DPWH reopens Embarcadero River in Tanauan soon
In a meeting called by the DPWH First Leyte Engineering District Engineer Corazon Beriguel at her Office in Pawing, Palo, Leyte, the Mayors of Tanauan, Atty. Roque A. Tiu and Palo, Dr. Teodoro Sevilla, were informed that initial funding is now available from the Priority Development Funds of Rep. Martin Romualdez, although this is not yet enough for the re-opening of the tributaries of Binahaan River in Tanauan.
Per the information by Engr. Beriguel, the amount of P7.5M was each allocated for Embarcadero and Calogcog rivers of Tanauan. It was disclosed that the amount was very insufficient.
Hence, the decision was to instead concentrate first on the re-opening of the Embarcadero River. The other P7.5M allocation will first be added to the P7.5M allocated, to make the available amount of P15M for the Embarcadero river.
The P15M will be used for the construction of a Sluice Gate at the mouth of the Binahaan River to Embarcadero River in order to control the flow of water.
Engr. Beringuel promised to just look for additional funding in order to finish the project at the earliest time.
It will be recalled that the two Mayors during their first term in 1992-1995, lobbied before then Congressman, the late Cirilo Roy Montejo, for funding for the same project in order to prevent recurrence of the flash floods that happened to the two towns specially Palo.
Way back then, the DPWH estimated the flood control project to reach P80M. Considering that it was already towards the end of the term of Rep. Montejo, the project was never realized.
Because of the cost or funding involved, Mayors Tiu and Sevilla brought the matter to the Regional Development Council (RDC) through the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for possible inclusion in the National Budget of the Philippine Government or for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) Funding.
In 2001 after the election, Mayor Tiu revived the request for funding with the RDC and NEDA and it was re-submitted to DPWH for pre-engineering works as much time already lapsed and materials and services already increased. Per the estimate, the cost at that time in 2002 already reached to more than P200M.
The big amount didn’t stop the two Mayors from hoping to get the funding. Hence, both Mayors Tiu and Sevilla lobbied for the necessary funding. They brought this matter to Rep. Romualdez, as soil erosion along the coast of Tanauan was already eating up several houses and Palo continuously suffer flooding.
The two mayors are happy that a positive result has been received. This makes them more optimistic that the perennial problem will soon find solution.
Both Mayors Tiu and Sevilla are pinning their hopes on Rep. Romualdez to allocate more funds for the project. (PIA 
Pagsanghan town optimistic with DAR launch of strategic ARC project
Pagsanghan Mayor Violeto Ceracas expressed optimism of coming developments after the Department of Agrarian Reform launched all the 13 barangays of his town as a Strategic Argrarian Reform Community on July 28.
DAR 8 Regional Director John Maruhom disclosed that Pagsanghan ARC was among those confirmed last year by Central Office.
Although its formal launching was postponed, Director Maruhom emphasized that DAR did not delay the delivery of the necessary support services to its agrarian reform beneficiaries here.
His office was successful in having this ARC-municipality included in the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP) under its second phase of implementation, Director Maruhom added.
Of the 149 ARCs nationwide included under the ARCP-2, the ARCP officials who were in Eastern Visayas last week to evaluate these ARCs, disclosed that Pagsanghan ARC is in the list of priority areas that would start implementation next month.
Though Director Maruhom was not able to attend the launching due to some important appointments outside the region, he directed Assistant Regional Director for Operations Reynaldo Villas to represent him in this occasion together with Samar Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Gregorio Fiel Jr., as well as the Support Services Division officials and field implementers, Mr. Jose Alsmith Soria, regional information officer, said.
Among the priority projects listed in their ARC development plan was a farm-to-market road which is soon to be realize under the ARCP-2.
The launching is launching as the signal for the start of improvement of the quality of life of the local farmers particularly the agrarian reform beneficiaries. This would come with increased farm production and household income.
Mayor Ceracas said his optimism was heightened as officials from various cooperating line agencies present likewise committed support such as coco fertilizers from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), scholarship programs from TESDA and livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), among others. (Jose Al Smith Soria DAR 8/PIA
DPWH highlights Aklan infra projects in time for SONA
by Venus G. Villanueva
A picture of Ibajay Bridge, inaugurated here by PGMA in June 2008 before Typhoon Frank struck Aklan took a prominent space in the two-page list of DPWH-completed projects since 2001 published in a national newspaper July 27 in time with PGMA’s 9th State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The two other major infrastructure projects in Aklan cited as completed include the Kalibo-Nabas Road, ADB sixth Road Project (Structural Overlay Component), 39.54 kilometers; and Culasi-Nabas Road, Aklan and Antique, ADB Six Road Project (Structural Overlay Component),44.31 kilometers, both implemented in 2005.
The Ibajay Bridge is 246 lm double lane leads to the Caticlan Jetty Port where commercial ships and RORO boats dock. Caticlan is the jump-off point to Boracay Island. It is a UK Steel Truss located 63 meters downstream of the existing bridge at Brgy. Polo, Ibajay, Aklan along the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) at Aklan West Road.
According to the DPWH, in the 21st century under the leadership of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the department has harnessed resources and manpower to put stone and steel to work to Drive Development Through Responsive and Responsible Public Works.
The DPWH has poured since 2001 concrete and welded steel to expand the road network to 29,370 kilometers, and the bridge network to 314,353 lineal meters.
In Aklan as of June 30, 2009, 5 major projects undertaken by the DPWH include the Aklan East Road, now 92% complete; Altavas-Jamindan Road, 90%; Caticlan Port Access Road, 60%; Kalibo Airport, Pook, Kalibo, 60%; and Caticlan-Malay-Libertad Road, Malay, Phase I, 100% complete. (PIA)
Leyte consumer prices drop from March-June 2009 levels
By Neil D. Lopido
Tacloban City (July 30) — The Prices of goods and services in the province of Leyte registered a significant drop since March 2009 according to report from the Leyte Provincial Statistics Office through its provincial statistics officer, Wilma A. Perante.
Perante informed that the biggest drop was noted from March to April by 3.4 percentage points and followed by a 1.7 percentage points from May to June 2009. The 11 percent year-on-year rate of price change in May 2009 had considerably dwindled to 9.3 percent for the month-in-review which means that increase in prices of goods and services was slower in June 2009 compared to that of the previous month, Perante further informed.
The statistics officer revealed also that the decline on the inflation rate of the major commodity groups accounted the significant decrease of the inflation rate in the province of Leyte in June 2009. These commodity groups include fuel, light and water which dropped by 3.7 percentage points, services by 2.2 percentage points, and food by 1.9 percentage points.
On the other hand, a slight increment of 0.5 percentage point was observed on the month-on-month price change in the province due to considerable increase of the month-on-month price change of services by 3.4 percentage points and on housing and repairs by 1.2 percentage points, Perante disclosed.
On the purchasing power of the peso (PPP), a one-centavo fall was noted from May to June 2009, posting the province PPP at 61 centavos for the month in review, Perante further disclosed.
Inflation Rate (IR) is the general rise of prices over a specified period of time. It indicates how fast or how slow price changes over two-time periods. Contrary to common knowledge, low inflation does not necessarily mean that prices are falling; rather, it means that prices continue to increase at a slower rate. On the other hand, Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) is a measure of how much the peso in the base period is worth in another period. It gives us an indication on the real value of the peso in a given period relative to the peso value in the base period. (PIA-8)
Calbayog partners with PNP, Army for security
By Ninfa B Quirante
Calbayog City (July 30) — Calbayog Mayor Mel Senen Sarmiento met with the so called Security Cluster Tuesday for the update on the investigations being made by the PNP on the reported shooting incidents in Calbayog.
Also discussed was the coordination to be made between the PNP and the Philippine Army and their respective tasks to maintain peace and order in the city.
As reported earlier, the police troops from the Police Regional Mobile Group (PRMG) will be conducting checkpoints in Calbayog.
The Philippine Army through the 34th Infantry Battalion (34th IB) will conduct propelactic patrols in some barangays in Calbayog District particularly in the Upper and Lower Happy Valley areas, while the 20th IB will go on with its operations in the Tinambacan and Oquendo Districts.
As per report made by Calbayog PNP Chief PSupt Lito Bigoy, (as of July 22, 2009) the number of shooting incidents reported was at 27; and most of these incidents are results of personal grudges.
As of the meeting on Tuesday, nine cases have been filed in court; one case was reportedly settled amicably, another case found one suspect dead, 12 cases are being investigated while four cases are due for filing.
In an earlier interview dated July 14, 2009 Samar Provincial Director PSSupt Pancho Hubilla said that Samar is ‘very peaceful’.
Although the PNP chief admitted he was concerned with the killings in Calbayog City and other areas in the first district.
Two days after the interview, Matuginao Mayor Carlos dela Cruz was gunned down and killed by unidentified assailants in his very home in Catbalogan.
Matuginao is a municipality that belonged to the first district.
Dela Cruz, along with a cousin named Joel Adel were gunned down in the mayor’s house in Catbalogan, Adel however survived but could not identify the assassins.
Police are now pursuing all angles in this killing and have identified a suspect based on witnesses accounts, the suspect though remains elusive.
Hubilla meanwhile said his PNP force is addressing the problem.
In addition, a new batch of SWAT graduates have been deployed to problematic areas in Samar.
Peace and order is a high priority of the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In her final SONA delivered on July 28, PGMA mentioned her concern for security and peace and order.
“High on our agenda will be peace and security issues. Terrorism: how to meet it, how to end it, how to address its roots in injustice or prejudice—and first and always how to protect lives”, PGMA cited.
She urged congress to : fund more policemen on the streets. (PIA Samar with Ron Ricafort)
Ferry Boat sank off coast Southern Leyte; all 121 passengers safe, says Coast Guard
by Ben Serrano
July 28, 2009
SURIGAO CITY – All 121 passengers of ferry boat M/V Ocean King are now declared safe after rescuers from Coast Guard, local government unit and people of San Ricardo in Southern Leyte practically saved them after it sank off coast in Barangay Benet, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte province.
Philippine Coast Guard personnel in Southern Leyte headed by Master Chief Petty Officer Manolito Dacel told this writer through mobile phone call claimed all 121 passengers are now temporarily in shelter at the Philippine Ports Authority Terminal in San Ricardo town in Sothern Leyte
“All of them are wet after M/V Ocean King sank about 80% at starboard side, luckily the ship‘s captain managed to maneuver towards the shore as the boat slowly submerging due to huge and strong waves” Dacel said.
Initial reports reaching the Philippine Coast Guard Office in Southern Leyte claimed that the ferry boat just left Lipata Port here at past 2 p.m. this afternoon (July 28) and that when huge waves started to bombard the ship it started to tilt as its cargoes believed to be untied started to group heavily into the star board side.
Reports also reaching this seaside city of Caraga Region claimed the ferry boat was allegedly overloaded with cargoes.
This writer tried to contact Surigao City Coast Guard In Charge Lt. Commander Nelson Torre at his office here but the Coast Guard office here was closed.
Passenger Ferry boats had a thrice daily schedule to and from Lilo-an Port in Southern Leyte and Lipata Port in Barangay Lipata, Surigao City.
Travel time to and from Southern Leyte by ferry boat is about four to five hours depending on the weather condition.
Daily passenger buses trips including cargo trucks from Mindanao to Luzon and vice versa via the nautical highway passes through these sea routes.
