LGU extends help to fire victims without fanfare

CITY officials belied opposition’s accusation that the local government unit (LGU) didn’t do anything to help the fire victims of Dist. 4 whose houses were razed last Aug. 10. Actor Richard Gomez made a publicized visit to the site with media practitioners in tow afternoon the next day.

Gomez’s supporters immediately uploaded photos of his visit on social networking sites and posted criticisms against city officials for not doing the same. “Grabe gyud, gi-politicize ang maong sunog ug gihimo-himoan og istorya nga dili mao,” Councilor Lea Doris Capuyan-Villar complained at a barangay visit.

Mayor Eric C. Codilla, for his part, recounted what happened that night, saying he rushed to area immediately after hearing about it. But instead of going near the scene where it was hot, he opted to position himself across Anilao River where he could see everything and get a better perspective of the situation.

He debunked allegations that the fire spread because of the delayed response of firemen and the lack of fire trucks, saying the real reason is the difficulty of fire trucks to get in because of the absence of an access road considering the community is made up of informal settlers.

Firemen hosed the flames from the top floor of Se San School nearby which wasn’t enough. Through radio, Mayor Codilla directed the fire trucks to the river walk which was being blocked by people. He radioed the police to guide the fire trucks through the crowd. The mayor saw the wind pattern and directed the firemen where to train their hoses, thus saving the rest of the neighborhood.

At a barangay visit in Bagong Buhay last Aug. 15, Villar clarified that the LGU was the first to extend assistance to the victims even as the fire was still raging. City Social Welfare and Development Officer Marietta Legaspi said they distributed 166 packs of noodles, 49 packs of biscuits and 352 sachets of coffee that night.

The next day, her office gave 450 kilos of rice, 900 cans of sardines and beef loaf, 400 packs of noodles and 180 bottles of mineral water. On Aug. 12, they continued distributing 450 kilos of rice, 498 cans of sardines, 450 packs of noodles and 252 cans of beef loaf. Legaspi said they will continue providing food aid to the victims for the next two weeks.

Councilor Rolando Villasencio who is with the Gomez camp agrees there was a misimpression that the LGU didn’t extend assistance because of the absence of materials like tarpaulins informing where the aid came from. In contrast, the relief goods given by Gomez were wrapped in plastic bags bearing the “Serbisyong Gomez” logo.

Meanwhile, other government and private organizations also extended assistance to the victims. Among them are Rotary Club of Ormoc, Serv Well Drugstore, Simeon Enterprises, Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, 19th IB, the Restauro family as well as teachers and students of Eastern Visayas State University.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 13-19, 2012)

Jingjing holds birthday at fire site

BRINGING CHEER. Mayor Eric C. Codilla’s wife Jingjing celebrates her birthday with her former neighbors at Dist. 4 where she grew up. Fire hit the community last Aug. 10 that razed 60 houses.

THE Gomez camp has accused Mayor Eric C. Codilla of not caring for the fire victims of Dist. 4. On the contrary however, the neighborhood is close to his heart because it is where his wife Jingjng grew up. Last Aug. 15, Jingjing, who now manages the family-owned AOG Enterprises, went back to her roots to bring joy to her former neighbors.

Accompanied by her sister Joy Maglasang-Paete and son-in-law Junjun Sia, Jingjing served snacks and distributed kitchen wares to 75 families. The items include plates, drinking glasses, ladle, bowl, cooking pot, frying pan, utensils and plastic pail. Ernesto Sejas, 67 and teacher Van Gaspay thanked the mayor’s wife for the gifts that somehow eased their problems.

Maria Kiamco, 75, tearfully related how she lost her home where she was born, had a family and grandchildren. She remembers the Maglasang sisters (Jingjing and Joy) well who kept on coming back to their neighborhood even if they already lost their parents.

In fact, Jingjing visits the community during its fiesta celebration every May 3 and even built a chapel which miraculously survived the conflagration. The house where her family lived, on the other hand, which was occupied by another tenant, was gutted by fire.

Four days later, Jingjing went back to the neighborhood to celebrate her birthday. She prepared a feast for all 89 families including those whose houses were not affected by fire. She also raffled off giveaways like face towels, bath towels and umbrellas.

But the most applauded gift given to the residents was when Mayor Eric C. Codilla announced that they can rebuild their houses based on some conditions set. The first condition is for them to build temporary structures only considering the property they occupy is government-owned.

Second, the residents should give way to an 8x10 meter road right of way which the City Engineering Office is prepared to construct. Mayor Codilla wants to re-establish the road which is an extension of Juan Luna St. beginning from the area between the river walk and Chu Liante Square building.

Eventually, Mayor Codilla wants the road to reach all the way to Mabini St. which will displace more informal structures. He thus encouraged the residents to apply at the Urban Poor Affairs Office for to avail of government housing programs at minimal cost located in Simangan, Libertad, Alta Vista, Can-untog and Coob.

Mayor Codilla further advised the victims to move forward and forget about the tragedy. “Kay basin sama sa flashflood sa 1991, may mensahe ang Kahitas-an nga ang uban ninyo dinhi biktima pa. God is fair, i-agi na lang kadto nga challenge,” he said.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 13-19, 2012)

Sea-K’s success in Ormoc paves way for Sea-K II

BECAUSE of the successful implementation of the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (Sea-K) program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will implement in Ormoc Sea-K II, a non-collateral, interest-free money-lending program for small-scale entrepreneurs.

Sea-K targets poor families with six members earning only P7,000 a month and below. Sea-K I has attained an 80% repayment rate in Ormoc. Sea-K II is better as beneficiaries will only have to pay 80% of the P20,000 loan amount, explains Councilor Lea Doris Capuyan-Villar, chairman of the Committee on Social Services.

A total of 40 beneficiaries have been identified for Sea-K II who will receive a total of P400,000 in loans. The beneficiaries are made up of 25 farmers from Cabingtan and 15 members of the Violence Against Women and Children Foundation. The beneficiaries will be organized into the Sea Kaularan/Kabayan Credit Cooperative.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 13-19, 2012)

Elevator installed at City Hall

TWO years after opening its doors to serve the Ormocanons, the New City Hall building will finally have its elevator. Philippine Rigid Construction Corp. of Cebu won the supply and installation of the elevator unit and accessories worth P4,029,000. Weighing 9 kgs., the 12-passenger capacity elevator runs at a speed of 60 meters per minute.

It will take clients to the 2nd and 3rd floors and will provide ease to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and children. Project Development Officer IV Engr. Rizalina Dejaño said the Korean-made elevator will be functional on September.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 13-19, 2012)

Politics of hate

IN the dog-eat-dog world of politics, there is no room for sympathy to the opponent. Mudslinging is regular fare that one should be willing to get dirty to play the game. With the next election only eight months away, politicians are exposing every muck they could rake out from their competition.

But how far can politicians go in ruining the reputation of their opponents? Are the supporters of the opponent fair game? Being dirty as it is, we believe a line should be drawn, just as how the police and army observe a set of rules of engagement in confronting the enemy.

This early though, the Gomez political camp has been stepping on the line repeatedly to the point of being inconsiderate to public sensibility in their eagerness to topple down the Codillas. This insensitivity was highlighted during the fire last Aug. 11 in District 4.

The calamity showed the disturbing side of the Gomez camp. While 75 families were losing their homes from the raging fire, rabid supporters of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and husband Richard were rejoicing because the neighborhood was a known drug den.

As the victims agonized on seeing their lives destroyed in front of them, Gomez fans couldn’t contain their self-righteous disgust on the burning neighborhood by the way they expressed their exhilaration on Facebook. It was sick not only because the timing was off, but also of the fact that not the entire community is involved in drugs.

The thoughtless comments posted on FB by some self-proclaimed Gomez supporters would have been dismissed as a work of juveniles, but a crony newspaper of the celebrity couple came out with a comic strip poking fun at the calamity. It sarcastically passed judgment on the community as what the Gomez followers did on social networking sites.

It should be noted that that newspaper is an unapologetic mouthpiece of the Gomezes. Think of the People’s Daily, the official publication of the Chinese Communist Party, which diplomats refer to if they want to know the real message conveyed by the Chinese government behind its official declarations.

The comic strip rightfully earned some criticisms online, prompting the publisher to issue a disclaimer also on FB, saying that the cartoon’s content was the idea of its creator of which the newspaper had no say. For a moment there she sounded convincing until she went on to belabor the drug problem in District 4 which she blames on the barangay captain.

In effect, she shared the same sentiment aired by District 4 haters online which was echoed by the comic strip in her own paper but which she insists having nothing to do with. But apart from contradicting herself, the publisher’s faux pas undermined the relief drive of Richard Gomez the next day after the fire.

The Gomez camp quickly went to work and gloated Richard’s distribution of foodstuff. Just because they beat the Codillas’ followers in putting pictures of the relief drive on the Internet, they drew the conclusion that the city government has neglected the fire victims.

But what they did sent mixed signals to the public. Set against a backdrop of condemnation and self-importance by his supporters, the “generosity” displayed by Richard has turned into a form of political campaigning highlighted by the food wrappers stamped with the Serbisyong Gomez logo.

The Gomezes are overconfident they will be able to lord it over Ormoc and the 4th District owing to their popularity. But they overlooked the politics of hate espoused by their supporters. It would do the couple best to put a leash on their attack dogs including their crony newspaper.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 13-19, 2012)

P10M fire burns 60 homes in downtown

A TOTAL of 77 families were rendered homeless by a conflagration that swept a residential area in Dist. 4, downtown this city last Aug. 10. SFO1 Roel V. Wenceslao, chief of the Intelligence and Investigation Division of Ormoc Fire Department said an old secondary electrical wire that sparked caused the fire.

The first to catch fire was the house of Dominador Cabibi which was near the post where the wire hung. The flames quickly spread on the third floor of the house made of plywood. Fire trucks from as far as Brgy. Tongonan and the towns of Albuera, Kananga, Isabel and Baybay City responded.

However, the only access to the burning neighborhood is through the Anilao riverwalk wherein fire trucks had difficulty gaining entry because of the crowd that milled the area. The fire spread quickly because the houses were located near each other that most residents were caught flatfooted and were able to save only a few belongings.

The fire was placed under control at 11:00 pm and by 2:30 am a fire out was declared. Cost of destruction is placed at P10 million. Barangay Captain Josela Dumaguit came up with a list of structures burned consisting of 60 houses occupied by 77 families or 295 individuals.

The victims turned down the offer made by the City Social Welfare and Development Office to seek shelter at the covered court in Brgy. Cogon 1.75 kms. away because of the distance. The next night some of them put up tents on their burnt houses while the others sought refuge at an abandoned house in nearby Juan Luna St. owned by Boy Tan.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 6-12, 2012)

Johnriel comes home to Ormoc

FRESH from his victory in Sinaloa, Mexico, Johnriel Casimero came back to Ormoc last Aug. 11 to the rousing cheers of hometown fans. Councilor Ruben Capahi welcomed the champ at the port then led him to the City Tourism Information Center nearby for a press conference.

The “Quadro Alas” from Brgy. Can-untog, here in Ormoc thanked Mayor Eric C. Codilla for his advises and continually supporting him in all his endeavors. Win or lose, the mayor constantly gives him an incentive after every fight. If given a chance, Casimero wants to keep on defending his IBF junior flyweight belt even 10 times.

Capahi lauded Casimero as a shining example for the youth. As chairman of the City Sports Council, the councilor has seen the young boxer rise from being a contender at the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet representing Ormoc to how he became a world title holder.

For his part, manager Sammy S. Gello-ani said that much as he would have wanted to bring one of Casimero’s fights to Ormoc, it would be a losing proposition without corporate sponsors that would shoulder the cost. Bringing alone officials that would supervise the fight will cost millions.

A motorcade was held afterwards which winded at New Ormoc City National High School where Casimero studied. Mayor Codilla who was then inducting the new set of officers of the Parents Teachers Association in that school welcomed the champ who won last Aug. 5 in a split decision by the judges. His opponent, Pedro Guevarra, is a protégé of the legendary Erik “El Terible” Morales. As of now, his camp is still contemplating on who will be his next opponent. (West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 6-12, 2012)

City hospital construction phase 1 is 60% complete

WORK on Phase 1 of the city hospital is 60% complete as of the second week of August, according to Project Engineer Elmo Calunsag of REM Construction. Slabs and extended columns are now being installed at the second floor while the basement flooring is finished.

Phase 1 which began last Apr. 13 with a budget of P43 million covers structural works and roofing. Occupying a floor area of 4,610 sq.m., the three-storey hospital is conceptualized to accept patients referred to by the six district health centers. It will initially cater to maternal and child care with appendectomy.

Even as City Health Officer I Dr. Lourdes Lampong prepares the proposed rates, Mayor Eric C. Codilla is coming up with a health card system which indigents can use to avail of free services. City Social Welfare and Development Officer Marietta Legaspi is preparing a list of indigents as the cards will color-coded based on a family’s income to determine the extent of free services to be extended.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 6-12, 2012)

Health centers offer free newborn screening

One of Ormoc’s six district health centers that provide services on infant delivery and newborn screening, all for free.

ORMOC has been noted for offering free deliveries in its six district health centers but not everyone knows that these birthing clinics also provide free newborn screening (NBS) to infants. NBS is a procedure for early detection of a baby’s mental retardation.

A law requires all infants to undergo this procedure but not all mothers comply because of its P600 price tag. In September 2010 the City Health Office (CHO) included it to its free services. CHO Nurse and NBS coordinator Brenda Penserga said that infants will have to undergo the procedure within 72 hours after their birth.

“Most babies with metabolic disorders look normal at birth,” Penserga explains.  By doing NBS, metabolic disorders may be detected even before clinical signs and symptoms are present. As a result, treatment can be given early to prevent consequences of untreated conditions.”

The procedure entails a simple blood extraction by pricking the infant’s heel to detect any of the five mental disorders: Congenital Hypothyrodism, Congenital Adrenial Hyperplasia, Galactosemia, Phynelketonuria and Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency.

However, CHO entertains only mothers who have been consistently availing of pre-natal checkups especially during the first three months of their pregnancy to monitor their condition. Unfortunately, this service has been suspended temporarily after the CHO ran out of heel prick kit.

Penserga said a lot of documents are required for the purchase of these kits from Iloilo and takes two months processing time. CHO ordered 1,700 kits good for one year which will arrive on October. This means that infants born at the district health centers this August and September will have take the newborn screening in private hospitals.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Aug. 6-12, 2012)

Ormoc LGU to buy 10,000 latrines for poor families

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla will release funds to purchase 10,000 pieces of latrines to be distributed to poor households. The mayor bared this during the barangay visit at Green Valley last July 11 wherein Barangay Captain Eddie Gazo requested for latrines.

City Health Officer Dr. Nelita Navales said she released 50 latrines to six cluster barangays which is not enough considering there are 110 barangays. Councilor Rafael C. Omega Jr., chairman of the committee on health said he will pass a supplemental budget to buy 2,000 more latrines.

But Mayor Eric C. Codilla ordered that 10,000 latrines be procured. Aside from the latrines, the barangay folk also aired their other concerns including water connections in puroks, road concreting and more benefits for senior citizens. The city government brought services to the barangay visit including medical and dental missions, free haircut and feeding activity.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 30-Aug. 5, 2012)

OCSSO Season VI opens with NSU as new member

SEASON VI of Ormoc School Sports Organization (Osso) meet opened last Aug 3 with three new schools joining the league: Macabug Elementary School, Ormoc International Polytechnic Academy and Naval State University (NSU). The event was made more exciting by the presence of new faces.

At least 30 educational institutions participated in the opening ceremonies. Valencia National High School alumnus Regie Ramirez declared the opening of the games. He is the Philippines’ top junior power lifter being an Asian record holder and a silver medalist of the World Junior Powerlifting Championships last year in Saskatchewan, Canada.

City Councilor and Osso Commissioner Ruben R. Capahi opened the program by saying that the league succeeded in its mission of sports development by discovering athletes that put Ormoc on the spotlight. Its success is also made more significant with the inclusion of two schools from outside Ormoc: NSU and Visayas State University of Baybay City.

For this season, basketball will continue to be the flagship sport to be played at the Superdome followed by football. The public will see volleyball action at the plaza quadrangle while chess will be held at the Superdome lobby. Other sports attractions are badminton and taekwondo. 

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 30-Aug. 5, 2012)

Beboy cites gains of his administration

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla once again blasted at his detractors especially those from the upper and middle classes who refuse to acknowledge his accomplishments for the city. Critics have stepped up their smear campaign on the mayor now that election season is fast approaching.

The problem with Ormoc’s upper and middle classes is that they limit their observation on the city proper, Mayor Codilla explained. “Di ta mabasol nila kay nagtuo sila nga ang syudad sa Ormoc mao ra na ang Real, Aviles, Bonifacio, merkado ug plaza,” he said.

Because of their limited view, they don’t appreciate the improvements he introduced in far-flung barangays where his administration was able to do much as a result of his style of good governance, Mayor Codilla said. He again cited the Seal of Good Housekeeping earned by his administration.

Along with that stamp is a P45 million prize which he spent on projects in nine barangays. This includes the 590-meter road concreting he inaugurated this week in Guintigui-an. Mayor Codila said the road was supposed to be 700 meters long but the project needed to be elevated and a riprap be built on the roadside as a flood control measure.

Another is a road opening in Monterico which is so remote that it can only be reached through Matag-ob town. The new road shortens Monterico’s distance from city center via Cacao in neighboring Kananga town. Still another road project is in the mountain barangay of Manlilinao that connects to Leondoni and Nueva Vista.

Other projects funded from the P45 million prize are distributed to San Jose (irrigation in Sitios Tipik 1 & 2), Lilo-an, Licuma, RM Tan and Labrador. Mayor Codilla said his critics don’t appreciate these projects but the barangay folk welcome these developments.Delicadeza
Mayor Codilla is saddened not everyone recognizes his efforts even if these redound to the benefit of his constituents. He cited as example real property tax (RPT) collection which was only P8-9 million annually prior to his assumption into office. In recent years, this has improved to P30-40 million a year.

The figure doesn’t include the RPT paid by Energy Development Corp. of almost P100 million annually. With an improved tax take, Mayor Codilla was able to implement numerous projects especially on education considering that 40% of RPT collection goes to the Special Education Fund.

These projects consist of schoolhouses, perimeter fences, stages, comfort rooms and also 22 covered courts with four more being constructed. Mayor Codilla said his only fault was that he didn’t emulate the style of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez of putting tarpaulins on all construction works of 4th Leyte Engineering District even if she has nothing to do with those projects.

He likens Rep. Gomez’s action to a graduation ceremony wherein a mother claims the valedictorian as her child even if he’s not. He also finds it in bad taste to put a name and face on a project considering the money didn’t come from the politician’s pocket.The best place to live in
Another fact Mayor Codilla cited is the very good services which Ormocanons are paying at a very low cost. This is because Ormoc’s tax rate remains in the level of year 1991 even if the Local Government Code allows local government units (LGU) to update their rates every three years which all other LGUs are doing even in the barangay level.

He cites for instance obtaining a certification which costs P50 in barangays compared to only P5 in the city. On wedding services, the Church charges P2,000 compared to only P50 for civil rites at City Hall. But the best example Mayor Codilla cited is water services which costs only P3.50 per cu.m. in Ormoc.

Water rates costs P15 per cu.m. in neighboring Albuera town, P17 in Tacloban and P35 in Metro Manila. And the amazing thing is Ormoc has the best water services compared to the mentioned places. Mayor Codilla takes pride he was able to provide the best basic services to the Ormocanons without raising taxes or borrowing money.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Beboy mulls new routes for tricycles

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla is considering diverting certain routes of tricycles to get them off the highways. The mayor bared his plan at a meeting with Ormoc Tricylce and Motorcab Operators and Drivers Association as well as multicab drivers to settle the differences between the two groups.

The multicab drivers are demanding that tricycles be prohibited from entering Bagong Buhay. Their president Edgardo Yu said the tricycles have affected their daily income that the number of multicabs plying that route have been reduced from 80 to 50 units. Some of the multicab drivers have shifted to driving tricycles which has more income potential.

For his part, Omtoda President Benedicto Lambunao countered that the reason why they enter Bagong Buhay is because it falls within the free zone as declared by Ordinance No. 56. The ordinance limits the routes of tricycles except in the free zone where all of them are allowed entry. He added that the demand of multicab drivers will cripple their livelihood.

Mayor Codilla sided with Omtoda, saying he will break the law if he grants the multicab drivers’. What he can do, he adds is to implement Memorandum Circular No. 2007-01 s. 2007 of the Department of Interior and Local Government. The memo prohibits tricycles from passing national roads except when there is no alternative access available.

Because of this, Mayor Codilla is mulling to prohibit tricycles bound for Bagong Buhay, Libertad and Lilo-an to use the Ormoc-Merida national road passing San Isidro, Doña Feliza Mejia Subdivision and Cogon. Instead, they will take the unpaved San Isidro-Linao road in going to downtown and back.

Mayor Codilla is also thinking about closing Lilia Ave. in Cogon to tricycles so that tricycles going to Simangan and further up north will have to pass Domingo Veloso St. instead. But he still has to consult his plan to the Land Transportation Office and traffic enforcers. The multicab drivers were pleased with what they heard even if the mayor didn’t heed their request.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Linao church marks 9th anniversary

Mayor Eric C. Codilla and his father former Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. along with Alice and Teresa Larrazabal cut the ceremonial ribbon inaugurating the P8 million new rectory of St. Mark the Evangelist parish church in Linao.

NO less than His Eminence, Most Rev. John F. Du, Archbishop of Palo graced the 9th Canonical Foundation of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish Church last July 20. Highlight of the event was the blessing of the new two-storey rectory at the back of the church.

In July 19, 2003, the mission station in Linao, this was elevated to a full-pledged parish. Its first parish priest was Fr. Dennis Soon who was succeeded by the following: Rev. Fr. Jonathan O. Chavez (2004-April 2006), Rev. Fr. Joselito Laurente (May 2006-Sept. 2010) and Rev. Fr. Gerald Alcantara (Sept. 2010-present). 

  (West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Palo Archbishop Most Rev. John F. Du (center) leads the celebration of the 9th Canonical Foundation of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish Church in Linao, this city last July 20. On his left is Mayor Eric C. Codilla while on his right is Msgr. Jaime Villanueva. They are joined by college batchmates of parish priest Rev. Fr. Gerald Alcantara who is beside Mayor Codilla.

Beboy breaks ground for P20M Olympic-size pool

Mayor Eric C. Codilla does the ceremonial pouring of gravel at the groundbreaking of the P20M Olympic-size swimming pool.

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla led the groundbreaking of the swimming pool at New Ormoc National High School (NONHS) last July 27. City Schools Division Supt. Sol Lumarda welcomed the project as it will produce swimmers that would reap honors for Ormoc in regional and national sporting events.

Mayor Codilla described the P20 million project as a standard Olympic-size pool with a depth of three to 12 feet. It will have 10 lanes and a size of 25x50 meters with 10 meters space allotted at the sides. The entire area to be developed will measures 70x45 meters while its diving board will be raised more than 10 meters from the ground.

Now that the city will finally have its own pool, it will have the capacity to host swimming events for the Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Evraa) meet. Everytime Ormoc hosts the Evraa, the swimming events are held either at the California Energy administration complex in Milagro, this city or at Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp. in Isabel town.

With the pool’s existence, Lumarda said the Ormoc division can finally send a swimming delegation to the Evraa which it seldom does. Mayor Codilla also announced that the pool will be opened to the public for a certain fee to help defray the cost of its maintenance. The Local School Board will come up with guidelines for its utilization.

Actual construction of the project will begin on August and will take 180 days to finish. The capsule buried at the site contained photocopies of the Certificate of Land Title, tax declarations and plans as well as original copies of the groundbreaking program and attendance sheet with signatures.

Former Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. also took part in the ceremonial pouring of gravel. Witnessing the event were NONHS OIC Narcisa Batoon, Barangay Captain Rafael Fernandez of Don Felipe, Kag. Conrado Jumao-as of Punta and officers of the General Parents Teachers Association. 

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Manpower training center progress report

WORK on phase 1 of the new building of Ormoc Technological Manpower Training and Research Center is 74% complete as of July 27. This was bared by contractor Engr. Joseph Frederick A. Pepito who assured that they are ahead of schedule. Currently, work progress is in the installation of beams and trusses, backfilling on the ground floor to be followed by its concreting.

Phase 1 of the two-storey building costing P10,783,761.17 began last Mar. 28 and was scheduled to be completed by September. But Engr. Pepito is confident they will be able to finish it by August. Phase 2 will involve wall finishing, partitions/divisions, paint jobs, construction of comfort rooms and finishing touches. The entire building is slated to be finished on December.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Beboy strives to prepare Ormoc for calamities

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla said one of the legacies he will leave is laying the groundwork to make Ormoc disaster-ready. He bared this during a capability seminar on Enhancing Barangay Risk Reduction and Management last July 12. He added that he made this to attain zero-casualties during calamities.

Mayor Codilla, who is in his final term, said the city invested on both tangible and intangible projects. The tangible projects include equipment like rescue boats as well as infrastructure like the two-storey barangay hall in Licuma which can serve as evacuation center during flooding.
The intangible projects are the conduct of rescue trainings up to the barangay level. The seminar oriented participants on the latest orders of the Department of Interior and Local Government including the proper utilization of the barangay calamity fund.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 23-29, 2012)

Editorial: Serbisyong Gomez

LAWMAKERS in Congress carry the title Rep. on their names because they represent their constituencies in their respective districts. Their representation is not limited to their legislative functions but extends to other responsibilities outside the Session Hall.

This means that in any of their actions, congressmen should consider the interest of their constituents first and foremost, and ensure this would redound to their benefit. Lately however, there has been a noted pattern on the actions taken by Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez on controversial issues in her district.

First is the near shutdown of LIDE Management Corp.’s (LMC) pumping station in Brgy. Salvacion because of its failure to pay regulatory fees to the Ormoc City government. By preventing Mayor Eric C. Codilla from enforcing the closure order, Rep. Gomez overstepped on the LGU’s mandate to look after the public interest

Rep. Gomez convinced Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo to order Mayor Codilla to stand down by presenting a water crisis scenario in Merida and Isabel towns that are being supplied by LMC with water. She relayed this information to the Secretary based on LMC’s say-so.

But this information isn’t accurate because LMC maintains other pumping stations in Matlang and Tabunok, both in Isabel, that could amply supply the barangay water districts (BWD) even without the Salvacion substation. What worried LMC was the prospect of not being able to supply the water needs of the locators at Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LMC) in the event of a shutdown in Salvacion.

Whatever money the BWDs bring to LMC is peanuts compared to the profits it rakes from the industrial plants in LIDE. By influencing Robredo to hold off the closure order, Rep. Gomez worked for the interest of a private corporation over her constituents’.

She was all ears to LMC but she didn’t take time out to go to Salvacion and ask the barangay folk’s take on the issue. She would have learned that LMC isn’t really welcome there. She would have seen a drying creek which they believe is caused by over-extraction of water.

What Rep. Gomez solved is LMC’s problem, not that of the people who voted for her. LMC’s water consumers could only wish she would also do something about the overly expensive rate they’re paying which is P16 per cu.m., 300% more than what Ormocanons pay to Orwasa.

But Rep. Gomez didn’t learn anything from the LMC brouhaha. This month, the simmering conflict between Camp Downes residents and 802nd IB reached a boiling point. Guess whose side she took. She should stop relying on her celebrity status and reach out to her constituency.

The local folk are worried because the army has imposed measures to limit their movements. They can think of only one reason for such, and that is to drive them away from the reservation which the military doesn’t deny. One of the measures the army imposed is the tagging of homes.

To the residents’ surprise, the number tags bear the name of Rep. Gomez. She may not mean harm by that epal gesture, but it suggested to the residents that they have lost an ally on her. Those people are not used to being turned down, much less betrayed by their officials.

Ex-Rep. Dodong Codilla supported the residents’ cause by writing the Undersecretary for Lands to urgently act on  their petition to reserve a portion of the camp for socialized housing. Mayor Codilla, for his part, was heard on radio ordering the 802nd IB to leave the residents alone. What has Rep. Gomez done for the people of Camp Downes? Until she categorically declares her opposition to the residents’ eviction, she will always be portrayed as an adversary to their cause.

New fire station almost finished

WORK on the new Ormoc City fire station is 82% complete, according to project contractor Engr. Glenn Alvin Maglasang of Magnam Konstruk. Construction progress is so fast that he expects the two-storey building’s completion on September, two months ahead of the scheduled turnover.

Engr. Maglasang said they were able to accomplish much despite the challenges they encountered especially on the existence of the sub-provincial jail next door that is on the way of the roofed garage. The jail will have to be demolished to give way to the concrete posts.
 

As of press time, workers are preparing for the roofing and working on the wall finishing at the office area. Work on the garage flooring and glass doors installation are expected to be done on the last week of the month. Next will be the installation of tiles and paint jobs.

Built at a cost of P9,157,795.45, work on the 715.27 sq.m. building began last Apr. 2. The fire station office was moved to the sub-station in San Pablo St., Dist. 12 while the fire trucks are temporarily parked in front of the old city hall. The new fire station is a priority project of Mayor Eric C. Codilla. 

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 16-22, 2012)

CDC passes P3B 2013 AIP

THE City Development Council (CDC) in its meeting last July 5 approved next year’s Annual Investment Program (AIP) to the tune of P2.8 billion, the biggest amount passed in Ormoc’s history. The amount is 194% more than the AIP passed last year (supplemental budget excluded). The AIP comes from 20% of the city’s development fund.

Mayor Eric C. Codilla who chairs the CDC justifies the huge amount to the rising needs of a growing city. This year’s P958,412,000 AIP wasn’t enough that the CDC had to pass a supplemental budget of P963,458.60. This means this year’s AIP (including the supplemental budget) stands at P1,921,870,960.

With almost P3 billion AIP for next year, there will no longer be a need for a supplemental budget, thereby expediting the completion of projects. Mayor Codilla assures that the local government unit (LGU) can afford the amount, citing the P250 million collection made by the City Treasurer’s Office. The figure doesn’t even include the P100 million collected from Energy Development Corp.

Mayor Codilla reported that this year’s AIP is well spent as can be seen in the ongoing road works in interior barangays like RM Tan, Leondoni, Manlilinao, Licuma, Guintigui-an, San Jose, Monterico, etc. He also assured that next year’s AIP will be utilized based on the standards set by the Budget Department.

Aside from funding the city’s numerous infrastructure projects, Mayor Codilla said a bigger AIP will also finance socio-economic programs, this time covering a wider scope. For example, a new item in next year’s AIP is the Indigent Program Medicare Para sa Masa with an allocation of P3,056,700.

Introduced by Councilor Rafael Omega, chairman of the committee on health, the program is a city-funded insurance system that will do away with sponsoring premiums for Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) which costs P1,200-2,400 per indigent family.

The local government unit (LGU) realized that enrolling indigent families to PhilHealth is a losing proposition considering only a few of them get sick within the covered period and avail of the benefits. What the LGU will do instead is to issue insurance cards which indigents can use to avail services at the city hospital when they get sick. In this manner, only when they actually get sick will the LGU spend money on them. There are about 20,000 indigent families in Ormoc.

The Office of Senior Citizens Affairs will be allotted P3,263,381.60, 50% more than this year’s P2,175,160 to finance new programs introduced by Councilor Lea Doris Capuyan-Villar who chairs the social welfare committee. Among these are the granting of P500 Christmas cash gift to indigent senior citizens who don’t receive any pension and cash incentives to the elderly who turn 80 years of age.

The health services for indigents and incentives for the elderly are just some of the new programs to be implemented with a bigger AIP. Mayor Codilla assures that the LGU continue to provide the best services possible even without raising taxes and introducing new tax measures.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of July 9-12, 2012)