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Land owner stalls expansion project of Catbalogan city gov’t

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CATBALOGAN CITY- A land owner is stalling a big and ambitious project of the city government.
Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said that the full construction of the Sky City Mega Project has been temporarily stopped due to the opposition of a land owner to sell his property to the city government.
The city mayor added that one of the land owners located within the project site is reluctant to sell his property due to a low price being offered by the city government.
The said project, located in Barangay Socorro, involves more than 480 hectares of land intended for mix-use wherein commercial and residential units and government agencies are to be put up.
“Although we are facing this problem, the Sky City Mega Project will push through because this is the future of Catbalogan,” Mayor Uy-Tan said.
“The best way to expand the city is by going up,” Mayor Uy-Tan added, referring to the proposed site which is 120 meters above sea level which makes it not prone to landslides or floodings.
The expansion project is designed to decongest traffic and address effect on climate change on top of it becoming a new township, Uy added.
The city mayor added that this project has already marked and made significant buzz among investors.
Investors who showed interest at the Sky City Mega Projects includes township developer, Suntrust Properties Inc, a subsidiary of Megaworld Corporation and Odin Energy Co., Ltd, a South Korean company that plans to construct a multi-purpose wind and solar tower building.
“Because of this, the city becomes more extra careful in dealing with investors and land owners,” Uy said.
Aside from the two, Mayor Uy-Tan said that there are other local and foreign investors who are interested in the project.
“The city government is pushing this project to materialize soon for the people to know that we are serious to make this project happen,” she said.
Construction of access road started sometimes in 2013 with the project expected to be finished by 2018. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Group to help fight corruptions, anomalies in the government

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To fight and uncover government anomalies and corruption. This is the aim of the newly-formed FOIL (Freedom of Information League). The founders are (from right) Ramon Cuyco, Reyzandro Unay, Dalmacio “Massey” Grafil and Alvin Arpon.
To fight and uncover government anomalies and corruption. This is the aim of the newly-formed FOIL (Freedom of Information League). The founders are (from right) Ramon Cuyco, Reyzandro Unay, Dalmacio “Massey” Grafil and Alvin Arpon.

TACLOBAN CITY- President Reyzandro Unay stresses that FOIL is a public interest group that is willing to partner with any sector–public or private, who will stand up against shenanigans in government be they committed or omitted by friends as well as foes of this Administration.
FOIL stands for Freedom of Information League.
It will not brook tolerance for, allowance of, or connivance with the perpetrators of any scheme and scam that are devised to defraud the government and its people.
Currently, it has been sending letters demanding for information in the exercise of every taxpayer’s constitutional right to information.
At least, in compliance with the requirements of due process.
In the crosshairs of FOIL are the DOTr-PPA’s TABS, the DOTr-LTFRB’s unwarranted actions on the operation of GRAB and UBER (that he prefers their services, is an entirely different matter), and DOTr-LTO’s delayed compliance to the Supreme Court’s order to refund the illegally collected RFID from vehicle owners some years back.
Reports have it that FOIL will also look into DOTr-CAAP’s inaction over a long-delayed collection of BILLIONS OF PESOS of government revenue in the form of aviation fees adjudged collectible from an airline company.
This young public interest and advocacy group headed by a retired police general as chairman, lawyer Unay as president, a community paper publisher as a board member, a retired executive director of a government office as a board member, and steered by a retired government executive as board member and lead convenor.
Of late, some individuals are undergoing briefing and leveling of expectations session as pre-requisite to joining the Freedom of Information League (FOIL).
It’s battlecry is: FOIL it, if you’re against it! And, its mantra is that of K. Kleine: “If you will not tell the truth, somebody will!”

NHA asks settle number of damaged houses by quake

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The National Housing Authority is ready to build houses for families whose houses were destroyed by the 6.5 magnitude quake but has to wait until clear number of families is settled by the Ormoc city government and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. Photo shows how a house destroyed by the July 16 tremor. (City Government of Ormoc FB)
The National Housing Authority is ready  to build houses for families whose houses were destroyed by the 6.5 magnitude quake but has to wait until clear number of families is settled by the Ormoc city government and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. Photo shows how a house destroyed by the July 16 tremor. (City Government of Ormoc FB)
The National Housing Authority is ready to build houses for families whose houses were destroyed by the 6.5 magnitude quake but has to wait until clear number of families is settled by the Ormoc city government and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. Photo shows how a house destroyed by the July 16 tremor. (City Government of Ormoc FB)

ORMOC CITY- The National Housing Authority (NHA) is ready to provide permanent houses to families whose houses were totally destroyed when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Leyte on July 6.
This was disclosed by NHA general manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr., who was in the city to personally briefed President Rodrigo Duterte who visited Ormoc last July 13.
However, the NHA official said that while they have the fund to undertake the project, data as to how many families need new houses has to be reconciled first.
“As of the moment, we can source the fund from our own corporate receipts and reimburse it from the Department of Budget and Management, so long as we can immediately provide the needs of the victims,” Escalada said.
As of July 12, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) data shows that 14 villages in Ormoc were affected by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the city on July 6.
Kananga town has three affected villages while Carigara has one affected village.
A total of 286 houses were totally damage while 760 were partially damaged based on the RDRRMC data.
However, based on the record of the city government, 748 families totally lost their houses while 1,420 is partially damage.
Data of the Office of Civil Defense with the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) shows that the combine figure of totally and partially damage houses is 1,046 but data from the city government of Ormoc shows that the total figure is 2,210.
Escalada said that if they will use the data of the RDRRMC, for example, they would only need P85 million out of the reported 286 totally damaged houses in Ormoc.
But if they will use the data of the city government, NHA will need P224 million to construct new houses, he added.
“If we can make the final figure between the 286 or the 748, we shall come up with our final figure on computing for our permanent shelter program,” Escalada said.
NHA total house and lot package is worth P300,000 per housing unit.
“As soon as the DSWD provided the emergency shelter assistance, we will proceed with our permanent shelter,” Escalada added.
The local government unit of this city hopes that the government will soon start the housing project for displaced families of earthquake.
Mayor Richard Gomez said that the city government is ready to use its own fund which is at least P70 million to purchase properties to be used as relocation sites for the intended beneficiaries of the housing project.
Priority villages are those in Tongonan, Cabaon-an, Milagro, Bagong, Cabintan, Gaas, Danao, Nueva Vista, Quezon Jr, San Jose, Liberty, Matica-a, Lake Danao and Hugpa.
“Except for Lake Danao and Tongonan, other relocation sites are within the area but if it is within the area it must be far from the fault line,” said Mayor Gomez.
Gomez said that instead of the recommended five meters to 30 meter away from the danger zone, he is suggesting that on site relocation should be around 300 meters away from the danger zone to ensure safety of the relocated families.
He hopes that with the visit of the President, concern government agencies will soon start the rebuilding works for the affected residents of Ormoc.
“Hopefully within the year we can start the construction of their houses, I don’t want them to wait long before they can transfer to their new houses just like what happened during Yolanda,” Gomez said.
Families who lost their houses due to super typhoon Yolanda, primarily from Tacloban City, were given permanent houses by the government through NHA after more than a year the world’s strongest typhoon hit the city.

Gov. Petilla extends P15 million-worth infra projects; gives assistance to Leyte brgy chairmen

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TACLOBAN CITY- Infrastructure projects worth more than P15 million were inaugurated in two towns of this province over the weekend, a report from the provincial government said here.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Mic” Petilla led the inauguration and blessing of the 1,100 linear meters concreted road in Barangay Cabulisan, Inopacan that is worth P10 million and funded by the provincial government.
Petilla said that the concrete road project will be of great help to motorists and the farmers for the transportation of their farm products to the market.
The governor added that his office also extended assistance to CIVFA farmers’ association, also in Brgy. Cabulisan, and turned over 80 pigs for the members hog fattening project.
Petilla said that other projects inaugurated were the multi-purpose gymnasium in Brgy. Sta. Fe Elementary School worth P4.19 million and a barangay hall in Brgy. the Balocawehay worth P897,840 both in Abuyog town.
He added that after the inauguration of the projects, he distributed checks to the barangay chairmen as financial assistance for their priority projects with a total worth of P4, 575,000.
He also distributed checks to the barangay chairmen in Mahaplag town as financial assistance for their priority projects with a total amount of P2.2 million during the graduation of compact farming on high-value vegetables and fruit crops in Brgy. Mabuhay Mahaplag town.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

PhilHealth implements no-billing scheme to quake-hit areas

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ORMOC CITY- The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will impose a no-billing charge in this city and nearby town of Kananga.
This was declared by Renato Limsiaco, PhilHealth regional president, as their agency’s assistance to the residents of the areas hit by the 6. 5 magnitude tremor.
“We will impose the policy until the situation normalizes,” Limsiaco said.
Covered under this policy are those who will be confined or treated of injuries related to the earthquake.
During her visit to this city last July 13, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said that their department has shouldered all the medical expenses of those who were confined or treated in various hospitals due to the earthquake that hit this city and Kananga town.
Ubial reported that of the 351 patients that received assistance from the DOH, 17 remained in three hospitals for further treatment.
They were admitted at the Ormoc District Hospital, Ormoc Doctors’ Hospital, Clinic Gatchalian and Hospital and OSPA-FMC (Ormoc Sugar Planters Association-Farmers Medical Center).
Ubial was among the Cabinet members who briefed President Rodrigo Duterte who visited the city on July 13 on the actions taken by various government departments in the aftermath of the 6.5 magnitude tremor.
Pres. Duterte gave P20,000 to the families and beneficiaries of Gerry Movilla and Rhissa Rosales who both died after the quake.
Liezel Anison, who suffered injuries, was given P10,000 assistance.
All the injured were promised a cash assistance of P10,000 from the Office of the President.
Also, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also gave assistance of P10,000 each to the families of Movilla and Rosales including burial expenses were shouldered by the agency, while the injured were given P5,000 each.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

Eastern Visayas’ regional convergence initiative cited during a summit in Ilocos Norte

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TACLOBAN CITY- The Regional Convergence Initiative (RCI) of Region-8 was awarded a plaque of recognition during the 2017 National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) Summit held in Vigan Cultural Center, Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Director Leonardo Sibbaluca of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 8 received the award on behalf of the RCI Region 8 told reporters that RCI Region 8 was awarded as one of the seven regions in the country that pioneered in the preparation of the Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP).
Sibbaluca said that last January 24-27, 2017, RCI-8 conducted a four-day CADP workshop at the Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City for the municipalities of Javier, Abuyog, MacArthur and Mahaplag, all in Leyte.
To date, the CADPs prepared by these municipalities are being reviewed by the 14 RCI member agencies for possible inclusion of the proposed projects from the four RCI municipalities into their respective agencies’ plans, programs and activities.
Sibbaluca said that this year’s summit aimed to provide an overview of NCI-SRD to the new administration and present success stories of convergence sites at different stages of implementation.
On the other hand, Francisco Rosaroso, chief Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS), DA-RFO 8 told reporters in an interview that since 2010, RCI Region 8, through the DA-RFO 8, DENR-8 and the Department of Agrarian Reform has piloted several programs and projects in Javier, Leyte.
In 2015, the DILG was added was added to the RCI as another participating agency.
“In 2016, the 3 nearby municipalities of Abuyog, MacArthur, and Mahaplag, Leyte were included. Javier, Leyte now becomes a model of convergence for the province of Leyte,” Rosaroso added.
Rosaroso explained that the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) has been conducting the NCI summit once every two years in its efforts to mainstream its programs and projects and eventually raise awareness towards inclusive holistic sustainable countryside growth.
This summit is regarded as an effective tool in conveying the gains and insights on the different convergence schemes being implemented as well as the successes of the convergence sites nationwide. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

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