CARIGARA, Leyte- The Second Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is conducted a bidding for six local infrastructure and construction and maintenance project worth P 10.8 million as part of its priority projects for the year.
Under the local infrastructure program of the district are the road concreting projects along the Cansamada-Balilit-Tuya road section in Dagami town worth P1.98 million; San Antonio concrete pavement project in Tunga at P1.98 million; Sto. Nino road project in Tunga, P 1.98 million; and, Union road in Mayorga at a cost of P1.98 million.
Under the construction and maintenance program of bridges along national roads, subject for bidding this March in is the Atipolo Daco Bridge along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road worth P900,000.
A flood control will be built alongside the bridge.
Another is the Nauguisan Bridge, identified as a permanent bridge along the Palo-Carigara-Ormoc Road. Maintenance repair will cost P 1.98 million.
These projects are being bidded out by the district office under the P1.7-billion regular infrastructure fund approved by their national office for the district engineering projects for 2017.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures. A pre-bid conference was held on March 16 while submission and opening of bids are scheduled on March 29, it was learned.
2nd LED District Engineer Carlos Veloso said a higher budget is allocated for 2017 compared to last year, thus, the district can expect more infrastructure projects to be started in the coming months.
Important projects to be undertaken are the road re-blocking and widening as well as repair and widening of bridges in the second district.
A P201-million Binahaan Bridge project will also be started along the Pastrana-Dagami-Burauen road. The project will be implemented by the regional office of the DPWH. (AHLETTE C. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- Failure to liquidate was the reason cited why several government workers have yet to receive the financial assistance promised to them in the aftermath of super typhoon “Yolanda.”
This was disclosed by Evelyn Clarin, head of the regional Presidential Management Staff (PMS) during the meeting of the Development Administration Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) on Wednesday, March 14.
Clarin said that for the first release of the financial assistance, 13 government agencies failed to liquidate and 27 others only managed to “partially liquidate.”
Because of this incomplete liquidation by the agencies, the release of the assistance is being hampered, Clarin added.
The RDC, during the meeting, has asked for the release of the financial assistance to the intended government workers who have yet to receive it, more than three years after the onslaught of Yolanda.
About 48,955 employees were identified as beneficiaries of the financial assistance for the first tranche of the financial assistance.
At least P 315.63 million were released during the period of December 2015.
For the second batch, 15, 687 employees from the Department of Education received the financial assistance coming from the President’s Social Fund (PSF), amounting to P631.26 million.
To date, the DepEd has not completed the liquidation documents even for the first tranche, Clarin said.
For the third batch, about 9,091 employees coming from 29 government agencies have yet to receive the much-expected assistance.
For the third tranche, P 447.730 million is supposed to be release to the employees as their assistance.
To recall, in 2015, the previous administration approved the allocation of P 2. 89 billion from the PSF for release to 64,642 national government employees in two batches whose houses were damaged by Yolanda and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Regions 6 and 7.
Government employees affected by Yolanda and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake including casual or contractual employees and outsourced personnel who were endorsed to the PMS by respective head of agencies are covered to receive such financial assistance.
Employees with totally damaged houses were to receive P100,000 and P30,000 for those partially damaged.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

CATBALOGAN CITY- An official of this city said that they are ready to accommodate the more than 300 delegates who will attend this year’s United Cities and Local Governments, Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC) next month.
Ador Hurtado, city tourism officer, said that all the hotels around Catbalogan will be used for the billeting of the local and international guests.
“For the main UCLG event, the city has identified 10 hotels and tourist inns for the international and local participants, excluding the locals’ entourage. That would be a total of 210 rooms,” Hurtado said.
Catbalogan has 17 hotels and inns that could accommodate more than 500 people, he added.
Catbalogan will host this year’s UCLG-ASPAC slated to be held on April 4-7, the first international event to be stage in this city of more than 103,000 people.
Catbalogan is the lone member from the region of the association which is the lone UN-accredited league of local governments.
City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan had earlier said that the city government is ready for the international event that is expected to be attended by about 100 officials from the different cities and provinces in Asia-Pacific.
“When I presented last year to the group the city’s desire to host the event, no country has opposed. Every member of the 19-countries in ASPAC is excited about the city’s hosting of the Executive Bureau’s meeting,” Uy-Tan said.
This event is an opportunity for the city and the region to open doors for investors to come in, an international mileage to showcase our tourist destinations, our cultural heritage and uniqueness as a nation, the mayor added.
The meetings will allow local chief executives to interact with their counterparts from other countries and establish possible linkages that would lead to productive partnerships.
Secretary Ismael Sueno of the Department of Interior and Local Government has sent memorandum circular inviting 50 women local chief executives, 50 members of League of Cities and all local chief executives of Region VIII to attend the conference.
Aside from soliciting commitments of local governments for full implementation of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030, there will be commitments and declarations, policy proposals and projects to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The Sendai Framework on DRR was adopted by the Third United Nations Conference in Sendai, Japan on March 18, 2015.
Mayor Uy-Tan will present the city’s partnership with South Korea Odin Energy Co., Ltd. on the US$2.4 million wind tower that will provide 200 megawatts power that will supply 90% of the electricity needs of the city.
It is part of the new local government center and Sky City mega complex. It is one of the city’s contributions on climate change mitigation.
(VICKY C. ARNAIZ)

TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office 8 (DENR-8) is encouraging the planting of bamboos for environmental and economic benefits.
Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, DENR regional director, said that based on studies, bamboo leaves could absorb more than 100 times than the ordinary leaves.
Sibbaluca explained that more bamboos planted could absorb more greenhouse gasses that are causing global warming, which results to climate change.
Sibbaluca further explained that Eastern Visayas is suited for bamboo production and in fact, bamboo is very good specie for soil erosion control especially in steep slopes or hilly areas and in river banks.
Sibbaluca said that aside from environmental benefits, bamboo has many economic uses for food, for building purposes, for fencing, and it has an export potential as bamboos are used in furniture industry and for the production of chopsticks among others.
He also said that establishing bamboo plantations is one of the flagship programs of DENR for 2017.
He added that DENR is set to undergo massive planting of bamboo throughout the country especially in the areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” this year.
The DENR has allocated P600 million for bamboo plantation establishments across the region wherein P200 million is allocated for Leyte; P200 million for Samar; P100 million for Eastern Samar; and 100 million for Northern Samar. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- Three towns in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages when super typhoon ‘Yolanda” hit the region in 2013 received evacuation centers from the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union (EU) under their Project Recovery.
Receiving the facilities which could withstand typhoon of at least 300 kph were the towns of Balangkayan, Hernani and Quinapondan, three areas in Eastern Samar that sustained major damages due to Yolanda, considered the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland.
UNDP deputy country director Enrico Gaveglia and EU programme officer Caroline Maningo led in the turnover of the facilities to the officials of the three towns on Thursday (March 16).
The community evacuation centers are designed and constructed to withstand a 300 kph wind velocity, integrates water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and fitted with solar panels and a generator set.
The facilities could also be used by the local government units for any public functions.
Maningo said that the EU are thankful to have given opportunity to help areas affected by Yolanda and are confident that the structures could withstand natural calamities like typhoons that may hit the three areas.
For Gaveglia, the evacuation centers could be important assets of the LGU that they could use to help the communities.
Under the Project Recover, the EU and the UNDP has donated P508 million to areas devastated by Yolanda.
The fund was used in recovery programs such as employment and livelihood opportunities including on fish and seaweed processing, food production and handling, and sustainable agricultural management, construction of housing units, evacuation centers and providing search and rescue equipment and facilities to the local government units.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY-Angel Khalilah M. Zaragosa, Grade 10 student of Bato School of Fisheries, won the 2017 Regional Civil Registration Quiz (RCRQ) conducted last March 14, 2017 at Corridor’s Rest Hauz, Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.
The Philippine Statistics Authority – Regional Statistics Services Office VIII (PSA-RSSO VIII), in coordination with the Eastern Visayas Federation of Provincial Associations of Civil Registrars (EVFPACR) successfully conducted the 2017 RCRQ as one of the highlights of this year’s Civil Registration Month Celebration.
Among the 21 contestants from different secondary schools in the region, Zaragosa emerged as regional champion after scoring 22 out of 30 questions administered in three rounds.
Completing the top three winners are Ryan M. Yepes of Macrohon Institute – Jose K. Demetrio Learning Foundation Inc., second place, and, Eva Mae O. Aldeon of New Ormoc City National High School- third place.
This contest is conducted yearly to increase knowledge of students on civil registration and likewise encourage the youth to participate in the global advocacy of getting everyone registered and of promoting awareness on the importance of civil registration in the lives of every Filipino.
Serving as members of the board of judges were PSA-RSSO VIII Regional Director Wilma A. Perante, chief of PSA Civil Registration and Administration Services Division Anesia Babante and EVFPACR president Marlon O. Morallos.
Winners were awarded with cash prizes, certificates, and PSA tokens. (PR)