Maasinhon wins Gold
Palawan - Twelve year old Edison Pacsa of Asuncion, Maasin City won the 50 meter breaststroke swimming event last Thursday at the Palarong Pambansa competition in Palawan. He was the first Maasinhon to win a gold medal at the country’s top sporting event. Pacsa bested swimmers from Luzon, Mindanao and the powerful National Capitol Region in winning the elementary boys swimming competition. According to Mayor Maloney Samaco who accompanied the EVRAA contingent, Pacsa also competed in the 100 meter breaststroke event, but got the cramps and was eliminated. Samaco said Pacsa had competed in the 200 meter individual medley event that morning and must have been tired when he competed in the 100 meter breaststroke competition. Although the youngster has won 13 gold medals in the 50 meter breaststroke event at the EVRAA, this was the first time anyone from Southern Leyte had won a gold medal at the Palarong Pambansa. Pacsa’s victory in Palawan guarantees him a slot in the Philippine National Swimming Team, since gold medalists at the Palarong Pambansa automatically become members of the national training pool. Edison Pacsa is coached by Jelma Maraon of Maasin City. (By Ruevivar "Wowie" Reyes)
  
Mian to save Danajon double barrier reef
Tagbilaran, Bohol - The Danajon double barrier reef which is the only one of its kind in Southest Asia may have a new leash in life with the signing of a memorandum of agreement to protect the area by 4 governors of Central and Eastern Visayas Alarmed by the reef’s degradation by cyanide fishermen and huge trawlers which destroy its live corals Governor Damian G. Mercado of Southern Leyte and the governors of Cebu, Bohol and Northern Leyte have vowed to join forces in combating the giant trawlers and cyanide fishermen who are ravaging the area. The Danajon double barrier reef located off northern Bohol Island is one of only three such sites in the Indo-Pacific. The reef is spread across almost 130 kilometers and consists of 3 large reefs. Caubyan which is the largest covers 143 square kilometers. There are 5 smaller reefs in the northern outer region and one large reef named Calitubas in the inner region. Fishermen from Southern Leyte, Bohol, and Northern Leyte have for generations relied on fishing in the area for their livelihood. The Danajon Reef makes up over 1 percent of the total area of coral reefs in the Philippines which cover 27,000 square kilometers. These reefs were formed over the last 6000 years. Overall the barrier reef is a most important source for biodiversity and a large breeding area for many species of fish, shellfish and invertebrates. The reef is also a critical pathway of the Asian southward bird migratory route. Danajon’s double barrier reef is a larger and better-defined structure than other known double barrier reefs in the world. The outer reef lies 11 kolometers offshore and is composed of several units up to 23 kilometers long. The inner barrier is 2 kilometers wide and separated by an inshore channel 26 meters deep at most. The Philippines has recently been recognized as the “Center of marine shore fish biodiversity” in the world, with the peak of marine biodiversity occurring in the central Philippine islands. (By Dino Caube)
Boats to raise fare this May
Maasin City - Shipping companies servicing Southern and Western Leyte are planning to raise their fare rates from 5 to 47 percent due to spiraling fuel costs. These shipping lines include Ocean Fast Ferries which operates Ocean Jets fastcrafts, Roble Shipping and Southern Pacific Transport Corporation. Shipping companies can implement the adjustment seven days after the new rates are published in newspapers and posted at shipping offices and ports according to the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004. Some companies began implementing the new rates last month and other companies are expected to follow. “Everybody has a reason to increase the fare. We have more reason to increase after fuel prices went up 10 times since January 2008,” said Chester Cokaliong, president of the Visayas Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators. The founder of Cokaliong Shipping Company said he has not yet filed a notice to adjust fares for his vessels, but may do so if fuel prices continue to rise. “We can no longer bear the increases in the prices of fuel,” said Bernard Maraasin, operations manager of Ocean Fast Ferries. Aside from fuel prices the cost of maintenance and crew salaries was cited as a factor. The fare adjustment comes at a time when most towns in Southern Leyte will be celebrating their fiestas in May. Roble Shipping Company sought a 20 to 70-percent increase in its rates, ranging from P75 to P500 depending on the accommodation. Cargo freight rates will also go up by 25 to 56 percent. Southern Pacific Transport Corporation which services the Cebu-Bato route plans to increase its fare from P170 to P205 for the second class accommodation and P155 to P195 for third class passengers. Kinswel Shipping filed its notice to raise its rates on March 13, seeking to increase its fare from P200 to P313. The shipping firm operates vessels plying the Cebu-Bato route. Ranier Dueñas, Marina-7 supervising maritime industry development specialist said they expected more companies to adjust their rates because of fuel price hikes. Gasoline prices almost passed the P50 per liter mark after oil companies increased their prices the seventh time this year. Cokaliong said some companies were absorbing huge fuel expenses so as not to burden passengers. But that time would come when they won’t be able to hold off rate hikes. (By Wowie Reyes)
 
Provincial government wants new hospital
Maasin City - The provincial government is planning to construct a new hospital in Barangay Dongon because the current provincial hospital is cramped and lacked space for expansion. The plan to establish the new health facility was revealed by Governor Damian Mercado during the Provincial Development Council meeting at the R. Kangleon function house last Friday. Mercado said the provincial hospital which had two name changes since it opened 40 years ago is still being subsidized by the provincial government, although it earned P5.5 million during the first quarter of 2008 under the leadership of its Director Dr. Joselito Trumata. The governor said they would construct the new facility at the Dongon lot formerly owned by the Development Bank of the Philippines which was recently purchased by Congressman Roger Mercado. He said an agreement would be signed between his office, the city government, and the congressman when plans for the facility is completed. Meanwhile he confirmed that the Provincial Development Council had passed a resolution addressed to President Arroyo requesting financial assistance for the proposed hospital. No specific amount was mentioned in the resolution which was approved unanimously. In a related development, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced she had ordered the Department of Transportation and Communication and DPWH to fast tract work the Eastern Nautical Highway which includes the Liloan Ferry Terminal linking Leyte Island with Mindanao. (By Bong Pedalino)
  
|
