Ford opens dealership in Ormoc

Mayor Edward C. Codilla joins officials of Ford Motors in
cutting the ribbon at the opening of the company's newest
dealership in Ormoc. They are (from right) GM Vis-Min
Andrea Rafael Borromeo, Ford Phils. president Kay Hart and
principal dealer Paolo Borromeo. (Photo by Charmaine P.
Dominic)

FORD Motors Phils. opened the doors to its newest dealership, its 38^th in the country on July 17. Located in Bantigue, Ormoc City, the second dealership in Leyte makes use of Ford’s brand retail design concept that gives the showroom the same universal image and ambiance the manufacturer is known for.

The dealership features a five-vehicle showroom and six-vehicle capacity service center within its 1,700 sq.m. land area. The showroom has several amenities for waiting customers while the service center is equipped with the latest tools and technology. Additionally, the service teams and technicians are continually trained to keep them updated with Ford’s global technologies, process and standards.

Mayor Edward C. Codilla welcomes Ford’s entry in Ormoc which he takes as a vote of confidence to the thriving local economy as well as the city’s safe and secure environment under his leadership. He adds that he will continue inviting capitalists to invest in Ormoc to provide employment to his constituents.

Ormoc LGU releases assistance to families of sea mishap casualties

Secretary to the mayor Gaudioso Ypanta hands over the cash assistance to Rodrigo Belarmino who lost his wife in the MB Kim Nirvana tragedy. Others in photo are (from left) social welfare asst. Enrique Caberos, Health Emergency Management coordinator Elsie Jaca and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Ciriaco Tolibao.

THE city government released cash assistance to the families of seven victims from Eastern Visayas who perished during the sinking of motorboat Kim Nirvana in Ormoc Bay on July 2. The assistance for every casualty is P6,600. Of that amount, P5,000 came from Vice President Jejomar Binay and P1,600 from an anonymous donor.

Baro dela Cruz received P13,200 for the loss of his live-in partner Abigail Salinas, 32 and son Jobert, 2. He actually lost three family members but his daughter Angela, 8 has not yet been found. Another son, Gilbert, 10 survived. The family resides in Simangan, this city.

Baro regretted that he received his share of the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) which government grants to victims of super typhoon Yolanda. Upon receiving the P15,000 ESA, he decided to take his family on a vacation to Abigail’s hometown in Pilar town, Camotes Island, Cebu.

Baro wanted to go last July 4 considering it was his day off being a Saturday. But Abigail insisted to go ahead because it has been five months since she went home to Pilar. Her parents also kept nagging her to visit them. Baro gave in, gave her P3,000 and decided to follow them to Pilar on the weekend. Abigail and her children boarded Kim Nirvana that capsized on the fateful day of July 1.

Two other victims were Rosa Porol, 25 and her one-year and five-month old-son Christoff Labadia from the mountain barangay of Quezon Jr., here in Ormoc. The assistance was claimed by Rosa’s sister Ma. Nila Porol and Christoff’s grandmother Warlita Labadia. 
 

Another claimant, Rosalisa G. Salinas of Buenavista, Northern Samar is a survivor but her husband Lorenzo, 59 wasn’t lucky.

Rodrigo C. Belarmino of Lamanoc in neighboring Merida town claimed the assistance for losing his wife Leonarda, 40.

Felix Wenceslao of Donghol, here in Ormoc, whose sister Lourdes, 63 drowned also got assistance.

Security Bank Foundation turns over 2 schoolhouses in Ormoc

OFFICIALS of Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) led by its chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. inaugurated classroom buildings at two schools in Ormoc on July 9. New Ormoc National High School and Ipil Central School each received one unit two-storey, six-classroom buildings.

The construction which costs P7.5 million for each edifice, is part of the “Build a School, Build a Nation: the Classrooms Project” of SBFI which aims to erect schoolhouses in areas where there is presence of Security Bank. Designed to withstand strong typhoons and earthquakes, the buildings are expected to last for at least 25 years.

Photo caption: From right: Mayor Edward C. Codilla; SBFI chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr.; Elizabeth Marte, chief of DepEd’s Curriculum Instruction Division; and Proceso Berino, Security Bank area head of Western and Eastern Visayas cut the ceremonial ribbon inaugurating two schoolhouses. (Photo by Joseph Levi Sausa)

More businesses open under Mayor Ondo’s watch

Mayor Edward "Ondo" Codilla and Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin Jr. do the honors of cutting the ribbon during the inauguration of TTL Automotive Center. Joining them are TTL Chairman and president Jimmy T. Yaokasin Jr. (right) and director Boldman Yulangco (left).

WITH Ormoc on its way to full recovery after the destruction by typhoon Yolanda, it has been observed that investors are flocking to the city once again. Last July 7, TTL Automotive Center, a dealer of Toyota cars based in Tacloban City, inaugurated its branch in Ormoc.

Jimmy T. Yaokasin Jr., chairman and president of Toyota Tacloban Leyte (TTL), said they chose Ormoc for their expansion being a progressive city. “It’s strategically located in the western part of Leyte, it’s the gateway to Southern Leyte and to other towns in the 3^rd and 4^th districts,” he said.

“We have seen that under the stewardship of Mayor [Edward "Ondo"] Codilla, many investors have been coming to Ormoc. In fact, Robinsons is here, SM has already bought a property here, and of course, Toyota will not be left behind. And so we came here looking for a place but we cannot find a big place,” he continued.

TTL Auto Center stands on a 1,500 sq.m. land right across Ormoc District Hospital. Its showroom at the front and repair shop at the back occupy a combined 800 sq.m. The shop is equipped with lifters and provides services like preventive maintenance, body paint, change oil, etc. Its technicians are trained at Toyota Motor Phils. Training School in Laguna.

“This [building] is only for the next five or six years,” Yaokasin went on. “Eventually, we will have to find a bigger place because we are very sure our business here will grow and prosper. As we inaugurate this building, we are looking for a bigger one.” A full service showroom of Toyota requires one hectare.

Earlier that day, Goldilocks blessed its newly renovated store. Operated by Chawnah Foods Inc. of Tacloban, the interior of the 40-sq.m. store sports a modern look after six years of operation in Ormoc. Also last July 2, Watsons pharmacy opened a branch at Gaisano Riverside Mall.

Ormoc's capability figures prominently in rescue operation

The incident command post headed by Mayor Edward Codilla that was set up by the LGU.

THE flurry of activities the past days relating to the search and rescue of survivors of the sea tragedy relegated to the backburner the local government unit’s (LGU) contribution to the entire operation. Out of the glare of news cameras, officials and employees of the LGU worked hard to deliver much-needed services and keep the operation smooth-sailing. 

Amidst allegations of late arrival by first responders, rescue officer and planning in-charge Dominic Eamiguel said their team was among the first to arrive at the site. MB Kim Nirvana’s departure was recorded at 12:15 noon and the accident occurred five minutes after.

The Ormoc Rescue Team received the distress call at exactly 12:22 pm. A team of five was sent immediately consisting of a nurse, driver and technical crew. Upon arrival at the port, only then did the crew realize the magnitude of the emergency, prompting them to call for backup.

The Ormoc Rescue Team was there from the start of the rescue operation to
the time when the casualties had to be taken to Pilar, Camotes Island. (Photo
by Elvie Roman-Roa)

Right there and then, all rescuers including those who were off-duty were ordered to rush to the port while the city-owned fiber-glass boat weighing 400 kgs. was deployed. Eamiguel explained that some constraints should be considered in the response time including vehicular traffic along the way.

Noteworthy also is that the first group of lifeguards and divers on the site are from the rescue team and City Agriculture Services Office. But even if they were there early, they had to wait for orders from the incident commander. Eamiguel understands if people thought their response time was late, saying anxiousness can make a minute feel like forever.

Taking everything into consideration, Eamiguel pointed out that the LGU’s men and assets were out in the sea pulling survivors to shore and doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation before 1:00 pm. He admires the commitment of his team members, including one who was off duty to apply for a passport in Tacloban City but had to rush home just to take part in the rescue efforts.

An LGU nurse checks on the health condition of one of the
survivors. (Photo by Enrique Caberos)

Other LGU assets that were used are two ambulances that ferried survivors and bodies to the hospitals, and the Emergency Medical and Technical Rescue Services truck.

Even city officials were up on their feet beforehand. Councilor Pedro Godiardo Ebcas who chairs the committee on public safety immediately informed Coast Guard (CG) District Commander (now relieved) Capt. Pedro B. Tinampay of the need to put up an incident command post for a coordinated action among offices and to synchronize the operation.

But the officer replied that the CG has jurisdiction on the matter. Ebcas yielded to Capt. Tinampay’s authority and assured that city officials are on standby, ready to extend assistance. An incident command post chaired by Mayor Edward C. Codilla was eventually set up the next day at the public market.

Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office extended assistance to the 54 survivors who were given shelter at the terminal of 2GO fast craft. They were fed with rice porridge and given food packs containing noodles, biscuits, bottled water and coffee. They were also given slippers, blankets and used clothing.

The rescue unit’s quick response shows that the city government’s investment on rescue capabilities is paying off. This is actually a priority of Mayor Edward following the disasters that battered Ormoc in the recent past. Which is why it should not come as a surprise that Ormoc is the most capable LGU in dealing with disasters in Region 8. 

Nurse Elsie Syjuco of the City Health Office gives psycho-social therapy to some of the 54 survivors who were immediately rescued right after the accident. (Photo by Enrique Caberos)

Ormoc biz group gives 615 vests to tricycle drivers

Mayor Edward C. Codilla (middle) poses with
Orcham President Rey Evangelista (left),
Ormoc PC Specialist proprietor Rogelio
Reducto and OMTODA president Benedicto
Lambonao during the distribution of chaleco
vests to tricycle drivers. Reducto and
Lambonao are holding grocery bags to be
given to two honest tricycle drivers who
P35,000 cash left behind by a passenger. The
groceries came from Reducto. (Photo by Elvie
Roman-Roa)

THE Ormoc Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Orcham) distributed 615 chaleco vests to tricycle drivers to curb "colorum" or tricycles that don't have franchise. The colors of the vests match the franchise numbers of the drivers’ tricycles.

Tricycles here are color-coded which are reflected on the franchise number painted on the unit. Tricycles with blue numbers ply south, while those with gold towards north and green west. Red is for the free zone. All tricycles are free to ply the free zone but those with red franchise numbers are limited only to the city proper and outskirts.

Orcham solicited the vests from corporate sponsors. EBR Servitek donated the most number at 100 pieces followed by Super Shell, Dayhagan Shell, and Bantigue Shell gas stations with 50 each. Other donors are Sildomies Oil Corp. (30 pcs.); The Generics Pharmacy, Purefoods, IAL Lodge, Catalino Trading and Du Ek Sam (25 pcs. each);

Ormoc Villa Hotel (20 pcs.); Estong Litson Manok and Dayka Bakery (15 pcs.); Harvester (14 pcs.); Leyte Agri Corp., First Balfour, Savers Depot, Trophys Farm, Hotel Don Felipe, Dub Petroleum, PureBlu, Armea Enterprises, Norkis Distribution Inc. and Ormoc PC Specialist (10 pcs. each).

Also during the distribution, Rogelio Reducto, proprietor of Ormoc PC Specialist, handed two bags of groceries intended for the two tricycle drivers who returned the cash that they found to the owner. Last year, 40-year-old Roel Pinos found a brown envelope left in his tricycle by a passenger.

The envelope contained P35,000 cash and some documents. Pinos consulted his brother Rodel, also a tricycle driver about his find. Despite being victims of super typhoon Yolanda, the brothers decided to return the money to the owner. Reducto said the giving of groceries is a gesture of appreciation for the honesty of the two brothers.