the GSIS w@ps kiosk

The City Hall Lobby has been quite busy with employees checking on the GSIS waps machine which was put in place last September 18

The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA)

The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) should sound familiar to many Calbayognon and other people from some municipalities of Samar. It's the group responsible for the two surgical missions last year (Check this link). Calbayognons can't thank them enough for that undertaking.

Last week, the City Mayor received a publication from the Society, courtesy of Dr. Manny Cacdac, the group's team leader in Calbayog. I have featured Dr. Cacdac's notes on their Calbayog (Samar) experience in my other blog.

Please check this SPSA article Link.

TTMIST tops among region 8 SUCs

CALBAYOG CITY – Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) topped among State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the whole island of Samar. That is based on the latest evaluation made by both Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).


Dr. Socorro O. Bohol, TTMIST President said this during a live interview in the radio program “Hulagway san Ciudad: The Chief Executive Report” broadcast over Radyo Natin FM in Calbayog City

Region 8 has a total of 11 SUCs excluding UP Tacloban which is part of the University of the Philippines System.

Dr. Bohol said that the result is contained in the latest CHED Memorandum Circular No. 1-B soon to be released to all SUC’s in the Philippines.

“TTMIST is now in the limelight, TTMIST ranked fourth among all SUCs in Region 8 in an evaluation taken from the various aspects of SUCs operations like instructions, research, and management of resources,” Dr. Socorro Bohol said.

She said that from Level I, TTMIST is now in Level III-A, just a few points away from the highest level which is Level III-B.

The region’s top performing SUCs in the recent evaluation include Visayas State University (formerly Leyte State University and VISCA) in Baybay, Leyte, in the number 1 slate; Leyte Normal University (LNU) and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) both in Tacloban City for number 2 and 3 slates, respectively, and fourth is TTMIST.

By placing fourth in the region, TTMIST got the highest rank so far that any SUCs in Samar Island got in the evaluation that included University of Eastern (UEP) in Catarman, Northern Samar, Samar State University (SSU) in Catbalogan, Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in Borongan, Eastern Samar; and Samar State College of Agriculture and Fisheries (SSCAF) in San Jorge, Samar.

“Of the evaluation areas included in the survey, TTMIST got the highest in the field of instruction,” Dr. Bohol said. “Pero sa research hitaas liwat an na-achieve naton, imagine the highest score obtained by any SUC in the whole Philippines is 15 and TTMIST got 13 points,” she added.

Asked why a level in the evaluation is important for an SUC, Dr. Bohol emphasized that such move is being done by DBM and CHED because of the “normative financing” now being implemented in all SUCs nationwide. Since 2005 Maintenance and Other Operational Expenses (MOOE) given by the national government to SUCs reduces by 25 per cent every year and the Level of Evaluation that any SUC enjoys is one of the factors being considered in determining the budget, she further said.

Aside from that, Dr. Bohol added that, “When our graduates apply for a job anywhere in the Philippines some of the employers verify at the CHED what level of evaluation the school of the applicant is enjoying so it is always important for any SUC to achieve the highest evaluation level possible.”

During the said interview, Dr. Bohol commended all employees of TTMIST especially those in the instructional force who strove hard and thus caused TTMIST to get its latest achievement in the evaluation.

With the current financing scheme employed by the national government to all SUCs, Dr. Bohol, appealed to all parents and guardians of their students to understand their policy on the tuition fee prompt payment requirement during time of examinations since the fund that school gets from it is now being used to finance the school operations like the payment of salaries of all casual employees performing important functions, and payment of bills of various utilities like water and electricity.

According to Dr. Bohol proper financial planning among SUCs is very necessary as time is coming soon that what the national government will provide would only be for the salaries and wages of the employees and personnel, other operational expenses will taken from their income like the tuition fees, rental of their facilities and other possible sources.



(News report courtesy of Mr. Ike Macasa of Samar Sunday Star)

A Suitable Ecological Solid Waste Management System for Calbayog

Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento (R) with Sagay City Mayor Alfredo Marañon Jr.

JICA Resident Representative Shozoo Matsuura, DENR Undersecretary for Planning, Policy, Research and Logistic Affairs Demetrio L. Ignacio, Jr., National Solid Waste Management Commission Executive Director Atty. Zoilo L. Anden, Jr.

Sagay City Mayor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr., Mayor Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, JICA Resident Representative Shozoo Matsuura, DENR Usec Demetrio L. Ignacio, Jr., National Solid Waste Management Commission Executive Director Atty. Zoilo L. Anden, Jr., JICA Philipppines Minnie M. Dacanay and Makoto Iwase.




(Here's a report provided to me by Ike Macasa of the Samar Sunday Star)


Calbayog City - A Suitable Ecological Solid Waste Management System will soon be established here along with Sagay and Davao cities chosen by the Japanese government as high priority cities in the country.

Calbayog's Solid Waste Management Office Chief Engr. Gonzaga recently announced in a press conference that on the third or fourth quarter of this year, the Technical Cooperating Project Team is set to conduct a technical study and planning which, at the same time, signals the start of the project. Gonzaga said Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Project Agreement was signed early this year. The signing was made at the DENR conference room. (please see pictures above)

Based on the document furnished by the CSWMO Chief, approximately 25 million pesos is allocated for the project depending on the output of the project technical study group and the target duration is three years.

As reflected in the Master Plan, the study is geared to strengthen the capability of the LGU on solid waste management planning, to improve the solid waste diversion system and the final disposal system.

The assistance will cover feasibility study on Solid Waste Management including preliminary design and technical study, formulation of master plan, capability building for the executing organization, solid waste management monitoring, computerization, weigh bridge, design of sanitary landfill, guidance and training on sanitary landfill method and operation and supervision of sanitary landfill construction work.

It was explained during JICA’s visit here that the cost of construction of the sanitary landfill shall be borne by the LGU and the financial scheme that will be adopted to finance the construction of the facility should be a two-step loan facility of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under a soft loan.

The LGU will likewise provide, secure or purchase the landfill site that should be suitable in accordance with the site selection requirement criteria of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which prohibits the operation of open dumpsites for the disposal of solid wastes.

JICA has already conducted ocular inspections of the present dumpsite and the proposed sanitary landfill.

The results of the waste amount and characterization survey conducted by JICA’s consultants last January 2007 here revealed that the city generates a total of 93.611 tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) daily comprising 69,237kgs of residential waste, 2,112kgs commercial waste from restaurants, 18,470kgs commercial wastes from other shops, 53kgs institutional waste from government offices, 1,757kgs from schools, 198kgs from roads with street sweeping activities only and 1,784kgs from the market stalls.

The study also revealed the three categories of waste composition with high percentages are the kitchen waste with 22.76 per cent, followed by yard waste or wood with 21.77 per cent, and paper with 15.73 per cent.

“In our latest waste characterization conducted by the JICA’s contractor , almost 12 per cent guihapon an special waste. An special waste an basura nga di na nagagamitan asya na unta iton an basura an maulpot sa dumpsite. An tinatawag nga waste diversion nga kon pwede kunta nga in household level sa generation pala mag-iban na an basura. Sa pagpalit ta pala we have to take it a point nga an aton napapalit diri magiging basura naton unina…that’s reduction,” the CSMO chief said.

“We have 3 Rs --reduce, re-use and recycle. Mahimo ngani iton san aton mga household level, ma-reduce an basura nga mahingadto sa aton dumpsite,” he added.

As of now, garbage collection in the city is being done by a private contractor taking garbage from the residents during designated collection period for each area.

Gonzaga further said that section 27 of the law on waste diversion requires LGUs to reduce garbage at 25 per cent only three years after the approval of RA 9003 but the city had, so far, obtained 32 per cent reduction rate. He added that the garbage problem is not the sole responsibility of the government but is also everybody’s concern.

In 1993 the city was named as the cleanest in the region and one of the top finalists in the national level. Its two barangays also received awards. Brgy. Panoypoy was a National Silver Awardee in 2003-4004 Search for Model Barangay under the Solid Waste Management category by the National Solid Waste Management Commission while Brgy. Manguinoo won a Special Citation for Multiple Materials Recovery Facility and Coastal Clean-up Practices.

LINAW National Conference

Just got these pictures taken last August 31, 2007 when Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento attended the LINAW National Conference at The Bellevue Hotel in Muntinlupa City. Among other things, the Mayor shared the Calbayog experience on making sanitation services a local government priority.

Calbayog City is one of the pilot areas in the country for the USAID-funded Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater Management (LINAW). A few months ago I featured in this blog one of the projects of the city relative to this grant. Check this link.

Images from Hadang 2007 Grand Streetdance Exhibition

Hi! I've posted some pix which I took during the 2007 Hadang Grand Streetdance Exhibition which was held at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center on September 7, 2007.

Please check this Hadang 2007 link.

I have also uploaded some pictures from the Unob san Calbayog Mask and Painting Exhibit. Please check this Exhibit link.

The Annual Fiesta Parade

There are many things that one can't do away with in Calbayog. Among these is the Annual Fiesta Parade. As in the past years, students from various public and private schools participated in the event. This year, the city officials together with Hermana Mayor and some Department Managers were on hand to acknowledge the parade participants. Here are some pictures (I took with my mobile phone again) of some officials and guests who were on hand for the parade.

For other pictures, please check this link.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento being interviewed by DYOG's Eleen Lim

The Hermana Mayor Vhijaya Obong - Chu (with husband Emilio) greets Calbayognons via DYOG Radyo ng Bayan. With Ms. Chu are Eleen Lim and Intoy Beso.

Councilors Virgil Clemens and Sonny Salurio take time to chat before the parade

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with Health Officer Dr. Mario Casera and City Engineer Oscar Hugo

Councilors Benjie Dean, Niel Bryan Francisco, Nonoy Pasacas and Danny Bernate

Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Councilor Julius Mancol, Vhijaya Obong-Chu and Emilio Chu

Councilors Danny Bernate, Noel Sermense, Ina Rabuya and Virgil Clemens

Maupay nga Patron Calbayog!

Hi there! It’s Friday ngan besperas yana didi sa Calbayog. I’m back again, blame my absence on the fiesta. And since it’s fiesta I won’t be digging on issues (both mundane and relevant) today. I’ll just settle (for once?) with an enumeration of what has happened and what to expect in Calbayog this fiesta season.

The crowds have come to Calbayog. If you are into crowded streets and slow moving PD cabs (or tricycle) and yes even cars and motorcycles, then, Calbayog at this time of the year is for you (do I have to add that it’s hot? Like it’s 32 degrees Celsius as I write this). Where did they came from? I heard somebody ask one night after a performance at the Nijaga Park when people tried to rush back home.

This year, Calbayognons join the family of Vhijaya Obong – Chu in thanking the Almighty for graces He has bestowed upon Calbayog. Ms. Chu is taking the place of her sister Belinda Obong – Benedicto who enlisted for the hermanidad a few years ago, sadly she returned to her creator before this year’s celebration. Last night, the Hermana Mayor hosted the traditional Hermana Night dubbed as Gab-i san Pagpasalamat.

* * *

For its part, the City Government is hosting the annual Hadang Festival which opened last Saturday. Mayor Mel Sarmiento delivered a speech thanking the private sector for cooperating with the LGU with the Festival’s activities. This year’s main sponsors include Universal Robina Corporation. Other sponsors include Jollibee and Globe Telecom.

Calbayognons and guests will be treated to the annual fiesta parade this morning where among the officials invited are Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Governor Mila Tan.

The Hadang Grand Streetdance will be held this afternoon. A good number of municipalities and barangays have confirmed their participation in the said event. They will perform in key areas around the city and do their exhibition at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center.

As I write this column, I just had my picture taken with Bamboo, a few hours before their first Calbayog concert. Some nice points from the Bamboo concert. The tickets were priced at only 100 pesos each. It’s a result of both the LGU and the private sector moving together to make some difference. In this case, it's Honda Cinemar Traders through Mr. Tony Tan. The organizers were not after earning money but to make sure a good number of people get to see one of the country’s most popular rock groups and have fun this fiesta season.

This year's Festival is characterized by the presence of a good number of bands both homegrown and from Cebu and Manila, with Bamboo leading the list. Last Wednesday, Stagecrew performed at the Nijaga Park. On opening Night, Suburbia (one one Cebu's top showbands) did its gig. On fiesta night, Callalily will be the main performers.

* * *

Tomorrow’s main event is the Pontifical Mass which will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 9:00 am. It will be the first for the newly installed Bishop of Calbayog, Monsignor Isabelo Abarquez.

* * *

This should be it for today, an besperas sa Calbayog. Let me leave you with something to smile about this weekend. the second set of movie title translations I left you with last week:

22. Employee of the Month - Ang Sipsip
23. Resident Evil - Ang Biyenan
24. Kill Bill - Kilitiin sa Bilbil
25. The Grudge - Lintik lang ang Walang Ganti
26. Nightmare Before Christmas - Binangungot sa Noche Buena
27. Never Been Kissed - Pangit Kasi
28. Gone in 60 Seconds - 1 Round Lang, Tulog
29. The Fast and the Furious - Ang Bitin, Galit
30. Too Fast, Too Furious - Kapag Sobrang Bitin, Sobrang Galit
31. Dude, Where's My Car - Dong, Anong Level Ulit Tayo Nag-park?
32. Beauty and the Beast - Ang Asawa ko at ang Nanay Nya
33. The Lord of the Rings - Ang Alahero
34. Die Hard - Hindi Mamatay-matay
35. Die Hard, With A Vengeance - Hindi Na Mamatay-matay, Nag-Higanti Pa
35. Lost In Space - Mga Tangang Naligaw sa Kalawakan
36. Paycheck - Sweldo
37. What Lies Beneath - Ang Pagsisinungaling sa Ilalim
38. Cinderella Man - Bading si Cinderella
39. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Nag-trabaho si Charlie sa Goya
40. Blade Runner - Magnanakaw ng Labaha
41. Schindler’s List - Mga May Utang kay Schindler

* * *

This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!

The City Mayor meets Bamboo

A few hours before their concert, Bamboo paid a courtesy call on Mayor Mel Sarmiento at the Calbayog City Hall. Here are some pictures taken from that meeting

Bamboo in Concert

BAMBOO will perform in Calbayog tonight

at 7:00 pm at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center

still with the SK

Do you still remember my comments about some SK officials? I posted it in my blog about two weeks (just in case you want to check, here's the link).

I think I mentioned that aside from the usual pa-liga, some SK officials are also into the installation of welcome signs in their barangays. Just wondering what has that to do with youth development? (guidance I guess?). Proof to tell, here's a pix (two actually) of a welcome sign in a certain barangay (don't look for the name I made sure I erased it before uploading it here). Need I say more? And note that there 156 more barangays wherein their SKs could possibly have the same project.

But to be fair, there are other SK officials who are doing a nice job and I intend to post their work here. It's just that I can't find the connection between youth development and welcome signs.

To be fair (again), it's not only in Calbayog. It also happens in other parts of the country where the SK has not been a good performer.

the city treasurer's office gets a facelift too

Last July, I posted some pictures of the new office of the City Treasurer and the cashiers.

The area where there used to be windows (for cash disbursements) has been renovated to put in place a waiting lounge for clients and the office for the Assistant City Treasurer.

the pink area will serve as the future office of the Assistant City Treasurer while the blue are will be the waiting lounge for clients / taxpayers. Both will be airconditioned of course.

patron na

I went to mass this morning and t'was only then that I noticed the altar decor put in place at the retablo in preparation for the feast of Our Lady's Nativity on September 8, a red-letter day for every Calbayognon.

This year the Parish joins the family of Ms. Vhijaya Obong - Chu as the hermana mayor. Ms. Chu took the place of her sister Belinda Obong - Benedicto who earlier enlisted for the hermaniad but returned to her creator before she could perform her duties as hermana.