Because of our current hardships and economic miseries our government must not remain callous and insensitive to act. Members of both the Lower and the Upper House must muster their political will to hasten the approval of a House Bill aim at making mandatory for all operators and drivers nationwide to use the Compressed Natural Gas(CNG)to run the vehicles and factories. The aforesaid HB was co-authored by House energy committee chairman Mikey Arroyo of Pampanga and Parañaque City Representative Eduardo Zialcita. With the immediate implementation of this economic measure, our country can do away with being overdependence on imported fossil fuels, which greatly contribute to the heavy pollution in our big cities and the environment. When this goal would be realized, the Philippines can have a huge reduction on fuel expenditures and its unabated heavy pollution in big metropolis where all types of utilities and factories abound would be greatly reduced.

Since we have no vehicles and cars suitable for the utilization of Compressed Natural Gas, big financing institutions should come to rescue and help the government to buy the needed vehicles in places like the USA,Canada,India,China and in other countries where vehicles design for compressed natural gas fuel are being manufactured. The Malampaya-Palawan oil and gas fields in the country must be mined now and tap other potential oil and gas fields in various places of our nation to sustain our fuel needs. On the other hand, our big capitalists who choose to be consignees in this kind of business should not be tempted in the near future to mix compressed natural gas with crude oil like we have in all gasoline stations throughout the country, called kerosene by other name.

The mixture of two elements, we’ve just mentioned, like we are buying at gas station, especially if there is a blackout, will surely result to additional pollution in all our areas. The additional pollution due to crude oil mixture with the natural gas is very evident by the soots gathered inside our noses the night before when we resort to kerosene use as temporary substitute for the absence of electric power. Have you not observe that in your home, especially in the households of poor Filipinos? In contrast, unadulterated natural gas, if there’s a detection of any soot, is so insignificantly negligible to consider as pollution. Some of emission of kerosene (a mixture of natural gas and crude oil) put inside the lamps would also pollute our rooms the following day, if you have observed that as well. This means that if in the near future some tricky and hoarding businessmen would be tempted to do this deplorable thing, the pollution in our environment would re-emerged. Hence, there’s an urgent necessity to screen the attitude of businessmen/capitalists who would like to participate in the Government’s venture in this kind of undertaking where the issue on environment-friendly fuel is at stake.

Considering this probable prediction of the money-oriented rather than service-oriented attitude of some businessmen to rake huge profit in the name of mixture elements, the House Bill must include as one of its provisions prohibiting any capitalist/consignee to mix CNG with crude oil. A monitoring task force must be created that would include as members the Energy Committee Chairman, energy official and some honest and prudent NGO environmentalists for the purpose of monitoring and regular checking of CNG’s natural content before dispensing the fuel for private and public use. Those businessmen who would violate the law must be slapped with huge fine and imprisonment. We seriously need honest and prudent investors/capitalists in the strict application of such law in order to achieve our goal to greatly reduced our environmental pollution which make adults and children in this country suffer from illness and eventual death to countless of lives. According to reports pollution also causes chronic coughing in millions of children across the globe.

Other alternative fuel or energy that has been tapped to provide electricity and run vehicles is the solar energy. It has already been experimented and found to be feasibly usable and suitably applicable in running vehicles and providing electricity in numerous households in the country. It’s a free source of limitless energy and is non-pollutant: one of the greatest gifts from Mother Nature that remain untapped for centuries by man. The emergence of Great Minds in the field of Science and Technology are responsible for a huge leap in inventions and discoveries that have provided man his amenities including some of his needs in life more obtainable than before. We can also use electricity to run jeepneys and buses, which is also pollution-free. Makati’s current use of electric jeepneys plying in various areas of the city, which is much lesser in fuel expenses for the drivers and operators compared to gasoline and crude oil, is very encouraging and worthy of emulation for other cities and provinces. The experiments that our scientists, technical men and the experts have been doing are enough proof that the Philippine Government has the capability and the capacity to relentlessly pursue on these projects. A huge budget proportionate enough for its continual implementation must be made now for its effective realization.

The two alternative sources of fuel and energy that we are discussing are sure ways that will eventually release us from our overdependence on gasoline and crude oil which is now very prohibitive to obtain.

Global warming caused by unregulated environmental pollution, which also damaged the ozone layer according to the scientists, is not only a Philippine concern and problem. It is also a concern and a problem of every country, every nation throughout the world, whether the industrialized or the developing because we breathe the same air and we live in the same planet. Therefore, it is of urgent necessity that all the nations and other countries of the world, including the United States of America, China, England, Australia, India, Russia, Japan, European countries, UK and Germany should also shift to alternative fuel like Compressed Natural Gas, solar energy to run their vehicles, cars and factories, biofuel or biomass, deuterium in order to achieve the highest degree of pollution reduction in our Planet Earth.

To those countries whose climate condition is similar to the Philippines, Nobel Prize winner Dr.. Hartmut Michel during his recent visit to Manila has also advised its respective governments to tap wind power and hydro power that are environment-friendly to generate electricity

Although nowadays the prices of crude oil and gasoline have greatly reduced after a series of rollback, but this ups and downs in pricing activities of the fossil fuels cannot be relied upon by the users and consumers. These kind of dirty fuels have no permanently sustainable pricing movement. It is dependently influence by the law of supply and demand in the international market. The preoccupation of self-interest capitalists/investors who mostly want to rake huge profit in this kind of business undertaking is also something to be considered as contributory factor in the unpredictable and volatile pricing scheme hike.

Hence, our businessmen and the government must not be callously complacent if there are days when crude oil, gasoline and other oil products will have decreased prices. The government must start implementing now the laws on Biofuel act of 2006 and the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 to tap and develop nature’s renewable energy resources that are readily available in our very own environment and are ecology-friendly.

The plan of the government to recommission or revive the 30-year-old Bataan Nuclear Power Plant must be debunked. It was found out by a team of Scientists and Engineers that it has numerous defects in its construction, among other defects, which pose as health hazard detrimental and harmful to the health and welfare of the people and equally destructive to the immediate environment.

Our high government officials, like Congressmen, Senators, Scientists, Engineers, Technical men, The Experts, Educators and other concerned leaders should take heed seriously to what UP Professor Roland G. Simbulan was saying in his commentary article entitled “Is The BNPP Safe?” (PDI, Feb. 5, 2009 issue)

And that of Rina Jimenez-David’s “Anti-Nuclear and Pro-Life” (PDI, Feb. 24, 2009 issue) on the danger of reopening the defective BNPP as energy source. Who has initiated this plan? Why do we have to disrupt our thinking with such kind of energy which produces radioactive wastes harmful to humanity and our already heavily polluted environment? Another kind of potential and unprecedented radioactive disaster will only add to the worsening of our already worst environmental condition.

Common sense of wisdom and political will, unblemished with a sinister and wily scheme of acquiring more wealth thru greediness and self-centeredness, are the only 2 important things that our leaders really need to push thru in the realization, acquisition and the sustainable utilization of nature’s renewable energy resources that abound and are readily available in our environment. Like solar energy, hydropower (waterfalls), wind energy, biofuel from jatropha oil, coconut oil, corn, ethanol from sugar cane, biomass and reportedly a vast limitless deposits of deuterium lying in hibernation under the Surigao Deep also known as the Philippine Deep is waiting to be tapped.( Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

This was the disclosure of Engr. Fernando Moralde, the Provincial Engineering Office head, before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members who invited him and his colleagues during their recent session held at the provincial capitol here (April 13, 2009) to shade light on the on-going project. He was accompanied by Engr. Nelson Tan, Assistant Provincial Engineer, who accepts the plan and preparation of work; Engr.Brigido Eway, in-charge of the planning division office and construction of vertical structures; Engr. Alfonso Bantug, project in-charged of the Legislative Building.

He told the SP members that since there were no immediate available funds of P18M at the time of the construction work of the building, they have decided to do it phase by phase. He said that phases one and two have already been done and that they are now on its third and last phase of construction works.

Asked about the details of their earlier works, the Engineer said that phase one has covered the construction of foundations, tie beams, columns, some of the beams of the upper portion of the building and masonry works.

While phase two involved the construction of concrete structures, completion of the beams and of the roof decks, skyline roofing, continuation of masonry works,walling,partitions,roof framing, electrical installations, plumbing system and tile works of all the rooms.

Moralde revealed that Congressman Roger Mercado has contributed P2M for the phase three construction works which is now undergoing. The scope of work has covered the tiling of the whole flooring of the building, excavation, construction of septic vaults, drainage around the building, some electrical works, continuation of plumbing and painting.

Another amount of P2M was also allocated for the construction of session hall, slabs and framings and for partial glass covers.

The project in-charge of the Legislative Building, Engr.Alfonso Bantug claimed that the building needs more or less 277 square foot of glass covers. This would amount to P850.00 per sq. foot, he said, based on their canvassing results conducted from various stores.

Moralde said that if ever there’s an additional works of glass coverings, he recommended that the scope of work be implemented thru the supply-and–install system. He said that by this scheme, “we can bill directly to the glass suppliers and not anymore to the contractors”.

On the other hand, Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, 11, also divulged that he has set aside P1.5M from their 2009 capital outlay for the furniture fixtures and air-conditioning of the one-storey building.

When the PEO head was asked by the Vice-Governor how far they have gone in their works, he said that the Legislative Building is now 80% accomplish.

Other works to b e done in the building are wall cladding, lights installation,water proofing/roof slab, wood works and carpentry, stainless railings, landscaping and the making of parking area.

Further queried by SP Albert Esclamado why the one-storey Legislative Building cost more than the two-storey Provincial Disaster Management Center building, which was also constructed within the Capitol Site. Moralde explained that PDMC’s floor area is only 150 square meters with an estimated cost of P20,000.00 per sq.m.Whereas the Legislative Building has occupied an area of 800 square meters at P20,000.00 per square meter.

He also said that the kind of materials they were using in the construction of PDMC is “below par” compared to the materials they were using in the LB.

If there will be no interruption whatsoever in our third phase of construction, “we would like that the Legislative Building will be finished before July 1,2009,which is one of the “highlights” of the province of Southern Leyte’s 49th founding anniversary celebration”,Moralde said. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

This was the disclosure of the disgruntled Maasin City Sports Coordinator, Dominador Rojas in an interview at the city hall here.

When queried to clarify why he considered host Tacloban to have no water, he explained that the availability of the faucets installation was somewhat insignificant because during their 7-day stay, there was no water coming out from the faucets. Rare if ever, the water would be coming out from the faucets at dawn, he said.

Even the water delivered by the firetruck in the morning and afternoon for 5 days upon the request of Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco to City Fire Marshall Doron, he said, cannot be drunk because it’s murky. “The water is only good for bathing and washing few clothes as the supply is very limited”, he said.

Rojas revealed they have spent more money in buying fifty 5-gallon-content water mineral containers daily for 7 days. “We used the water for drinking and cooking and occasionally even for washing some dishes, spoons and forks. We were thankful that there were 3 existing springs inside the San Jose Elementary School where we bailed out water also for washing the dishes, kitchen utensils and also for bathing”, he said. He claimed the same situation was also experienced by other delegations in different billeting places of the city.

The City Sports Coordinator who is also a trainer informed they also made complaints to the Leyte Sports Complex management about LSC’s slippery floorings as what they have seen before the start of the sports games. He said that earlier the volleyball games and other sports events were supposed to be held in Palo town’s gym.However, he said, the LSC’s management has somewhat overlooked their complaints and instructed them to go back to the Leyte Sports Complex for the sports competitions.

He said during the volleyball games a female athlete, Jackeline Alvarez, 15, third year student of San Rafael National High school has slid and struck her head on the slippery floorings causing her to vomit frequently. She was brought to the hospital for emergency treatment. Her head x-ray result however has shown no skull crack and no brain damage. But she continued to vomit, he said, and has undergone a CT scan to really determine if part of her brain was damaged.. Luckily the result was negative. Rojas said the accident should serve as a lesson for the LSC management.

Suggestions

Rojas strongly suggested that LSC’s slippery floorings should be coated with leatherized paint or other things that will eradicate the slippery condition. This is to avoid accidental slides during the sports competitions. He stressed that its management must consider first and foremost the safety of all the participating athletes including the coaches, trainors and officiating officials. “Safety for all those who are involved in this kind of undertaking must be the priority of every EVRAA meet host”, he pointed out.

He also suggested that any city or province that desires and have the interest to be the host of the annual EVRAA meet must have the sufficient supply of water during the duration of the sports events. In this way part of a delegation’s funds, partuclarly if limited, he said, will not be diverted to other use like buying water for drinking and cooking. To solve the problem of water inadequacy in the city, he emphasized the Tacloban Water District should look for additional source of potable water in the neighboring places for its dwellers and transient visitors’ drinking and other household needs.

Nevertheless, he clarified that his previous experiences with the other EVRAA hosts in the region like in Baybay, Biliran, Catarman and Ormoc, there was no problem of sufficient water supply during their stay as one of the delegations that participated in the regional meet.

Thankful and Grateful

On the other hand, he expressed his thanks to the 5-men team ARCOM led by Engr. Anecito Narit for providing them with technical assistance without the use of cellphone.He said a base station was installed inside the San Jose Elementary School where they were billeted. Thru the base, he said, he and his colleagues could easily contact outside within the city’s radius for any call of assistance to whoever they’ve needed during their stay.Depite his complaint regarding supply of water, Rojas said, he was also thankful that there existed 3 springs that augmented their needs of water for bathing and washing some clothes.

Request Letter

Furthermore, a letter from the Tacloban City Water District was sent to Mayor Maloney Samaco thru the DepEd regional office. The said letter was requesting the Maasin City Mayor for a firetruck that would deliver additional potable water everyday during the duration of the Palarong Pambansa held at the city’s Leyte Sports Complex(April 28 up to May 3,2009). Nonetheless, the request was not granted..

Mayor Samaco explained that it’s hard for him to grant their request because in case there’s a fire in the city, like what happened several days ago in brgy. Basak caused by an LPG leakage, how can the firemen effectively respond to an emergency if water firetruck would be in other faraway place like Tacloban? He said he was so sorry that the Tacloban City Water District’s request could not be granted.

Rojas said that the Maasin City delegation has sent 43 selected athletes in the elementary and secondary level to the Palarong Pambansa. They will compete in 6 games like swimming, table tennis, atheletics, volleyball, lawn tennis and badminton.

Other Related Developments

During the recent 7-day EVRAA meet Ormoc was the overall Champion in the secondary level(207 points).Second place went to the Leyte Province(206 points),while Northern Samar was third(205).Tacloban got the fourth place(147) and Maasin fifth(135.75).Eastern Samar upheld the 6th place(119.50),but Baybay, Leyte dipped to the 7th place(72).Southern Leyte plunged to the 8th place((63.50).

In the elementary level,Leyte Division capped as the overall champion(201.75 points),while Eastern Samar bagged the second position(164points).Tacloban City garnered the third place(160) and Ormoc bagged the 4th place(139).Northern Samar reaped the fifth position(125),but Maasin slid to 6th place(94).Southern Leyte Division plunged to the 7th place (70.25).

On the other hand, the Maasin delegation bagged the following awrds:1)Atheleltetics-1,500 meter- run for boys(elem.-gold);5,000 and 300 meter- run for boys(secondary-gold);2)badminton-singles(elem.boys and secondary girls-2 gold);3)Boxing(elem and secondary boys-2 gold and one bronze);4)Table Tennis(champion-secondary boys);5)Swimming(Elem. and secondary boys and girls(overall champion).

Rojas added that the 2-time unrealized schedules of the EVRAA meet last January and later was moved to February have adversely affected the performances of the participating athletes. The efficacy of their intensive training which lasted for 3 weeks, he said, was not freshly implemented due to postponements. “The various circumstances surrounding the scheduled regional meet and the graduation season during the month of March”, he pointed out, “has shorten our training to 4 days only, which failed to regain the kind of endurance and impetus that our athletes have acquired during the 3 weeks intensive training at the TOPS oval playground in brgy. Mantahan”.

When asked why the Southern Leyte delegation which has low points has a total of 51 medal harvest. A colleague of Rojas at the city hall informed that a point system was used in EVRAA and the Palarong Pambansa meet as determine by the high sports officials. “The more games a delegation has competed”, he explained, “the more points and medals can a delegation be possibly awarded if they have many well-trained and competent players.” Unlike in the Olympic Games where medal awards were used as the basis for winning the sports events, he said. Of the 51 medals won by the Southern Leyte delegation, 10 are gold,14 silver and 27 bronze.

Aside from the abovementioned delegations, other groups that participated in the sports events were:Biliran(Elem-32.50;Secondary-52.50),Samar Division(Elem.-47.25;Secondary-54),Catbalogan City(Elem.-22;Secondary-38.75),Calbayog City(Elem.-37;Secondary-40),Borongan City(Elem.-42.50;Secondary-28.75). (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

The motorcycle driver was identified as Alexel Tantoy Galdo, 18 years old, resident of Upper Ichon.He is a senior freshman taking up Criminology at Saint Joseph College here. The victim sustained some bruises and injuries on his forehead, knees and other parts of the body. His left leg’s upper knee was fractured including his two wrist arms.

His neighbor backrider was identified as Joshua Reviera Gonzales, 18 years old, jobless, and a school dropout. He sustained slight bruises, but his skull has a crack as seem in an e-ray result by Dr. Elpidio Sibud,a orthopedic surgeon. He suffered from frequent headaches.

Dr. Sibud, the attending physician of the victims, recommended to Gonzales’ parents a CT scan for their son to determine the condition of his brain. He was brought by the provincial hospital’s ambulance to Tacloban City the following day and was confined there for observation

In an interview with Galdo, he said they’ve left Upper Ichon at about 4:00 p.m. a Thursday to visit some friends in brgy. San Joaquin, Macrohon, less than 20 kilometers away from their place. As they reached the bridge in brgy. Amparo, he said, a multicab-turn-fish car was evading a Revo car parked near the bridge’s entrance. The car was unloading some passengers who were about to enter the inner road towards brgy. Mabini. However, the multicab collided instead with his motorcycle in the bridge as they were driving in opposite direction, he said. The bridge has served as the marked boundary between the 2 barangays of Amparo and Mabini.

He said the multicab’s windshield was shattered from the impact of collision that hit his forehead, spraining his 2 arms and wounding some parts of his body. The multicab’s front was also deformed, he said, while his motorcycle has also suffered some damages. He claimed he do not know what happened next as he became unconscious. He regained his consciousness on the way before they’ve reached the provincial hospital..

He said he found later on that it was the helper of the fish car’s driver who brought him to the hospital for emergency treatment. He said the multicab’s driver has no injuries. While his helper who sat besides him has a cut on his face, which was treated at the hospital.

Ludy Tantoy Galdo, 42 years old, the victim’s mother disclosed that the fish car’s owner residing in brgy. Pugaling (Isagani) has provided some financial assistance for his son’s medications. He has also shouldered half of the cost of the expensive stainless steel needed as bone support during the operation.

She informed both of them have favored for an amicable settlement to settle their case as they’ve discussed it in front of the police investigator at the Macrohon police station.

As of press time, the victim with stretched left leg has continued taking his prescribed medications administered by the nurse on duty. He has already undergone a bone operation the other day by Dr. Sibud, his attending physician. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

This was the disclosure of Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, 11 in an interview at his office at the provincial capitol here.

He said prior to the inauguration and the blessing of the project, advanced party like the Presidential Security Guards and the Presidential Management staff were sent to the place. Tarpaulins were also distributed to the 4 Chief Executives of Liloan, San Francsico, Pintuyan and San Ricardo that were posted in strategic locations of the island.

“PGMA arrived in brgy. Binet aboard a ferry boat from Surigao Port Terminal accompanied by some of her cabinet members at past 12:00 noon”, Maamo said. He said right after the cutting of the ribbon, blessing of the port terminal followed, which was officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas.

The Vice-Governor further said that after taking their lunch, GMA, DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr,; DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, DTI Secretary Peter Favila and PPA General Manger Oscar Sevilla were brought to Liloan Port Terminal in a convoy of 50 vehicles where the presidential chopper has landed.However, Secretary Mendoza was whisked to Tacloban City, he said, to take a plane for Manila since the chopper h as a limited capacity.

He revealed that the roro-type port, now managed by the Philippine Port Authority which took one year and a half to finish, still waits for interested shipping company. He implied the new port needs a shipping firm that will provide a regular ferryboat services for travelers in Panaon Island and other parts of Southern Leyte who want to go to Mindanao via Surigao or vice-versa in shorter travel time.

From the Liloan port terminal to Surigao port terminal, it will take 4 hours by ferry boat to reach the place, it was learned. Whereas, from brgy.Binet port terminal, a ferry boat on calm sea can reach the Surigao port terminal in less than an hour. On the other hand, when the principal roads of Panaon Island was not yet concreted, it would take about 2 hours to reach San Ricardo from the proper town of Liloan.Now with cemented highway roads, it will only take 45 minutes on a non-stop drive from Liloan to San Ricardo.

Moreover, the President has a unique way of inaugurating the newly-finished port. Instead of seeing her and her entourage landed in brgy. Binet by a chopper for the inauguration, she and company were aboard a ferry boat from Surigao port terminal.

The reversal of the travel, it was found out, was a form of ceremonial travel test and for the President to have” a feel for a sea ride” between the two places.

Reportedly, after the Binet inauguration, PGMA is supposed to visit the Agas-Agas Bridge in brgy.Kahupian, Sogod to see for herself its construction development. After that she will proceed to Maasin for the opening of the newly-finished wet market constructed near the bus terminal at the reclamation area.

Nonetheless, it did not push through because the President has to attend to other important things to do. Like she was going to attend to the funeral of each of the 8 presidential staff who have perished in accidental chopper crash in Timog area located between Baguio and Ifugao province. They were sent earlier as an advanced party for the President’s visit to the place. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

The total amount for all the barrio guards’ insurance is not so big compare to other health insurance services. However, the point is to provide for a yearly health insurance for all the honorarium-based barangay guards, who by nature of their work is “on call”, Mercado pointed out.”Wala kani silay mga suweldo, honorarium ra, busa atong guitabangan aron kung adunay madisgrasya panahon sa ilang pagtuman sa ilang mga katungdanan o kaha masakit sila, aduna silay ayuda sa pagpahospital ug tambal nga guikinahanglan”, he said in Cebuano.(They have no salaries, only honorarium, so we are helping them so that if they meet an accident during the performance of their duties or get sick they can be hospitalized and provided with the needed medicines.)

The Governor explained that in case of accident or sickness, they don’t have to worry anymore where to get the money for their hospitalization or to buy the needed medicines. The Red Cross Insurance will shoulder for them.

When asked what is the specific amount appropriated for their health insurance, the Governor urged me instead to ask the provincial budget officer Ms. Sylvia Torredes for clarification. However, Ms. Torredes was not in her office. She was on an official three-day travel to Tacloban City, I was told by her co-worker.

Noli Casas, OIC-Southern Leyte Red Cross Chapter Administrator, on the other hand, has provided me with some clarifications regarding the exact amount that I need to know from the provincial budget officer during an interview.

He informed that for any individual who wants to avail of the Red Cross health insurance, a contribution of P100.00 is all that is required which is renewable every year. In other words, for every insured barangay tanod, he explained, the yearly contribution is also P100.00.Hence the total yearly contribution for the 3,350 barangay tanods provincewide is P3, 350.00.

Casas, who becomes well-known as the first Red Cross worker to rescue a baby victim during the Feb. 17,2006 Guinsaugon Tragedy in St. Bernard, clarified that the provincial government thru Governor Mercado will continue to provide the needed amount for the annual Barangay Tanods health insurance renewal until the end of the Governor’s office terms.

The granting of Barangay Tanods Red Cross health insurance were done thru the so-called “Barangay Tanod Congress” held by schedule in 4 different places of the province: 1) Hinundayan gym covering the other 5 Pacific towns of St.Bernard, San Juan, Anahawan, Hinunangan and Silago; 2) Pintuyan gym constituting the 3 other towns in Panaon Island like Liloan, San Francisco and San Ricardo; 3) Padre Burgos covered court

comprising the 7 Sogod Bay towns of Libagon, Sogod,Bontoc,Tomas Oppus,Malitbog,Macrohon and Limasawa Island; 4)Maasin City gym attended by the City’s 70 barangays’ barrio guards.

Earlier, all the 3,350 BTs also received their vests during the holding of a 4 separate “Barangay Tanod Congress”. Blood samples were also taken from the health insurance recipients by the Red Cross workers for blood typing. This is for easily reference in case anyone of them needs a blood transfusion during treatment.

On the other hand, Congressman Roger Mercado has announced in his short speech during his visit to Limasawa Island that the Philippine Tourism Authority is allocating P5M for road links of barangays San Agustin, San Bernardo and Lugsongan with the works hopefully to be started within this year.

The Congressman also revealed his plan for the Limasawa Municipal Rural Health Center that has already an assigned doctor, to have nurses and the needed medicines.

The solon further disclosed he has set aside funds of P500, 000.00 from his CDF for the Limasawa Cooperative as additional seed capital and to buy a motorboat. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

The old woman who died thirty five minutes later at the provincial hospital after she was hit by the speeding motorcycle was identified as Leonora Ocha-Marte,78 years old, and a resident of Brgy. Mambajao here in this city.

The driver of the Ramstar motorcycle was identified as Allyn Soco Amo, 20 years old, married, and a resident of brgy.Panan-awan.

In an interview with SPO2 Donato Cervantes, Traffic Police Officer, he disclosed that the victim was crossing the national highway in going to their “inner” home when she was hit by a speeding motorcycle driven by the suspect.

Cervantes said the suspect came from Pan-awan and was to fetch his wife working at SLEMCOOP office in Brgy. Asuncion, less than half a kilometer away from where the victim was hit.

According to police investigation the victim was hit on her body but struck her head on the concrete pavement causing her head to bleed profusely. She was rushed to the provincial hospital by her relatives for emergency treatment. However, she died of brain hemorrhage 35 minutes later.

At the victim’s residence, younger daughter Joyce Marte-Padilla, 39 years old, married, and resident of brgy.Isagani, said in an interview that after her mother has expired she called a long distance to Mindanao. She said she instructed her nephew Rayjill Marte in brgy.Diplahan, Sibugay, Zamboanga City to tell his aunt, Joyce’s older sister, Marilyn Marte, 54, single that Nanay Leonora was hit by a motorcycle and died.

Ms.Padilla revealed that in just 35 minutes later after receiving the sad news from Rayjill, Marilyn, her older sister has also died, as frantically conveyed to her by Rayjill in a long distance call from Zamboanga City.

She intimated that her older sister Marilyn has a hypertension and that the sad incident might have affected her emotion very badly causing her blood pressure to rise. “Most probably, she could not accept what had happened to our mother”, she said.

A concerned citizen stressed that a son or daughter should have to relay a sad family incident to any member of the affected family in an indirect manner thru hints or implications, not on a direct statement of disclosure. “Mostly loved ones who have received a sad or bad news within a family from afar by a straightforward revelation has an adverse consequences to a kin who has hypertension or heart disease”, she said.

Nevertheless, she (Ms, Padilla) confided that they have done the direct approach of revealing the sad family news to some of their close kins here, but no-one was seriously affected by the demise of her mother. “Of all my mother’s children”, she confessed,”Manang Marilyn is the closest to our mother. They are so close that mother’s sudden death might have grieved her deeply”, she said.

The body of Marilyn placed in coffin was brought here from Zamboanga City 2 days after she passed away.. They were buried simultaneously at the Catholic cemetery in brgy.Mantahan six days after the incident.

A relative of the suspect further divulged that after the victim’s close kins have evaluated the condition of their widowed Septuagenarian mother being in her old age, they have decided to have an amicable settlement with the suspect’s family. The latter have agreed to pay the former the amount of P65,000.00 as damages. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Maasin City, Southern Leyte – The ongoing construction which started sometime in 2007 of the P995,037,013.61 Agas-Agas bridge with a current accomplishment of 78.63% incurring a positive slippage of 4.39%,as of February 2009, was estimated to be completed before the end of this year.

The contract under Contract Package V signed between the Philippines and Japanese Governments has its source of funds from JBIC and implemented by the Philippines-Japan Highway Loan Project Office.

A young lady Engineer who works with the project and speaks on condition of anonymity, informed that the Agas-Agas Bridge when completed would be 350 linear meters long that consist of 3-span balanced Cantilever -type Continuous Pre-stressed Concrete Box Girder (CPCBG).This is strongly connected to 2 Pier Heads of 75 meters height and 73.5 meter height respectively on 1.5 meter diameter bored piles foundation.

She said that the bridge works also include the rehabilitation/improvement and widening of 1.5 kms road for pavement concreting, improvement of road drainage system and construction of slope protection and other structures.

At the start of the project, the Engineer said, the major items of works were done phase by phase: 1)Access road construction-in going down 75 meters below to Pier1 and Pier 2 (columns- supports) location; 2) Bored Piles Construction-drilled on hard rocks. Piles have 1.5 meter diameter with a variable depths. A sophisticated bored pile equipment was used that can drill up to 7000psi rock strength; 3) Pile Cap Construction-huge size or part of substructures that will unify the piles drilled to support the bridge. The volume of concrete required for pier one and pier 2 are 1,225 cu.m. and 1,969 cu.m. respectively. 4) Pier Column Construction-Columns of 2 Piers have heights of 75meters and73.5meters for piers 1 and 2 respectively. The average volume of concrete required per lift is 70 cu.m. to 100 cu.m. This bridge has the tallest pier column ever built in the Philippines: 5)Pier Head Construction-Constructed by steel bracket support system and mainly supported by the frictional force created by applying a pre-stress on the PC bar tying the bracket to the column. The pier head was casted into 3 lifts considering the difficulties of works and huge amount of concrete required. It has a total volume of 428 cu.m. for pier1 and 521cu.m. for pier 2 and with a total weight of1,069 tons and 1,301 tons for pier 1 and 2 respectively; 6) Balanced Cantilever Type(PCBG) Construction-Once the Pier head construction is finished,wagen or form traveler will be installed to both sides of Pier Head to start the construction of the Pre-stressed Concrete Box Girder(PCBG).The PCBG are divided into blocks which are almost symmetrical in shape and weight. Opposite blocks should be constructed simultaneously. The volume of concrete required per block ranges from 70cu.m. to 120 cu.m. 7) End Segment Construction-End-span construction will start if the concerned abutment support is completed, and the PCBG) from the respective Pier going to the abutment is 50% accomplished.. The end-span will be constructed by conventional supporting method. The total weight of this structure is 400 tons supported by temporary steel structures; Post Tensioning-The special works applied to this project make the construction of this balanced cantilever bridge successful. For every block casts, an average of 2 to 4 cables was stressed to support the blocks and its preceding block. A 12 number to 15.2 diameters of pre-stressing steel per cable was being stressed up to 220 to 224 tons/cable.

Informative Revelations

The Engineer further revealed that the tons of huge cables used in the construction of the 350 meters bridge will provide as its supportive strength and for durability. This kind of material is indispensably important, she said, so that if the bridge will have a heavy load of vehicles caused by a heavy traffic, it will not sag.

She said that the 2 tall pier heads are hollow(meaning no pouring of cement, sand and gravel mixture to solidify the pier heads) But its hollowness were filled up with a series of big steel bars measuring 15 in diameter, while its steel clips were about 12 diameter. As seen by this writer on his way from Tacloban to Maasin en route to Mahaplag, Leyte recently, the constructed bridge has only a few feet gap between its 2 ends before it can fully be connected. “The principle of having hollow pier heads is derived from a bamboo tree. A bamboo tree has grooves between hollows. When it will be blown by the strong wind, it will not break but only bend”, the young Engineer explained. “By analogy the hollowed pier heads if there’s an earthquake will not just break easily but would “bend” with the support of big steel bars placed in series inside the hollow. This bridge is located near the faultline”.

The female Engineer disclosed that every day there’s a survey on the bridge’s alignment before any work could start since sustaining its proper alignment is a technical SOP in constructing a strong and standard bridge. When it will be completed and the 2 abutments will finally be constructed, she said, construction of baluster- type of railings will follow. She said that the recipient of this bridge upon completion is the Dept of Public Works and Highways, a government agency in-charged in the building and maintenance of roads and bridges.

With the exception of the San Juanico Bridge that connects the islands of Leyte and Samar, the Agas-Agas Bridge in brgy. Kahupian,Sogod,Southern Leyte has the tallest deck elevation and the longest PCBG span bridge in the Philippines without stay cable, she divulged, adding that they are going to construct in the Sogod part abutment a parking area, public toilet and a quarter for travelers.

Two viewing decks on 75-meter pier head will also be constructed, she said, and to install bridge lights if the Katahira Consultancy, the office that design the bridge, will approve their proposal.

The project, it was learned, was handled and supervised by contractor Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co.Ltd and subcontracted by experienced Abad and APM Construction firms. Project Manager is Engr. Hiromi Chi Tatsuzawa.The project is manned by both Japanese and Filipino standard design Engineers, site Engineers and other types of Engineers involved in the bridge constructions.

The Agas-Agas Bridge, when fully finished, has the great potentiality of becoming a tourist attraction in this part of region 8.The view of the mountainous terrain with lush vegetation and trees in its surrounding area needs to be protected and preserved. Cutting of trees should not be allowed, burning of trash and wastes should be banned and throwing of any kind of garbage anywhere must be strictly prohibited. Trash cans must be provided in the parking area and near the bridge. (Quirico M.. Gorpido, Jr.)

Nevertheless, if we look deeper into the provisions of the bills, it’s something different and totally connotes with a dictatorial implications. On the other hand, there are some public officials who do not want to give their sides of the stories. I do not know why. But mostly, they would like that their sides be taken also by responsible reporter as a form of defense in case the controversy has tainted their names.

One time I was instructed by the editor of a local weekly, in which I was a contributor to get the side of a public official involved in a controversial issue. Instead of giving his side for the next issue of the papers, he said he will not give anymore his side because he was already hit first. But I insisted that it’s better if he would give his side in fairness to him. He reasoned that the giving of his side would just be useless and would amount to nothing.

There was also an instance in the past of a controversial news report when a well-known personality in one of the municipalities here in this province was involved. On that first published story his side was not taken. A colleague who now works as a secretary to a well-known public figure, went to that town to get his side. Akin to my experience, that guy had refused to give his side. He has had similar reason to that of my subject. He said he was already hit and the unbalanced report has already tainted his name. These two men seemed not to the mind at all about the reports involving them. They just want to close their ears from all the intrigues that might be circulating around in the neighborhood. And this is not the fault of the newspaper alone but also of a reporter who seemed to forget his responsibility to balance his story, particularly a controversial story.

The main reason why the persons involved have refused to give their sides after the stories’ publications was because they really wanted that their sides be taken also by the reporter prior to its publications. Not after or later on. They wanted that their sides be published also side by side with that of the complainants’ statements who revealed such controversies. But in the national newspaper it’s different: an official or individual who was involved in a controversy would always give his sides the next day or even later. The important thing is that their sides would also be published despite being delayed.

In contrast, the right of reply bills authored by Rep. Monico Puentevella of Negros Occidental and co-authored by Senator Nene Pimentel, Jr., pending approval for both the Lower and the Upper House, is a wake up call to all irresponsible reporters who have the itching penchant to write one-sided reports to make it appear as sensational stories. Newspaper and magazine editors should also be sensitive enough not to publish one-sided news stories. Editors also have the responsibility to instruct his reporters to always get the sides of those who were involved in any controversial issue before publishing their stories. This should be the standing policy of all the newspaper and magazine editors nationwide, including all the journalists themselves.

Most probably, the authors of the right of reply bills were once the victims of one-sided news reports involving their names where their sides were not taken by the reporters. The incidents might have prompted the 2 officials “to retaliate to get even”. Their actions is a form of sweeping punishment to all media organizations because of the mistakes of a few, which is unjustifiably an improper way to do so.

The provisions of the the above mentioned bills have the subtle way of dictating and demanding the editors/publishers on how they should run their respective newspapers or magazines, including the TV, radio and websites. This kind of “right to reply bills” encroach the independent editorial policies of various trimedia outfits. With the passing of the right of reply bills, the editors’ prudence and personal discernment on how the newspapers or magazines should be presented to the reading public seems to become unimportant anymore. Public officials, irrespective of the kind of positions/jobs that they have occupied in the government, should not breach the democratic role on the newspapers’ operations and the kind of management’s format that they want to implement to make newspapers more attractive and readable to the readers.

With the “dangerous” imposition of the right of reply bills (God forbade!),the space for more meaty news stories that the editors would prefer to publish for the reading public and its advertisers would then be sacrificed for reply letters from several officials/individuals demanding equal prominence and length. This kind of new intrusion would gradually decreased the newspapers’ or magazine’s readership. Readers, who are critical and wise, don’t have the interest and the comfort to read all the public officials/individuals reply letters. If this new kind of editorial encroachment on the newspapers’ and magazines’ leading styles would not be stop the earliest before it would flaunt its ugly heads, both publications would eventually lost its advertisements which is the bloodlife of any kind of publications anywhere in the world. It will also cause for a great reduction in its readership follow-ups throughout the country and the world..

Is the right of reply bills serve in the fulfillment of the objective or a vision of a newspaper or magazine? Certainly not. The proposed bills run in contrast that becomes an obstacle in the realization of the publications’ mission. Newspapers and magazines publications including TV, radio and the websites must be given a free-wheeling functions guided by its respective editors/publishers’ distinct editorial polices and management styles unique in themselves. This is coupled with common sense, intuitve judgment and the wisdom of experiences in handling the publications including the broadcast media.

Again, if any public official or individual who feels that he/she is unfairly treated in a news report, he/she should not hesitate to write his/her side and send it to the opinion section/letter-to-the –editor section for consideration. The concerned editor should in turn publish the aggrieved party’s side for fairness, which may either deny or refute a report implicating his name, by presenting some proofs. This should also remind all reporters not forget to balance their stories by getting the sides of all those who were involved in the controversies.

In case the concerned public official or an individual was not satisfied, he can still go to court to file a libel suit against the editor, the publisher or the reporter. All these things can be done freely in a democratic country like ours. But passing some kind of bills like the “right to reply bills” which dictates the editors and publishers on how their respective publications be formed or layout is equal to the curtailment of their independency and their prerogative rights of newspapering.The bills which are going to be the “journalists’ both distraction and destruction” on their jobs or calling, are also an utter violation of the freedom of speech and of the freedom of expression as enshrine in our 1987 Constitution.

Who will benefit from these proposed bills? Columnist Joaquin G. Bernas, SJ Catholic priest declares in his column, “Freedom Not To Speak”PDI March 2, 2009: “There is another element of free speech jurisprudence which makes me think that these bills (the right of reply bills) are now protective of public officials, and especially of lawmakers than anybody else…The proposed bills practically negate this reason for treating public officials differently in libel suit. With these proposed bills, maligned public officials will have a cheap way of defending their honor by using officially hijacked space or time at the expense of printed or broadcast media”.

On the other hand, on March 7, 2009 issue of the Peoples Journal, Pimentel claimed that in other countries there is peace because of the existence of the right of reply bills. His statement seems to imply that the right of reply does not exist in the Philippines. Does Senator Pimentel, one of our brilliant lawyers in the country, fails to notice that the right of reply does exist in our country? He should have known it as one of our legislators. Does not the opinion section of every community, national newspapers or magazines nationwide accept letter–to-the-editor pieces? It would be much better if, aside from the opinion sections, all community and national newspapers/magazines must have also a specifically letter-to-the-editor sections where a public official or any individual can speak out their minds/views or their sides of anything involving them or their names for justice and fairness. In other words, all existing kind of newspapers and magazines must have 2 opinion sections: the first section is for the columnists’ articles and the other section is for the letter-to-the-editor pieces. Whenever space would allow, opinion editors must accommodate more as many letter-to-the-editor pieces as possible after font size diminution, without abridging a single piece’s length. This is actually what the Philippine Daily Inquirer is doing, but its editors would tend to cut some portions of submitted letter-to-the-editor pieces. Now to satisfy the letter-writers, PDI editors should change their style of editing by just correcting grammatical errors, words usage and straighten some sentences that are found awkward and redundant.

Furthemore, the right of reply bills is a mental shackle that dulls the creativity of a person’s gift of writing which in turn would constrain the articulateness and expressiveness of any writer’s train of thoughts and ideas express in words. In other words, the right of reply bills destructs and destroys the writers’ way of wholesome creativities that need to be expressed in uncontrolled fashion. The Journalists’ Code Of Ethics as guide to all journalists/writers is enough and sufficient.

We hope that Congress, composed of the Upper and the Lower House lead by speaker Prospero Nograles, whose official occupants have possessed prudent minds and judicious discernment of things appropriate and proper, coupled with the liberality of the hearts, should consider the welfare and general wellbeing of our trimedia outfits in the country. They must listen to the Voice of the Press. Again, as representatives of the people they have the duty and the responsibility to defend our individual freedom of speech and freedom of expression as one of our Bill Of Rights provided by and enshrine in our existing Constitution. They must have the wisdom and the political will to disapprove or even veto these constrainedly dictative bills. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

Bands in Maasin and from Cebu that performed during the previous years here through sponsorships and invitations have the habit of playing too loud their musical accompaniments during live concerts on stage. The overwhelming voluminous sounds of guitars and drums from each 4 or 5-member bands as they rendered their successive delivery of songs have drowned the singers’ voices. The audience could no longer hear clearly the lyrics of each song rendition, making them unable to understand the message or the meaning of each song, whether rock, love song or ballad.

I wonder if a technician or the members of the band themselves can properly adjust the volume of each guitar and the half-beating of drum of each performing band. This is in such a way that both the voice of the soloist and the musical accompaniment of each song can equally be heard by the entire audience during the live concert.

During the last quarter of 2008 Urbandub, a homegrown 4-member band from Cebu City, had performed in Maasin. Their live performance was principally sponsored by the Philippine National Red Cross-Southern Leyte Chapter, Ads Pacific Unlimited, Floi Quinne, Southern Leyte Times together with several other co-sponsors. Part of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross for its programs. Prior to their schedule at the city gymnasium, 3 invited local bands have served as the opening numbers. Each band was also composed of 4 members who rendered 4 songs each. I was to expect a good delivery of their stage presentations. The vocalist’s voice quality was also alright and could have been a pleasure and entertaining to listen to.

However, as what I’ve observed in the past concerts of local bands and that from Cebu, their respective musical accompaniments of songs have caused a displeasure to both young and adult music lovers who were there to watch the show. Yet what could have been a general consensus of bad performance was switched to mute as the crowd may have avoided shouting their grievances. When Urbandub finally appeared on the stage there were whistles and cheers from the audience, mostly in their 10’s, 20’s and 30’s. Comparing its audience to the previous concerts here, theirs however, was sparse. Their newly-acquired popularity is not yet heavily felt here by the young breed of music lovers. After rendering the first song Urbandub’s vocalist/guitarist Gabby Alipe beckoned to the young audience to come close to the stage. Some responded. They moved and rushed on closer to the singer’s location and danced with abandon. Nevertheless, akin to the local bands’ performances, Urbanbdub’s songs were incomprehensible since the singer’s voices were drowned by the very loud musical accompaniment.

I asked an acquaintance about what I have observed in a series of local concerts which he also has similar observations. He said one of the main reasons why the singer’s voice will always be drowned during a concert is because band members always have the tendency of readjusting what the technician has already done with the adjustments in the volume of sounds for the balance delivery of songs and the musical accompaniments.

He disclosed that mostly, these young organizations of local bands always want to make their own way in adjusting the volumes of sounds during a concert, apparently rejecting what a technician has done more appropriately.

Because of this kind of stage performances from the current breed of young bands, I still miss the point of getting a pleasure and entertainment from hearing the lyrics of each of Urbandub’s 12 rock songs. Like the other bisrock bands that performed here, there will always these “uncured” voluminous sounds of guitars and drums, again drowning the singers’ voices. Concert enthusiasts can no longer comprehend and perceived what each song means, -with that kind of lashing uncontrolled sounds. Would it not be a pleasure and entertaining if each person in the audience, young and adult, can hear a balance delivery of each song and its musical accompaniment? Is this not what concertgoers and music lovers are up to in watching a concert? Cannot young band members perceive this important aspect in all of their concerts everywhere? Are our local bands composed mostly of teenagers and young men too callous and too insensitive to perceive this unwritten law in all of concert performances? Are our bisrock bands in the Visayas and Mindanao not watching live concerts of popular international bands on cable TVs or at their homes’ videos? If they are indeed watching, are they not aware on how these performing bands deliver a balance sound of the vocalist voice and t heir musical accompaniments so that the lyrics of their songs can be heard clearly by listeners and the audience?

When singer-composer Jose Mari Chan, Apo Hiking Society, The Aegis, Donna Cruz and a Cebuano duo called MYMP from Cebu held a separate concert here in various venues, their respective audiences in all walks of life have had very much enjoyed their shows. Music lovers young and old alike could hear clearly the lyrics of their songs and have appreciated it because these were presented in balance sounds of songs and musical accompaniments to the delight of their respective audiences. I believe that our bisrock and other bands in the Visayas, Mindanao and Luzon can exactly do what the professional bands, both local and foreign, have been doing.

Furthermore, as I have listened to Urbandub’s 2 recorded songs shared by an internet user, the wordings of their songs can be heard clearly. Apparentlly because of the proper and correct adjustments of the volume for both the singer’s voice and the musical accompaniment delivered in balance. If this can be done inside a recording studio, why not in a stage during live concerts as well?

This seemingly complicated perennial problem that we are discussing is in closed analysis, so simple a problem that needs only a simple solution. How can this be done effectively for the pleasure and entertainment of all kinds of audiences? Young men/women members of bands must listen and learn from the professional musicians’ coaching and to cooperate/accept an expert technician’s advice, who most of the time is the one who makes the necessary adjustments prior to the start of the concert. Nonetheless, professional band members are doing themselves the adjustments of the volumes on sounds of their guitars and drums without the assistance of a technician. Another important thing is that the young members of the different bands must also learn how to make proper and correct adjustments of their guitars and drums’ sounds before the start and during the performance of their concert. This is in such a way that when they start singing, their voices will not be drowned by the sounds of the guitars and the beating of drums. It is also important that all drummers themselves must learn to effectively control the beatings of the drums that will spice, enhance and add beauty to the songs’ melodies and tunes. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)