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)

TACLOBAN CITY – The mayor of Matag-ob town in Leyte has called on his people to support the peace and order campaign being enforced in his municipality.

Mayor Bernandino Tacoy said that with a good peace and order situation, Matag-ob could expect investors coming in as well as tourist.

To help in the peace and order program of his administration, he will launch a program called “Text to Tacoy” wherein residents may send information on presence of illegal activities in their area or names of people who are involved in illegal activities.

“Illegal drugs should be given a chance to proliferate in our town. We should not allow drug peddlers to operate in our municipality,” Tacoy said.

“Residents should help in ensuring that our town remains to be free from illegal drug trade and our children are safe from these vices, that is why we will soon launch program wherein people may send information on illegal activities happening in their area,” Tacoy added.

Identity of the texters will be treated with confidentiality, and information will be verified for its veracity.

Currently, police visibility is being strengthened through checkpoints and foot patrol to ensure that they remain peaceful and orderly.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – National Security Adviser Sec. Clarita Carlos issued an appeal to the members of the media to help disseminate the accomplishments of the government on its campaign against insurgency through the implementation of the Regional Task Force 8 – End Local Communist Armed Conflict(RTF-ELCAC).

Carlos said that the achievements of the RTF-ELCAC in fighting the insurgency in the region should be known considering that the government has implemented projects in villages hit by insurgency problem.

“I know bad news really sells but I think good news sells also. Kasi kung hindi brinodcast akala nila wala tayong ginagawa. But they have to be broadcast because they are there in the ground,” Carlos said in a press conference on October 26.

“You don’t need to be friendly to us because I want media to be the fourth state. You don’t need to be friendly, you need to critique when there is a need for such,” she added.
Carlos was in the region to meet with security officials of the region and assess the implementation of the projects and programs under the RTF-ELCAC.

She was presented with the ongoing projects and upcoming projects in villages of the region that received budget from the Barangay Development Fund (BDF), a component of the ELCAC.

Around 200 villages in the region are recipients of the BDF, most of these villages are in Northern Samar and Samar provinces.

Local media who attended the press conference responded positively to Carlos’ appeal but told her that they can only do so if the concerned officials will provide needed data and will allowed themselves to be interviewed.

The members of the media told Carlos that some security officials decline to be interviewed.

Hearing this information, Carlos urged agencies to be open in sharing information regarding ELCAC to the local media. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)