Like Tacloban, Palo was similarly hit hard by supertyphoon Yolanda. The new municipal building was partially damaged, hundreds of dwellings flattened, some public school buildings got shattered and many more. Yolanda! Yes Yolanda!
Three months after the fury, Palo literally has shown a realistic Bangon Palo. Through Mayor Matin’s relentless efforts to rehabilitate the town she has gone out of her way to seek assistance from all over – to concerned both government functionaries and benevolent private sectors.
Noticeably, an agricultural center will he set up in a five-hectare lot owned by Atty. Ramon Pedrosa, son of philanthropist Pio Pedrosa, now residing in Manila. This area will be planted with vegetables, put up a seedling bank.
Don Bosco sets up 17 dwellings in Candahug.
Thirty-eight day care centers are being rehabilitated, all sourced from local funds.
These are some of the few I saw and heard. There are a lot more that the lady mayor did to show sterling and sincere leadership in reviving what was Palo before Yolanda.
Before the Yolanda fury, Palo was haven especially in the evening when one enters the town from both ways. From Sta. Fe down to Palo – from Tanauan entering Palo the streets were beautifully lighted, with special colorful lights – a thrilling ride experience before entering Tacloban.
-oOo-
We heard of land breaking ceremonies for housing projects in Barayong, and livelihood projects and in support with DAR; a birthing clinic in Anahaway is established and in some other barangays of Palo. This is one of the major projects of Matin and a lot more since she assumed office and now in her second term as mayor of Palo.
We are putting some of these achievements on record, in response to what we hear of some commentators in broadcast media saying anything negative about the lady mayor. Of course, this few, I repeat, few of them just love to criticize the Petillas especially Mayor Matin via twisting facts and virtually lie, not to inform people but to please their bosses from the other fence of our political divide here in Leyte.
ME? I simply express happy thoughts about Matin and the Petilla political group because it is clear: They do their jobs well. They do not cry in public to generate sympathy for the problems they are confronted with. They solve them as they should be.
-oOo-
A memo agreement was signed lately between Alfonso G. Sy, resident, of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FFCCI) and Leyte Gov. Leopoldo “Mic” Petilla for the construction of 500 houses and 5 school buildings for Yolanda victims. This was done in Malacañang and witnessed by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III.
