ISABEL,Leyte– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO) commences the construction of a farm-to-market road in Isabel, Leyte to improve connectivity and uplift the quality of life for the local residents.

The project involves the concreting of a 0.920-kilometer two-lane Portland Concrete Cement Pavement (PCCP) road from Brgy. San Francisco to Brgy. Bantigue amounting to Php 16,790,120.00 and funded through the Department of Agriculture Farm-to-Market Road (DA-FMR) 2023.

Once completed, this vital infrastructure will provide a multifaceted positive impact, benefitting farmers, communities and the overall economy while also improving access to essential services and contributing to rural development through a reliable travel route for both motorists and pedestrians by facilitating the transportation of agricultural products, goods, and services between the two barangays as well as their adjacent community trading centers.

With a current accomplishment rate of 20.36%, the road project is expected to conclude by November of this year. (PR)

ORMOC CITY-The local police are conducting a thorough investigation involving the killing of an incumbent barangay chairwoman and her common-law husband in Barangay Campeig, Sta. Margarita, Samar on Wednesday (Sept.6) at about 7:30 am.

Local police identified the victims as Vivian Verano, 46, and the current barangay chairwoman and her live-in partner, Roel Casalay, 43.

Verano was seeking for another term in the forthcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The incident happened in Brgy. Campeig, a remote village that could be reached only through walking about three hours from the highway.

Investigation conducted by the local police disclosed that the live-in couple were inside their house when six unidentified persons armed with long and short firearms barged into their house.

Police Staff Sergeant Jeremy Aropo-op, in a phone interview, said that while the couple were stunned upon their entry of the suspects as they suddenly opened fire with the victims killing them both on the spot.

The perpetrators immediately came out of the house after the shooting and fled to an unknown area.

Sgt. Oropo-op said that they are facing a blank wall on this incident in identifying the suspects and their motive in killing the victims. (ROBERT DEJON)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, N. Samar – The residents and passersby along Bantayan Bay, San Roque, Northern Samar, will be safeguarded by on-going construction of 320.00 meters seawall against potential sea-level surge. This project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways – Northern Samar Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NSSDEO), led by OIC District Engineer Charlito S. Carlobos and OIC Assistant District Engineer Atty. Arthur Eric L. Sabong, funded under General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2023 with an appropriation of P52.25 million. Furthermore, CDU Construction undertakes the construction work with Contract ID 23II0017 and has contract amount of P 5,0411,055.55.

As of July 31, 2023, it had an actual accomplishment status of 81.05% and a positive slippage result of 54.65%. The project used RC Piles to increase the bearing capacity and to reduce settlement at the site, which are weak compressible soils. Hence, this project may be accomplished earlier than its planned date of completion.

To ensure the quality standard coastal protection project, the DPWH-NSSDEO management assigned, Project Engineer Filoteo T. Delorino to supervise along with Project Inspector Engr. Ma. Luzyl P. Castillo and Resident Engineer Florando Emilio O. Moscare while Engr. Justino E. Serafin, Jr., for the materials quality assurance of the project.

The impact of this project is to provide protection from soil erosion and damage to roads brought by continuous heavy rains. Since the area has the potential for promoting local tourism, the completion of seawall project would benefit the town, as well as the province’s economy.
(ZYRA JOY CHING/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY– Earthquakes were felt in Leyte on Wednesday night with no damages or aftershocks reported by local authorities.

The center of these tremors was the town of Capoocan wherein its disaster risk reduction management office conducted its inspection of the different schools to check their conditions.

As of morning, no school or classroom in the town reported to have sustained damage due to the jolts, the office said.

The first quake to strike the town was about 10:38 pm with a magnitude of 4.5.
It was felt in the towns of Kananga, Carigara, and Capoocan at Intensity IV; Ormoc City, Tunga, Jaro, Barugo, San Miguel, and Leyte town at Intensity III; Matag-ob, Villaba, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Palompon, and Merida, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The series of quakes was again felt in Capoocan at about 11:18 pm with a magnitude of 2.9 followed by a 2.7 magnitude that struck at 11: 21 pm.

Meantime, a 3.0 magnitude was also hit in the historic town of Homonhon town, Guiuan, Eastern Samar at about 6:21 am on Thursday (Sept.7).

The Phivolcs said that it does not expect any damages or aftershocks due to the tremor. (JOEY A. GABIETA)

ORMOC CITY– A village councilor who is running for barangay chairman in next month’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, was shot several times in Leyte, Leyte on Thursday at about 7:45 am.

The victim was identified by the local police as Junie Dela Peña, 51, a candidate for village chairman in Tag-abaca, about 15 kms away from the town center.

The three suspects, who were clad in black jackets and on board a pick-up, overtook the vehicle where De la Peña and his passenger were on board and without provocation, shot the victim several times hitting him on the different parts of his body, the report added.
The woman companion of the victim, Rosalia Gondong, was unhurt.

It was learned that the victim was on his way to Ta-abaca and traversing at Sitio Naga, Brgy. Consuegra, also in Leyte, when the incident took place.

The victim was brought to a hospital in Ormoc City and is said to be in critical condition.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the region has yet to issue a statement on whether the incident was related to the October 30 village elections.

The town of Leyte is part of the third district of Leyte which has been identified to be a hot spot area relative to the forthcoming balloting.
(ROBERT DEJON)