TACLOBAN CITY – The city government here under Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez recently secured funding for a park that will be developed at the Abucay Transport Terminal
Some P14 million was approved by the Department of Budget and Management from its Green Green Green Local Government Support Fund for the project that will highlight the vision of the local government to increase eco-friendly spaces in the bustling city, and upgrade the features of the terminal with more green spaces for commuters.
According to the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), the park which will be located at the heart of the transport terminal, will cover 2,063.267 square meter will feature a fountain and a landscaped lawn planted with endemic plants and trees.
Other features of the proposed park will be a commercial area, public toilets, food court, shaded waiting and picnic areas spaces for commuters and visitors.
The park’s design was conceptualized by the City Architect’s Office.
“With its greeneries and walkways, it will provide a healthy space for people to relax, ultimately contributing to the physical well-being of visitors to the site…the park will serve as a new tourist hub. It is projected to increase foot traffic in the area leading to more revenue for the City in terms of increased business opportunities in Abucay,” disclosed the CPDO.
One of the city government’s flagship programs under Mayor Romualdez is the Clean Green and Resilient Tacloban which promotes eco-friendly initiatives such as the upkeep and maintenance of “green spaces” within the city.
At present, Tacloban City has only one public park maintained by the city government, which is the Astrodome Park and Playground.
The park, located within the Tacloban City Convention Center grounds, has become a favorite spot for locals and visitors to the city. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)

GOVERNMENT CENTER, PALO, Leyte – More than 6,000 teachers from all over the country are to converge in Ormoc City in next month’s national celebration of the World’s Teachers Day.
This was disclosed by Education Undersecretary Tonisito Umali as he led on Thursday (August 30) the kick off ceremony of the October 5 annual event.
The celebration for the 2018 World Teachers Day kicked-off in Eastern Visayas, the host for this year’s annual celebration honoring those in teaching profession.
“People working at the education sector must celebrate World Teachers Day by heart and not because of compliance,” Usec. Umali said.
“We hope this effort will be recognized not only during World Teachers Day but every day,” Umali added.
The celebration of the World Teachers Day with will start this September 5 and will have its culmination on Oct.5 with a program to be held at the Ormoc City astrodome.
This year’s event has a theme “Gurong Pilipino: Turo Mo Kinabukasan Ko.’
According to Umali, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gordon offered to host the national event, adding that the event could also be a testament that the city has bounced back after it was hit by super typhoon ‘ Yolanda’ on November 8,2013.
“The mayor of Ormoc graciously offered their city as the host. Aside from that, we also wanted to hold the event there because it will symbolize that the city of Ormoc had already recovered from the calamities they suffered and they can host a national event like any other city in the country that had not suffered the way Ormoc suffered a calamity,” Umali explained.
President Rodrigo Duterte was invited by their department to grace the event though he has yet to confirm his attendance.
In line with the celebration, a special national teachers’ day commemorative stamp was released by the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost).
Celebrating the National Teachers Day every October 5 is mandated under Republic Act 10743 or “An Act declares October 5 every year as National Teachers Day.’
The law was approved in January 29, 2016 and will be the second time for the Department of Education to celebrate the national event since the law was passed.
Last year, the event was held in Legazpi City, Albay. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CALBAYOG CITY- The Rotary Club of Calbayog received a special award as one of the outstanding stakeholders of the Department of Education (DepEd), Schools Division of Calbayog City on August 31, 2018 at the Calbayog Convention Center.
The award was in recognition of the club’s exemplary contribution, active engagement and shared responsibility for developing life-long learners through provision of slippers, feeding program, dental care, livelihood program, and provision of school supplies to Happy Valley Clustered Schools located at the far-flung barangays in Calbayog and Alternative Learning System (ALS) – Calbayog Arts and Design School of Eastern Visayas (CADSEV), Barangay Gadgaran.
The Rotary Club of Calbayog qualified as a special awardee based on the monetary consideration and number of schools which availed of its significant programs and services.
The club recognizes the relentless and unwavering support of its partners including the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, People’s Outreach Program, Kalipayan-Katitirok-Kasangkayan, and Boleros Basketball Club in the successful delivery of its projects, programs and services. (PR)

CALBAYOG CITY- Tourists who want to visit two of the most well-known waterfalls found in this city would now make it easy in going there.
The city government, under Mayor Ronald Aquino, has started the construction of concrete road worth P8.4 million leading to Bangon and Tarangban Falls, said its tourism officer Ronald Ricafort, Jr.
According to Ricafort, among Calbayog City’s several waterfalls, Bangon and Tarangban are the most accessible and easy to reach reason why they are giving a priority on these tourist attractions.
Aside from concrete road,the city government will also put up tourist assistance centers to assist tourists.
The two waterfalls are located in Barangay Tinaplacan which is just 45 minutes away from the city proper.
Of the two waterfalls, Bangon can be reached easily through a 5-minute ride from the entrance of Brgy. Tinaplacan while tourists need to walk for 30 minutes from the village’ center before they could reach Tarangban Falls.
For tourists to have better access to Tarangban and to avoid accident, construction of a 1.5 kilometer concrete pavement is now ongoing.
“This really makes me happy because it will make Tarangban more accessible knowing that this falls is the best seller because of its beautiful landscape,” Ricafort said.
Ricafort added that tourists will also find five other waterfalls on the top of Tarangban Falls.
Aside from the tourism center and pathway concreting, some residents of Tinaplacan have attended tour guiding training including basic safety and first aid response.
Dubbed as the “City of Waterfalls”, Calbayog at present has a total of 22 waterfalls validated by the City Tourism Office.
Ricafort said that they are projecting a surge of tourist arrivals with the operation of a fast craft serving Calbayog to Cebu and the on-going improvement of Calbayog Airport that will allow bigger commercial planes to land at the said facility. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

GOVERNMENT CENTER,PALO, Leyte-A high ranking education official has urged the public to celebrate this year’s national teachers’ month like how they would celebrate Christmas and other festive holidays.
“Our dream is that the Filipinos will have this deeper awareness on the importance of teachers in our society. We want everyone to intensify the teachers’ month celebration starting September 5 to October 5 like how we would celebrate important holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Christmas day,” said Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said in a press conference.
Umali said that there is a need for the people to relive the past in terms of how the teachers are being respected and honored.
He reiterated that the annual teachers’ month celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 242, Republic Act No. 10743 entitled “An Act Declaring the Fifth Day of October of Every Year as the National Teachers’ Day,” and the designation of the World Teachers’ Day every 5th of October by the United Nations Education and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO).
In coordination with the National Teachers Day Coordinating Council and the National Teachers’ Month Coordinating Council, Umali said that this year’s teachers’ month celebration will be held in Ormoc City with its theme “Gurong Filipino: Turo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko.”
Umali said the event is aimed to “honor those who are in the teaching profession; acknowledge and give emphasis on the crucial role, loyal service, and dedicated commitment of teachers in developing globally minded citizens, nurturing families, strengthening communities, and building the nation.”
According to Umali, the celebration will also “ revitalize the image of and respect for teaching as a vocation by increasing public awareness on the value of teachers in the Philippine society; take the occasion as an opportunity in building the image of teaching as an attractive and fulfilling profession; generate widespread support and assistance for teachers; and express gratitude for the positive influences of teachers on Filipino learners.”
Meanwhile, Ramir Uytico, DepEd regional director, welcomed the hosting of the event.
“We should be happy that Region 8 will be hosting a national activity,” Uytico said.
Despite the many issues hounding the education sector, Uytico called on the teachers to continue what they are doing with “competence, courage, and compassion.”
“For me, the work of a teacher is not something new…I am what I am now because of the bulk of work of DepEd. Mas maganda nga ngayon, may chalk allowance, may hardship allowance, may mga increase sa salary maski pakunti kunti. Noon wala iyon, but I was able to survive,” Uytico said on his message to the teachers.
More than 6, 000 teacher-delegates across the country are expected to attend the national teachers’ month celebration in Ormoc City on October 5. (RONALD O. REYES)

PALOMPON, Leyte- Visitors going to Kalanggaman Island contributed more than P18 million to the economy of this town.
Visitors of Kalanggaman Island, considered now as Leyte’s main island tourist destination, spent P18.5 million last year which was higher by P2 million compared to the 2016 receipt.
Last year, 101,312 tourists visited Kalanggaman Island which was higher compared to the 95,677 guests who spent P1.6 million on the same period.
Raoul Bacalla, head of Palompon municipal environment and natural resources office, said that considering that Kalanggaman Island is fast becoming one of the town’s income generators, they are making sure that the island’s natural beauty would not be destroyed.
Aside from enforcing the maximum capacity policy which allows only 500 tourists a day going to the island, regular water sampling is also conducted in collaboration with the Environmental Management Bureau to ensure the health and safety of the guests and maintain the integrity of the island.
Bacalla added that partying including loud music is also not allowed in Kalanggaman Island which being promoted as place for relaxation away from the busy life in the metropolis.
Bacalla added that only soft infrastructures were constructed in the island like comfort rooms, shower area and a pavilion intended as shelter for their personnel who are manning the island.
Kalangaman, which is just a 45-minutes boat ride from the town proper of Palompon, is a 6-hectare island surrounded by fine white sand with some areas covered pebbles and coarse, some coconut trees and a long stretch of sandbar.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)