P12 MCH FARE. Starting Thursday (Oct.3), passengers of the motorcab-for-hire (MCH) in Tacloban City have to pay P12 fare for the first two kms. The drivers, however, are barred to collect the new fare rate if they will not display the fare matrix inside their unit. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
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)
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez checks the condition of patients who got sick due to contaminated drinking water. The City Health Office has earlier declared of a cholera outbreak in the city which already claimed five lives and more than 500 others confirmed to have suffered from the water-borne disease. (ALFRED ROMUALDEZ FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas on Thursday reported 32 deaths suspected to be due to cholera as undetermined water-borne diseases downed 3,955 from January to October this year.
Of the total number of suspected cases, 403 samples were tested and 87 were found positive for cholera through laboratory tests only done at the DOH-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City.
Of the 87 confirmed infections, 34 were recorded in Tacloban City.
Roderick Boyd Cerro, DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit manager, said in an interview that the majority of cases are suspected since it is hard to distinguish a single patient with cholera from a patient infected by another pathogen that causes acute watery diarrhea without testing a stool sample.
No confirmatory tests for the fatalities as the patients were already in the severe stage when brought for treatment, Cerro added.
A surveillance monitoring report shared by DOH to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) showed majority or 24 of the deaths were reported in Samar province where the cholera outbreak broke out as early as April 2022.
The DOH here said in a previous interview that one confirmed cholera case is already considered an outbreak.
Of the 32 suspected cholera deaths in the region, seven were recorded in Catbalogan City, four in Calbayog City, six in Tarangnan town, two each in Almagro and Gandara towns, and one each in the towns of Jiabong, Villareal, and Santa Margarita, all in Samar province.
The seven deaths in Leyte include the five casualties in Tacloban City and one each in Abuyog and Tanauan towns. In Southern Leyte, one death was reported in San Juan town.
Victims manifested signs and symptoms of those afflicted with cholera, such as the sudden onset of frequent painless watery stools, vomiting, and rapid dehydration.
Cerro said in an interview the cholera outbreak in the region was first recorded in Santa Margarita, Samar where 118 people suffered severe diarrhea.
“Based on our initial monitoring, the illness spread to nearby areas such as Calbayog City and Catbalogan City due to movement of infected people,” Cerro told PNA.
Of the 3,955 persons who manifested cholera symptoms, 1,956 of them are from Samar province, 932 from Leyte, 527 from Eastern Samar, 251 from Biliran, 232 from Southern Leyte, and 67 from Northern Samar.
In 2021, the region just recorded 534 suspected cholera cases with three deaths and zero confirmed case, according to the DOH.
“The region is vulnerable to cholera outbreak due to unsafe water sources and poor hygiene. We are closely monitoring the situation to help our local government units stop the spread of this illness,” Cerro added.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.
Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if untreated, according to the World Health Organization.
The DOH regional office advises the public to boil drinking water for five minutes if unsure of its safety, practice household water treatment with chlorine, aquatabs and hyposol; regular cleaning of storage reservoir and water tanks; proper hygiene; proper food preparation; avoid eating street-vended food; keeping food away from insects and rats; washing of fruits and vegetables with clean water before eating or cooking; use of toilet when defecating; and seeking early consultation. (PNA)
Tanauan Mayor Gina Merilo poses with village officials whose barangays were declared as drug-free. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Leyte province retains the drug-cleared status of 27 of the 54 villages in Tanauan town, Leyte province.
The certificate of drug-cleared status was given to the villages of Amanluran, Atipolo, Bangon, Bislig, Buntay, Cabuynan, Cahumay-humayan, Calogcog, Calsadahay, Canramos, Catmon, Guindag-an, Guingawan, Kiling, Licod, Limbuhan, Magay, Malaguicay, Maribi, Mohon, Palo, Sacme, Salvador, San Victor, Santa Elena, Santo Niño, and Solano.
All village chiefs received a certificate from the PDEA personnel and Mayor Ma Gina Merilo attesting their respective barangay as drug-cleared.
Prior to the awarding of the certificate, the villages were evaluated and validated if the illegal drugs continue to proliferate.
The validation was conducted by the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs checking the non-availability of drug supply, the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pushers and users in the area.
The certificate could be revoked if illegal drugs continue to exist and that the barangay officials fail to monitor the presence of alleged drug personalities in their areas. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
A fine dining offering a fusion of European and Asian cuisines is now open in Dulag, Leyte. The successful business launching was made possible by Estiffi Events Management Services. (Estiffi Events Management Services)
DULAG, Leyte– A fine dining restaurant offering a fusion of European and Asian cuisine has opened here.
The restaurant, Rapturous, is an expansion of Shydan’s Beach Resort, now among the most sought-after resorts in the province.
“Rapturous means a deep satisfaction or pleasure. The name was selected by the owner because they want people to experience that dining here is a celebration of life and food,” restaurant manager Chekay Tocjayao said.
“Once diner tastes the food, they will not regret dining at the restaurant because the dishes we served are worthy of what they spend,” she added.
The restaurant had its formal opening on October 21 with Dulag Mayor Mildred Joy Que and board member Carlo Loreto attending the occasion.
The restaurant offers five to eight course meals personally selected by the owner, Daniel Bulkhalter, a Swiss national and her wife, Shyriel.
Since it is a fine dining restaurant, reservations must be made first by the dinners.
Tocjayao also said that since they are a fine dining restaurant, they have to ensure that the ingredients they uses in all the dishes are fresh.
They get their vegetables and herbs from local farms while they get their seafood supplies from Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Ingredients that are not available locally are bought from Cebu.
The opening of a fine dining restaurant in Dulag town has a huge impact to the local tourism industry particularly for food or culinary tourism.
“The presence of a fine dining resto in Dulag is a positive development to the local food scene as tourist – whether local, domestic or foreign – who choose / prefer to dine elegantly and leisurely will now have a new place to go to,” Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said.
Tiopes said that data from the World Food Travel Association (WFTA) states that 80% of travelers research food and drink options while traveling to a new destination and 53% of these travelers consider themselves “culinary travelers.”
“To be interesting to tourists, the local gastronomy scene should be a good mix of authentic local cuisine – whether heritage dishes, delicacies or street food – and a varied dining experience ranging from dining at the home of local, or a turo-turo, a small and intimate restaurant or an elegant, well-appointed dining place. Tourism may find it appealing if they experience a variety of eating style – from kinamot to fine dining,” she added. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY – At least 25 bridges in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) have been identified for replacement and repair based on this year’s assessment, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Wednesday.
DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said these bridges would be prioritized for funding in 2023 to ensure the safety of motorists.
“Structural integrity of these bridges was examined though our regular bridge management system (BMS). The result of BMS will be the basis in the allocation of maintenance fund in 2023 to repair these deteriorated bridges,” Tabacon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview.
The latest bridge inventory result was released in September 2022.
The most critical bridge in the region is Gandara Bridge in Gandara, Samar classified as “bad” and not passable, prompting motorists to use another bridge on a nearby diversion road.
The bridge needs PHP275 million to carry out replacement activities.
Also, on the top 10 list of bridges in critical conditions are Raquiza, Hamindangon, Bao, Valencia and Catayum in Leyte province; Taft, Can-obing and Sulat in Eastern Samar; and Esperanza in Biliran.
Other bridges in the top 25 priority list for rehabilitation include Baliacao, Rizal, Hibuga, Elizabeth, and Kiga in Leyte; Pagbabangnan, Macabut, and Binacalan in Eastern Samar; Quezon, Laurel, and Abolayon in Northern Samar; Nacube, Lambigue, and Nijaga in Samar; and Pangalkagan in Southern Leyte.
Among the proposed work to improve the condition of these bridges include the reconstruction of the deck slab, repair of bridge approaches, widening, replacement of corroded bearings, and replacement of expansion joints.
Currently, Eastern Visayas has 899 bridges along national highways with a total length of 35.82 kilometers.
The DPWH has emphasized the need to repair bridges with deteriorating conditions following the recent Carlos P. Romulo Bridge collapse in Bayambang, Pangasinan on October 20.
Last April, the collapse of Clarin Bridge Loay in Bohol resulted in four people’s deaths and injured 15 others. (PNA)
TACLOBAN CITY – National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos on Wednesday said she would push for the restoration of Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) in the next years to end insurgency in far-flung communities.
After a meeting with the regional task force to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) at the police regional office here, Carlos said the initial outcome of SBDP in Eastern Visayas justifies additional funds for the program.
“There’s a big chance that the fund will be restored. I talked to Budget Secretary (Amehan) Pangandaman and she asked to be around during the budget deliberation for national task force ELCAC. I need data to support why we need P20 million for each village,” Carlos told reporters.
The P20 million is the 2021 allocation for each of the villages cleared from the influence of the New People’s Army for the construction of various infrastructure projects, including farm-to-market roads, water, and sanitation systems, agricultural livelihood opportunities, and technical vocational training.
SBDP is the flagship project of NTF-ELCAC, a body created by then President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order 70 dated December 4, 2018.
For 2023, SBDP got a nationwide budget of PHP10 billion.
“SBDP remove reasons for people in the communities to support the NPA. We are addressing the needs of the community and that the one that gives us the best output,” Carlos added.
Under the 2021 funding in Eastern Visayas, SBDP covers six remote villages in Northern Samar.
At least 17 projects have been completed, 18 are still ongoing, and five are under procurement. The total allotment is P120 million. (PNA)
