As part of Yolanda recovery effort

TACLOBAN CITY –Several big ticket projects are to be funded by the national government as part of the rehabilitation effort in the aftermath of supertyphoon Yolanda here in Leyte.
The projects, running into hundreds of million of pesos, are to be implemented in the towns of Palo, Tanauan and here in the city, three of the hardest-hit areas in Leyte.
Among the projects identified under the provincial recovery and rehabilitation plan submitted by the provincial government under Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla includes housing projects, redevelopment of the Government Center in Palo town and the possible relocation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport to Palo town from Tacloban.
These so-called priority rehabilitation projects were presented to Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson, represented by his assistant secretary, Victor Batac, during the consultative meeting held at the Governor’s Hall of the Leyte Provincial Capitol held on February 7.
For Palo, the projects include the Barayong Housing Project in Barangay Barayong, where 500 houses are to be built and to be undertaken by the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) together with the provincial government; the 4.5 kilometer East-Bypass-Road that would run along Brgys. Pawing, Campetic, Guindapunan, San Jose and Arado.
Also included is the Guindapunan Residential and Growth Center which sits on a 34 hectare area and is located 1.5 kilometers north from the town proper of Palo. The area is already home to a number of residential subdivisions and some private commercial establishments.
The provincial government will also focus on the Pawing and Campetic Growth Center which has an initial area of 10 hectares and is located, 2.5 kilometers north of the town.
An estimated P343 million funding is needed for the area’s development.
Also among the priority is the regional and provincial center to house provincial and regional offices of the government.
This is being prioritized as the national rehabilitation plan called for imposing the no-built zone, 40-meter from the shoreline.
Another is the possible relocation of the Tacloban Airport to Palo town. The area proposed for the new airport is 300 hectares and is about 4.3 kilometers south of the town proper.
Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said she is intent in realizing this project together with the support of the national government as this will boost its economy.
However, despite of the plan to relocate the region’s premier airport to Palo town away from the city, the national government would still fund for its rehabilitation.
About P115 million was estimated to cost for the repair of its shoreline protection, runway and terminal building which was damaged during the supertyphoon.
Also, expansion of the Tacloban Port Area is also being considered. The proposal is to expand the port area to the old Children’s Park, a provincial property adjacent to the present port area
Also included in the priority is the Tanauan relocation housing project where about 260 hectares is made available for housing units intended for families whose houses were destroyed by Yolanda.

AHLETTE C. REYES
Correspondent

TACLOBAN CITY- – Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman highlighted the need for sturdier, more dependable housing units for Yolanda-affected families of Tacloban. This statement came after Soliman inspected a number of the bunk houses. The development is meant to serve as a temporary shelter especially for those families who are within the “no build zones”, according to the new government policy that aims to safeguard those who are in the 40-meter danger area along the shorelines.
Soliman stressed out that the bunk houses are estimated to last 3 to 5 years and therefore a need exists for “permanent” housing solution when this timetable lapses. The official also noted that these bunk houses are still just a small part of the immediate response mechanism put in place by the DSWD not the “long term” solution for the displaced.
DSWD is optimistic about the project lead by the city government of Tacloban to secure more than 70 hectares of land in the northern district. An area that will now become the permanent settlement for displaced families. The proposed involve single-detached units with 20 square meters of floors space. Soliman hopes that these housing units will be available in time for the closing of the bunk houses.
Shelter is not the only concern, DSWD is looking into other services like security, camp management, food production and livelihood for families are issues also being considered. DSWD has arranged for Tesda to provide livelihood trainings to respective communities.
“Kompleto po na tinitingnan ng gobyerno ang mga concerns sa bunk houses, pinakaimportante dito yung livelihood dahil kailangan naman na kumita at mabuhay yung mga beneficiary natin; so definitely we are providing a total package for them to fully recover after Yolanda,” Soliman stressed.
Meanwhile in an interview with city information officer, Bernardita Valenzuela, the official announced about 30 barangays in Tacloban have “no build zone” areas; with 13,244 families affected. This situation prompted the city government to push its Comprehensive Community Development Partnership Program and actively look for donors to finance the mass housing project.
Currently, more than 6,500 houses and community facilities are being funded by the aforementioned program with the Philippine National Red Cross donating 5,000 units. Other organizations involved include Habitat for Humanity, GMA foundation, SOS Children’s Village Tacloban, Inc., Kimse Yokmu and Zonta.

(Regin Olimberio, Communitere)

TACLOBAN CITY – Wastes coming from the hospitals needs to be disposed properly to avoid possible spread of disease.
With this goal, the ACTED (Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development) has been going around in all hospitals in Tacloban to gather and collect all of their wastes.
The group collects about 100 cubic meters of solid waste a day. The ACTED started their hospital wastes gathering on November 19, 2013.
Collecting these wastes from the hospitals would deter possible occurrence of diseases, said its project manager Engr. Francis Lloyd Cinco.
He said that if these hospital wastes like gloves, syringes and medicine bottles, would not be disregarded, there is a high possibility that diseases would be developed.
“These hospital wastes must not be disregarded by the government. These must be collected and thrown in a proper area where there are no houses that will be distracted by the bad odor of those waste,” Cinco said.
All wastes collected by their group are being dumped at the northern village of Santo Nino where Tacloban’s open dump site is located.
The dump is far from any houses, schools, office and other structure, Cinco said.
“It is the duty and responsibility of the hospital to segregate their waste. Our (only) duty is to collect and throw their waste in dump site,” he added.
The ACTED collects the wastes coming from all hospitals in Tacloban. Hospitals from the towns of Palo, Tanauan and Burauen, all in Leyte, are also being cover by their wastes collection.
Cinco said that all their 80 volunteers are being paid by the ACTED at P260 a day of work. All of them wear safety gears such as safety mask, safety goggles, hand gloves and boots.

By: RYAN GABRIEL LLOSA ARCENAS