April 18,2012
No Enough Space Provided For Encoders
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Why is it that some of internet cafes that are established in Maasin seem to forget providing the encoders with enough space in every functional computer that is installed in separate cubi- les?.Why is it that lights./bulbs were installed without putting into considerations if those lights were properly placed in an area which will make the letters on keyboards clear to the eyes of the users? Why? Is it not that the main purpose of opening up such internet businesses is to serve the needs of users, including encoders, who some of them are also writers/bloggers?
I have visited many internet cafes to see if I could find some where enough spaces beside operational computers were provided to place comfortably our pages of written articles. I have found two internet cafes that provide spaces to put some pages for encoding.
However, the lights are not properly placed that would make the letters on keyboards clear to see. User/users still need a flashlight to make the letters appear clear on the computer keyboards for easy typing/encoding of the articles; although flashlight could be placed on either left or right side of the cubicle. It would be much better if sodium bulbs were properly positioned to provide sufficient light for the encoders.
Another problem is that some internet cafes would allow children to play games loudly to the distraction of some internet users who might be doing research works or writers who are encoding their articles for corrections and editing.
There must be separate rooms for the computer games for the children. They should not be mingled with adults who are doing some research in the internet or encoding some documents. In this way pestering disturbances from the playing children could be avoided and there is order and peace.
Although in some occasions there are high school students who would play games in the computers who acted also like children, making the internet café like a marketplace with their noise and occasional shouts! This also must be shunned since like the children, they will likewise distract those who are doing some serious attention to what they were doing.
Still other problem among the internet cafes is that those who are in-charged seem to economize on the use of electricity. They either minimized or switched off the power. The gradual reduction of the aircon’s coolness that would eventually fade away would be replaced with another kind of odor.
An odor that emits unpleasant smell will overwhelm the sensitivity of some potential customers who have possessed odor-sensitive noses. This condition would turned them off or be discouraged to stay for long and would just backed out.
I have asked some of those inside the internet cafes where the aircons’ coolness have disappeared after it were switched off. What prevailed was the unpleasant odor. They admitted that they have smelled the unpleasant odor but they seem able to tolerate it without feeling dizzy or nauseated.
There were also two or three internet cafés where a bad odor prevailed simultaneous with the coolness of an operational aircons.Most of this kind of simultaneous existing emissions are common among small spaces internet cafes. What surprised me is that despite the aforesaid unpleasantness of condition inside, some young and adult users seemed unaffected by the annoying smell. Does it mean that these particular users have become immune to the odor?
One time as I entered in a small-space internet cafe, a now common bad odor greeted me. I’ve tried to endure and resisted its unpleasantness. An article that I was about to encode was already been delayed for posting. So I started typing what I have written. I have finished encoding it after about two hours. When I began to correct my work the feeling of nausea has crept in. But I still tried to endure and went on with my editing. Yet, in spite of my efforts to go on I was seized by the feeling of dizziness and felt like I was going to vomit. As I can no longer hold my discomfiture I informed the in-charged man that I wanted to go out. At that moment I was not able to finish what I did.
I also asked a lady working in an optical where I bought a new frame for my graded eyeglasses about this bad smell common inside the internet cafes. As a user herself for her social networking activity, she confessed that she has likewise experienced smelling bad odor from time to time whenever she entered an internet café.Nevertheless, she said that she can bear it but would have avoided the place if there is another internet café where this common bad smell is nowhere in existence.
Some internet operators use air fresheners attached to the aircons.Although some users like its smell, there are also those who do not like it.Besides,air fresheners’ fragrance in varied degrees is not a natural smell. Most of it are chemical-derives.
Besides, regular or frequent inhalation of this bad odor or unpleasant smell is bad for our health.IC owners should seek assistance from medical experts and expert aircon technicians on how to maintain a non-bad smell within the confines of internet cafes for their own sake and for their users/customers.
One time I asked an EENT doctor about my weakness. She asked if my graded eyeglasses are still okay. I told her, it is. She said there’s the probability that my nose is sensitive to bad odor or bad smell. And that staying long inside an internet café would defends upon my resistance to the unpleasant atmosphere.
This common bad smell can also be found inside some banks and government and private offices when their aircons are switched off. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against any kind of business that serves the interest of the public users/consumers. What we are talking here are the facts and realities occurring in various internet cafes, for sure not only in Maasin, but also in other cities and municipalities, that needs solutions, and not to be ignored by concerned owners/operators.
Yours truly likewise do not like the fragrance emitted by most of the air fresheners, regardless of where it was placed to drive away the bad odor. However, there is a kind of air freshener/s now use by a Cebu-based business recently established here in Maasin that emits pleasant-to-the-nose fragrance. It has no hint or implication of making odor-sensitive noses to feel dizzy or nauseated. Some customers/window shoppers can even stay inside the huge and spacious Supermarket for three to four hours without feeling any unpleasantness from its emission.
In contrast to the other existing reality here, even the owners/operators of internet cafes themselves are well-aware of this now common unpleasant odor prevailing inside their cafes. Like their customers, they have also inhaled the bad smell, though bearably tolerating it while inside. On my part, I still have to find an internet owner who has possessed a highly odor-sensitive nose like mine and would have to feel dizzy or nauseating.
Is the bad smell a by-product of an aircon’s faded coolness after it was switched off? Or is it not the accumulative dusts sucked up by the functioning aircon machine that caused the prevailing bad smell? If this is the case, then owners/operators of internet cafes including managers of banks and heads of offices either government or private should set a regular schedule for cleaning their aircons including the insides of the edifices. Say every first or second month. Let’s see if this procedure will effectively eradicate the bad odor that all internet users have experienced. If IC owners, bank managers and heads of offices will be successful in doing this, we should also be glad that a solution has finally acted upon.
On the other hand, if after all the regular cleaning of aircons and inside rooms and spaces, the un- pleasant smell would still prevail as the aircons’ coolness faded away, then internet owners must seek help from the Metro Gaisano Manager/owner if their kind of air freshener/s they have used in their chain of stores in the Visayas and Mindanao can also be used effectively in internet cafes.
Additionally, an expert in cooling system unfolded that aircon machines would re-use and recycle repeatedly the air inside a room or internet cafe until the air itself will become stale. He explained that the stale air, accumulated dust and other dirt sucked up by the aircon during the process of air re-using and recycling, unthrown wastes inside trash cans, different natural odors being released by the individual users, exposures of bad odor feet while using the computer and some related elements are contributories to bad smell, including dirty linen (if there are any) inside are the main culprit.
With this revelation, it is utterly apparent that operators/in-charged of internet cafes must make schedules for conscientious regular monthly cleaning of their business establishments. While conducting general cleanings, windows and doors should be wide opened to let out the bad air and allow fresh air to come in.
Installing two exhaust fans for each internet café on either side of the office would be better than just one exhaust fan. This is to hasten the exhaustion of bad smell. If IC owners have noticed that air released by their aircon machines is no longer cool, it’s time to call the aircon technicians to check the Freon’s containers if a certain element/substance use to convert ordinary air into cool air is still enough or needed replacements; or if their aircons are already defective and needed repair.
In all kinds of business endeavors, owners/operators should always put priority to their targeted customers as they construct their buildings or edifices: how the lights should be properly installed that would make comfortable to them while inside the building and feel fresh whenever possible. Conducive environment and cozy atmosphere and other amenities that owners can offer are important measures that would attract more and more customers/users to patronize their businesses. .(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
COTS Outbreak Can Be Neutralized By Monitoring/Extraction Of The COTS Population
April 18,2012
COTS Outbreak Can Be Neutralized By Continual Monitoring/Extraction Of Its Population- BFAR Staff by Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) outbreak affecting some areas in Southern Leyte and one in the neighboring municipality of Inopacan,in the northern part of Leyte province, can be neutralized by continuous monitoring and regular extraction of the marine’s pests that devour coral reefs.
This was the statement of Anecito G. Cortes of BFAR-Maasin office in a recent interview. The four places where the outbreaks have occurred were Maasin, Padre Burgos, Limasawa Island and Tomas Oppus.
Cortes disclosed that Limasawa’s surrounding seas have the biggest sizes of COTS that settled 15 to 18 meters deep. It devoured mushrooms and table corals underneath on big volumes. “Coral reef eaten by the crown-of-thorns starfishes appeared white”. he said. “The huge sizes of COTS has make us believed that Limasawa Island is the breeding place for COTS”.
He confided that during monitoring and extraction of COTS in Padre Burgos and Limasawa resorts divers of the area including the Coral Cay volunteer divers have assisted BFAR personnel.
The gathering/harvesting of COTS in the island municipality, he divulged, exceeded in great number compared to Maasin’s 30,000 during a whole day synchronized monitoring in all barangays of the city.
The municipalities of Macrohon and Malitbog showed that theses towns were also COTS-infested. The Sogod Bay municipalities that were monitored, Cortes said, were Bontoc, Sogod and Libagon, which were classified as non-infested areas where COTS presence were almost nil.
Monthly Monitoring
Reina C. Lagumbay of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office conveyed that LGUs monitoring of their fish sanctuaries including nearby coral reefs were conducted every three months.
However, the BFAR staff here stressed that quarterly monitoring is not ideal in areas that are prone to COTS infestation. “Monthly monitoring of the marine pests is ideal to check in particular the COTS population”, he said.
His statement was likewise supported by a Southern Leyteño diver who has had dived various fish sanctuaries of the province, but does not want to be identified.
The aforesaid diver pointed out that PENRMO officer Eva Abad should hire/employ a trained provincial diver who would assist or lead LGU municipalities where there are existing fish sanctuaries and coral reefs on its scheduled monthly monitoring.
On the other hand, Lagumbay informed that 20 COTS occupying in a one-hectare coral reefs are needed to balance the marine life. “Diminishing the count of 20 by extraction is not advisable. It will create an imbalance in the marine area”, she said.
The BFAR staff further said that they have admonished LGU-Limasawa to upload their COTS photos in the internet and ask for financial assistant to fund their continuous monitoring and extraction of the COTS population until such time that the marine pests will be neutralized.
Or they can also ask trained divers in the neighboring provinces of Cebu,Bohol and part of Mindanao to volunteer in the monitoring and extraction of COTS.
COTS predators, in particular the Titan Triggerfish and Pacific Triton are now considered as endangered species due to overfishing, Cortes claimed. “This fishes eat big and matured COTS”, he intimated. “But they are being exported live to other countries”. Other specie is the Giant Clam (taklobo) that also devour big COTS..
In gathering/harvesting the Crown-of-Thorns Starfishes (COTS) fishermen and volunteer divers are advised not to catch the marine pests by the hands. The high percentage of being pricked by its poisonous spikes is painfully infectious.
For picking use bamboo sticks or metal thongs and put it inside the crates for bringing it towards the shore. Apply the suitable chemical to kill them before burying it.
Other COTS predators that eat either its eggs,finderlings,young or adult COTS are harlequin shrimps, puffer fishes(Botete),red and spangled Emperor(Katambak),coral-like polyp/worm(botbot),trapezia(a kind of crabs),helmet shells(budyong) and Triton Trumpet(tambuli).
Cortes further informed that the Panaon Island municipalities and that of the Pacific towns shall also be subjected to undersea ocular inspection by the BFAR divers and local divers of their respective coral reefs and fish sanctuaries to see if their municipal waters were safe from the COTS infestation.
On the other hand, the ample breeding and propagation of the three principal COTS predators, the Titan Triggerfish, Pacific Triton and Giant Clam in different municipal seawaters of the province will obviously prevent COTS infestation or its outbreak.
It’s also recommended by the marine biologists not to injure the COTS, as it will lay millions of eggs under stress condition.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
COTS Outbreak Can Be Neutralized By Continual Monitoring/Extraction Of Its Population- BFAR Staff by Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (COTS) outbreak affecting some areas in Southern Leyte and one in the neighboring municipality of Inopacan,in the northern part of Leyte province, can be neutralized by continuous monitoring and regular extraction of the marine’s pests that devour coral reefs.
This was the statement of Anecito G. Cortes of BFAR-Maasin office in a recent interview. The four places where the outbreaks have occurred were Maasin, Padre Burgos, Limasawa Island and Tomas Oppus.
Cortes disclosed that Limasawa’s surrounding seas have the biggest sizes of COTS that settled 15 to 18 meters deep. It devoured mushrooms and table corals underneath on big volumes. “Coral reef eaten by the crown-of-thorns starfishes appeared white”. he said. “The huge sizes of COTS has make us believed that Limasawa Island is the breeding place for COTS”.
He confided that during monitoring and extraction of COTS in Padre Burgos and Limasawa resorts divers of the area including the Coral Cay volunteer divers have assisted BFAR personnel.
The gathering/harvesting of COTS in the island municipality, he divulged, exceeded in great number compared to Maasin’s 30,000 during a whole day synchronized monitoring in all barangays of the city.
The municipalities of Macrohon and Malitbog showed that theses towns were also COTS-infested. The Sogod Bay municipalities that were monitored, Cortes said, were Bontoc, Sogod and Libagon, which were classified as non-infested areas where COTS presence were almost nil.
Monthly Monitoring
Reina C. Lagumbay of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office conveyed that LGUs monitoring of their fish sanctuaries including nearby coral reefs were conducted every three months.
However, the BFAR staff here stressed that quarterly monitoring is not ideal in areas that are prone to COTS infestation. “Monthly monitoring of the marine pests is ideal to check in particular the COTS population”, he said.
His statement was likewise supported by a Southern Leyteño diver who has had dived various fish sanctuaries of the province, but does not want to be identified.
The aforesaid diver pointed out that PENRMO officer Eva Abad should hire/employ a trained provincial diver who would assist or lead LGU municipalities where there are existing fish sanctuaries and coral reefs on its scheduled monthly monitoring.
On the other hand, Lagumbay informed that 20 COTS occupying in a one-hectare coral reefs are needed to balance the marine life. “Diminishing the count of 20 by extraction is not advisable. It will create an imbalance in the marine area”, she said.
The BFAR staff further said that they have admonished LGU-Limasawa to upload their COTS photos in the internet and ask for financial assistant to fund their continuous monitoring and extraction of the COTS population until such time that the marine pests will be neutralized.
Or they can also ask trained divers in the neighboring provinces of Cebu,Bohol and part of Mindanao to volunteer in the monitoring and extraction of COTS.
COTS predators, in particular the Titan Triggerfish and Pacific Triton are now considered as endangered species due to overfishing, Cortes claimed. “This fishes eat big and matured COTS”, he intimated. “But they are being exported live to other countries”. Other specie is the Giant Clam (taklobo) that also devour big COTS..
In gathering/harvesting the Crown-of-Thorns Starfishes (COTS) fishermen and volunteer divers are advised not to catch the marine pests by the hands. The high percentage of being pricked by its poisonous spikes is painfully infectious.
For picking use bamboo sticks or metal thongs and put it inside the crates for bringing it towards the shore. Apply the suitable chemical to kill them before burying it.
Other COTS predators that eat either its eggs,finderlings,young or adult COTS are harlequin shrimps, puffer fishes(Botete),red and spangled Emperor(Katambak),coral-like polyp/worm(botbot),trapezia(a kind of crabs),helmet shells(budyong) and Triton Trumpet(tambuli).
Cortes further informed that the Panaon Island municipalities and that of the Pacific towns shall also be subjected to undersea ocular inspection by the BFAR divers and local divers of their respective coral reefs and fish sanctuaries to see if their municipal waters were safe from the COTS infestation.
On the other hand, the ample breeding and propagation of the three principal COTS predators, the Titan Triggerfish, Pacific Triton and Giant Clam in different municipal seawaters of the province will obviously prevent COTS infestation or its outbreak.
It’s also recommended by the marine biologists not to injure the COTS, as it will lay millions of eggs under stress condition.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)
P88M Subang Daku Bridge Construction For Completion in September
April 18,2012
P88M Subang Daku Bridge Construction For Completion In September
By Quirico M.Gorpido,Jr
Sogod, Southern Leyte-The P88M Subang Daku bridge construction, including the P40M 1.7 kms road concerting, which provides the shortcut trip to the 7-kilometer distance down to the Maharlika Highway, shall be completed on September 30, 2012 as per contract schedule.
This was the disclosure of Assistant District Engr. Manolo Rojas in an interview with the media at the Subang Daku Bridge during the recent media tour visiting all existing undergoing projects of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways.
Rojas revealed that the contractor of the 136.20 linear meter bridge AC Rivero has already installed the 100% substructures of the bridge. It has to be followed by the installation of the super-structures and other related works until the end of September of the current year.
Queried on the schedules written on the projects standard boards among its contractors of the DPWH,the implementing agency of infra projects in the province of Southern Leyte,District Engr. Carlos Veloso confided that mostly contractors have to do their best to comply with the deadline for completion since liquidating damages would be imposed on them for the delay.
“If there’s heavy rains or typhoon a contractor or contractors will send us letters asking for the extension of the projects’ deadline due to the bad weather condition”,Veloso informed, adding that most of them would finished their respective projects before the set deadline.
Project Costs
The P8,495,550.00 Cabulihan road concreting, that the group have visited earlier, carried out by the Square Cube Construction covering 2.5 kms length, was already completed. Both sides of the one-lane standard road has a 1.5 meters shoulder, which according to Engr. Vicent Sy, can be converted into a two-lane road when many vehicles would be passing in the near future.
In a presscon held at the Agas-Agas building, Engr Rojas divulged that as Chairman Committee on Infrastructures Congressman Roger Mercado is bent on making the construction of Guadalupe port realized in not a distant future. Last year the Guadalupe port was supposed to be constructed at the soonest time possible, about one or two months later. However, for some reasons that only the Congressman could say, the project did not materialized.
He claimed that the Guadalupe port will make a shorter travel time of one hour less to Cebu City as compared to Bato or Hilongos which would take 4 to 4.5 hours to reach the port of Cebu.He said that this was the findings of overseas skipper Jun Sabalo of the same barangay.
Gabion Walls
In brgy. Lipanto, St.Bernard a P7M gabion walls was constructed to protect the road from possible erosion or landslide during heavy rains. Engr. Sy said that this kind of protection project is more suitable in landslide-prone areas. It would allow big volumes of rainwater to pass through layers of stones. “Unlike in concreted walls, volumes of water will cause it to burst and will easily damaged”, he said.
Some culverts were also seen around the national road indicating that these are going to be buried along the mountain base to allow the flowing waters from above to flow freely.
Another application of the three-tier gabion structures was also seen in the P19, 735,000.00 river control project of the Lawigan River adjacent to Guinsaugon,a farming village that was buried in just a few minutes by a massive mudslide on Feb. 17,2006 at about 11:00 a.m.Some of the school children and teachers were among those who were buried alive on that traumatic tragedy. Only very few inhabitants were able to escape death during that unforgettable catastrophic event: those who have heard inner voices instructing them to run away; those who were out of Guinsaugon working in various places of Mindanao,Cebu and Metro Manila; and those who were already in other barangays or at the school attending classes in St.Bernard town.
“The main purpose for the construction of the river control projects Sy said, “is to protect the existing several hectares of rice fields and the two big school buildings nearby”.
The aforesaid river control projects have a length of 560 meters. Another similar three-tier structures located farther away has a span of 94 meters worth P2M.Engr.Veloso revealed that the construction of the gabion walls cost P1,000.00 per cubic meter.
Rojas also informed that gabion walls structures are suitable in areas where the foundation base in unstable. Unlike in concrete walling which are prone to bursting when battered by huge volumes of rain waters.
“In gabion structures, volumes of water will pass through layers of stones and it’s flexible even if in case the structures will sink”, Rojas also explained.
Saddle Road Status
Asked by a broadcast journalist on the status of the so-called “saddle road” curved along a steep cliff leading to San Ricardo which is potentially dangerous to both the bus and its passengers. Its defense structures along the cliff are quite unreliable.
Rojas replied saying that his office has sent resolution to Malacañang regarding the condition of the said road. He said that DPWH Manila has found saddle road condition as
to be of necessity for improvement. This is to provide protection among travelers to the place.
He intimated that DPWH main office thru its Secretary Rogelio Singson has approved its regular infra budget of P700M including the saddle road improvements.
The DPWH official also stated that Congressman Mercado is determined and consistent in his desire that San Rafael-Bontoc road concreting would be completed. The road upon completion will serve the Maasin farmers in bringing their products to Sogod town and vice versa in shorter travel time. He said that a fund of P6M was allocated for the first phase.
Transparency
In an answer to a query, Engr. Veloso clarified that the purpose of conducting a media tour, which is on its second year, is to implement DPWH policy of transparency under the new Administration. This means that the media and other stakeholders can report to DPWH office any defect or damaged that they’ve seen on its infra projects anywhere in the entire province
He implied that the media can even make constructive criticism when necessary just to make a DPWH concerned official act quickly on his responsibility to the traveling public.
When asked who are those considered as stakeholders, Engr. Rojas said that it includes the bus drivers, motorists, pedestrians, commuters, vehicle owners/operators, tourists, farmers and other individuals.
On the other hand, DPWH’s biddings on its current 25 projects in the province are now electronically done, Rojas pointed out. He stressed that now there’s no limit on the application of bidders to participate on the bidding process. “A bidder can send letter of application even on the last day of schedule for the bidding of projects”, he clarified.
Rojas also said that representatives from different sectors can openly attend during the actual bidding of projects at the DPWH office at the Capitol Site compound in Maasin; or at the designated venue that the office has chosen.(Quirico M.Gorpido,Jr.)
P88M Subang Daku Bridge Construction For Completion In September
By Quirico M.Gorpido,Jr
Sogod, Southern Leyte-The P88M Subang Daku bridge construction, including the P40M 1.7 kms road concerting, which provides the shortcut trip to the 7-kilometer distance down to the Maharlika Highway, shall be completed on September 30, 2012 as per contract schedule.
This was the disclosure of Assistant District Engr. Manolo Rojas in an interview with the media at the Subang Daku Bridge during the recent media tour visiting all existing undergoing projects of the Dept. of Public Works and Highways.
Rojas revealed that the contractor of the 136.20 linear meter bridge AC Rivero has already installed the 100% substructures of the bridge. It has to be followed by the installation of the super-structures and other related works until the end of September of the current year.
Queried on the schedules written on the projects standard boards among its contractors of the DPWH,the implementing agency of infra projects in the province of Southern Leyte,District Engr. Carlos Veloso confided that mostly contractors have to do their best to comply with the deadline for completion since liquidating damages would be imposed on them for the delay.
“If there’s heavy rains or typhoon a contractor or contractors will send us letters asking for the extension of the projects’ deadline due to the bad weather condition”,Veloso informed, adding that most of them would finished their respective projects before the set deadline.
Project Costs
The P8,495,550.00 Cabulihan road concreting, that the group have visited earlier, carried out by the Square Cube Construction covering 2.5 kms length, was already completed. Both sides of the one-lane standard road has a 1.5 meters shoulder, which according to Engr. Vicent Sy, can be converted into a two-lane road when many vehicles would be passing in the near future.
In a presscon held at the Agas-Agas building, Engr Rojas divulged that as Chairman Committee on Infrastructures Congressman Roger Mercado is bent on making the construction of Guadalupe port realized in not a distant future. Last year the Guadalupe port was supposed to be constructed at the soonest time possible, about one or two months later. However, for some reasons that only the Congressman could say, the project did not materialized.
He claimed that the Guadalupe port will make a shorter travel time of one hour less to Cebu City as compared to Bato or Hilongos which would take 4 to 4.5 hours to reach the port of Cebu.He said that this was the findings of overseas skipper Jun Sabalo of the same barangay.
Gabion Walls
In brgy. Lipanto, St.Bernard a P7M gabion walls was constructed to protect the road from possible erosion or landslide during heavy rains. Engr. Sy said that this kind of protection project is more suitable in landslide-prone areas. It would allow big volumes of rainwater to pass through layers of stones. “Unlike in concreted walls, volumes of water will cause it to burst and will easily damaged”, he said.
Some culverts were also seen around the national road indicating that these are going to be buried along the mountain base to allow the flowing waters from above to flow freely.
Another application of the three-tier gabion structures was also seen in the P19, 735,000.00 river control project of the Lawigan River adjacent to Guinsaugon,a farming village that was buried in just a few minutes by a massive mudslide on Feb. 17,2006 at about 11:00 a.m.Some of the school children and teachers were among those who were buried alive on that traumatic tragedy. Only very few inhabitants were able to escape death during that unforgettable catastrophic event: those who have heard inner voices instructing them to run away; those who were out of Guinsaugon working in various places of Mindanao,Cebu and Metro Manila; and those who were already in other barangays or at the school attending classes in St.Bernard town.
“The main purpose for the construction of the river control projects Sy said, “is to protect the existing several hectares of rice fields and the two big school buildings nearby”.
The aforesaid river control projects have a length of 560 meters. Another similar three-tier structures located farther away has a span of 94 meters worth P2M.Engr.Veloso revealed that the construction of the gabion walls cost P1,000.00 per cubic meter.
Rojas also informed that gabion walls structures are suitable in areas where the foundation base in unstable. Unlike in concrete walling which are prone to bursting when battered by huge volumes of rain waters.
“In gabion structures, volumes of water will pass through layers of stones and it’s flexible even if in case the structures will sink”, Rojas also explained.
Saddle Road Status
Asked by a broadcast journalist on the status of the so-called “saddle road” curved along a steep cliff leading to San Ricardo which is potentially dangerous to both the bus and its passengers. Its defense structures along the cliff are quite unreliable.
Rojas replied saying that his office has sent resolution to Malacañang regarding the condition of the said road. He said that DPWH Manila has found saddle road condition as
to be of necessity for improvement. This is to provide protection among travelers to the place.
He intimated that DPWH main office thru its Secretary Rogelio Singson has approved its regular infra budget of P700M including the saddle road improvements.
The DPWH official also stated that Congressman Mercado is determined and consistent in his desire that San Rafael-Bontoc road concreting would be completed. The road upon completion will serve the Maasin farmers in bringing their products to Sogod town and vice versa in shorter travel time. He said that a fund of P6M was allocated for the first phase.
Transparency
In an answer to a query, Engr. Veloso clarified that the purpose of conducting a media tour, which is on its second year, is to implement DPWH policy of transparency under the new Administration. This means that the media and other stakeholders can report to DPWH office any defect or damaged that they’ve seen on its infra projects anywhere in the entire province
He implied that the media can even make constructive criticism when necessary just to make a DPWH concerned official act quickly on his responsibility to the traveling public.
When asked who are those considered as stakeholders, Engr. Rojas said that it includes the bus drivers, motorists, pedestrians, commuters, vehicle owners/operators, tourists, farmers and other individuals.
On the other hand, DPWH’s biddings on its current 25 projects in the province are now electronically done, Rojas pointed out. He stressed that now there’s no limit on the application of bidders to participate on the bidding process. “A bidder can send letter of application even on the last day of schedule for the bidding of projects”, he clarified.
Rojas also said that representatives from different sectors can openly attend during the actual bidding of projects at the DPWH office at the Capitol Site compound in Maasin; or at the designated venue that the office has chosen.(Quirico M.Gorpido,Jr.)
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