"The working mayor"

ORMOC CITY MAYOR Eric C. Codilla asked Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) to require its contractors engaged in construction and services at the Leyte Geothermal Production Field (LGPF) to secure business permits from his office. In a letter to LGPF Resident Manager Engr. Manuel Paete, the mayor pointed out that since PNOC’s contractors are doing business in Ormoc, it is only proper for them to pay taxes to the city.

Meanwhile, Mayor Codilla this week gathered representatives of utility firms Leyte-V Electric Cooperative, Globelines, Ormoc Telephone Co. and Visayan Cable Network Inc. regarding the overhead jungle tangle of cable lines in the city proper. The unsightly cable lines ruin the aesthetic value of the downtown area, he said.

It is believed that 30-35% of hanging cable lines are of no use already that even contribute to illegal connections to electricity and cable TV. Mayor Codilla requested the utility firms to do something about the problem particularly at Aviles, Real and Bonifacio Sts. He also gave them an ultimatum on the city’s fiesta on June 30.

Leyte’s bird sanctuary still safe for tourist

Tabuk marine park and bird sanctuary in Palompon

PALOMPON, Leyte -- The Tabuk Marine Park and Bird Sanctuary here remains safe for tourists despite the bird flu scare. This was the assurance made by Horeem Urboda, head of the Human and Ecological Security Commission, who said that the municipal government is closely monitoring the 222-hectare sanctuary.

Urboda pointed out that there has been no reported deaths nor unusual movements of migratory birds since the formation of a special task force on the Avian Influenza on November ’05. The Philippines is along the Southeast Asia-Australia flyway used by birds from the Northern Hemisphere. These birds from Siberia migrate to Asia in September then return home by March. Urboda said the sanctuary continues to be visited by students, environmentalists and other government employees on study tours.

Among the bird species that can be seen in the islets are Philippine mallards or wild ducks, Asiatic Dowitcher, Chinese Swinhoe’s Egret, etc. Urboda also informed that there has been no reported deaths of domestic fowl in the town, even from the large and medium scale poultry farms in the upland barangays of Tambis and Lat-osan, some 10 kilometers from the poblacion. The sanctuary, on the other hand, is located some 300 meters across the mainland.

Dr. Laarni Cabantac, asst. coordinator of the National Avian Influenza Task Force, told participants of a seminar workshop in Cebu this week that migratory birds are the usual natural carriers of the virus that can affect the country’s poultry industry. But she also clarified that there are other modes of transmission like the importation of wild birds and unsanitary poultry farms.

Tabuk was declared as a marine park and bird sanctuary in 1995 through an ordinance enacted by the municipal government. After it was adjudged as 1997 Galing Pook Awardee, the sanctuary was declared as an eco-destination. Amenities were constructed, and tour package has been organized that includes, bird watching, trip to bat kingdom, marine safari, trip to mallards lair, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Dodong has more projects than other Region 8 solons

Rep. Codilla led the inauguration of road concreting in Brgy. Honan, Isabel , Leyte

Merida Leyte. Inauguration and turn-over ceremony of 2 km. road concreting project in
Merida, Leyte. Cong. Codilla is accompanied by DAR Officials and municipal leaders in this town.

LEYTE 4th District Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. has completed P38,078,784 worth of projects since 2005 making him the Congressman with the most number of projects in Region 8. This data is contained in a report submitted by 4th Leyte Engineering District to enable the solon to monitor his projects.

Rep. Codilla said his priorities are in keeping with the directive of President Arroyo to focus on infrastructure projects that have social impact like education, water system, etc. By building farm-to-market roads, he was able to draw barangays closer together and made it easier for farmers to transport their agricultural products to the market, he said. Of the P38 million, Isabel got the biggest slice of 1/3 or P10 million which was used to rehabilitae roads. These include the Monte Alegre-Can-andan road at P5 million which is the single biggest project, and Marvel-Monte Alegre road concreting, P2.6 million which is expected to be finished next month. More than P2 million more is allotted for the re-graveling of various barangay roads in Isabel. Another multi-million project is the Palanas river control in Albuera town worth P4.5 million.

Palompon town got P3.3 million for the improvement of the Canipaan-Cantuhaon road and another P3.3 million for the Tabunok-Magsaysay road improvement. Kananga was appropriated P2 million for a box culvert in Rizal while Merida town got P1.5 million for the rehabilitation of the Cabaliwan-Masumbang road. Over P4.3 million was spent for 12 schoolhouses of which three high schools in Ormoc got five. The others were built in Merida Palompon and Kananga.

Water system was also given priority with P2.3 million spent in Brgys. Montebello and Tugbong in Kananga as well as Brgys. Tinabilan, Cantuhaon, Taberna and Palompon Institute of Technology in Palompon. Since his first term, Rep. Codilla spent P5.1 million for the water system of 12 barangays in Palompon. Other projects that are completed as of Dec. ‘06 are road rehab at Sitio Laray, Naghalin, Kananga, P400,000; covered court in Merida, P1.9 million; building for Palompon Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, P477,647.54; and two concrete pavements at Guiwan I, Palompon, worth P1.2 million.

SCHOOL BUILDING

1 classroom school building in Ipil National High School, P 460,000.00 1 classroom school building Jica Lao, Ormoc P 400,000.00 2 classroom school building Dolores National HS P 609,244.00 1 classroom school building Dolores National HS P 304,621.99 1 classroom school building Dolores National HS P 304,621.99 1 classroom school building Merida Vocational School P 304,621.99 1 classroom school building Cambantug Elem. School, Merida P 304,621.69 1 classroom school building Puertobello Elem. School, Merida P 304,621.69 1 classroom school building Aguiting Elem. School, Kananga P 304,621.99 1 classroom school building Libertad Elem. School, Kananga P 304,621.99 1 classroom school building Tugbong Elem. School, Kananga P 304,621.99 Schoolbuilding in Lomonon National HS, Palompon P 415,379.46

Water system, as one of the basic government, has been one of the priority projects of the solon. He stressed that many of the villages in the 4^th district that needs to be provided with adequate supply of potable water.

WATER SYSTEM

Water supply/ Montebello, Kananga P 400,000.00 Water Supply/ Tugbong, Kananga P 400,000.00 PIT water supply P 382.808.90 Water supply/ Brgy. Tinabilan, Palompon P 382,949.29 Water supply/ Katutuwahan, Taberna, Palompon P 382,949.29 Water supply/ Sitio Hilum, Cantuhaon, Palompon P 382,949.29

May polls to turn 4th District into Codilla turf

Congressman Eufrocino "Dodong" Codilla

THE political landscape in Leyte 4th District may radically change after the May elections as re-electionist Rep. Eufrocino M. Codilla Sr. sets to get the support of five mayoralty candidates out of the six towns. This was learned during the Congressman’s 74th birthday bash which was attended by two incumbent town mayors.

Mayors Marcos Antonio Solaña of Merida and Sixto de la Victoria of Albuera were among the congressman’s well-wishers last Jan. 1. The two used to be allied with the rival Locsin camp as Rep. Codilla did not enjoy any support from any one of the six town mayors in 4th District in his past two terms as lawmaker. But this is seen to change considering that most incumbent mayors are last termers with no worthy successors. This gives the Codilla-backed candidates an edge over those who dislike the solon.

In Kananga for instance, Rep. Codilla’s son Eming is expected to win hands down against incumbent Vice Mayor Marciano Nahine. In Isabel, retired army general Saturnino M. Medina who was supposed to be the anointed successor of Mayor Roberto P. Fuentes will run under Rep. Codilla. He heads the security force of Philippine Phosphate Fertilizer Co. in Isabel which is the most important town of 4th District with the presence of an industrial estate.

In Palompon, underdog Vice Mayor Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa is expected to get the sympathy votes over Mayor Marcelo Oñate, whose dwindling popularity is pulling down. Tupa will run with former mayoral candidate Atty. Lloyd Surigao. Mayor Oñate is also hounded by defections of able leaders led by Provincial Board Member Herville Pajaron and a number of barangay captains. In fact, Palompon had the biggest contingent among the supporters that attended Rep. Codilla’s party. This leaves only Matag-ob town under Mayor Michael Torrevillas, a relative of the Locsins.

One of the barangay captains in Palompon who switched loyalty to Rep. Codilla is Romulo Lamoste of Belen. According to him, he and his kagawads joined the Codilla camp after Mayor Oñate did not keep his word of supporting the Congressman. “Ming-ingon (si Oñate) nga kon mapilde si (Albert Mitchel) Locsin niadtong 2004 election, mobalhin na kami og suporta kang Codilla. Wala man kana nila tumana,” he said. Lamoste described his defection as a right move he did not regret because Rep. Codilla repaired the road in their barangay which was inaccessible to vehicles. “Ang usa gud ka sapa, ka-20 namo tabokon,” he said adding: “Sukad nga natawo ko sa Belen, wala gyo’y karsada, unya si Codilla ra gyod ang nakapahimo og karsada dinhi sa among dapit.” Another barangay captain, Feliciano Rodado of San Roque said the economy of their village was boosted by the projects poured by Rep. Codilla. These include a farm-to-market road, concrete pavement and water system. Because of this, the congressman is expected to finally win in Palompon take along with him Tupa and Atty. Surigao to victory.

DENR controls human settlement at Lake Danao

AROUND 30 families living around Lake Danao are tasked by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to monitor the lake to ensure good quality water supply in some Leyte towns.

DENR Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual also bared that human habitation around the 148-hectare lake is also being monitored. “The danger is pollution. It will degrade the quality of the water,” Pascual said on their move to prevent other people from settling in the area. The violin-shaped three-kilometer long lake supplies water to the eastern parts of the province like Tacloban, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana and Sta. Fe. The lake also serves as cooler of the geothermal plants in Tongonan, this city.

Human habitation around the lake started 20 years ago until their number reached to the present 30 families. Most of them do their laundry at the lake while some have established rice fields. The DENR has prohibited them against cultivating the soil and letting their grown children to build additional houses for their new families. “We don’t tolerate settlement but we manage it,” Pascual said adding: “We should all do our share to protect Lake Danao because that is the source of domestic water consumption.”

Oñate, Tupa ink peace covenant with PPCRV

PALOMPON, Leyte-Opposing candidates in this town chance to see each other during the signing of peace covenants at the Saint Francis Xavier parish church last April 15, at 8:00 in the morning. The activity was spearheaded by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPC-RV) led by parish priest, Fr. Albert Opiniano, with his assistants, Fr. Ric Marpa, and Fr. Manuel Baybay.

Unlike in the neighboring Isabel town, all Palomponganon candidates showed up to wish their opponents good luck, and to proved that they adhere for peaceful and orderly elections this May 2007. Present were the local candidates under Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), led by incumbent mayor, Atty. Marcelo “Baloy” Oñate, and his running mate, vice mayor Harvey Fel C. Piñon, and their slate. The Lakas –CMD candidates also come in full force with mayoralty candidate Eulogio “Yoly” Tupa and his running mate, Atty. Lloyd Surigao.

The activity was highlighted by the signing of the peace covenant prepared by the PPC-RV in their campaign towards an honest, orderly and peaceful election. Afterwards, all the candidates were presented by Fr. Opiniano before the crowded church during the Sunday’s second mass, to the delight of many Palomponganons who rarely see these candidates together.

Also present are candidates for councilor, Rodulfo Canson, Gilbert Manongsong, Eloy Bongbong, Josie Pahulayan, Arnol Pajaron, Avelino Pastor, Pablo Castor, Jesus Villardo III of Lakas CMD, reelectionists Jesus Sanchez, Manuel Bertulfo, and Laurito Nuñez, candidates Mesias Arevalo, Jun Roble, Burt Bregaudit, Arsenio Marquez, and Cleofe Paloma-Rivera of NPC.

“Codilla is a pro-life solon”

Congressman Dodong Codilla during the inauguration of P 2 Million
Box Culvert in Brgy. Rizal, Kananga, Leyte with DPWH 4TH Leyte
Engineering District, Asst. DE Engr. Irwin Antonio. (photo from WLWE)

EV Mail mislead the readers

A weekly newspaper in this city (not WEST LEYTE WEEKLY EXPRESS) mislead the public for including 4^th district, Congressman Eufrocino “Dodong” Codilla, among the anti-life solons in their banner story “Church ask voters to junk anti-life solons”.

Sources from the congressional office said that the aforesaid reports contained information contrary to facts because the solon will not in anyway support the proposed bills, which the Church considered as “anti-life and anti-family”, because he is a devout Catholic.

The said report was allegedly based on a national newspaper article, not mentioning the date of its release, thus the report is incomplete and not presented in details. The worse is that it did not specify what particular house bills that they are referring to, but went only to mention that names of these congressmen, without getting their sides.

Last month, Cong. Codilla sent a letter separately for Most Reverend Jose Palma, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Palo, and to Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, parish priest in Ormoc, informing them about his stand on the so-called “anti-life bills”. The solon assured the high-ranking presbyter that “Proposed Bills on the creation of a Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act, Comprehensive Juvenile Justice System, Death Penalty and Re-Trial Release Program, and other Anti-Life Bills shall never earn the positive vote of the undersigned”, a portion of the letter read. “As a devout Catholic, I have always believed in the sanctity of life” the solon said, and that he will not support any anti-life bills or any form of legislations that is detrimental to Christian doctrines, he explained. “I am always with you in your unwaivering vigilance as the guardian of nation’s moral foundation”, the solon assured.

The solon’s name was included because before because some solons are seeking for support for the said bill, and those who expressed their commitments to support were included in the lists as co-author of the aforesaid house bill. For this reason, Congressman Codilla has made known his stand that he will not support the said bills, as evidenced in his letter to Roberto Nazareno, secretary general of the House of Representatives. The said House Bill 3773 with Committee Report 388 “An Act Providing for an Integrated and Comprehensive National Policy on Responsible Parenthood, Population Management and Human Development, Creating a Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Council and for other purposes” also known as Responsible Parenthood and Population Management Act of 2005 was filed on February 22, 2005 by Congressman Lagman. The said bill sets in place a national policy that assures adequate and continuing information on reproductive health and a full range of family planning methods (excluding abortion).

Palompon barbeque boulevard

PALOMPON, Leyte -- Barbecue Boulevard, the newest attraction here, has been attracting locals since its completion a few months ago. Located at the breakwater near the port area, it is part of the P28.5 million improvement of the public market. The place used to accommodate stalls that serve breakfast like puto maya and hot chocolate.

Now, it is a tile-coated tourist attraction that draws promenaders. Considering that the plaza beside the town hall is not presentable, the barbecue park is now the favorite of people who want to relax by the sea. At nighttime, barbecue vendors set up their tables and serve food. Some of these vendors used to crowd the bus terminal, which was why they were transferred.