Construction boom to go on in 2012 -- Beboy

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla assured contractors that the ongoing construction boom in Ormoc will continue next year. He made the assurance at the Christmas party and induction of new set of officers of Philippine Constructors Association Ormoc Chapter Inc. (PCA-OC) last Dec. 22.
 

With 18 more months left into his term, the mayor said he will make sure all doable projects he envisioned will be implemented on 2012 for him to leave a legacy. Mayor Codilla is in his last term as chief executive of Ormoc and during his three terms, he has built mega projects like the P331 million New City Hall and P450 million waterworks system.
 

Mayor Codilla takes pride he was able to implement those projects without resorting to any loan by raising the city’s revenues even without increasing taxes. He is confident he will implement his projects next year as he was able to generate revenues to make up for the expected P90 million reduction of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

For one, his administration is a recipient of P45 million worth of Local Government Support Fund to augment the reduced IRA following the conferment of the Seal of Good Housekeeping for complying with full disclosure on local budget and finances, bids and public offering, and the absence of adverse findings by the Commission on Audit.

Mayor Codilla also announced that Energy Development Corp. paid P304 million in realty taxes for 2010-11 that week. Around P140-150 million of that amount representing 1.5% will accrue to the Special Education Fund (SEF). As of 2010, his administration has spent over P237 million on schoolhouses, covered courts, perimeter fences, comfort rooms, stages, etc.
 

Some of the SEF-funded school projects to be implemented for 2012 include a covered court, swimming pool and 20-room schoolhouse at Ormoc Central School, a 20-room schoolhouse at New Ormoc National High School and six-room schoolhouse at Manlilinao Elementary School.
 

Mayor Codilla also said he will make sure that the bidding of the proposed P10 million fire station, P40 million city hospital and new building of the Manpower Training Center will be done by January.
 

The biggest project expected next year is the P130 million expansion of the Ormoc port. Even if the construction company that will undertake the project will come from Manila, Mayor Codilla believes it will sub-contract some of the works to local contractors especially hauling jobs.

New officers

That evening, Mayor Codilla administered the oath-taking of PCA-OC’s officers led by its new president Lorenzo M. Baltonado Jr. In his message, outgoing president Engr. Joseph Frederick A. Pepito enumerated his accomplishments in the past six years that he led the group.

These include acquiring a legal personality by registering PCA-OC at the Securities and Exchange Commission, establishment of its office and putting in place a lending mechanism for members who are short in capital. Also under his watch, PCA-OC performed social responsibilities, chief of which is the organizing of the 1st Tugob Festival and 2010 fiesta celebration. by Felix N. Codilla III

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Dec. 19-25, 2011)