Ang Ormocanon - Vol 2 - Issue 7.indd - City Government of Ormoc

Ang Ormocanon staff attends 3-day refresher seminarBy: Robert C. DejonStaffers of Ang Ormocanon attended a threeday refresher course about basic news-writing andphotography for print and broadcast at the PongosHotel last Oct.28-30.Three respected mass communication instructorsfrom the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJR)conducted the refresher course. The team washeaded by Roberto M. Cabardo, faculty memberof the Dept. of Communication, Languages andLiterature, who holds an MA in DevelopmentCommunication. Joining him were Harvey M.Inahid, a professor of Mass Communication,College of Arts and Sciences and who also holdsan MA in Development Communication and NestorGodofredo B. Ramirez, a USJR faculty member andcorrespondent of VERA Files and former Visayasand Nations Editor of Cebu Daily News from 1998to 2010. Ramirez is incidentally also a former editorof Bandera Visayas edition.Ang Ormocanon is a year-old newspaperpublished weekly by the city government. It is themost widely circulated newspaper in Ormoc with3500 copies distributed to business establishments,barangays, and different sectors in the city.Staff of Ang Ormocanon who attended theseminar were Lynn de los Reyes – Celiz, Dexter Conui,Ronnie Roa, Writer/Videographer, Joey VincentMotel, Sports writer, Josie Serseña, Barangay Affairsbeat reporter, Cesar Tarroza Jr., Social Services beatreporter, Elvira Roa, Social and Current Events beatreporter, Joseph Levi Sausa, Photographer, LeoRoswald Tugonon, Columnist, Angelica Villamero,IT specialist and this writer, Health and Agriculturebeat reporter and City Councilor Ruben Capahi, AngOrmocanon in-charge.Councilor Ruben Capahi in his message saidthat the premise of having the staffers attend theAng Ormocanon staff members with Mr. Roberto Cabardo, Nestor Godofredo Ramirez and HarveyInahid of USJR, Cebu. (left lower photo) Atty. Bingo Capahi presents a Plaque of Appreciation to Mr.Nestor Ramirez, (right lower photo) while Ms. Percia Leyte, Chairperson, Dept. of Communication,Languages and Literature gives a token to Atty. Capahi.seminar is to enhance their skills and knowledgein news writing. He said that the city spent forthe 3-day activity because he believes that whatthe staffers acquire in the seminar will not only bea personal gain but also an advantage to the city.“What they learned in the seminar will be applied inAng Ormocanon and I believe this is a big help toour market: the Ormocanons themselves.”Hopkirk saves... from p.1that if they did not buy the pawikan it will end upin someone’s cooking pot. They knew people eatpawikan without knowing the mercury contentin it. “We are stewards of our Lord, it is ourresponsibility to take care of these animals. Theyare not food. They supposed to be swimming inthe ocean. It gives me and my family pleasure tosee such a beautiful creature be released backinto the ocean,” she exclaimed. She wanted toCSWDO assists... from p.1CSWDO to seek assistance for her children whowere said to be victims of human trafficking. Hertwo daughters are now suffering mental disorderafter they were sent home from their respectiveemployers in two different places.The first victim is Lena (not her real name).In 1991 she was brought to Cebu to work as househelper by an alleged human trafficker. Aftera month, Lena was sent home in a seemingly“abnormal” state. It was learned that she wasforced to work in a “CASA” as a guest relationofficer. The family thinks that she was alsoforced to take illegal drugs and was abused. Herfamily filed and won the case against the humantrafficker who is now detained at a jail in Cebu.4AngOrmocanonwww.ormoc.gov.phbe a good example to everybody.“Vivo” was intended to be released about 2kilometers from the shoreline, with the seas atabout 40 meters deep, so as to ensure that hewould not be caught again by abusive fishers.The release was witnessed by Eriberto M.Alkuino, OIC-APFD and some members of theDantay-Dagat.The plan was for Lavinea to release theEven more unfortunate for Lena, she has to beconfined at their residence with an iron chain onher left ankle. Her mother said that they haveto restrain her because there was an incident lastyear when Lena attacked and harmed 4 villagerswith sharp bolo.Ceniza clarified that while it is not right tochain Lena, they have had to tolerate it to keepher and the villagers from harm.The same thing also happened to Lena’syounger sister Ella (not her real name), 15 yearsold. Last October 13, Ella was brought by a certainBeatriz Tumulak to Manila to work without thepermission of Ella’s mother. She tried to stopTumulak by calling her but was told that she haspawikan but when it was lifted from themotorboat it was already uncontrollable. “Vivo”immediately dove into the bluish Ormoc Bay andvanished from sight.Belmonte said that the presence ofendangered marine creatures such as whalesharks (butandings), dolphins and sea turtle(pawikans) are indicators of abundant fish inOrmoc bay.already arrived. The mother however cautionedTumulak to take good care of her daughter. Buton October 22, like her sister, Ella was sent homebut was acting strangely. When asked, Ella saidthat she wanted to join Pilipinas got talent, meether idol Sarah Geronimo and become famousworldwide. She also confessed that she dancedalong Quezon Avenue.The mother suspected that her daughter wasforced to use illegal drugs. She did not act thatway when she was brought in Manila, the motherassured.The sisters were brought to the EasternVisayas Medical center in Tacloban for checkupand medication.

Ormoc history revisitedBy: Jun TarrozaYears before Ormoc wasformally inaugurated as a CharteredCity on October 20, 1947 (the dateis exactly 3 years after the famousLeyte Landing), it was a municipiocreated in 1834 under the Provinceof Leyte.Documents in the archivesof the City Civil Registrar Office(CCRO) have plenty to say.Archilles Silva, the 1 st City CivilRegistrar since the enactment of theLocal Government Code of 1991,said his office has records of theyears prior to cityhood. He saidduplicates of marriage licenses havethe type-written, capitalized phrase“MUNICIPALITY OF ORMOC”at the upper left indented sidewhile on the right side is the phrase“PROVINCE OF LEYTE”. (Seephoto at the side of this story.) Hisrecords show Genaro Kuison as themunicipal treasurer at the same timeacting as ex-officio civil registrar.That was in 1946. It ispossible that during this periodOrmoc was led by the late Hon.Marcelo Bandalan, who was thefirst appointed mayor of Ormoc.Prior to his leadership, it was “theResistance Government-appointedPotenciano Larrazabal, 1944-1945,as ratified and confirmed later by theAmerican Liberation Army,” whogoverned Ormoc, as culled from ahistorian’s account. The historianalso says after their leadership,Esteban Conejos Sr. was appointedmayor from 1957 to 1959. He wasfollowed by the first elected mayor,Iñaki A. Larrazabal, Sr., who servedfrom 1959 to 1963. “Agalon Aki”,as Larrazabal was fondly called,also served as mayor at other times,either by appointment (1948-1949and 1953-1954) or by election(1967-1971 and 1971-1984).The historian also says that“Immediately after the creation ofthe Commonwealth Governmenton November 15, 1935. He alsoremembers that “the town executivesported the title Alcalde Municipalor Municipal Mayor. Under thiscategory the following mayorsserved the Municipality of Ormoc:Victorio Laurente, second term,1938-1941; Catalino Hermosilla,1941-1943 (replaced on the thirdBut CCRO records have someinteresting family names whichare still well-known today. In1945, the first couple on the listof the civil registry were that ofCleto Evangelista Sr. who marriedPrudencia Laurente – the parentsof Atty. Cleto Evangelista Jr. Theirceremonial wedding was officiatedby Catholic Priest Necepuro Pongos.Ormoc as a municipio in 1834, one year of his term by the Japanese A year after, EvangelistaSofronio Cabiling was appointedCapitan to head the gobiernomunicipal. His successor capitaneswere Gregorio Sacay, EpifanioOrtiz, Agaton Aparis, InocentesGovernment appointing in his placeJose Codilla, 1943-1944.”Silva said they have kept vitalrecords of births, marriages anddeaths starting from sometime inbecame a judge of the “Justice of thePeace.” This was the lowest courtin the Philippine judiciary system.He was authorized to officiate atmarriage ceremonies as Rev. Fr.Eamiguel, Rosendo Daffon, 1945, but these are incomplete. Felecisimo Romualdez did duringFernando Baez, Nicolas Torres,Mateo Solidor and Leon Aviles.”He said civil authorities during theSpanish, American and Japanesethis period.CCRO records also showedAfter these leaders, the historian occupations have no or lack Lydia Con-ui Salazar as first babyrecalls that Atty. Victorio Laurentewas the Alcalde Municipal undergenealogical records. The wars alsodestroyed many records, he added.registrant on April 12, 1945, bornat Deposito, Ormoc, to parentsCity Registrar Officer ArchillesSilva and his assistant Delia L.Pitogo show their records duringa research of Ang Ormocanon.Surmae Salazar shows other old vitalrecords of the City Civil RegistrarOffice to Ang Ormocanon.Juan Salazar and Fidelina Con-ui.CCRO also recorded 162 babiesborn during that year. In 1946, itrecorded 255 births, while 606 wererecorded in 1947.Silva said before the registraroffice became a department, it wasunder the leadership of municipaltreasurer, then to City Health Office,and City Planning and DevelopmentOffice on 1984.In other historical accounts, hesays that Dr. Wenceslao Pongoswas the father of Ormoc Citybecause he was instrumental asthe councilor who authored anordinance converting Ormoc froma municipality to a city. Becauseof him, Congressman Domingo C.Veloso sponsored the Republic ActNo. 179 which elevated Ormoc intoa Chartered City.www.ormoc.gov.phAngOrmocanon 5

OCPO ready for All Saints and Souls dayBy: Robert C. DejonP/SSupt Nilo D. Donayre, City PNP Director,and the entire personnel of the Ormoc City PoliceOffice are ready for All Saints Day on November 1and All Souls Day on November 2.Donayre said that security details of allcemeteries in the city are already prepared. Heassured that police personnel were ready to bedeployed, adding that a public assistance hubwill be placed in each cemetery so the policecould immediately act on any calls from thepublic. Donayre said that each public assistancehub will be manned by police personnel and otherforce multipliers like the Kabalikat Civicom,the Philippine Army the Civil Security Unit andTraffice Enforcers of the LGU.Donayre said that the Ormoc Cemetery in Brgy.Can-adieng, which caters to three burial grounds-- Catholic, public, and the Ormoc MemorialGarden -- will only use one entrance but willhave separate exits for vehicles and those on foot.The main entrance will be at the foot of the CanadiengElementary School, where police teams willconduct their inspections, while the exit will be theOfficers of theAgriculture& FisheriesNetwork ofIlocos Sur,Region 1, visitedNew Ormoc CityHall last October25, 2011.Photo by Joseph Levi Sausaroad at the back of the school which is the boundaryof Brgys. Can-adieng and Camp Downes. Donayrebelieves this will lessen the traffic.For the Valencia cemetery, Donayre said thatpolice personnel coming from the PCP2 will bedeployed to act as security detail. He said thatpolicemen will be deployed at the main entrancealong Purok 1 while other police officers will be incharge of the public assistance hub at the cemetery.Donayre continued that in both cemeteries aone side parking rule will be implemented to ensurea manageable traffic situation.Respect... from p.1hall. Bisag verbal naman lang, dinhi man gani miadtong padung diay sila mag ground breaking?Tingalig nakalimot sila nga ako ang niadaog ngakapitan ug dili ang maoy ilang gipananghiran?”she said in referring to the attitude of teams fromDPWH and the 4 th Congressional District Officewho went to her barangay for a groundbreakingceremony without informing her. When she expressedher strong opinion about the slight, the contractorprofusely apologized and said that he forgot to informher. To this Hon. Placido said “dili nako madawatang word nga nakalimot, agi anan gud ning brgy.hall.” Hon. Placido also narrated to Ang Ormocanonthat a few days later her attention was called by the4 th District Engineer’s Office where the said agencyacknowledged their lapses.She observed that the same occurrence isalso happening in other barangays in Ormoc. Shesuggested that if there should be a project or programto be implemented, the barangay officials must beinformed or coordinated with to avoid duplication oreven misconception. She wants to erase the people’snotion that she is opposed to the said project, andstressed that they welcome any development projectbe it from the Codilla administration or from theother party. “Kay kana dihang dapita gisaad na na nimayor in fact gisurvey ug giinspection na na sa tagacity government pero unsaon nga nauna man silaug butang (referring to the 4 th congressional districtoffice) so ang kang Mayor Codilla nga ibutang daisumpay nalang pud unya diha”.On the other hand she was happy to announcethat Brgy. Macabug is one of the recipients of thecovered court project that the city will soon beconstructing. Hon. Marina Placido is now on hersecond term after serving as kagawad for three6AngOrmocanonwww.ormoc.gov.phconsecutive terms. Having graduated from collegewith a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commercehas helped her in one way or another especially inmanaging and safeguarding the funds intended forher constituents. She further recalls some of theprojects that were accomplished from her first termup to the present, among them a relocation site forthose displaced along the highway and also thosefrom the dump site. Presently there are more or less100 occupants. She was able to realize 70% of herstreet lighting project. Visible are the tanod outpostsand waiting sheds being constructed in the barangay.The talipapa or mini wet market, water system,Hon. Marina Placidoin one of the severalTanod Outposts andgrenade canal inBrgy. Macabug.barangay site stage, learning center, drainage canals,basketball courts even to sitios, renovation of andbeautification of their barangay hall and day carecenter are other notable projects. All of these projectswere realized with the barangay’s IRA of P2.1million. Lastly, the Chairwoman wants to thank therest of her council for their cooperation, among themHon. Alejandro Alcala, Hon. Wilfredo Cabaluna,Hon.Veronica Hermoso, Hon. Pablo Alfante, Hon.Jonathan Carillo, Hon. Gregorio Tumulak, Hon.Gregorio Codog and Sk Chairman Kent Miro withEdilbeto Barcelo and Tessie Tulin as the Secretaryand Treasurer respectively.

ORBA inks MOA with RELAMACOP,labor departmentJoining the bandwagonof the country’s millions oflabor-management cooperationpractitioners, the Ormoc BuildersAssociation (ORBA) inked aMemorandum of Agreement with theRegion Eight Labor-ManagementCooperation Practitioners’ League(RELAMACOP), the NationalConciliation and MediationBoard-Department of Labor andEmployment (NCMB-DOLE), theDOLE-Western Leyte Field Office(WLFO), and the Regional TripartiteWages and Productivity Board(RTWPB).This took place October 28 atthe Pongos Hotel on the occasion ofthe multi-partite forum organized byORBA through its president, JosephFrederick Pepito and secretary JavierArradaza.Relamacop president Rene delos Reyes revealed that ORBA’s 30member-construction firms are therecent addition to RELAMACOP’slong list of more than 100 companiesall over the region that have chosento embrace industrial peace throughthe advocacy and practice of labormanagementcooperation (LMC).The LMC program wasinstitutionalized by the NCMB-DOLE in answer to the call for asustainable solution to labor unreststhat crippled the economy during thepost-People Power years. Back then,there were hundreds of labor strikesthat hit the country, resulting not onlyto business closures but also massivejob losses.In sharp contrast, the country onlyhad 5 strikes last year. Region 8 hasbeen enjoying more than 8 years of astrike-free industrial environment, asdisclosed by NCMB-DOLE RegionalDirector Juanito Geonzon.De los Reyes, who isalso the national presidentof RELAMACOP’s motherinstitution, the Philippine Leagueof Labor-Management CooperationPractitioners, Inc. (PHILAMCOP),expressed confidence this new tieup with ORBA will enhance thepresence of the LMC program inworkplaces not only in EasternVisayas but also in other regions inthe country. PHILAMCOP counts1,795 member-companies spanningthe country’s 16 regions—and atotal of 24 regional associations thattake care of the concerns of the 2.9million workers who are members ofthe organization.In Region 8, RELAMACOPserves thousands of workers inIsabel town after co-creating withPASAR Corporation and NCMBwhat is now known as the IsabelContractual Agencies’ Associationfor Industrial Peace (ISCAAIP), afederation of LMC councils covering18 contract service providerswho provide manpower and otherservices to PASAR and PHILPHOS.Since the LMC program is inherentamong organized (unionized)establishments, ISCAAIP isconsidered as a breakthrough becauseit is the first such LMC institution thatcovers unorganized (non-unionized)companies. This was cited by DOLEUsec. Hans Leo Cacdac in a visit tothe region last December.After ISCAAIP’s creation inOctober 2008, largely through theeffort of PASAR Corporation’s Sr.Manager for Industrial Relationsand RELAMACOP officer SherlockCodilla and his counterparts atthe PASAR union, COPPER,RELAMACOP and NCMB alsotrailblazed the creation of moreLMC councils among contractservice providers that do businesswith principal companies.The Hotels and RestaurantsAssociation of the Philippines-Leyte Chapter (HRAP-LC) signeda MOA with RELAMACOP inFebruary 2010, along with theDepartment of Tourism, pledgingto support the creation of LMCcouncils among its 11 memberestablishments.This wasfollowed by the Ormoc Hotels andRestaurants Association (OHRA)with its 11 member-establishments,and later on by the 9 memberlessorsof the Energy DevelopmentCorporation (EDC), which is knownas the EDC-Service Providers LMCAssociation. RELAMACOP alsospurred the creation of the LGPFRented Drivers’ Association. Delos Reyes is a regular employee ofEDC.RELAMACOP and NCMBare set to sign a MOA with tertiaryeducational institutions in Tacloban,along with the Commission onHigher Education. RELAMACOPaims to standardize career orientationMr. Tristan Makabenta representing DOLE Regional Dir. Forter G. Puguon;PHILAMCOP & RELAMACOP President Rene V. de los Reyes; PCA-OCPresident Joseph Frederick A. Pepito; DOLE Asst. Regional Dir. Cyril L.Ticao and Mr. Rico Babalcon representing NCMB-DOLE Regional Dir.Juanito B. Geonzon.programs among graduating studentsin all schools of the region. Intandem with NCMB, it is lobbyingwith CHED to refine school curriculato include workplace relations.RELAMACOPalsosuccessfully lobbied for theintegration of the LMC program intothe Regional Development Agendaof the Regional DevelopmentCouncil. With its strong backing,NCMB eventually became amember of the RDC in Februarythis year—the first such feat amongall NCMB regional offices in thecountry. De los Reyes is a privatesector representative for labor inthe RDC and has been workingon the LMC integration since lastyear during the term of then RDCChairman Mel Senen Sarmiento,erstwhile mayor of Calbayog City(now congressman of the 1 st Districtof Samar). NCMB was accordedmembership status at the time ofcurrent RDC Chairman, Leyte Gov.Carlos Jericho Petilla.After the MOA signing withORBA, RELAMACOP, NCMB andthe Western Leyte Field Office of theDOLE thru Asst. Regional DirectorCyril Ticao are set to implementcreation of individual LMC councilsamong ORBA member-firms.RTWPB, which was represented inthe MOA by its secretary, FlorencioAguilos, Jr. will take charge ofproductivity training sessions.Pepito and Arradaza both said thislink shall help revolutionalize theway construction outfits handledisputes among owners, managersand their laborers, to the greaterbenefit not only of the latter but thegeneral public. They added that apeaceful industrial environmentassures productivity in the privatesector, and is sure to contributegreatly to the economy.Region 8 has a population ofabout 3.1 million, with 1.9 millioncounted as part of the workforce.Poverty incidence is currently 48percent—about 48 in every 100households. It has about 21,000business establishments, where onlyabout 284 have the capability ofhiring between 10 and 200 workers.The region’s schools produce about23,000 graduates each year.(PR)www.ormoc.gov.phAngOrmocanon 7

Road Concreting at Brgy. CatmonRoad Concreting at Brgy. ConcepcionRepair/Improvement ofMulti-Purpose Hall, District 4Road Concreting, Brgy. CabingtanRoad Concreting, Brgy. AirportRoad Concreting, Brgy. DomonarRoad ConcretingBrgy. Doña Feliza MejiaRoad Concreting, Brgy. LunaRoad Concreting, Brgy. LinaoRoad ConcretingBrgy. NasunoganRoad ConcretingBrgy. Quezon Jr.Road ConcretingBrgy. San AntonioRoad ConcretingBrgy. San JuanRoad Concreting, Brgy. SumanggaRoad Concreting, Brgy. MabiniKalinaw ug Kalambuan Maoy Atong Tumong ug Tinguha...