TACLOBAN CITY- They will continue their protest actions until the current management of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) will heed on their plea.
Thus said Noel Tabao, president of the Tacloban Union of Barangay Officials (TUBO) which is among the groups that is leading protest rallies against the plan of the current LMWD management to privatize said water company.
“We will not stop our protest rally, rain or shine, until they will listen to us and stop their plan to privatize the LMWD,” Noel said.
Noel was referring to the plan of the LMWD management to have a joint venture agreement with a Manila-based company that will eventually run and operate the LMWD.
According to Tabao, the plan of the current management to enter such agreement is suspicious considering that the member-consumers are not being consulted.
“There should be public consultation on this regards considering its impact to us, member-consumers. Just like any privately-managed corporations, its immediate impact to us is a higher water rate,” the TUBO president said.
Any hike on water rate will be an additional burden to LMWD member-consumers, he said, adding that the current LMWD management should better focus its effort to provide water to the families now living at the northern part of the city, the resettlement sites of families whose houses were totally destroyed when Tacloban City was devastated by supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
“Until now, there is no water supply in the northern part of the city. They have been crying out loud for LMWD to supply them water,” Tabao said.
There are more than 9,000 families now residing at the different resettlement sites at the northern part of Tacloban City who depend on water ration.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)

NAVAL, Biliran-The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) informs the general public that effective January 11, 2018 at 8 am, Caraycaray Bridge will be open to traffic.
However, the bridge will only be open to 4-wheel type light vehicles.
In an interview made by Biliranisland.com to Engr. Alfredo L. Bollido, assistant district engineer, he said that for vehicle vans, the passengers will have to alight before the vehicle crosses the bridge. Bags and cargoes are also unloaded before the vehicle crosses.
He further informed that if Pagasa issues a heavy rainfall warning, and the water rises, the bridge will automatically be off-limits to vehicles and pedestrians.
According to Bollido, total replacement is recommended for the Caraycaray Bridge as both of its approaches were washed out by continuous heavy rains brought by tropical storm ‘Urduja’ on December 15-16.
Both approaches of the Caraycaray Bridge undergone backfilling and embankment to serve as a temporary passage for the public.
It was opened to traffic for motorcycles and tricycles on January 9, 2018 and to light vehicles on January 11, 2018.
DPWH-BDEO advised the travelling public especially the drivers, tricycles and motorcycle riders to be careful when crossing the bridge and to follow the traffic rules and regulations set by BDEO. It is the topmost priority of the district office to ensure the safety of the public.
The Caraycaray Bridge is an essential bridge because it is the only access in going to the mainland of Leyte.
DPWH-BDEO is now preparing for the request of the calamity fund to be used to rehabilitate the damaged National infrastructure facilities in Biliran.
(CHELSEA QUIJANO-SALLOMAN/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is seeking a P37.84 million budget to carry out a massive rehabilitation program of abaca farms in Eastern Samar province until 2021.
Of the total funding requirement, P7.55 million is meant for treatment of abaca diseases, P13.05 million for replanting, and P12.09 million for fertilization.
The remaining amount will be used for capability training and mobilization.
Wilardo Sinahon, PhilFIDA Eastern Visayas regional director, said on Wednesday that rehabilitation works would cover 1,650 hectares and benefit 900 farmers in poverty-stricken towns of Samar Island.
“The abaca industry in Eastern Samar has been damaged by diseases and natural calamities over the past years, which calls for massive and long-term rehabilitation,” Sinahon said.
PhilFIDA is pushing for inclusion of the proposed project in the post-disaster response funding of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to fast-track budget releases.
Most of the covered farms are in the towns of Arteche, Dolores, and Oras tagged as focused areas for abaca.
“There will be a convergence as an effective anti-poverty mechanism that will aid poor farmers and cooperatives in attaining resiliency and sustainable livelihoods especially after the devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013,” Sinahon said.
As preliminary steps to rehabilitation the industry in Eastern Samar, among the activities last year were the creation of the technical working group for abaca, conduct initial farm survey, held value chain analysis workshop, presented the roadmap to the Regional Development Council, conducted disease management trainings, and distributed 5,000 planting materials.
Eastern Visayas was the top fiber producer in the country until abaca disease wreaked havoc in many farms in the region in the early 2000.
Known globally as Manila hemp, abaca is processed into cordage, pulp and specialty paper and fiber crafts including handwoven fabric.
Last year, the Philippines earned more than US$100 million from abaca fiber shipments. Majority of export earnings came from abaca manufacturers such as pulp, cordage, yarns, fabrics and fiber craft.
Destinations of the country’s abaca fiber include United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, India, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, United States, and Canada. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO/PNA)

CAMP RUPERTO KANGLEON, PALO, Leyte- Two days after his daring escape at the Northern Samar Provincial Jail, a prisoner was sent back to jail.
Arvino Ballesta, 24 and charged with robbery and theft, managed to escape at the provincial jail on January 2, reports reaching the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police(PNP), based here.
But during a manhunt operation by the police operatives of San Jose municipal police station, led by Senior Inspector Lloyd Lagrimas, the escapee was arrested at his village in Barangay Layuhan of said town at about 1:15 pm on January 4.
Ballesta was brought to San Jose municipal police station for proper disposition for eventual return to the provincial jail. (PR)

President Duterte beyond 2022?

TACLOBAN CITY- The idea of extending the term of President Rodrigo Duterte beyond the constitutional limit could only result in a possible public outcry.
Thus said Joshua Sagdullas, spokesperson of Bayan- Sinirangan Bisayas, reacting to reports that some Congress leaders are toying the idea of extending the term of Mr. Duterte.
Mr. Duterte, under the Constitution, is only to serve for a single term which is good for six years. He is supposed to step down by 2022.
“This term extension is a by-product of the federalism which is being pushed (by his political allies). But this will only spark a public uprising. This will replicate what Marcos did who imposed martial law just so he could extend his term,” Sagdullas said.
Sagdullas claimed that extending the President’s term has no other purpose but to solidify his grip on power saying that there is a possibility that the scheduled 2019 barangay polls could be scrapped.
Thus, this could only ‘stifle grassroots mobilization effort’ of which their group has been doing in raising certain issues initiated by the government which they consider as anti-people.
Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza dismissed the report as ‘highly speculative.’
“We have yet to discuss about conass (constituent assembly). Let’s wait for development,” Daza, reached on his phone, said.
Daza, who belongs to the Liberal Party, however, said that if ever this term extension would push through, he would oppose to it.
“I think, the terms of office of the President and congressmen as stipulated under our Constitution are enough. Let’s give others the chance to serve our people,” the veteran solon said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)