ORMOC CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) is making substantial progress in the ongoing Construction of Missing Links/New Roads – Jaro – Rubas – Ormoc Road (Ormoc City Side).

This high impact project with a contract cost of Php 144,598,788.92 funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2023 will serve as a pivotal stepping stone for improved connectivity of Ormoc City and its surrounding areas.

It involves the development of a 1.826 ln. km. road with a width of 2.10 meters and an additional 0.880 ln. km. road with a width of 3.05 meters for a combined project length of 2.706 ln. km. One of the key features of this undertaking is the incorporation of slope protection covering an area of 9,143.44 sq. m. designed to fortify the road against natural elements, ensuring longevity and resilience of the infrastructure.

“Once completed and opened, this project opens the door to accessibility thereby stimulating economic activities while residents will enjoy reduced travel times and increased convenience,” said OIC-District Engineer Rosita A. Tinawin. “It will not only upgrade our infrastructure but will also positively influence the overall quality of life in the community.”

As of this writing, the project has an accomplishment rate of 93.89%. (PR)

PAL to add new flights to Borongan City

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Tourism (DOT) welcomed the reported additional flights of commercial airlines to the different airports in the region, notably at the Borongan Airport.

Karina Rosa Tiopes, DOT regional director, said that more flights in the region would mean tourists could now have easy and fast access to visit tourist destinations in Eastern Visayas.
Earlier, City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda announced that the Philippine Airlines (PAL) would be adding an additional flight from the current twice-a-week Manila-Cebu-Borongan flight.

Agda said that the additional flight would start in July of this year.

“I am happy that there will be an increase of flight in Borongan but there are still other places in the region that need that,” Tiopes said.

To have more flights, there must be a demand for it and ready facilities that will cater to their guests, the tourism official added.

Also last week, Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan requested for PAL to make additional flights of its Manila-Catarman flight, boosting of the increase in economic activities in the province.

Currently, PAL is offering five times a week flight from Catarman to Manila from Tuesday to Friday and Sunday.

Ongchuan requested PAL officials to also offer Monday and Saturday flights for the convenience of travelers and also help boost the local economy which is good for encouraging more investments that will generate more jobs and livelihood.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño (ASSN) celebrated the Feast in Honor of the Holy Name of Jesus.

On Sunday (Jan.21), the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño celebrated the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

ASSN has set various activities in celebration of its original parish fiesta. Novena masses were offered from January 11 to January 19, 2024.

All parishioners, devotees, and pilgrims joined the celebration by offering novena prayers, visiting the pilgrim Church, and attending the celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

The feast of Sr. Sto. Niño de Tacloban is celebrated every month of June to commemorate the miraculous return of the venerated image of Sr. Sto. Niño to Tacloban which also brought healing of Taclobanons affected by the cholera epidemic.

But prior to the June fiesta, the people of Tacloban used to celebrate their parish fiesta every January, the same date as the Sinulog Festival in Cebu.

In 2021, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño revived the January parish feast day.
This year’s Fiesta theme is: “Ginoo, tutdoi daw kami hin Pag-ampo.”. Lk 11:1 “Lord, teach us to Pray.”

Earlier on that day, the images of the Señor Santo Niño de Limasawa and the Santo Niño de Tacloban made their Encuentro or Pagsugat at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño in Tacloban City.

Upon the arrival rites, Bishop Precioso Cantillas of Maasin Diocese led the enthronement of the two images before the Shrine sanctuary.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (L2DEO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) held a coordination meeting with the contractors before the onset of the CY 2024 projects on January 8, 2024.

District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura spearheaded the meeting was attended by his assistant, Engr. Francisco Robin, Jr., section chiefs, project engineers, and other key personnel involved in the project implementation.

The meeting focused on discussing project implementation plans, program of works, technical aspects, contract document status, challenges, issues, and concerns.

Robin Jr. encouraged the contractors’ full cooperation and commitment to adhere to the department standards to facilitate a smoother implementation of the project.

Oppura, meanwhile, stressed that DPWH and contractors are partners in implementing projects.

“Cooperation and coordination are needed to attain work-accomplishment targets. It signifies that maintaining constant communication with the contractors will allow it to achieve its infrastructure development goals with the highest possible quality,” he said.

Oppura urged the contractors to work closely together with the project engineers, particularly in ensuring that the plans and program of work are rigorously implemented, to avoid project delays.

At the same time, the district office will also conduct close monitoring of all projects to ensure that plans and programs of work are properly adhered to.

He also advised the contractors to find ways as much as possible to avoid negative slippage that may result in non-payment, cancellation of contract, or blacklisting.

During the discussion, it was emphasized how important it is to correctly implement traffic management and safety during construction to safeguard on-site personnel and motorists and to prevent accidents.
(LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)