update on the Calbayog Gymnasium

Work at the site of the Calbayog City Sports complex / Gymnasium is now going full blast. The gym which is located in Barangay Capoocan (near the Hall of Justice) is expected to be finished by September 2009.

A billboard along the national highway announcing some details about the project.

The gym as seen fom the national highway. In the foreground (right) is the Capoocan Main Health Center which was constructed by the U.S. Navy Seebies during last year's USNS Mercy ENCAP.

The road leading to the gym. On the right side is the Hall of Justice. On the left is the future home of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

20 million pesos for Calbayog

(April 24, 2009) The City of Calbayog received a check amounting to 9.850 million pesos from the Department of Agriculture. The amount is the first tranche release of the 20 million-peso assistance the Agriculture Department will be providing to the City for the concreting / asphalting of the Brgy. Villahermosa - Brgy. San Jose Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) and other related projects.

The check was received by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino during the PalayCheck Field Day and Farmers/Fisherfolks Forum held in Brgy. Carayman. DA-8 Director Leo Cañeda represented Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap who failed to make it to the program.

Aside from the turn-over of the check, the day's activity included field orientation and visit, field performance show, distribution of 24,000 Tilapia fry to local Tilapia growers and a forum facilitated by Engr. Guillermo Calderon.

The activity was attended by farmer-graduates from Carayman, Cag-Anibong and San Joaquin.

The City officials in attendance were City Councilors Ver Porlares, Ina Rabuya, Sonny Salurio and Arturo Pasacas. Also present were Acting City Administrator Arnol Trani, DA RD on Fisheries Juan Albaladejo, ATI-RTC VIII Center Director Paulino Cabahit, City Agriculturis Adela Ocenar and Ass't City Agriculturist Guillermo Calderon, among others.

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino (2nd from the right) as he received from DA-8 RD Leo Cañeda the 9.850-M check. Looking on are (l-r) City Agriculturist Adela Ocenar, Councilors Ver Porlares, Ina Rabuya, Sonny Salurio and Arturo Pasacas (CAO photo) .

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino receiving from DA-8 RD Leo Cañeda the 9.850-M check. In photo are (l-r) Councilors Ina Rabuya, Sonny Salurio and Arturo Pasacas, ATI-RTC VIII Center Director Paulino Cabahit and Acting City Administrator Arnol trani. (CTIO photo)

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino delivering a welcome message on behalf of Mayor Mel Sarmiento. (CTIO photo)

Director Leo Cañeda delivering his message. (CAO photo)

Some beneficiaries as they received Tilapia fry from RD Leo Cañeda and RD Juan Albaladejo.

(l-r) Councilor Ver Porlares, Engr. Arnol Trani, Mr. Juan Albaladejo, RD Leo Cañeda, Dir. PAulino Cabahit, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilors Arturo Pasacas, Sonny Salurio and Ina Rabuya. (CAO photo)

A farmer-graduate receives his certificate from RD Cañeda. (CAO photo)

Some of the farmer-graduates who attended the activity (top and bottom photos from CAO)

Water Service interruption

Some maintenance crew from the Calbayog City Water District work into the night doing repairs at the Jasminez Bridge.

A good area of Calbayog City is without water since yesterday. As per advisory issued by the Calbayog City Water District, the two-day water service interruption was brought about by the repairs at the Jasminez Bridge.

The work in the area will include replacement of dilapidated 10 pcs. steel pipes, 4 pcs steel elbows and installation of 200 mm. gate valve (isolation valve) at the Jasminez Bridge pipe crossing between the Public Market and Brgy. Obrero.

The areas affected are the city proper, Obrero, Carmen, Payahan, Dagum, Aguit-itan, Balud, Hamorawon, Nijaga, Guin-on, Rawis, Bagacay, Carayman and Capoocan. Regular water service is expected to resume later this evening.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento to participate in the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) meetings in Rosario City, Argentina

Calbayog City Mayor and League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) Secretary-General Mel Senen Sarmiento will be in Rosario City, Argentina from April 27, 2009 to April 30, 2009.

As per information contained in the invitation sent by Rosario City Mayor and CIDEU Vice President Roberto Miguel Lifschitz, Mayor Sarmiento will participate in the meeting of the Commission of Urban Strategic Planning (USP) of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Said meeting is one the side events during the 7th Congress of the Iberoamerican Center for the Urban Strategic Development (CIDEU).

The Rosario meeting of the USP Commission is aimed at developing the Policy Paper concerning Strategic Urban Development. Said paper will establish a guide on strategic urban planning themes based on different international experiences. That document aims to highlight local authorities’ priorities in dealing with the processes of planning and development strategies, and to create a tool that contains recommendations for an adequate supra-local framework that recognizes the worth of local strategic planning and decision-making.

On April 29, 2009, Mayor Sarmiento will be a speaker at an intercontinental roundtable event which is part of the technical seminar organized within the framework of the CIDEU Congress.

Mayor Sarmiento’s expenses for this trip were paid for by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Organization.

Visayas summit on climate change slated in Cebu City on May 11-12

TACLOBAN CITY — With the growing concern on the negative impact of abnormal climate change, government officials, the private sector and farmer’s groups from Region 8 will take part in the upcoming One Visayas Summit on Climate Change that will tackle pressing environmental issues.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Buenaventura Go-Soco said that the Regional Development Council (RDC) here has been preparing for this event spearheaded by the three RDCs in the Visayas, which is slated on May 11 to 12 in Cebu City.

“Eastern Visayas is the coordinator of this event. This is part of achieving awareness affecting climate change and their ill effects on the environment and on people so that we can have mitigating measure and prevent this from further occurring,” Go-Soco told Leyte Samar Daily Express.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to grace the occasion. It will be participated in by national government agencies, local government units and the private sector, farmer’s organization, and industries.

“It is expected that unless we do positive action, the ill effects of climate change will affect our food production,” Go-Soco said.

It can be recalled that last year, officials of the RDCs of Regions 6, 7 and 8 decided to establish the One Visayas after agreeing that it is time Visayans acknowledge the cultural bond that connects the islands, despite being separated by seawaters.

The three regional development chairpersons, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia of RDC 7; Antique Governor Salvacion Perez of RDC 6, and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento of RDC 8 have planned two projects, the Arts Festival and a summit for climate change.

The Arts Festival was held last March 1 to 8 this year at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Events were slated in Cebu being the center among the major island grouping in the Philippines. (LSDE / Sarwell Q. Meniano)

DPWH speeds up completion of Calbayog-Gatanguit Road Project

Tacloban City (April 8) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 8 is fast tracking the completion of the Calbayog-Gatanguit Road, a report at the DPWH website stated.

The project which is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's SONA commitment, is aimed at rehabilitating and improving the economy of Calbayog City and the other municipalities in Samar province.

It would be recalled that President Arroyo is determined to fulfill her SONA commitments before her term ends in 2010.

The project consists of improvement and widening of road; upgrading and widening road tracks and shoulders; building better drainage facilities and slope protection; and building road safety devices alongside the existing 52.7 kms road, along Maharlika Highway.

The road project also includes replacement of two (2) bridges and rehabilitation of thirteen (13) more bridges located along the Calbayog- Gatanguit.

The Calbayog-Gatanguit Road Section is under Package III of the Arterial Road Link Development Project and entails the improvement and upgrading of about 52.7 kilometers of existing road. The project, Director Angelito Twano informed started in November of 2006 and is scheduled to be completed by August of 2009.

Considering that Samar is located in the country's typhoon belt and runs along the route being passed by commuters from Luzon to Mindanao and vice versa, the road network is constantly subjected to destruction, and deterioration of roadways and shoulders, thus, the DPWH took immediate actions in rehabilitating and improving the road section.

DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. said that taking immediate actions are necessary in improving the national road net. He also added that the DPWH does not only rehabilitate or reconstruct roads immediately but also continue producing new, lasting, safe and efficient roads and bridges to be more convenient. (PIA 8)

Army confers honorary membership to Calbayog City mayor

(Let me give you something from the PIA website. It's a report by Ms. Nimfa Quirante of PIA-Samar)

Army confers honorary membership to Calbayog City mayor
By Ninfa B. Quirante

Calbayog City (24 March) -- The 20th Infantry (WE LEAD) Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division (ID), Philippine Army conferred honorary membership to Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.

In simple but fitting tribute to the chief executive, the mayor received the certificate on March 20, 2009 at the 20th IB camp at Tinambacan Sur, Calbayog City.

Sarmiento was cited among others for unconditionally spearheading the government holistic approach in the conduct of the Internal Security Operations (ISO) within the Area of Operation of the 20th IB.

Said action and support resulted to the collaboration of efforts of all stakeholders towards the realization of the 20th IB mission that is to establish a physically and psychologically secure environment conducive to economic development.

Lt. Col Francis L. Cabugon, Battalion Commander of the 209th IB said he wanted to have a model for LCEs to emulate. He has reiterated seeking support from the mayors and the local populace as regards the region’s effort to promote peace in the area.

Sarmiento said Cabugon exemplifies their model of an LCE thus the conferment of honors.
Earlier, Sarmiento with Representative Reynaldo Uy personally visited 8th ID based in Catbalogan City to profess their support and reportedly extended financial support to the army operations in the region.

Sarmiento then reiterated his dream of uniting the three Samar provinces to attain a physically and socially secure environment.

He also added that he longs to unite all chief executives of the whole Samar, get their acts together and push for the total development of Samar. (PIA-Samar)

Courtesy Call

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento this morning received seven Police Commissioned Officers from Leyte and Eastern Samar.

The Police Officers who called on the City Mayor were PInsp Alfredo A. Espina, PInsp Eric L. Leuterio, PInsp Glenn D. Petilla, PInsp Miguelito N. Bocade, PInsp Francisco A. Tupaz, Jr., PInsp Allan T. Novales, PInsp Michael N. Oraller.

They will be serving Calbayog as part of their Field Training Program from March 25, 2009 to September 30, 2009.

Calbayog Police Chief PSupt Lito Bigoy accompanied the Police Officers during the courtesy call.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with Calbayog Police Chief PSupt Lito Bigoy.