JAVIER, Leyte – With the road leading to Barangay Guindapunan now concreted, residents here can already eat fresh fish and avail of the various government services.
This was the testimony of barangay councilor Elizabeth Mendoza as she thanked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Mayor Leonardo Javier Jr. for concreting the Odiong-Guindapunan road.
Guindapunan is situated on top of Mount Mairig, some seven kilometers away from the town proper in this fourth class municipality.
Residents here used to ride in a horse as their mode of transportation in the past as the place has steep slopes, sharp curves and dangerous for other kinds of vehicles especially on rainy days.
But with the said road now concreted, this village is already accessible to all kinds of vehicles. Hauling of farmers’ products is easier now and a lot of opportunities were opened to residents here, said villager Simplicio Bahinti.
ARCP-II National Project Manager Jean Fornoles disclosed that in 2010, Mayor Javier was among the first and very few mayors who invested in the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP-II) when DAR introduced it.
According to her, many mayors turned down the offer for they found the share of the LGU in the total project cost too big that they cannot afford to finance. But Mayor Javier thought otherwise, Fornoles added.
Under ARCP-II, for a fourth class municipality, the national government will provide only 40 percent of the project cost through a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while the LGU will shoulder the remaining 60 percent.
Fornoles further disclosed that Javier did not only commit to provide equity to one farm-to market road but wanted six road projects, a road opening and five road concreting, with an aggregate project cost of P84.5-million.
The concreting of the 2.64-kilometer Odiong-Guindapunan road was the second project completed and was turned over recently by DAR Assistant Regional Director Ma. Fe Malinao representing Regional Director Atty. Sheila Enciso who was then out of the region.
The remaining four other road projects are expected to be completed before the year ends.
During the said occasion Malinao reminded the LGU and the recipient villages to maintain the road in good condition within 10 years otherwise they will also be shouldering the 40 percent share of the national government thereby converting the grant into a loan.
In acceptance, Vice Mayor Michael Dragon Javier in behalf of the mayor, as the latter was recuperating after undergoing a kidney transplant, thanked DAR for the assistance and assured “we will take care of this wonderful gift”. (JOSE ALSMITH L. SORIA)
DAR concretes road, opens opportunities
DA turns over P10 million agricultural assistance to Leyte town
TUNGA, Leyte- The regional office of the Department of Agriculture(DA) based in Tacloban City has turned over agricultural assistance to this town Wednesday(Sept.6)
DA-8 Regional Executive Director U-Nichols Manalo said that the turnover of the assistance worth P10 million was funded by the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program (YRRP) was made during the launching of the YRRP livelihood initiated by their office in this town for the farmers who were victims of the super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in 2013.
Manalo said that the assistance composed of modern farm machineries, equipment, tools and inputs and also includes farm animals, has 166 farmer-beneficiaries from four associations of the town which includes San Roque Cassava Farmers Association, Cassava Planters Association, Tungan-on Coconut Farmers Association and Pasakay Farmers Irrigators Association.
Town Mayor Catalina Agda said that the assistance will be a great help for the recovery of the farming systems by the farmers in her town who are still reeling and recovering from the devastation brought about by Yolanda and for building back better of their livelihood.
Agda added that the assistance will further help her administration to convince more farmers in the town to adhere to the modern and scientific farming and livestock production.
She said that the assistance will also help boost the farm productivity in her town and eventually more income of the farmers.
Tunga is an agricultural 6th class municipality with 7,584 population. It is located in the second district of this province with an area of 7.7 square kilometers and with eight barangays.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
P4.27 million town projects inaugurated in Leyte town by Gov. Petilla
BABATNGON, Leyte-Two infrastructure projects in two barangays of this town worth P4.27 million were inaugurated recently.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico “Mic” L. Petilla who led the inauguration and turn over ceremonies of the two projects attended by the town’s and barangay officials, told reporters that one unit two-classroom building worth P1.76 million for the Bagong Silang Elementary School in Barangay Bagong Silang of this town was inaugurated.
Gov.Petilla also said that a farm-to-market road, funded by the province worth P2.51 million, was also opened in Brgy. Victory, also of this town.
He added that the farm-to-market road will be of great help for the transportation of the villagers especially for farmers in bringing their farm products to the market.
The governor informed reporters that during the inauguration of the farm-to-market road he likewise distributed 80 heads of piglets for the hog fattening project of the farmers’ association in Victory.
(RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
Six northern barangays avail of services in ‘Barangayan’ of Mayor Romualdez
TACLOBAN CITY-Residents of six northern barangays, this city, availed of the free services being offered by the Community Outreach Program of the city government on Thursday(Sept.7) in Barangay 12-Palanog.
Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez led the holding of the Caring Giving and Reaching Out ‘Barangayan’ held at the gymnasium of Brgy. 12(Palanog) which started at 8 am and was availed of by nearby Barangays 37-A, 94, 94-A, 103 and 104.
Rosalie Gahol, 27 of Barangay 12, was one of those who lined up early for the Barangayan to avail of the free medical services for her 2-year old daughter who was sick with cough and colds.
According to her, it was a relief that she would not have to go to the city center to avail of medical services for her daughter.
“Salamat kan Mayor Cristina kay gindara ha amon Barangay an mga libre nga serbisyo han City Government. Tungod nga harayo an am Barangay talagsa la kami makapacheck-up; pero tungod hini nga Barangayan nakatagamtam kami hini nga serbisyo,”(I am grateful to Mayor Cristina for bringing this free services to our Barangay. We hardly avail of medical services because our Barangay is far from the City Center; but because of the Barangayan we availed of free medical services.) Gahol said.
Meantime, the Chief Executive said that it is her personal commitment to bring much needed services of the city government to far-flung communities, hence the conduct of community outreach program monthly.
The half-day activity not only allowed residents to avail of free medical services, but free live birth processing and employment services from the City Civil Registrar’s Office and the Public Employment and Services Office (PESO), respectively.
Veterinary services like immunization of dogs and distribution of vitamins were also brought by the City Veterinary Office to the area.
Among the other services delivered during the Barangayan were free haircut by staff from the Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program (CLEP); assessment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens for eligibility to services of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) like cash and livelihood assistance.
A feeding program for malnourished kids and other nutrition services courtesy of the City Nutrition Office also highlighted the activity.
The residents also had the chance to interact and talk firsthand with Mayor Romualdez who personally supervised the outreach program.
(HENRY JAMES C. ROCA, CIO)
Region 8 needs P430-B investment in next 5 years
TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Visayas region needs at least P430 billion for priority activities under the draft CY 2017-2022 Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP).
The funding initially listed by officials from government and private sector is up for approval by the Regional Development Council (RDC) which is scheduled on their third quarter meeting on September 29.
The RDIP contains a list and brief profile of programs and projects of agency regional offices and state universities and colleges in support of strategies outlined in the Regional Development Plan (RDP).
It also includes a list of activities of the six provincial governments in the region which they proposed for Official Development Assistance funding and implementation by the national government.
“The projects and activities in the RDIP will concretize the strategies in the main RDP. It has 15 key strategies meant to reduce poverty and sustain economic growth,” said NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Bonifacio Uy on Thursday (Sept.7).
The 15 plan of actions are science and technology innovations, reducing inequality in opportunities in human development, accelerating infrastructure development, promoting regional competitiveness, reaching for the demographic dividend, promoting Eastern Visayas culture and values formation expanding economic opportunities in farming and fisheries
Other strategies are enhancing peace, security, public order, and justice administration; enhancing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation; enhancing good governance; building resiliency of individuals and families; expanding economic opportunities in industry; maintaining ecological integrity and a clean and healthy environment; providing an enabling and supportive macroeconomic environment; and expanding economic opportunities in services.
The RDP, which serves as the blueprint of the region’s development direction, is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Long-Term Vision of Filipinos or “Ambisyon Natin 2040” and President Duterte’s 0+10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
The RDC, the region’s highest policymaking body, approved the new RDP during its full council meeting on December 20, 2016.
Under the plan, the region aims to attain 5.2 percent to 5.7 percent economic growth in 2017.
For 2018 to 2022, the average target is 5.8 percent to 7 percent. In 2015, the region posted a remarkable growth of 3.9 percent in the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) due to massive post-Yolanda reconstruction activities.
The 2015 performance is a “significant turnaround” after the region incurred a 2.4 percent contraction in 2014, largely due to destruction of the monster typhoon.
The region suffered a big drop in GRDP in 2012 at negative 6.8 percent after a minimal 2.1 percent increase in 2011.
It was followed with a big leap to 4.6 percent in 2013 due to good economy before super typhoon “Yolanda” struck.
Last year, the region’s GRDP surged 12.4 percent, the highest among 17 regions in the country.
(SARWELL Q.MENIANO/PNA)
DPWH- Biliran completes works on Banlas Bridge
NAVAL, Biliran (DPWH-BDEO) – The Department of Public Works and Highways-Biliran District Engineering Office reports 100% completion of the P8.7 milion replacement of Banlas Bridge along Maripipi Circumferential Road under fiscal year 2016.
According to Engr. Alberto V. Cañete, project engineer, the replacement of Banlas Bridge was supposed to be finished last August 18, 2016 but was extended due to several changes in the variation order and request time extension from the contractor.
“The Banlas Bridge was delayed because the contractor finds difficulty in transporting construction materials to the project site,” said Cañete.
The municipality of Maripipi is an island separated to the mainland of Naval, the capital town of the province and can only be reached through a small boat with an estimated time travel of one hour and thirty minutes to two hours from Naval.
Cañete revealed that the project was completed on July 30, 2017 under contract with LEDA Construction Inc.
The existing Banlas Bridge is a concrete bridge with a length of 5.70 meters and a width of 4.0 meters which fall short of the national standards, hence it was proposed with replacement.
The newly-completed bridge is a reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridge with a width of 8.70 meters and a length of 9.0 meters located along Maripipi Circumferential Road.
The completed bridge will provide a standard bridge (with two lanes) in replacement of the old one which is sub-standard (with one lane only) thereby providing safe passage to the travelling public. It will benefit more or less 6,000 residents of the Maripipi. (PR)