TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Development Council (RDC) urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to push through this year the construction of a new terminal building for Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport here.
In a statement, the RDC’s infrastructure utilities and development committee asked DOTr-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to prioritize the Tacloban Airport development under the present administration to meet the demand for increasing air traffic.
CAAP officials admitted that the ongoing feasibility study has derailed the facility’s actual construction.
RDC private sector representative for business Oliver Cam emphasized the need to continue the construction since the current terminal building is already overcrowded.
“Regardless of the findings of the study, our request to DOTr is to continue the construction of the said facility,” Cam said.
The national government is eyeing to complete the study by March 2017, according to a report from the National Economic Development Authority.
Under the 2017 proposal, the DZR Airport will get P652.8 million for the construction of a new terminal building, P253.5 million upgrading of existing runway, P2.55 million procurement of service vehicle, and P50.2 million acquisition of maintenance and service equipment.
The two-storey passenger terminal building, according to CAAP, will be equipped with passenger loading bridges, departure and arrival conveyors, elevators and escalators, flight display system, and security equipment.
The upgrade aims to improve the airport’s facilities to current aviation standards and cope with the increasing air traffic demand of Tacloban City and the whole of Eastern Visayas region.
Under CAAP’s original timeline, the new terminal building will be completed on Sept. 30, 2018.
(SARWELL Q. MENIANO)
RDC seeks immediate start on DZR Airport terminal building project
Reported teenage pregnancy is alarming
Teenage girls are still within that preparatory period of development in their lives towards maturity. They are still in school to acquire skills they will employ to effectively manage living when they reach maturity. They are still largely dependent and need close caring from their parents.
The report from the Department of Health on teenage pregnancy is quite alarming. It is an indication that parents have become so lax these days in the way they supervise activities of their teenage girls. Parents are more carried away with other concerns in life leaving teenage girls the unsupervised freedom to move around.
Our educational system has included sex education in schools in these modern times. Sex was simply a wonder in our long, long past, and teenage pregnancy never was a problem. Has the inclusion of sex education in schools opened the curiosity, wonders, even challenges to “try” sex after being aware about it? Just asking!!!
Gov. Tan enrolls in a leadership learning journey
CATBALOGAN CITY-Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan is now enrolled in the Zuellig Family Foundation leadership learning journey.
This means that Tan will be visiting her poorest constituents right in their very homes to feel their health needs and really to address them within her power.
The governor has visited four families last weekend, said Dr. Antonio Tirazona, Department of Health (DOH) representative.
Tan also reportedly made rounds at the Samar Provincial Hospital to check on the condition of the facility and also on the needs of the patients.
Visiting her poorest constituents needing health care will allow the governor to personally witness their health care needs, said Tirazona.
He added that this is the essence of the program, also dubbed as Governors for Health and Development.
The program aims to bring the local chief executive to a level where health champions are, towards achieving the goals of the Philippine Health Agenda 2016-2022, said Dr. Perlie Langi of the Integrated Provincial Health Services.
Langi narrated that with the enrolment of Motiong town in the Zuellig program, the increase of mothers delivering in health facility rose from a mere 6% to 87%, she said.
Though she said this was achieved with the full support of the local government and the health allies.
Langi is hopeful that the municipal mayors of chosen towns will cooperate with the governor for a change in the health status of Samarnons. (Nimfa Quirante/PIA 8-Samar)
Man accused of rape arrested after 8 years in hiding
BOBON, Northern Samar- A security guard accused of rape was finally arrested after eight years in hiding.
Arrested on January 2 by the members of the Bobon municipal police station led by police chief, Chief Inspector Arnel Ambos, was Jeffrey Buenaobra, 31, at his house in Barangay Santa Clara, this town.
Buenaobra, who has an outstanding warrant for rape issued by Judge Alma Consuelo Esidera, presiding judge of Branch 20 RTC Catarman, Northern Samar on August 8,2008, went into hiding for eight years after he committed the crime.
“We received a tip coming from reliable source that the said accused was visibly seen at their residence on the eve of New Year. Thus, I ordered to strengthen the intelligence network as we assumed that most of wanted persons return to their domicile for holiday season,” Chief Inspector Ambos said.
Thus, after casing and surveillance, the accused, who was listed as other wanted person, was successfully arrested.
PS/Supt. Ceasar ZL Tannagan, acting provincial director, commended the operating unit for showing relentless efforts in clearing the list of wanted persons in the municipality. (PR)
East Samar town declared as insurgency-free
BORONGAN CITY- The Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) both declared the municipality of San Julian, this province, as insurgency-free.
The declaration was made recently by 801st Brigade Commanding Officer Col. Perfecto Remando and Eastern Samar Police Provincial Office (ESPPO) Director Tranquilino Araral III in a program hosted by the municipal government of San Julian held at the town’s auditorium.
The declaration was based on the recommendation of the 14th Infantry Battalion and the ESPPO — which was strengthened through municipal resolutions — after being assessed that the municipality is already insurgency-free and the internal peace and security is already stable.
The declaration was witnessed by San Julian Mayor Dennis Estaron, Lt. Col. Ronnie Ebarita and San Julian Municipal Police Station (SJMPS) Chief Aldo Mendiola.
In line with this, Mayor Estaron expressed confidence that the declaration of San Julian as insurgency-free will be a big help in the progress and development of the said municipality. (PIA-E. Samar)
Beltejar denies bombing suspects are in Tacloban City; calling it baseless
TACLOBAN CITY- Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar, regional police director, dispelled rumors circulating that the suspects of the bombing incident in Hilongos town are in the city.
Beltejar, in dismissing the rumor, called it “baseless” as he maintained that the police are on top of the situation in so far as ensuring the safety of the residents not only in Tacloban but across the region.
The police regional director, in a press statement, said that they have undertaken proactive measures to ensure the security and safety of the public by deploying extra police forces in the streets, malls, terminals, ports and public markets.
Earlier, there were text messages circulating that the suspects of the blast incident in Hilongos on December 28 that injured 32 people are now in Tacloban City.
The police authorities have yet to identify the suspects of the blast incident.
However, based on the footage taken from the CCTV (closed circuit television); three men were allegedly behind the incident that took place on the night of December 28 at the Rizal Park.
The suspects planted the improvised explosive devices of 81 mm mortar using mobile phone in detonating the devices.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who visited Hilongos on December 30, vowed to arrest the suspects.
Meantime, City Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin asked the public not to be alarmed though he asked them to remain vigilant.
(JAZMIN BONIFACIO)