Nov 26, 2010
Mayor Romualdez urges all commercial establishments in Tacloban to put up CCTVs
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- This city's local chief executive is urging all commercial establishments in the city to initiate the installation of closed-circuit televisions to deter criminal elements.
"It would be better if banks and malls within the city will have their own monitoring scheme through the use of surveillance cameras," Mayor Alfred Romualdez said in an interview.
Romualdez himself had noted that no preinstalled surveillance cameras are built in major commercial establishments in the city despite threats of robberies and other possible criminal acts.
Earlier, Romualdez said he was mulling for the installation of CCTVs along main streets in the city as a reaction to the series of killing incidents that happened with the city.He plans to allocate at least P2 million for the plan.
"Why are we going to wait for a robbery to happen? So better if they install the cameras," he said.
This proposal of the city mayor get the support from the city police office saying that banks and commercial establishments need to have such surveillance strategy to deter unscrupulous individuals to carry out their illegal acts.
Nov 18, 2010
Mayor Romualdez sends
word of reconciliation to
SP members
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- Mayor Alfred Romualdez is sending a "word of reconciliation" to the members of the city council.
He, however, claimed that the performance of the city council has to be given more assessment.
Romualdez, in a radio interview aired over DyDW, said he is bit disillusioned with some members of the council as he had hoped after the elections that the council would become "responsive and cooperative" council.
The city mayor said that what is happening is that some of the councilors are not extending their cooperation with his administration.
"I am being accused of meddling in the Sanguniang Panlungsod...just like the chairmanship of committees, sabi nila nakialam raw ako but I told them kayo nalang...because if I appoint a councilor to a committee and he did not perform it well, then ako na naman an masisisi," the chief executive said.
He added that most of the oppositions are "concentrating to stamp me out" but he maintained his intent to work with city legislators "regardless of political differences."
Meanwhile, Councilor Neil Glova in a separate interview said that as far as legislative matters are concerned, none of the proposals of the chief executive have been junked since they have started their sessions.
"In fact, we are always being supportive to the projects and endeavors of the city mayor. But this does not mean that we will always be tolerant," he said.
Glova informed that what remains to be the "hottest issue" at the city council is Romualdez's proposed city budget which is expected to undergo a deliberation this month.
The councilor said chances are high that the budget will gain a nod as majority of the members are allies of the chief executive, with his wife Councilor Cristina Romualdez as the chairman of the Committee on Finance.
Nov 18, 2010
Rafael's Farm plans to expand
by Sarwell Q. Meniano
Leyte Samar Daily Express
BABATNGON, Leyte -- Driven by strong demand, a three-year-old Leyte-based resort is eyeing to expand in the next five years requiring an initial investment of at least P100 million, the property owner said.
Rafael Farm and Restaurant in Babatngon, Leyte
Rene Tampil of Rafael's Farm said that their plan is to fully develop the 16 hectares property in Barangay Pagsulhugon of this town, about 25 kilometers north of Tacloban City.
The expansion will include a construction of a hotel, swimming pool, spa, kiosks, and more cottages. About five hectares of the property are now developed.
"When we started early of 2007, we never expected that the demand for facilities like this is very high. That pushed us to think of how we will develop the whole area. The present structure is just 20% of our vision for this place," Tampil told Leyte Samar Daily Express.
"Our plan for the next five years is what we have in our mind for now but we are open for more expansion depending on the demand."
Currently, Rafael's Farm is constructing a function hall, which will be operational by first quarter of 2011. "Those who come to dine here asked us if they can hold meetings here but we refused since we have no room for it," he added.
From a restaurant in 2007, the firm was able to set cottages, tree house, open-air-walking place, and artificial lake for boating.
Rafael's Farm has drawn customer even top executives from Manila who came to visit the region. Families also came to be away from the noise and pollution of the city.
"We have not expected a very good market because the place is pretty far from the city but I was surprised to see people coming here. I think ambience and choice of food are what keeps them coming here," Tampil stressed.
The formerly idle land property in this town was acquired by Join Us Restaurant in 2001 with the intent to plant vegetables and crops but they were prompted to set up a restaurant. The resort was named after Tampil's grandson.
Join Us was established in early 1990's by Tampil and it later expanded into a meat shop with shops in key streets of Tacloban City. After graduating from commerce course, he launched a small carenderia with a starting capital of only P500.
"But now, we want to focus on developing this resort instead of operating the restaurant and meat shop in the city," he pointed out.
Rafael's Farm is known for having structures that remind some visitors of the upscale resort huts in Bali, Indonesia. All around, the landscaped place is green with grass and other plants.
Nov 17, 2010
Man threatens to jump from tall building in Tacloban
by Joey A. Gabieta
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- After more than eight hours of suspense, a military in active service ended in what appeared to be a suicide attempt with a thick crowd, that included the mayor of this city, among those who sighed a big relief for a happy ending.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez (left) accompanies a brother-in-law
to-be (2nd from left) of Pfc. Reynaldo Vilas, a member of the
Philippine Army's Scout Ranger based in Northern Samar,
who seemed to have threatened to jump from the Gaisano
Building and then from the BPI Bank building in Tacloban
City, with whom the mayor negotiated for him to change
his mind. LITO ABALA BAGUNAS
Private First Class Reynaldo Vilas, who was identified to be a member of the 3rd Scout Ranger of the 8th Infantry Division, climbed down from the commercial building where he stayed for hours past 5p.m.
Based on the account of witnesses, Vilas,28, a native of Laguna, first climbed at the roof of the Gaisano Central, located along Justice Romualdez Street at around 10 a.m. but later moved back at the nearby building of the Bank of the Philippine Island where he stayed until 5:43 p.m., the time he decided to go down.
Vilas exploits has resulted for the traffic to be stalled with a big crowd witnessing the unfolding drama. Personnel from the Philippine Red Cross and a medic team were in the area to provide assistance to him with members of the city police and traffic office maintaining the big crowd from getting near the building where the soldier was staying.
Mayor Alfred Romualdez arrived at the scene at around 4:45 p.m. where he immediately talked with Vilas.
After nearly an hour of phone conversation, the distraught soldier was convinced to leave the building and end what appeared to be a suicide attempt.
He was immediately whisked to a waiting vehicle owned by the mayor and brought him to the City Legal Office accompanied by his sister who arrived from Manila on the request of Vilas.
Romualdez said that based on his conversation with Vilas, he appeared to be "sober and not violent."
"He went up there just to have some air and he was unarmed all the time," the mayor said, trying to deflect the seriousness of the situation.
However, Romualdez said that he was glad that the drama ended in a positive note.
"I assured him that the city government is there to provide him all the assistance that he needs, including possible legal help," Romualdez said.
It was learned from Romualdez that Vilas was having some "personal problem" without providing the detail.
Vilas was said to be separated from his wife with his only daughter under his custody. His father was said to be suffering from cancer and his mother, physically invalid.
He was brought to an undisclosed place accompanied by his immediate superior, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Bayhon.
Romualdez said that no charges would be filed against the soldier.
Nov 15, 2010
TOMECO official bewails that 'no parking' ordinace being violated in Tacloban
by Roel Amazona
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- The law said that the whole city of Tacloban is a no parking zone, based on the local ordinance passed in 2000, but still there are individuals and road users who conveniently violate it, so says Isabelo Lagutan, information officer of the Traffic Maintenance Enforcement and Control Office (Tomeco) during the weekly press forum "Express it at the Park".
The city government is doing its best to address the
worsening parking problem in Tacloban, so says
Tomeco spokesperson Isabelo Lagutan. (Lito A. Bagunas)
Among those individuals who are violating the traffic ordinance of the city, according to him, are some of the influential people in the city, including owners business establishments.
It was noticed that aside from the usual cause of traffic in the city, due by the unnecessary stop of transport vehicles and the increase of vehicles using the city roads, illegal parking along major roads and streets in the city had contributed to traffic jam in the city.
In major streets like Justice Romualdez, Rizal Avenue, Burgos, Gomez and Zamora Streets, vehicles users are parking on both sides of the streets particularly on road shoulders that prompted for pedestrians to use roads inside the lanes provided to them that causes for traffic jam, Lagutan said.
Although they have warned vehicle users not to use roads as their parking area, Lagutan said that most vehicle owners and users are hard -headed and some are using their connection with influential city officials for them to do their illegal ways.
Aside from the said reason, Lagutan added that the absence of a public parking area and having small roads also contributed to the traffic problem of the city.
In order to solve this problem, Lagutan called the help of road users particularly vehicle owners to follow the rule of law as it only with the citizen's cooperation that problems like traffic jams can be solve.
"We don't have the right to own the road but only the privilege to use it," Lagutan said.
"Therefore, we should learn on how to take care of it and used it properly because the funds that was used to construct these roads was taken from the taxes that we paid to the government," Lagutan stressed.
Nov 13, 2010
Mayor Romualdez urges Barangay Chieftains to
form 10-man BPAT
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY --City Mayor Alfred Romualdez has urged all barangay chieftains to form a ten-man team to comprise the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) as soon as they officially assume their post on Dec. 1 this year.
Photo: Barangay Tanod Inspection ..
Romualdez said the creation of fixed and additional forces of BPAT would certainly increase the police strength amid series of crimes reported by the Philippine National Police (PNP) here in the city.
"It is high time to strengthen and professionalize our barangay tanods here to assist our policemen and maintain peace and order in their places," he said.
The local chief executive emphasized that since they carry out basic security functions under the auspices of the barangay chairmen, the latter should initiate the plan to increase and train their tanods.
He said the present number of law enforcers in the city could not effectively safeguard the city's more than 200,000 residents. With the creation of the BPAT, a total of 1,380 village police will augment the force of Tacloban PNP.
Senior Inspector Maria Bella Rentuaya, chief of the police and community relations office of the city's PNP, said the plan of the city mayor has long been part of their security plans.
"We appreciate the mayor as he is urging the participation of barangay captains from the grass root level for our continued effort to ensure safety among the people," she said.
It was learned that most of the barangays in the city have only at least five members of their barangay security force securing their respective areas.
Rentuaya stressed that they are more willing to train them the basic functions of BPAT as they have started it already the previous months.
Nov 11, 2010
P300 M Tacloban City port project to be implemented
next year yet
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- The implementation of the P300 million worth fish port project in this city will not be realized this year, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Juan Albaladejo said yesterday.
However, Albaladejo said the project will just be implemented on the second quarter next year despite the release of the P50 million initial funds to the Philippine Fishery Development Authority (PFDA) for preliminary surveys of the project.
"The construction will start on June 2011. This is because there were some agencies that were against putting the project to our proposed site," he said.
The official is referring to the objections of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) claiming they were not consulted on the proposed project and the area where the project will be located is within the port parameter that could affect their operations.
Instead, Albaladejo said the project site has been transferred at the Old Bus Terminal which is just one-hectare, short from the required five-hectare area.
"As of now, there are no impediments so far that could derail some plans on the implementation. The city government has initiated already for the finalization of the project site and this will surely push through next year," he said.
The reason, among others, why the target date has been move to June 2011 is that the PFDA has still to conduct another study as the location has been changed.
It was learned that PFDA will be the one to supervise the fish port but will transfer the management to the city government once the latter will be able to manage the port facilities.
Albaladejo said the one-hectare area at the old bus terminal will be initially used for the construction of the refrigeration and storage facilities.
"I don't see any problem now that it will not be pushed through," he said.
Nov 11, 2010
Mayor Alfred calls on Taclobanons, barangay tanods to be vigilant in observing suspicious elements
by Gay B. Gaspay
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- To prevent possible occurrences of crime in the city, Mayor Afred Romualdez calls on Taclobanons, especially barangay folks and the barangay tanods to be keen and vigilant in observing suspicious looking elements roaming around.
The Filipino equivalent of the neighborhood watch is a
"Barangay Tanod", sort of a citizen deputy chosen by
his neighborhood to patrol the streets and aid in routine
law inforcement (Photo: Barangay Tanod training).
In an interview, Mayor Romualdez reiterated his call to every peace-loving residents to help our police authorities to be watchful and immediately report suspicious elements observed around them.
"Pag may na obserbaran kayong motorsiklo without a plate number o tao na hindi nyo kakilala na pabalik-balik sa isang bahay o lugar, tanungin nyo kung ano at sino ang hinahanap nila (If you happen to observe somebody riding a motorbike without a plate number and observed to be passing back and forth a certain house or place, be brave enough to ask them who they are looking for), if not try to get in touch with the nearest police station and report your observation at once, Mayor Romualdez said.
"Call your barangay tanods . In every barangay, we have our barangay tanods to keep watch over our peace and order situation. If every barangay, have active barangay tanods then this thing will not happen. "Ang barangay tanod ang unang tutugon sa mga ganitong situation (the first to answer said situation is the barangay tanod)", the Mayor added.
"Of course, we need the help of every Taclobanon who lives in Tacloban, please help our authorities so we can get rid of this bad elements," the city mayor said.
Police authorities are still conducting thier investigation on the slaying Aldrin Benitez, who was recently elected as barangay chairman of Barangay 66. The suspects were riding a motorcycle with no plate number when they gunned down Benitez last Monday night outside the barangay hall.. Mayor Romualdez , after hearing the incident, immediately sent a police team to conduct their investigate.
Mayor Romualdez was saddened over the incident and sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of the murdered barangay chairman and pray that justice be rendered immediately.
Nov 10, 2010
New barangay chairman
shot dead in Tacloban City
by Joey A. Gabieta
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- Police authorities in the city are still waiting for a breakthrough on the killing of a newly-elected barangay chairman who was gunned down Monday night, an incident described by Councilor Cristina Gonzalez Romualdez as "shocking."
Senior Inspector Ma. Bella Rentuaya, police and community relations officer of the Tacloban Police Office, said that up to this time police probers are still doing their investigation on the killing of Aldrin Benitez, 40, who was just elected as chairman of Barangay 66, Paseo del Legazpi district, during the recently-held barangay elections.
Benitez' househelp, Julio Sabanal, 21, who was sitting beside him, sustained a gun wound at his right ankle.
Rentuaya said that Benitez was sitting just outside the barangay hall at 8:30 pm when one of the two suspects, who were riding on a single motorcycle, stopped in front of the victim and shot him several times.
Several empty shells of still unknown firearm were recovered by the members of the police probers. The suspects sped off towards the city downtown area, witnesses have claimed.
"As of this time, we have yet to establish the identities of the suspects as well as their motive on killing the victim. Hopefully, we can establish a breakthrough soon as our investigators are doing their all to solve this crime incident," Rentuaya said.
Rentuaya said they are not discounting the possibility that politics could be the motive for the killing of the barangay chairman.
For her part, Councilor Cristina Gonzalez Romualdez, in a press conference yesterday afternoon, said that she was "shocked" when she learned on the killing of Benitez.
"Of course, I was shocked. But hopefully, he will be given justice as we don't like crimes like that to happen in the city as we are trying to picture Tacloban as a peaceful city," the wife of Mayor Alfred Romualdez said.
She, however, said that the killing of Benitez would not affect the city's campaign to attract more investors and tourists.
Benitez's wife, Sylvia, asked authorities to speed up with their investigation as she is seeking that justice be served to her husband of more than 20 years.
Asked what could be the motive why her husband was killed, the grieving widow could not say.
"Honestly, I don't have any idea why he was killed," the 38-year old widow, who is a teacher, said when asked at the Saint Peter's Funeral Home where the remains of her husband were brought.
The victim served as a barangay kagawad for nine years before he decided to ran for barangay chairman during the community elections held last October 25.
Benitez was the first barangay official in the city to have ever been killed, says Anastacio Ibañez, community affairs officer of the city office of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
"Of course, we're bothered on this incident. Just like his family, we hope that justice will be served to him," Ibañez said.
With the death of Benitez, the current first barangay councilor automatically assumed the post until a new barangay chairman is appointed on Dec.1.
Nov 10, 2010
Mayor Romualdez eyes
putting of CCTV to avert
crimes in the city
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- Mayor Alfred Romualdez is eyeing for a comprehensive security plan due to almost series of killing incidents in the city.
"I saw the need for a tighter security undertaking in our city by putting up surveillance cameras in some (strategic) places here," he said yesterday.
Romualdez said they have come up with an alternative plan to monitor crimes through closed-circuit televisions that will be installed and activated in all strategic points and areas of public convergences.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place on a limited set of monitors. The technology is often used mostly in major cities for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, casinos, airports, military installations, and convenience stores.
The plan came out after a barangay chairman of Tacloban was shot to death by two unidentified men riding in tandem on a motorcycle on Monday at 8 p.m. while he was outside at the multi purpose hall of the barangay.
The victim was identified as Aldrin Benitez, incumbent village chief of Brgy. 66 Paseo de Legazpi of this city.
Benitez sustained three gunshot wounds from a .45 caliber which resulted to his sudden death, police reports said.
Other than this, Romualdez has also considered the murder of Manuel Granados, father of neophyte Councilor Jeric Dane Granados who is a close ally of the city mayor, who was shot last September 15 this year.
"Even my executive assistant was killed early this year," he emphasized.
Romualdez was referring to Freddie Anido, former manager of Tacloban City's New Bus Terminal, who was murdered by two unidentified suspects on March 5 while he was on his way home.
"Lahat naman tayo nagulat sa mga nangyari...so we considered these cases, reason why we are going to put CCTVs next year especially in the downtown areas," he stressed, adding that these kinds of crime remain to be one of the problems in major cities.
He said that this would serve as one of their preventive measures to abet further occurence of killing and other illegal incidents in the city. He cannot tell yet the exact number of surveillance cameras to be installed and how much the city government will set aside for this purpose.
The city mayor said it's very hard to provide an increased police visibility throughout the city because of the limited police personnel currently deployed at the Tacloban Police Office.
By putting up the CCTVs, Romualdez said incidence of crimes can easily be tracked and monitored.
Nov 10, 2010
Mayor Romualdez, police say Tacloban is safe despite killings
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- Is this city still safe?
The Philippine National Police (PNP) here said they remain on top of the situation in so far as preserving the peace and order of the city is concerned.
Senior Inspector Maria Bella Rentuaya of the Police and Community Relations office of Tacloban PNP Office, said yesterday that they cannot be accused of being sloppy in addressing the crime incidents that are taking place in the city, the latest involved the killing of a newly-elected barangay chairman who was shot to death Monday night.
The assurance made by Rentuaya was made by her during a radio interview over DyDw (Radyo Diwa) yesterday.
"Our city is still safe," she said, "and the murder cases do not mean that we are being shoddy in our performance."
In fact, PNP personnel have been fielded already to all corners in the downtown areas and at vital installations just to respond to the increasing volume of people staying in the city, Rentuaya disclosed.
The murder incidents involving a barangay chairman the other day and of businessman Manuel Granados last September this year have troubled some people especially those in the business community.
"The city government doesn't lack the necessary support but what we need is the share and cooperation of the public," the PCR chief said.
"If he believes that he is under threat, then he should be cautious and give notice to authorities. We are just a text or a call away," she added.
But it was Mayor Alfred Romualdez himself who admitted that Tacloban lacks the sufficient number of police force to secure the more than two hundred thousand people of the city.
He, however, affirmed that Tacloban is still considered as a safe place for people and to those who want to invest in business.
"I do not consider the incidents to affect our economy here," he said in a separate interview.
He mentioned the undertakings of police authorities with their intelligence operations to track and arrest the suspect of a rape-murder case in the city.
Annaliza Ampatin was brutally murdered and raped on the eve of August 28 this year at Marasbaras district by one Brian Dellera. The suspect was charged of rape with homicide.
"It is just but normal that there are cases like this, but we remain safe," he said.
Nov 08, 2010
CTO supports move to
renovate Sto. Niño Shrine
by Joey A. Gabieta
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- The plan to rehabilitate the Santo Niño Shrine as proposed by Representative Florencio Noel of the An Waray party-list group, got the support of the tourism office of the Tacloban city government.
Rep. Florencio 'Bem' G. Noel
Sectoral Representative AN WARAY:
"The Sto. Niño Shrine is a landmark of Tacloban .."
The plan to renovate the edifice would definitely help boost the tourism industry not only of Tacloban but the entire region as well, Jake Ligan, city tourism officer, said.
"That is a welcome move by the An Waray party-list group. Definitely, if indeed it will push through, it will help the tourism industry not only of Tacloban but the entire region as well," Ligan said.
"The Santo Niño Shrine is considered as a tourism asset," he said.
According to Ligan, the Santo Niño Shrine is considered to be the one of the "tourism icons" of Tacloban which makes it as one of the city's top tourist attractions.
Earlier, Rep. Florencio Noel of the An Waray party-list group had revealed that he is pushing for the repair of the Santo Niño Shrine with the assistance from the Department of Tourism.
Noel said that the rehabilitation work may take five years and estimated to cost P140 million.
The massive edifice, located along Real Street this city, is presently under the control of the Presidential Commission on Good Government as it was confiscated by the government being alleged to be part of the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.
Former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos is contesting the sequestration order as she maintains that her family owns the property long before she married former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Ligan said that it was a good move on the part of Rep. Noel to push for the rehabilitation of the property.
It was learned from him, that during the administration of former Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, the city government had tried to take control of the said property.
"But the effort proved to be unsuccessful due to some legal problems. The plan of the former mayor was to turn it over to the city government where the city tourism office will hold office," Ligan said.
Ligan also said that he hope that the nearby People's Center and Library be also renovated and stopped being use as a trading center.
"It has become a tiangge and no longer served its original purpose," Ligan said.
Nov 04, 2010
Gov't to renovate
Sto. Niño Shrine
by Joey A. Gabieta
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- A massive edifice closely associated to former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, located in this city, is soon to undergo a facelift.
This was revealed by Representative Florencio Noel of the An Waray party- list group who is pushing for the repair of the Santo Niño Shrine, also referred to by its former owner as her "summer house."
"The Santo Niño Shrine is in a sorry state and we should not allow it to go to waste considering it is a landmark edifice in Tacloban," Noel said.
According to him, the Department of Tourism through its Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprises Zone Authority (formerly known as the Philippine Tourism Authority), has estimated that it would cost P140 million to rehabilitate the building.
Noel, who chairs the committee on accounts at the House of Representatives, said that he would make it as one of his priorities as he vowed to look for funding to realize the repair of the building, sequestered during the administration of the mother of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.
He admitted that with a huge cost to repair the building, the work may be done on a piece meal basis, depending on the availability of funds.
Noel said that he is hoping that the repair work would start early next year within a five-year period.The building located along Real Street, this city, is where Mrs. Marcos and her family once lived.
Noel said that personnel from the DoT and the National Committee on Museums have visited the area for their inspection two weeks ago.
And based on their assessment, the entire building need a total rehabilitation describing it in a "sorry state," Noel said.
Noel said that while there are sectors who questioned on how the Santo Niño Shrine was funded, it should not be given much weight.
"The immediate concern now is to repair it before it would literally crumble down," the solon said.
Noel said that he has discussed the matter with the former first lady and now congresswoman of Ilocos Norte. "And she welcomed the idea," he said.
The building, consisting of 21 rooms, was constructed between the period 1979-81 by Mrs. Marcos. In 1986, it was seized by the national government on ground that it was part of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth.
At present, the edifice is under the control of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG). The former first lady, who is contesting the sequestration, often visits the place whenever she is in Tacloban.
nnabelle Arpon, PCCGG personnel assigned at the shrine, said that this plan of Noel would be big relief.
According to her, much of the building, made of hard-wood like lawaan, is being eaten by termites that have resulted for several of its walls and ceilings to fall down.
It was learned from Arpon, that they receive between 1,500 to 3,000 visitors per month. "It is the number one tourist attraction in Tacloban," she said, adding that majority of the visitors were foreigners and those coming outside the region.
Nov 04, 2010
Pfleider 'ambushed' in Ormoc
by Alvin P. Cardines
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- The retired police general who was charged with murder for allegedly killing a businessman in this city last September has escaped unhurt from an attempted ambush on October 31, Sunday, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region said.
Police Inspector Elizar Egloso, deputy chief of the police and community relations office of PNP-8, said the alleged ambush against Edwin Pfleider was staged along the highway of San Pablo, Ormoc City at around 3:45 in the afternoon.
Egloso said Pfleider was with his wife and their driver as they were travelling to Ormoc when the incident happened.
This was confirmed by Pfleider himself who was exclusively interviewed at DyDW (Radio Diwa) yesterday morning when he said that two unidentified men in black jackets have fired at them.
"I was near death at Ormoc," he said in vernacular.
Pfleider said they were at Leyte, Leyte to visit their departed loved ones and just stayed for about 2 hours in a public cemetery. At around 3 p.m., he decided to go to Ormoc while on their way to Tacloban.
"I told our driver that instead of going back to Tacloban, why not go to Ormoc for just an hourly-trip, anyway it was still early ," he said, adding that along the way they saw at least two men tailing their vehicle,just 10 meters away from them.
Little did they knew then that the suspects were armed with a high capacity revolver. Pfleider, who was then sitting beside the driver at the front seat, stressed they were nearly hit; it was only their vehicle that has sustained damages from the gunshots.
"Soon after their ambush I immediately reported it to the nearest police station and had it blotter," Pfleider said.
Egloso, on the other hand, could not yet tell the real motive of the incident as they are still on the process of investigation but was sure to say that it might be closely related to the September 15murder slay of a distant cousin.
The retired police general, however, maitained that he still has to wait for the result of the investigation as he urged the authorities to look on all angles to determine the real intention of the alleged suspects.
"I cannot comment yet on that (motive) because it is still under investigation...I'm certain that at the end, the motive will be known," he added.
To recall, Pfleider was imlicated as the principal supect who allegedly orered the killing of Manuel Granados, a prominent businessman engaged in transport business whose son, Jeric Dane Granados, is member of the Tacloban City Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council).
But the former maintained he is innocent of the crime.
Nov 03, 2010
Glova pushes for regulated
fish pen in Cancabato Bay
by Natalie Abaño
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- City Councilor Neil Glova said that the amendment for the existing ordinance declaring Cancabato Bay as the protected and fishery reservation to give way to have fish pen on a regulated basis is now being reviewed.
Glova said that the fact that it was referred to the committee, he is confident that in the next few weeks the committee concerned headed by Councilor Jerry Uy will come up with a report and recommendation.
He said that there will be areas to be used in the bunu-an in the 600 hectares of Cancabato Bay and the area will just be pinpointed where to put the bunu-an(fish cage).
"I don't think that the members of the council or my colleagues will object to the proposal of amending the existing ordinance," he said.
The amendment is authored by Councilor Glova and co-authored by Councilor Jerry "Sambo" Yaokasin.
Nov 03, 2010
LMWD assures
steady supply of water
by Marissa Calleja
Leyte Samar Daily Express
TACLOBAN CITY -- The Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) assured its thousands of concessionaires of a steady water supply with the construction of new water pumps.
"We continue to construct new water pumps to the different areas within the LMWD coverage to achieve the desired pressure of the flow of water," Marites Pascua, public information Officer of the said water agency, said.
She particularly mentioned the LMWD project located at Utap district where a big water reservoir was constructed. She said that the said reservoir would help boost the water supply for Tacloban.
"The reservoir is 38 meter above sea level. This is to supply the proper amount of water for the people," Eulogio Latoja, contractor and line maintenance of LMWD, in a separate interview, said.
They have requested some technicians from Manila to help them on the project.
Nov 03, 2010
Tacloban police seize
50 bladed weapons
from cemetery goers
By Joey A. Gabieta
Inquirer.net - Philippines
Tacloban City, Leyte -- The police described the All Saints Day in the city as peaceful, but some people still attempted to skirt the ban on weapons, with policemen seizing over 50 bladed weapons, such as bolos and knives from cemetery goers.
The police made the seizures at the main entrance of the Catholic cemetery located in El Reposo, the biggest cemetery in Tacloban, as of 10 a.m.
Insp. Elmer Jabinar, team leader of the police assigned at the Catholic cemetery, said that the confiscation of these bladed weapons was meant to prevent any untoward incident inside the cemetery.
Jabinar said that they did not expect the heavy volume of visitors, considering the bad weather.
Tacloban City and nearby areas have been experiencing heavy rains since Sunday.
Meanwhile, a memorial services company has put up a pink colored coffin in an upright position to allow any person to have their souvenir photos taken while standing inside the coffin as part of their marketing efforts.
"It's okay. I was not scared,"according to "Norman," one of those who took advantage of the promotional gimmick of the company..
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