Ex-Philippine pyrite mine rehab in Samar set for ’10

published November 20, 2009 in BusinessWorld

PALO, Leyte -- The full rehabilitation of Bagacay Mine in Hinabangan, Samar will be implemented in 2010 after a two-year rapid assessment in the abandoned copper and pyrite excavation site.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Regional Director Danilo U. Uykieng said proposed rehabilitation activities were presented to local government officials of Hinabangan town and Bagacay village.

Rehabilitation works on the 130-hectare site, abandoned 17 years ago, include reforestation, mitigation of acid drainage, soil stabilization, and putting up structures to stop soil erosion. It will be implemented by various national government agencies. “For the past two years, we’ve been pilot testing what are the mechanism suitable for the rehabilitation,” Mr. Uykieng told reporters.

In previous assessment, the MGB said the government needs about P50 million to fully rehabilitate the abandoned mining site.

“It will take about five to 10 years to implement different components of Bagacay Mine rehabilitation plan,” he added.

The next phase of the study will be done by the Manila office. The initiative will determine the potential mineral deposit of Bagacay Mine.

Last year, about P2.4 million was allotted for MGB activities, where it was able to find trees suited for reforestation and determine how to prevent the flow of acid to the Taft River.

Known as one of the seven abandoned mines placed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under a priority list, Bagacay Mine is said to have destroyed the Taft River in Eastern Samar.

Since 2008, the MGB has done rehabilitation activities such as construction of diversion channels, drainage canals and silt traps.

“We will be using technologies to catch the acid that goes to the river,” he said.

The mine was previously operated by Philippine Pyrite Corp. It is now under the Privatization and Management Office of the Department of Finance. -- Sarwell Q. Meniano

Proposed airport passenger service fee hike faces opposition

TACLOBAN CITY-The proposal to drastically raise passenger terminal fee in the city’s airport from P30 to P200 has faced strong resistance from various groups in the region.

In a public hearing held Thursday, representatives from different sectors has called on the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) not to pursue the plan considering that the regional airport’s standard is far behind compared to other airport terminals in the country.

City Councilor Rufino A. Pacanan, who represented the Rotary Club and a religious group, said that the 600% rate adjustment is untimely since there’s no ongoing upgrading of the passenger terminal and other facilities that provides convenience.

“We don’t yet find inconvenience. The departure and arrival area is crowded. Sanitation is also a problem. We should not increase our rate same level with international standard airports,” Pacanan said.

If hikes will be approved , the Tacloban Airport will charge terminal fees same rate with Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan International Airport in Cebu.

Classified as principal class 1 airport, the Tacloban Airport serves at least 24 incoming and outgoing flights daily from and to Manila or Cebu with thousand of passengers.

CAAP Eastern Visayas area manager Sergio P. Sumergido said that they need to amend rates in line with the mandate to generate more income and not mainly depend from central government subsidy.

“The fees in Tacloban was based on the 1998 economic situation. It’s difficult to operate if we will collect P30 from each outgoing passengers,” Sumergido explained.

He admitted that the existing airport facilities is not convenient for many passengers since most of the structures were designed in 1974.

In a resolution passed by the Leyte provincial board asked the airport management to implement increase after the airport is fully renovated.

“The effectivity of rate adjustments should take place when the Tacloban Airport is already developed into an international airport.” the resolution said.

The national government has been implementing improvement projects in Tacloban Airport such as thi

Tanauan, Leyte Mayor Roque A. Tiu branded the move as embarrassing for the city airport management. “Why charge P200 if our services is only worth P30?,” he asked.

For Ormoc, Calbayog and Catbalogan Airports, CAAP sought to hike terminal fee from P20 to P150.

Ormoc City Councilor Jose C. Alfaro, Jr. said that people in Ormoc opposes rate adjustments unless they will see upgrading of existing facilities.

Some travelers asked CAAP to tap its local income to uplift its services. Under the policy, all of airport’s earnings goes to the national government coffer. The Department of Transportation and Communication through CAAP provides allocation for all airports.

From January to June 2009, the Tacloban Airport has generated P23.7 million from landing and take off fees, parking fees, terminal fees, operational charges, terminal space rental, lot space rentals, and concessions privilege fee.

For passenger service fee alone, the airport has generated P7.67 million during the first six months of the year. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)

Tacloban oil retailer warns of possible shortage

published November 13, 2009 in Leyte Samar Daily Express

TACLOBAN CITY - An oil retailer in this city warned of possible shortage of petroleum products here with the very limited delivery from their distributor due to the Malacañang order to freeze oil price hike despite adjustments in the world market.

But City Councilor Wilson Uy, who owns three Shell outlets in the city, quickly told the public not to panic since the government is on top of the situation and there are other oil players if in case Shell will run out of stocks.

“I got the last delivery this week and based on the current sales, it will ran out in the next few days. The national government should act decisively on this by looking at the real price of gasoline,” Uy told reporters.

He said that there will be a delivery only for unleaded premium but no more “replenishment” for diesel and regular gasoline.

According to Uy, they were already warned by their mother company to disallow “bulk purchases” in order to equally distribute petroleum products.

“There’s no need to panic because there are other oil companies. We will go with the situation. If there will be shortage, all of us will go through with the same experience since we cannot store gasoline just anywhere,” he added.

He explained that their tanks can only store 14,000 liters of gasoline and it is normally sold out after two to three days.

“There is no way for small oil retailers to be engaged in hoarding since our tanks have limits. If we’re out of stocks, we have no choice but to close our outlet,” the city official said.

On the other hand, Uy blamed the government for its lack of control of oil price since they already sold their share in Petron Corporation.

The oil companies said they would also suffer revenue losses as a result of Executive Order No. 839, which directs them to bring down prices to their October 15, 2009 levels. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued the order last October 23.

Son, father tandem seen in 2010 elections

published November 13, 2009 in Leyte Samar Daily Express

TACLOBAN CITY- It will be a son and father tandem in this city next year as former Mayor Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez formally declared yesterday that he will run for city vice mayor.

The 74-year-old Romualdez said that his main agenda is to “professionalize” the Sangguniang Panlungsod and make it as the “best city council in the country.”

“The first thing that we need to do is to expand the legislative building to accommodate more people especially during public hearings. We will also replicate the best practices of other cities,” he said during a press briefing at the city mayor’s office yesterday.

The younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos pointed out that with the city “growing very fast” and being the capital of Eastern Visayas, there’s a need to implement high impact projects that will be endorsed by the city legislators.

Bejo ruled as the city’s chief executive from 1998 to 2007. He was succeeded by his son former Leyte Congressman Alfred S. Romualdez. The latter earlier announced that he will seek reelection next year.

The young Romualdez is a member of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, of which he is designated as city district chairman by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

His father, however, said in a media briefing that the Romualdez family running in the local post might join different parties to get a better chance to solicit support from the national leadership.

“We want to align with everybody because we need all their help to improve Tacloban. Some of the family members might join different parties,” he added.

Other members of the Romualdez clan holding current political positions are Leyte 1st district Congressman Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, son of former Leyte Governor Benjamin Romualdez; former actress now city Councilor Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, Alfred’s wife.

Bejo told the media that his old age won’t hinder his participation in the local governance considering that he will be more involved in planning activities.

“It is not only the executive that do the planning. The legislative should actively take part on it. It is not only being dictated by the Mayor but the Sanggunian as well,” he stressed.

He will also talk with incumbent Vice Mayor Arvin V. Antoni how they can work together for the improvement of the city. Antoni, a known critic of the incumbent mayor, is reportedly seeking reelection next year.

“I will respect him if he wants to be in the opposition as long as he is for the development of Tacloban,” the elder Romualdez said.
Other projects he is planning to push are computerization in the city’s legislative building, provide social housing for the poor, improve the city’s transportation system, build alternative road, and set up “New Tacloban” in the 300-hectare lot in the northern barangay.

During his 3 terms as the city mayor, Romualdez was widely credited for several projects in the city such as the astrodome and new bus terminal. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)

Abaca diseases targeted in Leyte farms

published November 12, 2009 in BusinessWorld

TACLOBAN CITY - The national government is scheduled to complete this month the P7-million eradication campaign against damaging abaca diseases in one city and three towns of Leyte Island.

“About 80% of the affected farms have been treated. We are positive that there will be no more recurrence with the application of new technology in fighting the virus,” said Romeo O. Bordeos, Jr., abaca disease management project director of the Department of Agriculture.

The campaign focused on the villages of Baybay and Mahaplag in Leyte as well as in Sogod, and Maasin City in Southern Leyte. Some 1,700 hectares of abaca farms in these areas were infested with abaca mosaic, bunchy-top and tract mosaic diseases.

Mr. Bordeos said in an interview that Eastern Visayas region received the highest budget allocation for the disease eradication drive that started in July.

Under the program, the government shifted from the traditional treatment practices. Researchers have developed a technique in eradicating virus-infected abaca plants with the use of herbicide-impregnated sticks.

The technique involves the soaking of the stick in herbicide solution and then inserting this in the base of the infected abaca plant.

“We have an impact evaluation after the treatment to prevent any recurrence in affected areas,” Mr. Bordeos said.

Infected abaca plants were also reported in the towns of Abuyog, Burauen, Hilongos, Inopacan, Julita, Matalom, Hindang and Bato in Leyte as well as in Bontoc, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Tomas Oppus, Hinunangan and Silago in Southern Leyte.

The disease was found in close to 10,000 hectares of abaca farm areas in Leyte, affecting the livelihood of over 7,000 abaca farmers.

The entire Samar Island and Biliran province have remained disease-free, prompting the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) to concentrate expansion in these areas.

FIDA Regional Director Jeffrey G. Espena said that eradication activities in mildly infested areas are being funded by the respective local government units.

“What we’ve been doing is to expand to disease-free areas and concentrate treatment in affected farms. We don’t have to stop because of the disease,” Mr. Espena added.

Of the 2,318 hectares eyed for expansion this year, 1,000 hectares are in Northern Samar, 400 hectares in Biliran, 300 hectares in Leyte, 269 hectares in Southern Leyte, 200 hectares in Easter Samar and 200 hectares in Samar.

“If we don’t act now, abaca farmers will lose their source of livelihood in less than 15 years. We want to save the abaca since we produce one of the world’s best quality fibers,” he said.

Eastern Visayas remains the top abaca-producing region in the country with an average annual output of 28,000 metric tons, contributing 40% of the country’s total yearly production.-Sarwell Q. Meniano

DoT brands Sohoton Cave as Eastern Visayas’ anchor tourism product

published in BusinessWorld November 06, 2009

TACLOBAN CITY -- Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" H. Durano has branded the Sohoton Cave and River Cruise in Basey, Samar as the Eastern Visayas region’s anchor tourism product that could advance unpopular tourism sites and activities in other areas in the region.

Mr. Durano said Sohoton Cave has been drawing both domestic and foreign tourists. Further development and aggressive promotion of this destination would boost tourist traffic to Samar and the rest of the region, he added.

"Our strategy is to start developing an anchor product. There’s a need to develop one site to start the tourism traffic here," Mr. Durano said.

He said the Department of Tourism (DoT) chose Sohoton Cave as anchor product because it is unique and considered as the biggest cave system in Southeast Asia.

"Once this is famous, we will expand to other activities that would complement the Sohoton Cave tours. When tourists [begin to arrive, it will be easier] to develop other sites," he explained.

With the established tours to the site, the DoT is positioning Eastern Visayas as a destination for adventure tourism.

Sohoton Cave, which may be reached through the Golden River, is part of the 840-hectare forested area that was declared a national park in 1935. The cave has been drawing tourists, hobbyists, researchers and even treasure hunters.

The park boasts of natural wonders like waterfalls, underground streams and caves with unique rock formations aside from having a lush forest and a number of wildlife species.

Mr. Durano said the launching of the Golden River Cruise in May this year helped draw more tourists to the Sohoton Cave.

A river cruise boat can carry up to 30 tourists and a crew, including a singer and guitarist. It is more spacious than the vessels used for the famous Loboc river cruise in Bohol, Mr. Durano said. There is even a tour package featuring add-ons such as river-cruise meals, trained and uniformed guides, a catering service and overnight lodgings.

Tourism regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said the department extended a P230,000 grant for the skills training and supplies while the municipal government allotted a counterpart fund of P100,000 to build the boat under the government’s Grassroots Entrepreneurship for Ecotourism Program.

The boat, which is being operated by the 34-member Basey Tourism Services Association (BATOSAN), is the only operating boat designed for river cruising although there are also kayaks that carry visitors to the mouth of the cave.

The Basey municipal tourism office reported that tourists from the US and Canada have tried the cruise and visited the cave. Groups from Korea and Japan have also expressed their interest to take the river cruise and explore Sohoton.

There are two tour packages to choose from. The first includes a river cruise and guided cave exploration for P600 while the second which costs P400 is for those who prefer the river cruise.(Sarwell Q. Meniano)