CODILLA TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR MUNICIPAL GYM IN PALOMPON

Cong. Codilla said "Magtukod kita'g dako ug moderno nga municipal gym" during his speech on the inauguration and oathtaking last June 30.
The municipal officials and visitors during the inauguration of the new administration in this town at Palompon social center.

BY: GERARDO C. REYES JR.
PALOMPON, Leyte-A modern municipal gym will soon to rise in this town. This was after Congressman Eufrocino “Dodong” Codilla revealed that he will prioritized the said project because it is needed for a developing municipality like Palompon. He said that since other towns in the province like Baybay and Carigara, are taking major strides towards their planned cityhood-much more that he desire more economic activities in Palompon, which is within his district, to propel the local economy.

Cong. Codilla said that the election of new mayor, Eulogio Tupa, his running mate, vice mayor Lloyd Surigao, who are his allies the solon is confident that he can pour more development projects in this town and its barangays. It was learned that the municipal gym was planned some years ago by the solon, which will be his pet project in this town, but municipal leaders that time refused to cooperate with the congressman.

During his first visit at the Palompon social center during the inauguration and oathtaking ceremony recently, he feel sorry for the condition of the crowd during that time which he described as “init kaayo dinhi sa sulod, unya naghuot kamo”, referring to semi-concrete structure that has limited space and has no ceilings. He then told the Palomponganons that he wants to solve such predicament. “Magtukod kita ug dako ug moderno nga municipal gym” he said, followed by a thunderous applause of the audience.

The social center was constructed during the time of President Marcos in 1970’s, as a tennis court but was transformed later into a social center to accommodate gatherings and other socio-cultural activities. Years later, the structure underwent minor renovations.

Vice Mayor Lloyd Surigao said that they preferred that the new municipal gym will be constructed at the Oval grounds (near Palompon south central school) in order to expand the economic activities to the said place. He also believed that the place near the municipal hall and public market are already congested especially when there is a socio-cultural activities and other performances at the social center, and to decongest the area is to construct the municipal gym in another location. The new site is some 400 meters from the social center, and is just within the poblacion.

Surigao said that the old social center will become the new “tabuan” area for farmers, fishermen or even transient vendors like ukay-ukay. The vice mayor admitted the lamentable conditions of the poor tabuan vendors who display their wares along the streets, sidewalks, or at the middle of the road. Market Inspector Arnel Villarente said that these vendors are exposed to excessive heat of the sun, or heavy rains because during “tabo” (market day), there’s no place for them. “Ang uban may lantay nga kabutangan sa ilang produkto ug paninda, ang uban ilaray lang sa yuta o sa semento” he said.

The vice mayor said that their possible transfer at the social center, will give convenience to these small traders from Palompon barangays. The vice mayor is likewise pushing for the exemption of farmers and fishermen from paying taxes to the municipality during “tabo”. Since market day in this town is only Sunday and Monday, Surigao said that ukay-ukay and other transient vendors can also be accommodated inside the social center, for a fee.