Calapan villagers sandbag river to prevent floods

CALAPAN CITY—Instead of partying this Christmas, about 120 residents of Barangay Gutad here, led by their officials, decided to use their time to sandbag the portion of Bucayao-Panggalaan River that has threatened to overflow and create a new waterway leading to the populated area in the village.

City Councilor Edel Ilano, who took part in the activity, said the volunteers have been sandbagging daily since Monday “like an outing in the field,” to make the task easier.

Positioned along a 100-meter stretch between Sitio Bagong Pook of Gutad and Sitio B3 of Barangay Camansihan, the sandbags, using palay sacks, were 1 meter high and between 1.5 and 2.5 meters wide, Ilano said.

The villagers, who largely depend on their vegetable and rice fields, have been losing incomes because of the unusually heavy rains and floods experienced over the last three months, said Gutad Barangay Captain Francisco Tinio.

“The villagers are united, their officials utilized the calamity funds, and started sandbagging on Dec. 19.  After Tropical Storm  ‘Sendong’ devastated lives in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, they are more convinced they are doing the right thing,” said Ilano.

More than 2,500 sandbags have so far been put in place, he added.

“After New Year, we target to sandbag another 100 meters stretch, and would need 5,000 palay sacks,” he said.

He said Mayor Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon has programmed  in next year’s budget the cost of re-channeling the river’s section in Sitio Bagong Pook, as long-term solution.

In 2005, Leachon, then the city administrator, mobilized 35,000 volunteers to make sandbags and construct a sand dike along the river banks, after the city was hit by severe flooding.

More than half a million bags were produced and almost a kilometer of sand dike was constructed.

This initiative has brought Leachon to Asia Society’s sixth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in New Delhi, India, from Nov. 18 to 20 said Abigail Pacquing, the city’s media coordinator.

“Not only did it save the city from floodwaters, but it also saved P62-million worth of reconstruction, which only took 10 days of rebuilding instead of two years,” she said.

Ex-cabbie represents Philippines in Asian leaders summit

Calapan City Mayor Paulino Salvador “Doy” Leachon, a former cab driver, recently represented the Philippines in the Asia Society’s sixth annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in New Delhi.

Leachon took part in the summit, held Nov. 18 to 21, with other Asian leaders under the age of 40.

The summit is part of a larger initiative designed to help emerging Asian leaders, whether in the public or private sector, to adopt common approaches to problems confronting their countries.

“The work that this incredible community of leaders is doing today and will do in the future is laying a strong foundation for regional collaboration for decades to come,” a statement sent by Leachon’s office quoted Jamie Metzl, Asia Society executive vice president, as saying.

Among the issues taken up in the summit were how corruption is stunting the growth of many Asian countries and whether food security should take precedence over civil rights.

Leachon is national vice chair of the League of Cities of the Philippines, where he also leads a group on local disaster risk reduction.

Under his mantle, Calapan was named one of the 12 most friendly cities in the Philippines and received recognition from the Asian Institute of Management as one of the most competitive cities in the country.

It also received the Trailblazer award from the Institute for Solidarity in Asia, a nongovernment organization advocating good governance.

Video Entry for International Human Rights Video Contest

City College of Calapan City Oriental Mindoro joined to the competition for the International Human Rights Video Contest

NEO CALAPAN

NeoCalapan

THE NEW CITY

Neo Calapan, a premier residential – commercial complex fronting the Filipiniana Hotel Calapan, boasts – of – class self – contained communities.  Affordable and convenient.  A taste of urban living in the new city. It is located at Nacoco, Calapan City.

Very proximate to the:

·      Neo Calapan Mall – site of Robinsons
·      Clubhouse with basketball, tennis and badminton courts, swimming pool, and function hall
·      Proposed I.T. techno park
·      Regional government center
·      Man – made waterfalls
·      Children’s play area

FOOD AND PASALUBONG

A visit to Calapan City would not be complete without buying souvenir items and pasalubong for your folks and friends back home.
After an enjoyable tour around the city, try Calapan’s treats such as suman sa lihiya, cassava cake, banana chips, sweet dried pusit, dried fish, puto, kalamay, bibingka, nilupak, hyrid rice, ginger tea, kamote pastillas, yema, toasted siopao and coco jam.

CALAPAN PUBLIC MARKET

The new market was built for almost two years after it was eaten by fire on 2008.

Contradicting to the ordinary public market design, its wet market like meat, fish and vegetable stalls can be found on its second floor while those of dry products such as RTW and household items can be found on the first. The 188 million mall-like public market was colored orange, followed after the color of Calapan City Mayor Doy Leachon. According to reports, the money used for the construction of this new market was loaned at BDO bank. 

PNOY CITES MINDOREÑOS’ RESILIENCY, OPENS THE ‘MOST MODERN PUBLIC MARKET IN REGION 4B

CALAPAN CITY – President Benigno Aquino III has cited the people of Mindoro Island as he led in the opening yesterday (December 15) of the “most modern public market in the entire MIMAROPA Region” or Region 4B.


Addressing the crowd here Wednesday morning, during the said launching of the newly-built Calapan City Public Market, President Aquino cited the “resiliency” being shown by Mindoreños, both in Oriental and Occidental, which he said, is admirable considering the many setbacks being experienced by the two island provinces from natural and man-made calamities.

The President said he is wondering how the people of Mindoro is bucking the odds despite the said calamities, as evident by the timely construction of the new and most-modern public market in the entire region after the old market here was completely devastated by a big fire in 2006.

Accordingly, the Calapan City Public Market is currently the most modern public market in Region IV-B, composed of the island provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan.

The newly-built two-storey building, equipped with an elevator and an escalator, houses stalls for dry goods on the ground floor and the wet section on the second floor.

All stalls on the ground floor have been occupied while awarding of rights for the second floor is ongoing, the city government said.

The new public market has been built on a loan by the city government after the old market place here was destroyed by a big fire in 2006.

Arriving at the spacious oval of the Jose J. Leido Jr. Memorial National High School from the presidential chopper, Mr. Aquino was warmly welcomed here by local officials, led by Liberal Party mates such as Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr., Congressmen Rodolfo G. Valencia and Reynaldo V. Umali, and Calapan City Mayor Salvador Leachon.(By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY)

Originally Posted by william :D

BAGONG CALAPAN PROGRAM

Ipagmalaki mo, Calapeño ako!

Pagtatanim sa puso at isipan ng mga Calapeño na dapat ipagmalaki sa buong bansa at mahalin ang Lungsod bilang kanilang pook na sinilangan at tahanan.

Paglulungsad ng comprehensibong Tourism Program na kinabibilangan ng:

• Branding ng Calapan  bilang isang tourism destination  sa Mindoro;
• Patuloy  na paghubog ng disiplina tungo sa kagandahang ugali ng bawat Calapeño;
• Mas pinatingkad na KALAP FEST na magiging katulad ng Sinulog Festival sa Cebu at Penagbenga sa Baguio
• Pagsasagawa ng apat na Mardi Gras sa Undas at Mardi Gras sa Pasko
• Pagbandera ng programang ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT (OTOP) para buhayin ang mga produktong tatak Calapeño
• Paglulungsad ng Friday Night sa Bagong Calapan kung saan  magkakaroon ng mga pampamilyang aktibedades sa City Plaza  tulad ng mga konsyerto, drama plays, palaro at iba pa. Magkakaroon din ng mga  night market at food stands
• Patuloy na development ng Bulusan Park bilang isang mini zoo at outdoor activity destination

MAPAGKALINGANG PAMAMAHALA

Isang administrasyon na patuloy na ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan ay tapat

sa tao, totoo sa kanyang tungkulin at umaagapay sa mga nangangailangan.

Pamahalaang Hindi namumulitika

• Calapan City Bilang isang model local government sa bansa dahil sa mahusay na serbisyo sa mga mamamayan katulad ng Aksyon Agad 10 minute Service na pambato ng Pamahalaang Lungsod para maging ISO Certified ang City Government of Calapan.

• Pagsasakatuparan ng programang Ensuring Reduction of Poverty Action Team (ERPAT) sa isang opisina na papaloob sa Opisina ng Punong Lungsod na magrekomenda ng mga programa kontra kahirapan sa lungsod.

·   Pagbibigay ng mas komprehensibong Livelihood Program sa mga mahihirap.

• Pag-oorganisa sa mga taong may kapansanan sa buong Calapan at pagbibigay ng mga programang pangkabuhayan, tulong pang-edukasyon at ayudang pangkalusugan para lubos silang maging kasama at katulong sa pagpapaunlad ng lungsod .

·   Paglilinis sa kalungsuran ng mga manlilimos at mga palaboy na mga bata sa pamamagitan ng Programang Lingap.

• Pagsusulong ng mga karagdagang programa para sa mga senior citizens ng Calapan tulad ng pagbibigay ng libre at regular na general medical check up
• dalawang beses kada taon.

• Sa kabuuan, patuloy na pagtuturo na ang kinabukasan ng Calapan ay makakamit hindi sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng panandaliang kasarapan lamang sa halagang Php 200.00 at paninirang puri sa gobyerno kundi pag-aalay ng tapat na kalinga sa mga Calapeño.

NAGKAKAISANG CALAPEÑO

Makukumpleto ang mukha ng Bagong Calapan kung ang mga mamamayan ay nagkakaisa sa isip, pangarap at balakin para sa ikakaunlad ng lungsod.

• Patuloy na pagkikintal sa isip ng bawat Calapeño na ang pagpapaunlad ng lungsod ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng gobyerno kundi kasama ang bawat Calapeño;
• Paglulungsad ng regular na “Pulong Barangay” kung saan ang Punong Lungsod at mga piling opisyales ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ay tutungo sa mga barangay para kunin ang pulso ng mga mamamayan sa mga Gawain at programa ng Pamahalaang Lungsod at pagdinig na din sa mga mungkahi ng mga Calapeño sa mga nais nilang proyekto;
• Pagkakaloob ng parangal sa mga pangkaraniwang Calapeño na nagpakita na maigting na partisipasyon sa usaping panglungsod kada buwan na tatawaging Calapeño of the month.
• Muling pagbuhay at pagsasaayos ng text messaging service patungo sa Pamahalaang Lungsod para direktang mapaabot ng mga Calapeño ang kanilang suhestiyon o reklamo;
• Sama-samang paglilinis sa barangay minsan sa isang buwan at pangangalaga sa kalikasan;
• Pagpapatuloy ng Discipline City Program;
• Patuloy na pagpapalakas sa hanay ng barangay associations, sectoral groups, kababaihan, kabataan at iba pang sector.

Maligayang  Pamumuhay

Buhay na maligaya, kahit gaano kasimple o payak ngunit may kasiguraduhan sa lahat ng aspeto para sa lahat ng  mga Calapeño ang isa sa mga  mukha ng Bagong Calapan.

• Universal coverage sa lahat ng Calapeño sa ilalim ng Orange Card Health Insurance Program.
• Panibagong 3,000 trabaho sa  ilalim  ng mga pinaigting  na Job Generation  Program sapamamagitan ng City PESO at mas aktibong pagsusulong ng mga livelihood trainings at seminars direkta sa mga barangay, sectoral groups, kababaihan, kabataan at iba pang grupong panglipunan.
• Micro financing program para sa 62 barangay sa Lungsod, partikular para sa  mga public school teachers upang maiiwas sila sa mapang-abusong lending schemes.
• Mas maigting na pakikipagtulungan at pagpapatibay ng mga kooperatiba sa lungsod bilang katuwang ng Pamahalaang Lungsod sa pagpapaunlad ng Calapan.
• Pagdoble sa bilang ng City Scholars at pagpapaunlad pa ng City College of Calapan.
• Paglilipat sa karagdagang 1,000 pamilya ng mga informal settlers para magkaroon sila ng sariling lupa at bahay.
• Pagpapalakas ng programang pabahay sa mga empleyado at gobyerno.
• Pagpapalakas ng produksyon ng palay at iba pa ng gulay at prutas sa lungsod sapamamagitan ng mas intensibong programang pang-agrikultura.
• Pagbibigay ng mas madaming alternatibong pagkakakitaan ng mga mangingisda at ng kanilang pamilya sa lungsod kasama na ang patuloy na pagbibigay ng mga kagamitan para sa kanilang pangunahing hanap-buhay.

Know Our City Mayor

Mayor Doy Leachon

Tunay at Tapat na Calapeño, dugong bayani at serbisyo publiko:

- Bunsong anak ni Judge Emilio Leachon Jr. T Pilar Mendoza Cueto.

- Apo ni Dating Mayor Epifañio Cueto, bayaning mayor ng Calapan noong World War II; kasama si Bishop Finneman, Mayor Cueto at inihulog sa malalim na bahagi ng karagatan ng Isla Berde dahil sa pamumuno sa mga Guerilla laban sa mga Hapones.

- Pamangkin ni Dating Mayor Cesario Cueto ng noon ay bayan ng Calapan.

Likas na talino at galing:

- Nagtapos ng elementary bilang First Honorable Mention noong 1986 sa Holy Infant Academy.
- Nakatanggap ng Leadership Award noong nagtapos ng sekondarya sa Divine Word College of Calapan sahil sa pagiging Unang Student Council President ng DWCC High School noong 1990.

- Dean’s Awardee habang nasa San Beda College kung saan nagtapos siya ng kursong AB Philosophy noong 1994.

- Nakapagtapos ng kursong Bachelor of Law at naging bar topnotcher ng nakuha niya ang ika-17 pwesto ng 1999 Bar Exams, isa sa pinakamahirap na Exams sa kasaysayan.

Pagsubok at Tagumpay

- Edad na 18, maagang pumasok sa buhay pamilya ng kanyang pakasalan ang kanyang kasintahan na si Ronalee Escondo.

- Nagtrabaho bilang taxi driver at fast food crew habang nag-aaral ng kolehiyo para masuportahan ang pamilya at pag-aaral.

Karanasang hindi matatawaran:

- Habang nag-aaral ng abogasya, nagtrabaho siya bilang Legal Researcher sa Korte Suprema, Senado at Kongreso.

- Bilang bagong abogado, nahirang bilang isang Legal Consultant ng Office of the President sa Malacañang.

- Hinirang bilang kauna-unahang City Legal Officer ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Calapan. Kasabay nito, naitalaga din siya bilang pinuno ng Business License and Permit Section at Liaison Officer ng Pamahalaang Lungsod.

- Naitalagang City Administrator ni Mayor Carlos Brucal noong 2005.

- Nagging Pangulo ng iba’t ibang samahang sibiko at organisasyon tulad ng Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Oriental Mindoro, Rotary Club of Calapan at Mindoro Tamaraw Basketball Association. Aktibong miyembro din si Mayor Doy  ng Knights of Columbus, Couples for Christ at Guardians Brotherhood Incorporated.
Naging professor din siya sa Divine Word College of Calapan – Commerce Department, Luna Goco College – College of law at maging sa City College of Calapan.