Baras, Palo, Leyte— The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 8 has commenced its dredging operations along Burayan River on Saturday(Jan.14) morning in an effort to prevent overflow and consequently alleviate flooding in several areas in Tacloban City, Leyte.

This is after DPWH 8 Regional Director Edgar B. Tabacon directed the regional office’s Equipment Management Division (EMD) to deploy amphibious excavator to desilt the Burayan River.

“One amphibious excavator K4-65 is now operating and desilting the Burayan River. By doing so, we are mitigating inundations in areas stretching from barangays San Jose, to Marasbaras, and all the way to V&G subdivision”, said Regional Director Tabacon.

DPWH 8 took advantage on the improved weather condition over the weekend to start desilting the Burayan river. On Saturday alone, an estimated volume of 288 cu.m. silted materials were removed during the non-stop 6-hour dredging operation.

This operation might continue to be carried out for the entire year.

Aside from the Burayan River, dredging operations along Bangon River has been ongoing for more than 2 years now which has helped prevent flooding in the town of Palo, Leyte.

RD Tabacon also stated that these operations are part of the office’s response to the recent flooding in the region due to LPA. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- Rep. Jude Acidre of Tingog party-list group said that while they have not won overwhelmingly in the region during last year’s elections, 80% of their resources are still being used to fund projects and assistance here.

Acidre added that they have widened their programs and assistance-related activities outside the region where Tingog got the majority votes which resulted in the party getting two congressional seats.

The other seat is occupied by Rep.Yedda Marie Romualdez, wife of Leyte congressman and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

As a proof, Acidre practically all the towns and cities across the region have been recipients of the cash-for-work program in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment.

“In the last elections, 51 percent of votes came from outside the region and as acknowledgment, we put up offices outside the region to serve that constituency,” the party-list solon said.

According to him, Tingog party-list has 40 offices across the country.

Acidre added that people outside the region are happy because despite the fact that the core region of Tingog is Eastern Visayas, the programs and projects of the party reach them.

Meantime, Tingog party-list group recently launched its medical assistance program at the Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) dubbed as ‘Tambal’ or ‘take-home medicine assistance program.’

Under the program, all patients confined at the EVMC and been discharged could still avail free medicines for their complete recuperation, Acidre said.

“This is free for all as long as the patient has been confined and discharged from the EVMC,” he said.

Acidre said that this same program will be replicated to other hospitals like the Governor Benjamin T. Romualdez General Hospital and Schistosomisias Center in Palo, Leyte.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/JOEY A. GABIETA)

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 5,100 tree seedlings were planted in various locations in Matag-ob town, Leyte, coinciding with the birthday celebration of its mayor, Bernandino Tacoy, last Saturday (Jan. 14).

Tacoy personally planted 51 seedlings symbolizing his birthday.

The tree planting was held in watershed areas in the villages of San Vicente, Bulak, and Masaba II.

The tree planting was participated by personnel from the local government unit, barangay officials, academe, people’s organizations, and private groups like the AKHRO fraternity.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Calbayog is also under state of calamity

TACLOBAN CITY– The province of Eastern Samar was placed under a state of calamity on Thursday (Jan.13) due to the destructions it suffered due to the flooding and landslide incidents spawned by a low pressure area and the shear line.

The declaration was based on the recommendation of its provincial disaster risk reduction management council through a resolution and approved by Governor Ben Evardone.

With the declaration, the provincial government could make use of its quick response fund to provide assistance to the affected families and repair of damage infrastructures, it said.

The city government of Calbayog also declared a state of calamity on Friday claiming it sustained severe damages to its crops in the amount of P7.18 million and displacing 9,317 families due to flooding.

Based on the resolution, the inclement weather which Eastern Samar has been experiencing since December 24 of last year, has resulted to the destruction of various public roads and bridges across the province in the amount of P18 million while its agriculture sector, notably palay, sustained damage with an equivalent cost of P208.70 million.

The resolution also said that the incessant rains caused by the LPA and shear line also resulted in the deaths of three people and six others still missing.

The casualties were from the city of Borongan, two and one from San Julian town.
Meantime, the missing persons were from Dolores (3); Sulat (2); and one from Quinapondan.

Two persons, who were earlier declared as missing, one each from the towns of Quinapondan and Giporlos were rescued in Surigao and Southern Leyte, respectively.
Gov. Evardone has earlier called for assistance for the flood victims.

The Diocese of Borongan has also appealed to the public to provide help to those who were affected by the natural calamity.

“Some towns in Eastern Samar are affected by extreme flooding due to heavy rainfall. The families from the affected areas are in need of lifesaving supplies such as food packs, drinking water, and hygiene kits. Its time to help,” it said.

Out of its 22 municipalities, 18 were affected by the nonstop rain including its provincial capital of Borongan City.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)