Provincial road concreting underway

Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg.December 1-15, 2013 Vol. I, No. 11

Christmas Message - Gov. RGM

by Bong Pedalino

by Bong Pedalino

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Governance is not only about us, your elected leaders. It is more about you – the people, the choices that you make and the direction you wish to take to guide us in implementing judicious and relevant executive decisions for our people. Recent experience gained and lessons learned from the natural catastrophe that devastated our neighbors in the Eastern Visayas Region has clearly demonstrated the values of unity, solidarity and teamwork in crisis management. Your leader’s consistent advisories and our people’s confidence and coordination were largely instru-mental in our successful efforts for zero human casualty despite the unavoidable physical damage brought by typhoon Yolanda. These and our unwavering faith in divine providence especially

BARANGAY LUNAS, Maasin City - Concreting of a cross-country provincial road that will connect this boundary barangay to the next one under the neighboring town Bontoc will start anytime following a formal ground-breaking ceremony held

in the intercession of Our Lady of the As-sumption, our Patroness, have made South-ern Leyte the last green frontier standing in Region 8. The holiday season should be one of sincere thanksgiving, fer-vent hopes and great optimism of a better life and the best yet to come for our Province and all Southern Leyteños. Malipajong Pasko ug Bulahang Bag-ong Tuig kanatong tanan.

ROGER G. MERCADOGovernor

LIGHTS ON: Heads of Provincial Of-fices together with Gov. Roger Merca-do wave hands after lighting the gi-ant christmas tree in front of capitol building, December 4.

here Thursday, December 5. “This project jibes well with our main thrust of governance which is tourism, en-vironment, and agricultural development,” said Gov. Roger Mercado in his message during the brief program marking the event.

BY ADMINISTRATION

“We know well the importance of good roads, especially to our interior barangays, for accessibility so services on education, health can easily reach, and commerce or business will also flourish,” he added. A similar thought was espoused by May-or Matias Ruales of Bontoc, who empha-sized that the project can benefit the farm-ers living along the barangays traversed by the road, for they can have a choice on which market to sell their products, be it in Maasin or Bontoc. City Councilor Geronimo Mercado, speaking in behalf of Mayor Maloney Sa-maco, said the project is a dream come true, adding that a resolution to this effect has been passed quite some time ago. Earlier, all the officials from the province, the congressional district office of Cong. Damian Mercado represented by Jason Calva, down to the barangays joined hands

PENRMO sets monthly tree planting in 2014 The provincial government intends to in-tensify its tree-planting activity next year by holding it on a monthly basis, and the date in which this campaign is done will be fixed at every 8th of the month. The monthly activity will be spearheaded by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office (PENRMO) according to its head, Eva Abad, during the cable TV program Action Center Kapihan sa PIA held at the provincial capitol Wednesday. “Gov. Roger Mercado has signed an execu-

tive order designating November 8 as Arbor Day in the province. The PENRMO will make every 8th of the month next year, not just November 8, as the date for a massive tree planting involving the community,” Abad said. Every month starting in January, the PEN-RMO will coordinate with a certain town or city to discuss which particular baran-gay will be the planting site, the area to be planted, and other details, including coor-

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sa kalsada nga nahimutang sa Brgy. Acasia padolong ngadto sa sityo Cayanohan, Brgy. Lunas, Maasin City. Gihimo kini kaniadtong Dec. 5, 2013 mismo sa brgy. auditorium niini. Ang unang proyekto nga mibalor ug 20 milyones, gitrabaho pinaagi sa Cepada Construc-tion nga gipanag-iya ni Mr. Nerio Cepada. Ug ang laing 20 milyones gipangunayan kini pagtrabaho sa Provincial Engineering Office sa panguna ni Engr. Nelson Tan. Sumpay pa ni Gob. Oging nga dako kaayo ug madugang sa katas-on sa pagse-mento sa maong kalsada gumikan kay dili naman mga Private Contractor ang motrabaho, ug adunay kompleto nga ekepo ang atong lalawigan nga sarang magamit. Sa kasaysayan sa atong lalawigan “Record breaker” ang gihimo karon sa atong mga opisyal, pinaagi niu Gob. RGM nga bisan ug “onum” palang siya kabulan sa pag-dumala, nahimugso dayon kining naasoy nga proyekto. Getunol usab sa Gobernador ang iyang pasalamat ngadto sa mga “SP Opisyal” nga geaprobahan ang pagpalusot sa maong kantidad.

Balitang Probinsya.... (from page 4)

PENRMO sets.... (from page 1)dination with national government agencies, schools, and the private sector, explained Abad. Seedlings or planting materials mostly of native tree species are not a problem, as these are already being taken care of in nurseries of the pro-vincial government and some peo-ple’s organizations, she added. She said that the 16 municipalities and the city of Maasin where there are existing mangrove forests will be planted still with more mangroves or bakhaw to act as natural shield against giant waves. In the two towns of Pintuyan and San Ricardo in Panaon Island, which have no mangrove areas, their shore-

The Southern Leyte Medical Mission was able to provide med-ical services to 550 typhoon Yolanda survivors at Guadalupe Par-ish Church. Led by Dr. Joselito Trumata together with municipal health officers, nurses, among others, they served the said survivors at Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City who could hardly go to hospital due to monetary constrain. The provincial government appropriated P 50,000.00 for the conduct of the said medical mission. (esg)

A total of 54 severely underweight/underweight children 0-71 months old are recipients of the “Adopt-A-Child” program in Maa-sin City initiated by the City government. The beneficiaries will receive supplemental feeding for at least 120 days. The program fo-cused on its vision “Good Nutrition - A way of life of the people of Maasin City.” (rgc)

YOLANDA MEDICAL MISSION

ADOPT-A-CHILD PROGRAM

lines will be planted with beach-suit-ed tree species such as talisay, bitaog, malibago, and pagatpat. Abad assured that the planned monthly tree planting next year will not be duplicating the National Greening Program (NGP) of the De-partment of Environment and Natu-ral Resources (DENR) as she will be closely working with the DENR to synchronize the activities,

Last November 8, the killer storm Yolanda slashed its strong winds across the Visayas, flattening towns and cities with its fury, hence it was selected as the date for planting trees in the province, Abad further said.

ESTORYAHI!Willie Justimbaste

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKING AT OUR DOOR

Unforseen tide of events in the region has provided some competitive advantage for Southern Leyte as an alternate regional go-to for investment ventures. This rare edge of the province especially the capital city of Maasin and bustling Sogod town, among others, is one unintended opportunity to seize. The devastating effects of “Yolanda” necessarily made these areas the regional destination and convergence magnets for food supplies, basic necessities, banking services particularly ATM and probable government regional center, while waiting for rehabilitation and recovery efforts. No matter what incurable pessimists say, Southern Leyte is at comparative vantage point in terms of peace, order and public safety, infrastructure and public works, pro-active environmental manage-ment, efficient social services in education, health, nutrition, waste management, disaster preparedness capability and adequate utility services, among others. Space constraints are being addressed by urban plan-ners and reclamation project experts. We also hope vital communications arteries and facilities such as airport and seaport would be fastracked the soonest. And despite detractors’ distraction, we ex-cel in good governance practices of transparency and accountability as DILG consistent awardees. All these contributive factors would promote investors’ confidence in an enabling climate to market our potentials in the Visayan region and attract players and more stakeholders in the job markets. Indus-tries still in the dream factory might be realized sooner than expexted. But we need first to come up with a clearly defined promotional game plan to help maximize and utilize existing resources. In these unusual times when realities pose a challenge waiting to be convert-ed to opportunities, Southern Leyte should assert its readiness for regional responsibility or leadership in the development roadmap where people could live safely and work peacefully. Our inherent assets as good-natured, respectful and hospitable people shall serve well in promoting liveability and workability factors. After all, we are our greatest resource as gov-ernment and private sector partners. We are not just responding to an SOS distress call but to opportunity knocking at our door.

Vol. I, No.11

Page 2 December 1-15, 2013

ROAD CONCRETING: Gov. Mercado takes his turn in shoveling the ground (left) for the laying of capsule (right) during the groundbreaking ceremony for the concreting of Lunas,Maasin-Pa-cu, Bontoc provincial road.

BJMP CAROLERS: Personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology surprise Gov. Mercado with their Christmas Carols (below), after which a sou-venir shot is taken (above).

CAPITOL CHRISTMAS: Heads of offices, Gov. Mercado and Fr. Celso Rojas pose at the capitol stairway with the Nativity Scene (Belen). Below, Rev. Fr. Rojas and Dennis Cagantas officiated the Mass.

Vol. I, No.11

December 1-15, 2013 Page 3

Aside from Tacloban, five other towns in the province of Leyte received relief goods for the victims of super-ty-phoon Yolanda last month, the donation coming from Rep. Damian Mercado of the province’s lone congressional district. The goods were received by the local social welfare of-fices of the municipalities of Mayorga, Dulag, Javier, Dag-ami, and MacArthur, based on the requisition and issue slip from the Congressman’s office released by his staff, Ja-son Calva, to the Philippine

MGA KAWANI NI SEC. COLOMA MIBESITA SA KAPITOLYO Human nga gekusokuso sa bagyong Yolanda ang Probinsya sa Ormoc, Ta-cloban ug Samar nga nahisakop sa Rehiyon otso, mga kawani gikan sa opi-sina ni Sec. Coloma nga gitawag ug Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO), miduaw sa Kapitolyo aron masayran ang mga lugar dinhi sa Leyte del Sur nga angayan bisitahan sa mga langyaw nga mga torista. Matud pa ni Executive Secretary “Senyor” Dudie Hernandez nga maoy mi-atobang sa mga bisita, dako ug kahigayunan karon nga ang torismo sa atong lalawigan molipang pag-ayo gumikan kay ang mga “tourist spot” sa mga lugar nga giayo pag-guba ni Yolanda dugay pang makabangon pag-usab. Mga nagkalain-laing mga langyaw karon nga mitabang pag-ayom-ayom sa maong mga lugar, kapoyun ug “ma-stressed” kini sila mao nga mangita gayod kini ug mga lugar nga makahupay sa ilang kakapoy, ug ang mga anindot nga “diving site” sa atong lugar maoy tubag niini matud pa ni Tourism Officer Mr. Nedgar Garvez.

HIGANTING PAROL GIPASIGA NA Bisan pa man sa nagpungase nga katalagman, delobyo ug unsa pang tokma nga pinolungan atong ikahulagway sa linog ug bagyo nga nakapakorog sa mga tawo kinahanglan nga moaginod kita para sa atong kaugmaon, kini maoy gibuhian nga mga polong ni Gov. RGM sa dihang gihimo ang flag ceremony kaniadtong December 4, 2013. Sa maong adlaw usab human gipahigayon ang Santos nga “Misa Pasalamat”, sa wala pa motak-op ang kahayag sa adlaw, pormal nga gipasiga sa Gobernador ang Higanting Parol nga maoy senyales nga hadool na ang pagsaulog sa mga Kristyano sa Pagkatawo sa atong Ginoong Hesus. Gipasalamatan usab niini ang PGSO employees nga gipangunahan ni Alen Olayvar nga maoy naghago aron maplastar ang Higanting Suga. Nagpasalamat usab ang mga opisyal, ug mga kawani sa kapitolyo ngadto ni Fr. Dennis Cagantas ug ni Msgr. Celso Rojas nga maoy mipahigayon sa santos nga misa.

EPEDEMYA NGA “KOREKONG” SCABBIES ANIA SA ATONG LUGAR

Nagpasalamat kita sa Ginoo ug ni Birheng Maria nga gilikay kita sa kabangis ni Yolanda, apan ang kabangis ni bakteryang “Korekong” ania karon sa atong lugar ug naghatag ug sakripisyo sa mga tawo ilabina ang mga bata sa among barangay, nagkanayon si Reza Fernandez, 25 anyos ug usa ka ginang, ug nagpoyo sa Brgy. Lunas, Maasin City. Matod pa usab niini nga nakagasto na sila ug daghang salapi para paliton ang mga tambal aron idapat sa ilang mga anak, pero mura ug naka “bullet proof” kini kay wa epek. Gani nagbalhin-balhin sila ug mga doctor aron tambalan ang ma-ong bakterya apan wala gayod maayo ang mga skin disease nga nagpakatol sa mga panit sa biktima. Sa pagka-karon nakigkita na si Gob. Oging sa mga Health Opisyal aron masolusyonan ang naasoy nga problema.

MULTI MILYON NGA PROYEKTO, GIHIMO SA PROBINSYAL GOV’T Pinaagi sa pagtigom sa mga savings sa probinsyal government, ang atong alawigan karon nakahimo ug usa ka dakong proyekto nga mousab sa dagway sa kakalsadahan sa atong lalawigan. Kini maoy gibatyag ni Gob. Oging Mercado sa dihang gihimo ang “pagluyong sa kapsula nga diin nakapatik niini ang plano

Five Leyte towns get relief goods from Cong. Mian

Provincial road... (from page 1)

by Bong Pedalino

Information Agency (PIA). Calva was among those who personally delivered the items to the five local government units on November 21, or just two weeks after the monster storm wiped out almost ev-erything in its path. The relief augmentation con-sisted of 128 bags of NFA rice, more than 40 liters of bottled mineral water, 400 pieces of assorted sardines, and various salted dried fishes. A staff of the congressman’s office also told PIA the items were bought using the law-maker’s personal funds.

in lowering the capsule to a prepared hole by the side of the road, to signal the start of the infrastructure project. Provincial Engineer Nelson Tan, in his project description briefing, said cementing of the interior road linking Maasin and Bontoc through Lunas-Mahayahay has been a priority pet proj-ect since Gov. Mercado assumed office in June this year. He said the road, once completed, will greatly shorten travel time, since it will only take 41 kilometers from junction of ba-rangay Bunavista, Bontoc until Maasin proper, compared with 67 kilometers going by the national highway. The project was actually carried out in two phases, phase I with a cost of P 20 Million covered more than three kilometres from barangay Sto. Nino to Lunas, which was already ongoing under Jener Cepada Construction, while the next 3.9 kilome-ters, Phase II, will cover the stretch from the central part of ba-rangay Lunas to Sitio Canlugoc, for another P 20 Million. Phase II, however, will be undertaken by administration, and this posed a great challenge on their part, Tan said. Source of fund was from the provincial government, hence the two phases of the project was approved in a resolution by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, first on August 20 and second on October 30, Tan narrated. Of the entire 41-kilometer short-cut distance from Bon-toc-Maasin, only seven kilometres remained unpaved, Tan said, hinting that this will be among the infra priorities next year.

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Vol. I, No.9

December 1-15, 2013Page 4