Maglanque completes 36 Infra-projects in 100 days

CANDABA - The municipal government here under the leadership of Mayor Rene Maglanque has implemented various infrastructure projects in different barangays to address the pressing needs of the families, school children and communities.

 

The mayor said, it is his mission as public servant to bring the message of concern, change and development that would be felt by the Candabenios as a whole.

 

“I serve my constituents not for self-gratification but for the sake of love and care to the people whom I vowed to help uplift their standard of living with the minimal budget we have in the municipal government,” Maglanque said.

 

He said that what is important is that the Candabenios are benefiting from the projects being undertaken by the municipal government.

 

“We have accomplished so many works in our first 100 days, but we still have more projects to undertake. We cannot do it overnight. But we will do our best to complete our mission and vision to achieve our goal of growth and development even in the countryside to stand and stand proud.

 

Maglanque assured the Candabenios that whatever happens in the future, he would stand up and stand proud as their leader who talks less but works more.

 

“We will see to it that the people are being served with community participation and involvement to ensure that our programs and projects are intact and attuned to the needs of the people,” he added.

 

During his first 100 days, Maglanque has initially accomplished the following projects: improvement of Mapaniqui Barangay Road;  improvement of Mandili Barangay Road; repair of Paralaya High School; repair of Malisik River Dike at Mapaniqui; improvement of Barangca Road; repair of Various Municipal Building, sandbagging operation at Maasim River Dike (V. San Pablo, V. Sto. Nino, V. Sto. Cristo & Pulong Gubat); improvement of Salapungan Elementary School; re-painting of fencing at Mapaniqui Elementary School; improvement of Mandasig Elementary School; improvement of Lourdes Elementary School; repair of Tagulod Day Care Center; installation of 5 Set of Artesian Well at Barangay Mapaniqui; improvement of Mandasig Elementary School; repair of Mangilit Dike (Pasig Section); concreting of Paralaya Pathway; improvement of Public Market and Poblacion; removal of plant box & restoration of pavement at Pescadores; rehab of Buas Drainage Canal; concreting of pathways at Barangay Paralaya; concreting of pathways at Barangay Paralaya; improvement of public market; installation of drainage canal, cover at public market; installation of jetmatic at Mapaniqui High School; installation of Artesian Well at Barangay Pasig; installation of artesian well at Barangay Mandasig; installation of artesian well at Barangay Paralaya; installation of drtesian well at Barangay Mandili,   improvement of Mandili High School; installation of 5 Set of artesian well at Barangay Mapaniqui and  repair of Jetmatic at Lourdes Elementary School.

Motorists to police: "Be respectful during check points"

STA. ANA - Private motorists yesterday urged the members  of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the province who were tasked to conduct  random check points  to become polite as they implement  "Oplan Sita." 

Ernie Villanueva recalled that while driving his car along with his wife and children in Barangay Sta. Lucia, this town, he was scolded and greeted disrespectfully by a police personnel manning a checkpoint in front of Holy Cross College. 

"Nakikita munang may check point dito. Buksan munang agad ang ilaw ng loob ng sasakyan mo. Dapat ko pa bang sabihin yun sa iyo?," a police personnel allegedly  told Villanueva in sarcastic manner the other night. 

It can be recalled that the  Provincial Police Office (PPO) under the leadership of Police Senior Superintendent Oscar Albayalde strengthened its "Oplan Sita" in preparation of the upcoming barangay elections. 

 Oplan Sita is a regular police activity designed to fight criminality and apprehend criminals through setting  up of check points in strategic places.

Reports have it that police check-points are on a 24-hour duty stationed on strategic places to monitor the movement of suspicious people and motorists.

"Para sa amin naman po ang ginagawa nilang checkpoints pero sana maging magalang naman sila sa mga motorista lalu at may batang pasahero," Villanueva noted. 

The additional police reinforcement were assigned on 62 barangays considered as election areas  of immediate concern.

Rescue team undergo WASAR training

MASANTOL - Members of the rescue team here is currently undergoing a five-day water search and rescue training (WASAR).

The training is being administered by the Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) headed by Angelina Blanco. 

Blanco, a   staunch advocate of disaster preparedness in Pampanga stated that the activity is aimed at developing a rescue unit  that is responsive to the needs of the people in any situation as may be brought natural calamities. 

The PDRRMO chief noted that WASAR provides training from personal safety, survival, basic life saving, to rubber boat assembly and engine operation as well as navigation and maneuver rules. 

Blanco noted after the training, the rescue unit is expected to  be more effective disaster responder in this coastal community.

"Running a rubber boat and rescuing a drowning victim is totally different," Blanco explained.   

Masantol is among the municipalities in Pampanga which is considered as a disaster prone - flooding in particular

With this, she opined that there is a need to empower every adult citizen with life-saving skills.

"Siguro dapat isangkot din natin ang bawat pamilya sa disaster preparedness. Kailangan sila ang unang nakahanda sa anumang sakuna," Blanco explained.

Binay agrees on relocation of landslide families

ARAYAT - Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday  agreed with the provincial government that relocation is the long term solution to the problem confronting some 381 families in Barangay San Juan Bano here who were displaced due to landslide. 

Binay, also a concurrent chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) instructed the National Housing Authority (NHA) to provide its land consisting of 10 hectares in Barangay Telapayong in the same town as a relocation site for the affected families.

He said that the new settlement  will be jointly established by the national government through NHA and provincial government.

"Yung share namin yung lupa tapos yung development ng lugar ay sa kapitolyo na," Binay added.

The vice president clarified that residents in the coastal municipalities who wanted to be relocated can also avail the same. 

With this, Governor Lilia Pineda thanked Binay for  showing concern  to Kapampangan who were affected by the Typhoon "Santi."

Pineda meanwhile stressed that the affected area is no longer safe for the residents as huge boulders on top of Mt. Arayat are due to go down to  communites established at the foot of the mountain. 

 

She further stated that there is no guarantee on the safety of the residents as another landslide is expected to happen with strong downpour. 

"Habang wala pa  yung lilipatan nila, kapag may ulan kailangan munang silang pumunta sa ligtas na lugar pwedi silang bumalik pagkatapos," the governor noted. 

It can be recalled that on September 26, 2009, a landslide claimed the lives of 12 residents in Purok 7 in Barangay San Juan Baño.

The area was wiped out by strong mud flow and huge stones coming down from the mountain.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  repeatedly stated that Mt. Arayat National Park is “critical,” and landslides may occur anytime with heavy downpour.

It was claimed that huge volume of sediments, boulders and mud are found on top of the mountain, and this could probably trigger another landslide during the rainy season.

Joining Binay were Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino, Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction Management Officer Angelina Blanco, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Elizabeth Baybayan and  Apalit Mayor Jun Tetangco.

Student suffers with leptospirosis

CANDABA – A fourth year student in Paralaya High School had been recently diagnosed to be suffering with leptospirosis.

Benita Delos Santos, in an interview,  confirmed that her son Meljun, 16 was infected with leptospirosis after the latter’s open wound was exposed to floodwater.

“Tumulong pa siyang magtaas ng gamit sa aming bahay ng tumataas ang tubig at pagkatapos ay nilagnat na siya ng mataas ng ilang araw,” she said. 

The mother added that her son had been continuously discharging his food intake while having high fever.

Meljun was brought to San Luis District Hospital wherein he was subjected to various medical tests.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects both humans and animals. 

Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment. 

The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. 

In the early stages of the disease, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, haemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rash.

Capitol to distribute relief packs in Candaba

CANDABA – The provincial government though its social works department is scheduled to distribute relief packs to flood affected residents in various communities in this town today. 

Candaba is among the hardly hit municipalities in Pampanga by the recent Typhoon “Santi” which resulted to 10-feet floodwater in Barangay San Agustin.

Aside from this, more than 430 houses were partially and totally destroyed by strong wind during the onslaught of the typhoon.

Elizabeth Baybayan, provincial social welfare and development (PSWD) officer disclosed that a day before the actual date of distribution, her group already visited the locality to identify residents who are in need of assistance.

To further promote order and speedy manner of relief distribution, PSWD personnel had provided stubs to the residents.

They personally hand over stubs to every affected family using ordinary boats with the assistance of the concerned local folks and capitol's Public Information Office whose officer-in-charge reportedly grew up in the said swampy area of Candaba.

Governor Lilia after the presentation on the extent of damages in the province the other day made by Provincial Disaster Risks Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) and its counterpart in the municipal level decided to provide assistance in any capacity  that is within the capability of the provincial government. 

She instructed the Baybayan to coordinate with the concerned municipal social welfare and development officers for the final list of the flooded families in each municipality.

Pre-emptive evac saves hundreds

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The pre-emptive evacuation implemented by the local government unit of Arayat had saved some 300 families residing at Purok 7 of Barangay San Juan Bano from "clear and present danger."

This came Mayor Emmanuel Alejandrino ordered the evacuation of the concerned families a day before the onslaught of Typhoon "Santi." 

The  affected families were evacuated in a safer ground inside the national park wherein one of the evacuees who suffered injury due to a fallen metal debris was immediately given medical attention. 

Earlier, huge volume of mud, rocks and debris cascaded down Mount Arayat as a result of the continuous rains brought about by the typhoon. 

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) through its Chief Angelina Blanco is constantly coordinating with the local chief executive of Arayat for the immediate needs of the displaced families. 

It can be recalled that on September 26, 2009, a landslide claimed the lives of 12 residents in Barangay San Juan Baño, Arayat town.

The area was wiped out by strong mud flow and huge stones coming down from the mountain.

Meanwhile, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources previously reiterated that Mt. Arayat National Park remained “critical,” and landslides may occur anytime with heavy downpour.

Engr. Noel Lacadin, MGB chief geologist is not late in explaining that huge volume of sediments, boulders and mud are found on top of the mountain, and this could probably trigger another landslide during the rainy season.