the ENCAP has begun

The Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) of the USNS Mercy Mission in Samar has commenced.

Some members of the to the Naval Mobile Construction Batallion (NMCB) 133 got busy yesterday. The group was divided into two, with one group doing repair work at the Santa Margarita Health Center; and the other one was assigned near the Hall of Justice to construct the Main Health Center for Brgy. Capoocan.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento he gets updated on the work by LCdr Jay Lutz.

Briefing the troops

The Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) Team of the USNS Mercy was given a briefing today. The group officially belongs to the Naval Mobile Construction Batallion (NMCB) 133.

The said briefing on security and other details pertaining to the USNS Mercy mission in Calbayog was held this morning at the old Hermann Gmeiner campus. On hand were Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento and Lt Col Corleto Vinluan, Jr. of the 20th IB, among others.

The team arrived yesterday onboard a C130 plane from Okinawa, Japan. They were given a simple welcome dinner at the Marju Krisel Resort.

MOA Signing

The City Government today signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP). The said MOA is aimed at pooling the resources and expertise of both the LGU and LBP in the development and implementation of The City Government of Calbayog - Landbank Cooperative Strenghtening Partnership Program.

Among the aims of the program are:

1. The establishment of cooperative sponsorship programs between Landbank and the LGU thru the City Cooleratives Office with the support of the Calbayog City Cooperative Development Council to accelerate and enhance the growth and sustainability of cooperatives in the city.

2. The strengthening of the operations and management capability of the cooperatives through transfer of technology and expertise of the concerned parties to the cooperatives.

3. The development and strengthening of viable city-based multi-sectoral cooperatives, capable of handling diversified socio-economic activities on a sustained basis.

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento with (r-l) Vice Mayor Ronaldo Aquino,Cooperative Development Authority Samar Director Acila Cabañas and Landbank Tacloban Development Assistance Head Manuel Buenaventura. Standing (2nd from the left) is Councilor Ina Rabuya, Chair of the City Cooperatives Development Council.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he delivered his speech.

Mr. Manuel Buenaventura as he delivered his message.

Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino delivering his closing remarks.

Sukabumi visits Calbayog: The Farewell Party

The visit of the MDG delegates from Sukabumi, Indonesia was capped by a farewell dinner which held tonight at the Marju-Krisel Resort in Barangay San Policarpo.

On hand for the affair were Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento, Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, some City Officials and a good number of Department Managers.

For some pictures taken during the said affair, please check this link.

Sukabumi visits Calbayog: The Mayor's Presentation

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento today formally met with the guests from the City of Sukabumi (Indonesia).

The visit of the 5-man team was part of the localization of The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) program in Indonesia. MDG is a development framework set by The United Nations, of which Calbayog City (as of September 2005) is one of the only 14 resource cities in the Philippines.

The City Mayor gave a presentation entitled "Sukabumi visits Calbayog". The said presentation gave emphasis on what the City Government of Calbayog has been doing in its effort to make real its vision and mission vis-a-vis the various goals as set or stated in the UN-MDG.

The said presentation was attended by the SP members headed by Vice Mayor Ronald Aquino, the various Department Managers and their assistants.

(If you should be interested, we would be very pleased to provide you with a copy of the said presentation. You may leave your contact details in the comment box.)

Dr. Kostaman as he fielded the first question after the presentation.

Mr. Rahmat Sukandar as he asked a question.

Dr. Suhermanb (Head, Local Public Hospital)

Mayor Sarmiento and Vice Mayor Aquino with (l-r) Dr. Sukarman, MPM (Head Infrastructure Divison, Education Office), Mr. Rahmat Sukandar, SSI, MT, MSC (Senior Planner, Local Planning Agency), Dr. Suhermanb, MKM (Head, Local Public Hospital) Dr. Kostaman, MM (Assistant III, Secretariat), Dr. Muhamad Noor Hanafie Zain, MSI (Head, Transportation Office)

The City Officials with the Indonesian guests.

Mr. Rahmat Sukandar with Councilor Ina Rabuya.

Dr. Suhermanb as he exchanged pleasantries with Dr. Teody Fortaleza and Dr. Cesar Sabenicio.

Mr. Rahmat Sukandar talks with Bebot Beso and Fe Queroljico.

(ps. thanks to Mr. Vir Tomnob (the City's MDG focal person) and Menjee Ortiz-Dioneda (of the CSWDO) for providing the data for this report.)

meeting the folks at Barangay Dagum

Early this week, Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento met with the officials and residents of Brgy. Dagum. The meeting was part of the preparations for the MEDCAP of the USNS Mercy personnel.

As of the last update, preparations are being made to have the mission conducted at the old campus of the CKC Herman Gmeiner Elementary School which is located in Brgy. Dagum.

Rice Situationer

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento recently convened the People's Committee, a special body composed of representatives of the various stakeholders of the City. Included in the agenda of the said meeting was a report on the Rice Situationer in Region 8.

The City Mayor presented figures regarding rice production and consumption in Region 8. These figures (which was provided by DA RO8 and updated on March 24, 2008) gave a reassuring picture of rice production/ availability.

The report acknowledged that There's a looming world rice shortage; and that it could impact on the country's export volume and consequently, food security. On the other hand, it noted that:
1. Both national and regional outputs continue to grow;
2. In Region 8, rice output in year 2007 grew by 143%, the highest for any region in the country and affording the region a sufficiency index of 115%;
3. Apparently, the best way to forestall the situation from ever happening is by relying on / appealing to our local capability to produce more, reduce post harvest losses and increase efficiency in rice use (i.e. reduce wastage in home consumption).

Nijaga's new lamposts

The new lamposts at the Nijaga Park have been lit. Workers are still doing their job putting in place brick tiles on the sidewalk. The lampsots of the same style have been installed at the Rueda Street Walkway.

(Here are some pix taken by Ami and Bon. My apologies, these were taken using camera phones)

Drug Pushers in the City

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento with Calbayog Police Chief P/Supt Isaias Tonog recently presented to the media two suspected drug pushers.

Live-in partners Reggie Arma and Jean Vertrudes who are residents of Brgy. Aguit-itan were apprehended with 6 grams of shabu in their possession. The suspects who are currently detained at the PNP Calbayog temporary lock-up cell will be charged with violation of Section 5 of R.A. 9165.

Mayor Sarmiento with P/Supt Tonog and the suspects (l-r) Jean Vertrudes and Reggie Arma.

"Earth Day" at DepEd Calbayog

DepEd Calbayog yesterday ended their two-day Orientation and Workshop on Division Solid Waste Management. The activity commenced on April 22. It was some kind of an Earth Day Celebration for the said agency.

Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento was on hand to deliver a report on what the City Government is doing with regards to Solid Waste Management.

Mayor Sarmiento as he delivered his report. Seated are (l-r) Calbayog East Central School Principal Primitva Jalayajay, Science Education Supervisor Rose Paragas and City Schools Division Superintendent Edita Paculan.

On the other hand, Mr. Sun Kwon Chun, a Korean national who is into into Jathropa plantation paid a courtesy call on the City Mayor. Mr. Sun later on turned over a check amounting to 57,000 pesos to the Calbayog City National High School. The amount will be used for the purchase of 100 units of armchairs for the said school.

Calbayog City National High School Principal Lolita Alera as she received the check from Mr. Sun Kwon Chun. With them are (l-r) Mayor Mel Sarmiento, Mr. Moon Shik Kim and Mrs. Edita Paculan.

Earth Day in Calbayog 1

Mayor Mel Sarmiento was in Barangay Cagbilwang (Oquendo District) early this morning to be on hand for the simple Earth Day Program which was spearheaded by the ABC President, Councilor Bombie Enriquez. In attendance were the officials and residents of the said barangay, officials from the barangays near the Watershed area and the some employees from the Environment Office.

Together with the issues on climate change and other environmental concerns, details about the LGU's PILI planting program was tackled. It should be noted that the said program was put in place as an alternative job or means of livelihood for the illegal loggers apprehended in the watershed area. As of today, some 65,000 pili trees have been planted in the area.

Mayor Mel Sarmiento as he stressed a point during the celebration. Listening to him is ABC President Bombie Enriquez.

an update: The Calbayog Pier

I got hold of some pictures of the Calbayog Pier. These pictures were taken about a week ago and it shows the progress of the project being undertaken at the area.

"So near yet so far" is the most common line uttered by passengers who get "stranded" aboard THE VESSEL OF THE ONLY SHIPPING COMPANY plying the Cebu - Calbayog route when the said vessel arrives in Calbayog on a low tide. I dunnow the exact details of the project, one thing for sure, it is supposed to provide some sort of an axtension, so as to let the vessles dock even on low tide (I hope).

USNS Mercy in Calbayog

The USNS Mercy will be coming back to Calbayog. As per details provided by the City Health Officer, Dr. Cesar Sabenicio, the Mercy mission will have two components namely, the ENCAP and MEDCAP.

The ECNCAP (Engineering Civic Action Program) will be held from May 10, 2008 to June 10, 2008. It will include the following:
- Construction of Main Health Center in Brgy. Capoocan

- Construction of Sewage Disposal Facility at Greenland Subdivision in Brgy. Rawis

- Repair of the Sta. Margarita Health Center, Botika ng Barangay at Brgy. Ilo and repair of the Gandara District Hospital.

The MEDCAP (Medical Civic Action Program) will be conducted from June 1 to 13, 2008 in the following places:

- San Isidro, Northern Samar: June 1 & 2

- Gandara: June 4 & 5

- Sta. Margarita: June 7 & 8

- Calbayog City: June 10 - 13

Details of the the Mindanao leg of the mission has been reported in ABC News and San Diego News.

For other details, you may also check this link.

and yet another update

I passed by the Nijaga Park yesterday afternoon. Workers were busy putting on bricks on the walkway / sidewalk along the Gomez (street) side of the said Park. Still part of the beautification of the said park. A few weeks ago, the first set decorative lamposts were intalled in the area.

just an update

Hi there! I'm back. So sorry for giving no updates the past week. Do you still remember my post about the LGU project putting in place the Rueda Street Walkway? Work is still ongoing in the area. A few weeks ago, they have intalled the new lamposts, similar to the ones installed at the Nijaga Park. And when I went to TTMIST yesterday, this is what I saw, I mean the pictures below. Some workers busy with the next phase which is concreting of the sidewalk from Mercury Drugstore to the TTMIST gate.


And yup for those have been out of Calbayog for so long, especially those from TTMIST, you now have to pass through the main gate along Rueda Street (the other gate is in front of the DPWH office). The main gate which is familiar to many generations of Tancinco studes and alumni (what do we call them?) has been closed and arrangements are being made for it to be utilized by the DepEd employees and students from Calbayog East Central School. And what happens to the gate at East or the Division Office. It is supposed to be closed as the area always gets congested with PD cabs and other vehicles especially during rush hours when students enter and leave the school premises; and in case of an emergency, that scenario could pose a problem to the BFP Fire Trucks stationed in Hamorawon.