TACLOBAN CITY – The groundwork for the construction of the P4 billion Tacloban causeway project has now resumed, thus said Engr. Edgar Tabacon, the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The project, which aims to connect the Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez (DR) Airport to the main road at the city proper, is expected to offer an improved travel experience by offering to the motorists scenic drive, as well as pedestrians who prefer walking, running, and biking, aside from cutting travel time.

The project starts at the Magsaysay Boulevard connecting Tacloban City Hall and Kataisan point of the DZR Romualdez Airport in Barangay 88, San Jose District to offer an alternate route for motorists coming from the city proper going to the province’s main gateway.

May this year, the project was temporarily stopped after the city council issued a resolution directing the DPWH to address the environmental concerns noting that this could adversely affect the fishing community along the Cancabato Bay, a declared marine protected area.

The DPWH then submitted a revised design which included doubling the length of the bridge from 180 meters to 360 meters and installing of a sewerage water treatment facility.

Due to these modifications, the original budget of P3.46 billion had increased to P4 billion.
“Maganda rin ang daming suggestion, recommendation and nakita natin na madami pa pala ang dapat nating i-consider and we are thankful na lalo nating napa improve ang design,” Tabacon said.

“Mas lalong napaganda ang ating structure at ma mamaximize ang benefit na maibibigay sa mga tao,” he added.

Aside from the bridge, the causeway involves the construction of a 4-lane road embankment measuring a total of 2.56 kilometers, provision of a separate bike lane, and the installation of concrete canals, sidewalks, and wave deflectors on both sides.

Tabacon said that the causeway was designed to withstand disasters and high humidity while also offering protection to nearby communities against erosive tidal movements caused by weather disturbances.

Once completed, this will reduce travel time from the city proper to the airport and is expected to complement the future new airport terminal building designed to accommodate international flights.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – The coronation for the first ever Miss Universe Philippines (MUPh) – Leyte is slated this October 18 at the Leyte Convention Center Complex in Palo town, Leyte.

About 21 beautiful young ladies representing their respective towns and cities across the province will be vying for the crown who will represent Leyte for the Miss Universe Philippines next year.

The coronation night will be hosted by Miss Pintados 2009 Atty. Barbette Badocdoc Reposar and Miss Supranational 2023 1st runner-up Miss Philippines Pauline Amelinckx while online and red carpet commentaries will be hosted by DJ Jhajha Yanuario.

Miss Universe Philippines National Director Shamcey Supsup-Lee and Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 finalist Beatrice Luigi Gomez will also grace the coronation night.

Actor/singer Sam Concepcion will also perform during the event.

Last October 1 and 2, the candidates visited Baybay City for the pre-pageant activities where they showcased and paraded their cultural costumes and the swimwear and long gown preliminaries.

Six candidates were selected to be the finalists for the cultural costume after the pre-pageant held on Oct 1. These were the candidates from Tanauan, La Paz, Barugo, Sta Fe, and Tunga, and the city of Tacloban.

The swimwear and long gown was held on Oct 2 and winners will be announced on the coronation night.

The MUPh organizers were thankful to the city government of Baybay headed by Mayor Jose Carlos Cari for hosting the two preliminary activities of their maiden search.

The current Miss Universe Philippines is Michelle Dee who will compete for the Miss Universe crown this December in El Salvador.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan has said that the government should implement an amnesty program to encourage more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender.

Ongchuan made this suggestion during the Joint Task Force on End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JTF-ELCAC) Eastern Visayas meeting here on Monday (Oct.2) with Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos, Jr. as the guest.

“Marami pa pong gustong magbalik-loob kaso naantala po dahil sa pending warrant of arrest,” the governor said.

Ongchuan said that an amnesty from the government is necessary for the NPA members to be convinced to surrender.

He added that there are members of their “local peacebuilders,” referring to former rebels who are now under their care, who are being arrested due to pending warrants issued by the courts for their previous crimes.

“Medyo nahihirapan po ang ating mga kapulisan at ang AFP kasi sini-serve po yung pending warrant of arrest so, maganda sana kung may possible na amnesty,” Ongchuan said.

Abalos promised that he would bring this concern to the corresponding government agencies like the Department of Justice and ask the governor to make a report on what are the cases filed against active NPA members in the province.

“This issue is one of the solutions. However, maraming side ito, the legal side etc., anong condition dito, but the intent for me should be looked at and the intent for me is what is peace is all about,” he said.

Prior to the JTF-ELCAC meeting, Sec Abalos led the distribution of cash assistance worth P4.6 million to 51 former rebels from Northern Samar and Eastern Samar whose documents were processed and cleared to receive benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), a government strategy to convince active rebels to surrender by providing them financial packages, livelihood, housing and education assistance, and firearm remuneration.

Of the 51 surrenderees, 35 were from Northern Samar while 16 were from Eastern Samar.
Moreover, of the 20 communist fronts operating in the country, 19 are already weakened by the government forces and only one remains, according to Sec Abalos.

This remaining guerilla front in operating in the region, particularly on Samar Island he added during the JTF-ELCAC meeting.

The meeting was attended by governors of the six provinces of the region, top officials of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the chairman of the Regional Development Council 8 Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, and Regional Peace and Order Council 8 Chairman Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)