14 years longing for a light - City Government of Ormoc

Youthfulness is not a
hindrance to leadership
By: Josephine N. Serseña
Being young doesn’t mean that
you are not capable of implementing
good governance; this is the
principle which Hon. Ciriaco
Tolibao III is banking on when he
joined the arena of public service.
The Barangay Captain of District
26 or Rizal Extension including the
washed out sitio of Isla Verde, is the
youngest chieftain in the city’s 110
barangays. At the age of 30, he is
already on his second term, Hon.
Tolibao told Ang Ormocanon, he
first entered politics three years ago
when he was 27 years old.
Despite his none completion
of a college education, he was
still chosen by the majority of the
550 voters here for the second
time. But he counted so much on
the influence of his father in his
career now, where he grow up
seeing his family in local politics
and public service. Hon. Ciriaco
Tolibao III is the youngest son of
Mr. Hermilo Tolibao who was also
the Barangay Captain of District
26 for more or less 20 years since
1987 to 2007. He said despite of
his age, young people of Rizal
Extension respects him and this
inspires him to work full time and
think of implementable programs
and projects that are beneficial to
the majority of the constituents.
During his first term, the
barangay council was able to
realized infrastructure projects like
streetlights, waiting shed, tanod
outpost, pathways, and signage
of the barangay officials. For this
term he wants to continue the
electrification program especially
in Isla Verde, plus the realization
of having a barangay hall. He said
District 26, through a resolution
made by the council, has been
asking the city government for the
1,000 square meters lot near the
JICA flood mitigation area in Isla
Verde. Hon. Tolibao also admitted
that he was informed by the City
Planning Department that the lot
they are asking and proposing for
a barangay site is classified as high
risk area because it is located along
the flood mitigation portion and said
to be the original floodway.
To remember, the said islet
or the known Isla Verde was
totally washed out and many of
its populace drowned during the
1991 flash flood. In connection to
the remaining old Anilao Bridge
that was broken down during the
tragedy, they plan to construct
a temporary shelter while their
original proposal of the 1,000 square
meters lot is not yet approved; but
still they are waiting for Mayor Eric
Codilla’s nod. “Nalantaw man gud
nako nga unta for the meantime
mapuslan na siya nga areaha kay
sa pagkakaron gihimo man gud
siyang estambayanan sa mga bugoy
ug mitinganan sa mga fraternities.”
But the young barangay captain
clears that these bystanders and
fraternities are not all residents of
his barangay. “Daghan pa unta
mig plano dinhi sa amo barangay
pero nindot gyud unta ug naa mi
barangay hall, naa unta mi kwarta
bisag pang phase one lang.”
Hon. Tolibao is thankful for the
cooperation of his council with two
newcomers, Hon. Eddie Wilson Yap
and Hon. Danny Malihan; while
Hon. Eduardo Ewan, Hon. Marlyn
Ayud, Hon. Owen Manggahoc and
Hon. Imelda Pepito were already
with him during his first term. He has
Hon. Ciriaco Tolibao iii
also no problem with the SK headed
by their Chairman Hon Jimmy
Radores with Jovy Manggahoc and
Vilma Seblante as their active and
responsible Secretary and Treasurer
respectively.
Lastly with the latest incident
where a group of youngsters
destroyed streetlights along the
JICA dike, he has requested the
monitoring of the Civil Security
Unit to include it in their roving
schedules especially at night time,
as his barangay tanod are few.
Unreasonable, Impractical, Unwarranted
Sanggunian appeals for amendment of Expanded Senior Citizens Act
by Joey C. Motel
The 12 th Sangguniang
Panlungsod passed on mass motion
Thursday a resolution respectfully
urging Trade and Industry Secretary
Gregory L. Domingo and Agriculture
Secretary Proceso J. Alcala to
amend a provision of DTI-DA Joint
Administrative Order No. 10-02
S.2010. The said administrative
order states the Implementing Rules
and Regulations on the Grant of
Special Discounts to Senior Citizens
on the purchase of commodities
and necessities pursuant to the
Expanded Senior Citizen Act of
2010 (R.A. 9994).
Resolution proponent Majority
Floor Leader Atty. Ruben R. Capahi
said that Section 3 of the said order
states that “Every Senior Citizen
shall enjoy a special discount of
five percent (5%) of the regular
retail price, without exemption of
the value added tax (VAT), of basic
necessities and prime commodities
listed under Section 2 (a) and (b)
of this order. The total amount of
said purchase shall not exceed the
amount of One Thousand Three
Hundred Pesos (Php 1,300.00) per
calendar week without carry over
of the unused amount. Provided,
that said amount shall be spent on
items listed under Section (a) and
(b) of this Order commensurate
to his/her personal and exclusive
consumption and/or enjoyment
within the calendar week. Provided,
further that said amount shall be
spent on at least four (4) kinds of
items listed under Section 2 (a) of
this order.”
The last portion of the provision
must be scrapped to make the special
privileges to our Senior Citizens
meaningful, the young alderman
said. He explains that aplenty of
senior citizens are affected as they
cannot meet the terms and will
be deprived of the five percent
(5%) special discount if to avail
the necessities will require them a
purchase of at least 4 kinds. This is
considered then as unreasonable,
impractical and unwarranted.
The basic necessities listed the
joint administrative order include
rice, corn, bread, pastries and cakes,
fresh, dried and processed marine
products, fresh pork beef and poultry
meat, vegetables and root crops,
coffee, sugar, cooking oils and
salts, laundry and detergent soaps,
firewood, charcoals and candles
while the prime commodities
include fruits, flour, dried processed
and canned pork beef and poultry
meat, canned sardines and tuna,
noodles, onions and garlic, geriatric
diapers, herbicides, poultry swine
and cattle feeds and veterinary
products, nipa shingle ply board
and construction nails, batteries,
electrical supplies and light bulbs
and steel wires.
6
Ang
Ormocanon
www.ormoc.gov.ph