CATBALOGAN, Samar – Major infrastructures are suddenly sprouting in Catbalogan town. This
was observed by visitors, mostly senior citizens from
Eastern Samar who get to visit the
Samar capital town
because of e-card enrollment at GSIS, Catbalogan.
One such building
which can be spotted immediately by visitors is the newly renovated
public market. Mayor Coefredo 'Tekwa' Uy told PIA that there are now
32 new stalls for the taking. The Mayor also acknowledged Senator Juan
Flavier, whom he said, donated dome six million pesos for the
infrastructure. He added though that the municipality has invested
some 20% of the total cost as counterpart.
Uy showed to the media
the artist’s perspective of some major structures that he envisions
for Catbalogan to have. One of these buildings will soon to rise in
Pier Uno, and another market site for the islanders. Catbalogan has
another public market located some blocks away from the Pier.
Construction of the building will commence last quarter of the year,
the mayor added.
Mayor Tekwa, his
chosen nickname, added that if the LGUs proposal to INFRES would be
approved, a farm-to-market road from San Vicente to Barangay Kagutian
will be constructed. This road opening to Kagutian will expose a rich
source of water. “Even better than Blanca Aurora Falls of San Jorge,”
he enthused.
Proposals have been
polished and the project, he said may cost some 118 million pesos
where the town's equity is pegged at 30%.
Another major building
proposed is Centro Mall, a shopping mall to be operated by the
CitiStore in Manila. The three-storey building will rise from the old
Catbalogan
Shopping Center
beside the public market. He said renovation of the building will cost
some 2.7 million pesos. Target construction date said Tekwa is August
18 of this year. Local radio station DYMS has started running
advertisements for job placement for workers in the mall.
While physical
structures for him are important, equally important is the health
aspect of his constituents, the Mayor is said to have added some 6
thousand indigent families to PGMAs Greater Medical Access numbering
to 2 thousand families. He mentioned distributing cards to Barangay
Sierra during the interview. He said the LGU has shelled out some 3.6
million pesos for this indigent program.
Similarly, said
Provincial Nutrition action Officer (PNAO) Alva Gadin, Mayor Tekwa has
reserved some P200,000.00 budget for the Nutrition Program of
Catbalogan.
