ORMOC CITY-Mayor Richard Gomez, this city, is now a proud member of a nationwide campaign advocating for environment promotion as the country’s local government units (LGUs) representative.
The actor-turned-mayor is recognized as an advisory council member representing all LGUs all over the country in the advocacy group ‘Ako Ang Bukas’, a multi-sectoral crusade, which aims for central campaign on climate neutrality in the Philippines by 2050.
Gomez was chosen to represent among all LGUs due to his leadership in climate change mitigation, as reflected in the sustainable initiatives undertaken in Ormoc.
“Climate change is a supreme manifestation of human impact on the environment. It affects and will continue to affect greatly people’s lives and livelihood,” he said as he emphasized the urgent need to address the climate emergency at the launch of multi-sectoral environmental movement Ako Ang Bukas last June 18, 2021 via online.
Ormoc City government is a recipient of Allen S. Quimpo Climate Leadership for Governance Memorial Award at the Climate Reality Leadership Awards last November 2018 “for advancing climate action and promoting renewable energy”.
Just recently, the city also launched its ‘Ormoc Tree Haven and Eco-Park’ for native trees in partnership with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC).
The city has prepared programs and strategies on how to mitigate climate change as outlined in its Local Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2025, a 10-year plan.
“It is required that in the local climate change action plan, we are to incorporate the inventory of our carbon emissions. Thus, we welcome this initiative which helps [or will help] us in this important task” Mayor Gomez said.
“Quantum Leap NOW to Climate Neutrality 2050” is a campaign for Ako Ang Bukas promoting the importance of stock-taking greenhouse gas emissions in grappling with the climate crisis.
“It is incumbent upon local government leaders to continuously study, evaluate, and address the environmental situation under our jurisdiction,” Gomez said, highlighting the importance of LGUs’ involvement in tackling the climate crisis.
Through the movement, sector-specific greenhouse gas calculators will be made available for public use by July; trainings on their use will also be provided.
Ako Ang Bukas is a Philippine environmental movement whose campaign “Quantum Leap NOW: Climate Neutrality 2050” which seeks to involve all sectors and levels of society nationwide in taking urgent, concerted action to address the climate crisis facing the country and the world and reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Other members in the advisory council for Ako Ang Bukas include Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos, vice president of Oceana Philippines for the grassroots sector, Federico “Piki” Lopez, chair and CEO of First Philippine Holdings Corporation for business, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos for faith-based organizations and communities, Vicky-Tauli Corpuz, Former UN Special Rapporteur for Rights of Indigenous Peoples for the indigenous sector, Fr. John Christian Young, president of Fr. Saturnino Urios University for academe, and Gabrielle Marciano, president of Y’s Men’s Club of RAHA Paranaque for the youth sector.
(ELVIE ROMAN-ROA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone has made a request before the National Task Force against Covid-19 for the increase of vaccine allocation to the province.
In his letter, addressed to Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., and Deputy Chief Implementer Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Evardone said that the increase of vaccine allocation in the province will allow them to maximize the potential of their vaccination centers in all municipalities and to inoculate as much of the eligible population.
“Eastern Samar, much like its neighboring provinces in Region VIII, is into its 3rd wave of the COVID-19 surge which started on May 18, 2021,” the governor said.
“As of today, we have 1, 808 confirmed cases, 224 of which are active cases. We have officially surpassed the peak of our second wave last year and this surge is now the worst we have since the start of the pandemic,” the governor added in the letter dated June 21.
As of June 23, Eastern Samar has now a total of 1, 831 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which a total of 223 active cases, with 52 deaths.
Majority of the confirmed cases are from Guiuan town with 444, and Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar, with 359.
The governor said that despite the limited vaccine allocation, the provincial government is proud that Eastern Samar has one of the highest vaccine utilization rates in our region.
However, the limited supply has allowed us to inoculate only 59 percent of our A.1, 21 percent of A.2, and 33 percent of A.3.
“With this, it is unfortunate that the operations of our vaccination centers are not maximized and are only being used on the average of 2-3 times a week,” Evardone said.
“If granted this request, we are positive that the number of people vaccinated in our A.1, A.2, A.3 categories will increase and the operation of our vaccination centers will be maximized,” he added.
Based on the data from the Provincial Health Office of Eastern Samar, the province had vaccinated a total of 26, 995 individuals for the 1st dose while, 14, 399 were inoculated for the second dose.
Of the inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines, 13 have experienced mild adverse events which includes hypertension, dizziness, headache, and hypertension. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)