City Govt. To Construct LGU-owned Port In Guadalupe

July 5,2010
City Govt. To Construct LGU-owned Port in Guadalupe
By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Maloney Samaco,the newly-re-elected second termer Maasin Mayor disclosed in his “acceptance speech” after his oath-taking ,that a plan to construct an LGU-owned port in brgy. Guadalupe (formerly Can-iwan) is welcomed by its residents.
Samaco informed that the area is conducive for docking ships and boats even during habagat season(eastwest moon wind) because of its natural barrier preventing strong winds to hit it. Unlike the Maasin port which is being subjected to constant lashing of huge waves during habagat season.
He said that barangay officials of Guadalupe even offer to convert their gymnasium into a terminal provided the City Government would build similar structure for their use.
“If other businessman is interested to construct another port in Guadalupe”, he said, “I will welcome it as well. The more we can have ports in Guadalupe, the better because I t will provide additional income to its residents and the city”.
He said that the said barangay is a good alternative in port constructions since it’s nearer to Bato and Hilongos.”Travelers and students of the city bound for Cebu City would no longer be going to farther places”, he said.
The Engineer-Sportswriter Mayor also divulged that the shipping managements of Kinswell, Gabisan and Roble have expressed their willingness to dock in Guadalupe once the port construction will be realized and completed.
He said that two of the main reasons why other small shipping companies have avoided docking at Maasin pier is because of its vulnerability to the habagat winds that would create huge waves whipping the pier. Another reason is that it will allegedly take an estimated one barrel of crude oil from Hilongos to Maasin.”But the Maasin port will remain operational for cargo ships and big passenger ships, if other shipping company is interested to dock”, he clarified.
He said that the Guadalupe port once it will be completed will connect Ubay port in Bohol.
Other things tackled during a presscon at his office were the problem on water supply. He revealed that barangays Gawisan and Cagnituan would be another sources of additional potable water for the City residents and business establishments because these two places have plenty of water. He said the inhabitants of both areas also expressed their willingness for the City Government or the Maasin Water District to tap it.
On Gaisano’s plan to conduct business here, he confided that after the first automation polls Edward Gaisano has revived his interest to open a branch in Maasain.He said he will be going to Cebu to talk and present his proposal with the businessman and to clarify and finalize whatever kind of negotiations that they are going to agree.
He further informed that construction of a sanitary landfill in Bactul 1 is underway and that the Maasin City College which he founded will continue to operate. This is in contrast to the allegations of some people, he said, that the school will be closed.”The Maasin City College will continue to operate”,he said.” In fact, our enrollment has exceeded and some students were not able to enroll”.
Class rooms are now constructed at the second floor of the buildings for additional enrollees, he said. He also confessed that students from the neighboring towns including Matalom wanted to enroll at MCC,but were refused because of lack of classrooms at this time. What he will do,he said, is to complete their submission of requirements to CHED.”There will be no increase in tuition fees as long as I’m the Mayor of Maasin”, he stressed.
He said that the projects that he has talked about were part of the 13-point agenda for the next six years. That is, he said, if you continue to give your support and the rest of the electorate shall continue to manifest theirs during his running for the third term. However, he admitted that six years are not enough to accomplish his programs due to lack of funding availability.
Earlier, an oath-taking among the City officials was held at the city gymnasium. First to take their oath of office were the City Councilors in a reverse style. It started from the 10th rank down to the number one councilor. The individual oath-taking ceremonies included Vice-Mayor Maria Effie Abiera-Sabandal were accompanied by their respective family members and relatives. All of them have taken their oath of offices before a City Judge.
Nevertheless he incumbent Mayor has taken his oath of office before the younger Abgao Barangay Captain Nacional “Nikko” Mercado. He unfolded that barangay Abgao was where he garnered the highest number of votes compared to the rest of Maasin’s 69 barangays.
In an earlier interview, he said that it’s his personal choice and” a due recognition to the efforts of the barangay officials during the recent election campaign period”.
In the same event, outgoing municipal and city councilors Conrado Galeon and Maria Essie Espina Garvez delivered their short speeches and thanked the employees and city officials for their camaraderie and good mutual relationship during their incumbency as municipal and city officials.
Galeon first served as a municipal employee for several years and later ran as municipal and as city councilor and won.Garvez has served the local government since the mayorship of Damian Mercado, now the incumbent Governor of Southern Leyte. Both councilors remained undefeated until their last terms.
Two days later a joint oath-taking of all 18 municipal, a city and provincial officials took place at the Provincial Capitol building inside the Capitol Site, a day shy from the 50th Golden Founding Day anniversary celebration of the province of Southern Leyte.
Provincial joint oath-taking was composed of all re-elected municipal Mayors, municipal councilors, city councilors, Governor, Vice-Governor, Board Members and Congressman. Re-elected Governor Damian Mercado and re-elected Congressman Roger Mercado both took their oath of office before Judge Bethany Kapili.The rest of all the re-elected officials have took their oath of office before Judge Daisy Gonzales.
Picture taking with members of the respective families among the public officials have followed after individual oath –taking and signing of the oath of statement written in Tagalog were done.
Both events were attended by some city and provincial employees, heads of offices, barangay officials, members of their respective families, relatives, friends and the press.Marinduque Governor Bong Carreon was one of the visitors who attended the joint oath –taking ceremonies.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)