Paeng’s aftermath

TACLOBAN CITY-Two lawmakers from Eastern Visayas have joined the move of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in areas hard-hit typhoon “Paeng.”

House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin “FM” Romualdez said he is giving his “full support of the recommendation made by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for Pres. Marcos, Jr. to declare a state of calamity due to the effects, damage, and projected impacts by Paeng which pummeled several areas in the country, to include Eastern Visayas, last October 28.

Southern Leyte Rep. Christopher ‘Coco’ Yap also expressed his support on this move of the President.

“Although our district was spared from major devastation comparable to what we experienced with Super Typhoon Odette, there are parts of the country that needs the national government’s assistance in order to rise again from this natural calamity,” the lawmaker, representing the second congressional of his province, said.

According to Yap, the declaration is important “to immediately mitigate the impact brought about by Typhoon Paeng.”

Yap led the monitoring and assistance of the affected local government units as Paeng caused floods and landslides in his district in Southern Leyte.

Placed under a state of calamity by Pres. Marcos last Nov. 2 were Calabarzon, Bicol, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Western Visayas.

These areas bore the brunt of the massive impact of Paeng that resulted in the death of more than 100 people and ‘adversely affected’ over 1.4 million people.

In the region, about five people died while about 65,744 families comprising of 270,807 individuals were affected by the typhoon.

On October 30, Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calbayog also held a special session to pass a resolution declaring a state of calamity in the entire Calbayog City due to the massive destructions and damages brought by Paeng. (RONALD O. REYES)

NSSDEO, Brgy. Burabud, Laoang, Northern Samar-– “No substantial damage to the roads and bridges under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office and the same are passable to all types of vehicles.”

This was the content of the TS “Paeng” situational report submitted by OIC-District Engineer Charlito Carlobos to Director Edgar Tabacon of DPWH-RO VIII in Baras, Palo, Leyte.

Earlier, Engr. Nicanor L. Mejos Jr., assistant chief of the NSSDEO Maintenance Section and member of the District Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team (DDRRMT) said that even during the occurrence of the storm, NSSDEO field personnel led by the Maintenance Point Persons (MPPs) conducted an actual inspection and monitoring of the roads and bridges of NSSDEO.

So far, Engr. Mejos said there were only slight or minor soil collapse and landslide along the Palapag-Mapanas-Gamay-Lapinig (PAMAGALA) Road.

However, these did not hamper the normal flow of traffic in the area because of the immediate response of the field labourers equipped with DPWH dump trucks, back hoe and pay loaders in the area.

“No damage to all infrastructure projects including roads and bridges in all areas of jurisdiction of the DPWH Northern Samar 2nd District Engineering Office during Typhoon “Paeng”,” said DE Carlobos.
(LYCA MAE T. QUILICOL, PIO Alternate)

TANAUAN, Leyte– Mayor Gina Merillo of this town bared her accomplishments since she assumed her post on June 30 of this year.

As she made her accomplishments during her state of municipal address last October 25, Mayor Merillo appealed to her constituents to support her administration as it pursue development-related programs.

The report focused mainly on the improvement of the town’s physical aspect.
Merillo said that she could not yet give a report regarding the infrastructure projects implemented in Tanauan town considering she just took the post in 100 days.

“First on my list was the cleanliness of the municipal hall, offices, restrooms and even the garage. And people saw the changes, the market, plaza, and even cemetery were not spared they are now clean,” she said.

Merillo also boasted in her report that at least 193 new business licenses were issued by the licensing division in the course of three months, providing jobs and other opportunities among her people.

She also reported that Tanauan generated P100 million revenues in her first 100 days in office.

Merillo is also hopeful that additional investors will come to Tanauan so that locals will not go to big urban areas like Tacloban City.

The mayor also is hopeful that Tanauan will become a first-class municipality during her leadership.

In her message, Merillo encourages all the people of Tanauan to support her leadership for them to accomplish more.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla was among those who witnessed the event.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY– The city government of Tacloban has now implemented the P3 fare increase for motorcab-for-hire (MCH) as the posting of the fare matrix or fare guide begins Thursday, November 3, 2022.

Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2022-15-03, sponsored by Councilor Leo Bahin, P12 will be charged per passenger for the first two kilometers from the previous P9. Additional two pesos will be charged for every succeeding distance traveled.

A 20 percent fare discount is mandatory for students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities which means that the minimum far for them will be P9.60 and P1.60 will be added for the following kilometers.

Business Permits and Licensing Division (BPLD) Transport Section in-charge Gerry Abilar reminded MCH drivers and operators to secure the fare matrix before collecting higher fares as a corresponding penalty will be charged against them.

Under Section 3 of the ordinance, the operator will be fined P1,000 for non-posting, removing, or defacement of the passenger matrix or cancellation of their franchise for the successive violation within a year; and drivers shall be punished with a fine of P500 for non-compliance of the prescribed fare guide.

Abilar disclosed that BPLD is targeting to issue matrices to 2200 MCH including 30 Yellow cabs; and roughly 13 e-trikes in the city.

Commuters are urged to immediately report those drivers or operators who will collect new minimum fares without a fare matrix conspicuously displayed inside their vehicles for their safety, said Abilar.

For complaints, passengers can contact the following numbers: (BPLO) 0905-413-4018; (Tomeco) 0927-401-5627; and (Police) 0917-631-7752.

To recall, numerous complaints have reached the city government of drivers against fare overcharging from affected commuters and defying rules.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)