TACLOBAN CITY- An evacuation center is soon to rise in the area where bunkhouses were hastily constructed to provide temporary shelters for survivors of supertyphoon “Yolanda” this city.
A two-story evacuation center will be constructed in Barangay 91, Abucay district with the Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD) funding the project at a cost of P10 million.
The project, which had its ground-breaking last Thursday(July 21) is expected to be finished in 120 days, barring any unforeseen events, said Grace Sudario, social marketing officer for risk reduction management of the DWSD-8, said.
Sudario said that constuction of an evacuation center in Tacloban was delayed due to lack of location.
The village, more than 4 kilometers away from the city center, was spared from the storm surges that caused the massive destruction of properties and loss of more than 2,200 lives in the city.
About 172 families were temporarily resettled by the government at the bunkhouses in Brgy.91 after Yolanda pummeled this city on November 8, 2013.
All the families, who were residents of coastal barangays along Sagkahan district, were transferred to their permanent homes at Ridge View in Brgy. Cabalawan last April of this year.
Mayor Cristina Romualdez said that she appreciates the assistance of the DSWD in constructing an evacuation center in Tacloban, ground zero of the world’s strongest typhoon to hit inland.
”As of now, we really lack evacuation centers. So, we’re trying to get more donors. So right now, our coding scheme for evacuation centers, we have to use churches and schools,” Romualdez said.
Aside from churches, schools and barangay halls, the city’s astrodome is considered to be its main evacuation center. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Evacuation center to rise where bunkhouses were put up for “Yolanda” survivors
3rd Int’l Meet on Integrative Disaster Risk Reduction Management
BORONGAN CITY – The Eastern Samar State University, main campus, Borongan City will host the 3rd International Conference on Integrative Disaster Risk Reduction Management on September 1-3 at the ESSU Multi-Purpose Hall, Borongan City with the theme, “Reducing Risks, Developing Quick Response to Disasters.” Given current trends in disaster impacts and increased exposure to risks in the country, the university in response to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is supporting its call in making disaster risk reduction and resilience into development work a top priority. In a study conducted by UN Team, it was found out that only 10 percent or 170 out of over 1,700 cities, towns and provinces in our country have taken steps in making cities resilient to disasters.
The conference will bring together government officials, non-government experts, students and faculty researchers and other specialists from public and private agencies to discuss and present papers and posters on reducing risk and developing quick response to disasters. It is a fact that vulnerability and exposure to disasters is increasing particularly in the Philippines as more people and resources locate in areas of high risk. Among the highlights of the three-day event is paper and poster presentations from various institutions particularly local government units, higher educational institutions and private and public secondary and elementary school involved in incorporating disaster risk reduction and developing quick response through differentiated strategies and planning for development growth.
The panel of distinguished speakers including the following: De. C. Emhdad Haque, Professor, University of Manitoba, Canada, Honorable Thomas Ossowshi, German Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, executive director of Project NOAH of DOST, Dr. Dennis S. Erasga, full professor, De La Salle University, Robert Dorgan, U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, among others. Welcome address will be delivered by ESSU president, Dr. Edmundo Campoto. Registration fee is P4,600.00 inclusive of meals, snacks, conference materials, certificate and tour to selected resettlement sites in Eastern Samar. Interested parties may call/text Dr. Eva Palada, vice president for planning, research and extension at 09991540358, 09077770674, 0912985578 or log on to essu.disaster.summit@gmail.com. (V. Agda, Director for Extension, ESSU)
2 jobless drug users nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Tacloban City
TACLOBAN CITY – Two alleged drug users were apprehended by police operatives in the city as they intensify their campaign against those who are in the illegal drug trade and who refuses to voluntarily surrender.
Arrested during a buy-bust operation were Erwin Edrich Montecastro, 37 and a resident of Fatima Village and Carmela Ponsalan, 26 of Rainbow Village.
The two suspects, who are both jobless, were caught selling the illegal drug of shabu to a police asset in Rainbow Village last Monday (July 25) at around 10:30 in the evening.
City police director, Senior Superintendent Rolando Bade said that confiscated from the suspects were 12 sachets of suspected shabu and the P500 marked money.
Bade said that the two have been under surveillance by the police due to their illegal drug trade activities in the city.
A case for violation of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act 9165 were filed against the two who were detained at the Tacloban City jail. (JAZMIN BONIFACIO)
DPWH reports near completion of Leyte bridge
TACLOBAN CITY – The repair of the Hiagsam Bridge in Jaro town, Leyte is to be finished by next month with the completion of the half-lane of the bridge. This was announced by Engineer Carlos Veloso, head of the 2nd Leyte Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (2nd LED-DPWH). This complete the first phase of the rehabilitation of the Hiagsam Bridge, damaged in 2014 after it was hit by typhoon “Senyang,” The first phase of the project was targeted to be finish this month. However, it was delayed due to the difficulties encountered in driving its huge pier deep down to the soil which needed additional soil exploration and boring tests.
With the completion of the half of the lane, Veloso declared an 83% rate completion of the work. The Hiagsam Bridge, considered among the major bridges in Leyte, is envisioned to be a four-lane bridge to accommodate increasing traffic volume. The bridge is a reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) bridge which is 19.3 meters wide and will span the length of 50.8 linear meters. It will be expanded on each side in line with the road widening projects being done to the public highways adjacent to the bridge.
Other improvement works will also be done on the bridge such as slope protection, drainage and sidewalks. The rehabilitation project of the Hiagsam Bridge, which started on November 16,2015 has a budget allocation of P37.9 million. While waiting for the completion of the bridge, an asphalt overlay detour spillway has been constructed as an alternative bridge and has since been utilized to provide access along this route. The detour bridge is accessible to motorcycle, light vehicles and medium truck. The detour bridge runs both ways. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
Matin announces new investors coming to town
“Matin” Petilla
PALO, Leyte- As this historic town celebrates its 186th fiesta next month, Mayor Remedios “Matin” Petilla disclosed that its economy is on the upswing. In fact, big investors are coming in to the town, one of the areas here in Leyte which sustained much damage when supertyphoon “Yolanda” pummeled the province in 2013. Petilla, in an interview, said that the coming in of new investors to the town will mean not only additional income for the municipal government but more importantly, provide employment for its people.
The town mayor said that one of the country’s most known food chains, Shakey’s, is set to open its outlet in this town of more than 70,000 people. She also announced that she had just met officials of Gaisano which is also set to open its branch in Palo. “I am really upbeat on what is happening here in Palo. New investors are coming in here,” Petilla said in an interview. She also announced that within the year, the new regional center will be constructed in Barangay Campetic. The town mayor, who had just won her third and last term during the May 9, 2016 elections, said that she is just glad that after Palo was hit by Yolanda, it is now slowly recovering from the horrendous devastations.
“I may be on my way out from office but I am sure that whoever will succeed me will continue whatever we have pursued to ensure that Palo will become an economically developed town,” she said. “After Yolanda, we are now in the upswing and I will not allow it that whatever gains that we have will just be wasted,” Petilla added. Meantime, as part of the 186th town fiesta, which falls on August 6, several activities have been lined up by the municipal government. Among these activities is the launching of its tourism and investment promotion underscoring the push of the current administration to promote Palo as the new investor and tourism haven here in Leyte. This year’s celebration carries the theme “Paglipay han Kauswagan han Palo.” (LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
Mayor Cristina lauds Ombudsman for putting gender information desk
TACLOBAN CITY-The Office of the Ombudsman field office in the city has established a gender information desk (GID) for the effective implementation and responds to gender matters involving complaint against government officials. Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, Paul Elmer Clemente, who led the opening of the GID said that the rooms were designed to create a safe space that respected the privacy and reduce trauma for women survivors of domestic violence. Legal officers, and their staff as well as their partner agencies like public attorneys, police investigators, psychiatrists, public health personnel and social workers underwent gender sensitivity training.
Lawyer Eduardo Kangleon, Ombudsman acting regional director, ensured that their particular staff and partner agencies are fully equipped with knowledge on judicial guidelines, the environment of the office were sensitized to consider the needs of the victims, and that they had the capacity to fully implement Domestic Violence Law in according with CEDAW (Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) guidelines. “We focuses on sexual violence that affects women and children, because of its prevalence within the reality of sexual and gender-based violence in fragile and conflict situations, and on justice sector and related reforms that may effectively deliver justice and redress to victims as well as successfully hold perpetrators accountable,’ Atty. Kangleon said. Support to stand tall In Tacloban City, Marta, (not her real name) a 35 year old mother of two children was trapped into a violent marriage. According to her, she tried several times to seek help but had no success.
Eventually she turned to the Tacloban Women Shelter, a facility run by the city government for abused women and children. And with the help of the center, Marta recovered from trauma and abuse. She also gained the confidence to bring her case to court. “The therapy made me see things for what they really were. It brought me out of the darkness,” Marta said. Tacloban Women Shelter is now a safe home for more than hundreds of women and children survivors of domestic and gender violence in the city. Through this project of Mayor Cristina Romualdez since she was still a councilor of the city, the institution provide dignity, shelter, food, legal counseling, livelihood skills and leadership training to women.
According to Mayor Romualdez, it helped to expose the issue of domestic violence in the city and it strengthen the empowerment of women to better reduce the effects of economic insecurity, which often leads to discrimination and violence against women. “Consistent support will encourage women suffering and victims of domestic violence to step out and break the tolerant culture towards violence against women and current scenario of societal discrimination against women who walk out of abusive marriages,” Mayor Romualdez said. “Just knowing that a safe home is available for them, it will be easier for women to take a step towards an abuse free life,’ she added. (Photos by: TIM CANES/JESSA BACTOL-TISAT/Kanhuraw Media Team)