of the Baybay City Police Station reported the accomplishments of the Baybay City LGU in relation to the War against Drugs. (Picture courtesy of Diane Nuñez of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

And as a popular saying goes, “Knowledge is power”, the Police Community Relations Office and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) joint forces in the conduct of Information, Education and Campaign (IEC) activities among the different sectors of the society.  During the “Drugs Symposium”, the Salient Features of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165), the reasons why people turn to illegal drugs, the ill effects of drugs, the fines and penalties, and how each could help stop illegal drugs were discussed.

When President Rodrigo Duterte mandated the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement PROJECT “TOKHANG”, 2,252 drug victims voluntarily surrendered themselves to the Baybay City Police Station and were categorized as users and pushers. Among the users, 6 are female minors, 133 are male minors, 60 are female adults and 2,041 are male adults. Among the pushers, on the other hand, the men (11) outnumbered the women (1).

          The City Mayor, Hon. Carmen L. Cari, immediately called for a meeting on how to handle the surrenderees.  The former Chief of Police, PSUPT CARLITO DE GUZMAN GALLARDO, suggested to conduct a physical activity thus, the first taebo exercise with the surrenderees was held on July 19, 2016 at the Veteran’s Plaza. This activity is being sustained by the Baybay City Police Station and is done every Saturday in the morning.

This was the first ever TAEBO EXERCISE with the drug surrenderees at the Veteran’s Plaza in Baybay City, Leyte.  Together with the surrenderees were the City Mayor, Hon. Carmen L. Cari, members of the Philippine National Police and the other officials of the City of Baybay. (Picture courtesy of Lyndee Chua of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

The next day, July 20, 2016, Ms. Rogelette Urgel, the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a Drug Symposium at the Baybay City Gym with more than 500 drug surrenderees. And according to Ms. Urgel, “We are very happy that the Local Government Unit of Baybay spearheaded this activity.  So far, this is the first time that I conducted a Drug Symposium with drug surrenderees.  This is a very big help in our campaign against drug abuse and we are happy that the City of Baybay is a pilot of this kind of intervention which could be replicated in other places.”

PDEA Region 8’s PIO, Ms. Rogelette Urgel (the lady in green standing in front), explains to the drug surrenderees of Baybay City the effects of illegal drugs, not only to their health but also to their family and to the community where they belong. (Picture courtesy of Lyndee Chua of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

A week after, Dr. Norberto Oja, Medical Officer of the City Health Office (CHO) in Baybay City, revealed that in a meeting called by the Department of Heath Regional Office 8, the latter revealed that all cities and capital towns in the country are mandated to establish a Day-time Therapeutic Community Center to accommodate the need to provide immediate interventions to the escalating number of drug surrenderees.

And with the able leadership of Dr. Oja, 585 drug dependents had already been assessed, with whom 96 turned out to belong to the high-risk category and needs immediate intervention.  Thus, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Officer Loreta Malabanan and Dr. Oja asked for the permission of Congressman Jose Carlos Cari of the 5th District of Leyte to use the newly-constructed Library of the City of Baybay for the purpose, for a period of six months, and the latter responded positively.

Ms. Malabanan and Dr. Oja presented the proposal to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, headed by the City Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari, for approval and for fund allocation.  The proposal was also approved by the City Mayor, Hon. Carmen L. Cari. Ten (10) CHO and CSWDO personnel were immediately sent to the SALAG (Saving Lives at a Common Ground) Rehabilitation Center in Dulag, Leyte for immersion while the City Engineering Office and the General Services Office personnel converted the New Baybay City Library into the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center.

Finally, on November 14, 2016, the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center was launched but the therapy of the twenty-one (21) residents started on November 21, 2016.

Dr. Teresita Caneja, Chief of Hospital of the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Dulag, Leyte, in her message said that, “Drug addiction is not without redemption.  You can always go back to what you are but the decision to change must come from you (the drug surrenderees).” (Picture courtesy of Diane of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

After more than a month of exposure to the day-time therapeutic community center activities, the once fierce-looking individuals had turned into jolly happy souls. And during her inspirational message, tears fell from the eyes of the residents and their loved ones as the City Mayor said, “We are doing this because we love you!”

In an interview with one of the residents, he said, “There has been a very big change in our lives here at the day-time therapeutic community center. Here, we let go of our vices and we have become responsible persons.  Outside of the center, we felt doomed but here we found hope. Here in the center, we are taught to become better persons so that by the time that the therapy ends, it would be easier for us to go back to the community where we belong.  I never thought that there is such a government program that cares for drug dependents like us. Thus, I call on the other drug dependents to join us here at the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center where there is hope for people like us.”


The residents of the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center played “Paper Dance” during their Christmas Party on December 22, 2016.  (Picture courtesy of Diane Nuñez of the City Information Office, Baybay City, Leyte)

In his message, on the other hand, Dr. Oja said that the greatest challenge of these residents, when they graduate from the day-time therapeutic community center, is that they will then become Resource Persons for the other drug dependents who had second thoughts of enrolling with the therapeutic center.

Now that the Christmas Season has ended, the 21 residents of the Baybay City Day-time Therapeutic Community Center are back to their daily routine.  And as an incentive to complete the whole week’s sessions, aside from the fact that they are fetched and conducted daily,  the residents are given ten (10) kilos of rice every Friday afternoon before they are conducted back home. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Officer III)

###

 

January 25, 2017 in Community News Comments (7)

US Company Donates Equipment to Baybay City LGU

Baybay City LGU pays only for the shipping cost and other incidental expenses of the equipment which will be used to bring back things better during disaster and in times of emergency

The ambulance donated by the AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS after it was re-painted by the Baybay City LGU

The Local Government Unit of the City of Baybay was the first to have the opportunity to receive equipment from AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS, LLC in the United States of America (USA).

According to the Deed of Donation signed by the President and CEO of the AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS, Oliver T. Lagare in New York on September 21, 2016, the donation consist of the following: one (1) unit U.S. used BULLDOZER diesel model (either Caterpillar, Komatsu or Hitachi); one (1) unit used AMBULANCE Model Ford E350 diesel; three (3) units new inflatable boat with outboard gasoline engine 2 to 3 HP; twenty (20) units First Aid Medical Kit; ten (10) units new life jackets; five (5) units new outdoor tent for temporary shelter in time of calamity and two (2) units new portable chain saw for tree clearing operation.

As of this December 19, 2016, the city had already received the ambulance, the outdoor tents and inflatable boats, but excluding the engine yet. “The soonest all the documents required for the donation are complied with, AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGICTICS will send the rest of the equipment indicated in the deed of donation,” said City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) Officer, Dr. Rommel Gonzaga.

According to Dr. Gonzaga, the donated equipment will facilitate the disaster response activities of the city’s CDRRM Office, “The program of activities of the CDRRMO is based on four (4) thematic areas.  These include Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery and Rehabilitation.  The donated equipment will be used by the CDRRMO particularly in its disaster response. For example, in areas where there will be landslide due to heavy rains, the city need not borrow a bulldozer from the Province of Leyte and wait until it is available because it already has its own.”

It could be recalled that Section 2 (k) of Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 states that Disaster Prevention means the provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet the basic needs of the people affected.  Disaster response is predominantly focused on immediate and short-term needs and is sometimes called disaster-relief.

Dr. Gonzaga added, “Though we always pray that we won’t be able to use the said equipment in disaster response, it’s good to know that we already have one of our own just in case we will need one.”

The CDRRM Officer of the Baybay City revealed that according to Mr. Lagare, the AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS still has equipment that are due for donation to other interested LGUs.  “This is a once in a life time chance for LGUs thus I hope that the other DRRM Offices will grab this opportunity to have equipment that they can use for disaster response and in times of emergency,” he added.

Lastly, Dr. Gonzaga said that the total charges for the freight and handling of the said donation amounted to TWO MILLION FOUR HUNDRED EIGTHY THOUSAND PESOS (Php2,480,000.00). The city had already paid half of this amount to the AM-PHIL EQUIPMENT AND LOGISTICS. (Marissa Miguel Cano, City Information Officer III)

###

January 20, 2017 in Community News Comments (0)