TACLOBAN CITY- Even Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, an administration ally, expressed his doubts whether the purported transfer of the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport would materialize any time soon.

Petilla, who chairs the Regional Development Council, said that the possible transfer of the region’s premier airport needs some studies. The Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) is leading a study on this undertaking upon the request of the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Recovery and Rehabilitation (OPARR). The study alone will take about two years, Petilla said. “It will take several years from now probably more than a decade to construct an airport because of the process and we will also be using safety measures so that the safety of passengers will not be at risk”, Petilla said.

Petilla also denied that planned transfer of the DZR Airport is politically motivated but rather to provide the public safer and better service. The DZR airport is currently located at San Jose, where it is one of the most affected area during the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda in the region, and is planned to be transferred somewhere in Palo and Sta. Fe areas. (KAYE ANNE B. ORALLER, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY- From the horses’ mouths- three years before families rendered homeless due to supertyphoon “Yolanda” could have their permanent houses. During a public hearing conducted by the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement chaired by Senator JV Ejercito in the city, an official of the Office of Presidential Assistant for Recovery and Rehabilitation (OPARR) admitted that it would take them three years or until 2016 before they could provide permanent houses to the 14,433 families whose houses were washed out during the typhoon. For the construction of these houses, P13 billion has been allocated by the NHA to be implemented for the next three years, said OPARR Usec. Leslie Cordero during the November 27 public hearing held this city. The P13 billion was part of the P167.9 billion comprehensive master plan of the national government in the rehabilitation of areas hit by Yolanda. Lorna Seraspe, group manager-Visayas management office of the National Housing Authority (NHA), said for now 90% of the allocated budget this year for the construction of permanent shelters for Tacloban City were already were bid out.

And for this year, they expect to construct 2,000 housing units, 3,000 for next year and the remaining housing needs by 2016. Aside of Ejercito, present during the public hearing were Sen. Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos and congressmen Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Alfred Benitez and Kit Belmonte. The solons visited bunk houses in Sagkahan and tent houses in San Jose. Ejercito said that pity the families still living in tents and bunkhouses, more than a year after Yolanda pummeled Tacloban. The senator said the reason why they conducted the public hearing in Tacloban is for them to see whatever progress the national government on its rehabilitation efforts, especially on area of resettlement of families who lost their houses during the disaster. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY – The Archdiocese of Palo launched a feeding program for poor people in Leyte as a “work of mercy” in preparation for next year apostolic visit of Pope Francis. Launched on November 30, Archbishop John Du asked all the 78 parishes within the archdiocese to set up a table every Sunday for feeding of the poor in the community. Dubbed as “Lamesa ni Martha” (Martha’s table), the project is a way of taking care of the poor, said Amadeo Alvero, Archdiocese of Palo social communications director. “The table is a sign of the Church’s readiness to take care of the poor especially on this year of the poor. This is our hope and prayer that as we prepare for the papal visit, we will do this work of mercy of feeding of the poor as part of Pope Francis visit to Manila and Leyte,” Alvero said.

The project is named after Martha, a brother of Lazarus in the New Testament, who served a meal in honor of Jesus Christ. An initial P1 million budget was set aside from the archbishop’s fund to start the project, according to Alvero. The plan is to sustain feeding the poor project through donations from different organizations. (Dessa Mae Castro, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY-– The employees of National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP), the premier government maritime training and research center located at Brgy. Cabalawan, this city, underwent a one-day disaster preparedness seminar on November 21, 2014 at the Palo Municipal Multi-Purpose Hall. “Disaster is at end of the spectrum by which we have to prepare for. Risks are found everywhere and we have to be cautious about them,” Atty. Ruben Y. Maceda, NMP OIC Deputy Executive Director, said as he welcomed the 50 regular and job order workers who participated in the said training.

Aimed at increasing the awareness of NMP employees on how to prepare for disasters and reduce the risks affiliated with them, the seminar focused on topics about environmental and human-related disasters and the necessary precautionary measures to be considered for each with Cherelyn Lubang, civil defense assistant from the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), as the resource speaker. Towards the end of the seminar, Lubang facilitated in the preparation of disaster-preparedness plan that may be applied at home or in the agency.

OCD, the civil defense arm of the Department of National Defense, is the government agency in charge of the enforcement and implementation of the regulations set forth by Republic Act 10121, an “Act Strengthening the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System.” The conduct of the seminar-workshop is one of the commitment activities pursued under NMP’s Gender and Development (GAD) and spearheaded by its focal person Elena M. Santos. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- A two-day symposium on “nurturing students with great love” was spearheaded by the Taiwan-based Tzu Chi Foundation held last November 30 attended by 2,000 public school teachers.
The activity was in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Leyte and Tacloban divisions with the participating teachers getting new insights on how to deal with their students particularly after the region was devastated by last year’s supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

“The close connection between teachers, students and parents is significant to the success of the children in school. Love is powerful. Let us continue the circle of love and kindness,” urged Lim Kim Choy, retired school head master from Malaysia who first lectured on the teaching techniques of Jing Si (Still Thoughts) Aphorisms. “Kindness keeps the world afloat,” Choy said, adding that “like a star, teacher gives direction.”

He maintained that education of the students should be comprehensive, from humanitarian to personality and practical to life education. Jing Si lessons are based from the teaching of Master Cheng Yen, founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation, as a positive guide to creating society filled with loving kindness. “The measure of our life lies not in its longevity but in the awareness and vigor which we contribute to humanity,” said Choy, repeating the lessons of the Tzu Chi master. A talk on “Co-exist with Mother Earth” was also delivered, emphasizing on preserving and protecting the environment.

Marissa German, a high school teacher from Palo, Leyte, expressed her thanks to the Tzu Chi for organizing the event, saying the topics were “very timely especially that we still have many students who are not yet able to cope up with the Yolanda tragedy.” “This helps teachers to become better in their profession, so they can inspire their students more,” she added. Conchita Tan, a Tzu Chi volunteer from Manila, said that the event is part of the holistic approach to their recovery efforts after Yolanda. Tzu Chi Foundation, among other international humanitarian organizations helping in the post-Yolanda recovery in Tacloban, is largely recognized by the locals for its well-coordinated relief and rehabilitation efforts in the devastated communities. (RONALD O. REYES)

TACLOBAN CITY- About 66 public facilities damaged during the onslaught of supertyphoon “Yolanda” in Leyte were repaired by the members of the Korean Joint Support Group, also known as the “Araw Forces.”
The Korean contingent, who are to leave this month after a year of humanitarian works in areas hit by Yolanda, spent over P30 million for this undertaking. The structures that were repaired by the Araw Forces included 37 public schools, eight hospitals and welfare facilities, 17 government offices, and houses of four Korean War veterans. The group also rebuilt 14 public schools in Palo; 12 in Tanauan; 10 in Tolosa, and a central school in Dagami, all in Leyte.

In Palo alone, public infrastructures completed were the Leyte Provincial Hospital, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Home for Girls, and Department of Education (DepEd) regional office.
In nearby towns of Tanauan and Tolosa, reconstructed by the Korean armies were police stations, fire stations, courthouses and barangay halls. The Korean armed forces group, which arrived late December 2013, immediately heeded the Philippine government’s request for aid recognizing the participation of 7,500 Filipino soldiers during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Likewise, the Araw contingent has tied up with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the establishment of Araw Vocational School, with course offering on heavy equipment operation. Shortly after the team’s arrival, they also assisted in the clearance of typhoon debris and organized “Operation Carabao” where they performed electric pole removal and vehicle salvage, and repair of sewerages. The group also conducted on-site medical missions in barangays and in their camp base at Government Center, Palo, and as of last week of November, they have already served 40,000 patients from various parts of Leyte.

Part of their main objectives in coming to the country was to support the Korean War veterans as well. They reconstructed houses and provided assistance to the families of the Filipino soldiers who sacrificed during Korean War. “I feel happy that the city as a whole is slowly recovering its function. I am thankful to the Filipino citizens for not treating us with reluctance and I hope the friendship between Philippines and Korea continues so that if either of us is in difficulty, the other one can reach out,” said Captain Kwon Youngwoo, public affairs officer of Araw. The Korean armed forces have been instrumental in the establishment of an agricultural institute, the Araw Scholar’s House, and the Araw Memorial Park. They are scheduled to return to Korea on December 17 this year. (SHAIRA S. VELENZONA,LNU Intern)