Southern Leyte Celebrates Its 51th Founding Day Anniversary

July 11,2011

Southern Leyte Celebrates Its 51th Founding Day anniversary
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The province o f Southern Leyte, comprising 18 municipalities and one city, has recently celebrated its 51th founding day anniversary at the provincial capitol grounds with a theme: “Southern Leyte: Sustaining The Growth”.
The celebration started with the parade at the Anatalio Gaviola plaza down to the provincial capitol. It was participated in by municipal mayors, Vice-Mayors and their respective Sangguniang Panlunsod members, provincial and city officials, heads of line agencies, including the public presentation of Miss Southern Leyte 2011 and her court
Mayor Maloney Samaco and Governor Damian Mercado delivered their welcome addresses during the anniversary program at the sunken garden’s public stage.
Also present at the stage were Vice-Mayor Ma. Effie Abiera-Sabandal and some City Councilors;Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11; ,some SP members,DPWH Regional Director Angel Sia,DAR Regional Director Castillo, Coral Cay representatives, Regional Tourism Director Karen Teopes and other personalities.
Congressman Roger Mercado in his short speech said “let us continue what we are doing” and urged the people of the province to be industrious,coursteous and hospitable in their dealings with different people including tourists that they are going to meet in their day to day living.
He also strongly enjoined the inhabitants to plant a variety of crops on their vacant lots and should give time also in clearing their respective places and surroundings.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri was still able to come as the guest speaker despite his busy appointments in some other places like North Cotabato and in Davao where he chose to visit the place on the eve of its anniversary so that he could come to Southern Leyte, he said.
However, he did not deliver any kind of meaningful speech, as if all he wanted to say were already spoken by other public officials.
Zubiri ,an adopted son of Southern Leyte who has had passed numerous laws in environmental conservation and protection, like renewable alternative energy and waste management ,among others,has merely repeated that indeed, in unity and teamwork, and with the cooperation of the constituents, a province like Southern Leyte can really move on to progress.
He likewise disclosed that whenever there’s an opportunity to talk about Southern Leyte, he always tells the people he knows to also include the place in their eco-tourism tour or perhaps invest in the province.
Plaques of Rajah Kolambo Awards were likewise handed over to the most outstanding Southern Leyteños 2011 by Governor Damian Mercado in behalf of the provincial government.
1)Vice-Mayor Ma. Effie Abiera –Sabandal-government service;2)Domingo P. Espina-retired government elected official and being the Mayor of the municipality of Libagon for 16 years and as COCOFED Partylist Representative-government service; 3)Patrick Rimbert S. Galia-international motorcross champion(young achiever category)-champion in various national, international and Asian motorcross competitions,65 class category,10 years old and below;4)Patrick Joseph S. Galia-international motor cross champion(young achiever category)-champion in various national, international and Asian motorcross competitions,50 class castegory,8 years old and below;5)Placida Go-Saga(Posthumous Award as writer/author/educator)- for her downright and deep concern and sincere interest in preserving the precious cultural heritage of the province through her book “Folk Poetry of Southern Leyte”.
Winners of Ms. Southern Leyte 2011: 1)Beryl Lynn Yu-Ms .Southern Leyte 2011-Sogod;2)First runner up Marian Mate-Anahawan;3)Second runner- up-Beverly Ann Orais-Maasin; 4)Third runner up-Shara Tibon-Bontoc; 5)Fourth runner up-Sheila Diokno-Macrohon.
Winner of showdown Sinugdan Festival: 1) Grand winner-Maasin;2)First runner-up-Bato;32)Second runner-up-Anahawan; 4)Third runner-up-Malitbog.
1) Best in street dancing-Bato, Leyte;2)Best in costume-Maasin; 3)Best in Choreographer-Kobol Abres-Maasin; 4)Festival Queen-Aisha Umacob-Anahawan.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Kinamot Sa Abgao Restaurant.Tel. no. (053)381-3878.
Villa Romana Hotel.13 airconditioned rooms with TV sets,etc.
Tel no.(053)381-0639.Tomas Oppus St.,brgy. Abgao, Maasin City.

N.B.The almost eleven years old city of Maasin has no skin specialist yet until now. Only those w ho have the means can go to Cebu City for their skin problems. But those with little income cannot afford to go to Cebu for consultations. We hope that a skin specialist or dermatologist from nearby cities will be interested to put up a clinic here to serve those who have skin problems.

Natasha Service Center/MSE Marikina Shoe Service Center,
A.Bantug Street,Tunga-Tunga,Maasin City,Southern Leyte
Tel nos. (053)570-8144;(053)381-0430.

DA-8 Regional Director Urges Farmers To Practice Multicropping

July 8,2011


DA Regional Director Urges Farmers To Practice Multi-cropping
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Department of Agriculture Regional Director-8 has strongly urged farmers to practice multi-stories cropping on every hectare lot to increase plant yields.
This was the statement of Antonio Gerundio in his speech as guest speaker during the opening of Agri-Fish Fair and Garden Show held at mini-forest at the Capitol site.
He pointed out that farmers should not rely on one or two kinds of plants per hectare since with DA technology it can also be planted to other crops, aside from coconuts, vegetables, fruits, spices and rootcrops.
Referring the application of multi-cropping in Cavite, where the Cebuano DA Director has lived for the past 30 years ,he disclosed this was what the Caviteño farmers were doing for many years now.
“With this technique in planting variety of plants in every hectare of their lots”, he said, “the farmers in Cavite have earned more money from their harvests”.
However, Gerundio admonished that farmers, fisherfolks and those who want to engage in livestock industry, to seek the DA’s technical assistance to improve their harvests.
The DA Director also enjoined farmers to plant more jackfruit trees aside from the aforesaid crops and plants since this fruit will easily thrive in the area.”The 30 hectares in Ormoc planted to jackfruits are not even sufficient to provide adequate supply for our processing plant”, he said.
The Director further persuaded rich LGUs to join forces with the poor LGUs and work together to enhance their respective agricultural activities to increase productions.
Gerundio advised municipal mayors and DA officials to have their own road map on agriculture and fishery in their municipalities. This could serve as guide in identifying areas for suitable projects.
He emphasized that construction of fish port should only be located in strategic places to avoid duplication and that there will be no more grants on rice and corn.”The seed funds for the projects were already diverted to irrigation”, he clarified.”What we are offering now at Kagawaran are tractors for farmers”.
He said that request for tractors should be endorsed to his office by the Congressman and the Governor of a particular province.
He also unfolded that there’s money in agriculture and that milking carabao can give 10 to 16 liters of milk per day from 8 to 10 months period.
He also confessed he was able to send his children to college by raising milking carabaos to pay for the tuition fees of his college students.”I have even extra of 10 remaining animals after all my children have graduated from college”, he proudly said.”It depends upon how you apply a technique to earn money”.
The Agriculture Director has observed that many sons of farmers have no interest to follow the footsteps of their fathers and choose to take up other courses or work in big cities.
Nevertheless, he strongly persuaded sons of farmers/fisherfolks to follow the footsteps of their fathers by taking up courses related to agri-aqua.”We cannot be all doctors,engineers,architects,journalists,educators,anthropologists,etc.We also need group of agriculturists and farmers to engage in producing more and more rice and other foods for the people’s consumption”, he stressed.
On the other hand, Governor Damian Mercado divulged that there are now 26 fish sanctuaries in various municipalities of the province.
The Governor said that P10,000 shall be given to barangay officials to encourage them to protect the fish sanctuaries located in their respective jurisdictional areas so that it can increase its fish population.
For his part, Congressman Roger Mercado also enjoined the agricultural sector to plant more and more fruits,vegetables,rootcrops,rice,corn,spices and other crops and make Southern Leyte producer and not only consumer.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

P.S.The 10-year-old City of Maasin still has no skin specialist/dermatologist for several years now. Some people who have the means with skin problems can easily go to Cebu City.However,the less moneyed who have some skin afflictions cannot afford for that travel in Cebu for consultation.We hope there will be a skin specialist who is interested to open a clinic here, even for three times a week.

The Government Should Give Priority To Agriculture-Zubiri

July 8,2011

The Government Should Give Priority To Agriculture-Zubiri

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin Citiy, Southern Leyte-Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, guest speaker to the recent 51th Founding Day anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte stressed that the present Government and the incoming Presidency must give priority to agriculture to stop the importation of rice and other agricultural products.

The Senator expressed his concern during a presscon held at the Governor’s office as he observed that the nation’s agricultural sector was left behind compared to its neighbors in Asia when it comes to rice production and other agricultural plant produce.

When it comes to budgeting, ours has a very low, he said, than the DSWD, DOTC,DND.”During my schooling at UP Los Baños, Laguna my classmates were Vietnamese, Thailanders, Cambodians and from Laos”, he confided.”And they apply and practice what they’ve learned at UP. Vietnam and Thailand are now rice producers and where we have been getting our rice imports”.

He divulged farmers in the above-mentioned countries were supported by their Governments and cheap cost of tractors, while in the Philippines the farmers cannot afford to buy tractors due to prohibitive price comparable to Mercedez-Benz.

Zubiri pointed out that the Aquino Administration should provide the necessary assistance needed for the farmers-from technical to financial- to improve their productivity yields.”With good monitoring and caring of rice plantations and other agricultural plants, we can gradually stop importing rice and other products from other countries”.

To the areas of Mindanao like Cotabato and other places with similar flooding problems, he said, floodwaters can be tamed by constructing catchment basins in various strategic areas that would lead the abundant water to the newly-constructed dams, thus providing the needed waters to supply hectares of rice fields and other farms.

For the Leyte Island, there’s the need now for the Aquino Administration to provide funds for the improvement of the regional airport in Tacloban City to make it into a standard international airport like Mactan, Iloilo and Silay City in Negros, he said.”The improvements of the Tacloban airport would boost the eco-tourism in region 8 including that of Southern Leyte”.

As for the suggestion of abolishing the NFA due to some alleged anomalies, Senator Zubiri said that we should give time to the new NFA Secretary “to re-configure and re-install it into one that’s really worthwhile and effective in helping the farmers improve their lot”.

A concerned observer claimed that the NFA has only done the importation of tons and tons of rice, but are not helping the farmers.

Furthermore, the Chairman on Environment and Agriculture, also underscored that the incumbent President should make a long term plan for the development of the national infrastructures and agriculture and to alleviate, if not to eradicate, poverty.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

Natasha Service Center/MSE Marikina Shoe Service Center,

A.Bantug Street,Tunga-Tunga,Maasin City,Southern Leyte

Tel nos. (053)570-8144;(053)381-0430.

Panny’s Homebake Products has transferred to a more better location

At the new SJC building infront of the SJC’s old building at Tomas Oppus St. Tunga-Tunga,

Maasin City.

Dr.Jocelyn Verrano Villamor,MD,DPAMLJ

Pediatrics,R.Kangleon St.,Abgao,Maasin City,

Southern Leyte.Tel no.(053)381-2371

GIZ Turns Over P3.2M MRELC Project In San Roque

June 24,2011

GTZ Turns Over P3.2M MRELC Project In San Roque

By Qurico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Brgy. San Roque,Macrohon,So.Leyte-The German Technical Cooperation(GTZ) now called GIZ(German International Cooperation) has turned over a P3.2M Mangrove Resource and Environmental Learning Center building here during the recent Friday.

Dr Walter Salzer,Program Director,GIZ enRD program has handed the symbolic key to Governor Damian Mercado with the presence of Congressman Roger Mercado and Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo,11.

The GIZ official disclosed that it took a long time before the German Ministry of Economics had finally released the funds for the aforesaid project.Salzer expressed his hope that the principal aim for the construction of the edifice could really serve its purpose. Like as learning center for the fisher folks and farmers, teaching concerned agencies to really achieve food security and to know the necessary knowledge of practicing sustainable development.

He also expressed his appreciation of Sogod Bay, but warned that in order to preserve the Bay there’s the need to apply environmental laws and fishery code seriously; stressing the cooperation of fishermen in the provincial level is of utmost importance.

The GIZ representative also urged the folks and officials in all coastal municipalities involved with mangrove plantations to protect and preserve them.

Recalling Burma’s cutting of all mangrove trees naturally grown along deltas to give way to opening up new rivers and other project, h e said, the people there have paid a high price of their denuding act when their areas were greatly inundated killing thousands of people. Mangrove trees, that are the natural habitat for fishes, also serve as blockades and breakwaters to flooding during heavy rains and typhoons.

Moreover, he urged Congressman Mercado to give his full support of the Land Use Plan Bill in Congress which is now in its second reading.

Salzer explained that with a law in Land Use Plan its provisions would serve as guidelines. “Which land is for the preservation of natural resources, which land for the sustainable development of any projects and which land are really designated for housing projects or which land is strictly devoted for agricultural development”, he said.

Congressman Mercado who expressed his profuse thanks to GIZ told Salzer that he will support for the approval of the Bill on Land Use Plan.

Both Governor Mercado and Vice-Governor Maamo also expressed their heartfelt thanks to GIZ for providing funds for the MRELC in Southern Leyte.

He also enjoined the Mayors to implement the environmental laws in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

The Governor further said the provincial government shall be appropriating funds for the maintenance of the MRELC.He revealed the provincial government with DENR MOA has targeted 10,000 trees to be planted. “We have started planting trees in a 1,200 hectares in Malitbog area”,he said.

Eva Abad, PENRMO head, claimed that the launching of Mangrove Greenbelt Project in 10 municipalities here could serve as mitigating measure to combat climate change.

She said the training center is also aim to: 1)Educate the fisherfolks,farmers and sundry on the importance of the preservation and conservation of our environmental resource 2)Showcasing mangrove farming and aqua-culture; 3) Conduct training skills in the protection and conservation of marine life, agricultural development,etc.

Furthermore, the GIZ Principal Adviser on enRD program ahs turned over various gadgets and equipments to 8 municipal Mayors to strengthen their Bantay Dagat activities on illegal fishing.

Namely: lifevests, megaphones,GPS equipments,searchlights,waterproof flashlights.

(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

N>B> Please be informed that Panny’s Homebake products(with free WiFi spot) has transferred to its new and better location a t Saint Joseph College new building at Tomas Oppus St.,brgy.Tunga-Tunga,Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

N.B. Zip Southern Leyte,First Tandem Zipline in Eastern Visayas

For more details contact the following persons/offices:

1) Sogod Municipal Tourism Officer Robe Estillore,tle.no.(053)382-3186;

2) Mr. Nedgar V. Garvez,Provincial Tourism Officer,tel. no.(053)570-8300;

3) Provincial Governor /Damian G. Mercado, tel. no.(053)570-9018.

Smart Communications Partnership Project On DMP Successful-Officials

June 24,2011

Smart Communications Partnership Project On DMP Successful-Official

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-A Smart Communications partnership project in ten areas here in this province on Disaster Management Preparedness has proven to be successful.

This was the disclosure of Darwin Flores, Smart Senior Public affairs Operation Officer, after he and his group of representatives from partner World Bank, Philippines Business for Social Progress and the provincial government of Southern Leyte have evaluated the project during there recent Tuesday visit at the broadcast site stationed at the provincial capitol.

The areas involved in the aforesaid project were Maasin, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus,Libagon,Liloan,San Francisco,Pintuyan,San Ricardo,Anahawan and Hinunangan.

Flores explained in answer to a query from the media during a press conference that Smart, which also partnered with other telecommunication companies chose to use Blackberry mobiles “because it’s highly capable for communication” in this kind of project that his company is piloting here.

The Smart rep also implied they always try to avoid releasing false alarm during disaster or calamity by only conveying messages to selected Mayors to avoid panic among the inhabitants being affected.

World Bank operation officer Christopher Pablo informed that the PDRP project’s broadcast system is doing fine which in turn strengthens its installation in various LGUs of the province.

Leilani B. Mc Donough of PBSP,married to an American-Irish descent, revealed that 2 cellphones were given to every involved barangay.Their principal contact persons are the Barangay Captains in the aforesaid municipalities in time of calamities or disasters.

She said they have already trained some municipal employees in PDRP(Provincial Disaster Response Preparedness),which she described as multi-hazard task, to response to any natural or man-made disaster/calamities.

Jason Calva, who heads the Provincial Disaster Management Preparedness group further divulged that the project has started last Sept. 14,2010.

He said the LGUs involved have provided counterparts of P500, 000.00 each. While the provincial government’s counterpart are in kind, donations,office space and its partnership with GIZ.

The PDMP head also stated that GTZ,now GIZ has always been providing financial assistance to other provincial government’s projects in other areas.

Asked by Jani Arnaiz,PDI correspondent, why there were still reported fatalities during the St. Bernard calamity last January,Dodi Fernandez head of the Provincial Disaster Management Council, responded that the main cause was that parents whose houses were carried away by flashfloods were busy collecting drifted coconuts by the river.

However, in some areas, he said, there were no reported casualties during heavy rains that caused also landslides and floods in other parts of the municipalities.

Which regards to the problem among cellphone users as to the absence of signal in some localties, Sanny Malakad,Smart Leyte Areas Supervisor, informed that two of the main causes of “no signal” were tall buildings and high mountains that posed as blockade to cellsites’ signals.

Malakad estimated that one cellsite could serve at least 5 barangays located in plain areas. But for barangays located in different geological make-up, it would be hard for the Smart personnel to indicate how the signal from its cellsite would work.

Users are advised to just look for higher grounds where signals could be received by their cellphones.

Moreover, the WB representative confided that when the project would be finished, it shall also be replicated in other provinces, including the whole Visayas areas, if the officials want it too.

The following day ,Smart and its project partners guided by Calva motored to brgy., Timba in Malitbog to conduct an Assembly for the barrio folks and its officials concerning the contingency plan on the implementation of Disaster Management Preparedness. (Quirico M Gorpido,Jr.)

N.B.The 10 years old city of Maasin has no available skin specialist for several years now. Dentists are many, but some persons who have skin problems, particularly those who have little income cannot go to Cebu City for consultation-only those who have the means or the moneyed denizens. WE hope this small message can reach those skin specialists who happen to be internet users.Maybe a skin specialist can hold his//her clinic even 3 times a week-Monday,Wednesday and Friday.

N>B> Diocese of Maasin Dialysis Center with laboratory

Tel no./Fax number: (053)381-2321; moboie phone: 0917-3061078

Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m.-12:00 noon/1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Saturday: 7:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

Belgian Philanthropist Distributes Wheelchairs To Immobile Persons

June 4,2011

Belgian Philanthropist Distributes Wheelchairs To Immobile Persons

By Quirico M.Gorpido, Jr.

Macrohon, Southern Leyte -A Belgian national who was married to Filipina lass of brgy. Molopolo here in this municipality has distributed forty wheelchairs to persons with disabilities.

The donation of 40 units of used wheelchairs was coursed thru the Municipal Social Welfare Department office headed by Brenda Decenteceo Lagunda.

During the awarding ceremony of the aforesaid wheelchairs held at the gymnasium led by the husband-and-wife donors and Lagunda, Mayor Fe Gaviola-Edillo expressed her profuse thankfulness to Patrick Hajhedoreen and his wife Sandra Peroso-Hajhedoreen for t heir altruistic and humanitarian concerns.

Edillo told the audience composed of 40 recipients and their parents and close kin that although Patrick is a Belgian national “his heart is a Macrohanon” ”, she said

She stressed that as a form of transparency, they did not take funds from the municipal coffer but used the proceeds of the tickets sales from various activities during the previous fiestas handled by the Fiesta Executive Committee.

The incumbent Mayor also disclosed that Hajhedoreen himself was the one who dismantled all the given wheelchairs and put it on the boxes during shipment. He was also the one who assembled it upon arrival in Macrohon.

She implied that although the total of 100 used wheelchairs were shipped to Cebu from Belgium cost much to the donors, their financial pinch was lessen.

“Patrick has requested us to provide for the transporting expenses from Cebu to Macrohon via freight handling committee amounting to P20, 000.00 for the services. The payment could serve as a souvenir project from the FEC, she added.

Pedroso for her part, speaking in behalf of her husband divulged that although they have collected wheelchairs from different persons in Belgium , the work of gathering it was not that easy.

“Sometimes we have to drive along a highway where stopping is prohibited and we have to constrain a personal call by nature and drove fast just to reach the other end where we could attend to the nature’s call”, she intimated.

There was also an instance, she said, when the place where they have resided in Belgium got flooded, but they have to go on with their activity of collecting some wheelchairs from friends and some concerned individuals.

The Belgian philanthropist who presently resided in brgy. Buscayan, Macrohon with his wife confided that he has also distributed 40 wheelchairs in Padre Burgos for the same purpose. While the remaining 10 units were given individually according to request from families who have disabled and immobile family members.

Furthermore, the second hand wheelchairs still looked functionally good. It could serve the beneficiaries for quite some years if properly maintained.

MSWD officer Lagunda enjoined the recipients to take care of their kins’ mobility support by applying some oil from time to time on its wheels and other parts to sustain its functionality.

She also reminded them, who came from different Macrohon barangays, to turn over their wheelchairs at a time when they would no longer be using it. This could be necessary, she said, so that those who are indigent families who need wheelchairs for their members could be provided by her office.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

N.B. For those individuals who lack knowledge about proper nutrition or those persons who are health-conscious and want to achieve healthy lifestyle,should read a book entitled "The Bible Cure For Cancer" written by Dr. Don Colbert.It is now available at the National Bookstores nationwide.This particular book is also a "must read book" for those who eat high percentage of animal meat,but very less on vegetables and fruits.

Mayor Samaco Signs MOA For Construction Of Brodeth Commercial Complex

June 4,2011

Mayor Samaco Signs MOA For Construction Of Brodeth Commercial Complex At Old Market by Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Mayor Maloney Samaco in behalf of the City Government has signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Brodeth Company and Sons, Inc. during the recent Tuesday noon at Sangguniang Panlungsod’s session hall at the city hall.

The signing of MOA which was based on the Aquino Administration’s PPPP (Public Private Partnership Program) and BOT (Build Operate Transfer) concept was witnessed by Vice-Mayor Effie Ma. Abiera-Sabandal, SP’s Presiding Officer, the City Councilors, some city employees, PNP, some army officers and the local press.

Aside from Mayor Samaco the other signatories were owner Rufino Brodeth; Manaya Land Holdings, Inc. Manager Erwin Brodeth; and Chief Operation Officer of the Brodeth Company and Sons Romil C. Brodeth.

In his speech Erwin, son of the owner, said that he now sees some changes in the face of Maasin, the place were they were born, raise and grow. He said they have felt that the time has come to put up an expansion of their business with the construction of the two-one-storey buildings at the old public market facing the sea.

“WE could see now the culture of good governance with the leadership of Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor Damian Mercado and Maloney Samaco”, he said.

While other places are only dreaming of cooperation and unity, he said, here we see it materializing. “Now is the time to give back to Maasin our blessings”, he said.

The Mayor in his speech claimed that Maasin has still that peace and order situation compared to other places in the region. Although he admitted that some unlawful acts were also committed in the place but in manageable level and are not so much compared with other areas of the country.

Samaco informed that the buildings occupied by some dry and wet products businesses and some small stores and carenderias at the old market shall be demolished. The occupants would be transferred to the new reclamation area adjacent to the new P70M market location.

He also instructed the city DSWD head Fe Sta. Cruz to prepare her office in assisting some dislocated small businesses who might go to her office to ask for assistance.

He claimed that the future presence of the Brodeth Commercial Complex would further boost the business progress of the city. “The local revenues have increased considerably from P40M last year to P44M this April of the current year”, he confided. “There are now 300 new small and big businesses that are established in the city”.

The Mayor said that the way he looked at it, means that Maasin is indeed growing and may surpass its category as component city into a highly-urbanized.

In an interview with the media Erwin said that they are going to construct one spacious commercial buildings and another one smaller building that will occupy the 2,167 square meters near the sea. The area would include parking spaces, but whose total budget could not be divulged yet. “We cannot give you now the estimated amount for the constructions of the two-one storey buildings since we still have to make some engineering evaluations of the buildings by our engineer”, he said.

Erwin explained that when the 2 buildings shall be completed, the commercial complex will comprise coffee shops,restaurants,pharmacy,hardware,high-end products and may include an internet café and other things or products that would not compete with the Gaisano Metro’s and the old market’s business items/products.

Queried when they are going to start the construction of the buildings, he estimated to be two months later from the day of the MOA signing. That is, when the demolition of the existing buildings at the old market will be finished and the accumulated files of destroyed building materials would be hauled out.

On the other hand, Samaco further said that the establishment of the Brodeth Commercial Complex will, in the near future, increase funds for the city coffer. That the owner will preferably hire Maasinhon job seekers, which would also eventually decreased the number of applicants at the city hall.

Meanwhile, clearing of the area provided for the construction of the sprawling and spacious one-storey Gaisano Metro which is also at the new reclamation area in brgy. Combado has started last April 2011. If there are no hitches, the construction works with the plan to be conducted in day and night shifting is estimated to be finished within six to seven months period. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)