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)