PALO, Leyte – Nearly 10 months after submitting nominations, the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Eastern Visayas still wait for the appointment of a new RDC chair that will lead the region’s highest policy-making body until 2016. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Bonifacio Uy, acting RDC chairman, is clueless as to when the appointment will be issued by the Malacanang. “We’re hoping that the decision will come out soon. I believe that the administration is working on it. It’s just difficult to speculate when,” Uy said. On August 22, 2013, the body nominated Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari and Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong as possible chair of the RDC. Under Executive Order No. 325, qualified to head the RDC as chair and co-chair are the provincial governors, mayors of capital towns and cities, presidents of league of municipalities in six provinces, and private sector representatives (PSR). According to rules, Petilla is not legible to head the body considering that she’s not anymore the president of League of Municipalities in Leyte and Palo is not a capital town. However, the lady mayor, insisted in earlier interviews that the league permanently assigned her as the representative to the RDC after its president Javier, Leyte Mayor Leonardo Javier was elected as the league’s national president. The RDC chairmanship in Eastern Visayas has been vacated since November 2012 when President Aquino appointed then governor Carlos Jericho Petilla as Energy Secretary. RDC co-chairman Tiburcio Morales also resigned late 2012. On May 16, President Benigno Aquino appointed new RDC chairpersons Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo Del Rosario (Region 11), Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado (Region 3), Albay Gov. Joey Salceda (Region 5), Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto (Region 7) and Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas (Region 13). (SARWELL Q.MENIANO)

PALO, Leyte- Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin visited the Republic of Korea Joint Support Group a.k.a. “ARAW” Contingents on June 10, on their base camp, located in Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte. Accompanying his visit were Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) – Alexander Pama, AFP Central Command Chief- Major General John Bonafos, 8th Infantry Division Commander- Jet Velarmino, The Korean Ambassador to the Philippines- Lee Hyuk, and other top officials from the Philippines. Sec.Gazmin arrived in Tacloban at around 8:30am, visited the different schools and buildings repaired by the ARAW troops, including the Leyte Provincial Hospital and the Department of Education Region 8 building. He expressed his satisfaction upon seeing the well- repaired structures. He also visited the ARAW Vocational School which was the ‘Heavy Equipment’ training program and was glad of the school’s progress. Sec.Gazmin’s purpose in visiting the ARAW troops was actually to give them an award in recognition of their rehabilitation efforts in Yolanda-battered areas. He presented them with the BaKas Parangal Award, an award given to the group for exhibiting exemplary dedication and selflessness in all the help they offered and inspiring the Filipinos. He expressed his gratitude during the ceremony following the speeches given by the ARAW Commander, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, and the Korean Ambassador to the Philippines. The Philippines is really grateful to the South Korean government and most especially to the ARAW troops for their help and dedication. “Thank you for your noble service, exemplary heroism, and friendship,” Sec. Gazmin said. After the ceremony, the secretary was quickly interviewed by the local media then took a quick tour around the base camp. He also sponsored and enjoyed lunch together with the troops. (PR)

TACLOBAN CITY- The provincial board of Leyte approved for the second time the annual budget for 2014 in the amount of P1.70 billion. Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) return the proposed budget due to failure to comply some required forms, Leyte Vice Governor Carlo Loreto, presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, said. And on June 9, the provincial board approved anew the P1,701,210,844 budget after they complied the needed forms asked by the DBM. Vice Gov. Loreto said that they approved the budget October of last year but it was returned to them by the DBM for some corrections. The DBM reviews and approves annual budgets of provincial governments. Among the required forms that were not complied according to the manual of DBM included form of the local finance committee and form to be signed by Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla. The budget was sent immediately by the provincial board after complying the corrections, Loreto said. Loreto said that the 2014 budget is 10% higher than the 2013 budget. The provincial government of Leyte programs, thrusts and priorities are information and communication technology, tourism development, livelihood for the youth with values formation, improved health care and nutrition, upgraded facilities and personnel services, infrastructure program. (LIZBETH ANN ABELLA)

TACLOBAN CITY – Opposition members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, this city, expressed their irritation over the non-appearance of an executive of Mayor Alfred Romualdez. Maria Lagman, head of the City Housing Board, was requested to appear before the members of the city council to give them update on the housing rehabilitation plan. But instead of Lagman heeding on their request to appear before them during their regular session on June 4, what they received was a letter from the chief of staff of Mayor Romualdez, lawyer Czarina Aquitania. Aquitania, in her letter to the city council, was said to have said that they could raise their queries by writing a communication to Lagman instead of asking her to appear before them. This, obviously, did not sit well among opposition members of the city council.
Councilor Neil Glova, leading member of the opposition bloc at the council, said that Aquitania’s action was a “mockery.” Glova said that whenever the Executive Branch makes a request to them for a certain matter, they immediately accede and accommodate such request. But if they were the ones asking a request from the Executive Branch, they were being rebuffed or turned down just like their request for Lagman to appear before them. Councilor Raizza Villasin, another member of the opposition bloc, said that time is of the essence and writing letters to the officials of the City Hall and writing their query will only consume time. Councilor Dalisay Herpe said that Lagman should appear before the city council as problems have been noted in the temporary shelters and in tent city, particularly on fire incident in Barangay Costa Brava that killed a mother and her five children. Councilor Willie Domingo, considered to be an administration ally, said that the Executive Branch should learn to respect their rights as members of the Legislative Branch. Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, presiding officer of the council, said that the presence of Lagman could provide them correct information about the city master plan on shelter which is the centerpiece of Tacloban City rehabilitation plan. He added that when the city mayor had requested for them to conduct a special session last week for the passage of the resolution to allow him to expropriate lands in northern barangays intended for temporary shelters and for allowing the municipality of Basey, Samar to dump their Yolanda debris at the dumpsite of the city, they granted the request of the city mayor even they were on recess. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)