CALBAYOG CITY- A new township is being mulled by the city government to expand the development of this city. This was disclosed by Mayor Ronald Aquino who said that the move will help decongest the city proper adding that government offices, to include the City Hall, will be constructed at the “New Calbayog City.” While Calbayog is the country’s third biggest city in land area (880.74 km2), its infrastructure development and businesses are largely focused at the city proper. The proposed new site is located at the Tomalon Estate, four kms away from the city proper. Two architectural firms from Metro Manila had signified their interest to work with the city government in conducting a feasibility study for creating the Tomalon Estate as uptown Calbayog City. Road network construction to the area funded by the city government worth P60 million for the transversal road and another P30 million to connect with the main road is ongoing. “We cannot expand the city proper so we are planning to relocate the City Hall, the national government offices and develop a new site for Calbayog,” Mayor Aquino explained. Aquino said that the city government owns 27 hectares in the area but needs an additional 83 hectares or a total of 100 hectares to construct the proposed Calbayog uptown. The City Assessor’s Office is now identifying the land owners to be acquired by the city government. Aquino added that the city government is contemplating to partner with the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Development Bank of the Philippines to acquire a loan in developing Tomalon Estate as the new Calbayog City.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) has declared a diarrhea outbreak in a village in Almagro, Samar after the water-borne disease has downed 40 residents over the past two weeks.
DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit chief Roderick Boyd Cerro said local health officials traced the plague to the contamination of dug well, a major source of drinking water in Barangay Panjobjoban II, a farming and fishing village with 100 households.
“About 33 residents were confined at the Calbayog District Hospital since October 5 for suffering of diarrhea (symptoms). The rest underwent treatment at the rural health unit,” Cerro said.
The district hospital is the nearest health facility to the island town of Almagro. The only means of access to Almagro is by motorboat from the port of Calbayog City, taking usually up to two hours of travel.
“The water source is just near the residential area without toilet and canal. The contamination is very obvious even without laboratory tests confirmation,” Cerro added.
The local government has already ordered the closure of the water source. The health department has provided oral rehydration solution for affected residents and jerry cans for proper water storage.
Massive information drive on diarrhea prevention has been launched in Almagro town.
Diarrhea is characterized by stomach pain, headache, body weakness and watery stools. The worst is dehydration that can cause death.
From April to July this year, diarrhea outbreak in different parts of the region has killed 81 people and afflicted 9,432 others. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

Contrary to “Bato’s” statement

TACLOBAN CITY-The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said that there is no shabu laboratory existing in the region. But still, PDEA Regional Director Edgar Jubay said that they will continue their monitoring if there could be a shabu laboratory existence in any part of the region. During his recent visit in the region, Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa mentioned of a shabu laboratory at the Abuyog Penal Colony in Abuyog, Leyte. Jubay said that the shabu circulating in the region came from Cebu, Metro Manila and Mindanao passing through from its various ports. The region’s alleged top drug lord, Kerwin Espinosa, who was arrested on Monday in Abu Dhabi, got his supply from Cebu, Jubay said. Jubay added that they continue on their monitoring of individuals link to illegal drug, to include those mentioned by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte. Jubay added that the intensified campaign against the proliferation of illegal drugs had resulted to reduction of illegal drug supply in the region. Although one of the top illegal drug operators in the country is from the region, records shows that the situation is still “manageable,” the PDEA regional chief said. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)

Alleged Espinosa protectors  

By: JAN B. DAMAS

ALBUERA, Leyte- The police chief of this town initiated the filing of criminal charges against nine personalities alleged to be engaging or protectors of illegal drug activity of Mayor Roland Espinosa and his son Kerwin.
Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido filed separate complaints against businessman Eufrocino “Winnie” Codilla, Jr., brother of former Ormoc city mayors Eric and Eduardo; Jonnah Joseph Ungab, lawyer and vice mayor of Ronda, Cebu; businessman Victor Espina, brother of former PNP Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Joseph Nuñez, retired officer of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Media personalities Lalaine Jimenea, Leo Dumon and John Pilapil were also included in the complaint filed Wednesday (Oct.12) by Espenido at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office based in Tacloban City.
All were charged for receiving drug money from the Espinosas as protection money.
Used as evidence by Espenido in filing complaints against the respondents were the returned checks they recovered with their names on them.
The checks were said to be issued by Espinosa as a payoff to the respondents for them to continue their illegal drug activity.
Mayor Espinosa had earlier claimed that various personalities, including top government officials, received huge sum of money as payola to them so they could continue to operate their illegal drug activity.
His son Kerwin was tagged by President Rodrigo Duterte as the region’s top drug lord.
The two were earlier charged for selling illegal drugs and possession of firearms.
The Albuera mayor is now detained at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City while Kerwin remains at-large.
Earlier, Espenido filed a complaint against former Justice Secretary and now Senator Leila de Lima and Nelson Pepito, Jr., councilor of Barangay Binolho, Albuera for drug trafficking before the Office of the Ombudsman.
Leyte Samar Daily Express could not reach some of the respondents for their reactions.
But Jimenea, who is the publisher of EV Mail, based on media report, declined to comment upon advice of her lawyer. She is on a trip abroad.
Pilapil, correspondent of CNN Philippines and anchor of Power FM based in Ormoc City, dismissed the complaint filed against him.
He said that the money he received from the Espinosa was a payment for a sponsorship for his radio program especially when the elder Espinosa ran for mayor of Albuera last year.