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)

TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-8) rallies public support for climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy campaign.

DENR-8 Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca in an interview said that he is optimistic on the support of the public on the climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy campaign in the region which is spearheaded by his office in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA-8). “We commit ourselves to participate in the climate change mitigation and adaptation advocacy campaign in Eastern Visayas which aims to achieve environmental stability by planting trees, proper solid waste management as well as other environment related activities,” Sibbaluca said.

Sibbaluca said that around 300 participants from various national government agencies, international and local non-government organizations, private and civic groups, local government units, community-based organizations and stakeholders in Eastern Visayas gathered together to pledge their support during the launching of the advocacy campaign held recently in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

He added that during the launching, 800 Talisay tree seedlings were planted by the participants covering an area of one half hectare. Sibbaluca said that one of the highlights of the event was the pledge of commitment which was sealed with the signing of an agreement by the various sectors with the DENR for the Adopt-a-Mangrove Forest Program, Sibbaluca said.

“This is aimed at establishing a tree plantation at identified mangrove areas to rehabilitate the damaged mangrove stands and increase the mangrove forest cover in the region,” he said. Sibbaluca added that mangrove rehabilitation and establishment of beach forests is currently being pursued by his office particularly in areas ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)

TACLOBAN CITY- Constituents from at least seven municipalities in Eastern Visayas may soon benefit from good road networks once the farm-to-market road (FMR) projects get funded this year under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).

Department of Agriculture-8’s Regional Executive Director Bernadette F. San Juan disclosed that these sub-projects have just undergone pre-evaluation on July 24-25, 2014. This is in preparation for the upcoming evaluation to be conducted by the Regional Program Advisory Board (RPAB) tentatively scheduled on August 11, 2014, for their subsequent endorsement to the National Program Coordination Office (NPCO) or WorldBank.

“Putting more investments in rural infrastructures such as farm-to-market roads is important if we aim at propelling agricultural production and uplifting the living condition of our people living in the countryside. With a good road network for instance, poverty incidence is expected to be reduced because farmers will have increased potential for attaining much higher farm productivity. Also, transport cost and services are expected to improve,” Director San Juan said.
She added, “This is why we are saying that whenever we open up a road, we open up windows of opportunity.”

The FMR sub-project proposals lined up for funding this year consist of 19.4 kilometres project in Lilo-an and 3.980 km in Sogod, both in Southern Leyte; 12.6 km in Basey and 4.1 km in Sta. Rita, both in Samar; 2.128 km for Maydolong and 4.571km in Balangkayan, Eastern Samar and; 8.36 km in San Roque, Northern Samar.
Dir. San Juan lauded the key officials of the concerned local government units for selflessly taking extra mile to make sure that they are able to avail of the full benefits of the program for the benefit of their constituents, particularly the farmers. “Complying with the requirements and sourcing out for possible counterpart funds could be quite burdensome. And, we feel glad that these LGUs responded positively,” she pointed out.

She urges local government units to propose more infra subprojects under the program considering the bulk of its available funds allocated for rural infrastructure. Infrastructure projects that may be funded under the program consist of farm- to-market roads, bridges, communal irrigation systems, potable water system, fishery-related infrastructure, postharvest and other rural infrastructures such as, production facilities, tramlines, green houses, solar driers, watch towers, nursery watch towers and slope stabilization works, cold storage facilities and trading posts.

The total funding support for the PRDP amounts to P27.5 billion which US$500 million is a loan from World Bank, P3.579 billion and P3.118 billion counterpart funds from the national government and local government units, respectively and a US$ 7 million grant from the Global Environment Fund (GEF). Of the total funds under the program, P18.5 billion or 67.4 percent is allocated for infrastructure development, P6.9 billion or 25.2 percent for agro-industrial development and the remaining amount is allocated for planning and other support services of the program. (RODEL G.MACAPANAS/PR)