(This item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
Tacloban City - The outgoing mayor of Calbayog City, Mel Senen Sarmiento, has asked for the immediate return of the 52 policemen from the city who were removed from their assignments during the recently-held elections.
Sarmiento, in a talk with the employees of the city government after the flag-raising ceremonies at the City Hall grounds yesterday, admitted that he was hurt and felt insulted when the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police pulled out practically the entire city police force.
Worse, the checkpoints were established in the area where he lives, Sarmiento, who won as a congressman representing Samar's first congressional district, said in his extemporaneous speech, a voice copy of which was provided to Leyte Samar Daily Express.
"I could not understand what the professionalism of the Philippine National Police is all about? I'm somewhat lost . . a level of respect to the leadership of the PNP (here in the region)," Sarmiento said.
The city mayor said that if indeed the regional leadership of the PNP was true to its mandate of ensuring peaceful elections in Calbayog, "They should have leveled the playing fields."
Sarmiento could be alluding to the perceptions that the PNP in the region were favoring other candidates to the disadvantage of other candidates like himself.
The city has been earlier identified by the PNP as one of the "areas of concern" during the elections.
Sarmiento, who is also the incumbent chair of the Regional Development Council, said that he would sit down with the officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the immediate return of the city policemen.
Sarmiento said that 52 policemen from Calbayog city police station were relieved from their respective posts, led by then city police chief, Superintendent Lito Bigoy, days before the conduct if the May 10 elections.
these policemen were reassigned to the regional PNP headquarters for their alleged political partisanship. They have yet to return to their old posts in Cabayog City.
Sarmiento also said that the alleged partisanship among the policemen of Calbayog City, which was used as the basis for their transfer, has to be proven first by the PNP regional; headquarters before they were sacked from their posts.
He said that being natives of the city, the possibility that these sacked policemen could have relatives or friends seeking elective posts during the May 10 elections was not remote.
"We're all from Calbayog. We're all friends. Just because they are form here, they were removed even without authority from the Commission on Elections," Sarmiento said.
He also said that as the chief executive of the city, he should have been provided with a list of who would be Calbayog's chief of police.
Sarmiento also said that since he became a mayor, all the requests of the police organization were granted by him, including paper and gasoline supplies. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Showing posts with label lsde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lsde. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Fireams confiscated during the PNP raid at the Happy Valley area
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Alleged leader of partisan armed group killed in shoot out with police
(This news report appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
CALBAYOG CITY- An alleged leader of a partisan armed group operating in Calbayog City was killed in a shoot out Sunday morning as 20 of his members were also apprehended.
Killed was Michael Tirga who died on the spot due to a bullet wound he sustained at his left breast, Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, police chief of Calbayog, said.
Tirga has a standing warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Manuel Torrevillas, Jr, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 issued on January 30, 2009, Ramirez said.
“But based on the intelligence reports that we have gathered, he was the leader of a partisan armed group identified with a local politician,” Ramirez said.
He declined to identify any local politician who is supporting the group of Tirga.
The presence of Tirga in the area, some 12 kms away from the city proper of Calbayog, was through the information of their intelligence assets, the city police chief said.
During the serving of the warrant, Tirga managed to engage the members of the RMG in a shoot out that also resulted to the injury of one PO1 Ablinga, Ramirez said. The police officer was wounded on his left arms and was rushed to the Our Lady of Porciuncula Hospital, Inc. in Calbayog City.
On the same day, the members of the RMG also conducted simultaneous operations against identified members of the group of Tirga in the villages of Sinantan, Navarro, Patong, Hibatang and Rawis, some of Calbayog’s remotest villages.
The operations in those barangays resulted to the arrest of 20 men, two of them were of minor ages.
Some of these arrested men have standing warrants of arrest for murder and illegal logging, Ramirez said.
All are now detained at the city police jail while the two minors were brought to the city social welfare office.
Ramirez said that the arrests of those men also netted for the discovery and confiscation of assorted firearms at their respective houses.
But one of those arrested, Jesus Jalayajay, denied that he was a member of the any partisan armed group.
“I am just an ordinary farmer. That is why, I was surprised that they arrested us,” the 37- year- old Jalayahay said.
Meantime, both Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento commended successful operations of the police authorities, saying this will help achieve the goal of the Commission on Elections of peaceful and orderly elections.
“I am commending the operations of the RMG which resulted to the neutralization of this armed group. This will really help us in having peaceful and orderly elections,” Uy said.
“I grew up with a family of priests. (And) we have been fighting for peace ( in our area), he said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
CALBAYOG CITY- An alleged leader of a partisan armed group operating in Calbayog City was killed in a shoot out Sunday morning as 20 of his members were also apprehended.
Killed was Michael Tirga who died on the spot due to a bullet wound he sustained at his left breast, Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, police chief of Calbayog, said.
Tirga has a standing warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Manuel Torrevillas, Jr, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 32 issued on January 30, 2009, Ramirez said.
“But based on the intelligence reports that we have gathered, he was the leader of a partisan armed group identified with a local politician,” Ramirez said.
He declined to identify any local politician who is supporting the group of Tirga.
The presence of Tirga in the area, some 12 kms away from the city proper of Calbayog, was through the information of their intelligence assets, the city police chief said.
During the serving of the warrant, Tirga managed to engage the members of the RMG in a shoot out that also resulted to the injury of one PO1 Ablinga, Ramirez said. The police officer was wounded on his left arms and was rushed to the Our Lady of Porciuncula Hospital, Inc. in Calbayog City.
On the same day, the members of the RMG also conducted simultaneous operations against identified members of the group of Tirga in the villages of Sinantan, Navarro, Patong, Hibatang and Rawis, some of Calbayog’s remotest villages.
The operations in those barangays resulted to the arrest of 20 men, two of them were of minor ages.
Some of these arrested men have standing warrants of arrest for murder and illegal logging, Ramirez said.
All are now detained at the city police jail while the two minors were brought to the city social welfare office.
Ramirez said that the arrests of those men also netted for the discovery and confiscation of assorted firearms at their respective houses.
But one of those arrested, Jesus Jalayajay, denied that he was a member of the any partisan armed group.
“I am just an ordinary farmer. That is why, I was surprised that they arrested us,” the 37- year- old Jalayahay said.
Meantime, both Samar Rep. Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento commended successful operations of the police authorities, saying this will help achieve the goal of the Commission on Elections of peaceful and orderly elections.
“I am commending the operations of the RMG which resulted to the neutralization of this armed group. This will really help us in having peaceful and orderly elections,” Uy said.
“I grew up with a family of priests. (And) we have been fighting for peace ( in our area), he said. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
PNP neutralizes armed group, confiscates 41 firearms
(This article appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO,Leyte - An alleged leader of a private armed group (PAG) operating in Samar and a long time fugitive from the law was killed while a policeman was seriously wounded in a raid conducted by the police authorities yesterday morning, Chief Supt. Rey L. Lañada, Eastern Visayas PNP regional chief reported.
Lañada said that around 11 a.m. yesterday a joint operation of the Special Task Group composed of the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (RPSMB), Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) along with operatives of the Calbayog City police and Gandara PNP both in Samar province conducted the raid resulting to the killing of Michael Terga believed to be the leader of “‘Terga” private armed group and the arrest of two other wanted persons in their safe houses in Brgy. San Jose, Patong and Sinatan in Calbayog City.
He said that 20 other armed persons allegedly member of the Terga armed group were apprehended separately in the three mentioned barangays during the raid and 41 firearms were confiscated from the suspects.
Senior Supt. Raul Saysay, commander of the RPSMB-8, said that the police operatives was fired upon by the armed group wounding PO1 Alexis Ablinga. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Tacloban City. In recognition of their exemplary performance in line of duty resulting to the neutralization of the Terga armed group, Ablinga and the other policemen will be awarded with a medalya ng Kagalingan by Chief Supt. Lañada on Tuesday.
The confiscate firearms as reported by Lañada were seven short guns, 4 M16 Armalite rifle, two .45 pistols, one INGRAM machine pistol, 1357 revolver, three Cal. .38, one Cal. .22 Magnum, 18 Improvised shotguns, and six magazine fed shotguns, one KG9 Submachine gun, five cal. .22 rifles, three airguns, five magazines for M16, three magazines for cal. 45 pistol and assorted ammunitions.
“This is so far the biggest accomplishment of the command in the campaign against private armed groups, and we are looking ahead to completely dismantle other existing PAGS in Samar in our future operations. We are hoping the cooperation and support of the community”, Lañada told reporters.
Only last week, the police regional office 8 ranked number-one among other 15 regions nationwide in the campaign against PAGs.
Early this year when Lañada assumed office here he created a special unit that would focus and concentrate on the neutralization of PAGs operating all over the region as part of the measures to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the police authorities in the region also dismantled the Moloboco private armed group allegedly controlled by a former mayor in Samar.
Nine members of the Moloboco private armed group operating in the first district of Samar were also arrested in a special police operations.
The PNP officials have named eight private armed groups in the region which is now subject for their intelligence build-up and surveillance operations. (MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA)
CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO,Leyte - An alleged leader of a private armed group (PAG) operating in Samar and a long time fugitive from the law was killed while a policeman was seriously wounded in a raid conducted by the police authorities yesterday morning, Chief Supt. Rey L. Lañada, Eastern Visayas PNP regional chief reported.
Lañada said that around 11 a.m. yesterday a joint operation of the Special Task Group composed of the Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (RPSMB), Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) along with operatives of the Calbayog City police and Gandara PNP both in Samar province conducted the raid resulting to the killing of Michael Terga believed to be the leader of “‘Terga” private armed group and the arrest of two other wanted persons in their safe houses in Brgy. San Jose, Patong and Sinatan in Calbayog City.
He said that 20 other armed persons allegedly member of the Terga armed group were apprehended separately in the three mentioned barangays during the raid and 41 firearms were confiscated from the suspects.
Senior Supt. Raul Saysay, commander of the RPSMB-8, said that the police operatives was fired upon by the armed group wounding PO1 Alexis Ablinga. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Tacloban City. In recognition of their exemplary performance in line of duty resulting to the neutralization of the Terga armed group, Ablinga and the other policemen will be awarded with a medalya ng Kagalingan by Chief Supt. Lañada on Tuesday.
The confiscate firearms as reported by Lañada were seven short guns, 4 M16 Armalite rifle, two .45 pistols, one INGRAM machine pistol, 1357 revolver, three Cal. .38, one Cal. .22 Magnum, 18 Improvised shotguns, and six magazine fed shotguns, one KG9 Submachine gun, five cal. .22 rifles, three airguns, five magazines for M16, three magazines for cal. 45 pistol and assorted ammunitions.
“This is so far the biggest accomplishment of the command in the campaign against private armed groups, and we are looking ahead to completely dismantle other existing PAGS in Samar in our future operations. We are hoping the cooperation and support of the community”, Lañada told reporters.
Only last week, the police regional office 8 ranked number-one among other 15 regions nationwide in the campaign against PAGs.
Early this year when Lañada assumed office here he created a special unit that would focus and concentrate on the neutralization of PAGs operating all over the region as part of the measures to ensure an honest, orderly and peaceful elections on May.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the police authorities in the region also dismantled the Moloboco private armed group allegedly controlled by a former mayor in Samar.
Nine members of the Moloboco private armed group operating in the first district of Samar were also arrested in a special police operations.
The PNP officials have named eight private armed groups in the region which is now subject for their intelligence build-up and surveillance operations. (MIRIAM GARCIA DESACADA)
CLEEP benefits more than 7,000 E Visayans
Calbayog City - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) has benefited some 7, 112 Eastern Visayans during its implementation.
In the recently held Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, the region’s National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that eight government agencies have implemented CLEEP.
Of the eight, the Departmet of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR hired some 3,054 Bantay Gubat and Upland Devlopment Program jobs.
Self Employment Asistance –Kaunlaran (SEA-K) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) followed next with some 1,488 job takers.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) came to a close third by employing some 1,310 Bantay Dagat operators.
Other agencies which provided CLEEP are DOH, DPWH, DOT, DTI and DOLE.
PGMA offered the program to enable the people especially the vulnerable sectors to sope-up with th economic crisis. (Ninfa B. Quirante with report from NEDA)
In the recently held Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting, the region’s National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that eight government agencies have implemented CLEEP.
Of the eight, the Departmet of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR hired some 3,054 Bantay Gubat and Upland Devlopment Program jobs.
Self Employment Asistance –Kaunlaran (SEA-K) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) followed next with some 1,488 job takers.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) came to a close third by employing some 1,310 Bantay Dagat operators.
Other agencies which provided CLEEP are DOH, DPWH, DOT, DTI and DOLE.
PGMA offered the program to enable the people especially the vulnerable sectors to sope-up with th economic crisis. (Ninfa B. Quirante with report from NEDA)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sarmiento pushes for revision of "unfunded" laws
Mayor Mel Sarmiento was in Tacloban last Friday to attend an RDC meeting. He sat down with LSDE's Sarwell Meniano. Among the issues they discussed was on the "unfunded mandates for LGUs".
TACLOBAN CITY — Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento will push for the revision of “unfunded laws” enacted by Congress in his bid to be a lawmaker representing Samar’s 1st district.
The official said that local chief executives like him are having a hard time complying with some laws passed by Congress due to financial constraints.
“I’m aiming for Congress in the hope that we can be advocates that will put to a stop unfounded mandates that seem to be one problem to many local government units,” said Sarmiento, who is running under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.
Among the laws he cited that were approved without corresponding budget were the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Act of 2001 and the Clean Water Act of 2004.
As a result, only few towns and cities have established sanitary landfills, one of the requirements of SWM. “It’s very expensive to do it,” he added.
In the case of Clean Water Act, he said that the national government is pushing for establishment and operation of centralized sewage treatment system.
“The Congress said that they were supposed to do this in 10 years time. In fact the United State of America, which is a rich country, was not able to finance a centralized system,” Sarmiento pointed out.
The three-termer mayor, who is also the chair of Regional Development Council, lamented that lawmakers tend to copy policies from foreign countries without taking into consideration the budgetary requirements to comply with the enacted laws.
“In passing laws, Congress should be looking at the implementation phase whether local government units will be able to implement it or not,” he said.
Sarmiento, who is also the secretary general of the League of Cities of the Philippines, revealed that many mayors have been complaining about some laws enacted by legislators in the national level.
He also vowed to introduce some amendments of the Local Government Code, “with the hope to improve local governance in the country.”
The city mayor claimed that his desire to sustain what he had started in Calbayog prompted him to vie a seat in the House of Representatives.
“Whatever I gained as mayor in the past years, I can share it in a bigger scale in our province and probably guiding some mayors in our district,” Sarmiento stressed.
Other candidates in Samar’s first congressional district are former Rep. Rodolfo Tuazon (Nacionalista Party), and Mario Roño (Nationalist People’s Coalition), the brother of movie director Chito Roño and son of former governor, the late Jose S. Roño. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY — Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento will push for the revision of “unfunded laws” enacted by Congress in his bid to be a lawmaker representing Samar’s 1st district.
The official said that local chief executives like him are having a hard time complying with some laws passed by Congress due to financial constraints.
“I’m aiming for Congress in the hope that we can be advocates that will put to a stop unfounded mandates that seem to be one problem to many local government units,” said Sarmiento, who is running under the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.
Among the laws he cited that were approved without corresponding budget were the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Act of 2001 and the Clean Water Act of 2004.
As a result, only few towns and cities have established sanitary landfills, one of the requirements of SWM. “It’s very expensive to do it,” he added.
In the case of Clean Water Act, he said that the national government is pushing for establishment and operation of centralized sewage treatment system.
“The Congress said that they were supposed to do this in 10 years time. In fact the United State of America, which is a rich country, was not able to finance a centralized system,” Sarmiento pointed out.
The three-termer mayor, who is also the chair of Regional Development Council, lamented that lawmakers tend to copy policies from foreign countries without taking into consideration the budgetary requirements to comply with the enacted laws.
“In passing laws, Congress should be looking at the implementation phase whether local government units will be able to implement it or not,” he said.
Sarmiento, who is also the secretary general of the League of Cities of the Philippines, revealed that many mayors have been complaining about some laws enacted by legislators in the national level.
He also vowed to introduce some amendments of the Local Government Code, “with the hope to improve local governance in the country.”
The city mayor claimed that his desire to sustain what he had started in Calbayog prompted him to vie a seat in the House of Representatives.
“Whatever I gained as mayor in the past years, I can share it in a bigger scale in our province and probably guiding some mayors in our district,” Sarmiento stressed.
Other candidates in Samar’s first congressional district are former Rep. Rodolfo Tuazon (Nacionalista Party), and Mario Roño (Nationalist People’s Coalition), the brother of movie director Chito Roño and son of former governor, the late Jose S. Roño. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
Monday, December 14, 2009
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)
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)
Friday, December 11, 2009
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)
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)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sarmiento runs for Congress; Uy for Calbayog City mayor
(This news item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
TACLOBAN CITY — Samar outgoing Representative Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento of Calbayog are to swap positions as both have filed their respective certificates of candidacy for mayor and congressman, respectively, before the local Commission on Elections.
Sarmiento’s bid to become the next congressional representative of Samar’s first district came at a time when the Comelec en banc has dismissed the electoral protest filed against him by a former political adversary, Rodolfo Tuazon, who contested the results of the 2007 mayoralty race.
Uy, who is serving his third and last term as a congressman, filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Calbayog City on Saturday around 10 a.m. together with his complete line up headed by his running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.
Uy, who already served as mayor of the lone city of Samar province, is running under the ticket of the Liberal Party-Lakas-Kampi- CMD.
Sarmiento, meantime, filed his own certificate of candidacy before the provincial Comelec office based in Catbalogan, the provincial capital, together with his gubernatorial candidate, Casilda Lim, an incumbent board member.
But while Sarmiento is running under the ticket of Liberal Party, the gubernatorial candidate belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
The outgoing Calbayog City mayor filed his certificate of candidacy Saturday around 2 p.m. before elections provincial supervisor Ma. Corazon Montallana. His close political ally, Rep. Uy, also witnessed the filing of his CoC, Ronald Ricafort, a close aide of Mayor Sarmiento, said over the phone.
“They were in jovial mood all throughout,” Ricafort said.
Among those who will be running for provincial board members under the lineup of Sarmiento and who filed their CoCs were Renato Uy, Jasper Sumagang, Prudencio Dy, Jr., Noel Sermense and Charlie Conejos.
Meantime, those who will be running for council seats of Calbayog, which is divided into two districts, under the ticket of Uy were Susano Salurio, Arturo Pasacas, Virgil Clemens, Jonas Montealto, Regina Rabuya, Julius Mancol, Danilo Bernate, Ver Porlares and Roger Casurao, an incumbent board member.
Also part of the line up were Rey James and Raymund Uy, son and nephew of Rep. Uy, respectively, and Mark Aquino, nephew of the vice mayor.
It was learned from Ricafort that before Uy filed his certificate of candidacy, he and his team attended first a Holy Mass at the Poor Claire Monastery with Father Bloyd Guiuan as the presiding priest.
Meantime, Sarmiento, who is on his third and final term as mayor of Calbayog, won the electoral protest filed against him.
In an en banc decision issued by the Comelec earlier this month, the commissioners, voting seven against two, junked the petition of rival Rodolfo Tuazon.
Based on the 2,977-page Comelec decision, Sarmiento garnered a total vote cast of 32, 259 against Tuazon’s 28,530 votes or a difference of 3,729 votes.
“Though the decision came rather late, the mayor was very happy that he won on this electoral protest against him,” Ricafort said. (By JOEY A. GABIETA, Staff writer)
TACLOBAN CITY — Samar outgoing Representative Reynaldo Uy and Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento of Calbayog are to swap positions as both have filed their respective certificates of candidacy for mayor and congressman, respectively, before the local Commission on Elections.
Sarmiento’s bid to become the next congressional representative of Samar’s first district came at a time when the Comelec en banc has dismissed the electoral protest filed against him by a former political adversary, Rodolfo Tuazon, who contested the results of the 2007 mayoralty race.
Uy, who is serving his third and last term as a congressman, filed his certificate of candidacy for mayor of Calbayog City on Saturday around 10 a.m. together with his complete line up headed by his running mate, incumbent Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino.
Uy, who already served as mayor of the lone city of Samar province, is running under the ticket of the Liberal Party-Lakas-Kampi- CMD.
Sarmiento, meantime, filed his own certificate of candidacy before the provincial Comelec office based in Catbalogan, the provincial capital, together with his gubernatorial candidate, Casilda Lim, an incumbent board member.
But while Sarmiento is running under the ticket of Liberal Party, the gubernatorial candidate belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
The outgoing Calbayog City mayor filed his certificate of candidacy Saturday around 2 p.m. before elections provincial supervisor Ma. Corazon Montallana. His close political ally, Rep. Uy, also witnessed the filing of his CoC, Ronald Ricafort, a close aide of Mayor Sarmiento, said over the phone.
“They were in jovial mood all throughout,” Ricafort said.
Among those who will be running for provincial board members under the lineup of Sarmiento and who filed their CoCs were Renato Uy, Jasper Sumagang, Prudencio Dy, Jr., Noel Sermense and Charlie Conejos.
Meantime, those who will be running for council seats of Calbayog, which is divided into two districts, under the ticket of Uy were Susano Salurio, Arturo Pasacas, Virgil Clemens, Jonas Montealto, Regina Rabuya, Julius Mancol, Danilo Bernate, Ver Porlares and Roger Casurao, an incumbent board member.
Also part of the line up were Rey James and Raymund Uy, son and nephew of Rep. Uy, respectively, and Mark Aquino, nephew of the vice mayor.
It was learned from Ricafort that before Uy filed his certificate of candidacy, he and his team attended first a Holy Mass at the Poor Claire Monastery with Father Bloyd Guiuan as the presiding priest.
Meantime, Sarmiento, who is on his third and final term as mayor of Calbayog, won the electoral protest filed against him.
In an en banc decision issued by the Comelec earlier this month, the commissioners, voting seven against two, junked the petition of rival Rodolfo Tuazon.
Based on the 2,977-page Comelec decision, Sarmiento garnered a total vote cast of 32, 259 against Tuazon’s 28,530 votes or a difference of 3,729 votes.
“Though the decision came rather late, the mayor was very happy that he won on this electoral protest against him,” Ricafort said. (By JOEY A. GABIETA, Staff writer)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
RDC Chair suggests tapping of showbiz personalities in promo of EV's tourist sites
(This news item appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
TACLOBAN CITY — A top official of the Regional Development Council (RDC) urged tourism stakeholders to tap popular television and showbiz personalities from Eastern Visayas in the promotion of local tourism sites.
However, there’s a need to develop the destinations first before it will be prepared for better marketing opportunities, said RDC chair and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.
“We have friends from showbiz industry that we haven’t probably took advantage of. Samar Island, for example, has three very powerful Samareños in the industry,” he explained in a recent media briefing.
Among the famous personalities who hail from Samar Island are Ricky Lo from Las Navas, Northern Samar; Chito Roño from Calbayog City, Samar; and Boy Abunda from Borongan, Eastern Samar.
“We have many natural wonders but we have to think of how are we going to package it and list down priorities. There should be a marketing person with full trust and confidence of all local government officials to help package the whole region,” he said.
Lo is one of the most highly respected and prolific entertainment writers, showbiz commentators and hosts in the Philippines today. He finished his grade school in his hometown of Las Navas.
Abunda is a journalist, talent manager and television personality. After the death of his father, he dropped out of school and later worked as assistant stage manager. After two years, he put up his own PR company. While doing PR consulting jobs for GMA Network, he tried television.
Soon, he became one of the hosts of Startalk, an entertainment talk show. In 1999, he subsequently moved to ABS-CBN where he currently hosts shows such as The Buzz, Private Conversations and SNN.
Movie director Chito Roño is a native of Calbayog City. Among the popular films he directed since 1986 were Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara, Bata, bata...Paano Ka Ginawa?, Dekada ‘70, Feng Shui, Sukob, Caregiver, and T2.
“They are there but what will be their role if we cannot offer something,” Sarmiento pointed out. The challenge, according to him is to upgrade existing tourism sites and set up facilities so that it will be ready for intensive promotion.
He stressed that the region has more advantage than other areas in the Visayas in terms of tour considering that all of the six provinces in the region could be reached by land from Tacloban City. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
TACLOBAN CITY — A top official of the Regional Development Council (RDC) urged tourism stakeholders to tap popular television and showbiz personalities from Eastern Visayas in the promotion of local tourism sites.
However, there’s a need to develop the destinations first before it will be prepared for better marketing opportunities, said RDC chair and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento.
“We have friends from showbiz industry that we haven’t probably took advantage of. Samar Island, for example, has three very powerful Samareños in the industry,” he explained in a recent media briefing.
Among the famous personalities who hail from Samar Island are Ricky Lo from Las Navas, Northern Samar; Chito Roño from Calbayog City, Samar; and Boy Abunda from Borongan, Eastern Samar.
“We have many natural wonders but we have to think of how are we going to package it and list down priorities. There should be a marketing person with full trust and confidence of all local government officials to help package the whole region,” he said.
Lo is one of the most highly respected and prolific entertainment writers, showbiz commentators and hosts in the Philippines today. He finished his grade school in his hometown of Las Navas.
Abunda is a journalist, talent manager and television personality. After the death of his father, he dropped out of school and later worked as assistant stage manager. After two years, he put up his own PR company. While doing PR consulting jobs for GMA Network, he tried television.
Soon, he became one of the hosts of Startalk, an entertainment talk show. In 1999, he subsequently moved to ABS-CBN where he currently hosts shows such as The Buzz, Private Conversations and SNN.
Movie director Chito Roño is a native of Calbayog City. Among the popular films he directed since 1986 were Patayin Sa Sindak Si Barbara, Bata, bata...Paano Ka Ginawa?, Dekada ‘70, Feng Shui, Sukob, Caregiver, and T2.
“They are there but what will be their role if we cannot offer something,” Sarmiento pointed out. The challenge, according to him is to upgrade existing tourism sites and set up facilities so that it will be ready for intensive promotion.
He stressed that the region has more advantage than other areas in the Visayas in terms of tour considering that all of the six provinces in the region could be reached by land from Tacloban City. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Calbayog City marks today its 61st Charter Day celebrations
(This report appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
TACLOBAN CITY- The City of Calbayog will mark its 61st Charter Day today with the aim to make the city as a model in advancing unity in leadership and implementation of government programs.
City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said in a phone interview that the celebration of this year’s Charter Day is simple but it will foster a sustainable unified effort in their city and in the whole province.
“We have challenges but we can overcome this if we are one in achieving goals and we can do so much,” Sarmiento told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
This year’s Charter Day commemoration is anchored on the theme “Calbayog . . . Towards Excellence, Service and Leadership.”
Starting Oct. 12, the local government unit has lined up various activities to include Opening Salvo, Street Beat Party Mix, Tinapa Foodfest, Games with Philippine Basketball Association, Math Olympiad / Quiz Bee, Concerts and Medical / Dental Mission,
Highlighting today’s Charter Day is a Parade, Calbayog City Sport Center Inauguration; Awarding of The Most Outstanding Calbayognon, Pa-raffle sa Barangay and live concert with Renz Verano, May Rivera and Jackston Brothers.
Under the original plan, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was invited to grace the occasion as a gesture of appreciation for the projects implemented in Calbayog City under her administration.
The plan was changed as the national government is giving more attention to Luzon provinces hardly hit by Typhoon “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
Sarmiento expressed gratitude for local officials of Samar and residents of Calbayog for the support in pushing through development initiatives.
“If there is fighting (between political leaders), it will be detrimental to growth,” Sarmiento pointed out.
One of the developments mentioned by the city’s chief executive is the recent conversion of Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in Calbayog City into NorthWest Samar State University.
Aside from the TTMIST bill, Arroyo has approved on Wednesday the conversion of the Naval State University in Biliran, Ifugao State University, Romblon State University and Bohol Island State University.
This year, the city is embarking on major projects such as the Calbayog City Sports Complex, new market, Convention Center, landfill and a new park.
In 2008, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) cited Calbayog as one of the Most Competetive Small-sized Cities in the country.
Calbayog rose to political and religious prominence after the American era and became the seat of Roman Catholicism in Samar when the Diocese of Calbayog was created on April 10, 1910. Republic Act No. 328 made Calbayog a City on October 16, 1948. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/ Staff writer)
TACLOBAN CITY- The City of Calbayog will mark its 61st Charter Day today with the aim to make the city as a model in advancing unity in leadership and implementation of government programs.
City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said in a phone interview that the celebration of this year’s Charter Day is simple but it will foster a sustainable unified effort in their city and in the whole province.
“We have challenges but we can overcome this if we are one in achieving goals and we can do so much,” Sarmiento told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
This year’s Charter Day commemoration is anchored on the theme “Calbayog . . . Towards Excellence, Service and Leadership.”
Starting Oct. 12, the local government unit has lined up various activities to include Opening Salvo, Street Beat Party Mix, Tinapa Foodfest, Games with Philippine Basketball Association, Math Olympiad / Quiz Bee, Concerts and Medical / Dental Mission,
Highlighting today’s Charter Day is a Parade, Calbayog City Sport Center Inauguration; Awarding of The Most Outstanding Calbayognon, Pa-raffle sa Barangay and live concert with Renz Verano, May Rivera and Jackston Brothers.
Under the original plan, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was invited to grace the occasion as a gesture of appreciation for the projects implemented in Calbayog City under her administration.
The plan was changed as the national government is giving more attention to Luzon provinces hardly hit by Typhoon “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”
Sarmiento expressed gratitude for local officials of Samar and residents of Calbayog for the support in pushing through development initiatives.
“If there is fighting (between political leaders), it will be detrimental to growth,” Sarmiento pointed out.
One of the developments mentioned by the city’s chief executive is the recent conversion of Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in Calbayog City into NorthWest Samar State University.
Aside from the TTMIST bill, Arroyo has approved on Wednesday the conversion of the Naval State University in Biliran, Ifugao State University, Romblon State University and Bohol Island State University.
This year, the city is embarking on major projects such as the Calbayog City Sports Complex, new market, Convention Center, landfill and a new park.
In 2008, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) cited Calbayog as one of the Most Competetive Small-sized Cities in the country.
Calbayog rose to political and religious prominence after the American era and became the seat of Roman Catholicism in Samar when the Diocese of Calbayog was created on April 10, 1910. Republic Act No. 328 made Calbayog a City on October 16, 1948. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/ Staff writer)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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)
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)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Calbayog PNP nabs drug suspect
Mayor Mel Sarmiento (in blue) with Sr Insp Eduardo Serrano (left) as he watched some police operatives inventory some suspected shabu and drug paraphernalia siezed at the residence of suspect Ruben Pojadas (in blue sweatshirt and white cap). March 20, 2009. Calbayog. The operatives of the PNP Calbayog led by INTEL/CAID Chief Sr. Insp. Eduardo Serrano, through a warrant issued on March 17, 2009 by RTC Branch 31 executive Judge Reynaldo Clemens, searched the residence of one Ruben Pojadas y Cabunce. Pojadas, 50 years old and married is a resident of Purok 7, Brgy. East Awang, this city.
The search resulted in the apprehension of Pojadas and the confiscation of six (6) sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride known as shabu, six (6) empty cellophane, one (1) syringe needle, two (2) pieces disposable lighters, SIM Card, black wallet and cash amounting to Php 3,000.00.
The suspect was temporarily detained at the Calbayog City lock-up cell for booking and disposition while the case is being prepared for filing with the City Prosecutor's Office.
The PNP operatives who were part of this mission were SPO1 Ricardo Justiniano, SPO1 Nilo Martija, PO2 Martin Tarrayo, PO1 Alvaro Lino Palacio, PO1 Moises Bracamonte, PO1Jose Jay Senario, PO1 Rio Paano, PO1 Ignacio Mendros, PO1 Ronald Verzosa and PO1 Alberto Pandong. (Henry Puyat)
The search resulted in the apprehension of Pojadas and the confiscation of six (6) sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride known as shabu, six (6) empty cellophane, one (1) syringe needle, two (2) pieces disposable lighters, SIM Card, black wallet and cash amounting to Php 3,000.00.
The suspect was temporarily detained at the Calbayog City lock-up cell for booking and disposition while the case is being prepared for filing with the City Prosecutor's Office.
The PNP operatives who were part of this mission were SPO1 Ricardo Justiniano, SPO1 Nilo Martija, PO2 Martin Tarrayo, PO1 Alvaro Lino Palacio, PO1 Moises Bracamonte, PO1Jose Jay Senario, PO1 Rio Paano, PO1 Ignacio Mendros, PO1 Ronald Verzosa and PO1 Alberto Pandong. (Henry Puyat)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
on the Women's Day Celebration in Calbayog
(As I have reported last Monday, a good number women in Calbayog celebrated Women's Day. Here are some details of the said celebration as reported by Ms. Nimfa Quirante of PIA Samar. This report appears in today's edition of the Leyte Samar Daily Express)
Women pampered during Women's Day celebration
CALBAYOG CITY — Close to a thousand women were pampered during the recently concluded celebration of Women’s Month in this city.
Women’s groups led by Calbayog City officials, other government agencies and organizations, non-government organizations, other women’s groups down to the barangay, rganized a Multi-Services Fair where women were treated to various services for free.
The Julio Cardinal Rosales Plaza was teeming with several women and a few men eyeing the several booths put up there.
The Ophthalmology booth had the most number of patients. A limited edition of frames and lenses were given to indigent patients.
PIA also spotted a Reproductive Health booth where the women were given lectures on the topic.
Three dentist volunteers grappled with scores of women for their oral health problems while some women had their BP taken, submitted to fasting blood sugar test and even urinalysis test for those suspected of having renal failure.
In another nook, the City Nutrition booth took pride in their cooking demonstration with lessons on malunggay based recipes featuring malunggay polvoron and malunggay lumpia.
A legal service booth was also installed to draft affidavits for the numerous concerns of women regarding legal matters.
The Bantay-Abuso Network (BAN), through Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF) Inc., a group composed of government advocates on anti-violence against women and children also installed their booth to give information as to where women could seek help in case of domestic violence.
Women here are also taught livelihood skills to empower them and thus help the family in its economic aspect.
Aside from all these seemingly serious services for women, they also received pampering from foot reflexology, body massages, manicure, pedicure and haircut.
One such patron, Emma Calesa, indulged in a free manicure service. She said she belonged to an organization called Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina from Tinambacan District.
Some women were also drawn by the crowd in beauty products where they were taught to put on make up and sell the beauty products.
The whole day had the women (for a day) experience booth hopping, if only to see what a women should be getting not only on Women’s Day.
Although it was Hon. Regina Rabuya who penned the invitation, Eleen Lim from DYOG who served as emcee, credited all donors, patrons and organizers including the two top government officials Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Rep. Reynaldo Uy who supported the Multi-Services Fair for the women even if only for a day. (Ninfa B Quirante)
Women pampered during Women's Day celebration
CALBAYOG CITY — Close to a thousand women were pampered during the recently concluded celebration of Women’s Month in this city.
Women’s groups led by Calbayog City officials, other government agencies and organizations, non-government organizations, other women’s groups down to the barangay, rganized a Multi-Services Fair where women were treated to various services for free.
The Julio Cardinal Rosales Plaza was teeming with several women and a few men eyeing the several booths put up there.
The Ophthalmology booth had the most number of patients. A limited edition of frames and lenses were given to indigent patients.
PIA also spotted a Reproductive Health booth where the women were given lectures on the topic.
Three dentist volunteers grappled with scores of women for their oral health problems while some women had their BP taken, submitted to fasting blood sugar test and even urinalysis test for those suspected of having renal failure.
In another nook, the City Nutrition booth took pride in their cooking demonstration with lessons on malunggay based recipes featuring malunggay polvoron and malunggay lumpia.
A legal service booth was also installed to draft affidavits for the numerous concerns of women regarding legal matters.
The Bantay-Abuso Network (BAN), through Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF) Inc., a group composed of government advocates on anti-violence against women and children also installed their booth to give information as to where women could seek help in case of domestic violence.
Women here are also taught livelihood skills to empower them and thus help the family in its economic aspect.
Aside from all these seemingly serious services for women, they also received pampering from foot reflexology, body massages, manicure, pedicure and haircut.
One such patron, Emma Calesa, indulged in a free manicure service. She said she belonged to an organization called Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina from Tinambacan District.
Some women were also drawn by the crowd in beauty products where they were taught to put on make up and sell the beauty products.
The whole day had the women (for a day) experience booth hopping, if only to see what a women should be getting not only on Women’s Day.
Although it was Hon. Regina Rabuya who penned the invitation, Eleen Lim from DYOG who served as emcee, credited all donors, patrons and organizers including the two top government officials Mayor Mel Sarmiento and Rep. Reynaldo Uy who supported the Multi-Services Fair for the women even if only for a day. (Ninfa B Quirante)
Calbayog City to present 5 major project proposals in Manila Investment Forum
(Let me give you Ika Macasa's report from today's edition of the Leyte Samar Daily Express)
CALBAYOG CITY — The City of Government of Calbayog will present five major pro-economic development project proposals in an investment forum sponsored by the Institute of Solidarity-Asia (ISA) that would be held Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Hotel Sofitel, Manila.
Institute for Solidarity Asia (ISA) is a non-government organization whose main service is to assist local government units acquire good governance skills.
The five projects are the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Ton-ok Mini Hydro Power Plant in Brgy. Barral, Oquendo District; Bangon Falls Mini Hydro Power Development Project in Brgy. Tinaplacan, Tinambacan District; Potential Project Sites for Renewable Energy in Calbayog City; Medium-rise Housing Project for Government Employees; and the New Calbayog City Public Market Project.
Led by City Mayor Mel Sarmiento who will deliver a short backgrounder about Calbayog City, the panel of presentors include Engr. Leo Baldomaro, the Power Generation Superintendent of Samelco 1; Engr. Jose Ilagan, President, Clean and Green Philippines; Engr. Leo Nicolasora, Engineering Department Manager, Samelco 1; Cicenio Oquendo, the City Urban Housing Division Chief; and City Economic Enterprise Department Manager Nida U. Beso.
In an interview, Calbayog City Mayor Mel Sarmiento expressed hope that through the investment forum Calbayog would be able to win a number of prospective investors as the city’s partner in the implementation of the said projects that could surely spur economic activity in the city.
It is the first time that Calbayog City is given the chance to present project proposals in an investment forum.
According to Joseph Lim, Financial Analyst of ISA, both the city’s local and internal revenue potentials could lure investors to choose projects in Calbayog.
Expected to be present during the forum are Calbayog City’s co-project presentors, which are the cities of Iloilo, Bayawan in Negros Oriental, and Balanga in Bataan, and the institutional partners of ISA that include Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System, and GSIS, among others. (Ike Macasa)
CALBAYOG CITY — The City of Government of Calbayog will present five major pro-economic development project proposals in an investment forum sponsored by the Institute of Solidarity-Asia (ISA) that would be held Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Hotel Sofitel, Manila.
Institute for Solidarity Asia (ISA) is a non-government organization whose main service is to assist local government units acquire good governance skills.
The five projects are the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of the Ton-ok Mini Hydro Power Plant in Brgy. Barral, Oquendo District; Bangon Falls Mini Hydro Power Development Project in Brgy. Tinaplacan, Tinambacan District; Potential Project Sites for Renewable Energy in Calbayog City; Medium-rise Housing Project for Government Employees; and the New Calbayog City Public Market Project.
Led by City Mayor Mel Sarmiento who will deliver a short backgrounder about Calbayog City, the panel of presentors include Engr. Leo Baldomaro, the Power Generation Superintendent of Samelco 1; Engr. Jose Ilagan, President, Clean and Green Philippines; Engr. Leo Nicolasora, Engineering Department Manager, Samelco 1; Cicenio Oquendo, the City Urban Housing Division Chief; and City Economic Enterprise Department Manager Nida U. Beso.
In an interview, Calbayog City Mayor Mel Sarmiento expressed hope that through the investment forum Calbayog would be able to win a number of prospective investors as the city’s partner in the implementation of the said projects that could surely spur economic activity in the city.
It is the first time that Calbayog City is given the chance to present project proposals in an investment forum.
According to Joseph Lim, Financial Analyst of ISA, both the city’s local and internal revenue potentials could lure investors to choose projects in Calbayog.
Expected to be present during the forum are Calbayog City’s co-project presentors, which are the cities of Iloilo, Bayawan in Negros Oriental, and Balanga in Bataan, and the institutional partners of ISA that include Development Bank of the Philippines, Social Security System, and GSIS, among others. (Ike Macasa)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
From the LSDE: Businessmen encouraged to use Naval-Kawayan RORO ports
(Let me give you Ahlette Reyes' report which appeared in the February 20, 2009 edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
TACLOBAN CITY - More industry players in the shipping, freight transport business in the country are encouraged to make use of the alternative Naval and Kawayan Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) ports here in Eastern Visayas.
Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, who chairs the Regional Development Council-8 (RDC-8), says Eastern Visayas now hosts other alternative routes from Luzon to Mindanao areas that could save more time and cost for the industry.
In the recent report of the RDC-8 construction of the Kawayan Port and Naval Port, both in Biliran province, have already been 100% completed through the Philippine Ports Authority.
“These are alternative routes which industry players can take advantage of if they could give the market a try. It would surely cut the cost of transport particularly in goods that would mean also reduction in prices of these goods when sold in the market and consumed by the people,” Mayor Sarmiento said.
The usual route taken by transportation and freight industry is the Lilo-an Port in Southern Leyte to Allen Port in Northern Samar.
The RDC chairman said Mindanao freights and carriers can instead ply the route from Lilo-an to Kawayan or Naval in Biliran Province, then to Esperanza, Aroroy or Burias Island in Masbate then on to Bicol and the Luzon areas. The travel time alone, Sarmiento said, is already much less than the usual route.
The Naval Port Development Project entailed the construction of RO-RO Ramp and Passenger Terminal Building and the project cost was at P9.9 million. Meanwhile the Kawayan (Balite) Port Development included the extension of RC Pier and construction of RO-RO ramp and cost P17 million. Both are now declared completed by the PPA regional office in Eastern Visayas.
Sarmiento said the port development projects have been undertaken to realize the President’s vision of a seamless transport system.
The RO-RO system is seen not only to reduce the cost of moving goods but also increase regional trade, enhance tourism and agricultural productivity, promote growth in investments and development of the countryside as well as poverty reduction. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
TACLOBAN CITY - More industry players in the shipping, freight transport business in the country are encouraged to make use of the alternative Naval and Kawayan Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) ports here in Eastern Visayas.
Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, who chairs the Regional Development Council-8 (RDC-8), says Eastern Visayas now hosts other alternative routes from Luzon to Mindanao areas that could save more time and cost for the industry.
In the recent report of the RDC-8 construction of the Kawayan Port and Naval Port, both in Biliran province, have already been 100% completed through the Philippine Ports Authority.
“These are alternative routes which industry players can take advantage of if they could give the market a try. It would surely cut the cost of transport particularly in goods that would mean also reduction in prices of these goods when sold in the market and consumed by the people,” Mayor Sarmiento said.
The usual route taken by transportation and freight industry is the Lilo-an Port in Southern Leyte to Allen Port in Northern Samar.
The RDC chairman said Mindanao freights and carriers can instead ply the route from Lilo-an to Kawayan or Naval in Biliran Province, then to Esperanza, Aroroy or Burias Island in Masbate then on to Bicol and the Luzon areas. The travel time alone, Sarmiento said, is already much less than the usual route.
The Naval Port Development Project entailed the construction of RO-RO Ramp and Passenger Terminal Building and the project cost was at P9.9 million. Meanwhile the Kawayan (Balite) Port Development included the extension of RC Pier and construction of RO-RO ramp and cost P17 million. Both are now declared completed by the PPA regional office in Eastern Visayas.
Sarmiento said the port development projects have been undertaken to realize the President’s vision of a seamless transport system.
The RO-RO system is seen not only to reduce the cost of moving goods but also increase regional trade, enhance tourism and agricultural productivity, promote growth in investments and development of the countryside as well as poverty reduction. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
Monday, February 16, 2009
some regional news
Let me share with you two reports on the delayed 138kv transmission line project. I got these from the Leyte-Samar Daily Express.
Delayed electric transmission system project in Samar Island to be pushed through by NGCP
By: Ahlette C. Reyes (This report appears in today's edition of the LSDE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The 138 KV backbone transmission system to span the northern part of the Samar Island would push through – after some encountered hitches over the years, Regional Development Council-8 Chairman, Calbayog City Mel Senen Sarmiento.
The 138 KV Wright-Calbayog Transmission Project is reportedly pushing through with the opening of the bid soon as informed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in a letter to the RDC last month.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is the privately-owned corporation that won the competitive public bidding in December 2007 which was granted by Congress a 50-year franchise as official operator of the formerly government-owned and controlled National Transmission Corporation to operate and maintain the country’s power transmission grid.
According to Mayor Sarmiento, the change of hands in the official operation of the country’s transmission grid was also among the hitches considered as the cause of delay of the project.
“If we may remember when President Arroyo last visited the region, she particularly ordered to complete the construction of the Paranas-Calbayog 138 KV Trasmisison Line,” Mayor Sarmiento said in an interview during the recent RDC-8 Council meeting at the NEDA Regional Office Conference Hall.
NGCP’s Assistant Chief Technical Officer Lu Shirong said in his letter addressed to Mayor Sarmiento that since NGCP is a private consortium, it will not adopt the Government Procurement Act (RA 9184) in the procurement of goods and services necessary to implement the project. They will instead, adopt its own procurement guidelines which, Shirong said in his letter, “is more responsive in addressing the needs of the country’s power networks.
Under NGCP, it was learned that the target of submission for the project proposals by NGCP-accredited suppliers will be in the period of February 28 to April 28, 2009.
The actual construction up to the energization will be on July this year to September 2010.
The extension of the 138 kV backbone transmission systems towards the northern part of Samar Island, one of the priority projects of the RDC-8 started during the RDC chairmanship of then Gov. Remedios Petilla, is aimed at intensifying the delivery of quality and reliable power threat.
Presently, power transmission to Northern Samar is through the 69 kV wood pole lines that are susceptible to frequent power interruption and undervoltage.
With this development project, the power consumers in Northern Samar and nearby localities will benefit from quality and stable power supply which will serve as catalyst to jumpstart their economic progress which have been hampered through the years, primarily due to underdeveloped basic infrastructures including electricity.
This project is likewise considered as a commitment to comply with the requirements set by the National Grid Code as promulgated by the Energy Regulation Commission. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
And here's the report of Sarwell Meniano which appeared in yesterday's edition of the LSDE:
NGCP to construct P1.26B 138 kV transmission line in Samar
By: Sarwell Meniano
PALO, Leyte -The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) vowed to pursue the construction of the P1.26 billion Paranas-Calbayog 138 kV transmission project on July 2009 after the firm took over the management of the country’s electric transmission.
NGCP engineering assistant chief technical officer Lu Shirong said in a letter to Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento that it will take time to kick off the project considering that the new owner will no longer adopt the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“As the winning concessionaire that took over on 15 January 2009 the operation and maintenance including the expansion of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao Grids, NGCP shall definitely pursue the implementation of the project,” Shirong said in the letter dated February 6, 2009.
However, the owner will apply the company’s purchase system which they believed as “more responsive in addressing the needs of the country’s power networks.”
Based on the revised timetable, the target submission of project proposals by NGCP-accredited suppliers will be on February 28 to April 28, 2009, while construction and energization will be on July 18, 2009 to September 15, 2010.
In a letter last month to Malacañang, Sarmiento appealed that the bidding for the said project be opened to stabilize the power supply distribution in Samar Island, “which has serious ramification to the welfare and day-to-day livelihood of constituents.”
The said request was endorsed by National Transmission Corporation President Arthur Aguilar to NGCP President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Brown.
It can be recalled that on December 1, 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the bill allowing the NGCP to operate, manage, and expand the country’s high voltage power grid for 50 years. The corporation is a consortium of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., Calaca High Power Corp., and State Grid Corp. of China.
“I’m happy that this will be pushed through because we’ve been waiting for this for five years. There are steel towers in Samar but those are for Metro Manila. The region’s power transmission uses old wooden poles even if we are the host of geothermal power,” Sarmiento said in an interview.
Currently, power transmission to Northern Samar is through the 69 kV wood pole lines that are susceptible to frequent power interruption and “undervoltage.”
“How can we improve the economy in Samar Island if there are power failures that occur three days in one week?” Sarmiento asked.
The upgraded transmission lines will increase the power transfer capacity by installing 138 KV overhead transmission line together with a run of 24-count fiber optic cable overhead ground wire which would serve as the main communication medium of the link.
The substation in Wright, Samar will be expanded and a new Calbayog substation will be constructed as a receiving end substation.
From the new Calbayog substation, power will be transmitted to Northern Samar through the existing Calbayog-Lope de Vega lines and the proposed Calbayog-Allen lines.
The project which was designed to curb the long problem of frequent power outages in the northern part of Samar Island was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) in 2005. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
Delayed electric transmission system project in Samar Island to be pushed through by NGCP
By: Ahlette C. Reyes (This report appears in today's edition of the LSDE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The 138 KV backbone transmission system to span the northern part of the Samar Island would push through – after some encountered hitches over the years, Regional Development Council-8 Chairman, Calbayog City Mel Senen Sarmiento.
The 138 KV Wright-Calbayog Transmission Project is reportedly pushing through with the opening of the bid soon as informed by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines in a letter to the RDC last month.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is the privately-owned corporation that won the competitive public bidding in December 2007 which was granted by Congress a 50-year franchise as official operator of the formerly government-owned and controlled National Transmission Corporation to operate and maintain the country’s power transmission grid.
According to Mayor Sarmiento, the change of hands in the official operation of the country’s transmission grid was also among the hitches considered as the cause of delay of the project.
“If we may remember when President Arroyo last visited the region, she particularly ordered to complete the construction of the Paranas-Calbayog 138 KV Trasmisison Line,” Mayor Sarmiento said in an interview during the recent RDC-8 Council meeting at the NEDA Regional Office Conference Hall.
NGCP’s Assistant Chief Technical Officer Lu Shirong said in his letter addressed to Mayor Sarmiento that since NGCP is a private consortium, it will not adopt the Government Procurement Act (RA 9184) in the procurement of goods and services necessary to implement the project. They will instead, adopt its own procurement guidelines which, Shirong said in his letter, “is more responsive in addressing the needs of the country’s power networks.
Under NGCP, it was learned that the target of submission for the project proposals by NGCP-accredited suppliers will be in the period of February 28 to April 28, 2009.
The actual construction up to the energization will be on July this year to September 2010.
The extension of the 138 kV backbone transmission systems towards the northern part of Samar Island, one of the priority projects of the RDC-8 started during the RDC chairmanship of then Gov. Remedios Petilla, is aimed at intensifying the delivery of quality and reliable power threat.
Presently, power transmission to Northern Samar is through the 69 kV wood pole lines that are susceptible to frequent power interruption and undervoltage.
With this development project, the power consumers in Northern Samar and nearby localities will benefit from quality and stable power supply which will serve as catalyst to jumpstart their economic progress which have been hampered through the years, primarily due to underdeveloped basic infrastructures including electricity.
This project is likewise considered as a commitment to comply with the requirements set by the National Grid Code as promulgated by the Energy Regulation Commission. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
And here's the report of Sarwell Meniano which appeared in yesterday's edition of the LSDE:
NGCP to construct P1.26B 138 kV transmission line in Samar
By: Sarwell Meniano
PALO, Leyte -The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) vowed to pursue the construction of the P1.26 billion Paranas-Calbayog 138 kV transmission project on July 2009 after the firm took over the management of the country’s electric transmission.
NGCP engineering assistant chief technical officer Lu Shirong said in a letter to Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento that it will take time to kick off the project considering that the new owner will no longer adopt the Government Procurement Reform Act.
“As the winning concessionaire that took over on 15 January 2009 the operation and maintenance including the expansion of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao Grids, NGCP shall definitely pursue the implementation of the project,” Shirong said in the letter dated February 6, 2009.
However, the owner will apply the company’s purchase system which they believed as “more responsive in addressing the needs of the country’s power networks.”
Based on the revised timetable, the target submission of project proposals by NGCP-accredited suppliers will be on February 28 to April 28, 2009, while construction and energization will be on July 18, 2009 to September 15, 2010.
In a letter last month to Malacañang, Sarmiento appealed that the bidding for the said project be opened to stabilize the power supply distribution in Samar Island, “which has serious ramification to the welfare and day-to-day livelihood of constituents.”
The said request was endorsed by National Transmission Corporation President Arthur Aguilar to NGCP President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Brown.
It can be recalled that on December 1, 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law the bill allowing the NGCP to operate, manage, and expand the country’s high voltage power grid for 50 years. The corporation is a consortium of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp., Calaca High Power Corp., and State Grid Corp. of China.
“I’m happy that this will be pushed through because we’ve been waiting for this for five years. There are steel towers in Samar but those are for Metro Manila. The region’s power transmission uses old wooden poles even if we are the host of geothermal power,” Sarmiento said in an interview.
Currently, power transmission to Northern Samar is through the 69 kV wood pole lines that are susceptible to frequent power interruption and “undervoltage.”
“How can we improve the economy in Samar Island if there are power failures that occur three days in one week?” Sarmiento asked.
The upgraded transmission lines will increase the power transfer capacity by installing 138 KV overhead transmission line together with a run of 24-count fiber optic cable overhead ground wire which would serve as the main communication medium of the link.
The substation in Wright, Samar will be expanded and a new Calbayog substation will be constructed as a receiving end substation.
From the new Calbayog substation, power will be transmitted to Northern Samar through the existing Calbayog-Lope de Vega lines and the proposed Calbayog-Allen lines.
The project which was designed to curb the long problem of frequent power outages in the northern part of Samar Island was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) in 2005. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Bulawanon nga Handumanan
(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
Hi there! It’s another weekend and yes, WE ARE 6 DAYS AWAY TO THE 60th CALBAYOG CITY CHARTER DAY ANNIVERSARY. This celebration, dubbed as Bulawanon nga Handumanan 2008 is anchored on the theme: “CALBAYOG . . . towards Excellence, Service and Leadership”.
The Celebration formally opened last Wednesday, with a bang if I may add. Well, that’s literally taking into consideration the fireworks display that capped the Opening Ceremonies and the day’s other events.
The day started with the opening of the Agro-Industrial Fair at the Nijaga Park where booths have been set up for various groups to display their wares. Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento together with the Director for the Agro-Industrial Fair, Councilor Arturo Pasacas and DA-RFU-8 ARD Rufino Ayaso (who represented Director Leo Cañeda) led the officials and some Department Managers in the opening ceremonies. The said fair will run ‘til the big day on the 16th of October.
Two other events opened yesterday (I think I’ll refer to it as soft opening), the Art Exhibit at I’s Plant and the Photo Exhibit dubbed “That Man from Samar” at the Calbayog Museum.
The Day’s big event was the Opening Ceremonies which included the Mayor’s Message, the maiden presentation of “KALBAYOG . . . An Pag-Ilawod (the musical play which depicted the history of Calbayog. More about this in my next column), the Formal Declaration of Bulawanon nga Handumanan, the flying of the Traditional Lobo and the Fireworks Display.
A good number of Calbayognons turned out for the affair. Among them were school heads, artists, businessmen and students. Among the VIPs present were the members of the SOS Philippines National Board of Trustees. The members of the City Council were also present (in their Filipinana fineries) not just as part of the audience, but as part of the cast of “Kalbayog… An Pag-Ilawod”.
* * *
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has confirmed his attendance in the Charter Day celebration. He is expected to arrive in Calbayog on the 16th of October.
In his itinerary is the Farmers’ Congress which will be held at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center. He is also expected to deliver a message before the employees of the LGU and the stakeholders of the city. He will also speak during the Closing Ceremonies which will cap the celebration.
* * *
The other big event last Wednesday was the SOS Children’s Villages Philippines National Board of Trustees Annual Board Meeting which at SOS Village Calbayog. The Board Members were in town together with their Board Chairman, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao.
One of the highlights of the said meeting was the signing if the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SOS Children’s Villages Philippines and the LGU on the utilization of the old CKC-Herman Gmeiner Elementary School campus for the Calbayog Millennium Voc-Tech Training Center.
* * *
Calbayog at 60. Let me give you some more of the set of activities in slated for the 60th Calbayog Charter Day Anniversary:
For today, October 10, 2008. two activities are slated:
- 8:00 am. Continuation of the Calbayog Kahi-araan Seminar Workshop
- 7:00 pm. The Quiz Bee Finals (on Calbayog Kahi-araan) will be held at the Nijaga Park. This will be participated in by students from the public and private secondary schools of Calbayog.
October 11, 2008 (Saturday)
- 7:00 pm. Food Tourism Festival. This is a competition on the preparation and presentation of traditional Calbayog fare. The event which will be held at the Nijaga Park is under the auspices of the City Tourism and Information Office.
- LAKUB Performance will be held simultaneously with the Food Festival. This is a presentation of Calbayog art and culture.
October 12, 2008 (Sunday)
- Focus on Calbayog Foldances. There will be live performances and video presentations at the Nijaga Park.
* * *
This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!
Hi there! It’s another weekend and yes, WE ARE 6 DAYS AWAY TO THE 60th CALBAYOG CITY CHARTER DAY ANNIVERSARY. This celebration, dubbed as Bulawanon nga Handumanan 2008 is anchored on the theme: “CALBAYOG . . . towards Excellence, Service and Leadership”.
The Celebration formally opened last Wednesday, with a bang if I may add. Well, that’s literally taking into consideration the fireworks display that capped the Opening Ceremonies and the day’s other events.
The day started with the opening of the Agro-Industrial Fair at the Nijaga Park where booths have been set up for various groups to display their wares. Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento together with the Director for the Agro-Industrial Fair, Councilor Arturo Pasacas and DA-RFU-8 ARD Rufino Ayaso (who represented Director Leo Cañeda) led the officials and some Department Managers in the opening ceremonies. The said fair will run ‘til the big day on the 16th of October.
Two other events opened yesterday (I think I’ll refer to it as soft opening), the Art Exhibit at I’s Plant and the Photo Exhibit dubbed “That Man from Samar” at the Calbayog Museum.
The Day’s big event was the Opening Ceremonies which included the Mayor’s Message, the maiden presentation of “KALBAYOG . . . An Pag-Ilawod (the musical play which depicted the history of Calbayog. More about this in my next column), the Formal Declaration of Bulawanon nga Handumanan, the flying of the Traditional Lobo and the Fireworks Display.
A good number of Calbayognons turned out for the affair. Among them were school heads, artists, businessmen and students. Among the VIPs present were the members of the SOS Philippines National Board of Trustees. The members of the City Council were also present (in their Filipinana fineries) not just as part of the audience, but as part of the cast of “Kalbayog… An Pag-Ilawod”.
* * *
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has confirmed his attendance in the Charter Day celebration. He is expected to arrive in Calbayog on the 16th of October.
In his itinerary is the Farmers’ Congress which will be held at the TTMIST Socio-Cultural Center. He is also expected to deliver a message before the employees of the LGU and the stakeholders of the city. He will also speak during the Closing Ceremonies which will cap the celebration.
* * *
The other big event last Wednesday was the SOS Children’s Villages Philippines National Board of Trustees Annual Board Meeting which at SOS Village Calbayog. The Board Members were in town together with their Board Chairman, Archbishop Fernando Capalla of Davao.
One of the highlights of the said meeting was the signing if the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SOS Children’s Villages Philippines and the LGU on the utilization of the old CKC-Herman Gmeiner Elementary School campus for the Calbayog Millennium Voc-Tech Training Center.
* * *
Calbayog at 60. Let me give you some more of the set of activities in slated for the 60th Calbayog Charter Day Anniversary:
For today, October 10, 2008. two activities are slated:
- 8:00 am. Continuation of the Calbayog Kahi-araan Seminar Workshop
- 7:00 pm. The Quiz Bee Finals (on Calbayog Kahi-araan) will be held at the Nijaga Park. This will be participated in by students from the public and private secondary schools of Calbayog.
October 11, 2008 (Saturday)
- 7:00 pm. Food Tourism Festival. This is a competition on the preparation and presentation of traditional Calbayog fare. The event which will be held at the Nijaga Park is under the auspices of the City Tourism and Information Office.
- LAKUB Performance will be held simultaneously with the Food Festival. This is a presentation of Calbayog art and culture.
October 12, 2008 (Sunday)
- Focus on Calbayog Foldances. There will be live performances and video presentations at the Nijaga Park.
* * *
This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!
Monday, September 22, 2008
3 Catholic Bishops in Samar Island spearhead SIPPaD forum
(Before he left for New York, Mayor Mel Sarmiento went to Catarman, Northern Samar where he joined the three Catholic Bishops of Samar and Gov. Raul Daza for the 8th SIPPaD Assembly. Let me give you the report of LSDE's Garry Vacunawa on that Assembly. This report appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)
Calbayog Mayor and RDC Chair Mel Sarmiento (2nd from the right) with (r-l) Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, Governor Raul Daza, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance and Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez (extreme left) (Photo by Vaugh Calvara)
CATARMAN, Northern Samar - The three Catholic Bishops in Samar island spearheaded the 8th Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPaD) forum at the Ibabao Hall, Capitol Building here last Sept. 19.
The three who actively initiated the SIPPaD Forum were Bishop Emmanuel Trance of the Diocese of Catarman, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of the Diocese of Calbayog and Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan.
The SIPPAD forum gave way to the discussion of three major areas - good governance, peace and order and environment protection. Representatives from various government and non-government agencies attended the forum.
Two of the prominent persons who composed the panel of speakers were Governor Raul Daza and Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento who is the current chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
Gov. Daza talked about good governance. He admitted that there was a gap between good governance and incidence of poverty in his province. He particularly mentioned the latest report of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). Based on its report, Northern Samar is the number one poorest province in Eastern Visayas Region and number seven in the entire Philippines. In 2003, during his first term, the same agency rated Northern Samar as number two in the entire country in terms of good governance.
He explained that good governance could not guarantee better economic condition of the people. On the other side, we could not conclude that the improved economic situation of a certain province was due to good governance of its leaders.
Daza told the participants that he is continuously looking for some means to reconcile the gap between his good governance and the poor economic condition of his constituents.
Earlier, in a press conference, Daza’s son, Congressman Paul Daza, blamed the geographical location of Northern Samar for its being poor. Cong Daza told local reporters that N. Samar has “geographical disadvantage” compared to other provinces which have improved economic climate.
Cong. Daza explained that the province belonged to the country’s typhoon belt and it was far from business capitals in the Philippines like Leyte which was also the source of electricity supply. The far distance from Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant to Northern Samar caused the frequent brownout in the province. (GARRY A. VACUNAWA)
SIPPaD sidelight. Governor Daza giving Bishop Trance and Mayor Sarmiento a tour of the Governor's Office. (Photo by Vaughn Calvara)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Over 2,000 Calbayog City squatters are now lot owners
(Let me give you Sarwell Meniano's report for the LSDE. This report came out a few issues ago. I believe it's never too late to feature any good news about the City)
TACLOBAN CITY - Over 2,000 squatters in Calbayog City have turned lot owners after the city government had devised ways in the past eight years to relocate them with the cheapest cost of as low as one peso and fifty centavos per day.
Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said in a media interview that this is one of the innovative programs of their city as part in urban planning.
“We are proud to say that from 6,265 informal urban settlers when we started the program in 2002, it went down to 4,000 this year. We are attaining our goal to be an informal settler-free city,” Sarmiento stressed.
Since 2006, the city government has awarded 2,000 secure tenure certificates to these families who once lived in areas with high risk of being swept out to sea or being washed away by flooding due to swelling of rivers during stormy weather.
“The city government is not giving lands for free. The association collects payment daily and the city government collects from the association on a weekly basis." Sarmiento said.
The city mayor pointed out that with this system, a lot owner can devise plans to improve their houses. “We feel that once the land is secured, they find money to improve their houses because they own the land.”
In a mobile phone interview, Cecinio Oquendo, chief of the city urban housing division, described the process as “tedious.”
“It’s hard to convince people to engage in the program. We have to earn their trust and it takes years before others have seen the advantage. The good thing about this is that we have applied the bayanihan concept,” Oquendo told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
The city government approached the land owners of the areas where there are squatters. It was the city government which negotiated sale of the private land to the government itself and in turn the recipient pays the lot according to his capacity to pay. Some would pay as low as P1.50 to P 4.00 a day.
Others too lived in lots owned by the government, though legally transferred. This comprises some 20% of the land area occupied by the informal settlers.
“The agreement is that whatever income we are going to generate, we will bring it back to them through projects aimed to improve their community,” Sarmiento told the media.
Oquendo said that at present, 2,500 families have secured ownership of vacant lots in 10 urban barangays in Calbayog City . These are (with its corresponding number of families): San Policarpo (300), Payahan (300), Rawis (220), Caballero (178), Capoocan (500), Aguit-itan (300), Balud (149), Dagum (115), Hamorawon (300), and Obrero (200).
“We have not transferred those families who built houses in proper places. We have just facilitated in the process of securing land ownership,” Oquendo explained.
The city is eyeing 1,000 more families that would graduate from being tagged as squatters by 2010. Calbayog City is a first class city in the province of Samar. It comprises 157 barangays and is the largest city in Eastern Visayas. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 163,657 people in 28,912 households.
TACLOBAN CITY - Over 2,000 squatters in Calbayog City have turned lot owners after the city government had devised ways in the past eight years to relocate them with the cheapest cost of as low as one peso and fifty centavos per day.
Calbayog City Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento said in a media interview that this is one of the innovative programs of their city as part in urban planning.
“We are proud to say that from 6,265 informal urban settlers when we started the program in 2002, it went down to 4,000 this year. We are attaining our goal to be an informal settler-free city,” Sarmiento stressed.
Since 2006, the city government has awarded 2,000 secure tenure certificates to these families who once lived in areas with high risk of being swept out to sea or being washed away by flooding due to swelling of rivers during stormy weather.
“The city government is not giving lands for free. The association collects payment daily and the city government collects from the association on a weekly basis." Sarmiento said.
The city mayor pointed out that with this system, a lot owner can devise plans to improve their houses. “We feel that once the land is secured, they find money to improve their houses because they own the land.”
In a mobile phone interview, Cecinio Oquendo, chief of the city urban housing division, described the process as “tedious.”
“It’s hard to convince people to engage in the program. We have to earn their trust and it takes years before others have seen the advantage. The good thing about this is that we have applied the bayanihan concept,” Oquendo told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
The city government approached the land owners of the areas where there are squatters. It was the city government which negotiated sale of the private land to the government itself and in turn the recipient pays the lot according to his capacity to pay. Some would pay as low as P1.50 to P 4.00 a day.
Others too lived in lots owned by the government, though legally transferred. This comprises some 20% of the land area occupied by the informal settlers.
“The agreement is that whatever income we are going to generate, we will bring it back to them through projects aimed to improve their community,” Sarmiento told the media.
Oquendo said that at present, 2,500 families have secured ownership of vacant lots in 10 urban barangays in Calbayog City . These are (with its corresponding number of families): San Policarpo (300), Payahan (300), Rawis (220), Caballero (178), Capoocan (500), Aguit-itan (300), Balud (149), Dagum (115), Hamorawon (300), and Obrero (200).
“We have not transferred those families who built houses in proper places. We have just facilitated in the process of securing land ownership,” Oquendo explained.
The city is eyeing 1,000 more families that would graduate from being tagged as squatters by 2010. Calbayog City is a first class city in the province of Samar. It comprises 157 barangays and is the largest city in Eastern Visayas. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 163,657 people in 28,912 households.
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