Maasin City, Southern Leyte -The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved three projects on October 27, 2008 from three municipalities of this province thru its respective Mayors who sent each resolution of request for financial assistance amounting to a total of P5.250M.

Hon. Jason Calva, Chairman Committee on Finance, told the august body during their recent session at the Provincial Capitol that Hinundayan Mayor Evelyn Lee,? Sogod Mayor Shefferd Tan, and San Ricardo Mayor Virginia Mejia have sent their requests to Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, III who has already given his imprimatur.

Calva, who represented Southern Leyte?s 2nd District, said that the P3.3M requested funds for Hinundayan Mayor Lee is for the construction of a steel bridge in Brgy. Sabang. He said that the funds are chargeable against the non-office 2008 appropriation of the Calamity Fund.

He clarified that the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) has earmarked 30% specifically for the pre-disaster programs and projects which is part of its Calamity Fund. Of this percentage, he said, only 5% will go to the steel bridge construction. He informed that bridge construction in Brgy. Sabang is part of Hinundayan?s pre-disaster project.

There?s also the need for the construction of a river control in Brgy. Tampong in Sogod town, which according to Mayor Tan?s estimate, would need P1M financial assistance for the said project..

Finance Chair Calva said that Mayor Tan?s request which was already signed by Vice-Governor Maamo will be made chargeable also against the non-office 2008 appropriation. He said that the 5% needed money will also be slashed from the SP?s Calamity Fund for Sogod?s construction of its river control.

Mayor Mejia of San Ricardo, who succeeded her husband who went missing during the Dec. 19, 2003 evening massive mudslides that hit Panaon Island, needs P950, 000.00 for the rehabilitation of a road in Brgy. Camang, San Ricardo.

The Committee on Finance chair further said that Mejia?s requested amount will be made chargeable against the 20% of the Economic Development Fund (EDF) 2008 appropriation. The appropriated funds for each Chief Executive?s project will be released soon.

Those who seconded Calva?s motions pertaining to the approval of the three requests were the Sanguniang Panlalaliwagan members in District II: Roberto Lagumbay, SP Daisy Gumale and SK President Joyce S. Mejia.? The Second District of Southern Leyte covers the municipalities of Sogod, Libagon, St.Bernard, SanJuan, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan, Silago and the Panaon Island’s four municipalities of Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan and San Ricardo. The First District of Southern Leyte comprises Maasin City, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Limasawa Island municipality, Malitbog and Bontoc. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr)

About the Contributor:

Mr. Quirico M. Gorpido Jr was an erstwhile Correspondent/Contributor to the following weeklies and dailies: Tacloban-based regional weekly a 33-year-old The Reporter for many years(now defunct), a Cebu-based weekly The Visayan Express(now defunct),Cebu-based daily The Freeman(1994-1998) now a sister publication of The Philippine Star, Maasin-based weekly The Southern Leyte Times for three years, Tacloban-based daily The Leyte Samar Daily Express(2000-2001), Cebu-based daily the Cebu Daily News(2002-2003), Tacloban-based weekly 7-year-old Tribune(2003-2007).