TACLOBAN CITY- The Tzu Chi Foundation continues to provide assistance to the victims of Yolanda here in Tacloban, over eight months after it was devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda.

After providing temporary livelihood through its cash-for-work program, the Buddhist foundation is now on the giving of sacks of rice to the typhoon survivors.
It was learned from Kalam Chan, a volunteer of the Tzu Chi Foundation, since last month, they have been distributing 20 kilograms of rice to more than 50,000 storm survivors from the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.The distribution of sacks of rice to the families who survived the onslaught of Yolanda was their way of providing relief to them, Chan said.

He also said that the Tzu Chi Foundation also plans to provide sacks of rice to the nearby towns of Palo and Tanauan, two areas also hard-hit by Yolanda.
The “complications” on the listing of families was the reason why their distribution of sacks of rice to these towns is being delayed, Chan said.
Meantime, survivors are to expect shelter kits from the Tzu Chi Foundation in the next few months, he said. (WILMA JOY B. ESPINOSA, LNU-Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY- No casualties and no extensive damage of properties and agriculture were reported when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit supertyphoon Yolanda-devastated communities in Leyte and Southern Leyte on July 25, local disaster officials say. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake occurred at 7:57 a.m. and was tectonic in origin and had a depth of six kilometers, with the epicenter at 8 kilometers southwest of Hinundayan, Southern Leyte.

The source of the quake was traced to the Philippine Fault Zone Leyte Segment. Southern Leyte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has reported that after the quake, minor cracks were found in some school buildings like the San Juan National High School, Basak Elementary School, Bobon Elementary School in the town of San Juan. “No injuries, no casualties, and no damage in infrastructure and agriculture were also reported,” it added.

In Hinundayan, minor cracks were visible in its Municipal Gymnasium and in some houses in Brgy. Plaridel, while in Saint Bernard, minor cracks were visible in its Central Elementary School, Tourism Office,and in Guinsaugon National High School.Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado, in his social media account,posted that at least 30 families in the towns of Hinundayan, San Juan,and St. Bernard, which are prone to landslides, were directed for forced evacuation while suspension of classes were also ordered. About 50 patients were also evacuated from the Anahawan District Hospital after “big cracks” appeared on the hospital’s walls, Mercado added.
The tremor was also felt in Hinunangan and St. Bernard,Southern Leyte, intensity VI (very strong); Tacloban city, intensity IV; Palo, Leyte, intensity III; Cebu city, Cebu City, Talisay City, Surigao City, intensity II ; and Lapu Lapu City, intensity I. (RONALD O.REYES)

PALO Leyte- With the Vatican now confirming on the visit of Pope Francis, local officials of this town are now all agog and expressed hope that the Holy Father will eventually hold his Mass on this historic town.

Palo town Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla said that with the huge of people, some could be coming outside the region and from other countries, their town has available areas to accommodate the faithful expected to see and attend the Holy Father saying the Mass. Petilla said that the 18 hectare Government Center, particularly along the Boy Scout Monument, could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people during the Pope’s visit.

The Vatican had already announced that the Pope will be coming to the Philippines on January 15 to 19, 2015 and expressed his interest to see victims of supertyphoon Yolanda. Eastern Visayas was the hardest hit area of the world’s strongest typhoon to make landfall on November 8, 2013.
Petilla said that if Palo would be chosen as the site for the Papal Mass, the families living in bunk houses along the area would be moved out and transferred to their permanent resettlement.

Aside from the Government Center located at Barangay Candahug, the other sites being considered for the Papal Mass are the port area and an area near the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, both in Tacloban, the “ground zero” of Yolanda. Mayor Petilla said that her hope that Palo would be chosen is based on reason that the town is where the cathedral is located. It was learned that the Pope has expressed his intention to visit the cathedral that sustained major damages due to the supertyphoon.
Also, it is in their town that a building for the poor and orphans are to be constructed of which the Pope. (LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)

 MANILA-The city government of Calbayog, its local health unit and police team were among recognized during the “Awarding of the Unsung Heroes: TS Yolanda” held on July 25 at The Heritage Hotel, Pasay City.

The recognition of individuals, units, teams and agencies (local, national and foreign) who helped in rescue and rehabilitation efforts among victims of Yolanda was initiated by the Department of Health. Health Secretary Enrique Ona led the awarding of plaques of recognition to the Yolanda responders, and for the city government of Calbayog, Mayor Ronaldo P. Aquino (the agency head), City Health Officer Dr. Sylvia de Guzman (the head of office) and former Calbayog city police chief Supt. Elmer Cinco (the response team leader) received the said award.
In his message, Sec.Ona expressed his gratitude to the members of the Calbayog contingency group for extending assistance to victims of Yolanda. “I would like to thank the city of Calbayog for sending their complete response team to Yolanda-hit areas. You were their first big help. Without waiting for reports and cry for help, you came to them as their first ray of hope early morning of November 10,” Ona said.

A day after Yolanda hit Tacloban, Calbayog’s City Health Office (CHO) received report of deaths of Yolanda’s ground zero and immediately, Dr. de Guzman informed Mayor Aquino of their plan for a response that paved the way for the city mayor to call for a meeting with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) and extend immediate help to the typhoon victims. The Calbayog City “Yolanda” Response Team was led by Supt.Cinco with 20 policemen and teams from the CDRRMC, CHO and City Social Welfare and Development Office.

The team proceeded to Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) and provided assistance to the hospital personnel that were already on duty for 72 hours.
A generator set was installed inside the hospital to also provide them electricity. The doctors assisted in the operation, the nurses reinforced the staffing in the wards, and midwives handled deliveries. Everyone also provided emergency care for victims inside the hospital including provision of anti-tetanus vaccination and leptospirosis prophylaxis.

Outside the vicinity, the Calbayog Response Team put up a makeshift clinic to decongest the hospital. The food provision of the team was also shared to the victims.
On November 11, Mayor Aquino arrived with more doctors, more food, and truckloads of water through the Bureau of Fire Protection-Calbayog City Station. The Calbayog rescuers also gathered Calbayognon victims and gave them a free bus ride home. After five days, the group left Tacloban to extend assistance to other areas in Samar and Leyte also hit by Yolanda. (AIMEE CATALAN/PR)

TACLOBAN CITY – Three of the four segments of a road project funded by the United States (US) in Samar Island is on track, raising confidence that the road network will be fully upgraded by 2016, the Millennium Challenge Account – Philippines (MCA-P) reported.Contract package (CP) 1, covering a 16.3-kilometer road in Paranas, Samar as well as the replacement of Tabucan Bridge is now 98.24% complete, MCA-P said in its June 2014 status report.

The P802-million infrastructure project was awarded on September 2012 to a Filipino consortium DM Consunji Inc. and CM Pancho Construction Inc.
CP 2, the largest in terms of value as it involves the reconstruction of 63.68-kilometer road stretch from Hinabangan, Samar to Sulat, Eastern Samar is the only segment that is way behind schedule. The target accomplishment as of mid-June is 16.34 percent, but actual completion rate is only 5.32 percent.

The P2.5 billion road segment, awarded to Chinese firm Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. also includes rehabilitation of 20 bridges and reconstruction of five others. Other activities include construction of slope stability measures on landslide areas, construction of new drainage structures, and installation of road safety measures.
CP 3 is now 40 percent complete with a negative slippage of only 2.5 percent. This P2.45 billion segment covers 64.58 kilometers and the replacement of six bridges from the town boundary of San Julian and Sulat to Balangkayan and Llorente municipal boundary in Eastern Samar.

The road rehabilitation package that uses cold in-situ asphalt recycling technology was awarded to a joint venture between a Filipino company, Mac Builders, and a Chinese firm, Qingjian Group Co. Ltd. Ahead of schedule is CP 4, which covers rehabilitation of 77.5 kilometers of road in the towns of Llorente, Hernani, General McArthur, Quinapondan, Salcedo, Mercedes, and Guiuan.

The P2.2 billion project, awarded to consortium of Hanjin and Yakal Construction is now 13.15% complete, ahead of 10.37 percent target for the period according to MCA-P report. The US-funded USD214.4-million Secondary National Roads Development Project (SNRDP) in Samar Island has started October 2012 and will be completed April 2016. MCA-P is a Philippine entity responsible for managing the implementation of the $434-million US government’s grant. The compact is focused on reducing poverty through economic growth by funding projects in tax administration reform, community-driven development and roads rehabilitation. (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)