City Govt. To Finance Construction Oof Guadalupe Port

March 28,2012


Guadalupe Port To Be Financed By The City Govt; SOLECO To Be Converted Into A full-pledge Coop-Samaco

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco in a recent presscon at the city gymnasium after his state of the city address(SOCA)disclosed that the city government will finance the Guadalupe Port and will lead for the conversion of the Southern Leyte Electric Coop(SOLECO)into a full-pledge cooperative.

The Mayor said that the funding of the Guadalupe Port would provide revenues for the city in return and the SOLECO’s full-pledge conversion would reduce the rates of electricity.
Some consumers claimed that they were not allegedly inform thru public hearings by SOLECO’s present increased rates. They have just read it in billings that were delivered to them.

He informed that Phillip Morris lawyer who visited City Hall was supportive of the city’s no smoking policy from 17 years old and below .

He stressed that the no selling and no smoking of cigarettes 100 meters away from the school campuses must be followed by store owners to avoid penalties.

Asked by the press why he put on more weight in banning the smoking of cigarettes, he explained that smoking will not only harm the smokers but also others who would be inhaling second hand smoke from them. “Unlike drugs”, he said, “it will only affect those persons doing it”.

However, he was quick to say that he doesn’t favor the taking of illegal drugs that have bad effects to the minds and bodies of takers. The no smoking policy, he also claimed, does not affect so much of the city’s revenue.

Calling Electric Coops

The Mayor further said that he will call NATCO,SOLECO Board of Directors and other electric cooperatives in the region including the Chief Executives of 18 municipalities to support his plan. “When SOLECO would become a full pledge coop”, he told the crowd,”, “we can have lower rates”.

He clarified that at a time SOLECO will be converted into a full-pledge cooperative, its employees will remain in their respective positions.

On the other hand, the city government was awarded with P20M for practicing good governance. He also announced that the Leyte Zoo in Danao Park will be opened either this coming March or April of the current year.

A Sports Academy shall also be established with the turnover of the Southern Leyte Sports Com- plex otherwise known as TOPS oval playground to the city government. “We shall be utilizing the buildings inside the oval as quarters for the training of athletes to improve their skills”, he explained.

Other programs/projects of the incumbent Mayor ,among others, are:1)improvement of the city gym and tourist spots;2)to train call center agents with the coordination with the city’s colleges which is a study now pay later scheme;3)to construct a city cemetery and the excavated land to be brought to the reclamation area; 4)rehabilitation of the old municipal building into a city museum;5) establishment of Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center; 6)completion of Maasin City College building third floor; 7)going against thieves,robbers,swindlers,drug pushers and users; 8)inviting more investors to pour their resources in Maasin; 9) to establish a low cost housings project with the province and NHA; 10)opening of new sanitary landfill at Libhu/Bactul uno; more out-of-school youth joining scouting and alternative learning system; 11)more teachers in the elementary and secondary schools; 12)construction of swimming pool at Maasin City National High School.

Initial P10M Terminal Asphalting

Samaco said that asphalting of the bus terminal with an initial fund of P10M for phase one would start in April or sometime in May. That is if the erratic continual rains would lull to a stop, he said.

Moreover, the Mayor lamented that due to the Pangilinan Law which shield those below 18 years old from criminal liabilities, law enforcers and himself finds it hard to file criminal charges against those so-called “minors” who committed crimes.

He suggested that only those `12 years old girls and boys be considered as minors. Above this age, he emphasized, should not be considered as minors anymore.

Samaco stressed that age bracket in the classification of minors of the aforesaid law must be amended as soon as possible.

An Option Is Not An Option If…

During the last week of February 2012 a Power Forum was held at the Saint Joseph College covered court. The gathering of cooperatives chairs, managers was initiated by Mayor Samaco himself.

Samaco has also invited the NEA officials, members of all the Maasin Coops and their respective Managers SOLECO personnel, Cooperative Development Authority Regional Director
Anacleto D. Tungson.

At the power(electricity)forum it was apparent that the greatest desire of the Mayor to convert SOLECO into a full-pledge coop, with the support of its members-consumers to avail of a lower power rates, would take a long time yet to materialize.

Allan Laniva of DANGCO(Davao Electric Coop) pointed out that “an option is not an option if it has many disadvantages than advantages”.

He emphasized that there’s a great need for the SOLECO members-consumers and other groups to think, study and evaluate carefully to such change before a final move would be taken.

Other speakers who were all erstwhile Managers of electric cooperatives in other places have also delivered their experiences on the operation of electric coops. They were Rep. Ponciano Payuyo,NATCO party list representative Cresente Paez,Pet Ilagan of NASECORE, I-CARE partylist representative Michael Angelo Rivera,CDA Administrator Nelon Alindogan.

Also present were Enrique Salares,LBP DAC Rep; Constantino Barrientos,DAR Rep; Councilor Rene Hatayna,NES Director Mila Quinajon; Arnel Calapre, Dominaodr Miel of MCCI, MEMCO Manager Dionesio Llido, Anacleto Tumapon of CDA,among others.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)