MAASIN CITY- City Mayor Nacional Mercado has resolved to fully enforce the price cap of fishes sold in the city’s wet market, following widespread clamor on sky-high cost of this marine resource, the city’s Information Officer announced.
In a video interview posted on social media, Information Officer Royeno Segovia said the mayor is serious on his effort to implement the price ceiling ordinance.
“Violators will be dropped, their business license will not be renewed, and the stall will be closed, no second chance,” Segovia told freelance journalist Daniel Maturan, adding that the move was meant to check abuses.
“The highest price as of now is P300 per kilo for the first class,” Segovia pointed out.
City Ordinance number 2015-078 classified as first class, Group A, the following names of fishes: Tangigue, Maya-Maya, Pugapo, Dugso, Marang, Sono, Kilawin, Balansugi, Liplipan, Mamsa, Tali-lion, Dugho, Kawayanon, Pangalwan, Aha-an, Makabangus, Bariles, and Saminan.
First class, Group B, in which the highest price set was P250 per kilo, include the following: Salindato, Kamohay, Lagan, Katambak, Nokos (Piliw), Kitong, Danggit (Big), and Dorado.
Second class fishes, pegged at P150–P200 per kilo, are Tambungan, Solid, Indangan, Bat-og, Bolinao (Tugnos), Tamarong/Adlo, Anduhaw, Bulis, Batod, Lipti, Mais-Mais, Sasa, Kabutan, Budloy, Danggit (Small), Mangko, Bansikol, Karabalyas, and Bangus.
Third class, P110–P140 per kilo, are Balo, Libgao, Bolinao (Dagko), Bangsi (Nani, Lampirang), Uwapay, Banggisan, Suwahan, Samok, Nokos (Lawod), Bajo-Bajo, Suwasid, Mayaos, Buntog, Iho (Tadlongan), Tabangko, Banak, Lahing, and Mangsi (Hawol-Hawol, Hilos-Hilos, Tayapad).
And belonging to the fourth class, P60–P110 per kilo, are Pantihan, Pawotpot, Lambiyaw, Mabgas, Pugot, Tabawong, Mol-Mol (Uhawon), Taad, Tige, Sagoksok, Tagutungan, Kapaw, Pata, Labayan, Bakasi, Panangitan, Ubod, Baro-Baro, Gisaw, Pagi, and Iho (Banakan, Kurusan, atbp.)
Segovia also said that not displaying a price tag constituted in itself a violation.
Last Christmas and New Year, the price of tangigue, a fish under first class, had reached P500 per kilo, prompting facial expressions of disbelief, shock, and frowns from customers.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Mayor Mercado called all the fish vendors to a meeting at his office to address the situation, and warned violators of business permit cancellation.
The day after that meeting, market personnel distributed “taripa” of fishes with corresponding price list based on the city ordinance, with specific instructions for fish vendors to display or hang the list for easy reference of consumers.
(nbq/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)
Maasin City implements fish price ceiling ordinance
Tacloban City gov’t to strictly enforce waste segregation ordinance
TACLOBAN CITY- The local government of Tacloban under Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez through the City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) will strictly enforce the ‘No Segregation, No collection’ garbage policy starting February 1.
In a meeting held Wednesday (Jan.22) at the City Hall, CENRO Head Jonathan Hijada said that effective next month, there will be strict implementation of residual waste collection in the city.
“So meaning, only residual waste will be collected by the Service Providers. Dire na kinahanglan igawas han mga mulopyo an mga madurunot, sugad man ang mga recyclables, ang igagawas nira mga residual waste lang,” he emphasized.
Residual wastes are solid non-compostable and non-recyclable materials such as sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, worn out rags, parlor and barbershop waste, household medicine bottles, dirt from sweepings, broken ceramics, and the like.
On the other hand, Hijada believes that public needs to be disciplined for the implementation of the policy to succeed, as the said initiative is in accordance to City Solid Waste Management Ordinance 2017-13-37.
Sections 16 and 18 of the said ordinance orders Service Providers not to collect unsegregated garbage and pick up waste materials if it does not fall on the collection schedule.
“They really need to follow because garbage management must start from the community…kasi pag nakita sa atong inspection team nga naghalu-halo an ira mga basura, there will be citation of tickets,” said the official.
Hijada likewise mentioned that the said implementation is part of the measures of the City Government to help reduce the trash being disposed at the Sanitary Land Fill (SLF) in Barangay San Roque.
Data from CENRO indicated that the SLF which was projected to last eight to 10 years is already one fourth filled up to the 5-meter mark.
In 2019, Tacloban City generated an average of 115 tons of garbage daily. For this year, Hijada hopes to target a lower volume of waste to be collected which is approximately 103 tons per day.
Also, CENRO disclosed that the volume of trash being collected usually goes up in the first quarter (January to March) and last quarter (November to December) of the year, as rainy seasons fall on the said months.
Meantime, since the ordinance has been largely ignored by some residents in the community no matter the efforts to strictly implement it, the city government has partnered with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to call the attention of barangay leaders to enforce it in their respective areas.
Accordingly, the City DILG is set to conduct a joint meeting on January 30, dubbed as ‘New Year’s Call’, to be attended by the 138 barangay Chairpersons of the City. The meeting will include a discussion on the implementation of the residual waste collection policy.
Apart from the strict implementation of residual waste collection, the local government plans to put up another composting facility in Barangay Sto. Niño to provide an effective solution to the garbage problem of the city. (C. MERIN/CIO)
Comelec conducts simulated balloting for PWDs
Part of poll body’s moves to address PWDs concerns
TACLOBAN CITY- Ketherell Mate is excited that she will be exercising her right to vote for the first time.
But the 18-year old Mate is not your regular prospective voter. She is a deaf mute.
The Grade 9 student at the Leyte National High School (LNHS) was among the 150 persons with disabilities from this city that participated a simulation exercises during the voting process conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday at the school gym of LNHS, this city.
“Thank you to the Comelec for coming up with this activity. And I will surely exercise my right to vote in next elections,” Mate said through her interpreter.
If ever, Mate will be exercising her right of suffrage during a presidential elections two years from now.
The activity, which involved casting their votes using ballots and a voting counting machines, was personally witnessed by Comelec Commissioner Al Parreño joined by regional elections officials led by polls regional director, Jose Nick Mendros.
Parreño said that the exercise conducted by their office will help them address the needs and concerns of PWDs as voters.
Just like any regular able-bodied voters of the country, persons who are considered as PWDs and qualified to vote, should be exercise such right.
“Nakita po namin na marami pa kaming dapat ayusin para sa ating mga PWDs. Ginagawa po natin itong activity bilang dissemination kung ano ang kailangan na maiayos sa proseso natin, sa makina natin, sa training natin ng sa gayun ang bawat Pilipino, kasama na ang ating mga PWDs makaboto lalo na sa susunod na presidential elections,” Parreño said in an interview.
“Dapat po every person, unless disqualified under our laws, should be allowed to vote, including our PWDs,” he added.
Parreño said that among the common issues affecting the PWDs during elections are the accessibility of the voting centers and lack of assistance.
With these conditions, many of the registered PWDs who are registered voters are ‘discouraged’ to vote.
The poll commissioner, however, could not say to how many PWDs in the country are registered as they are not identified as such on their voters’ records. (ROEL T.AMAZONA/JOEY A. GABIETA)
Pres. Duterte asks NPA members to give up fights
‘Revolution can’t solve PH problems,’ he says
SAN ISIDRO,Leyte- For Edna Luna, a resident of Barangay Daja-diot of this town, she was able to heard what she wanted to her from President Rodrigo Duterte: address the insurgency problem.
The 37-year old mother to three children, disclosed that just like in other remote barangays in the country, their village which is about 40 kms away from the town center, is not also free of presence of rebel members of the New People’s Army (NPAs).
“That’s what I would like to hear from him. There are also NPA members that frequents in our village of Daja-diot though not as frequent like in the past,” she said, watching the President making his 49 minutes speech in a wide screen set up outside at the town civic center.
Mr. Duterte, came to the venue center two hours late from his scheduled 4 pm arrival, led in the distribution of financial assistance to 262 rebel member returnees coming from this town and nearby town of Calubian.
In his speech, the President exhorted the former rebel members to totally extinguish their associations from the communist group and start a new chapter of their lives as ordinary and law-abiding citizens of the country.
He said that the country could have been a progressive nation had it not been drawn to armed conflict with the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA.
“Our nation could have prospered a long time ago had it not been for you NPAs. If only you were working for the progress of our nation,” he said.
“What you want is change, but you want to achieve that through armed struggle. That is not right. Not everything you’re asking from the government would bring peace to our communities…you NPAs, we can’t solve the problem in the Philippines by revolution. It has to be evolution…we can’t solve problems with revolution. We will just end up killing each other,” Duterte said.
During his visit, Duterte lead in the giving of financial assistance to the former rebel members giving them assistance totaling close to more than P8.9 million representing their livelihood and immediate assistance.
He also directed Agrarian Reform Sec.John Castriciones to fast-track in the development in the distribution of lands to these returning rebels covering more than 2,200 hectares located in Barangay Daja-dako, this town.
Mr. Duterte, in several instances, have vowed to end the insurgency problem of the country before he steps down by 2022, raising a possible new peace talks with the CPP leaders.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
DOH-8 says no confirmed corona virus in the city
Amid scare that swept Tacloban residents
By: ROEL T. AMAZONA/JOEY A. GABIETA
GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte- As scare swept this city and nearby areas, the regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) denied that there is a confirmed corona virus case in Tacloban.
This emphatic denial was made by DOH Regional Director Dr. Minerva Molon during a hastily prepared media briefing on Friday (Jan.24) morning.
The denial of Molon came in the wake of posts on social media that a 36-year old man, purportedly coming from Wuhan, China, arrived in the city last Jan.17.
According to the World Health Organization, signs of the infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Reports say the incubation period of the coronavirus remains unknown, but other sources say it could be between 10 to 14 days.
“Let me emphasize that there is no novel corona virus infection in Tacloban. Just because this person allegedly came from Wuhan as reported on the social media. Only the Secretary of Health who can confirm any cases because we don’t have yet scientific basis to declare there is an infection in Tacloban,” Molon said.
But during a press briefing conducted at the central office of the health department, it said that the case of the 36-year old man is being treated as a ‘suspected case’ due to his history travel and experienced respiratory illness.
Molon said that if ever there is really a person said to have acquired the deadly virus, the department of health will discuss and treat the matter according to their protocol.
She also cautioned the health workers if ever they know a patient under their care and is suspected to have the symptoms of the illness not to post it on social media but inform her or any assigned health official in the region to show respect on the person.
The regional DOH office has established surveillance teams to hospitals, particularly government-owned, to know if there is a patient confined suspected to have the dreaded virus.
But still, the post, whose origin has yet to be determined, created a scare among residents of this city, prompting Molon to ask netizens to check their informations to concerned government offices like the DOH in order not to create unnecessary and unfounded panic.
“Let us all help to pacify the public and if we don’t have basis on this, let us minimized in posting this so as not to create panic,” she added.
Molon cautioned the public to observe personal hygiene as a way to combat of getting sick.
Tacloban public schools damaged due to ‘Ursula’ gets P3.2-M aid from city gov’t
TACLOBAN CITY- City Mayor Alfred Romualdez provided financial assistance to various public schools in the city which sustained damages when Typhoon ‘Ursula’ slammed Tacloban on the eve of Christmas Day.
During the turn-over of financial assistance held last Wednesday (Jan.15), Mayor Romualdez was joined by city schools superintendent Mariza Magan.
While all the 64 elementary and secondary public schools are to receive financial assistance, only 34 school heads were present to receive the financial aid from the city government.
In all, the city government allotted P3.2 million for this financial assistance.
According to acting budget officer Vicente Dy III, each school received P50,000 from the 2019 Quick Response Fund (QRF) of the city government to help defray the cost of maintenance and repair of the facilities damaged by the said typhoon.
“Today, only 34 schools were given financial assistance for the repair and rehabilitation of their facilities, but we will schedule another distribution anytime soon for those remaining schools that weren’t able to receive yet,” said Dy.
Harold Naputo, school head of Old Kawayan Elementary School, expressed his gratitude to the financial assistance extended to them by the city government saying this will help them on their repair works after school facilities sustained damages due to Ursula.
“Through this, we will also be able to construct an additional temporary learning space for our students,” Naputo added.
He said in an interview that the financial assistance his school received from the city government will be used to construct a temporary learning space for Kindergarten.
It was learned that the Kindergarten pupils have been sharing a classroom with the Grades 1 and 3 pupils.
Apart from the said assistance, the beneficiary schools are set to receive another cash aid from the City Government of Tacloban for this year’s upcoming Brigada Eskwela. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA with CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)