Sprouting of infras in Catbalogan observed

By NINFA BARCENA-QUIRANTE, (PIA Samar)
July 7, 2006

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.

Region 8 cop among this year’s ten outstanding policemen

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 7, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – A policeman from Region 8 is among the 4 policewomen and 6 policemen who were conferred the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service awards by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on July 5 at Malacanang.

General Eliseo dela Paz of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 8 who was present during the awarding said that SPO3 Nestor Kahano from the Special Operation Section of the Office of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division, Police Regional Office 8 at Camp Kangleon, Palo, Leyte is one of the ten COPS Awardees who to the term of President Arroyo, have proven that the country has succeeded in professionalizing the Philippine National Police.

General dela Paz expressed hope that SPO3 Kahano will serve as an inspiration to the other policemen in the Region to continue with their good deeds, ever aware that gallantry, professionalism, integrity and commitment to service are essential to ensure public safety and peace and order in the Region.

The awardees were presented trophies and cash incentives of P150,000.00 each by the President, courtesy of the Metrobank Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Manila East.

Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro who is this year’s chairperson of the board of judges expressed her being inspired not only by the accomplishments of the awardees but by the performance of all who made it to the list of finalists.

She said that the country has many admirable police office and it is really unfair for society to make generalizations every time that they hear bad things happening in the police institution.

The other members of the board of judges were Manila 3rd District Representative Miles Roces, Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Atty. Bienvenido Laguesma, director of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Quezon City Chapter, and Isagani Yambot, publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The winners under the commissioned officers category were Police Supts. Policarpio C. Cayabyab Jr., Chief of Police of the Calasiao Police Station in Pangasinan; Tomasito T. Clet, Chief of Police of Iriga City Police Station in Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Felicidad R. Gido, Police Station II Commander in Galas, Quezon City; and Edgar G. Iglesia, Chief of Intelligence, Research and Analysis Division, Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response in Camp Crame.

The COPS awardees in the non-commissioned officers category were SPO4 Mercedes M. Garcia, Deputy Chief, Police Community Relations Branch, Baguio City Police Office; PO3 Tejanne Q. Zarzoso, Women and Children’s Desk, Cabadbaran Municipal Police Station in Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office; SPO1 Recto Valeriano of the Police Community Relation, 509th Police Provincial Mobile Group in Bulan,Sorsogon,  PO2 Rodel G. Javison, Investigation and Police Community Relations Office, Police Regional Office 12 in General Santos City Police Office; and PO3 Rosalie D. Somblingo, Women and Children Concern Desk, Police Precinct 5, General Santos City Police Office.

Military urges media to pursue factual reporting

By ELI C. DALUMPINES, (PIA Samar)
July 6, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar   –  Military authorities here clarified that they cared less whether reports are in their favor or against them as long as the media pursues factual reporting.

Maj. Mangintonong Tocalo, who heads the 8th Infantry Division’s Civil Military Office (CMO), urged members of the media during the organization of the Army Press Corps Tuesday to report events as happened as the military do not have the intention to control them.

This, after some members of the media aired their apprehensions that the military might expect the Press Corps to work always on their side in building the image of the organization.

Maj. Tocalo reminded the media that there is no substitute for factual reporting if they want to perform their task in informing the public of the events that took place in the community. “By this I mean factual reporting devoid of any bias,” the army officer stressed.

The CMO chief noted that the military really need the partnership of media in informing the people what is happening to their anti-insurgency program in the face of the strong propaganda campaign launched by the left to discredit the government and the military.

He cited the case of the aborted coup staged by some military officers, in collusion with elements of communist rebels, last May where the military was placed in the limelight because the media and the people gave in to the propaganda of the left.

He said the report that a group composed of disgruntled soldiers and opportunist communist rebels were planning to overthrow the government was true but nobody heeded them. “Munitk na tayong tumaob noon pero ayaw ng mga tao na maniwala,” he admitted.

The military officer noted that the army might be able to address the communists’ armed threat but that would come to naught if there is no one to inform the public of what the issues really are.

PGMA meets with the development plotters of Central Philippines

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 6, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte   –  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her Cabinet will meet with the regional development councils of Regions 4B, 5, 6, 7 and 8, comprising the Central Philippines on July 7, 2006 at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, pursuant to her thrust of  reaching out to various local government leaders to review and revitalize investment and development blueprints from a supra-regional perspective.

Southern Leyte Governor Rosette Lerias, chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Eastern Visayas informed PIA that she, together with the Executive Committee of RDC 8, are looking forward to attending the scheduled meeting with the President in Cebu. Output of the discussions will be strategic thrusts and priority undertakings to be presented to the President for possible inclusion in the SONA and the proposed 2007 national budget, as well as LGU development and spending.

The Executive Committee of RDC 8 is composed of the RDC chair and co chair, the Vice Chair who is NEDA Director Buenaventura Gosoco, RDC Secretary Emma Sanopo, the Governors of the six provinces in the Region, the four City Mayors, the President of the League of Municipalities of Leyte, the President of the League of Municipalities of Biliran, the Private Sector Representative Chair, among others.

It would be remembered that President Arroyo wishes that her July 24 State of the Nation Address (SONA) vision should come from the perspective of the regional development councils as her partners in governance, hence, the Regional leaders and sectors will participate more intensively in planning, monitoring and fine-tuning development programs and projects in their regions.

The consultative planning and collaboration was hoped to be done on a mega-scale with four multi-regional groupings. The North Luzon which is composed of Regions 1, 2 and CAR, Aurora and Nueva Ecija, has had its planning task together with President Arroyo and her Cabinet on June 16, at Cauayan, Isabela.

The second group is the Metro Luzon composed of Regions 3, 4A and NCR has met with the President before the President’s trip to Europe. The same is true with the fourth group, Mindanao, which is composed of Regions 9-13 and ARMM.

The enlarged development areas, the President believes, will boost economic and market potentials beyond what each region can generate, with economies of scale, synergies and complementation that will be more attractive to investors. In addition, a larger resource base of each mega-region will be available for the provision of social services and pump-priming infrastructure especially for the poorer provinces.

Actress Tessie Tomas praises Mayor Uy, requests for presence in tourist spots

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, (PIA Samar)
July 5, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar – Actress Tessie Tomas who visited Catbalogan town recently acknowledged the cleaner Catbalogan courtesy of reigning mayor Coefredo "Tekwa" Uy.

Tessie who stars in GMAs Bahay Mo Ba ‘To was in town to shoot for "Balik-bayan", a new TV program on QTV (sister channel of GMA) about a celebrity oriented travel show.

Tessie paid a courtesy call to Mayor Uy, the day she arrived in Catbalogan. Talks with the mayor’s tourism officer Kenneth Lim centered on Sunset Beach, Buri, Guinsorongan and Cal-apog. Eateries like Ratchet, Cocina de Cabral and Boulevard also were suggested. Tomas also said she wanted to find out the nightlife in her hometown. Lim was quick to suggest the Boulevard, a series of barbeque stalls in Arteche Boulevard that become alive at nighttime. They also serve dinner and drinks.

Though Tessie was enthusiastic about the cleaning of Catbalogan, Uy managed a shy smile in response to the effervescent actress’ comments on his job in Catbalogan.

Uy who considers himself media shy was unable to shy away from the media who hounded him after Tessie’s departure. The mayor then started talking.

Uy said that there are volunteers he lured into taking P140.00 a day to clean the streets twice a day. However, he expressed disappointment over some vendors who would just put their trash anywhere for reasons that there are street cleaners.

Uy has been credited for having the political will to remove sidewalk vendors in Catbalogan, shanties and mobile vendors practically littering the town’s busy thoroughfares. Uy was likewise bold enough to remove mobile vendors in the marketside giving them stalls instead to display their products. He told PIA that he himself would personally talk to the grumbling vendors about his objectives for a cleaner Catbalogan.

He also removed parked PUBs and PUJs by renting a part of PPA property and converting it into a Catbalogan Bus Terminal. Catbalogan streets have been reduced of parked public utility vehicles waiting of passengers.

As for Tessie’s comment that there are more pedicabs than people, Uy was quick to reason out that pedicab driving is the easiest means to earn a living in downtown Catbalogan. "To remove them is to invite commission of petty crimes," the mayor said.

"With them, money circulates only in Catbalogan," he added. "They do not buy gas or fuel that goes out of Catbalogan."

"Besides," he said, "there are less accidents."

He just vowed to make these drivers more informed by making them attend seminars on proper driving when they get their license yearly.

Stepped-up anti-insurgency campaign not purely a military approach

By BONG PEDALINO, (PIA Southern Leyte)
July 4, 2006

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte – The special fund that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced recently in Isabela which was set aside to defeat the decades-old insurgency problem in the country, solving it using the money in two year’s time, was not an all-out war viewed from a purely military perspective, a senior Cabinet official revealed here July 1.

Secretary Gabriel Claudio, the Presidential Assistant for Political Affairs, explained that a good part of the P1 Billion allocation "will be used for projects intended for the socio-economic upliftment of the poor in the countryside, from whom the armed wing of the communist movement – the New People’s Army -- oftentimes finds protection, support, and comfort."

"The P1 Billion fund will not go wholly to the buying of arms, ammunition, and military equipment. As I have said, a good component of it will go to infrastructure and social development projects to improve the plight of the impoverished in the countryside thereby addressing the root causes of rebellion itself," Claudio said in a speech at the provincial Capitol grounds, this city, marking the 46th founding anniversary celebration of the province where he was the keynote speaker.

He took potshots at the President’s detractors, calling their reaction on the renewed anti-insurgency drive to wipe out communist terrorists "alarmist, false, and deceitful propaganda."

The opposition and several militant groups had charged that the money will just be used to further decimate the ranks of activist leaders in what has been described as an eerie "murder fund" of some kind, but this was flatly denied by top military officers and civilian officials.

At the press conference in the Governor’s office following the anniversary luncheon, Claudio reiterated that the solution to the lingering insurgency was a two-fold approach.

One was the military way, which was no less than the enforcement of existing laws of the land.

"Another was based on providing enough opportunities for economic enterprise" by seeing to it that the overall peace and order situation in the country was stable and secure, Claudio emphasized.