TACLOBAN CITY- The Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PWDAO) of this city is tracking down persons with disabilities not on their data bank for them to be given necessary assistance.

This was disclosed by the office head, Donato Soledad, who said that there are an estimated 1,700 PWDs in Tacloban. However, based on their data bank, there are only 300 PWDs who are registered with their office, Soledad said. According to Soledad, aside from establishing a data bank of PWD’s in the city, there is a need to strengthen the implementation of disability development programs of their office like education, health, employment, livelihood, accessibility, among others.

Soledad said that they are conducting their visits to the 138 barangays of the city to ensure that the PWDs in the villages would be accorded what are due to them.
Meanwhile, Soledad has called for the inclusion of the PWDs in the city disaster risk reduction and management programs. “PWDs and the elderlies should be involved in disaster resilience efforts as they are vulnerable during disasters and they are most in need of help against disasters,” Soledad said. Soledad stressed that despite of their physical infirmities, the PWDs could still be useful members of the society and could be tapped during a disaster. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)

CARIGARA, Leyte – The Leyte 2nd Engineering District (LED) of Department of Public Works and Highways is proposing a new road project that will serve as an alternative route from Tacloban to Ormoc and down to the southern part of Leyte.

Engr. Carlos Veloso, head of the 2nd LED district, revealed that they may propose the road opening from Barangay Villa Consuelo in Jaro, to Ormoc City as a prime alternative route to the existing Palo-Carigara-Ormoc road. “Aside from reinforcing our existing road networks, we need to have alternative routes because our highways cater not only to ordinary vehicles but also heavy ones which take their toll in our existing roads. And the changing climate that has set a new normal for storms is also affecting much of our road facilities,” Veloso said. The 2nd LED is planning to propose the Jaro-Ormoc road for next year’s funding.

Opening a new road network here is seen to lessen travel time from Jaro to Ormoc by 45 minutes and address insurgency problem along these areas. Jaro is located at the Carigara-Jaro-Burauen complex, one of the two known areas in the province of Leyte that are considered by military to be under the influence of insurgents due to its unexplored vast forest and mountainous areas. Linking the province’s towns and districts have been in the works for years now, providing better access for agricultural produce to be transported from the farms to the market and provide easier transportation and shorter travel time for passengers.

Villa Consuelo is located at the boundary of Jaro in Leyte’s second district and the mountain range of Ormoc. It was learned that aside from Jaro’s agricultural produce such as coconut, corn and other root crops, the village of Villa Consuelo is also home to one of Leyte’s untouched falls- the Duka Falls. The whole village nestles on a slope within the Amandiwing Mountain Range with breathtaking view of mountains, forests and the profusion of tropical flora and fauna. Leyte’s second and fourth districts are seeing the full completion of the Burauen-Albuera road that would connect the province’s east and western part. (AHLETTE C. REYES)