GIZ Turns Over P3.2M MRELC Project In San Roque

June 24,2011

GTZ Turns Over P3.2M MRELC Project In San Roque

By Qurico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Brgy. San Roque,Macrohon,So.Leyte-The German Technical Cooperation(GTZ) now called GIZ(German International Cooperation) has turned over a P3.2M Mangrove Resource and Environmental Learning Center building here during the recent Friday.

Dr Walter Salzer,Program Director,GIZ enRD program has handed the symbolic key to Governor Damian Mercado with the presence of Congressman Roger Mercado and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11.

The GIZ official disclosed that it took a long time before the German Ministry of Economics had finally released the funds for the aforesaid project.Salzer expressed his hope that the principal aim for the construction of the edifice could really serve its purpose. Like as learning center for the fisher folks and farmers, teaching concerned agencies to really achieve food security and to know the necessary knowledge of practicing sustainable development.

He also expressed his appreciation of Sogod Bay, but warned that in order to preserve the Bay there’s the need to apply environmental laws and fishery code seriously; stressing the cooperation of fishermen in the provincial level is of utmost importance.

The GIZ representative also urged the folks and officials in all coastal municipalities involved with mangrove plantations to protect and preserve them.

Recalling Burma’s cutting of all mangrove trees naturally grown along deltas to give way to opening up new rivers and other project, h e said, the people there have paid a high price of their denuding act when their areas were greatly inundated killing thousands of people. Mangrove trees, that are the natural habitat for fishes, also serve as blockades and breakwaters to flooding during heavy rains and typhoons.

Moreover, he urged Congressman Mercado to give his full support of the Land Use Plan Bill in Congress which is now in its second reading.

Salzer explained that with a law in Land Use Plan its provisions would serve as guidelines. “Which land is for the preservation of natural resources, which land for the sustainable development of any projects and which land are really designated for housing projects or which land is strictly devoted for agricultural development”, he said.

Congressman Mercado who expressed his profuse thanks to GIZ told Salzer that he will support for the approval of the Bill on Land Use Plan.

Both Governor Mercado and Vice-Governor Maamo also expressed their heartfelt thanks to GIZ for providing funds for the MRELC in Southern Leyte.

He also enjoined the Mayors to implement the environmental laws in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The Governor further said the provincial government shall be appropriating funds for the maintenance of the MRELC.He revealed the provincial government with DENR MOA has targeted 10,000 trees to be planted. “We have started planting trees in a 1,200 hectares in Malitbog area”,he said.

Eva Abad, PENRMO head, claimed that the launching of Mangrove Greenbelt Project in 10 municipalities here could serve as mitigating measure to combat climate change.

She said the training center is also aim to: 1)Educate the fisherfolks,farmers and sundry on the importance of the preservation and conservation of our environmental resource 2)Showcasing mangrove farming and aqua-culture; 3) Conduct training skills in the protection and conservation of marine life, agricultural development,etc.

Furthermore, the GIZ Principal Adviser on enRD program ahs turned over various gadgets and equipments to 8 municipal Mayors to strengthen their Bantay Dagat activities on illegal fishing.

Namely: lifevests, megaphones,GPS equipments,searchlights,waterproof flashlights.

(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

N>B> Please be informed that Panny’s Homebake products(with free WiFi spot) has transferred to its new and better location a t Saint Joseph College new building at Tomas Oppus St.,brgy.Tunga-Tunga,Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

N.B. Zip Southern Leyte,First Tandem Zipline in Eastern Visayas

For more details contact the following persons/offices:

1) Sogod Municipal Tourism Officer Robe Estillore,tle.no.(053)382-3186;

2) Mr. Nedgar V. Garvez,Provincial Tourism Officer,tel. no.(053)570-8300;

3) Provincial Governor /Damian G. Mercado, tel. no.(053)570-9018.

Smart Communications Partnership Project On DMP Successful-Officials

June 24,2011

Smart Communications Partnership Project On DMP Successful-Official

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A Smart Communications partnership project in ten areas here in this province on Disaster Management Preparedness has proven to be successful.

This was the disclosure of Darwin Flores, Smart Senior Public affairs Operation Officer, after he and his group of representatives from partner World Bank, Philippines Business for Social Progress and the provincial government of Southern Leyte have evaluated the project during there recent Tuesday visit at the broadcast site stationed at the provincial capitol.

The areas involved in the aforesaid project were Maasin, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus,Libagon,Liloan,San Francisco,Pintuyan,San Ricardo,Anahawan and Hinunangan.

Flores explained in answer to a query from the media during a press conference that Smart, which also partnered with other telecommunication companies chose to use Blackberry mobiles “because it’s highly capable for communication” in this kind of project that his company is piloting here.

The Smart rep also implied they always try to avoid releasing false alarm during disaster or calamity by only conveying messages to selected Mayors to avoid panic among the inhabitants being affected.

World Bank operation officer Christopher Pablo informed that the PDRP project’s broadcast system is doing fine which in turn strengthens its installation in various LGUs of the province.

Leilani B. Mc Donough of PBSP,married to an American-Irish descent, revealed that 2 cellphones were given to every involved barangay.Their principal contact persons are the Barangay Captains in the aforesaid municipalities in time of calamities or disasters.

She said they have already trained some municipal employees in PDRP(Provincial Disaster Response Preparedness),which she described as multi-hazard task, to response to any natural or man-made disaster/calamities.

Jason Calva, who heads the Provincial Disaster Management Preparedness group further divulged that the project has started last Sept. 14,2010.

He said the LGUs involved have provided counterparts of P500, 000.00 each. While the provincial government’s counterpart are in kind, donations,office space and its partnership with GIZ.

The PDMP head also stated that GTZ,now GIZ has always been providing financial assistance to other provincial government’s projects in other areas.

Asked by Jani Arnaiz,PDI correspondent, why there were still reported fatalities during the St. Bernard calamity last January,Dodi Fernandez head of the Provincial Disaster Management Council, responded that the main cause was that parents whose houses were carried away by flashfloods were busy collecting drifted coconuts by the river.

However, in some areas, he said, there were no reported casualties during heavy rains that caused also landslides and floods in other parts of the municipalities.

Which regards to the problem among cellphone users as to the absence of signal in some localties, Sanny Malakad,Smart Leyte Areas Supervisor, informed that two of the main causes of “no signal” were tall buildings and high mountains that posed as blockade to cellsites’ signals.

Malakad estimated that one cellsite could serve at least 5 barangays located in plain areas. But for barangays located in different geological make-up, it would be hard for the Smart personnel to indicate how the signal from its cellsite would work.

Users are advised to just look for higher grounds where signals could be received by their cellphones.

Moreover, the WB representative confided that when the project would be finished, it shall also be replicated in other provinces, including the whole Visayas areas, if the officials want it too.

The following day ,Smart and its project partners guided by Calva motored to brgy., Timba in Malitbog to conduct an Assembly for the barrio folks and its officials concerning the contingency plan on the implementation of Disaster Management Preparedness. (Quirico M Gorpido,Jr.)

N.B.The 10 years old city of Maasin has no available skin specialist for several years now. Dentists are many, but some persons who have skin problems, particularly those who have little income cannot go to Cebu City for consultation-only those who have the means or the moneyed denizens. WE hope this small message can reach those skin specialists who happen to be internet users.Maybe a skin specialist can hold his//her clinic even 3 times a week-Monday,Wednesday and Friday.

N>B> Diocese of Maasin Dialysis Center with laboratory

Tel no./Fax number: (053)381-2321; moboie phone: 0917-3061078

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m.-12:00 noon/1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Saturday: 7:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

Mayor Samaco Signs MOA For Construction Of Brodeth Commercial Complex

June 4,2011

Mayor Samaco Signs MOA For Construction Of Brodeth Commercial Complex At Old Market by Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Mayor Maloney Samaco in behalf of the City Government has signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Brodeth Company and Sons, Inc. during the recent Tuesday noon at Sangguniang Panlungsod’s session hall at the city hall.

The signing of MOA which was based on the Aquino Administration’s PPPP (Public Private Partnership Program) and BOT (Build Operate Transfer) concept was witnessed by Vice-Mayor Effie Ma. Abiera-Sabandal, SP’s Presiding Officer, the City Councilors, some city employees, PNP, some army officers and the local press.

Aside from Mayor Samaco the other signatories were owner Rufino Brodeth; Manaya Land Holdings, Inc. Manager Erwin Brodeth; and Chief Operation Officer of the Brodeth Company and Sons Romil C. Brodeth.

In his speech Erwin, son of the owner, said that he now sees some changes in the face of Maasin, the place were they were born, raise and grow. He said they have felt that the time has come to put up an expansion of their business with the construction of the two-one-storey buildings at the old public market facing the sea.

“WE could see now the culture of good governance with the leadership of Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado and Maloney Samaco”, he said.

While other places are only dreaming of cooperation and unity, he said, here we see it materializing. “Now is the time to give back to Maasin our blessings”, he said.

The Mayor in his speech claimed that Maasin has still that peace and order situation compared to other places in the region. Although he admitted that some unlawful acts were also committed in the place but in manageable level and are not so much compared with other areas of the country.

Samaco informed that the buildings occupied by some dry and wet products businesses and some small stores and carenderias at the old market shall be demolished. The occupants would be transferred to the new reclamation area adjacent to the new P70M market location.

He also instructed the city DSWD head Fe Sta. Cruz to prepare her office in assisting some dislocated small businesses who might go to her office to ask for assistance.

He claimed that the future presence of the Brodeth Commercial Complex would further boost the business progress of the city. “The local revenues have increased considerably from P40M last year to P44M this April of the current year”, he confided. “There are now 300 new small and big businesses that are established in the city”.

The Mayor said that the way he looked at it, means that Maasin is indeed growing and may surpass its category as component city into a highly-urbanized.

In an interview with the media Erwin said that they are going to construct one spacious commercial buildings and another one smaller building that will occupy the 2,167 square meters near the sea. The area would include parking spaces, but whose total budget could not be divulged yet. “We cannot give you now the estimated amount for the constructions of the two-one storey buildings since we still have to make some engineering evaluations of the buildings by our engineer”, he said.

Erwin explained that when the 2 buildings shall be completed, the commercial complex will comprise coffee shops,restaurants,pharmacy,hardware,high-end products and may include an internet café and other things or products that would not compete with the Gaisano Metro’s and the old market’s business items/products.

Queried when they are going to start the construction of the buildings, he estimated to be two months later from the day of the MOA signing. That is, when the demolition of the existing buildings at the old market will be finished and the accumulated files of destroyed building materials would be hauled out.

On the other hand, Samaco further said that the establishment of the Brodeth Commercial Complex will, in the near future, increase funds for the city coffer. That the owner will preferably hire Maasinhon job seekers, which would also eventually decreased the number of applicants at the city hall.

Meanwhile, clearing of the area provided for the construction of the sprawling and spacious one-storey Gaisano Metro which is also at the new reclamation area in brgy. Combado has started last April 2011. If there are no hitches, the construction works with the plan to be conducted in day and night shifting is estimated to be finished within six to seven months period. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive Campaign Launched In Maasin “Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive” Campaign launched In Maasin By Quirico M. G

June 4,2011

“Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive” Campaign launched In Maasin

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The loud voice of a concerned man from New York City,USA telling smokers worldwide that “cigarettes are eating you alive” has now reached in this country which was launched at the city gymnasium here during the recent Monday under the city’s anti-smoking ordinance no. 2009-042 approved last 2009.

After the testimonial revelations of three former smokers, before the audience composed of city enforcers, city hall employees, some students and the press, simultaneous loud expressions of supports from the attendees followed.

Two groups of marked yellow-colored balloons were released at the city hall playground as witnesses looked up the sky while they clapped their hands in approval and the balloons continued to ascend.

Origin

The launching of the alarming slogan “cigarettes are eating you alive” campaign was originally created by a New Yorker Michael Bloomberg as part of the comprehensive tobacco-control program in New York City several years ago.

The ads campaign were also vigorously tested in other countries including the Philippines, and was found to have motivated smokers to try to quit smoking tobacco.

The same campaign has also been conducted in countries like China, Vietnam, Australia, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland and Ukraine.

Press Conference

During a presscon, Mayor Maloney Samaco, the principal author of the city’s anti-smoking ordinance, which was unanimously approved by the City Council, disclosed that this ordinance started to be implemented in 2009, but it was only this year that the anti-smoking ordinance is vigorously implemented.

H e said that sarisari stores were instructed not to sell cigarettes 100 meters away from the school campuses as well as prohibiting them to sell liquors and cigarettes to all minors.

Samaco said contracts of casuals and job order employees at city hall will not be renewed if they will found smoking at city hall and in public places.

EMCEE Royen Segovia, City Tourism Officer, revealed they have started to encourage residential owners to post anti-smoking stickers inside their houses including the kitchen areas. “The city enforcers as implementors will be the first to put up anti-smoking stickers inside their respective residences”, Segovia said.

Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco, DOH Regional Director of Region 8(Leyte and Samar) divulged that there are now 1B peoples worldwide who are addicted to smoking tobacco.

Classified by the World Health Organization as a “global epidemic kind of an addiction”, Sydiongco said, 17.3M of the above-figured are Filipinos.

She claimed that of the 17.3M, 2M are women who were being urged or influenced by their barkadas (peers), whose number may reach an alarming 8M.

The DOH Director strongly admonished the women sector not to start smoking cigarettes. “Those who are into it,” she said, “should stop this unhealthy habit because it will have bad effects to the fetal development of their babies when they get married”.

Samaco further said that with the passing of the provincial government on anti-smoking ordinance for the provincial implementation, the anti-smoking campaign of the city will now be more emphatic and strong.

Furthermore, he informed that Phillip Morres, one of the popular tobacco producers has sent him a letter. The PM management suggested that some of the city’s anti-smoking ordinance be amended. The tobacco company also suggested that a designated area be provided for the smokers to smoke.

City Councilor Ricky Montalbo, who was present during the launching, stressed that the City Council is persistent that the anti-smoking ordinance should be strictly implemented.

Although another City Councilor Margarita Bantug admitted that upon reviewing the aforesaid ordinance, she found that some of its provisions need to be amended. Yet she did not elaborate.

Likewise, anti-smoking stickers are now posted mostly in public utility of the city government, he said. However, for private individuals it will be under their choice or discretion.

10^th Preventable Mortality

Studies show that tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of mortality in the world today, and is responsible of more than 5M deaths each year-one in ten preventable deaths worldwide.

In Southern Leyte the top ten causes of mortality in 2009 were all tobacco-related diseases. These include pneumonia, hypertension, cancer in all forms, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebro vascular accidents, myo-cardial infraction, congestive heart failure, peptic ulcer, diabetes mellitus, and renal diseases.

Vital body organs that are prone to be affected by smoking tobacco are mouth, throat, heart and lungs.

Stop Smoking

The three inveterate smokers who finally decided to give their testimonies and to stop smoking were DOST assistant head Florita “Daphin” Santaigo;President of Barangay Captains Federation Danilo Dueñas and school teacher Melchor “Milly” Gerong,brother of Rafael Gerong,Jr. of the City Mayor’s office.

Santiago who smoked for thirty years, said that she finally decided to stop three years ago. She confessed as a smoker she lacks the appetite to eat. Her decision to stop for good was assisted by smoking cessation tablet which she took for 12 weeks as instructed by a local internist, Dr. Levi M. Tan,cardiologist. She said that even before she could complete her medication, she found that the smell of a tobacco and its smoke has become unpleasant..”Of course some of my friends would offered me cigars but I resolve to avoid tasting it again’, she said. Now Santiago looks bigger than when she was a smoker. “I have gained my appetite now”.

Dueñas was a smoker for 37 years starting in 1974. He said he finally stop smoking last May 20, 2009 in support of the Mayor’s imposition of the anti-smoking ordinance.

He explained his decision to stop smoking is to give an example to his constituents to also stop smoking cigarettes. He confided it was not hard for him to stop the bad habit, saying,”Ang pagdisiplina sa kaugalingon maoy makatabang sa pagpahunong sa pagtabako.”(What is needed to stop smoking is self-discipline).

The President of the FBC also intimated that the campaign slogan on TV ads which says “Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health”, has further bolstered his decision to quit smoking for good.

School teacher Melchor Gerong, a chain smoker described himself as “a champion in cigarettes smoking” consuming 7 packs a day. He said he was a smoker for 30 years. However, he disclosed that while he was in the seminary he has no vice. But when he decided to go out in the seminary, his barkadas who were members of the Smokers Club have induced him to smoke starting 1968.

He claimed he could have 3 intramurals for days without eating but by just smoking cigarettes without disturbing him. “Smoking would make my mind sharp”, he claimed, “that I can finish writing a drama or my experiences in just 2 hours…And I’m the only teacher who smoke cigarettes inside an aircon room during regional conferences”.

Nonetheless, someone among his colleagues would always be reminding him, he continued, to smoke at the lobby and come back after consuming his cigarettes.

Finally he got sick and was hospitalized, he told the audience, who would laugh from time to time as he narrated his story in a humorous way.

He revealed that after the doctor has examined him, he was diagnosed as having a lung cancer and his legs have become smaller. “I could not walk for 8 months”, he said. “If I’m inside the comfort room I have to crawl…”

Gerong furthermore unfolded that his suffering and pain made him reflect and has realized that “he was ignoring his wife”. Question like “Can my wife feed our children without me?” popped up in his mind. And, he also thrown the same question to all smokers who were present at the launching, and even repeated it for emphasis, to the laughter of the audience.

The former chain smoker moreover said that when Dr. Arthur Bascug knew of his decision to stop smoking for the seek of his family, the latter advised him to make his withdrawal gradual. But, he did not follow the doctor’s advice and “suddenly stop” he said. The quitter however did not elaborate whether he was taking some smoking cessation tablets like Santiago or what. Now he looks healthy and quite strong as he walks.

Smoking Cessation

DOH representative Leticia Obligado Tan, one of the IPHO’s technical staff, enunciated that those smokers who find it hard for them to quit smoking on their own may seek assistance from the Healthy City Initiative office or approach Dr. Teodoro Salas, City Health Officer of the City Health Unit-1 for smoking cessation training-seminar.

Residential owners are likewise encouraged by the city government to post anti-smoking stickers, not only inside their dwellings, but also at their kitchens.

Open Forum

During open forum PDI correspondent Jani Arnaiz suggested that littering of cigarette butts should be prohibited and fined the violators. He told the panelists that this is what the city of Davao and the municipality of Silago were doing to those who have violated such ordinance.

Although Mayor Samaco was amiable that there should be no littering of wastes and cigarette butts in the streets and anywhere, he gave more emphasis on the importance of educating the smokers to quit smoking for their own health benefits. “WE will not fine, but educate them (the smokers) to quit smoking”, he said.

PIA’s Marcelo “Bong” Pedalino asked if ordering smokers to stop smoking is a violation of one’s right.

Dr. Sydiongco explained to Pedalino and sundry that prohibiting or advising smokers to

quit smoking is for their own good. That the quitting would make them regain their health and the harmful smokes they have released in our surroundings would also stop harming their fellowmen’s health. “Their fellowmen have more rights to remain healthy”, she stressed. “It is also one of the provisions of the Clean Air Act of 1999 to provide clean air to the environment”.

Additionally, exercising one’s right that is harmful and destructive to the health or property of one’s fellowmen is understandably not allowable by our law. Since a harmful or bad act is not a right but is considered as a transgression or a crime.

Another media practitioner also suggested that anti-smoking stickers should also be posted in all passenger buses, motorcabs including even the trisikad.This is to remind both the drivers and the passengers not to smoke while riding aboard in any of the vehicles.

Moreover, Samaco told the press that the city government is not only strongly campaigning on anti-smoking, but also in other illegal activities like illegal drugs and illegal fishing in Maasin area.

Some organizations and establishments that are supporting the city’s anti-smoking ordinance are, among others,Maasin Taekwondo Club,Maasin Cycling Club,Inc.,Rose Pharmacy, Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative,Inc.,Vintage Vision International,Inc.,Knights of Columbus, Provincial Government of Southern Leyte,Office of Congressman Roger Mercado,Liga Ng Mga Barangay, OCCCI Coop, Electronics Art Printing, Seventh Day Adventist, Mercury Drug,SuperChar Food Hauz,tle no.(053)570-8623,accept catering, Ampil Pensione(053) 570-8084,ampilpensione@yahoo.com).

Also present were Marysol Balane,DOH-Bloomberg’s Communication Officer; Bloomberg Foundation representative Cane Estela; Christopher Plateros-Leader, Healthy City Initiative; Dr. Imelda Ramos-DOH-Eastern Visayas HCI Coordinator.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive Campaign Launched In Maasin

June 4,2011

Belgian Philanthropist Distributes Wheelchairs To Immobile Persons

By Quirico M.Gorpido, Jr.

Macrohon, Southern Leyte -A Belgian national who was married to Filipina lass of brgy. Molopolo here in this municipality has distributed forty wheelchairs to persons with disabilities.

The donation of 40 units of used wheelchairs was coursed thru the Municipal Social Welfare Department office headed by Brenda Decenteceo Lagunda.

During the awarding ceremony of the aforesaid wheelchairs held at the gymnasium led by the husband-and-wife donors and Lagunda, Mayor Fe Gaviola-Edillo expressed her profuse thankfulness to Patrick Hajhedoreen and his wife Sandra Peroso-Hajhedoreen for t heir altruistic and humanitarian concerns.

Edillo told the audience composed of 40 recipients and their parents and close kin that although Patrick is a Belgian national “his heart is a Macrohanon” ”, she said

She stressed that as a form of transparency, they did not take funds from the municipal coffer but used the proceeds of the tickets sales from various activities during the previous fiestas handled by the Fiesta Executive Committee.

The incumbent Mayor also disclosed that Hajhedoreen himself was the one who dismantled all the given wheelchairs and put it on the boxes during shipment. He was also the one who assembled it upon arrival in Macrohon.

She implied that although the total of 100 used wheelchairs were shipped to Cebu from Belgium cost much to the donors, their financial pinch was lessen.

“Patrick has requested us to provide for the transporting expenses from Cebu to Macrohon via freight handling committee amounting to P20, 000.00 for the services. The payment could serve as a souvenir project from the FEC, she added.

Pedroso for her part, speaking in behalf of her husband divulged that although they have collected wheelchairs from different persons in Belgium , the work of gathering it was not that easy.

“Sometimes we have to drive along a highway where stopping is prohibited and we have to constrain a personal call by nature and drove fast just to reach the other end where we could attend to the nature’s call”, she intimated.

There was also an instance, she said, when the place where they have resided in Belgium got flooded, but they have to go on with their activity of collecting some wheelchairs from friends and some concerned individuals.

The Belgian philanthropist who presently resided in brgy. Buscayan, Macrohon with his wife confided that he has also distributed 40 wheelchairs in Padre Burgos for the same purpose. While the remaining 10 units were given individually according to request from families who have disabled and immobile family members.

Furthermore, the second hand wheelchairs still looked functionally good. It could serve the beneficiaries for quite some years if properly maintained.

MSWD officer Lagunda enjoined the recipients to take care of their kins’ mobility support by applying some oil from time to time on its wheels and other parts to sustain its functionality.

She also reminded them, who came from different Macrohon barangays, to turn over their wheelchairs at a time when they would no longer be using it. This could be necessary, she said, so that those who are indigent families who need wheelchairs for their members could be provided by her office.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Feb. 27 Woud Be An Annual Memorial Day To Honor War Hero Ruperto Kangleon

May 17,2011

February 27 Would Be An Annual Memorial Day To Honor War Hero Ruperto Kangleon

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved the persistent requests of the Federation of Senior Citizens and World War 2 Veterans and Guerillas here thru their respective resolutions submitted to the Provincial Board last February 2011 to make yearly February 27 as Ruperto Kangleon Memnorial Day throughout the province of Southern Leyte, which was the date when the late War Hero died.

Kangleon who hails from Macrohon town which is about 15 kilometers away from Maasin city proper is not only a local war hero but also a national hero of significant prominence. He was a Guerilla Commander in the whole island of Leyte during the World War 2 when he was a soldier.

Information gathered also disclosed that he was in constant clandestine contact with General Douglas MacArthur who was in Australia for logistics and ammunition support for the Guerillas in the entire island of Leyte. The armed support from the American General Commander of the Pacific were coursed and secretly delivered to the Guerillas via Submarine called M/V Nautilus that landed near the sea facing Hinunangan.

Fierce fighting between the Japanese Imperial army and the combined forces of Americans and Filipinos have occurred in various areas of Leyte, of which at that time, it was not yet divided by boundaries of the current two provinces of Leyte Province and the Province of Southern Leyte.

When Douglas MacArthur arrived in Leyte with fleet of battle ships in fulfillment of his promise, “I Shall Return”, the late Col. Ruperto Kangleon was there welcoming him. On that memorable day, the arriving American General Commander pinned on him the Distinguished Service Cross by the United States of America.

The American soldiers arrived in Dulag and Palo via barges and pettiboats after American battle ships from afar cleared the area by the continual bombardment of cannons and dropping of bombs from fighter planes.

According to additional information being gathered, the late Ruperto Kadava Kangelon is not only a national hero but also recognized and respected war hero of international scale.

Kangleon also gave honor and prestige to the Southern Leyteños as the first and only Southern Leyteño Senator. He was later appointed by President Rojas as the Secretary of National Defense during his active career in the Government Service.

His incorruptible reputation and good records as public servant is widely known in the country. It is also important, it was said, for the younger generations of Southern Leyteños to know and be reminded of the exemplary achievements of the late Ruperto Kadava Kangleon (1890-1958)as an outstanding military officer and World War 2 Guerilla Commander in the entire Leyte Island who is worthy of emulation by all.

The heroic war exploits of Southern Leyteño war hero, including that of the Guerillas during the war have greatly contributed much to the victory of the war against the foreign invasion. And the said exploits serve as the gratitude of all Southern Leyteños in particular and in the country in general.

Lourdes Bantug, Governor Damian Mercado’s Office Secretary informed that Mercado had already signed the SP resolution approving the 2 ordinances endorsed by the abovementioned organizations. Letters of communication were already sent to all Chief Executives of the one city and 18 municipalities, including all public and private schools in the entire province.

Recommendation

Furthermore, some concerned citizens recommended that DepEd should require students in both private and public schools in all levels-elementary, high school and colleges as part of their reading materials the 2 books written about the late war hero Ruperto Kangeon.The books that tackled about the life of RKK as a citizen, a soldier and as a public servant who showed to the world the love of one’s country and God need to be reinforced in the minds and hearts of our present generations of Filipinos.

The two books entitled “Love Of Country(Saga of Ruperto K. Kangleon and the Leyte Guerillas) by Atty.Joaquin G. Chung,Jr.,copyright 1989 and “The Soldier and Statesman” by Alfonso J. Aluit,copyright 2001, are worthy references and reading books on excellent soldiery and statesmanship that every student,professor,researcher,writer,anthropologist and avid reader should include in their reading.

Our youth, they averred, need good leaders to look up to whose characters and deeds are worthy of emulation.

W have been taught from time and again while in school about the lives of Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio,Apolinario Mabini,the sublime paralytic)Marcelo Lopez Jaena,etc.But a only little of Lapulapu of Mactan Island.

Now is the time to consider other heroes that we have in the past but still remain unknown because no-one or no writer/writers have ever written about their lives. Writers and researches should start now their literary journey which is the gathering of the vast field of untapped valuable materials about our silent heroes in the country. They are not only in Luzon area, but also in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Good Models

Our young and younger generations of Filipinos need good models of leadership because they are the ones who will replace the old ones when they have departed from this life. The past heroes we have learned in schools are not sufficient models to the present batch of the younger generations of Filipinos. They need other heroes to look up to as source of inspiration, courage and honesty. The search for heroes in various fields of endeavor who will serve as models for our youth should not be confined only in Luzon area alone. The search for heroes by our writers, scholars and researchers as sources of materials in writing books about their lives should not imposed delineations of ragionalistic boundaries. But rather be made encompassing down to the nooks and crannies of the entire country, Irrespective of their regional languages and classifications.

If a hero’s life is colored with good acts and deeds like honesty,compassion,generosity,hard work, courage and dedication to his/her calling then his/hers is a good material for writing a book for the young and the old readers alike. Thus the two books regarding RKK”s life as a soldier and statesman should be mass produced with permission from the authors. These are for distributions/acquisitions to all public and private schools throughout the country.

These 2 books should also be made available nationwide in bookstores in all cities of every province so that readers, students, teachers and professors can buy them for reading and as reference books.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Rechanneling Measure Would Suspend SAG Permittees In Subang Daku

May 6,2011

Rechanneling Measure Would Suspend SAG Permittees In Subang Daku Damaged By January 2011 Flashfloods

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The assessment of the Environment Officials in this province on the damage brought about by the January 2011 flashfloods in Subang Daku in Sogod town has reached an estimated cost of P18M,which would inevitably lead the provincial government to rechannel the Big River.

The continual heavy rains last January of the current year has caused series of flashfloods and landslides in some areas of the province, not only in Sogod but most particularly in St.Bernard where hundreds of families and thousands of individuals were affected and were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers. Also hit by the flashfloods were Bontoc and San Francisco municipality in the Panaon Island.

The findings has led Governor Damian Mercado to suggest during the recent Provincial Mining Regulatory Board meeting “to suspend first all the existing permittees contracts in Subang Daku, where they have to extract sand and gravel materials, so that the plan for the rechanneling by the provincial government could proceed”.

SP Daisy Gumale, who attended the PMRB meeting, disclosed to her colleagues during the recent weekly session held at the provincial capitol, that part of the condition of the permits issued to extractors is to do the rechanneling in the Big River, “but none so far of the permittees have done their part”.

Gumale also claimed that what the provincial government has actually collected from them is only P900, 000.00 and it cannot even cover one tenth of the cost of damage to Subang Daku as a result of the recent flashfloods.

With this rationality, the youngest SP member has moved to pass a resolution requesting the Mines and Geoscience Bureau Regional Office in Tacloban to temporarily suspend the operations of all existing SAG permittees in the famous Big meandering River so that the rechanneling could be implemented the soonest possible time.

However, SP Teopisto Rojas,Jr. said he believed there’s already an approved contract with the contractors who would rechannel the area. “I think there’s no due process of law if we suspend without hearing from the permittees’ side who have violated”, he stressed.

Although Gumale has accepted Rojas statement, but another SP Albert Esclamado revealed to the august body that most of them (the permittees) did not follow the provisions of the permits, wherein they are supposed to extract only in specific areas. He said:”Everytime they are extracting the materials the volume is being recorded per cubic meter. That is why there’s no violation of the contract, even if we suspend their extraction permits for the moment. They can go back after the provincial government shall have finished the rechanneling.”

Moreover, SP Abelardo Almario,Chairman Committee on Laws, explained to all and sundry,saying,”If we make an action on this proposed resolution without being briefed on the details on what were the bases of their commendations to the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board, there might be some business rights that might be violated on the suspension”.

For his part Gumale, for the information of Almario and her colleagues read the contents of the PMRB resolution to MGB: 1)The operation in Subang Daku is not properly undertaken by the permittees which defeat the purpose of the rechanneling; 2)The provincial government intends to fast track the implementation of the rechanneling program thru contracting to prevent eminent damage of lives and properties of the area caused by flooding; 3) In the exercise of its mandate to provide ample protection to both life, limbs and properties within the vicinity of Subang Daku(Big River) in its exercise of public welfare.”

It was also learned from Rojas that whenever there’s flashfloods and the sediments will cover the river, the floodwaters will overflow towards the nearby areas and the municipal officials will always request the provincial government to conduct a rechanneling in Subang Daku.

Despite of the facts and reasons mentioned by Gumale and Rojas, the latter still supported Almario’s decision to refer the PMRB’s resolution to the Committees on Environment and Laws for further study considering that the suspension might create a violation on the already approved contracts.

The Provincial Mining Regulatory Board meeting was also attended by Neone Asilom for scale mining; Ronald Salas, SAC/NGO representative; Florentino Cadavos of Mines and Geoscience Bureau Regional office and DENR Officer.

According to Gumale, Asilom was the only one among the invited permittees who has attended, which the permittees should have given their time, because it concerns with the program of rechanneling that will temporarily affect their works at the Big River.

(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)