18 poor communities enjoy free water through PNP’s ‘Poso Mo Sagot Ko’
BORONGAN CITY- Some 18 poor communities in Eastern Samar now enjoy free water for domestic use under the PNP’s “Poso Mo, Sagot Ko” project.
On Jan. 7, the Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office led by PMaj. Rommel Cesista turned-over three jetmatic water pumps in Sitio Maligaya, Brgy. San Miguel, Balangiga town; Sitio Ilawod, Brgy. Naparaan, Salcedo town; and Sitio Lubang, Brgy. Binalay, Gen. MacArthur town.
One elderly, Lola Patricia Onorosa, 69, of Sitio Maligaya carried her small pail to fetch water from the new water pump.
“Ha akon edad, maupay nga harani na an akon pag-alog,” (In my age now, it is better that the water pump is near my house) as she thanked the police officer who pumped water in her pail.
The Balangiga Municipal Police Station put up the jetmatic water pump for at least 36 households, said Punong Barangay Rommel Hilaria.
The next stop was in Sitio Ilawod, Naparaan, Salcedo, this time sponsored by the 2nd Eastern Samar Police Mobile Force (ESPMF) based in Brgy. Buenavista, Quinapondan.
Despite the rains, at least a few of the 65 households that can benefit from the water project showed up. Like the Balangiga folks, they too thanked the police for the project.
“Our mandate is for peace and order but we also look for other projects that can help our people, especially that water is important in the fight against COVID-19,” said Cesista who represented Provincial Director Carlito Abriz.
In Sitio Lubang, Binalay, residents get their water for laundry and cooking in the stream located some 50 meters from the highway, but the water gets soiled during heavy rains, said Maria Madolid, 76.
Now, she alleged that the water is even safe for drinking.
Gen. MacArthur Chief of Police PLt. Mark Anthony Dancel said that they will still submit water samples to health authorities.
But the residents may now use the water for domestic use other than drinking, he advised.
The project is a brainchild and considered one of the best practices of the Eastern Samar Police led by Police Director Carlito Abriz.
Set for turnover are for some six more in other areas.
Earlier this year, the police built houses for 26 poor families in poor areas in the province. The police stations also regularly distribute grocery items to those in need.
As the Poso Mo Project is almost over, Abriz said he is thinking of another project to benefit the poor.
They may opt for electrification of some unenergized sitios, a lady police officer said, or provision of solar panels for light.
(nbq/PIA E. Samar)
Tacloban new bus terminal now 98 percent complete
TACLOBAN CITY-The three-level building at the Tacloban City new bus terminal is soon to be operational as it is now 98 percent complete.
Terminal manager Noli Naval said the contractor’s representative already wrote to Mayor Alfred Romualdez to signify intent to a partial turnover of the said facility.
“This request for a (partial) turnover is to ensure the proper safekeeping of all equipment and devices installed in the building,” Naval, as quoted by the City Information Office, information arm of the Tacloban city government.
The three-level terminal building is “self-sufficient” as it is built with a water system and fire hydrant at each level, CIO said.
Once completed, the terminal can accommodate 11 buses on the ground floor and up to 80 jeepneys or vans on the second and third levels.
It is also equipped with a generator set, public toilets, and a PWD ramp for the convenience of the riding public.
(RONALD O.REYES)
Santo Niño Parish to hold fiesta of Santo Niño de Tacloban next week; urges parishioners to join the celebration
As nation marks 500th year of Christianity this year
TACLOBAN CITY- As the country is to mark this year’s 500th founding of the Christianity, the Santo Niño Parish, this city, will give ‘emphasis’ on the less celebrated fiesta of the city held every January.
The city’s annual fiesta is observed every June 29-30 to honor the recovery of the image of the Santo Niño de Tacloban on June 30,1889 which was lost during a sea incident.
During this time, aside from Church-based activities, the city government of Tacloban and a private nongovernment organization, Pintados in partnership with the provincial government, stages their respective cultural activities like the Sangyaw Festival and Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival.
But unlike the June fiesta, the January fiesta of the city, which is marked on the coming of Christianity in Tacloban in 1770, is being for years now but almost unnoticed, said parish priest Father Wilson Chu.
Chu said that a nine-day novena, which is to start on Jan.14, will be held as part of the celebration with a Pontifical Mass to be held on Jan. 24 to be presided by Archbishop John Du of the Palo Archdiocese.
“We will not change our June 30 city fiesta but we will give emphasis our January fiesta as we observe the 500th year on the founding of our Christianity,” Chu said in a press conference Friday (Jan.8).
And in a statement, the Santo Niño Parish said: “In line with the celebration of the 500 years as a Christian nation, the parish has decided to relieve once again this rich cultural heritage that we have. In this way, we continue to show the world that the Christian faith has indeed grown in our Philippine soil and is cherished throughout generations.”
“Thus, the January fiesta is to celebrate the mystery of the childhood and birth of our Lord Jesus while the June fiesta is to commemorate the mystery of healing and grace intervention of the miraculous child,” it added.
Catholic churches in the country are ‘encouraged to go back on the origin of their Christian community’ as the Philippines marks the 500 founding of Christianity this year.
Incidentally, it is in Limasawa, an island town in Southern Leyte, where the First Mass took place on March 31,1521. A big celebration marking the event has been lined up by the Church.
Chu said that during this month celebration, the image of the Santo Niño de Tacloban will visit the villages of the city through a motorcade beginning on Jan.14 until Jan.23.
The faithful are encouraged to have their own Santo Niño images placed outside of their homes to be blessed by holy water. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
More LGUs in EV to procure anti-COVID vaccines
LGUs allocate millions of pesos for the purpose
TACLOBAN CITY- Several local government units here in the region will not wait for the national government to provide them vaccines against coronavirus as they will procure their own.
The city government of Ormoc has allocated a P350 million budget for the purchase of vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as it aimed to inoculate its residents.
While Mayor Richard Gomez said that he wants a 100 percent coverage of the city’s over 240,000 population, the budget might initially cover around 80 percent, citing that “there will be other expenses like syringes, cotton, alcohol, storage, etc.”
“There’s no need (for pre-registration). Our City Health Department already has the priority list ready and everybody on it will be inoculated unless they refuse,” Gomez said.
In Borongan City, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said that they have allocated P35 million and target to buy the Astra Zeneca.
“We target 73 percent of our population good for 56,000 persons 18 years and above. We can increase it once a vaccine is available for 17 years old and below. It’s free and voluntary. However, the city is encouraging everyone to inoculate,” Agda said.
Earlier, Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone said that the provincial government is readying around P500 million for the procurement of the vaccines and other related items to ensure protection of its people from further spread of the coronavirus disease(COVID-19).
In Northern Samar, the provincial government has set aside P10 million for the same purpose and target around 80 percent of its population to achieve ‘herd immunity,’ Rei Josiah Echano, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
“During our investment fund planning last year, we made sure that here is a provision counterpart for the COVID-19 vaccine (procurement) because we anticipated that the national government can only accommodate a fraction of our population,” Echano said.
With a target of 80 percent to be inoculated, 400,000 people of the province will be receiving the vaccines.
Meantime, the provincial government of Samar has allocated P25 million with the city government of Catbalogan,P20 million and Maasin City, P15 million.
In Biliran province, Governor Rogelio Espina said that they will be allocating P100 million for the purpose of procurement of the vaccines.
“The national government I think may not be able to provide the funds needed to cover the corresponding number of vaccines for our constituents. In order to prepare for this scenario we have allotted P100 million fund for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines through a loan from the Land Bank,” he said on his Facebook post.
According to him, they target 20,000 people across the province who will receive the vaccines.
Espina also urged the eight towns of the province to ‘secure funds’ for the needed vaccines. “This is the only way out in order for us to return to normal life,” he said.
The city government of Tacloban and the provincial government of Leyte have also signified their desire to procure their own supply of vaccines against COVID-19.