Beboy breaks ground for tech-voc school building

Mayor Eric C. Codilla and Vice Mayor Nepomuceno P. Aparis bury a time capsule during the groundbreaking of the new OTMTRC building. Between them is Councilor Rafael Omega, chairman of the committee on manpower development. On the left are Councilors Sotero Pepito, Mario Rodriguez, Filomeno Maglasang and Rolando Villasencio. At the extreme right is project contractor Engr. Joseph Frederick A. Pepito. Others in the photo are Councilors Lea Doris C. Villar, Jose C. Alfaro Jr. and Demosthenes Tugonon, ABC President Antonio Codilla and OTMTRC  Administrator Engr. Generoso . Managbanag.

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla led the groundbreaking for the new building of Ormoc Technological Manpower Training and Research Center (OTMTRC) last Mar. 19 after the flag ceremony. The project is one of the three edifices being built and set for completion this year, the other two being the new fire station and city hospital.

Councilor Rafael C. Omega Jr. who chairs the committee on manpower development said the old OTMTRC building was constructed 21 years ago hence the need to replace it with a new structure complete with workshops where the center’s students can have their hands-on training.
 

Engr. Joseph Frederick A. Pepito, the contractor of the two-storey P12 million building said they will finish the first phase within three months and the entire edifice hopefully by September. The center attracts 500 students annually from all over 4th District and even as far as Camotes, Cebu.
 

OTMTRC was created 31 years ago by Ordinance No. 97 s. 1981. It offers short courses on shielded metal arc welding, automotive servicing, refrigeration and air-conditioning, building wiring installation, consumer electronics, plumbing, carpentry, and dressmaking courses.
After the groundbreaking, Mayor Codilla took time out to inspect the existing classrooms and workshops. He saw students working on engines at the automotive servicing section. The instructor showed the mayor an engine from the General Services Department that could be considered as scrap but which the students were able to restore.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 26-Apr. 1, 2012)

55-year-old grandpa finishes high school

Estopin with Mayor Eric C. Codilla

AFTER being deprived of a formal education, a 55-year-old grandfather can now call himself a member of a graduating class as he proudly marched onstage to receive his high school diploma. Wilfredo Estopin finally finished his high school studies thanks to the night studies offered by New Ormoc National High School (NONHS).

Estopin is one of the 1,043 graduates who participated in the 60th Commencement Exercises of NONHS last Mar. 28. He is not only the oldest graduate, he also belongs to 15 other pioneering students of ONHS’s night school who also received their diplomas that day.
 

The 4th child of 11 siblings, Estopin was forced to drop out of high school during his younger days out of poverty. He passed an acceleration test in 1987 which accelerated him to 4th year high school but couldn’t attend classes because of work. His wife Fedelina is employed at the city government.
 

The couple prioritized their kids’ education who are now degree holders. Michael, 32 graduated in BS Psychology and now works in the Human Resource Management Office of Western Leyte College. Jessie, 31, finished Management at University of the Philippines Tacloban Campus (UPTC) and now works for Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
 

Lowela Jane, the youngest at 27, finished BS Psychology also at UPTC and is now on 4th year at law school. Among the three, both Jessie and Lowela are married with one and two kids, respectively. Now that their children have their own lives, Estopin decided to fulfill his own dream of finishing his studies.
 

In line with his work as a driver, Estopin plans to take up Automotive Mechanic at Ormoc Manpower, Training and Research Center on June. This year’s graduating class of NONHS also include three hearing-impaired from the Special Education. NONHS opened the night class in 2008 to allow workers like Estopin to study. The class starts at 4:30 pm and ends at 9:45 pm and takes five years to complete the entire curriculum. by Elvie R. Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 26-Apr. 1, 2012)

Team leader Insp. Benigno Niemes holds Ernest Sidney Keeler as they land on the shores of Ipil, this city.

THE primary suspect in the slaying of a businessman last year finally fell into the hands of the police last     Mar. 23. The perpetrator is identified as Ernest Sidney Keeler alias “Kano” who is tagged as the most wanted man in Ormoc with a reward placed on his head.
 

Keeler is responsible for the death of Kris Dy, a scion of a wealthy Chinese family who was found with a fatal gunshot wound inside his car in Simangan, this city after he was robbed in Aug. 20 last year. The suspect is also responsible for the shooting of seaman Jun Salvador “Besoy” Juba at the plaza five days before Dy’s robbery-slay.
 

Keeler was arrested in San Isidro, San Francisco town in Camotes Island, Cebu based on a warrant issued by Judge Apolinario Buaya of RTC Branch 35. The Regional Public Safety Batallion based in Milagro, this city conducted the operation headed by Insp. Benigno Niemes.
 

Keeler sustained a gunshot wound on the neck after engaging the arresting officers to a gunfight using his cal.45 pistol. His wound was dressed at San Francisco General Hospital after which, the party boarded a pumpboat and landed at the shores of Ipil, this city.
 

Aside from the mentioned two celebrated cases, Keeler is also responsible for the robbery holdup of a businesswoman last May 18. The victim is 45-year-old Natividad Elumir-Calabia who was robbed in front of his house in San Isidro, this city.
 

The operatives learned of this from the evidences found in the house of Keeler’s live-in partner where he was picked up in Camotes. The evidences included cheques payable to Calabia, P150,000 cash, cellphone, necklace and other personal items found inside three bags.

Calabia herself positively identified Keeler as the one who pointed a firearm at her and took her bags. She made the identification at Ormoc District Hospital where the suspect was confined for treatment of his wounded neck. The businesswoman gave the police a pat on the back for a job well done.

Keeler is now faced with various charges. Aside from robbery-homicide for and murder for the killing of Dy and Juba, he will also be charged of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as violation of RA 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act because of more evidences found.

These include two kilos dried marijuana leaves, a matchbox filled with shabu, two cal.45 pistols one of which attached with a silencer, two blank magazines and a KG9 machine pistol also known as an Ingram with three fully loaded magazines. Police said Keeler was high on drugs during the arrest.

With this development, another suspect arrested earlier was immediately released. The same police unit caught a suspect also called “Kano,” the same alias used by Keeler in Caneja St., PI Garcia, Naval town, Biliran last Mar. 21. The false suspect was promptly released.

Norma Juba, mother of one of Keeler’s slain victims, is thankful for the arrest of killer of her son who would have turned 26 last Mar. 10. For his part, Insp. Niemes thanks some people for helping them locate the suspect’s whereabouts including San Isidro Barangay Captain William Tano and members of the Knights Ulphans Fraternity and Sorority Int’l. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 19-25, 2012)

DILG lauds Ormoc’s IT system as the best in EV

TWO officers of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) described City Hall’s information technology (IT) program as worth replicating nationwide. The remark was made at the outcome of the two-day documentation of best practices on Business Permits and Licensing System.

Regional Planning Center Manager Lilian H. Madjus noted that while other metropolitan cities have the same IT capability, most of their software are brought from vendors and their programs outsourced. Ormoc, on the other hand, developed 27 of its own software.
 

Administrative Asst. III Melchizedec Yap of the IT Department informs that in-house software development saved the local government unit (LGU) P135 million with each software costing up to P5 million if procured from an outside supplier. But the LGU invested on hardware to the tune of P15 million through high-end IBM computers and servers that allow the units to operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week without interruption.
 

Ormoc’s superior IT capability allowed it to pioneer the streamlining of business permit application in the Visayas. What used to take days to issue a business permit now takes an hour because the 17 steps have been reduced to five. Madjus interviewed several businessmen who said business permit application is now convenient with friendly and accommodating staff, no fixers and no holidays nor weekend offs during peak season.
 

For his part, Myles E. Colasito, manger of DILG’s GoFar Program appreciates that the system connects the Business, Permits and Licensing Office to six other departments including the City Treasurer’s Office through Local and Wireless Area Networks. It also allows immediate posting of accounts and generate delinquent accounts to speed up the printing of notices and demand letters. Records are also more up-to-date.
 

These innovations contributed to increased collections which doubled from P30 million in 2004 to P72 million in recent years (see figure 1), Permits, Licensing and Franchising Chief Emilio G. Tingson said. The renewal and registration of new businesses also doubled from 4,459 in 2004 (see figure 2).
 

The GoFar Program is a facility to assist LGUs in building their capacities to enhance development planning, fiscal administration, accountability and service delivery by replicating good, innovative and sustainable practices. It aims to institutionalize the sharing and replication of sustainable good practices in local governance to enable LGUs improve their delivery of basic services to their constituencies. by Jun Tarroza  

(West Leyte Weekl;y Express issue of Mar. 12-18, 2012)

153 indigent elderly receive pension fund

Councilor Lea Doris Capuyan-Villar helps in the paperwork for the release of pension for indigetn senior citizens.

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development distributed P618,000 to 153 indigent senior citizens last Mar. 16 as part of its social pension program. A hundred of the beneficiaries received P3,000 each representing their P500 monthly pension for the 3rd and 4th quarters last year. The rest received P6,000 for the full year.

Councilor Lea Doris Capuyan-Villar who chairs the committee on social welfare in her inspirational speech during the program said she will legislate a local counterpart which will replicate an ordinance for such purpose already enacted in Cebu City.
 

Those qualified to participate in the program are senior citizens who are frail, sick and disabled not receiving any pension, without a permanent source of income or regular support from families and relatives. One beneficiary expressed his appreciation to the program: “Bisan ginagmay ang kwartang hinabang makatabang lang gihapon sa kalisod sa tigulang labi na karon nga panahon nga kami walay panginabuhian na.”
 

Social Worker Officers II Raquel B. Moralde and Nena L. Getalado distributed the cash assisted by Asst. City Social Welfare and Development Officer Imelda Dadulla, and Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran Project Evaluation Officer Nelia Oledan. by Joseph Levi Sausa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 12-18, 2012)

Ormoc Bay cleared of starfishes

THE City Agriculture and Services Office (Caso) has begun clearing the seabed of Ormoc Bay of Crown of Thorn Starfishes (Cots) last Mar. 11. Irish Belmonte who heads Caso’s Animal Production and Fisheries Division said they have since collected more than 300 Cots that destroy the corals.

Belmonte said they are able to collect 100 Cots for every hour of diving. Cots multiply easily and some of them grow in hard to reach areas like under the rocks. There is now a Cots outbreak in Southern Leyte while in Ormoc, the starfishes have actually began eating into the corals. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 12-18, 2012)

Isla Noah declared a danger zone

THE Sangguniang Barangay of Lilo-an passed a resolution endorsing Isla Noah in said village as a “danger zone” and “unsafe to live on.” This is because the said sitio is the first area to be flooded in Ormoc everytime Pagsangaan River overflows during heavy rains.
 

In such cases, all 50 residents of Isla Noah pack their belongings, stay awake the whole night and remain vigilant for floodwaters. Even members of the Organized Rescuers and Medical aides of Ormoc City are complaining because not everyone at the sitio wants to evacuate.
 

If approved, residents will be relocated and no settlement will be allowed on the sitio. Barangay Captain Cheryl Batucan handed a copy of the resolution to Mayor Eric Codilla during his visit to the barangay hoping it will be approved.
(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 12-18, 2012)

DILG secretary asks Beboy to lift closure order on LMC

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla said only a written instruction from Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo will make him lift his cease and desist order (CDO) on the water operation of Lide Management Corp. (LMC). The mayor laid down his condition in a meeting with Robredo himself and Lide officials in Cebu last Mar. 5.

Mayor Codilla issued the order two years after the implementation of Ordinance No. 14 charging regulatory fees on water extraction which LMC refuses to comply. Robredo asked him to reconsider his position as it will also affect household consumers in LMC’s water concessionaires in Merida, Isabel and Palompon towns.
 

Mayor Codilla told Robredo to put his instruction in writing to shift the blame to his Department in the event of a disaster. The mayor is concerned that over-extraction of water might result to sinkholes caused by land subsidence and salt water intrusion in the aquifer.
 

The local government unit (LGU) billed LMC P93 million for its water extraction the past two years for P5 per cu.m.. But LMC is willing to pay only 10¢ per cu.m. or P511,000 annually based on the 13,000-14,000 cu.m. it claims it draws out a day. But the LGU suspects LMC sucks up to 20,000 cu.m. a day.
 

LMC also failed to secure a business permit from City Hall since 2002 but regularly applies for a permit from the Isabel LGU in which it declared P63 million in gross sales for the latest year. Mayor Codilla pointed out that LMC should pay 70% of its tax to its water source in Ormoc and 30% to its head office in Isabel based on the Local Government Code.
 

LMC has filed an opposition to Ordinance No. 14 at the Court of Appeals which remains pending. A source at LMC told the express they will pay only how much the court decides them to. For his part, Mayor Codilla argues that until the court hands down a decision, his actions on LMC remain valid. 

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 5-11, 2012)

Group behind violent robberies identified

THE police finally identified the group behind the string of violent robberies last year after the arrest of one of the suspects in the holdup of JGC Financing Corp. Authorities are now in the lookout for a certain Carlito/Sherlito Torralba of Inopacan, Leyte who heads the Torralba robbery group.

The identification of the mastermind was made by Rodolfo Gonzaga Jr. whose participation in the robbery holdup of JGC last Mar. 2 led to his arrest two days later. His group took off with almost P100,000 and the security guard’s pistol that haven’t been recovered yet.
 

Gonzaga tagged his group as responsible for the robbery holdup of AGD Bakery in Doña Feliza Mejia Subdivision in Aug. 16 and Petron gas station in Cogon in Oct. 5, both last year in Ormoc. The robbers shot dead the lady vendor and cahier on both incidents.
 

But he denied he was part of those two robberies, saying he is a rookie who just heard his companions talk about it. He just joined the group recently and as a beginner, was paid only P5,000 for the JGC job. The bulk of the money will be used to purchase firearms and reserve to be used for bailing out members who get arrested.
 

While Torralba had connections with the underworld in other places like Manila and Cebu, Gonzaga said their group worked independently in the 4th and 6th Districts of Leyte. Gonzaga was submitted for inquest last Mar. 5 for robbery holdup with the use of firearm and intimidation, and violation of RA 9165 or Dangerous Drugs Act Art. 2, sec. 2 for the shabu taken from his possession during his arrest.
 

Precinct 1 Station Commander CInsp. Shevert Alvin L. Machete confirmed that Torralba, who previously lived in the mountain barangay of Cabingtan, here in Ormoc, has a standing arrest warrant for attempted murder. His brother Lucio alias “Toto” is now in city jail for frustrated murder and has not paid for his bail for P520,000. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Mar. 5-11, 2012)

LMC shuts down water pumping stations

SHOW OF POLITICAL WILL. Mayor Eric C. Codilla serves the cease and desist order (CDO) to Water Supply Operation Section Head Mardenio T. Tapang as Vice Mayor Nepomuceno P. Aparis I reads the enlarged copy of the CDO posted at LMC’s gate.

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla finally ordered Lide Management Corp. (LMC) to shut down its pumping stations in Ormoc last Feb. 28. Accompanied by city and police officials, the mayor personally went to LMC’s main pumping station in Salvacion at 4:30 pm.
 

LMC maintains eight pumping stations in Salvacion and Sto. Niño where it draws water from underground 250 meters deep. Some employees led by Water Supply Operation Section Head Mardenio T. Tapang met Mayor Codilla’s party at the gate. The mayor didn’t enter the compound and just read aloud his cease and desist order (CDO).
 

The order directs LMC “to immediately and completely cease and desist from doing, performing, or continuing” extraction of water “from all sub-surface.” It is also ordered to stop its water pump operations “and all machineries and implements used or devoted, whether partly or wholly, to raise, pump, transfer, transmit, compress, or by any other similar means deliver water extracted from all” sources “within and forming part of the city of Ormoc and its barangays.”
 

Mayor Codilla issued the CDO because of LMC’s refusal to comply with Ordinance No. 149. Aside from charging regulatory fees, section 4 of the ordinance requires extractors to install a device to measure the quantity of water extracted and submit a monthly report of the volume of drawn out.
 

LMC was billed P93 million for the past two years since the ordinance was passed which it refuses to pay, citing a Letter of Instruction (LOI) by the late President Ferdinand E Marcos exempting the company from local taxes and ordinances on the ground that it serves the national economic interest.
 

But Mayor Codilla believes the LOI’s legality has already expired after the two industries served by LMC – Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corp., and Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Co. – have been privatized in the early ‘90s during the Ramos administration.
 

Mayor Codilla also said LMC has been engaging in the water business without paying taxes to Ormoc where its source is located. It hasn’t even bothered to secure a business permit from the city government for the past 10 years, it was learned.
 

LMC maintains water concessionaires including two water districts in Merida and Isabel towns, and one barangay in Palompon town. It also sells bottled water under the product name Tubig. Isabel Water District General Manager Renen Geraldo told the express they paid P90,000-100,000 a month to LMC.
 

Isabel Relocation Water Consumers’ Association Inc. Board Chairman Manuel Tabucanon also confirmed to the express that their 700 household consumers pay over P80,000 a month to LMC. During the interview last Mar. 1, Tabucanon said they experienced low water pressure because of the water pumps’ shutdown.
 

This confirms the claim of LMC’s Community Relations Officer Nilo Comaling that they turned off their operation 3:00 pm of Feb. 27 before the CDO was served. Geraldo said they are looking into enforcing water rationing if the dispute between the Ormoc and LMC is not resolved.
 

Also affected are barangays in Ormoc served by LMC namely Salvacion, Sto. Niño, San Juan, Licuma, Libertad, Airport, Lilo-an, Curva and Margen. Despite this, Salvacion Barangay Captain Orland Nellas said they did not sign a petition prepared by LMC opposing the CDO because water can easily be found in springs and deep wells in their community.
 

Besides, many of his constituents are preparing to connect to Ormoc Waterworks and Sewerage Administration (Orwasa) which charges P3.50/m2 compared LMC’s P16 per cu.m. which is five times more expensive. Even if LMC gives free 3,000 cu.m. to every household consumer, the difference in the overall bill is still big compared to Orwasa.

For example, Nellas claims he used to pay P600 a month to LMC for his two houses. Today, he pays only a little over P100 to Orwasa for both houses that have level 3 connection. A barangay kagawad also said LMC has stopped giving free 3,000 cu.m. to new connections.
 

During the serving of the CDO, Mayor Codilla was accompanied by Vice Mayor Nepomuceno P. Aparis I; Councilors Sotero Pepito, Rafael Omega Jr., Jose C. Alfaro Jr. and Demosthenes Tugonon; Legal Officer Augustine Vestil, City Polilce Director SSupt. Elizar Egloso and barangay officials of Salvacion. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)

Beboy tags political foes behind crimes

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla said he will soon get to the bottom of the high profile crimes committed in Ormoc, believing that politics is behind the incidents to embarrass his administration. The mayor is optimistic about this following the arrest of a minor-aged carnapper during a shootout with members of Precicnt 1’s Investigation Detection Management Office last Feb. 1.
 

The 15-year-old suspect carrying the alias “Dodong Gamay” of Tugbong in neighboring Kananga town, is responsible for the series of carnapping incidents in which the stolen vehicles were abandoned and recovered in other places in and outside Ormoc, the farthest of which was in Alangalang town.
 

“Dodong” was shot on the leg during a firefight with the men of SPO1 Rudy Maglasang. During interrogation, he confessed that someone from Albuera town paid him P15,000 for every vehicle he carnaps only to be abandoned someplace else. He has been released recently from Ormoc District Hospital and is now in police custody.
 

Aside from the carnapping incidents, Mayor Codilla believes the series of robbery holdups that claimed two lives are also politically motivated. He finds it odd that the robbers would take the lives of their victims without taking any loot. The police are already conducting a manhunt for the suspects with orders not to kill them to know who their masterminds are.
 

In Aug. 17 last year, a bakery in Doña Feliza Mejia Subdivision wherein the perpetrators shot dead a salesgirl for P500 only. In Oct. 5 last year, culprits pounced on a Petron gas station in Cogon, killing the cashier but not taking any cash. by Jun Tarroza

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)

Ormoc City Jail is model for other similar facilities

THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) will make the Ormoc City Jail as a model for the implementation of the Therapeutic Community Program (TCP). This was learned during the visit last Mar. 2 of newly installed BJMP Regional Director SSupt. Hernan Grande at the city jail.

He was accompanied by his assistant Supt. Edwin Riel six other jail wardens of Leyte and Samar to see for themselves the successful implementation of TCP for the past two years spearheaded by Inmates Welfare Development Office Chief Insp. Arlene Barraca.
 

The six accompanying jail wardens are SJO4 Alfie Paraiso of Catbalogan, Samar; Insp. Maning Tomaning of Borongan, Eastern Samar; SInsp. Aselcrito Encio of Calbayog, Samar; SInsp. Rill Sonon of Burauen, Leyte; SJO3 Julius Palada of Tanauan, Leyte; and SJO4 Salvador Rotairo.
 

Under the TCP, jail occupants are no longer called inmates but community residents. They also learned to address each other as kapatid instead of kakosa. The residents presented a program before the visitors that included a comedy skit, news reporting, Bible-reading and testimonies. It was capped by a touching singing of May Bukas Pa by everyone while holding hands.

The TCP brought about a positive outlook among the community residents, making them more cooperative as they look forward to becoming productive and law-abiding citizens upon their release. SInsp. Sonon said he has already started implementing TCP to the 65 residents in his jail in Burauen. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)

More attractions for city plaza

ORMOC Supreme Lions Club will put benches at the city plaza in cooperation with Energy Development Corp. Club President Wenceslao Arcuino Jr. assured that 30 benches will be installed at the seawall facing the bay before his term expires on June this year.

An architect by profession, Arcuino said there is a need to provide benches to enable strollers to appreciate the sunset at Ormoc Bay. Upon turnover the benches, he hopes the city government will be able to maintain them well and protect these from vandals.
 

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric C. Codilla bared that Andok’s Litson Corp. and Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) won the bidding last Feb. 13 to occupy prime spaces at the plaza. Adok’s won the 644 sq.m. site formerly occupied by Chito’s Chow while IAU will take up the former Executive Building.
 

Bids and Award Committee (BAC) Secretariat Gina Abenio said there were no bidders for the former Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) building. Andok’s will pay P150 per sq.m. a month for the lot along Imelda Blvd. while IAU will pay P200 per sq.m. a month for the two-storey 704 sq.m. building.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)

DA grooms Ormoc-Kananga to become region’s salad bowl

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) gathered the key implementers of the Ormoc-Kananga (OK) Upland Range Development Program for a two-day Orientation and Project Proposal Writeshop to orient them on certain standards required in packaging research and development activities as set forth by funding agencies like the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

DA Regional Executive Director Antonio G. Gerundio in his welcome address informed that initial activities have been started and some logistic support are already in place to transform the Tongonan mountain range into a major grower of semi-temperate vegetables and high value crops. But to ensure sustainability of our programs and services and to systematize everything we need to translate all this into viable and doable proposals,” he explained.
 

The OK Upland Range project is a public-private partnership arrangement between DA and Energy Development Corp. Both agencies have pledged P92 million to develop suitable areas surrounding the Leyte Geothermal Production Field to provide livelihood to about 5,600 farmers.
 

The area covers 107,625 hectares along the Tongonan mountain range spanning across 16 barangays in Ormoc and Kananga town. Subsistence farmers there grow assorted vegetables and fruits like cabbage, green onion, tomato, eggplant, radish, chayote, cucumber and pineapple. About five tons are harvested weekly and sold at the public markets of Ormoc and Kananga.
 

Under the five-year project, farmers will be encouraged to plant other fruit crops like durian, rambutan and jackfruit as well as coffee and abaca. National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) will assist farmers in land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, processing, and marketing of vegetables and other high value commercial crops.
 

Of the P92 million funding, Nabcor will share P29 million to build a consolidation center and pilot packinghouse, and provide marketing support. Another P13 million is earmarked for research and development.
 

Participants of the two-day activity include technical experts from Visayas State University and EDC namely Dr. Jun Acedo, Prof. Pasky Quirol, Dr. Lito Bestil, Dr. Tony Abamo, Dr.Tony Quimio, Mario Sumabat,. Jojo Paredes, etc. Also present are Rufino B. Ayaso III, Raul T. Repulda, Dr. Carlos de la Cruz and Dr. Veronica J. Berenguer, all of DA-Regional Field Unit 8.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 27-Mar. 4, 2012)

Beboy banners good governance in SOCA

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla attributes the success of his administration to putting good governance at the forefront of his development agenda. In his State of the City Address, the mayor placed emphasis on guarding the people’s money from wastage by putting in place institutional safeguards to ensure proper accounting, recording and disbursement of funds.

The mayor cited the New City Hall inaugurated in Apr. 26, 2010 where the Ormocanons can transact business with comfort and convenience. He described the modern building as a testament of good governance as it was completed at the least cost without incurring any debt.
 

The New City Hall’s building has a gross floor area (GFA) of 14,800 sq.m. and costs P380 million or P23,000 per sq.m. only. Mayor Codilla compared this to the new City Halls of Bacolod and Tagum that are smaller in size but are more expensive at P450 million and P720 million, respectively. The Tagum City Hall has not even been completed as of last year, he said.
 

He then enumerated the characteristics of good governance as transparency, accountability, participative leadership, as well as effectiveness and efficiency of public service. These characteristics reaped for Ormoc recognitions like the Most Business Friendly City ’04 award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its inclusion in Asian Institute of Management’s 10 Most Competitive Cities.
 

Recently, Ormoc was recognized as 1st runner-up in the Search for Child Friendly City. Mayor Codilla said the local government unit (LGU) wasn’t prepared, much less aware of the search because the Social Welfare Department merely submitted Ormoc’s child and youth welfare programs to the national search. The LGU was just surprised to be informed that it placed 2nd after Santiago City.
 

Another important citation was the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) in which the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) declared the Ormoc excellent in four key areas of governance namely:
 

A. Sound fiscal management - no adverse findings from Commission on Audit;
B. Transparency and accountability - full disclosure policy;
C. Use of performance monitoring tools and regular reports; and
D. Good planning (comprehensive city development plant)
 

Provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide that were stamped with SGH were given cash rewards from the DILG’s Local Government Support Fund with Ormoc receiving the highest amount of P45 million in Region 8 and another P2 million for being conferred the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award.
 

While not all the recognitions reaped by Ormoc have been publicized or made it to the news, Mayor Codilla said what is important is that his administration has implemented programs without intending to win awards. “Everything is primarily done because of the needs of the community without any anticipation of receiving a recognition or award,” he said. “We will work for a cause, not for applause.”

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 20-26, 2012)

Beboy to LMC: get out of Salvacion!

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla told Lide Management Corp. (LMC) to close down its pumping sta-tions in Salvacion and Sto. Niño, this city if it continues to refuse to pay water extraction fees imposed by the local government unit (LGU). The mayor’s mood switched into a fighting stance when he talked about the LMC problem in his State of the City Address last Feb. 23.
 

Mayor Codilla was referring to the P80 million back payments owed by LMC based on Ordinance No. 149 passed on Sept. 25, 2008 which imposes regulatory fees on water extraction. But LMC wouldn’t pay pending the outcome of a case it filed in February 2009 at the Court of Appeals (CA) questioning the legality of the ordinance.
 

As the operator of Leyte Industrial Development Estate (Lide), LMC provides water to the entire 425-hectare special economic zone in Isabel town. It sources its water supply from Ormoc and in the process also distributes water to barangays passed by the 47-km. pipeline.
 

What got Mayor Codilla’s goat is LMC’s apathy on its ultimatum. The company first set a meeting with the LGU last Jan. 24 which it moved to Feb. 1. The LGU was asked for another postponement, this time on Feb. 6, only to be told the day itself that LMC officials still have to meet.
 

LMC in its petition to the CA dismissed the ordinance as a money-making venture for the LGU. To this Mayor Codilla gave out a message to LMC in his speech: “Ayaw na lang na bayri ang P80 million, hawa na lang diha sa Salvacion. Wa ta mag-apas sa kuwarta.”
 

The mayor said the money is only a secondary issue and his primary concern is the protection of Salvacion and Sto. Niño (where LMC operates eight pumping stations) from ill-effects of over-extraction like soil subsidence and saltwater intrusion in the aquifer.

LMC claims it draws out 13,000-14,000 cu.m. of water a day. But the LGU suspects the figure is downscaled by more than half and believes 28,967.40 cu.m. a day are being extracted based on projections made by DKK, the water consultant hired by LMC itself which reported that the company sucked 20,000 cu.m. a day during the mid-‘90s.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 20-26, 2012)

Vote-buying by Gomez camp in Leyeco V polls?

POLITICS reared its ugly head during the election for board directors (BOD) of Leyte-V Electric Cooperative Inc. (Leyco V) last Feb. 25 when people identified with Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez allegedly influenced the outcome of a supposedly private-initiated exercise.
 

The BOD election that day was for Ormoc north and south districts. There was no problem for the north district as former Leyte Gov. Adelina Yrastorza-Larrazabal ran unopposed. But it was a different scenario at the south district covering 72 barangays, mostly coastal communities.
 

The election for south district was contested by Carlito David Jr. and Project Engr. III Pascualito Fiel of 4th Leyte Engineering District (Led). It was conducted in the public schools of Lilo-an, Valencia and South Central School.
 

Vehicles of the Congressional Office bearing the Serbisyo Gomez logo were seen ferrying voters to the voting precincts while some barangay captains claimed to have witnessed vote-buying worth P40-50 in favour of David. A misinformation drive was also released that those who will not vote for David will not get their electricity refund.
 

The result, David won. Engr. Fiel isn’t surprised seeing the hand of Rep. Gomez in the election, saying the congresswoman was after him from the start by first putting him on floating status at 4th Led until he was reassigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways regional office.
 

The Express tried to confirm this claim with Dist. Engr. Lino Francisco Gonzales who said that Engr. Fiel’s transfer was based upon the memorandum of Regional Director Rolando M. Asis. He also confirmed that both 4th Led and DPWH issued Engr. Fiel a permit to run for Leyeco V Board Member. by Elvie Roman-Roa

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 20-26, 2012)

Beboy blocks power rate increase

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla proposed to Leyte-V Electric Cooperative Inc. to utilize its patronage credit to finance its planned five-year Capital Expenditures (Capex) worth P1.045 billion. Leyeco V proposes to increase electricity rates by 77¢ per kWh to amortize the loan for the Capex.

Mayor Codilla has stepped into the dilemma on the need to upgrade Leyeco V’s infrastructure and facilities versus the consumers’ protest on the looming power rate increase. He wants to find a solution that would allow Leyeco V to implement its Capex without resorting to rate hikes.
 

Being an electric coop, Leyeco V earns margins instead of profits which includes patronage credit estimated at P20-30 million annually. This patronage credit is given back to consumers in the form of lifeline rate subsidy. However, this socialized pricing mechanism benefits only low-income power consumers.
 

Leyeco V also approved during its general assembly in May 28 last year a P5,000 mortuary benefit per registered consumers to be charged from the patronage credit. But Mayor Codilla said spending the patronage credit on the Capex instead of resorting to rate increase would bear more impact to majority of consumers than the benefits it is currently being used for.
 

“Kini nga income nga ibalik ngadto sa konsumidor, mga 10 sentabos lang tingali o wala ba kaha kaabot. Gamay ra kaayo ni kontra sa ilang increase nga 77 sentabos. So kini na lang ang ilang i-amortize nga maoy ibayad sa loan,” Mayor Codilla proposes.
 

Leyeco V BOD President Joselito P. Yap said he is amenable with Mayor Codilla’s suggestion but they have to seek approval first from Energy Regulatory Commission considering the lifeline rate subsidy is mandatory in section 73 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

Ormoc leads EV in e-governance

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla bannered his accomplishment of computerizing the operations of the local government unit (LGU) in his State of the City Address last Feb. 23. Speaking before an audience from a cross section of local society, he took pride that Ormoc is in step with other big cities in e-governance.

According to him, the LGU developed its own 27 software application systems that are already operational. Another innovation is the setting up of a website which drew benefits including the bilateral partnership the LGU established with Hawai’i. Mayor Codilla said it was Hawai’i that pursued a sisterhood agreement after its officials learned of their county’s similarity with Ormoc on geothermal resource through the city’s website.
 

Not only does the website (www.ormoc.gov.ph) provide information and developments about Ormoc, it also has two new features: the water billing inquiry and realty tax inquiry systems that update consumers and taxpayers on their payables online. These have been beneficial to Ormocanons including those living abroad.
 

Mayor Codilla then explained the different levels of computerization. He said many government and private offices claim to be computerized just because they use computers. This type of computerization is Level 1. An organization’s attains Level 2 computerization if its computers in one office are connected to each other.
 

It rises to Level 3 if the computers in the different offices are interlinked through local area network; and Level 4 if the connection of computers extends to those in other buildings via wide local area network and wireless fidelity. Ormoc’s computerization is Level 4 because not only are the computers connected within City Hall but also to other offices in other departments located in separate buildings (see figure 1).
 

Level 4 computerization, for instance, allows sharing of files on each others’ patients among the district health centers. “If you go to the health center in Curva, your profile will be recorded so that if you go to Ipil health center, its staff will be able to retrieve your medical records from Curva including the medicines released to you just by getting using your thumbprint,” Mayor Codilla explained.

Computerization also improved income collection of five offices whose daily collections are simultaneously accessible to the City Treasurer’s Office (see figure 2). Before computerization, some market collectors were able to pilfer their collections. “Kay kaniadto, naa pa lagi nang official receipt, usahay butangan (sa mga kolektor) og P5,000 (ang original) unya ang duplicate P50,” Mayor Codilla said.
 

The LGU’s computerization extends to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) which installed the Electronic Legislative Engine for Governance and Information Management Utility System. This database system stores all existing records of resolutions and ordinances as well as video and audio files of the SP’s sessions. It also provides backup copy and comprehensive file of the city’s voluminous legislative codes.

City Hall enhanced its telecommunications system by installing an Automatic Branch Exchange which reduced its phone subscription from 80 to 24 lines connected to 300 telephone units. Naturally, its phone bill also went down from P600,000 to P173,000 every year, resulting to an annual savings of P427,000.

Mayor Codilla said his computerization program achieved a wider range of office connectivity, better linkages and more lines for communication and information dissemination between the LGU and the community in general. He also considers it as the most viable and effective means in streamlining the workflow, improve operations and services, and produce a more efficient and productive workforce. 

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

Beboy unveils uptown CBD dev’t plan north of Ormoc

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla in his State of the City Address unveiled his vision of an uptown development plan in response to Ormoc’s need to expand its urban development beyond the downtown area where commercial and trading activities are concentrated.
 

Mayor Codilla admitted that the plan is long overdue but said his administration had to focus first on laying the foundation for economic growth and social services. It is also for this reason why he didn’t prioritize inviting investors. “Wa kaayo ta niining sobra mangimbitar og investors kay dili sayon buhaton; sayon lang na isulti,” he said.

One of Ormoc’s drawbacks is the absence of a developed location. Officials would often point to the wide, open area in Simangan, four kilometres from the city center, as the most ideal site for locators, but prospective investors who take a look at the area are turned off by the absence of access roads.

Investors’ feasibility studies on Ormoc also reveal the lack of capable graduates as well as health and educational institutions. “Karon mangimbitar ta nila, wa pa tay maayong educational, health care and social services system. Asa man ang ilang mga trabahante pasidulong?” he asked.
 

Now that he has improved social and health services with the construction of a city hospital, Mayor Codilla said it is time to develop a business district that would provide more areas for commercial development. He pointed to a 100-hectare agricultural area northern part of Ormoc bordering Simangan, Dayhagan and Salvacion as the most ideal site, being proximate to the airport.
 

The plan is to identify areas for development and convert their land use plan from agriculture to open space, recreational, commercial, institutional and residential. The local government unit (LGU) will then have to acquire road-right-of-ways so it can develop four-lane roads and lay down drainage systems, electric facilities and water utilities.
 

Mayor Codilla envisions office blocks on the commercial complex; a gymnasium, stadium, and track and field oval on the recreational area; schools and hospitals on the institutional area; and parks on the open space. He estimates at least P300 million for the horizontal development which the LGU can borrow from the bank.
 

Landowners will welcome expropriation proceedings as these would increase the value of their properties by more than triple. The current zonal valuation of Bureau of Internal Revenue in the area is only P20 per sq.m. The LGU will also recoup its investment through increased realty tax collection.

Since he is on his last term, Mayor Codilla said he will leave the realization of his vision as an assignment to his successor. He describes the undertaking as an ambitious last piece of development that would provide the necessary groundwork for business expansions and economic opportunities.

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

Beboy’s realty tax collections from EDC reach P1B since ‘04

THE city government has collected more than P1 billion of real property taxes (RPT) from Energy Development Corp. (EDC) since Mayor Eric C. Codilla assumed his position more than seven years ago. The mayor cited the EDC collection in his State of the City Address to highlight his success of increasing Ormoc’s income by more than ten-fold.

When he assumed office in 2004, Ormoc’s total income was only P83 million with the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) comprising 80% because local income wasn’t aggressively pursued. Mayor Codilla turned this around by reviewing and modifying collection-related systems so that collectibles are promptly paid and correctly reported.
 

Today, Ormoc has 4,900 registered business establishments generating P50-60 million annual revenues from permits and licensing alone. Improved collection also from other economic enterprises of the city namely the Superdome, public market, bus terminal, slaughterhouse and waterworks reduced Ormoc’s dependence on IRA to 60% of its total income.
 

With regards to EDC, the two previous administrations failed to collect RPT from EDC that one former official said he will congratulate Mayor Codilla if he succeeds. The mayor admitted it wasn’t easy, saying it took more than one year of negotiations to convince EDC to pay P723 million representing RPT payment for 2004-09, and another two years of bargaining to collect P305 million for years 2010-11. 

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

Brgy. cap’t belies complaints vs. 2 poultry farms in Catmon

OFFICIALS of Catmon dismissed the complaint of 70 residents who petitioned against two poultry farms for four odor and proliferation of flies. Barangay Capatain Fortunato T. Ycoy belied the complaint, saying they have been conducting regular inspection in Puroks 1 and 2 where the farms are located.

Moreover, Ecosystem Management Specialist II Rufino M. Pepito and Sanitary Inspector Federico Obejas inspected the Rovin poultry farm in Purok 1 owned by Ronnie Vinluan of Pangasinan seven months ago and cleared it of any violation. Pepito’s report states that there was no bagged chicken dung stocked in the area while other dung have been applied to sugarcane fields as fertilizer. The remaining dung was covered with soil mixed with rice hull. There were also no flies nor foul odor in the area.
 

The other poultry farm is owned by AOG Enterprises in Purok 2. Ycoy said AOG’s facility cannot emit foul odor considering it keeps thousands of chicken heads in tunnel-vent type structures with exhaust fans. If the smell was that bad, there would have been health problems, he added.
 

Ycoy also observed that most of the signatures in the petitioner are from children and illiterate elderly. “Nasina lang siguro sila kay kasagaran sa petitioners mga small hog raisers kinsa walay klarong kalabayan sa hugaw sa baboy,” the barangay captain said of those who initiated the petition.
 

Ycoy futher credited the two poultry farms for their increased collection of realty tax from P7,000 to P17,000 and Internal Revenue Allotment from P624,000 to P870,000. The two facilities also generated employment. Catmon is located 10.5 kms. from downtown and has 233 households. by Jun Tarroza

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Feb. 6-12, 2012)

Beboy builds 22 covered courts

Mayor Eric C. Codilla turns over to Education Supervisor Gloria Luna the newly-roofed stage at Ormoc Central School financed from the Development Assistance Fund of Vice Mayor Nepomuceno P. Aparis I (beside the mayor). Also in photo are (from left) are Councilor Filomeno Maglasang who chairs the committee on education, Dist. 18 Barangay Captain Edgardo Paredes, Public Schools District Supervisor Emma Porcadilla and Central School Principal III Lily Kiamco. The turnover was held last Mar. 26.

MAYOR Eric C. Codilla continues to pour projects in Ormoc. Two of these are the ongoing construction of covered courts in Bagong Buhay and Can-adieng funded by the P20 million supplemental budget for the construction and upgrading/repair of socio-cultural and sports facilities.

The covered court in Bagong Buhay, awarded to Benjamin Ong Jr. Construction began last Jan. 3 and will be completed within 140 working days. This is Mayor Codilla’s latest project in the barangay after building an elementary schoolhouse, road concreting and drainage rehabilitation.

On the other hand, the covered court in Can-adieng was awarded to Jonathan B. Bautista Enterprises and sub-contracted to MP Bantasan Construction & Allied Services. Work began October last year and is expected to be completed on March. Workers are now installing the trusses and roofing.
 

Mayor Codilla’s administration has already built 22 covered courts including those that are still being built. During his visit to Dolores, the mayor said that since the barangay already has a covered court, he will just build a stage in it while the existing stage will be converted into a schoolhouse.
 

In Ipil where Mayor Codilla first built a covered court, residents ask

ed for projects like drainage, pathway, water system, streetlighting, electrification in some sitios and classroom roofing. He committed to Barangay Captains Conrado Delgado to

fulfill the requests.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012)

City hospital project gets DOH approval

BIDDING for the city hospital project will start immediately following the granting of a permit to construct by the Department of Health (DOH) this week, according to Mayor Eric C. Codilla who wants to begin actual construction on March. The project’s first phase will cost P46 million.
The proposed hospital will occupy 2,000m² of more than a hectare of land in Simangan where the Department of Agrarian Reform (Dar) holds office. Dar will be relocated to the public market. The two-storey building will house 10 private rooms, 16 wards, three operating rooms, X ray room and a diagnostic laboratory.

Its basement will accommodate the laundry room, morgue and service area. Although a mere government facility, Mayor Codilla wants the structure to be comparable to private-run medical institutions with full airconditioning, granite flooring, etc., similar to what he did to the new City Hall building.
 

Phase I will take 240 calendar days to construct but Mayor Codilla wants the succeeding phases bid out early so as not to stop the work progress and ensure the hospital’s yearend opening. Other facilities for bidding are the building’s exterior aluminum cladding finish, elevator as well as furniture and fixtures.
 

Mayor Codilla estimates the full cost of the project to run up to P80 million including the basic equipment. Eventually, he wants the hospital to be equipped with high-end equipment like magnetic resonance imaging and computerized axial tomography.
 

Mayor Codilla allayed concerns the facility will entertain only Ormocanon constituents, saying an implementing rules and regulations being prepared on the hospital’s operation will ensure it will receive patients from all over the country as well. Operational cost of the hospital could reach P50-80 million annually.
 

To recover this, the hospital will charge minimal fees to poor clients and will fully charge patients who can afford the services. Those who really couldn’t pay will be required to secure a certificate of indigence from the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
 

Mayor Codilla will also ask Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona to exempt the city hospital from the three-year operation requirement prior to its accreditation to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) so it can immediately avail of PhilHealth payments.
 

Mayor Codilla is pleased with the outcome after the congressional office tried to discredit the project from DOH. As it turns out, not only is the DOH supporting the project, Ona also assured to make it a model for other small and medium-sized cities that would want to build a similar facility.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012)

Ormoc to receive DA rice achiever award

REGION 8 has three of the best rice-producing local government units (LGU). This came about after it was learned that the city of Ormoc and the towns of Kananga, Leyte and Hinunangan, Southern Leyte made it to the top 50 outstanding cities/municipalities in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2011 Search for Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards. 

DA Regional Director Antonio Gerundio informed that the local government units (LGU) earned the nod of the judges because of their highly impressive track record in terms of implementing the food staple sufficiency plan for 2011-16, the degree of financial, logistical and personnel support and the farmer-beneficiaries served as well as other notable achievements.
 

Each winning LGU will receive P1 million project grant which will be used to further increase the rice sector’s productivity in the locality. Aside from awarding the best rice-producing LGUs, commendation will also be given to 18 LGU-based extension workers for the outstanding agricultural extension workers (AEW) category, namely Samuel P. Daroy, Dante B. Albarico, Judy Veneranda B. Mendiola, Judith Paredes, Sofronio G. Laguma Jr. and Consolacion Y. Mendez of Ormoc City;
 

Carlito J. Torreen, Rowena P. Lacandazo, Virgilio B. Burato, and Rosalina B. Cabilin of Kananga, Leyte; Dr. Arturo T. Juanico of Tabontabon, Leyte; Erma K. Capilitan of St. Bernard, So. Leyte; Marlina M. Bagohin of Libagon, So. Leyte; Marietta C. Alago of Macrohon, So. Leyte; Marlou H. Pan and Roberta R. Manun-og of Hinunangan, So. Leyte; Shirley I. Jadulco of Naval, Biliran; and Christine C. Devio of Culaba, Biliran. Each one of them will receive a cash prize of P20,000.
 

Meanwhile, another category of the contest is the top 10 performing provinces in which Region 8 has two official nominees: Biliran and So. Leyte. Its evaluation of accomplishments relative to the rice program headed by the National Search Committee from DA is expected to be completed this month.
 

The 2011 Rice Achievers Awards is tentatively set on Feb. 7 at the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. DA launched the nationwide contest for Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers Awards in the start of wet season cropping (May-September) last year to recognize provinces, cities, municipalities, irrigator’s associations (IAs) and agricultural extension workers as important stakeholders in the production and self-sufficiency of rice, and to encourage participation and awareness to attain food self-sufficiency by year 2013.

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012)

Gibaboy og kasaba

PORBIDA ning si Ricardo nakamenos gyud nato kay nangasaba na sad og laing kapitan. Kabahin ni sa usa ka seremonya sa pagpasiga sa usa ka sitio nga bag-o lang nahatagan og kuryente. Natural, nagpabida dayon sila Ricardo pagkahibawo nila sa maong kalihukan.

Apan sa pakighinabi sa usa ka peryodiko sa kapitana sa maong barangay, siya miingon nga ang mayor maoy naglihok sa maong pagpasiga kay mao to siya ang nagsige og balik-balik sa DOE aron mag-follow up. Ang pagpasiga sa mga barangay usa ka benepisyo nga gihatag sa kagamhanan alang sa mga lugar diin nagagikan ang kuryente.
 

Mao kini ang gibutang sa balaod nga Energy Regulation 1-94. Apan ang paghatag sa maong benepisyo nagdepende sa rekomendasyon sa mayor kay malangan ang paghatag niini kon kulang sa iyang follow up. Mao nga nahibulong si kapitana sa pagpangangkon nila Ricardo ug Luciana sa maong proyekto nga maoy iyang giisplekar sa media.
 

Apan nasuko si Ricardo pagbasa niya sa maong giingon sa kapitana mao nga iyang gisulong si kap sa balay ug gibaboy-baboy og kasaba. Giingnan niya si kapitana nga bawion ang iyang gisulti samtang gihapak-hapak ang peryodiko sa lamesa. Matay ‘no? Kadako niyang buot mangasaba sulod pa mismo sa balay nga iyang gisak-an. Na hala, suportahi si Ricardo!

(West Leyte Weekly Express issue of Jan. 30-Feb. 5, 2012)