Board Member Sermense on the Samar Budget controversy

Board Member Noel Sermense called for a press conference yesterday (September 3, 2010). It was held at the I's Plant Hotel conference room. Among the issues on hand was the budget of Samar Province. With him were Board Members Charlie Coñejos, Tong Dy and Eunice Babalcon and Atty. Ernesto Arcales.

Board Member Noel Sermense with (l-r) Atty. Ernesto Arcales, BM Prudencio Dy, Jr., BM Charlie Coñejos and BM Eunice Babalcon.

P-Noy meets with Calbayog City and Samar officials

President Benigno Simeon Aquino met with the officials of Calbayog City and some officials of Samar last week.

I still have to get hold of the details of the meeting. In the meantime let me give you the pictures of the officials with President Aquino.

President Aquino with (l-r) Councilors Ver Porlares, Virgil Clemens, Ronald Mark Aquino, Raymund Uy, Florencio Enriquez, Rogelio Casurao and Regina Rabuya, Mayor Reynaldo Uy, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, Councilor Rey James Uy, Danilo Bernate, Arturo Pasacas, Jonas Montealto, Julius Mancol, Susano Salurio and Charlie Boy Coñejos.

President Aquino with (l-r) Samar Provincial Board Members Jasper Sumagang, Charlito Coñejos, Renato Uy, Eunice Babalcon, Noel Sermense, Prudencio Dy and Jimmy Dy.

The City Officials sharing some light moments with President Aquino after the pictorials.

Samar Solon Push for New Samar Province

Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento of the first district of Samar filed on July 15 House Bill 1488 which seeks to create a new province in the Island of Samar.

To be known as Northwestern Samar, the move was initiated by former Congressman and now Calbayog City Mayor Reynaldo Uy. The bill however failed to be enacted into law in the fourteenth congress.

According to Rep. Sarmiento, the proposed province complies with all the requirements stated in Section 461 of the Local Government Code of 1991. The law requires of a province to have at least 250,000 inhabitants, at least 2,000 square kilometers land area, and at least twenty million generated income.

Rep. Sarmiento explains that having a separate province will pave the way for a more manageable cluster of local government units in Samar. The proposed province, with land area of 2,332.20 square kilometers, has a total population of 275,697 in the 2000 survey by the National Statistics Office. He also cited that the generated income of Calbayog City alone satisfies the income requirement in the creation of a new province. Calbayog city and nine other municipalities, namely Almagro, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsangahan, San Jorge, Santa Maragarita, Sto. Nino, Tagapul-an, and tarangan, will be comprising the Northwestern Samar.

The representative likewise filed House 1490 which seeks to annex the Calbayog City District Hospital (CCDH) to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC). Rep. Sarmiento said the bill, if approved by both houses, will further enhance the capacity and facility of the CCDH. Because of the limited facility of the CCDH, people from Samar are sometimes referred to the EVRMC in Tacloban City.

Calbayog City celebrates Nutrition Month 2010

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino as he delivered his message during the launching of Nutrition Month 2010.

The LGU through the City Nutrition Council launched Nutrition Month 2010 today. The opening program was held during the flag-raising ceremony in front the City Hall. Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino led the City Officials during the program. He delivered a message on behalf of Mayor Reynaldo Uy. Also on hand were City Agricuturist Adela Ocenar, Dr. Ginalee Romano and DepEd's Nora Capetillo and Mercy Garcia.

The month-long celebration will include the following activities:

• July 5 - 30: Thematic Seminars (GPTCE) to be conducted by the DepEd.
• July 6 & 9: Radio Guesting by Dr. Sylvia De Guzman, Adela Ocenar and Proserfina Bingayen at DYOG and Radyo Natin.
• July 13: Supplementary Feeding in 106 barangays under the 4P's Program. This will be spearheaded by the CSWDO.
• July 13: Promotion of good Nutrition through "Pabasa sa Nutrisyun" by the City Health Office.
• July 19-23: Thematic Seminars on "Nutritionally-depressed Barangays" to be spearheaded by the DA, CSWDO, CHO and CNC members.
• Cooking Demonstrations
• Nutri-games & prizes
• Promotion of Good Nutrition Training to barangay implementors to be conducted by the the City Health Office.
• July 21: Launching of Nutrition Darama series by the City Nutrition Council in cooperation with DYOG
• July30: Closing Program and Launching of Barangay Bagsakan.

This year's Nutrition Month celebration is anchored on the theme: "Sa pagkaing sapat, wastong timbang ni baby ang katapat!"

Fireams confiscated during the PNP raid at the Happy Valley area

Here are some pictures taken by Henry Puyat. It's the firearms which the PNP ocnfiscated during their raid at the Lower Happy Valley area.

For related news reports please scroll down, or check these links: link 1, link 2.

RDC-8 to meet in Calbayog

The Regional Development Council of Region 8 (RDC-8) will meet in Calbayog City. This will be held on Thursday next week, February 18, 2010.

RDC-8 Chair and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento will preside over the meeting which will be held at the Calbayog City Sports Center.

Images from SoCA 2010

As reported, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calbayog held their first session for 2010 last Monday. The said session took a different twist from the previous ones as it was held in Oquendo. In the agenda was the State of the City Address (SoCA) of Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento. I will be featuring highlights from the SoCA in my next blogpost.

In the meantime, let me share some picture some pictures taken during the event.

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino as he presided over the session. (Photo by Henry Puyat)

(Photo by Henry Puyat)

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino with (l-r) Councilors Ina Rabuya, Danilo Bernate, Noel Sermense and Benjie Dean (Photo by Henry Puyat)

(Photo by Henry Puyat)

(Photo by Irene Pastrana)

Councilors Raymund Uy, Jonas Montealto, Virgil Clemens and Charlie Boy Coñejos (Photo by Henry Puyat)

Councilors Ver Porlares, Julius Mancol, Danilo Bernate and Noel Sermense (Photo by Irne Pastrana)

(Photo by Vaughn Calvara)

(Photo by Vaughn Calvara)

(Photo by Irene Pastrana)

Some of the Department Managers and Assistant Managers present during the event. (Photo by Irene Pastrana)

NwSSU formally inaugurated

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

TACLOBAN CITY - The second state university in Samar province was formally inaugurated yesterday with no less than the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, Secretary Emmanuel Angeles, leading the occasion.

Among the highlights of the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University was the installation of its first state university president, Dr. Socorro Bohol.

Those who witnessed the elevation of the then Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) into a state university was Samar Representative Reynaldo Uy who shepherd for the passage of a law creating the second state university in Samar province.

The province’s first state university was the Samar State University in Catbalogan.

Aside from Angeles and Uy, those who witnessed the milestone were Calbayog city officials led by Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, state university presidents in the region and members of the NwSSU board of regents that includes Regional Director Buenaventura Go-Soco of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

In his message, Uy said that his happiness over the conversion of the TTMIST into a state university was a fulfillment not only for himself but the entire people of Calbayog and Samar province.

"Being now a university, more challenges and bigger tasks lie ahead for NwSSU. All these in the name of extending better service to our constituents, of extending quality education for everyone. With our cooperation and dedication, capacity and integrity of our friends from the NwSSU, there is no doubt that we will succeed", the Samar solon said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the creation of the NwSSU last October 14 as contained under Republic Act 9717.

Mayor Sarmiento said that the inauguration of the NwSSU was a “step towards the path which leads us to extending quality education to the students of Calbayog and of Samar.”

“And I call on the NwSSU to do their share in achieving that,” he said, reminding the university’s officials and educators.

At present, the NwSSU has a total student population of 4,800 who are enrolled to its 35 courses which include education, engineering, hotel and restaurant, and Graduate studies.

The new university has about 105 regular teachers with another 60 working as part time teachers.

The first president of the NwSSU, meantime, vowed to provide quality education to the people of Samar province.

“With confidence, we look forward the challenge of the ideals that lie ahead. With confidence, we look forward to being able to achieve and perform the state universities and colleges mandates along instruction, research, extension and production, all in the name of relevant quality education,” she said.

The then Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology started as a vocational school way back until it was elevated into a tertiary level offering various courses. It was named after a former member of Congress. (JOEY A. GABIETA/LITO ABALA BAGUNAS)

messages for the NwSSU inauguration

The Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) will be formally inaugurated tomorrow. Here are the messages (greetings) of Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Congressman Reynaldo Uy in line with tomorrow's affair.

The message of Congressman Reynaldo Uy:

"I deem it a special privilege to greet everyone during the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU).

As I congratulate the NwSSU community, my fellow Calbayognons and the people of the First District of Samar, I say thank you to Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo, Senator Mar Roxas, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, CHED Chairperson Emmanuel Angeles and especially to my fellow Calbayognons and the people of Samar for their active support as we took the challenges of converting then TTMIST into a university.

The hard task is not over. Being now a university, more challenges and bigger tasks lie ahead for NwSSU. All these in the name extending better service to our constituents, of extending QUALITY EDUCATION for everyone. With our cooperation and the dedication, capacity and integrity of our friends from the NwSSU, there is no doubt that we will succeed.

As I bid you all welcome to the Inauguration, I extend my congratulations to Dr. Socorro Bohol on her installation as the 1st NwSSU President.

Once again, Congratulations to NwSSU, to my fellow Calbayognons and to our constituents in the First District of Samar!"


REYNALDO S. UY, M.D.
Representative, Samar First District

=============================

The message of Mayor Mel Sarmiento:

"I am pleased to greet my fellow Calbayognons and our esteemed guests as we gather for the inauguration of the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU).

I join the NwSSU community in expressing our gratitude to all those who have helped make this day possible: President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo, Senator Mar Roxas, Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Secretary Emmanuel Angeles, and most importantly to all Calbayognons and the people of Samar for their support in making this dream a reality.

There is another dream that needs to be fulfilled - extending QUALITY EDUCATION for everyone. Today’s inauguration is a step towards the path which leads us to doing just that – extending quality education – to the students of Calbayog and of Samar; and I call on the NwSSU to do their share in achieving that.

It is along that line that I also greet Dr. Socorro Bohol on her installation as the 1st NwSSU President.

As I have always told the various stakeholders of the City of Calbayog, the task to put in place a progressive Calbayog is a never-ending one. Padayun kita pagka-urosa ug pagkiwa para san mas progresibo pa nga Ciudad san Calbayog!"


MEL SENEN S. SARMIENTO
Calbayog City Mayor
Chairperson, RDC-8
Secretary-General, League of Cities of the Philippines

NGCP President attends briefing on the 1-B peso Power Transmission Project

As reported, NGCP President and CEO Walter Brown was in Calbayog this morning. He was on hand for the briefing on the 1-billion peso Wright-Calbayog 138kV Power Transmission Project.

On hand for the program were Congressman Reynaldo Uy, Mayor Mel Sarmiento, the City Officials and various sectoral representatives.

For details about the project, please check an earlier blogpsot. Let me give you some pictures taken by Henry Puyat during the program.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento giving the welcome remarks.

Congressman Reynaldo Uy giving his message.

Dr. Walter Brown giving his message after the project briefing.

The officials signing the Covenant of Mutual Support.

NGCP President and CEO Walter Brown (seated 2nd from the right) with (l-r) Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino,Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Mr. Roel Castro, Special Assistant to the NGCP president. Standing are (l-) Councilors Susano Salurio, Julius Mancol, Noel Sermense, Regina Rabuya, Ver Porlares, Virgil Clemens, Danilo Bernate and Rey James Uy.

1-B peso transmission project in Eastern Visayas to be completed by March 2011

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) gave a briefing on the Wright-Calbayog 138-kV Power Transmission Project this morning. Congressman Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento led local officials and sectoral representatives in the activity which was attended by no less than NGCP President and CEO Walter Brown.


The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has started pre-construction works on the 1.189 billion-peso Wright-Calbayog 138 kV Transmission Project in Eastern Visayas.

Scheduled for completion on March 2011, the project is expected to enhance the reliability and quality of electric power by extending the 138-kV backbone transmission system to the northern part of Samar Island.

Electric power in Northern Samar is presently transmitted through the 69-kV line supported by wood poles which are susceptible to tripping causing outages and frequent electric power service interruptions.

Aside from upgrading the line, NGCP will also expand Wright substation and install improvements on transformers as well as protection and communication equipment. A new substation will also be constructed in Calbayog City.

Upon the completion of the project, the power customers in Northern Samar and nearby localities would be the direct beneficiaries of the stronger transmission network.

Maintaining the stability, reliability and efficiency of transmission of power in the Visayas Grid remains as NGCP's priority. NGCP hopes that the project would jumpstart economic progress in the area which has been hampered through the years, primarily by the underdeveloped basic infrastructures including reliable electric power service.

This project is also implemented as part of NGCP's commitment to the technical provisions of the Philippine Grid Code.

The transmission line component of the project was awarded to Xian Electric of China on August 7, 2009 after an open public bidding. The substation component, on the other hand, was awarded to ABB Philippines on August 17, 2009 after a similar public bidding.

NGCP has already acquired the right-of-way (ROW) on 97% of the identified tower sites.

Since January 15 of this year, the privately-owned NGCP has been the official holder of the franchise to operate and maintain the country's power transmission grid, formerly the domain of the government-owned and controlled National Transmission Corporation (TransCo).

Courtesy Call

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento received CSC Director Michael De La Cruz yesterday. Director De La Cruz is the Samar Provincial Director of the Civil Service Commission. He is in town in connection with the Anti-Red Tape campaign and the launching of the Calbayog Citizen's Charter which will be held at 2:00 pm tomorrow (May 7, 2009) at the LMA Auditorium.

Calbayog Pilot Material Recovery Facility to be inaugurated today

The 2.9 million-peso JICA-funded Calbayog City Pilot Material Recovery Facility (MRF) will be inaugurated today. Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino will lead the officials and guests in the ceremony. JICA Philippine Office Representative Makoto Iwashi and JICA Project Team Leader Takshi Goto are expected to be in attendance. Also invited to the affair are the Mayors of the the Municipalities San Isidro (Northern Samar), Sto. Niño, Almagro, Tarangan, Gandara, Sta. Margarita, San Jorge and Matuguinao. The Calbayog MRF which is located in Brgy. Payahan (motorpool) is one of the only three MRFs which JICA constructed in the Philippines, the other two are located in the Cities of Sagay and Davao. Today's MRF blessing will be followed by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Technical Training.

Images from One Visayas

As reported, One Visayas opened yesterday at the Cebu International Convention Center. Let me share some pictures which I got from the blog of Rey Abao - Dacalos

Calbayog City Mayor and RDC-8 Chair Mel Senen Sarmiento (2nd from the right) with Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Senator Mar Roxas, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and other officials during the One Visayas opening ceremonies at the Cebu International Convention Center. (photo from Safelight Photography's Photostream / Rey abao-Dacalos)

Opening Night at the Cebu International Convention Center (Photo from SafeLightPhotography's photostream / Rey Abao-Dacalos)

For related articles, you may check these links:

One Visayas is here (Cebu Daily News)

Film, dance highlight 3rd day of One Visayas expo

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan on Calbayog (a little bit of it)

Today's edition of the Manila Bulletin contained a feature on Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. The two-page article entitled 'Mr. Independent' was an interview conducted by Rachel Barawid, Angelo Garcia, Ina Malipot, Ronald Lim, Jaser Marasigan and Ma. Theresa Arriza. When asked about how he instill discipline on his kids, he cited something about Calbayog:

"... There’s a study that shows that the quality sleep of a child is 8 p.m. to 11. Kaya yung maliliit maliliit. Yung matatatangkad, matatatangkad. Hindi, hindi. (Smiles) I review them for class and I even attend Parents-Teachers conferences. Even with KC. Sabi nga ni Sharon nun, ‘o ikaw naman, maghabol ka…’ In Poveda, up to IS (International School), up to Paris, I met with her academic adviser.

And the truth is, and this is another experience in Calbayog city. In Calbayog city, 2002, the mayor of the city Mayor Sarmiento decided to look into the performance of the Calbayog city high school students in terms of test scores. Local government provided resource materials, PTAs came in also and got involved. They put in place programs, mandatory tutorials on weekends and mock exams for the tests. Three years later, Calbayog City High School was not yet a national high school because there were certain requirements. But then they were already outperforming Cebu national high schools and Manila national high schools. Calbayog High School. So napuwersa yung DepEd naku eto hindi pa national high school pero mas maganda ang grade sa mga national high school. Kakahiya. National high school ka na rin, diba! So they became Calbayog City National High School.

What’s the moral of the story there, when the community, when parents are directly involved in the education of your children, the quality of the education and the performance of the students are much, much better. So there’s no rocket science to it . . . "

For the complete article, you may check this link.

The Mayor's State of the City Address (SOCA 2009)

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento delivered his 2009 State of the City Address yesterday. His speech was part of the agenda of the first session of the City Council for the year 2009.

Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino presided over the session. In attendance were Councilors Rey James Uy, Ver Porlares, Julius Mancol, Danilo Bernate, Regina Rabuya, Noel Sermense, Raymond Uy, Susano Salurio, Arturo Pasacas, Jonas Montealto, Virgil Clemens Florencio Enriquez and Charlie Boy Coñejos.

Also present during the session were the various Department Managers of the LGU. The session was broadcast live over DYOG Radyo ng Bayan and Community TV Channel 6.

The City Mayor opened his report with some LGU highlights from year 2008. The highlights showed that it was a busy year for the LGU. The acitvities presented included among others, the following:

- the USNS Mercy ENCAP and MEDCAP in Samar.
- the visits of President Gloria Arroyo, U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Secretary Arthur Yap.
- the introduction of the weekly People's Day at the City Hall and in some barangays.
- the campaign to reassure the public about the availability of rice in the city and the region.
- the continuing Secure Tenure Program of the City Urban Housing Division.

(For more highlights cited by the City Mayor, you may check the 2008 archives of this blog.)

Mayor Sarmiento also gave the Officials and the People of Calbayog an update on what the various Departments are doing with regard to the service they have rendered to Calbayog. This was done through the presentation of score cards of the various LGU Departments.

(It should be noted that it was the same score card system that the City Mayor presented to President Arroyo during the RDC meeting in September 2008. The same was ordered by the President to be implemented in various RDCs all over the country).

The City Mayor also included the various awards the recognition that the LGU received, foremost among which is the recognition from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) citing Calbayog as one of the Most Competetive Small-sized Cities in the Philippines.

(You may check the reports on the awards and recognition for the LGU in the 2008 archives section of this blog)

The City Mayor cited a good number of projects for 2009. Some of these projects are the following:
- the completion of the Calbayog City Sports Complex (Gymnasium)
- the new Market
- Convention Center
- Landfill
- a new Park

While he ended his report on a positive note, he noted the not-so-good forecast for the year ahead. He called on everyone to join hands to work hard for Calbayog and for the country. He did that by quoting a message that Finance Secretary sent him via text:

"Despite the generally unfavorable forecast, we are hopeful that 2009 will be better than expected if we continue to work hard, have faith in ourselves and pray together for our country."

Here are some pictures from yesterday's activity:

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino presiding over the session

Councilors Bombie Enriquez, Charlie Boy Coñejos and Julius Mancol

(l-r) Councilors Jonas Monatealto and Virgil Clemens with some Department Managers as they listened to the SOCA.

The Urban Poor Solidarity Week

The City Government recently spearheaded the Urban Poor Solidarity Week 2008. The activity which was anchored on the theme "Urban Poor Empowerment: The City's Vision for Sustainable MDGs Localization", was graced by the presence of HUDCC Secretary-General, Undersecretary Lucille Ortile.

A good number of Officers and Members of 54 Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and the beneficiaries of Caramel and Tomalon subdivisions participated in the parade and solidarity which capped the week-long event.

Here are some pictures from the day's activity.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento with Usec Lucille Ortile as they welcomed the parade participants.

Mayor Sarmiento with Usec. Ortile as they visited the San Policarpo resettlement site

The City Mayor with the HUDCC Usec at Carmela Subdivision.

For more pictures, please check this link.

Board Member Nancy Rosales sworn in as Acting Samar Vice Governor

Board Member Rosenaida "Nancy" Rosales (Samar, 1st District) was sworn in as Acting Vice Governor of Samar yesterday. She took her oath before Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.

Board Member Rosales was sworn in to the position after Samar Vice Governor Jesus Redaja took oath as Acting Governor of Samar following the 90-day preventive suspension that the DILG served on Governor Mila Tan.