NAVAL, Biliran – The new provincial caretaker of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Biliran Provincial Statistics Office formerly known as the National Statistics Office (NSO) called on the respondents in the 2015 Labor Force Survey (LFS) to extend cooperation to the PSA personnel conducting the survey from January 8-31,2015 here in Biliran province.
Francisco D. Rostata, who officially assumed office as provincial caretaker of PSA-Biliran effective January 1, 2015 vice Rosemarie Lumbre former PSA provincial director in the area who is now assigned at the PSA regional office in Tacloban City also expressed his appreciation for the assistance and patience which will be extended by the respondents in the conduct of the LFS in a press release given to PIA-Biliran.
The report revealed that some 160 households in Biliran province to be surveyed by regular PSA-Biliran personnel were systematically and randomly selected at PSA-Manila for the 2015 LFS,
The LFS is a nationwide quarterly survey of households conducted by PSA to gather on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population, it said.
The report added that the 2015 LFS is aimed at measuring the distribution of household population 15 years old and above by employment status like the employed, unemployed or underemployed. It will also determine various employment characteristics such as industry, class of worker, nature of employment and basis of payment.
Question on hunger experienced by any member of the household and the frequency of experiencing are also included in the questionnaire, it added.
The PSA press release also informed that the conduct of PSA surveys is mandated by Commonwealth Act 591 and Executive Order No 121.Data gathered during the survey are strictly confidential; statistical tables will be generated and published in summary forms; and these cannot be used for taxation, investigation or enforcement purposes.
It also urged stakeholders to please call the PSA-Biliran telephone number at 500-9723 or visit its office located at the 2nd Floor, EMK Building, Vicentillo Extension, Naval, Biliran if there are some clarifications and inquiries regarding the LFS survey. # (fj/RSV/PIA-Biliran)
Regional Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) hereby advise the public and local government units to be on alert about the possible impact of the tropical storm “Mekkhala” that is currently estimated to be at 950 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
The storm has already entered the PAR this morning and is now being named or called “Amang”. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 19 kph.
Amang will be at 640 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar by tomorrow morning. According to PAGASA the storm is estimated to bring rain of 7.5 to 20.0 mm/hr. (heavy-intense) within the 300 km diameter of the tropical storm. Sea travel is risky over seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, eastern seaboard of southern Luzon and of Eastern Visayas.
As of now cloudy skies with light to moderate rains with possible occurrence of thunderstorms are expected over Visayas and Mindanao.
LGUs told:
In order to be proactive, local governments are reminded to take precautionary measures against flashfloods and landslide and to immediately activate their respective local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils.
Meanwhile, to make the travel of our pilgrims to Tacloban City safer, the following should be observed as we welcome Pope Francis:
For those travellingby land, you may approach the Travel Assistance Centers that shall be established by local governments along the roadside. Heavy equipments from the LGUs and DPWH are also being mobilized to ensure safe and unhampered travel of everyone.
For those travelling by sea, especially those needing to go through the ports of San Isidro and Allen in Northern Samar, Ormoc City, Bato, Hilongos, and Matalom in Leyte; Liloan in Southern Leyte, Naval, Biliran and elsewhere, please keep updated with, and follow pronouncements on gale warnings from PAGASA and the Philippine Coast Guard.
Do’s
· Bringing of food, medicine, personal hygiene kit and other personal belongings in a transparent bag or plastic.
· Wearing of hats, bullcaps or transparent raincoats instead of umbrellas
· Bring valid IDs
· Bring medical history data for illness if there are any
Don’ts
· Don’t bring deadly weapons and sharp objects
· Intoxicating liquor and dangerous drugs
· Smoking in all areas of engagement
· Bags or backpacks and umbrellas
· Don’t stay in the upper floors of buildings along the papal route
· Don’t bring your pets
· Crossing the street once the motorcade has started
Keep yourselves informed, and follow the directives of our law enforcement and disaster risk reduction agencies.
Safety is everyone’s concern.
Maging #Listo ngayong panahon ng bagyo!
Mag-ingat, maghanda at maging listo.
Approved for Release: PEDRO A. NOVAL JR., Regional Director DILG-8
Prepared by: MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO, LGOO V / RIO-designate
BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 07:36:00 01/16/2015
Last Updated 18:04:00 01/16/2015
Weather Philippines said in its 1 pm bulletin on Friday, January 16, that the first storm of 2015 will likely make landfall “somewhere along the northern shores of Eastern Samar” between 4 pm to 7 pm on Saturday.
ISSUED AT 5:00 PM, 16 JANUARY 2015
(Valid for broadcast until the next bulletin to be issued at 11PM today)
TROPICAL STORM “AMANG” HAS MAINTAINED ITS STRENGTH AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO SAMAR PROVINCES.
• Tropical Storm “AMANG” may hit Northern Samar tomorrow evening.
• Estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 350 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.
• Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.
• Ocean waves may reach up to 6.5 meters.
• Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
• In the next 6 hours, there is a possibility of raising Public Storm Signal # 1 over Camarines Norte, Marinduque and Southern Quezon
• The public and the disaster risk reduction and management council concerned are advised to take appropriate actions.
Location of eye/center: At 4:00 PM today, the center of Tropical Storm “AMANG” was estimated based on all available data at 475 km East of Borongan City, Eastern Samar (11.5°N, 129.8°E).
Strength: Maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph
Forecast Movement: Forecast to move West at 15 kph.
Forecast Positions
• 24 hour (Tomorrow afternoon): 140 km Northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
• 48 hour (Sunday afternoon): 90 km East of Daet, Camarines Norte.
• 72 hour (Monday afternoon): 135 km East of Tuguegarao City.
Public Storm Warning Signal 1
(Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hrs)
Luzon: Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon and Masbate including Ticao Island.
Visayas: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Leyte.
Impacts of the wind
•Twigs and branches of trees maybe broken
•Some banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground
•Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage
•Some nipa and cogon houses maybe partially unroofed
•Sea travel of small sea crafts and fishing boats is risky
These areas will have occasional rains with occasional gusty winds.
—————————————–
Latest Track of Tropical Storm Amang
As of 1pm today 16 Jan., #Mekkhala#AmangPH is located app. 560km East of Samar. She has weekend at 60kph, and may not be a typhoon anymore. Thanks to God! But she is still heading towards Samar, Leyte and Biliran Island. Expected landfall am or noon on the 17th. At Eastern Samar. She may still bring heavy heavy rains. – Capt. Jose Jr Tupaz Obispo
Pic 2 Predicted landfall and eye location, 2pm or earlier Jan. 17.
– Capt. Jose Jr Tupaz Obispo
BiliranIsland.com Staff BiliranIsland.com First Posted 10:30:00 01/16/2015
BILIRAN IS NOW COVERED BY SIGNAL NO. 1 FOR TS #AMANGPH #MEKKHALA
10:30 AM PHT 1/16/2014:
JUST IN: Due to TD Amang, all types of sea transportation in the provice are not permitted to sail starting today as per issuance of PCG Sub-station Naval.
BUSINESS AS USUAL. Normal as it goes the daily lives of Biliranons even there is already another threat from TD Amang. No panic buying yet and the weather is still fine.
8:41 AM PHT 1/16/2014:
Mayor Dominador Agahan of Almeria has suspended classes for elementary and daycare/kindergarten levels due to Signal No. 1 for “Amang”
Roble Shipping Advisory: As of 7am dated Jan. 16, 2015. Cancelled Trips bound Cebu- vice versa for Hilongos, Ormoc, Baybay, Naval and Catbalogan
due to TS Amang 575 km east of Borongan city, Eastern Samar. PSW# 1, Samar, Biliran, Leyte.
TACLOBAN CITY – A top official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Region 8 revealed to members of the media in a press briefing the final security plans for the visit of Pope Francis in Leyte on Saturday, January 17.
The schedule of activities of the Pope Francis in Leyte on January 17 include the holding of a Holy Mass at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in San Jose, Tacloban City at around 10:00 o’clock in the morning, lunch with some of the survivors of super typhoon Yolanda at the Archbishop’s Residence in Palo, Leyte at 12:45 o’clock in the afternoon, blessing of the Pope Francis Center for the Poor at 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon and meeting with the priests, religious men and women, seminarians, and families of the survivors at the Cathedral of Palo at 3:30i n the afternoon.
PCSupt.Cedrick G.Train, deputy regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 informed that an estimated 9,000 PNP personnel plus 4,000 AFP personnel were already deployed in the different areas in Leyte to provide security and to help maintain peace and order for the duration of the Papal visit in Leyte.
The PNP personnel and other personnel from the AFP have conducted simulation and dry run drills on January 14 and 15 in areas which are part of the Pope’s itinerary to ensure the safety and security of the Papal visit in Leyte, he informed.
He also appealed for the cooperation, sobriety and understanding of the public for the little inconvenience brought about by the Papal visit activities.
Meanwhile, Train disclosed that all identified entrance points going to Tacloban City from Southern Leyte and Biliran provinces, Ormoc City and Samar area provinces will be closed to the public commuters whose travel has no connection to the Papal visit at 6:00 o’clock in the evening of Friday, January 16 while all routes for the Papal motorcade are closed by 5:30 in the afternoon also on Friday, January 16. However, he said vehicles of pilgrims and members of media with valid and proper identification documents and vehicle pass are allowed to enter in these routes.
Public commuters coming from Southern Leyte province going to Tacloban City will take the Tanauan—Dagami-Pastrana-Sta.Fe-Tigbao,Diit routes and vice-versa; and from Ormoc City and Biliran province going to Tacloban City will take the Barugo-Babatngon-Tigbao,Diit routes and vice-versa.
Public commuters coming from Samar area provinces going to Southern Leyte will take the Tigbao,Diit—Babatngon- Sta.Fe-Pastrana-Dagami-Tanuan routes and vice-versa; and from Samar area provinces to Ormoc City and Biliran province will take the Tigbao,Diit-Babatngon-Barugo routes and vice-versa.
The identified entrance stop points are Tanauan, Leyte for public commuters coming from Southern Leyte province; Sta.Fe, Leyte for public commuters coming from Ormoc City and Biliran province; and San Juanico Bridge for public commuters coming from the Samar provinces area, the PNP official said.
Here in Tacloban City, the San Jose Rotunda, Coca-Cola and Angelicum junctions will be closed to public commuters effective 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon of Friday, January 16 until January 17 and will be lifted one hour after the Pope has left Tacloban back to Manila. # (fj/RSV/PIA 8 Biliran)
TACLOBAN CITY, January 17 (PIA) – Pilgrims coming from the different parts of the country were seen walking early morning today, Saturday, January 17, going to the site where Pope Francis will celebrate a Holy Mass.
Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a Holy Mass at 10:00 o’clock this morning in a site prepared for the Holy Mass near the Tacloban City airport in Barangay San Jose, Tacliban City.
It is expected that more than 100,000 pilgrims will attend the Holy Mass including the members of the church hierarchy in the Visayas regions and invited government officials .
Fr. Amadeo Alvero, director, social communication of the Archdiocese of Palo, announced at DYVL station early morning today that the Holy Mass will be held earlier than scheduled due to typhoon Amang which is threatening Eastern Visayas.
Amadeo said that the plane carrying Pope Francis and his entourage is expected to arrive at the Tacloban City airport 45 minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival time.
Thousands of pilgrims are still waiting outside the mass site and there are still many pilgrims walking towards the mass site despite the threat of light rain showers brought by typhoon Amang.
Pilgrims who came in the evening of Friday, January 16 and some who came earlier today are already occupying the designated areas in the mass site.
Security personnel assigned in the mass area continued conducting searches to pilgrims and other attendees to the Holy Mass. (fj/RSV/PIA 8 Biliran)
TACLOBAN CITY– Despite moderate rains brought about by Typhoon Amang which brings Leyte and the rest of the provinces in Eastern Visayas to Typhoon Signal No. 2, pilgrims from the different parts of Visayas, Mindanao and nearby parts of Luzon are determined to see Pope Francis in person and attend his mass at the DZR airport, Tacloban City.
Huge crowd of pilgrims numbering more than 100,000 eagerly wait for Pope Francis at the mass area at the DZR airport, Jan 17, 2015. The aircraft carrying the Pope and his entourage arrived Tacloban 8:45 in the morning.
As early as one o’clock in the morning today, Saturday, January 17, pilgrims started to walk from their billeting areas in Tacloban City proper and areas near the airport to be able to position themselves in their quadrants of assignments at the DZR airport, the venue of the mass. Others stayed overnight in the place.
More than 100,000 pilgrims are gathered right now at the mass venue waiting for Pope Francis to arrive at the Tacloban airport.
Everyone is excited and eagerly waiting for the Pontiff to arrive in Tacloban City.
Cherrie Ann Biron, 35 years old and a mother of a four-year old child from the Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Calubian, Leyte under the Diocese of Naval said, “ I am grateful to God that a way was made for the Pope’s visit to our country and I feel blessed with his visit to Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte”.
“ My wishes are good health for my family and everyone gathered in this place, world peace and unity of all people. I also pray for Pope Francis safety in his trip to Leyte”, she added.
On the other hand, Eddie and Consuelo Meniosa, husband and wife, both in their late 50’s from Ormoc City said, “ this is an opportunity for us to see Pope Francis in person, a once in a lifetime experience. This is our second time to see a Pope in the Philippines, the first one was in 1991 when Pope John Paul II visited Manila.
The pilgrims gathered around the mass area clapped their hands for joy then they saw the first airplane hovering around DZR airport, preparing for landing, believing it was already the aircraft carrying Pope Francis.
The mass to be celebrated by the Pontiff at the Tacloban airport is set at 9:00 o’clock today, Saturday, January 17.
After the holy mass, Pope Francis’ other engagements are lunch with the 30 poorest of the poor who were victims of typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas and the earthquake victims from Bohol province at the Archbishop’s Palace, blessing of the Center for the Poor and meeting with the clergy at the Palo Cathedral, all of Palo, Leyte. (fjackson/PIA 8 Biliran)
BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 14:58:00 01/21/2015
Last Updated 21:32:00 01/21/2015
BREAKING NEWS
Just in. According to our reliable source, the burning yacht is owned by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and not by his brother Philip.
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The jetski. ...that white spot with smoke is the burning yacht, on the left is the wharf .... Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
List of person s on board....( not so clear) Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Arrives more or less 4pm Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Captain Ronald Salmoren and 8 others was offered something hot to prevent hypothermia. ...All are safe Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Captain Ronald Salmoren and 8 others was offered something hot to prevent hypothermia. ...All are safe Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Crew men dried their important documents. .. Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Taken at the wharf. .MV Lobenico allegedly owned by FM Romualdez on fire about 3 nautical miles off culaba Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Taken at the wharf. .MV Lobenico allegedly owned by FM Romualdez on fire about 3 nautical miles off culaba Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
At brgy. Looc. ..upon arrival of the crew on board MV Lobenico Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
Arrival at brgy looc... Photo by Estrella Pongos Pedrosa
8PM : Update: The boat continues to burn off Culaba. But a speedboat was retrieved.
A follower of bi .com sent us a photo of the alleged MV Lubenico that got burned off Culaba, Biliran.Photo by Razkal Razzel Fiel
According to Sofronio Dacillo Jr, of Biliran PDRRMC, the yacht’s name is MY Lubenico. The crew – Captain Ronald Salmoren, 43; chief mate, Gregorio Booc; chief engr, Neil Abatayo, 43; electrician, Eugene Gorge, 34; AB Melody de San Jose, 34; AB Joel Sotomayor, 33; oiler, Manny Azul; oiler, James Sotomayor, 23; cook/steward, John Adrian, 23.
Erratum: There are 9 named crew members, not 8 as initially reported. The yacht burned some 4-5 km from Culaba, Biliran, at sea between Samar and Culaba
Erratum: The yacht is said to belong to Philip Romualdez, brother of Rep. FM Romualdez.
Breaking News.The yacht of Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez caught fire at sea off Brgy. Verginia, Culaba in Biliran while sailing from Tacloban to Manila. The 8 crew members are safe.
The yacht of Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez caught fire at sea off Brgy. Verginia, Culaba in Biliran while sailing from Tacloban to Manila. The 8 crew members are safe at Culaba RHU. It left Tacloban at 7:00 am and sent a distress call at 12:40 pm. The fire allegedly came out of the exhaust pipe.
Photo by Manilyn Pagao TapadoPhoto by Manilyn Pagao TapadoPhoto by Christine DevioPhoto by Christine DevioPhoto by Christine Devio
MANILA, Philippines – A yacht reported to be owned by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez caught fire off the water of Culaba in Biliran on Wednesday afternoon. Its eight crewmen sustained various injuries, a police report said.
However, the cause of the fire at the M/Y Lubencio has not been determined as of this posting.
The fire, said to have occurred at 12:45 p.m., caused injuries to its eight crew members. The eight were identified as the yacht captain, Roan Salmoren, 43; Chief Engr. Neil Abatayo, 43; electrician Eugene Gorge, 34; Joel Sotomayor, 33; Melody de San Jose, 34; James Sotomayor, 23; and John Adrian, 23.
All were brought to the rural health unit of Culaba by the local police, said PO1 Archebald Padar, of the Philippine National Police based in Naval, Biliran.
Padar said that two jetskis and two speedboats of the yacht were also burned.
The yacht was said to be traveling from Tacloban to Manila.
The yacht was about 8 to 10 nautical miles from the shoreline of Culaba when it caught fire.
Padar said that the fire was said to have originated from the yacht’s sun deck area.
A maritime police team from Tacloban was said to be on its way to Culaba to help put out the fire.
The office of Romualdez declined to issue a statement.
BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 22:05:00 01/21/2015
One of the ten most wanted persons of Pagbilao,Quezon was arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at around 11:46 am in Pulang Tubig in Sitio Barantayan, Villaconsuelo, Naval, Biliran.
Arrested was Reynaldo Rosales Salinas aka Rene, 40 years old, married to Vilma Salinas and currently residing in same place where he was arrested.
Salinas has two warrant of arrests for the crime of murder issued by RTC Br. 55 in Lucena City for Criminal Case No. 2012-54 dated January 27, 2012 and from MTC in Pagbilao, Quezon for violation of Sec. 1 of PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294 for Criminal Case No. 9588-03 dated Aug. 22, 2012.
He was arrested by Naval cops led by PCI Renencio L. Raquipo, chief of police, Naval police station and PInsp. Kerwin S.Sevillano, SPO2 Alan E. Delis, PO2 Cyrus P. Canoneo and PO2 Jimmy S. Regir.
(UPDATED 8:07 p.m.) At least eight people were rescued from a yacht that caught fire off Culaba town in Biliran province shortly after noon Wednesday.
The fire occurred at about 12:30 p.m., with the crew sending a distress call, radio dzBB reported.
Citing sketchy initial information, the dzBB report said the rescued crewmembers were brought to a hospital in Culaba for treatment.
Authorities are still verifying the ownershp of the yacht
For its part, the Biliran provincial government said the yacht caught fire at sea off Barangay Verginia in Culaba town in Biliran, while sailing from Tacloban to Manila.
It said nine crewmembers were rescued.
Citing a report from Sofronio Dacillo Jr. of Biliran Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, it said the yacht’s name is MV Lubenico.
It identified the crew as:
Captain Ronald Salmoren
chief mate Gregorio Booc
chief engineer Neil Abatayo
electrician Eugene Orge
AB Melody de San Jose
AB Joel Sotomayor
oiler Manny Azul
oiler James Sotomayor
cook/steward John Adrian Goballa.
The post also said Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez owns the yacht.
The yacht caught fire while out at sea in the waters off Barangay Verginia in Culaba town in Biliran. It was sailing from Tacloban to Manila. — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News
By Prof. Rolando BOrrinaga
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 07:47:00 01/22/2015
1. Executive jet with Aquino Cabinet officials on board crashed while trying to take off from Tacloban Airport during the storm after the Papal Visit on January 17, 2015. The pilots and passengers were unhurt.
2. A yacht of Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez caught fire at sea off Brgy. Verginia, Culaba in Biliran while sailing from Tacloban to Manila today, January 21. The 8 crew members are safe at Culaba RHU. The boat reportedly left Tacloban at 7:00 am and sent a distress call at 12:40 pm.
A helicopter has already picked up the ill-fated crew from Culaba.
Officials at the Biliran Provincial Capitol disputed and then clarified that the yacht allegedly belongs to Philip Romualdez, and not to Rep. FM Romualdez. Philip is the older brother of the congressman.
The field reporters of biliranisland.com are under extreme pressure to alter some facts they had initially gathered about the burning yacht. So the site posted some errata for the disputed facts, without necessarily deleting the previous posts. Already, the ownership of the yacht is put in doubt. We leave it to other media sectors to clarify this.
According to a Biliran Capitol official, the yacht’s name in MV Lobenico. The nine (not 8) crew members who landed in Culaba reportedly included Captain Ronald Salmoren; chief mate, Gregorio Booc; chief engineer, Neil Abatayo; electrician, Eugene Orge; AB, Joel Sotomayor; AB, Melody de San Jose; oiler, Manny Azul; oiler, James Sotomayor; and cook/steward, Adrian Goballa.
An informant of bi.com sent the attached photo of the alleged yacht MV Lobenico that caught fire at sea off Culaba, Biliran. The photo has a helicopter on the helipad at the stern of the yacht.
A former student who attended to the crew in Culaba claimed on Facebook that they were rescued and brought to town by local fishermen.
ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 01/21/2015 6:24 PM | Updated as of 01/22/2015 2:58 AM
MANILA (UPDATED) – A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Barangay Verginia, Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday.
All nine crew members were rescued from the burning ship and then brought to the Culaba Rural Health Unit.
The MV Lubenico, owned by businessman Philip Romualdez, was sailing from Tacloban to Manila when the incident occurred. It was reported to be carrying fuel.
It left Tacloban at 7 a.m. and sent a distress call at 12:40 p.m.
The fire reportedly started at an exhaust pipe. — Report from Sharon Evite, ABS-CBN News Tacloban
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A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Culaba, Biliran PNP
A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Culaba, Biliran PNP
A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Culaba, Biliran PNP
A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Culaba, Biliran PNP
A yacht owned by the brother of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez caught fire on the waters of Culaba, Biliran on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Culaba, Biliran PNP
15,292 pass the Nurse Licensure Examination (NLE) given in November 2014
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 15,292 out of 26,690 passed the Nurse Licensure Examination given by the Board of Nursing in the cities of Manila, Bacolod, Baguio, Cabanatuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last November 2014.
BiliranIsland.com Staff
BiliranIsland.com
First Posted 12:01:00 01/24/2015
Last Updated 21:16:00 01/24/2015
Top 2. Congratulations to Janelle Joy Fernandez Ponferrada, RN, who topped the NLE November 2014 examination with a rating of 86.60%. She is from Caibiran, and graduated from St. Scholastica’s College in Tacloban City.
She is the daughter of Noel Ponferrada and Joyce Fernandez.
New Registered Nurses of Naval State University (NSU)
ABERTE, Nimfa Quijada
BALAME, Maribel Macorol
CUIZON, Crysovyl Mission
DAYOHA, Mariel Bacolod
GERALDO, Jehan Rotap
JAPAY, Marla Samantha Sambitan
MEJARITO, Chris Newva Corto
MONTON, Reymart Gelizon
PRECIADOS, Rosa Mae
SORRILLA, Patricia Mari Salvatierra
VENTULAN, Carlotta Marie Canete
VERO, Roxan Arnado
ZOZOBRADO, Neleth Sale
—–
Ruby Jane B. Romea
Blesie Marie Tumbaga Ampong
Mechelle Olaer Dejarlo
Maria Christina Subito
Ma ju Francess Calles Cordero
Nathaniel Martin Vallestero Albelda
Ma Corazon Veloria Leones
Justine Gonzal Arpon
Jessah Balondo Makabenta
To our bi.com followers: If you know of a Biliran native who has passed the recent Nurse Licensure Examination, please post the name on our wall.
By Prof. Rolando Borrinaga BiliranIsland.com First Posted 15:30:00 01/24/2015
The coverage of the fire on the Romualdez yacht in the sea off Culaba, Biliran last January 21 was most challenging for biliranisland.com, which broke the news to the world and for which I act as volunteer coordinator of the information traffic for unfolding events like this.
The story was simple enough: A boat caught fire at sea and emitted a huge column of smoke skyward. Photos were taken by alerted residents with gadgets and posted on Instagram. The next set of information was about the arrival of the boat’s crew in Culaba. They were rescued by local fishermen and brought to the Rural Health Unit and given food, a change of clothing, and necessary accommodation. Of course, they were asked their names, which were written on paper, and asked routine info about the burning boat, its owners, etc. The data were relayed thru official channels to the Biliran PDRRMC.
The sh_t suddenly hit the fan within minutes after the website posted the breaking news item about the burning yacht. The webmaster received intense pressure and representation to alter the name of the posted owner of the burning luxury vehicle, sufficient enough for him to buckle under pressure and post an erratum that the boat was owned by the brother of the stated owner. But other concerned followers soon disputed the erratum item and convincingly argued the veracity of the initially posted name. This dynamic somewhat delayed the posting of the next set of information: the names of the rescued crew members, that they were safe and in good hands. This was for the peace of mind of their friends and families. The alleged cause of the fire was also posted.
Not long after this piece of info came out online, a helicopter arrived in Culaba and pulled out the rescued crew members. Locals in the know identified the chopper as belonging to Leyte First District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. A good number of them took pictures of the chopper and posted these on their Facebook accounts.
A number of mainstream media outfits – a newspaper and TV stations – caught the breaking news and posted initial reports about it in their websites. They carried the initial info posted by biliranisland.com, just like what they did with other news stories of national significance that the site broke in the past. But by mid-evening, the online items in a major newspaper and a TV station had been pulled out from their websites.
We realized by then that this incident was being subjected to a news blackout by interested parties. But we already suspected this scenario when a chopper was used to retrieve the rescued crew from Culaba.
The website and its reporters were apparently being closely watched, and the legit sources of their info given warning, such that one official thereafter refused to be quoted for info about the incident. The “suppress this news” managers certainly did their best to trivialize the event and make the website operators look like fools and liars.
But we have been in the Biliran scene long enough, and we did not run out of independent sources of info that we sought in the reportage.
On January 22, the news suppressors made one last attempt to contain the viral effects of the website coverage. When Marlon Mecaral and companions hopped into a boat and tried to travel towards the burned boat at sea to take pictures and video, they were harangued and prevented from sailing by people in a speedboat, who introduced themselves as Coast Guard operatives. They were not, and there was no Signal No. 1 to prevent such act. They were the only ones singled out for this harassing act. Again, part of the agenda to suppress the news.
Marlon and company did not insist and just allowed the trampling of their reporters’ rights. But just the same, they got the video images that they wanted on land, courtesy of local fishermen who had approached the burning boat the day before and shared these for the website audience.
Damning evidence
One of our greatest discoveries from this incident, which the news suppressors also completely overlooked, was that fishermen nowadays carry cellphones and can take good videos out at sea. “Pa puropangisda lang ni ‘bay, pero di-ipod kini.” And they can be articulate eyewitnesses, and they provided the reporters with some damning observations.
One of the videos taken, which was shared to the website, showed the burning yacht with two helicopters hovering around. There were a number of bancas with riders not far from the boat, and the video caught a joke from one that mentioned about “looting.”
The interviewed fishermen said no looting happened on the boat, because the people on the helicopters were on the watch. Soon, two people jumped from the choppers and climbed up the abandoned burning boat. Some fishermen were of the opinion that the fire could have been contained, and were in the vicinity waiting to be of help. This stated concern was even caught in one video. But the informants said the chopper jumpers allegedly told them they had instructions to allow the boat to burn, and that the fishermen’s help was not needed.
And so what happened had happened, but with a complete set of evidence that the news suppressors wished did not exist, and certainly not documented and published online.
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Culaba wharf
At Culaba Elementary School. Photo by Aykah Largado Horfilla
NAVAL, Biliran – A top official of the foreign geothermal developer of the Biliran geothermal project assured that it will start its commercial operation in the third quarter of 2016.
Eirikur Bragason, chief executive officer, Orka Energy, presents to the members of media in Biliran province in a breakfast meeting on January 30,2015 at Biliran Garden Resort, Lomboy, Calumpang, Naval, Biliran, a diagram of the revised power plant plan of the Biliran geothermal project which is expected to start its commercial operation in 2016.(rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)
“The Department of Energy (DOE) has already issued a certificate of commerciality” Eirikur Bragason, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Orka Energy told some members of the media in Biliran province in a breakfast meeting held Friday, January 30, at the Biliran Garden Resort (BGR) in Sitio Lomboy, Calumpang,Naval, Biliran.
The certificate of commerciality was issued by DOE on December 28, 2014 and was received by Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) on January 28, 2015.
Bragason revealed to that the commercial operation will start in August or September of 2016.
The construction of power plants in the area where the potential geothermal energy generating well pads are located will start in July this year, Bragason positively said to media as to the commerciality of the geothermal energy in Biliran province..
Nilo Apuada, chief geologist and site manager of Orka, who was also present during the breakfast meeting, specifically said that the power plant will be constructed in well pads BN6 and BN7 located in Sitio Pulangyuta, Barangay Cabibihan in Caibiran, Biliran.
The Orka CEO further said that the approximate generating capacity of the two potential well pads is 10 megawatts (MW) and the other five MW will be sourced out from the three other well pads which are still subject for testing at present.
‘The first power plant to be constructed can produce 7 MW and another power plant for another 7 MW’ he told media based on the revised power plant plan.
There are five well pads that have been explored and developed by Orka Energy and Biliran Geothermal Incorporated (BGI) in Biliran province, Bragason added.
Furthermore, he said that they are expecting to produce 270 megawatts in the entire province of Biliran based on their concession here totaling some 55,000 hectares. # (fj/rvictoria/PIA 8 Biliran)
NAVAL, Biliran (PIA) — No other than Eirikur Bragason, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Orka Energy, disclosed in a meeting with local media this morning at the Biliran Garden Resorts, Calumpang, Naval, Biliran, of the confirmed 10 megawatts electricity generated from the two wells tested out of the five wells dug.
An additional five or more megawatts is expected to be generated from the remaining three untested wells.
The Biliran geothermal project is expected to produce clean, green, and sustainable energy using advance, complicated, and competitive technology so as not to pollute and destroy the environment. Orka Energy, the project developer, is taking seriously its social and environmental responsibility, Bragason said.
Orka Energy aims at providing more reliable and stable energy, and cheaper electricity in Biliran by not spending anymore on the transmission costs being situated in the vicinity of the geothermal plant.
Civil works at the Biliran geothermal project had started in 2013 but recently slowed down in their civil works because they are evaluating the results of the wells tested.
Construction of the power plant will approximately start in July this year and commercial marketing will start in August or September 2016 with the certificate of commerciality issued by the Department of Energy (DOE) which gives them the authority to produce the energy they applied for commercial marketing, according to the chief executive.
Orka Energy estimated around 270MW electricity to be generated from the entire concession area in the Biliran geothermal project of 55,000 hectares and observed to have very high temperature.
Being into geothermal development projects in Europe and Asia, Orka Energy envisions of putting up 115 geothermal power plants in the Philippines like what they have in China. The Biliran geothermal project is their first geothermal development project in the Philippines, according to Bragason. (mlt)
