“Sambo” proposes incentives to Tomeco personnel

TACLOBAN CITY – Personnel of the Traffic Operation Management Enforcement and Control Office(Tomeco) would soon be receiving an incentive once a proposed ordinance recently submitted to the city council of Tacloban is approved. Authored by Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin, the proposed ordinance aims to give incentives to traffic personnel of the city whom Yaokasin described as “vulnerable to various health risks” due to the nature of their work. “We see them guiding our traffic rain or shine and this puts them into risk of getting illnesses,” Yaokasin said. He added that the current income that Tomeco officers are receiving does not compensate with their job. “That is why, they need to be given benefits and this will come from the income they generate from the citation tickets they issued among traffic violators,” Yaokasin explained. Based on his proposed ordinance, part of the fees collected from each citation ticket is to be put in a mutual fund of traffic enforcers, to be used for their health benefits. To ensure that traffic enforcers would not abuse giving citation tickets to motorist just to have bigger income for their mutual fund, a team from the Tomeco will be formed to verify if each citation ticket issued is valid. Yaokasin added that prior to the submittal of the proposed ordinance in the city council he made audience with Tomeco officials to discuss the proposed ordinance with them that gained positive feedback. The city councilor added that he is optimistic that this time, this proposed ordinance will be approved by the city council and will not suffer the same faith to the other ordinances he filed at city council. “I am always optimistic and I hope that this will be approved because many will benefit from it especially our traffic enforcers,” Yaokasin said.

I am ready to face charges – Mayor Cari

GOV’T CENTER, Palo, Leyte – “I am ready and will face that charges filed against me by my political enemies,” this was the strong reaction of Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari when asked to comment on the P7 million graft case filed against her last Oct. 31 at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas by what she called as her “political enemies”. Mayor Cari was among the local government officials who attended the activity of Department of Energy information and education campaign for the 2012-2030 Philippine Energy Plan program of the government held at the Oriental Hotel de Leyte. “I had been elected for several times in this position before I become a district representative and again as a city mayor, but no one has ever filed any case against me because I know every procedure that the government requires for us in the local government to follow to make our transaction valid,” explained Cari. “What they did was a plain political harassment against me, because they can find anything that could ruin my dignity and integrity as city mayor,” she stressed. She added that said graft and corruption complaint in the Ombudsman is a plain manifestation of retaliation of her political foes whom she early filed with libel case in the trial court at Baybay City. “But even I know that this is a political move, I will still face them in court and defend myself over their accusation,” she added. Although confident that she will overcome the case filed against her, she stressed that she would not want to make any more comment on the issue as she rather prefer to face those who filed the case against her in court. “Let’s just wait for the decision of the court for that case,” she stressed. The case filed against Mayor Cari by Vertillano Relevo, Agustin Bacusmo and Oscar Balan, alleged that in 2010 the city government of Baybay, the city government represented by Mayor Cari, purchased some office supplies, drugs and medicines amounting to P7,391,009.31 without the requisite public bidding as required by the Government Procurement Reform Act or R.A. 9184. Attached in the complaint was the Commission on audit report for year 2010 stating that ““Procurement of Office Supplies, Drugs and Medicines amounting to P7,391.009.31 in Calendar Year 2010 were not done thru public bidding instead shopping was resorted to even if the conditions were not met, contrary to Sections 10 and 52 of RA 9184, thus, there was no assurance that the lowest costs/volume discounts were not obtained that would have redound to the benefit of the Municipality.”

Tunga mayor faces 90-day preventive suspension

GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte – Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. confirmed that he had served the 90-day preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan against Tunga Mayor Amando Aumento. However, the suspension order was not directly served to Aumento as he was not at his office when was to served the suspensio order, Noval said. Aumento at that time was attending a function for local government officials at the Oriental Hotel de Leyte organized by the Department of Energy. “But we still served the suspension order as we posted it in his office, it was deem served even if we did it that way,” the director said. The resolution to issue the suspension order was based on the September 3, 2009 decision of the Office of the Ombudsman recommending the filing of graft charges against the mayor and the accountant, as it found probable cause for the violation of RA 3019 otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. The Ombudsman said that no public bidding was done in the procurement of the equipment and that the private contractor was paid the full amount of P1 million as disclosed on the disbursement voucher issued in August 9, 2005. The mayor and the LGU’s municipal accountant were both meted the same sanction in connection with the alleged conspiracy in the procurement of a land tractor amounting to P1 million without undergoing bidding in August 2005. Former vice mayor Isabel Nierras filed the complaint in 2005. Vice Mayor Jose Uribe was sworn-in into office by Noval as mayor of Tunga until such time that the suspension against Aumento is over. Noval added that the preventive suspension is final and executory and cannot be appealable in court. Media practitioners who were attending the seminar at Oriental Hotel were not able to get the reaction of Aumento as he left the venue immediately. Meanwhile, Palo Mayor and president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines – Leyte chapter Remedios “Matin” Petilla ,when asked to comment to the case of Aumento ,said that she was assured by the suspended mayor that he will face the charges and the suspension order served against him. “We had talked about it and he said that he will abide what the court had ordered,” said Petilla.

Unilever donates basketball court

TACLOBAN CITY – Filipinos are known to be fun loving people and always love recreation activities to include sports. Among sports, it is basketball that tops the most among the list of popular ball games. Reason why most towns and even barangays have basketball court; some are concrete, half-court and other are just improvised. This made Uniliver Philippines through its product Alaxan to implement a project that would not only promote sports but also revive the volunteerism spirits of Filipino, which we call “bayanihan” or “pintakasi” in local term. The bayanihan concept that Alaxan through its tag line “Alaxan Galing Mo!” is implementing is called “Court of Inspiration.” Ten selected areas in the Visayas and Mindanao were chosen by the company to become beneficiary, among which is Brgy. 95-A in this city. Last Sunday, representative from Uniliver and Geiser Maclang, their promotional firm, launch the project in this city through a groundbreaking ceremony participated in by barangays officials and more than 70 male volunteers. For 21 days the full court basketball court is expected to be finished through a shifting schedule of volunteer workers. “We want to revive the spirit of bayanihan, this beautiful trait of Filipinos that is slowly forgotten by most of us,” said Gerry Pacled, program media coordinator. “We hope that after 21 days or less, the construction would be finished so that residents of the barangays would benefit it immediately,” she added. Pacled added that once the basketball court is finished four PBA legends are to grace its inauguration, will conduct basketball clinic and a chance to play basketball with some barangays residents. The land where the basketball court of Alaxan is to be constructed according to Brgy. 95-A Councilman Engr Rogelio Obiña was donated by the family of their incumbent barangays chairman. “He did not hesitate to allow and donate the land to Alaxan for the implementation of this project because according to him this is an early gift for us in the barangays,” the councilman said. He added that, they had long been looking and waiting for anyone who could give them founds in construction a basketball court for their barangays, and this was answered through the Uniliver. He added that this would inspire their constituents and make them become active in sports that could result to a healthier lifestyle.

Geothermal power plant project beneficial to Biliran – Gov. Espina

TACLOBAN CITY – The Icelandic company Reykjavik Energy Invest and Geysir Green Energy’s project to construct a power plant in the province of Biliran are beneficial to the people of their province, said Governor Gerardo Espina Jr. “They were in my office last week and they told me that they are now pursuing the plan where the construction of the geothermal power plant is now being undertaken,” Gov. Espina said. A geothermal power plant is to be constructed in their province, according to the governor, and the Icelandic company had already had an office and located the sites where the geothermal plant is to be constructed. It is located in the mountains under the vicinity of Naval and Biliran town. In 2009 to 2010 the company conducted an exploration and electricity sales in the province of Biliran. It was also reported that the company is to build three power plants in Biliran with a capacity to produce 150 megawatt (MW) power and mainly intended to supply the national demand considering that Biliran province only consumes six to seven megawatt. The Icelandic company major shareholder in the country had also reported that they had close the electricity sales contracts worth $338 million with five electric cooperatives in Eastern Visayas with a combined capacity of 35 MW renewable energy. The contract has a term of 10 years with a price between $100 to $113 per MW were under the plan all the excess power supply of the geothermal plant will be offered to the six off-takers, and a portion left for the upcoming Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in the Visayas region. With this development in the province, the governor said that they are expecting for its positive effect such as providing additional job to Biliranons and income to the provincial coffer. “They also ensure us that electricity rate in the province will be lowered, once the construction of the power plant is done and they become operational,” the governor added. Once the geothermal plant in Biliran is done, it would become the second geothermal plant in the province, second to the existing geothermal plant located in the town of Kananga and city of Ormoc. The existing geothermal plant does not only supply Region 8 but also its neighboring regions and some part of Mindanao and Luzon.

Leyte SP calls anew for investigation with groups opposing Nicua Mining

TACLOBAN CITY – The committee on environment and natural resources of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte will be calling for another committee investigation this time with personalities and groups that are opposing to the mining activities of Nicua Mining Corporation. Nicua Mining Corporation was the permittee for the magnetite sand mining operation in McArthur, Leyte which was pointed-out by some residents living at Brgy Villa Imelda along Lake Bito that caused for the massive fish kills that occurred early months of this year. It was reported that the incident caused for the death of around 22,000 kilograms of tilapia which amounting to P1.7 million in market price. But based on the study of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources domestic pollution, overcrowding of fish pens and cages, and possible contamination from the nearby mining site were the reason of fish kills in the area. It noted high fecal coli form counts that indicate that animal waste and human waste are among the main sources of contaminants affecting the water quality of the lake and the study also explained that “depletion of dissolved oxygen can be traced to the excessive number of fish pens currently installed in the lake, causing slow water circulation.” Lake Bito, a 115-hectare body of water has 48.9 hectares occupied with pens and cages, higher to the 10% or only 11.5 hectares allowed under the Fisheries Code of the Philippines. “I already know the names of person who are against the mining activities in the municipality of MacArthur and I will be setting date to talk with them regarding their complaints because I’d already discussed said matter to those who are supporting the operation of Nicua,” said Board Member Carlo Loreto. He added that based on the investigation they conducted there was no truth to the claims of some individuals that there is a mining activity at Lake Bito, a lake just s few meters away from the mining site. “The mayor and the barangay chairman testified that there is no truth that there is mining happening in said lake,” Loreto stressed. He that in his earlier talked with the priest and organization opposing to the mining operation of Nicua, they were amenable to the idea of dialogue which they will do Tuesday this coming week. Loreto added that based on the information he received from the municipal officials of McArthur, they will be conducting the clearing operation at Lake Bito which means reducing the number of fish cages in said lake based on the approved ordinance of the municipality. “The 11.5 hectares allowed by the Fishery Code of the Philippines will be sub-divided to all fish pens and cages operators at the lake which means each of them will only have 500 square meters each,” Loreto explained. However, some residents are opposing to the plan of the municipal government to get their fish cages and pens this early as their permits for their operation according to them will expire next year. They added that this will result to affecting their livelihood and in getting source for their daily needs.

City council proposes to host citywide summit on Juvenile Welfare Act of 2006

TACLOBAN CITY – Law enforcers has also its fault in the implementation of the Justice Juvenile Welfare Act of 2006, reason why some youth offenders and criminal groups are abusing it, said this city’s vice mayor Arvin Antoni. During their regular session last Wednesday,Councilor Bianco Mate expressed concern over the raise of crime in the city involving youth offenders which he blamed on the implementation of said law that was authored by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. Mate said that while the intention of the law was good,its implementation was questionable as local government units were not ready for it particularly on the construction of facilities to be used for intervention of youth offenders. Mate urged his colleagues to pass a resolution seeking for the amending of said law. However, Vice Mayor Antoni said that law enforcers could be blame as they are interpreting the law in a different way. “It is not true that they can’t arrest the child offender.Under the law, law enforcers has the right to arrest them especially if they commit bigger crimes,” Antoni, who is also a lawyer, said. Vagrancy, prostitutions, sniffing of solvents are the only offenses that youth offenders are not to be filed with case by law enforces but they need to undergo intervention said Antoni. Antoni added that it is only the judges who have the right to determine if the child is minor or not based on the evidences presented to them in contrast to what is happening right now, wherein when a child offender presented a birth certificate to law enforcers they are immediately released by them. “That is not the right process; it is only the court who can say that these children are minors,” he stressed. He added that since amendment of the Justice Juvenile Welfare Act is not yet been tackled in Congress, it is better for the local government units and law enforcers to implement it and made some intervention to address the problem. Meanwhile, Councilor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin said that solving problem on youth offenders starts within the family. Yaokasin stressed that if only parents are responsible enough to check and guide their children, they would be responsible enough to know and balance what is wrong and right and what is good for them. Responsible parenting ,according to him, is the key to solve this problem which is currently now lacks among parents reason why morality of the youth in this present time are slowly deteriorating. Councilor Jerry Uy, who chairs the committee on laws, proposed for the city government to host a citywide summit on the implementation of the Justice Juvenile Welfare Act. Among those to be invited in the summit as he proposed are law enforcers, city social welfare and development office and the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, academe and Church, non-government organization and parents organizations.