Leyte to keep water rates

published December 22, 2008 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY — The Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) has put off major projects next year to avert a possible higher rate adjustment.

Nestor Villasin, LMWD general manager, said they will need nearly P1 billion in capital investments to augment supply and replace old pipes.

To raise this amount, he said they will have to double rates to P30 per cubic meter.

But Mr. Villasin said they were not inclined to adjust rates because of the projected economic difficulties.

No rate increase

"There will be no adjustment next year. It’s not in our minds," Mr. Villasin assured. The water district, at present, charges P14.85 per cubic meter.

"Our system loss is high but we’ve been correcting this. Since we don’t have capital investment, what we’ve been doing is to maximize our production. That is why we are very particular with fixing leakages," Mr. Villasin told BusinessWorld. — Sarwell Q. Meniano

Pay hike for teachers urged

published December 17, 2008 in BusinessWorld

PALO, LEYTE — Education Undersecretary Franklin Sunga has called on public school teachers in Eastern Visayas to push for the approval of a petition for an across-the-board wage increase.

Speaking before supervisors, school heads and teachers, Mr. Sunga said mentors should unite to push for a legislated P9,000 wage adjustment.

"We should fight for it by asking our congressmen to support the bill. Fifty percent of the fight has been won since [the bill has been passed] in the Senate," he said.

The Senate has passed a bill providing public school employees with additional allowances that will increase their take-home pay by about P9,000.

This was on top of the proposed P3,000 adjustment every three years.

There is a counterpart bill in the House of Representatives, but some congressmen had wanted to incorporate the proposal in a new salary standardization law.

Equal salaries

Mr. Sunga said teachers deserve to receive salaries equal to those received by the military and police. Some 450,000 teachers nationwide currently receive an average monthly salary of P10,933.

Mr. Sunga noted that the benefits under Republic Act 4670 or the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers have not been given since the law was passed in 1966.

Among the remuneration provided in the law are additional compensation, cost of living allowances, special hardship allowance, health measures and injury benefits, and leave and retirement benefits. — Sarwell Q. Meniano

PPA: Tacloban port rehab needs P100M

published December 17, 2008 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has proposed a P100-million budget to rehabilitate Tacloban Port next year, in anticipation of higher cargo traffic.

Tacloban port manager Winfred Elizalde said in a recent interview that the 2,500-square meter deck lies within the 3.5-hectare old wharf that has been deteriorating since it was built in 1936.

"Since it was constructed, there have been no rehabilitation efforts. It is still being used, but we have been imposing load limits of five tons to 15 tons," Mr. Elizalde said.

The proposal has been forwarded to the central office of PPA. Mr. Elizalde said they hoped it will be included in the priority list for 2009. The Tacloban seaport was not included in the list of 10 priority ports in the country that will be improved to meet international standards by 2010.

Last year, Tacloban port recorded a total of 439,566 metric tons (MT) of gross registered tonnage, consisting of 422,297MT domestic and 17,269 MT foreign.

"There’s a need to rehabilitate the old deck piles as we expect an increase in cargo vessel arrivals in the next years as construction booms in the city," Mr. Elizalde added.

Despite of the absence of passenger ships, the port earned P16.8 million in the 10 months to October, 17% more than last year’s P14.36-million income.

However, the number of ships that docked at the city’s port may decrease this year, with only 493 ship arrivals as of last month, against 635 ship arrivals for the entire 2007. "There are fewer ships that arrived this year, but those are large barges that brought materials in support of the city’s boom in construction," Mr. Elizalde said.

Among the shipped supplies were those for the construction of Gaisano Central Mall and Robinsons Place Tacloban. Gaisano held its soft opening last November 28. Gokongwei-led Robinsons mall is scheduled to start operating within the first quarter of next year. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld

Overseas sale of abaca to slow

published December 16, 2008 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN — The country’s abaca exports will slow next year, as dampened economic activity worldwide hits demand for this item, Jeffrey Espeña, regional director of the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), said in a recent interview here.

"The real impact of global economic downturn will be felt next year, because many companies have already placed purchase orders [this year]," Mr. Espeña said.

Expecting harder times ahead, FIDA has been asking local governments to be ready to provide alternative means of livelihood to affected farmers.

Eastern Visayas is one of the country’s top abaca-producing regions, accounting for some 40% of national production. At least 31,100 hectares in the region are devoted to abaca production.

Eastern Visayas sold 29,162 bales (or 125 kilograms) of abaca fiber in the 11 months to last November to Japan, United States, Canada and United Kingdom, FIDA data show.

Japan, which purchased 66% of the total abaca fiber sales from the region, remained the top importer, with average purchases of nearly 5,000 MT annually.

Still, Joselina Elle, FIDA’s Eastern Visayas information officer, said the industry should be able to ride out the crunch since abaca fiber has many uses. Abaca is processed into capacitor paper, insulation paper, tea bag, masking tape, stencil paper, filter oil, absorbent paper casings and other specialty paper products, she noted.

"Even if there’s recession, people will still buy it to supply the requirements of many manufacturers. Another advantage is that many countries have started to shift to indigenous materials such as abaca fiber," Ms. Elle said in a separate interview.

She added that FIDA is looking at expanding to other markets like China, South Korea, and Taiwan in order to diversify from the recession-hit economies of Japan, the US and Europe. The targeted alternative East Asian markets have been buying raw fiber from the Philippines, but their shares in total shipments have been minimal, Ms. Elle said.

But at least one local trading firm has noted what could be the start of a slowdown in abaca export shipments.

Hermogenes Torrefranca, branch manager of Baybay, Leyte-based abaca buyer Chingbee Trading, an affiliate of Specialty Pulp Mills, Inc. , said his company used to ship out 10 container vans of raw fiber to Japan. That volume was cut to just three containers last month.

"We might cut the buying price but we won’t stop [doing] business to sustain the local demand," Mr. Torrefranca said in a recent phone interview.

Mr. Torrefranca said the price of low-grade abaca fiber dropped to P30 per kilogram this month from P58/kg last October.

"The buying price... went down starting November as top importers reduced their demand for raw fiber. It’s been weak. We have no choice but to bring down the price," Mr. Torrefranca said in a phone interview.

High-grade fiber still sells for P71/kg, but the Chingbee executive said only few farmers produce such fiber due to prohibitive processing costs. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Samar casualties, damages rise

published December 11, 2008 in Leyte Samar Daily Express, BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The death toll from flash floods in the Samar provinces increased to six Wednesday.

This as local officials raised concern over the lack of food for thousands of affected families stranded in 13 villages in Oras town, Eastern Samar province.

Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Angel Gaviola said the National Disaster Coordinating Council would give a P10,000 financial assistance to each of the victims’ families.

Mr. Gaviola said the local government unit of Oras noted that around 3,000 families in 13 remote villages have been without food for five days now.

"[Oras] Mayor Neil Alvarez has sent a team [Tuesday] to check the situation of these 13 barangays surrounded by the river. As the floodwater rises, residents have nothing to do but to find shelter without any food," Mr. Gaviola told BusinessWorld.

Mr. Alvarez said in a separate interview that a team from the mayor’s office has not returned from the affected barangays to assess the situation.

"It’s really hard to get to these 13 river barangays because of the strong current," the mayor said.

He said the residents have been forced to set up camp in the hills since the schoolbuildings and village halls were also inundated.

"I’ve been asking for help. Our calamity fund is only P40,000. It’s been depleted since we were hit by natural calamities last February and August," Mr. Alvarez said.

Mr. Gaviola said they expect more reports of displaced families and damaged properties from the towns of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces as communication lines are restored.

As of yesterday, at least 5,507 families or 22,658 individuals were affected by floods in Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld

Floods displace thousands in Samar Island

published December 09, 2008 in Leyte Samar Daily Express, BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Severe flooding hit some towns of Samar island and displaced thousands of individuals after continuous downpour for at least three days.

The municipal disaster coordinating council in Can-avid town, Eastern Samar province reported that 6,947 persons were affected by the flooding.

As of yesterday morning, the affected villages in Can-avid were Balagon, Boco, Pandol, Salvacio, Can-ilay, Baruk, Caghalong, Camantang, Jepaco, Mabuhay, Guibuangan and Malogo.

In Las Navas, Northern Samar, town engineer Romualdo Saises said in an interview that the river rose by 1.22 meters and flooded residential areas.

"About 80% of the 37,000 population in our town were affected with this flood [from] four days of excessive rain," he told BusinessWorld.

The Las Navas River also overflowed in Catubig and Laoang towns and rendered roads impassable.

David Adungay, chief of the Northern Samar 2nd engineering district, said in an interview that some portions of Laoang-Catubig and Palapag-Mapanas-Lapinig-Gamay roads were inundated.

Hundreds of light vehicles were stranded between Calbayog City in Samar and Catarman, Northern Samar (via Lope de Vega section).

Raulito Yangzon, assistant chief of Samar’s 1st district, reported a landslide in Cabacungan and Mag-ubay villages in Calbayog City. The Department of Public Works and Highways closed the road which connects Calbayog and Catarman.

"Half of the road in two villages in Allen and Rosario town [in Northern Samar] were not passable as mud and rocks covered the highway," said Sandy Pua, assistant chief of the Northern Samar 1st district.

In their report signed by Mayor Norman Germino, the local government appealed for food assistance, clothing and medicines.

There were also reports of flooding in Jipapad, Eastern Samar but these could not be confirmed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as communication lines were down.

The weather bureau reported yesterday morning that a low pressure area was estimated at 70 kilometers north of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

OCD reported that a 16-year-old boy was killed in Jipapad town in Eastern Samar. The victim, Jose Rosco, drowned while helping evacuate his neighbor in Barangay 1. - Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld.

Trade dep't nets six stores selliing fake yuletide lights

published December 08, 2008 in BusinessWorld

PALO, LEYTE — Six stores in Eastern Visayas were found selling substandard Christmas lights as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) stepped up its campaign against such items.

Felix Cinco, chief of the DTI regional office’s consumer welfare division, said most of the violating stores are owned by Chinese-Filipino traders. Four shops are in Catarman, Northern Samar; one in Tacloban City; and one in Ormoc City, Leyte.

Mr. Cinco declined to identify the stores as the DTI has yet to file charges against some owners. Some have been fined P1,000 to P6,000, he added.

"These low-quality items were sealed and some were confiscated by our inspectors to ensure that these won’t be sold to the public again," he told BusinessWorld.

He said the six provincial offices of DTI in the region have been inspecting stores in capital and cities as well as in major trading areas since the last week of October. — SQM

N. Samar broadcaster's death may be work-related - police

published December 04, 2008 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Unidentified gunmen shot dead Tuesday night a radio broadcaster in San Roque town in Northern Samar province.

Authorities identified the fatality as Leo Mila, 35, of Radyo Natin. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Inspector Amir Lagrimas said the attack may have been work-related. "He was a hard-hitting commentator. That could be a reason why he was killed." He hosted a daily program called Himig Waraynon.

Mr. Mila was the first media practitioner to be killed in Northern Samar and the second for Eastern Visayas.

Ramon "Monching" Noblejas was killed by an unidentified lone assailant inside the compound of radio station dyVL in this city, in October 1987. The case has not been solved.

Mr. Mila was shot beside his motorcycle inside the compound of Radyo Natin, an affiliate of Manila Broadcasting Co., around 6 p.m. The station is in Barangay Zone 3, more than a kilometer from the town proper of San Roque.

Alice Cagro, station manager of Radyo Natin-San Roque, said two women, who were within the premises, heard a series of gunshot near the gate of the compound. She identified the women as Maricel Pedernales and Ediza Balangkit.

"The two [out of fear] only went out to see what happened 30 minutes after they heard the last gunshot," she said. — Sarwell Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld

Hog cholera outbreak hits Leyte village

published December 02, 2008 in BusinessWorld and GMANews.tv

BURAUEN/LEYTE, Philippines — Residents of a village here slaughtered in the last two weeks 20 pigs suspected of having hog cholera.

Provincial veterinarian Teofilo Mendoza said the affected community was Barangay Tambis, about five kilometers away from the town center."

All the symptoms observed pointed to hog cholera. Some villagers were just worried that their animals might have the disease," he said.

Hogs stricken with the virus lose their appetite and suffer from severe body weakness, constipation or diarrhea, nasal discharge and display red spots on the skin.

Gerry Echon, a backyard hog raiser, said hog raisers slaughtered their animals as soon as they notice the symptoms.

Mr. Mendoza said they were monitoring six suspected hog cholera cases in the same village.

Last week, a team from the regional and provincial offices of the Department of Agriculture conducted a vaccination campaign in Bgy. Tambis and the nearby villages of Maabab, Malaihao, Cagangon. "Vaccinations were provided to about 100 pigs in four villages," said Mr. Mendoza.

Agriculture regional information officer Virginia Macanda said department officials discussed the situation with villagers last week. "Many people are not aware of what the disease is and how to manage such problems in their villages. They’re supposed to bury infected animals instead of slaughtering and sharing the meat with the neighborhood," Ms. Macanda said. "Although hog cholera affects only pigs and has no detrimental effects on humans, it is still not ideal to eat the meat of infected animals."

Authorities advised swine raisers to check animals at least twice a week for unusual signs or behavior; make sure food waste is properly heated to destroy pathogens; isolate newly purchased hogs for at least 21 days; isolate sick pigs until the cause of illness is determined; fence property against wild pigs; and practice biosecurity measures like disinfecting clothing, equipment, and vehicles. — S. Q. Meniano, BusinessWorld

Gaisano Central Mall held soft opening in Tacloban

published November 29, 2008 in Leyte Samar Daily Express

TACLOBAN CITY - Gaisano Central Mall officially opened for business as it held soft opening last week, pinning high hopes that mall business will keep booming despite of the global financial crisis.

Gaisano Group of Companies Vice President for lease operation Jade Gaisano said that its 25 stalls open for lease are now all occupied. But during yesterday’s initial opening, some of the tenants failed to do business as their stalls have yet to be completed.

“We are looking forward to open the third floor before Christmas,” Gaisano said in a media interview.

The third floor will be shops for school supplies, children’s department, and ladies acessories, among others. The Gaisano-owned supermarket and department store occupy the first and second levels, respectively.

“I believe that no matter what’s the economic scenario that we have right now, people will still want to buy what is affordable and that’s what’s we offer to the people,” Gaisano stressed.

“I think we will always be the first choice for the market because what we offer are affordable but quality goods, “she added.

The mall official declined to reveal the amount of their investment for Tacloban. The company’s president, Henry Gaisano, was not able to make it to the soft opening as earlier planned.

The first ever shopping mall of the city is located at the old Republic Theater four-hectare lot along Justice Romualdez Street. It is open from 8 a.m. up to 9 p.m.

Present during the blessing and inauguration of the city’s first ever shopping mall were City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and wife Councilor Cristina Gonzales- Romualdez and Leyte Vice Governor Mimiette Bagulaya.

It was learned that aside from Tacloban, the company is also building shopping malls in Iligan, Panabo, Dipolog, Koronadal, Pagadian, Dumaguete, Digos and San Jose, Antique.
The main branch of the country’s third largest mall operator is found in Cebu City.
The Gaisano Department Store located at the city’s shopping center just few meters away from the new mall, has been operating for about 20 years now. It’s been the busiest shopping store in the city.

The existing Gaisano store will remain in operation considering that the 25-year lease contract at the local government-owned shopping center had not yet ended.

Within the first quarter of 2009, Robinson’s Place will also open its mid-sized mall. The construction was reportedly delayed due to heavy rains in the past months, said City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.

The opening of the Gaisano Mall in the city, the city mayor added, not only helps generate funds for the city in terms of sales tax but, more importantly, generate employment.

“To me, (job) generation is the most important,” Romualdez said, referring to the benefits the city and its immediate environs on the opening of the first mall of Tacloban.

The operation of the Gaisano Mall immediately generated an employment of about 1,000.
The city mayor added that with the opening of the Gaisano shopping mall, his drive for the reclassification of Tacloban into a highly urbanized city has been boosted.

Presently, the city mayor said that there are more than 13,000 business establishments in the city. “The number would greatly increase once investments that follow urbanization would start to flow in,” Romualdez added.The city’s chief executive said that big investments will trigger healthier competition but it won’t affect the small businessmen. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO & JOEY A. GABIETA)

P38M water system to Calicoan Island nears completion

published December 01, 2008 in Leyte Samar Daily Express

TACLOBAN CITY-More investments are expected to influx in Calicoan Island , Guiuan, Eastern Samar with the near completion of P38 million water system that would supply resort’s operational requirement.

Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Kwan told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the project which started early of November, will be finished on or before December 31, 2008.

“The reason why investors are reluctant in Calicoan is because there’s no water supply in the island ,” Kwan said in an interview.

With the absence of water system in the island , the three existing resort operators have to get water from the town proper and have it stocked in large water tanks.

“Would be investors came to my office and told me that they will start moving on because the water system is there already,” Kwan said.

It can be recalled that on September 1, 2007, Tim Brumlik, of the Calicoan Island Resort Development Corp. (CIRDC), announced that a $160 million 11 hectare beach resort will be constructed on Calicoan Island this year and would be finished in 2 years.

Architect Douglas Ramsey said the 8-story hotel will be shaped like a pyramid. Attty. Manuel Go, owner of the land said Korean investors would construct a 500-room luxury hotel at the south beach of Calicoan Island .

The new water system to the island came from Brgy. Gahoy, the same water source that supplies the Guiuan town proper. The deep well is said to be the source of water used by American warriors back in World War II era.

According to the mayor, the water system project was promised by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during her visit to Eastern Samar in 2005. It was implemented by the Local Water Utilities Authority through the Guiuan Water District.

The tourism destination is about 19 kilometers away from the town proper. The island is bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, and Leyte Gulf on the west. It is known for rugged landscape, virgin tropical forests, unspoiled white sand beaches, crystal clear water and surf.

The place was supposed to be the venue of President Arroyo’s meeting with cabinet officials last September 30 but it was hold off due to storm Pablo.

Kwan said that with the intensive promotion of Calicoan Island as one the country’s tourism destination, they have started to notice the increasing number of visitors to their town.

“In 2004, only three passenger vans took trip from Tacloban to Guiuan daily but now we’ve noticed over 20 trips a day,” the lady mayor said.

Kwan said that the P130 million upgrading of the Guiuan Airport will be completed early of 2009. Chartered flights can land in Guiuan’s airport, a five-minute drive from Calicoan. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)