Master Drainage Plan to solve flooding in the city, says CEO

Some of the participants, including some board directors and guests, pose for posterity during the 30th Annual General Membership assembly of Leyte II Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Babatngon, Leyte last Sunday, March 27, 2011. MELCHOR CASPE

TACLOBAN CITY – The City Government formed an immediate solution regarding the serious flooding problem in the city by implementing the Master Drainage Plan.
 
The Master Drainage Plan is the move to reconstruct damaged drainages and waterways in the city. Dionisio de Paz, officer-in-charge of the City Engineers Office, said in an exclusive interview with the Leyte Samar Daily Express that the reconstruction of the drainages and waterways would really help in answering the flooding problem in the city.

Senate Bill No. 3483 prohibits the building of any establishments and houses 30 meter away from the waterways or creek. De Paz revealed that there are residential and business establishments in the city that were constructed within the perimeters of the waterways. These illegal constructions led to the ruin of some waterways.

With this, he further said that they have to clean first the area that covers the waterways in order to determine its damages so that they could formulate appropriate solution.

“This is the reason why the City Government through the City Engineers Office is conducting demolition in the Sampaguita, Utap and Picas areas,” he explained.

 He also stressed that the drainage connects the waterways from Mahayahay, Linang, Mangonbangon and other waterways going to Burayan and Cancabato Bay which is the main outlet to the sea.

This project has a collaborative action of the Department of Public Works and Highways, City Assessor, City Engineers office, City Legal Office and the office of the City Administrator. (Noel Sevillano Talacay)

Binay: Series of medical mission in the country soon

TACLOBAN CITY – Medical mission is one of the programs of the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay, thus said Chelito Martinez, assistant chief of staff of the Vice President.

In an exclusive interview with Leyte Samar Daily Express, Martinez said the said medical mission is part of the social service of Vice President Binay.

Martinez revealed that the office of the Vice President will roam around the country in order to give free medical assistance to Filipinos.

“It was stared last January this year,” Martinez added.

He also said the medical mission was officially started in Rizal, Laguna and Nueva Ecija. He also added that there will be a series of medical missions to be done until the entire country will be served.

Now in its 4th time, here in Tacloban, he said that in partnership with the Eye Referral Center in Metro Manila owned by former Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, the city government through Mayor Alfred Romualdez and with the cooperation of different agencies such as Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), Bethany Hospital, RTR Hospital, Department of Health, Divine World Hospital and Alpha Phi Omega (APO).

“The services given during the medical mission were medical, dental, ophthalmology services and Electrocardiograph (ECG) consultation,” as he enumerated.

Aside from the free consultation, he said some patients were given for free pairs of reading eyeglass while others patients received free medicines.

It was learned that a total of 1,172 Taclobanons were able to avail on the medical mission. It composed of 343 availed ophthalmology service, 786 for the medical services and 43 patients for dental services.

However, prior to the said mission, Martinez articulated that they were able also to distribute relief goods to some affected barangays by floods in the city.

Earlier, the staff of the Vice President conducted medical mission last March 8 (Sunday) held at the Balyuan Convention Center.

Martinez said that Vice President Binay would like to inform the public that the medical mission is really intended for the less fortunate Filipino people who need medical assistance because health is very important. (NOEL SEVILLANO TALACAY)

2,566 evacuees in Tacloban, says CDRRMC

TACLOBAN CITY – The disastrous and heavy downpour last week resulted to a total of 2,566 evacuees in the city of Tacloban, according to the progress report by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC).

Based on the report of CDRRMC, the 2,566 evacuees were composed of 413 families and 2,111 individuals.

As enumerated in the report, the number of evacuees is as follows: In Brgy. 110 Health Center – 2 families and 10 individuals, Brgy. 110 Barangay Hall – 1 family and 38 individuals, Brgy. Flores Billiards – 4 families and 20 individuals;

Brgy.  110 Negros Battery Center Bldg. – 20 families and 100 individuals, Brgy. 59 – A (stage) – 10 families and 65 individuals, Brgy. 91, Abucay Terminal – 5 families and 25 individuals;

Astrodome – 55 families and 275 individuals, Brgy. 59 Picas Brgy. Hall – 6 families and 30 individuals, Brgy. 91 Abucay (JARMESES Elem. School) – 2 families and 10 individuals, Brgy. 110 Utap Brgy. Hall – 9 families and 39 individuals, Brgy. 103 Palanog Mini Gym – 45 families;

And 217 individuals, Brgy. 3 (Church) – 86 – families and 419 individuals, Brgy. 74 Brgy. Hall 5 families and 13 individuals and Brgy. 3 (Brgy. 74 Basketball Court) – 163 families and 889 individuals.

Salvador Estudillo, CDRRMC chief, said that through the efforts of City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, they were able to serve the needs of all the evacuees.

He also emphasized that Mayor Romualdez was on top of rescue and evacuation operations just to ensure that the concerns of the evacuees were immediately responded to. 

As of yesterday, Estudillo pronounced that there are still two evacuation centers that are still being monitored such as those in Nula-Tula and Palanog.  The rest of the evacuees in other sites were able to go back to their respected houses and barangays to start rebuilding homes.

“The CDRRMC decided not to allow the evacuees from Nula-tula and Palanog to go back to their barangays unless we will be assured that they are safe”, Estudillo explained.

He added that they are still distributing relief goods to the remaining evacuees and have set up coordinating units to supervise them.

Estudillo, however, said that the city government through the CDRRMC will soon start disaster rehabilitation which is part of their primary concern and program at the moment. (Noel Sevillano Talacay)

CHO ready for follow-up check-up of patients in medical mission

TACLOBAN CITY – Following the medical mission, the City Health Office (CHO) would make follow up consultations for the patients who were advised to do so, according to Dr. Jaime Opinion, city health officer.

In an interview, Opinion said that the CHO is open for patients who need follow-up consultations especially those with serious illnesses.

“The patients will merely present their referral note from the doctors”, Opinion added.

He further said that the medical mission was very timely because  Tacloban was placed under a state of calamity.

However, he said that the said activity did not only cater to the victims of flood and landslides but also for all Taclobanons especially the children and senior citizens.

He said that the medical mission was a big help to the city because we were devastated by heavy, incessant rains, flooding and landslides, so there were a lot of people in Tacloban who needed medical assistance.

With this, Opinion extended his sincerest gratitude to the people behind the recently concluded medical mission led by the Office of the Vice President held at the Balyuan Convention Center with partnership with the city government through Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Eye Referral Center by Former City Mayor Bejo Romualdez, Alpha Phi Omega (APO), EVRMC, Bethany Hospital, RTR Hospital and Department of Health (DOH). (Noel Sevillano Talacay)

Former city chief executive advocates eye care

Mayor Alfred Romualdez together with former Mayor Bejo Romualdez and retired General Bobby Romero reservist, Armed Forces of the Philippines, in a light moment during the medical mission conducted by the city government in cooperation with the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay. (Melchor Caspe)

TACLOBAN CITY – Former city mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez brought eye specialists during the recently concluded medical mission held at the Balyuan Convention Center.

In an interview with the Leyte Samar Daily Express, former Mayor Romualdez said the incumbent Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Vice President Jejomar Binay had requested for support from his eye referral center for the said medical mission.

“Without hesitation, I say yes to it,” Romualdez said.

Aside from the eye doctors, the former mayor brought also a number of high-tech eye equipment, medicine for the eyes and pairs of reading eyeglass.

After the consultation of the doctors, he said that the patients were given proper medication, at the same time the patients were also given assessments about the condition of their eyes – grade of the eye and other eye illnesses.

He also stressed that if the patients have a very serious eyes case or illness, Dr.Alfredo Lim, an eye specialist at the Bethany Hospital, this city, can give referral to the Eye Referral Center located at Metro Manila.

“The patients must bring barangay and mayor’s certificate”, Romualdez said.

He clarified that if the patients have certification coming from the barangay and the mayor, they will be able to avail of any services from the “Eye Referral Center” for free.

“We should not ignore our sight, at the age of 30 we must consult an ophtalmologist even once a year,” he said.

The medical mission held last Sunday was also done in cooperation with the office of Vice President Jejomar Binay with the city government of Tacloban under Mayor Alfred Romualdez and the Alpha Phi Omega (APO). (Noel Sevillano Talacay)

LNU: A GK institution in the region

TACLOBAN CITY – The Gawad Kalinga (GK) was recently launched in Leyte Normal University as official partner educational institution in the region in pursuing its goals and mission.

Brian Gapasin, GK director for the Visayas, said that GK in Tacloban started in LNU last March 10, 2010 and eventually GK orientation was conducted which was attended by the LNU Management headed by the Dr. Evelyn Cruzada, university president, and the LNU student council year 2010.

Prior to the launching, Gapasin said that there was a signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the GK and LNU.

“It was included in the MOA where the school will help the mobilization of the students to the community and the school will provide extensive trainings and seminars for learning development of its GK beneficiaries,” Gapasin said.

He also said that the LNU will serve as the institution for GK for the children and youths development and it will create programs that will augment the skills GK’s young ones.

With this, the first GK builders camp was conducted at Brgy. San Agustin, Palo, Leyte, wherein the builder action team leaders was formed, according to Gapasin.

“Bawat Normalista Bayani”, Gapasin quipped.

Meanwhile, in an opening remarks given by Dr. Evelyn Aguirre, LNU director for extension program said, GK is also known as Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, which is a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation building movement.

“It has a great vision of building communities empowered by people with faith and patriotism, driven by a culture of caring and sharing, dedicated to eradicate and restore human dignity”, Dr. Aguirre said.

It was also stated in her speech that last September 2010, the LNU and GK entered into collaborative agreement by signing the MOA which had a manifestation of its community extension service component to be “Gawad Kalinga Builders Institute” – an institute for nation building through patriotic education, research and extension.

The said launching was graced by Dr. Evelyn Cruzada, LNU president, LNU vice presidents, LNU deans, LNU directors, LNU students, GK volunteers, Boboy Egot – GK head, Leyte, Napoleon Cairo – GK coordinator, Palanog, Tacloban City, Jun Arca, GK coordinator Libertad, Palo Leyte. (Noel Sevillano Talacay)

City of Tacloban declares State of Calamity

These young women take a rubber floater to pass a flooded street in Barangay Apitong, Tacloban City. MELCHOR CASPE

TACLOBAN CITY – Due to the incessant rains, the city government declared Tacloban under state of calamity, according to Salvador Estudillo, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

In an interview with the Leyte Samar Daily Express, Estudillo said that the CDRRMC has been monitoring almost all of the barangays in the city since the heavy rains started early this week where areas has been flooded and some had landslides.
With this development, he said that Mayor Alfred Romualdez endorsed his recommendation to the city council to declare Tacloban under state of calamity.

Estudillo said that declaring Tacloban under a state of calamity will enable them to address properly the needs of the constituents, especially those extremely affected barangays.

It will also provide opportunities for government employees to avail of calamity loan, so they can repair their damaged houses, he added.

He said that the 138 barangays were heavily affected by the continuous and heavy rains that resulted to flooding and landslides where more properties and houses were destroyed.

Meanwhile, Vicente Dy III, city budget officer, said in a separate interview, that the city government has already used P10.5 million since January of the annual calamity fund amounting to P39.8 million.

“This P10.5 million is 26.3% from this year’s calamity fund,” Dy added.

Dy explained that the money was released to cover expenses on relief operations and rehabilitation. (NOEL SEVILLANO TALACAY)