BASEY, Samar – Travel from Borongan City to Tacloban City will now be fast and easier with the Maydolong (Eastern Samar)-Basey (Samar) road project formally inaugurated.

On Saturday (July 15), Rep. Marcelino ‘Nonoy’ Libanan of the 4Ps party-list led the groundbreaking of the project in the Maydolong side while Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan spearheaded the opening of the Basey road section the following day, Sunday (July 16).
The Maydolong side starts in Barangay Del Pilar while the Basey section starts in sitio Campo 10 of Brgy. Guirang.

“This road is an advantage to Eastern Samar residents because six to eight municipalities will benefit from this shortening of travel time from 4 hours to about 2 hours,” Gov.Tan said.

Currently, travelers from Eastern Samar have two road options when going to Tacloban City. The first is thru the Buray-Taft road and the second is the Borongan-Quinapondan-Lawaan-Marabut-Basey road.

It will take four hours before a traveler reaches Tacloban if they use these two roads.
These roads will also ease the accessibility problem during heavy rainfall when the Buray-Taft road is closed to traffic due to flooding and landslide along the Taft side of the national road.

“This will also benefit economically the people living in communities along the area helping them to improve their condition,” Gov. Tan added.

The Maydolong-Basey road on the Samar side passes through Wespal, where two of the top tourist destinations in Basey town are located. These are the jump-off area to Sohoton Cave and to the entrance to one of the famous waterfalls in the municipality, the Balantak Falls.

Basey Mayor Luz Ponferrada agrees with Gov. Tan adding that aside from communities that will economically benefit the project, the road will strengthen connectivity and inclusivity, and promote public safety and welfare.

“Our residents who are residing in their area will now have access to the services that they well deserve,” she said.

Rep. Libanan, in his message, stressed the importance of a road network for Samar Island to further strengthen and hasten development.

“We are the third largest island but we lack of road network. If this road is completed, this will be the third to cross the two provinces that is why I am thankful that this is now happening because constructing a project like this is not that easy,” he said.

He added that the road will be the island’s trailblazer to progress and development and will going to be the legacy of present leaders will left behind to future generations.

“This road will help the two provinces in trading, sharing of culture, and tourism industry,” Libanan said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– A saltwater crocodile was discovered by a fisherman in Quinapondan, Eastern Samar on Sunday (July 9) inside his fish cage.

The crocodile, measuring 1.28 meters and weighing 50 kilograms, was discovered by Alfred Abejo of Barangay Palactad, a coastal village seven kms away from the town proper.
Felix John Bianes, the municipal environment and resources officer, said that the fisherman found the crocodile inside his fish cage at about 7 am.

At first, Abejo thought that what was inside his fish cage was just a big lizard but when he got a closer look, and to his shock, was the crocodile.

This prompted him to ask for help from other fishermen who were also around at that time by tying his body and mouth using a rope.

The villagers immediately reported their discovery of the crocodile to the municipal government.

“This is the first time that a crocodile was found in Quinapondan,” Bianes said in an interview.

He could not say yet if the crocodile came from the river located in the village. “And I could not say if somebody is taking care of a crocodile in our town,” Baines said.

Still, they have already asked the residents, particularly those from Palactad to immediately report to their office if they will have some similar sightings.

It was learned that the discovery of the crocodile has caused alarm among residents as they are not discounting of the possibility that there could be other crocodiles.

The animal has been turned over to the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources based in Tacloban City.

Meantime, the fisherman where the crocodile was found is seeking help after his fish pen was destroyed.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Borongan City will play host to the 2nd national surfing summit slated on November 24 to 26.

Rupert Ambil, city information officer who is also the surf city chairperson, said that the national summit will bring together the country’s surf enthusiasts.

“The primary goal of this summit is to bring together all surfing stakeholders under one roof. We intend to explore how we can harness the global phenomenon of this sport as a powerful tourism attraction and recognize its status as an Olympic sport,” he said in a press statement.

“This summit is a momentous occasion as it brings together multiple surf communities, fostering a sense of unity and support amongst them. Together, we are planning for the establishment of a regional surf circuit in Eastern Visayas, creating exciting opportunities for surfers and further enhancing the growth of the sport,” Ambil added.

The summit will also be the venue or platform for the discussion of emerging trends, sustainable practices, and the future of surfing in our beautiful country, he added.

As part of the national summit, a coordination meeting was held on Tuesday(July 11) attended by City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, tourism regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes, and several surfing association officials, among others.

Surfers from other popular surfing sites of the country are expected to join the summit.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)