The San Juanico Bridge was in full purple color on Sunday(Sept.11) night to honor on Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom who died last Sept. 8. (Photo Courtesy)
The San Juanico Bridge was in full purple color on Sunday(Sept.11) night to honor on Queen Elizabeth II of United Kingdom who died last Sept. 8. (Photo Courtesy)
TACLOBAN CITY-Eastern Visayas’ iconic San Juanico Bridge, which connects Leyte and Samar Islands, turned purple on Sunday night to honor Queen Elizabeth II who passed last Thursday.
Purple is a color associated to royalties.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, on her Facebook post, said that the world’s longest-serving monarch has ‘inspired many Samarnon women to become leaders.’
“Her life was a testament of unwavering commitment and her 70-year reign as Queen was marked with gentleness and a mother’s loving touch. Her sense of duty is something that we should all emulate,” she said.
“From across the continents, we offer our sincere condolences to the loved ones she left behind and the people she so honorably served,” Tan added.
The 2.1 kms San Juanico Bridge is now undergoing some rehabilitations which include the aesthetic lighting project at a cost of P80 million funded by the Department of Tourism’s infrastructure and enterprise zone authority.
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr., it was learned, is expected to lead in a ceremony for the formal opening of the said aesthetic lighting project.
The San Juanico Bridge, once the country’s longest bridge, was built during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. as a gift to his wife, Imelda, who is from Leyte.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
TACLOBAN CITY- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed the construction of a multi-purpose building intended to be used as a proper venue for social and community events for the residents of Barangay 1 in Jaro, Leyte.
The P4.9-million project was implemented by DPWH-Leyte Second District Engineering Office, funded under the FY-2022 multi-purpose buildings/facilities to support the social services of the communities.
According to District Engineer Leo Edward Oppura, the facility measures 453-square meters and has an existing structural concrete framework, floor slab, and roofing in the main building.
The district office works on the expansion of the building with the provision of additional footing, columns and beams, installation of roofing, comfort rooms, concrete bleachers, electrical wiring, lighting fixtures, doors, and other finishing touches.
The construction of the project was reported to have been completed on August 12, 2022 and is now ready to be utilized by the local residents.
This completed multi-purpose building could also be considered as a quick disaster response to the residents of Barangay 1 in providing a temporary shelter in times of calamities.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
A local police from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte conducts interview to Joselyn Murillo,49, and her two grandsons John Mark,9, and France Mhyrell,8 after their motorized pump boat capsized off the waters in San Ricardo. Also on board were her son, Edgar and his wife, Belinda. (San Ricardo MPS)
A local police from San Ricardo, Southern Leyte conducts interview to Joselyn Murillo,49, and her two grandsons John Mark,9, and France Mhyrell,8 after their motorized pump boat capsized off the waters in San Ricardo. Also on board were her son, Edgar and his wife, Belinda. (San Ricardo MPS)
ORMOC CITY- A family of five persons survived when the boat they were on board capsized about 7:30 am on Saturday (Sept 10) off the waters in Southern Leyte.
Police Lieutenant Jaraid Dollesin, chief of police of San Ricardo town, identified the victims as Joselyn Murillo, 49, her son Edgar Jr.28, and his wife Belinda, 27, and their children John Mark, 9, and France Mhyrell, 8, all residents of Barangay Benit, San Ricardo.
Lt. Dollesin, in a telephone interview, disclosed that the pump boat departed from their village about before 7 am bound for Lipata, Surigao del Norte.
However, their motorized pump boat encountered big waves that resulted for it to capsize.
However, follow-up information was received by their station disclosed that the capsized motor pump boat and victims were rescued by the crews of M/V Maria Vanissa of Montenegro Shipping which happened to be at the area going to the port of Liloan, Southern Leyte.
(ROBERT DEJON)
An hour-long fire gutted a machine shop and a residential house in Baybay City last Sept.9 with arson investigators have yet to determine the cause.
(PHOTO COURTESY)
An hour-long fire gutted a machine shop and a residential house in Baybay City last Sept.9 with arson investigators have yet to determine the cause. (PHOTO COURTESY)
ORMOC CITY- A machine shop and a nearby house were turned to ashes when a fire of still unknown origin gutted the area about 4:05 AM on Sept. 9) at Zone 15, Baybay City.
Acting City Fire Marshal, S/Insp Fernando Mandia, identified the house owners as Victoriano Yu, 71, the machine shop owner, and Rodrigo Albarico Fernandez, 67, married, both residents of Zone-15 in the said city.
It was learned that the fire started at the machine shop.
Initial investigation conducted by SFO1 Al Sta. Iglesia, duty fire investigator, disclosed that the fire started while Yu was sleeping inside his nipa hut which is located nearby to his machine shop.
Yu told fire investigators that he heard a burst sound prompting him to get up from his bed and look outside where he noticed a fire that emanated from his machine shop.
He immediately took a fire extinguisher with the intention of putting off the fire but to no avail.
Sta. Iglesia said that because there are flammable materials inside the machine shop, the fire immediately engulfed the entire machine shop.
Unfortunately, it reached the adjacent house owned by Fernandez, which is made of light materials and was partially gutted with an estimated worth of damages for the adjacent house P200,000.
The damage to the machine shop owned by Yu is estimated to be worth P2 million.
The fire was under control at around 4:32 am and was totally out at around 4:50 am.
No casualty was reported as the fire office has yet to determine the origin of the fire incident.
(ROBERT DEJON)
ORMOC CITY- A fire incident in Catbalogan City gutted down 13 houses with fire operatives have yet to disclose the cause of the incident as of press time.
The fire incident that took place in Barangay San Pedro started at
Thirteen families lost their houses and properties when this was turned to ashes after a huge fire about 11:20 in the morning on Thursday (Sept 8) in Brgy. San Pedro, Catbalogan City Samar.
Catbalogan Fire Marshall Sr. Insp. Walter Magbutay identified the affected house owners as Junil Rosario, Martin Palardon, Maricel Pagliawan, Myra Macaspag, Evelyn Artates, Junil Nabaunag, Eva Gonzales, Tiboy Gonzales, Lanlan Gonzales, Archie Gonzales, Emilia Orsal, Patty Mendoza and Billy Dacanay.
Fire and arson investigator SFO1 Glady Barral, in a telephone interview, disclosed that the fire started at the house of Artates and spread quickly as the houses were mostly made of light materials.
She added that the fire was controlled about 11:45 am and was declared totally fire out at about 12: 10 pm.
The fire office is still investigating the cause of the fire with damages placed at over P1 million.
(ROBERT DEJON)
CALBAYOG CITY-Sixty days after his assumption into office, Mayor Raymund C. Uy has proven that he means business when he set that transparency, restoration of order, dynamic economy, and future orientation for Calbayog shall be his banner programs for the local government.
To promote transparency in his administration, he centralized the procurement systems, works and processes. He also encouraged all the departments under LGU Calbayog to use social media platforms to showcase their respective work accomplishments and use the same as a means to communicate or disseminate ideas or information to the clients or constituents.
To pivot LGU Calbayog back to the prescribed systems, processes, and work methods as mandated by law, the city mayor encouraged the Business Permit and Licensing Office to revisit the business permit status of all existing establishments in Calbayog.
He also spearheaded the restoration of order, cleanliness and sanitation along city streets by initiating relocation to the public market with financial assistance for displaced illegal street vendors.
Mayor Uy has also ordered the prompt payment of salary for regular employees. Furthermore, he ordered the updated payment of job order workers such as traffic enforcers, community mobilizers, street sweepers, watchmen, drivers, security and technical staff, and contract of services.
As a result last July and August 2022, salary and/or wages for employees under Job Orders and Contract of Services schemes were already given, a far cry from the previous practice wherein wages of the Jos were delayed by several months.
In support to the thrust for back to normalcy, the members of the Sanggunian Panlungsod have conducted series of public consultations with representatives from the riding public and the transport groups to discuss new traffic rules, route and fare regulations.
To boost the economic activities in the locality, the incumbent administration has pushed tourism as one of its core programs.
By revisiting the existing tourist spots, it is sending signal to both domestic and foreign tourists, including potential investors, that Calbayog is now open for business. The construction boom nowadays is proof that business and other income generating opportunities abound across the city.
To support the local farmers and fishermen in Calbayog, the LGU through the City Agriculture Office, launched the Agri-Aqua Fair that displayed for sale farm and marine products from the locality. Such activity is geared towards giving marketing assistance and opportunity to local farmers and fishermen to augment their income.
Mayor Uy also inaugurated the new hanging bridge going to Barangay Palanogan.
According to the Local Chief Executive, having road access in far-flung areas will make the transport of farm products easier and faster, thus the residents in these barangays will be able to earn a living.
To further boost the dynamic economy of the city, Puregold Calbayog Branch opened last September 8, 2022. Its presence in the locality opens additional business and employment opportunities for the Samareños.
In keeping up with recent trends, LGU Calbayog is implementing digitalization and full automation of business permit and licensing processes to uphold transparency, eliminate corruption and discrimination, and promote speedy transactions.
This September, Mayor Uy spearheaded the launching of the Management Information System Command Center that monitors the 80 CCTV cameras installed in major thoroughfares within the city proper. These CCTV cameras monitor both criminality and garbage littering. In addition, Mayor Uy is set to open 911 hotline.
In accordance with the future orientation thrust of the LGU, the management of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) set up GSIS Service Desk in Calbayog City to bring the agency’s services nearer to its clients.
Last September 9, 2022, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Calbayog Offsite Office was formally opened.
According to Mayor Uy, the satellite office of the PRC here in Calbayog will be a big help in accommodating the transactions not only for the Calbayognons but for the entire Samar Island.
