TACLOBAN CITY – The lighting of the San Juanico Bridge will result in more economic activities in communities located near the iconic bridge.
Thus said Tourism Regional Director Karena Rosa Tiopes who said that they are projecting that more business establishments will mushroom in the area that could result to employment to the local people.
Among them are boat owners who reside in communities in Tacloban and Samar side of the bridge who can provide tourists boat rentals for those who want to see the lighting of San Juanico while at the sea.
“Actually, that is one of the possibilities that was already discussed, and this needs to be looked into for the safety of tourists,” Tiopes said.
“If there are locals who want to organized tours across San Juanico they need to be trained especially on the part of safety. There is nothing wrong with it for as long as they will be organized and trained,” she added.
Tiopes added that once a group is organized into a people organization, they can easily ask assistance from other government agencies for training, funding, and other assistance that they will be needing.
Currently only one tourism enterprise is providing activity at the bridge, the San Juanico Cruises, that provides not only a tour along San Juanico Strait and visits to some of the islets near San Juanico Bridge but also to tourist destinations along the coastlines in Marabut area.
Tiopes said that it used to be two but the other tour operators stopped their operations after their boats were destroyed by typhoon Ursula last December 2019.
The lighting of San Juanico Bridge is now more than 75 percent completed according to the Engr. Cris Dela Rea, lighting director of Amigo Entertainment Technologies Inc which handles the P80-million worth project.
The contractor is targeting to finish the project by end of November and will be turn over to the provincial government before Christmas.
The project was proposed in 2015 to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) by former Samar governor and now Rep. Sharee Ann Tan.
The project was target to be finished last May. However, due to restriction as effect of the current pandemic, works were temporary stopped and only resumed last August.
Rep. Tan, in a press statement, said that she is looking forward to the completion of the project and to the day that tourism activities will be back again for visitors to witness and experience the hospitality, culture, food and sites in Samar province.
“The COVID-19 had slowed our effort but just like our experience during Yolanda, we remain resilient and positive that this too shall pass,”she said.
Meanwhile, Governor Michael Tan said that the project reflects the aspiration of the province to become the niche in the tourism industry.
“As the light significantly reflects the aesthetic experience, it will also create a mood that will stimulate the mind and motivate our people to strive,” he said in a separate press statement. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
Lighting project at San Juanico Bridge projected to result in mushrooming of business locators
Tacloban City records drop in dengue cases
TACLOBAN CITY-The number of dengue cases of this city dropped by 74 percent from 319 on January 1 to October 10, compared to 2,681 with 11 deaths in the same period last year, the City Health Office (CHO) disclosed in a report released on Wednesday.
Based on the data obtained from the dengue surveillance tracker, among the five villages here which were included in the list with the highest dengue cases as of October 10, Barangay 95 Caibaan tops the number of dengue infections with 16 dengue-afflicted individuals or 5.03 percent.
This was followed by Brgy. 62-B in Sagkahan with 15 cases, Brgy. 91 Abucay, 14; Brgy. 75 Naga-naga, 13, and Brgy. 74, 10.
Likewise, it was seen that 136 males were afflicted with the illness which is equivalent to 53.96 percent of the total number of cases that were documented. The age ranged from 1 month to 67 years old with a median of 33 years old.
Of the said figures, however, CHO said that no clustering of cases was noted, and only four deaths were recorded from morbidity week 1-41.
Meantime, despite the significant drop in cases this year, the public is still reminded not to be complacent and follow the 5S strategy to continuously decline the number along with the practice for infection prevention and control measures for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The 5S program emphasizes the search and destroy of possible breeding sites of dengue-carrier mosquitoes; self-protection measures like wearing long-sleeves and pants; and to seek early consultation if experiencing two days of fever; say yes to fogging only in hotspots where dengue cases are on the rise and sustain hydration.
Apart from the said campaign, the local health workers are encouraged to continue their efforts against dengue and other infection prevention, as well as reiterate the importance of community involvement in search and destroy operations to maintain the decrease of cases. (TACLOBAN CITY INFORMATION OFFICE)
P72-million infra projects seen to boost economy, tourism in a Leyte town
TACLOBAN CITY – The finished infrastructure projects in Leyte town now serve and enhance or boost the economy of the municipality and nearby areas, a report from the office of Leyte provincial governor, based in this city, said.
Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla told reporters in an interview that the concreted road including the bridge and other related infrastructure projects worth P72 million leading to Kalabato Hot Spring, in La Paz town is now serving the constituents and the tourist destination of the town.
Petilla said that the road enhances the economic activity and provides opportunities for residents of the town through easier transport of commodities and products to and from the market.
He added that the infrastructure projects also boost the tourist’ destination of the municipality.
In an earlier interview, Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that the road in the newly-identified tourism spot in La Paz town will surely attract more local and foreign tourists with the infrastructure now in place.
Tiopes explained that the construction of the infrastructure was made possible through the Tourism Road Infrastructure Projects (TRIP), a project convergence between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The Kalabato Hot Spring is located within the Mahagnao Volcano National Park, a protected zone with an area of 635 hectares situated within the boundaries of the municipalities of La Paz, Burauen and McArthur, all in Leyte.
Other attractions of the tourist destination, aside from the hot spring, are the lush forest and the wildlife species like the various kinds of birds, tarsiers and monkeys that abound in the area.
(RESTITUTO A.CAYUBIT)
Escape rearrested in Biliran town
TACLOBAN CITY- Police rearrested a 43-year-old inmate who bolted from jail in Caibiran, Biliran on Wednesday (October 7).
The escapee, identified as Jaime Bacarisas, requested for a sunning for his health condition when he suddenly ran away from the custodial guard of Caibiran Municipal Police Station around 11:55 am.
Caibiran police led Lieutenant Ruel Sitoy, officer- in- charge, and Biliran Provincial Mobile Force Platoon led by Senior Master Sergeant Ronie Inocentes immediately conducted a hot pursuit operation and rearrested the escapee around 1:40 pm on that day at Sitio Banacod, Barangay Victory of the said town.
Bacarisas was accused for violation of Republic Act 9262 or Violence against Women and their Children.
(RONALD O. REYES)