Nine-year-old Boy Killed in Las Navas

Ten soldiers were slain and a nine-year-old boy was the collateral damage in an ambush by the leftist New People's Army (NPA) in Las Navas, Northern Samar on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. The nine-year-old boy who was identified as Joven Cabe was killed after he was hit by a shrapnel from exploding landmines planted by the NPA while he was taking a bath in a nearby river. The ten soldiers killed were marching back to their barracks to observe the government-declared ceasefire with the NPA rebels when ambushed. Two soldiers were also wounded in the attack. The remains of the 10 soldiers are now at the St. Francis Chapel of the 63rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dalakit in Catarman.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the NPA cannot justify the killing of the soldiers and the nine-year-old boy. Valte said the attack was made hours before the ceasefire with communist rebels would have taken effect. Valte said the government strongly objects to the CPP’s claim that the ambush was a legitimate act of war.

“We certainly disagree because I don’t know where, in any part of the world, where you could go and say the death of a nine-year old child was part of a legitimate act of war. They should be the ones to explain to those who have lost their husband this Christmas that it was a legitimate act of war. They should also be the ones to explain to the parents who lost their child this Christmas because they say it was a legitimate act of war.”

In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines said the attack was in accordance with the international rules of war.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Sec. Ging Deles, Chief Peace Negotiator Alexander Padilla, Armed Forces chief Gen. Ricardo David and Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz went to Northern Samar today to pay their last respects to the victims of the ambush.

Gloria Vows to End Brownouts in Northern Samar

Brownout for three days in a row now in Northern Samar. A ray of hope looms in the future still though. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to end the perennial brownout problem in Northern Samar. The President on a visit to the province to inaugurate the Las Navas Bridge bared plans for the upgrading of the transmission lines through the 138 KV Wright-Calbayog backbone transmission system to accommodate the load growth, address the low voltage problem, and improve system reliability.

At present, Northern Samar's existing supply line is a 69 KV wood pole base system. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has started to bid out the transmission line component of the Wright-Calbayog transmission line on June 4. T8he timetable for the completion of the Wright-Calbayog transmission line will be on the fourth quarter of 2010.

When completed, the perennial power interruptions in Northern Samar will not be totally be avoided but will be significantly reduce by 30 to 60 percent.

Another project on the way is the upgrading of the transmission line from Calbayog-Lope de Vega to Catarman which is yet to be approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also ordered the energy department to prioritize the electrification of the municipality of Silvino Lobos.

“Northern Samar is a focus for our infrastructure development efforts and the patience of the people of this region will be rewarded with increased power supplies as soon as these projects come on stream,” the President said.

2008 National Literacy Awards Regional Awardees

Pursuant to DepEd Memorandum 59 series of 2008 entitled the 2008 Literacy Awards, Region 8 conducted the Regional Search for the awardees of the 2008 National Literacy Awards. The National Literacy Awards has two categories: the Outstanding Literacy Program Award and the Outstanding Local Government Unit Award.

And among the awardees are several Nortehanons or Northern Samar based personnel like Lt. Colonel Lenard T. Agustin, Commanding Officer of the 63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Barangay Opong, Catubig, Northern Samar, for Outstanding Literacy Program with project sites at Barangays Opong, Corocorong, Hangi and Guyo. Also cited were the Barangay Chairmen of those places: Teresita J. Casio, of Barangay Guyo, Las Navas, Northern Samar; Apolinar Tafala, Jr. of Brgy. Hangi, Las Navas, N. Samar; and Rolando Enero of Brgy Corocorong, San Roque, Northern Samar. The Outstanding Literacy Program Award, is given to a literacy program being implemented by a non-government or civic organization, academic institution, which has evident positive impact on the learners and the community.

Mayor Alfred Romualdez of Tacloban City, is the Regional awardee for Outstanding Local Government Unit, Component City Category. Tanauan, Leyte Mayor, Hon. Roque A. Tiu, is Regional awardee for the Outstanding Local Government Unit Municipal Category for the first to third class municipality. With him, Barangay Captain Claro Fulton P. Morantte of Barangay Licod, Tanauan was also cited. For the Outstanding Local Government Unit fouth to sixth class municipality category, Mayor Pedro V. Fustanes, Jr. Of Bontoc, Southern Leyte is the Regional Awardee. The Local Government Unit Award shall be given to a local government unit, city or municipal government, which has developed policies, programs and projects conducive to literacy development and which have efficaciously made a positive impact on the barangays and the quality of life of the people.

The 2008 National Literacy Awards is a project of the Literacy Coordinating Council and the Department of Education, in support of the National Government's commitment to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of reducing adult illiteracy by half in 2015, and consequently improve the quality of life of the Filipino.

The awards will be distributed during the 33rd Founding Anniversary of the Department of Education Regional Office 8 on August 21-22, 2008.

Las Navas flooded

In relation to an earlier post about Catarman being flooded, this is more recent. Las Navas was under above waist flood water...