NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar- The DPWH-Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (NSSDEO) has aimed to expand the capacity of the Catarman-Laoang Road from the existing two lanes into four lanes.

Thus, a road widening project covering Barangay Bantayan, Barangay Balud, and Barangay Dale, all under the town of San Roque was implemented.

It was funded under GAA CY 2022 DPWH Regular Infrastructure which involve the concreting/widening of 2.61 kilometers roadway with 0.28m thickness reblocking/reconstruction of 427 meters existing damaged off-carriageway, construction of drainage and slope protection structures, and with other miscellaneous structures.

With a budget cost of P49.8 million, with a contract ID number 22II0012 was contracted by Solid M Construction and with direct supervision of Miriam O. Engo as Project Engineer.

This newly widened road portion is significant to the road users since it gives them additional lanes to accommodate the increasing volume of vehicles passing the said road section. Thus, public travel becomes more convenient, safer and stress-free. In addition, this will also help improve the lives of the local people through enhanced accessibility of services and products.
(RHODORA R.PUJANTE, PIO STAFF)

TACLOBAN CITY– About 15 modern public utility vehicles are now plying the Ormoc City-Isabel town route.

The introduction of the new public utility vehicles, operated by the Isabel Transport Cooperative, is part of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)’s public utility vehicle modernization program.

The launching was held last March 17 and led by LTFRB Regional Director Gualberto Gualberto and town officials headed by Mayor Edgardo Cordeño.

The LTFRB said that the rollout of the 15 modernized PUVs in Isabel town is in furtherance of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) wherein the vehicles are OFG compliant and equipped with an automatic fare collection system and with CCTV for a more convenient, comfortable, and safe travel for all public commuters.

The PUV modernization program envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector in which public transport drivers and operators have stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

Gov. Evardone lambast ‘bad practices’ of mining on the island

TACLOBAN CITY – Officials of Eastern Samar led by Governor Ben Evardone and Guiuan town Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan spearheaded the 502nd anniversary of the coming of Portuguese-born Ferdinand Magellan and his crew to Homonhon Island on March 17.
Both leaders acknowledged the important role played by Homonhon in our country’s history as it paved the way for its ‘reintroduction’ to the world.

However, the historic island may lose its reputation due to the mining activities there, Gov. Evardone lamented.

“I do not want the rich history of Homonhon to be erased and eclipsed by bad practices of mining,” he said, adding that he is for ‘responsible mining’ to ensure that Homonhon’s rich resources and the island itself will not be affected.

Homonhon is rich in natural minerals like chromite that make it attractive for mining activities. There are no active mining activities on the island, at present unlike in previous years.

For her part, Mayor Gonzales-Kwan called on the parents to continue teaching their children the act of kindness and hospitality shown by their ancestors to the foreign crew.
“That is why I am calling the parents to teach their children the act of kindness and hospitality to let this character lives within us forever,” she said.

“We recognize the value of Magellan and his crew but we also recognize our forebears, their kindness, their humanity, their valor, things that we ought to preserve within us today,” Gonzales-Kwan added.

Meantime, the chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Emmanuel Calairo lauded the municipal government of Guiuan and the provincial government for continuing to celebrate the event that took place on March 16,1521.
“Natutuwa po ako at sumasaludo sapagkat ang ating local government unit at provincial government ay narito ngayon kumikilala sa ating makulay na kasaysayan. Kailan po nating magsama-sama at maging united in sharing and fostering our heritage,” he said.

The NCHP official added that to remind the present generation of the rich history of their locality and the valor and gallantry of their ancestors, they are now doing an inventory of local heroes from the local level for the present generation to know them and become their source of inspiration.

He asked the provincial government of Eastern Samar to help them in doing the inventory so that this can be collected and shared at the national level. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

As RPOC chair

TACLOBAN CITY– Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city who was just named as the chairman of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) for Eastern Visayas said that he will ‘touch base’ with the different officials of the region to get personal information on their respective peace and order situation.

And among the first areas that he intends to visit is the province of Northern Samar where four of the five communist guerrilla fronts are still operating, according to the military in the region.

Romualdez, in an interview Saturday, said that he is with the aim of the national government and security officials to quell the insurgency problem of Eastern Visayas once and for all, saying that it not only hinders the region’s peace and order situation and its development but more so among affecting the civilians.

He added that before he will conduct his visits, he will call for a ‘summit’ with all the stakeholders to revisit some of its current or previous policies in so far as addressing the peace and order situation of the region which also include the problem on illegal drugs.
“We are preparing a report to be given to the national government…and after that, I have to visit to the different provinces and touch base with the different local government units and coordinate with them, especially in areas that need immediate attention and obviously we are looking into that,” Romualdez said when asked if he will visit Northern Samar.
“My main concern here are the civilians that are caught on this problem. That is why, we have to address this problem immediately,” he added.

Earlier, more than 1,000 soldiers were deployed to Northern Samar province with the aim to end in the province, described by security officials as the ‘last bastion’ of insurgency in Eastern Visayas.

Romualdez also vowed to coordinate with Congress, particularly the House of Representatives whose Speaker, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, is his cousin to secure needed fundings for projects to remote areas where there are no development-related projects being undertaken.

“We have to focus for a faster and better development on these areas because the people there find it difficult to seek help from our national government due to problem of accessibility,” he said.

Asked if he will push for a localized peace talk as RPOC chairman, Romualdez said that he will abide how the national government will take on this.

“Peace talks are good but we have to find out what are the most effective way of doing it. Both parties must agree to certain tasks and come up with good results,” he added.

(JOEY A. GABIETA)