EVENTS

LGU San Jorge wins 9th National Sandugo Award

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
Samar News.com
July 26, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Local Government Unit of San Jorge, Samar won the 9th National Sandugo Award which will be given the honor and recognition come July 31, 2007 at Clamshell, Intramuros, Manila.

A letter from the Department of Health (DOH), Eastern Visayas Regional Director Teogenes Baluma dated July 17 revealed the good news.

The letter addressed to Honorable Nancy B. Grey who is now the incumbent mayor, mentioned her husband’s legacy to bear the award. It was still in the incumbency of Joseph Grey when the LGU was evaluated through its full support to the National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) of the DOH.

Barangay Captain of Villa Aurora, Hon. Letecia Delamida and Barangay Captain of Poblacion 1 San Jorge, Hon. Lydia Corrales share the limelight with the Greys.

In early January, Governor Milagrosa Tan received a letter from DOH-EV with the information about Presidential Decree No 1021 stating that July is declared as Blood Donors Month.

It added that one of the highlights of the celebration is the awarding of the “National Sandugo Award for Outstanding Local Government Executives”.

This award is given to LCEs for their active involvement to attain/maintain an adequate safe blood supply in the country.

Aside from the LCEs involvement, other criteria included attending to a Mobile Blood Donation Activity with blood donors depending on the population of the municipality and the barangay, attending in advocacy meetings and exemplary administrative actions in support of the NVBSP such as issuances within the last five years of Memorandum Circulars, Sangguniang Bayan Resolutions, Ordinances and or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

Ms. Cynthia McKinley, Promotions Officer of the NVBSP has repeatedly campaigned to the Samar Municipal LGUs to heed the call. San Jorge LGU will be awarded for committing and believing in the cause of blood donation.

San Jorge PNP acquires patrol cars, ambulance and rescue vehicles from Mayor Grey

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
Samar News.com
February 20, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The San Jorge police force has acquired anew additional patrol car and rescue vehicles to be used in maintaining peace and order in the locality.

In a simple turned over ceremony held January 29, Mayor Joseph V. Grey, through his representative, handed over one unit of Mitsubishi L300 patrol car, one set of police uniform to each of the 15 policemen, two units Mitsubishi L300 rescue vehicles, and one unit ambulance marked “grey for life” to the policemen in part of his peace and order program.

These, he said, was in addition to his monthly rice and gasoline contribution coupled with encouragement for these vanguards to have their dedication and sincere service in his town.

Inspector Chito Cano, the town’s police chief told this paper that the vehicles is an augmentation of their existing “old” patrol car and motorcycles owned by some policemen, all used to maintain peace situation and conduct emergency response to remote villages of this locality.

Insp. Cano acknowledged the full support of Mayor Grey through the provision of these items, which according to him, of “great help” in waging war against all forms of criminalities in their area of responsibility.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat naming lahat kay mayor sa mga tulong at suporta na ibinibigay niya samin. Nagpapasalamat din po kami sa mga tao sa kanilang kooperasyon sa amin,” the PNP official said in vernacular.

On the other hand, Insp. Cano reported that San Jorge these days is “generally peaceful” and that crime volume in the area is manageable situation.

He said, in 2006 the total crime volume (TCV) is only nine; eight was index crimes and one non-index crime. “The crime solution efficiency (CSE) was placed at 87.5% with average monthly crime rate (AMCR) at 4.889% as compared to 2005 TCV’s 18 crimes while CSE is 50% with AMCR 117.34 percent,” Insp. Cano said.

In fact, for this year, “we have a zero-crime yet in this locality,” he added.

The PNP official attributed these accomplishments to the support coming from the LGU and the community. “We are much luckier since we met the ideal ratio of one police per one thousand populace (1/1000). The town, based in the 2000 census has some 15,340 population and the San Jorge police force has 15 with one police officer.

Healthy San Jorgehanons: Gov. Tan’s b-day gift to Mayor Grey

By Liwayway C. Sabuco
Dateline Maqueda Newspaper
February 15, 2006

SAN JORGE, Samar  – Por lo menos 400 nga San Jorgehanon an nakatagam-tam han usa nga medical ngan dental mission nga igin-hatag ni Gobernadora Milagrosa T. Tan ngadto han mga molupyo hiton bungto han San Jorge, komo iya regalo ngadto kan Mayor Joseph V. Grey, ha pag saling-urog hine han iya ka-adlawan pagka-tawo.

An nasabi nga aktibedades in gin-buhat didto ha atubangan mismo han munisipyo han nasabi nga bungto, kun diin gin-partisiparan ini han mga representante ngan doctor han Samar Provincial Health Office (SPPO).

Ha pahayag ni Mayor Joseph Grey ha DMN, iginpadayag niya nga diri hiya higara pag aandam hin mga pag-kaon komo pagsalin-urog hiton iya kaadlawon, kundi tikang han hiya in maging mayor han nasabi nga bungto, in nagging buruhaton na niya an paghatag hin magkaduru-dilain la nga serbisyo ngadto hiton iya mga nasasakupan.

“Ang pagkakataong ito ay hinihingi ko talaga sa butihin nating gobernadora, na sana ay matulungan niya ang mga mahihirap na residente ng San Jorge, na hindi kaya ang gumastos para sa kanilang kalusugan”, an sumat ni Mayor Grey.

Igindugang pa ni Mayor Grey, nga waray magruhaduha hi Gob. Tan nga aprubahan iton iya naging ungara, ug dayon nga igin-skedyul an nasabi nga bungto para hin usa nga “all-out” nga medical and dental mission, alinsunod ha pagsalin-urog liwat han kaadalawan ni Mayor Grey.

Dida han usa nga halipot nga pagpakilala ngan program, gin-aro han mga nagdudumara han nasabi nga medical mission nga mag-partisipar ngan mag-kooperar an mga katawhan ha nasabi nga aktibedades agud masolusyunan iton ira mga problema ha panlawas hin libre, upod na in libre nga mga bulong nga hatag hiton gobernadora.

Igin-padayag liwat dida han programa an prayoridad nga pagtagad ni Gobernadora Mila Tan han mga problema panlawas han mga kapobrehan han Samar, kun diin ira igin-asoy nga diri maukoy iton gobernadora ha paghatag hin mga sugad nga serbisyo, kutob nga damo pa nga Samareño iton nan ngingnahanglan hine.

“Maliban sa libreng gamutan, libre din ang pag-kain nang mga nagpapa-checkup, at habang nag-aantay ang iba sa pila - kung saan naglagay kami ng mga upuan para hindi mahirapan ang mga tao, ay inaaliw sila ng mga palabas sa TV at ibat-ibang kanta mula rin sa mga namamahala ng medical mission”, an pagmalatumat ni Mayor Grey.

Subay pa gihapon ha panlawas nga programa han nasabi nga alkalde, nahibaruan nga antes han grupo han SPPO, usa pa nga grupo in naghatag liwat hin medical ngan dental mission ha bungto hiton San Jorge hito gihapon nga semana.

An National Transmission Corporation o Transco, matok pa ni Mayor Grey in nakadto liwat ha Brgy. Sapinit, hine nga bungto, agud magdumara hin parehas nga aktibedades, alinsunod gihapon han pag-selebrar niya han iya kaadlawan.

Por lo menos 360 nga mga residente han nasabi nga barangay an naka-tagamtam han nasabi nga medical mission nga gin-esponsoran han Transco.

Ha pamahayag ni Mayor Grey ha Brgy. Sapinit, iya gin aghat an tanan nga residente nga tumambong ngan pahimuslan an nasabi nga aktibedades aber ma-ibanan pa iton mga problema panlawas han nasabi nga barangay.

Matok pa han nasabi nga mayor, nga waray gin pipili iton nasabi nga aktibedades nga usa han iya mga prayoridad nga programa, “kahit na supporter ka, o tao ng mga dati kong nakatunggali sa pulitika, basta’t taga-San Jorge ka, welcome kayo sa administrasyon ko, dahil hindi ako mayor ng mga taong bomoto sa akin kundi mayor ako ng lahat ng taga-san Jorge”, an dugang nga pamulong ni Mayor Grey.

Ha luyo nga bahin, nahibaru-an nga an Transco an pumili han nasabi nga lugar nga pag-dumaraan hiton nasabi nga medical mission, ini in alinsunod gihapon hiton kampanya han Transco nga maabot iton mga molupyo ha Samar, ilabi gud iton mga lugar nga naagihan hiton ira mga linya han kuryente, nga mapahimuslan iton ira kaya ibulig pagpaka-upay hiton mga panlawas hiton mga Samareño.

Mayor Grey answer queries during People's Day

(July 16, 2005) SAN JORGE, Samar -  This town's local Chief Executive Joseph "Jojo" V. Grey answered all questions and problems being raised by its constituents during the regular monthly Municipal Peace and Order Council Meeting and People's Day Friday, July 08, this year.

Some of these queries answered by the chief executive involved with the supposed infrastructure and livelihood projects, renovation and construction of the executive building, public market, convention hall, basketball court, transport terminal, and other projects to be constructed within the vicinity of this municipality.

Concerned parents also aired questions related to the educational problem of their children, particularly the how's and what's processes is being followed regarding the acceptance of the Barangay Scholar Project, which is being fairly answered by the School Supervisor of the Samar State College of Agriculture and Forestry.

The SSCAF Supervisor and Municipal Local Government Office officer Tomas M. Bonguit read some documents answering the procedure and other orders related to the problem raised.

Meanwhile, Mayor Grey said he is planning to acquire two fire fighting trucks and ambulances to be used in this municipality and even in the neighboring towns in times of emergency disasters and crisis. According to him, garbage trucks that will be used in regulating the waste disposal here are being processed.

"These projects are now included in our top priority, and I am sure, these will benefit majority of our constituents, be it the supporters of this administration or not, " the mayor said.

In fact, the mayor added, the acquisition of a land area to be used in the proposed dumping site, new public market, cemetery, terminal, and for the "night market stalls” and are now being pushed by the legislative and the executive offices.

When asked about the source of funds to be used in this highly ambitious projects, the mayor answered, he along with the Sangguniang Bayan members are still now finalizing to enter into a loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines just like other municipalities did especially those towns experiencing financial turmoil.

"This, however, is not yet final. We still have to study this plan. We are set to seek all audience with officials of the DBP regarding this loan "Mayor Grey said without mentioning the exact amount of loan they will enter.

If these proposed projects materialized, "the municipality of San Jorge will become the most booming town throughout the province of Samar, and of course the living conditions of its constituents will be uplifted, he stressed.

On the other hand, both the police and army officials claimed that the peace and order situation of the municipality of San Jorge is "still peaceful and manageable.”

Police Inspector Rolando B. Baula PNP Chief of Police of San Jorge, said there were no "alarming incidents so far ­happened in this municipality since the last MPOC meeting last month. He added, however, that the police have neutralized most wanted criminals and fugitives within the month. "There were no alarming incidents, so far, except for the minor domestic violence reported in this station," Inspector Baula said.

First Lieutenant Edgar Centeno Jr., who represented Lt. Col. Edito C. Nisnisan, the Battalion Commander of the 34th Infantry Battalion based in Brgy. Erenas, said the town is so far secured in terms of insurgency problem in the locality is concerned.

"Safe po tayong lahat dito. Kung meron mang mga naririnig kayong mga incidents, minor po lamang yan at malayo sa atin," the army official said. Meanwhile, the MPOC at the same time People's Day ended with all questions answered and problems within the month were given solutions.

2 wanted persons surrender to Mayor Grey

(July 13, 2005)  SAN JORGE, Samar  - From now on, there will be peace of mind to the innocent civilians of this locality.

This was the comments given by San Jorge PNP Chief of Police, Inspector Rolando Baula after two of its listed most wanted criminals surrendered to Mayor Joseph Grey and vowed to live a new life.

The duo wanted persons, were identified by the police as one Lester Bisnar y Galit, 36 years old, married, jobless and a resident of Brgy. La Paz; and, a certain Rene Rollo y Manozo, 31 years old, married, jobless and a resident of Bray. Bulao, all of this municipality.

The two wanted persons, according to Inspector Baula has pending warrant of arrest under Criminal Case No. 04‑0222 for the crime of murder issued by Honorable Judge Rosario Bandal of Regional Trial Court, Branch 41, Gandara, Samar.

However, on June 28, 2005, the suspects seek the help of Mayor Grey and surrendered before him and some policemen. They said, they were tired of running away from the folds of law and decided to go back in the mainstream of society.

No firearms were surrendered by the suspects, police said.

Accordingly, the mayor said, the two are just victims of the dirty politics in the last election.

"Many residents and witnesses told me that the two are innocents of the crime they allegedly committed. Admittedly, they were my supporters being blamed as the culprits of the slain supporters of my party opponents," he said.

The bereaved family of the victims, believed to be on my opponents’ side, filed a case of murder against the two. Afraid of their lives, they hid from the law, and became wanted by authorities.

When Grey won the mayoralty bid in San Jorge, the two beat their fears, and voluntarily surrendered to authorities through the efforts of the mayor.

In a simple ceremony inside his office, Mayor Grey congratulated the two for the great decision they made and for braving to face the reality that they cannot hide the law all the time. "By this act, You only not gave peace of mind to the residents but also to your beloved relatives who also fear of your lives playing hide and seek to government authorities," Mayor Grey said.

It was learned that the suspects were later on presented to the court. Judge Bandal then issued an Order of Commitment about the suspects who were turned‑over to the Calbayog Sub-provincial Jail in Calbayog City.

Mayor Grey dreams to build P60‑M tourism infra in Blanca Aurora Falls

(April 19, 2005)  SAN JORGE, Samar ‑  In a bid to make San Jorge town a major tourist destination in the province of Samar, Mayor Joseph V. Grey, a political neophyte, has just completed his development plan and cost estimates of his dream of constructing a multi‑million peso worth of tourism infrastructures in Blanca Aurora Falls in Brgy. Blanca Aurora, this municipality.

According to Mayor Grey, he will be planning to construct a highly ambitious project in Blanca Aurora as part of his earlier promised to focus on development of eco‑tourism at least before his term as mayor ends on 2007.

The development plan, a copy of which was obtained by this writer, includes the development of the Blanca Aurora Falls, construction of the 20 units of umbrella type kiosks, four 6x25 meter air-conditioned rooms, three (3) units of canteen with bar sides, two (2) units of Splash Slides for children and adults, one complete set of apparatus for children, two (2) units of bathrooms/shower rooms, two (2) units of Guard House strategically located at the entrance and within the waterfalls.

The good mayor of San Jorge has also consider those sports‑minded picnickers by also including two (2) units of footbridges/steel cables, one Billiard hall, table tennis, volleyball court, basketball court, dart hall, and badminton court in the over all plan.

Mayor Grey said visitors coming from far places will surely enjoy spending their vacations and leisure time in the area because he also planned to construct a 0.5 hectare car park and the cementing of the 9.1 kilometers rough road from the Poblacion of San Jorge to Blanca Aurora and another 2.1 kilometers in going to Brgy. Tomogbong, the site of another beautiful waterfalls and caves.

Other projects listed in the new development plan intended for the Blanca Aurora Falls includes the construction Lifeguard Tower, Convention Hall for 100 persons capacity, Support and Technical facilities, stand‑by 10 KVA Generator set, landscaping and improvement of the total area.

"I knew medyo mahirap at malaki ang magagastos natin sa project na ito pero hindi yun dapat maging hadlang para tumunganga nalang tayo. Of course you know the saying, if there is a will, there is a way, " Mayor Grey said.

To further realize this project, the mayor said, he has approached several senators, friends at the House of the Representatives and other related government offices and asked fund support. "As of today, four senators and two congressmen have already signified of giving me a slice of their social funds as counterpart of constructing this masterpiece of mine," the mayor said in an interview over the phone.

"I have also asked President Gloria Macapagal ‑Arroyo, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, the DTI and the PAGCOR to help me on this particular project, and I am positive that they will provide some of their social funds.

When asked why is he doing this big project, said "the role of the local government units is to make the community living ‑ within a particular site ‑ ready for a full swing tourism development, so yan ang top priority ng aking administration ngayon," Mayor Grey stressed.

He added, "our is endowed with rich and beguiling economic sites, and this resource once developed will surely be of big help to augment the San Jorgehanons economic conditions," Mayor Grey earlier said but quickly pointed out the DOT should by all means help them realize this due to their lack of funding being classified as a 5th class municipality.

In closing, the mayor promised to give his best to improve the living conditions and the morality of all his constituents, "I am empowering the town by protecting and preserving these natural resources like the Blanca Aurora Falls, expressing hopes that someday, eco‑tourism will give the San Jorge town a complete turn around on its economic profile.

3^rd ANNUAL VISAYAS CAVE CONGRESS

“YOU AND YOUR GROUP ARE CORDIALLY INVITED”

In our desire to empower and instill an unrelenting commitment and support among outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers in protecting VISAYAS CAVES ECOSYSTEM, the CENTRO OUTDOORS UNLIMITED (Center for Outdoor Sports – Samar Chapter) in cooperation with concerned government line agencies will be holding once again its annual caving activity dubbed as the 3^rd ANNUAL VISAYAS CAVE CONGRESS open to all mountaineers, spelunkers and nature loving individuals nationwide.

This year’s event will kick-off on March 4, 5 & 6, 2005 at the newly documented virgin cave sites of San Jorge, Samar. It will apply a transfigured format of spelunking as it will be beefed-up with some adventure tryst, hence the theme, ADVENTURE SPELUNKING – SAMAR 2005 EDITION.

As this year’s organizer of the said event, CENTRO OUTDOORS UNLIMITED wishes to invite you and your group, club or organization to join us and be part of the 3-days non-stop thrill and excitement courtesy of our scheduled activities as follows:

·         Exploration of at least 3 virgin caves
·         Visit to at least 2 magnificent waterfalls
·         Mountain Trek
·         River and Rapids Shooting
·         River Cruising
·         On-site Camping

Academic activities include topics on Environment Protection, Samar Island Natural Park (SINP), BASIC CAVING AND SAFETY, CAVE FORMATIONS AND GEOLOGY, SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUES and others which will be delivered in plenary by professional speakers from Cebu City.

A minimal registration fee of P350.00 only will be collected for every participant while students are given P50.00 discounts upon presentation of school ID.

Aside from the above offerings, each participant of this year’s Cave Congress are likewise entitled to the following :

·         FREE T-Shirt with color prints
·         Full-color Certificates
·         FREE LUNCH and SNACKS on the 1^st Day
·         FREE ON-SITE TRANSPORTATION
          (Bus Rides from Town Hall to Venue, Motorboats to the sites)
·         Lecture Handouts

We regret to inform you however that we are limiting the participants to 100 persons only nationwide, thus, this year’s activity is on a First Come First Serve basis.

For your reservation and inquiries, you may contact us through (+63) 9182731887, (+63) 9155683844 or e-mail us at trexpelunker@yahoo.com, zip_rommel@yahoo.com.

Sincerely yours,