People's Day sa Barangay Basud

Kataliwan san Alay lakad 2010, guin buhat an People's Day (para san bulan san Oktubre) didto sa Barangay Basud. Guin pangunahan ni Mayor Reynaldo Uy mga opisyales san ciudad, mga Department Managers ug Assistant Department Managers sa nasabi nga katitirok nga guin atendiran liwat ni Congressman Mel Senen Sarmiento. An mga opisyales san Barangay Basud guin pangunahan ni Punong Barangay Edwin Señora.

Sugad san nahinanabo san mga People's Days sa iba nga mga barangay, damu nga mga isyu nga may kalabtanan san barangay ug ciudad an natagan atensyon sa nasabi nga katitiruk.

An People's Day usa nga aktibidad san LGU Calbayog nga naglalarang "pagdara san gubierno ngadto san katawhan" (Bringing the government to the people).

Si Mayor Reynaldo Uy kaupod sira OIC-City Accountant Rodel Lim, Urban Housing Head Cecinio Oquendo, Punong Barangay Edwin Señora ug Konsehal Ver Porlares.

Sira Jun Cortado, Calbayog PNP Chief P/Supt Nestor Valenzuela, Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, City Secretary Rosendo Morales ug City Treasurer Federico Resente Jr.

Si Punong Barangay Edwin Señora san Basud kaupod si Mayor Uy ug OIC-City Assessor Jessie Montealto.

An mga opisyales san Barangay Basud

Assistant CTIO Ronald Ricafort, Assitant LCR Leonor Aquino, Assistant City Secretary Elena Cortado, Assistant City Accountant Monina Ortega, City Budget Officer Geronides Mancol ug LCR Fe Queroljico.

(photos courtesy of CTIO)

Vice Mayor Aquino leads LGU Olympics Launching and 1st Draw of Kwarta Sa Resibo promo

Guin pangunahan yana nga kulop ni Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino an simple nga programa kaparte san bubuhatun nga LGU Olympics. An nasabi nga program guinbuhat didto sa City Hall Stage antes an flag-retreat ceremomy. An LGU Olympics usa nga nga may kalabtanan san paugnat-kusog para san mga LGU employees. Ug yana nga tu-ig ini guin himo komo kaparte san mga buruhatun san ika 62 nga Calbayog Charter Day Celebration.

Sa mao manta nga katitirok kanina nga kulop, guin buhat an siyahan nga raffle draw san "Kwarta sa Resibo" promo san ciudad. An nasabi nga promo nga kapareho san programa san BIR mao an naglalarang pag-aghat san mga lumulupyo nga mangaro sin resibo para san ira mga pinamalit sa mga tindahan sa Calbayog.

Si Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino san iya opisyal nga pag-abre san LGU Olympics.

Si BPLO Chief Eduardo Galang san iya pagpurot san resibo nga nagdaug dos mil pesos.

Si Treasurer Federico Resente Jr., san iya pagpurot san nagdaug san tres mil pesos.

Si Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino an nagbunot san nagdaug san monthly grand prize nga 5 mil pesos.

Si 3-D CUPS Director Dr. Teody Fortaleza.

photos courtesy of CTIO

Presscon for Premyo sa Resibo

Guinbuhat kakulop Sitiembre 13, 2010 sa City Mayor's Office an usa nga presscon mahitungod san pag-launch san "Premyo sa Resibo" project san CUPS component asn 3-D program. An katuyu-anan san nasabi nga programa kapareho san katutyu-anan san BIR nga agu maka-aghat san mga mamaralit nga mangaroa san resibo sa mga tindahan sa Calbayog.

An binulan nga draw may premyo nga 5 mil pesos (1st prize), 3 mil pesos (2nd prize) ug 2 mil pesos (3rd prize). Ug sa grand draw an premyo 15 mil pesos (1st prize), 10 mil pesos (2nd prize) ug 5 mil pesos (3rd prize).

An siyahan nga raffle draw bubuhatun sa katapusan nga Viernes san bulan san Sitiembre.

Si Mayor Reynaldo Uy kaupod sira (w-t) OIC-City Assessor Jessie Montealto, BPLO Chief Eduardo Galang, City Treasurer Federico Resente, Jr., BIR Calbayog Head Manuelita Peñaranda ug 3-D CUPS Director Dr. Teodoro Fortaleza.

People's Day sa Barangay Aguit-itan

Guinbuhat yana nga adlaw an People's Day sa Barangay Aguit-itan. Ini resulta san Iwas Dengue Days nga guinpatuman san lokal nga pan-gubiernuhan san Calbayog. Sumala san report san General Services Office, an opisina nga naka-assign sa Barangay Aguit-itan, damu kaupay nga basura ug iba pa nga nakakahugaw an ira na-obserbaran sa nasabi nga barangay.

Nagkamay-ada sin usa nga dialogue sa butnga san mga opisayales san ciudad kaupod an mga Department Managers ug san mga lumulupyo san Aguit-itan. Nahibaru-an nga an barangay may-ada kalugaringun nga anti-littering ordinance, kundi tungod san katig-a san ulo san kadam-an nga naukoy sa nasabi nga barangay, ini dire nahipapatuman. Guin abuyun san mga taga Aguit-itan sa atubangan san mga opisyales san ciudad nga istrikto na nga ig-iimplimentar an nasabi nga ordinansa nga upod na an pagdire san mga kutay (o sampay sa pathway) sugad man an pagdire sa pagtangkal o paghigot san mga baboy sa pathway.

Usa liwat nga daku nga problema nga nahibaruan mao an basura labi na sa tinatawag nga wetland area. Sugad man an problema mahitungod san presensya san mga fish vendors sa dalan. Guin harampangan liwat an mahitungod san mga paragbulad diin an ira pagbulad nagdadangat san maraut nga baho dire la sa nasabi nga barangay kundi naabot pa sa City Hall compound ug sa Barangay West Awang. Tungod sine, guinkasaragbutan nga igdidire na na pagbulad ug ini guin uyunan san mga nadabihan pina-agi san ira pagsaad nga mabalhin sira san iba nga lugar gawas san city proper.

Guin abuyunan nga sa ti-abot nga Lunes, an mga opisyales sa panguna ni Mayor Reynaldo Uy, kaupod an mga Department Managers mao an malibot sa bug-os nga Aguit-itan agud makit-an kun may resulta an guin abuyunan sa guinbuhat nga People's Day.

Si Mayor Reynaldo Uy kaupod an pipira nga paragbulad sa Barangay Aguit-itan.

Si Konsehala Regina Rabuya san iya paghatag san mensahe. Kaupod sa litratu sira Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, ug sira Konsehal Jim Uy, Ver Porlares, Ronald Mark Aquino, Arturo Pasacas ug Jonas Montealto.

An pipira san mga Department Managers nga nag-atendir san People's Day.

Mayor Uy meets with Urban Poor Association officers

Mayor Reynaldo Uy delivering his message.

Mayor Reynaldo Uy observed Samar Day by meeting with the officers of the various Urban Poor organizations of Calbayog.

The activity was held at I's Plant Hotel and was attended by the City Officials namely Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilors Ronald Mark Aquino, Raymund Uy, Arturo Pasacas, Rey James Uy, Rogelio Casurao, Regina Rabuya, Julius Mancol, Susano Salurio, Vergel Clemens and Ver Porlares.

Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino

City Urban Housing Division (CUHD) Chief Cecinio Oquendo updated the city officials on what his office is doing. Aside from helping the various urban poor homeowners associations, his office did some interventions (social engineering) and / or assistance for those affected by the various projects implemented by the government to include the NGCP construction of the substation in Carayman, the Rueda walkway, the airport expansion project, among others.

Through the CUHD, the city was able to acquire some lots from the National Government and the same were distributed to the urban poor settlers in the various barangays namey:

• Barangay Balud Purok 5 (42,088 sq. m.)
• Barangay Balud from Rueda to Gomez streets (2,100 sq. m.)
• Barangay Dagum Purok 1 (6,686 sq. m.)
• Barangay Nijaga (19,776 sq. m.)
• Barangay Hamorawon (141,000 sq. m.)
• Barangay San Policarpo (86,416 sq. m.)
• Barangay Basud (10,000 sq. m.)

The best news for the day was delivered by Mayor Reynaldo Uy himself. Mayor Uy announced the conversion of the Urban Housing Division into a full-pledge department to be known as the City Housing Department with Mr. Cecinio Oquendo as its first Department Manager.

City Urban Housing Division Chief Cecinio Oquendo.

Urban Poor Federation President Wilfredo Cacait delivering his message

Iwas Dengue report from the City Agriculture Office

The Iwas Dengue Days Program of the City Government was launched about two weeks ago. The LGU offices were each given a barangay or area of assignment. The City Agriculture Office was among the few offices which provided the Office of the City Mayor their Iwas Dengue report.

On July 23, 2010, the 24 City Agriculture Office personnel met with the Barangay Officials headed by Brgy.Chairman Genaro Luaton. Also present in the said meeting were some 4P’s beneficiaries. After the meeting, sites inspection was done. The team found some problems which contributed to the increase of the population of mosquito.

An interview with Tinambacan Norte Brgy. Kagawad Rachel Lerio revealed that fifteen (15) dengue-cases were reported in the barangay from January to July 2010. The victims’ ages ranged from 5 to 9 years old. There was one (1) reported casualty - the five (5) year old granddaughter of Brgy. Kagawad Jaime Castante who died on May 2010. About a week ago, a son of a nurse in a local hospital was diagnosed to have been infected with dengue. It should be noted that as of this report, Tinambacan Norte ranked 3^rd among the barangays of Calbayog with the most dengue-related cases.

Here are some of the issues and concerns which the CA personnel identified:

1. A good number of open canals were clogged due to the trash (plastics, leaves, sand, etc) being thrown into it.
2. Most of the canals were allegedly “erroneously designed”, with some having floor elevation of the exit much higher than the entry point.
3. Some of the canals encroach private / fenced properties, which made the cleaning of clogged canals hard for the kamineros.
4. A of piggery owned by on Mr. Lentejas does not have septic tank.
5. Littering is a big issue that needed to be addressed. Despite the Barangay's Anti-Littering Ordinance, the populace continue to throw their trash anywhere.
6. It was learned that the collection of garbage was done only once a week (Wednesday), and that could be reason why some residents just throw their garbage in an open field or any area for that matter.

The City Agriculture Office personnel will be doing follow-ups on their findings in the forthcoming Iwas Dengue days activity.

(Photos courtesy of Ivy Petilla/CAO)

Calbayog launches the Tri-District Program

The City Government officially launched the Tri-District (3-D) Development Program Today. The event which was preceded by a motorcade was held at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Invited to the event were the Punong Barangays from the 157 barangays of Calbayog.

Mayor Reynaldo Uy officially launched the program. In his message before the crowd which also included the various Department Managers and city stakeholders, he enumerated some points from his Executive Order which re-launched the 3-D Program. He informed all present that the 3-D slogan is DETERMINASYON: DALAN sa DAYUN nga kauswagan. The 3-D battle-cry is LET’S HELP-Calbayog City. It is an acronym which reads L for legislative; E for executive, T & S for total support; H for health and humanitarian concerns; E for education, culture and the arts, environment, eco-tourism, energy and communication empowerment in governance; L for livelihood, land and housing; P for projects, production, peace and order, population development and partnerships

The Executive Directors of the various 3-D program components were on hand to give their respective presentations. They were Mr. Ruben Adona, Mr. Francisco Baldo, Mr. Justino Arnejo, Engr. Rafaelito Serrano, Dr. Teodoro Fortaleza and Ms. Rosario Gonzaga

The 3-D Program in a way divides Calbayog into four districts through its four components namely Oquendo Key Program for Revitalization, Sustainability and Services (OK-PROGRESS) for Oquendo District, Tinambacan Upliftment of Socio-Economic Conditions (TUSEC) for Tinambacan District and Seven Hills Happy Valley Alleviation and Road Program (SHARP) and Calbayog Urbanization Program and Services (CUPS) for Calbayog District.

More fine-tuning and updating are set for the program. Its implementation will include Database Establishment and Data Gathering, Identification of Problems and Solutions to include Feasibility Studies, Strong Support, Determined Executive Action, AND People’s Participation.

The 3-D program components and its respective programs are as follows:

- Health (Hospital, Medicines, Nutrition, Mother and Child Health Care)

- Education (School Bus, Scholarship, High School, Teachers, Classrooms, non-formal adult education and responsible parenting classes)

- Infrastructure (Power / Communication, Roads, Water, Irrigation, Warehouse, Solar Dryer, School Buildings, Mini Hospitals with Health Centers, Training / Demo Centers, Sports Facilities, Drainage, Intermodal Transport system)

- Agriculture (Grains, Coconut, Abaca, Rootcrops, Cash Crops, Vegetable, Aquaculture, Horticulture)

- Livestock (Pig Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Cow Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Carabao Production / Fattening / Dispersal, Goats Production / Fattening / Dispersal)

- Industries / SMEs (Food processing, Handicraft, Furniture, Ceramics)

- Power (Hydro-electric project)

- Environment (Anti-illegal logging, Anti-illegal quarrying, Reforestation)

- Peace and Order (Programs/ Drives against: Illegal gambling, Prostitution / Recruitment, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Fishing, Illegal Logging, Illegal Quarrying, Juvenile Delinquency)

- Disaster Preparedness

- Eco-Toursim

- Housing

- Arts and Culture

- Youth

- Intangibles (Moral Recovery, Capability Building, Administrative Reforms)

- Integral Components namely Gender and Development and Population and Development.

As part of the implementation of this undoubtedly big program, three planning workshop session for the punong barangay for all three districts of Calbayog has been scheduled.

(my apologies for the few pictures posted. I took videos of the event and I'm having a hard time uploading these in my blogposts)

Update on the Calbayog City Hospital

Mayor Reynaldo Uy as he greeted the DOH RO-8 group which was headed by Dr. Minerva Molon.

Mayor Reynaldo Uy met with the representative of the Department of Health (DOH) RO-8 today. The meeting was held at the Marju-Krisel Function Hall immediately after the CPOC emergency meeting.

The DOH team was headed by DOH RO-8 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon. With her were Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, Dr. Perla Ernacio, Mrs. Nellosa Guarda and Engr. Jasper De Veyra. Also present were the members of the Ad Hoc Committee which was formed for the Calbayog City Hospital.

Dr. Molon updated Mayor Uy and the Ad Hoc Committee members on the evaluation on the application for Certificate of Need (CON) of the Calbayog City Hospital.

Five criteria were taken into consideration.

Criteria 1. Bed to Population ratio.

For its primary catchment area, the hospital being a level 3 application will have the (Samar) province as coverage area hence it will have a catchment population of approximately 1,438,000. As of the moment 340 hospital beds are available in the primary catchment area. The number of hospital beds are distributed as follows: Samar Provincial Hospital (100 beds), Calbayog District Hospital (75 beds), Gandara (10 beds), Bassey (25 beds), Tarangnan (10 beds), St. Camillus Hospital (25 beds), Calbayog Sanitarium Hospital (15 beds) and OLPHI (80 beds)

On the other hand, 350 beds are available in the secondary catchment area (and this would be the Northern Samar area). The hospitals in the area are Allen Hospital (50 beds), Biri (25 beds), Capul (25 beds), GB Tan (50 beds), NSPH (100 beds), Gamay (25 beds), San Antonio (25 beds), San Vicente (10 beds), Catubig (25 beds), Leoncio Uy Private Hospital (15 beds).

Total inventory of hospital beds is at 735, to include the approved PTC for 50-bed Samar Doctors.

The ideal bed-to-population ratio is = 0.511, which means that the province still needs 703 beds more. Calbayog's application for 25 beds is passed the first criteria; and that applying for 50 beds would still be okey.

Criteria 2. Travel Time. At least one hour away from the nearest hospital. This was not met, with OLPHI, a level-3 hospital and St. Camillus Hospital.

Criteria 3. Accessibility. This was okeyed by the group.

Criteria 4. Strategic Location. The group visited the proposed site after the meeting at Marju-Krisel and a recommendation is forthcoming.

Criteria 5. Integration in the local hospital development plan. As of today's meeting, only the City annual Investment Plan was received by DOH RO-8.

The following recommendations were presented by the DOH group and duly noted by the Ad Hoc Committee:

• The CON is approved, however there is a need to look into the clustering of the private hospitals in the proposed site.
• The possibility of the proposed hospital becoming a dumping ground of "indigent cases" which might be rejected by the private hospitals.
• The need for the hospital plan to be integrated in the City Development Plan for sustainability.
• Present budget is only for the construction of the hospital physical structure. Still needed to be looked into are manpower, equipment and service capability needs which cost bigger budget.

The group's report also included the "Case Mix of patients admitted in the hospital in Cabayog City:

1. Pneumonia
2. Congestive Heart Failure
3. Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease
4. PTB
5. AGE
6. UTI
7. Diabetes Mellitus
8. Peptic Ulcer Diseases
9. PUFT
10. Bronchial Ashma

Mayor Reynaldo Uy with DOH RO-8 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon.

(l-r) Mrs. Nellosa Guarda, Engr. Jasper De Veyra, Dr. Perla Ernocia, Dr. Exuperia Sabalbarino and Dr. Minerva Molon.

The Calbayog Hospital Ad Hoc Committee Members (l-r) Dr. Sylvia De Guzman (CHO), Engr. Gil Lentejas (CPDO), Mrs. Geronides Mancol (CBO), Mr. Jessie Montealto (CAO) and Atty. Oscar Hugo (CEO).

The group as they visited the proposed hospital site along the national highway in Sitio Talahib.

Mayor Uy with Dr. Molon.

Seminar for Pedicab Drivers

The CSWDO with the PNP and IJM-Calbayog recently conducted a Pedicab Drivers' Seminar on Traffic Rules, City Ordinances, Values Enhancement and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (R.A. 9208).

The seminar was held at the SK Dormitory Covered Court in Brgy. Pagbalican, Calbayog City. Approximately 2,000 PD cab drivers participated in the activity.

The IJM billboard announcing the seminar. Noteworthy is its message: HIBARO-AN AN BALAUD. ISUMBONG AN MGA TRAFFICKERS. An "Anti-Trafficking n Persons Act of 2003" nahatag sin pinakadako nga sirot sin pagkapreso sa bug-os nga kinabuhi ug multa nga P 2-5 M para san matalapas sini nga balaud. Tawag o Text 0908-627-8639.

Halad sa Pasko 2009 opens tonight

Halad sa Pasko 2009 will officially open tonight at the Nijaga Park. The Opening Ceremonies will include production numbers by the CACO-ISKOLARS and the Rondalla Group. It will be highlighted by the lighting of the Christmas Tree and a grand fireworks display. Expected to deliver their messages are Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Councilor Julius Mancol. The opening program will be followed by the Lantaka competition; and the SIANO Concert at 9:00 pm.

Other activities slated during this annual Christmas Festival are the following:

• December 17: "Paangbit" (CKC Show) at 7:00 pm; Akostiks Concert at 9:00 pm
• December 18: "Riot sa Calbayog" with Pooh, Kay Brozas, Princess Ryan and Joseph Bitangcol at the Calbayog City Sports Center at 7:00 pm; VoyzTag Band / Akostiks concert also at 7:00 pm
• December 19: Pioneer 505 / Akostiks Concert at 7:00 pm
• December 20: VoyzTag Band / Akostiks Concert at 7:00 pm
• December 21: "Parokya ni Edgar Live in Calbayog!" at the Calbayog City Sports Center at 7:00 pm
• December 22: Share-a-Gift (gift-giving in some selected barangays; "Si Boloy ug si Podok: D Adbentyur" (a comedy play) at 7:00 pm; Akostiks Concert at 9:00 pm
• December 23: Share-a-Gift (gift-giving in some selected barangays; Seleksiyon 2 (Waray-waray Christmas songs) at 7:00 pm; SIANO Band in concert with Ghille / Gilay at 9:00 pm

Unless indicated, all the activities will be held at the Nijaga Park stage.

Halad sa Pasko is an annual project of the City Government of Calbayog through Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Mayor Mel Sarmiento and the Sangguniang Panlungsod thorough Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino.

Migara National High School granted permit to operate

(This news item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

CALBAYOG CITY – City Schools Division Superintendent Editha Paculan recently announced the official approval of Migara National High School, this city, by the Department of Education to operate from first year to fourth year levels effective school year 2009-2010.

Pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act 9155, otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001", the Migara National High School in Brgy. Migara, Calbayog City, was granted a permit to operate 1st Year to 4th Year levels Secondary Education curriculum.

Upon the recommendation of Samar 1st District Congressman Reynaldo S. Uy and of the Office of Calbayog City SDS Paculan, a DepEd regional team evaluated the school. As of this writing, Migara National High School has a total enrolment of 186 students, and 7 teachers headed by the Teacher In-Charge Rolando Lacbo.

Paculan also informed that City Mayor Mel Sarmiento provided the school with school buildings and furnitures.

Migara National High School which started operations in 2005 produced its first set of graduates on March of this year (For a related post, please check this link). The school is located 12.5 kilometers northeast from the city proper.

Mrs. Paculan also said that another public high school will be opened in Brgy. Tabawan, as an integrated high school of Migara. So far, there are 13 public schools in the city.

As this developed, the office of Mrs. Paculan has been receiving text messages about alleged anomalies of school administrators demanding payments for transfers of teachers and promotions. Observers said that teachers are now courageous and brave to report about this alleged corruption by some school administrators.

Reacting to this complaint, Paculan said her office is open to any investigation. “For evils to triumph, let good men do nothing,” Paculan was quoted as saying. (Henry Puyat / Manding Toleza)

Images from the BEST Summit

As reported, the Barangay Education Strategic Team (BEST) Summit was held last Tuesday, November 24, 20209 at the Calbayog City Sports Center. Among the aims of the one-day event was to come up with mechanisms to ensure school attendance among the public school students in the various barangays of Calbayog. The event was participated in by the Barangay officials and SK officials from the three districts of Calbayog. The summit was spearheaded by the City Government of Calbayog in coordination with DepEd Calbayog and DILG Calbayog.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento (right) with Mrs. Iluminda Gonzales, Councilor Regina Rabuya, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino and Calbayog SDS Editha Paculan.

Calbayog SDS Edita Paculan

Mayor Mel Sarmiento

DepEd Mathematics ES-1 Ramon Miano

DILG-Calbayog City Director Valente Bajet

LIGA President, Councilor Florencio Enriquez.