TACLOBAN CITY-The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) RO-8 recognizes Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez as Disiplina Muna Ambassador for his outstanding efforts and initiatives in Tacloban LGU’s best practices in the combat against Covid-19 and its spread.
The agency’s virtual launching of Disiplina Muna National Advocacy Campaign in Eastern Visayas held yesterday, February 10, 2021, which was attended by DILG spokesperson and Undersecretary for Plans, Programs, and Communications Jonathan Malaya, DILG field officers, mayors, barangay officials, and socio-civic organizations, emphasizes the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2020-116 which refocuses the “Disiplina Muna” national advocacy campaign to defeat COVID-19 thru the DILG and Department of Health(DOH) joint campaign dubbed as “Bida ang May Disiplina: Solusyon Sa COVID-19.”
Remarkable for his early steps in protecting Tacloban City from COVID-19 which traces back to January 2020 when he ordered the filling out of forms in the airport to determine travel history, and his firm calls for the mandatory wearing of the face mask to Taclobanons in mid-March of 2020, Mayor Romualdez, along with Mayor Richard Gomez of Ormoc City, bagged the Region 8 Disiplina Muna Ambassador recognition from DILG.
In his speech read during the virtual event, Mayor Romualdez pointed out how the “Bida ang May Disiplina: Solusyon Sa COVID-19” campaign boils down to the core value of discipline that each and every Filipino, especially the Taclobanons, must be equipped with.
“When we incorporate discipline to our daily lives, we become citizens committed in the government’s cause, particularly in resolving the pandemic,” says the Mayor.
Furthermore, he encouraged his fellow Taclobanons to positively embody discipline in their daily routine in the way that they expect each other to be the solution, and to seeing the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.
(TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
Mayor Romualdez bags’ DILG’s ‘Disiplina Muna Ambassador’ award for his anti-COVID campaign
Priest seeks stoppage;operators ask for a chance
Mining activity in MacArthur town
TACLOBAN CITY- The mining activity in MacArthur town, Leyte has now reached the floors of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with those opposing the operations seeking help for its stoppage.
On Thursday (Feb. 11), the committee on natural resources, chaired by board member Mecias Arevalo, conducted a hearing with both the oppositors and personnel of the MacArthur Iron Sand Project Corp. (MIPC) present to air their respective arguments.
Fr. Amadeo Alvero, the town parish priest who is leading in the fight against the mining operations, pleaded with the provincial officials to intervene and stop the activity in Barangay Maya of said town.
“I am appealing to the benevolent institution of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to please stop the mining activity in MacArthur,” he said during the hearing that lasted for almost two hours which started at 11:20 am.
During the hearing, the committee through Vice Governor Carlo Loreto asked the two contending parties to submit documents to formally substantiate their respective claims for them to take action.
But Fr. Alvero said that the ongoing mining activity involving black sand extraction in MacArthur could result to destruction of the environment and affect food security of the town as the mining areas are considered as ‘prime agricultural lands’ producing palay.
In his pleadings, Alvero said that he is just consistent with one of the advocacies of the Church which is to protect the environment.
He also said that the town has a bad experience with previous mining activities, leaving behind their mining areas widely open and not being rehabilitated.
“MacArthur has experienced irresponsible mining activities. None of these mining companies conducted rehabilitation,” Alvero said.
But Januar Ong, communications officer of MICP, maintained that they are into ‘progressive mining operations.’
In fact, he said, after they extracted black sand from their mining areas, they immediately conducted back-filling using the same sand that they removed.
This way, the area would remain productive and could still be planted.
“(And) we cannot be held answerable to the sins of the previous mining companies. We are not connected to any of these mining companies. I think it is not fair for us to be labeled as irresponsible. We have just started our operation and in fact, we are now in the process of rehabilitation,” he said.
He asked those who opposes to give MIPC a chance to prove that they are sincere on their commitment to rehabilitate the affected mining areas.
As to other allegations made by Alvero like bribery involving certain officials, he could file appropriate charges against them in court, Ong said.
The MIPC has mining permit granted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) covering more than 2,000 hectares mostly in MacArthur town for 25 years.
Last January, the MIPC made its first shipment of black sand involving 39,000 metric tons to China.
The deposits were extracted from four out of the seven hectares ‘pilot areas’ which the company leased from local farmers for two years.
Tanauan mayor tested positive of COVID-19
TACLOBAN CITY- The mayor of Tanauan town here in Leyte is the latest elected official to acquire the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mayor Pelagio Tecson, Jr. confirmed that he was tested positive of the virus as he designated his vice mayor, Ronald Flores, to temporarily discharge the functions of the office while he is in isolation.
Tecson,53 and now serving on his last term as mayor, disclosed of his current health situation through a post at the Facebook account of the municipal government on Tuesday (Jan.26).
“My dear Tanauanons, I would like you to know that I have been tested positive for COVID-19. I have manifested symptoms over the past few days. All close contacts have been identified already and will undergo testing by today (Tuesday),” he said.
The town mayor, however, did not say how he possibly acquired the virus except to say that everyone could get it.
“Upon reflection, this only shows that this pandemic is still around us. There will always be occasions where it can hit us,” he said.
Tecson said that it is now more than ever that the residents should be mindful against the virus by strictly following all the health protocols especially that the new variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed to exist in the country.
“I appeal that you heed this call,” he said.
Tecson’s media affairs consultant, Roy Moraleta, said that Tanauan is the first local government unit in Leyte to come up measures like setting up quarantine facilities and providing food aids during the quarantine period, and livelihood assistance to the people.
Tecson is the sixth mayor in the region to have acquired COVID-19.
One of them, Manuel Aoyang of Palapag town in Northern Samar, died on Nov.6 last year.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA/JOEY A. GABIETA)